Dear Flamingo Beach Resort Timeshare Owners, I want to take a few minutes of your time to give you an overview of the renovations and issues at Flamingo Beach Resort, our 'home away from home'. As I read posts on Face Book, and hear comments at meetings, the bottom line is always personal and why not, we all see things from our own viewpoints and emotions as to how something will affect us. Simply, if there are personal issues, they are addressed, but in this case, maybe understanding the parts of the whole, it might answer the 'why' many have about the Resort.

We all know what happened to St Maarten in the wake of Hurricane Irma in September 6, 2017. At first blush, after an inspection of Flamingo, it would seem to most, just file the paperwork for an insurance claim, have the adjusters come out and do their assessment, move forward with determining the financials and begin the clean up. This journey started out similarly, however Diamond Resorts went the whole nine yards and more. Diamond and Flamingo management were sensitive to its employees, continued to pay them the rest of 2017, allowed them to have salvageable items from the damaged resort (which wasn't much). They went through the government prescribed steps to lay off the remaining employees the beginning of 2018; paying them severance, working with them to create amicable agreements so if they want to return to Flamingo upon its reopening, they would have an option to do so and making sure all St Maarten laws, regulations, timelines, etc. were adhered to.

By no means is this endeavor something Diamond Resorts took lightly. Diamond worked with and continue to work with engineers and architects, project managers and advisors - for construction, financials, Human Resources, etc., to put together a 'living' plan, a blueprint, to move forward - doing so within the guidelines of the government to be sure the new Resort would be in total compliance, as well as insurable for years to come. Diamond representatives needed to determine what guidelines to follow, that of the United States as a US based company, or to rebuild according to Dutch code. In fact, representatives researched as far as Holland to decide what was best for Flamingo. Dutch code is what the engineers, architects and others agreed on and following and had to literally start from scratch with plans since the original structure was designed according to US and Dutch standards when it was first constructed or renovated over the years.

During all of this, many Owners have questioned why it is taking longer than other resorts on the island to be completed and open for business. Simply, Diamond is looking to make its property in St Maarten a showcase of the Caribbean, someplace where Owners can proudly say is theirs. To rebuild a sustainable resort and do so the right way. No politics involved. No short cuts. By the books!

To 'band-aid' fix the damage of the resort would be throwing good money after bad. Total demolition of the interior, the roof, windows, doors was deemed vital to the success of the reconstruction of the buildings. Diamond did not want to just install new sheetrock then find out at some point down the road there is mold growing behind it. The insurance company concurred and have been working with Diamond to make things right.

Hiring workers is not all that simple, in fact there are workers hired from the island as well as bringing workers in from off-island. There is a domino effect to the work that has been ongoing as well as going forward. All of the trades cannot work at the same time, i.e., carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc. first steps need to go first; demolition, then removal of the debris. Plans, permits, drawings, etc., need to be followed. Because the work is on an island, the appropriate materials aren't always easily accessible and need to be imported. All the while, Diamond is following Dutch protocol, they are doing it the right way. So while it seems an arduously long time to have this project completed, it is and will be something we are all going to be happy with.

Fortunately, because of the prudent handling of Flamingo's finances, Owners did not have to pay a maintenance fee for 2018. The Reserve account had enough funding to cover the insurance deductible and carry the expenses through 2018. Owners were able to bank their 2018 week(s) as well as 2017 week(s) if affected from Irma. Diamond availed their Destination Exchange program to the Owners so we could still enjoy time to get away.

Recently we received our Maintenance Fee bill for 2019. It is approximately half of what is normally paid. What it covers is operating expenses of the Resort not covered by the insurance such as Owner mailing costs, Owner meeting costs, bank charges, credit card charges and Audit fees; as well as Insurance annual fees and Reserve. Sure Flamingo is not up and running for our pleasure, but be assured, our Resort will win this race in the long run.

I wanted to share some of the inner machinations Diamond Resorts and Flamingo are dealing with. Hopefully, I offered an overview as to why the lengthy delay to getting back in our rooms. No, Diamond is not trying to get rid of Owners as many have indicated. Sure the Trust is the way timeshares have morphed, however it is like so many other things, the point system appeals to a different group of people, those who like to move around, see other destinations, unlike many of us who were and are happy with our 'home away from home'.

The Flamingo Beach HOA Board of Directors will be discussing these issues and others at the General Membership meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, noon at Simpson Bay Resort. We are waiting for Mervin to receive the information/link for the block of rooms SBR is going to put aside for us. SBR also indicated they would offer Owners a discount as well, for that time. As soon as it is received, it will be sent to you.

In the meantime, please think about issues you might want addressed at the meeting so we can put them on the Agenda or just address them at the meeting. If you wish to contact me, or if you have any questions, please private message me here on FaceBook. I will recap the meeting and get the information to you if you are unable to attend.

Dorothy Albero
Flamingo Beach Resort HOA
Secretary/Treasurer