usvi-on-line
More Caribbean Killings
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California Girl
Is the world changing that much, or is the "net" making us more aware? [Man, is this gonna be a bit off topic!] From bomb shelters to hide from the Russians, to nerve gas from Saddam's Imperial Guard, to Bird Flu, to West Nile, to an Inconvenient Truth, I'm sick of the press and the government scaring the shxx [poop] out of us. If you wanna go to the islands, whatever isle, go! Have a good time. Use some judgement. Depend on some good joss. Have a good time. Maybe the Force isn't, but the odds are with you. [ Here comes the off topic part], As far as terrorists are concerned, I've never been terrorized by an Iraqi. Let my wife and I go out to dinner, eat, share a bottle of wine, head home, and have a cop car drive behind us! Now, I'm terrorized.
MrB, I think you feel the same way!
MrB, I think you feel the same way!
When you find yourself in a hole.... quit digging.
A 12 year old girl was found dead today in an secure building in downtown DC. Does that mean I won't go to DC to see a show or have dinner anymore? No, it doesn't.
I saw the coverage of this on Good Morning America this morning and actually wondered how long till it came up on the various boards. Tragic, horrible, and random violence.
Unfortunately, there are no utopias. I am with JT. You gotta live while you are a live. Be careful, but don't let fear rule you. There are a lot of amazing experiences to be had.
I saw the coverage of this on Good Morning America this morning and actually wondered how long till it came up on the various boards. Tragic, horrible, and random violence.
Unfortunately, there are no utopias. I am with JT. You gotta live while you are a live. Be careful, but don't let fear rule you. There are a lot of amazing experiences to be had.
Hell, Flipper, me and the missus did a spontaneous trip to the your side of the river Saturday night. We went to the Birchmere to see Jerry Jeff Walker. Did you know that I don't need a visa to cross the Potomac? And when did y'awl get indoor plumbing? Man, I gotta get out more often!
By the way, We should all have as much fun at our jobs as J.J. Walker has doing his! "Just Another Gringo in Belize" killed the crowd!
By the way, We should all have as much fun at our jobs as J.J. Walker has doing his! "Just Another Gringo in Belize" killed the crowd!
When you find yourself in a hole.... quit digging.
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California Girl
I'm not saying I expect utopia. There's plenty of crime everywhere, even on St. John, yet I don't stay away because of it. But, did you read the sideline of that article? Here's what it says:
All I'm saying is that there are plenty of other places to go before I'd choose Antigua with those kind of statistics. Basically the same reason I won't go to Mexico these days or won't park in a parking structure at night when I'm by myself. I think it's just good sense to avoid a location or situation that you know could end up being bad.“Last year there were a record 19 killings on the island, which has 80,000 residents. That is a murder rate three times that of New York per head of population. Catherine was the ninth victim of 2008. Local paper The Antigua Sun has warned crime is “hurtling recklessly out of control.”
“Last night the latest UK Foreign Office advice warned of an “increase in robberies of tourists.”
JT, I'm with you. The media, online or not, are reporting this kind of thing with video streaming from the iphones in real time.
Still, most of the people in the Caribbean are dirt poor and life is worth whatever people need to live on. Take a walk in Kingston sometime.
Cheers, RickG
Still, most of the people in the Caribbean are dirt poor and life is worth whatever people need to live on. Take a walk in Kingston sometime.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Just don't venture into PW County ... talk about some unintended consequences down there. I don't like letting my husband go down thereJT wrote:Hell, Flipper, me and the missus did a spontaneous trip to the your side of the river Saturday night. We went to the Birchmere to see Jerry Jeff Walker. Did you know that I don't need a visa to cross the Potomac? And when did y'awl get indoor plumbing? Man, I gotta get out more often!
By the way, We should all have as much fun at our jobs as J.J. Walker has doing his! "Just Another Gringo in Belize" killed the crowd!
LOVE the birchmere. I don't know this JJ Walker (unless its the guy from What's Happening in the '70s) but will be checking him out.
We've had indoor plumbing (most of the time) since about 2002. When we had the kid we had to upgrade! Just don't ask about the pool in the basement ok.
California Girl wrote:I'm not saying I expect utopia. There's plenty of crime everywhere, even on St. John, yet I don't stay away because of it. But, did you read the sideline of that article? Here's what it says:All I'm saying is that there are plenty of other places to go before I'd choose Antigua with those kind of statistics. Basically the same reason I won't go to Mexico these days or won't park in a parking structure at night when I'm by myself. I think it's just good sense to avoid a location or situation that you know could end up being bad.“Last year there were a record 19 killings on the island, which has 80,000 residents. That is a murder rate three times that of New York per head of population. Catherine was the ninth victim of 2008. Local paper The Antigua Sun has warned crime is “hurtling recklessly out of control.”
“Last night the latest UK Foreign Office advice warned of an “increase in robberies of tourists.”
I should have read more of the detail & you are right on. I still think the press/internet just make us way more aware instantly of heinous things.
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Randy in MD
- Posts: 395
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:04 am
- Location: Shady Side, MD
I think what is disturbing is that they were on their honeymoon, in a luxurious resort--
http://www.cocoshotel.com/index1.htm
---and were reportedly in their ROOM, not bothering anyone when they were robbed and shot.
http://www.cocoshotel.com/index1.htm
---and were reportedly in their ROOM, not bothering anyone when they were robbed and shot.
---Jim
I feel the same way.iowaguy wrote:
---and were reportedly in their ROOM, not bothering anyone when they were robbed and shot.
The home invasion nature of the crime is so disturbing. To me, the article reads like the shootings were intentional as opposed to a tragic result of a criminal being surprised by guests returning to a cottage, for example.
I became interested in this story so I went to an Antigua forum where there was a lot of discussion on this issue. Here was some of the security advice someone was dispensing:
"Although it's tempting, you should never leave any windows or sliding doors open at night -- make sure the front door is double locked and chained. Make sure that any patio doors are locked with a security bar. Avoid places with an outdoor shower. Put all your valuables in the safe in your room or if you don't have one -- in the safe at reception. It's a pain to have to do all that but you can't take chances -- anywhere. I do the same whether I am staying at a hotel in Ontario, Canada or in the Caribbean. You can also bring door alarms that go off if someone tries to force the door open at night when you are in the room."
I'm sorry, and hey---I am from Iowa---but if I have to do all that, it doesn't seem like much of a vacation to me. I do admit that I would take most of these precautions at a hotel in New York or Chicago but a tropical breeze isn't part of the charm on those trips. Not sure what my point is, other than I'm glad I can still enjoy the tropical breezes in St. John!
"Although it's tempting, you should never leave any windows or sliding doors open at night -- make sure the front door is double locked and chained. Make sure that any patio doors are locked with a security bar. Avoid places with an outdoor shower. Put all your valuables in the safe in your room or if you don't have one -- in the safe at reception. It's a pain to have to do all that but you can't take chances -- anywhere. I do the same whether I am staying at a hotel in Ontario, Canada or in the Caribbean. You can also bring door alarms that go off if someone tries to force the door open at night when you are in the room."
I'm sorry, and hey---I am from Iowa---but if I have to do all that, it doesn't seem like much of a vacation to me. I do admit that I would take most of these precautions at a hotel in New York or Chicago but a tropical breeze isn't part of the charm on those trips. Not sure what my point is, other than I'm glad I can still enjoy the tropical breezes in St. John!
---Jim
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California Girl