You dont need to know spanish to live here – most everyone either speaks english, or can point you to the next person who does speak english. There are large communites of folks from Canada, USA. the United Kimgdom, Germany, Russia and France. We will be posting more information soon!

Should JetBlue receive this authority, it plans to launch a non-stop daily service from New York JFK to Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana on 6 May 2010 and a non-stop weekly service, operating on Saturdays, from Boston to Punta Cana on 8 May 2010.

Both services will be operated using 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

About PriceSmart

PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Central America and the Caribbean, selling high quality merchandise at low prices to PriceSmart members. PriceSmart now operates 26 warehouse clubs in 11 countries and one U.S. territory (five in Costa Rica; four in Panama; three each in Guatemala and Trinidad, two each in Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States Virgin Islands).

This press release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s anticipated future revenues and earnings, adequacy of future cash flow and related matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “project,” “estimate,” “scheduled,” and like expressions, and the negative thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the following risks: the Company’s financial performance is dependent on international operations which exposes the Company to various risks; any failure by the Company to manage its widely dispersed operations could adversely affect the Company’s business; the Company faces significant competition; the Company faces difficulties in the shipment of and inherent risks in the importation of merchandise to its warehouse clubs; the Company is exposed to weather and other risks associated with international operations; declines in the economies of the countries in which the Company operates its warehouse clubs would harm its business; a few of the Company’s stockholders own nearly one-half of the Company’s voting stock, which may make it difficult to complete some corporate transactions without their support and may impede a change in control; the loss of key personnel could harm the Company’s business; the Company is subject to volatility in foreign currency exchange; the Company faces the risk of exposure to product liability claims, a product recall and adverse publicity; a determination that the Company’s long-lived or intangible assets have been impaired could adversely affect the Company’s future results of operations and financial position; and the Company faces increased compliance risks associated with compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; as well as the other risks detailed in the Company’s SEC reports, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on November 9, 2009. We assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For further information, please contact: Robert E. Price Chief Executive Officer (858) 551-2336 John M. Heffner Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (858) 404-8826

The 35,200 square meter (378,890 square feet) residential marina project being developed within Cap Cana by Grupo Velutini is to be built in four phases at an estimated total construction cost of approximately US$110 million. The luxury residential community will consist of approximately 300 units, including large waterfront residences and two, three and four-bedroom villas, townhomes and condominiums. In addition, the development will feature approximately 70 private docks for boats and yachts from which sport fishermen have ready access to world-class fishing. Full-scale construction of the first phase of the project, which includes land-leveling work and the building of 11 large, stately waterfront residences and 11 luxury villas, in addition to the development’s basic infrastructure, has already commenced and is expected to be completed in 2011.

“We are very pleased to be associated with Grupo Velutini as we continue to further our efforts of developing our property,” said Ricardo Hazoury. “Cap Cana is synonymous with the finest in world-class hospitality experience, and we are certain that this new real estate development will only enhance that reputation. This announcement serves to strengthen our ongoing efforts of enhancing the overall value of the project by attracting well-respected private developers that bring their own development capabilities, sales distribution networks and capital.”

Puerto Marina at Cap Cana represents the newest addition to Grupo Velutini’s portfolio of master planned community and commercial developments in the Caribbean and Latin America and the luxury project will serve to expand on Cap Cana’s vision of providing real estate products that would appeal to the upper end residential and tourism markets.

“We are very excited to announce the commencement of construction for the first phase of this landmark property. Our announcement is a clear indication of our commitment and confidence in the success of this project,” said Luis Emilio Velutini. “It is the first of its kind within the Cap Cana property and will serve as a building block for other future real estate investment projects within the Dominican Republic.”

Grupo Velutini has appointed Infinity Developers, S.A., a Dominican-based engineering and construction firm, as the main contractor, and Mexican-based GVA & Asociados to carry out the architectural design of the first phase of the project.

About Velutini & Asociados

Based in Venezuela, Velutini & Asociados is a real estate investment and development firm that has earned a strong reputation in the field of planning, construction, sales, and management of master-planned communities and commercial real estate developments in numerous countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

About Cap Cana

Cap Cana is a 30,000 acre master-planned luxury resort and real estate community located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The community is fully operational with championship golf and yachting facilities, a world class hotel, pristine beaches, a variety of dining and retail establishments and numerous other amenities. Since breaking ground in 2002, Cap Cana has invested approximately US$800 million in infrastructure and other improvements and has entered into contracts with aggregate value of approximately US$1.4 billion for the sale of approximately 1,500 units of real estate properties. Throughout this period, Cap Cana has delivered approximately 700 real estate properties to buyers, including retail and developer hotel lots, condominiums and villas. For additional information, visit http://www.capcana.com/ or call 1-809-227-2262.

In addition to offering pure cocoa beans, Marabel Farms offers cocoa powder, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor and cocoa nibs to their customers. The company’s warehouse and office are located in Los Angeles, California, and their farm is located in the Dominican Republic. To find out more about the product or company, please call (800)919-3744 or visit www.marabelfarms. com.

HAVANA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Dominican Republic’s President Leonel Fernandez said Thursday that 2010 would see the recovery of the country’s economy and urged all sectors to stand up to challenges, local reports said.

Government stimulus measures were necessary for economic sectors to actively participate in the process of recovery to achieve a sustained economic growth, Fernandez said.

The president said the world economic crisis had affected the expenses of private sectors, fiscal incomes and general welfare of the people in the Caribbean country.

Dominican Republic had managed to keep the stability and mitigate the effects on the economic growth and employment, Fernandez said. “But this was not enough to meet the expectations of governors and people regarding the economic development.”

Experts say Dominican Republic has achieved to alleviate the effects of the global crisis and expect the national economy to grow around 3.5 percent, higher than the original estimation.

In November 2009, Dominican Republic signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which in 28 months would lend the country 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to cover the tax collection deficit and boost its economy.

According to Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer Executive Vice President, “the use of the Super Tucano airplanes by the Dominican Air Force will increase the readiness and solidity of the nation’s defense system, by performing patrol missions with the operational efficiency and precision that are already combat proven.”

“The acquisition of these Super Tucano planes, manufactured by Embraer, one of the world’s most prestigious companies, is one more example of the Government’s unshakeable decision to deal with the nation’s vulnerable areas, in order to protect ourselves from the scourge of the drug traffic,” highlighted the Dominican Armed Forces minister Pedro Rafael Peña.

Santo Domingo.– In the Dominican Republic, a country of 9.5 million inhabitants, there are almost the same amount of telephone numbers in use, said Dominican Telecomm Institute (Indotel) director Jose Rafael Vargas.

According to Vargas, the Dominican Republic is ending 2009 with a teledensity of 97%, and is expected to reach 100% in February 2010.

Indotel statistics show there are 963,265 fixed lines (9.9%) and 8,449,283 mobile phones in use (86.7%), which adds up to 9,412,548 (96.6%) lines in a country with a population estimated at 9,742,374 inhabitants.

“Even though we are far from being a society of knowledge, at least we have reached telephone teledensity and we are moving forward on wide access to the Internet,” Vargas pointed out.

Santo Domingo.– A research team has discovered off Nagua, a city in the northeastern Dominican Republic, a galleon ship from Spain that sunk at the end of the 17th century.

The research team is headed by Penny Stock Chaser of Marine Exploration, a US company specialized in underwater archaeological exploration and which was contracted by the Underwater Heritage office to trace the galleon’s origin.

According to historians, the shipwreck occurred in the Atlantic Ocean near the estuary of the Boba River in the northeastern Dominican province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez between 1690 and 1700, and the recovery of the first object, a bell, took place in 1983 when Burt Webber, director of operations for the same company, was exploring the area.

In addition to the vessel, which bears the words Soli Deo Gloria, the divers have also discovered navigation compasses and tools used for measuring the water’s depth, together with silver coins, a pistol, sword-sheaths and other wartime implements, as well as ornaments and jewellery, including a ring with eight diamonds embedded into it.

Due to a strong correlation between the private credit and the GDP growth, the Dominican economy has experienced an important recovery, mainly in 2009’s second quarter, according to the report.

The Central Bank pointed out that the growth has become one of the highest growth rates in Latin America this year and has been progressively larger: 1% in the first quarter, 1.8% in the second quarter, 3.4% in the third, with an overall 2.1% for the first three-quarters.

The entity also said the international reserves will close at record highs, the current account in the balance of payments will have an improvement in its deficit of 4.5% of GSP, lower than the 9.7 of 2008 by 5.2%.

Such achievements, the Central Bank stated, will be reached without risking the goals of keeping inflation in check –the major goal of the monetary policy–, which will help keep the relative stability in the exchange rate for 2010.

Santo Domingo.–The Dominican government is reneging on an agreement to pay private generators around US$200 million owed for energy, as agreed with the World Bank (WB).

A reliable source in the industry revealed today that despite the pledge by State-owned power companies (CDEEE) director Celso Marranzini that the payment would materialize by yearend, Treasure minister Vicente Bengoa is blocking the disbursement.

“This situation is occurring despite the fact that we are generating at full capacity and preventing the blackouts during the holidays,” the source added.

In a related development the State-owned hydreoelectrics (EGEHID) today listed the companies which owe for their turbine power: Distribuidora de Electricidad del Este (EDEESTE), RD$774,010,932; Distribuidora de Electricidad del Norte (EDENORTE), RD$1,151.9 million; Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur (EDESUR), RD$249.7 million; and Corporacion Dominicana de Empresas Electricas Estatales (CDEEE), RD$1,551.9 million, among others.

Squashed project resurfaces

In another unexpected development, EGEHID listed among its 2010 goals the construction of the ambitious hydroelectric project Manabao-Bejucal-Tavera, which when inicially announced during the Hipolito Mejia presidency (2000 – 2004) caused the entire Jarabacoa town to stage a strike for two days to oppose it.

The project would have diverted the North Yaque river away from Jarabacoa.

Members from the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santiago expect that 2010 will see a change in the economic model that will allow to successfully overcome great financial challenges.

On the other hand, the National Commercial Businesses Organization (ONEC) chief Pedro Perez said the best thing for the State is to look at 2010 from an economic perspective as a whole and not as two halves, so it can guarantee stability and avoid postponing the solution of the country’s deep problems such as corruption and deficits accumulated over decades in health and education.

Four-fifths of the cost for the venture was paid for by noble lords, who were among the most powerful men in England: the Earl of Orford, The Baron of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury and Sir John Somers. Kidd was presented with a letter of marque, signed personally by King William III of England. This letter reserved 10% of the loot for the Crown, and Henry Gilbert’s The Book of Pirates suggests that the King may have fronted some of the money for the voyage himself. Kidd and an acquaintance, Colonel Robert Livingston, orchestrated the whole plan and paid for the rest. Kidd had to sell his ship Antigua to raise funds.

The new ship, the Adventure Galley,[13] was well suited to the task of catching pirates; weighing over 284 tons, she was equipped with 34 cannons, oars, and 150 men. The oars were a key advantage as they would enable the Adventure Galley to maneuver in a battle when the winds had calmed and other ships were dead in the water. Kidd took pride in personally selecting the crew, choosing only those he deemed to be the best and most loyal officers.

As the Adventure Galley sailed down the Thames, Kidd unaccountably failed to salute a Navy yacht at Greenwich as custom dictated. The Navy yacht then fired a shot to make him show respect, and Kidd’s crew… responded with an astounding display of impudence — by turning and slapping their backsides in [disdain].[14]
Because of Kidd’s refusal to salute, the Navy vessel’s captain retaliated by pressing much of Kidd’s crew into naval service, this despite rampant protests. Thus short-handed, Kidd sailed for New York City, capturing a French vessel en route (which was legal under the terms of his commission). To make up for the lack of officers, Kidd picked up replacement crew in New York, the vast majority of whom were known and hardened criminals, some undoubtedly former pirates.

Among Kidd’s officers was his quartermaster, Hendrick van der Heul. The quartermaster was considered ‘second in command’ to the captain in pirate culture of this era. It is not clear, however, if Van der Heul exercised this degree of responsibility because Kidd was nominally a privateer. Van der Heul is also noteworthy because he may have been African or of African-American descent. A contemporary source describes him as a “small black Man.” However, the meaning of this term is not certain as, in late seventeenth-century usage, the term negro would have been normally used, and the phrase “black Man” could mean either black-skinned or black-haired. If van der Heul was indeed of African ancestry, this fact would make him the highest ranking black pirate so far identified. Van der Heul went on to become a master’s mate on a merchant vessel, and was never convicted of piracy.

[edit] Hunting for pirates
In September 1696, Kidd weighed anchor and set course for the Cape of Good Hope. However, more bad luck struck, and a third of his crew soon perished on the Comoros due to an outbreak of cholera. To make matters worse, the brand-new ship developed many leaks, and he failed to find the pirates he expected to encounter off Madagascar. Kidd then sailed to the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, one of the most popular haunts of rovers on the Pirate Round. Here he again failed to find any pirates. According to Edward Barlow, a captain employed by the British East India Company, Kidd attacked a Mughal convoy here under escort by Barlow’s East Indiaman, and was beaten off. If the report is true, this marked Kidd’s first foray into piracy.

As it became obvious his ambitious enterprise was failing, he became understandably desperate to cover its costs. But, once again, Kidd failed to attack several ships when given a chance, including a Dutchman and New York privateer. Some of the crew deserted Kidd the next time the Adventure Galley anchored offshore, and those who decided to stay behind made constant open-threats of mutiny.

Kidd killed one of his own crewmen on October 30, 1697. While Kidd’s gunner, William Moore, was on deck sharpening a chisel, a Dutch ship hove in sight. Moore urged Kidd to attack the Dutchman, an act not only piratical but also certain to anger the Dutch-born King William. Kidd refused, calling Moore a lousy dog. Moore retorted, “If I am a lousy dog, you have made me so; you have brought me to ruin and many more.” Kidd snatched up and heaved an ironbound bucket at Moore. Moore fell to the deck with a fractured skull and died the following day.[15]

While seventeenth century English admiralty law allowed captains great leeway in using violence against their crew, outright murder was not permitted. But Kidd seemed unconcerned, later explaining to his surgeon that he had “good friends in England, that will bring me off for that.”

[edit] Accusations of piracy
Acts of savagery on Kidd’s part were reported by escaped prisoners, who told stories of being hoisted up by the arms and drubbed with a naked cutlass. In truth, many of these acts were committed by his disobedient and mutinous crew. On one occasion, crew members ransacked the trading ship, Mary and tortured several of its crew members while Kidd and the other captain, Thomas Parker conversed privately in Kidd’s cabin. When Kidd found out what had happened, he was outraged and forced his men to return most of the stolen property.

Kidd was declared a pirate very early in his voyage by a Royal Navy officer to whom he had promised “thirty men or so”.[12] Kidd sailed away during the night to preserve his crew, rather than subject them to Royal Navy impressment.

On January 30, 1698, he raised French colours and took his greatest prize, an Armenian ship, the 400 ton Quedagh Merchant,[16][17] which was loaded with satins, muslins, gold, silver, an incredible variety of East Indian merchandise, as well as extremely valuable silks. The captain of the Quedagh Merchant was an Englishman named Wright, who had purchased passes from the French East India Company promising him the protection of the French Crown. After realizing the captain of the taken vessel was an Englishman, Kidd tried to persuade his crew to return the ship to its owners[citation needed], but they refused, claiming that their prey was perfectly legal as Kidd was commissioned to take French ships, and that an Armenian ship counted as French if it had French passes. In an attempt to maintain his tenuous control over his crew, Kidd relented and kept the prize. When this news reached England, it confirmed Kidd’s reputation as a pirate, and various naval commanders were ordered to “pursue and seize the said Kidd and his accomplices” for the “notorious piracies”[18] they had committed.

Kidd kept the French passes of the Quedagh Merchant, as well as the vessel itself. While the passes were at best a dubious defence of his capture, British admiralty and vice-admiralty courts (especially in North America) heretofore had often winked at privateers’ excesses into piracy, and Kidd may have been hoping that the passes would provide the legal fig leaf that would allow him to keep the Quedagh Merchant and her cargo. Renaming the seized merchantman the Adventure Prize, he set sail for Madagascar.

On April 1, 1698, Kidd reached Madagascar. Here he found the first pirate of his voyage, Robert Culliford, (the same man who had stolen Kidd’s ship years before) and his crew aboard the Mocha Frigate. Two contradictory accounts exist of how Kidd reacted to his encounter with Culliford. According to The General History of the Pirates, published more than 25 years after the event by an author whose very identity remains in dispute, Kidd made peaceful overtures to Culliford: he “drank their Captain’s health,” swearing that “he was in every respect their Brother,” and gave Culliford “a Present of an Anchor and some Guns.”[19] This account appears to be based on the testimony of Kidd’s crewmen Joseph Palmer and Robert Bradinham at his trial. The other version was presented by Richard Zacks in his 2002 book The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd. According to Zacks, Kidd was unaware that Culliford had only about 20 crew with him, and felt ill manned and ill equipped to take the Mocha Frigate until his two prize ships and crews arrived, so he decided not to molest Culliford until these reinforcements came. After the Adventure Prize and Rouparelle came in, Kidd ordered his crew to attack Culliford’s Mocha Frigate. However, his crew, despite their previous eagerness to seize any available prize, refused to attack Culliford and threatened instead to shoot Kidd. Zacks does not refer to any source for his version of events.[20]

Both accounts agree that most of Kidd’s men now abandoned him for Culliford. Only 13 remained with the Adventure Galley. Deciding to return home, Kidd left the Adventure Galley behind, ordering her to be burnt because she had become worm-eaten and leaky. By burning the ship, he was able to salvage every last scrap of metal, for example hinges. With the loyal remnant of his crew, he returned to the Caribbean aboard the Adventure Prize.

Trial
Prior to Kidd returning to New York City, he learned that he was a wanted pirate, and that several English men-of-war were searching for him. Realizing that the Adventure Prize was a marked vessel, he cached it in the Caribbean Sea and continued toward New York aboard a sloop. He is alleged to have deposited some of his treasure on Gardiners Island, hoping to use his knowledge of its location as a bargaining tool.

Bellomont (an investor) was away in Boston, Massachusetts. Aware of the accusations against Kidd, Bellomont was justifiably afraid of being implicated in piracy himself, and knew that presenting Kidd to England in chains was his best chance to save his own neck. He lured Kidd into Boston with false promises of clemency[21], then ordered him arrested on July 6, 1699. Kidd was placed in Stone Prison, spending most of the time in solitary confinement. His wife, Sarah, was also imprisoned. The conditions of Kidd’s imprisonment were extremely harsh, and appear to have driven him at least temporarily insane.

He was eventually (after over a year) sent to England for questioning by Parliament. The new Tory ministry hoped to use Kidd as a tool to discredit the Whigs who had backed him, but Kidd refused to name names, naively confident his patrons would reward his loyalty by interceding on his behalf. Finding Kidd politically useless, the Tory leaders sent him to stand trial before the High Court of Admiralty in London for the charges of piracy on high seas and the murder of William Moore. Whilst awaiting trial, Kidd was confined in the infamous Newgate Prison and wrote several letters to King William requesting clemency.

Kidd had two lawyers to assist in his defense, Dr. Oldish and Mr. Lemon.[22] He was shocked to learn at his trial that he was charged with murder. He was found guilty on all charges (murder and five counts of piracy). He was hanged on May 23, 1701, at ‘Execution Dock’, Wapping, in London. During the execution, the hangman’s rope broke and Kidd was hanged on the second attempt. His body was gibbeted — left to hang in an iron cage over the River Thames, London — as a warning to future would-be pirates for twenty years.

His associates Richard Barleycorn, Robert Lamley, William Jenkins, Gabriel Loffe, Able Owens, and Hugh Parrot were convicted, but pardoned just prior to hanging at Execution Dock.

Kidd’s Whig backers were embarrassed by his trial. Far from rewarding his loyalty, they participated in the effort to convict him by depriving him of the money and information which might have provided him with some legal defense. In particular, the two sets of French passes he had kept were missing at his trial. These passes (and others dated 1700) resurfaced in the early twentieth century, misfiled with other government papers in a London building. These passes call the extent of Kidd’s guilt into question. Along with the papers, many goods were brought from the ships and soon auctioned off as “pirate plunder.” They were never mentioned in the trial. Nevertheless, none of these items would have prevented his conviction for murdering Moore.

Mythology and legend
The belief that Kidd had left a buried treasure contributed considerably to the growth of his legend. The 1701 broadside song Captain Kid’s Farewel to the Seas, or, the Famous Pirate’s Lament [24] lists “Two hundred bars of gold, and rix dollars manifold, we seized uncontrolled”. This belief made its contributions to literature in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Gold-Bug”, Washington Irving’s The Devil and Tom Walker , Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Nelson DeMille’s Plum Island. It also gave impetus to the never-ending treasure hunts conducted on Oak Island in Nova Scotia, in Suffolk County, Long Island in New York where Gardiner’s Island is located, Charles Island in Milford, Connecticut; the Thimble Islands in Connecticut and on the island of Grand Manan in the Bay of Fundy.

Captain Kidd did bury a small cache of treasure on Gardiner’s Island in a spot known as Cherry Tree Field; however, it was removed by Governor Bellomont and sent to England to be used as evidence against him.[25]

Kidd also visited Block Island around 1699, where he was supplied by Mrs. Mercy (Sands) Raymond, daughter of the mariner James Sands. The story has it that, for her hospitality, Mrs. Raymond was bid to hold out her apron, into which Kidd threw gold and jewels until it was full. After her husband Joshua Raymond died, Mercy moved with her family to northern New London, Connecticut (later Montville), where she bought much land. The Raymond family was thus said to have been “enriched by the apron”.[26]

On Grand Manan in the Bay of Fundy, as early as 1875, reference was made to searches on the West side of the island for treasure allegedly buried by Kidd during his time as a Privateer. For nearly 200 years, this remote area of the island has been called “Money Cove”.

There is also a mention of Kidd attacking one of the Japanese islands of the Tokara archipelago, south of Kagoshima. It is the most southern island, named Takarajima, which translates literally as “Treasure Island.” The legend says that the pirates requested food and cattle from the inhabitants of the island. Their offer was refused and so 23 of the pirates landed and burned the inhabitants alive in a lime cave. Afterwards, Kidd hid his treasure in one of the caves, never coming back for it due to his execution in England.

In 1983, Cork Graham and Richard Knight went looking for Captain Kidd’s buried treasure off the Vietnamese island of Phú Quốc. Knight and Graham were caught, convicted of illegally landing on Vietnamese territory, and assessed each a $10,000 fine. They were imprisoned for 11 months until they paid the fine.[27]

The Dominican Republic’s small Catalina Island, in the Caribbean, is being studied since December 13, 2007, by a team of underwater archeologists from Indiana University, after an Italian tourist announced the discovery of an old wreck at just 10 feet under the clear-blue waters, at a distance of no more than 70 feet off shore. There was no evidence of looting at the site, despite its remains being believed to have been buried since the 17th century. It has proved to be the Quedagh Merchant.

Marine Exploration President Paul Enright states: “Burt Webber and his crew continue daily operations on a 1700s shipwreck in the Dominican Republic contract area. We are very excited with the numerous one-of-a-kind valuables recovered; especially the silver coins and gold, pearl and diamond jewelry. Over one hundred pieces have been salvaged from this particular site. We feel there is much more to come since Webber’s team has covered only one-eighth of this particular shipwreck area. Our operations will continue here indefinitely. We will post pictures of the latest finds to our website in the coming days.”

www.mexp.biz

Marine Exploration, Inc. and joint venture partner Hispaniola Ventures, LLC, headed by Burt D. Webber, Jr., plan to continue the shipwreck site survey and salvage and anticipates locating and recovering additional historic shipwrecks with valuable artifacts and treasure. Working under exclusive contract with the Dominican Republic, the Company has plans in place to pursue multiple notable shipwrecks in Dominican Republic territorial and jurisdictional waters.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements, which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

“It’s the best. It’s the best day,” Randall Simon, one of the Dutch players with some major league experience said of beating a Dominican team stocked with stars like Boston’s David Ortiz and New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes. “It will never get better than that. Nobody ever thought about this, that it would happen one day. And we did it.”

What most dont think of when thinking about the Dominican Republic is cigars. Thats right, the Dominican Republic actually produces more cigars than any other county in the world. Amongst many cigar aficionados, the Dominicans also produce some of the highest quality cigars in the world. Some popular Dominican cigar brands include Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo. Taking an afternoon away from the beaches and resorts allows visitors the opportunity to learn a little about the history and economy of the Dominican Republic.

The next time youre in the Dominican Republic, consider a cigar factory tour if youre interested in learning more about the cigar manufacturing and rolling processes. Fabrica Anilo de Oro (809.580.5808) and Tabacalera Jacagua (809.580.6600), both located in Tamboril, are just two of the many Dominican cigar companies which offer tours. On either tour, youll be interested to learn about cigar tobacco procurement and the cigar rolling process that is used to produce the finest cigars in the world. And of course, youll have the opportunity to sample to the goods and purchase cigars to take with you.

El Museo del Tabaco (809.689.7665) is a free museum in Santo Domingo offering exhibits on tobacco history, tools and production processes. Heres visitors learn how tobacco is grown, procured and rolled into the final product. The museum is free to enter and has limited hours of operation so call ahead and check to see when theyre open.

Take advantage of any of these tours while in the Dominican Republic and youll be glad you did. And of course, bring back a souvenir for the cigar aficionado in your life.

While most Dominican rums can be obtained from duty-free shops in the airport, only a sense of authenticity and extreme savings come from purchasing your bottle at a local liquor store or supermercado. There, an arsenal of world-famous liquors and spirits are found and at much slimmer cost.

On the North coast of Punta Cana, in Sasua, we suggest perusing the isles of Super Super Liquors, displaying the lowest prices you likely come across over your stay. On the East coast, we recommend Super Mercado in Cortecito, offering a generous selection at similar prices. On the South coast, visit San Pedro de Macoris, found directly adjacent to Macoris Rum Factory.

Discovering a cigar to match a Dominican rum wont be difficult. This country, aside from Cuba’s notoriety, is infamous for the quality of their hand-rolled cigars. A vendor will not be hard to find; they are in stores and scattered along the shores. But do remain cautious as there is a plague of counterfeits roaming the streets.

The best cigars are found near the growing filed, particularly in smaller towns outside of Santiago. Unlike duty-free liquor shops, duty-free cigar shops are to be considered only with high guard and hesitation. Because what you will find separates good, authentic cigars from the ones peddled by hustlers are that the real ones do not come cheap. A cigar of average quality is priced around 4 dollars.

On the North coast, consider visiting Canadian Tim Hall. On the East coast, Cortecito, located near the Punta Cana luxury hotels, sells incredible cigars and you can even watch them being rolled on location. On the Southern coast, tour a legitimate family cigar operation in San Pedro de Macoris.

The center of Dominican Republic casino culture is the capital city of Santo Domingo. With eight casinos spread throughout this beautiful city, visitors and natives to the island can enjoy fun at tables and slot machines. The king of Dominican Republic casinos is the Barcelo Gran Hotel Lina and Casino, which is a combination of beautiful casino space and impeccable hotel rooms. The Lina Casino, a renowned gaming facility in the Caribbean, features 45 machines and 16 tables for visitors’ gaming pleasure. The Lina Hotel features 217 rooms, with an extensive office service and updated spa and pool area. When gamblers and visitors want to get away from the roulette wheel or the poker table, they can sit down at one of two restaurants connected to the hotel for buffet style or international cuisine.

There are several other great Dominican casinos in Santo Domingo, including the quaint Hotel and Casino Naco and the versatile Occidental El Embajador Hotel and Casino. Both feature beautiful hotel rooms and comfortable gaming facilities with more than 40 machines and a dozen tables to keep you winning big all day long. For those who are at the El Embajador and want to get out of their room or away from the craps table, they can head over to El Jardin del Embajador, a restaurant with international cuisine, or Los Porches, a nice little coffee shop.

For those who want to find a casino in the Dominican Republic and venture away from the lights of Santo Domingo, there are plenty of options. The quaint charm of the Casino Playa Chiquita in Sosua is a quick fix for the gambler on the go. One of the best casinos in the Dominican Republic, the American Casino, is located outside of Santo Domingo at Puerto Plata. With a 40,000 square foot gaming room and hotel, 80 tables and machines, and a direct connection to the beautiful beach, the American Casino is a true treasure of the Dominican Republic casino scene.

The most recent development is widely recognised as the largest dedicated leisure resort development in the world and perhaps the last investment opportunity. It is continually courted by premier international leisure resorts and understandable when 8% guaranteed rental yield (net of management fees) is available for the first 5 years and renewable. The Dominican Republic is approximately 600 miles South East from Florida, United States and approximately 4000 miles from the UK, With flying times of approximately 3 hours and 7 hours respectively and Punta Perla is fifteen minutes from Punta Cana International Airport. For leisure, opportunity and benefits The Dominican Republic is the off plan capital.

2700 acres of sculptured tropical paradise along with 3 signature Golf Courses plus academy. The development Golf Club is the synthesis of spectacular location with grand vision and it is destined to become one of the most prestigious international championship standard Golf retreats in the World.
The Dominican Republic enjoys a year round tropical maritime climate, a latitude of 17’36 – 19’58, places the Dominican Republic at the border of the tropical zone. Sea breezes refresh the insular territory, evening out temperature to average 23’C in the early mornings to 32’C at mid-day. There is little difference between winter and summer temperature with July averaging at 82’F (28’C) and January at 76’F (23’C).
The lowest temperatures occur in the mountain areas near Constanza, where temperatures have dropped to 0’C , and record highs have been registered at the frontier with Haiti , 39’C in the summer. The months of May to November are regarded as the rainy season and most rain falls in the northern and eastern regions. The Dominican Republic is similar in size to Scotland or the U.S. state of Maryland and is the second largest island in the Greater Antilles.

Named by its Spanish settlers “Hispaniola”, the island became the hub for the expansion of the Spanish empire into the new world. The city of Santo Domingo (originally named “La Isabela”) was founded in 1496, and soon became the seat of the first cathedral, hospital and university of America.
A year after gaining independence from Spain in 1821, the eastern part of the island was occupied by Haiti. This occupation ended on February 27, 1844 with the proclamation of the National Independence. Since 1966, ten democratic elections have been held, alternating the power between the three main political parties.

The Dominican Republic’s Latin style is a sharp contrast to the character of the many nearby islands, especially the British and French-influenced ones, and is reflected in both the local music and cuisine.

Like most overseas property markets that were popular up until last year, there has hardly been a dickie bird since the worst of the downturn set in. Ever since the talk began of this being the worst financial crisis since World War II, people have been scared of putting money into overseas property, and this obviously affected media coverage of emerging markets like Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, media coverage or no, tourism to the Dominican Republic has not been as badly affected as people expected, or as many other places around the world. Again, this is because of the fantastic value for money offered by the low cost of living in the country.

Massive international resort chain Hard Rock Hotel has just testified to the fact that Dominican Republic tourism is still a massive growth market, when it announced that it was building a new multi-million dollar resort in hotspot Punta Cana.

Because the market has not been battered, Dominican Republic property prices have held firm. This is also likely because the properties were so well priced in the first place; there was no massive speculation so there has been no severe correction.

Now that there is the first talk of recovery, and it is apparent that the crisis is not going to get anywhere near as bad as the doomsayers doomsaid, there are reports of increased activity from foreign buyers in the Dominican Republic property market.

The demand for overseas property has grown faster than anyone could have imagined since there was the first signs that we had reached the low point in the crisis in April. This is undoubtedly at least partly because of the record low interest rates being offered in all the G8 and most of the G20 nations.

Yes, this affects demand for overseas property because reduced payments on debt increases liquidity. But in the current market, it is predominantly those who have no debt, or certainly those with substantial savings who are buying.

So the biggest boost from low interest rates is from investors’ being disillusioned with the pitiful returns from bank held savings, who are seeing the 4-8% average yield from an overseas property investment as by far the best option. After all, you don’t get to lie on a sun-soaked beach when you go to visit your money in Barclays.

One of the most important steps in finding a Caribbean rental is to know ones budget. Individuals need to be aware of what he or she can afford. Most of the Caribbean islands have a wide price range of available properties but some of them offer mostly upscale and high grade lodging which can be expensive. Group rates or other specials are sometimes available depending on the season and availability. Property owners can set the prices at their discretion and oftentimes they run various specials. Also one should be aware that some of the Caribbean rentals require a minimum stay so plan carefully and make sure to inquire about any provisions before signing the agreement.

Rental rates can vary based on the type of property, the size and sometimes the season. The winter months are considered the high season for Caribbean travel. This makes since due to the fact that while it may be snowy and rainy in December in the US its sunny and warm in the Caribbean and events are constantly going on. When looking for rentals inquire about any rent changes that may apply for a particular Caribbean rental. Amenities such as being located on the beach or near a big shopping district may lead to a slight increase in rental rates however it is usually up to the owner. Also be prepared to pay rental taxes on properties such as villas when applicable and these can range from seven to eight percent. Most of the Caribbean is very modern but one should still be mindful of the features that are offered for the Caribbean rental. While air conditioning and cable television is a must have for some people, others prefer things such as mountain views and hiking trails.

Beachfront Caribbean rentals are generally more expensive. Villas are a tourism favorite so if considering this type of property one should reserve as early as possible to guarantee a spot. These two types of rentals are generally fancier and offer more amenities that may appeal to those looking for all the comforts of home. Some of them even come with a full staff onsite for patrons to utilize. Caribbean rentals such as apartments or small cottages are often just as nice but may not have as many features and are generally not staffed. Another popular rental option for those who really want an experience is known as private island rental and its name says it all. This is the most expensive rental item but also the most luxurious. Along with their own personal island to enjoy, he or she will also enjoy their own private staff that is at their disposal.

Be clear in your mind why you are thinking of buying Caribbean Property on the Islands. Would you be using the home that you are planning on, as a holiday resort, or as a place to retire in? Would you be looking for a place to work out of, or do business?

Before you begin your search, it would be best to fix your budget. Next, check out with the many property dealers in the Caribbean Islands what is on offer. It is also a wise thing to find out all the laws of the island where you are planning to buy land to build, or buy a home. Some of the islands are colonies of European nations, some are sovereign states, some are tied to the United States, and some are overseas departments or dependent territories. Of course, not all the 7000 islands are habitable.

There are many Caribbean Real Estate property dealers who will be ready to help. You will have to look out for those unprincipled dealers who will not get you the best deal and yet make you spend an exorbitant amount. Researching the real estate market will help you make an informed choice of property and a realistic purchase. Theres a company, for instance, who are specialist property dealers in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago. Theres another company, which have formed business connections with reliable property developers and have quite a few properties in the islands for investment. And finally, theres another company that deals in real estate and has international property listings deals with homes for families, apartments, condominiums, villas, and all other kinds of residences in more than 36 islands, which include, Jamaica, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands and Martinique.

It would be a good idea to get to know all the fine print that governs the renting or buying, or maybe even selling of property in the Caribbean Islands. Some of the islands have strict restrictions on foreigners who are looking for property to buy. For example, if you want to buy Caribbean Property in Bermuda, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, St.Kitts, Nevis, and St.Lucia, you will need a permit or license. This is not so easy to acquire not to mention the cost factor. Buying property in the Dominican Republic does not require a permit and is a fairly painless procedure, with only Land Transfer Tax to be paid.

As a discerning buyer, you will need to find out about the weather conditions. Except for the Dutch Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, all the other islands fall in the Hurricane Belt. Naturally, if you decide to either build or buy here, you will have to keep in mind the damages caused by strong gales, rain and maybe even floods. Your Caribbean Real Estate maintenance costs will rise and you will have to build such that there is least amount of structural wear and tear due to these forceful weather conditions. Once you have found your dream Caribbean Property, get to know it.

Visit your Caribbean Real Estate property at all times of the day, to see how the light falls on it. If this is the first time ever that you are buying property, it wouldnt be a bad idea at all to get an expert to come and critically look at the building with you. Getting to know the local people, the local culture always helps in the settling in process. Find out if there is some history connected with either the building of your choice, or the land where you intend building.

It all adds up to your making a good investment.

The republic’s weather is hot in coastal areas. The northern coast of the Dominican Republic experiences a wet season from October to January. Northeast and eastern region receive heavy rainfall during June-November. The summer starts in June and lasts till September. May through October is wet on the southern coast. The eastern end lying between Bavaro and Punta Cana, experiences a dry period from December to March. The weather on the southeast coast is dry from December to March and is wet during May. Compared to other parts of the country, this region receives a lower annual rainfall. The southwest region tends to have a dry period in July-May and October.

The Dominican Republic is ideal for it’s tropical climate with no hurricane season (on this side of the island for over 27 years), proximity to beautiful beaches as well as golf courses and numerous other activities for you to enjoy.

Where to Stay

Cabarete and Sosúa have a wide range of choices, but luxury is the exception. For a weeklong rental at low prices, you can’t go wrong with Cabarete Palm Beach Condos (Cabarete Beach; 877-240-5605; www.cabaretecondos.com), a quiet beachfront condo that offers spacious, two-bedroom apartments starting at $80 a night in the off-season and $140 in the high season (not including taxes). The apartments are smartly decorated and have full kitchens and private patios. Beachfront restaurants and bars are nearby — or with the money you save, hire a Dominican cook for a traditional home-cooked dinner.

The white-washed, over-the-top Italianate design of the Piergiorgio Palace Hotel in Sosúa (Calle La Puntilla No. 1; 809-571-2626; www.piergiorgiopalace.com) wears its gaudiness well, especially for the price: $95 a night, $115 for an ocean view (taxes included). Though a few blocks from the town and beach, it feels isolated enough that you might not leave. The resort, after all, features a clear blue pool, a good Italian restaurant and endless terraces and nooks overlooking the bay. And the rooms, though not chic, are pleasant and clean.

Where to Eat

When you’re daydreaming on the beach, it’s easy to forget how beautiful and bucolic the tropical interior can be. Blue Moon Retreat (Sabaneta-Moca Highway, Jamao al Norte; 809-757-0614, www.bluemoonretreat.net), perched on a hilltop overlooking lush hills, is an Indian restaurant with a Caribbean twist. Dinner, $20 a person prix fixe, is a tropical dream of chutneys, Caribbean-style tandoori chicken (with garlic and oregano, without yogurt) and pakora fritters. Call ahead: the restaurant usually doesn’t open unless eight or more have reserved. It’s also a beautiful place to stay overnight — for $50 — if you don’t mind a thin mattress and rustic accommodations.

For cheap eats along Cabarete beach, head to La Casita de Don Alfredo (Cabarete Beach; 809-986-3750), a k a Papi’s, a tables-on-the-sand restaurant famous for whole shrimps served in a cast-iron pan with a cream sauce, for 750 pesos, or about $21 at 36 pesos to the dollar. Finish dinner by 11 p.m., though, before the dance music starts blaring from the club next door, utterly ruining the sand-in-your-toes tranquillity.

There are also plenty of tasty shacks on Sosúa Beach. Mofongo King, toward the middle of the beach with a bright aqua-blue roof, serves an excellent version of its namesake dish, a mound of fried, mashed plantains mixed with pork crackling or chicken (around 200 pesos).

Cheap Beaches

There are long, picturesque beaches in both Cabarete and Sosúa, but they’re also commercial, with lots of places to eat ranging from beach shacks to fancy lounges. For a quiet beach with nothing but beige sand, a handful of beach chairs and water in several gradations of blue, walk a few blocks east to Playa Alicia, an idyllic cove with a few palm trees and a lazy feel at the end of quiet Calle Dr. Rosen.

Where to Party

Colmados are what Dominicans call the local grocery stores, which come nighttime, double as neighborhood hangouts. El Flow (Calle Pedro Clisante No. 34; Sosúa) is like a colmado without the groceries, serving cheap beer and rum (both from 50 pesos) to a boisterous, informal crowd of Dominicans along with some tourists trying their best to dance to the blasting merengue and bachata music. Lax (Cabarete Beach; 829-915-4842), by contrast, is for tourists — tourists, that is, looking to trade in the corny beachfront clubs for a more relaxed, loungey feel.

What to Do

This is a water sports country. Here’s how it breaks down: Sosúa is for divers and snorkelers, with lots of dive sites teeming with brightly colored fish that are quickly reachable by boat. A 90-minute snorkeling trip with Northern Coast Diving (Calle Pedro Clisante No. 8; 809-571-1028; northerncoastdiving.com), staffed by easygoing, friendly English speakers, goes for $29.

But the bigger action is in Cabarete, where windsurfing rules. Several outfitters, including Cabarete Windsports Club (Cabarete Beach; 809-571-0784; cabaretewindsportsclub.com) offer rental equipment, which goes for about $65 a day including a lesson. What time of day you go will depend upon your skill level. Winds get strong in the early to midafternoon, especially in the winter.

What to Buy

Gift shops in Sosúa seem to specialize in schlock — gaudy paintings of Caribbean sunsets, for example. But a few places do offer tasteful and wholly Dominican wares including Patrick’s Silversmithy (Calle Pedro Clisante No. 3; 809-571-2121), run by Patrick Fagg, a British expat who has been in Sosúa for 35 years. He makes earrings, bracelets and charms out of silver, as well as local larimar and amber. Earrings start at about $15. You can also get great Dominican cigars at Cafe Cubano (Calle Pedro Clisante No. 27, Sosúa; 809-571-3493) for 100 to 1,000 pesos.

How to Get There

JetBlue and Continental fly nonstop from the New York City area to Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata. Round-trip fares start at around $400, according to a recent Web search. There are also nonstop flights from Miami (American) and several airlines fly to Santiago, which is about 30 miles away.