Archive for July, 2010

University president to unveil latest book

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 11 Comments

(CNS): The story of Cayman’s political personalities since the 1950s has now been revealed in the latest academic book by the UCCI president and former education minster, Roy Bodden. Following the 2007 publication of The Cayman Islands in Transition: The Politics, History, and Sociology of a Changing Society, Bodden’s second installment in a planned trilogy, Patronage, Personalities and Parties: Caymanian Politics from 1950-2000, is now on the local bookshelves. The former politician and long time academic will be presenting his latest work at special signing at Books & Books next Friday.

The book, which forms part of a volume of work outlining the country’s social and political history, charts the evolution of the Caymanian political landscape from the 1950s to the present.

Three main features stand out: a system of patronage based on the nexus of power, influence and money in which a white and near white oligarchy controlled the economy, its politics and the society; the emergence at various times of strong personalities who established hegemonic incumbencies and controlled political power through ‘teams’ rather than political parties; and a rigid adherence to the status of ‘voluntary colonialism’ in which political leaders, the merchant elite and the society at large, continue to opt for a relationship with Britain rather than seek political self-determination.

Bodden provides an historical and interpretive analysis of the political development of Cayman from the time the country received its first written constitution, through the turbulent decades of the 1980s and 1990s to the modern era.

The account of these years is dominated by outstanding personalities like Ormond Panton, whose attempts to arouse political consciousness among Caymanians through the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP) were undermined by local political elements and the colonial power; Jim Bodden, who for many years bestrode the Caymanian political scene like a colossus; and McKeeva Bush, who, in the words of Bodden, “has brought a 21st century approach to Caymanian politics.”

Bodden introduces a number of organizing concepts to aid our understanding of crucial aspects of Caymanian politics; the ‘reptilian agenda’ of Jim and Haig Bodden is used to explain their tactics as opposition politicians; similarly their ‘hegemonic incumbencies’ highlight for the reader how they and other politicians were able to establish and maintain rigid control over their constituencies, sometimes for decades; and finally ‘voluntary colonialism’ to explain why generations of economically independent Caymanians continue to opt for control by a colonial power in preference to their own political independence.

Bodden’s first volume, The Cayman Islands in Transition: The Politics, History, and Sociology of a Changing Society, set the standard for modern scholarship in the Cayman Islands.

In his new book, he combines the dispassionate approach of the professional historian with the insight and authenticity of one who was an active participant in the processes and events described in the book. Even more so than the first volume, this new work is bound to provoke debate, discourse, argument, criticism and scholarship, both within and outside the Cayman Islands.

Bodden is President of the University College of the Cayman Islands. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Cayman Islands and served as minister of education, human Rresources and culture from 2000 to 2005. He is currently working on the third volume, provisionally entitled Family, Wealth, Class, Status and the Political Economy of Land in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands in Transition: The Politics, History, and Sociology of a Changing Society and Patronage, Personalities and Parties: Caymanian Politics from 1950-2000 are now available at Books & Books. This event is free and open to the public at 7pm on Friday 30 July.

Tropical Storm Bonnie on track for oil spill

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): Tropical Storm Bonnie had increased its speed on Friday morning as it raced towards southern Florida on a course towards the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Forecasters at the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm was likely to reach the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday. Earlier this morning Bonnie was centred about 80 miles southeast of Miami with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm is moving at 19mph and tropical force winds extend outward up to 85 miles. The NHC said Bonnie could strengthen when it reached the gulf. There were no reports of major damage, flooding or injuries in the southeastern and central Bahamas as the storm past on Thursday night.

Work to dig a relief oil well has been suspended as boats around BP’s ruptured well prepared to evacuate. The leaking oil well spewed somewhere between 94 million and 184 million gallons into the Gulf before a cap could be attached. The crisis — the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history — unfolded after the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, killing 11 workers.

Experts continue to raise concerns that the hurricane season could worsen environmental damage from the spill, with powerful winds and large waves pushing oil deeper into estuaries and wetlands and also depositing more of the pungent, sticky mess on beaches.

Woman injured in 2-car crash

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 6 Comments

(CNS): A collision occurred at the roundabout at King’s Sports Centre in George Town at 8:42pm this evening where 2 vehicles collided at the intersection, sending one off the road and onto its side. One woman was sent to hospital with severe facial wounds that police said were not life threatening. The boyfriend of the woman and the male driver of the other car are reported to be unhurt. Police are investigating the incident. CNS also received unconfirmed reports that another single vehicle accident occurred on Seven Mile Beach early Friday morning in which a BMW flipped over.

Restaurant robber arrested

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 34 Comments

(CNS): Updated 8am Friday — Police have now arrested a 21-year-old man following a suspected armedrobbery at the Portofino restaurant in East End at 8:52 Thursday evening (22 July). Police said a single male armed with what appeared to be a handgun, threatened staff before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during the incident. An operation was then launched to capture the man who was said to be wearing a red jumpsuit. He was arrested around two hours later but police say he was not in possession of a gun. The restaurant is a popular tourist spot in the Gun Bay area overlooking the Wreck of the Ten Sails.

The man remains in custody and police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact DS Joseph Wright on 947 2220 or Crimestoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS)

Jamaican authorities enforce curfews to tackle crime

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 6 Comments

(CNS): Following the government’s failure to extent the state of emergency in Jamaica following the unrest in Kingston during the search for alleged drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke the Police Commissioner, Owen Ellington (left) has announced a series of new anti-crime strategies, according to Jamaican Information Services. Effective from Thursday (July 22). These strategies reportedly include curfews in at least five areas as well as cordon and search operations without warrants, which will be mounted on what police described as a "continuous basis" where criminals have been located.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) headquarters Ellington said failure to secure the extension and the attendant provisions, which the security forces "relied on substantially" for the success of their operations, posed serious implications for their anti-crime thrust.

These provisions, he outlined, include: forward deployment of members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to areas assessed and deemed to have security risk elements grave enough to exceed law enforcement capacity; cordon and searches of premises without need for warrants; and detention of persons of interest without judicial challenge. In light of this, the Commissioner said it is necessary to implement alternative strategies and intensify those already in operation, in the areas previously under the curfew, and other areas of the country.

"The intelligence and the evidence which we have garnered through our series of operations clearly indicate that many of these individuals are on the move,” the commissioner said. “They are moving from community to community ….one of the things that we are determined to do, is to ensure that criminals do not feel that they have the freedom of movement around the country.”

He said there had been several seizures of contraband and the arrest of key individuals recently linked to drug trafficking and money laundering as a result of investigations.

Police had never anticipated that the state of emergency would be permanent and an exit strategy was in the planning Ellington revealed. “What has occurred now is that we will have to fast track this planning. They come with difficulties, but we are prepared to meet the challenges," he said.

Tropical storm Bonnie heads towards Bahamas

Cayman News | 23/07/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): A tropical storm warning remains in effect this even for central and northwestern Bahamas and parts of Florida including the Keys as Bonnie which formed into the season second tropical storm this afternoon continued on its northwest path. at 8:00 pm EDT the centre of Tropical Storm Bonnie was located near latitude 23.1 north longitude 75.9 west. The storm is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph and a turn toward the west-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected tonight and Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts and the NHC in Miami said that slow strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread over the central and northwestern Bahamas tonight and Friday. Weather conditions will begin to deteriorate on the Florida coast and Florida Keys within the warning area Friday morning.

Bonnie is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over south Florida with possible isolated maximum amounts of 5 to 6 inches. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are expected over the central and northwest Bahamas with possible isolated amounts of 5 to 7 inches.

Chevron charged Brac duty

Cayman News | 22/07/2010 | 34 Comments

(CNS): Despite the fact that government waived the fuel duty increase on Cayman Brac, local gas station owners have revealed that the islands’ retail fuel stations have been charged the extra 25 cents per gallon by the bulk fuel supplier. Nathanial Tibbetts, the owner of the Texaco station in Watering Place, told CNS that Chevron informed the retailers by email earlier this week that the fuel was increasing by 25 cents and then charged the stations on delivery yesterday. As a result, Tibbetts said, he had no choice but to pass on the charge as he has not yet been given any officialconfirmation that he will be refunded. Lenaris Ebanks, the part owner of the West End Texaco station, concurred and said he was happy to show customers his invoice from the wholesaler as proof.

Tibbetts explained that he only learned from government earlier today that Chevron charged the duty in error and that the Brac was exempt, but he has not yet been given any written assurance that he will be reimbursed. Ebanks also said the same thing — that he had been told by Chevron that the firm wanted government clarification before offering any reimbursements to the retailers.

The gas station managers both said that until they could be certain that the wholesaler would give back the 25 cents extra on the gallon they had been charged for their latest deliveries they will have to maintain the price increase.

“This is a chicken and egg situation. Until I know that I will get my money back I can’t risk reducing the price in case I don’t,” Tibbetts stated. “This is really unfortunate but I don’t have much of a choice. Chevron should not have charged us the increased price.”

Ebanks also said that the retailers, who make a very small profit on the fuel on the Brac, said they are constantly putting up with the licks because of what Chevron, the wholesaler for Texaco, does.

“We are stuck with this until they confirm what is happening. No one has reassured us we are getting our money back. I have no idea how we can reimburse people who have already filled up at the higher price,” he said. “This is not the retailers doing and I am happy to show anyone who asks the invoice I had to pay for yesterday’s delivery and the e-mail from Chevron saying the fuel was going up by 25 cents.”

Despite the fact that when government changed the customs tariff in the Legislative Assembly earlier this month and exempted Cayman Brac, the fuel supplier still added on the duty increase on the delivery to the Sister Island, causing considerable concern from Brac drivers who believed they were exempt.

Tibbetts revealed that he also received a call from the petroleum inspectorate today asking him to remove the 25 cents extra, but the gas station manager had to point out he had been charged by Chevron and the inspectorate needed to contact the wholesalers who had made the error.

Government issued a clarification earlier today (22 July) following reports that fuel had increased on the Brac by 25 cents on the gallon at both stations. The minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture said this morning the island was exempt from the duty as fuel prices on the Brac were already considerably higher than on Grand Cayman.

“Increasing the cost of fuel further by adding the latest fuel duty will have a negative economic impact on the island without raising significant revenue,” Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said in regard to the waiver in her constituency.

CNS has contacted the fuel depot on Cayman Brac and the Chevron offices but has not been able to speak with management at any of the relevant offices to find out howthe retailers will be refunded.

The 25 cent per gallon duty increase was imposed on fuel sold in Grand Cayman and Little Cayman from 1 July, which resulted in price increases at pumps there around a week later.

Brac fuel price increases despite duty waiver

Cayman News | 22/07/2010 | 6 Comments

(CNS): Following reports that fuel has been increased by 25 cents on Cayman Brac, government has issued a statement confirming that the new duty increase does not apply to fuel sold on that island. CNS has contacted both Texaco Gas stations on Cayman Bra as well as the bulk fuel depot but has not been able to speak with management at any of the relevant offices. Calls have also been placed to the Chevron offices in Grand Cayman to find out where in the chain the fuel has been increased and why but so far there has been no response. The Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture said the island was exempt from the latest duty increase of 25 cents per gallon as fuel prices there were already considerably higher than on Grand Cayman.

The duty was imposed on fuel sold in Grand Cayman and Little Cayman from 1 July which resulted in price increases at pumps there around a week later. It is still not clear however, if the increase on the Brac is a trickle down effect or as a result of an increase in the cost of fuel itself.

CNS is continuing to contact both Chevron and the relevant gas station managers.

Dead man was tagged

Cayman News | 22/07/2010 | 61 Comments

(CNS): The Emergency Communications and Electronic Monitoring Department has now confirmed wide speculation that the man shot and killed by a homeowner in theearly hours of this morning, during an attempted burglary, was fitted with an electronic tagging device. The department stated that at the time of the incident the tracking device was showing the man was present at another location. The tag had clearly been removed but the department said it does not yet know how. Once the 911 centre realized that the person who had been shot was a client of theirs, police were sent to that location and recovered the tracking device, the department said. The dead man, who is Harryton Rivers (29), was on bail as a result of other criminal charges.

He was referred to the Electronic Monitoring Programme by the RCIPS on the 18 June 2010 under the provisions of the Bail Law. “The department has initiated a full investigation to determine under what circumstances the tracking device became detached from the client,” the monitoring department said in a statement.

Cayman’s local stone at centre of art exhibit

Cayman News | 22/07/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The unique beauty of Caymanite will be on show in its full glory at the National Museum from tomorrow until September in a new exhibition entitled ‘Our Rock’. Organisers say visitors will see firsthand the stunning jewellery and magnificent sculptures created from Caymanite by local artists. The rock is a unique semi-precious stone found only in the Cayman Islands. The vibrant striations of colours represents millions of years of global geological events.

Encouraging people to visit the new exhibit the organisers said, “The National Museum depends very heavily on funding programming through memberships and gift shop sales, so visit the National Museum, bring a friend and become a member, by choosing any one of the nine membership opportunities available.”

A special preview showing has been scheduled for today, Thursday July 22nd, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm for museum members.