Archive for July 5th, 2009

Cops investigate teenage rape

Cops investigate teenage rape

| 05/07/2009 | 26 Comments

(CNS): Police said today (Sunday 5 July) that they have begun an investigation into a reported rape which took place during the early morning hours of Saturday, 4 July at a house in the Red Bay area. The mother of the 16 year old victim contacted the police at about 5:50 am shortly after her daughter came home and related the attack to her in which a weapon was believed to have been used.

Although police have offered few details on the reported attack, CNS understands that the victim may have been forced to the location where the rape took place.

Police did say that officers have been working with the victim and her family and counseling has been offered. “This young lady has gone through a terrible experience and we are following up all leads to ensure that the perpetrator is brought to justice,” said Detective Sergeant Winsome Prendergast.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Prendergast on 516-5241.

Anyone with information about any crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000 should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.

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Bank backs Lions work

Bank backs Lions work

| 05/07/2009 | 0 Comments

(CNS): Local bank FirstCaribbean has donated an undisclosed sum to the Lions Club to help in their campaign to promote quality eye care and fund eye checks for local students. White Canes Week is an annual educational and fundraising campaign conducted by the Lions Club in order to promote quality eye care and the early treatment of serious eye disease.  Deborah Ebanks Lions Club VP said every year the programme provides test to around 4500 children.

Through the Lion’s Eye Clinic young students at Cayman public schools, many of whom may not receive regular vision checkups, have eye examinations performed and receive proper care for any issues that may be discovered.

Paul Stoll, Manager of Operations at FirstCaribbean explained why the bank was supporting the programme. “FirstCaribbean International Bank which has a long history of involvement with Lions Club and the Lions Eye Clinic and serving the needs of children in our communities is extremely important to us at FirstCaribbean,” he said. “The opportunity to help save the sight of a young person by funding medical screening and treatment really means a great deal to everyone involved with the bank.  FirstCaribbean is very proud to be working with Lions Club on this important cause.”

 Ebanks, 1st Vice President of the Lions Club applauded FirstCaribbean for its long-time support of community causes such as Lions Eye Clinic.  “All kindergarten students and year 6 in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, which equates to approximately 4,500 school aged children each year, are tested for various eye diseases through this program, and receive the treatments necessary to correct any vision problems that are encountered, “ Ebanks said.

“We have had some tremendous success stories over the years.  It is hard to describe the emotions you go through when you first realize that a young child might lose their sight and then are able to provide the treatment necessary to save that child’s sight.  It is through the support of both individuals and corporate partnerships with firms like FirstCaribbean that Lions Club will achieve our goal of eliminating preventable and reversible blindness.”

For some 84 years the Lions Club have been the  “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” and today Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the visually impaired.

 

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H1N1 tally grows in Cayman

H1N1 tally grows in Cayman

| 05/07/2009 | 0 Comments

(CNS): Although the Cayman Islands’ now has some 22 documented cases of H1N1 flu (swine flu) following confirmation of eight more cases by CAREC this past week, health officials say that all local cases have been mild to moderate. While patients are contracting the virus over seas the flu is also being transmitted locally. Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Anna Matthews said that although three of the latest confirmed cases had a travel history to an H1N1 infected community, the latest figures confirm that Cayman has sustained local transmission.

“We should expect to see the numbers continue to climb,” she said. “However, all the cases so far have been mild to moderate and our strategy and message remain the same. We will continue to keep track of the H1N1 prevalence, and we ask people who are sick to stay at home and minimize contact with other people as far as possible.”

Public Health’s robust surveillance and testing programme has also identified the presence of other seasonal flu strains, including Influenza B and C strains. “Our proximity to the US and the fact that most of our residents are frequent travelers makes the presence of H1N1 in our country inevitable. We continue to monitor the H1N1 flu pandemic closely and will adjust our health response to fit any changes in the nature of this flu virus,” Dr. Matthews added.

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Jamaica 3rd on ‘happy’ list

Jamaica 3rd on ‘happy’ list

| 05/07/2009 | 2 Comments

(CNN) — Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to an independent research group in Britain with the goal of building a new economy, "centered on people and the environment," with Jamaica scoring 3rd. The report ranks nations using the "Happy Planet Index," which seeks countries with the most content people. In addition to happiness, the index by the New Economics Foundation considers the ecological footprint and life expectancy of countries. The runner-up was the Dominican Republic, but Britain 74th and the US an unhappy 114th.

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Man shot dead in GT

Man shot dead in GT

| 05/07/2009 | 28 Comments

(CNS): A 28 year old man is dead following a shooting in George Town during the early hours of Sunday morning (5 July) and a murder investigation has been launched. Police said that the victim was shot in the leg and was pronounced dead at the Cayman Islands hospital, but they are currently trying to establish a timeline of events and exactly when the shooting in McField Lane took place. A call was made to the 911 Emergency Communications Centre by a woman at about 1:00 am reporting that a man had been shot in the leg and was bleeding profusely.

Police have refused to give details of time of the arrival of the ambulance at the scene and it is unclear whether the man had been shot in the leg some time before the 911 call was made or, because of the timeline of the ambulance’s arrival, that he bled out and died from his wound.

According to police, when the medics responded and arrived on the scene they found the victim in a serious condition and he was taken to George Town hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. A family liaison officer has been assigned to the relatives of the victim and a post mortem is scheduled to take place at a later date.

A major incident room has been set up at George Town Police Station with what was described as a team of experienced investigators working on the case led by Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Kim Evans and strategically overseen by Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Marlon Bodden.

Crime Scene Investigators are investigating the scene whilst other officers are speaking to various persons in an effort to establish precisely when the shooting occurred, which differs from the reported time. However, despite enquiries by CNS, the police have refused to give a timeline between the 911 call and the arrival of the ambulance.

“We are making enquiries into what happened and all priority lines of enquiry will be thoroughly examined,” DI Evans said. “The team of investigators are working hard on this case and we encourage anyone with information who has not yet contacted the police, to come forward as soon as possible.,”

Anyone with information can contact the murder team directly on the following numbers:

Detective Inspector Kim Evans – 526 0628

Detective Sergeant Collins Oremule – 516 8746

Detective Constable – Chase Wade – 526 8911

People  can also contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000 should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.

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