St. Maarten Private Eye

Where you shot on the Dutch or French side? What were the circumstances and when did happen?
GS

Hi everyone,

I am asking you to read this note fully for some careful travel advice, as I want to share with you the dangers we encountered on our vacation and to alert you to be careful on yours...

As many of you know, these past few days I was on vacation with my mom in the Caribbean, on the beautiful island of St. Martin/St. Maarten, in the Netherlands Antilles...I encountered a near-death experience...and considering I am alive, I would like to share it with others world-wide, so that they too may be warned about such things happening to tourists and vacationers, and perhaps this can prevent them from having an experience like mine... (please see the attached and very ironic Wall Street Journal Article, written March 18,2008, recommending the "Grand Case" place where we nearly got killed to tourists).

The island of St. Martin/St. Maarten is amazing – beautiful, white, sandy beaches, warm people and delicious seafood...the island itself is only 37 miles wide with 13,000 residents. It is 1/2 owned by the French (North part) and 1/2 owned by the Dutch (South part), thus considered to be split into 2 different countries with different governments and police forces, although most tourists arrive to visit the entire island (and there is no official split or immigration point to cross between the two sides). St. Martin is a very popular vacation spot for those going on various cruises and island stays, and the number one destination in the Caribbean (supposedly a very safe island to visit)...
However, there is another side of St. Martin/St. Maarten my mom and I got to know the hard way...the side of murders, kidnappings, disappearances, muggings and rapes...

We were walking in a safe area of the French side of St. Martin - in Grand Case, better known as the "Gourmet Capital" of the island, filled with vacationers, tourists and locals all gathering for some of the finest food on the island...

We just finished eating dinner at the Le Cottage Restaurant and walked out to go to our rental car, when, out of nowhere, a black car with tinted black windows screeches behind us, four local men between the ages of 16-20 jump out on us and proceed to attack me from behind, dragging me back into the car with them...

My mom, screaming paralyzed in disbelief that this is happening to us...IN REALITY...not out of some action movie script...jumps on the attackers to prevent them from dragging me into the car...
I managed to free myself and a serious fight for our lives persisted, as we were both screaming for HELP, fighting and kicking the four tall, built, local Caribbean guys for our lives...

Many people were nearby in the busy street, but all too scared to run up to help in time...so we kept fighting until one of the guys ran back into the car (for weapons or some other reason?), while the other knocked my mom down into a ditch on the side of the road, proceeding to kick her while she was laying down defenseless, all the while, punching her in the face and attempting to rip her handbag from her (which was hoisted over her shoulder).

In the meantime, I was fighting off the other attacker, who managed to punch me in the nose and the head...he tried to slam me down to the ground, but everything happened so fast and I was so terrified, that all I could think about was fighting him with the rental car keys I grasped tightly in my right hand...

I finally pushed him away, freeing myself, only to notice that the other man was on top of my mom, punching her and kicking her...so to my own horror and indescribable fear, I ran up to him and jumped on his back to try and free my mom...

Needless to say, he was much stronger and taller than I, so he slammed me into a side fence, cutting my upper right arm and punching me in the face once more...despite the pain and utter horror, we kept fighting for what seemed like an eternity... when realizing he was alone (the other attacker was back in the car with my purse, while my mom was still on the ground from the beating she took...) and I was the only one fighting him, he left me, turned around and ran up to my mom, and started to punch and kick her even more, finally ripping her handbag from its straps and running up to the black get-away-car, which at this point pulled up to the front of the street to make it's escape, as more people were coming out in response to our screaming...

When I saw my mom fighting the attacker, I was in such disbelief – I do not know how it is possible to think in such moments, but everything seems in such slow motion…almost like a timed movie…but this was reality - here was my mom, a doctor who normally used her hands to assist patients, save lives and deliver babies and bring forth life into this world, to have to use those same hands in the attempts of fighting/hurting someone to defend her life and that of her own daughter…

I was so angry that this guy hurt my mom – I was exploding with this irrational anger at that moment – and so I grabbed the attacker’s shirt and kept fighting him, trying to grasp my mom's handbag from his grip (the bag contained our passports, wallets and all other personal belongings)...I was running at him, fighting him, pleading with him, hitting him, screaming at him – and this time he was trying to pull away, realizing that attacking 2 defenseless women was not as easy as he originally had planned...

Finally, he and I somehow found ourselves next to the get-away car and I suddenly saw the other 3 men inside the car, all staring at me - realizing that if I did not let go of the 4th attacker immediately, they would grab me into the car and fulfill their original wish, I let go, the attacker jumped in, and they sped away...

I ran back to my mom, in disbelief about what just happened...she and I had cuts and bruises everywhere, my shirt was ripped with the attacker's blood on the front, my face swollen along with that of my mom's, my right thumb totally purple and numb, from the force with which I was fighting with the attacker using the car keys...and my handbag strap still on my shoulder somehow, without the bag...

When I ran to pick my mom up from the street, I saw that she was desperately clutching something black in her right swollen hand...it was the attacker's baseball cap which she managed to rip from his head in the fight...her fingers bloody from scratching the attacker's face and her knuckles swollen and blue from punching the attacker to escape...

YES...THIS ALL HAPPENED MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008 ON THE "FRIENDLY ISLAND OF ST. MARTIN/ST. MAARTEN" in the Caribbean, on the main street of the French area of Grand Case, on the main avenue of the restaurant row...

We are blessed by God to be safe and at home in the US - beaten, shaken, but ALIVE...

You might think this was the worst of our ordeal...but NO...what followed was even more unimaginable...the French special Police force on the island...the GENDARMERIE NATIONALE, arrived after calls for help came through from local residents (since this happened on the French side of the island), took some eyewitness reports and examined the scene...however, since there were only about 5 of them on the island (!?!?!?!), there is not much they could do they told us...so they took us to the Police Station for a deposition and obtained the DNA evidence from the attack - they took my ripped, blood-stained shirt and the attacker's black baseball cap with the letter "A" on it to send off to a special laboratory for examination...we were at the police station until nearly 2 AM, at which point the police concluded the documentation and walked us to the rental car parked in the parking lot...telling us to go back to our hotel!!!

We begged them to escort us back to the hotel, as the attackers had all of our rental car documents (including the number of our rental car license plate), our photo IDs, our hotel information and the keys and parking passes to the hotel!?!?! Surely the police could understand the importance of escorting us back to the hotel safely to assure that we were not followed and our lives not in danger...but they said...if we escort you back, who will look for the attackers? We cannot?!?!?!?! Can you imagine our horror and disbelief to hear this?!?!...

So here we were...in the middle of the night...no cell phone, no wallet, no map, no IDEA where we were...told by the police to find our own way to the hotel...still bleeding and in complete shock, we were left in the deserted police parking lot to drive back ALONE!!!

What if the attackers had followed us? What if we got a flat tire, and our cell phones were stolen, our wallets gone, no money, no way to call for help? Where were we supposed to drive in the middle of the night, with no directions to the hotel? What if we got lost and drove into our attackers neighborhood? What if...what if....

The drive to the hotel was indescribable....after several wrong turns and breaking all of the speed limits, we finally heard a siren and were stopped by the French Police...WHAT? WOW! They stopped us and a few other cars for apparently passing a red blinking light meant to stop motorists during night road construction...

So there was no one to escort 2 aggravated assault victims home, but there was a car with 2 French police officers to stop motorists for passing a road construction on a red light? UNIMAGINABLE! We explained the situation to these police officers also, they examined the printed police report of our situation, turned down our request and told us to drive more carefully the next time?!?!?!

At this point, many of you might ask whether this is some dream or a plot taken right out of an action movie...but no...this was our reality – our nightmare...and if it happened to us, it can happen to anyone...so please read on, be careful and be very vigilant in your own travels...

Then again, since last week the Chief of Immigration and the Chief of Police were apparently arrested on the island for corruption charges, perhaps it is only natural to realize that no help can be obtained from the corrupt officials whose purpose was to protect us and the locals...

YOU MUST WONDER WHY I SAY TO YOU WE ARE VERY BLESSED AND VERY THANKFUL FOR OUR EXPERIENCE...

Well, we naturally had to deal with an unimaginable ordeal, fear, anger, broken trust, disbelief, much paperwork, a ton of corruption and red-tape, but we were ALIVE to deal with all these things…
Eventually we had to go back to the police station to deliver the official reports from the medical clinic which examined us...It is only then...standing and talking to the Geandarme officer, that I glanced at the wall in the entry to the Geandarmerie police station and noticed a poster with 12 MISSING PEOPLE...12 PEOPLE WHOSE BODIES HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND...12 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE (4 little boys, ages 5-8; 6 beautiful women, ages 25-50; and 2 men, one a student, another looked as though a businessman or an owner of one of the island's villas...) and that is just on the French side of St. Martin/St. Maarten…was it the same on the Dutch side? Or perhaps even more victims? More unheard of tragedies, disappearances, murders, kidnappings?

WHY DID I NOT SEE SUCH POSTERS ON THE ISLAND? WHY WAS I NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RAMPANT CRIME (increasingly violent)? WHY WERE THESE POSTERS SITTING AT THE POLICE STATION, WHERE VICTIMS COME, AND NOT AROUND THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, TO WARM THEM OF SUCH CRIMES...well, perhaps because the biggest investors to the island don't want tourists to know that the #1 vacation island (whose entire economy is based on tourism) they are coming to is plaqued with unsolved murders, crimes, theft, burglaries, and even petty purse snatchings from unprotected tourists and even the very own inhabitants of the island are beginning to live in fear...

But I want you all to know that YOU MUST BE CAREFUL and you must be aware that even the safest place is not safe at all...I want you to know of the crimes happening, and that which happened to us, because these attackers are still out there, and many more like them, because they know that there is nothing the police can do, because they know that these tourist-islands are interested in keeping things quiet to prevent fear and not to hurt the economy which is 95% based on tourism...and because they know that tourists come with money and let down their guard easily…

But what they don't know, that because these criminals are getting away with more and more, it is only a matter of time before the 12 murders turn to 100, before there will be another Natalie Holloway "Aruba" scenario, which will forever change the tourism, economy and foreign investments on the island of St. Martin/St. Maarten – ironically dubbed "the friendly island of St. Martin/St. Maarten"
And who will the true victims be? Perhaps the 99% of the 13,000 residents of St. Martin, who are caring, kind and tourist-loving people...and sadly, the 1% of the criminals will continue to devastate unsuspecting families like yours and mine, until a much more serious crime will be brought to light, which cannot be swept under the rug any longer...which cannot be made to go away and disappear from the pages of the press via corruption or money...

I will pass this story along to all of you, and ask that you pass it along to all those you know and care about, because if it can happen to me and my mom (who was visiting the island as a doctor and part of a 300+ medical medical conference for the AAFP – American Association of Family Physicians), then it can happen to any one of you and your families...

I am very sorry to the kind residents of St. Martin, the majority of whom are such friendly, wonderful people, but I must expose this story, knowing that I might hurt them and tourism to their island in the long run...but if I can prevent another person...another family from going through the horrors which my mom and I had to live through...then it will be all worth it...

And perhaps, when both the Dutch and French governments recognize the importance of controlling crime on the St. Martin/St. Maarten island, PROTECTING THE TOURISTS THANKS TO WHOM THE ENTIRE ISLAND IS FUNCTIONING, and tackling the huge corruption which prevents these criminals from being effectively caught and persecuted (BEFORE THE TOURISTS OF THE WORLD STOP COMING TO THIS ISLAND OF PARADISE due to the fear for their own lives), perhaps then, even the island's residents can benefit from the measures which must be immediately taken to tackle these violent and surging crimes...

It is not enough for the Dutch to send their own special security forces to tackle the increasing problem of crime and murder (as they are planning to do in a few month's time, perhaps starting to recognize the impact this will soon have on tourism to their side of the island)...However, what is imperative is for the entire island to create 1 police force to tackle these problems...and for the cooperation between the 2 sides to immediately occur...after all, St. Martin, although split into control by 2 different countries, is still 1 island which is only 37 miles wide with only 13,000 inhabitants, BUT THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS PER YEAR, UPON WHOM THE ENTIRE ISLAND DEPENDS FOR REVENUE…

Thus, how is it possible that the French-side criminals target citizens and tourists on the Dutch side, while the Dutch-side criminals knowingly target citizens and tourists on the French side, KNOWING THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE CRIMES DUE TO THE LACK OF ANY COOPERATION between the Dutch and French police forces...they know they can get away with these things, so they keep doing them!!!

I am thankful that both my mom and I can walk away with our lives and with many beautiful impressions of the island despite the attack...however, I am so sorry that the beauty of this island and its people must be tarnished by such low-life criminals, who not only have hurt me and my mom and our experience on the island, but perhaps the future of St. Martin/St. Maarten tourism for years to come, as I am quite certain we were not the only victims...and next time, instead of a beating, a mugging, or a disappearance, a gruesome murder will occur...I just hope this can be prevented by vigilance from all of you, the people of the island and the proper authorities...who can finally WAKE UP and realize they've got a problem on their hands that's bigger than corruption...and something money cannot fix...but recognition of the problem, cooperation between the French and the Dutch authorities and immediate attention to the cause of the problem can! RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITIES…

I just hope it will not be too late for the people of the island, because the beauty and uniqueness of St. Martin/St. Maarten are immeasurable...but surely not worth risking one's life to see...

i can't help but feel for you & your mother. but i hope you can look back and say atleast i didn't get raped or missing. i wish on such a busy street, someone would have helped with throwing rocks at least or something. i wish on any street such a thing would've never happened. but it says alot about the crooks- certainly felt brave and must have been waiting for the opportunity and even possibly monitoring the gendamerie. the gendamerie certainly have a visual presence on the island, i was stopped once by a cop on a bike for a seat belt and once at a sobriety checkpoint.. and i've noticed more police on the road my last visit.

yes, inhabitants have warned me of crime, and it is a turn off for everyone. but crime is everywhere, more so in some places than others and if you are unfortunate to be the victim not much can be said about that no matter how careful one can be.. given the land area and population- the crime rate is unacceptable- but factor in the number of tourists that are staying on the island at any given time as well..

however i have been to the island 3x, 2 times which i had been alone... and i'm not the most intimidating looking man on the island.. but felt safe for the most part. i have had dinner in grand case alone only one time out of the last 2 visits only because of the setting eating alone etc. the only danger i would have thought of was the guy who charges $5 parking fee which is free (my friend got suckered the first visit)- i parked on the sidewalk up further. the food past 10PM at a truck in phillipsburg called nen's place and it was safe. despite some men going off about which caribbean island kicks ass..

the worst crime that happened to me was at le gallion (sarcasm), some young girl said "chinaman why you so ugly?" i said i dont know and her & her sibblings laughed but i laughed it off as well. later she said she was just kidding. when you are chinees- you grow up with racial bs all the time- even in new york.

but these kids lived in beachfront property at le gallion in tents- there are people living in squalor- this is what fuels crime; poverty, lack of education, jealousy/materialism, combine it with drug money, easy money from robbery- it's not hard to do the math.

i digress, i wish you and your mum the best. i hope you do come back to the island with your mum to overcome what happened- even if you have to bring another person to feel safer, but i do believe you were probably just an unlucky victim that night. you shouldn't carry purses in unfamiliar places though.

but you shouldn't have to have that memory of the island forever, it's a shame you do now, but if you let something or someone stop you from enjoying the simple things in life like relaxing on the sands on the caribbean & enjoying yourself- then that is just as devastating.

i got 2 flat tires last time, the guy fixing was from domenica, i said DR? he said no domenica, small island off guadeloupe. he asked me where i was from, i said i was born in china but raised my whole life in brooklyn, ny.. he said, ah far away place.. i said, we are all from far away.. and we laughed about that..

the little things in life remind us we are all human & what it means to be humane. i hope conditions will be better on the island, for the better of all the people.

- a visitor from brooklyn

PS: there far more than 13,000 residents, between locals, illegals and those foreigners who have money to take up island real estate.

This has been cut-and-pasted in many places recently. That it happened is unacceptable, but realize that the posters at the police station on the French Side include people missing from mainland France, as well. It's similar to seeing such posters at a Post Office in Denver for someone in North Carolina.

As this happened on the French side you can not also blame the Dutch side. The French side St. Martin and the Dutch side St. Maarten, have 2 complete different government and police system.

I found it very terrible what happened to you and your mother. You have to deal with the French police force and you only had to mention the French side in this.

Hope they get the persons that did this and deal with them, and I hope everything comes out for the best.

I read the above article in several places. On this forum as well as on Trip Advisory. My question is this..aren't there security people paid by the restaurants in Grand Case ? I have always seen them in front of Spiga's Restaurant, walking in town by the LOLOs, on the corner near le Tin Coin going to GCBC... In addition the Gendarmerie have dinner several times a week at La Brasserie des Iles. The people in Grand Case are so helpful and kind to the tourists and it seems strange to me that no one was around to help these 2 ladies. What time did this happen during the late hours of night ?? Grand Case is always full of people all the time; tourists, locals, police and security... until at least 11 p.m.
Can you give us more details as I have never felt unsafe in Grand Case and not fair to ruin the image of place that relies so much on the tourists it has always been kind to.

I am posting this below the post "security guards in grand case" because I think that post hits the nail on the head.

It refers to a very old post but since it came back to surface now and looking at the crime situation being an issue now I would like to comment on it.

If this really happened to these two ladies it would be a terrible thing. I however do find it very hard to believe that, knowing the island in it's totality, there is no way that they would not have been taken to the hospital for treatment if the beatings were such as was described here. I must comment that they are 2 extremely strong and tough women to take such a beating from 4 men and could still stand. Secondly, especially in Grand case I find it very hard to believe that no one did anything at all to help, could be but I find it really hard to believe.

Then according to them, there are only 5 gendarmes on the Island, I really do think they counted very wrong and the regular police on the french side knocks of at 11:00 p.m. as far as I know. Could someone correct me please. So which police stopped them, I only know the gendarmes to carry out road controls on the french side. I have never seen police at the road works controlling since the drivers respects the blinking lights to the fullest.

Before and after the date that was mentioned, it was never heard of a case as this and most definitely not in grand case a township that the french gendarmes hang out in every night. Ref. missing people, it is also really strange that so many people are missing and kept so well hush hush because you might not have noticed this, the french side is not as commercial as the dutch side and nothing is hidden over there, the locals mostly have the news before the media and at different hangouts the gossips spread like wild fire.

I do know that many hotels on both sides of the Island as well as the car rentals have safety tips posted, alerting tourist to the increasing dangers and urging them to try and keep safe. I have never seen pics of missing persons posted all over the lobby's in hotels wherever I have traveled, it is everyone's responsibility to try and minimize themselfs from becoming victims of crime. It might not always work but nevertheless you have to think locigally.

Last but not least, the corrupt police officials case is on the dutch side of the Island and is a far cry away from thefts, murder etc. It pertains more to an administrative nature. The 2 sides of the Island have absolutely nothing to do with the other government and judicially wise. Holland and France are almost joined by borders with Belgium (half french/half dutch) in between but just as Sint Maarten/Saint Martin 2 totally different countries/islands that are like siamese but with separate minds. Just like Mexico/ U.S.A./Canada.

I think some answers/explanations are in place here.

Every so much time a country/island becomes victim to travel bashing for whatever reasons, it really looks like sxm is in the limelight now and everyone wants to take a punch at it.

Safety tip of the day (for every country/Island)
if a robber tells you to hand over your belongings do it, as hard as it might be, your life is much more valuable than material things, even a passport. You can get back material items, you cannot get back your life.
I know, I too have been robbed. (not in Grand Case)

As it happens, the FS Tourism Office made a very public apology to the women concerned in the attack, there is no reason or justification to call them liars or accuse them of being out to smear the island's name or reputation.

Tourism office appologises for Grand Case attack - 8th April 2008

Flipper

oke Flipper,

I took the time to read the link to the newspaper clippings and while an apology was given the article basically confirm as what was said.

the comment posted that "if the beatings were of such as was describe" the news paper article said "they survived relatively unharmed".
The ref. 5 gendarmes, it was stated that there are over 100 gendarmes and you know the gendarmes.
ref. the missing persons, again it was clearly stated that these were persons missing in france, across the ocean, 9 hours flight time away from SXM.
No one is slandering or bashing France, it is SXM again that is all bad.

You have to understand that while it is true that our ltl island is in chaos, such accusations and statements do not make the situation any better. Tell the facts but do not over exagerate the situation because you are upset.

I have all sympathy for any robbery or crime victim and even a slap could be a horrible thing if one is violated but dont destroy the image of a complete island making it seem like it is just one horryfying mass that as soon as you step off of the flight you will be violently attacked or abused. If I did not know the Island I would never, never dare to visit it.

the other commentators nor myself are condoning the crime commited and even the actions of the gendarmes were wrongfully handled but again it flowed over to the Dutch side who was not involved and could not do anything about the situation.

Dont generalize but rather deal with the issues in the right and legal manner, just as with the last case of a tourists death. We were bashed to the maximum while it turned out totally different than what was being said and mind you I am not saying that it should have happened neither am I condemning the deceased for his lifestyle, but now no follow up is being posted about it and no apology is being offered for the slander and Island bashing that was done before the results were known. I am sick and tired of residents of this island condoning the slander and bashing being made from outsiders on this Island.
Do we bash and slander other crime ridden islands and countries or do we sympathise with the situation ? Do we stay here and critisize their government and police force ? So why is it allowed for every cat and dog to mash us up ?

We the locals and residents are faced with these situations daily and we should take measures to try and stop it but to kill our economy with situations that are likewise or much worse worldwide that is going to far. Wake up flipper you, I assume, make a living here also. Try to put in your efforts to do something about the situation but dont give slander and bashing the green light if certain facts are not proven or true.

No one said that they were telling lies it was clearly implemented that the situation was a bit over exagerated.
I was recently robbed so I am not just someone being spared the horror of it all. I know what it feels like but I am not going to bash the island, I feel like hurting and getting even with the person who did it.

Just had to get that off my chest.

I agree with "Flipper" that blaming the victims in this situation is insulting and in addition, your complacent attitude really doesn't aid in boosting your beautiful island's appeal to fearful tourists. Recognizing you have a problem is the first step in solving it. Noone wants to think the people or the government are oblivious and that tourist will be helpless and unassisted when confronted with a situation such as the one this tourist and her mother were in.
I visted both Sint Maarten and St. Martin recently and have to say, while the beachs and views are breathtaking, the air is heavy with social unrest. On BOTH sides (come on, they may have 2 separate governments, but farthest end of one country to farthest end of the other is less than 20 miles), there seems to be a large divide between the haves and the have-nots which is no secret to anyone visiting the island considering the barred windows, gated resorts, guards that hit you with a flashlight when you walk (sans your purse, avec a man and 10 feet from the hotel door) on the beach at night, excessive graffitti and burned and abandoned homes and businesses adjacent to the gourmet restaurants and 3 star resorts.
There also seems to be a problem with local on local violence as further indicated by the numerous "No Excuse for Domestic Violence" billboards across both borders. However, I was comforted by these signs because they are evidence that government is aware of the problem and resources are being expended in an effort - successful or not - to rectify the situation.
As for the accusation of the girl and her mother essentially having fell off the turnip truck because they had purses with them when going to an expensive DINNER...I researched the island on Trip Advisor thoroughly before going and, although there were no reports of violent crime on tourists reported on that website in the last three months, we were not surprised when, during the initial inspection, we were told that our rental vehicle had no hub caps and - although being a Daihatsu circa 1990-something, was equipted with a "U-Lock" type anti-theft devise the likes of which I, living in a US city population 800,000 with its own crime issues, had never seen.
Although we traveled the island over several times, had lots of conversations with friendly natives, had lots of fun, left without incident and plan to come back, I almost left on a separate plane from my finace when he suggested I walk a half mile from the parking lot and the hotel in Philipsburg by myself at night because he was tired of me telling him what not to do (leave things in the car, leave the car unlocked, etc.). (I believe I responded that he would have to either escort me back to the hotel or pry my cold dead body from its grip on his leg. I originally rode with him past the hotel to the parking lot because I thought he should not walk back by himself.)
Although I do not believe in tempting fate, I do understand his point. He, like others, came to the island to relax and forget the stress of his daily life, not add to it by constantly being hyper-aware of his surroundings. However, this conversation about me walking without him happened after another during which our server for dinner on the Dutch side told us her friend carries a condom with her at night in case she is raped on the way home from work. (An internet tour established by a local indicates that AIDS is a disproportionate issue on the island indicating a likely problem with sex crimes, confirmed by such conversations as the ones we had with our server.) Our server said she would act like she was enjoying it to stop an attacker. I honestly think you should not have to have to live in an area where you need a thought out plan - but when forced to think about it decided that, although rape is a crime about power rather than (the attacker's) pleasure, I am not so naive to think a rapist gives a crap about your health or whether or not you are having a good time and would do exactly what the girl and her mom did in the walk to the rental car situation: fight, fight, fightI! and scream even more. (A tip for the counter-attack, hon': go straight for the eyes - jab and twist with your thumbs - and the balls.)
We were also told by a local that, if the locals don't like a resort they burn it and one new hotel in particilar is next on the list since some locals were cut out of the profits. There seems to be evidence to this practice on the island in terms of lots of buildings with apparent fire damage and a practice of building everything with concrete despite the local museum having only 1 catastrophic hurricane on record. There was also a store burned on the boardwalk the night we were visiting Philipsburg. We saw the debris but heard no sirens in response to the fire.
After my reads about the island and converations with locals, I was extra safe on our trip (Thus driving my fiance crazy): I did not leave ANYTHING in the car when we went to the beaches, did not go to the beaches where you had to park far from your vehicle, kept my passport in the hotel safe, did not carry a purse and carried with me the amount of cash I was willing to part with. HOWEVER - In addition to having had a man with pockets with me to carry all my stuff - I do not believe that if you carry a purse in what absolutely is a high traffic tourist/commercial area that you should expect to even be pick-pocketed, muchless have it ripped from your arms while you are being hit and kicked walking from a $50/plate gourmet restaurant. Especially when there are guards around affording you a (false) sense of security. (c'mon, this is smoke and mirrors - my grandfather could take half those guards) on an island whose economy relies so heavilly on tourism. I also do not see motive for this girl to make up her story. Is she part of the anti-St. Maarten tourism brigade? C'mon, you're far more paranoid than me in thinking so.
Pretending things are not happening is not the way to making them better. My city is ranked #2 in the US for violent crimes and #7 for tourism dollars at last tally. It also has some of the best paying jobs. People will determine the acceptable risk to them and most will decide, like me, that being highly aware of your (beautiful surroundings) is worth the effort to travel to/and even live in some unique places. However, that determination of acceptable risk should be a choice they make for themselves when they are aware of all of the facts and dangers and know to conduct themselves accordingly. It should be the tourism board's responsibility to make tourists aware of dangers and the police's responsibility to prevent them or enfore the laws when humanly possible. Sint Maarten/St. Martin should find these considerations part of her costs when taking on tourism as her main income.
As for my fair city, in addition to telling them to watch out for the bad driving, I warn all of my visitors to watch their purses downtown, lock their car doors, pay the extra and park in the staffed garages, and do not respond to people trying to communicate with them in cars and drive off if they try to approach, and - if they get lost in what looks like a run down area, don't stop: keep driving until it looks better, then ask for directions. I also tell them to enjoy the dolphin show at the aquarium, eat at one of the fine restaurants in the cultural district before catching the Symphony, the Opera or a show, take the water taxi and get the tour of the city and it's various water-front shops and museums, and, if they want to make it a week-long trip, 5 other major cities, the beach and the mountains are within a 3 hour drive. The local papers and tourism bureau say the same. I have had several come back and none decline visting once they were remind that the city has it's dangers.
In the meantime, I and others have made my concerns on crime aware to my local government and expect improvement or for them to be ousted next election when the new mayor runs on the platform of a decrease in crime rates.
Your island is a work of art. A few suggestions to keep it livable to you and visitors: recognize your government's faults and try to improve upon them, rather than deny them, when you gain your sovereinty from the Netherlands in December. Develop slowly and in wise places if at all, use tax funds to improve public safety and welfare and infrastruture, and, when it comes to tourists - don't bite the hand that feeds. Do what you can to avoid tourists being felt they are underappreciated, taken advantage of or alone: incorporate service fees into the base cost of goods and services so they know what they are getting in to up front (most tourists will offer more than 15% if given the opportunity to tip at their discretion), offer returns for faulty merchandise and accept credit cards: they are the primary way not to carry cash which encourages robberies, and do what you can to have a viable police presence to make people feel safe. Also keep an open mind and judge on a person to person basis. More likely than not, whether good or bad, people will naturally respond to you how they think you expect them to based on how you treat them. In other words, rude behavior begets rude behavior. I was told on more than one occasion that, although I am American, I am actually alright. I laughed this off, but on some opportunities folks' sentiments about a nationality of people (ours and others') came through in a less poignant but just as apparent manner and it was an effort to be polite.

Don't worry, we recognize our governments faults and we are working to improve on them, and make people aware of them. Your intentions with your comment are very welcome, but it's clear you don't have a full grasp of the governance and politics of the island. Wise, visionary and progressive are all things our government is not.

Can't say I've noticed as many burnt buildings as you have, anyone??

Also, saying we had one catastrophic hurricane is like saying New Orleans only had one too, Katrina. Luis, in 95 was our Katrina, at least up till now, with all the construction we will have to see what happens next time. And there will be a next time, natural laws have put us where we are geographically and it's only a question of time.

Anyway, please take the time to read more here on SXM PE and you will hopefully get a better grasp of some things, and like I said, thank you for your thoughts.

Flipper

Those signs around the island were placed by the Safe Haven foundation, not by government.
St.Maarten seems to be the only place on earth where government expects the Non-Governmental organizations to do most of the work.

OH MY GOSH.

I am trying not to bud into everything that is going on here but I just could not resist this one.

DOES IT MATTER WHO PLACED THOSE BILLBOARDS, at least they are there.
We have to do things together and not always sit back and wait for Government.
At least this was an organization who took initiative, looked at the situation and came up with constructive ideas on how best to contact the general public and presented it to Government.
Look at the "fight crime: invest in kids organizations" in the USA as well as so many other organizations, no funding whatsoever from government, did that stop them, NO.

In order to place these billboards they had to present their ideas to and obtain permission from Government, which obviously they did and also got permission.

In how many other countries do you see such signs, many people have no idea who to contact, I applaud Safe Haven for taking that initative and Government for seeing the need to support them.
That is why I keep saying, get up off of your lazy butts and do something constructive other than just to sit back and bitch all the time...... Government is not doing this, Government is not doing that.

If you have a properly, well thought of plan of action you will get listening ears. If you just shout loudly it will fall on deaf ears. If you can personally contribute to helping the community and Government why not do so. Your ideas will certainly be subsidized is found to be contstructive and usefull.

Let us start a new page and see how willing Government is to adhere to our suggestions and plan of actions. Then if nothing is done I would be the first one to shout along with you.

BUT DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN CRITICIZE

ADV ;(

Hi Tongas, actually it was me who did all those Safe Haven signs, cut them, hand painted them and put many of them up around the island with the help of my boyfriend in our little car. I am an artist and painter and I did them for Safe Haven on a shoestring and sometimes stuff free, like designing a set of new billboards and refurbishing old ones. I did it cos I liked the idea of Safe Haven. Having experienced domestic violence and abuse firsthand as a kid, (no stranger to being punched and kicked and having my head bounced off the walls), I really wanted to do something for an organisation that was giving the help I never had. I also liked working with the former director Lorraine Lopez who I found was very dedicated and energetic in getting the message out there. Sadly I see my old billboards weathering away and falling by the wayside. The new Safe Haven folks dont seem interested in billboards at all. I would be willing to work with them but I have never heard from them since it all changed. Maybe because of all the fighting before they feel the boards are too much like the old directors project. Mmm, but then again what a good way to keep up visability in the community. Has anyone noticed that Safe Haven is very quiet, you never hear much from them. The former crowd that ran it were always in the paper on top of abuse stories and doing conferences and walks and marathons and suchlike, and now nothing. Maybe they are doing alot, but its no good hiding your light under a bushel!. Thats what Safe Haven's logo is all about, istnt it?, a light house shining light for all to see. Come on Safe Haven, lets see some of your guiding light again.

Job well done Pheonix and thanks for the info.

Matter of fact, I also "butted in" in that area after reading the posts and was inquiring as to the situation of Safe Haven today. I do agree with you ref. Loraine and Do find that she and the "old management" were indeed doing a lot more than is the case today, basically for free, just genuine concern about abused/battered people. I say people since it is not only women that are victims of domestic violence but also men and children.

But yes, this is a situation that also needs immediate attention and much more publicity/awareness such as the bill boards you placed and media but also restructuring of the organization. Those boards without a doubt should always be refreshed or new ones placed and actually much more should be placed around the Island. You have our attention. I am sorry to learn of your experiences and I have always admired/respected people who bounced back from or learn to cope with such unjust and horrifying experiences. Let's see what we can do. It simply would not be right to forsake those in dire need of assistance in such gruesome situations. It is also part of the crime situation since all too often these situations end with murder. yes, even here on ltl. SXM.

ADV ;(