Archive for April 20th, 2011
Jury asked to pick between defendant and witness
(CNS): As the lawyers for both the prosecution and the defence made their closing speeches to the jury this week they told the twelve men and women that they had to decide between the key witness or the defendant who it was that actually killed Brian-Rankine-Carter.
Coles appointed new voice for finance sector
(CNS): The chair of the Human Rights Commission is about to add to his workload by taking on another challenge. Aside from championing the cause of the country’s vulnerable in the face of rights abuses by authorities, he will now also be the voice of the islands’ financial services sector. Former attorney general Richard Coles was officially appointed the new chairman of Cayman Finance at its annual general meeting last month. Aside from chairing the HRC, Coles is currently an independent director for hedge funds, structured finance vehicles and investment and financial sector companies.
Speaking about his new position, Coles said, “This organisation has developed an impressive history of working with Government to achieve its mission of promoting Cayman’s financial services industry. It is my intention to further build upon this relationship and to take the activities of Cayman Finance to a new level.”
Stepping into the role previously held by Anthony Travers, who took every opportunity presented to counter criticisms of the jurisdiction, Coles takes on the post at a time when there are persistent calls from onshore countries to block what are seen as loopholes that allow multinationals to use offshore centres.
Thanks were given at the meeting to outgoing chairman Anthony Travers, who members said had worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the Cayman Islands.
Dax Basdeo, Chief Officer of the Ministry of Finance, acknowledged the efforts of Cayman Finance and encouraging more collaboration and partnership between the public and private sectors going forward.
“The competitive environment in which we work makes it imperative that Cayman is unified in its approach to maintain its position in the marketplace. Cayman Finance has government support to achieve this objective,” Basdeo stated..
A new board was also elected and the directors are as follows: Peter Cockhill (Ogier), Nick Freeland (PWC), Gonzalo Jalles (HSBC), Mark Lewis (Walkers), Roy McTaggart (KPMG), Conor O’Dea (Butterfield), David Roberts (Cayman Management), Daniel Scott (Ernst & Young), Henry Smith (Maples and Calder), Ian Wight (Deloitte).
Special thanks were also offered to Cayman Finance founders, the late Eric Crutchley and Eduardo D’Angelo Silva.
Green fingers students needed for schoolyard gardens
(CNS): A new project is taking ‘root’ in the community in an effort to help educate children about food and nutrition. Project Grow is the brainchild of insurance firm Generali Worldwide, HSBC Bank (Cayman) Limited and Vigoro Nursery, who have teamed up to offer local schools the chance to start growing their own food on campus with the introduction of schoolyard gardens. The goal, organizers said, is to help young people connect the food they eat with its production. The school garden pilot project first started with John Gray High School in 2009 but it is now being offered to all schools in the Cayman Islands.
“Over the last few decades food has become more and more industrialized, packaged and processed. Much of this processed food is unhealthy and causing problems to our overall well-being and the well-being of the planet,” said the organisers. “As a society we have lost our connection with food and its origin. Project Grow aims to repair this connection using food through sustainable agriculture as a vehicle to educate children about healthy foods and nutrition.”
With dedicated teachers and students, the development and maintenance of sustainable schoolyard gardens will go some way to creating an appreciation for the need to develop healthier eating habits, the organizers say.
In order to take part in the project the schools will need an open area in which a grow box can fit or a patch of land that can be used and a dedicated faculty and student body to develop and maintain the garden throughout the 2011-2012 school year. Schools will be chosen based on their willingness and ability to support the programme for the long-term.
“Generali Worldwide is really excited to see Project Grow properly launched with partners HSBC Cayman and Vigoro Nursery”, said Maureen Cubbon, Marketing and Health & Wellness Manager for Generali Worldwide. “Health and wellness for the community has always been a focus for Generali Worldwide and we are really pleased to be a part of such a unique and important initiative.”
Project Grow will help children learn the principles of gardening. The hands-on experience helps familiarize children with the many relationships and cycles within nature providing a link to healthy eating and nutritional choices. The gardening experience itself brings other health benefits like exercise, time spent outdoors in the fresh air and a sense of well being. It also offers new and exciting ways to address nutrition.
Tom Balon of Vigoro Nursery says it is exciting to see projects of this nature materialize. “There can be so many benefits from them. Awareness of health and lifestyle is always important, and gardening, especially edibles can be very rewarding in all aspects of well-being. We are very excited at Vigoro Nursery and look forward to being a part of this exciting project,” he added.
HSBC Cayman and Generali Worldwide will support the program by providing the grow boxes, soil and other needed equipment along with a tailored approach to a sustainable garden plan for the chosen school. Vigoro Nursery will provide the needed expertise and direction for growing and maintaining the school garden throughout the year.
“Agriculture is an important part of the Cayman Islands and Project Grow uses an “out of the box” approach to engage children so that they can understand the direct relationship between the food on their plate and the impact on the environment,” added Gonzalo Jalles, HSBC Cayman CEO, “We are honored to become part of such an important project.”
Project Grow is making an “open call” to all schools in the Cayman Islands and is accepting applications for the September 2011 school year. For those who are interested in becoming a part of the programme email: caymanprojectgrow@gmail.com for an application form, applications are open until 20 May.