Reference Owner’s Forum December 28, 2007.
Mr. Rufa advised that legal fees to date to pursue the Blackbeard’s Bar dispute were $2,000. That is a curious statistic in light of the fact that Legal Fees spent by Rufa Board’s total $126,496!
The breakdown taken from financial statements is as follows:
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JULY 31st
AMOUNT SPENT
2004-2005 18,322
2005-2006 36,236
2006-2007 51,529 (+ Awards 4,544?)
2007-Nov 07 8,553
O/S Legal Accts Pay 11,856.08
Were these expenditures necessary and smart? Why was it necessary to spend $126,496. on legal fees??
Response to ALL OWNERS Ms. Beth Stengel COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
I agree, In my view, it is absolutely improper and unfair to other volunteers. Additionally, owners ought to be concerned about the fact that, Mr. Rufa does not “walk the talk.”
In Mr. Rufa’s spiels, he professes strict adherence to the governing documents but in actual practice ignores them, manipulates them or misinterprets them. Please consider:
The Coral Beach Governance Guidelines clearly state that a Nominations Committee be established early, by March if possible. The structure of that committee is defined. It is specified that it have no directors. The reasoning for this of course is obvious. WE DO NOT HAVE A NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE. WHY?
It is a legal requirement to produce and publish minutes of meetings. This Board under Mr. Rufa’s leadership does not. Why?
I mean no offence to Mr. Hardy but having the current Accountant / Bookkeeper also act as auditor is really improper and inadequate separation of duties. It is stretching a point to say that he was not the bookkeeper during the audited period which I have accepted reluctantly. As someone wisely commented, “it is like going to the same physician for a second opinion.” Why?
Owners have the right to inspect the accounts as clearly specified in the governing documents yet this Board and Mr. Rufa in particular does not allow it. Why?
I have recently learned that Coral Beach Management Ltd have not paid our bills. This is a prime responsibility of the Board as directed by the governing documents. We have an outstanding Accounts Payable of $11,856.08 with Callenders & Co. Why does this Board embarrass owners by not paying our bills?
Just a closing thought paraphrased from the USA Presidential Campaign which I think is applicable to Mr. Rufa and the Board (who is culpable because they allow it) is: “Owners are told what they want to hear not what they need to know.”
Ted Mulvihill
3603
Monday, January 7, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
More newspaper print today!
Yes, again! Today's Freeport News headlines the demonstration held outside the Bahamas Immigration offices yesterday. I understand that all the newspaper reports are already published on the 'archive' website www.coral.beach.hotel.com.
Unfortunately I cannot sort out how to help the Owner who would like to be linked to ZNS to watch yesterday evenings TV news programme - far too technical for me I'm afraid.
Noting the concerns expressed by an Owner who says that she has been approached for her proxy, I will add to those concerns I'm sure when I raise the question of how many Owners responded to the request by the Board in mid-year for full information about their Deeds of Title and the attorney's who had dealt with their purchases. This I find very odd as properly transferred ownership of property is a matter of public record and held at the Registrar General's Office.
I feel I must respond to the Toronto dig - and repeat today's comment from another Owner who said that Toronto is a big city. Canada is a huge country and Canadians from every Province have brought much benefit to the Coral Beach community over many years, and long may they continue to do so! That said, we're off to the potluck supper - being organised by at least two Canadian Owners eh?
Unfortunately I cannot sort out how to help the Owner who would like to be linked to ZNS to watch yesterday evenings TV news programme - far too technical for me I'm afraid.
Noting the concerns expressed by an Owner who says that she has been approached for her proxy, I will add to those concerns I'm sure when I raise the question of how many Owners responded to the request by the Board in mid-year for full information about their Deeds of Title and the attorney's who had dealt with their purchases. This I find very odd as properly transferred ownership of property is a matter of public record and held at the Registrar General's Office.
I feel I must respond to the Toronto dig - and repeat today's comment from another Owner who said that Toronto is a big city. Canada is a huge country and Canadians from every Province have brought much benefit to the Coral Beach community over many years, and long may they continue to do so! That said, we're off to the potluck supper - being organised by at least two Canadian Owners eh?
Friday, January 4, 2008
Coral Beach Hotel headlines the national news
This evening the main news item on ZNS covered a demonstration outside the Bahamas Immigration offices in Downtown, Freeport held in response to the official position published in the Freeport News this week regarding Bruno Rufa's 'supervised departure' in September and his recent return to the Island.
Whatever point of view one takes on this matter, this publicity is bad news for the Coral Beach community. How good it would be to return to the times when we could do the electric slide under the stars by the Pool Bar on a Thursday evening with no thought of taking sides if we mixed with one group rather than another.
Whatever point of view one takes on this matter, this publicity is bad news for the Coral Beach community. How good it would be to return to the times when we could do the electric slide under the stars by the Pool Bar on a Thursday evening with no thought of taking sides if we mixed with one group rather than another.
Bits and pieces
The pot luck supper has been postponed until tomorrow, Saturday, same time - 5pm and same place - Pool Deck. Hopefully the temperature will have risen a bit - it certainly has been cool for the past two days. Of course this does mean that the supper will clash with the junkanoo - but maybe few Owners had intended braving the noise and crowds anyway!
I have spoken to the Manager and asked her to confirm the arrangements regarding Owners and their non-renting guests in light of the President's directions at the Owners Forum last week. (Sent to Owners on email)
1. Owners and their non-renting guests do not have to pay any registration fees on check-in.
2. Owners who have completed the form advising the Front Desk of a friend's arrival have had those forms approved without any fees being applied.
3. Owners who are in the "Rental Group" are usually charged $62.50. (A studio is assessed as raising $500 per week rental thereby incurring a charge of $125 being the 25% fee mentioned in the Articles. The Board introduced the 50% reduction of that $125 for prompt payment) It is yet to be seen if an Owner in the "Rental Group" can offer their units to friends under the same arrangement as "non-renters".
There is some uncertainty expressed by the Manager as she has not had 'official' notification of these arrangements yet, and is relying on the Owners Forum report for her guidance at this stage and is forwarding the forms to Board Members for their approval.
The cost of laundry tokens has gone up - aaah.... inflation bites - they now cost $1.30 each.
Yesterday's Freeport News had a response from the Bahama Immigration Department on the front page - you can read it for yourself on www.freeport.nassauguardian.net . In light of that report I have a question: When is a deportation not a deportation? When it is a supervised departure of course.
I have spoken to the Manager and asked her to confirm the arrangements regarding Owners and their non-renting guests in light of the President's directions at the Owners Forum last week. (Sent to Owners on email)
1. Owners and their non-renting guests do not have to pay any registration fees on check-in.
2. Owners who have completed the form advising the Front Desk of a friend's arrival have had those forms approved without any fees being applied.
3. Owners who are in the "Rental Group" are usually charged $62.50. (A studio is assessed as raising $500 per week rental thereby incurring a charge of $125 being the 25% fee mentioned in the Articles. The Board introduced the 50% reduction of that $125 for prompt payment) It is yet to be seen if an Owner in the "Rental Group" can offer their units to friends under the same arrangement as "non-renters".
There is some uncertainty expressed by the Manager as she has not had 'official' notification of these arrangements yet, and is relying on the Owners Forum report for her guidance at this stage and is forwarding the forms to Board Members for their approval.
The cost of laundry tokens has gone up - aaah.... inflation bites - they now cost $1.30 each.
Yesterday's Freeport News had a response from the Bahama Immigration Department on the front page - you can read it for yourself on www.freeport.nassauguardian.net . In light of that report I have a question: When is a deportation not a deportation? When it is a supervised departure of course.
Owner's Letter to Authorities regarding Bahamas Immigration
This letter has been forwarded to me and I have been asked to post it anonymously:
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham
Office of The Prime Minister
Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre
Cable Beach
P. O. Box N 3217
Nassau, N.P.,
The Bahamas
January 4, 2008
RE: Bahamas Immigration Issues
Dear Mr. Ingraham,
I'm saddened to think that the new party in power, the FNM, would allow a Canadian tourist to start a scandal within the Department of Immigration. I imagine that you held meetings with all of your new cabinet members after the election last May and instructed them to take NO ACTION that could be conceived as unethical during your administration--for the sake of the Prime Minister's Office, theFree National Movement party and all the citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
This turn of events concerning Mr. Rufa on Grand Bahama is especially troubling considering that only last year the PLP had it's own scandal with Mr. Shane Gibson, Head of Immigration who was forced to resign. His scandal permanently scarred the Progressive Liberal Party and involved a paltry $10,000 payment and alleged sex in exchange for 'Permanent Residency' with the since deceased Anna Nicole Smith.
Thus, this whole event concerning Mr. Rufa begs to question
1. the control you have over the Department of Immigration and
2. whether there is a battle going on between thecapital of Nassau Immigration office and the local branch in Freeport.
If such is the case I beg thatyou take swift, forceful and punishable action to squash any power plays being perpetrated in the Freeport office for special treatment to anybody - including Canadian nationals and prominent Freeport businessmen who may have back-door connections with government in Nassau.
This beautiful and young archipelago of a nation is filled with very smart and talented people and I trust that those in power will act in an ethical and religious manner and investigate this matter to the fullest extent of the law.
Prime Minister Ingraham, I believe you to be very deserving of the title including "Honorable", for you have made the people of Pine Ridge, Cooper's Town and all of this nation proud. You are an example of integrity for all Bahamians to follow. I ask you personally to have your Office review the files in this case, review the numerous complaints filed against this person and please send a representative from your office to Grand Bahama to talk with the ex-employees and people who have been so negatively affected by this event.
GODSPEED in your investigation
CC: The Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham , Office of The Prime Minister Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, Cable Beach , P. O. Box N 3217, Nassau, N.P.,
The Bahamas info@opm.gov.bs 242 - 327-5826/7/8 242 - 327-5806
Sen. The Hon. Elma E. Campbell Minister of State for Immigration
Department of Immigration, Churchill Building,3rd Floor, P. O. Box N-3217 Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
ELMACAMPBELL@BAHAMAS.GOV.BS 242 - 356-6792/3 242 - 356-6087
Chief Justice, The Honourable Sir Burton Hall
The Freeport News, K-Nancoo-Russell
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham
Office of The Prime Minister
Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre
Cable Beach
P. O. Box N 3217
Nassau, N.P.,
The Bahamas
January 4, 2008
RE: Bahamas Immigration Issues
Dear Mr. Ingraham,
I'm saddened to think that the new party in power, the FNM, would allow a Canadian tourist to start a scandal within the Department of Immigration. I imagine that you held meetings with all of your new cabinet members after the election last May and instructed them to take NO ACTION that could be conceived as unethical during your administration--for the sake of the Prime Minister's Office, theFree National Movement party and all the citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
This turn of events concerning Mr. Rufa on Grand Bahama is especially troubling considering that only last year the PLP had it's own scandal with Mr. Shane Gibson, Head of Immigration who was forced to resign. His scandal permanently scarred the Progressive Liberal Party and involved a paltry $10,000 payment and alleged sex in exchange for 'Permanent Residency' with the since deceased Anna Nicole Smith.
Thus, this whole event concerning Mr. Rufa begs to question
1. the control you have over the Department of Immigration and
2. whether there is a battle going on between thecapital of Nassau Immigration office and the local branch in Freeport.
If such is the case I beg thatyou take swift, forceful and punishable action to squash any power plays being perpetrated in the Freeport office for special treatment to anybody - including Canadian nationals and prominent Freeport businessmen who may have back-door connections with government in Nassau.
This beautiful and young archipelago of a nation is filled with very smart and talented people and I trust that those in power will act in an ethical and religious manner and investigate this matter to the fullest extent of the law.
Prime Minister Ingraham, I believe you to be very deserving of the title including "Honorable", for you have made the people of Pine Ridge, Cooper's Town and all of this nation proud. You are an example of integrity for all Bahamians to follow. I ask you personally to have your Office review the files in this case, review the numerous complaints filed against this person and please send a representative from your office to Grand Bahama to talk with the ex-employees and people who have been so negatively affected by this event.
GODSPEED in your investigation
CC: The Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham , Office of The Prime Minister Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, Cable Beach , P. O. Box N 3217, Nassau, N.P.,
The Bahamas info@opm.gov.bs 242 - 327-5826/7/8 242 - 327-5806
Sen. The Hon. Elma E. Campbell Minister of State for Immigration
Department of Immigration, Churchill Building,3rd Floor, P. O. Box N-3217 Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
ELMACAMPBELL@BAHAMAS.GOV.BS 242 - 356-6792/3 242 - 356-6087
Chief Justice, The Honourable Sir Burton Hall
The Freeport News, K-Nancoo-Russell
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Welcome to New Owners
This is just the right point of the year to welcome new Owners into the Coral Beach Hotel community - we hope that they will all enjoy the time they spend here, on the most beautiful beach in the world:
Abate & Marsala in 3326
Don Best and Pat Kachur in 2315
Francesco & Rosemary Bruno in 3211
D. Ceci in 2507
Orazio & Eugenia DeCiantis in 2518
Christopher & Ann Diebold in 2111
Karen & Dominic Faro in 2115
Rita Landy in 2308
Yvonne Malbasha in 2215
Michael Montgomery in 2603
Richard & Yolanda Morandini in 2501
Dennis & Sandra Neilson in 2512
Jean Marie Paquet in 2406
Stephen & Nicolle Pierre in 1602
Bruno Rufa & Sandra Georgiou in 2411
Bruno Rufa & Sandra Georgiou in 3311
David & Nancy Salvisburgh in 2305
Pierre Valour in 3204
Michael & Victoria Waltz in 1401
As far as I know, these are the new Owners this year. If I have made errors or omissions please let me know and I will rectify.
Abate & Marsala in 3326
Don Best and Pat Kachur in 2315
Francesco & Rosemary Bruno in 3211
D. Ceci in 2507
Orazio & Eugenia DeCiantis in 2518
Christopher & Ann Diebold in 2111
Karen & Dominic Faro in 2115
Rita Landy in 2308
Yvonne Malbasha in 2215
Michael Montgomery in 2603
Richard & Yolanda Morandini in 2501
Dennis & Sandra Neilson in 2512
Jean Marie Paquet in 2406
Stephen & Nicolle Pierre in 1602
Bruno Rufa & Sandra Georgiou in 2411
Bruno Rufa & Sandra Georgiou in 3311
David & Nancy Salvisburgh in 2305
Pierre Valour in 3204
Michael & Victoria Waltz in 1401
As far as I know, these are the new Owners this year. If I have made errors or omissions please let me know and I will rectify.
No junkanoo!!!!!! at least, not until Saturday.....
Well, we had a rip snortin' New Year's Eve - the fireworks were grand, although obviously my attempts at photographing them were not....but with news of a change of weather (rain and maybe 60f) the carnival has been postponed until Saturday - question is whether a) the shack rats were not yet ready or b) whether everyone wanted to party all night and sleep all Sunday or c) (most likely) the organisers hadn't sorted themselves out yet! Either way, it all happens on Saturday and by then the weather will have warmed up again.Coral Beach Hotel made the front page of the Freeport News again - see http://freeport.nassauguardian.net if you want to see it all for yourself but, in essence, the headlines are about B. Rufa being back and raising questions of Bahamas Immigration in Freeport.
As I have mentioned before, the 'archive' web site [devoted to official documents available to Owners throughout the many years of CBH's existence] is expanding almost daily with some really interesting stuff - I read the "History of Coral Beach" dating from 1970 and found that fascinating, especially as I was living here at the time. For those new Owners who maybe haven't discovered it yet, bookmark www.coral-beach-hotel.com and check it out! Let me also remind Owners that comments are being added to this blog all the time and are often attached to older postings - maybe of two or so weeks ago, so it is always worthwhile just going back to check.
Today I will forgo a dip in the ocean and pool, but yesterday the ocean was 76f and it was 74f in the pool and it was hot enough for us to put the aircon on during the morning as humidity was up over 85% - today is much more pleasant, if you are out of the wind! I guess the potluck supper tomorrow evening may be moved to the Lobby - but we shall see. This weather is nothing if not changeable.
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