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Community Events
Meeting Requests with Family Support Unit at RCIPS
The Family Support Unit (FSU) at the RCIPS has temporarily relocated to Elizabethan Square due to damage to the Smith Road office where it was situated. The FSU would like to inform the public that they are available to meet individuals with inquiries or reports regarding domestic violence, child abuse, or other sensitive family-related issues at Police Headquarters. Individuals wishing to meet with the FSU should inform reception at Headquarters, and a representative from the FSU will be called and meet with them in a separate office.
The address for Police Headquarters is:
Amerigo House, Fourth Floor
Elizabethan Square
69A Elgin Avenue
George Town
FSU can be reached at 946-9185, but any emergencies should be reported to 911.
MON JUL 20
Calvary Baptist Church VBS
Calvary Baptist Church on Walkers Road is hosting a free Vacation Bible School Monday — Friday (20 — 24 Jul) from 830am and noon for ages 4 — 17.
National Workforce Development Agency in West Bay
The National Workforce Development Agency will be at the West Bay Library on Monday (20 Jul) from 10am until 1pm.
Kids Art and Crafts Summer Camp
The Visual Arts Society is hosting a Kids Art and Crafts Summer Camp July 20th — August 12th Monday — Wednesday from 8am until noon at Pedro St. James for ages 6 — 12. For more information email [email protected].
Grand Court Jurors Reporting Date
Grand Court Jurors in the current session, are now to report on Monday (20 Jul) at 9:45 a.m.
Labor Relations Bill Savannah
The next public consultation meeting for the Labor Relations Bill is Monday (20 Jul) at the Savannah Primary School Hall.
TUE JUL 21
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 21st the film is The Emperor’s New Groove
Cayman Islands government commissions another port study
The Cayman Islands government has commissioned Continental Shelf Associates of Florida, supported by local firm, West Indian Marine Company, to execute another study to do with the proposed cruise ship berthing facility.
This new study is a Benthic Habitat Survey and will assess the impact of the dredging needed to execute the port. The study will also assess animals and plants living there.
The study is expected to be completed next month and will be published.
Michael Grimm sentenced to 8 months in prison
By Jaime Fuller
Former representative Michael Grimm was sentenced to eight months in prison on Friday, after pleading guilty to a federal tax-evasion charge late last year.
Grimm resigned from his seat shortly after winning reelection in 2014. Dan Donovan, the district attorney in charge of the Eric Garner investigation, now represents the district.
Grimm’s lawyers had hoped to avoid a stint in prison; they argued that the Staten Island politician was “tremendously remorseful over his offense” and “will live with the shame of it the rest of his life.” A federal investigation into Grimm’s campaign fund-raising ended with charges accusing Grimm of paying employees at his Manhattan restaurant Healthalicious off the books — and thus avoiding taxes.
“All my life I have scraped and I have clawed and I have killed myself to better myself,” Grimm said shortly before his prison sentence was announced. Before serving in Congress, Grimm was a Marine and FBI agent. “Give me the opportunity to redeem myself.”
“Your moral compass, Mr. Grimm, needs some reorientation,” Judge Pamela Chen told Grimm, who once told a reporter at the Capitol, “I’ll break you in half. Like a boy.
Obama energy adviser Patron leaves White House
From Caribbean Digital Network
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) – A top energy adviser to President Barack Obama who specialized on oil policy has left the White House, three sources said on Friday.
Michelle Billig Patron, who served as special assistant on energy to President Barack Obama and as a senior director at the National Security Council since April 2013, left the White House about two weeks ago, the sources said. She had worked previously at PIRA Energy Group, the Department of Energy and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
It was not clear why Patron left the position. The White House and Patron did not immediately respond to questions about her leaving.
The move came as the Obama administration prepares for some of its most important energy and environmental policy decisions. Those include rules to cut carbon emissions from power plants, global climate talks in Paris later this year that seek to put both rich and poor countries on a path to fight global warming and whether to bow to pressure to ease the 40-year ban on domestic oil exports.
In addition, many lawmakers in Congress are eager to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to fund highway projects and a new drugs program.
Patron had been a proponent of changing the role of the U.S. SPR from simply being a replacement for lost U.S. oil imports during times of strife in energy-producing regions to a resource to calm global petroleum supply disruptions, even if U.S. imports were not slashed.
Before Patron left, Paul Bodnar returned to the NSC as senior director for energy and climate change. Bodnar, who started his new role in May, was at the NSC in a similar, but less-senior role, for more than a year before leaving in January. He previously served as counselor to U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern at the State Department.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Dan Grebler)
For more: http://www.caribbeandigitalnetwork.com/exclusive-obama-energy-adviser-patron-leaves-white-house/
Dateline St. John’s, ANTIGUA:
By Ricardo Blackman From CDN
Members of the public are expressing concern over new travel requirements for Canada. Callers on Wednesday’s edition of VOICE OF THE PEOPLE sounded their displeasure and alarm over that country’s new Electronic Travel Authortization (eTA) requirement with some linking the change to the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). The eTA is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. The authorization is electronically linked to the applicant’s passport and will allow Canadian officials to screen travelers before they arrive on Canadian soil. According to the Canadian immigration website, starting August 1, 2015, travelers will be able to apply for an eTA and as of March 15, 2016, travelers will need an eTA before they board flight to Canada. The application is completed on line for a fee of $7 Cdn and authorizatioin is valid for 5 years or until the applicant’s passport expires.
The government has confirmed that a dozen Syrians who entered Antigua and Barbuda lawfully, have ended up in the United States, seeking asylum refugee status.
For more: http://www.caribbeandigitalnetwork.com/ricardo-blackmans-business-headlines-717/
German Finance Minister to Greece: Maybe you should just leave
By Jaime Fuller From New York Mag
Not long after the Greek parliament approved an austerity-happy bailout package that would allow the struggling country to stay in the eurozone, if under a mountain of debt, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble wondered if it were time for Greece and the currency to go on a break. Maybe Greece would be happier if it had a rebound fling with the drachma for a while. Not that Schäuble is trying to passive aggressively pressure Greece to leave or anything. No! This is totally up to Greece. “We have not said that we will impose this,” he told Deutschlandfunk radio, while adding that the country’s debt won’t be forgiven as long as it is still in the eurozone, which definitely isn’t an ultimatum. “We can’t, we don’t want to, and no one has suggested it. But it would perhaps be the better way for Greece.”
And in case Greece thinks Germany is having doubts about their relationship, Schäuble reiterated that he wasn’t the one saying Greece should move out. He just heard other people talking about how maybe Greece was being a moocher. The finance minister told journalists earlier this week, “there are many people inside the German government … who believe that this would be, or could be the better solution for Greece and the people in Greece.” Germany votes on the bailout tomorrow and is expected to approve it.
Schäuble did not follow his remarks by adding, “It’s not you, it’s me.”
Two more tremors recorded overnight in Eastern Caribbean
From CARIBBEAN360
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 17, 2015 – As most people slept last night and into this morning, two more tremors were recorded off Barbados, St. Lucia and Martinique, following six events over a six-hour period yesterday.
Preliminary information provided by the UWI Seismic Research Centre indicated that the quakes were recorded a minute past midnight, and then at 3:44 a.m.
The first was a 4.0 magnitude tremor occurring 170 km northeast of Bridgetown, Barbados; 301 km east of Castries, St. Lucia and 322 km east southeast of Fort-de-France, Martinique.
The second was weaker – 3.8 magnitude – with its epicenter 119 km northeast of Bridgetown, 236 km east of Castries, and 259 km east southeast of Fort-de-France.
They came hours after acting director of the Department of Emergency Management in Barbados Kerry Hinds told residents that there was a possibility that aftershocks would continue in the coming days.
Barbadians and residents of neighbouring St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Guadeloupe and even Guyana reported feeling the effects of yesterday’s earthquakes, particularly the first 5.7 magnitude tremor which struck at 7:01 a.m. and the most intense one of the day – 6.4 magnitude quake which sent people scampering from shaking buildings around 11:16 a.m.
In a report on the day’s events, the Seismic Research Centre said there were four others – at 7:52 a.m., 11:29 a.m., 11:36 a.m. and 12:23 p.m.
The magnitudes of the day’s quakes ranged from 3.4 to 6.4 and their depths from 61 km to 111 km.
There were no reports of damage or injury.
Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Ronald Jackson said the earthquakes underscored the importance of building national first responder capacity to manage seismic events.
“We have to recognize that the earthquake threat is ever present. We have been heeding the warning from the Seismic Research Centre from as far back as February 2014 when a number of events . . . really underscored the importance that we have to move at pace. It is now a situation of urgency that we address the capacity of our first responders, given the catastrophic nature that seismic events can leave us with,” he said.
Toddler, 3 others killed in residential building collapse in Cuba
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS From Toronto Sun
HAVANA — Cuban officials say a building has collapsed in Old Havana, killing four people.
A government statement published in the Communist Party daily Granma says the two-story building contained two family homes.
The dead include a 3-year-old child, two 18-year-olds and a 60-year-old woman. Three other people sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
Authorities said Thursday they were investigating what caused the structure’s “total collapse” the previous day, including whether remodeling being done on the first floor was legal.
The colonial neighbourhood contains most of Havana’s oldest buildings.
Many are sorely decayed for lack of maintenance and vulnerable to structural failures that are regularly triggered by heavy rains.
United Caribbean Lines, Haimark Line seek approval for Miami-to-Cuba cruises starting February
By Emon Reiser From South Florida Business Journal
Haimark Line and United Caribbean Lines are seeking final approval to operate Miami-to-Cuba cruises starting Feb. 20.
The companies need approval from both the Cuban government and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury to send travelers on the 105-cabin MS Saint Laurent to the island, because recreational travel between the countries is still prohibited despite relaxed relations.
Bruce Nierenberg, president of United Caribbean Lines, said they are awaiting the same type of approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce that Carnival Corp. was granted for its Cuba trips. The cruise giant plans to add a Cuba itinerary to its newly rolled out cruise line, Fathom.
Nierenberg told the South Florida Business Journal that United Caribbean Lines already has approval to operate ferries from the U.S. to Cuba, and now needs to amend its approval to include the right to keep people on its ship rather than simply transporting them from one country to the other.
“Negotiations are nearly completed with the Cuban government,” Nierenberg said. “It’s a win-win for both the U.S. and Cuba and we’re anticipating rapid acceptance.”
Once Haimark and United Caribbean Lines receives approval, the nine-night roundtrip cruises would be $4,599 a person, plus applicable port charges and fees.
St. Kitts-Nevis national receives honorary doctorate from UK University
IMAGE: Arthur France presented with his Doctorate
THE man who continues to bring infectious tropical Caribbean rhythms and jaw-dropping costumes to Leeds after almost 50 years has been honoured by the University of Leeds.
St.Kitts-Nevis born Arthur France MBE founded the Leeds West Indian Carnival in 1967 and remains a driving force as chairman of the annual event, which unites communities and contributes around £10m to the area’s economy.
Arthur France launched the annual Caribbean-themed extravaganza after becoming homesick for his native St Kitts and Nevis.
The University of Leeds recognised his tireless dedication to community work at a graduation ceremony.
The grandfather-of-seven, of Chapeltown, who was born on Nevis and moved to Leeds via St.Kitts in 1957, donned a cap and gown to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.
He said: “I dreamed of Leeds West Indian Carnival as a cure for my homesickness and to bring people together. So when I made Leeds my home 58 years ago, my wildest dreams could not have imagined receiving an honorary degree from such a respected university.
“Being surrounded by the graduating scholars took me back to 1967 when students from Trinidad and Jamaica studying at the university helped to start Europe’s first Caribbean carnival here in Leeds.
“Receiving this remarkable honour was an incredibly touching and humbling experience for me and I could not be prouder.”
A University of Leeds spokeswoman said: “Arthur France has been a generous, compassionate and energetic force for good in this city. He has guided and championed the carnival since 1967, building a major event that contributes a huge amount to the local economy, bringing communities together and hugely enriching our cultural lives.” More than 100,00 revellers are expected to take to the city’s streets for the 48th annual Leeds West Indian Carnival on August 31.
Former Panama president files criminal charges against all supreme court judges
By Kenneth Rijock From Caribbean News Now
PANAMA CITY, Panama — In a move that most observers believe smacks of sheer desperation, attorneys for former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli have filed criminal charges against the remaining judges and magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice, effectively shutting down the country’s dysfunctional criminal justice system.
Panama’s highest court, which is grappling with a massive docket of official corruption cases, must now grind to a halt, which was most likely Martinelli’s objective, since it is members of his cabinet, and agency appointees, who are charged with criminal acts, as well as Martinelli himself.
The charges, which include abuse of authority, and defamation, do not appear to have any factual basis, and have seemingly been filed strictly to halt the current criminal cases from proceeding to trial. Martinelli’s abuse of the judicial system has once more interfered with the forward movement of President Varela’s reform program.
WICB discontinues disciplinary action against Gayle
ST JOHN’S, Antigua — The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has discontinued a disciplinary charge brought against West Indies opener Chris Gayle.
IMAGE: Chris Gayle
On January 11 this year, Gayle made public comments during a post-match interview that were critical of the selection policy of the WICB, when Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were not selected for the West Indies team that took part in the ICC Cricket World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2015.
A charge was later laid against Gayle that he had conducted himself in a manner contrary to Rule 9 of the WICB’s Code of Conduct.
Rule 9 states that “players and team officials shall not make public or media comment which is detrimental to the interests of the game”.
The charge was referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the WICB which comprises:
– Justice Adrian Saunders (Chairman)
– Madame Justice Desiree Bernard
– Dr. Lloyd Barnett QC
– Desmond Haynes
– Jeffrey Dujon; and
– Verlyn Faustin (Secretary to the Committee)
The WICB’s Code of Conduct also states that such a charge must be laid against an offender within ten days of the alleged commission of the offence.
It came to the attention of the Disciplinary Committee however, that Gayle had previously been the subject of a reprimand for his comments and the charge was served on him outside the required time frame.
In the circumstances, the WICB has accepted the suggestion of the Disciplinary Committee that the charge should be discontinued and Gayle has accordingly been so notified.
Trump Golf Club in Puerto Rico files for bankruptcy
By Jacqueline Palank From Wall Street Journal
Club is owned by developer Empresas Diaz and uses Trump’s name under licensing deal
A Trump International Golf Club in Puerto Rico filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday and will look for a buyer.
The property, which features two 18-hole golf courses and has hosted the Puerto Rico Open tournament, filed for bankruptcy as the Coco Beach Golf & Country Club, court papers show.
The property’s bankruptcy lawyer, Charles Cuprill, said Monday that the golf course plans to sell its assets through a bankruptcy court-overseen auction process. It has a lead bid of $2 million lined up from an investor group.
The filing comes as the golf course, which is in default of its debt obligations, confronts a history of operating losses and the economic crisis gripping Puerto Rico.
“Puerto Rico is going through the worst economic crisis in its modern history,” Mr. Cuprill said Monday. “A lot of people here in Puerto Rico have been affected financially as a result.”
Owned by developer Empresas Diaz, the club uses the name of U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump under a licensing agreement. Mr. Trump’s company doesn’t own the club, according to son Eric Trump.
“Empresas Diaz, the owner and developer of the Trump International Golf Club in Puerto Rico has, for many months, been in default of its obligations to Trump due to their company’s financial constraints and a difficult business climate in Puerto Rico,” Mr. Trump said Monday through a spokeswoman. “The Trump Organization continues to have a great relationship and incredible respect for the developer and its principals.”
Mr. Cuprill said an asphalt company also owned by Empresas Diaz has been sustaining Coco Beach as it operated at a loss for several years, a situation he said could no longer continue.
“It came a time that the bleeding had to stop,” he said.
Coco Beach listed assets of $9.23 million and debts of $78.07 million in its bankruptcy petition, filed with a Puerto Rico bankruptcy court.
In recent years, other Trump-branded properties like New Jersey casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts have sought chapter 11 protection.
For more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-golf-club-in-puerto-rico-files-for-bankruptcy-1436808696
Cable & Wireless obtains TV licence in Anguilla
From Nevis Pages
Cable and Wireless Communications (C&W) which now operates Flow, the Caribbean’s leading communications service provider, today announced that it has secured the broadcast licence to operate TV service in Anguilla.
John Reid, President, C&W’s Consumer Group said, “This is welcome news for our customers in Anguilla. Our successful merger with Columbus International Inc has facilitated the acceleration of our expanded portfolio from triple play to market leading quad play services.”
Reid also said, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce the most advanced digital TV technology available today to the people of Anguilla. Our Advanced Video Service (AVS) provides state-of-the-art High Definition TV, Personal Cloud Video Recorder, parental control and allows viewers to watch TV on the go with the Flow To-Go app.”
According to the Consumer Group President, “The planned launch of this advanced video service in Anguilla will provide our viewers with the region’s best TV experience and is set to transform the way people watch TV. It will be TV on demand, whenever, wherever and how the viewer wishes. Our ambition is to be number one with customers, and delivering world-class
customer experiences is what we are all about.”
Dubbed, “TV you can control,” Advanced Video Services is an extraordinary High Definition visual experience with over 60 HD channels available at no extra cost.
AVS allows customers to:
Restart TV programmes from the beginning
Record all their favourite shows using the new Cloud Video recorder feature
Watch new blockbuster movies from the comfort of their homes with our Video
OnDemand service
Monitor content via Advanced Parental controls
Access TV on the go through our Flow ToGo smartphone application
Commenting on the approval of the TV licence and soon to be announced launch of TV services, Anguilla Country Manager,Matthieu Dion said, “Anguillans will benefit from the best content, service features and the most flexible options – all accessible at home or on the go. All this is just a taste of the many innovations to come. We will deliver Anguilla’s best TV service across the most advanced network, ensuring our customers experience the great services they so
richly deserve.”
C&W will commence delivery of TV service in Anguilla by the end of the year.
In 2014, C&W embarked on a US$7.4M network upgrade investment programme for Anguilla, as part of a wider regional investment strategy, called Project Marlin.
For more: http://www.nevispages.com/cable-wireless-obtains-tv-licence-in-anguilla/
New $40 million project to create 200 jobs in Bahamas
By Jones Bahamas From The Bahama Journal
Aristo Development broke ground on Friday for the $40 million One Cable Beach luxury boutique residences.
One Cable Beach is a state-of-the-art all new curve construction project, which anticipates the employment of 200 educated workers with good work ethics, qualified sub-contractors and other professionals in the related field over the life of the project.
The 69 unit project is expected to be completed within 20-24 months.
“We are dedicated to enhancing the lives of Bahamian people through the production and success of our construction projects,” said Jason Kinsale, principle of Aristo Development.
The revolutionary curve design of One Cable Beach is modern day influenced and being built strong, luxurious, and environmentally friendly to meet the growing lifestyle demand for prime beach front property in West Nassau.
Today’s savvy buyers are purchasing One Cable Beach as second homes from $500 up to $1 million in bulk.
Buyers from Canada, the United States, Europe, Switzerland, and a few locals are purchasing the homes for retirement.
Mr. Kinsale explained, “We chose Cable Beach because of its city linked beachfront access to develop One Cable Beach as a trophy asset for all to experience the passion and privacy. The all new curve design attracts local and foreign high- net- worth investors who want an increasing safe haven, ocean views, premiere living, and exclusive conveniences.”
Aristo Development has met the final criteria issued from the Ministry of Works and construction plans are now underway.
Mr. Kinsale added, “We are grateful for the efforts and dedication of all who supported this project and we look forward to being a part of the Bahamian works and urban community development for years to come.”
Aristo Development is a leading real estate development company.
For more: http://jonesbahamas.com/new-40-million-project-to-create-200-jobs/
EEOC challenges UPS bans on beards, long hair
From The Daily Business Review
A Muslim man who objected to rules requiring him to get rid of his beard if he wanted to become a driver for UPS Inc. was told by a UPS official that “God would understand” if he shaved, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the shipping company.
The lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn alleges that the man was one of several employees—including Rastafarians in Florida—who were victims of religious discrimination in the past decade by the nation’s largest package delivery company. The EEOC wants the court to force the company to comply with Civil Rights Act protections and to award the plaintiffs back pay and unspecified damages.
“No person should be forced to choose between their religion and a paycheck, and EEOC will seek to put an end to that longstanding practice at UPS,” said Robert D. Rose, an attorney for agency’s New York office.
UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said in a statement Wednesday that the Atlanta-based company has protocols in place for employees to seek permission for religious accommodations when it comes to appearance or work schedules.
The company “respects religious differences and is confident in the legality of its employment practices,” Gaut said. “UPS is proud of the diversity of its workforce.”
According to the suit, UPS has policies that prohibit supervisors and any employees who interact with customers from wearing facial hair below the lip or growing hair below the collar. It accused the company of deliberately withholding information from applicants and existing back-facility employees about how to seek exceptions to the policies, or by delaying their requests for waivers for so long that they gave up.
The alleged victims weren’t only Muslims: The suit says Rastafarian workers with dreadlocks in Florida and elsewhere were denied supervisory positions based on their beliefs and segregated into the back of facilities to be sorters. In one case, it says, a manager ignored a request for a religious exception by a worker trying for a promotion, telling him he “didn’t want any employees looking like women on his management team.”
A Native American applicant who applied for a position in Stockton, California, tried to explain that he wore his hair long as part of his religious observance and offered to hide it under his shirt or in a hair net, the suit says. The alleged response: “No haircut, no job.”
Join us in the Bahamas for screenwriting mentorship from top Hollywood pros!
We have had so many requests from writers for this program, that we’ve expanded! We’ll now be selecting six winning writers for a FREE trip to The Bahamas to join our team for a career-launching opportunity. Join a producer from Game of Thrones and an exec from The Weinstein Company for this exclusive program at The Bahamas International Film Festival!
Accepting Feature and TV screenplays.
Contest final deadline July 22!
This distinguished program will provide six talented screenwriters with an all-inclusive trip in December for mentorship, networking and screenplay development. Come join us — TV and Film screenwriters are both welcome. If you don’t win the contest, we’re also going to open for full-tuition applications in September for up to four more attendees. We’d love to see you there.
This year’s mentors include:
Vince Gerardis: Producer (HBO’s Games Of Thrones)
Dan Guando: Weinstein Co. Executive Vice President of Acquisitions, Production & Development
Elizabeth Hunter: Producer and Writer of such hit movies and TV shows as Jumping the Broom, Beauty Shop, Charmed and ER.
Taylor Benzie: Literary Manager at Kaplan/Perrone
Sean Covel: Film Producer (Napoleon Dynamite, Beneath, Cafe)
Cameron Cubbison: co-founder of ScreenCraft, studio-trained development executive
Matthew Helderman: CEO and co-founder at Buffalo 8 Productions and Bondit
To sign up go to: https://screencraft.org/bahamas/
Caribbean Court rejects appeal by Ex-Army Officer in Grenada
From Observer Chronicle
A Caribbean appeals court docket on Monday dismissed an attempt to grow to be a lawyer by one of seventeen adult men convicted of murder in a bloody 1983 coup in Grenada that triggered a U.S. invasion.
The Japanese Caribbean Supreme Court turned down the appeal by previous army officer Ewart Layne, who hoped to attain admittance to Grenada’s authorized bar.
In 2013, a Grenadian choose dominated that Layne need to be blocked from the authorized profession for the reason that of his coup conviction. In her choice, Justice Margaret Selling price-Findlay explained Layne’s admittance to the island’s lawful bar would “send an inconsistent message to customers of the public and to the profession as a complete.”
On Monday, the Caribbean court turned down Layne’s attraction of that conclusion, stating it located “no unfairness” in the judge’s ruling. The regional courtroom is now hearing conditions on the island of Dominica.
Layne’s lawyers mentioned they will appeal to the Britain-centered Privy Council, the court of previous resort for a range of Caribbean nations around the world.
Layne was element of the “Grenada seventeen,” the group arrested for the killings of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, four Cabinet ministers and 6 supporters on Oct. 19, 1983.
Grenada grew to become a flash position in the Cold War following Bishop led a bloodless coup in 1979 and put in a Marxist govt. Bishop was killed by a firing squad immediately after a radical faction staged a coup 4 a long time later.
Tooth decay forces 50,000 children to hospital every year
From Financial Express
While you may not take teeth related hygiene that seriously, nearly 50,000 children in England are admitted to hospital each year due to problems caused by rotten teeth.
Professor Nigel Hunt at the Royal College of Surgeons said that medical services “just can’t cope” with almost 26,000 general anaesthetics being given to five to nine-year-old children every year for tooth extractions, the Daily Express reported.
He added that there should be clear Government strategy that raises awareness of the importance of simple measures such as reducing sugar consumption or visiting a dentist to drive up standards in oral health.
Prof Hunt called for unhealthy drinks and sweets to be labelled with stark warnings such as those on tobacco products.
Recently, doctors had backed the campaign calling for a 20 percent tax hike on sugary drinks.
Scientists recommend eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day instead of the current five, and the British Nutrition Foundation too would publish a report stating that tea and coffee should be unsweetened and made with semi-skimmed milk.
This 50-million-year-old worm sperm is a scientific treasure
By Sean Buckley From engadget
Scientists in Antarctica have come across one of the rarest specimens on record: ancient, fossilized worm sperm. “Because sperm cells are so short-lived and fragile, they are vanishingly rare in the fossil record,” explains Benjamin Bomfleur, one of the palaeontologists who discovered the preserved cells. In fact, the find itself was an accident: Bomfleur’s college, Thomas Mörs, came across the ancient sperm while examining a fossilized worm cocoon.
According to the a paper published in the latest edition of Biology Letters, the preserved sperm is very similar to the sperm of modern-day crayfish worms, but its location suggests that the prehistoric animal lived in a wider geographic area than its modern counterpart. Perhaps more important than this specific find itself is where it was found–in an annelid cocoon that takes several days to harden. The team believes this environment is ideal for trapping micro-organisms, and hopes to find more rare specimens by specifically targeting similarly fossilized cocoons.
[Image credit: Swedish Museum of Natural History]
Vedic chants, hymns at Varanasi ghats soon
By Punkhuri Kapoor, From The Times of India
VARANASI: Majestic riverfront of the holy city, which has been fascinating globetrotters and people across the country, is likely to get an extra splendor with establishment of sound system playing Vedic chants and hymns at all the 84 ghats to attract more tourists and promote tourism.
Following the directives received by the state government, Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) have geared up efforts for the same and have called in two technical teams to conduct survey at all the ghats along river Ganga. “In a bid to promote tourism, all the 84 ghats along river Ganga will be equipped with sound system and arrangements will be made wherein chanting of hymns and Vedic mantras will be played boasting of the city’s culture,” VDA secretary, MP Singh said. “VDA has called in two technical teams from Delhi and Lucknow to conduct survey and prepare a report considering rise and fall in Ganga levels, connectivity as well as an estimated cost for the sound system. The company which would come up with cheaper budget will then be roped in and work of establishment of system will commence henceforth,” he said, further adding that, one of the teams has already conducted the survey and report of both the teams should be received in less than two weeks.
Stating other purposes of establishment of sound system, Singh said, “The sound system can also prove beneficial in cases of calamity. Usually during September, when increase in water levels of river Ganga is witnessed, these sound systems can be used to caution people or those taking holy dip. These sound systems can be used as Public Address Systems too.”
The regional tourism officials believe that establishment of sound system at all the ghats would provide a fillip to tourism in a big way. “The two major tourist hotbeds of the city are Sarnath and Ganga ghats, one of the key tourism site. With the establishment of sound system at ghats, influx of tourists will further increase as chanting of vedas and hymns will create a peaceful and serene environment, which is the most sought-after by these tourists,” regional tourist officer, Ravindra Mishra said. As it is, tourists throng ghats during morning and evening hours for the fabled Ganga aarti and Subah-e-Banaras programme, and sound system will add to its beauty, he added.
Tesla gets ready for its ‘Gigafactory’ by tripling its Nevada land
By engadget
Tesla’s model of the completed Gigafactory
Tesla’s battery-focused “Gigafactory” isn’t even finished yet, but that isn’t stopping the electric car maker from expanding its plant’s territory. The company just confirmed that it has nearly tripled its Nevada land purchases, adding 1,893 acres to the 1,000 it got back in 2014. Not that Tesla is planning to grow the factory itself in the near future. A spokesperson tells the Wall Street Journal that most of the new turf is a buffer space — Tesla could put solar farms in this area to power the factory, but it won’t add manufacturing capacity in the short term. Elon Musk and crew have the option of buying thousands of more acres, though, and there’s a real chance that they’ll need the extra headroom if the Model 3 and Powerwall take off.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/15/tesla-triples-gigafactory-land/?ncid=rss_truncated
How big is the Universe? An awesome interactive explanation
By Yoni Heisler FromBGR
With all of the commotion and intrigue surrounding the New Horizons spacecraft approaching Pluto, the BBC recently highlighted an incredible interactive piece they put together last year which provides an engaging and informative approach to answering a question most everyone has wondered at some point in their lives: just how big is the Universe?
Employing some clever scrolling animations, the BBC page not only provides viewers with answers, but adds in all sorts of interesting facts about space for additional context and learning opportunities. For instance, the interactive graphic tells us that a Soviet dog named Laika once travelled 1,031 miles up into space atop the Sputnik 2 in 1957. As another example, the graphic tells us that GPS satellites are in orbit 12,555 miles above earth. Who knew?!
One final and interesting data point worth noting is that the farthest distance from earth ever reached by humans was 248,548 miles.
All in all, the interactive graphic is well worth checking out in its entirety. Make sure to hit the source link below to check it out.
For more: http://bgr.com/2015/07/15/how-big-is-the-universe/
People aren’t OK with a politician using a helicopter to travel down the road
By Jenni Ryall From Mashable
AUSTRALIA: An Australian politician has proved the age of entitlement is still well and truly alive.
Parliamentary speaker Bronwyn Bishop apparently likes to travel in style. According to the Herald Sun, she took a return private helicopter ride to a political fundraiser a mere 75 kilometres away in November. It cost a cool A$5227.
The trip from Melbourne to Geelong would have only taken her an hour by car each way — but who wants to drive when you can fly? Not Bishop.
That splurge is nothing in comparison to the A$300,000 coughed up for her overseas trips in 2014, according to Fairfax Media. It seems Bishop likes the finer things in life.
Bronwyn Bishop did it for the good of the people.
Most people can understand some expense for a politician’s overseas travel, but a royal arrival in the town of Geelong appears to be stirring people the very wrong way. Treasurer Joe Hockey has called on Bishop to “please explain,” while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has demanded action be taken.
“Using taxpayer funds to attend a party political event, this is the sort of arrogance which makes Australians so angry,” he said on Thursday. “[Prime Minister Tony] Abbott, if he is to retain any respect for his government, must take action on this. It is such a colossally arrogant thing to do.”
Seeming to agree with this sentiment, Australians took to Twitter to tear down Bishop’s pompous attitude.
IMAGE: Spotted: Bronwyn Bishop driving a car. IMAGE: AAP IMAGES
New hub to improve efficiency and transparency of Caribbean public procurement
By Marino Donati From Supply Management
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is to establish a regional procurement centre that aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of public spending across its borrowing member countries.
The centre will be created to provide high-quality, relevant, accredited education for procurement professionals in the Caribbean.
The CDB will invest just under $138,000 (£88,000) with around another $46,000 (£29,000) in “in-kind” resources, such as staff time and World Bank has committed US$ 320,000 (£205,000) in grant funding. The project will be delivered under the Programme for Improved Public Investment Management through Sustainable Public Procurement Capacity Building in the Caribbean Region.
Douglas Fraser, head of procurement at CDB, said that improving public procurement was 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,” said Fraser. “It will provide robust training and help guide our borrowing member countries toward reforming their public procurement systems.”
After the initial launch, there are plans to expand the centre’s remit to provide services to public and private clients and it could also eventually include research, policy support, and networking services.
A process to select a regional entity to run the procurement centre, and a procurement consultant to support development of the centre is currently underway with the centre scheduled to launch next year.
BVI: Premier touches on various topics at press briefing
By Ken Silva From The BVI Beacon
Premier Dr. Orlando Smith held a press conference Thursday afternoon to inform the public about his trips to Barbados and Canada, as well as take questions from the media about a variety of topics.
Dr. Smith said his time in Canada last week was spent participating in the Toronto Global Forum, where he discussed global issues affecting the Caribbean with government officials from around the world.
Other Caribbean leaders at the summit included the premier of Bermuda, the prime ministers of Grenada and Aruba, and the secretary of state of Puerto Rico, he said.
Earlier this month in Barbados, the premier said, he attended a Caribbean Community conference with other heads of government from around the region, as well as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
One of the major topics discussed there was establishing the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund.
These institutions will help countries around the region transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, he said.
After his briefing, Dr. Smith sat down and took questions from the press.
Inquires touched on the territory being “blacklisted” by the European Union, the recently passed duty-free legislation, the accreditation of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the schedule for when the government will form a committee necessary to carry out the Register of Interests Act.
HavanaAir Charters and Eastern Air Lines to start weekly air service to Cuba from Houston International Airport
MIAMI, July 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Miami based HavanaAir Charters continues its expansion into the Cuba market with their direct air carrier partner Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. HavanaAir will begin weekly, direct service from Houston International Airport to Havana, Cuba giving U.S. West Coast gateway cities a more convenient and faster route to Cuba. HavanaAir is one of the largest providers of passenger traffic to the island, currently operating some 65 flights a month to Havana from Miami with additional service to Santa Clara and Camaguey.
HavanaAir utilizes Eastern Air Lines Boeing 737-800 (Next Generation) aircraft, on the weekly flights, which will operate on Wednesdays starting in August.
“We are very pleased to open the Houston to Cuba market with our valued partner, Eastern Air Lines. HavanaAir has strived to extend the utmost in customer services to the island, and our partnership with Eastern has proven to provide an entirely new level of service to Cuba with their Next Generation Boeing aircraft, truly professional crew and support staff,” said Mark Elias, President and COO of HavanaAir Charters.
“We are once again excited to partner with HavanaAir on their new service from Houston, and we look forward to launching these new flights from the Houston gateway to complement the existing multiple daily Miami services now provided by Eastern Air Lines,” said Ed Wegel, President & CEO of Eastern.
Key Facts:
HavanaAir will operate, with Eastern, weekly on Wednesdays, from Houston to Havana
HavanaAir operates twice daily service to Havana and weekly service to Camaguey and Santa Clara, from Miami.
HavanaAir’s operations are supported by Eastern Air Lines 737-800 (Next Generation) aircraft, supporting some 65+ flights to Cuba monthly.
HavanaAir is a licensed 14 CFR 380 Airline Charter Operator and holds OFAC CSP License # CU-2013-305073-2
