iNews Briefs
CIBC Walk for Cure boosts Cancer Society
Team members from CIBC FirstCaribbean collected US$17,855 by walking 5 kilometers from Public Beach to Havana Club and back again, where the 220 participants enjoyed a Caribbean breakfast and a free raffle. The money raised will benefit the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
“Cancer is a disease which has touched just about everyone in our company and the Cayman community,” said Mark McIntyre, managing director of CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank (Cayman) Ltd. “Some of our own staff have themselves battled the disease. It is a cause which is very close to us all, and so we are proud to support the Cancer Society in the important work that it is doing through CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Walk for the Cure initiative.”
The effort formed part of the bank’s global Walk for the Cure fundraising in October, which aimed to have all of its employees walking at the same time, to raise money for cancer research. More than US$190,000 was collected in 2014, with events taking place across the Caribbean.
Mr. McIntyre and Walk for the Cure manager Shadden McLaughlin presented the check on behalf of the bank to Jennifer Weber, operations manager of the Cancer Society.
“The efforts of CIBC FirstCaribbean and their sponsors were extra special,” said Ms. Weber. “They wanted to go the extra mile, and thanks to their hard work and all their supporters, this one event has raised significant funds.
“The Cancer Society has seen the number of people who need our help increase by 10 times in the last four years. We receive no government funding, so we rely on the community’s support. We are working hard to help people in our community, and the need is great. Lucky for us, CIBC and their supporters are great too.”
Nebraska man busted for stashing pot in sour cream tub labeled ‘not weed’: deputies
By Meg Wagner From New York Daily News
Don’t let the label fool you.
A Nebraska man was busted for marijuana possession when deputies found his stash hidden in a container labeled “not weed.”
Lancaster County deputies stopped Jordan Meier, of Lincoln, around 9 p.m. Saturday for suspected drunk driving, Sheriff Terry Wagner told the Daily News.
When the deputies searched the 21-year-old’s car, they found a 16-ounce sour cream tub under the car seat. It was labeled “not weed.”
We call that a clue.
“We call that a clue,” Wagner said.
Inside, the deputies found about 11 ounces of pot. Meier said it belonged to him, and he was fined $100 for possession.
He was also arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Cayman Islands police recruitment drive announced
From The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS)
The annual drive to recruit Caymanians to the RCIPS commences Monday, 30 March 2015 and runs all through April.
Guyana defends oil concession in waters claimed by Venezuela
Associated Press / Dolores Ochoa from Caribbean Life
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) _ Guyana’s government on Saturday rejected the latest objections raised by neighboring Venezuela over the granting to ExxonMobil Corp. of an oil and gas concession in Caribbean waters claimed by both nations.
Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said in a statement that the project would continue, saying that Guyana has authority over the offshore area in dispute.
Rodriguez-Birkett released the statement a day after an advertisement appeared in Guyana newspapers expressing the unhappiness of Venezuela’s government with Exxon starting exploratory drilling in the 26 million-acre tract earlier this month.
The ad said, “Venezuela reserves the right to execute all actions in the diplomatic field and in accordance with international law that might be necessary to defend and safeguard the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela.”
Rodriguez-Birkett said Guyana rejects such threats.
“The Republic of Guyana has full and unfettered authority to unilaterally explore – with or without partners – and exploit the living and non-living resources within its jurisdiction. Any act or objection to the exercise of such jurisdiction is contrary to international law,” her statement said.
For more: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2015/3/2015-03-16-ap-guyanaoil-cl_2015_3.html
Qunar Cayman Islands reaches new 12-Month high after analyst upgrade (QUNR)
By Shayan Afkhami From Mideast Times
Qunar Cayman Islands logoShares of Qunar Cayman Islands (NASDAQ:QUNR) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday after Pacific Crest raised their price target on the stock from $39.00 to $41.00, American Banking and Market News reports. Pacific Crest currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Qunar Cayman Islands traded as high as $34.50 and last traded at $34.41, with a volume of 1,418,634 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $32.01.
Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at HSBC upgraded shares of Qunar Cayman Islands from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Separately, analysts at Credit Agricole initiated coverage on shares of Qunar Cayman Islands in a research note on Monday, February 9th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Qunar Cayman Islands presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $31.83.
The stock has a 50-day moving average of $28. and a 200-day moving average of $27.. The company’s market cap is $4.07 billion.
Qunar Cayman Islands (NASDAQ:QUNR) last released its earnings data on Monday, March 16th. The company reported ($0.40) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.45) by $0.05. Analysts expect that Qunar Cayman Islands will post $-1.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Qunar Cayman Islands Limited is a search-based commerce platform for the travel industry in China. The Company’s customers include travel service providers (NASDAQ:QUNR) and display advertisers. The Company’s platform is designed to facilitate and enhance convenience, data accuracy, and transaction security for its users.
Customer at Cayman Islands bar stabbed by security guard
Kenroy Leonard Rowe, a Jamaican national who was working at the Energy Bar and Lounge in Shedden Road, George Town, Grand Cayman was found guilty by a jury of wounding with intent.
The incident happened in March 2014 and was caught on CCTV.
The customer had punched Rowe after he had attempted to pat him down before he entered the bar and was sitting down at the bar when Rowe attacked him with a flick knife stabbing him. The customer sustained serious injuries and could have died but for the quick actions of a police officer.
The judge said it was a serious offence and remanded Rowe in custody ahead of a sentence hearing next month.
CGG to shoot record Colombian Caribbean 3D seismic survey
From Penn Energy
PARIS – Anadarko Petroleum has contracted CGG to conduct Colombia’s largest marine seismic survey to date.
It involves acquiring and processing 16,314 sq km (6,299 sq mi) of 3D seismic survey over portions of the Col-1 and Col-2 blocks on the Caribbean coast.
CGG will assign the Oceanic Sirius and Oceanic Vega to this campaign. Each vessel will tow a 12 x 120 x 8,100-m (39 x 393 x 26,574-ft) spread using Sercel’s Sentinel steerable solid streamers and CGG’s Dovetail efficient acquisition solution, said to deliver more regular sampling and reduce infill.
The survey will start this spring, subject to regulatory approval, and the resultant data will be processed at CGG’s Houston subsurface imaging center.
In 2013 CGG completed the 5,500-sq km (2,123-sq mi) 3D Fuerte survey offshore Colombia for Anadarko.
Cayman Football: New champs to be crowned in Premier League
From Digicel Sportsmax
A new champion will be crowned in the Cayman Islands Premier League this season as with only three games to go, last year’s champion Bodden Town are 10 points behind leaders Scholars International.
Scholars took a three-point lead over Elite Sports Club last week, following a 4-0 whipping of Bodden Town. Rolly Bodden scored his third hat-trick for Scholars since he joined the club in January on a transfer from Elite Sports Club.
Sunset are third on 26 points, and they lead Cayman Athletic on goal difference. However, Sunset have played 17 games, one fewer than Athletic.
Bodden Town are fifth on 24 points, Roma United a further five points back in sixth. George Town have 15 points and Cayman Brac are bottom on 14 points, but with a game in hand.
Scholars have a tricky trip to the Brac on Saturday and are playing a team desperate for points to avoid an immediate return to the First Division. Their last two games are against Athletic and Roma. Elite, meantime, have tough matches against Athletic, Bodden Town and Sunset.
Also this weekend, George Town play Bodden Town in the early match at the TE McField Annex on Sunday, before Athletic face Elite. Roma face Sunset at BT’s ground at 7:00 p.m.
Easter Specials announced by Red Sail Sports Cayman Islands
Red Sail Sports
This Specials Only from : 18 March 2015 to 6 April 2015
With Easter being a busy time here on Grand Cayman, we have added some extra catamaran sails to help avoid disappointment. Good Friday (April 3 2015) – Breakfast with the Rays Easter Sunday (April 5) – Sunset Sail Easter Monday (April 6) – Kittiwake and Reef Sail Book early to avoid disappointment. You can book by clicking the activity below or by calling toll-free 1-877-506-6368.
Breakfast with the Rays: http://www.redsailcayman.com/stingray-city-breakfast/details
Kittiwake & Reef Sail: http://www.redsailcayman.com/kittiwake-reef-sail/details
Sunset Sail: http://www.redsailcayman.com/sunset-sail/details
Caribbean Film Mart and Film Database to Launch in September
The Caribbean Film Mart and Caribbean Film Database will be launched this September during the 10th annual trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), which takes place from the 15-29 September 2015.
The project is co-financed by the ACP Cultures+ Programme, funded by the European Union (European Development Fund) and implemented by the ACP Group of States.
According to Emilie Upczak, ttff’s Creative Director: “The Mart is poised to introduce the unique voices and aesthetic of Caribbean film and filmmakers to the international film industry, through four days of meetings, presentations, and networking events. International producers, sales agents and film funds will meet one-on-one with filmmakers who will have opportunities to forge partnerships that could lead to the successful funding and distribution of their films.”
The Caribbean Film Mart’s call for projects will open on 23 March and close on 04 May 2015. Project applicants(producers or directors), must be Caribbean citizens/residents or international filmmakers living and working in the Caribbean, and the projects must be narrative features or creative documentaries that will be made in the Caribbean.
In addition to the Caribbean Film Mart, the ttff will also unveil the Caribbean Film Database—a website of feature-length independent Caribbean Narrative, Documentary and Experimental feature films from 2000 to the present. The Database will also include a select number of Caribbean classics, contain a bibliography of film resources, a Caribbean Women in Film page and links to other film festivals, film commissions and schools in the region.
“We wanted to create an online resource that was easily accessible, well organised and reflected the visual palette of the Caribbean film movement. This resource will allow filmmakers in the region to more easily collaborate, will give audiences greater ability to access films and filmmakers from the region, and provide the international industry with a one-stop shop for Caribbean film,” said the ttff’s Art Director, Melanie Archer, who is coordinating the Caribbean Film Database.
In an effort to spread the word about the two initiatives and to select the 30 participating industry guests, the ttff team has been travelling to key international film festivals and markets, including Sundance and Slamdance in the US, Rotterdam and Berlin in Europe, and Guadalajara in Mexico. In the next few weeks, the ttff will attend two regional festivals—Festival Régional et International du Cinéma de Guadeloupe (FEMI), an associate partner on the project, and the Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam (CIFFR). These interventions are intended to engage the regional industry and to usean inclusive approach to the development of the two projects.
The ttff’s External Relations Director Nneka Luke will attend FEMI to participate on a panel in the Film Market on 14 March, and give a presentation to FEMI’s industry guests on 16 March; she will also promote the Caribbean Film Mart call. The films Art Connect, Dubois and Pan: Our Music Odyssey, which all premiered at the ttff 2014, are also official selections at FEMI this year.The ttff’s Programme Director, Annabelle Alcazar, will attend CIFFR to work with the Curaçao team to finalise the Dutch-language films that will be included in the Caribbean Film Database, and to promote the Caribbean Film Mart call.
The Caribbean Film Mart and Caribbean Film Database are being implemented in association with the Fundación Global Democracia y Dessarollo from the Dominican Republic, the Association for the Development of Art Cinema and Practice in Guadeloupe, the Foundation of New Latin American Cinema from Cuba, and the Festival Régional et International du Cinéma de Guadeloupe.
For more information on the Caribbean Film Mart, send an email to [email protected]; for the Caribbean Film Database, contact database@caribbean- film.com.
IMAGE: caribseekeventscalendar.com
