Comments on: Piracy – Enough is Enough!

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:21:00 +0000

I hope that one day I can meet them to dicuss our ordeal.Am from Seychelles

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:13:34 +0000

I am very happy for the couple that they are free now.Am was in the hands of Somali pirates for 88 days,(300 days less) let me tell you that it was very tuf.

By: Lgirl

Lgirl — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 14:09:40 +0000

Congratulations! I have been watching this story from Nova Scotia since the beginning! I am so glad that they are now safe and sound!!!

By: Jody

Jody — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:16:39 +0000

I am so happy they are alive and now free. Thank God.

By: Matata

Matata — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 21:03:51 +0000

Hi, the reason there has been no updates recently is because a super injunction was imposed on all media houses on reporting on the chandlers status- until they are released.

Off the record- Apparently the ‘good’ guy who is the mayor of adado alias. “president of Adado” may have colluded with the pirates to conspire against the british negotiators duing the money transaction- what really happened nobody knows!

Member of the fouth estate.

By: Helen C

Helen C — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:17:52 +0000

A new blog posting would be appreciated – even if only to say ‘no news’ again.

As for me, I am in my 50’s and currently a traveller after years of being a worker and paying taxes in my homeland. My mode of transport (4×4 vehicle) may be different from the Chandlers, but we have the same Government and the same ’status’ in that Government’s eyes. I am under no illusion that if my husband and I were ever to find ourselves in a similar position to Paul & Rachel our Government would have a similar response to us as they have to the Chandlers’ situation.

Others may not agree, and were I in the Chandlers’ position, or their family, I may speak differently, but I understand the Government’s view that paying ransoms only increases the likelihood of other kidnaps in the future. The Somali pirates have got used to being paid off by insurers and probably thought this little yacht a soft target, expecting the same easy pay-off. Corporate insurance pay-offs have made the seas more dangerous. Little did the pirates realise at the time the difference in status of the private individual as opposed to corporate interests.

The pirates, are in a catch 22 position. In fact they are facing the same fundamental dilemma as the governments of their victims. If they free Paul & Rachel without a ransom payment then they can expect less sympathy the next time they kidnap a vessel.

I reiterate the comment above: ‘no news is good news’ but let not the country forget Paul & Rachel are still in captivity. By keeping this site up to date it reminds our Government that the public have not forgotten the Chandlers. If the Chandlers and their family must continue to suffer, let it not be in vain. Let’s keep their names in the news, this can surely be done without revealing any details or jeopordising any negotiations that may be going on.

And in the meantime, to those who pray, let us pray for Paul & Rachel’s continued strength of spirit, heart, mind and body, now and in the future.

By: A&S

A&S — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:03:21 +0000

We think of Paul and Rachel often and pray for a quick solution to their awful situation. How can it be in such a world of communication that people can just disappear like this?

By: E.K. Gross

E.K. Gross — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 08:57:43 +0000

Rachel and Paul are very polite and clever persons. We got to know them as great mates and competent sailors. Ever since they are in the hands of the criminals we search almost every day for news.
We understand that the public is not in favor of yachties (selfish bastards irresponsible people, putting them selfs in danger and let the tax payers pay for them). Maybe we (sailors) sould work a bit on our reputation and point out that Paul and Rachel made a great job in building a temporary yachting station in India. Many local people made very good business and where extremly happy to have a brunch of sailors staying for bad weather season.

By: Jody

Jody — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:33:38 +0000

I just read the latest article on Paul and Rachel where the pirates say that they will never release them until the entire ransom is paid. It doesn’t matter what amount is given to these hoodlums, they will just increase it. That is supposedly what happened when the family handed over $500,000, the pirates raised the ransom to $1 million. If that is paid, it will be raised once again.

By: Jody

Jody — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:40:46 +0000

I check on status updates on the Chandlers on a weekly basis. It is horrible they have been kept hostage for this long.

I wish that doctor would insist on seeing them again. I heard from a news reporter that they are indeed still alive and being held out in the desert, but it is very scary to not hear or see them.