When I visited Tonga in 2006, I ran into Robert Bryce, an American real estate spruiker. I see he's still peddling his wares even though he left Tonga under rather obscure circumstances and now lives in Fiji. Here is his latest mouthwatering offer:
"19,000 of us out of over 6-billion people (going on 7 billion) on this planet are living free and secure here in Paradise. 19,000 is the Tongan population of Vava’u, plus a growing expat community from all over the world. “We found it,” is the message, the ultimate place to live.
This is an invitation for you to join us. You can call it “Plan B.” It is always good to have one. We have room for just a few more, and you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to get a residency visa. Investing in your own or any business of just $26,000 USD earns you a business visa. A retirement (non-working) visa requires only $5,500 USD in annual assured income to qualify. Where in the world is it easier than Tonga? Like the foot soldier that made it to the safe bunker, we are home-free, or free from home, as it might more accurately be restated. We are now in full control over our lives here in paradise. We are self-sufficient. We don’t rely on any system in the hands of others that might fail us. We provide our own electric power, water and even food and lots of it. We are insulated from the worst that might come to pass and yet, for better or for worse, we would still chose this paradise to live and prosper." [Read more]
His particular "brainchild" is Cocomo Village which, according to the old spruiker, "has everything you need to live plenteously [sic] and for less than the cost of an old clunker ($5,000 USD) you can lock up a home site in paradise now and secure your future. The only other costs will be your annual payment of $348 USD, which includes taxes and fees. That’s all you have to pay for your piece of Heaven in paradise. You can even build a proper home in Cocomo for under $10,000 USD (not a typo)—add your amenities, solar, water catchment and septic and you are fully self-sufficient for under $30,000 USD."
It seems that Robert isn't quite self-sufficient yet as he still waits for more dreamers to send him their money. CAVEAT EMPTOR!
P.S. More on Tongan real estate here.
