JACQUES KALLIS CONFIRMED FOR CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2015 DRAFT (- South African Cricket Star Set To Join ‘The Biggest Party In Sport’ )

Wednesday 17^th December 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Excitement for CPL 2015 cranked up a notch today with the announcement that South African cricket hero, Jacques Kallis has been confirmed to join the draft list for next year’s tournament.

The news comes hot on the heels of last Friday’s announcement that the Caribbean Premier League is set to offer contracts to young cricketers from the Caribbean and ICC Americas region and will see these players rub shoulders with some of the game’s greatest players.

Each of the six CPL franchise coaches will no doubt be clamouring to secure Kallis at the official CPL 2015 draft, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in early 2015.

Speaking about joining the draft, Kallis, said; “I have really enjoyed playing in the Caribbean with The Proteas and am looking forward to hopefully returning for the CPL. It is an amazing place with amazing people and I am excited to see what team I will be playing for. CPL has produced some fantastic cricket and the fans really bring a special atmosphere so I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

South African cricket hero, Jacques Kallis, is confirmed for the CPL 2015 Draft

CPL International Cricket Director, Tom Moody, said; “The addition of these cricketing greats to the roster for CPL 2015 is testament to the growing success of the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ which has grown significantly since its inaugural year. And, with players of this calibre getting on board, CPL is offering young Caribbean cricketers a great opportunity to test their skills against some of the best of their generation.”

Jacques Henry Kallis is regarded as one of the greatest of the game's all-rounders having scored more than 11,000 runs and taken 250 wickets in both one-day and Test match cricket as of 2013. In 2008, he was named Leading Cricketer in the World in the 2008 Wisden for his performances in 2007 in addition to being the “ICC Test Player of the Year” and ICC Player of the Year in 2005. He has been described by Kevin Pietersen and Daryll Cullinan as the greatest cricketer to play the game.

ENDS

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere.  The CPL, billed as “the Biggest Party in Sport” features six teams competing throughout the region – Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.  The Barbados Tridents are the defending champions from 2014.

CPL TO IMPLEMENT NEW RULES FOR 2015 TOURNAMENT

Arising out of the contentious 2014 Final between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents which was played on August 16th at Warner Park, St Kitts, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has agreed to review the rules and playing conditions for the 2015 tournament.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise and CPL are pleased to announce that the issue has now been resolved and brought to a closure.

Fans would recall that the final came to an abrupt end when rain interrupted the Guyana Amazon Warriors innings at 107 for 4 after 15.5 overs while they were in pursuit of 153 to win the game. After the rain had stopped and mop-up operations completed, the stumps went back up. However, after a delay, the match officials inexplicably decided that the allotted time - including extra time -  for the game had elapsed and the Barbados Tridents were declared winners on the Duckworth/Lewis method.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise Management wrote to CPL after the game, expressing its concerns on the unorthodox manner in which the game was ended. The Guyana Amazon Warriors, in an attempt to ensure that the playing conditions and tournament rules were adhered to rigorously and to avoid such a reoccurrence in the future particularly in a final, sought legal advice on this matter.

After various consultations, both parties have agreed that, in the interest of this great game of cricket and in order to maintain the excellent reputation of the CPL, the matter is now closed and all parties concerned can now move forward to the planning and implementing of a bigger, better and more exciting 2015 CPL.

Towards that end, CPL officials, Franchise Owners/Partners and the Tournament Committee are currently reviewing the rules for the semi-finals and final with a view to using international umpires and match referees and extending the match playing time to midnight, if necessary.

Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Franchise Owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, commented after the matter was brought to a closure: “The game of Cricket should always be the winner and the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise, remains steadfast in our commitment to make every contribution we can to bring enjoyment to the thousands of fans who support not only us but West Indies Cricket on the whole. We are of the firm view that the CPL can rejuvenate the passion and pride of all cricket lovers throughout the Caribbean and also all our supporters who reside abroad.”

Mr. Damien O’ Donohoe, CEO of the CPL, said; “We are pleased that the two parties have reached an amicable conclusion and that the matter is closed. CPL 2014 set new standards on and off the field and sealed our reputation as the “biggest party in sport”. We are now in high gear planning for CPL 2015 which is set to electrify the region once again. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the fans and look forward to seeing them come out in their droves for another summer of fantastic carnival cricket. We would also like to thank the Guyana Franchise and the team for their continued support in building CPL.”

ENDS

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere.  The CPL, billed as “the Biggest Party in Sport” features six teams competing throughout the region – Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.  The Barbados Tridents are the defending champions from 2014.

THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION AND DIGICEL PARTNER TO OFFER FREE WIKIPEDIA ACCESS (- Wikipedia Zero to be available in 31 markets across the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia Pacific )

Tuesday, 9^th December 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Today Digicel and the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation that operates Wikipedia and its sister projects, announced a partnership to offer free access to Wikipedia to all Digicel customers, whether they are subscribed to a data plan or not. The collaboration is part of Wikipedia Zero, an initiative to give people unlimited access to Wikipedia free of data charges from their mobile devices, in alignment with Wikimedia's mission to provide access to knowledge and information.

Currently an estimated 400 million mobile subscribers have free access to Wikipedia, thanks to 41 operators in 34 countries who have already joined Wikipedia Zero. The Digicel agreement will extend free mobile access to Digicel’s customers in 31 markets across the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia Pacific.

Digicel Haiti customers will be the first to take advantage of the collaboration with the service launching there today.

Even prior to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 70% of all Haitians were living on less than $US2 a day and the country was the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. While recovery from the 2010 earthquake has been slow but steady, access to connectivity via mobile phones has shown tremendous improvement across the country. Today, Digicel Haiti has more than four million mobile subscribers.

“We know that our customers want to get the best value out of their handsets. With mobile penetration growing exponentially in the region and more and more people using their mobile phones as educational tools, we are delighted to be bringing the joys of Wikipedia to our customers at no charge,” said Maarten Boute, Chairman of Digicel Haiti.

Wikipedia is the largest collection of free knowledge ever assembled. It is a collaborative creation by volunteer editors from all over the world. Across its more than 280 language versions Wikipedia contains more than 33.5 million articles, attracting nearly half a billion unique visitors every month and more than 20 billion monthly page views. Every month roughly 70,000 people actively edit Wikipedia.

“We are committed to ensuring that people not only have access to the knowledge on Wikipedia without barriers on mobile phones with no data charges, but that they can become knowledge creators themselves, and build strong communities of the future. We are therefore very excited about the collaboration with Digicel where the potential to open up the knowledge on Wikipedia to new audiences is immense, and the impact in communities such as Haiti could be transformative.” said Carolynne Schloeder, Head of Global Partnerships with the Wikimedia Foundation.

Wikipedia Zero is available via a free app downloadable in the Google Play store, the iTunes store, or at www.wikipedia.org 

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL

Digicel Group is a total communications and entertainment provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the presenting partner of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia consists of more than 33.5 million articles in 288 languages. Every month, roughly 80,000 active volunteers contribute to Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects. According to comScore Media Metrix, the projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive 460 million unique visitors per month on desktop alone, making them one of the ten most popular web properties worldwide (October 2014). Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants.

Wikimedia Foundation Contact:

Katherine Maher

Chief Communications Officer

katherine@wikimedia.org

DIGICEL LAUNCHES NEW ADDITIONS TO ITS SMARTPHONE RANGE (- The perfect gift for the holidays! )

Thursday 4^th December 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Digicel continues its mission to bring the best value to customers this Christmas with the latest additions to its own brand smartphone range – the all-new DL 800 and DL 900.

The launch of the first Digicel smartphone, the DL 600, and the subsequent release of the DL 700, saw them becoming the two best-selling smartphones in the Digicel portfolio. On the back of their success, the DL 750 was released earlier this year which saw customers benefiting from improved quality and performance and now, with the introduction of the new DL 800 and DL 900, customers are set to enjoy even better performance – all for less than US$100.

The DL 800 comes with a 4.5 inch touchscreen display and, at 9.1 millimetres, fits perfectly in the palm of the hand. In addition, it comes with 4.4 Kitkat Android operating system, eight megapixel back camera and five megapixel front camera, for the perfect selfie, 32 gigabyte card slot and a 1 GHz dual core processor.

The DL 900, with its large 5 inch touchscreen display, comes with an eight megapixel camera back, a 4.2 Jellybean Android operating system, 1.3Ghz quad core processor, 4 gigabyte internal memory and a 32 gigabyte memory card slot - making these phones the best value high end smartphones on the market.

Digicel Group Head of Device Management, Rachael Lindo-Hall, said; “With the launch of the DL 800 and 900 smartphones, customers can expect high-end performance at a more affordable price when compared to other smartphones with similar features. Customers can surf the net, share photos and keep up with what’s happening – all on Digicel’s superfast network. Coupled with the best value data plans on offer this Christmas from Digicel, they can be assured that they are getting the best smartphone experience this Christmas.”

The all-new DL 800 and DL 900 Digicel smartphones are available across the Caribbean and Central America and will see customers benefiting from improved quality and performance

 

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.  Since 2012, Digicel has been the title sponsor of the Myanmar Football Federation and the Myanmar Special Olympics Federation.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.

CPL T20 TOURNAMENT INJECTS US$166 MILLION INTO THE CARIBBEAN REGION

Thursday 27^th November 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

• Increase of 58% on 2013 economic impact

• Finals host country, St. Kitts and Nevis, boasts second largest impact with US$25.1 million injected into the economy local

A new, independent Economic Impact study revealed today that the Caribbean Premier League injected a massive US$166 million into the region’s economy during the 2014 tournament – a significant increase of 58% on 2013.

Host country for the finals, St. Kitts and Nevis, reaped significant benefits with a whopping US$25.1 million invested in the local economy – second only to Barbados with US$28.7 million.

Key findings in the report show:

·         Incremental spend by regional and international fans totalled US$47.4 million (excluding accommodation and airfares)

·         An estimated 217,176 regional and international spectators watched CPL 2014 live

·         The international TV audience increased to 65 million in 2014 from 36 million in 2013, with 29 broadcasters from around the world airing the games live 

·         Over 21,500 international visitors (approximately 10% of total spectators), attended CPL 2014, spending US$7.9 million

·         Thousands of new jobs were created in tourism and travel across the region by CPL and more than 156,000 jobs positively impacted

·         The tournament’s high profile international broadcast media campaign (which encouraged tourism in the region) generated US$4.47 million in advertising value

Commenting on the findings, Caribbean Premier League CEO, Damien O’Donohoe, said; “These results are fantastic and are a testament to CPL’s significance as an economic driver in the region. While we have always said that the Caribbean is without doubt the natural home of T20 cricket, we are very proud to say that CPL is now a truly international event – appealing to fans and players from around the world – and one that the people of the Caribbean should be very proud of.

“With next year’s player line-ups close to being announced, we are very excited by the prospect of smashing these records in 2015 and further cementing CPL’s position as the most entertaining and exciting cricket tournament in the world,” concluded O’Donohoe.

The study, conducted by SMG-Insight/YouGov, one of the world’s leading sports measurement, research and analysis companies, showed a breakout across each of the eight markets as follows:

·         Antigua and Barbuda – US$13.8 million

·         Barbados – US$28.7 million

·         Grenada – US$13.3 million

·         Guyana – US$24.5 million

·         Jamaica – US$25.1 million

·         St. Kitts and Nevis – US$26.3million

·         St. Lucia – US$13.9 million

·         Trinidad and Tobago – US$21.1 million

With an investment of over US$25 million to date, the CPL is the world’s second biggest T20 cricket tournament – behind the Indian Premier League – and is set to continue growing in 2015 and beyond. CPL, in partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) continues to invest in the development of the game, providing opportunities for players and fans to access world-class cricket in the Caribbean.

In order to gather appropriate information to calculate the projected Total Economic Impact of CPL on the Caribbean economy, SMG-Insight/YouGov hosted an online survey on http://cplt20.com/ where cricket fans could access an online questionnaire. To incentivise participation in the survey, cricket fans had a chance to win an exclusive signed shirt and 1,809 respondents from across the Caribbean took part in the survey.

Further key findings of the SMG-Insight/YouGov Survey (2014):

·         91.5% of respondents surveyed said they were “very interested” in cricket and 70.4% said they were “very likely” to revisit the area for leisure in the future based on their experience of CPL T20

·         62% of respondents said that the CPL T20 tournament was “very important” to the local Caribbean economy

·         CPL T20 has strong appeal to both men (65%) and women (35%) cricket fans where the biggest following amongst those surveyed was between the ages of 25 and 34

·         Domestic spectators surveyed said they spent on average US$53.25 and international spectators said they spent US$138.45 per day

For more information or a copy of the research, please contact media@cplt20.com

ENDS

Note to Editors

1.    Total Economic Impact of a major sports event refers to the total amount of additional expenditure generated within a defined area as a direct and indirect consequence of staging the event, applying a multiplier factor to this expenditure. 

2.    A multiplier of 2.26 was used to convert direct impact into Total Economic Impact for the Caribbean economy, taking account of indirect impact that the Tournament had on all other parts of the Caribbean economy.

3.    ‘Incremental spend on non-accommodation’ includes expenditure on items such as attractions and entertainment, food and drink, shopping, petrol, parking and other expenses.

4.    Methodology used in the Economic Impact Assessment is consistent with the 2008 Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework (TSA: RMF 2008) developed by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), the Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

GRACEKENNEDY, THROUGH GRACE AND STAFF, OFFICIALLY OPENS STATE OF THE ART S.T.E.M CENTRE

Kingston, Jamaica, November 26 

In addition to its five homework centres, GraceKennedy, through its Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, has now established a state of the art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) Centre to serve the young people within its programme. The Centre, located on Water Lane in Parade Gardens, was made possible through an MOU signed in October 2011 between the Grace and Staff Foundation and the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID). That MOU provided Grace and Staff with just over US $440,000 to be used to expand the operations and offerings not only of the Grace and Staff Homework Centres, but other areas, including skills training and workforce development.

The S.T.E.M Centre, established at a cost of J$18M, will prepare students for external exams (CSEC & CAPE) and S.T.E.M careers through the introduction to new technologies, for example, robotics, in an environment conducive for studying and research. The 2000 plus square foot Centre boasts a computer lab for animation, an electronics lab for robotics, a 3D printing and design facility, a study/ homework prep area, a multi-subject lab (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) and a lab prep room. 

 “Think about what can happen within these walls to expand the minds of our young people in the area of S.T.E.M – so that they can literally go out and change Jamaica, and impact the world,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby at the official opening on November 24. His sentiments about the potential impact of the Centre were underscored by Hon Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, who noted that the Centre would give young men and women options in growing job fields and areas where there is a current deficit of the requisite skillsets to fill these positions.

The US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, Mrs Elizabeth Lee Martinez and USAID Mission Director, Ms Denise Herbol,  both spoke to the importance of public/private partnerships such as the one between Grace and Staff and the USAID in moving countries forward and keeping them relevant in the era of S.T.E.M, which is accompanied by rapid technological change.

In making his remarks, Chairman of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, James Moss-Solomon said, “The dream of Science, Technology, Robotics, 3-D printing, all in a modern environment on Water Lane is almost surreal.”  He thanked all the partners - ICD, (who provided the building at what Mr Moss-Solomon called “peppercorn” rental), Coldax, Microsoft, FLOW, The Scientific Research Council, Mico University College and the Ministry of Education -  who helped to make the dream  a reality.    

“The dream has become reality!” GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby happily looks on after the unveiling of the plaque at the new GraceKennedy Parade Gardens S.T.E.M Centre on Water Lane in Kingston. Sharing in the moment are (l-r) Min of Education Hon Ronald Thwaites, USAID Mission Director, Ms  Denise Herbol, Chargé d’ Affaires at the US Embassy, Mrs Elizabeth Lee Martinez, Chairman of Grace and Staff, James Moss-Solomon, ICD’s Judith Bruce and Grace and Staff General Manager, Mrs Frances Madden. The Centre, made possible through an MOU signed between GraceKennedy and USAID, was set up at a cost of J$18M and boasts state of the art equipment, including a 3D printer, said to be only the second of its kind in Jamaica.