Archive for September, 2008
Driver in custody after clocking 100mph
(CNS): Police said yesterday that a 25-year-old man had been arrested over various traffic offences and an outstanding warrant when he was finally tracked down after one police officer witnessed the vehicle he was driving reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. The man, who is currently in custody, was eventually located in Savannah at around 12:10 on Sunday morning.
At around 11:20 pm on Saturday night (13 September) an officer saw a vehicle travelling at about 105 miles per hour on Bodden Town Road, in the vicinity of Midland Acres. Officers were then informed that a crash had occurred at Chester’s restaurant in Pease Bay, causing damage to the porch of the building. Police continued to search for the vehicle and the driver, and both were located at around 12:10 am at an address in Seaside Way, Savannah Acres.
Police said that the man was arrested on suspicion of various dangerous driving offences, leaving the scene of an accident and on an outstanding warrant. “This is a reminder of how dangerous it is to exceed the prescribed speed limit,” said Acting Commissioner of Police, David George. “This man was very lucky. The crash could have been much worse.”
Over the weekend some 23 other traffic offenders were netted during an operation by George Town police and the Traffic Management Unit. The team carried out a road check on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway on Saturday which resulted in various offences being detected including: driving without a certificate of roadworthiness, driving while disqualified and driving without a licence. Several other drivers were issued warnings for minor breaches.
“Through enforcement operations such as this, and the use of Streetskill for educational measures, we will continue to promote safe driving practices,” George added.
Miss Lassie Art Exhibition & Fundraiser
(CNS): An exhibition of selected works by Cayman’s renowned visionary artist Gladwyn K. Bush, better known as Miss Lassie, opens at the Harquail Theatre on 17 September with a private preview and fundraiser for the “Save Miss Lassie’s House” campaign. The exhibition opens to the public on 18 September and continues through 25 September.
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The exhibition and campaign is spearheaded by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) in association with the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands National Museum and the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, according to a CNCF release.
Those attending the preview will have the opportunity to kick-off the campaign to restore the house, located at the junction of South Sound and Walkers Roads. They will beable to bid on art pieces by local artists during an opening night auction at the exhibition, and Derek Haines has volunteered his auctioneer talents for the evening. The general public will also be able to make donations to the campaign when they visit the exhibition.
The CNCF holds a collection of Miss Lassie’s original art which is not exhibited on a regular basis. This is an excellent opportunity to see examples of the work that brought Miss Lassie international recognition as a visionary artist. Her work is in private collections in England, the United States, Jamaica, South Africa, Germany and the Cayman Islands.
Miss Lassie started painting at the age of 62, after what she described as a visionary experience. Strong Christian themes run through her work, which she painted not only on canvas, but also on the walls, windows and furnishings of her home. The paintings on her house remain to this day and is one reason why there is an urgency to preserve the house as a national cultural treasure.
The Government of the Cayman Islands purchased the property and it is now up to CNCF to raise funding for the restoration and maintenance of the house. Private sector entities already lending their support either monetarily or in-kind are Dart Foundation, Bould Consulting, Cogent Communications, Caybrew, Evans & Associates, the Garden Club, John Doak Architecture, Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits, Patrick Broderick Photography, Pestkil Ltd., The Phoenix Group, Smart Construction Management, Ltd., Tortuga Liquors and Vision Real Estate.
The exhibition is open from noon until 7 pm on weekdays and from noon until 5 pm on Saturday. Admission is free. Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact the Cayman National Cultural Foundation at 345-949-5477 or by email at admincncf@candw.ky.
Facing the regulators
(CNS): Top regulatory experts will feature in a new half day seminar to be held at the Ritz Carlton in October entitled “working with your financial regulator”. The seminar will feature Tim Ridley, former Chairman of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Ross Delston, former US Federal Regulator and Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Anti-Money Laundering Committee, and Paul Byles (left), former Head of Policy of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
The seminar is being organised by new financial services training firm FTS and has a hands-on focus to help industry practitioners manage their relationships with regulatory bodies such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
“It is a unique seminar for the Cayman Islands because the focus is on not only how to manage relationships with regulators and expectations but how to best prepare for and handle an onsite inspection by the regulatory body” said Byles.
One of the highlights of the half day event will be a special presentation by Delston (right), a widely respected international consultant, who will deliver a hands-on presentation on how to prepare for an onsite inspection by the regulator, including dealing with the inspection afterwards. Delston comes highly qualified on the topic as he has carried out numerous onsite inspections in his former role with the United Stated Federal Reserve and will reflect on some of these experiences.
The event will not only be valuable to compliance professionals and internal auditors, but also has direct relevance to senior management. For example, Ridley (left) will make a presentation on understanding the interface between the responsibilities of the regulator and those of the financial institution.
“The idea is to discuss where lines should be drawn regarding responsibilities and to help institutions minimise expectation gaps regarding roles” said Ridley.
The seminar is being held on 15 October at the Ritz Carlton. Participants are encouraged to register early at 623-6712 or seminars@fts.ky as spaces are limited to 100 persons.
Butterfield gains with merger
(CNS): The Bank of NT Butterfield & Son Limited today announced that it has completed the merger of its Bermuda-based and international Fund Services businesses with those of Fulcrum Group to form the new company, Butterfield Fulcrum Group. The Bank will realise a gain of approximately $115 million on the transaction in the third quarter of the current financial year.
Butterfield Fulcrum Group has a significant presence in fund administration globally, ranking in the top ten among independent alternative asset fund administrators. It has approximately $100 billion in assets under administration from close to 1,000 funds, and 400 employees in ten locations across nine countries.
The strategic agreement to merge Butterfield Fund Services and Fulcrum Group was announced on 5 August 2008, subject to regulatory approvals in multiple jurisdictions. All required approvals have now been received and the transaction has been completed as planned.
Butterfield retains a substantial ownership interest in Butterfield Fulcrum Group, in excess of 40% (on a fully diluted basis). Alan Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Graham Brooks, Executive Vice President, International at Butterfield, will be Directors on the Butterfield Fulcrum Group Board.
Mr. Thompson said, “We are pleased that we were able to complete the strategic merger of Butterfield Fund Services with Fulcrum Group in such a timely manner. With our significant ownership stake, Butterfield Fulcrum Group provides the Bank with a platform for continued participation and growth in the field of international fund administration. In addition, this transaction allows us to unlock for shareholders the significant value that we have built up in Butterfield Fund Services over the years.”
Mr. Thompson added, “I would like to express my thanks to everyone at Butterfield and Fulcrum, along with our advisers, for the excellent work they’ve done in establishing Butterfield Fulcrum Group. The new company will offer customers enhanced services, improved technology and the benefits of added scale. With tremendous growth prospects, Butterfield Fulcrum Group also presents fund administration employees with expanded opportunities.”
Scotiabank sponsors Cayman youth sailing
(CNS): For the second consecutive year, Scotiabank is the title sponsor for the Cayman Islands Youth Sailing Championship. Scotiabank has donated CI$3,000 for the regatta, which will take place on 1 and 2 November 2008 at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club. The regatta will be sailed in various different sailboats and will determine the best youth sailors for each class of boat. (Photo: Shane Ebanks from Scotiabank presents a cheque to the CICS sailing director Michael Weber)
It will be run over two days and includes at least eight races, a youth social event and a BBQ, and each competitor will receive a regatta t-shirt.
Michael Weber, the CICS Sailing Director, said, “I am grateful for Scotiabank’s continued support for youth sailing. This regatta is not only the most important competition of the year for youth sailors, but it is also a celebration of the popularity and growth that we’ve seen in youth sailing over the last few years. It is because of sponsors like Scotiabank that we are able to continue to offer fun sailing events to Cayman’s youth.”
The regatta is open to all youth sailors under the age of 18 with prior sailing experience. Registration and boat hire is now open and interested sailors can contact Michael Weber at sailing@sailing.ky to register.
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Brac teenager attacks woman with machete
(CNS): Police reported today that a 19-year-old man had been arrested in connection with a machete attack on a 27-year-old woman. The victim sustained a serious head injury during an incident which occurred on Friday night, 12 September, on Cayman Brac. The incident happened outside Edd’s Place at around 11:40 pm.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said that officers were called to the scene and on arrival they found the victim had suffered a serious wound to her forehead. The woman was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released from care. Following investigations, the teenager was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm. He has since been released on police bail.
“These parties are known to each other, and we take incidents of domestic violence extremely seriously,” said the Area Commander, Chief Inspector Patrick Beersingh.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Cayman Brac police on 948-0331 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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Bathroom escape foiled
(CNS): A 42-year-old man who absconded from court on Friday (September 12) remains in police custody today, 15 September. The man had appeared in court on a warrant and was remanded in custody before he made his escape through the ceiling of a men’s bathroom, police say. George Town police were notified of his escape at around 12:55 pm and the ‘hot-spot’ team was deployed to locate him.
The team is made up of regular and special constables and is tasked with tackling crime in and around the George Town area. One PC on the team heard the request and came out to assist in the search, despite being off-duty.
At around 3:30 pm, the team was informed that the suspect might be in the Banana
Walk area of George Town. Officers responded, and the suspect was spotted on the roof of a building in Diaz Lane. After failing to comply with requests to come down he jumped off, injuring his arm. He was taken to hospital for treatment, after which he was released back into police custody.
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.
Caribbean reefs losing species
(CNS): While reefs all over the world are at risk, those in the Caribbean have been devastated, according to research by the European Commission Environmental Department. In particular local reefs are suffering from the decline in population of two key species — the staghorn and elkhorn corals, which were recently listed under the US Endangered Species Act.
The Caribbean, states the EC, has the largest number of corals that are listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered. According to the research, climate change and human impacts are placing one-third of reefs at serious risk of extinction. Another area at risk aside from the Caribbean is the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific. Humans can have negative impacts on coral reefs through a number of means, including increased coastal development, sedimentation due to poor land-use and watershed management, sewage discharge, pollution from agrochemicals, coral mining and over-fishing, the EC said in a release.
“Coral reefs harbour the highest concentration of marine biodiversity in the world, form the basis of ecosystems and food webs that sustain communities and provide coastal protection,” it said. “Climate change and human impacts are placing one-third of reefs at serious risk of extinction. These impacts reduce the resilience of corals to withstand global threats from a rise in sea surface temperatures and increased ocean acidification arising from climate change. Higher temperatures lead to heat stress, which causes the coral to expel the zooxanthellate algae that live in their tissues in a protective, symbiotic relationship.”
The EC said researchers say this increases the risk of mass coral bleaching and mortality from diseases, some of which can kill 500 year old colonies within months. Additionally, ocean acidification is reducing ocean carbonate ion concentrations, which in turn limits the ability of corals to build skeletons and reef structures. Categories and criteria from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List were used to identify corals that are ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’.
“The results emphasise the widespread plight of coral reefs and the urgent need for conservation measures. The majority of the species were found to be vulnerable. Of 704 species studied that could be assigned conservation status, 32.8 per cent were in categories with an elevated risk of extinction,” said the EC.
Researchers also found the proportion of corals threatened with extinction has increased dramatically over the last 2 decades and corals are at greater risk of extinction than any group of land-based animals apart from amphibians. Forty percent of coral species only inhabit shallow-waters and are therefore more vulnerable to human impacts and 303 species are highly susceptible to bleaching.
Melting Arctic ice alarming
(In the News): An "alarming" downward trend in summer sea ice in the Artic has led the WWF to predict there will be less ice this winter than during any other year. In response the conservation organisation is calling on the government to take note; reducing carbon emissions accordingly. Dr Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate change advisor at WWF International’s arctic programme said WWF was expecting 2008 to be the lowest or the second-lowest year in terms of summer ice coverage. Go to article
Cigar bars exempt from ban
(CNS): The revised tobacco bill has, contrary to the wishes of health advocacy groups, given cigar bars an exemption from the smoking ban that the government has been proposing to introduce and has also left beaches as smoking zones. Presented to the Legislative Assembly last week, the long-awaited revised bill has changed significantly from the legislation that was first proposed.
Although the Cayman Islands Cancer Society (CICS) and the Cayman Heart Fund have welcomed the bill itself, they say they both have concerns, especially with the exemption of cigar bars, which the organisations say have not been properly defined.
“While wewould have liked to have seen stricter controls on the display of tobacco products, we are particularly concerned with the exemptions to the prohibition of use of tobacco products in certain public places,” said the CICS in a statement. “We are concerned that we will see a sudden increase in the number of cigar bars. In some jurisdictions, to be classified as a cigar bar a certain percentage of an enterprise’s revenue has to be derived from the sale of cigars. We fervently hope that action will be taken to avoid an increase in the number of businesses licensed as cigar bars.”
The society also noted that from a health perspective cigars give off greater amounts of secondhand smoke than cigarettes, with many of the same toxic and carcinogenic substances as cigarettes but in higher concentrations. The exemption for cigar bars is dependent on a smoke extractor or ventilator system being installed, but the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has said the only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity.
“No other engineering approaches, including current and advanced dilution ventilation or air cleaning technologies, have demonstrated or should be relied upon to control health risks from ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) exposure in spaces where smoking occurs,” ASHRAE said in a policy statement in 2006. The CICS noted that ventilation systems can remove the smell and sight of tobacco smoke but cannot remove the toxic substances in the air.
The health advocacy groups also said they were disappointed that outdoor bars and restaurants are exempt provided they designate no-smoking areas within the facility. As research suggests that non-smokers can still be affected outside when sitting a few yards from a smoker, the society said it hoped provision would be made for the smoking and no-smoking sections to have a buffer of a minimum of ten feet. CICS added that while “parks” are listed in the schedule of public places where smoking will not be permitted, it had noted the omission of beaches.
“Both parks and beaches are places where persons, including children, gather and in this regard we believe that if parks are to be included in the schedule then beaches should likewise be included,” said CICS.
Despite these various concerns, the society and the Heart Fund both acknowledged that the bill appears to comprehensively address issues relating to minors and the labelling, promotion, sale and distribution of tobacco products.
“We are pleased to see the legislation moving forward, despite the fact that it is not as comprehensive as we would have desired,” added CICS. “We hope that our elected officials lead Cayman in the direction of many of the world’s nations and pass the proposed bill into law without further delay. It is time for Cayman to have such legislation in place.”