iNews Briefs
Ferguson shooting: Darren Wilson quits police force
From BBC
Darren Wilson insists he acted in accordance with the law
US police officer Darren Wilson – who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, triggering nationwide riots – has resigned, his lawyer says.
Neil Bruntrager said his client had been on administrative leave since the 9 August shooting in Ferguson.
Reports say he quit because of safety concerns. He denies any wrongdoing.
Ferguson, Missouri, and other US cities saw several days of rioting and looting this week after a jury decided not to bring charges over the killing.
‘Resignation letter’
Mr Bruntrager made the announcement on Saturday, saying the resignation was effective immediately, according to the Associated Press.
He declined to provide any further comments, but said more details would be released shortly.
For more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30266172
Cayman Islands Spelling Bee Finals set for Tue Dec 2
Primary school students contest the RBC Cayman Spelling Bee Finals Tuesday December 2. Meanwhile Layman E. Scott Sr. High School and John Gray High School are set for a showdown in the Lions’ Club Spelling Bee finals on Wednesday December 3. Both events begin at 6.00pm at Mary Miller Hall in Red Bay. Members of the public are welcome.
FURTHER DETAILS:
WHO: The Education Department, RBC Cayman and the Lions’ Club
WHAT: The National Primary (RBC Cayman) and Secondary (Lions’ Club) Spelling Bees.
WHEN: Tuesday, 2 December 2014 and Wednesday, 3 December 2014. Both evenings at 6.00pm.
WHERE: Mary Miller Hall
PARTICIPANTS: Primary and secondary students, judges, sponsors, organisers from the Education Department
BACKGROUND: Following preliminaries in early November, nine primary school students have progressed to the final round. This includes three from George Town Primary and two from Prospect, the only schools with more than one representative. Three John Gray High students from Grand Cayman will meet three from Layman E. Scott Sr. High on Cayman Brac in the secondary finals.
IRS gave White House thousands of taxpayer documents
By Andrea Billups From Newwsmax
The IRS improperly turned over thousands of confidential tax documents to the White House for review, according to information obtained from a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Treasury Department’s inspector general by the legal advocacy firm Cause of Action, exposing a pipeline of communication between the two, the Daily Caller reports.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) informed Cause of Action that there exist nearly 2,500 potentially responsive documents relating to investigations of improper disclosures of confidential taxpayer information by the IRS to the White House,” Cause of Action noted, according to the Daily Caller.
Such documentation, including the exchange of confidential information between White House policy adviser Jeanne Lambrew and former IRS official Lois Lerner, came to light after it was revealed that the the IRS had likely targeted conservative groups for review, including one that had sought in a 2012 lawsuit to overturn Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate, the Daily Caller noted.
The Justice Department has asked for a longer window under which to review the newly found documents before releasing them publicly, the Daily Caller said.
The Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard, in his “Secrets” column, called news of the leaked documents a “shocking revelation.”
“This disclosure, coming only after Cause of Action sued TIGTA over its refusal to acknowledge whether such investigations took place, and after the court ordered TIGTA to reveal whether or not documents existed, signals that the White House may have made significant efforts to obtain taxpayers’ personal information,” Cause of Action wrote in a statement to the Examiner.
The new document release comes a month after a similar lawsuit by True the Vote got tossed by a federal judge. The conservative group, based in Houston, had alleged that the IRS targeted them and delayed their application for a 501(3)(C) nonprofit status, breitbart.com reported.
Missing Cayman Island fishermen – new appeal for information
From RCIPS
On Friday 12th September 2014 three West Bay residents Alton Eddie Philips, Ray Kennedy Smith and James Michael Ebanks Snr. left the Cayman Islands on a yellow 28 foot Canoe. Following investigations, police now believe that the vessel departed from the North West Point, West Bay area, sometime between 7:00pm – 11:00pm. The boat powered by (1) 85 HP Yamaha engine was allegedly used by the men. The men were was scheduled to return Sunday 14th September 2014 but never did.
On Monday 15th September 2014, a family member of one of the boaters made a report to police of the overdue vessel. Officers from RCIPS Joint Marine Unit (JMU) notified Port Authority, and ships within the shipping lanes transiting the Cayman area. US and Jamaican Coast Guard were also notified in addition to Interpol, where notices were sent throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America. Searches by JMU in Cayman waters were done using drift pattern calculations based on the currents but the boat was not seen.
RCIPS Officers spent four days in Jamaica conducting enquires alongside the local police on the missing men and the RCIPS are now fairly confident that a fourth man; a Jamaican national, 49 year old Donald Jennison from Flankers, Saint James, was also on board with the three Caymanian men.
Police investigations to date have not revealed any evidence of their whereabouts.
RCIPS continue to meet with the families and through enquires, try to determine what may have happened to their love ones.
Police wish to continue with an appeal to the public – anyone who may have seen the boaters depart the North West Point area in their vessel on Friday 12th September 2014 during the stated times are asked to contact Inspector Ian Yearwood, Sergeant Richard Scott or PC Adrian Clarke on 949- 7710.
CPL pumped US$166 million in region, US$28.7 million in St. Kitts and Nevis
By CUOPM on November 27, 2014 in Diaspora, Economy, Nevis, St. Kitts
IMAGE: Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 5
A new, independent economic impact study revealed Thursday that the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) injected a massive US$166 million into the region’s economy during the 2014 tournament – a significant increase of 58 percent on 2013.
Host country for the finals, St. Kitts and Nevis, reaped significant benefits with a whopping US$25.1 million (EC$68 million) invested in the local economy – second only to Barbados with US$28.7 million.
The positive economic impact was also felt on the ground with thousands of new jobs being created in tourism and travel across the region and more than 156,000 jobs positively impacted.
An estimated 217,176 regional and international spectators watched the competition live with incremental spend (excluding accommodation and airfares) amounting to US$47.4 million. More than 21,500 international visitors, approximately 10 per cent of total spectators), attended CPL 2014, spending US$7.9 million.
The study also revealed that there was a marked increase in viewership with the international television audience increasing from 36 million in 2013 to 65 million in 2014. Twenty-nine broadcasters from around the world aired the games live.
“These results are fantastic and are a testament to CPL’s significance as an economic driver in the region,” said. Caribbean Premier League CEO, Damien O’Donohoe.
“While we have always said that the Caribbean is without doubt the natural home of T20 cricket, we are very proud to say that CPL is now a truly international event – appealing to fans and players from around the world – and one that the people of the Caribbean should be very proud of.”
Cayman Islands Tourism Rolls PR, Ad Review
By Greg Hazley From O’Dwyer’s
The tourism entity for the Cayman Islands is planning a review of its tourism PR and creative advertising accounts.
The Cayman Islands Tourism Dept. of Tourism wants to hear from agencies interested in pitching either or both pieces of business to promote the British territory in the Caribbean.
New York-based MFA, Ltd. is the incumbent on the PR account, while Chowder Inc. handles creative, including its “Caymankind” campaign.
Interested firms are asked to fill out an online survey to be reviewed by an outside firm conducting the agency search. PR firms are asked to demonstrate relationships with members of the media and travel industry across trade, consumer, digital and global outlets.
Deadline to complete the survey is Dec. 12.
For more: http://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/3608/2014-11-28/cayman-islands-tourism-rolls-pr-ad-review.html
The world’s largest solar power plant is now up and running
By Jon Fingas From engadget
Solar power just hit one of its biggest milestones, in more ways than one. First Solar recently finished building Topaz, a 550-megawatt plant that represents the largest active solar farm on the planet. And we do mean large — the installation’s nine million solar panels cover 9.5 square miles of California’s Carrizo Plain. It’s an impressive feat that should power 160,000 homes on Pacific Gas and Electric’s grid, although it won’t be alone at the top for very long. First Solar’s Desert Sunlight farm will match that capacity once its last solar cells go online, and SunPower’s 579MW Solar Star is due to go live in 2015. Not that there’s a problem with that, of course. These solar plants have been a long time coming, and they promise eco-friendly energy for hundreds of thousands of Golden State residents.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/28/topaz-solar-power-plant/?ncid=rss_truncated
Cayman Islands prisoners get help from yoga
The women prisoners at HM Fairbanks Prison in George Town, Grand Cayman are getting help from yoga instructors.
Yoga instructor Chantelle Cooper told CITN/Cayman27 they try to let the classes be a balance of physical activity to help boost energy and circulation and for the ladies to feel strong and confident. However, most importantly “is the restorative postures, a little bit more calming, more of the meditation and breathing exercises.”
Tamekia Young, the prison’s Assistant Supervisor, said, “They look forward to the yoga because as I said it gives them a new approach to life. They’re able to focus, to find internal means of working on their stresses or whatever they’re faced with.”
Five months ago the yoga programme was introduced to the prison.
Source: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2014/11/28/inmate-yoga-programme-helps-ease-prison-stretch
Trinidad police hunt for road rage killer
From caribbean360
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Friday November 28, 2014, CMC – Police are searching a motorist who shot and killed another driver following a vehicular accident early Friday morning.
Police said that the body of Dennison Rodney, 42, was found on the road near his car, at around 4.30 am (local time).
Rodney was heading west along the Diego Martin highway, west of here, when his car collided with another.
Eyewitnesses said that both vehicles pulled to the shoulder of the highway where the drivers became involved in an argument.
According to the Trinidad Express, “it is suspected that he was followed back to his car and shot”.
Rodney, who was on his way to work at the Diamond Vale Industrial Estate.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad-police-hunt-road-rage-killer#ixzz3KP0oy6GK
Trinidad hunger striker Kublalsingh appears in court
From Caribbean360
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Friday November 28, 2014, CMC – Environmentalist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh will return to court on March 27 next year to answer several charges of obstruction, assault, and resisting arrest.
Kublalsingh, who is into the 73rd day of an indefinite strike to force the government to re-think its position on the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the TT$6.5 billion Point Fortin Highway, south of here, had been charged following an incident at the Mon Desir interchange in September 2013.
The former University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer came to the Siparia Magistrates’ Court, south of here, in a wheelchair, accompanied by two members of the Highway Re Route Movement (HRM).
Magistrate Ejenny Espinet adjourned the matter to March 27, 2015.
As he left the court, Kublalsingh told reporters that he was in good spirits even as he felt his body “relenting”.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissesaar has so far refused to accept a request from the environmentalist and the HRM for talks on re-routing the segment of the highway that they said could seriously damage the environment in the area.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad-hunger-striker-kublalsingh-appears-court#ixzz3KP27B4OA
Tibbetts to head modernization of Cayman Islands government e-systems
Ian Tibbetts has been named as the new director to head the Cayman Islands modernization of the government’s e-systems.
Tibbetts will take up as the man in charge from December 2014. At present he sits on the board of the Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA).
This is ‘the most hated man in the world
By Caroline Moss From Business Insider
IMAGE: Julian Blanc www.pimpingmygame.com
A man named Julien Blanc is “possibly the first man ever denied a visa on grounds of sexism,” reports The New York Times.
Blanc, 25 and from California, considers himself to be a pick-up artist. He runs international dating boot camps in which he teaches men how to get women into bed using manipulative head games and physical violence.
The camps cost $2,000 to attend.
“Amid a public outcry over his abusive techniques, which some say verge on rape promotion, and an online petition with over 150,000 signatures, the British government on Wednesday barred Mr. Blanc from entering the country for a series of events scheduled here,” The Times reports. “Officials said people could be denied entry on the grounds that their presence was ‘not conducive to the public good,’ a rare power usually reserved for far-right activists and terrorism suspects.”
Most recently, Blanc began the hashtag #ChokingGirlsAroundTheWorld on Twitter and shared photos of him with his hands around the necks of various women.
After that, the Australian government withdrew Mr. Blanc’s visa, which prompted by the British Home Office to do the same.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-hated-man-in-the-world-2014-11#ixzz3KPXkoOAK
Friend of man he admitted to causing death sentenced in Cayman Islands to jail
Igor Domladis pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at the Cayman Islands courts earlier this week.
In May 2013 Domladis and his friend Zac Quappe crashed their cars while racing along South Sound Road, George Town on Grand Cayman leaving Quappe (21) dead.
Domladis was found to be speeding, under the influence of alcohol, was overtaking on the wrong side of the road and both his driving licence and the car’s certificate of roadworthiness had expired.
The judge, Malcolm Swift, acknowledged Domladis had shown genuine remorse when he sentenced him to serve four years in HM Northward.
Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft heads to a carbon-rich asteroid soon
By Mariella Moon From engadget
On November 30th, Japan’s Hayabusa 2 will be leaving leaving Earth aboard a Mitsubishi-made rocket to make its way to an asteroid — but not to blow it up. The Japanese spacecraft will follow in its predecessor’s footsteps and observing a space rock for science (of course). But unlike the first Hayabusa that explored an asteroid rich in silicate and nickel-iron, this one’s headed for one that’s made of clay and rocks: materials that could contain organic matter and water. The unmanned vehicle will traverse outer space for more than three years until it finds asteroid “1999 JU3,” which it’s scheduled to reach by June 2018.
After it rendezvous with the celestial body, the vehicle will release a lander called MASCOT and a rover called MINERVA 2 on its surface. That rover will be in charge of assessing the terrain and finding the best locations where Hayabusa 2 can collect samples by performing a series of perch-collect-and-go maneuvers. It’s only near the end of its 18-month mission that the vehicle will deploy an ominous-sounding equipment called the “impactor,” which will create a crater where the spacecraft can collect subsurface material.
If all goes well, Hayabusa 2 will start its journey back home in December 2019 and touch down a year later, carrying a wealth of samples with it. 1999 JU3, by the way, belongs to a type of asteroids considered as some of the oldest objects in our solar system. JAXA’s scientists are hoping that the materials taken from it can provide clues on where our water came from and how life on Earth began.
Godfrey, Wright and CCF to be saluted by Herbie Fund at Annual Mistletoe Ball
TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The upcoming MISTLETOE BALL will be the last fundraising event run for HERBIE FUND by its Co-Founder and long-time President GINA GODFREY. Godfrey is retiring after 35 years with Herbie Fund, dating back to its inception in 1979.
Herbie Fund enables children from around the globe to receive life-changing or, in some instances, life-saving surgery at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). It is named for its inaugural patient — Herbie Quinones of Brooklyn, New York — who was born with a rare birth defect that made it impossible for him to breathe while eating. Alerted to his plight, Gina and Paul Godfrey launched a fundraising campaign that not only resulted in the baby’s successful surgery but the beginnings of a charitable organization with a global reach. At last count, 750 children from 106 countries had received specialized care at SickKids in Toronto through the Herbie Fund. Administration of Herbie Fund will be passed over to SickKids Foundation.
Special awards will also be presented at this year’s gala dinner and auction to DR. JAMES WRIGHT and the CARIBBEAN CHILDREN FOUNDATION (CCF). Dr. Wright will receive Herbie Fund’s Doctor of the Year Award. He will also join the original Herbie Surgeon Dr. Robert Filler as the second ever recipient of Herbie Fund’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Wright has been closely involved with Herbie Fund since he first came on staff at SickKids in 1991, but even more so since he became the hospital’s Surgeon-in-Chief in 2005. Meanwhile, the Caribbean Children Foundation has been selected as this year’s Spirit Award winner, intended to recognize outstanding commitment, loyalty and dedication to Herbie Fund. Founded in 2000 and run entirely by volunteers, the CCF has raised in excess of $1 million to assist children from the Caribbean receive treatment not available in their home country.
The theme for this year’s Mistletoe Ball, set for this Saturday, November 29 at Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel (6:00 pm), is ‘Copacabana’. Guests will be treated to live entertainment and gourmet cuisine, all with a Brazilian flare. The evening’s events also include silent and live auctions.
For more information on Herbie Fund or this year’s Mistletoe Ball, please visit www.herbiefund.com, call 416-813-7812 or email [email protected].
Uber’s Android app may be collecting an alarming amount of your personal data
By Sam Colt From Business Insider
Uber’s Android app may be sending your private data back to the company, reports Cult of Mac’s Buster Hein.
The data transfer was reportedly discovered by Joe Giron, who runs a cybersecurity firm.
Cult of Mac says:
“Digging into the app’s code, GironSec discovered the Uber app “calls home” and sends private data back to Uber. This isn’t typical app data, though. Uber is sending back users’ entire SMSLog even though the app never requests permission. It also sends call history, Wi-Fi connections used, GPS locations and every type of device ID possible. The app even checks your neighbor’s Wi-Fi and sends back info on the router’s capabilities, frequency and SSID.”
It’s unclear what purpose this information would serve for the ridesharing company.
Neither Giron nor Cult of Mac said whether Uber’s iOS app was transferring similar data back to the company.
An Uber spokesperson gave Business Insider the following statement:
Access to permissions including Wifi networks and camera are included so that users can experience full functionality of the Uber app. This is not unique to Uber. In addition, our code lists several feature options that our mobile security vendor offers, but that we do not use. For example, “whether device is rooted, whether it has any malware on it, and whether it’s vulnerable to the Heartbleed security bug” are not features that Uber uses. For a list of features that we do use, please visit: https://m.uber.com/android-permissions.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ubers-android-app-could-be-malware-2014-11#ixzz3KQDY0TtO
Argentina charges HSBC with aiding tax evasion
By AFP From Business Insider
Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina’s tax agency has charged British bank HSBC with helping more than 4,000 Argentines to commit tax evasion by stashing money in secret Swiss accounts, officials said.
The Argentine tax authority (AFIP) said on Thursday it had searched HSBC offices in Buenos Aires before moving ahead with the charges.
“We have filed a charge for tax evasion and illicit association relating to bank accounts in Switzerland,” said AFIP director Ricardo Echegaray.
He said three agencies associated with HSBC in Argentina were suspected of aiding the tax evasion scheme.
AFIP said it had identified 4,040 people who allegedly sent money to overseas accounts, and almost all of the transactions were supervised by HSBC representatives in Argentina, the United States and Switzerland.
HSBC said in a statement that it “emphatically rejects (the charges) of participation in any illicit association, including any organization allowing the transfer of capital in order to evade taxes.”
The charges are the latest woes for the banking giant, after former employee Herve Falciani leaked to French authorities data on thousands of HSBC customers, saying he wanted to expose tax fraud.
The leak sent shockwaves through the world of Swiss banking, long valued by wealthy individuals for its stability and traditions of banking secrecy, and led to a French probe into HSBC to determine whether it had also helped French customers avoid taxes.
FAA report shows spike in drone-related air traffic incidents
From engadget
There’s a reason why unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) aren’t permitted to fly beyond 400 feet and within a five-mile radius from airports: they could cause a disaster if they smash a plane’s windshield or get sucked into its engine. Unfortunately, some drone operators don’t follow protocol, and their numbers have only increased since June 1st this year. According to a document that the FAA has just released, pilots and air traffic controllers have reported 175 incidents in which a drone was seen flying in restricted airspace since mid-2014. Out of those 175 incidents, 25 describe drones almost colliding with either a plane or a helicopter.
A UAV with a four-foot wingspan, for instance, flew dangerously close (within 50 feet) to a US Airways flight out of Reagan National Airport on July 29th. Then on November 19th, another one flew straight at a rescue helicopter while it was starting to descend at 2,400 feet, that the pilots had no choice but to swerve to avoid it. These are merely two of the many reports in the FAA’s list (downloadable as a spreadsheet, courtesy of The New York Times), which it released after numerous requests by various media outlets.
The agency is working on a complete set of rules to be able to integrate drones safely into the country’s air traffic system, but that could take a few more years to finish. For now, some manufacturers, such as the creators of Phantom drone, are taking things into their own hands, programming their products to never fly near airports or above 400 feet. Not every company places restrictions on their products, though, and there’s been a huge demand for drones recently. That’s why an Association of Air Medical Services spokesperson told The Washington Post that he’s hoping (as are other pilots, we’re sure) a solution can be found before a catastrophe occurs.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/27/faa-report-drone-near-collision/?ncid=rss_truncated
De Niro, Antigua government sign US$250 million property development deal
From Caribbean360
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Saturday November 29, 2014, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has signed an agreement with international film star, Robert De Niro, for an investment project valued at over US$250 million.
A government statement said that De Niro and Prime Minister Gaston Browne signed the agreement “giving the green light to the renovation and expansion of the K-Club on Barbuda into an exclusive 5-Star resort.
“We are indeed very delighted that you will be embarking on a very exciting project on Barbuda, transforming the island, making it one of the most exciting islands in the region. Your project has increased interest in Barbuda.
“The project is attracting additional investors to our country. That is why I am delighted to appoint you as a Special Economic Envoy of Antigua and Barbuda to attract more investments to our twin island state. It is my belief that your celebrity status will attract more American celebrities to Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean,” Prime Minister Browne said.
He described Barbuda as a diamond in the rough and will make a net positive contribution to the economy of the twin-island state.
“Your involvement in Barbuda shows that you Mr. De Niro, Mr. James Packer and your team are pioneers and visionary – recognizing that Barbuda represents a unique proposition for investment, giving you the opportunity to carve out a particular niche.”
“My government is very happy to be a part of this historic and significant moment. Your presence as an international celebrity is of significance and to have you as an investor and a friend of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and an economic envoy is equally significant.
“ Today is indeed an historic day for our nation and we are very pleased to have you and your team here and we are hoping that within thirty days we can conclude the deal and construction can begin in the next twelve months providing employment to the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Browne told the American actor.
The award winning actor who has appeared in over 90 films, said that he was happy and excited to do business in Barbuda and pointed out the project will be unique and “great.”
Parliamentary Representative for Barbuda, Arthur Nibbs, said that De Niro was inheriting a great property and had taken over the establishment to renovate and expand under the “Paradise Found” brand.
For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/business/de-niro-antigua-government-sign-us250-million-property-development-deal#ixzz3KU28O4Oi
Trinidad can expect ‘belt tightening’ due to drop in global oil prices
By Peter Richards From Caribbean360
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Saturday November 29, 2014, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday said it did not expect “significant” changes to the country’s economy as a result of a decline in oil prices, but said some belt tightening will have to be undertaken by the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration.
Finance Minister Larry Howai in a statement to Parliament said that the “country’s financial coffers remain strong and foreign exchange reserves have increased to over 11 billion (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) from TT$8.9 billion in 2009.
“The country’s overall fiscal position and revenue flows also remain healthy. We are confident therefore that even with these conservative assumptions regarding the expected trajectory of oil and gas prices this year that it will result in very marginal changes to the overall programmes of government.
“There is however no room for complacency and the Ministry (of Finance) would continue to monitor what is happening in the global environment and to refine our remedial fiscal measures to ensure that the country can respond appropriately to changes in the market for oil and gas,” Howai told legislators.
Howai said that over the past few months oil prices had dropped from a high of US$102.90 cents a barrel in July to US$74 a barrel as of November 26 this year.
He said the outcome of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting this week and the failure of that organization to arrive at an agreement to reduce production quotas had ‘resulted in the predictable further decline in the price of crude to below US$70 per barrel as of yesterday and continuing”.
Howai said there were other ‘dynamics” affecting the global oil prices including the introduction of new technology which has led to an increase in oil and gas production in the United States as well as the global economic slowdown “which has reduced the demand for oil.
“This economic slowdown is likely to be aggravated further by the fact that several oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia need prices in excess of US$90 per barrel in order to balance their budgets”.
He said the change in geo political environment has led to countries like Iraq, Libya and South Sudan coming back into production in a big way and that market traders were also affecting the global price for oil.
St Lucia reports “concrete advances” in investment climate – World Bank
From Caribbean360
WorldBank_Headquarters_218992895WASHINGTON D.C., United States, Saturday November 29, 2014, CMC – The World Bank says the Kenny Anthony administration is reporting “concrete advances” in investment climate, connectivity and productivity.
The Washington-based financial institution said that the St. Lucia government, the private sector, civil society, youth and academia have “concluded that the country has made significant progress in meeting its commitments” made at the start of the second accountability workshop of the Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF) held here.
The World Bank said the St. Lucian Growth Forum (GF) chapter is coordinated by the Department of Planning & National Development of the Ministry of Finance, and comprises representatives of the Government and private sector in collaboration with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Compete Caribbean and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
“Over the last decade, St. Lucia has grabbled with the challenge of reshaping its economy; growth has been slow and unemployment, particularly among the youth, high.
“The CGF has provided a forum to assist the government in implementing reforms needed for the country to become more competitive and innovative,” The World Bank said.
The Washington-based financial institution said the discussion underscored enhanced Internet, information communications technology (ICT)-related services and infrastructure, fiscal incentives for improved business climate, and boost in productivity.
It said the St. Lucia Ministry of the Public Service has established Wi Fi hot spots at key locations throughout the island, that a community access center is now “accessible and available” to residents in the town of Soufriere, and construction of two new ICT access centres has commenced in Micoud North and Vieux-Fort South.
Caribbean Public Health Agency aims to reduce child obesity by 2025
Agencia EFE News Services
San Juan, (EFE).- The Caribbean Public Health Agency, or CARPHA, published a Plan of Action for Promoting Healthy Weights: 2014 – 2019, part of a push to reduce obesity among children and adolescents by 2025.
CARPHA has an integrated strategy to address nutrition-related diseases in Caribbean countries, where the proportion of overweight or obese people is in the range of 28 percent to 35 percent.
Consumption of sweetened beverages, limited intake of water and fresh fruit and vegetables and low levels of physical activity are significantly correlated with weight problems, the organization said.
CARPHA also reviewed member-states’ response to the “current obesity epidemic.”
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bermuda, Aruba and Montserrat all said they had “at least one obesity prevention policy either in draft or finalized.”
Ten other countries reported “implementation of a total of 19 obesity prevention projects during 2013.”
“These interventions were, however, largely focused on school-based initiatives with less attention being placed on the involvement of a wide cross-section of stakeholders,” CARPHA said.
CARPHA foresees member-states enacting “strong regulatory frameworks for reducing obesogenic environments” and “evidence-based policies to support production, access and consumption of safe, affordable, nutritious, high-quality food commodities.”
CARPHA member states are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bermuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Saba, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands.
Dutch Caribbean Organisations commit to continue cooperation
From SABA-NEWS
The Daily Herald reports today [Nov 28] that the Platform of Dutch Caribbean Organisations in the Netherlands signed a declaration of intention on Saturday to continue the cooperation between the different organisations working in the interest of the people from the islands. The declaration of intention was signed during a gathering at the office of the St. Maarten Student Support Services S4 in The Hague on the occasion of the platform’s second anniversary.
The platform aims to strengthen the participating organisations and their target group, the Dutch Caribbean community in the Netherlands. Participating
organisations are ABC Compas, Antuba, the Caribbean Student Association, INFECT, KIVA, the Consultative Body for Dutch Caribbean Persons OCAN, Antillean Network Association VAN, the Network Caribbean Behavioural Sciences and the Soualiga Foundation.
Organisations have been gathering on a monthly basis since November 2012.
Organisations have utilised these meetings to network, discuss relevant themes and issues, and share ideas and planned activities. By signing the declaration
of intention on Saturday, the nine organisations confirmed their willingness to continue their work, together and individually. “Every organisation has its own target group, identity and specialism. However, they all share the concept to serve the Dutch Caribbean community,” the platform stated in a press release on Thursday.
The platform wants to attract more Dutch Caribbean organisations in the coming years. The additional organisations and support from the Dutch Caribbean community are important as the platform will be facing more challenges in 2015 due to the elimination of the target group policy of the Dutch government and the increasing tension in the Kingdom.
For more: http://www.saba-news.com/dutch-caribbean-organisations-commit-continue-cooperation/
How long does it take for a Caribbean company to pay taxes?
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Paying business taxes takes a long time, no matter where you are in the world.
In the United Arab Emirates, it takes about 12 hours every year — that’s the low end. In Brazil, at the high end, it takes a whopping 2,600 hours every year.
So what’s the administrative burden like in the Caribbean?
According to the World Bank’s latest Doing Business report, which examines the average administrative burden on a medium-sized company, the shortest amount of time it takes to pay taxes in the Caribbean is in the Bahamas, where it takes 58 hours each year.
The next-quickest-time is in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where it takes 108 hours, followed by St Lucia, where it takes 110 hours each year to pay business taxes.
See attachment for the full rankings.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/11/28/how-long-does-it-take-to-pay-business-taxes-in-the-caribbean/
Europe will make Ariane rockets more competitive with SpaceX
By James Trew From engadget
No, not “airline” rockets. Ariane rockets. According to The Wall Street Journal, EU ministers are finally about to approve plans for a more affordable version of the Ariane series — the same family that launched Rosetta back in 2004. What counts as affordable when developing a rocket, is reportedly between five and six billion dollars. The European Space Agency makes no secret that its goal is to compete with commercial entities like SpaceX, which already has a program to deliver supplies (and humans) to the ISS. No surprise, given that SpaceX’s very own Elon Musk already went on record saying that the current Ariane 5 rocket stands “no chance” against his competition. SpaceX doesn’t need to worry just yet though, as the roadmap for Ariane 6 wouldn’t see a launch until the end of the decade.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/28/europe-ariane-rockets-spacex/?ncid=rss_truncated
Colombia to ignore Hague Ruling on Caribbean Boundaries
From Newsroom Panama
PRESIDENT Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia says the International Court of Justice ruling in the Hague is “not applicable” and has decreed a Comprehensive Contiguous Zone, where Colombia “will exercise complete jurisdiction and control”.
President Ricardo Martinelli has also spoken out on what he sees as threat to Panamanian waters by Nicaragua, and warns that he will fight the expansion of Nicaraguan sovereignty
A statement from the Colombian presidency reads:
Colombia presents its Comprehensive Strategy Against the Hague Ruling
- We have decided that the decision is not applicable without a treaty.
- We have consolidated our archipelago through the declaration of a Contiguous Integral Zone.
- We are moving forward in the environmental and social protection of the Sea Flower Reserve.
- We are putting the brakes on the expansionist ambitions of Nicaragua through its declaration of the union of two continental shelves that together extend from San Andrés to Cartagena.
For more on this story go to:
Cuba proposes talks with US to resume direct mail service
From Go-Jamaica
Cuba has proposed that a United States government delegation visit Havana this month for a second round of talks on resuming direct postal services.
Mail service between the United States and Cuba was cancelled in 1963 as Washington tightened economic sanctions on Havana.
As a result, letters and packages now go through third countries, such as Mexico, Canada or Panama.
Talks on reopening the postal service took place in 2009 in Havana, but the Obama administration cancelled the contacts after US government sub-contractor Alan P. Gross was sentenced to 15 years in a Havana jail for delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Cuba’s tiny Jewish community.
The Cuban government claimed that Gross was involved in espionage and sought to destabilise the revolution.
For more:
http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=47852
