Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

The premier, Dr Orlando Smith, joined midwives and their supporters last Thursday, at the opening ceremony of IInternational Midwives Day, held at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park.
He stated that as a Physician, he has a deep love and respect for anyone involved in the medical field, but especially for midwives.
Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Bernett Scatliffe spoke about the role of midwives in the world, and made mentioned an informal survey she conducted to assess how much persons knew about midwives.
“There is a shortage of midwives in the country and the world, and those who are in practice are getting older,” Mrs. Scatliffe said. She also reinforced the importance of midwives and encouraged more locals to be involved in midwifery.
International Midwives Day will be celebrated on Saturday, 5th May, with the hope of heightening awareness to tackle global inequalities in maternal and newborn health.
Over 350,000 women die each year, with millions more suffering infection and disability, as a result of preventable maternal causes. The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is committed to reducing inequality through greater access to essential midwifery care worldwide, particularly in developing countries where 90% of maternal deaths occur.

Source:bvinews.com

If you are looking at selling your British Virgin Islands Home you might want to think about home inspections. Since many inspections fully check the home’s infrastructure, foundations and roof, most property experts suggest that you search for issues before putting your house on the market. Though older houses may have more problems, houses of any age or type should receive a checkup by home owners before entering the market. This article describes the most common problems discovered by home inspectors while offering some suggestions on how you can ensure your home will pass its inspection.

Plumbing Problems

Fix leaks and clogs well in advance of the home inspection date. The inspector will check water pressure by activating multiple taps and flushing toilets simultaneously. Home appliances for example dish washers and washing machines are also going to be tested. Leaks and clogs will be evident during the checks performed by the inspector.

The inspector may check the septic system. One method which may be used to test the system is to flush a dye down the toilet. The inspector will wait to see if the dye surfaces around the drainfield, showing a drainage problem.

Insufficient or Inferior Electrical Systems

An average home inspection will look into the electrical panel and circuit breakers that power your home for problems and test wall sockets throughout the home. The inspector will even look for ground fault interrupt outlets (GFIs) in the kitchen area and bathrooms. Configured to instantly turn off the power in the event of a short circuit, these special outlets are an essential safety feature for all homes. If your home is an older building, you may want to have GFIs installed and have your electrical system checked before your inspection.

Other Systems

The inspector will look into the cooling and heating systems, to ensure they are in correct working order and comment about their efficiency. The inspector will take a close look at the structure and foundation. All home appliances are going to be checked. The inspection report includes information about smoke sensors.

Prior to the Inspection

Do everything in you are able to make certain the house is in good shape before you try to sell it, try not to get frustrated when the inspection report has negative comments. Home inspectors write down everything they see. No house is perfect.

Keep in mind that the home inspection report isn’t a wish-list for purchasers. Read your contract carefully–it most likely states which systems ought to be in good condition at closing. For example, when the roof is older, but does not leak, it’s in good condition. Should there be a leak, and it can be fixed, the roof will be in good condition.

Your contract could also say that you’re not obliged to undertake any repairs at all–even though purchasers may withdraw from the contract. Don’t feel you have to adhere to any unreasonable demands for repairs.

This wonderful estate home, set on 10 acres in Privateer’s Bay on the island of Great Camanoe, is full of charm and character. Built with no expense spared in the late ‘60s for Dr. Upjohn of the Upjohn Pharmaceutical family, it has been loved and cared for by the current owners who have maintained and improved what is a truly special property.

Price:$4,250,000

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Ease anxiety from office absence.

The tough economic climate is threatening countless jobs around the globe and pushing us to work harder and longer so that we can survive through these challenges. Along with the pressures of the world is the need to ensure there is a balance between work and family, especially when you plan to take a vacation in The British Virgin Islands which requires spending time quality together time together.

Don’t fret. You will find ways in which you can connect with your workplace, during your vacation. Here are a few examples:

Document Sharing Tools

It’s not necessary to stay in your workplace to handle your workload. Document sharing tools like Google Paperwork permit you to manage your documents, presentations, excel spreadsheets and forms from your own laptop. You are able to upload, access and share your work with your co-workers and hierarchy without having to pay a cent! The effective posting and saving tools permit you to easily manage your workload.

Remote Desktop Access

You may have big plans for the family and wish to work at home or on vacation. But may be concerned that an excessive amount of information on you computer will not allow you the versatility. Technology will assist you with this by permitting you to access your workplace computer remotely with the aid of inexpensive desktop remote access software.

Online Fax needed

If you are unable to gain access to a fax outside of your workplace, it is possible to subscribe to an inexpensive online fax service, which enables you to send and receive faxes from all over the world.

Remote Meeting

Your manager would like you to attend an essential meeting which typically falls right in the middle of your long awaited vacation. Worry not! A web-based meeting service enables you to attend any meeting from a remote location. A regular messenger service like Google Talk or MSN Messenger will help you conduct a relevant video or voice call to your manager or co-workers.

Private Data Assistants

Nowadays all mobile phone companies are providing multi featured private data assistants PDA’s) that will help you manage your workload with greater versatility. Full of effective communications and office management tools, they permit you to access your emails and manage your documents.

The synchronization of worldwide communication systems means it is much simpler to remain in touch than in the past. Holidays should be a special time for not only you but your family and friends also. Having the ability to keep in touch with what’s going with your business, when you can’t be physically present can alleviate anxiety.

Whenever you take your Caribbean vacation, ensure you set aside some time to enjoy your surroundings, but also to consider the possibility of a real estate investment. Speak to a Coldwell Banker agent to discuss the possibilities.

Appearing for the fourth consecutive year, Chef Davide Pugliese, owner of the Wali Nikiti on Scrub Island, took his culinary talents to the 15th annual Meals from the Masters Celebrity Chefs Brunch, in Wilmington, Delaware.
Davide, a citizen of the British Virgin Islands, joined more than 30 chefs from around the U.S. and England, to create specialty tastings for 1000 guests to help raise money for Meals on Wheels, Delaware.
Chef Davide brought a taste of the Virgin Islands to a wet and cold day in Wilmington. His dish included a traditional Caribbean johnny cake that complemented a wasabi-cured salmon, topped with a drop of yogurt wasabi foam.
Executive Director for Meals on Wheels Delaware, Mari Considine, said, “Each year it gets better and better. The chefs are aware that this a real foodie crowd and want to bring something different to the table.” She continued, “We couldn’t be more honored that the chefs travel from all over the world to raise awareness for Delaware’s home bound seniors. It’s truly amazing.”
Chef Davide has hosted a dinner at James Beard House and has brought his particular brand of Caribbean flavor to the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, FL, and culinary shows in Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands.

Source:bvinews.com

Virgin Gorda was the chosen location for the BVI Hoop It Up Foundation two-week Easter Hoops Basketball Camp.

Players ages 6-14yrs attended the camp on Virgin Gorda, 9:30am to 12:00 noon, tutored by coaches Brian and Kennedy from the Bahamas, at the basketball court in South Valley. Players 15-20yrs traveled to Tortola and participated in the camp from 1:00pm- 3:00pm.

All travel expenses were sponsored by VOICESS, a Virgin Gorda community group. This is the second time that VOICESS has made it possible for the youth players on Virgin Gorda to participate in the camp. In December, the group also sponsored travel expenses for the participants to travel to Tortola for the week-long Christmas Hoops Basketball Camp.

VOICESS are a group of men and women from Virgin Gorda, whose primary purpose is community betterment to preserve and enhance the islands pristine beauty.

Their goal is to elevate the quality of life of the people, so they can live a safe, vibrant, educated, and happy life.

Source:bvinews.com

When you live in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, it is likely that you will have summer guests visiting for their vacations. If you are trying to figure out the easiest and best ways to entertain your guests with home activities, there are lots of ideas to consider. Whether there are lots of tourist spots close to you or visitors want to relax around the house, it is always best to prepare so that your summer guests have options If you are planning home activities for your visitors, here are some useful pointers for giving them a great summer getaway at your house.
**Make your living areas inviting : While you may not consider it since you live in your home, your living areas may be the place where your visitors spend the most time. Take advantage of the stunning views which surround your home by cleaning all windows and ensuring a beautiful unrestricted view. Look around your interiors and see whether there are areas for guests to read a book in a snug chair, or possibly even place a throw blanket over the settee for cool summers nights. Think about your home as a hotel with conveniences that you would enjoy if staying there.
**Prepare your outside home: Inevitably your outside home will be another area that your house guests will want to spend plenty of their free time. Make sure seating is inviting, clean, and has been completely washed and dried. Replace unpleasant furniture cushions, paint pine furniture, and dissolve your outdoor home with character. Add ornamental touches like plants, flowers, hanging baskets and shaded areas. Use umbrellas, fabric, arbors or other creative uses of overhead covering to guarantee guests are not sitting in direct sun if they do not want to. For pool areas, make sure the pool is clean, and has enough safe areas for children and grownups to stroll around furniture and landscaped areas.
**Research local facilities: Before your visitors arrive, research local amenities and tourist areas in your hometown. Most locals forget how to be tourists! Visit your local travel agency, surf the net, or visit the tourist office to get leaflets, maps, and an inventory of attractions / tours for your visitors. While your visitors will like your house, part of the excitement of traveling is seeing the local tourists areas and eating the local fare. Throwing on a back pack and taking a nature hike perhaps just the activity your visitors would really like. Talk with your visitors before they arrive and ask them what they would like to do while visiting you, this may save a little time in planning, and avoid disappointment.
**Tailor house activities to your visitors : Consider what kind of guests you are entertaining while selecting activities. For parents with youngsters, consider what activities will be enjoyable for them. Outdoor recreational equipment made available to play in the back yard, or even painting, ensuring that there are plenty of markers and lots of paper available can keep many children happy for hours. For seniors or those who want to relax and be still, consider supplying lots of reading materials, TV guide and remote control could perhaps be all they require as a break away from their home to feel nicely relaxed and rejuvenated by your home.
Your home could be a more exciting destination spot than you ever realized. Take time before your visitors arrive to ascertain their interests along with the facilities of your home. Summer guests wish to enjoy their home, but also spend time with you and your family. Make this a summer to remember and to form vacation memories to last for a life-time. Who knows, you may just enjoy yourself as much as your vacationing house guests!

When you live in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, it is likely that you will have summer guests visiting for their vacations. If you are trying to figure out the easiest and best ways to entertain your guests with home activities, there are lots of ideas to consider. Whether there are lots of tourist spots close to you or visitors want to relax around the house, it is always best to prepare so that your summer guests have options If you are planning home activities for your visitors, here are some useful pointers for giving them a great summer getaway at your house.
**Make your living areas inviting : While you may not consider it since you live in your home, your living areas may be the place where your visitors spend the most time. Take advantage of the stunning views which surround your home by cleaning all windows and ensuring a beautiful unrestricted view. Look around your interiors and see whether there are areas for guests to read a book in a snug chair, or possibly even place a throw blanket over the settee for cool summers nights. Think about your home as a hotel with conveniences that you would enjoy if staying there.
**Prepare your outside home: Inevitably your outside home will be another area that your house guests will want to spend plenty of their free time. Make sure seating is inviting, clean, and has been completely washed and dried. Replace unpleasant furniture cushions, paint pine furniture, and dissolve your outdoor home with character. Add ornamental touches like plants, flowers, hanging baskets and shaded areas. Use umbrellas, fabric, arbors or other creative uses of overhead covering to guarantee guests are not sitting in direct sun if they do not want to. For pool areas, make sure the pool is clean, and has enough safe areas for children and grownups to stroll around furniture and landscaped areas.
**Research local facilities: Before your visitors arrive, research local amenities and tourist areas in your hometown. Most locals forget how to be tourists! Visit your local travel agency, surf the net, or visit the tourist office to get leaflets, maps, and an inventory of attractions / tours for your visitors. While your visitors will like your house, part of the excitement of traveling is seeing the local tourists areas and eating the local fare. Throwing on a back pack and taking a nature hike perhaps just the activity your visitors would really like. Talk with your visitors before they arrive and ask them what they would like to do while visiting you, this may save a little time in planning, and avoid disappointment.
**Tailor house activities to your visitors : Consider what kind of guests you are entertaining while selecting activities. For parents with youngsters, consider what activities will be enjoyable for them. Outdoor recreational equipment made available to play in the back yard, or even painting, ensuring that there are plenty of markers and lots of paper available can keep many children happy for hours. For seniors or those who want to relax and be still, consider supplying lots of reading materials, TV guide and remote control could perhaps be all they require as a break away from their home to feel nicely relaxed and rejuvenated by your home.
Your home could be a more exciting destination spot than you ever realized. Take time before your visitors arrive to ascertain their interests along with the facilities of your home. Summer guests wish to enjoy their home, but also spend time with you and your family. Make this a summer to remember and to form vacation memories to last for a life-time. Who knows, you may just enjoy yourself as much as your vacationing house guests!

Presenting a delightful 2 bedroom villa with a pool sitting on almost an acre of landscaped tropical gardens at Leverick Bay in North Sound, Virgin Gorda. The property benefits from breath taking views of Norths Sound in two directions, out towards the The Bitter end Yacht Club and back towards Moskito Island and Blunder Bay. Sitting up on a ridge it also benefits from cooling tradewind breezes all year round

Price: $1,300,000

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The rolling hills above Lambert Beach provide views and vistas equal to any in the BVI. One home may face Virgin Gorda and the rising sun, while its neighbour looks towards Guana Island, Jost Van Dyke and glowing sunsets. The area above Lambert is fast becoming popular for the construction of upscale luxury homes with easy access to several incredible beaches and glorious uninterrupted ocean and island views as a major reason for this new interest.

Price:$2,000,000

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