iNews Briefs
Cayman Drug Council needs volunteers for survey
The National Drug Council is appealing for members of the public who can spare one and a half hours between 28th April and 9th May to help with the seventh Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey (CISDUS). The survey is an ongoing study of the behaviour, attitudes and values of high school students. It is designed to record and describe the extent and patterns of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among students in grades 7 to 12/13 across the country and contribute to a better understanding of current and changing rates of use. Despite belief that young people are engaged in extensive drug use the last survey in 2012 found more than half had never drank alcohol and less than 15% had ever smoked ganja.
The information about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and prevalence rates is gathered through an epidemiological survey.
Please contact [email protected] or call 949-9000 for further information on the dates and times of training sessions.
Corruption crackdown welcomed by Christian Aid
From The Journal
The Government should ensure that the UK’s “tax havens” establish similar registers of names, says Joseph Stead of Christian Aid.
Plans to include legislation requiring companies to declare publicly who are their true owners in a crackdown on tax evasion and money laundering have been welcomed.
But the UK’s “tax havens” – overseas territories and Crown dependencies such as the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Jersey – should follow the British Government’s lead and establish a similar register said Joseph Stead of Christian Aid.
He said: “We are pleased that the Government appears to have listened to our arguments on how the tax evasion and corruption that phantom firms facilitate is costing developing countries vital resources for tackling poverty. The UK has the opportunity to set a new gold standard on transparency of company ownership.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable has signalled that legislation requiring companies to declare publicly who are their true owners is be included in the Queen’s Speech. Cable confirmed ministers are ready to go ahead with plans for an open, publicly available register of beneficial ownership of firms in a drive against what he called the “darker side of capitalism”.
Cayman Bar admits new Caymanian associate
Ridhiima Kapoor, a Caymanian associate at Ogier, has been admitted to the Cayman Islands Bar.
Ms. Kapoor joined Ogier in September 2012 as an articled clerk and completed the company’s 18-month training program at the end of February. She has joined Ogier’s banking and finance team, led by leading partner James Bagnall.
Nick Rogers, partner at Ogier in Cayman, said, “Ridhiima has impressed our partners and associates with her enthusiasm for law and her commitment to her training. We are delighted that Ridhiima has been admitted to the Cayman Bar and that our highly regarded articled clerk program has given her a comprehensive, practical training across all areas of work undertaken by the firm.”
She passed the legal practice course with commendation from the College of Law, London Moorgate, in 2012 and attained her LLB (Hons) from the University of Nottingham, England, in 2011.
She attained her International Baccalaureate Diploma at the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy, which she attended 2005-2007.
Ms. Kapoor is the current vice-chairperson of the United World College – Cayman Islands Board and is a member of both the Caymanian Bar Association and the Cayman Islands Law Society. She was admitted to the Cayman Islands Bar on March 7.
Cayman government appoints new status/residency board
The Cayman Islands government has appointed a new Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board as of April 8th.
The new board comprises:
Waide DaCosta – Chairman; Adrien Briggs – Deputy Chairman; Brenton McLean (representing East End), Christine Burke-Richardson (George Town), Lizbeth Walton (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman), Roy Grant (West Bay), Thelda Whittaker (North Side), Wendy Watler (Bodden Town) and additional board members Denise DeMercado, Terry Ann Duncan and Tonya Mitchell-Meghoo.
Representatives of the chief immigration officer and the director of immigration boards will maintain their non-voting positions on the board.
Cayman men’s rugby to take on Bahamas in showcase of youth
The Cayman men’s rugby team will take on the Bahamas in an International Rugby Board-approved Test match in Freeport, Bahamas, next month.
The match is hosted by the Freeport Rugby Club as a highlight event of their fourth Annual Youth Festival.
The Cayman squad has been training together for more than six months under the watchful eye of coaches Brad Cowdroy and Tim Rossiter, who have been assisted by strength and conditioning coach Dave Clancy and JS De Jager, who coaches forwards.
The programme has consisted of segments during which the players and coaches have worked on various aspects of the game. This has been supplemented by an ongoing and exhaustive gym program to ensure the players are in the best form possible leading into the game on May 3rd and upcoming NACRA Caribbean championships.
With young local outstanding youngsters such as Robbie Cribb Jr., Cueme Parker, Josh Clark, Alex Pineau, James Geary, Garrett Connolly and Mark Soto coming through the ranks into the men’s national program, it shows the depth of talent Cayman has in such a small community and is a tribute to the work put in through the Cayman Rugby Football Union in their junior program.
After the Bahamas, the Cayman squad will play in the NACRA Caribbean Championships with games against Bermuda in Hamilton on June 7th before hosting USA South at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on the June 14th.
Meanwhile, the Cayman women’s team travel to Allen, Texas this weekend to take part in the first Texas Women’s 7s Tournament, alongside teams like the Dallas Lady Quins, the Little Rock Stormers, the Allen Griffins and the Turks and Caicos national team.
To get tickets for the USA South game, visit www.caymanrugby.com or contact the rugby club on 926-6743.
Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility invites scholarship applications
Four scholarships through Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility worth up to US$20,000 each are available to students studying areas related to disaster risk management. This is being offered at any Caribbean university and that includes the Cayman Islands. The scholarship programme is also offered at the University of West Indies, the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Eligible programme areas for applicants include catastrophe risk management, property and casualty insurance, climate change, hazard and disaster related disciplines, and MBA programmes with a major in risk management and/or an insurance-related field.
Four scholarships will be offered across all involved countries. Applications must be submitted by May 19th via www.ccrif.org/content/scholarship
Jail for 4 for ganja importation
Four men have received jail sentences for the importation of 174 lbs of ganja in Cayman Brac last September.
Glenval George Grant, 46, received 18 months. Noel Alexander Samuels, also 46, received 24 months. Jason Phelan McCoy, 33, was sentenced to two and a half years, while Derrick Antonio Adlam, 50, received a term of three years and nine months.
