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Roatan and Bay Islands Discussion List Archive
| Posted On: | 24-Feb-2005 |
| From: | SABAS WHITTAKER [sabaswhittaker.....net] |
| Subject: | [roatan] About Your Meeting |
Hello. Mr. Edwards. In my previous message I forgot to include that these places I mentioned in fact they all did recover successfully... but they did had to put up an arduous fight with their politicians and in fact got a couple of them out of office. They now all flourish with vast economic prosperity. They did not blame each other, pointed fingers and said it didn't happened to them. If crime happens to one, it happens to us all regardless of where we are and who of who we are. We're all members of the same society and it is a trickle down economic spiral. Regarding your question about the meeting... Sir, I have no idea... I was just voicing my opinion, my frustrations and my concerns for the safety of the good people visiting and living on the island of Roatan. I actually live in Connecticut... though I was born in Puerto Cortes, but both of my parents were born and raised in Roatan. My father in Punta Gorda and my mother in French Harbor. As mentioned in my previous message... I haven't been back to Honduras since the late 1980's. However, I do understand the frustrations and I've read several other postings indicating that crime is heard of, seen and experienced all over the world. Yes it is, but in reality it wouldn't entice me to purchase a ticket and fly over there just to be a part of it. I believe that in addition to the people that are being hurt, am also concerned with the people who will then lose their lively-hood once these business have folded up and gone... (these being affected economically are my people). I've also read other postings comparing and questioning about the ramped crime in American cities? Well, Roatan is not a large American city... nor does it have the resources to support itself as a big American city. Unfortunately this is true... however, I wonder if we have sat back and noticed how the value of homes throughout these 'big American cities' drop drastically, meanwhile our taxes grow sky high. In part because we have to hire more police officers, ambulance services, etc...etc. During the 1990's in Hartford Connecticut the gangs pretty much ran the streets and the response to that wave of crime, was that almost everyone who had a good paying job and owned a home... sold it, rented it, purchased homes in the suburbs or surrounding towns and got out of Dodge. Leaving behind only the very, very poor and those who didn't earned enough to pay the high taxes. The few folks who refused to leave are still complaining because their homes now has almost 'no' value... besides, who's going to buy them now? No intelligent persons want to live in a crime infested area... specially while paying high taxes. The answer to that... State troopers and Federal Agents came to patrol the city and locked the bad boys up. Most of Hartford's gangs members are now doing hard time. As a former merchant marine I sailed and lived in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and I also saw what crime almost did to the island's tourist industry. I also studied at the university of Puerto Rico during the mid 80's and clearly remember how 'crime' did in fact almost destroyed the same industry in Old San Juan. As a young sailor I also sailed throughout the late 70's and early 80's to Jamaica and I could almost assure you that since the 1970's a cruise ship has not anchored in Kingston's harbor, nor tied up along its docks. But Kingston is a big industrial city and San Juan and Puerto Rico's residents received government entitlement funding and food stamps. Besides, they had to do exactly what you are now planning on doing. They organized and petitioned their governments for man power and support and they in fact did recover. The feds quickly opened up shop in the Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and got down and dirty. Their tourist industry fuels their economy once again. Of course am sure its not a hundred percent sound proof, but then again, it isn't as ramped as it was back then. Of course one needs to be vigilant, more so when on vacation, but as intelligent individuals, who have invested their hard earned dollars in buying their 'dream-home' businesses and little piece of paradise... should you just sit and rub your hands waiting to see who is going to be the next victim of crime and say, "well, maybe it was a vendetta?" I don't think so. Should you then all arm yourself with high powered shot guns as if you were back in the Wild, Wild West, and perhaps shoot an Innocent person, a tourist or even your love ones? I don't think it would be too inviting to someone planning to travel and spend a quiet vacation to hear this either. I believe your goal here is to at track more people to the island, rather than scare them away! As for asserting the fact that these cases are vendettas... then that is even a bigger crime and an awful shame. These 'vendettas' do not only affect those whom are intended to hurt... they're actually hurting other Innocent people. And am talking about taking food out of the mouth of my people. The hard working Honduran born people of Roatan. While destroying the possibility of future growth development and the prosperity of an entire nation just to get back at one, or two individuals. does it really make sense? As students of ethics, morals and philosophy we should all abide by a "covenant" the same by which all of our laws are written and our rights are protected. This basically means that you have surrendered your rights in order that they therefore be protected by the governing body of rights. That is why we pay taxes and that is why we have elected officials and that is why if they are not doing their job, then they could clearly be removed. Regardless of how well they are "lining their pockets." I believe tourism, future vacationers and investors would feel a whole lot safer if they hear that you have come together as a group, organized a committee and have now summonsed your Governor and other officials to contend this wave of crime, than knowing that all hotel, restaurant and shop owners now have bran new guns, or have hired all arm guards. Not sure sir about when, where, nor how you should conduct the meeting... Although I do know it is rather imperative that you have one. I wish I was there to help organize it, but of course as you know by know... I'm thousands of miles away. I'm quite sure that the Honduran minister of the interior the head of the arm forces, tourism the President and other high powered officials are going to listen to your demands. And more importantly am sure they are going to see their lost in revenue and will take matters into account. Perhaps the chief of police might then seek help and answer to a higher authority... if he sees that you are very serious and that you have gone over his head. It is every individual's birth-right to be safe in this world. And it is also our right to be our won advocates when those in charge of protecting us have failed. I do have contact with several news organizations and other independent journalist in Honduras and in the United States if interested. Then again am sure it might not have to reach to such point. After all the industries future and your livelihood are at stake. The more negative publicity and bad press the more it will affect. Criminals are like roaches, once you are organized politically and shined the light upon them they will all be arrested and the rest will run and hide. Best wishes to all... God bless Sincerely... Sabas "J. Edwards Real Estate_Parrot Tree Plantation" wrote "J. Edwards Real Estate_Parrot Tree Plantation" wrote: When and where will the meeting be? It should be right away. We can get newspaper coverage if we deem it an aid. Don Pearly -----Original message----- From: SABAS WHITTAKER sabaswhittaker.....net Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:41:45 -0600 To: roatan.....com Subject: RE: [roatan] posting from Hondo 1 list Roatan crime It is a crying shame... I'm in full agreement with you. Perhaps you do need to call a meeting rather urgently to discuss security issues and implement new ways of dealing with this horrible situation. One my first suggestions is to draft a petition letter and have as many of you signed it, give the chief of police a copy and mail several copies to the governor and to the President in Tegucigalpa. a good reminder would be to include how much Honduras is benefiting from your Dollars and how hard it would be once you have left. The world is rather a large place and no one should have to remain in a place that is unsafe... Regardless of its beauty. As a Honduran and ex-pat myself... whom has not placed a foot on Honduran soil since the 1980's I am ashame. I'm quite sure the hard working Honduran people who live, work and depend on your dollars as income to put food on their table must feel a whole lot worst than I do. However, the issue is not about being the bearer of bad news, the issue here is safety. People are getting hurt and that is a reality that shouldn't exist. I have traveled and lived all over the world... Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, Canada and many other Caribbean countries and not once have I heard such a shameful disgrace. I still remember Miami during the early 90's and I still remember the wave of crime that swept through there, but the South Florida public officials understood the meaning of dollars and cents. They therefore, valued either it was going to be the tourist, or whether it should be the criminals run the beaches... in actuality tourism won. Criminals do not contribute, rather they're a drain on society. Honduras has always been a beautiful country, however it has always been loaded with crime. I think its about time for the Honduran government to stand up and make the same rational and logical move as that of South Florida and realize that... "the word investors means a paycheck for its people and that crime means an ugly drain on society." Further more "Gringos" and other foreigners are those always responding to the nation when its in need. Honduran governmental officials should also remember that almost half of its best and brightest have been exported to foreign a country to earn the "gringo dollar that now helps support it as "remesas." We, the hard working Hondurans who are abroad support you and we share your in solidarity and your pain... we are also ex-pats, only that we are now visitors in your country and we enjoy full protection and justice under the American laws, I believe the government of Honduras should do the same for you. It is your right to be protected and safe while in Honduras. I wonder if these criminals are sending any of these much needed medical missions to Honduras to take care of it sick and indigent poor? I also wonder if they have are willing to invest something more than pain and shame upon a nation that now struggles to become somewhat industrialized and overcome centuries of hunger and poverty? Sorry to hear about your pain. Thanks for voicing your concerns... thanks. Sabas. www.sabaswhittaker.com Mary & Doug Solomon wrote: Yes, your comments are correct. This appears not to be an isolated incident either, recently there have been several violent robberies some being committed by balaclava clad gangsters. This one at Port Royal on Sunday night and the one at Palmetto last week, the one at First Bight a couple of weeks ago as well as others that we've heard of and probably more that we don't know about, all seem to point towards an orchestrated wave of crime. We appreciate the actions of the Police Chief on Sunday night but what should the expats do about this wave of crime, should there be a meeting to discuss security issues. We don't like to be the bearers of bad news on this wonderful island but these crimes need to be brought into the open and STOPPED DougS crime >Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 09:52:44 -0600 > > >Can anyone confirm or deny this?? > > >Well, it's happened again............Americans being violently >attacked!!! This time long time seasoned residents of Roatan (almost >20 years) were viciously attacked in their home in the secluded Port >Royal area by 3 masked, as well as armed intruders. Injuries were >experienced by both parties involved, including a death on the >intruders side. The 'gringos' unexpectedly put up a fight and threw >the intruders plans out the window..........as well as the remaining >intruders. The bad guys wore clothing and camouflage peculiar to the >island, which is kind of intimidating in itself, to see up close and >personal. > >The reason behind this post is to promote the truth and to open the >eyes of any potential investors considering a move to Roatan before >they realize that they made a big monetary (and sometimes life >altering) mistake. Numerous violent attacks are being experienced by >foreign investors to Roatan. The simple one person robberies when no >one is home are becoming a thing of the past. The new wave of home >invasion now appears to include a minimum of 3 'bad guys', with >weapons with the intentions of home invasion, robbing & possibly >raping. > >No more occasional isolated incidents on the western half of the >island. The whole island now seems to be violated in this ever >growing violent crime wave. I was amassed at the fact that the new >Chief of Police from Coxen Hole made the commendable effort of making >his way to Port Royal (the opposite end of the 30 mile long island) >in the middle of the night in extremely rough seas with soldiers in >tow. I was truly impressed with his sincerity of the situation. I >would hope that this renewed interest in crime in respect to police >officials will eventually deter some criminals in the future. But >only the future will tell. Right now, violent crime is griping the >xpat community. Yes, we are all aware that this can happen to any of >us at any time, and most are prepared to deal with it (if we weren't, >we'd have left a loooong time ago). But the frequency of the attracts >along with the increased violence and number of assailants involved >is becoming alarming. > >No answers for this topic, as this was not the intent of this post. >The reasoning behind this post was to be honest in informing any >possible 'Roatan wannabe' that this ain't all honey & cream down here >(This ain't Kansas any more Toto). If you have a weak spirit (or >heart) and have trouble coping with stress, then you may want to >reconsider a move to Roatan............at least until this seemingly >ever increasing crime wave retreats back to a ripple. Who knows, >maybe with a decrease in investment dollars, decrease in employment >(which is already marginal) and a slow down in development, maybe, >just maybe someone in government office will see the light and try to >remedy this sad & nasty problem before the rest of us just pack up >and get the heck out of Dodge. > > > > _____ Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.com/ http://www.roatanet.com ----------- To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roatan/ roatan- the Yahoo! Terms of Service. http://www.roatanet.com http://www.roatanet.com ----------- To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roatan/ roatan- the Yahoo! Terms of Service. http://www.roatanet.com To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roatan/ roatan- : | |
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