St. Maarten Private Eye

New York Nails Sets the Record Straight - 17th June 2008

From SMN News

Cul de Sac: ---- The proprietors of New York and US Nails have decided to set the record straight concerning the arrest of Vu Truong Le (Walter) some two weeks ago now that the detectives are investigating Commissioner of Culture Louie Laveist.

Vu Truong Le said when he first came to St. Maarten he raised $1,300 for the daughter of murder victim Fanella Duzant whose body was found on Gallion Beach “I raised that money and a reporter from the Daily Herald (Name provided) came and took a photograph of the check when it was presented to her because she said she had an account for the child, this was also published in the Daily Herald but that money never reached the orphaned child, somehow the Daily Herald did not see it fit to give the child grandmother the money back when she approached them neither did they publish a story of their scamming employee” “I am annoyed that the Daily Herald did not find it fit to contact me to get my side of the lengthy front page article that was published on Saturday Truong Le said. He further explained that he was approached by someone who almost ripped off a $1000, claiming it will be used for Crime Stoppers but he managed to get back the money from a police officer who is now suspended.

Both husband and wife said they grew up in orphanages due to the Vietnam war and they fully well understand what it means to help those in need. “It was people who helped raised me in an orphanage in France while people also raised my husband in another orphanage in Canada” Alice said. “Ever since the experience with the former reporter from the Daily Herald we decided we would support legitimate foundations that helps in the community” Alice explained they supported Special Olympics, Peridot Foundation. Crystal Home, St. Peters Community Center, Turning Point, Youth Constitution Club, Friends of the Police, Crime Stoppers and they also would support other police events. The couple said these are only some of the foundations they have donated to. Outside of the monetary contributions to these foundations the Li’s also takes out the children of Crystal home to movies and other social activities. “All of these donations will now stop because my wife and I are not going to go to jail or being embarrassed for being generous, right now I have a letter from the Special Olympics for a donation and we are going to refuse them because of this ordeal.

The Le’s said they did business in United States and Canada and they have always been pouring monies in worthy foundations that are dealing with children especially when his clientele are locals. The reason they say is because of their own personal background.

They said some two years ago they were approached by one of the commissioner staff who was asking for donation to repair the Turning Point Building. They said because of the nature of that institution they have decided to honor the request by giving a donation of $500 a month from both of their business for a period of five months. He said these checks were written out to Culture Club. Truong Li said he never verified to see if the monies were turned over to Turning Point. Asked if he ever asked the commissioner for any personal favor while donating to his foundations Li said that once he called the Commissioner to come to his business to speak his employees who were being threatened by another competitor but the commissioner he said never complied with his request.

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