Archive for August 4th, 2010
Little Cayman’s tourism pioneer passes
Samson “Sam” McCoy, 16 September 1930 to 9 June 2010: In June this year Little Cayman lost a true visionary and an icon of the Sister Islands, who saw the wonder of the beautiful reefs around the island and, together with Bob Soto, pioneered the diving industry on what remains one of the most loved diving destinations in the Caribbean by those who make the journey to Cayman’s smallest island. A hard working Caymanian, a son of the soil and a man of the sea, with a passion for the land and marine environments, Sam made an indelible mark on the development of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Samson Sylvester McCoy was born in Spot Bay, Cayman Brac on 16 September 1930. He was the third child and first son of James and Enid McCoy. Mr Sam, or Sammy as he was affectionately called, was a man of many visions.
He was united in Holy matrimony to Mary Delrose Scott on Wednesday, 17 October 1956, in Spot Bay, Cayman Brac. Sam and Mary were blessed with a loving family – Maxine was born in September of 1958, followed by five sons, Craig in 1961, Carl in 1962, Chris in 1966, Croy in 1967 and Charles, or Chip as you affectionately called him, in 1970.
Sam lost his father in the 1939 hurricane, so that left him then a young head of the family of 5 siblings along with his mother, Enid. At the tender age of 14 he left on the SS Tanner for Jamaica and then was dispatched on the SS Ore Titan beginning as a messman. He worked hard for the next 8 years, sending money home to his mother to help raise his other siblings. On his last voyage on the SS Ore Titan Sam decided that he had had enough of the sea and wanted to be back in Cayman Islands nearer his family.
In 1966 he met Dr Logan T. Robertson of Ashville, North Carolina, who was interested in hiring someone locally who could build a fishing and duck hunting club on Little Cayman. Sam was a man of many trades, carpentry being number #1 on the list. He was also a mechanic, plumber, electrician and cook – he was the local man who could accomplish everything Dr Logan needed in order for his dream to become a reality in Little Cayman, so Sam was hired.
First, he helped expand the already established Southern Cross Club, which would become world famous for many years, being the “members only” club for fishing and duck hunting in the Caribbean. Then he helped with the hiring of other men to work for Mr Lloyd Rhian Sr to build Head O’ Bay (the Rhian’s private residence). And finally, the last project Dr Logan wanted was the building of his own very Pirate’s Point.
Sam with Mary and their growing family of one daughter and five sons, together with Mary’s father Pastor Carl E. Scott, worked together on the construction of Pirate’s Point. This was Dr Logan’s own private home where he could visit anytime he wished. Those were the days that Little Cayman was infested with mosquitoes and sand flies, and in order not to be eaten alive he used to spray the screen around Pirate’s Point with diesel oil and burn coconut husks.
The only electricity that was available was by generator for about 6 hours a day for the basic necessities – no air conditioning, only ceiling fans were churning hot air and an AM radio tuned to Jamaica radio stations, RJR or JBC, was Sam’s company a lot of the time.
The only telephone on island was the battery operated one at Ms Eleanor Bodden’s home which was located in Blossom Village, South Hole – the site of Little Cayman’s District Officer’s Office and Residence today. Sam would visit in the evening with Ms Eleanor, Mr Joe Grizzell, Mr Christie, Ms Nada and Mr Guy Banks and his family. This is the time that he would use the telephone to call his wife and children on Cayman Brac. Every weekend, Easter and Christmas holidays, Sam would take his wife and family to Little Cayman in his boat, which he called “Wompa”. Most weekends Sam would travel to Cayman Brac for much needed supplies and to see his family. He transported gas, diesel and propane between the islands for anyone in need. He also served at one time as the customs and immigration officer for Little Cayman. So it was only natural that when the opportunity arose for him to start his own business, Little Cayman was the place Sam chose to establish Sam McCoy’s Fishing and Diving Lodge in 1983.
Sam McCoy’s Fishing and Diving Lodge Ltd was known for never disappointing a visiting fisherman or diver. Sam’s hobbies were a natural fit with his newly founded venture – snorkelling, free diving and spear-fishing. This was how he found out about the beauty of Bloody Bay & Jackson Wall on the North Side of Little Cayman. Many days he would venture out into the awesome beauty of the sheer wall and blue abyss and was able to provide a tasty meal for his family and guests from his knowledge of the sea. By that time he had also learnt to dive with scuba tanks and he named some of the dive sites on the north coast and attributed their names to a particular historical happening or unusual circumstance during the dive, such as “Marylyn’s Cut” and “Bus Stop”.
He decided to contact his friend Mr Bob Soto, who was at the time active with his own scuba diving adventures in Grand Cayman. Bob told him that this could be a lucrative business for both of them in the diving industry. Sam laughed and told “Bobby” that they would probably starve to death before that would happen, but he persevered anyway. Over the years Sam agreed with Bob that he was right in that the dive industry was profitable.
Sam and Mary wanted to give their family what they did not have themselves and that was the opportunity for a good sound education. Through dedication and hard work, with Mary by his side (and with the earlier contributions of the children at various times) they worked for many years building a solid business which not only supported his family but also helped many others who later founded businesses and homes on Little Cayman.
Sam’s dream had become a reality and when he passed onto his heavenly home on Wednesday, 9 June 2010, he had lived a great life and seen his vision come true for Little Cayman, including a part of the North Coast road being named Sam McCoy’s Drive in his honour.
Sam envisioned Little Cayman to be as it is today and lived his life to the fullest each and every day. He was a sincere, hard working, happy man, who always had a smile on his face. He loved taking care of the environment, above and below the sea. He was honoured by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and Mr Jean Michel Cousteau as the “Pioneer for Tourism in Little Cayman” in 2003 when he was inducted into the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
Sam made everyone happy just being in his presence and he will be missed both locally and abroad. His memory will live on in the minds of those who were blessed to have been able to meet and talk with him, listen to his stories under the “Hammock Shed” and enjoy the pristine wildlife, fishing or diving, in Little Cayman.
Left to mourn his passing are wife of 53 years, Mary; daughter Maxine; sons Craig, Carl, Chris, Croy and Charles; daughters-in-law Dorita McCoy, Annette McCoy, Yolanda McCoy and Nicoela McCoy; three granddaughters Vicki, Arianna and Natalia; nine grandsons Miguel, Arrowe, Diego, Xavier, Rhyann, Kyle, Arren, Paxton, and Nathan; two great grandsons Jovian and Kai; one step great grandson James McLean; his sisters Nerissa, Enid, Evry and Nadia; lots of family and friends in the Cayman Islands and around the world.
In lieu of flowers the McCoy family wishes for donations to be made to the Seaman’s and Veteran’s Association of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
May he rest in peace.
Grand Cayman #15 in worlds top islands to live on
(CNS): Grand Cayman has once again been listed as one of the best islands to live on in the world according to the July/August issue of Islands Magazine. Listed at number 15 in the editor’s top 20 islands to make your home, the magazine says foreigners who invest over $900,000 in property or a business in the Cayman Islands, can apply for a 25 year residency certificate. Each year, editors of Islands Magazine which has a circulation of more than 204, 000, rank the top 20 islands, based on criteria such as real estate values, ease of immigration, expat communities, and quality of island life.
Mickey finds no cop policies
(CNS): A Freedom of Information request by Mickey Mouse to the RCIPS has found that the police do not appear to have any policies in place for informing the rank and file of their policies. In response to Mouse, the policesaid that officers are informed of RCIPS policies via email when necessary but that no documents existed covering how policies are imparted. Mouse also asked the RCIPS to reveal any documentation they had relating to police pursuit procedures. In the first instance Mouse was told the police did not hold any such documentation on the subject, but he was later informed that his request had been deferred and would be released on 30 August of this year in line with, ironically, new policies.
Two arrested in fatal smash
(CNS): Police had now confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with the car smash which claimed the life of 24 year old FederAnn Faustino. According to other sources Faustino’s boyfriend was driving the Honda Civic in which she was killed and an 18 year old girl was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser. Police said that both drivers have been arrested. One on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and the other on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. One of the drivers remains in George Town Hospital under going treatment for non life threatening injuries and the second is on police bail pending interview. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)
Faustino who was a passenger in the Honda civic sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced dead at the George Town Hospital and police said an autopsy will take place today (Wednesday) at 2pm. 
South Africa announces TIEA with Cayman
(CNS): According to reports in the South African press, that country will be one of the next jurisdictions with which the Cayman Islands will be signing a tax exchange deal. The Cayman government has already signed 19 different Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEA) with countries around the world surpassing the OECD’s standard of at least 12 deals. Although there is no indication of when or where the TIEA will be signed with South Africa on the Tax Information Authority website, The Times reports that the details of the TIEA with Cayman and four other jurisdictions were presented to South African law makers this week.
Cops:Gambling not a priority
(CNS): Following reports that an international gambling firm was able to purchase illegal lottery tickets with little difficulty during its research in Cayman, the police have revealed that illegalgaming is not at the top of the RCIPS list. As the debate about legalising gambling continues, those who are against it suggest that the failure of police to enforce the gambling laws is an example of the ‘official lawlessness’ that is widespread in the islands. Others see the open flouting of the law as one of the many reasons why it is time for it to be legalised to facilitate a national lottery or casinos. Police did state that when reports are made about illegal gaming they follow through but admitted it was not a priority. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
Public accounts on track
(CNS):The chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Ezzard Miller, says that the civil servants involved in pulling together the government’s annual accounts are working hard to make the September deadline. Despite the significant number of reports still outstanding, Miller said great strides have been made recently and he is confident that most government entities will be completely up to date by the end of next month. He also stated that financial officers have been working hard with the audit office to make the deadline for the 2009/10 year end accounts as well. The PAC chair said he hopes to achieve the goal of having a full set of government accounts audited and ready to be reviewed by PAC well before the end of this financial year. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
Young Progressives speak out over project proposals
(CNS): In June, CNS intern Ashleigh Hydes spoke with the Young United Democratic Party leaders (YUDP) about the government’s proposed private-public development projects that it hopes will rejuvenate Cayman’s economy. Last week, Ashleigh sat down with Denise Miller, (Left) the president of the Young Progressives (YP), to get their take on government plans and the same debate. Not surprisingly, Miller had a number of concerns about government plans, especially over the East End cargo facility, but she did offer support for the idea of a hospital and the development of medical tourism.
With government backing a hospital proposal by Dr Devi Shetty, the channel for the North Sound, cruise berthing in George Town and a cargo port facility project in East End, CNS asked Denise about the YP’s opinions on the same issues.
“The YP is very concerned about national conservation and our islands’ marine life,” she said. "There is a reason why the development law was written: to enforce proper checks on the development," stated Denise. She told CNS that the young politicians are also against the development of the channel in the North Sound because it is unnecessary and the ecosystem will be destroyed.
When asked about the new hospital, Denise said that the medical tourism is possibly the most beneficial of all government’s proposals. "It could be another pillar to our economy if it is done right," she said, offering support and adding that she hoped it would bring in more revenue from tourists, which is a plus.
In regards to the George Town cruise berthing, Denise had a few suggestions of her own. She thinks it needs to be improved and an environmental assessment should be done. The cruise berthing isn’t as attractive as it could be to the tourists who frequently visit the island, she suggested.
The Young Progressives are against the cargo facility in East End, Denise revealed, because "it is the last bit of real Caymanwe have left," she said. They feel that the government is trying to industrialize the area against the will of the people to have the port in that district.
Although all the costs needed for the projects are, according to government, being taken care of by the developer, Denise does not think that will be the case. Her reason for that belief is that the main road will have to be moved, which will be in the hands and expense of government. She also said that so much of the untouched flora andfauna in the district will be destroyed.
"We need to have all hands on deck!” Denise declared. “The voice of the opposition and the voice of the people isn’t being heard. They are the government for all of us not just for the people that voted them in."
Since he announced these different projects, McKeeva Bush, the country’s premier, has said he will be going ahead with them even if there is opposition, but Denise made it clear that the views of the Young Progressives are definitely going to be heard. They are willing to stand with Arden McLean, the People’s Progressive Movement representative for East End, in front of the bulldozers if it comes to it, Denise told CNS.
15-year-old Ashleigh Hydes worked with CNS as a work link student earlier this summer.
London world capital of reputation laundering
(The Guardian): It has a strong claim to be the world capital of everything from finance to design, but now London can add a new, more dubious distinction: it has become the reputation laundering destination of choice for foreign heads of state whose controversial activities may have stained their countries’ public images. An investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the capital’s public relations firms are earning millions of pounds a year promoting foreign regimes with some of the world’s worst human rights records, including Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.