St. Maarten Private Eye

From SXM News Network

New Hope now denies $50,000-donation --- Laviest caught Lying on the Record---

Philipsburg—The New Hope Foundation never received $50,000 from Grand Getaway Vacations in April 2006. “It was promised to us, but we received only $15,000 or $20,000,” the foundation’s treasurer Virgilio Brooks claimed.
The New Hope foundation was established on St. Maarten in September 2004 as a tool “to assist and improve all aspects of social development within the community.” The foundation-register at the Chamber of Commerce further reveals that New Hope aims “to place emphasis on substance abuse eradication, development of community facilities and programs, to combat and assist with the rehabilitation of victims of all manner or sorts of abuse, physical or mental.” Government-critics have on more than one occasion referred to New Hope as “Commissioner Laveist’s private foundation”.
Grand Getaway Vacations made a grand gesture towards New Hope in April 2006 when its chief executive officer Scott Whittle presented a check of $50,000 to Commissioner Louie Laveist, who is a board member as well as the public relations officer of the foundation.

Commissioner Laveist via email was confronted as to how the foundation spent the generous gift. The commissioner said that he is not asociated with the foundation, a statement he made at the floor of the Executive Council Press Briefing. The commissioner said he is only the founder of New Hope.
Reporters then approached the treasurer of New Hope, Virgilio Brooks with the same question. who said that information is confidential ” he said. “We are helping out people, sometimes with small amounts. We help immediately, so people do not have to wait.”
Minutes after this very brief telephone conversation, Brooks called to to change his statements claiming that New Hope did not receive $50,000 from Grand Getaway Vacations. “It was promised to us but we received only $15,000 or $20,000.”
In a Today Newpaper report last year that Commissioner Laveist received a $50,000 check. On the occasion, Laveist said that the money would go towards a good cause. “This money will be put to good use in the community of St. Maarten and we are extremely grateful for it. New Hope Foundation was founded on the grounds of social ails in St. Maarten. We have helped many affected by drug abuse.”
Attempts to verify the discrepancy between the $50,000-check and the amount Brooks claims the foundation received with Grand Getaway failed yesterday afternoon, because Mr. Whittle was off-island and his customer service representative said she was not allowed to give out her boss’s number in the United States.
Questioning if Laveist still has a function with the foundation, New Hope’s treasurer answered, “Mr. Laveist is not part of our foundation, he was never on the board, but he was just helping us out.”
However, the Chamber of Commerce-excerpt proves obtained on May 7, 2007 mentions commissioner Laveist as board member and public relations officer. Lydia Arnell is president of New Hope, Achken Richardson secretary and Virgilio Brooks treasurer. The fifth board member is Rita Gumbs.
The issue of Commissioner receiving this large gift which to date has not been accounted for has caused the united Front Union where Willy Haize is president to send a letter to the Island Lt. Governor Franklin Richards to conduct an investigation, something the Governor forwarded to the island prosecutors office. This media house learnt via reliable sources that the commissioner is a subject of questioning by the Dutch detectives which is now one the island biggest public secret, as law enforcement has so far refused to sanction the questioning.

Virgilio Brooks doesn't seem to care that his Foundation is considered a scam of somekind, his argument about information being confidential makes no sense if he is working for good causes. The reporter doesn't seem to be asking for intimate details, just some examples and overview. You know, proof that the foundation is ligitmate and not a fraud as it currently seems to be. - Dr. Voodoo