LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
REAL ESTATE
PRIVATE ISLAND OASIS
Undeveloped and uninhabited, Isle à Quatre, the picturesque Caribbean island, is a blank slate for you to bring your visions to life.
Isle à Quatre, Saint Vincent & Grenadines
JESSICA HALL
For a visionary seeking accessible serenity and privacy, Isle à Quatre is a gem awaiting discovery. The private freehold island is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Archipelago and is just five miles west of the ritzy Mustique, which has been favored by a wealthy few, royalty, and privacy-loving celebrities looking to escape photographers. “The 376 acres (152 hectares) Isle à Quatre is widely considered to be the last truly picture-perfect undeveloped island in the Caribbean,” says Rose Ann Leiner, the property’s listing agent and Broker with Engel & Völkers Aspen.
Located near Bequia, Mustique, St. Lucia and Canouan, the island can be reached in minutes by speed boat either from the airport on Bequia or from Canouan, which has a runway suitable for private jets, providing worldwide accessibility.
The story of Isle à Quatre’s ownership by one family can be traced back to the current owner’s grandfather who bought the island more than 100 years ago. The island remains untouched and rarely visited. It enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures of 24-30° C (75-86° F) and the gentle caress of the West Indian Trade Winds. A vital bonus: the island is located outside the hurricane belt and the area has never experienced a fullforce hurricane. The breathtaking topography incorporates shallow turquoise waters and four coral reefs with abundant marine life.
As a family compound, the island could be a place where memories are created and passed down for generations to come. Let’s face it, inviting your clients to your island compound is a great way to close the deal with your captive audience. A savvy owner also could turn the island into a very exclusive tourism business, or income producing vacation rental. Guests can enjoy the island’s undulating hills, sub-tropical vegetation and remarkable 360-degree views of the Caribbean. This untouched island, with its pristine white and gold sandy beaches, snorkeling, and other water-based activities, could inspire the development of an upscale getaway from the eco-minded traveler.
“The development potential is unlimited: permissions have already been legislated by St. Vincent Parliament, and you can arrange customized agreements through the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Furthermore, the present owner has already commissioned an engineering study and cost estimate for essential infrastructure (boat jetty, roads, water supply, electricity supply, and waste disposal). A proposal has been made and is available,” explains Leiner. “The purchase and development of Isle à Quatre will bring considerable advantages for investors. Benefits enshrined in law in the form of the Quatre Isle Act 2006 include the fact that the purchaser(s), and their dependents can obtain St. Vincent citizenship. Citizens do not pay St. Vincent income tax on income generated outside of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There is also a 20-year tax concession (with the possibility of a further 20-year extension) ensuring duty-free imports to Isle à Quatre.”
“Isle à Quatre is a Mustique that hasn’t happened yet,” says the island’s current owner, Sir James Mitchell, the long-time former Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He believes the time is right for a suitable visionary to bring it to life. Sir James would like to see the island take after nearby Mustique and Bequia, acquiring a global reputation while providing locals jobs. One of Sir James’ daughters, an Oxfordtrained solicitor and ecologist, imagines Isle à Quatre becoming a model for preservation and protection of the unique Caribbean ecosystem. Ultimately, the decision how to turn this secluded, but easily accessible, tropical island into paradise will be in the new owner’s hands.
Price upon request.
For more information,
or to schedule a private viewing:
Rose Ann
Leiner Engel & Völkers Aspen
T: +1 970.925.8400