Marigot:--- The registered owner of Bikini Beach Bar, Elisa Cohen said the man police found dead in Madame Estate early Tuesday morning has no relations with her business. "I am the sole owner of Bikini Beach Bar which was established some twenty years ago." However, Cohen said Oliver Petit was a regular customer of Bikini Beach Bar as he used to go to the bar on a daily basis for a period of one year. She described the late Petit as an eccentric drinker and one who was in the habit of telling stories. "It appears as though the late Petit made a number of people believe that he was somewhat connected to Bikini Beach because his landlord from Oyster Pond contacted me for rent monies. Besides that, Oliver gave us a bounce cheque." Cohen further explained that her late customer told them at the bar that he was going back to France because he had some business to take care of. An email sent by Cohen to SMN News reads that "Olivier Petit was never owner, partner or otherwise involved in the business of Bikini Beach. He was a sometimes eccentric daily customer who told us months ago that he was leaving the island.
We have not seen him since. I was however told by an ex landlord that he had insinuated he was somehow involved with my business. This is not the first time people have tried to gain credibility by claiming involvement with my business, but it is blatantly untrue. I have been the sole owner since 1992."
Cohen described Petit as a generous man who would constantly invite people to eat and drink with him at her restaurant. She said Oliver Petit was living with a woman from the Dominican Republic, this person she said works at Robbie's Lottery in Philipsburg. In describing Oliver, Elisa said at one point he was telling people he was the son of Captain Oliver's and there are people who threatened to get rid of him if he did not stop his false stories.
Oliver Petit is the 58 year old man police found dead on a porch on Grenada Road, Madame Estate. It is believed that the victim died of strangulation but police has said that the cause of death has not yet been established. However, police indicated that they believe that foul play was involved in the death of Oliver Petit, a French and American citizen.
