[FISHTIGUA]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Maybe it's time to bring this back to the public domain- maybe at the Rec Ground before a Cricket Test as a curtain raiser.

I'm very pleased to say I've seen more Englishmen, Aussies, Yarppies and Kiwis put to the sword there by the West Indian team than seems dignified; brutal even. Cricket Rocks, my cousin Lappie still reckons the best view of the Grounds was from the bars of his prison cell!

Now the Recreation Ground is no more, no more crowds singing and drumming to Gravey's chants, We now have an err....Super Stadium with no life or character. Yet another nail in the coffin.

I'm starting to sound like an old F*rt.

Sorry

Fish

[ychtcptn]

I could be wrong, but I am in St. T right now and no one has heard of this happening (except for internet rumors)and there has been no sign of the boat here in the main harbor. In fact they are not due in till next week. I think they might be in St. Maarten.
I make sure to warn my crew and others not to leave the compound at night, unless you are in a cab that you know.
If this did happen I would not be surprised, we had a few incidents last year around here, but so far none this year.

[Capt Bill11]

Are you at YHG in St. Thomas?

[ychtcptn]

Yes we are, 2nd year in a row.

[wadadli]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

DK how I'd feel with a heart attack, but with a gunshot wound it's scoop and go. Any vehicle will do.
Alfa Nero did exactly the right thing. Only when it becomes more expensive to leave crime than to stop it will action be taken. Once they have the rep of a muggers (or worse) paradise money dries up.

mugger? how do you know it was a robbery?

did u know that they found drugs and a large sum of money tied in rubberband on the late capt.? which also prompt the officers to search his vessel? maybe you need to consider that.

i think the customs need to start checking these yachts, whenever they come into port; because, we cannot continue to allow these things to happen.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by wadadli

mugger? how do you know it was a robbery?

did u know that they found drugs and a large sum of money tied in rubberband on the late capt.? which also prompt the officers to search his vessel? maybe you need to consider that.

i think the customs need to start checking these yachts, whenever they come into port; because, we cannot continue to allow these things to happen.

What exactly is your source for that statement because, unless you are absolutely sure, that is a slanderous statement against a deceased, respected captain who can't defend himself. I sincerely doubt you'd find even a joint on the captain of such a yacht.

[Ken Bracewell]

Originally Posted by wadadli

mugger? how do you know it was a robbery?

did u know that they found drugs and a large sum of money tied in rubberband on the late capt.? which also prompt the officers to search his vessel? maybe you need to consider that.

i think the customs need to start checking these yachts, whenever they come into port; because, we cannot continue to allow these things to happen.

Excerpts from the Antigua Sun http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=...22009&ac=Local

"He was at the time on his way home in the company of his girlfriend and their young child on the night of 22 Jan., when he was approached by his assailant in an apparent robbery attempt.


Meanwhile Head of the Criminal Investigation Department Jacque Ouellette dismissed the speculation about drug involvement in the incident.


“We did not find that drugs had anything to do with this investigation. So we have to leave that the way it is,” Ouellette stated. "


I fully expect to have my vessel searched every time I enter port and I imagine that others do as well.
Furthermore, how can you possibly try to migrate this thread into a discussion of customs policies? A man was killed while visiting English Harbor, which was considered a very safe place to be moored when I last visited.

[Pascal]

i agee, very wrong to spread unfounded rumors about drugs when the police confirmed no drugs were found.

as to cash, it's not unusual from captains to have cash, nothing illegal or wrong with that anyway.

Most if not all captains have a zero tolerance policy on board their vessels.

[Ken Bracewell]

It seems to be common practice for some of the locals to blame the tourist when violence occurs in a place which relies on tourism. It also seems to be common to try to downplay the event so as not to spook other tourists from coming.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Ken Bracewell

It seems to be common practice for some of the locals to blame the tourist when violence occurs in a place which relies on tourism. It also seems to be common to try to downplay the event so as not to spook other tourists from coming.

Setting up a college fund for his child financed by a slander suit could solve that.

[OutMyWindow]

Although stupidity has no borders, the Islands do have more than their share...
_________________________________

Caribbean Now the World's Murder Capital:
Why, and Which Islands are Safest & Most Dangerous?
by www.SixWise.com


Over 22 million tourists, and another 20 million cruise ship passengers, flock to the Caribbean islands each year to take advantage of the sun, the endless miles of coastline and the tropical "no worries" environment.

But there is a growing dark cloud that's threatening all of the Caribbean's clear, blue seas: a swiftly growing crime rate that now rivals some of the most infamous and unstable regions in the world, like southern and western Africa.
The Caribbean is Now the Murder Capital of the World
"High rates of crime and violence in the Caribbean are undermining growth, threatening human welfare, and impeding social development," according to a new report by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report, "Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean," found that murder rates in the Caribbean are higher than in any other region in the world.
Overall, murders occur in the Caribbean at a rate of 30 per 100,000 people. Comparably, in East Europe, murder rates are at 17 per 100,000, in the United States, seven.
Assault rates in the Caribbean are also significantly above the world average, and rates of rape, kidnapping and other violent crimes have also been on the rise, according to the report.
Most of the crime in the Caribbean stems from massive narcotics trafficking, which helps spur crime rates in the following ways:
 Diverts police and other resources away from other important activities
 Increases and brings in violence
 Undermines social and community unity
 Increases addiction-related crimes
 Increases the availability of firearms
The crime is threatening the region's image as a "paradise," which is seriously undermining their tourist industry. Meanwhile, if murder rates were reduced by one-third, the report found, per capita economic growth in the region could be doubled. And in Haiti and Jamaica, a reduction in murder rates could boost annual economic growth by 5.4 percent.

Although the report points out that small countries in the Caribbean can get high murder rates from a relatively small number of incidents, the authors noted that crime levels are definitely rising to concerning levels.

Is it Safe to Travel to the Caribbean?
Despite the high crime rates, the majority of visitors to the Caribbean have a safe trip, according to the U.S. Department of State. You should still, of course, exercise commonsense precautions when traveling anywhere, and remember to be extra careful around the Caribbean beaches, as drowning is one of the leading causes of death for Americans in the Caribbean, according to the Department of State.
If you are thinking of planning a trip, which islands are the safest and the most dangerous? Here we've compiled a guide to some of the safer and riskier Caribbean islands.

Generally Safer Caribbean Islands
These islands have a reputation for being among the safest in the region:
 Anguilla
 Aruba
 British Virgin Islands
 Cayman Islands
 St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Potentially Dangerous Caribbean Islands
 Haiti: The poorest and most unstable country in the region. The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning for Haiti because of frequent violent kidnappings of Americans for ransom.
 Jamaica: Criminal acts are a major problem and can rapidly turn violent. According to the Department of State, "Visitors should exercise common sense, not walk around at night, and use only licensed taxis or hotel-recommended transportation. Valuables should not be left unattended anywhere, including hotel rooms and the beach, and care should be taken when carrying high value items such as cameras, wearing expensive jewelry, or displaying large amounts of cash on the street."
 Trinidad and Tobago: Murder and other violent crimes are increasing (though Tobago is typically much safer than Trinidad). The Department of State suggests that travelers may not want to travel alone in the area.

[stevenpet]

I don’t think the best answer is to simply pull out of a port or country in fear and retreat to the nearest harbor we deem safe.

I think a far better solution can be reached by working with the local governments and authorities and coming up with a strategy that will not only make the harbors safer, but to also seek real solutions to the rampant poverty. From what I’ve heard on other websites, this is exactly what the yachting community at English Harbour is doing.

No matter where we are, no matter what extremes we go to, there is nothing we can do to assure our 100% safety. I hope that all of us will take the necessary precautions to live safely without becoming a slave to fear.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by stevenpet

I don’t think the best answer is to simply pull out of a port or country in fear and retreat to the nearest harbor we deem safe.

I think a far better solution can be reached by working with the local governments and authorities and coming up with a strategy that will not only make the harbors safer, but to also seek real solutions to the rampant poverty. From what I’ve heard on other websites, this is exactly what the yachting community at English Harbour is doing.

No matter where we are, no matter what extremes we go to, there is nothing we can do to assure our 100% safety. I hope that all of us will take the necessary precautions to live safely without becoming a slave to fear.

That is exactly what the local yachting communities and authorities should be doing, but that is not the job of tourists or touring yachts. They come there to enjoy themselves. If a local community wants the tourist dollars they'd best make their areas safe. Yachts don't go places to join crusades. The State Department doesn't issue travel advisories to attract tourists.

[goplay]

I think these countries can quickly stem the violence if they allow and let it be broadly known, that yachts can enter and be fully armed while on board (as opposed to locked up on board or worse, guns in police custody).

Most of the crimes are street thugs that avoid any situation where they might be the confronted by a greater force. Complacent police and unprotected yachtistas can't be more tempting to the criminal thug.

...and I am a Democrat!

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by goplay

I think these countries can quickly stem the violence if they allow and let it be broadly known, that yachts can enter and be fully armed while on board (as opposed to locked up on board or worse, guns in police custody).

Most of the crimes are street thugs that avoid any situation where they might be the confronted by a greater force. Complacent police and unprotected yachtistas can't be more tempting to the criminal thug.

...and I am a Democrat!

Do you have any idea how complicated your life becomes when you shoot a burglar in your own home? Can you imagine what happens when you do it in a foreign country. We are not police.