iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association (CIREBA) build the fund for veteran runner
The above 6 marathon challenge to raise CI$1 million to build a new ‘in-patient’ Hospice facility took another leap forward with CIREBA pledging $100,000 this week. President of CIREBA Michael Day and his board voted unanimously to support the project and this brings the running total to $577, 000 just before Derek Haines , Cayman’s veteran marathon runner competes in the 3rd marathon in Pamplona, Spain, on Saturday.
Haines said, “This is a fantastic community gesture by CIREBA and will certainly boost my morale as I run at the weekend. CIREBA are to be congratulated for the very generous donation that puts us well on target to reach our goal. ”
Derek is looking forward to the race and meeting up with family and friends. He said, “My daughter Lizyy is joining me in the race and we will be supported by my wife Helen, fund treasurer Chris Johnson and wife Merja together with major donors Peter and Julia Kandiah.”
Details on the challenge and on how to donate can be seen on six4hospice.com
Cayman Turtle Farm still haemoriging
The Cayman Islands Turtle Farm is still bleeding furiously. Even more losses were disclosed at the Legislative Assembly Financial Committee meeting this week.
Government will have to find $9.5M to subsidise it.
Nearly three quarters of that money will go towards accumulated debt whilst the rest is for operational expenses. The farm doesn’t receive enough from its tourists and sales to even pay 100% of that.
An optimistic Tim Adams, the Managing Director of the Turtle Farm, said he expected the Farm’s total debt of $22.5M to be paid off by 2019.
Grenada authorities investigating website scam
From Caribbean360
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Wednesday June 25, 2014, CMC – The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) said that an international investigation has been launched into a website that has been blamed for taking in money from Grenadians.
A statement from the FIU said that several persons have fallen victim to the site, sgumarketplace.com and that several “more unsuspecting buyers are believed to have made numerous purchases”.
“The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) strongly advises persons to refrain from making any purchases on this internet site as well as transferring money,” the FIU said law enforcement authorities are warning “that the site is a scam and is in no way associated with the St. George’s University, Grenada”.
The FIU said that an “international investigation has been launched” into the site.
Cayman football official to see FIFA World Cup final stages
Alfredo Whittaker, head of the Cayman Islands referees department for CONCACAF for the past two years, will likely be at the quarterfinals and semifinals in Brazil in an official capacity.
There is also a good chance he might be at the final.
The likelihood heavily relies on how well the CONCACAF teams do in the knockout rounds. With Costa Rica and Mexico already through his chances will be even better if USA and Honduras join them.
Suspect linked to murder of Haiti journalist extradited from Argentina
From Caribbean360
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Wednesday June 25, 2014, CMC – Philippe Markington, described as a key suspect in the murder of a prominent journalist in Haiti, has been extradited from Argentina.
An investigating judge has described him as one of the main suspects in the death of Jean Dominique, the former director of Radio Haiti Inter and his gate-keeper Jean-Claude Louissant, who were killed on April 3, 2000.
The suspect returned to Haiti over the weekend, escorted by Haitian police who had been sent to Argentina to arrest him.
“We welcome a very significant step in efforts to punish the material and intellectual authors of the murder of Jean Dominique,” said Guyler C. Delva, head of the organization SOS Journalistes and chairman of a committee that oversees cases of murdered journalists in Haiti.
“Philippe Markington is now available to the Haitian justice to be interrogated on the Dominique’s case which now takes an irreversible pace,” said Delva.
Markington, is a close ally of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, appeared in court Monday as part of the continuing investigation into the murders.
International arrest warrants have been issued for several other people, including a former legislator who has been described as the mastermind of the crime.
Popular Cayman radio talk show host in court
Austin Harris (41), host of Rooster 101 FM Cayman Island’s morning political talk show “Crosstalk”, was in court last Tuesday (24) charged with common assault and damage to property.
Harris’s bail was extended to July 22nd where he will enter his pleas to the charges.
Harris was charged in connection with an incident that happened in March 2014 at an address in Governor’s Sound.
Jamaican charged with sex-trafficking denies being ‘global pimp’
From Caribbean360
MIAMI, United States, Wednesday June 25, 2014, CMC – A Jamaican national standing trial in the United States on sex-trafficking charges of pimping women around the world has denied the allegations.
Damion St. Patrick Baston, 37, who is also accused of beating several women from South Florida to the Middle East to Australia, denied the allegations Tuesday when he took the witness stand in his own defense.
Baston said he went to school in New York City, studied fashion, earned a black belt in karate, lifted weights like his hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger, worked as a nightclub dancer and eventually got into the music business as a talent agent.
But he testified in Miami federal court on Tuesday that he never forced any of his many girlfriends into his escort service, “Bachelors Club,” never abused them as prostitutes and never took their money.
“I was always nice and kind,” he told his defense attorney, David Rowe, as the 12-member federal jury listened.
Asked if the young women who fell under his spell suffered from Stockholm Syndrome, the phenomenon that they felt attached to him despite his alleged abuse, Baston replied “they all left.”
Baston is charged with using “psychological coercion and physical abuse” against at least seven women he pimped around the globe.
Composition Books and Fun Day on Cayman benefits schools
“Composition Books and Fun Day”, an annual event sponsored by Webster’s Tours and Lee’s Office Products, benefited Year 5 students in 12 schools, including two schools in Cayman Brac with the distribution of 4,000 free composition books.
At the event that lasted three hours, students performed various talents that included, dances, skits, and poetry recitals.
All performers were awarded with prizes from various businesses.
The public schools that received books were: Bodden Town, East End, George Town, John A. Cumber, North Side, Prospect, Red Bay, and West End primary schools in Grand Cayman, Creek and Spot Bay primary schools in Cayman Brac, and Lighthouse School.
Grace Christian Academy, a private school, also benefitted.
Caribbean getting help with disaster preparedness
By Christian Miranda From Panamerican World
Barbados and other Caribbean countries are being given technical assistance by Canada to help them to prepare for natural disasters.
Ms. Louise Clement, the outgoing Councillor for Development said so as she commented on work which is being undertaken under a Canadian-sponsored programme for countries of the eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Clement noted that her department is working with the Canadian Red Cross and with the Pan American Health Organisation to prepare them for any eventuality.
“Training was provided to approximately 90 Ministry of Health staff in the area of disaster management and to over 450 health professionals in 10 countries on mental health and psychosocial support in the event of disasters,” she told a function at the residence of the Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
For more: http://www.panamericanworld.com/en/article/caribbean-getting-help-disaster-preparedness
Extended sick leave for Cayman Fire Chief queried by Cayman’s legislators
At a recent meeting of the Cayman Islands Finance Committee the extended sick leave on full pay to Acting Fire Chief Rosworth McLaughlin was raised.
East End MLA Arden McLean asked whether the reason for the extended sick leave that has been granted since early April was due to a sprained ankle McLaughlin received at a fire he attended?
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson would not be drawn into disclosing the reason for the sick leave and said it was his understanding McLaughlin had a sick leave certificate extending to early July.
The post of Chief Fire Officer for the Cayman Islands has been advertised.
At present former chiefs Roy Grant and Kirkland Nixon have returned, with Mr. Grant as acting chief fire officer and Mr. Nixon as a strategic adviser.
New Zealand’s Vettori joins Jamaica Tallawahs
From ESPNcricinfo staff
Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will join the Jamaica Tallawahs squad for the 2014 season of the Caribbean Premier League as a replacement for Muttiah Muralitharan, who is unavailable for the tournament.
Vettori’s most recent Twenty20 assignment was with Brisbane Heat in the 2014 Big Bash League, and he was also the coach of the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. He has not played a T20 international since September 2012.
“It’s a privilege to be able to step in and help the Tallawahs defend their title,” Vettori said. “Having heard so many positive words about the CPL from my fellow cricketers, when the opportunity to come to the Caribbean and play in arguably one of the world’s most flamboyant and exciting T20 competitions came along, I couldn’t turn it down.”
The CPL begins on July 11 and the Tallawahs play their first match the next day, against St Lucia Zouks.
For more: http://www.espncricinfo.com/caribbean-premier-league-2014/content/story/755565.html
Analysts’ code for pension plans adopted by Cayman Islands Silver Thatch
Silver Thatch is the second Cayman Islands pension organisation to confirm compliance with the Certified Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) Code of Conduct for Members of a Pension Scheme Governing Body.
The pension plan code of conduct is founded on the ethical principles of CFA Institute and the CFA programme. Compliance with the code requires board members to commit to a set of fundamental ethical principles, which are universally applicable for all types of pension plans. Among the requirements of board members are: to act with prudence and reasonable care; to act with skill, competence, and diligence; to maintain independence and objectivity by, among other actions, avoiding conflicts of interest, refraining from self-dealing, and refusing any gift that could reasonably be expected to affect their loyalty; to deal fairly, objectively, and impartially with all participants and beneficiaries; and to communicate with participants, beneficiaries, and supervisory authorities in a timely, accurate, and transparent manner.
Cayman businessman plans a North Side fast food hub
Prentice Panton, owner of Reflections and Food 4 Less and Liquor 4 Less, has applied to Cayman Islands Central Planning Authority to transform a cabinet-making store in North Side to a fast-food tourist hub.
The site will include a food outlet, coffee shop, pizza and ice cream stores, sports bar with live music, and a park with playground equipment.
The application for change of use from cabinet making to bar, retail and restaurant can be viewed during business hours at the Government Administration Building. Residents wishing to object to the development must do so in writing and must state their reasons. Objections must be submitted in writing within 21 days of the final published notification.
Tax information sharing is expanding in the Caribbean
By Raymond Grove From Convey
Several jurisdictions that are part of the Caribbean community (CARICOM) are moving toward information transparency in regard to tax matters. Many of them have an agreement in substance to comply with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).According to FTSE Global Markets, as of June five CARICOM states have completed negotiations with the U.S. and plan to sign formal intergovernmental agreements (IGAs), including:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
Antigua
Belarus
Other Caribbean states have already had an agreement in substance. The Bahamas, for example, formally announced its intentions to comply with FATCA regulations on April 17, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The Cayman Islands has a Model 1 IGA with the U.S., which as been in effect since November 2013. This jurisdiction has further demonstrated its commitment to preventing cross-border tax evasion by recently signing a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with Columbia, according to the Insurance Managers Association of Cayman. This TIEA will be the Cayman Islands’ 36th, and negotiations are currently underway with 14 other nations.For a comprehensive list of the current FATCA agreements, please visit our FATCA education section.
Cayman Immigration officer arrested for alleged hammer attack not suspended
The senior Immigration Officer who was arrested at her home Saturday (21 June) on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm with a hammer has not been suspended from duty.
During the investigation the police found a licensed 12 gauge shotgun at the premises and a quantity of ammunition that was part of the complaint from the victim.
The victim received a number of injuries during the assault and he was treated at the George Town Hospital and later released.
Police questioned the immigration officer arrested before being bailed to appear in court at a later date.
Cayman athletes receive a contribution from Dart Foundation
On Friday (20), the Dart Foundation, which Ken Dart is a board member of, presented a $15,000 check to the Cayman Olympic Fundraising Committee. This generous donation by the Dart Foundation will help Cayman athletes train and attend the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Brett Fraser an Olympic swimmer from the Cayman Islands touches upon the importance of this contribution, “It goes into everyday practice from funding education, coaching, practice purposes, travel purposes. It’s really important to get the exposure of competing not just in the Cayman Islands but overseas and abroad.”
The 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, are July 23rd to August 3rd. The Cayman Islands will have 28 athletes representing them in seven different sporting events.
