iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands Insurance Managers welcomes new Cayman Finance CEO
The Insurance Managers Association of Cayman congratulates Mr. Jude Scott on his appointment as CEO of Cayman Finance. IMAC Chairperson Rob Leadbetter personally extended his warm wishes: “Mr. Scott is well-known in international financial circles for his deep understanding of the issues and the markets and we are looking forward to working with him on all matters related to the captive insurance industry”, he said.
The Insurance Managers Association of Cayman is an active association representing the captive insurance managers and service providers. IMAC hosts the annual Cayman Captive Forum, which is now the world’s largest captive insurance conference.
Sony will let The Interview be shown on Christmas after all; the President is happy
By Nate Jones From Vulture
Just like Ebenezer Scrooge, Sony is rejecting its Yuletide parsimony after receiving a harsh message from a tall, gaunt stranger. The studio has apparently decided to un-cancel The Interview, allowing selected independent theaters to open the film on Christmas Day. Also, The Wrap reports the movie will premiere on video on demand that same day. Already Atlanta’s Plaza Theater and the Alamo Drafthouse chain have indicated on Twitter that they will brave the terror threats and screen the movie. Either Sony has no idea what it’s doing or this is a masterful, three-dimensional chess scheme to turn a middling buddy comedy into the biggest film of the winter.
Junior tennis in Cayman Islands receives major donation
Former Cayman Islands resident Mike Howard, who passed away earlier this year, was a big supporter of junior tennis.
The Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands’ (TFCI) mini courts are named after Howard’s son Paul, who lost his life in his early teens.
Howard contributed financially to the creation of the Paul Howard courts, along with the Cayman Islands Tennis Club and the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands.
Howard worked at Cayman firm International Management Services (IMS) for 32 years, where he was a director and company manager, as well as head of the insurance department.
A surprise major donation has come from two overseas firms who were long-standing clients of Howard, APIC Insurance Corporation and Virginia Physicians Insurance Company, which have been managed by IMS for many years.
With backing from local sponsors, the TFCI has organized tennis to be taught in all local primary schools in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac in recent years.
The federation also runs the Paul Howard courts on West Bay Road, whose four mini courts are used exclusively for kids ages 10 and under. Use of the Paul Howard courts is free to all juniors. The courts are permanently open.
How to make a cat proof Christmas tree
By Rachel Sacks From Care2
All cat owners know one thing: having cats and a Christmas tree generally don’t mix. Fortunately, you can still decorate your home for the holidays and give your feline friends a present as well. Cole and Marmalade (back from destroying a different Christmas tree) receive toys and fun hiding spots in the form of a tree made out a cat’s favorite thing: boxes.
Go to link at bottom to view video
Note: This also works if you’re a fan of a less “traditional” looking Christmas tree.
For more and video: http://www.care2.com/causes/daily-cute-how-to-make-a-cat-proof-christmas-tree.html#ixzz3Mj9uj0pO
Infrastructure fund to be launched in Cayman Islands in 2015
SOURCE: James Whittaker | [email protected]
Caymanian Bo “Bo Bo” Miller has announced an infrastructure fund that will allow Cayman Islands residents to invest in major capital works. The fund will be registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Association in January and will be in a position to bid on public and private sector projects in 2015, according to its founder.
With massive infrastructure upgrades required and major privatization of government services under consideration, Bo Miller believes his fund could help create new jobs and stimulate an “economic boom” in the territory.
Also involved in the fund as directors are Ian Wight, a former partner at Deloitte, Samit Ghosh, head of structured finance at HSBC, and Heber Arch, of construction firm Arch and Godfrey.
Ruling may open the door to more medical malpractice suits over health care on cruise ships
From ABC 10 News
A federal appeals court ruling in Miami could open the door to more medical malpractice suits over health care on cruise ships.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says a rule that cruise lines have been using to get malpractice suits thrown out before trial is outdated. The “Barbetta” ruling says passengers should not expect the same level of medical care on a ship as on land, and that ship doctors and nurses are private contractors beyond the cruise lines’ direct control.
But in considering the case of an 82-year-old Royal Caribbean cruise line passenger who died days after falling and hitting his head, the appeals court said the ship doctor and nurse wore cruise line uniforms and were presented as ship employees, and that the ship’s medical unit was mentioned in cruise line promotional materials.
After 82-year-old Pasquale Vaglio hit his head in the summer of 2001, the ship’s nurse just told him to get some rest. She didn’t realize that Vaglio had suffered a brain injury.
For more on this story go to: http://www.10news.com/home/tablet-showcase/ruling-may-open-the-door-to-more-medical-malpractice-suits-over-health-care-on-cruise-ships-122314
Overseas Scholarship Information Session in Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands
From Ministry of Education, Employment & gender Affairs
On Saturday 27th December, 2014, the Scholarship Secretariat will be hosting an information session in Cayman Brac for all those planning to apply for a government scholarship for the 2015/2016 academic year. The information session will be in the Layman E. Scott Snr. High School Hall at 4:00pm.
All are encouraged to attend.
See attached flyer.
This beer tells you how much to drink to boost your creativity
By Matt Brian From engadget
When you’ve been stuck on a problem or that creative spark just won’t come, the chances are you’ve turned to a cup of coffee to get things moving. A quick java infusion can certainly help, but studies also suggest that alcohol can also have a positive impact on your creative cognition.
University of Illinois Professor Jennifer Wiley determined that a person’s “creative peak” comes when their blood alcohol level reaches 0.075, lowering their ability to overthink during a task. Medical Daily reports that marketing agency CP+B Copenhagen and Danish brewery Rocket Brewing wanted to help drinkers reach their imaginative prime, so they decided to create their own beer to do just that.
The result is “The Problem Solver.” It’s a 7.1 percent craft IPA that its makers say offers a “refined bitterness with a refreshing finish.” To ensure you reach the optimum creative level, the bottle includes a scale, which determines how much of the beer you need to drink based on your body weight. The agency does offer a word of warning though: “Enjoying the right amount will enhance your creative thinking. Drinking more will probably do exactly the opposite.” That’s the difference between writing the next War and Peace and waking up the next morning with a massively sore head (possibly).
Obviously, The Problem Solver is a marketing gimmick, but lucky drinkers can get their hands on a bottle, if they live in Copenhagen. The IPA is being served during after-hours workshops at CP+B and at a local city beer store, so you better get your Problem Solving hat on if you want some delivered to wherever you are.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/22/the-problem-solver-beer-creativity/
Coast guard Decisive crew returns home from Caribbean patrol
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Decisive returned to their homeport in Pascagoula, Mississippi on Friday, following a six-week patrol in the Caribbean Sea supporting the Joint Interagency Task Force-South.
During the deployment, the 70-member crew of the Decisive was primarily responsible for conducting counter drug operations in support of U.S. and international laws.
The Decisive worked directly with federal and international partners at JIATF-S and the 7th Coast Guard District to combat transnational organized crime networks operating in the Caribbean Basin. The Decisive’s efforts directly contributed to the prevention of more than 4,100 pounds of contraband from reaching American shores.
During the Decisive’s 39-day deployment, the cutter’s crew also conducted a professional exchange with members of the Honduran Navy.
These interdictions were part of Operation Martillo, an international operation focused on sharing information and bringing together air, land and maritime assets from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as Western Hemisphere and European partner nation agencies, to counter illicit trafficking.
After a long, successful patrol, the Decisive’s crew is happy to return home to their loved ones in time for the holiday season.
Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard — Proud History. Powerful Future.
Johnny Depp to marry on private island
From Channel24 News
Los Angeles – Johnny Depp has invited a host of his famous friends to spend New Year’s Eve with him in the Bahamas.
The 51-year-old actor has sent out invitations to many of his closest pals, including Steven Tyler, Marilyn Manson and Helena Bonham Carter and her partner Tim Burton, to ring in 2015 with him and his fiancée Amber Heard on his private island in the Caribbean.
The usually low-key star’s bash held at Amber Beach, which he named after his partner has sparked speculation among his guests that the party may in fact turn into a surprise wedding between Johnny and Amber, 28.
A source told The Sun newspaper: ”Johnny is normally very low key, so the big New Year party came as a surprise. He’s invited most of his closest friends and their families to join him on his island. The highlight will be a big party.
”It could be a straightforward bash but friends have wondered if it could be a ruse to have a wedding without a big fuss.”
The couple always intended to tie the knot at Amber Beach, but no definite date has ever been set.
Johnny and Amber confirmed their engagement in January after less than two years of dating and threw a party to celebrate their betrothal in March.
The Lone Ranger star was previously in a long-term relationship with Vanessa Paradis, with whom he has two children, daughter Lily-Rose, 15, and son Jack, 12.
Cayman Islands arts festival needs instruments for children
The Cayman Arts Festival (CAF) needs help to build its string musicianship programme to facilitate violin and cello lessons in all primary schools including in Cayman Brac.
“What we are looking for now is donations of string instruments. Either monetary, to purchase these string instruments or directly buying these string instruments,” said Glen Inanga, the Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Cayman Arts Festival.
Speaking on CITN/Cayman27 News on Monday (22) he said, “We are hoping to add one school at a time. The donation will be made directly to the Cayman Arts Festival and these instruments will be distributed to the respective students in the school,” he said.
Each violin can cost up to US$700.00.
Three primary schools; Savannah, Prospect and George Town, have already benefited from donations of instruments made earlier this year.
The CAF hopes to begin working with year four students at the Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in 2015.
To contact the CAF for more information, call Glen Inanga on 526-5059, e-mail [email protected] or go to: http://caymanartsfestival.com
Jamaica tops Caribbean Nations in Forbes Business Report
From First Look
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce | 2014-12-22 00:00:00
The Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. G. Anthony Hylton, has welcomed Jamaica’s ranking in the 2014 Forbes Best Countries for Business Report. The report which ranked Jamaica 64 out of 146 nations is published yearly by
Forbes, a leading international business magazine. The report highlighted Jamaica as the best country in the Caribbean region to do business and 3rd in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Forbes determined the Best Countries for Business by grading 146 nations on 11 different factors: property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape, investor protection and stock market performance. Each category was equally weighted. The report was compiled using published reports, including the World Bank’s Doing Business Report and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report.
Minister Hylton while commenting on the positive news stated, “I welcome this report as further evidence that Jamaica is taking the necessary steps to improve our business environment. This latest report will go a long way in repositioning Jamaica in the investor community and ensure that Jamaica comes to mind as one of the top places to invest, not just in the Caribbean and Latin America, but in the world. I look forward to even greater improvements in our 2015 international rankings”.
The report ranked Trinidad and Tobago 71, Barbados 73, Dominica Republic 86 and Guyana 96. Costa Rica 57 and Mexico 61 ranked higher than Jamaica in the Latin American region.
For more: http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=4065
Singer Joe Cocker dead of lung cancer at 70
From Inquisitr
Singer Joe Cocker has died at the age of 70. According to BBC News, the singer, who was the voice behind songs like “You Are So Beautiful,” “The Letter,” “When the Night Comes,” “Feeling Alright,” and “Up Where We Belong,” died after a long battle with lung cancer.
Cocker’s agent, Barrie Marshall, confirmed the sad news to the press, citing Cocker as “simply unique.”
Marshall continued, “it will be impossible to fill the space he leaves in our hearts.”
According to the the Yorkshire Post, although Cocker’s agent didn’t reveal the cause of death, the singer reportedly perished from his long battle. It’s said that the gritty vocalist died in his home in Colorado.
Cocker was born in 1944 and lived in Sheffield until his 20s. One of his most notable performances was at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Throughout his lengthy career, Cocker spanned 19 Billboard hits.
Back in 2007, Joe earned the honor of being inducted into Sheffield’s Hall of Fame. The singer also earned a Grammy back in 1983 for his song “Up Where we Belong,” which was a duet with singer Jennifer Warnes.
As news breaks of Cocker’s death across social media, everyone is reacting to the shocking news.
In addition to his original songs, Cocker was also known for his Beatles cover of the song “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
For more http://www.inquisitr.com/1698269/joe-cocker-dead/#yyoQPLuVI3SZ5Rb7.99
Met Opera credit rating downgraded despite labor deal
From Mashable
Moody’s has downgraded the credit rating of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, voicing concern over its to improve its financial profile
New York (AFP) – Moody’s on Monday downgraded the credit rating of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, voicing concern over the ability of North America’s largest classical music company to improve its financial profile.
The Met, considered among the world’s most prestigious opera houses, in August reached an agreement with labor unions to cut pay and benefits over a four-year period.
But Moody’s Investors Service said that the Met had only enough readily available cash at the end of the last fiscal year — $46 million — to meet 53 days of expenses and faced risks as half of its revenue comes from gifts.
The ratings service also pointed to the Met’s need to put up two murals by Marc Chagall as collateral for bank financing. Moody’s downgraded the Met’s bonds from A3 to Baa1, with a negative outlook.
“While the Met has developed a five-year plan to improve liquidity and move to operating equilibrium, that plan remains unproven and dependent on donor support for annual operations as well as endowment,” Moody’s said in a statement.
“It also requires measured box office revenue growth and heightened expense management,” it said.
But the agency credited the Met’s effort to live-stream performances at cinemas around the world, saying the program improved the company’s brand.
Moody’s also said that the opera enjoyed unusually strong support from donors with an average of $152 million in gifts annually in the three years to July 31, 2013.
Classical music organizations in the United States were hit especially hard by the economic crisis in 2008, with many groups still struggling to preserve the support needed to pay expenses.
The New York City Opera, which for 70 years had served as a foil to the Met by showcasing more populist productions and up-and-coming performers, went bankrupt last year.
New Health Alerts partner is Scientific American
Effective December 29, 2014, Johns Hopkins Medicine will no longer be associated with Health Alerts.
Scientific American is the longest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States and, over the years, articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize-winning scientists have appeared within its pages. We are excited and honored to work with such an outstanding institution.
In joining forces with Scientific American, Remedy Health Media also joins forces with one of the world’s most formidable and distinguished publishing and media companies, Nature Publishing Group (NPG), which publishes Nature, the world’s most cited scientific magazine, founded in 1869. NPG publishes a range of Nature research journals and Nature Reviews journals, and a range of prestigious academic and partner journals including society-owned publications. Part of Macmillan Science and Education, NPG is a global company. Clearly, this nexus of publishing excellence and medical/scientific knowledge will bring many benefits to our readers.
With Scientific American as our partner, all medical information will be reviewed by renowned medical experts, and Health Alerts will actively seek access to many leading medical institutions in the United States and across the globe for the latest advances in health and medicine.
Scientific American’s global footprint, with 14 international editions, and over 1 million total global circulation, ensures that we bring you the cutting edge in today’s scientific medical progress no matter where it happens.
Best wishes for a healthy Holiday Season from all of us at Remedy Health Media, Publisher of Health Alerts.
Massive markups anger aspiring Cuban car buyers
From Caribbean360
In a country where the average monthly wage is US$20, vehicles with markups of 400 percent or more have become the object of disgust and despair.
HAVANA, Cuba, Since Cubans were granted the right to buy new and used vehicles from the state without special permission, markups of 400 percent or more have left potential buyers with a bitter taste in their mouths and the conviction that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The state-run Peugeot dealership in Havana offers prices ranging from the equivalent of a whopping US$91,000 for a 2013 model 206 to an unbelievable $262,000 for a 508, prompting would-be customers to walk away in disgust.
On the other side of town, more than a hundred used hire cars are on sale for prices in the $25,000 range. A 2005 Renault with a price tag equivalent to $25,000 is available outside the country on the Internet for $3,000.
To rub salt into the wound, the average monthly wage in Cuba, where four out of five of the 5 million-strong labour force work for the state, is the equivalent of about US$20, leaving angry Cubans to conclude that they will never own a new or near-new vehicle as long as they live.
For the past two years, Cubans have been permitted to buy and sell used cars from one another, but until last Friday had to request authorization from the government to buy a new or second-hand vehicle, often a rental car, from state retailers.
Until the September 2011 reform, only vehicles that were in Cuba prior to the 1959 revolution could be freely bought and sold, which accounts for the abundance of 1950s or older cars, most of them veterans of the golden days of Detroit.
Many Russian cars, dating from the era when the Soviet Union was Cuba’s biggest ally, also form part of the island’s living museum of vintage rolling stock.
The decades-old ban on importing cars and the need for permission to purchase from the state has left nine out of 10 Cuban households without a car and dependent on the dilapidated public transportation system.
Liberalizing car sales was one of more than 300 reforms introduced by President Raul Castro and approved in 2011. The changes put a greater emphasis on private initiative and less government control over the sale and purchase of personal property such as homes and cars.
But as John Kirk, one of Canada’s leading academic experts on Latin America and author of a number of books on Cuba, said: “These prices will clearly be outside the purchasing capability of the vast majority of Cubans, even with the support from relatives abroad. In essence, they represent a luxury tax imposed by the government on the nouveau riches of Cuba.”
Christophe Harbour: The Caribbean’s NEW Superyacht Marina
By Gary Brown in St. Christopher (St. Kitts), Yacht From All At Sea
Yachts sailing to the beautiful Caribbean will soon have a new and exciting waypoint to dial into the GPS: 17° 14’ N; 62° 45’ W. This is the position of Christophe Harbour on the island of St. Christopher (St. Kitts), one of the newest resorts and marinas in the Lesser Antilles.
Located in the heart of the cruising grounds between Antigua and St. Maarten, in what was once a salt pond, Christophe Harbour is set on 2,500 acres of natural bays, bluffs, and beaches on the southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts. The centerpiece of the new development is a 300-slip superyacht marina and village that is due for completion in 2014. The first phase of the marina development calls for one dock with 20 alongside berths to accommodate vessels from 148.5 to 214.5ft (45 to 65m) in length.
“Saint Kitts is part of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, which means twice the adventure for charter guests or for a crew stop,” says Marina Project Manager Aeneas Hollins. “There’s something for everyone – beautiful white-sand beaches, UNESCO world heritage sites to explore, vibrant cultural arts displays throughout the year and endless outdoor adventure opportunities.”
As the Caribbean continues to develop as a destination, Hollins says that the new marina will compliment existing regional highlights, a home port for some – a charter hub for others. “The entry channel will be maintained to 20ft (6m) depth, there will be no bridge to negotiate and our max vessel LOA is 300ft (91m) operating within the marina.”
While captains and crews will relish the thought of a new, sheltered, Caribbean superyacht marina with ease of access, charter guests will delight in the facilities ashore. The dynamic resort features elegant residences, a Park Hyatt, St. Kitts hotel, Tom Fazio golf course (under construction), and beachside pavilion.
Vessels wishing to visit Christophe Harbour can find secure anchorage in Whitehouse Bay.
on-site customs
VIP clearance for private jets and yachts
ground transfers
personal concierge service
access to Beach Club pool
dining and bar
daily refuse collection
tender dock
24-hour safety and security
complimentary WiFi.
For yachts wishing to provision, supermarkets are available only 15 minutes from the site and repair facilities and marine stores are all planned for future phases.
For more details of Christophe Harbour, visit: www.christopheharbour.com and www.LifeInStKitts.com
For more on St. Kitts and Nevis, visit: www.stkittstourism.kn
For more on this story go to:
http://www.allatsea.net/christophe-harbour-the-caribbeans-new-superyacht-marina/
