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• Friday, September 28, 2007 10:52 AM Yank wrote:
  Just to clarify, the threads on Traveltalk Online are routinely closed after 50 replies as a courtesy to members who do not have high speed internet. You can always restart your thread by doing a new post (Part 2). That thread was not closed because it was conntroversial. If you choose to restart your discussion, I would place it in SXM People Talk as your subject really is not a travel related issue.
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• Saturday, September 29, 2007 7:40 AM ttoler wrote:
  That's true... On Traveltalkonline forum any thread over 50 reply are normally closed down.. this one was lucky to make it up to 64..
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• Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:34 AM msbee wrote:
  This just confirms my opinion that the jewelry blogger is trying to start trouble. He focuses on one group, blames them for all the troubles on SXM, and gets paranoid when TTOL closes the thread. TTOL always closes threads when they reach a certain number. The bloggers comments were read and commented on..enough already. He made his point..now move on.
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  1. Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:08 AM Jewelry Blogger wrote:
     "This just confirms my opinion that the jewelry blogger is trying to start trouble. He focuses on one group, blames them for all the troubles on SXM."
     
     Excuse Me? I never blamed any one group for the troubles on SXM, I only reported on the state of affairs as they pertain to the monopoly held by the IMA. It just so happens that the IMA and their members are the ONE GROUP which controls the jewelry trade on SXM. In addition, the feed for this blog was carried by specific sites which deal in the Jewelry Trade and they removed the feeds, as they received complaints concerning the content of that article from the "ONE GROUP" in SXM which controls the jewelry trade. I'm not removing the article nor changing my opinions on this subject matter. In fact, I am focusing on digger deeper into the IMA, its members and plan to publish further reports.
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• Tuesday, October 02, 2007 4:57 PM free-enterprise wrote:
  Oh someone forwarded me telling me to read this blog… wow very very controversial, I guess if that’s what John had intended to do, then he has done a great job (He got me in after all)I almost read all the opinions some good n some bad until I was just disgusted with the sheer audacity of some writers who have no knowledge of things; there is a big difference between guess work and facts.
  Facts:
  IMA (Indian Merchant Association) does not own nor monopolize the Jewelry businesses on this island. It is just a medium of voice for the Indian Merchants (Many Different Owners) They are also credited to organize community cultural programs which are open to everyone to attend (for a fee though and even Indians have to pay)
  SXM is a free market, any local can apply for a business license and open his/her business on any part of the island (Indians wont stop you, I promise)
  JB Response: How can one afford to do so? Tell the locals how they can do this..
  When a sales person calls another store for jewelry that he doesn’t have means that it is a little arrangement between two businesses to help each other make a sale.
  JB Response: Arrangement? Oka, if you say so...
  Its not Cruise lines that recommend stores, it is actually an advertising company who has a contract with the cruise lines to run their program on the ship (didn’t you ever buy anything advertised on TV or print media) It is simply a medium of marketing.
  JB Response: Get an education on this subject matter, as you have no clue what you're talking about...
  There are all kinds of people and SXM is no different, if you end up with one bad apple, please don’t blame the whole island, next time you simply don’t shop there. (Ask specifically with the store policy about returns and make your own judgment, cheaper doesn’t always mean the best)
  Most of the people of Indian decent hold some kind of Jewelry background (GIA graduates, AGS etc) while some are family owned business, Dear Mr. Local (no pun added) get a GIA certificate and see the same Indians run after you to work for them.
  Immigration is really a problem but if you see the statistics, Indians are way down the list of hiring illegal workers (The Police Dept can shed the light on this if one had just bothered to ask)
  JB Response: Do a head count, cross reference who's related and who works where for the correct answer...
  Yes Indians have made significant progress, but are they not supposed to? After all they invested heavily and paid the taxes due on time, contributed to the economy. If their children go to private Schools and they live in beautiful castles, it shouldn’t bother anyone, they worked hard for it (Did you know most times they are working 7 days a week?)
  JB Response: You said it....CASTLES and Private Schools...
  I am not aware of a single jewelry store owner who runs 3 stores with different names, there are a few who have more than one location but with the same name (Google it)
  Jewelry is indeed cheap because of the volume of competition (Stores don’t sell under cost or dirt cheap, don’t expect that) no import tax, no export tax, labor is cheap here unlike as in the US. On a safe scale you can say that you might end up with saving at least 30 % on fine jewelry and 10 – 20% on watches.
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  1. Thursday, October 11, 2007 9:54 PM free-enterprise wrote:
     QUOTE: JB Response: Get an education on this subject matter, as you have no clue what you're talking about
     
     ------
     I guess you dont know what you are talking about, please see your article at http://jewelryblogger.com/2007/08/08/diamonds-international--cruise-ship-jewelry-purchases-be-forewarned.aspx#comment-578420
     
     Read the last paragraph
     I will quote it for you
     "Last warning...the port shopping guide on the cruise ship is NOT a direct employee of the cruise line but, a representative of the company, which distributes in-port shopping magazines, flyers and coupons. Just because the port shopping guide is wearing a name tag with the cruise ships name does NOT mean they work directly for the cruise line."
     
     By the way the company is On Board Media, i stick to my words that - Its not Cruise lines that recommend stores, it is actually an advertising company who has a contract with the cruise lines to run their program on the ship
     
     Question for you john, Why are you so biased, after all, the ethics of blogging is to have neutral report
     
     JB Response: Who enables On Board Media? Is it not the cruise lines? The cruise lines have the ability to remove Onboard Media. If the venue is being used to an unfair advantage against those who cannot afford to pay for participation is that not "unfair advantage"?
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• Friday, October 05, 2007 12:23 PM shawn wrote:
  I THINK THIS WEBSITE IS TOTALLY MISGUIDING AND THE PERSON WHO HAS CREATED THIS BETTER CROSS CHECK HIS FACTS AND CONFRIM BEFORE DAMAGING THE IMAGE OF A COMMUNITY. HE MAY END UP PAYING FOR DAMAGES TO ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A COMMUNITY.IF ANY CONSUMER HAS ANY PROBLEMS WITH PURCHASES IT CAN ALWAYS BE TAKEN CARE OF, BUT I THINK THIS PERSON IS JUST TRYING TO CASH ON SOME FAKE ADVERTISING FOR HIS SITE.....I ADVISE PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF HIM BEFORE BLAMING ANYONE IN ST.MAARTEN...
  
  JB Response: I reported what I was told by those on St. Maarten. We have freedom of speech in this country (the United States) and we are allowed to state our views and opinions. You have the ability to post your opinion as well and your opinion has been left intact. The IMA and their members also have the ability to submit comments. You speak of "damaging the image of a community" exactly what "community" are you referring to?
  
  In addition, the statements concerning the cruiselines and their "pay for play program" are true and if they have anything to say to negate what's been said in this forum, they're welcome to stop by and leave comments as well.
  
  One last thing. Read all the comments and see what those on St. Maarten (who are NOT part of the Indian community) have to say. Are they all WRONG? Seems the majority agree with the artcile and they would know much better than I, as they live on St. Maarten full time.
  
  JB Follow Up: I am not enriched by advertising on this site. In fact, you'll see that there are NO advertisements whatsoever on Jewelry Blogger. Do you see Google AdWords anywhere? Do see some type of promotion that I don't see? In fact, Shawn, I think you have your own agenda.
  
  Pay damages to a community? I think you might be right and maybe those who have taken advantage of St. Maartiner's for generations, should be forced to pay damages, to those who have been on SXM for generations. Good Suggestion!
  
  One more thing. I have talked to many St. Maartiner's (by the hundreds) - you know, the one's who sell produce on the side of the road, the elderly who live on such a tight budget that they can barely survive and the children who wear uniforms, who must attend public schools, as their hard working parents can't afford to send them to private schools. I sit down and have coffee with them, I feel for them, they are the hardest working people I know. If I could, I would rescue them all but, I can't. However, I can make people "think" by writing about what I've been told, what I see and the injustice of it all.
  
  By the way, don't use all caps when you reply as we don't need people screaming in here
  
  
  
  
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