The Carretera De Samana (Spanish for: Santo Domingo-Samana Highway) is the newest addition to the Dominican Republic national highway system. The actual construction of the Highway started in the 2005 and  final paving started in 2007.  As the landscape is difficult and the financing has been a major issue, the project stalled on several occasions, but it is now finally open.

The highway will reduce a trip from Santo Domingo to Samana from 4 hours and 30 Minutes to less than 2 hours and is expected to reduce the traffic along the DR1, which is the present highway used to drive to Samana.

The Highway starts on the National highway DR3 (30 KM from Santo Domingo) and ends on Cruse Rinco de Monillos, Samana Province. The highway’s three toll plazas are on the Las Americas interchange and in the villages El Naranjal and Guaraguao, where for each section the toll is 650 pesos for buses, 350 pesos for light vehicles and 860 pesos for trucks.  Users are expected to make considerable fuel savings despite these tolls.

Pastor George De Tellis passed away on 26th June after a long battle with cancer.  After many years as a missionary in Haiti, Pastor George came to Sosua with his wife, Jeanne, in 2000 to continue the work of New Missions.

They are probably best known in the area for the establishment of New Life School and Church in La Mulata and the large tent near Playa Chiquita, where services, clinics and classes are held.  They have also established several schools in areas where children would otherwise be too remote to receive an education. 

We honour his life and send our condolences to his wife and family.

If you would like to read more, Click Here

After many years of living and working in the Dominican Republic, the Management of West Indies Real Estate would like to offer the following views on Gated Communities - Click Here

Once again the ladies meet for lunch and this time at the Waterfront Restaurant in Sosua.  Once a month a group get together without the men to enjoy a leisurely lunch.

Organized by Carole Read, this very successful outing provides an ideal opportunity to get together and meet new and old friends.

Last night 30 baby turtles hatched from the first nest on the beach, more are due from the second nest. 

Further along the beach, another 70 or so eggs hatched from a less rare turtle who had made her nest in the heart of kitesurfing territory.

Cabarete certainly has something for everyone!

Angela Hills, head of Health, Safety and Operational Support at the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) says that British newspapers aren't publishing relevant tourist information provided by the Dominican Tourism promotion office in London. She added that in cases where information is provided, it is relegated to the back page of the papers. Hills said that when bad news happens it is then plastered on the front page of the newspapers. Dominican ambassador to Great Britain Anibal de Castro has also spoken out about the increasing negative press the DR is receiving in the British press. Hills added that most of the reports in British papers are attributed to ambulance chasing lawyers who want to represent travelers who might have fallen ill while in the DR. Last year the DR received 225,157 British tourists, many of whom return year after year.  Whilst there is no room for complacency, many of the "dodgy tummies" etc. can be attributed to over-indulgence in the all inclusive resorts and/or too much sun.

ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

• CURRENTLY: 
  U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available from spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
• LATER:
  On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI.  The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document. 

The Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, Carlos Morales Troncoso, addressed a Parliamentary meeting of Peers and MPs during his recent visit to London. Members of the CBBC and Anglo Dominican Trade Council also attended the meeting.  

During his speech, the Minister spoke about the recent Presidential elections in the Dominican Republic and President Fernandez’s vision for the country for his second term in office. Carlos Morales said that the Government remains wholly committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and improving health and education for all Dominicans.  He however noted a number of challenges for the country including food security, climate change and severe weather events, and the price of oil and its impact for the price of transport, energy and agricultural products. The DR he suggested can help internationally with these challenges, for example, acting as the bread-basket for the region in terms of food production, and increasing its production of ethanol and other renewable forms of energy; however, he emphasized that the DR will need support from international partners to achieve this.  He also said that outcome of the elections confirmed the strength of democracy in the Dominican Republic and its increasing commitment to a less fragmented party system.

A rare, Leatherback Turtle appeared on Cabarete Beach just over two months ago and promptly laid her eggs in front of one of the main restaurants.  Since then, residents and tourists alike have maintained a strong interest in the creature, which is an endangered species.  A guard has been mounted over the eggs, which are due to hatch any day now. 

The last time such a turtle ventured into the tourist zone of Cabarete was over 10 years ago, when 101 turtles hatched.  Unfortunately, few of these would have survived the precarious journey that followed to the ocean and adulthood.

We will keep you posted on progress.

Eminent US naturalist Edward Osborne Wilson, on visiting the Dominican Republic for the second time, has urged the DR to increase funding for its protected areas, given that the country still boasts the greatest biodiversity in the Caribbean. He argued that protection makes economic sense because several valuable species inhabit these areas, which are of great interest to the scientific community and medical researchers. The DR has 86 protected areas that cover 12% of the national territory.

Wilson collected important amber pieces with insect inclusions that are on exhibit at Harvard University. He says that he found remains of a million year old insect that today only still exists in Australia.
On the occasion of his visit, the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation presented the 2008 film, "Darwin's Natural Heir," on the life of Wilson, who is a collaborator in research carried out at the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation and its Sustainability Center.

Visitors to the North Coast will find the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata of great interest.

The newest golf course on the north coast  of the Dominican Republic is coming along rapidly  as photos show. La Catalonia is destined to become one of the most exciting projects to date.

A ' Ponko ' designed course (creator of a range of renowned courses) will combine with lush indigenous landscaping and the natural contours of the hills, to create a challenging experience for all levels of golfer.

La Colonia will offer a world class hotel/leisure complex, 1000 luxury golf villas and 200 condos in an eco-friendly community.  Phase 1 is now firmly underway and shopping areas, restaurants, spa, beach club and hotel complex will be part of the second phase.  This is the vision of its Founder Juan Diego Vasquez.
 

Villas will be offered including landscaped lots and pools from $345,000. West Indies Real Estate will be offering these designs and others in both their website and overseas exhibitions in London and Canada, through their associate Company - West Indies Connections.

On Saturday 24 May the Asher Foundation will host a benefit evening from 7pm onwards in the Plaza Marina (located in the main street, Pedro Clisante, opposite the Banco Reserves). The Asher Foundation focuses on providing education for around 250 children who would not normally be allowed in school because they do not have the required documentation (birth certificate and ID card). These are usually children from Haitian families. The building in which the children are currently learning is far too small to cater for the huge increase in the number of pupils. The foundation would like to purchase another building that can be converted into a school. The committee hopes that the money raised during this benefit evening will be sufficient to put a down payment on a suitable building.
Everyone is invited to attend this benefit evening, and people in the audience are asked to give generously to this worthy cause. The schoolchildren will perform dance routines, pantomime, short plays and sing songs, and the Yesenia Martinez band will provide the musical backing.

An auction will be held at the end of the concert, where all kinds of products donated by various sponsors will be sold to the highest bidder.
Sponsors include: Compay José (directrice Virgin), Hotel Don Andres, artist Teddy Tejeda, Productos Sosúa, Supermercado Playero and many others.

There are at least four organizations in Sosúa that try to provide a better future for poor children in the town. Sosúa Kids Organization is one example, and the organizers of this group include Janet Williams, Barbara and Linden Anderson, and Karen Conguergood.
Together, they ensure that 282 children (who could not otherwise afford it) can attend school, by providing them with school uniforms, books and writing materials.

The group also pays tuition fees for four students who attend the university.

The Sosúa project has adopted a small school in a tiny village where the residents consist mostly of Haitians, and where the children do not have the right to free education. The Sosúa project pays the salaries of teachers, as well as purchasing school furniture and equipment. The group recently organized a day trip for some of the children.
Then there is another organization that focuses on handicapped children in Sosúa. We'll be publishing an article on this group soon.

However, our attention today focuses on the Stitching Help Sosua kids to School', which is a Dutch foundation primarily headed by Sylvia Berkley. She has supported the Sosúa Kids Organization since 2006, as well as a school for Haitian children (Colegio Evangelico Asher) in the suburb 'El Batey de la Unión'. This is a suburb close to the airport.

These children also have no right to an education as they do not have legal documentation and therefore have little chance of receiving any schooling. However, as a result of efforts by a number of Dominican teachers these children will now go to school, and Sylvia will pay their salaries through donations from the Netherlands. The administration of these salaries is run via the Sosúa Kids Organization.

On Sunday 18 May, Sylvia was at the checkpoint Bar to hand over a cheque for 5000 euros to the organizers of Sosúa Kids. Sylvia had collected this money from all kinds of private citizens in the Netherlands. Some of the money will be used to purchase school uniforms for the children.

The teachers at Colegio Evangelico Asher in El Batey de la Unión are also trying to raise funds because they urgently need new school premises for the children. They currently have to house 250 pupils in the old school building, which is much too small. This is why they have organized a benefit evening on Saturday 24 May, with performances by the children in the school band.

They hope that they will be able to raise enough money to put a down payment on a new school building.

Would you like to donate some money?
Details are given below:

Mw. S.J.E. Berkley, Chairperson
E-mail: help@sosuakids2school.nl
www.sosuakids2school.nl

Bank account number: 57.27.39.818
BIC: ABNANL2A
IBAN: NL30ABNA0572739818

West Indies Real Estate recently exhibited at the A Place in the Sun property show in London, England, with other exhibitors from all parts of the world.  A Place in the Sun is a most popular TV show, magazine and website which has built on the insatiable desire of the British to own first or second properties abroad.  Judith Fox-Hogg and Paul Hogg, two of the owners of West Indies Real Estate, are British and are keen to continue with their strong links in this market.  We work with a number of reputable Real Estate companies there, as well as in other countries.

This is part of our ongoing investment in marketing and is just one of many  strategies to attract buyers from all countries, thereby offering a level of service to sellers and buyers alike which is, we believe, unequalled in the Dominican Republic.

In the past, West Indies Real Estate has exhibited in Britain, Canada and Russia and we intend to continue this tradition and to begin exhibiting in the United States.  We believe that the Dominican Republic  represents one of the best buys in the Caribbean and aim to make it more widely known in all markets.

Imagine entertaining family and friends in your own Caribbean luxury villa . This spacious, oceanview home provides the perfect opportunity and as a bonus you have the choice of bathing in your own private pool or a taking a short stroll to the nearby sandy beach.  Well this may now be more affordable than you imagine in the beautiful Dominican Republic.

This immaculate, custom built villa has just been reduced in price and represents probably the best offer in our listings.  In addition to the ample main accommodation, the property also boasts a self-contained studio offering complete flexibility.

Click Here and then get in touch!  We will be happy to answer any questions and arrange a viewing.

Please Quote Ref:2148

At the election on 16th May, President Leonel Fernandez was granted four more years to serve the Dominican Republic. Fernandez is credited with restoring macroeconomic stability and a favourable business climate. Being ahead in the polls, his PLD party secured a victory with 53% of the vote. This represents the first re-election in Dominican politics since Joaquin Balaguer was re-elected in 1990.

This continuity will reinforce the recent view that the Dominican Republic is one of the top five places to buy in the Caribbean and will attract new investments on a small and grand scale, such as that recently made by Donald Trump, who is pouring more than $1 billion into resort and residence development on the island.  Click Here to read article.

 Judith Fox-Hogg, one of the Owners of West Indies Real Estate, met with the President during his last term of office to promote business and investment in the Dominican Republic.