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Roatan and Bay Islands Discussion List Archive
| Posted On: | 08-Dec-2005 |
| From: | Ted OBrien [bayislandsboy....com] |
| Subject: | Re: [roatan] Cruisers - Good or bad |
Dear Robert: First off, let's change the subject line which, as far as I'm concerned isn't, and never was, "Cruisers - Good or Bad" It was the "life blood" thing that I object to. You write: "But what is most interesting is the attitude that the tipping (Or giving money to beggars)is distorting the work ethic of the indigenous people on Roatan." Who said that? I didn't. I think tipping for good service rendered is proper and should be encouraged. However, I don't approve of begging. I don't give to them or to the people in the states who sit at the exit ramps asking for handouts. There are very few people who couldn't get a job if they really wanted one. And this is becoming a bigger problem in Roatan. Mothers send their cute, bedraggled (in many cases by design)kids out to collect from the horrified cruise shipper. We stopped a cute little con kid who would sit in a conspicuous place pretending he was having a hard time reading. When the cruise shippers would ask him about it he would say with a sigh that my mother says I need eyeglasses but we can't afford them. Well, by the end of a week he had enough money to open an optometry shop. What are our kids learning? What are we going to do about it? This is what I am talking about. The boys who helped you I would not describe as beggars. They provided a service, and I think a dollar was appropriate. Ted --- Robert Black wrote: > Dear Ted: > > I believe we are getting closer to being on the same > page. Your letter was well written. > > Yes, my comments addressed the economics of the > situation. Nothing happens with out an exchange of > something of value. We generally use money as that > medium of exchange. What is going to give Roatan > the resources to improve the infrastructure, > educational facilities, water, sanitation and > perhaps most important - health care. > > Yes, things are changing; but not all changes are > desireable. And what is desirable is mitigated by a > persons vision, impression, or perception of how > that particular change is going to affect their own, > personal, life. > > Cruisers do leave a lot of money on the island!!! I > have printed a list of 20 shore excursions that > Carnival Cruise Lines offers in Roatan. That is 20 > businesses in Roatan that to a very large extent > depend upon that source of income to fuel their > business. The fact that the shore excursions are > paid for aboard ship does not eliminate the fact > that the service providers (The businesses on > Roatan) get what they consider a fair compensation > for their service. They are willing to pay a > percentage to the Cruise Line because it is good > business. Many of those service suppliers could not > survive without the cruisers. Yes, the cruisers do > leave a lot of money on the Island. When Donna and > I visited we took the excursion to Parrot Tree > Beach. We ate breakfast and supper on the ship. > Bought soft drinks from the vendors and several > souvenirs. We might have eaten a meal there if the > port time had been longer or it that was what we > were particularly looking for. But frankly; the > means aboard ship were excellent! > > I am not saying it is right; but the cruise lines > have little incentive to recommend individual > exploration because there is no economic benefit to > them. That is business. > > It is interesting that you refer to the cruisers as > 'notoriously bad tippers'. I imagine that the > cruisers tip there just as they would in the states. > But what is most interesting is the attitude that > the tipping (Or giving money to beggars) is > distorting the work ethic of the indigenous people > on Roatan. The two boys that helped me get through > the crowds on my electric scooter were each given > $1.00 us. I know that is an outrageous amount of > money for what they did in comparison to wages in > Roatan in Limperas but it was what I would have done > in similar circumstances here in the US. > > Yours words: "And, yes, the whorehouses. It's the > crew-members off > these ships, not the passengers, who largely > patronize > these establishments, and that doesn't do much for > morality or aids control. If that is true your > statement is also true. But the crew members are > not ignorant about the causes and spread of H.I.V. > Perhaps you should make that same statement to the > cruise lines, directly. If would be in their > interest to monitor that situation. But from what I > have learned from people there, the knowledge of > H.I.V. is sorely lacking among the indigenous > population. Yes, more educational programs must be > produced. > > Roatan is a beautiful place and I want to move there > very much. Family considerations make it impossible > at this point but that might change. I would like > to teach there and work with the clinics, and other > groups trying to improve things for the indigenous > people. That is the reason for Spartanburg Angels. > If I am able to return either by a cruise line or > airline I will certainly look you up. We have the > interest of Roatan in common and it would be fun to > learn more from someone who have the experience on > Roatan that you do. > > Yours in CHRIST, > > Robert L. Black, President > Spartanburg Angels > 215 Augusta Road > Spartanburg, SC. 29301-3632 USA > > 864/621-9774 > > Email: achristianplace....net > > Website location: http://www.spartanburgangels.com > > MOTTO: Sometimes extending a life, clothing or > educating a child is the first step in saving a > soul! Can you help? > > > > > > > > > > > > Beginner's Scuba > Anthony's Key Resort is the > perfect setting to learn the basics of scuba diving > and experience your first dive in some of the best > water the Bay Islands has to offer. > > Full Details > 4.5 Hours > $$$ > > Canopy Tour & Tabyana Beach > Defy the laws of gravity by > "flying" down from the ridge of the mountain into > beautiful Gumbalimba Park. > > > Full Details > 1 Hours > $$ > > Catamaran Sail & Snorkel > Sail through the crystal clear > Caribbean waters off Roatan's coast aboard a > 68-foot, yacht style catamaran. > > > Full Details > 4.5 Hours > $$ > > Certified Dolphin Dive > Experience a once in a lifetime > opportunity to dive with dolphins and witness them > in their natural environment. > > Full Details > 2 Hours > $$$$ > > Certified Two Tank Dive at > Anthony's Key > Perpetual sunshine, tropical > jungle topside and a profusion of coral beneath a > crystal sea make the waters off Anthony's Key some > of the best diving in all of the Bay Islands. > > Full Details > 4 Hours > $$ > > Coral Cay Beach Break > Take a relaxing beach break on > a pristine tropical island. > > > Full Details > 5.5 Hours > $ > > Coral Cay Marine & Nature Park > Kayak Explorer > Whether you want a relaxing > ride in the protected cove, or the adventure of > exploring a shipwreck, Roatan is the ideal location > for kayaking. > > > Full Details > 5.5 Hours > $$ > > Coral Cay Snorkel Adventure > Explore the amazing underwater > world of Roatan on this fun-filled snorkeling > adventure. > > > Full Details > 5.5 Hours > $$ > > Discover Roatan > Explore the exotic, undeveloped > East End of Roatan in air-conditioned comfort. > > Full Details > 3.5 Hours > === message truncated === _____ Do You Yahoo!? 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