Caribbean News

Health City Cayman Islands partners with OceanMed to perform first robotic surgery in the Cayman Islands

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2022

#CaymanIslands, June 22, 2022 – Health City Cayman Islands has introduced robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to the list of state-of-the-art medical services the tertiary care facility offers local, regional and international patients.

Adding to its long track record of surgical firsts in the region, the robotic laparoscopic surgery was performed in the Cayman Islands last month through a partnership between Health City and local health care provider OceanMed.

Dr. David Stone at the console of the da Vinci X system

The partnership will see OceanMed obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. David Stone utilize the da Vinci X robotic system to perform a variety of minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries with the assistance of Health City specialists, including gynecologist Dr. Pooja Monteiro and anesthesiologist Dr. Susan Paul.

“We recognize there needs to be a collaborative approach to health care delivery to provide the best clinical options for patients. Dr. Stone and OceanMed are the ideal partners to work with to expand the option of gynecological surgical options for our patients because of their track record of excellence,” said Health City Clinical Director, Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil.

Dr. Stone said he was delighted to expand the surgical offerings to patients using the robotic surgical system. “As a gynecologist, the robot can assist me in performing resection of endometriosis, myomectomies (uterine fibroid removal), pelvic organ prolapse repairs, and hysterectomies through incisions smaller than the width of a finger. (Robot-assisted) minimally invasive surgeries reduce the potential for bleeding, lower the risk of infection, decrease the risk of injury to other tissue organs, reduce postoperative pain and result in shorter recovery times when compared to open surgeries.”

While currently offering the ability to perform these exclusive styles of minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries, Health City is planning to broaden the scope of robot-assisted surgery to bariatric and gastrointestinal surgeries, as well as for urologic procedures.

“It is important that we continue to find innovative ways to deliver excellent patient outcomes. That is why we are investing heavily in these modern technologies and systems, which have the potential to get patients back home to their loved ones faster. We anticipate being able to announce additional specialty areas that will benefit from use of [the] da Vinci surgical system in the near future,” said Shomari Scott, Health City Cayman Islands’ Chief Business Officer.

Dr. Stone noted that while other approaches may result in successful outcomes, the da Vinci X provides another tool for the surgeon to use for completing the task. “After having performed, proctored, and assisted in hundreds of (robot-assisted) laparoscopic surgeries in the United States, I am truly grateful to have that option now here on island,” he said.

Health City has pioneered many cutting-edge surgeries and innovative procedures in the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere, including the first left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (artificial heart pump) in the Caribbean; the first cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) device implanted in the Caribbean (a minimally invasive implantable device that treats patients experiencing symptoms of moderate to severe chronic heart failure); the first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patient in the Caribbean and only ECMO Center in the Caribbean (ECMO allows blood to be pumped from outside the patient’s body into an artificial lung that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide); the first surgery to correct Pentalogy of Cantrell (heart outside the chest) in the Caribbean; and the first arthroscopic Latarjet surgery in the Caribbean, United States and Canada (using a unique technique to restore stability to the shoulder joint).

Health City is currently in expansion mode with construction underway on a new US$100 million super-specialty hospital at Camana Bay that will feature a specialized Cancer Care Center with comprehensive and advanced oncology offerings, a neonatal intensive care unit, an emergency pavilion and critical care unit, and a multispecialty program that expands robotic surgery options. The new radiotherapy center aspect of the project is scheduled to open in late 2022 and the complete hospital a year later.

Photo Caption: Dr. David Stone prepares a patient for robotic surgery with the assistance of Dr. Pooja Monteiro.

About Health City Cayman Islands

Health City Cayman Islands is a medically advanced tertiary hospital located near High Rock in the district of East End in Grand Cayman. It features a unique model of health care, built with a focus on the patient and rooted in innovative business models that allow the delivery of high quality, affordable care. It is the largest hospital in the Caribbean to have earned the prestigious Gold Seal of Approval from Joint Commission International (JCI), the worldwide leader in accrediting the quality of health care. For more information visit www.healthcitycaymanislands.com.

About OceanMed

OceanMed is a modern health care provider offering services in obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics & neonatal care, general practice and medical imaging. Caring for the entire family, OceanMed delivers world-class quality health care for everyone, at all stages of life. Located in central George Town with stunning oceanfront views, the OceanMed Women’s Health facility is specially designed to promote comfort and relaxation. OceanMed’s team of highly qualified and experienced physicians includes Dr. David Stone, an American Board-certified OB/GYN and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists with over 25 years of practice experience. Dr. Stone is also a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Society of Robotic Surgeons. For more information visit www.oceanmed.ky.

Source: Health City Cayman Islands

Caribbean News

Guyanese Scholar and Olympian Arrested in Iowa ICE Crackdown

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

September 27, 2025 – In a shocking breach of public trust and institutional oversight, Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who is a citizen of Guyana, was arrested on September 26 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a string of serious offenses that raise troubling questions about hiring practices, accountability, and public safety.

Roberts, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is a former Olympian and accomplished scholar. According to online reports, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University after transferring from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he played soccer. He holds two master’s degrees—from St. John’s University and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business—attended an Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan School of Management and earned a doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership from Trident University.

Despite these accomplishments, Roberts was living and working without legal authorization. ICE reported that he fled a traffic stop and abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. He also has a prior weapons-related charge.

ICE officials questioned how Roberts could hold such a prominent role while subject to a final deportation order issued in May 2024. The school district said they were unaware of his immigration status, noting that he had undergone background checks and completed an I-9 form confirming work authorization. Roberts was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

This case highlights vulnerabilities in systems meant to safeguard public institutions and underscores the challenges ICE faces in identifying individuals operating outside U.S. immigration laws while in positions of authority.

For many, Roberts has become a near-literal poster child for these enforcement gaps.

Caribbean News

Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

Published

3 weeks ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

Caribbean News

CARICOM-Africa Summit Yields Draft Pact on Trade, Travel and Reparations

Published

3 weeks ago

September 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Imagine an Atlantic Bridge connecting the Caribbean Region to the African Continent

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When CARICOM leaders convened with African counterparts and Afreximbank officials in Ethiopia, the outcomes were savory and exactly what many Caribbean people want to see materialise as the islands become uniquely reconnected to the African continent.

At the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held at the African Union headquarters, leaders moved beyond symbolic language to agree on a draft communiqué that, if finalized, would anchor this partnership in practical action. While not yet officially published by the AU or CARICOM, the document points to an agenda that blends history with urgent twenty-first century priorities.

The draft outlines commitments to improve air and sea transport links, including the pursuit of a multilateral air services agreement to break down the barriers that still keep the Caribbean and Africa physically apart. It also calls for visa facilitation and simplified entry regimes, making it easier for citizens of both regions to travel, study, and work across the Atlantic.

Equally significant are pledges to advance double taxation treaties that could remove one of the most stubborn obstacles to investment. With Afreximbank’s Caribbean headquarters already established in Barbados and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) gaining momentum, leaders now want to lock in the financial and legal frameworks that will drive new business.

Reparatory justice also featured prominently, with the draft communiqué sharpening a joint call for coordinated advocacy. CARICOM’s long-standing Reparations Commission is expected to work more closely with African institutions to demand global recognition and redress for the shared traumas of slavery and colonial exploitation.

CARICOM’s incoming chair, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, captured the spirit of the gathering when he urged that the Atlantic Slave Trade be reimagined as an “Atlantic Bridge — a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure our people take their rightful place in this world.”

For Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting was a “homecoming,” but also a reminder that concrete steps like the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and improved transportation links are needed to transform rhetoric into results.

For citizens back home, wrestling with inflation and economic uncertainty, the Addis outcomes — transport, visas, investment, health, and reparations — are precisely the kinds of measures that can validate leaders’ journeys and rekindle faith in South-South cooperation. What was once only rhetoric now hints at the beams of an Atlantic Bridge, connecting the Caribbean and Africa in ways that could finally turn history’s tragedy into tomorrow’s advantage.