Archive for August, 2010

Ricky Marwick Rankin deported to Cayman Islands

Ricky Marwick Rankin deported to Cayman Islands

| 27/08/2010 | 28 Comments

(Miami Herald): US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported Ricky Marwick Rankin, wanted on probation violation charges in the Cayman Islands.Rankin, 40, was wanted by law enforcement authorities in the Cayman Islands for criminal convictions ranging from attempted murder, burglary, assaulting police, consuming cocaine, assault causing actual bodily harm, damage to property, possession of cocaine, robbery, and possession of unlicensed firearm, according to ICE.On March 29, ICE special agents in Fort Lauderdale learned that Rankin was residing in South Florida.

ICE special agents arrested Rankin in June. On Wednesday, he was removed from Miami International Airport and turned over to the Cayman Islands Police Service at Owens Roberts International Airport in Georgetown, Cayman Islands.

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Irish Revenue expects to find €40m offshore

Irish Revenue expects to find €40m offshore

| 27/08/2010 | 0 Comments

(Irish Times): The Revenue Commissioners expect to collect up to €40 million by the end of this year from special investigations into trusts and offshore structures which have been used to evade tax. Officials are investigating at least 1,133 cases in jurisdictions such as Jersey, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Cayman Islands where trusts may have been used to keep funds out of the Revenue’s sight. Many of these funds were designed to create the impression that the non-resident trustees or entities are the owners of the funds, concealing the identities of the Irish beneficiaries.

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Cops arrest hit & run driver

Cops arrest hit & run driver

| 27/08/2010 | 26 Comments

(CNS):  Updated Friday 3:30pm  – Police have arrested a 20 year old man on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified. The man was arrested in Bodden Town shortly before 3pm this afternoon in connection with the hit and run of cyclist last night. A woman who was riding a bicycle on Bodden Town Road by Pirates’ Cave was knocked down by a black car which failed to stop. Police said this morning (Friday) that the 37 year old female had suffered serious injuries but was in a stable condition. At around 7:50pm on Thursday 26 August the victim was riding her bike when she was hit by a vehicle which refused to stop, passers by told the 911 Communications center who dispatched police and Medical services to the accident. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)

The woman was transported to the George Town Hospital where she is still being treated for her injuries which include abdominal and facial injuries as well as cuts to her forearm, head and knee and bruising. 

Following an extensive search the vehicle involved in the accident was subsequently located by operational staff last night with the help of the air support unit.

Investigations are continuing into this matter and police would like anyone who was in the area just before or when the accident occurred to call the Traffic office at 9466254, the George Town Police Station at 9494222, Bodden Town Police Station at 9472220 or Crime Stoppers at 800 8477.

Meanwhile, three women were involved in a one vehicle accident in George Town early Friday morning when the driver lost control of the car along North Church Street, near Bodden Road. At about 6.15 am on Friday 27 August the vehicle was travelling in a Northern direction when the accident occurred and the car ended up on its side The 3 passengers aged 50, 39 and 23 were attended by medicsand taken to the George Town Hospital where no injuries were reported.

 

 

 

 

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Tom Jones claims go to trial

Tom Jones claims go to trial

| 26/08/2010 | 21 Comments

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman Island headline news(CNS): Following a decision by the Grand Court, the Cayman Islands government will be forced to settle its dispute with former schools contractor Tom Jones International at trial. The general contractor had been awarded both the government public high school projects at the John Gray Campus in George Town and the Clifton Hunter campus in Frank Sound but walked off the jobs in November last year. The contractor claimed that government had not paid its bills and that it was in dispute with the education ministry regarding add-ons and overruns of some $17 million. TJI filed a claim in Grand Court against government, which in turn applied to have the claims dismissed.

However, the court has found that the issues raised by the parties require a full trial. In a statement released by the education ministry on Thursday, the government said it looked forward to presenting its case at the trial in due course.
 
“To that end, the government will now proceed to set out the full details of its financial claims against TJI,” government officials said. During the ruling the judge revealed that government had not detailed its counterclaim against TJI but government said it now intended to reveal its case against the contractor.
 
“The term ‘forensically embarrassing’ is used in the judgment in connection with the government’s counterclaim. This is a legal term, which simply means “’lacking in detail’. The government did not feel that it was appropriate to incur the costs of setting out its counterclaim in full until it was clear that the matter would go to a full trial. The Court has now found that the issues raised by the parties do require a full trial and, accordingly, the government will now proceed to set out the full details of its claim against TJI,” the ministry said in the statement.
 
Following its departure from the sites in November 2009, TJI accused government of not demonstrating that it had the financial resources to complete the projects. It said the school development projects were “ill-conceived, poorly executed, over-indulgent, and insufficiently funded,” and the Ministry of Education had made more than 85 significant changes to the original plans totalling as much as CI$17 million that it had not budgeted for.
 
Since TJI walked away, with the exception of some maintenance work conducted by local subcontractors, the sites have remained idle for around nine months. The government began seeking construction management services earlier this year and went through a tendering process, which was abandoned after government decided to phase the development of the schools. The deadline for the latest tenders is tomorrow 27 August.
               
Meanwhile, the court’s judgment in this case became a public document on Thursday evening and CNS intends to publish details as soon as it is able to get a copy.

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603-pound woman leaves home for first time in 3 years

603-pound woman leaves home for first time in 3 years

| 26/08/2010 | 0 Comments

(Huffington Post): A 603-pound (274-kilogram) woman believed to be the heaviest in Thailand left her apartment for the first time in three years Thursday with the help of Bangkok city hall and a forklift. Neighbors of 40-year-old Umnuayporn Tongprapai contacted the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority when they learned she needed medical attention to remove a tumor in her right leg. Bangkok’s media-savvy governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra summoned camera crews to document the event, which involved engineers, demolition crews, rescue workers, doctors and nurses.

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Minister in smash after nodding off at wheel

Minister in smash after nodding off at wheel

| 26/08/2010 | 46 Comments

(CNS): The education minister has confirmed that he was involved in a car accident early Thursday morning in his district of West Bay. Rolston Anglin told CNS that he fell asleep at the wheel for a fraction of a second as he was driving along Willie Farrington Drive and hit a rock. He said no other vehicles were involved and he was uninjured but was working from home and was unable to attend the new teacher’s orientation seminar being held on Thursday morning. The smash occurred at around 1am and police attended the scene.

"I’m need to rethink how I manage my time and workload,’ he said, admitting it was down to genuine tiredness and the workload of his ministry at present.

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UCCI rolls out new courses

UCCI rolls out new courses

| 26/08/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): Part of the many changes going on at the Cayman Islands university, UCCI has introduced a new minor in sociology and political science, and the phased introduction of a minor in English. It begins this semester with the addition of a new humanities course, “African American Literature” which will introduce students to some of the issues of African American Literature, seen across genres and historical periods.  It analyzes the nature and impact of the African-American "voice", in terms of race, values, identity quests, and the roles and contributions of African American writers, within the larger body of American writing and culture.  This course is to be taught by UCCI professor Dr. Paula Grace Anderson. 

The courses offered in these new minors will be of particular interest to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Education, now also offered at UCCI.  
 
Other new humanities courses being introduced are “Introduction to Caribbean Dance and Culture,” and “Introduction to Drawing.” 
 
The Caribbean Dance and Culture course is to be taught by adjunct professor, Dr. Monika Lawrence, of the University of Technology, Jamaica.  Participants will explore the role of traditional Caribbean dance forms, with particular reference to religious dances, their meanings and purposes, and their relationships to other forms and to contemporary society, particularly in Cayman. 
 
The art course is the first of two introductory-level drawing courses offered by UCCI.  The course will expose students to the art of line-drawing and then will go on to perspective and the formal rules of proportion of both the human figure and head, among other techniques. 
 
Other new developments is a course auditing arrangement for persons interested in boosting and enriching personal and academic development.  Grades and credits are not given for audited courses, and acceptance of persons into this arrangement is dependent on space availability and the approval of the Department Chair. 
 
Registration for auditing of courses is now in progress at UCCI, where classes begin on Monday (30 August).
 
A combined minor in Spanish and English is also on the drawing board and expected to be introduced later. 
 
For further information on humanities courses, go to www.ucci.edu.ky, or contact Drs. Jennifer Williams or Livingston Smith.  For arrangements on auditing courses, interested persons may contact Registrar John Frederick at jfrederick@ucci.edu.ky or by calling 623-0520.
 

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Chamber of Commerce moves to bigger location

Chamber of Commerce moves to bigger location

| 26/08/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The Chamber of Commerce is moving to new offices along Seven Mile Beach at Governors Square on 1 September. With more parking and a larger space the Chamber said the new Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Centre will better serve its members and provide easier access far visitors and training course attendees. The Chamber is moving from McDonald’s Square off Fort Street in downtown George Town where parking is becoming increasingly difficult to find. The office will have a visitors centre providing tourist information and investment information for the Cayman Islands.

 
“We are also proud to open a purpose built training facility for our Professional Development and Training courses which will be housed within our new office building. This will be able to accommodate up to 50 people,” the Chamber said. .
 
The new centre will also include Chamber Business Pods – a new concept for start-up businesses who need to rent a modest office space but with access to all the traditional equipment of a larger office environment. A host of new marketing opportunities will also be available to Chamber members in the form of Chamber TV, promotional displays, product launch opportunities, and presentation space, the chamber announced this week.
 
“We look forward to welcoming you to our new home and sharing with you the benefits of
Chamber membership,” officials stated.
 
For more information about the Chamber visit its website www.caymanchamber.ky

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Ten people to battle fat in ‘War on Weight’

Ten people to battle fat in ‘War on Weight’

| 26/08/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS):  Following the news yesterday that research has found even a short bout of unhealthy binging can have a lasting detrimental impact ten local people are going into battle over the next four months with fat and flab. War on Weight launched last Thursday when the ten contestants from the forty applicants, selected by committee to ensure their commitment, discussed this year’s weight competition, planned exercise regimes and met fellow exercise partners. Now in its third year, the WOW contest is an initiative of the Cayman Heart Fund where participants battle the bulge over 16-weeks. Each contestant will have access to more than $2,000 worth of health and fitness industry advice and expertise. 

 
Maggie Buchanan said she decided to enter WOW after a recent picture made her realize it was time to shed the pounds.
 
 “I decided it was finally time to get serious. No more excuses. When I saw WOW was looking for contestants I knew this was the competition for me,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the hard work, the camaraderie with the team and the competiveness of the entire programme. WOW provides me with the desire to keep an active routine as part of my everyday life so that I don’t revert back to my heavier and sedentary lifestyle. Of course, the personal end result for me is the prize of a healthier and thinner life.”
 
 59-year-old Joan Christian, decided to turn her life around after her doctor advised her that she needed to lower her blood pressure or risk being put on medication.
 
“I really want to avoid going on medication and I have been advised that losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle will help avoid this. Also my youngest son and his girlfriend have just had a bouncing baby girl and I really want to be able to enjoy her and my five other grandchildren,” she said.
 
“The WOW contest will give me the initiative to get started on an exercise regime that I can keep up after the programme is finished. I’m really looking forward to losing the weight and learning from the experts how to live healthier and, most importantly, keep the weight off.”
 
Originally from New Zealand, Rob Jamieson said he was most looking forward to the opportunity to work out with a group of people all working towards a mutual goal.
 
“The WOW contest is really going to help keep me organized and motivated and I really appreciate the hard work that the organizers have put in, not to mention the sponsor donors.”
 
To help contestants find an exercise regime they enjoy, this year’s contestants will be trying their hand at a wide range of fitness classes. These include martial arts at Purple Dragon, yoga at BodyWorks, Yamuna Body Rolling at Flow and spinning at Revolutions. Reflections are ensuring contestants look the part, with discounts on fitness apparel.
 
As part of the programme, contestants will also have to adhere to a strict diet under the watchful eye of registered dietician Chad Collins. Dr Addleson will be monitoring the contestantsthroughout the course of the challenge to ensure weight loss is healthy.
 
WOW committee chairperson, Leandra Charles, said she is excited about this year’s programme and the number of sponsors on board.
 
“This year’s contestants are really dedicated to the programme and we have had some fantastic support from sponsors this year. Without a doubt, this year will be the best WOW yet and I’m pretty confident this year’s contestants will shed more pounds than ever.”
 
 

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Patient led health care initiative launched

Patient led health care initiative launched

| 26/08/2010 | 2 Comments

(CNS): Clients from the Department of Children and Family Services will be the first patients to be allocated their own personal physician as part of the pilot launch of CayHealth. Government officials said this is an evidence-based health initiative that will give patients better access to healthcare. Patients will be able to schedule all appointments with the same doctor, who will in turn coordinate any specialist visits and overseas care, officials stated. The programme will be officially launched on 1 September but it is slated to become a nationalinitiative, and according to the health minister, forms part of the wider goal of improving the country’s health and health care.

The programme is a partnership between the ministries of Health and Community Affairs and the Health Services Authority.
 
“I believe this provides a great opportunity to improve our people’s health as we work towards developing a sustainable high quality healthcare system for the Cayman Islands,” said the health minister, Mark Scotland.
 
One of the programme’s main features involves assigning general practitioners as personal physicians. In addition to seeking services through CayHealth, patients will also continue to access paediatrics and women’s health clinic services in the usual manner due to the special nature of these services.
 
“Patients are at the heart of the healthcare system and being able to schedule visits with the same physician is a major step forward as it will improve patient-doctor relationships. Furthermore, when a doctor knows your complete medical history, it inevitably results in better and faster care,” the minister added.
 
The programme is also aimed at reducing waiting time by serving patients at the district health centres, where they will also be able to fill prescriptions. Government said the initiative supports the concept of preventative healthcare and encourages people to take an active interest in their health. As such, the programme offers patients health education which promotes healthy lifestyles through the Public Health Department and partner agencies.
 
“Evidence-based clinical management programmes such as CayHealth are especially effective in improving the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma because they allow physicians and patients to manage their health, rather than just responding to acute symptoms,” Scotland stated. “As such, this programme’s focus on preventative primary health care and patient education will allow the health care provider to manage the patient’s health and well-being which should reduce the need to seek emergency and acute care services.”
 
Mike Adam, the community affairs minster, said CayHealth had the potential to create a strong healthcare model for future generations. “We hope that the first participants will become strong ambassadors for the programme in their communities.”
 
Government officials said the programme was developed by a multi-agency steering committee comprising representatives from the Health Services Authority, the Department of Children and Family Services and CINICO.

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