Archive for November 13th, 2013
Local football makes it to small screen
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) has signed a deal with Cayman’s cable TV company to begin broadcasting local games on television. WestStar has committed the resources for a CIFA “Game of the Week” and various other programmes, in order to promote the world’s number one sport, in the Cayman Islands. It is hoped that the broadcast exposure will helps raise the profile of the sport, its programmes and players, building on fan interaction. “Television has changed the landscape of sports throughout the entire world and we believe that this new partnership with WestStar will have a huge impact for Cayman football,” said CIFA and CONCACAF President, Jeffrey Webb.
As the Association’s official broadcast partner here the goal is to create a model for television broadcasting partnerships in the region. The relationship has been years in the making, officials said, as Cayman 27 has broadcasted local football games throughout the years with limited resources. The partnership is also the result of a new marketing campaign started by CIFA and its member clubs, in an effort to maximize the community engagement in Cayman Islands
“We also hope this will bring new economical partners for the game that will take it to new heights, because, for us it’s about developing the game, building fan awareness and exposing the great football we have in the Cayman Islands,” he said.
“With the growth of sports tourism in Cayman, it is a valuable asset to have an entity such as WestStar investing in the country’s infrastructure,” added Webb.
He said that the regional footballing body had seen some success in individual territories to build broadcast partners but it has never been able to create a platform across the Caribbean and Americas “We’re hoping that this model between WestStar and CIFA can be replicated throughout the region,” said CIFA and CONCACAF President, Jeffrey Webb.
WestStar CEO, Bob Taylor explained the agreement includes broadcasting one game per week, and will continue to develop from there, saying, “New opportunities for employment, education and tourism are at the heart of this agreement.” WestStar will also be working with CONCACAF to build state-of-the-art infrastructure at a selected Grand Cayman facility for broadcasting.
Taylor is enthusiastic about how the relationship can open doors for local football and the Islands. “This is a great day for the Cayman Islands, for football and for television. The partnershipwill not only change how we see sport in Cayman, but it will also change how the world sees Cayman,” he added.
WestStar and sister company CITN Productions will also provide production support for local and international events such as the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship in January 2014.
Smith’s hat trick seals win for St Ignatius under 11s
(CUC-PFL): The CUC Primary Football League resumed this past weekend following the midterm break with a number of games across the Island. In the feature game in Group A, St Ignatius Prep travelled to the Dart Field to tackle the lively youngstersfrom Cayman International School. In the Under 9 encounter both schools had to settle for a point each following a 1-1 draw. St Ignatius’ Chad Owens opened the scoring in the 6thminute only to see Cayman International School equalise three minutes later from a sublime strike from energetic skipper Francisco Magno. In the later game St Ignatius’ Corey Smith scored a hat trick in the 15th, 33rd and 34th minutes to secure a 6-0 win over the Under 11s from Cayman International School.
Skipper Jonah Sigsworth opened the scoring in the 10th minute for the boys in purple with Nathan Trickett and Kiefer Ebanks adding a goal each in the 27th and 57th minutes respectively.
Other results from Group A were Sir John A. Cumber Primary 6 vs. George Town Primary 0 (Under 9) and Sir John A. Cumber Primary 1 vs. George Town Primary 1 (Under 11). In Group B, it was Red Bay Primary 3 vs. Bodden Town Primary 4 (Under 9); Red Bay Primary 1 vs. Bodden Town Primary 3 (Under 11); NorthEast Schools 7 vs. Triple C 1 (Under 9) and NorthEast Schools 4 vs. Triple C 0 (Under 11).
In games played on Saturday, November 2, it was Prospect Primary 0 vs. Cayman Prep 6 (Under 9) and Prospect Primary 1 vs. Cayman Prep 5 (Under 11).
The 2013/2014 CUC PFL regular season continues this weekend with Truth For Youth vs. Savannah Primary (Annex Field) in Group A; and in Group B, it’s Red Bay Primary vs. South Sound Schools (Annex Field); Bodden Town Primary vs. NorthEast Schools(Bodden Town); and Prospect Primary vs. Triple C (Prospect Primary).
The Group A match between George Town Primary and Cayman International School has been postponed.
CIFA youth leagues kick off for next generation
(CIFA): The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) is pleased to announce that the 2013/14 Season youth leagues will kick off on Monday November 18th. The main focus of the youth leagues is youth development and all member clubs are eligible to enter teams. The youth leagues encourage young players of all abilities to get involved with local football clubs and showcase their skills through matches against other clubs. League games will take place on a weekly basis and Under 17 through Under 13 youth teams will participate in full 11 a-side matches for both League and FA Cup competitions, while the Under 12 features smaller 9 a-side matches.
League groupings are as follows:
Under 17 Boys (male players born after January 1997)
Under 15 Boys (male players born after January 1999)
Under 15 Girls (female players born after January 1999)
Under 13Boys (male players born between January 1st 2001 and December 31st 2003)
Under 12 Boys (male players born between January 1st 2002 and December 31st 2004)
By exposing players to the game at an early age helps to create a smoother transition to higher level of competition and coaching skills. CIFA is confident that the youth leagues will continue to yield better developed adult players; players with improved discipline, techniques, game understanding and who will be go on to compete under the Cayman banner at an international level as a result of youth league participation.
Programme Information/ Guidelines and Registration
Registration for players in all leagues is open. We encourage children of any age to sign up into the appropriate league with one of the many local clubs on Grand Cayman or Cayman Brac. Please note that each child may only participate in a maximum of two leagues for their club during the season
There will be many different venues for training, weekend practice games and tournaments and all Cayman Islands districts will be covered including Cayman Brac.
For further information on the CIFA Youth Leagues and registered clubs please contact the CIFA office at 949-5775 or email marcos.tinoco@cifa.ky or james.rich@cifa.ky
Tina Turner gives up United States citizenship
(CNS): Tipped off by communication from the US Embassy in in Bern, Switzerland the international media is reporting that singer Tina Turner has relinquished her American citizenship. Turner, 73, who has lived in Switzerland for nearly two decades reportedly went to the embassy in the Swiss capital last month on October 24 to sign her 'Statement of Voluntary Relinquishment of US Citizenship' under Section 349 (a)(1) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act. The singer became a citizen of the country in April and iIn July, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and eight-time Grammy winner married longtime boyfriend Erwin Bach, a German music producer.
Local marine cops network with territories
(CNS): Detective Superintendent Robert Scotland and Inspector Ian Yearwood were among 60 delegates who attended the Regional Maritime Security Conference in Turks and Cacios recently. The trip which was funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office is part of the capacity and capability building programme. This aims to ensure that the RCIPS and other overseas territories law enforcement agencies stay abreast of maritime security threats. The main issue for local cops is dealing with the drugs and firearms that penetrate Cayman’s watery borders and increasingly human trafficking as well.
Larry Covington, the FCO-OTD law enforcement adviser said in a release about the conference that it was a way of helping the territories and other Caribbean countries to cooperate to address the security threats
"This Maritime Security Conference was focused on identifying serious and organised crime, and terrorism threats to the territories and other countries in the region,” Covington said “And how by cooperation and coordination they could best focus their resources to ensure greater success in combating them."
Detective Superintendent Robert Scotland confirmed that the conference was a great opportunity to work in partnership with other Caribbean jurisdictions.
"While the threat of terrorism is a concern, the real maritime security threat continues to be the transportation of drugs, guns, as well as human trafficking and smuggling," he said. "During the conference the primary focus was on how local law enforcement could work collaboratively to identify and mitigate these threats. The contacts made and information exchanged will allow us in Cayman to not only address local threats butalso help contribute to regional maritime security operations."
Inspector Ian Yearwood who is now the officer in charge of the Joint Marine Unit, welcomed the opportunity to further develop inter-jurisdictional relationships. "The opportunity to network with fellow professionals in the region has allowed us to develop professional relationships which have already begun to benefit us in the Joint Marine Unit," he added.
University plans compulsory civic duties
(CNS): Students attending the University College of the Cayman Islands will soon be required to undertake some kind of civic service alongside their studies, the president has revealed. At last Thursday’s graduation ceremony, UCCI President Roy Bodden spoke about the college’s continued commitment to character building as well as academic study. He revealed that the “Men of Standard” programme is to be expanded beginning in the 2014 academic year, with plans to submit the programme for accreditation by one of UCCI’s external partners. He also revealed that the board of governors has approved a mandatory community service aspect to begin in the next academic year.
“There is the recognition that UCCI must be for the Cayman Islands what Napoleon, that father of military genius, in 1778 said of the French Citizen’s army: 'the vitality of the nation, the purification of its morality and the foundation of all its habits',” Bodden said during his address to the graduates.
Revealing the latest news from the local college, the president said that UCCI will now be offering the Commonwealth Executive Masters of Business Administration (CEMBA) and the Masters of Public Administration (CEMPA) programmes. These advances have been made possible by the university’s acceptance into membership of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), and the Virtual University of Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), respectively.
With regard to further recognition of the university’s standing,Bodden reported continued efforts to expand the number of institutions with which the University College has articulation agreement. This includes a recently signed agreement with the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), giving UCCI engineering students access to their mechanical engineering programme. Meanwhile, NEIT remains “the premier destination of UCCI students seeking advanced study in technical and vocational studies,” Bodden said.
As a reflection of the international regard of the university, the college will host next semester, for the first time, a professor from the Goethe University Frankfurt (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main). Founded in 1914, the university was renamed in 1932 after one of the most famous natives of Frankfurt, the poet and writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goet. Another professor, this time from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, will be similarly hosted next semester, both at no expense to UCCI.
Bodden revealed that more than 100 students have been registered in the associate of science degree.
Free storytelling festival kicks off in West Bay
(CNS): Story tellers and musicians from America and across the Caribbean will be joining forces with local yarn spinners at the end of this month when Cayman’s favourite free family festival Gimistory begins travelling round the districts. Kicking-off in West Bay on Saturday 30 November and ending on Saturday, 7 December at Smith’s Barcadere with the spine tingling Duppy Story Night the festival is now in its 25th year. Since 1998, Gimistory, has been bringing together storytellers to entertain people just as they did back in the day before internet, television or even radio. The festival takes place on Cayman’s beaches and at local heritage sites.
The Festival which is hosted by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, has been acclaimed by many who have attended storytelling festivals in North America and the UK as being among the best anywhere.
“Gimistory is an event for all ages, taking us back to a time when people provided their own entertainment; a time when the imagination created images more colourful than any television screen and family and friends came together at dusk to share tall tales,” said Lorna Bush from the CNCF.
Alongside the story telling the free ‘fry fish’, ‘frittas’ and ‘swanky’ – Cayman style lemonade with limes or Seville oranges and brown sugar that is served to the audience at the end of the show makes a great event even better. In 2009, the ‘fry fish, frittas 'n swanky’ tradition of Gimistory took a new twist and became a culinary competition. Each district now competes for the honours of Best Fry Fish, Best Swanky or Best Frittas. Best of Cayman sponsors the competition banner each year.
All shows begin at 7PM and admission as well as the fish fry is FREE!
Festival Schedule
Saturday, 30 November – West Bay: 'Jefferson's' Beach
Monday, 2 December – North Side: Capt. Ned Miller’s yard
Wednesday, 4 December – Bodden Town: Nurse Josie's Seniors Centre
Thursday, 5 December – East End Public Beach
Friday, 6 December – Sister Islands: Brac Heritage House
Saturday, 7 December – Smith’s Barcadere: ‘Duppy Story Night’
For more informaiton go to www.artscayman.org
Cop chopper airlifts Cuban migrant from Brac
(CNS): A Cuban migrant who was one of 31 people on a vessel intercepted by the authorities on Monday evening on Cayman Brac has been airlifted to Grand Cayman via the police helicopter for medical assistance. Police said that at around 6 pm on Monday 11 November the authorities received a report that a group of Cuban migrants were sighted in the vicinity of Scotts Dock. Officers from the RCIPS and immigration department responded and found 28 men and three women on board the vessel. One of the men was unwell and was taken to Faith Hospital, where he was treated and then returned to the boat. However, the man was understood to have been taken ill again.
As a result, the migrant was flown to Grand Cayman at about 6pm on Tuesday, 12 November, by the police helicopter, assisted by emergency medical personnel from the Health Services Authority, and taken to the George Town hospital. The RCIPS said that the remaining 27 men and three women departed at 12:45 pm last night.
Back-up plan in place for music fest in case of rain
(CNS): Organisers of next month’s Cayman Islands International Music Fest, which includes the legendary Percy Sledge in the line-up of stars, say that if the weather turns bad they have reserved an alternative venue. The first of what will be an annual music festival will take place at Grand Harbour on Friday, 6 December, and will cater to a wide cross-section of Cayman’s music lovers, aged 18 to 60. Mogul Entertainment/DSS Production also promises that if for any unforeseen reason, such as a natural disaster, that the event is cancelled, concertgoers will receive full refunds. And since December is outside of the hurricane/rainy season, Mogul points to the unlikelihood of any reason to cancel and encourages attendees to purchase their tickets early.
“Delivering excellent entertainment is of paramount importance to Mogul Entertainment/DSS Production, the founding company of the event,” the company said in a release. However, pointing to a recent “wave of woes” for concert promoters, organisers for the Cayman Islands International Music Fest say they have put in place two important checks and balance measures to alleviate the concerns of attendees, namely, an alternative covered venue for the event should there be inclement weather and full refunds if the event is cancelled.
There are a limited number of special seats for those who buy early bird tickets but organisers warn that those the tickets will sell quickly. The event has its own website and Facebook page which offer a chance to win tickets and other prizes.
Comparable to the much-loved Department of Tourism’s Jazz Fest, the Cayman Islands International Music Fest will showcase Percy Sledge, Ginuwine, Verse Simmonds and Omi. (See R&B stars heading to Grand Cayman for music fest.)
The first major concert reminiscent of the Jazz Fest, Mogul says the Cayman Islands International Music Fest has the same acoustics, stage lighting and dynamics as its predecessor. “The event will undoubtedly be a superb extravaganza that will usher an excellent start to the holiday season,” the company’s release states.
“Set against a luxe backdrop, the Cayman Islands International Music Fest will feature a host of local acts as well as special features such as a luxurious out-of-this-world VIP lounge, fabulous giveaways and a plethora of surprises,” Mogul says. “The concert is one not-to-be-missed and promises to be an evening filled with riveting performances and elements of haute style.”
Visit www.ciimf.ky for information on where to purchase tickets and for early bird specials.
Cayman gets first official environment NGO
(CNS): A group of concerned citizens who believe Cayman needs to plan for a more sustainable future have launched the country’s first independent environmental advocacy group. Sustainable Cayman, founded by Katrina Jurn, Searlina Bodden, Sandy Urquhart and Laura Richardson, is lobbying for more responsible environmental practices in the Cayman Islands. It has launched its Facebook community and members have begun speaking publicly about their plans for public education as well as marketing functions for issues concerning the environment. The group said it aims to work alongside existing stakeholders, such as the National Trust, Department of the Environment and the private sector, to foster structured discussion and advocate for change. Photo by Courtney Platt
“We are at a pivotal point for Cayman’s natural environment,” said Jurn, who holds a PhD in Environmental and Economic Sociology from Cambridge. “It is high time we stop turning away from the environment’s value to our country’s quality of life, our economy and ultimately, the future prosperity of the country.”
The nongovernmental organization (NGO) has begun its public campaign as the PPM government prepares to bring the long discussed National Conservation Law before the Legislative Assembly. Environment Minister Wayne Panton has committed to bringing the legislation before the end of the year.
The law creates a mechanism for protecting environmentally sensitive areas on land, as well as threatened native plants and animals and was originally drafted over 10 years ago. The group said it now awaits the release of the 2013 revision, which is not expected to be significantly different from the last draft circulated during the previous UDP administration but largely ignored by the relevant minister during the previous government.
Sustainable Cayman said the draft law has already been through three public consultations and amended after each consultation to address the concerns raised by the numerous stakeholders, including developers and land owners. Consequently, after 10 years of consultations and amendments, the law is now uniquely tailored to the particular intricacies of Cayman’s economy and culture.
Although the group will address a wide range of environmental issues facing the Islands, it has identified the National Conservation Law as its first order of business. However, the founders are keen to reassure people that it is not opposed to beneficial development.
Sandy Urquhart, a sustainable development professional in his own right, lends his voice to the group as an advocate for the responsible treatment of Cayman’s land.
“As first and foremost a lover of endemic, tropical environments, this cause is dear to my heart,” he said. “I grew up in a small, sensitive island in the South Pacific, so I am aware of the vulnerability of Cayman’s endangered endemic plants and animals. I also carry that sensibility into my work as a sustainable designer, so this group is a natural fit for me.”
With the current consensus on the need for the Law and the Government’s commitment to enact the Law, Sustainable Cayman will be running a public education campaign to help the public understand the content of, need for and implications of the law and is encouraging people to get informed about this important piece of legislation.
Searlina Bodden, one of the founding members and the public relations representative for Sustainable Cayman, said that being business friendly meant protecting not abusing the jurisdiction’s natural resources.
“While the Cayman Islands must portray itself as a business-friendly jurisdiction, it is counter-productive to brand ourselves as a sophisticated Caribbean destination for business and leisure, whilst not actively protecting our most bankable resource, which is the appeal of our natural habitat,” she said.