iNews Briefs & Community Events
Jamaicans denied bail for robbery in Cayman Islands
From RJR News
Two Jamaicans charged with robbing a money transfer business in the Cayman Islands earlier this month were denied bail on Monday.
The court heard that Paul Martin, 28, and Romario Codner, 21, were charged in connection with the August 12 heist, in which CI$2,136 was stolen.
In addition, both men were charged with possession of an imitation firearm, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence in the Cayman Islands.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court on September 16.
A 39-year-old Caymanian man, who was arrested on suspicion of harbouring the Jamaicans, was held, but later released.
The police confirmed that the two robbery suspects were in Cayman illegally.
For more: http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/jamaicans-denied-bail-for-robbery-in-cayman-islands
CARIBBEAN: Family of Trini ISIS fighter killed in Syria says they are happy, believes he is in a better place
By Newsday (TT) From
NEWSDAY (TT) – THE DEATH of Trinidad-born Mikail Ali, 27, during an air strike last week in Syria is happiness for his immediate family, but not so for some of his friends and comrades who were mourning the loss of someone brave and popular.
“This is happiness. We know where they are going,” Mikail’s father, Ali, told Newsday yesterday during an interview at his San Juan home.
Ali said his son died on August 16 somewhere between Aleppo and Raqqa from shrapnel during an air strike.
At the time he was fighting for the Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS.
Another of his sons, who is also in Syria, Ali said, called him and gave him the news.
Asked how Mikail’s mother took the news, Ali said, “She is happy for her son. Friends are coming and crying, and she is consoling them.
We know where he has gone. We are happy.
Only a Muslim will understand that.” Mikail is survived by his wife. Asked who is taking care of her in Syria, Ali said not to worry about that and that she was being well cared for.
For more: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/caribbean-family-of-trini-isis-fighter-killed-in-syria-says-they-are-happy-believes-he-is-in-a-better-place/
Marathon runner shows solidarity with Oromo protests at finish line
BY KEITH WAGSTAFF From Mashable
The word “brave” is thrown around a lot during the Olympics.
But Ethiopian long-distance runner Feyisa Lilesa showed what true bravery looks like during the men’s marathon on Sunday.
Crossing the finish line for a silver medal, it looked like Lilesa was simply raising his arms to celebrate. Yet those paying attention to the Oromo protests in Ethiopia realized it was much more than that.
Since Nov. 2015, the Ethiopian government has killed an estimated 400 people, and injured thousands more, for participating in the Oromo protests, according to Human Rights Watch.
The protests started as an effort to stop the government from expanding the limits of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, into the surrounding towns and villages of the Oromo people, the country’s largest ethnic group.
What came next was brutal.
“Security forces … shot into crowds, summarily killing people during mass roundups, and torturing detained protesters,” wrote Human Rights Watch, citing a report that included interviews with 125 witnesses. “Because primary and secondary school students in Oromia were among the early protesters, many of those arrested or killed were children under the age of 18.”
In the graphic video below, you can see protesters making the same gesture as Lilesa did when finishing his race.
Speaking at a press conference after the marathon, the runner revealed just how much he risked with the gesture.
“If I go back to Ethiopia maybe they will kill me,” he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“If I am not killed maybe they will put me in prison. [If ] they [do] not put me in prison they will block me at airport. I have got a decision. Maybe I move to another country.”
IMAGE: BUDA MENDES/GETTY IMAGES
Neighbouring star Proxima Centauri has Earth-sized planet
By Jonathan Amos BBC Science Correspondent From BBC
Artwork of Proxima bImage copyrightESO/M.KORNMESSER
Image caption
Artwork: The planet’s mass would suggest it is a rocky world like Earth
The nearest habitable world beyond our Solar System might be right on our doorstep – astronomically speaking.
Scientists say their investigations of the closest star, Proxima Centauri, show it to have an Earth-sized planet orbiting about it.
What is more, this rocky globe is moving in a zone that would make liquid water on its surface a possibility.
Proxima is 40 trillion km away and would take a spacecraft using current technology thousands of years to reach.
Media captionProxima b is the closest known, potentially habitable planet
Nonetheless, the discovery of a planet potentially favourable to life in our cosmic neighbourhood is likely to fire the imagination.
“For sure, to go there right now is science fiction, but people are thinking about it and it’s no longer just an academic exercise to imagine we could send a probe there one day,” said Guillem Anglada-Escudé whose “Pale Red Dot” team reports the existence of the new world in the journal Nature.
Earlier this year, the billionaire venture capitalist Yuri Milner said he was investing $100m in studies to develop tiny spacecraft that could be propelled across the galaxy by lasers.
These would travel at perhaps 20% of the speed of light, shortening the journey to a star like Proxima Centauri to mere decades.
Just how “habitable” this particular planet really is, one has to say is pure speculation for the time being.
The Queen Mary University of London researcher and his group concede they still have much work to do to extend their observations.
Simply identifying the world, catalogued as “Proxima b”, was a considerable challenge.
It was made possible through the use of an ultra-precise instrument called HARPS.
This spectrograph, attached to a 3.6m telescope in Chile, detects the very slight wobble induced in a star when circled by a gravitationally bound planet.
Its data suggests Proxima b has a minimum mass 1.3 times that of Earth and orbits at a distance of about 7.5 million km from the star, taking 11.2 days to complete one revolution.
The distance between the star and its planet is considerably smaller than Earth’s separation from the Sun (149 million km). But Proxima Centauri is what is termed a red dwarf star. It is much reduced in size and dimmer compared with our Sun, and so a planet can be nearer and still enjoy conditions that are potentially as benign as those on Earth.
“This planet is at 5% of the Earth’s distance from the Sun. However, Proxima is 1,000 times fainter than the Sun. So the flux – the energy – reaching Proxima b is about 70% of what the Earth receives. It’s like taking Earth a bit further away, but it’s comparable,” explained Dr Anglada-Escudé.
Whether the temperatures on Proxima b are favourable for life to exist is going to depend on the presence of an atmosphere.
An envelope of greenhouse gases would warm surface conditions and provide sufficient pressure to keep water – essential for biology – in a liquid state.
But even with the limited information we currently have, scientists are excited by the news.
“I think it’s the most important exoplanet discovery there will ever be – how can you ever trump something that could be habitable orbiting around the very closest star to the Sun?” commented Dr Carole Haswell from the Open University.
“When I was a kid, it wasn’t clear there were any other planets that we could walk around on and find liquid water on – so I think it’s absolutely thrilling,” she told BBC News.
Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf; it is much cooler and smaller than our Sun
It is marginally closer but probably gravitationally bound to Alpha Centauri A & B
To the naked eye, Alpha Centauri A & B appear as a single star on the sky
Sirius A is the brightest and most easily recognisable star in the night sky
Jupiter is our biggest planet. If 80 times more massive, it would turn into a star
Researchers are presently looking to see if the planet crosses the face of Proxima Centauri as viewed from Earth – an event referred to as a “transit”.
This kind of backlit observation could confirm not just the existence of an atmosphere but reveal perhaps something of its chemical properties.
Indeed, researchers have long talked about using transits to try to detect the signatures of life on planets that are too far away to be visited by spacecraft.
If there are lifeforms on Proxima b – even simple microbes – they may find the going rather tough, however.
Red dwarfs are very active. They tend to throw out big flares that would bombard a nearby planet with energetic particles. The X-ray emission is much more intense as well.
Even so, these kinds of stars are now the subject of great interest in the search for Earth-like planets simply because they are so abundant in the galaxy.
One priority for the future will be to get a direct image of the planet.
This should be possible with the European Extremely Large Telescope now under construction in Chile.
It is being given a 39m-wide primary mirror and state-of-the-art instrumentation precisely to do this kind of observation.
“A planet around even a wimpy star like Proxima Centauri is going to be more than a billion times fainter than the star itself. So, what you do is block out the light from the star using a special device and that allows you then to go deeper into the star’s surroundings,” explained Cambridge University’s Prof Gerry Gilmore.
“This is one of the E-ELT’s design goals. There’s also a Nasa mission under development called W-First. It will have a high-resolution coronagraphic mode which again is designed for the same purpose.”
For more and video: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37167390
Trinidad gang leaders show off arsenal on viral Whatsapp video
By Guardian(TT) FromSt Lucia news Online
Rasta cityGUARDIAN(TT) – A video depicting known gang leaders, some of whom are in currently in jail, is engaging the attention of Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) and the Strategic Services Agency — this country’s main surveillance unit, as they gather information on suspected criminals.
Police said last night that the video, which is being shared on WhatsApp, clearly identifies Rasta City gang leaders from Beetham Gardens, Sea Lots, Maloney, L’eau Place in Port-of-Spain, Maracas, Point Fortin and Caroni, among other areas.
Police said the video was used primarily as a recruiting tool to lure new members by giving the impression of a glorified life of crime.
In the video, gang members display a host of high-tech guns from their arsenal, including the Mach 10, Uzi, Tec-9, AK47 and AR15 rifles.
Gang warfare between the Rasta City gang and what police have labelled as the Muslim gang has claimed lives of scores of young men from major crime hot spots across the country.
For more: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/caribbean-trinidad-gang-leaders-show-off-arsenal-on-viral-whatsapp-video/
Recruiting Caymanians to Join Service
WHO: Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and Cayman Islands Fire Service
WHAT: A job fair seeking Caymanian workers
WHEN: Wednesday, 31 August 2016; 3-6 p.m.
WHERE: George Town, Town Hall
Background: The job fair is held for the purpose of attracting more Caymanian workers to Prison Service, RCIPS and Fire Service. Prison Services currently has seven entry-level vacancies, Fire Services has 15 spots open and the RCIPS plans to recruit at least 10 new officers for their new recruitment class.
Cayman Islands: DES School Orientation
From Cayman Islands Ministry of Education.
Cayman Islands: Advance your professional goals this Fall 2016 at UCCI!
New this semester!
You speak, we listen. Working with various industry stakeholders, the University College of the Cayman Islands is proud to introduce our new programmes for the Fall 2016 semester:
Legal Support and Administration Certificate
Begins Monday, August 29
Only $330/course*
Newly designed to meet the needs of Cayman-based firms, UCCI’s Legal Support and Administration certificate programme is particularly suitable for persons working in an administrative or secretarial capacity in the legal or a related sector, those wishing to secure employment within this field, and those wishing to increase their knowledge of legal and administrative procedures.
*Cost does not include books and admin fees
Essentials of Facility Management Workshop (CED 112)
Every Thursday @ 6pm
Only $165 for a 14-week workshop
Offered in coordination with the International Facility Management Association (IMFA), this workshop is a great opportunity to advance the skills of service providers and both new and experienced facility managers.
IMFA qualifications are recognised as the benchmark for facility management in the United States and the Caribbean.
Call 526-0544 for further information.
BACK THIS SEMESTER!
Don’t get stuck in long lines. Check the registration schedule.
Sign Up Today
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University College of the Cayman Islands | 168 Olympic Way, PO Box 702, George Town, KY1-1107 Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands: Back to School!
From Chatterbox
If you suddenly realise you need to get your child ready for school again (where did the summer go?!), then give Kara a call on 949 7065 or email her at [email protected]. She can help!
See attached flyer below for more details about what Kara can help your child with.
Cayman Drama Society
2016 is proving to be amazing around the Prospect Playhouse! We have been busy renovating the auditorium this summer and getting ready for a smashing end to 2016!
And Yes! Its election season and what greater way to lighten the mood than coming to see the very funny, Yes Minister!
September 15,16,17,22,23,24,29,30, October 1
Yes Minister is a satirical look at the early career of Jim Hacker MP; a newly appointed cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs at Whitehall. Hacker goes through various struggles to formulate and enact legislation or effect departmental changes that are continually opposed by the British Civil Service in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby. His Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley, is usually caught between the two. The British comedy, written by Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, was fist broadcast by BBC Television in the 1980s has now been adapted to the Cayman stage by Chuck and Barrie Quappe. As the Cayman Parliamentary system is based on Whitehall, any of the situations will be undeniably familiar to all that live in Cayman!
And you do not want to miss our continuing celebration of Shakespeare’s 400th!!!
Cayman Islands Pirates Week calls for food vendors
The Pirates Week Festival Office is inviting participants for the annual Food Festival to submit their vendor applications for the below dates/times:
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Friday 11th November |
6:00pm to 2:00am |
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Saturday 12th November |
1:00pm to midnight |
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Saturday 19th November |
George Town |
2:00pm to midnight |
Vendor applications must be submitted beginning on Monday 1st August, 2016 to the Pirates Week Office on Shedden Road, George Town (upstairs next to KFC). Vendor space is limited therefore applications must be submitted as soon as possible after the opening date above. Deadline for submission is Monday 31st October.
All vendors must comply with the rules and regulations set by the Pirates Week Festival Office and must present a valid Food Handling Certificate for all persons handing food by the 31st October. Food handling certificates can be obtained from the Department of Environmental Health by contacting Mr. Gideon Simms on 949-6696 or email [email protected] .
For application forms and more details please contact the Pirates Week Festival Office at 949-5078 or [email protected].
COMMUNITY EVENTS (Date Order)
WED AUG 24
Conservation Council Meeting 24 August 2016
The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Wednesday August 24th, 2016, from 2pm to 5pm in the ground floor meeting room (1038) of the Government Administration Building (Grand Cayman). The Agenda of the meeting will be available at the DoE website (www.doe.ky/conservation-council). This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments to the Council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to [email protected].
Post Offices Close Temporarily on Wednesday
Post Offices on Grand Cayman will be closed for two hours on Wednesday, 24 August 2016, to facilitate a staff function.
The closure, from 12noon to 2:00p.m., includes the General Post Office, Airport Post Office and all district sub-post offices. All offices will re-open for normal business hours at 2:00p.m. that afternoon.
Post Offices on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will NOT be affected, and will operate according to normal hours.
Desk(345)244 1764 – Cell(345)926 0173 – Fax(345)949 5936
FRI AUG 26
Music Happy Hour for kids is Friday from 3:30 — 4:30 pm at Starfish Village every Friday in August.
Cayman Theological Institute
The Cayman Theological Institute is hosting orientation for the new semester on Friday (26 Aug) at 7pm. Call 949.9533 for more information.
Cayman Green Drinks Social
The National Trust invites persons to their Green Drinks social to discuss the National Conservation Council’s proposal to enhance our Marine Parks. The event will be held at Cayman Cabana on Friday, August 26th 2016 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. There will be guest speakers and volunteers to answer questions and provide information.
Green Drinks is an international club in which like-minded environmentally-conscious people get together to share ideas and socialize (the people are green, not the drinks! J).
SAT AUG 27
Theatre in the Court: Rundown
Theatre in the Court presents Rundown on Saturday (27 Aug) at 7pm in Gardenia Court.
CIIPA Running for Red 5 & 10K
The CIIPA Running for Red 5 & 10K is Saturday (27 Aug) at 630am. Log on to caymanactive.com for more details.
Cayman Car Boot Sales
Walk For The Cure charity car boot sale
Starting August 27, 2016
Join us Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 6:30-10:30am in the parking lot at CIBC FirstCaribbean Main Street Branch for a fundraising Charity Car Boot Sale!
Vote for the People’s Choice Miss Teen
MON AUG 29
Rehoboth After School Program
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE REHOBOTH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RE-OPENS MONDAY 29TH AUGUST 2016
HOURS: 2:30PM-6:00PM
PICK UP FROM SCHOOLS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE\
FEE: $150.00 PER MONTH (DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR MORE THAN ONE CHILD.)
Spaces allocated on tlrst come first served basis
WHY REHOBOTH Rehoboth After School is not a child minding service, we have at least one teacher per 10 children, and they are split into their appropriate class years and besides helping with homework given assignments that correspond with their school curriculum. This way it is easy to help any child that is falling behind with his/her studies. The children do get a snack which is included and also have the chance to participate in some fun activities- games, arts & crafts etc.
MORE INFORMATION- REGISTRATION CALL 345-949-3905
TUE AUG 30
Moonlight and Movies: Curious George
The Moonlight and Movies series continues on Tuesday (30 Aug) featuring Curious George at 7pm in Gardenia Court in Camana Bay.
WED AUG 31
Pirates Week Volunteers
The Pirates Week Office is seeking volunteers to assist in the planning in its upcoming events. For more information email at [email protected] or call 949-5859.
THU SEP 1
Cayman Islands: LCCL applicants must advise TBL board of Caymanian participation
In order to ensure that the law is upheld, procedural changes for the Local Companies (Control) Licence Law (LCCL) will come into effect on 1 September 2016.
The LCCL requires foreign investors to publish ads that solicit Caymanian participation in their potential business endeavours. In these ads, Caymanians are asked to inform the foreign investor of their interest, in writing; however, as of 1 September, Caymanians also must supply a copy of that letter directly to the Trade and Business Licensing Board.
Also, when submitting their applications to the board, foreign investors must include copies of the two local newspaper ads, published in accordance with section 11 (4) (e) of the law, that solicited Caymanian participation.
‘These procedural changes will help the board to know if the applicant has complied fully with the LCCL’, said Minister of Commerce Wayne Panton.
LCCL applications must be submitted in person at the Business Licensing Counter, on the first floor of the Government Administration Building. The counter is open Mondays to Fridays, between 9:00am and 4:00pm. In addition to the two newspaper ads, applications must be accompanied by due diligence such as a police clearance, copies of passports, references, and the relevant fees.
Letters from Caymanians are to be addressed to the Trade and Business Licensing Board, c/o the Department of Commerce and Investment, Government Administration Building, 133 Elgin Avenue Suite 126, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
For more information, visit www.dci.gov.ky or email [email protected]
FRI SEP 2
Cayman Islands Golf: Weekend of Winners
We are looking forward to this years Red Cross event labels Weekend of Winners. The event will take place at the North Sound Golf Club on September 2nd.
SUN – THU SEP 4-8
URISA’s 2016 Caribbean GIS Conference in Barbados
URISA’s 2016 Caribbean GIS Conference on September 4-8, 2016 in Barbados. Check out the latest information!
• Keynotes from Chris Shedrick at What3Words and Tyler Radford from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap
• High Level Meetings and participation from UN-GGIM International Forum on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters.
• A full-day track on Caribbean Disaster Management developed in conjunction with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
• Missing Maps MeetUp
• Tons of education – More than 20 comprehensive sessions with presentations from nearly 60 of your peers.
• A high-powered panel session on “Confronting Land Administration Challenges: The Key to Unlocking Economic Prosperity”
• Take advantage of free preconference workshops and training
• Networking and a Busy Exhibition – Gold Sponsors Esri and Spatial Innovision; Silver Sponsors GeoOrbis and Hexagon Geospatial; Bronze Sponsor – GeoTechVision!
Reserve your hotel room by August 15 to take advantage of discounted group rates!
Check out all of the conference details and register right away at: http://www.urisa.org/education-events/urisa-s-caribbean-gis-conference/
SUN SEP 11
CXC Education Program Registration
The CXC Education Program is inviting volunteer teachers. Registration takes place on Sunday (11 Sept) at 2 pm, at the John Gray High School Auditorium; classes begin on September 18th. For further information visit www.education.adventisteducation.org.
SAT & SUN SEP 17 & 18
British Schools Fair Cayman Islands
Street: Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
District: Seven Mile Beach
Island: Grand Cayman
Country: Cayman Islands
Description
Ritz-Carlton
Sat 17 Sep & Sun 18 Sep
2.00-6.00 p.m.
A chance for Cayman families to meet leading UK boarding schools. If you are considering the possibility of your children having the opportunities afforded by an overseas education, this is your chance to speak to some of the top schools.
Free entry
For more information contact [email protected]
SAT SEP 24
Save the date for our 6th Annual “Paws for Wine” Fundraiser!
Sat 24th September 2016
From CARE Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
Please save the date for our 6th annual “Paws for Wine” event. We are currently seeking corporate sponsorship for this event so we can raise more funds to continue on with our worthy cause. If you would like to help with volunteering or donate auction items we would love to hear from you. [email protected] or 938 2273.
So please pop this date in your diary and join us for an evening filled with fun, laughter, dancing, fabulous food and great wine.
AUGUST EVENTS AT CAMANA BAY
Be part of the action and support your nation with The Games at Camana Bay – a series of festivities inspired by the 2016 Olympics. Take in cultural experiences by catching the last chance to see Rundown, getting lost in poetry readings or by supporting a local author as they celebrate their latest book.
Moonlight & Movies: Summer Series
Tuesdays until 30 August
7pm
Music Happy Hour for Kids
Fridays until 26 August
3:30-4:30pm
Starfish Village
The Games at Camana Bay: Moonlight & Movies
Thursday 11 and 18 August
7pm
The Crescent
Theatre in the Court: Rundown
Saturday 27 August
7pm
NATIONAL GALLERY EVENTS
A Legacy of Light
Early watercolours from the National Collection
Early Watercolours
Rarely displayed watercolour paintings from the early collections of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) and the Cayman Islands National Museum (CINM) are currently on display at the National Gallery. The exhibition closes 16 September 2016.
Learn more!
#Free Family Day!
Saturday, August 27 at 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
We are set to host a Watercolour Play Family Day to coincide with the Gallery’s latest exhibition A Legacy of Light. The event boasts fun family art activities including a sketch quest, scavenger hunt, treasure quest and watercolour painting stations. Admission is free!
Splish Splash, Dot Dash!
Saturday, August 27 at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
A special watercolour workshop for kids will take place in the Susan A. Olde Art Studio. Families will be encouraged to leave their inhibitions at home and have fun with all kinds of water-based paints. The class is free, however registration is required at space is limited.
Email us to register.
A Walk Through Watercolours
Thursday, 25 August 2016. Doors open at 5:00 PM. Discussions begin at 5:30 PM. Join art critic Emé Paschalides for a special discussion and walk through of the National Gallery’s watercolour exhibition A Legacy of Light. Admission is free. Refreshments served.
Happy Hour with BYPC
Friday, 16 September 2016. 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM Stop by the National Gallery for a closing celebration of the National Gallery’s watercolour exhibition. Organised by the Butterfield Young Patrons Circle (BYPC) the event boasts great music, fun activities, nibbles and drinks! Mingle with artists, curators and like-minded individuals.
Take it Home
The NGCI Store at the National Gallery has a fabulous selection of creative gifts for all ages. Come check out a variety of new merchandise highlighting Cayman’s local water color artists. Great gifts embodying the peaceful serenity of our Cayman Islands!
