Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to you from Venice, California ­ I returned home from Nevis on Friday evening, as did my brothers (to Vermont).  We left our mother buried in a small, sweet cemetery in the Gingerland area of Nevis, and came back to resume our lives.  The investigation into the cause of Rita's death continues and we are not giving up our efforts to keep the momentum going, but to be honest we have little hope that it will produce a solid resolution.  In addition to the lack of resources, there is little evidence that the will exists on the part of the powers that be to uncover the truth of the matter.  

On behalf of my brothers and the rest of our family, thanks to all of you that wrote to your representatives and the U.S. Embassy ­ your efforts meant a great deal to us - I wish I could report that they made a difference in the way things went for Rita's case.  I have seen the generic response most of you received from U.S. Consul General Robert Fretz, and I can tell you that the U.S. embassy made few substantive efforts, and those only after much hounding.  The FBI visit was cursory at best, and appears to have been little more than a courtesy call.  The FBI has refused to give us a report on their findings.  The politics and politicians of the region served only to stall and cripple the investigation.  Very frustrating and very sad for Nevis.

There was plenty of sweet along with the bitter.  My brothers and I come away with a deeper understanding of who Rita had become, and how full and rich her final 10 years were.  She was beloved by many Nevisians of all walks, was a student and teacher, mentor, mother and matchmaker, social activist, bridge between social strata, and all around colorful character.  Her handmade teddy bears, each with a different personality, reside in homes and offices throughout the island.  She made a deep and lasting impression on many, many people, and her death has joined the expat and native communities in a common goal ­ to compel the authorities to get to the truth of this matter, and others, and to revamp their standard operating procedures of sweeping tourism averse incidents under the carpet.

I'm proud of my mother's life ­ her strength, her integrity, and her absolute adherence to a value system that still informs the way I strive to walk through the world every day: Live fully.  Don't lie.  Treat all people with respect and compassion.  Fight injustice.  Advocate for the disenfranchised.  Don't abuse power.  Don't tolerate abuse.  No bullshit.  Share what you've got.  Create and appreciate beauty.

There was a lot of newspaper coverage of the case and most Nevisian people were outraged by the incident and its mishandling.  Following is a letter we wrote and gave to the newspapers before we left ­ it also contains a "message in a bottle" written by Rita a few years ago in preparation for her death.  

Be well, and remember that every second of your life is a gift.

Jonathan

LETTER TO NEVIS

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

It is with heavy hearts that we depart your beautiful island, beloved home to our dear, late mother, Rita Mae Zeichner.  We are heading back to our families and friends with too many unanswered questions about what happened in Rita's tidy little Gingerland cottage on the night of August 23, 2004.

There is a shadow on your paradise and we wonder whether or not everyone among us is eager to find all of the answers.  Martin Luther King said, "You can't fight darkness with darkness, you must use light."  We have been begging for light ever since the morning of August 24 when Rita was found with a blunt force skull fracture, unconscious, in a pool of her own blood.

13 hours after she was discovered, Rita succumbed to her injuries without regaining consciousness.  She left us with a mystery, but not without clues (her home had been broken into several times previously, the last (unsolved) just 10 days prior) ­ and had law enforcement officials moved more swiftly and requested outside assistance perhaps earlier, it might already be known what really happened to this strong, gentle woman who loved and was loved by so many Nevisians of all colors, ages, walks of life and political persuasions.

We can only imagine a scenario where the Federation, the police, the Nevis government, the Ministry of Tourism, the FBI and the U.S. Embassy had the motivation, imagination and courage to set aside political agendas and join forces to carry out a top notch investigation, using whatever resources are necessary to solve the crime and to bring safety and security to this beautiful island. Then we might now be closer to the truth instead of further from it. Imagine a joint statement from all those entities saying, "Yes, there are problems on Nevis, like many other places, and we are committed to solving them and making Nevis safer."  

During our nine days on Nevis we were approached by many people, native Nevisians and ex-patriots, with stories of being attacked, robbed and threatened on the streets and in their homes ­ many of the crimes going unsolved and/or unprosecuted.  We've heard about murders and rapes, several perpetrated against elders like our mother.  There is a growing sense of fear here, and there is widespread consensus that local law enforcement is less than effective and in dire need of more training, better equipment and, most importantly, more responsive, ethical and nonpolitical leadership. This observation is not meant to cast aspersions on the authorities, but to recognize that there is room for improvement as we have experienced and heard from so many, and improvement is a continual process. Perhaps the manner in which our mother passed, a gentle person with so much love and regard for all, should (could) be a wake-up call for the authorities and the people whom they represent and serve.

Over the past nine days we have witnessed botched crime scene protocols, missed clues, delayed evidence gathering, missed interviews with key figures, contradictory statements from officials, lack of communication between departments and between officials, resistance to/restricted use of outside resources (FBI), premature conclusions, and what at times has seemed like outright propagandizing by government officials in contradiction to known facts to promote an outcome which might be more convenient than a messy crime which needs to be solved.  

By the way, we are not anti-police.  We've met some officers on Nevis who impressed us as sincere guys trying to do the right thing, but lacking all that would be desirable in understanding, resources and support to conduct a comprehensive crime investigation.  We are not anti-government either ­ when it really works for the people. We are grateful for the gracious support and assistance we have received from Premier Amory and his First Lady ­ but their powers are limited.

We've met hundreds of people who knew and cared about Rita, and their stories have illustrated for us why our mother was in love with Nevis and its people.  Your compassion has helped us through the toughest moments and made us feel at home.  Your kindness has filled our hearts and helped us begin to heal.   We know in our souls, though, that without resolution as to the facts of the case, there will always be questions and doubts - and the concern that a murderer may still be at large in this community.

As you read this, we are heading home to nurse our sorrows and fight for the truth from afar.  Sisters and brothers, we hope you will continue to talk openly about what has happened to Rita and others, and also about what is and what is not working in Nevisian society.  Sociologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of informed, concerned citizens can change the world.  Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

Nevis is facing some important issues and decisions.  Is the increasing violence going to be acknowledged and addressed in ways that empower and safeguard peaceful, law abiding citizens and give you back your freedom to live without fear?  Or will intimidation, fear of retaliation and fear of lost tourist dollars keep the island locked into a cycle of violence, fear, silence - and still more violence and fear?  Will there be more guns, drugs, and killings?  Will Nevis and the Federation rise to the challenge of finding ways to prevent crime?  

And, once convicted of a crime, how will people be reformed and supported to take a productive place back in the community when released? (One police officer told Rita on a previous occasion when her house was broken into that it was probably by a recently released convict who was hungry and had nowhere else to go)  To find and create meaningful answers to these questions will require open minds and hearts, open dialog, and a commitment to cooperation on the part of citizens, authorities, educators, magistrates, clergy, and elected officials.

To make a better future for Nevis, every one of us must join together to shine light on the facts and live in the truth.  Anything less is a disservice to all that is right, and is doomed to fail.  Our children, who will be inheriting this beautiful place, are watching us closely.  What are the messages we want to give them?  

Contemplating her death, one day, our mother wrote a "Message in a Bottle" that says it best:
 
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
By Rita M. Zeichner

To:       One and All Who Love This Land

From:  A Lady No Longer Amongst You

            but Whose Spirit Hovers Near
 
One who came alone to spend the latter years of her life

in a state of peace and quiet harmony found instead an

imperfect small world filled with problems and people

who must strive to solve them in the best way possible.

 
I have come to love this Nevis, withal, and I am

going to pass from the world contented and happy

to have lived some marvelous moments and

very good years among Nevisians.

 
Thank you all, and those whom I especially thank for

giving joy and sweetness to my life must know who

you are.  This is a great spot from which to move

on, perhaps to another phase of experience.
 

All of you out there, take care of Nevis and work

together for the betterment of your beautiful

world and everyone fortunate to be here.

 
We extend our thanks to you, brothers and sisters, for giving our mother such happy years and for all your support during our time here.  We hope to return under happier circumstances and to bring Rita's grandchildren so they can hear, firsthand, how much their grandmother was loved here.

Be well, until we meet again.

Walter, Jonathan and Erich Zeichner