iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Community Events
Apostle 13 & the Disciple of Demons
Play with music & dance
FOUR performances only
Opens Thu Oct 22- Sat Oct 24 7:30pm & Sun Oct 25 3:00pm
St George’s Anglican Church Hall
Tickets $15 (A) $5 (C) [Discounts for groups 10 or more]
Tel: 949 5583 or 916 4594 or at the door
Lions Club of Tropical Gardens Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 2015
WED OCT 7
Next Wednesday is Quiz Night.
CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts
SAT OCT 10
8th Annual CISPA Gala “Back to the Future-Celebrating 45 years of excellence”
Date: 10/10/2015
Time: 6:30 PM
Ritz Carlton Seven Mile Beach
Phone: 749 3360
Register
Event Description: The 8th Annual CISPA Gala “Back to the Future-Celebrating 45 years of excellence” is a time to celebrate Caymanians who recently attained their professional accounting designations as well as a chance to celebrate the past and look to the future
Directions: The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman
TUE OCT 13
25th Annual Culinary Awards
FRI OCT 16
NGCI tIDal shift
Mark your Calendar!
You’re invited to a special Young Patrons’ Circle late night event in conjunction with NGCI’s newest exhibition…
Friday, 16 October 2015, 5pm – 10pm
Join us at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands for a late night of entertainment, live music, performance art, canapes, and fun! More details to follow – SAVE THE DATE and forward this to your friends.
THU OCT 22
Apostle 13 & the Disciple of Demons
Play with music & dance
FOUR performances only
Opens Thu Oct 22- Sat Oct 24 7:30pm & Sun Oct 25 3:00pm
St George’s Anglican Church Hall
Tickets $15 (A) $5 (C) [Discounts for groups 10 or more]
Tel: 949 5583 or 916 4594 or at the door
Triple C School Music Department will be having a POP Concert featuring Erica Assai and Yung
Fusion. The public is invited to attend. The event will be taking place:
When: Thursday, October 22, 2015
Where: Triple C School Multi-Purpose Hall
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Refreshments will be on sale.
For more information please contact the school office at 949-6022.
Please join the Cayman Jewish Community for the following programmes:
Monday, October 26th
Mark Halawa: From Kuwait to Jerusalem
Wednesday, December 9th
4:00 pm Pardes Rock Chanukah Concert
Wednesday, January 6th 2016
Jerusalem Uncovered: Rabbi Avraham Stolik
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.
Public Consultation for Marine Parks
For more information of the proposed Enhanced Marine Parks System, visit http://www.doe.ky/marine/marine-parks-review/.
To submit an opinion about the proposals, email [email protected]
General queries can be directed to [email protected]
The deadline for submissions is Friday, 4 December.
AIMA – CAYMAN ISLANDS CHAPTER MEETING
Ron S. Geffner, Partner and Head of the Financial Services Practice will speak at the AIMA Cayman Chapter Meeting on US Regulatory Developments and the outlook for the US and Cayman investment funds industry on November 24th at 12:00 noon.
Speaker: Ron S. Geffner
Start Date: 11/24/2009
End Date: 11/24/2009
Location: The Wharf Restaurant, Cayman Islands
Associated: Ron S. Geffner
REDUCE RISK. ADD BUSINESS VALUE
Transforming your Risk Management Preparedness and Response Strategy into a Competitive Advantage.
ALM’s cyberSecure is a two-day event designed to unite business leaders and the entire risk management team. Keynote presentations, tracked sessions and hands-on workshops will provide attendees with powerful insights and essential connections necessary to implement a preparedness and response strategy that changes the conversation from financial risk to competitive advantage.
The event will kick off at 9:00 am on December 15 with an opening keynote presentation that will show you how to proactively monitor for, assess, and counter information security threats without going dark yourself. This opening keynote will prime you for the event by leading you through the landscape on:
How to safely pursue an offensive strategy
Examples from the health care and financial services industries
The latest ISP (Information Security Program) approaches and compliance initiatives
Upgrading of IT Systems and New Continuous Monitoring platforms in IT
Keynote Speakers:
Mauricio Paez Partner Jones Day
Bill Sieglein Founder CISO Executive Network
Visit the website to view the complete agenda. Take advantage of our early registration rates – Register by September 30 and save up to $400.
ROWING FOR CANCER
Starting November 14, 2015
Craig Noble Attempting to Break Rowing Record to Raise funds for CICS
Cayman Charity Row – Spectators Welcome!
Date: 14th November 2015
Time: 0700hrs
Event: Cayman Charity Row – British Concept 2 Rowing machine 100,000 metres age group record attempt, currently 7 hours 11 minutes.
Location: Anytime fitness gym, Camana Bay
Open to all public who want to view and offer support
Visit the Cayman Charity Row webpage for more information: www.caymancharityrow.splashthat.com
Craig has set a Noble goal of raising $50,000 for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society as well as another $50,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation so please DONATE NOW at: http://www.active.com/donate/cancersociety
Cayman Islands Subway’s FOOD DRIVE to help Meals on Wheels
Now through Dec 6, 2015
Help us feed those in need this Thanksgiving.
Bring in any canned goods or non-perishable items to any Subway location before December 6th.
All proceeds to benefit Feed our Future, Meals on Wheels and a few other organizations dedicated to providing nourishment to the less fortunate.
Older Persons’ Month Starts with a Bash
Seniors in the Cayman Islands are invited to a number of events throughout October that celebrate older persons.
On Grand Cayman these include;
- The Older Persons’ Month Launch, which is set for Thursday, 1st October, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm at the Family Life Center off Walkers Road.
- On Thursday, 15th October, from 5.00-8.00 pm, seniors will be special guests at the opening of a National Museum exhibition, entitled “60+ and Shining”.
- Eastern District Day takes place at the Bodden Town Civic Centre on Tuesday, 20th Oct 2015, 5.30pm-8.30pm.
- The Circle of Love Prayer Tea is scheduled for Saturday, 24th October, 2.00 pm to 5pm, venue to be confirmed.
- The Seniors’ Bash takes place at the Westin Casuarina Resort on Thursday, 29th October, 6:30 to 10.00 pm.
- To wrap up the month Cayman National Cultural Foundation has invited seniors to a special performance on Friday, 30th October, 8.00pm at the Harquail Theatre. Limited spaces available. For more information contact 949-0290.
Meanwhile on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,
- A Seniors’ Island Tour takes place on Tuesday, October 13th and Tuesday, October 27th, 8:30am to 2.00pm
- The Cayman Brac Seniors’ Social will be at the Aston Rutty Civic Center on Wednesday, 28th October 10.00am-2.00pm.
- On Little Cayman a church service and luncheon takes place on Sunday, 25th October at the Little Cayman Baptist Church at 11.00 am.
Cayman Islands police warns public
RCIPS FCU warns the public regarding solicitations to obtain or expedite Permanent Residency
The Financial Crime Unit (FCU) would like to remind the public that Permanent Residency status can only be obtained by fulfilling all procedures as required under law. Solicitations for fees to expedite this process through personal contacts or extralegal means by persons purporting to represent the Government or Immigration Department are fraudulent and should be reported to the FCU at 949-8797 or [email protected], or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS).
LIME is now Flow in the Cayman Islands
LIME, Cayman islands, oldest Telecommunications company has rebranded and has launched itself as Flow With its rebranding, the company is promising a more responsive and enhanced customer service experience, a suite of new products and a raft of new jobs.
After LIME had received 350 job applications following its recruitment drive for field and support staff, plus service delivery and installation jobs 35 people have been hired and more will be taken on said Flow’s CEO Bill McCabe.
At a media lunch last Thursday (1) McCabe said the company was planning big changes and had invested $30 million locally over the past two years improving its network and LTE mobile. He said they had listened to its customers and innovation, value for money and, most importantly, an enhanced customer service focus. All of these were in the planning stages.
There are also plans to introduce a new TV product within the next few weeks called “Flow-to-go” that will be accessible via the cloud. Customers will be able to access programmes, when, where and how they want on many different devices. Customers will be able to record programmes at any time.
This will be added alongside its newly launched Deezer music app and a free football streaming service, with exclusive rights to live radio streaming of Barclay’s Premiership games.
Man killed as St. Kitts police make big drug bust
From CARIBBEAN360
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Friday October 2, 2015 – One man was killed in a shootout with police during a drug bust on a beach yesterday.
According to the police High Command, the unidentified man was killed as he fired at members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force during the sting operation at a secluded beach in Conaree, on the eastern side of the island.
The lawmen had gone to the location after receiving a tip off and, on arrival, they intercepted a vessel with four bales of compressed marijuana weighing 124 lbs. The drugs have a street value of EC$930,000 (US$344,444).
“Our officers observed a pick-up truck on the beach and a speed boat approaching the shore. Upon the arrival, the two occupants of the vessel were challenged. One occupant opened fire upon our officers. Our officers in defense returned fire and one of the occupants was fatally wounded,” Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd said.
“The other occupant as well as two locals have been taken into custody and they are assisting the police with its investigation.”
A loaded .38 pistol with a magazine containing four rounds of ammunition was recovered from the water by members of the Coast Guard.
The top cop said it’s believed both the men who were on the boat are non-nationals and had travelled to St. Kitts from a neighbouring island.
As he announced that charges would be laid shortly, Acting Commissioner Liburd said authorities were doing everything in their power to root out criminal behaviour and prosecute, to the fullest extent, those who violate the laws of the twin-island federation.
“The government has reiterated its commitment to the police in providing all necessary resources as they continue the fight against crime,” he said. “The High Command thanks the officers and rank and file for their dedication, bravery and commitment to professionalism in their continued fight to keep St. Kitts and Nevis a safe place to live, work, visit and do business.”
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/man-killed-as-st-kitts-police-make-big-drug-bust#ixzz3nWU2l2hY
Cayman Islands police dog recovered
Police can confirm that Marco has been recovered safe and well.
RCIPS thank the public for all their assistance.
RCIPS had requested the assistance of the public to locate one of their dogs, Marco. Marco is a 7-year old male Belgian Malinois that has been on island for 5 years working successfully with our K9 team.
The dog was last seen about 10AM yesterday in his enclosure on Anise Lane in Birch Tree Hill area of West Bay. Marco escaped this enclosure mostly likely due to the heavy thunderstorms in the area yesterday afternoon. He is brown in color and wearing a silver choke chain. If he is seen he should be approached cautiously as he is a trained Police dog. Marco is not aggressive toward other dogs.
Supermoon tide impacts Legend of the Seas’ Western Australia cruise
By Anne Majumdar From Cruise Critic
October 1, 2015
(3:00 p.m. AEST) — Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas visited Western Australia this week ahead of its first Brisbane summer season. However, the 2,000-passenger ship was forced to miss one of its most anticipated scheduled calls at Broome today due to “extreme tidal conditions”.
Tidal ranges exceeding 10 metres, caused by the ‘supermoon’ that made headlines this week, led to Legend of the Seas diverting to Port Hedland (pictured above).
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the alternative port was selected because its wharf height enabled the gangway to safely connect the ship with the shore, even under the “Proxigean” tide conditions.
“We also considered substituting Broome with a port in Indonesia or Malaysia later in the cruise, however it was deemed appropriate to replace a Western Australian port with a Western Australian port,” the spokesperson revealed.
All affected passengers will be refunded for any prepaid shore excursions or port fees, he said.
Gordon Loraine, a passenger onboard the ship, told Cruise Critic: “We couldn’t call into Broome due to the tide. This would have made the ship inaccessible for at least seven hours. Even here in Port Hedland we disembarked from deck 4 and three hours later re-boarded on deck 2. Everything else is going brilliantly.”
Earlier in the week the ship called at Broome, Geraldton and Fremantle as part of its 14-day Exotic Asia cruise from Singapore, with the return leg of the journey now underway. The next scheduled stop is Bali.
When Legend of the Seas returns on December 8 for its first Australian season, it will become the first Royal Caribbean ship to be based in Brisbane and the fourth in the operator’s Australian fleet. During the five-month deployment, Legend will sail 15 itineraries in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific before repositioning back to Asia in April 2016.
The vessel underwent a $50 million revamp in 2013, with new features including an acrobatic aerial show, a rock climbing wall, a mini golf course, an indoor swimming pool and a nursery. It was last seen in Australia in June when it briefly visited the east coast on its trans-Pacific journey from California to Asia.
For more: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=6562
Initial public offering scheduled to debut next week
Fuling Global Inc. – Wenling, China, but incorporated in the Cayman Islands, 5 million ordinary shares, priced at $5 each, managed by Burnham Securities. Proposed Nasdaq Capital Market symbol FORK. Business: Producer of disposable plastic cutlery and other food service products.
Enhance group show continued support for STEP by sponsoring STEP Asia Conference for Third Year
Enhance Group will proudly sponsor the STEP Asia Conference which will be held at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 10 – 12 November 2015.
2015 will mark Enhance Group’s third year as an official sponsor for the prestigious event, and the first time Enhance representatives will be in attendance since the opening of their Singapore office in August. CEO of Enhance Group, James Painter, will be joined by Managing Director of the Enhance Singapore office, Richard Sayers, and Head of Research Ruzhen Li.
This year the STEP conference will focus on current global trends and issues affecting the wealth management industry and the future of wealth management in Asia, with delegates from over 30 jurisdictions gathering to network and to listen to a programme of expert speakers from across the globe.
Richard Sayers, Managing Director at Enhance Group Singapore, commented:
“We are delighted to sponsor the STEP Asia Conference again this year. One of the specific themes for the conference is how “innovation will assist practitioners in a highly compliance focused regulatory environment” which compliments how Enhance embraces fintech in the provision of ‘investment oversight’ services. Having recently opened our Asia office at the Hong Leong Finance building in Singapore’s central business district we are now ideally positioned to work with practitioners in the region. These events are extremely important for the trust and wealth management industry, as they provide a great opportunity to meet like-minded professionals and to discuss current topical issues relating to our key jurisdictions, and on a global scale. The conference programme this year features some fascinating topics and superb speakers and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the Asian jurisdiction. Last year’s conference was a terrific success and I am confident that this year will be even better.”
Find out more about STEP Asia Conference and book tickets to attend the event: http://www.step.org/step-asia-conference-2015
Cayman Islands police ask community to clear up their unpaid court fines
Over the 24-hour period from 7AM Wednesday, 30 September to 7AM Thursday, 1 October, uniform officers executed 34 outstanding warrants for unpaid traffic fines or failures to appear in court. Despite this quick pace of arrests, police are still facing a daunting backlog of over 700 outstanding warrants that still must be executed.
“Executing warrant after warrant for unpaid fines and failures to appear in court is a huge drain on police resources,” remarked Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton. “Without this enforcement the entire justice system would grind to a halt, so it must be done. We will continue to have warrant operations like the one yesterday. But we need the community to work with us – please take care of your court business on time.”
He also reminds the public that the execution of warrants can happen anywhere, often perhaps not at the most convenient time or place for an individual. “Having the police visit your work to execute an outstanding warrant does not create the best impression with your boss and co-workers – but we execute warrants wherever we know a person will be,” added Chief Supt. Walton. “People can avoid this scenario just by visiting the Criminal Registry at the main court building and dealing with their cases.”
Migratory Bird Festival focuses on Caribbean habitat restoration
IMBD, Press Release
October 1, 2015—In a region that seems blessed with eternal summer, one of the most noticeable signs of autumn is the arrival of countless migratory birds. Leaving their summer breeding grounds in North America, they transform Caribbean wetlands and forests with their colors and songs. Events celebrating these birds and their miraculous migrations are also arriving this month with International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD).
IMBD is coordinated across the Western Hemisphere by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), and events are held in over 700 locations from Canada to Argentina. BirdsCaribbean, the largest organization devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean, will coordinate activities throughout the region beginning in October, a time when migratory activity is at its peak in the Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean has been the regional coordinator for the past eight years.
The theme of IMBD this year is “Restore Habitat, Restore Birds.” This theme is particularly relevant in the Caribbean, where natural habitats share limited island real estate with dense human populations and intensive development. The migratory pathways and overwintering grounds of the Caribbean are an indispensable part of the life cycle of about 350 bird species, from egrets and ducks to hawks and songbirds.
“We use birds as an inspiration to restore forests and wetlands,” explains BirdsCaribbean President Leo Douglas. “The underlying truth is that supporting habitat restoration is always a wise focus. Healthy local habitats are essential for human health, our agricultural base and the natural beauty that drives tourism.” Douglas noted further that the mangroves that protect us from storm surges and form critical fish nurseries are simultaneously important habitat for birds. Similarly, island forests sheltering a rich diversity of bird life are critical for preventing erosion and devastating land-slippages and mud slides.
Public activities to mark IMBD will include a diverse array of events such as bird-watching excursions, lectures, seminars, school-based art competitions, church services, and media campaigns. Tree plantings, seedling giveaways and other hands-on habitat restoration activities are planned on many islands.
As part of this year’s festivities, BirdsCaribbean has produced a free ebook about native trees: Heritage Plants. This illustrated book explains the importance of native trees to birds and other animals, includes a guide featuring dozens of native trees of particular value, and serves as a resource to foster habitat restoration within local communities.
“Planting a native tree is a fantastic way to beautify your backyard or neighborhood,” notes BirdsCaribbean’s Executive Director Lisa Sorenson. “Along with birds, native trees are the most iconic features of the Caribbean landscape, and their roots are deeply intertwined with both the wildlife and the cultures of the region.”
The ebook Heritage Plants is available for download on the Resources page of birdscaribbean.org. For additional IMBD resources, visit www.migratorybirdday.org.
A top Caribbean tourism conference begins in Puerto Rico
By Guy Britton From Caribbean Journal
Region’s tourism leaders gather at El Conquistador
FAJARDO – Some of the Caribbean’s top tourism leaders have gathered at Puerto Rico’s El Conquistador Resort for the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum, or CHIEF.
The three-day event includes hoteliers, general managers, marketing directors, engineers, sales directors, entrepreneurs, executives, government officials and others.
It includes a trade show and a series of panels and speeches.
Some of those slated to speak this weekend include TripAdvisor head of industry relations Brian Payea, AMResorts President Gonzalo del Peon and Nicola Madden-Greg, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, among others.
Some of the sessions include “Cuba: Opportunity or Threat?” and “Future of Travel Distribution: Are you Tuning into the Right Channels?”.
CHIEF is produced by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
For more: http://caribjournal.com/2015/10/01/a-top-caribbean-tourism-conference-begins-in-puerto-rico/
Virgin Islands’ youth recognised for Caribbean Youth Day
BVI, 30 September 2015 – The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports will showcase Virgin Islands’ youth by highlighting their achievements as young persons in observation of Caribbean Youth Day today, September 30.
The day is being observed this year under the theme: “Refocus. Reinvest. Reinforce. Youth Integration for a Stronger and Sustainable Caribbean.”
Assistant Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ms. Avelinda Freeman said Caribbean Youth Day is also an opportunity for the department to highlight the contributions of young persons to the Virgin Islands’ community. The day, she added, is an opportunity to acknowledge the Virgin Islands’ youth for their hard work and contribution to the development of the Territory.
Ms. Freeman said that while there are several young people worthy of recognition, the department wishes to highlight persons in the field of music, education, entrepreneurship, marine, aviation, veterinary, sports, and law, who represented the Territory locally, regionally, or internationally.
Caribbean Youth Day has celebrated the work and achievement of young people since 1985, and reinforced the contributions and roles of youth for the continued and sustainable development of our Territory.
The traditional celebration highlights the creative force of young people and draws attention to the current youth issues of the region. Additionally, this day reinforces young people’s commitment to regional integration.
During this week, the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports’ Caribbean Youth Day honorees will include: Chantel Malone, Eldred Henry, Kleon Penn, Dr. Nadya George, and Fiona Forbes of the sports, veterinary and law disciplines.
Youth honoree profiles will be featured highlighting their achievements and contributions through special almanac features presented on radio and other online media.
The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports aims to refocus and set priorities through this initiative to honour several Virgin Islands’ youth. These priorities will ensure a sustainable future for the Territory, along with investing in youth through education, employment, civic engagement and community building to secure a productive future.
Royal Caribbean named Best Cruise Operator at TTG Travel Awards for 8th year in a row
From Royal Caribbean Blog
At the 26th Annual TTG Travel Awards in Bangkok, Thailand, Royal Caribbean took home the honor of being named the Best Cruise Operator. It is the eight year in a row Royal Caribbean has won this award.
The Best Cruise Operator award recognizes the cruise line offering the best product, services and facilities. This award is also recognition for Royal Caribbean for being the most professional sales and marketing team in terms of innovative ideas and servicing.
Royal Caribbean has been voted unanimously by readers of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTGmice, TTG-BTmice China, TTGassociations and TTG Asia Luxury for the award. The TTG Travel Awards are given out annually to honor organizations in Asia Pacific’s travel industry for their strong commitment towards service excellence.
Sean Treacy, Managing Director, Singapore & Southeast Asia of Royal Caribbean Cruises (Asia) Pte Ltd. who received the award said, “It’s a great achievement for us to win this prestigious award for eight years running, which shows how much Royal Caribbean International has grown to be the cruise brand of choice in Asia. For this, we deeply thank our trade partners and customers for their continued strong support. We aim to keep delivering exceptional holidays to more and more of them with our revolutionary ships, innovative style of cruising and high service standards and value as our business grows in Asia.”
Royal Caribbean’s introduction of Quantum of the Seas to Asia this year has brought a lot of attention to cruising in the region and combined with what Mariner of the Seas has been offering, the cruise line has been doing well in this burgeoning cruise market.
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited and Guardian General Insurance Limited
October 02, 2015 11:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited (GLOC) and Guardian General Insurance Limited (GGIL). Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the ICR of “bbb-” of Guardian Holdings Limited (GHL), a publicly traded holding company and the ultimate parent of GLOC and GGIL. The outlook for all ratings is stable. GHL is listed on the Trinidad and Tobago stock exchange. All companies are domiciled in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The affirmation of the ratings of GLOC and GGIL reflect GHL’s fairly stable leverage position, consolidated balance sheet strength and premium growth over the past several years. The consistent profitability of GLOC and GGIL, which are core insurance subsidiaries of GHL, enhances the overall strength of GHL’s balance sheet and debt servicing capabilities. Nevertheless, A.M. Best notes that the outstanding level of financial leverage at GHL remains somewhat elevated relative to total capitalization. Moreover, GHL’s exposure to Jamaica through its life and non-life operations remains an area of concern.
The ratings of GLOC acknowledge its strategic position within the GHL group, strong competitive position in the Trinidad and Tobago markets, consistently positive operating results from its life and pension and health insurance lines and its adequate level of risk-adjusted capitalization.
Offsetting these positive rating factors are GLOC’s moderately increased insurance benefits and claims expenses, the impact of continuing volatility in the local, regional and global equity markets and the competitive and mature nature of the Trinidad and Tobago insurance marketplace.
The ratings of GGIL recognize its leading regional market presence, historically profitable operating performance and more than adequate risk-adjusted capitalization. Additionally, GGIL’s strong return metrics and underwriting performance compares favorably with its property/casualty Caribbean peers. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the highly competitive and challenging property/casualty market conditions throughout the Caribbean, as well as GGIL’s exposure to catastrophic events and corresponding reliance on reinsurance to safeguard capital.
This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please visit A.M. Best’s Ratings & Criteria Center.
A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Copyright © 2015 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Bahamas insurance executive charged in utility company bribe
By Nassau Guardian From Caribbean News Now
IMAGE: Freddie Ramsey being brought to court on Friday morning. Photo: Ahvia Campbell
NASSAU, Bahamas — Former Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) board member and insurance executive Freddie Ramsey, 78, was charged on Friday with four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and 14 counts of bribery.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the amount of $40,000.
Ramsey is also a former candidate for the opposition Free National Movement.
The charges stemmed from allegations revealed by the US Department of Justice in December. The Department of Justice reported that Alstom SA agreed to pay $772 million to resolve allegations that it bribed high-ranking foreign government officials for lucrative projects.
Federal prosecutors said Alstom falsified its records and paid tens of millions of dollars in bribes for help in obtaining more than $4 billion in projects in countries including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and The Bahamas.
As part of the plea agreement, the company detailed its corrupt practices.
Ramsey returns to court on October 13.
BELIZE: The Mayor’s debacle; Seeking higher office
7 News Belize
And while we had the opportunity, we asked Mayor Bradley about what will happen to his post as Mayor of Belize City. He was re-elected to that office 6 months ago, but he’s now offering himself as the UDP Candidate for the Caribbean Shores constituency. We’ll know the outcome of that election bid in 33 days, but is there a plan in place at City Hall should he be elected to higher office in the General Elections?
He told the press that the City Council had been planning for this for several months now:
Darrell Bradley – Mayor, Belize City Council
“I don’t want to be too over confident, but in one month I will be an area representative representing the people who I love in Caribbean Shores and I will continue as I have done for the last going on to 4 years serving the people of this city, because of course Caribbean Shores is part of this city and then also serving the people of the country. I have not thought about any other scenario.”
“The scenario is really that I am focused on campaigning and winning that election. Councilor Leslie is hugely confident. He has acted as mayor before when Zenaida Moya took maternity leave from 3 months. You have other councilors within the Belize City Council who is very strong and transition is not something new. We are a democratic country. We’ve been a democratic country for 34 years and the law is very clear. If there is any vacancy in the office of mayor, the deputy mayor will act for a period not exceeding 90 days and within the period of 90 days there would be an election for somebody who will be the new holder of mayor. But I suspect that that person will come from the council and Dion Leslie has asked me and he has expressed for a long time that he is very interested in doing that and I am hugely satisfied that we have had conversations at City Hall. We have been working very closely as a team over the last 3 years and any number of them including and especially Dion Leslie could continue the race that we have begun and I think that he has the heart for the people of Belize City and he has the experience and the vision because we have been working together for the last 4 years.”
So, what if he isn’t elected as the Area Rep for Caribbean Shores? Well, as you heard, the Mayor is so confident that he will be successful, that he hasn’t even considered the possibility of losing. Here’s how he further explained it:
Daniel Ortiz
“Let’s say the very worst scenario happens for you God forbid you lose. Do you go back…”
Darrell Bradley – Mayor, Belize City Council
“I can’t speak to that.”
Mike Rudon, Ch5
“The transition at City Hall, would you go back to being mayor?”
Darrell Bradley – Mayor, Belize City Council
“That’s a question that I haven’t even given thought to.”
Daniel Ortiz
“You have the opportunity. You have the option of doing that.”
Darrell Bradley – Mayor, Belize City Council
“I want to be as clear as possible. I have no thought of that. I tell you this very clear; in terms of how I go about the delivery of responsibilities, I am very focused and goal oriented. At this particular point, our focus is 100% on Caribbean Shores and winning that seat and no other consideration.”
Daniel Ortiz
“Would you be able to return to office as mayor if you lose sir?”
Darrell Bradley – Mayor, Belize City Council
For more: http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=33895
Holland America plans hefty hike to service charges
By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY
Booked on a Holland America sailing this winter? Brace yourself for higher daily fees.
Effective Dec. 1, the company is hiking the daily service charge it tacks onto final bills by nearly 9% to $12.50 per person, per day for passengers staying in most cabins. Passengers in suites will pay $13.50 per person, per day — a 13% rise.
With the increase, a family of four will pay $350 in service charges on a typical seven-night cruise.
The hike comes in the wake of recent increases at several other major lines including Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Norwegian now adds a $13.50 per person, per day service charge for most cabins, while Celebrity and Royal Caribbean levy $12.95.
Among other major lines, Princess and Cunard add $11.50 per person, per day in service charges or gratuities to passenger bills. Carnival charges $12.
The practice of adding service charges to passenger bills is at a crossroads in the industry. A growing number of upscale ocean lines including Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn, Regent and SeaDream have eliminated added service charges and automatic gratuities entirely, and the practice also is disappearing at some river cruise lines. River lines Uniworld, Tauck and Scenic Cruises are among those that now include gratuities for crew members in the base fare.
The increase at Holland America comes as the line prepares for the unveiling of its biggest ship ever, the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam.
For more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/10/02/holland-america-service-charge/73196250/
Crime killing Jamaican competitiveness
By Jamaica Observer, From Barbados Nation News
CRIME CONTINUES TO kill Jamaica’s competitiveness, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2015/16 released this week. –
Jamaica’s overall rank remained level at 86 among 140 nations but the business cost of crime and violence subranked it as the world’s second worst. Only Venezuela scored lower than Jamaica in that category.
The world’s ten most competitive countries are Switzerland, Singapore, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom.
“Switzerland tops the Global Competitiveness Index for the seventh consecutive year. Switzerland leads the innovation pillar, thanks to its world-class research institutions, high spending on research and development by companies and strong cooperation between the academic world and the private sector,” stated the report edited by Professor Klaus Schwab adding, other factors contributing to Switzerland’s lead include innovation, business sophistication and its educated workforce.
Jamaica actually leads the Caribbean despite its challenges based on improvements over the last five competitiveness reports. Other Caribbean ranking include Trinidad & Tobago at 89, Dominican Republic at 98, Guyana at 121 and Haiti at 134. The survey findings in Barbados and Suriname were not completed to minimum requirements which resulted in their omission, according to the report first published in 1979. The competitive ranking measures 12 criteria.
Contextually, Jamaica ranked 67th in the world in 2006/07 report and continuously worsened to 107th among 142 countries in the 2011-12 report. That report recorded Jamaica as offering the worst macro-economy globally. However, macro improvements occurred in subsequent reports due to the country accessing budgetary financing from the International Monetary Fund and other donor agencies. The 2015/16 report reflects the country’s performance with a debt to GDP of 140.6 per cent which led to a sub-rank of 138 in the world.
The major challenges affecting the Latin American and Caribbean region include crime and weak institutions, according to the report.
“The deceleration experienced in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2012 continues in 2015, with the IMF projecting growth of below one per cent — down from 1.3 per cent in 2014 and 2.9 per cent in 2013. Falling commodity prices add to the persisting challenge of low levels of trade, investment, and savings, and low productivity growth. As a result, the region has seen its performance on the GCI stagnate over the past five years,” stated the report.
The business costs of crime ranked Colombia at 132, Honduras at 133, Trinidad & Tobago at 136, El Salvador at 137, Guatemala at 138. Also El Salvador scored worst globally in terms of a separate category of the cost of organised crime on its competitiveness. (Jamaica Observer)
Trio fly out to Caribbean island to take part in cycle challenge
By Claire Lomax From Craven Herald & Pioneer
An Addingham woman, paralysed from the chest down, will fly out to Cuba tomorrow to take part in a 400km charity cycle challenge across the Caribbean island to raise money for a charity that has given her invaluable support.
Penny Roberts, 52, was left paralysed after a parachuting accident in 1995 in Florida, when her main and reserve chutes tangled and only one third was in operation as she fell 13,500ft onto a concrete runway.
Over the years she has had to battle to keep her independence and live life to the full, and cycling has been an excellent way for her to keep fit. She uses a specially-adapted bike provided by Regain, a charity that improves the independence of men and women who have become tetraplegic as a result of a sports or leisure injury.
It is not the first time Penny has taken on a fundraising challenge for the charity. She cycled 400km trip across Egypt in 2007 raising thousands for Regain.
Penny has spent months training and planning for this latest challenge, alongside her personal assistants Lydia Waite, also of Addingham, and Claire Parker, of Keighley, who will take on the challenge as well. Penny’s 17-year-old son, Peter, is also making the trip to Cuba.
Seventy riders from all over the country will take part in the bike ride, including seven who are paralysed. Penny is the only paralysed female taking part, using a special handcycle attachment, called a batec, that fits onto her wheelchair.
Penny said: “Most of the equipment that makes my life functional is not available from any local authority or NHS source.
“Regain has supported me with equipment and peer support, and I want to raise as much as I can for this charity because it helps turn an existence back into a life.”
The trio have become familiar figures around Addingham in the months leading up to the challenge as they put the hours of training in all through the summer months.
“We have trained so hard,” added Penny. “We have got used to seeing the same people on many of our routes.
“It has been a real community effort keeping us going – people have been lovely and so supportive. We hope to be able to raise a couple of grand for the charity.”
IMAGE: Penny Roberts (centre) with Lydia (left) and Claire, on a training session in Addingham
Randall & Quilter moves liabilities from Cayman firm to own company
From London South East
LONDON (Alliance News) – Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd Friday said it has completed the novation of liabilities from a Cayman segregated portfolio company to R&Q’s segregated account company R&Q Quest (SAC) Ltd.
The segregated portfolio company was established for the purpose of accepting workers’ compensation and employers’ liability risks in the state of California, R&Q said.
“We are delighted to complete this novation. This deal continues to show our market leading position in providing captive exit solutions and we are pleased to have executed a deal in Cayman, one of the world’s premier captive domiciles,” Chairman and Chief Executive Ken Randall said in a statement.
Shares in R&Q were untraded at the open on Friday, last quoted at 95.25 pence.
By Karolina Kaminska; [email protected]
5 U.S. service members among 12 dead in Afghan plane crash
By The Associated Press From Mashable
A U.S. defense official says 12 people, including five U.S. service members, are dead after the crash of a military C-130 transport plane in Afghanistan.
The official says the plane crashed at Jalalabad Airport in eastern Afghanistan at about midnight local time.
There are about 1,000 coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, including U.S. and Polish forces as well as about 40,000 Afghan troops, according to NATO.
The U.S. official was not authorized to discuss the incident publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. has about 9,800 troops in Afghanistan, although the numbers are expected to go down a bit by the end of the year.
Army tests remote-controlled weapons systems for base security
By FoxNews From BGR
The U.S. Army is testing remote controlled weapons systems for base perimeter security.
The tests at Fort Bliss, Texas, involve unmanned, weaponized towers, which aim to make more effective use of military personnel. Using the remote controlled systems, two soldiers inside the base camp tactical operation center can do the security work once done by 10, explained Lt. Col. Raphael Heflin, commander, 142nd Combat Service Support Battalion (CSSB), 1st Armored Division, in a press release. “Every Soldier I have assigned to securing the perimeter is one I don’t have that can execute support missions,” he said.
The systems, and the “expeditionary towers” they are mounted on, are known as containerized weapons systems. One expeditionary tower “can be put together by six Soldiers in less than an hour, with minimal training,” said Capt. Robert Scott, officer-in-charge of the 142nd CSSB’s base defense operation center, in the press release. When it’s time to pack up and leave, everything fits neatly back inside the container.
Tests at Fort Bliss have used a Browning M-2 50-caliber machine gun and a 338 Lapua sniper rifle mounted on towers, although most types of gun system can be mounted.
The weapons can be raised, lowered, rotated by 360-degrees and fired remotely, according to Scott, who noted that they are controlled using Joint All Hazard Command Control System software. The software serves as the brain of the sophisticated “Tower Hawk System” for base surveillance, he added.
The tests are part of Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 16.1, a program to evaluate new and emerging technology that runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8. Some 9,000 participants are taking part in NIE 16.1, including U.S. military personnel and a 14-member coalition from mostly NATO nations.
In addition to the remote weapon system, troops are also testing a number of operational energy systems designed to improve energy efficiency. For example, an Advanced Medium Mobile Power Source, or “amps micro grid,” controls six 60-kilowatt generators. A smart system, the amps micro grid can detect how much power the base camp is consuming.
When there is not enough power, the system turns on more generators, according to Maj. Daniel Rodriguez, company commander, 542nd Quartermaster Company, in the press release. When the generators are not needed, the system automatically turns off one or more of them. The system also determines which generator has been used the most and selects a fresh one to give the used one a rest.
Volkswagen says 1.2 million UK cars involved in emissions scandal
By Matt Brian From engadget
After confirming that it will spend more than 6.5 billion euros (£4.8 billion) to fix the 11 million vehicles affected by its diesel emissions scandal, Volkswagen has come clean over how many of those are in the UK. The company says a total of 1,189,906 British cars with EA 189 EU5 engines will be recalled in the coming weeks and is in the process of contacting affected customers about what they need to do. It also plans to create a “self-serve process” for owners to check if their car is impacted by the issue, but notes that all of its vehicles are “technically safe and roadworthy” in the meantime.
If you missed what happened, the US Environmental Protection Agency recently found that the car maker was using a “defeat device” or software trick that could detect when a car was being tested and automatically enable its emissions control systems. When it returns to normal mode, the diesel car would then output high levels of nitrogen oxide, which contributes to high air pollution and causes respiratory issues.
The affected cars aren’t all Volkswagen-branded, though. Almost half of them (588,114) are, but 393,450 Audi, 76,773 SEAT and 131,569 Skoda vehicles were found to be using the so-called cheat device. Cars with EU6, V6 TDI and V8 TDI engines aren’t affected (as well as all petrol models). The company hopes to ready its “technical solutions” and share them with “responsible authorities” before the end of October, so if you find out that your car needs to be retuned, you might not have to wait too long to get it sorted.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/30/volkswagen-uk-cars-emissions-scandal/
Ericsson awarded for Pay TV Innovation at IBC 2015
Ericsson wins best IPTV technology and service at the 2015 CSI Awards for its cloud-based TV platform MediaFirst.
Ericsson MediaFirst brings together the best of traditional Pay TV and over-the-top services to transform TV and video entertainment.
Ericsson MediaFirst reflects the company’s continued dedication to providing operators with award-winning TV services to viewers.
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been selected as the winner of the best IPTV technology and service at the CSI Awards held during the International Broadcasting Conference in Amsterdam on September 11, 2015. The annual program, hosted by CSI Magazine, recognizes technical and product marketing excellence in the cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcasting, mobile and IPTV sectors.
Ericsson MediaFirst, a next-generation cloud-based Pay TV platform that transforms TV and video entertainment, was selected as the Best IPTV Technology and Services at the CSI Awards show. Bringing together the best of traditional Pay TV and over-the-top services, Ericsson MediaFirst empowers operators and content providers to deliver constantly optimized, device agnostic and highly personalized TV experiences. Ericsson announced the commercial availability of Ericsson MediaFirst at the 2015 International Broadcasting Convention.
“Through MediaFirst, Ericsson provides operators with the tools they need to deliver compelling, personalized TV experiences that inspire greater subscriber loyalty and offer more opportunity to drive agility and revenue,” said Mark Weinberg, Head of Business Line, Ericsson TV Platforms. “We’re honored to receive the award from CSI Magazine and look forward to deploying MediaFirst with operators around the globe.”
Ericsson MediaFirst adopts agile development principles and practices to fit the needs of a business-to-business-to-consumer TV platform, providing operators a continuous stream of new innovations. Much like web services, MediaFirst enables operators to act on the platform’s built-in analytics in real time, leading to agile innovation cycles, greater monetization opportunities and faster time to market for new features and targeted offerings.
Ericsson MediaFirst is a key part of the Ericsson media solutions portfolio, reflecting continued investments to enable operators to deliver award-winning TV services to viewers. Along with industry leading IPTV platform, Ericsson Mediaroom, and Ericsson Mediaroom Reach, which extends the platform to all screens, Ericsson’s TV platforms provide the best TV vewing experiences across all devices while addressing various operator needs.
Uniquely placed at the convergence of telecommunications, the Internet and media, Ericsson powers some of the world’s largest and most complex video platforms, and helps the world’s strongest content brands to deliver personalized, high-quality programming to consumers 24/7. Ericsson’s products, services and insights enable broadcasters, content creators and content owners across cable, satellite and telecoms to accelerate their transformation towards TV in the Networked Society.
