Owning Real Estate in the BVI for Non-British Virgin Islanders

Persons who are not native to the Virgin Islands and have been willed or are interested in purchasing real estate should know the processes involved.

Persons who are interested in owning real estate in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) but are not born in the BVI or do not have at least one parent or grandparent, a spouse or another warranted circumstance, must apply to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour (MNR&L) for a Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence before they can hold title to the property. These persons are classified as "non- belongers" as it pertains to owning property. If a registered company is interested in purchasing property then company documents must be submitted showing the directors and shareholders of the company to determine if the company is a non-belonger company.

The Law Governing Non-BVIslanders and Real Property

The law that governs this process is classified as the "Non- Belongers Land Holding Regulation Act (CAP. 122)". Land can be acquired by foreclosure, purchase or by probate. Once a person is deemed to be a non- belonger, they must complete and submit an application form with the required attachments and fees to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour in Road Town, Tortola.

The Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence Application Form

There are two applications forms, one for companies and one for individuals. If more than one individual wishes to apply for a licence to hold land, then each applicant will have to complete a form. For businesses, the form asks for general information about the company and there is a section for the directors and shareholders to answer general questions similar to the forms for individual applicants.

• Application Form for Individual Applicants: This form asks for general identification information such as one's name, address, contact information, places previous lived and employment status. It is important to answer all the relevant questions since the application may be returned for unanswered questions.
• Application Form for Companies: The general information in relation to the company that is required is the company name, registered office, contact information and the type of shares issued. The application also asks for the "main objectives for which the company is established." A company is deemed a non-belonger company if any of the directors are non-belongers. In addition, if the directors are BVIslanders and more than one-third of the shareholders are non-belongers, the company is deemed a non-belonger company.
• Property Description: The company and individual applications ask for the description of the land. Land in the BVI is classified by a block number, parcel number and a registration section. The local name of the location must also be submitted and notes of any right of way to the beach must be included. The application must also state whether the property is developed or undeveloped. If there is development, then the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms must be stated and photos are to be provided.
• Vendor or Lessor Information Must Be Shared: The name of the vendor or lessor must be submitted in the application form and it must be clarified if he or it is a belonger or belonger company.
• Usage and Future Plans to be Detailed: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour of the Government of the British Virgin Islands requires that any potential non-belonger land owner share the purchase price and their plans for the usage and/or development of the property. Applicants must also share their source of funds for financing.

Supporting Documents to the Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence Application

Firstly, the MNR&L requires that application forms are original forms with a color logo and not photocopies. The supporting documents are the same for both individual and company applications, except that the company applications must be accompanied by company documents.

• References & Identification: The application for each applicant or director or shareholder must be accompanied by two character references and two personal references. According to the application form, the personal reference must indicate "the applicant's ability to purchase land and to carry out the proposed development or improvement." The Ministry recommends that this reference should come from an employer, auditor or banking institution. A financial statement which is one year's worth of bank statements from a savings or checking account, is also required. A current police report must also be submitted as well as a recent passport-sized photograph of each applicant.
• Supporting Documents for the Property: The property must be advertised for four weeks in a local newspaper. The local papers in the BVI are published once per week. The advertisement must share the size, information about whether the property is developed, and contact information for the vendor. A valuation or appraisal report from an appraiser licensed in the BVI must also be submitted in addition to the sales agreement and name of the potential contractor. Another document is a letter-sized survey map of the property which must be requested from a licensed surveyor in the BVI.
• Documents from the Vendor: If the vendor is a belonger or belonger company, copies of birth certificates or belongers identification cards should be attached. If the vendor is non-belonger, then a copy of their transfer document or land title and a copy of the vendor's non-belonger land holding licence should be attached.
• Supporting Documents for Company Applications: Applications from companies should submit copies of the certificate of incorporation, the memorandum and articles of association, a certificate of good stand and a certified document detailing the directors and shareholders of the company from the jurisdiction of incorporation.

Non-Belongers Land Holding Licence Applications and Probates and Divorces
For persons who have been bequeathed real estate in the BVI, the same application procedures apply but a copy of the grant of probate also needs to be submitted and the property need not be advertised. If a couple who had a licence has divorced, documentation reflecting the details of the settlement and the Decree Absolute should also be submitted with the application.

To ensure that your application is processed in a timely fashion, be sure to follow the guidelines set out in the application form and attach all the required supporting documents. For more information about the applications for Non-Belonger Land Holding Licences, you may contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour in the British Virgin Islands.

Do You Really Want Change?

"Keep Quiet"
"Don't Complain"
"Father Will Provide"
"You're Too Hasty"

These statements are made to people who want to speak out for change and improvement. I will stay that before you can ask for change, you have to know the situation/status of the particular matter.

There is a lot of wrong in the world but if we all stay quiet and leave it up to the other person to speak out or take action, then we will never progress. One slave had to encourage and enable the others to revolt. Persons like Noel Lloyd stood up for the rights of the native Virgin Islanders. When he stood up, he was standing up against other Virgin Islanders who were selling the country out.

I feel that we have become complacent and accepting of poor behavior for too long in the Virgin Islands. We have landlords 'stealing' their tenants deposits. We have resorts, supermarkets and other entities that are mistreating their staff by ignoring every labor law of the territory. We have many social issues that are affecting our young people. If no one wants to speak out then what is going to happen?

For those people on jobs who are suffering, in a lot of cases there is no one to reach to because the authorities are all in the same club with the managers. In entities where there is a human resources manager, is this person caring or is this person a purveyor of misery and trouble for the employees?

If we choose to speak out, we may be labeled, hated or ostracized, but it is a leap that someone has to take. Speaking out or taking action does not mean 'going postal" but it may be in the positive actions you take. I went to a workshop where a video was shown and a new employee who came with a positive attitude was able to spread his positivity to the other employees.

If necessary, putting thoughts in writing can be a step to encouraging change. I always prefer, even if I am upset, to write with positivity. Rather than throwing hurtful words, seeking a positive resolution. When we are angry, we take actions that are not always the best choices.

We cry for change and are willing to risk 'life and limb'. We have to choice our path to figurative 'war' wisely. Sometimes, saying 'thank you' is just enough. You will never be able to change people - not just like that. You will hope that their actions improve but in many cases unless they get that 'come-up-ance' they will be stuck in that mire. The one thing they will walk away with is not to mess with you anymore.

If you want to change to happen, evaluate, choose your method and fight with a positive mind for a healthy outcome. Sometimes, there won't be a win-win situation but if change is needed, we have to speak up for it.

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POEM: Thoughts

Thoughts

I have thoughts
so many
so hefty
so crazy
I write them
I live them
keeping them positive
is hard
but with God
I can survive
and push through walls
face the threats
and stand up tall


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Let's Stay Together: A Successful Season 1

Let's Stay Together, BET's new sitcom for 2011 brought viewers romance and comedy as the characters dealt with their various relationship issues.

Thirteen great episodes encompassed the first season of Let's Stay Together, BET's new sitcom launched in 2011. Let's Stay Together was created by Jacque Edmonds Cofer , who also executive produced the sitcom. Cofer has written for other shows like Martin, Living Single, Moesha and All About The Andersons. She shared that Let's Stay Together was conceptualized as "basically a romantic comedy".

Cast of Let's Stay Together

Cofer worked with a cast of young and upcoming actors including Nadine Ellis as "Stacy" and Bert Belasco as "Charles", Stacy's fiance. Joyful Drake plays "Tasha" and her husband is "Jamal" played by RonReaco Lee. Erica Hubbard carries the role of  Charles' happy sister "Kita". Other actors who appeared on the show include Jackee Harry from 227 and Sister, Sister who plays Charles' mom. Charles's dad is played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs. Ron Canada, who has appeared on Law & Order, Boston Legal and Murder One, acts as Stacy and Tasha's dad. Their mom is played by Daphne Reid Maxwell, who replaced Janet Hubert on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s.

Other actors who appeared on Let's Stay Together include Kim Whitley from Living Single, Countess Vaughn from The Parkers as Kita's friend, Henry Simmons from Madea's Family Reunion (2006) as Stacy's patient's father and date and Eva Pickford from America's Next Top Mode as another of Kita's friends. Anna Maria Horsford from Amen played the wedding planner, Tichina Arnold from Everybody Hates Chris acted as the counselor and Thomas Mikal Ford from Martin as the pastor also made appearances on the show.

Season 1 of Let's Stay Together Overview

On Season 1, fans of the show were able to watch Charles and Stacy live together and then separate before getting back together. We saw Jamal and Tasha with the fiery romance of newlyweds with twin babies and financial shortcomings. Kita surprisingly was everybody's girl and she looked out for all the other characters.

• Charles and Stacy: Charles and Stacy seemed to be very romantic even though they did not always agree on every subject or issue that arose in the relationship. They broke up after Stacy struggled to settle on a wedding date, even after the help of the wedding planner that Charles hired. Charles continued to get frustrated as Stacy chose a fictitious date of June 31 for the wedding and he eventually moved out of Stacy's home. They dealt with the seperation in different ways but ended up clashing as they both unknowingly showed up at a dinner that Jamal and Tasha planned with dates. It was at that time, after tempers flared, that they finally chose a wedding date.
• Tasha and Jamal: These fun young newlywed parents seemed to always seek an opportunity to earn money. Tasha tried to create a baby skincare line, she wrote a children's book and she also tried to join an elitist women's group. Tasha stands as the bossy one in the relationship and who likes to be the center of attention. However Jamal stood up to her in relation to her wanting to dress his son as a girl for a photo shoot. He also actually cut up the cards in one episode even though Tasha jokingly asked her dad to hit him.
• Kita: Kita has lent a helping hand to every other character but has remained single during the first season. She babysat for Jamal and Tasha which caused some tension for the newlyweds since Kita's good rapport with the children and her command of housework seemed to outshine Tasha. Kita offered advice to all the characters at some point and she especially tried to encourage Charles to work hard not to lose Stacy. On one episode, Kita took a vow of silence and she showed the angst of not being able to share her ideas with the others during that time.

Let's Stay Together Season Finale

 The finale episode began with a rehearsal dinner on the day before the wedding. The parents were all there to celebrate what seemed to be an astronomical achievement for this couple. Stacy's mom, Juanita, claimed that she introduced Charles and Stacy and clips revealed the first interactions between the couple at Stacy's home. Viewers were also able to see when Charles proposed at Stacy's home with flowers and candles in the kitchen he built for her. He stooped on one bended knee and asked her to be in his wife and it was shared that he moved in one week later.

As the episode progressed, Charles did not seem to be ready for the wedding. He seemed to be having a lot of second thoughts and is shown trying to smoke a cigarette just before the ceremony. There is irony because Stacy was the one who seemed to be having second thoughts throughout the season but she appeared to be calm and ready. Although Charles was a bit shaky, he did make it to the altar. Stacy shared her thoughts at the beginning of the ceremony from 1 Corinthians and Charles sang "Never" by Jahiem.

As the ceremony progressed, Charles ran out because he forgot a letter in the car that would tell Stacy how much he loved her. The final scene of this episode reveals that he got stuck in an elevator that was not working and the wedding was postponed. In addition, an ex-boyfriend of Tasha's appeared at the wedding, apparently a former client of Charles, and she seemed to be uncomfortable with his presence, yet reminiscent of the past.

With all that has happened on Season 1 of Let's Stay Together, viewers are already anticipating another season. The burning queries asked are about the wedding ceremony, the strange appearance

of Tasha's ex and if Kita will ever find someone to love her.

Modest or Perfect: Are You Within Your Means

The perfect person does not exist. We have these crazy standards of beauty and excellence that only serve to drive people crazy. We have people who are digging themselves in debt for material things just to fit in and play a role or show an image.

I watch Suze Orman from time to time and I like her show. I think more people need to watch it and be realistic with themselves on their finances. Why are we buying expensive cell phones if we can't afford to buy lunch? Furthermore, shouldn't we walk with lunch so that we can splurge on something nice every month? Better yet, why can't we save that money.

When my car broke down, everyone had the most advice for me. Of course, I actually listened and then I sold the car. The repair would cost more than the deposit on a new car so I had to make a choice. I catch the bus now and I cut down on window-shopping and being up and down all over the place spending money. Most people frown on catching the bus but I no longer worry about brakes, tires, car insurance or the soaring gas prices. I learn to make do, tag along if necessary and plan my trips.

Plus I think I adjust to situations wells - in most cases. I am a complainer because I just can't take too much nonsense. However, when it comes to finances, I make do and make things happen to work in my favor. I don't beg, I don't steal and I try my best not to be a bother to the people around me.

I don't mix money with friends at all. I like to know that we can help each other and I am willing to help in any way I can. I have very good people around me and I am thankful to God for them. However, we all have that one or two around us who like to borrow money. Some borrow because they are in tight situations and there are others who live beyond their means and use someone else to catch up.

We all can be financially enabled but we have to make tough decisions. I shop at sales - from the grocery, clothing stores, yard sales, etc. I have to find ways to make ends meet. I walk with luch everyday and if I do need to buy food, I opt to have a slice of pizza or something under $5. I would have liked a parttime job but with my children I have to make time for them. So I prefer an online writing gig so that I can work from home.

If we want to have the awesome material things, we have to make serious decisions. Perfection can never be attained. Live comfortably while setting realistic savings goals and stay out of deep debt. A mortgage or a land loan is a much better investment than a $30K SUV. Getting a loan and using the money for saving while accelerating the loan payments are better than buying 3 tvs for one home.

Motto - live within your means.

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If I'm in the Right Mood, You Might Get the Busy Signal

From looking through my blog, you will notice that I am a big fan of music. Reggae is one of my favorite genres but I also enjoy R&B and Hip Hop. I pretty much prefer the old school R&B and Hip Hop to the sometimes tasteless and lyrically empty music that is heard on the airwaves today.

I don't mind the bubblegum music but I will not buy it because it's not lasting music. You forget them when the gum is chewed. Looking back, some people may have called Hip Hop a passing fad but it has lasted. Unfortunately, the artists are becoming more empty and materialistic so many of them are passing through as the hot topic today and forgotten tomorrow. Some very talented artists have resorted to showing skin or chat trash so that their music can be noticed. For some, like Common, they stick to their style of music but try to infuse new beats to that enhance the lyrical content and flow.

Reggae also has its passing fads because building star power in the Caribbean is one thing but making it in the US and UK is another level. I love Sean Paul's style although he is more on the dancehall tip. His voice is different but I realize he's not the best dancer. He made a successful crossover to the US and UK and continues to bring some great hits.

Reggae artists who have a lot to offer include Busy Signal, Queen Ifrica, Richie Spice, Jah Cure, Etana, Alaine and Tarrus Riley. Of course I must mention Pressure and Niyorah from the USVI, Romain Virgo, Lutah Fyah etc who I love as well. I can not say that these artists write their lyrics but if they do, kudos on great lyrical content.

Reggae is mellow yet racy and uplifting ...with a great beat. The lyrics have gone past uprising, mellow moods and fire burning. Reggae's content has touched every vice and every thing that is good. Pull some records from Marley, Tosh, Isaacs, Miller, Hill and so forth. Then pull some Tanya Stevens, Lady Saw, Movado etc and see that reggae and dancehall is the Caribbean voice even when there is a negative voice spoken.

So if I'm in the right mood, you might get Busy Signal's music when you visit me - physically or via internet.

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Crooked or Straight Describes "All a We"

Unscrupulous people are all around us. They may be in your family, in your church, on your job, in your bank and so on. There is always a crook or two around us. We shouldn't hate them because of their dirty ways or because they seem to always get ahead. We shouldn't envy them either.

I don't even bother to feel sorry for them because some of them are not worth it. In some cases after a run-in, I say THANKS! I've learned from them how not to be a crook or even a 'fake' Christian or fake friend putting on airs. I feel the worst about persons in the church who on one hand work to win souls and then backbite the same souls. I don't know if we should call that an oxymoron or just call them 'morons' for being so hypocritical. What are you telling the young christians?

We have our bad ways and some may have more than others. As humans, we all have some measure of greed or lust, we all lie and many of us steal time or supplies from our jobs. There is truth in that.

If you are a crooked person reading this, try to run straight for once. I am not sraight every day and I have some crooked ways like everybody else but I never try to be openly deceitful or try to be underhanded. Sometimes people's perceptions lead them to think that you are, but once you know that you did the right thing, tell them "fire for you" (V.I. Slang).

All we can do is try our best everyday to do the right thing and live right with our neighbors and friends.

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