Vernon - I'm curious, what has the BIV gotten wrong in its coverage of violence in the Bay Islands? Not only have I read the stories, I've spoken with the editor/publisher - he's not trashing the islands, he seems to really be trying to be honest and balanced in his coverage. In any case, as I've said - the problem isn't Roatan as such...it's the misperception regarding its safety that lulls tourists into a false sense of security. This is the case throughout Central America -- likewise, the "blame the victims" mentality doesn't wash. My brother was simply boating and most likely got into an accident, but the absence of genuine search/rescue capabilities or real investigative resources makes it unlikely that we or anyone else who loses someone down there will ever know what happened. Ron Scheepstra was fly fishing in Mexico, walked a short distance to his car and was never seen again - and the authorities, rather than investigate, simply implied to his wife that "maybe he just doesn't want to be found." David Gimelfarb was in Rincon La Vieja, Costa Rica with 300 other tourists when he vanished without a trace...Costa Rica has actually been helpful in the search for David and has asked the U.S. for assistance...a request the U.S. govt. repeatedly ignored. This assumption that adult men who run into trouble deserve their fates and that their families are just deluded whiners needs to go the way of the old saw that women who get raped "were probably looking for it." There's a real appeal to traveling in this part of the world. I wouldn't discourage it. But there's more to the story than cheap meals and beautiful beaches, and travel journalism that ignores the darker side are simply being irresponsible.

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