By Max Sterling

Gilbert Zeigler, also known as Van Brink, and more popularly regarded as the Chief Thief’s most infamous foreign investor is reported to have passed on even before his efforts to bring to a mature stage efforts to clear his name in the failed First International Bank of Grenada which placed Grenada in the disgrace column of world affairs.

His untimely passing must not be taken as anything positive for any of his fellow Hall of Shamers – more specifically “Little Black” and the “Village Idiot” who operated the offshore business in Grenada during the period this scam of a bank was established on the island. there.

It is still my belief that Gilbert Zeigler was a US plant on Grenada to attract the gullible and show up the greed of all the bribed local officials while destroying the entire offshore industry which if allowed to succeed could have had a debilitating impact on the economies of member countries of the Organisation for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD).

I recall Gilbert Zeigler making his appearance in Grenada through his brother “Zig Zeigler” and a woman posing as his wife. They approached a very prominent Grenadian who was a recent guest of the Government and People of the United States stating that this individual came highly recommended to them by officials of the State Department in Washington.

He (Zig) went on to state that, his group is concerned about the rumours that the current government is known to be headed by a greedy individual who may want to fleece them and therefore deprive Grenada of the “tremendous” opportunities their investment can bring to the entire population.

He went on to state that “A person like you can be our local agent to interface with Government and their officials so as to maximize the benefits our investment can bring to Grenada”.

The individual asked this gentleman in the presence of his “wife” – “Why me?” His response was – “Based on our research at the State Department, we were told that you were recently in Washington and met with the right people who consider you to be morally stable enough to help set up the business for us.

He went on to say: “We were also told that your public profile through the very provocative role you play here in Grenada will act as insurance against any graft and bribe which your administration may be tempted to demand in order to give us the relevant permission and licenses to start this business here in Grenada.”

This prominent Grenadian could have benefitted instantly as certain lawyers who fleeced these crooks and a particular scum bag who poses as a property developer in Grenada. But that was not to be as this individual will always prefer to fail with honour than to succeed by fraud.

A meeting with two local bankers was requested by Zig Ziegler when the “prominent Grenadian” indicated that he knew them well. One accepted the invitation to meet while the other declined forthwith.

The one who attended reported to the “prominent Grenadian” that the man gave him the creeps and that he appears to be a “fat cat” – especially by the way he was dressed and his choice of language, etc.

Needless to say the “prominent Grenadian” who was first approached in 1997 by Zig Ziegler, together with his wife, turned down the invitation to become an integral part of this initial set up.

Before doing so, it must be made clear that interest was expressed in setting up a car rental agency in Grenada and a certain lawyer close to the “prominent Grenadian” was retained to so register.

In matching experiences with the lawyer, there was agreement that something was not right with this Zig Zeigler. This resulted in the lawyer refusing to work any further for this man. It was not surprising that he turned to a certain questionable element who poses as a property developer in Grenada to secure property for him and the rest is now history.

To hear the imposter in the Botanical Gardens intimate that a certain lawyer in Grenada was the one who brought Van Brink into Grenada when I know different – is not only appalling, but an attempt by this scum of the earth to distract people from the source of the Zeiglers’ set up in Grenada.

I am satisfied that the law of Karma has dealt with Van Brink to the point where he died with over 140 charges over his head. It is my understanding that he managed to deliver in evidence several pieces of damaging information on the culpability of a certain “little black money satan”.

It is my information that the rest of the indicted – i.e. Rita Regale, Larry Barnabe, Douglas Ferguson and Robert Skirving – are prepared to corroborate Zeigler’s evidence indicting this element.

I would not be surprised that the man whom we came to know as Van Brink is really not dead but for the sake of rewarding him for his sterling job of dismantling the offshore sector in Grenada, he is to assume a new identity.

Many do not trust the US system at all when it comes to these kinds of things since they have been known to happen in the past. Don’t forget he came to Grenada as Gilbert Zeigler, turned into Van Brink, and now – God knows what other name awaits him! This is a possibility.

I would not be surprised that this Van Brink turns out to be the main nemesis of the man who has been trying with special zeal during the last five years to jail-proof himself.

We must recall, efforts at jail proofing himself began when the NDC received its new face with the coming on board of Peter David, Nazim Burke and George Prime about two or so years before the last elections.

I firmly believe that for all we know “Little Black” with all his stress which may well force him to live on uppers and downers as regularly as he is reputed to do, may have a sudden demise also.

Whatever the outcome, I am sure as day that a catastrophic demise awaits “Little Black”, a man who has been proving daily how unfit he has been, is and will always be for any role in public life.

As far as my information goes, a major surprise awaits him which will be delivered all in the fullness of time. I can really hear the jail door banging loudly!