Irwin is owner and captain of the charter boat "Double D & I" based out of Davis Harbor in south Eleuthera.  The "Double D & I" is a 32' Stamos fully ready for trolling or reef fishing - depending on the fisherman's desires and, of course, the weather.  Irwin is truly a professional charter captain.  He and his crew are licensed to carry 6 customers.  In order to better spot the game fish,  the "Double D & I" is equipped with a fly bridge.  He carries top of the line fishing gear such a Penn International rods and reels.  His boat is equipped with out riggers and down riggers to handle whatever fish are running at the time. His bait choices range from ballyhoo, mullet, bonefish, pilchers, squid, and so on...

Irwin bought this boat last August.  He takes it out every chance he gets.  He told me he's been fishing since he was 14, often doing free lance charters.  He's worked on boats out of the southern marinas such as Davis Harbor and Cape Eleuthera for years.  His whole life has been spent around the water.  He takes fishing seriously - it is his life and his hobby!

I asked Irwin what is running right now, and he told me last week he took some friends out from Chicago and they caught plenty of dolphin, cuda and king mackeral.  They had a wahoo on the line but lost it.  When I asked him what's the largest fish he'd ever caught, he said that about 8 years ago he caught a 572 pound blue Marlin off of Bamboo Point by Cape Eleuthera!!! Now that's a fish!

If you're interested in doing some charter fishing in south Eleuthera, give Irwin a call at 242.334.0011 or email him at dgibson@batelnet.bs.

Kenneth Culmer is a licensed realtor and appraiser with Maxim Intl Real Estate. 

EL:  How long have you been in the real estate business and what is your background?
KC: I was educated as a certified accountant but I've been in the real estate business  for 8 years now.  I have worked for Maxim the entire time and do both sales and property management.

EL:  Are you originally from Eleuthera?
KC: I moved to Eleuthera from Nassau 14 years ago, but my family is from Palmetto Point, Eleuthera.  I currently resides in Tarpum Bay.

EL:  I see you are a licensed realtor.  What is the significance of being licensed as opposed to not being licensed?
KC:  It is important for the buyer to work with a licensed realtor to ensure that they safeguard their deposit for a real estate purchase by giving their money to a licensed realtor and not an owner.  If something were to happen when dealing with a non-licensed individual there may be no recourse for the buyer.  Things can go wrong.  Licensed realtors are out to satisfy the needs of a client.  They are also there to protect the client.

EL:  I noticed the initials CREA, SCR and RIM. on your business card after your name.  What do these stand for?
CREA - Certified Real Estate Appraiser (For the professional Appraiser, state licensed or certified, who performs Appraisal assignments on residential, condominiums, vacant land, small commercial and other similar properties.*)
SCV - Senior Certified Valuer - (The Senior Certified Valuer designation is for those individuals with the most experience or has the most real estate knowledge in their department/company.**)
RIM - Registered International Member (This is a global network  As a Registered International Member the member's contact information is in an international data system helping to network and also allowing potential customers access to their information.**)

* information gathered from http://expertpages.com/org/narea.htm
** information gathered from http://www.iami.org/irei/requirements.cfm

EL:  I've been seeing more and more of your signs up.  Have you seen an upswing in the market and are you seeing more foreigners or Bahamians buying?
KC:  I have been placing more signs up on the listed properties.  It's a sure and positive advertisement step as opposed to magazines and ads.  There has been a good market in the last several years and prices are going up.  It's been about 50/50 foreign and local investors.

EL:  Tell me more about the appraisal side of your business
KC:  I am one of only 3 certified appraisers in Eleuthera.    I do appraisals for other agents and foreign and local buyers who want to ensure they get an independent view on the fair market value of a property.  Banks require this for financing.

EL:  Readers often ask what the difference is between crown land, commonage land and generation land.  Can you explain these?
KC:  Crown land belongs to the state/government.
Commonage land (which is predominantly in Tarpum Bay and in the North) is common to the people of a settlement and is for use by direct descendents of that settlement, ie. your children, grandchildren...  A Bahamian from a particular settlement can get a piece of land from the government that has been held for descendents of their particular settlement and can build on it, but can not sell it.
Generation land is land that belongs to a family and is passed from generation to generation.  It can never be sold.  This land may "belong" to a family because they settled it years ago or have farmed it for years and years.  The family creates ownership through possession.

EL:  Is there anything you would like to note for our readers?
KC:  Safeguard yourself by using a licensed realtor.  It is also important you hire a Bahamian lawyer to ensure documentation is done correctly and your property is properly registered.  Be aware that as a foreigner, you can simply purchase your first piece of property (under 5 acres).  However for larger pieces and for your second piece you are required to make application to the government for permission to buy it.

EL:  How can people reach you for more information?
KC:  I can be reached by phone at home:  242.334.4358 or cell:  242.359.7903 or by email at ken@eleutherarealtor.com.  My website is www.eleutherarealtor.com.