iNews Briefs
CWM Statement re iNews Cayman story City of London police investigating £100 m-plus Ponzi scheme by CWM FX
CWM PRESS STATEMENT
A spokesman for the company said: “CWM believe that they have been the victim of an orchestrated campaign initiated by individuals motivated by personal animosity.
CWM understands from third parties that clients have received calls from an individual; the purpose of the calls appears to have been to raise doubt about CWM as a business. Despite requests made of the police, they have thus far failed to provide the name of a single investor who has raised concerns with them.
CWM have made an offer to the City of London Police to ring fence funds, additional to those invested, to underwrite investors’ protection and allay any genuine concerns.
CWM World is a respected group of companies with a multi-million pound turnover, operating with dozens of partners in a number of countries. There is no sustainable basis for these allegations and we will continue to operate as a premier brand”.
See story referred to at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/exposed-belvedere-managements-massive-criminal-enterprise-operates-in-cayman-islands/
Statement re occurrence at Cayman Islands airport last Sunday (22)
CIAA Statement Re: Occurrence at ORIA
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (25 March, 2015) Cayman Islands Airports Authority has completed its investigation into an occurrence at Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) on Sunday, 22 March involving two airlines. One of the airlines flight departure was briefly delayed and the other had to go around before being cleared for landing. As part of the formal investigation, a report was submitted by CIAA to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as is the norm for any such occurrence. This is not a frequent occurrence and at no time was safety compromised.
Cayman Islands university accreditation attempt only covers the institution
If accreditation approval from the UK’s accrediting body, Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities (ASIC) is obtained by he University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) is obtained it will only cover the UCCI as an institution.
Accreditation for all the programmes offered at UCCI can be a long and costly process. So far only one programming has accreditation and that is for nursing.
UCCI is working on accreditation for other courses the university has said.
Barbados, Jamaica to lead Caribbean nations seeking to drop Queen Elizabeth as their Head of State
From Atlanta Black Star
Barbados is getting rid of the Queen. For some reason, the prime minister, Freundel Stuart, feels that the country’s head of state should not be a foreign white woman who has the job because of a history of conquest, who is also head of state for 15 other countries, including most of their near neighbors, and who last visited Barbados in 1989. Stuart promises to present a bill to remove her in time for next year’s 50th anniversary of Barbadian independence. If he does so, it is expected to pass.
To some extent it is easy to see why Britain keeps the Queen. She is British, after all. But what about Elizabeth II’s other queendoms? Might they be tempted to follow Barbados? Most Commonwealth countries have not kept the British monarch as head of state, and even those that have kept warm feelings may cool when Charles takes over. The list of candidates is: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
Among these, Jamaica could well be first to go republican, and should have beaten Barbados to it. The prime minster, Portia Simpson-Miller, vowed to do so before Jamaica’s own 50th anniversary of independence in 2012. The fact that she still hasn’t may be a sign that this kind of constitutional change is often more popular than practical.
See also INews Cayman story: “Is Barbados about to ditch the Queen?” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/is-barbados-about-to-ditch-the-queen/
Cayman Islands beach volleyball wants volunteers
NORCECA 2015 – Volunteer Call
The 2015 NORCECA Beach Volleyball circuit begins right here on Grand Cayman from April 24th to 26th.
It’s volunteers that make the tournament such a success year after year, and the Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation (CIVF) is calling for help again this year.
General duties include lines judging, ball retrieval and water assistance among other duties as required from time to time.
Volunteer times are Friday 8:30am-8pm, Saturday 8:30am-7pm and Sunday 9am-5pm. These times are dependent on the final games schedule which is based on the numbers of participating teams which is subject to change up until the week of the event.
To apply just complete the sign-up form on the CIVF website and we’ll be in touch with further details!
CIVY website: http://www.civf.ky/tournaments/cayman-volleyball-norceca/norceca-2015-volunteer-call
CCJ President: the impact and influence of the Magna Carta on Caribbean law
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 25, 2015 (SKNIS) — President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron, recently presented a lecture at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus, which underscored the impact and influence of the Magna Carta on Caribbean law.
The lecture was in celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta (Latin for Great Charter), a legal instrument that was issued under the authority of King John of England in 1215. It is an instrument upon which many constitutions, including those in the CARICOM region, are based.
Sir Byron explained that the instrument “is known for promoting judicial integrity and impartiality and forbade the denial of justice and its delay to all citizens.” He added that “it laid the foundation for the protection of the right to life; the right of personal liberty; the right to the protection of property; the right not to be arrested or imprisoned, outlawed, destroyed or put upon in any way except by the lawful judgment of one’s peers or the law of the land.
“It stands for what has become one of the most fundamental and immutable tenants of law and namely that no one is above the law,” said Sir Charles, who commented that it is interesting that, though established 800 years ago, it has captured the concept that justice is local and that a person was entitled to the judgment of their peers.
He further explained that the Magna Carta is part of the history of the struggle between power and freedom and had become a symbolic argument “in the fight to develop parliamentary democracy in 17th century England.”
“The traditions developing from that have laid the pillars and foundation for constitutional evolution in Britain.”
Sir Charles explained that in the Caribbean, in most of the former British Commonwealth colonies, the Magna Carta is attributed to be the most significant landmark on the route to establishing the rule of constitutional law and that it has influenced Caribbean jurisprudence and Caribbean constitutions.
“Even though it found expression in Caribbean constitutions, there wasn’t any constitution in England, although there are some commentators that would equate the Magna Carta with a sort of British constitution.”
Some features of Caribbean constitutions include generally constraining the actions of the organs of state whether the executive, the legislature or the judiciary and ensures that no one is above the law. They balance the enjoyment of individual rights with a public interest and determine the mechanisms through which sovereignty is exercised. The constitutions articulate core values such as a commitment to parliamentary democracy, constitutional supremacy, to the separation of powers to judicial independence and the rule of law.
YMCA Cayman Islands Day Camps announced
In 2014 the Y in Cayman launched their first Summer Camp programme and Summer 2015 is just around the corner and plans are under way to once again host an amazing summer programme. See attachments for all details.. Click on attachments to enlarge.
See also: http://www.ymcacayman.ky/camps/
St Kitts-Nevis bans US poultry products following reported Bird Flu outbreak
From Jamaica Observer
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – St Kitts-Nevis has become the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to impose a ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from several US states following reports of an outbreak of Bird Flu.
Like Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda said the ban applies to poultry products from the US states of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and British Columbia in Canada.
The list includes all poultry products, by-products and eggs and the authorities here said that the ban is intended to safeguard the poultry industry.
The ban is expected to remain in effect for three months and officials here said that the restrictions are necessary to minimize the introduction of the bird flu virus into the twin-island federation, where more than 22 poultry farms would be at risk.
Antigua and Barbuda is also expected to follow the positions adopted by the two CARICOM countries.
Hurricane Ivan Artwork presented to Cayman prepared
Miss Marge Quinland generously donated a crochet of ‘The Onslaught of Ivan’s Destruction, 10th Anniversary 2014’ to Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI).
The artwork was on display at the 48th Annual Agricultural Show on Ash Wednesday when HMCI Director, McCleary Frederick saw the crochet and attempted to purchase the item. Miss Quinland decided she would prefer to give the crochet as a gift to HMCI. It is now on display at HMCI office in the Government Building on Elgin Avenue.
Former prime minister [Saint Kitts and Nevis], demands apology, sums in damages, over Facebook posts
From Caribbean360
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Wednesday March 25, 2015, CMC – Lawyers for former prime minister Dr. Denzil Douglas are demanding an apology and significant sums in damages from people who used the social media to claim that the United States had revoked the visa of their client ahead of the last general election.
Pre-action protocol letters have already been sent to two people here demanding the apology, a retraction of the posting on the social website Facebook and at least EC$300,000 (One Ec dollar =US$0.37 cents) in damages.
In the letter, the attorneys claim that the posting by a “public and outspoken supporter of the current administration” on March 11, was made without any form of research.
“It is clear that you are not concerned with the true position. You acted with clear and transparently dishonest intention or with extreme recklessness in order to cause maximum damage to the former Prime Minister with the outrageous allegation,” the letter stated.
The letters to the two people indicate that Dr. Douglas, who served as prime minister for 20 years, takes serious issue with the allegations and in particular attempts to “scandalize his name, reputation and legacy.”
The lawyers note that while the former prime minister welcomes political debate, it is apparent that the recipients were “solely motivated to damage Dr. Douglas’ good name for partisan political purposes.”
The March 19 letters gave the two respondents 48 hours to respond and in the absence of a “speedy and constructive response,” it warned that the former prime minister will have no choice but to begin proceedings for defamation.
Cayman Islands took part in tsunami exercise
Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) took part in a region wide tsunami exercise. A mock drill simulated a major earthquake and tsunami off the Caribbean coast of Panama at 9:00 a.m. local time.
The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate local tsunami response plans that included coordination of public advisories and mobilisation of various government entities set to help with coastal evacuations.
Lawsuit against West Indies cricketer set for September
From Antigua Observer
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mar 24, CMC – West Indies cricketer Lendl Simmons will appear in court on September 28 in relation to a lawsuit filed by an advertising executive who has accused him of releasing intimate photos of herself.
Justice Frank Seepersad set the date for the hearing in the lawsuit filed by Therese Ho who alleges that after a brief sexual relationship with the right handed batsman, released intimate photos of her, without her permission, via social media and instant messaging networks.
She is seeking substantial damages from Simmons for breaching the common law principle of confidence.
Ho applied for and received an injunction on June 5, 2014 from Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh preventing any further disclosure of material which emanated from her brief relationship with Simmons. Ho alleges that Simmons shared intimate photos of her with his fellow West Indies teammates via social media, as well as the mobile application Viber while with the West Indies team during a tour of India.
Further, she accuses Simmons, who was a member of the West Indies World Cup squad, of distributing the photographs in revenge after she threatened to go public with their romantic affair.
The 30-year-old Trinidad and Tobago opening batsman has denied ever being involved with Ho, but admitted they had a brief singular sexual encounter.
For more: http://antiguaobserver.com/lawsuit-against-west-indies-cricketer-set-for-september/
Cayman Tennis: Hrbaty booked for Cayman Open
From Digicel Sports Max
Former top-20 ranked player Dominik Hrbaty is among several international players confirmed for the 2015 PwC Cayman Open that begins on Thursday.
And, organisers are saying this year’s edition could be one of the best yet. American Rob Kendrick is the defending champion.
Hrbaty, a former world number 12, was a semi-finalist at the French Open in 1999. He along with Farrukh Dustov from Uzbekistan have been locked in for the tournament.
The 28-year-old European is ranked 110 in the world. Others are yet to be confirmed.
“Also, Michael Russell, world No. 179, who used to be as high as 60, will also hopefully come down, along with many others,” said Rob Seward, one of the organisers.
“We will not know until the last minute because some people like Russell will be playing the qualifying event at the Miami Open that is taking place before our tournament. If they lose in qualifying, more than likely they will come to Cayman.”
The 36-year-old Hrbaty will also conduct a two-hour adult clinic on Saturday and a free clinic for kids on Sunday.
For more: http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2015/03/25/cayman-tennis-hrbaty-booked-cayman-open
UWI signs MOU with Mexican, Caribbean bodies
From Loop News Service
Representatives from the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the Embassy of Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus (UWI) are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday.
The MOU is meant to cement the group’s efforts towards the achievement of the objectives of the “United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management” initiative (UN-GGIM) and of the “Caribbean Platform of Territorial Information for Disaster Prevention (PITCA)” project.
The PITCA initiative intends to establish a platform which will provide territorial geospatial information, from national as well as regional sources with the aim of reducing vulnerability in the Greater Caribbean region.
The UN-GGIM, on the other hand, aims to promote the development of Spatial Data Infrastructure in eleven countries in the Caribbean, to strengthen the generation, use and sharing of geospatial information.
For more: http://looptt.com/2015/03/25/uwi-signs-mou-mexican-caribbean-bodies/
Cayman Islands motor museum will remain open despite car sales
Norwegian businessman Andreas Ugland said the Cayman Motor Museum would remain open, despite the sale of pride of place vehicle – The Batmobile, from the original 1960s television series
40 classic cars at the motor museum will be auctioned at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale this weekend -Friday through Sunday. Included is a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe and this is one of only 350 ever made.
Ugland said he has 10 new cars that include classic Ferraris and Bentleys arriving. All of these will be featured at the museum along with some classic boats.
The sale of the cars is estimated to fetch more than a half-million dollars.
IMAGE: www.ibtimes.co.uk
Japanese car dealer announces Caribbean expansion
AICHI, Japan — Fairline Cars, a supplier of new and pre-owned quality cars based in Aichi, Japan, some 220 miles west of Tokyo, is expanding its reach to the Caribbean.
Fairline Cars is the export division of Fairline Corporation, an international company specialising in importing and exporting cars across the globe.
With decades of experience in the car export business, Fairline Cars has built great relationships with partners and customers all over the world by providing high quality cars and excellent customer service.
Its mission is to provide the best car within a customer’s budget and for just a small deposit they will ship a car that is specifically hand- picked by Fairline’s expert and experienced team.
“Let us know what kind of car you need and we will give you exactly what you want!” said Aki Tamura.
Fairline has a dedicated salesperson that will personally assist Caribbean customers in getting the exact car they want.
For more information, visit www.fairlinecars.com
No one pleased with Cayman Islands Rum Point decision
Developer Joseph Imparato’s new condo project at Rum Point on Grand Cayman has been denied permission to include a restaurant and additional apartments in the complex. More than 30 neighboring residents complained.
The Cayman Islands Central Planning Authority upheld the original permission granted in 2009 for a five-story development featuring 28 homes, was first. The project, called Rum Point condos did not go ahead then because of the economic downturn.
Both parties were displeased with the decision and have indicated they will appeal it.
Search suspended for Liberty of the Seas passenger
By Amanda Batchelor From ABC News 10
Royal Carribbean Cruises surveillance video shows man jumping off deck 12
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for a man who apparently jumped overboard the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship 22 nautical miles off the coast of Marathon on Sunday.
Royal Caribbean Cruises said in a statement that surveillance video showed a man, identified by the Coast Guard as Frank Flippo, 43, climbing over the railing of deck 12 and jumping off.
The ship docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Monday after a four-night cruise that stopped in Cozumel, Mexico, on Saturday.
The Coast Guard searched for Flippo by helicopter and cutter for three days.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Flippo during this very difficult time,” Capt. Todd Coggeshall said. “Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and an exhaustive search, our crews were unable to locate him.”
The Coast Guard said crews searched 1,734 square nautical miles.
For more: http://www.local10.com/news/search-suspended-for-liberty-of-the-seas-passenger/32005316
Announcing STOGIES CIGAR LOUNGE opening in Cayman Islands
Put your feet up and let your guard down at Stogies Cigar Lounge
Inspired by the cozy stateliness of gentleman’s club the Stogies Cigar Lounge is the new addition to Crudo Bar and Guy Harvey’s Restaurant. With a choice of top Cuban Cigars and over 100 selections of Caribbean Rums it is premier venue for relaxing, recharging and reveling in the middle or at the end of your day.
Considering its privacy it is a perfect alternative for a private business meeting day time upon request (no staff present ).
Accountants gather for Caribbean Conference
From Loop News Service
The region’s accountants, auditors and finance professionals will gather in Trinidad and Tobago in June for the 33rd Annual Caribbean Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Centre in Port of Spain.
The Conference will be presented by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad & Tobago (ICATT) from June 25 – 27, 2015.
According to Conference Chair, Anthony Pierre, a Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) and member of the ICATT Council, the two day conference is expected to attract some 700 participants, half of which will come from affiliated Caribbean territories.
“The conference theme speaks to the need for Caribbean island states to innovate in the way we do business and conduct our economic and financial affairs as we surge to uniquely define who we are in a globalised world which, in the lyrics of calypso artiste, David Rudder in his West Indies cricket anthem, does not recognise little island states anymore.”
“How successful we are in this pilgrimage,” he added, “will depend to a large extent on the resolve of our captains of industry and commerce. As trusted professional advisers, accountants will find themselves playing a greater and non-traditional role in the new paradigm. We will need to innovate and re-think our service proposition to employers, clients and society at large.” Pierre added.
For more: http://looptt.com/2015/03/25/accountants-gather-caribbean-conference/
$10,000 bond seized by Cayman Islands Courts
Despite the Cayman Islands Crown decision not to proceed with extradition proceedings against former George Town bar manager, Arthur Scranton, a Grand court judge ordered the $10,000 surety on his behalf to be paid to the court.
Scranton (55) is accused of stealing $10,850 from Rackam’s, and jumped bail never to return. He denied the charges.
Scranton’s whereabouts in Canada are known but it is understood the director of public prosecutions has said the costs to extradite outweigh the public interest.
Gibson to coach England quicks in the Caribbean
From Sport Live
Former West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has been re-appointed as England’s fast bowling coach for the upcoming tour of the Caribbean.
The 46-year-old spent three years coaching England’s quicks before taking over as West Indies head coach back in 2010.
Ex-Windies paceman Gibson left that role by mutual consent last August and has agreed to coach England’s pacemen as they attempt to secure victory in a three-match series which begins next month.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Paul Downton revealed that no decision has been made on a long-term replacement for current fast bowling coach David Saker, who has agreed to take over as Melbourne Renegades coach.
Downton said: “We are delighted to have secured a bowling coach of Ottis’ calibre as he is highly respected among the fast bowling fraternity and his knowledge and experience of local conditions will be invaluable in the Caribbean.
“We must, however, stress that this is a short-term appointment at this stage. No decision has yet been made on a long-term replacement for David and we will need to review how we staff this position going forward following the conclusion of the West Indies tour.”
Gibson was recently employed by the ECB as fast bowling coach for England Lions on their tour of South Africa and the England Performance Programme’s four-week training camp for fast bowlers before Christmas.
England and West Indies start their Test series in Antigua on April 13.
For more: http://live.sportlive.co.za/?sport=news&page=news&view=article&news_id=566707
Cayman Islands high school reports more fights
Cayman Islands education officials have confirmed another fight took place recently at the George Town John Gray High School . This follows two other violent incidents — a gang-related fight and an assault on a teacher — earlier this month.
Acting Chief Education Officer Lyneth Monteith said the latest “physical altercation” took place between two female students and was not gang-related.
Google has an absolutely crazy idea for protecting pedestrians from its driverless cars
By Brad Reed From BGR
Google’s driverless cars will definitely make driving safer for people inside cars, but what about pedestrians? Quartz reports that Google has been awarded a patent that details a system for installing airbags on the outside of vehicles to lessen the chances that someone getting struck with a self-driving Google car will suffer severe or fatal injuries.
Of course, the trouble with just placing traditional airbags on the outside of the car is that they’d deploy with enough force to knock any pedestrian backward through the air. To solve this issue, Quartz writes that Google is developing “bumpers made out of a ‘visco-elastic material’” that will supposedly lessen the chance that a collision will launch any civilians into the air.
On the whole, driverless cars are expected to be much safer than cars driven by humans as the software is much better at maintaining awareness of its surroundings and has superior reaction times to human drivers. Nonetheless, there’s no guarantee that accidents will never occur, which is why Google seems to be taking as many precautions as it can to make people feel easier about essentially having a bunch of robots roaming around on the streets.
Read more about Google’s crazy idea for exterior car airbags by checking out Quartz’s full report here: http://qz.com/369345/googles-driverless-car-might-come-with-airbags-on-the-outside-to-protect-pedestrians/
For more: http://bgr.com/2015/03/25/google-driverless-cars-airbag-patent/
I chopped up brother but wasn’t trying to kill him says Caymanian
On Friday (20) in the Cayman Islands Courts Easton Russell pleaded guilty to chopping his brother Carlos with a machete at a house in Bodden Town but denied a charge of attempted murder.
The incident occurred last November at Carlos Russell’s home on Carrington Lane in Pease Bay, Bodden Town. Easton is alleged to have slashed his brother with a machete, causing serious chop wounds. He was arrested at the scene and later charged with the attempted murder of Carlos.
The case was adjourned until next month as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has said it will not accept Russell’s admission to grievous bodily harm alone.
Cayman Brac Antichrist statue burned
The 15 foot statue on Cayman Brac depicting the Antichrist has been burned to the ground by the artist Ron Kynes, known as “Foots”.
The statue showed a mock grave site with a goat’s head affixed to a crucifix engraved with the digits 6-6-6 and grew much criticism and outrage from residents and others.
Foots said it was always his intention to burn it down and is part of a trilogy entitled “Evil Has Fallen, Now Goodness Begins”. He will now start on his second sculpture.
Don’t be a Fool this April !
From CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
Why not get a team together and join us for the first Wednesday of every month for Quiz night at PD’s!
If you are unable to make it but would like to help spread the word about our Quiz, please download the attached flyer to share on your office notice board.
