Last month, the Job Shadow Programme was launched by Junior Achievement of the Cayman Islands. Dart Cayman was the pilot private sector organization that participated in the launch. The programme, targeted at students in year 11, allows students to experience the workplace environment and day-to-day connections between careers and academic studies. Dart employees acted as mentors to the students for the day.

“The students were exposed to the wide range of career opportunities available within the Dart Group of Companies, and gained an understanding of how their classroom learning transitions to the workplace. We hope this experience has highlighted the importance of doing well in school and transferring that success to the workplace,” said Glenda McTaggart, Learning and Development Manager at Dart.

Jackie Doak, COO at Dart, led a group lunch and discussion. Relating to her personal experience, she emphasized the importance of a good educational foundation for any career. Mark VanDevelde, CEO at Dart, facilitated a Q&A session after sharing his career journey. Students were then paired with a mentor in one of five departments at Dart: Building Operations, Information Technology, Construction, Horticulture, and Customer Service.

Teresa Owen-Foster, Programme Director of Junior Achievement commented, “We are pleased with the outcome of the Job Showing Programme at Dart and feedback from the students has been encouraging. The Job Shadow experience gave them some real, practical insights into their career selection and development. We want to thank Dart for its continued support of Junior Achievement in the Cayman Islands and we look forward to having other companies participate in the Job Shadowing Programme.”

The Cayman Islands Little League Association organized the 2013 T-Ball baseball season, which Dart sponsors. Other sponsors include CEL Distributors, Butterfield Bank, Digicel, Scotiabank, Maples and Yellow Pages. More than half of the 116 children participating this season are first time players. T-ball is important in teaching teamwork and sportsmanship at an early age. The children also learn the rules of the game and how to throw, catch, field the ball, run, and hit. Many volunteer coaches returned this year since the children are full of energy and willing to learn.

Coach Monette Windsor, who is a returning coach and parent, described the last game between Dart and Butterfield: “The crowd enthusiastically cheered for each batter as they stepped to the plate and every fielder who made a play. Although all of the players did fantastic on both teams, it was the four Butterfield girls that dominated the game.  Mia Lansdell hit a monster home run into centre field. The crowd favourite, three-year-old Cosabella Windsor, had two hits down the third base line and enthusiastically ran around the bases. Jolie Brown showed excellent fielding technique and played half an inning at first base. Rio Windsor made a terrific play as catcher, throwing a runner out at first base. All the kids showed great sportsmanship, cheering their teammates on during the game.”

Dart Cayman sponsored the third annual Private Schools Association Interscholastic Football Tournament. The tournament was held on February 28, 2013 at the Cayman International School. The schools participating in the event included Grace Christian Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy, St. Ignatius, Triple C, Hope Academy, Cayman Prep, Cayman International and Cayman Academy.

The first game was held at 9am between the girls’ teams from Wesleyan and St. Ignatius, immediately following the opening ceremonies. The final games began at 5pm between the semifinal winners and runners-up.

In the 2012 tournament, Cayman International won. In the 2011 tournament, Cayman Academy came out on top.

The Dart Group purchased Cayman Distributors Group in 2007 and recently launched the second phase of the renovations to the headquarters on Eastern Avenue in the Grand Caymans.  During this phase, two warehouse buildings will be completely renovated.  The larger building, which is 15,000 square feet, will be used as the overflow warehouse and customers can come to purchase products directly in the front entrance.  Blackbeard’s rum cakes will be baked and spirits will be blended/bottled in the smaller of the two buildings.  Expanding the rum cakes and spirits distribution will allow the company to triple its output.

“We are being choked by the limitations of our current facilities. With the new facility we will be able to meet the customers’ demand, whatever it might be,” said Cayman Distributors Group General Manager Mat Bishop.

DECCO (Dart Enterprises Contracting Co.) is the contractor manager, but will subcontract out to small local firms.  The first phase of the construction included a 30,000 square-foot warehouse and office building, which was completed over two years ago.

The renovations should be completed early next year and will improve the aesthetics as well as extend the functional life spans of the buildings.  The aesthetics include improving the landscaping, parking for staff, and a new garbage area.

Last week, people gathered at the Dart Park’s Peace Pole to celebrate Peace Day. The event was hosted by the Department of Counseling Services’ Family Resource Centre. Community organizations and schools showcased peace through art, dance and music. Organizations, individuals and families submitted photos along with a pledge to promote peace. These photos were included in a slideshow that was shown at the event.

“Fellow citizens and residents, let us all use this day to commit to making peace not just a priority, but a passion,” said Cayman Islands Cabinet Minister Mike Adam. “Let us pledge to do more wherever we are, in whatever way we can, to make this day and every day, a day of peace.”

International Peace Day is held on September 21 each year. The holiday is when people promote peace and put their differences aside, specifically in countries with civil conflicts, war, political upheaval and social strife.

Director of Counselling Services Judith Seymour added, “The impact of this day cannot be underestimated. Together we can decrease the level of violence, raise awareness about alternative ways of dealing with violence and save lives here in Cayman and around the world.”

The Cayman Islands under 19 rugby team went on a 10 day trip, which was given financial support by the Cayman Islands Government, Dart and several other local businesses, to Mexico City to defend their Caribbean championship crown.  On July 7^th, Cayman played Mexico, who they hadn’t competed against since 2009, in the opening match.  The second game was against Barbados.  The final was held on July 14^th.

The under 19 rugby team won last year’s championship in Cayman at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.  In the opening match at last year’s tournament, Cayman defeated Barbados.  In the semi-final Cayman beat out Bermuda and in the final they triumphed against Trinidad & Tobago.

Cayman has won the Caribbean championship title three times in the past four years.  Three of the most experienced players on the team are Tom Mann, Morgan Hayward and Alex Pineau.