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Community Events
2015 Orientation Dates for Cayman Islands Government Schools
Released on behalf of the Education Ministry.
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.
“Destination Paradise” Vacation Bible School
The Newlands Seventh-day Adventist Church will be having their “Destination Paradise” Vacation Bible School thru August 6th at 6pm nightly.
FRI AUG 7
District Administration Calendar of Government and Community Events
The District Administration Calendar of Government and Community Events is published by District Administration to promote local events and activities. With immediate effect, submissions to the Cayman Brac & Little Cayman Community Calendar should be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 948-2506, attention Chevala Burke. All items should be submitted before the 27th of every month in order to appear in the following month’s calendar.
SAT AUG 8
Back To School Community Bash
The Back To School Community Bash is Saturday (8 Aug) from 430 — 630pm at PPM Headquarters. This event is for primary school students only.
Faith Cathedral Deliverance Center Youth Week
The Faith Cathedral Deliverance Center at 28 McField Lane in George Town presents Youth Week 2015 Sunday — Sunday at 730pm nightly.
International College of the Cayman Islands Alumni Meeting
The International College of the Cayman Islands Alumni Association will be hosting an alumni meeting at the Campus on Saturday (8 Aug) at 7pm. Call 916-5385 for more information.
Jamaica celebrates 53 years of Independence August 6…..Jamaica 53…Proud and Free!
When is the Independence Day of Jamaica?
Jamaica, in the Caribbean Sea, celebrates its Independence Day on August 6 each year to commemorate its freedom from British colonial occupation.
Jamaica gained independence in 1962.
How is Independence Day celebrated in Jamaica?
Fifty Three years ago at midnight on August 5, 1962, the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of Jamaica was unfurled for the first time. The birth of an independent Jamaica was, perhaps, the most significant event in the nation’s history. Today, Jamaicans celebrate the day to commemorate that historic movement, and to reflect on the struggle undertaken to gain autonomy. It is a day of national pride and commemorates the country’s achievements.
What is the historic significance of Independence Day of Jamaica?
Christopher Columbus first sighted Jamaica in 1494, and by 1509 Spanish colonists occupied the country. Britain established its control on Jamaica in 1655, but it was not until 1670 that the Spaniards gave up their control and recognized British dominance. The 1700s saw an economic boom with Jamaica becoming largest producer of sugar across the world. The economic boom, however, led to the growth of slavery and other evils. Slavery was later abolished in 1834 after the British colonists enacted the Emancipation Law in wake of growing slave revolts and uprisings.
Learn more here: http://www.mapsofworld.com/jamaica/independence-day.html
SOURCE: http://jaital-donations.blogspot.com/2015/08/jamaica-celebrates-53-years-of.html
IMAGE: instituteofjamaica.org.jm
Conyers advises Integrated Alternative Finance on its AED 700 million structured equity and mezzanine debt financing to develop the Taj Dubai
By Fawaz Elmalki, Dennis S. Ryan, Chiara T. Nannini, Oliver J. Simpson • From Conyers Dill & Pearman
Conyers Dill & Pearman represented Integrated Alternative Finance (IAF) – a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG) – on its AED 700 million (US$ 191 million) structured equity and mezzanine debt financing to develop the Taj Dubai, a luxury hotel to be situated in Downtown Dubai. Debt financing was provided by five regional lenders, while equity funding was provided by the Taj Dubai’s owner through Downtown Investments Limited.
Conyers advised on the laws of Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. The team included Fawaz Elmalki (Dubai); Dennis Ryan (Dubai); Oliver Simpson (Dubai); and Chiara Nannini (Bermuda).
Trinidad investigators get more time to get to the bottom of confidential memo leak
From CARIBBEAN360
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday August 4, 2015 – An interim report into the leaking of a confidential memo which contained information about an alleged plot to attack the Prime Minister’s homes and break out prisoners has been completed.
But investigators have been given another week to complete their probe.
Deputy Police Commissioner Glenn Hackett said the extension was granted based on the contents of the interim report.
Last Wednesday, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams ordered the investigation after a confidential memo from the Special Branch, about an alleged plot by the Jamaat al Muslimeen to attack Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s homes and break out the men charged with the murders of prominent prosecutor Dana Seetahal and businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman, was posted on social media.
At the time he said he expected the report on August 3.
He had confirmed the memo which was sent to Special Branch field sections was authentic but said the claims contained in it had so far proved to be false.
Williams also indicated, even before the probe, that the memo leak had to have been facilitated by a member of the Special Branch and when that person is identified, the appropriate action would be taken against them for that “breach of confidentiality”.
Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford’s victims wait for outcome of US federal appeal
By Kenneth Rijock From Caribbean News Now
HOUSTON, USA — Those observers who have been following Allen Stanford’s $7 billion Stanford International Bank Ponzi scheme, with the resulting 110-year sentence imposed upon him, are awaiting an opinion by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is handling Stanford’s criminal appeal.
The appellant’s reply brief was filed back in March, but the Court has not yet made it ruling on the sentence and conviction.
Though Stanford requested oral argument, and the US government argued none was necessary, the Court has not assigned the appeal to the oral argument calendar, and since three-quarters of Federal criminal appeals are decided without hearing oral argument, it is probable that it will not be approved. Stanford appears to have an uphill battle in his case, as statistically only around five percent of such appeals are reversed.
If his conviction and sentence are affirmed, Stanford’s release date will remain April 17, 2105, ninety years from now. He is presently serving his sentence at USP Coleman, in Florida.
Although it is little consolation to those investors who lost everything due to Stanford’s massive fraud, he will not live to the age of 155, to be released back into the community.
Seismic activity resumes off Barbados with 3.8 magnitude earthquake
From CARIBBEAN360
IMAGE: barbados earthquake
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday August 4, 2015 – Another earthquake was recorded northeast of Barbados yesterday, after what appeared to be a break in daily and frequent seismic activity.
The UWI Seismic Research Unit reported that around 3:26 p.m., a 3.8 magnitude tremor occurred 141 km northeast of the capital, Bridgetown; 263 km east of Castries, St. Lucia and 285 km east southeast of Fort-de-France, Martinique.
The recorded depth was 72 km.
Over an almost two-week period last month, starting July 16, dozens of earthquakes of varying strengths were recorded around the same area.
The Seismic Research Unit said they were aftershocks from the 6.4 magnitude tremor that was felt by residents all across the island, as well as in neighbouring countries on the morning July 16.
There were no injuries or damages resulting from any of the tremors.
San Francisco cops flaunt epic, amphibious ‘quadski’ at Giants game
By Sam Laird From Mashable
IMAGE: Livin’ the dream. IMAGE: DARREN ROVELL
SAN FRANCISCO — Beware, robbers who plan on stealing items on dry land before running to the shores of the San Francisco Bay, plunging into the water and swimming to safety and a life on the lam.
San Francisco cops have you covered, as they proved this weekend by flexing their amphibious abilities at a Giants game.
An SFPD officer was spotted straddling a very Batman-esque “quadski” on Saturday in McCovey Cove, the tiny inlet next to AT&T Park where out-of-the-park home runs to right field occasionally land.
A “quadski” is an amphibious ATV vehicle that you can drive into the water then keep right on riding as it morphs into a jet-ski. Behold, from this weekend’s game:
Saturday’s Giants game was the quadski’s first known public sighting, but the gizmo isn’t all that new. Officially known as a a Gibbs Quadski XL, it was donated to the police department in October by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff — because this is San Francisco and of course it was.
Here’s a Gibbs promotional video, posted to YouTube last May, showing the quadski doing its thing on turf and in the surf.
Prison escapee charged with murder of policeman and nine other offences; slain cop’s family to get $1 M
From CARIBBEAN360
IMAGE: CHRISTOPHER SELBY BEING TAKEN TO MAKE HIS COURT APPEARANCE. (PHOTO: TRINIDAD EXPRESS)
PORT OF SPAIN, Tuesday, August 4, 2015 – The only surviving prisoner in the escape from the Port of Spain Prison is facing 10 charges, including the murder of a police officer.
Christopher Selby appeared in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, 10 days after he and two other prisoners – Allan Martin and Hassan Atwell – obtained guns and staged a dramatic escape from prison.
During the trio’s bid for freedom, 27-year-old Constable Sherman Maynard, who was in the front passenger seat of a police vehicle on patrol outside the prison, was fatally shot as the men fled.
Martin was killed by police minutes later, while Atwell was killed by gang members less than 48 hours later. Selby subsequently surrendered to police.
The 10 indictable offences the 30-year-old is accused of are: Maynard’s murder; escaping lawful custody; firearm possession; three counts of assaulting prison officers; shooting at a prison officer; shooting a police officer; robbing a man of a Nissan Navara pickup at gunpoint; and “being armed with a firearm, robbed the State of Trinidad and Tobago of two keys”.
The latter charge relates to the keys which Selby, Martin and Atwell used to unlock the prison gate.
Meantime, Newsday is reporting that Constable Maynard’s family will receive TT$1 million (US$158,098) in compensation from government in a matter of days.
In September last year, government accepted a proposal from the Police Social and Welfare Association to give that amount to relatives of any member of the protective services killed in the line of duty.
“I expect the release of the monies before the end of the week because this was a promise made by government and we intend to fulfil this,” Minister of National Security retired Brigadier General Karl Alfonso told Newsday.
The Ministry of Finance and the Economy subsequently informed the publication it was processing the paperwork to make the pay-out and the slain officer’s family could expect to receive the funds by the end of this week or, at the latest, early next week.
Duchess of Cambridge gets scuba diving qualification
From BBC
The Duchess of Cambridge is now an advanced scuba diver, a Kensington Palace official has said.
The duchess has passed her Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) advanced open water diver qualification.
This means she can now dive to a depth of 30 metres (98ft).
The Duke of Cambridge is also an experienced diver and follows his father and grandfather in heading the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC).
When he took on the role as president of the BSAC, the duke said he hoped his son Prince George would follow him by taking up snorkelling and scuba diving.
Exploring wrecks
The duchess is thought to have gained the qualification from a diving school on the Caribbean island of Mustique, according to the Telegraph.
During the course the duchess would have completed a deep adventure dive to learn how to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving.
Photography, buoyancy control, fish identification and exploring wrecks are also part of the course.
BSAC chairman Eugene Farrell said: “We are thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge shares her husband’s interest in the underwater world and has further progressed her diver training.
“Last summer while diving with BSAC, the Duke of Cambridge suggested George may also one day follow in his footsteps, so we hope in the future the whole family may share the same passion for scuba diving.”
For more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33751791
The world’s new largest balloon animal is just a big wiener dog
By Max Knoblauch From Mashable
IMAGE: FACEBOOK, BALLOON GUY ENTERTAINMENT
If you’re going to break the world record for largest balloon animal constructed by an individual, you might as well go back to basics.
That’s probably what Jeremy Telford was thinking when he created an enormous, 65-foot-long, 35-foot-high balloon wiener dog in four days.
Built with 8,867 balloons, the wiener dog is, of course, the most iconic of the balloon animals, a factor Telford considered while planning the build.
The balloon dog was built without a support structure, requiring that it must lay on its side to support its own weight, which Telford told the Daily Herald was about 180 pounds.
According to the BBC, a Guinness World Record official said that Telford’s creation, “blew the old record out of the water.”
Telford’s balloon dog didn’t get much of a chance to enjoy the limelight, however, as its creator destroyed it with a weed wacker quickly after earning the record.
Jamaica expanding cassava industry with help from Colombia
From CARIBBEAN360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday August 4, 2015 – Government is moving to expand the cassava industry through partnerships with the private sector and the University of the West Indies, with support from the Colombian government.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, said the partnership between government and the manufacturer of Jamaican beer Red Stripe, which is using the tuber as part of its brewing process, has shown that the industry can grow.
Her administration is now eyeing other possibilities.
“As this new industry develops, I look forward to the opening soon, of a new cassava processing plant in Elim, St. Elizabeth, and thanks to the Government of Colombia for having provided this gift,” she said.
“We are also strengthening the cassava industry by working with the University of the West Indies, to produce cassava flour for use in the baking of bread.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister emphasized that a vibrant agricultural industry was required for rural development and the nation’s food security, and a foundation has been laid for “sustained increase in production” with the development of the Agro Parks project.
She said the initiative has helped to reduce imports and increase exports.
“In doing so, we have been able to save millions of dollars as we import less, and earn more from export,” Simpson-Miller said, while lauding the over 200 farmers who have “shown resilience” despite the many challenges facing the sector.
“At the global level, I have been leading efforts to secure environmental cooperation and financing to help our farmers to plan for, and recover from events like droughts, hurricanes and sea level rise.”
She committed her government’s support in tackling the various issues threatening the sector, such as bush fires and drought.
Couple making thousands of knockoff iPhones busted by Beijing police
By Ariel Bogle Australia From Mashable
A secret factory in China has been counterfeiting Apple products on a massive scale.
Beijing police revealed Sunday they had busted the facility, which had been producing thousands of fake smartphones for export.
The factory, which has not been named, was led by a married couple who ran it under the guise of a gadget maintenance shop, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In fact, it produced more than 41,000 counterfeit iPhones and accessories worth up to 120 million yuan (over $19 million).
The man, surnamed Yu, and his wife, surnamed Xie, had hired hundreds of workers for six assembly lines, the Journal reported. The fake phones were constructed from secondhand smartphone parts and counterfeit products from the country’s industrial center Shenzhen. They were then sent overseas to countries including the United States.
Following a tip-off from U.S. law enforcement, nine people have now been arrested.
The appetite for Apple products in China is significant, with revenue doubling year-over-year to $13.2 billion, according to the company’s July earnings report. Apple has been increasingly keen to serve the market by, for example, introducing more gold into its range to satisfy Chinese colour preferences.
Investors are increasingly concerned about the health of China’s economy — a fact not helped by Monday’s stock market crash in Shanghai. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has expressed some reservations about the state of China.
If the number of fakes are any indication of the market opportunity, however, Apple can rest easy. Tens of thousands of counterfeit iPhones aside, there were knockoff Apple Watches available before the smartwatch even officially launched in April this year.
RBPF Sr. Lt. Anthony Bowe participates in Caribbean Defense and Security Course
By Oswald Brown
IMAGE: ANDREW-BOWE-PARTICIPATES-IN-COURSE.jpg Pictured from left to right: Krissy Hanna, Second Secretary, Embassy of The Bahamas; Senior Lieutenant Andrew Bowe, Royal Bahamas Defence Force; and Professor Patrick Paterson, Faculty Member of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior Lieutenant Andrew Bowe of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was among several Caribbean participants who graduated from the Caribbean Defense and Security Course held at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. on Friday, July 24, 2015.
The six weeks course, which comprised a four weeks distance learning phase and a two weeks resident phase, was designed to foster a community of regional security and defense professionals prepared to confront the complex security realities facing the Caribbean Region, and by extension, the Western Hemisphere.
Serving as the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony was H.E. David Arthur Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. President Granger is an alumnus and former adjunct professor of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
Caribbean seawater air conditioning feasibility studied
By David Appleyard From Cogeneration
Makai Ocean Engineering has completed a feasibility study of a district cooling system that uses deep cold seawater, known as seawater air conditioning (SWAC). Commissioned by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) with co-financing from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), eight locations in the Caribbean were analyzed for SWAC development under the study.
Deep seawater can be as cold as 5°C or 41°F, even in the tropics, and the benefits of SWAC include energy savings approaching 90% compared to conventional A/C.
Subsequently two sites were selected as the most promising locations for SWAC development: Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Puerto Plata (pictured) in the Dominican Republic.
In order to determine the relative economic value of SWAC versus conventional A/C, the Makai Economic, Thermal, and Hydraulic Optimization and Design software, or METHODTM software was used.
The study results suggest that SWAC development is likely to be economically attractive in these two locations.
For more: http://www.cospp.com/articles/2015/08/caribbean-seawater-air-conditioning-feasibility-studied.html
Home takes cricket to the Caribbean
By Sarah Hartley From Prolific North UK
Leeds-based Home has bowled out the local competition to win a campaign for cricket’s ‘biggest party in sport’.
The Cricket Played Louder campaign will be taking the atmosphere of the game and the Caribbean islands together to position The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as more than a sporting event.
Planning director at Home, Rich Marson said: “We pitched against a number of Caribbean-based agencies and were absolutely thrilled when the CPL told us they shared our vibrant vision. We wanted to embody the noise, colour and excitement of the game, and are really proud of what the team has produced.”
The annual tournament, which sees six Caribbean islands battle it out in a T20 format, is a significant event among the West Indies, and CPL wanted to celebrate the event more loudly this year to encourage islanders to watch the fixtures live.
With striking imagery of crowds and cricketers made louder through vibrant and colourful visual treatments, and messaging centred on inter-island rivalry using play on words, Home says it successfully generated excitement, heightened competition and increased ticket sales.
Primarily rolled out across outdoor billboards and posters, the campaign was also featured in local press titles across all six islands.
Home is an integrated communications agency with offices in Leeds, London, Gibraltar and Sydney.
For more: http://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2015/08/home-cricket-caribbean/#sthash.PCeYGGmO.dpuf
NCLH reports higher earnings, surging Caribbean demand and strong bookings
By Susan Young From Travel Agent Central
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., (NCLH), parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and provided guidance for the third quarter and full year 2015.
Second Quarter 2015 Highlights
Highlights of the line’s second quarter? The company had a 29.3 percent improvement in adjusted earnings per share on adjusted net income of $171.6 million, up 1.5 percent from the previous year. Adjusted net yields rose 18.2 percent — mainly due to the addition of the Oceania and Regent brands in the fourth quarter.
The company also said “continued synergy identification efforts” after the recent integration of Norwegian and Prestige have led to synergies of $75 million in 2015 and $125 million in 2016.
“The benefits of the combination of Norwegian and Prestige are beginning to hit their full stride, resulting in strong earnings growth in the quarter,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Many of the strategies we have previously communicated are gaining more and more traction, from the weaving of Prestige’s ‘go to market’ strategy into the Norwegian brand’s pricing and marketing practices, to the focus on adding value for our guests in lieu of discounting, in addition to leveraging our scale to maximize cost efficiencies.”
Other gleanings? NCLH said that the strong booking environment that began with the 2015 Wave Season has continued into the second and third quarters, with volumes continually outpacing the same time last year.
“Looking to 2016, resurgence in Caribbean demand, combined with the strong booking environment, has resulted in 30 percent more booked revenue compared to the same time last year on a capacity increase of approximately 11 percent,” the company said in its earnings press release.
“Building on the strong results for the first half of the year, we are raising the midpoint of our 2015 full year earnings guidance,” said Wendy Beck, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “While still early in the 2016 booking cycle, we have seen strong demand across all three brands,” continued Beck.
Robin Farley, a UBS Investment Research analyst, in evaluating the earnings report, also said: “NCLH will enter the China-sourcing market as early as 2017, so plans will be announced sooner than spring 2016.”
Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgrades Apple for six key reasons
From Newsmax
Apple is having a tough time. Shares closed at $114.64 yesterday, basically where they started the year despite rising to $134 in April.
Much of the loss has come in the past few weeks, with the stock falling through its 200-day moving average and entering a correction.
Bank of America analysts Wamsi Mohan, Ruplu Bhattacharya, and Param Singh sent out a note downgrading shares to neutral and lowering their price target to $130 from $142.
The analysts were rather constructive, saying that Apple remains a good company and that they expect continued product achievements in the future, but that the stock isn’t currently providing the best risk to reward ratio.
The firm listed six key reasons it expects pressure on shares in the short term:
1) iPhone deceleration,
2) a slowdown in China marketshare gains,
3) a deceleration in gross dollar profit growth, which is correlated to stock price,
4) A decline in the magnitude of earnings beats,
5) Only modest improvement to the iPhone coming,
6) low likelihood of more capital return plans.
One argument that some may use to play devil’s advocate would be that Apple’s valuations are quite attractive compared to its peers. However, Bank of America says that despite the good valuation measures, it is sticking with its call due to Apple’s performance in the past.
We do not dispute that valuation metrics remain compelling for Apple; however, in the last down-cycle despite compelling valuation the stock retraced 30%.
Baha Mar given leave to appeal Bahamian bankruptcy ruling
By Nico Scavella From Tribune 242
A Supreme Court judge has granted leave for Baha Mar to appeal his previous ruling not to recognise its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Bahamas.
Justice Ian Winder made the decision on Tuesday morning, allowing for Baha Mar to contest his previous rejection of resort CEO Sarkis Izmirlian’s motion to have the property’s bankruptcy orders from a US court approved in the country.
However, Baha Mar’s application for leave to appeal received opposition from Crown lawyers, as well as lawyers for the Export Import Bank of China, the project’s financier, and China Construction America (Bahamas), the resort’s general contractor.
Justice Winder, in previous proceedings, had also rejected a request for Baha Mar to get an approved extension for its $80 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing approval by the Delaware court to take effect.
Baha Mar’s requests for alternate relief were also rejected.
Justice Winder’s reasons for doing so are outlined in his written judgment, a copy of which has been obtained by The Tribune, which was released on Tuesday.
For more: http://www.tribune242.com/news/2015/aug/04/breaking-news-baha-mar-given-leave-appeal-bahamian/
Three senior Trinidad & Tobago prison officers suspended from duties
From JJR News
Three senior prison officers have been suspended from all duties from the Port-of-Spain State Prison, in relation to the July 24 jailbreak.
The T&T Guardian is reporting that the two officers were served with their suspension letters on Monday evening. The third guard was served on Tuesday.
The trio will have to await word from the Public Service Commission to find out if they will be entitled to a full salary, salary cut or no salary during their suspension.
The letters reportedly stated that the officers were suspended because of failure to act promptly on information surrounding the planned prison break
For more: http://rjrnewsonline.com/regional/three-senior-trinidad-tobago-prison-officers-suspended-from-duties
MH370: Reunion debris is from missing Malaysia flight
From BBC
Part of the aircraft wing found on Reunion Island is from the missing MH370 plane, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed.
Mr Najib said international experts examining the debris in France had “conclusively confirmed” it was from the aircraft.
The Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 239 people veered off course from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.
The debris was found on the remote French Indian Ocean island a week ago.
The plane is believed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean – though no evidence had been found despite a massive search operation.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts has conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris […] is indeed MH370,” Mr Najib told reporters.
“We now have physical evidence that […] flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” he added.
Mr Najib said he hoped the discovery “will at least bring certainty to the families” of the victims, saying the burden they had faced was “unspeakable”.
‘Very strong indications’
French prosecutor Serge Mackowiak later confirmed the wing fragment, known as a flaperon, was from a Boeing 777 – the same make and model as the missing Malaysian airliner.
He said initial tests showed there were “very strong indications” that it was from flight MH370. But he said confirmation would only come after further tests on the fragment, which would begin on Thursday.
“[Investigators] will try to do it as soon as possible in order to provide total and reliable information to the family of victims, who are on our minds at the moment,” Mr Mackowiak added.
The debris is being examined at an aeronautical test centre near Toulouse.
There is little doubt now that the flaperon will be declared the first evidence of MH370 in the coming days as no other Boeing 777s are thought to have crashed in the region.
‘It’s not over yet’
Relatives of the victims were told about the initial results shortly before Mr Najib’s news conference on Wednesday.
Jackqita Gomes, the wife of crew member Patrick Gomes, said: “Now that they have confirmed it as MH370, I know my husband is no longer of this world but they just can’t leave it with this one flaperon.”
“We urge them to continue searching until they find the plane and bring it back,” she told reporters. “It’s not over yet.”
She said she still hoped to get her husband’s body back so that the family can give him a proper burial and say goodbye.
Malaysia Airlines described confirmation of the flaperon as “a major breakthrough”.
In a statement, it said it hoped further evidence would be found in the coming days that would “help resolve this mystery”.
For more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33794012
