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Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

Cool and Smooth Speaks OutAntigua St John's - Amir Hourani, brother to George Hourani, has taken steps to clear his brother’s name, and his own, from any suggestion that the management of the Cool & Smooth stores in St. Johns is in any way connected to a case of alleged fraud now being investigated by the Customs Department.

News broke on Friday that the Customs Department had uncovered and was actively investigating an alleged case of fraud involving a container consigned to the popular sporting goods store.
 
Speaking to Caribarena, Amir Hourani took great pains to distance the management of Cool & Smooth from the alleged fraud.

Stressing the importance of giving due deference to the investigation now being carried out by new Comptroller of Customs Raju Boddu, Amir Hourani nevertheless shared with Caribarena some details of the affair.

Information provided by Amir Hourani indicates that Cool & Smooth may well have been used as an innocent vehicle for an attempted fraud perpetrated by a trusted customs broker acting in concert with a “bent” customs officer.



Mr. Hourani asserted that upon being advised by the Customs Department that an anomaly had been discovered relating to the container in question, he immediately took every action to assist Comptroller Boddu in getting to the bottom of the matter.

Amir Hourani advised Caribarena that he had turned over all documentation regarding the matter to the Comptroller.  He had already met with Mr. Boddu, and was due to meet with him again on Monday to be of further assistance to the ongoing investigation.

The management of the Cool & Smooth stores feels most aggrieved and injured that the good name of Mr. George Hourani may have been sullied by any connection, however tenuous, to any alleged fraud.

Mr. Hourani points out that the Cool & Smooth stores have been extremely good corporate citizens over the years, contributing massively to sporting activities as well as assisting many unfortunate and needy persons.



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17 Comments In This Article   

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boy

#17 yellow » 2012-06-22 16:16

do the right things.
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yellow

@ Barry

#16 yt » 2012-06-20 09:37

@ Barry
Yes the last guy to imply that got a 110 but he wasn't an Arab and UPP didn't like him. It's amazing how efficiently things get done when the UPP don't like it! :-*
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yt

Big Up Mr Boddu

#15 yt » 2012-06-20 09:33

Forgot to mention: Big up to Mr Raju Boddu, but I'm sorry to say that you probably won't be holding your position for very long.
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yt

RE: Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

#14 smokie » 2012-06-20 08:19

i know this man very well when he first came here he was selling watches and walking, fast forward a few years later he owns construction-co clothing stores ect. but if the police realize a young black man living well they want to investigate
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smokie

well said

#13 justin » 2012-06-19 20:34

If you check previous story, a customs officer spells out the facts!! It is very likely - as he says - that the officer passing the warrant is very likely the officer that "checks it off" when it reaches the destination. All very convenient for the "favoured" clients !!!
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justin

joke

#12 justin » 2012-06-19 18:17

Are we led to believe all this paooy show? ALL in business today KNOW what is going on - and so do all the hi ups feeding from the pig pool!
The broker CANNOT act alone without the CONSIGNEE giving him the authority to get release and clearances etc - for which money has to be paid. For the Consignee to say he does not know what the broker was up to is an insult to any sane persons intelligence. We await the explanations with interest - this is as serious as the generator scam- because they ALL are taking a share!!
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justin

Let me also point out

#11 It Is Me » 2012-06-18 21:19

The last paragraph says "Mr. Hourani points out that the Cool & Smooth stores have been extremely good corporate citizens over the years, contributing massively to sporting activities as well as assisting many unfortunate and needy persons."

Let me point out to Mr Hourani that the people of Antigua & Barbuda have been extremely good customers to him over the years, contributing massively to their riches!!!

So don't come now and throw no sponsorship things in our face when it is the same money that the people gave you for over priced goods!!!
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It Is Me

No comment

#10 skyewill » 2012-06-17 16:20

Customs? No Comment
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skyewill

Everyone up there get a cut except the poor

#9 Contractor » 2012-06-17 12:23

Everyone up there get a cut except the poor and weak amongst us. Customs creating the wealth for the1% while the 99% pay the bills.
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Contractor

look at the houses

#8 0nly in Antigua » 2012-06-17 08:26

One only has to look at the houses they live in and the cars they drive to understand you can not do that on a government salary! Customs has always been at the head of the line when feeding from the public plate. I commend the effort but the politics of this small den of thxxxes will never alow change that will cut off the gravey train.
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0nly in Antigua

RE: Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

#7 I.R » 2012-06-17 07:24

Antigua has a habit of making these sort a people. We made some people up old parham road they got so powerful they cause mp's to sit and cant open their mouths. Winston talked but thats a mood point he is an emba**ment to the party. 
 we have a new Kennedy family a new Camelot their fame is fencing and sidewalks and we all saw the results. They sponsor everything now so much so the GG gave them an award. A couple years ago she gave  an observer radio personality some kinda princely heritage award. it's long time her judgement questionable.
 glad for the national team but the only how I would get a Antiguan jersey is if world soccer shop sells it. Since that fen cing thing I refuse to buy anything from them people. 
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I.R

RE: Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

#6 Audrey » 2012-06-16 23:00

Good coporate citizen! After we made them extremely affluent from those fen cing and side walks. The stu pid stadium in Johnson that cost 8 million. When u drive up friars hill there is a fence with the same material. Antigua people really fool advantage them then give back and they think the world of you. There is no way in hell UPP will ever investigate the fencing matter. When u see companies sponsoring even crab race watch out. The Indian man not gonna last too long he messing with the tradition of customs
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Audrey

only in antigua

#5 dave » 2012-06-16 19:01

this country is sick,,,and u wonder y they xxxxr so much,,,,alot of custom office don build castle in the sky from this buis,,,,,,,let their be light.mr baduu u soon dont have that job
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dave

RE: Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

#4 Audrey Taylor » 2012-06-16 18:01

Antigua is the Corruption Capital of the Eastern Caribbean? Customs has been a cess pool forever though this is not new just another one biting the dust. Lord have mercy
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Audrey Taylor

RE: Cool and Smooth Speaks Out

#3 Ian Best » 2012-06-16 15:34

There is a well known racket at customs where whole containers of goods are not paid for provided you pay the customs officials.
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Ian Best

Soooo

#2 Barry » 2012-06-16 14:02

Hmmmmm, Why comment? Let the customs department complete it's investigations. Where does being a good corparate citizen and helping the needy comes in? The last guy to imply that got a 110! ;-)
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Barry

Really?

#1 Jackie Spence » 2012-06-16 12:33

Once upon a time.... :-* :-* :-*

Dear Carib Arena please congratulate Mr. Hourani for assisting the Customs Department! Now please ask him to comment about the Side Walk contracts which they contracted a few years ago!
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Jackie Spence

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