iNews Briefs, More & Community Events
Apostle 13 & the Disciple of Demons
Play with music & dance
FOUR performances only
Opens Thu Oct 22- Sat Oct 24 7:30pm & Sun Oct 25 3:00pm
St George’s Anglican Church Hall
Tickets $15 (A) $5 (C) [Discounts for groups 10 or more]
Tel: 949 5583 or 916 4594 or at the door
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
THU OCT 15
Caribbean Statistics Day
On the 15th October 2015 the Caricom Community (CARICOM) marks the seventh observance of the Caribbean Statistics Day.
Sunrise Art Club
The National Gallery’s Sunrise Art Club is Thursday (15 Oct) at 9am.
EY’s Art for the Elderly for Cayman Brac
EY’s Art for the Elderly for Cayman Brac hosted by the National Gallery is Thursday (15 Oct) from 1130am until 12:30pm.
Advisory for Opening of Georgette Ebanks Exhibition and Older Persons’ Celebration
WHO: The National Museum and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
WHAT: An Evening Celebration of Older Persons and the launch of the Georgette Ebanks Exhibition
WHEN: Thursday 15 October 2015, 5.00-8.00 pm
WHERE: The National Museum, Harbour Drive
PARTICIPANTS: Premier Alden McLaughlin, Museum Director, Peggy Leshikar Denton, DCFS Director (Atg.) Paulinda Mendoza-Hydes, Georgette Ebanks
BACKGROUND: The programme will include the opening of the exhibition based on the life of Ms Ebanks who is one of the last living signatories of the 1948 petition for female suffrage. Local craft will be on sale and there will be live music by Blake Hurlston and his band. (Editors: Please be aware that there is a possibility of cancellation if poor weather continues. I will keep you informed. GIS will be in attendance.)
FRI OCT 16
NGCI tIDal shift
Mark your Calendar!
You’re invited to a special Young Patrons’ Circle late night event in conjunction with NGCI’s newest exhibition…
Friday, 16 October 2015, 5pm – 10pm
Join us at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands for a late night of entertainment, live music, performance art, canapes, and fun! More details to follow – SAVE THE DATE and forward this to your friends.
SAT OCT 17
CDS – A (Trapp) family Affair
Come Down and release your inner Maria/Nun/Goatherd!
Saturday 17th October – Two sing-along shows
Doors open 3:30pm, show starts at 4pm, or
Doors open 7:30pm and show starts at 8:30pm
Prize for the Best Costume
Magic Moments Prop Bags available by donation
Young Caymanian Leadership Awards gala event, on Saturday, October 17, at the Ritz Carlton.
Celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year, the YCLA was conceived to recognise and honour outstanding young people in the community who make a difference through their actions, behaviour and leadership, and who serve as role models for the youth of Cayman.
Live Televised Event
As always, there will be a live telecast of the Award ceremony. Seating for the YCLA event starts at 6:00 pm and the doors close at 6:45 pm. to accommodate the live telecast of the Awards ceremony on Cayman 27. Following the live telecast, the doors re-open at 8 pm for the remainer of the evening’s celebrations.
Our five finalists for this year are, once again, some of Cayman’s best and brightest, and all are deserving of recognition. They are: Taylor Burrowes-Nixon, of George Town; Robbie Crib, of South Sound; Rebekah Jefferson, of West Bay; Kellie McGee, of Savannah; and Stephen Watler, of Savannah.
In addition, the evening will include special guest speaker Debra Searle, who will tell the fascinating story of her solo journey rowing across the Atlantic.
THU OCT 22
Triple C School Music Department will be having a POP Concert featuring Erica Assai and Yung
Fusion. The public is invited to attend. The event will be taking place:
When: Thursday, October 22, 2015
Where: Triple C School Multi-Purpose Hall
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Refreshments will be on sale.
For more information please contact the school office at 949-6022.
THU OCT 22 – SUN OCT 25
Apostle 13 & the Disciple of Demons
Play with music & dance
FOUR performances only
Opens Thu Oct 22- Sat Oct 24 7:30pm & Sun Oct 25 3:00pm
St George’s Anglican Church Hall
Tickets $15 (A) $5 (C) [Discounts for groups 10 or more]
Tel: 949 5583 or 916 4594 or at the door
FRI OCT 23
Dan Marino – Leadership in SPORTS
T H R I V E by Gamut Global Events
Friday, October 23, 2015 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EST)
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman. To attend – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dan-marino-leadership-in-sports-tickets-18941278875?ref=enivtefor001&invite=ODUzMTUzOS93aWxjb2JiQGdtYWlsLmNvbS8w&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend
SAT OCT 24
36th Annual NCVO Radio/Telethon
NCVO Telethon
October 24th 2015
7pm to Midnight
Admission is free – but make a donation to see and hear Cayman’s top talent live, all in one place on one night!
MON OCT 26
Please join the Cayman Jewish Community for the following programme
Mark Halawa: From Kuwait to Jerusalem
Oct 26 – 30 Half -term Football Camp
THU OCT 29
UCCI 2015 Commencement Ceremony
Celebrate an important milestone in our students’ academic journeys
Join the UCCI community as we recognize the achievements and share in the triumphs of the University College of the Cayman Islands’ Graduating Class of 2015.
FRI & SAT OCT 30 & 31 SUN NOV 1
Derek Walcott’s PANTOMIME
Harry Trewe was a British song-and-dance man, now down on his luck and running a dilapidated guest house in Tobago. To try to lure tourists, he decides to tempt Jackson, a servant, to perform a Christmas panto featuring Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday.
Directed by Henry Mutoo, PANTOMIME is a CNCF production in association with the University of South Florida.
Harquail – October 30th/31st 2015
Prospect Playhouse Sunday November 1st 2015 – 125 seats only.
Proceeds of the Prospect Playhouse performance will in part go to the CDS Educational Scholarship Fund.
FRI OCT 30
Cayman Islands Conference Women’s Ministries Retreat
You are invited to attend the Cayman Islands Conference Women’s Ministries Retreat at the UCCI Auditorium on Friday thru Sunday (30 Oct — 1 Nov). The theme for the weekend will be “Women of Virtue Arise!” Registration – $25. For further information please call 916-1576.
SAT OCT 31
Run. Walk. Save Lives. Fundraiser
The Run. Walk. Save Lives. Fundraiser is Saturday (31 Oct) at Grand Caymanian Resort Safe Haven. For more information, log onto www.caf.ky.
MON NOV 9
13th APOSTLE – Disciple of Demons
By Colin Wilson
Monday 9th November – one night only Prospect Playhouse
– proceeds to The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands (ADACI)
Annual Meals on Wheels Dress Down Day
SAVE THE DATE
Dress Down Day Friday, 20th November, 2015
Help feed our Seniors we believe no-one in Cayman should go hungry.
Individuals can help by purchasing an orange ribbon for $5.00 or a tee shirt for $15.00 and wearing them on Dress Down Day, we are encouraging companies to match employee donations.
For more information or to sign up to participate please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected]or via telephone at 949-3905.
Public Consultation for Marine Parks
For more information of the proposed Enhanced Marine Parks System, visit http://www.doe.ky/marine/marine-parks-review/.
To submit an opinion about the proposals, email [email protected]
General queries can be directed to [email protected]
The deadline for submissions is Friday, 4 December.
AIMA – CAYMAN ISLANDS CHAPTER MEETING
Ron S. Geffner, Partner and Head of the Financial Services Practice will speak at the AIMA Cayman Chapter Meeting on US Regulatory Developments and the outlook for the US and Cayman investment funds industry on November 24th at 12:00 noon.
Speaker: Ron S. Geffner
Start Date: 11/24/2009
End Date: 11/24/2009
Location: The Wharf Restaurant, Cayman Islands
Associated: Ron S. Geffner
Please join the Cayman Jewish Community for the following programmes:
Mark Halawa: From Kuwait to Jerusalem
Wednesday, December 9th
4:00 pm Pardes Rock Chanukah Concert
Wednesday, January 6th 2016
Jerusalem Uncovered: Rabbi Avraham Stolik
REDUCE RISK. ADD BUSINESS VALUE
Transforming your Risk Management Preparedness and Response Strategy into a Competitive Advantage.
ALM’s cyberSecure is a two-day event designed to unite business leaders and the entire risk management team. Keynote presentations, tracked sessions and hands-on workshops will provide attendees with powerful insights and essential connections necessary to implement a preparedness and response strategy that changes the conversation from financial risk to competitive advantage.
The event will kick off at 9:00 am on December 15 with an opening keynote presentation that will show you how to proactively monitor for, assess, and counter information security threats without going dark yourself. This opening keynote will prime you for the event by leading you through the landscape on:
How to safely pursue an offensive strategy
Examples from the health care and financial services industries
The latest ISP (Information Security Program) approaches and compliance initiatives
Upgrading of IT Systems and New Continuous Monitoring platforms in IT
Keynote Speakers:
Mauricio Paez Partner Jones Day
Bill Sieglein Founder CISO Executive Network
Visit the website to view the complete agenda. Take advantage of our early registration rates – Register by September 30 and save up to $400.
Website: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/135818/309496/?utm_source=LAWAALMEVENTSweb&utm_medium=300×100&utm_campaign=CS15
ROWING FOR CANCER
Starting November 14, 2015
Craig Noble Attempting to Break Rowing Record to Raise funds for CICS
Cayman Charity Row – Spectators Welcome!
Date: 14th November 2015
Time: 0700hrs
Event: Cayman Charity Row – British Concept 2 Rowing machine 100,000 metres age group record attempt, currently 7 hours 11 minutes.
Location: Anytime fitness gym, Camana Bay
Open to all public who want to view and offer support
Visit the Cayman Charity Row webpage for more information: www.caymancharityrow.splashthat.com
Craig has set a Noble goal of raising $50,000 for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society as well as another $50,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation so please DONATE NOW at: http://www.active.com/donate/cancersociety
Cayman Islands Subway’s FOOD DRIVE to help Meals on Wheels
Now through Dec 6, 2015
Help us feed those in need this Thanksgiving.
Bring in any canned goods or non-perishable items to any Subway location before December 6th.
All proceeds to benefit Feed our Future, Meals on Wheels and a few other organizations dedicated to providing nourishment to the less fortunate.
Older Persons’ Month Starts with a Bash
Seniors in the Cayman Islands are invited to a number of events throughout October that celebrate older persons.
On Grand Cayman these include;
Eastern District Day takes place at the Bodden Town Civic Centre on Tuesday, 20th Oct 2015, 5.30pm-8.30pm.
The Circle of Love Prayer Tea is scheduled for Saturday, 24th October, 2.00 pm to 5pm, venue to be confirmed.
The Seniors’ Bash takes place at the Westin Casuarina Resort on Thursday, 29th October, 6:30 to 10.00 pm.
To wrap up the month Cayman National Cultural Foundation has invited seniors to a special performance on Friday, 30th October, 8.00pm at the Harquail Theatre. Limited spaces available. For more information contact 949-0290.
Meanwhile on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,
A Seniors’ Island Tour takes place on Tuesday, October 13th and Tuesday, October 27th, 8:30am to 2.00pm
The Cayman Brac Seniors’ Social will be at the Aston Rutty Civic Center on Wednesday, 28th October 10.00am-2.00pm.
On Little Cayman a church service and luncheon takes place on Sunday, 25th October at the Little Cayman Baptist Church at 11.00 am.
Cayman Islands Hospice Care has a clinical volunteer programme
Our clinical volunteers are trained to provide assistance and support in many ways, from companionship to transportation and running errands. Their roles are guided by a patient’s needs. They are recruited, screened/ trained and are obligated to maintain privacy/ confidentiality and to respect patients/ family members choices.
Care is taken to match patients with volunteers who have similar interest, or speak the same language, have similar personalities live nearby or are otherwise deemed a good fit.
Upcoming Events
October 29, 2015
Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference
For more: http://www.caymanhospicecare.ky/services/clinical-volunteer-program/
Small and medium business leaders to meet in St Lucia
From Jamaica Observer
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Entrepreneurs, owners, operators and managers of small to medium firms from across the region will meet here from Wednesday to adopt a strategy aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and boost job creation across 14 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
The three-day Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development Workshop and Business Incubator Management (BIM) Training forms part of a series of training sessions, designed to build an integrated ecosystem of support for early-stage entrepreneurs in the region.
The workshop is part of the Accelerate Caribbean regional incubation support programme designed by the World Bank Group, InfoDev, to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation across CARICOM.
The workshop will bring together incubator managers, entrepreneurs, academics, government officials, the media, donors and investors.
Team Leader of Accelerate Caribbean, Natalia Pipia, said the “Caribbean demonstrates a natural inclination towards innovation and entrepreneurship.
“People here work hard to build products, design new technology and offer services very attractive to even overseas markets, yet so many small businesses do not survive more than a few years,” she noted.
Pipia said Accelerate Caribbean is offering training in incubation management to qualified professionals and business support companies in the Eastern Caribbean “to mitigate against this low business survival rate, which is critical to job creation and development in the region”.
The highlight of the workshop will be a panel discussion on “Building a Strong Interconnected Start-up Community in St Lucia”.
Panelists will discuss a collaborative approach to building a sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation in St Lucia. Participants will discuss principles and good practices of business incubation, business incubator models, as well as components of a successful incubator.
Following the workshop, the Accelerate Caribbean team will deliver a Business Incubation Management (BIM) Training on October 15 & 16.
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Small-and-medium-business-leaders-to-meet-in-St-Lucia
2nd Dominican city ready to be a top Caribbean tourism destination
From Dominican Today
Puerto Plata.- Santiago Tourism Destination Cluster president Ramon Paulino on Monday said the province´s strategic tourism development plan is ready to implement in the coming months.
The business leader, speaking in a press conference during the annual Discover Puerto Plata MarketPlace being held at the Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort in Cofresi, said the strategic plan will bolster the province, as well as develop Santiago destination´s cultural and historic routes.
Paulino said a tourism and a provincial route map, a museum, the cluster´s website, 20 trained tour guides, among other programs have already been designed.
He said the strategic plan seeks to turn Santiago province into a sustainable tourist destination.
He said the Cluster´s more than 70 sector agencies seek to make Santiago one of the Caribbean region´s most attractive tourism destinations and thanked the National Competitiveness Council, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Dominican Tourism Ministry for their support.
West Indies confident entering first Test match in Sri Lanka
From Caribbean News Now
GALLE, Sri Lanka — West Indies will enter the first Test match with confidence when they face Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, according to captain Jason Holder.
The 23-year-old will lead the West Indies for the first time in a Test match, making him one of the youngest captains in Test history. He added that the players were mentally and physically ready for the start of the two-match series, which will be played for the Sobers/Tissera trophy – in tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers and Michael Tissera
“It’s a special day for me taking the field for the first time (as Test captain). It is an honour to lead West Indies in any format. But it is bigger than me, there is a new dimension in our team in terms of a new, young group, and it is important we start well,” Holder said ahead of Tuesday’s training session.
Holder added: “It is important that we start well. Going into this series we have our minds tuned into the game. It is important for our players to make a mark for themselves. The hardest thing so far was adapting to the heat. We have done that pretty nicely. In the Caribbean it is pretty hot certain times of the year, and we try and embrace and enjoy it as much as possible.”
First ball on Wednesday is 10am (12:30 am Eastern Caribbean Time/11:30pm Tuesday Jamaica Time).
Honduras closes, and forces liquidation, of sanctioned Banco Continental
By Kenneth Rijock From Kenneth Rijock’s Financial Blog
The Government of Honduras has announced that Banco Continental, closed since it was listed as a Drug Kingpin, by the US Treasury Department, for engaging in drug money laundering, will undergo forced liquidation. When the United States froze the bank’s US-based assets, its solvency dropped below the legal minimum, requiring that it be liquidated.
Account holders will be able to draw funds, up to the equivalent of USD$9000, by the country’s banking regulator, the National Banking & Insurance Commission. Any bank client who had more than that on deposit reportedly will also be compensated at a later date.
The case has drawn international attention, due to the fact that it represents the first time that a financial institution was designated a SDNTK, or Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficking Kingpin, for engaging in drug money laundering. The denial of access to the US banking system, for any financial institution, is fatal, for the bank’s clients are unable to have access to American banks, or its companies, or individuals. Naming a bank as a Drug Kingpin is public notice that the United States has evidence that the bank has a major role in the laundering of the proceeds of crime, specifically narcotics.
For more: http://rijock.blogspot.com/2015/10/honduras-closes-and-forces-liquidation.html
Cuban singer Omara Portuondo to be awarded at Caribbean festival
From Cuba Si
Omara Portuondo will be one of the awarded singers at the Living Legend Prize given by the regional event Caribbean Muzik Festival, that will take place from October 28 thru 31 in this capital.
Together with the diva (84) five other singers will receive the distinction: Masekela (South Africa), Ronnie Butler (Bahamas), Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica), Emile Straker (Barbados) and McCartha ‘Calypso Rose’ Sandy-Lewis (Trinidad and Tobago), all considered high-calibre artists.
The prize recognizes each year the Caribbean artists and from other latitudes who have an outstanding career inside and out of their countries of origin.
Portuondo is qualified as one of the best voices in Latin America and is even frequently named the Cuban Edith Piaf for her musical talent. Along her extensive career she received several important awards inside and out of her native Cuba, among them the National Prize of Music 2006.
The Caribbean Muzik Festival will pay tribute in its new edition to the 30th anniversary of the Nassau Agreement, which paved the way to put an end to apartheid in South Africa and the excarceration of Nelson Mandela.
The special guests of the cultural venue are the gospel choir of Soweto and the Cuban ballet of the Tropicana Nighclub.
The festival celebrated for the first time in 1994 will bring to state singers and Caribbean music bands interpreting the calypso, the reggae and the junkanoo, among other rhythms.
Apple loses big patent battle in Wisconsin
By Scott Graham, From The Recorder
Apple’s computer processors infringe technology patented by the University of Wisconsin, a federal jury in Madison found Tuesday.
Lawyers for Irell & Manella have set up the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation—the university’s licensing arm, also known as WARF—for a potentially big damage award following a six-day jury trial. WARF is prepared to ask for as much as $862 million in the upcoming damages phase, according to a pretrial ruling.
WARF alleged that Apple’s flagship A7 processor, which is used in the iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display, infringed WARF’s 5,781,752 patent, which covers circuitry that improves chip efficiency and performance. WARF also brought a new suit against Apple just before trial based on the recent launch of the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPadPro, which WARF says contains the same technology.
Apple, represented by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, tried first for invalidation at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The PTAB declined to institute proceedings in April, and on Tuesday a jury found the six challenged claims valid and infringed.
Irell’s trial team was led by partners Morgan Chu, Gary Frischling, Jason Sheasby and Alan Heinrich, along with associates Christopher Abernethy, Amy Proctor and Anthony Rowles. Defending Apple at trial were Wilmer partners William Lee, James Dowd, David Marcus, Andrea Jeffries and Jordan Hirsch, along with Catherine Cetrangelo of Madison’s Cetra Law Firm.
The ‘752 patent concerns a “table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing computer.” The circuit predicts when a processor can execute programs out-of-sequence, to improve efficiency, without risking errors. Irell settled a suit against Intel over the same patent in 2009.
Apple has argued that the technology was well-known by 1995, but U.S. District Judge William Conley, the PTAB and U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in the Intel case all rejected Apple’s construction of the term “prediction.”
“While the court agrees with Apple that [Crabb’s] decision has no binding effect on this court … any more than the PTAB’s decision does, the court will obviously consider Judge Crabb’s and the PTAB’s reasoning and analysis in the opinion below,” Conley wrote in denying summary judgment of invalidity to Apple.
For more: http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202739753930/Apple-Loses-Big-Patent-Battle-in-Wisconsin#ixzz3oYBpItBg
FLOW to broadcast English Premier League Football
We are proud to announce that Flow has won the exclusive rights to broadcast live all 380 matches per season of the Premier League across the Caribbean from 2016/17 to 2018/19.
Starting next August, the Premier League will be available on the Caribbean’s newest sports network – Flow Sports, showcasing the best of international and regional sports in HD.
And best of all, Flow Sports will be available in Basic! Stay tuned for more exiting news on the Flow Sports and the Premier League.
The GFSC signs AIFMD MoUs with the HKMA and the SFC
From noodls
The GFSC is pleased to have signed MoUs with both the SFC and HKMA regarding consultation, cooperation and the exchange of information related to the supervision of AIFMD entities.
CEO of the GFSC, Samantha Barrass, says, ‘Signing the AIFMD MoUs with the two Hong Kong regulators is an important development for us. It supports open, strong cooperation with the SFC and the HKMA in our regulation of AIFMD establishments, and is a very useful tool for us as a regulator’.
These are very welcome agreements for the GFSC, especially following the recent marketing initiative to Hong Kong by a Gibraltar delegation from the financial sector which was led by Minister for Financial Services, Albert Isola.
Minister Isola comments, ‘Our marketing trip to Hong Kong was a very successful visit. We had a strong group of professionals from Gibraltar’s financial services sector provide a very good case for us as a safe and secure jurisdiction with which to do business’.
‘The Hong Kong visit included presentations and discussions for professionals, offering an interesting and productive insight in to one another’s financial markets, and offered the potential for our jurisdiction to gain new business’.
‘The two AIFMD MoUs enhance Gibraltar’s relationship with Hong Kong, which we hope will strengthen and develop going forward’.
In a massive Brooklyn garage, a man is patiently repairing 58 classic cars
By Rain Noe From Core77
Amusingly, his main form of transportation appears to be a bicycle
For auto design lovers it’s hard not to pine away for the 1950s, when America released bold, original shapes that became the envy of the world. Outside of Cuba or a retro auto show, you’re not likely to see dozens of these cars at once.
Unless you know Lenny in Brooklyn, that is. A self-professed lover of exterior automotive designs from roughly the late ’40s to the late ’50s, Lenny has been collecting and repairing the cars in a massive garage space in Gowanus. The breadth of his handpicked collection has to be seen to be believed, and it’s a real pleasure listening to him explain why he does what he does.
The U.S. companies with the most offshore cash [Infographic]
By Niall McCarthy From Forbes
The use of tax havens is ubiquitous across America’s 500 largest companies. Collectively, they hold $2.1 trillion in offshore cash, according to a recent study by Citizens for Tax Justice and the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Establishing foreign subsidiaries in places with little or no tax such as Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, has allowed them to avoid an estimated $90 billion in federal income taxes each year.
The report names Apple AAPL -0.91% as the very worst Fortune 500 offender. Holding just over $181 billion offshore, it would owe about $59 billion if it was subject to U.S. taxes. Instead, it has established two Irish subsidiaries that are neither tax residents of Ireland nor the United States. By routing profit though these
Irish subsidiaries and the Netherlands and Caribbean, it avoids paying tax to any government on most of its earnings.
Sandals Resorts parent and Travel Impressions end relationship
By Ludlow Dawes From Travel Pulse
One of the Caribbean’s largest resort companies and a major Caribbean tour operator have severed their ties. Effective Oct. 15, Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI) the parent company of resort operators Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, will terminate its selling agreement with Travel Impressions, company officials said in a statement. The company says it will honor all bookings made with Travel Impressions prior to Oct. 15.
In a statement, Travel Impressions confirmed the company has ended its relationship with UVI. “Travel Impressions will be discontinuing sale of Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple Resorts following Sandals’ decision to go in a different strategic direction,” the statement reads. “This will end a 34-year partnership between the two companies effective Oct. 15.”
Travel Impressions will “continue to protect the interests of both agents and their clients by fulfilling every commitment to all travelers who have already booked for 2015, 2016 and 2017,” said Jeff Clarke, the company’s president.
“Although we are disappointed with Sandals’ decision, we will continue to provide our retail partners with promotional incentives, value-adds, extraordinary service levels and other competitive advantages,” said Clarke.
“Sandals bookings already in place will not be affected and will continue to receive agent and/or client incentives to which they are entitled, based on any promotions in place at the time of booking, including bonus commission,” he added.
UVI will also honor “all bookings made with Travel Impressions prior to Oct. 15, 2015” adding, “agents can be confident that these reservations will be managed in the normal way.”
Contractor accepts $7,500 in payments, disappears
By Laura Northrup From Consumerist
When you hire a contractor and they do a competent job, you should be able to just hire that contractor again without checking their background and starting the process over. Right? Not so fast, as one person who aspired to have new doors installed in his home learned the hard way. He hired back a contractor he had used in the past without checking any licenses, and paid about $7,500 for his mistake.
About five years ago, a California man hired a highly recommended contractor to replace his roof. He called up the same guy again when he needed some doors installed, not knowing that the contractor bad lost his license in the interim, after committing serious violations and then not paying the fines for them.
“Since this person obviously had a license, they know what the laws are [and] they know their license has been revoked,” a represenative of the state license board for contractors explained to CBS Sacramento. Yet the homeowner put down payments totaling $7,500–far more than the recommended 10% before work begins–and the contractor never showed up to start the work.
Potential scrutiny from a TV station prompted this contractor to refund some of the money, returning a few thousand to the homeowner in cash and promising the rest. He even signed a promispory note, but didn’t pay up, and the homeowner was forced to take him to small clams court.
After a judgement from the court, the contractor has finally paid about $5,000 of the ill-gotten funds back. The homeowner looks forward to having a contractor with a current license actually show up to install his doors.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2015/10/13/contractor-accepts-7500-in-payments-disappears/
