iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands telecommunications provider offers bonus credit for mobile service problems
Cayman Islands telecommunications provider LIME has announced that prepaid customers who were without service Tuesday (24) will get double credit. This will apply to any prepaid customer who topped up $5 or more from midnight Tuesday through until midnight Wednesday.
The problem was a mobile outage that impacted some voice and text message services.
DART’s 2015 Student Art Contest – ENTER TODAY
From The Dallas Morning News
Your art could win a spot on DART buses and trains plus $1,000 or other prizes
Deadline is Tuesday March 3 2015
For more information go to: http://www.dart.org/transiteducation/events.asp
Editor Note: This has nothing to do with DART companies in the Cayman Islands. The DART above is a transit company in Dallas Tx. USA
Apply now for Cayman Islands DOE summer internships
Now is the time to apply for Department of Environment summer Internships! Interns must be age 15 and over, live in Grand Cayman, and be interested in marine science, terrestrial ecology, sustainable development, or a related field. Internships are not paid. See the attached flyer for more information and download, complete, and return the DoE Summer Internship Form (form can be submitted by email). Preference is given to applications received by March 1st. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Bermuda tipped to emerge from recession
From Financial Tribune
Bermuda is likely to emerge from recession this year, according to projections by the Ministry of Finance. Analysts from the Ministry estimate that the economy will grow by up to 1.5 percent next year, Bermuda House reported Saturday.
In the outlook section of The National Economic Report of Bermuda 2014, published Friday, the Ministry pins its growth hopes on hotel developments, the broad impact of the America’s Cup, and the efforts of the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) and the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) to bring visitors and international business to the Island.
Gross domestic product figures are not yet available for 2014, but the Ministry estimates that the economy contracted by between zero and 1.5 percent last year, which means the Island endured a sixth successive year of recession in real terms, that is when inflation is taken into account.
The report quotes preliminary data from the 2014 Employment Survey, which shows the Island lost 790 jobs last year, representing a 2.3 percent fall in the number of jobs. “Throughout the current recession, the loss of jobs in the economy is one of the chief contributing factors preventing economic recovery,” the report states. “The Island has lost 6,726 jobs since 2008 when employment levels were at their peak of 40,213.
The 33,487 jobs recorded in 2014 were 16.7 percent less than the 2008 figures.”
Bucking the trend last year was the international business sector, which added 161 jobs for a total of 3,929 jobs, representing a 4.3 percent increase over 2013. Bermuda lost 221 construction jobs last year — continuing a downward trend that the report expects to be reversed this year — leaving the industry with 1,922 jobs, 10.3 percent fewer than in 2013.
The financial intermediation sector, which includes the banking industry, shed 301 jobs, representing a 12.1 percent decline. The business services segment had 106 fewer positions.
The unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in 2014 from 7 percent in 2013.
IMF pleased with economic progress in Jamaica
From CANA News
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb 25, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday praised the Jamaica government for its “resolute implementation” of its economic programme designed to strengthen the foundation for growth and employment in the country.
An IMF delegation has ended a two week visit to the island and according to its leader, Jan Kees Martin, “there is significant improvement in business and consumer confidence, which reached a two-year peak in September-December 2014”.
For more: http://cananewsonline.com/news/106146-imf-pleased-with-economic-progress-in-jamaica.html
Uncertainty surrounds divestment of shares in Petrojam – Jamaica Energy Minister
From RJR
[Jamaica] Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says no decision has been made in relation to the divestment of the government’s shares in the oil refinery Petrojam.
In a release on Sunday, Paulwell said when an offer is received, the process will be subject to the oversight of the Office of the Contractor General and the Government’s Contracts Committee.
This is in keeping with procedures for the divestment of public assets.
There has been discussion about the possible divestment of Petrojam, and more recently, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, (PSOJ), and other groups, expressed concern that the process should be conducted fairly and with transparency.
Paulwell has expressed a willingness to facilitate consultations on Petrojam’s future with the PSOJ as well as interest groups and individuals in the interest of transparency.
He also addressed the issue of the pricing policy at Petrojam, stating that it has been designed to influence the value of the State asset.
The Energy Minister said the guiding principle of the oil refinery has been long-standing and the government will continue to ensure that the policy is in keeping with international best practices, the viability of the company and the best interest of consumers.
Saint Lucia’s private sector to get a financial boost from Caribbean Export
By S Coward
Bridgetown – Feb. 24, 2015 – The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has awarded some €303,000 in financial assistance to seventeen (17) successful grant applications via the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS) in Saint Lucia. Additionally a further three firms were awarded just over €29,000 in funding via a special call for proposals for food safety all , as part of the Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
The Barbados based team from Caribbean Export will spend February 18 and 19, 2015 delivering procurement and reimbursement training to the successful grant awardees that largely represent the manufacturing, professional services, agro-processing, ICT and health and wellness industries of Saint Lucia.
Inadequate access to finance is commonly cited as one of the major challenges affecting a firms’ ability to export and thus this directly affects its ability to be a driver of economic growth. Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton stressed “I am of the opinion that we have more to do in creating additional financing alternatives for firms beyond the traditional commercial banks”. Coke-Hamilton went on to disclose that the Agency has embarked on a collaborative initiative with InfoDev and the World Bank to create an Angel Investor Network to expand the current funding solutions available to SMEs.
To date, Caribbean Export has awarded 479 SMEs and BSOs across the region via direct assistance grants totalling €8,474,212.07. These figures represent the Call for Proposals (CFPs) during the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (CTPSDP: 2008-2010), and the 10th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP: 2011-2014).
The DAGS is a reimbursement grant funding facility specifically designed to provide financial assistance to legally registered small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), individuals, and business support organisations (BSOs) with the potential to export their products and services.
Caribbean Public Health Agency to hold Chikungunya Consultation in T&T
By Robert Herriman From Out
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) will be hosting a chikungunya consultation in Trinidad and Tobago next week to look at the complex challenges the mosquito borne virus has brought to the region.
The conference entitled, Chikungunya and the Caribbean: Meeting Today’s Challenge and Preparing for the Future, will take place March 3-5, 2015.
The Consultation will provide a valuable platform for key Caribbean and international stakeholders to share experiences, review currently available knowledge and, develop and reinforce the multisector collaborative efforts required to tackle Chikungunya and other mosquito borne diseases.
The conference presents a unique opportunity to position vector borne diseases as a high priority agenda, and will include sessions on: Surveillance and Outbreak Response; Entomological Surveillance, Control and Management; Clinical Care; Laboratory Services; Communication Strategies and Experience; Long-term Impact of Chikungunya; and Research and Innovation.
The Caribbean region has been hit the hardest by the chikungunya epidemic, which first raised it’s ugly head as an issue of local transmission 14 months ago. Of the more than 1.2 million autochthonous cases reported in the Americas since Dec. 2013, the Caribbean has accounted for more than 825,000.
Cayman businessman’s sentencing in US reset for May
Caymanian businessman Gilroy Bryce Merren has had his sentencing, after pleading guilty to conspiring with other individuals to possess cocaine, reset for May 1st.
Merren was arrested in Puerto Rico last year on drug trafficking conspiracy and money laundering allegations but two of the three charges made against him were dropped as long as Merren complies with the sentencing agreement terms.
The third massive coral bleaching wave poses threat to the reefs across the globe
By Guneet Bhatia From International Business Times
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) have predicted that the phenomenon of coral bleaching is taking place globally for the first time in the history in El Nino’s absences. The federal agency recently introduced a model that predicts threats that the coral reefs are prone to.
Bleaching of corals occurs when the colorful underwater flora are exposed to changing frequency of light or temperature and in some cases because of inadequate or excessive nutrients. This changes the color of the corals and often result in their death. The experts at Noaa are worried about the rising temperature across the world that has a potential to destroy the coral reefs.
Noaa recently updated its model, Coral Reef Watch, that now forecasts four months in advance how oceans are likely to behave at an increased temperature. The model has predicted bleaching at a major level due to the trending increased temperature of the ocean ecosystem since 2014.
“The outlook shows a pattern over the next 4 months that is similar to what we saw during global coral bleaching events in 1998 and 2010,” warned the Coral Reef Watch’s coordinator, Mark Eakin.
The first global bleaching phenomenon was reported in 1998. The bleach wave started from the Pacific and reached the Indian Ocean. The second massive global wave was recorded in 2010 with similar affected areas.
IMAGE: Coral reef in a file photo. To coral reef-driven tourism industries like those of the Cayman Islands, there could be a greater cost in ignoring climate change than fighting it. REUTERS/ARC COE FOR CORAL REEF STUDIES/MARINE PHOTOBANK/HANDOUT
For more: http://au.ibtimes.com/third-massive-coral-bleaching-wave-poses-threat-reefs-across-globe-1424503
SLHTA president appointed head of Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
By the Bahamas Weekly From St Lucia News
BAHAMAS WEEKLY – Prominent Caribbean hotelier Karolin Troubetzkoy has been appointed chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST).
The appointment is the latest Caribbean tourism sector leadership role for the St. Lucia hotelier who serves as Executive Director of the storied Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet resorts in Soufrière, St. Lucia.
“It is with great honor that I accept this role of promoting responsible environmental and social management within the region’s hotel and tourism sector,” said Troubetzkoy, who will work alongside the recently appointed CAST Technical Director, Denaye Hinds, the Sustainability Director for OBMI – a leading Caribbean-based architectural and master planning firm.
Mrs. Troubetzkoy, who also serves as President of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association as well as First Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, paid tribute to the numerous sustainable tourism pioneers who laid the foundation of CAST.
Troubetzkoy, whose resorts adhere to strict environmental standards, hopes to provide guidance and expertise in best environmental and sustainable development practices for the region, including water and energy management as well as the importance of “reducing, reusing and recycling.”
She stated that an immediate goal is to increase the online visibility of CAST, including its past accomplishments and plans for the future.
A webinar series on sustainability is being made available to CHTA members, starting this week. CAST was established by members of the Caribbean Hotel Association in 1997.
IMAGE: Karolin Troubetzkoy.
Delta to extend Wi-Fi to Latin America, Caribbean flights
By Ben Mutzabaugh, From USA TODAY
Delta Air Lines customers will be able to stay connected for longer on flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean and Latin America starting next year.
Currently, customers lose Wi-Fi capability shortly after their flights go beyond the U.S. shoreline. But that will change as Delta begins switching from an air-to-ground system to a satellite-based one. The latter allows for connections beyond the mainland U.S.
“Global connectivity equals global productivity and business travelers want greater bandwidth, faster speeds and broader network coverage,” Tim Mapes, Delta’s SVP of Marketing, says in a statement. “That’s exactly what they will get when they fly Delta.”
Delta says it will begin installing the satellite-based system on more than 250 of its aircraft that fly long-haul domestic, Latin American and Caribbean routes.
The satellite-based system will be installed on the following aircraft in Delta’s fleet: Boeing 757-300s; Boeing 757-200s; Boeing 737-900ERs; Boeing 737-800s; Airbus A319s.
Delta also will install the option on its new Airbus A321 aircraft as they begin entering its fleet in 2016.
