8 - Sunday, December 1, 1985 ~ North Share News NOW THAT Chuck Cook of North Van- Doug Collins ® get this straight © Burnaby has become parliamentary assistant to Joe Clark, Canada’s Talleyrand, he should tell him that there are better things to worry about than South Africa. He could tell him to start worrying about the B.C. businessman who is be- ing held hostage in Costa Rica. I'm talking about Wayne McCannan of Langley, who has been held in Costa Rica for six months, 111 days of which were spent in a hell- ‘hole of a jail. He’s out now, but still can't leave the country. In the meantime, | his business in B.C. has gone belly up and his home and other property are be- ing foreclosed. McCannan is a_ travel agent, and his troubles began when he booked 75 Lower Mainland senior citizens into a hotel in Guatemala City. On ar- rival, the clients found that the hotel was not quite the four-star place it had billed itself as being. There was no electricity and almost no service. The power had been cut off because the hotel couldn't pay for it. The maids hadn’t been paid either so were not working. The guests from B.C. wanted out, and were refus- ing ‘to pay for a shoddy deal. “The guests from BC. wanted. out and were refusing to pay. for a shoddy deal.” SRR They phoned McCannan and complained. If he had been’ dishonest he might j have told them they- were out of luck and could look after themselves. Instead, he flew down to Guatemala, where he found that the hotel had seized his clients’ luggage and the police had told them they ij couldn't leave the country until they paid up. “In most countries the dispute would have been a matter Jor the civil courts, | but in the banana republics they do these things . | differently.” McCannan wrote out a cheque for $8,100, the Jamount the hotel was demanding for the guests’ two-and-a-half day stay. Back in Canada, he put a stop-payment on the cheque because the hotel had misrepresented its services. But he didn’t leave it at that. He had business in Costa Rica, and while there offered to negotiate a setile- ment with the hotel. That was the biggest mistake of his life. Guatemala charged him with criminal fraud and ap- plied for an extradition order and the Costa Ricans threw him into the slam- mer. In most countries the dispute would have been a matter for the civil courts, but in the banana republics they do these things differently. in jail, our man got a concrete floor for a bed, no proper toilet facilities, and inedible food. He did get some medical treatment for severe asthma, but .nearly died. “It would be easy enough for Joke Clark .and Co, to help this poor devil.” While all that was going on, a legal tangte developed, with extradition being granted, appealed, granted gain and again ap- pealed. Finally, he was released from jail but for- bidden to leave the country. Someone in Guatemala has now offered a deal of sorts. ‘‘Pay $17,500 and the charges will be dropped.’’ The sticker is that the Guatemalan authorities have not confirmed this, and money has apparently been paid before without result. In some countries, it is difficult to know which palm has to be preased. Here in B.C.. a chap call- ed Rovert Auderson has mounted a-* campaign to help McCannan. He has never met the man but is outraged that such things could happen to a fellow Canadian. Anderson has been in touch with Ottawa and with Bob Wenman, McCannan’s MP, but says he’s got nothing but the | tun-around. External Af- fairs says it’s a private mat- ter, and Tory MPs don't want to rock the boat. It would be easy enough for Joke Clark and Co. to help this poor devil. They could bring diplomatic pressure to bear. They could get nasty and tell the Guatemalans and Costa Ricans it could cost them. Guatemala, for instance, has had $4 million in foreign aid out of us in the last four years, Costa Rica about $10 million. But they've done boom-all. Who is Wayne McCannan? MLA Graham Lea plans to put a motion in the legislature urging Ottawa to get off its butt. John Reynolds and Emery Barnes will support the motion. Meanwhile, if you want to help McCannan, financially or otherwise, you can do so through Anderson. His phone | number is 888-1963. Project to revitalize bay area From Page 3 preserve the unique village atmosphere of Horseshoe Bay while accentuating its natural backdrop and nautical surroundings. “There is just no place like it.” Plans thus far call for in- terlocking paver blacks for sidewalks, a boulevard to divide Royal Avenue be- tween Douglas and Bay Streets, the addition of trees and benches throughout all pedestrian areas, decorative street Jamps and improved parking facilities. Total costs for the Horseshoe Bay pro- ject will be determined when an overall plan design has been completed. The provincial revitaliza- tion program covers three main areas of financial assistance to qualifying communities: Organization and Planning Aid, Private Premises Facade Improve- ment Grants and Loan Assistance for Capital Im- provement. The fatter of the three CAR HEATER HEATING? Your car heater won't last forever. {f you are getting into your car on these cooler fall mornings and finding that your windews will not clear up, it could well be due to a leaking heater. This has the elfect of a steaming kettle beneath your dashboard, and no amount of wiping and fiddl- § ing with your defroster will fix it. Your cooling system should be serviced every “2” years to @ prevent unnecessary damage. Come in for a HEATER TUNE-UP and enjoy clear sailing this fall and winter. 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