iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
NWDA Visit to Cayman Brac
Representatives from the National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA) will be available to meet with Employers and Job Seekers, and assist with online registrations, resume preparation and other job search activities.
Wednesday 15th July 2015 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday 16th July 2015 9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday 17th July 2015 9:00 am – 2:30pm
Workshop
Job Search Strategies
Thursday 16th July 2015 2:00pm to 5:00pm
DLP Office, 256 Creek Road
To register call 945-3114 or email [email protected]
Appointments
Appointments can be made by calling 945 3114 and walk-ins are welcomed.
WED JULY 15
Floetry
Meeting at Book & Books Camana Bay
6:30pm – 7:30p Note new time
If you love poetry please come and join in.
Meet Sioux, the new manager of Books & Books
National Workforce Development Agency in North Side
The National Workforce Development Agency will be at the North Side Library on Wednesday (15 Jul) from 2 — 5pm.
THU JULY 16
Labor Relations Bill North Side
The next public consultation meeting for the Labor Relations Bill is Thursday (16 Jul) at the North Side Civic Center.
National Gallery Summer Arts Drop Ins
The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is thrilled to be hosting a Summer of Art, free programming that allows kids to utilise their creativity by participating in a range of imaginative activities. Drop-in sessions will take place in the National Gallery Education Centre every Thursday afternoon from 2:00 PM — 4:00 PM Each Summer Camp Drop-in session is different and gives kids ages 6 to 14 multiple opportunities to take part in a range of art-related activities including stenciling, creative group activities, painting, drawing and more.
Welcome Wista Cayman Islands to Panama
From WISTA
On July 10th, 2015 WISTA PANAMA had the pleasure to meet WISTA Caymand Island President Sherice Arman and another members.Eira Jimenez President, Tanya Carlucci Board Member and Carla Martinez de La Guardia joined gathering.
For more: http://www.wista.net/en/news/news/news_id,2291/welcome-wista-cayman-islands-to-panama
Lionel Messi takes in some sun on holiday in the Caribbean
From SPORT- English
The Barcelona star is taking advantage of the summer to have a break from football
Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi is with his family on the Turks and Caicos Islands, enjoying a holiday.
The star is spending some vacation time on the Caribbean island after his exertions in the Copa America.
Messi is taking advantage of his holiday days to spend them in the sun and relaxing with those close to him, with whom he shares almost all hours of the day, whether in the pool or eating.
However, a total rest cannot be achieved, with Messi still being asked by fans to posr for pictures, which he did with patience and humility, as well as signing several autographs.
Messi will be one of the latest players to start pre-season work with Barcelona, with many players beginning on Monday.
For more: http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/lionel-messi-takes-some-sun-holiday-the-caribbean-4350000
YOHZA launches a Cayman Island’s Classifieds Service for Property Owners and Businesses
The Cayman Islands is a great vacation and retirement area due to its warm climate, cool breezes, great view and welcoming financial system.
Cayman Islands; PRnob.com, Press Release, 11, July 2015: The Cayman Islands is a great vacation and retirement area due to its warm climate, cool breezes, great view and welcoming financial system. Thousands each year visit the Cayman’s for holidays and special occasions, as well as, to find properties for investment. YOHZA is Cayman Islands’ new classifieds that enables property owners to sell or rent their real estate, vehicles, and other items quickly and easily.
“Our service is a great platform for communication for those who live or own property in the Cayman’s” says CEO of YOHZA. “We wanted to get the word out about our website so that people who have property in the Cayman’s or are there on holiday and exploring their options have the opportunity to buy, sell, or trade merchandise.”
“We at YOHZA.com value your time and understand the cost of doing business here in the Cayman’s,” says a spokesperson on behalf of YOHZA. “We have tailored the most cost effective and accessible programs with as much flexibility as possible for our clients.”
About Yohza
YOHZA is the place for Cayman Island residents and property owners to buy, sell, rent, or trade their personal household items, cars, property among their neighbours and potential visitors and residents. Yohza understands that customers want an easy way to find property, products and services fast today, and the shift to a mobile-based world means that those ads need to be available online. The Yohza website and its online market enable those who wish to engage in selling, trading, or renting to participate in an effective and responsive way. Advertising with Yohza enables potential customers to locate and interact with sellers in a meaningful and targeted way. Yohza’s online marketplace has categories for every type of sale or rental imaginable.
CONCACAF stoppage time goal lifts Jamaica past Canada
By Louis Roesch From Orange in the Oven
Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium was the site of a 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader on Saturday night. Jamaica’s Rodolph Austin scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Canada.
In a game that featured little in the way of offense, it took a header in the closing moments of second half stoppage time to give Jamaica the win. Jamaica is 1-0-1 with four points and leads Group B.
Were it not for the play of Canadian keeper Kyriakos Stamatopoulos, Jamaica would have won going away. Stamatopoulos’ glove deflected a shot from Kemar Lawrence in the 27th minute to keep the Caribbean’s off the board. Just at the hour mark, Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes struck the crossbar from the top of the box on a deadball opportunity. big time heroics. Canada’s 35 year old keeper stopped Darren Mattocks in the 66th and 87th minute keeping the game scoreless and setting things up for Austin, Jamaica’s 30 year old midfielder.
The 2014 Caribbean Cup MVP raced through the box late in the second minute of stoppage time to head home a cross from Adrian Mariappa. It was Jamaican captain’s first goal in six international appearances.
Canada has now gone eight hours without a goal in Gold Cup play.
For more: http://orangeintheoven.com/2015/07/11/concacaf-stoppage-time-goal-lifts-jamaica-past-canada/
Gen. Odierno prepared to face Russian threat with fewer troops
By Cathy Burke From Newsmax
The Army’s top general wants to add troops along with tanks and other heavy equipment in Germany to bolster resources – and to deal with the rising threat from Russia in Ukraine.
Gen. Ray Odierno, chief of staff of the Army, tells The Wall Street Journal he intends to designate the entire Colorado-based 4th Infantry Division as a so-called regionally aligned force for Europe, meaning the division’s brigades, helicopters and logistics specialists would regularly deploy to Europe to conduct security exercises.
A Georgia-based brigade now serves as the Army’s rotational force in Europe.
The plan, which will allow the division’s intelligence experts to focus on the threat from Russia, would be implemented over the next two years, according to the Journal.
Odierno said adding tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other equipment would allow the United States to move forces quickly to help North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations.
“It would allow us to reinforce quickly, if we had to reinforce NATO,” he tells the Journal.
“We hope that the Russians wouldn’t [create a crisis], but we always must be prepared,” he adds. “We have to figure out how to reinforce those companies that are forward.”
Since Russia’s intervention in Ukraine last year, U.S. Army soldiers in Europe “have been a near-constant presence in the Baltics and Poland, ” Stars and Stripes reports.
And with troops “spread thin across NATO’s eastern flank with Russia, it raises the question of whether sufficient forces are in place should Moscow attempt to challenge a member state,” Stars and Stripes notes.
Odierno tells the Journal if the Army is forced to cut troops any further, it would have to curb overseas deployments. There are plans already to slash 40,000 troops over the next two years, reducing forces below 450,000 soldiers, .
“I am very concerned about the size of the force — we cannot go any lower than 450,000,” he said. “If we do, we will have to stop doing something. We are not going to meet our requirements in the Middle East, plus our requirements in Europe, plus our requirements in Korea and around the Pacific. Something is going to have to give.”
His comments come a day after Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the nominee to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said Moscow “presents the greatest threat to our national security.”
For more: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/odierno-troops-europe-russian/2015/07/11/id/654533/#ixzz3fhZOaNR6
Russia to extend ban on Western food imports until early 2016
From EurActiv.com with Reuters
Russia plans to extend a ban on Western food imports for six months starting in early August, and may add new products to the list, in retaliation for extended European sanctions against Moscow, officials said on Monday (22 June).
European Union foreign ministers extended economic sanctions against Russia until 31 January on Monday, keeping up pressure on Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict.
“Taking into account that the European Union has extended sanctions against the Russian Federation for half a year, I ask you to prepare my proposal to the president to extend the presidential degree (on the ban) for this period,” Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told a meeting with his deputies.
Russia had been widely expected to prolong the ban beyond an 8 August deadline, as officials previously said the decision directly depended on the European sanctions extension.
Russia’s Agriculture Ministry has started to prepare a proposal for the list of imports to be included in the ban and may add new products to the list, Ilya Ananyev, the ministry representative, told Reuters.
“We are preparing proposals on the list of products, its extension is not our decision,” Ananyev said.
The ban, which prohibits food imports worth $9 billion from the United States, European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway, was imposed for a year in retaliation to Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
But the Kremlin is unlikely to approve the addition of new products to the list, sticking to what it calls a policy of reciprocity, one of the Russian officials said.
Russia banned imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, milk and dairy.
For more: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/russia-extend-ban-western-food-imports-until-early-2016-315637
CARIBBEAN: LIAT’s new routes for summer 2015 take effect next week
By LIAT
PRESS RELEASE – A number of new services and non-stop routes which have been added to the summer schedule of LIAT, The Caribbean Airline, will come into effect on July 15 and 16.
From Antigua, customers will now enjoy a new daily service to San Juan each evening. This is in addition to the existing morning service from Antigua to San Juan, via Dominica which operates daily.
Meantime, flight number LI 581 from Antigua to Dominica and on to Barbados has been upgraded to a daily service, and has been retimed to leave Antigua in the early morning.
The new non-stop services are as follows:
- Barbados to St. Kitts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights will leave at midday and return in the early afternoon
- Barbados to St. Maarten and back every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. This flight departs at midday and returns to Barbados in the early afternoon
- Trinidad to Barbados every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flights depart Trinidad at 10.50 am, arriving in Barbados at 11.50 am
- Trinidad to Ogle, Guyana every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flights depart Trinidad at 7.50 pm, arriving in Guyana at 8.50 pm.
In anticipation of an increase in the number of people travelling during the summer peak period, customers are reminded that they should arrive at the airport to check-in at least two hours prior to their scheduled time of departure and that check-in closes 45 minutes before the plane departs.
In order to make flying as easy as possible, passengers should adhere to LIAT’s baggage limits. The free baggage allowance for all LIAT services is one piece at a maximum of 50 lbs or 23 kgs. In addition, passengers are allowed one piece of cabin baggage at a maximum weight of 15 lbs or 7 kgs.
Passengers should note that extra pieces of baggage (that is, pieces in excess of the above allowance) will be subject to excess baggage charges and will only be accepted on a space available (stand-by)
US requires tax payment from permanent residents in the Caribbean
Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 10, 2015 (SKNIS): Financial stakeholders from the federation, is presently attending a workshop to boost the compliance of the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) designed to increase reporting of foreign financial assets by the US tax payers.
The two-day workshop is organized by the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the National FATCA Committee.
Sylvia Gumbs, Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance highlighted FATCA’s importance.
“FATCA is a piece of legislation that has already affected the way that financial institutions around the world conduct business,” she said, while stating that the impact will go beyond the financial institutions themselves. “It will be felt by the clients who will be subjected to a higher level of due diligence, regulators of the industry, auditors and the government; that will be responsible for transmitting the financial institution data to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).”
FATCA was enacted in 2010, but took several years to operationalize. The federation is now at a point where there is need to ensure that the necessary legislation, systems and procedures are in place in order for St. Kitts and Nevis to be compliant with the act.
“The consequences for noncompliance are significant and could cripple our financial service sector, if we fail to be in a state of readiness,” she said. “Of the various Inter-Governmental Agreements (IGA) that was presented, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, after consultation with the various stakeholder groups, opted to sign the Model 1B IGA.
“To date however, the IGA has not been signed and we have been urging our contacts at the US Embassy in Barbados to impress upon the relevant authorities in Washington for it to be concluded urgently.”
St. Kitts and Nevis is included among all the member states of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) who have not signed the document.
FATCA is a part of the United States hiring incentives to restore the employment act.
The workshop will conclude on Friday, (July 10). Topics for discussion include: Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA), FATCA Timeline, FATCA Due Diligence, Treatment of Specific Institutions/Products, FATCA Reporting, Responsible Officers, FATCA Internal Controls, Compliance Verification, Becoming Compliant and Support/Advice to Your Clients.
Caribbean Development Bank partners with the World Bank Group to build public procurement capacity in the region
Bridgetown, Barbados – July 9, 2015 – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has announced the creation of a Regional Procurement Centre that aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of public spending across its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).
The Centre will provide high-quality, relevant, accredited education for procurement professionals in the Caribbean, which is tailored to the specific needs of the Region.
CDB has committed financing up to USD 137,875 and an estimated additional USD 45,895 in “in-kind” resources, such as staff time, to the project, which will be delivered under the Programme for Improved Public Investment Management through Sustainable Public Procurement Capacity Building in the Caribbean Region. The World Bank has committed USD 320,000 in grant funding.
“Improving public procurement is essential to sustainable development and good governance. There has been some notable progress in reforming public procurement policies within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and CDB is pleased to support that momentum through the Regional Procurement Centre. It will provide robust training and help guide our Borrowing Member Countries toward reforming their public procurement systems,” said Douglas Fraser, Head of Procurement at CDB.
During the World Bank’s 2015 Caribbean Project Implementation Workshop, held June 8-11, 2015 in the Dominican Republic, Fraser shared with participants and sought feedback on the plans for the Centre, which will initially focus on supporting public sector procurement professionals.
During his presentation he outlined that after the initial launch, there are plans to enhance the Centre’s operations to provide services to both public and private clients. It is further hoped that the Centre’s role will evolve to include research, policy support, and wider procurement knowledge and networking services.
A medium-term business plan is included in the project to help make the Centre a commercially viable institution, sustainable beyond the initial World Bank and CDB funding.
A rigorous process to select a regional entity that will “house” and run the Procurement Centre and a procurement consultant to support the regional entity in developing the Centre and initial training is in progress. The Regional Procurement Centre is scheduled to commence operations in 2016.
These organisations will work closely together and seek feedback from key regional stakeholders to ensure the Centre and its training align with their needs. CARICOM will be a key project partner to ensure the services offered complement its work to develop a regional procurement framework and protocol.
Caribbean, African boxers could land scholarships
From Stabroek News
Caribbean and African nations could soon find themselves punching with power equal to the more developed countries as the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is ready to lend a helping hand by offering scholarships to deserving pugilists of their lesser developed affiliates.
This is according to Guyana’s Steve Ninvalle, Executive Committee member of AIBA who attended the body’s four-day Congress which concluded yesterday in Doha, Qatar.
For more: http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/sports/07/11/caribbean-african-boxers-could-land-scholarships/
CARIBBEAN: Venezuela plans to issue ID cards to residents in Essequibo, Guyana
By iNews Guyana From St Lucia News online
IMAGE: Retired colonel Pompeyo Torrealba advises the government to recover the Essequibo, a disputed territory with Guyana.
INEWS GUYANA – The government of Venezuela plans to launch in the coming days a diplomatic strategy to recover the territory of the Essequibo in Guyana, according to retired colonel Pompeyo Torrealba Rivero, who advises President Nicolás Maduro in this matter.
According to an article posted on El Universal, Torrealba coordinates the Office for the Rescue of the Essequibo, created by the Venezuelan government to try to recover the area.
“The claim has been made under all the administrations, but we have not been able to organize a process to recover that geographic space that belongs to Venezuela,” he said.
Torrealba informed that President Maduro ordered to teach the matter of the Essequibo as a subject in universities and elementary and high schools, and also in media located in bordering areas.
He also proposed to issue identity cards for the 200,000 estimated inhabitants of the Essequibo, plus an awareness campaign to make the population of Guyana understand that the territory belongs to Venezuela.
During an interview with multi-state TV channel Telesur, President Maduro announced that he held talks with Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador and of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), to set up a presidential or diplomatic initiative addressing the matter of the Essequibo.
According to the article, Maduro also said he would contact the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, to urge him to advocate Venezuela’s right over the territory of the Essequibo.
Celiac Disease Foundation Chief Executive Officer appointed to Royal Caribbean Advisory Board on Disabilities
July 10, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA – Celiac Disease Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Marilyn G. Geller, was recently appointed to sit on the Royal Caribbean Advisory Board on Disabilities. The Advisory Board held its first meeting in May 2015, and was established by the cruise line to improve the travel experience for guests with disabilities, to obtain feedback on the existing guest programs and services, and to highlight the company’s accessible travel programs. Among the remaining Advisory Board Members with whom Marilyn serves include: representatives from American Association of Kidney Patients, American Sleep Apnea Association, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Food Allergy Research & Education, Hearing Loss Association of America, United Spinal Association, and representatives from several other national advocacy organizations.
“I am honored to have been selected to sit on the Royal Caribbean Advisory Board on Disabilities, as it is a cause for which I am deeply passionate,” stated Marilyn. “This position will provide an additional avenue to raise awareness for celiac disease and to pursue CDF’s advocacy efforts to have the voice of the gluten-free community heard.”
The purpose of the first meeting of the Royal Caribbean Advisory Board on Disabilities was to provide an overview of Royal Caribbean’s Access Department and its responsibility to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Royal Caribbean’s accessibility program provides accessible stateroom features, special accommodations for those with hearing and visual disabilities, as well as specific dietary and medical needs, and more. To learn more about Royal Caribbean’s accessibility programs, please click here.
CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 Doubleheader July 12 in Phoenix sold out
Tickets still available for other Gold Cup group matches as well as knockout round at www.GoldCup.org
PHOENIX (July 12, 2015) – The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) today announced that all tickets have been sold for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader in Phoenix today, Sunday, July 12 at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Group C will continue its Gold Cup run with the final round of the group stage in Charlotte on Wednesday, July 15 with Cuba facing Guatemala at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by Mexico versus Trinidad & Tobago at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Organizers encourage fans with tickets to arrive early and enjoy Futbol Fiesta, the fan interactive zone located at Lawn B, near Gate 1 of the stadium, starting at 1:30 p.m. Parking lots will open at 12 p.m., and stadium gates will open at 1:30 p.m. All times local. The Gold Cup will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 2, Univision, UDN, and can be heard on the Fútbol de Primera radio network.
Tickets to all other Gold Cup matches are available by visiting www.GoldCup.org
