iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands bank robbers sentenced
Last month a jury found David Tamasa, George Mignott, Andre Burton and Rennie Cole of robbing $500,000 from Cayman National Bank in 2012 for the second time. The first time a Court of Appeal overturned the first verdict on a technicality and ordered a second trial.
Tamasa was jailed for 14 years for the robbery plus 7 years for a gun charge.
Mignott received 12 years for the robbery and 7 years for a gun charge.
Burton received 14 years for the robbery and 5 years for the gun charge
Cole received 8 years for the robbery and 4 for the gun charge.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Burton’s sentence will also run concurrently with a robbery conviction at WestStar Television Centre.
Caribbean startup taking digital financial services to emerging markets
By Business News Americas staff reporter
Barbados-based digital financial startup Bitt has launched its Bitt Exchange service after raising US$1.5mn to take crypto-currency services to emerging markets.
Bitt closed its landmark US$1.5mn seed capital led by a contribution from AvatarCapital, an investment group based in Trinidad and Tobago.
“We’re pleased to invest in the development of the crypto-currency industry in the region,” said AvatarCapital director Peter George. “It’s our hope that this investment will benefit the people of the Caribbean and becomes the catalyst for digital currency trading in this part of the world.”
Bitt’s trading platform allows clients to trade in 11 major currencies, including the US dollar, the British pound and the euro. By facilitating exchange between traditional and digital currency, the startup hopes to take international commerce and remittance services to unbanked citizens in the Caribbean.
Deal Alert: A heavenly Grand Cayman stay… based on your birthday
By Christine Dayao from Shermans Travel
Deal Alert: Summer Promotions at The Westin Grand Cayman
IMAGE: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa
There’s a reason we look south for great value for summer travel — all the warm-weather deals. The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa is just one example, with a fun special offer on tap.
First up is the Pay Your Birth Year promotion, where you can finally feel better about older age. For select nights through the end of the year, pay rates from $259 on your first night, then pay your birth year plus $100 for the second and third nights. So if you were born in 1960, you would pay $160 for additional nights.) Use promotional code BIRTHYR — and don’t forget to bring your ID, which is required at check-in.
Here’s when we found availability for the promotion: May 7-16, August 20-31, and all of September and October, with the exception of Halloween. If you can swing it, it’s worth waiting until late summer to check in. Rates for the first night in May are $299 for a king bed with an island view, while they start from $259 in late August through October.
There’s also the Vacation Bonus special, which gets you a fifth night free, $100 resort credit, and excursion discounts ($30-$35 off) through December 19. Use promotional code ZS5. Another deal of interest is one that slashes every second night by 40 percent when arriving Thursday through Saturday; book using promo code ZB4.
More about the hotel: As an island resort, the property is surrounded by pristine sand and turquoise water. The guestrooms and one- or two-bedroom accommodations offer up views of either the island and ocean or the pool. When relaxation is in order, slip away to the Hibiscus Spa, which features steam and sauna rooms, a women’s whirlpool, and 13 treatment rooms.
For more: http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2015/deal-alert-summer-promotions-at-the-westin-grand-cayman/
Caribbean tax haven resists UK pressure for company register
From Stabroek News
LONDON, (Reuters) – The government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) said it has no plans to establish a central register of true company owners, despite pressure from Britain to adopt the anti-money laundering and tax evasion measure.
The BVI said in a statement yesterday it was backing other measures it said would be at least as effective in ensuring law enforcement agencies can find out who is behind shell companies involved in financial crime.
British Prime Minister David Cameron proposed plans for a public register of the beneficial owners of all companies in 2013, during a G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Some of the UK’s overseas territories, including the BVI, have opposed the move.
Money laundering trial of Cayman Islands former health services head delayed until November
Canover Watson, former head of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA), will now face trial for money laundering and associated infractions on November 2nd.
Watson is charged in relation to the ongoing probe into the Carepay insurance card swipe system at the HSA. His former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez will also appear with him at the trial.
The adjournment was requested by the prosecution and granted by the Judge, Ingrid Mangatal, at a hearing last Wednesday (1).
Caribbean Union of Teachers warn of escalation of teachers action
From Jamaica Gleaner
The Caribbean Union of Teachers has warned that it is prepared to escalate the action taken by Barbadian teachers who say they will not submit final School Based Assessment (SBA) marks for students.
The union says this could include taking protest region-wide.
The Barbados government has already warned teachers that they could face disciplinary action if they maintain their position.
The government has accused the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union and the Barbados Union of Teachers of being unreasonable.
The teachers are demanding adequate compensation for conducting the SBA programme being administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
For more: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/nbn63yqh8f6e/?&th=14c7fdbd59986b3b&v=c
Cayman Islands police officer suspended after random drug test
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has confirmed a Caymanian constable has been suspended from duty after failing a random drug test. The officer tested positive for an illegal substance and the matter is now under investigation to decide if criminal charges will be pressed.
Since January 2015, 49 police staff have been randomly selected and tested and this is the first time an officer has returned positive for an illegal drug.
All staff including the Commissioner could be tested.
BG outlines Caribbean well, seismic plans
Offshore staff From Penn Energy
READING, UK – BG Group has issued an update on its exploration programs offshore central and South America.
Drilling of the Bounty appraisal well on clock 5(c) off Trinidad and Tobago should get under way during the current quarter, followed by an exploration well on the company’s Lobster prospect in block 5(d).
Last June, BG agreed to acquire a 30% interest in a 14,356-sq km (5,543-sq mi) exploration block offshore Aruba. It contains identified prospectivity in water depths between 400 and 1,800 m (1,312 and 5,905 ft). A 3D seismic survey over the acreage was completed in 2014.
This year the partners plan seabed coring.
BG Group is the sole licence holder of an offshore block in Honduras spanning 35,000 sq km (13,513 sq mi). It plans a seismic campaign this year.
Offshore Uruguay, BG has a 100% operated interest in blocks 8, 9, and 13. The company completed the second phase of its seismic work program last year, acquiring more than 13,000 sq km (5,019 sq mi) of data.
In addition, the company completed a seabed coring and heat flow survey and started a 3D controlled source electromagnetic survey in December. The latter should be finished later this year, assisting evaluation of the license areas to mature drillable targets.
For more: http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2015/04/bg-outlines-caribbean-well-seismic-plans.html
What does Canada, the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom have in common?
From education to the environment, economy to our careers, health to security, local issues to global issues … how we acquire and discern information that impacts our decision-making and our life, is a growing concern.
Your contribution to this survey will provide insight to the preferences and use of technology by government to communicate and engage stakeholders.
You will receive the survey through Survey Monkey. However, for ease of forwarding to friends, family and colleagues, Survey #5 can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/jdmmbasurvey5
4 Facts you should know about the Caribbean solar market
By Mike Munsell From Greentech Solar
Just as Latin America represents a fraction of global solar demand but is growing rapidly, the Caribbean market makes up about 2 percent of Latin America’s market, but is quickly expanding from its small base.
So why should you care about this tiny solar market?
“It has all the right pieces in place in terms of insolation and high electricity prices — but it hasn’t really taken off yet,” said GTM Research solar analyst Adam James in an interview. “Now all that is beginning to change as we see more financing and some policy support coming into the picture, although we still have a long way to go.”
GTM Research and Meister Consultants Group recently partnered to survey 30 solar companies active across the Caribbean region. Released today, Solar PV in the Caribbean: Opportunities and Challenges is a free white paper summarizing the findings from the recent survey.
Here are four facts you should know.
- Installed system costs vary widely by market
Across the Caribbean, the average cost to install a residential system is $3.85 per watt. However, depending on the island, costs range from as low as $1.50 per watt in Antigua to as high as $8.00 per watt in Jamaica. However, even within Jamaica, costs varied, as some reported prices were as low as $2.50 per watt.
Source: Solar PV in the Caribbean: Opportunities and Challenges
- The commercial segment is exposed to the most competitive pricing
Commercial system costs in the Caribbean averaged $2.88 per watt.
According to the report, these costs are lower due to multiple project bids, economies of scale when compared to the residential segment, and better access to capital.
- The policy regime in the region remains dymanic
“Half of the countries surveyed have policies in place to support distributed generation,” notes James in the report. “However, [factors such as] transistions from net metering to net billing, market caps, and uncertainties surrounding the integration of import duty exemptions have been cited by regional companies as policy changes.”
- Cash equity is still the dominant form of payment — and debt is expensive
GTM Research and Meister Consultants Group found that financing terms in the Caribbean typically require collateral, have interest rates ranging from 7 percent to 20 percent, and typical tenors of three to five years. The report finds that the high costs of capital and short debt terms are constraining market growth and weakening PV economics.
The white paper details system pricing by market and segment, module pricing, equipment brand recognition, and policies by market. Download it for free here: http://forms.greentechmedia.com/Extranet/95679/forms.aspx?msgid=a9dfbfef-d41f-42ea-b5c8-0ca8e47a266b&LinkID=CH00095679eR00000341AD&source=article1
Cayman Islands: Cayman Automatic Exchange of Information Portal
Article by Matt Mulry, Jonathan Law and Derbhil O’Riordan
From Dillon Eustace
The Cayman Islands Department for International Tax Cooperation has recently announced that its online Automatic Exchange of Information Portal is now open.
The portal should be used by Cayman financial institutions in order to notify the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority of their reporting obligations under US FATCA and/or the similar tax compliance legislation relating to the exchange of information with the United Kingdom. The portal will also be used for the reporting obligations of Cayman financial institutions under the Common Reporting Standard once these standards have been implemented in the Cayman Islands.
It should be noted that in the case of US FATCA the Cayman financial institution should already have registered with the IRS via the IRS portal and obtained a Global Intermediary Identification Number before beginning the notification and registration process via the Cayman Automatic Exchange of Information Portal.
The notification process will need to be completed by a principal point of contact that has been formally authorised as such by the Cayman financial institution. Once the notification process is complete a user account will be opened for the principal point of contact within the Automatic Exchange of Information Portal. This user account can then be used to submit data in order to satisfy the Cayman financial institution’s reporting obligations either by way of XML file upload or by way of manual data entry.
The deadline for notification of reporting obligations and reporting of relevant data is of 30th April 2015. Cayman Islands financial institutions should ensure that they have nominated and formally authorised a relevant point of contact to open a user account and that the relevant data has been collated for submission via the portal in good time before this deadline.
The Cayman Islands Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) Portal User Guide v1.1 can be access via the following link:
http://tia.gov.ky/pdf/User_Guide.pdf
CONCACAF announces details of Congress in the Bahamas
Miami (Thursday, April 2, 2015) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) confirmed today the details of the XXX CONCACAF Ordinary Congress, to be held in Nassau, Bahamas, on April 16, 2015. The event will be held at 9 am at the Atlantis Paradise Island, with the participation of CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb, CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz, and all 41 CONCACAF Member Associations, as well as a number of invited guests from FIFA, other Confederations, and the international soccer community.
The Ordinary Congress will be followed immediately by the XXI CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress.
The evening of Wednesday, April 15, the Bahamas will also play host to the CONCACAF Hall of Fame Dinner at 7:30 pm ET.
What: XXX CONCACAF Ordinary Congress & XXI CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress
Where: Imperial Ballroom F&G, Convention Center, Atlantis Paradise Island, One Casino Drive, Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Who: CONCACAF President and General Secretary, CONCACAF 41 Member Associations, FIFA delegates, Heads of Confederations, CONCACAF Partners, other guests
When:
16 April 2015 – XXX CONCACAF Ordinary Congress – 9:30 am ET
16 April 2015 – XXI CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress – Immediately Following Ordinary Congress
Australia seeking momentum for Ashes on Caribbean tour
From IBN Cricket Next
Australia will resist the temptation to tinker with their team on tour against West Indies and plan to field their best 11 and build momentum for the Ashes, selector Rod Marsh has said. Australia will resist the temptation to tinker with their team on tour against West Indies and plan to field their best 11 and build momentum for the Ashes, selector Rod Marsh has said. (Getty Images)
Melbourne: Australia will resist the temptation to tinker with their team on tour against West Indies and plan to field their best 11 in a bid to sweep the two-test series and build momentum for the Ashes, selector Rod Marsh has said.
Australia’s attention has turned to dominating with the red ball after storming to their fifth World Cup win on Sunday, and selectors sprung a few surprises in their 17-man squad for the tours to the Caribbean and England in June and July.
Uncapped legspinner Fawad Ahmed and veteran batsman Adam Voges will be on the plane, with paceman Josh Hazlewood preferred to Pat Cummins.
Marsh dismissed the idea that Australia might keep their powder dry for a big push against traditional rivals England, who defeated them 3-0 on tour in 2013 before suffering a 5-0 reverse in the return series Down Under.
“I think it’s dangerous to look at it that way,” Marsh told reporters.
“We want to win those two test matches… We’ll be fielding our best side to win the two test matches. I haven’t even spoken to (coach) Darren (Lehmann) about that but I know that’s the way he operates.
“It’ll be nice to win 2-0 there and win the first three test matches in England.
“They’re pretty strong at home. We always seem to struggle against them, in recent years anyway, in England.
“It’ll be a fascinating series because we’ve got a couple of young blokes who are starting to play pretty well at the top of the order.
“We’ve got a couple of old heads that would dearly love to win the series and we’ve got a couple of young fast bowlers that are not bad either.”
Marsh endorsed Michael Clarke’s deputy Steve Smith as a permanent number three in the Australian batting order, which would mean moving all-rounder Shane Watson down the order as was done during the World Cup.
Mitchell Marsh, in the team that defeated India 2-0 in the recent home test series, was preferred as a second all-rounder, meaning no place for James Faulkner or the explosive Glenn Maxwell.
Hazlewood, who starred in Australia’s World Cup quarter-final win over Pakistan, has also retained his place and will join player of the tournament Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle in the pace brigade.
Marsh said Hazlewood had the potential to be “McGrath-like”, a reference to Australia’s most feared fast bowler of the modern era, Glenn McGrath.
“The World Cup proved (Hazlewood) was a terrific bowler and personally, I think he’ll be a terrific bowler in England,” Marsh said.
Cayman Islands Civil Service says “Goodbye” to Hope and Beatrice
Hope Stephenson, who has been the Cayman Islands Government Administration Receptionist for 25 years has retired. She left her post on Tuesday March 31st.
She was often called “the face of government”.
“The voice of government”, Beatrice Chisholm, is also saying goodbye after 25 years as the telephone receptionist
CONCACAF Statement re- Beach Soccer Championship El Salvador 2015
CONCACAF has initiated an investigation into the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship El Salvador 2015 group stage match disputed March 31, 2015, between the national teams of Costa Rica and Guatemala, in regards to possible unethical behavior contrary to norms of sportsmanship and fair play. The findings of the investigation, which began the same evening of the match, will be presented to the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee for evaluation.
Cayman Football: They showed us too much respect says Belize coach
From Digicel Sportsmax
Assistant coach of the Belize national team Charlie Slusher believes the Cayman Islands showed the team too much respect following a 1-1 draw last week, which saw the Caribbean team eliminated from the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.
Belize progressed to the second round of the tournament, where they will meet Dominican Republic, in June, following an away goals over Cayman. The teams played to a 1-1 draw, but the game in Belize had ended 0-0.
“We didn’t panic because, like I said, the moment that we saw the Cayman Islands was defending on their home turf we knew that they gave us too much respect and they were, they believed that the only way they can beat us is defending,” Slusher told channel5 Belize.
“If you’re just defending it’s tough for you to beat a team for ninety minutes. It’s tough to defend for ninety minutes and win a game, so the way they were playing earlier in the game we knew that we would have been back in the ballgame and still have an opportunity to win. And the pressure was on them because we knew that all we needed was one goal.”
Belize will have two months to prepare for the second round of the tournament and Slusher says the time will be spent looking to improve the team’s goal scoring.
The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, however, they have qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which they did in 2013.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland visits Caribbean Area
By Rafael G. Gutiérrez
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made a special visit to the Church’s Caribbean Area that included meetings with local leaders and many other members in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy accompanied the apostle on the March 9 through 15 trip. Also participating were members of the Caribbean Area Presidency — Elder J. Devn Cornish, Elder Claudio D. Zivic, and Elder Hugo Martinez, all of the Seventy — and Elder Julio C. Acosta, an Area Seventy. The Brethren conducted a review of the Caribbean Area, an annual function to monitor the growth and activities of the Church across the region where membership is approaching 200,000. Seventy-eight percent of those members live in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic.
“I am extremely impressed to see the growth, development and maturity of the Church in the Caribbean Area. Much has happened since my first visit here in 1989,” said Elder Holland. “These beautiful buildings; the maturity of the leaders; the strength of priesthood holders; the wonderful sisters and auxiliary leaders with whom we met on this visit; everything is evidence of the remarkable growth of the Church in less than 30 years.”
Cayman Islands drama teacher ‘groomed’ his victims at school
Delroy James (33) a schoolteacher from Jamaica ‘groomed’ three local students when he touched the youngsters’ genitals during a number of sexual assaults on school premises during 2013. He even showed them pornographic photos, discussed their sexual behaviour including the size of their penises and instructed them how to put on condoms.
James pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual offenses that included indecent assault, gross indecency and possessing an indecent image of a child.
All three students were 15 years of age.
James was in Jamaica before coming to work in the Cayman Islands. He has been a teacher for 12 years.
His lawyer said he was a “complicated man dealing with inner demons”. His wife was standing by him.
The judge has reserved his sentencing decision after hearing the defence lawyer asking for a sentence of below 2 years for James whose “life has now been ruined. He will never be able to teach again” the lawyer said.
Harry Reid unapologetic over lying about Romney, because Obama won
By: Jake (Diary) From Red State
The activist Left has given us ample evidence over the last several months that the narrative is more important than the truth, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)10% all but confirms this in his latest interview. Reid, if you will remember, said the following from the Senate floor prior to the 2012 Presidential election:
“So the word’s out that he hasn’t paid any taxes for ten years,” Reid said. “Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn’t. We already know from one partial tax return that he gave us, he has money hidden in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and a Swiss bank account. Not making that up, that’s in the partial year that he gave us.”
In the years that have followed since then, has Reid come to feel any remorse over his lie? After all, once an older Senator announces his retirement, sometimes he decides to be a little more honest in his views, since he doesn’t need to please people to get reelected.
However, Reid still stands by his remarks. Courtesy of the Washington Free Beacon we have this footage of him telling CNN’s Dana Bash that his lie about Romney was justified because “He Didn’t Win, Did He?”
One of the core tenets of the Left’s, and by extension the Democratic Party’s, is that the end justifies the means, so if a person has to stretch the truth or even outright lie, it’s perfectly fine, as long as the it brings about a favorable result. Reid’s words weren’t the only thing that killed Romney’s chances of being elected President in 2012, but it is doubtless that the large portion of Americans who get their news from the mainstream media and heard Reid’s words never thought to question if he was telling the truth because the media never held him accountable in a meaningful way.
Right now, the best thing we can do is work on electing a conservative Republican to Reid’s Senate seat in 2016.
For more and video: http://www.redstate.com/2015/03/31/harry-reid-unapologetic-lying-romney-obama-won/
Cayman Islands law firm announce new partners
Cayman Islands law firm Samson & McGrath is proud to announce that Benjamin Tonner and James Kennedy have been made new partners in the firm.
Samson & McGrath provides a broad range of legal services to the local and international market, and its twelve attorneys regularly appear before the Grand Court, Court of Appeal and at statutory tribunals.
James Kennedy joined the firm in 2007 and his main areas of practice are civil and commercial litigation. James regularly handles contractual disputes, personal injury matters, insolvency and employment related matters. He has considerable experience litigating in the fields of trusts, probate, and construction law.
Ben Tonner has been an integral part of the firm since its inception in 2005. During the last 10 years, Ben’s practice has covered all aspects of litigation and dispute resolution at all levels up to and including the Privy Council. In recent times, Ben’s practice has been characterised by high profile white collar work, contentious trusts, insolvency and regulatory matters.
David McGrath, Managing Partner, stated, “This marks a new direction for Samson & McGrath and one we are excited to be taking. Both lawyers have shown great dedication and helped to drive the firm into new practice areas. Their advancement within the firm reflects our commitment to them and theirs to us.”
These appointments coincide with further, planned expansion of the firm later this year.
For further information please contact visit www.samsonandmcgrath.com or contact our practice manager Marlene West at [email protected]
or +1 (345) 949 2740.
Energy leaders, partners gather for Caribbean’s first clean energy technology symposium
By Semele George From VIEDA
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – April 2, 2015 – The V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), the lead organization for economic development in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), announces that about 270 attendees of the first Caribbean Clean Energy Technology Symposium (CCETS) gathered to learn and share knowledge about clean energy efficiency and security for the Caribbean last week on St. Thomas.
This symposium, co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, Caribbean-Central American Action (C-CAA), and the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was held from March 24-27, 2015 at Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort. The USVI hosted this first of three annual gatherings on clean energy technology in the Caribbean region.
The CCETS brought together country and sector experts from various countries and the Caribbean region who shared best practices and worked together to identify common goals and create action plans with deliverables that will lead to increasing access to energy efficiency and clean and renewable energy technology in Caribbean nations.
This symposium included a pre-symposium on the USVI’s energy landscape by the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO), CARICOM Secretariat’s presentation on the strategies for Caribbean sustainable energy and VRE Grid Integration, and the IDB’s stakeholder working group on natural gas.
Following these presentations were panel discussions led by energy leaders and other stakeholders. The discussion topics included assessing the current energy landscape, developing a workforce around green energy, financing clean energy technologies, and exploring how utilities in the Caribbean region and other areas are adapting to a cleaner energy economy as they maintain profitable and more sustainable operations. The Clean Energy Solutions Center also highlighted its resources, webinars and training, and expert assistance services as remarks on climate change were provided by representatives of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information, visit www.c-caa.org. To learn more about the “Energy Transition Initiative: Islands Playbook”, visit http://energy.gov/eere/downloads/energy-transition-initiative-islands-pl….
To read full article go to: https://www.usvieda.org/energy-leaders-partners-gather-caribbean’s-first-clean-energy-technology-symposium
Cayman Islands Chamber to partner with film festival
The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce is partnering with CAYFILM to promote the upcoming Cayman International Film Festival from 18th to 20th June.
The CAYFILM Cayman International Film Festival is an annual multi-day spectacular event that promotes the Cayman Islands as a world-class filming destination and incredible place to visit and do business. Included in the festival will be daily film screenings, question and answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, an exclusive premiere screening, and a celebrity gala event.
We will be releasing regular updates about the festival and will be adding a link to the economic development section of the Chamber’s website.
For more: http://web.caymanchamber.ky/wcnews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?articleid=2089
Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship to operate from PortMiami
By Andria C. Muiz
PortMiami will be the year-round homeport for Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship to date, the 133,500-ton Carnival Vista, when it launches six- to eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in December 2016.
Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Vista will take cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX Theater on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide, and RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery.
“PortMiami is our largest homeport and deploying our newest, largest and most innovative ship to Miami speaks volumes about our confidence in growing this important market,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president. “Carnival Vista will not only offer our guests incredible onboard experiences but also will provide our valued travel agent partners with an exciting new ‘Fun Ship’ vacation choice to market to their clients.” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said, “PortMiami is one of Miami-Dade County’s most important and valuable economic engines, generating more than $28 billion annually for Miami-Dade County’s economy.
“Carnival Cruise Line’s commitment to homeport their largest and most innovative ship, the Carnival Vista, at our port will not only expand the port’s economic contribution adding more jobs to our local economy, but it serves a true testimony to Miami-Dade County’s status as the Cruise Capital of the World,” Gimenez added.
“PortMiami has been the home of Carnival Cruise Lines since 1972,” said Juan M. Kuryla, PortMiami director and CEO. “Carnival has played a major role in making PortMiami the leading port in the industry, and we are thankful for their continued partnership.”
Carnival Vista launches its new schedule from PortMiami with a special four-day cruise to Grand Turk departing Nov. 29, 2016. The ship will then sail on year-round six- and eight-day cruises beginning with an eight-day voyage departing Dec. 3, 2016. Six-day cruises feature Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while a mix of different eight-day itineraries visit some of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations, including Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and La Romana (Dominican Republic).
The ship also will offer a combination of one-time voyages, including a five-day cruise departing Dec. 11, 2016, and seven-day voyages departing Dec. 17 and 24, 2016, that offer an exciting selection of ports including the Caribbean’s newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, as well as Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk, Belize, San Juan, St. Thomas and Cozumel, depending on the itinerary.
In addition to visiting breathtaking Caribbean destinations, guests can experience all the Carnival Vista has to offer — from the colorful Havana area with tropicsinspired staterooms and suites and Family Harbor with special accommodations and a new family concierge to delicious choices like Seafood Shack and new al fresco options at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top, featuring a mixedto- order premium ice cream bar.
Carnival Vista is slated to operate an inaugural season of European cruises May to October 2016, before repositioning to New York, then launching year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami in November 2016.
Reservations currently are being accepted for the Carnival Vista’s new departures from Miami. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800- CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.
Cayman Islands golfers named for Island Games
The Cayman Islands Golfers Association (CIGA) has named its eight-member team (4 men and 4 women) for the NatWest Island Games XVI to be held in Jersey from Sat 27th June to Fri 3rd July.
The men’s team comprises Michael Wight, Tracy Moore, Richard Hastings and Serge Berude. The women’s team comprises Isabel Mendes, Orapin Howe, Emily Ribbins and Samantha Widmer.
LIAT’s future is marred by uncertainties
By Roberto Leiro From Airways News
A big storm is presently in the Caribbean and it may disrupt air travel in the region. However, we are not talking about a hurricane, but the struggling condition of Leeward Islands Air Transport, LIAT (LI), situation that it is even threatening to taint the relationships among its regional shareholders.ATR-37592
The tempest reached new levels when a set of documents leaked to the local media detailed the plans of Barbados in divesting its 51 per cent share holding in the troubled inter-island carrier, in exchange of five of the company’s ATRs to start up a new local airline, code-named “Newco”, with its own Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and Route Licensing Authorization.
The dossier also details the strategy to acquire LI aircraft, either through a decision of the shareholders (comprised by the governments of Barbados, St. Vincent, Antigua and Dominica), or through the reassignment of the ownership through the Caribbean Development Bank (CBD), which funded the purchase of the aircraft in early 2013.
The plans also state that this NewCo would replace several of the routes operated by LIAT, and add further new intra-regional routes not currently served by the airline.
The forming storm has the potential to sour relations within the Caribbean Community block. Early this week, Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has vehemently described the plans as “treason”, further blaming Bridgetown to seek “the collapse of LIAT”, a move that he considers “contrary to the spirit of Caribbean integration”.
For more: http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2015/04/02/liats-future-is-marred-by-uncertainties/
Cayman Islands Chamber confers Hon. Membership
Council confers honorary membership to Cardinall DaCosta
IMAGE: Cardinall-Barry-800
The Chamber Council has conferred honorary membership to Cardinall DaCosta, one of 10 Chamber founding members.
President Barry Bodden presented Mr. DaCosta with the honour at his 80th birthday celebration at the Marriott Resort on 31st March.
“Over the years, Cardinall DaCosta has been an active and engaged member and contributor to the Chamber’s success. He has been an outspoken advocate for the development of the tourism and merchant sectors and has looked beyond his business interests to speak out when necessary to protect and preserve the Caymanian way of life. His efforts led to the establishment of the Public Beach in George Town and the protection of beach access along Seven Mile Beach. He has championed and supported numerous causes over the years and the Chamber Council, membership and staff sincerely thank him for his outstanding service to the association as well as to the community as a whole,” said President Bodden.
Mr. DaCosta owns Puritan Cleaners and has been involved with the Association since its founding in 1965.
For more: http://web.caymanchamber.ky/wcnews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?articleid=2085
GSK wins summary judgment in thalidomide case
By Gina Passarella, The Legal Intelligencer
A federal judge threw out what could potentially be one of just a handful of remaining thalidomide cases against GlaxoSmithKline in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, finding the statute of limitations expired decades ago.
In granting GSK’s motion for summary judgment in Johnson v. SmithKline Beecham, U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond drew closer to a possible end GSK’s involvement in the litigation that began in 2011 with 52 cases alleging thalidomide taken by women while pregnant caused their children’s birth defects.
Plaintiff Debra Johnson’s case was one of 29 remaining against GSK that were being led by plaintiffs firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro. Hagens Berman agreed to dismiss all but Johnson’s case against GSK in exchange for GSK agreeing to set aside its quest for sanctions against Hagens Berman for prosecuting three cases that a special master and Diamond found had no merit.
But Diamond is still awaiting a report from special master William Hangley of Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller as to whether he will allow the 28 cases to be dismissed or if Hagens Berman is conflicted by the fact that it would get the benefit of no sanctions while its clients’ cases would see no recovery.
If the 28 cases are dismissed, GSK would still face six other cases in which Hagens Berman has sought to withdraw as counsel for the plaintiffs. Four of those plaintiffs have not responded to Diamond’s inquiries as to whether they would hire new counsel, one sought more time and one intends to proceed pro se.
Cayman Islands Renewable Energy Association disappointed in ERA and CUC
The Cayman Renewable Energy Association (CREA) is disappointed that the ERA and CUC have chosen to regress the CORE program, despite their claims that these changes represent an expansion of the program and is good for the Cayman Islands, CREA believes these actions accomplish the opposite and are in fact detrimental to the sustainability of the Cayman Islands and will negatively impact the economic, social and environmental benefits to Cayman that come from promoting renewable energy. Through the ERA and CUC’s actions Cayman has now in effect taken a position, in reducing the levels of solar adoption, that is opposite to what all progressive and forward thinking regional countries and industrialised nations around the world are doing in regards to promoting renewables.
US sailor rescued after 66 days lost at sea
From BBC
A sailor who spent two months lost at sea has been rescued after apparently surviving on raw fish and rainwater.
Louis Jordan, 37, said putting his clothes in the sea helped catch fish, and he thanked God for saving him when he was down to his last drops of water.
“Finally God answered my prayer right before I ran out,” he told CNN.
His capsized sailing boat was found by a German ship 200 miles off the North Carolina coast on Thursday. He suffered dehydration and an injured shoulder.
The Coast Guard expressed surprise at how well he was, but said they had no reason to doubt his story.
When the boat flipped in the middle of the night, he said he was sent flying through the air.
The injury he suffered meant he could not repair his broken mast, and all his electronics and navigation systems were useless.
After his food and drink ran out, he collected rainwater and eventually had 25 gallons, which he drank at a rate of a pint a day.
He had difficulty catching the fish, until he noticed they were attracted to his laundry when he put clothes in the sea to rinse.
So using a hand net, he managed to catch food.
Louis Jordan on his boat
Jordan on his boat Angel, before the ill-fated trip
Louis Jordan arrives at hospital
His family, who reported him missing at the end of January after he went out on a fishing trip, spoke to him by phone after the rescue.
Mr Jordan’s father said: “I thought I lost you.”
In an audio clip of the phone call, Mr Jordan apologised for not being able to sail home.
The US Coast Guard transported Jordan by helicopter from the German vessel, Houston Express, to a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, but he was discharged on Friday morning.
For more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32172646
Cayman Islands Further Education Centre Open House
Thursday April 16th CIFEC Library
See attached flyer for details
