Archive for September 2nd, 2010

Young dolphin separated from family

Young dolphin separated from family

| 02/09/2010 | 1 Comment

 (CNS):  The Department of Environment is hoping that a young dolphin spotted in the waters off Seven Mile Beach this morning is heading back to a family and is not permanently separated from its pod as it is very difficult for young dolphins to survive without family support. The juvenile dolphin was tracked by DoE officials before he took off again. Staff followed the dolphin by boat for several hours, but just after noon the dolphin swam off heading for deep water off North West Point. “We are all very optimistic that it will reunite with its pod,” said DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie.  The MRCU mosquito plane made several turns around the island searching unsuccessfully for the family. (Photo by Niels Schulze-Gattermann)

"Without locating its pod, a young dolphin will be unable to survive alone so we can only hope for the best.”

The DoE regularly tracks and monitors dolphins, whales and other marine mammals as part of its work. It asks anyone that makes a sighting to contact the department about the marine mammal sightings with details of the location as well as pictures where possible.

 

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3rd man arrested in murder

3rd man arrested in murder

| 02/09/2010 | 3 Comments

(CNS): Police say a third person has been arrested and is in police custody in connection to the death of Marcos Mauricio Gauman Duran, who died following a shooting incident in Maliwinas Way, West Bay, on Thursday 11 March this year. The 23-year-old man was arrested in the West Bay area on Tuesday 31 August and is being detained on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact of murder. A sixteen-year-old boy was accused of murdering Duran and appeared in court on 13 April. The teen was refused bail, despite requiring specialist treatment as a result of a severe gunshot wound he received on the night that Duran was killed. Craig Johnson (29) appeared in court the last week of April in connection with the murder.

Duran was the third murder victim of 2010. Police say enquiries are ongoing.
 

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Stephen Hawking: God did not create Universe

Stephen Hawking: God did not create Universe

| 02/09/2010 | 1 Comment

(BBC): There is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe, Professor Stephen Hawking has said. He had previously argued belief in a creator was not incompatible with science but in a new book, he concludes the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics. The Grand Design, part serialised in the Times, says there is no need to invoke God to set the Universe going. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something," he concluded. In his new book, an extract of which appears in the Times, Britain’s most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton’s belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of chaos.

Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, he said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions – the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass – far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."

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Jamaican Government “not fighting the media”

Jamaican Government “not fighting the media”

| 02/09/2010 | 4 Comments

(Jamaica Gleaner): The Government has moved to clear the air about its position on the local media in the wake of growing unease following recent comments by Prime Minister Bruce Golding. On Sunday, Golding used a political platform to suggest that sections of the media, and in particular The Gleaner, were working with other groups in pushing a propaganda line while ignoring the facts about the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair. The comment attracted immediate criticisms with the Media Association Jamaica Ltd and the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) expressing concern about the implications for media workers. Yesterday, minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, was adamant that the comments did not represent an attack on the media.

Vaz also rejected claims that the prime minister might have provided a signal to his supporters that sections of the media were enemies of the administration.

"Let me indicate clearly and make it clear to persons who support the Jamaica Labour Party and this Government, that we support nothing untoward against any media house or any media worker," Vaz told The Gleaner.

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Cayman loses insurance firm to Bermuda

Cayman loses insurance firm to Bermuda

| 02/09/2010 | 24 Comments

(Royal Gazette): Gerova Financial Group Ltd a speciality international reinsurance firm  is to shift its domicile to Bermuda from the Cayman Islands, after shareholders approved the move at an extraordinary general meeting. The group had already established a life reinsurance unit in Hamilton, Gerova Re, which has now received its licence from regulator the Bermuda Monetary Authority. "We are excited for our group parent to become a Bermuda company," said Lou Hensley, chief executive officer of Gerova Re. "We believe that Bermuda is one of the world’s leading reinsurance centres, and is an attractive location in which to be based.

 

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Tourism helps teachers with knowledge of Cayman

Tourism helps teachers with knowledge of Cayman

| 02/09/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has given the education department 600 booklets about the islands to help school teachers, teach students about Cayman’s history and heritage. "Know Your Cayman Islands is a reference guide, developed by the DoT providing basic facts about the country originally designed to assist tourism service professionals in providing historically correct and general information to visitors. DoT has used the books in its CAYMAN PRIDE programme, which provides customer service training to key frontline persons in the tourism sector. DoT said they would also be useful for new teachers coming from overseas who were also not familiar with the islands.

"The content of the booklet can be delivered in many creative ways to reach any audience and help them to retain the information," stated Dianne Conolly, DoT’s Coordinator, Tourism Training and Development. "The PRIDE programme uses the book to enhance the customer experience by arming their participants with accurate information to share with our visitors."

DoT’s Cayman PRIDE and Tourism Education programme committed to providing each of the 650 public school teachers with one of the booklets to assist them in teaching young people about the history and heritage of the Cayman Islands.

"The books are a good way to introduce new educators to facts about the Cayman Islands," Conolly said. "However, since their publication, they have been well received by tourism workers and visitors alike. DoT is presenting them, free of cost to all teachers in the public school system so that they can make use of the historical and cultural information to incorporate into their teaching and learning plans." she added.

 

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Bush signs tax deal with Mexico via courier

Bush signs tax deal with Mexico via courier

| 02/09/2010 | 17 Comments

(CNS): The Cayman Islands government signed its twentieth tax agreement last month, this time with Mexico. The Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) was exchanged by courier and considered legally binding following signature on 28 August by Cayman’s premier, McKeeva Bush in his capacity as Minister of Finance and Ernesto Javier CorderoArroyo, Minister of Finance and Public Credit for Mexico. Government officials said this latest agreement further strengthened Cayman’s international tax cooperation regime.

 
“This is Cayman’s twentieth TIEA signing,” said Bush, “which reinforces our commitment to strengthening global tax cooperation, and continues to build on four decades of our venerable transparency regime. This agreement also signifies a new chapter in the working relationship between Mexico and the Cayman Islands, encouraging further economic development and improved relations, boosting the jurisdiction’s reputation amongst Mexican investors.”
 
The Cayman Islands has surpassed the OECD’s recommended 12 agreements and has TIEAs in place with other G7 and G20 member countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Portugal, Ireland the United Kingdom and the United States.

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Uniform troubles continue with further delays

Uniform troubles continue with further delays

| 02/09/2010 | 23 Comments

(CNS): Following earlier announcements that government is having trouble with uniform orders for the public schools, officials confirmed yesterday that further delays are now expected on some of the new school uniforms for the high schools. A limited supply of Year 12 Programme uniforms are available and parents will be allowed to buy two complete uniform sets as a temporary measure from today (Thursday) until the remainder of the order arrives. In the meantime, officials are issuing a dress code for students who don’t have a uniform for September only. Although the delay has not been explained, some parents angered by it have said officials simply did not order the new uniforms in time.

The ministry and department said they are working closely with the home school associations to ensure that uniforms are received as quickly as possible, but the delay in the arrival of uniforms for Clifton Hunter, John Gray and the CI Further Education Centre (CIFEC) has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the education department’s control. However, some parents have blamed the department as they say it did not plan ahead or make preparations for the uniforms in time.
 
According to the officials, as a result of the missing uniforms students can wear plain dress shirts, polo shirts, PE shirts, or t-shirts, while bottoms must be knee-length or longer, plain, smart-casual or business skirts for girls; full-length plain dress pants for boys and girls (Dockers are considered suitable) and all pants must be worn with belts.
 
The Department of Education Services said students won’t be allowed to wear clothing bearing writing or logos, or clothing that is ripped, cut or multi-coloured. Officials are also banning jeans, sweatpants, and shoes other than those prescribed will also not be permitted. Clothing should neither be baggy nor tight. Officials also indicated the precise fit of the clothes and stated that clothes could be neither baggy or tight.
Uniform sales will begin Thursday, 2 September, with uniform shop hours as follows:
 
John Gray High School: 10am to 4pm, Mondays through Saturdays at the JGHS Campus; Clifton Hunter High School: 4pm to 7pm Mondays through Fridays, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays at the Bodden Town Civic Centre; Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC): 4pm to 7pm Mondays through Fridays, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays in the old George Hicks High School uniform shop, across from the Lion’s Pool.
 
Meanwhile, the delivery of bottoms over at the Savannah Primary School has also been delayed and kids will be without their trousers, shorts or skirts until mid-September. In the interim, students should wear their physical education (PE) uniforms on PE days. On other days returning students may wear their polo/oxford shirts with their old bottoms — providing they still fit, while new students and those who have outgrown their old uniforms may wear their polo/oxford shirts with smart casual bottoms.

Smart casual does not include jeans or sweatpants. Trousers must be plain and should not have rips, cuts or logos. They should not be too tight or baggy, and must be worn with a belt at the waist. Skirts must be at least knee-length.

Email savannahpta@live.com or visit the school office for more information.

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Security boss on drive to help fire victims

Security boss on drive to help fire victims

| 02/09/2010 | 2 Comments

(CNS): As police continue investigating the fire in Midland Acres, Bodden Town, which is believed to have been deliberately set, the family are struggling to find a home and make ends meet. The family were not only left homeless by the fire which has destroyed the house, but all of their belongings have been lost as well leaving them with only the clothes they were wearing. The family has two young children who have lost all their clothes and toys. As a result local security boss Matthew Leslie who knows the young family has begun organising support from the local business community to try and get the family back on its feet. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

 
The fire was set on the night of Monday 30 August while the family were out at a friend’s home. The 911 emergency centre received the call at around 9pm and fire and police officers responded. On arrival the house was engulfed in flames and although the fire was quickly extinguished the property was severely, damaged.
 
Managing Director of Titan, explained that in his effort to help the family he sent an email to his staff and clients.
“A mass email was sent out to the entire Titan Group of Companies which includes Titan Security as well the clients that we are affiliated with,” said Leslie, adding how impressed he was with the level of feedback from the businesses he approached. He has already collected cash, household goods, and various vouchers and gift certificates for food at local restaurants.
 
“I just want to tell the family how sad we are to hear of their lose and the staff and business family of the Titan Group/Titan Security just want to express our love and best wishes for them to rebuild from this terrible ordeal” Leslie added. Toys are also very much appreciated for the two young children aged 2 and 5 he said.
 
 
If you are interested in assisting with a donation of any kind, you can call Titan Security at its business office Monday to Friday at 746-8333 or email info@titan.ky
 
 

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Seventh tropical storm follows on across Atlantic

Seventh tropical storm follows on across Atlantic

| 02/09/2010 | 1 Comment

(CNS): Gaston became the seventh named tropical storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season this evening, and the fourth storm in less than two weeks. Gaston, which is rolling across the ocean in the wake of Tropical Storm Fiona and Hurricane Earl, began slowing down on Wednesday night and NHC forecasters say that the storm is set to strengthen over the next few days. At 11:00pm the centre of Tropical storm Gaston was about 935 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands and some 1585 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. TS Gaston is moving toward the west near 12 mph and this general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.

 
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles. Meanwhile, Hurricane Earl is a category form hurricane again and is now threatening the US mid-Atlantic coast. Located about 520 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, maximum sustained winds are at 140 mph and Earl is moving at 18 mph. A turn to the north is expected on Thursday and the core of the hurricane will approach the North Carolina coast by late Thursday, moving near or over the outer banks Thursday night. The centre is expected to pass near or offshore of the Delmarva Peninsula on Friday.

Earl is a large hurricane with hurricane force winds extending outward up to 90 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.

 
Tropical Storm Fiona is moving into the Atlantic toward the northwest t almost 23 mph and the NHC said a decrease in speed is expected during the next 24 hours, followed by a turn toward the north on Thursday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts and gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 14 miles but Fiona poses no threat to land on its current track.

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