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

There is too much crime everywhere. However some of what you report is not
boating related. The boatyard manager and his wife weren't shot because of
their boating interests nor were they in a boat nor on the water for
example.

One of the issues we see with reporting is that there is a total disconnect
with reports that are via the SSB and those that are on the VHF. Those on
the VHF tend to be "crime in progress" or soon after discovery by folks who
may not even have an SSB. We have noted this to Melody on 2nd Millennium who
runs  http://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com/ for the Caribbean.
www.noonsite.com is another.

One needs to look at these lists very carefully, sort them by dates, etc and
then look at what some of the reports are. Gas siphoned from a dinghy left
at a dock overnight.....hmmmmm. Dinghy gone missing that wasn't
locked....perhaps not tied well either. Snorkel gear stolen from deck while
we slept napped in the cockpit....Then there are the very serious ones.

I believe that better than 75% of the boating activity in the Caribbean is
not covered by these SSB nets. Bareboaters and charter guest folks make up
the majority of boating activity. Pull into any anchorage and 90% of the
boats are on hire :-( The charter companies tend to keep incidents "off the
air" as much as possible as it will hurt their businesses. I was a part of
the charter business for better than 20 years in the Caribbean so I am very
familiar with this tendency. Tourist Boards are even worse for keeping the
blinders on and trying to keep the chatter down on the various blogs and
websites.

These "VHF" reported issues that are heard and noted by us, the traffic
about them is gone within the day and that's it. By the time these folks get
back to the charter base for their debriefings the situation has cooled and
they are in a hurry to leave. Da plane boss, da plane! Seldom is there any
report filled out or will anyone take it to the next level. The time and
distance to come back to a trial or whatever is required isn't worth the
value of the item(s) taken. So another "VHF" crime falls thru the cracks.

Cruisers and liveaboards, on the other hand, generally have the time and
staying power to report crimes against them and generally have an SSB to get
onto the "nets" so that their incidence is logged and reported on them.

To illustrate that the issue of crimes against boaters issue holds the
highest attention, however, one only has to look at the OECS (St
Maarten/Martin aren't members) and that it has been and continues to be on
their meeting agendas.
http://www.oecs.org/Press/news_inaugural_yachting_security_meeting.html
So while it is not talked about in the International press very much, those
that realize the impact of crime against the Marine Community has on Tourism
are trying to address it.

People have to consider that these countries, some of which are independent
and others are still dependencies, have populations and annual budgets
smaller than most cities in North America. They all have to answer to the
local needs to get elected and we as outsiders don't have any say in this. A
road here or there, some funds so the kids can have a lunch programs or
books for school....these will help get votes.....maybe. Putting on several
police or marine patrols is generally out of the question.

What we have seen is that those who have marine related businesses are
better equipped to pull together and provide security. Not unlike the local
bank's guards, or those private security guards at the mall.

The Portsmouth, Dominica River Guide Association has set up a private patrol
boat that is out and about from dusk till dawn in the anchorage.
The Rodney Bay Marine sector has also done this.
Soufriere, St Lucia now has the Parks Service that is on call and patrols
often in several spots including the Pitons.
We have been checked out by several patrol boats both government and private
here in Venezuela since we arrived last week.

So we see in many areas a defacto awareness of crime against the marine
community and those most affected by its negative publicity are taking
direct action. I expect we'll see more and more of this as time goes on.

What we haven't seen is any such action and in fact a "denial" by the
authorities in St Maartin. It would be much better if they would step up to
the plate as one of the more affluent Islands and get a handle on this,
IMHO. They sure seem to have the money to burn with their 3 new US$250,000
Inflatables, hoist system and fancy building!! Time for some action other
than the boarding's (twice while we were there to check our papers even tho
we were sitting right out in front of their door) or the full circle at
night without lights outside in the Bay) yet while they are aboard and you
are speaking to them about the crime they say "don't leave your boat
unattended".

If one likes to anchor away from the crowd as we often do then you need to
be capable of providing your own security. Assume there is no one to call
that will be able to offers any assistance for several hours. If you are not
comfortable in a place or situation.....move! Sitting inside your locked up
boat in fear is a lousy way to cruise. Be proactive, street smart and you'll
reduce the likely hood of being a target.

Our land homes have been robbed, our cars stolen, and we've had to fork over
some money to people who've accosted us so we are not strangers to this sort
of thing. Each time you feel violated in someway and the "what ifs and
why's" always come up. We have found tho that as long as all your body parts
are still intact you're good for another day.

When you go to sea you'd like to think that you'll leave all of this behind
and to a large extent we think you do. However, the world is still the same
mix of people so the bad ones will consider taking advantage of you if you
come into there scope of operation. Try to sense where that is and keep the
advantage on your side of the ledger :-)

As always YMMV......

Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58

I agree that Cost Guard and Police in St.Maarten could do a lot more
about the security in St.Maarten.

I would'n called it hearsay when one of our friends got shoot at in
Porla Mare, and another friend got shoot in the belly by pirates 10 nm
out from Margarita going to Grenada. We visited him at the hospital in
Trinidad where he finally got really good healthcare.

And Dave is right the, the manager who got shoot in Venezuela is not
boat related but my point is that something like that never have
happen here.

We live in a marina, who also are a boatyard (Geminga, outside
Marigot). There is NO guards at night on the yard, and the yard is
open for anyone at anytime to walk into. Still, last year there was
ONE break-in onto one of the boats. In Venezuela they patrol the yards
with shotguns and dogs at night. Some may think that feels safe, I
don't.

I'm glad to hear that there is patrols boats now in St.Lucia and
Venezuela. I still don't think we need any in St.Maarten. The crimes
that have happened last years in St.Lucia and Venezuela is by far more
cruel than what you see here. As you say, a dingy gets stolen now and
then, or you gas tank. Or something from your boat. But in St.Lucia
and Venezuela people get shoot and beaten on there boats, at night on
anchor Something that so far never happen here.

But I also agree with you that the authorities here, specially on the
"dutch" side is in denial to the crime that is happening. On the
French side, if you need assistance call the Gendarmes(French military
police) instead of the local police or costguard.