Archive for May 25th, 2009
Spot Bay Post Office re-opens
(CNS):Tthe Postal Service has announced that the Spot Bay Post Office on Cayman Brac re-opened today, Monday 25 May, after a long closure caused by damage from Hurricane Paloma in November 2008, with the restoration of the full range of postal services. Normal business hours will also resume at Spot Bay — Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to11:30 am and from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, on Friday’s hours are 9:00 to11:30 am and from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and Saturday hours are from 9:00 to 11:30 am.
Following damage caused by Hurricane Paloma, which struck the Brac and Little Cayman last November, most post offices were damaged. Spot Bay and Creek Post Offices were heavily damaged and have taken the longest to re-open. The Creek Post Office remains closed at this time.
Residents of both islands are reminded that all post office box renters will continue to have 24-hour access to their post boxes. Creek post office customers can continue to access their mail at the West End Post Office.
Mail clearance on behalf of others:
Any customer requiring another person to collect General Delivery mail or packages should write a letter addressed to the Postmaster General, authorising a named person to collect mail on his/her behalf. The letter should be given to Cayman Brac’s district manager at the West End Post Office. It must include a copy of the renter’s identification and signature.
Diver dies filming Britannic
(Telegraph): A National Geographic diver has died in Greece while on an underwater filming mission. Carl Spencer, 37 is believed to have died from decompression sickness – the bends – according to the country’s merchant marine ministry. Mr Spencer was part of a 17-member crew commissioned by the magazine to film the wreck of HMHS Britannic. The British World War I hospital ship, and sister ship of the Titanic, sank off the Greek Aegean island of Kea in 1916 after hitting a mine, with the loss of 30 lives.
Local contractor to build East End Road
(CNS): East End’s own local heavy equipment operator to KP’s Heavy Equipment has secured the National roads Authority contract to construct five thousand six hundred feet of rural road in Winters Lane Road in East End off Farm Road, worth CI$464,013 the Central Tender’s Committee has said. The CTC as also recently awarded two Health Services Authority contracts for pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to a number of local and overseas firms.
Nearly US$4 million worth of pharmaceutical supplies for the HSA was awarded to ten overseas companies in the U.K., U.S., Barbados and Jamaica as well as two local companies totalling US$3,896,209.40
A further US$1,024,824.77 contract for the provision of medical and surgical supplies to the HSA has been split between nine overseas companies in the UK and US and three local companies US$1,024,824.77
Cayman remains one of US’ top creditors
(Seekingalpha.com): Recently the Department of the Treasury / Federal Reserve Board updated its list of the major foreign holders of Treasury Securities. As of March this year China is still the largest holder of U.S. debt but number three is a group which group includes the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Netherlands, Antilles, Panama and British Virgin Islands. These islands channel huge amount of wealth into the U.S. due to their tax shelter status. They are ahead of many countries such as the UK, Russia, etc with a total of $213B.
Election goes well say cops
(CNS): Despite the fact that police are investigating an irregularity on the party of United Democratic Workers who have been accused of contravening the Elections Law by handing out campaign cards and possibly causing undue influence, the RCIPS said that the election operation was a success. The RCIPS said that following months of planning officers executed smooth and effective police operation over the election and referendum period.
“Our operation went off extremely well,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales who was in charge of policing for the election and the referendum. “We had a large number of officers involved in the election process and they all carried out their duties diligently and professionally.”
The police are responsible not just for the security of the people on Election Day but that of the ballot boxes. The RCIPS thanked election officials who worked extremely closely with the service and also to the general public who were cooperative throughout the process.
“We didn’t have any issues with voters at the polling stations or during celebrations later in the night as the counts were being announced,” said Seales. “We are very pleased with the cooperation and considerate behaviour of the Cayman Islands community.”
Seales also noted the contribution of the Special Constabulary whose members gave up their time to assist regular officers.
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.