Petite Mustique (also called Petit Mustique) is a small island in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. About 100 acres (40 ha) in size, Petite Mustique is located 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Savan and 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the larger island of Mustique.[1] Petite Mustique is uninhabited and undeveloped. Sedimentary in nature,[2] the island is hilly, reaching 340 ft (100 m) high, and has no easy landings or large beaches.[3][4] Locally, the name of the island is pronounced "petty."[5][6]
The island is just over 2 km south of Mustique's southernmost point.[7] In between lies the tiny rocky land Petit Cay, which represents the continuation of the northwestern tip of the island. Petite Mustique, like all islands of the Grenadines, is severely rugged. Six gullies fall away into the sea and enclose the bays of the island, with the southernmost gully slightly longer than the others. South of the southwestern panhandle stands Dry Rock, and about 500 m southwest of that is a reef.
The island's shore is characterized by almost continuous cliffs. There are few opportunities to get to the island from the sea, and the hills of the island are covered with dense vegetation. The Windward Islands (Lesser Antilles) continue a number of miles south with the Savan group.
Petite Mustique is located south of Mustique, near the center of this map.
Scam and ownership
Petite Mustique is privately owned by a dual-national Belgian and Vincentian citizen named Thierry Nano. Nano acquired the island for little money while living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the early 1990s, and was later involved in several schemes to sell the property for far more than its actual value.[8] In early 2007, Nano approached Vizzion Europe, a Belgian development company founded by Turko-Belgian CEO Şefik Birkiye. By April, Vizzion Europe agreed to buy Petit Mustique for $62 million in order to develop a luxury hotel and resort, as Nano assured the company the island was flat, clear, and with a large and easily accessible beach. However, Nano did not allow any Vizzion Europe employees or surveyors to visit or see the island during the negotiations.[2]
In October 2007, however, after $2.1 million had already been paid to Nano, Vizzion Europe discovered that the island was hilly, without beaches, and surrounded by powerful currents that prevented easy landing. Nano refused to return the money. While filing a lawsuit against Nano, Vizzion Europe discovered that he was already wanted on charges of fraud and money laundering in the United States and Italy as well as Belgium.[2] Nano had narrowly escaped arrest by the FBI in St.Vincent and the Grenadines in 2001,[9] possibly due to inaction by the Vincentian government.[10]
While contending with Vizzion Europe in Belgian court, Nano continued to shop Petite Mustique to private buyers, arranging a sale to Ilyas Khrapunov, son of the Kazakh oligarch and government minister Mukhtar Ablyazov. Nano sealed the deal with Khrapunov by offering him a free Monet painting in addition to the island. An appraisal revealed the painting to be a fake. Upon Khrapunov's subsequent discovery that the island was not what he had been promised, Nano refused to return the $500,000 deposit he had received and moved to South America,[2] managing to carry off a scam against the Paraguayan government in 2010 also involving the sale of property.[11]
However, in 2012, Nano was arrested in France and extradited to Italy, where he was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy and fraud in an unrelated case.[12] After serving his sentence, he was subsequently extradited to Belgium to face charges related to the fraudulent sales of Petite Mustique. Nano now asserts that he remains the owner of Petite Mustique Island.[2] In November 2018, Nano was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of €192,500 for defrauding Vizzion Europe about the condition of Petite Mustique.[13]
References
^Spiers, Walter (1862). The Nautical Magazine: A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs. London: Brown, Son and Ferguson. p. 589.
^ abcdeBalboni, Julien (2018-10-10). "L'enfer d'une société belge au paradis terrestre" [The torment of a Belgian company in Heaven on Earth]. L'Echo (in French). from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^The West Indies Pilot: Volume II, The Lesser Antilles and the Seacoast of Venezuela. Washington, D.C.: United States Hydrographic Office. 1921. p. 188.
^"Agence Benedetti = Petite Mustique". www.agence-benedetti.com. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^Caribbean Tourist Trade: A Regional Approach. Anglo-American Caribbean Commission. 1945. p. 91.
^Davin, Tom (2003). The Rudder Treasury: A Companion for Lovers of Small Craft. Sheridan House, Inc. pp. 74. ISBN1574091603.
^Biloslavo, Fausto. "The scoundrel dissident". www.panorama.it. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^Antilles orientales : Blanchiment d'argent : une affaire, trois gouvernements impliqués [Eastern Antilles: money laundering: one case, three governments involved] (in French). France: International Letter of Drugs. 2002. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^"Top flight". The Economist. 2001-11-29. ISSN 0013-0613. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^"Estado compró inmueble de reconocido estafador" [The state bought property from a recognized scammer]. Paraguay.com (in Spanish). from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^"Arrestato Thierry Nano il truffatore milionario, fece sparire oltre 6 mln di euro" [The millionaire scammer, Thierry Nano, arrested - made over 6 million euros disappear]. Genova24.it (in Italian). 2012-01-31. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
^"Condamné pour avoir escroqué Vizzion Europe" [Convicted of defrauding Vizzion Europe]. L'Echo (in French). 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2019-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
March 20, 2023
petite, mustique, also, called, petit, mustique, small, island, caribbean, nation, vincent, grenadines, about, acres, size, located, miles, northeast, savan, mile, south, larger, island, mustique, uninhabited, undeveloped, sedimentary, nature, island, hilly, r. Petite Mustique also called Petit Mustique is a small island in the Caribbean nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines About 100 acres 40 ha in size Petite Mustique is located 2 miles 3 2 km northeast of Savan and 1 mile 1 6 km south of the larger island of Mustique 1 Petite Mustique is uninhabited and undeveloped Sedimentary in nature 2 the island is hilly reaching 340 ft 100 m high and has no easy landings or large beaches 3 4 Locally the name of the island is pronounced petty 5 6 Petite MustiquePetite MustiqueShow map of Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesPetite MustiqueShow map of Lesser AntillesPetite MustiqueShow map of CaribbeanGeographyLocationCaribbeanCoordinates12 50 21 N 61 11 41 W 12 83917 N 61 19472 W 12 83917 61 19472 Petite Mustique Coordinates 12 50 21 N 61 11 41 W 12 83917 N 61 19472 W 12 83917 61 19472 Petite Mustique ArchipelagoGrenadinesArea0 4 km2 0 15 sq mi Highest elevation340 ft 104 m Administration Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesAdditional informationTime zoneAST UTC 4 Private islandGeography EditThe island is just over 2 km south of Mustique s southernmost point 7 In between lies the tiny rocky land Petit Cay which represents the continuation of the northwestern tip of the island Petite Mustique like all islands of the Grenadines is severely rugged Six gullies fall away into the sea and enclose the bays of the island with the southernmost gully slightly longer than the others South of the southwestern panhandle stands Dry Rock and about 500 m southwest of that is a reef The island s shore is characterized by almost continuous cliffs There are few opportunities to get to the island from the sea and the hills of the island are covered with dense vegetation The Windward Islands Lesser Antilles continue a number of miles south with the Savan group Petite Mustique is located south of Mustique near the center of this map Scam and ownership EditPetite Mustique is privately owned by a dual national Belgian and Vincentian citizen named Thierry Nano Nano acquired the island for little money while living in St Vincent and the Grenadines in the early 1990s and was later involved in several schemes to sell the property for far more than its actual value 8 In early 2007 Nano approached Vizzion Europe a Belgian development company founded by Turko Belgian CEO Sefik Birkiye By April Vizzion Europe agreed to buy Petit Mustique for 62 million in order to develop a luxury hotel and resort as Nano assured the company the island was flat clear and with a large and easily accessible beach However Nano did not allow any Vizzion Europe employees or surveyors to visit or see the island during the negotiations 2 In October 2007 however after 2 1 million had already been paid to Nano Vizzion Europe discovered that the island was hilly without beaches and surrounded by powerful currents that prevented easy landing Nano refused to return the money While filing a lawsuit against Nano Vizzion Europe discovered that he was already wanted on charges of fraud and money laundering in the United States and Italy as well as Belgium 2 Nano had narrowly escaped arrest by the FBI in St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2001 9 possibly due to inaction by the Vincentian government 10 While contending with Vizzion Europe in Belgian court Nano continued to shop Petite Mustique to private buyers arranging a sale to Ilyas Khrapunov son of the Kazakh oligarch and government minister Mukhtar Ablyazov Nano sealed the deal with Khrapunov by offering him a free Monet painting in addition to the island An appraisal revealed the painting to be a fake Upon Khrapunov s subsequent discovery that the island was not what he had been promised Nano refused to return the 500 000 deposit he had received and moved to South America 2 managing to carry off a scam against the Paraguayan government in 2010 also involving the sale of property 11 However in 2012 Nano was arrested in France and extradited to Italy where he was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy and fraud in an unrelated case 12 After serving his sentence he was subsequently extradited to Belgium to face charges related to the fraudulent sales of Petite Mustique Nano now asserts that he remains the owner of Petite Mustique Island 2 In November 2018 Nano was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 192 500 for defrauding Vizzion Europe about the condition of Petite Mustique 13 References Edit Spiers Walter 1862 The Nautical Magazine A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs London Brown Son and Ferguson p 589 a b c d e Balboni Julien 2018 10 10 L enfer d une societe belge au paradis terrestre The torment of a Belgian company in Heaven on Earth L Echo in French Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 The West Indies Pilot Volume II The Lesser Antilles and the Seacoast of Venezuela Washington D C United States Hydrographic Office 1921 p 188 Agence Benedetti Petite Mustique www agence benedetti com Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Caribbean Tourist Trade A Regional Approach Anglo American Caribbean Commission 1945 p 91 Davin Tom 2003 The Rudder Treasury A Companion for Lovers of Small Craft Sheridan House Inc pp 74 ISBN 1574091603 geonames org Archived 2017 12 29 at the Wayback Machine Biloslavo Fausto The scoundrel dissident www panorama it Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Antilles orientales Blanchiment d argent une affaire trois gouvernements impliques Eastern Antilles money laundering one case three governments involved in French France International Letter of Drugs 2002 Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Top flight The Economist 2001 11 29 ISSN 0013 0613 Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Estado compro inmueble de reconocido estafador The state bought property from a recognized scammer Paraguay com in Spanish Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Arrestato Thierry Nano il truffatore milionario fece sparire oltre 6 mln di euro The millionaire scammer Thierry Nano arrested made over 6 million euros disappear Genova24 it in Italian 2012 01 31 Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2019 01 08 Condamne pour avoir escroque Vizzion Europe Convicted of defrauding Vizzion Europe L Echo in French 2018 11 27 Retrieved 2019 01 28 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Petite Mustique amp oldid 1006383692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
