Archive for April, 2010
Surgeons complete first full face transplant
(BBC): A team of 30 Spanish doctors say they have successfully performed the world’s first full face transplant. A man injured in a shooting accident received the entire facial skin and muscles – including cheekbones, nose, lips and teeth – of a donor.The man is recovering well after the 22-hour operation, said a spokesperson from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Another 10 face transplants have been carried out around the world, but this is believed to be the most complex. Hospital spokesperson Bianca Bont told the BBC: "This is the first total face transplant. "There have been 10 operations of this kind in the world – this is the first to transplant all of the face and some bones of the face."
Putting things in perspective for Cayman
Groucho Marx famously said, “The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” He also asked a rhetorical question, “Is this a game of chance?” To which he answered, “Not the way I play it.” Had Groucho been alive to read the recent SEC Complaint against Goldman Sachs and Mr Tourre, he would doubtless have smiled and lit a cigar.
The SEC civil suit against Goldman Sachs regarding the Abacus 2007 transaction (one of many thousands of similar vehicles domiciled in Cayman) has again caused certain commentators to raise the issue of reputation and the risk-reward for Cayman and to ask, “Where were the [Cayman] regulators?”
It is not necessary to delve into the complexities of the CDO, CDS etc market, the nature of the instruments themselves or the underlying assets. As others have pointed out, the Cayman vehicle, Abacus, that issued the US$150,000, 000 bonds to the unfortunate German bank was a perfectly legal and very common structure. So were the various derivative agreements that existed within and outside the Abacus vehicle. If and to the extent there was questionable legal or ethical behaviour or abuse, it occurred outside Cayman and outside the Abacus structure not within it. Abacus (and thus Cayman) may have been an unwitting cog in a “Sting” operation where the outcome of the horse race was pretty well determined or known beforehand by those who (like Robert Redford) controlled the crucial pieces of (undisclosed) information. If so, Abacus itself may have legal causes of action against Goldman Sachs and others (and commensurately it may also be dragged into civil litigation as a defendant). That litigation may be in Cayman and/or elsewhere. All well and good. That is part of the resolution process.
In the Parmalat, Enron and Worldcom cases, the offending actions were also committed by key players outside Cayman. And in those three famous criminal cases appropriate punishment was delivered in the appropriate jurisdictions. In the case of the SEC action against Goldman Sachs (and possibly others still to come), we will have to wait and see how it plays out. But we should not lose sight of the fact that the current action, albeit by a regulator, is a civil one not a criminal one, and the enforcement action is being brought in the most appropriate place. It may well be that the authorities in Germany and the UK will also take regulatory action as two of the institutions that lost out are located there. Again these are appropriate jurisdictions.
I seriously question whether any amount of advance and cost effective due diligence by a Cayman regulator or Cayman service provider (such as local directors and professional advisors) could have uncovered and deterred in advance the behaviour the SEC is now claiming occurred. After all, no regulator or relevant party in the USA, UK, the Netherlands or Germany (all these jurisdictions were involved) picked up on any flaws in advance. So when there are calls here for regulation of these types of activity or local enforcement in order to protect Cayman’s reputation, I do not see any way of doing so cost effectively, other than Cayman deciding that there should be no structured finance/debt transactions domiciled here at all. And perhaps no hedge funds writing or buying derivatives either. No risk, no problems and also no rewards. As Tony Travers has so succinctly put it, this would adversely impact everyone – Government, the businesssector and the wider community as a whole – given the very significant aggregate direct and indirect revenue to the Islands from this business.
It is trite to say that we are all in favour of deterring and punishing crooks. And there are many things Cayman should worry about and address, such as getting its own domestic financial house and immigration regime in order and improving its regulatory, enforcement and business models for future success. But shooting ourselves in the foot by shutting down a large percentage of our legitimate and valuable financial industry at a stroke because the SEC files a civil fraud claim against Goldman Sachs is not one of them.
Cautious support for Shetty
(CNS): The opposition has said that in principle it supports the general goal to develop medical tourism in the Cayman Islands and to encourage Dr Devi Shetty to take the first step with his proposed project. However, the PPM says it believes there must be careful and considerable long term planning for the initiative as it will have a significant impact on the country’s infrastructure in many ways. Speaking to CNS last week, Alden McLaughlin said he and his opposition colleagues wanted to see the project go ahead but there had to be discussions in the community about how it would cope with the changes the hospital would bring.
Aside from the staff that would be eventually required to run the hospital, the former Cabinet minister suggested the assisted living element of the project would increase the population by a significant amount, and while that was not necessarily a problem in itself there would be a need to plan carefully. Even given the proposed phasing of the health city, Grand Cayman would have to consider the demands the hospital would make on utilities, roads and other public services.
McLaughlin said Shetty had made a presentation directly to members of the PPM and he said the proposal was certainly exciting. “I believe that we do have to examine other avenues and look at creating pillars in the economic aside from tourism and finance,” he stated. “This particular proposal is extremely exciting as it has the prospect of creating that new industry.”
He said Dr Shetty was a physician of international renown with a proven track record, and on the face of it he should be encouraged. However, McLaughlin warned that the country had to discuss and properly plan how it would accommodate the project. He said there were some concerns to consider but they were not criticisms.
“We are not seeking to pour cold water on this idea at all but it is essential, given the scale of the proposal, that the ability of the Cayman Islands from an infrastructural perspective is examined,” he added. McLaughlin said that within the planned 15 to 20 years the staff, patients and assisted living residents could boost the population of Grand Cayman by some 20,000, and that time period was not a long time in the business of government and therefore planning had to be discussed now.
“Given how much criticism was made against the PPM administration for attempting to address the country’s needs, which had been neglected for so long, and considering the funding challenges, the country must to start planning now,” he added.
The PPM George Town representative said he wanted to see the project go ahead but he wanted to see government addressing the issues and to encourage wide debate and discussion in the community to prepare the country and ensure that the infrastructure was not overwhelmed.
The Cayman Islands Government signed an agreement with world famous cardiac surgeon, Dr Devi Shetty, to facilitate a major medical complex on Grand Cayman on Wednesday, 7 April, when the celebrated doctor was visiting the country. Dr Shetty has said he will be investing billions of dollars over the next decade to create a state-of-the-art health city and medical university set to revolutionize the provisions of tertiary health care.
Given the major changes predicted in the US as a result of health care reform, Dr Shetty believes that waiting lists will drive up an already growing demand in the medical tourism market for lower cost health care services and Cayman was well placed to deliver those services. He also suggested that, as medical science advances, people will live longer and longer but will require more and more health care.
The health city is expected to be developed on some 500 acres somewhere in the eastern districts but a location has not yet been selected. The project is set to be rolled out over several years, and while the goal is eventually to have a 2000 plus bed health complex and assisted living facility the first phase will be the development of a 200 bed university hospital.
Wine shop licence refused
(CNS): Following the meeting of the Liquor Licensing Board on Thursday, plans by wine merchant Jacques Scott to open a new flagship store in West Bay have been derailed since the board did not grant a license. Peter Dutton had made an application for a change of location for an existing licence at Jacques Scotts’ small store at the harbour front in George Town to a proposed new location by Foster’s Republix. Dutton and his lawyer presented the plans for the new West Bay store to the board on Thursday afternoon. However, a number of objections were raised from local residents and existing liquor stores in the district and the board refused the application.
Before the application and objections were made Mitchell Welds, Chairman of the Licensing Board, recused himself as he said he was related to one of the objectors, leaving the deliberations in the hands of his deputy.
Gary Haylock, representing the West Bay Resident’s Committee, objected on moral grounds and also suggested there were already too many liquor stores in West Bay. He said that the recent escalation of crime in the district would be further aggravated by adding another store selling alcohol. “There are already too many alcohol outlets in our community,” he told the board, adding that he had never heard anyone in the district complain it needed more because alcohol was readily available.
Haylock believed that availability was already a contributing factor in the problems of crime for the district. “Alcohol is only good for one thing and that is to get drunk, and where people are drunk there is always trouble,” he said, claiming that the existing stores were a problem without adding anotherone. “There is no need for any additional liquor outlets.” Haylock also handed in a petition of signatures against the store, though the numbers were not revealed.
An objection on behalf of Joe-Enas Liquor Store on Church Street West Bay was also presented by lawyer by Patrick Schmidt, who said that the arrival of Jacques Scott would be damaging for his client’s business, which was Caymanian owned and run and had served the people of West Bay for many years.
He pointed out that Jacques Scott was a large, successful and powerful business that had recently been able to afford to pay for ads in the newspapers to campaign for their store. His clients, he said, were not and their livelihood was now under threat. Schmidt also pointed to the recent increase in crime, which would not be helped with another alcohol licence. With four stores already in the district, it was well served and very competitive. He said another store would put Joe-Enas out of business, which, with its long-standing local experience, gave a personal service to its customers.
Schmidt said that while competition could be good, the introduction of Jacques Scott would create an unfair playing field in an already small market and something would have to give, especially with a new store at what could be described as the mouth of the district. Schmidt noted that Jacques Scott wwould have an overwhelming marketing advantage due to its size and resources and it would be the end of his client’s Caymanian family business, and probably the other local liquor stores, putting a number of West Bayers out of work. Schmidt said there was no public interest in the granting of a licence to Jacques Scott.
On behalf of Jacques Scott, Dutton and his lawyer Mac Imrie said the wine merchant was not in competition with the ‘low stock – quick turnover’ model of the other local liquor stores like Joe-Enas, which did not sell as wide a selection of fine wines.
It was stated that the new store would be part of a major redevelopment, bringing jobs to the area as well as other commercial activity. Imrie said the planned $3 million investment would drive new traffic to the district, would be a great looking store and offer more than just alcohol as it would be similar to Jacques Scott’s store in Savannah, with kitchen and dinning-ware as well.
It was pointed out that unlike the current liquor stores it would not sell single units of alcohol and that it would have security guards on the premises during opening hours. Moreover, Imrie said that none of Jacque Scott’s other stores have ever attracted crime or trouble of any kind.
“We are very sensitive to the issue of crime and have been at pains to point out we will have security at the store and will not be selling single alcohol units,” Imrie said. “Far from being a problem we are hoping the store will improve the district.”
The wine merchants argued that West Bay, far from having too many liquor stores, was for its size of population under served and had the lowest population to liquor stores ratio of any district on Grand Cayman. The attorney also pointed out to the board that the law did not allow them to consider competition or moral objections to alcohol as grounds to reject the application.
However, despite the presentation, the fact that Jacque Scott has already made a deposit to purchase the land and the recent publicity campaign to promote the intended project, notice was issued on Friday of the board’s deliberations and the application was not granted. CNS has contacted the wine merchants for their reaction and is waiting on a response.
During the afternoon’s session the board also heard an application by the licensee of Archie’s Place on Shedden Road, Trevor McIntosh, who asked to have the ban on playing music overturned and permission to use the patio area because his business was suffering severely as a result. He said he did not think he would be able to keep the bar open without music. However, the board decided to continue the suspension of the Music & Dancing Licence and the decision on whether or not to grant permission for the use of an outdoor patio at the bar was deferred until June.
There was good news for Heather Lockington, the owner of the Cotton Tree Company Limited, on Conch Point Road, West Bay, who was granted a Hotel category Liquor Licence in order to serve alcohol to her guests staying at the holiday cottages, and for Garth Ebanks, the new Tiki Bar licensee as the chairman’s decision to allow him to operate from 11:00 am on Sundays was ratified.
On the other hand, there was bad news for John Swanson of Jungle Nightclub, who was not granted permission to operate on Tuesday nights until 2:00 am Wednesday mornings, or for Antonio Crescente at the Nectar Lounge in Seven Mile Shops, who did not get a variation on his existing licence to nightclub hours. Lester Timothy was also refused permission to use the patio area as part of the licensed premises outside his Power Supply Bar & Lounge at the bar in Marquee Plaza. Leonard Hew of the Office Lounge in George Town will have to wait until the June meeting to find out if he can extend his operating hours on Tuesdays until 2:00 am Wednesday mornings.
Board refuses wine shop license
(CNS): Following the meeting of the Liquor Licensing Board on Thursday plans by wine merchant Jacques Scott to open a new store flagship store in West Bay have been derailed after the board did not grant a license. Peter Dutton had made an application for a change of location for an existing licence at Jacques Scotts’ small store at the harbour front in George Town to a proposed new location by Foster’s Republix. Dutton and his lawyer presented the plans for the new West Bay store to the board on Thursday afternoon. However, a number of objections were raised from local residents and existing liquor stores in the district and the board refused the application.
Before the application and objections were made Mitchell Welds Chairman of the Licensing Board recused himself and as he said he was related to one of the objectors leaving the deliberations in the hands of his deputy.
Gary Haylock representing the West Bay resident’s committee objected on moral grounds and also suggested there were already too many liquor stores in West Bay. He said that the recent escalation of crime in the district would be further aggravated by adding another store selling alcohol. “There are already too many alcohol outlets in our community,” he told the board adding that he had never heard anyone in the district complain it needed more because alcohol was readily available.
Haylock believed that availability was already a contributing factor in the problems of crime for the district. “Alcohol is only good for one thing and that is to get drunk and where people are drunk there is always trouble,” he said adding that the existing stores were a problem without adding another one. “There is no need for any additional liquor outlets.” Haylock also handed in a petition of signatures against the store though the numbers were not revealed.
An objection on behalf of Joe-Enas Liquor Store on Church Street West Bay was also presented by lawyer by Patrick Schmidt who said that the arrival of Jacques Scott would be damaging for his client’s business which was Caymanian owned and run and had served the people of West Bay for many years.
He pointed out that Jacques Scott was a large, successful and powerful business that had recently been able to afford to pay for ads in the newspapers to campaign for their store, his clients he said however were not and their livelihood was now under threat. Schmidt also pointed to the recent increase in crime which would not be helped with another alcohol license. He said with four stores already in the district it was well served and very competitive. He said another store would put Joe-Enas out of business which, with its long standing local experience, gave a personal service to its customers.
Schmidt said while competition can be good the introduction of Jacque Scott would create an unfair playing field in an already small market and something would have to give especially with a new store at what could be described as the mouth of the district. “Jacques Scott will have an overwhelming marketing advantage,” Schmidt noted due to its size and resources and it would be the end of his client’s Caymanian family business, and probably the other local liquor stores, putting a number of West Bayers out of work. Schmidt said there was no public interest in the granting of a license to Jacques Scott.
On behalf of Jacques Scott Dutton and his lawyer Mac Imrie’s said the wine merchant was not in competition with the low stock-quick turnover model of the other local liquor stores like Joe-Enas which did not sell as wide a selection of fine wines.
It was stated that the new store would be part of a major redevelopment bringing jobs to the area as well as other commercial activity. Imrie said the planned $3million investment would drive new traffic to the district, would be a great looking store and offer more than just alcohol as it would be similar to Jacques Scott’s store in Savannah with kitchen and dinning-ware as well.
It was pointed out that unlike the current liquor stores it would not sell single units of alcohol and that it would have security guards on the premises during opening hours. Moreover Imrie said that none of Jacque Scott’s other stores have ever attracted crime or trouble of any kind.
“We are very sensitive to the issue of crime and have been at pains to point out we will have security at the store and will not be selling single alcohol units,” Imrie said. “Far from being a problem we are hoping the store will improve the district.”
The wine merchants argued that West Bay far from having too many liquor stores was, for its size of population, under served and had the lowest population ratio to liquor stores of any district on Grand Cayman. The attorney also pointed out to the board that the law did not allow them to consider competition or moral objections to alcohol as grounds to reject the application.
However, despite the presentation, the fact that Jacque Scott has already made a deposit to purchase the land and the recent publicity campaign to promote the intended project notice was issued on Friday of the board’s deliberations and the application was not granted. CNS has contacted the wine merchants for their reaction and is waiting on a response.
During the afternoon’s session the board also heard an application by the licensee of Archie’s Place on Shedden Road, Trevor McIntosh who asked to have the ban on playing music overturned and permission to use the patio area as his business was suffering severely as a result. He said he did not think without music he would be able to keep the bar open. However, the board decided to continue the suspension of the Music & Dancing License and the decision on whether or not to grant permission for the use of an outdoor patio at the bar was deferred until June.
There was good news for Heather Lockington the owner of the Cotton Tree Company Limited, on Conch Point Road, West Bay who was granted a Hotel category Liquor License in order to serve alcohol to her guests staying at the holiday cottages and for Garth Ebanks the new Tiki Bar licensee as the chairman’s decision to allow him to operate from 11:00 am on Sundays was ratified.
There was however bad news for John Swanson of Jungle Nightclub who was not granted permission to operate on Tuesdays until 2:00 am Wednesday mornings of for Antonio Crescente at the Nectar Lounge in Seven Mile Shops who did not get a variation on his existing license to nightclub hours. Lester Timothy was also refused permission to use the patio area as part of the licensed premises outside his Power Supply Bar & Lounge at the bar in Marquee Plaza. Leonard Hew of the Office Lounge in George Town will have to wait until the June meeting to find out if he can extend his operating hours on Tuesdays until 2:00 am Wednesday mornings.
Tax haven fight continues one year on
(MSN): A year after leaders at a summit of the G20 nations declared an end to the era of bank secrecy, most of the countries targeted as tax havens have, one by one, been taken off the list of offenders. But for many critics, the banking world is still a long way from financial transparency. While French President Nicolas Sarkozy said "There are no tax havens any more," some disagree. Rather than the OECD list, they prefer one compiled by the Tax Justice Network which still has 60 different territories operating as tax havens, including many of those given a clean bill of health by the international community including London and Delaware.
New US legislation under scrutiny at local summit
(CNS): The “Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment” Act of 2010 (HIRE Act) described as the latest effort by the US Government to restrict the use of offshore structures will be under the spotlight at the Cayman Finance Summit next month. Steven Cantor, managing partner at Cantor & Webb Attorneys at Law will be providing insight into this piece of US legislation and the affect it may have on the Cayman Islands the organisers said. Contained within the HIRE Act are a series of tax provisions designed to combat noncompliance of tax laws and end several perceived abuses related to foreign accounts and entities owned by United States residents.
The new law affects not only US residents with interests in offshore accounts, trusts or other entities but also the foreign financial institutions at which such accounts or entities are maintained. Cantor promises to examine the issues of increased withholding and disclosure obligations; provisions related to foreign trusts; increased penalties and extended statue of limitations; other disclosure provisions and the increased need for an audit of US involved trust inventory
The HIRE Act is the result of the bill put forward by Senators Bacchus and Grassley and was one that Cayman Finance was highly involved in lobbying for as an alternative to what they said was “Senator Levin’s protectionist and potentially damaging” bill.
“Tickets for the first annual Cayman Finance summit are selling fast with a wide spectrum of the community showing interest in hearing from the high calibre speakers who will be coming to Cayman to discuss their views on economic principles,” organisers stated in a release this week.
Voters to weigh-in on future constituencies
(CNS): Public meetings regarding the changes to the country’s political landscape begin on Monday evening in George Town. The public is being encouraged to meet with representatives of the new Electoral Boundary Commission (EBC) this week to offer opinions and comments on how three extra representatives should be added to the Legislative Assembly and where and how future constituencies should be shaped. George Town residents will have the opportunity to meet and make submissions to the EBC on 26 April, from 7- 9pm at the Mary Miller Memorial Hall, while West Bay residents can meet on Tuesday, 27 April, at the John A. Cumber School Hall also from 7-9pm.
The Commission is chaired by Carl Dundas, with Norman Bodden and Adriannie Webb as members, who will be collating the information they receive in order to begin the work on adding the three new MLA seats as set out under the new Cayman Islands Constitution 2009, changing the representation in the existing electoral districts.
The debate among the country’s political representatives has never been concluded over whether Cayman should switch to single member constituencies or continue with multiple representation and just add the three new seats to the larger existing district constituencies, and the constitution does not order any specific time of representation but leaves the question open to the people.
There are a number of possible changes that could be made to the electoral districts but both sides of the House — UDP and PPM representatives — have been reluctant to commit to single member constituencies.
Once the boundary commission has finished its work it will submit a report to the governor before the end of May. It will then be tabled in the Legislative Assembly, at which point the political debate about the country’s future representation will begin in the parliament.
All registered voters and those who are qualified to be registered are being encouraged to give both written and oral submissions from now until Friday, 7 May. In keeping with the EBC’s approach of transparency the commission prefers to receive signed submissions, but it will also accept anonymous contributions. Written submissions can be mailed to: The Electoral Boundary Commission, c/o Elections Office, P.O. Box 10120, Grand Cayman KY1 -1001, Cayman Islands. They may also be hand-delivered to the Elections Office on the 2nd floor at the Smith Road Centre, 150 Smith Road in George Town or emailed to electionsoffice@candw.ky.
Oral submissions can be made this week and residents can call the Elections Office at 949-8047 for more information.
Vote in the CNS online poll: Do we need three more MLAs?
Dive resorts make others ‘green’ with envy
(CNS): Two dive resorts in the Cayman Islands have added a very attractive accolade and advantage to their status after receiving Green Globe Certified through their participation in the Cayman Islands Environmental Project for the Tourism Sector (CEPTS). Cobalt Coast and Compass Point have gained the highly regarded certification for the travel and tourism industry, demonstrating their commitment to improving environmental performance and efficient operations.Considered a real badge of honour, the certification is also a very valuable tool to attract new business. (Left: Cobalt Coast Green Team)
Earlier this year, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park was the first Botanic Park in the Caribbean region to gain Certification.
Through their participation in CEPTS, a joint pilot project between the Departments of Tourism and Environment and the tourism private sector, both resorts had to apply 248 standards, implement various environmental practices and have an independent third party audit completed in order to attain Certification. Green Globe is also ISO 17021 compliant, thereby ensuring the highest international standards.
“Being able to display the Green Globe on your website and marketing materials really is an incredible badge of honour and one that will reap rewards in terms of cost savings and the significant promotional benefits that come hand-in-hand with the Certification,” said Oneisha Richards, the Department of Tourism’s Deputy Director responsible for Product Development. She said both properties had to work extremely hard to get to this stage and would need to continue doing so in order to turn their green efforts into sustainable, long term goals for staff and guests alike.
Both resorts have specially appointed "green teams" that implement and oversee their green programmes. Cobalt Coast Dive Resort’s environmental best practices include using a 2-button system for toilet flushing in the guest bathrooms, reusing old towels and staff uniform t-shirts as cleaning rags, collecting recycling oil from compressors and kitchen cooking oil for reuse off-site by a local biofuel company, and delivering glass bottles and used batteries to the city dump for disposal.
Arie Barendrecht, proprietor of Cobalt Coast in West Bay said it was an obvious goal for the resort. “As a dive resort we are already dealing with a concerned clientele, so going the extra mile to operate in a more responsible and concerned manner fits in perfectly.”
Compass Point Dive Resort’s environmental best practices include identifying an energy automatic control system for guest rooms, using biodegradable/environmentally friendly housekeeping chemicals in the resort and bio-diesel in the dive shop operations, composting, and sorting of solid waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
The properties received their certificates at the “Living Green Fair”, which was held on the lawn of the Governor’s Residence on Friday.
About Green Globe Certification : Green Globe is a worldwide green certification based on internationally accepted criteria for efficient operations and improved environmental performance of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA and operates in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification company to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and a member of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) governing council.
Green Globe Certified businesses are recognized by AAA (American Automobile Club), British Airways Holidays, Air Canada Vacations, Travelocity, and other tour operators. Certified businesses are also promoted across all Green Globe websites, including www.greenglobe.travel, and in the popular travel magazine Islands.
For more information about becomingGreen Globe Certified, visit www.greenglobe.com or contact the Department of Tourism at 949-0623.
Minister encourages vigilance for kids’ vaccinations
(CNS): Delivering his message for vaccination, the health minister has said that while Cayman has the most successful vaccination programme in the Caribbean, as host to over 100 nationalities even when some diseases are eliminated locally the island is vulnerable to reintroduction. He said parents should remain vigilant and check their children’s vaccination cards. 97% of children in Cayman are vaccinated as they enter primary school against a number of childhood diseases and the HSA has recently introduced programmes to protect children from the rotavirus vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine.
Minister of Health Mark Scotland’s message for Vaccination Week in the Americas:
"Thanks to modern vaccines and vigilant, committed public health professionals, Cayman is largely free from devastating diseases such as polio, neonatal tetanus, rubella, mumps, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tuberculosis.
Indeed, vaccines are central to preventing contagious childhood diseases, and immunisation is without doubt one of the most cost-effective ways of keeping our children healthy.
Locally, our Public Health Department runs a relevant and modern vaccination programme, covering between 90 and 95 percent of all infants and some 97 percent of children entering primary school.
All vaccines used in the Cayman Islands are obtained from reputable manufacturers and are administered in strict compliance with guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the regional Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Aware of the fact that any successful immunisation programme must continually update and adapt, we recently introduced two new vaccines to the childhood vaccination schedule: The rotavirus vaccine protects against severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration caused by the rotavirus; and the pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and blood poisoning, as well as ear infections caused by bacteria known as streptococcus pneumonia.
Their steadfast efforts have earned our public health officials the 2009 Pan American Health Organization’s Caribbean Sub-region Surveillance Award – an accolade that justly acknowledges them as being the best among 28 Caribbean nations.
Yet even as we celebrate such notable successes, we must stay on our guard: Cayman hosts over 100 nationalities as residents, with many more – visitors as well as returning residents – arriving daily from all over the world. It is therefore evident that even when we manage to eliminate some diseases locally, we will always be vulnerable to reintroduction.
Thus as Health Minister, I fully support our Public Health Department as it strives to give every child access to age-appropriate vaccines. My ministry will also continue to facilitate the introduction of any new vaccines recommended by WHO and PAHO.
However, while it is government’s role to provide the necessary resources for continued success of the programme, I remind you that parents too havea major responsibility. As such, I ask you to join our country’s efforts this Vaccination Week – observed from 24 April to 1 May – by taking the simple step of checking your children’s immunization cards. As the international immunisation awareness campaign slogan states: Love them, protect them, immunise them.
So, for their sake, ensure their inoculations are up to date, because vaccination is truly a primary act of love.