April 2011
Your Positive Connection To Jamaica
Investing in Jamaica I – Jampro event London. The 17th of March saw three members of Jamaica’s Parliament, two High Commissioners and others gather together for a day of talking. Brand Jamaica was the main theme. Setting out all the reasons to invest in Jamaica at this time was an objective. Now is a unique time to be advertising Brand Jamaica. As everyone knows, the 50th Independence Day coincides with the Olympics. Puma are already covering Manhattan billboards with Jamaica branded training shoes. And Jampro has its “Meet Jamaica 2012” campaign. Investors are now very keen on items where Jamaica’s quality really counts. Like cocoa, Blue Mountain coffee, honey. Or like hotels that are flexible enough to deal with individuals’ particular needs. Quality and “value added” are so vital.
Issue 6
There is a long pass between “say” an “do” There are people who talk a lot about the things they are going to achieve but actually do nothing in the end; and there are those who say little but do a lot.
Please email your favourite proverbs to: lillalee@bhj-ltd.com
Investing in Jamaica II - BHJ’s Brixton event London, again. Eighty people gathered together on 12 April to hear about owning property in Jamaica. ‘The Woman of Proverbs’ - Lorlett Hudson – chaired a full and stimulating evening at The Brix, in the basement of St Matthew’s church. People came from far and wide, responding to our flyers, hair salon adverts and an article in the weekly Gleaner. Many also came via social media, including Blacknet, Facilitators For a Better Jamaica (FFBJ) and Twitter.
We learnt that Jamaican ginger is so top quality that the Japanese wanted to buy every last piece. Blue Mountain coffee is so top quality and reliable that it never needs to be sampled at the docks. Honey production could double. Leon Hamilton (JN), Lillalee Wright, Barbara Ledgister & Tamoy Carter
Lillalee Wright described how the origins of Bespoke Homes Jamaica lay in the difficulties her mother had experienced in finding the right home, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price. BHJ now had real estate for sale as well. And partnering with others had created an umbrella group – a one-stop Jamaica property shop. Now the Government wants to sell lots of land and some businesses. It might sell at relatively low rates if you have a good project. Tax incentives vary by sector. Certain crops attract no tax for 10 years. ICT has “exemption from taxes on income and profits in perpetuity”. The Jampro website has much more information. The message was “So what’s stopping you?”. As ‘Butch’ Stewart said: “If you want a make money, come to where the rum comes from”.
Vasle Atkinson of Jamaica National Building Society gave a comprehensive description of borrowing (and other financial) options. A similarly wide range of legal issues came from Barbara Ledgister. And Keith Williams of SNL Properties set out options for buying from large developers. The evening ended with a thought-provoking presentation from Sylbourne Sydial, the founder of FFBJ. Two lucky winners went away happy with our door prizes. Written feedback included: “very good event”, “Well organised meeting”, “very good information”. As all the food and drink were finished too, we reckon it was a splendid evening for all.
Bespoke Homes Jamaica Telephone 020 3318 0993 Mobile 077 5157 2691 www.bhj-ltd.com lillalee@bhj-ltd.com