Bonaire Crime - Our experience - Looking for input to share

[The Chairman]

Thanks for editing it out, Jim.

 

[AdivingBel]

I am sorry for my poor choice of words... I do that... I like your " Civilized Society " much better....

Jim....

Thanks, Jim. I have edited my poor choice of words as well.

 

[The Chairman]

Now, if we could only get the fidiots in Bonaire to change their evil ways...

 

[Pedroinspain]

Now, if we could only get the fidiots in Bonaire to change their evil ways...

It looks like it is going to turn out to be a lost cause, Doc.
In just short of 3 weeks, all of the private organisations/managers to whom I sent my original email have replied. In most cases they outlined what approaches had been made on numerous occasions in the past to the police and the government.

In the same period I received one (1) reply from the combination of the police/local government/Bonaire Tourist Authority, and it was hardly informative, as follows:

["Ik heb deze in verband met uw verzoek doorgestuurd aan onze wnd. korpschef de heer Rosales."]

Transl.: "With regard to your request, I sent this (email) through to our Corps Commander Mr Rosales".

Needless to say, in line with everything that we have learned and speculated on the theme of ineffective crime prevention on Bonaire, Mr Rosales has maintained wartime radio silence to date.

I have been promised one further response from BONHATA. Should this confirm the conclusions to date, and should there be a continued lack of response from the authorities, after 6 weeks have passed I will address the matter to the Dutch Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations and the three major Dutch scuba associations, and leave it at that.

 

[Kharon]

Bonaire charges $5.50 per tourist per day. 4 peeps and that is $22 to add onto the $120 for the apartment. (= almost 20% extra). Snorklers tag costs $15. Free most other places. Then add the theme of this thread.

So, you see, you were wrong, Kharon. Or overly sarcastic at best. I don't need excuses. I have ample experience not to need them. And if you have to search for the good snorkelling spots ..... say no more.

Where are you getting the $5.50/day. I don't get charged that. Maybe your lodgings are ripping you off.

And - no I don't see that I was wrong. Don't go - no one cares. But you seem obsessed on convincing everyone else that they shouldn't go. That indicates something more. You have an ax to grind.

Personally, I don't have to search for the good snorkeling spots. Don't know why you should have to. Buying a simple book (BSDME) and doing a bit of reading is all you would have to do - or would paying for the book be an exhorbitant tourist charge?

Also, to the rest that find "this is how it is" to be somehow unacceptable - this attitude is held worldwide with which ever trivial crime is prevelant and virtually impossible (economically) to stop. SO you walked down a dark alley in NYC and got mugged - BD. SO you got pickpocketed in Paris (or Key West) - BD. SO any of a ton of other examples everywhere in the world - BD. In GC I got blatently ripped off by a waitress because I didn't understand the exchange rate - BD. On St. John, on a patrolled beach, I was told that I would probably come out of the water to find sunglasses, towel and everything else gone - BD.

Nowhere is perfect. If you don't want to assume the risk, if you don't like the environment - don't go. It's as simple as that. It is their island. You have no right to expect them to change their culture because you don't like it. There are plenty of people who are willing to take proper precautions, don't mind the culture, etc. You might find it difficult to accept - but you are not the center of the universe. No one has to change to get your approval. Just go somewhere else. No one cares.

 

[diversteve]

Pilot Fish? You back?

some of you will get the reference....

 

[lpera]

Kharon...this is not a Go or No Go thread. I believe that most of us agree that the standard "do not leave valuables inside your truck" is tolerated, you can control that. I believe the author of the thread is worried with the fact that the authorities were so complacent that the type of crime is changing to the worst. Having someone break up in your house while you are there is serious business.

This "local ism" of "It is their Island" to justify the crimes rate is wrong. This impact their economy and might impact even more if it keeps growing.

You should realize that if people take their time to come here and write about it and even contact Bonaire's authorities to help drive a change it is because we have the same goal: to make Bonaire a better and safer place for divers and their loved ones. Simply as that.

 

[mmmbelows]

Don't go - no one cares.

That type of response really adds nothing.

Many people actually do care and that's the entire point and subject of this thread, hoping to get more to care to effect some positive change

 

[Pedroinspain]

Many thanks for the support, mmmbelows and Ipera. As should be obvious from my recent communications to private and government institutions, prominently displayed in this thread, I am indeed trying to DO something, instead of just telling those who object to the ineffective law enforcement on the island, that they should "not go". That is about as helpful and welcome as a "don't vote" advice when government corruption is signalled.

But you are correct on one topic, Kharon, "no-one cares". That is the reason why over the past 20 years criminality has got worse. I am not satisfied, so I am in fact trying to do something. What you been doing? Basically criticising my attempts to get Bonaire's administration to respond. Well done.

 

[Pedroinspain]

Where are you getting the $5.50/day. I don't get charged that. Maybe your lodgings are ripping you off..

Really? Interesting. Where did you say you were staying?