Issue

In Aruba we have a lot of good things, but of course also some bad things. One of these are the problems of the homeless drug addicts, that we call 'chollers'. These chollers beg, yell, fight and generally resist any help of the various local NA groups.

Yesterday, a woman was offered by one of those chollers to wash her car. She refused. When she came back the tires of her car were slashed. She called the authorities, a complaint was filed, etc. She also told her husband what happened. The husband, a local businessman whose stores have been held up a number of times, went to look for the choller who he thought slashed his wife's car.

The husband found the choller, and apparently told the choller that he did a bad thing to a woman. (Chivalry isn't completely dead in Aruba). The story goes that things rather went to pot from there, and the choller reached in his pocket. The businessman, thinking that he was going to be presented with a knife, took out his own handgun, for which he has a permit. The choller ran away into a nearby gym, and the businessman followed suit, gun waving. The gym owner didn't appreciate the commotion, ordered them both outside and called the police.

The police came and arrested both choller and businessman.

The news caused a sizable consternation in the community because the businessman also got arrested. Many think that he had a reason to suspect that the choller was carrying a weapon, and was right in waving his own gun. He had a permit, after all, and it was for self protection. I agree with this. It caused even more of an uproar when he was again ordered to remain in custody today.

I don't think that the businessman should have pursued the choller into the gym. After all, the choller fled the scene and so there was not a case anymore of having to defend oneself.

But.

By keeping the businessman detained, the department of justice (NOT the police) does send a signal that even though you (or your loved one) was just a victim of a meaningless crime, you can't do anything about it. This case also is a clear signal that the population in general are completely and utterly fed up with the choller situation. They can go live for free in the rehabilitation center, which is paid by my and the businessman's taxes. And yet they keep on roaming free, seemingly without any consequences when they damage property of others.

Also, I think that the Department of Justice should ask themselves who the real threat to society here is: the choller who slashed tires because he was denied something or the businessman waving a gun because he thought that the man in front of him was going to pull a knife.

Quoting from one of my favorite characters, President Bartlett, I can tell you that "I am not comfortable with violence." But neither am I comfortable in a scenario where unstable drug addicts carry weapons and it is considered a possible crime to point a weapon at them.

What is the solution then. First of all I suggest to take the rehabilitation center out of the center of Oranjestad. Seriously, that's like a choller's Mecca for things to steal or people to harrass. Secondly, if somebody is a drug addict and harassing people, have MANDATORY sentences for rehabilitation. If these laws do exist, then they need to be changed, because they are quite obviously not working.

I understand that the Department of Justice frowns on people waving guns in public. But it seems to me that the Department should frown more heavily on drug addicts vandalizing property without any reason. And right now it looks like the Department consider both things of equal value.

I was not, and still am not, scared of chollers. I am smart enough to realize that the majority are not violent or destructive. But that doesn't make it right that they should be harassing people begging for money or food.  I realize that it is a tough problem to solve, but right now it doesn't look anybody's trying.

Comments

[BarbadosInFocus]

Well, there is vagrancy and poverty all over the world. Here in New York, you will find that the homeless do not like to go to the shelters. Apparently there is more danger at the city shelters than on the streets.

Tackling the problem of chollers is going to be a tricky one.

[suzsqueak]

The choller situation on the island, is an issue close to my heart. I have a cousin who was an alcoholic and is now a choller. When I was back for the winter holidays this year, my mother and I talked about him and the situation. Part of her wanted to see if she could find him and try and convince him to go to the rehab center again, but she also was afraid of seeing how far he's slipped. The worst part is that he was a sucessful businessman and his grown children have kids of their own, he'll never see.

I think maybe moving the center out to Lago Vista or Grapefields might be a partial solution. Along with the government no longer turning a blind eye to this scourge on the country. Here in California, if you're caught you're in trouble, and oftentimes that means manditory treatment AND prison time.

But that's just my .02 Fl.

[Gabriel]

Juffrouw bo sa si cu bo comment ta wordo usa como un mal propaganda pa aruba riba un otro blogg right?
http://www.scaredmonkeys.com/2007/03/31/aruba-protests-against-chollers-and-the-drug-addition-problem-in-aruba-safety-what-about-natalee-holloway/#comments

[arubagirl]

Gabriel, si mi a caba di ripara.

Pero, ami lo sigui skibi loke ta importante pami, e cos bon di Aruba y e cosnan malo. E punto di loke mi ta skibi ta over di (mi) bida na Aruba. Y esaki, pa bon of pa malo ta parti di esey.

Esey bisa, mi ta hanjanan masha hipocrita cu nan ta tuma mi palabranan mientras normalmente na por bebe mi sanger.

[Juancho Verbatim]

ArubaGirl,

I read we feel pretty much alike about this issue, but there are a couple of things that should be explained a/o expanded.

"...and was right in waving his own gun. He had a permit, after all, and it was for self protection."

He had no right to wave his gun. Gun laws are not as straight-foreward as in the USA. Basically you cannot do anything with a gun here...even if you have a permit!!!

He di the wrong thing...and he's paying for it. That said, this issue is a very problematic issue, since this was the result of a frustration, which is felt by many, aswell as myself.

I think he should be freed as an example of the fight against addiction and its fallouts, but that is my humble opinion.

If you analize this issue you might realize there are larger issues here at play.
Ask yourself "why the 'choller' ran towards the 'gym' instead of the 'Hotel Central (his supposed safe place)'?"
Have you noticed that this gym has been in existence for a very long time? Most business do not thrive in this area, especially service type of business... Isn't this odd? This gym has no problems whith the chollers. This business has no issues with them. The owner even defendes the choller and if you believe some rumors, he even disposed of the choller's knife before the police came!
Where do the collers by their stuff? What interest did the gym's owner serve? His, the choller's attacker or the choller's?

The problems in the center of the city is not the choller-issue. It is not even the destruction or crime they cause. Rather it is the dependence between the supplier and the user! Everything is very convenient for the supplier and the user.
Except the population and (worse of all) the tourism industry!!!! This compromise does not serve the addicts problem, not the population and even less the commerce. The only one whose interests are met? The supplier...Very convenient.

In warfare its said the best strategy is to "devide and concquer". Her we unite and play war!

My 2 cents...

[arubagirl]

Juancho,

I think you raise some very interesting questions. I didn't even know there was a gym there, but you're right, why did the choller run to the gym instead of his 'safe haven' as you so aptly put it.

The reason you hinted at may be the correct reason.

Now, as for the gun waving, you're most probably right, you probably can't just be aiming a gun in public, however, he didn't pull out the gun (if the story is to be believed) randomly, he believed he was going to presented with a weapon. At that point I think he made the correct decision. Now, if the law doesn't think it is, perhaps a closer look should be taken at the law.

[katablog]

I can understand protesting when the Aruban government does nothing about crime.

Sure wish the Aruban people had protested when Natalee Holloway disappeared and your police let the perps go even though everyone knows who was involved. Will there be protests 2 years from her death and disappearance when the criminals are let off scott free?

[arubagirl]

katablog, let's start with the police didn't let the suspects go free. Let's continue with the fact that if it is so obvious, some freaking proof should have been uncovered. Let's follow that up that if you're going to claim that the proof was disappeared, then you please show me proof of that, since that is a very serious accusation. I'm awaiting breathlessly.

[Juancho Verbatim]

I am very intrigued about the comments from katablog. It seems to be that the only "missing persons" case ever is Nathalee Holloway's, if you believe her/his comments.
There are thousands of similar (or even worse) cases in the US, and I don't see the media and other katablogs reliving those issues.

I hope someday Miss Holloway can be found. I am of the ones with the firm conviction that this girl is alive. And I sincerely hope it too.
I doubt very much that she's dead. The proofs are just not there that she is dead. As an Aruban I wish we could find her dead or alive so we can go on, but that is life: its not designed to be fair.

Aruban police, same as American police, have their ups and downs, left and rights... We were arguing a local issue here... This does not mean that we believe the police or anybody has done a bad job as far as the holloway case is concerned.

The Homeless & crack-head problem is no more a problem in Aruba than in Europe, the US or your hometown!!! And I sure have seen countless disadvantaged people in freezing temperatures in New York!!! I have seen it. We were comenting on a local issue and I would never stop visiting New York, just because there are homeless people, crack-head or drunks walking around...or another American war!!! And I will sure not stop visiting the beautifull city (NY) because there are thousands of missing teenage girls... It is no use confusing apples with pears...

And...Do not confuse our kindness for stupidity...

[arubagirl]

well said, Juancho

[edward]

Hi Arubagirl :}

I love your photography.
I save your pics.