iNews Briefs
Don’t keep sending us unskilled Caymanians says Chamber boss
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce President Johann Moxam said at the opening of the Chamber’s careers and training expo Friday (14) said, “Caymanians and local residents who are registered with the National Workforce Development Agency are sometimes sent to their businesses without the skills required to fill the positions advertised. This is an equally frustrating process for both the business that is in urgent need to fill a vacancy to keep their business running, as well as the Caymanian applicant who may not possess the skills or the attitude to obtain the job.”
He said small businesses in particular were the ones being hurt by this saying it was a “frustrating and expensive reality”.
Moxam added he hoped the new online jobs database, announced by government last week, would make the process more efficient.
Fedex loses breast tumor bound for lab, scares cancer patient
By Laura Northrup From Consemerist
When a shipping service loses your new computer or your book, it can be frustrating but not catastrophic. After all, somewhere there’s a warehouse full of more computers and more books. Shippers also handle things that are totally irreplaceable. Like human tissue on which someone’s life depends.
No, FedEx hasn’t started a sideline in transport for organ transplants. A Utah woman underwent a double mastectomy for breast cancer, but patients with her specific type of cancer don’t always need to follow surgery up with chemotherapy. 80% of them do just as well without it, and there’s a test that can determine which type of tumor a patient has. It’s only offered at one lab in California, so patients send their tissue samples there. In this patient’s case, using FedEx.
If a patient does need chemotherapy, she needs to start it within about a month of the surgery. It was worrisome that the results weren’t in… and weren’t in… and then the patient and her doctor learned that the package containing her tissue samples had disappeared. It was last scanned in Oakland, California on February 24th. Time was running out to start chemotherapy.
“I don’t want to die because of this, because they lost my tumor,” the patient told ABC News. “I’m going to tell them to give me chemo.”
Fortunately, human tissue was replaceable in this case: there were additional samples of her tumor preserved in paraffin at the hospital. Her sample has been sent to the lab after all, and she should get the results telling her whether chemotherapy will be necessary next week.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2014/03/14/fedex-loses-breast-tumor-bound-for-lab-shrugs/
Obesity in Cayman begins in the home
1/3 of children entering primary school were either overweight or obese and Certified Sports Nutritionist and Childhood obesity specialist Nadine Dumasissues of childhood obesity says it begins in the home.
Talking on CITN/Cayman27 as part of Cayman Heart Smart Health Week she said there is misunderstanding about carbohydrates, she shed light on the effects of sugars, explained what a nutrient rich diet should look like and gave advice on how to avoid food marketing tricks. To see the whole interview go to: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2014/03/17/heart-smart-health-week-tackle-childhood-obesity-from-the-kitchen
Cayman’s Haines ready for 6 marathons this year
Cayman’s epic marathon fundraiser, Derek Haines (65), is ‘ready set go’ to start his bid to raise $1 million to build a new facility for Cayman HospiceCare by running six marathons (26.2 miles each) this year.
He kicked off his bid with a reception at Government House hosted by Governor Helen Kilpatrick last Wednesday (12).
His first marathon will be London Marathon next month. Haines is a Rotarian and the Rotary Club has donated $2,800 to the British Hospice Society to guarantee him entry into the event.
Cuban lifters aim high for Central American and Caribbean Games
From Shanghai Daily
HAVANA, Xinhua) — Cuba has set its eye on six gold medals in weightlifting in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, to be held in Mexico’s eastern city of Veracruz from Nov. 14 to 30.
“Our goal is to win six gold, three silver and five bronze medals in men’s category, while in women’s category we hope to win two bronze medals,” said Jorge Luis Barcelan, Cuban weightlifting head coach.
Cuba is expected to send over 500 athletes to Veracruz 2014 with an aim to recover the leadership in the medal rankings, especially after its absence from the 2010 edition held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
For more: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=207004
States target firms’ offshore tax havens
By Elaine S. Povich | Stateline.org
Some states are going after multinational corporations which avoid state taxes by stashing some of their earnings in offshore tax havens, an effort aimed at recouping some of the more than $20 billion states lose to such gimmicks each year.
Shifting income to subsidiaries in places like the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, which have minimal or no taxes, allows corporations to avoid U.S. and state taxes on those profits. Congress has been unable to thwart the practice at the federal level, but some states are taking action.
Montana was first about a decade ago, followed by Oregon just last year. Now, Maine is looking at legislation modeled on the Montana law. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, is studying the issue as well.
All but four states collect taxes on corporate income, based on the amount of money a company makes in that state. If a company operates in multiple states, it pays taxes on the amount of income it earned in each one, based on a formula set by state law. Some states also tax a percentage of the profits earned by international firms. But multinational companies that hide earnings in offshore tax havens can avoid paying taxes on that money.
Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would add 38 known offshore tax havens to the formula of calculating corporate tax collections in the state. “If a big company like Apple sells things in Maine, they should pay a portion of their corporate tax in Maine, even if they have income in Bermuda,” said Democratic Rep. Adam Goode of Bangor, the sponsor of the bill. The Maine Legislature’s Joint Taxation Committee voted 8-5 for the bill last month, and Goode is optimistic the full legislature will follow suit.
Two other states – Alaska and West Virginia – and the District of Columbia require companies with subsidiaries in tax havens to include that revenue in their income tax reporting. But none of those states lists specific tax havens in its tax code, a provision that would make the statutes stronger, according to experts.
For more: http://www.mondaq.com/x/300428/Contract+Law/Implications+of+FATCA+for+Cayman+Islands+Liquidators
USDA Regional Climate Hubs: Managing your risk in a changing climate.
By William Gould From Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative
The USDA has established a Southeast Regional Caribbean Climate Sub Hub located in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. This multi-agency effort is led by the U.S. Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry and co located with the Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative. The Caribbean Climate Sub Hub is one of seven Regional Hubs and three Subsidiary Hubs nationwide. This network of Climate Hubs will work with USDA to deliver science based knowledge and practical information to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners that will help them to adapt to climate change and weather variability by coordinating with local and regional partners in federal and state agencies, universities, and the public.
The Hub will provide:
• Outreach and education for land managers on ways to mitigate risks and thrive despite change.
• Technical support for land managers to respond to drought, heat stress, floods, pests, and changes in growing season.
For more: http://caribbeanlcc.org/usda-regional-climate-hubs-managing-your-risk-in-a-changing-climate/
St Maarten wants mullet pond protected under wetlands convention
From Caribbean Journal
St Maarten is in the midst of efforts aimed at having the island’s Mullet Pond protected and recognized under the Ramsar Wetlands Convention, according to Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Maurice Lake.
“The advice for the protection of Mullet Pond has reached its final stages,” Lake said. “I will also have the relevant government department along with stakeholders start the process to protect the remaining ponds of the country.”
Lake said he also would like to see Little Key in the Simpson Bay Lagoon also protected and cleaned up.
“This would be a great opportunity and experience for families to come together to camp-out on the weekend and enjoy nature from a different perspective once the island is cleaned-up and placed under sustainable management,” he said.
The Ramsar Convention, signed in Iran in 1971, is a global commitment to maintain the “ecological character” of their wetlands areas.
“The protection of our natural environment also reflects upon the quality of life of our people and I will see to it that the necessary management structures are put in place that would manage our natural resources in a sustainable manner for generations to come,” Lake said.
6.3 Magnitude earthquake rocks Peru
From Business Insider
LIMA, Peru (AP) — A shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake has rattled northern Peru near the coastal city of Piura with no immediate reports of damage or injuries
Nelson Penachin of Peru’s civil defense agency said it has no reports so far of damage from the quake that struck at 6:51 p.m. local time Saturday. The U.S. Geological Service said its epicenter was six miles (10 kilometers) underground.
It was the second quake to shake seismically active Peru on Saturday. A 6.1 magnitude temblor centered near the city of Pisco struck at 3:59 a.m. with no damage reported. The city suffered a devastating 2007 quake of 8.0 magnitude that claimed more than 500 lives.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/peru-earthquake-2014-3#ixzz2w9fJcvST
Personal reasons’: CAL exec quits
By Denyse Renne From Trinidad Express Newspapers
Caribbean Airlines (CAL) vice-president of Human Resources, Charmaine Heslop-Da Costa, has said she resigned for personal reasons from the airline.
Sources had told the Express that Heslop-Da Costa was asked by CAL chairman Phillip Marshall to demit office after bonuses were paid to the Jamaican crew during the Christmas vacation.
The Jamaican pilots were absorbed from Air Jamaica into CAL following the merger of both airlines in 2011.
The decision to pay the bonuses, sources say, resulted in the cockpit crew of CAL at Trinidad launching a sick-out and several flights were cancelled during December last year and January because there was no cockpit captain/first officer.
The flights affected were from inter-island (Caribbean destinations) and Tobago.
The protest was their way of grousing over being sidelined with the bonus issue, sources added.
When the Express contacted Heslop-Da Costa on Saturday morning, she maintained her resignation was for “personal reasons”.
Asked whether she was denying paying bonuses to the Jamaican pilots last year, she said: “You need to speak with the company about that. There were no payments. I am not aware of that. My resignation is for personal reasons.”
Corporate Communications manager at CAL, Clint Williams, in response to questions posed, said via e-mail that “Mrs Heslop-Da Costa, VP, Human Resources at Caribbean Airlines, tendered notice of her resignation, of her own volition, and will continue to function in her substantive position for an appropriate period to allow for a seamless transition.”
Williams said, in this regard, “the board and management express their appreciation”, and thanked Heslop-Da Costa for her services.
For more: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Personal-reasons-CAL-exec-quits–250557201.html
NSA denies report that it has infected millions of computers with malware
By Zach Epstein From BGR
News broke earlier this week alleging that the National Security Agency ”has infected millions of computers around the world with malware.” The report cited newly available documents leaked by Edward Snowden that had previously been classified, and it also claimed the NSA “is impersonating US social media or other websites” to spy on people. The NSA has since issued a statement refuting the report, however, claiming that the allegations within are unfounded and untrue.
“Recent media reports that allege NSA has infected millions of computers around the world with malware, and that NSA is impersonating U.S. social media or other websites, are inaccurate,” the NSA said in its statement. “NSA uses its technical capabilities only to support lawful and appropriate foreign intelligence operations, all of which must be carried out in strict accordance with its authorities. Technical capability must be understood within the legal, policy, and operational context within which the capability must be employed.”
The statement continued, “NSA’s authorities require that its foreign intelligence operations support valid national security requirements, protect the legitimate privacy interests of all persons, and be as tailored as feasible. NSA does not use its technical capabilities to impersonate US company websites. Nor does NSA target any user of global Internet services without appropriate legal authority. Reports of indiscriminate computer exploitation operations are simply false.”
For more:
Sandinistas take lion’s share in Caribbean polls [Nicuragua]
From Nicaragua Dispatch
Amid scheduled protests by the YATAMA indigenous party, the Sandinista-controlled Supreme Electoral Council announced its final results of this month’s regional elections in the Caribbean, giving the lion’s share of local government posts to the ruling Sandinista Front.
According to the CSE, the Sandinistas won 76 seats in both the North and South Atlantic Autonomous Regions, followed by 15 for YATAMA, 8 for the PLI, 7 for PLC and 2 for PIM. Abstentionism was around 60%, it’s highest ever in a Nicaraguan election.
For more and to view all the winners go to: http://nicaraguadispatch.com/2014/03/sandinistas-take-lions-share-in-caribbean-polls/
West Indies Retired Players Foundation launched
From Spice Islander
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The West Indies Retired Players Foundation was recently launched with the commitment to providing opportunities for former players to be involved in development programmes and assisting with welfare where applicable for former players who represented the Caribbean team at the international level.
The Foundation was the brainchild of West Indies cricket Board (WICB) President Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron and was jointly formed by the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). The Foundation though, will operate as an autonomous body. The committee members are Brian George (Chairman), Dr Nigel Camacho, Nixon McLean, Wavell Hinds, Delano Franklyn, and Janice Allen (Secretary to the Foundation).
Part of the programme of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation is to provide better health care and living conditions for past players. The intention is also to facilitate mentorship for young, aspiring players as well as appearance in the Caribbean, among the Diaspora in the United States and in the wider global cricket community.
The gala event was also used to celebrate the illustrious career of Sir Garfield Sobers – the greatest allrounder of all-time. The 77-year-old made his Test debut 60 years ago against England at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Also in attendance were several other West Indian greats including Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Richard Richardson, Seymour Nurse, Charlie Griffith, Joel Garner and Jeff Dujon.
West Indies cricket joined the ranks of international team back in 1928 – when the first Test match was played – and since then 297 cricketers have played Tests; 167 caps in One-day Internationals and 61 caps in Twenty20 Internationals.
For more: http://spiceislander.com/?p=11755
St Lucia lifts quarantine order on cargo vessel
By Caribbean News Now contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia — The ministry of health in Saint Lucia on Thursday [13] lifted a quarantine order placed on the motor vessel, Lady Zai, in Port Castries. The vessel arrived in Saint Lucia the previous weekend with one crew member dead and another suffering from what has been diagnosed as bronchial pneumonia. The ship was ordered quarantined on the advice of local medical officials.
At a joint meeting held on Thursday, officials of the ministry of health; Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority and Marine Police, held discussions with the quarantined vessel’s local agents, Professional and Confidential Services Limited, represented by Fabiana Chedy.
“We feel relieved that the quarantine on the vessel has been removed, with specific guidelines (provided by the ministry of health) to be followed,” said Chedy in an interview following Thursday’s meeting.
Chedy says despite the stresses associated with the situation for both her agency and the crew of the Lady Zai, she is pleased with the way it was dealt with by local authorities.
“It was hard on the crew. I spoke to the captain and he said he felt very depressed having lost a crew member at sea. Things like that must go through a process and I am satisfied with the process and the way it was handled,” she said.
Also attending Thursday’s meeting was Max Edouard, managing director of Caribbean Grains — a Vieux Fort Freezone feed mill. The operation produces feed for all types of farm animals for the local market. The cargo aboard the Lady Zai, is the property of the mill.
“This is the first bulk shipment we are importing into Saint Lucia, which gives us the opportunity to reduce substantially, the price of the feed we are selling on the market,” said Edouard.
Officials say the entire ship must undergo sanitization before the cargo is offloaded and prior to its departure from Saint Lucia.
For more: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-St-Lucia-lifts-quarantine-order-on-cargo-vessel-20300.html
Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival on its way to Boston
By RumShopRyan
The Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival is exporting a form of its annual beverage festival to Boston USA. In a move guaranteed to benefit regional rum and beer producers, the festival organizers, Azure Management Services Inc. of Barbados, have been invited to bring the festival’s unique mix of Caribbean beverages and culture to a ‘World Trade & Heritage Expo’ in Boston USA scheduled for July 2015.
Festival Director Ms. Cheryl Collymore explained, “Over the years we have received a number of invitations to host the festival outside of the Caribbean, including in locations such as Norway and Brazil. We decided to accept the Boston Expo invitation because it comes at an ideal time for our event; we have developed a model for the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival that is effective and we have a strong, experienced event team in place. Our plan is to host the 5th Festival in the Caribbean during 14th-15th of November 2014 and then subsequently to turn our full attention to the Boston 2015 event.”
“When we originally conceptualized the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival back in 2010, our intention was to provide a platform for the promotion the Caribbean’s world class rum and beer; this continues to be our primary objective and we are excited to be providing this additional opportunity to our regional beverage producers.”
Azure Management Services Inc. a Barbados based company, is responsible for the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival. Operations Director Dr. Glyn Williams explained, “Our team has experience of hosting the Festival in Barbados and Grenada. We fully understand what it takes to be based in one country and successfully host the event overseas. This has put us in a fortunate position whereby we are capable of putting on the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival in almost any location around the world, the possibilities are endless.”
The previous Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival was held in Grenada in 2013 in partnership with the Grenada Board of Tourism. The festival attracted over 1400 patrons from around the world during the 2 days of the event. (www.rumandbeerfestival.com)
For more: http://rumshopryan.com/2014/03/17/caribbean-rum-beer-festival-way-boston/
Grenada, IMF Reach $21.9M Agreement
From Caribbean Journal
The government of Grenada and the International Monetary Fund have reached a staff-level agreement, the IMF announced.
The economic programme will be supported by a three-year, $21.9 million extended credit facility, according to the IMF.
“The main objectives of the program are to restore fiscal and debt sustainability, boost long-term growth through structural reforms, and safeguard the resilience of the financial sector,” said Aliona Cebotari, the IMF’s mission chief for Grenada, in a statement.
The agreement is still subject to approval by the IMF’s executive board.
“The cornerstone of the program is a strong fiscal adjustment focused on curbing current spending and widening the revenue base, while maintaining space for infrastructure spending and social safety nets. The fiscal adjustment will be complemented by a comprehensive debt restructuring, which will aim to secure meaningful debt reduction, address financing shortfalls, and put Grenada’s public debt firmly on a downward path towards the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) regional target of 60 percent of GDP by 2020,” Cebotari said.
Grenada’s government said the deal would pave the way for the country to access “at least $100 million in grants and soft loans from donors and friendly countries.”
Cebotari said the programme success would “require an extraordinary effort on the part of the authorities, other segments of the society, as well as broad international support.”
“While the initial implementation period will be challenging, Grenada will emerge stronger and more dynamic from the program, and it will be better poised to generate growth and job creation going forward,” she said.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/03/16/grenada-imf-reach-21-9m-agreement/
Buffett on Bitcoin: ‘It’s a mirage, stay away’
From Newsmax
The bitcoin digital currency elicits vastly different reactions from financial experts. Count legendary investor Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway as a pessimist.
“Stay away from it. It’s a mirage basically,” he tells CNBC.
The bitcoin has endured a rocky ride in recent weeks, with Mt. Gox, formerly the dominant exchange for the currency, collapsing.
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“It’s a method of transmitting money. It’s a very effective way of transmitting money,” Buffett argues. But he noted that you can transmit money with a check or a money order as well.
“People do it. I hope bitcoin becomes a better way of doing it,” he notes. “You can replicate it a bunch of different ways. The idea that it has a huge intrinsic value is a joke.”
Basically, he adds, bitcoin “is a very fast money order . . . anonymously.”
Campbell Harvey, a professor of international business at Duke University, is more optimistic about the currency. He tells The Christian Science Monitor that top venture capitalists such as Marc Andreessen are backing bitcoin.
The digital currency is in its early phases and has the potential “to be massively disruptive” to the global payment system, Harvey contends. Just like with other new technologies, “there will be some growing pains.”
Woman’s best friend — removal of police dog from pregnant handler was direct discrimination
From Hogan Lovells The Lawyer
PC Keohane was a dog handler, handling two ‘narcotics’ dogs. Her status as a dual narcotics dog handler was important in that it enhanced her career prospects and gave her an opportunity to earn overtime. The Metropolitan Police operated a policy on the re-allocation or withdrawal of police dogs where handlers were likely to be non-operational for a while. For pregnancy or maternity leave, it specified that female officers would, in most cases, not be permitted to continue as operational dog handlers during their pregnancy, for health and safety reasons.
When PC Keohane told the Metropolitan Police that she was pregnant, a decision was taken to re-allocate Nunki Pippin, her ‘passive’ search dog, leaving her with a proactive search dog.
The Employment Tribunal found that the reason for the removal, and subsequently a failure to re-allocate the dog to her before the end of her maternity leave, was her pregnancy and maternity, and hence was directly discriminatory..
