Archive for August, 2008
UK firms face migrant work fees
(BBC): Businesses who use skilled workers from outside of the EU will need to pay between £300 and £1,000 from later this year, under new immigration rules. The Home Office’s Border Agency is launching a TV ad campaign alerting employers to immigration changes. The charges are part of a continuing and major overhaul of the UK’s economic migration system.
Fresh air and fun for inner city kids
(CNS): Kids from some of New York City’s most disadvantaged communities, who have excelled in school, were given an opportunity to seelife differently from what they are used to with a trip of a lifetime to Cayman. Nine inner-city children and their chaperones stayed with five host families here for one week as the Department of Tourism and Cayman Airways teamed up with the Fresh Air Fund.
Between 28 July and 3 August the kids experienced true Caymanian hospitality, encounters with Cayman’s wildlife anda little dose of local history and culture. The first trip was to the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, allowing for a morning of flora and fauna. A mock archaeological dig was arranged through the Mission House and Pedro St. James, where they delved into Cayman’s rich history through a tour of the “castle”. Additional activities included a visit to Stingray City and Rum Point, a trip on the glass-bottom Oculus with the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, a cultural dinner and cooking demo with Cayman Traditional Arts, a visit to Boatswain’s Beach, and of course enjoying our beaches and snorkelling in our pristine waters.
The kids also took to the air in a Cayman Airway’s twin otter headed for Little Cayman where they toured the small island and feed the green iguanas at Mahogany Estates as well as visiting the Central Caribbean Marine Institute and the Booby Pond.
“Joining forces with the Fresh Air Fund is an amazing partnership that not only acts as a means of community outreach but also acts as a tool to market our islands to the city of New York, and ultimately, the United States,” said Department of Tourism’s Acting Director, Shomari Scott. “The Fresh Air Fund chose these kids because of their outstanding achievements in school and we are happy to welcome them to our home as a result of their hard work. Leaving a lasting impression on them is the best marketing tool we could ask for and we look forward to hosting them again in subsequent years.”
Last year, Fresh Air Fund brought eleven children between the ages of 14 and 16. The first of an annual trip to take place, it was received very well by the local community and two host families from last year were chosen again to host kids this year.
Again this year, many industry partners joined forces with the Department of Tourism to provide complimentary services or gifts for the kids, including movie tickets, beach bags, t-shirts, ice cream and island activities. This year’s sponsors included Red Sail Sports; Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort; Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa; Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; Dairy Queen; Boatswain’s Beach; Camana Bay; National Trust, Grand Cayman; National Trust, Little Cayman; Little Cayman Beach Resort; Pedro St. James; and Say Wha’ Designs.
Clifford hits back in tender dispute
(CNS): In the wake of denials yesterday, 14 August, by Caribbean Marine Services (CMS) that they had ever been consulted over the new port development, Charles Clifford, Minister for Tourism and Environment, hit out last night with a direct attack on the CEO of the parent company of CMS, Atlee Bodden. Clifford said he was disappointed that Bodden would deny having had a discussion on the proposed introduction of berthing facilities.
In a brief statement the Minister said he had discussed the idea with Bodden at the FCCA conference in St Kitts in 2005 and had reiterated the government’s intentions to establish berthing facilities during the FCCA conference hosted by the Cayman Islands in 2006 and on many occasions in the media since then, and trusted Bodden would not deny that.
He said he was willing to work with him and those currently involved in tendering but that there would be hundreds of jobs and small businesses which stood to loose their livelihoods if the cruise sector was allowed to stagnate.
"Clearly the welfare of many must take precedent. Change will also present new opportunities. I took the step of highlighting how this cruise tendering business, which will be most directly impacted by the introduction of berthing facilities, might work with the industry to prepare for and benefit from the necessary infrastructure enhancements,” the Minister said. “Whether Mr. Bodden wants to acknowledge this spirit of cooperation some three years ago, I trust he will do so now. The offer remains.”
In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday evening, 13 August, from Caribbean Marine Services, the firm responsible for the tendering of cruise ship passengers from ship to shore said that despite the Minister’s claims, “At no time did any meeting take place between the Directors of Caribbean Marine Services and the Honourable Minister, in relation to the berthing facilities or tendering services in the Cayman Islands, during the FCCA conference in St Kitts, 2005.”
The statement said that CMS had requested a meeting, in writing, with government in July 2007 but that CMS had not as yet received a response. CMS said that Clifford’s statements had led stakeholders to belief that Caribbean Marine Services has been involved and briefed on, the development of the Port.
“This is not the case,” the firm said. “Caribbean Marine Services has had no meetings with, or received any information from, the Government regarding the development of the Port, but obviously we would be extremely pleased to be included in any future discussion of the proposed pier projects.”
The government officially announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Atlantic Star Limited (ASL) to formalise negotiations for the development and management of the Island’s cargo and cruise port, on 31 July. At the presentation Clifford indicated that the tender pilots had been involved in discussions and suggestions had been made to them about how they could diversify the business including the idea of them becoming water taxis.
Mobile polling to become a reality
(CNS): First raised during the debate of 2004 in the Legislative Assembly , mobile polling stations will now be available to eligible voters with the passing of the Elections (Amendment) Law, 2008. Mobile stations will assist electors who are unable to go in person to a polling station. This will make the election process easier for the elderly and infirm those who are housebound or in hospital that still want to vote and reduce the number of postal ballots.
“That elector is entitled to have his vote taken at a mobile station if, in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed time, he applies to be treated as an absent elector voting at a mobile station and if his application is allowed by the registering officer,” one of the amendments reads.
Mobile voting will also make the process easier for those counting the votes because it will decrease the number of people who are eligible to cast postal ballots, which are often viewed with suspicion and are an additional burden for those involved in the count. The various processes for casting a postal ballot are very time consuming, and the implementation of mobile polling stations would cut down on man hours of election officials. "It would definitely make my job easier," Kearney Gomez, the supervisor of elections said when the idea was first discussed back in 2004.
Postal voting will not be eliminated, however, and among the other changes to the new law is the provision for eligible people to be registered as absent electors, allowing them to cast postal votes. Passed in the Legislative Assembly on 30 June and assented to by Governor, Stuart Jack, on 5 August, the Elections (Amendment) Law, 2008, will be published on 18 August as supplement no.3 to the Cayman Islands Gazette, no. 17.
When the Draft Bill for amendments to the Election Law were debated in the LA, the then opposition People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) had objected to the lack of provisions for mobile polling stations which had been in the original proposals. “Postal ballots have proven a source of suspicion in the past, particularly in the district of West Bay,” said Alden McLaughlin, now Education Minister. “The Government has given no credible reason why mobile polling stations, which would reduce the number of postal ballots, would not be a useful addition to the Elections Law.”
Although it has been in use in Australia and Canada for many years, it is still far from common. The US Government Accountability Office is currently studying polling accessibility. Some US senators have begun to support and promote the idea and a number of local elections are utilising mobile pollers in some US states.
Venomous lionfish prowls fragile Caribbean waters
(AP): A maroon-striped marauder with venomous spikes is rapidly multiplying in the Caribbean’s warm waters, swallowing native species, stinging divers and generally wreaking havoc on an ecologically delicate region. The red lionfish is a tropical native of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Got to article (Photo: Lion Fish at Baracuda Bite, Little Cayman, by Jason Belport)
Fraser looks forward to 2012
(CNS): Shaune Fraser broke the Cayman national record, which he had only recently set himself, in his third and final event of the Beijing Olympics today (Thursday), finishing his 100-metre Butterfly heat in 54.08 seconds. His overall ranking was 51 of 65 swimmers.
Taking the top five spots in the event was Milorad Cavic of Serbia who set a new Olympic record at 50.76, followed by Michael Phelps of US, Andril Serdinov of Ukraine, Jason Dunford of Kenya and Peter Mankoc of Slovenia. The final for this event is on Saturday.
"I thought it was a good swim," Cayman swimming coach Dominic Ross told Cayman Islands Olympic Committee Journalist Shurna Robbins. "He maybe missed the finish a little bit, his time could have been a little better. But this is an event that he is just getting started with, so certainly there’s a lot more in the tank in that event and I’m looking forward to the future."
Fraser said he was relieved that his swims were over, but he was already looking ahead. “I know my future is bright and I’m just beginning in this sport. So I’ll just keep on improving and take it year by year and see where that takes me by the next Olympics.” He added, "Next time around things will be a lot different…I’ll be much more experienced. I’ll be older, stronger and have a better training background behind me."
"I love to race," he said. "I always want to win and always swim my hardest."
The attention now turns to athlietics for the Cayman team, with Ronald Forbes competing in round 1 of the Men’s 110m Hurdles on Monday 18 August, and Cydonie Mothersill competes in round 1 of the Women’s 200m on Tuesday 19 August.
(Photos Shurna Robbins)
Thieves target businesses
(CNS): Police are investigating a string of attempted burglaries in George Town last night (Wednesday 13 August into Thursday 14 August), in which seven commercial properties in George Town were targeted.
Police were alerted to the situation at 4.50 am by a Security Centre employee who had responded to an alarm sounding at Massive Equipment Rentals, Industrial Way, George Town. Police who attended the scene found a further five properties damaged. A second call was received from a Cayman Free Press employee at 5.25 am reporting the seventh break-in.
At this time Scenes of Crime Officers are processing each scene and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department are recording statements from business owners. At this point it appears that only five of the properties were actually entered. While the other two were damaged, access does not appear to have been gained. At this time it is not known what, if anything, has been taken from each business.
“Clearly this is not a target against one business but more of a random attack on several,” said Chief Inspector Peter Kennett. “It is possible that the culprit or culprits were under the impression that security alarms would not go off due to the earlier power cut. However, almost all security systems have a back up system for power outage situations.”
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is appealing for anyone with information about the break-ins to come forward. “Although we cannot be sure of when the first break-in occurred, thanks to the security equipment fitted at Massive, we know that a window was smashed at 4.30am.
Anyone who was passing around this time who saw anyone in the area, perhaps loitering or acting suspiciously, should contact Detective Constable Charmane Dalhouse at George Town police station on 949-4222.”
Minister called out on claims
(CNS): Caribbean Marine Services (CMS) released a statement yesterday that appeared to refute statements made by Tourism MinisterCharles Clifford at a press conference on 31 July to announce plans for a full redevelopment of Cayman’s port facilities.
At issue is the Minister’s claim that when he first started talking about the development of berthing facilities at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference in St Kitts in 2005, he began discussions with the owners of the tendering facilities about the intended establishment of berthing facilities and the need for them to prepare for that.
The CMS statement aimed to “set the record straight regarding recent statements in the media by the Honorable in relation to the development of the Port and the future of the cruise ship tender service.”
The tender company said that at no time did any meeting take place between the Directors of Caribbean Marine Services and the Honorable Minister in relation to the berthing facilities or tendering services in the Cayman Islands during that conference.
However, CMS Directors did meet Clifford approximately three years ago in the Legislative Assembly building in Grand Cayman to discuss the proposed berthing facilities, said the release. “In attendance was Mr Ken Thompson, Mr Gerry Kirkconnell and to the best of the Director’s knowledge, tendering was not discussed.”
CMS also stated that on 13 July 2007, a recorded delivery letter from Caribbean Marine Services was signed for and received by the Offices of the Minister for Tourism asking for a meeting between the government and CMS, in order to help develop their future business model. “To date we have had no response,” the release said.
It continued, “As a result of the Honorable Minister for Tourism’s statements, certain stakeholders in the development of the Port, including numerous cruise lines, have been left with the mistaken belief that Caribbean Marine Services has been involved in, and fully briefed on, the development of the Port. This is not the case. Caribbean Marine Services has had no meetings with, or received any information from, the Government regarding the development of the Port, but obviously we would be extremely pleased to be included in any future discussion of the proposed pier projects.”
At the July press briefing, Clifford announced that the Cayman Islands Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Atlantic Star Limited (ASL) to formalise ongoing negotiations for the development and management of the Island’s cruise tourism and cargo handling facilities.
The plans are to separate the two elements of the port with cargo going towards the north and the new cruise berthing facilities expanding into the current port area. Clifford said the use of tendering facilities would diminish once cruise berthing facilities are established but there would be other opportunities for the tender boat companies.
“There will be a need in the foreseeable future for tendering to continue, albeit at a reduced level,” the minister said. Because there would be less need for tenders, the government had also offered advice to the tender operators on how they can restructure theirbusinesses.
“An example is using those tenders as water taxis to take tourists to other locations around the island. It was done in other locations and it certainly can be done here in Cayman,” he said. “And my gut tells me that is a much more lucrative business than what they currently get per head for tendering passengers ashore.”
Cayman to take part in Carifesta X
(CNS): A Cayman contingent of 19 performers and support personnel is heading to Guyana for Carifesta X, which will showcase a play written by Frank McField and traditional Cayman music played by the Swanky Kitchen Band. Cayman’s participation in Carifesta is organised by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) with Henry Muttoo the group’s Artistic Director and CNCF Chairman Martin Bould heading the delegation.
CARIFESTA (Caribbean Festival of Arts), which started in 1970 is the region’s roving, multidisciplinary, mega arts festival featuring a wide range of creative artists from various Caribbean and Latin American Countries. This year it is being hosted by Guyana and runs August 22 through August 31.
According to a CNCF release, the Cayman troupe offers theatre, music, storytelling and visual arts. The National Gallery is supporting the visual arts section of Cayman’s Carifesta show and is represented by its Deputy Director Natalie Coleman.
Cayman’s theatrical contribution to Carifesta is a production of the Frank McField play, “One White One Black”. The play stars Quincy Brown and Fritz McPherson who portray two down and out men searching to make sense of their situation through psycho-drama and role playing, including taking on the roles of each other’s wives. The play is scheduled for two performances in Guyana.
Swanky Kitchen Band, which was a big hit at Carifesta IX in 2006, will take Cayman style kitchen dance music and their traditional style renditions of contemporary music to Carifesta audiences. Led by violinist Samuel Rose, the band is comprised of guitarist NicholasJohnson and percussionists Daniel Rose, Phillip Rose, Paula Scott and Stan Ebanks.
The visual arts are well represented in Cayman’s Carifesta mission, and some 23 paintings from 14 local artists are being exhibited in Guyana, including paintings from Al Ebanks, Avril Ward, Gordon Solomon, Bendel Hydes, Charles Long, David Bridgeman, Gladwyn K. Bush, Joanne Sibley, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette , Randy Chollette, Wray Banker, Teresa Grimes, Luelan Bodden and Maureen Lazarus.
Twenty-one photographs from 11 photographers are being exhibited to represent Cayman in Guyana. The Cayman pieces are the work of Art Pasqual, Aston Ebanks, Courtney Platt, David Wolfe, Jennifer Newton, Nimer Alverado, Patrick Broderick, Rabeeah Dilbert, Sean Evans, Sheree Ebanks and Yvette McField.
During Carifesta each country will have the opportunity to host a night of entertainment. Performing at the Cayman Night are Dave Martins with his mix of comedy and song, Swanky Kitchen Band, Virginia Foster telling stories, and Aaron Kimball on tassa drums.
Cayman also has a Country Booth exhibit at the Carifesta Grand Cultural Market and Trade Fair, which displays a mix of tourism and history. Department of Tourism (DoT) photos highlight scenes from around the three islands, and the Cayman Islands National Archive photos depict Cayman’s past and heritage. The DoT is also providing Cayman Islands souvenir items to give away at the booth.
The Carifesta tour is funded by the Ministry of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports, & Culture.
Cayman Olympic pins worth gold
(Canadian Press): There’s a cardinal rule when it comes to the art of pin trading at the Olympic Games – if it catches your eye, pursue it at all costs. On a muggy day just outside the Olympic Green, Canadian Ron Finnigan has set his sights on one special pin, the equivalent of a gold medal in the world of pin exchange, a Cayman Islands Olympic team pin. Go to article