Archive for April, 2009
Bracker aims to rescue wetlands
(CNS): As fish start to die in the dried up wetlands on Cayman Brac, a concerned Bracker is using his own funds to pump oxygenated sea water into Salt Water Pond, which he claims will save the creatures living in it. Percy Whorms says he has counted 16 dead tarpon in the Westerly Ponds, opposite the old Divi Tiara Beach Resort, where water levels are very low and in some places has disappeared altogether. Now, with Cabinet’s permission, he is hoping to keep wetland creatures alive by keeping water levels up during dry season.
Whorms has put two pipes under the road in front of the Coral Isle Club on the South Side. A 6-inch pipe with an oxygen vent, attached to four 2-inch high pressure lines, links the ocean to the pond via a high pressure pump, which can fill the pond with 1,000 gallons per minute. A second 16-inch pipe acts as a storm drain in times of storm or flooding.
Whorms says can remember when there was surface access and underground holes connecting the ponds to the ocean which have become blocked due to human activity and development. “We’re the ones who did this and we’re the ones who must clear it up,” he told CNS.
While his efforts have Cabinet approval, the initiative was not recommended by the Department of Environment Director. As Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie explained, Salt Water Pond was created as an Animal Sanctuary in 1980 under the Animals Law and is the only one on Cayman Brac, encompassing some 15 acres.
“The Animals Law makes it an offence to disturb any natural feature or any vegetable or animal life so the DoE was not in a position to support the proposal. However, the Animals Law does permit Cabinet to grant exemptions under the Law (including allowance to disturb a natural feature) for purposes of conservation or for scientific, historic or educational purposes or for the purpose of protecting human life or aircraft operations. It is the Department’s position that adding water to the pond in order to facilitate development or promote human comfort in the vicinity does not satisfy the listed criteria for an exemption," she said.
According to Whorms Salt Water Pond, which lies behind the new Alexander Hotel, has two small 3-foot tarpons in the pond, as well as mullets, grunts, mangrove snappers, shads, juvenile angel fish and sergeant majors, and blue crabs (also known as sea cutters) that are 6 inches across the back and 15 inches claw to claw, the largest he has ever seen. He believes a waterfall in the pond may be the most desirable thing to oxygenate the pond and keep it clean and clear. “It would give the animals a much better habitat than they have now,” he said. (Left: dead tarpon float on Westerly Ponds)
Whorms began pumping at the beginning of April, as soon as he had government permission, and pumped for ten days and nights straight, with just two 12-hour breaks to service the pump. He said that at this time of year he would like to be able to do the same thing for all the ponds in the Cayman Islands. “In my youth, the ponds never used to stink because there was flow going in and out,” he said, adding that he felt guilty because he helped build the roads, knowing that this would have a detrimental effect on the environment. “But the powers that be wouldn’t listen and now we’re paying the price.”
Right now, Whorms has run out of money to continue and wants all the stakeholders to contribute funds to make the project viable and sustainable.
However, Ebanks-Petrie says the underlying problem is the lack of legislation that protects environmental resources – even existing protected areas. "A central issue is that, since its designation as an Animal Sanctuary in 1980, physical development has been approved right up to the boundary of the pond with no apparent consideration for the impact of the development on the protected area or the compatibility of each with the other. In the absence of any legislation requiring the impact of development on protected areas to be considered in the planning process this type of situation will continue," she said.
New recruits start police training
(CNS): In the face of considerable manpower shortages, instability and low moral in the service, the RCIPS has confirmed that 19 new recruits have started out on the 14-week training programme to become qualified police officers. During the recent police district meetings and on the campaign trail the issue of police numbers and their nationality has been a key concern and police said two thirds of this new group of recruits are Caymanian.(Left-APC Smith & Ispt AnthonyWhite head of training at the new centre where the recruits start their journey)
The first recruitment class for 2009, the new candidates began their training this week and will finish at the end of July. The prospective officers will complete training in all areas of policing including diversity, conflict management, physical training, domestic violence, law, managing scenes of crimes and incidents, discipline and statement writing.
Opening the course, Acting Commissioner of Police James Smith said the nineteen men and women had been selected from a field of 150 candidates. “Your training will cover a range of subjects. You will now be looked at differently by members of the public and you will be held to a higher standard. It is important for you to know this and to assist the public with knowledge you have learned in your training.”
The Commissioner encouraged the recruits to study hard and apply all they have to their training. He reminded them it is a proud career to work in and not everyone might stay the course, but for those that did, it would be extremely rewarding. He also explained a little about his own policing career and how it had benefitted him and those he has served.
Inspector Anthony White, Head of the Training Department added that the new training facility at Governors Square will be of huge benefit to the recruit class. “The new training facility is fully operational and a great asset to the service,” he said. “We are now instructing the first recruit class of 2009 and because of the new facility, we are in a position to be more flexible and innovative in our instruction methods.”
Anyone considering a policing career with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) should visit the website at www.rcips.ky
Driver charged over crash
(CNS): Police said that a 24-year-old man will appear in court today (Friday24 April) to face charges on various offences following a car crash which occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 21 April when a car was ran off the road into a wall. Horatio Armant Hyman is charged with dangerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident, assault causing actual bodily harm, damage to property and carrying out a reckless and negligent act.
Hyman was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving following the crash which occurred on the Linford Pierson Highway in the vicinity of Halifax Road at around 3am. Police said that they and a team of medics responded to the scene following a 911 call reporting that a Honda Integra had collided with a wall. The second vehicle alleged to be involved in the crash had left the scene. Two of the men who were travelling in the Honda were taken to hospital by medics and a third passenger attended hospital and on his own but all three have since been released.
Following investigations by the Traffic Management Unit the 24-year-old man who was driving the car which left the scene was arrested later. Police also learned that the two drivers had been involved in an earlier dispute which occurred at the rear parking lot of LI Lounge. Police were alerted to a report of a fight taking place at around 2.25am.
Anyone who witnessed an altercation taking place behind the nightclub or the traffic crash on Linford Pierson Highway is asked to contact the Traffic Management Unit on 946-6245 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.
A weekend of culture,conservation and politics
(CNS): Cayman is looking at another busy weekend with something for everyone from art exhibitions and Batabano to the Earth Day clean up and endless political rallies. Police are warning drivers to watch out on Saturday morning for teams clearing garbage along the roads and that from 2pm until around 6pm on Saturday a number of roads will be closed to facilitate the Children’s Batabano parade.
Police said that Boilers Road / South Church Street, North Church Street / Mary Street, Shedden Road/Mary Street, Mary Street / Fort Street, Hospital Four Way Stop, Elgin Avenue round-about Goring Avenue @ Cayman Camera. The Earth Day teams will be out and about right across the island from 7am and will congregate at public beach on the Wet Bay Road from noon onwards.
Meanwhile, at the Harquail Theatre between 2:00pm to 4:30pm the winners will be announced for the Crown Art Competition and Exhibition. In Bodden Town, Minister of Tourism, Charles Clifford will be hosting the official groundbreaking of Coe Wood Public Beach complete with entertainment and refreshments.
Several candidates are also holding a public meetings in the evening and a number of candidates will be attending the youth mixer event at the Marquee Plaza where Cayman’s young voters will be putting the questions that matter to them to their potential candidates from 5-9pm.
Tradition meets modernity at market special
(CNS): Camana Bay will be hosting a very Caymanian event next week when Market at the Grounds comes to the new town for a special market. Local vendors will be selling traditional Cayman produce and crafts providing an interesting contrast set in one of the islands most modern developments. The market usually takes place weekly in lower valley on Saturdays however this special evening session from 3:30 pm to 8pm will give a new audience unable to attend then a chance to experience what it is all about.
Produce from local farms includes fresh fruit and vegetables plus a range of homemade goods from preserves and pickles to cakes, ice cream, sausages and pepper jelly will be on sale as some twenty vendors peddle their wares. There will also be a selection of native plants on sale, alongside handicrafts including jewellery, handbags, woodwork and traditional arts.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the vendors of The Market at the Grounds to reach an even wider audience,” said Kurt Tibbetts, the Minister Leader of Government Business. “We hope many of the tourists staying in the hotels and condos along Seven Mile Beach will come and sample some of the quality goods that are grown and produced here in Cayman. It will also be a good introduction for local residents who have not yet had a chance to visit The Market at the Grounds on a Saturday.”
There will also be performances by local band Swanky who will be playing their unique mix of traditional Caymanian, Caribbean and folk music celebrating the island’s diverse cultural heritage. Swanky will be joined by Dance Unlimited who will perform a quadrille, a traditional dance that has been enjoyed by Caymanians for many generations past. Visitors will also be able to enjoy authentic Caymanian cooking such as fried fish and fritters.
“We are excited to introduce our first Evening Market at Camana Bay in partnership with The Grounds,” said Nikki Callender, Senior Events Manager at Camana Bay. “We very much hope that if this first evening market is a success, an Evening Market will become a regular fixture in our calendar of events.”
Vendors at The Evening Market at Camana Bay include Carmen Conolly, Andy Ebanks, Plants and Things, East End Garden & Gifts, Caribos Ltd, Hamlin Stephenson, Willies Fresh Fruit and Jucies, Zelma-lee Ebanks, Sparky’s Farm, Browns Majestic Farm, David Gerfen, Ivarine Johnson, Ailaine Barnes, Whittakers Farms, Annie’s Creations, Launa Batten, Eugene Christian, Maxine Bryson, Imagination, Cayman Sea Salt, Carlton West, Georgeanne General, Pepper Patch, Alvin McLaughlin, Ivy Thomas, Sarita Ebanks and Kirkland Nixon.
Anyone interested in having a stall at The Market at The Grounds should contact Gina Bodden at the Department of Agriculture at 947-3090 or 916-1314.
Kids plant trees on earthday
(CNS): With the younger generation the ones most likely to be impacted by the consequences of the current generation’s failure to address global warming and climate change, children across Grand Cayman were planting tree this week to mark international earth day (22 April) and do their bit to replace the millions of trees destroyed around the world every year. With the help of local communication firm LIME the National Trust delivered trees to schools across the island (Cayman Brac was excluded because of mealy bug precautions still in place.)
This year’s Earth Day campaign is the “Gereen Generation” which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day which will be next year in 2010. The fundamental goals include a carbon-free future based on renewable energy which will end the global dependency on fossil fuels, which still seems a long way off for Cayman. The campaign also seeks to emphasize the individual’s commitment to responsible and sustainable consumption and the creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating “green jobs” and transforming education systems worldwide into green ones.
The Cayman Chambers annual Earth Day takes place this Saturday from 7 am when teams across the island will be cleaning up beaches and roadsides.
Cops take up garbage beat
(CNS): Stepping outside the usual role of cleaning the streets of crime an officer from the West Bay police station joined forces with volunteers from the Cayman Islands Beautification Committee yesterday morning (Thursday, April 23) to clear garbage and other debris from a house in Beta Close, West Bay, as part of Earth Week activities. Police Constable Sharon Baillie and the volunteers spent around an hour and a half clearing the yard of garbage which has been an eyesore and a hazard to the environment.
The residents of the property required assistance to have the land cleared which was littered with household items, garden materials, old tyres, pieces of wood and other debris. “This kind of accumulation of garbage and litter is a blemish on the community,” said Area Commander, Chief Inspector Angelique Howell. “Littering can have a huge impact on people’s quality of life and we are pleased to work with the Beautification Committee on projects such as this which are of benefit to all.”
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.
Caybrew becomes Cayman’s first exported beer
(CNS): Locally made beer, Caybrew is about to show what it is made of as it takes on the competitors in the world’s biggest beer market. Having won hearts and minds locally as well as a gold medal the beer is now heading overseas. The General Manager of CIB Allen Chu Fook has announced that Caybrew which is produced by the Cayman Islands Brewery has become one of the first manufactured products in the Cayman Islands to be exported to the United States.
"We are extremely excited to commence our export strategy just two years after the launch of Caybrew in the Cayman Islands,” he said. “We have had very positive feedback from initial test marketing of Caybrew in the USA and we expect the brand to do very well in selected niche markets.” Chu Fook noted that it was a truly monumental move not just for the brewery but for the Cayman Islands too as Caybrew would be spreading the word about Cayman.
Beers that conjure up images of tropical vacations have done well in the US market but Caybrew is not just evocative of memories of great times in the sun, it’s a great tasting beer that can compete with the best of the international brands the brewery said. Caybrew demonstrated its quality recently when it received a gold medal at the Monde Selection Awards 2008. Given its standing, Fook is confident that Caybrew will be as successful in the US as it has been at home which will secure the future for CIB.
Caybrew’s foray into international markets will not only see it act as an ambassador for the destination, but it demonstrates what Cayman manufactures can achieve. Dax Basdeo from the Cayman Islands Investment Bureau, which has supported and worked closely with the brewery since it opened, says this shows what can be achieved with hard work, professional and commercial expertise and, of course, a quality product.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the CI Brewery and is an example of the potential of our local businesses and entrepreneurs. As a past client of the Investment Bureau, it is gratifying to see this business grow and succeed and to hopefully have an even greater economic impact locally through the expansion of its market overseas,” Basdeo noted.
The excitingnew development has been facilitated with the help of Florida based distributers who say that Caybrew is sure to be a hit in the Sunshine State and beyond. “This is a fantastic product and we are delighted to be partnering with CIB to be able to sell Caybrew here in the US. It’s not just got a great image that is attractive to people here, but it is a great tasting beer,” said Fritz Hofmeister. “To begin with we will be rolling Caybrew out across Florida but then we will be taking Caybrew across the country.”
The first export of Caybrew set sail this week and it will be holding its own of the shelves in licensed establishments across the US by 1 May, bringing a little sample of Cayman and a great tasting beer to a whole new audience.
Candidates fail to meet constitutional requirement
(CNS): At least two of the candidates running in the upcoming general election have not met the legal requirement in the Cayman Islands (Constitution) Order 1972, which states that those running for election are obligated to publish in a gazette all their interests in government contracts. This is separate and apart from the register of interests at the Legislative Assembly and does not fall under the Elections Law. Mark Scotland (left) and Dwayne Seymour (right) both have government contracts that have not been gazetted and the deadline has now passed.
Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell and candidate for George Town Burns Conolly were the only two candidates which met this constitutional requirement and, aside from Seymour and Scotland, it is possible that other candidates may have also fallen foul of this constitutional requirement by missing the deadline for publication, as stated in section 19 of the Constitution.
CNS contacted both Bodden Town candidates and Scotland, whose firm ARCP has contracts with government, told CNS that this was an oversight on his part but there was certainly no intent to hide anything as all of the businesses he owns and is involved with are openly registered in the Legislative Assembly’s register of interests and the contracts his business has with government are in turn public documents.
He said what contracts he has with government have been widely reported and they are already in the public domain. “This is an oversight which I am addressing and will be publishing in a gazette, albeit late,” Scotland added. “But there is no intent to hide anything here. I have declared openly all of my business dealings with government. This has nothing to do with my ability to be a representative and it is merely a distraction from the real issues.”
Seymour echoed his sentimentsand noted that his security firm’s contract with Cayman Airways was widely known and that once he had declared his interests in the Legislative Assembly he did not realise that he also needed to do this extra gazette but was doing everything he could to meet the requirement. "It is genuinely an oversight and I hope to make it right by the end of the week," he said.
Despite having no intention to deceive the electorate or hide their interests, by staying in the race as Scotland and Seymour have said they intend to do, they have still failed to meet the constitutional requirement which states under Section 19(1)(g): “No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the Assembly who…is a party to, or a partner in a firm or a director or manager of a company which is a party to, any contract with the Government of the Islands for or on account of the public service and has not, in the case of a contested election, caused to be published, at least one month before the day of the poll, a Government Notice setting out the nature of such contract and his interest, or the interest of any such firm or company, therein..…”
Supervisor of Elections Kearney Gomez told CNS that he had alerted candidates to this both through advertisements and news reports in the local media (See CNS Elections Office reminds candidates to check the law) but this issue is not in the Elections Law and that none of the candidates involved in this have actually broken that law.
He explained that this could, however, become an issue after the elections should any of the candidates that this concerns be elected and then a challenge is made. Gomez said it would be a case of someone challenging the legitimacy of the candidate’s election through the courts in accordance with the section 28 (f) of the current Constitution and therefore a matter for the Attorney General’s Office.
Meanwhile, although she said she did not want to comment directly on the specifics regarding her fellow candidates, Sandra Catron, who is also running for election in Bodden Town, said that Section 19(1)(g) speaks clearly about the requirements that all persons who are directors or managing directors of a firm or company should declare any contracts with government at least one month before the date of the polls.
"The requirement is there for full disclosure for very good reasons. No one is exempt or above the law and the position in the Constitution is quite clear," Catron noted. "It is really a fundamental component of any democracy that politicians have to disclose their government contracts and business interests. Failure to do so flies in the very face of our Constitution and there are simply no exceptions allowed. The mere fact that it is in the Constitution shows the importance of it. Our forefathers found it necessary to entrench this in the highest law of the land. It’s a matter of strict liability and I’m sure the parties involved simply neglected to pay attention to all the legal requirements.
"I think that many persons may not realize the intricacies of running for public office. There are many facets, and more and more the bar is being raised for the level of knowledge that a politician must have. The situation clearly illustrates the importance of surrounding yourself with capable advisors because one cannot be expected to know everything."
There is specualtion that there may be other candidates with government contracts which are not so easily ascertained through the register of interests and will also find themselves in breach of thispart of the Constitution. According to the Constitution, a successful challenge to an elected candidate could see the candidate lose his or her seat.
Joey eyes two ministry jobs
(CNS): Although he has not yet served in the Legislative Assembly, Joey Ebanks told the people of North Side that if he was elected and offered a Cabinet seat in the next government he would accept it. He said that he felt he was best qualified to serve as tourism minister or for education, youth and culture. His district opponents, however, both said they would refuse — Ezzard Miller as he said he was running to serve the people of North Side and Oswald Rankine because he said it was important to know your limitations.
Speaking at the North Side Candidates District Forum last night (Wednesday 22 April), the PPM candidate did not hesitate when asked the question if he would be willing to accept a Cabinet seat. “Most certainly I would accept,” he said. “The areas I am most qualified to work in would be tourism, education, youth, culture any of those portfolios. I would most certainly accept the position.”
He also said that if he was able to secure a ministerial post he would seek to move the Cabinet office to North Side, as e-business enabled people to work from anywhere, although he acknowledge that the construction of the new glass house is intended to reduce government expenditure on satellite office rentals.
However, his fellow candidates seemed to be considerably less interested in Cabinet than the district. Rankine said he had served as a permanent secretary for two ministers and was aware of the work involved, but he said he would not wish to take a position during his first term. He said it was important to know ones limitations and to defer to persons who already have greater experience, and too often because of greed people jump into ministerial jobs saying they can do it but they are not experienced enough and mess up.
Having already served as an ExCo minister, Miller gave an emphatic no, saying he would refuse as he had no interest in sitting in Cabinet. “I am running to represent North Side. What North Side needs is leadership on the ground. We have had enough of leadership in absentee. If I was to take a Cabinet position…. no one can tell me what it means….., you won’t see me,” he said, adding that what he wanted to do was represent the district and the interests of North Siders, and bring the community back together to the caring compassionate one he grew up in.
“I cannot do that as a member of executive council, where I am bound by collective responsibility. I want to sit down in this civic centre and talk with the residents of this district, decide what is best for North Side and go to George Town to advocate and articulate your concerns free of any encumbrance or party affiliation…. We are going to have plenty of people fighting over cabinet positions and I am not going to be one of them,” he said to thunderous applause.
He explained he would be going to the LA to sit in the south-east corner, which is neither part of the opposition or the government benches, where he would represent the interests of Caymanians and particularly North Siders as the people had not had a voice in parliament for a long time, but if they elected him they would have one they could be proud to listen to.
Aside from the jobs they would or would not want, the candidates covered a broad range of topics with a focus on the needs of North Side. Issues of development and tourism were high on the agenda but the ‘Go East’ initiative came in for particular criticism from Rankine and Miller, who both said it must still be going east as neither had seen any evidence of it in the district. All three noted the need to be cautious over development, seeing the role of North Siders in any future plans as crucial. Ebanks said he had already been working with a committee to look at opportunities for the people of the district to benefit from tourism with new business start-ups from fishing trips to kayak rental.
Talking about cruise tourism, Rankine and Ebanks said they supported the expansion of this part of the sector and the development of berthing facilities in George Town. Miller, however, disagreed and said the focus should be on stay-over tourists, who spend more money and develop relationships. He said he did not think the proposed investment in the new dock was justified.
For the first time in this campaign the subject widely discussed during the 2005 campaign came up when the candidates were asked if they supported changing the Sunday trading law. Both Ebanks and Rankine said no as it sent a message about Cayman’s Christian heritage. However, Miller said it was hypocritical and had nothing to do with whether people went to church or not. “I have no problem removing it,” he said, adding that it was already being flouted as the gas stations were selling everything you could get in the supermarkets. But above all, he said, it was not possible to legislate morals and all the law was doing was limiting the business that could trade that day. People who go to church would still go to church and those that don’t are not going to go because businesses are closed. “We are fooling ourselves if we think this is protecting morals,” he said.
While Rankine said he would not support a lottery as people would be sure to get in trouble and Ebanks said no because the overheads for government if the number’s game became legal would not be viable, Miller conversely said he would support legalising numbers. Pointing once again to the hypocrisy of the situation, he said that currently everyone was well aware exactly where to buy numbers if they wanted to, lots of people were playing and the law against it was not being enforced. He said it was time for legislation to catch up with what was actually happening and use the money to fund health and education.
Health care, social harmony, job tsars, an orientation programme for foreigners, local contracts, crime and policing were just some of the issues which were discussed by the candidates in front of a large district audience — an audience that question master Stuart Bostock (Chamber President) noted had submitted the most questions to the candidates of all the districts so far.