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and? what's the point. It's no competition. The point is focusing on what's going on in SP and coming up with solutions.

I attended the meeting. I was pleased to see many people I know there. The panel was articulate and receptive. I got the impression that they are taking the concerns seriously and are doing their best to address them.

One of the people who taught me an awful lot told me that for problems to be solved, those involved must be both willing and able.

We have the willingness for sure at this stage. Whether we are able to tackle this, only time will tell.

I will say that when I cycled home after the meeting, there was a policeman stationed on the corner of Mar del Tumbo Road. I stopped to speak to him and told him how good it was to see him. He said he would be there til quite late and that they would have someone posted there regularly. I found that reassuring.

I'm no Polly Anna - though I wish I were as it seems such a happy place - San Pedro has met all my expectations and more since I've lived here. So, I am hopefully optimistic.

I too was at the meeting...here's what was discussed. I did not take notes, so the numbers might be wrong...

1) the 2 year old coast guard, which currently only has 2 boats for the country, will be adding 8 (i think it was 8) more boats
2) there are some number of additional officers (i think it was about 10?) being allocated for the island. They need a place to house them though, so if anyone has any suggestions or could donate space, that would be lovely
3) They have allocated a small stipend to pay up to 30 more Special Constables for the island
4) They realize that the criminals are very aware that the BDF is only here for 2 weeks, and then leave. They are adding more BDF
5) We were told where the "buck stops" so to speak. I asked where, he told me it was him. (forget his name, but he's the head dude in charge of police)
6) we were told that more stuff was done, but again, i didnt have notes.

I can say this, i felt much better when i walked away from that meeting. We can all jump up and down and scream that nothing is being done, but things ARE being done. The fact that the Minister of National Security was there was HUGE. I had drinks with him and the Minister of the Coast Guard after the meeting. Both told me that they'd only been to the island 2 or so times in the LIVES. If they came here, saw what we loved so much, saw that we cared, then that is ACTION. THey CAME...thats what matters most.

As for the one incredibly stupid comment that was made about the rest of the caribbean, well, it was stupid. Period. I know its not how he meant it, and that one negative bit shoudlnt outweigh the really good stuff that came out of it.

the neighborhood watches are doing LOADS of work...the area presidents have been doing LOADS of work, and basic citizens have been too. There is ABSOLUTELY stuff happening, maybe not as fast as everyone seems to think it should be happening, but Rome was not, infact, built in a day.

Be a part of the solution....attend the meetings, join your neighborhood watch, volunteer your time or resources if you can.

South side neighborhood watch, from Victoria House south, meets tonight at Fido's Sandbar at 7 pm. LOTS to discuss since the last meeting, so look forward to seeing you there!

Well you can add our party to the list of people that have been victimized by crime. Yesterday while most of our party was out someone came into the house we are renting, with one in our party napping in his room, and stole my iPod and a friend's camera. The person in our party that was home heard him, came out and the guy took off running. He even had the nerve to walk back by the house in the other direction about 10 minutes later but when he saw my friend notice him he booked off again.

It's unfortunate but it seems like you even need to lock the doors when your home now. This was at Stella di Mare just south of Journeys End.

Hi, If you have not done so already, please report the theft to the police. Everyone is trying to combat this problem. By the way, are you from Iowa?? Saw the GoHawks.

Please take the time to report to the Police. Without reports the Police don't seem to believe that anything is wrong and therefore we don't need increased Police activity up here.

Also contact Scott Harnish at 661-6353. He is President of the Neighborhood Watch up here and he needs to know exactly what happened.

Thanks everyone, I'll call Scott and and try to find the Police when we head to town again, or is there a phone number to call and report it?

As for the hawks it's for the Seahawks, we're from Seattle. It's the only professional sports team left in the city that is either good or still around. =)