October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38

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Page 72 • Latitude 38 • October, 2009
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LETTERS
Alfred sued Santos for $15,000 to settle the case, far more
than any medical care or legal fees would justify. The suit
that had been dragging on well over a year just came to a
close in mid-July, and Santos was given two options: 1) Sign
a confession and pay Alfred $3,000 U.S., or 2) go to jail for
six years, with his mother being incarcerated, too.
There was no jury or any semblance of a legal process in the
case. It was a confess-and-pay-or-go-directly-to-jail choice.
It’s a shame what an American cruiser might do to replenish
his cruising funds.
Santos signed the confession, and will have to struggle
greatly to make the payments to Alfred over the next six
months. It’s a real tragedy, because the Santos we know is
an honest, kind, humble, hard-working family man, who only
wants only to provide for his wife and young son.
Santos provides moorings and marine services to cruisers.
We got exceptional service from him at a very reasonable
price. We've spent enough significant time with Santos and
his family to know that the charges again him are false and
that he's been wronged by this whole episode. Santos is a
good man, and we support him.
Robert & Keli Parker
Freedom, Downeaster 38
San Pedro, CA
Robert and Keli — To put a little perspective on things, it
should be noted that while cruisers have had few problems
in El Salvador, the country has one of the highest crime and
murder rates in the Americas. It's a country where gangs and
extortion are rampant. According to National Public Radio,
almost all small businesses in the cities have to pay daily
la renta to gangs. Some bus drivers even say they get hit up
more than once per route. So we're not talking New Zealand or
Switzerland.
Like you, we weren't on the scene during the Santos-Alfred
troubles. As such, we think it's impossible to know for sure who
is guilty of what. But our two-letter response to your claim that
you've gotten to know Santos well enough to know he has been
wronged is: O.J. The prisons are full of charming people who
have committed heinous crimes that their friends and relatives
can't fathom.
We're particularly puzzled by your assertion that Alfred
somehow got in a dispute with Santos "to replenish his cruising
kitty." His case might be the one-in-a-million exception to
the rule, but generally speaking, foreign visitors — particularly
those on "yachts" in extremely poor countries — get the short
end of the stick from local authorities and judges. After all,
what kind of leverage could Alfred, a budget cruiser, possibly
have had against a citizen of El Salvador in El Salvador?
Particularly after Alfred had already spent 44 days in a Salvadoran
jail?
We're never going to know for sure, but if we had to give
odds, it would be that Santos and his mama might not be as
angelic as you think. And for what it's worth, remember that
Santos and Alfred started out as great friends, too.
In a typical month, we receive a tremendous volume of
letters. So if yours hasn't appeared, don't give up hope.
We welcome all letters that are of interest to sailors. Please
include your name, your boat's name, hailing port, and, if
possible, a way to contact you for clarifications.
By far the best way to send letters is to email them to
richard@latitude38.com. You can also mail them to 15 Locust,
Mill Valley, CA, 94941, or fax them to (415) 383-5816.