For those who enjoy performing on stage while helping a good cause, Cayman’s Got Talent may be just what you’re looking for. The new talent show, organised by Nolly Brown Entertainment in association with the Cayman Islands Diabetic Association, will host a series of preliminary rounds in September with the final set for mid October. Anyone age 9 or older is eligible to enter.

Contestants can sing, dance, do a skill or perform any type of performing art.

Event organiser Noel Smith explained that the idea of setting up the talent show with four heats followed by a pre-final and a final came to him after his recent experiences with type two diabetes.

The theme of this first annual Cayman’s got Talent is Diabetics for People in Need, and the events will raise money to set up a fund to help diabetics buy vital medical supplies like insulin pumps, glucose meters and testing strips.

Sylvia Perry, president of the CI Diabetes Association, said that her organisation would administer the fund. “We are a non-profit organisation which was formed 33 years ago and are members of the International Diabetes Federation.”

“We’re hoping that the public will really warm to this show and support it by attending the district heats before buying tickets for the pre-final and the final” said Mr Smith.

The winner of Cayman’s Got Talent will receive a cash prize of several thousand dollars said the organiser, who added that the exact amount will be announced later.

(source : compass cayman)

While the tourist industry worldwide may still have some way to go before it recovers from the impact of the global recession, passenger arrivals in the Cayman Islands are at the 2010 halfway mark showing improvement on 2009. More passengers arrived on the islands both by air and by boat this year than last. According to the latest statistics from the Department of Tourism at the end of June well over 126,000 cruise passengers had visited Grand Cayman in the first six months of the year compared to last and over 30,000 more passengers had passed through Owen Roberts International Airport.

The DoT website states that in 2009 between 1 January and 30 June 739, 562 passengers came on cruise ships while in 2010 866,340 have visited in the same time. Meanwhile at the airport 162,070 people have visited by air since 1 January 2010 to the end of June compared to 132,905 last year over the same time.

According to a recently published report on the region’s tourism industry the Caribbean experienced a mixed start to 2010, with sharp differences between countries in terms of tourist arrivals. The report states however that in general, the picture was positive, with several countries posting increases in tourist arrivals, following a year of overall decline in 2009.

(Source : Cayman News Service)

Ten years ago, Dr. Steve Tomlinson set up Cayman’s first private hospital. A decade on, the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital continues to grow and expand its services.

In an interview with the Caymanian Compass, Mr. Tomlinson outlined details of some of the new additions to the hospital – both in innovative equipment and staff.

By the end of this year, he hopes to have a 3 Tesla MRI in place. The hospital already has a 2 Tesla MRI, but Mr. Tomlinson is looking forward to the arrival of the new equipment.

“There’s no better MRI in this part of the world as far as resolution goes,” he said.

The hospital is also preparing to welcome two new surgeons – orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Matthias Herzig and general surgeon Dr. Darley Solomon are joining the team.

Mr. Tomlinson said the arrival of Mr. Solomon back on Island from the United States would lessen his workload. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years. It’s getting time to slow down a little,” he said.

Mr. Solomon, who is from Cayman, previously worked at the Cayman Island Hospital.

Visiting oncologist on board – Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital also has a visiting oncologist, Theodore Turnquest, who comes to Cayman every two weeks, and an oncology nurse who is on staff full time. “The nurse administers the chemotherapy and people can get the surgery they need here now.” Mr. Tomlinson said.

Neurosurgeon Dr. James Akinwunmi has been coming to Chrissie Tomlinson for the past year, visiting once a month for about 10 days and carrying out brain and spinal surgeries. “He is doing great work,” said Mr. Tomlinson. “I’m happy that James is coming here. He’s helping a lot of people.”. Dr. Marc Kayem also works out of Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital when he visits from Los Angeles. He is an ear, nose and throat specialist and plastic surgeon.

In recent years, the hospital has also expanded from its main Walkers Road site to set up a satellite clinic based in the Countryside Shopping Centre in Savannah, where Mr. Tomlinson holds consultations, sometimes for free for patients who cannot afford to pay.

The operating theatres of Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital are filled with what Mr. Tomlinson described as a “United Nations” of staff who have moved to Cayman from all over the world. They perform more than 100 operations a month.

(source : cayCompass.com)

The Cayman Islands are front and centre this month as Pandemix, the University College of the Cayman Islands’ Cayman National Steel Band, hits the international stage at the largest Caribbean festival in North America.

Every summer, Toronto, Canada, features the excitement of calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade costumes during the Scotiabank Caribana Festival, which attracts more than a million participants annually. This year’s Caribana runs from 14 July to 8 August.

The 17-member Pandemix has joined forces with local band Panoramers and Toronto’s Afropan Steel Pan Band: The People Band, for a competition performance during the Pan Alive event on 30 July and the festival parade on 31 July. Afropan: The People Band has won awards for the best steel pan band at the Caribana Parade 26 of the 36 years of the competition, extended their welcome to UCCI’s young panners for the second consecutive year.

“It is truly an honour for both UCCI Pandemix and Panoramers Steelpan bands to be invited for another year to join the Afropan Steelpan Band in Canada,” said Pandemix member and UCCI student Trisha Cuffy.

“With a larger group this year, and new members, we expect the experience to be both challenging and rewarding. Collectively, we can all learn many things from each other and further develop our skills and technique.”

Pandemix will also participate in the popular Blokos street party with several other bands.

UCCI’s music director Glen Inanga also noted that Pandemix will be representing the Cayman Islands as artistic ambassadors.

 “I am confident that they will make the most of this wonderful opportunity for educational development and cultural exchange,” he said.

(source : cayCompass)

Thanks to the aquatic talents of Cayman’s swimming brothers, Shaune and Brett Fraser, and the speed of Cydonie Mothersill, the Cayman Islands is on course for a record breaking Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games this year. With many of the track and field events still to come, the country’s athletes have already made history by bringing in seven medals – the most ever for a Cayman team. The Fraser’s have  brought home four medals after Shaune grabbed gold in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 100m, while Brett took silver in both the 200m freestyle and the 200m backstroke.

 Mothersill  also won the gold medal in 22.91 seconds in the 200mere final, ahead of Carol Rodrigues and Darlenis Obregona who were second and third respectively with times of  23.37 and 23.76 respectively. Pompey’s time was 24.27s.

The men’s squash doubles team carried the medal count to five by placing third in their event and securing a bronze. The sixth medal – another bronze – belongs to Carl Morgan for the long jump.

Sports Minister Mark Scotland congratulated the competitors on the fine performances. “With the athletics division coming up this week, the team is hoping to improve even further on the medal count and I wish them the best of luck for the balance of this CAC meet,” he said. “Our success at these games bodes well for our athletes’ performances at October’s Commonwealth Games in India and my ministry will be working with Cayman’s sporting fraternity to give our competitors all the support they need,” Scotland added. 

The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee President Donald McLean echoed the minister’s comments.

“We are very pleased with the overall performance of the Cayman Team. We are excited that we were represented in eight events, namely sailing, squash, swimming, athletics, beach volleyball, karate, and equestrian. We also sent a rugby team for the first time,” he said. “And while winning medals is not the most important objective of sending a delegation, it sure feels good to hear our national song played and our flag raised at the Games.”

(Source : Cayman News Service)

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has been voted in the top 50 hotels worldwide by a travel website.

Expedia’s Insider Select list 2010 is taken from 114,000 hotels and resorts, each given a numerical score independent of advertisers and partners. The scores are calculated through traveller opinions, value and Expedia hotel experts’ input.

With a score of 99.8, The Ritz-Carlton was the second-highest place in the Caribbean, and number 47 overall. Top Caribbean property at number 18 was Point Grace at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos which was one of 22 properties that registered a score of 100.

Other Cayman properties that registered in the top 1000 of the list were The Reef Resort at number 663, Grand Cayman Beach Suites (697) and Grand Cayman Marriot Beach Resort, which was at number 772.

Sunshine Suites (1,101), The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa (1,986) and Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach (2,242) were the other Caymanian representatives in the Expedia list, which comprises the best 2,525 properties according to that site’s ranking system.

Each hotel had to have been reviewed in 2009 and reviewers must have stayed there in the past six month. Value was compared in context with nearby properties that had similar star ratings and amenities.

Expedia said they had an extensive network of hundreds of experts in top destinations worldwide, who provide their insight and first-hand knowledge of their destination’s best hotels.

(source : cayCompass.com)

Three Caymanian youth players left the island on Wednesday 21^st July heading for Brazil, where they will undergo four weeks of intensive training as part of the development program partnership between the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) and top Brazilian clubs in Brazil.

The boys, Cassie McLaughlin 14; Danner Taylor 15; and Keron Watler, 16, were excited about their trip and made positive comments when  asked what they had planned to make of their journey. President of the East End Football Club, John McLean, and MLA Arden McLean sponsored Cassie McLaughlin and Keron Watler, while Danny Taylor was sponsored by the Elite Football Club.

During the four weeks these players will be assigned to the Vasco Da Gama Football Club and will be subject to some serious football disciplines, which will help them mentally and physically as part of the development process in their football career. They are scheduled to return to the island on August 25^th. Vasco Da Game is a Brazilian sports club situated in Rio de Janeiro. It was founded on August 21, 1898, and is one of Brazil’s most popular and successful football clubs, with more than 15 million supporters.

This trip will also be used as a means of exposing the boys’ talents and sharpening their skills, with training provided by a professional in a more advanced football environment. They will also be assessed by scouts and other independent bodies interested in youth football development, who will make recommendations at the end of the training.

This venture was organised by the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA), the governing body of football here, in its continuing efforts to develop players reach to a higher level in this global sport.

(source : Cayman Net News)

Jackson Messer is greeted by his mother

Fourteen year old Jackson Messer recently returned home to Grand Cayman after spending eight days at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) In New York City. Jackson won an all expenses paid trip to the academy, courtesy of the Cayman Islands Film Commission (CIFC), as the first prize in the Young Image Makers (YIM) Short Film competition.

The Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) produced the film workshop, short film competition and gala premiere as part of the 2010 Cayfest activities.

Rita Estevanovich, Programmes Manager at CNCF was at the airport to greet Jackson upon his return and said “The YIM programme is one that we at CNCF want to see expanded over time, so that more young people have the opportunity to explore the possibilities of a career in film. We’re very pleased with the programme’s debut. I am happy that Jackson Messer, the first recipient of the coveted NYFA Summer Movie Camp scholarship enjoyed every minute of his time in New York, and is enthused to continue developing his skills in the field.”

An obviously excited but tired Jackson told CNCF, “All of the NYFA staff and boarders were so nice and welcoming.  I have met so many people from all over the world including Italy, Spain, Canada, USA, Iceland, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Russia, Austria and England. The classes were long and very informative with hands-on exercises and on the third day we actually hit the streets of New York City and I shot my short film. We received instructions in editing film in Final Cut Pro which I know will be extremely beneficial to me as I continue with my career.”

(source : Cayman Net News)

Cayman Restaurant Week (CRW) is a weeklong celebration of the fine dining in the Cayman Islands at a special fixed price. People are invited to participate in this event that showcases a wide variety of Cayman’s finest culinary restaurants from Sunday 1^st August to Sunday 8^th August.

The annual event offers foodies locally and from around the world a taste of Cayman. Cayman Restaurant Week is designed for local restaurants and chefs to highlight their best dishes and give people the opportunity to dine at the best of Cayman. CRW is being brought by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Airways and BestofCayman.com

(source : caymanrestaurantweek.com)

The Cayman Islands Brewery was launched in 2007 and is the brewer of Caybrew, CayLight and Ironshore Bock Beer. The secret of these beers involves some of the most ancient brewing and manufacturing arts known to man; combine this with the most current state of the art brewing technology to date. Caybrew has already won a prestigious Monde Gold award and is quickly becoming the fastest growing beer in the Cayman Islands. Caybrew, Caylight and Ironshore Bock are brewed to the highest international standards.

Brewery tours are available every Monday through to Friday on the hour 9am to 4pm. Private tours can be arranged for bookings over 10 people in the evenings. These informative tours include samples of all the products and are conducted by knowledgeable members of the brewing staff. Ring ahead for bottling days for the main experience.

(source : cayman islands brewery)