Archive for August 12th, 2008
Black coral jewellery stolen
(CNS): A number of items of jewellery were stolen from Richard Black Coral Jewellery Store on South Church Street last week and police are appealing for information. Police were alerted to the break-in at 4:50 am on Thursday, 7 August and found that at some point overnight a forced entry had been made and a number of items of jewellery were taken.
Detectives from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service CID would like to hear from anyone who may have found some black coral jewellery discarded or anyone who has been offered items for sale. Anyone who can assist should contact Detective Constable Angela Scarlett on 916-6592. Residents should be advised that officers will be able to identify and separate the stolen items from any items that are not connected.
Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crimestoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.
Independence of Complaints Commissioner boosted
(CNS): New regulations of the ComplaintsCommissioner Law, which Cabinet have announced will be published Monday, 18 August, bolster the independence of the Office of the Complaints Commissioner (OCC) and allow it to complete its investigations more efficiently.
These new regulations facilitate the efficient use of powers originally granted to the Complaints Commissioner in regards to the appointment and remuneration of mediators and professional or technical advisers to assist with investigations by the OCC, according to a release from Commissioner Dr John Epp in September 2007 when the were tabled.
The regulations give the Commissioner discretion as to the manner in which people making a complaint or assisting him with his inquiries are to be compensated for wages lost from work, and the ability to grant financial allowances for expenses, such as transportation and accommodation, if they are proven by proper receipts or other documentation. The Commissioner also has the discretion to allow payment of an expense up to $50 for which no receipt is provided.
“It is essential that the investigations of the OCC are completed in a timely and just manner,” said Dr. Epp. “The discretion to offer witnesses and advisors fair compensation for their assistance without having to seek Cabinet’s approval will help to speed up the process to obtain accurate information, and therefore allow the OCC to operate more in accordance with our goals and objectives,” he added.
Under the Complaints Commissioner Law, the Governor in Cabinet may make regulations for administration of the Law.
Fourth armed robbery in GT
(CNS): A security guard was robbed by two masked men in the early hours of Sunday morning, the fourth robbery in George Town in less than two weeks. Two days ago a masked man with a machete stole cash from McRuss Grocery Store, Party Lane. On Thursday, 31 July on School Road, a man sitting in his car was robbed at gunpoint, and on Friday, 1 August, two men armed with handguns stole cash from Pet Pro’s on Crewe Road.
In the latest incident, the 911 Emergency Communications Centre received information at approximately 12:15 am that a security guard had been robbed behind Hard Rock Café in George Town. Police responded to the scene and were told that the man had been working alone when he was approached by two masked men, one of which appeared to be carrying a handgun. The victim told police the offenders demanded he hand over anything he had.
The victim, who was not hurt in the incident, gave the men a number of items including a wallet and a bag and the men made off on foot. One of the offenders is described as slim while the other is medium build. Both are described as dark skinned, wearing dark masks and dark clothes and were each around 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall.
“This is the latest robbery which has involved offenders carrying weapons of some sort and we are doing all we can to identify these people and bring them to justice,” commented Chief Inspector Peter Kennett of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is taking a number of measures to solve these cases and prevent more from occurring, including examining forensic evidence, analyzing intelligence and reviewing disruption strategies and deployment of resources.
“We are looking at all cases to see if they could be connected and if there is any pattern or similarity. It’s a little early to say for sure if we are looking for the same men or different men in each case,” commented Kennett. “What we can say is that we need to identify these offenders before someone gets seriously hurt.”
Residents and businesses are also being asked to do all they can to lessen the chances of becoming a victim of robbery. “Businesses should consider reviewing their security measures, such as cash handling procedures, staff training and the use of CCTV and alarms,” advised Kennett. “All residents should be mindful of their surroundings at all times and report any suspicious activity to police immediately.”
Anyone with information about 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.
Crime tackled in West Bay
(CNS): A series of drug raids were carried out over the weekend by officers from the West Bay Police Station, along with assistance from the K9 Department. According to police, on Friday evening, 8 August, a quantity of ganja, thought to be packaged for sale, was found off Watercourse Road, behind Super C restaurant. One person was taken into custody for questioning and one car was seized for examination, while the identity of three people suspected of being involved with the illegal drugs, who ran from police on foot and made good their escape, is being investigated rigorously by the police.
In a separate operation, two unlicensed spear guns were seized from a house in Capt. Joe and Osbert Road off Birch Tree Hill.
Roads were also targeted over the weekend; three traffic operations were carried out in the district at different locations resulting in 15 prosecutions for traffic violations such as speeding, using a vehicle with an expired registration and driving with no insurance.
Chief Inspector Howell commended the West Bay officers and the K9 Department for their hard work in trying to detect and deter criminality within the district. Howell confirmed that these types of operations would continue and encouraged the community to work with the police to address crime by coming forward with information and reporting suspicious behaviour.
“It is important to note that if you call your local police station with information you do not need to identify yourself, even if you are asked to do so,” said Howell. “We are working hard in West Bay to help build positive relationships with the community in an effort to fight crime together in partnership.”
A community meeting will be held this Friday, 15 August, between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm in the vicinity of Kelly’s bar for residents in the Birch Tree Hill and Rev Blackman Road areas. Those attending will have the opportunity to speak with their local officers and Area Commander Howell about policing in West Bay.
Anyone with information about 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.
Push for road safety in Bodden Town
(CNS): A joint police and Vehicle Licensing Department operation resulted in 21 people being prosecuted for various traffic offences and one person being arrested on an outstanding warrant. The operation was conducted Thursday, 7 August 7 on Bodden Town Road in the vicinity of Savannah Meadows by officers from the Bodden Town police station and vehicle license inspectors.
Under the traffic law (2003) vehicle license inspectors are permitted to conduct roadside checks.
“Road safety should be a concern for all Cayman Islands residents,” said Sergeant Sharon Campbell-Dyke from Bodden Town. “Whenever you get behind the wheel, whether it be for work or pleasure purposes you should consider if you are doing so safely. Businesses also have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are good working condition.”
The Streetskill campaign, launched on May 1 2006 by the National Roads Authority (NRA), the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and the Cayman Islands Road Safety Advisory Council (CIRSAC)), is aimed at educating motorists and influencing their behaviour and will continue throughout 2008.
Organisers are looking for feedback on the campaign and welcome ideas and thoughts from the community. Residents are encouraged to contact deborah.denis@gov.ky – 244-3004 or marion.pandohie@gov.ky – 244-5865. Any individual or business interested in supporting the Streetskill campaign should contact either Deborah Denis or Marion Pandohie.
Anyone with information about 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.
One chance to see “One White, One Black”
(CNS): "One White, One Black", a play by Frank Mcfield and produced by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF), opens for one night only on Saturday 16 August at the Harquail Studio Theatre before the cast and crew take the play to Guyana as Cayman’s theatre offering at the 10th Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA).
The play is directed by CNCF Artistic Director Henry Muttoo, and stars Frits McPhearson and Quincy Brown, who play two artists, one a drummer and the other a writer, that have hit rock bottom. They have both failed in their married relationships and must depend upon each other to be the mirror that reflects their past, so that they can understand their current predicament. As they interact, helping each other to explore past relationships, deep feelings are stirred. In the end, a tighter bond of friendship develops as they discover the truth about themselves.
There are only forty seats available for Saturday’s performance, which starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is free but there are only a few seats left. The play is for adults 18 years and older, and no one will be admitted with a child. After the performance, there will be having a "Talk Back" session with the audience to discuss the play.
During the 10-day CARIFESTA in Guyana, there will be three performances: 6:00 pm on 23 August at Berbice High School, and 7:00 pm on 25 and 26 August at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Georgetown.
CARIFESTA, a festival to promote the Arts in the Caribbean Region, was first started in Guyana in 1972, and from its inception the festival sought to inspire Caribbean cultural practitioners to innovate new art forms, while providing an outlet for those that already existed. It will be held this year across Guyana 22 to 31August.
Fraser beats personal best
(CNS): On Sunday 10 August, Shaune Fraser, the first Cayman Islands athlete to take part in the Beijing Olympics, set a new personal best in the 200-metre freestyle, considered his strongest event, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 1:48.60.
However, with a ranking of 26 out of 57 swimmers in this event, it was not enough to get him into the top 16 spots to make the semi-finals, with Dominik Meichtry of Switzerland (1:45.80), Jean Basson of South Africa (1:46.31), Bren Hayden of Canada (1:46.40), Michael Phelps of USA (1:46.48) and Colin Russell of Canada (1:46.58) taking the top five spots.
On Tuesday Michael Phelps won the event and his third gold medal at Beijing, breaking his own world record for 200m freestyle in the process. The American touched in 1 minute, 42.96 seconds, lowering his old mark of 1:43.86 set at last year’s world championships in Australia.
Fraser said of his own performance, "I should have been happy with it but I think I could have gone a little faster. I am just trying to get ready for my other events now like my 100 freestyle. That should be a good one."
"There was a lot of pressure and expectation on him for this event," said Cayman Swimming Coach Dominic Ross. "He wanted to do well and he dropped his time. But now that it is out of the way he can move on to other events."
Shaune is also competing in the 100-metre freestyle heat today, Tuesday, and the 100-metre butterfly (heats on Thursday). His brother Brett Fraser is competing in the 200-metre backstroke (heat on Wednesday).
"Everything is still settling in," said Brett. "The atmosphere is just crazy. The relay today just got me really hyped up. I am really into the Games now and everything is exciting. I am really looking forward to when I have to swim.”