Barbados
An exclusive condominium complex consisting of just twenty-two units, this beautifully finished development nestles on a secluded beach. Designed to look like a modern English residence, the architecture is replete with extra deep skirting boards, double glazed sash windows, panelled doors and coving. Well appointed, materials have been carefully chosen for quality and durability and include granite counter tops, mosaic tiles in the pool area and cedar French doors.
Property owners can be assured that every little detail has been taken care of, from private parking facilities to beach showers, covered terraces and a spectacular sea view, White Sands Beach Apartments are a tempting addition to any overseas property investment portfolio whether it be for holiday rental purposes or as a second home in the sun.
Set in the popular South Beach area of Barbados, White Sands Beach Apartments are in the unique position of having no disturbing road noise as the properties are faced on one side by the shoreline. they are however conveniently located close to all local amenities which include international supermarkets, vibrant nightlife, bistros, restaurants and great shopping.
Built with comfort and safety at the forefront, each two bedroom penthouse boasts two terraces, one from the master bedroom and a shared terrace for the other bedroom. each penthouse bedroom features an n-suite bathroom with all bedrooms fitted with air conditioning and ceiling fan.
Prices for the 1-3 bedroom apartment start at $ 425,000 – $ 1,450,000.
Find out more about Barbados investment opportunities, log on to davidstanleyredfern.com/Barbados_White_Sands_Beach_Apartments.aspx
About David Stanley Redfern Ltd
David Stanley Redfern Ltd is an overseas property specialist, working directly with developers in more than forty countries. All properties are exclusive to David Stanley Redfern Ltd, giving an unparalleled selection of resale and new builds. David Stanley Redfern Ltd is AIPP accredited.
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Myrie case prompts cameras at Barbados airport
Freundel Stuart said despite the Myrie case, he wanted to believe that relations between his country and Jamaica, and with the rest of its regional neighbours “will continue to be normal”.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday April 27, 2011 – It’s too late to be of any help in settling dispute over allegations made by Jamaican Shanique Myrie against Barbadian immigration officials, but Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has announced that cameras will be installed at the airport to prove or disprove any accusations in the future.
In a pre-recorded interview televised on the state-run Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) last night, the Prime Minister said he had visited the Grantley Adams International Airport and conducted a comprehensive tour and there was consensus there that if cameras had been in place at the time Myrie said she had been verbally and sexually assaulted, there would not have been any scope for speculation.
Myrie claimed that a female immigration officer searched her vagina and insulted Jamaicans after she arrived at the airport on March 14. She said she was refused entry into the country, locked up in a dirty room, and put on a plane back home the following day.
“There will be cameras put where none are now so that in the event that anyone feels bold enough to make allegations as serious of those made by Myrie, camera evidence should be available either to confirm the allegation or to contradict it,” Prime Minister Stuart said.
The Governments of Barbados and Jamaica are currently trying to get to the bottom of Myrie’s allegations, with the latter threatening to go to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if the matter cannot be resolved on a bilateral level.
The Prime Minister said the Barbados Government was “on top of the matter”.
He said he had received a report of the investigation into Myrie’s allegations and it would be passed on to the Jamaican authorities.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on what that report has said, will be communicating with the Foreign Ministry in Jamaica. no obstacles will be put in the way of miss Myrie if she wants to come back to Barbados and point out to the police and anybody else who the offending officer, as alleged by her, might be,” Stuart said.
The Barbados leader said despite the Myrie case, he wanted to believe that relations between his country and Jamaica, and with the rest of its regional neighbours “will continue to be normal”.
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A 2011 NFL Draft Fantasy postmortem
Listen to our latest Fantasy Football Podcast!
For seemingly forever, the draft sort of put the exclamation point on the offseason until training camp began. That’s because the offseason kicked off with free agency and players would get signed, released and traded. the draft process was used to fill in the holes left over from free agency.
That didn’t happen this year because of the whole lockout thing you might have heard about. so while veterans sit unmoved like Snuggies in a Barbados convenience store, it’s the rookies that made the first splash this offseason. and since we’re not so sure when those veterans will get their turn to make headlines, let’s drill down into the rookies who will make an impact in Fantasy drafts this summer.
The move: Falcons move up to draft WR Julio Jones
The winners: Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Jones The losers: Tony Gonzalez, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas
Jones’ arrival in Hotlanta reminds us of when the Colts drafted Reggie Wayne to complement Marvin Harrison in 2001. it took Wayne a little while to get his stats up to snuff, but he did wonders for Harrison’s coverage and was a key reason for Harrison’s 143-catch season in 2002, his 15-touchdown season in 2004 and basically every awesome season he had until 2007. Jones should eventually have the same impact on White, but even before then defenses will have to account for the rookie receiver.
and who’s throwing to these fine striding Falcons? That would be Ryan, who despite his reputation as a phenomenal quarterback doesn’t have a 4,000-yard season under his belt. That’s a lay-up for him now, and the touchdowns will follow suit. Gonzalez figures to have some of those scores, but his yardage — which has already been on the decline for three seasons now — isn’t expected to get close to what other capable tight ends get, mainly because he’ll lose targets. Jenkins and Douglas haven’t been effective for years — hence the Falcons’ aggressive move to land Jones.
The move: Saints trade back into Round 1 for RB mark Ingram
The winners: Ingram, maybe Lance Moore The losers: Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory
the Saints gave up waaay too much to draft Ingram, but we’re not the ones impacted by that. We’re the ones who have to deal with the draft’s most dominant running back going to a passing team that has a short but clear history of sharing the rushing workload. That sounds ugly but it should work out for Ingram as he’s healthy and versatile and obviously a guy the Saints coaching staff desperately wanted. he should be a monster at the goal line and a game changer as far as how the Saints are defended. Ingram is easily the most valuable running back in New Orleans now.
Ingram also serves as a one-man wrecking crew for the running backs who played with the Saints last season. Reggie Bush is due over $11 million this season and is a stone cold lock to get released. Pierre Thomas signed a contract extension earlier this offseason to save his spot on the team but could end up backing up Ingram or replacing Bush as the slot option (that could also go to Lance Moore if he re-signs with the Saints). Chris Ivory, who suffered a foot injury late last season, has been Wally Pipped and is no longer worth drafting.
The move: Dolphins swipe RB Daniel Thomas in Round 2
The winner: Thomas The losers: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams
For now, Thomas is the only running back on the Dolphins who will scare opponents. He’s got great size and good enough speed and hands to make an impact, and his offensive line got a lot better with the addition of Mike Pouncey in the first round. Brown and Williams are both free agents this offseason. At best, one of them will come back and share the duties with Thomas. At worst, both will be off the team and Thomas will share with someone else. make no mistake on this: Thomas has a shot to be the second-most productive running back among the rookie class in Fantasy this season.
The move: Cardinals draft RB Ryan Williams in Round 2
The winner: Williams The losers: Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower
Immediately following the pick, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt had no problems telling the world how much the franchise admired Williams, calling him a Top-15 pick. Him saying that is one thing, but drafting a running back when you already have two on the roster (Hightower is a restricted free agent) really suggests that he means it. Williams should easily top Wells and Hightower (if he returns) as the primary bell cow in Arizona. does this mean Williams is going to be a phenomenal Fantasy running back? it might, but Wells will take some reps and there’s still that issue about who will throw the ball in Arizona this year. Williams is definitely worth drafting but is far from a smash-hit success story at this point.
The move: RB DeMarco Murray heads to Dallas in Round 3
The winner: Murray The losers: Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Tashard Choice
Let’s start with the painfully obvious: Murray and Barber are the same type of back, and there’s no way they’ll both be on the Cowboys’ roster this season. Murray’s younger, cheaper and healthier, so guess who’s getting cut? Barber figures to be history, and that leaves Murray to share reps with Jones and Choice. There was some potential for Jones to get a big bump in touches this season had the Cowboys settled on a two-man run game, but even if they did that and got rid of Choice, Jones still would be a high-yardage, low-touchdown Fantasy performer.
The move: Lions double dip in Round 2, get Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure
The winners: Leshoure, Matthew Stafford The loser: Jahvid Best
Best will still be trusted to start in Detroit, but he’ll end up losing touches to Leshoure. last season the Lions were ill prepared for life without a banged-up Best, but they aren’t this year. Really it will help Fantasy owners to know who to back up Best with, and it’s not a bad plan to spend a pick in Round 5 or 6 on Best and a pick in the following round on Leshoure, who has some goal-line potential. Young will provide another outlet to Stafford as a secondary beater. so while defenses focus on Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Nate Burleson, Young should be able to eat them up for yardage deep. he won’t be much of a Fantasy star because he’s not expected to be very consistent, but Stafford’s numbers should get a bump from him (assuming Stafford can keep his shoulders healthy).
The move: Patriots draft rushers Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley
The winners: No one The losers: Vereen, Ridley, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead
my esteemed colleague Jamey Eisenberg once asked Patriots left tackle Matt Light if he knew which backs would run for the Patriots in advance of games, and Light said he had no idea — and he wasn’t kidding. Bill Belichick did a great job shuffling out old talent in Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor and replacing them with Vereen, a third-down type, and Ridley, a good inside runner. of course, now he’ll keep us guessing as to which one(s) he’ll use from week to week. Know this about Belichick: he has shown loyalty to running backs that do their jobs well. to wit, Green-Ellis never lost his rushing role once he landed it last season, and I’ll bet you a bowl of New England Clam Chowder that he’ll stick with Green-Ellis so long as he doesn’t come down with a case of fumbilitis. That doesn’t mean he won’t lose some touches here and there to Woodhead and the rookies, but he should still be a good No. 2 Fantasy RB — and maybe even a better value pick as sleepy owners in your league pass on him because there are “too many running backs” on the Patriots. as for Woodhead, his prospects dim even though he did his job last season too. If Green-Ellis gets the bulk of the work, he’ll have to fend off the rookies — namely Vereen — for playing time.
The move: Cincinnati rebuilds its offense with their top two picks.
The winners: a.J. Green, Andy Dalton The losers: Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco (subject to trade)
this one’s pretty straight forward as Cincy appears to replace Ochocinco with Green and Palmer with Dalton. They’re not saying as much, but teams typically don’t draft skill-position players to have them sit and watch their older counterparts. Green’s too good of a talent to not see time on the field and Dalton has the accuracy and smarts to run the Bengals’ West Coast offense. both Ocho and Palmer should land with other clubs, but Ochocinco specifically could be nearing the end of his career and isn’t the Fantasy stud he once was. Palmer’s value could still be fairly decent depending on where he ends up.
The move: Mike Shanahan goes running back bananas, drafts two sleepers
The winners: Roy Helu, Evan Royster The losers: Ryan Torain, Keiland Williams
We’re going to hear a lot about Helu over the next few months. Shanahan compared the rookie to Clinton Portis, and he comes to the Redskins from a zone-blocking scheme offense at Nebraska, which is tailor made for how the Redskins run the ball. He’s younger and faster than Torain. Royster is a little bulkier but has the physical tools to eventually be a good back in this league. Torain and Williams will have to battle to retain their roles, but Torain must also battle his own health to stay on the field. That’s been a problem for him before and might be again, which makes Helu a heck of a sleeper this year.
The move: a lot of teams draft a lot of quarterbacks
The winners: Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder The losers: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick
Simply put, Newton, Locker and Ponder have really promising chances to start and put up some stats (not necessarily good ones) while Gabbert and Kaepernick don’t have as clear of a road and might not start until late this season or in Week 1 of 2012. all of this is subject to change with the exception of Newton with the Panthers — as the No. 1 overall pick, he and the Panthers would look pretty silly on the bench while Jimmy Clausen plays.
Sleeper lists
Rookies who are potential impact players for 2011: Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson Eagles PK Alex Henery Cardinals TE Rob Housler
Rookies who are long-term sleepers: Colts RB Delone Carter Packers WR Randall Cobb Dolphins WR Edmund Gates 49ers RB Kendall Hunter Raiders RB Taiwan Jones Browns WR Greg Little Eagles RB Dion Lewis Patriots QB Ryan Mallett Rams WR Austin Pettis Jets RB Bilal Powell Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph Ravens WR Torrey Smith Buccaneers TE Luke Stocker Packers TE D.J. Williams
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter . you can also follow Dave at @daverichard . do you have a question or a comment for our Fantasy staff? Drop us a line at .
Naomi Watts Makes a Splash in Barbados
Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel why we Confuse Them? This needs no explanation.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Lady GaGa and Christina Aguilera why we Confuse Them? It’s their entire look that makes us do a double take.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Jordin Sparks and America Ferrera why we Confuse Them? Both the singer and the ‘Ugly Betty’ star have big, bright smiles, curly hair and similar cheekbones.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Faith Hill and Connie Britton why we Confuse Them? Hill and Britton look so much a like, sometimes we see one, and are convinced it’s the other.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Zac Efron and Chace Crawford why we Confuse Them? With big eyebrows and large teen followings, we’re not sure who is who between these two.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts why we Confuse Them? the best friends both hail from Australia and made a name for themselves in the acting world. plus, when they both affect an American accent, the results sound the same.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Christopher Meloni and Elias Koteas why we Confuse Them? When Elias Koteas donned glasses in ‘Benjamin Button,’ we were believed it was Chris Meloni until the credits began to roll.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Ed Westwick and Rob Pattinson why we Confuse Them? Both Westwick and Pattinson are British actors who’s biggest roles are American teens.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Isla Fisher and Amy Adams why we Confuse Them? Fisher and Adams are funny, red-headed and look like the same person.
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Josh Duhamel and Timothy Olyphant why we Confuse Them? It’s easy to see the resemblance, right?
Celebrity Doppelgangers
Rachel Bilson News – Rachel Bilson Is a Barbados Bikini Babe (PHOTOS) – Celebuzz
It’s been quite the jet-setting week for Rachel Bilson and her man Hayden Christensen!
The couple started their week off at LAX en route to the big Apple, then the actress hit the red carpet to celebrate her latest project with fashion powerhouse Karl Lagerfeld. Now the two are busy enjoying the sun in beachy Barbados. Not a bad way to spend Easter weekend!
Just hours before she was spotted frolicking in the surf, Bilson chatted with Celebuzz at the Tribeca premiere of her Lagerfeld-fueled film series for Magnum ice cream. Bilson told Celebuzz that she couldn’t control herself while on set, saying: “I ate a lot of ice cream. I’m not going to lie. It’s really good, so it wasn’t a hard job. she confessed she downed more than 20 bars of the sweet treats, declaring the chocloate-almond variety her favorite because of the “salty and sweet” combo.
If only the rest of us could chomp down nearly two dozen ice cream bars and still look this good in a bikini.
To check out a shirtless Hayden and a bikini-clad Rachel, click through the gallery!
Caribbean News Now!
News from the Caribbean:
Back to Today’s News IDB counsellors to pay official visit to Barbados Published on May 9, 2011 Email to Friend Print VersionBy Julie Wilson BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Eleven counsellors from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will get a first-hand look at some of the local projects that the hemispheric financial institution has funded, when they pay an official visit to Barbados this week. The counsellors, drawn from the Caribbean, Europe, North, Central and Latin America, will arrive in Barbados on Tuesday to begin a hectic schedule, which includes a minister’s welcome reception later that day. The following day, Wednesday, the delegation will meet with Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, at Government Headquarters. This will be followed by a visit to the Ministry of Education, to the Edutech Schools at St Ambrose and St Andrew’s Primary Schools. later that day, there will be a visit to the South Coast Board Walk and a site visit of Phase II of the Coastal Risk Assessment Project. on Thursday, the counsellors will visit the Ministry of Housing to get an update on the Housing and Neighbourhood Upgrading Programme (HNUP) and this will be followed by a visit to two sites earmarked for the HNUP Project. The team will also visit the Caribbean Development Bank’s Wildey, St Michael, headquarters, the local IDB Office, at Hastings, Christ Church and the Office of the Attorney General, where they will be updated on the Justice Improvement Programme. The official visit will culminate with a meeting with representatives of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at their St Michael headquarters, followed by a call on Leader of the Opposition, Owen Arthur, at Parliament Buildings. Established in 1959, the IDB is the largest source of development financing for 26 Latin America and the Caribbean countries. Besides loans, the bank also makes available grants and technical assistance to its members as well as to civil society organisations. over the years, the IDB has provided development funding for a number of government projects and programmes in Barbados. recent projects include the Water and Sanitation Systems Upgrade, an Agriculture Health and Food Control Programme; and the modernisation of the following: the Barbados National Procurement System; the Barbados Statistical Service; the Department of Customs, Excise and VAT; and the Barbados National Standards Institution.
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Bodacious Barbados
Grab your flippers and sunblock and embrace the Caribbean way of life. Lisa Haynes discovers you can’t beat Barbados for a sun-filled family break
Barbados may be the winter playground for the likes of Simon Cowell, Cilla Black and Rihanna but you don’t need an X Factor persona – or wallet – to stay on this fashionable island.
With more than 70 miles of crystal blue coastline to explore Barbados is the stuff of exotic postcards: paradise for families and couples alike.
Spot the turtle
We sported masks and flippers for a sun-soaked catamaran cruise in search of graceful sea turtles.
These people-friendly, gentle giants are a star attraction of Barbados seas – and were a trip highlight.
It’s easy to create your own personal sailing and snorkelling adventure. Opt for a family-friendly catamaran like El Tigre (eltigrecruises.com), or search the waters from a glass bottom boat.
Buckle up
The terrain of Barbados changes dramatically from the calm, palm-fringed west and south coasts, to the breathtaking rugged beauty of the Atlantic East.
We buckled up for our adventure on wheels with an Island Safari in a zebra print 4×4, suitable for children over four (islandsafari.bb).
Harrison’s Cave, with its limestone cavern of crystallised walls, quirky formations and waterfalls, is often cited as the eighth wonder of the world and the ideal destination to take a breather from the beating midday sun (harrisonscave.com).
Family fun
While the grown-ups indulged in diving and cocktail sampling at the newly re-launched Elegant Hotels Tamarind, the kids (aged 4-7 and 8-12) loved playing in the supervised Flying Fish Kids Club.
The Teen Lounge also provides a youthful den with large-screen Wii, game consoles and disco nights.
For joint family time, the Aqua School offers free instruction and equipment for watersports, ranging from snorkelling to stand-up paddle boarding.
Trail blazers
From monkeying around to blooming marvellous floral displays, there’s a host of activities to please eco-loving families and the Barbados Tourism Authority (visitbarbados.org/trails) offers a handy online ‘Trails’ programme, highlighting key sights of interest.
TRAVEL FACTS
For more information on Barbados, visit visitbarbados.org
For Elegant Hotels call 0800 917 3534 or visit eleganthotels.com
Tamarind: Save 30%: Rates from $257 (£160 approx), B&B, per room per night in a Pool Garden View room. all meal plans at 30% off: Kids eat free, drink free sodas and stay free when staying in the same rooms with parents. Valid May 1-Oct 15, 2011 (applicable for 1 or 2 children depending on room category) (tamarindbarbados.com)
Turtle Beach: Save up to 30%: Rates from $333 (£208 approx). All-inclusive, per room per night in Junior Suite (Pool or Garden View). first child stays free (ages: 0-12) when sharing room with an adult. Valid May 1–Sept 30, 2011 (turtlebeachresortbarbados.com)
British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Barbados from £613.90 return including taxes/fees/charges in World Traveller. Visit ba.com/Barbados or call 0844 4930787.
Lon’s Article Directory » How to Choose a Professional Real Estate Agency in Barbados
The services of a realtor can be extremely advantageous and you are encouraged to seek out their expertise when it is time to buy or rent a property, sell your home or have it managed. Don’t be afraid to ask a plethora of questions, as you are putting all of your hope in someone you hardly know and asking them to help you, with perhaps one of the major decisions in your life.
A real estate agency that caters to a discerning clientele provides personalized service, where a high level of care and attention is given; diminishing fears and making the client feel totally at ease.
When it comes to purchasing property in Barbados, an abundance of knowledge pertaining to the client’s preferred property characteristics is essential. Your realtor should be savvy about various geographic locations in order to make the best fit between a neighbourhood and the client’s status, personality and objectives. A realtor often captures what the client really wants only after meeting with them and viewing several properties. they then have a better understanding as to what property type will be the best fit and can subsequently advise them accordingly.
Your realtor should never super-impose their ideas on you but only serve as a guide, providing you with as many details as possible so that you can then make an informed decision. Be wary if your realtor only makes everything look fabulous as opposed to providing you with the facts. You want a realtor who seems sincere, who you know will have your best interest at heart and not their commission.
If you are looking to purchase or rent the finest real estate, always look for one of the premiere agencies in Barbados or Caribbean Real Estate. with a wealth of knowledge of Barbados property in particular, long term rentals, luxury villa rentals and property management, you can be assured that your interests are placed at the forefront. this is paramount when making a major investment, relocating from hundreds of miles away or trusting a stranger to look after your home.
Million Dollar Homes intends to provide superior service to those clients looking to purchase or rent only the finest in luxury real estate, primarily Barbados property. our listings are user-friendly providing detailed features, amenities and photos of exquisite Barbados luxury villas and Barbados villa rentals. Visit us for more information on Barbados real estate, property and land for sale.
UK helps Barbados with damage control over tax transparency failure
International Community wants action, not promises
A new Barbados Government press release says that the United Kingdom will upgrade our country’s status with respect to the UK’s legislation on offshore non-compliance by U.K taxpayers, and petition the OECD to reconsider its recent report about Barbados that resulted in “highly prejudicial consequences”.
Last January the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) slapped Barbados upside the head for failing to comply with international standards for sharing tax information. The OECD review was part of a crackdown on money laundering and tax havens and found that Barbados “did not have legislation in place to fully share information on tax matters with international partners.”
See BFP’s January 28, 2011 article OECD: Barbados fails tax transparency standards
Barbados was once again sent to our room by the international community until we could behave ourselves and pass some laws and regulations like we agreed to do years ago but never got around to. So now that we’ve taken a few weeks and passed the new laws we’d like to come out and play with the others, and the UK is going to vouch for us.
This same scenario plays out once or twice a year in one form or another when the international community gets tired of all promises and no action. Last year Barbados was downgraded to a spot below Cambodia over our failure to fight human trafficking. This year it’s our failure to comply with international tax information standards. Next year it will be something else.
Laws? Standards? what you talking about?
You see, we Barbadians don’t like to pass laws or comply with outside standards. We like to make promises and statements of intent, but actually passing laws is another thing. Laws make it inconvenient for the ruling class to do whatever they want. That’s why the DLP won’t pass their promised Integrity Legislation and Freedom of Information laws.
Unfortunately, while we Bajans understand our leaders making promises and then doing the opposite, the international community is less forgiving than the voters.
Moral of the story: After the OECD slapped us around, it took our government about two weeks to pass the required laws because the downgrade threatened our economy.
Too bad our government won’t act so quickly to pass Integrity Legislation, Freedom of Information and Conflicts of interest laws. Or Environmental Legislation.
Prime Minister Stuart could make those laws happen if he wanted to.
But he doesn’t want to.
Barbados Government Press Release Damage Control
British Government believes OECD Global Forum should review Barbados tax information-exchange finding as soon as possible
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS, may 6 /PRNewswire/ – The British Government has advised the Government of Barbados that it will upgrade that country’s status with respect to the UK’s legislation on offshore non-compliance by U.K taxpayers.
Barbados has been notified that her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will promote Barbados to Category 2 status when a revised UK Statutory Instrument is made in a few months’ time.
This significant upgrade of Barbados from Category 3 status was a direct result of its 2011 Income Tax (Exchange of Information) Regulations which provides for the unilateral exchange of tax information according to the 2008 OECD standard with Barbados’ new and existing tax treaty partners, including the UK, who are now unable to exchange tax information consistent with international standards.
The British Government has also signaled its support for a revised OECD Global Forum Phase I report on Barbados’ transparency and tax information exchange credentials based on the 2011 regulations noting that “there is a strong case for a supplementary report to be presented [by Barbados] to the Peer Review Group of the Global Forum on the Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes as soon as possible”.
The Global Forum is the multilateral framework for dealing with issues of transparency and exchange of information by both OECD and non-OECD economies. in order to carry out in-depth monitoring and review of implementation of OECD tax standards, the Global Forum has established a Peer Review Group (PRG).
“This swift and decisive response by the British Government is most welcome, and underscores the long history of tax cooperation our countries have enjoyed since 1970 when the Barbados-UK tax treaty came into force,” said Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.
The Prime Minister noted that like the OECD Global Forum, Barbados believes information exchange should be grounded in the provisions of a bilateral agreement and is pleased that during the week of may 16, this year, a protocol to our tax treaty with the UK will be negotiated to update, among other things, the existing provision on exchange of information.
In its Phase I report, the PRG cited Barbados’ inability to exchange tax information with relevant partners because existing treaties, although providing for information exchange, did not contain the 2008 standard and new treaties reflecting the standard had not yet been ratified. The PRG did however acknowledge that Barbados had done all within its power to update existing treaties and to bring its new treaties into force but nonetheless determined that Barbados would not be eligible for a Phase II evaluation of its administrative policies and practices supporting tax information for 12 months.
“Barbados has already informed the OECD Global Forum of the 2011 Income Tax Regulations and our intention to request a supplementary report on our legal and regulatory transparency and tax information exchange regime based on these regulations once the Forum adopts its draft revised methodology to provide for supplementary reporting” said Prime Minister Stuart.
The Prime Minister reiterated his Government’s disappointment with the Global Forum’s Phase I findings noting the highly prejudicial consequences of the PRG’s determination that Barbados was not eligible for advancement to a Phase II evaluation. “The assessment was particularly egregious given that the OECD itself has since 2002 endorsed Barbados as a transparent jurisdiction that has never relied on secrecy to attract investment. a policy demonstrated by our long history of codifying international transparency and information exchange norms through our aggressive and longstanding policy of tax treaty negotiation. This settled policy again received endorsement in 2009 by the G-20 and the OECD when Barbados found itself the only independent Caribbean country on their “white-list” of jurisdictions found to be in substantial compliance with international standard on transparency and tax information exchange. indeed, this explains the currency of our standing despite the Phase I conclusion”, stated Prime Minister Stuart.
“We look forward, now, to working with our partners in the Global Forum and the United National Expert Committee on International Tax and call for the speedy adoption of the OECD Global Forum’s revised methodology to secure an outcome that serves the best interests of the people of Barbados and the wider international community.”
About Invest Barbados
Invest Barbados (IB) is an economic development agency of the Government of Barbados. IB is responsible for attracting, winning and sustaining investment for Barbados. The agency is also responsible for promoting the export of indigenous services and goods while managing and developing the Barbados business brand.
SOURCE Invest Barbados
Barnacle Grenada – Grenada Newspaper and Business Journal – BRIAN PAYEA, TRIPADVISOR, TO DELIVER KEYNOTE REMARKS AT CARIBBEAN HOTEL & TOURISM CONFERENCE, JUNE 1
THE CARIBBEAN (May 6, 2011) - Brian Payea, head of industry relations, TripAdvisor, will deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony of the inaugural Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Conference (CHTC). Taking place June 1-3 at the Lloyd Sandiford Erskine Centre in Barbados, CHTC is organized by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), the Barbados Tourism Authority, and the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association.
CHTC is a new annual tourism summit which brings together hotel and tourism experts and industry professionals to examine forecasts and trends for the Caribbean as well as develop plans to overcome specific challenges faced by the region.
In his role at TripAdvisor, Mr. Payea leads the trade relations practice where he focuses on fostering communications with the travel industry and strengthening the ties between TripAdvisor and the hospitality community. his department builds tools for hoteliers and other hospitality professionals to take advantage of the wealth of traveler-contributed information on TripAdvisor and other social media.
Other confirmed speakers and panelists for CHTC include:· Josef Forstmayr, president of CHTA· Colin Jordan, president, Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association · Jean-Claude Baumgarten, vice chairman, World Travel & Tourism Council · Cindy Estis Green, managing partner, The Estis Group· Ian Burns, CEO & chairman, RedJet· Hugh Riley, secretary general, Caribbean Tourism Organization· Berthia Parle, MBE, general manager, Bay Gardens Beach Resort and past president, CHTA· Peter Odle, chairman, Mango Bay Resorts and past president, CHTA· Vernice Walkine, vice president marketing and communications, Nassau Airport Development Company The conference's underlying theme is "Tourism is Key," CHTA'sadvocacy campaign designed to raise awareness for the importance of tourism on all Caribbean communities and how all industries are linked to tourism. "Tourism is Key" is based on data from the Oxford Economics Report, which was commissioned by CHTA with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). New statistics will be unveiled during the first CHTC general sessions.
"The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association is very happy to welcome delegates to the inaugural Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference. we are excited to work with the CHTA, our parent organisation, but an organisation that we helped to start many years ago," said Colin Jordan, president, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association. "To have acted as one of the catalysts for this event and to have the opportunity to host it underscores the leadership in tourism that Barbados has provided over the years. we look forward to sharing with our Caribbean colleagues on matters that speak to the challenges and opportunities we face daily as we work at our businesses to develop them and make them truly effective organisations that serve our societies and ourselves."
CHTC includes an allied trade show component which will also serve as the platform for the presentation of the Caribbean Employee and Supervisor of the Year awards.
CHTC kicks-off with the Interval International Shared Ownership Investment Conference (SOIC) as a pre-conference event, June 1, also at the Lloyd Sandiford Erskine Centre. Interval International is offering a discounted registration fee to CHTA members interested in attending both SOIC and CHTC. For information, visit sharedownershipinvestment.com.
Registration for CHTC as well as the trade show exhibitor set-up officially opens at noon on June 1. The opening ceremony for CHTC will take place from 6 – 7:30 pm followed by an opening reception in the trade show, sponsored by the Barbados Tourism Authority.
In addition to the invaluable networking opportunities, CHTC features the following general sessions: Understanding the Numbers: Evaluating the Oxford Economics Report, Performance Review Of The Industry And forward Projections – At this session, CHTA will unveil the 2010 data from the Oxford Economics Report illustrating the impact of travel and tourism on Caribbean economies. a panel of forward-thinking tourism leaders representing various sectors of the Caribbean tourism industry will share their visions for the region and examine the statistics behind CHTA's Tourism is Key message in order to fully comprehend the many direct and indirect ways in which the Caribbean is dependent on travel & tourism. meanwhile a panel of global travel & tourism experts will present industry forecasts to set the tone for discussions throughout the conference. Intra-Regional Tourism – Expanding our Market by Looking within – The concept of augmenting our tourism arrivals by targeting our next door neighbors within the Caribbean is not a new one, however, the lack of airlift in the region, along with the red tape issues associated with visas, has curtailed and diminished regional tourism. While none can deny the potential, this session examines the challenges the region must overcome in order to open our doors to our neighbors. Thinking Beyond Linear Economics: value of Linkages to the Tourism industry & Social and Economic Responsibility – While many are starting to accept that Tourism is Key to the economic recovery and sustainability of the Caribbean, as an industry we've yet to fully maximize the resources available within the various linkages particular to our region. Beginning with an overview of local agriculture and how it can be leveraged to minimize the region's dependence on expensive foreign imports, this session will demonstrate various linkages from which the Caribbean tourism industry stands to benefit significantly. Caribbean Crossfire: is the Sky the Limit, or is the Limit The Sky: International And Regional Air Capacity Forecasts, State of The Aviation Industry – This timely session examines the international forecast on air capacity and how it may affect the Caribbean. The panel of experts will include airline industry executives as well as tourism leaders throughout the region addressing ongoing airlift challenges from various points of view. The discussion will examine the root of these obstacles and focus on steps that can be taken to prevent them from diminishing our potential to attract visitors to the Caribbean. Marketing – Marketing experts will discuss the top 10 marketing trends and how CHTA members can incorporate these practices into their business strategies.
