HOW THE FORTIS BANK ASSISTED A BELGIAN TO COMMIT A FRAUD AGAINST AN AFRICAN

Fortis Bank assisted a Belgian to steal the money an African deposited at the bank with impunity.



In Belgium, many landlords like to rent their houses to foreigners because they find it comfortable to cheat them with impunity. 

They demand three months guarantee, which is often deposited at the bank by the renter and tenant with both signatures confirming the deposit.

The significance of this deposit is that it is used for repairs in case any damage occurs if the tenant is ready to leave, but on many occasions, landlords refuse to give the tenants the money even though there isn't any damage.

In the year 2002, Mr. Daniel Sackey rented an apartment from one Mr. Pingnet Ludo of Jaak Embrechts Straat 19, at Deurne, a community in Antwerp. 

According to the Belgian renting laws, a guarantee should be blocked in the bank, and at the end of the contract, the guarantee can only be released with an agreement, signed by the tenant and the lessor.

A document with modifications will not be accepted for the amount. By lack of an agreement, the guarantee can also be released by agreement after the lessor inspects his apartment.

"In the apartment, we had a problem concerning water bills and repairs, which I deemed fit. I have been cheated upon for so long by Mr. Pingnet Ludo over the years," said Mr. Sackey.

   
"Through the negligence of Mr. Pingnet, my apartment was burgled by thieves when he gave the front door keys to my neighbors' acquaintance, whom he had no knowledge of who they were."

   
After the break-in of my apartment, the thieves made away with my laptop, camera, my car, and many other including mobile phones. That case is also pending, etc," said Mr. Sackey.

   
Within the period of 5 years, Mr. Pingnet refused to repair things in the house when something went wrong. Once, Mr. Sackey asked him to enable the insurance company to make the repairs, but he refused to comply with his request.

   
Due to his attitude, not interested in solving the problems at the apartment, Mr. Sackey decided to hold back some of the monthly rent and the yearly index, which resulted in the exchange of letters, until he got the house inspection team from Antwerp to intervene; thereafter, a date was fixed.

Unfortunately, that didn't help Mr. Sackey. Mr. Pingnet didn't carry out the repairs. He was successful in getting away after the house inspectors came to see the problems in the house because he is a Belgian, and they didn't do much because he is an African living in that apartment.

Mr. Sackey is aware of how a lot of Belgian landlords steal the guarantees or money deposited at the bank. Thus, immediately, he went to Fortis Bank to check whether the guarantee was there. The bank official, Negra, asked Mr. Sackey when the deposit was made at the bank.

   
Mr. Sackey provided his identity card and the account number indicating the deposit of the amount. After a brief conversation, the Fortis Bank official told Mr. Sackey that Mr. Pingnet Ludo has claimed the money. 

How can money deposited in my name with my signature be claimed by someone else? Asked Mr. Sackey. Mr. Pingnet successfully prepared the document and signed as Mr. Daniel Sackey to claim the blocked money, and the one who assisted him in committing this crime was Vicky Donckers. B 1976.0.

It was at the bank that Mr. Sackey detected that Mr. Pingnet Ludo had forged his signature and withdrew the money before the fixed date to move into the apartment in July 2002. Since all those years he had been living in that apartment before the problems surfaced, Mr. Pingnet had already stolen the money deposited at the bank.

The Belgian landlords who usually do that to foreigners have a way to enjoy their criminal activities with impunity. Mr. Pingnet has reported Mr. Sackey to the police, that he owes him, but didn't tell the police the reason he has delayed giving him his money.

Mr. Sackey has to go to the police station to meet the head inspector Van den Broeck Sven, and show him the forged signature of Mr. Pingnet, but nothing was done in his favor. That is Belgium, a country I have been living in for the past sixteen years. Nothing is done in favor of Africans; thus, most of the landlords are criminals.

To what extent can a bank conspire or collaborate with someone to steal money that belongs to another person with impunity? This is possible in Belgium because the victim of the fraud is African.

Mr. Sackey pointed out to the bank official that it's a crime. The best way to defend is to attack. The bank official wouldn't accept their fault because they didn't want to be responsible for the theft, so she got into a quarrel with Mr. Sackey.

When Mr. Sakey told her that she would inform the police, she accepted and urged him to do the report because she knew her country very well; nothing is done in favor of an African, moreover, the media will never publish his story.

There is a time for everything. A time to come into this world and a time to die. A time to be happy and a time to be sad. African- victims of such injustices have no power to prosecute them but a time will come when those people may meet their Waterloo, which may be a painful situation than what this poor African went through but they may never understand.

   

“POVERTY IS CREATED BY MAN NOT BY GOD"- ANTHONY B

Anthony B: One of the versatile Jamaican musicians known for his quest for justice and equal rights

Anthony Keith Blair, popularly known as Anthony B, is one of the Jamaican globetrotting, versatile musicians and members of the Rastafari faith.

Usually on stage in African attire depicting his roots, and a staff in his hand, the energetic reggae musician’s lyric reflects on poverty, injustice, and crime, giving hope and consolation to the downtrodden masses.

Once in Antwerp, Belgium, after entertaining the massive spectators at the venue ‘Petrol,’ I took the opportunity to talk to Anthony B. about his life and music.

“Poverty, talking about suffering, I don’t even have words to explain it, because this is the way we live. It is part of our lives that we never try to eliminate it." 

"We always have to remember our roots, as Burning Spear said. For me, there is too much suffering in the world. People live rich, while others live in poverty, yet no one cares. This was created by a man, not God. This is what ‘Mr. Heartless’ is about,” says Anthony B."

You were born Anthony Keith Blair. Did changing your name to Anthony B. enhance your success as a musician?

Not really, but growing up in music in Jamaica as an artist, you need to find a name for yourself. I’m oriented African with an English name, so I made it Anthony B.

Anthony B speaks about his experience in the Gambia.

I have been to Senegal and Gambia. First and foremost, the reality as a reality, I respect my culture. There was an incident during my visit to the Gambia, as my visa expired the same day I was leaving.

I was at the airport when I was told the Gambia police were looking for me to be deported to Jamaica. It was a silly thing to know that you have been to the continent of your origin, but haven’t had enough days to see the people. All these problems were created by political leaders.

Joel Savage speaks to Anthony B.

If you want a visa for the Gambia, you have to go to England first. They have to remove all these political barriers. I remember a friend from Accra, Ghana, who was deported from Germany to Jamaica because he claimed to be Jamaican.

He doesn’t know anyone in Jamaica. Luckily, he had my number. He had to call me to help him because we are all Africans.

Do you want to know more about other reggae stars, including Anthony B, whose conscious and mythical music has stolen the hearts of music lovers around the globe? Get a copy of ‘The Passion Of Reggae And African Music,’ available at 

https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Reggae-African-Music-ebook/dp/B013L9A1JQ

Greed is the stumbling block to world peace- Joseph Hill

Joel Savage interviews Joseph Hill, the lead singer of the group Culture

POLE-POLE FESTIVAL-GENT- BELGIUM (2004) BY JOEL SAVAGE

Down in Jamaica, where Garvey comes from, many groups and musicians started in the early seventies, as the mighty Joseph Hill of Culture. But they are nowhere to be found today. 


Like the spirit of the Lord upon Joseph Hill, for the past 30 years, nothing at all could stop him from spreading his message against war, oppression, crime, discrimination, poverty, racism, corruption and injustice. 

Last year, 2003, he came out with "World Peace," seeking peace worldwide and rejecting war totally through music. On July 25, 2004, after performing live, he granted this interview to "The Voice Magazine" Belgian correspondent. Joel Savage.

TV: I have to call you, Sir Joseph Hill. Let's rally round Jehovah's throne. I have a few questions to ask you today.

Joseph: You are welcome. (Then he smiled)

TV: It was in the seventies that I heard of Culture. Can you please tell me what has inspired you to be in this hard music industry for all these years?

Joseph: It's Jah (referring to God) that gives me the strength. Always feel that something is watching out for me. For myself, I love to play for the people. They are also part of my inspiration. That's what has inspired me through all these years.

TV: You have been singing all your life about corruption, oppression, discrimination, war, poverty, and so on. Were you a victim of such things in any circumstances?

Joseph: There are people I saw in comparison to various countries. Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! I have seen those things for political reasons. I have seen people die, and not a word of justice has been said. 

Think of the person's life. It is priceless. The last grief I had was this woman in Afghanistan, who is separated from her land. They treated her so badly that she and her sixteen-year-old child were eating grass. That was my last grief. (Joseph moved with sorrow, spelled the word grass "G R A S S")

TV: Your lyrics and beats in every song of "Culture" touch and move everyone on the road of trials and tribulations. Where do you get such wonderful rhythms and lyrics from?

Joseph: The big man who rules the earth. (He laughed) He is the governor.

TV: You were in Sierra Leone on two occasions, when the war was at its peak, with the brutal activities of the rebels. Did your visit create any impact or change your view on the suffering masses in the country?

Joseph: Yes, my visit brought a change. When people saw me, they didn't know what to say. They just cried and cried. You know, the rebels told the government that "You should be glad Joseph is here. If he weren't here, this place would be destroyed within 24 hours. I just came back from there a few weeks ago.

Joel: I learned that in the capital, Freetown, at the guest house you lodged, there is a tree nearby, and every morning a bird came to sing, and out of the song of the bird, you composed a song from it. Is it true?

Joseph: Yes, it's true.

Joel: On July 4th, 2004, I interviewed Lucky Dube, who told me that as a friend, you are one of the best men in the music industry. How do you react to this nice compliment?

Joseph: I take it easy. That's it.

Joel: I ask the same question to any reggae artist I interview. Reggae music is loved by everyone. But why is it that the music is given less recognition?

Joseph: Because the truth is God's friend, but not a lot of people are friends of the truth.

Joel: You have been following the Palestinian and Israeli conflict for a very long time, and you have even visited the Gaza Strip. Who do you think is the stumbling block to the peace everyone is seeking?

Joseph: Greed, greed, and greed because there is enough to satisfy every man's need but never enough to satisfy any man's greed. So greed is the stumbling block.

Joel: In one of your songs, you played a song against Yasser Arafat, as the stumbling block.

Reggae interviews

Joseph: He made himself like that. He has to change his ways, and the other man would change his ways. There is something called “Repentance”. When repentance meets their hearts, we shall have a beautiful world.

Joel: You successfully came out last year with the remarkable “world peace” album. What message do you still have in mind for your numerous fans worldwide?

Joseph: You know, people should respect one another. To be used, abused, refused, and our hearts trampled by fear, and living in doubt, thinking we are living on top of the world. No, we shouldn’t live that way. We have to seek happiness, love, mutual respect, joy, and the justice of God around us, and peace would find its rightful place.

Joel: Thank you very much for this interview, Sir Joseph Hill.

Joseph: Thanks be to Jah

Read other interviews of Anthony B, Andrew Tosh, U-Roy, Prince Malachi, Julian Marley, ASWAD, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Tutu Puoane, and many others in ‘The Passion of Reggae and African Music.

http://www.amazon.com/Passion-Reggae-African-Music-ebook/dp/B013L9A1JQ

JOSEPH HILL OF CULTURE STORMS BELGIUM

Joseph Hill, lead singer of the group called 'Culture'




The group Culture, with lead singer Joseph Hill doesn't need to convince reggae fans worldwide, the show they can put up when it comes to performing live. 


In the past thirty years, Joseph Hill's tunes against oppression, corruption, slavery, discrimination, racism, poverty, injustice, and war have won him an ovation, recognition, and respect in the field of reggae globally.

On July 25th, 2004, in Gent, the artists' program reads that the group culture plays from 11pm till 1am. Before 10.30pm, the crowd had swelled up at both sides of the river banks, waiting to see Joseph Hill, "the humble African to cast one stone for world peace." 

At 11 pm, the Culture group wasn't on stage yet. The crowd became a bit nervous.

The message has already been that the bus the group was traveling with from Germany to Belgium had a mechanical problem on the way, which actually caused the delay. At 11.30pm, the stage is already set. 

From nowhere emerged Joseph Hill in military boots, ready for action. With happiness and joy, the crowd gave him a thunderous welcome. Joseph Hill backed by Albert Walker and Telford Nelson, didn't delay at all to give the people what they wanted, taking most of the songs from the "LIVITY LIVE CULTURE 98" album.

Tunes like "Love shines bright", "Mount Zion", "See dem a come", "Jah Rastafari", "Iron sharpeneth iron", and hosts of sweet melodious tunes that made the group what they are today. He was awesomely sizzling on stage and had fans screaming for more. 

There weren't enough places for the fans to dance, yet the music couldn't stop them from dancing their hearts out. After about an hour of continuous play, Joseph asked the crowd, "Anyone who wants peace should raise their hand."

Almost everyone responded positively. "I'm going to play 'World Peace". He said. The title track of his new album was released in 2003. A song Joseph is telling the world in a strong message that "We can't take another war, we want world peace." 

There was shouting and yelling, which created a pleasant atmosphere of happiness for everyone. Joseph Hill retired an hour and a half after an amazing, breathtaking performance.

But unbelievably, the possessed crowd wouldn't allow him to leave the stage. They yelled for more music. Joseph Hill would always do his best to entertain his fans. 

He took to the stage again and played three additional tunes. It was a natural instinctive feel when Joseph Hill thanked the fans for inspiring him to give them what they wanted.

https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Reggae-African-Music-ebook/dp/B013L9A1JQ?