Archive for October 15th, 2010
Connery summoned to court in Operation Goldfinger
(Guardian): Sir Sean Connery and his wife, Micheline, have been summoned to appear in court in Marbella on the Costa del Sol in a corruption case. The summons are the result of an investigation that the authorities dubbed Operation Goldfinger and centre around the 1998 sale of Malibu, the house that Connery and his wife owned for several decades. The house was sold for €6.4m. The summons relates to €2.7m the local authority claims and disputes over planning permission. 25 others have been caught up in Operation Goldfinger, among them Julián Muñoz, the former mayor of Marbella, singer Isabel Pantoja and several lawyers associated with the defendants. The Connery case has attracted additional attention because of the intervention by the British ambassador to Spain Giles Paxman, brother of the BBC journalist Jeremy.
Police to review procedures in wake of missed bullet
(CNS): Following the revelation yesterday that one of the bullets fired by burglars as they shot their way into a local store had been left behind by scenes of crime officers, the police said a “review of the circumstances” was underway. A bullet which was discovered by the store owner on the shelf among the produce after the SoC officers had left was captured (left) by local photographer Dennie Warren Jr. Chief Superintendent John Jones said procedures would be addressed where needed but the primary focus was on catching the offenders. The owner of the Reflections store which was targeted by the four masked gunmen on Thursday morning says he is offering a $5000 reward for the apprehension.
Prentice Panton the owner of the store who is no stranger to being the victim of robberies and burglaries said he was putting up a $5000 reward as he said it was deeply troubling and unacceptable for these crimes to keep happening. “The public need to step up and report these people when they know who they are,” he said. (Photos by Dennie Warren Jr) 
Judge gentle on teen robbers
(CNS): Full story — Three teenage girls who, armed with machetes, robbed a pizza restaurant, have been given a partially suspended two-year sentence, of which the judge says they must serve six months in jail. A teenage boy, who is under 18 and drove the car in the same robbery, has been given a two-year probation order and released from custody. The sentences were handed down this morning by Justice Smith, who noted that justice “not tempered with mercy would be draconian.” He indicated that the four teenagers presented a low risk of re-offending and that they had all shown remorse and contrition for their crime. The crown, however, made it clear it would appeal all the sentences.
Would Jesus be “other” in the Cayman census?
If Jesus, the Jewish man, were living in the Cayman Islands today, do you think he would have a problem being subjected to the “Other” category of religion on the Cayman Islands Census form? When the census taker came to our home last night, we found it most surprising that Judaism was not listed among the 14 entries of religions in the Cayman Islands.
It is embarrassing and shameful for educated Caymanians to note that a religion that has been around for 5771 years – long before most of the fourteen religions that are noted on the census form – was omitted, especially since several of those religions are newcomers to the Cayman Islands.
It is awkward and strange that a country that purports to be educated and a part of the modern world would omit a significant portion of its own population that has contributed greatly to these islands’ historic culture, development and sustenance from the earliest of times. Not only are Jews a vital presence in these islands today, but many Caymanians can find their Jewish ancestral roots deeply buried in the soil of the Cayman Islands. From its inception to this present day, Jews have contributed, and continue to contribute, significantly to the social, cultural, economic and religious fabric of these islands and have earned a place to be respectfully recognized on our census form.
We do not pretend to speak for the total Diaspora of practicing Jews in the Cayman Islands community, but we, as individuals, are extremely disappointed with the way the Cayman Islands census was developed and released to the public for response, especially after the lengthy travail the Cayman Islands recently experienced in writing our current Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
While we have the highest regards for Christianity and all peoples, regardless of their religions, Judaism did not come from Christianity, but Christianity had and has its roots in Judaism and the Old Testament. To be subjected to the “Other” category in the census questioning of religion is distasteful, considering that this census asks such personal and vital questions about financial status, ethnicity, education, family structure, possessions, etc. As members of the Cayman Islands Jewish community, we found having to respond as “Other” to the Cayman Islands Census not only perplexing and shocking, but disappointing and shameful.
Here on Cayman Brac, Temple Beth Shalom stands out as a beacon of light and humanity that Judaism has been, is, and will be an integral part of the Cayman Islands that honors God and proclaims justice for all of God’s people.
Anonymity and omission can be an awful way of discounting and ignoring. Was this an innocent act of omission, or ignorance on the part of the census questionnaire writers, or a blatant act of ommission, that the Jewish community of the Cayman Islands is relegated to the “Other” category on this vital census document? We are hopeful that it is the first and not the last and hope to see an amended census questionnaire provided by the Cayman Islands Government.
New doctor boosts numbers at pediatric practice
(CNS): Dr. Christine Chen has recently joined Dr. Gordon Smith’s medical practice on Smith Road, George Town which focuses on Neonatology/Pediatrics. Dr Chen who is from Jamaica undertook her medical training at The University Hospital of The West Indies in Jamaica, where she obtained her M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery); following this she then worked at Bustamante Hospital for Children, Jamaica for three years. She then completed her residency in Pediatrics at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.
Jamiaca to undertake Dudus enquiry
(Jamaica Gleaner): Government has yielded to calls for a commission of enquiry into the handling of the extradition request for ousted Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a statement to Parliament yesterday, said "the composition of the commission and the more precise terms of reference will be announced shortly". Golding said the commissioners, who are to be chosen, would be asked to "enquire into the issues relating to the request by the United States (US) government for the extradition of Mr Christopher Coke, the manner in which the request was dealt with and the engagement by Harold Brady & Company, of the US firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips".
NDC urges local employers to develop drug policies
(CNS): With the start of annual Drug-free Work Week on Monday the National Drug Council is encouraging companies in the Cayman Islands to create drug free work environments and to introduce official policies. The purpose of the awareness week is to highlight the benefits of drug-free workplaces and what resources are available to help people suffering from substance abuse. NDC Executive Director Joan West-Dacres said that both alcohol and drug abuse are detrimental to productivity and not just private matters.
Premier to be early tenant in new GOAP building
(CNS): Despite criticisms of the previous administration over the expenditure on the new government office accommodation project, current government officials were lauding the project this week as it was confirmed the building will be ready to welcome the premier, one its first public sector tenants, in January. Although it has cost around $85 million to build, the GOAP is expected to save government more than $10m per annum in rent and more in utility savings due to its “green” credentials. Works Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said she was pleased with the progress of the building and applauded the project management team, contractor and ministry staff, who, she said, had dedicated considerable time overseeing the project to ensure efficiency.
Local fund registration up five percent
(CNS): The Cayman Islands is bucking global trends the chair of Cayman Finance said Wednesday, in the wake of news from the country’s regulator that fund formations have increased some 5 percent in the most recent quarter of 2010. CIMA statistics have also revealed that terminations have gone down by more then 40 percent. Total regulated funds in the Cayman Islands are now at 9,623. Chairman, Anthony Travers predicted that trading talent will continue to migrate out of the EU as more restrictive remuneration provisions come into effect. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) reports that as at 7 October 2010 the yearly month on month average for new registrations increased to 105 per month a 5 % increase over 2009 figures.
Fund terminations for the same period decreased by 40% over the comparative 2009 figures to an average of 45 per month.
MLA puzzled by charges
(CNS): Government backbencher Dwayne Seymour has said that he is both innocent of, and surprised by, the charges brought against him by police on Wednesday. The Bodden Town UDP legislative representative revealed that he did not understand how what he called "baseless charges" of attempting to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice relating to an incident at the Grand Cayman Beach Suites have now been laid against him more than five months later. He also denies knowing the people involved in the charges and has said he looks forward to clearing his name in court. Seymour was arrested in the wake of an alleged assault which took place at the Seven Mile Beach Resort in May of this year.