iNews Briefs
Cayman Tennis: Andy Roddick named Legends champion
From Digicel Sportsmax
The 2015 Legends Tennis tournament came to a thrilling climax last night as Andy Roddick was crowned tournament champion at Camana Bay’s Festival Green.
Following the success of Friday’s event, hundreds of tennis fans packed the 1,200 seat venue to cheer on the all-star line-up of World #1s, Hall of Fame Champions and international legends.
Cayman’s top junior players once again warmed up the crowds, showcasing their skills to a delighted audience in advance of the hotly-anticipated exhibition matches. Anna Kournikova and Courier were first up in the mixed doubles, taking on Lindsay Davenport and Murphy Jensen. In a game peppered with remarkable volleying prowess and athletic agility, Jensen’s entertaining one-liners proved a highlight of the match, which was eventually taken by Courier and Kournikova.
Jensen took to the umpire’s chair for the singles clash between Courier and Andy Roddick in a nail-biting spectacle which echoed Friday’s match. Hilarious asides and comedy shots from both players all formed part of the entertainment, with Roddick eventually defeating the former number one to take title glory.
This year’s sell-out tournament is clear testament to the appetite, from both locals and international visitors, for world-class events that both support Cayman’s reputation as a sports tourism destination and offer a much-needed boost to local charities.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s line-up.
For more: http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2015/02/16/cayman-tennis-andy-roddick-named-legends-champion
Caribbean ally gets health info system revamp
By Joseph Yeh, The China Post
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has recently helped Saint Kitts and Nevis in setting up a new health information system to improve the quality of the nation’s medical practice, a government official said yesterday.
Speaking during a Foreign Ministry news briefing, Weber Shih (施文斌), secretary-general of Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), said his organization has helped the nation’s Caribbean ally to establish a new health information system.
The new computerized system has recently been introduced to the nation’s only hospital, Joseph N. France General Hospital, to greatly improve the delivery of quality health care.
Before the introduction of the new system, the hospital in Saint Kitts and Nevis depended on the traditional paper-based method of filing patient records, he noted.
As part of the program, the nation issued its first national health identification card last month, a card that will be given to every person who accesses the nation’s health care system, Shih said.
The latest system is introduced under the assistance of the ICDF, which shared Taiwan’s successful health care system example to the ally, he noted.
The ICDF is a semi-official Foreign Ministry-funded nongovernmental organization responsible for international aid.
For more: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2015/02/18/429259/Caribbean-ally.htm
Cayman Islands National Trust says recent fire was not as bad as first thought
Representatives of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands have said the fire in the Trust’s Salina Reserve two weeks ago did not cause as much damage as they first thought.
Although the fire burned over 200 acres of land the damage was confined to the grassland areas and “grasslands can benefit from controlled burning”.
The endangered blue iguanas’ forest habitat was safe and the other endangered species, a herb called Agalinis kingsii, is not harmed by grassland fires.
It was thought the fire was started by y a neighboring property owner who was clearing his own land when the fire got out of control and spread into the Reserve.
The Magnolias of the Caribbean
The Global Trees Campaign is working with Ghent University (http://www.spermatophytes.ugent.be) and the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (www.inecol.edu.mx) on a PhD project titled: ‘The Caribbean Magnolia species (Magnoliaceae): assessment of the genetic diversity and the underlying evolutionary history’.
IMAGE: Magnolia_cubensis
According to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families there are 14 Caribbean Magnolia species, of which 11 are considered threatened by the Red List of Magnoliaceae. For the Magnolia species of Haiti, the current status is very uncertain, as there are no recent reports of the presence of M. ekmanii, M.domingensis or M. emarginata, and the country copes with severe deforestation. Generally, the Caribbean Magnolia species are unrepresented in ex situ collections (botanic gardens and arboreta) and their diversity and evolution has not yet been studied using molecular approaches.
The project is in its first phase, which aims to assess the Magnolia diversity present in the Caribbean. A survey of the Magnolia species from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will be conducted in Spring 2015. From the data gathered during this field work, we will not only be able to assess the species diversity in the visited areas, but also construct phylogenetic hypotheses, and conduct population genetic research on the species.
In Cuba, we are collaborating with our colleagues at the Jardín Botánico Nacional in Havana. They have already evaluated the diversity of Magnolia in Cuba, wrote a taxonomic revision, and are currently conducting detailed surveys of Magnolia populations (see: Cuba’s Critically Endangered Magnolias – http://globaltrees.org/projects/conserving-critically-endangered-magnolias-cuba/). We aim to include the Cuban species in our phylogenetic study, and support the population genetic research on the Cuban Magnolia species.
During the second phase of the project, we will use the information gathered to implement effective in situ and ex situ conservation in cooperation with local and international conservation initiatives.
For further information, please contact Emily Veltjen ([email protected]).
Digicel opens new store in Cayman Islands
Last Friday (13) Digicel opened a new store in Camana Bay that coincided with the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6plus in the Cayman Islands.
Both these phones are only available at Digicel.
Digicel’s new boss, Martin Bould, said at the opening the company might expand the services they offer but he wasn’t going to go up against social media sites like Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter.
“They have great models themselves that we should embrace,” he said, “and that’s what customers want. So our job is providing seamless connectivity, super fast connectivity to customers so they can be connected to the things they want to be connected to when they want to be. That’s the simple model. Of course we need to innovate. We need to find new business models, other reasons for customers to join Digicel and stay with Digicel that’s the challenge. Whether it’s advertising of financial services. There’s all kind or things mobile companies need to get into.”
Caribbean Missions Conference 2015: “According to Your Faith”
From Caribbean Churches of Christ
The family of the International Churches of Christ in the Caribbean exists in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Barbados, Suriname, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Grenada and the Bahamas. Our history included a time when all Caribbean leaders were trained in Jamaica, which enabled strong friendships to be formed. This natural bond continues today, and the churches are more united in love, mission, and purpose than ever before. Every two years, the members of our churches meet together in a selected country to strengthen our unity, inspire each other in the mission of Jesus, learn how to grow our churches, and formulate plans to spread the gospel to other countries in the Caribbean. This year’s conference, entitled, “According to Your Faith,” will take place at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, Jamaica from October 16-18, 2015.
Only five countries have ICOC churches with full-time ministry leaders. All the other churches are led by faithful brothers and sisters who are employed secularly. The male full-time leaders meet regularly using Skype to discuss regional matters and to remain close to each other. Whatsapp is utilized by the male and female leaders, full-time and non-fulltime, to communicate more regularly. This has also enhanced the leaders’ unity.
Many members of the churches have also formed strong and important bonds over the years. The Caribbean conferences create excitement among the members as it gives them an opportunity to rekindle friendships and engage in sweet fellowship. The weekend is usually filled with laughter and joy. At times, even romances begin cross-country leading to engagement and marriage.
The ICOC consists for many similar regional blocks. Each region has appointed delegates, one to every 1000 members, who also meet regularly to discuss the churches affairs on a regional basis. The delegates for the Caribbean are Angel Martinez (Dominican Republic), Tony Millet (Trinidad & Tobago), and Wilner Cornely (Jamaica). Besides this, there are also service teams to discuss matters related to affairs that affect the international churches that require specific attention. These service teams include Evangelist, Elders, Women, Teachers, Campus, Singles, Youth & Family, and Communications & Administrators. These service teams and delegates will be meeting in Jamaica from October 11-16. Some of the participants are expected to stay for the Caribbean conference, and will be guest speakers at the Caribbean conference.
“According to Your Faith” promises to be a conference to remember.
Sir Richard Branson gives Cayman Islands students a message on the environment
Although international tycoon and owner of Virgin was in the Cayman Islands principally for the legends Tennis Tournament his first stop on Friday (13) was to chat to high school students at Camana Bay about the environment.
He told them to use their voices and make them heard for the future of their country.
He said the Cayman Islands could be “carbon neutral in five or six years time and save themselves a lot of money, but it needs absolute determination from the government to get you there.”
“If you take away all that beauty and turn it into big buildings you are going to find the cruise ships and tourists are going to go elsewhere,” he said, “So it’s a balancing act so you’ve got to preserve as much of the pristine beauty as possible.”
SOURCE: CITN/Cayman27
Competition Open for students from Latin America and the Caribbean: Student Exchange Programs
February 17, 2015 – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) is pleased to launch the competition for Student Exchange Programs (SEPs) for the 2015-2016 academic year. Canadian institutions are invited to submit applications for college, undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers from Latin America and the Caribbean as well as faculty and international liaison officers from the CARICOM who wish to come to Canada for a short-term study or research exchange.
The deadline to submit an application is April 30, 2015. Please visit the links to each of the Student Exchange Programs below for full program details and to submit an online application.
- Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program
- Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program
- Canada-Chile Leadership Exchange Program
Canada-CARICOM Faculty Leadership Program
Greenlight Capital Re posts 4Q profit
From CNBC
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands (AP) _ Greenlight Capital Re Ltd. (GLRE) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $60.7 million.
On a per-share basis, the Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands-based company said it had net income of $1.60.
The property and casualty reinsurance service provider posted revenue of $148 million in the period.
For the year, the company reported profit of $109.6 million, or $2.89 per share. Revenue was reported as $477.2 million.
Greenlight Capital Re shares have fallen almost 2 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has climbed slightly in the last 12 months.
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GLRE at http://www.zacks.com/ap/GLRE
For more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102433979
First international tourism expo in Caribbean
From T&T Guardian
San Juan—The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has announced that ETI –Expo de Turismo Internacional, the first international tourism expo in the Caribbean, will take place at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, May 13-16. The inaugural event is designed to showcase the beauty, sports, nature, adventure, and gastronomy experiences available throughout the Caribbean and beyond, bringing together members of the tourism industry from across the globe.
“In planning for this event and with input from local and regional organisations such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association and most importantly ASTA and APAV,” said Ingrid I Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism company, organisers of ETI, “we are confident that this event has the potential to be a mainstay on the international calendar of tourism events.”
The four-day event will include group meetings, social and cultural events, field trips, workshops, destination trainings, keynote addresses and more, while the exhibit hall will be open two days to travel trade and one day to consumers.
For more: http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2015-02-18/first-international-tourism-expo-caribbean
Swindon academy scouting in the Caribbean [including Cayman Islands]
By Sam Morshead From Link Sport
SWINDON Town’s academy are spending seven days in the Caribbean this week, playing against sides from the region and building on already-established connections.
Town are taking part in the Cayman International Youth Football Tournament, which also features the Cayman Islands Under 15 national team, a Future SC Select side and the Jamaican under 15s.
The Robins will run coaching sessions over the course of their seven-day stay, with the hope of identifying untapped talent. Previously, islander Sebastian Martinez won an apprenticeship contract with Swindon following a similar programme.
Academy director Jeremy Newton told Cayman 27: “Over the years we have noticed there is a hot-bed of talent upon the island.
“It’s working, along with (tournament organisers) Grasspiece Promotions and CIFA to try and nurture and really identify the players. And if we can do some work with the coaches, work with the structures in place, then hopefully the transition between coming off the island and into our academy isn’t as big as maybe it was three or four years ago.”
Swindon face Cayman tomorrow, the Future Select side on Friday and finish their schedule with a clash with Jamaica Under 15s.
For more: http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/02/18/swindon-academy-scouting-in-the-caribbean/
Russian minister highlights strategic relations with Latin America and the Caribbean
From Granma Prensa Latina (PL) | [email protected]
Serguei Lavrov expressed support for the strengthening of political dialogue, bilateral agreements and cooperation
Moscow.- Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serguei Lavrov, emphasized the importance of Latin America and the Caribbean to Russia, describing bilateral relations as strategic, during a meeting with accredited ambassadors of the region. According to PL,
Lavrov emphasized the complimentarily which exists between Moscow and the group of nations which extend from the Río Bravo to Patagonia.
Lavrov called for the strengthening of mechanisms of political dialogue, cooperation and agreements with regional integration structures, in particular the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
During the meeting held in the Ecuadorian embassy in Russia, the minister reiterated the decision made by his country to contribute to restoring political stability in the Ukraine.
Butterfield Bank issuing new ‘chip and PIN’ credit cards for their Cayman Islands customers
Cayman Islands customers of Butterfield Bank will soon be receiving “chip and PIN” credit cards.
The chip and PIN system has been standard for a long time in Europe and Canada and are more secure than the system in place now that adopts the US magnetic strip system.
The new cards will have an embedded microchip with the banking information and customers will input a PIN exactly like they would at an ATM.
A spokesperson for Butterfield Bank said the bank will work with its business customers to convert sales terminals to accept the new chip and PIN cards. The bank plans to convert its merchant customers over to the new system by the end of the year.
Caribbean Governments concerned about St Kitts elections/Team Unity wins
From Barbados Nationnews
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Caribbean government Tuesday maintained pressure on the Supervisor of Elections in St Kitts & Nevis, Wingrove George, to declare the results of the elections held in the twin island Federation on Monday. For more: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/63654/caribbean-governments-concerned-about-st-kitts-elections#sthash.vj46cqNo.dpuf
Team Unity wins St Kitts election…
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – The Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George, broke his silence on Tuesday and named Team Unity, an amalgam of three opposition parties as the winner of Monday’s general election in St Kitts-Nevis.
But while George said that Team Unity had won seven of the 11 seats contested in the general election, he gave no figures, saying that they would be provided later on Tuesday night.
The other four seats were won by the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) that had formed an accommodation to contest the polls in which outgoing prime minister Dr Denzil Douglas was seeking to become the first regional politician to win five consecutive general elections.
In his brief radio broadcast, George defended the decision not to make public earlier Tuesday, the result of the polls, apologising to the nation “for the length of time this might have taken, but we have to remember that sometimes to be sure we have to take our time.
Cayman Islands immigration official found ‘Not Guilty’
Tichina Rickfield, formerly known as Sunshine McLaughlin, who was acting secretary to the Work Permit Board, was found not guilty by jury of all eight charges against her.
Rickfield was charged with one count of misconduct in a public office by falsifying work permit records and seven counts of making a document without authority – either by changing a board decision on a work permit application from “deferred” to “approved” or by adding expedited matters to a meeting agenda.
Justice Charles Quin had already found five additional charged the prosecution had put forward against Rickfield had insufficient evidence for the jury to consider and three other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Geothermal energy exploration
From NOW Grenada
In September 2014, the Governments of Grenada and New Zealand signed a Geothermal Support Partnership Framework, aimed at facilitating the exploration and eventual use of geothermal energy, leading to a reduction in Grenada’s carbon footprint and ultimately lower electricity prices.
In this regard, it was agreed that several activities, including the following will be conducted:
the review of existing studies and the undertaking of additional studies as necessary;
geophysics survey of potential geothermal sites;
analysis of the scientific data;
the completion of a stored heat assessment and quantification of power generation potential
To this end, the firm, Jacobs New Zealand Limited was contracted by the Government of New Zealand to undertake the required studies and technical analyses. The firm estimated that the initial phase of the assignment will cover a 30 week period, commencing with desktop reviews, technical and logistical planning, which they started in December 2014, and concluding with the submission of the technical reports and a presentation of the way forward, in June 2015.
In this regard, a team of scientists from New Zealand and Australia will be conducting technical and geoscience analyses in February and March 2015. This will occur at sites closer to the center and northern parts of Grenada, in the general vicinity of Mt St Catherine, where a number of potential geothermal sites will be investigated. The study seeks to define where the geothermal resource is located and identify possible sites for subsequent exploration efforts.
The Government of Grenada is committed in its efforts to enabling the provision of more sustainable energy to the citizens of Grenada, and a reduction in the reliance of imported fossil fuel. To this end, the Government of Grenada is hereby soliciting the collaboration and assistance of the requested Government Ministries/Departments, Land owners within the field research areas and the general public to guarantee the smooth implementation and the successful completion of the above-mentioned field work.
The Government of Grenada is happy to collaborate with the Government of New Zealand in this initiative and extends its gratitude for the assistance and commitment given to this process.
For more: http://nowgrenada.com/2015/02/geothermal-energy-exploration/
Cayman Islands Island Heritage Charity Drive ’15
Join Z99, Rooster 101 and Island Heritage for the annual Charity Drive at the Island Heritage roundabout.
Three charities, thousands of dollars, and one roundabout.
April 21, 22, 23 Canine and Feline Friends, Kiwanis Club, and Save Our Youth Foundation (S.O.Y) all have the chance to earn $10,000 with your help.
One charity can win an extra $5000 from social media.
Drive the roundabout and every time you do so, that days charity gets one dollar…do it throughout the day to get that charity up to $10,000!
See attached for more details.
Caribbean to benefit from ACP disaster preparedness study
From Caricom Today
BRUSSELS, Feb 16, CMC – Caribbean countries are to benefit from a disaster preparedness study launched by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group that offers a comprehensive view of the various risks faced by member countries, as well as valuable efforts to reduce them.
The ACP Compendium of Risk Knowledge, financed by the 10th European Development Fund under the Intra-ACP Cooperation envelope for Disaster Risk Reduction, show that disaster risk in ACP countries is considerably higher than in other regions.
The study found that 12 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa and one from the Caribbean were amongst the 20 most-at-risk from disasters in the world.
The report also notes that over a long period of time, ACP countries on average will lose US$6.9 billion annually from disasters, representing 2.3 per cent of their total gross domestic product (GDP).
“This compendium is telling us that disaster risk management is not the same thing as disaster management. While countries in the ACP have had good experience in managing disaster events in the past, it is now time that we start to proactively reduce the underlying drivers of these risks, to stem this growth of human and economic losses.
“I believe that political leaders, policy-makers and practitioners should use this compendium to understand their risks so that they can judge wisely how best to address them,” said ACP Secretary General Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni.
Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, Susanne Mallaum, said the study helps in a practical manner to understand the real nature of risks that countries in the ACP regions face.
“Reducing disaster risks is at the heart of what we need to do to build the resilience of vulnerable populations, promote sustainable development and address climate change,” said Mallaum,
For more: http://today.caricom.org/2015/02/16/caribbean-to-benefit-from-acp-disaster-preparedness-study/
Cayman Islands University faces cuts
Following a report prepared by the University College of the Cayman Islands’ (UCCI) board over half a million dollars in cuts have been recommended.
At present the Cayman Islands government provides over half the operating costs ($7M) the University needs.
Recommendations include:
Reducing full-time staff by 25 per cent over the next five years. This should be done by attrition as workers leave over time.
Discontinue courses of limited interest (it was noted some coursed had only three students enrolled).
Merging of departments.
Cutting the summer semester.
Gunman kills man who wined on his ex-girlfriend during Trinidad carnival
From Caribbean360
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday February 17, 2015, CMC – Police are searching for a gunman who shot and killed a 29-year-old man for allegedly wining on his ex-girlfriend during the Carnival celebrations that end here later on Tuesday.
Police said that Aston Antoine was shot at a house in Morvant, east of here, after the gunman followed him to the home of the ex-girlfriend after the Jouvert celebrations on Monday.
The sister of the unidentified woman was also injured during the confrontation.
Police said Antoine and the women had attended the Jouvert celebrations in the capital during which Antoine was wining on both women. The situation soon escalated after the suspect, who was nearby, approached the trio and an altercation took place.
Police said that they expect to make an arrest soon.
Guadeloupe delegation holds Associate Membership talks with CARICOM
From Caribbean Journal
A delegation from Guadeloupe recently met with CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque for talks on a potential associate membership.
Guadeloupe is one of five Caribbean territories that have applied for associate membership in CARICOM. The others include Curacao, Martinique, French Guyana and St Maarten.
The delegation included Therese Marianne-Pepin, president of the Commission on Cooperation; Olivier Soret, director general for Europe and Cooperation and Lionel Sarotte, cooperation officer.
In a statement, CARICOM said LaRocque “held broad discussions with the delegation, focusing on the structure and operations of CARICOM, the role of Associate Members in the Community and the terms and conditions of Associate Membership.”
Both Martinique and Guadeloupe have been looking to deepen their relationship with the independent countries in the region.
Earlier this week, Martinique joined the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States as an associate member.
