|
By Hank Guichelaar
When the final closure came, three months after the
raid of July 4th of 2002, our hopes remained high
because of Enrique’s messages and actions. Although
deposits were a mere fraction of what The Brothers
took in before this memorable date, we were all
assured and re-assured, especially when interest
kept coming in spite of a limping operation!
We even seriously considered aiding him when he
pleaded with us to give him more money.
“I need to start a parallel system,” his message
said. “We need to feed the NEW business to prevent
the OLD one from dying…” Enrique pleaded.
Of course Enrique also wrote: “I will communicate…”
at the end of 2002 and since then no confirmed word
has been heard from the man.
Enrique and Osvaldo’s highly questionable practice
of continuing to accept deposits while under
investigation with accounts frozen, should have been
a big warning sign on the wall for all of us.
Anyway, because we invested with him, we believed
the messages that he sent us. His handouts at the
office and faxes were a godsend at times. It
reinforced our belief in him, the basis of which of
course was our mutual hope to recover our hard
earned funds as well as to avoid possible
embarrassment resulting from friends’ scrutiny and
bolstered by bad fiscal decisions.
Now, let’s look at what exactly has happened since
then to continue this path of Hope, Faith, Trust and
Belief?
Nada, Nothing, Zilch, Zero, Null…
Except the words form a shoe lady indicating a
deeply disturbing filing system of a questionable
inventory.
We are humans, we hear, we see, we learn and we
evolve. We would be utterly stupid to continue on a
path that leads nowhere.
Blind faith in something that was last “seen” or
“heard from” 2000 years ago is fine in churches
around the globe, in the world of finance and
investments however, it is completely inappropriate
and uncalled for.
This was no religion; this was a business.
Or was it?
We are obliged to consider new information that we
encounter, evidence that comes along and lack of
such as well.
If we don’t do this, we do not evolve, we do not
reach a higher level because we refuse to learn and
we might as well become Amish; decide that we have
reached the utmost in fine technology, snazzy dress,
luxurious transportation and lifestyle and maintain
this status quo by burdening future generations by
forcing this happy life on them to assure that
nothing will ever change or move forward.
Have you noticed that reading the words: “The money
is safe and working” in 2002 ago left you with a
much different sensation than it does today?
See, there you have it. Like it or not, you have
evolved somewhat!
Instead of the warm and fuzzy feeling that this
statement used to bring, it now conjures
frustration.
My initial mailers were heavily supported by
statements from “long term” investors and
“life-time” friends of Enrique. I traveled and
traveled and found these good folk and they were
willing to share their personal experiences about
this man with me. Upon close scrutiny, it turns out
that the self-proclaimed “long-term” investors
really are none of the sort.
The friendship factor I cannot vouch for except that
I have seen these people in photographs with
Enrique, dating back to obviously way back when
judging by the bad color quality of the shots and
the funny pants the objects sport.
But how long term are the long-term investors?
Closer inspection reveals that almost all started
way back and very carefully and with tiny amounts.
Then, when the stability and safety of their
investment seemed to prove itself thanks to
consistent pay-outs and the joining of scores of
others to their ranks, the decision was made to
really plunk in the Big Bucks.
It turns out that the Real Money did not start
pouring into the coffers of The Brothers until late
1998 to 1999.
These people will also fall all over themselves to
inform you as to how The Brothers did “it”. Their
explanations are sincere and at times convincing.
They are also widely different and not one is the
exact same as the other.
Next time someone tells you that they know how “it”
was done, insist that they tell you. Gather as much
sense you are capable of and size up the
explanation. Ask for details and soon you will
conclude that they really don’t know either.
Because Enrique never told anyone what he did. Not
one, not a single soul. Period.
There was the secrecy and we loved it. It was a rush
to be part of this mysterious club that handed out
greenbacks in manila envelopes.
But from a business point of view, this cloak and
dagger baloney did not make any sense.
There also does not seem to be an “other” side of
the business. Since the fall and closure, we all
have realized the amount of investors that are
involved and an estimate of the amount of money that
was offered on the Villalobos Altar.
Never did a representative from the “other’ side
come forward…
IF this man, Enrique, really was involved in money
exchange or factoring or Panama Canal Boat Bonding,
or Colombian Currency Exchange or God forbid, Lloyds
of London, then there has to be a record of this.
Invoices and other paperwork would have been
confiscated during the raid.
Hank
|
