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Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
#29720
10/24/2014 09:20 AM
10/24/2014 09:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,587
Eric_Hill
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I have received this letter from the St. Maarten Timeshare Association and have been asked for make it available to everyone here:
Caravanserai/Alegria Many of St. Maarten’s timeshare owners either are affected directly or indirectly by the letter sent by the new owning company of what was known as the Caravanserai , which letter stated that their timeshare rights would be annulled. This goes on in a domino effect to also exert a negative influence on the lives of every St. Maarten person as the major source of money in our pockets is courtesy of our main pillar tourism economy. The St. Maarten Timeshare Association is doing everything it can to encourage our government to become engaged in this issue. We have a confirmed meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Economy, Ted Richardson, the new owner and the SMTA set for October 28th. While draft legislation was prepared by MP Leroy de Weever that would offer the St. Maarten government the ability to actively protect the interests of the timeshare owners, the current law does not offer this tool to help our tourism product. Although we do not currently have a lot of timeshare specific laws, there are plenty of laws to protect our timeshare owners’ interests. As St. Maarten is a Civil Code jurisdiction this means people must hire legal representatives to plead their case before a judge.
The government of St. Maarten can exert its influence to see if cooperation can be obtained, but it has no way to force a private entity to comply in a private matter under the current law. The SMTA would like to outline several possible options for Caravanserai timeshare owners. The options listed are not recommendations, but rather are put out so that informed choices can be made.
1. Sign the Agreement sent out as is by Alegria.
2. Hire a law firm to represent you to enforce your timeshare rights. You can do this individually or join a group. Two law firms have communicated to SMTA their interest in providing timeshare owners seeking assistance local legal advice ‎on the matter; Lexwell Attorneys at Law and Bermon Law Offices. Individuals would pay more than if they went as a group. Contacting one of these offices should give a clear indication of the strength of any action.
3. Another option would be to do nothing and see what develops. Whichever way you decide, the SMTA will continue to work to make the St. Maarten timeshare product the best it can be for both our valued tourists and our society alike.
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Snorkeller]
#29726
10/25/2014 06:09 PM
10/25/2014 06:09 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562 Long Island, NY
RICKnGRACE_LI_NY
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All legal matters differ, but as a veteran of the Pelican Fiasco for years, you really don't have a lot of rights as a Timeshare Owner. I hope the out come is good for the timeshare owners who are being "violated"
Rick and Grace
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Snorkeller]
#29727
10/27/2014 09:27 AM
10/27/2014 09:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,105 Massachusetts
boucharda
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If a timeshare owner who has been told by the current owner of the property that his right to use space at the property has ended and will be not recognized further,
If I read it correctly the current owner has not said that the right to use the unit has ended....just the right to exchange or rent it out.
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: boucharda]
#29728
10/27/2014 09:44 AM
10/27/2014 09:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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According to the letter posted here at number 5, Alegria is 'annulling the time share agreement'. They say that they are offering to let people 'rent' a room for the price of their regular maintenance agreement for a while, but it appears to be in no way permanent that they will allow that. The meeting with the time share association and Alegria and government officials is supposed to be tomorrow. We will see if anything happens.
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: BarleyMan]
#29730
10/28/2014 09:47 AM
10/28/2014 09:47 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I think they are just using the t/s owners to get some income in, until the hotel is sustainable on its own..
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#29731
10/28/2014 09:48 AM
10/28/2014 09:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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This meeting was supposed to be today. If anyone has any more information, please post.
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#29732
10/28/2014 07:40 PM
10/28/2014 07:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Any idea whether today's meeting took place and if so, any outcome?
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#29742
10/29/2014 09:24 AM
10/29/2014 09:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Unfortunately, it does not appear to be in the online version, but the Daily Herald story on this subject today said " '...the SMTA told The Daily Herald it “strongly disagrees with the press release and plans to issue a comprehensive statement” soon'. "
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: mechtech43]
#29744
10/29/2014 01:17 PM
10/29/2014 01:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I agree, I don't really see where anything has changed. Before, I understood that those who are planning to stay THIS year would have to pay their AMF AGAIN, in order to stay this year. Has that changed at all?
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: EdB]
#29747
10/29/2014 02:25 PM
10/29/2014 02:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Maybe we're missing something here, but it sure looks the same as before. But, as I reported earlier, the Daily Herald story today says that the SMTA does NOT agree with the press release and will be making their own statement, so we'll see what they say.
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#29748
10/29/2014 04:59 PM
10/29/2014 04:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Link to a discussion by Soc on the radio this morning regarding the situation.
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#29749
10/29/2014 06:02 PM
10/29/2014 06:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,377
SXMWendell
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Fast forward past the first 2 minutes for the start of the conversation.
And also the "persons in the meeting" can only work with the laws now in place or lack there of)it is just rhetoric. So IF they can get new laws implemented ( maybe 2 years down the road) MAYBE they will be retroactive.
Like I said before "You don't think the bidder didn't have a TEAM of local lawyers telling them what their right were or weren't" ?
SXM??? Wendell
Last edited by SXMWendell; 10/29/2014 06:16 PM.
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: RI Bob C]
#29751
10/29/2014 10:12 PM
10/29/2014 10:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Interesting. We shall see what happens from here..
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#29753
10/31/2014 11:13 AM
10/31/2014 11:13 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Concernedcitzen
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I have consulted with Lexwell Attorneys Mark Kortenoever and he explained that based upon documentation, including the loan agreement from the bank which he has a copy and the timeshare agreement that the legal rights to a timeshare are protected and that in the law a lease survives a bankruptcy. If people sign the agreement you will have no more timeshare rights was the rest of the advice. There is no guarantee if you go to court you will win but the law looks pretty clear from all we know. MKortenoever@lexwell.net
Last edited by Concernedcitzen; 10/31/2014 12:42 PM.
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#29754
11/07/2014 10:52 AM
11/07/2014 10:52 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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What happened with this?? The SMTA was supposed to make a statement regarding the situation and their view of the discussions with Alegria. Did I miss it?
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: violetta]
#29756
11/07/2014 01:45 PM
11/07/2014 01:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I would be very concerned also, as trying to find someplace else to stay that week would be almost impossible.
Carol Hill
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Re: Letter from the St Maarten Timeshare Association
[Re: plequerre]
#29759
11/08/2014 01:30 PM
11/08/2014 01:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Well, yes, PROVIDED they don't have to sign that letter, agreeing to void their t/s contract..
Carol Hill
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