NOW THEY TELL ME

An absolutely infallible source tells HTW we had a super prominent visitor to the island. He stayed sequestered on a magnificent yacht anchored offshore Coxen Hole and was reportedly looking for some good deeds that needed doing. We bet he saw a bunch of them.

Next time you’re in town Mr. Bill, please give us an interview, because, Mr. Gates, we all use Microsoft products in our daily lives.

DUST TO DUST, SPLASHES TO SPLASHES

Just when you were being totally immersed in dust as you followed a pick-up down the dirt road, the rains came back. Again we set out to ask the locals when the rainy season was. Too many answers to publish but the consensus of opinion were now the end of February. It just moved from the end of January probably because of the heavy rain that hit us Sunday morning. Personally I prefer wet to dry but I bet the cruise ship passengers think the opposite. Bottom line, it is what it is and nothing we say or you say will change it. It also seems no matter how much we nag, the roads will continue to deteriorate at an alarming pace. An example might again be the Grand Canyons in front of Bo Jangles in Coxen Hole, or the notorious Front Street in West End.

STILL SOURCING BUT….

Word has it on the streets that even after that landslide victory by Mr. Kelsy Warren, the other guys are getting the RECO deal. GO FIGURE.

C.S.I. ROATAN

The D.G.I.C. squad was seen heading east armed with shovels. Someone is challenging a three year old death and they are digging up evidence as to the exact cause, and to be certain as to whom is supposedly in the grave.
Now this one might just make it to TV-land.

FINAL CALL

Please don’t allow complacency keep you from dropping us e-mail. A while ago we asked our readers to contact us if they have been bothered with nuisance claims concerning labor issues or land titles. A total of three people wrote in, and guess what? Some common denominators showed up. Now, if the rest of you would participate we might get something going here.

If there is some legitimacy in the claim against you or your property, fight it out, but if it is pure and simple harassment or nuisance type crapshoots, get us the information including the initiating attorney. Otherwise, forever try to individually hold your peace - or is that piece?

THE VERDE ROOM

The Roatan Women’s Club did the first of many make-overs to help people in the community. The first to receive their generous contribution of both time and supplies was Roatan Bruce at the 106.5 FM studios. Located in the white building opposite RECO, the studio was painted, now has cushioned benches in the waiting room, cushioned chairs and an all over-all brighter appearance. Roatan Bruce has Ollie and Gary Thompson, Liz Brown, Susan Jensen and his wife Lorin to thank for his new studio!

ABOUT THAT ZOLITUR TAX BREAK

Taking a really close look at the drop from10% capital gains way down to only 4% we do the math. 10% of nothing is zero and that is what the local people have been paying when they sold their homes or family land. Now, with the close scrutiny being applied, the 4% will add up quickly. An acre of land on the beach comes down through the inheritance channels. Even if the land was inherited free of cost, if it is sold for say $ 30,000, the tax due is $ 1,200. Now, do the math on a piece selling for $1,000,000 and we get $40,000. It’s getting up there, isn’t it?

BUT, AND A BIG BUT IT IS, if you are not a full-fledged member of Zolitur, it bounces back to 10%. Now do the same math.

One more step might be if the powers that be see a way around not raising the taxes. They look at a family plot that cost virtually nothing and the taxes were a few hundred lempiras a year. Now they re-appraise it for the current value of say, $ 150,000, since it is on the beach and very valuable. See, no tax increase but higher value, more taxes owed.

An also under-investigation situation: Is it true Zolitur-approved Real Estate people will have to pay 4% on their commissions? Since there is no income tax, what category does this one come under?

ST JUDE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE

Attained: 4th month no-smoking anniversary - thanks to St. Jude.