Last night it was like being on the east coast of the USA as we were battered by a huge thunderstorm. Splat the cat spent the night under the bed and refused to come out until breakfast. Residents up north I am sure will have been glad of the rain as it will have helped fill their resevoirs. It is unknown if the storm cause any damage.
Today looks like it will just be a recovery day and we may get some sun in the late afternoon.
Ambergris Daily is concerned that some brokerages located next to the airstrip only seem to employ an unduly disproportionate amount of overseas citizens as real estate agents, some who end up departing the country under a cloud of suspicion. In fact over the last couple of years two have been escorted by US Marshalls back to the United Staes, and promptly imprisoned. Another one left with the San Pedro police just behind him and one has just been remanded to Hattieville prison. If you’re a potential buyer this affects you in many adverse ways:
1. The foreign agent has only been in the country for a while and yet knows everything about properties on the island. How is that possible? Answer, it isn’t. Many of them have little clue as to the real estate laws of Belize.
2. The foreign agent is not likely to stay here for more than a few weeks or months,unless he makes a bucket load of money, so doesn’t have a reputation to protect. They’ll tell any lie in order to secure a sale and a lucrative commission.
3. We have seen MANY foreign real estate agents appear magically on the island only to be arrested and deported because of past felonies in the USA or arrested and convicted of serious crime in Belize. Mark Frankel is about to become the latest such celebrity.
4. We think that all real estate brokerages in Belize should be made to have an agent’s pool of one Belizean for every foreigner hired. This would increase the local knowledge of the brokerage and would keep more money in the country and thus improve the economy. If this is found not to be possible then the minimum standard for hiring overseas folk as agents should be that the agent (a) be a permanent resident of Belize and (b) have equitable ownership in their own home here in Belize.
Enough of these awful “Smash and Grab” real estate agents. We know that the Belizean tour guides are highly prized and their livelihoods protected by the Laws of Belize. At one time it seemed as though the Belizean tour guide was losing ground to inexperienced foreign competition. Those days are over. Time to add “Belizean Real Estate Agents” to that much prized endangered species category. After all, we’re ultimately trying to protect the same group of people…..investors and tourists who are putting their hard earned money and faith into Belize.
It is overcast and cool. There does not appear much chance that we will see the sun today but we do get to eat breakfast. Basically that means all is well with our lives but we are missing Lady Boss as she gives us more treats and snacks than the boss.
Mark Frankel,the now former sales associate from ReMax, has been sent on remand to prison in Hatteyville as he has been charged with robbery using a gun, and also robbery, burglary with violence and extortion. Up till last week he was handing out ReMax business cards (the Ambergris daily was given one yesterday by a local business owner). Remax have insisted that he was released from their employ on july 30 but until yesterday he was still on their main web site.
Mr. Frankel according to people who knew him was and is a violent nut case who appeared to spend most of his time coked, and drugged out of his brain. Last sunday he and his cohorts were on the beach in town trying to fight allcomers. One local business lady was totally shocked as she was threatened by him and had to take her daughter to hide in a beach restaurant. The police were called three times but did not show up.
The Ambergris Daily believes that it should be more difficult for realtors to be able to work in Belize, and questions have to be asked of his employers who apparently had before he came down from Canada told him that this was his last chance. This obviously means that someone had to have lied on his work permit application.
Mr. Frankel is highly likely to get a 5 year sentence and then be deported after serving his sentence.
The Full Moon Party that was held acroos the bridge last week has lead to huge arguments between the the owners of the local bar and the residents of that area. The bar had no license for music which was heard for miles and after many complaints the police showed up with the town board officals, and the owners were told to turn the music down and close the bar as they had not been granted an extension. The owners refused and the authorities sent for BEL. They ordered the worker from BEL to switch off the electricity which he did. The owners then switched on their generator, and carried on as before giving a one finger to all.
The following monday the liquor licensing board cancelled their liquor license but the bar’s owners brought their lawyer and had a meeting with the police,the mayor and the liquor licensing board, and it was decided to give them one last chance. The residents of the area are furious as these people blatantly broke the law. People who were in the cinema could hear the boom boom sound of the music and found it impossible to concentrate on the movie. Eventually the music and the bar shut at 4.00am.
There are also strong rumours that the owners are bringing in girls who are using a nearby appartment. They apparently are very friendly.
Friday is our favorite night. All you can eat pizza at Pedro’s generally leads to us getting a slice or two or ten and so we are sleeping off the excess this morning.
It’s a good thing. The weather is quite grey and cool. Maybe rain? We don’t think so. A great day for a nap.
They say what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. We can only hope.
Last night, Pedro’s Inn hosted a Jager-Bash that is sure to be repeated later this year. $5 jager shots, giveaways that included pens, shirts, Jager tongue studs (yes, you heard me right), hats, wigs and more. It was just general drunkenness and good times and was the place to be on Friday night.
Here are the photos that this paper deems “fit to print”:
Tonight there will a jager party at Pedro’s with loads o f giveaways and treats. With bell ringing and cheap drinks it should be and evening that one could regret. There is all you can eat pizza and cheaper prices for the kids.
This event is being partly sponsored by Premium Wnes who are the main distributor for this brand. All are welcome
A Canadian,by the name, of Mark Frankel has been arrested for robbing two tourists at a local ATM. Details are sketchy but Mr. Frankel who has been selling properties for the ReMax realtors who are based on Placencia but he was living here in San Pedro. His work permit was issued by the Pacencia office and it appears that he was working on the island in a totally different capacity which is against the laws of Belize, as his work permit stated realtor.It is hoped that Mr. Frankel, who has been in jail for two days will have his case heard by the local magistrate tomorrow,and it is highly likely that he will be asked to leave Belize.
The proliferation of realtors and sales associates who come here with virtually no experience and no knowledge of Belize, and can get a job dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars. This situation has to be rectified and in the Ambergris Daily’s point of view all realtors must be insured and bonded. This will be very easy to do for some of the realtors and very difficult for others.
The weather is yet again absolutely marvellous and Jambo has gone for a swim in the pool.
The boss has promised to take us to visdit Uncle Tim and we will no doubt get some good food for lunch. Jambo is particularly looking forward to this as he has already finished with his favourite part of the day, which as we all know is breakfast.
