iNews Briefs
Schoolboys accused of burglaries in Cayman Islands – separate incidents
A 14 year old schoolboy appeared in Cayman Islands Summary Court on Monday(25) in George Town Grand Cayman accused of a number of daytime burglaries in West Bay.
An adult male was also charged in connection with the same burglaries.
The schoolboy was bailed into the custody of his family whilst the adult was remanded to Northward Prison.
In a separate incident an eleven year old boy has been charged with a burglary also in West Bay.
The eleven year old appeared in court Friday (29) morning.
Both crimes were reported to the police on 19th August 2014.
Cayman Islands economy seeing upswing but it is not enough says Councillor
“There is nothing spectacular about the economic growth, but it is mirroring what you see elsewhere. We are seeing the country is growing slowly once again.”
These words were spoken by Cayman Islands Government Councillor, Roy McTaggart who added that the economy is heading in the right direction.
McTaggart was speaking on CITN/Cayman27’s News27 on Friday (29)
The gross domestic product (GDP) is sort of a price tag on the country’s output and gauges the health of the economy. Cayman’s own has grown by more than one and a half percent, but Mr. McTaggart says it’s not enough just yet.
Right now, one out of 11 Caymanians is without work. But with hotel projects online and tourism performing better, the dark clouds are lifting.
To read the article and to see the video go to: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2014/08/29/economy-slowly-growing
Cayman Islands NWDA Community Outreach Notice
The National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA), in an effort to provide improved customer service to its clients in their job seeking efforts, will have a representative at the district libraries to provide:
• Opportunities to register online with the NWDA.
• Opportunities to search the online job portal and self-referring for jobs.
• Assistance with preparing resumes.
• Assistance with preparing for an interview.
Dates, Hours and Locations:
• Bodden Town Library Branch: Wednesday, 3rd Sept. – 2:00pm -5:00pm
• North Side Library Branch: Monday, 8th Sept. – 10:00am -1:00pm
• East End Library Branch: Tuesday, 9th Sept. – 10:00am -1:00pm
• West Bay Library: Wednesday, 10th Sept. – 10:00am
For more information please call 945-3114
Jamaica’s Gabrielle Pratt wins Florida-Caribbean Association Foundation Children’s Essay Contest
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – August 27, 2014 – Jamaica’s Gabrielle Pratt of St. Andrew Preparatory School has topped the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Essay Contest. She emerged the winner among contestants from nineteen participating nations, effectively elaborating on the competition’s topic: ‘Why is it important that the cruise ships come to my destination.’
Entering in the junior division of the competition, Gabrielle posited solid arguments in support of the importance of cruise ships to destination Jamaica. Among the key points, she argued that cruise ships, also called floating cities, are a significant source of foreign exchange from passenger spending. She also elaborated that the ships are a source of employment, hiring many of her countrymen in various capacities such as engineers, captains and chefs. The development of resort towns as in the case of Falmouth in Trelawny, as well as the cultural exchanges between the visitors and Jamaicans that the ships facilitate, were equally important areas of discussion that she highlighted in her essay.
As the champion in her division, Gabrielle will be awarded a scholarship, and her alma mater, St Andrew Preparatory School will also receive a monetary prize. She along with a chaperone will travel to St Maarten to receive the award during the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference in October later this year.
To read the full release go to: http://www.mot.gov.jm/content/jamaica’s-gabrielle-pratt-wins-florida-caribbean-association-foundation-children’s-essay
Cayman Premier pays tribute to Jamaica Agriculture Minister Clarke
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin said he was deeply saddened to have learned of the Thursday passing of Jamaica Minister of Agriculture Hon. Roger Clarke.
“It was fitting that Mr. Clarke was Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture as he was a son of the soil and never ventured far from his roots, remaining a farmer throughout his life,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “He will long be remembered for his work in agriculture.”
Mr. Clarke, 74, died of a heart attack in Miami. The parliamentarian for central Westmoreland was agriculture minister for about a decade between the late 1990s and 2007, when the People’s National Party lost power. He was reappointed in 2012 when Prime Minister Hon. Portia Simpson Miller brought her party back to power.
Here’s the epic tribute video for a police dog killed in the line of duty [in Oklahoma]
By Jeremy Bender From Business Insider
Image; Kye K-9 Dog www.facebook.com
An Oklahoma City K-9 police dog was laid to rest on August 28 with full honors after being stabbed to death by a burglary suspect on August 24.
Kye was three-years-old. The funeral was open to the public and attracted broad support from the community, along with other canine handlers and their partners from across the state. The funeral featured a touching tribute video, which we have highlighted in a series of GIFs below.
The tribute video heavily focused on the heartwarming relationship between Kye and his handler, Sgt. Ryan Stark.
For more and the videos: http://www.businessinsider.com/tribute-video-for-kye-the-police-dog-2014-8#ixzz3BtZVbDC4
Carnival Magic crushes coral reef in Cayman Islands
By Jim Walker From Cruise Law News
A newspaper in the Cayman Islands reports that the Carnival Magic cruise ship severely damaged a pristine coral reef when it anchored in an unauthorized zone near George Town on Wednesday,
The newspaper quotes the deputy director of the Cayman’s Department of Environment saying that “the impact where the anchor landed was very severe; there was a lot of crushed live coral and sediment.”
The newspaper says that local pilot boats operated by Bodden Shipping Agency guided the Carnival cruise ship to anchor outside of the designated public port anchorage.
There’s no mention whether the tourism dependent island will fine either the cruise line or the shipping agency.
Cuban immigrants head back to sea after being turned away from Cayman Islands
By Peter Polack From Raw Story
GEORGE TOWN Cayman Islands (Reuters) – Sixteen Cuban migrants who sought refuge in Grand Cayman have resumed their voyage in a small, homemade aluminum boat after local officials turned them away, citing a migration agreement with Cuba.
The 20-foot (6-meter) boat, a patchwork of fiberglass and metal with large inner tubes attached to makeshift outriggers, left on Thursday night, headed for Honduras, about 400 miles (644 km) away.
They were last seen being trailed by a police boat and helicopter about 5 miles (8 km) off Grand Cayman, drifting west in 5-foot (1.5-meter) waves with a squall approaching.
See also iNews Cayman Editorial published August 28 2014 “Cuban migrant problem” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-editor-speaks-cuban-migrant-problem/
Eight Caribbean partners selected to participate in the Agrihack Talent Caribbean competition
By Ingrid Riley From SiliconCaribe
Eight Caribbean Technology and Innovation Hubs have been selected to participate in the Agrihack Talent Caribbean competition, which seeks to support the development of ICT innovations and entrepreneurship in agriculture by young tech talent. The event is being staged by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with institutions including the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and ConnectiMass Hub (cHub).
The hubs/partners selected are The Community HUB Corporation (Trinidad and Tobago), Slashroots Foundation (Jamaica), Create Caribbean (Dominica), Quintessence Consulting Inc (St Kitts), National Council for Science and Technology (Barbados), Software Engineering Lab, Department of Computing, UWI (Jamaica), Telesur Multimedia Innovation Laboratory (Suriname) and Noviate Creative Labs Limited (Trinidad – to be confirmed).
Private, public sector and non-government run innovation or entrepreneurship hubs/labs/communities (including university labs) were invited to express interest in being partners, that will nominate and support teams to the finals of the Agrihack Talent Caribbean competition in Suriname.
The Caribbean Innovation hubs are charged with staging national hackathons or competitive coding selection events. The winning teams from the national events will move on to the regional finals that will be held during the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) to be held in Suriname from 6 – 12 October 2014. An incubation process will follow for winners to fine-tune their products and favour actual roll-out.
Cayman Brac blacked out by lightning
Around midnight last Friday (29) lightning caused a blackout on Cayman Brac. Lightning struck the utility company Cayman Brac Power and Light in 3 different locations.
A spokesperson for the utility company said, “Power was restored to the majority of the island within the hour. After clearing some trees from the weather and resetting the computer system that controls the distribution lines all power was restored shortly after 4:00 a.m. The power was out for the entire island for a short while, but North Side West area experienced the longest outage. Power was fully restored about 4:00 a.m.”
During lightning storms residents are reminded to unplug any sensitive electrical equipment, including modems.
Russia pushing Ukraine conflict to ‘Point of no return,’ E.U. Leader says
By Andrew Higgins and Neil Macfarquharaug From New York Times 30, 2014
BRUSSELS — Warning that Russia was pushing the conflict in Ukraine toward “the point of no return,” the president of the European Union’s executive arm said on Saturday that European leaders meeting in Brussels would probably endorse new and tougher sanctions in an effort to make Moscow “come to reason.”
After morning talks with the visiting president of Ukraine, Petro O. Poroshenko, the head of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, voiced Europe’s growing alarm and exasperation at Russian actions in Ukraine and the risks of a wider war.
Mr. Poroshenko, speaking at a joint news conference with Mr. Barroso, said Ukraine still hoped for a political settlement with Russian-backed rebels in the east of his country but said a flow of Russian troops and armored vehicles into Ukraine in recent days in support of rebels were stoking the fires of a broader conflict.
Continue reading the main story
“We are too close to a border where there will be no return to the peace plan,” Mr. Poroshenko said, asserting that, since Wednesday, “thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks are now on the territory of Ukraine, with a very high risk not only for the peace and stability of Ukraine but for the peace and stability of the whole of Europe.”
CSA mobilizes newest survey vessel to the Cayman Islands
The CSA Surveyor will tackle a number of complex geophysical surveying tasks.
The newest addition the CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) fleet is the CSA Surveyor, a 28-ft vessel that will help expand the firm’s marine services and capabilities around the globe. After undergoing various sea trials, testing, and upgrades, CSA has mobilized the vessel for work in the Cayman Islands to support numerous environmental and geophysical surveying efforts. The CSA Surveyor’s current configuration enables the vessel to conduct multi-beam, sub-bottom, side-scan, magnetometer, and various other remote-sensing surveys. The vessel can also be outfitted with an Inspection Class ROV system as well as water profiling, water collection, and plankton sampling equipment.
Easily shipped around the world or trailered domestically, the CSA Surveyor has a number of features that make it suitable for a wide variety of marine environments. Of particular note is the ship’s DT Marine slip-ring winch with over 1,000 m of conducting cable. The vessel also boasts aft and forward A-frames with cable counter sheaves, a davit with an electric winch, and a pivoting side pole. Twin inboard diesel engines, autopilot capabilities, and an air-conditioned cabin help support a crew of up to 6 individuals perform effectively and efficiently. Commenting on the importance of this addition to the firm’s fleet, Gordon Stevens, CSA’s Marine Services Business Line Manager, said, “The CSA Surveyor is unique and offers a combination of capabilities often difficult to find on a single boat. We can mobilize quickly to meet the needs of a diverse range of projects in any number of locations. Our ability to serve clients successfully and provide lasting value has increased exponentially.”
For more information regarding the CSA Surveyor and its abilities, please contact Gordon Stevens at [email protected] or call (772) 219-3087.
Cayman boys beat USVI boys
The Cayman Islands Under-17 National Boys Football Team beat the US Virgin Islands, 2-0 on Wednesday (27) in the Caribbean Football Union Under-17 qualifiers.
Ryan Jackson scored the winner in the 45th minute and Leighton Thomas added the second 10 minutes later.
This was the Cayman Islands first win in the tournament where they finished in third place.
Unfortunately they do not advance further.
Jamaica won the group by beating Guadeloupe 3-0 also on Wednesday.
Caribbean event to be focused on Santiago de Cuba Anniversary
By Martha Cabrales Arias From Presna Latino
Santiago de Cuba, Aug 27 (Prensa Latina) The historical and cultural contributions of this city, considered the most Caribbean one in Cuba, will be the focus of analysis of the Colloquium on The Caribbean which Unites Us All during the Fire Festival of 2015.
Kenia Dorta, Deputy Director of the Caribbean House, which sponsors the event to be held on July 4-11, 2015, told Prensa Latina that theoretical sections will be aimed at extolling the 500th anniversary of Santiago de Cuba (the seventh Cuban village founded by Spanish Conqueror Diego Velazquez) and its condition as a main player in relations within the Caribbean region.
The multiple interconnections and links established through the years by the inhabitants of this city with their geographical neighbors are expected to be highlighted in lectures to be given by experts coming from very different places, said the specialist.
At the end of sessions devoted to the history and identity of Suriname, the guest of honor of the International Caribbean Festival held on July 3-9 this year, preparations started for that to be held in 2015, with Bahamas as main guest.
Dorta said that every new theoretical encounter reaffirms common origins from the colonial composition to contemporary times, with a great diversity within Caribbean countries and among them, with features that in some occasions make them equal and closer and some others make them to be different and drift apart.
For more: http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3029031&Itemid=1
Cayman Seafarers donate laptop and medical tools to hospital
The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association has donated a laptop computer and medical instruments to the Health Services Authority.
These will assist doctors in Cayman to maximise the potential of a robot, RP Sally, the Seafarers donated last year.
RP Sally is a robot that allows patients in Cayman who may need treatment overseas to be examined by specialist without leaving the Cayman Islands.
It is understood the Cayman Islands is the only country in the Caribbean to have a remote presence robot.
Brian Young, 2 others resign from Caribbean Cement Board
From Jamaica Gleaner
Brian Young has resigned as director and chairman of Caribbean Cement Company Limited, alongside two other directors previously tied to parent company Trinidad Cement Limited.
The resignations of Young, Bevon Francis and Judith Robinson are the latest fallout of a takeover of the TCL board last week and the subsequent replacement of that company’s group CEO.
Dr Rollin Bertrand was removed as CEO and stripped of his other responsibilities by the new TCL board, which was voted in on August 19. Alejandro Ramirez, a member of the board with ties to minority partner Cemex of Mexico, was appointed as acting CEO.
The revolt among shareholders, led by Wilfred Espinet and others, emanated from their displeasure with a debt-restructuring programme that TCL negotiated with a select group of bondholders two years ago. The group sued TCL last year after the old board blocked its previous efforts to nominate a slate of directors.
For more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140827/business/business2.html
Cayman high jumper transfers to US University
Ashleigh Nalty, the Cayman Islands women’s high jump record holder, has transferred to the University of Akron.
Akron University is currently ranked at #20 in the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I women’s poll. NCAA Division I is the top college athletics association in the United States.
Nalty enters with two years of college eligibility remaining.
Her previous University was Southern Missouri Baptist.
Cayman Islands: Caledonian Global Financial Services sells Funds Division
Caledonian Global Financial Services Inc., a financial services provider in the Cayman Islands, announced today that it completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, Caledonian Global Fund Services Limited, to Circle Partners.
Management and staff at Caledonian are in full support of this transaction and have worked with senior management of Circle Partners in realizing this transaction. Clients will be serviced by the teams they work with today and a smooth integration process is therefore expected to take place during the remainder of this year. The legal entities involved will undergo name changes and will henceforth operate under the Circle Partners brand and trade name.
Keith Schult, who heads up the Orlando office commented: “Our teams in Orlando and Grand Cayman are excited to be part of Circle Partners and greatly anticipate working with our new colleagues. This will give us the opportunity of expanding further into the Americas, broadening offering and learning from each others’ businesses”.
“With this sale, Caledonian Global Financial Services is better positioned to focus on its core businesses of banking, brokerage, wealth management and fiduciary services.” Said CEO Kobi Dorenbush
Officer ‘Go **** yourself’ out of a job after pointing gun at Ferguson Protesters
By Joe Coscarelli From New York Mag
St. Ann police Lieutenant Ray Albers, better known as Officer “Go **** yourself,” has resigned after pointing his rifle at protesters in Ferguson and telling them, “I will ****ing kill you.” An internal inquiry recommended he either resign or be fired for the incident, which was caught on video, although the local police chief insists Albers raising his weapon was “totally justifiable.” Well, not totally, apparently.
Prior to the camera turning on, Albers had had water and urine thrown at him, [Chief Aaron Jiminez] said. He then saw three men with bandanas in the crowd, and one of them had a gun. He then heard gunshots, but not from that gun. So Albers raised his gun.
“That’s why he used those words,” said Jiminez, who added, “I’m not condoning his behavior whatsoever.” (Maybe just a little bit.)
Officer Matthew Pappert of the nearby Glendale Police Department has also been fired following a suspension for racist Facebook postings about the protests. Pappert’s public suggestions included that the demonstrators (“a burden on society and a blight on the community,” “thugs”) be “put down like rabid dogs.” He added, “Where is a Muslim with a backpack when you need them?”
Neither of these men will be paid by taxpayers to “protect and serve” any longer, so no one can say the protests in Ferguson accomplished nothing.
For more and video: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/08/2-cops-fired-over-ferguson-protests.html?om_rid=AACMTw&om_mid=_BUAMauB88DHjPC
Cayman Islands executing survey of country’s health cost
How much does it cost to treat mentally ill patients in the Cayman Islands?
The Cayman Islands Mental Health Commission wants to find out and is currently carrying out a survey to determine the exact cost of treating its patients. The Deputy Chair of the Cayman Islands Mental Health Commission, Dr. Taylor Burrowes Nixon, says people who suffer from a mood disorder may find themselves without coverage from several insurance companies.
In an interview with CITN/Cayman 27 Dr. Burrowes said, ”people who may be suffering from depressed mood or anxious mood or sometimes even a post trauma stress is not meeting the threshold of diagnosis level.” Because these people cannot be diagnosed, they are not able to get a referral to cover the cost of their treatment. The end result is that patients would have to pay for these costs themselves.
Dr. Burrowes believes that this will lead to many persons seeking treatment for minor issues. She said when untreated these minor mood disorders could worsen.
“It’s important to get in as early as possible and to support that process. Which is why it would be great if health insurances would see that as a benefit because if you are able to come in before it becomes stage four of mental illness, then perhaps you could prevent it and prevent the cost associated with developing mental illness,” said added.
To see the whole interview go to: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2014/08/29/the-cost-of-mental-care
Caribbean Red Cross societies launch life-saving mobile app for hurricane season
From Sluciastar
As the Caribbean region braces itself for another hurricane season, experience with previous hurricanes like Ivan, Gilbert, David, Andrew and Hugo remind us all of the critical importance of protecting our families and safeguarding against loss of life and property.
Recognizing that the Caribbean is a tech savvy society with a high mobile phone penetration, the Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean have created a Multi-Hazard Mobile App which is freely available to all.
In partnership with the American Red Cross and Global Disaster Preparedness Center, with support from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, the app delivers life saving practices directly to your iPhone or Android device.
The technology allows you to track storm progress, including local alerts, and advises what to do in the event of a natural disaster. It provides simple steps and checklists to help prepare and respond to emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, and can be accessed without a mobile connection.
The app is highly versatile and can be personalized to filter alerts to a specific location, as well as link users to diverse social media outlets. The “I’m safe” feature, for example, allows users to widely broadcast their safety status to friends and family using multiple social media platforms.
‘‘The new Multi-Hazard App is a key tool that will enhance communication and coordination to prepare and respond to multiple disasters in the region, an important achievement as we start a new hurricane season.” said Ms. Lorraine Mangwiro, Regional Representative of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “We want people to know there are many practical precautions they can take and simple strategies they can employ to lessen the dangers associated with natural hazards, including hurricanes. This new, easy to use app will empower individuals and their families to take action to save lives and protect property.”
The Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean are also developing First Aid apps with similar tips, useful information and advice, which will be coming soon.
The Multi-Hazard App named “Hazards” is available for download at Google Play, 3 Sided Cube and iTunes App Stores in each participating country.
Cayman Drama Society presents JEKYLL AND HYDE (THE MUSICAL)
OPENING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH
FINAL SHOW, SATURDAY OCTOBER 11
Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30PM
Jekyll is a kind hearted doctor who has become obsessed with the idea of separating the bad parts of mankind from the good. We meet Lisa Jekyll’s determined fiancé who loves him with all her heart, through the good and the bad. Hyde is born out of Jekyll’s experiment. He is Jekyll’s bad side; he is the dark to Jekyll’s light. Hyde quickly becomes obsessed with Lucy, a Prostitute, after one meeting falls in love with Jekyll. She settles for Hyde thinking he is all that she deserves. The show brings us on the journey of Jekyll’s obsession showing us the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.
Due to the adult content of the show it is rated 14 and above.
BOOK NOW: Online right here! Call 938-1998 or email [email protected]
