iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands businessman pleads guilty to distributing narcotics
Cayman Islands businessman, Bryce Merren (47), has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Merren appeared in a US court in Puerto Rico on Thursday (11 December) and agreed to a plea arrangement.
Merren is also being held charged with attempting to sell, distribute or dispense cocaine and money laundering. Both these charges are being held in a state of suspension until the sentencing date.
Merren was arrested in March.
Cayman Islands Olympics gear for sale to raise funds
(CIOC) The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee is holding a fundraiser from 15-19 December where persons will have the chance to purchase Official Cayman Islands gear from the various games. On sale will be everything from t-shirts and fleeces to running shoes and baseball caps that have been worn at various Games over the last 8 years.
With very limited numbers and sizes available once it’s gone, it’s gone. We urge those keen on owning the sort after kit to stop by the CIOC office first thing Monday.
Prices vary from $10 to $100 and these items will be a unique gift for you or your loved ones this holiday season. We will be closing the office on Wednesday, December 17th and will be set up on the Crescent at Camana Bay for this fundraiser. The office will close on Friday, December 19th at 12pm for the holidays (and auditing). The office is located at 6 Windward Centre, 93 Smith Rd, George Town.
All items will be available at cost – no bargaining will be accepted. All funds raised will go directly into funding Caymanian athletes. Any remaining gear will be donated to developing sports team in need of team kit. No items have been worn, all were ordered in addition to the clothing worn by our National Teams.
For more information contact Tel: 345 946 6984 or Email: cioc@candw.ky
Website: www.caymanolympic.org.ky
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CaymanIslandsOlympicCommittee
Vulnerability and challenges in the Caribbean discussed in Cuba
(Prensa Latina) Vulnerability, challenges and cooperation amid the small countries in the Caribbean will be the subjects of the discussions during the 8th International Conference on Caribbean Studies at the University of Havana.
Other topics to be discussed are the priorities of the agenda for the development of Caricom countries members, financial services, environmental and tourism challenges, among others.
Participants attending the meeting, which is held at the headquarters of the Higher Institute of International Relations Raul Roa Garcia, agreed on the need to set new standards for the teaching of Caribbean history.
In this regard, Dexter Rose, Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, told the Prensa Latina news agency that today the meeting will tackle the subject of unity in the Caribbean, but taking as a starting point the assessment of who we are and where we come from to continue building our future.
Rose, invited to the meeting that closes tomorrow, lamented that ignorance prevails on Caribbean history.
“I do not blame anyone, but we need to know the processes of history”, highlighted Rose, who studied in Cuba.
“Now we are beginning a new stage, in which integration is strengthened, hence the importance of teaching Caribbean history in educational institutions”, said Rose.
“It is all in deepening our history, the history of the Caribbean peoples, from the natives who were not Indians, as Europeans called Tainos, Caribs and Arawuacos”, said Rose.
“If necessary, it would be a great initiative to use teachers to pass on their knowledge on the Caribbean in educational institutions, hence the importance of this conference we are holding in Havana”, said Rose.
For more: http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3361791&Itemid=1
Cayman Islands Seamen announce seafaring calendar for sale
The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association’s (CISA) 2015 calendar is now on sale at $15 at the Seafarer’s Hall in Prospect. Funds raised will assist with medical and funeral expenses of former seafarers, their wives and widows.
The calendar has images of Cayman crafted schooners and descriptions of nautical terms and can also teach you a few things about Cayman’s maritime history.
Why a village with 500 residents mails more than 10,000 Christmas cards from its post office every year
By Mary Beth Quirk From Consumerist
How is it possible that in a village that boasts a population of only about 500 people sends more than 10,000 Christmas cards from its post office every year? Is it because each person in town has 200 friends? Or is it because the town has something special to do with Christmas?
It’s the second reason: As well all know, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the esteemed ringleader of all Santa Claus’ flying crew, ever since that whole foggy night situation. As such, his fame has made the village of Rudolph, WI a popular place when the holidays roll around, reports the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune.
People from all around have mailed more than 10,000 cards that will be mailed on Saturday, from as far away as Santa, just so their holiday cards for loved ones can be stamped by the Rudolph post office and get the special postal marking the post offices issues every year at this time. It features a bright red reindeer and reads, “Rudolph, WI, home of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” in a tradition that started back in 1945.
One woman drove 45 minutes just to get her Christmas cards stamped with the Rudolph ink stamps, saying she and her husband are sending out 100 cards from Rudolph this year. She says her grandkids get a kick out of the mail from Rudolph.
“They just think it’s fun, too — and we do, too,” she said. “And it’s a nice outing.”
The last batch of cards that will be mailed go out Dec. 13, and will be even more festive this year as the U.S. Postal Service has new Rudolph stamps to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the claymation classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
“It’s been very strong, very strong this year. We have issued an awful lot of stamps,” said the Rudolph Postmaster, who admits even she bought more stamps than she thought she would.
“I know I’m sending out a few extra cards because of them.”
As they say, when in Rudolph…
Cayman Islands golf tournaments will now have an additional course to play
Cayman Islands Golf Association (CIGA) have announced they will also hold competitions at the Ritz-Carlton’s Blue Tip course in addition to the traditional North Sound Club.
In the past, Blue Tip had been available only to guests and owners at the Ritz-Carlton. Starting in 2013, however, it has gradually opened membership options for the general public, which led to an agreement with CIGA.
Here’s what happens when thousands of gamers pack a sports arena to watch esports
By Alex Wilhelm From Techcrunch
At an event in San Jose this weekend, TechCrunch went full esports. The confab, the Intel Extreme Master digital tournament, saw professional players from around the world duke it out in League of Legends and Starcraft 2, two of the most popular video games around.
The event was more than just a tournament, however, with booths, gaming stations, and an oddly flexible laptop also hanging around.
Esports is a growing entertainment category, especially in North America and Europe, where League of Legends has become a household staple. The popularity of streaming services like Twitch, which Amazon picked up for around a billion dollars, has brought competitive video gaming to a wider audience. The event in San Jose was testament to that fact. If you asked yourself five years ago if there would be an event in a hockey stadium for computer games, it would have sounded silly. Now, it seems almost pedestrian.
Expect more of this sort of thing in the States. With video games themselves becoming increasingly normal, their upper end on the skill side of things will only grow.
For more and video go to: http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/10/heres-what-happens-when-thousands-of-gamers-pack-a-sports-arena-to-watch-esports/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
Cayman Islands police “rely heavily on the public to track fugitives”
Speaking on local television CITN/Cayman27 last Friday (12) Chief Inspector Claudia Brady said the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) relies heavily on the support of the public to track down fugitives.
Brady was speaking after it was revealed, following a Freedom of Information request, that between 29th August 2000 and 13th October 2014 s 506 outstanding warrants were issued. These ranged from traffic offences to assault and drug charges.
Because little revenue would be produced from the minor offences there was no incentive to pursue them she said. However, the RCIPS were working with immigration as a lot of the warrants were for persons who had left the islands. If they came back they would be nabbed.
She encouraged persons who knew any residents who had an outstanding warrant to become a police informer.
Texas State Aquarium breaks ground on its ‘Caribbean Journey’
From CBS Action 10 News
CORPUS CHRISTI-Groundbreaking started today at the Texas state aquarium to make it a whole lot bigger.
Aquarium officials, along with city and state leaders, turned the first mounds of dirt of what will become “The Caribbean Journey”.
The 4-story, 50-million dollar exhibit will include a live shark tank and a 4-d theater, along with the sights and sounds of wildlife in the Caribbean.
Officials say this expansion completes the aquarium’s 24-year-old master plan, which they say will elevate the popular attraction to the next level.
“With this new expansion, the Caribbean Journey, the Texas State Aquarium now poises itself to not be the best in the state of Texas, but now hopefully, among the top in the nation”, said State Representative Abel Herrero
The entire project is scheduled to open in 2017.
For more and video go to: http://www.kztv10.com/news/texas-state-aquarium-breaks-ground-on-it-s-caribbean-journey-/
Cayman Islands sports centre up for sale
The Kings Sports Centre in George Town Grand Cayman, Cayman islands is up for sale according to a listing on Cayman Property MLS website.
The asking price is US$7,195,121 and the price includes the business, building and all sports equipment. Sports included are indoor hockey rink which is also used for football, basketball, and roller skating and an outdoor climbing tower. There is a 4 lane bowling alley 2 squash courts, 2 steam rooms, 2 large locker rooms with showers and lockers a dance/yoga studio and a kitchen. Also included in the price is a full LIQUOR LICENSE. This is a turn key business ready for a new owner to take it to the next level.
For more: http://www.cireba.com/mobile/mls/403891
Next-gen AMD graphics to be codenamed ‘Caribbean Islands’
By Ryan Martin From Hexus
In the game of to-and-fro that is the graphics card market Nvidia’s newest Maxwell architecture, spearheaded by the impressive GeForce GTX 980, remains a thorn in AMD’s side. As we progress into the new year AMD is aiming to retain competitiveness through a combination of aggressive pricing and software updates. However, the question that many want answered is what comes next?
According to reports, which have a mostly-reliable track record for AMD leaks, there will be a two-part response. First, AMD will launch a faster revision of its GCN Hawaii architecture that takes advantage of a matured manufacturing process, and this is slated for an early 2015 release. Then, during summer of 2015, AMD will, if predictions hold true, launch a new series of GPUs with the codename ‘Caribbean Islands.’
The launch window for Caribbean Islands is subject to change at this early stage, of course, though a launch between June to August is most likely. Other details about Caribbean Islands graphics cards, such as whether they will make use of a 16 or 20nm process, are not known. AMD may reveal more information during its investor relations conference in February 2015 but between now and then the descent into the speculation quagmire begins.
For more: http://hexus.net/tech/news/graphics/78189-next-gen-amd-graphics-codenamed-caribbean-islands/
Hospice Care now offered at Cayman Brac Faith Hospital
The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA) and Cayman HospiceCare (CHC) have partnered to provide palliative care services in the Sister Islands.
Cayman HospiceCare provides quality comfort care to anyone who has cancer or any other end-stage terminal illnesses at no charge to patients or their families. The Palliative Nurse Specialists aim to reduce pain, manage symptoms and attend to the social, psychological and emotional needs of both patients and families. CHC is committed to enhancing the quality of patient’s lives while improving the lives of those affected by death, including providing long-term support for survivors after their loss.
In addition to providing training, Cayman HospiceCare Clinical Manager, Felicia McLean, has recently travelled to Cayman Brac on a number of occasions to support the Faith Hospital team as they cared for four terminally ill patients. Ms Mclean will continue to offer such support as needed.
Walkers Financial donates over US$100,000 to charity
From Loop News
Walkers Financial Services donated over US$100,000 to a number of local charities and community causes during the The Walkers Charity Day .
In a press statement, the firm stated that each summer, it dedicates one day where representatives of local charities seeking financial assistance participate in the Walkers Charity Day, by presenting to the Charity Committee, which is comprised of a cross-section of business support staff and partners.
Fifteen organisations received funds for proposed and current initiatives this year, including the Cayman Crisis Centre, Cayman Hospice Care, Cayman Music School, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Cayman Islands Cancer Society, Feed our Future, Meals on Wheels, National Trust, NCVO Tennis Federation and Verdant Isle Orchid Research.
Among the sponsorships, the Cayman Heart Fund will use the allocated money to assist in the use of free medical screening for local residents.
The Health Service Authority Paediatric Unit will now continue to provide medical equipment, such as beds for children and sleeping chairs for parents. George Town Primary’s Breakfast and Books Programme will proceed with assisting secondary English speaking students with early morning homework assignments, a hearty breakfast and a story book reading before the school day begins.
Walkers partner, David Collins, who is also a member of the Walkers Charity Committee, stated:, “At Walkers we try to support as many deserving causes as possible by making the donations process accessible and efficient. We are particularly proud of our Charity Committee, which comprises staff from various departments throughout the firm and makes the majority of decisions and recommendations on donations”.
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/12/11/walkers-financial-donates-us100000-charity/
Caribbean artistes among Grammy nominees
From The Daily Observer
Nominations for the 57th annual Grammy Awards were announced by The Recording Academy on Friday.
The list of Caribbean nominees are: Nicki Minaj Anaconda, for Best Rap Song, (and) joining her in the category are “Bound 2,” Kanye West & Charlie Wilson; “i,” Kendrick Lamar; “We Dem Boyz,” Wiz Khalifa and “0 to 100/The Catch Up,” Drake
In the Best Reggae Album, Ziggy Marley “Fly Rasta”; Lee “Scratch” Perry, Back on the Controls; Sean Paul, Full Frequency; Shaggy, Out of Many, One Music; Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate, The Reggae Power and Soja, Amid the Noise and the Haste
If Ziggy Marley wins in this category this will be his seventh win, with his first back in 1998. Also, in 1999, Shaggy won his first Grammy for his platinum selling album Boombastic and has been nominated five times for a Grammy Award.
In 2004, Sean Paul also won a Grammy for the album Dutty Rock with an overall four times Grammy nomination. Sly and Robbie have also won a Grammy in 1999 for the album Friends. Both Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and SOJA are first time nominees. SOJA is an American reggae and dub band based in Arlington, Virginia. Their album, Amid the Noise and the Haste features Damian Marley, J Boog and Collie Buddz and has topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Overall in the Grammy nominations, Beyoncé leads with six Grammy nods, giving her a total of 53 for her career making her the most-nominated female artiste in history. Also joining in her in the lead are Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and U2.
Newcomer Smith equalled Beyoncé with six nominations. His nominations were in the big three with album record and song of the year; best new artiste, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album. Stay with Me was picked for both record and song of the year.
The Grammy Awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles on February 8, 2015. (Caribbean Entertainment Magazine)
For more: http://antiguaobserver.com/caribbean-artistes-among-grammy-nominees/
Freshfields hire strengthens Collas Crill’s Jersey Corporate team
By James Qualtrough
Finance and corporate lawyer Nicholas Davies has joined Collas Crill from ‘magic circle’ firm Freshfields as a group partner.
Nick started with Collas Crill in Jersey on 1 December 2014, having previously been based in Freshfields’ Moscow office for four years. Nick has also worked for other ‘magic circle’ firms Linklaters and Allen & Overy.
Nick has extensive experience in the corporate finance space, having advised on international debt and equity capital markets, cross-border structured finance and banking, and corporate transactions, with a particular focus on Russia, the CIS and other emerging markets jurisdictions.
This news follows the recent announcement that Collas Crill is merging with Cayman Islands firm Charles Adams Ritchie & Duckworth (CARD).
Partner and head of the corporate team in Jersey Paul Wilson said: “Nick joins at an exciting time for the firm as we welcome Cayman to the fold. With our other offices in Jersey, Guernsey, London and Singapore, the firm now has real global reach and Nick will look to cement and further develop this. As well as spending a number of years in Moscow, he has worked in Cayman and London and has built up a considerable network of contacts across western Europe, Russia and the other CIS states, the Middle East and North America. I am absolutely delighted to have Nick on board and look forward to introducing him to our local and international clients and intermediaries.”
Nick Davies added: “I am delighted to be joining Collas Crill at such a progressive stage in the firm’s development. The firm’s ambition, culture, client-focus and multi-jurisdictional outlook are very attractive and provide an excellent fit for my practice. I look forward to working with Paul and the rest of the team to further strengthen the firm’s international corporate and commercial offering.”
Freeze placed on hiring Jamaican police in Cayman Islands
From RJR news
There has been a freeze on hiring Jamaican police officers by the Royal Cayman Police Service.
The Cayman Compass is reporting that several contracts that were about to be issued to Jamaican police officers have been put on hold, following the murder conviction last month of Tyrone Findlay.
Findlay, a Jamaican policeman who went to Cayman in 2011 with glowing references from superior officers and a judge in Jamaica, was charged with murder two months later.
Cayman Police Commissioner David Baines said the Cayman Police have now put contract offers to Jamaican officers on hold until it is established which investigating body in Jamaica should be consulted during the recruitment process.
Mr. Baines told the Cayman Compass he had no qualms in general about hiring armed officers from Jamaica, including officers who had been involved in line of duty shootings, which he said are inevitable in a country with serious violent crime.
He said reference checks for all police officers traditionally went through the relevant police headquarters. An additional check through the Jamaican anti-corruption unit was added several years ago.
Commissioner Baines said the senior law enforcement officials who gave references for Findlay appear to have been genuinely unaware of the investigation, which he suggested was being carried out in secret by another unit – the Bureau of Special Investigations.
Findlay remained on the Cayman police payroll until his conviction, returning to duty briefly this year as he awaited trial.
But Baines said the police would continue to recruit from Jamaica and would not shy away from hiring officers with shootings on their record if the use of force was proven to be justified.
For more; http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/freeze-placed-on-hiring-jmaican-police-in-cayman
Cayman Islands may soon have a new director for its London office
Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin announced in the Legislative Assembly last week that the Home Affairs Ministry has received a number of applications from Caymanians for the post of director for the London Office and the recruitment panel has settled on a short list.
Guyanese diplomat new ACP Secretary General
From CANANEWS
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec 10, CMC – Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Community, Dr. P.I. Gomes has been elected as the new Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
Gomes was selected for the period 2015-2020 and defeated two other Caribbean nationals for the post.
For more: http://cananewsonline.com/news/104189-guyanese-diplomat-new-acp-secretary-general.html
New champs to be crowned in Cayman Islands basketball school league
From Digicel Sports Max
A new champion will be crowned in the Cayman Island’s premier youth basketball competition, the Dominos Under-19 Basketball League, on Saturday when unbeaten Bodden Town Wolves takes on John Gray High School Knights. Bodden Town went eight games without loss on the season while the Knights were second with a record of 5-3.
Male and female champions will be crowned on the weekend but it is the boys who have been generating much of the excitement and garnering the bulk of the attention. Sixteen-year Albis Amaya has been a big part of Bodden Town’s success and wants the crowd support to achieve victory.
Amaya is favoured for the Most Valuable Player award. He averages 18.1 points and 16.9 rebounds per game. The double-double machine flexed his muscles in his last regular season game against the 1-7 Game Takers, scoring 14 points and 18 rebounds en route to a 85-19 victory. As usual, he had plenty of help from Javon Seymour (18 points), Michael Brooks (12 points), Rhomar Williams (11 points and 20 rebounds) and Jamel Winton (10 points). David White had eight points in a losing effort.
The Knights have mounted John Gray’s most successful campaign in years. In their last contest, the Knights crushed their schoolmates, the 1-7 John Gray Warriors, 76-17. James Ebanks led the winners with 19 points and Jahmar Dawkins added 18 points.
For more: http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2014/12/12/new-champs-be-crowned-cayman-basketball-school-league
Caribbe TV sponsors Film Caribbean UK Festival
By Pashan Patrick From Soca News
CaribBe TV, the main provider of Caribbean content to the United Kingdom, has come on board as the official sponsor for Film Caribbean UK, the first event of its kind to be held in Britain.
The inaugural film festival will take place from 15th to 18th December and will feature a wide variety of genres such as action, drama and supernatural thrillers. Viewers will have the chance to see films from Antigua, Jamaica St Maarten and Barbados.
The multi-media platform will also host a seminar entitled ‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media ‑ Diversity Matters’. The seminar, to be hosted by CaribDirect, will run from 6:30pm to 10:30pm on Wednesday 17th December at Westminster Kingsway College. The seminar is aims to start a dialogue among stakeholders of Caribbean culture and towards identifying and creating solutions to increase the Caribbean’s media presence in the UK and Europe.
April Jackson, premier ambassador and spokesperson of CaribBe TV, said that the company was keen to support the venture. “I’m delighted that we are able to support the Film Caribbean UK 2014 festival and the ‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media’ seminar,” she said.
Jackson added: “It is extremely important to facilitate and engage discussions with the African and Caribbean community, in order to initiate positive change and to create greater opportunities for young talented aspirants.”
The seminar is also being held in memory of comic genius Felix Dexter, who passed away in 2013. Dotun Adebayo MBE, radio presenter, writer and publisher and celebrity, actor and comedian Richard Blackwood will be the moderators at this year’s seminar.
The following is a list of panellists for the seminar:
Joanna Abeyie – senior showbiz and news journalist
Sajid Javid – Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Michelle Riley – Director Black Visions TV
Ruby Mulraine – former BBC 1Xtra executive
Richard Blackwood – legendary stand-up comic, actor, presenter, broadcaster.
For more: http://www.socanews.com/articles/article.php?CaribBe-TV-sponsors-Film-Caribbean-UK-Festival-1001
Cayman Islands ARK Giving has been extended
It is not too late to return your Giving is Receiving campaign bags to Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness (ARK).
ARK have distributed 3,500 blue bags throughout the community and are hoping they will be returned with stuffed with food and toys for needy families.
The deadline to return fully loaded bags to ARK is now extended to Wednesday, 17th December.
CPL to offer contracts to young cricketers from the Caribbean and ICC Americas Region
From First Look
The Caribbean Premier league (CPL) today announced a new initiative for the 2015 edition, geared towards providing an opportunity for the best U-19 cricketers from the Caribbean, and developing players from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Associate Members in the Americas region, to make the final squad of one of the six franchises taking part in the tournament.
One player from the ICC Associate Members in the Americas region will be assigned to each of the franchises and invited to the training camps being held ahead of the tournament. The young cricketers will join four U-19 West Indies players who will also be assigned to each of the franchises and attend the training camps.
Last year, the U-19 West Indies players attended the camps, but were not eligible to make the final team squads and take part in matches during the league. This will change in 2015, as one of the five young players will make the final squad and be available to play in the tournament proper.
Commenting on the initiative, CPL Cricket Operations Director, Michael Hall, said; “This provides an excellent opportunity for a young player to get a taste of life as a professional cricketer – the travel, the daily practice sessions and the intensity of the actual competition. We took the decision based on feedback from the coaches who were involved last year – they all felt that there was enough talent at the U-19 level to warrant creating an additional roster spot for one of them.”
http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=4022
The Cayman Islands hosts Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit
By: Travel World News Editor
From November 17 – 20, 2015 more than 350 luxury wedding professionals were on-island to learn about wedding industry trends, networking, and experience a taste of what the Cayman Islands has to offer for destination weddings and romance travelers at the 14th engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
The engage!14 Cayman Islands schedule featured insights from 56 luxury wedding experts. Cayman Islands Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Moses Kirkconnell officially opened the summit. Brides Magazine Editor-in-Chief Keija Minor started the program by sharing insights from Condé Nast’s bi-annual wedding survey. Attendees also heard from event designers Bryan Rafanelli, Marcy Blum, Mindy Weiss and David Beahm.
Throughout the week, summit attendees had the opportunity to experience the Cayman Islands. They spent afternoons on Jet Ski Safaris at Stingray City, taking island tours and exploring the Botanic Park. A dine-around event on Tuesday evening gave attendees the chance to enjoy dinner at one of 19 participating restaurants.
Discussion focused on specialized topics from the concept of “glocal” (global planning with local implementation) in destination weddings, the exceptional bespoke options in the luxury wedding industry, and ways for luxury wedding businesses to expand their offerings and target their clientele.
A group of attendees also experienced the Sister Islands during a one-day extension to the engage! experience. Small groups visited both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. And for the first time, Cayman Islands wedding professionals were invited to attend mini engage! – a half day summit featuring a selection of engage! speakers and experts in destination weddings and media sharing their insights with Cayman Islands private sector partners.
For more: http://travelworldnews.com/2014/12/11/cayman-islands-hosts-engage-luxury-wedding-business-summit/
Nicaragua steps up search for 26 missing fishermen after ship sinks in Caribbean
AFP From The Tico Times
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Nicaraguan air and naval teams intensified the search Friday for 26 people missing in the Caribbean after their lobster boat sank with a crew of 50 on board three days ago.
Boats and helicopters scoured an area some 55 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of the small coastal town of Puerto Cabezas, where the boat was believed to have sunk, an army statement said.
So far, 24 crew members have been found alive, but there has been “no sign” of the other 26 missing, First Lady Rosario Murillo told state media.
The Nicaragua-flagged ship sank Tuesday due to rough seas while fishing, the military said. The lobster boat was initially reported as having sunk on Thursday.
After leaving port on Monday, the boat was struck by a strong wave while the crew slept, local media reported after interviewing survivors.
The military said the wave hit the boat sideways, causing it to capsize.
It took eight hours for the boat to sink, leaving crew members time to grab what they could from the craft to stay afloat, according to a report on state-run Radio Ya.
Authorities have not reported any deaths, and the families of those still missing are waiting at the port of Puerto Cabezas for news, TV’s Channel 4 reported.
Nine of the crew were rescued by a passing sailboat while 15 others were able to swim to safety or were picked up by other small boats, authorities said.
Fishing boats typically employ swimmers of indigenous origin or of African descent who live in this remote and impoverished coastal region of Nicaragua.
Cayman Islands Yellow Pages is interactive
The 2015 Cayman Islands Yellow Pages is interactive with high tech they call ““augmented reality”.
If you have a smart phone or a tablet their devices can be used to launch interactive content such as video clips and picture galleries.
The Yellow Pages publishers are hoping the high tech elements of the new edition will be able to compete with other tech-based platforms.
Of course if you are not high tech you can use the new Yellow Pages exactly as before.
Caribbean needs final push to achieve world food summit goal says FAO
From BessFM
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says while Latin America and the Caribbean have achieved 92 per cent progress towards the World Food Summit (WFS) goal of halving the total number of people suffering hunger, a final push is needed to fully achieve it. According to the FAO’s regional flagship report, for the “Panorama of Food and Nutritional Security 2014”, to achieve this goal, 2.75 million people must overcome hunger in the region by 2015. The report says this requires governments to redouble their efforts, considering that the average reduction over the last 20 years has been 1.4 million people per year. “Eleven countries in the region have already achieved the World Food Summit goal. Considering the region’s renewed commitment to food security, there is reason to believe that during 2015 Latin America and the Caribbean could make this giant leap towards the eradication of hunger,” said Raul Benitez, FAO’s Regional Representative. Benitez said that initiatives such as the Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) the region’s main integration body, can provide the necessary impetus for the region to meet the WFS goal. He said the plan is expected to be adopted by the upcoming Presidential Summit of CELAC in January 2015. According to “Panorama 2014”, in absolute numbers, hunger in the region fell from 68.5 million to 37 million people in just over 20 years. It says the greatest reduction has occurred in Latin America – from 60.3 million in 1990-92 to 29.5 million at present; while, in the Caribbean, the decrease was lower: from 8.1 million people to 7.5 million. As a region, the report says Latin America and the Caribbean has reduced hunger from 15.3 per cent of its total population in 1990-91 to 6.1 per cent in 2012-14, having met the hunger target of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before the 2015 deadline. The report says 14 countries – Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, and Venezuela have managed to achieve this goal; while four others – Bolivia, Colombia, Honduras and Suriname show more than 90 per cent progress towards it. Despite the fact that there has been greater hunger reduction in Latin America than in the Caribbean, the report says it is important to note that 80 per cent of those who suffer hunger in the entire Latin America and the Caribbean region live in countries of Latin America. In 2005, the region pioneered a proposal and pledged to eradicate hunger by the year 2025, creating the Hunger Free Latin America and Caribbean Initiative.
For more: http://www.bessfm.com/caribbean-needs-final-push-to-achieve-world-food-summit-goal-says-fao/
Cayman Islands Cancer Society releases Christmas card selection
The Cayman Islands Cancer Society has launched a special collection of Christmas cards celebrating both the festive season and the opening of the islands’ new Chemotherapy Unit.
The cards, which are available in sets of 12, feature prints that hang on the walls of the Chemotherapy Unit and a selection of original photos donated by Cancer Registrar Amanda Nicholson, who is an artist and photographer in her spare time.
Jennifer Weber, Operations Manager of the Cancer Society, said: “Our cards are not typically Christmassy this year. People seem to be intrigued by them because they have Cayman seascapes instead of the usual holiday images on the front. People wonder how seascapes, cancer, chemo units and Christmas cards all tie together, but as soon as they read the back of the cards, they understand; because we hear them murmur, ‘Awwwww’ and ‘That’s so nice’ or ‘Now I feel inspired.’”
The cards are available for $12 per pack and feature three different images — four of each design, named Faith, Hope and Love. Each card includes an explanation on the back, as well as an artist’s small rendering of the Chemotherapy Unit.
The cards can be purchased, while supplies last, at the Cancer Society office at 114 Maple Road, in front of the Cayman Islands Hospital. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will go toward the ongoing costs of the new Chemotherapy Unit.
The unit opened in July when the Cancer Society completed a project to build a new chemotherapy facility in a building formerly occupied by the Lighthouse School.
For more: http://loopcayman.com/2014/12/13/cancer-society-releases-christmas-card-selection/
Jamaica gets U.N. help against drug smugglers
From Fox News Latino
The government of Jamaica announced on Thursday the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations to implement the Airport Communication Project, or AIRCOP, at the country’s two main airports to curb drug smuggling.
The project is an initiative of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, known as UNODC, the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL, and its goal is to disrupt illegal networks disseminating drugs and other illicit products, the government said in a statement.
“This initiative will provide us with some of the support needed to mount an even stronger response. It will be facilitated by the establishment of two joint interdiction task forces, one at the Norman Manley International Airport and the second at Sangster International Airport,” Jamaica’s transport minister, Omar Davis, said at the signing ceremony.
UNODC’s law enforcement expert for Central America and the Caribbean, Bob Van den Berghe, said AIRCOP will provide real-time communication between international sources, transit and destination airports in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The AIRCOP project is funded by the European Union and currently covers 25 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/12/11/jamaica-gets-un-help-against-drug-smugglers/
Cayman Islands swimming: Hew, Bishop impress overseas
From Digicel Sportsmax
Lauren Hew and Finn Bishop both set new Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association and CBAC records during recent performances at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Qatar and at the Mega City meet in Canada.
In Doha, Hew posted personal best swims in the 50-meter freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100 individual medley, all in new CBAC records. Her 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke times were also new CIASA and Cayman national records. She also swam a lifetime best in the 100m IM.
Meanwhile in the cold north of Toronto, Bishop was the most impressive of eight swimmers, most of whom established personal best marks. Bishop won the boys 9-10 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, and 200m IM. His 200m IM time established new CBAC and CIASA records and he became the first boy in Cayman swimming history to break the three-minute barrier.
Emily Link was also a multiple-event winner, placing first in the girls 11-12 50m and 100m freestyles. She also achieved CARIFTA consideration times in the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
Laura Shaw was also amazing as she dropped nine seconds off her previous best time in the 200m backstroke. Summer Phillips dropped 23 seconds in her previous best in the 200m freestyle.
“The kids swam lights out at both meets,” said Coach Dave Bott. “And we would not be able to have these opportunities without the help of our sponsor, Maples FS. We are proud to have represented them, CBAC, and the Cayman Islands so well.”
CBAC swimmers will next compete in the CIASA Winter Splash at the Lions Pool this weekend.
For more: http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2014/12/13/cayman-swimming-hew-bishop-impress-overseas
Call for Papers IFLA WLIC 2015: Libraries in Latin America and the Caribbean: agents of social transformation and development
From IFLA World Library and Information Congress
81st IFLA General Conference and Assembly
15-21 August 2015, Cape Town, South Africa
The IFLA Latin America and the Caribbean Section invites interested professionals in different areas of Library and Information Sciences to submit proposals for the open session to be held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Theme:
Libraries in Latin America and the Caribbean: agents of social transformation and development
The topics covered in the session will be the following:
Social Inclusion in libraries
Social value of libraries
Social responsibility of libraries and librarians
Libraries and librarians as agents of social transformation
Democratic access to the information and freedom of expression
Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in institutions of the region
Actions for Sustainable Development in Libraries
Libraries as mediators of knowledge and local information
Innovation in library services
New professional roles
Advocacy of the library/librarian profession
Building communities across the libraries
Deadline for proposals: 15 February 2015
The full call for papers is available on the IFLA WLIC 2015 website at: http://conference.ifla.org/ifla81
Caribbean optimism
From CANA
By Kenton X. Chance LIMA, Peru, Dec. 10, CMC — The 15-member Caribbean (CARICOM) says it is “heartened” by the call of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for development finance to be linked to funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“Investments in addressing climate change will propel gains in broader development goals. Conversely, investments made in development must be aligned with our climate aims.
“Just as climate issues are not separate from development issues –climate finance cannot be treated separately from development finance. They are quite literally two sides of the same coin,” Ban told the opening of the High-Level Segment of the global climate change summit here on Tuesday (9).
For more: http://cananewsonline.com/news/104175-caribbean-optimism.html