Archive for July, 2010
$2million road upgrades begin on Brac
(CNS): With the recent acquisition of an asphalt plant and heavy equipment on Cayman Brac, as well as an allocation of over $2million in the 2010/11 budget for the
“Our roads were in dire need and even in this stringent economy, this government managed to find the funds to improve safety and beautify the island,’ she said. “An upgraded road infrastructure supports sectors such as tourism and agriculture. By improving the road network now, we are positioning the
O’Connor-Connolly applauded the Brac’s Public Works Department crew for their diligence in setting up the asphalt plant and getting the programme started and thanked the National Roads Authority for their assistance with personnel and special heavy equipment.
While general road maintenance is conducted by the Brac PWD, this first major road resurfacing project will ultimately impact much of Cayman Brac’s road network government officials said.
Hit and run victims appeal for driver to come forward
(CNS): The two female victims of a hit and run driver are appealing for whoever knocked them down last week to hand themselves in. Police say they are still hunting for the driver of a silver car with a spoiler on the bumper which is believed to have left the scene after hitting the two women as they were out walking along Mount Pleasant Road on Wednesday 14 July. Joan Walters and Rose Marie Sanderson both suffered serious but not life threatening injuries following the incident. News 27 interviewed the women who are currently in the Cayman Islands Hospital who said they were laughing and joking only seconds before they were hit.
Cayman keeps watch on dengue as regional cases rise
(CNS): Although no new cases of dengue fever have been reported in Cayman since January of this year, public health officials say they are monitoring the regional situation. The fever is rising sharply in the Caribbean and the mosquito which can transmit the disease is present locally. There are no vaccines to prevent the fever and officials say the best prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar said, “Although we had three confirmed cases reported in Januarythis year, there have been no other dengue cases reported since then and the Cayman Islands is still considered to be dengue free. However, especially with the regional outbreak in mind, we are not complacent and medical personnel are on high alert to look for any local cases.”
Currently dengue outbreaks are reported in a number of Caribbean countries as well as Honduras, Belize, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago.
“Dengue fever is caused by a virus, but a mosquito biting a person with dengue fever can spread the virus to another person,” Dr Kumar explained. “Hence persons, who develop symptoms within two to three weeks of having returned from countries with dengue cases, are advised to consult their physician.”
The symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains, nausea and vomiting, eye pain, and rash. The incubation period (the time that the infection takes to develop before it shows symptoms) is usually four to seven days; but can be up to three weeks.
There is no vaccine or specific medication to treat dengue infection, and people travelling to known dengue endemic countries should take preventative measures such as using a repellent, wearing protective clothing, using air conditioning indoors or only opening screened windows and doors, and staying indoors during early dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
While there are no local cases of dengue fever, the dengue carrier – the Aedes aegyptii mosquito – is present in the Cayman Islands, making transmission of the disease possible.
“The only real protective measure is avoiding mosquito bites,” Dr. Kumar added.
Upon report of a suspected dengue case the Public Health Department would immediately inform its partners in prevention and control the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) and the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) of the suspected case, and they would take measures as if it was a case of dengue fever and enhance their mosquito control measures around the residence of the case.
For more information, call the Public Health Department on 244-2648 or 244-2621, or Faith Hospital on 948-2243. For advice on mosquito control measures contact the MRCU on 949-2557 or DEH on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac.
Countries in region reporting cases of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever include Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia,Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Black parents give birth to white baby
(The Sun): The stunned black dad of a newborn, white, baby girl declared yesterday, "I’m sure she’s my kid … I just don’t know why she’s blonde." British Nmachi Ihegboro has amazed genetics experts who say the little girl is not an albino. Dad Ben, 44, a customer services adviser, admitted: "We both just sat there after the birth staring at her." Mum Angela, 35, of Woolwich, South London, beamed as she said: "She’s beautiful – a miracle baby." Professor Bryan Sykes, head of Human Genetics at Oxford University and Britain’s leading expert, called the birth "extraordinary". He said while mixed race humans, the lighter variant of skin tone may come out in a child in Afro-Caribbean populations in Nigeria there is little mixing.
Eco-cars wait for green light
(CNS): It is three years this month since local car dealer John Felder began lobbying the government to allow electric cars on Cayman’s roads, and still the eco-friendly vehicles remain banned from public highways. However, government officials have said that amendments to the traffic law which include the necessary changes to permit the use of electric cars on some of Cayman’s roads are scheduled to come before the country’s legislators in September. Felder, who has already imported a number of different electric-powered cars, says the wait has been far too long but now more than ever with gas prices rising drivers should be given the option to choose electric.
Felder of Cayman Automotive told CNS that July marked the third anniversary since he began lobbying for changes to the traffic and vehicle licensing laws to accommodate the cars, and this month he pointed out that electric vehicles appeared on the roads in Bermuda following changes made there to the law.
“With the recent increase in fuel duty and the impact that is likely to have, now more than ever Cayman drivers need to be free to use electric cars on local roads,” he added.
Felder already has a long waiting list of potential customers for his vehicles that want to buy and drive these eco-friendly, no-carbon, cost saving, vehicles.
Kearney Gomez, Chief Officer of the Ministry of District Administration, Communications and Public Works, told CNS that government was committed to the legislation and the necessary changes should form part of a comprehensive amendment of the traffic laws which will allow the cars on the road in and around George Town and along most of the West Bay Road.
After waiting so long, Felder said he is still hopeful that the legislation will pass this year and Cayman can eventual enjoy the benefits of what are modern and sophisticated vehicles. With cars being the number one polluter on island, Felder said if government is serious about going green it has to facilitate the use of these cars.
The speed of the Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) should no longer be an issue, Felder stated, as they will only be licensed to be used on roads with a 35 mph limit and the cars are as safe as any “gas guzzling” car.
The electric cars have numerous benefits, from reducing the islands’ reliance on oil, improving the air we breathe and cutting costs for motorists, to bringing in much needed duty for government coffers, as well as new licence fees. “I have tried to be patient and work with government on this and they have assured me it will be done,” Felder told CNS recently. “I still live in hope.”
The Cayman Islands could also be the first Caribbean country to introduce full solar panel charge stations, Felder explained, as one local firm has already committed to establishing the green systems for charging not only their own fleet of cars but those of other owners at the overnight specially designed solar stations. Felder hopes that once the cars are in use and the green vehicles take off, eventually there will be various speed charging stations at the supermarkets, where people can charge their electric cars as they shop.
Felder explained that all of the support systems are in place for charging and servicing but it was all on government now to make it happen. Costing as little as $2 a day to run, Felder said lots of people in Cayman are keen to own an NEV but obviously want to use their cars on the roads and not just on private sites as the existing customers, such as Camana Bay and Andros Group, currently do.
“We have people who want to use them around George Town for deliveries, among other things. On Cayman Brac and Little Cayman we have clients who want to buy fleets to use as rental cars for visitors,” Felder explained, adding that the NEV fits really well with the promotion of eco-tourism on the Sister Islands.
Felder also paid tribute to the late Sonny Rhian of Little Cayman, who died last year and was the first person to bring a Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) to the Cayman Islands in 2004 but was never able to drive his car on the roads because of the failure of government to enact the legislation necessary. “I believe government should honour Mr Rhian’s memory when it finally introduces this legislation,” Felder said.
No arrests in cop manhunt
(CNS): Police have said that no arrests were made on Tuesday following a full scale manhunt in the Windsor Park area of George Town during the afternoon. Although RCIPS officers from the K9 Unit, Uniform Support Group and the police helicopter team spent searching for allegedly armed suspects as a result of a drugs operation, no one has yet been apprehended. Police are believed to be looking for at least two suspects who fled the scene of an organised raid by the RCIPS. A number of specialist units were searching the bush area off Anthony Drive for several hours. (Photos by Dennie Warren Jr)
Police from GT station told CNS on Tuesday night that they were unable to reveal any more details on the full scale police operation other than to confirm that no arrests have yet been made in connection with the operation.
CNS will continue in its efforts to communicate with the RCIPS in order to report details as and when they are released.
Cops charge Anglin with indecent assualt & wounding
(CNS): Police have now confirmed that Chad Anglin (30), who was recently arrested after being on the run from law enforcement for almost three weeks, has been charged with indecent assault and wounding. The charges are in connection with what police had called a vicious attack which took place in West Bay last month when police officers from Uniform Support disturbed a man who was attacking a young woman in a car. The victim had already had her throat cut when the officers arrived on the scene and had sustained other serious injuries during the attack. The attacker escaped as the police turned their attention to the victim who was in need of life saving assistance.
However, following the attack police immediately launched a full scale manhunt for Anglin, whom they said was wanted in connection with the incident. His picture and details were released to the media and circulated across the islands. Anglin was finally arrested on 8 July in his home district of West Bay in connection with the attack, which took place in the early hours of 17 June on Garvin Road.
Hedge Fund Care helps Crisis Centre help children
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre’s Children and Youth Programme has helped 25 children since its inception in August 2009 and has since been expanded to incorporate youths up to the age of sixteen. With the help of grants from the Cayman Chapter of Hedge Funds Care (HFC), the programme focuses on the safety and well-being of children and youths who accompany their mothers to the centre as a result of domestic abuse.
CICC, who were awarded $35,000 in May 2010, were among six grantees to receive funding to assist with their ongoing efforts to eradicate and treat child abuse in the Cayman Islands. This was a renewal grant for the centre, having received circa $46,000 in 2008.
Charmaine Bush-Miller, Children and Youth Programme Case Manager said “In part the funding has been used to create and support my post which works directly with the children who accompany their mothers to the Centre. Prior to creating the Children and Youth Programme, 100% of our efforts were focused on the mothers. Children, who live in homes where domestic abuse occurs, more than likely have witnessed their father hurting their mother or have heard the loud angry voices and fearful screams that accompanies abuse. As a result, when the children come to shelter they are often confused, angry, and, or frightened. Now with the Children and Youth Programme there is a staff member designated and trained to work directly with the children to help them understand why they are at the Centre and teach them to deal with their feelings surrounding the abuse.”
The HFC grant also supports the CICC After Care Programme. Under thedirection of long-time staff member Lorna Medina, the After Care Programme provides follow-up and assistance for women and their children when they leave the safe shelter. Shortly after the inception of the Crisis Centre, Ms. Medina, a native and long time resident of the Cayman Islands began working on a voluntary basis with the women after they left the shelter. Through HFC funding the After Care Programme became an official and much needed component of CICC.
Charmaine who has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology has been employed since July 2009. She applied for the position following an internship at the centre during the summer of 2004. The internship served to fulfil a course requirement as a graduate in psychology from Ave Maria University – Latin American Campus, located in Nicaragua. During this time, Charmaine worked side by side with the outreach coordinator to increase awareness of child sexual abuse in the Cayman Islands.
During their stay, the programme offers children and youths assistance to counter anxiety, self blame and identification and address of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms; individual and group sessions geared towards enhancing self esteem and safety; support groups to facilitate effective communication skills, healthy coping mechanisms, self awareness and conflict resolution; family support groups to enhance parent child interaction; academic assistance; referral services for children battling with anger management, child sexual abuse and other identified problems which impede a child’s normal developmental process; information to parents on parenting skills, prevention of child sexual abuse and the effects of domestic violence on children.
Additionally, the programme offers support in helping children deal with the challenges that face them academically and changing learned behaviour copied from what they see. It also provides support to parents who often have to adjust to having a lack of funds due to the abuser or them leaving the marital home. Costs surprisingly include bilingual materials as English is not the first language of the majority of clients.
The crisis centre is open to all victims who have made contact via phone, who do not have a child over 16 years of age or any pets that they would need to bring with them. The length of their stay varies but is up to a maximum of six months.
The current staff discipline is six full-time staff that cover a 24 hour shift pattern and operate a 24-hour crisis helpline.
Charmaine added, “The most rewarding part of my role is the positive outcome we see when intervening to break a pattern of unhealthy behaviour, which most of the time stems from witnessing domestic violence. The changing process is satisfying because we are able to distinguish between a child who initially enters the shelter with mixed emotions, questioning their self value and demonstrating much aggression towards their peers and relatives, to a child expressing eagerness to participate in group sessions, articulating their wants and needs assertively and improving their self as a whole. The physical ailments of domestic violence are always eye opening and making the smallest difference is hugely rewarding.”
Looking forward the CICC has a very ambitious development programme for their clients. They are looking for donations to assist with the expansion of their children’s playroom and to pave and landscape their front garden area.
For more information on how you can contribute to HFC, contact Claire Lloyd-Hickey at claire.lloyd-hickey@ogier.com
Hedge fund industry professionals established Hedge Funds Care (HFC), a charitable organisation focused on assisting young victims of abuse in 1998. Since that time, chapters have opened in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Toronto, Cayman and London. The targeted groups for the organisation include those organisations with interests inhedge funds, including investment managers, investors, prime brokers, attorneys, accountants, administrators and information providers. Since its inception, Hedge Funds Care has distributed over $21 million through more than 600 grants.
$9 million shelter for the Brac
(CNS): The UDP government has started a major capital project on Cayman Brac. Work has begun on a hurricane shelter, with a main hall and 80 private rooms, located east and adjacent to the playing field on the Bluff, with access via Major Donald Drive. The planning application gives the total cost of the project as an estimated $9 million, though Deputy Premier Julianna O’Connor Connolly, who is second elected member for the Sister Islands, believes it will cost between $7.5 and $8.5 million to finish. She says it will be completed over a three-year period.
Planning approval has been given to the two-story 36,111 square feet building. Site preparation and purchase of some preliminary resources was achieved with the $500,000 in last year’s budget, and another $900,000 in this year’s budget will almost complete the main hall, O’Connor Connolly told CNS.
According to the plans, in phase 1 (the main building) the first storey will include the main hall, plus a sick bay, reception area, kitchen and several bathrooms. The second floor will include the command centre, office and conference room. Phase 2 consists of four 2-storey “wings” to the building, each wing with 10 private rooms on each floor, each room with a semi-private bathroom (one for every two rooms).
“One of the lessons of Paloma was that there were too many needs for one hall,” O’Connor Connolly said, noting that the rooms will have individual temperature control. She said that during Hurricane Paloma, some people were too hot and some were too cold, and that there was no privacy for the elderly or disabled.
The main hall will accommodate up to 400 people in a storm and each wing can house an additional 100 adults, so the new building adds another 800 shelter spaces to Cayman Brac.
This will be a multi-purpose building that will be used for inside sports, such as squash, badminton, netball and basketball, and with the rooms it can accommodate visiting teams, as well as for conferences and retreats, O’Connor-Connolly said.
When there is an emergency, the private rooms will be allocated on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, though the deputy premier said that if a major hurricane was approaching they could allocate one wing for hospital patients.
This new emergency shelter will be the fourth on the island. The Aston Rutty Civic Centre on the Bluff can hold approximately 500 people, while the West End Primary School, which has been structurally upgraded since Paloma, can hold 250, and the Brac Day Care Centre, located next to the civic centre, can hold 155.
The District Administration Building, while not an official emergency centre, also shelters DA staff and their families, and the rebuilt Veteran’s and Seaman’s Center is also an unofficial shelter. In addition, many new homes are being built on the Bluff, where people remain during a storm.
‘Operation Heron’ postponed
(CNS): Updated Tuesday 4:40 pm – Due to inclement weather and concern about the occurrence of lightning and the safety of volunteer passengers, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) and the Airport Emergency Exercise Committee have voted to postpone the planned mock aircraft accident scheduled for tonight. Weather permitting, the exercise will take place on Tuesday, 27 July, the CIAA said Tuesday afternoon. “Operation Heron” was scheduled to be staged this evening in the vicinity of Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman, and motorists were warned to expect to encounter periodic traffic disruptions.
The staging of the exercise will inevitably result in some minor but essential inconvenience to the public and the CIAA is asking for understanding and cooperation. The Airport Emergency Committee comprises representatives from the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, Airlines, 911 Emergency Communications, Government Information Services/Joint Communications Services, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, the National Roads Authority, the Department of Environmental Health, the Port Authority, the Red Cross and the Port Authority.