Christmas Day outage explained

On Wednesday, December 25, a number of customers around Grand Cayman experienced interruption to their electricity service between 9:03 a.m. and 10:42 a.m.

This interruption to service was due to a temporary loss of electricity supply to three generating units within the North Sound Road Power Plant.

CUC’s crews within the Power Plant worked safely to identify the problem and restore power as quickly as possible with service being restored to all customers by 10:42 a.m.

On average, customers were without power for approximately 30 minutes with one hour being the maximum time any one customer was affected.

CUC sincerely apologises for the inconvenience the outages may have caused.

Uncle sentenced to 12 months for indecent assault on teen

A man was found unanimously guilty by jurors in August of indecent assault upon his 15 year old niece when he touched her upper and lower body whilst she was sleeping at the man’s house.

The girl awoke terrified and told her uncle to stop. He did.

The man admitted the incident but said he thought it was his wife in the bedroom and he had consumed quite a few beers that night.

Justice Quin gave the minimum sentence of 12 months after reviewing a psychological examination and a probation officers’ assessment that the man was unlikely to commit this type of offense again.

Young Cayman boxer to travel to Sweden for special training camp

Tafari Ebanks (19) was selected by the Sporting Commission of Sweden to travel to Stockholm for two weeks to participate in an invite-only training camp. Ebanks left on Christmas Day.

The camp features the premier International Boxing Association elite boxers in Europe.

The Sweden Sports Commission has covered all his expenses to attend, as well as coach Norman Wilson’s expenses.

Water Authority gives award scholarship

Caymanian Alexander Walton, who is already studying for his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in Bristol, U.K, has been awarded the 2014 Water Authority Cayman scholarship to further his studies.

Walton’s focus is on desalination systems.

Video proposed to be used in Cayman’s Criminal Courts

A proposal to allow any prisoner, whether on remand or serving out a custodial sentence, to appear before the court via video link “for purposes of mention or remand” unless a court orders otherwise is being seriously considered by the judiciary.

The proposed change to Cayman’s Criminal Procedure Code would allow prisoners to appear via video link for bail hearings and to consult with attorneys.

This will speed up the court process.

However, the court will still be able to order a prisoner to appear for a bail hearing and the prisoner can also make a request to appear in person.

19,000 cruise ship visitors arrived in George Town on Boxing Day

Harbour Drive became a temporary pedestrian zone on Boxing Day (Dec 26) to accommodate the 19,000 cruise ship visitors from six visiting cruise ships.

The Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport had announced earlier in the week that Harbour Drive, from Fort Street to Boilers Road, would close from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boxing Day “due to the high number of cruise passengers that will be in the area.”

Caribbean States urged to promote the region as one destination in 2014

“My Christmas wish for the Caribbean tourism sector is that we commit to promoting the region as one destination throughout 2014; that we would each commit a percentage of our annual tourism budgets… towards the marketing of a strong Caribbean brand so that the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, can bolster our campaign for the region’s benefit.”

That’s the wish of the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Beverly Nicholson-Dotty.

In her Christmas message to the region’s tourism actors, she declared that there is a major opportunity awaiting us in both traditional and emerging markets.

And she said, “in the New Year, let us work together to address the onerous taxes that suffocate our sector. While we will not soften our stance on requesting the British authorities address the Air Passenger Duty in a manner that is equitable, we cannot ignore the effects some of our own tax regimes are having on intra-regional travel.”

The tourism chairman noted that “In January, the Caribbean Tourism Organization celebrates 25 years of existence and during the year-long celebrations it is hoped they will be able to harmonize their efforts to boost travel to and within the region.”

She challenged those who work in the industry to embrace their important role in this critically important sector, pointing out, “We need to truly deliver on the experience in the New Year knowing full well that seemingly small acts of kindness can create a big impact in giving visitors reasons to recommend our destinations to others”.

“Let us enter 2014 as proud nations and territories of the Caribbean ready to work together in harmony to achieve results we richly deserve”, Caribbean Tourism organization Chairman Beverly Nicholson-Dotty concluded.

Heavy December Rain, Flash Flooding Claim Lives in Caribbean

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist From Accuweather

Flooding and mudslides have taken lives and caused injuries in the Lesser Antilles around the Christmas holiday. The system causing heavy rain over the region in December has moved away.

At least eight people have died and five others were injured in St. Vincent and the Grenadines alone, sources told the Associated Press this week.

Other islands in the Caribbean hit hard by deadly and/or damaging flooding include St. Lucia and Dominica.

Flooding and mudslides have damaged water and power lines and destroyed homes.

According to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Eric Wanenchak, “From 6 to 10 inches of rain has fallen on part of the Leeward and Windward islands during the early and middle part of this past week.”

For many areas from Puerto Rico to the Lesser Antilles the entire month of December has been wetter than average.

See attached.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, has received nearly 7.50 inches of rain this month.

In the United States Virgin Islands, St. Thomas and St. Croix have also received heavy rainfall. More than 7 inches of rain has fallen on St. Thomas. The rainfall is nearly three times that of average for December for both locations.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/heavy-december-rains-claim-liv/21460580