iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
TUE 7 JULY
National Gallery Summer Cine Club for Kids
National Gallery Summer Cine Club for Kids is back with an all new selection of neat movies to enjoy! Screenings will be every Tuesday afternoon starting at 2:00 PM and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. To ensure that authentic cinema experience, popcorn, cookies and juice will be on sale at each showing. On July 7th the film is Spirited Away.
Electoral Boundary Commission George Town meeting
The Electoral Boundary Commission will be holding a public meeting to discuss the new proposed electoral district maps now available for public viewing at district libraries and on the Elections Office website on Tuesday (7 Jul) at 5:30pm at the George Town Town Hall
Rehoboth Summer Camp 2015 ‘Under Da Sea’
Rehoboth Summer Camp 2015 ‘Under Da Sea’ is July 7th — July 31st from 8am until 5pm for ages 5 — 12. For more information, call 916.5967
West Bay’s DVDL Closed on Tuesday
The West Bay office of the Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing’s will be closed on Tuesday, 7 July.
The office will resume regular hours on Wednesday, 8 July, from 10am until 6 pm. The management and staff apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Brac Football Camp
The Sister Islands Department of Sports is hosting a football camp on the bluff field Monday — Friday (7 — 10 Jul) from 830am until noon for ages 7 — 17.
Youth Football Camp
The Cayman Islands Flag Football Association presents the Youth Football Camp for ages 5 — 17 at the Annex Field from 8am until 1pm July 7th — the 10th. Email [email protected] to register.
Red Bay Community meeting
There will be a Red Bay Community meeting on Tuesday (7 Jul) at 7pm at the Seafarer’s Hall.
WED JULY 8
Electoral Boundary Commission Savannah Meeting
The Electoral Boundary Commission will be holding a public meeting to discuss the new proposed electoral district maps now available for public viewing at district libraries and on the Elections Office website on Wednesday (8 Jul) at 5:30pm at Savannah United Church Hall.
Electoral Boundary Commission District Maps
The Electoral Boundary Commission has now released the new proposed electoral district maps for public viewing. Electoral district maps are available for viewing at the respective district public libraries on both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. A full set of maps are available for viewing at the Elections Office or at its website www.elections.ky. Members of the public are also invited to make final written submissions to the Commission c/o the Elections Office by July 8th
Obama leaves God out of Independence Day Address
By Greg Richter From Newsmax
President Barack Obama marked the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with his annual video tribute to America, but some people noticed something he didn’t say.
“Obama left out any mention of God in his recent address,” wrote Gateway Pundit. “Instead, this year, he chose to end his speech with a very politically correct, ‘Thanks, everybody. From my family to yours, have a safe and happy Fourth of July.'”
References to God have been fading over the past two years. Obama ended his 2013 Independence Day address with the typical presidential closing, “So, God bless you all. And may God bless The United States of America.”
In 2014, he shortened it to simply, “God bless you all.”
Obama did mention the “Creator” as he quoted from the Declaration of Independence in praising “our founding patriots” who proclaimed “that all of us are created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Some might give Obama “points” for that, wrote Dave Urbanski at The Blaze.
Reaction was mixed on The White House YouTube channel. A user going by Enlighten Ment sparked a lively debate, saying, “President Obama no longer has the right to say ‘God Bless America.’ Well if he says it, he’s not talking about the God of the Bible because the God of the Bible would never support such a sinful nation.”
For more and video: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-address-god-no/2015/07/05/id/653551/#ixzz3f7snjXK5
CARIBBEAN: British man claims he captured image of demon while visiting Jamaica
By JA-Blogz News Team
Image via mirror.co.uk
JA-Blogz News Team – According to British tabloid ‘The Mirror’, a 42-year-old teacher from England captured an extremely bizarre image while visiting family in Jamaica recently.
The teacher claims he inadvertently captured a picture of a demon on camera after visiting his parents’ “haunted” house in Jamaica.
The 42-year-old secondary school teacher was visiting his parents in Clarendon when he captured the image.
The man from a south London address – said he took a picture of a painting on a wall in the house showing a scenic image of a waterfall, but when he looked at the picture, he saw the ‘demon’ instead.
Cayman Islands win 33 medals at Island Games
At the NatWest Island Games XVI Cayman Islands returned home with 33 medals finishing 6th in the medal table. Their medal tally comprised 14 Gold, 11 Silver and 8 bronze.
In the men’s 100m Individual Medley swim Shaune Fraser broke the Games Record with a time of 54.52. Tyrell Cuffy secured the sprint double crown.
In basketball the Cayman Islands Woman’s Team ended their Jersey 2015 tournament with a victory over the host Island. The Cayman team dominated the locals straight from the start, leading 19-0 by the end of the first quarter. Jersey played better in the second half, but the Cayman team were too strong and won 61 – 20.
See attached for list of Top 12 Medal Table Cayman Islands finished 6th with host Jersey soaring above the rest with a total of 133 medals – 50 Gold, 54, Silver and 29 Bronze.
Caribbean Cement is [Jamaica’s] champion exporter
From The Jamaica Gleaner
Caribbean Cement Company Limited is Jamaica’s Champion Exporter for 2014, for which it was awarded the Governor General’s Trophy on Wednesday night by the Jamaica Exporters Association.
Caribbean Cement also copped the Category III award, for achieving sales above US$5 million.
There were 29 awards on offer at the annual awards, covering everything from, support services to export tonnage and export value; from agricultural exports to Caricom exports and third country exports. There were also awards for service export champions that included technological solutions, shipping, and logistics.
On a night when Caribbean Cement was recognised above all others, there were companies that emerged in a number of categories.
Petrojam was Model Exporter and recipient of the Pauline Gray Award. The model exporter is judged for its profitability due to efficiencies and productivity, along with International competitiveness, commitment to research and development (R&D), and technological advancement – as evidenced by state of the art technology and reinvestment of profits in R&D.
Petrojam also got the Shipping Association of Jamaica award for the exporter with the highest tonnage.
J. Wray and Nephew was adjudged the Best Third Country Exporter, runner up Champion Manufacturer and runner up Champion Exporter.
JP Tropical Foods won in the Champion Trader category, representing sales of up to US$100, 000 and was the most improved exporter of the year.
The Ambassador Peter King Pioneer Exporter Award went to Dr Andre Gordon. This award is given to individuals who have given more than 25 years consistent service in the field of exports. Dr Gordon was lauded for over 30 years of service and “his passionate pursuit of excellence and dedication to maintaining products and service delivery of the highest standards.”
For more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20150702/caribbean-cement-champion-exporter
Cayman Islands: Exciting news from Chatterbox!
Our Family Support Workers have been busy setting up new groups to help children learn important social skills and then creating clubs where they can put these skills into practice in a fun and safe environment.
The Social Club is a social skills group for boys aged 8-14. Key topics include; communication, friendships, expressing feelings and emotions, developing self awareness and self esteem.
Girls Only! is to raise awareness of safety issues for girls aged 12-16. Key topics include; healthy relationships, Internet safety, peer pressure, self esteem and assertiveness.
The #Friendship Club is for children of all ages and will be a place where children can enjoy lots of different, fun activities, whilst developing peer relationships and learning new skills.
Movie Night allows your child to have an evening away from home watching a movie, eating popcorn and meeting new friends, so you can plan a date night or just relax on the sofa!
For more information about these brand new programmes and to book spaces, contact Alice or Suzanne on 949 7065 or [email protected] or [email protected]
Jamaican government to ban smoking of ganja while driving
From CARIBBEAN360
KINGSTON, Jamaican, Thursday July 2, 2015 – Don’t smoke ganja and drive in Jamaica.
Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Transport Dr Morais Guy has announced that a provision will be added to the Road Traffic Act to prohibit that practice.
It will see a fine of J$10,000 (US$85) being imposed on anyone who smokes while driving or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place.
“We feel that we have the obligation and the responsibility to ensure that people who are driving should not be smoking at the same time,” Dr. Guy said in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as he closed off the debate on the report of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the Road Traffic Ac.
The Act seeks to, among other things, implement more stringent regulations to govern the use of the nation’s roadways.
In his contribution to the debate, Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson said impaired driving due to alcohol, and other drugs, such as ganja, had to be addressed under the legislation.
“Research shows that cannabis impairs cognitive and psychomotor skills and a zero tolerance level should be adopted that prohibits the presence of any amount of drugs in the blood while driving,” he said.
Arsenic found in land in Cayman Islands investigated by PAHO & WHO
Cayman Islands government officials have confirmed experts from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Science (ICENS) are on Grand Cayman to test land on Frank Sound for arsenic poisoning.
This has followed a ten year saga from Post Hurricane Ivan when the property owner, Charles (Chad) Powell, had allowed the 14 acres of land to be used for debris during the cleanup operations by MC Restoration.
Warnings had been given to various governments that something was seriously amiss when cattle grazing on the site started to die and the well water was found contaminated with poison. However, according to the Powell family. No officials took his concerns seriously until now after he had spoken to the media.
“The Public Health Department will continue to closely collaborate with overseas partners to determine if any public health response may be warranted,” the government said in a release.
See iNews Cayman story today “International effort underway to address post-Ivan debris site in Cayman Islands”
Canson Prize 2015 awarded to Adrián Villar Rojas
PARIS From AMA
On 23 June 2015, the Canson® Prize 2015 was awarded to the Argentinian artist Adrián Villar Rojas at Paris’ Palais de Tokyo, after he was selected by a jury presided by Tunga.
Born in 1980, Adrián Villar Rojas makes sculptures that are modelled from fresh clay into spectacular and often abnormal forms. They deal with apocalyptic themes such as what remains after the end of the world and after the end of art, and he creates them in situ before destroying them. His work is inspired by contemporary literature, science fiction music, and cartoons, and he produces drawings, graphic creations, inks and watercolours on paper, representing figures and landscapes that depict scenes of an apocalyptic world.
In order to further develop the brand’s link with artists, Canson® became involved in an ambitious patronage project in 2010, when the company established the Fonds Canson® pour l’Art et le Papier, with the aim of promoting artists who use paper as the main material for their creation and whose work serves to develop paper into a popular contemporary medium. Therefore, as well as offering a considerable visibility to the winners of the Canson® prize, Canson® also offers prizewinners a gift of Canson® paper of a value of €10,000.
For more: http://en.artmediaagency.com/111621/canson-prize-2015-awarded-to-adrian-villar-rojas/
Amendments to the Cayman Islands Land Holding Companies Share Transfer Tax Law
From Walkers
The recently enacted Land Holding Companies Share Transfer Tax (Amendment) Law 2015 has brought in line the levels of duty payable for acquiring the shareholding in a land holding company, versus the more traditional method of transferring legal title in a real estate asset.
Since December 2012, save for a small number of exceptions (including exemptions for first time Caymanian purchasers of residential real estate, up to a certain property value), the rate of stamp duty payable on regular real estate transfers has been fixed at a rate of 7.5% of a property’s value.
Prior to the enactment of the new legislation on 26 June 2015, the original 2007 law stated that a party acquiring real estate by taking transfer of the shares in a corporation that held the land may have paid between 4% and 7.5% depending on where the property was situated and whether the purchaser was Caymanian. The new legislation means that all purchasers, regardless of whether they are Caymanian or where the property is located, will pay Land Holding Companies Tax at a rate of 7.5% that the value of the property bears to the percentage of shareholding being transferred. The original legislation does continue to offer an ability for purchasers of shares to approach the Financial Secretary for an abatement of the tax payable, though this is subject to certain stipulations and is ultimately at the Financial Secretary’s sole discretion.
When calculating stamp duty on any real estate transaction, it is worth noting that the Government has the ability to reassess the amount of duty payable where they feel the price paid for a property is lower than its market value.
Stamp Duty rates on security registered against real estate are unaffected by these recent changes, remaining at 1% of monies advanced where the sum secured is CI $300,000 (US $357,143) or less, and 1.5% of the monies advanced where the sum secured is in excess of CI $300,000 (US $357,143).
To discuss the stamp duty implications of your real estate transaction, please contact Stuart Rowe at: http://www.walkersglobal.com/Pages/Professionals.aspx?Professional=266
SOURCE: http://www.walkersglobal.com/Pages/News.aspx?News=646&Lang=1033
Estimated healthcare expenditures due to diabetes in the North America and Caribbean Region
From International Diabetes Federation
Aims and objectives:
Diabetes imposes a large economic burden on healthcare systems. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas tracks healthcare expenditures related to diabetes globally and regionally1-4. Here, the 2014 estimates for the IDF North American and Caribbean region are presented (NAC).
Methods:
Health care expenditures due to diabetes for the region were calculated as a sum of the expenditures from 17 countries and territories, which was estimated using an attributional fraction model, taking in consideration the differences between gender and age groups 5-7. Data needed for the model were obtained from: 2014 estimates of population by age and sex from the United Nations World Population Prospects (2012), 2014 diabetes prevalence estimates from the IDF Diabetes Atlas Update (2014), 2012 health expenditure estimates (2012) from the World Health Organization, and expenditure ratios between people with and without diabetes from US Kaiser health insurance claims data (2002).
See attached poster – click image to enlarge
Famed British Actor is coming to Cayman Islands to discuss domestic violence
British and famed Hollywood actor Sir Patrick Stewart is coming to the Cayman Islands to discuss domestic violence.
The Business and Professional Women’s Club of Grand Cayman has been selected to host BPW International‘s regional congress from November 6th – 8th at The Westin Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. The theme is “MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND ACTION”.
Sir Patrick is the keynote speaker and he will be discussing his personal experiences growing up in a home plagued with domestic violence. He is a strong advocate to end violence against women.
The actor is famous for his role in the sci-fi Star Trek: The Next Generation television series as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Hundreds arrested in Dutch protests over Caribbean man’s death in custody
By AFP From NGR Guardian
Some 200 demonstrators were arrested overnight in the Dutch city of The Hague after clashes with police sparked by the death of a Caribbean man in police custody, authorities said Friday.
The police said the protestors threw rocks and fireworks at law enforcement officers.
Thursday’s protests — which had been outlawed by police — were the fourth night of demonstrations over the death at the weekend of 42-year-old Mitch Henriquez from the Dutch island of Aruba.
Despite a call for calm from his family, the demonstrators smashed the windows of businesses, banks and a theatre in the predominantly immigrant neighbourhood of Schilderswijk, the police said.
Many of those arrested Thursday also been taken into custody the night before.
Henriquez died Sunday a day after being forcefully arrested at a music festival, with initial autopsy results indicating the likely cause of death was suffocation. There was no evidence of drugs or excessive alcohol in his system.
Dutch authorities have said it appears his suffocation was a result of the “police intervention.”
Police said they moved to arrest Henriquez after he claimed to have a weapon, but he resisted and then became unwell on the way to the police station.
Mobile phone footage taken by witnesses of the arrest showed several police officers restraining and sitting on Henriquez, before his limp body was put in a police vehicle.
Five Dutch police officers have been suspended from their duties over the incident.
First Caribbean looks into changes following FIFA corruption implication
From Digicel Sportsmax
CIBC First Caribbean is looking into making changes after it was named as one of several institutions being investigated in connection to fraud inside football’s world governing body, FIFA.
Allegations levelled at First Caribbean are that one of its Bahamas-based executives went to New York to pick up a US$250,000 check from Chuck Blazer, returned to Nassau where the exec is said to have deposited the funds into the FIFA official’s account.
According to investigators, that cheque was part of the US$10 million bribe paid to influence which country would host the 2010 World Cup.
The CIBC First Caribbean bank account is the subject of one of the charges Blazer, former general secretary of the CONCACAF, the football governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, has pleaded guilty to.
The former CONCACAF general secretary is guilty of not declaring ownership of the CIBC First Caribbean Bahamas account to US tax authorities and to other instances of tax evasion.
Last month US authorities indicted several FIFA officials, including CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and his predecessor Jack Warner on corruption charges. Webb was also among six FIFA officials arrested by Swiss police as part of a US investigation into allegations of bribery over football tournaments.
The US Department of Justice has not requested that CIBC First Caribbean cooperate with any investigation related to the indictment.
George Soros helps pro-Hillary groups hit $24 million mark
By Jason Devaney From Newsmax
A pair of $2 million donations from George Soros and Haim Saban were among the more than $24 million three groups raised for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign this year.
According to a Politico report, two super PACs and a nonprofit took in $24.3 million during the first half of this year — which accounts for more than half of the $45 million raised by the campaign since it launched in April.
Super PACs Priorities USA Action and American Bridge 21st Century took in $15.6 million and $7.7 million, respectively. A third group, the American Bridge 21st Century Foundation, brought in an additional $1 million, according to Politico.
Saban, according to Forbes, is the 172nd richest person in the United States. He gave $2 million to Priorities USA Action. His fellow billionaire, Soros, whose net worth of $24 billion makes him the 29th richest person in the world (and 19th in the U.S.), gave $1 million to Priorities USA Action and another million to American Bridge 21st Century, reports Politico.
A chunk of the Clinton donations came from Hollywood, a sign things have turned around from earlier this year when Clinton’s email scandal was making headlines.
Clinton recently stopped in Hollywood for a fundraiser hosted by actor Tobey Maguire and his wife, Jennifer. According to a CBS News report, several high-profile Hollywood names donated to the two aforementioned super PACs, a list that includes DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and producer/directors Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams.
Politico reports that Soros also donated $1 million to America Votes, a left-leaning nonprofit group.
Clinton’s chief Democratic rival in the race, at least at the moment, is Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — who has raised a reported $15 million since joining the race on April 30, reports NBC News.
Sanders has surged in several polls and is now close to Clinton in New Hampshire and Iowa.
Cayman Islands’ CrimeStoppers offers $110k reward
CrimeStoppers has $110,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the men responsible for the Friday (June 26) night home invasion.
Just before 9 pm three armed men kicked in the door to a Governor’s Harbour home where two children, a 5-year-old girl and her 9-year-old brother were staying with a babysitter. The gunmen stole money raised in a recent Rotary Sunrise raffle.
The $110,000 reward is the largest ever offered by the organization in the Cayman Islands.
A number of local companies, including KPMG, CIREBA and Dart, have pledged money to boost the reward.
Anyone with information can call Cayman CrimeStoppers at 949-8477.
UN’s Ban salutes Caribbean for advances in renewable energy
From La Prensa
Bridgetown, Jul 2 (EFE).- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday congratulated the Caribbean for advancing renewable energy and asked the region’s territories to maintain their commitment to sustainable development.
“I want to salute Caribbean countries for taking on ambitious renewable energy targets,” Ban said during a high-level meeting ahead of the Caribbean Community summit that begins Thursday here in the Barbadian capital.
“Barbados will be one of the world’s top five leading users of solar energy on a per capita basis” by 2020, the U.N. chief said. “You are lighting the path to the future.”
“My main message to you is to remain fully engaged and keep working with us to strengthen our partnership during this vital year for humanity,” Ban said.
Ban is a special guest at the three-day CARICOM summit, which is expected to focus on the situation of Haitians and their descendants in the Dominican Republic, the bloc’s drive to secure reparations from Europe for slavery and colonialism and the appearance of 13 Caribbean territories on a new European Union list of international tax havens.
Other special guests at the July 2-4 meeting in Bridgetown will be Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.
Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, the new CARICOM chairman, will preside.
“Our aim today is to focus the region on taking actions,” Stuart said, pointing to the summit’s theme, “Vibrant Societies, Resilient Economies.”
The Barbadian prime minister asked for greater focus on building institutional capacities, financial and technology access at the national and regional levels.
Other topics to be discussed during the gathering include energy security, crime, regional logistics and the organization of Carifiesta, CARICOM’s main cultural event.
CARICOM comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Younger generations don’t fear the robot revolution
By Mona Lalwani
With every new bot on the block, we’re inching closer to sharing our homes with machines. DARPA’s recent Robotics Challenge wasn’t about finding the best personal robot companion, but hinted at a future where they will run free (albeit very slowly) and rush to save lives when disaster strikes. But beyond the much-talked about hunt for first responder bots, DARPA had a lesser known contest that seemed just as pertinent as the main event. The agency set up Robots4Us, a contest for high school students, to reach out to the demographic that’s most likely going to share space with robots. Teens from across the country sent in short videos about their hopes and fears for the future of robots. In the end, five young winners made their way to Pomona, California, for the robotics challenge to present their version of the future. Instead of the dystopian narrative that usually accompanies robotics, each student envisioned a collaborative space for robots and humans to coexist. Turns out, the generation that will most likely hang out with a bot at home isn’t robophobic at all.
For more and video: http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/22/younger-generations-don-t-fear-the-robot-revolution/?ncid=rss_truncated
West Indies Cricket Board lauds Zaheer Abbas’ as ICC President
From NDTV
Zaheer Abbas, 67, was installed on Wednesday during the ICC Annual Conference which is being held here in the Caribbean for the first time.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron has hailed the appointment of new International Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas, labelling the former Pakistan captain “one of the true greats of the game”.
Zaheer, 67, was installed on Wednesday during the ICC Annual Conference which is being held here in the Caribbean for the first time, Caribbean Media Corporation reported on Friday. (Zaheer Abbas honoured to be new ICC president)
“On behalf of the WICB and cricket lovers of the West Indies I want to congratulate Zaheer on his elevation to the post of President of the ICC,” Cameron said.
“He is one of the true greats of the game. He played his part on the field with some masterful performances and now we believe he will fit in perfectly as one of the key leadership positions in world cricket.
“Zaheer has worked at many levels in the development of the game and this new post is recognition of his hard work, contribution and dedicated service to the game of cricket around the world.”
Zaheer scored 5,062 runs in 78 Test matches and also made over 100 first-class centuries. He began his one-year term on Wednesday.
He replaces Bangladeshi Mustafa Kamal who resigned in controversially circumstances following the Cricket World Cup last April.
Developing a more robust air transport sector in the Caribbean
Date: 09 Jul 2015
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
In 2014, the Caribbean Country Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) completed its Strategic Agenda on Integration – a tool to support the Caribbean region to maximize the benefits of globalization and harness cooperation for growth and development. The specific objective of this integration agenda is to provide a three-year framework for identifying Sectors and Action Lines in which Caribbean countries and the Bank can increase operational collaboration to meet the global and regional integration mandate set by the Governors of the IDB. These Action Lines were identified in consultation with Caribbean governments. Upgrading airports and strengthening regulatory frameworks in air transport were identified as one of the key areas for collaboration with the Bank to improve air transport connectivity.
The air transport sector is characterized by high operational costs and expensive and infrequent service, with regional carriers facing fierce competition from foreign carriers that tend to offer better routing options and pricing. In addition, fuel costs, the largest single cost line item for operating a long haul service, is estimated to be 14% higher in the Caribbean than the world average. Strengthening infrastructure quality, transport services, and logistics in the region is critical to increasing air transport connectivity.
SOURCE: http://events.iadb.org/calendar/eventDetail.aspx?lang=En&id=4851
Summer Scavenger Hunt – Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
From Growing Communities
For our second scavenger hunt Growing Communities is asking you questions about the Grand Cayman that so many visitors have fallen in love with. Many of these answers you can find on the Internet, but we highly recommend getting out this summer and enjoying the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands.
- What year did the first Constitution come into operation?
- What is the real length of Seven Mile Beach?
- What days can you take a guided Mastic Trail tour with the National Trust of the Cayman Islands?
- In what year were the Cayman Islands discovered?
- What is the highest point of The Bluff in Cayman Brac?
We will share the answers to our blog at the end of the month, so check back to see how well you know Grand Cayman.
Remember to share your scavenger hunt experience with us at: [email protected]
For more: http://www.growingcommunities.ky/activities/summer-scavenger-hunt-grand-cayman/
Appleby advised Värde Partners on the acquisition of Project Spring Portfolio for Circa £138m
Appleby acted as Jersey counsel to US-based Värde Partners, a privately held investment manager specialising in alternative investments in the acquisition of the Spring Portfolio and Bizspace Operating Group.
The Project Spring portfolio includes storage, office space, workshops, industrial units, serviced offices and meeting rooms, spread across 97 multi-let sites in England and Scotland.
The Bizspace Group operating business sale was a consensual sale driven by a consortium of banks.
The Appleby team was led by corporate partner Andrew Weaver and assisted by senior associate Danny Cole.
Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Weaver said: “We have acted for Värde Partners for a number of years and are pleased to be able to have assisted them with specialist and practical corporate advice in this transaction.”
For further information please contact Paul Stewart.
Bipolar disability saves Cayman Islands man from jail
Although convicted for unlawful wounding and common assault after attacking his friends during a drunken brawl 2 years ago at Pirates Cove in East End, Grand Cayman, Wayne Dilbert (56) received a suspended sentence.
It was revealed Dilbert suffers from bipolar disorder and had made a concerted effort to curb his drinking. Justice Charles Quin took this into account and his clean rap sheet when he sentenced Dilbert to 18 months in jail suspended for 12 months.
Dilbert, however, is required to pay $50 a week for the medical bills incurred by the friend he stabbed multiple times until he has paid off the total sum of $11,397.
Bahamas Ministry of Finance Comments on Standard and Poor’s Rating Update
By Bahamas Ministry of Finance
The Ministry of Finance has noted the statement by Standard & Poor’s on the sovereign ratings update for The Bahamas, in light of the Baha Mar bankruptcy protection filing in the United States courts. S&P analysts are scheduled to make their regular mission to The Bahamas later this month, at which time they will update their economic and fiscal assessment.
The Ministry of Finance welcomes the favorable review of progress made in improving the fiscal health of the Government, particularly through the gains from the introduction of the VAT and disciplined public expenditure. These reforms will continue, in order to anchor a medium-term reduction in the Government’s debt burden.
As been emphasized in other official statements, the Government is committed to achieving a speedy resolution that would permit the works at Baha Mar to resume and the property to open without much further delay.
In the meantime, it should be noted that medium-term growth prospects for tourism are also grounded in capacity being added at other resorts in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco; and in significant investments other Family Islands. The quality and reputation of these resorts are anchored in international brands that will remain strong and continue to attract visitor growth.
Thousands march against corruption-plagued Guatemala president
From Caribbean Digital Network | July 5, 2015
IMAGE: People take part in a demonstration demanding the resignation of Guatemalan President Otto Perez, as a corruption scandal rocks the government, in Guatemala City, on July 4, 2015 (AFP Photo/Johan Ordonez)
Guatemala City (AFP) – Some 5,000 protesters marched night in downtown Guatemala City demanding the resignation of the country’s corruption-plagued president, who lost a fight for immunity from prosecution earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Guatemala’s Constitutional Court rejected President Otto Perez’s appeal for presidential immunity that also sought to legally erase a pre-trial investigation of graft allegations.
On Friday, a Congressional committee recommended fully lifting that immunity and allowing the investigation to proceed.
Protesters on Saturday shouted “Out with Otto Perez” and “No more corruption” as they marched from the Supreme Court to the National Palace in the city’s historic center.
Holding candles and flaming torches, many carried multi-colored banners with slogans such as: “With Otto Perez’s government, corruption and repression increase.”
“The president’s resignation is a starting point and would breathe fresh air into the situation. It wouldn’t resolve all the problems but would be a good way to move forward,” Juan Alberto Fuentes, a former finance minister, told AFP during the march.
The probe against Perez was requested by opposition party Winaq after a UN-backed investigation aimed at cleaning up the Guatemalan judicial system reported in April that senior customs officials had taken bribes from businessmen seeking to avoid paying taxes.
The main suspect in the fraud, Juan Carlos Monzon, an aide to the vice president, is now a fugitive from the law.
Guatemalan vice president Roxana Baldetti resigned from her post in May.
In a separate scandal, the president of the central bank and the director of the social security system — both of whom are close to Perez — were arrested in May on charges of cheating the social security system out of approximately $15 million.
“We live with much injustice in Guatemala, the governments are complicit in corruption,” Oscar Farfan, a 40-year-old protester who joined the march after walking 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the western indigenous town of Sumpango, told AFP.
Vantage Drilling responds to news reports regarding Petrobras
HOUSTON, TX — (Marketwired) — 07/02/15 — Vantage Drilling Company (“Vantage” or the “Company”) (NYSE MKT: VTG) has challenged reports alleging that the arrest of a former Petrobras International Director was tied in some way to the Company’s contract with Petrobras for the Titanium Explorer. “Several hundred contracts were signed by this former Director, which in Vantage’s case, was after the parent board of Petrobras had approved the contract,” said Paul Bragg, Chairman and CEO of Vantage. Vantage is fully performing under the contract and found no evidence that would substantiate any allegation of improper activity by Vantage in connection with the award of the contract.
Paul Bragg additionally commented, “Vantage has always been committed to conducting itself in accordance with the highest standards of business ethics. We do not believe that any inappropriate act was committed by any personnel associated with Vantage. Although we are disappointed that recent news reports have suggested that a former Petrobras International Director was arrested on the suspicion of some form of wrongdoing associated with Vantage, as well as with other companies contracted to Petrobras, we are confident that any suggestion is without merit as it relates to Vantage.”
CIO, CTO & Developer Resources
Vantage, a Cayman Islands exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with an owned fleet of three ultra-deepwater drillships, the Platinum Explorer, the Titanium Explorer and the Tungsten Explorer, as well as an additional ultra-deepwater drillship, the Cobalt Explorer, now under construction, and four Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs. Vantage’s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a day rate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells. Vantage also provides construction supervision services for, and will operate and manage, drilling units owned by others. Through its fleet of seven owned drilling units, Vantage is a provider of offshore contract drilling services globally to major, national and large independent oil and natural gas companies.
JetBlue’s direct flight service from JFK to Havana kicks off, becomes first major carrier to feature direct route to Cuba
By Ginger Adams Otis From New York Daily News
JetBlue became the first major carrier to feature direct flight service to Cuba since the Obama administration eased travel restrictions to the Carribbean island.
Cubans should get ready for a New York invasion.
Direct flight service started Friday from JFK airport in New York City to Havana’s Jose Marti — courtesy of Jet Blue.
The budget-friendly airline was the first major carrier to add a direct route to the Caribbean island since the Obama administration eased travel restrictions earlier this year.
The inaugural flight took off from JFK Friday, with happy travelers telling the media they were thrilled with the convenient service.
“This is something we’re gonna talk about for years and years and years; this is an opportunity for American people to go to Cuba,” Carlos Infante to NBC New York.
Infante was on Jet Blue’s noon flight back to his homeland, an Airbus A320 that carried 150 passengers.
JetBlue will now have five weekly roundtrips to Florida, including flights from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.
JetBlue now has five weekly round trips to Cuba, including flights from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
The flight from JFK takes off at noon daily and touches down in Havana at 3:30 p.m.
A return flight takes off from Jose Marti International Airport at 4:30 p.m.
The New York-Havana charter service was announced in May shortly after a successful trade mission trip to Cuba with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo and other business leaders went to Cuba to talk up business opportunities between the Empire State and the communist Caribbean island.
Brazil targets 15 banks in forex fixing probe
By AFP From Business Insider
Fifteen banks are under investigation by Brazil’s antitrust body over suspected foreign exchange price fixing
Brasília (AFP) – Brazil’s antitrust body announced a probe into alleged foreign exchange market rigging by 15 banks including Citigroup, [Deutsche Bank] and HSBC.
“There are strong indications of anticompetitive practices of price fixing” and other manipulations between the banks, the watchdog known as Cade said late Thursday. The alleged cheating lasted from 2007 until at least 2013, authorities said.
Montana lawyer’s reinstatement request to Maine bar denied
By Judy Harrison, From BDN MAINE
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has rejected a reinstatement request by a Montana attorney, according to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.
Edwin R. Jonas III of Lakeside, Montana, was admitted to the Maine bar in 1987 but appears to have never lived or practiced in the state.
He was suspended in 1995 for failing to pay his annual registration fee, according to a release issued Wednesday by the board.
Jonas was suspended in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, where he also was licensed to practice after a contentious divorce and custody battle with his ex-wife in New Jersey courts. He violated court orders including non-payment of alimony and child support, according to the order. Jonas also took his three minor children out of the country to the Cayman Islands without permission.
He has been reinstated in Pennsylvania but not the other states, according to the 44-page decision on his reinstatement request in Maine.
Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Ellen Gorman held a hearing in April on Jonas’ request. Her decision is dated June 22.
She concluded that Jonas had not established by clear and convincing evidence that he possessed the moral qualifications, competency and learning in law required for admission, the release from the board said.
“When a person has demonstrated as little respect for the justice system as Jonas has over the last 25 years, I cannot conclude that ‘it is likely that reinstatement will not be detrimental to the integrity and standing of the bar, the administration of justice, or to the public interest,’” Gorman wrote.
Republic Bank is named official bank of Hero Caribbean Premier League
CPL, Press Release
Thursday, 2nd July 2015 – Port of Spain, Trinidad: The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has, today, announced that Republic Bank, the largest bank and financial service provider in the Caribbean, will become the Official Bank of the Hero CPL tournament.
As well as using their sponsorship to activate a number of consumer promotions, Republic Bank will brand the match winners’ cheque after each game and the pitch report will be known as the Republic Bank Pitchcheck. This partnership represents yet another leap forward as the CPL continues to grow and position itself as the most fun and exciting T20 league in the world.
Jamie Stewart, Commercial Director, Hero Caribbean Premier League, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Republic Bank into the CPL family. There are a number of similarities between both brands; Republic Bank is the leading homegrown bank in the Caribbean and the CPL is the premier sporting event in the region. We look forward to a fruitful relationship working together.”
Michelle Palmer-Keizer, General Manager, Group Marketing & Communications Dept. of Republic Bank Trinidad, said: “As a loyal advocate of local and regional sporting activities, Republic Bank is proud to be the official bank of the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League. We are happy to have the opportunity to extend our regional focus through such a time-honoured sport and we extend the best of luck to all the teams competing in this tournament.”
The CPL is now in its third year and attracts global superstars including Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi, alongside the Caribbean’s finest cricketers including the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo.
Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 65 million and this year is set to be even higher as fans across the world continue to be drawn to the high quality action on the pitch and the unique party atmosphere.
Salmonella scare prompts recall of Natural Grocers brand Caribbean Nut & Fruit Mix
From The St. Louis American
Natural grocery chain Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets Inc., of Lakewood, Colorado is recalling one lot of Natural Grocers brand Caribbean Nut & Fruit Mix, because it contains macadamia nuts that have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
This recall was initiated after being notified of positive Salmonella findings in product sampled by the FDA.
The recalled product is the 10-ounce Caribbean Nut & Fruit Mix, which is packaged in clear plastic bags. The Natural Grocers label’s UPC code is 000080444558 with a Packed on Date of 15-148.
The product was distributed to Natural Grocers’ 97 stores located in 17 states, including Missouri (Columbia and Independence, Mo.), Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
To date, the company has received no reports of illness. Consumers who may have purchased this product should return it to the store for credit or refund.
Contact the company with any questions by calling Customer Service at (303)-986-4600, ext. 531, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST). For more information, visit http://www.naturalgrocerers.com.
Caribbean Festival begins in Santiago de Cuba
From Cuban News Agency
Caribbean Festival Begins in Santiago de CubaSANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Jul 3 (acn) Attended by delegations from 42 countries and over 300 participants from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the guest of honor, the 35th edition of the Caribbean Festival, which will run until July 9, began on Friday in this city.
Kenya Dorta, Deputy Director of Research at the Caribbean Center, said that part of the meeting’s program will be the panel entitled “Mariana Grajales, 200 years of life and validity,” in which, among other things, the treatment of that figure by historiography and her image in the visual arts will be tackled.
Dorta mentioned the presentation of a multimedia with the issues of the Revista del Caribe (Caribbean Magazine) and a panel on theater, to be attended by Cuban actor Carlos Montoya, founder of the Festival and of the Casa del Caribe (Caribbean Center).
She also referred to the presentation of books, including the title Race, culture and identity in the Caribbean, by Dr. Olga Portuondo, Historian of the City of Santiago de Cuba, as well as panels on the Caribbean features identifying the eastern territory and on cultural journalism.
Also taking place during the Festival will be the colloquium The Caribbean that Unites Us, which will allow for exchanges on the diversity of our peoples and that also marks their unity, said Dorta, who is also the coordinator of the traditional Fire Fiesta.
With over a thousand foreign delegates, the creation of the Network of Caribbean Carnival and dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Santiago, the festival grows stronger as one of the most significant cultural meetings in the region.
For more: http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/culture/3277-caribbean-festival-begins-in-santiago-de-cuba
9-year-old girl successfully petitions to join ‘boys only’ robotics program
By Annie Colbert From Mashable
Nine-year-old Cash Cayen is fighting sexism with the power of the Internet behind her.
When Timmins Public Library in Ontario, Canada, denied the girl a spot in a robotics program advertised as “boys only,” she and her mom started a Change.org petition. It says a library administrator told Cash that the science program doesn’t allow girls because “boys’ academic and literacy skills don’t improve over the summer break.”
The explanation didn’t sit well with the Cayen family or the Internet, and Cash’s petition has garnered more attention that she ever expected. Cash’s mom writes, “Her initial goal was 10 signatures, then she settled on 100, so when she saw that she had over 1000 supporters this morning, she was thrilled and said, ‘They have to let girls in now!'”
Supporters have also commented on the petition, trumpeting the benefits of a co-ed, science-focused curriculum.
Dan Scott, a father from Sudbury, Canada, wrote, “I have a daughter who participates in a robotics club, am a technologist, and am acutely aware of the lack of women who currently make science and technology their chosen career. We need to encourage and support their participation in these endeavours from the earliest ages.”
A female robotics engineer working in New York City offered words of encouragement, and to answer any questions Cash might have about robotics.
Three days and 27,000 signatures later, Timmins Mayor Steven Black said Cash and any other girl interested in the robotics program will be allowed to participate, Yahoo News Canada reported.
A victory for women, the Internet and maybe robots.
LIME-FLOW merger needs further investigation – CARICOM’s Competition Commission
From The Jamaica Gleaner
CARICOM’s Competition Commission says it has completed a preliminary assessment of Cable & Wireless’s acquisition of FLOW’s parent company and is of the view that further investigation is warranted.
The commission says it will now seek to complete the remaining steps under Article 176 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguarams to further progress the matter.
It says it will hold consultations with the Member States concerned to determine and agree on its jurisdiction to investigate the business transaction.
It says if the Member State does not agree it has jurisdiction, it will cease further examination and refer the matter to CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development.
Earlier this year, the Competition Commission said it had reason to believe that the acquisition has the potential to distort competition within CARICOM.
It said based on Article 176.1 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas it is of the view that the deal could prejudice trade within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy with the possibility of cross-border effects.
Plan to relocate LIAT to Barbados scrapped, says Antigua PM
From CARIBBEAN360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 3, 2015 – Antigua and Barbuda has injected a further US$400,000 in regional carrier LIAT even as the prime minister vowed that the airline headquarters will not be moved from St. John’s.
Gaston Browne confirmed to Caribbean360 that the cash injection was made last week as part of $10 million that his country has promised to deliver to the airline by yearend.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 36th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM which began yesterday, Browne insisted that all plans to relocate the LIAT headquarters from Antigua and Barbuda had been scrapped.
The major shareholder governments – Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica – had announced a plan to shift LIAT’s fleet base to Barbados to focus on the more lucrative southern Caribbean and to reduce its staff by 180 to help restore the airline to financial stability.
However, Browne said all claims of relocation is merely “idle talk”.
He stressed that the two-island state has not swayed in its commitment to the airline that has been consistently losing money.
“That idle chatter has ceased, if not for the time being, then permanently. At the end of the day, Antigua and Barbuda struggled with LIAT for about five decades and we did not differentiate on the viability of routes. We made sure that all of the countries in the Caribbean, especially in the OECS were serviced to ensure there was connectivity so people could move throughout the region,” the prime minister said.
“I recognise that its losses have created some considerations, and rightfully so, because those losses would have increased exponentially. But within recent times we have seen some improvements and we continue to remain hopeful for an efficiently run LIAT.”
The Antiguan leader said more countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have shown interest in subsiding the carrier, which he suggested may continue to operate at a loss due to the “nature of the airline business”.
“I’m not making a case here to suggest that LIAT should not run efficiently; it ought to. But we have to look at the market structure itself, which would mitigate against LIAT making an overall profit,” Browne added.
Ferry operator Balearia gets US nod to serve Cuba
By Doreen Hemlock – From Sun Sentinel / Caribbean Digital Network | July 2, 2015
Spain’s Balearia said it received approval from the U.S. Commerce Department to operate ships between Florida and Cuba. It also expects authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department “in the coming weeks” to carry passengers between the two neighboring nations, a news release said.
Pending approval from Cuba, ferry service between the U.S. and Cuba could start as soon as fall, attorneys familiar with U.S.-Cuba business have said.
Balearia has been offering fast ferry service between Port Everglades and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island since 2011 under the brand name Bahamas Express.
For Cuba service, it plans to operate two routes to Havana: a high-speed vessel from Key West and a ferry from Port Everglades, the news release said. No further details were specified.
U.S. authorities in May licensed at least six companies to offer ferry service to Cuba, the first such approvals in five decades. Ferry service had been cut amid tensions between the two governments. It is being restored in line with restoration of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.
The ferry companies plan to offer trips that cost less than charter flights and allow more baggage free. Many Cuban-Americans haul down hefty supplies for family homes and new private businesses.
Also licensed are Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Baja Ferries of Miami, United Caribbean Lines of Greater Orlando, Airline Brokers Co. of Miami, America Cruise Ferries of Puerto Rico and International Port Corp. of Miami, among others.
The U.S. embargo on Cuba still bans Americans from leisure tourism in Cuba. But Americans can visit the island for 12 categories of “purposeful” travel including family visits, government business, professional research, performances, plus educational, religious and humanitarian activities.
Balearia is looking to serve Cuba as part of a broader international expansion.
This year, the company expects to transport more than 130,000 passengers between the U.S. and the Bahamas, up 25 percent from last year. It estimates that revenues from international operations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions will account for about 15 percent of its total business.
In five years, Balearia aims to derive about 50 percent of its revenue from international business, perhaps including Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic service as well, the company said.
Balearia now has 23 ships and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide.
For more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/tourism/fl-cuba-ferry-balearia-20150701-story.html
Mexico aids Caribbean with in-vitro cloning of tropical plants
From Latin American Herald Tribune
SAN JUAN – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, or IICA, announced on Monday an agreement under which Mexico will assist 13 Caribbean countries with in-vitro cloning of tropical plants.
Technical personnel working in those 13 countries have been provided with new tools for the activity, according to a statement from IICA’s Caribbean headquarters in Trinidad.
Based on the expertise they have just acquired, the participants are expected to prepare a protocol on in-vitro cloning for use in their respective countries.
Parameters established by the Scientific Research Center of Yucatan, known as CICY, the facilitator of the training event, will be used to develop the protocol.
The initiative forms part of a capacity building program for the development of agriculture in Central America and the Caribbean, which involves IICA and Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food.
The course, led by CICY specialists with support from the Faculty of Food and Agriculture of the University of West Indies, was held in Trinidad and Tobago in mid-June.
The countries taking part in the initiative are Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
For more: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2390833&CategoryId=14092
UK spy agency broke rules when it snooped on civil rights groups
By Jon Fingas From engadget
IMAGE: GCHQ’s building in Cheltenham [Image credit: UK Ministry of Defence, Flickr]
The spies at the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters may swear that they’re obeying the law, but that doesn’t mean that everything they’re doing is completely above-board. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has determined that GCHQ broke data retention rules when it spied on civil rights groups in Egypt and South Africa. The agency legally intercepted the communications of these two targets, according to the ruling, but it either kept that data longer than it should have (in the Egyptian circumstance) or didn’t follow policies for studying that data (in South Africa).
It’s another victory for advocates who’ve long thought that GCHQ’s practices are questionable. With that said, it won’t carry as much weight as a February decision which maintained that some of the organization’s behavior is illegal. The move doesn’t put GCHQ in legal hot water, and the damage supposedly isn’t significant enough to merit compensation. Also, the verdict shoots down claims from the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and other groups that came under GCHQ scrutiny. However, the findings reinforce worries that the spy outfit is frequently bending the rules (including its own) in the name of national security — and that people in other countries are paying the price.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/22/gchq-broke-rules-with-surveillance/?ncid=rss_truncated
Unpaid millions could delay extradition of Jamaica fraudster
By David Mcfadden, Associated Press From SFGATE
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — U.S. officials may have to wait a little longer for the extradition of a Jamaican financier convicted of running a Ponzi scheme that bilked $220 million from investors across central Florida and the Caribbean.
David Smith has served his sentence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and a local judge approved his extradition to the United States on money laundering charges, though declining to authorize extradition on wire fraud charges.
But prosecutors in the British Caribbean territory say he hasn’t complied with a 2012 court order to repay $20.9 million. A hearing is set for Tuesday, and could lead to as much as eight more years in prison on the islands before he’d be sent to the U.S.
Smith’s defense team has applied to the islands’ supreme court to reduce the amount owed. But that application is being opposed by the prosecutor and the attorney general.
“Due to the gravity of the offenses committed by David Smith and the impact it has had on the lives of many innocent people, the director of public prosecutions … will leave no rock unturned to ensure that justice is done,” a government statement said.
U.S. Department of Justice officials declined comment, saying they could not publicly disclose details on extradition matters. As part of a plea deal, Smith agreed to waive extradition in 2011 when he pleaded guilty to 23 counts of fraud and conspiracy in federal court in Orlando, Florida. He’d earlier been sentenced in Turks and Caicos after pleading guilty to similar charges there.
For years, the high-flying Smith was an influential figure in Jamaica. He built his Olint investment group by pooling money supposedly for currency trading. But instead of investing money in trades, Smith used his clients’ cash to pay off redemption requests from other investors and funnel money into his personal bank account.
His U.S. plea agreement said Smith used investors’ money to make a down payment on a Lear jet, sponsor a jazz festival in Jamaica, and contribute millions to the island’s two major political parties and prominent individual politicians.
For more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Unpaid-millions-could-delay-extradition-of-6340486.php
