Letters to the editor (2)

Dear Del Sur:

I am a regular and avid reader of your San Juan newsletter. Our family has a house just south of town, but we are still working our way towards spending more of the year there, so we depend on you and other resources for the latest chismes heard on the street. We have also used the services of several of your advertisers. I was surprised to read in the last "rumors and gossip" column that O Sole Mio has closed. Can it be true? We just had several dinners there over the holidays, and we have created many fond family memories there over the years. I recall one occasion when Paulo- who had a broken leg- chased a bathroom voyeur out of the place and offered to back it up with a crutch if necessary. It was a really nice family-run operation with a great staff- particularly the young guy with the goatee who helped manage the place. We will feel sad if it is indeed closing. Is Paulo leaving town with his family?

J.M., SJdS

Ed: Yes, sadly O Sole Mio as we know it is gone. However; Paulo is not and is very much involved in the new venture currently under construction. I recently asked him if he was enjoying his retirement and he replied “I am just on vacation.” I guess he deserves one.

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Dear Sir,
I remember that we talked this week about crime prevention in this town. I shared your opinion that this is a complicated matter obliging us to be responsible and sensitive to the local community. However, the following story forced a personal re-examination of the problem.

Around 2 o'clock this afternoon, while I was lying on the rocks leading to the point, two badly shaken tourists staggered by. She was obviously terror stricken; he wore some bloody patches, evidence of the struggle. From Germany, first day here, robbed of their cash, passports and camera. The knife was, according to them, a long, long one. The young man chased the three banditos and begged for his passport to be returned. Somehow he managed to wrestle it out of them. Cynically (and with good reason to be so) I sent them off to the police station.

Here is the re-exam. Robberies on that point are both predictable and common. After having experienced similar trauma last week in the yard of my home, I ask myself whether or not I have acted morally towards my fellow human beings, by accepting the complacency with which my incident was handled. Observing the trauma of the young couple today and others like them tomorrow, I feel compelled to once again question the wisdom in the continued silence of the community. Unless we do something different tomorrow, we can expect, and continue to accept the same. My comment is this, to the people of Beautiful San Juan del Sur. “The tyranny of the few is holding the many hostage. Why would we allow that? For what?”
D. San Juan

Ed: After the “Police Plan” announcement last year, we said that we either “pay now, or pay later” when it comes to crime in the area. Paying now involves courage, time, money and “genuine” interest from the whole community.