iNews Briefs
Prisoner seriously wounded at Cayman Islands prison
Incident at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward
From HMCIPS
On the evening of September 3, 2014, an incident involving two Category A (high risk) prisoners in the High Risk Unit occurred in which one prisoner was seriously wounded. Officers present responded and provided on site first aid until the injured prisoner could be transported to hospital. The prisoner was transported under high security, received treatment and was later returned to the Prison. The matter is currently under the investigation of the Royal Cayman Islands Police.
Cayman Islands Health City carries out its first shoulder reconstruction
Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) carried out its first total shoulder reconstruction surgery on local Caymanian musician Edward Solomon.
Speaking recently on local television station CITN/Cayman27 Solomon said he had struggled with a shoulder injury for years that had left him unable to play the drums.
After having various treatments including pills, patches, acupuncture and medical steroid shots they had only provided temporary relief.
He was recommended to HCCI and Dr. Alwin Almeida, a Senior Consultant Orthopaedic examined him and Solomon then agreed to have the shoulder reconstruction surgery.
After the surgery Solomon now has fifty to sixty degrees of external rotation and can lift his shoulders up to a ninety degree backwards, forwards and sideways motion.
Solomon said he is blessed.
Overfishing, climate change take toll on coral
From Ploughkeepsie Journal
Climate change has been blamed for the rapid decrease in coral cover in the Caribbean over the past few decades. But new research suggests the effects of pollution and overfishing may have been underrated. This is good news, experts say, because these problems are easier to address and reverse.
Climate change threatens coral reefs because ocean acidification restricts coral growth and extreme heat events can cause coral bleaching. But, a three-year multi-institutional report found that the biggest driver of reef death in the Caribbean was unchecked seaweed.
Nine percent of the world’s coral reefs are in the Caribbean. These ecosystems are environmentally and economically valuable. They are home to a breathtaking diversity of life, and they generate more than three billion dollars annually from tourism and fisheries.
But they have been disappearing rapidly — with a 50 percent decline in living corals since the 1970s. This trend has been linked to the loss of seaweed-eating species such as parrot fish and sea urchins. Without these animals, uncontrolled seaweed growth can smother and kill coral.
Sea urchin populations have taken a hit due to disease. And parrot fish have become virtually extinct in areas due to overfishing. Some of the greatest coral declines in the Caribbean have occurred where parrot fish are unprotected.
The good news is, in areas that have restricted or banned harmful fishing practices, coral has begun to rebound. If the Caribbean’s treasured reefs are to be resilient in the face of climate change, swift action needs to be taken to ensure the survival of parrot fish and other seaweed-eating animals.
“Earth Wise” is heard on WAMC Northeast Public Radio and is supported by the Cary
Cayman man’s body returns after Panama prison death
Mark Bodden’s body was returned home to Grand Cayman on Monday (1) his family has confirmed.
Mr Bodden, who was 37, died in his cell last month after hitting his head on the floor as he fell from his makeshift bed, in a prison cell at the La Joya Penitentiary in Panama.
He was serving drug trafficking charges.
Caribbean urged to brace for full impact of Chikungunya1:42 pm, Wed September 3, 2014
From RJR News
Eight months after the first case of chikungunya was detected in the region, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is warning CARICOM countries to be prepared for the full impact of the mosquito-borne virus.
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr James Hospedales, told the Caribbean Media Corporation that almost all CARICOM countries have now reported cases of the virus.
To date there are more than 9,000 confirmed cases and it’s estimated that there are 600,00 suspected cases most of which are in bigger countries such as the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
As the virus continues to spread, Hospedales says consultations will be held next month to look at all plans with a view to better educate people.
While noting that Caribbean governments were making a valiant effort in dealing with the virus, he pointed to the increase in dengue fever last year.
He said this is an indication that more preventative measures are needed.
For more: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/caribbean-urged-to-brace-for-full-impact-of-chikungunya
Power outages in Cayman Brac
According to utility supplier Cayman Brac Power and Light, the outages that occurred for a short time on the Sister Islands were due to severe thundershowers over Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on Wednesday (3) night.
NZ to provide technical assistance for development on St. Lucia, Caribbean
By Francisco Rojas From Think Geoenergy
St. Lucia has signed a contract with New Zealand that it says will help define the prospects for advancing geothermal development on the island.
Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology Minister Dr. James Fletcher signed a Geothermal Support Partnership Framework Agreement with New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, on the sidelines of the Third International Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference now underway here.
“The Partnership Agreement is designed to provide key technical assistance to support geothermal exploration, and help define the prospects for advancing geothermal development in St. Lucia.
“The Agreement is also designed to support training opportunities in geothermal energy through New Zealand Development Scholarships, and facilitate where possible, practical skills development opportunities,” according to an official statement.
It said the agreement represents the culmination of a series of discussions between the two countries “on the advancement of geothermal development, which is a critical component of the government’s plans to transition St. Lucia away from its dependence on expensive diesel fuel for the generation of electricity”.
Two Jamaican fishermen released from Cayman Islands custody
The two Jamaican fishermen who were detained last Monday (1) when they arrived Cayman Brac in a 28 foot canoe have been released.
The two men said they were on their way back to Jamaica when they ran into problems at sea.
Chief Inspector Raymond Christian in a statement said:
“They were initially detained for the purposes of determining their identities and status. The Immigration and Police authorities consulted with the Jamaican authorities and determined that no offences were disclosed, as well as the fact that they were not known to be wanted in Jamaica for any crimes.”
McCarthy aims to ‘right’ Caribbean ranking – Jamaican vows to beat up Aruba’s Nedd in MMA title fight
By Leighton Levy From Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica’s de facto Mixed Martial Arts champion, Robert ‘Danger’ McCarthy, is set to fight Aruba’s Evan Nedd for the right to be called the best MMA light heavyweight fighter in the Caribbean.
Both men will do battle in Aruba on September 26 on a 12-fight card billed ‘MMA Throwdown’ at the Centro Deportivo Betico Croes.
Nedd, despite a record of three wins and four losses, is considered the number-one fighter in the Caribbean. His last win came in September 2010 when he knocked out Ben Smith in two rounds. However, he has lost his last three fights, the last of which occurred on June 30, 2012 when he was stopped in the first round by Adrick Croes.
Fight preparation
By contrast, in his last fight, McCarthy won the International Cage War middleweight belt in October last year, when he defeated Tijah ‘New Killer’ Stanley of St Kitts. He now aims to replace Nedd as the Caribbean’s top light heavyweight MMA fighter.
“I have been training with a group of guys in New Jersey at this gym called MPR MMA where I get wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mora Thai Kickboxing, everything I need to prepare for this fight,” said McCarthy, who has been working in New Jersey for the past two weeks. “Even though the time for preparation is short, I am going to be 100 per cent ready.”
McCarthy said there is no doubt that he will win and is predicting a knockout.
“I think this will be my biggest win because it will be a knockout,” he said, adding that his friend and usual training partner, Cleon Bardowell, who is also on the fight card, will be his corner man for the bout.
“This guy (Nedd) is the wrong number one in the Caribbean and I am the wrong number three, so after this fight Jamaica will have the number-one middleweight and light heavyweight fighter in the Caribbean.”
For more; http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140904/sports/sports2.php
One man believed to be responsible for 7 burglaries in Cayman Islands last Tue/Wed (2/3)
Over the period of one afternoon, evening and the following morning six burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported in the same area on Grand Cayman.
The area is Keturah Street and Moxam Road, all off Walkers Road, George Town.
Detective Inspector Kathy Marshall, head of the RCIPS Burglary Squad, said she is confident that only one man is responsible for the spate of burglaries in which only cash was taken.
The person the police are looking for was wearing light grey clothing and carrying a black back-pack with green material tied to it.
Anyone with information to call detectives in GeorgeTown on 949-4222.
Red Stripe commit to new JPL deal
By Finlay Hutchison From Sports Pro
Red Stripe lager will continue to sponsor the Jamaican Premier League for the next five years, despite uncertainty over the league’s future.
The deal was announced at the launch of the new 2014-15 season – although the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) has confirmed the current league format will be scrapped at the end of the year.
There is speculation surrounding a proposal by the JFF to axe the league altogether and start a new franchise system.
Red Stripe has sponsored the Jamaican Premier League for the last three seasons. No financial details have been disclosed.
For more: http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/red_stripe_commit_to_new_jpl_deal/
4 new affordable homes to be built in Cayman Brac
The Cayman Islands Sister Islands Affordable Housing Development Corporation, the entity responsible for overseeing an affordable housing project on Cayman Brac, broke ground on Friday 29th August.
Four new affordable homes are to be built at West End giving moderate income families the opportunity to become home owners.
The West End site is conveniently located close to amenities, schools and shops and with 12 previously built affordable homes in the immediate vicinity has developed into a fine community.
Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, Minister for District Administration stated that he was pleased to see the project moving forward as the provision of Affordable Homes is a key part of the government’s longer-term plan for stimulating the Sister Islands economy.
Contracts to build one 2bed and three 3bed homes were awarded to B& M Construction, Dixon Construction, DSS Contractors and McLean Construction respectively following an open tender issued in June.
Cuba has best educational system of L.A. and the Caribbean, says World Bank
From Radio Cadena Agramonte
Havana, Cuba, Sept 4.- The World Bank has just published a revealing report on the problems of education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Entitled “Excellent Professors: How to improve learning in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the study analyzes the public educational systems of countries in the region and the main challenges they face.
According to the World Bank, “no Latin American school system, with the possible exception of Cuba,” has world parameters, the Cubadebate Web site reported on Thursday.
The World Bank emphasizes “the average low quality of professors of Latin America and the Caribbean,” which constitutes the main obstacle for the development of education in the region. Academic contents are inadequate and practices, inefficient.
Indeed, only Cuba, where education has been the main priority since 1959, has an efficient educational system and high level professors. In this regard, Cuba can stand alongside with more developed nations. The Caribbean island is also the nation of the world that devotes the highest part of its national budget to education: 13%.
In spite of the limited resources of a Third World country and the blockade imposed by the United States on the island for over half a century now, Cuba shows that quality education is within reach of all nations.(acn).
