Written by a Dominican friend of mine from Luperon.
To Whom it may concern:
In the year 2007, there were approximately 200 boats in Luperon Harbour. People enjoyed the safe environment and there was no need to lock their boats to go to shore to any of the Marinas or for shopping etc. Each boat was spending approximately, $2,000 USD per month in Luperon and surrounding cities. Currently, September 2012, there are only 30 live aboard boats in the Harbour, reducing the local economy from approx. $400,000 USD per month to only approx. $60,000 USD per month. Why?� because of the reoccurring robberies in the Harbour. Between November 2009 and present date, September 2012, there have been 33 recorded robberies, ranging in a loss of between $500. USD-$10,000 USD per individual robbery; totalling approx. $75,000 USD. (This amount is the current value of items stolen, not the replacement value, that amount is more like approx. $250,000 USD to replace items with new). Recorded vessels robbed are:
Ob La Di- robbed 4 times total
Double Trouble
Unity
El Gecco- robbed 3 times
Miss Teak- robbed twice
Wind Walker-robbed 2 twice
Tamara
Smidgen
Water Music
GypSea
Joanna-robbed twice
Beegua
Satori
Midnight Sun-Robbed twice
Illussions
Alu By
Journey
Arctutus- robbed twice
Another Way
Seagulls
Sweet Caroline
Irish Whisper
Sea Change
33 Robberies over 35 months time. These are just the ones that were reported to us, several boats have left, therefore we are not sure if there are more unrecorded.
Out of the 33 robberies, only 1 arrest has been made, only 1 item was returned to the owner, even though photos of the thieves , during the robbery were given to the Authorities here and they admitted they knew who the robbers were. When robberies are reported to local Authorities, the victims are sent from local authoritative office to another, with no-one taking responsibility or seeking justice. No follow-up is ever done, no arrests ever made, no stolen items ever returned to the rightful owners. Most of the intruded vessels have now left Luperon, never to return. Every boating community they enter after leaving Luperon, they report how unsafe Luperon Harbour is and how the local Authorities do nothing to seek justice. They write on their cruising blogs, report to newspapers, magazines publishers, travel agencies and announce on SSB Radio, to warn cruisers to bypass the Dominican Republic all together.
Boaters in Luperon Harbour currently pay $25.00 USD per month for Harbour Fee's. There is no patrol boat, no guards stopping locals from entering vessels, and no help for return of stolen items. Just where does this monthly money go and to whom?
Luperon Harbour is clearing out fast, and soon Luperon town will only have the local economy to survive on.
** The Thieves on Ob La Di were photographed while robbing the vessel, 3 of the 4 times.....these photo's were given to the authorities, they admitted to knowing who they were, yet no arrests were ever made and no items were returned to the owners**
To Whom it may concern:
In the year 2007, there were approximately 200 boats in Luperon Harbour. People enjoyed the safe environment and there was no need to lock their boats to go to shore to any of the Marinas or for shopping etc. Each boat was spending approximately, $2,000 USD per month in Luperon and surrounding cities. Currently, September 2012, there are only 30 live aboard boats in the Harbour, reducing the local economy from approx. $400,000 USD per month to only approx. $60,000 USD per month. Why?� because of the reoccurring robberies in the Harbour. Between November 2009 and present date, September 2012, there have been 33 recorded robberies, ranging in a loss of between $500. USD-$10,000 USD per individual robbery; totalling approx. $75,000 USD. (This amount is the current value of items stolen, not the replacement value, that amount is more like approx. $250,000 USD to replace items with new). Recorded vessels robbed are:
Ob La Di- robbed 4 times total
Double Trouble
Unity
El Gecco- robbed 3 times
Miss Teak- robbed twice
Wind Walker-robbed 2 twice
Tamara
Smidgen
Water Music
GypSea
Joanna-robbed twice
Beegua
Satori
Midnight Sun-Robbed twice
Illussions
Alu By
Journey
Arctutus- robbed twice
Another Way
Seagulls
Sweet Caroline
Irish Whisper
Sea Change
33 Robberies over 35 months time. These are just the ones that were reported to us, several boats have left, therefore we are not sure if there are more unrecorded.
Out of the 33 robberies, only 1 arrest has been made, only 1 item was returned to the owner, even though photos of the thieves , during the robbery were given to the Authorities here and they admitted they knew who the robbers were. When robberies are reported to local Authorities, the victims are sent from local authoritative office to another, with no-one taking responsibility or seeking justice. No follow-up is ever done, no arrests ever made, no stolen items ever returned to the rightful owners. Most of the intruded vessels have now left Luperon, never to return. Every boating community they enter after leaving Luperon, they report how unsafe Luperon Harbour is and how the local Authorities do nothing to seek justice. They write on their cruising blogs, report to newspapers, magazines publishers, travel agencies and announce on SSB Radio, to warn cruisers to bypass the Dominican Republic all together.
Boaters in Luperon Harbour currently pay $25.00 USD per month for Harbour Fee's. There is no patrol boat, no guards stopping locals from entering vessels, and no help for return of stolen items. Just where does this monthly money go and to whom?
Luperon Harbour is clearing out fast, and soon Luperon town will only have the local economy to survive on.
** The Thieves on Ob La Di were photographed while robbing the vessel, 3 of the 4 times.....these photo's were given to the authorities, they admitted to knowing who they were, yet no arrests were ever made and no items were returned to the owners**
