iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
2015 Orientation Dates for Cayman Islands Government Schools
Released on behalf of the Education Ministry.
WED AUG 5
CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
Plans for Wednesday?
Why not get a team together and join us for the first Wednesday of every month for Quiz night at PD’s!
If you are unable to make it but would like to help spread the word about our Quiz, please download the attached flyer to share on your office notice board.
NWDA in Bodden Town
The National Workforce Development Agency will be at the Bodden Town Libary on Wednesday (5 Aug) from 10am until 1pm.
THU AUG 6
National Pensions Bill Savannah Primary
The next public consultation meeting for the National Pensions Bill is Thursday (6 Aug) at the Savannah Primary School at 730pm.
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 Aug 4th the film is Howl’s Moving Castle.
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.
Cayman Islands: RCIPS congratulates officers graduating from Law School and completing the PPC
The RCIPS is delighted to congratulate four officers who participated in graduation ceremonies last Friday at Truman Bodden Law School. Superintendent Angelique Howell and Constable Harvel Grant were recognized for completing the Professional Practice Course (PPC) with commendation, while Constable Brandaughn Phillips and Sergeant Sharon Lewis received University of Liverpool Bachelor of Laws Full-Time and Part-Time degrees, respectively. In addition, Constable Harvel Grant, who received a scholarship from the Police Welfare Association to complete his studies, was recognized with the O.L. Panton Memorial Prize for Best Performance in the PPC as well as the Attorney General’s Trophy for Best Performance in the Qualifying Examination. The RCIPS notes the hard work and perseverance these graduates have demonstrated in achieving these academic distinctions while carrying out their duties as police officers full-time.
Close race between main political parties ahead of T&T Election – Poll
From Jamaica Gleaner
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – With just weeks remaining until the September 7 general election, the polls are showing a close race between the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the coalition People’s Partnership government (PP).
The poll by Solution by Simulation (SBS) conducted between July 6 and July 22, shows the Kamla Persad Bissessar-led PP narrowly winning with the seat projections at 21 to 20. The model suggests that there is a 93% chance that the final result will be 21-20, with Tunapuna being the closest seat.
The Sunday Express commissioned poll notes that the PP has a better chance of winning the constituency of Tunapuna.
It is also predicted that other seats such as St. Joseph, La Horquetta/Talparo, or Lopinot/Bon Air West could be won by close margins.
The poll found that “the 2015 general election race between the PNM and the People’s Partnership could not be closer”.
The SBS poll model and electoral seat projection says that just one seat is likely to separate the two on September 7.
SBS says it interviewed 1,412 adults in the twin island republic via live telephone calls.
“The respondents were sampled from households of registered voters in the 257 polling divisions whose election results best predict the national election results in past elections between 2000 and 2010.”
There are a total of 1,547 polling divisions in Trinidad and Tobago.
The margin of error of the poll is +/- 3%.
Two hospitalized after stabbing and shooting overnight
By Kristy Hoffman and Verity Stevenson From The Globe and Mail
Two people were sent to hospital following a stabbing and shooting overnight Saturday in what Toronto Police say are acts of unrelated violence.
Around 7 p.m., Caribana – an annual Caribbean festival – was wrapping up at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds near Toronto’s Liberty Village. That’s when two men were injured – one on the ear, the other, on the torso – following a stabbing on Saskatchewan Boulevard and Manitoba Drive near the fountain on the grounds, Staff Sergeant Jeff Zammit of Division 14 told The Globe and Mail Sunday.
The other, a 23-year-old man, ran to a nearby Emergency Medical Services to report that he was stabbed. He was sent to hospital and is now in stable condition, Sgt. Zammit said.
It’s still unclear what caused the stabbing as so many people were in the area and a large crowd had dispersed, “panicked” from the harrowing sound of a metal fence that fell in the moments surrounding the incident, the sergeant said.
Later, Toronto Police responded to College and Shaw Streets in Little Italy around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
There they found one victim, a 26-year-old male, who had been shot in the back.
Toronto Police say the shooting happened after a disagreement arose in front of Revival Bar on College and Shaw Streets. Although officers saw two people running from a parking lot in the area, they say they have not identified any suspects.
The victim is in stable condition, and Sgt. Zammit said the shooting victim is still in hospital. “He was in critical condition – he had to be rushed to emergency surgery,” Sgt. Zammit said. He didn’t know whether the stabbing victim was still in hospital or not.
“It was a busy night,” the sergeant said, adding that the rest of the festival had gone “really well.”
Last year, someone was stabbed at Caribana as well. A 14-year-old boy allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old man multiple times and the victim was sent to hospital in critical condition. The boy was charged with attempted murder.
CAGC: Teamwork mentality brings T&T Caribbean golf title
From Digicel Sportsmax
Not for the first time, Trinidad and Tobago are the champions of the Digicel SportsMax Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC).
The T&T team, while not winning the big events, the Hoerman Cup or the George Teale Trophy, walked away with the Arthur Ziadie Trophy as the team that accumulated the most points.
T&T ended the CAGC on Friday with 101 points, pipping Jamaica, 95, to the title. The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico tied for third with 87 points.
The ‘Soca golfers’ picked up 13 points in the Hoerman Cup, 14 in the George Teale Trophy, 28 from the Ramon Baez Trophy, 25 from the Francis/Steele-Perkins Cup, and 21 from the Higgs and Higgs Trophy.
In response, the Jamaicans, who got a massive 23 from the Hoerman Cup, and 22 points from the Higgs and Higgs Trophy, fell down in the GEorge Teale Trophy, only picking up 14 points. They also found themselves a little short in the Ramon Baez
Trophy where they picked up 17 points, and in the Francis/Steele-Perkins Cup, from which they only managed 19.
The Bahamas were fifth with 85 points, and were followed by the US Virgin Islands (78), Barbados (73), the Cayman Islands (47), and Turks and Caicos Islands, 15.
Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited sets Second Quarter 2015 earnings call for August
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Aug 03, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Oxbridge (NASDAQ: OXBR) plans to hold a conference call on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015. Financial results will be issued in a press release after the close of the market on the same day.
Oxbridge’s management will host the presentation, followed by a question and answer period.
Interested parties can listen to the live presentation by dialing the listen-only number below or by clicking the webcast link available on the Investor Information section of the company’s website at www.oxbridgere.com.
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time
Listen-only toll-free number: 877-407-0782
Listen-only international number: 201-689-8567
Conference ID: 13615081
Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes before the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact the company at 345-749-7570.
A replay of the call will be available by telephone after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through November 12, 2015 and via the Investor Information section of Oxbridge’s website at www.oxbridgere.com until November 12, 2015.
Toll-free replay number: 877-660-6853
International replay number: 201-612-7415
Conference ID: 13615081
About Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
Oxbridge (www.oxbridgere.com) is a Cayman Islands exempted company that was organized in April 2013 to provide reinsurance business solutions primarily to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Through Oxbridge’s licensed reinsurance subsidiary, Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited, it writes fully collateralized policies to cover property losses from specified catastrophes. Oxbridge specializes in underwriting medium frequency, high severity risks, where it believes sufficient data exists to analyze effectively the risk/return profile of reinsurance contracts. The company’s ordinary shares and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “OXBR” and “OXBRW,” respectively.
Moody’s Analytics releases new version of RiskOrigins™ Credit Risk Lifecycle Solution for commercial lenders
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Moody’s Analytics, a leader in credit risk management, today announced that it has enhanced its RiskOrigins solution, which provides credit decisioning and monitoring for commercial lenders. Among the enhancements are a new collaborative workflow model and deal structuring functionality, which help lenders make smarter credit decisions, streamline the complex process of assessing credit risk, improve efficiency and comply with regulations.
“In today’s environment of low margins and increased competition, banks need to work smarter and more efficiently than ever – especially when it comes to evaluating credit,” says Keith Berry, Managing Director of Credit Assessment and Origination at Moody’s Analytics. “We’ve enhanced our RiskOrigins solution to go beyond traditional loan origination and help lenders make smarter credit decisions, which can help improve underwriting quality, increase deal throughput and boost profitability.”
Used by some of the world’s largest financial institutions in over a dozen countries, the RiskOrigins solution gives lenders greater insight into deals on their books, or in their pipeline, and illuminates potential impact on an institution’s overall credit profile.
The solution’s new workflow model streamlines the credit risk lifecycle by improving and automating error-prone manual procedures, such as spreading and risk grading, monitoring covenants and managing the bank’s risk appetite. In addition, its deal structuring functionality addresses the challenges that financial institutions face in efficiently capturing deal data and defining risk mitigants at loan origination.
Moreover, the RiskOrigins solution helps standardize information from disparate sources to enhance data integrity and governance, which are becoming hot-button issues with banking regulators. By enforcing transparent, repeatable and auditable processes, the RiskOrigins solution helps lenders incorporate best practices into their operations and meet compliance challenges with confidence.
“The banks we talk to expect to increase spending for commercial lending technology more than for other systems, and are focusing on adopting modern, integrated commercial lending platforms like RiskOrigins to standardize and simplify operations,” says Joanne Pollitt, Executive Advisor at CEB TowerGroup, which provides counsel to financial services leaders on the technology issues that are most important to their businesses. “We foresee strong, sustained growth in demand for these systems in the years ahead.”
For more information about the RiskOrigins solution, please visit www.moodysanalytics.com/riskorigins.
About Moody’s Analytics
Moody’s Analytics helps capital markets and risk management professionals worldwide respond to an evolving marketplace with confidence. The company offers unique tools and best practices for measuring and managing risk through expertise and experience in credit analysis, economic research and financial risk management. By providing leading-edge software, advisory services and research, including proprietary analyses from Moody’s Investors Service, Moody’s Analytics integrates and customizes its offerings to address specific business challenges.
Moody’s Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO), which reported revenue of $3.3 billion in 2014, employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide and has a presence in 33 countries. Further information is available at www.moodysanalytics.com.
Philadelphia Caribbean Festival turns 29
News Americas, Philadelphia, PA, Mon. August 3, 2015: Philadelphia’s Caribbean Festival is turning 29 this month.
The Philadelphia Great Plaza will be transformed into many islands showcasing authentic island sounds of reggae, roots international beat, soca, hip-hop, cool jazz, gospel and creative dances complimented by a market place of Caribbean fashions and exotic cuisine.
The 29th Annual Caribbean Festival promises a culturally rich celebration of 14 Caribbean Islands on the Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing, located at Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, on Sunday, August 16, 2015 from noon until 8 p.m.
Now in its 29th year, this free festival of Caribbean culture, music, and food is one of the celebrations of the many festivals in the PECO Multicultural Series and part of the 2015 summer season at Penn’s Landing, presented by PECO.
At press time, the festival’s inclusive entertainment line-up is set to feature Sophia Brown & Band from Boston, Massachusetts, Philly’s own, Jah People, and internationally known Image Band from Washington, D.C as well as the Faith & Favor Gospel Band; CBC Mime Ministry, a group of young children’s act; and positive Reggae Vibration by Ras Professor.
For more information on the Caribbean Festival & Cultural Committee see www.phillycaribbeanfestival.com
Venezuela demands Gov’t of Guyana to correct aspects of maritime boundary
From Jamaica Observer
IMAGE: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Venezuela has issued a formal demand to Guyana for the government to immediately correct an aspect of its maritime boundary related to the Essequibo River.
An unofficial translation of a statement from Venezuela notes that – “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has sent today, through the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs, a note of protest to the Guyanese government demanding immediate correction of that Point 1.”
Caracas has condemned what it says is Georgetown’s recurring provocations,” stating that the former British colony appeared bent on “stoking a conflict between brother countries” and “legitimating the imperialist pretensions against Peace the region.”
The demand was issued following the July 23 publication in Guyana’s official gazette of maritime boundaries of the major rivers and coastal waters in keeping with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
But Venezuela is rejecting the regulation, saying that it establishes a western line at the mouth of the Essequibo River.
Venezuela claims the entire Essequibo Region including up to the eastern bank of the Essequibo River and more recently all the Atlantic waters off the Essequibo Region.
Venezuela argues that the placement of Point 1 at the western end of the straight baseline corresponding to the mouth of the Essequibo River in Venezuela territory that is part of the controversy.
Sir Hilary argues case for reparatory justice
From Jamaica Observer
BECKLES… not only were ex-slaves not compensated but they were cruelly required to pay for their emancipation
Sir Hilary Beckles believes that the British Parliament owes the people of Jamaica an educational and human resource investment initiative which could be delivered through reparatory justice.
According to Sir Hilary, who chairs the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Reparation Commission and is vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), what is being asked for is not a “handout” but for the British Parliament to “fix the mess they created and help in the healing and rehabilitation of the Caribbean”.
Sir Hilary made his assertions as he delivered the 2015 Jamaica Emancipation Lecture at Boulevard Baptist Church on Sunday, July 26.
A noted Caribbean historian, Sir Hilary argued that not only were ex-slaves not compensated but that they were cruelly required to pay for their emancipation.
He said that the British Parliament in 1833 assessed the market value of 800,000 enslaved people in the Caribbean at £47 million and provided £20 million in grants to slave owners as fair compensation for the loss of human chattel, while “the remaining £27 million was paid by the enslaved people to their enslavers by means of a four-year period of enslavement called apprenticeship”.
Sir Hilary said that 1.2 million Africans were imported into Jamaica during slavery and 300,000 survived at emancipation, but that “the country, Britain’s largest slave colony, was left with 80 per cent black functional literacy at Independence in 1962 and has struggled since with development and poverty alleviation”.
Similarly, “Barbados, Britain’s first slave society, is now host to the world’s most virulent diabetes and hypertension epidemic and is owed an education and health initiative by Britain”, Sir Hilary said.
He defined a “model for reparation” that includes the establishment of a Caricom Reparations Agency and a fund to receive reparations for development “to finance projects to repair the damage” and “address Caribbean challenges, including education and health”.
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Sir-Hilary-argues-case-for-reparatory-justice_19221944
Company Shares of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. Drops by -1.2%
By Wayne Farley From Newswatchinternational
The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBA) has lost 1.2% during the past week and dropped 1.68% in the last 4 weeks. The shares are however, negative as compared to the S&P 500 for the past week with a loss of 2.33%. The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBA) has underperformed the index by 2.95% in the last 4 weeks. Investors should watch out for further signals and trade with caution. The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. is up 0.61% in the last 3-month period. Year-to-Date the stock performance stands at 11.59%.
The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBA) : On Friday heightened volatility was witnessed in The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBA) which led to swings in the share price. The shares opened for trading at $9.87 and hit $10.04 on the upside , eventually ending the session at $9.92, with a gain of 1.02% or 0.1 points. The heightened volatility saw the trading volume jump to 61,637 shares. The 52-week high of the share price is $14.97 and the company has a market cap of $37 million. The 52-week low of the share price is at $6.38 .
On a different note, The Company has disclosed insider buying and selling activities to the Securities Exchange, The director, of Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc, Tatum Kay W had unloaded 412 shares at $13.02 per share in a transaction on December 23, 2014. The total value of transaction was $5,364. The Insider information was revealed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form 4 filing.
The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Funds investment objective is to obtain long-term capital appreciation. The Fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in equity and equity-linked securities of public and private companies, including United States-based companies, whose securities are traded principally on a stock exchange in a Caribbean Basin Country or that have at least 50% of the value of their assets in a Caribbean Basin Country or that derive at least 50% of their total revenue from operations in a Caribbean Basin Country (collectively, Caribbean Basin Companies). Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in equity and equity-linked securities of Caribbean Basin Countries. The Funds investment advisor is HERZFELD/CUBA, a division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.
Digicel Sportsmax Inks 5-Season La Liga Deal
IMAGE: Digicel SportsMax Caribbean marketing manager Tanya Lee (centre) poses in the gears of La Liga team, Real Madrid alongside SportsMax interns Shanique Dunchie (left) and Sara Jade Kow at the announcement at Western Sports Tropical Plaza last Thursday.
The world’s top footballers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now have a new home as Digicel SportsMax has announced a new multi-year broadcast rights deal that will deliver live and exclusively the entire Spanish premier league season, La Liga BBVA, on Digicel SportsMax and Digicel SportsMax2 to more than 25 Caribbean territories for three seasons through to 2020.
Digicel SportsMax, which also holds exclusive broadcast rights to the Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League, will broadcast the 380 Liga BBVA matches, starting with the 2015/16 season, which kicks off on August 22 straight through to the final match on May 14, 2016. Match days are primarily Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays.
The rights were obtained through La Liga media agents Mediapro. The sports channel will also offer fans content-rich programming with updates on happenings within the league, including a one-hour pre-season show dedicated to the upcoming season and three weekly magazine programmes on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
La Liga BBVA is the second-most watched football league in the Caribbean, behind the Barclays Premier League, with 20 teams vying for Spain’s top-flight trophy.
“This is yet another highly in-demand content, which is the perfect addition to our already top-class line-up of football programming,” said Digicel SportsMax Caribbean marketing manager Tanya Lee.
The territories included in the La Liga broadcast rights deal are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Martin, St Maarten, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.
Minister says terrorism real in the Caribbean
From St Lucia Times
National Security Minister, Victor La Corbiniere, has said that terrorism is very much alive in the Caribbean.
Addressing a ceremony yesterday at the Marine Police base in Vigie, La Corbiniere noted that because of the various threats to national security, the role of the Marine Police Unit will come under greater pressure.
“Only a week ago you would have seen what unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago and that is a real threat,” he asserted.
The Minister also spoke of threats on the high seas.
In addition La Corbiniere noted that members of the Marine Police Unit are dealing with a drug culture that is different to twenty years ago.
“You now interdict with a different kind of methodology, a different type of seriousness because you understand that it is not simply a matter of stopping a boat like twenty years ago,” he told the event.
La Corbiniere commended members of the Marine Unit for being professional and being able to “stick with it”.
To applause from those gathered, he asserted that no matter how difficult land based policing is, it is always more challenging at sea.
For more: http://stluciatimes.com/article/minister-says-terrorism-real-caribbean#sthash.WZ8YEYXb.dpuf
Caribbean Sailing Association Annual Conference in St. Maarten
From Sailings Scuttlebutt
The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Annual Conference will take place in St. Maarten on October 23-25, 2015. Over the last two years the event has been held in Puerto Rico and Antigua, and returns to St. Maarten this year. It’s central location within the region will assist representatives from as many islands as possible to attend the conference.
The event started as a Regatta Organizers conference some years ago, and latterly included the Annual General Meeting. In 2015 the event expanded with the addition of a Measurers’ meeting and a session on youth sailing development. The new format will continue into 2015 and the venue and programme is currently being finalized with detailed announcements coming soon.
The CSA Annual Conference will bring together key stakeholders in sailing throughout the Caribbean and provide a unique opportunity for measurers, race officers, Member National Authorities, regatta organizers, yacht clubs and other interested parties to network. With the inclusion of industry representatives, participants will gain updates on all the critical issues affecting our sport and hear from industry professionals about everything from marketing to the latest rating rules, sponsorship, regatta management and all the latest developments in yacht racing.
Peter Holmberg, President of the CSA, hopes that all interested parties will attend. “The Caribbean has become a premiere destination on the international race circuit, and our sailors a true powerhouse in the sailing world. I encourage everyone dedicated to the region or the sport of sailing to attend and help shape the course of this organization and the sport of sailing.”
The conference will run from Friday through Sunday, with the AGM on the morning of the 23rd, and the Regatta Organizers Conference starting late afternoon on the same day and continuing through the 24th and 25th. The Measurers’ Meeting will also be held on the 24th and 25th, with an agenda coordinated with the Conference to enable participants of all groups to attend the relevant sections. A conference package is being created to offer delegates a discounted fee to cover the costs of breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks as well as the conference facilities. For those who cannot attend all three days, a daily rate will be offered so that delegates can target particular events on the agenda.
Attendance is open to CSA members including Member National Authorities, Yacht Clubs, Sailing Associations, Measurers, Regatta Organizers and individual (corporate) members as well as any other yachting stakeholders who are interested in finding out more about the CSA. Limited corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.
A dedicated website will be launched soon with the complete conference details, but until then please mark your calendar and for any questions or information, please contact [email protected].
