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Radio ships and promises: Texas man disputes Haiti's plans for Tortuga port Radio ships and promises: Texas man disputes Haiti's plans for Tortuga port
(about 4 hours later)
In 1968, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier instructed his ambassador in Washington to pursue an acquisition: the Haitian dictator wanted a radio ship that could transmit propaganda across the Caribbean and to Latin America.In 1968, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier instructed his ambassador in Washington to pursue an acquisition: the Haitian dictator wanted a radio ship that could transmit propaganda across the Caribbean and to Latin America.
Related: Simon Garfield meets the original pirate radio DJsRelated: Simon Garfield meets the original pirate radio DJs
Don Pierson, a Cadillac dealer from Eastland, Texas, happened to have two such vessels, but both were moored across the Atlantic off the coast of south-east England. One, MV Galaxy, a former US minesweeper, had been the home of Radio London, the offshore pirate radio station which played an integral part of the 60s pop revolution.Don Pierson, a Cadillac dealer from Eastland, Texas, happened to have two such vessels, but both were moored across the Atlantic off the coast of south-east England. One, MV Galaxy, a former US minesweeper, had been the home of Radio London, the offshore pirate radio station which played an integral part of the 60s pop revolution.
A second ship, MV Laissez Faire, a former US navy supply ship equipped with two 50kv transmitters, had briefly broadcast the top 40 station Swinging Radio England.A second ship, MV Laissez Faire, a former US navy supply ship equipped with two 50kv transmitters, had briefly broadcast the top 40 station Swinging Radio England.
Both were now lying idle in the Thames estuary, having been rendered useless the previous year by Harold Wilson’s government, which had criminalized the pirate stations with the Marine & Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967.Both were now lying idle in the Thames estuary, having been rendered useless the previous year by Harold Wilson’s government, which had criminalized the pirate stations with the Marine & Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967.
Pierson, who’d set up Radio London after reading in the Wall Street Journal that the Beatles were hardly being heard in their own country, began to actively seek buyers for his vessels.Pierson, who’d set up Radio London after reading in the Wall Street Journal that the Beatles were hardly being heard in their own country, began to actively seek buyers for his vessels.
The entrepreneurial Texan realised that radio ships could be especially useful to foreign governments, and thought he had found a buyer for the Laissez Faire when Papa Doc instructed ambassador Arthur Bonhomme to open negotiations.The entrepreneurial Texan realised that radio ships could be especially useful to foreign governments, and thought he had found a buyer for the Laissez Faire when Papa Doc instructed ambassador Arthur Bonhomme to open negotiations.
“It seems laughable now but Papa Doc thought a radio ship might to help fix his PR problem,” the Texan entrepreneur’s son, Grey Pierson, told the Guardian. “Papa Doc is good! Tonton Macoute, they do not lie!”“It seems laughable now but Papa Doc thought a radio ship might to help fix his PR problem,” the Texan entrepreneur’s son, Grey Pierson, told the Guardian. “Papa Doc is good! Tonton Macoute, they do not lie!”
In the event, the Haitians could not afford the Laissez Faire, but Bonhomme and Pierson struck up a friendship, and they agreed to look into other business ventures together.In the event, the Haitians could not afford the Laissez Faire, but Bonhomme and Pierson struck up a friendship, and they agreed to look into other business ventures together.
This might be no more than a historical curiosity if were not for a simmering dispute over a $70m memorandum of intent signed last year between the Haitian government and cruise-holiday giant Carnival Corp: under the deal, Carnival – the world’s largest cruise-ship company – would lease the western tip of Île de la Tortue – or Tortuga – an island five miles off the north-west coast, as a private resort.This might be no more than a historical curiosity if were not for a simmering dispute over a $70m memorandum of intent signed last year between the Haitian government and cruise-holiday giant Carnival Corp: under the deal, Carnival – the world’s largest cruise-ship company – would lease the western tip of Île de la Tortue – or Tortuga – an island five miles off the north-west coast, as a private resort.
Pierson claims that after the radio-ship deal fell through, Papa Doc granted his father a 99-year lease on Tortuga with the aim of creating an offshore freeport and developing tourism at Pointe-Ouest, and argues that he should included as a party to any deal.Pierson claims that after the radio-ship deal fell through, Papa Doc granted his father a 99-year lease on Tortuga with the aim of creating an offshore freeport and developing tourism at Pointe-Ouest, and argues that he should included as a party to any deal.
Resolving the dispute acquired new urgency last week after Carnival declared it will begin sailing to Cuba, just 60 miles west of Haiti.Resolving the dispute acquired new urgency last week after Carnival declared it will begin sailing to Cuba, just 60 miles west of Haiti.
The announcement – one of a flood of such deals announced by US companies after presidents Obama and Castro announced a historic detente in December – would make Carnival the first US company to visit Cuba since Washington imposed its trade embargo in 1960.The announcement – one of a flood of such deals announced by US companies after presidents Obama and Castro announced a historic detente in December – would make Carnival the first US company to visit Cuba since Washington imposed its trade embargo in 1960.
And Pierson predicts that in the scramble for Cuba, the Tortue project could be forgotten. “The Haitians are naive if they don’t see this as a serious competitive threat.”And Pierson predicts that in the scramble for Cuba, the Tortue project could be forgotten. “The Haitians are naive if they don’t see this as a serious competitive threat.”
Under the original agreement, the freeport would have been split 50-50 between Haiti and Pierson senior’s company, Dupont Caribbean Inc. It was an arrangement Don Pierson believed would protect the venture from becoming entangled in corruption or government interference.Under the original agreement, the freeport would have been split 50-50 between Haiti and Pierson senior’s company, Dupont Caribbean Inc. It was an arrangement Don Pierson believed would protect the venture from becoming entangled in corruption or government interference.
But less than a month after the deal was announced, Papa Doc died of a heart attack. Duvalier’s son Jeane-Claude – “Baby Doc” – sent his father’s enforcer, Luckner Cambronne, to Dupont to demand a $1m payout, but the Texans refused, Pierson said. Soon after, Baby Doc took over the project and it collapsed; the younger Duvalier was eventually overthrown in a popular uprising in 1986.But less than a month after the deal was announced, Papa Doc died of a heart attack. Duvalier’s son Jeane-Claude – “Baby Doc” – sent his father’s enforcer, Luckner Cambronne, to Dupont to demand a $1m payout, but the Texans refused, Pierson said. Soon after, Baby Doc took over the project and it collapsed; the younger Duvalier was eventually overthrown in a popular uprising in 1986.
Grey Pierson says the Tortue project was supposed to be the “capstone” on his father’s career. “Instead it broke his heart,” he said.Grey Pierson says the Tortue project was supposed to be the “capstone” on his father’s career. “Instead it broke his heart,” he said.
Though neither father nor son ever returned to Haiti, Pierson maintains the agreement remains in effect. But according to the Haitian tourist authority, it was renegotiated in 1971, reducing the scope and longevity of the lease to 25 years, and was subsequently set aside altogether.Though neither father nor son ever returned to Haiti, Pierson maintains the agreement remains in effect. But according to the Haitian tourist authority, it was renegotiated in 1971, reducing the scope and longevity of the lease to 25 years, and was subsequently set aside altogether.
In December, Haitian tourism minister Stéphanie Balmir-Villedrouin told the Miami Herald that Carnival’s lawyers would soon be in contact with Pierson.In December, Haitian tourism minister Stéphanie Balmir-Villedrouin told the Miami Herald that Carnival’s lawyers would soon be in contact with Pierson.
Carnival’s vice-president of development and operations, David Candib, was a little vaguer about timing, saying that the plan “is long term in nature” and such projects often take years of review and negotiations before they get anywhere. “This is not out of the ordinary,” he told the Guardian.Carnival’s vice-president of development and operations, David Candib, was a little vaguer about timing, saying that the plan “is long term in nature” and such projects often take years of review and negotiations before they get anywhere. “This is not out of the ordinary,” he told the Guardian.
Pierson says he’s yet to be contacted by either party.Pierson says he’s yet to be contacted by either party.
The outcome of the Tortue project will be watched closely by two other parties: environmentalists say that despite improvements, the cruise industry remains a massive polluter which releases thousands of tons of untreated sewage but generates little in terms of revenue at ports of call or at private island resorts.The outcome of the Tortue project will be watched closely by two other parties: environmentalists say that despite improvements, the cruise industry remains a massive polluter which releases thousands of tons of untreated sewage but generates little in terms of revenue at ports of call or at private island resorts.
“When you have a private island all the money goes back to the cruisecompany,” said Marcie Keever, oceans and vessels program director at Friends of the Earth. “Local people don’t gain anything.”“When you have a private island all the money goes back to the cruisecompany,” said Marcie Keever, oceans and vessels program director at Friends of the Earth. “Local people don’t gain anything.”
The other observer is the British government. Tortuga has in recent years become a staging point for migrants fleeing the poverty of Haiti and heading north across the Windward Passage toward the British overseas territory of Turks and Caicos.The other observer is the British government. Tortuga has in recent years become a staging point for migrants fleeing the poverty of Haiti and heading north across the Windward Passage toward the British overseas territory of Turks and Caicos.
It is estimated that several hundred Haitians have died attempting the crossing, the largest single loss of life coming in 2009 when 70 drowned when an overloaded sloop went down in a storm.It is estimated that several hundred Haitians have died attempting the crossing, the largest single loss of life coming in 2009 when 70 drowned when an overloaded sloop went down in a storm.
Since the British government bears the cost of patrolling the island chain and repatriating migrants, there is clear incentive for the UK to encourage any attempt to help people stay on Tortuga.Since the British government bears the cost of patrolling the island chain and repatriating migrants, there is clear incentive for the UK to encourage any attempt to help people stay on Tortuga.
The UK is currently in talks with Haiti to restore the trade of fresh produce and goods between the desperately poor nation and Turks and Caicos; that trade was shut down in the early 1990s after US authorities became concerned that the boats shuttling between the islands were carrying contraband.The UK is currently in talks with Haiti to restore the trade of fresh produce and goods between the desperately poor nation and Turks and Caicos; that trade was shut down in the early 1990s after US authorities became concerned that the boats shuttling between the islands were carrying contraband.
It would hardly have been the first time the island had been used as base for nefarious business however.It would hardly have been the first time the island had been used as base for nefarious business however.
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Tortuga – as it was named by Christopher Columbus in December1492 after he noticed it was shaped like a turtle – became notorious in the 17th century as a haven for French and English buccaneers.Tortuga – as it was named by Christopher Columbus in December1492 after he noticed it was shaped like a turtle – became notorious in the 17th century as a haven for French and English buccaneers.
Like those pirates of old, Pierson’s radio ships are long since gone. Radio London’s Galaxy sank in in the German port of Kiel in 1979. The story of the Laissez Faire’s is somewhat hazier: renamed the Olga Patricia, it went on to serve as a relay station in Cuba or possibly Vietnam, before eventually being scrapped in 2011.Like those pirates of old, Pierson’s radio ships are long since gone. Radio London’s Galaxy sank in in the German port of Kiel in 1979. The story of the Laissez Faire’s is somewhat hazier: renamed the Olga Patricia, it went on to serve as a relay station in Cuba or possibly Vietnam, before eventually being scrapped in 2011.
Meanwhile, Grey Pierson says he’s open to a resolution.Meanwhile, Grey Pierson says he’s open to a resolution.
“The claim has been there all these years but I haven’t taken any action,” he says. “I still think my father’s plan remains the best for Haiti ... and it’s not inconsistent with Carnival’s plan.”“The claim has been there all these years but I haven’t taken any action,” he says. “I still think my father’s plan remains the best for Haiti ... and it’s not inconsistent with Carnival’s plan.”