OCTOBER 2 0 0 7
Issue 9

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

H O T O F F T H E P R E S S
Events, announcements and news
from around the region. Que Pasa?

C O U N T R Y F O C U S : COLOMBIA
San Andres : An Englishman's Home
Banking : For a Pensionado Visa
Medellin : A Hotel Restoration
Eternal Spring : & Beautiful Women

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E S
Mexico :Property Discovery Weekend
Roatan : Free Glittering Getaways
Guatemala : Coffee and Berkeley
Venezuela : Vino Novello & Pecorino
Climate Care : Carbon for Water
Sailing : Tall Ship's Medical Officer
Trinidad & Tobago : A Biodiversity

P I C K O F T H E M O N T H
Honduras, Condos in Belen
Fishing and Diving business Cozumel
An exotic Colombian Villa for Sale

H O T O F F T H E P R E S S

In 2006, The Nevis Cricket Team participated in the inaugural Stanford 20/20 tournament which involved 19 Caribbean teams. Nevis shocked the entire Caribbean by making the semi finals where unfortunately they lost to Trinidad and Tobago.

The matches exposed some bright new talent during the tournament. The pace and accuracy of John “the dentist” Maynard astonished us all. Shervin Woodley was brilliant at the top of the order and Tonitto Willet achieved the tournament’s highest score of 86 at a phenomenal strike rate far better than a run a ball. Kieran Powell shocked us as he audaciously hooked his first ball out of the ground for 6. These outstanding performances allowed Nevis to record resounding victories against St. Kitts and Antigua.

The following are all international players who honed their skills playing at Nevis’ impressive cricket ground: Elquemedo T. Willett, the first Leeward Island player to represent the West Indies; Derick R. Parry made his debut in 1978 against Australia in Trinidad; Keeth L. T. Arthurton made his debut in 1988 against England at Headingley; Stuart C. Williams made his debut in 1994 against England in Antigua; Carl M. Tuckett made his ODI debut v England at Port-of-Spain in 1998; Runako S. Morton made his ODI debut v Pakistan at Sharjah in February 2002 and his Test Debut v Sri Lanka at Colombo in July 2005.

This year, Carlisle Powell, a past Director of the West Indian Cricket Board, has invited LiveNevis Developments Ltd. to be the proud sponsors of the first ever Nevis 20/20 cricket competition. The competition, which will take place in October 2007 for a duration of 6 weeks with matches to be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, will be the first of its kind in Nevis and is expected to create a great deal of excitement and a carnival atmosphere.

LiveNevis Developments Ltd. would like to extend their best wishes and good fortune to everyone involved in the competition. The directors are looking forward to watching some keenly fought contests and to presenting the LiveNevis 20/20 Cup.

For More Information contact:

Email : LiveNevis

LiveNevis Developments

The Company’s product will focus on jeans that will be cut to fit the Latin Woman’s shape and will be marketed throughout North and South America, as well as, via the internet. Products can be viewed at www.fiorana.com or at www.sexylatinwear.com.

Infusion Capital was extremely impressed with both the management and the quality of goods being produced. Initial concerns regarding investing in a Columbian based Company were alleviated when investors were made aware of other large U.S. brands already having their jeans produced in the country including Diesel, Ralph Lauren, Polo, Nautical & Guess Jeans.

An Infusion Capital Investor stated, "We are literally banking on the fact that Colombia’s high quality of material, excellent management, and sound location are the keys to the ROI success we demand. We research our investments extremely well, and are not in the business of taking risks. We look forward to the returns we will see from our Columbian partners."

More information about Infusion Capital and its services can be found at:

www.infusioncapitalgroup.com

"Investment in Panama is what everyone is talking about right now.

It appears that nobody wants to "miss the boat" on this historic opportunity." says John Dennis MBA, Senior Associate with The Panama Team.

The fundamental reasons for the interest in Panama Real Estate are clear enough. Investors are reassured by the fully dollarized economy, and by the country’s stable government, rapidly expanding economy, proximity to the US, hot climate, and good health-care provision. In addition, prices are highly competitive in relation to those of Florida, Cost Rica, Mexico, or European Locations, which have been attracting foreign buyers for years.

A combination of surging world trade volumes and a boom in port development, infrastructure and commercial and residential property is bringing Chinese-style growth to the country and inviting comparisons with international business centers such as Dubai.

“The world has discovered Panama,” says Guillermo Chapman, an economist and former finance minister in the Panamanian Government.

Last year, the economy of Panama grew 8 per cent. This year it could expand by at least 9 per cent and probably more than 10 per cent, a rate of growth that would be the quickest in the hemisphere and among the fastest in the world ( Financial Times : London, July 2007).

"Buying property in Panama is very straightforward in terms of paperwork and bureaucracy" says John Dennis "Most of the purchase process can be done using FAX, e-mail and telephone, and we have a network of Lawyers, Loan Officers, Property Managers and Insurance Agents to assist you with ever aspect of buying and owning property in Panama".

The-Panama-Team is a group of Real Estate professionals established especially to assist American, Canadian and European clients to invest in Panama.

For More Information contact:

Email : The Panama Team

Ph:1-800-717-7523
(US Toll-Free)

The recently opened Paradise Bay Resort & Spa in Grenada announces the program details for the Miss Paradise contest that is unusual, unique and extraordinary.

The contenders are resident young ladies in Grenada, one of the most beautiful islands in the Eastern Caribbean.

To participate, ladies sent in up to 4 photos and a text to accompany their candidacy. The deadline for entries was 23 September.

All participants will be published on Internet sites that will be accessible by an international professional (photo model agencies) jury, who determine the 12 best candidates.

These finalists will be picked up at their homes per taxi for a photo session by a professional photographer at the gardens of Aloe Vera Restaurant at Paradise Bay Resort & Spa, coached by a professional fashion trainer & consultant as well as a make-up artist.

Besides preparing an optimal presentation, this team of local professionals has the opportunity to showcase their abilities to do an independent production.

Via a large Internet promotion campaign the public -all over the world- can vote for their favorite amongst the 12 finalists.

The voting will be fully automatic, will record the IP address of the voter and is therefore 100% fair.

On Friday November 30, the contest closes and the winners will be published.

The prizes:

1. Prize A business class ticket, a five star hotel and a lunch appointment with a model agency executive + an all inclusive weekend at Paradise Bay, sponsor prizes

2. Prize A wellness day with 12 friends at Paradise Bay Resort & Spa, all inclusive, including bus, sponsor prizes

3. Prize A 7 course gourmet lunch & drinks with 12 friends at Aloe Vera Restaurant including bus, sponsor prizes

4.5.6. Prize A romantic dinner for 2 at Aloe Vera Restaurant and a night in a Paradise Bay honeymoon suite, breakfast, sponsor prizes

7...12 Prize A guided nature (easy) walk for 2 exploring Robinson Crusoe beaches that almost nobody knows, picnic lunch, massage and happy hour, sponsor prizes

Next to the 12 winners who have a serious chance to be considered for a free lance photo modeling career, all participants will enjoy a massive promotion and are also known with the model agencies.

For more information, contact:

James Post
Paradise Bay Resort & Spa

Email : James Post

Ph:(++1) 473-405-8888

Wendy A. Lee, is the Executive Director of the Northern Jamaica Conservation Association.

She writes to the Jamaica Gleaner with her comments on the recent Public Meeting to discuss the impact of the New Cruise Ship Development in Jamaica.

Dear Editor,

Kindly allow me space to correct several inaccuracies in the article by Richard Morais about the proposed Falmouth Cruise Terminal project, published in today’s Gleaner (September 22), as 'A waterfront experience of historic proportion.' [http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070922/lead/lead4.html]

In contemplating a project of this magnitude it is vitally important that we consider the FACTS – the realities of the environmental and other impacts of the project – and separate them from the imaginative portrayal of the developers’ dreams and their effects on public perception. There is much more to be said about this project, including questions about the estimated socio-economic impacts, but for now I will confine my comments to correcting specific inaccuracies in the Gleaner article.

The facts below are derived from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) commissioned by the developers of the project.

Mr. Morais stated that the liners carry “a maximum of 2,100 people.” The fact is, the liners carry up to 8,460 people (2,100 crew and 6,360 passengers), so that when two ships are in the port at the same time, the developers expect an influx of approximately 15,000 people – twice the current population of Falmouth.

It would be impossible for NEPA to pass the plans for this project “later this month,” as there is by law a 30-day period allowed for the public to submit written comments after the public meeting, held September 14. After this period, the comments are reviewed by NEPA’s internal and technical review committees, which recommend any further studies or modifications that might be required.

It was pointed out at the public meeting that the EIA lacked an archaeological assessment, which is inexplicable given Falmouth’s undisputed archaeological significance and designation as a National Monument. Both NJCA and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust have requested a thorough archaeological assessment of the area before this project is approved. How long such a study will take is unclear, but with an area of more than 650 hectares proposed for ‘redevelopment’ for this project, it could be quite a long time before enough of Falmouth’s irreplaceable archaeological heritage has been salvaged prior to the construction of several large, new, Georgian-style buildings in the town’s designated Historic District and along the reclaimed waterfront.

With regard to Mr. Morais statements that “a cutter suction dredger, among other mitigating measures, will be used to prevent any loss of reef” and “the debris from the dredging will be dumped in a safe area offshore,” both of these claims are incorrect.

According to the EIA, the project will result in “the loss of approximately 20 hectares of coral and seagrass cover due to dredging” and “the permanent loss of a vibrant coral reef community at the entrance to the channel.” The EIA characterises this impact as “a localised, direct and significant impact to the marine ecosystem [by] removing a highly productive portion of the coral reef in the area (heavily used by fishers at present).”

Furthermore, the EIA predicts the demise of corals in the area due to “high suspended sediment concentrations during dredging activities; and …gradual smothering due to increased maritime traffic and the inherent threat of accidental groundings, repeated re-suspension of bottom sediments and potential pollution.”

With respect to disposal of debris from dredging, the EIA says, “the current proposal calls for offshore disposal of dredge material at a location to be determined and approved by appropriate regulatory bodies.” The possible impacts of this disposal method are “similar to those associated with the dredging operation.” The alternative, disposal on land, is said to present “the possibility of significant impacts for terrestrial and/or nearby aquatic ecosystems,” including the pollution of groundwater and surface water.

On the matter of protecting what Mr. Morais correctly calls the ‘world famous luminous lagoon,’ the EIA warns of the possible loss of bioluminescent phytoplankton by the deepening of the channel: “Changes in current speeds, directions and patterns of flow could contribute to changing the flushing rate and the water chemistry of the bay thus altering the conditions necessary to maintaining the distinctive composition of the phytoplankton community and the associated bioluminescence unique to Oyster Bay.”

In short, the proposed Falmouth Cruise Terminal will undoubtedly result in significant and permanent impacts to the marine and coastal environment, including the destruction of large areas of productive coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves and the possible destruction of the bioluminescent lagoon known as Oyster Bay.

The question is, are we prepared to accept these impacts?

Yours truly,

For More Information or to contact Wendy Lee:

Email : The Northern Jamaican Conservation Association

Tel: 876-973-4305

In the last issue of this magazine we ran an Appeal on behalf of Alan and Heather Graham who live and work in the Yucatan, and are regular contributors to Caribbean Property Magazine.

The following are some excerpts from emails from them and other volunteers who are involved in the clean up.

Hi Deb,
Thanks for writing.  We are going back on Monday. 
I'll try to get an update for you if I can from our
contacts.  Today I heard things were a tad "less
worse".  You may want to pull the piece on our relief
effort - via donations to us - as we will be
forwarding all to a closer proximity effort.  I'll try
and get their address and details to you.

Thanks, Deb.
Best Regards,
Alan and Heather

---------------------------------
17th Sept

 Hi Deb,
Just got to Tulum from the DEAN Area.  It is
awful there.  WE WITNESSED NO ACTIVITY BY GOVT OR RED
CROSSINSOFAR AS DRINKING WATER, TOOLS, SUPPLIES, ETC. 
Wedelivered 2BR tents, wrecking bars, picks,
hammers,wheelbarrels, some water and food and much
more.  Manyare in serious trouble and dire straights
anddesparate just for drinking water.  Some
independentefforts ongoing such as a Dutch outfit
delivered atanker of water but not enough of course. 
Many devastated areas both the poor and the
gringoswith flattened houses on the beach areas.  Many
photosand stories later = got to get some sllep.Thanks
you for all of your efforts.  I will reportmore to you
later and gather more data and reports.

All the best to you,
Alan and Heather

---------------------------------

13th Sept 

Hola Kelly,

I thought that was you, but have to admit that my memory is scrambled right now. Right now we have three large bags of dog food left and two of cat food. That should last for two more weeks at minimum. I have heard that Walmart and Sam’s gift cards are not transferable to Mexico and think that it is correct. If it is correct, then if a donation can be made to a paypal account of the groups from Playa del Carmen that are bringing down relief I am sure they will purchase exactly what you direct them to.

So far, Suzanne in Xcalak has stepped up to be the point person in Xcalak and we’ll have someone in the Mahahual and Limones areas to coordinate very soon. After those volunteers are in place we can start planning the details of when and where with you.

Thank you very much for your help.

---------------------------------

7th Sept 

Hola,
We need your help tomorrow to deliver dispensas. Marcia, if Gil and Cindy are available I can use them to get things up to Placer area. Deb y Tom, Rio Indio, Sarah and Steve – Uvero, Otto & David to inland, Polly & Eric – Xcalak and north, Rex y Paula – km 2.5 south to Herradura, Cento and KM 55 – 52 are open right now and we need help there.

This need is greater than any so far. Beside what we have on the ground ready to go, there is the large convoy from Playa and also 1200 dispensas coming from Cancun. Also 2500 1 gallon water tanks coming from Cristal in Cancun. We need everyone in town who can be at Costa Maya Inn no later than 11 to pitch in and help….I’ll try to make this as organized as possible but it seems there is always a surprise in how the convoys are loaded or if dispensas need to be packed. But please, tell everyone who has wheels to come and be patient as we divide the distribution. We can use some volunteers without transportation to help prepare the dispensas as needed. I normally don’t cc everyone’s name on a mailing list but if you see someone who’s name is not listed above please send this to them.

Thank you in advance…this is really an important day for us…

Lic. Kevin Graham

---------------------------------

For More Information email editor at caribpro dot com  

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