Kidnapping on Bonaire

[scubaaaronh]

just want to let everyone know that Harrie is on island and lives near hato. he is typing the report as he is hearing them and not adding what he thinks needs to be added. Again some may be speculation on the radio but he is just typing it as he hears it.

thanks harrie for keeping us informed on the situation and the way it is unfolding. i hope the mods on here will let this discussion go and not close it.

 

[phelana]

I do not believe this thread does ANYTHING but create confusion and further intrigue in a serious and sad situation. Out of respect for the victim and her family why prolong this? We who reside on island hear a lot of this and that and do not feel a need to inform everyone. It's not our place. When an outcome is official THEN the police report or press release should be made public. This has NOTHING to do with diving. It's a sad crime without any relation to a tourist or dive situation.

I was not aware Harrie was the official authority on this crime. It's interesting his first post is about this crime the day Bonaire Talk stopped the thread. We all hear the same thing, rumors, news reports and so far NOTHING about the victim that factual and to be relied upon as accurate info. Why do divers need to know the day to day situation where they are searching for the body? This is not CSI Bonaire but a real family suffering and an island grieving.

No board including BT should allow this meaningless thread. Respect the family and wait for an official reply report.

Ann Phelan
Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations--Your Caribbean Travel Specialist

 

[ScubaSteve]

I do not believe this thread does ANYTHING but create confusion and further intrigue in a serious and sad situation. Out of respect for the victim and her family why prolong this? We who reside on island hear a lot of this and that and do not feel a need to inform everyone. It's not our place. When an outcome is official THEN the police report or press release should be made public. This has NOTHING to do with diving. It's a sad crime without any relation to a tourist or dive situation.

Ann Phelan
Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations--Your Caribbean Travel Specialist

<snipped rude stuff> How does major crime (maybe you disagree that kidnapping is a ways above petty theft) have nothing to do with the tourist situation? How does tourist safety rank in your books....just below the importance of cat food? All areas have crimes but I would rather know what those crimes are than to find out for myself as a bad surprise. I want the ability to make an INFORMED decision...not a blind decision which you would have your customers do. Knowing basically (even if not specifically) what is going on helps me to better prepare myself for my coming trip.

 

[scubaaaronh]

I was not aware Harrie was the official authority on this crime. It's interesting his first post is about this crime the day Bonaire Talk stopped the thread. We all hear the same thing, rumors, news reports and so far NOTHING about the victim that factual and to be relied upon as accurate info. Why do divers need to know the day to day situation where they are searching for the body? This is not CSI Bonaire but a real family suffering and an island grieving.

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I never said he was the authority on it. He just seems to be the only one on the island that is willing to help people in other countries understand what is going on. Not just not talk about so knowone knows.

 

[deeper thoughts]

I think this thread has been useful for what it is worth and at no time has there been any disrespect for the victim or the victims family. Thnx for taking the time to update the rest of us

 

[helimvee]

phelana

"I do not believe this thread does ANYTHING but create confusion and further intrigue in a serious and sad situation. Out of respect for the victim and her family why prolong this? "

If you do not want to "prolong this" why did you post in the first place? All you've done is create more posts and attract more attention.

phelana
"We who reside on island hear a lot of this and that and do not feel a need to inform everyone."

So it's okay to discuss it on island, but not in a forum?

phelana
"I was not aware Harrie was the official authority on this crime."

Ann, I wasn't aware that you were the authority on what should be discussed in an open forum.

phelana
"Why do divers need to know the day to day situation where they are searching for the body? "

Because I care about what happened to this young lady and what her family is going through and want to see some closure to this situation. I can't speak for anyone else, but will bet that everyone else that visits this board feels exactly the same.

 

[driftwood]

I We who reside on island hear a lot of this and that and do not feel a need to inform everyone. It's not our place. When an outcome is official THEN the police report or press release should be made public. This has NOTHING to do with diving. It's a sad crime without any relation to a tourist or dive situation.

I

Ann Phelan
Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations--Your Caribbean Travel Specialist

Ann,

You are absolutely WRONG! In all fairness, you have a serial rapist on your island who has apparently advanced to murder. There is an extreme paranoia on Bonaire regarding any crime being made public knowledge to potential visitors (without an official report). Your attitude only increases a tourist's fear of the unknown. Open your eyes and see that focusing attention on a problem will serve you better than putting your head in the sand.

This incident and the way you are addressing it, the problem IS the problem on Bonaire. It is hard for me to understand why the residents of Bonaire have such a difficult time looking the issue of crime (it is small, but made louder by silence/denial/waiting for official reports) square in the face and finding a solution. Reach between your legs, find a pair of balls, and with a loud voice, say 'NO MORE".

 

[phelana]

We have a serial rapist? I had no idea. The man who was arrested has NOT been convicted. So thus, he is innocent in this case. In time the truth will be revealed. I merely suggest we all wait and let the police solve this crime and allow the families involved to have their privacy protected. Because we are so small we are under a microscope. This is not paradise. Real life exists here and sadly a young woman is missing. Peace to all...as if no one has learned from the Natalee Holloway case...

 

[ScubaSteve]

We have a serial rapist? I had no idea. The man who was arrested has NOT been convicted. So thus, he is innocent in this case. In time the truth will be revealed. I merely suggest we all wait and let the police solve this crime and allow the families involved to have their privacy protected. Because we are so small we are under a microscope. This is not paradise. Real life exists here and sadly a young woman is missing. Peace to all...as if no one has learned from the Natalee Holloway case...

You had no idea? Well that is either very scary or a blatant lie. There was a report stating that there was thought to be a serial rapist from Curacao hiding on Bonaire.....welcome to the island. Who is that knocking on your door???


Besides....please go through this thread and tell us how we have invaded the privacy of the family.....please. You are grasping at straws because you do not want anything bad said about Bonaire. {Hopefully they will simply just forget about it}

 

[deeper thoughts]

We have a serial rapist? I had no idea. The man who was arrested has NOT been convicted. So thus, he is innocent in this case. In time the truth will be revealed. I merely suggest we all wait and let the police solve this crime and allow the families involved to have their privacy protected. Because we are so small we are under a microscope. This is not paradise. Real life exists here and sadly a young woman is missing. Peace to all...as if no one has learned from the Natalee Holloway case...

I hate to say this but the people who could really learn from the Natalee Holloway case is the investigating authorities. I believe that case is still unsolved.