iNews Briefs
Travers fails to finish Grand Slalom after crash
Cayman Islands lone competitor at the 2014 Winter Olympics Games crashed near the end of his run on Wednesday (19) in the Men’s Giant Slalom.
Travers said he was OK physically but might have suffered slight concussion from the fall.
He still hopes to compete in the Men’s Slalom on Saturday (22).
Visitor’s car takes a dive into GT dive shop
A hired car took an appropriate place to dive through a store front window on Tuesday (18) late afternoon – Divers Down dive shop by Casanova’s Restaurant in George Town Grand Cayman.
It was reported that a second car bumped the hire car just as it was being parked.
Jamaican star Tessanne Chin signs with major international agency
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday February 19, 2014 – Jamaica’s powerhouse vocalist Tessanne Chin, who won season five of NBC’s hit singing contest The Voice in December, has inked a deal with ICM Partners, one of the world’s largest talent agents, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
With offices in Los Angeles, New York and London, ICM Partners is a full service agency representing musicians, actors and other creative talent worldwide. Its A-List clients include Beyonce, Samuel L. Jackson, Eminem, The Beach Boys and Al Pacino.
Since winning The Voice, Chin has been spending a lot of time in the studio recording her new album due out later this year on Universal Republic Records.
The reggae-fusion songstress was a Voice front-runner since she turned all four judges’ chairs around at her blind audition in September last year while performing Pink’s smash hit single “Try.”
During the course of the show, the Jamaican songbird was the only contestant to hit No. 1 on iTunes’ song chart — a feat she accomplished twice, with her semifinals cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and her powerful finale performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” to seal the deal.
Chin is also represented by her sister and manager Tami Chin Mitchell, as well as attorney Sandra Brown
Handbag found belonging to woman victim of sex attack
The woman who was the victim of a sex attack around 2am on Friday (14) morning outside Coco Plum apartments on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, has had her handbag recovered.
The handbag was stolen during the attack and the bag was found on Fairbanks Road approx. three miles away from the incident. All the money that was inside the bag was missing
Anyone with information about the attack, or who may have been in the area between 2:00 a.m and 3:00 a.m. Friday (14 February) should call George Town CID on 949-4222.
Cayman car rental agency now has electric car to offer customers
Budget Rent-a-car now has an electric car, a Wheego, for hire in its fleet of cars.
The Wheego can travel up to 100 miles on a full charge and will handle exactly the same as a conventional car except it will be noticeably quieter.
The Wheego will be available for rent starting in March and can be rented around $70 – $80 a day.
Appeal against over staying conviction is lost
Joseph Bonsu-Akoto, who had pleaded not guilty in Summary Court to the charge of remaining in Cayman after his permission to do so expired on Sept. 25, 2009, lost his appeal against his conviction.
Bonsu-Akoto, who had been working as a consultant to the Ministry of Health was found guilty by Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn in December 2012 and sentenced him in February 2013 with a fine of $5,000.
Even though Bonsu-Akoto provided copies of reports he claimed had been written at the request of government ministries and provided emails dated February 2013, Justice Swift said none of these were relevant to the question of his overstaying.
Bonsu-Akoto had argued he was a government contractor but both courts rejected it.
Even though he was married to a Caymanian and could have applied for a Residency and Employment Rights Certificate, the defendant chose not to do this.
Justice Swift concluded that the Magistrate’s sentence was neither cruel nor unusual and dismissed the appeal.
Cayman’s air traffic controllers announce non-profit association
Jay Evans, leader of the newly formed non-profit Cayman Islands Air Traffic Controllers Association said, its aims are “to promote and protect the interests of the profession and, among other objectives, encourage a high standard of ethics and conduct among members”.
The association also aims to encourage adherence to safety rules and support regulations and laws that benefit working conditions and the safety of air travellers.
Evans thanked law firm Walkers, which donated legal services to the association, for its “efforts and diligence in assisting us in our formation.”
Construction workers get advice on health and safety
Senior Labour Officer for the Department of Labour and Pensions, Gene Hydes, facilitated recently a workshop for construction workers including managers and supervisors, on occupational safety and health.
The workshop gave advice on identifying and preventing hazards, how to improve productivity, promoting training and employee involvement in hazard prevention, and engaging management’s commitment to safety.
Something Fishy on Valentine’s Day: Dolphin Love
By Mike Magner From National Journal
Conservationists made waves on Valentine’s Day with demonstrations in seven U.S. cities, including Washington, to protest the ritual killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.
The “World Love for Dolphins Day” events were organized by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which first exposed Japanese fishermen corralling and slaughtering dolphins in 2003. The group, based in Washington state’s Puget Sound, has been monitoring and protesting the annual dolphin roundups ever since, including sending out live streams of the hunt in a cove at Taiji last month.
The U.S. protests, all starting at noon local time, and weree planned in Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. (D.C.’s was outside the Japanese Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue.)
Japanese officials defend dolphin hunting as a long-held tradition in Taiji, on the Pacific coast southwest of Tokyo. “Dolphin is not covered by the International Whaling Commission control, and it’s controlled under responsibility of each country,” Japan’s chief Cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said at a Jan. 22 news conference.
Sea Shepherd activists monitoring the seven-month hunting season starting in September say they have documented the deaths of hundreds of dolphins, which are sold for food in Japanese coastal communities. Some dolphins are captured alive and sold to aquariums around the world.
The group’s Melissa Sehgal, who witnessed the hunt in January, told reporters that fishermen try to hide what they are doing, but “you can hear the dolphins splashing below” while their spinal cords are being stabbed.
For more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/something-fishy-on-valentine-s-day-dolphin-love-20140213
New fire chief sought by Cayman government
The Cayman Islands government is advertising for a chief fire officer.
Acting Chief Rosworth McLaughlin has filled the position since Dennom Bodden retired from that post last May after 40 years of service with the department.
The post pays between $96,000 and $118,000 per year. The holder will be in charge of 125 people and 24/7 fire service operations around the Cayman Islands.
Fire responses at both airports and standard domestic firefighting must be managed with a budget of $11.5 million annually.
Qualifications include a four-year university degree in fire science, fire management or public administration with 10 years of experience at a management level or 15 years managing firefighting operations.
The successful applicant will be charged with implementing changes to the service suggested in a recent review by U.K. senior fire advisers.
Attorney who absconded from Cayman in 2011 returns voluntarily to face charges
Patrick Gregory Schmid, an attorney who absconded from the Cayman Islands in 2011 returned voluntarily and appeared in court on Thursday (13). He was granted conditional bail from both the Grand Court and Summary Court.
Schmid is scheduled to appear in both courts on Thursday, February 27th so that trial dates could be set.
Schmid was charged with the importation and possession of 0.0085 of a gram of cocaine salt and 0.134 of a gram of methamphetamine when he arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport on a flight from Miami in July 2006.
Although he was found guilty his sentence was quashed upon appeal and a new trial was ordered. The trial was set in the Grand Court for November 2011.
He also faced charges in Summary Court that included insulting the modesty of a woman and driving under the influence of alcohol to which he pleaded not guilty. A trial date was set for September 15th 2011 but he did not appear.
A warrant was issued for his arrest.
CEO arrives to head up YMCA in Cayman
Gregory Smith from St. Petersburg, Florida, has arrived in Cayman to take up his post as Chief Executive officer of the Cayman branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association, known as the YMCA
Smith is a veteran of the nonprofit organization, having served youth and families for 18 years in Florida and Texas.
Local members of the community started a YMCA in 2011 that included its chairman Pastor Randy Von Kanel.
YMCA Cayman is officially recognized as a regional member of the YMCA’s Latin American and Caribbean World Alliance with its local office in the Chamber of Commerce building in Governor’s Square.
The organization will operate on a budget of $200,000 and has a full board of 23 directors, including Collin Anglin, director of sports; Ormond Williams, president of Cayman National Bank; and Donovan Ebanks, former deputy governor.
For more information about the YMCA in Cayman, visit www.ymcacayman.ky, call 928-5987 or email Mr. Smith at [email protected].
Jamaica tightens up rules for personal watercraft
From Boston.com
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica is tightening up rules for personal watercraft in the wake of a U.S. vacationer’s death.
Tourism Minister Wykeham McNeill announced Tuesday that all personal watercraft activities have been temporarily suspended while efforts are made to register the machines and beef up enforcement by marine police.
He says a ban on importing new personal watercraft has been extended until October. Fines have also been increased from $200 to $500 for violations of rules such as riding close to shore.
Last month, a Las Vegas man died after being struck in the head by a watercraft off Negril’s swimming beach. The operator sped off as beachgoers jumped into the water to pull the man to shore.
The U.S. is the Caribbean island’s largest source of tourists.
Barbados looks to attract Chinese visitors and investors
From Caribbean360
Prime Minister Stuart said that Barbados was in the development phase of its relationship with China and it was now necessary to familiarise the Chinese with this country in an effort to attract Chinese tourists and business people. (Credit: china-consult
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday February 19, 2014, CMC – The Barbados government says it wants a speedy conclusion for an air services agreement with China as it hopes to lure visitors and investors from the Asian country.
A government statement providing details of a meeting between the island’s Ambassador – Designate to the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Chelston Brathwaite, quoted Prime Minister Stuart as saying that Barbados was in the development phase of its relationship with China and it was now necessary to familiarise the Chinese with this country in an effort to attract Chinese tourists and business people to these shores.
Stuart acknowledged that the local economy had become structurally integrated into the economies of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, but insisted there was a need to look in new directions and identified China and Latin America as two of the new paths to be followed.
For his part, Brathwaite, who left here on Sunday to take up his appointment in Beijing, noted that tourism, trade and business were key areas of interest, noting that 83 million Chinese tourists travelled annually, spending an estimated US$102 billion.
The statement gave no indication when or if negotiations for an air services agreement between the two countries had started.
Kieron Pollard ruled out of Windies World T20 squad due to injury
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday February 19, 2014, CMC – Big hitting allrounder Kieron Pollard has been ruled out of a West Indies squad announced Tuesday to defend their World Twenty20 title starting next month.
Pollard continues to recover from a knee injury and has not been included in the 15 man squad released for the March 16 to April 6 event in Bangladesh.
Pollard who injured his knee while playing in a charity football match had said that he was hoping to recover in time to be available for the ICC World T20.
However his recovery did not prove quick enough to allow him to be considered for selection.
All 13 men named for the Twenty20s against Ireland starting Wednesday were included in the World Twenty20 squad, along with the batsman Johnson Charles and fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell,
Cottrell, 24, has played one Test against India in Kolkata last year but is yet to make his debut in either of the shorter formats for West Indies.
A left-arm fast bowler from Jamaica, he played for the Antigua Hawksbills at the Caribbean Premier League last year and collected eight wickets at 21.75 and an economy rate of 6.44.
Charles has struggled on the recent limited-overs tour of New Zealand but can be a dangerous player at the top of the order.
West Indies are the reigning World T20 champions after beating hosts Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo in October 2012.
West Indies squad Darren Sammy (capt), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.
Westin Grand Cayman opens Beach House restaurant
By Gay Nagle Myers From Travel Weekly
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa completed the final phase of its property-wide renovation, with the opening of the Beach House restaurant.
The restaurant, the former Casa Havana, features additional outdoor seating for 70 guests and a new menu highlighting coastal cuisine, primarily seafood.
Earlier upgrades over the past year include revamped guestrooms, public spaces and meeting venues, and updates to the fitness center and pool.
The beach has eight more cabanas, plus a spa cabana for seaside treatments.
For more: http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Westin-Grand-Cayman-opens-Beach-House-restaurant/
