iNews Briefs
“Not Guilty of murder” says jury in Cayman Islands trial over killing of Swiss banker
Leonard Antonio Ebanks was unanimously found not guilty of murder but guilty of an accessory after the fact by a jury on Monday (8).
Ebanks was on trial for killing Frederic Bise (40), a Swiss banker, in 2008.
The body of Bise was found in the trunk of a burned out car in the Mount Pleasant area of West Bay and a second man, Chad Anglin – Ebanks’ cousin, was found guilty of the crime earlier this year.
Justice Charles Quin took 2 ½ hours to execute his summation and he instructed the jury they could return the alternative guilty verdict of accessory if the believed he had assisted in the aftermath of the murder.
The only evidence against Ebanks came from two women who said Ebanks had told them he had been involved in Bise’s murder with Anglin. However, there were significant differences in their evidence.
Ebanks when he took the stand claimed both the women were lying – one was his ex-lover and she was doing this out of malice because he had gone back to his wife and the other was a helper at a West Bay drug yard and needed the money as she was in a witness protection programme. She had given evidence against him in the murder of Tyrone Burrell in 2010 where he was found guilty of that murder and has received a life sentence.
The judge will hand down his sentence on Wednesday (10).
CBS, Dish Network reach deal to end blackout
By Martin Crutsinger from Huffington Post
WASHINGTON (AP) — CBS Corp. and TV provider Dish Network Corp. have reached an agreement that ends a contract dispute that led to a short programming blackout in local markets around the country, the companies announced Saturday.
CBS had blocked Dish from carrying the local channels of CBS-owned TV stations for about 12 hours starting around 7 p.m. Eastern time Friday. The 18 markets affected included New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston and Miami.
In a joint statement Saturday, the companies said they had reached a multiyear deal that will allow Dish to carry CBS-owned TV stations nationwide as well as various cable channels, including the CBS Sports Network, the Smithsonian Channel and Showtime. Dish has about 14 million subscribers.
For more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/06/cbs-dish-network-blackout_n_6281644.html
Ironwood development in the Cayman Islands has no firm start date
The $360M Ironwood development in East End, Grand Cayman, has not got the start date it was hoping for.
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who was sitting next to golfing legend Arnold Palmer, at a press conference on Monday (8), said the lawyers were “dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s” on the public private partnership deal, that will see an extension to the east west arterial road and Ironwood developer David Moffitt confirmed this.
He said he had hoped the deal would have been concluded by now but because of Christmas approaching everything has slowed down. He was confident, however, breaking ground on the project was close. “We are on the home stretch,” he said.
The signing of the agreements and the construction had been scheduled to start in October.
The Ironwood community will be one of the Caribbean’s premier real estate and golf developments stretching over 600 acres featuring a Town Centre with boutique shops, restaurants, entertainment and various lodging options for all ages and tastes. In addition, Ironwood will boast a sports training complex, a vacation resort and the first Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole championship golf course in the Caribbean. Each golf hole will blend the modern style of strategically placed water hazards and challenging greens with the natural beauty of the Ironwood community, resulting in a signature Arnold Palmer design.
New USAID Director for Caribbean appointed
By GuyanaTimes
The United States Embassy has officially announced the appointment of Christopher M Cushing as the Mission Director for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
Cushing, who has been on the job since October 21, is based in Bridgetown, Barbados, the Embassy said in a release. Most recently, Cushing served as USAID Mission Director in Ecuador from August 2013 to September 2014. Prior to this, he served as the Director of the Strategy, Budget and Programme Office for USAID’s Latin American and the Caribbean Bureau (LAC) programmes, subsequent to serving as Deputy Director of LAC’s Regional Sustainable Development Office, which comprised technical and sectoral staff.
He was also strategy team leader for Latin America and the Caribbean Strategy, Budget and Programme Office and a Supervisory Programme Officer in Panama and Honduras. Prior to joining USAID, Cushing served in Peace Corps staff in Paraguay and Costa Rica as Training Coordinator and in Slovakia and the Baltics as Programme and Training Officer.
The Embassy said it also takes this opportunity to inform of the name change of the USAID office from USAID Barbados and Eastern Caribbean to USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The name change now more appropriately reflects the countries in which USAID assistance programmes are implemented, including the Southern Caribbean countries of Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and where US Embassies with which USAID coordinates are also present.
Cayman Islands Optimist Club outlines Internet safety for kids
Keep Safe! Keep Away! Keep Telling!
I keep safe my personal information – all of it!
I keep away from Internet strangers!
I keep telling my parents or a trusted adult about everything I see on the Internet.
That is the message the Optimist Club of George Town, Grand Cayman gave to parents and students last Friday (5) in a presentation on how to identify potential online predators and how to protect themselves.
To download the Internet Safety for Kids programme go to: http://www.optimistcayman.com/internet-safety.html
Caribbean Court of Justice to hear Belize nationalization case
From Fox News Latino
The Caribbean Court of Justice will take up on Wednesday the nationalization case pitting the government of Belize against British Caribbean Bank and businessman Dean Boyce.
The court will spend three days listening to arguments in six consolidated appeals lodged against Belize by Dean Boyce & Trustees of the BTL Employees Trust, British Caribbean Bank Ltd and Fortis Energy International (Belize) Inc.
In 2009, the government of Belize enacted a number of statutes citing a public purpose for the compulsory acquisition of utility companies BTL and BEL properties, belonging to Boyce and British Caribbean Bank Ltd.
Boyce and BCB successfully challenged the constitutionality of the government’s actions in the Court of Appeal.
The government responded in 2011 by passing additional legislation to address the problems cited by the Court of Appeal, whose decision to uphold the nationalizations based on the amended statutes prompted Boyce and the other plaintiffs to appeal to the CCJ.
The 12 CCJ member states are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. EFE
Company Short Term Price Targets: Qunar Cayman Islands Limited
From Daily Joplin December 9 2014
Qunar Cayman Islands Limited (NASDAQ:QUNR) should head towards $32.33 per share according to 3 Analysts in consensus. However, if the road gets shaky, the stock may fall short to $30 per share. The higher price estimate target is at $36 according to the Analysts. Shares of Qunar Cayman Islands Limited (NASDAQ:QUNR) have spiked on strong buying. The shares maintained upward bias since opening the day higher at $24 and closed with hefty gains of 0.17 points or 0.7%, at $24.31. The positive momentum was complimented by a strong volume of 916,797 shares. The previous day close of the price was $24.14. Market participants should note that the 52-week high of the shares is at $36.73. Qunar Cayman Islands Limited (NASDAQ:QUNR) has a market cap of $319 million and the total number of outstanding shares is 13,111,000. The 52-week low of the share price has been registered at $21.
Cayman Island Passport stocks are low says premier
“The implementation of the repatriation centralisation of passports has been delayed yet again to May 2015. Until the repatriation is complete, the Cayman Islands Passport Office will continue to manufacture Cayman passports from its current stock but stocks are running out and indeed may be finished by the time the United Kingdom implements its new system,” warned Cayman Islands Premier, Alden McLaughlin in the Legislative Assembly last Monday (8).
Cayman passports will still bear the name “Cayman Islands” on them he confirmed.
St Lucia shaken by earthquake
From Caribbean Journal
The island of St Lucia was shaken by a 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Sunday, according to the USGS.
The quake, which struck at a depth of 36 kilometers, was around 61 km east of the town of Micoud and around 108 kilometers southeast of Le Francois in Martinique.
The strongest reports of shaking were in St Lucia’s capital, Castries, along with reports of shaking around the airport area in Martinique.
The quake struck at around 11:35 AM local time in St Lucia.
There were not any reports of damage or injuries resulting from the quake.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/12/07/st-lucia-shaken-by-earthquake/
Cayman Islands Port Authority Manager will get contract renewed
Following in the wake of Cayman Islands Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick’s evaluation of the agency’s financial statements between 2011 and 2013 where he said the Cayman Islands Port Authority’s losses prompted significant concern about its ability to continue operating, Paul Hurlston its Managing Director, has been informed his contract will not be renewed. His 6 year contract was due for renewal in May 2015.
Vehicle crashes into crowd at St Vincent NDPmeeting leaving 1 dead, several injured
From New Democratic Party – Press Release
December 7, 2014
At about 10:30 p.m. on Sat. Dec 6 2014, at a New Democratic Party [NDP] public meeting at the Clare Valley hard court, a black 4-door motor vehicle bearing registration number P7516 drove directly into the crowded meeting space, pinning five attendees under the parked motor vehicle on which they rested, as well as impacting at least five others.
When the vehicle rested, passengers alighted and at least one person fled the scene and was apprehended by police, where he remains in custody.
Witnesses confirm the vehicle was heard to be revving before ploughing into the crowd; its headlights were turned off; and that the vehicle had driven past the public meeting twice before the incident.
Ten injured persons, including a child, were taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital by medical, police and private transportation. Mr Edgar Cruickshank, who was among persons pinned underneath the car, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, just past midnight, despite the efforts of medical personnel. Cruickshank had recently begun campaigning with NDP MP and Candidate Nigel Nature Stephenson in the South Leeward Constituency and his presence at the public meeting was acknowledged by Nigel who hailed it as a Clare Valley first.
Among the injured are retired Nurse Sister Augustine Allen, Mr Winston Phillips, who up to 1:00 a.m. this morning was stated to be in critical condition; videographer Ruff, who sustained broken legs; and Mr. Mikhail Francis whose legs were injured.
The New Democratic Party leadership joins with those who question the circumstances giving rise to the national tragedy at Clare Valley. The NDP extends condolences to the bereaved widow and family of Mr Cruickshank, and wishes a speedy and full recovery to all who suffered injury, physical and mental.
Party Leader Mr Arnhim Eustace appeals for calm and restraint as all Vincentians await the results of a swift, thorough and transparent police investigation.
Cayman Islands District to celebrate Christmas traditions around the world
The Cayman Islands District of Bodden Town, Grand Cayman, is having its very first “Christmas Traditions from Around the World.”
The Bodden Town Heritage Committee has been working hard on the event that features elegantly decorated Christmas trees, a children’s corner, craft exhibitions, caroling, food and beverage samples from seven countries, music, and door prizes. This will all take place at Harry McCoy Senior Park and Nurse Josie’s Senior Center off Gun Square, Bodden Town, on Saturday (13) from 10 a.m. to 6 pm.
Raffle tickets will be on sale at the event costing $5. The grand prize is a Cayman Airways roundtrip ticket. For more information, call Florence Wood on 925-4193 or Emilo Watler on 929-7356.
Royal Caribbean cruise lines name new CEOs
By Emon Reiser From South Florida Business Journal
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named Michael Bayley CEO of Royal Caribbean International and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo CEO of Celebrity Cruises, effective immediately, the company announced Monday.
Bayley was most recently the CEO of Celebrity Cruises, a position he held since July 2012. Previously, he worked his way up from an assistant purser’s position aboard the Nordic Prince and served Royal Caribbean International as executive vice president of operations. He replaced Adam Goldstein.
Lutoff-Perlo also has an extensive history with the company and began her Royal Caribbean Ltd. career as a district sales manager in New England. She was most recently the executive vice president of operations at Royal Caribbean.
The Miami-based cruise line, which owns Royal Caribbean International, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, CDF Croisieres de France and TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture, operates a total of 42 ships across its brands.
Royal Caribbean Cruises is one of the region’s largest employers, ranking 12th in the Business Journal’s 2014 Book of Lists with 3,331 employees.
Royal Caribbean shares were up slightly after the announcement at $79.02 a share. The stock was trading just below its average volume at 2.78 million and was near its 52-week high of $80.18 on Dec. 5. Its 52-week low was $42.81 on Dec. 12, 2013.
Cayman Islands Chamber Annual General Meeting set for 14th January 2015
Cayman Islands Chamber members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting which is scheduled for 14th January 2015 at the Chamber’s offices in Governors Square at 3 p.m.
2014 has been an outstanding year and President Johann Moxam and CEO Wil Pineau, CCE will provide members with an overview of the advocacy and administrative activities that have been undertaken to support, promote and protect the interests of the membership and the public welfare.
President Moxam will recognise several Chamber Champions; member businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to the work of the Chamber in 2014. The annual report and the audited financial accounts for 2013 prepared by PKF Cayman and an overview of the 2014 financial position will be presented the Treasurer Wayne Cowan.
In addition, the election of officers for 2015 will take place. All members in good standing (paid up dues) will be eligible to vote.
Incoming President Barry Bodden will deliver the President’s address outlining the key initiatives to be undertaken and advocated during the Chamber’s 50th anniversary year.
Dominica Election Results: Ruling DLP wins another term
By the Caribbean Journal staff From Virgin Islands News
Dominica’s voters have spoken, and the Dominica Labour Party has earned another term in office, albeit with a slightly smaller majority.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s Dominica Labour Party led the DLP to win 15 of 21 seats in the island’s Parliament, the fourth consecutive electoral win for the party, according to preliminary results.
The DLP defeated the United Workers’ Party led by Opposition Leader Lennox Linton.
The win also bucked a recent trend in the Caribbean of opposition parties sweeping to power, with few exceptions, notably in Barbados.
“I am humbled by the overwhelming response of the electorate of Dominica to our appeal for the mandate to continue to govern Dominica for another five years,” he said.
He said more resources would be devoted to “wiping out poverty and ignorance” on the island.
The election stuck with a trend of DLP rule on the island, which has had eight Prime Ministers in its independent history, with seven belonging to the DLP.
Skerrit first assumed office as Prime Minister in 2004, and remains the youngest Prime Minister in the Caribbean at just 42.
“The best is yet to come,” Skerrit said.
Christmas clean-up spruces up Cayman Islands for the holidays
From Loop News Service
The Chamber of Commerce held its first annual Christmas Clean-up on Saturday, 29 November with over 100 volunteers scouring the roadsides and beaches for trash.
“We are pleased with the response to our first Christmas Clean-up” said Wil Pineau, CCE, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “It is important that local organisations work together to promote the pristine beauty of our Islands, especially during the busy tourist season. Special thanks go out to our sponsors, Carey Olsen, Cayman National, CITCO, Consolidated Water, Dart Cayman Islands, Davenport Development, Junk Ltd., Kensington Management, Power Flower, Rotary Central and Sackville Bank for helping to make the Cayman Islands even more beautiful.”
The Chamber Earth Day Roadside Clean-Up is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 2015.
Start getting your teams ready!
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/12/08/christmas-clean-spruces-islands-holidays/
Grammy hopeful SOJA joins growing list of foreign reggae acts outshining local artistes
From Loop News Service
American band SOJA’s nomination for a Best Reggae Album at next year’s Grammy Awards shows the growing influence of reggae acts in that country.
Their sixth album, Amid The Noise and Haste, was released in July. It has outsold the other nominees which include previous Best Reggae Album winners Ziggy Marley, Sly and Robbie, Shaggy, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Sean Paul.
Amid The Noise and Haste has sold just over 22,000 copies to date. Those are small numbers in terms of music industry figures but is consistent for journeymen acts who earn more from touring than record sales.
In the last five years, similar bands like Rebelution, Christafari, Groundation and John Brown’s Body have dominated the Billboard Reggae Album chart, outselling their Jamaican counterparts.
They have done so through tireless touring, something that won artistes like Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Jimmy Cliff international audiences.
For Amid The Noise and Haste, SOJA recruited Grammy-winning Jamaican Dwayne ‘Supa Dups’ Chin Quee as producer. I Believe, the first single from the set, was released in June.
I Believe features American punk-reggae singer Michael Franti. SOJA toured the United States with Franti’s band Spearhead in the summer.
Cayman Islands Monetary Authority bakes cakes
The Currency Division at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority has gone the sweet way in giving charity this Christmas season!
As part of their ‘Giving Tree’, the staff chose Cayman Hospice Care as their charity to support and recognise the vital role the organisation plays in the Cayman Islands community, Currency Division head Deborah Ebanks explains. The staff baked delectable goodies several times this season for their fundraising sales, with the final one this morning (Friday, 5 December 2014) at the Government Administration Building staff entrance.
Here Currency Division’s Danna Ebanks sells Jane Ebanks a slice from an enticing array that included cassava, carrot, pineapple, confetti, vanilla, red velvet, lemon and chocolate cakes as well as two kinds of cookies.
L-r: CIMA Senior Currency Officer Danna Ebanks and Jane Ebanks Photo: Bina Mani, GIS
Iron prices confirm that China’s economy isn’t doomed
By Rob Wile From Business Insider
Graphic: Morgan Stanley
Most of the economic data out of China hav signaled a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy.
The skeptics believe that China is well on its way to undershooting its official target for 7.5% growth.
However, iron ore prices are defying China’s slowdown, notes Morgan Stanley’s Adam Longson.
While indicators like the manufacturing PMI index have fallen about 7% since spring, the industrial metal prices have shot up about 14%.
Longson says three things are driving up prices:
Strong auto sales
Robust white goods sales
Signs that the government is still going to spend on infrastructure projects like high-speed rail.
On that third point he writes: “Other market participants have maintained that the State Council has agreed to increase investment in the construction of railway and urban infrastructure to prevent GDP growth falling lower than 7.5%.”
Longson expects prices will probably drift lower, but will “remain resilient” at about US$110-143 per ton. Prices could go higher with more federal stimulus.
“In summary, the iron ore price strength adds to other evidence of a mild growth rebound in China,” he says.
For more:
Bahamas Pharmacy Council recommends restriction of codeine-containing medications
From Bahama islandsinfo
NASSAU, Bahamas — It has been brought to the attention of The Bahamas Pharmacy Council by Council Inspectors, that over-the-counter (OTC) preparations of codeine phosphate are being misused by members of the general public.
Codeine Phosphate is a narcotic and is used in low doses in many OTC cough and cold preparations. When used correctly, these are very effective drugs. The Council Inspectors have reported that local pharmacists advise that “a great number of adults as well as school children are purchasing large quantities of the mentioned preparations for personal use, other than the prescribed use.”
The council believes that the misuse of these products is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. As a result, in 2012 the Bahamas Pharmacy Council advised and recommended to all retailers and wholesalers that all products containing codeine be kept behind the prescription counter and given only on the recommendation of a pharmacist or by prescription.
In light of this complaint, and in the best interest of the Bahamian public, The Council has also requested that the Minister of Health consider restricting the sale of products containing codeine phosphate as follows:
Any codeine product less than 10mg of codeine Phosphate:
– To be issued and dispensed only on the recommendation of a licensed pharmacist or physician.
Products containing 10mg of codeine Phosphate or more:
– To be issued and dispensed by “Prescription Only”
The council also recommends that a record be kept in the pharmacy of the name of the purchaser with a photo ID, a signature, the quantity purchased and an address in an effort to control possible abuse.
Symptoms of an overdose of codeine may include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, confusion, cold and clammy skin, weak pulse, shallow breathing, fainting,
or breathing that stops. Codeine may also impair your thinking or reactions. While taking any codeine containing products, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how codeine will affect you.
For alerts and advisories from the Bahamas Pharmacy Council, please visit www.pharmacycouncil.net
For more:
One of the Caribbean’s largest marinas opens at Cuban Resort
From acn Cuban News Agency
HAVANA, Cuba, (acn)- The Melia Marina Varadero Hotel, which has a tourist port of 1,200 berths for small, medium sized and large yachts, began operations at this beach resort, the most important of the island, located north of Matanzas province.
The beautiful facility opened its doors with 198 rooms occupied and 517 national tourists, the Prensa Latina news agency reported.
The five-star facility, with the all-inclusive modality, has 423 rooms, 88 of them suites, and 126 apartments in condominiums.
The hotel is the fruit of a joint venture between the local Gaviota Company and the Spanish Melia hotel chain. With this hotel, Melia accumulates the figure of 26 in Cuba, and for 2016 it plans to inaugurate another, this time in the city of Trinidad, in the central-southern region.
For more: http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2013/0816Largest%20Marinas.htm
