Dear Editor,
I am writing on behalf of many timeshare owners who have been mistreated by timeshare managers and island government officials.
It is well recognized by all that the devastation of Hurricane Irma was unprecedented and almost total. The spirit of the local population in initiating and executing repair and recovery is well documented.
However, the fate of timeshare owners has never been evaluated and described. Many major properties had the financial resources to rebuild their damaged properties and adequately compensate their customer population. However, smaller properties whose owners had limited financial means have never been evaluated to see how they have treated their customer base.
In particular, government officials have failed to recognize the role of seasonal residents in past and future support of St. Maarten tourism. Properties such as the Towers at Mullet Bay have been allowed to effectively confiscate the investment of their owner population. Despite visits from Philipsburg officials, owners have been allowed to have free reign in documenting a recovery program and/or informing their owner population of plans and goals. At worst, outright lies have been accepted and not exposed by tourism officials.
In the case of the Towers at Mullet Bay, tourism officials have visited and met with local management, Because of legal and banking issues, progress on reconstruction has been halted without advising and informing owners of the prognosis for their investment. There seems to be little doubt, that island government officials have little time or interest in seeing that the island emerges with an unblemished reputation for fair treatment of tourists – past, present, and future.
I urge your newspaper to investigate the situation and attempt to right the wrongs which are being allowed to sully the reputation of your beautiful island and wonderful people.
Henry E. Meurer
25-year recurring visitor
