Archive for September, 2008
Fun runs on Brac and Grand Cayman
(CNS): Three good causes will be highlighted with two scheduled fun run/walks, one on Cayman Brac next Saturday to promote Breast Cancer Awareness, and the other on Grand Cayman on 1 November to benefit the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and MATT Safe. (Left: Radio Cayman’s Paulette Conolly-Bailey receives a cheque towards these causes from Roma United FC’s Banny Stephenson and Robert Sairsingh).
The Lions Club of Cayman Brac will join forces with the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens to promote Breast Cancer Awareness on Cayman Brac with a 5K run/walk from Scotts’ Dock to Fosters Corner and back on Saturday, 13 September, followed by an awareness meeting that evening.
Registration for the walk/run, which costs $10, starts at 6:00 am at the Scott’s Dock, and there will be lots of prizes to win. Breakfast will also be on sale and at the awareness meeting. The awareness meeting will take place in the medical wing of the Aston Rutty Civic Center starting at 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Lion Pier-Ann Brown at 924-0989.
Radio Cayman is hosting the second annual Breeze Fusion Run/Walk on 1 November. Last year, the proceeds from this event were shared with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). This year, the event will benefit both the NCVO and MATT Safe.
The NCVO is an independent, non-profit, charitable organisation that engages in projects to meet the ever-increasing social needs of the community. MATT Safe was formed in memory of Pat Ebanks son, Matthew, who passed away tragically in a car accident a few years ago. MATT Safe promotes safe driving for young drivers in Cayman and the programme plans to institute safe-driving skills lessons in high schools across the Cayman Islands.
Already donations to the Breeze Fusion Run/Walk have started to arrive. Roma United Football and Sports Club, whose recent fundraising Independence Day Celebrations received extensive media support from Radio Cayman and Breeze 105.3FM, has made a contribution as a token of appreciation, as well as a means of supporting the charities that benefit from this annual event.
Roma President Robert Sairsingh said, “Roma is always delighted to participate in projects that promote healthy minds and healthy bodies for the people of the Cayman Islands, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with Radio Cayman and other entities who share the vision of building a more healthy and harmonious society.” He and Banny Stephenson, chief oganiser of the TruJuice/Roma United FC Jamaica Independence Celebrations, believe that one good turn deserves another.
Radio Cayman’s Acting Deputy Director and Sales& Promotions Manager, Paulette Conolly-Bailey, said, “The station is always looking for positive ways to be involved in the community which will have an impact for years to come, especially on our youth, who are our future. We are happy that we had the opportunity to team up with Roma, which is also youth focused through the sport of football. Radio Cayman looks forward to bigger and better things with this partnership so we can continue to make a difference.”
In addition to raising funds for local charities, The Breeze Fusion Run/Walk aims to promote wholesome family and community activities through sports. The 2K event begins at 7:30 am from the John Gray High School on Walkers Road. Adults and children are invited to participate, with a $15.00 registration fee for adults, $10.00 for students. This fee includes an event t-shirt and other prizes.
Interested persons can register at Phoenix Athletic Club (call 945-3970) or online at www.radiocayman.gov.ky. Other venues for registration will be publicized closer to the event and forms will also be available later from Radio Cayman’s reception.
Club celebrates crowning
(CNS): The Rotaract Blue Club (RBC) of the Cayman Islands recently celebrated a milestone for one of the club’s members. Rotaractor Nicosia Lawson, was crowned Miss Cayman Islands 2008/2009 on 23 August 2008, and a release from RBC says her fellow club members are very happy with her achievement.
“We are very proud of Nicosia’s achievement and wish her success and God’s blessing during her reign. We will support her every step of the way,” said President Elect Tricia Cacho, speaking on behalf of the club.
During the celebration, the new Miss Cayman Islands was surprised with banners and well wishes, and also presented with a gift certificate for Kirk Freeport. Lawson was grateful for the show of support by her fellow club members and said, “Rotaract Blue is like a second family to me, and having been unable to attend meetings during my preparation for Miss Cayman, it certainly feels good to return home.”
Rotaract is a programme that is recognised on an international level and is designed for young professionals who want to make a difference. Rotaract Blue is one of the newest Rotaract initiatives in the Caribbean. The club is sponsored by Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central and under its guidance has become the second established Rotaract Club in the Cayman Islands.
Panel selected to help choose FOI boss
(CNS): Another step has been taken on the journey to Freedom of Information in the Cayman Islands with the selection of a panel that will advise HE the Governor Stuart Jack and make recommendations regarding the appointment of the Information Commissioner. A press statement issued on Wednesday 9 September stated that the Governor had appointed the panel and he believed the members would be fair in their assessments.
"The panel is a group of highly capable individuals who I know will use both good judgement and fairness when making their decision. The Freedom of Information Law and the Office of the Information Commissioner will deliver on the Cayman Islands Government’s commitment to be more open, transparent and accountable,” Governor Jack said in the statement.
The nominations for an FOI commissioner were opened in August and it will be up to the panel to consider applicants for the position according to the principles set out in section 4 of the Law. Based on their recommendations, and, after consultation with Cabinet, the Governor will then appoint the Information Commissioner.
After what was described in the statement as careful consideration five people have been selected to serve on the panel including two politicians. Osbourne Bodden MLA for Bodden Town and Captain Eugene Ebanks MLA for West Bay will serve alongside Tim Adams former CEO of Cable & Wireless and Sara Collins, a local Lawyer who is heading up the newly opened Maitland Cayman office and Chair of the Human Rights Committee. Jenny Manderson a retired senior civil servant and longstanding member of the National Youth Commission will chair the panel. The Selection Panel met this week, and is reportedly aiming to make their recommendation to the Governor by mid October.
“The appointment of a competent Information Commissioner is vital to the success of Freedom of Information,” said Manderson. “I welcome this opportunity to contribute to furthering the principles of openness and transparency in the public service and I look forward to working with the other members of the selection panel.”
The FOI law will come into effect in January 2009 and will for the first time provide rights of access to government records for members of the public. The law was passed in September 2007 and the FOI unit opened its doors in October 2007. The FOI coordinator is Carol Excell, who worked with the Jamaica Field Office of the Carter Centre, supporting the implementation of the Jamaican Access to Information Act.
Excell explained that while her unit is concerned with how FOI works and creating a culture of disclosure, the Information Commissioner will be focusedon the enforcement of the law and ensuring civil servants comply. Since its establishment, the FOI unit has been preparing and training members of the civil service on how FOI will work and what it means to them as the custodians of government information and the front line in the implementation of the law.
“We have had a terrific response and have trained Information Managers for most government departments, and in some case two or three people have completed the course,” said Excell. She explained that even when the office of the Information Commissioner is established, her Unit will still have a great deal to do, from assisting members of the private sector who do business with government to supporting the Information Managers across the civil service as they begin to work under the new FOI law. Excell also noted that the unit would be working on issues relating to data protection and whistle blowing.
Top Cop denies he is AWOL
(CNS): Suspended Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan has called Governor Suart Jack "factually incorrect" after he claimed that Kernohan had ignored three requests to return to the Cayman Islands in regard to the ongoing independent investigation into allegations of police corruption. There also seems to be some uncertainty as to where Kernohan actually is. The Governor said that, as a result of the Commissioner’s continued absense, he was beginning disciplinary proceedings.
Governor Jack said that after granting Kernohan compassionate leave for a considerable period during his father’s illness and subsequent death, he had since formally requested Kernohan’s return.
“Throughout July and August I asked him, through his attorney, to come back on three separate occasions,” said the Governor. “To date the Commissioner has not complied with any of my instructions, and with all three deadlines for his return now expired, he would currently appear to be in violation of the terms of his employment, according to which he can only be absent with my agreement.”
Moreover, there seems to be some uncertainty as to whether the Governor’s office or the investigating team know Kernohan’s whereabouts. CNS asked if they knew exactly where he was at present and the office stated: "The Governor is in contact with Mr Kernohan through his solicitors, and as stated, Mr Bridger will interview him either here (if he returns) or in the UK."
Speaking from an unspecified location through his local liaison, publisher and journalist David Legge, Kernohan denied that he was violating anything. "The Governor is factually incorrect as to the basis of my ongoing leave,” he said in a statement. “I am on leave as required by the Public Service Management Law. In fact, the Governor of the Cayman Islands has no power in law to direct or control where I reside during the course of my period of required leave.”
Kernohan continued, “It is disappointing that the Governor should seek to air matters regarding the terms of my employment in a public forum such as the mass media, including the threat of disciplinary proceedings.”
“In light of this and after careful consideration of all the circumstances, I have decided today to initiate disciplinary action against Mr Kernohan, and will be taking further legal advice regarding his contractual obligations. My decision allowing Mr Kernohan to be with his father was a reasonable one, made in good faith and based on strong compassionate grounds. I take full responsibility for that decision,” the Governor added.
“Mr Bridger also confirms that his team will make every effort to interview the Commissioner regardless of his location,” said the Governor. “I therefore reiterate that regardless of where Mr Kernohan is, the investigation of his alleged misconduct in a public office will continue. I believe it is important to pursue this specific investigation to its full conclusion. In fairness to Mr Kernohan and the community, it is necessary to legitimately prove or disprove any allegations against anyone involved before putting the issue to rest. We must continue to assume innocence until proven guilty.”
Kernohan insisted that he had always made himself available. "I have taken the initiative on several occasions to assure Mr Bridger that I would welcome an interview with him at the earliest convenience," added Kernohan."However last month, Mr. Bridger did notify me that my presence was not required at this stage as part of any ongoing investigation." Kernohan added that the Governor had admitted as much in his statement.
"I can assure the people of the Cayman Islands that I would welcome an outside independent inquiry into all of these matters and those involved, including the Governor, the Chief Secretary, the Attorney General, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Mr Bridger and his investigating team," Kernohan said.
In his statement yesterday the Governor also raised the issue of the police helicopter acquisition, saying that its purchase would not form part of Bridger’s investigation but would be dealt with through normal government channels, and a review was under way. “I will be asking the Auditor General to conduct a special investigation into the acquisition of the helicopter. It is in the interest of good governance that we review our processes to establish if indeed adequate checks and balances were in place in this instance,” Jack said. In response, Kernohan said he would shortly be issuing another statement regarding that issue.
Kernohan is currently receiving full salary, as are Deputy Commissioner Rudolph Dixon and Chief Superintendent John Jones, who are also suspended from duty, and in Dixon’s case facing charges. “This issue is unprecedented in the senior ranks of the RCIP and I am currently taking advice on this matter as to whether this arrangement will continue or will be subject to change as the investigation proceeds,” Gov Jack added.
He described the whole investigation as unprecedented with many difficult, multi-faceted issues, which he said prevented him from sharing all of the information with the community as the process moves forward without prejudging certain outcomes or jeopardizing aspects of the investigation. He said he received frequent updates from Bridger and had full confidence in his team.
“Although not always flattering, I do fully understand the passionate expressions of interest from the community in these matters. However, I ask everyone to be responsible in their discussions by focusing on the facts rather than rumour and innuendo. In the end we all have the same goal – to ensure sound and accountable government in the interests of the people of the Cayman Islands,” the Governor said.
Man robbed at knifepoint
(CNS): Police are investigating another violent robbery after a man was robbed at knife point in George Town on Tuesday night. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said that this incident occurred outside the victim’s home. This is the fifth armed robbery reported to police in less than six weeks but Police Comissioner David George said recently he did not think the crimes were linked.
In the latest robbery the 911 Emergency Communications Centre received a call at around 11:40pm on 9 September from a member of the public reporting that he had been robbed by a man carrying a knife. Police officers responded to the location in Bodden Road and were told that the victim had been sitting outside his home when the offender approached him, threatened him and demanded he hand over his mobile phone. The offender then went into the house and stole another mobile phone and wallet from a second man’s bedroom. The man in this room was in bed at the time and was told to stay lying down. Neither victim was injured in the incident.
The offender is described as around 5ft 9ins tall, brown skinned with a moustache and was wearing a white baseball cap, with a white short sleeved polo shirt and long blue jeans pants. An area search was carried out but the offender was not located. However the RCIPS said today, (Wednesday ) that a number of leads are currently being followed up by detectives from the George Town Criminal Investigation Department.
There are currently a number of unsolved armed robberies which the police continue to investigate all of which police have said appear unrelated. At a recent Police press briefing the Police Commissioner David George said there were no clear links between the crimes.
On 31 July a man sitting in his car was robbed by a man carrying a handgun. On 1 August two men entered Pet Pro’s, Crewe Road, armed with handguns and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. On 8 August McRuss Grocery Store, Party Lane, was robbed by a man armed with a machete and on 11 August a security guard was robbed by two men, one of which was armed with a handgun.
The Commissioner explained said that it would be unusual for a perpetrator to use a firearm in one incident and then in a short period of time commit another offence using a machete. “We are not closing our eyes to any possibilities but there doesn’t seem to be a thread with regards these crimes,” George added. “We are also still looking for witnesses and there are a couple of people who the perpetrators assisted in one of the crimes that haven’t come forward yet that could help the investigation.”
Anyone who recognises the description of the offender or has any information about the incident is asked to contact George Town CID on 949-4222 or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477. 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.
Walkers encourages lawyers of the future
(CNS): With a summer intern programme, sponsorship of further education for administrative staff and a legal secretary training programme, as well as the recruitment of promising students to train as attorneys, local legal firm Walkers says it’s doing its part to create Cayman’s lawyers of tomorrow. Overall Walkers has spent over US$1.9 million on scholarships over the past three years.
Fifteen students worked at Walkers under this year’s ‘Summer Intern Programme’ where the youngsters spent an intense two months in various firm’s departments throughout the firm. Walker’s also currently has ten sponsored law students some of whom also spent the past summer working with Walkers. Among these participants is Ridhima Kapoor who said that
working as a student at Walkers has been beneficial.
"It has been most helpful because I have a more defined view of the work that lawyers do from day-to-day. I have been able to attain some work experience in different areas of law during the summer and this has given me assistance with deciding where my future career should be within the industry," she said.
Her colleague Chantelle Day agreed. "Working at Walkers this summer, as well as in the past, has been beneficial to my professional development as it allows me to work in an environment where I can learn the ins and outs of the career path I am on, both through observation and hands on experience," she added.
Once the college based law study is over, the next step on the road to ‘attorneydom’ is a position as an Articled Clerk. Walkers’ Articles Programme is an 18-month practical training period, rotating through all of the firm’s practice areas. The clerks receive a combination of formal legal training and hands-on experience, giving them the chance to choose their specialisation. This September, Walkers took on four new Articled Clerks at the Cayman office.
“We encourage active participation and contribution, enabling our Articled Clerks to be rewarded with excellent training opportunities, tangible professional development and a real sense of accomplishment," said Richard Addlestone, partner with Walkers and chairman of the Training Committee, which is comprised of partners, senior attorneys and former scholarship recipients. "Walkers has been training Caymanians in the legal profession for 25 years now and we were the first firm in the country to establish a comprehensive structured training programme. All the members of the Training Committee are completely dedicated to the professional development and success of our Articled Clerks and sponsored students.”
Administrative staff at Walkers also benefit from educational sponsorship, with routine investment in the non-legal studies of employees from the IT, Marketing, HR and Accounts departments. Walkers’ legal secretary training programme has enabled many employees to gain important qualifications and make progress within the firm, while Walkers Trust Group, meanwhile, recently partnered with the ICSA (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators),to provide the opportunity for its staff to study locally and gain a globally recognised offshore administration qualification.
“Walkers’ summer intern and attorney training programmes have been developed from our commitment towards being a responsible employer and corporate citizen," added Grant Stein, Global Managing Partner of Walkers. "I am immensely pleased with the success rate of the students and would like to congratulate them on their achievements. Over 80% of Walkers’ management staff are Caymanian and we are always on the look out for promising young scholars.”
Reinsurers seek sidecars to ride out next big one
(Reuters): As Hurricane Ike takes aim at the Gulf of Mexico, triggering memories of 2005’s devastating storms, reinsurers see temporary underwriting vehicles as the solution to their capital needs in the event of "the Big One" — a disaster costing them tens of billions of dollars. These temporary vehicles, known as sidecars, are set up by a reinsurance company using funds from outside investors, who agree to tie up their funds for a period of two or three years. Go to article
Ike wrecks cruise business
(MH): Hurricane Ike is stirring up the cruise industry as ship operators scramble to revise itineraries to steer clear of the massive storm. Tourist facilities in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, were badly damaged by the storm, and Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines said its cruise facility in Grand Turk will be closed indefinitely. Go to article.
Proton smasher a hit
(AP): The world’s largest particle collider passed its first major test by firing a beam of protons around a 17-mile (27-kilometer) underground ring Wednesday in what scientists hope is the next great step to understanding the makeup of the universe. After a series of trial runs, two white dots flashed on a computer screen at 10:26 a.m. (0826 GMT) indicating that the protons had traveled the full length of the 4 billion Swiss franc (US$3.8 billion) Large Hadron Collider — described as the biggest physics experiment in history. Go to article
Schools go batty over guide
Every teacher in the Cayman Islands will soon be imparting their newly acquired knowledge to their students about local bats thanks to the National Trust. With financial assistance from Truly Nolen, Ambassadors of the Environment and Bat Conservation International, The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has been able to reprint one of its popular study guides, Bats of the Cayman Islands.
“Five hundred guides have been printed and distributed to every teacher in the Cayman Islands and copies will also be given to all public libraries,” said Marnie Laing, Education Programmes Manager of the National Trust. “On behalf of the National Trust and the Cayman Islands Department of Education, we are extremely grateful for the support of our sponsors. “
Bats of the Cayman Islands is an educator’s guide to the native bats found in the Cayman Islands and forms part of the National Trust’s and the Department of Education’s study guide series. Cayman is home to nine species of native and rare bats whose habitats are fast disappearing. Each one however specializes in different food and each has a unique role to play in our eco-system.
The White Shouldered bat is critically endangered in Cayman and was believed to be extinct until it was spotted in the Lower Valley area. The Buffy Flower Bat lives only in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. It has a long nose and a long sticky tongue like a hummingbird. This amazing little bat pollinates night-blooming jasmine and all the beautiful column cactus and agaves plants that grow on the Bluff on Cayman Brac. These bats are known to be highly intolerant of human disturbance and are very rare. Learning about how these incredible creatures live, can help in conservation efforts.
To learn more about the education guides produced by the National Trust of the Cayman Islands including Marvelous Mangroves and Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas contact the Trust on 949-0121 or info@nationaltrust.org.ky