iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
MAY 27
2015 Hurricane Training
2015 Hurricane Training for Shelter Managers & District Representative Volunteers are Wednesday and Thursday (27 May & 28 May) at the Prospect Primary School Hall from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. For more information call 949-0290.
Nosotros: Spanish Floetry
Nosotros: Spanish Floetry is Wednesday (27 May) at 7pm at Books & Books.
Basic food hygiene course
Certification courses in basic food hygiene are being offered by the Department of Environmental Health. The next meeting is Wednesday (27May) from 9am until 4pm. For more information, call the DEH at 949-6696.
MAY 28
Public Lecture GT
All are invited to a Public Lecture on “The Relevance of Christianity in a Post Christian World” on Thursday May 28th at the Elmslie Memorial Church Hall, Harbor Drive, George Town at 5:30pm. Opportunity will be available for discussion.
The lecture will be given by the Rev. Dr. Garnett Roper PhD – Seminary President, Community Activist, Author, Talk Show Host and Newspaper Columnist.
This is a free event and refreshments will be served.
Cayman Islands Facility Management Association meeting
The Cayman Islands Facility Management Association would like to invite you to a regular meeting on May 28 at Camana Bay. Please accept the invite to RSVP for this meeting. Guests are always welcome.
Date: May 28, 2015 Time: 9am-11am
Location: The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
Regular Meeting before and networking afterwards
Admission: Free
Grand Court Jurors Notice
Grand Court jurors in the current session must now report on Thursday (28 May) at 9:45am.
PTA meeting of the Layman E. Scott High School
The PTA meeting of the Layman E. Scott High School on Cayman Brac is Thursday (28 May) at 7pm.
CULTURE SHOP STREET FAIR
WEST BAY PIRATES WEEK COMMITTEE IN COLLABOARATION WITH THE PIRATES WEEK FESTIVAL OFFICE PRESENTS CULTURE SHOP STREET FAIR ON CARDINAL AVENUE IN GEORGE TOWN ON THURSDAY (28 MAY) FROM 9.00AM -4:00PM.
Foster Parent orientation dinner
The Foster Parent orientation dinner is Thursday (28 May) at Grand Old House from 5:30 — 7pm. For more information call 949.0290
Panel Discussion Photography: Subject vs. Content
The National Gallery’s Panel Discussion on Photography: Subject vs. Content is Thursday (28 May) at 6pm.
MAY 29
Smoking Cessation Classes: ‘I Can Quit’
The Public Health Department urges smokers who wish to quit the habit to sign up for upcoming smoking cessation classes. These classes start on 3 June 2015, and will take place from 5.15pm to 6.45pm, every Wednesday for seven weeks, in the Public Health Waiting Room. Registration deadline is May 29, 2015.
For more info or to sign up, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2889/244-2648, or email [email protected].
Proud of the Them
Nominate Cayman’s Houth for the Proud of the Them campaign. Nomination forms can be found online at gov.ky. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday (29 May)
Prospect Primary School Exhibition
Prospect Primary School’s Exhibition on Minimizing the Waste Impact to the Environment is Friday (29 May) from 9 until 1
Coral Nurseries Propsal
The Cabinet of the Cayman Islands has approved a policy for managing coral nurseries in the Cayman Islands. The Department of Environment will be accepting proposals to establish nurseries under this policy thru May 29th, with projects to commence October 2015 or later. Proposals should be for establishing nurseries for Acropora corals and eventual outplanting on Cayman’s reefs. Proposals, or requests for information, may be submitted to [email protected].
Bingo Game Night
The Cayman Islands Umpire Association presents a Bingo Game Night on Friday (29 May) at the Smith Road Oval at 6pm.
Warren MacDonald Book Signing
A Test of Will — One Man’s Story of Survival author, Warren MacDonald, hosts a presentation, book signing and dinner on Friday (29 May) with a presentation at 5:15pm at regal cinemas and a book signing at 6:15 at Books and Books. Dinner follows at Abacus at 830pm. Tickets can be purchased at CITA offices or the Town Centre in Camana Bay.
MAY 30
Businessmen’s Breakfast
The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International is having its monthly breakfast on Saturday May 30th at 7:30am, at The Upper Crust restaurant in Camana Bay. Our speaker is Allan Turner
Come out to hear the how God is making a difference in the life of men like you, right here in Cayman.
St. George’s Anglican Church’s Mothers’ Union Tea Party
The St. George’s Anglican Church’s Mothers’ Union invites you to their Annual Tea Party Delight on Saturday (30 May) at 3:30 p.m.
Fundraiser Family Event
Cayman Islands Baptist Church is holding a Fundraiser Family Event with a Garage Sale — Dinner Sale — Car-Wash-a-Thon — Prayer Station — Silent Auction on Saturday (30 May) from 7am — 4pm on Pedro Castle Road
2nd Annual Outpouring Worship Gathering
Harvest Fellowship Church invites you to their 2nd Annual Outpouring Worship Gathering on Saturday (30 May) at 6pm.
Cayman Brac’s Little Miss and Master 2015
The Lions Club of Cayman Brac’s Little Miss and Master 2015 event is Saturday (30 May) at 7pm at the Aston Rutty Center.
Ride for a Life Bike-a-thon
The Ride for a Life Bike-a-thon is Saturday (30 May) at 630am at the Credit Union parking lot.
Butterfield 800m Sea Swim
The Butterfield 800m Sea Swim is Saturday (30 May) at Governor’s Beach starting at 4pm.
Caywriters
Caywriters is Saturday (30 May) at 530pm at Books & Books.
2015 South Sound Stride 5K Run/Walk
The 2015 South Sound Stride 5K Run/Walk and Pancake Flip is Saturday (30 May) at 7am with the Pee Wee Fun Run for children 7 and under starting at 8. The event is at the First Baptist Christian School
RCIPS Ride for a Life Bike a Thon
RCIPS Ride for a Life Bike a Thon is Saturday (30 May) at 630am at the Credit Union Parking Lot. For more information, call 525.9395.
Golf cart race in Cayman Islands raises money for local charities
A race of souped up golf carts last Sunday (24) raised approx. $63,000 for two local Cayman Islands charities – the Francis Bodden Girls Home and Feed Our Future.
The race was called “Great Race For Grace”
The carts were able to travel at speeds of 60mph.
Did Royal Caribbean dupe USPH Inspectors?
By Jim Walker of Walker & O’Neill Maritime Lawyers
A former crew member posted photographs saying that the Liberty of the Seas hid equipment, pots, pans and other items from the galley during an USPH inspection last December. You can see photographs of the galley equipment hidden throughout the ship (primarily in the crew quarter) on our Facebook page.
Two years ago Silversea Cruises crew members came to us complaining that the Silver Shadow was hiding quantities of food and galley equipment from USPH inspections. We gave them the contact information of the USPH which the flunked the ship on the next inspection for intentionally hiding a dozen Liberty of the Seastrolleys of galley items and perishable food in the crew quarters.
I posed the following inquiry on this blog: How Many Cruise Lines Play Games with USPH Inspectors?
And I asked the following question on Facebook:: Do cruise lines hide pots & pans, galley equipment and food from USPH inspectors?
Of the first 100 crew members who answered the poll (admittedly unscientific), around 90% said yes, cruise lines hide galley items from inspectors. One crew member said: “There will be more equipment in the crew cabin during the inspection then in the galley that’s for sure!!!”
Crew members still tell me that the unsanitary practice is widespread. The Silversea Cruises scandal occurred in 2013 but the cruise line just flunked an inspection this month after the USPH caught the cruise line playing hide and seek games again.
The USPH inspections are rigorous. Crew members are ordered into working additional long hours to try and be ready. A failed score is a major embarrassment for a cruise ships and a kiss of death for a F&B manager. Some cruise lines cut corners and dupe the inspectors.
For more and images: http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2015/05/articles/norovirus/did-royal-caribbean-dupe-usph-inspectors/
Cayman Islands: Tuesdays are the new Saturdays for toddlers at Camana Bay
Starting in June, Camana Bay introduces Toddler Tuesdays, with Story Time and Imagination Playground moving from Wednesdays to Tuesdays.
Camana Bay Story Time will now begin at 11am at Regal Cinemas and Imagination Playground will remain in its current timeslot of 10am-7pm on The Crescent, but both activities will move to Tuesdays.
Imagination Playground and Story Time also take place on Saturdays, with Imagination Playground again running from 10am to 7pm on The Crescent and Books & Books Story Time beginning at 10:30am. This scheduling remains unchanged.
How does this sound for an ideal Toddler Tuesday?
9-10am: Bring your little one along for a hearty breakfast or a cup of coffee at Café Del Sol or Upper Crust Bistro.
10-10:45am: Stop by Books & Books and let your toddler browse through the latest toys and take a sneak peek at Story Time’s featured books.
10:45am: Make your way over to Regal Cinemas for Story Time at 11am!
11:30am: Finish off a fun-filled morning by watching your toddler splash in the interactive fountains in Jasmine Court and on The Crescent for Imagination Playground.
For more details on these weekly events, visit www.camanabay.com/events.
Costa Rica’s Caribbean region hit by heavy rains, flooding
From the Tico Times
Heavy rains continue to fall on Costa Rica’s Caribbean province of Limón. This photo shows flooding on May 24, 2015. (Via CNE)
National Emergency Commission (CNE) officials on Monday reported that a preventive alert in the Caribbean province of Limón will remain in force throughout the week after heavy weekend rains damaged 280 homes and prompted the evacuation of at least 35 people.
The local airport in Limón was closed Saturday as rains completely flooded the landing strip.
On Monday morning, CNE’s monitoring stations in the region reported a significant decrease in rainfall, but emergency response agencies will remain vigilant. According to National Meteorological Institute (IMN) forecasts, heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected in the northern and southern Caribbean beginning on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout the week.
A low-pressure system is causing increased rainfall that likely will surpass the month’s average. Rainfall over the weekend reached a total of 9 inches, while the average for the entire month in Limón is 13 inches, according to the IMN.
CNE officials over the weekend activated surveillance checkpoints in six Caribbean cantons: Pococí, Guácimo, Matina, Siquirres, Limón and Talamanca. In these areas constant rains have caused most of the flooding in homes and sewers.
Increased rainfall also is expected in the Central Valley due to the low-pressure system and the start of this year’s rainy season, the IMN reported.
For more: http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/25/heavy-rains-costa-ricas-caribbean-region-affect-280-homes
Tobago Eyes Creativity to compete in Caribbean cruise industry
From Caribbean Journal
Tobago is looking to step up its competitiveness in the cruise ship market, according to Oscar Brathwaite, administrator of the island’s division of tourism and transportation.
While the island’s location to the far south of the region puts the island “at a disadvantage among potential cruise ship destinations,” he said the island recognizes “the value of welcoming and hosting visitors.”
“In order to counter the disadvantage, we have to be creative,” he said at this month’s Sea Trade Caribbean Cruise Forum. “In the industry, we strive to develop our creativity by improving on our tourism packages and our tourism offerings.”
Tobago’s cruise sector is slated for a major boost next year when Carnival returns to the island.
The cruise giant will be visiting the island as part of some of its longer Caribbean itineraries that include Eastern Caribbean destinations like Dominica, Martinique and Grenada.
That will bring around 10,642 Carnival passengers to Tobago in 2016.
For more: http://caribjournal.com/2015/05/25/tobago-eyes-creativity-to-compete-in-caribbean-cruise-industry/#
Jersey’s credit rating confirmed
The States of Jersey’s international credit rating issued by Standard & Poors (S&P) has been affirmed as one of the best that the credit ratings service awards.
S&P has affirmed its “AA+/A-1 + long and short-term sovereign credit rating, with a stable outlook” for the States of Jersey.
In its report, S&P noted: “The AA+ ratings on Jersey reflect our view of its mature political and institutional setting, transparent economic decision-making process, wealthy economy and significant fiscal flexibility supported by a high net general government asset position.”
Financial assets
The report also states that Jersey “has an open and wealthy economy and recognises that strong revenue performance historically has seen government accumulate substantial financial assets.” It is these assets that have supported the subdued financial sector revenues over the last couple of years.
Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Alan MacLean, said “It is positive news for Jersey that an international credit rating institution such as S&P continues to recognise the strength of our Balance Sheet. We have had a full and frank discussion about our fiscal position with them and our plans to deal with it and this this has provided the comfort they need to maintain their level of rating with their outlook view remaining stable.”
The AA+ credit rating was first assigned in November 2013 in order that the States was able to proceed with the £250 million bond earmarked to provide investment in affordable housing over the next 10 years.
Within the report, S&P also detail the circumstances in which they would either raise or reduce the Island’s credit rating and its rationale for awarding AA+.
SOURCE: http://www.gov.je/News/2015/Pages/CreditRatingConfirmed.aspx
ESPN, FOX ink LATAM, Caribbean deal for German football rights
By Juan Fernandez Gonzalez From Rapid TV News
Following a three-year agreement with FOX Sports Latin America, ESPN is to broadcast the Bundesliga German football first division throughout Latin America and select countries across the Caribbean through 2017/18.
Under the agreement, FOX Sports will provide ESPN with exclusive rights to half of the Bundesliga matches per season, some relegation matches played at the end of each season, as well as non-exclusive rights to the German Super Cup in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, ESPN will have non-exclusive rights to Bundesliga Weekly a weekly review show with highlights and specials produced each season by DFL.
“The Bundesliga is a fantastic league that features some of the highest quality and most attractive football in Europe, and we’re very pleased to continue bringing it to our fans for another three seasons,” said Tim Bunnell, senior VP of production, programming, marketing and advertising sales, ESPN International.
ESPN’s coverage of the Bundesliga will air across a variety of multimedia platforms, including ESPN’s television networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN+, and ESPNHD – and the TV everywhere, video-on-demand (VOD) platform ESPN Play. Additionally, rights will extend across the brand’s regional digital platforms including ESPN.com, ESPNFC.com, the ESPN FC app and ESPN mobile Web.
Coventry’s Caribbean Festival cancelled due to spiralling costs
By Antonia Bannister From Coventry Telegraph
New legislation mean that hiring the War Memorial Park would cost organisers three times as much as they usually pay
The annual Coventry Caribbean Festival has been cancelled this year because of the spiralling costs of staging it at the War Memorial Park.
Organisers of the festival announced the cancellation of the event on their Facebook page earlier this month, saying simply that the cancellation was due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
But organisers have now explained that a change in local government legislation has priced them out of holding the event at the city’s Memorial Park.
A spokesman for the festival said: “Due to changes in local government legislation, the cost to hold the event at the War Memorial Park has trebled and this has added to the existing financial strain on the festival.
“The non-profit event receives no funding and relies solely on sponsorship and support from the local community.
“Each year, the cost of the event increases and it becomes more difficult to raise funds in order for the festival to go ahead.”
But the organisers said they wanted to reassure families that they would do everything to make sure the festival will return for its 25th anniversary next year.
Their statement added: “We are extremely passionate about the long running event, as are a large number of the community.
“Although the future of the Coventry Caribbean Festival is currently in jeopardy due to the lack of finances, we aim to develop new fundraising initiatives and continue the annual event.
“The event directors, Fresh Enterprise, have decided that they have no choice but to cancel this year’s event and begin focusing on the 2016 event, which will be the 25th festival, to make it bigger and more widely entertaining than previous years.”
Many festival goers expressed their disappointment at the cancellation on Facebook.
Lee Brooks wrote: “This is such a shame. I look forward to this more than the Godiva Festival. 2014 was a great atmosphere, weather and all round a very good day.”
FarGo Village also commented on the festival’s announcement offering their assistance in organising an event on a smaller scale.
They wrote: “Is there anything we can do to help here at Fargo – maybe a mini festival?”
OECD Permanent Establishment proposals could impact Channel Islands
From biglobal
The OECD has just released its revised proposals on the Permanent Establishment (PE) rules in Article 5 of the OECD Model Tax Treaty.
The new proposals update the earlier OECD discussion draft on artificial avoidance of PE status from October 2014, including specific recommendations on changes to various aspects of the PE rules.
Key revisions within the revised proposals include:
- A pre-requisite for activities of a fixed place of business to be preparatory or auxiliary in character to be exempt from PE treatment;
- An expansion of the PE definition to include an employee or agent that ‘habitually concludes contracts or negotiates the material elements of contracts’;
- An ‘anti-fragmentation’ rule that will allow tax authorities to look at combined activities of any connected enterprises in one jurisdiction and apply the ‘preparatory or auxiliary’ test to the combined activity;
- A clear independent agent exemption with a 10 per cent threshold for exclusivity (e.g. if more than 90 per cent of the business is with one connected party it would not be possible to use the exemption);
- A 30 day physical presence test rule for connected enterprises.
Commenting on what the revised treaty provisions and commentary mean for Channel Islands businesses, Debbie Payne, Tax Director at PwC Channel Islands said: “One thing to note is that the OECD plans to try to implement these changes across all (or most) of the tax treaties globally via a multi-lateral instrument soon after the paper is finalised in September 2015. While the feasibility and timeline for implementation of this multi-lateral instrument remains unclear, the revised rules are already changing tax authority behaviour.
“Where there is no treaty in place, which is the case for many jurisdictions where Channel Islands’ companies conduct business, the impact of these changes is likely to be felt soon and we anticipate an increasing number of challenges from tax authorities in this area. The UK Diverted Profits Tax already goes further than the OECD proposals so it remains to be seen how the UK will react to this.”
Although no public consultation meeting will be held on the proposals included in this second discussion draft, the OECD has invited public comments by 12 June 2015. These comments will be considered before finalising the Action 7 guidance before the end of 2015.
Gibraltar Joins International Information Exchange Agreement
From IAIS
Agreement Strengthens International Supervisory Cooperation, Promotes Enhanced Consumer Protection
Basel – Felix Hufeld, Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), today announced that the insurance supervisor of Gibraltar has joined an international supervisory cooperation and information exchange agreement. Since the first jurisdiction was admitted in June 2009, membership in the IAIS Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) has grown significantly to now include 52 signatories representing more than 63% of worldwide premium volume.
“The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) is delighted to have been accepted as a signatory to the IAIS MMoU,” said FSC Chief Executive Officer Samantha Barrass. “The FSC is committed to working together with other jurisdictions to exchange information and strengthen the approach to supervision of insurance companies globally.”
The MMoU is a global framework for cooperation and information exchange among insurance supervisors. It sets minimum standards to which signatories must adhere, and all applicants are subject to review and approval by an independent team of IAIS Members. Through membership in the MMoU, supervisors are able to exchange relevant information with and provide assistance to other signatories, thereby promoting the financial stability and sound supervision of cross-border insurance operations for the benefit and protection of consumers.
“We are glad to welcome Gibraltar as a signatory to the MMoU,” said Mr Hufeld. “In order to achieve our ultimate goal of policyholder protection within the global insurance marketplace, an insurance supervisor needs the ability to cooperate quickly and effectively. The MMoU is an essential regulatory tool – not only in crisis situations, but on a day-to-day basis – for supervisors to foster safer and more stable insurance markets, and the IAIS encourages each of its Members to become a MMoU signatory.”
Current MMoU signatories include, among others, Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, California (USA), Connecticut (USA), Chinese Taipei, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Michigan (USA), Nebraska (USA), the Netherlands, Pennsylvania (USA), Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Virginia (USA) and Washington (USA). A complete list of signatories and a copy of the MMoU can be found on the IAIS website (www.iaisweb.org)
For more: http://iaisweb.org/index.cfm?event=showNewsDetails&persistId=A882E79F155D896B00D8CA1A6AEB1F41
Jamaican hotel worker convicted for stealing phones used by Secret Service
From CARIBBEAN360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday May 25, 2015 – A Jamaican hotel worker who stole 15 of the phones used by the United States Secret Service when President Barack Obama was in the country last month, has been given a suspended sentence, according to the Jamaica Observer newspaper.
Christopher Green was given a nine-month jail term after pleading guilty to larceny but, for now, escapes any time behind bars, since the sentence was suspended for two years. He could land in prison if he commits a crime within the next two years.
The Jamaica Observer reported that the theft had been kept out of the public eye until the 28-year-old appeared in court last week.
The electrician at the Pegasus Hotel admitted to police that on April 10, a day after the US president left the island, he stole 15 Nokia 106 cellphones from a room on the 12th floor of the hotel.
The devices had been purchased for the Secret Service agents to use while in Jamaica and were among other mobile phones left for workers from the US Embassy to collect the following day.
The remaining phones were picked up as scheduled on April 11, but it was later discovered that 15 were missing.
Police subsequently arrested Green who told them that he found the phones at his workplace and had given away and sold some of them.
According to the Jamaica Gleaner, police recovered three of the phones from Green’s mother and five from his co-workers.
Although saying, “in my heart he should go to prison for stupidity”, Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey imposed the suspended sentence on Green.
Tingyi Cayman Islands : 1Q net profit falls 17% as instant noodle, beverage sales decline
By Chester Yung From 4-Traders
HONG KONG–Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (>> Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.), an instant noodle and beverage producer in China, said Tuesday its first-quarter net profit fell 17% on year as revenue from various product lines declined.
Net profit for the three months ended March dropped to US$107 million from US$128 million a year earlier, while revenue fell 17% to US$2.32 billion.
Total sales of instant noodles decreased 13% on year in the first quarter to US$1 billion, while sales of beverages dropped 19% to US$1.26 billion, Tingyi said in the statement.
Latest lead in hunt for Natalee Holloway’s body proves false
From CARIBBEAN360
IMAGE: Natalee Holloway NATALEE HOLLOWAY WAS ON A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TRIP WHEN SHE VANISHED A DECADE AGO.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba, Tuesday May 26, 2015 — Yet another tip about the location of the body of missing American teen Natalee Holloway has drawn a blank.
Authorities in Aruba have dismissed the account of a man who claimed to have been an eyewitness to Holloway’s demise on May 30, 2005.
The man, identified as Jurrien De Jong, told the syndicated television programme ‘Inside Edition‘ that he saw the 18-year-old Alabama student being chased into a building by longtime suspect Joran van der Sloot, who emerged a short while later carrying Holloway in his arms.
Van der Sloot went on to slam the young woman into the ground and dig an opening in a crawl space, according to De Jong. The building was under construction, De Jong told reporters, and is now the Spyglass Tower of the Marriott Hotel in Aruba.
His claims led chief prosecutor Eric Olthof to ask Aruba police to contact Marriott’s management office in Orlando, Florida, to determine when the hotel’s Spyglass Tower and its staircase was built.
Marriott officials said neither the tower nor its staircase had been built when Holloway disappeared, prosecutors said.
“This means that Natalee Holloway could never have been hidden and/or buried there,” officials said in a statement. “This leads to the conclusion that the claims made by Mr De Jong . . . cannot be correct, and that his testimony . . . does not add to the solving of this case.”
De Jong’s claims prompted the missing teen’s father, Dave Holloway, to return to Aruba earlier this month with a private investigator and a cadaver dog. His search for justice for his daughter nevertheless failed to gain any ground.
The hunt for the truth about Holloway’s disappearance has taken several cruel twists in the past, with several supposed leads going nowhere, including conflicting statements from van der Sloot, who was arrested twice but never charged.
Holloway was on a high school graduation trip when she vanished. The 18-year-old from Alabama was reportedly last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, a Dutchman raised in Aruba, who was just 17 years-old at the time of her disappearance.
In 2012, van der Sloot was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the 2010 murder of business student Stephany Flores in Peru. Flores was killed in a Lima hotel room five years to the day after Holloway disappeared in Aruba.
Federal Judge reopens case related to Clinton E-Mails
By Ed Silverstein, From Legaltech News
“It’s going to be the federal courts which are going to be the best vehicle … to recover, protect and examine Mrs. Clinton’s records.”
U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton is reopening a case that tries to release sensative e-mails former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent from her personal account during her administration. The move by the judge relates to a 2012 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case from a request by Judicial Watch and the State Department, according to news reports.
“It’s an important development,” Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, told Legaltech News about the judge’s decision. “[It is] another indication of the extraordinary nature of the e-mail record scandal at the State Department.”
Supporters of Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group that promotes government transparency, point out that this is another example of Judicial Watch filling a void after other entities failed to act.
“We’re the only ones asking questions of what she was up to … and going to court when we didn’t get answers,” Fitton said.
The Justice Department, Fitton said, is “conflicted,” Congress is a “political entity,” and the media is not undertaking related investigative reporting.
“It’s going to be the federal courts which are going to be the best vehicle … to recover, protect and examine Mrs. Clinton’s records,” Fitton added.
Meanwhile, the move by Walton represents the first time a judge has gotten involved in such a way in the issue.
The controversy erupted after it was found that Clinton, during the time she was at the State Department, used a personal e-mail server separate from the government’s servers and used her personal e-mail account.
Eventually, Clinton turned some 30,000 e-mails over to the government that related to government business. Another 32,000 e-mails were deleted that apparently were non-government related.
Judicial Watch recently has filed seven lawsuits against the State Department in federal court to view the e-mails under FOIA. More lawsuits are likely.
In addition, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, has asked that Clinton turn her server over to a third party. He is chairman of the House committee investigating the Benghazi attacks, and last week reported there were “obstacles and frustrations” when dealing with the Obama administration on the inquiry.
“It is difficult to conduct a fact-centric congressional investigation when the Administration impedes the Committee’s progress by repeatedly failing to answer the Committee’s requests or to provide information in a timely manner,” Gowdy’s report claims. “Further, the legislative branch’s constitutional toolbox seems inadequate to uphold our task in seeking the truth.”
Judicial Watch is also seeking release of e-mails involving Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin and records about the Clinton Foundation controversies, according to a statement from the organization.
In addition to the eight new lawsuits, there are 18 lawsuits, 10 of which are active in federal court, the statement adds. There are about 160 Judicial Watch FOIA requests, as well.
