iNews Briefs
Cayman U-15 impress with win over Houston
After their loss to the eventual winners of the C3 Cayman International Youth Tournament, Swindon Town, by 4 goals to nil, the Cayman Select XI came out fighting and won 2-1 against the Houston Dynamo’s.
This was especially impressive, as Houston had managed a 2-2 draw when they played Swindon.
So Swindon ended up with 4 points, Cayman with 3 points and Houston with 1
Times have changed when sport was considered a waste of money
At last Thurday’s (20) Fidelity’s Cayman Economic Outlook Forum at the Ritz Carlton sports was one of the topics.
Youth, sports and crime panel members comprising Sports Department Director Collin Anglin, FIFA Vice President Jeff Webb, Chamber of Commerce President Johann Moxam, and Richard Adams, director of the Cayman Islands Rugby Union, all concurred that sports was vital to Cayman’s youth but it may need refining.
Some of the sports programmes currently being used needed to change both from a business management standpoint and in encouraging youth from a very early age was the general opinion.
It was also agreed sports helps in keeping crime levels in check.
Caymanian doctor returns to Cayman after being told here not to waste his time
Daaron McField, son of local attorney Steve McField, has returned to his native country to take up his post as a general surgeon at the Cayman Islands George Town Hospital.
After he was turned down for a Cayman Islands government scholarship between 2003 and 2006 Dr. McField received a four-year college scholarship from an American firm to further his medical training, he had been told he shouldn’t waste his time but become a teacher as they were needed most.
He took the initiative himself and scored 93 percent on the American Board of Surgery exam.
Dr McField said although there were more lucrative opportunities to stay and work in the USA he wanted to serve his country and that is why he returned.
U.S. futures just tanked
By Rob Wile From Business Insider
We just got a really nasty China flash manufacturing conditions reading — 48.3, signaling contraction that was even worse than expected.
It looks the same for Dow futures. Meanwhile currencies across the board including the Aussie dollar are getting smoked.
As Arab Bank’s David Scutt tweeted soon after: “this is the first data we’ve seen that’s both pre-and-post Lunar New Year, and it’s very, very bad”.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/us-stock-reaction-to-china-pmi-2014-2#ixzz2uAg8sSTw
159 workers placed in jobs from Cayman’s Workforce Agency
Since the Progressives government took office the Cayman Islands National Workforce Development Agency has placed workers in or offered jobs to 159 people.
These figures were released last week and the 159 jobs were taken or offered in a span of eight months ending Jan. 31.
The Workforce Development Agency has a mandate to offer career counselling as well as job-placement services to jobless Caymanians. They also have to issue a letter stating no qualified Caymanians are available before any job is offered to a non-Caymanian work permit holder.
ACS, UN World Tourism Organization sign cooperation pact
From Caribbean Journal
The Association of Caribbean States and the United Nations World Tourism Organization have signed a memorandum of understanding.
The deal, which was signed in Nassau this week, aims to “revitalize and improve collaboration and co-operation between the two organisations in the area of sustainable tourism,” according to an ACS statement.
The agreement was signed in the context of the “Tourism as a Key Sector for Development in Island States” conference held in the Bahamas earlier this week.
The meeting, which was presided over by Bahamas Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe and UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai, included officials from 50 high-level delegations from the Caribbean, including Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary General Hugh Riley and Jamaican Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill, among others.
The conference focused on issues and challenges for small island developing states, including reaping the local benefits of tourism, climate change and air connectivity.
The conference comes ahead of a major small island developing states conference in Samoa in September, urged by the United Nations.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/02/22/acs-un-world-tourism-organization-sign-cooperation-pact/
Two former monarchs in Trinidad calypso finals
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday February 24, 2014, CMC – Two former monarchs were named in a list of 11 calypsonians who will contest the 2014 Calypso Monarch competition on March 2 at the Queen’s Park Savannah, as Carnival activities continue here.
Weston Rawlins, “Cro Cro,” and Dr Hollis Liverpool, “Chalkdust,” were named among the 11 singers late Saturday following the semi-finals at Skinner Park in San Fernando, south of here.
They will come up against the reigning Monarch, Eric Taylor, the “Pink Panther.”
The other finalists named are Brian London, Alana Sinette Khan, Skatie, Kurt Allen, Myron B, Chucky, Bodyguard, Mr Shak and Queen Victoria.
Regional tourism expert says “drop travel taxes”
Former Bahamas tourism minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace said in a speech to the Cayman Economic Outlook conference last Thursday (20) Caribbean tourism bosses, including the Cayman Islands, should drop as a unified group the taxes on international travel, particularly out of the USA. He said these taxes contribute to pricing Caribbean countries out of competition with popular US. Destinations especially where the journey distances and times are roughly similar.
Vanderpool-Wallace warned we should not expect to get something for nothing. Wewould have to consider lifting our own departure taxes in reciprocal arrangements with other countries, he said.
Reducing taxes on travel would enable the Caribbean to fill low-fare flights from New York and Florida year-round, he said,
Venezuela closes consulates in Dutch Caribbean
From News Daily
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela is closing its consulates in the Dutch Caribbean after what authorities said was an attack on a government office.
A Venezuelan man rammed his car through the front of the Venezuelan consulate in Aruba on Friday amid mounting unrest in his home country. There were no reported injuries.
As a preventative measure Foreign Minister Elias Jaua ordered the removal of all diplomatic staff from Aruba as well as Bonaire and Curacao until authorities could guarantee their safety. The three islands are semi-autonomous entities within the kingdom of The Netherlands.
Venezuelans are on edge as violent clashes between student protesters and government forces erupt across the nation. The violence has left at least 8 dead and more than 100 wounded.
NACAC shocked by sudden death of Jamaican athlete
From Caribbean360
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Monday February 24, 2014, CMC – The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) said the death of Jamaican teenage athlete Cavahan McKenzie has shocked the track and field family.
“On behalf of the whole NACAC Athletics Family and the IAAF we would like to express our most sincere words of condolences to Cavahan McKenzie’s Family, to the Jamaican Athletics Family and to the People of Jamaica,” said NACAC President Victor Lopez.
“This is an extremely sad moment for all of us in the NACAC Area and we will mourn Cavahan passing forever. On behalf of the NACAC Council and the IAAF Family we would like to express our deepest sorrow and grief in this unfortunate occasion.”
Lopez said that he has been in touch with the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago and the Meet Director of the NACAC Cross Country Championships, Allan Baboolal.
“He gave me a report on what happened but he will keep me informed tomorrow (Monday) after he visits with the doctors and they are able to give him more information about the cause of the death,” said Lopez.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller also expressed grief on the passing of McKenzie.
“Our grief is heightened because Cavahan was taken from us at such a young age and while competing on behalf of his school and country,” read a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday.
“The Government will lend support to the family through this difficult time,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister offered condolences to his family, school, community and friends.”
