iNews Briefs
Man accused of attempted murder of wife in Cayman court
George Washington Vaughan, 42, who is accused of attempting unlawfully to cause the death of his wife, Lois Hall-Vaughan, appeared in Summary Court on Monday (92).
The incident happened on August 12th in Bodden Town.
The case was immediately transmitted to the Grand Court and set for Friday, Sept. 19. There was no application for bail and Vaughan was remanded in custody.
Vaughan’s wife is in critical condition in a hospital overseas.
Vaughan is also charged with common assault against a different person also committed on August 12th.
Digicel completes acquisition of submarine fibre assets across the Caribbean
Digicel has received the required approvals from Government and regulatory authorities with regard to its purchase of a submarine fibre network across the Caribbean region from the Guadeloupe-based Loret Group and Caribbean Fibre Holdings and the transaction is now complete, it was announced today.
The completion of the deal marks another major step in Digicel’s ongoing evolution from a pure mobile provider to a global complete communications provider and follows the recent announcements of several cable TV and broadband acquisitions in the region.
This deal will provide Digicel with a wholly owned submarine fibre optic cable network providing capacity from Trinidad connecting 12 countries to Puerto Rico with onwards connectivity to the United States. In total, Digicel has secured access to a robust network comprising 15 submarine segments with a reach of some 3,100km across the Caribbean region.
Digicel will also have extensive onwards capacity connecting to the United States, Europe and Asia.
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, comments; “In our data hungry world, we are committed to ensuring we deliver innovative products and services to our valued customers. This latest acquisition grants us significant additional submarine fibre capacity which in turn means we can help our customers achieve their personal and business goals through advanced solutions and multimedia experiences on multiple devices.”
Cayman Islands National Trust to hold elections Sept. 24
2014 Annual General Meeting and Members’ Evening will be held Thursday, 24th September – Bar Crudo (below Guy Harvey’s Grille)
Join the Trust for an exciting evening of 2014-15 Council elections, raffle prizes and the first ever “Rusty Trusty” awards in recognition of various quirks of Trust staff, members and volunteers.
Please RSPV to [email protected]
Contrary to media reports, CARPHA has not stopped testing for chikungunya
From Caribbean News Now
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Contrary to recent media reports, CARPHA continues to test for the Chikungunya virus. At a media conference on Thursday morning at the agency’s headquarters in Port of Spain, CARPHA’s executive director, Dr James Hospedales, pointed out that the agency has scaled up its capability to meet the increased demand for testing in the Caribbean, in light of the evolving epidemic.
Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr C. James Hospedales
Hospedales explained that CARPHA adheres to public health surveillance principles, and that once several persons with chikungunya have had their diagnoses confirmed through laboratory testing in an area within a country, then testing is only carried out for certain groups of people based on clinical symptoms and the following criteria:
- Newly affected areas of countries, to confirm that the virus is present and circulating in that community;
- People who are severely ill and hospitalized;
- Pregnant mothers who are suspected of having the disease.
Additionally, if a dengue test is positive, it is unlikely that the person would be tested for chikungunya. Given this policy, Hospedales stated that it is not necessary to test every single case, but reiterated that the agency continues testing for the region.
CARPHA continues to partner with regional carriers, Caribbean Airlines and LIAT, for the transportation of specimens for testing at its laboratory in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. CARPHA has the only public health laboratory in the English-speaking Caribbean that conducts tests for the chikungunya virus.
Cayman Brac wetlands to be permanently protected
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has recently announced it has completed the purchase of 10 acres of wetland on the South Side of Cayman ensuring its permanent preservation.
The purchase of the wetlands, also known as the Marshes, was made possible through the generous donations of the Trust’s annual Land Reserve Fund Donors and supplemented by funds raised by the Brac District Committee members.
“Trust members on the Brac put great effort into fundraising for this project. We are grateful to the property owner for agreeing to sell to the Trust and to the Land Reserve Donors for providing the necessary funds to complete the purchase,” said Estelle Stilling, Chairman of the Cayman Brac District Committee. “As the future for avian life on the Westerly Ponds is uncertain, given the close proximity of the airport, residents and migratory birds will be forced to seek wetland further east; this purchase makes that possible.”
The Marshes are a series of herbaceous and woody wetlands between the south coast road and the Bluff, and represents an important feeding area for water birds. This habitat, and transition habitats adjacent to it, also harbours a wide variety of local plant life.
Air France to cut flights by 50% on Monday (15) as pilots begin one-week strike
From The Straits Times
PARIS (Reuters) – Air France will reduce flights by about 50 per cent from Monday as pilots begin a one-week strike over company plans to cut costs to recapture market share from budget airlines, its chief executive said on Saturday.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Mr Francois Gagey repeated that the strike, which could run until Sept 22, would cost the airline between 10 million euros to 15 million euros (S$16.3 million to S$24.5 million) a day.
Europe’s second-largest traditional carrier by revenue said in early September it would move ahead with a plan to open new bases in Europe under the Transavia brand to recapture market share from low-cost carriers and Middle East rivals. “On the basis of what we have now, I think we shall only be able to operate roughly 50 percent of flights,” Mr Gagey said. “The passengers will be informed and we ask them, if possible, to change their tickets to avoid this period which is a little uncertain,” he said.
Air France, which has issued a profit warning in recent months, is hampered by powerful unions in their efforts to lower costs. The main pilots’ unions have called for strikes from Sept 15 to Sept 22.
Video released by Cayman Red Cross to celebrate 10 years since Ivan
The Cayman Islands Red Cross celebrate the recovery which has taken place since Hurricane Ivan devastated the Cayman Islands (especially Grand Cayman) ten years ago.
They have released a video showing the Core Disaster Response team that was trained in Cayman Brac
To watch the video go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/cayman-islands-red-cross-celebrate-10-years-since-ivan
Members of Cayman Islands Conservation Council selected
The names of the persons to serve on the Cayman Islands National Conservation Council was announced by Wayne Panton, Minister of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment on Friday (12) in the Legislative Assembly.
The members are: Davey Ebanks representing West Bay, Lisa-Ann Hurlston-McKenzie representing George Town, McFarlane Connolly representing East End, Brian Tomlinson representing North Side, Wallace Platts representing Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and Christine Rose-Smyth, representing Bodden Town, who also has been appointed as chairman. The National Trust of the Cayman Islands nominated Christina Pineda and was approved by Cabinet, plus Fred Burton and Patricia Bradley. There are four additional persons not named but are experts from the Department of Environment.
The Minister said a priority for the new council would be to produce the drafting instructions for the regulations that will govern the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
These new regulations, however, will have to be implemented alongside the wider regulations for the full law, which have already been drawn up and will be considered by Cabinet when the council completes its work. The new law will then be ready for full implementation.
Puerto Rico sees increase in cruise ship visits
From ABC News
(AP) Officials in Puerto Rico say the number of summer cruise ship passengers visiting the U.S. territory has increased in the past three years.
Port Authority Director Victor Suarez says more than 175,000 passengers visited the island in July and August, a 28 percent increase from the same period last year and a 135 percent increase from 2012.
Suarez said Friday that through the first eight months of the year, the number of cruise ships visiting Puerto Rico increased by 41 percent over 2013 and by 126 percent compared with 2012.
Puerto Rico is preparing for the first visit of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, which can carry more than 6,000 passengers. The government is expanding a pier in historic Old San Juan to accommodate ships of that size.
For more: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/puerto-rico-sees-increase-cruise-ship-visits-25466623
Cayman Islands prepares for trial of ex-premier
From The New Zealand Herald
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) A judge in the Cayman Islands has sworn in a seven-member jury as the government prepares for a corruption trial against a former premier who has been the islands’ longest serving politician.
McKeeva Bush faces 11 criminal charges in a trial that is scheduled to start on Monday. He lost a no-confidence vote in December 2012 and was ousted as premier after police arrested him on suspicion of misusing a government credit card, abuse of office and other charges.
Bush remains the opposition leader of the United Democratic Party. He has denied the charges and said they are politically motivated.
The British territory is the world’s sixth largest financial center and a well-known haven for mutual funds and private equity.
For more: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11324330&ref=rss
Cuban ambassador visits Premier
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin welcomed Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Mr. Bernardo Guanche Hernandez to the Legislative Assembly building Thursday, 11, September, 2014.Mr. Hernandez was visiting on Grand Cayman and had a brief friendly visit with the Premier.
Mr. Hernandez began his diplomatic career in 1984 and over a span of some 25 years has enjoyed many overseas postings, including high level appointments in his home country. He assumed the role of Cuban Ambassador in Jamaica on 3 October, 2013.
IMAGE: Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Mr. Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, left, and Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin met at the Legislative Assembly building.
Former Jamaica information minister to stand trial
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday September 12, 2014, CMC – Former Information and Telecommunications minister Daryl Vaz is due to go on trial early next year on corruption related charges.
Vaz, who will now appear in court on February 16, had been charged in April 2012, following allegations that he conspired with former Senior Superintendent James Forbes and businessman Bruce Bicknell, to quash a bribery charge against Bicknell.
Prosecutors alleged, that Vaz approached the arresting officer, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, and promised him “gold bars”…a code word for a promotion, if he withdrew the charge against Bicknell.
In July, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn, withdrew the bribery charge against Bicknell. She then argued that it would have been difficult to mount a successful case against him.
However, Forbes was convicted and fined J$800,000 (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.004 cents) for his role in the conspiracy.
Vaz, who is the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Portland, appeared in court on Thursday when the trial date was set.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/former-jamaica-information-minister-to-stand-trial
Cuban migrants cost Cayman Islands $1M
At the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees pre-ministerial meeting Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin revealed the government has paid more than $1 million to receive, process, detain and repatriate illegal migrants over the past year.
Acting Governor Hon. Franz Manderson confirmed Friday (12) the cost for providing assistance for asylum seekers and refugees often exceeds the annual budgeted projections.
Manderson will lead a delegation to Cuba on 18th September with the aim of negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding between the countries.
RCIPS and SOY get together to give Cayman Islands convicts a chance to become fishermen
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), the Save Our Youth (SOY) foundation and H.M. Prisons have formed a partnership to give former prison inmates a second chance and put them back to work.
One of the jobs is to become fishermen.
The RCIPS has said they have a number of fishing vessels available for use since they had commandeered many after being used for drug running or other illicit activities.
The SOY foundation hopes the private sector to help bolster the programme as well by helping provide trailers for the boats and associated fishing equipment.
H.M. Prisons told CITN/Cayman27 they would buy fish from the ex-convicts, and serve it in the prison kitchen.
The Cayman Ice Palace may be built in the Cayman Islands
Plans are being drawn up to construct an Ice Palace along the Seven Mile Strip in the Cayman Islands.
The facility is estimated to cost $30M and will offer year round daily spectacular ice shows, concerts, hockey, figure skating, conventions and trade shows.
Cayman law school adopts semester system
From Loop News Services
Following a recommendation by the University of Liverpool Institutional Review team in April 2014, Truman Bodden Law School (TBLS) will be adopting a system of semesterisation in all modules from the beginning of the 2015-16 academic year.
This will have the benefit of aligning the TBLS LL.B programme more closely with the LL.B programme framework at the Liverpool Law School thus facilitating possible student exchange opportunities.
The principal changes stemming from this development, include the transition of many modules to 15 credit, one semester, modules rather than the 30 credit, two term, modules currently available. In addition, there will be a formal assessment period in each 15 credit module at the end of the semester (January for semester one modules and May for semester two modules).
Further information about the proposed move to semesterisation in 2015/16 will be made available during the forthcoming academic year.
Moving Art for Cayman Islands ARK
Please save the DATE! It’s soon time for Acts of Random Kindness’ (ARK) 3rd Annual “Moving Art for Ark!” This year the event will be hosted at The National Gallery and it is set to be a night to remember! Please mark your calendars and book your tickets for “ONE FANTASTICAL EVENING!” Tickets : Please contact Parfait Weddings & Events at 345-916-7526
Saturday, October 11 at 7:00pm – 12:00am.
See attached for more details.
