iNews Briefs
Germany seizes documents [Coutts, Cayman] that may contain info on tax evasion
(Reuters) – German customs authorities in the Port of Hamburg have confiscated documents that may contain information about the accounts of suspected tax evaders, German media reported on Saturday.
Two containers with around 14,000 documents inside were confiscated at the end of May, with some coming from a branch of private bank Coutts, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland , in the Cayman Islands, newspaper Welt am Sonntag said in an advance copy of an article due to be published on Sunday.
News magazine Focus also reported that customs authorities confiscated a container of Coutts documents from the Cayman Islands, which is frequently labelled as a tax haven by critics, on May 20. Finance experts had since then been evaluating the material, searching for evidence of tax evasion, Focus said.
A spokesperson for Coutts told Reuters: “We are not aware of any investigation into our Trust Company or its papers and we are working with the authorities to allow these papers to continue on their way.”
In 2012, authorities in North-Rhine Westphalia investigated Coutts after the federal state bought a CD containing details of German customers of Coutts, Welt am Sonntag said.
A spokeswoman for the German finance ministry said the public prosecutors’ office in Duesseldorf was the responsible authority, adding that this case was linked to investigations already being carried out in North-Rhine Westphalia.
She said she could not give further information on ongoing investigations.
The public prosecutors’ office in Duesseldorf could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Larry King)
For more on this story go to: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/06/21/germany-tax-idINL6N0P20J020140621
Cayman Airways (CAL) issues spam email advisory
Cayman Airways has been made aware of a spam email that is currently circulating within the Cayman Islands and elsewhere with the subject line “Appointment” appearing to be sent by an Arthur Paul on behalf of Cayman Airways Express. Recipients of this potentially malicious email should delete it immediately upon receipt.
The email signature and the link contained in the email have been constructed so as to appear to be from Cayman Airways, but have no real association with the airline whatsoever. The fraudulent email contains a link taking the unsuspecting recipient to a Microsoft Word document hosted on a foreign website which could potentially be damaging if opened.
To avoid any damaging exposure from this email, recipients are encouraged to delete it immediately upon receipt.
United Kingdom help for Caribbean countries
From CANA
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jun 21, CMC – The United Kingdom (UK) says it will provide technical assistance to the Caribbean as it seeks to develop its energy sector.
London said it would it would also work with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) on options for “catalyzing a regional gas market” as Caribbean governments continue to explore the potential for natural gas as well as other forms of sustainable energy as an alternative to fuel oil imports.
The UK said it would also “share its experience of managing complex renewable energy systems through a private sector-led knowledge-sharing mechanism on smart grids, distributed generation and holistic energy management systems.
“The UK will work with regional regulators and utilities to progress dialogue on utility reform and models for electricity provision which respond to the challenge of diversifying and securing energy supply whilst maintaining viable electricity companies,” according to a joint statement following the Eighth UK-Caribbean Forum held in London earlier this week.
The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat late Friday released the joint statement, which noted that the Forum enabled UK and Caribbean governments, public, private and donor experts to share knowledge, experience and best practice in the development of sustainable energy solutions.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to diversifying our energy sources and minimising energy waste to ensure a more sustainable and secure energy future. We recognised that upgrading existing generation plants from oil to natural gas and other forms of alternative forms of energy has the potential to reduce energy prices and carbon emissions.”
For more: http://cananewsonline.com/news/99295-united-kingdom-help-for-caribbean-countries.html
Cayman Islands appoints new chair for Health Practice Commission
Dr. Ruthlyn Pomares is the new chairman of the Cayman Islands Health Practice Commission.
The former chairman was Dr Steve Tomlinson who has served as chairman from 2006.
Andria Dilbert will serve as Deputy Chairman until December 2015. Other board members are Dr. Jemal Khan, Dawn Lewis, Haroon Pandohie, Darley Solomon, Dr. Clem von Kirchenheim, David Pellow and Lyria Josephs.
New US-Caribbean energy initiative
From Bloggings by boz
Vice President Biden traveled to the Dominican Republic and announced the creation of the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CESI). The program will:
1) Provide loans and finance for new projects through OPIC.
2) Provide strategic planning and technical assistance to countries that want to transform their energy sector.
3) Promote information sharing in the government and private sectors to coordinate energy projects and priorities.
While some of this, such as the loan guarantees, appears to be new, the US has also been funding a Caribbean energy security initiative through ECPA since 2010.
Why the new announcement? This is partially about Venezuela. Many countries in the Caribbean are heavily dependent on Venezuela’s oil subsidies through Petrocaribe. On top of giving Venezuela enormous leverage at the OAS (the entire Caribbean minus Barbados voted to block debate on Venezuela’s human rights abuses in March), those Petrocaribe subsidies also add to the region’s debt problems and prevent them from shifting their energy matrices to something more modern (why go solar when you can get cheap Venezuelan oil?). If the problems of Venezuela’s government and economy worsen in the coming months, it’s going to hit the Caribbean hard. This is a program for the US to regain some influence while also making the Caribbean less dependent and vulnerable to a volatile Venezuelan situation.
But even if the Venezuela challenge didn’t exist, this would still be a good policy. The US wants its neighbors to be energy secure and economically stable. The Caribbean is already being hit hard by climate change and the US has an obligation to help its neighbors adapt to the changing conditions.
For more: http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/2014/06/new-us-caribbean-energy-initiative.html
Cayman Minister says National Trust should not solicit land
North Side Member of the Legislative Assembly, Ezzard Miller, made an attack on Wednesday (18) on Cayman’s National Trust accusing it of land banking, “harassing” land owners, pushing down values and breaking its own by-laws.
Miller implied the law did not allow the National Trust to solicit land and accused it of land banking.
He said his constituents would soon have no land of their own as it would all be in the Trust’s hands. He said his people would have nowhere where they could “grow cassava, cut a top to make a basket, chop of a branch from a mahogany tree to make furniture or even pick a mango.”
Environment Minister, Wayne Panton, however said there is no clause that states the Trust cannot buy land and so it must be able to seek to buy that land.
Emerging designers dazzle at Caribbean Fashion Week 2014
From Fibre2fashion
The just concluded instalment of Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) 2014 showcased collections from designers belonging to the UK, US, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Ethiopia, Cayman Islands, and Zimbabwe.
Tobago-based emerging designer Diamond Linton’s clothing line Tobago Gyal, which featured bustline accentuating long elaborate flowing skirts and dresses, was loosely inspired from Spanish flamenco dancer’s costumes.
Another young 17-year-old talent from New York, Yvonne Jewnell showcased an interesting line replete with vibrant bold outfits made from unconventional fabrics at the event which was held in the Jamaican capital city of Kingston.
In addition to the above mentioned names, designers like Angelie Martin, Diana Williamson, Mahlet Afework, Barry Moncrieffe, Brenda Winstead, Jacqueline Cohen, Saleem Samuels, Tameka Jervis-George, Tigerlily Hill, Sabina Mutsvati and Amril Douglas also displayed their knitwear, resortwear, swimwear and women’s and men’s creations at the soiree.
Apart from the glitzy catwalk parades, the event also hosted competitions and workshops for young designers, alongside business forums on topics ranging from branding to public relations.
An on-site shopping lounge, selling clothes right from the catwalk parades, was also organized on the sidelines of the fashion week, which is currently in its 13th year.
For more: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/fashion-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=164863
United plane tyre causes 24 hour delay in Cayman
An issue with a tyre on a United Airlines flight from Grand Cayman to Houston, Texas last Thursday meant 136 passengers spending some extra time on the island.
A new part had to be flown in and that meant the passengers having to stay at least one day and others two.
The airline had to re-accommodate their customers on different flights.
Antigua police launch manhunt for two prisoners including convicted murderer
BREAKING NEWS: (Avie Howell has been shot and caught – see story title below)
From Caribbean360
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Friday June 20, 2014, CMC – Law enforcement authorities are searching for two men, including 24-year-old Avie Howell who was given three life sentences for murdering a British couple and a Jamaican born shopkeeper, after they escaped from the prison on Thursday.
Howell had been convicted of the murders of honeymooning British couple Benjamin and Catherine Mullany, and shopkeeper Woneta Anderson.
The prosecution had sought the death sentence for Howell and another convicted man, Kaniel Martin, who shot the couple and made off with “cheap” cellphones and cash, still face two more murder charges.
The victims were gunned down and relieved of cash, “relatively cheap mobile phones” and other items, in a case that left Scotland Yard’s Detective Superintendent Keith Niven baffled as to the motive for the killings in 2008.
Martin and Howell shot all three victims with a Glock .380 pistol that was stolen from the home of a local auto mechanic.
The authorities said they were also searching Kenroy “Laurie” Marshall who has escaped several times before. He was on remand for fraud.
See also today’s iNews Cayman story: “Escaped killer who murdered British honeymoon couple in Caribbean is shot and captured”
Ogier Fiduciary Service partners finalise MBO
By Daniel Flynn From International Adviser
The management buy-out by the partners of Ogier Fiduciary Services from the Ogier group has been completed.
The buy-out, first announced in February, was backed by Electra partners, who invested £82m of equity on behalf of their major client Electra Private Equity, alongside a significant investment by the Ogier Fiduciary Services’ management team.
The two companies have become separate businesses but will continue a close relationship, sharing premises and facilities.
Ogier Fiduciary Services continues to be led by chief executive Paul Willing and there will be no change to the current client service and relationship teams.
Willing said: “The significant investment made available to us as a result of Electra Partners’ backing will help us achieve our growth plans.
“We will invest in our key systems and infrastructure to underpin our high levels of client service and will take advantage of market opportunities as they arise.”
For more: http://www.international-adviser.com/news/uk/ogier-fiduciary-service-partners-finalise-mbo
Barbados court system rapped following no decision in ten-year-old case
From Caribbean360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday June 20, 2014, CMC – Court system delays were criticised when the Appeals Court freed a man who had served 11 years in prison with no decision being made on the sentence for possession of a firearm.
The man, Elvis Alexander, was held in 2003 for hiding a gun and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2007.
He appealed and the case was set for hearing in 2009, when it was adjourned and heard again in 2011, but there was no decision and he was released from custody last week when the Court of Appeal ruled that he had served the time for the crime and should be set free.
Writing on the decision, Justice of Appeal, Peter Williams, severely criticised the court system stating that no excuse can be made for not having enough money to hire judges to preside over cases in Barbados.
He said the law, “does not countenance the lack of resources, systematic delays or existing court backlogs as exculpating the State from its constitutional and human rights obligations”.
“The executive authority of Barbados therefore has an inescapable duty to organise and supervise its judicial system so that the fundamental constitutional right of the individual to a hearing within a reasonable time is not infringed,” Williams stated.
He said that such a hearing must include judgment on the case, which should be delivered within eight months.
Visitor to Cayman on honeymoon with bullets in his bags fined $3,000
Joshua Onkka, (27), who said he had forgotten he had 50 rounds of ammunition in his luggage, when he arrived in Grand Cayman on Saturday (14), for his honeymoon was fined $3,000.
The magistrate said if he had arrived with a revolver as well as the ammunition the minimum sentence would have been a jail sentence of seven years.
Panama Canal expansion has potential to stimulate Caribbean trade – OAS
From Caribbean360
WASHINGTON D.C., United States, Friday June 20, 2014, CMC – The Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS) wants Caribbean countries to take advantage of commercial opportunities offered by the Panama Canal expansion.
Addressing the opening of a three-day meeting on Wednesday, Executive Secretary for Integral Development of the OAS, Sherry Tross, recalled that more than 80 percent of world trade is transported by sea, and noted that the redevelopment of the Panama Canal will increase traffic and maritime trade worldwide.
“This increased capacity not only implies savings for world trade, but has the potential to increase trade between Latin America and the world,” she said.
“The impending expansion of the Panama Canal presents both challenges and opportunities for the entire region,” she added.
“This expansion has the potential to stimulate trade in the region and, as we know, has already spurred infrastructure development designed to increase port capacity for large vessels post-Panama.”
The OAS official also said the increase in maritime traffic requires OAS member-states to modernize their laws, guidelines and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of international safety standards.
During the meeting, OAS member-states are expected to discuss the prospects for strengthening regional port dialogue in order to promote competitiveness in the sector with the imminent enlargement of the Panama Canal.
Men freed in Cayman Islands Batabano shooting
Todd Bowen and Daniel Bennett were discharged Friday (20) after the Crown offered no evidence against them.
The men had been charged with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the unlawful use of a firearm during the Batabano Carnival last May in George Town. However, the man who had been shot at but the bullet fired missed him and he was unhurt, decided not to testify against them.
RealtyTrac: 55 Percent of US homes are in areas of high risk for natural disaster
By Dan Weil From Moneynews
More than half of the country’s homes are located in counties at a high risk of hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes, according to a study from housing research firm RealtyTrac.
A total of 8 percent of homes are in “very high risk” areas, while 47 percent are in “high risk” areas. A total of 23 percent are in “medium risk” areas, 19 percent are in “low risk” areas and 3 percent are in “very low risk” areas.
Interestingly enough, the median price for homes in counties at high risk of natural disaster rose 34 percent in the five years through April, compared with a 23 percent increase for homes in counties at a low or very low risk of natural disaster.
“The higher median home prices in many counties with a high risk for natural disaster indicates that other location-based factors, such as weather and access to jobs, override concerns about home damage as a result of earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes,” Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac, said in a statement.
Overall, the housing market has shown signs of weakness in recent months. Housing starts fell 6.5 percent in May.
That’s not the kind of number that will push the Federal Reserve to tighten policy faster, economists say. “[The] data does not provide the kind of assurances that the Fed would like to see,” Diane Swonk, chief economist of Mesirow Financial, told USA Today.
The housing market remains a question mark, as it is not able to gain the traction the Fed expected to see by this time in the economic cycle.”
For more: http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/homes-risk-natural-disaster/2014/06/19/id/578096#ixzz35CPVLeke
Cayman swimmers help create a world record
The Cayman Islands helped break the world record last Friday (20) by taking part in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson (WLSL).
Thousands of kids and families all over the world all participated in the simultaneous swim class and the children and families of Fitness Connection in George Town, Grand Cayman had signed up to WSL.
This was the WLSL’s 5th Guinness World Record™ attempt, and although the world record is not official yet it appears to have been broken.
The vital message behind the world record attempt is Swimming Lessons Save Lives™.
For more on WLSL go to: http://www.wlsl.org
One of the Caribbean’s largest water parks to open in Jamaica late 2014
From Caribbean News Now
ST ANN, Jamaica — The island of Jamaica will soon have one of the Caribbean’s most diverse oceanfront water parks in the entire Caribbean with the Jewel Runaway Bay Water Park set to open in December 2014.
Senior vice president Caribbean operations and development for Aimbridge Hospitality Rich Cortese said, “True to our mission of delivering on the guest experience, we are very excited to soon be offering a very unique waterpark experience. There are very few places in the Caribbean where a waterpark of this stature is situated overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The new waterpark will be just steps to the beach.”
Encompassing towering water slides and family raft rides, the new water park also offers secluded, chic private cabanas and waterfall coves with a raindrop umbrella feature, known to reduce stress with soothing and therapeutic water streams. Located directly on the beach, The Jewel Runaway Bay Water Park is replete with a beach entrance featuring in-floor jetting geysers.
Jewel Resorts partnered with SplashTacular Waterslides, Waterpark Attractions firm and H2O Design to conceptualize the park’s kid-friendly features along with touches that appeal to parents and individual travelers including natural design elements and a diverse selection of water features using the latest technology.
Designed for guests of all ages, the 9,000 sq. ft water park will bring more than 232,334 gallons of aquatic fun, excitement and relaxation to this all-ages Jewel resort in Jamaica.
General manager Scott Robbins stated, “This one-of-a-kind water park is not just for kids or the young at heart, there are features for everyone. Families, young children, teen, tweens and multi-generations, everyone loves a water park!”
Caribbean hotel sector rebounds with very strong May
By the Caribbean Journal staff
After three consecutive months of year-over-year decline, the Caribbean hotel industry rebounded with a strong month of May, according to a new report from STR.
Hotel occupancy in the Caribbean improved by 3.2 percent in May compared to May 2013, the largest year-over-year increase since December of 2013.
Occupancy finished May at 65.8 percent, with overall occupancy for the region for the year at 72.8 percent. The improvement brought the region’s year-to-date change in occupancy to 0.
Average daily rates rose by 7.4 percent to $174.16, while revenue per available room rose by 10.8 percent to $114.52, according to the report.
STR’s survey included 1,891 hotels comprising 226,144 rooms in the Caribbean, which includes Bermuda.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/06/20/caribbean-hotel-sector-rebounds-with-very-strong-may/
Justices restrict software patents in unanimous ruling
By Tony Mauro , Legal Times
In a closely watched intellectual property case, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that some computer-related innovations are too abstract to be eligible for patents. But the unanimous decision stopped short of denying patents to all computer software.
The ruling is a rare affirmation by the high court of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which usually finds its rulings reversed by the justices.
Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the court, said a computer system that mitigates “settlement risk” in financial transactions was itself too abstract for patent protection. Merely adding “generic” computer applications did not turn the system into a patentable innovation, he wrote.
“The relevant question is whether the claims here do more than simply instruct the practitioner to implement the abstract idea of intermediated settlement on a generic computer. They do not,” Thomas wrote.
Caribbean lagging in dealing with trafficking in persons — US
From Jamaica Observer
WASHINGTON, CMC – As far as the United States is concerned, the Caribbean still has a long way to go in dealing with trafficking in persons (TIP).
According to the 2014 TIP report released by the US Department of State on Friday, at least seven Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname – continue to be placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, because of the failure of the governments to fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Acts (TVPA).
But while Washington said they were making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking on that list is “very significant or is significantly increasing”.
The State Department said on the Tier 2 Watch List, there is also a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year in these countries.
It said the determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with minimum standards, in the Tier 2 Watch List category, was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.
The Bahamas, Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have now been added to the Tier 2 List with no CARICOM country being placed on the Tier 1 and Tier 3 Lists.
Caribbean Tourism, health organizations sign partnership agreement
By the Caribbean Journal staff
A pair of Caribbean regional tourism organizations have signed an agreement to partner with the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association agreed earlier this month on a partnership to establish and promote health and safety protocols and practices in the tourism workplace across the Caribbean.
“As the Caribbean’s principle economic earner, the tourism sector must be vigilant and proactive regarding health and safety issues that can adversely affect the health of our tourism workforce or that of our visitors,” said Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. “As the organization leading sustainable tourism in the Caribbean, the CTO is pleased to partner with the regional public health agency and the umbrella tourism private sector entity to face these challenges head on in a structured and collective manner.”
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the parties covers collaboration in areas including food and environmental “food and environmental safety training and certification; public health information, monitoring and response systems for hotels and cruise ships to provide timely alert and a rapid coordinated response to adverse health, safety and environmental issues; health, safety and environmental standards certification and recognition systems to improve the health, safety and environmental quality in the tourism workplace; health and wellness programmes to encourage and promote a healthy tourism workforce; awareness raising and promotion of multisectoral and multiagency approaches to address the health, safety and environmental issues associated with tourism; and partnerships, networks and business strategies for sustainability of the tourism and health programme,” according to a statement from the CTO.
Columbus to use Triveni service management across the Caribbean
By Michelle Clancy From Rapid TV News
PeerTV, a provider of Android-based over-the-top (OTT) delivery solutions, has announced a supply and distribution deal with an as yet unnamed US OTT operator.
The operator will purchase PeerTV’s Android set-top boxes and distribute these in both the US and Irish markets.
The US company plans to roll out its OTT services in several countries over the next two years and PeerTV will be its exclusive set top box supplier. PeerTV has agreed a sole supplier distributorship in North America and Ireland, subject to the achievement of minimum sales levels of at least $3 million over the first three years.
In addition, PeerTV’s latest partner has pledged to purchase a minimum of 50,000 Android set top box units within three years. The companies will be cooperating in product development and marketing.
This new win comes on top of recent announcement by the group of similar OTT hardware and software supply deals in Germany and Poland.
“This important new agreement provides PeerTV with the opportunity to acces major international markets with exciting growth potential for OTT,” said PeerTV CEO Avi Vermus. “We will now have direct access to a range of high growth markets, including the USA and a key strategic distribution partner who has ambitious plans and a commitment to extensive marketing.”
