You care to quote a source on this alarming "news"?
√ Earthquake
√ Coup
√ Bug Bites
√ Drug Wars
√ Electric Company Strike
√ Election Season
√ Divemasters Dueling
√ Falling from Zip Lines
√ The airport exit tax
√ Lionfish
√ Rime is Running Crampant on the Streets
Now this!
Holy Crap, Batman! (and it's not even April 1st)
The Mayor of Roatan is limited in his authority to decide when he blows his nose.
(and only as far East as French Harbour- no joke) That, and he can ignore people who cut mangroves illegally.
The Roatan Marine Park Authority can't even keep locals in canoes harvesting Conch out of the Marine Park, much less yachts slicing through the Coral while dragging anchor past the mooring buoys.
Puuuuhleeeze.
What insurance would? What were they expecting? Civil unrest due to the hike in Heinikin prices? Goat safety?
Maybe somebody who is on scene in the West End of Roatan can tell us more about this grave problem.
I'm going to take a nap.
Bay Islands Voice is about as current as things get
As I stated this is from the cruisers on site... where are you... chicago was it?????
Re: Cruising Sailors -
I'm shaking my head as I read your message. This is certainly NOT the message we
received during our meeting with the Mayor on Friday, March 23rd. We were told
that the decision was final and that there would be NO compromises made. Period.
No further discussion. No solutions would be considered. He told us that we all
"had to leave immediately". "Didn't the police come out in a boat yesterday to
tell you to leave?" This was the first opportunity for representatives from the
cruising community to be heard - after it's all a done deal. Does this sound
like a government that is "cruiser friendly"?
We are the Host Vessel in the mooring field of the Roatan Marine Park here in
West End. We personally visit each vessel as it enters the Marine Park and
inform them of the rules and direct them where to pay their fees ($10 day/$40
week/$100 mo) in US Dollars and we make sure that they pay. As you can see this
is a large source of revenue for the park and the municipality. We also turn in
poachers as evidenced by the latest marine park newsletter.
In the meeting the 3 representatives from the cruising community (Walter Morris
captain s/v Niki Wiki, Tom and Liliana captains, s/v Gloria Maris) were told in
no uncertain terms that everyone had to leave and that French Harbor was the
next area to be affected. In fact Julio Galindo stated that he wanted to see the
policy that all boats must be in an "established marina" applied to the entire
island of Roatan eventually.
Each boat also spends at least $2000US per month in the local economy which does
not include the guests which arrive by airplane to visit the boaters nor major
purchases of new equipment or repairs.
Last month there were approximately 40 additional sailboats waiting in French
Harbor, Belize, Mexico and Guatemala for a mooring ball to become available so
they could come to the West End. That excess demand could not be satisfied
because there are only 21 mooring balls. These people did NOT want to go into a
marina or stay in French Harbor so instead they either did not come to Roatan or
left French Harbor for other islands or country destinations.
West End is unique in the Caribbean. Boats in the anchorage are protected from
the strong winds from the east. The village of West End provides everything we
want; grocery stores, trash cans, excellent laundry service, restaurants, bars,
and dive shops in addition to the beautiful sunsets. This is our 3rd year here
and is our last.
So, while those of you who choose to believe the mayor are waiting and waiting
and waiting for a "solution", we are kicked out of our vacation "homes" and we
are all leaving Roatan and mostly heading out to Mexico and Belize. We know when
we are not valued or wanted - the message has been quite clear and we heard it
from the mayor's own mouth.
Mistreat us once, shame on you. We won't stick around to see what other abuses
are dealt to the cruising community. Thankfully, we are free to go
elsewhere...and we will.