PHILIPSBURG:--- As stakeholders, government included, desperately seek ways to mitigate the effects of the Caravanserai timeshare debacle, all eyes are on some type of protection for the consumers, those who bought timeshare from developers and property owners.
Clearly what we have now in terms of legislation does not sufficiently offer this protection, otherwise we would not be in the situation we are in today.
This latest fiasco from the timeshare buyers' perspective, continues to gnaw away at the image we desperately try to maintain and build on as a country. An image of an investor-friendly climate. Timeshare buyers (owners) are investors too. Their investment is worth more that the money they actually invest, because their collective experiences can make us or break us.
As we engage in all sorts of discussions regarding the best approach and whose turf it is, one thing is for sure, there is no overnight solution. This fact became even clearer, as we discussed moving forward with the draft legislation which is currently on the table.
It begs the question, in fact it demands of government that another good look be taken at the national permit ordinance (AB 2013/GT 126).
This law too offers some "protection" to the buyers of timeshare in the context of permit issuance and permit change.
Of course, this can not and does supersede the Civil Code, which is a law of higher order, but it does in my opinion give government some bargaining power, so to speak.
Speaking of which, it would be good to know who the investor(s) is/are behind the Alegria company.
Are they persons who government can negotiate with in the interest of our country? Again, in my opinion and given recent court verdicts, this avenue must be pursued. Government cannot extricate itself. And "sorry" alone is not enough.
At the end of the day, if this country continues to experience the fallout from business decisions such as these and the industry continues to experience the wrath of those who it should be serving, we all, investors, residents and visitors alike, will have to bear the repercussions. And it does not matter what business sector you are in. We are in this together!
Leader of the Democratic Party MP Sarah Wescot Williams
