iNews Briefs
In Memory of James Ladner Watler
From Helen and Joan (Laddie’s sisters)
Laddie’s ship was torpedoed and lost at sea November 1942.
This was shortly after Laddie obtained his Second Mates Licence at the age of 27 years.
Confirmation of his loss was dated 16th Dec. 1942 from EVAN THOMAS RADCLIFFE & CO. of Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Laddie was just one of the many Caymanians lost during World War II.
Cayman Islands damaged coral get first transplant
Since the Carnival Magic’s anchor and chain decimated the popular dive site off of Don Foster’s volunteers have cleared around 22,000 pounds of rubble from the reef.
Last Saturday (1) a small group of divers made good progress in ‘transplanting’ handfuls of live coral back onto the damaged reef.
The pieces of corals were attached using a two-part marine epoxy to new positions on the reef away from the damaged zones, in accordance with Department of Environment’s oversight.
Manhunt underway in Jamaica for gunman who killed mother and two children
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday November 4, 2014, CMC – Jamaica police were searching for an unknown gunman who shot and killed a woman and her two sons on Monday.
Police have not released the names of those killed, but the incident occurred at May pen in Clarendon.
Residents said they heard the loud explosions and the woman screaming that she had been shot. A man was later seen running away from the premises.
In September, law enforcement authorities said that there had been an 18 per cent reduction in murders for the period January 1 to September 24.
A total of 714 murders were reported, compared to 871 for the same period last year.
Cayman Islands Gas supplier wants to hear from you
Cayman Islands Gas supplier, Home Gas, is telling all their customers they would like to hear from you.
“As you may have noticed over the last few months”, they are saying by email, “Home Gas has been making changes to better serve our customers. We would like to hear from you to see how we are doing. We value your feedback and invite you to answer this quick and easy survey. Please be assured your comments will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
You can take the survey by clicking on: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HomeGasCustomerService?utm_source=Copy+of+Copy2+of+Campaign+Created+2014%2F10%2F19%2C+11%3A41+AM&utm_campaign=Customer+Service+Survey&utm_medium=email
Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to face Marvin Gaye’s family in court over alleged ‘Blurred Lines’ ripoff
By Philip Cosores From radio.com
It’s easy to think that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams don’t have much of a case in the claim by the family of Marvin Gaye that “Blurred Lines” is in fact a ripoff of Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” particularly after Thicke’s wild deposition .
And, it seems that the courts agree that at least there is cause to the claim, as a California judge has ruled that the Gaye family has shown sufficiently that “Blurred Lines” might be substantially similar to “Got to Give It Up” (via Billboard). This is not a verdict, but simply a declaration by the judge that there is a case here, and that it should proceed.
The judge’s decision points to “genuine issues of material fact existing as to the substantial similarity of signature phrases, hooks, bass lines, keyboard chords, harmonic structures and vocal melodies of the two songs. The judge also writes that the Gaye family has offered sufficient evidence to create triable issues about whether their 11-note signature phrase, four-note hook, four-bar bass line, 16-bar harmonic structure and four-note vocal melody are protectable expressions.”
The trial is scheduled for February 10, 2015.
For more: http://radio.com/2014/10/30/court-rules-marvin-gaye-blurred-lines-ripoff-pharrell-robin-thicke/
Daughter of Educator still being held in the Cayman Islands
By Deandrea From Magnetic Media TV News
Providenciales, 3 Nov 2014 – Tamara Butler is still being held in the Cayman Islands as the autopsy now confirms that indeed her six year old daughter did die due to multiple stab wounds. Butler, who is the daughter of educator Claudette Clare and who grew up here in the TCI, was also treated for what were said to be superficial wounds.
One report said: Mrs. Butler has remained under police guard at the hospital since then and has been admitted under the Mental Health Law while a period of observation is conducted to assess her condition and suitability for interview by the officers conducting this investigation. Bethany Gabriel Butler was discovered by police a week ago today; the autopsy results came on Friday.
For more: http://magneticmediatv.com/2014/11/tamara-butler-still-being-held-in-the-cayman-islands/
Caribbean Airlines removes fuel surcharge
From Loop news Service
Caribbean Airlines has announced the immediate removal of fuel surcharges on all routes between North America and the Caribbean, and within the Caribbean.
“This is great news for Caribbean Airlines customers. With the reduction in jet fuel prices we have removed the surcharges as they were only ever planned to be of temporary nature,” George Reeleder, the airline’s Vice President of Commercial and Customer Service, said in a press release.
The fuel surcharge was introduced to cover additional costs when the price of fuel was over US$100 per barrel. We never wanted this surcharge to be a permanent feature of our fares. Thus, when our largest expense – fuel, came down, we wanted our customers to benefit.
“As we approach the Christmas travel season, there could not be a better time to remove this surcharge” said Reeleder.
For more: http://loopjamaica.com/2014/11/04/latest-jamaica-business-caribbean-airlines-removes-fuel-surcharge/
Cayman Islands to receive Secondhand Dealers Bill
The Cayman Islands will be receiving a new bill to restrict the ability of burglars to sell stolen property in the country to be called the Secondhand Dealers Bill.
The key elements of the Bill are:
New powers for police to inspect pawn shops without a warrant.
Requirement for dealers to alert cops if they are offered property for sale and it is believed it is stolen.
Requirement for dealers to record every transaction using surveillance cameras and keep photos of all property acquired, along with details of the seller.
Ban on transactions between secondhand dealers and anyone under 18 or visibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Requirement for dealers to obtain “proof of ownership” along with photo ID from anyone selling property worth more than $200.
Dealers who fail to alert police if someone tries to sell them an item on the list will be liable to prosecution with up to a $10,000 fine or two years in jail.
Dealers must alert police if anyone tries to sell them property at a price significantly below its value.
The draft law was published in the Government Gazette last Friday (Oct 31), and is expected it will be debated at the next session of the Legislative Assembly.
Now the kids and jean fight over Casey Kasem’s insurance money
From All Access Music Group
The latest in the sad saga that followed the death of radio icon CASEY KASEM involves more lawyers.
Last week (NET NEWS 10/30), ALL ACCESS reported the daughter of the late CASEY KASEM, KERRI, was using the four-month anniversary of her father’s passing to remind her followers that the radio icon has yet to be buried.
Now, TMZ reports, “the dogfight over CASEY KASEM’s estate is now going to court — his kids are waging war with his widow over a $2 million life insurance policy. METLIFE actually filed the lawsuit … telling the judge it’s stumped. Both JEAN KASEM and CASEY’s three kids have laid claim to the loot and the insurance company doesn’t want to make the wrong decision and then have to pay out twice. So METLIFE wants a judge to decide who gets the money.”
KERRI hinted at the insurance issue last week when she posted to both FACEBOOK and TWITTER, “people who criticize and blame others are usually the ones who are committing the crimes themselves. When we were fighting to see our Dad, JEAN KASEM accused us kids of going after the money, which we NEVER did. JEAN KASEM is NOW going after our family trust. If you think your irrevocable trusts you set up for your loved ones are safe with @MetLife … think again!”
TMZ adds, “CASEY’s kids hired a lawyer who fired off a letter to METLIFE saying JEAN essentially killed CASEY by neglecting his care, which resulted in fatal bedsores and dehydration. The kids say someone who causes someone else’s death can’t inherit their money.”
Cayman Islands Christmas Give commences this month at Camana Bay
The Camana Bay Christmas Give Now is in its fourth year and commences on Saturday, Nov. 22 in conjunction with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The Give continues to inspire community spirit, providing convenient opportunities for Camana Bay visitors to support a number of local charities whose efforts ensure that every family in the Cayman Islands has a wonderful Christmas.
This year’s Christmas Give will aid the initiatives of many hardworking organizations and introduces a special partnership with Acts of Random Kindness (ARK). Camana Bay has worked closely with ARK for their Giving Is Receiving campaign, which has been a part of the Camana Bay Christmas Give since its inception. Opportunities to align and integrate efforts with ARK will ensure that this year’s program benefits more local charities throughout the holiday season and beyond.
Lara: Don’t think BCCI will be that severe on us
From Gocricket
Brian Lara does not expect the BCCI to pull the plug on Caribbean cricket.
London: Batting legend Brian Lara has backed West Indies cricket to survive the current crisis arising out of the team’s abrupt withdrawal from the India tour over a pay dispute with its board and players’ association, as he believes the BCCI “won’t be that severe”.
The already cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board was left facing a USD 42 million claim by its Indian counterparts for lost earnings after its side pulled out of the India tour following the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17. The fifth one-day international, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still remained to be played. A livid BCCI then slapped sanctions on the Caribbean board and suspended bilateral ties with them.
But Lara does not expect the BCCI to pull the plug on Caribbean cricket. “I don’t think the BCCI will be that severe on us,” Lara told ‘BBC Sport’. “I believe West Indies cricket will be alive. I don’t think anybody has the intention to end our game,” the retired batsman added.
“We’ve got some of the best talents in the world, so I believe West Indies cricket is going to survive and it’s now about how we take this forward,” said Lara, one of cricket’s all-time greatest players, who scored nearly 12,000 in 131 Tests, including 34 hundreds at an average of more than 52.
You can send Santa Claus a letter in the Cayman Islands for only $1
You can send a Santa Letter to the North Pole if you live on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands with a special $1 stamp from Mail Boxes Etc. who are situated in Camana Bay. It will benefit Feed Our Future. Feed Our Future delivers nutritionally balanced meals to children in need in public and private schools throughout our islands.
You can also purchase a Santa Photos package and Picture This will donate $1 on your behalf to the Camana Bay Christmas Give donation funds.
Hotels in Caribbean report ADR and RevPAR growth
From ASIATravel Tips
According to STR Analytics’ Caribbean Host Almanac, the performance of hotels in the Caribbean continues to illustrate positive trends in occupancy and ADR, though at a much slower pace than hotels in the United States.
While the region has achieved three years (2010-2013) of moderate-to-strong RevPAR growth, it still has ground to make up from two years of double-digit RevPAR declines in 2008 and 2009.
However, 2014 could be the breakthrough year for the region, as year-to-date September 2014 has exhibited strong ADR growth (+7.9%), driving RevPAR increases (+9.6%).
“The Caribbean hotel market has been slow to recover from decreased demand levels in 2008-2010,” said Joseph Rael, senior project manager at STR Analytics. “However, 2014 has been a strong year for the market and we expect ADR and RevPAR to easily surpass those of the prior peaks in 2007. The strong growth in revenues this year should also translate into even stronger increases in net operating income, similar to last year when an 11.3% revenue increase translated into a 26.7% increase in NOI.”
RevPAR growth in 2013 helped increase the Caribbean’s profitability. On a same-store, per-available-room basis, total revenue growth outpaced the increases of departmental and operating expenses, leading to a gross-operating-profit (GOP) increase of 23.4%. Departmental and undistributed operating expenses saw increases of 7.5% and 8.0%, respectively.
For more: http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news14/411-RevPAR.shtml
Cayman Rugby may be moving to a better home
Speaking recently on CITN/Cayman27’s Let’s Talk Sports Cayman Islands Sports Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden said his Ministry has been in talks with the Rugby Union about the possibility of building a new headquarters and pitch.
“The plans that they have are basically to move their headquarters from the long-lasting South Sound pitch to a new facility down the road from here on the Harquail Bypass,” Bodden said. “The arrangements are being worked out with that on the lase of the land.”
SOURCE: CITN
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman receive new border patrol vessel
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have received the ‘Typhoon’ – a police marine vessel.
It arrived on Cayman Brac on Friday (31 October) afternoon and the
Sister Islands have waited more than 5 years to enhance its marine policing efforts.
District Commissioner, Ernie Scott, says the boat will be used by several government entities. It is a joint effort to deter criminal activity and maintain border control and the arrival of the Typhoon is phase one of this project.
SOURCE: CITN
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Kids Club in Cayman Islands
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is a new and exciting way to get your kids active and outside!
Learning the sport of SUP helps build confidence in and around the water and is a fantastic way to meet new friends and have fun. The SUP Club will get your kids up and comfortable on a board in no time.
In our SUP Club children will learn water safety including the ‘rules of the road’, proper stance, different paddling techniques and how to stop, turn, fall in and get back on the board safely.
At the end of each class we will have games and fun races to put their newly learned skills into practise. Having fun while learning a new activity and building confidence is our main objective, as we share our passion for SUP with your child!
More information and registration details are on the flyer below.
