Jump to:

Aging Gracefully in Dominica by Dr. Boaz An Introduction to Dominica Architects Banks Buying Real Estate in Dominica DOMINICA RANKED CARIBBEAN'S TOP SUSTAINABLE ISLAND - November, 2007 Economic Citizenship Exchange Rates Have you thought of investing in Dominica? How big is it? How much will it cost to rent a house? Importation of Cars Is there much crime in Dominica? Metric Conversions Purchase Requirements Rehabilitation of Harlem Plaza Residency Schools Surveyors Tax Advisors/Accountants Tax Rates What are the major towns? What are the Public Holidays in Dominica? What currency is used in Dominica? What does Dominica look like? What if I have a question that was not answered on this page? What if I want to build my own house - how much will it cost? What if I want to live in Dominica for a year? What is the population of Dominica? What type of climate does Dominica have? What type of government does Dominica have? What's the Health Care system? Where can I stay in Dominica? Where is Dominica? Will I be able to buy the things that I am used to in the States or Europe?

Aging Gracefully in Dominica by Dr. Boaz

Is the 'land of many rivers' also the 'land of longevity'?
Why is it that people in Dominica seem to grow old more gracefully and live longer than people elsewhere?

Diet and lifestyle are clearly all-important but are there other factors at work here too: quality of life perhaps, the support of families, something in the genes even?

Dominica boasts a remarkable concentration of very old people in good health and they've begun to arouse the interest of medical science.

In recent years the best hotel in Roseau, Dominica's capital, has found itself hosting some rather unusual celebrations: birthday parties, often organised by a vast extended family, for yet another of the country's citizens reaching the age of 100.

A century and still batting

Violet Wilfreda Joseph had her 100th birthday party 8 years ago. She was born in the last year of the 19th century when British colonial rule in Dominica had another 79 years to run.

So how does it feel to wake up in the morning knowing you're 108 years old?

"Glad to see the day", she told me, without a moment's hesitation.

Her mobility is restricted but she has good eyesight and hearing, an astonishingly unwrinkled face and still lives in her own modest wooden home in the centre of Roseau.

Could she give me any clues as to how she's lived so long?

Elderly Dominicans credit a diet rich in food and vegetables for their longevity.

For years she's started the day with a glass of coconut water, a drop of gin and a banana, though since her 100th birthday her family has persuaded her to drop the gin.

Fish is her favourite form of protein, especially fish heads ("I like sucking the bones", she told me) and she's always enjoyed Dominica's rich diversity of tropical fruit and vegetables.

And another important clue perhaps, she shares her home with three generations of her extended family, including several children.

They always give her a kiss before they go to school. "They keep me young", she said.

According to the Dominica Council on Aging, a charity which keeps records of the centenarians, there are currently 22 on the island in a total population of around 65,000.

That's 3 times the average incidence of centenarians as in developed countries such as Britain and the United.

And these figures are supported with written documents; birth certificates from the British colonial era alongside (mostly Catholic) baptismal records.

Dr Noel Boaz, an American professor of anatomy at the Ross Medical School in Dominica, has been researching the centenarians for the past 6 years.

Diet and lifestyle

His findings so far suggest that the key to their longevity is diet and lifestyle, not genetics.

Dominica is a mountainous island with its interior cloaked in dense rainforest. Roads were few until well into the 1960s, so when today's elderly were young long distance walking on rough terrain was a necessity of everyday life, along with hard physical work.

And their diet would have included natural products from the forest, herbs and herbal medicines, as well as that rich diversity of cultivated fruit and vegetables, almost all of it grown in their own gardens.

102 year old Rudolph Edward Georges is living proof of the benefits.

When I went to visit him one sticky tropical evening I found him lying not in but on his bed in vest and shorts. He sat up to greet me, and then came the real surprise: his handshake. I hadn't expected such strength from a 102 year old man.

For fruit and vegetables, he told me, "everything I planted I ate and everything I ate I planted".

He also produced his own cocoa, had his own chickens, goats and a cow and did the work on his smallholding after the long trek back from his job on a tobacco plantation.

His Sunday special, as he called it, was a glass of strong beer mixed with milk, eggs and sugar, plus a dash of lime and nutmeg.

Unusually among Dominica's centenarians, he smoked like a chimney (his words) until he was seventy. But it can't have had much impact on his fitness - once when his family hid his cigarettes he walked 13 kilometres to get some more.

His ten children, who are all still alive, range in age from 82 to 40, and when he was 98 Mr Georges travelled alone to England to visit one of his sons.

...but will it last?

It's hard not to feel a surge of optimism in the presence of such people, but the story of Dominica's remarkable centenarians may not have an entirely happy ending.

Dr Boaz doesn't think the phenomenon will last more than another decade or so because the lifestyle of younger Dominicans is changing.

Two American-style fast-food restaurants have recently opened in Roseau. There are TVs in even the poorest households, car ownership has risen to one in four of the population and toiling on the land is a last choice job for the young.

The era the centenarians lived through where they benefited from modernity in the form of better medical care and improved public health, while living a pre-modern lifestyle is coming to an end.

The memories had come tumbling out in the hour I spent with Mr Georges and I heard later that he'd said of our meeting: "I appreciated that, because what I had forgotten I remember now."

I too had deeply appreciated meeting him because of the glimpse he'd given me of a way of life poor in the trappings of modernity but rich in wellbeing and human potential.

Article by Noel T. Boaz, Ph.D., M.D.,
Professor of Anatomy at Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica.
Founder and President of the Integrative Centers for Science and Medicine in Ashland, Oregon.

 

An Introduction to Dominica

The Prime Minister of Dominica is Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit. The Attorney General is Mrs. Francine Baron-Royer. Hounourable Ian Douglas is Minister of Tourism, Legal Affairs and Civil Aviation. Dominica introduced Value Added Tax on 1st March 2006.

Architects

Agar & Agar Architects: Tel. (767) 448-2282

Lyn Giraud: Tel. (767) 448-3300, Fax (767) 448-3500

Eugene Royer: 30 Federation Drive Tel. (767) 245-0930

Banks

Banks are generally open 8 a.m to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 4.p.m on Fridays.

Bank of Nova Scotia
Tel (767) 448 5800
28 Hillsborough Street, Roseau

First Caribbean Bank
Tel (767) 448 2571
Old Street, Roseau

National Bank of Dominica
Tel (767) 255 2300 (switchboard number)
64 Hillsborough Street (general banking)
ATM facilities (local card).

Canefield Branch: Open 9.a.m. to 5 p.m
Portsmouth Branch: ATM facilities

Royal Bank of Canada
Tel (767) 448 2771
Bay Front, Roseau

ATM & Cirrus links.

 

To open a Bank Account most banks require the following:

1) Copy of birth certificate
2) Proof of Address
3) ID
4) Bank reference. If this cannot be obtained, at least try to get a statement stating how long you have been with the bank and that the account is in order.
5) If you have a Residence Permit, a copy of the permit is required.

Buying Real Estate in Dominica

Safe Haven can help you with all your Real Estate needs:

                
• We sell and let properties.                 
• We can apply for alien land holding licence if required.                 
• There is no capital gains tax in Dominica.                 
• We have an in-house lawyer.               

DOMINICA RANKED CARIBBEAN'S TOP SUSTAINABLE ISLAND - November, 2007

Dominica was officially ranked as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and amongst the top ten in the world when National Geographic's Centre for Sustainable Destinations surveyed conditions on 111 selected islands and archipelagos which survey appears in the November/December issue  of National Geographic Traveller.

The criteria used  to reach this conclusion were

• Environmental and ecological quality
• Social and cultural integrity
• Conditions of historic buildings and archeological sites
• Aesthetic appeal
• Quality of tourism management
• Outlook for the future.

With a score of 77 Dominica tied as the  number one rated sustainable destination in the Caribbean . Dominica is known for its beautiful Morne Trois Piton National Park which is a World Heritage site and its Boiling Lake which is the second largest in the world.

Economic Citizenship

It is possible to obtain a second passport through the Economic Citizenship Programme. Persons who obtain citizenship through this route have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as someone who is a citizen by birth. For more information visit our Citizenship page.

Exchange Rates

Cash: US $1.00 = EC $2.67

Wire transfer, bank draft or cheque:
US$ 1.00 = EC $2.6882

Have you thought of investing in Dominica?

Prices of property are very reasonable compared to other parts of the Caribbean. Dominica is an unspoilt, lush tropical Island with rainforests, rivers and waterfalls. Most importantly there is:

• No death duties
• No estate tax
• No capital gains tax

How big is it?

Dominica is 288 sq miles. The island is 29 miles long and 16 miles wide.

How much will it cost to rent a house?

Depending on the location you choose you can expect to pay from US$370 and up.

Importation of Cars

Definitions of terms used

Customs Value is freight plus the value of the vehicle.

Import Duty is 40% of the customs value plus an environmental levy of EC$3,00.00 if the car is 5 or more years old, otherwise for the EC$3,000 substitute 1% of the customs value.

Customs Service Charge is 3% of the customs value.

You Pay

Excise tax which is 28% of the customs value plus the import duty plus the customs service charge and;

Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15% on customs value plus import duty plus the customs service charge plus the excise tax.

For More Information
We recommend you contact the Port Authority at (767) 448-2401 for further information. Mr. Michael White is very helpful.

Please see the examples below for calculating vehicle importation costs.

EXAMPLE: NEW VEHICLE	EC$
Price:	$100,000.00
Freight cost:	$4,000.00
Customs value:	$104,000.00
Import duty
40% of customs value:	$41,600.00
+ Environmental Levy
(1% of customs value):	$1,040.00
+ Customs service charge
(3% of customs value):	$3,120.00
Total	$45,760.00
Excise Tax: 28% of:
customs value ($104,000.00)
+ import duty ($45,760.00)
i.e. 28% of $149,760.00	$41,932.80
VAT 15% of:
customs value ($104,000.00)
+ import duty ($45,760.00)
excise tax ($41,932.80)
i.e. 15% of $191,692.80	$28,753.92
Total charges on importation:	$116,446.72

EXAMPLE: OLDER VEHICLE	EC$
Price:	$10,000.00
Freight cost:	$4,000.00
Customs value:	$14,000.00
Import duty
40% of customs value:	$5,600.00
+ Environmental Levy	$3,000.00
+ Customs service charge
(3% of customs value):	$420.00
Total	$9,020.00
Excise Tax: 28% of:
customs value ($14,000.00)
+ import duty ($9,020.00)
i.e. 28% of $23,020.00	$6,445.60
VAT 15% of:
customs value ($14,000.00)
+ import duty ($9,020.00)
excise tax ($6,445.60)
.e. 15% of $29,465.60	$4,419.84
Total charges on importation:	$19,885.44

 

Is there much crime in Dominica?

Dominica is regarded as one of the safest countries in the Caribbean. Sensible precautions should be taken as in any country and tourists should not visit isolated areas unaccompanied.

Metric Conversions

Click here to convert sq. feet to sq. meters or acres to hectares!

Purchase Requirements

Transfer Fees

Transfer fees payable by the purchaser are made up as follows:

· 4% stamp duty
· 2.5% judicial fees
· 1% assurance fund
· 3% legal fees
· The vendor has to pay 2.5% stamp duty

All Transfer fees are calculated on the market value of the land being sold.

If you receive land as a gift or at an undervalue the transfer fees are still calculated on the market value which is the higher of the purchase price and valuation.

If you are not an OECS Citizen

If you are not a citizen of one of the OECS States you will have to pay an additional 10% on the market Value of the land regardless of how little land you purchase.

In addition you will need to obtain an Alien Landholding License to own more that 1 acre of land for residential purposes or 3 acres for business purposes.

OECS States include:

• Anguilla
• Antigua
• British Virgin Islands
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Montserrat
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent& The Grenadines

If you are a member of a CSME STATE

If you are a member of a CSME STATE (Caribbean Single Market Economy) unless you are also an OECS Citizen the Alien Land Holding Provisions apply to you when buying land and you will have to pay the additional 10% in Government Transfer Fees and apply for a License if you purchase above 1 acre for residential or 3 acres for business.

For these purposes land includes whatever is on the land.

Rehabilitation of Harlem Plaza

As printed in DOMNITJEN MAGAZINE - October, 2007

Surely you’re aware of Harlem Plaza, or perhaps you’re not 100% “au courant”. At least you’ve heard of Bobby Fredericks, an active community Rasta man, previously of Cocoa Cottages and briefly of Gingerette Estate, both of which properties blossomed under his Midas touch.

His current project involves a historic property at the Southeast corner of Newtown Savannah, a property that Bobby had his eye on from childhood. As a boy growing up on the other side of the park and playing soccer with his friend, he caught inside glimpses when he had to retrieve stray balls over the fence. When the disgruntled old proprietor yelled at the youths, Bobby dreamed of the day when he would be owner instead! Fate prevailed and Bobby got his chance after selling Gingerette, a riverside estate in Layou valley.

Starting with the purchase of the corner property in the late Spring of 2006, he started clearing out rooms and the courtyard to reveal a sound structure with solid elements of traditional Dominican architecture: hurricane shutters, jalousie windows, and interior fretwork to name a few. The multiple hipped roof that has withstood numerous hurricanes including David, was constructed with wooden pegs instead of nails and remains strong to this day. In the back, he discovered a horse stable with a huge slate stone tub and of course the typical outdoor kitchen.

While he was working on this property, the opportunity came to purchase the neighbouring residence and lot. As happens in the process of a project, things change, and in this case, Bobby’s plan expanded and he conceived of how the two properties could be integrated into a single larger venue while maintaining their individual characters. A stone wall dividing the two lots was removed to create a large open atrium and the material was reused in another project. A side verandah was removed to allow for a continuous terrace that connects the buildings above the entry space. Shutters that needed to be removed were relocated as a ‘façade’ backdrop to the stage, a nice touch.
Wood and natural materials were used as much as possible. Notice the funky bamboo light fixtures and use of palm fronds for thatched cladding. New spaces and detailing were all done with sensitivity and creativity; one need not aim for true restoration as a museum piece. Certainly additional toilets had to be added.

By December, the place was almost ready, an incredibly quick turnaround time for a business venture of this kind. Worth noting, is that by doubling the purchase price with renovations, the property value has likely more than quadrupled in this short time frame. ‘Rehabilitation’ really can be a very economical approach!
And so, Harlem Plaza was opened in time for the 2007 Calypso season. (Christening the venue Harlem Plaza is a nod to the community name that followed on from the 1972 local Harlem Festival referring to the New York Globetrotters.) This complex quickly became Roseau’s coolest live music venue, hosting large crowds for the “Mas Camp Calypso Tent” as well as smaller audiences for intimate shows and jam sessions including the popular ‘Thirsty Thursdays’. Some believe that the Mas Camp might have died off at other locations, and certainly the camp enjoyed its best year ever in their new home.

The sense of community renewal is strong along with a celebration of what Newtown has contributed to Dominica in the areas of sports and music. Newtown has had its far share of sportsmen, calypsonians (Spider, Jude, Tablet) and other cultural workers (Pat Aaron, Kiki). Harlem Plaza is also able to help community groups host fundraising events by offering low rates for such a large and multi-purpose space. Certainly jobs were created with this venture as well as a future outlet for arts & crafts. Currently, the two busts watching over the entry were created by the old sculptor from next door. 
By making these traditional buildings accessible and enjoyable to the public, Bobby’s vision and creativity may have launched a Renaissance of Newtown. As soon as he developed this property, the building next door was renovated and the old cars dumped on the property were moved.

So while Newtown nights have come to life for many, others find delight by the light of day when the lovingly restored Creole architecture shines gold and red in the morning sun.

> Click here for details about this property.

Residency

If you are coming from a Commonwealth country you are entitled to stay in Dominica for up to six months. Thereafter you will need a residence permit.

You will need to show that you are in good health, have sufficient funds to maintain yourself and your family and have no criminal record. You will also be required to state your reasons for wanting to settle here.

You will need the following:

* two passport size photographs
* medical report including HIV report
* a statement of financial position from a reputable banker
* two references including one from your employer
* marriage certificate
* proof that you have a return ticket to your normal place of residence

If you need to apply for a work permit essentially you will need to show that you will not be taking a job from a local person - in other words you will need to show how you will be benefiting the country.

E.g will you be able to employ other persons; have you special skills.

A fee of EC$500 has to accompany the application.

If you are going into paid employment your prospective employer will have to advertise the job three times and show that there are no suitable applicants.

Residence is normally for a year at a time. It is possible thereafter to apply for permanent residence and citizenship in 5 years if you are from a Commonwealth country or 7 years in other cases.

For forms and further information contact:
The Ministry of Immigration and Labour,
Government Headquarters, Roseau, Dominica
Tel (767) 448 2401.
This is a general number so be prepared to wait.

Schools

Pioneer Academy
Takes children from kindergarten to grade 6.
Small caring private school where attention is paid to the development of the "whole child". Music, art and computer studies form an intergral part of the curriculum.

Orion Academy
Takes children from grade 6 to Form 5 when they would take their CXC exams. Children range from approx age 12-16. Small classes. Languages, music, and computer studies are offered as an integral part of the curriculum. Languages taught are French and Spanish.

Surveyors

Gaetan Seaman: GS Surveys, 65 Kennedy Avenue Tel. (767) 448-2542 Fax. (767) 440-5522

Tax Advisors/Accountants

KPB Chartered Accountant
Independence Street, Roseau

Member of Association of Independent Accounting Firms.

Tel (767) 448 2511
Fax (767) 448 5201

Tax Rates

Income Tax Rates
From 1st January 2008 The Tax threshold has been raised to EC$18,000.

$18,000 - $30,000 tax 18%
$30,000 - $50,000 tax 28%
$50,000 and above is 38%

Corporation Tax

Corporation Tax is 30%

What are the major towns?

Roseau is the capital city and Portsmouth on the North West coast is the second town.

What are the Public Holidays in Dominica?

	Public Holidays: 2009
Calendar Dates	Day	Holiday
23rd & 24th February	Monday and Tuesday	Carnival
10th April	Friday	Good Friday
13th April	Monday	Easter Monday
4th May	Monday	Labour Day (May Day)
1st June	Monday	Whit Monday
28th July	Tuesday	International Cricket (One Day)
3rd August	Monday	August Monday - Bank Holiday
Independence Activities
26th-29th October	Monday - Thursday	Creole in the Park
30th October	Friday	Creole Day
3rd November	Tuesday	National Day (Independence Celebration)
4th November	Wednesday	National Day (Community Day of Service)
25th December	Friday	Christmas Day
26th December	Saturday	Boxing Day

What currency is used in Dominica?

The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.67 = US$1.00), however US dollars are accepted at most business outlets and shops. US Dollars can be changed into local currency at any of the banks or Exchange Bureaus.

What does Dominica look like?

Dominica is very mountainous with sparkling waterfalls, 365 rivers and rain forests. It is a popular destination for American and European tourists, particularly those interested in diving and eco tourism. It also has the world's second largest boiling lake. · The island is volcanic and therefore most of the beaches have black sand. There are a few white sandy beaches in the North of the Island. · Dominica is widely acknowledged to be both the best dive destination and prime whale watching island in the Caribbean.

What if I have a question that was not answered on this page?

If you want to know more about Dominica send your request for more information via email, our email address is safehaven@cwdom.dm

What if I want to build my own house - how much will it cost?

If you are building a concrete house (which is the most common in Dominica ) the cost will very much depend on the quality of the finish you require and where the property is located as transportation costs of materials from Roseau can be quite high. Building costs are now in the range of US$80 per sq ft. It could be cheaper if your home is built of wood or if you are prepared to undertake a lot of the work yourself.

What if I want to live in Dominica for a year?

You will have to apply for a residency permit, otherwise you are allowed to stay for a month at a time and would have to obtain extension. If you are coming from a Commonwealth Country, you are entitled to stay for 6 months at a time. Read more details about Residency here.

What is the population of Dominica?

The population is 71,242.

What type of climate does Dominica have?

The average daytime temperature ranges from 75-85 degrees, with cooler temperature in the mountains. The nighttime temperature is generally in the low 70s. The rainy season is from July to October and the dry season from January to April. Hurricane season is from September to November.

What type of government does Dominica have?

Dominica has a democratically elected government. Elections in May 2005 returned the Labour Party for a second term in office.

What's the Health Care system?

Dominica has a basic health care system . The main Hospital is the Princess Margaret Hospital in Goodwill, Roseau. Most of the larger villages have a heath centre. If you are a non-national you will receive medical care at the hospital. Fees are 4 times what a citizen would pay. At the present it costs US$ 15 for an X-Ray. As a non-national you would pay US$60.00 Doctors fees are usually about US$30.00 per visit.

Where can I stay in Dominica?

There are many small hotels and guesthouses available to rent. In Roseau the main hotel which is frequented by business people and tourists is the Fort Young Hotel. More places to stay in Dominica

Where is Dominica?

The Commonwealth of Dominica, also known as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, is located in the Eastern Caribbean, between the French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Ferry service is available between Dominica Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Lucia.

Will I be able to buy the things that I am used to in the States or Europe?

Many food items from the States and Europe are available in the supermarkets. It is possible to source most items.