I am in Bonaire in a week (same time as SS001), my GF is frightened by this kidnapping. I certainly hope they find her safe... and this whole thing is over.
Kidnapping on Bonaire
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dvrliz1
Guest
Hi All!
As a woman living on Bonaire, an American ex-pat, let me tell you how I feel.
My first response was disbelieve, how could this happen on "my" island!!!! Before moving to this island I visited 2-3 times a year for 14 years, and have lived on the island for almost 5 years now.
In almost 19 years, this is the first that I have heard of something like this. It really did shake me to the bone. I had a sudden panic inside, like a fight or flight reaction. OMG, what is happening, I have to leave...etc...etc.
Then I thought about it. This is my home, I am not going to let this person and this fear take over, I'm not going to let it win. For those of you that have visited many years, it is your vacation home, and for some of you, your dream home of retirement. For some of you, it is still a dive dream destination.
Well, it still is. With all that is happening with the huge changes on Bonaire, we know that it will never be the same island. It will be similar, but not the same. Unfortunately because of the actions of 1 person (maybe 2, the police are looking into that--see Harrie's previous post about the black car), it is damaging to the remainder of the 15,000 or so people and our wonderful island. Believe me, we ALL want to see who is responsible for this to get what they deserve, every last one of us 15,000 or so people.
I remember in 1991 when I first set foot on Bonaire there were no cell phones, only 3 channels (snowy at that) from Venezuela on TV and no such thing as internet. Only Harbour Village had phones in the rooms. Everywhere in the world there was cable, cell phones and internet, but not here. It was a Garden of Eden, the way things used to be before technology. There were no sports cars and the kids didn't watch tv. They swam, played and listed to their parents (well at least until they became teens...lol...) It was a totally different world to come to. It was wonderful, a Eutopia.
Unfortunately along with the change, there is good and bad. It is a terrible reality, horrible, terrible. Unfortunately now, instead of thinking of our wonderful Bonaire as Eutopia, it now becomes realty. Sometimes very bad things happen, even on Bonaire. I'm not happy about it at all.
Now I have to do like I did when I lived in the states, (and it almost became an automatic reaction), When I used to go to a mall in the states, I would park in a well lit area, lock my doors and wait for a spot that was close to the entrance, all common sense safety precautions.
We don't have "malls" on Bonaire (thank goodness we are not that evolved!), but the point that I'm trying to get across is that now, I am cautious and plan my outings during the night carefully.
99% of the people that live on this island are generally kind, friendly, compassionate and mean well. The reefs are still as beautiful as ever, as well is the island topside. You can still go to Julio's and eat lunch with the locals, or have a cold beer at Maiky Snack, or enjoy lunch at the Rose Inn. We are just not Eutopia anymore. BUT, the 15,000 or so of us still welcome all with open arms, cautiously.
Hugs to all!
Liz
As a woman living on Bonaire, an American ex-pat, let me tell you how I feel.
My first response was disbelieve, how could this happen on "my" island!!!! Before moving to this island I visited 2-3 times a year for 14 years, and have lived on the island for almost 5 years now.
In almost 19 years, this is the first that I have heard of something like this. It really did shake me to the bone. I had a sudden panic inside, like a fight or flight reaction. OMG, what is happening, I have to leave...etc...etc.
Then I thought about it. This is my home, I am not going to let this person and this fear take over, I'm not going to let it win. For those of you that have visited many years, it is your vacation home, and for some of you, your dream home of retirement. For some of you, it is still a dive dream destination.
Well, it still is. With all that is happening with the huge changes on Bonaire, we know that it will never be the same island. It will be similar, but not the same. Unfortunately because of the actions of 1 person (maybe 2, the police are looking into that--see Harrie's previous post about the black car), it is damaging to the remainder of the 15,000 or so people and our wonderful island. Believe me, we ALL want to see who is responsible for this to get what they deserve, every last one of us 15,000 or so people.
I remember in 1991 when I first set foot on Bonaire there were no cell phones, only 3 channels (snowy at that) from Venezuela on TV and no such thing as internet. Only Harbour Village had phones in the rooms. Everywhere in the world there was cable, cell phones and internet, but not here. It was a Garden of Eden, the way things used to be before technology. There were no sports cars and the kids didn't watch tv. They swam, played and listed to their parents (well at least until they became teens...lol...) It was a totally different world to come to. It was wonderful, a Eutopia.
Unfortunately along with the change, there is good and bad. It is a terrible reality, horrible, terrible. Unfortunately now, instead of thinking of our wonderful Bonaire as Eutopia, it now becomes realty. Sometimes very bad things happen, even on Bonaire. I'm not happy about it at all.
Now I have to do like I did when I lived in the states, (and it almost became an automatic reaction), When I used to go to a mall in the states, I would park in a well lit area, lock my doors and wait for a spot that was close to the entrance, all common sense safety precautions.
We don't have "malls" on Bonaire (thank goodness we are not that evolved!), but the point that I'm trying to get across is that now, I am cautious and plan my outings during the night carefully.
99% of the people that live on this island are generally kind, friendly, compassionate and mean well. The reefs are still as beautiful as ever, as well is the island topside. You can still go to Julio's and eat lunch with the locals, or have a cold beer at Maiky Snack, or enjoy lunch at the Rose Inn. We are just not Eutopia anymore. BUT, the 15,000 or so of us still welcome all with open arms, cautiously.
Hugs to all!
Liz
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
Liz,
Thank you for his post. I can only imagine what you and the other locals must feel like. Your home (by this I mean the island of Bonaire - everybody's home) has been violated like never before. I appreciate you coming on and posting this and participating in this thread to help people know what is happening and to help people feel comfortable. As ScubaDrum pointed out, we are there next week and I personally cannot wait.
There is crime everywhere so in my opinion, this crime, while tragic and hopefully never to be repeated, does not remove the "Welcome to Eutopia" sign which a plane flies through to land on Bonaire. To know that the Police are still actively working very hard to try to find this girl and the culprit(s) behind it, is to know that everybody's safety on the island is still important. I am trying to find the silver lining here and perhaps it is that all of the police presence on the island right now will actually make it more difficult (and hopefully less likely) for something to happen (even a simple petty theft).
I want to thank you Liz and Harrie for doing what you are. I know that you want tourism to continue to thrive on the island as we all do. But you guys are helping those who are not on the island know what is ahppening so that they can feel comfortable making plans for the future that include Bonaire.
And I look VERY forward to meeting you both (ScubaSteve001 and DvrLiz1) next week, with a report of how good my/our first trip to Bonaire was. It really is unfortunate, especially in a place like this!
harmoni
Guest
Hi folks!
Yesterday there was an interview with a spokesman from the police, on local radio. He spoke a lot, but actually didn't say anything, at least nothing new. Still looking for Marlies's bag, and the guy with the black car. Not anything worth to tell you.
There are also circulating rumours about the mistakes the prosecutor is supposed to have made when Ryan was convicted last time. Part of his conviction for the crime before that one was suspended sentence. And the prosecutor general was supposed to have forgotten to get this suspended sentence changed to a real sentence. This was the prosecutor that has been in the news, because he had put his files about crimes, including his personal sex-affairs on Limewire, readable for everyone. I think this is too long ago, and not interesting anymore for this case.
I also spoke to the guy that is married to the woman that was raped by Ryan so many years ago. He told me Ryan was a tough one, that time, it took a real long time to get a confession out of him that time. I hope, if Ryan is really the guy that did this, they can manage to get the confession this time. So many years in "Bon Futuro"-prison Curacao won't have made him easier to handle. If it is really HIM, it is so sad and bad that he didn't get any companiment, when he came out of prison......
In a way we are lucky this was (is) a Dutch woman, white skin, there have been more disappearences of women several years ago here, they were local, and then those cases were never solved. I hope this one can be solved..... The longer it takes the less hopefull I am. Let's be honest, it is over two weeks, the people that still think she will be found alive, are not really realists, isn't it? If Ryan did it, and put her in some place, she will have starved to death for hunger and thirst now.
Liz, a compliment for your post here-above. Bonaire is still, I state this once-again, a safe island, but you NEED to take precautions, as everywhere, I think. I travelled a lot around the world, and know what I am talking about. Don't go out on a bike or for a walk in the evenings.
Harrie
Yesterday there was an interview with a spokesman from the police, on local radio. He spoke a lot, but actually didn't say anything, at least nothing new. Still looking for Marlies's bag, and the guy with the black car. Not anything worth to tell you.
There are also circulating rumours about the mistakes the prosecutor is supposed to have made when Ryan was convicted last time. Part of his conviction for the crime before that one was suspended sentence. And the prosecutor general was supposed to have forgotten to get this suspended sentence changed to a real sentence. This was the prosecutor that has been in the news, because he had put his files about crimes, including his personal sex-affairs on Limewire, readable for everyone. I think this is too long ago, and not interesting anymore for this case.
I also spoke to the guy that is married to the woman that was raped by Ryan so many years ago. He told me Ryan was a tough one, that time, it took a real long time to get a confession out of him that time. I hope, if Ryan is really the guy that did this, they can manage to get the confession this time. So many years in "Bon Futuro"-prison Curacao won't have made him easier to handle. If it is really HIM, it is so sad and bad that he didn't get any companiment, when he came out of prison......
In a way we are lucky this was (is) a Dutch woman, white skin, there have been more disappearences of women several years ago here, they were local, and then those cases were never solved. I hope this one can be solved..... The longer it takes the less hopefull I am. Let's be honest, it is over two weeks, the people that still think she will be found alive, are not really realists, isn't it? If Ryan did it, and put her in some place, she will have starved to death for hunger and thirst now.
Liz, a compliment for your post here-above. Bonaire is still, I state this once-again, a safe island, but you NEED to take precautions, as everywhere, I think. I travelled a lot around the world, and know what I am talking about. Don't go out on a bike or for a walk in the evenings.
Harrie
harmoni
Guest
BTW,
Divers visiting Bonaire in the near future, please feel free to have the dive of the century from my place, across Small-Wall, and not from a boat. Combined with a discussion about the safety on the island, and perhaps...... if we are on one line, have a drink together....
Send me an e-mail through the board.
Harrie
Divers visiting Bonaire in the near future, please feel free to have the dive of the century from my place, across Small-Wall, and not from a boat. Combined with a discussion about the safety on the island, and perhaps...... if we are on one line, have a drink together....
Send me an e-mail through the board.
Harrie
harmoni
Guest
Tomorrow it is three weeks ago. We havn’t had a press-conference for one-and-a-half week. Dutch newspapers have forgotten her, local newspapers are silent. Amercan newspapers or television-programmes did’t cover anything at all, they are too busy with the Presidential elections, also local radio-stations don’t talk about it anymore. Not much (visible) activity on the island anymore. Everybody was talking about her the first days. Now you don’t see anybody anymore talking about her. Marlies is totally forgotten. Bonaire is busy with the Regatta (Sailing event) Every evening there is partying in town, we were there, one evening, and stayed for some 10 minutes, we couldn’t stand it, knowing what had happened here, and nobody bothering anymore…….. I saw a woman alone on a bike, yesterday-evening, near the place Marlies was kidnapped. Didn’t she learn a thing?
Suspect Ryan is this weekend in custody for 2 weeks, and I am wondering if he will come free this weekend. Some boards told he will get or has got another week’s prolongation in jail. (As far as I know this is not possible according to dutch law, but, who cares?) This morning there was a short notice on the radio, they didn’t talk about the prolongation, but they said that they expect coming week some more arrestments. They seem to have more hard proof (forensic?), although they didn’t say what. Suspect Ryan doesn’t say anything anymore, keeps his mouth totally shut. Also the guy that escaped from the jail in Aruba (now you hear he escaped from the jail in Curacao) is not found. He is supposedly hiding on Bonaire.
If Ryan comes out of custody, he will not have an easy life. During all the investigations that took place on the island, lots of other things were found (stolen goods, drugs, weapons, a.s.o.) that had nothing to do with the Marlies-case, but the criminals, responsible for those things, hold Ryan responsible it was discovered. They promised to give him a free facial make-over, (the hard way), and renovate his bone-structure, (read: break all his bones.) (This is the way things are handled among the young criminals, here on the island.) If he comes out, you better stay away from the bars he goes normally, you could easily catch a free-flying fist, knife or bullet…….
It is so sad we don’t hear anything anymore. We want to know what is going on. On the radio they said the investigation-teams are still searching in the Knuku, we didn’t see anything, they spreaded leaflets on the island, I didn’t see any, I think all the detectives are still here, according to the huge bunch of cars spreaded around the police-station. I think if you are doing investigations in the Knuku, your car should not be at the police-station?
I heard that some people from the island wanted to organise a silent walk in town with torches and all people carrying a picture of Marlies with them. But I didn’t hear anything anymore. I think this initiative is going to die too. From own experience (the dog-bites and free-roaming dogs-story half-a-year ago) I think you will not get many participants.
The police-chief promised an investigation upon the slow reaction on the call of the guards from the WEB. (The guards saw what happened and called the police. They didn’t show up, because there was no occupation on the police-station). And the investigation just started 36 hours after the disappearance. Knowing the first 24 hours are the most important, this is a big failure. I am afraid this investigation will also be covered up.
I hope we are going to hear some more real results in the coming week. I hope they find her (dead or alive), I hope they can proof who was responsible for this, and I hope they will do in the future more efforts to keep our island free from these creeps.
Sorry I am so negative, but what happened here is so sad……
Harrie
Suspect Ryan is this weekend in custody for 2 weeks, and I am wondering if he will come free this weekend. Some boards told he will get or has got another week’s prolongation in jail. (As far as I know this is not possible according to dutch law, but, who cares?) This morning there was a short notice on the radio, they didn’t talk about the prolongation, but they said that they expect coming week some more arrestments. They seem to have more hard proof (forensic?), although they didn’t say what. Suspect Ryan doesn’t say anything anymore, keeps his mouth totally shut. Also the guy that escaped from the jail in Aruba (now you hear he escaped from the jail in Curacao) is not found. He is supposedly hiding on Bonaire.
If Ryan comes out of custody, he will not have an easy life. During all the investigations that took place on the island, lots of other things were found (stolen goods, drugs, weapons, a.s.o.) that had nothing to do with the Marlies-case, but the criminals, responsible for those things, hold Ryan responsible it was discovered. They promised to give him a free facial make-over, (the hard way), and renovate his bone-structure, (read: break all his bones.) (This is the way things are handled among the young criminals, here on the island.) If he comes out, you better stay away from the bars he goes normally, you could easily catch a free-flying fist, knife or bullet…….
It is so sad we don’t hear anything anymore. We want to know what is going on. On the radio they said the investigation-teams are still searching in the Knuku, we didn’t see anything, they spreaded leaflets on the island, I didn’t see any, I think all the detectives are still here, according to the huge bunch of cars spreaded around the police-station. I think if you are doing investigations in the Knuku, your car should not be at the police-station?
I heard that some people from the island wanted to organise a silent walk in town with torches and all people carrying a picture of Marlies with them. But I didn’t hear anything anymore. I think this initiative is going to die too. From own experience (the dog-bites and free-roaming dogs-story half-a-year ago) I think you will not get many participants.
The police-chief promised an investigation upon the slow reaction on the call of the guards from the WEB. (The guards saw what happened and called the police. They didn’t show up, because there was no occupation on the police-station). And the investigation just started 36 hours after the disappearance. Knowing the first 24 hours are the most important, this is a big failure. I am afraid this investigation will also be covered up.
I hope we are going to hear some more real results in the coming week. I hope they find her (dead or alive), I hope they can proof who was responsible for this, and I hope they will do in the future more efforts to keep our island free from these creeps.
Sorry I am so negative, but what happened here is so sad……
Harrie
ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
Thanks for the update Harrie. It is difficult with such a sad topic to remain positive and hopeful so the negative posting is read as someone who cares and wishes the outcome was different. All we can do at this point is remain hopeful that she is found alive (as unlikely as that is) and that the police have been doing a lot behind the scenes that will become visible in the near future (my opinion - as unlikely as this is). As has been stated, we can only try to keep people posted in an objective manner while trying to share all information (good and bad).
Thank you again for trying to keep everybody well informed. You and Liz have been great at helping those of us who love Boanire, but do not live there, stay informed.
Thank you again for trying to keep everybody well informed. You and Liz have been great at helping those of us who love Boanire, but do not live there, stay informed.
Hello, I'm also living on Bonaire and was also on the Bonairetalk forum.
Today they've arrested a second suspect, and what is said to be a kind of room mate of the other suspect, Rayan P. He's 19 years old and his family fighted against the arrest. There's nothing else about it at the moment, but probably a little breakthrough....
Today they've arrested a second suspect, and what is said to be a kind of room mate of the other suspect, Rayan P. He's 19 years old and his family fighted against the arrest. There's nothing else about it at the moment, but probably a little breakthrough....
AbyssalPlains
Contributor
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