Bad Ending to Otherwise Good Bonaire Trip

[DandyDon]

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.

Good answer. I'm not into construction so I hadn't thot about the hurricane proof housing challenges. Slide bolt sounds great!

..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.

That may well be true, but the case that started the thread is yet unacceptable. Glad that Liz is installing the bolted locks, whatever it took to get her to do it. Hope others do. I know I'd want to sleep with that security.

 

[pdive]

Valid arguments on both sides of this issue, however I don't think this thread would be 13 pages and counting if we simply had statistics and not anecdotes. It was listed that Bonaire Talk only allows discussion of incidents if there is a police report filed - sounds reasonable to me. Simply take the number of police reports filed and divide by the number of visitors or residents or some other figure so you can have something to compare to other places. Just saying Bonaire crime per capita is no worse than any other place doesnÃÕ make it so. What is the most concerning to me is the absence of crime statistics given this issue is posted about frequently (71 THREADS returned from searching for Å£onaire, +crime?. Where are the stats?

 

[jd950]

Valid arguments on both sides of this issue, however I don't think this thread would be 13 pages and counting if we simply had statistics and not anecdotes. It was listed that Bonaire Talk only allows discussion of incidents if there is a police report filed - sounds reasonable to me. Simply take the number of police reports filed and divide by the number of visitors or residents or some other figure so you can have something to compare to other places. Where are the stats?

My problem with the "don't claim you were a crime victim without a police report" idea is that it ignores the likelihood that many tourists will not report, and of those who do, many will not ask for a report or jump through whatever hoops are necessary to get one and then finally, of those, how many are willing to fax the thing as proof?

They don't require you to prove it if you post that your luggage was lost, or prove that you aren't connected to a resort or restaurant when you post a glowing review, or that you are a certified diver when you discuss a dive. I can't help but beleive it is an effort to minimize posts about crime.

Some "stats": (Such as they are and for whatever they may show.)(I suspect getting real stats from the police would require a local resident)


BONAIRE- 72% of the citizens over 16 years old were victims of a crime in their lifetime. In the 12 months preceding the inquiry 27% were victimized.
In 1995, 58%. The most common crimes were being burglarized,robberies from unsecured areas like a garden, porch, or car. In 39% of the cases victims reported the crime to the police. In 1995, that was 50%. The most important reasons given for not reporting the crime were: The police force will do nothing. The police force could have done nothing because of lack of proof, the matter was too
small to report/there was no loss/it was done by a child, the matter was solved by the victim-he/she knew the perpetrator. Of those who reported the crime only 33% were satisfied with the policeÃÔ efforts. In 1995, 43% were satisfied. That is a fall of 10%. Of the people surveyed 35% showed strong to very strong fears and feelings of disorder. Compared to 1995 (62%) thatÃÔ considerably lower.


Bonare Reporter, November, 2008




Liz, I am not trying to slam Bonaire, I just want one of those great deals at your place!!!!

 

[DandyDon]

Liz, I am not trying to slam Bonaire, I just want one of those great deals at your place!!!!

I'm sure that Liz knows that I wouldn't hold her to that. I trust she meant it, but I wouldn't insist.

Her place was certainly on my list for when I do get there, now more than ever with the improvements she's pushing thru.

 

[dvrliz1]

I really have to question those stats.....No way those are accurate. I have a BONHATA meeting tomorrow and I am going to ask about Stats. I'm also going to ask the owners of the BR where they came up with those figures????? I am sure it is not an official figure. I would like to know who they asked and how they reached 72%....was this over their lifetime, was it residents only, did they include crimes not on Bonaire (for example, a lot of locals have to go to Venezuela for advanced medical treatment and you hear a lot of locals say they were mugged or someone stole something while they were in Venezuela. I mean how can you quote responsibly a figure like that without provide better statistics or details??????

I have never seen figures for crimes period officially so I have no idea where BR got them. I mean I am in a position to see A LOT of reports and statistics on this island and have NEVER seen crime stats EVER.... I am going to approach the board tomorrow to petition the government (particularly the polis) to provide us with a count of tourist related reports for 2007 and if possible 2008. Don't know if we will get them, but we can try.

Thanks.

Liz

JD you are welcome to our specials anytime!!!!

 

[gypsyjim]

It seems to me that nearly every resident of Bonaire that I have met on my visits to Bonaire is either from somewhere else originally, or if a native, has lived for some time elsewhere at some point during their lifetime. A lot of non native residents also seem to have moved to Bonaire to get away from somewhere else. Almost everyone I have spoken with on Bonaire travels elsewhere occasionally, if only to Aruba, Curacao or nearby Venezuela.
You live there Liz, while I just visit once or twice a year, so you would have a better idea than I if this impression of the mobility of the population is accurate.
If this pattern turned out to be true for a significant proportion of the resident population, then a statistic of crime experienced over their lifetime, without specifying where such crime had occurred, would have very little meaning. Would require much deeper analysis than what was included in the figures quoted. Might be significant, or might be totally useless, statistically.

Locating actual crime statistics would be useful. Actual information instead of rumor.....novel idea. Keep us informed.

 

[chauncy19]

Okay have been reading this thread with some fascination. I’ve been to Bonaire 6 times in 8 odd years. I am going solo for the first time this summer. Need to do more diving I guess. I wonder why of all the islands I’ve visited Bonaire has the most crime controversy. I wonder if this is because given its somewhat out of the way location and small size we all think it should have none. Every time I am there I am more paranoid about the petty crime—aka rental truck crime—stealing things from it or on it. I’ve found this fear from the first time I’ve been there to the last. The vehicle rental companies help add to this fear by their procedures and policies which I’ve found no where else.
I have had no bad experiences but always afraid I might. Maybe this is because I am getting older but I’ve never felt that way even when I was in Jamaica. Now one thing that separates all my trips is that only in Bonaire, Virgin Gorda and the Yucatan have I ever rented a car or truck. Never had any thought of someone stealing from my truck in Virgin Gorda. Driving on the left side of the road with a truck that was meant to be driven on the right , that was kind of scary.
Now I realize we are talking about more serious crime. Although I’ve heard about this type of crime on Jamaica and worse I’ve never had bad experiences in Negril, Montego Bay that’s another story. I had no thoughts of this what so ever in Bequia, Tobago or Virgin Gorda. Actually had no fear when I was in Negril but that was a long time ago.
The Yucatan and Cozumel probably just because its “Mexico” I had more awareness but I don’t think I had any real fear of it. Just more awareness and I was in some remote locations without anyway to lock a door.
Now San Juan is another story with all the bars surrounding the homes you have to be aware and that did effect me a bit even in the rural areas but really didn’t find anything to fear in those rural areas. Hey I didn't have any problems there but would still be on alert just remember the bars on the doors and windows!
Anyway to end my ramble I love Bonaire for its diving, wish I could feel less paranoid when I am there but it doesn’t seem like its going to happen. Not sure crime statistics are going to do it. Find the whole issue a puzzle. But I do keep going back !

 

[jd950]

Liz: I am guessing they did some sort of survey? That's why I put "stats" in quotes. Good luck at the BONHATA meeting. By the way, the bold was from the original report and I forgot to change it. That wasn't me emphasizing that bit.

Chauncey: I think we hear a lot about Bonaire because of the number of dive tourists that go there. It gets a lot of attention both good and bad, and with more tourists, there is bound to be more "crimes" perpetrated against those tourists even if there is not more crime "per tourist." Hard to know what the real situation is, which spurs discussion all by itself.

In the meantime, I am off to Curacao in a few weeks, so I'll let you guys and gals handle the crime issue and I'm going to focus my thoughts on diving, tropical drinks, fun restaurants and...diving.

Oh, and procuring proper armament for my journey into the maelstrom of crime know as the ABC islands.

 

[pdive]

Oh, and procuring proper armament for my journey into the maelstrom of crime know as the ABC islands.

Yup, make sure you pack your dive knife... but not for diving
jk

 

[Chris Tauzin]

That is horrible..... So sorry..... We loved the diving there but the people, food and country were not my favorite. I was considering going back but there are so many great places in the world to go that I may pass now. We are heading to Utila to search for Whale Sharks and I hope we don't have that problem. Scary....