Archive for December 31st, 2008
Thieves try to rob bank ATM
(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said that it has begun an investigation following an attempted break-in of a Cayman National Bank ATM. In the early hours of Tuesday, 30 December police were notified that the alarm was sounding at the Countryside Shopping Village branch in Savannah. Police responded to the scene and found that an attempt had been made on the ATM.
“It appears that someone tried to break into the ATM and was unsuccessful,” said Inspector Kim Evans of George Town Criminal Investigation Department. Officers carried out an area search and Scenes of Crime processed the scene. Detectives would like to hear from anyone who may have seen something suspicious at the Countryside Shopping Village. Anyone who thinks they can help, no matter how small they think the information is, should contact George Town CID on 949-4222.
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.
Volunteer gets royal gong
(CNS): Two of Cayman’s community stalwarts have been awarded New Year’s Honours in the 2009 list of local and royal gongs for services to the community. Eziethamae Eleanor Bodden (left) has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s honours list and Diana Cynthia Whittaker (right) has been awarded the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour by the Governor.
Ms Bodden belongs to a long list of cultural and volunteer organizations as well as the Cayman National Choir. Born in West Bay in 1960, she is the middle child of seven and an outspoken advocate of preserving the Caymanian way of life. Having worked in Tourism and more recently as a public servant, she is still with the General Registry as the front desk manager.
She is currently a director of Generation Now and Future Sports Club and a director, volunteer and trained disaster preparedness logistics leader for the Cayman Islands Red Cross. She is also a board member for the National Museum. She is Deputy Chairperson of the Tourism Attraction Board, the Cayman National Choir, the John Gray High School HSA, and the Cayman Islands Pastors Appreciation Committee.
In addition, she serves on the National Tourism ManagementPolicy Steering Committee, the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association Management Council, and the Cayman Islands National Curriculum Committee. She is likewise a member of the National Trust (and Secretary of the Trust’s West Bay District Committee), the National Cultural Foundation, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and the Lift Jesus Higher Committee.
Ms Bodden is also chairperson of the West Bay Community Council, the West Bay Heritage Committee, and the National Parenting Programme’s West Bay Committee and a member of the West Bay Action Committee, as well as an active participant in the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church and is always ready to help with any fundraiser.
In the past she served as a board member for the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), Immigration, the International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI), and the CI Hotel and Condo Association. She was also a Vision 2008 team leader and a founding member of the Lighthouse School.
A mother of two daughters, when she has any time left Bodden enjoys photography. Reflecting on her country, she said that living in Cayman affords people a special kind of existence. “Not to say there aren’t any drawbacks to living in a small community, but one has unique opportunities to get to know neighbours and live in closer unity,” she added. “Keeping our Christian heritage alive remains a big focus for me, as well as family togetherness. The Lord God and my family are most important to me but I also love to help in my community.”
Whittaker’s willingness to assist others goes back to an era when group survival depended on many helping hands. Her regional heritage also reflects Cayman’s traditional links as her mother was Caymanian, her father,from Jamaica and she was born in the Honduran capital and raised in the coastal Bay Islands.
As a young lady, she first visited Cayman by boat in 1950 and returned here to live with an aunt four years later. She soon married, and in a move uncommon in those early years, she worked outside the home to help make ends meet. Married for 52 years to Willard Whittaker she has two children and many grand- and great-grandchildren.
Over the decades Ms Diana has been employed in a succession of family-owned businesses. She also worked in the high school’s canteen for some years. She is best known for her work at the Church of God Chapel in Bodden Town. Still serving as Sunday school superintendent after more than a decade and having previously taught Sunday school classes for many years, she says that her faith has grown alongside the church.
Appreciative of being recognized with the Certificate and Badge of Honour, Whittaker said that her community work has never been to gain accolades or rewards.
Police aim for high profile for New Years Eve
(CNS): The three proactive police operations; Python 2, Thor 2 and Caspian 2 running in George Town, West Bay and the Eastern Districts respectively will be continuing over the New Year period, police said. Officers will be carrying out high visibility, targeted patrols in and around liquor license premises and roadblocks will be conducted to ensure that road users stay safe.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said it is asking everyone to make safety their number one priority during the celebrations. “We don’t want to spoil people’s fun. We just want people to make sure they enjoy themselves in a responsible, safe way,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales, head of Uniformed Operations. He said that while New Year’s Eve is traditionally a time for celebration police were keen to ensure that is what it is for everybody. “Plan your night out in advance, so you know where you are going and how you will be getting home. Keep an eye on each other while you are out and remember that binge drinking can make you vulnerable.”
The RCIPS is also reminding people that even one drink can cause their driving skills to be impaired, so the safest option is not to drink at all if you will be getting behind the wheel. “A goodnight out should have a good ending,” stressed Seales. “If you drink and drive you are likely to end up in a police station at best and at worst the hospital. It’s not worth it, have a designated driver; call a taxi.”
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.