Be careful in Bonaire (Burglaries)

[Diver0001]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved to the ABC islands forum

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[BHB ScubaTroll]

With all due respect, that's like asking the barber if you need a haircut. From a customers perspective, the actual resort isn't an objective source of information.

I wouldn't say that people who have been robbed are objective either, but I do think that most divers are adult enough to read the various accounts and decide for themselves how important the issue is to them.

Nothing destroys trust faster than a call to suppress information.

Yes and no, I can see where liz is coming from with this and I can respect the fact that

• This is Dutch Netherlands Antilles
• Not everyone speaks enough American English to understand everything being stated on the board
• Not everyone has Internet access to defend their resort for this type of issue

... etc.

So, I thank people like liz (and any others) who do have everything needed to communicate with the board and also understand the way the island works. It has been very enlightening to me to find out how serious the resorts are taking these matters and attempting to work with law enforcement and within means to make the island a paradise for all who visit.

Is it perfect? Not by a long shot.
Are they working on the problem? Yes
Do they have enough funds to do the job completely? (not even US government has that much!)

I certainly do want to thank liz for giving us as much attention and information as she knows and then some... Thanks!

 

[phebes83]

I agree with Liz and the original poster on this one. If you want to make an informed decision then you should be demanding the statistics on all resorts. Just because the poster chose to give a warning doesn't mean other divers at other resorts weren't robbed just the same. If you want real information start a listing of ALL resorts and start commenting on each just as we do for restaurants. This will take some time but eventually you'll have a good sample. The larger hotels will more likely have more good posts and more thefts... You'll eventually be able to figure out based on percentage of posts who has the better security. Threads do not offer level grounding.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Okay and we start where? Oh ya how about with this one? See truth is hard, but you can spin it, graph it, and mold it to fit your needs! But the truth and full disclosure is still expected by me unless it isn't true, or it hurts a minor, or a very few other reasons! But to expect a person tell you that their place isn't safe will not happen! I do expect all sides of the facts, just like a traffic accident seen from four separate corners and four different versions of the truth! But it is still the truth for we the jury or spending consumer to decide!

I would say "Okay that happened, but this is what we have done to stop it" and then I am informed to make my own decision!

 

[gypsyjim]

Thank you clafrieda, for posting about your experience, and warning your fellow SB members. I am very sorry to hear about it, and you must have felt violated. Nasty surprise, and not what you look for on your vacation.
Also your warnings about the passports is spot on, we tend to forget how valuable a US passport is, and in a great many places that I have visited they are a hot item to thieves, and even pick pockets, and strong robbery in some other parts of the world.

Liz, thanks also for verifying his post, and for posting follow up information on the recent developments in this crime. Liz, it does sound as if this is the same crew that you mentioned a while back in an earlier thread on SB, as the main figure having just recently been released from prison, and a new wave of crime starting to show up?

Please keep us informed of developments in this case, and pray the authorities can quickly solve this series of crimes, and return the thugs to prison for much longer this time around. It would be nice if this could happen quickly, like before our June/July trip, would be REAL nice.

Hopefully we can keep this thread open to deal with this specific crime, and any resulting and current developments, rather than just degenerate into the same nasty he said/she said, second hand bickering that we have recently witnessed with every other SB Bonaire that discusses crime issues? Please?

If the actual victims wish to discuss they specific crime or situation, including naming the condo or resort involved, that is their business, and I feel their right to do so.

It is not up to the rest of us to force that issue. There is always the ability to use the PM button, to have a backdoor discussion, that does not use a public forum to either accidentally, or deliberately damage the reputation of any particular group or business, if anyone really wishes to hold private discussions.

 

[phebes83]

As it has been stated this isn't a closed story, just as victims names aren't released in police reports... we shouldn't expect the hotel/resorts to be published until the case is closed. One bad comment is equal to ten good ones, let's make sure it isn't heavily sided due to reading a thread or two. People are not adults when it comes to names... I remember vividly individuals avoiding UHaul trucks because one was used to blow up a building, ridiculous. I'm certainly not saying keep it under wraps but if you want to know the truth make sure you are getting all the angles... as you had said. There needs to be a level playing field for all resorts. Maybe this is what sparks one to create that field.

It's not suppression if he chooses not to say only if he was told/enforced not to say. By the sounds of it, it was his choice.

I believe in knowing the truth, unfortunately the truth may not be fully developed when you want it.

 

[ScubaSteve]

What you are missing is all of the angles. By you stating that we should not hear about part of the required information, you are removing the angle therefore making it IMPOSSIBLE for anybody to make an informed decision. By controlling the flow of information, you are supressing information. Is that your plan?

As it has been stated this isn't a closed story, just as victims names aren't released in police reports... we shouldn't expect the hotel/resorts to be published until the case is closed. One bad comment is equal to ten good ones, let's make sure it isn't heavily sided due to reading a thread or two. People are not adults when it comes to names... I remember vividly individuals avoiding UHaul trucks because one was used to blow up a building, ridiculous. I'm certainly not saying keep it under wraps but if you want to know the truth make sure you are getting all the angles... as you had said. There needs to be a level playing field for all resorts. Maybe this is what sparks one to create that field.

It's not suppression if he chooses not to say only if he was told/enforced not to say. By the sounds of it, it was his choice.

I believe in knowing the truth, unfortunately the truth may not be fully developed when you want it.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Just so everybody is clear, my discussion about the flow of information is NOT about this specific incident but is more about the digital control people have over the flow of information. I am not chastising the OP of this thread.

To say people should make informed decisions but then withhold information is obviously not a sensible thing to do. I agree that we should only do it in a manner that will allow for a true comparison however if everybody refuses to provide information until everybody else does means we will never have any information.

 

[phebes83]

lol, you guys are funny. You are only asking for one angle, I have yet to see anyone ask for all of them. That is my only point here. Give the readers a forum to give all angles, then you'll have all the information you want to make your informed decisions. Threads are extremely bias, listings and reviews have some leveling.

 

[ScubaSteve]

lol, you guys are funny. You are only asking for one angle, I have yet to see anyone ask for all of them. That is my only point here. Give the readers a forum to give all angles, then you'll have all the information you want to make your informed decisions. Threads are extremely bias, listings and reviews have some leveling.

OK....then what tips the scale the other way? This is a scuba forum. The largest on the internet for SCUBA I believe. Bonaire is primarily a SCUBA destination. If we can't use threads on here were are in trouble.