Archive for March 31st, 2009

Murder case at critical point

(CNS): Two weeks after the brutal murder of 21-year old Sabrina Schirn police issued a statement today saying that a dedicated line of enquiry was being pursued. “Officers are extremely pleased with the progress of the investigation, which is at a critical and sensitive juncture, and advise the public against speculations that might interfere with the desired outcome of the investigation to bring Sabrina’s killer or killers to justice,” the RCIPS said.

The Investigation is being led by Inspector Kim Evans and includes an experienced team of detectives and other specialist support officers who have examined several critical leads and are pursing a dedicated line of enquiry, police said adding that a further update on the progress of the investigation will be issued later this week.

A post mortem on the body of Schirn by a forensic pathologist from Miami revealed last week that she had suffered multiple sharp force and chop injuries. Sabrina’s body, was found in bush land in East End on Tuesday 17 March by friends and family less than one mile from where the car she was last seen driving had been discovered by a local farmer on Sunday 15 March.

“This was clearly an act of extreme violence which resulted in the tragic death of young Sabrina,” said Detective Inspector Kim Evans last week. “Our condolences go out to her family and friends.”

Anyone who can assist is asked to contact the Major Incident Room at Bodden Town police station on 947-2220 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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Time running out for Cayman’s environment

(CNS): While admitting to her disappointment that the National Conservation Bill failed to make it to the Legislative Assembly during this administration, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Department of Environment Director, said what is more important is the vulnerability of Cayman’s natural resources and the fact that the limited opportunity to embrace sustainable development will soon be lost. Without a legal framework to protect Cayman’s environment her department is struggling to address the myriad environmental issues the islands face, she said .

Despite a push by government in the last days of the LA’s final session and following numerous commitments by the Minister responsible for the Environment, Charles Clifford, that the bill would come before the house, the National Conservation Bill was nowhere to be seen. As a result Cayman’s environment, along with all its endemic, unique and endangered species remain completely unprotected.

“People don’t realise that nothing, even our most endangered species, is protected by law,” Ebanks-Petrie said. “From mangroves to bats — our only endemic mammals — none of them have any protection at all.”

She explained that on a daily basis her department receives calls from concerned people reporting environmental damage, expecting the department to be able to curtail a development or put a stop to someone pulling up mangroves. However, they are unable to act, she said. “Without a comprehensive legal platform from which to address the growing range of environmental issues, there is nothing we can do to address these concerns,” Ebanks-Petrie lamented.

Even the legislation that is in place can in fact cause further problems since the Animal Law protects all iguanas, which means that the invasive green iguana is threatening the incredible work undertaken by the Blue Iguana Programme to bring Cayman’s own unique species back from the brink of extinction. “The problem is that the Animal Law is so old there were no green iguanas here then, so because the law says ‘all iguanas’ we now have a real problem which is undermining our ability to protect our own endangered species.”

She said that without any legislation it is impossible to establish protected areas for sensitive habitat. For example, Ebanks-Petrie explained that without protection for beaches, the few remaining turtle nesting sites are all at risk. Currently, the only land that has any protection is that owned by the National Trust, which is only a tiny fraction of the sensitive environments.

The DoE director noted that there has been considerable talk in recent times about sustainable development and there are aspirational rights within the new constitution regarding environmental protection. “Without legislation, however, neither of these goals can be achieved,” she said. “Sustainable development means giving equal weight to environmental issues as well as thesocial and economic issues that are considered before developments are undertaken.”

 She explained that the NCB made provision for Environmental Impact Assessments which would give meaning to the concept of sustainable development and ensure that the DoE would have to be consulted and inform the decision making process about the impact to the environment. If sustainable development was to be more than catch phrase, she said Cayman needs the law to enable the EIA to become part of the legal process.

“If we are not going to close off this opportunity to make a commitment to sustainability we need this law. We really are close to the edge and time is running out to defer the management of our environment,” Petrie added.

The bill has received some opposition but Petrie says judging from the feedback her department has received since the bill was first drafted, not to mention the daily ongoing concerns that pour into the office, there is far more support. “People are linking the loss of natural resources to Cayman identity,” she said. “There is an incredible amount of support for this bill as people see their natural environment disappear. However, those supporting the bill have not been as vocal as those who oppose it.”

Lamenting the opposition to the bill, Petrie said it was on a paradigm that is outdated seeing the bill as environment versus development. “What we need, however, is sensitivity to the environment. Opponents see this as the death knoll for development and it is not. It is about a more realistic and managed approach to how we continue to develop. People need natural spaces to experience a quality of life as well as development.”

She said fears that vast tracts of land will be parcelled off from ever being developed were groundless. “Only land owned by the Crown can be designated as a protected area, so it will have to be negotiated and paid for. What will happen is that all development will be subject to an EIA so the impact on the environment can be weighed alongside all other considerations equally when a planning application is made.”

Ebanks-Petrie also stated that there will not be a swath of new bureaucracy as the DoE already works with planning and offers its recommendations on most developments. The issue at present is that there is no legal obligation for environmental issues to be considered.  The bill would also have given the DoE enforcement officers proper recognition under the law and enable them to directly intervene to protect endangered species.

She added that the NCB is a comprehensive and very workable way of moving Cayman forward while recognising the importance of our rapidly dwindling natural resources that is long overdue.

“It is almost a quarter century since Cayman has done anything to protect is natural resources,” she said, referring to the amendments to the Marine Conservation Law. “Cayman is lagging seriously behind in the Caribbean region when it comes to dealing with environmental issues and we really are running out of time.”

Speaking at the press briefing last week, Clifford said he was disappointed that the bill which has been in the drafting process for so many years did not make it to the House. He said there were still concerns and from a government point of view it made sense to consider the justification of these and bring the bill after the new government is sworn in on 27 May.

 “We are pleased we have been able to guage where support is and where it isn’t,” he said. “One thing is clear that the youth fully supports this bill.” He also denied that the legislation would stop people from developing their land. Despite the years of consultation, the minister said further dialogue was needed to make sure all concerns are addressed.

“Some years ago when marine parks were first introduced there was huge controversy, but the people who objected then would be the main supporters today.” Admitting the government had not done as good a job as it could with education regarding the bill, he hoped the government would be returned to get it passed. 

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