Colombian visitor charged re forged bank notes

On Tuesday, 31 December 2013, a 30 year old Colombian national (visitor) was arrested by detectives of the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit on Suspicion of Possession of Forged Bank Notes. He was later interviewed and a file was prepared for the DPP.

On Friday, 10 January 2014, the suspect was formally charged for the offences of Possession of Forged Bank Notes and Uttering Forged Bank Notes. He appeared in court and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to re-appear in court on Monday, 13 January 2014.

Ryan and Ritz agree settlement

The terms of the agreement reached between former owner of the Ritz Carlton, Michael Ryan and Five Mile Capital who took over the Ritz Carlton property following an auction in October 2012 (they organised the auction and were the only bidder after lowering the original starting off price) remain confidential.

However, both parties have confirmed that settlement of the two cases, a loan payment that Five Mile Capital claims was in default by Ryan and the transfer of assets, have been settled.

Ryan reportedly said, “I am prohibited from going into details but I can tell you that I am very pleased with the outcome.”

Third quarter merchandise imports amounted to $188.6 million in Cayman Islands

The total value of all merchandise goods imported by Cayman residents amounted to CI$188.6 million,

GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS, CAYMAN ISLANDS, January 9, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ — The total value of all merchandise goods imported by Cayman residents amounted to CI$188.6 million, 0.2 percent lower compared to CI$189.0 million recorded in the third quarter of 2012.

“Overall, the decline in the total value of imports was mainly due to non-petroleum products such as machinery and transport equipment,” noted the Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Marco Archer.

In contrast, imports of petroleum products increased by 8.1 percent, moving from CI$41.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 to CI$45.1 million this year.

Inflation up – highest in 5 years

In the third quarter, figures from the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO) show a rise of almost 3 percent over the same period in 2013. This is the highest inflation rate recorded for the Cayman Islands in five years.

Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Marco Archer, said it was because of the sharp increases in tobacco (49.2%) and health insurance premiums (av. 59.6%) higher than the same period in 2012.

Archer said, “The inflation rate for these items will normalise in the future quarters, as the annual impact of the factors causing the increases will taper off.”

“Government is closely monitoring the price changes,” he added.

EIA Tender on Cayman’s port out for bid

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study required to assess the impact on the natural marine environment if the planned cruise ship port is executed is out to tender.

Qualified consultants have been called on to bid for the right to carry out the EIA that will include waves, currents, tides, dredging, reefs and wrecks.

Tourism Minister and Deputy Premier, Moses Kirkconnell, said:

“The EIA will provide a conclusion on the impacts and will outline the measures that will be necessary to combat those impacts. This study will take some time to compile and it is recognised that the design of the facility cannot be concluded until the EIA is completed.

“A key factor also to be assessed is the effect of cruise tourism on George Town and its environs. Government has commenced an initiative to re-vitalise the town centre and water front areas and understands that independent to the installation of cruise berthing, these areas require upgrading to maintain a positive visitor experience.”

400 free flu shots still available

With Cayman’s influenza seasonal activity slightly higher already than in 2012 the Public health Department have announced there are still 400 flu shots still available and urge residents to get their shots.

3,000 doses of the flu vaccine that includes the H1N1 strain were brought in ahead of the season.

Flu shots are administered free of cost at the Cayman Islands Hospital, district clinics and at the Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac.

FIFA appoints first Caymanian referee

Wendy Fisher will become the Cayman Islands first referee to be appointed by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) to officiate at one of its matches.

Fisher will referee the Algarve Cup later this year, in Portugal.

MLA wants OMOV and minimum wage

Independent MLA for North Side says he will be pushing for two issues in the 2014 Legislative Assembly.

Along with his East End colleague, Arden Mclean, he will be presenting two private member’s motions when the Legislative Assembly meets this month.

Motion #1 One man-one vote (OMOV) in single member constituencies.

Motion #2 Introduction of a minimum wage

The OMOV should get the backing of the whole house because the government campaigned heavily on it as did the Coalition for Cayman (C4C) candidates. Even ex-premier McKeeva Bush has intimated he is now in favour of it.

However, the minimum wage may be more difficult.

High ratings for Cayman Airways

AirlineRatings.com have given Cayman Airways and Cayman Airways Express a Safety rating of 7/7 (the top) and a Product rating of 4/5.

The air ratings website lists the airline’s major strengths as “If seats are available passengers can upgrade to Business Class at the airport for relatively cheap price”.

By contrast the Antigua and Barbuda airline that has been in the news recently with mainly adverse reporting, LIAT, have a Safety rating of 6/7 and a product rating of 3/5. It offers no snack or beverage service.

Caribbean Airlines received the same ratings as LIAT. It did, however, offer snacks and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages (as Cayman Airways).

For more information and to see how over 400 other airlines rate go to: http://www.airlineratings.com/index.php

“Lets Stay Together” Marriage Enrichment Series announced by church

Elmslie Memorial United Church have announced they will be launching their fourth Marriage Enrichment Series “Lets Stay Together”.

The event is an 8 night series held at Margaritaville presenting straight talk about marriage and relationships.

Elmslie publicly thank Margaritaville, Radio Cayman and Jeffrey DaCosta for their sponsorship of “Let’s Stay Together”.

Sexual harassment bill not on LA agenda yet

No date has been set as to when or if a Sexual Harassment Bill will be brought to the Legislative Assembly to be tabled.

This is despite a draft bill being created by the Law Reform Commission (LRC) last year.

It is understood the Gender Affairs Unit is currently reviewing the LRC’s Report and the Bill and then will give a presentation next month to Gender Affairs Minister, Tara Rivers.

Length of time for detainees to be amended

At present police can hold people for up to 72 hours and a Chief Inspector or higher ranking officer can extend the detention for an additional 24 hours before going to court.

This is against the Bill of Rights that requires people who have been arrested on suspicion of a crime to be brought PROMPTLY before the courts.

However, this could change. A new bill will be presented to the Legislative Assembly later this month that will prevent police from detaining people arrested without a warrant for more than 3 days. The arresting officer will also have to justify and show evidence for holding anyone they have in custody.

Repsol offloads Peru and Caribbean LNG assets

Spanish oil and gas giant Repsol has completed the sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets in Peru and Trinidad & Tobago to Shell for $4.1 billion.

Repsol has generated approx.. $2.9 billion in profit and capital gains after tax. See http://www.projectfinancemagazine.com/Article/3296192/Type-News/Repsol-offloads-Peru-and-Caribbean-LNG-assets.html#.UtFeNSiTi68

Cabarete to host 12th Caribbean Laser Midwinter Regatta

Santo Domingo.– Cabarete will host the 12th Caribbean Laser Midwinter set for 17-19 January 2014, an event that marks the start of the world’s laser regatta calendar and brings together past world champions, Olympic champions as well as master sailors of all levels.

The competition, which boasts a recognition by ISAF with the results effecting world rankings, is held a week before the Miami Olympic Regatta (OCR) that allows sailors to easily participate in both events.

The event, which will consist of a maximum of 9 races, is being organized by The Laser Training Center Cabarete.

St Maarten hosts meeting of Netherlands Justice Ministers

St Maarten this week hosted a meeting of Justice Ministers from across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The conference, which included Justice Ministers from St Maarten, Aruba, Curacao and the Netherlands, was held at the Divi Little Bay Beach Resort.

It was one of the first major Kingdom-level meetings for the Netherlands thus far in 2014.

The Justice Ministers were joined by their Cabinet members and support staff.

The meeting featured delegations headed by Ministers Navarro of Curacao, Minister Dowers of Aruba and Minister Opstelten of the Netherlands.

St Maarten Justice Minister Dennis Richardson of St Maarten was the official host.

“We all have our challenges and we all have some strengths that we share with one another for us to come together to exchange ideas and best practices on the basis of equality, respect and understanding,” said St Maarten Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams. “The area of combatting criminality is a very complex area and a matter of great concern and giving all people of the Kingdom a feeling of safety and security is top priority.”