In 1984, Mr. Lawaetz’s daughter-in-law, Uta Lawaetz, visited Balenbouche Estate and realized that the property was in critical financial and legal condition. Uta and her husband, Caribbean artist Roy Lawaetz, decided to stay and try to sort out the family’s affairs. They faced tremendous challenges, including the forced acquisition of most of the family land by the government in the late 1980′s. Yet they persevered, and were able to save the Balenbouche plantation house and surrounding acreage. They began repairing and renovating the old buildings and establishing new crops, such as Carambolas, passion fruit, ginger lilies, vegetables and tobacco.