iNews Briefs
Cayman Information Commissioner says IT failures are serious
Acting Information Commission Jan Liebaers said the government needs to take steps to ensure the recent loss of trillions of bytes worth of police data following hard drive crashes in October and March never happens again.
This follows the Cayman Compass open records request that revealed the computer file server used to store various data for police experienced at least five major hardware failures since February 2012.
According to the Compass report, Computer Services Department officials confirmed the latest hardware failures, between October 2013 and March 2014, were responsible for a significant number of police records being corrupted – some of which have been unrecoverable. – See http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2014/07/21/-Gov-t-should-be–very-very-concerned–about-data-loss/
Woman found with mother’s decomposing body propped up in a chair
From Caribbean360
Suriname, CMC – Police have removed the body of a 75-year-old woman, in an advanced state of decomposition, from a house where it was being kept by her daughter.
The police report that they had to convince the woman’s daughter, believed to be of unsound mind, to remove the body from the house, located on Tyronne Road south of here.
The police were alerted by neighbours who complained of an odour coming from the house.
Lawmen were forced to close off the street and called the Suriname Psychiatric Centre for help in speaking to the woman. The fire department was also summoned.
When officers arrived late Saturday, the daughter barricaded the front door and refused to let them in.
Firefighters broke down the door and removed the body that was propped up in a chair.
The daughter, who did not report her mother’s death, was later taken to the Psychiatric Centre.
Tanya Streeter in new WSPA video attacking Cayman Turtle Farm
Caymanian Tanya Streeter and World Champion Free Diver is attacking the Cayman islands Turtle Farm in another video released by WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).
World Animal Protection – “We are World Animal Protection. We end the needless suffering of animals. We influence decision makers to put animals on the global agenda. We help the world see how important animals are to all of us.We inspire people to change animals’ lives for the better. We move the world to protect animals. We were known as WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).”
To see the video go to: http://www.southsouthnews.com/component/video/player/131/2334
Fraser-Pryce to represent the Caribbean at Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony
By Andre Lowe, From Jamaica Gleaner
GLASGOW, Scotland: Jamaican sprinting superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been selected to represent the Caribbean in Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games here.
The Jamaican management team will decide on Monday who will carry Jamaica’s flag in the ceremony set for Celtic Park.
Fraser-Pryce, the world female athlete of the year and triple world champion, has been asked to do the honours, in a new element of the ceremony, which will see each ‘region’ represented by an athlete.
Over 40,000 people are expected to pack Celtic Park for the ceremony, in addition to a potential 1 billion television audience.
Now retired netballer, Simone Forbes, carried Jamaica’s flag at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India in 2010.
For more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=54363
Cayman dump on fire again
The Cayman islands George Town landfill site , known as The Dump and Mount Trashmore caught fire once again last Saturday (19).
CNS reported: “Fire officers identified a small area to the rear of the landfill that was smoking and appeared to be a surface fire. Immediately the crew jumped into action to start extinguishing the fire, officials said, while waiting for the excavator to overturn the garbage. Fire Chief Roy Grant requested that the fire trailer pump be brought to the scene straight away as it was beleived that the fire may be deep seated, and the immediate demand for water supply could be met the fire service added.” Source: http://www.caymannewsservice.com/local-news/2014/07/20/fire-smoulders-george-town-dump-saturday
Aruba finance minister rejects Dutch involvement
From Bloomberg
ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — Aruba’s finance minister says the Dutch Caribbean island will not bow to pressure from the Netherlands to impose austerity measures to revive the local economy.
Juan David Yrausquin told The Associated Press on Saturday that officials already have cut costs and downsized the government.
His announcement comes after Prime Minister Mike Eman and other officials staged a weeklong hunger strike to protest what they say is meddling by the Dutch in local financial affairs.
Dutch officials have asked Aruba’s governor to hold off on approving the 2014 budget pending an evaluation of it. Aruba is facing a major deficit and its national debt represents 75 percent of its GDP.
Hundreds of opposition supporters marched to Aruba’s Parliament on Friday and demanded to talk to officials about the island’s economic woes.
For more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-07-19/aruba-finance-minister-rejects-dutch-involvement
Cayman solar company in provisional liquidation changes directors
LDK Solar announces changes to its board of directors
LDK Solar Co. Ltd. in provisional liquidation (George Town, Cayman Islands, and Xinyu City, China) and its Joint Provisional Liquidators, Tammy Fu and Eleanor Fisher, both of Zolfo Cooper (Cayman) Limited, on July 18th, 2014 announced that Dr. Bing Xiang and Hongjiang Yao have resigned from LDK Solar’s board of directors.
With these changes, the number of members of LDK Solar’s board of directors is nine.
“We are grateful to Dr. Xiang and Mr. Yao for their service as members of our board over the past several years,” stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman of LDK Solar.
“We benefitted from their wisdom and the LDK Solar board wishes to acknowledge, with appreciation, their efforts and contributions during their tenure. We wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Richard Branson’s mum says Titanic star Kate Winslet DIDN’T save her from Caribbean island fire
By Anthony Bond From daily Mirror UK
Eve Branson, 90, says she was actually saved by her grandsons following the huge blaze at the luxurious Necker Island holiday home
Sir Richard Branson’s 90-year-old mum has DENIED being saved from a huge fire on her billionaire son’s private Caribbean island by actress Kate Winslet
Sir Richard Branson’s 90-year-old mum has DENIED being saved from a huge fire on her billionaire son’s private Caribbean island by actress Kate Winslet.
The blaze on the luxurious Necker Island home was sparked following a fierce lightning storm and resulted in the holiday property being burnt to the ground.
It was widely reported after the fire three years ago that film star Kate had picked up Eve Branson and carried her to safety.
But the pensioner has now rubbished the claims and said she was actually saved by her grandsons, adding that the Titanic star carried her down four steps.
Speaking to the The Observer Magazine, she described how she was rushed outside after being woken up.
She said: “I’d just about got outside and the rain was pouring down and I didn’t have my contact lenses in, but I was making my way out and Kate and her two children were behind me.
“Then she just sort of picked me up and took me down four steps and that was it. I’m sorry, I can’t make a story out of it.”
For more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/richard-bransons-mum-says-titanic-3888321
Bay Area artist makes a move to sunny Florida [instead of Cayman]
By Rebecca Collins From The Bay Area Observer
Barb Fernandez has been a creative inspiration in La Porte for many years now, but the artist is now bound for another shore.
She will be leaving for Florida soon and landing in Delray Beach where she plans on opening a studio/gallery/recycled home goods store. Why Delray? “The first time I visited Delray, I knew I found my home”, she said. “After spending most of my childhood summers in the Cayman Islands, I knew that one day I would find my own piece of beach paradise that would bring new inspiration and peace to my spirit”!
Barb chose to go into the arts after spending 25 years as a hair stylist, and her inspiration comes from nature…mostly the ocean landscape. About her art she says, “My most sought after creations are my commissioned art guitars using eggshell and stained glass….I am mostly known in the Bay Area for my eggshell technique and plan on instructing classes once I get settled in Delray Beach”.
Not to worry however, her creations will still be available for purchase through her Facebook page CF Creations Art Studio and Gallery. She will continue to accept commissions and will even ship directly to buyers.
Barb said, “Thanks to everyone in Texas that have supported my artistic endeavors! I hope you will look me up when you visit South Florida”!
Barb Fernandez can be reached at 713-398-0366 or by email at [email protected]
For more: http://bayareaobserver.com/local-artist-makes-a-move-to-sunny-florida-p1902-1.htm
Italy says 19 boat migrants die, thousands rescued this week
By Steve Scherer From Yahoo News
ROME (Reuters) – Nineteen people died trying to reach Italy on a boat packed with hundreds of migrants, probably poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes from its engines, said the Italian Navy on Saturday, which has rescued more than 4,000 migrants in the last three days.
Eighteen bodies were found in the hold of the boat, said a navy spokesman, along with three very ill men who were rushed to the Italian island of Lampedusa but one died en route.
The two surviving men were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, the spokesman said.
He said carbon monoxide fumes produced by the boat’s engine likely caused the deaths. A similar incident last month killed 30.
Italy is struggling to keep up with the number of migrant boats this year, which mostly depart from the coast of increasingly unstable Libya, and is seeking more help from the EU in both the rescue mission and in hosting new arrivals.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates that more than 500 migrants have died in the Mediterranean so far this year, compared to 700 during the whole of last year.
For more: http://news.yahoo.com/italy-rescues-4-000-migrants-says-boat-engine-125512455.html
NASA says lunar caves could provide living spaces for future astronauts
By Timothy J. Seppala From Mashable
It turns out that the Moon could be habitable. Sort of. NASA writes that some of the holes in our moon’s surface might actually be caves where future astronauts could hole up and guard themselves from radiation, micrometeorites and massive temperature changes when day turns to night, aiding future exploration.
The aeronautics outfit says that these caves could be the result of a few different actions, including sub-surface lava draining away from an area and vibrations causing the roofs of resultant voids to collapse.
The only way to know for sure, though, is to physically check them out — there’s only so much that photos from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter can tell us. Who knows, maybe once astronauts start delving below the lunar surface they’ll find a wizard or two.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/19/habitable-lunar-caves/?ncid=rss_truncated
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother says she tried to abort him
From TimesofIndia
LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother Dolores Aveiro has revealed in her autobiography that she had tried to abort the Portuguese football star when she was pregnant.
In the book, Mae Coragem, released in Portugal on Friday, Aveiro claims that she drank warm beer and ran “until she dropped” after the doctors had refused to terminate her pregnancy, reported the Independent.
“I wanted to abort but the doctor didn’t support my decision,” Spanish newspaper La Razon, which is serialising the book, quoted her as writing.
Aveiro said Ronaldo knew about the incident.
“He told me when he found out, ‘Look mum, you wanted to abort and now I’m the one who’s pulling the purse-strings in the house’.”
Ronaldo, regarded widely as one of the best footballers in the world today, failed to inspire Portugal in the Fifa World Cup as they were ousted in the group stages.
Embassy of France celebrates National Day in Jamaica
By Marcia Rowe, From Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica and France’s lasting relationship was on show at Monday’s elegantly casual reception held in celebration of France’s National Day.
The relationship was even more pronounced when a Jamaican was entrusted with the important task of singing the national anthem of France.
“It was indeed an honour to have been asked and, I am very happy. I enjoyed it and from all appearances, and from the reception I have received, it did not go over too badly,” expressed an elated Franklin Halliburton, sometime after his robust singing of an anthem that he described as “a militant march”.
“I tread very gingerly with somebody’s national anthem, when you are asked to take on a mammoth task like that, especially in a foreign language on their day”, he added.
It was Halliburton’s first attempt at singing the anthem. Only one request was made of him from the embassy, and that was to give a rousing rendition in acapella. Not a French speaker, he found YouTube very helpful, with the pronunciation of words as well as the tune.
He was not undaunted by the challenge of identifying which was the correct versions of several. So he called on the expertise of his French friends in making the right choice, and ultimately receiving applause from the guests of mixed nationals.
Held at the Hillcrest location of the French Embassy, the short formal segment of the evening saw brief remarks from Arnaldo Brown in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jamaica), and Jean-Luc Wertheimer, chargé d’ affaires in the Kingston Embassy of France. Wertheimer was officiating in place of the ambassador designate, who had only arrived last Sunday.
For more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140719/ent/ent2.html
China offers $20bn for LatAm projects
From Gulf Times
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to create a $20bn fund to finance infrastructure projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The fund was announced at the end of a summit hosted by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff that marked the launch of the China-Latin America-Caribbean Forum on Thursday.
“They proposed to do it immediately so that it can be ready next year. This money is an exclusively Chinese proposal,” Rousseff told reporters in Brasilia, adding that the fund would have initial capital of $10bn.
Xi also offered to extend a credit line of up to $10bn to nations of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) via the Bank of China.
In addition, a Chinese-Latin American co-operation fund of $5bn would be launched for investments in areas that have yet to be decided.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said foreign ministers of the new forum would meet in China next year to determine the mechanism to access the infrastructure fund.
Xi met with 11 Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the end of a three-day visit to Brazil before heading to Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba.
For more: http://www.gulf-times.com/eco.-bus.%20news/256/details/401125/china-offers-$20bn-for-latam-projects
Haiti’s leaders meet with expats in South Florida
From Miami Herald
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — The leaders of Haiti’s government have been meeting with South Florida’s large Haitian community, which contributes to about $2 billion in remittances that support vital services in the Caribbean country.
Haitian expatriates contribute to the government’s free education program through taxes on phone calls and money transfers to Haiti, and the money they send individually to relatives and friends supports education, health care and other daily necessities.
Addressing hundreds of Haitian Americans gathered Saturday at North Miami Senior High School, President Michel Martelly acknowledged the importance of Haiti’s diaspora.
“We know that with you we can do a lot of things in Haiti … with the power you have, the financial power and the expertise,” Martelly said.
For more on this story go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/20/4245466/haitis-leaders-meet-with-expats.html#storylink=cpy
After passport incident, TSA reminds staff that D.C. is not a foreign country [it really is in the USA]
By Jessica Plautz From Mashable
Reminder: Washington, D.C., is in the United States. While it should be obvious the nation’s capital is in fact part of the country, occasional incidents with the TSA would prove otherwise.
Reporter Justin Gray was flying out of Orlando International Airport to head home to Washington, D.C., over the weekend when a TSA agent said his D.C. license was not a valid form of identification.
Gray tweeted that the agent then demanded to see his passport.
Gray said he wasn’t carrying it and asked why he needed it, according to WFTV. The agent said he did not recognize the D.C. license.
At that point, Gray realized the agent did not know what the District of Columbia was.
The issue has come up before with licenses from the district. In February, D.C. resident Ashley Brandt was headed home from Phoenix when an agent asked to see her passport after she had provided her driver’s license.
Brandt’s issue was also cleared up by a supervisor, at which point she was allowed through security, according to the Washington Post.
TSA spokesman Ross Feinstein tweeted at Gray to say the agency was addressing the problem.
Wisconsin train crash injures 2 people, spills oil
By Celestine Hendrickson From CMV Live
A Canadian National Railway Co. train struck another freight train as it rolled through a small village in southeastern, Wisconsin. The accident caused cars to derail, injuring two people and spilling thousands of gallons of diesel oil that prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes. The incident occurred on Sunday at around 8:30 pm at a rail crossing in Slinger.
Slinger Fire Chief Rick Hanke said three engines and 10 railcars derailed. Patrick Waldon, a Canadian National spokesman said an engineer and conductor on the Canadian National train were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. Hanke said about 5,000 gallons of diesel spilled from a locomotive fuel tank.
Hazardous materials crews placed blooms around the spilled fuel and crews worked to upright the derailed cars Monday morning. Hanke said about 100 people who live near the crash site were evacuated from their homes as a precaution. However, they were allowed to return around 1:30 am.
For more: http://cmvlive.com/international-news/wisconsin-train-crash-injures-2-people-spills-oil
Graduation celebration in Grand Cayman
From Shore News Today
The Anderson family of Galloway traveled on a cruise to celebrate the achievements in their family.
The Anderson family of Galloway went on a Western Caribbean cruise in June to celebrate the hard work and achievements in their family.
Pictured with The Current in the Cayman Islands are Abdullah Jr., Amira, Octavia and Abdullah Sr. Amira graduated summa cum laude from Rowan University and Abdullah graduated from Absegami High School and is headed to Bucknell.
