iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
RCIPS asks the public to exercise caution when solicited for donations on the street
Due to a recent report of potentially illegitimate solicitations for donations by children on the waterfront and elsewhere in George Town, the RCIPS would like to advise the public to exercise caution when approached for donations on the street. If approached for donations by children, it is advisable to ask the name of the school conducting the fundraiser, the name of the student and parent, and then call the school to confirm that a child by that name is in fact a student. Similarly, if asked in public for donations to a charity, it is advisable to obtain the name of the charity and confirm that it is listed on the Cayman Islands Registry. Charities are categorized as businesses on the registry, which can be searched at www.ciregistry.gov.ky.
The RCIPS does not discourage donations to charity or to school fundraisers, but only advises the public to confirm the legitimacy of the donation request. If it does appear that you may have been solicited to make a donation on false pretenses, please contact the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit at 649-8797.
Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing
The Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing wishes to inform the public that both offices (West Bay & Crewe Road) will close on Wednesday, 19th August 2015 for a staff retreat.
Normal hours of operation will resume on Thursday, 20th August for the West Bay Office from 10am to 6:00 pm and the Crewe Road Office from 8:30am – 4pm.
The management and staff wish to apologize for any inconvenience this necessary closure will cause.
Annual Meals on Wheels Dress Down Day
SAVE THE DATE
Dress Down Day Friday, 20th November, 2015
Help feed our Seniors we believe no-one in Cayman should go hungry.
Individuals can help by purchasing an orange ribbon for $5.00 or a tee shirt for $15.00 and wearing them on Dress Down Day, we are encouraging companies to match employee donations.
For more information or to sign up to participate please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 949-3905.
CARE announces Cayman Islands 5th Annual Paws for wine
Sat Sept 26th Ristorante Pappagallo
FRI AUG 14
Liquor Licensing Renewal Deadline Is 14 August
Friday (14 Aug) is the renewal deadline for all liquor license holders, including those with music and dancing licenses. Renewal applicants may contact Liquor Licensing Board Secretary Marva Scott on 244-3168 for more information.
SAT AUG 15
Cayman Islands Imperial Beauties Scholarship Pageant
The Cayman Islands Imperial Beauties Scholarship Pageant presents its back to school giveaway on Saturday (15 Aug) from 12pm to 3pm at Hut #4 at Airport Park in George Town. The first 100 students will get free school supplies.
Financial Assistance Meeting Bodden Town
There will be a financial assistance meeting in Bodden Town on Saturday (15 Aug) at 7pm. The location will be announced later.
Community Fair
The Light of The World Christian Fellowship Community Fair is Saturday (15 Aug) at the Annex Playing Field from 10am until 5pm.
2015 Orientation Dates for Cayman Islands Government Schools
Released on behalf of the Education Ministry.
New Cayman Airways plane arrives Friday (14)
Cayman Airways will be showing off their new Saab 340+ aircraft on Friday 14th just after 12noon at the Cayman Airways Hangar to invited guests.
The Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughin and Deputy Premier, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell will be in attendance along with Cayman Airways Board Members and Officials from CIAA, CAA and the Cayman Islands Tourism Industry.
The new Saab 340+ aircraft will service the route between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands operated by Cayman Airways Express.
Cayman Compass Editor in trouble again
David Legge, Publisher and Editor of the Cayman Compass has another spot – this time a blue one.
After the spot on his back from Premier Alden McLaughlin for one of his editorials he has now parked his Jaguar car over a blue spot. A spot designated for disabled persons to park their cars. It was caught parked in a disabled spot last Tuesday (11).
Chelsea Rivers of The Blue Spot Campaign wants the current fine of $150 increased to $500. She believes the increase would make people think twice before parking their car in a spot reserved for persons less fortunate than themselves.
Another Caribbean country severely affected by drought
From Jamaica Observer
Drought and other weather conditions have been an active part of Jamaica’s history.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Less than 48 hours after Jamaica announced water rationing as a result of a prolonged drought situation, another Caribbean country is warning that the situation is becoming critical and consumers will have to adapt to even more stringent measures to ensure a supply of water.
The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) says the absence of significant rain fall continues to affect water reserves and according to Ian Lewis, the production engineer in the authority’s Water Business Unit, APUA is down to its last reservoir.
Lewis said that the APUA is continuing to tweak the water rationing schedule so as to keep consumers satisfied.
Antigua and Barbuda is into a second consecutive year of a drought and APUA said that water from one of the main reserves is below extraction level and the company is on its last source of surface water.
Lewis estimates that there are “about three weeks” left from that facility and consumers will now have to rely on desalinated and ground water.
He warned if the drought persists APUA will have to implement “more intense water rationing” and while the country is able to operate with ground and desalinated water, cosumers will be without water for prolonged periods.
He is urging consumers to reserve water and not to waste the commodity on things such watering lawns, gardens and ensure loads are filled when washing and use recycle water where possible.
Earlier this week, the National Water Commission (NWC) announced new water supply restrictions as Jamaica continues to be affected by prolonged drought.
NWC acting president Mark Barnett said that the Commission was forced to further restrict the supply of water to many of the areas served by the Hope and Mona water supply systems to every third day instead of the current alternating day supply.
He said this means that customers who receive water on Wednesday would next be supplied on Saturday, and those who receive on Thursday would next receive on Sunday.
“This restriction will be in place until further notice, and if and when we have put into service additional wells, we may reduce or have a reduction in the restriction.”
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Another-Caribbean-country-severely-affected-by-drought_19223449
Bill O’Reilly: One more scandal and Clinton is done
By Greg Richter From Newsmax
Image: Bill O’Reilly: (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton has the advantage of having the investigation of her private email server taking a long time and out of the public eye, says Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, but added if there is one more scandal her presidential hopes are over.
“She will maintain to the very end that she didn’t know there was any top secret or classified information,” O’Reilly said Wednesday on “The O’Reilly Factor.”
“However, if there is some emails that are embarrassing to her, for example, don’t tell anybody about Benghazi, don’t tell anybody this, or that, she’s through. Then she’s done.”
O’Reilly is on vacation this week, but called in by phone to guest host Eric Bolling.
Clinton has long maintained she will not turn over her server to investigators, but changed her mind on Tuesday. O’Reilly called that a “victory for justice,” and said she did so only because she didn’t want to have to do so under a court order.
O’Reilly said the server will be examined, but the public won’t hear anything more about the probe for a long time. It is too early to say whether Clinton herself did anything wrong, he added.
“If she’s innocent, that will come out. If she’s not innocent, that should come out,” O’Reilly said.
Colombia decriminalizes marijuana cultivation up to 20 plants
From Colombia Reports
Colombia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that growing up to 20 plants of marijuana is not a crime. The possession of small amounts of the drug had already been decriminalized.
The court ruled on the private cultivation of marijuana in an appeal filed by a man who had been sentenced to more than five years in prison after he had been caught by police with a recently cut plant weighing 124 grams.
The maximum amount of marijuana that can legally be carried is 20 grams in Colombia.
However, because the plant was meant for personal consumption, the court confirmed that there is no crime unless a person cultivates more than 20 plants.
The court ruling further decriminalizes the cultivation and possession of the drug for personal use.
Under protest of the conservative opposition, the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos has pushed legislation that decriminalizes the carrying and consumption of small doses of drugs like cocaine and marijuana.
Congress this year will debate the legalization of marijuana for medical use and may even legalize the drug entirely after a leading senator announced to propose an adaption of the bill on the medicinal use.
Colombia’s congress to debate total legalization of marijuana
Internationally, the government of the world’s largest cocaine producing country has called to rethink the international war on drugs, claiming that current repressive policies have failed to reduce both the demand and offer of illicit drugs.
For more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-decriminalizes-marijuana-cultivation-up-to-20-plants/
Limbaugh: Obama doesn’t want Hillary messing with his legacy
By Greg Richter From Newsmax
The Obama White House may be behind the “drip, drip, drip” of negative stories being released about Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton because he doesn’t want her to win and step on his legacy, says talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.
“I’m convinced that Obama doesn’t want her messing with his legacy,” Limbaugh said on Wednesday’s show.
“Here’s Obama, two years left. In his mind there’s been no greater president,” Limbaugh said.
“Look at all the firsts. Health care? People tried for 200 years and he got it. He stopped Iran from getting a nuke. (I know that’s not what happened. That’s the news, though. He did it.) He got us out of Iraq. (All lies. But that’s the legacy. The media will write it for him.) What if Hillary comes along and does an even better job? He’s not gonna permit that chance to happen.”
Clinton is now trailing socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire, and a Democratic pollster released news on Tuesday that she trails four Republicans in Iowa.
On top of that, news that Obama’s own Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly taken possession of the private email server Clinton used during her tenure as secretary of state. They might well decline to prosecute her, Limbaugh said, but just having an investigation about her server during her White House run will be damaging.
When a caller suggested the administration might just go through the motions of investigating her, but actually do nothing, Limbaugh pointed out that liberals are the ones releasing all the bad news.
“It’s the liberals who’ve told us what was on Hillary’s server. It’s the liberals in the regime, who’ve proven Hillary lied, and yet now the theory is it’s liberals trying to save her,” he said.
“We wouldn’t be here if liberals hadn’t spilled the beans on this woman and her server in the first place.”
Guernsey regulator signs MoU with Gibraltar counterpart
From Guernsey International Finance Centre
The Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar (FSC).
The MoU is part of an ongoing programme of expanding coverage of the GFSC’s network of supervisory and regulatory cooperation agreements. This latest agreement provides a framework for enhanced cooperation between the two supervisory authorities and has been signed in the spirit of mutual cooperation and information exchange seen as crucial by the G20 countries and international standard setters for financial services supervisors.
The GFSC is committed to international regulatory co-operation and is a signatory to the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) MMoU and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) MMoU. It also has numerous bilateral regulatory co-operative agreements in place; and, through the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), has in place MoUs covering the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) with 27 members of the European Economic Area (EEA).
The Guernsey regulator ensures the Bailiwick’s regulatory framework and practice meets international standards and is a committed participant in discussions of international standards. It does so through membership of, or association with, organisations comprising IOSCO, IAIS and the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors (GIICS), the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors (GIFCS), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – (through the United Kingdom’s membership) and the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).
Through its membership of the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors, the GFSC works with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BIS) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on money laundering.
Speaking about the MoU, FSC Chief Executive Samantha Barrass said: “The signing of the MoU between the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission is an important step to enhancing the good working relationship between the two organisations. It reflects our commitment to build and develop our cross border communication with other supervisors and implement measures to benefit the protection of consumers.”
Frenchman pleads guilty to migrant smuggling in Caribbean
From wtop
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — An elderly Frenchman has pleaded guilty to more than three dozen counts of migrant smuggling in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A statement from U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe in the U.S. Caribbean territory said 71-year-old Alain Rene Leichtnam pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court on St. Thomas.
Agents with several U.S. law enforcement agencies intercepted his catamaran off the island of St. John in early hours of April 29. They said Leichtnam was operating the vessel with 38 Cubans and one St. Lucian aboard. None of the passengers had any documents allowing them to enter U.S. territory.
Sharpe says Leichtnam admitted transporting the migrants for financial gain.
Sentencing is scheduled for early December. The French citizen faces up to 10 years in prison.
For more: http://wtop.com/latin-america/2015/08/frenchman-pleads-guilty-to-migrant-smuggling-in-caribbean/
No government plot to kill opposition leader, says Trinidad PM
From Caribbean News Now
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar stated on Tuesday night that no one in her People’s Partnership government was involved in any plot to kill opposition leader Keith Rowley.
Speaking on local television when she was screening candidates for the September 7 general election, Persad Bissessar said the claim by Rowley was irresponsible.
The PM also said her government has not paid anyone to write about Rowley. She said if Rowley has any evidence to support his wild claims he should take it to police.
She also said, while she and her People’s Partnership coalition have presented a plan to take Trinidad and Tobago forward, the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has yet to show that it has a plan.
Persad Bissessar added that all 41 People’s Partnership candidates will be presented on Sunday at a mass rally.
Much ado about nothing?
By Steve Reitmeister From Zacks
At its darkest hour the S&P 500 was down -1.5% on Wednesday. That was on top of the hefty losses from Tuesday. Yet amazingly it crawled all the way back into the green by the end of the session.
This makes one wonder if there is “much ado about nothing” with the Chinese currency issue. So let me give you a simplified view of what is not such a simple story.
Why did China devalue their currency?
Being pegged to the US dollar was not such a great idea when most other trade competitors in the region saw their currency drop 20-30% over the past year. So this could just be about leveling the currency playing field to make their exports more attractive.
This is mostly benign for American economy, but could hurt some US based exporters who compete against China as their goods will become more expensive by comparison. This is leading many investors to have a more US centric stock portfolio (myself included).
HOWEVER, the greater fear is that the Chinese government is desperately worried about a recession taking shape. So perhaps this is another dramatic move on their part to stave off an economic decline.
If they are successful in keeping growth alive in China, then it bodes well for the world economy and stock markets.
If they are NOT successful, and a recession does take hold, then it could spread economic malaise around the globe. This is obviously a bearish case for stocks.
Which case will prove out in the end?
That is the $64,000 question indeed. (However, it’s actually more like $64 trillion.)
Given how long the Chinese government has successfully manipulated their economy to produce growth, then you have to place higher odds on that positive outcome for the near future. However, when that theory no longer holds water, then investors are better off in a defensive posture.
To further help you with the current market environment Kevin Cook has written this new article: Is It Time to Sell Like It’s 2011?
Best,
aka Steve Reitmeister
Executive Vice President, Zacks Investment Research
Barbados to host 2016 Caribbean meeting & incentive travel exchange
CMITEBRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados is determined to increase its share of the US Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions travel market, also known as the MICE tourism niche.
Director for the USA at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Petra Roach, revealed that they were well on their way to realizing this goal with the island set to host 165 top-tier North American MICE planners at Hilton Barbados for the 2016 Caribbean Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (CMITE).
CMITE is part of the Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchanges (GMITE) portfolio of events, which are owned by the Questex Travel Group.
These meetings bring together buyers and suppliers who generate millions of dollars in business for host countries of these MICE events. Many of these events fall during the softer fall months, reducing the seasonality of the tourism sector. They also utilize the services of several ancillary tourism players including entertainers, equipment rental companies, app developers, meeting stand developers, etc.
Marilyn McHugh, vice president of global events at Questex Travel Group, joined Roach in making the announcement at this year’s sold-out event, which is underway at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
McHugh stated that Barbados is known for its gracious and hospitable people, world-class beaches and fine-dining restaurants. “Barbados truly will be an exciting destination for our incentive travel buyers and suppliers,” she said. “We couldn’t be happier to share this news.”
“Hosting 165 of the top U.S buyers on the island lends us the perfect platform to showcase the renowned hospitality, sights and sounds that Barbados has to offer.” Roach stated.
“We are absolutely thrilled at the confidence invested in us by Questex in choosing Barbados as host destination for CMITE in 2016. Thanks to additional service by Delta and JetBlue airlines and newly opened resorts, now is the perfect time for the travel industry to reacquaint itself with Barbados.”
For more information on CMITE, visit www.caribbean.incentivetravelexchange.com
Colombia intercepts 18 Cuban migrants in Caribbean waters
From Colombia Reports
Colombia intercepts 18 Cuban migrants in Caribbean waters
The Colombian Navy reported Monday to have intercepted 18 Cuban migrants traveling the Caribbean Sea through the Gulf of Uraba, destined for the United States via Panama.
The migrants, including children as young as five, were discovered at dawn in an unmarked boat by naval coast guards in the Gulf of Uraba, in the region of the northwestern department of Antioquia, close to the Panamanian border.
Captain Juan Carlos Jimenez, commander of the Task Force against drug trafficking reported that two individuals responsible for the transportation of the group jumped overboard fleeing authorities.
The detained have been turned over to Colombia’s Migration Office who will process necessary arrangements for their deportation.
Jimenez commented on the growing number of illegal immigrants discovered in the waters.
He noted a similar occurrence less than two weeks prior, when a boat carrying 19 was apprehended passing the shore of the port town of Turbo, in Antioquia. These immigrants originated from Cuba, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Authorities in Antioquia reported that 84% of illegal immigrants captured are Cuban. The mayor of Turbo told local media that this as “an issue that is becoming impossible for us.”
Official records have reported 388 illegal immigrants intercepted so far this year in boats traveling the Gulf of Uraba, this is over double the 186 discovered in 2014.
The majority of these individuals were discovered coming from Cuba, Somalia, Nepal and Ethiopia, on their way towards the United States.
Due to the geographical location of Colombia at the northernmost tip of South America, the country and surrounding waters have become a transit point for the illegal transport of migrants bound for the US. As such, mafias have emerged in the control of this criminal business.
For more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-intercepts-18-cuban-migrants-in-caribbean-waters/#prettyPhoto
Blue Bell ice cream deliveries back on after listeria contamination
From Mashable
Blue Bell ice cream stands for sale on a grocery store shelf in Lawrence, Kan., Friday, April 10, 2015.IMAGE: ORLIN WAGNER/ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRENHAM, Texas — Blue Bell Creameries has resumed ice cream shipments four months after listeria contamination halted sales and production.
The Brenham, Texas-based company on Tuesday used Twitter and Facebook to announce its trucks “are on the road again” and filled with ice cream. The messages did not say when and where Blue Bell products would be sold.
C&W Communications promises more Caribbean content in Rio Olympics
From St Lucia Times
IMAGE: usain bolt et al
Castries, St Lucia: Wednesday August 12, 2015: Rio 2016 Olympic Games is just around the corner, and C&W Communications (C&W), operators of Flow and LIME brands in the Caribbean, has pledged to bring more Caribbean Olympic content to regional fans.
With just 361 days to go, C&W, the Exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), has also committed to support Caribbean athletes as they pursue their Olympic dreams.
With the hopes of millions of Caribbean nationals in the diaspora and across the region hanging onto the prospect of mining gold, the Olympic Games are eagerly anticipated and a major source of national and regional pride.
Only last week, Flow Jamaica announced a major partnership with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, (JAAA), and inked a two-year deal valued at J$28M to sponsor all its national championships and teams. In the coming weeks, other C&W markets across the region will announce their support of local athletes in preparation for Rio 2016.
Earlier in 2015, C&W revealed it had become the exclusive telecom partner to the CANOC, which had secured the Olympic content rights in 20 English-speaking countries, as well as non-exclusive rights to 10 non-English-speaking countries throughout the region. The company also announced its intention to thrill Caribbean audiences by bringing multi-platform streams of exclusive, locally focused content featuring Caribbean athletes as they pursue victory at the games.
“We are proud to bring a more enriched Olympic experience to the Caribbean,” said John Reid, President of the C&W Consumer Group. “We are readying our markets for the games through our sponsorship of athletes and programmes, and by offering multi-platform coverage featuring Olympic content to Caribbean viewers who yearn to see more home-grown talents live and in action on the prestigious world stage,” added Reid.
In addition to the JAAA partnership, C&W will unveil a full schedule of activities as it marks the countdown to RIO 2016; customers will soon notice their local Flow retail stores featuring Olympic promotions.
