How dangerous is it?

Caribbean Compass March 2010

That is the point it was 2.5 years ago, it's September 22nd 2012 now and I've just left Trinidad and I am in Tobago so I guess my info is a bit more up to date?

You sound like the business 's in Grenada who are spreading this **** as if it happened yesterday or last week.

Trinidad and Tobago are safe and getting there is also safe, check with the 100's who done it this year alone without incident.
 
KellysEye said:
>Check your info before posting stuff like this

Caribbean Compass March 2010
Trinidad-Grenada Passage Security Suggestions

by Melodye Pompa

In view of the recent robbery and assault of a yacht enroute from Trinidad to Grenada (see “Robbery of Yacht Between Trinidad and Grenada Spurs International Security Measures” by James Pascall in last month’s Compass), and the various reports of similar incidents in the same area and in Venezuelan waters over the past several years, there are some very specific precautions which cruisers can take to avoid or minimize attempts against them. Full details of the incident as well as plans from the coast guards of Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago, as well as from those nations’ marine trades groups, MAYAG and YSATT, to minimize future incidents can be found at www.grenadabroadcast.com/content/view/7005/45/.
The Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard advises that pirogues are active from the south coast of Grenada and moving out to the north and east of Tobago to move marijuana to Toco, at the northeast corner of Trinidad. The pirogues are active around the gas-drilling rigs as these are used as landmarks for boats without navigation equipment. However, the pirogues range all over the area, from the north coast of Venezuela to Tobago and to the south coast of Grenada.
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If anyone is making passage in this area it is worth knowing that there is a recently installed repeater in Grenada on VHF channel 66 international. It enables VHF traffic from Carriacou down to the Bocas on Trinidad.
 
>That is the point it was 2.5 years ago, it's September 22nd 2012 now and I've just left Trinidad and I am in Tobago so I guess my info is a bit more up to date?

Yes you are more up to date. We were in the Caribbean from 2004 to 2009. In that period there had been armed robberies and crews shot along the Venezuelan Paria peninsular. Everbody stopped going there. Then many of the old hands left and newcomers arrived. There had been no incidents for two years so some people decided it was safe and the robberies and shooting started again.

I'm not trying to scaremonger just to put things into context. We always asked people who had been where we intended to go if it was safe, if it was somehere off the normal island chain track. If attacks have happened before in an area there is no guarantee they can't start again.
 
OK, but as things stand it's pretty tidy over here. Venezuela is 50/50 but plenty of good reports as well as bad. Columbia has and is still getting rave reports. The rest of the Windwards & Leewards are as they have always been.

Central America has more good reports than bad, so you can draw from that as you want.

But if you are going to go off the well trodden path then look after yourself, as you will be on your own - take precautions and enjoy it - it's worth it!
 
phantomlady said:
Dare I say this.....will probably get shot down but never mind :)
Have people ever thought that crime could be invited by ones own actions??
Have met lots of people on our travels who are honest, decent, friendly and treat people how they would like to be treated themselves.
But, have also met quite a few who are arrogant, rude and condescending to the various local peoples (and other boaters!)
We, personally, have never been victims of crime in foreign lands, either against our boat or person.
We always treat people, rich or poor, with respect and friendliness. We also try to respect the local customs and ways.
We are relatively poor in our own country but always remember that to many folks on our travels we are rich beyond their wildest dreams.
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I am so sorry but I find your post to be naive beyond belief.

This could only be posted by one, who has never suffered and can still look at the world through the rose tinted specs of the true believer in the inherent good of human nature.

Our boat was broken into in Morlaix. We are certainly rich beyond belief. The boat is a rather scruffy 34 year old Moody. It didn't stop the little scrotes breaking the door. Stealing booze and dry foods. Using our bed. Blocking our heads. Then trying to come back for more. By this time we had returned. We did not hear them but our tent cover was unzipped.

Our camper van has been broken into or opened 3 times. Oh yes very wealthy. A small 20 year old van. I st time they had seen us arrive in an area south of Valencia. We went for a 10 minute walk on the beach before lunch.
The side window was broken open. No valuables were on show but they had time to find our lap top, camera, passports, credit cards and not too much cash.

2 further times, without loss, which I will not bore you with.

In short. No ostentatious displays of wealth. The scrotes had never seen us and could not be suffering from jealousy. They just have no respect for other people's property and see robbery as an acceptable way of making a living.

Our fault? What would you have us do?:mad:
 
Gosh you have been very unlucky:( but think you are in a small minority.

In our 11years aboard we have heard of a few cases of problems but they have been very few & far between.

Think the relative wealth of the local population can be a big factor.
 
My mate Colin got shot in Bequia a few weeks ago. He has spent years in t
He Windies and is fed up with being shot so is leaving for good.

Yeah, it might happen in Leeds, right.

See Caribbean Compass magazine page 29. Sad for the
LoCals who all over the Windies blameii heavy flight taxes for the tourist collapse....Colin's words from talking to lots and lots of local people. if you disagree I can pm his email!!!
 
nortada said:
Gosh you have been very unlucky:( but think you are in a small minority.

In our 11years aboard we have heard of a few cases of problems but they have been very few & far between.

Think the relative wealth of the local population can be a big factor.
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I wish I could agree with you.

Morlaix in the north of France.

Valencia in the east of Spain

Twice on the autoroutes.

All seem to be relatively wealthy areas. Certainly no obvious poverty.

No I am afraid that I have to believe that they are lazy little Barstewards, who would rather help themselves to other people's hard earned possessions, rather than do a day's work.

Even in our 'secure' marina, things go walkies. Good friends have lost anchors, fenders, warps and bikes. There is certainly no poverty here.
 
Frankie-H said:
I wish I could agree with you.

Morlaix in the north of France.

Valencia in the east of Spain

Twice on the autoroutes.

All seem to be relatively wealthy areas. Certainly no obvious poverty.

No I am afraid that I have to believe that they are lazy little Barstewards, who would rather help themselves to other people's hard earned possessions, rather than do a day's work.

Even in our 'secure' marina, things go walkies. Good friends have lost anchors, fenders, warps and bikes. There is certainly no poverty here.
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One can only speak as one finds so no need to believe or disbelieve me!:D
 
>But if you are going to go off the well trodden path then look after yourself, as you will be on your own - take precautions and enjoy it - it's worth it!

Entirely agree.

On a diffferent track, one thing that sticks in my mind is that we found a bullet on our deck one morning in Venezuela. We've still got it on display at home. Strange things happen.
 
nortada said:
One can only speak as one finds so no need to believe or disbelieve me!:D
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No question of belief or disbelief. I am sorry if I ever gave the impression that I was doubting your word.

I simply quote 1st hand experience in the hope that people will take greater care of their lives and their property.

The world is not full of poor starving beggars. There are more nasty, thieving scrotes in the areas you are likely to go to.
 
Frankie-H said:
No question of belief or disbelief. I am sorry if I ever gave the impression that I was doubting your word.

I simply quote 1st hand experience in the hope that people will take greater care of their lives and their property.

The world is not full of poor starving beggars. There are more nasty, thieving scrotes in the areas you are likely to go to.
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Fair enough - no offence taken:)
 
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