Live in Barbados

Unfortunately, there are no 100% accurate methods for measuring website traffic for sites other than your own. The best option we have is Alexa.com. Here is a list of Alexa rankings for some Barbados property websites. The smaller the number, the more traffic. So for example: BPL is currently the 461,212th most popular site in the world according to Alexa.

1. barbadospropertylist.com — 461,212
2. totallybarbados.com — 472,875
3. cariblist.com — 684,879
4. aaaltman.com — 991,148
5. terracaribbean.com — 1,497,518
6. askbarbadosrealty.com — 1,873,451
7. westcoastvillas.com — 2,043,574
8. cluttonsbarbados.com — 2,907,320
9. harrymanning.com — 3,365,225
10. totallybarbadosrealestate.com — 4,718,435

Not only is our Alexa ranking the highest out of all the sites I’ve sampled recently, but we have a few other creative techniques up our sleeves to ensure you get the right traffic to your business.

We think your property listings should get as much exposure online as possible, get in touch with us today via our contact form and find out more…

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — The Barbados government aims to achieve a deficit in the region of 2.1 per cent of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP), through the prudent financial management of its finances.
Minister of Economic Affairs, Empowerment, Innovation, Trade, Industry and Commerce, David Estwick, promised to reduce government’s expenditure, while addressing the Business Network International Week breakfast meeting. The event was held on Tuesday, at the Dining Club, Newton Industrial Estate, Christ Church.

Emphasising that the country had not escaped the challenges precipitated by the current global economic crisis, he revealed that Barbados’ real GDP contracted by 5.3 per cent; unemployment increased from 8.1 per cent in 2008, to just over 10 per cent in 2009 and the fiscal deficit widened from 6.4 per cent to 8.4 per cent of the GDP.

See full article here.

Bridgetown — Jan. 14, 2010 — As was to be expected in a country that is highly dependent on tourism, the performance of the Barbadian economy in 2009 was worse than in 2008, by most indicators. The impact of the economic and financial crisis in industrialised countries showed up in a contraction of real output, a reduction of foreign exchange inflows and an increase in unemployment.

……..Prior to the onset of the global economic recession, the Barbadian economy was forecast to slow to 1.8% in 2008 and then accelerate to 2.8% in 2009. However, it
turned out that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stagnated in 2008, and a significant contraction of 5.3% is estimated for 2009. The crisis is estimated to have cost
Barbados almost 10 percentage points in economic growth over the two years. This in large measure reflected a drop in long-stay arrivals over the two-year period of roughly 13.3% below the initial forecast, and a 3.9% decline in cruise passenger arrivals over the two years. The poor performance of tourism depressed other major sectors of the economy, which provide services to the tourism sector.

See full article here.

Justin Cole provides management and accounting services for international businesses in Barbados. He can be reached at his office: 20 Mount Clapham, St. Michael, via email at jcole@sunbeach.net or by phone at 431-0077.

Barbados is a well-regulated, low tax jurisdiction that offers a well-educated workforce, high-quality infrastructure and a fantastic quality of life. It is a very appealing location for international companies that wish to succeed in today’s highly competitive global marketplace.

Barbados offers a very competitive tax rate of only 2.5% down to 1% for international companies. This low tax rate allows international businesses to minimize their international tax burden by establishing the island as the hub of their worldwide operations. In addition, there are no withholding taxes on dividends or other income paid to non-residents by international businesses and they are also exempt from capital gains taxes. International businesses are exempt from exchange control regulations and are able to hold their bank accounts in major foreign currencies.

There are currently over 4,000 international businesses benefitting from these advantages. These businesses include international insurance, banking, treasury management, private wealth management, international trade and commerce, trust, and information and communications technology companies operating in markets across the world. International trading companies are set up to manage every kind of business imaginable including pharmaceuticals, oil and software.

Barbados’ reputation as well-regulated centre for international finance has been further enhanced by its inclusion on the “white list” released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on April 2nd, 2009. Inclusion on the “white list” means that Barbados is recognized as a jurisdiction that has substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard. This OECD standard provides for full exchange of information on request in all tax matters for the administration and enforcement of domestic tax law without regard to a domestic tax interest requirement or bank secrecy for tax purposes.

Barbados is one of only seven international business centres to be named to the “white list” of forty countries. Furthermore, it is the only independent, Caribbean jurisdiction on the “white list”, giving it a huge advantage over its Caribbean counterparts. As the leading international business centre in the Caribbean, Barbados has set itself apart and will therefore continue to have favourable growth and investment opportunities. In these turbulent times, when banks and financial centres are being extensively scrutinized by the international community, it is reassuring to both current and potential investors that the island has been formally recognized by the international community for its commitment to international standards on tax transparency.

The government began enacting legislation to provide tax incentives for international businesses decades ago. It now has an extensive network consisting of over 17 Double Taxation Agreements with foreign governments compared to the few signed agreements of its Caribbean counterparts. Barbados has developed its financial services through a treaty network that engages in tax information exchange and tax enforcement cooperation and has further enhanced its reputation by not being a tax secrecy jurisdiction.

Regulators ensure that the regulatory framework and legislation in place is enforced. The Central Bank plays an important role inspecting the financial institutions registered here to ensure operations are safe and in compliance with legislation resulting in a highly regulated and sound financial system. This stringent regulation has allowed the local banking sector to avoid the devastating bank failures that are shaking the world.

Barbados’ well-developed infrastructure makes it an appealing choice to international businesses that wish to establish the island as the centre of their worldwide operations. This includes a modern telecommunications infrastructure, a major international airport, and an educational system that produces skilled managers and workers. The local workforce can provide high-quality legal and accounting services needed by the international business community. The island’s long standing record of political, social and economic stability, coupled with its high rankings in the UN Human Development Index, Quality of Life Index and Index of Economic Freedom, further add to its appeal as a great place to invest, work and live.

The international business sector plays a major role in the local real estate market. The real estate market has benefitted in all areas including sales, long-term and short-term rentals. International business owners often purchase a second home in Barbados as they may choose to spend part of the year here overseeing their business. They may also purchase in order to take advantage of the investment opportunity offered by owning a piece of paradise. High-end rentals greatly benefit from foreign executives and managers who relocate here to work in the international sector and become long-term tenants of these properties. Short-term villa rental and hotel markets are also benefactors. Many business owners, consultants and managers from overseas operations frequent the island for a few days to several weeks at a time in order to conduct regular board meetings, consultations and on-site training. The international businesses themselves also become long-term tenants of offices, factories and warehouses from which they run their worldwide operations. International business companies are also allowed to acquire property and may choose to purchase instead of lease. Either way, the thousands of international companies that are established in Barbados provide huge benefits to the local real estate market.

Barbados truly has an appeal like no other. It stands out as a safe, regulated, low tax jurisdiction at a time when lapse regulation and risk taking around the world have resulted in the loss of trillions of dollars worldwide. Its highly developed infrastructure, high-quality of life, as well as its political, and economic stability, make the island a true gem amongst international business centres worldwide, and more specifically, within the Caribbean. Barbados really is a great place to invest, to work, and to live. After all, not much can top enjoying a rum punch while overlooking the Caribbean Sea after a board meeting!

How does Barbados’ inclusion on OECD’s “white list” benefit our reputation as a centre for international business?

Barbados’ strategy has been consistent since the introduction of a truly diversified international business sector over the past thirty years. It has focused on quality not volume mixed with transparency as opposed to secrecy. Inclusion on the OECD’s “white list” underscores this focus.
Dr. Trevor Carmichael, Q.C.
Principal, Chancery Chambers, Attorneys-at-Law

The positive endorsement of Barbados by the OECD has placed the Island at a major advantage when competing for business in the global arena. Our host of double tax treaties and bilateral tax agreements provide competitive advantages and attractive benefits for service providers and Barbados as a whole. In turn, this will improve longer term economic prospects and place Barbados in a stronger position to effectively navigate the global financial storm as the rebuilding of financial markets takes place.
Caroline Prow, ACIB MSI
Vice President, Butterfield Asset Management

Our inclusion in the recently announced OECD’s April 2009 and subsequent “white lists” is an endorsement of Barbados’ long standing philosophy toward the development of a responsible and prudently regulated international business and financial services sector. Fundamental to our international business brand is transparency and tax information exchange provisions – which form the bedrock of all our double taxation treaty agreements.
Wayne Kirton
Chief Executive Officer, Invest Barbados

The 15-acre Port Ferdinand marina project in St. Peter will attract $750 million in foreign investment and provide 500 jobs while it is being constructed, and 300 when completed.

These new details on the development were revealed during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Six Men’s site yesterday morning, which was attended by Prime Minister David Thompson. Port Ferdinand, the island’s second private marina will have upon completion 120 berths, 96 condominiums in four different styles, it will be developed over a five-year period and the first units will be up for sale in 2012.

He added, “Having taken into consideration all the factors related to this new development, I am proud to inform you that it is highly consistent with our vision for a Better Barbados.”

The Prime Minister then said the project was putting Barbados’ marine resources to good use, and noted that as the island becomes more crowded, we would have to look to the Caribbean Sea for solutions. He was pleased with the amount of foreign exchange, the expected diversification of the tourism product, as well as employment, especially for those with specialist skills in Barbados, that the project would bring.

See full article.

Very interesting article by BIMRE.com on the keys to Barbados’s redevelopment options. In the article, Paul Altman highlights Speightstown and Bridgetown as the two main areas. I for one have been hearing about Bridgetown’s Pier Head Project for many years and believe this is where the Barbados Government needs to mainly focus on.

One of Barbados’ leading realtors is arguing that the greatest potential for redevelopment on the island lies with Speighstown and the city.

Paul Altman, Managing Director of Altman Real Estate Services in a self-penned article entitled “The Next Development Wave – REDEVELOPMENT” points to  a number of areas in the city that would serve as catalysts for further development and that would greatly add to the property development that already exists.

Altman like many others believes that the Boardwalk in Bridgetown around The Careenage has vastly enhanced the area.

See full article.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Four priority areas will receive funding totalling some $400 million, in the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Country Strategy with Barbados for 2009-2013.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister David Thompson at a recent press briefing at Government Headquarters.

The four sectors and the allotments forming part of the new strategy are coastal zone management and climate change adaptation, between $60 and $80 million; water and sanitation, approximately $100 million; energy, for which $80 to $100 million will be allocated; and education, which will also receive $80 to $100 million .

Stressing that the focus on coastal zone management and climate change adaptation were key to the tourism industry, Thompson revealed that the IDB would support government’s efforts to build resilience to coastal risks.

He said that this would be done by strengthening coordination across the different sectors that influence the health of the coastal zone. He explained that it would include improving mechanisms to assess and manage risks, through better data collection and cost recovery; improving disaster risk prevention; and developing a programme of shoreline stabilisation and marine zoning.

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From today’s Anguilla News website this article demonstrates the direction young Barbadians are heading.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (November 27, 2009) – The Barbados Business Enterprise Corp. (BBEC), a public-private sector partnership which manages the newly launched Barbados Entrepreneurs’ Venture Capital Fund, has engaged the services of two young Barbadian professionals to complement its virtual management team.

See full article here.

The BTA are really coming up with some great ideas to help bring people to the island!

Barbadians living in the UK had an opportunity to meet with the nation’s Prime Minister, David Thompson, when he traveled to London on September 25 for a week long visit.

A major aspect of this trip was a special event in Reading, Berkshire, where he announced the launch of Barbados Family and Friends (BFF) Club, a unique initiative, developed by the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA). Targeting the Barbados Diaspora in key overseas markets, the aim of the scheme is to increase visitor arrivals to Barbados by rewarding members who encourage people to travel to Barbados, whether they are friends, family, neighbours or colleagues.

Members of the BFF Club can earn points for each visitor they refer, who travels to Barbados. Points will be awarded on air travel to Barbados as well as for accommodation in hotels and guesthouses.

See full article here.