iNews Briefs
Suriname man hacks parents to death, torches home, SUV
From Caribbean360
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Friday July 18, 2014, CMC – A 55-year old Suriname man killed his elderly parents on Wednesday and subsequently torched their home and an SUV.
The police confirmed that the gruesome incident took place in the community of Livorno several kilometers south of Paramaribo.
Police say the father, 77, died on the spot while his 76-year old wife succumbed to her injuries while being treated at hospital.
Sources indicate neighbours rushed to the home on seeing the fire but the son, who had a machete was locked in the house.
On further investigations, the father was found at the back of the house, in a pool of blood, while the mother who was severely injured was lying in a hammock.
On arrival, the police held onto the son who then slashed both of his wrists in an apparent attempt to commit suicide.
He is currently nursing his wounds in hospital under police guard.
So far no motive has been established for the attack.
[Ipswich Town’s Youth Coach] Foley coaching in the Cayman Islands
From TWTD
Youth development coach Steve Foley is in the Cayman Islands this week as the Blues academy continues to forge links with the British Overseas Territory.
Foley, who came close to returning to his former club Norwich City as first-team coach earlier in the summer, is coaching at the Academy Sports Club, where he previously spent time last year.
The informal relationship between the clubs began in 2012 and has seen young players from the Caribbean island group visit Playford Road on a number of occasions, while Town have been invited to send a team out for a tournament next year.
Meanwhile, the Blues continue to wait for confirmation that they have been successful in their bid to upgrade to a category one academy.
Town’s U18s play their traditional friendly away against Southwold on the Common on Friday evening (KO 6.30pm).
For more: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/25423/foley-coaching-in-the-cayman-islands
Two gay sex workers murdered in Guyana
From Caribbean360
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sunday, July 20, 2014, CMC – Two homosexual sex workers were stabbed to death on the streets of Georgetown in the early hours of Sunday, allegedly by the spurned lover of another.
The body of Jason John was found in Leopold Street and that of Carl Sinclair was found just over a block away in Lombard Street. Both were lying in pools of blood.
The ex-lover of five years with a colleague of the gay men, all commercial sex workers, had reportedly earlier thrown gasoline on his former partner and attempted to set him alight in the vicinity of Georgetown’s landmark St George’s Cathedral.
But, eyewitnesses say, that other sex workers intervened and halted the man in the act, and he fled.
The man reportedly later attacked John and Sinclair with a knife in Leopard Street, where John succumbed. Though wounded, Sinclair fled but the man caught up with him in Lombard Street an dealt the sex worker several more stabs, killing him at that location.
Cayman Prison Service recruits graduation
Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service Recruits Graduation Ceremony 2014 will take place on Tuesday 22 July 2014, 7 pm at Arts and Recreation Centre, Camana Bay.
Participants: Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, Recruits, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Chief Officer Eric Bush, parents, other invitees and guests
Foreign holdings of US Treasury debt rise in May
By Paul Wiseman From Miami Herald
WASHINGTON — Foreign buyers of U.S. Treasury securities increased their holdings in May to another record high.
The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that total foreign holdings rose 0.3 percent to $5.98 trillion, up from $5.96 trillion in April.
China, the top foreign buyer of U.S. Treasury debt, increased its holdings for the first time since January, raising them by 0.6 percent to $1.27 trillion. Japan, the second-biggest foreign buyer, increased its holdings by 0.9 percent to $1.22 trillion.
Russia reduced its Treasury holdings by 4.3 percent to $111.4 billion and well below the recent high of $149.9 billion last October.
Foreign demand for Treasury debt is expected to stay strong this year, helped by a congressional agreement to avoid a fight over the U.S. debt ceiling until March 2015.
A standoff in August 2011 rattled financial markets and the political gridlock led the credit rating firm Standard & Poor’s to downgrade its AAA rating of U.S. debt for the first time in history.
The monthly Treasury report showed that holdings by Belgium, the No. 3 investor in U.S. Treasurys, fell 1.1 percent to $362.4 billion. Holdings by the Caribbean banking centers, including the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, rose 0.8 percent to $310.8 billion.
For more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/16/4238786/foreign-holdings-of-us-treasury.html#storylink=cpy
Cayman crabs are spawning – drivers beware
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment urges the public to be careful when driving on the roads over the next few weeks and to beware of land crabs as it’s spawning season.
Land crabs are especially good to the island’s eco-system as they are the only animals in Cayman who not only do teat vegetarian matter but they also take plant material into their burrows that are nutrients and go back into the soil.
The 2015 Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize opens for poetry
From NCC Bocas Lit Fest
The region’s only prize that seeks to open doors for budding writers is now open for submissions until 30 September 2014. The 2015 Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize will be awarded to an emerging writer of poetry. Submissions close on 30th September at 6pm.
The Prize, administered by The Bocas Lit Fest and worth a total of US$15,000, will give the winning Caribbean-based writer time to advance a poetry collection. It includes a year’s mentoring by an established poet and travel to the United Kingdom to attend a one-week intensive creative writing course of their choice at Arvon.
The winning writer will also have three days in London to network with literary professionals, hosted by the UK’s leading creative writing organisation, Arvon, in association with Free Word Centre and agents Rogers, Coleridge & White, and receive a cash award of £3,000 or US$4,500.
This is year 3 of the Prize. In 2012, the Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers prize was for fiction and was won by Barbara Jenkins of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2013, Jamaican Diana McCaulay took home the prize for non-fiction. The Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize is presented at Trinidad and Tobago’s annual literary festival, the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, in Port of Spain in late April.
To qualify, writers must be of Caribbean birth or citizenship, aged over 18, living in the region, and not yet published a poetry collection. Full details of how to enter are on the website are available at: http://www.bocaslitfest.com/hollick-arvon-prize/
For more: http://www.bocaslitfest.com/2014/the-2015-hollick-arvon-caribbean-writers-prize-opens-for-poetry/
Jerk is back and Seymour is cooking
Seymour Silburn, the owner of Seymour’s jerk, who had to close down because of bad debts after being a household name for 30 years on Grand Cayman, is back and ready to jerk again.
Seymour’s jerk has reopened as part of Beefer’s restaurant on the waterfront in George Town.
ADPH confirms 3 cases of chikungunya in Alabama
From WSFA
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) –
The Alabama Department of Public Health is urging visitors or missionaries who travel to the Caribbean to be aware and reduce the risks of becoming investigated for the mosquito-borne illness known as chikungunya.
The ADPH says it has confirmed, as of July 17, at least 3 cases of chikungunya in Alabama as well as 2 other preliminary positive test results. In each case, the infected person had traveled to Haiti or other parts of the Caribbean.
The most common symptoms of infection include fever and joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash.
There is no vaccine or medicine available for prevention of chikungunya.
“Preventing mosquito bites can be difficult, but it is important because you can get sick after just one bite,” Assistant State Health Officer for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Mary G. McIntyre said. “Mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya bite during the day, so any time you’re outside use mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.”
For more: http://www.wsfa.com/story/26056814/adph-urges-missionaries-vistors-to-caribbean-of-chikungunya
Cayman boats collide but one was anchored
On Thursday (17) a 30 ft. twin-engine vessel crashed into an anchored 29 ft. fishing boat approx. 1 mile off Harbour House Marina, North Sound, Grand Cayman causing extensive damage to the fishing boat.
A man was asleep at the time on the fishing boat.
Before the police arrived the twin-engine vessel left the scene of the accident with two men, a 55-year-old and a 30-year-old, on board. The younger man had been thrown from his vessel after receiving a head injury.
The police later located the two men and the injured man was taken to George Town hospital for treatment.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of a reckless and negligent act.
Caribbean stance on priority areas includes public registry concerns
Heads of seven of the Overseas Territories (OT), Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Montserrat met in Grand Cayman from July 16 for a two day pre-Joint Ministerial Council Meeting.
They were there to exchange views on political and constitutional issues, especially as they relate to the United Kingdom (UK) and its relationship with OTs.
One of the main topics of discussion was the UK’s push for a public registry to see whose names are on its OT accounts.
Cayman premier, Alden McLaughlin, said the OT heads here have decided to proceed with caution and have not agreed to take part in the open registry as yet.
Latin America and Caribbean Security Summit, October 23-24, 2014, Miami, Florida
From SSR Resource Centre
The Centre for Security Governance is a media partner for the Latin America and Caribbean Security Summit, which will be held on October 23-24, 2014 in Miami, Florida.
Oliver Kinross will be hosting The Latin America and Caribbean Security Summit 2014 in Miami, Florida, following the success of its Africa Security and Counter Terrorism Summit. The event will bring together the key decision makers charged with securing Latin America and the Caribbean and will include two days of high level presentations from the Government, Military, Associations, and Service Providers from across the continent and around the world. Attendees will meet with the key decision makers and learn about the challenges and opportunities in the continents security sector.
Some of the speakers include General Rodolfo Palomino Lopez, Director General, National Police of Colombia; Dr. DarIo RuIz, Sr. Secretary of Cooperation with the Judicial Powers, Prosecutors, and Legislatures of The Ministry of National Security of Argentina; Patrick Brown, Defence Attaché Caribbean, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Ricardo Fabio Giraldo Villegas, Director General, Administrative Security Department of Colombia; Marcela Donadio, Executive Secretary, Resdal Latin American Security and Defence Network; FelIpe-Alberto alVarado, Sr. Security Manager, Coca-Cola de México.
The summit will be held at the Miami Convention Center adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Miami provides a conveniently located meeting point for security professionals from both Latin America and the Caribbean to meet and discuss the latest security challenges across the wider region. The innovative summit is due to be a huge success.
For further information please contact: [email protected]
More money given to Cayman Brac shelter
Deputy Premier, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell said $175,000 was being made available now to carry on with the multi-million dollar hurricane shelter in Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands.
He said construction of the building would be executed in phases with the next focusing on the entrance, interior of the building and the entry roof.
He said the building when completed will be used for multiple purposes.
Lighting firm awarded first Compete Caribbean Technical Assistance Grant in Barbados
From Caribseek News
Caribbean LED Lighting has successfully won a bid to further develop its business and increase its export markets through Compete Caribbean technical assistance valued at USD250,000.
Compete Caribbean is a private sector development program that provides technical assistance grants and investment funding to support productive development policies, business climate reforms, clustering initiatives and Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) development activities in 15 Caribbean countries.
The program is jointly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD). Projects in the OECS countries are implemented in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank.
Caribbean LED Lighting, Inc. is the first Barbadian firm to receive a grant from the Compete Caribbean program and one of eight firms in the Region to be awarded a grant to date. A component of the Compete Caribbean program is its Enterprise Innovation Challenge Fund, which has opened five calls for proposals for individual firms and yielded 590 applications from firms around the Region since the inception of the Program in 2010. Of the almost 600 firms to apply, 40 firms have also been the recipients of technical assistance from the Program.
Jamaica defeat Cayman Islands in rugby
From RJR News
Jamaica improved to 1-1 in the North America Caribbean Rugby Under-19 Cup Competition with a 24-18 win over the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
The Jamaicans used their pace to good effect, and scored two opportunistic tries in the first half. But the outgoing five-time champions would not go down without a fight, scoring a late try to inch within a conversion of surpassing Jamaica.
They were within 20-metres of scoring, but the Jamaicans forced a turnover and came away with the victory. Jamaica’s coach Sheldon Jackson said his team played to plan.
“We put in a lot of work after losing that game against Barbados,” Jackson reflected. “So we came up with a game plan, they stuck to it, and we came out with the victory,” Jackson said.
“It was not pretty, but the last time we played them, the beat us by a big score and we know they like to drive so all of our preparation was about stopping the tries,” Jackson continued.
Jamaica will now play the USA South in Saturday’s play-off for third place.
For more: http://rjrnewsonline.com/sports/jamaica-defeat-cayman-islands-in-rugby
Montego Bay to host Caribbean Accreditation in Medicine Conference
From Jamaica Gleaner
Montego Bay will host the 10th Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) conference at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel between July 28 and 30, 2014.
According to CAAM-HP spokesperson Natasha Parkins, close to 100 health professionals have already registered for the conference which is to be staged under the theme ‘Coming of Age: Lessons from the Past, Strategies for the Future’.
The CAAM-HP is a regional accreditation system which was established in 2003 in a bid to provide quality assurance to generate confidence in the principal stakeholders. It was officially launched under the auspices of CARICOM in July 2004 to accredit the education programmes of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing, and other health professions in CARICOM member states.
The CAAM-HP accreditation process ensures that medical, dental, veterinary, and other health-professions schools meet standards of structure, function, and performance.
The main presenters slated for the conference are Dr Emmanuel Cassimatis, president and chief executive officer of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG); Dr Paul L. Gaston, trustees professor at Kent State University and author of Higher Education Accreditation: How It’s Changing, Why It Must; Dr Murray Kopelow, president and chief executive officer of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME); and Professor Judy McKimm, dean of Medical Education at Swansea University.
Two regional presenters are also slated to address the conference: retired professor of surgery from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sir Errol Walrond; and Professor Alvin Wint, a former pro vice-chancellor of the UWI and an expert on internal quality assurance.
For more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140719/western/western5.html
Waterton increases offer for Chaparral to $0.55 and waives minimum deposit condition
TORONTO, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP (“Waterton”) announced today that Waterton Precious Metals Bid Corp. (the “Offeror”) has increased its previously announced cash offer dated February 19, 2014 to acquire all of the outstanding common shares (the “Shares”) of Chaparral Gold Corp. (“Chaparral”) not already held by it and its affiliates to $0.55 in cash per Share (the “Offer”), and extended the Offer until 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on July 31, 2014 (the “Expiry Time”) as required by applicable securities laws.
The increased consideration under the Offer represents a premium of approximately 34.8% based on the volume-weighted average price of the Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) for the twenty (20) trading days ended February 14, 2014 and a premium of approximately 26.4% over the closing price of the Shares on the TSX on February 14, 2014.
Shareholders representing approximately 27% of the issued and outstanding Shares, including the Shares held by Waterton, have indicated to the Offeror that they intend to tender their shares to the revised Offer. Shareholders who have already validly deposited and not withdrawn their Shares need take no further action to accept the Offer and receive the increased consideration.
Cayman volleyball team is winless in Canada
Last week at the North Bay, Canada stop of the 2014 NORCECA Beach Volleyball tour sadly the Cayman Islands were winless.
They lost out to Puerto Rico, Guatemala and Canada, finishing last in their group and 11th out of 14 teams overall.
Cayman furniture store is raided by immigration
CJ’s Furniture on Portland Road, George Town, Grand Cayman was raided last Friday (18) but not by thieves.
Officials from the Cayman Department of Immigration raided the furniture store taking two members of their staff, a man and a woman, away for questioning.
