NASSAU, Bahamas, Thursday, October 25, 2012 Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred

NASSAU, Bahamas, Thursday, October 25, 2012 Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell and other government officials vacation rentals by owner arizona are reaching out to their Canadian counterparts to address what is being brought to light as a damning vacation rentals by owner arizona investment warning against the Bahamas. Under the Laws and Customs section of the Bahamas Travel Report on the Canadian government s Foreign Affairs and International Trade website there is a paragraph that states: vacation rentals by owner arizona Canadians interested in purchasing property or making other investments should seek legal advice from appropriate professionals in Canada and in the Bahamas before making commitments. Disputes arising from such activities could be prolonged and costly to resolve. This paragraph is causing grave concern to the Bahamian government and private sector players alike as they worry that the country is being characterised as a risky place to do business. According to the Tribune, Mitchell has pledged that he and the government would address the issue, vacation rentals by owner arizona countering that the advisory did not truly represent the picture in the Bahamas and that there were judicial disputes in Canada that were equally as tortuous . The paper also reported that Franon Wilson, the Bahamas Real Estate Association s (BREA) president, described the Canadian government vacation rentals by owner arizona s action as unfair and a rush to judgment vacation rentals by owner arizona ; while Winston Rolle, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation s (BCCEC) chief executive, said the development was something this nation could ill-afford given the intense competition for foreign direct investment. The offending section in the Canadian advisory has reportedly been linked to an ongoing dispute over the US$40 million Oceania Heights real estate development in Exuma wherein some Canadian homeowners have been embroiled in a long and increasingly bitter dispute with the developers, Canadian citizens Howard and Donna Obront, and their Bahamian attorney, Anthony Thompson. One such homeowner reputedly informed vacation rentals by owner arizona the Tribune that Canada s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Diane Ablonczy had informed him directly that the investment advisory regarding the Bahamas was being placed on her Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website. In response, BREA s Wilson, questioned whether the Canadian government had spoken to the Bahamian authorities before issuing its warning and described it as unfair if they did not, according to the Tribune. I think real estate in the Bahamas is handled in a very professional manner by professionals. We have a court system that works, and once you follow the law the right way, matters will be resolved, Wilson is reported to have said. Minister Mitchell told the Tribune he and the government would also address the Oceania Heights dispute. Mitchell reportedly indicated he was surprised that the Canadian government would issue such a warning, seemingly vacation rentals by owner arizona at the behest of its citizens, without probing more deeply into the situation on the ground. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. ( View sample )