iNews Briefs
Jamaica police hunt killers following brutal murder of four men in payroll heist
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday October 14, 2014, CMC – Jamaica police were continuing the search for gunmen who shot and killed four men transporting two million dollars (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.002 cents) to pay employees of a Chinese firm constructing a section of the North/South link of Highway 2000.
Police said the men, identified as Courtney Courbourne, 38, Carlton Scott, 37, Greg Harris, and another man identified only as Kirk, were shot and killed during the daring daylight robbery that the parliamentary representative for North Central St Catherine Natalie Neita-Headley described as vicious and brutal.
Police said the vehicle transporting the men overturned as it appeared the driver was attempting to escape but was impeded by the narrow roadway.
“Reports received are that the men intercepted the vehicle and opened fire while they were making their way to the community,” police told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.
“The criminals then went over to the injured men as they lay suffering from gunshot wounds, and fired several additional shots. The men then took off with the payroll,” the paper reported.
At least 70 employees were left without pay and the incident comes little over one month after four people were gunned down in separate incidents in the Linstead, St Catherine area, in August.
Landing gear faulty indicator causes emergency on Cayman Airways flight
A faulty landing gear indicator caused a Cayman Airways flight from New York on Monday (13) to instigate emergency crews being placed on standby at Owen Roberts International Airport. The plane, a Boeing 737, landed without incident.
A spokesperson from the airline said there has been an issue with one of the main landing gear position indicating systems while on the plane’s final approach to Grand Cayman. The flight captain, Sean Bent, delayed the landing until he received confirmation from the ground crew the position of the gear was in place.
The plane was taken out of service. This caused delays to KX882 Grand Cayman – La Ceiba and the return leg KX883.
Cayman Airways President and CEO, Fabian Whorms said, “This event was one where the landing gear was operating correctly and was fully extended, but an anomaly with the position indicating system gave an incorrect reading.
“We understand and appreciate the concern and anxiety that arises whenever emergency crews are placed on standby for a landing at the airport, however, and would like to apologise for any inconveniences arising from this event. Cayman Airways assures the traveling public that the safety of our operations receives nothing but the highest possible attention and priority at all times, and we would like to thank everyone for their understanding, support, and continued patronage.”
Texas man with road rage identifies himself as a cop to an actual police officer
From Fox News Latino
MIDLAND, TEXAS (AP) – A 41-year-old Midland, Texas, man got a surprise when he tried to impersonate a police officer and berate a fellow driver. The driver he chastised turned out to be a police detective.
Eleazar Cisneros confronted a driver, said he was a police officer and complained about being cut off in the parking lot of a burger joint.
When Cisneros was asked to show his police identification, he said he was working under cover.
Cisneros subsequently said he was in a police academy, then acknowledged that his connection to policing was limited to taking some criminal justice classes, according to an arrest affidavit examined by the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
He was jailed Sunday on $25,000 bond and now could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the third-degree felony charge of impersonating or exerting the functions of a public servant.
Cayman Islands is still a safe place and there is no need to panic over Ebola
Dr. Kiran Kumar, Cayman Islands Medical Officer of Health said the major outbreaks of the Ebola disease are in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. To date, 8,400 cases of Ebola have been reported, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths. Despite these statistics, Dr. Kumar said Cayman is still safe and there is no need to panic.
He also said the threat to Cayman is very remote but se should be prepared. Cayman does have the equipment and personnel to quarantine suspected cases.
END
However, see following:
US General: Upcoming island vacation season spawns Ebola worries in Caribbean
By: Lolita C. Baldor From StarTribune nation
(AP) AREQUIPA, Peru — The coming winter vacation season is raising worries about the potential for Ebola cases in Caribbean and Central American countries, the top U.S. military commander in South America says, noting that smaller countries may be less equipped to deal with the problem.
Gen. John Kelly, head of U.S. Southern Command, told The Associated Press on Monday that leaders from the Caribbean and Central American countries are voicing concerns because many vacationers will be traveling to and from the islands, often without going through airport screenings the U.S. is putting in place. He said small nations such as Haiti would have a difficult time coping with an Ebola outbreak.
Kelly said he has sent a military planner and a medical expert to Germany to work with Africa Command officials in order to better prepare Southern Command if Ebola cases start to surface.
At the same time, he said Southern Command is conducting simulations on the issue in order to make sure the military is prepared if a country begins to see Ebola cases. He said he has asked for modeling data on how the virus might spread.
“There is no fear mongering here. It’s part of my job to anticipate that kind of thing,” Kelly said during a short break at the conference of defense ministers from the Americas. “A lot of countries don’t have really capable preventive medicine. … It’s not that they don’t have any medical capabilities, it’s that they don’t have a lot.”
Kelly said the issue has come up a number of times during meetings on the sidelines of the conference with other military leaders from the Caribbean and Central America.
Pointing to recent problems with parents sending their children across the Mexican border into the U.S. in order to escape gang violence in Central American countries, Kelly said frightened families could similarly try to flee to America to seek treatment or get away from any Ebola threat.
The U.S. is encouraging the nations to stay in communications with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health care organizations. But Kelly also said he is telling military leaders that the U.S. will help the countries if problems arise.
For more: http://www.startribune.com/nation/279097951.html
Flavour dropped from Caribbean music festival over fears of Ebola
By hauwababy from Nairaland Forum
Nigerian musician Flavour Nabania has been dropped from the 18th edition of the World Creole Music Festival which takes place in the Caribbean island of Dominica over fears of Ebola. The announcement was made by their Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who revealed that his decision is final. The musician who is supposed to have performed on October 25th has lost alot of money due to his exclusion from the concert.
The musician’s picture which was on the music festival’s website has equally been removed.
The Prime Minister said he is not prepared to embrace the visit of people from regions with Ebola….
“Until a firm grip is secured on this Ebola virus, the world has to pay special attention to region of its predominance.”
“West Africa, as I said previously, is once such region. I have reviewed the file with respect to the contractual arrangements entered into with the Flavour band out of Nigeria. To date a total of EC$147,000 has been expended on professional fees and international travel by this group.”
“Indeed, I would love if, by this time next year, the Ebola virus could have been brought under control, if not eradicated; regions around the world cleared of the threat of the virus, and entertainers, such as Flavour, could visit and perform in Dominica.”
“But, for the time being, I have advised the organizers of the World Creole Music Festival that the Government of Dominica would not be prepared at this time to sponsor or embrace the visit of persons from a universally recognized Zone One area of the dreaded Ebola virus.”
“Fellow Dominicans and friends, this is the decision of the Government! It is final!”
Source…. http://www.yeoal.com/2014/10/flavour-nabania-dropped-from.html
I understand he is trying to protect his people, but is this not discrimination?
For more: http://www.nairaland.com/1944602/flavour-dropped-caribbean-music-festival
The new DART Kimpton Hotel is making good progress on Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands tallest building, the 10 storey Kimpton Hotel, on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach, is making good progress and is on target for its 2016 completion.
This was the message from DART’s construction company DECCO.
DART Realty bought the hotel, then the Marriott Courtyard, in January 2011.
Caribbean agricultural health, food safety agency becomes operational
From Guyana Times
The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) is now operational. A Chief Executive Officer, Lindley Collins, was appointed recently, Deputy Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Ambassador, Dr Manorma Soeknandan announced on Wednesday.
“We trust that we will soon be able to make more progress with the appointment of additional core staff,” Ambassador Soeknandan said at the formal opening ceremony of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2014 in Paramaribo, Suriname.
CAHFSA, which is based in Suriname, was launched in March 2010. The agency was approved in Roseau, Dominica, at the 21st Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
CAHFSA’s operations are vital to fulfilling the provisions of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which call for the establishment of effective Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) regime and for the harmonisation of laws, administrative practices and procedures in respect of agriculture.
The regional transformation programme for agriculture, usually referred to as the Jagdeo Initiative, has identified the current agricultural health and food safety system as a key binding constraint to the further development of the region’s agricultural sector.
Among CAHFSA’s tasks are developing technical measures and protocols required to achieve SPS certification for agricultural trade.
CAHFSA will also devise arrangements to reduce the use of SPS measures as non-tariff barriers, including undue administrative delays in the clearance of perishable agricultural goods as restrictions to agricultural trade.
For more on this story go to: http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2014/10/11/caribbean-agricultural-health-food-safety-agency-becomes-operational/
Scuba hall of fame welcomes new members at Cayman Islands ceremony
Neal Watson, Dan Orr, Alese and Morton Petcher, Bill Acker, and Chuck Nicklin took their place alongside legends of the diving industry at the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Class of 2014 held at the Westin Hotel, West Bay Road, on Grand Cayman.
The ceremony that took place last Friday (10) also honoured Captain Frank Ebanks, Winston McDermott, and Rod McDowell for their contributions to the sport.
The Ministry of Tourism founded the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in the year 2000.
One step closer to ending slavery in Thai fishing
By Joanna Ewart-James, Walk Free
A few weeks ago we wrote about the horrendous conditions for workers in the Thai fishing industry including 20-hour shifts, regular beatings, torture and execution-style killings.1
Four big global retailers — Walmart, Tesco, Costco and Carrefour — were all named as customers of a seafood supplier in Thailand with proven links to slavery through prawn feed.
Tesco led the way by agreeing to join Project Issara,2 an initiative designed to audit and control slavery in supply chains, as a first step to eliminating slavery from their seafood.
And we’ve recently heard that Walmart has stepped up to do the same.
We need to show Costco and Carrefour that they haven’t been forgotten. Another big push now, as their top competitors are making progress on this issue, could get these companies to commit to eliminate slavery from their seafood.
A huge number of messages now will send a strong message to Costco and Carrefour that their lack of action is unacceptable. Now is the time for these companies to enforce their supplier standards prohibiting forced labour in Thailand.3
Click now to call on Costco and Carrefour to help end slavery in the Thai fishing industry.
In solidarity,
Joanna, Jayde, Michael and the rest of the Walk Free Team
P.S. Please make sure to email your friends today. A huge wave of new people calling on Costco and Carrefour will help us clean up an industry “built on slavery”.4
1 http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour
2 http://www.antislavery.org/issara
3 See Costco Supplier Code of Conduct pg 1 and Carrefour Social and Ethical Charter for Suppliers pg 12.
4 http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour
Walk Free is a movement of people everywhere, fighting to end one of the world’s greatest evils: Modern slavery.
Cayman Islands Chamber members want Sunday trading but greater business community says ‘no’
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin has announced there will be no expansion of Sunday trading on the three islands.
Although the large majority of the 113 respondents to the Chamber of Commerce survey were in favour of expanding the current Sunday trading hours, the greater Cayman business community said “No”, said McLaughlin at last Thursday’s (9) Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.
There was also a strong ‘No’ to any changes to expand Sunday trading by Cayman’s churches.
Caribbean national killed trying to retrieve cell phone during Miami Carnival
From Caribbean360
MIAMI, United States, Tuesday October 14, 2014, CMC – Police say that a 54-year-old woman from St. Vincent and the Grenadines died after being hit by a vehicle providing refreshments to masqueraders in the Miami Broward One Carnival.
Jacqueline Annette Martin, who lived in Southern Florida, was reportedly dancing alongside the truck, when she sought to retrieve her cell phone that had fallen under a trailer being carried by the vehicle.
Miami Broward One Carnival said in a statement that “on our 300th anniversary celebration, we, unfortunately, experienced our first injury of a masquerader that resulted in a casualty from an accident during the Parade’s approach to the main stage.
“It is our understanding that the accident involved a middle aged female masquerader from the Mas band, Mascots International, and one of the vehicles providing refreshments to the masquerades,” the statement said.
“She was treated on the scene and later transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center where she later died from her injuries. At this time, Miami-Dade Police Department is completing the investigation of the accident. We extend our condolences to her family and members of Mascots International,” the statement added.
Cayman Enterprise City to host Internet Marketing Association conference
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin has announced Internet Marketing Association board members including some of the world’s technology thought leaders will be coming to the Cayman Islands for a series of meetings, tours of the Cayman Enterprise City (CEC) zone and industry networking events next year in April.
CEC will host the event and its CEO, Charlie Kirkconnell said the event would probably be over three or four days and include expert speakers in the industry’s thought leadership.
Kaieteur News publisher, wife facing tax evasion charges in Guyana
From Caribbean360
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Tuesday October 14, 2014, CMC – The publisher of the Kaieteur News newspaper, Glenn Lall and his wife, Bhena, are due to return to court on November 24 on multiple tax evasion charges.
The charges are in connection with importation of two luxury vehicles brought into the country by an elderly couple under the duty-free re-migrant scheme.
The prosecution alleges that between June 18, and September 20, last year, Lall and his wife “made and subscribed to false declarations on two Lexus LX 570 motor vehicles to be US$44,158 respectively, contrary to Section 217 (1a) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01”.
They are also facing two counts of aiding and abetting in a conspiracy to defraud the government of due taxes.
The Lalls pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on their own recognizance.
Attorney Sandil Kissoon, who represented the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had objected to the couple being released on their own recognisance. But the defence argued that the Lalls were well-known business people with millions in assets and unlikely to flee the country.
Cayman Islands to allow additional practitioners in medical tourism
From Loop News Service
The Cayman Islands government has given another medical organization the opportunity to practice in the competitive field of medical tourism in Grand Cayman alongside Health City Cayman Islands.
According to an order signed on September 22, The Seven Mile Medical clinic will be designated to provide the same medical services as Health City Cayman Islands.
The company, which registered under the companies law of 2013, will be located in the tourism district of George Town.
Other medical tourism facilities named in the second order issued on the same day include: Harmonic Consultants Health Care Facility, Perseus Cayman Health Care Facility and the Da Vinci Centre for Wellness & Alternative Health Care Facility.
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/10/13/govt-allows-operators-medical-tourism-field/
A dangerous bug in Windows 8.1 and older versions could be used to spy on you
By Chris Smith from BGR
Russian hackers have apparently identified a previously unreported bug in Windows, also known as a zero-day attack, which was then used to spy on several Western governments, NATO and the Ukrainian government, The New York Times reports.
The news comes from security firm iSight Partners, which discovered that several European energy and telecommunications companies, as well as an academic organization in the U.S., have been targeted as well.
While hacking activities have been traced back to 2009, the zero-day bug has been used starting in late summer 2013. The security issue apparently affects various Windows versions from Windows Vista to Windows 8.1, and Microsoft is expected to release an update on Tuesday to patch the vulnerability.
Surprisingly, Windows XP isn’t impacted by this particular security threat.
iSight said that only the Russian hackers used the security bug so far, adding that other companies and organizations may have also been affected in addition to governments and NATO. The firm did not previously bring this security issue to light in order to give Microsoft time to prepare a patch.
The group of Russian hackers apparently used “spear-phishing techniques” in its attacks, which involve sending emails to targets containing attached documents that allow the attacker to take over a computer after being opened on that machine. The documents were specific to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
It’s not clear whether the same people responsible for this particular type of hack are in any way connected to the many cyberattacks that hit various retailers and banks in the U.S. stealing personal data including credit card information for millions of U.S. citizens. Some of those hacks have also been traced back to Russia and/or Ukraine.
Cayman Islands 80s Night Under the Stars
Please see below a flyer for our next big event. ’80s Night Under the Stars’ takes place at the George Town Yacht Club on Friday, 24th October at 8pm. Your ticket is a chance to win the $250 grand prize and all you need to do is show up and have some fun! There will be a free cocktail and hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction with some fantastic prizes and wicked 80s music will be spinning on the decks throughout the evening. Tickets are only $40 in advance and available from Paperman’s Coffeehouse (Strand and Midtown locations) or any ESRF Board Member. Please tell your friends and come out to support a very worthwhile cause.
Don’t forget to ‘get fresh’ and dress 80s style. We hope to see you there!
For more information: http://esrfoundation.org.ky/2014/10/80s-night-stars/
