St. Maarten Private Eye

We were in St. Martin (the french side) almost 2 years ago. Upon checking into our hotel room,we were told about the timeshare scam on the dutch side. I must say, it was very refreshing to get this kind of info from our hotel check in employee. Maybe this is what should be happening in St.Maarten ( the dutch side of the island) as well. Jana

Plese understand that the Club they are talking about is not a TIMESHARE, it is a fradulent travel club that sells you on the idea that you are one of their over 7 million members in the world and they purportedly state they are the largest in the world. That is not true, Beth Valente out of Batavia,Illinois, U.S.A is the largest and might I had she is reputable, although I personally don't care for her.. The Grand Getaway Vacation Club have no member service and state they have a Web Site but is has been under construction for nearly 2 years.

They also state that they will give you a certain amount for your timeshare in trade and people fall for it out of desperation, so they jack up the price of their so called plan and deduct an amount that is given to them by a Tim ? out of Virginia and of course they have no intention of selling it. Timeshares are in abundance and there is no resale market for them, they are meant to be used to vacation with, not n investment for money. the idea is to save money..

GRAND GETAWAY VACATION CLUB is not a timeshare. Timeshares are valid and Companys like GGV give Sint Marten a bad name. They hae ben banned from most states in the U.S. Due to the fact that they are selling you air and a promise to perform and once they get your money you are left with nothing. I mean absoluterly nothing. The locals that work for them of which I know should be ashamed of themselves, they know it is a scam but the greed overcomes their conscience. Shame,Shame!!!!!

The Florida Cruise Assocition and the Sint Maarten Hotel and Tourist Asociation should have postings on the cruise ships of buyer beware.

I have warned of this company before, now perhaps something will be done, might I also add that the only Political Party on this past election that had a solution for the OPC's problem and this type of activity in her manifesto was Gracita Arrindell of the Peoples Progressive Alliance and she lost her seat, so apparently did not compare the manifestos and particularly one that would better the lives of those that are in Sint Maarten and those that visit and spend much money, particularly Timshare owners (Stayovers). So how many tourists are going to burned before all of a sudden a Petion will be on line telling tourists to stay away from Sint Maarten. That would be absolute devastation to our economy.

What are these people actually selling? Jana

Sorry to hear what happened to you in SXM. However, to penalise all the people of SXM because of some scam is going too far. People from all over the world have been scammed by the citizens of the USA, but they dont call for the boycot of your country, so dont for ours!

Get the authorities involved if you have been ripped off and let them do their job.

There are about 4 companies on SXM that operate same as Grand Getaway Vacations.
I am sure Larry Geer knows all of them as he has direct insight into all these time share (good and bad) on the island.
I am a local SXMner who is very concerned about the trash people who come to our island to sell trash.
To all persons who were scammed by Grand Getaway and the other companies that operate the same selling fraudulent timeshare trash, I am hereby recommending you to visit the Central Bank building on the Pondfill road. (Walter Nisbeth Road)
Go upstairs to the Public Prosecutors office and file a complaint against Grand Getaway and any others who sold you timeshare that does not exist.
In your complaint request that the RST do their investigative job and investigate what is happening on SXM.
The more people that were scammed do this, we are sure something will happen.
I suggest that TravelTalk online picks up this advise and pass it on to all their members and family members.
SXM has gone berserk with these modern day pirates that scam our visitors and give our island a bad name.
In my opinion it is about time that our Prosecutor General place high priority on SXM, the island can use more police, more detectives, more RST, some Marrechassee, some Dutch Military Police and more prosecutors who can handle investigative work.
The free for all and anything goes has to come to a halt, and if it does not, then why don't we good people then join the scam race and hassle, scam, harass, pickpocket every tourist that come to our shores?
It is a fact that if good people see nothing happening to stop crime, good people will say why not.... we can do it as well, they get away with it, so why can't we all get away with it as well ????

Again I inform you that these clubs are not Timeshare. They are self made clubs that purpotedly sell vacation clubs and normally use timeshare weeks that are unused weeks , such as a typhoon week in Taiwan. No one else uses them so they become iventory for every scam artist out there. So please do not call these companies Timeshare, they are not. Timeshare normally has a deeded week to it and a given week as well that can be used for any week of the year. It is normally called flex time. And yes you are right there are more than one Travel Club on the Island. All it takes is for the Prosecotor to seize their files of (buyer) and verify that the Credit application belonging to the people were cohersed to state that their income was written in as to be much higher particularly if they had a high FICA (credit) score in order for the Companies to secure a Bank of America Card or MBNACard. and the rest is history.

It is a shame that these types of Companies are giving our Island such a bad rap. The Prosecutor needs to give a cease and desist order and check their files and I am sure that will be the end of them and unfortunately the locals that sare working there know what is going on, but greed takes over. They know they are doing the Island wrong and should be ashamed of themselves, but when I hve talked with them all they do is brag about their $15.000 ot $20.000 paychecks. One told me it was a goldmine of which it is, but scamming people is morally and ethically wrong. No matter who you are..

Keep us informed and send us any documents you would like to make public about your experience. Making comments like above are fine, but there is nothing anyone can do to help publicise the issue without more. You want to take your issue with them public, this is a place to do so.

Hady

I wondering where you got the information that Grand Gateway was under investigation, the 16 foreign workers were made legal by the Lt. Governor, they have temporary permits uptil next month and some in June And when that permit is up they have to leave the island and I think wait until the working permit is granted.
For all of you who dont know; Wrong things and lies dont Pay off... I guess you all can remember Cyntia Darby who was bashing everyone on this blog; well she made the news two weeks ago when her man beat the living hell out of her and she said Police and Safe Haven did nothing for her...
I dont tolerate abuse, but at least we all know who Darby is because her photo and her broken nose was in Herald.

The fact that a woman like Miss Darby got physically abused and went to the police to report it, doesn't mean that she tolerates abuse. In fact, I think, that's the very reson she also went to the news paper, to make sure the police does its job the next time some despicable actions like this happens to another defenseless woman that is abused by coward men like her boyfriend. I see signs over the island that pregonate to stop domestic violence. But I guess that unless you are a local, the police don't care about you. As for you making a comment that wrong things and lies don't pay off...I guess you are saying that what happens to this woman is related in one way or another for what she said in this blog?

Trust me, the police don't give a toss for locals either, you need me to point you at stories from the past to prove it? It's who you know, or if someone knows you.
I have utmost sympathy for Miss Darby and it has been said on here before that the police and Safe Haven are f**king useless when it comes to domestic violence. 18 murders last year, in a population of 40,000 or so, most from domestic violence.

When Miss Darby was posting on here she was going on about how people should give their names, she was nieve about how and why people are afraid to do so, not understanding that they are just smart. Miss Darby sadly got a nasty lesson about justice, police and people wth influence in SXM. What she hop[efully understands now is why this blog exists and why the is no point in relying on the local media to pursue a story or justice for more than a day or two, or the police or Safe Haven/Womens Desk. (Both a sad joke on women.)

If she is still reading, or someone who knows her is reading, perhaps you should suggest to her that she come here and write about it, after she leave the island though. Justice is fucked up in SXM, the elections just showed us this very clearly. Personnally, I blame the Queen, for appointing an incompetant ass like Richards.

Dr. Voodoo

one

Dr. Vooodoo, while you maybe right the same Lt. Governor and chief of police who is responsible for the delapidated state of Affairs on St. Maarten, that very person made Darby legal.. She first broke the laws on this lawless island when she came back after deported. Darby contributed to the illgalities on St.Maarten whether or not you want to admit that. The only reason she was made legal and not deported the second time is because she is an American... Let me say this to you maybe you do not know Safe Heaven and Women's Desk is Pro-women and I doubt very much they did not help Darby.. These people dont look for facts which I have prooof of... They are against men; failing to admit that women can be abusive also.
Secondly, Darby is one of those people who are part of the Grand Gateway Scam and she just deserves what she got... Stealing and robbing innocent people to give LAVEIST $50,000 so she and the rest at GGV can be legal so that they can continue to rob people. Its either you are against this illegalites to which Darby is a contributor at SXM Expence.

While Cynthia Darby works for a Scam Artist Company, she does not deserve to be beaten in a Domestic Violence situation or otherwise. No one deserves that type of treatment. There is alot of that type of behavior in the world today. That is why I truly enjoy teaching the younger children in our schools on how to be compassionate to Animals, as it is proven that when you are cruel to animals it is most likely that you will be in a domestic violence situation and /or commit violent acts towards others. 99% of the psychopaths in prison have committed violent acts towards animals before they committed such to other human beings.

She deserves it? What planet are you from? I couldn't give a toss if she had robbed a bank, abuse is not acceptable and should be confronted and exposed every time. What you are saying is quite perverted, that because her bosses gave a donation and her legality on the island was questionable then she deserved to get beaten. I really find it hard to believe what I read.
Safe Haven are a joke, have been since Oldine and her cronies ejected Lorraine and turned the Foundation into a shadow of what it used to be. They get 11,000 nafs a month from Govt plus many other donations, do you know what they do with it. Organise workshops for themselves it seems to me. No one deserves to be beaten up, not even Laveist, I find what you say rather sickening.

Dr. Voodoo

I suggest that you become part of the soution if you fail to admit that Darby contributed to this situtaion that you are blogging about.
Did the innocent children and women deserved to be killed, and maimed in Iraq. I guess not. But that is the American mentality, they want to own and boss people around and that is what Darby just did to, I wish the man whom you well described placed his photo in the newspaper you could see what Darby did to him
Just know that no one person fight's and that was a Bar BRAWL.

I'm not American, just want to make that very clear. Perhaps you should read a little more about the Iraq story though. It is a very stupid person who generalises and puts all apples into one basket because they came from the same orchard thinking they are the same.
GW Bush is a prick, a total idiot and he is surrounded by warmongering morons who's plan was to enrich themselves and their friends by invading Iraq. They used the MEDIA to pump up support for their war and the MEDIA kissed their ass, licked it even. Trust me, you won't find many writers here who have anything nice to say about Shrubb and Darth Cheney, we are not FOX news.
But you know what we don't do? We don't generalize that all Americans are a dumb as he is, blogs in the US have helped a great deal in getting people to see the reality about this administration, he does afterall have a 29% approval rate now.
The mentality you speak of is not just American, it is shared by many people with too much power and money and who live in a different world than we do.

Dr. Voodoo

What goes on elsewhere does not mean that we should be accepting of it going on here. More importantly, abuse is NOT acceptable, for any reasons whatsoever. None. I also find the comment that she deserved it reprehenisble to the max, utterly. Are you also of the belief that a girl deserves to get raped for wearing a short skirt and looking good? It ranks along the same lines.

Flipper

I personally belives the world disguss you. Not only this situation. You need to be part of the solution including me.

But I think your comment that Miss Darby 'deserved' to get beaten was disgustng and I call you out on it. Domestic violence should be confronted and BOTH parties suffer the consequences of their actions, such people are a danger to you and me, especially if they think it is acceptable or will suffer no consequences. How many murders have there been through DV that anyone with half a brain could have seen coming?
You know what the solution is??

Not accepting it anymore and making so much fucking noise and stink that the authorites realise that their excuses are seen for what they are, hollow and meaningless. Your argument also appears to suggest that illegal immigrants deserve to be treated as shit and denied rights to legal advice and human dignity because the are 'criminals'.. In case you hadn't heard, the UN has voted to call these people 'Undocumented' not illegal, the reason is because people think of these people as criminals, as you do.

I think you don't have a clue about me.

Flipper

Thinking that Caribbean people living here is getting unfair Treatment; and only now you saw it; that means you really did not SMELL THE COFFEE BEFORE.
The Caribbean people who are cleaning your garbage, paying big rents to locals. Police Launch Quick Response saying they are going to do Illegal Controls to clean up crime, Well Guess WHAT the police reports in the Newspapers you are giving Credit to daily has it big that all the THIEVES they picked up that far is FROM SWEET SXM.
Flipper/ Dr. Voodoo/ Larry Geer Shit is hitting the fan here and we all are to blame. Because we are all too busy to fight back, Talk is CHEAP.

We all do what we can. You might not see it, but I know that SXM PE is doing good, that it is helping to bring about change and encourages people not only to think but to care too.

SXM PE has quite a way to go before it reaches full potential, the upgrades will be a big improvement, but it really needs generous sponser to get close to it. But while we don't have one we still all do what we can. I still have believe that there is someone out there with money, with an enlightened and progressive mind who will see our potential, willing to listen to our ideas and give it a helping hand.

Unfortunately it is a sad truth, most people, residents and locals, really either don't care, don't understand, wallow in ignorance or just prefer to keep their head down and ignore all the crap going on around them. They will all cry out when something comes down on them, some big development in front of their house, some injustice, but when it comes to others, most people turn thier head and walk on. The corruption on the island is like a web, touching just about everything and everyone in some manner or another, SXM's problems are complex and require more than simple or reactionary solutions.

Yes, the shit is hitting the fan, in fact it's been splattering for a few years now. There is lots more to come.

Flipper

We know for sure the RICH will stay RICH the poor will Stay poor, and No one will help people who want to do good.. Including you aT PE. The Two newspapers has people who just there to get a salary and making deals with politicians and there is one person I know working the hell off to get to the bottom of stories and truth and you know what None of the business is supporting that person. Welcome to SXM and corruption. If you can beat them it seems likly that you have to join them..

I like to sleep at night. There are a couple of people out there trying to do good reporting and I know something of what they come up against. I couldn't do what they do because I would only get one interview with some politicians, they would hate me after.

Flipper

In case you may not know the UN also said there is nothing like ALIENS, They say illegal should be categorized as substance...Undocumented Yes they said that too..They also said that Every child deserves to be EDUCATED... But does not happen on SXM.
I also said that the MAN DARBY beat up should put his photo in the papers so could see and maybe laugh at because he is not a SXM MACHO MAN. There is three sides to a coin not two or one... You know better then do better... You fail to say how many men were killed out of the 18 last year.. SOME of them Unsolved... But who talks about that... How many children are being abused daily and who cares... Why should Darby be treated differently?
Have you ever heard the saying EMPTY BARREL MAKES THE MOST NOISE??
While you ENJOY YOUR LIFE And ARE NOT WILLING TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THE SHIT THAT IS SPILTERING HERE, then it would be wise to shut the hel up because anyway you are ENJOYING LIFE, and TALK IS INDEED CHEAP YOU JUST SANCTIONED THAT... HOORAY TO YOU

What do you think we are doing here? This site gets over 500 visitors a day, 15,000 a month. Your twisting my words to imply that by enjoying and being happy with how I live my life means that I do not care about what is going on is just plain wacko. Voodoo and I didn't spend our whole day today going through 20 odd newspapers for no reason, because we enjoy it, we do it because this site is making a difference.
Telling me to shut the hell up on my own website, that is rich. I said this in a comment to someone who didn't like what I had to say last week. Piss off and start your own blog then, the www is big enough. I'm not here for your's or anyone elses approval, I do what I do for my own conscience, not yours.

What exactly is it that you want here? To grab the pitchforks and storm the admin building? Burn it down like Wild Willy 'I'm a bigot' Haize? Go right ahead, be my guest.

This argument started because you claimed Miss Darby deserved to get beaten because of her bosses giving money to Laveist and manipulating their permits. I'll say it again, this opinion is disgraceful. The newspaper report does not mention that the man got beaten too, but that is still no excuse for anyone getting beaten nor does it validate what you said. Perhaps on the way to the admin building yuu could burn down the DH and Today too.

And please, don't SHOUT at me or tell me to shut the hell up. Future comments which do so won't be published.

Flipper

Your arrogance does not pay, if you wanted to talk to yourself you are welcome, because you are so caught up hearing yourself that you used 10 different names.
When people want debate issuses they need to take Low Blow and you obviously cannot take low blow. Those (F) words that you use is not expressing yourself. I look at this site, there is good content to the worst I have seen, and I will point this out to you... This site has information that is useful to students but for you to use a Herald and TODAY And say "WE are Fucked" is unethical' Secondly, you bad talk the DP, NA, PPA and everyone else.. It is idotic to say that people should burn down the Govt Building and dragging Haze into this, this is to show how you reason.. And I dont need to Burn the Newspapers... You are the one criticising them you forget.. Rather two sided person.

What issue are you debating? I thought it was about whether Cynthia Darby 'deserved' to get beaten, now you move to something else yet again. Your first sentance makes no sense at all to me. What low blow are you talking about?

You started using CAPITAL letters, which in case you didn'y know are considered as SHOUTING when writing online in sites like this. I really don't care to be shouted at or told to shut the hell up. Perhaps you would care to explain what exactly it is you think we should all be doing?

Maybe we should be hunting down the 'illegals' and giving them a good beating because they are breaking the law and deserve it? Just like my pitchforks and burning down buildings comment, the one above about beating 'illegals' was sarcasm.

How often have we heard politicians say that they are the cause of most of the crime? They are the ones who don't admit reality, we are reaping the fruits of thier incompetance and mismanagement. Failed social, immigration, labor and education policies are at the root of what we have today.

Yep, we do criticise all the parties, DP more than most though, I like to think I am not anti DP but anti idiot. Has any politician really impressed me? No, not really, some are less worse than others is all. This is a blog, not a newspaper, a big difference, for one thing it's a media that is not in the influence or control of sycophants and kiss asseslike most others.

And as for the paper headline and the curse words, I think your concern for 'students' is rather nieve and you give them no credit of having a sense of humor.

I'm rather done with this discussion, I have other things to do. Is this arrogance? No, just being honest, this discussion gets further than the orginal comment every time. Remember, the one about Darby 'deserving' to get beaten.

Flipper

Great responce, Flipper!!!!!!!

If this is a blog and she said all that she said here to people she dont know, imagine what she is said to her man...
Like I said I dont tolerate abuse, but before Darby criticise SXM police and foundations let her take a sneak peep to the USA where she is from, I guess you watched CNN this week and see what the American Police did to a elederly woman whose home the misjudged.. And how they cover it up. SXM police department is short staffed, lack of patrol cars and no more space in the jail... Why should police get into something that always end up on pillow talk.

And I find your comments, if I read them correctly, quite disgusting.

I couldn't give a s**t what goes on in the US, I care about what goes on here in SXM. Absolutely the police shold get involved, absolutely domestic violence should be prosecuted EVERY TIME, if the victim doesn't want to make the charge then the Govt shold make it. Beating and abuse is NOT ACCEPTABLE, are you implying that it is? You may accept the excuses, short staffed etc, but I am sick of them, I've been hearing them far too long. Problem is, most people here on this island really don't give a shit. Until something happens to them.

She should come here and write her story and tell us all the name of the sick f**k who beat her.

Dr. Voodoo

Voodoo you have a right to your opinion and how you feel, it's our fault that we allow this shit to happen here, you have a right to be angry but you know what we all complain on this site and on April 20th none of us made that difference. We sit here and find faults but when would you and me also be part of the solution, I dont know if you know this Month and Date May 1963 in Curacao, can well be on SXM. just provoke it enough

Hi Jadira and those of interest:

I understand from a conversation with someone this evening that The Grand Getaway Vacations has had several chargebacks on their Windward Island Account on their charge card account. Something like $200.000.00 and from my understanding they no longer issue checks they pay their employees in cash from a Bank of America Account out of Florida. But I was told by a reliable source that t hey are still bragging about not having to pay any taxes. We have locals that work at these places as well, but apparently the greed overcomes their conscien ce and by this point they probably think they are on a tax free holiday. I truly believe that all should pay their fair share of taxes ,it is part of the price of having freedom and a self sustaining government. It pisses me of when I hear people bragging how they cheat on their taxes. It is morally and ethically wrong.

It also amazes how we end up with front page newspaper stories of how immigration made a bust for illegal (undocumented) ladies of the night and they fined the employer a smaller amount that what the law states. If immigration went from business to business and checked on their status from time to time without warning we would probably be able to pay our debt to the Dutch Government with the fines alone, they seem to go after the small guy and not the big guys. But when the laws are not enforced with consistency they know they can get away with it. So it gets to a point where some employers and developers think they are beyond the law, and yes you are right about how it would leave a bad taste in someones mouth about Sint Maarten. Telling other (would be tourist) that they got ripped off in Sint Maarten. Not very good for our Tourist Industry and our pride of being the Friendly Island.

"I truly believe that all should pay their fair share of taxes ,it is part of the price of having freedom and a self sustaining government. It pisses me of when I hear people bragging how they cheat on their taxes. It is morally and ethically wrong."

Though all should pay taxes we could discuss about what is a "fair share". Besides if someone uses the existing laws to his advantage and pays less tax, what is wrong with that? As long as it is legal?

And believe me, everyone would love to cheat on tax because the taxman has his hand deep in everyone's backpocket.

But hey, please, don't come with morals and ethics where it concerns tax. We live on an island and in a country where it has been mainstay for the past 20 years to increase taxes umpteen times, to invent new ones, and so on. Those people we elect to run our business only can do so if the take MORE.

I have a bumpersticker here. It says: Don't steel! The government does not like competition...........

nuff said

Everything that I stated is true. But have any of you wondered as to whom in out Government has geven the approvals for the business/ I know, but I dare not [put it on the site. I'll never understand why we don't have aq follow up system (Checks and balances) as to having someone check out these types of places and make sure that everyone have wor,king permits or a CRV # and that the employer is deducting taxes from their checks. The bank they use is local, but we make l;aws but then we don';t enforce them.We set up meeting after meeting to form these types of committees and nothing seems to happen with most of them. I personally think they are so unorganized, that what could be done in 4 offices could be done in one office. Take out ID cards fotr example at Island Receivers Office and then ojur Drivers Licence at the Yelllow Building, completely different that the I.D. Card ( a complete waste of time and money to have both places), have one place and the ID Card can also be a lDrivers License as well, just underline in red the age, so all the establishments will stick to the rules on serving achohol to minors.
Even our long established business hire people without permits and they either pay off someone *(THE MOST PROABABLE), or we don't bother to have a checks and balances system enforced. And I always hear we don't have enough man power. Yes we do, they just don't have it organized properly. Take for example, one building to the next for the same outcome. Why not all in one step and procedure. The system is running as though we have 300 people living on our Island (Dutch Side). Wake up government, we've globalized now. The mentality of some is just unbelievable at times. Take for example Windward Island Bank, they no longerr have the Bush Road Branch open on Saturdays, so one can do everything at the ATM, that is a wonderful thought, but they forgot one very important aspect. Making a deposit! If one can't make a deposit thru the ATM any longer then how would one be able to get any money out for usage? Who was the brainstorm one that one? For those of you that know me and most of you do, I could go on and on, but at this point I'll shut up.
, and yes Jadira those that gwet involved in these ruthless scams will badmouth Sint Maarten and it will definately affect us next year and the years after that, when they try and use these types of things and find out they purchased air without even a bottle that will get them no where, much less Sint Maarten on a return Land vacation. And as fatr as SHTA goes, have ou ever asked any one of them. as to when the Couthouse was built, the Vineyard Building, Slave Walls and etc. Most of them have no answers and the ones they do, are stupid and not even close to the Islands past or heritage, nor culture. I bet they would know which newe business to approach for $425.00 ? Membership fee though. I guess it is all about money only, nothing else.

regards,

Larry

In particular in regards to the mass development on the island that the timeshare/realestate business is another area which needs urgent attention, like so many others.

First of all, in regards to development, buyers are often told that their purchase can pull in several thousands of dollars weekly in rental income, yet there are no figures available to determine the demand for such rentals. It is quite probable, considering the other problems such as traffic and crime, that the demand is not going to be there. But, developers and real estate agents will have made their sales, they have nothing to worry about.

Secondly, in regards to high special charges that timeshare owners are facing in several resorts, is there are regulation on these companies to ensure they are not just ripping people off? Then you have cases like the Caravanserai where people's timeshare units have been demolished and they are now being told they have to pay several thousand more to get it back in the new development.

Thirdly, about insurance. Mullet Bay should have taught the island about how important it is to have proper regulations and agreements for such multiple owner developments. Atrium is not insured for hurricanes, because it is too expensive, I suspect Westim will not be insured because of the high risk and cost to do so. So, what do we have the next time a Luis size storm comes our way? You can imagine.

These OPC's and their scratch card scam should have been dealt with long ago.

Flipper

You are grown folks. Nobody made you buy anything, you can't blame anybody but your self .If you have buyers remorse that is your problem, so don't blame the vacation club for doing their job and selling you a package. Take blame yourself.

This site encourages intelligent discussion and debate, you seem to be lost. Your argument is probably one of the dumbest I have seen so so far.

By your words, if you get ripped off, in any business deal or through misrepresentation or plain old lying, then it's your own fault. Sorry, but have you ever heard of fraud?

At the same time, in order to protect people from fraud, or 'deals' that may make them resent or feel ripped off by a vacation destination such as St. Maarten there is a need for regulation and oversight of such 'vacation companies'. Personnally I am sick of seeing how the 'reps' of this and other companies flag down our tourists and then give them the bullshit speel with their scratch cards. It is a scam, plan and simple, I've seen it and know some people who have been doing it.

Anyway, as I was saying, intelligent comments only please.

Flipper

I suspect that it was an undocumented employee that posted the comments on Grand Vacation Getaways. You can not even pull up a website and calling them is impossible, and anyone that has tried to sell their timeshare knows that there is no resale market for them, in popular distinations there is an over abundance of them (Like Sint Maarten). Why would anyone think one could get $14.000.00 for one when you can pull up Red Week. com or Timeshares Only (the largest re-sellers in the business and buy one for $1500.00). Grand Vacations would normally show you a platinum price of $26.000 and give you a credit of $12.000.00 for your timeshare, but wait til you get a bill for your maintenance fees past due, because even with declaring bankruptcy in the states you cannot avoid Fed, State taxes or Maintenance fees on timshare or a Condominimum. You could of actually have bought the program for $2000.00, as long as they get cash they will sell it for anything, because you are not buying anything, except a wild dream of thinking you have disposed of your timeshare with a fellow in Virginia Beach, Virginia and he makes $99.00 from each phone call he receives. Not too bad on a good day. $600.00 or $700.00 for answering the phone. They say they will waive the listing fee of $399.00 if you buy that day. How many of you would list your house and pay the Real Estate Broker their fees up front. Come on people, use your brain.That's the reason God gave you one.

I read your posting about the purchase of a Platinum Membership for $9000. I bought the same package for $12900 and have had a great experience thus far. Grand Getaway Vacations was able to get me out of my timeshare and I have already booked two trips (one to Hawaii for $377 for the WEEK!) and the other to Myrtle Beach, SC for $239 for the week. I have already returned from Hawaii and the condo was right on the beach. I can't wait to go to Myrtle. I would like to help you by offerring the direct number for members to contact for bookings. (888) 269-0182. I hope this helps as I believe Grand Getaways in the best company in the travel business. It sures beats our timeshare ownership!

You just think you are out of your timeshare. Remeber the paper you signed that they would waive the listing fee? Well of course they will because their original Platinum Package is 26.900 and they told you you timshare was worth $14.000.00, so they went for the kill and you fell for it. Wait until you get your maintenance fee billing, in the mean time you actually used your own week of timeshare for your vacation, because you gave them control of it on the assumption they are going to sell it. Belive me in timeshare with the exchange companies you have to give them inventory in order to get inventory. The week from Hawaii did not come from Mars. Of course you got Hawaii, they used your week of timeshare to get it for you, and trust me you still own your week of timeshare ,in Bankruptcy the two things you cannot erase is Taxes and Maintenance fees. So e-mail us in a year or so and let's see how happy you are then. Timeshare is not a real esate investment. Go to Timeshares Only. com and you will see thousands and thousands of them for $899.00 and up. They are the ones people paid $15.000 or so for them, many are not good trades, but some are. Where you own will determine where you go. No one awoke up in Paris this morning and said "Oh I would love to take my dream vacation to Myrtle Beach, North Carolina" as one example.

I too bought a membership from Grand Getaways and they sold my timeshare for $14000 and I have booked 3 different vacations with them and saved over $2600 already in my first 5 months. I love St. Maarten and have visited there for the last ten years. Now with 8 weeks usage off condos through Grand Getaways without owning timeshare and paying maintenance fees I am able to bring my friends to St. Maarten and show them how wonderful the place is. If it was not for my purchase of my membership with them, none of this would have been affordable for me. Having a club that I belong too makes me wish I would have never purchased my timeshare 8 years ago. The St. Maarten tourist office should be glad that this company is promoting the island so well. Thank you Grand Getaways and St. Maarten!!
Gina Daniels
New York

To writer of Grand Vacations,

reading your post, It immediately came to my mind that your post is meant as a public relations stunt. If you love it so much, place your name. if you love it so much, place the name of others that enjoy these vacations. Provide a website.
And the most crucial question is: is Grand Vacation Getaway employing these young foreigners who drive scooters and little atos with french plates to harrass tourists?

As a SXMner I am embarrassed that the visitors might think it is locals that are harrassing them. I am also questioning the tax department, the island receiver, the immigration department, the VKS contro unit, (I will not even bother with the police) the Soualiga Patrol Unit, to arrest these people and hold them accountable for harrassment.

It does not matter that they have french nationality, they should be banned from the Dutch side, if they are found hunting down unsuspecting tourists.
The tax department and island receiver should moniter this Grand Vacation Getaway people, I believe their office is located in the new Vineyard building office park.

Also, yesterday our news reported that according to Jules James President of the Timeshare association, he saying he is not aware of timeshare hotels employing gypsy drivers to bring guests, but he says OPC's is now being outsourced to private marketing companies.
So he is saying that these private marketing companies (SHOULD WE NOT FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE?) are the ones giving money to gypsy drivers to bring customers to the timeshare properties. If so, then Jules James is still repsonsible, he should not employ marketing companies that are into illegal activities. This is a crucial topic he should bring up in his next meeting with his timeshare members.

To all visitors who will visit SXM, do not get into any car, if it does not have a TAXI sign, and a number plate saying TAXI. To the cruise industry and Michelle Paige, this is an issue that you should warn your guests about, all it will take is a road accident and your guests are in a gypsy car and you, your cruise industry and SXM image will be tarnished.

Do they have a website?

Also, when driving across the border by Oyster Pond or down the road to Le Gallion I see these little cars, Atos or slightly larger, with 2 young people in them, often girls. They appear to flag down tourists, in fact I have heard of tourists almost being run off the road by these 'Scratch and Win' folk.

Also in philipsburg, when there is a ship, they are all over the boardwalk and front street. One wonders if they have permits, licences or whatever to be doing what they do, and also if the taxes for their salaries are being declared correctly. Some of them told me they can make several thousand dollars a month in season, 4 - 6.

Are these people that harrass our visitors working for Grand Getaway?

Hady

Dear Hady:

The marketers that you are talking about near Le Galion Beach are working for Oyster Bay Beach Resort. One is Portugese and the other French. The marketers for Grand getaway is done by a Local from the French Side, he is a friend of one of one of our Comissioners of which gave Grand Getaway Vacations a permit to operate. They brag about it continiously. The other marketer is from the French side, but not local, they also have an office on the Dutch side in Simpson Bay and they rent their office space from Big Daddy (Julian Chance). It all boils down to pay off after pay off. I hate to say it, but those locals see what is happening and they fall for a deal that brings them alot of money instead of keeping it local. Money talks and bullshit walks!

Hi Flipper,

You forgot to paste the photo from the TODAY newspaper unto the site. I saw the photo yesterday taken by Geno shadow Lawrenzie. Immediately, I thought back to the story I read on on the daily herald website. From what I hear, there are several independant OPC companies operating on the island. They approach time share hotels and promise to book x amount of sales per day.

One such company also books tours for the Windjammer. These independant OPC's are the ones that have become very aggresive, they are mostly young French Nationals, they drive little cars or scooters and they harrass the tourists walking from the cruise ships, in Philispburg, walking from the Great Bay Hotel and everywhere else.

The authorities either are not looking at them for a reason or they fall through the VKS and Police cracks because they are white males and look like tourists themselves. One such aggresive OPC company is called Dream Pro, and the owner's name is Pascal. From what I hear, these French Nationals are not allowed to conduct bussines on the French Side as they have been chased from soliciting on the French side.

So why are they solliciting on the Dutch side? Some years ago, all time share OPC's were told to stay in their booth and not to sollicit on the street. Now we have independant OPC's who have become a tourist hazard and are giving SXM a bad name. Worse yet, seems that Grand Getaway, Windjammer and most time share hotels on the island use the services of these aggresive independant OPC's.

Best Jobs USA - Dream Pro

Dream Pro Marketing

14 OPC's held, 2 deported - 9th November 2006