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**Dave** » 2012-08-20 13:20

I own a house in Jolly Harbour, and I'm retaining Community Charge. I put that amount away in the bank, and if CDAL ever decides to be fully and properly accountable (no fakes, no fudges, no tricks - the real thing!), I'll pay them it all. The reason I'm doing this is that we currently just have no idea what CDAL is doing with our money - read all the comments below, and you'll see that for all we know, the money we supposedly pay to CDAL for gardening, lighting, insurance and security could be flying out of the country to a Dutch bank account, or paying off La Perla investors. Maybe it isn't - but I don't know that because CDAL won't publish accounts to show what's happened to our money, as they are legally bound to - so I have to assume the worst. Same with the money I give them for my electricity and water bills - I pay CDAL on time, but how much of my money does CDAL hand over to the national utility company ho supplied the powers and water? This whole thing is a scanda, and it's getting to look like CDAL is hiding something it doesn't want to publish in accounts. This is appalling management - come on CDAL, publish audited acounts and you'll get your money!

**Rob** » 2012-08-20 12:18

I hear tell CDAL get a court injunction else APUA turn off Jolly Harbour electric because they no pay they debt. If that happen, everyone in the s**t - shop, bar, marina, boatyard too. Yet CDAL think it OK to threaten the small man with disconnect he sewage? Tsk!

**Meena Like** » 2012-08-20 10:54

So we hearJolly Harbour residents pay Ms Hechme salary to manage the place for them. They have an ordinary level of non payments, but CDAL runs up a debt of millions with APUA, then bullies homeowners for small debts. HOW did that happen, and is that right? Why should homeowners now pay twice for utilities they already paid for, just because CDAL may have sent their money abroad or let commercial debts (like the dead Casino) built up through poor management? If I was a Jolly Harbour resident, I think I'd be holding back my money till we get some proper answers or a change of management at CDAL.

**Wadadlileaks** » 2012-08-19 19:15

Seems like CDAL is making a big fuss to try to lay the blame for their own financial problems on a small minority of residents who are standing up for their legal rights in the face of corporate bullying. Why? Sounds like there's something gone wrong here. I hope AG government finds out what's really happening before CDAL goes broke with all their assets overseas and we have another Stanford style 'where-did-all- the-money-go' disaster on our hands.

**Watcher 2** » 2012-08-19 09:33

I wanted to respond to Southern Man - Ms. Hechme is suppose to represent the homeowners regardless of the issue La Perla and the main shareholders. Why do you think the homeowners want self governance? I believe the homeowners are paying her salary to maintain the complex and provide the services that their legal covenants. Instead from what I read, CDAL is not being transparent to the homeowners, clearly you can see that with audited financial statements not being produced for years! CDAL focus is on non-payers that really only represented around 12% and from what I read if the audited financial statements were produced, the majority of these homeowners would pay. So what is the big deal, get them produced! This would be the end of all this press unless CDAL is hiding something, meaning homeowners' money has not been properly allocated and maintenance reserves were not allocated either as per the legal covenants. Is it possible that this General Manager too has a financial interest and is not representing the best interests of the homeowners?

**Southern Man** » 2012-08-18 11:15

Many commentators below have laid responsibiity for CDAL's actions at the door of Ms Hechme, its MD and spokesperson in the above article. We should be aware that there are others in the background who may be steering CDAL's actions. Last winter, Jolly Harbour residents heard a great deal of Mr Albert Hartog, a director of CDAL who mailed personal statements mailed to residents announcing radical improvements in homeowner relations and accountability. Most of Mr Hartog's improvements scheduled for 1st Jan 2012 didn't happen, and we hear little of Mr Hartog now. He was believed to be a major shareholder in CDAL at that time and apresented himself as a major driving force behind CDAL. Mr Hartog and the Administrator of the La Perla holding company have an interest in maximising their return from CDAL and this Jolly Harbour. and perhaps the power to force CDAL management to decisions they would not otherwise take, in order to raise funds. Residents are also concerned that the Jolly Harbour community may suffer further asset exxxxxxon. All this does not excuse CDALs, but perhaps we should be careful about laying them all at the door of Ms Hechme?

**Frankie** » 2012-08-17 10:23

I want to pay APUA my water and electicity bills direct - that way we know the national utility is getting out money (without the big surcharge CDAL add to it, and xxxx for xxxxxxxx), and we don't need worry about disconnection. Twice we been told APUA would bill us direct, but it don't happen yet - why?

**Taff** » 2012-08-16 17:31

Caribguy said:

Quote:

As for CDAL owing money to APUA, if anybody as proof of this please share it with us we would all like to know...

Seconded - can anyone post proof of what half of Jolly Harbour has known about for months? Unfortunately, APUA don't share their accounts receivable with Jolly Harbour residents and CDAL dosn't share its annual accounts with anyone, far less residents who are legally entitled to see them. But, CDAL is quite a leaky old ship at times, and there is just so much credible opinion around on this one that denying it appears futile. Perhaps someone from the media should ask Ms Hechme the question direct, and while they're about it, ask whether APUA has already threatened to cut off Jolly Harbour's electricity because of this debt. That current story would fit with Caribguy's assurance that APUA would not treat CDAL differently from anyone else - many credible people appear to believe this also, and more which I won't go into here..

**Southern Man** » 2012-08-16 17:11

Caribguy said:

Quote:

How has this gone from a little old lady having her garden dug up to CDAL owing APUA money??

That is easily answered. CDAL refuses to account for their stewardship of residents money for over 20 years, including whether it's passing on all homeowners' payments to APUA. So, some homeowners retain their Community Charge to try (inter alia) to bring CDAL to face up to its legal responsibilitie s. CDAL listens to bad advice and decides to cut their sewerage off to bully them into paying and this avoid facing up to its responsibilitie s, but it digs up the wrong garden. Connection made.

**Gypsy** » 2012-08-16 16:31

Caribguy, you missing the point completely. When there is some kind of dispute that can't be fixed by talking, the courts are there to fix it. So, if CDAL doesn't account for homeowner payments properly (in fact, at all), some guy says 'well OK, I don't know whether you're spending my money properly, I don't know if you're paying APUA properly, I don't even know if you're sending our money overseas, because you're not showing us accounts like it says here you have to. So I'm going to keep it safe here in the bank until we get a court with a judge to decide what's right by the law of the land.' But no, that's not good enough for you, you just want to tear right into the guy that complains about injustice because you have the arrogance to think you're the only person with a valid viewpoint, cut his sewage pipe off, and bully him into submission. Well, I'm here to tell you that's not going to work, this is not the Wild West, and if you don't like play by the civilised rules everybody else accepts, you better find yourself a desert to live in - because, my friend, if you won't accept its rules, civilised society has no use for you.

**home owner** » 2012-08-16 16:12

@Caribguy -Quote:

How as this gone from a little old lady having her garden dug up to CDAL owing APUA money?

no one said "little old lady"!! Please read the information offered, you'll also find it will answer your question. It's this kind of twisting thats misleading on purpose!

Quote:

As for CDAL owing money to APUA, if anybody as proof of this please share it with us we would all like to know because I am sure that APUA would not treat CDAL any different than all there other customers, in which case they would have cut off Jolly by now.

Really? Are you sure??? Why not ask them and tell us?

**pick&spade** » 2012-08-16 14:53

Me nat Dig otside any easement area

**Caribguy** » 2012-08-16 14:37

Gipsy so you think it would be better to go through the courts, so 70+ separte court cases don't you think the money (our money) could not be better used, lets say paying security there full pay only 2 weeks ago they risked there lives to save to put a fire out in a villa, instead of using our CC to pay lawyers to fight the very same people who refuse to pay there CC while using all the services given to them, once again this would take years & cost tens of thousands of dollors (our dollors).

**flower bed** » 2012-08-16 14:03

caribguy u r 100% correct

**Caribguy** » 2012-08-16 13:19

How as this gone from a little old lady having her garden dug up to CDAL owing APUA money??
For a start the first 3 mtrs from the road (we are told) belongs to CDAL as part of there easement, so the garden dug up belongs to CDAL they also maintain said garden by residents paying there CC, so the little old lady planting roses in her wellies doe's not quite add up.
As for CDAL owing money to APUA, if anybody as proof of this please share it with us we would all like to know because I am sure that APUA would not treat CDAL any different than all there other customers, in which case they would have cut off Jolly by now.
As for APUA giving us all new meters that they would read!! why would they when they have given us two big meters power/water & are charging us commercial rate, that would be cutting off there nose to spite there face.

**Gipsy** » 2012-08-16 13:08

Caribguy below says:

Quote:

The problem using the courts is that it would take years..

Well, you think this solution is going to work any quicker? Fact of the matter is that this is nothing new, it's been going on for years already. I've been a Jolly Harbour house owner for the last eight years, and the same conflicts were around then - CDAL'management 's style of dealing with major issues to promise big change then do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. We've lost count of the number of times that has happened, and that's why relations between CDAL and residents are at a disgrafeully low level. When management fails to work things out by negotiation (or doesn't even try, as here), the Courts are the place of last resort to settle disputes, not the sewers! It seems CDAL doesn't have enough confidence in their case to go to court, thus this disgraceful episode.

**Big Mac** » 2012-08-16 11:20

there are people who wants everything for free. want sevice -pay for it. So easy.

**home owner** » 2012-08-16 10:35

I see the general unit of numbers in my post below has been replaced with 'x' by the moderator. Clearly this is a sensitive issue and one has to be careful, but please note the number is allegedly not small by any means and has loooooots of round shapes in it.

**home owner** » 2012-08-16 10:09

Just seen all this and surprised at the comments from those who do not understand nor even question WHY there is an issue paying the community charges.
It seems lazy minds keep it simple and just dismiss the concerns that delinquent home owners have. Words like ‘free-loaders’ ‘selfish’ ‘can’t pay’ ‘dysfunctional’ are all naïve. People have their concerns and these need to be addressed. How else to force a company to be legally accountable?

This is a complex situation.

Is anyone concerned about APUA who are reputedly owed x of dollars by CDAL when home owners have been paying their bills to CDAL and they have allegedly not passed on the money?

Does a small percentage of home owners who have worries really amount to the x of arrears? Obviously not.

Have the preferred developers and owners of land paid their own charges? Hmmm… this company makes its own deals, now they have to deal with the result.

**Caribguy** » 2012-08-16 10:06

The problem using the courts is that it would take years, leaving the one's who are paying sponsoring for other peoples S*** to be delt with.
Does any body think thats right!!!!!!!!

**Antigua me barn** » 2012-08-16 07:35

Shame on CDAL. They rather do this than live up to their contractual responsibilitie s as community manager. Typical arrogance. These Dutch buccaneers xxxxx every penny out of Antigua to pay their creditors back in Europe. Miss Heschme should be doubly ashamed of herself as she has two faces. She is paid by the residents to manage the community yet CDAL continue to act in their own interests as developer and flout their own rules, regulations and contracts. And now this!

**Worried** » 2012-08-16 07:09

I'm renting a house at Jolly Harbour. CDALs money problem is no secret, but sewage disconnection is just weird when court action is available. It's like they're so desperate that they looking under the sofa cushions for loose change. If CDAL don't have the management to fix this by talking with people, let them get thi**o court, instead of risking our health.

This make me think maybe their money problem gone too far - what happen to us if CDAL fail?

Jolly Harbour has huge potential, but both its residents and CDAL employees are being failed by years of poor management at local and international levels, as displayed by this current fracas.

**SouthernMan** » 2012-08-16 06:52

It's generally beleived that CDAL owes the public health authority APUA x in arrears - so threatening sewerage disconnection for, in some cases, a few $00's displays a breathtaking double standard. Residents suspect some of the money we gave CDAL to pass on to APUA has been inappropriately used for other purposes, thus the debt - but as CDAL has published only one set of accounts in 20+ years, how can we know?

Jolly Harbour residents were told APUA would be billing them directly for utilities, but it didn't happen. We would like to pay APUA directly, because then we’d know the people of Antigua and Barbuda are actually getting our money - and reduce the risk of APUA pulling the plug on Jolly Harbour. On top of all this, CDAL xxx surcharges what residents pay for APUA’s electricity and water. We need to know where our money goes!

**Concerned** » 2012-08-16 06:48

Anyone who agrees that what CDAL are doing has nothing between their ears. Tell me, if CDAL had a leg to stand on then they would take these wit holders to court - they cannot they are contravening there contracts with homeowners. Well done the homeowners who have the guts to stand up for what is right, you have more support than those empty headed overweight people who just live to make trouble.

**VoiceofReason** » 2012-08-16 06:45

The usual response of a business to non payment is court action. Instead CDAL's response was bizarre - to try to cut sewerage off. WHY no court action? Could it be that CDAL's advisors have no confidence they'd win?

**Smelly** » 2012-08-16 01:16

From the look on Ms Hechme face it looks likes she can already smell the s##~~

**mensche** » 2012-08-15 22:50

@ ignorant people who don't know the facts, do your research and know what you're talking about before your ignorant fighting talk Dave, Watcher etc! you sound like a load of frightened fools who do not own properties yourselves but are defending just for the sake of defending.
People have their reasons and if you opened your eyes and ears and bothered to fully understand the situation you would be more careful in what you say.

comments like those 'from the sewage plant' are typical of the low-life reasoning around JOlly Harbour.

what would you do with a management company you pay for who does not even deal with your concerns? is it better to pay for your men to dig up people's gardens and cause major problems for your company than to sort out the reasons for people holding back payments?

get real and understand the bigger picture before defending a company who has been in the wrong for far too long.

**Watcher 2** » 2012-08-15 20:40

Funny how we are only talking about 12% not paying, normal accounting operations usually have 10 to 12% outstanding on their books.....so we are worried about 50 villas with over 500 in the community...som eone is digging a mole hole here......think we have bigger fish to fry ! No one has even stated the outstanding receivable on CDAL's books, maybe an audited financial statement for 2008 to 2011 would help us understand! How about a budget for 2012??? Is there any outstanding receivables on the commercial side and what action is CDAL taking to secure payments with them? Wondering if any developers are behind in any payments to CDAL?

**chucks** » 2012-08-15 20:34

Pay your fees. Simple. End of argument. It costs money to run the CDAL and also to prepare audited accounts. Residents want to enjoy the benefits from the people who pay their fair share. Selfish.

**North Finger** » 2012-08-15 20:28

Just maybe CDAL salaries to their top staff are more than we are know, would be nice to see the financials to find out exactly where the homeowners money is going to fund wages since it is stated that staff salaries were cut or staff laid off. How do homeowners know what is going on if CDAL does not supply their financials that affect the homeowners services by contract. When facts are presented to the homeowners, maybe this will calm the waters so to speak? What about the commercial tenants, are they not paying theirs for services either and are their services being cancelled too?

**Homeowner in JH** » 2012-08-15 19:32

12% of the villa population of Jolly Harbour are behind in their payments...why not take legal actions against those in arrears? Why try to find pipes and dig up someone's garden that is not even in arrears....wow is there a lawyer in the house?

**Upset Homeowner** » 2012-08-15 19:25

With the current issue with CDAl mismanagement of our funds, you call cutting off services the answer to get people to pay their bills...wrong! If homeowners owe so much money to CDAL, would you not think they would take legal actions with lawyers to get the money from non-payers? Something is wrong here and there is more to the story than is being told. Comments around cutting them off is not the answer, maybe homeowners are trying to make a point because CDAL is not upholding to their property managment role with the homeowners of the community. I am getting more and more upset because we have never received an accounting of where our money is going and do not think we can take much more of this....please CDAL get the audited statement out and lets see where the money is truly going and if there needs to be an increase, then so be it. This use to be such a wonderful community and we feel our property value will go down to what we paid for the property 16 years ago. From a comment on here, you mean to tell be CDAL is in arrears with APUA and are we being surcharged by CDAL as our rates have gone up ? Please CDAL do your job!

**Antigua Citizen** » 2012-08-15 18:39

I am appalled at the comments above regarding homeowners not paying their bills, just maybe the above comments are represented of the small majority who feel that it is right for CDAL to disconnect services when this management company does not even provide audited financial statements or budgets as they are required to the homeowners of the community. I think we need to think before we talk. I would support homeowners who are making a stance to CDAL by not paying their bills due to legal covenants that state otherwise. Just get the damn audited financial statements and budgets out CDAL and this would not be an issue to the homeowners. This is a management company that have obilgations to the homeowners that they do not follow and then say they are going to follow and never do. CDAL, get that audited financial statements out to prove to the homeowners that their monies are going to the services that their contracts state...OMG this is getting so stupid and petty.

**Hmmmm** » 2012-08-15 14:44

I wonder if CDAL owes APUA for utillities??? and can APUA cut them off?

**from the sewageplant** » 2012-08-15 14:37

i need money to treat the shi# that comes ou of you arxs, however the shi# that comes out of you mouth i do not treat so you can talk as much shi# as you want for free but pay up to treat the shi# out of u axx

**Caribguy** » 2012-08-15 14:23

A large number of us that do pay our CC have been asking for this for years, well done to CDAL for growing a pair at last.
Why stop there we now have the security working on a pay cut because of
the people who refuse to pay there CC so stop them at the gate!! how these people sleep at night is beyoned me don't they understand that the guy they think will stop the nasty man robbing there villa as bills & family to look after.

**Truth** » 2012-08-15 09:47

I hear that the top manager there earns a REDICULOUS monthly salary, more than PM Spenser is this true?

**Fairness** » 2012-08-15 08:50

CDAL has been around for some 25 years in that time they have done an excellent job in both maintaining the resort and more importantly maintaining a viable and reasonable service charge. I complement Ms Hechme on taking this bold decision and trust that as soon as the full compliment of charges are RECIEVED staffing levels will immediately return to where they were always at for the past 24 years !

**Watcher** » 2012-08-15 08:43

These are separate accounts my friend if someone pays thier electric bill or water bill the services stay on but if a resident of the cimmunity least of all the president of the homeowners association does notat his or her community fee for years WHY would they get provided with this service ?

All because you regularly use one gas station does this mean you get free gas?

**jolly harbour.** » 2012-08-15 08:37

In order for jolly harbour to increase the community charge (cc) it must be done based on an audited report. For the most part this is in the homeowners contracts. The homeowners to date have only seen one audited report in the life of the development (20 years) and that was in 2007. this is the main season why the cc has not being raised since 2007. This is a very complicated situation between the homeowners and CDAL which needs to be resolved for the development to survive. It is also fair to say the situation between the homeowners and CDAL is not good which further complicates any resolution.

**Omen** » 2012-08-15 08:34

Amazing that this is contemplated, why not just cut off the water or electricity as the legal cost when the sewage makes some one ill could be interesting!

**Watcher** » 2012-08-15 08:21

The BIG QUESTION

Firstly cutting off a sewage pipe to a residence does NOT create a health risk unless the residents act irresponsibly.

Secondly when the President of the residence association owes in excess of USD30,000 and who is actively encouraging other residents to become delinquent is it no surprise that his services are suspended?

It seems to me that a small group of homeowners under the banner of a dysfunctional president are now kicking up a pathetic argument about 'digging up' gardens and health hazards

If it wasn't so pathetic I would laugh my socks off!

GET REAL and PAY and let CDAL make its 12%!

**Watcher** » 2012-08-15 08:12

Management Companies generally work on a 12 per cent margin and as 12 per cent of residents are delinquent it seems Ms Hechme is confirming that her 12 per cent payment is severely affected by her quote

'She said that the company has financial concerns of its own to worry about, especially if it intends to continue to provide the necessary services, but it has no qualms with residents who wish to work out a payment plan with the company in order to avoid disconnection, she added.'

It would be wrong for a handful of home owners to withhold payments as clearly this would effect the stability of the company running things!

**Watcher** » 2012-08-15 08:08

THANK YOU

It seems that Ms Hechme has today confirmed a very important point and that is that the residents of the Jolly Harbour Community are paying the correct service charge based on the 2007 figures.

and I quote:

She added that despite inflation and the general cost of operation, the CDAL has not altered its community service charges since the last audited statement was put out in 2008. This statement reflected the numbers of 2007.

“The current charge is based on the last financial audited statement put out in 2008. Cost of living has increased over the years but we have not touched the charges. We have a lot of mischief-makers in our community,” Hechme said.

**SlyThatGuy** » 2012-08-15 07:56

The shame is really not on CDAL,it's on residents who expect to receive a service for which they cannot pay or are neglecting to pay. How should the company go about disconnecting service to the 12% of homeowners in arrears? And if the homeowners were really concerned about the potential health hazard in the community that would result from the sewage disconnection,t hey would not have invited it by failing to make payments.

**Spencer** » 2012-08-15 07:11

I totaly agree that Gaye Hechme and her management team have to do what they have to do! As managers we have to make tough decisions that some may not like, for the greater good of the majority! What amazes me is that an overwhelming majority of the persons who pay their community charges are in agreement with this move by CDAL, but remain silent out of fear of offending their neighbor! What hypocrites! Stand up and say that you support the move of Gaye Hechme and her management team to take action against the deliquent residents! It may not be a pretty move but indeed a necessary one! Don't let a vocal minority of non-paying, free-loading, trouble makers dictate public opinion, like waht is usually done in Antigua!

**Herby** » 2012-08-15 07:11

This just sound like a load of....!!!! You mean things so bad that they cant even pay for their.....to be properly removed.

**dave** » 2012-08-15 05:34

cut them off, or sit in **tttt

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