iNews Briefs
Cayman & Caribbean’s biggest water provider reports drop in 2013 profit
By Randall Hackley From Bloomberg
Consolidated Water Co. (CWCO), the largest publicly traded water provider in the Caribbean, reported a 7.7 percent drop in profit last year as retail sales declined at its Cayman Islands base.
Net income for 2013 was $8.6 million compared with $9.3 million a year earlier as earnings and profit-sharing from its British Virgin Islands affiliate OC-BVI also fell, the Georgetown-based company said in a statement. Total revenue slipped 2.5 percent to $63.8 million while services income climbed 80 percent to $843,000 as management fees increased.
Consolidated Water also operates water production and distribution facilities in the Bahamas and Belize and expanded beyond the Caribbean with a seawater reverse-osmosis facility on Indonesia’s Bali island and a water-purifying desalination pilot plant in Rosarito in northern Baja California, Mexico.
Radnor energy firm’s shares zoom as Soros calls for sale
By Joseph N. DiStefano From Philly.com
Shares of Penn Virginia Corp., the Radnor oil and gas exploration company, zoomed this morning after George Soros, the world’s richest Democratic Party backer, his son Robert Soros, and their firms — Soros Fund Management LLC (offices in New York), WAFO LLC (Delaware) and Quantum Partners (Cayman Islands) — announced they’ve spent $29.1 million to buy a 6-million-share, 9.1% stake and want the company to consider a sale to boost their profit.
In a statement to the SEC, Soros and crew called Penn Virginia “undervalued” and said they’ve been pressing Penn Virginia managers about “strategic alternatives,” which typically include putting a company or key assets up for sale. Penn Virginia “has been very well managed” and its bosses should be given more “incentives” — presumably stock — but they also need to “explore strategic alternatives as a means to enhance or maximize shareholder value.” Soros also said his group may buy more Penn Virginia stock or debt and hedge its investments in the firm.
Guyana businessman arrested after five family members die in blaze
From Caribbean360
GEORGETOWN, Guyana,– Police have detained a 50-year-old businessman who allegedly set fire to his home resulting in the death of his wife and four children on Friday [14] night.
Police have identified those killed as Lurlene La Cruz, 39, her daughters Lea 14, three-year-old Lavette and sons Labron, eight-years-old, and one-year-old Levon.
The authorities have detained Linus La Cruz, who sustained burns to his body and is under guard at the Port Kaituma Hospital.
Police said they responded to a report by a 12-year-old girl at the Port Kaituma Police Station that her father and mother were involved in an argument and he had threatened to burn down their house.
“On their way to the scene the police observed that the building was on fire and suspecting that persons were inside attempted to enter the building, but was prevented from doing so by a locked grill door,” the police said in a statement.
The police and residents formed a bucket brigade but were unable to extinguish the blaze.
The police said the area does not have a fire station and an investigation into the blaze has started.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/guyana_news/1107282.html#ixzz2wHBMcMZq
Cayman movie “is a wrap”
The 30 minute short movie shot entirely in Grand Cayman has been completed in just a 10-day shooting time.
The movie, “The Devil You Know”, has a plot involving a hitman who comes to Grand Cayman for a job but things don’t go exactly as planned.
The movie was written and directed by young filmmakers Murphy and Badir Awe, who are moving along to the post-production stage. It had a full cast and crew of 25 people living and working in Grand Cayman and cost $17,000 to make. However, although $20,000 has been raised for the product they need more to complete the editing.
The movie’s producers said “The Devil You Know” should be released in June, and they are working with Camana Bay to organise a local premiere.
The NFL Is Quietly Suing M.I.A and Her Middle Finger for $16.6 Million
By Jason Abbruzzese from Mashable
The National Football League has ramped up its lawsuit against musician M.I.A., seeking $16.6 million in damages after she flashed her middle finger at the camera during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.
M.I.A. took to her Twitter account where she linked to the Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news.
She also posted a picture of the complaint, in which she said the NFL proposed to take a percentage of M.I.A.’s income in addition to the other damages.
The NFL had been seeking $1.5 million for breach of contract, but recently added another $15 million for the value of the two-minutes of screen time that M.I.A. received. That amount is based on how much advertisers had paid for spots during the game.
During a performance that featured Madonna and also included Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. gestured toward the camera at the end of a verse she performed in the song “Give Me All Your Luvin’.” The move prompted 222 FCC complaints.
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For more: http://mashable.com/2014/03/17/nfl-sues-mia/
Grand Cayman: South Sound Stride 5k Run / Walk returns on Saturday May 31st 2014
After its successful 2013 debut, the South Sound Stride 5k Run / Walk returns on Saturday May 31st 2014. Registration is now open at: http://southsoundstride5k.weebly.com/
Course: Start and finish at First Baptist Christian School. The course is Old Crewe Road to South Sound. Right on South Sound Road to the Rugby Club. Turn around at the Rugby Club and return to First Baptist Christian School.
Register Now
Register Offline (PDF) Event Website u Results
• $15 Students 8 to 18 years
• $20 Adults paid registration before May 17th
• $25 Adults May 18th to May 31st
• $10 Children’s Race – Pee Wee Fun Run on the FBCS soccer field (7 and under)
• FBCS Students by Sponsorship form
Start Times: 4:30pm Pee Wee Fun Run, 5pm Run / Walk.
Check-in: From 3:30pm at First Baptist Christian School entrance (Old Crewe Road)
Awards: All 5k participants will receive a T-Shirt and goodie bag. Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female in the following divisions: 11 & under, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+. All children in the Fun Run will receive a T-shirt and a medal.
Amenities: Each race entry will be entered into the raffle. Free refreshments.
Kingston Hot will be selling jerk chicken after the race ($6 small / $8 large).
Race Coordinators:
• Tim Eastman – 946 7906 ext 3619 / [email protected]
• Janet Durksen – 946 7906 ext 3605 / [email protected]
‘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
Grand Cayman: Colour Me Purple HWM 5k Walk / Run
March is Honouring Women Month and the Colour Me Purple 5k Walk / Run is back again! Sponsored by BAF Insurance, SOL and the Department of Sports.
For 2014 it’s Saturday 22nd at Kaibo, North Side and Sunday 23rd at Smith Cove, South Sound. 6:30am for walkers and 7am for runners. CI$15 to register. Medals for runners and random prizes including a Cobalt Coast staycation. Prize for the most purple participant too!
NEW Purple colour stations will be part of the event… if you want too, walk through them and get colour-bombed!
Register at: http://www.caymanactive.com/women
Last Year: Purple was the colour of the day as over 200 participants took part in the 2013 Honouring Women Month Colour Me Purple 5K Walk/Run on Saturday 23rd March to benefit the Family Resource Centre. The walk is in its 15th year, but was revamped and has found a new home at Smith Cove. This year was the first year the run became official and they are thankful for the great support of runners in the community.
The walkers had a great time, while also getting to know local and global statistics on women and girls. The Kaibo side also enjoyed a wonderful time, while getting to watch a festive purple fashion show. The competition for most purple wearer was intense at both sites. We thank everyone that got into the spirit of Honouring Women Month and provided immense support for empowerment programmes in the community.
For more on Honouring Women Month and the Family Resource Centre call 949-0006 or email [email protected]
Father of three killed as Trinidad records 100th murder for 2014
From Caribbean360
The first murder for this year occurred on January 2, when Pastor Casimir Khan, 52, was shot after bandits stormed his Arima home.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago recorded its 100th murder for the year after a 29-year-old father of three was shot and killed on Monday.
Police said that Jeffon “Boatie” Jordan was shot as he walked near his home in Santa Cruz, north east of here. He was one of six people killed during the last 72 hours.
The first murder for this year occurred on January 2, when Pastor Casimir Khan, 52, was shot after bandits stormed his Arima home, east of here, in search of a large gold chain Khan’s son, Ezra Khan, was wearing at the time.
Last year 407 people were murdered in Trinidad and Tobago.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/trinidad_tobago_news/1107289.html#ixzz2wHJbAqpi
Cayman Islands GAB Walking and Running Club
There’s a new running club in town. Monday nights, 5:30pm from the Government Administration Building (staff entrance) on Elgin Avenue.
It’s Government’s walking and running club, but everyone is more than welcome to come along and join us. It’s totally free too. Just bring yourself, some energy and a smile!
We have 3 groups – “New Movers” walking group, “5k in Training” run-walk group, and a group for those who are already “Regular Runners”.
So see you next Monday night then!
If it’s your first time, please complete and bring along the waiver you can download at: http://www.caymanactive.com/userfiles/1687/gabwaiver.pdf
GAB Running and Walking Club Participant Waiver
For more info: [email protected]
Jamaica police charge juror in Vybz Kartel case
From Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The police have charged the juror who was taken into custody after the verdict was handed down in the Vybz Kartel murder trial on Thursday.
Livingston Cai, 50, who was charged on Saturday with five counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, will appear in court on Tuesday.
Last Thursday, investigators went to the juror’s house and reportedly seized a cell phone and other evidence as part of the probe. According to the Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the man approached a juror to sway the decision in favour of Vybz Kartel and the other men who were on trial.
It was also reported that he tried to bribe the foreman, however the offer was rejected and the foreman then lodged a report.
Kartel and three other men were found guilty of the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. They will be sentenced on March 27.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/entertainment/1107280.html#ixzz2wHL28ojo
100s turn out at Cayman musical festival
Hopestock. a musical event organised by Cayman Islands’ Hope Academy last weekend, saw local musicians and bands come together for a 6 hour gig at Grand Harbour with money raised going their trip to the United States.
Hundreds came out to support the event that was organised by Will Doran. He said, “It’s really important to me because what I’m trying to do is make a difference. I want these kids to go into Washington and have an incredible time.”
Discussions will take place to make it an annual event, giving local musicians the chance to showcase their talents.
Caribbean Red Cross Societies exchange on HIV
From Breaking Belize News
AARON HUMES Reporting: The annual meeting of the Regional Exchange for the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Program (CHAP) is being hosted in Belize.
The CHAP meeting seeks to bring together four Caribbean countries – Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas – with their Belizean counterparts to discuss their experiences, challenges and best practices of promoting education and awareness on HIV/AIDS.
A delegation from the American Red Cross is acting as facilitators. Director General of the Belize Red Cross Society Lily Bowman says the local Red Cross looks forward to sharing its experiences with its Caribbean counterparts and learning how they cope with various challenges.
In related news, the Red Cross’ “Together We Can” program was one of several banned from working in Roman Catholic-managed schools.
We spoke with the Director General about this development and she explained that the Society emphasizes reaching out to all persons on key issues and remaining neutral on issues of difference.
The TWC program, says Bowman, is about giving people knowledge to have the power to effect behavioral change, and she says it is all about making the right choices.
As for how it responds to the Catholic Church, Bowman says the Red Cross will respect its views and withdraw from any Catholic school that expressly, per the mandate of Bishop Wright, refuses them entry.
For more: http://www.patrickjonesbelize.com/2014/03/17/caribbean-red-cross-societies-exchange-hiv/
Female rowers describe anguish after giving up Canaries-Caribbean voyage dream
From Island Connection
Two women rowers have been in the media in recent days after being forced to pull out of their dream to cross the Atlantic in their small boat.
Hannah Lawton and Lauren Morton, both in the early 20s and students at the University of West England, hoped to raise 100,000 pounds for a hospice and for cancer research by completing the crossing from La Gomera to Antigua. They set sail from La Gomera on 4 December and were expecting to arrive in the Caribbean in early February but hit trouble almost immediately and then suffered a catalogue of mishaps at sea, which forced them to send out an SOS to be rescued. They were picked up by a cargo ship and are now on their way to Canada.
The two women were at a near standstill after their rudder snapped. A support vessel managed to reach them with a new one but it did not fit. The pair also capsized on one night, causing head injuries to Lauren, which Hannah had to repair with glue. Other incidents on board the ill-fated voyage included a battery-pack fire which destroyed crucial navigational charts.
The friends were competing in the 3000 mile Talisker Whisky Challenge but the sequence of mishaps meant they were the only team left in the event after 3 months and they were advised that the support vessel could no longer visit them. The families of the two students say the women are devastated by the forced pull-out but felt they had no choice.
For more: http://www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/1000043/0/42317/daily-news-article.html
China suing Grenada
From Caribbean360
Grenada yet again before a United States court facing an international lawsuit over an outstanding multi-million dollar debt.
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada,– According to reports in the New York Post, China’s Export-Import Bank filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court on Monday (March 4) to recover outstanding monies owed to it.
The lawsuit is reportedly over an unpaid judgment worth US$32 million against Grenada, which the Chinese state-controlled bank is still trying to recover.
In February last year, the Grenada airport was almost crippled when Taiwan’s Export-Import Bank started to garnish millions of dollars in airline landing fees to aid it in recovering US$25 million in outstanding loan payments awarded to it by a New York court.
Although China’s Export-Import Bank did not restructure its Grenada claims when others did in 2005 and 2006 when other creditors agreed to take big ‘haircuts’ on the debts owed to them, the bank is reportedly now using the “equal treatment” legal argument pioneered by Paul Singer’s Elliott Management against Argentina to argue that Grenada must pay it each time the country makes a payment to creditors.
However, analysts are saying that Grenada is likely to default on its debt again soon, which could complicate China’s attempts at recovering its debt.
Grenada has paid more than US$43 million to the other creditors since its last default,
New York Post quotes emerging market debt hedge fund manager Hans Humes as saying that the Caribbean island is likely to miss its next coupon payment. It was due last Friday (March 15).
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/business/671857.html#ixzz2wKjwofC0
Cayman’s Bow Wow Bingo at Beaches Thu (20)
15 Games, 15 Prizes only $15 All proceeds to CARE Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts.
See attachment for more details
