As the search continues for former travel agent Eunece Morris, family members of the Edden family who were allegedly duped out of their money for their vacation cruise this past summer, are considering suing the parent company of Morris Travel, which is House of Myrtle, for damages in her stead.
Further the U.S. proceedings against Carnival Cruises is still going forward with a hope of having everything filed by the end of this year in the U.S. Federal Court, according to sources close to this situation.
Upon research it was discovered that the House of Myrtle is owned by Morris, who has 4,500 shares and is the President/Chief Executive Officer and Director; while Portia Morris is the Secretary and owns 75 shares; and Gilbert N, Barry and Ambrose J. Morris are all Directors of the company holding the remaining 425 shares.
In the meantime police in Grand Bahama and in Turks & Caicos are said to be on the lookout for Eunece Morris, who is wanted for fraud in Grand Bahama. During the month of July, 2011, three complaints were made against Morris, who police said collected funds in the amount of some $60,000.00 for payment of a vacation cruise for three large groups.
It was discovered that the funds were never paid to the cruise line on their behalf.
Back in mid July, of this year, the Edden family of Smith’s Point, described their complaint as a “vacation from hell.”
The group had booked a cruise vacation with 39 members, but some family members were left stuck in Miami because reservations were not made for the entire group. Those who did go on the cruise went through even more hardship when the cruise line discovered that the credit card used to book their cruise was said to be fraudulent.
The group said they were almost arrested for fraud.
Intervention by a former Member of Parliament David Wallace and other friends, kept the group from being arrested or being held on the ship, allowing them to finally complete the cruise. Immediately upon their arrival home to Freeport, the family filed a complaint to the police station and retained the services of attorney Jacy Whittaker, of Parris Whittaker, to try and recoup their funds from the cruise.
Managing Director for the travel agency, Eunice (Eunece) Morris, in an interview with The Freeport News prior to the family’s return from their cruise said that there was a mix-up with the funds getting to Carnival on time and she promised to “make things right” for the family.
According to reports, the family has not heard from Morris since returning to Freeport.
It was last year when The Freeport News reported on a special expo held by Morris Travel Agency which offered clients, in collaboration with Carnival Cruise lines, special cruise rates. The one-day Cruise Expo was held June 23, 2010 to encourage the sale of inclusive vacation packages to the Grand Bahamian market.
It was held at Morris Travel Management Services at The Millennium Mall, on West Atlantic Drive.
Morris was then quoted as saying that the invitation was sent for Carnival’s participation to give residents an opportunity to view the variety of services Carnival had to offer when planning a cruise vacation.
The expo gave attendees information on how to plan in advance to receive the early saver specials, how to plan a wedding cruise, how to get on a payment plan program, as well as the cruise gifting program and other elements of cruising that will be beneficial to the consumer.
“What we are attempting to do during this period of economic hardship is to encourage persons to book early, giving themselves a lead time and entry to the payment plan programs, ” Morris said last year, while organizing the Expo.
“We want to target the group market and educate them on the various aspects of groups sailing, from weddings, to family reunions, to singles cruising to conferences and special celebrations. It is our hope that at the end of this event, persons will have a better understanding of cruising and all the benefits that it offers.”
Attendees to the event were expected to receive giveaways, and brochures for the new year.
However, while the Edden family was feeling the effects of being wronged another group reportedly filed their complaint with the police about their trip that was pending at the time.
This group was from a local primary school, where some 20 plus persons said they had already paid for their cruise which was to set for August 13.
Deciding to be safe rather than sorry, the latest group of 20 plus persons called Carnival Cruise Line to make sure that their reservations were secured.
It was a phone call that delivered only bad news. According to a spokesperson for the group they were told by Carnival Cruise Lines that the credit card used to book their cruise was declined.
The police are still circulating a wanted poster with Morris’ picture stating that she is wanted by the Central Detective Unit for Stealing by Reason of Service.
The Freeport News
