iNews Briefs
Jamaican student killed, two others injured, during armed robbery rampage
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday November 13, 2014 – A student was killed and two others injured following an attack by armed men in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth late Tuesday.
The student has been identified as Shamar Blackwood, 16, of the Maggotty High School in the parish.
Jamaica police report that shortly before 10pm, six armed men entered a house in the community of Pisgah in the parish.
Shortly after the armed assailants entered a restaurant, robbing patrons of cash, jewellery and cellular phones, reportedly firing several shots before leaving, however no one was injured in that incident.
The gunmen then went to the nearby community of Huntley Castle where they entered a shop and ordered patrons to lie face down on the floor.
According to police, the men took liquor, cash and cellular phones and left. Shortly after, one of the gunmen returned and opened fire on the group injuring Shamar and two others.
The three were rushed to hospital where the teenager was pronounced dead and the others admitted.
Too many applicants for jobs. “Come back another day” says Cayman Islands Hard Rock Café
When the new owners of the Cayman Islands Hard Rock Café announced they were holding a job fair at the Westin Hotel last Wednesday too many people turned up looking for employment.
The unlucky ones were told to come back another day.
After all the interviews are completed the applicants will be assessed and the positions will be offered in a few days said the general manage of Hard Rock Cayman.
The Café featuring a bar and restaurant is due to open mid-December.
Russian bomber patrols to reach Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico
From SF Gate
MOSCOW — In a show of military muscle amid tensions with the West, Russia will send long-range strategic bombers on regular patrol missions across the globe, from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a top official said Wednesday.
The announcement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came as NATO’s chief accused Russia of sending fresh troops and tanks into eastern Ukraine.
“Over the last few days, we have seen multiple reports of large convoys moving into Eastern Ukraine,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “We assess that this significant military buildup includes Russian artillery, tanks, air defense systems and troops. His statement called the situation a “severe threat to the cease-fire.”
Moscow denied the allegation as unfounded, but Shoigu also said the dispute with the West over Ukraine would require Russia to beef up its forces in the Crimea, the Black Sea Peninsula that Russia annexed in March.
Shoigu said Russian long-range bombers will conduct flights along Russian borders and over the Arctic Ocean. He said, “In the current situation we have to maintain military presence in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific, as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.”
Shoigu said the Russian air force’s long-range planes also will conduct “reconnaissance missions to monitor foreign powers’ military activities and maritime communications.”
A senior U.S. military official said Russia has not previously flown actual bomber patrols over the Gulf of Mexico, including during the Cold War.
For more: http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/Russian-bomber-patrols-to-reach-Caribbean-Gulf-5888980.php
Cayman Islands dog owner loses his pet due to paraquat poisoning
Lee Maragh, a Cayman Islands resident has lost his best friend, Coco, a beautiful dog to the pesticide paraquat.
When ingested by an animal it is a 100% death sentence. It has a very high death rate even with humans and there is no antidote.
Coco passed away on Tuesday (11).
Parquat is tightly restricted in the US, and was banned in the European Union in 2007, but it is still legal in the Cayman Islands despite petitions and pleas from local vets.
See today’s iNews Cayman Editorial
The UK’s growth boom is grinding into a lower gear
By Mike Bird
The UK’s services PMI (a common measure of business activity) dropped to 56.2 in October. That’s still well above the neutral 50 level, suggesting decent growth.
But it’s also a 17 month low for the UK’s biggest sector (by far) and a solid sign that the country is moving into a more moderate growth pattern.
See IMAGE/GRAPH
‘Frost-quakes’ or overhead meteor explosions? Massive boom shook houses in Toronto last January
From SOTT Net
Last January as temperatures around Toronto and across Ontario dropped to -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit), residents reported frost quakes that are powerful enough to shake houses and rattle nerves.
Usually found in extreme polar regions, the recent outbreak of frost quakes, known to meteorologists as cryoseisms, are now affecting many residents of Toronto, Canada’s most populous city.
The weather-related phenomenon, which can feel like an earthquake, happens when water and moisture deep underground freeze as the temperature drops.
Frost quakes typically occur between midnight and dawn, the coldest part of the night, thus many residents are being jolted awake by the booming sounds.
“I experienced a small earthquake in California many years ago, and the sensation was very similar,” Melissa Young, a US citizen visiting friends in Thornhill, a suburb of Toronto, told RT. “I was surprised to hear it was a frost quake, something I’ve never heard of before.”
“Nature is so awesome,” she added.
The effects of a cryoseism, as opposed to an earthquake, “are very localized,” according to the Maine Geological Survey. Thus, residents just a few hundred yards away from the impact zone may not experience anything out of the ordinary.
“The reason that the vibrations do not travel very far is that cryoseisms don’t release much energy compared with a true earthquake caused by dislocation of rock within the earth,” the Maine Geological Survey says. “On the other hand, since cryoseisms occur at the ground surface they can cause significant effects right at the site, enough to jar people awake.”
In the majority of cases, frost quakes occur after heavy rain or snow when a large amount of water seeps into the ground. Toronto was hit by freezing rain followed by warmer temperatures, before the recent cold snap.
“They are incredibly rare,” the Toronto Star reported Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson as saying. This week was his first experience of them in 30 years, he said.
Social media sites over that weekend were mostly devoted to the midnight rattling, as residents attempted to make sense of what was happening.
For more on this story go to:
Cayman Islands Church welcomes MICE!!!
Church Mice – Big Craft Fair
At
St Alban’s Church, 461 Sheddon Road
on
Friday, 21st November
From
1.00 pm until 7.30 pm
And
Saturday, 22nd November
From
9.00am until 2.00pm
Come and see new craft items by the Church Mice
And be early to buy Christmas decorations, cards and presents!
Medicinal marijuana researcher joins Jamaican company
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday November 13, 2014, CMC – Dr. William Courtney, a highly regarded international Cannabidol (CDB) specialist, has joined the local based Timeless Herbal Care (THC), to assist in research and development.
According to THC, he will be part of a team of international and local researchers at the Timeless Medical Research Centre, at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus.
Courtney is recognized as an international leader in medicinal marijuana treatment and is also a member of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine.
THC, is a Jamaican company that is focused on developing medical products from Jamaican herbs and in September, established a partnership with the UWI to establish the Herbal Medicine Research Centre.
With Dr. Courtney joining THC, the company is expressing optimism that he will help to attract thousands of patients to Jamaica to receive herbal treatments.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/medicinal-marijuana-researcher-joins-jamaican-company#ixzz3IyHZT3EE
Bermuda premier ‘shocked’ following shooting of four on Remembrance Day holiday
From Caribbean360
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Thursday November 13, 2014, CMC – Premier Michael Dunkley has expressed “shock and concern” after four men were shot outside Somerset Cricket Club on Tuesday, the Remembrance Day holiday, when Bermudians honoured its veterans and dead from two world wars.
Bermuda has long been plagued by gang violence.
The four men sustained gunshot wounds after a lone man opened fire at a group of men outside the club at the island’s west end.
“While most Bermudians were observing this Remembrance Day, the holiday was denigrated by the reckless and callous actions of a few,” said Dunkley, who is also National Security Minister.
“These latest shootings remind us that this issue of gang violence continues to demand our undivided attention as leaders, citizens and as a community who want the best for our young people.
“As the police devote all necessary resources to the investigation of these crimes, I renew the call for anyone with information to make contact with the police directly or via the anonymous CrimeStoppers hotline. If you know something, say something.”
Police are investigating a possible link between the shooting outside the cricket club and an earlier incident outside the National Sports Centre on the outskirts of Hamilton. No one was injured in that incident.
Sandys North Central parliamentarian Dennis Lister described the evening’s events as “tragic”.
“I was up at the National Sports Centre when the first incident occurred, but no one expected this kind of follow-up. I would call on everyone to remain calm at this moment. This could be the start of an escalation, but we do not want to see that.”
Alfred Maybury, president of Somerset Cricket Club, said upcoming events at the club as well as its Friday night football fixture had been postponed in the wake of the shootings.
Celebrated Portraits from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris [at Fort Worth Tx]
From Dallas news
Featuring 74 masterworks from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, by Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and many more.
Faces of Impressionism is organized by the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, with gratitude for exceptional loans from the collection of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
It is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Free admission to the permanent collection. Admission required for the special exhibition.
Cayman Islands police denies SPC McFarlane was fired
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) has denied reports that one of its own, Miguel McFarlane, was fired.
From RCIPS Press Release
“RCIPS wishes to clarify amidst rumours that Neighbourhood Officer and Senior Police Constable Miguel McFarlane has not been demoted or transferred from the Harbour Front.”
Superintendent of the RCIPS Uniform Branch Angelique Howell said SPC McFarlane has not been demoted; in fact he has been given additional supervisory responsibilities in coordinating the patrols of other beat officers within the district of George Town.
“He still covers the water front and like his colleagues, can be seen between the hours of 8:00am and 10:00pm. These hours are shift based commencing as mentioned from 8:00am to 4:00pm & 1:00pm to 10:00pm. The area of coverage includes parts of the Seven Mile Beach area or Southern West Bay Road,” read the police defense.
Adorable Autumn is seeking her forever home in Cayman Islands
From CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
You may recall our appeal for a foster home for sweet Autumn last month. Autumn was rescued from the bush having been found with an embedded collar and in a bit of a mess. Well fast forward 4 weeks on and look at how our girl has healed! Autumn has been in a fantastic foster home for the past month and has proved herself to be just one cute, adorable, loving, playful girl. Her neck wound is all healed up and she is fit and healthy and ready for the next big step of finding her forever place.
Autumn is approximately 10 – 12 months old and is a Shepherd/Collie mix, and as you can see from her photos she is fully grown and a medium-sized dog weighing in at 45 lbs.
Autumn is a super smart girl, a quick leaner and keen to impress her people, having already mastered sit, down and roll. Her recall is also very impressive. She gets along really well with all dogs she has met and just loves to run and play. She has a bundle of energy as any young dog does, she definitely enjoys getting out and about on walks and swims, she would do well at Doggy day care.
Really, we just can’t say enough good things about her, she truly will be a wonderful companion for the person or family that adopts her.
Autumn is up to date on her vaccinations and preventatives, is spayed and extremely healthy. As part of her adoption, CARE will sponsor her remaining vaccination as well as a microchip and a 6 month supply of Heartguard. If you are interested in meeting Autumn and adopting or fostering-to-adopt or taking her on a sleepover then please do contact CARE on 938 2273 or e-mail [email protected]
for more information.
Please do help spread the word for this sweetheart so she can find her happy ever after.
Ask for the video on Adoptable Autumn.
Trinidad manufacturers want ‘all stakeholders’ to find solution to crime wave
From Caribbean360
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) has called on all stakeholders including non government organisations to join in finding a solution to the high level of murders here, saying that it is also affecting the competitive nature of the oil-rich twin island republic.
Last year, 407 people were murdered and so far this year, seven persons have been killed including a pastor.
“Four hundred murders for 2013 is 400 too many for our society. We need all stakeholders (government and non-government) on board to work toward resolving this very serious problem in order to move forward with our nation’s developmental goals,” the TTMA said in a statement.
It said crime was affecting everyone in society and warned that the cost of doing business was becoming even greater due to high security costs, as well as employees’ inability to work night shifts out of fear for safety.
“These costs act as a disincentive to investors, and affect the country’s overall competitiveness. Crime and theft are cited as the main factors affecting business in Trinidad and Tobago according to the World Economic Forum’s 2013 Global Competitiveness Report,” the TTMA said.
The TTMA called for stakeholders to conscientiously work together toward resolving the problem in a meaningful, sustainable and impactful manner.
“Issues of protection of our borders and scanners at the port should be fast tracked. Trinidad and Tobago has a plethora of legislation in place to deal with crime at all levels; however there is a deficiency in enforcement, detection and conviction. Measures need to be put in place to deal with these short-comings.
“The TTMA appreciates that a safe and secure environment is one that leads to increased productivity and thus is prepared to work with the Minister of National Security, the government and all stakeholders to engage this process,” the Association said.
For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/trinidad_tobago_news/1105037.html?utm_source=Caribbean360+Newsletters&utm_campaign=35787bc3e8-Vol_9_Issue_002_News1_3_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_350247989a-35787bc3e8-39393477#ixzz2pNtBeFJY
