Archive for February 26th, 2009
Bush: Dire times for Cayman
(CNS): With the election campaign underway, Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush has announced that he will be delivering a televised speech focusing on the state of government finances, the financial services industry, the small business sector and economic recovery. “We are facing dire times and now is as good a time as any to discuss the various issues publicly," he said. The broadcast which will be aired on CITN on Thursday evening at 6:00 pm.
The opposition United Democratic Party said the broadcast comes in the wake of the recent news that government has borrowed a further US$185 million, as well as the increased international challenges to the financial services sector and a local economy which is being impacted by the global economic downturn. Bush said he felt that the public statement was necessary at this time.
The UDP has been particularly critical of government spending, in particular the money spent on major capital projects such as the schools and the government administration building. On a number of occasions, Bush has stated that the constitutional talks which have dominated the political landscape recently, although important, were not as important as the economic situation in Cayman, which was where the government’s attention should be.
It is quite clear that Cayman’s own domestic economic woes and high borrowing levels, along with the impact of the global economic crisis is likely to form the cornerstone of the UDP election campaign that the party has clearly now begun. Although the UDP has not confirmed the full team that will be contesting the general election, it has already confirmed that Elio Solomon, the controversial Talk Show host, and Mike Adam, the former CEO of Cayman Airways, will be running on the UDP ticket in George Town.
There is speculationthat Mark Scotland will be running with the party in Bodden Town, and it is anticipated that the current West Bay Team of Bush, Rolston Anglin, Cline Glidden and Captain Eugene Ebanks will all run again. Julianna O’Connor Connolly will also be standing for the Sister Islands.
Although several independent candidates have now declared their intention to run and the UDP camp is beginning to take shape. The government People’s Progressive Movement has so far made no announcement’s regarding any proposed candidates for the 2009 General Election.
Annie comes alive on stage at Prospect
(CNS): The Cayman Drama Society has announced that it will be presenting a local production of the much loved classic hit American musical Annie, opening on 12 March until 5 April at the Prospect Playhouse. The performance, which is being produced by Sheree Ebank, will be directed by Dori Stayton and Murali Ram. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, the story was written by Thomas Meehan and was based on the orphan Annie comic strips.
Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin are responsible for the music and lyrics in a show that created the timeless classics “Tomorrow”, “It’s A Hard Knock Life”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile”, and “A New Deal For Christmas”.
Annie, who is being played in this production by Isabella Rooney, is a depression-era orphan determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstop of a New York City orphanage. When opportunity presents itself the famous red-headed young heroine hides inside a laundry bag to make her escape and find the parents that abandoned her where she soon finds Sandy the stray dog she adopts. A tear-jerking feel-good story which, of course, has a happy ending
Tickets cost CI$ 25 and Under 18 CI$15 shows will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00pm with a matinee performance on Sundays at 3:00pm. Call 949-5054 for more details or log on to www.cds.ky