BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MANY are still shaking their heads over the consequences of Allan Stanford’s reign in the Caribbean and the negative risk factors that occur with increasing frequency when we align with those who come offering much but eventually distributing little.
Those who are debt-ridden or greedy will always be easy targets for unscrupulous predators. The offer of a higher percentage on investments, the lure of an immediate cash flow or the temptation to end financial problems once and for all – these will all make us fall prey to offers we cannot refuse.
Always we have to ask, “At what price are we gaining these benefits/riches?” – Our character? Our land? Our people? Are the gains short-term or long-term?
Dr. Ken Ballantyne tried to reassure the media at the launch of the website of the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) on May 30 that although applications for citizenship come in from “the good, the bad and the ugly”, only the good ones are accepted.
Contrary to Dr. Ballantyne’s expressed opinion of the media’s inability to appreciate success (“that we are so mired in the throes of mediocrity, that the reality of having the very best citizenship investment programme in the world scares us profusely”), we must assure him that suspicions do not arise in a vacuum.
The self-evident truth –“All that glitters is not gold” must be examined not just by journalists but by all who are offered ‘gold’ whose glittering rays spread far and wide.
And didn’t Stanford’s gold glitter?
Airlines! Banks! Cricket tournaments, Million dollar rewards to each cricketer of the team winning a tournament!.. and heaven knows what else!
Was no suspicion raised when demands in agreements to be signed stated that “there was to be no trial by jury” or that in the event of income tax being introduced, this company and its workers were to be exempt?
Dr. Ballantyne must not rush to judgement in his condemnation of journalists – they too, wish to see their country escape the sharks that prowl the waters seeking an opportunity to engulf and devour.
We have made some unfortunate associations with persons who have even been raised to the level of Consul and Ambassador.
In addition, the analyses by journalists come after experiencing frustrations when hopes engendered by other developers crashed to the ground.
Stevia, the great replacement for the Sugar Industry, comes to mind. Whitegate and Kittitian Heights... there is a long list in the history of St. Kitts where our trust in developers have gone south.
We have been alarmed by reported aberrations at Beacon Heights, Kittitian Hill and now unfortunate murmurings about Belmont Holdings which we hope will not turn out to be alarming.
We sometimes wonder if we have the means necessary to examine with due diligence those from distant lands whose massive wealth eclipses the St. Kitts Nevis budget. Are we not just awed by them?
Should we show no concern over the article appearing on June 7 2012 in the Post and Courier which bears a direct relation to Christophe Harbour, or should be just bury our heads in the sand and keep expectations high and fail to make readers aware of the possibilities?
The article in question refers to a Court Case presently taking place overseas and from it we learn:
“Financial disputes within the Charleston real estate dynasty that developed Kiawah Island have resulted in a lawsuit over control of extensive, international property holdings worth countless millions of dollars.
“The real estate at stake include large pieces of Kiawah and Johns islands, including Charleston County’s Beachwalker park, and resorts in Ireland and on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts....
The suit, filed by a collection of 19 partnerships, trusts, and individuals who are minority partners, is asking that the partnerships be dissolved, the properties be placed in trust, the ownership divided among all of the owners, and the properties sold if necessary.
Those properties include many hundreds of acres on Kiawah and Johns Islands, the 5-star Doonbeg golf resort in Ireland, and the 2,500-acre Christophe Harbour resort in St. Kitts.”
All commentators, we hasten to assure Dr. Ballantyne, do not write just “in an effort to cause hate and division under the guise of selfish motive”, some try to learn the lessons of the past and steer our beloved country away from threatening cliffs towards which we sometimes appear to be headed.
