iNews Briefs
Freshwater species of the Cayman Islands under the microscope!
By Angela Piercy From Cayman Islands Government
George Town, Grand Cayman– In May Dr. David Bass, professor and aquatic invertebrate ecologist from the University of Central Oklahoma was back on his annual visit to Grand Cayman. Since 2010, Dr. Bass has visited the island annually and has made 120 collections on sites across the three islands. This year he and the Terrestrial Research Unit of the Department of Environment sampled Blue Hole cave (in West Bay), Vetner’s Cistern (in East End), and Kary’s Pond and the Buttonwood Swamp in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
Dr. Bass explains that the “freshwater macro-invertebrate fauna in the Cayman Islands is generally sparse, probably due to their oceanic origin, their [the Islands’] small sizes, limited freshwater habitats, natural and human disturbances, and challenges colonizing such habitats”. Nevertheless, 94 fresh/brackish water species have been identified, most of them from Grand Cayman. The most interesting addition to the species list is probably the endemic cave amphipod, Bahadzia caymanensis, which was first collected by Dr. Bass in May 2012 but took a while to be confirmed as its own species. It is still possible that the number of species may increase slightly as David gets back to the lab to sort and identify the samples from these most recent collections.
For more information on Dr. Bass’ work and Cayman’s freshwater invertebrates check out Flicker, the bimonthly bulletin of the Department of Environment’s Terrestrial Resources Unit; http://www.doe.ky/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Flicker-14.pdf
YMCA’s Summer Camp in Cayman Islands
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Grand Cayman has a Summer Camp to not only entertain them but to develop character.
YMCA’s “The Summer of Dreams” camp gets children to participate in sports, group games and outdoor play with a focus on developing values such as honesty, caring, respect and responsibility.
The camp will take place Monday – Friday from 14 July to the 22 August, at the Field of Dreams from 8:30am – 4:30pm
It is open to children ages 6 – 13, with teens ages 14 – 17 able to join in as counselors-in-training.
Children will need to bring lunch, a snack, sunscreen, swimsuit and towel daily. The cost per week is $130 and space is limited. To reserve a spot for your child email [email protected]
Pilots: blame Caribbean Airlines
From Trinidad Express
The Trinidad and Tobago Airline pilots Association (TTALPA) on Thursday issued a statement regarding the decision by some its pilots to sick out, causing chaotic scenes as Caribbean Airlines was forced to cancel numerous flights on Tuesday.
The following is TTALPA’s statement –
The Trinidad and Tobago Airline pilots Association (TTALPA) feels it is incumbent upon us to provide and explanation to the travelling public concerning the events of Tuesday July 1, 2014, where according to CAL approximately 47 pilots called sick. CAL has stated its position and we will respond in kind. While TTALPA, as the recognized majority union, cannot sanction industrial action, we understand fully the frustration of our individual members. This we have pointed out to CAL numerous times over the years and to all levels of the organization. TTALPA has never demanded anything of CAL and has utilized a non-confrontational approach through dialogue, which over the years has been rewarded with broken promises and worst of all, procrastination.
CAL now chooses to avoid the fact that their inaction is the major cause in these events and lay the blame solely at the feet of the pilots. TTALPA will continue to support its members. Despite their claims, over the last few years, CAL has not been dealing with us in good faith which has caused us to register our issues with the Ministry of Labour as Trade Disputes. However, the pilots continued to exercise extreme patience and professionalism.
As of Wednesday 02 July 2014, we have been able to reach partial agreement on some of the more serious issues with further meetings scheduled during this month. TTALPA would like to assure the travelling public that we will continue to deal with CAL’s management transparently and in good faith. It is our expectation that CAL will honour its recent commitments. Our members would continue to display the levels of service, professionalism and adherence to safety that has become synonymous with CAL’s pilots and that you have been experiencing over the years.
We move forward with a renewed faith and commitment.
For more: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Pilots-Blame-Caribbean-Airlines-265731961.html?m=y&smobile=y
US dodge ball president plays double dutch with at risk kids in Cayman
Reach Cayman’s Summer Camp targets Cayman’s at risk children and they have enlisted the help of Lauren Walker, who is the president of the United States National Double Doge League (for dodge ball).
Walker has taught them double dutch that is a jump rope game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions are jumped by one or more players jumping simultaneously.
Speaking on CITN/Cayman27 last Friday (4), Donna Danndie, the founder and Director of Reach Caribbean, said the summer camp is a success. She pointed out that behavioral problems they saw on Monday have been eliminated. She said it was because the kids are now “learning how to tell each other when they are having a problem with them and that they don’t have to retaliate they can walk away”.
Dominica may acquire ship to transport produce to other Caribbean countries
From Caribbean360
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Friday July 4, 2014, CMC – Dominica is exploring the possibility of acquiring a ship to transport its produce to other Caribbean countries, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said.
“What we’re seeking to do, from the government of Dominica standpoint, is to seek to acquire our own vessel, our own boats, to help address the transportation issue, to the south of Dominica, Trinidad, Barbados in particular which are very important markets to us, in so far as our agricultural produce is concerned,” Skerrt told reporters.
“There are a couple of issues which we have to address. The main problem there is regular transportation … so this week you have the boats going and the following week there is no boat, and we cannot trade without a reliable form of transportation,” he added.
Skerrit said that his administration was now seeking to intensify negotiations with Barbados on increasing trade opportunities between the two CARICOM countries and that over the past months he has seen an increase in the amount of Dominican produce getting into the Barbadian market.
Skerrit said that Dominica was doing its best to try to reduce the two billion US dollar food import bill insisting that regional countries needed to assist each other in that regard.
“Because if I can supply Barbados with agricultural produce it means it’s going to be much cheaper than that which you get from sometimes the Latin American countries and Miami,” Skerrit said, suggesting that Dominica could also provide water to other Caribbean countries.
Cayman film “The Devil You Know” to be screened at world festivals
Director Badir Awe, of the shot in Cayman film “The Devil You Know”, has said the movie will be submitted to various film festivals around the world to see how it matches up with other movies.
He said Caribbean countries and America have shown an interest in showing the film, including the New Jersey Film Festival and the Trinidad Film Festival.
He also mentioned The Cannes, The Tiffs and the Sundance as other festivals he will be submitting ‘The Devil You Know”.
Oceana launches underwater ReefCam in the Caribbean
Want to stay connected to the underwater world even when you’re not out diving or at the beach? Now you can catch a glimpse of coral reef communities all day long with Oceana’s new ReefCam.
Through a partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Oceana has launched live-feed video footage that captures marine animals as they swim and forage around near-shore reefs off of St. Thomas.
ReefCam brings attention to the importance of coral colonies, as they provide shelter, food, and breeding and spawning grounds for many species, and need to be protected in the face ocean acidification, bottom trawl nets, dredges, and destructive fishing gear.
This St. Thomas ReefCam shows one of the many near-shore reefs in the Caribbean. Coral colonies provide shelter, protection from currents and predators, and areas for breeding, spawning, nursing, feeding and resting for fish and other species. Furthermore, corals are important recorders of climate change. Living hundreds to thousands of years, coral colonies allow researchers to study, discover, and confirm changes in the climate over the centuries. However, coral communities are facing threats from ocean acidification, bottom trawl nets, dredges, and destructive fishing gear, and it may take centuries to recover. The loss of these coral ecosystems takes away homes for a host of marine life. Using the Oceana Approach, we work hard to protect and maintain the ocean’s coral reefs and the species that depend on them.
You can watch Oceana’s ReefCam at: http://oceana.org/en/our-work/protect-marine-wildlife/essential-fish-habitat/learn-act/reefcam
Explore the Cayman Islands with the Miami Dolphins
From terezowens
Fox Sports sideline reporter & 1stDownNDirty’s Kavita Channe and The Miami Dolphins travel to the Cayman Islands to teach little ones how to ball in their first ever Cayman youth football camp.
The kids learned a few tricks and the Dolphins had a once in a lifetime experience in this beautiful, exotic place. We sent KC & the 1DD crew to partake in the festivities and explore the island Cayman-style…
To see the video go to: http://terezowens.com/explore-the-cayman-islands-with-the-miami-dolphins/
France: Survey reveals impact of economic crisis on health
From Camaguey Cuba
Over one fourth of French failed to go to the doctor at least once in 2012 because they did not have the money to pay, revealed a survey of the Institute for Research and Documentation in Health Economics.
According to their study, 25.7 percent of people polled said to have skipped a visit to the doctor for lack of resources.
Like in previous surveys, low income families and those lacking complementary insurance are the worst hit by this situation.
Mostly postponed medical appointments are those of ophthalmology and stomatology, because of their way too high fees. The survey, carried out every year by the Institute since 1988, included this time over 23,000 people and 8,000 households. (Prensa Latina).
Aidonia excited about Cayman performance
From the Jamaica Star
Astounding dancehall artiste Aidonia, was the headliner for HEAT FêTE in Cayman and said he was excited to perform for his Cayman fans at Jaques Scott Lot.
The lyricist last performance in Cayman in 2008.
[Before performing] he said, “Yes, I can’t wait to see my Cayman fans. They have been reaching out on the social media. They want to see the don, so its only right that we forward and give them a performance they will never figet, cause, yuh done know how wi ting set up, straight shellings.”
Cayman artiste Neptune, also booked for the show, said: “Aidonia has a very huge fan base in Cayman. the girls them go crazy when they hear his songs, so Friday night they gonna go wild”.
Aidonia will head back to Jamaica to finish recording new projects and rehearse for his Sumfest performance, Thursday, July 17. He recently released new summer songs, namely Bring It Come, produced by Ajan Records; Zadaga, featuring Karamel, produced by Ancient Records, and One Heart, produced by JOP/Magnum Sound.
The deejay recently performed at MVP Friday and Marco Polo where he left patrons begging for more.
For more: http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20140704/ent/ent7.html
Cayman Brac airport being brought up to international standards
The Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac is being upgraded to bring it up to international standards.
Upgrades include the development of a checked baggage screening room and expansions to the in transit lounge and arrivals hall to increase capacity.
Tourism Councillor, Joey Hew, said the upgrades will help boost development in the Sister Island as investors will see the infrastructure is in place.
He also said the long term goal is to open Cayman Brac up to more direct flights regionally and to use Cayman Brac perhaps as a hub.”
Caribbean Cable & Telecommunications Assoc. gives US$1,000 to local agency through the cable
From The Labour Spokesman
Through the generosity of the Caribbean Cable and Telecommunications Association (CCTA), Warriors for Christ Pathfinder Club is the recipient of a US$1,000 grant from the association’s 2014 Community Charities Program. Warriors for Christ Pathfinder Club was nominated for the grant by The Cable, a member of the CCTA and the cable and telecommunications provider for St. Kitts.
Warriors for Christ Pathfinder was chosen as a grant recipient because of the outstanding service and assistance it provides to the community. The checque was presented by Mrs. Lornlia Matthew, Marketing Manager of The Cable, on June 26, 2014.
The CCTA’s Community Charities Program, established in 1993, has awarded more than US$293,000 to Caribbean charities during its existence. The program originally awarded only 10 grants per year, but interest in the program has grown in the last 20 years. Twelve charities were nominated for the 2014 grants, and the association’s board of directors voted unanimously to award US$1,000 grants to all.
The 12 Community Charities Program grant recipients were nominated by the following Cable and telecommunications operators: Bermuda CableVision; BVI Cable TV; Choice Cable TV of Puerto Rico; General Satelite Network Company of Jamaica; Innovative Cable TV St. Croix; Innovative Cable TV St. Thomas-St. John; Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico; St. Maarten Cable TV; The Cable of St. Kitts; T.V. Distribution Systems of Curacao; WestStar TV Limited of the Cayman Islands; and Wireless Telecommunication Network of St. Maarten.
Formed in 1983, the Caribbean Cable and Telecommunications Association represents cable and telecommunications providers throughout the Caribbean, and the programmers, software and hardware suppliers that support their operations.
For more: http://www.labourspokesman.com/newsitem.asp?more=business&NewsID=9190
Cayman Gift Certificates
Cayman Gift Certificates™ is the only fast, secure and convenient way to donate to your favourite Cayman charities from anywhere in the world. We offer a free payment porthole, absorbing all processing fees as our way to give back to the community. This allows your favorite charity to receive 100% of your donation, guaranteed.
Cayman Gift Certificates™ in conjunction with Butterfield Bank (Cayman) and First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) work to bring you the very latest technology in risk management for credit and debit cards, making your transaction completely safe. All you have to do is pick your charity of choice, designate an amount and use a credit or debit card to pay. The charity is notified of your contribution and the money is sent to them within 14 business days. It’s that simple!
Our founder Mr. Robert Hamaty has taken these steps to assist our community’s organizations in receiving more funding and now it is your turn! Check out all of the great charities below that have joined Cayman Gift Certificates™ and let your mouse do the donating!
For more: https://www.caymangiftcertificates.com/donations?seller=87
Obesity: is it a disability or not? New discrimination law?
By Alison Downie and Zachary Brown, Goodman Derrick
A case is currently being considered by the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning obesity and a ruling is expected shortly. Whichever way the court decides, this will be an important decision for UK employers and employees. Below we confirm the current UK law on this tricky issue and the reasons this might change shortly.
Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is considered to have a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. A person who has a disability has protection under the Equality Act in various ways to prevent unlawful discrimination against them. In the workplace, this includes protection from being dismissed solely because of their disability, and the right to have reasonable adjustments considered and made by their employer to enable them to work.
The current position under UK law is that obesity itself is not a qualifying disability for such protection from discrimination.
Haitians rescued from leaky raft as Texans watch from cruise ship
From WFAA8
A number of Texans have quite a tale to tell after their Caribbean cruise included the rescue of more than two dozen people.
The Carnival ship Freedom encountered about 30 people on a raft, refugees from Haiti.
The ship stopped to give the people on the raft food and water as they waited for the Coast Guard to arrive.
“They didn’t have any supplies, food, or water that we could see; no toilet, no shade, no steering system, and they were taking on water,” said Texas State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler), who was a passenger aboard the Freedom. “Everybody was thankful that we were stopping. Everybody hoped that these people would be taken care of.”
Freedom arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday morning, as scheduled.
For more: http://www.wfaa.com/news/world/Texas-cruise-ship-passengers-witness–265965871.html
19-Year-old American woman charged with trying to help ISIS militants
By Paul Szoldra From Business Insider
A 19-year-old Colorado woman has been charged with providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, after she was arrested trying to board a flight from Denver to allegedly meet with members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), The Denver Channel is reporting.
An FBI criminal complaint alleges that Shannon Maureen Conley, along with others, attempted to make contact with the militant group and travel to Syria via Turkey, AP reports.
Reuters has more on the criminal complaint:
It said she met a co-conspirator, only identified as Y.M. in court papers, on the Internet sometime in 2013. It said the pair “shared their view of Islam as requiring participation in violent jihad against any non-believers,” and Y.M. told her he was an active member of ISIL.
It said Conley planned to travel to Syria via Turkey to meet Y.M., and first attended military tactics and firearms training with the U.S. Army Explorers in Texas in February of this year.
At her arrest, she was allegedly found with materials about jihad, Al Qaeda, and CDs and DVDs labeled “Anwar al-Awlaki,” CBS Local reports.
Conley allegedly told members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force that she was a Muslim convert and “If they think I’m a terrorist I’ll give them something to think I am,” according to CBS Local.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/woman-aid-isis-militants-2014-7#ixzz36QPlzTQ7
