Archive for July 10th, 2010

Green iguanas lose protection

Green iguanas lose protection

| 10/07/2010 | 68 Comments

(CNS): The invasive green iguana is no longer legally protected, and government says it will soon begin to address the pest which has flourished as a result of its unintended protection under the animal law. On Friday morning the environment minister brought an amendment of the Animal Law 2003 to the Legislative Assembly, which will protect the islands’ indigenous iguanas but allow for the humane culling of the green. Mark Scotland said that the departments of environment and agriculture would now engage in an education campaign to ensure people can distinguish, at all life-stages, between the indigenous blues on Grand Cayman, the rock iguanas on the Sister Islands and the invasive greens.

He said the change in the law was down to the expeditious growth of the green, which was a major pest that now needed to be controlled and would hopefully enhance the protection for blue iguanas which have suffered as a result of the competition from the more aggressive greens.
 
Scotland noted however, whatever measures were taken to cull the green iguana it would be done so without contravening the cruelty to wildlife laws.
 
The new bill repeals section 80 of the Animals Law 2003 which had offered protection to all species of iguanas and replaces it with a new paragraph indicating which iguanas are specifically protected.
 
The bill was supported by all members of the House and had arisen following a motion brought earlier this year by the opposition.
 
Alden McLaughlin, who had filed the original motion, thanked the minister for his speedy delivery of the amendment, which would enable the green iguana to be dealt with legally. He noted that the green iguana was not just a pest to farmers and gardeners but to everyone.  

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Armed robber flees on bike

Armed robber flees on bike

| 10/07/2010 | 35 Comments

(CNS): Police have confirmed that yet another gas station was robbed on Friday evening, at around 8:45pm. The gas station in question was Brown’s Esso in the industrial area of George Town. According to the police report, the man entered the store and threatened staff with a handgun. They handed over cash from the till and the robber then fled the scene on a bicycle. No one was injured during the incident and no shots were fired. Police have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the robbery but it is understood that the suspect did not wear a mask. Meanwhile, officers are also investigating two assaults at a George Town night club. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

Police have now confirmed that there were two separate reports of in the early hours of Saturday morning July about LI Night Club located on Lawrence Boulevard. Officers from George Town Police Station responded to a report of an injured male at around one o’clock.  A 19-year-old student of UCCI had received serious head injuries and was transported to George Town Hospital.

Later on the same date at around 2:36 am more officers from George Police Station responded to another report at the same location where a second 19-year-old man had received a stab wound to his hip and injuries to his head.  He was also transported to the George Town Hospital where he received medical treatment.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

Officers from George Town Police Station are appealing to any person that witnessed any of these incidents to contact PS Best Anyone with information should call George Town police station on 949-4222 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477 (TIPS).

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