Archive for April, 2010
Demise of plastic bag draws near as campaign takes off
(CNS): Since the local environmental organization Cayman BECOME launched its campaign to make the plastic bag a thing of the past the Green Team Network has been getting out and about to ensure its demise will come sooner rather than later. With Cayman shoppers using some 12 million plastic bags annually and no official ban on plastic bags in place, the team is doing its best to persuade shoppers to use alternative means of carrying their shopping, such as re-usable shopping bags, helped by the supermarkets’ promise to introduce a fee for bags by June.
Hedge fund showdown in Europe
(Reuters): London and Paris face a showdown over new rules for hedge funds within weeks of British elections, with both sides refusing to budge on a controversial law to control the secretive industry, diplomats said. Spanish Economy Minister Elena Salgado is preparing to ask European finance ministers at a gathering next month to give the green light to new curbs on hedge funds and private equity, one diplomat said. The move is set to escalate a long-running Anglo-Frenchspat over the treatment of foreign funds under the new regime.
It will also fuel tensions between Brussels and Washington, which fears the rules will stop U.S. funds operating in Europe. Privately, Paris has threatened to use EU voting rules to push through the law over the objections of Britain.
Brackers to get new roads after 30 years
(CNS): It is three decades since the fifty miles of road in Cayman Brac were last resurfaced so the arrival of the government’s new asphalt plant is likely to be welcomed by local drivers. After thirty years of use the roads on both the Sister Islands are in need of some serious attention. Once additional preparatory works are complete and the components assembled and tested, the plant should become operational by late May government officials said.
Finalists selected for local education award
(CNS): Bodden Town Primary School, Cayman Prep and High School, George Town Primary School, John Gray High School and The Wellness Centre have been selected as this year’s five finalists for the Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award (JCA) sponsored by dms. The finalist initiatives range from a marine science programme and a film club to an autism programme for school classrooms. The winner of the award will be selected by a committee and they group will receive $12,000 towards their project and it will be announced next month.
Louisiana flavour comes to Cayman
(CNS): A local business man is bringing a taste of New Orleans to the Cayman Islands having opened the first Popeyes® in Cayman. The new restaurant familiar to regular visitors to the southern states has opened on Eastern Ave this week and is one of two restaurants the franchise organization plans to build on the island over the next couple years. The holder of this first franchise, Gary Rutty will run the restaurant with his wife Angel said he was looking forward to brining Cayman some Louisiana flavour.
Magistrates can’t hear ‘dog-theft’ case
(CNS): All three of the Cayman Islands magistrates have recused themselves from hearing the crown’s case against Sandra Catron, a local activist and former political candidate who has been charged with dog theft. Catron has pleaded not guilty to the charges and had requested a speedy trial as the dog in question, which she claims she rescued, is currently being held in a pound at the Department of Agriculture. Catron appeared in court today (Thursday 22 April) but Magistrate Grace Donald said she was conflicted and would have to recuse herself before she adjourned the case for mention next week.
Temp UK cops prepare for new beats
(CNS): Having arrived on island yesterday the fourteen police officers from the United Kingdom that have been brought to the Cayman Islands to offer temporary support met with senior RCIPS officers this morning to prepare for their new beats. The officers are here to help deal with the recent surge in violent crime, give local officers who have all been working double shifts a reprieve, and to assist in solving the number of outstanding cases. Police confirmed today that the UK cops were from police services in the Staffordshire, West Mercia and West Midlands areas of England.
Farm cuts price on bulk-buy turtle meat
(CNS): The Cayman Turtle Farm announced today that it has introduced a new volume discount on turtle meat. Despite recently increasing the price, explained at the time as an effort to reflect the true cost of producing the meat, the farm is now offering restaurants and residents 25 percent discount for bulk buy. All customers, including restaurants, purchasing at least twenty pounds of meat products will be able to get the discount, the farm said in a statement. The farm is also offering the discount on mixed products.
The farm said customers buying ten pounds of stew, five pounds of steak, plus five pounds of menavelin will get the 25% reduction. The volume discount price for turtle stew will now be $12.00 per pound, menavelin $9.00 per pound, bones $4.50 per pound and turtle steak $20.25 per pound.
Promoting these new volume discounts, Managing Director of the Cayman Turtle Farm Tim Adam said he hoped the discounts on bulk purchases would encourage restaurants to reduce their prices. “We hope they will take advantage of the opportunity to offer turtle meals at lower prices to the general public,” he said.
The MD did not say whether the new reduction will impact the sustainability of production, which was one of the reasons cited for the original price increase earlier this year.
When the farm announced the significant increases in February, Adam had said the price had been far below the cost to produce it and the facility was constantly losing money as a result.
“Looking closely at the farm operations it was immediately clear that the price being charged for turtle meat would not allow the proper operation of the farm. The supply of turtle meat in Cayman is in jeopardy and could dry up in the very near future without significant re-investment in the turtles, their feeding and care or even the farm facilities,” he said at the time, adding that a reasonable pricing structure was the first step in being able to properly re-invest in the farm.
Governor makes good time in Brac Sea Swim
(CNS): Despite the pouring rain, 53 swimmers and numerous volunteers turned for Cayman Brac’s 800 metre annual sea swim last Saturday, 17 April. Governor Duncan Taylor (left) finished his first Brac Sea Swim in style, clocking the same time (16:34) as 11-year-old Martha Rivers, who was the first female and the first Bracker across the finishing post, and just one minute behind the two fastest men – Bill McFarland (15.34) and Alex Harling (15.35). Andrea Roach (17.41) and Andrea Aegre (17.44) were second the third women across the line. The Sea swim is the highlight of the year for the Sister Islands Swim Club.
Kate Alexander of the Cayman Islands Open Water Committee said, "The Brac Sea Swim was 
very impressive this year. The weather was terrible, with high wind and driving rain that made it very cold for all the participants. And the logistics of putting together the event were challenging, like trying to keep entry lists and pizza dry! Yet, there was a great turnout, swimmers and volunteers. Michael Hundt, the Brac swim coach, and his team have done a great job in pulling together this swim for the last several years, especially in light of the effects of Paloma."
Alexa
nder said the course boasts a strong current which makes the effort a ‘downhill’ swim. Heavy rain obscured visibility this year but the course was well-marked so that swimmers were able to sight along the buoys to the finish. The Brac swim is a key event for the open water swimmers of island where the swim team practices in a 15m pool. (Left: A keepsake painting is presented to Duncan Taylor by the Sister Islands Swim Club)
Two prizes of a trip to Grand Cayman for the Flowers 1-Mile Sea Swim were awarded to the 1st Male and 1st Female Sister Islands Residents to complete the race. Rivers, who recently competed in the CARIFTA swimming Championships, and Felix Ebanks will fly to Grand Cayman in June to compete.
Results
1 William McFarland 15.34
2 Alex Harling 15.35
3 Martha Rivers 16.34
4 Duncan Taylor 16.34
5 Andrea Roach 17.41
6 Andrea Aegre 17.44
7 Jill Zadny 17.47
8 Lisa Kennedy 18.12
9 Richard Johnson 18.36
10 Felix Ebanks 19.12
11 Kate Alexander 19.33
12 Matthew McKinley 19.36
13 Anne Jackson 19.50
14 Jody McFarland 19.54
15 Joy Yeatman 20.01
16 Ray Zaremba 20.08
17 Alec Cox 21.29
18 Michael Hundt 21.34
19 Henry Barbera 24.01
20 Louisa Thomas 24.05
21 Tafari Young 24.10
22 Cicero Neto 24.39
23 Fazileta Yusef 24.50
24 Erbin Tibbetts 25.31
25 Edward Reid 25.31
26 Tessa Douglas 25.57
27 Glen Wagner 26.18
28 Martin Keeley 26.38
29 Troy Grant 27.06
30 Karen Zaremba 27.19
31 Anastascio Mena 28.55
32 Jolie Tatum 29.15
33 Sue Ingham 29.47
34 Andre Mena 30.07
35 Garin Ritch 30.42
36 Antonia Mena 30.45
37 Dimitri Christian 30.46
38 Steve Williams 31.13
39 Vivian Williams 33.25
40 Moses Kirkconnell 33.26
41 Carlie Tibbetts 33.27
42 Maryann Butcher 35.50
43 Marketa Douglas 36.38
44 Alison McLeod 36.43
45 Jason Foster 37.22
46 Monte Lee Thornton 38.10
DNF Warren Hanson
DNF Joseph Wagner
DNF Tevanio Steadman
DNF Haylie Tibbetts
DNF McKayla Cupid
DNF Ashley Zapata
DNS Rudy Walton
Climate change threatens health
(AP): A group of federal agencies have issued a report on climate change and health threats looking at what areas need to be studied. "To mitigate and adapt to the health effects of climate change, we must first understand them. This report is a vital new roadmap for doing that," said Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "There is an urgent need to get started." Published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the report concludes that climate will force people, "to negotiate with their changing environment as never before to find ways to reshape it both for short-term protection and long-term alleviation of health consequences."