Archive for October 9th, 2012
CI martial arts expert made director of regional body
(CNS): Localmartial aarts expert Bob Daigle has been appointed the director of the World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts (WCMM) for the Caribbean. He will be managing the region's headquarters out of offices in the Cayman Islands. Daigle’s duties include appointments of WCMMA Directors for the 28 Island Nations that make up the Caribbean, helping them develop national World Cup teams, helping them prepare for competition, and also organizing WCMMA events themselves within the different countries of the Caribbean. "I met Bob at the inaugural WCMMA event on September 15th where we had a chance to chat, I'm thoroughly impressed with his work ethic, and his vision for growing the Nation vs Nation concept of the sports,” said WCMMA Commissioner Dan Severn in a release regarding Daigle’s appointment.
“What was impressive to me was his extensive background in the martial arts itself, our values of "Honor, Respect and Discipline," are already well engrained in is character. I personally look forward to working with him and all the nations of the Caribbean."
Daigle's is a retired martial arts competitor with over three decades of experience in the sport. In 1997 he was awarded the KRANE world title by winning almost every tournament in the circuit that year, he was crowned with the title when he took 1st place in Caracas, Venezuela.
Daigle said his enthusiasm and passion for the growth of the sport continues to drive him, and he envisions with the proper guidance that the World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts will not only be an exciting competition for fans, but also can help to change the lives of young people, and give them the direction that comes along with the values of the organization.
See interview with Daigle at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF7qvP-qk9c&feature=youtu.be
Deputy premier sends message from Middle East
(CNS): The deputy premier and minister responsible for the postal service is currently in Doha, Qatar, where she is attending the Universal Postal Union’s 25th congress. In a message to mark World Postal Day (Tuesday 9 October), Juliana O’Connor Connolly reported that Cayman won a bronze medal for its express mail service at the event. Sending the message home from the Middle East as Cayman joins the rest of the world in celebrating the official observance of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Berne, Switzerland in 1894, she said the local postal service (CIPS) is still holding its own in this era of developing technology and could compete on the world stage.
According to a release from the minsitry and from the conference officials, the minister, accompanied by her chief officer and postmaster general, is joining some 2,200 delegates gathered at the conference to discuss the future of the postal sector, adopt the organization's work programme for the next four years and refine the rules for international mail exchanges among the UPU's 192 member countries.
Despite a changing business landscape, the postal service remains an important means of communication. According to UPU statistics, worldwide mail services deliver nearly 445 billion letters every year. The postal service is increasingly tied to newer means of communications involving electronic transactions and is at the end game of ecommerce — that is, delivery of packages.
See ministers' full message from Doha below.
Rain stops play for young footballers
CUC- PFL): Torrential downpours, lightning and a flooded field hampered the completion of the 2012/2013 CUC PFL Opening Rally at the weekend. Although organisers were able to get through the first round games, play in the quarter finals had to be abandoned because of the severe weather conditions. The quarter finals, semi finals, third-placed game, final and trophy presentation have been rescheduled for Saturday, October 13 at 9am at the T.E McField Sports Complex (Annex Field) in George Town. With the first round games complete, the quarter finals see Cayman Prepup against NorthEast Schools, Red Bay tackling St. Ignatius, 2011 runners-up Sir John A. Cumber facing Cayman International School and defending champions George Town squaring off against Grace Academy.
In the first round games, Cayman Prep emerged from Zone A as group winners following a 3-0 victory over Prospect Primary and a resounding 5-0 victory over group runners-up Grace Academy. Grace Academy defeated Prospect Primary 4-1 to secure second spot in the group and a place in the quarter finals.
In Zone B, Red Bay Primary took top spot in the group after defeating Truth For Youth 3-0, South Sound Schools 2-0 and Cayman International School 1-0. Cayman International School beat South Sound Schools 2-1 in penalties and Truth For Youth 3-0 to claim the runners-up spot in the group. In Zone C, 2011 Opening Rally runners-up Sir John A. Cumber Primary finished top of the group by defeating Savannah Primary 2-0 and NorthEast Schools 3-0. Second in the group was NorthEast Schools following their defeat of Savannah Primary 1-0. In Zone D, defending Opening Rally champions George Town Primary moved into the quarter finals after defeating Bodden Town Primary 1-0, Cayman Brac 3-0 and St. Ignatius Prep 1-0. St. Ignatius Prep grabbed the runners-up spot with a 4-0 victory over Cayman Brac and 1-0 win over Bodden Town Primary.
The highlight of the day’s activities was surely Cayman Brac’s first victory in the Opening Rally since they won it all in the early 1990s with the likes of Fabio Smith. The Brackers defeated Bodden Town Primary in penalties in a thrilling penalty shootout. Granted, the team from Cayman Brac has been absent from the competition for quite some time but 2011 saw their return to the Primary Football League, and with it, a chance to show their talents.
The PFL Committee thanks parents and supporters for braving the weather conditions to support their respective schools and encourages everyone to make their way back to the T.E. McField Sports Field (Annex Field) this Saturday for the final round of games and the crowning of the 2012/2013 champion.
Ritz developer says he is the one wronged in legal case
(CNS Business): Following a ruling last week in the Cayman Islands Grand Court by Sir Peter Cresswell, the developer of the Ritz Carlton, Michael Ryan, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming it is he who is owed millions of dollars and that he intends to fight the case against him and pursue his counter claims to the end. Denying that he had taken any money from the companies relating to Cayman’s five-star resort, Ryan stated that he is the one being wronged in what is becoming a complex dispute and described the actions against him by the receivers as “surprising and desperate”, which he said would be revealed in his defense due to be filed in the courts next month. Read more on CNS Business
Marine institute sets date for major fundraiser
(CNS): The Festival of Trees, the principal annual fundraising event for the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI), will take place in November when the organization will auction a collection of Christmas Trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses. The festival also celebrates another year of successful work in the fields of education, research and conservation as well as raising funds to support the needs of the Little Cayman Research Centre. “The money raised at the FOT underpins the very existence of CCMI by maintaining and developing our research station which is the epicentre of our work,” officials said.
The decorated trees which are sponsored by individuals and businesses will be displayed at Camana Bay for a week before they are auctioned during a fabulous dinner.
The Festival of Trees 2012 will be launched on the 19 November with a Christmas tree decorating workshop and school carol event, culminating in the gala dinner and auction on 24 November, when Camana Bay restaurants Abacus, KARoo, The Black Trumpet, Ortanique and Michael’s Genuine will each prepare one of the courses.
Tickets are CI $150 per person. The tables seat ten and can be reserved by emailing rsvp@reefresearch.org.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a tree for CCMI’s 2012 Festival of Trees, please contact Kate Pellow at kpellow@reefresearch.org.
Labour office finds problems on Sister Islands
(CNS): Following a number of site visits to employers in the Sister Islands this past summer by officials from the Department of Labour and Pensions (DLP), the director has said there are a number of challenges when it comes to workplace compliance and best practices as well as work ready issues with young people on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. During the summer the Grand Cayman labour team assessed safety and compliance with the Labour and Pensions Laws on the Sister Islands labour office and found opportunities for what was described as “more outreach” about the challenges. However, the department was not specific about the problems that it says it needs to address.
“There are unique circumstances and challenges in the Sister Islands in respect to Labour, Occupational Safety, and Pensions compliance, as well as workforce readiness and best practices in workplace relations,” the director of labour and pensions Mario Ebanks said. “This visit will help inform the Department as it provides the Ministry of Employment with policy options for consideration, with a view to effecting timely and holistic solutions to these challenges.”
According to a release from the department, with each site visit the department noted that throughout the Sister Islands there was a "growing opportunity for more outreach programmes in terms of labour and pensions education, including programmes on compliance with the labour and pensions laws as well as safety awareness.”
It said that the visit “opened opportunities” for the National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA) to work with the DLP in coordinating apprenticeship and work ready schemes for young people and other human capital to help fuel the Sister Islands’ economies.
The trip was also an opportunity for senior officers in the head office in Grand Cayman to become familiar and form communication with the Labour & Pensions satellite office (located in the Creek area). It took place over three days, beginning in Little Cayman, and then two days on Cayman Brac.
The delegation made several familiarization visits and preliminary inspections on worksites, shops, tourist accommodations, and businesses. There was also a preliminary overview of all national workforce needs, as well as a check of safety compliance at all of the worksites. The department said it will continue to follow up and manage training and development as well as to complete strategies for labour and pensions, and work readiness.
The Sister Islands Labour & Pensions Office can be reached at 948-0626, and if the sole officer in not in office the telephone calls are either forwarded to her cellular phone or to the Grand Cayman head office (where Sister Islands callers can also access the Confidential Hotline/Tipline).
See details of office closure this week below.