iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
SAT JULY 11
Battle of the Platoons’ Cadet Sports and Family Fun Day
The Cayman Islands Cadet Corp invites all cadets to the showdown ‘Battle of the Platoons’ Cadet Sports and Family Fun Day on Saturday (11 Jul) at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex starting at 1030am.
Humane Society Beach Read Sale
The Humane Society is hosting a summer blow out beach read sale on Saturday (11 Jul) from 9 — 4pm outside AL Thompson’s Main Entrance
MON JULY 13
Church of God Bodden Town VBS
Vacation Bible School begins on runs Monday – Friday (13 – 17 Jul) at the Church of God in Bodden Town from 5:30 -8:00. The theme is Jungle Safari.
Brac Tennis Camp
The Sister Islands Department of Sports is hosting a tennis camp at Layman Scott High School Monday — Friday (13 — 17 Jul) from 830am until noon for ages 5 — 17.
Grand Court Jurors Notice
Grand Court Jurors in the current session must report on Monday (13 July) at 9:45 a.m.
National Workforce Development Agency in East End
The National Workforce Development Agency will be at the East End Library on Monday (13 Jul) from 10am until 1pm.
Church of God Full Gospel Hall in George Town VBS
The Church of God Full Gospel Hall in George Town is hosting Vacation Bible School Monday — Friday (13 — 17 Jul) from 6 — 9pm nightly. Call 926.8180 for transportation.
National Gallery Exhibition
The National Gallery will be showcasing a new exhibition this summer titled All Access — A journey through the National Gallery Permanent Collection, starting Monday (13 Jul)
First Assembly of God Vacation Bible School Camp
The First Assembly of God Vacation Bible School Camp runs Monday — Friday (13 — 17 Jul) from 9am until 5pm for ages 4 — 15. Call 945.2182 to register.
Church of God Chapel Frank Sound VBS
The Church of God Chapel Frank Sound is hosting Vacation Bible School Monday — Friday (13 — 17 Jul) from 830am until 12:30pm daily. Call 947.3691 for more information.
Fearless Xtreme 2015 Leadership and Prevention Camp
Fearless Xtreme 2015 Leadership and Prevention Camp is July 13th — July 24th at Mary Miller Hall for ages 7 — 14. For more information, call 917.3885.
ICCI Summer Applications
The International College of the Cayman Islands is now accepting applications for the Summer 2015 Quarter which begins on July 13. Call 947-1100 or email: [email protected] for more information. Application Deadline is June 19.
TUE JULY 14
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 14th the film is E.T.
Cayman Airways CAL increases La Ceiba flights for the Summer
In response to increased demand for Summer travel between Grand Cayman and La Ceiba, Honduras, Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) has added a new Wednesday flight to this regional destination for July and August this year.
Operating from July 1, 2015 through September 2, 2015, the schedule for the new Wednesday flight is the same as the year-round Friday and Monday La Ceiba flights, with KX882 departing Grand Cayman at 1pm, arriving in La Ceiba at 1:25pm. On the return, flight KX883 departs La Ceiba at 2:25pm and arrives in Cayman at 4:45pm. The flight is only one hour in duration, but Cayman is 1 hour ahead of La Ceiba.
For details and to book La Ceiba flights, call Cayman Airways Reservations on 949-2311, contact a certified local travel agent, or book online at www.caymanairways.com
Texas Select Side touring Cayman Islands
By Ted Hardy From Americas Rugby News
The LoneStar Rugby Conference, made up of Collegiate teams in Texas, has put together a Select Side that is touring the Cayman Islands this week. The Select Side, called the Texas Rattlesnakes, are playing two matches on their tour. They are playing a two-match series against a Cayman Islands XV. The first match is today, July 8th, with the second match on July 11th.
While the team is a talented group of student-athletes, rugby sources in the state have pointed out Tadeo Masjoan of Angelo State and Ryan Rackley of UT-San Antonio as two players to watch out for on the tour. Both are back row players that are powerful ball carriers and workhorses around the pitch.
The Rattlesnakes Coaching Staff includes Michael McKinney (Midwestern State), Pete Lewis (UT-San Antonio), Shayne Roberson (UT-San Antonio), Darren Scott (Southern Methodist), Brannen Ellyson (St. Edward’s), and Tony Wagner (UT-Dallas).
The matches between the Texas Rattlesnakes and Cayman Islands sides are expected to be streamed live on the Cayman Rugby website.
Cayman Islands XV vs Texas Rattlesnakes, July 8th, 4pm CST
Cayman Islands XV vs Texas Rattlesnakes, July 11th, 3pm CST
For more: http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/07/08/texas-select-side-touring-cayman-islands/
Emerging Issues in International Bankruptcy- A New York Law Journal Webinar
In this webinar we will discuss two key topics:
International Bankruptcy: Do Principles of Comity Exist in Parallel to Chapter 15?
Approximately a year and a half ago, the district court for the Southern District of New York issued an opinion that raises important questions about the reach and applicability of the doctrine of international comity in a post-Chapter 15 world- in fact, the case appears to significantly extend the reach of comity in the context of foreign insolvency proceedings. Notwithstanding its significance and passage of time, the opinion has received little attention; we believe it deserves careful consideration.
Jurisdiction Issues in Bankruptcy
Over the course of the last few years foreign debtors have strategically taken advantage of Chapter 11 to restructure their debts and sway worldwide collection efforts. Rick Hyman and Christine Walsh will discuss some of the multi-jurisdictional issues, statutory limitations and strategic considerations that may be in play when a foreign debtor chooses to file in the US, with particular attention to the TMT Shipping case in Houston. Among other things, they will address the limited connections a foreign debtor must have to the US in order to establish jurisdiction and defenses that might be available to creditors.
Please join us for two presentations followed by a panel discussion moderated by Farrell McManus, the Associate Publisher of the New York Law Journal.
Purple Dragon Cayman Islands hosts inaugural Road Warriors Fun Run
A total of 154 participants, including 105 adults and 49 children, took part in the recent Purple Dragon Road Warrier 5k/10k fun run and walk presented by Williams2. . Participants ranged from the well-seasoned runners and walkers in Cayman to first-timers who were tackling their inaugural race. Chip timing was provided by Race Caribbean, which allowed organizers to present prizes to the top finishers in each the 5K and the 10K races.
Visitor David Greenberg was the fastest runner in the 5k, finishing 18:04, local runner Tobias Muchene crossed the finish line second in 18:51, and Mark Tilley, with his 18:57 run, was good for third place.
For the ladies, Joanna Mansi took top honours in the 5K with a time of 20:40. Anita Zagorski was second, running the course in 26:26, and third and fourth places were extremely close, being decided by a mere fraction of a second between Jennifer Raine (27:37.26) and Blaire-Lindsay Cooke (27:37.46)
In the 10K, Jose Santacruz took home top male honours with a time of 42:57. Behind him were second place male finisher Mike Stevens (50:56) and third place finisher Marco Gaspar (53:57). Top ladies 10K finisher was Kym Bailey with a time of 43:19. Arriving in second place for women was Olivia Shanks (50:38) and third was Gill Comins (52:01).
See all of the finish times here: http://racecaribbean.net/.
Sensei Floyd from the Purple Dragon was very pleased with the turnout. ‘This run was even better than we had hoped. Judging from the support we had, the event will be even more of a success next year.”
The runners received great support at the Cayman National Bank and Williams2 water stops along the course. A Kids Fun Run was also held, and it allowed younger friends the chance to stretch their legs over a shorter distance.
All participants who crossed a finish line received a medal, no matter what their age.
Proceeds from the run all go to support Team Purple Dragon Cayman as they prepare for and travel to the Purple Dragon World Karate Championships in Trinidad July 17th-19th 2015.
A special thank you goes to Cayman National Bank, Williams2 , Dart, Tower Marketing, RBC, Cayman Active and Race Caribbean for their support of this event and of Team Purple Dragon Cayman.
‘Williams2 was honored to be the main sponsor of the Purple Dragon Road Warriors Fun Run,’ said Cathy Williams. ‘It was truly a family affair, with entire families running together. There was amazing energy throughout the entire event, we have had such extremely positive feedback that we will most definitely be the main sponsor again next year.’
We hope that everyone enjoyed their experience and are already looking forward to next year’s event.
(www.facebook.com/PurpleDragonCayman).
For more information visit www.purpledragon.ky or contact [email protected].
Travel across Belgium, Switzerland and the Caribbean in pursuit of the world’s finest chocolate
By ET Bureau Belgium’s primary chocolate centre is its capital, Brussels. The Grand Place of Brussels is buzzing with chocolate-laden cafes, restaurants, bars, boutiques and shops. A must-visit is the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, which is full of history and offers demonstrations and tasting.
Some of Zurich’s chic chocolate shops have such spectacular window displays that they could be mistaken for art galleries. Book a ride on the Swiss Chocolate Train, from Montreux on the Swiss Riviera to Broc, and tour the chocolate factory. The day trip provides endless photo opportunities as you pass vineyards, Alpine peaks and bucolic countryside.
The small eastern-Caribbean island of St. Lucia is a top honeymoon destination, because of its rainforests and iconic volcanic peaks, the Pitons. But it’s also among the creme de la creme of chocolate-travel experiences.
For more:
Intense rains in Costa Rica’s Caribbean, northern regions prompt evacuations
From Caribbean Digital Network
(The Tico Times) Flooding caused by heavy rains in Costa Rica’s northern and Caribbean regions has forced emergency agencies to evacuate a total of 580 people, the National Emergency Commission (CNE) reported Tuesday. The evacuees have been placed in nine temporary shelters.
The National Meteorological Institute’s (IMN) forecast director Werner Stoltz said Tuesday that tropical waves increased rainy conditions in most of the Limón province as well as in the canton of Sarapiquí, in northern Heredia province, and in Turrialba in Cartago province.
President Luis Guillermo Solís is considering upgrading the alert for these regions from Yellow to Red — the most serious in the country’s three level emergency system. CNE maintains a Green or Preventive Alert for the northern region, as the meteorological institute forecasts that heavy rains will remain in these regions for up to 36 hours.
Preliminary data from local emergency committees in Limón indicate that flooding is currently blocking all access to eight communities in the canton of Matina, eight in Valle La Estrella and one in Central Limón.
Costa Rica’s Water and Sewer Institute reported that flooded rivers have partially damaged aqueducts in Moín and Bananito, two of the most important water sources in Limón. The agency on Tuesday morning outlined an emergency plan for supplying water in trucks if needed.
Residents in Sarapiquí are among the most affected and CNE was forced to reopen two shelters there. Currently one of them is hosting 466 people, while another large group is staying at the Catholic church of La Colonia.
Route 32 reopens
Despite harsh weather conditions on Tuesday morning, no further road closures were necessary, the National Roadway Council (CONAVI) reported. Route 32 to Limón, which was closed Monday by various landslides, reopened at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Currently the only closed road is Route 415 in Turrialba, as high water levels on the Guayabo River are preventing CONAVI’s crews from proceeding with repair works on the bridge.
A total of 60 Traffic Police officials are monitoring and regulating passage of all vehicles traveling in the affected areas.
Air Canada continues growth in Latin America, Caribbean traffic
From Caribbean Journal
Air Canada’s strong growth growth in Latin America and Caribbean traffic continued last month.
The carrier reported 364 million revenue passenger miles in June in Latin America and the Caribbean, up from 337 million in June 2014.
That represented an 8 percent increase year over year.
The carrier also saw a 7.3 percent increase in capacity to the region, with a 0.5 percent increase in load factor to 82.5 percent.
For the year, Air Canada is reporting revenue passenger mile growth of 11.3 million to the Latin America and Caribbean region.
“Air Canada generated greater traffic in all markets,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
For more on this story go to: http://caribjournal.com/2015/07/07/air-canada-continues-growth-in-latin-america-caribbean-traffic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CaribJournal+(Caribbean+Journal)
Young journalist gunned down in Belize
From Caribbean360
IMAGE: MURDERED: Journalist Kareem Clarke. (Channel 5 Belize)
BELIZE CITY, Belize, Wednesday July 8, 2015 – Police say they have no leads so far in the murder of a 27-year-old journalist who was gunned down in the early hours of Monday.
Kareem Clarke was shot multiple times – in the left side of the forehead, back of the head, abdomen, right upper back and middle of the back, according to the biweekly Amandala Newspaper where he worked – as he was riding his bicycle around 1 a.m.
He had reportedly left the residence of a friend when he was ambushed by a lone gunman who fired several shots, killing him on the spot.
Police recovered eight 9mm shells from the scene.
Tributes have been pouring in for the slain journalist, from media workers across the country. Many recalled his willingness to be better at his craft and said his death was a loss for the media fraternity in Belize.
Clarke, also worked for sister companies KREM TV and KREM Radio, was described an intelligent, driven and promising young journalist.
Amandala editor Russell Vellos said it was terrible that his future had been cut short, and violently so.
“We will feel his loss; he will be hard to replace. He was intelligent, a good young man and a loyal worker. Through his work, he had made many friends in the media, and along with us, they will all miss him,” he said.
A statement issued yesterday by the newspaper added: “We are still in disbelief over the tragic loss of this very promising and ambitious young journalist. On a day like today, Kareem would have been hard at work, juggling several stories for publication in the mid-week edition of the Amandala newspaper. His murder has left a vacuum that will be very hard to fill.”
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/young-journalist-gunned-down-in-belize#ixzz3fLtO9amV
Trust expert David Dorgan joins Appleby
David Dorgan ApplebyOffshore law firm Appleby has appointed trust and fiduciary specialist David Dorgan as a Partner in its Jersey Private Client & Trust group.
David has been practising in Jersey since 2003 and has a significant specialism in private and commercial trusts and foundations.
In his new role, his focus is on providing technical advice on the establishment and ongoing administration of trusts and foundations, tailored to meet the practical and commercial requirements of clients.
Lawyer suggests resort could have restructured under Bahamian law
By Rashad Rolle From Tribune242
Attorney Wayne Munroe yesterday said Baha Mar’s decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware Court was “probably just a bunch of jockeying” on the developer’s part to gain an advantage during negotiations over the resort’s future.
His statement to The Tribune came before a Supreme Court hearing on the matter was adjourned to July 20, so all sides could head back to the negotiating table amid an attempt to work through their differences. Baha Mar’s legal team requested the adjournment.
Mr Munroe, QC, also questioned whether the Supreme Court would ever have ratified an order by a US bankruptcy judge that approved Baha Mar’s request to access debtor-in-possession financing for the project, saying the Bahamas does not have reciprocal arrangements with the US that would allow that country’s judicial judgments to be registered or enforced here.
He suggested that Baha Mar could have filed a petition to restructure its affairs in the Supreme Court under the International Business Companies Act.
“The government’s argument is probably that a Supreme Court cannot enforce the US Court’s judgment because we don’t have reciprocal enforcement of judgment with the US,” he said. “We recognise their judgments for limited purposes. We have reciprocal arrangements with the UK and commonwealth countries, but Baha Mar’s best bet is if people were threatening to wind them up, go to the Supreme Court and seek a petition to prevent this from happening.”
Asked if Baha Mar should have filed its petition to the Supreme Court, he said: “I don’t think they should have gone to any court at all. This is all probably just a bunch of jockeying (on their part). Fundamentally, cases shouldn’t go to court unless they have to. People shouldn’t run to court either to seek protection or wind somebody up.”
In the Supreme Court yesterday Roy Sweeting, lawyer for Baha Mar and companies, said the adjournment was necessary to allow Baha Mar to enter into negotiations with lender China Export-Import Bank and the Bahamas government. China Construction America, the resort’s general contractor, will also be party to negotiations.
Baha Mar’s opening has been delayed three times.
For more: http://www.tribune242.com/news/2015/jul/08/lawyer-suggests-resort-could-have-restructured-und/
ATO warns multinationals over use of Singapore, Swiss and other offshore hubs
By Nassim Khadem From the Sydney Morning Herald
Singapore is the top choice for multinationals fond of profit shifting. Photo: Leung Cho Pan
The Australian Taxation Office has warned companies it will be focusing on money attributed to offshore marketing hubs and will use its stronger transfer pricing powers to go after them.
Australian companies sent more than $100 billion to related parties in the low-tax nation of Singapore and another $15.6 billion to “hubs” in Switzerland in 2013, where they pay little or no tax.
In a note to large business taxpayers released on Wednesday, the ATO said in some cases “the amount charged by the marketing hub to the Australian company is not what arm’s length – or independent – parties would pay”.
“In particular, we are concerned that the economic substance of these arrangements may be materially different to the associated legal form,” it said.
Multinationals including miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto and tech giant Google use hubs in Singapore for the marketing and sales functions, but have come under fire at the recent Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance for the billions of dollars in profits they channel through such hubs.
“Marketing hub arrangements can give rise to significant profit-shifting issues for the Australian entities involved,” the ATO said.
It would be looking at “pricing for the functions performed, assets used and risks assumed in a marketing hub”, concentrating on those that “do not reflect conditions that would operate between independent entities dealing wholly independently with one another in comparable circumstances”.
“Where that is the case, the transfer pricing provisions will apply to substitute arm’s length conditions,” the ATO said.
Transfer pricing laws were boosted under the former Labor government.
In the May budget, Treasurer Joe Hockey strengthened anti-avoidance measures that can be used to collect greater tax from multinationals suspected of profit shifting.
These general anti-avoidance provisions, as well as other domestic tax laws governing capital gains tax and controlled foreign companies, may be used.
The ATO said it would consult “interested parties” from this month and then develop a “practical guide” so multinationals were aware what “risk flags” would spark the ATO’s attention and possibly lead to a review or audit.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s head of tax, Pascal Saint-Amans, who has been tasked by G20 governments to come up with a global plan to fight profit shifting, has said that amounts being channelled via Singapore hubs will be significantly reduced under its plan.
IMAGE: Singapore is the top choice for multinationals fond of profit shifting. Photo: Leung Cho Pan
Jersey financier struck off
From ITV News
A senior Jersey Trust company worker has been banned from working in the finance industry after an investigation found she had breached the codes of conduct for practising finance in the island.
47-year-old Michelle Jardine was responsible for investigating suspicious activity and money laundering but the Jersey Financial Services Commission found evidence she wasn’t carrying out proper checks in the paperwork of up to 19 people.
Following the investigation on 15th March 2012, Mrs Jardine resigned from STM Jersey, where she was a principal person in the company.
If she gets a job with a registered financial person again, she will be breaking the law, as will anyone who employs her who is registered in the finance industry.
The Commission also found fault in the management of the company Jardine worked for, STM.
The Investigation concludes that the MLRO deliberately misled STM Jersey’s board on the matter of the filing of internal SARs by failing to inform the Board that the SARs had been made.
There was a prioritisation of business development over compliance.
The lack of effective corporative governance was a significant factor in the failings identified, resulting in breaches of the codes.
Following the investigation, STM Jersey has taken a number of measures to clean up its act, including firing it’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer, appointing a new Managing Director, recruiting two new Directors to the board, taking on a new Money Laundering Reporting Officer and a new Compliance Officer. And putting in place a new processes and procedures and a re-mediation programme.
For more: http://www.itv.com/news/channel/2015-07-07/jersey-financier-struck-off/
Man behind IRS-Impersonation scam sentenced to 14 years in prison
By Laura Northrup From Consumerist
One of the more insidious scams of this decade has been the IRS impostor phone scam, where someone posing as a police officer or federal agent calls you up and threatens to arrest you over your tax balance. Of course, that balance is payable immediately by prepaid debit card. A Pennsylvania man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to running such a scam from 2011 until his 2013 arrest has been sentenced to 175 months in prison and $1 million in forfeiture for his crimes.
The federal government estimates that this iteration of the scam drained $1.2 million dollars from the wallets of ordinary people, and that what makes it so terrible isn’t just the money. “The nature of this crime robbed people of their identities and their money in a way that causes people to feel they have been almost destroyed,” the judge said during sentencing.
Victims lost $5,000 to $7,000 each, a lot of money for most Americans and a devastating amount to lose to manipulative overseas fraudsters. While the impostors were in call centers in India, they spoofed their phone numbers to make it appear that the phone calls came from the FBI or a federal prosecutor’s office.
The man who was sentenced today didn’t think of this scam, and it certainly hasn’t ended with his arrest. His job was to be the US-based man who collected the money from victims’ prepaid debit cards.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2015/07/08/man-behind-irs-impersonation-scam-sentenced-to-14-years-in-prison/
NSA intercepts 98% of South communications: Assange
From Techcrunch
The NSA is gathering and eavesdropping on practically all communications emerging from South America, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Chilean publication El Mostrador Tuesday.
“Ninety-eight percent of Latin American communications are intercepted by the NSA while passing through the United States to the world,” Assange said in an interview with the publication.
A large focus of Assange was related to the large swaths of information being collected by American tech companies, specifically Google and Facebook, and their relationship with the U.S. intelligence communities.
“They are physically in the United States and therefore under their legal jurisdiction, with punitive laws used to force them to deliver the information they are collecting,” Assange said.
WikiLeaks seems to be in the midst of a major information push regarding Latin America. Over the weekend, Wikileaks released a variety of documents related to NSA spying in Brazil on the Rousseff administration.
The leaked information included partial phone numbers and identifying information relating to 29 Brazilian government officials whose activities were being monitored.
These documents add to a growing list of American allies, including France and Germany, that are being spied on by the NSA.
Volvo concept replaces front passenger spot with a rear-facing baby seat
By Chris Perkins From Mashable
Volvo is showing off an innovative design for a built-in child seat concept which could replace a standard front passenger’s seat.
The company has released photos and details for what it calls an Excellence Child Seat, a rear-facing child seat on a pedestal.
The seat itself faces backwards, allowing whoever is in the back seat the opportunity to interact with the baby, rather than having to turn around from the passenger’s seat to do so. The seat itself faces backwards, allowing whoever is in the back seat the opportunity to interact with the baby, rather than having to turn around from the passenger’s seat to do so. The seat also features a storage drawer for diapers, toys and baby accessories.
Rear-facing seats are safer too: for babies with undeveloped neck muscles, the force of a crash in a front-facing seat can be fatal. In the case of an accident, a small child in a rear-facing seat will likely fare much better than one in a front-facing seat because the force of the impact would spread more evenly across their body.
It also has the ability to rotate 90 degrees, as well as the option to incline or recline to facilitate playtime and napping.
While the concept is creative, it would raise safety concerns if it ever moved into production — young child are encouraged to be kept in the back seat because of the front airbags. Front airbags can save the lives of adults, but they can be deadly for infants and small children.
In addition, many states, including California, Colorado and Georgia, require infants to remain in the backseat, if one is available, for this reason.
But Volvo tends to be forward-thinking when it comes to safety; in fact, it created the first three-point seat belt in 1959 and gave away the design instead of saving it for themselves and cashing in on licensing fees. They also helped develop the first rear-facing, removable child seat in the 1960s and were making cars safe before it was cool (or legally required) to do so.
Volvo is attempting a renaissance under its new Chinese owners Geely after a damaging ownership by Ford, so it’s pushing luxury and safety as big selling points on the new XC90.
Volvo also recently showed off another concept which replaced the front passenger seat with a console doubling as a foot rest and TV screen.
Cayman Islands Tourist Arrivals By Air and by Cruise 2000-2015
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appearance. I must say that you’ve done a awesome job with this. In addition, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Internet explorer. Superb Blog!