Two time-share owners who e-mailed The Freeport News for information on the resort said no one from the hotel property has contacted them or written a letter stating what will be done about their time-share agreement or if they will be compensated for the funds invested.
The Freeport News contacted both Donald Archer and Rudy Meadows of the Royal Oasis on the time-share situation yesterday and was told that they could not comment on the matter at this time.
In an interview with the Freeport News yesterday, Dr. Mark Golick, a U.S. citizen from Cranston, Rhode Island, who purchased a ‘time-share week’ in July 2004 at the Royal Oasis, said that since finding out the resort has been closed, he has not been able to speak with anyone at the property who can give him updates on any progress made in regards to repairs or prospective buyers.
“My first scheduled stay was cancelled because of the damage to the property and I found this out only after calling the resort to firm-up my reservation in October,” Dr. Golick said. “I had purchased week 52. The bottom line is they never told me anything, so I don’t know what is going on. My concern is that I purchased the property and I feel for the people who were laid off and I am concerned for other time-share owners.
“I am pretty upset because they told me nothing and I have spent about $12,000 worth of investment on the property so that I could enjoy a ‘prime week’ there. There is no one to answer my call.”
Dr. Golick said he initially booked the time-share investment through a travel agent after visiting Grand Bahama on vacation. He said he liked the experience so much that he decided to get a time-share package that would allow him to keep coming back.
“Now I am thinking, I just spent my money and now I have nothing,” he said. “I am sure that there are quite a few people who are in the same boat as me. The only time I spoke to anybody at the property was when I called and they explained to me that they were closed and that they were not going to be open until June 2005.”
Dr. Golick said he has been keeping up with what has been happening at the Royal Oasis, and is only waiting to speak with somebody at the property who can supply him with information on the matter.
Mary Fox, another U.S. citizen from Florida, said she has been a time-share owner at the resort for the last 21 years. At the end of her contract in 2004, she renewed it for another 10 years.
Ms. Fox explained to the Freeport News via-email that she found out about the Royal Oasis saga over the internet. No one called her or explained the situation to her either. As a current time-share owner, she noted that she is very concerned about the status of her investment and has been in touch with other time-share owners as to the status of their membership as well.
“I spoke to Rudy Meadows in March 2005,” she said. “He informed me the Oasis was in the process of being sold and that all current owners would be notified when the sale was completed. I have e-mailed Mr. Meadows since then, and have not received any response. I would like to visit Freeport and be able to meet with somebody at the Oasis, or would that be a waste of my time?”
After sustaining tremendous damages from two hurricanes last year, the Royal Oasis was forced to close down, laying off some 1,300 employees.
A skeleton staff of some 135 persons were kept back to maintain the once thriving property, but were unfortunately laid off two weeks ago after the electricity was turned off by Grand Bahama Power Company for non-payment of a $400,000 electricity bill.
Last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the Government is still continuing with its efforts to find a buyer for the hotel and casino property, stating that they will pursue every avenue to get it up and running as soon as possible.
By LISA S. KING, Freeport News Reporter
