Police Commissioner under investigation

A spokesperson for the RCIPS has confirmed that the involvement of the Commissioner of Police in the arrest of the robbery suspect in the Diamonds International jewelry holdup by three men is under investigation.

The spokesperson said, “This is being investigated separately, from both the accident and use of force perspective. Once completed the file will be sent to the legal department for their feedback.”

See especially iNews Cayman story published January 5 2014 “British police officer foiled $1million jewellery robbery in the Caymans” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/british-police-officer-foiled-1million-jewellery-robbery-in-the-caymans/

Government is tired of tyres in landfills

For the fourth time in three years Cayman Islands Department of Environment and Health are seeking bids from contractors to remove tyres from Cayman’s landfill sites.

Previous requests for bids proved unsuccessful.

There are over 2 million tyres at all three landfills across the country.

In December last year the George Town landfill site, “Mount Trashmore”, caught fire and ignited some of the tyres dumped there causing obnoxious and dangerous fumes and smoke to billow into the atmosphere for 24 hours around the surrounding areas including Grand Cayman’s main tourist trap – Seven Mile Beach.

Cayman Jet Pack ceases operations

Cayman’s popular attraction with both tourists and residents alike Jetpack Cayman is ceasing operations.

A notice on their website that has virtually closed down has this notice “As of 1/1/14 Jetpack Cayman is no longer in operation.”

Jetpack Cayman commenced business in January 2013 and allowed anyone after about 30 minutes practice to shoot up to 20ft into the air from two strong jets of water thrusting down from either side of the person.

No official reason for the sudden and surprising end to the business has been given to date.

Cayman Cookout almost here

If you don’t live in the Caribbean and you need an excuse to get out of the cold this January then head down to the Cayman Cookout, a gathering of master chefs on the Grand Cayman Island, January 16-19.

Hosted by Eric Ripert, the event will bring together some of the industry’s most well-known talent. At “Olé José!,” try Jose Andres’s paella (and find yourself entertained by his storytelling); try the foods of the Cayman Islands with Anthony Bourdain, food explorer extraordinaire. And get behind the scenes of Blue by Eric Ripert–the Caribbean’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant–to tour Ripert’s kitchen and enjoy lunch in the restaurant. And there’s plenty to drink, as well–a seminar on grower champagnes might be the most exciting of the wine events.

Go to http://www.caymanislands.ky/eventsoffers/caymancookout.aspx

To find out all the details and where to get tickets.

Events at the Botanic Park

The Botanic Park is host to many events during the calendar year, here are an example of various activities and events at the Botanic Park.

The Orchid Show is a spectacular event not to be missed. The next year’s Annual Orchid Show and Sale’s dates have been set for March 1st and March 2nd 2014.

Mango Extravaganza & Fruit Tree Fundraising Sale ONE DAY ONLY We will have over 350 3-gallon size Mango Trees for sale in many different varieties, along with a variety of grafted Naseberry, Sugar Apple, Loquat and a few more!

Mother’s Day is a big fund raising event with our guest “The Garden Club of Grand Cayman”

Volunteering

Apart from the largest of individual donors, the Park owes its creation to scores of volunteers from all walks of life who have devoted hundreds of hours to the project for the sheer love of the venture.

Lombard Medical plots Nasdaq Listing as Aorfix sales rise           

Healthcare device group Lombard Medical said it will delist from AIM when it moves to the US Nasdaq in coming months to raise funds to expand sales.

The company said it will exchange one share in a new Cayman Islands-based holding company for each current AIM share.

Revenues grew 25% to £3.9m last year for its flagship Aorfix heart-valve repair product after it was approved by the US regulator in February, with the US contributing to fourth quarter Aorfix commercial revenue growth of 38% following its launch in November.

Overall, group revenue grew by 14% to £4.5m, reflecting a decline in revenue of the recently divested manufacturing business in Scotland, which fell by 27% compared to last year.

As it eyes growth in the US and with Japanese regulatory approval anticipated for Aorfix during 2014, Lombard expects to have expanded its UK manufacturing facility by the end of the first quarter.

The company closed 2013 with cash of £24.8m and debt of £1.5m on its balance sheet.

Shares in the company were up 5.83% to 190.5p at 14:35 on Wednesday.

New Sandals Resorts video now available

A new Sandals video featuring a deeper look into the creativity of the mixologists at Sandals Resorts’ bars and pubs is now available for viewing at: http://www.videos.sandals.com/video/shaken-stirred-and-superb/

The video has been produced by Outhink.com

Stalking Awareness Month

January 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the first National Stalking Awareness Month in the USA. In the past ten years, we have witnessed increased awareness of stalking and enhanced responses to stalking across the country. Laws have been strengthened, tens of thousands of professionals trained on responding to stalking, and services for victims of stalking have been expanded. Yet, the fact that 6.6 million adults are stalked in the United States in one year demonstrates that we still have so much more to do.

The Cayman islands Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) is hoping to get the message across that it is an act that will not be tolerated here in the Cayman islands. The BPW is also the driving force behind the Sexual Harassment Bill, which is now in the hands of the Ministry of Gender Affairs

Dart accused of non-compliance of pension rules

Mario Ebanks, head of the The Cayman Islands National Pensions Office (NPO) confirmed that Dart, the island’s largest investor and major employer allowed some employees to opt out of the mandatory legal requirement for pensions and were given their pension benefits allowing them to invest the money as they saw fit rather than paying into one of the six mandated funds as required by law.

“In our compliance review of the Dart organization last year the NPO uncovered two such cases of non-compliance, which were quickly resolved by the company when it was brought to their attention,” he said. “The National Pensions Office (NPO) and the other regulatory agencies in the CI Government are collaborating with intelligence and systems to ensure that all employers are complying with the relevant Laws. The NPO continues to engage Dart, and its newly acquired businesses, to ensure that the National Pensions Law and Regulations are being complied with.”

Accused hoax bomb caller sent to drug rehab centre

James Bernie Williams (53) accused of making a hoax bomb threat that shut down , the Ritz Carlton and Caribbean Club for 2 hours last month, has checked into Caribbean Haven a drug rehabilitation centre.

Williams, a disgruntled former hotel employee admitted making the call.  He said he was drinking alcohol at the time and was unhappy about losing his job at Caribbean Club.

Chamber of Commerce to meet with government over Sunday trading

A meeting is being scheduled with government by the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce to discuss Sunday trading, and changing Daylight Saving Time.

The Chamber surveyed its members to find out if they wanted to open to the public seven days a week and whether clocks should move forward and back each year in line with the US.

Taste of Cayman date changed

In previous years the Cayman Islands Tourist Authority’s (CITA) annual Taste of Cayman has been held in January but this year the date has been moved back to Saturday, February 8th, 2014.

The reason given is that it was held to coincide with the Heroes Day Public Holiday when according to the CITA many persons are off the island. They are hoping that a change in date will encourage more people to patronise this year’s event.