Archive for June, 2010
Schools Projects
The multiple new and highly extravagant schools were clearly embarked upon without any concern for costs. Those responsible were obviously much more interested with enshrining their own legacy in concrete and steel. They were also guilty of rushing to get them all built at the same time and entering into legally binding construction contracts that were less than satisfactory. True, it’s a crying shame but it is not the purpose of this viewpoint.
The new minister of education inherited this difficult situation and the subsequent issues with the contractor leaving the job have added further complications. The latter situation, however, does have its up-side. With that I mean there is now surely the opportunity to revise as much of the finishing specifications as possible to reduce unnecessary costs. Listening to people in the know, it is absolutely mind boggling to hear the gold plating excesses that were part of the approved design.
What is also particularly concerning at this time are the issues surrounding the award of the contract to get the schools moving again towards completion. The new minister may have erred when he made unnecessary public comments on talk radio that suggested he would be surprised if the local coalition of contractors could not provide a good bid. Comments like this could potentially send the wrong message, especially in advance of the bidding process having being completed.
Then news breaks that an overseas firm has been selected and their bid was millions below the coalition group. There is some public outrage. Following this we hear the contract has not been awarded because of issues with the criteria used in the selection process and that there are ongoing discussions between the ministry of education and the central tendering agency. The premier in response to questions, also states that he wants the best deal for government regardless of whether the firm is from West Bay or the moon.
What we have now is a lot of speculation as to the machinations going on behind closed doors. Firms spend a considerable amount of time, resources and funds to prepare bids for such an extensive and complicated project like this and they deserve better. And the public do as well.
Government now has a vast amount of technical and professional data submitted from the various bidders as to costs, timelines and approach to the work. We hope that this individual proprietary information is not being used inappropriately in relation to the ongoing selection process. Should government now decide to do the project management themselves, after they have had the benefit of seeing the technical and financial submissions of the various bidders, this would also be highly unethical and could no doubt be subject to legal challenge.
Where is the new auditor general?
Cane toad threat spreads to Caribbean
(BBC): Cane toads, one of the world’s most destructive invasive species, have started killing native wildlife outside of Australia. Cane toads are poisonous, secreting a toxin that kills predators not adapted to eat them, and as a result the toads have caused a decline in native Australian reptiles and marsupials. Now scientists have discovered that the toads are also killing boa snakes in the West Indies, suggesting that other predators in the Caribbean and elsewhere may also be at risk. The cane toad is a large toad species, which secretes a powerful bufogenin toxin.
Brac emergency services practice accident response
(CNS): CIAA’s CEO, Jeremy Jackson said he was pleased with the performance of the emergency services this week at mock emergency exercise at Gerrard-Smith International Airport. The Emergency Response Exercise was spearheaded by the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) and entailed the simulation of an aircraft accident at Gerrard-Smith on the Brac on Monday morning. The Exercise allowed first responders from the CIAA, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and the Health Services Authority/Faith Hospital to test their readiness in the event of a real aircraft emergency at the airport.
In the Exercise the teams responded to the landing of a Saab 340 aircraft, with 19 persons on board, which reported that it was experiencing hydraulic failures and requested that all emergency services be put on standby. On landing the aircraft sustained landing gear damage resulting in it veering off the runway onto a grassed area on the south side before bursting into flames.
Passengers were assessed and taken to the Advanced Medical Post (AMP) where further assessment and stabilisation was carried out by medical personnel from Faith Hospital. Passengers with serious trauma were systematically transported by ambulance to the Hospital for further treatment.
Phone company backs green shopping
(CNS): Members of staff at LIME are backing the “Bring your own bag” initiative instigated by Cayman BECOME which started at Grand Cayman’s three major supermarkets yesterday. The telecommunications firm has issued every one of its employees with their own re-usable shopping bags to help staff get started on the right foot. From now on Fosters, Kirks and Hurleys are all charging 5 cents for their new biodegradable plastic bags as part of an island wide initiative to reduce the more than 12 million bags which go to the George Town landfill every year.
Cayman BECOME will also be handing out reusable bags to all shoppers between 10 and12 noon this Saturday morning.
Royal Navy visiting for hurricane relief planning
(CNS): Members of the British Royal Nay will be landing in the Cayman Islands next week when HMS Manchester visits Grand Cayman as part of the season’s hurricane preparations. Government officials said the crew will also be taking part in a number of meetings and activities during the ships stay. The visit is reportedly about strengthening relationships with Cayman Islands government agencies and to assist with plans for any joint hurricane disaster relief operations that may be required during the 2010 season which is expected to be one of the busiest on record.
The vessel which arrives 16 June for two daysl is part of the Royal Navy’s Fifth Destroyer Squadron. It has 26 officers and 216 crew, serving under Commander Rex J. Cox. The ship is currently on patrol in the Caribbean as part of the UK’s counter narcotics operations as well as hurricane relief.
The ship was also in the UK news headlines this week for other reasons as Raul Beia, and Dean Langley face trial at Portsmouth crown court this week over a drug smuggling operation in which £2 million of cocaine was allegedly smuggled on board by a wren serving on the ship. Teresa Matos is accused of picking up 8.51kg (19lb) of cocaine while HMS Manchester was docked at the port of Cartagena in Colombia, South America, last July, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. Beia is said to be one of the drug trafficking ring leaders while Matos was a courier and Langley was recruited to receive and distribute the drugs in the UK.
Jamaican cops raid illegal visa operaiton
(The Gleaner): Hundreds of passports were seized and one man taken into custody when the police raided an illegal visa operation at John’s Lane, downtown Kingston, Tuesday. Police from the Flying Squad, led by Superintendent Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford, raided the modest property at 64 John’s Lane where they found passports hidden in the roof, floor and other areas. Several fake stamps, including those used by justices of the peace, were also found hidden in the building. Sources told The Gleaner that US visas were being sold at the premises for between $25,000 and $50,000.
Anglin says school projects due to re-start
(CNS): The minister of education has said that the school projects will be back on track shortly but has still not revealed any dates or details of the new contractors. Rolston Anglin said the Central Tenders Committee is still considering bids but he hopes to be able to make an announcement during the budget process. The projects are now way behind schedule after the original contractor, Tom Jones International, walked off the sites at Frank Sound and John Gray last year due to a row over payments. The ministry began looking for new construction managers in February and the details of those bids were recently leaked to CNS.
Third ESSO hit by gunman
(CNS): RCIPS detectives are currently investigating yet another armed heist which occurred at the Delworth ESSO On-the-Run gas station at the junction of Eastern Ave and North Church Street in the early hours of this morning, 10 June. Just before 2:00am a man entered the service station brandishing what police said appeared to be a hand gun. The man mumbled something which was not that audible to the cashier before going behind the counter and taking the cash register. Three members of staff and one customer were present during the robbery. No shots were fired and no one was hurt in the sixth armed robbery in a week. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
Gun crime persists in amnesty
(CNS): There have been nine reported crimes involving the use of firearms since the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service started its no-questions-asked gun amnesty, which ends at 7:00pm tonight (Thursday 10 June). From armed robberies at liquor stores andgas stations to street robberies and home invasions, Cayman’s criminal element seemed too busy using their weapons to bring them in. The police will be revealing the total quantity and type of weapons collected during the amnesty tomorrow, but despite their best efforts and a high profile campaign there appears to have been a surge in the number of gun crimes committed over the last few weeks. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
Judge throws out Dudus’ JR request
(CNS): Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke has failed in his legal battle to get a judicial review of the decision to extradite him to the United States. Jamaica’s Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, who heard the application, said a case for the alleged drug lord’s extradition to the United States would have to first be made out in the Resident Magistrate’s court. Her ruling came as members of the security forces intensified their efforts yesterday to apprehend the former West Kingston area leader. Coke has been on the run since 24 May, when security forces raided the barricaded community of Tivoli Gardens to execute the warrant and restore law and order to the area, following attacks on security personnel from gunmen loyal to Coke.
McCalla said in her 22-page opinion delivered on Wednesday, 9 June, that in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Extradition Act, on apprehension or surrender of the applicant (Coke), he would be taken before a Resident Magistrate’s Court for a hearing.