USHER EMAILED NEWSLETTER (MONTH? 2009)
Looks like the Gods have been watching out for us! I'm excited to report that we've had some great luck
with the weather which has enabled us to make a tremendous amount of progress on the marina
excavation, as you can see in the recent pics. Although we're in the "rainy season" and have had rain in
many parts of the property, luckily the rain has avoided the marina site. As of last week we're actually
ahead of schedule with the excavation!
I'm also happy to report that we're very close to releasing our "high end" model home design, as well as
three of our "mid range" bamboo homes. I've included some recent renderings of our bamboo homes in
this newsletter. We're very excited about these designs as they are moderately priced, extremely ecofriendly and beautiful in design. In addition, they've proven to hold up extremely well to high winds and
hurricanes. In fact, similar models (these were designed exclusively for Sanctuary Bay) withstood a
hurricane in the Cook Islands with 173 mph winds. The bamboo homes there were undamaged while all
of the other structures on the island were completely destroyed. Also, in Columbia, a Richter Scale 7.5
earthquake destroyed 75% of the buildings in one region while the bamboo homes there were
unscathed. For more detailed information on our bamboo homes, please visit:
www.bambootechnologies.com. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on these designs.
As I had mentioned, while we're aggressively moving forward with all of the marina work internally,
we've also been actively searching for a qualified joint venture partner for the marina and marina village.
While were confident in our ability to build and manage the marina internally if needed, we feel that
bringing in an experienced joint venture partner / investor will enable us to complete the marina in a
shorter period of time. In addition, it would bring an experienced marina operator to the project which
would be very helpful.
As a result of our search, we recently completed two very successful meetings with potential joint
venture partners on the marina and marina village. Both groups toured Sanctuary Bay and we're very
impressed with our overall master plan and the progress we've made on the marina site. We are
currently awaiting offer letters from both groups and we're confident that we'll consummate a joint
venture deal with one of them in the near future. They both have vast experience in the marina / hotel
business and we look forward to ultimately partnering with one of them. Hopefully we'll be making a
major announcement on this soon!
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and I hope to see you on site in the near future.
Please feel free to contact us if we can be of any assistance or if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
John Usher
Chairman of the Board
Sittee River Wildlife Reserve
BATTLE OF ST. GEORGE'S CAYE
THROUGHOUT BELIZE
Public and Bank Holiday in Celebration of the Battle of St. George's Caye Day. Official ceremonies
and citizens' Parade and Fair are held. September 10, 2009
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
THROUGHOUT BELIZE
Celebrating of the 28th year of Belize's Independence. Official ceremonies and parades are held
throughout the country. September 21, 2009
PAN AMERICAN DAY
THROUGHOUT BELIZE
Nationally celebrated with horse races, fairs and cycle races. October 13, 2009
The "Easiest" Country in Central America
InternationalLiving.com July 2009
Moving and living abroad for any reason is a big decision. Even if you're only thinking about a part-time move, the list
of challenges can be long.
But Belize is one politically stable little Central American country that strikes a couple of those big challenges right off
the list.
Especially for anyone from the U.S., Canada, or the U.K., it's probably one of the easiest places on earth to relocate.
And the fact that it's beautiful and affordable only sweetens the deal.
Formerly British Honduras, Belize is a true Caribbean paradise. And it offers several important pluses for anybody
looking to ease into a move abroad.
First, English is the national language. You'll be talking to store keepers, real estate agents, taxi drivers, bank tellers,
and waiters in a language you already understand. Even more importantly, any contract you enter into will be written
in English. Strike off your to-do list the challenges of learning a new language and needing multiple versions official
documents.
Second, the Belize dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at two-to-one, and the U.S. dollar is commonly accepted in
Belize. Strike tricky currency conversions, anxiously watching exchange rates, and constant trips to the casa de
cambio off the list.
Third, the tax situation in Belize is easy to manage. No taxes on foreign-derived income. No capital gains tax. No
corporate tax. No inheritance tax. That's easy, isn't it? Strike convoluted foreign tax rules off the list.
Fourth, the population of Belize is a little over 300,000. That's not the population of the largest city in Belize... that's
the entire country. And Belize is only 180 miles long and 68 miles wide. So it's easy to find the people, offices and
resources you need to get things done. Strike getting lost in the crowd off the list.
Fifth, Belize has the Qualified Retirement Program, and you don't have to be retired to take advantage of it. If
you’re at least 45 years old and have a monthly income of at least $2,000 from a pension or annuity (including
Social Security), you can qualify. This allows you to bring all your personal goods to Belize tax-free. Strike from the
list the maze of customs and duty regulations that exist in most other Central and South American countries.
Last but not least, it's easy to enjoy yourself in Belize. With miles of tropical coastline, the second-longest barrier reef
on earth, some of the best diving and snorkeling on the planet, lush forests and mountains, immense natural
preserves, vast river and cave systems, and a wealth of important Maya archeological sites, there is always
something to do in Belize.
Add it all up, and Belize makes it easier than almost any other country on earth for you to make your move abroad.
Stay happy and healthy,
Dan Prescher
Publisher, International Living
Home Renderings | Hotel Renderings | Master Plan
SEPTEMBER /
OCTOBER
Average high: 85 °F / 29 °C
Average low: 76 °F / 24 °C
Average precipitation: 9.75 inches/ 24.8 centimeters
September is characterized by warm temperatures and relatively high rainfall throughout Belize. For most of the day
however, the sun shines brightly over the beautiful beaches and jungles. October marks the beginning of cool
northern breezes bringing heavy rains across Belize.
For more information or if you have any questions, please send us and email
at:
info@sanctuarybay.com
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