Violent attack, Cruisers injured, St Vincent & Grenadines, Union Island

[dpddj]

I think a segment of my personal handgun training comes into play here - be aware of your surroundings and be on the alert. Bad stuff, unfortunately, happens to good people, even though they do not go looking for it. My heart goes out to Mark and Tina - best wishes for a speedy recovery and may this not stop your adventure. In my country, the USA, the media has a bias and an axe to grind. You seldom hear about the numerous instances that a crime was stopped by a trained individual - doesn't fit their agenda. In less than a year I intend to depart to the Caribbean with full expectation there will be some hiccups, but no major personal assaults. I will, however, be prepared for such an instance, but will not let it rule my life. As the Boy Scout motto dictates "Be Prepared".

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by rognvald

"It's like what I said about Chicago: many parts are quite safe. Even in the neighborhoods where there is gang activity, they aren't interested in you. Just keep on driving. I know people who won't drive through any "Black" part of town at night. They're idiots. The gangsters are looking for gangsters who balong to a rival gang -- not you and me. Rakuflames


Sorry for the thread drift, but the last three sentences are not only false, but dangerous to believe if you're traveling in Chicago and people should not believe what was said above is even remotely true. The reason the crime is largely Black on Black is because no White people live in those neighborhoods otherwise, the statistics would show some variation based upon percentages. It is not just gang violence between gang members but car jackings, armed robberies, rapes, kidnappings and home invasions that result in shootings and murders for the unfortunate decent souls that live in those areas. Our late and celebrated major, Jane Byrne, who was in no way a liberal femme fatale, wanted to show Chicagoans the 100% Black populated Cabrini Green housing projects were safe and moved in to prove her point. In a much televised departure, she left in two weeks for fear of her life albeit with an army of Chicago Police as her escorts. As someone who grew up in the city, these falsehoods are dangerous and patently untrue and could only be believed by someone with no first hand experience of our city or any other urban ghetto nationwide.

Cabrini Green is not all of Chicago. You're proving my point, not refuting it. If Mz. Byrne had felt unsafe in her own neighborhood she would not have felt safe going to Cabrini Green. "the projects," as they were once called, are gang territory. Not the only, of course.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by dpddj

I will, however, be prepared for such an instance, but will not let it rule my life. As the Boy Scout motto dictates "Be Prepared".

Your guns will be safe too! in their fort where you can't get at them!


This is where all guns are stored while you cruise Grenadian waters.

When you clear in all your guns get removed from your boat and sent to that fort in St Georges. It used to be that guns could be kept in a secure locker but thats changed and now all are kept in the armoury.

You can send them a Post Card but thats as close you can be.

[redsky49]

Originally Posted by dpddj

I think a segment of my personal handgun training comes into play here - be aware of your surroundings and be on the alert. Bad stuff, unfortunately, happens to good people, even though they do not go looking for it. My heart goes out to Mark and Tina - best wishes for a speedy recovery and may this not stop your adventure. In my country, the USA, the media has a bias and an axe to grind. You seldom hear about the numerous instances that a crime was stopped by a trained individual - doesn't fit their agenda. In less than a year I intend to depart to the Caribbean with full expectation there will be some hiccups, but no major personal assaults. I will, however, be prepared for such an instance, but will not let it rule my life. As the Boy Scout motto dictates "Be Prepared".

"In my country, the USA, the media has a bias and an axe to grind. You seldom hear about the numerous instances that a crime was stopped by a trained individual - doesn't fit their agenda."

I suspect this speaks more to your bias than that of the media.

We seem to be tipping back towards a guns and politics debate. Moderators???

The only crime I have ever faced was a theft while in Florida. Never an incident offshore, despite the obvious and substantial differential in income between ourselves and the locals.

That being said, use common sense when in another country, regardless of reputation.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Your guns will be safe too! in their fort where you can't get at them!


This is where all guns are stored while you cruise Grenadian waters.

Really? All of them? Every single gun in Grenada is going to be there?


Possibly one of the most naive statements I've seen in this thread.

This is New York City. There are no guns here, either (they are illegal).

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Cabrini Green is not all of Chicago. You're proving my point, not refuting it. If Mz. Byrne had felt unsafe in her own neighborhood she would not have felt safe going to Cabrini Green. "the projects," as they were once called, are gang territory. Not the only, of course.

Raku, you obviously didn't read or perhaps, didn't understand my remarks since your comments have no logical connection to the dialogue. I will let my comments stand as written. Good luck and good sailing. P.S. But, please promise me you won't be driving anytime soon through the South and West side of Chicago ghettos without impunity since you're obviously not a "gangsta" and they, therefore, would not bother you. You're to nice of a person to lose. Rognvald

[Rigamarole]

Originally Posted by Hud3

It seems inevitable that threads like this always get taken over by posters holding forth with the same old crap about which weapons to use against intruders, stats about crime in Chicago or wherever, and dire warnings about traveling to cruising destinations where crime may exist.

It's sad, really, for at least two reasons. One, those of us who simply want to keep up with any actual developments concerning the cruisers involved, and any progress in catching and prosecuting the perps have to wade through all the sickening claptrap that we've all read before in similar threads. And two, those who want to get into cruising and perhaps had hoped to visit these islands have no real way of sorting the BS from the truth, and end up getting an extremely biased view of the risks involved in the cruising life.

The truth is, that if you listen to advice to avoid the Grenadines and Union Island, you'll be missing some of the best cruising in the Caribbean. If you adopt the attitude, suggested by some here, that you have to be armed (with either lethal or non-lethal measures) and need to constantly be on alert to detect and repel attackers, you'll never enjoy the pleasures of getting to know some of the friendliest, kindest people I've ever met. You'll be constantly looking over your shoulder to see if evil lurks in the shadows rather than enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery and ambiance in the Caribbean.

Sure there is crime in the islands, but your chances of experiencing it as a cruiser are very, very small. Take normal precautions as you would where you live right now. And take all negative comments here with a large grain of salt.

Great post Hud. As soon as Mark posted the news of this attack I felt sorry for him because he would regret it. Every time its the same old BS. I hope the cruisers recover, peace-out.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

We're a big country, so I don't blame foreign visitors for wondering, because they read the news. They've heard about that whack job in Cleveland who made sexual slaves out of three women for 11 years. They've heard about John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy. They've heard about all the shootings in Chicago, but not the highly selective nature of it, because news is presented in sound bytes now.

WE don't get balanced reporting. Certainly foreigners will not.

whats this i hear about your government being on strike

or is it just a socialist revolt against the ruling classes

[sabray]

Not on strike. They sent their employees home but decided to pay them as long as they don't work. They decided that essential people have to work and they too can get paid. The working guys don't get paid more then the ones being paid not to work. Isn't this a standard practice in most successful business.

[Boatguy30]

Yep, it certainly is great the "stand and fight"; " core principles group" has already voted to pay these guys for not working in the hopes their utter contempt for for government employees (except themselves) won't influence the vote in 2014. Nothing like a paid vacation, anchorages in paradise must be a bit more crowded.

[Boatguy30]

Oh, and lots of great pics of late. Too bad all these "law abiding" responsible types are so adverse to accepting strict gun control measures do result in less gun homicides in all other first world countries.

good on Grenada; no reason a "well regulated militia" can't visit the armory on the weekend and squeeze off a few rounds.

[bradweston]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Misreading or over-interpeting the statistics will scare you down to your bones every single time.

Yes, DC has a high crime rate. But not every part of DC has a high crime rate, and there are many areas around DC that are quite lovely and quite safe.

It's like what I said about Chicago: many parts are quite safe. Even in the neighborhoods where there is gang activity, they aren't interested in you. Just keep on driving. I know people who won't drive through any "Black" part of town at night. They're idiots. The gangsters are looking for gangsters who balong to a rival gang -- not you and me.

I see the difference between that and anchoring in a secluded spot of a Caribbean island. There may well be "boat boys" who know how to move their boats silently and how to wield a machete. It is not "trashing" the islands to say this is a reality. The more far afield you go, the more careful you will have to be. To think otherwise is naive.

I used to live in Back of the Yards in Chicago. It has one of the highest murder rates in the city and my block averages a couple of murders a year. Gang members would hang out on my stoop and there was nothing I could do about it except say "excuse me" when I wanted to get through.

It is a Latino neighborhood and I am a small white clown type (occasionally I would practice juggling on the sidewalk and on hot days I played in the fire hydrant with the neighborhood kids). I learned a few things:

how to be friendly
How to be unworthy of notice
How to be aware of the energy around me
How to seem like a difficult target
What colors not to wear- in this case baby blue for the local gang or red for the one down the street.

Danger can happen anywhere and awareness is the best self defense tool.

I know this doesn't apply to the surprise attack that the OP suffers from. But i would hate to see the take away from their situation be that people are afraid to visit places that they heard someone say once is scary. We all have our own risk tollerances and it is a big beautiful world out there. I wish the OP and his wife a speedy recovery.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by atoll

whats this i hear about your government being on strike

or is it just a socialist revolt against the ruling classes

We need a Queen to fire their asses and force an election. IMO a King wouldn't do it.

[Celestialsailor]

I see we tired of weapons and are now in politics.

[Jimbo485]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

We need a Queen to fire their asses and force an election. IMO a King wouldn't do it.

Or maybe you lot need an annoyed population with weapons so you can revolt?

Hey! Wait! Your population is armed! And, apparently, armed for exactly this purpose!

So..... what are you waiting for? To get more pissed off before you take action? Your gubmint hasn't done enough to annoy you yet? Or you lot are just too whipped into obedience to react when you need to? Lacking a charismatic revolutionary leader from Hollywood?

What, exactly?