iNews Briefs
Cayman Commissioner Baines exonerated from Diamonds International jewelry
From RCIPS Thu, May 29, 2014 at 10:21 AM
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (“ODPP”) notified the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service today (Thu May 29) that no criminal conduct was revealed or disciplinary actions warranted against Commissioner David Baines in relation to his actions on 1st January 2014 during the detention and arrest of the offenders involved in the armed robbery at the Diamonds International jewelry store in George Town.
Her Excellency the Governor Helen Kilpatrick reviewed the ODPP’s report, and has indicated that she now considers the matter in relation to the Commissioner closed.
Cayman stabbing incident in Walkers Road
From RCIPS Thu May 29 2014 at 8:12am
Yesterday, a 30-year-old male was formally charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following the stabbing incident in the area of Oak Mill Street, Windsor Park, Walkers Road last Monday night (26).
He will appear in court later today.
The victim in this matter is still admitted in the George Town Hospital in serious but stable condition; he is expected to make a full recovery.
Quake Rattles Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
From ABC
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic May 29, 2014 (AP)
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the waters between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, shaking buildings in both places. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred about 30 miles (49 kilometers) south of the popular Dominican tourist town of Punta Cana at a depth of 57 miles (91 kilometers).
Authorities in the capital of Santo Domingo evacuated several buildings as a precaution.
“It was pretty strong,” said Marina Brugal, a 32-year-old graphic designer who works on a sixth floor. “At first, it was only a vibration, but then everything began to shake and the windows began to move.”
The Caribbean region experiences small earthquakes daily that people do not feel, although earthquakes of greater magnitude sometimes occur.
This year, a magnitude-5.0 quake hit near St. Kitts in April, while a 6.5-magnitude tremor struck near Barbados in February. A 6.4-magnitude quake jolted Puerto Rico in January.
None of those earthquakes caused any injuries or significant damage
For more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/quake-shakes-dominican-republic-puerto-rico-23904354
East End Primary School, Cayman learn tennis thanks to CNB
Cayman National Bank has been sponsoring a tennis programme at East End Primary School for three years. To get into the programme they have to meet the criteria of good behaviour, talent and enthusiasm.
Players are drawn from all age groups. Each weekly lesson lasts one hour, with the youngsters using short-handled racquets, slow balls and mini nets specially designed for juniors.
East End is not the only school that benefits from Cayman National’s generous sponsorship: Bodden Town, North Side and West Bay schools are also treated to tennis lessons, which are organized via the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands in conjunction with Watkins at Cayman Tennis Academy.
Dentists and doctors honour one of their own at gala dinner in Cayman
A gala dinner took place last Friday at The Wharf, West Bay Road, Grand Cayman to celebrate Cayman Islands Medical and Dental Society’s 30th anniversary.
The guest of honour was Dr. Sook Yin who was given an award in “appreciation for many years serving the health needs of the people of the Cayman Islands”.
Dr. Yin, a family practitioner, is founder of the Seven Mile Medical Clinic.
Guests included Cayman Islands Governor HE Helen Kilpatrick, and Minister of Health Osbourne Bodden.
Doctors say you shouldn’t rely on Wikipedia to diagnose your ailments
By Brad Ree From BGR
It sounds like common sense but apparently some people need to be told that they shouldn’t rely on Wikipedia for accurate medical information. BBC News reports that new research published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association estimates that around 90% of all medical-related entries on Wikipedia contain factual errors, which is particularly disturbing because “up to 70% of physicians and medical students use the tool.”
It isn’t surprising that Wikipedia’s medical entries aren’t exactly up to the quality of peer-reviewed medical journals — it’s an open encyclopedia on the Internet that anyone can edit, which means it takes constant vigilance from medical experts to make sure that medical entries retain their accuracy. And because most medical experts are typically busy, you know, helping people recover from illnesses and injuries, they probably don’t have the time to monitor medical Wikipedia entries to guard them from vandalism or inaccurate information.
“While Wikipedia is a convenient tool for conducting research, from a public health standpoint patients should not use it as a primary resource because those articles do not go through the same peer-review process as medical journals,” said study author Dr. Robert Hasty, who recommended that anyone who had questions about a particular health problem they have should just break down and go to their physician instead of trying to play Internet doctor all by themselves.
Cayman government now asking for nominal bids to rid tyre problem
The Government of the Cayman Islands through the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is inviting bidders for the purchase (including at a nominal price), processing (on-site or off-site at an approved local site/facility) and removal of all the “Used Tyres” accumulated at the Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Landfill Sites.
The removal involves “Used Tyres” existing as whole, unprocessed or semi-processed tyres (i.e., tyres that have not been shredded, or tyres that have the rubber separated from the rim, or tyres with the rubber and the rim attached). Some of these tyres may require special technical capabilities to cut, transport and remove from the sites. The majority of the used tyres are located at the Grand Cayman Landfill.
All interested Tenderers must meet the following eligibility criteria in order to be considered and evaluated.
- Companies or individual Tenderers must comply with all applicable local laws including business registrations, health, pensions and any other regulations.
- Tenderers are reminded that the bids should be inclusive of all costs necessary to conduct the project.
- Proof of finances and technical ability to fulfill the contractual obligations must be demonstrated.
Interested Tenderers can collect the Tender package which contains instructions on the submission of tender from the Administrative office of the Department of Environmental Health which is located at the Cayman Islands Environmental Center, 580 North Sound Road. Tender documents are available from the 28th May, 2014 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. These documents are also available on the Government website: www.centraltenders.gov.ky
All tenders should be returned before the closing time and date of 12:00 noon on the 2nd July, 2014. All Tenders are to be returned in an enclosed envelope (sealed) and addressed to The Secretary, Central Tenders Committee, c/o Treasury Department, Government Administration Building, Box 125, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9000, Cayman Islands.
Late tenders will not be accepted. The Cayman Islands Government will not defray any cost incurred by tenderers. The Cayman Islands Government shall not be bound to assign any reason for not accepting any tender.
All questions must be submitted in writing by Wednesday, 25 June 2014. For additional information on this invitation, please contact Mr. Roydell Carter, the Environmental Health Director by telephone at (345) 743-5946 or Fax at (345) 949-4503 or Email [email protected]
Barbados denies outbreak of tuberculosis following reports of sick student
From Caribbean360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday May 29, 2014, CMC – Barbados says there is no outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) and that investigations will continue relating to a case of the illness at a secondary school here.
A government statement did not name the school but said that letters had been sent to the students regarding the outcome of the review of immunisation cards which was conducted by a medical team on Tuesday.
The statement urged parents who have students at the school and who have any queries or concerns to contact the Ministry of Health.
Earlier this week, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand led a medical team to the school where a rapid assessment of 170 students was conducted, as a precautionary measure.
The authorities said that parents were notified by letter of the possibility that some students may have been exposed to a respiratory illness and requested them to send their children’s immunisation cards to the school for a review.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread through the air from one person to another, when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. Symptoms include a persistent cough, fever, chills or night sweats. TB can be treated by taking several drugs, usually for a six to nine month period.
Cayman female charged with uttering false documents identified
The 40 year old female charged with nine counts of uttering false documents (see iNews Cayman story published May 24 2014 at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/male-found-deceasedfemale-charged-with-uttering-false-documents/) has been identified as local activist Sandra Catron.
The charges are in connection with certificates for scholarship courses funded by the controversial Nation Building Fund set up by the previous UDP government.
Catron ran an online training centre using the government fund and she is accused of printing and supplying copies of certificates the students would receive to government officials, at their request, before the courses were completed.
Cayman pre-school deliver TV’s, DVD’s, books and toys to sick kids
Teachers and students of the Just For Kids Preschool in Prospect, Grand Cayman, have delivered flat screen TVs, DVD players, books and dozens of toys to the Children’s Clinic and the Pediatric Ward at the George Town Hospital
The school’s Parent Teachers Association and staff, who organised a walkathon to raise the funds for the gifts, set up the initiative.
UAE regulator approves Samena’s acquisition of RAK Ceramics stake
From Arab News
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates regulator gave its approval for Samena Limestone Co. to acquire more than 30 percent of Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics from the firm’s founding shareholder, it said in a bourse statement on Wednesday.
UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority approved the purchase by Samena, a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and also granted it a waiver in relation to the price it was paying for the RAK Ceramics shares.
The offer is outside the range permitted — 25 percent above or below the closing price on the day before the bid was made — the statement added without specifying Samena’s proposal. RAK Ceramics said in April its founding shareholder, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, a member of the ruling family of Ras Al Khaimah, which is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, had agreed to sell 30.6 percent of his stake in the company, or 250 million shares, to Samena.
Members of the Al-Qasimi family own at least 45 percent of RAK Ceramics, one of the world’s biggest makers of floor tiles and also a major producer of ceramic wall tiles and sanitary ware, according to Thomson Reuters data.
For more: http://www.arabnews.com/news/578326
Cayman Customs head says wedding dress was not confiscated
The Cayman Compass is reporting (see http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2014/05/29/Wedding-dress-duty–Clarification/) “Collector of Customs Samantha Bennett disputes elements of an article titled “Duty eliminated on visiting wedding attire” that [the Compass] ran on Page 1 of the Cayman Compass on Wednesday. She contends that the dress was not “confiscated” at any time by customs officials. She also disputes that customs officers demanded a $500 deposit on the dress, saying groom-to-be Scott McLean offered to pay a $500 deposit initially, but was told that was not necessary as the value of the dress had to be determined to assess the deposit that needed to be paid. A subsequent deposit of $67 was paid.
Dominica’s ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ wins CARICOM song competition
From Caribbean360
ROSEAU, Dominica, Thursday May 29, 2014, CMC – Dominica’s Goodwill Ambassador Michele Henderson has won the 2014 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) song competition with her composition entitled “Celebrating CARICOM”.
“I am very happy that my work has been recognized and was considered worthy of regional attention and I want to congratulate all the other entrants and the other ten finalists who have participated in the competition as well,” Henderson said on the state-owned DBS radio.
“I feel very proud that our little island Dominica can come up on top for a change, in a regional competition. I am very excited about it and I would like to thank all the people who helped, contributed and encouraged.”
More than 50 regional artistes from 15 countries participated in the competition that was first held last year. The aim of the competition was to engender the full participation of CARICOM nationals in composing and selecting a CARICOM song which will be used at official functions including meetings of CARICOM Heads of Government and at international events.
Dominica had three other competitors and Henderson will receive the US$10,000 prize.
The song will be presented to the general public for the first time on July 1 during the CARICOM summit in Antigua.
NOTE: A much longer report of this event will be in Tuesday (June 3) iNews Cayman
Motorcyclist taken to Cayman hospital after crash
A crash on Wednesday (28) afternoon around 4:30pm on North Sound Road, Grand Cayman, just south of the Butterfield roundabout between a motorcyclist and a station wagon, saw the motorcyclist taken to the George Town Hospital.
We have not heard how serious the were his injuries although CITN/Cayman27 reported that witnesses told them “he motorcyclist suffered scrapes and bruises, but was alert and talking when the ambulance arrived.
Squar Milner expands its Cayman Islands resources and welcomes Lauri Webster
From Sqar Milner
About Lauri
Lauri joins Squar Milner as the Managing Principal of the Cayman Islands office. Lauri has over 12 years of experience in public accounting. Prior to joining Squar Milner, Lauri served as an Audit Senior Manager at KPMG in the Cayman Islands where she accumulated vast experience in alternative investments inclusive of funds and structured finance. Her public accounting career has not only been dedicated to serving the unique vehicles in the financial services industry, but also private offshore banks, operating companies and special purpose entities. Lauri has experience with financial reporting under both IFRS and US GAAP.
A key commitment of Lauri’s is her involvement in the mentoring of local youth. She previously served as a Board Member of Generation Now, a non-profit organization, which seeks to provide financial assistance to promising individuals whom wish to pursue their education. Lauri embraces the opportunities to speak to and mentor students interested in pursuing a career in the Accounting and/or Business field through volunteer opportunities provided by such foundations as Generation Now and CISPA.
Squar Milner’s Financial Services Industry Practice
Squar Milner’s Financial Services Industry Practice includes a full range of services including financial statement audits, tax, business risk, consulting (including structured finance) and transaction due diligence services. Squar Milner’s dedicated Financial Services Industry professionals have extensive backgrounds serving a broad range of public and private companies and are organized within three divisions to best serve our clients: Asset Management, Banking, and Specialty Finance.
With 20 million units sold, Eddy Cue says Apple TV will continue to evolve
From techcrunch
Apple TV has been a pretty modest success when you compare it to some of Apple’s other products, but with 20 million units sold, the product has clearly captured consumer attention. Tonight at the CODE Conference, Apple SVP Eddy Cue said the Apple TV will continue to evolve as the company seeks to improve upon today’s TV experience.
Sales on Apple TV topped $1 billion last year, and Cue said it will be even bigger in fiscal 2014. And the company will continue to update the product as a way to improve the user experience for consumers.
Cue noted that the company had added a lot of new content to the Apple TV, and has tied more of its content to iCloud, like user photos.
When trying to explain the reason for the interest in TV, Cue said that it’s because the TV user experience is so bad. In particular, it hasn’t changed in the last several decades.
Cue said the biggest innovation he’s seen came with the introduction of the VCR, which allowed users to record content. But since then, the experience has been “stuck.”
Still, there’s work to be done. Even with the growth of TV Everywhere services, the large number of different content providers and services means that it’s never really clear which content consumers have access to. According to Cue, there are also rights issues which need to be worked out.
That’s something Apple is no doubt looking to solve, as it thinks about the next vertical that it can disrupt with innovative new products.
CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts: Bella needs your help to find forever homes for these two cuties
Spitfire and Sarsaparilla are brothers in search of a home filled with love and foreverness…
Bella needs your help! A couple of weeks ago she managed to find herself three very little kittens hiding in the bush, whilst out on a walk with her foster Mom.
Sadly it was discovered that the mother to these little kittens was a victim to a road traffic accident and had sadly passed away leaving them orphaned. So our Bella – who is all about paying it forward, took them into her care showed them what it’s like to be loved and wanted and now needs your help to find forever homes for these guys.
Their other brother – Spartacus has found his forever home and so Sarsaparilla and Spitfire are now seeking theirs.
These little cuties are approximately 8 weeks old. They are super playful, cute and fun and just a pleasure to be around. Loving and mischievous all rolled into one, litter box trained and good as gold.
These healthy little tykes have had their first vaccination and have tested negative for any feline viruses. They are scheduled for their 2nd and 3rd vaccines along with neutering courtesy of CARE.
So they are now ready and eager to start living life to the full, and settling into their forever homes. They do not need to be home together.
If you are interested in meeting either Spitfire or Sas please call 938 2273 or e-mail [email protected] and we can introduce you to these handsome guys in search of love…
Please be a voice for those without by passing this e-mail on and help spread the word for Spitfire and Sas so Bella can get back to doing what she does best – sleeping!
CARE-Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
938 2273
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