iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
Immigration Department closure on Friday 21st August 2015
The Department of Immigration Headquarters, including Passport & Corporate Services, Visa Office and Front Counter, will be closed to the public for all but essential services on Friday 21, August 2015. Only work permit and permanent residence applications (including applications for permission to continue to work (PCW)) that must be submitted prior to 21 August in order to allow continued employment will be accepted.
Time sensitive applications for visitor extensions will also be accepted.
The Passport & Corporate Services Office will not accept any applications, but passports and visa waivers may be collected at the Immigration main counter location.
Persons are reminded to take advantage of the extended opening on Wednesday evenings to conduct business. Front counter is opened until 7:00pm every Wednesday.
Normal operations in all sections of the Department will resume on Monday 24 August.
The Department apologizes for any inconvenience the closure on 21 August may cause.
Grand Court Jurors Report Date Changed
The Grand Court jury report date has been changed.
Grand Court Jurors who are in the 1 July – 6 October 2015 session, please be advised that the jury report date of Monday, 17 August 2015 has been changed. You are now to report for jury duty on Thursday, 20 August 2015 at 9:45 a.m.
Please call the Jury Information line at 945-5072 for the most up-to-date information.
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.
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.
The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens Presents a Diabetes Health Fair
Free A1C Testing
BY the Cayman Islands Diabetic Association (CIDA) For Persons with diabetes and a
strong family history of Diabetes.
Where: Church of God of Prophecy, Eastern Avenue, George Town
When: Saturday 29th August , 2015
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
CARE announces Cayman Islands 5th Annual Paws for wine
Sat Sept 26th Ristorante Pappagallo
TUE 18 AUG
Financial Assistance Meeting George Town
There will be a financial assistance meeting in George Town on Tuesday (18 Aug) at 7pm. The location will be announced later.
WED 19 AUG
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.
THU 20 AUG
Grand Court Jurors Notice
Grand Court jurors in the current session must now report on Thursday (20 Aug) at 945am.
Clifton Hunter High School Uniform Shop Open
The Clifton Hunter High School Uniform Shop will be open Thursday (20 Aug) from 4pm until 6pm.
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.
2015 Orientation Dates for Cayman Islands Government Schools
Released on behalf of the Education Ministry.
Indonesian plane crash: Debris spotted in mountains
By Kathy Quiano, Jethro Mullen and Holly Yan, From CNN
A second search plane is being sent to verify the debris, air force official says
The Trigana Air Service flight was en route from Jayapura to Oksibil when it lost contact
An initial search was suspended due to bad weather and nightfall, an official says
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)Indonesian searchers believe they have located debris from an airliner that crashed in a mountainous area with 54 people on board.
A search plane spotted the wreckage Monday, but a ground team hasn’t yet been able to reach it, said Raymond Konstantin, an official for Indonesia’s search and rescue agency.
Authorities had said earlier that villagers in a remote area of Indonesia’s eastern Papua province reported seeing the passenger plane crash into a mountain.
It’s the Southeast Asian nation’s third air disaster in less than eight months.
The ATR42-300 turboprop aircraft operated by Trigana Air Service was carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and five crew members when it went missing during a short domestic flight Sunday. All of those on board were Indonesian, authorities told CNN Indonesia.
Ground team heading to area
The search over rugged, densely forested terrain was halted overnight because poor weather and a lack of light made an already dangerous landscape even more challenging.
A second search plane has been dispatched to verify the debris spotted Monday, Col. I Made Susila Adyana, an Indonesian Air Force official in Papua, told the national news agency Antara.
He said a ground team is heading to the area from the town of Oksibil, the intended destination of the Trigana flight.
The flight lost contact with air traffic control in Papua on Sunday afternoon, the search and rescue agency said on Twitter. It had left Sentani Airport in Jayapura at 2:22 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Oksibil at about 3:16 p.m., officials said.
The plane lost contact at about 2:55 p.m., Transportation Ministry spokesman J.A. Barata told CNN Indonesia.
Barata said there was no indication that a distress call was made from the plane. He said he would be flying from Jakarta to Papua along with investigators and search and rescue officials.
Thunderstorms in the mountains
There are many possible reasons for the apparent lack of a distress call, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. It could indicate that flight crew members were too busy dealing with whatever situation arose to have time to send one, or that they simply didn’t realize they were in trouble.
Officials said the weather was clear when the plane took off in Jayapura, but CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said there were some thunderstorms over a mountainous area in the flight path.
The weather could get worse in the coming days, possibly impeding rescue efforts in an area with mountain peaks as high as 3 kilometers (10,000 feet).
“The terrain is going to be an issue as well, as we have some pretty steep slopes here,” Cabrera said.
Trigana banned from flying in Europe
The Trigana Air Service plane is the third Indonesian aircraft to crash in the past eight months.
For more and video: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/16/asia/indonesia-missing-plane/
Small scale farmers to benefit from us$1.5 million project
By Glenis Rose From JIS
Small scale farmers in Jamaica and across five other Caribbean countries are being empowered to play greater roles in the food security of the region, through the ‘Sustainable, profitable value chains and market linkages in the Caribbean’ project.
The project which is estimated to cost some US$1.5 million was officially launched on August 4 at a ceremony held at the Sandals Ocho Rios Resort in St. Ann.
It will target some 2,220 small scale farmers, in six countries namely Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda. The main objectives of the project are to equip and support small scale farmers with the skills and technology to cultivate better quality goods and to attract more lucrative markets for their produce.
The project is being implemented by the Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) and funded by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA ACP-EU) in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.
In his remarks, President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Senator Norman Grant said the project is designed to support small scale farmers in overcoming key barriers to accessing domestic, tourism and international markets.
“We are truly honoured to be a part of this game changing moment, as we continue the process of equipping our farmers with the skills and technology to cultivate better quality goods and attracting more valuable markets,” Mr. Grant noted.
He informed that on June 20th, this year, CaFAN signed a three year contract with CTA in an effort to build sustainable and profitable value chains and market linkages for small scale farmers in the Caribbean.
“The CTA aims to build strong relationships of trust between farmers and buyers along the value added chains, to leverage the power of markets for sustainable livelihood of family farmers and youths in the Caribbean. It also serves as a platform for building partnerships with the private sector, agricultural organizations and institutions,” Senator Grant said.
Referring to the ‘Eat what we grow, Grow what we Eat’ campaign, Mr. Grant said the programme was a success, as the country’s domestic crop production moved from 497,000 metric tonnes to 614, 917 metric tonnes in 2013.
“Our youths and women throughout the region have been marginalized from income-earning activities, including commercial agricultural activities. They need to be empowered and encouraged to become major players in the agriculture sector,” Senator Grant told the participants in the launch.
Grenadian cricketer and teacher faces rape and sexual assault charges
From CARIBBEAN360
IMAGE: denroy charles
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Monday August 10, 2015 – A national cricketer and primary school teacher has been slapped with a rape charge after allegedly forcing himself on a young woman in his car late last week.
Denroy Anthony Charles was remanded to prison when he appeared in court over the weekend to answer the rape and sexual assault charges. The 31-year-old national T20 cricketer will make his next court appearance on August 17.
According to police, Charles allegedly assaulted the woman last Thursday.
He was held for questioning the following day and appeared in court on Saturday and denied bail.
Charles is being held at the Richmond Hill prison.
If convicted, he faces as much as 35 years in prison.
For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/grenadian-cricketer-and-school-teacher-faces-rape-charge#ixzz3j5dOZRql
Caribbean film travelling exhibition will arrive in Puerto Rico [coming to Cayman Islands]
From Presna Latina
San Juan, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The 7th Travelling Exhibition of Caribbean Film will be held in Puerto Rico from August 20th to 23rd, with 12 movies scheduled to be played in the coastal municipality of Mayagüez, organizers reported.
According to founder and president of the exhibition Rigoberto López, the films and documentaries to be exhibited in this edition are productions from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico, including Esther en alguna parte and Habanastation (Cuba), Hermano and Miranda regresa (Venezuela), Lotoman 003 and De pez en cuando (Dominican Republic), El último caso del detective Prado y Aníbal (Puerto Rico) and Normalidad (Colombia).
The filmmaker stressed that this year’s edition intends to show the diversity of the Caribbean through the movies, especially regarding nationalities, traditions and languages.
The show is an important international cultural event that is held annually with the objective of promoting and fostering the works of filmmakers whose movies are the expression of the Caribbean’s cultural identity forma all countries in the region.
In 2015, the 26 productions are expected to be shown Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados Antigua & Barbuda, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Haiti, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, Puerto Rico and Brazil, among other countries.
For more: http://plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4074791&Itemid=1
William Blair reaffirms “Buy” rating for WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) (WX)
By Karim Khaledi from Mideast Times
William Blair reissued their buy rating on shares of WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) (NYSE:WX) in a resaerch note published onFriday, MarketBeat reports.
Shares of WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE:WX) opened at 43.86 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $41.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.07. The company has a market cap of $3.11 billion and a P/E ratio of 32.25. WuXi PharmaTech has a 12-month low of $32.40 and a 12-month high of $46.14.
WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) (NYSE:WX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 13th. The company reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, missing the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.01. The business earned $194.14 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $195.26 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.49 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that WuXi PharmaTech will post $1.57 earnings per share for the current year.
Separately, Zacks restated a strong sell rating on shares of WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $38.65.
WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE:WX) Inc. is an open-access research and development platform company. The Company is engaged in serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. The Company provides a portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services in the drug and medical device research and development process. The Company services are designed to help customers in shortening the cycle of drug. The Company conducts its operations in two segments: Laboratory services and Manufacturing services. The Laboratory services segment is engaged in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies. The Manufacturing services segment include the development of manufacturing processes and the production of advanced intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
For more: http://www.mideasttime.com/william-blair-reaffirms-buy-rating-for-wuxi-pharmatech-cayman-wx/539208/
Bermuda’s Browne and Franklin into last eight
From The Royal Gazette
Bermuda squash players Noah Browne and Michah Franklin have reached the quarter-finals of the Senior Caribbean Championships in Cayman Islands.
In the last 16, Browne defeated Julian Morrison, of Jamaia, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, while Franklin beat Jason Doyle of Ecuador 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.
Browne triumphed over Stewart St John in the first round 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 before edging past Nku Patrick 7-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-9. He will meet Chris Binnie, of Jamaica, in today’s last eight.
In the second round, Franklin defeated Joshua Pinard 11-8, 11-4, 11-7, before overcoming Jason Doyle, of Antigua and Barbuda, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.
Franklin will face Sunil Seth, of Guyana, in today’s quarter-finals.
Also reaching the quarter-finals of the women’s competition was Runa Reta who defeated Lynn De Cambra-Mcleod, of Barbados, 11-2, 11-4, 11-3, and Samantha Hennings, of Cayman Islands, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6.
Bermuda have set a squad of 16 players to Cayman for the Championships.
For more: http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150817/SPORT07/150819736
Queen Mary 2 abandons search for missing crewmember
By Danica Kirka, Associated Press From Business Insider
LONDON (AP) — The Queen Mary 2 has abandoned the search for a crewmember who went overboard off the coast of Newfoundland.
The Cunard cruise line said Sunday that the ship and the Canadian Coast Guard had conducted an extensive search after the crewmember was reported missing Saturday morning. The Queen Mary 2 retraced its course in hopes of finding the missing person but the search was abandoned after experts determined no one could have survived that long in the chilly Atlantic.
“We therefore have to presume that he died in the water,” Cunard said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, which has been informed, as well as friends and his colleagues on board.”
The company did not release the name, occupation or nationality of the missing crewmember.
A passenger, Konstantin Binder, tweeted that Capt. Kevin Oprey turned the ship around at 10:40 a.m. Saturday. The tweets suggest it took several hours from that time to return to the search area. Passengers were later called on deck and asked to look as Oprey said “every pair of eyes helps.” Conditions were foggy, hampering the search.
“There are now hundreds of passengers and crew members on Deck 7 and on the balconies keeping an eye out,” Binder tweeted.
Hours later, Binder said the search had failed. “The ship is turning again,” he tweeted. “We’re heading towards Canada. What a sad day. A man has lost his life. RIP.”
The ship was traveling from Southampton to New York. It is due to stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Monday.
Dublin airport security confiscated toddler’s ‘Minion Fart Blaster’ toy gun
By Lindsey Robertson Fro Mashable
Airport security is not something to be taken lightly. Even if there’s a farting toy involved.
One devious toddler attempted to board a plane in Dublin while in possession of a “Minion Fart Blaster” — a diabolical toy which makes fart noises, emits a banana-like scent, and is apparently endorsed by Minions.
Thankfully, the Dublin Airport security apprehended the little deviant and confiscated the Fart Blaster to protect all plane travelers from an unnecessary Minion experience. And because they deemed the toy to be a security threat.
The airport confirmed to DailyEdge.ie that the toy had indeed been confiscated. The airport claimed that they had to “apply a consistent approach” when it comes to the airport’s ban on any kind of replica gun, even if that gun is a toy gun that shoots farts.
Thankfully, the airport will hold the Fart Blaster for the toddler so he can pick it up on his return trip home.
And then the world domination by flatulence can commence.
This is what happens when plastic is thrown into the ocean
From Business Insider
When plastics enter the ocean they breakdown into small pieces, making them dangerous for even microscopic forms of marine life. That’s why researchers at the University of Exeter are working with the public and policy makers to encourage smarter plastic usage.
Video courtesy of the University of Exeter and Snowline Productions.
For more and video: http://www.techinsider.io/how-plastic-garbage-affects-marine-life-2015-8#ixzz3j5v4LE9h
Lego-compatible prosthetic arm lets children swap grips
From Global Sources
The standard three-finger grip can be replaced by one made entirely of Lego.
IMAGE: Swappable prosthetic claw. Source: Wired
Umeå University designer Carlos Arturo Torres has designed a prosthetic arm called the Iko that children can equip with their custom claws.
Iko was developed during an internship at the Lego Future Lab, and is intended to aid children with prosthetic limbs. In terms of function, Iko acts like a traditional prosthetic arm, but with a Lego-compatible twist-and-lock design that makes assembly simple for children. Its three-finger claw can be swapped out for one made entirely of Lego and custom-designed by the user.
A charging station connects to the upper arm of the missing limb, and contains a processor and sensors that detect muscle movement.
Iko was designed to help children get over the stigma of wearing a prosthetic by making them fun. During his stint at the Lego lab, Torres found that Lego lets children improve social connections and encourage them to boost their creativity.
NWC and NCB sign US$12M loan facility for sewage upgrading
By Latonya Linton From JIS
The National Water Commission (NWC) and the National Commercial Bank have signed a US $12 million loan agreement to finance the rebuilding, rehabilitation or replacement of several waste water treatment facilities across the island.
The financing facility is being supported under the Caribbean Regional Fund for Waste Water Management (CReW) Project, which involves the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the governments of some other Caribbean countries.
The IDB is providing an additional US$ 3 million in grant funding to facilitate potential commercial bank loans to the NWC for implementing wastewater improvement projects.
At the signing of the loan facility at the NCB’s Wellness and Recreation Centre in Kingston on Wednesday (Aug. 12), Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, welcomed the undertaking.
He noted that the four-year CReW project aims to “provide sustainable financing for the wastewater sector, support policy and legislative reform and foster regional dialogue and knowledge exchange among key stakeholders in the wider Caribbean.”
He said in the initial stage, the financing mechanism will be used to provide all the required works and services necessary to implement eight projects, which will see the rehabilitation, replacement, or decommissioning of the existing wastewater facilities or the construction of new facilities.
Providing details, Acting President of the NWC, Mark Barnett, informed that the waste treatment plants in Boscobel, St. Mary; and Elletson Flats in St. Andrew will be rebuilt, while facilities at Arcadia, Bay Farm Villas and Hughenden in St. Andrew, will be decommissioned and connected into the central sewer system.
He noted further that waste water systems in Dela Vega City, St. Catherine; Blackwood Gardens, Kingston; and Lionel Town, Clarendon, will be rehabilitated.
Mr. Barnett said the project will facilitate improved wastewater treatment and will allow the NWC to expand its sewer network, especially in Kingston.
“The facilities to be decommissioned in St. Andrew will allow for more waste water to go to the Soapberry (treatment plant), which is offering a better treatment option, plus it will also improve NWC’s internal operations by reducing our energy costs,” Mr. Barnett said.
The Caribbean Regional Fund for Waste Water Management Project aims to provide sustainable financing for the wastewater sector; support policy and legislative reform; and foster regional dialogue and knowledge exchange among key stakeholders in the wider Caribbean.
For more: http://jis.gov.jm/nwc-and-ncb-sign-us12-million-loan-facility-for-sewage-upgrading-2/
CARIFORUM access for Caribbean employers’ and workers’ groups
From ILO News
17 Aug 2015 – Over the next two weeks, representatives from employers’ and workers’ organizations in Haiti, Jamaica, Belize, and Bahamas will have the opportunity to share their views, experiences and aspirations on social and economic policy development, during a series of National Bipartite Workshops.
Haiti 18 August NH Haiti El Rancho, Rue Jose Marti #5, Petion-Ville, Port-au-Prince
Jamaica 20 August The Jamaica Employers’ Federation, 2A Ruthven Road, Kingston 10.
Belize 24 August Radisson Ft. George Hotel and Marina, #2 Marine Parade, Belize City
Bahamas 26 August Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union, Farrington Road, Nassau
The Workshops, facilitated by the ILO in collaboration with the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), are part of a series of national bipartite workshops for CARIFORUM member States, under a three-year Project* funded by the European Union (EU). The Project seeks to build capacity within the Caribbean regional workers’ and employers’ organizations, so that they can participate effectively in regional policy development and integration processes and thus fulfil their obligations under the Social Aspects Chapter of the Economic Partnership Agreement.
David Massiah, President, CCL, is expected to attend all four workshops to incorporate national concerns and raise them at the regional level. Wayne Chen, President, CEC will attend the workshops in Haiti and Jamaica. Raymond Eytle, Director, CEC will attend the workshops in Belize and Bahamas.
“The Caribbean Employers’ Confederation welcomes this opportunity to further social dialogue as we believe this to be a powerful tool for enhancing the sustainability of business, creating decent jobs, and thereby contributing positively to national and regional development.” says Wayne Chen, President, CEC.
The bipartite meetings represent the first in a series of national activities to be undertaken in each of the 15 countries which are members of CARIFORUM. Similar workshops have already taken place in July 2015 in Saint Lucia; Grenada; Dominica; Antigua and Barbuda; and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Future workshops are planned for Barbados; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Guyana; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; and the Dominican Republic.
* The Project funded by the European Union is entitled: “Challenges to CARIFORUM Labour, Private Sector and Employers to fulfil their Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Obligations: Caribbean Employers’ Confederation and the Caribbean Congress of Labour Component of the Support to Facilitate Participation of CAIFORUM Civil Society in Regional Development and Integration Process.”
For further information on the project please visit:
www.ilo.org/caribbean/projects/WCMS_357992/lang–en/index.htm
