Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Michael-j on April 05, 2010, 02:51:04 PM
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Free drinks flow at Hyatt
Akile Simon akile.simon@trinidadexpress.com
Monday, April 5th 2010
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161622145 (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161622145)
FREE DRINKS flowed at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain on Saturday night and yesterday, two days after the Express reported that the hotel did not have a licence under the law to sell alcohol beverages.
A source at the hotel told the Express that patrons got their ’drinks on the house’ after the director of Food and Beverage at the hotel gave instructions that customers be given ’free drinks’ rather than shutting down the bars at the pool-side and the lobby area.
’It was like a free-drinks party on Saturday night. The lobby area was in a mess, with people drinking and liming and having a good time,’ the source said.
According the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, a similar ’unofficial’ party was expected to take place last night.
The ’free drinks’ were not advertised, but customers were told their drinks were ’on the house’ after they requested a bill. This situation caused scores of people to flock to the establishment on Saturday night, the Express was told.
The decision not to sell beverages to customers came after the hotel’s application for a new alcohol licence was denied by the Liquor and Licensing Committee, headed by Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan, at the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Cardenas-Ragoonanan dismissed the application after Neelanda Rampaul, the person who requested the application, failed to appear in court on two consecutive occasions, when the matter was called. The hotel’s previous licence, which was valid for one year, expired on Wednesday March 31, at midnight.
Rampaul, the former Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) chief operating officer, resigned hours after Prof John Uff presented the report of the Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector to President George Maxwell Richards last Monday.
When the Express visited the hotel yesterday, drinks were being served to customers as usual. After ordering two beers, a Shandy Carib and a pina colada, the barman was asked for the bill.
The barman responded, ’The drinks you have had is on the house. We cannot charge you for the drinks. So, do hope you enjoy your Easter weekend.’
When questioned why the hotel was giving free drinks to its customers, the man said, ’Apparently there were some discrepancies regarding the licence to sell alcohol, so therefore we cannot charge you for the drinks. It’s all on the house, sir.’
However, a senior police source said it was still illegal for the hotel to distribute the drinks, even if they were free of charge, since the licence covered the storage and sale of alcoholic beverages.
’What they are doing is still wrong. If there is nothing stored at the hotel, then there is no reason for anything to be distributed with or without a fee,’ the lawman said.
He was also critical of what he described as the inaction by his colleagues to act in accordance with the law and seize the alcohol from the hotel.
Head of the Port of Spain Division, Snr Supt Paul Rodriguez, was mandated by Acting Police Commissioner, Gilbert Reyes, to investigate the incident and take the appropriate action. Attempts to reach Rodriguez were unsuccessful, as calls to his cell phone went unanswered up to late yesterday.
Checks revealed that officers had not visited the hotel and made any enquiries relative to the business place’s alcohol licence up to last evening.
On Good Friday, one day after the application was thrown out, alcohol was still being served at the hotel. On that occasion, an employee said that ’everything was sorted out’ when the Express queried why alcohol was still being served when the licence had been denied by the courts.
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Story on Hyatt TT wins award in London.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Recently in London, Hyatt Regency Trinidad was highlighted at a media event during the annual World Travel Market, attended by thousands of travel industry professionals. The UK Chapter of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation held its fifth “Host and Reward the Media” during which ministers and their delegations, UK Chapter members and an array of consumer and trade media gathered to recognise top editorial pieces on the Caribbean from the past year.
Joanna Booth’s article, titled Dancing in the Streets appeared in the March 26 issue of Travel Weekly and was awarded Best Travel Trade Feature.
“We are honoured that Joanna’s wonderful story highlighting our hotel was selected as a winner in these prestigious awards,” stated Russell George, general manager of Hyatt Regency Trinidad. “Thanks to the efforts of our public relations agency, Cheryl Andrews Marketing, we were able to host this important trade journalist during Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago’s most famous celebration.”
Joanna Booth was a part of a press trip organised and hosted by the hotel during the island’s world-renowned Carnival with support from the Tourism Development Company.
Booth described the Hyatt Regency Trinidad as “the island’s most luxurious hotel” and notes that “the service in particular makes this hotel a real standout — it’s impeccable, while retaining that famed Caribbean friendliness.”
Hyatt Regency encompasses the full spectrum of hotel types, which are conveniently located in urban, suburban, airport, convention and resort destinations around the world. Properties range in size from 200 to more than 2,000 rooms, feature intimate and large meeting spaces, and offer a full range of services and dining options tailored to serve the needs of conventions, business travellers or resort vacationers. Hyatt Regency enables all guests — whether they are travelling to work, unwind or gather in celebration — to feel productive and revitalised.
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$.3b HYATT HITCH
Howai doesn’t like proposed settlement for hotel profits
By Asha Javeed (Express)
Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai says financial settlement arrangements being proposed to settle a three-year-long arbitration between international hotel chain Hyatt Corporation and the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), which would yield $300 million to the State enterprise, are not acceptable to Government.
Howai told the Sunday Express that UDeCOTT’s proposal, which seeks a Government guarantee, could burden the Exchequer with additional debt.
UDeCOTT contends that if the arbitration is settled, Hyatt will release the $300 million which it owes the State company in owner remittances.
Three years ago Hyatt Corporation, the manager of the Government-owned hotel on the Port of Spain Waterfront, initiated arbitration proceedings against UDeCOTT at the International Court of Arbitration for “multiple breaches” of its Hotel Management Agreement, which it signed in July 27, 2005.
Hyatt claimed that UDeCOTT’s transfer of its ownership interest and site (the property is leased from the Port Authority) to a subsidiary, the Port of Spain Waterfront Development Company Ltd (POSWDL) left it in doubt as to who was the rightful owner of some US$20 million in profits. Hyatt claimed it has been forced to place the funds in a separate account, pending resolution of this.
The profits accrued now stand at US$50 million).
In court documents, the hotel also claimed that its ability to provide management services was “severely compromised”, as UDeCOTT has refused to approve plans for the completion of the hotel and related services such as the construction of an additional food and beverage outlet and retail space, the upgrade of infrastructure as well as the management of the parking garage next to the hotel.
UDeCOTT’s counter claim was that Hyatt failed to pay distributions owed between 2008 and 2011 and the company’s claim that it is unsure as to whom the funds are entitled was “misconceived”.
The arbitration was suspended last year for three parties—Hyatt, UDeCOTT and the government—to work out a suitable multi-party agreement (MPA).
UDeCOTT and Hyatt agreed to certain terms- that the Government would provide a guarantee over the facility and that it would write to Hyatt stating that UDeCOTT was the rightful owner of the hotel.
UDeCOTT’s chief executive Kurt Ramlal, in a statement to the Sunday Express on Friday said:
“Hyatt and UDeCOTT entered into arbitration proceedings as a result of Hyatt’s refusal to pay monies due to UDeCOTT from the operation of the hotel since 2008. At this time the arbitration proceedings are in abeyance while the parties attempt to settle the matter.
The settlement involves the grant of a guarantee by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to the Lenders in the Waterfront Project. The Guarantee has been approved for execution and now awaits the attention of the Minister of Finance.”
UDeCOTT chairman Jearlean John directed Sunday Express queries to director Shankar Bidaisee, who is also chairman of the company’s Hyatt Committee.
He said: “UDeCOTT prepared a brief outlining the draft MPA arrived at UDeCOTT and Hyatt, a draft letter to be signed by the minister along with other documents (including a legal opinion from attorney Akbar Ali) for his consideration. The ball is in his court.”
He noted that Hyatt was a profitable hotel and the increased revenues from Carnival would remain with the company until the matter is resolved.
In response to questions by the Sunday Express on Government’s delay in seeking a resolution to the impasse Howai said, “The settlement arrangements being proposed are not acceptable to Government.”
Howai explained that the mortgage over the property was security for a loan from US-based bank Wells Fargo.
That, he said, is different from the guarantee, which UDeCOTT proposed.
“What is now being requested is a Government Guarantee. Some years ago UDeCOTT had transferred the property into a separate company which gave rise to the arbitration,” he said.
“The original arrangement was for the Government to provide a mortgage over the facilities not a guarantee and we would prefer to retain the original arrangement rather than burden the Exchequer with any additional debt.”
The Sunday Express understands that POSWDL was not the only subsidiary company set up by UDeCOTT to manage its hotel business. The company had also set up the International Waterfront Resources Ltd (IWRL) to staff the hotel.
Sources told the Sunday Express that Hyatt’s insistence on not recognising UDeCOTT as the rightful owner, despite the fact that UDeCOTT’s bar licence is vested in its chief operating officer Greer Quan, had compromised its ability to upgrade the hotel as needed.
Despite not recognising UDeCOTT as the rightful owner of the hotel, last month Hyatt wrote to the State company seeking approval to host its annual Carnival fete, LIME, on February 26 which is budgeted at $4 million.
The Sunday Express tried unsuccessfully to contact Hyatt’s vice president of corporate communications Farley Kern, as well as its directors of corporate communications in the United States Amy Patti and Katie Rackoff for comment.
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Ah have a question. Perhaps I missed it in the article but the three party discussions are between UDECOTT, Hyatt and the Government. Larry Howai, Min of Finance, is now saying he is not happy with the request for a government guarantee.
So mih question is, which Ministry represented the Government in the discussions? Because it seems as though Howai now seeing the outcome of the discussions and is not in agreement. So how come the Ministry of Finance was not involved in the discussions??
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(http://data8.blog.de/media/851/6926851_da352f0848_m.jpeg)
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$5m heist: Hyatt warehouse raid caught on neighbours' cameras.
By Shaliza Hassanali (Guardian).
Police are now on the lookout for people who may have been duped into buying what they thought were high-priced flat screen televisions for use as CCTV monitors at cut rate prices.
The 177 flat screen televisions sets were in fact part of $5 million in items stolen by bandits from the Hyatt Regency hotel’s warehouse last week.
With three days to go before Christmas, residents in East Port-of-Spain thought they were getting a steal of a deal, having paid between $500 and $800 for the 55 and 65-inch LCD televisions, which are sold in some stores at between $12,000 and $18,000.
Thinking that they were given a steal of a deal, the buyers, some of whom were from Beetham Gardens, later discovered that their new Christmas gifts were not programmed for residential use. Many of them decided to use the TVs as monitors for CCTV cameras but may now run afoul of the law if caught.
The robbery was committed last Friday (December 16) by a group of brazen bandits at the hotel’s Warner Village, Bejucal warehouse. The warehouse was used to store brand new items which were to be installed and outfitted as part of the a major physical upgrade planned by the hotel.
Among the items stolen were 177 flat screen televisions, eight chandeliers and 335 artwork frames valued at US$ 552,609.03. Other miscellaneous items which were also carted away bring the total figure to $5 million, the T&T Guardian was told.
The hotel contracted a French firm to supply and outfit the items for its refurbishment exercise.
Hyatt Regency is owned by the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott).
A source told the Trinidad Guardian that the thieves entered the compound of the warehouse, where they held up and hog-tied three security guards and then disconnected the building's CCTV cameras.
The bandits then gained entry into the building by cutting the locks on the doors. Seconds later, two trucks and 12 cars pulled into and outside the compound and the items were hastily loaded onto the vehicles, following which the thieves made good their escape.
“Some people are of the firm view that it is an inside job. But the joke is the LCD television sets they stole are virtually useless to them because it is not programmed for residential use. What is amazing is that the thieves did not cover their faces, nor did they hid the number plates of the vehicles,” the source said.
Fortunately, the robbery was captured on the closed circuit televisions of nearby residents, which was submitted to the Chaguanas police.
“That is what the perpetrators did not bargain for,” the source said.
Photographs taken from the video, which the T&T Guardian obtained, showed the bandits committing the robbery.
While some of the items may yet be recovered, the source said the way the thieves hurriedly packed the items into the vehicle, they were certain a number of televisions were damaged.
“More than likely, Hyatt would have to re-order all the items that were stolen.”
The source said, none of the items were insured.
Some of the television sets were sold at reduced prices to unsuspecting Beetham Gardens residents between last week and yesterday.
“They were sold for peanuts compared to its original price of between $12,000 to $18,000. When the buyers realised they could not use the TVs, they began selling it as monitors for surveillance cameras.”
Police arrest 7 with stolen items
The Hyatt Regency hotel is currently doing a major refurbishment exercise, as part of a requirement that it undergo such exercises every seven years, a source told the T&T Guardian yesterday.
On the Hyatt’s website, a notice states the hotel is undergoing a refurbishment exercise, which will be done in phases and completed at the end of April 2017.
Areas to be refurbished are the hotel's entrance, lobby, bar, sushi bar, restaurant and its 428 luxurious guest rooms.
Upon receipt of the items, the hotel stored them in its warehouse, which they have been using for years.
On Tuesday, officers from the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigation Department (CID), led by Snr Supt Radcliffe Boxhill and ASP Ajith Persad, Sgt Austin, arrested five people after they went to Romain Lands, Morvant, executed a search warrant and seized a 65-inch television set identified as one stolen from the warehouse.
Two people in Beetham Gardens were also arrested yesterday after police recovered another 65-inch television.
Persad said yesterday the investigations are ongoing.
Marketing communications manager of Hyatt, Neemah Persad, admitted yesterday that the robbery had taken place, but opted not to issue a statement as the matter was still being investigated.
Chairman of Udecott Noel Garcia refused comment.
Stolen items*Quantity*Unit Price in US*Total cost in US
LG 65 inch LCD colour TV*159*$2,690.31*$427,759.29
(model 65L X 570H)
LG 55 inch LED LCD colour TV *18*$1,891.43*$34,045.74
(model 55 LX 570H)
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Solid performance by POS hotels for Carnival 2020.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The Tourism Ministry is reporting that Carnival 2020 is set to be a success, as the more prominent hotels in the capital city, Port of Spain, have been sold out.
The news was revealed at a recent forum for hoteliers hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, and hosted by the minister, Randall Mitchell, and the chairman (Howard Chin Lee) and the CEO (Heidi Alert) of Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL), during which stakeholders shared their concerns about challenges within Trinidad’s accommodation sector.
At the meeting on 22 January 2020, which is a first in a series of hotel fora, and which included some of the major hotels in Trinidad, it was noted that hotels within the Port of Spain and surrounding environs presently are witnessing a 100 percent occupancy rate for Carnival 2020.
Stakeholders reported that some accommodation properties were completely sold out since June 2019. They also indicated that guests already have begun to make bookings for Carnival 2021.
According to an official statement from the Tourism Ministry, this year’s January and Carnival season is even better than in 2019, as there have been very few booking cancellations.
There was strong widespread commitment from the hoteliers to work with Government in collaborating to drive the growth of visitor arrivals in the off-peak months, especially for hotel properties outside of the capital city who have been impacted by the changes in the oil and gas sector.
The hoteliers urged Tourism Trinidad to proactively bid to host conferences and have a stronger marketing presence in world renowned conferences and other business shows such as IMEX in Las Vegas. Moreover, stakeholders called for more effort on maximising the potential of sports tourism in Trinidad, especially for winter team training, given the high-quality facilities at the Aquatic Center and Cycling Velodrome, as well as the country’s reputation for hosting and managing successful regional and international events.
The ministry says this high-level engagement with prominent hotels in Trinidad came at a time when the island has enjoyed a 3.3% increase in arrivals in 2019 in comparison to 2018; this, after three (3) consecutive years of decline (2016, 2017 and 2018).
According to Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, arrivals increased in every month in 2019 except for January, with the largest increase occurring in the month of October 2019 (more than 15%). The minister also reported a total of 367,119 visitors to Trinidad in 2019; an absolute increase of 11,588 tourists.
“While we celebrate these small wins, we must now look forward to building on these achievements in 2020,” the minister observed, “as we continue to work with our valued industry partners and stakeholders, to further develop and enhance Trinidad’s tourism product.”
Minister Randall Mitchell and Howard Chin Lee, TTL’s Chairman, also used the opportunity to inform the gathering of government’s actions moving forward with regards to the industry.
Among the other matters discussed at this hoteliers’ engagement were the implementation of Destination Trinidad’s brand identity; digital marketing initiatives; improved visitor safety and security programs; increased scrutiny of the Airbnb market in Trinidad; and activation of a compulsory certification program for the tourism industry.
Representatives at the Hotel Forum included the Executive Management of some of the largest hotels in Trinidad:
• Chief Executive Officer and Group Chief Financial Officer of the Radisson Hotel, Mr. Ashram Ramnarine
• Managing Director of Kapok Hotel, Ms. Jane Chan
• Director Sales and Marketing of Hilton Trinidad, Ms. Darlene Mc Donald
• Director Sales at Marriott Hotel, Ms. Liselle Ali Boodhan
• Director Sales at Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Ms. Marissa Diaz
• General Manager of Normandie Hotel, Mr. Raymond Chin Lee; and
• General Manager of Cara Suites, Mr. Hassel Thom
The tourism minister also recently had talks with Mr. Richard Westell, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Trinidad, at the hotel itself.
(https://www.guardian.co.tt/image-3.2650358.3c42774e90?size=1024)
Port of Spain hotels reporting 100% occupancy rates for Carnival 2020
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Bookings for Carnival 2021 already taking place—hoteliers.
T&T Guardian Reports.
If you are thinking about booking a hotel room in or around Port-of-Spain for your friends and family to come for Carnival 2020 then think again.
Because, according to Tourism Trinidad Ltd (TTL), there is no room at the inn.
A release from TTL yesterday said hotels within the Port-of-Spain and surrounding environs are presently witnessing a 100 per cent occupancy rate for Carnival 2020.
In fact, some accommodation properties indicated they were completely sold out since June last year, TTL stated.
“Indeed, guests have already began to make bookings for Carnival 2021. This year’s January and Carnival season is even better than in 2019 as there have been very few booking cancellations,” it stated.
Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, together with TTL chairman Howard Chin Lee, and TTL’s chief executive officer, Heidi Alert, hosted a forum for hoteliers on January 22, to speak to Carnival 2020 expectations and also to address any concerns and challenges within the Trinidad’s accommodation sector.
This meeting, which is a first in a series of hotel fora, was held at Tower D Level 18 Conference Room of the International Waterfront Centre.
At the meeting there was “strong widespread commitment” from the hoteliers to work with the Government in collaborating to drive the growth of visitor arrivals in the off-peak months, especially for hotel properties outside of the capital city who have been impacted by the changes in the oil and gas sector, TTL stated.
“The hoteliers urged TTL to proactively bid to host conferences and have a stronger marketing presence in world renowned conferences and other business shows such as IMEX in Las Vegas.
“Moreover, it was pointed that more effort must be placed on maximising the potential of sports tourism in Trinidad, especially for winter team training, given the high-quality facilities at our Aquatic Centre and Cycling Velodrome and the country’s reputation for hosting and managing successful regional and international events,” it stated.
“This high-level engagement with prominent hotels in Trinidad came at a time when the island has enjoyed a 3.3 per cent increase in arrivals in 2019 in comparison to 2018; after three consecutive years of decline (2016, 2017 and 2018). Arrivals increased in every month in 2019 except for January; the largest increase occurred in the month of October 2019 (+15 per cent),” the TTL stated.
A total of 367,119 visitors were welcomed to Trinidad in 2019.
This was an increase of 11,588 tourists.
“While we celebrate these small wins, we must now look forward to building on these achievements in 2020, as we continue to work with our valued industry partners and stakeholders, to further develop and enhance Trinidad’s tourism product,” Mitchell stated.
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Hilton to lay-off staff from tomorrow
By Rhondor Dowlat-Rostant (Guardian).
Staff at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre in St Ann’s have been temporarily laid off with no pay effective April 1 as the closure of borders in light of COVID-19 pandemic has hit the hotel industry.
A letter dated March 25 signed by Stacey Ann Sylvester, director of Human Resources, stated that the hotel was already operating on a skeletal staff and that staff was given the option to proceed on vacation leave to ensure that they receive their March salaries.
“As the public health crisis continues to evolve, we have been faced with a time of uncertainty for the country as well as the hotel. Unfortunately, the occupancy is at three per cent and continues to decrease as decisions are taken to combat the spread if the virus example, closure of borders, limitations on social events etc,” the letter stated.
“At this point in time, it has become necessary for the hotel to escalate its contingency plan and take more drastic measures, in order to secure existing jobs and safeguard the financial health of the business,” it added.
It went on to state that the hotel can no longer sustain the payment of full salaries and wages to all team members, “Therefore, with effect from April 1, all team members will be temporarily laid off (with no pay) till April 30.”
Staff was then given an option to choose three options meted out to them by management, one of which involved working one week per month and being prepared to perform other duties than what’s in their job descriptions.
The options stated in the letter were:
“1. Continue your vacation leave and utilise your entire entitlement for 2020. If said leave expires prior to April 30 and you do not wish to return to work, the temporary-lay off will take effect at that point with no pay.
2. Utilise the remainder of your vacation and then agree to a reduction in your salary by 75 per cent. If this option is chosen, you will be required to work one week (or it’s equivalent) per month and may be required to perform duties that are not in your current description.
3. Cease any vacation/No Pay Leave and agree to a reduction in your salary/work schedule by 75 per cent from April 1 to April 30. If this option is chosen, you will be required to work one week (or it’s equivalent) per month and may be required to perform duties that are not in your current job description.”
Staff members were given by today (March 30) to select an option. If none was selected, employees will be automatically temporarily laid off from April 1.
Staff members were also assured that it would be business as usual once business rebounds and occupancy rates drastically improve.
A worker, who wished not to be identified said they are worried as there’s no money flow for them.
“Some of us are single parents, we have to put food on our tables. Yea, the government asked for rent and loans to be deferred but how are some of us going to get money to buy food because some of us live pay cheque by pay cheque. It’s hard.”
In an immediate response, the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) condemned what it called the “callous, insensitive and inhumane decision of the management to lay off all employees of the hotel, without pay for one month.”
The union called it “a cowardly and backward decision.”
NATUC called on the Government to intervene in the matter immediately and to also review the contracts of employment of the senior management team responsible for “taking such a backward decision.”
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Fellas I need some help.... back in the mid 90s there was a hotel on the EMR in Tacarigua...between eddie hart and dinsley junction....I believe there was a bar too.... what was the name of it...I'll get some play if I could give the gyul the correct answer... feel free to message me
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Fellas I need some help.... back in the mid 90s there was a hotel on the EMR in Tacarigua...between eddie hart and dinsley junction....I believe there was a bar too.... what was the name of it... I'll get some play if I could give the gyul the correct answer... feel free to message me
Dahis a transferable privilege? :rotfl:
Yuh might be at ah impasse. It have men who know de answer but might be PMing you fuh de woman name. :rotfl:
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Let me eat fuss
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Is a lil bank thing use to carry they back in the day.... she say name the first place we bull and I'll get another piece....help me
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capo!! long time bro, how u keepin?
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All good pardner. How things on your end
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All good pardner. How things on your end
pok a pok bredda, everyting home these days as you know, work, school, lime, lol. So it go, cannot complain, one day at a time sweet Jesus. Good to see you posting, been a while, you ran across my mind a few times...
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I think it was called the flamingo if I’m not mistaking. I remember a hotel up that way where my grand dad used to hang out on weekends and sometimes he would take us there for lunch and then for ice cream on the main road. those were fun days.
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Flamingo wasn't in st. Clair?