LADIES: BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COUNTRY

The St. Petersburg Times has an interesting article today about the issue of unsolved rapes of female tourists in the Bahamas, and the efforts of Ambassador John Rood to work closer with authorities there on the issue.

According to Ambassador Rood's count, there have been at least 26 rapes in the past three years, but that could very well be low because many times female tourists will simply want to leave the country ASAP and the incident goes unreported to authorities. Also, police and court reports there are sealed until the perp is convicted.

But tourism and police authorities throughout the Caribbean region have had a wake up call after the disappearance of Alabama high schooler Natalee Holloway.

Friends, many times these incidences are avoidable: Don't wander off with strangers. Don't lose track of where you are. Don't drink excessively. Have a good time, but always keep your wits about you. And it doesn't matter wheather you're in Nassau or just down the road in Ybor City.