Archive for November 11th, 2010

Pirate capers kick off with steel band competition

Pirate capers kick off with steel band competition

| 11/11/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The swashbuckling annual celebrations for Cayman’s Pirates week festival will get underway this evening with a number of pre-Pirates week events including the traditional Happy Hour at Breezes by the Bay, before the steel band competition where several school bands will be offering a true taste of the Caribbean in Cardinal Avenue as they vie for a $5000 prize. The full celebrations begin on Friday with the official opening fireworks display and the traditional street dance and food festival in down town George Town. Many of the events during Pirates’ Week are also an opportunity to raise funds for important causes not least the annual turtle release.

 Organisers are still seeking sponsors for this event for much needed research funding. There are estimated to be only 40 to 50 breeding adult sea turtles left laying on local beaches. Since 1979, the Cayman Turtle Farm Headstarting programme has been releasing turtles that are 1 to 2 years old into Caribbean waters surrounding Cayman as a part of the Farm’s ongoing conservation efforts. This year, four Headstarted yearling turtles are being offered for sponsorship which entitles the donor to release their own turtle.

“Sponsorship is an opportunity to participate in the global conservation effort of this endangered species by contributing towards the release of potential future breeding sea turtles,” said Geddes Hislop the farm’s curator. “Turtles are an integral part of our history and culture and we look forward, with the help of our sponsors, to playing a significant role in replenishing the population.”

Meanwhile , police are issuing notices regarding road closures for the festival starting with Harbour Drive, Fort Street / North Church Street, Sheddon Road / Elgin Avenue and Boilers Road / South Church Street tonight Thursday 11 November from 6pm for the steel pan competition.

The full pirate’s week schedule is available at www.piratesweekfestival.com as well as other information about the various events.

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Email scammers use census as bait

Email scammers use census as bait

| 11/11/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The Economics and Statistics Office has warned residents not to respond to any e-mails claiming to be from enumerators from the census office. Enumerators are not using email to contact people regarding the census and there are concerns that scammers are using the national count as a way to get people to divulge information. The RCIPS Financial Crime Unit is also issuing a warning over an e-mail scam inviting people to join an investment scheme or partnership to recover unclaimed assets left by someone who has died. Residents are being warned again not to give personal details in emails otherwise they could become victims of fraud.

ESO Director Maria Zingapan said that census enumerators will not be contacting any residents via e-mail. “We therefore ask anyone who receives an e-mail claiming to be from the Census Office to immediately call their district census office to verify its source,” she cautioned.

The national census is almost at an end but there are still some people who need to be counted the office said and reminded residents who may still be reluctant to be counted that it is a legal requirement to answer census questions.

“Enumerators have done well covering the majority of households in the past five weeks. However, there are still some people left to be counted. Over the next two weeks we will focus our efforts on reaching out to those households,” Zingapan said. “If an enumerator hasn’t come to your door yet, you can call your district census office to make an appointment.”

District Census Offices and Opening Hours:
Weekdays and Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
George Town: Paddington Place, 946-5107 (Daisylyn Chin or Selburn Christian)
West Bay: Centennial Towers, 914-7864 (Nicole Emmanuel-Jones or Theodore Thompson)
Eastern Districts: Countryside Shopping Village, 949-9229 (Adolphus Laidlow or Michael Godfrey)
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman: 948-0940 (Chevala Burke)

Residents can also report suspicious correspondence by e-mailing ESO staffer Crispin Boney at crispin.boney@gov.ky 

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Genetically modified mosquitoes released in Cayman

Genetically modified mosquitoes released in Cayman

| 11/11/2010 | 29 Comments

(CP): Scientists have released genetically modified mosquitoes in an experiment to fight dengue fever in the Cayman Islands, British experts said Thursday. It is the first time genetically altered mosquitoes have been set loose in the wild, after years of laboratory experiments and hypothetical calculations. But while scientists believe the trial could lead to a breakthrough in stopping the disease, critics argue the mutant mosquitoes might wreak havoc on the environment. Researchers at Oxitec Limited, an Oxford-based company, created sterile male mosquitoes by manipulating the insects’ DNA.

Scientists in the Cayman Islands released three million mutant male mosquitoes to mate with wild female mosquitoes of the same species. That meant they wouldn’t be able to produce any offspring and lower the population. Only female mosquitoes bite humans and spread diseases.

From May to October, scientists released batches of genetically mutated male mosquitoes in cages three times a week in a 16-hectare area. By August, mosquito numbers in that region dropped by 80 per cent compared with a neighbouring area where no sterile male mosquitoes were released.

"This test in the Cayman Islands could be a big step forward," said Andrew Read, a professor of biology and entomology at Pennsylvania State University, who was not involved in the project. "Anything that could selectively remove insects transmitting really nasty diseases would be very helpful," he said.

Go to article

See GIS report on the project

CNS Note: We have contacted the MCRU to ask for more details on this project.
 

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Governor gets back in a toggle

Governor gets back in a toggle

| 11/11/2010 | 1 Comment

(CNS): A former boy scott himself Duncan Taylor, the Cayman Islands governor was kitted out in brown trousers and shirt, hat, red scarf and toggle as he took the oath to become the islands’ Chief Scout last week. Taylor’s installation, officiated by Scouts Chief Commissioner Orrett Connor, followed Marie Beatrice Taylor being re-named Island Rose and pinned to become the Cayman Guides President. Taylor deemed his new position a “real honour” and called on the nearly 200 young Scouts and Guides to apply themselves and set an example for their peers by continuing to make positive contributions to the community.

After handing out awards and making presentations to a number of Scout and Guide leaders, Mr. Taylor had a special congratulatory handshake for award-winning Guides and Scouts Leader Liz Scholefield, who has been involved with the movement for 35 years.
The function, emceed by Island Scout Executive Commissioner Winston Hayle, also included musical and poetry performances and lighting of candles in memory of those departed. For a finale, the Chief Scout received a march past.
Long-time Guides and Scouts Leader Scholefield, better known to her fellow Guides as ‘Lizard’, has received the Laurel Award, the movement’s highest honour. She is the first recipient of the award in the region comprising Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands, Guides’ Island Commissioner Joy Frater said. “We are all so proud of her achievement. This is a matter of great pride for the Cayman Islands,” Frater said after announcing the award. “This is already a very special year for us since Guides are celebrating one hundred years,” she added.

 

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Cayman confers on the economy and on healthcare

Cayman confers on the economy and on healthcare

| 11/11/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): The Cayman Islands was in full conference mode today with a conference sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce examining the future of the local economy and one sponsored by the HSA examining the country’s future healthcare needs. The day long “Future of Cayman Forum” which opened Thursday morning will seelocal business people as well government leaders discuss what they think will be the five most important drivers of the local economy. Meanwhile, on Thursday evening medical tourism, the impact of chronic diseases and health insurance are just some of the topics to be examined by health industry experts at the country’s first national healthcare conference.

The inaugural Future of Cayman Forum was scheduled to be opened by the premier, at the Marriot on Thursday morning before delegates will discuss the results of a state of business survey which revealed five areas of potential development for the country’s future. This including developing the human capital in support of existing industries and those of the future; creating a business friendly environment; building a smarter infrastructure ; enhancing quality of life and diversifying the economy.

Described as an economic development initiative created to start the process of adjustments and change and, the Chamber says the forum goes beyond finding ways to ride out the economic downturn but the evolution of policy, procedure and practice to keep pace with the global economic transformation.

Meanwhile, this evening the Ministry of Health and the HSA will be hosting the country’s first national conference on health care examining a number of thorny issues from the country’s current expenditure levels on healthcare. Dr Devi Shetty and numerous other local and international health care speiclaists will be presenting over the three day conference on topics as diverse as medical tourism and the impact of chronic diseases on workplace productivity.

For more information on speakers, sponsors and conference agenda please visit http://www.healthcareconference.ky.

RSVP: marsha@tower.com.ky

 

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Mac takes relief to St Lucia on CAL flight

Mac takes relief to St Lucia on CAL flight

| 11/11/2010 | 46 Comments

(CNS): Following the recent announcement by the premier that he was spearheading a relief effort for St. Lucia in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Tomas, McKeeva Bush will be on board the Cayman Airways aircraft heading there today (Thursday) to deliver the aid. The project is reportedly a partnership with the NGO Operation Blessing, founed by the controversial evangelist Pat Robertson. The official release from government earlier this week did not mention the role of OBI in the airlift but Bill Horan, president of the NGO, said Bush had called him last weekend asking if OBI could join with the government of Cayman to take supplies to St Lucia.

The NGO said it will be providing non-perishable food including MREs (meals ready to eat) along with the relief supplies donated by the people of the Cayman Islands.

"We have partnered with the Cayman government following several Caribbean disasters including their own, when Hurricane Ivan ravaged Grand Cayman in 2004,” Horan said in a release from the NGO. “The people of the Cayman Islands are very generous and always show a willingness to share their own resources with other island nations in times of natural disaster. In this case, the offer of sending a Cayman Airways 737 has opened an opportunity for Operation Blessing to reach out to the people of St Lucia. This is what synergy is all about."

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, the premier called on the Cayman public to donate what they could for the relief effort. “Having gone through similar experiences with Hurricanes Ivan and Paloma, the people of the Cayman Islands empathise with our friends and family in St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; Haiti; and Cuba,” McKeeva Bush said. “We know the challenges and the gargantuan rebuilding effort that they now face.”

Reports have revealed that in St. Lucia, one of the first places hit by Tomas, 14 lives were lost and several others are still missing. Estimates are that rebuilding will cost $500 million, and that it will be a year before reconstruction in some of the hardest hit areas of his island will be completed.

The premier pointed to those in Haiti, who were already struggling to survive following January’s epic earthquake and the recent cholera outbreak, and who nowface the added misery that Tomas’ flood waters brought this past weekend.

“As these countries complete their damage assessments, we know their need for regional and international assistance will only increase. Consequently, the Cayman Islands Government is doing our part to assist our Caribbean neighbours,” Bush added.

Calling on the community for help he appealed to residents and corporate citizens in the private sector for assistance. “Many in the region rallied to Cayman’s aid during our time of need in the months following Ivan and Paloma. Now, it’s our chance to return good for good.”

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Coroner’s court rules misadventure in road deaths

Coroner’s court rules misadventure in road deaths

| 11/11/2010 | 6 Comments

(CNS): Two fatal road accidents have been ruled as death by misadventure as a result of speed in the coroner’s court following its sitting last month. 42-year-old Donald Green who was riding his motor cycle without a helmet was killed, as a result of massive head injuries on 5 December 2007 when his motorcycle slammed into a concrete wall on Fern Circle in George Town. Kris Anderson (30) died in a car crash in East End in February 2008, when he was thrown from his vehicle when it ran off the road and struck a light pole on Sea View Road. He was not wearing a seat belt and suffered massive head and pelvis trauma. . (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)

The accident investigators found that in both cases the men were driving well above the speed limit before the crashes occurred. Following the jury’s verdicts both cases are now closed.

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Proposed prison cuts flawed

Proposed prison cuts flawed

| 11/11/2010 | 42 Comments

(CNS): Although the civil service review team said it had identified some $4 million worth of cuts in the prison service, the management has indicated that this is optimistic. Many of the 15 recommendations made by the team will not necessarily realize the savings suggested and may be impossible to implement or dangerous, the prison has warned. From closing down Fairbanks and housing the women at Northward and enforced lock downs to sending home murderers on electronic tags, the prison management has pointed out numerous flaws with the recommendations. The prison said costs are fixed and the team’s methods for calculating cuts have failed to take this into account as well as raised some serious security issues.

According to the review team’s report, its recommendations are at odds with the prison management, which has questioned the calculations for savings as well as the ability of the country to reduce the prison population by as much as 40%.

“A lot of emphasis is made on the reduction of the number of prisoners being held in custody making a drastic reduction to the budget,” the prison management said in reaction to the review team’s recommendations. “It is unrealistic to state that one prisoner less will result in a reduction of, say, $50,000 to the prison budget.” The management explained that by multiplying this out per number of prisoners reduced doesn’t work as the majority of the prison budget is fixed costs. “The only variable costs which could be attributed directly to a prisoner are food, clothing and earnings, and much of the other costs would remain the same.”

The Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs, under which the prison service falls, also indicated that the maths was wrong. “Management is unsure as to the components used to calculate the reduction in costs based on the number of prisoners by the review team,” it stated. An analysis of the costs indicates that directly variable costs are actually $5,931 per annum for each prisoner.” Management explained that while the per head cost is calculated at over $50,000 reducing 5 prisoners does not result in a saving of $250,000 but $25,000.

While the review team pointed to a collection of radical ways of reducing the prison population and a capital gain through the sale of land at HMP Fairbanks, with a few notable exceptions, the prison management indicated most of the recommendations were seriously flawed.

The prison pointed out that the goal of realizing $100,000 from Fairbanks was unlikely. “It is our understanding that the land actually belongs to the Health Service Authority and not the prison, so we would be unable to sell this land,” the prison managers said. They also stated that there is no accommodation available at Northward that could house the female population, which would mean the prison would incur the cost of building a new female jail “A facility would have to be built and housed in its own compound for security reasons.”

The review team recommended that inmates rated in the lowest risk category could be accommodated at home in “house-arrest‟ schemes and electronic monitoring arrangements. In response the prison pointed out that the many legal issues, not least the fact that a third of the Category D prisoners are actually in prison for life sentences, including the crime of murder.

The prison revealed it was already exploring the possibility of sending high security prisoners to overseas facilities, a recommendation made by the team that it estimated would save around a $¼ million. However, the prison indicated that it had encountered human rights concerns as well as the actual costs being potentially higher than keeping inmates at Northward.

Prison management also warned of the dangers of reducing staff, which was already below minimum for a facility which could be characterized as a low risk prison holding high risk prisoners. The management pointed out some of the problems the service faced with its inadequate staffing levels.

“At present the department does not even have a dedicated staffing team for its CCTV, or sufficient staff to even maintain outside patrol. The inability to respond to incidents or any other emergency due to the lack of staff is to jeopardize the security of the establishment, society and to place staff and prisoners at great risk,” management warned, asking the review team to reconsider reducing staff, especially given the changing profile of inmates and the growing number of violent offenders.

“The department is now faced with having to modify and create another High Risk Unit, which will have staffing implication. The demographics of prisoners entering the establishment is changing with more prisoners entering prison for more violent offences and is linked to different gangs, hence the need to establish different regimes and separation of prisoners. This is also impacting our staffing level. I must therefore call for serious reconsideration of this recommendation,” the prison director indicated.

The controversial suggestion of periodic lockdown days, which the review team said could help relieve the current staffing demands on the prison service and afford a break to some over-stretched officers, was also dismissed by the prison as actually having the potential to have the reverse effect.

“It is totally impractical to effect such a move,” the prison management stated, pointing out the need to still unlock, feed and exercise prisoners as required by law and take them to appointments such as court or medical visits. “Unless there is an incident, [lockdown] is counter-productive, resulting in sabotage, resistance and would require more staff to put out fire fights. Any such recommendation would be totally unproductive and would require a vast amount of staff to run the operation,” the prison added.

The recommendations in the report, most of which the prison warned would not result in savings, would not necessarily be practical to implement and possible present dangerous security risks, were also made against a backdrop of various problems. From insufficient staff levels, officers on grades below their official job, occupancy significantly above intended capacity, the poor state of repair of the prison and an apparent increase in the rate and severity of local crime, the prison is battling to keep the prison safe.

The prison service has an annual budget of almost $14 million which is 4% of government’s operational expenditure, had has a staff of 146 people.

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Laws crucial to new hospital

Laws crucial to new hospital

| 11/11/2010 | 45 Comments

(CNS): The creation of new legislation and law reform are essential to the development of Dr Devi Shetty’s proposed health city, his local team has confirmed. The Cayman government must change the Health Practitioner’s Law and legislate for tort reform as well as introduce a new law to facility organ and tissue donation before the project goes ahead. The acclaimed surgeon told an audience from the Chamber of Commerce that he was intent on changing the rules when it came to the delivery of health care for all and that he was convinced the Cayman Islands was the best location for his first project outside of India.

With his eye on the more than $2.2 trillion industry in the United States, Dr Shetty said he believed American patients would come to this jurisdiction. He said Cayman was the right location for the project for a number of reasons, including the government’s willingness to change the laws to accept medical qualifications from India — a country which produces the most doctors in the world, with the most experience.

Dr Shetty pointed out that one of the reasons why health care was so expensive was because of the artificial shortage of trained manpower. He blamed medical councils for deliberately maintaining that shortage in order to keep the price of senior medical personnel services high.

He said the main reason why his new health city would be able to succeed in the Cayman Islands is because it was willing to accept Indian doctors and their qualifications. He said his model would attract patients from the US because it would provide health care at 50-60% of the cost there in a place that Americans would feel comfortable.

Shetty explained that Cayman is an attractive destination for quality medical staff, not just from India but from the US, where the heads of departments at his hospital would come from. As a result of the government’s willingness to change the necessary legislation, together with no infectious diseases, a stable government and a respected banking system, Cayman provided an attractive option.

Dr Shetty said that Cayman, which already had the infrastructure related to existing tourism, could more easily become a significant medical tourist destination. With its proximity to the States and the fact that the destination was considered safe, patients would feel comfortable coming here to be treated and the necessary medical experts would also want to live here, offering a winning combination.

Cayman would benefit extensively, the doctor said. Not only would the country get access to affordable high quality health care, unlimited employment opportunities, but medical tourists also spend a lot of money.

“We are confident Cayman will be a success because America will move to a social form of medicine where waiting lists will be introduced,” Shetty said. “Waiting lists will drive medical tourism because patients, especially elderly ones, don’t want to wait.” He pointed to the aging population in Florida that would increasingly need access to affordable and immediate health care, as well as assisted living.

Answering criticisms that his model had been referred to as a production line, where quantity was placed over quality, Dr Shetty said that it was about volume in India, which is what made health care there affordable. But any hospital doing the largest number of operations has the best results. “If you keep doing it you become technicians and get good at it,” he said. The surgeon explained that his hospital in Bangalore, India, was compared with nine New York state facilities and it had better outcomes.

“Everything we are doing is about affordable health care” he said, adding that he wanted the idea of accessing medicine to be disassociated from affluence.

Acknowledging that the concessions he was asking for were about significant change, he said someone had to start to say that the way things are currently done in the world when it comes to access to health care were unacceptable. “Our goal is to make it affordable,” Shetty said.

Gene Thompson from Shetty’s local team told the Chamber audience that he hoped to break ground sometime in the second quarter of 2011. He would not reveal which locations were being considered but said the start of the project was heavily dependent on the legislative changes.

“We can’t move forward until the regulatory issues are resolved,” Thompson said. “We are committed to moving forward and are pushing the process. Things are moving forward, not as fast as we would like, but things are moving.” Thompson said.

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