iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands Chikungunya – 4 confirmed cases
Update as of 21 July 2014 Total cases investigated for chikungunya since 25 June 2014 is seven.
• Since the last update on 14 July 2014, there has been one new case, a resident of West Bay, under investigation for chikungunya. (This is during the week of 15-21 July, 2014.)
• Three results were received during this week from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), with one positive.
The total results received thus far are: out of seven cases tested four have come back positive and three negative.
Of the four confirmed cases, three have reported a travel history to countries reporting an outbreak, while one had no travel history, suggesting chikungunya was acquired locally.
• Distribution of all confirmed cases: George Town, one; Bodden Town, one (the Bodden Town case is from Savannah); and Cayman Brac, two.
• Out of the three confirmed cases with travel history: one was from G.T, and two from Cayman Brac.
• The one without travel history: is from Bodden Town (Savannah).
The number of countries/territories reporting cases of chikungunya continues to increase. To date, cases of chikungunya have been confirmed in 29 countries/ territories in the region. The total number of confirmed cases has reached 5749.
Regional updates can be accessed by visiting the CARPHA website on http://carpha.org/What-We- Do/Public-Health-Activities/Chikungunya. In addition United States updates are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/geo/united-states.html.
Miami Dolphins helmet is in Cayman for run through
The Miami Dolphins are in Grand Cayman where they are holding a Summer Camp for children.
On Wednesday (23) at 9:15am, at the Annex Play Field, George Town Primary School, School Road, George Town all of the participants in the camp will enter the field through a large Miami Dolphin’s inflatable helmet.
This is the second year of the collaboration between the Miami Dolphins and the Department of Tourism to put on a camp for young people to learn the fundamental skills of American Football. Several past NFL players are on hand to teach the youngsters about the importance of learning, physical fitness and teamwork.
For more information go to: http://www.miamidolphins.com/finatics/promotions/2014caymanislands.html or for further information please contact the Public Relations Unit at [email protected]
Webb wants Gold Cup at Caribbean venues
From Jamaica Observer
KINGSTON, Jamaica — FIFA vice-president and Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) president Jeffrey Webb says plans are afoot to expand the hosting of the Gold Cup to the Caribbean region.
The Gold Cup is the top tournament in the region and is hosted only in the United States which has the best facilities in the confederation.
But Webb who was guest at the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Monday Exchange today said that widening the pool of countries that host the tournament would provide a fillip for football facilities in the Caribbean.
“We must start to expand the Gold Cup. What it is going to do is force governments to improve their infrastructure. From a future standpoint that’s definitely in our plans,” Webb told reporters and editors.
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Webb-wants-Gold-Cup-at-Caribbean-venues
Cayman hotel decorating rooms with underwater photographs
Grand Cayman’s Sunset House, one of the Cayman Islands most popular hotels for divers, is decorating some of the rooms at the hotel with underwater photographs,
Photographs will include ones taken by well known local artists Cathy Church, Jim Hellemn, Courtney Platt and Ellen Cuylaerts.
The idea is to showcase the beauty of the marine-life through the eye of the diver and hopefully encourage people to take care of the ocean.
UAE investor signs agreement for $120M hotel project in Antigua
From Caribbean Journal
Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has signed a memorandum of agreement with Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qassimi on a $120 million hotel project, the government announced.
The agreement with the United Arab Emirates-based investor was signed on Sunday after negotiations following Browne’s trip to Brazil last week.
Al Qassimi signed the agreement on behalf of Al Caribi Development, which will develop a five-star branded luxury resort project on Morris Bay near the island’s famous Curtain Bluff hotel.
The property will be located on a 36-acre beachfront site, the government said, five acres of which will be developed into a national park facility.
The government said in a statement that the resort would be carried out by a joint venture company formed with the government, but that, should the project fail to perform within a specified period, the land would automatically revert to the government.
“This safeguard is intended to ensure that no long drawn-out court procedure is required to settle any complications resulting from non-performance,” Browne said.
The government said the project was expected to break ground on its first phase within six months, following the granting of licences and architectural renderings.
Al Qassimi is a member of the ruling family of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
Cayman firefighters remain at George Town landfill
As iNews Cayman reported yesterday (21) that the Cayman Islands Fire Service crews had to deal with a fire at Grand Cayman’s George Town landfill (dump) last Saturday, the crews were still there throughout Monday and overnight.
What first appeared to be a small surface fire turned out to be a much bigger one and harder to contain and extinguish as it was found to be deep seated.
Specialist digging equipment was brought in to allow firefighters to spray water directly onto the fire.
Caribbean Capital Reserve Bank taken down by the CIA
From Barbados Underground
In April of this year BU reported on Caribbean Capital Reserve Bank and exposed it for what it is, a scam – see Caribbean Capital Reserve a Total SCAM at: https://barbadosunderground.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/caribbean-capital-reserve-a-total-scam/. BU is pleased to acknowledge all the bloggers who helped to highlight this matter. It is a good feeling to know when something positive happens and that we (the BU rum shop) may have been a small contributor. We urge the CIA to go further and remove the Facebook site as well – https://www.facebook.com/caribbeancapital.reservebank
Mechanical problem caused Cayman Airways flight delays
Monday (21) morning saw a mechanical problem with one of Cayman Airways’ planes in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Although the mechanical problem was reported by Cayman Airways as being minor the plane was out of service until 3pm causing delays to all its scheduled times as the airlines other three planes in its fleet had to fill in for the grounded one.
Things were back to normal today.
Real Estate is exploding in the Cayman Islands
By James Bovell From Dawn Meson
The Cayman Islands is entering the summer slow season, but the real estate market is still heating up. You can still find many commercial properties, as well as many water front Caribbean home sales. There are new condominium developments coming to the Seven Mile Beach corridor of Grand Cayman, and solid activity in the industry. The overwhelming majority of Cayman Islands’ residents live on Grand Cayman, the largest of the islands, but there is activity in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac as well.
The hot item is condos. Luxury vacation beach front condos are some of the most desirable homes for sale on Cayman Islands. This year’s sales are up significantly over last year’s. There are many tax advantages to living in Grand Cayman compared to other Caribbean destinations. There are no income taxes , no annual property taxes , and no capital gains tax on the sale of property.
If you are browsing real estate in the area, you’ll want to scope out the fabulous WaterColours residences, which opens in July of 2014. WaterColours is a series of luxury condominiums built on the luxurious Seven Mile Beach stretch of Grand Cayman. As of this writing, there are still a handful of condos available for your viewing and purchase.
The Cayman Islands are constantly in development, and waterfront land is starting to become a scarce commodity. As more properties are debuted, it will be an exciting race to find the best view or the most secluded beaches. Come to Grand Cayman and experience this explosion for yourself with agents from Dream Finders.
Cayman foundation to fight planning decision over half way house
The Cayman Islands Bridge Foundation are appealing a decision by the Central Planning Authority to require them to make a change of zoning application.
This is in regard to their desire to continue to run a women’s shelter in West Bay.
The Bridge Foundation works as a transitional step for women who have completed drug and/or alcohol addiction treatment.
A similar shelter the Foundation runs for men, also in West Bay, did not require a rezoning application said the Foundation cofounder and director, lawyer Charles Jennings.
The Central Planning Authority is due to consider the appeal on Wednesday (23).
$2M per year to subsidise Cayman Islands tourism attractions
Over the last five years the Cayman Islands government has subsidised various heritage sites run by the Tourism Attraction Board, to the tune of $5M.
The tourism attractions include Pedro St. James, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Pirates Week Festival, George Town Craft Market and Hell attraction in West Bay.
One, however, should remember there is indirect revenue brought in by these attractions that would not be generated if they were to be discontinued.
Lend-A-Hand clean up Cayman beach
Fifty volunteers from “Lend-A-Hand”, an initiative of Cayman Islands jewelry firm “Diamonds International”, were hard at work last Monday (21) cleaning up Barker’s Beach in West Bay, on Grand Cayman.
Volunteer and organiser Laura Richards said the organization contacts the Department of Environment to see where clean ups are needed.
The company encourages their staff to give back to the local community and when cruise ships are not in the George Town port they don gloves and armed with garbage bags, rakes, water and energy drinks they clean wherever it is needed.
Established two years ago, the “Lend-A-Hand” team has taken part in several projects in collaboration with non-profit organizations, including the Cayman Islands Crisis Center, Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Humane Society and the Department of Environment.
Cayman library has e-books you can read
The Cayman Islands public library has announced you can read more than 35,000 titles in e-book format on your e-reader such as Kindle, Nook or iPad.
All you have to do is download a free software programme and you can remove the title you want from a computer to your e-reader.
Once you’ve checked out an e-book you have 3 weeks to read it. After that time has elapsed the e-books disappear from your e-reader.
Cayman Islands DOE launches an enforcement app
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment has announced it is test driving an Enforcement app.
App developer Graham Worley said on CITN/Cayman27 on Monday (21):
““We’ve got one public app and one enforcement app and the two of them are going to work together. One of the things we are going to be able to do is when members of the public see enforcement incidents out around the seas; around the Cayman Islands; they can make an anonymous notification on their own smartphones.”
The app has many features to help officers at the DOE including maps of the marine parks and identifies who has spear gun licenses.
