[Josh]

Well said Wendy.
Barbie, there isn't much about all this that is good for us pirates, umm, farmers.

[pearlescence]

Thank you Josh, you do a brilliant job of independent marketing for Kamoka

Not Quite dead this was received by the CPAA so we will wait and see


Papeete,

Mr Alfred Martin

Chairman of Perles de Tahiti GIE

to

Mr. Sonny Sethi

Chairman of the Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA)

Dear Mr Sethi,


As expected, the board of directors of the GIE Perles de Tahiti met on Sept, 30, 2008 to decide whether or not the organization needed to be abolished due to the lack of financial budget which is necessary for its promotional operations, following the decision of our French Polyiiesian Government to suspend the tax pearl export (DSPE) from October, 1, 2008 to December, 31, 2008.

FYI, 40% of this tax pearl export were assigned to the GIE Perles de Tahiti to enable it to fund its promotional operations and its various and international partnership contracts.

After a lengthy discussion during which all views were heard, it was decided to postpone the discussion of the dissolution of the GIE Perles de Tahiti at least until 31 December 2008. It was decided at the same time to extend my mandate as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GIE Perles de Tahiti up to that date.

However, our serious financial problems remain unsolved, since we have not yet so far received a response from our government about our financial request to overcome the suspension of the tax pearl export (DSPE) and allow us to respect our contractual commitments, particularly towards your organization.pbazar

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[jshepherd]

I heard the same thing. The person who leaded that GIE was done early in the month was actually someone from within GIE. So I wonder why the delay in the dissolution discussion. Funding is gone between now and the end of the year anyway. GIE can't/won't operate.

[pearlescence]

Interesting slip of the typewriter from somewhere/one?
'GTE Perks de Tahiti'

OCR- no subconscious Freudian slip.

So, the 'king' is dead... long live what?

[pbazar]

Tuesday: December 09, 2008

(Tahitipresse)

Four major Tahiti cultured pearl associations claiming to represent "more than 80 percent" of Tahiti's pearl exports have agreed to regroup and form a new professional organization.

Monday's media communiqué announcing the regrouping made no mention of the former GIE Perles de Tahiti, a 15-year-old non-profit economic interest group for the promotion of Tahitian pearls.

However, the four associations that met last Thursday to regroup were represented on the GIE's board. The four associations' presidents are Robert Wan (SPPP), Philippe Chenne (SEPT), Georges Mataoa (SPMPPF) and Elisabeth Moe (GIE Poe o Tahiti Nui). Wan, head of the Robert Wan Group, is the world's biggest producer of Tahitian cultured pearls.

"The aim is to pool resources and actions to better defend the interests of all pearl producers, to better market and promote a quality product at the international level," according to the communiqué.

"Despite the global economic crisis, Tahiti's pearl, a luxury product, has a role to play on the international scene. This protocol will stand out as the hope of a profession united and determined to meet the challenges of globalization," the communiqué said.

The GIE Perles de Tahiti went out of business last month after the Tong Sang government eliminated the Tahitian pearl export tax for the last three months of this year. A part of that tax financed the GIE's operations, which focused on promoting Tahitian cultured pearls and byproducts in such major overseas markets as the U.S.A., Europe and Japan.

However, the Conseil d'Etat (Council of State) in Paris annulled the "country law" adopted by the French Polynesia Assembly in August to eliminate the pearl export tax. The ruling was based on a technicality—Tuamotu pearl producer Michel Yip should not have participated in the assembly's vote on the tax

[dkan 168]

Perhaps we'll be able to appreciate true and larger baroque Tahitians the way we can with White South Seas, instead of sending them to the crushers!

Now that's not a bad thing for farmers as well as consumers IMHO

DK

[effisk]

Originally Posted by pbazar

The GIE Perles de Tahiti went out of business last month after the Tong Sang government eliminated the Tahitian pearl export tax for the last three months of this year. A part of that tax financed the GIE's operations, which focused on promoting Tahitian cultured pearls and byproducts in such major overseas markets as the U.S.A., Europe and Japan.

However, the Conseil d'Etat (Council of State) in Paris annulled the "country law" adopted by the French Polynesia Assembly in August to eliminate the pearl export tax. The ruling was based on a technicality—Tuamotu pearl producer Michel Yip should not have participated in the assembly's vote on the tax

GIE PdT is not quite dead yet. They're claiming their share of the tax now that it is no longer suspended, but I'm sure the money's long gone...
If the GIE PdT does get the money, they will no longer be bankrupt, but very much alive again.

Just for info, Gaston Flosse, former president of FP and current Senator is the one who filed for the canceling of the tax suspension.

[Marama]

Since the cancellation of the law voted to suspend the export tax (for the Tahitian pearls since the 1st october 2008), 5 days ago, there is a new question that is floating in the air.

Will the GIE Perles de Tahiti (promotion association) come back?
It is said in the Tahitipresse.pf website and the tahitian newspaper, that the GIE is asking for 4 millions us dollars and also wish to “survive” to his prematurity closing.

But really, the GIE PDT has been disolved by the tahitian court of trade.
I don't know what is the real issue.

Also, I am laughing; there is 2 new groups in Tahiti.
If people have read carefully the recent Tahitian newspapers, they should notice 2 new groups around the pearls business:

The first group is lead by Robert Wan and they said that they represent 80% of the pearl business (or 80% of export share).

The second group is led by Alfred Martin (ex-president of GIE PDT and president of GIE Poeravanui) and he announced that his groups represent 80% of the pearl producers (or 80% of the farmers- active or inactive)

So my first conclusion should be that 20% of the farmers are producing 80% of the Tahitian pearls… that could make sense … but I have to precise that in the 2 groups, they are also pearls brokers…

So it looks more like 2 groups representing some virtual members that could move from one group to the other and back… what a nice cloud… what a nice mess… just a way to organize a cold war between farmers and pearls brokers.

Pearl production is actually a nice mirror of the mess you could find in the Tahitian government. Oh, also, where is our pearl minister? He is definitely silent… no ideas, no speeches… like his political strategy. Bravo.

Ok, I will stop complaining. The facts are here… the customs is now applying again the tax. Several internationals buyers have canceled their new pearls acquisitions… So time for a new recession in the pearl business…

Very soon, I should talk about how the pearl industry in Tahiti would decrease by at least 30%...
See you.
Marama

[pattye]

Marama,

Appreciate your insights directly from Tahiti, how are you connected in the pearl industry? Perhaps you have already mentioned, if so I apologize for asking again------------

[Josh]

Good question Pattye and one I'd like to know too.

Through all this though, what has escaped mention (unless it was mentioned but escaped me - entirely possible) is that they are now talking about going retroactive with the tax so anyone who exported anything since October 1st might be finding a fat bill in the mail. This just completely blows my mind. Maybe us farmers can group together and file for harassment. Stay tuned as the pearl world turns.

[Marama]

Pattye (and Josh),

I am actually a relative of a pearl farmer… Since my youngest age, I started to spend some time with him during my holidays. He is not a big pearl farmer, but he taught me his life, his job and his passion. Pearl farming was a great opportunity for him and lot of people from the Tuamotu Island. Without any education, my uncle was able to win his life very well and he was generous with his family and friends… Since that time, I felt in love of the Tahitian pearl… I just want to stay anonymous, so this way, nobody would be able to bother my uncle. Josh, I don’t know you, but I think that you share the same passion then me… you are making a great job.

Cheers,
Marama

[pearlescence]

Hi Josh. Retrospective tax is unlawful.