iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands Seniors’ Bash Pick Ups Notice
The Department of Children & Family Services advises those seniors who wish to attend the Older Persons’ Bash taking place at the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, 29 October to meet at the following pick up spots for transportation to the event:
| Pick up | Pick up location | District |
| 5:00 PM | Contact: Delmira Bodden 925-5543 | East End |
| 5:15 PM | Across from North Side Gas StationNell Whittaker’s residence
Chisolm Supermarket Carolyn Carter’s residence |
North Side |
| 5:30 PM | Webster Memorial Church Manse Road Northward RoadSavannah Seventh Day Adventist Church | Bodden Town |
| 5:30 PM | John Gray Memorial Church | West Bay |
| 5:45 PM | Family Life Centre | George Town |
Hotels and restaurants in the Cayman Islands show growth
From Loop News Service
According to data released by the Office of Economics and Statistics, growth in the Cayman Islands economy for the first 6 months of 2014, was indicated by a number of sectors, led by hotels and restaurants (8.6%) and wholesale and retail trade (6.4%).
Both of these factors were supported by sustained improvement in tourist arrivals.
Financing and insurance, the largest sector, posted a modest growth (0.6%). It should be noted that for Cayman, tourism is a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America.
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/10/26/cayman-growth-led-hotels-restaurants/
Most Caribbean firefighters good at First Aid – TT Fire Chief
From Guyana Times
Fire Chief of Trinidad and Tobago Nayar Rampersaud said though Caribbean firefighters are faced with numerous challenges, it is not enough that most of them are proficient in administering First Aid.
But he said more training institutions need to be built in order to continuously improve the skills of firefighters.
Aside from being good at administering First Aid, he said firemen are not properly trained, and as such, they struggle to work efficiently.
This problem, he said is noted limited to the Caribbean as it is a worldwide issue.
He added that at the beginning of every training programme, fire officers are taught how to handle cases of emergency.
The Trinidadian said too that although much attention is not being placed on the First Aid aspect of the job, it remains one of the most important and should be given due attention.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has been working to continuously improve its services, pointing out that a training centre was recently opened in Leonora, West Bank Demerara to train firefighters.
The GFS, he said has been working hand-in-hand with fire services in the region to open another centre in Guyana to train local and Caribbean officials.
Recently, a team of firefighters, along with the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Chief arrived here to be part of the Annual Caribbean Firefighters’ Conference.
The delegation was involved in a number of activities as part of Fire Prevention Week 2014. The wee k came to a close with a cricket match between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
For more: http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2014/10/25/most-caribbean-firefighters-good-at-first-aid-tt-fire-chief/
Cayman Islands Olympics’ White party raises $40,000
The Cayman Islands Olympic Fundraising Committee’s “White Party, Hamptons Style” raised approx. $40,000 last Friday (24) at the recently opened WaterColours residences on Seven Mile Beach.
Among the attendees were Governor Helen Kilpatrick and Minister of Sports Osbourne Bodden.
Nearly everyone of the 150 guests at the event wore white.
Master of ceremonies was Gary Benham and the auctioneer was Vicki Wheaton.
Taylor Swift look-alike, aka Sabrina Salmon, was also on hand to add to the evening’s fun.
A six-day stay at Butler’s Manor in the Hamptons was auctioned for $5,500.
Haiti: Caribbean Development Bank to provide $2.5 million for disaster insurance
From Business Insurance
The Caribbean Development Bank will provide $2.5 million in aid to Haiti to cover disaster-insurance premium of the city of Port-au-Prince, Latin America Herald Tribune reports.
The assistance would be for the 12-month period ending May 31, 2015. The lender granted similar aid to Haiti in 2013 to cover the premium to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. Collin Cunningham, communications officer at the CDB, said the Haiti government is unable to pay the premium owing to economic challenges, reports Latin America Herald Tribune citing Agencia EFE.
For more: http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20141027/NEWS09/141029838
Cayman Islands Business Women put Fashion Forward on Tue (28)
The Cayman Islands Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) are presenting a fashion show to support women in need. The show is being called “Fashion Forward”.
The event will showcase clothing that although will be shown off on the runway, but the attendees can also purchase the clothing items on the spot as well.
The event will have an emergence of trends, couture expression and style.
he proceeds will go towards supporting the Family Resource Centre and other BPW initiatives.
Fashion Forward
Date: Tuesday 28 October
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Royal Palms
Cost: $50
Royal Caribbean’s advice to Greece: invest in ports to win cruise war
From Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean Vice President Commercial & New Business Development, John Tercek, spoke at a recent tourism conference in Greece where he advocated the country invest in its ports to win over more cruise business.
The growing demand for cruise ships forces companies to order bigger ships so if Greece wants to get its share of the cruise business, it must modernize its ports and expand other ports in the coming years.
In Tercek’s speech, he indicated the Greek cruise destinations that can best attract the interest of cruise companies are Piraeus, Santorini, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu and Katakolon, but others, such as Rhodes and Mykonos need more modern infrastructure to support the growing demaind.
Global competition for cruise ships is on the rise and Tercek noted that Australia’s cruise tourism has increased by 77% over the last 10 years and that demand is still increasing. Greece will close 2014 with about 2.5 million cruise visitors but that is still less than Italy and Spain. Tercek believes the big disadvantage for Greece is most cruises do not home port from there. Last year only 212,000 passengers departed from Greek ports whereas 2 million left from Italy.
Cayman Islands Annual Breeze Walk and Run for November 1
From Loop News Service
Radio Cayman has announced that its annual Walk and Run will be held on Saturday, November 1st, 2014.
The walk will start at 6:30am, and fifteen minutes later the run race will begin.
The event will see athletes start along Walkers Road then to Smith Cove, South Sound.
This year’s run will be cover 3.1 miles, instead of the usual 2 miles.
The Breeze Fusion is organized by Radio Cayman/Breeze FM and the Phoenix Athletic Club, assisted by coach Jerry Harper and service club volunteers.
Part proceeds will go to the National Council for Voluntary Organizations, an independent, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the care, education and well–being of hundreds of children and families in need of support in the Cayman Islands. The second beneficiary this year is John Gray High School’s “Helping Hands Program,” through which the school provides, among other things, hot meals, uniforms and school supplies for any grade 7 to 11 child in need of assistance. Last year, the NCVO received $1,000 from this event.
Roma Football Club through their President Robert Sairsingh recently gave $500 towards the event.
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/10/25/annual-breeze-walk-run-november-1/
CARPHA workshops to prepare region for Ebola outbreak
From Jamaica Observer
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says it will host a series of workshops geared at strengthening the Caribbean’s ability to prepare and respond to outbreak situations such as the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
CARPHA said in collaboration with the Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis (CHA) unit of PAHO/WHO, it will provide two training workshops on Infectious Substances Shipping Training and Bio-safety Practices for the Clinical Laboratory, at its Port of Spain headquarters during the period November 17-21, 2014.
It said that laboratory professionals from across the Caribbean who complete the World Health Organisation Shipping Infectious Substances course will be certified to prepare shipments of laboratory samples.
“Successful participants will be certified for a period of two years to handle and package Category A Infectious Substances, such as samples from suspected cases of Ebola virus disease.”
CARPHA says it will also train personnel in bio-safety measures, practised in the laboratory, which include infection control, proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and waste management measures.
“It is expected that laboratory technicians actively involved in the packaging of laboratory samples, for the purpose of international transport, will in turn provide similar training to other colleagues at institutional and country level.”
CARPHA said that both the shipping and bio-safety courses are in accordance with WHO guidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances and WHO biorisk management programme respectively.
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/CARPHA-workshops-to-prepare-region-for-Ebola-outbreak_17803103
2014 Cayman Islands Book Fair
The purpose of the event is to:
- Provide education through workshops, lectures, and Q&A with published authors
- Create relationships amongst writers and with the community
- Provide positive role models for local writers and students
- Educate students on the importance of literacy
- Highlight opportunities for students in the industry
- Connect readers and authors, and promote library events designed to do the same
- Provide networking opportunities for businesses, authors, and community members
- Be lots of FUN
The book fair is scheduled for the 5th and 6th of December 2014 at the Cayman Islands George Town Library, who’ve generously donated their facilities, the staff’s time, and much more to accommodate the event.
FRIDAY December 5th
Writing Workshops and Presentations
Q&A with published authors
Q&A with local publisher
SATURDAY — December 6th (FREE TO THE PUBLIC)
Guest Speakers; Author Readings and Book Signings; Books and merchandise for sale by local authors; Prize giveaways;Kid activities
This annual event is anticipated to grow gaining island-wide and international recognition, impacting Cayman’s schools, businesses, and the community in the years to come. I’m excited about what the future holds for CayWriters, the Cayman Islands Book Fair, and local writers.
Like our Facebook page and follow the event.
https://www.facebook.com/caymanislandsbookfair
Want to participate?
If you’re a writer and would like to sell your books or read your stories (unpublished writers welcome) to an audience, please fill out a registration from link below and email to [email protected].
Find out more at the website: http://elkefeuer.com/cayman-islands-book-fair/
For more: http://www.ecaytrade.com/detail.php?id=719446
Happy Hour was not a happy time on Cayman’s rocks
Happy Hour rocks in the Cayman Islands but not last Friday (24) when local pleasure cruiser “The Happy Hour” finished up on the rocks in downtown George Town on Grand Cayman.
The vessel broke away from its moorings during turbulent weather on Friday.
Hazard Management said there were no other reports of any significant damage to property during the Friday night storm.
Betsy McCaughey: NYC hospitals not prepared for Ebola
By Greg Richter From Newsmax
Betsy McCaughey says that despite assurances from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Mario Cuomo, the city’s hospitals are not prepared to deal with Ebola.
Appearing on “The Cats Roundtable” on New York’s AM 970 on Sunday, McCaughey said Cuomo and de Blasio’s promise that they are getting hospitals ready won’t work because “this is not something you can do overnight.”
New York’s hospitals “are not ready for Ebola,” McCaughey said. “Hospitals that can’t stop staph and C. diff, and other common infections that are raging through their hallways, cannot control Ebola.”
McCaughey chairs the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and has spent the past decade trying to make hospital patients safer.
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Two nurses who treated Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas tested positive for Ebola, though both have since been released from the hospital. And New York City doctor Craig Spencer is in isolation in New York’s Bellevue Hospital after working with Doctors Without Borders in West Africa, where the outbreak is severe.
McCaughey said those cases point out that the main worry is with healthcare workers catching the virus while treating ill patients rather than people catching it in the general public who may be around patients when they are not having symptoms and, therefore, not contagious.
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A total of 236 doctors and nurses have died treating Ebola patients, primarily in West Africa, she said.
“Nurses are very worried,” McCaughey said.
Greenlight Capital Re to Release Third Quarter 2014 Results
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Oct. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (Nasdaq:GLRE), a specialist property and casualty reinsurer based in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, today announced that it expects to release financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014 after the market closes on Monday, November 3, 2014. A live conference call to discuss the financial results will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Conference Call Details
To participate in the Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Third Quarter 2014 Earnings Call, please dial in to the conference call at:
U.S. toll free 1-888-336-7152
International 1-412-902-4178
Telephone participants may avoid any delays by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN.
Conference Call registration link: http://dpregister.com/10054461
The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:
http://services.choruscall.com/links/glre141104.htm
A telephone replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on November 4, 2014 until 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on November 12, 2014. The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. toll free) or 1-412-317-0088 (international), access code 10054461. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.greenlightre.ky
Road safety project in Belize to get additional CDB funding
From Caribbean News Now
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The government of Belize will receive an additional loan of US$4.584 million from the Caribbean Development Bank for an ongoing road safety project. The original loan of US$7.248 million was approved in 2012, but stakeholder reviews of the project have led to a revision in scope that required further financing.
The road safety project was designed to assist in the reduction of deaths and serious injuries associated with road traffic accidents. Initially it involved such areas as road safety infrastructure; accident emergency services; road safety enforcement; public education and awareness including curriculum development and teacher training; and capacity building.
Because this is a pilot project, annual review meetings were incorporated into the process. These meetings afforded the opportunity for feedback from a wide cross-section of public and private sector stakeholders.
Following the discussions at the stakeholders meetings it was agreed that a number of adjustments will be made to the project design including additional guardrails, drainage and intersection improvements, and mobility and safety features for the infrastructure works.
Additionally, the projected cost of some of the civil works packages has risen from original appraisal estimates.
Cayman Islands theatre stages Fat Chance
Cayman National Cultural Foundation CNCF stages Fat Chance,
Fat Chance is a sitcom by 3-time CNCF Annual Play Writing Competition winner Donna Tull-Cox.
Tickets on sale NOW!! OPENING NIGHT IN 2 DAYS! ONLY 5 PERFORMANCES!
Six of members of the Rundown cast – Matt Brown, Priscilla Pouchie, Evana Martinez, Patrick Lopez, Maia Muttoo and Kevin Creary – who thrilled and entertained audiences a few months back, get together to play this hilarious comedy by top-flight playwright, Donna Tull-Cox.
Fat Chance features this superb cast of young, talented actors led by the outstanding Matt Brown who is fast becoming a leading young male stage actor in the Cayman Islands.
Fat Chance runs:
29th Oct. – 2nd Nov. (Wednesday-Sunday) at the Harquail Theatre.
Box Office opens at 7pm for 8pm performance (Wed. – Sat.)
Box Office opens at 5pm for 6pm performance on Sunday only.
Tickets are $25 (Adults) and $15 (Seniors & Students).
Purchase at Funky Tangs, Fosters Airport and CNCF Offices at Harquail Cultural Centre between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Call 949 5477 for more details.
