On 8/15/07, Dave Cooper swansong@gmn-usa.com wrote:

Hi Dave and Nancy (and the list)
I recognize your boat name, and have seen the boat and heard you on the radio.

It's sad to here about your experience in St.Martin/Maarten, even
sadder that it apparently doesn't reach the public here. As I said, I
have never during my stay here since 2002 heard about any break-ins to
boat at anchor just a couple boats the got visit on the hard. Most of
my friends are live abords and no one has reported any problems.  If
what you say is true, and I believe you, then something should be done
about it!

St.M is still a friendly island, lot safer then most places in both US
and EU. Me and my girlfriend go out a lot. And offen walk back home or
to are dingy at night. Never had any problem.

As I said in my previous mail,  we been three times to Grenada - there
where break-ins every night specially in St.George lagun.

In Venezuela several of our friends have been robbed under gun point,
one shoot at and one even shoot in the belly (2003). This year one of
the Managers for one of the yards in Venezuela and his wife got shoot
died at the entrance to the yard. Several other cruisers shoot or/and
badly beaten.
(remember the france cruiser who in Mars got shoot 3 times and AFTER
that beaten. He survived but just)

In St.Lucia the crime rate has sky rocked the last 2 years. English
friends got badly beaten and tied up in Marigot bay last year, on
there boat at night. This was repeated several times this year but
mostly in Rodney Bay.

Not to mention Trinidad. Who this year has night patrols in the bay.

My point is that most of these crime doesn't even exist in St.M (yet).

I'm the Net Controller of the Scandinavian Net (8.182 8.00am local
time) down here in the Caribbean and hear all  about the security on
the Island and I still claim that St. Martin is one of the safest
island to stay on. Thats why we are here.

There is still a lot of crime on this Island too BUT most other
islands have far more and worse crime.

--
Patrik Kinander

Just had to send you this:

"Violent crime in Venezuela has spiked in recent months.  The country
has the highest per-capita murder rate in the world.  Armed robberies
take place in broad daylight . . . including areas generally presumed
safe and frequented by tourists.  Well armed criminal gangs operate
with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints.  "
............
"Many criminals are armed with guns or knives and will use force.
Jewelry attracts the attention of thieves.  Travelers are advised to
leave jewelry items, especially expensive-looking wristwatches, at
home.  Gangs of thieves will often surround their victims and use a
chokehold to disable them, even in crowded market areas where there is
little or no police presence. "
....................
"The growing number of incidents of piracy off the coast of Venezuela
are of increasing concern.  Some of these incidents have been
especially violent, including the severe beating of a U.S. citizen in
2002, the fatal shooting of an Italian citizen in January 2004, and a
machete attack on a U.S. citizen in 2005.  U.S. citizen yachters
should exercise a heightened level of caution in Venezuelan waters.
The U.S. Coast Guard's flyer outlining safety precautions for yachters
in around Venezuela can be found on the Embassy's web site."

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1059.html

Was not ment to be sent to the list :) Sorry

On 8/17/07, Ron Rogers rcrogers6@kennett.net wrote:

--
Patrik Kinander
patrik.kinander@navicomnetwork.com

Phone: +1 305 432 2167
Fax: +1 602 865 1755
Dutch Cell: +599 580 14 42
French Cell: +590 690 22 59 96

NavicomNetwork (Doozier)
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97064 SAINT MARTIN Cedex
French West Indies

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