iNews Briefs
Mother dies, children fight for life after drinking “brew of weed killer and pills”
From Caribbean360
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Friday February 13, 2015, CMC – A 26-year-old mother has died and her two young daughters battling for life in hospital after she fed them a poisonous substance, police said.
The police said that Shakita Kaulesar-Ramsaroep drank a brew of weed killer and pills on Wednesday afternoon in Welgedacht, a residential area south of Paramaribo.
She also gave her daughters some of the deadly cocktail to drink. They were all rushed to the hospital where Kaulesar-Ramsaroep died on Thursday while the children, ages eight and two years, are reported to be in critical condition.
In a statement Friday, the police said the woman may have been driven to suicide by some incident in her relationship.
According to police her husband is overseas, however it is not clear if he is residing abroad or on business.
A Korean Air jet crashed into another plane at an airport but took off anyway
By Benjamin Zhang Business Insider From Yahoo News
On Friday (13), a  Korean Airlines jet collided with another aircraft on the ground at Yangon International Airport.
But instead of stopping to assess the damage, the airliner with 134 passengers and 11 crew onboard continued with its take-off procedure, the AP reported.
The jet, a widebody Airbus A330, clipped the tail of a neighboring Bangkok Airways plane with the tip of its wing.
According to the AP, the pilots of the Korean Airbus didn’t notice the collision, and none of the aircraft’s collision warnings sounded to alert the crew.
It was, however, reported that ground staff at the airport witnessed the incident and immediately notified the control tower of the damage.
The jet, Flight 472, returned to the Myanmar capital shortly after taking off for the five hour flight to Seoul, after the officials determined a collision had occurred.
No injuries were reported and the delayed passengers boarded another flight for the South Korean capital later in the day.
For more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/korean-air-jet-crashed-another-171001807.html
Cayman Islands Catboat Club helps students discover new skills
Boat builder Ken Jackson, Vice President of the Cayman Catboat Club, is passing on traditional boat making techniques that help students discover new skills.
Jackson’s work at the Sunrise Adult Training Centre is part of the school’s work experience programme.
The work experience programme began on Monday (9) and will continue for six weeks.
LIAT aims to cut over 150 employees reducing costs by EC$13 million per year
From Caribbean360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sunday February 15, 2015, CMC – The financially strapped regional airline, LIAT, has announced plans for a voluntary separation package (VSEP) that could result in more than 150 employees being removed from the company’s payroll.
“We will embark on a process of cost reduction right across the airline but that will also include a reduction in the number of people that we employ in the business.
“We will embark upon that process in full consultation with our staff themselves, and also their representatives. We would wish to achieve these reductions, where possible, on a voluntary basis and that will be our aim,” said chief executive officer David Evans.
Chairman of the shareholder governments, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, speaking at the end of a meeting here, said he plans were to reduce the airlines debt significantly.
He said it would involve reducing the staff number from 800 to about 620, “which should save us about EC$13 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) per year.
“Of course, we’ll have to pay the severance cost of about EC$22 million.
The meeting was also attended by host Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and his Dominican counterpart Roosevelt Skerritt and Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation and Transportation Robin Yearwood.
“The change in strategic direction is welcomed by Barbados. We expect to see a turnaround in LIAT’s fortunes, more responsiveness to market messages and, of course, once the whole issue of fleet renewal is complete and the disposal of the seven remaining Dash 8 planes and the reduction in the head count is complete we think that LIAT will be on a much more viable and sustainable footing,” said Prime Minister Stuart.
Evans said the airline had no choice but to trim its workforce gve the fact that it is spending an estimated 27 per cent of revenue on staffing.
“We hope to come out of this process at the end of the year, leaner, fitter, more responsive to the market and, most importantly, more responsive to our customers.”
Gonsalves said the airline was also in need of an immediate cash injection to help stabilize its finances, and had approached the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for assistance.
CDB is already providing US$65 million to finance the re-fleeting exercise of the airline.
4Life Caribbean business rallies attract 2500 attendees
By Nicole Dunkley
In collaboration with the International Networker’s Team, 4Life executives recently returned from business rallies in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Combined, the two events attracted 2,500 people. Puerto Rico’s event was held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in the heart of San Juan. Dominican Republic’s meeting was staged at the Crowne Plaza in Santo Domingo.
During the morning sessions, attendees enjoyed field training from top-ranking business builders. Afternoon sessions were dedicated to corporate announcements and recognition.
Platinum International Diamonds in attendance included Dr. Herminio Nevárez, Yadira Olivo, Juan and Damaris Rosado, and Ángel Molina and Ivelisse López. In the Dominican Republic, all three of the country’s Gold International Diamonds were present: Esdras Cabrera Alberto, Dionny Recio, and José Luis Martínez.
The importance of attending 4Life’s International Convention scheduled for April 15-18 in Salt Lake City, Utah was a primary focal point.
4Life President and CEO Steve Tew attended both events with Vice President of Field Development for Spanish Markets Deborah Dixon, and Director of Quality Control Cody Hurd.
Dr. Herminio Nevárez: “The enthusiasm and energy of those participating in these rallies in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic prove that these markets are ready for big growth in 2015. Many participants have shown that they are up to the challenge by registering to attend Convention 2015: Bring Dreams Home.”
In the Dominican Republic, children from the La Casa Rosada orphanage performed a special Meringue dance routine. The children came to express their gratitude to 4Life for its continued support since 2006.
Tew: “It is always a pleasure to support our distributors in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico—home to so many Platinum and Gold International Diamonds. These incredible events were full of energy. Now, we all push together toward convention!”
For more: http://www.businessforhome.org/2015/02/4life-caribbean-business-rallies-attract-2500-attendees/
There’s nothing like a Cayman Mardi Gras
From Aqua Bay
On February 18 (Ash Wednesday) the capital city of Grand Cayman George Town comes alive with thousands of people who line the downtown area for the street festival. For those not familiar with Mardi Gras, it typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which basically involves leaving daily life behind and joining in the revelry. Catch some beads, get your face painted, enjoy live music and join in the revelry! The party kicks off at midday and is free to enter.
For more: http://www.aquabayclub.com/news-events/theres-nothing-like-a-cayman-mardi-gras/
See also related iNews Cayman Editorial: “Ash Wednesday is NOT a holiday for Mardi Gras” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-editor-speaks-ash-wednesday-is-not-a-holiday-for-mardi-gras/
Informing the Caribbean public
From Cana News
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Feb 14, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Appeal (CCJ) has described as “inaccurate” complaints that it had published a judgment in the media before it had been communicated to the litigants and their legal representatives.
CCJ President Sir Dennis Byron said much to his surprise counsel in a case involving an application for extension of time to file a notice of appeal against a judgment of the Court of Appeal of Barbados which had been delivered on 15th May 2014, continued to complain “even in open court that the Court published its judgment of 25th November 2014 in the media before it had been communicated to the litigants and their legal representatives.
For more: http://cananewsonline.com/news/105791-informing-the-caribbean-public.html
Machel Montano performs ‘Like ah Boss’ to retain Power Soca Monarch title
From Caribbean360
IMAGE: MACHEL MONTANO “LIKE AH BOSS”
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Sunday February 15, 2015, CMC – Trinidadian Soca star, Machel Montano, retained the Power Soca Monarch title during the early hours of Saturday holding off a strong challenge from Neil “Iwer” George and veteran comedienne Nikki Crosby during the “Fantastic Friday” celebrations as Carnival activities moved into the final weekend ahead of the traditional street jump up on Tuesday.
Montano, dressed in a gold suit with red trimmings, sang his hugely popular 2015 tune, “Like ah Boss” in which he argues he could party more than any other person on the planet. The song is already being touted as a road march contender.
George, who uses the stage name “he Boss” came second with his tune “Play D Mas” while Crosby entering the competition for the first time, as “Granny” placed third with her tune of the same title.
USA Falcons v Cayman Island
From KLC Fotos
February 12, 2015; Las Vegas, United States; USA Falcons against Cayman Island during the Las Vegas Invitationals at the New Silver Bowl Fields.
Photo Credit:
Michael Lee – KLC fotos
Taiwan Mike Photography – KLC fotos
For more: http://www.klcfotos.com/p855816044/h2A1D51AB#h2a1d51ab
Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association names Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios Chief Operating Officer
IMAGE: VANESSA LEDESMA-BERRIOS
THE CARIBBEAN (Feb. 12, 2015) – Emil Lee, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), announced that longtime employee Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) making her the first female to hold such a commanding position within the CHTA headquarters staff. Ledesma-Berrios will work along with CHTA’s new executive team comprised of Frank Comito, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Matt Cooper (Chief Marketing Officer), to execute the association’s strategic plans and serve the membership of 32 National Hotel Associations and over 600 hotels and 300 allied members.
“In developing our new team of executives to lead CHTA, we knew that Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios was the right person to be the COO having managed all of the Association’s events for the past 16 years as well as the day-to-day operations for the past two years when she was last promoted to Director of Operations and Events,” said Lee. “The appointment of a female to the position of COO is an important milestone for CHTA,” Lee added.
Ledesma-Berrios has been with the Association 16 years serving as Director of Operations and Events prior to her appointment as COO. Previously she was CHTA’s Conferences and Events Director. She joined CHTA following her work with Maritza Negroni & Associates as a meeting planner and then conference organizer from 1995 until being hired by CHTA in 1999.
Cayman Islands permanent residency tests to give test-takers more study time
Cayman Islands Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush has said that the tests for current permanent residence applicants has been postponed for 4 weeks to give them more study time.
The government has also implemented changes to the residency “points system” that will make it easier for applications to succeed.
The test has 40 questions covering a wide range of subjects related to Cayman Islands history, politics and people.
Aframax rates at highest level since August on boosted fixes, low tonnage
By John DeLap From Platts McGraw Hill Financial
Aframax rates in the Americas hit a six-month high Friday as increased fixing activity and low vessel availability came to the fore.
The Caribbean-US Gulf Coast route basis 70,000 mt was assessed at w170, up w10 for the day. The last time the route’s freight rate was higher was August 4, when it closed at w175.
The hike was the latest entry in a steady two-week climb that saw the Caribbean-USGC route’s rate go from w120 January 30 to its current state.
Market activity has been high over the last three days, with 20 tankers reported on subjects over that period, seven on Friday.
As a result, tonnage has dropped dramatically in the region.
“There are only two ships available in the Caribbean before February 20 and 10 before February 25,” a broker said.
Tonnage also was pared due to recent bad weather in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mexican ports of Cayo Arcas, Pajaritos and Dos Bocas were closed for a time due to high winds and waves, while heavy fog closed the Houston Ship Channel.
Though all are back up and running, the delays kept ships from making appointments, thus taking them out of the available fleet.
“Tonnage thinned because there were weather and discharge delays,” a shipbroker said. “We also have a lot of ships doing trans-Atlantic voyages.”
Over the last three days, there were seven tankers booked for trans-Atlantic voyages. It will be some time before they will be naturally positioned in the Caribbean.
A voyage from Venezuela’s Jose terminal to Houston takes about six days. A trip to the UK takes about 12.
Cayman Islands annual Agricultural Show Ash Wednesday Feb 18
The Cayman Islands Agricultural Show on Ash Wednesday is the largest one day event on the national calendar. With an incredible array of entertainment, displays, competitions, things to do and see, local foods to try and items to buy.
This year is the 48th Agricultural Show and will take place at the Agricultural grounds, Lower Valley, Grand Cayman.
The show promotes farmers and artisans while showcasing many other aspects of Caymanian culture.
Attendees have the chance to win a $20,000 cash prize. Raffle tickets are $25 and include general admission. Alternatively, admission only is $10; and $5 for children. The raffle will be drawn at 6 p.m. Four other prizes are also up for grabs; a washer and dryer, an iPhone 6, Cayman Airways tickets and groceries.
Gates open at 7:30 a.m. and the show closes at 6 p.m.
Ecopetrol to drill 3 wells after cutting offshore drilling budget
By Peter Murphy
(Reuters) – Colombia’s state-run oil producer Ecopetrol will drill three offshore wells this year, two off its Caribbean Coast and a third in the Gulf of Mexico, after slashing its offshore exploration budget to $200 million down from $632 million last year, the company said.
The two Caribbean wells, Calasu and Kronos, will be operated by Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp which has an equal sized stake in the projects with Ecopetrol. The U.S. well, Sea Eagle, will be drilled by partner Murphy Oil Corp.
In 2014, Ecopetrol discovered hydrocarbons in three out of eight wells it drilled, five of which were in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ecopetrol has cut its investment budget this year to $7.86 billion down from $10.6 billion last year due to the plunge in oil prices. The exploration budget as a whole, including onshore drilling this year, has been set at $503 million down from $1.56 billion last year.
Ecopetrol announced on Friday it had obtained an international $1.93 billion syndicated loan to fund some of this year’s investment plan.
For more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/13/ecopetrol-offshore-idUSL1N0VN2FZ20150213
Man who left Cayman Island and jumped bail will not be extradited
Former bar manager, Canadian Arthur Screaton (55), is accused of stealing $10,850 from Rackam’s bar in George Town, Grand Cayman and other businesses where he worked in 2010. The accused jumped bail but the Cayman Court heard last Friday (13) he would not be extradited back to Cayman even though the authorities know where he is.
Whilst out on bail the court gave Screaton permission to visit his family in the USA but he failed to return back to the Cayman Islands.
Prosecutor Toyin Salako said, ”A decision has been made not to extradite him and he is not willing to come back voluntarily.”
No reason was given as to why the Department of Public Prosecutions had opted not to pursue an extradition case.
Screaton had denied all the charges against him.
At the time the cash was reported stolen, Screaton was managing Lone Star bar, Carlos and Martin’s restaurant in addition to Rackam’s.
Regional content providers to be featured on Flow on Demand Service
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS–(Marketwired – Feb 13, 2015) – As Columbus, operators of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions, launches “Video On Demand” television services in Barbados, Caribbean content providers are poised to benefit as the company puts a major focus on ensuring that regional content is a significant component of its lineup for the Caribbean audience.
The launch of the Flow OnDemand service in Barbados marks yet another significant milestone for customers who can now enjoy the convenience of accessing an even wider variety of local, regional and international video content. The service is presently available to Flow customers in Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica. An added benefit for the Caribbean is the commitment by Columbus to enable and provide revenue opportunities for local content providers. In order to stimulate the industry, producers whose content is approved and aired on the OnDemand platform will have earning potential from this venture.
John Reid, president and chief operating officer of Columbus Communications, noted that with the launch of VOD, customers will not only experience the incredible added value to Flow’s video line-up at their convenience, but added that Columbus was also proud of the economic and developmental opportunities for the regional content producers. “Our VOD platform now provides a place that our customers can watch what they want, when they want, including relevant local and regional content, popular international television series, movies, documentaries, music videos and much more. This is a good example of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy in functional working mode,” he said. “It is bringing relevant regional players into one productive space, generating income and stimulating a regional industry.” Reid noted that the VOD service is one of Flow’s fastest growing video platforms with some 10,000,000 orders received within a 12-month period across the region. With Caribbean VOD programming, Flow commits to providing a strong portfolio with both local and regional content made available to all of its video customers; distribution of both local and regional content across Flow’s regional footprint; and to have new distribution and monetization opportunities for regional content providers.
Columbus is the single largest provider of multiple media distribution and solutions in up to eight regional markets, with more than 400,000 video customers. This means multiple distribution solutions and platforms as viable options for economic benefits to regional film makers and producers. “With this new opportunity to reach many markets, they now have an opportunity to grow and sustain an entertainment industry across the region,” Reid added.
For more information on Flow’s VOD service and other advanced services, go to www.discoverflow.co
Hotels want you to star in your own vacation
By Genevieve Shaw Brown, Travel & Lifestyle Editor From ABC News
In just a few short years, the vacation photo has evolved dramatically. And now, hotels are offering guests ways to make capturing the vacation easier.
Kimpton hotels now have selfie sticks available, complimentary, for rent at the front desks. And Marriott hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America now offer free GoPro Hero4 cameras to guests free of charge.
“We live in a digital and social age. Through this program at Marriott Hotels, we’re giving guests a fun way to tell their own travel story using the versatile and memory making GoPro technology and immediately share their content with friends and family,” said Craig S. Smith, President of the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott International.
Because you see, when a vacation — or a hotel –- is shared on social media, that’s free attention to the hotel.
Both Kimpton and Marriott have suggested hashtags for your photos like #GoPro, #travelbrilliantly and #AdoreThySelfie. Guests who use those hashtags are entered into contests for prizes from the hotels.
The selfie sticks and GoPros are just the latest iteration of hotels getting wise to this form of “advertising.”
The Four Seasons Resort in Maui employed a man names Smiles –- for real –- to take guests photos with their smartphones.
For more: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/hotels-star-vacation/story?id=28946741
New Caribbean Superyacht Marina
From Caribbean Journal
IMAGE: the new marina in St Kitts
There’s a new superyacht marina in the Caribbean.
St Kitts-based development Christophe Harbour debuted its new Marina at Christophe Harbour this week.
The first phase of the marina includes 24 berths between 150 and 220 feet aimed at 85 to 300-foot transient vessels.
The marina is part of a wider planned build-out that will include a shoreside village with restaurants, stores and hotels.
The project represents a $100 million infrastructure investment that is the brainchild of developer Buddy Darby.
“The arrival of The Marina at Christophe Harbour comes at a time when the yachting industry is stronger than it has been in years,” Darby said. “New yacht builds are up, charter business is booming, and there is a real appetite for new destinations like St. Kitts and Nevis that provide unique experiences. [St Kitts and Nevis] clearly understands the impact of the yachting industry and has positioned itself to maximize that potential.”
Christophe Harbour will soon be home to the first Park Hyatt hotel in the region and a planned Tom Fazio golf course.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2015/02/13/a-new-caribbean-superyacht-marina/
Avon to cease operations in 16 Caribbean nations
From Sun Herald
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Avon Products Inc. says it is ceasing operations in 16 Caribbean nations.
A spokeswoman for the world’s biggest direct seller of cosmetics tells The Associated Press that the company will no longer accept orders from places including Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas. Spokeswoman Lindsay Fox said Friday that the company will still serve eight islands including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
She declined to say how many sales representatives would be affected.
Fox says Avon will focus its resources on improving its U.S. business.
For more: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/02/13/6069874_avon-to-cease-operations-in-16.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
The case that shocked us all
Erwiana’s brutal story of torture and abuse at the hands of her employer in Hong Kong shocked the world and showed just how vulnerable domestic workers are to modern slavery.
This week Erwiana got justice. Her employer was found guilty of 18 counts of assault and faces a lengthy prison sentence. During the trial, Erwiana recalled how she was forced to work with no pay for eight months, suffering frequent beatings before being dumped at the airport with a one-way ticket home and threats of the consequences if she dared to speak out.
No one should suffer as Erwiana did. But the reality is that behind closed doors throughout Hong Kong, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, thousands more domestic workers like Erwiana face the same risks.
Call on the Hong Kong government to make sure there are no more cases like Erwiana’s at: http://www.walkfree.org/hong-kong-domestic-workers/?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hong-kong-domestic-workers&utm_content=Erwiana-HK_Petition_Chaser_en_Prospect_13Feb15
Domestic workers in Hong Kong often find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of debt by unscrupulous placement agencies — and the government does nothing to regulate these agencies, allowing them to continue their extortion. Penniless and powerless, domestic workers can become victims of increasingly harsh treatment by their employers and have nowhere to go for help.
After the verdict of her case was announced, Erwiana told the press: “What I hope for together with my fellow domestic workers are just fair and humane treatment and for people to stop treating us like slaves.”
Join Erwiana in taking a stand against modern slavery: tell the Hong Kong government that the abuse of domestic workers must stop now at: http://www.walkfree.org/hong-kong-domestic-workers/?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hong-kong-domestic-workers&utm_content=Erwiana-HK_Petition_Chaser_en_Prospect_13Feb15
Federal revenue sets new record — but deficits remain
From Newsmax
For the first time ever, federal tax revenues have topped $1 trillion for the first four months of a fiscal year.
From the beginning of October 2014 through January of this year, the federal government took in $1,046,224,000,000, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
But the government still managed to run a deficit in the first four months of fiscal 2015.
Each month, the Treasury publishes the federal government’s “total receipts,” including revenue from individual income taxes, which account for nearly half of all receipts, corporate income taxes, social insurance and retirement taxes (chiefly Social Security and Medicare taxes), unemployment insurance taxes, excise taxes, and customs duties.
The $1.046 trillion-plus collected through January breaks the record for the first four months of a fiscal year, which was $960 billion in the four-month period from October 2013 through January 2014.
Receipts so far in fiscal 2015 range from $191 billion in November to $335 billion in December, when the government actually ran a surplus of $1.86 billion.
The federal department with the largest outlays during the four months was Health and Human Services, whose $355 billion in spending included $113 billion in grants to states for Medicaid. The department’s total outlays for the full fiscal year are projected to top $1 trillion.
The second highest outlay was by the Social Security Administration, $312 billion, followed by the Department of Defense, $195 billion.
The smallest amount went to the Department of Commerce, $2.77 billion.
Other outlays included $14.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, $57.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and $3.3 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interest on Treasury debt securities amounted to $133 billion over the four months.
Despite the revenue bonanza so far in fiscal 2015, federal outlays over the four months totaled $1,240,433,000,000 so there was a deficit of about $194.2 billion.
According to the Treasury report, the federal government had to borrow $203 billion from the public to meet its obligations so far in fiscal 2015, and expects to borrow more than $654 billion over the full fiscal year.
For more: http://news.newsmax.com/?Z6CRXNehue1JyQ95FMvtVFLmUXyfblv1Z
