Job offer in the Bahamas

Verres

So I need some advice urgently.

I've been offered a permanent job in the Bahamas, in Nassau. It's with the same company that I am currently with, just in a different division. The role itself is exactly what I was looking for - really, bang-on - but I have my doubts about the location.

I've always wanted to work abroad so this seems great, but I've never been to the Caribbean, and I don't know anyone who's ever visited The Bahamas. To compound the issue, I've been told there's no "assistance" for relocation. This means that they won't set me up with a place to stay or pay my flights. They'll sort out my work permit, but that's it.

This leaves it all up to me, which is a little daunting as I know SFA about the place. I've also got a wife and baby who'd be coming with me which means that my first instinct of "just take the job and figure out everything else when you get there" won't work this time.

I need to find a (safe) place to rent an apartment, I need to find a reputable & safe crèche for my kid. What would constitute a "good" salary over there? I know that it's a good bit more expensive than Dublin.

Has anyone here ever visited The Bahamas in a non-holiday way? What's it like? Is it safe? Where should we live? Jesus Christ - someone please help...

panicpanicpanic.

Also - I need to give an answer by Friday, Monday at the latest!!

Thanks all.

Mr. Loverman

https://www.google.com/search?sugexp=chrome,mod=16&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=bahamas+expat

Loads of websites for expats in the Bahamas.

Mousewar

Just read the headline, not even going to read the full post.

Take the job!

Mr. Loverman

Mousewar wrote: »

Take the job!

I would tend to agree with this...

I am sure there are safe areas in the Bahamas where you can live.

I live in China and arrived here without arranging any accommodation or anything like that. I checked into a hotel for a month and used an expat website to find an apartment. In the meantime I made friends with locals and other expats and they helped me get a mobile phone, etc.

The Bahamas speak English so I would imagine it will be a lot easier than being in China.

Give it a shot. If you want it to work out, it'll work out...

Verres

Cheers for the responses. I saw the expat links, but for all I know they could all be sock-puppets flogging real estate. I was just looking for some advice from "real" people.

Also, the "just take it and it'll work out" is a bit harder when you've got a wife & child in tow.

Cheers dudes. If anyone else passes this way with first-hand knowledge it'd be much appreciated.

MidlandsM

a know a bloke used to live there........he told me renting was expensive...think he told me he paid USD 3,000 pm for a apartment.

check that out prior anyways, and good luck whatever you do.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Sleepy

One other consideration is: what's the wife going to do over there whilst you're at work?

You mention a créche which would make me assume she works here, but will her job move as easily? If not, she might find herself very isolated being a stay-at-home mum in a different country whilst you're making new friends/acquaintances through work etc.

Without relocation assistance or a significant raise, I'd be inclined to turn it down.

subway

first things, there is no income tax in the bahamas, so whatever you earn there is yours to keep.
second thing, you are resident in ireland for 2012 (past the 183 day mark) so everything you earn there, you will pay irish income tax on... (unless you arent resident in ireland the following year) i.e. get tax advice...

really, your job should sit you down and help you relocate (allowance or not) rather than give you until friday and expect you to google for answers. surely you could ring the new manager or one of the team over there?

El Horseboxo

I was there for 3 months with work a few years ago. It's a very expensive place for pretty much everything. I wasn't paying for my apartment but the value of it was 850,000 thousand dollars and it wasn't anything special. I had heard it was something like 3000 a month. It was a gated community too which were quite popular with expats as crime was rising when I was there. Nothing too dangerous. Just robberies and the likes. I'm sure you could find cheaper but if you have a family it may not be ideal to look in the cheaper areas.

I had to pay for utilities and expense them. Electricity is expensive. More than Ireland I thought. Phone and internet was more expensive too. For a decent internet connection I think it was 70 a month. I had no kids but people were always complaining about prices. I heard some say it was cheaper to hire a nanny. A lot of illegal Cubans and Haitians go into that field. shopping for basic stuff was ridiculously expensive too. I'm big into the weights so I was eating a lot. I remember thinking that there was no way a local average worker could ever afford to be a bodybuilder. I can't remember exact prices. But for example, milk was over 5 dollars and a small thing ofi ice cream was around 8. Car rental was expensive. Petrol was cheaper by standards in Ireland. I'm of Latino descent so I don't mind the hot humid weather. But if you're not used to it you will probably have the a/c on a lot. And it's expensive. Obviously fans are cheaper. But it gets very humid and hot there. Oh and they have a hurricane season. Although I remember locals telling me they only get direct hits every few years.

The above might seem quite negative and I'm not trying to put you off. But as you're not sure what to do I figured I'd provide what info I know and you can decide if it's helpful or not. It was 2008 when I was there so I'm not sure how much prices and that have changed. For me it was a great place initially but once the vacation vibe wore off I actually found it quite boring. My experience could be completely different from yours given you've a family. So you may be looking for different things. Perhaps try one of the expat forums for more up to date information. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Verres

About the rent, yeah I saw that.

@Sleepy, she's a fully qualified accountant with 10+ years experience so her finding a job once we've settled shouldn't be a problem (apparently). I'm in tech so it's a lot harder for me, hence when I was offered the role we decided to jump at it (more or less).

Cheers Subway - yeah, I'll be having a chat with some of the people over there, but it'll be via phone and a lot of what they're saying (thus far) is come on and we'll sort it out. I was under the impression that The Bahamas is tax free? How would I pay Irish Income Tax on earnings made & spent abroad?

I won't be back for about 3 - 5 years if I take this job, so i'd be tax free? Would 100k dollars be a good salary for Nassau? Tax free it should be enough... no? Thoughts?

Verres

Thanks Horseboxo. Yeah, it seems fierce expensive for everything from what I'm reading. Also, just from flicking around the different forums I think a gated community would be best especially as I've got the nipper in tow.

As above, it'd be about 100k USD per year (tax free?). How far would that stretch? If the apartment is 3k per month (not outrageous according to the websites I've seen) that'd be 36 of the 100 gone. 64k for everything else must be ok? That's 5,300 per month for everything.

Also, we won't be out partying or anything. Once we have broadband for skype etc. and we can go walking / swimming we'd be happy.

I'm really just worried about the crime rate. It seems to have "american" style of violence. i.e. there mightn't be a lot of it but if does happen, you're getting a .44 in the face. Hence the gated-community thing.

Oh bother! I'm getting quite stressed!

subway

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/res1.html

I am going to work abroad but will remain resident for Irish tax purposes. How will my employment income be treated?
For any tax year that you are tax resident in the State, you will be liable to Irish income tax on your total income from all sources including any income from a foreign employment

a lot of this depends on whether you are emigrating, transferring, working aboard etc.
so look into in detail, i studied a bit of tax but am far from an expert

Verres

Thanks man - will do. All advice is much appreciated!

Sleepy

Verres wrote: »

@Sleepy, she's a fully qualified accountant with 10+ years experience so her finding a job once we've settled shouldn't be a problem (apparently).

I'd definitely investigate that: are her accounting qualifications recognised there? I'd imagine they've a different tax system, possibly different legal reporting requirements etc.

Don't make the move on the assumption that she'll find work quickly. She might well do but if she didn't would she end up resenting you for "making her a housewife"?

ABajaninCork

I would also make sure you have decent health insurance. Either the employer should offer it or you take out your own. Schooling for the little ones shouldn't be a problem. The International schools are excellent and the Bahamian education system itself, I understand is excellent too.

Generally, in the WI health services are very good, but it costs!! If in the unfortunate event you need specialist treatment, you'll probably have to go to Miami as that's the nearest place that will offer it.

You also have to bear in mind, like the majority of the WI most stuff is imported, which is the reason why it is so expensive.

My cousin lived in the Bahamas so I can tap her if more info needed.

Take good insect repellent and mozzie nets! Mozzies love fresh blood...

I'm not sure about the Bahamas WRT currency, but when I go to Barbados, I never deal in US dollars although it's accepted as legal tender. I deal in BBD as I find shops tend to take the mick with the prices.

If you're into your Barry's tea, Tayto's and all foods Irish, I would set up my supply lines from home! There are also several US websites who will send as well. I'll try to hunt down some links...

I would take the job. Too good an opportunity to turn down. Good luck!

Delancey

The idyllic picture of the Caribbean with sunshine and sandy beaches does something to mask the fact that violent crime is a significant issue on many islands.
From what I'm told , living in a gated secure compound is the only way to be confident of personal safety.

ABajaninCork

Delancey wrote: »

The idyllic picture of the Caribbean with sunshine and sandy beaches does something to mask the fact that violent crime is a significant issue on many islands.
From what I'm told , living in a gated secure compound is the only way to be confident of personal safety.

Yes, violent crime CAN be an issue. But it's the same anywhere, is it not?

Now if you were talking about Jamaica, you might have a point. But the Bahamas? It's no more dangerous than Dublin!

OP - don't listen to scaremongering rubbish like this. Check with the Dept of Foreign Affairs. I have a feeling the Ambassador isn't resident on the Bahamas but might be in Jamaica. But there should be an Irish Consulate in Nassau if no embassy.

ABajaninCork

I've just thought of something else...

If your wife isn't able to get anything immediately, might she be able to do some sort of freelance or consultancy work from home?

Verres

@ABajaninCork - thanks for all the info. Any details you could hit up from your cousin would be most appreciated.

My employer will pay my (any my family's) health insurance. Re. the crime Delancey, I fear you might be right. The murder rate for New Providence is at 72 people already for 2012 - and there's only 200,000 people on the island. That's a fairly high rate.

I think the difference (from what I've been reading) is that the incidence of crime over there is probably about the same as Dublin or London, but the problem is that if you DO get mugged, you're getting a pistol in the face, as opposed to the threat of a knife over here.

Anyway, I've been looking and I would defo have to live in a gated community (3K per month for a 2 bed).

With regards to my wife , she's ACCA so that won't be an issue. My feeling (and hers) is that she'd want to be at home for the first while anyway until we properly found our feet. Then we could look for creches, and then she could look for a job. In that order.

I've responded to the job offer and asked about salary. Even though it's an internal position, since it's a move another division I need to check that out as it's not a straight 1:1 move.

Thanks for all the advice, and as mentioned, if you could ask your cousin for any additional details (places to stay, not stay) that'd be great.

Delancey

Agree that Jamaica is an utter hole when it comes to crime , surprisingly another dreadful place is Barbados.

Verres

One other question for your cousin ABajaninCork would be - it is possible (in a practical sense) to live on one of the closer out islands and commute via ferry / boat to New Providence on a daily basis.

Does anyone do this? I really (REALLY) prefer the idea of living on once of the more family oriented islands...

ABajaninCork

Delancey wrote: »

Agree that Jamaica is an utter hole when it comes to crime , surprisingly another dreadful place is Barbados.

Surprising indeed, especially as you don't know what you're talking about!!:mad::mad: I am Bajan, and believe me the island's a WHOLE lot safer than Jamaica....

On what do you base the above assumption??? (Apologies for dragging off topic Verres, but I just saw RED!!)

@ Verres. No problem! I'll hit my cousin for info and get back to you...

Delancey

I never said Barbados was as bad as Jamaica ( nowhere could be as bad as there ) but I know a number of people who separately were victims of muggings in Barbados.
They all tell the same story - report it to the Police who act as if it's a very rare occurence and then meet lots of other people who have been mugged and likewise report that the Police told them they were the first mugging that year :rolleyes:

Verres

Cheers guys for all the help. It's really appreciated.

I have no idea which place is worse, but if it make anyone feel any better The Bahamas has the highest reported incidence of rape in the world.

So there's that.

I'm not feeling like this is the best move in the world for me.

Here's hoping ABajaninCork's cuz can tell me what's what! (or where's where, more accurately!)

ABajaninCork

Hi Verres!

Just sent the cuz a mail. Might be a while before I get a response. She's in Georgia at the moment and the internet connection there's none too reliable. I'll PM you and tell you what she says...

Delancey

Verres wrote: »

I have no idea which place is worse, but if it make anyone feel any better The Bahamas has the highest reported incidence of rape in the world.

Jesus , if its worse than South Africa for rape it must be some sh1thole :eek:

ABajaninCork

Delancey: Have you BEEN to any part of the West Indies?

Or are you basing your opinion on your friend's, aunty's, second cousin's, best mate's experience??

ABajaninCork

Verres wrote: »

One other question for your cousin ABajaninCork would be - it is possible (in a practical sense) to live on one of the closer out islands and commute via ferry / boat to New Providence on a daily basis.

Does anyone do this? I really (REALLY) prefer the idea of living on once of the more family oriented islands...

I would assume so, but I have no direct experience of doing this. I'll check with her and let you know.

Delancey

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Delancey: Have you BEEN to any part of the West Indies?

Or are you basing your opinion on your friend's, aunty's, second cousin's, best mate's experience??

Nope - but I do have friends who have been to various destinations there including 2 couples who travelled a couple of years apart to Barbados and had identical mugging experiences as already outlined.

My Aunt went to Jamaica and found it great once you stayed inside the compound but go outside was dangerous but then again I think Jamaicas reputation for violence is well known by now.

ABajaninCork

Precisely what I thought...

Verres: I have a response from my cousin, but waiting for one more answer. I'll PM you now!

Verres

@ABajaninCork - Thanks for the PM. I've responded with some other question.

Thanks all, and as before, if anyone stumbles across this thread feel free to add your 2c.

Cheers!

Verres

Just a quick update - I've gone back to the hiring manager and told her that I need $120K to take the role.

She didn't say "no" straight away but I guess she's now gone to either talk to her 2nd choice candidates to see how much they want, or she's gone to her boss to see if they have the money.

Either way I need to wait to hear from her. I think it's the right choice. We've been over our budget in detail for the last few days at that is the minimum we could live on if all three of us were to go over.

It's a senior enough role - if they want me they should have no trouble paying me that, and if they don't really want me I'm probably better off over here in my current role than living on a knife-edge in the bahamas without my family.

I'll post back and let you all know how it turns out.

ABajaninCork

Hey Verrres...

You have mail, mate!

Fingers and toes crossed for ya.

Verres

A further brief update. HR in the Bahamas got back to me and said that they would have an answer by the end of this week. I have no idea what's taking so long.

Fingers crossed!

ABajaninCork

Let me know if you need more help.

Manzoor14

Just stumbled across this, unfortunantly i've no info on the Bahamas but this sounds like a decent opportunity. Hope everything works out for you, best of luck!

the culture of deference

Have close friends that worked out there.

Your wife is better finding a job before you go out there.

You should get relocation.

And....... this is important

Your work colleagues will become your social circle. It's a small place.

Verres

the culture of deference wrote: »

Have close friends that worked out there.

Your wife is better finding a job before you go out there.

You should get relocation.

And....... this is important

Your work colleagues will become your social circle. It's a small place.

If I get the money I've asked for then wifey wouldn't need to work immediately. And going for interviews etc is easier when you're local I guess.

Relocation is not an option - that's why I'm asking for 120k.

I have no problem with my colleagues becoming my friends. I'm already largely in that position anyway; it's just what happens when you spend 10 hours a day with people.

Cheers for the advice though.