Is a BVI boycott appropriate? ...YES

If you don't know all the facts and have all the info, jumping to conclusions and calling for a full boycott is not very smart. In my opinion, it isn't very smart to fish without first checking the rules. I don't fish, but I think that there are some strict rules about catching and releasing certain if not all fish and hell even along the U.S. coast you can't just go take a lobster out of the sea without getting a permit, license, or something. It is called poaching or something. I really don't know much about the facts, but would certainly look them up if I wanted to fish. That again is just something I would do and is my opinion of what to do.

Back to the facts here, boycotting is a big deal and boycotting something without checking out what is going on is as bad as fishing without checking the rules. All my opinion of course, but according to the second amendment in the constitution is my right to say... Here is a post from the vacation board that explains what I am saying much more eloquently:

Posted by: STT Resident (IP Logged)
Date: Today, 10:37PM
This is a classic case of the legal system running amok in the worst way but I certainly wouldn't advocate a boycott of the BVI. Those who arrested Richard Baker were doing their job according to the BVI laws and he unfortunately pled guilty. I'm not sure at this point WHY he pled guilty. He is, after all, apparently not only a retired police officer but an attorney to boot. But I'm not posting to judge, but posting as a Devil's Advocate! Ouch, I was taken to task once in a local "Letter To The Editor" forum and was denounced in a rebuttal for using the Devil's Advocate term which reference, where the reader was concerned, was assumed to my being a Satanist. Literary references can go awry.

But, getting back on point, the legal process between the two jurisdictions (countries) will run its course and no doubt very hastily, given what is clearly a travesty of justice which has caught the attention of both countries' governments and is quickly spreading to prime-time. Mr.Baker will no doubt have his proverbial 15 minutes of fame and then much more where the aftermath is concerned.

I don't give a damn where that's concerned and all power to Mr. Baker and his wife.

BUT, boycotting the BVI in a hip-shoot knee-jerk reaction is asinine at least in my humble opinion and will serve no purpose other than to severely compromise the finances of the USVI daysail operators who ply their trade between the US and BVI islands but likewise the equally hard-working BV Islanders who truly eke out a living based on tourism.

Best that you contact your local senatorial representative, the US State Department, the BVI Justice Department, etc. and put your angst in the right place.

Cheers!

Teresa,
Are you going to shoot someone? The Second Amendment in the Constitution of the US. Yikes!

PS. Boycotting is covered by the 1st amendment in the Constitution of the US. Its part of the free speech thing, without Govt restraint.

This whole argument is overblown and silly. I don't know all the facts, but I do know he pled guilty. The wheels of justice will turn and things will work out.

In the meantime, don't break the laws of whatever foreign country you're in and you'll be ok. You can't fish ANYWHERE without a licence.

Anyone can boycott anywhere they want to no matter who says they shouldn't. I think the BVI punishment is ridiculous in this case & if I were a tourist, I sure wouldn't assume I'd get tossed in the slammer for what this man did. And pardon the groaner, but I think the BVI has bigger fish to fry judging from what I read in the paper.

Who knows what advice this man got to plead guilty? He might have been told that if he did he'd get a normal fine & be released. I wouldn't assume I'd need a BVI law degree before I visited there.

There has been a week long hashing of this on Travel Talk On line, including some locals from the BVI's. The fine and or imprisonment is an absolute travesty as said. This wasn't a simple tourist though. He is a licensed captain and has worked on Jost in a dive operation. He knows those waters well. I would assume he plead guilty because he expected a fine and a walk and on with his life. Someone decided to make a point and he got caught in the cross hairs. It is unfortunate and hopefully now that they are getting bad press on it he will be released. There was another person arrested as well but he paid a large, inappropriate fine instead of serving the year in jail. There is nothing to stop enforcement officers and judges from applying this same level of enforcement to a normal tourist so if you are going to fish get the license.
Jay

Linda J,
If your Husband was sitting in Jail for a year," for sport fishing". Would you still consider the topic overblown and silly? You don't need a license for sport fishing in the ocean in the USA, never have! We Americans always beat the drum when an injustice occurs, that's just one of the things that makes it great to be an American (US).

Lizard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Linda J,
> If your Husband was sitting in Jail for a
> year," for sport fishing". Would you still
> consider the topic overblown and silly? You don't
> need a license for sport fishing in the ocean in
> the USA, never have! We Americans always beat the
> drum when an injustice occurs, that's just one of
> the things that makes it great to be an American
> (US).

Lizzy, that is truly an absurd comment.. Always beat the drum. Don't make me come up with a list.

He plead guilty. Don't plead guilty.

Promoguy,
Come up with your list, might be interesting. Punishment meets the crime comes to mind.

I believe you do need a license to fish in US territorial waters.

But, as with most things, there is a "rest of the story" here. The "poor man" is actually the captain of a fishing boat who should know the rules. Plus he didn't check in with BVI customs, a REALLY big no-no.

Of course the penalty is over the top. But I'm sure it will get hashed out. Is the man actually in jail yet??

well i can recall the BVI being more than patient in the past with the local fishermen who strayed into bvi waters in the past they have been told and told and told yet they still stray over there and then try to plead ignorance of the law so perhaps the bvi gov is using this gentleman as an example to everyone else.

Linda J,
No license required for sport fishing in US Territorial Ocean Waters, Never has been! Why do you believe that?
And Yes the man is in Jail. On the fishing part, maybe your confused with commercial fishing.

LOL! Lizard, I did mean the free speech part. I was really tired when I wrote that and the funny thing is that I am helping my son study the constitution right now. You just don't know...

I just don't think a boycott is what is needed here.

So what are the rules then?

Teresa (shouldn't have started posting on this thread, but got 'caught up' in the excitement of a boycott only to find sketchy information)

How about we round up all the BVI citizens living here illegally, sucking off the system, using our schools, having babies at taxpayer expense and put them in prison......Just a thought...

Teresa,
Have your husband help your son, with his home work. ROFL!
IMHOP I don't think any tourist will, could, or would boycott the BVI, now wheres my gun.

1, Tawaba Brawket

2, Duke LaCrosse Team

Not a lot of drum beating in both of these cases.

promoguy,
Your Pseudo Intellectual Catharis on all subject matters, I find amusing. Sorry I'M not familiar with Tawaba Brawket. However The Duke LaCrosse Team had drums beating on both sides, as well as the Press.

Sorry about the Tawana Brawley misspelling. So there was a lot of drum beating on both sides. You really think so. Maybe it was long time after they figured Nifong was a liar.

Lizard, try to get a life away from the computer. Love your big words. But hell, what do I know.....you're the mayor of the VI's or something like some kind of stupid self appointment.

Promoguy,
How I spend my time should be of no concern to you. What big words? Just for the record, I appointed myself, limited to Gallows Bay, ST Croix ,USVI as the De Facto Honorary Mayor! I guess you didn't get the humor in that. May I suggest a Word Power Book, a Dictionary or google words in the English language you don't understand.

Back to your List,
Tawaba Brawket and then changed to Tawana Brawley. Tawana Brawley case made Al Sharpten what he is today! Again ,Drums beating on both sides.

Promoguy,
Thanks for being consistent.

Game, set, match.

I know when I'm overpowered. I give up.

Lizard wrote : "May I suggest a Word Power Book, a Dictionary or google words in the English language you don't understand. "

Good suggestion, Lizard. Look up the difference between "your" and "you're" You might be enlightened..

Angela,
Why would I look it up, I know the difference. Why would you suggest I would be enlightened? Please share this!