Archive for July, 2011
Caymanian academic is dean of college in US
(CNS): A former student of the Cayman Islands High School, Katrina Carter-Tellison PhD, was recently named Dean of Lynn's College of Liberal Education in Boca Raton, Florida, after serving as chair of the college's core curriculum, The Dialogues of Learning, and also serving as Associate Professor of Sociology. As faculty chair of the core curriculum, her work focused on course development, assessment and faculty development throughout every stage of the implementation process for the new curriculum. As Dean, the highest position at Lynn's College, she is responsible for the administrative supervision of over 50 faculty and staff, and schedules more than 400 courses per academic year. However, she returns to the Cayman Islands frequently.
Dr Carter Tellison attended the Cayman Islands Middle and High School, where she graduated with O-Levels in 1987 and A-Levels in 1989. After graduating, she was awarded the Bankers Association Scholarship and then attended the University of Miami, where she earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology. While finishing her Masters degree in Social Work, she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of Miami for a PhD.
After getting her PhD from the University of Miami, she joined Lynn's College of Arts and Sciences as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in 2004 and was promoted to Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice in 2006. In 2008, she was promoted to be Associate Professor of Sociology as well as Chair of the new core curriculum of Lynn's College. Also during 2008, she was named “Faculty Member of the Year”.
In February 2011, the publication Inside Higher Ed published the article “Ramping Up Rigor”, which portrayed the core curriculum of Lynn's College as a shining example of how college and universities can increase the rigour of their academic offerings and improve the comprehensive education of their students. In 2010, the core curriculum also received praise from the Association of American Colleges and Universities, who described it as “inspirational”.
“Dr Carter-Tellison brings an intimate knowledge of our core curriculum and teaching philosophies to her new role as Dean of the College of Liberal Education,” said Lynn's College President Kevin M. Ross. “As one of the key people responsible for implementing our new core that puts liberal education at its center, I can’t think of a better choice and more capable, deserving person for this role.”
“Dr Carter-Tellison has been instrumental in the implementation of our new core curriculum,” said Academic Affairs Vice President Dr Patterson, “Her colleagues praise her as a thoughtful, dedicated and passionate educator who is deeply devoted to both student learning and excellence in every phase of academic life. I have no doubt the Dr. Carter-Tellison will excel as dean of the College of Liberal Education, and I am delighted to welcome her as the newest member of our academic leadership team.”
“The most important part of leadership is service. I hope to lead with respect, compassion, and equity,” Dr Carter-Tellison said. “As an educator, it has always been my goal to inspire students to have a thirst for knowledge and the world around them. As the Dean of College of Liberal Education I will work hard to be a resource and advocate for faculty and students while continuing my work in the Dialogues of Learning. I will continue the tradition of building and delivering a strong liberal arts education in my new role.”
Dr Carter-Tellison has given over twenty professional presentations at institutions as the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the American Sociological Association and the Haitian Studies Association, as well as publishing several articles and co-editing six books.
With Dr Carter-Tellison now in her new role as Dean, the highest position at Lynn's College, she is responsible for the administrative supervision of over 50 faculty and staff, and schedules more than 400 courses per academic year.
Although Dr Carter-Tellison does not work in the Cayman Islands, she returns home frequently for holidays, including Christmas and summer holidays with her husband and twin boys.
15-year-old Joshua Dilbert is a CNS summer intern
Woman missing from landfill for six months
(CNS): Despite the offer of a $55,000 reward for any details on her whereabouts there is still no sigh of landfill worker Anna Evans who has now been missing for six months. The police have not given any updates on the case for several weeks and the trail appears to have gone cold. The mother of five was 37 when she disappeared on 27 January but passed a birthday in April. The family with the assistance of Don Seymour of local finance firm dms put up the reward in March but there is still no news. Despite extensive searches with specialist canine units police have also found no evidence that Anna was the victim of a crime and have categorised the case as a missing person’s investigation.
“We have followed numerous leads and have put plenty of resources into this enquiry since the inception. Thus far, there has been no line of enquiry that has suggested any crime –that’s why it’s still categorised as a missing person,” Chief Inspector Richard Barrow said several weeks ago about the investigation.
Anna was last seen around noon at her workplace at the George Town dump and has not been heard from since. Although, police launched a full scale search, brought in overseas specialist assistance and the disappearance was covered extensively by the local media no one came forward with information. It was also discovered that three of the landfill’s nine cameras were not working at the time of her disappearance.
Anyone who has any informaiton about Anna's whereabouts of the circumstances of her disappearence is asked to contact 526 0911 or call George Town police station on 949 4222
UK sails ahead in offshore wind power generation
(Guardian): The UK has sailed ahead in offshore wind power generation in the past six months, building more offshore windfarms than any other country in the world, and accounting for almost all of the turbines erected in European waters this year. Of only 108 offshore turbines built around Europe's coastline from January to June, a whopping 101 were built around the UK, with only six built in Germany, and a single one in Norway, according to estimates published on Wednesday by the trade body European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary, told the Guardian the figures showed how fast the UK was moving in renewable power.
"The UK is the undisputed home of offshore wind energy. Our natural resource and competitive advantage mean we have the biggest market in the world. We're blowing away the competition," he said. "It's part of the low-carbon revolution that's under way in the UK, bringing jobs and growth in new industries and building us a future less exposed to volatile global energy prices."
Future of rubbish still messy
(CNS): Despite the release of a request for proposals to manage the country’s rubbish in September 2010, the future of waste management in the Cayman Islands remains unresolved some ten months later. The US firm Wheelabrator was selected after going through the central tendering process as the government’s preferred bidder in December 2010 but Mount Trashmore continues to grow. The decision by the premier to allow Dart to take ownership of the landfill and establish a new waste-management site in Bodden Town has further delayed the government’s attempts to address one of Cayman’s longest running problems. (Photo by Kerry Horek)
It now appears to be settled as part of the Dart deal with government (the FORCayman Alliance) that the developer will take ownership of the dump and eventually cap and remediate the enormous pile of rubbish in exchange for a new waste site in Bodden Town – but when this will happen and how the new site will be managed remains messy.
The current UDP government had, during the election campaign before coming to office in May 2009, promised to address the dump. It had stated, like the previous administration, that it believed the best way of tackling the existing dump and managing future rubbish was through a waste-to-energy solution. It was said that mining the current landfill for combustible material that could be turned into energy was the least expensive and most effective way of both reducing Mount Trashmore and decreasing its future growth.
The dump is the highest point on Grand Cayman and is one of the first things that cruise passengers see from the deck of their liners as well as observant tourists driving on the Harquail Bypass from the airport to their Seven mile Beach accommodation. With the government’s change of plan, however, the dump will remain in its present state until the new facility at Bodden Town is established and a new waste-management and collection system is created to take garbage to the new site. Dart will only be able to begin the complex and long term project to cap and remediate the enormous rubbish pile once the new waste facility is functioning and garbage is diverted there.
The question of who will be operating and managing that new site is still a mystery. Questions to government remain unanswered and Dart has stated on a number of occasions that aside from providing the land and the basic infrastructure for the new waste management site it will not be operating the facility.
UDP West Bay representative, Cline Glidden, recently stated that the new facility would not include a waste-to-energy (WTE) component and would be focused on recycling and composting. As WTE experts that had bid on a project which included the contents of the existing dump, it is unlikely that Wheelabrator will now wish to take the contract which has changed considerably from the original RFP circulated close toa year ago.
It is also understood that DECCO had submitted a proposal during the original RFP last year, which had been rejected by the technical committee because of the proposal to move the dump to the central wetlands in the Bodden Town area.
Government has not yet said what it intends to do about the future management of the new landfill. It could elect to continue operating garbage collection and process through the Department of Environmental health. However, if it chooses to have a private sector entity manage the new landfill it will require a new RFP and central tender selection process.
Recently, the DoEH also announced that it had hired a waste management expert in order to assist with the development of a WTE facility at the GT dump and to work with Wheelabrator once they took over the management. Dr Maysson Sallam has over 15 years’ experience in solid waste management and in the release circulated at the end of June, just after government’s announcement that the new landfill would be moving to Bodden Town, the DoEH director Roydell Carter said Sallam was already assisting the department to get the new waste-to-energy project on stream.
Carter told CNS that the release had been written before government’s announcement, making it clear that the director had not been informed of government’s change of plan. He pointed out, however, that Sallam had waste-to energy experience, which the government could utilize should that option become part of the plan in the future.
Considered for many years as one of Cayman’s major problems to be resolved by most civil society groups and the public at large, the decision to move the landfill has further delayed the country’s waste management solution. The toxins from the ever-growing Mount Trashmore continue to leach into the North Sound and there seems to be no sign of a time line for when the islands’ messy trash issue will be properly addressed.
Gunshots resound in West Bay for second night
(CNS): For the second night in a row police were investigating reports of gunshots being fired in the West Bay area on Tuesday evening. Police confirmed that they received a report on Monday evening but found no evidence that a weapon had been fired or that anyone was hurt. Last night, the uniform support group was spotted in the district in and around the Hell and Watercourse Road area, where sources tell CNS that at least two gunshots were fired around 10:30pm. Police confirmed that they had again received reports of gunshots being fired and were investigating those reports but were unable to say if anyone had been injured or arrested.
Anyone who has any information about crime in their communities should call George Town police station on 949-4222 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477 (TIPS).
Fifa probes Caribbean football officials over bribes
(BBC): Fifa has given Caribbean football officials 48 hours to explain their part in a meeting with ex-presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam. Football's governing body stated that "any person who has information" but does not comply with its corruption investigation will face sanctions. That could include the same life ban given to Bin Hammam on Saturday. He was found guilty of trying to buy votes from Caribbean Football Union members in a bid to be Fifa president. The Qatari said he will appeal against the ruling, which stated there was "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming" proof that bribes had been paid to officials to support Bin Hammam's campaign for the Fifa presidency.
Fifa said in a statement: "Fifa has sent a letter on 25 July to all CFU associations, asking the associations, their presidents, and any of their members with knowledge of anything that transpired during the meetings held on 10 and 11 May in Trinidad and Tobago, to provide and report all relevant information in their possession within 48 hours.
Manslaughter case thrown out by judge
(CNS): The islands' prosecutors had another case fail in the courts Monday, alongside the failure to secure a conviction against the three men accused of killing Alrick Peddie. Justice Charles Quin threw out the crown’s case against Lorenzo Wright for the manslaughter of Jack Forbes last year following a submission by his attorney that there was no case to answer when the crown closed its case last week. Wright’s defence counsel, Mohammed Khamisa QC, argued that as Steve Brown (36) had pleaded guilty to the crime and described how he had lost control when he stomped Forbes repeatedly as he lay on the floor, it was not possible for the crown to argue joint enterprise.
The judge agreed with Khamisa that the crown could not make a case against Wright for the crime of manslaughter and on Monday he called back the seven jury members and directed them that in accordance with the law they were required to find the defendant not guilty as there was no case to answer.
The crown had also charged Wright for the killing of Forbes, despite Brown’s admissions, in what they claimed was a joint intention to do serious harm to Forbes. Wright had thrown the rock which brought Forbes to the ground after Brown was stabbed but thereafter he had played no part in the fight. The crown argued that although Brown had been the one to stomp Forbes’ head repeatedly into the concrete, the men had acted together at the beginning of the fight.
Brown was recently sentenced to seven years for the manslaughter of 49-year-old Jack Forbes, who was killed at the Plaza Odessa in Bodden Town on the evening of Friday 14 October 2010. Forbes was found by emergency services lying a pool of blood and he was pronounced dead at the George Town hospital later that night.
During the sentencing hearing, Brown’s attorney had described how the disagreement had started and how his client had then been stabbed by Forbes during the affray. When Forbes then attempted to run away from Brown, Wright had thrown the rock which hit him on the back of the neck and caused him to fall on the ground.
However, Khamisa pointed out that it was Brown who had confessed to repeatedly inflicting serious injuries on the victim. Brown had described his horror at his own behaviour when he saw the CCTV footage, where he says he lost control. The defence attorney said that under such circumstances Wright, who was not even close to Brown when the fatal injuries were inflicted, could not be guilty of a joint enterprise. It was clear, he argued, that if Brown had no control over his own behaviour Wright had even less control over Brown.
Butterfield maintains profit in second quarter
(CNS): Following a very tough 2010 things appear to be looking up for Butterfield Bank as it announced its results for the second quarter of 2010. Despite the continuing difficult economic conditions the bank reported a profit again on Tuesday in its second quarter net income of $11.8 million, compared to net income of $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2011 and net income of $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2010. Brad Kopp, Butterfield’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said the bank was pleased it had delivered a profit for a second consecutive quarter in what he said was still a challenging environment and noted that the bank was still making more cuts.
“Against a backdrop of economic slowdown in key Butterfield markets and continued low interest rates, the Bank’s profitability and year-on-year increases in net interest income are good indicators that we are doing the right things to maintain customer loyalty and effectively manage our balance sheet,” he added. “We continue the difficult work of reducing our cost base. Our deposits are stable and our loan portfolio continues to perform well, considering the economic situation. At this time, we have seen no significant increases in delinquencies and the residential mortgage book is holding up,” the bank boss said.
Brad Rowse, Chief Financial Officer said that during the second quarter, Butterfield benefitted from the lower risk investing such as select US government agencies.
“Combined with small adjustments to deposit rates during the quarter, addressing prevailing overseas rates and competitive factors locally, our investment strategy delivered an increase in our net interest margin. This drove an increase in net interest income before credit provisions of more than 23% over the same period last year,” Rowse added.
During the second quarter the bank said it had also achieved significant milestones in its programme to deliver new core banking technology and peripheral systems in its two largest jurisdictions. In late April, Cayman Islands operations were migrated to the new operating platform without significant business interruption. The Bank’s Bermuda operations remain on track for a conversion later this year.
It also stated that it had completed the sale of its equity interest in fund administrator Butterfield Fulcrum, contributing $3.2 million of quarterly net income. The completion of the sale will trigger a dividend of $0.42 per share to holders of Butterfield Contingent Value Convertible Preference Shares (“CVCP Shares”), payable on 16 August 2011 to shareholders of record on 26 July 2011.
Therefore, management’s belief is that there will be no further dividends or distributions made on the CVCP shares. In addition, management believes that it is highly unlikely that there will be any change in the conversion price of the CVCP shares. (The current conversion ratio is one CVCP share to one common share.) Holders of CVCP shares are eligible for downward adjustments of the conversion price contingent on the Bank realising certain recoveries on a pool of specified non-performing loans. The
possibility that such recoveries will occur is remote.
The Board declared $4.0 million of dividends on the Bank’s 8% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Voting Preference Shares to be paid on 15 September 2011 to Preference shareholders of record on 1 September 2011. No common dividend was declared.
Shareholders’ equity increased during the first six months of fiscal 2011 by $32 million to $841 million. The ratio of total capital to risk weighted assets (also known as the “total capital ratio”) was 22.8% at Q2 2011 compared to 21.6% at year-end 2010. The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 6.2% reflecting the strength of the Bank’s balance sheet.
See full quarter report below
Wolverines hunt sharks while monsters chomp pythons
(GCFFA):Week three of the Dart Women’s League, organized by the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association, saw many rookie players making all the big, game-changing plays. In the first game of the morning, the top seeded Domino’s Pizza Wolverines took on second seed Hammerheads Lady Sharks in what proved to be a tough defensive battle, full of sacks and interceptions. The game started out slow, running scoreless well into the second half, with each team barely moving 20 yards in either direction.It only took one pass by the Wolverines, and one mistake by Hammerheads, for the Wolverines to hang onto their top ranked spot in the league, defeating the Lady Sharks 6-0.
Anyone in attendance could confirm there was no shortage of controversial calls, a number of which were very much game changing. Penalties against the Lady Sharks in the second half seemed to wake the Wolverines up; giving them the motivation they needed to drive down the field.
On offense, the Lady Sharks were simply not connecting and not holding onto the ball. Quarterbacks Bobeth O’Garro and Ellen Downey took turns at the helm. O’Garro threw eight for seventeen, with two interceptions, while Downey completed three of her four pass attempts.
Rookie Serena Yates saw the most action on offense, with four receptions, followed by Scimone Campbell and Lilia Conolly with two receptions each. Unfortunately for the Sharks, penalties and pressure from the Wolverines’ defense combined was enough to keep them out of the end zone.
When it came to defense, the Lady Sharks’ rushing duo of Kathy Miller and Serena Yates kept pressure on opposing quarterback, Antoinette Lewis, all game. The blitzers were relentless, coming out with six sacks in total, four courtesy of Yates and two by Miller.
Courtisha Ebanks also played a major roll for the Sharks’ defense, with three tackles and one interception, while Downey and Campbell also contributed with three tackles each. Although Lady Sharks played a tight defense, the game-costing mistake came when corner Bobeth O’Garro was caughtflat footed, allowing Benecia Thompson to run past her and catch a long ball by Wolverines’ quarterback for the lone touchdown.
For the Wolverines, quarterback Antoinnette Lewis completed twelve of her nineteen pass attempts, with one interception. She spread the ball amongst her players well by linking up with Alexandra Terry five times, Christsania McLean and Jahzenia Thomas three times each, and Benicia Thompson twice, which included the lone touchdown of the game.
Christsania McLean also played a key role in the Wolverines’ defense, with five tackles. She was well assisted by teammates Shinette Rhoden, with two tackles and an interception, and Alexandria Saintvil, with four tackles. Saneata Smith also pitched in with two tackles and Dionne Whittaker got the second interception.
In the second game of the day, the Lone Star Jager Monsters celebrated their first win of the season against Pythons, with a final score of 6-0.
After assessing the team’s strengths and weaknesses, head coach for Monsters, Darrel Porter, made a big change to the offensive line-up. Quarterback Michelle McTaggart returned to a receiver position, and Christina Hefner took over the quarterback role. Christine Bisnauth moved from running back to a wide-receiver, giving more options down the field.
The changes proved strategic as Hefner completed nine out of eighteen pass attempts, throwing one ball for an interception. Her favorite receiver was Michelle McTaggart who had six receptions. Christine Bisnauth and Erica Bosch-Bone were Hefner’s other options, with two receptions each. Erica Bosch-Bone also came through with a touchdown to Michelle McTaggart, after catching a pitch from quarterback Hefner.
It was definitely a team effort when it came to the Monsters’ defensive line-up. Bisnauth led the defense with four tackles, followed by Christina Ravdas, Marline Williams, Melanie Lewis and Erica Bosch-Bone with two tackles each. Bosch-Bone also came up with two big interceptions.
Although having lost for a second week in a row, the Pythons are noticeably improving their game. Quarterback Tamika Byrd was able to connect with her receivers this week, with seven out of eighteen passes completed, and two interceptions thrown.
Rookie player Jessica Maxwell had four receptions, followed by Carrie Barnett with two. Some collisions and problematic route crossing seemed to be the problem with the Pythons offense; however, Byrd is beginning to see the whole field and is now throwing her passes to receivers as opposed to grounding the ball when under pressure.
On defense for the Pythons, Cynthia Powell saw lots of action with four tackles, followed by Carrie Barnett with three and Karina Chiari with two. Rusher Sheyla Torres, who was instrumental last week for the Pythons’ defense, came through with a sack on the Monsters’ quarterback. Utilizing her height, Jessica Ebanks came away with the only interception for the Pythons.
This Saturday’s game action sees the Androgroup Killa-Panthers against the Lone Star Jager Monsters in the first series, with Hammerheads Lady Sharks taking on the Pythons next. The undefeated Wolverines have a bye this Saturday. Games begin at 10am at the Camana Bay Field, with snacks and refreshments available for purchase.
Cops get new trucks and go-faster cars
(CNS): While times may be tough for some government departments not so at the RCIPS which has got twenty-four new vehicles for its fleet bought by the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs. The police have purchased eleven police vehicle enforcement package Dodge Chargers, ten 4×4 Suzuki Grand Vitaras and three 4×4 Ford diesel pick-ups which will hit the roads over the next few weeks which have been designed to meet police needs. The Dodge Chargers are already on Grand Cayman and are in the process of being marked-up ready for operation in the next few days, the police said in a release Tuesday.
“This will be the first time that we will have specifically designed police Dodge Chargers and Ford Crew Cab diesel pick-ups in our fleet,” said Peter Davis, the RCIPS Business Manager. The new vehicles replace the aging, high mileage and uneconomical cars currently in use, the RCIPS stated.
“Many of the vehicles which are due to be replaced were already second hand when they were originally purchased by the RCIPS. They have spent long periods of time off the road because of their age and the need for constant maintenance and repair,” the police said.
The RCIPS also stated that it has gradually been reducing its fleet numbers through 2010/11 to reduce fleet running costs. The purchase of the new vehicles, the service stated, is expected to greatly reduce maintenance and other related costs over the next five years.
The police package Dodge Charger has been tested in other jurisdictions and was said by police to have a great track record within the law enforcement environment and particularly throughout America and Mexico. Its high safety rating, upgraded suspension, heavy duty brakes and engine cooling system will allow officers to carry out their roles safely and securely.
The 4×4 Vitara has a proven track record in the Cayman Islands and has tested well in neighbouring Jamaica Police for some years – it deals well with times of adverse weather and flooding. The 4×4 Ford crew pick-ups will be used for hauling the Marine fleet and on the unique terrain of the Sister islands. The use of crew pick up is widely recognised in the Caribbean policing environment.
“The cars were all chosen specifically for the economy and the effectiveness they will provide,” continued Davis.” They all have something very different to offer and will be able to deal with a vast range of circumstances from routine road patrol to difficult weather and terrain. The key words for us when we were looking to purchase new vehicles were safety, durability, value for money and economy – these cars get top marks in all four categories.”
Chief Superintendent John Jones said he welcomed the addition of the cars and was sure they will further enhance the service provided to the Cayman Islands communities by the RCIPs.