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Nature Island of the Caribbean
This 290-square-mile (750 sq km) island is a must for eco-tourists, naturalists, botanists, divers and visitors seeking holiday adventure. Dominica is one of the few Caribbean islands that has truly changed very little since Columbus visited and named it 500 years ago.
Known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica has a unique micro-climate – lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, thundering waterfalls, cloud-covered hills, sulphur springs, pools of bubbling therapeutic mud and hot mineral streams. This tropical wonderland has 365 rivers, many of them providing excellent swimming. The exotic animals and plants that have been wiped out on nearby islands thrive here. Nature is spectacularly and uncontrollably rampant.
When you hike through the island's forests, you are as close to nature as it is possible to get. Rich in ferns, wild orchids and giant, flowering trees, they are home to bats, iguanas, stick insects and blacksmith beetles so big they can be heard moving about on the forest floor. There are five species of snakes – none of them poisonous – and more than 160 bird species, including two endemic but endangered parrots, making Dominica a magnet for bird-watchers.
Some of the island’s most dramatic sights can be seen in the 17,000-acre (69sq km) Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a designated World Natural Heritage Site. Here you’ll see mist-veiled peaks looming over the rainforest and marvel at the Boiling Lake, where sulphurous springs sizzle and steam at up to 197F (92C).
Marine life off the island is equally awe-inspiring. There are excellent dive sites with peaks, sheer walls, valleys and hot springs on the seabed. In the winter breeding season – November to March – humpback, pilot whales and especially sperm whales and their calves can be seen in the deep, calm offshore waters. Whale-watching trips are very popular with visitors.
Another vital aspect of Dominica is that it is now the home of 3,000 surviving descendants of the Caribs, the pre-Columbian people who gave the Caribbean its name. Although the Carib language has perished, they have their own territory, where their baskets and wood-carvings are sold to visitors and some of their traditions are maintained, such as whaling.
The capital, Roseau, is the best base from which to journey into the interior. It’s a quiet town where, although English is the country’s official language, you’ll hear the French-based Creole patois spoken in the streets, markets, cafes and many rum shops. Night-life is usually calm and relaxed except, perhaps, when the island hosts the annual three-day World Creole Music Festival, attracting star singers and musicians from throughout the French-speaking Caribbean, the United States, Africa and Europe.
Dominica Facts
Capital: Roseau
Population: approx. 70,000
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar, US$ Dollar widely accepted
Official language: English; French-based Creole/Patois widely spoken
Political status: independent nation, member of the Commonwealth
Entry requirements: refer to the official Dominica tourist office
Area: 290 square miles (750 square km)
Religion: mainly Roman Catholic but many Protestant denominations also represented.
Business: Banks are open Monday to Thursday, 8am-3pm, and 8am-5pm on Fridays. The main banks are National Bank of Dominica, First Caribbean International Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia.
Shops open on weekdays from 8am-4pm with a break for lunch. Saturdays 8am-1pm. Some payment card acceptance.
Electricity: 220-240 volts, 50 cycles.
Telecommunications: the international dialing code for Dominica is +1 767 followed by seven digits. On the island, use the seven digits alone. To dial the UK from Dominica, the international access code is +44 followed by the area code, omitting 0, and then the number.
Time: GMT-4
Climate: Like all Caribbean islands, Dominica enjoys a warm, tropical climate throughout the year. The average daily temperatures of 81°F (27°C) tend to be tempered by trade winds. The driest time is between January and April but showers can occur throughout the year, however they are usually short lived.
WHY DOMINICA
- Desirable destination and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Low building costs and cheap labour
- Limited existing housing stock to European standards
- Shortage of hotel and overnight rooms
- Land and property values below Caribbean average but starting to rise
- Growing demand from foreign buyers for Dominica properties (see below)
- Dominica has embarked on a major eco-tourism program not mass tourism
- Eco-tourism is the fastest growing segment over the next 10 years
- Dominica has recently completed Green Globe certification
- The Commonwealth of Dominica is becoming increasingly the preferred investment destination in the Caribbean for conducting business.
The country's characteristics include the following:
- stable investor climate
- value for money property prices but on the increase
- an efficient and independent judiciary system
- democratic political system
- ideal geographic location, proving easy access to the Caribbean
- English is the official language
- no capital gains tax
- no estate tax
- no death tax
- no restriction on repatriation of profits
- no restriction to own a 100% locally registered company
- no foreign exchange control
- air, sea and land transportation links
- unspoilt nature and favourable climate and a laid back lifestyle
The Market
Year-round sunshine, palm-fringed sandy beaches, warm turquoise water… It’s not difficult to see why so many people jet out to the Caribbean for a dose of rest and relaxation each year, fuelling a stable tourism-based property market. And it appears that these tropical islands have confounded the doom mongers who expected a downturn in the US real-estate market to have a massive knock-on effect in the Caribbean. These concerns have proved to be unfounded, as both tourist numbers and the demand for property from overseas investors continued to be stable, meaning that the Caribbean property market continues to flourish and will continue to do so in the future.
While these islands may only be a short hop from the USA or Canada, it seems that the number of British buyers in the Caribbean is also on the increase. We are seeing a lot more Europeans too, especially Dutch, Germans, French and Scandinavians. But it’s the British in particular who feel most at home with the Caribbean property. The Caribbean is part of the Commonwealth, so British buyers feel comfortable with the laws. And the islands are English speaking. Plus there is easy access, with direct flights out of London.
And as for future hot-spots, it is believed that Dominica, the Nature Island of the Caribbean, will do particularly well. The number of buyers interested in Dominica is steadily rising and it is anticipated that house and land prices will increase considerably over the coming years. This is due mainly to demand for quality vacation and permanent residential homes in Dominica and not least so due to the breathtaking beauty of the island and increasing interest in eco conscious developments.
Transport Connections to Dominica
The island has two airports and is also served by fast ferry connections (L’Express des Isles) connecting Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia.
The major airport is Melville Hall, which is currently served by LIAT and American Eagle, with aircraft of up to 50 seats connecting to Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados and San Juan/Puerto Rico.
The secondary airport at Canefield is currently served by several small regional airlines, operating light aircraft with up to 10 seats and flying to St. Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Marten.
From the USA: American Eagle operates a daily service from San Juan to Dominica. American, Delta and United all serve San Juan.
From Canada: Air Canada fly into Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados.
From UK: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Caribbean Airlines fly to Antigua. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BMI and First Choice fly to Barbados.
From France: Air France operates numerous flights to Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Marten.
From Spain: Iberia has scheduled services to San Juan/Puerto Rico.
From Holland: KLM fly to St. Maartin.
From Germany: Condor operates services to Antigua and Barbados.
Lufthansa operates flights to San Juan/PR via Philadelphia.
Planning and Building
Dominica's planning laws are still in their infancy. The government welcomes residential development and any development that is located outside of the rainforest is likely to be approved by the planning authorities.
The main concern in the issuance of building permits is that sewage from any new development should not detrimentally affect natural water course or the ground water.
Dominica Property Laws and Transfer Fees
Dominica allows non-nationals to buy up to 1 acre of land for personal use free of any restrictions, and up to 3 acres of land for business use, without the need for application for an Alien Landholders License. However, the Alien Landholders Fee of 10% of the value of the land is charged by the government in any case.
Alien Land Holders License
Foreigner's buying more than 1 acre of land in Dominica for personal use, or more than 3 acres of land for business purposes, are required to apply to the Government for what is called an "Alien's Land Holding License".
The application for this license must contain:
a. particulars of the ownership, location and current value of the land to be acquired
b. the purpose for which the land is to be utilised
c. a plan prepared by a licensed surveyor, delineating the land
d. a receipt for payment of the license application fee
e. any other information required by the Minister
If the land is to be used for any building, estate or development project, with the exception of any agricultural development, the application needs to contain an approval for the development from the Planning Division
Dominica Transfer Fees
Transfer fees payable by foreign purchasers are made up as follows:
10% Alien Land Holders Fee
4% stamp duty
2.5% judicial fees
1% assurance fund
3% legal fees (plus 15% VAT)
The vendor has to pay 2.5% stamp duty on the market value of the land being sold and pays where applicable the estate agent fees.
Dominica does not presently have any laws for capital gains tax and does not restrict the repatriation of funds arising from the sale of a property.
Calibishie Information
Calibishie is located on the north coast of Dominica, immediately to the east of the village of Hampstead. The Calibishie Area is thought by many to be the most scenic and unspoiled region of Dominica. Stretching from the rugged mountains of Pennville, through the picturesque fishing village of Calibishie, to the crashing surf of the Marigot beaches, the Calibishie Coast is one of the few areas in the world where you can travel from the seashore to rain forest in little more than a mile. Calibishie is also home to Dominica's best beaches: Batibou, Hampstead, Hodges, Point Baptiste, Turtle and Woodford Hill Beaches. Lush, tropical, and secluded, the village's beaches are truly part of what makes it special.
The area has, apart from its palm-fringed beaches, freshwater rivers with secluded bathing pools, tumbling waterfalls and dense rain forest with exotic birds and lush vegetation. Visitors may hike into the rain forest wilderness to catch a glimpse of the colorful Jaco parrot. Take a spin on a mountain bike or take to the sea for great snorkeling and world-class scuba diving.
A wide variety of accommodation is available along the coast, from simple guesthouses to cliff side cottages overlooking the sea to a private villa perched on a mountainside. Real Estate, land and building lots are available for sale in and around Calibishie, most offering fantastic sea and mountain views and all priced well below Caribbean average thus representing very good investment potential. The local population is very friendly and quite a few small, local restaurants have begun to sprout up to meet the needs of growing eco-tourism to the area. Melville Hall Airport is only 8 miles away.
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