Chas

There is first question is the authenticity of the A/P story. I quote the investigation of this story on another board. <BR> <BR>&lt;&lt;I contacted Associated Press as I could not locate this story on their website. As it turns out, Associated Press can't locate the story either. I gave them the search criteria shown (Graphicsbank: search for St. Maarten) and they explained that GraphicsBank is a service they provide to organizations who need a particular graphic/picture - not a story. According to Associated Press, the code given at the bottom of the message is bogus. &gt;&gt; <BR> <BR>There is another posting going around on how to find it on the Westlaw database. This does not authenticate the article. If it has an A/P byline, why would it have a bogus A/P code? Just because you see it in a database, does not authenticate it. You need to ask how it got there in the first place. <BR> <BR>Secondly is the article that is purportedly from Inter Press Services. I contacted their Caribbean office to authenticate it since that have a stated policy that says news stories from their database cannot be posted elsewhere without expressed permision. This is the reply. If you want verification of this reply, email me and I will forward you correspondence. <BR> <BR> <BR>&lt;&lt;Dear Charles, <BR> <BR>I am confused. I have no idea who Allan Marvin, the writer of this story is and I certainly did not authorise it. I also cannot tell where it was moved from as it landed here truncated. All stories out of <BR>the region come through me at the office in Kingston, hence I am at a loss as to how this got on the wire in the first place. I will have to do some further investiation. <BR> <BR>Thank you for bringing it to my attention. <BR> <BR>Corinne Barnes &gt;&gt; <BR> <BR>

Ted, Esq.

Chas, <BR> <BR>This morning I ran a search on Westlaw, allnewsplus database, and found all three of the article and many more (the AP article, the Newsday article, and the Inter Press Service article). Westlaw and Lexis/Nexis compile EVERY article whether or not it ever reached the wires. You won't believe what you can find. <BR> <BR>If for some reason you don't believe me, I can contact you directly with more info (although I don't know what more I can say). Or you can call an attorney friend an ask her/him to run the search for you. It takes about 2 minutes. <BR> <BR>Ted, Esq. <BR>

chas

Ted, you don't fool anyone. Anything can be put into a database. There is an old saying that is well known in data processing "Garbage In, Garbage Out". <BR> <BR>Please provide proof from the press services in question; then you will be believed.

Jane

I find it very unusally that each of the articles cannot be verified unless you purchase access to them - Graphicbank was the first. Now this Westlaw thing - got to know a lawyer to get a password. <BR> <BR>Good job selecting a spot for verification that cannot be accessed to prove or disprove their authenticity.

enough

ENOUGH ALREADY. STOP THE BICKERING AND END THIS THREAD. <BR> <BR>

chas

Enough: <BR> <BR>Strange you want to stop this thread which is only 4 mesages long when you didn't respond in kind to the other St Martin threads on crime that are 16 and 22 messages long. <BR> <BR>And why are you yelling?

Bubba

Chas: <BR> <BR>Read the two threads going between you and Ted on this legitimacy thing. I am very interested in hearing anything you get from Inter Press. <BR> <BR>If this thing is a hoax, then someone needs to be held accountable. I'd suggest a punishment, but there might be ladies present.

Ted, Esq.

"Bubba," <BR> <BR>I appreciate your loyalty to the cause, but I can tell you, if it's a hoax, it's a huge one that has fooled several multi-billion dollar organizations. Many years ago in law school I worked as a student rep for Lexis/Nexis, and I can tell you that the level of screening and integrity is second to none. Both companies deal in information -- it's sacred to them. <BR> <BR>In other words, I'd be very surprised if something wasn't kosher. Of course, anything is possible, but I wouldn't put much faith in finding a multi-company conspiracy to deceive. <BR> <BR>Ted, Esq.