Archive for March, 2009
Finance cops still warning on text scams
(CNS): Despite the seemingly endless warnings over email and text scams, the Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said it has received further reports from the public. As a result, once again residents are being urged to be on guard. “If you receive an unsolicited email or text informing you that you have won money in a competition you have never heard of and certainly never entered you should consider this a scam,” said Detective Constable Adrian Neblett.
He said people should not enter into communication with the sender as they will undoubtedly try and trick you out of personal information or your hard earned cash. One of the most recent scams in circulation involves people receiving text messages on their cell phones informing them that they have won substantial amount money in a competition. It’s not unlike the email scam, which also informs the recipient they have won cash.
Other types of scams seen in circulation recently include the inheritance scam, which involves people receiving emails claiming that someone has died, there is an inheritance to collect and that the recipient might be eligible for the money. Another email in circulation asks the recipient to act as a go-between for money transfers. The email asks the recipient to open an account to receive money and asks that it is forwarded to a third party.
“All these types of emails should be ignored,” stressed DC Neblett. “If you respond you put yourself at risk. The best thing to do is delete it and not give it another thought.”
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.
McCarthy to retire early
(CNS): UPDATED – The acting Head of the Governor’s Office Alan Drury has confirmed that Chief Secretary George McCarthy is retiring six months ahead of his due date. Drury explained that as a senior civil servant, he is entitled to apply to the governor for pre-retirement leave. "This he has done, and the governor has agreed that pre-retirement leave will begin on 1 July," he said. With no official announcement CNS discovered that the top civil servant was leaving his post through an advertisement on the government website. Appointed by the governor the post carries a salary of between CI$165,144 to CI$182,292.
Among the responsibilities of the CF, as the islands grapple with a series of violent crimes, is to address crime and improve policing.
McCarthy entered the civil service some 35 years ago in the Internal Audit Department and has served as chief secretary since November 2004 when he took over from James Ryan. Prior to holding the position of First Official Member of the Legislative Assembly, he sat as Third Official Member as Financial Secretary for twelve years.
The successful applicant to replace him will be the most senior civil servant in the Cayman Islands who also deputizes for the governor when required, including acting as governor when he is off-island. The CF, who is an official member of Cabinet, also has responsibility for the Civil Service, Hazard Management, Public Sector Reform, Immigration, Prison, Fire, 911 Emergency Response, Legislative Department, Cadet Corps, National Archives, Immigration Appeals Policing and Security Matters, and a variety of boards and committees relating to security, immigration, and aviation.
According to the job description, the Chief Secretary and Head of the Civil Service is tasked with direct accountability for the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs and the Portfolio of the Civil Service, and takes the lead on all public sector reform. He or she is accountable to the governor for achieving the broad and specific outcomes of the Cayman Islands Government. In addition, through managing the performance of chief officers, he/she will support his Cabinet colleagues to achieve these outcomes.
The specific outcomes relating to the post holder are to: address crime and improve policing, improve education and training of civil servants, support the economy by improving immigration policy and administration and delivering open, transparent, honest and efficient public administration.
Candidates for this position must be Caymanian; possess a graduate qualification from a recognized institution or equivalent; be or have been a public servant and still eligible to hold public office; have a thorough knowledge and experience of working with the executive and legislative arms of government; have experience of leading a public sector change management process; possess public management competencies including strategic, financial and human resource skills; be a leader of leaders who commands wide respect within government and Caymanian society.
Primary athletes compete
(CNS): A large crowd of spectators turned out to watch the second staging of the CNB Relays held on Saturday, 21 March, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. There was good representation from the government primary schools as they fielded teams of some of their best runners. With the Inter Primary School Sports only days away, coaches and teachers took the opportunity to expose some of their athletes to the competition and also to use it as a tune up for the annual event. Teams from Red Bay Primary, John A. Cumber, Bodden Town, George Town, Prospect, Triple C took to the track and did not disappoint their respective supporters.
According to a release from the CI Athletic Association, Red Bay emerged as the overall Schools champions but the other teams provided intense competition which indicates that there is no clear favourite for this year’s meet.
In the Club section Hy-Tech Tigers was the most outstanding, while Tuesday Running a team from USB took honours in the corporate division. Old School was 2nd followed by a team representing the sponsors CNB, traded their pens and calculators for tights and spikes took the 3rd position in this division.
Results are as follows:
School’s Division – Girls
1st – Red Bay Primary School – 41 points
2nd – George Town Primary – 20 points
3rd – Bodden Town Primary – 16 points
4th – John A. Cumber Primary – 8 points
5th – Prospect Primary – 3 points
School’s Division – Boys
1st – Red Bay Primary – 40 points
2nd – John A. Cumber Primary – 30 points
3rd – Bodden Town Primary – 14 points
4th – Triple C – 10 points
5th – George Town Primary – 9 points
6th – Prospect Primary – 4 points
Club’s Division – Girls
1st – Hy-tech Tigers – 20 points
Club’s Division – Boys
1st – Hy-tech Tigers – 56 points
2nd – Mustang Track Club – 20 points
Corporate Division
1st – UBS Tuesday Running – 18 points
2nd – Old School – 10 points
3rd – Cayman National Bank – 8 points
The Cayman Islands Athletic Association would like to thank Cayman National Bank for sponsoring the Meet, in addition to all schools, clubs, corporate, athletes, volunteers, officials and spectators.
Emergency training in LC
(CNS): The smallest Cayman Island and the only one without a hospital is now more prepared for medical emergencies after 44 Little Cayman residents were fully certified or re-certified in various areas of first aid and life saving techniques during a a multi-agency training session held at the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Organized by the RCIPS, the course saw participants trained in CPR, AED (defibrillator training) and first aid, under the instruction of EMT Brian Burchell from Cayman Brac and Mary-Ellen Cutts, the Little Cayman Nurse.
“In a small island community where medical resources are limited it is important that we have as many people as possible trained in life saving CPR and general first aid skills,” said PC Darren Coles. “I am really pleased that so many people turned out. As community officer on the island, I continue to strive to make Little Cayman an even safer place to live and am delighted that the community came together on this venture.”
The course was held over a three day period at the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Special thanks are sentto Jason Belport, General Manager and Marc Le-Blanc Operations Manager for providing the venue free of charge.
UDP defines the campaign battle lines
(CNS): Rallying the troops and aiming to recruit more, the battle lines along which the United Democratic Party UDP will fight its campaign have been laid down, and while the entire People’s Progressive Movement will be in the firing line, it is apparent that Ministers Alden McLaughlin and Charles Clifford are the main targets. Opening its political road-show in Bodden Town and not in its heartland of West Bay, the UDP still managed a turn out of around 500 people for its first meeting. (Left: Jonathan Piercy UDP George Town)
With no manifesto yet printed, the first two meetings (Bodden Town on Tuesday and George Town on Wednesday) were big on rhetoric and political clichés as the new candidates Dwayne Seymour, Mark Scotland, Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden, Jonathan Piercy, Mike Adam and Ellio Solomon took to the party hustings for the first time.
Despite actual, defined policies being thin on the ground, political veteran and party Leader McKeeva Bush did reveal some of the UDP’s political goals that will appear in the anticipated manifesto. Bush spoke of a review of teacher’s salaries; an overhaul of the police service and an economic recovery plan. While the manifesto is still to come, the party ‘tunes’ were playing loud and clear on Tuesday evening. The lyrics of the new UDP song, which has already been recorded, sum up the party’s campaign direction – “Until the UDP get back their full power, we are gonna suffa, gonna have a big feast when the PPM get defeat,” rang out across the Newlands area.
Endorsed and Introduced by former Education Minister Roy Bodden, Dwayne Seymour in his first political speech said he stood on the hustings with a heavy heart as, although he was excited about running for offices, he saw many challenges ahead. He spoke about offering counselling to poor families and instigating job placement training schemes to get more Caymanians back to work.
Mark Scotland who is on his second attempt to gain a seat with the UDP and came fourth in the last election, beaten out by Osbourne Bodden, accused the PPM of promising miracles but in Bodden Town producing a disappearing act.
Talking about the economic problems, and in particular government debt, Scotland said McKeeva Bushhad rescued Cayman’s finances before and he would do it again. Taking aim at Charles Clifford and the Commission of Enquiry, he said it was disgusting that he was running for office again when he had been found guilty of wrongdoing.
When it was Bush’s turn to take to the podium there was no denying a visible lift in the crowd as he built a vintage ‘Mac’ performance. Lamenting unemployment figures, which he said were at 3500, Bush said the PPM policies had put Caymanians out of work. He said tourism was in the doldrums, crime was out of control and the standard of living was at an historic low. He criticised the leader of government business for comments about planting Cassava, but saved his worst criticisms for Charles Clifford and Alden McLaughlin, whom he accused of building castlesand neglecting teachers, as well as ignoring the needs of the financial services industry. Calling on Bodden Towners to vote for Scotland and Seymour, he said, “You only renew a contract if you get good service the first time. If you get worthless lousy service you don’t renew,” he exclaimed.
On Wednesday evening, as the nominations for the general election 2009 closed, even more people gathered outside the UDP HQ in George Town to hear the four new George Town contenders make their pitch. The results in both George Town and Bodden Town are likely to be key to the overall outcome of a future government. With West Bay, East End and the Sister Islands considerably more predictable, the UDP is likely to concentrate its resources on these two districts.
However, this evening the party will be turning its attention to home as the full eleven members are expected to be warmly welcomed at Beulah’s Yard, North West Point Rd in West Bay at 7:30pm when the four district incumbents start their bid for re-election.
World media turns attention to Cayman
(CNS): With the G20 summit only one week away, the Portfolio of Finance is gearing up to meet the international press. According to a memo, the government has been notified that a few international broadcast media organisations have contacted the office regarding their intention to arrive in the Cayman Islands this week and next, to prepare stories on the upcoming April 2 G-20 Summit in London. Warning of the probability of unscheduled visits by these global news hounds, the portfolio is advising members of the financial services sector to, “r
The memo, written by the Public Relations Unit Director Ted Bravakis, indicates that the members of the press have stated that the focus of these visits is to get reaction from the Cayman Islands on the G-20 agenda in relation to offshore financial centres (OFCs). “To that end and as part of government’s media policy towards international journalists, the PR Unit is assisting by coordinating government statements about regulation, cooperation and transparency of the Cayman Islands, as well as providing general background information/orientation about the industry,” it reads.
He did not say which news organisations would be coming but warned that the press will more than likely visit private offices with camera crews and journalists as well. Bravakis noted that the private sector firms must individually decide whether or not to speak to media. For those that do the PR Unit has offered some timely advice and guidelines to consider which may help avoid “surprise” or uncomfortable encounters:
Bravakis says remain calm and pleasant not to put ones hands over ones face, push cameras away or make physically aggressive movements.
He warns too of concealed cameras or recording equipment left running when the interview has ended and advises people to assume the camera is on at all times.
“Cameras may be small, home camcorder-type devices or even mobile telephones,” he said.
Bravakis also advises how to avoid getting caught off guard and to use what he described as bridging statements in response to inquiries: “We are not in a position to meet right now, but would be happy to take down your questions and get back to you with answers,” which can then be provided in writing. It’s OK to repeat this sentiment – ideally, varying the phrasing: “I’m not the best person for this topic but…” the memo says.
Bravakis, however, also notes that media exposure can also be a positive thing and said if there are any members of the private sector who wish to know more about any on-island international media opportunities to contact the unit.
43 candidates set for battle
(CNS): At the close of nomination day on Wednesday, 35 men and 8 women had put their names forward as candidates in election 2009. Across the six districts the only real surprises came in West Bay where three previously unannounced candidates turned up to offer themselves to the electorate. With four candidates on the Sister Islands, three in North Side, two in East End, ten in Bodden Town, 11 in West Bay and 13 George Town, the total is only three down on the 2005 field of 45 candidates. (Left Ormon Morgan one of West Bay’s eleventh hour surprise candidates.)
Once the nomination process was closed the information was brought to the FamilyLife centre in George Town where Election’s Office officials collated the information, verified the spellings of names and began the night-long operation of printing ballots. With only eight weeks to go before polling day, Supervisor of Elections Kearney Gomez said that there was lots of work now to be done, especially given the fact that this year polling day will not only be a General Election but a national vote on the constitution as well.
The process of nominations went very smoothly and most candidates had been declared by lunch time. In all but one district the candidates were already anticipated. However in West Bay three surprise candidates emerged and two of them with only minutes to go before nominations closed. Dora Ebanks, Ormon Morgan and Woody DaCosta made a late entry to join the four UDP incumbents and four other independents in what has been considered a UDP stronghold since the party formed.
The candidates for Election 2009 are as follows;
Sister Islands: Juliana O’Connor Connolly; Moses Kirkconnell; Lyndon Martin; Maxine McCoy-Moore
East End: Arden McLean; John McLean Jr
North Side: Ezzard Miller; Joey Ebanks; Oswell Rankine
Bodden Town: Anthony Eden; Charles Clifford; Osbourne Bodden; Mark Scotland; Dwayne Seymour; Sandra Catron; Gilbert McLean; Theresa Pitcairn; Justin Woods; Vincent Frederick
West Bay: Mckeeva Bush; Rolston Anglin; Cline Glidden; Cpt Eugene Ebanks; Bernie Bush; Choppy Delapenha; Paul Rivers; Lana Mae Smith; Woody Da Costa; Ormon Morgan; Dora Ebanks
George Town: Kurt Tibbetts; AldenMcLaughlin; Lucille Seymour; Alfonso Wright; Mike Adam; Jonathan Piercy; Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden; Ellio Solomon; Dr Frank McField; Burns Connolly; Walling Whittaker; Bo Miller and Eddie Thompson.
Brac drivers warned
(CNS): Cayman Brac police officers are warning drivers who insist on carrying passengers in the back of trucks that they could find themselves in court. Stressing the extreme dangers of carrying passengers in this way, police say drivers who do not heed these warnings will be prosecuted. Sergeant Matt Dawson said. “This practice is extremely dangerous and any such truck involved in even a minor accident could result in the death or serious injury of a passenger carried in this way.”
Referring to a recent fatal accident, he added, “Tragically a man was killed on Grand Cayman after been thrown from the back of a truck and we are determined to prevent any such needless loss of life here.” In 1977, four young men – two of them in high school – died and one was seriously injured following an accident at the Creek district on Cayman Brac, in which they were thrown from the back of a pick-up truck.
Anyone with information about crime taking place in Cayman Brac should contact the
local police station 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.
Three surprises in West Bay
(CNS): UPDATE: 3:15 pm. Previously undeclared candidates for West Bay, Henry Orman Morgan, Dora Ebanks and Woody DaCosta, were nominated today to run for the General Elections set for 20 May 2009. The Election’s Office this morning said it anticipated around 40 people or so would declare themselves for election. However, as of 3:00 pm this afternoon the opportunity for nominations closed. Keep checking CNSfor updates. (Left: Maxine Moore in the Sister Islands)
Sandra Catron, the first candidate to declare in Bodden Town who is embarking on her second attempt, told CNS that this time it feels so right.Ten candidates have now been nominated for the district: the three PPM incumbants – Anthony Eden, Charles Clifford and Osbourne Bodden; two UDP candidtes – Mark Scotland and Dwayne Seymour; and five independents – Sandra Catron, Theresa Pitcairn-Lewis, Gilbert McLean, Justin Woods and Vincent Frederick.
The first candidate on Cayman Brac, incumbant Julianna O’Connor-Conolly, who has represented the Sister Islands since 1996, said she was never confident of winning an election as it is always the will of the people. "You just work as hard as you can to retain the confidence and trust of the people for another four-year term, Gods willing," she said.
Moses Kirkconnell, running for a second term for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, said he was confident of being re-elected. "I have done everything I can do in my first term and we have tangible results," he said. "We are workign extremely hard in the recovery after Hurricane Paloma, something every one of us should be involved in. I’m looking forward to a second term to complete the projects we have started." (Left with supporters)
Lyndon Martin, MLA for the Sister Islands from November 2000 to May 2005, and Maxine Moore, who has run three times before unsuccessfully, were also nominated. Despite his legal difficulties, Martin believes he has a good chance of success in the elections. "I think I have a lot to contribute and I have many supporters who have rallied behind me to contest the election on Cayman Brac," he said.
John McLean Jr was the first candidate to arrive at the nomination venue at East End, while in North Side Oswell Rankine arrived at 9:30 am before another Independent candidate Ezzard Miller, who said, "As the underdog it’s going to be a hard fight but I’m going to do everything I can to win and I’ll be dealing with the issues that are good for North Siders."
According to the Elections Law, a person can run for office only if he or she is officially nominated. It is an important step in the elections process, said Deputy Supervisor of Elections Orrett Connor.“After tomorrow, the public will know exactly who is running for office in all of the districts,” he noted. “It doesn’t matter if a person has said previously that he or she is running for office; Nomination Day is where the rubber hits the road.”
Returning officers will receive completed nomination forms, along with the required $1,000 deposit per candidate and other documentation, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at these venues:
West Bay – John Gray Memorial Church Hall, 27 West Church Street;
George Town – Family Life Centre, 49B Academy Way;
Bodden Town – Bodden Town Civic Centre, 445C Bodden Town Road;
North Side – Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, 923 North Side Road;
East End – William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, 80 John McLean Drive; and
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – District Administration Building, 19 Kirkconnell Street, Cayman Brac.
After 3:00 p.m., the nominations will be collated at the Family Life Centre on Walker’s Road, George Town, by the Elections Office’s returning officers.
Cayman’s first green candidate supports environment
(CNS): One of the first candidates to place the environment firmly on their political agenda is Lana Mae Smith, who is running as an independent candidate in West Bay. She says that while the economy, education and crime are important campaign subjects, the topic that filters everything is the environment. “That is because it affects all areas of our life style; i.e. health, education etc. It is a number one priority for future generations and, as other countries in the world are becoming more and more conscious of going green, with recycling programmes, solar power being implemented, it is going to take a lot of work for Cayman to catch up.”
She said it that she is in favour of the National Conservation bill and hopes to see it implemented, noting that we need specialist people who can begin cleaning up the George Town Land Fill to start recycling scrap metal and find ways to use the remainder as fill. She says she would like to see the waste-to-power project started where we can recycle the dump’s waste to generate electricity, giving us cheaper and cleaner air.
“This could be achieved with a partnership of the private sector and government to generate power from the dump. As we have the earth’s greatest resource (manpower) we could be using our prisoners for this specific task in our islands,” she said.
Seeing the current administration’s spending programme as its main failure, Smith said the projects could have been undertaken at a better price and staggered over more time. When it comes to tackling the government’s revenue problem, Smith points to one possible income generator — a tax on the money transfer agencies by a 2 or 3% of the amounts sent out of the country.
She says that the schools project were an over extension and she says we are not currently utilizing the existing buildings to their fullest capabilities. “As every district has a school building, they could be used at nights for technical studies so that persons would not have to leave their districts for studies. The present high and middle school buildings could have been used for college and vocational training at nights as well,” she added.
She is, however, in favour of the revised education bill as well as the constitution as it sits now, but against party politics. “If and when I am elected I will not join either mainstream party, as I truly do not think the party system works for us, it only divides us, but will be willing to work with whomever forms the new government,” she said.
Smith is well known in her local community and as an outspoken advocate on a number of issues for young and old alike. She has served as President of the Business & Professional Women’s Club, during which time the Domestic Violence Law was passed and recommendations made for the establishment of the Young Business & Professional Women’s Club. She was also the first female President of the Life Underwriters Association of Grand Cayman.
From its inception and while working with the Cayman Against Substance Abuse Association she established the Community Development Action Committee (CODAC). Smith says she is qualified to represent the people of West Bay, as an elected representative in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands. “To this end, I pledge to work diligently to revitalize our district, rejuvenate our Caymanian heritage and culture, as well as to inspire our young people who seek to have their hopes and dreams come true,” she said.