1. the process of purchasing property (which may differ from that in the overseas purchaser’s home country);
2. financing the purchase and Exchange Control Authority regulations pertaining to financing;
3. taxes and duties related to the purchase; and
4. the benefits of purchasing the property through an offshore company.

The process of purchasing property

Whether dealing with any one of the two systems of title in Barbados, unregistered or registered, there are three main steps in the process of purchasing property. They are:

1. the pre-contract negotiations;
2. the agreement for sale; and
3.  the conveyance and completion.

The pre-contract negotiations

During the pre-contract negotiations, the vendor and the purchaser negotiate and settle the terms of the sale and purchase including the purchase price, the size of the deposit required and the time frame for completion. During negotiations the purchaser should mark all correspondence between the purchaser and the vendor as “subject to contract” to avoid inadvertently creating a contract at this stage. If the purchaser’s attorney is not involved in the pre-contract negotiations, the purchaser should share all of the terms of the settled negotiations with his or her attorney.

The agreement for sale

Following the pre-contract negotiations, the parties normally proceed to document the terms of the sale and purchase in a formal written document called an agreement for sale. This agreement is usually prepared by the vendor’s attorney and sent to the purchaser’s attorney. The agreement should contain a full description of the property to be sold, the liabilities subject to which it is held like restrictive covenants or encumbrances and any special terms agreed upon by the parties. Where either the vendor or the purchaser resides outside of Barbados, the agreement for sale should be made subject to receipt of Exchange Control Authority approval for the sale and purchase.

It is the responsibility of the purchaser’s attorney to approve the agreement subject to any desired amendments. Once both parties are satisfied with the terms of the agreement they execute it in duplicate and the purchaser pays the deposit to the vendor’s attorney. The vendor’s attorney normally holds the deposit as stakeholder for both parties to deal with it in different ways. For example, where the purchaser breaks the contract, the deposit is paid to the vendor and where the vendor breaks the contract, the deposit is returned to the purchaser. The purchaser’s attorney normally retains one copy of the agreement while the vendor’s attorney retains the other copy.

The conveyance and completion

Once the agreement for sale has been executed, the vendor’s attorney prepares a draft conveyance or transfer of the property. The vendor’s attorney sends the draft to the purchaser’s attorney for review together with copies of the title deeds (if not sent before). On receipt of the title deeds and the draft conveyance or transfer, the purchaser’s attorney investigates title and reviews the draft conveyance or transfer and makes any necessary amendments. The purchaser’s attorney then prepares questions about the property called requisitions which are sent to the vendor’s attorney for his or her reply.

If the purchaser is obtaining a mortgage or charge, the purchaser’s attorney will send copies of the prior title deeds and draft conveyance or transfer to the lender’s attorney for his or her comment as well. The lender’s attorney investigates title, prepares the mortgage or charge and sends requisitions to the purchaser’s attorney for his or her reply.

Where either the vendor or the purchaser resides outside of Barbados an application has to be made to the Exchange Control Authority for the transfer of the property. This application is made by either the vendor’s attorney or the purchaser’s attorney in accordance with the terms of the agreement for sale.

When the conveyance or transfer is settled, the vendor’s attorney finalises it and sends it to the purchaser’s attorney for execution by the purchaser. If the purchaser is on island at the time of execution his or her signature can be witnessed by his or her attorney-at-law. Where the purchaser executes the conveyance or transfer overseas in a Commonwealth country his or her signature should be witnessed by any one of the following:

• a diplomatic or consular representative for Barbados;
• a Judge of any superior court;
• a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Oaths empowered to administer oaths or declarations;
• a mayor of any city or corporation; or
• a Notary Public.

Where the conveyance or transfer is executed in a non-Commonwealth country it should be witnessed by any one of the following:

• a diplomatic or consular representative for Barbados;
• a Judge of a superior court; or
• a Notary Public.

Once the relevant parties have:

• completed their title investigations,
• received satisfactory replies to their requisitions,
• received approval for the transfer from the Exchange Control Authority,

and the line marks have been pointed out to the purchaser or his or her agent, the fully executed conveyance or transfer together with all other documents which constitute title to the property are exchanged for the balance of the purchase price.

Financing and Exchange Control Authority Regulations pertaining to financing

An overseas purchaser should discuss with his or her attorney how he or she plans on financing the purchase of the property as Exchange Control Authority approval may be required.

A purchaser can either bring in funds to finance the purchase or seek a mortgage from a local bank or an external bank licensed to carry on banking business in Barbados.

Where the purchaser is bringing in funds to purchase the property, this money should be registered with the Exchange Control Authority prior to the application for Exchange Control permission for the transfer of the property. Where the purchaser re-sells the property the Exchange Control Authority will require evidence of registration of the funds used initially to purchase the property before it grants permission to remit the proceeds from resale outside of Barbados. The Exchange Control Authority will permit a sum equivalent to what the purchaser registered to be remitted on resale. The exportation of the excess sale proceeds will be subject to regulation from the Exchange Control Authority and permission may not be granted for same to be taken out as a lump sum but rather in increments over time.

Where the non-resident purchaser is obtaining a mortgage, Exchange Control Authority permission may be required for the loan and/or mortgage depending on the purchaser’s nationality. Where the purchaser is a Barbadian national residing outside of Barbados, the purchaser will not require Exchange Control Authority permission for the loan but will require permission for the mortgage. Where the purchaser is non-resident and non-Barbadian, Exchange Control permission is required for both the loan and the mortgage. In our experience, this permission is not generally easily obtained by a non resident non-Barbadian.

Taxes and duties related to the purchase

On a sale and purchase there are a number of taxes which are payable by the parties. The following table shows the most common taxes and duties which are payable, how they are calculated and by whom they are payable.

Click the link to view this table: Taxes and duties related to the purchase

On completion of the sale and purchase, the new owner is responsible for the payment of the land taxes, which are due yearly. Unpaid land taxes are a charge on the property and the Land Tax Department can sell properties with land tax arrears.

The benefits of purchasing the property through an offshore company

Property transfer tax and stamp duty are payable on the sale or transfer of real estate and shares in Barbados. As a result, non-nationals and non-residents often opt to own property in Barbados through a company incorporated in another jurisdiction. When they are ready to dispose of the property the sale is effected by selling the shares of the company offshore. Such a sale does not attract Barbados property transfer tax and stamp duty because the sale does not take place in Barbados.

The advice of an attorney qualified to practise in the jurisdiction in which you wish to incorporate the company should be obtained to determine:

1. whether a company incorporated in that jurisdiction can be used for the purpose of owning real estate in Barbados;
2. the steps and legal requirements for setting up the company in that jurisdiction;
3. the fees and charges for setting up the company in that jurisdiction.

Once the company is incorporated, its registration must be maintained and the necessary license fees, if required, should be paid to ensure that the company is not struck off the register.

Before a company incorporated outside of Barbados can own property locally, it must first be registered in Barbados as an external company. Annual returns must be filed at the Corporate Registry together with the prescribed fee to maintain an external company. Failure to file these returns and pay the fee can lead to interest and penalties being charged as well as the company being struck off the register.

Clarke Gittens Farmer is a commercial law firm, providing legal services for both domestic and international corporate and private clients. The firm has a reputation for high quality work in property, banking, corporate, commercial and business law areas. The firm is the Barbados member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms.

The information provided in this article is not comprehensive and is not intended to constitute professional legal advice.

© Clarke Gittens Farmer

All rights reserved

Property listing special

All new agencies can list their properties for sale, long term or holiday rental at $5 BBD per listing per month for a minimum of 50 listing spaces.

Advertising special

All new clients will receive 20 % off our banner and other advertising options for a minimum sign up period of 3 months.

This offer is available for all NEW clients from 16 May 2012 until 30 August 2012.

* Remember that all you need to do is email us as much content and images as you like and we will create the property listings for you! If your listings are already on another website, even better, as all you need to do is send me the links to the listings you would like made live on BPL.

Contact us today to take advantage of these special offers and let us know if you would like to receive any further information.

Just have a look at the images below…

This year’s Tickled Pink proceeds have benefited Camp Pride, a two week camp run by Krystal Boyea of the Diabetes Association of Barbados, aimed at juvenile diabetics ages 5 to 16 to help them learn to manage their disease in a supportive environment.

Stephanie Barnes Interior Design Studio offers clients not only event and private party design, but also specializes in design services for private residences, restaurants, and hotels.

Get in touch with Stephanie today:

This year’s ‘Show Case of Distinctive Properties’ features some of Barbados’s finest properties for sale and rent. Alleyne Real Estate’s in house book also provides useful information about buying property in Barbados and property consultancy services.

The classy look and feel makes it the ideal guide for display in your home and great effort has been made to bring the viewer a book that is relevant, well organized, and easy to read.

Director Paul Alleyne Says;

We believe that it is very important to showcase our client’s properties in the best possible light. To achieve this we have created a high quality real estate and villa rental publication that also features a few select industry partners.

This year’s guide is novel by design featuring a flip book concept with ‘real estate sales’ and ‘luxury villa holiday rentals’. This coupled with a unique size makes the book excellent for handling and travelling with.

If you are looking for property in Barbados Alleyne Real Estate would be happy to post, delivery, or send an electronic copy of the publication for you today.

To order your free copy please contact the Alleyne Real Estate team.

Have a serious look at how much you can afford to spend and what building costs will likely amount to. If you’re not a cash buyer, set up a meeting with the loan department at your bank to confirm what loan you are eligible for. Knowing what funds you will have to work with will help you with your design planning.

Also factor in additional costs associated with mid-project changes. Chances are, as our friends at John Edwards Construction noted; “Your project will cost more than you’ve planned. It is inevitable.”

2. Find your plot of land

Before you can start designing your floor plans and building your dream home, you obviously need to locate a lot (we have numerous agents who can help you with this process!). It is always wise to double check covenants, drainage, zoning and any surrounding building development with your attorney (and or your agent).

3. Get professional

Next up, you’ll need to put together a team of people to make this all happen. An architect, contractor, quantity surveyor and interior designer come to mind. Chances are the architect you select will have his own team of people to offer you, if not we have quite a few we could recommend.

4. Sourcing fixtures, fittings and furnishings

Your interior designer will be able to guide you on the best way to source items for your new home, however if you’re planning to bring items in from abroad, be sure to speak to a customs broker to confirm all associated duties and a shipping company to confirm shipping costs.

5. Always have signed contracts with your professional team

To protect both sides, be sure to confirm all building, interior design, architect costs and so on prior to commencing work on your new home. Also remember to factor in a proviso which covers potential additional changes and associated costs that may occur during the process of building your home.

• key terms in the contract between an owner and the agent whom the owner is appointing to manage the property;
• liability for the acts of the owner’s agent and employees;
• duties owed to the agent and employees;
• liability to pay taxes and contributions on behalf of and in respect of employees.

Appointing an agent to manage the property

A non-resident owner of local property may decide to appoint a local agent who will manage the property in the owner’s absence. For the most part, the owner’s relationship with the agent will be governed by a contract by which the owner appoints the agent to act on his behalf and the agent agrees to so act and also carry out certain services in relation to the property. Before entering into the contract, the owner should consider the following matters which will help him to arrive at an arrangement that best suits his needs:

1. In the contract the owner should require that the agent promptly furnish him with evidence of payment of water rates and land taxes for the property.

• Unpaid water rates and unpaid land taxes are first charges on the property in respect of which they are incurred. This means that the Barbados Water Authority and the Commissioner of Land Tax, the authorities responsible for the collection of water rates and land taxes respectively, can sell the property to recover water rates or land tax arrears.

2. The agent should be required to comply with any restrictions or obligations imposed on the owner or the property by a mortgagee of the property, by Town Planning and health regulations or by any restrictive covenants in the title deeds to the property.

3. The owner should consider requiring the agent to first consult with the owner before carrying out any of the below acts that are likely to incur significant expense or liability to the owner.

• Common clauses included in a document authorising the agent to act where it is contemplated that the owner’s property will be rented are those authorising the agent to collect rent on the owner’s behalf, negotiate rent reviews, sue to recover rent due or to obtain possession of the property where a tenant refuses to leave, instruct attorneys to act on the owner’s behalf in enforcing the terms of the rental agreement and serve the requisite notices on the tenant terminating the rental agreement. ‘

4. If the agent is to have the power to sign rental agreements where the tenancy is not periodic (e.g. not monthly, yearly, quarterly etc.) or it exceeds one year, the document authorising the agent to do so should be by deed.

• Such a deed (called a power of attorney) should be recorded at the Land Registry at a cost of $4 BBD per page.
• Stamp duty of $25 BBD is payable on the deed of power of attorney as well.
• Parties should bear in mind that powers of attorney are very strictly construed and generally only confer on the agent the authority to carry out the matters specified in the deed or what must be necessarily implied to give effect to the deed.
• The owner should have his attorney peruse the power of attorney to ensure it contains the necessary clauses to empower the agent to carry out his duties.

5. Where the agent is a company or firm the owner should consider including a clause terminating the agreement when there is a material change in the management or control of the agent.

• On termination, the agent should be required to return all deeds and documents relating to the property and provide the owner with a statement of accounts.

6. In addition to termination in accordance with the terms of the agreement, some of the ways in which an agent’s authority to act on the owner’s behalf can be terminated include by the death or mental incapacity of the owner or the agent or by the bankruptcy of the owner although not necessarily by the bankruptcy of the agent.

7. You should note that an agent is not necessarily an employee of the owner, although there is nothing to prevent an owner from appointing one of his employees as an agent.

• If the owner wants an agent who will act exclusively for him and be under the owner’s supervision and control, the agent may be considered an employee and the discussion later in this article on the duties owed to and liabilities incurred in respect of the actions of an employee will apply.

Liability for the acts of the agent

Generally, an owner is responsible for all acts of his agent that are within the agent’s authority. Usually, an act falls within the agent’s authority if:

• the agent is expressly authorised by the owner to carry out the act or the act is necessary or incidental to the exercise of the express authority;
• the authority is implied from the conduct of the parties or from the nature of the employment;
• the act was initially unauthorised but the owner subsequently ratified the act by his conduct;
• the circumstances necessarily dictate that there must have been some authorisation;
• it appears as though the owner has given the agent the authority to carry out the act.

This means that an owner may be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by a third party as a result of the agent’s breach of a contractual obligation owed to a third party or the agent’s commission of some other civil wrong.

Liability under the contract with the third party

Generally an owner will be bound by any contract entered into by an agent that falls within the agent’s authority and:

1.  is in the owner’s name; or
2. the owner’s existence and identity are disclosed; or
3. the agent making the contract discloses the existence but not the identity of the owner.

However, if in the contract the agent uses terms that suggest that he is not an agent but is the principal, i.e. is contracting for himself, the true owner is not bound by that contract.

Liability for Torts (civil wrongs arising rather than by breach of contract)

Usually, if the agent is authorised to carry out the wrongful act or an act which will necessarily lead to the wrongful act and a third party suffers damage or loss as a result of the act, the owner, along with the agent, will be liable. If the act is completely unauthorised, the owner will not be responsible.

To protect himself as much as possible, an owner should see and approve contracts entered into on his behalf before they are executed and seek legal advice on the validity and effect of those contracts. An owner should issue his agent with instructions detailing the extent of his authority and any conditions imposed on the agent’s authority. In that way, the agent will be liable to compensate the owner for any loss suffered as a result of the agent’s failure to act strictly in accordance with those instructions. The owner should also obtain third party liability insurance to protect himself in the event that a third party suffers loss or injury due to the agent’s actions.

Duties owed by the owner to the agent

These will generally be governed by the contract between the owner and his agent. Nevertheless even if not specified in the contract, one of the chief obligations an owner has to an agent is to reimburse the agent for all expenses and repay the agent for any liabilities incurred or losses suffered by the agent as were contemplated when the agent was appointed or mentioned in the contract between the agent and the owner. An agent may be entitled to a lien over the owner’s goods in respect of claims for remuneration or expenses or liabilities incurred.

Hiring staff

An owner may also decide to hire his own staff to maintain and upkeep the property or provide services to the owner and guests of the property, for example:

• Housekeepers;
• Maids;
• Gardeners;
• Butlers;
• Cooks/Chefs.

The staff may either be employees or independent contractors (i.e. a self-employed person). In either event, the terms and conditions of their service should be documented in a written contract.

Liability for the acts of staff

To determine whether the owner is liable for the acts of a worker whom he or his agent has hired to provide a service in respect of the property, one must first ascertain whether the worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The label given to the worker in the contract of employment is not definitive of his status. Whether a worker is an employee and not an independent contractor will depend on the contract of employment and the way the work is carried out.

In determining whether a worker is an employee, the Courts look at a number of factors (some of which are listed below) that may either support the existence of a relationship of employer/employee or one of employer/independent contractor.

• The degree of control the employer has over the worker. Specifically, does the owner decide what work must be done, the way in which the work must be carried out, the time for the work’s completion and the means by which the work is done? Does the owner have the right to hire and fire the worker? The higher the degree of control the more likely the relationship is that of employer/employee.
• Does the owner provide the equipment, tools or staff to facilitate the work being carried out? Independent contractors are likely to provide their own resources to do the work whereas employees tend to rely on the employer’s resources.
• If the worker cannot select or delegate his work this suggests the worker is an employee.
• Is the worker free to pick and choose the work to be done? If so, the worker may be considered an independent contractor.
• Is the owner responsible for paying wages, PAYE (Pay As You Earn) or National Insurance contributions for the worker? If so, this tends toward the existence of an employer/employee relationship.

If the worker is an employee of the owner, the owner will be liable for any unlawful act that he authorised the employee to do. Generally, the employer will also be liable for any damage or loss suffered by a third party as a result of the employee’s negligence or other civil wrong committed by the employee in the course of the employee’s employment.

To diminish the likelihood that a third party will suffer loss or injury as a result of employees’ actions, the owner should ensure that signage is used to alert a third party entering the property about any activities on the property that may be likely to cause injury. The owner should see that workers are properly trained and issued with instructions listing prohibited acts and guidelines for behaviour on the job.

Nevertheless, employers have still been found liable even where an employee acted contrary to the owner’s express orders not to carry out the duties in the particular manner that led to the harm caused to the third party. The owner can always try to obtain compensation from the employee whose actions caused the injury to the third party if the owner can prove that the employee failed to exercise reasonable care and skill during the course of his employment. However, this may not be feasible if the employee does not have the means to compensate the owner.

In light of the above, an owner should consider getting third party liability insurance to protect him in the event that a third party suffers loss as a result of an employee’s actions. With respect to independent contractors, an employer is usually not responsible for their acts provided an employer ensures that he chooses a qualified or competent independent contractor to do the work and that it was reasonable in the circumstances to entrust the work to an independent contractor.

Duties owed by an employer to an employee

One of the most important duties an employer owes his employee is a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of the employee. If this duty is breached and an employee suffers loss or damage as a result, the employer will be liable to compensate the employee for the loss or damage.

The duty comprises the obligations to provide:

• competent staff (this includes hiring workers who have sufficient experience and training for the job. If the owner is aware of potentially of an employee’s reckless or otherwise dangerous behaviour, he should take steps to prevent the recurrence of such behaviour);
• adequate equipment (this includes taking reasonable steps to maintain the equipment used by the employee and to provide any safety equipment necessary for the job);
• a safe system of work with effective supervision (this may include issuing warnings, notices or instructions on how to use equipment); and
• a safe place of work.

Other duties of an employer include the requirement that he insure against liability for injury to employees. He is obligated to pay his employees’ wages, to only make deductions from the employee’s salary which the employee agrees to or that are required by legislation (e.g. deductions of national insurance (‘NIS’) contributions and PAYE (discussed below) and not to breach mutual trust and confidence. A breach of mutual trust and confidence may arise where the owner failed to investigate a genuine safety complaint of an employee or where an employee is falsely accused of a crime on flimsy evidence.

With respect to persons employed to perform household duties at the property, the Domestic Employees (Hours of Duty) Act, Chapter 344 of the Laws of Barbados and the Domestic Employees (Rate of Pay and Hours of Duty) Order, 1982 require that such persons be paid no less than $1.50 BBD per hour and generally should not be employed for more than 44 hours in a week unless the employee agrees and is paid overtime. The employer is required to keep a record of the hours of overtime worked by the domestic employee. The employee is entitled to an hour break in every work day. This break is not included in determining the number of hours of work done by the employee. The employee is also to be granted two rest periods, each of not less than 24 hours consecutive rest, in every month.

Liability to pay NIS

The provisions of the National Insurance Act Chapter 47 of the Laws of Barbados (‘the National Insurance Act’) impose several obligations on an employer, chief of which is to pay NIS contributions in respect of employees to the National Insurance Fund.

The Act defines an employer as,

any person employing one or more persons under a contract of service, whether expressed or implied, oral or in writing and includes any agent, manager or representative of such person, who is responsible directly or indirectly for the payment in whole or in part of remuneration of an employed person.

In determining the existence of a contract of service, the factors for identifying whether a person is an employee or an independent contractor, mentioned earlier in this article, apply. If a worker is an employee, he is employed under a contract of service. However, if he is an independent contractor he is employed under a contract for service and the Act will not apply. If an owner is uncertain about whether a worker is an employee for the purposes of the Act, the owner should contact the National Insurance Office.

Payment of NIS Contributions

Generally, an employer must pay NIS contributions in respect of each employee. NIS contributions should be paid to the National Insurance Office within 15 days after the end of each month and the employer should furnish the employee with evidence that the contribution has been paid. If an employer fails to pay the contributions on time, he will incur interest at the rate of 1% per month.

If an employer fails to pay the contributions altogether and the employer is an individual, he can be fined $2,500 BBD or be imprisoned for 6 months or both. If the employer is a company, the fine is $5,000 BBD. Unpaid NIS contributions are also a charge on the employer’s property. This means that your property can be sold to recover outstanding contributions. If an employer has failed to pay contributions and as a result of the non-payment the employee has lost the maternity or sickness benefit to which the employee would otherwise have been entitled, the employee can sue the employer to recover the amount of the benefit lost.

Income Tax Obligations (PAYE)

Every employer who has employees earning more than BDS$481.00 per week or BDS$2083.00 per month is required to register as an employer with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue. The employer will then be issued with a number of forms to facilitate the deduction of income tax from the employee’s salary. An employer should consult the Inland Revenue Department, a local accountant or attorney-at-law specialising in income tax issues if he has any queries about the procedure.

The employer is obligated to pay all sums deducted to the Commissioner on or before the 15th of the month following the month in which the sums were deducted. The employer is also obligated to deliver personally or by post to his employee a certificate setting out, among other things, the total amount of income tax deducted in the preceding year.

Failure to pay the income tax deduction will result in the employer being liable to pay a fine of no less than BDS$10.00 but no more than $10,000 BBD. The employer must also pay:

• a penalty of 10% of the amount that was not deducted or paid or $10 BBD whichever is greater;
• interest at the rate of 0.5% per month for each month that the amount due was not paid;
• and as a penalty an amount equal to the tax that should have been deducted.

Conclusion

When engaging an agent or staffing his property an owner should seek the advice of an Attorney-at-law who specialises in agency and employment law as well as an accountant and/or a tax professional to ensure that his interest are protected.

Clarke Gittens Farmer is a commercial law firm, providing legal services for both domestic and international corporate and private clients. The firm has a reputation for high quality work in property, banking, corporate, commercial and business law areas. The firm is the Barbados member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms.

The information provided in this article is not comprehensive and is not intended to constitute professional legal advice.

© Clarke Gittens Farmer

All rights reserved

BARBADOS SHOWROOM

Jenny Blanc Interiors Barbados showroom is located in the popular Sunset Crest neighbourhood in St James. The showroom is a haven for anyone who loves to create a beautiful home in the Caribbean. The traditional style property displays a wealth of stunning accessories and furniture sourced worldwide by Jenny Blanc.

INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE

View the portfolios demonstrating the design team’s award-winning residential projects both in the Caribbean and the UK. Appointments can be made for an introductory meeting to discuss your requirements. The company is happy to take on commissions of every size and style.

EXCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS

See an ever-changing collection of bespoke furniture made by the best artisans in Barbados. Jenny Blanc Interiors can also offer a complete service to procure and install no less than six of the top international brands of outdoor furniture to residential and contract clients across the Caribbean.

See more images of Jenny Blanc Interiors Barbados showroom and past projects below…

The experienced showroom team headed up by Emma Blanc can source anything you require.

Apart from the Reggae Beach Party, the other events include The Vintage Reggae Show & Dance at The Oval on Friday, 27th April, Bajan Reggae Night at The Oval on Saturday, 28th April and Reggae on the Hill at Farley Hill on Sunday, 29th April.

Of these 4 events, Reggae on the Hill is by far my favourite (providing it doesn’t rain). And, actually the weather is looking very promising this week, so fingers crossed it continues into the weekend!

I missed Reggae on the Hill last year so I’m fully ready to take in the sweet reggae tunes of Jah Cure, Capleton, Tanya Stephens and a little Everton Blender! Those aren’t the only artists playing, have a look at the list below.

Reggae on the Hill 2012

Date: Sunday, 29th April, 2012
Start: 11:00 am
Venue: Farley Hill National Park
Hosted by: Peter Coppin of Hott 95.3
Line up:

Ticket prices (in BBD)

Standard entry

• Early Bird tickets: $70 (SOLD OUT)
• Early Bird tickets: $80 (limited stock)
• Regular tickets: $100

• Early Bird VIP: $250 (limited stock)
• Regular VIP: $300

Buy your tickets online here…

Transportation

The Transport Board, is providing a shuttle service for the Digicel Reggae on the Hill 2012 event to and from Farley Hill.

Price of shuttle service

• $5.00 BBD one-way
• $7.00 BBD round trip

From the Fairchild Street and Princess Alice Terminals

• Service will commence from 9:00 am and will continue on demand.

From the Speightstown Terminal

• Service will commence from 9:30 am and will continue on demand.

Please note: these services will continue throughout the day…

For those of you familiar with how our Barbados yellow buses drive, this one was no different and perhaps got a bit crazy towards the end!

Luckily, touring the island can be just as easy and fun to do when travelling in a convoy with packed coolers and plenty of nibbles!

Not sure where to start from or where to go?

Besides the places in the images above, check out No. 3 on this blog post for rum shop tour ideas.

One of my favourite lunch spots on the West coast is for sale!!! The Cassareep Café business in Speightstown is for sale. This cute little spot, situated on the beach, shaded by trees is known for its food and hospitality. For years Cassareep has served great meals, coffees, hosted weddings, parties, you name it. For a small venue, this business has punched way above its weight entertaining holidaymakers and locals alike. To say it’s well loved is an understatement. I for one, sincerely hope the new owner is as successful as the current proprietor Saman Golesorkhi. Sam already has several interested parties in purchasing the business, if you’re interested yourself, you can drop him a line at this email address or call his cell on: 234-6568.

If you’ve never heard of this business, check the website and Facebook page.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg macaroni elbows or macaroni long pasta
• 1 cup milk
• a knob of butter
• 1 tsp mustard (Dijon or English mustard for a little spice)
• 8 oz cheddar cheese (grated)
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste (cayenne, pepper sauce or fresh black pepper)
• Breadcrumbs (to cover top of pie)
• 1-2 tbsp ketchup or sliced tomatoes in 1 layer (optional)
• 2 eggs (optional)

Method

Before you start you’ll need a pot, an oven proof dish, colander, grater, measuring cup or mug.

Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC).

Boil a medium pot of salted water, throw in your macaroni and cook uncovered until al dente. Strain and cool down with cold water to stop pasta from cooking. Leave al dente pasta in strainer.

Rinse the same pot, put over low heat and throw in finely chopped onion, butter, milk, mustard, most of your cheese (hold some back to sprinkle on top of the pie), salt and pepper to taste. Mix together well until cheese is melted.

Add macaroni into cheese mixture and fold cheese into pasta until covered. (Make sure your macaroni and mixture look moist NOT swimming in liquid). Do not mix for too long to avoid a mushy mess.

Pour into your oven proof dish, sprinkle the remaining cheddar and breadcrumbs on top. Bake until cheese is nice and bubbly and the top of your pie is a nice golden colour. Maybe 30 minutes depending on your oven.

Let the pie cool for about 15 minutes before serving.

1. Hire an architect or a designer (or both.) No doubt you’re artistically gifted, have great taste and recently downloaded a free computer-aided-drawing program – trust me, you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. Dealing with these professionals also creates a buffer between you and the contractor, which works to everyone’s mutual benefit.

2. Make sure your contractor is insured. And if you’re renovating, make sure your house is insured. Medical insurance might not be a bad idea too.

3. Never make any assumptions. Your contractor should be working off of a scope of work supplied by the architect/designer. If it’s not listed, it’s not included in the cost.

4. When possible, source your building material and finishings locally. Importing these items opens you up to the fresh hell of dealing with Bajan customs’ officers, shipping delays and purchases that have either been damaged or mysteriously disappear. All of these cause delays, and delays create additional costs.

5. Most architects consult with structural engineers, most designers do not. That really annoying wall that is throwing off the balance of the house’s Feng Shui, or having a adverse effect of the “flow” of the living room, might be structurally significant. When using a designer, and for your own peace-of-mind, ask for structural drawings.

6. Your project will cost more than you’ve planned. It is inevitable. To minimize the extent of these additional costs try to stick to the original scope of works as closely as possible. And when there are modifications or alterations to the scope, have your contractor quote you for these changes before they are undertaken. Unless you like surprises.

Contact details

• e: johninc@caribsurf.com
• t: +1-246-271-5504
• f: +1-246-271-6374

The season started on March 17th and continues to March 31st.

Here’s the schedule for Holders 2012:

Monday, March 19th — The Cole Porter Story

Some of Cole Porter classics include ‘Let’s Do it’; ‘Anything Goes’; ‘Night and day’; ‘I get a kick out of you’ and ‘Begin the Beguine’. The multi talented singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe and one of the London West End’s brightest stars, Hannah Waddingham create a special evening of sublime songs and nostalgia.

Wednesday, March 21st — KAYA: Born Under The Star of Change

A multi platinum selling artist and best selling Author returns to music after 15 years of self discovery; Kaya will be performing songs from his newest release ‘Born Under The Star Of Change’ with his band of first class musicians from New York City. Special guest, Estas Tonne, who is a Gypsy troubadour and phenomenal guitarist will also be performing. Estas Tonne has travelled the world performing and sharing the magic of his roots and Latin influenced music.

Friday, March 23rd — Comedy Night: The Gag Reflex

Kit Hesketh-Harvey (best known for thirty years as the singer/songwriter of Kit and the Widow, ‘Just A Minute’ veteran and co-star on the first ever BBC Comedy ‘Prom at the Albert Hall’) has teamed up with the composer and accordionist; James McConnel, in a new programme of his original cabaret and theatre songs, both hilarious and moving, they will explore contemporary events, local scandals and the extraordinary vagaries of the human heart.

Saturday, March 24th — Holders Music Hall Night

This will be a veritable cornucopia of musical and theatrical talents headlined by one of the great jazz voices of our time; the hugely entertaining Claire Martin and her Trio. Also on the night, the maverick-but-massively-charismatic talents of Russian/Israeli guitarist Estas Tonne and two great pianists James McConnel and Joe Stilgoe will do musical battle on stage. More surprises and delights to be announced.

Monday March 26th — The King of Swing with Julian Bliss

The young clarinet virtuoso Julian Bliss leads his ensemble through some of the great tunes of the swing era in his tribute to the King of Swing, Benny Goodman. Bliss recreates the exciting sound of swing from the 30′s and 40′s, staying true to the authentic feel but naturally with a modern twist.

Wednesday March 28th — French Soiree: The Songs of Piaf with Eve Loiseau

Holders takes on the style and chic of 20th century Paris for an evening. Eve Loiseau’s interpretations of Piaf’s songs together with the fascinating tale she tells reminds us of just how great a singer and personality ‘the little sparrow’ was. La vie en rose, Sous le ciel de Paris, Milord, Autumn Leaves, Padam Padam, C’est merveilleux, L’accordéoniste, Non je ne regrette rien and many more, accompanied by Fiona Barrow, on violin and Edward Jay, on accordion.

Thursday March 29th — Classical Night: Opera Recital with Joan Rodgers CBE

The Holders Season is thrilled to welcome one Britain’s most admired and successful international sopranos, Joan Rodgers CBE. Joan has worked with many of the world’s leading conductors, orchestras and opera houses with her appearance at the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ having introduced her to a worldwide television audience of millions. Also performing is young, gifted British clarinettist Julian Bliss, who has appeared as a soloist with many world renown orchestras and has performed at the Lincoln Centre and for the Queen’s 80th Birthday. For his second season appearance, Julian will present a programme of classical works accompanied by pianist Robert Bottriell.

Saturday March 31st — Gala Night

The global phenomenon Ennio Marchetto is the original transformation artist, revolutionizing the art of origami into a unique performance that is nothing short of comic genius. With his hilarious physical comedy, a sizzling soundtrack and ingenious paper costumes, Ennio magically and hysterically morphs into over 50 of our favourite personalities from Lady Gaga and Eminem to Fred Astaire and Mona Lisa. Wonderfully, wickedly funny! Direct from Cuba Habana Sax features four incredible saxophones and one astonishing percussionist; their high voltage mix of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, funk, hip-hop and dance is original, uncompromising, entertaining and not to be missed!

Use the following contact details to get in touch with Holders to book your tickets:

• Email: theseason@holders.net
• Box Office: Holders House, St. James, Barbados
• Tel: +1 246 432 6385
• Fax: +1 246 432 6461

See PDF below for contact information…