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Stumbled across this site when reading the forums on Frommers. Really don't know what to think of it. It's presentation is extreme but looking past that I'm afraid there may be significant merit to the claims made. Shocking and disappointing.
I'll be in PR in April, not going to Vieques or Culebra but this is disturbing.
I sadly suspect that there is a lot of truth to what is going on in Vieques. It's sad because all this is going to do is destroy the tourism industry. If the accounts of how the police are dealing with this issue are true, then they are totally incompetent.
They have a lot of numbers there that don't match or make any sense. For example:
Quote:
Originally Posted by http://www.paradiseno.com/Police_CrimeLog.html
AS OF DECEMBER 2010 - OVER 1,000- (ONE THOUSAND) HOMICIDES RECORDED. A RECORD SET.
The murder rate in all of PR (population: 3.9 million) was close, but didn't reach 1,000 in all of 2010. Vieques (population: 9,240) can't even be close to that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by http://www.paradiseno.com/ViequesNO.html
VIEQUES VIOLENT DEATH TOLL TOTALS - 33 HOMICIDES- ALREADY - FOR THIS YEAR OF 2011
Vieques Mayor Evelyn Delerme Camacho, requested an increase in the number of police officers serving her municipality, facing the criminal incidence which has caused 10 deaths during this year.
So what is it? 33 or 10? They can't even get this straight.
As a media news forum, accurate reporting is our legacy. We have compiled photographs and stories of men, women and children who have been a victim of a crime while visiting Vieques, the Caribbean, returning from the island or staying for a time as a tourist or business traveler. Ultimately, we have grown into a hot spot for the best travel research portal for security and detailed analysis for your safety.
and a little bit further down, on the same page
Quote:
The info provided here by the author noted as "paradiseno.com" and “viequesno.com", or any official contributing authors are to be considered personal views or “opinion” only. Supporting info provided will be fact based, but there is no assertion of the accuracy of such information since it is dependent on 3rd party sources which are subject to error, and also subject to individual interpretation.
I can see Vieques, but haven't been over in a few years. If sleepy Esperanza is the "ghetto," what is Isabel II? Never had a problem. Never heard about the boating incident. I suspect its a lot of hogwash.
That site is the lunatic raving of ONE person, who owned the shack that got burned down. If anyone here on the island read it in its entirety, they'd be pissed...his "anonymous sources" talk about people who are known to all on the islands and who are INNOCENT of any wrong doing. In fact, I have to laugh...I split my time between Vieques and the US. In the US, where my boat is moored, there is a constant issue with dinghy's being stolen and electronics being taken...yet he writes about these events on vieques like they are somehow unique. There is an issue with crime/drugs on Vieques, same as there are in many cities in the US...And to call Esperanza a ghetto is insulting. If this guy had the same attitude when he was here on the island, it's no real big surprise that someone might want to torch his shack on the beach. What goes around comes around...
Stumbled across this site when reading the forums on Frommers. Really don't know what to think of it. It's presentation is extreme but looking past that I'm afraid there may be significant merit to the claims made. Shocking and disappointing.
I'll be in PR in April, not going to Vieques or Culebra but this is disturbing.
There is NO significant merit to his claims. He is a disgruntled person who is no longer here and he allows his site to be used as a means for anonymous libel. No honor.
having lived full time in vieques for the past 6 years, i can state that it is not a sleepy beach town. the island is stunningly beautiful and uncommercialized, giving the impression of safety. it is not a safe island. thief is huge, and drugs are everywhere. houses are robbed all the time. i personally know two people who were stabbed. there are home invasions and recently there was a murder where the head was chopped off with a machette. if you are travelling to vieques, you can have fun, you can enjoy yourself, but you need to be aware, that just because it looks peaceful, does not mean that it is, and to be smart/. just like travelling anywhere.
I live in Vieques full time and I have to tell you that if you keep your NOSE clean and don't hang out with people who drugs, you will be safe. (Hey, wait, I guess that's probably true of anywhere, world wide...go figure!!!)
Yes, there have been about three murders since Jan. that were clearly related to drugs. Yes, one person was beheaded...upon his release from prison. He'd just been released...he had been convicted of sexually abusing a young child. (I'll get the coffee, you guys debate amongst yourselves about the ethical minefield around *that* topic.)
Why anyone would want to bad mouth Vieques while also say they live there is beyond me. If it sucks so much, go home. Please.
As to the person who puts together that web site, he is living proof that you can make statistics say anything you want them to say with just enough innuendo and manipulation.
Just like anywhere in the Caribbean (read the St. Thomas and St. Croix papers on line if you like) drug smuggling is a constant battle and that's where most of this crime comes from. Add to it the fact that there are a lot of houses sitting empty for 10 months out of the year and you can pretty much figure out where the crime comes from....
so if you are a tourist and are not going to make some money smuggling drugs, won't be an a$$hole to the locals, and don't plan to buy a house that you will leave empty for 10 months out of the year, come on down and have a good time. Leave your stuff at the house, who needs a watch or a cell phone when you're in paradise anyhow....
Common sense is always a good travel companion, Vieques is no different form other places as far as that goes...
P.S. If you decide not to come to Vieques for vacation, for GOD'S SAKE DON'T GO TO NYC! Have you seen their crime rate? (just a little levity for the alarmists on this thread...)
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