I don't think the average islander is evil. They just want to feed themselves and their families. Natalee's disappearance has threatened all that. Maybe those in the lower class have a firm belief that the only people who make it through the justice system in one piece are in the elite class. This seemed to be the opinion of the wife of one of the black security guards arrested early on. She all but tore her hair and clothing, she was hysterical. The gist of her screams were that when anything goes wrong, they pin it on a black guy.
All they want is life back to normal. They probably think N is dead, and at J's hand, but since the rich get away with everything, J won't be prosecuted. It won't get N back, anyway, if she's been eaten by sharks. They can't change things, and while they feel sympathy for N's family, there's nothing more they can do. As for the dark underbelly stuff, if they don't have N, they probably don't care.
I saw the same thing you did. Sad.
Right...the little people are pawns...just working day by day. It is the power of the island and their families and hangers-on. The minority isn't evil...the meek. But it is biblical in its symbolism.
Those that manage the island are into the corruption, if only by covering for their families.. Even the innocent mothers who cover for their sons.
And Beth represents the righteous mother. Little David versus the evil, powerful, untouchable island...Goliath.
Three little boys dead in the family car in the driveway. No one looked in the trunk.
A little boy drowned in a hotel pool. He said he was going to the pool and ran ahead. He was found at the bottom of the pool many hours later. No one dived into the pool to look.
Chandra Levy is still dead and no one has been indicted.
Shasta Groene was right there in her home town and no one noticed until that 2a.m. trip to Denny's.
This is about ineptitude not malice.