Archive for August 9th, 2010
Top cop to meet the people
(CNS): Well over one year after taking up his post as police commissioner, David Baines is hitting the road for his first series of open community meetings across all three Cayman Islands. Joining forces with the community affairs minister, Mike Adam, Baines will be coming face to face with the public in their own districts. Urging people to come out and have their say on crime and community safety, the RCIPS said the first meeting will take place Monday evening in George Town, with the roadshow ending on 31 August in Cayman Brac, the only place he has so far held a district meeting back in July 2009. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
Jamaican police weed out bad apples
(Jamaica Gleaner): One hundred and forty-nine rogue cops have been removed from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the first seven months of this year, an indication that the police anti-corruption arm has stepped up efforts to weed out bad apples. Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice (left), who is in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch, said this was an increase over the number recorded for the corresponding period last year. A breakdown of police statistics released yesterday shows that 105 cops were barred from re-enlisting at the end of their old contracts, 26 were retired in the public interest, while 18 were dismissed for corruption-related matters.
Smoking parents are child abusers says GP
(The Sun) The UK’s most senior doctor has attacked the nation’s reckless attitude to smoking, boozing and overeating. Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said it leads to early deaths for parents and their children. He warned adults that they even risk outliving their own kids if they continue to neglect both generations’ health. The leading doctor said adults smoking in cars carrying youngsters are guilty of a form of "child abuse". Professor Field, who represents 42,000 British GPs, added: "I suppose the same people also smoke at home in front of their children. Evidence from the US indicates that more young children are killed by parental smoking than by all other unintentional injuries combined."
Global hunt underway for lost frogs
(Daily Mirror): A worldwide hunt has begun for 100 species of "lost" amphibians after populations have suffered a startling decline due to climate change. Many, such as the golden toad, Jackson’s climbing salamander and the Hula painted frog, have not been since in decades. The Turkestanian salamander was last seen in 1909. More than 30% of all amphibians are threatened with extinction. Scientists said they play a vital role in freshwater systems and, if some have hung on, it could provide vital information for their survival. Conservation International, which is leading the hunt in five continents, said: "Amphibians are sensitive to environment so are often an indicator of damage to ecosystems."
Banks make plans to reduce risky ventures
(Reuters): Speculation continues to grow as to which Wall Street bank will be looking to get out of proprietary trading or the private equity business in order to comply with new financial regulatory reform legislation. But despite recent moves by Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs on that front, most banks will be able to pare back investments in risky ventures without making dramatic changes to their structure. The new Volcker rule, named for former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, restricts banks from proprietary trading and sets new limits on the size of private equityor hedge fund investments. Banks have several years to reduce their holdings — meaning that even institutions with significant private equity holdings are likely to be able to keep units.
Court throws out appeal on past firearms case
(CNS): Maricelle Manahan, who was convicted of a firearms offence in August 2007, had his request to appeal his conviction denied by the court on Friday. Justice Cooke queried why Manahan was coming before the court so long after his conviction and after already having had an appeal heard against his sentence. Manahan said that since the sentence appeal another lawyer had performed some pro-bono work for him and said he had grounds for appeal as he had not had a fair trial. Manahan suggested that his first attorney had misled him when he advised him to seek an appeal against his sentence only and now he wanted to appeal the whole conviction.