Bad Ending to Otherwise Good Bonaire Trip

[ReefHound]

Somalia and Bonaire used in the same paragraph on crime? Hmmm

Amazing how far afield these fantasies can stray

It's called an analogy and it was not comparing the level of crime between the two places.

Amazing how far critical thinking skills have deteriorated.

 

[DandyDon]

Not if there isn't a keyhole to pick! I'm thinking of the keyless safety locks that only have a knob on the inside that closes the bolt. From the outside you wouldn't even know it was there.

Right! I live in a locks optional town so don't know much about them. My previous farm house was left unlocked for over 20 years I lived in it, even when I left on week long trips.

So do these apartments have deadbolts? Or will they soon...?

 

[gypsyjim]

You get construction materials from the Netherlands?

It was an exaggeration to support the obvious being ignored: One does not have to visit either to know that the problems exist, albeit to greatly different degrees.

Practically everything has to be imported to many islands, and ABC's are Dutch, so there is some logic I guess to bringing stuff over. It does seem like a costly distance though.

So great a difference that making such a comparison (or far fetched analogy) is an invitation for ridicule.

It's called an analogy and it was not comparing the level of crime between the two places.

Amazing how far critical thinking skills have deteriorated.

You are right in this case. Critical thinking seems to have no relationship to the direction much of this thread has gone. When people who actually have quite a bit of first hand experience are put down by those who's only knowledge is 2nd, 3rd or 4th hand, that is not critical thinking.

Just my humble opinion, of course

 

[DandyDon]

Practically everything has to be imported to many islands, and ABC's are Dutch, so there is some logic I guess to bringing stuff over. It does seem like a costly distance though.

Kinda sorta, but then my locks may have come from China. I guess keeping it Dutch serves a purpose.

 

[gypsyjim]

Kinda sorta, but then my locks may have come from China. I guess keeping it Dutch serves a purpose.

Maybe that's why they import the locks from the Netherlands, everything they get from us is now made in China anyway?

 

[ReefHound]

You are right in this case. Critical thinking seems to have no relationship to the direction much of this thread has gone. When people who actually have quite a bit of first hand experience are put down by those who's only knowledge is 2nd, 3rd or 4th hand, that is not critical thinking.

Just my humble opinion, of course

The only put downs I've seen are those who think that only their opinion counts.

BTW, you didn't answer any of my questions in post 106 or attempt any reasoned discussion, choosing instead to engage in attempted ridicule.

 

[UnderwaterBumbleBee]

Right! I live in a locks optional town so don't know much about them. My previous farm house was left unlocked for over 20 years I lived in it, even when I left on week long trips.

So do these apartments have deadbolts? Or will they soon...?

I consider myself to live in a reasonably safe area of Colorado, in a neighborhood that is only about 5 years old. That being said, we've had at least one attempted car break in within our neighborhood along with stolen vehicles being parked in our area. Just across the street in another neighborhood we had an arsonist burn down a brand new home along with a stolen car containing their ID. I have stupid deadbeat kids two houses over that reportedly sold drugs in front of my home. I am sure there have been even more crimes in my area that I've never heard about. Still, I feel pretty safe where I live, it's the suburbs. Still, I would never leave my doors unlocked unless it was an accident. I think it's easier to point out crime on a little island because it gets noticed more. Unfortunately it's just a part of the everyday news in the big city and easily forgotten.

 

[dvrliz1]

First and foremost, dead bolts are extremely difficult if not almost impossible to install unless new construction on Bonaire as 99.9% of the buildings are Bonaire are solid block and concrete.

Second the locks we have put in also have and\ additional slide bolt type lock, basically even if the door were unlocked they would have to kick the door in to get it open.

Now, please don't take this as an offense, but regarding the "level" of crime on Bonaire: I am just tired of having to defend where I live....I MEAN I RESPECT WHAT YOU ALL SAY ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND TRUST THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE, AS YOU LIVE THERE, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO YOUR AREA (MAYBE). WHY MUST WE CONTINUALLY PICK ON WHERE I CHOOSE TO LIVE?????

BONAIRE IS NOT A CRIME RIDDEN ISLAND, yes we have problems, like the rest of the world, and are working to fix them, as is the rest of the world.

A lot of people on the thread have stated how "crime" is in their town, city, etc. NONE of them have had to "defend" where they live...but I do, why? Because we are a tourist destination? There are a lot of states that have a vast amount of tourism related areas and I have not seen anyone have to defend the place they live??? I mean Colorado is famous for skiing and more....would skiers stop going to Colorado because of Bumble's post above?

Hubby and I DO NOT lock our doors either (Don et al), and we never have (at our home, up on the hill). Just the other day I had a meeting in a "not so nice" (every place has one!!!) neighborhood on Bonaire, parked my car, left the windows cracked and left my ipod on the front seat partially covered by a towel ( not purposely, I just returned from a workout). 2 hours later, car fine, IPOD and towel still in car.

I LIVE HERE...IF CRIME WAS AS BAD AS portrayed do you think I would remain? I mean wouldn't any sensible person move away from an area in order to protect themselves and their family? Quite a few of you know Ed and I personally and know that if it was as "bad" on Bonaire as is being projected, we would have been out of here a long time ago.

We are working hard to solve the problems that are going on islandwide and are aware of them. Unfortunately I cannot tell you EVERYTHING that is going on as this is a VERY small island and news travels fast....some things need to remain proprietary for obvious reasons.

ALL IN ALL BONAIRE IS A RELATIVELY SAFE ISLAND, RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE CARIBBEAN.

COME TO BONAIRE, BE SMART, DIVE AND ENJOY...THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO....

'NOUGH SAID....

Liz

PS...sorry for the rant, I'm just frustrated. I mean all, I LIVE here.....

 

[DiverVince]

..Ditto on Liz's post. I can see that some here really do like to stir the pot. As far as I'm concerned, this thread is really just about cheap thrills. Nothing more than titillation. I've personally traveled the Carib for over 30 years. Rest assured, Bonaire is about as safe as it gets.

 

[gypsyjim]

The only put downs I've seen are those who think that only their opinion counts.

BTW, you didn't answer any of my questions in post 106 or attempt any reasoned discussion, choosing instead to engage in attempted ridicule.

Because post 106 added nothing not already discussed, and while valid points may be raised the attempted "analogy" became a more interesting point of discussion.

No one with any personal knowledge is ignoring the fact that crimes like burglary of vehicles and less often, rooms have happened on Bonaire.They are far from commonplace, but as the information posted earlier in this thread shows there seems to be a recent spike, after a fairly extended lull in such burglaries.

For quite a while now most discussion about Bonaire crimes has been more 2nd, 3rd or4th hand, old info, passed on by people who have never visited Bonaire, but have recycled the old stories endlessly, creating plenty of smoke. The OP here actually suffered a real and frightening crime and that has gotten the attention of all parties, but we are trying to keep a level head, to prevent distortion and rumor from amplifying the problem into fantasy land.