iNews Briefs
Search continues for two missing after Suriname-owned vessel capsizes
From Caribbean360
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Friday August 15, 2014, CMC – Rescue teams are expected to continue the search on Friday for two men still missing after their vessel capsized off the Corentyne Coast in Guyana’s waters earlier this week.
Two other men have been rescued, but their names and also that of those missing have not been officially released. But media reports here have named the survivors as Augustus Persaud and Anthony Sukhdeo, while those missing are Patrick Constantine and the captain of the vessel, Kayman Rickram Persaud.
A statement from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) said that the Surinamese-owned vessel, “Swift Dolphin,” which was sailing to Guyana from Suriname, capsized on Tuesday about 49 nautical miles off St. Andrews Point. The Captain and a crew member are still missing.
The statement said that a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Skyvan did an aerial reconnaissance of the area and that the Hampton Rose – a re-supply vessel – was deployed to the area.
According to the acting Harbour Master Michael Tennant, three surveyors, a diver and a Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard Officer are onboard Hampton Rose.
In addition, Oldendorff, a bauxite company that operates out of the Berbice River has also sent a vessel to join the rescue exercise.
Cayman Islands sign MOU for fuel terminal facility in EE
It was announced last Monday (11) that a joint development agreement has been signed between the Cayman Islands government and Texas-based energy company, Navasota Clean Energy LLC, to seek to eventually shutter Cayman’s current bulk fuel storage facility in Jackson Point, off South Church Street, and construct a new one in East End.
The intention of the proposal is to establish a fully integrated development plan and structure such that they might attract one or more fuel terminal companies that are interested in fuel supply and transshipment operations.
The government also undertakes to “Work with Navasota on potential sites on the East End of Grand Cayman and provide preferred rights of way for [a] delivery pipeline from East End to [the] current pipeline system.”
Two Coalville brothers ‘held to ransom’ in Caribbean
Two brothers say they’re being held to ransom after being arrested on holiday in the Caribbean. Damien Hyatt and Adam Heskey were in Antigua when a fight broke out in a bar, in which a local man broke his leg.
The brothers say they were defending themselves. They’ve been told they won’t be free to leave the country unless they can find £60,000 – a sum that today was reduced to £16,000. If they don’t pay, they have to wait for a court date in October. Nancy Cole reports.
For more: http://www.itv.com/news/central/2014-08-13/two-coalville-brothers-held-to-ransom-in-caribbean/
Cayman Islands University receive 41 applicants for new hospitality course
The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) have received 41 students applying for the 25 positions available in the new School of Hospitality.
Now the University has started interviews (Thu 14) to select who they think are the best candidates.
The University said their recommendations will be made before 1st September that is the commencement of the new programme.
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine launches new scholarship programs
CORAL GABLES, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) today announced eight new merit-based scholarships created to help aspiring medical students fund their education.
“Our new scholarships help more students fund their education as they study to become physicians.”
The scholarships are designed to reward students who exemplify AUC’s commitment to service, collaboration and achievement. For example, the Alumni Heritage Scholarship awards full tuition for the first semester to a qualified student who has experience working with or volunteering with an AUC graduate. The Community Outreach Award recognizes exceptional dedication to community service. And the First Generation M.D. Award is given to qualified applicants who have the goal to be the first physician in their immediate family.
Award criteria vary, and some scholarships are one-time awards, while others are renewable for the duration of the awardee’s enrollment at AUC.
“These scholarships were created to help support our academic culture by recognizing students who demonstrate the values and attributes we look for in future AUC students,” said Heidi Chumley, M.D., AUC executive dean and chief academic officer. “Our new scholarships help more students fund their education as they study to become physicians.”
Full scholarship details, criteria and application forms are online at: www.aucmed.edu/New-Scholarships.
LDK Solar secures court sanction for funding commitments for its offshore restructuring
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, XINYU CITY, China, and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — LDK Solar Co., Ltd. in provisional liquidation (“LDK Solar” or the “Company”) and its Joint Provisional Liquidators (“JPLs”), Tammy Fu and Eleanor Fisher, both of Zolfo Cooper (Cayman) Limited, today announced that LDK Solar has received sanction from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Court”) to enter into the funding commitments and amendments to the restructuring support agreements detailed in the press release issued on July 31, 2014.
The sanction granted by the Cayman Court on August 11, 2014 is a positive step to enabling the offshore restructuring to continue to be progressed and allows the JPLs to work toward finalizing and filing the scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”) documentation with the Cayman Court by August 31, 2014. Once filed, it is anticipated that the application for orders convening meetings of the various classes of the Company’s creditors (the “Meetings”) to vote on the Scheme will be heard by the Cayman Court by mid-September 2014. Assuming that the Cayman Court convenes the Meetings, the JPLs will write to all known creditors to advise of the date, time, location and dial-in details for the Meetings.
For more information about LDK Solar and its products, please visit www.ldksolar.com
Arrest warrant issued against former Haitian leader
By Joseph Guyler Delva From Haitian-Caribbean News Network
Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Investigating Judge Lamarre Belizaire issued on Wednesday an arrest warrant against Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide who is currently investigated for corruption, misappropriation of public funds, laundering of drug money, as he failed to comply with a summons to appear at the magistrate’s office on Wednesday, sources told HCNN.
Aristide was expected at the judge’s office to answer questions, as part of a criminal investigation which also involved dozens of former allies of the ex-leader who have been banned from leaving the country.
A source familiar with the case told HCNN that the judge has decided to issue an arrest warrant against Aristide because he was obligated by law to appear and that Haitian law provides that after a summons to appear the judge can issue an arrest warrant to force the person to appear.
“The judge was at his office waiting for Mr. Aristide to appear, he never saw him, while other allies of the former President have been commenting the content of the warrant on the air, which means, they are in possession of the document,” a functionary at the Judicial palace told HCNN on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
Aristide and dozens of his allies have been accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars under his presidency between 2001 and 2004.
Cayman radio host still provides no plea to assault
Austin Harris, radio host of Rooster 101’s popular Cayman Crosstalk morning call-in show has still not offered a plea after being accused and charged with common assault. This follows an incident in an apartment at Governor’s Harbour described as a “domestic incident”.
Last Tuesday (12) was Harris’ third appearance in court.
The case has been adjourned until 16 September.
New Caribbean private island resort breaks ground in Panama
From Caribbean Journal staff
A new luxury resort property has broken ground on the private island of Isla Pastor off the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Construction has begun on the 37-suite first phase of the Sarani Resort in Bocas del Toro.
Union Hanover, a London-based real estate investment and development company, is developing the project.
“Bocas del Toro has been billed as one of the last remaining untouched paradises in the world and we are excited to bring the experience to an upscale market with Sarani Resort,” said Sam Trotter, director of new business and development and ecommerce.
The eco-boutique property is located on a 75-acre site about 20 minutes by ferry from the airport and main island of Isla Colon.
It is slated for completion in August 2015.
Miami-based hotel operator Boutique Hospitality Management has been tapped to operate and manage the resort, which has joined the Preferred Boutique collection.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/08/12/new-caribbean-private-island-resort-breaks-ground-in-panama/
Hong Kong benchmark index closes at highest since November 2010
Aug 13 (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s benchmark share index finished at its highest in more than 3-1/2 years on Wednesday, rebounding from midday losses rooted in weak data that sparked worry about the sustainability of China’s economic recovery.
The Hang Seng Index closed up 0.8 percent at 24,890.34 points, while the China Enterprises Index of the leading offshore Chinese listings in Hong Kong rose 1.2 percent.
A third straight winning session pushed the H-index to an 8-month high.
Instant noodle maker Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding led gains on the Hang Seng with a rise of 3.4 percent. Sector rival Uni-President China Holdings rose 2.9 percent to a near 5-month high.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways shed 1.7 percent despite posting first-half net profit that beat analyst estimates. (Reporting by Grace Li; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
Fruit flies can help unlock mysteries of human diabetes
From The Siasat Daily
Researchers have developed a new technique to measure insulin levels in fruit flies, an advance that allows for the use of this insect in diabetes research.
For the first time, the tiny fruit fly can be used to study how mutations associated with the development of diabetes affect the production and secretion of the vital hormone insulin.
The new technique devised by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine allows scientists to measure insulin levels in the insects with extremely high sensitivity and reproducibility.
The experimental model is likely to transform the field of diabetes research by bringing the staggering power of fruit fly genetics, honed over 100 years of research, to bear on the devastating condition, researchers said.
Until now, scientists wishing to study the effect of specific mutations on insulin had to rely on the laborious, lengthy and expensive genetic engineering of laboratory mice or other mammals.
In contrast, tiny, short-lived fruit flies can be bred in dizzying combinations by the tens of thousands in just days or weeks in small flasks on a laboratory bench.
Developed by Research associate Sangbin Park, lead author of the paper, the new technique uses a chemical tag to label an insulin-like peptide called Ilp2 in fruit flies.
The tag allows researchers to use an antibody-based assay to measure insulin concentrations in the insect’s blood and cells at the picomolar level – the level at which insulin concentrations are measured in humans.
Using the technique, the researchers were able to quickly identify what a mutation associated with type-2 diabetes in humans actually does: It regulates insulin secretion, but not production.
Parsing the effect of each mutation on the way the body produces, secretes and responds (or not) to insulin is critical to further understand the disease and to devise new therapeutic approaches.
For more: http://www.siasat.com/english/news/fruit-flies-can-help-unlock-mysteries-human-diabetes
Public procurement policy considerations in the Caribbean: Trade, Governance & Development by Margaret Rose, LLB (Hons), LLM
By Yelena Hewitt From Rose Law
Dedicated to Professor Norman Girvan (1941 – 2014).
This chapter examines public procurement policy within the Caribbean context. We first examine procurement policy in the context of broader, neoliberal market based reforms and its limiting effects on using public procurement as a socio-economic development tool. We then examine the state of various public procurement reforms in the Caribbean, as well as particular experiences such as disaster procurement. Third, we examine some broader developments such as relating to the Economic Partnership Agreement and some alternatives. This chapter finds evidence of instances in which public procurement is used toward furthering local economies, and the OECS stands out as a unique and unparalleled collaborative public procurement system among state groupings. However, much progress is yet to be made and Caribbean leaders are not yet seen ready to assume the responsibility for regionally relevant procurement policy development.
To download Report: http://roselawcaribbean.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Public-Procurement-Policy-Considerations-2014.pdf
For more on this story go to: http://roselawcaribbean.com/public-procurement-policy-considerations-caribbean-trade-governance-development/
Antiguan elected 23rd District Governor of Optimists Caribbean
From The Daily Observer
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A tree-planting exercise across the Caribbean will be the first plan of action for the 23rd District Governor of the Optimist International Caribbean District, Barbara Arrindell, when she assumes office on October 1st.
Arrindell, now referred to as the Governor Designate, was sworn in on Saturday during an installation ceremony in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
The general manager of Best of Books told OBSERVER media the objective is to have members and supporters across the Caribbean plant in excess of 2,015 trees between October 1st 2014 and January 1st 2015.
“We will be asking all Optimist leaders to plant a tree … we are hoping for the support of everyone as we see this initiative as a way to reunite members in the various districts,” Arrindell said.
Optimist members are also being encouraged to partner with other service clubs, associations and, in particular, young people to successfully execute this environmentally friendly project.
The Governor Designate also plans to focus on innovative ways to encourage greater participation from the general membership of the Optimist Club.
Arrindell’s local leadership team includes Jason Gilead, Genevieve Gomes, Treasa James, Lyndis Bailey-James and Nutilia Simon.
She is the second national to hold the District Governor position, while Simon was the first.
For more: http://antiguaobserver.com/antiguan-elected-23rd-district-governor-of-optimists-caribbean/
Addressing climate change in the Caribbean: a toolkit for communities
From eldis
This toolkit has been developed to help community organisations develop responses to climate change. It aims to give community leaders and members a general understanding of climate change and provide some ideas for action. Given that each community’s needs and context are different, the ideas and tools presented in this toolkit are meant to be used as a general guide and starting point for responding to climate change. It for sections deal in turn with providing a knowledge base on climate change; community oriented adaptation measures; tools and templates for achieving adaptation; and finally a list of useful contacts and online resources.
For more and to download full report go to: http://eldis.org/go/home&id=60274&type=Document#.U-zXEUt-SH8
Canada pledges $15M PFM support for Caribbean countries
By Shanelle Weir
Canada is to provide technical assistance to help Caribbean countries improve their public financial management.
A $15m initiative, to be implemented through the International Monetary Fund, will run for the next four fiscal years. A third of the funding will be allocated to Jamaica with the remainder being shared between eastern Caribbean countries.
The project will provide short-, medium- and long-term advice and training to help Caribbean governments respond to difficult financial situations, such as recessions.
In particular it will help them improve their cash planning and cash-management systems, manage their debt effectively and improve macro-fiscal management.
It will also assist Caribbean governments in modernising their legal and institutional frameworks for budget and treasury management, improve revenue administration, update tax laws and widen tax bases, and strengthen audit capacity.
Announcing the funding on August 2, Canadian finance minister Joe Oliver said: ‘I am proud that Canada promotes solid public financial management and helps stimulate economic prosperity, thus reducing poverty in the Caribbean.’
Many Caribbean economies – especially those that rely on tourism – have not yet recovered from the global crisis, he noted.
‘Public debt averages 90% of gross domestic product in countries that depend on tourism.’
International development minister Christian Paradis added: ‘Canada is committed to helping strengthen the capacity of Caribbean countries to create and maintain the conditions for a dynamic, transparent and rules-based commercial and investment environment, which will help the region prosper going forward.’
For more: http://www.panamericanworld.com/en/article/canada-pledges-15m-pfm-support-caribbean-countries
