Archive for July, 2009
Public consultation on potentially invasive technology
(CNS): Public input is being sought on a controversial technology used by internet service providers (ISPs) that critics claim leaves internet users’ private information vulnerable to abuse, while others say it has the ability to protect users from viruses and spam and make internet service more efficient. The Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has launched a public consultation on the use of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and similar technologies, which gives ISPs the ability to access the content of all unencrypted internet traffic, including web surfing data, email, and peer-to-peer downloads.
Deep Packet Inspection is used by ISPs in the US to conform to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), the US government-ordered internet wire-tapping directive. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the same technology was used by the Iranian government to block communication and also to monitor it to gather information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes. Recently, British Telecom dropped an internet tracking ad-delivery system WebWise, developed by Phorm and using DPI technology, which is thought to be a reaction to a public campaign against it.
“The potential for abuse is enormous,” a local IT professional told CNS. “Most people don’t fully understand that virtually everything about them is digitized and shipped around on the net routinely. It’s as if all of our private information is available for checkout at the public library. It’s going to become much bigger soon – particularly as the push to modernize and simplify medical record keeping gains momentum. While I think that is an important thing to do, it should not be done without also defining what privacy protections should be in place and precisely how they will be implemented.”
As well as controversy surrounding privacy, DPI has also sparked a “Net Neutrality” debate, which centres around whether or not network operators should be permitted to vary the bandwidth being provided to customers based upon the protocols or applications that the customer is using.
The IT professional, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “The ability to sift traffic and allocate bandwidth based on type of activity is potentially good but also potentially abusive,
particularly in regions where there is little competition. In the case of Skype we could find ourselves paying more for high quality service or just getting lousy service. ISPs could adopt a more complex fee structure for high speed access. Consumers could be charged extra for a guarantee of high quality VoIP service, for example. Local telecom companies could potentially
gain an unfair advantage for their Netspeak VoIP service by assuring it got a better quality of service as compared to Skype VoIP traffic.”
However, he added, “There are reasons why this may not be likely to happen – it simply may be
more trouble than it’s worth since the technology for squeezing tremendous bandwidth from existing fibre circuits is developing very rapidly. There is a lot of disagreement in the technical community about the ability to expand capacity versus the ability to consume it. Some feel there is huge overcapacity, others predict we’ll run short in the not too distant future. Setting that argument aside, I do worry about such a critical asset in the hands of for profit organizations with questionable regulatory oversight,” he said.
ICTA Managing Director David Archbold said ISPs could argue that while they had the hardware to see private information, they had not installed the software. But once the technology was in place, it would make it possible for ISPs to have access to any data that was not encrypted. He noted, however, that too much encrypted data uses up more resources and slows the system down.
On the other hand, the ICTA points out that there are potential benefits in the use of DPI to both consumers and the telecommunications industry. It enables the industry to guarantee different levels of service by associating particular application-types with particular usage-plans or priority levels, potentially helping to prevent network congestion and thus improve an ISPs service to customers. Further, information gained from DPI can assist ISPs with network design and their plans for network expansion, network security and the delivery of new and enhanced services.
Companies marketing DPI have proposed that ISPs can also enhance their revenue streams by providing targeted advertising and by charging content providers fees to ensure that customers have “priority access” to their services.
The authority is inviting all stakeholders to provide their views on this technology, which will be considered by the ICTA Board. CNS understands that the existing board is still in place, though the UDP has made changes to other boards.
According to the ICTA, copies of the posted consultation document may be obtained by accessing the ICTA web site at www.icta.ky or by calling the ICTA offices at 946-ICTA (4282). Comments on the Public Consultation are to be submitted to the ICTA by 31 August 2009. Submissions may be sent by e-mail to: consultations@icta.ky; or delivered to the ICTA at Alissta Tower, Third Floor; or mailed to PO Box 2502 GT, Grand Cayman; or sent by fax to (345) 945-8284.
Migrants feared drowned
(The Guardian): Up to 85 people are missing after an overloaded sailboat carrying about 200 Haitian migrants sank off Turks and Caicos Islands, the US coastguard said today. The boat struck a reef as it tried to elude police yesterday afternoon, a survivor said. Rescuers found 113 migrants stranded on two reefs about two miles south-east of West Caicos island. Most of them were ferried to land by authorities. Two bodies were also recovered, said Lieutenant Commander Matt Moorlag, a coastguard spokesman.
Jamaican government struggles to pay suppliers
(Gleaner): The cash crunch facing the Jamaican Government is starting to hurt businesses that supply goods and services to the state. Over the last three months, several businesses have not been paid and the operators have been unsuccessful in their efforts to get a timeline on when they will get their money. A senior government official admitted that there was a major cash flow problem. "At present, we are only getting warrants from the finance ministry to pay salaries. None of our suppliers are being paid," the government official said on condition that she not be named.
Civil servants fight for jobs
(CNS): With government already facing an operational deficit of almost $76 million from last year and revenue expected to be down again during the 2009/10 financial year, the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association (CICSA) is calling on members to protect their jobs by doing everything they can to cut government expenses in their departments. On the heels of the recent policy directive from the chief secretary that public servants need to reduce costs, James Watler, the president of the CICSA, has warned public servants that jobs could go and salaries could be cut if they don’t play their part.
In a letter to the membership Watler spelled out the dire financial circumstances that the Cayman Islands government currently finds itself in and noted that the only way to avoid potential lay offs, shorter weeks or reduced salaries, government workers have to do all they can to find savings in their departments and to come up with ideas to protect their own jobs.
“In the hopes of avoiding such emergency measures we encourage you to take up the Chief Secretary’s invitation to put forward your own recommendations of where Government can save money, to your departmental heads or directly to the Budget and Management Unit or the Portfolio of the Civil Service,” Watler wrote to members. “If you have an idea you think will help the CICSA Management Council will be happy to work with you to craft it into a proposal and will even submit it on your behalf if you would rather not do so yourselves.”
Watler told CNS that his letter was a call to arms for the Civil Service as well as a call for unity. He said nothing was set in stone with regards to potential job or pay cuts and there was time for the association to prevent the worst from happening.
“These are difficult time and the purpose of the letter is to make sure everyone is aware of the circumstances and understands the need to play their part,” he said. “From what I can see, we are at something of a crossroads with the country’s finances and I want the membership to come to terms with the realities and the fact that they can help set things right again.”
He said that the Civil Service was in this together and it was a matter of doing what they could as public servants for the love of country to turn things around. “It’s a primary role of the CICSA to protect the service, and that means protecting jobs and we intend to do that by finding cost saving measures whereever we can,” Watler added.
He said that the CICSA council had already proposed some ideas, including the redeployment of staff from one department to others, as he said there were some imbalances. Watler explained that with some ministries being over staffed and others very short it made sense to transfer people around and make sure that all ministries, departments and portfolios were neither over nor under staffed, which would ensure more efficiency.
“If we rally round we can overcome these difficulties and we can prevent the worst from happening and protect our jobs,” he said.
In his letter to members Watler pulls no punches and tells the membership: “As it stands the picture is very grim, we will all be affected …..” He writes, “To put it bluntly, Government finds itself spending far more than it is taking in. Simply put we have been informed that the finances of this country are in extremely poor shape as revenue intake has decreased significantly, therefore in light of this Government is forced to look at cutting expenditures and you and I are being asked to cut back in order to curb the mounting deficit.”
He warned that civil servants would be asked to work harder and longer for no extra reward, to take on additional responsibilities and to go the extra mile to help cut costs. He also warned them to take care with their own personal finances in case there were salary cuts.
“We would encourage our members to look at their personal finances at this time in preparation for the possibility that some form of cuts may be made to remuneration packages. I know that this will not be easy as we all have commitments but please bear in mind that these are extraordinary times,” Watler warned.
Noting that these were indeed extraordinary times he reminded members that they had weathered storms in the past and could do so again.
Election enquiry continues
(CNS): More than two months after the election, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) has said they are continuing enquiries into allegations of irregularities at polling stations in George Town, Prospect and West Bay. On the General Election Day a number of reports were made to the Elections Office and the police that some political party volunteers may have been attempting to unduly influence voters. A police spokesperson has told CNS that senior officers from CID are very hopeful of an outcome on these investigations very soon.
No details have been given, however, regarding the enquiries so far and police did not say whether they had any intentions of arresting any of the individuals involved.
The first irregularities which came to light occurred outside the George Town Primary school on the morning of polling day when a number of voters said that they were handed small cards (pictured above) by United Democratic Party representatives before they entered the polling station. The cards listed the names and numbers of the four UDP candidates in that district who were on the ballot paper.
Field agents representing other candidates in the area as well as voters said they had seen the cards, which were the size of a normal business card. Election officials also reported that some voters had gone inside the polling stations holding the cards, and when asked where they came from they indicated that they had just been given the cards by the UDP representatives outside. Allegations were also made by a number of observers that it was the George Town candidates themselves who had given the cards to their representatives at the tent to hand out to voters as they arrived.
Election officials and the police were called to the polling station and the Elections officials established another base by the political representative’s tents to keep an eye on the situation. However, at the time Jonathan Piercy, one of the UDP’s four George Town candidates, said the accusations were merely hearsay and there was no proof that any had been given out by their people on Election Day as the cards had been in circulation for about a week. However, Piercy had told CNS that, if the cards were being given out on Election Day, he accepted that it would be illegal. Later that day, police said that they received reports of similar irregularities at one polling station in Prospect and later in West Bay.
Although candidates from both parties and the independents were allowed by law to have their representatives near the polling stations on Election Day, it is illegal to campaign or influence voters in anyway. According to Section 92 (3) of the Elections Law, on polling day candidates are not allowed to publish any printed material which invites or induces the public to vote for a particular candidate or group of candidates and anyone contravening this section is liable to a fine of up to $500 or six months in prison. The question of undue influence, however, could also give rise to a more serious question of whether the vote and ultimately the result would be unfairly influenced.
Following the election in the first sitting of the new parliament on 27 May, Alden McLaughlin, opposition member for George Town, raised the issue and produced one of the cards on the floor of the Legislative Assembly and said he himself had born witness to certain activities which were untoward. “I sat in my car and asked a supporter of ours to attend the UDP tent, where she was handed (this) card with the four UDP candidates and their numbers and she was encouraged to vote for these four,” he said. “This is a pre-printed card, a clear indication of an organised effort to influence voters. We have a duty as candidates … to be sure that this kind of behaviour does not creep in and undermine the election processes.”
He added, however, that he did not believe it necessarily impacted the vote, but the matter was now in the hands of the police and the Elections Office.
Cop going for gold
(CNS): One of Cayman’s finest will be doing his best to bring some silver or even gold wear home for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) cabinet next month. PC Gabe Rabess, an officer with the Uniform Support Group, will represent theCayman Islands and the Service the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver, Canada in the fields of squash and cycling. The World Police and Fire Games sees police officers, fire-fighters, customs and correction officers from around the world compete in over 65 sporting categories.
Following months of hard training Rabess says that he plans on bringing home at least one medal. “This will be my third time competing in the games and hopefully I will make the Service and the Cayman Islands proud by bringing home a medal or two,” said Rabess.
In 2005, he took part in the games for the first time and brought home a Gold medal in the squash category. In 2007, he competed again, this time in Australia, where he retained his title bringing home a second Gold Medal. “This year is the first time I will compete in cycling in addition to squash and I am quietly confident of success,” he said. “I look forward to representing the Cayman Islands on an international level once again.”
The trip has been made possible thanks to Ministry of Sports and Education, CL Flowers and Sons, Department of Tourism, Cayman Contractor Store and Aire-flo, Arch Automotive – AUDI, Scimitar Sports, and the RCIPS. In addition to these PC Rabess also thanks Powerhouse Gym for its support over the past months. “I am very excited about this trip and am extremely grateful to everyone who has made it possible,” added Rabess. “I really want to repay my supporters by coming home with a few medals.”
PC Rabess’ progress can be monitored on at www.2009wpfg.com.
In 1985, the World Police and Fire Games Federation, a non-profit organisation, run by the Californian Police Athletics Federation, established the games for the first time. Held biennially, the World Police and Fire Games will kick off in Vancouver, Canada on 1 August
Jackson for Peace Prize?
(Sky News): Michael Jackson fans have launched a campaign calling for the superstar to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The late star’s fans have flocked to sign online petitions supporting the move. They say he should be honoured for his charity work and "lifelong dedication to the well being of humanity". So far, more than 2,000 people have added their names to the campaignstarted by Los Angeles student Anneliese Nichole Brown. She hopes 100,000 will lend their support for the Thriller singer who died on June 25. A similar petition has been signed by 10,000 fans. News of the campaign is spreading virally online on sites such as Twitter.
Driving forces at camp
(CNS): It was not all fun and frolics at summer camp, and for some 20 young people camp helped prepare them for a future in the auto industry. Targeting youngsters between 12 to17 years old, the Auto Mechanics Camp lasted for one week at the George Hick’s PACE High School, facilitated by the National Roads Authority (NRA). The workshop covered a range of topics including the installation of automobile accessories such as windshield wipers, tires and rims, and bulb changing. The class also covered safety issues and simple repairs, analysis and parts replacement.
“It’s about learning the language of the industry. Although sales are down, auto repairs are increasing since people always need to have their cars fixed. Plus there is car part sales, an area which is still pretty lucrative,” she added.
Motta noted that technological advances have added glamour to the business, contrary to the traditional perception of ’greasy’ mechanics. “Being a mechanic is no longer necessarily a dirty job; a single piece of equipment, the diagnostic machine, now makes it possible for you to learn what is wrong with a car without taking it apart or getting under it,” Motta explained.
Thirteen-year-old Alex Balls said he enjoyed the summer camp tremendously and as a big fan of rally racing something he is aiming to become involved with in the future, he was fascinated to learn about turbo engines, specifically the differences between a turbo and a twin turbo engine.
At 14, Ahmed Myles sensibly thinking ahead said he was sure that learning how to fix a car would save him repair and service costs in the future.
LIME customer nets latest gizmo in competition
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Two muggings in one night
(CNS): Police said this morning that detectives from George Town are investigating two robberies which took place overnight. The first saw a man attacked outside his home in South Church Street, in which he sustained a head injury, and in the second a couple were robbed at knife point as they walked in Courts Road. Police said that the two incidents, which took place within around 40 minutes of each other, could be linked and are warning residents to be extra vigilant.
The first attack took place, police said, at around 11.50 last night (Monday, 27 July). A woman called the 911 Emergency Communications Centre reporting that her husband had been attacked outside their home in Cayman Cove, South Church Street. Police responded to the scene and the victim told officers he had been approached by a man who asked if he could borrow a cell phone charger. The victim said that after he offered to lend the man his phone, two other men approached him and he was struck on the head and sustained a laceration for which he was taken to hospital for treatment. The offenders ran from the scene.
The second incident occurred around 12.30am this morning (28 July) as a man and a woman walked in Courts Road. The victims have told police they were approached by three men, one of whom was carrying a knife, who demanded they hand over their possessions. The offenders made off with the woman’s handbag and the man’s wallet and cell phone. Detectives from George Town CID said they are now investigating both incidents and are looking into the possibility that they could be linked.
“People should always put their personal safety first,” said Detective Inspector Kim Evans. “Walk in groups if you can, stay to well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings. Think about what you might do if you are approached by a stranger who wants to steal from you. Possessions can always be replaced.”
Inspector Evans also asked residents to be wary about answering the door to strangers. “If someone you donot know calls at your home asking to use something or asking for cash, be very wary,” he said. “We recommend that you never let a stranger into your home.”
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact George Town CID on 949-4222 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.