BBC burned down

Maybe it was an Electrical fire there at Coconuts too. Hmmm.

Seriously, I don't comment much on the posts here, just read.............to assume that it was self inflicted insurance fraud, is so ridiculous. AND, Coconuts, you think they tried to burn the place down? HOW STUPID IS THAT.................AND, did the Governor try to burn the platform down himself as well? More than once? There is a serious problem on the west end that needs attention..............

Seriously, I don't comment much on the posts here, just read.............to assume that it was self inflicted insurance fraud, is so ridiculous. AND, Coconuts, you think they tried to burn the place down? HOW STUPID IS THAT.................AND, did the Governor try to burn the platform down himself as well? More than once? There is a serious problem on the west end that needs attention..............

Agreed. This ain't the Saprano's, just more run-of-the-mill, everyday VI crime. Any up-dates on this week's horrible home invasion-torture-murder of the well-loved STX historian, Bob Johnson? Any leads, arrests, investigation?

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/police/2012/01/12/homicide-data-2012

Half dozen murders, an arson or two...nice start to 2012...

What about these two poor souls who were found burned and dead at a fire. They aren't even listed on homicide stats, Why?

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/police/2012/01/11/victims-christiansted-fire-identified

So it looks as if there are "on the island people" who think this is in fact a possibility. Hmmm.

Seriously, I don't comment much on the posts here, just read.............to assume that it was self inflicted insurance fraud, is so ridiculous. AND, Coconuts, you think they tried to burn the place down? HOW STUPID IS THAT.................AND, did the Governor try to burn the platform down himself as well? More than once? There is a serious problem on the west end that needs attention..............

Yep, I completely agree. People who know nothing about the situation like to jump in and try to start rumors instead of trying to do something to help after a horrible crime.

To put it plainly, Off on and anywhere in the world human nature is the same. I knew a guy in Boston who did that exact thing, Ohhh, he was a nice fellow always gave to the community. Held Christmas dinners for a few misfortunate every year. Big giver for the "toys for tots" Neighborhood went to crap and he did what he did.
Frankly it surprises me that someone would think they live in a "bubble" that is nothing like the rest of the world. A wonderful place where deception, and sheer desperation does not exist. I can't wait to move there. Must have changed sooooo much from when I did years ago.
Cheers.

Nathanv, you seem like a total a-hole, please don't move here, we have enough to deal with! :$)

Not sure what you are implying but, but quotes were not used so I can only reply how I see it and apologize in advance. If you are implying that it is "stupid" to consider "insurance fraud" as a suggestion than that my friend is the bitter taste of crow. Anyone who counts out any possibility of any crime or any angle is a narrow minded person. Calling others names or stating they are in some way incompetent due to their opinions not setting well with the way you believe is simply ignorant. This is a place for "opinions" and "suggestions" if it is hard to swallow others thoughts without making condescending remarks then maybe this is not a forum you should read.

FYI, insurance fraud has nothing to do with the "mafia" that was completely out of left field.

To put it plainly, Off on and anywhere in the world human nature is the same. I knew a guy in Boston who did that exact thing, Ohhh, he was a nice fellow always gave to the community. Held Christmas dinners for a few misfortunate every year. Big giver for the "toys for tots" Neighborhood went to crap and he did what he did.
Frankly it surprises me that someone would think they live in a "bubble" that is nothing like the rest of the world. A wonderful place where deception, and sheer desperation does not exist. I can't wait to move there. Must have changed sooooo much from when I did years ago.
Cheers.

Nathanv, you seem like a total a-hole, please don't move here, we have enough to deal with! :$)

Hey there, there is a PM button beside my "site" name. It's in blue. If you would like to make an "adult" comment to me feel free to push it and type any opinion you have. It is pretty childish to start "flexing" publicly.
Now getting to your name calling/moving suggestion. I would be moving BACK not moving to. Sounds like the only a-hole who should be moving is you. Calling someone an "a-hole" for explaining a similar experience, and then defending themselves is pretty immature not including making a judgmental call on who exactly I am as a person. Consider maybe thinking before responding.
Cheers.

... Frankly it surprises me that someone would think they live in a "bubble" that is nothing like the rest of the world. A wonderful place where deception, and sheer desperation does not exist. I can't wait to move there. Must have changed sooooo much from when I did years ago.

... I would be moving BACK not moving to.

I sincerely hope that your comments as posted on this thread are not indicative of your true nature, otherwise I fear that you'll have a difficult time adapting to island life. I can assure you that I do not live in a "bubble" and never have in the 28 years I've lived here and the many years before living in several very different places. I found your comment about the owners of BBC possibly firing up their business for insurance purposes to be totally offensive, unjustified, unwarranted, and exactly the kind of malicious rumor which spreads like wildfire in this very small community and hurts people for years to come.

Almost 13 years ago, my restaurant was the scene of an armed robbery during which one of my patrons and friends was shot and killed. For the next two years I lived in what I can only describe as a "shock fog" but the anguish of that horrible period as well as the next many years was only intensified by the evil and malicious gossip which came up over and over again. Most of it came from people who'd never set foot in my restaurant, who didn't know me from a hole in the wall, who didn't know the man who died likewise, people who didn't even live here then! People, in fact, just like you.

You are not moving BACK to the islands. Living here for three months over 15 years ago hardly constitutes anything to move back to. You're coming here as just another newbie in a long line of them and I'll offer you the same advice as has been offered to newbies for donkey's years - "Open your eyes and your ears for at least the first year - and keep your mouth shut."

Maybe there should be a third msg board for personal rants. It seems a person can't post a msg about anything without it turning ugly anymore.

I heartily agree with loungestx, I hardly post anymore cause the are so many pot stirrers and they obviously enjoy doing it. I think Islander would to well to keep a tighter reign for a while and weed out some people. It really sickens me to see so many people on all the threads just being so mean, especially In light of what's happening at Hovensa and we are all more then a bit in shock and scared. Let's try not to attack each other and it's much better to just ignore the stupid newbie/troll comments then give them fuel.

I think the meanness is largely a product of the recent layoffs and general worldwide economic bad news. The island is a small community, and shock waves only have a short distance to travel before they are bounced back and forth, with little to absorb the shock in between. Financially, scenarios play out much faster in a smaller community than in a large one, or a whole country, but really, the same thing is playing out stateside. It is happening more slowly, but inevitably all the dominos must fall, regardless of how complex the setup, we have reached a tipping point. The entire world market has reached a tipping point to be honest. The next decade will be trying for everyone, and HOVENSA is just a (large) blip on the screen compared to the big picture.

The message board seems to go through cycles where for a while the posts are friendly and helpful and informative... then in the next cycle things get contentious. I backed away from posting much a few years back when there was a tsunami of personal attacks going on. I'd hoped things had calmed down when I came back recently to see how the board was faring. There is the potential for this board to be so very helpful to future island residents. It's sad when the purpose of the board gets forgotten in the heat of the posts.

nathanv - insurance fraud may be rampant in the USA, but I've found that a whole lot of properties here aren't insured at all, unless there's a mortgage. Anything beyond liability insurance is an extra expense many beach bar owners can't afford. I would be surprised if BBC was fully insured for the kind of loss they suffered. I know a contractor who was there the next day doing some work to help out as a friend of the owner. It didn't sound like he'd be getting paid for his efforts, but was just being a good friend. Rumors do a lot of damage to people as they leave people wondering if there was some truth behind them. When rumors are started by someone who has no knowledge whatsoever of the specific people and situation involved and is only speculating wildly, that can cause someone long-term damage. It wasn't a nice thing to do and came across as malicious. In fact, the fire department had already ruled it an electrical fire before your post. Given the weird wiring I've seen in most properties (and I've seen a LOT of properties as an STX Realtor over the past 8 years), I'm surprised there aren't far more electrical fires occurring across the island. The concrete building style is what saves us from that, no doubt. Bottom line of what I'd ask you to do in future posts is to think about long-term effect on the people you're speculating about. If someone knows of a crime, sure go ahead and report it. Slinging mud isn't a good thing to do, however.

Alexandra is spot on. Most restaurant owners can't afford ANY insurance beyond what is required under their lease. Pull a quote for content insurance on an island in the middle of the hurricane belt and you'll see what I mean. (Yes, I know you can exempt earthquake and windstorm, but still ...)

Hy Alexandra, I thank you for putting it that way. It is really too bad out of all the "suggestions" that were put on this thread mine got the most heat. Normally I would think it would be cancelled out and "explained" to me why it wouldn't be likely in stead of calling me "stupid" and "what kinda idiot would think of that"? My favorite for just throwing my 2 cents in and describing a situation I knew of that was very similar to this one, and get called an "a-hole".

I think it is comical that a few people on here have different masks, just like all over. Example: When posting something that is different from the way they feel they try to sound mature in their posts and respectful, but end it with a condescending remark that is deliberately done to keep a negative spark going like a child.

As far as my "suggestion" on this topic is concerned I find it puzzling why my thought would spark any real rumors or "actions" against anyone. It is safe to say my opinion had no negative "backlash" on this gentlemen owning the bar. There is no reason what so ever to ridicule or correct on a "hypothetical scenario" comment. If nothing happened out of my comment why would the issue be pushed? Sounds a bit silly. It never happened it was a thought and it wasn't what actually happened. Some of these people need to leave their egos at the firewall before typing in my opinion.

Like the "Oldtart" on here "You are not moving BACK to the islands. Living here for three months over 15 years ago hardly constitutes anything to move back to. You're coming here as just another newbie in a long line of them and I'll offer you the same advice as has been offered to newbies for donkey's years - "Open your eyes and your ears for at least the first year - and keep your mouth shut." This disrespectful 10 year old assumes way too much. And needs to check their clearly undeserved ego at eh door.

Heard a rumor that they tried to burn Coconuts as well.

I apologise if this comment offended anyone. The rumor I heard, was referring to the incident at Coconuts that occurred on January 10th, and was not related to this incident.

I sincerely hope that your comments as posted on this thread are not indicative of your true nature, otherwise I fear that you'll have a difficult time adapting to island life. I can assure you that I do not live in a "bubble" and never have in the 28 years I've lived here and the many years before living in several very different places. I found your comment about the owners of BBC possibly firing up their business for insurance purposes to be totally offensive, unjustified, unwarranted, and exactly the kind of malicious rumor which spreads like wildfire in this very small community and hurts people for years to come.

Almost 13 years ago, my restaurant was the scene of an armed robbery during which one of my patrons and friends was shot and killed. For the next two years I lived in what I can only describe as a "shock fog" but the anguish of that horrible period as well as the next many years was only intensified by the evil and malicious gossip which came up over and over again. Most of it came from people who'd never set foot in my restaurant, who didn't know me from a hole in the wall, who didn't know the man who died likewise, people who didn't even live here then! People, in fact, just like you.

You are not moving BACK to the islands. Living here for three months over 15 years ago hardly constitutes anything to move back to. You're coming here as just another newbie in a long line of them and I'll offer you the same advice as has been offered to newbies for donkey's years - "Open your eyes and your ears for at least the first year - and keep your mouth shut."

No actually Oldfart I lived in STT for 12 years when I was a boy. We moved from Boston to there. I moved to STX for 3 months before moving to MO. While on STT for those years it is quickly learned that no island is ran the same. The only thing all 4 islands have in common is they are close together. The people and geological layout are different. This thread was about STX NOT STT I was only in STX for 3 months, and for the time we lived in STT only would visit for a couple hours out of the day maybe twice a month at the most. So why would I "act" like I know what is going on there it is STX not STT.

To judge someone's personality on their "opinion" or "suggestions" in a forum that is EXACTLY for that shows every "good" listener here how immature you really are. Although, it is sad for anyone to lose their business I think holding on to bitter feelings from your past and then "blasting" others with your bitterness is childish as well.

I am a 36 year old man who has 2 beautiful kids a girl and a boy. I am married to the most beautiful wonderful woman in the world. I am a former Ranger serving with my brothers and sisters in the 173rd airborne division. I had to retire due to injury from shrapnel taking half my left calf muscle. That was five years ago, during this time I have been studying Buddhism, it helps me as a person deal with everything and MOVE ON from what I have been through and have seen. You know, so I am not angry all the time and snapping on strangers who I don't even know. I am going back to school for my masters in Agricultural Science I would like to transfer to STX so I can improve my portfolio and reach out of the "box" and study aquatic agriculture as well. What better place to do it?

I am not going to continue explaining myself to you or anyone on here, nor do I have to. I am a grown man and am above and beyond any arguing over a screen it makes all those involved look like little bickering children and personally a waste of my time. I have better things to do like talk to those who are not bitter and living in their pasts on here. I am responsible for relocating my family I will take any and every measure to instill their safety whether it be from criminals or rude bitter people alike. So taking the "kind" people on here at their words and using this site for all and every means of information on my relocating I thought it would be a good idea to see how people are there. For the most part everyone seems to take things in stride and with a hearty grain of salt, others seem almost egotistical about living there and seem to forget they came from the "mainland" at one point and need to remember that.

Now you have a great day and try to relax.
Cheers.

Nathanv - people hear something and a few months from now they won't remember where they heard it or whether it was credible, but it may be perceived retroactively as having been a credible comment. So even though you were just throwing out wild hypotheticals, someone may recall that "someone" said the beach bar had been torched by the owner for insurance purposes and this could get splashed around the island gaining steam even though it has no basis whatsoever in actual knowledge on your part.

I didn't see any reason to flame you for your post. I understood you were commenting about human nature more than reporting on direct knowledge. But having been here a while now, I have seen how the island coconut telegraph handles information and the original source is disregarded quickly so that bad info is often seen as "gospel truth". That was behind my suggestion that you think about long-term consequences of what you speculate before posting such thoughts to an open forum. You weren't intending to do harm, but you can inadvertently do so.

For example, if your comments get repeated to someone, I'd bet they aren't told that the person who originally speculated isn't an island resident and doesn't know the beach bar owner. It will be assumed that you were a personal friend of the bar owner and mentioned to someone else that he'd done it to get insurance money. The island is so small that lots of us know each other directly and are connected to nearly everyone without more than a couple degrees of separation. Comments about wrong doing are often perceived as being almost straight from the source.

Out of respect for the OP of this thread I think it is best to PM me with any further discretions concerning my post only, I will be glad to hear your concerns there. 🙂

I live thousands of miles from VI. I have not been there in just over a year. I have never been to BBC. I don't know the owners of BBC. All that being said, I have mulled over something in my mind the past couple of days... This is NOT an accusation, just thinking out loud to myself, and anyone who would like to read my post, and not naming any party guilty as a result....

There was no robbrery, therefore, the generator could be presumed to still be there at closing time.

The building was found burning/burned, and was a total loss.

At what point did the generator disappear?
Sometime between closing till the fire started?
After the fire started?
After the fire burned itself out or was put out?

Who runs into a burning building to take a generator out? Mostly no one.
Who takes a generator out of a building that has burned to the ground. Scrappers maybe, up here, but not likely down there. Mostly no one from there would give it a second look.

Most likely the generator was removed before the fire started. Those two events happening separate from each other, unrelated causes, in the same few hour window, highly unlikely. Perhaps the thieves torched the building to hide their evidence. We will never know unless they themselves post the truth on here. Not likely to happen. I just don't think the place burned down from spontaneous combustion or "wiring" is all.

Sorry to continue an off-topic tangent, but I just want to say that I'm glad to see there are others who have noticed how negative and personal many comments have been recently. This board was extremely helpful to me when I was preparing to move, and I hope it can continue to be helpful to others rather than scaring them away. I have personally met several of the helpful posters here, and they are a good representation of what those who live on St. Croix are really like.

At what point did the generator disappear?
Sometime between closing till the fire started?
After the fire started?
After the fire burned itself out or was put out?

If posts on Facebook have any credibility at all, the fire department said the generator was still there when they locked things up after putting out the fire. Between their departure and later in the morning when the owner came back to face the situation in daylight, the generator room was broken into and the generator stolen. I don't say this information is true, just that this is what I've seen stated by people who *might* be in a position to have info directly from the owner or fire department.

If this is the case, then some of the west end hoodlums who are responsible for many of the break-ins (and my west end house was broken into multiple times with lots stolen and I've had 2 cars broken into out west as well, so I know for a fact this occurs!) may have decided to salvage what they could following the fire as it may have seemed too good a chance to pass up. They may even have had the mindset that the owner could just add it to an insurance claim... although there isn't necessarily any insurance.

sad to hear in any case, but MUCH better to hear than that it went missing just before the fire. Thanks for posting that. It is good to know it was most likely NOT the owner/operators.

Roadrunner
I am not someone who "judges" an entire population whether it be an "island" or "state". I can honestly say this site and the positive people on here out weigh the negative ones by far. They [positive] have already made our minds up we will be moving there. They were very informative and thorough while keeping their demeanor very friendly. As for the negative people, they are everywhere it is what's expected. I have dealt with them all my life and like most have "been" one at one point in my life. They are very easy to deal with. Say what you feel then tune them out.

All in all we can't wait to get down there with the kids. They have grown up watching Dad on the beach when I was there as a kid on our "family home movies". Now they get to live there just like my brothers and I have gotten to.

No worries

At what point did the generator disappear?
Sometime between closing till the fire started?
After the fire started?
After the fire burned itself out or was put out?

If posts on Facebook have any credibility at all, the fire department said the generator was still there when they locked things up after putting out the fire. Between their departure and later in the morning when the owner came back to face the situation in daylight, the generator room was broken into and the generator stolen. I don't say this information is true, just that this is what I've seen stated by people who *might* be in a position to have info directly from the owner or fire department.

" I didn't see any reason to flame you for your post. I understood you were commenting about human nature more than reporting on direct knowledge. But having been here a while now, I have seen how the island coconut telegraph handles information and the original source is disregarded quickly so that bad info is often seen as "gospel truth". That was behind my suggestion that you think about long-term consequences of what you speculate before posting such thoughts to an open forum. You weren't intending to do harm, but you can inadvertently do so."

For example, if your comments get repeated to someone, I'd bet they aren't told that the person who originally speculated isn't an island resident and doesn't know the beach bar owner. It will be assumed that you were a personal friend of the bar owner and mentioned to someone else that he'd done it to get insurance money. The island is so small that lots of us know each other directly and are connected to nearly everyone without more than a couple degrees of separation. Comments about wrong doing are often perceived as being almost straight from the source.

Isn't your above comment about the generator being stolen after the fire being put out, part of the coconut telegraph at this point now? Your sources are are people who "might" be in a position to know this info.

Hypocrisy at it's best.