iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands Events for Thu 23rd April
Culture and Style Welcome Party
As part of Fashion Week there will be a Culture and Style Welcome Party on Thursday (23 Apr) at 8pm at Cayman Cabana.
Wesleyan Christian Academy Open House
All are invited to attend an OPEN HOUSE at WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY in WEST BAY on Thursday (23 Apr) from 5 — 8pm.
St. George’s Day Patronal Festival
St. George’s Day Patronal Festival celebration is Thursday (23 Apr) at 7:00p.m at St. George’s Church.
Boundaries Commission East End Meeting
The Boundaries Commission is hosting a public meeting at the East End Civic Center on Thursday (23 Apr) at 730pm.
Elke Feuer Book Signing
Local author and founder of the Cayman Islands Book Fair, Elke Feuer, is launching her latest book, Deadly Race – the second book in her Deadly Series. This free event includes a presentation, group discussion and book signing. The event is Thursday (23 Apr) at 7pm at Books & Books
Pastor faces child porn charges in Belize
From G98.7
Police in Belize have charged a Honduran-born pastor with multiple counts of child pornography. Police say that Gerardo Lopez of the Evangelical Church had been questioned in connection with photos of two children aged 2 and 10. Lopez’s cellular phone also allegedly had photos of the minors. He has been slapped with four counts of producing child pornography. Belizean media say information about the photos came to light after an unidentified woman handed over documents containing the pictures to an officer in the town of Orange Walk. Police continue to investigate the matter.
For more: http://g987fm.com/pastor-faces-child-porn-charges-in-belize
Cayman Islands premier accuses leader of opposition of lying
Cayman Islands Premier, Alden McLaughlin, has accused Leader of the Opposition, McKeeva Bush, of lying.
Bush has accused the premier of being involved in a plot to remove him from office in 2012 and has proof. The leader of the Opposition has requested a public enquiry into the matter.
McLaughlin has retaliated publically and challenged Bush to produce evidence of his involvement.
“The Leader of the Opposition certainly with respect to anything he said about me is a liar. If he can produce on e-mail, any correspondence between me and the Governor, let’s see,” he said.
Royal Caribbean cuts full-year outlook, shares slump
From News
OK Modified: MIAMI (AP) — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. shares dropped more than 6 percent Monday after the cruise ship operator lowered its full-year earnings guidance, stung by a stronger dollar and rising fuel prices.
The Miami-based company’s first-quarter profit climbed from weak results a year ago that were weighed down by one-time items. Its revenue narrowly missed Wall Street estimates.
Royal Caribbean earned $45.2 million, or 20 cents per share, for the period ended March 31. That compares with $26.5 million, or 12 cents per share, a year earlier. The prior-year period was hurt by some charges and costs tied to the sale of its Pullmantur cruise line’s non-core businesses.
The earnings beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 14 cents per share.
Its revenue of $1.82 billion missed the $1.83 billion estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks.
But Wall Street appeared to be focused on the company’s expectations for the second quarter and the full year.
For the current quarter ending in June, Royal Caribbean anticipates adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share. Analysts polled by FactSet predict second-quarter earnings of $1.09 per share.
The company expects full-year adjusted earnings in a range of $4.45 to $4.65 per share. Its previous outlook was for $4.65 to $4.85 per share. Royal Caribbean anticipates the stronger dollar and rising fuel prices will hurt earnings by 36 cents.
Analysts polled by FactSet predict full-year earnings of $4.72 per share.
Shares of Royal Caribbean declined $5.15, or 6.5 percent, to $73.88 in morning trading. Its shares have fallen 11 percent over the past three months.
Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RCL at http://www.zacks.com/ap/RCL
For more: http://newsok.com/royal-caribbean-cuts-full-year-outlook-shares-slump/article/feed/828661
Private plane makes emergency landing in Grand Cayman
On Monday (20) a private plane not bound for Grand Cayman requested emergency crews and to land at Owen Roberts Airport in George Town as the pilot heard a strange noise during his flight.
However, the plane landed safely with emergency crews on standby just after midday.
Financial experts concerned over Caribbean pension plans
By Shane Jitta From 1017FM
Financial experts and policy makers have warned Caribbean countries that in the absence of reforms, members of the growing middle class may be vulnerable to poverty in their old age.
The experts were discussing Monday the future of pensions in Latin America and the Caribbean at a panel discussion organised by the Inter-American development Bank.
The panel explored different policy approaches to ensure greater coverage and sustainability of pension systems in the region.
The event marked the launch of “Pension at a Glance: Latin America and the Caribbean”, a report co-published by the IDB, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank.
For more: http://www.heritageradiott.com/financial-experts-concerned-over-caribbean-pension-plans/
Cayman Islands Football Association investigate ‘incident’ at match
The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) is investigating an incident at a Premier League match between Sunset FC and Cayman Athletic FC on April 19th at the Annex in George Town.
It is believed both players and spectators were involved in an on-field altercation.
CIFA will be issuing a statement later in the week.
Two Caribbean attorneys urge countries to accede to CCJ
By Ken Richards
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Two leading attorneys in Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada have used the 10th anniversary of the Caribbean Court of Justice to urge their countries to accede to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ.
During last Thursday’s CCJ ceremony the president of the law association of Trinidad and Tobago – Senior Counsel Reginald Armour, said he wants to see Port of Spain make the court its final court sooner rather than later.
The Caribbean Court of Justice was the main subject on Winn FM’s The Bigger Picture on Sunday. The programme got the help of local attorney Chesley Hamilton to explain the operations of the judicial system in the region. The attorney was also asked to explain the difference between the Caribbean Court of Justice and the OECS Supreme Court.
So far four CARICOM member states: Barbados, Guyana, Belize and more recently Dominica, have made the CCJ their final court of appeal. The majority of CARICOM countries still retain the London-based Privy Council as their final court. The CCJ is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.
For more: http://www.winnfm.com/news/local/12181-two-caribbean-attorneys-urge-countries-to-accede-to-ccj
Cayman Islands bikers help Wheels 4 Meals
Last week the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association (CIMRA) held its annual food drive that concluded in Sunday’s (19 April) ride.
The CIMRA were supporting the Wheels 4 Meals, which provides food for the elderly here and collected dry food products amounting to approx. two thousand ibs.
This was a lot less than last year when 4,500 lbs (over 2 tons) was collected.
There were about two dozen motorcyclists who signed up to make the island-wide ride from the Cayman Turtle Farm to Kaibo Beach.
Promoting efficient use of resources for HIV services in the Caribbean
A new publication details the four-year SHOPS program in the eastern Caribbean. SHOPS implemented the PEPFAR-funded project in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The program supported the United States-Caribbean Regional HIV and AIDS Partnership Framework 2010-2014 goal of promoting multisectoral arrangements that improve the effectiveness of resource utilization and efficiency in the delivery of HIV and AIDS services. SHOPS used a multisectoral, participatory approach focused on sustainability and led by country partners. This profile presents the program’s context, goals, components, results, and the following lessons learned:
Program implementation in the eastern Caribbean is complex and requires a combination of country-specific and regional approaches.
Sustained efforts are required to harness the region’s diverse and expansive private sector resources to address priority health needs and help sustain the HIV response.
Participatory, multisectoral processes for identifying and addressing HIV priorities foster greater buy-in and program sustainability.
Mobile- and web-based approaches are effective for increasing private sector participation in health data sharing.
Cayman Islands Ironwood developers want the old dump tyres
The Cayman Islands government want someone to remove their mounting piles of old tyres at the George Town dump and have invited bids from qualified tenderers. See iNews Cayman story yesterday “Companies are invited to bid for Cayman Islands used tyres – AGAIN” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/companies-are-invited-to-bid-for-cayman-islands-used-tyres-again/
Ironwood has said many times they want the tyres for their golf course at the the proposed $360 million development in the eastern districts. Government have not shown much interest in their proposal as they want someone to take the tyres away now.
However, Ironwood have said they are going to submit a bid.
Blue Water Caribbean Gold™ Rum wins prestigious Gold RumXP Award
Currently Available in St. Maarten, D.W.I. and Anguilla, B.W.I.
St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies – April 20, 2015 – Blue Water Global Group, Inc. (OTCBB: BLUU) announces that its Blue Water Caribbean Gold™ Aged Spiced Premium Rum was awarded the prestigious Gold RumXP Award during the 2015 Miami Rum Renaissance Trade Expo in Miami last week.
The Blue Water Caribbean Gold™ Premium Rum is currently available in St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies and Anguilla, British West Indies. Distribution of Blue Water’s premium rums will be expanded to St. Barth’s, French West Indies and other regional Caribbean islands during the course of 2015. Blue Water is currently working with US regulators to comply with the various regulations relating to the import, distribution and sale (wholesale and retail) of alcoholic beverages and anticipates its line of premium rums will be available in the US in early 2016.
Blue Water’s President and CEO, J. Scott Sitra, stated, “We are thrilled to be able to share this incredible award with our shareholders. A tremendous amount of work has gone into achieving this monumental milestone and it is a testament to the dedication of our entire Blue Water team who, without them, this moment would not be possible.” Mr. Sitra continued, “This is just the beginning for Blue Water’s premium rums. We made a lot of new friends and industry contacts at Rum Renaissance and, together, will continue to diligently expand and share Blue Water’s premium rums with the world.”
Cayman Islands National Festival announces new title sponsors for this year’s event
The Cayman Islands Pirates Week office has announced they have secured two new title sponsors for the Pirates Week festival 2015.
The new sponsors are Bacardi and Miller Lite, sold through Cayman Distributors Ltd.
For the last three years there has been no major sponsor and this has made the festival difficult to run. It costs $250,000 to stage the festival.
The festival will start on 12th November and finish on 22nd November.
Captain Jack’s back: Johnny Depp to resume filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
By Natalie Bochenski From The Sydney Morning Herald
IMAGE: Johnny Depp arrives at Brisbane Airport on his way to the Gold Coast to resume shooting Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Photo: Kendall Gilding/Seven News
Johnny Depp is back in town and set to resume filming on Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
The actor, who plays Captain Jack Sparrow in the popular film franchise, landed in Brisbane on Tuesday morning with new wife Amber Heard, and a red bandanna wrapped around his right hand.
The couple are set to travel to the Gold Coast, where the movie is being made at the Village Roadshow studios and on a sprawling set at Helensvale.
Depp flew back to the US on March 11 after injuring his hand. He was only expected to be missing for a couple of weeks but was held up, according to the film’s publicist Michael Singer.
“His return depended on his recuperation from surgery and when his physician allowed him to travel. It was entirely dependant on that,” Singer told AAP.
It’s believed he had been driving a go-kart on a private track at Mick Doohan’s luxury Coomera residence at the time of the incident.
Before that he had seemed to be enjoying his time in South East Queensland, even appearing onstage with Marilyn Manson at The Tivoli in Brisbane.
Producers of the $250 million epic made arrangements to film scenes Depp was not required for in his absence, but there were rumours much of that had been finished.
Dates for Cayman Islands meetings re electoral boundaries
The Cayman Islands Electoral Boundaries Commission began its public meetings for input how Cayman’s voting public feel the country should be divided up in Cayman Brac last Tuesday (21). Cayman will move from a mixed system to single member constituencies.
Here is a list of the meeting times and locations:
22 April PWD Hurricane Shelter, Little Cayman 6.00 p.m.
23 April East End Civic Centre 7.30 p.m.
27 April Mary Miller Hall, George Town 7.00 p.m.
28 April Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall, West Bay 8.00 p.m.
29 April Bodden Town Primary School Hall, 7.00 pm
30 April North Side Civic Centre, 8.00 p.m.
WICB meets Caricom to chart the way forward in regional cricket
By Dwight Fraser
IMAGE: WICB meets Caricom to chart the way forward in regional cricket
The West Indies Cricket Board will on Monday April 20 meet with the Caricom Committee on Cricket Governance in Grenada on the eve of the second test between West Indies and England which starts the following day at the National Cricket Stadium.
All 18 directors of the WICB including President Wycliffe “Dave” Cameron and vice president Emmanuel Nanthan, along with chief executive officer Michael Muirhead will meet with the Caricom Committee at the Silver Sands Beach Resort.
The two sides will discuss: (1) reform and governance of West Indies cricket; (2) matters with the board of control for cricket in India over the aborted West Indies tour of India last year; and (3) the relationship between the Caricom committee on cricket governance and the WICB.
Grenadian Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell will chair the meeting, which will also be attended by Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, the current Caricom Chairman; Antigua & Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne, Chairman of the Caricom Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on cricket; and St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonzales.
For more: http://iriefm.net/wicb-meets-caricom-to-chart-the-way-forward-in-regional-cricket/
Cayman Islands: West Bay men plead ‘Not Guilty’ to having gun after they crashed their car
Austin Jackson (21) and Jordan Manderson (21) both from West Bay have pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm – an automatic pistol and three rounds of ammunition.
The two men were arrested after they crashed into a utility pole by Countryside Shopping Village in Newlands in August 2013. The police discovered the weapon during their investigation of the road crash. A third passenger, a woman, was charged separately.
The trial is booked for later this year in October.
Gen. Martin Dempsey apologizes to slain Navy SEAL’s mother
By Melanie Batley
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has written a letter of apology to the mother of a Navy SEAL who accused him of dismissing the sacrifice of her son’s life when he suggested that the recent capture of the city of Ramadi, Iraq, by the Islamic State (ISIS) was not of symbolic significance.
“I’ve read your letter, and I do apologize if I’ve added to your grief. Marc and so many others died fighting to provide a better future for Iraq. He and those with whom he served did all that their nation asked. They won their fight, and nothing will ever diminish their accomplishments nor the honor in which we hold their service,” Dempsey wrote.
Car driver of accident in Cayman Islands that killed a passenger released from hospital
Anastasia Watson, the driver of the car that hit a concrete wall in North Side causing the death of the passenger, Kimberley Bush, has been released from hospital.
Watson was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and death by drunk driving.
She suffered a broken leg and bruising to her body and is bailed until next month.
Players take position in StubHub-Ticketmaster spat
By Ross Todd, From The Recorder
SAN FRANCISCO — The starting lineups are set for outside counsel in StubHub Inc.’s antitrust fight against the Golden State Warriors and Ticketmaster LLC.
StubHub filed suit late last month with counsel from Constantine Cannon and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. This past week, teams from Arnold & Porter and Latham & Watkins entered appearances to defend the Warriors and Ticketmaster against allegations they conspired to illegally restrain the secondary market for ticket sales.
StubHub maintains that the Warriors and Ticketmaster have canceled or threatened to cancel season-ticket packages if fans resell their tickets over secondary exchanges that compete with Ticketmaster’s, such as StubHub, and that they’ve taken other actions to make it difficult for fans to use such exchanges. According to the complaint, those practices violate sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act as well as California’s Cartwright Act and Unfair Competition Law.
StubHub, which is based in San Francisco, is represented by Orrick senior counsel Stephen Bomse and managing associate Shannon Leong in San Francisco as well as Constantine Cannon partners Matthew Cantor and Gordon Schnell in New York.
According to the docket in StubHub v. Golden State Warriors, 15-1436, the Warriors have brought on counsel from Arnold & Porter led by partner Daniel Asimow. Ticketmaster has turned to a team at Latham & Watkins that includes antitrust heavyweight Daniel Wall.
If you’re goin’ to Texas celebrate Earth Day April 24-26 in Dallas
From Dallas Morning News
Earth Day Texas 2015 April 24-25-26 Fair Park, Dallas Texas
Growing a Greener Texas Join NASA at Earth Day Texas
To solve a problem, sometimes it helps to step back from details and take in the big picture. When that problem is an entire planetary environment, this means going all the way to outer space.
At Earth Day Texas, step into the interstellar world of the International Space Station through NASA’s interactive mobile exhibit. Learn what it’s like to be an astronaut, touch a four billion year old moon rock, and hear NASA’s plans for future missions into deep space.
Earth Day Texas is the World’s Largest Earth Day Initiative
Explore over 1,100 engaging exhibits and learn from renewable energy pioneers, innovative green businesses, outspoken conservation advocates, leading architecture groups, and prominent government agencies. Earth Day Texas will be three-full days of captivating speakers, hands-on workshops, music and so much more. Oh, and the entire experience is FREE
CARIFORUM to explore greater international prospects for Caribbean Music
[St Michael, Barbados]
Growing the multi- million dollar Caribbean Music Industry will be a major focus of the 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum which will be held April 15-16 at the Hilton Rose Hall, Montego Bay Jamaica.
David Sanders, Producer at Coke Studio Africa, Eldar Ástþórsson, Senior PR Manager – Europe, CCP Games and Ylir Music Fund, Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson, Performer/Artiste and Jeffrey “Assassin” Campbell, Jamaican/International Reggae Entertainer are among the experts who will be leading the discussions on opportunities to be further explored under the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) and some of the challenges facing the industry including intellectual property considerations. Optimising the industry’s close linkages with tourism development and other key sectors will also be among the matters to be explored.
Billy Grant, founder of 2Point9 Records, who will be speaking at the 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, has stated of the Caribbean music industry:
“The Caribbean has had some successes but remains wholly untapped. As a united force, the Caribbean could actually be quite powerful. Opportunities therefore exist for forward- thinking companies and artists to forge link with Caribbean artists, producers and labels, to create new exciting up-and-coming music.”
The Forum which is being hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, (Caribbean Export) is expected to attract some 150 key stakeholders from the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. It will also unveil sector study findings, propose potential value propositions for the industry and explore competitive advantages to make for greater strengthening of linkages between major players in the region and international partners. According to Pamela Coke Hamilton, Caribbean Export’s Executive Director, “the strength of our Caribbean artistes in live performances on the lucrative summer music festival scene in Europe is an avenue for greater opportunity. There is also an increasing appetite from Europeans for our music especially in clubs. It is my belief that we also need to further leverage technological advancements in the industry and the ever expanding distribution channels in digital music.”
Caribbean music has carved out its unique niche with its rich history, distinctive sounds and magnetic world appeal for an ever expanding range of music genres which is estimated to surpass over 100. They range from the Jamaican mento, ska, reggae and dancehall, to the Trinidadian calypso and soca (soul calypso). They also include kaiso, zouk, meringue, salsa, and bachata.
Many of the region’s artistes such as Jamaica’s reggae icon, Bob Marley and Trinidad’s Slinger Fransisco “the Mighty Sparrow,” have had successful careers with numerous international hits and copping a myriad of music awards to their fame. The region’s music continues to make a significant impact on other allied creative sectors including film, the fine arts, theatre, publishing, dance, fashion, advertising, special events/festivals, tourism, politics, health and other social well-being communications.
In Jamaica, the reggae industry is estimated to generate over J$250mn per annum with Reggae Sumfest alone reportedly attracting over 30,000 visitors who spend millions of dollars during their stay. The country also boasts the highest number of recording studios per square mile anywhere in the world and producing the most new releases per capita.
“We also expect the Forum to explore the reasons why other genres may not have had the same level of success as reggae in market penetration and the environment which needs to be created to make for similar or even greater success. The Forum will be making some strong recommendations to CARIFORUM governments as well as the EU regarding incentives that can further drive growth for this very important creative industry,” stated Ms Coke- Hamilton.
Caribbean artistes and their music are increasingly playing an important role in advocacy wellbeing social media advertising campaigns treating with major issues such as crime and aids. Music has even permeated the education sector with universities including the region’s own University of the West Indies and the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts embracing the study and impact of the Caribbean art form in their cultural programmes.
The CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum is organised in collaboration with the ACP Business Climate facility (BizClim). It seeks to enhance partnerships between Caribbean businesses and those in Europe, enable public-private dialogue and support the business climate reform agenda in the Caribbean. The Forum will also focus on agro-processing (cocoa, herbs and spices) and higher education.
Writ issued in Guyana over ‘racist remarks’ by former president
From Caribbean News Now
WHIM, Guyana — On Thursday, a summons was issued in Whim, Guyana, by magistrate Charlyn Artiga to be served to former president Bharrat Jagdeo to appear personally in court and plead to a criminal charge of “racially divisive remarks” he made on Sunday, March 8, at a public meeting, “which can result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among the people” as set out in Section 139 D of the Representation of the People Act.
In his court filing, attorney at law, Chis Ram stated that Jagdeo said:” The opposition consistently shout about the racism of the PPP but they practice racism. The opposition beat drums at six in the morning and say let us throw out those coolie (Indian) people.”
Jagdeo has been summoned to appear in the Whim Magistrate’s Court on April 20 to answer to these charges. Jagdeo has been at the forefront heading the ruling Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) re-election campaign, which the opposition has accused of using race as a strategy to garner votes from its East Indian based supporters.
Traditionally, the PPP is an East Indian party but in the last election many Indian supporters crossed over to the newly formed Alliance for Change (AFC). The AFC has now joined a coalition with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), a predominantly Afro-Guyanese party. APNU has accused the PPP of demonizing their party to evoke fear in the minds of Indo-Guyanese not to vote for the APNU/AFC coalition.
Under the Act, if found guilty, Jagdeo faces a fine of $100,000 together with imprisonment for two years. The director of public prosecutions does have the power to withdraw the charge and, from the looking at the past action of the DPP, which is under the control of the ruling PPP, the charges could be dropped.
Last Wednesday, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM’s) Media Monitoring Unit scolded Jagdeo for the remarks. GECOM said it “verily concluded that the remarks made by Dr Jagdeo were racially divisive.”
At that same public gathering in a predominately Indo-Guyanese community, Jagdeo, in commenting about opposition parties that through an attempted vote of confidence cut time in office of the current Donald Ramotar administration, said, “The past three years must have been a nightmare to Ramotar… Sometimes we need to administer something else, some kicks up the asses.”
And in a related development, Rima Rohee-Paul, daughter of Guyana’s minister of home affairs Clement Rohee, and who is also on the PPP list of candidates for the upcoming May 11 election, was scolded on Facebook for her anti-black racist remarks.
Rohee-Paul said on Facebook, “Live with it! Yea. Typical black woman! All black people are the same U twist it and turn it they are all the samedutty mentality! That’s why they always be the same in life!”
When she was reprimanded for her racist remark, she responded, “Whoever don’t like me and say that I’m racist go F yourself.”
IMAGE: Bharrat Jagdeo
