Archive for November, 2010
Immigration playing by book
(CNS): The immigration department will no longer accept applications for work permits and other paperwork related to issues of immigration unless they are properly completed and have all the necessary documents with them. Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans has stated that one of the biggest hold ups for her department, and the various boards, is dealing with incomplete or incorrectly submitted information. She explained that the system at present does nothing to encourage people to make an effort to supply all the information that the department requires. From now on however, when people come to submit applications staff will refuse to take them if the forms are incomplete or documents are missing.
Evans explained that because workers can remain on island while applications are being processed employers have been able to submit applications to the department which maybe only partially complete but once the forms are accepted into the system no matter how long it takes the employees can remain on the job.
“The way the system currently works is counterproductive,” Evans told CNS, adding that it almost encourages people not to do it right because no matter how poor the quality of the information submitted if an application has been accepted then the worker gets to stay. It is then the immigration department that has to chase the employer for more information.
“More than 40% of the applications we receive do not have enough information on them for boards to make an informed decision so we are going to stop the incomplete applications at the counter,” she added.
The immigration boss said that by taking the poorly submitted applications out of the system this will speed things up for those people who are doing things correctly as at present the incomplete forms are holding the system up for everyone. She warned that there will be a check made at the desk when someone submits an application and if the correct documents are not supplied or if there are gaps on the forms the applicant will be sent away.
Following a recent series of public meetings Evans said one of the main concerns raised was over the vetting of people coming into the country. The CIO said people are anxious for the finger printing system to be introduced and she said that there seems to be relatively wide support for taking prints from all visitors and not just permit holders. Once the new security system is in place the department’s goal, in the first instance, is to document finger prints from work permit holders, permanent residents and those on student visas.
Evans pointed out that protecting the country’s borders was still the priority of the department and the enforcement team had been doing really well in clamping down on those breaking immigration laws despite the many challenges. Well over sixty people have been arrested since the end of the amnesty which took place in July and the department has established a hotline 1 800 534 2546 and an email contact legalism@gov.ky where the public can make anonymous reports about immigration violations.
The CIO explained that enforcement officers do go out in the field and make visits to ensure that workers on large construction sites, for example, are all legal, but it is information from the community that leads to most of the arrests. With unemployment high at the moment officers are also still keeping an eye on the known spots where workers without permits or those with not enough work from their permit holders are known to congregate looking for causal work but she pointed out that this is difficult to police. However, she noted that is was important for the department to keep a close watch on those who may be under employed as Cayman is an expensive jurisdiction and they could easily fall into crime if they are not earning a full wage to sustain them here.
With immigration reform a key element in government policy Evans is facing a difficult balancing act. She pointed out that while the business community need immigration issues to move swiftly and smoothly to facilitate economic growth, her team was still tasked with enforcing the laws and she had to find ways of balancing the needs of the business community with the need to protect the borders.
Following the premier’s call to allow those visiting Cayman with an eye to investing here a smooth passage through immigration and to stop questioning them and taking their lap tops, Evans said the department was working on creating a five day business visa. She said this would enable those coming for high level meetings or business to do so via a letter of invitation from a Cayman based firm and they will then be able to purchase the visa for themselves and any staff they are travelling with on arrival.
Another one of the department’s challenges which was revealed during the recent public meetings was the bad debt on permanent residency fees. Evans pointed out that one of the major reasons for this is that the law does not require people who have received PR to inform immigration if they change address or if they change employers. Evans said the law only requires the PR holders to notify immigration if they change the type of job they do, if the remain in the same profession they can change their job as often as they please.
However, much of the publicised $1.7million has been collected since the March audit but some will never be collected as the people in question have left the jurisdiction. Evans said that around $700,000 is still outstanding. But again she said from now on immigration would be playing by the book and anyone who owed money on PR fees would not be ale to take the next step towards status if fees were not paid.
Brackers remember war heroes at unofficial ceremony
(CNS): While the official Remembrance Day ceremony will be held this afternoon (Sunday) on Cayman Brac at the civic centre, around two dozen of the island’s residents gathered outside the District Administration Building at Stake Bay this morning for a quiet unofficial ceremony to honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, keeping two minutes of silence at the traditional time of 11 o’clock and laying wreaths at the cenotaph in remembrance of the Brac’s fallen war heroes, whose names are recorded on the war memorial. Captain Arlin Tatum said he had originally intended to come to the cenotaph by himself this morning to lay a wreath for his father, who died during World War II. (Photo: L-R Moses Kirkconnell, Ventisha Conolly and Arlin Tatum)
However, after he told CNS that he would be skipping the official ceremony in protest of the time change, the small crowd joined him Sunday morning in support and to pay their own tribute to the war veterans. Thosepresent included the first elected member for the Sister Islands, Moses Kirkconnell, whose father, he noted, was a veteran of World War II.
Kirkconnell explained the significance of the two minutes silence at the time the peace treaty was signed after World War I in 1918, and at 11:00 am he asked those gathered to join him in two minutes of prayer and respect for the men and women who gave their lives to uphold our freedom. Ventisha Conolly, representing the Lions Club of Cayman Brac, led the singing of the National Anthem, Jonathan Tibbetts offered a prayer, and everyone read allowed an oath of remembrance.
On Saturday, following a wave of public support for Tatum’s protest at the change in time and venue, Sister Islands MLA and Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly released a statement explaining why she had changed the almost 100-year tradition, saying that as acting premier it was her duty to participate in the memorial ceremonies on both Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. “This unavoidable and temporary change of time and venue should not detract from the pride and respect that we all feel towards those brave and valiant heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and prosperity. I look forward to honouring all our veterans and seamen and encourage everyone to take part in these Memorial Day proceedings on Sunday.”
Tatum, however, disagreed. “I hope this doesn’t happen again,” he said at the ceremony. “This is not about politics or politicians. This is about veterans who died. If it happens again next year, I will do this again if I have to come by myself.” He said he was overwhelmed that so many people showed up to join him.
Nola Bodden said she was representing her late father, Nolen B. Foster, who served in World War II and always laid a wreath in honour of all those lost in the merchant navy. He died five years ago and for the last seven years she has laid a wreath on his behalf. “This was always a sentimental time,” she said. “I know he’s looking down today and saying, ‘Well done!’ We’re supporting the veterans – all those who are gone and those who are still alive.”
Elsie Kynes, who describes herself as a supporter of O’Connor Connolly, said that in this instant she was just wrong. “This is not about Julie. I had an uncle and cousins that died and I stand behind Mr Arlin and Mose.” However, she said she was disappointed that only a few dozen people actually turned up Sunday morning. “I think more people from Cayman Brac should have come out to support them,” she said.
Police arrest hit & run driver
(CNS): Updated Monday 10:30am – Police have arrested a 28 year old man in connection with a hit and run in which 52-year-old Winston Welsh was killed in George Town, late Friday night. The suspected driver was arrested in George Town early Sunday morning, a police spokesperson said, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. The car suspected of being involved in the incident has also been recovered by the RCIPS and is undergoing forensic examination and the man remains in custody while enquiries continue, the police said. The 52 year old victim was mowed down by an on coming car as he attempted to cross Crewe Road near to the Mango Tree Restaurant after parking his own van on the airport side of the road. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
The victim received serious head injuries in the incident and was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town, where he later died.
The car failed to stop after hitting the victim but witnesses on the scene immediately following the incident said that they saw a small white car making off towards the roundabout, heading in the direction of the airport. Officers involved in the hunt for the hit and run driver appealed to the public for help to find the car and offered their thanks to those who had assisted following the arrest.
If anyone has any information about the incident and has not yet contacted the police, they are being asked to call Inspector Adrian Barnett at the RCIPS Traffic Department on 946-6254 or Crime Stoppers 800 –8477 (TIPS).
Mac heads to London for OT’s talking shop
(CNS): The country’s premier will be leaving for London this weekend on his way to the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting, which starts next week, the premier’s press office revealed on Friday afternoon. While there, McKeeva Bush will hold bilateral talks with the overseas territories minister Henry Bellingham on Tuesday, 16 November. Following that Bush and the other OT leaders will visit Windsor Castle for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II. The premier will be travelling with his political assistant, the education minister, the attorney general, the cabinet secretary, the financial secretary and the director of the CAA.
The OTCC is a forum where British Ministers and the Heads of Overseas Territories meet to discuss policy issues and this is the first forum since the new UK coalition was elected in May of this year.
Chaired by Bellingham, the main meeting on 17 November has a full slate of issues on the agenda. The heads of delegations meet with the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee the following day –Thursday morning — and that afternoon Bush will meet with the Friends of Cayman at the Cayman Islands Government Offices and then members of the Cayman Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster.
On Friday, both Bush and Rolston Anglin will host a reception for Caymanian students again at Cayman’s London office.
The premier returns home on 20 November and during his absence Deputy Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly will act as premier.
Cops arrest six in George Town drug bust
(CNS): Police have arrested six men following an RCIPS operation in the George Town area on Thursday night, 11 November. At about 9pm uniformed staff and officers from the USG carried out an operation in the Washington Boulevard area. The six men, all aged between 21 and 40 years of age, were arrested on suspicion of various offences such as possession of Cocaine, possession of Ecstasy, possession of Ganja, consumption, aggravated burglary and damage to property. Police stated that the drugs seized are currently undergoing forensic testing. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
All six remain in police custody while enquiries are ongoing
War on weight wins 79lbs worth of flab to date
(CNS): As the second half of the War on Weight (WOW) transformation contest comes towards a close, the organisers said this week that the contestants have lost more than 79 pounds and 100 inches in total. The challenge officially kicked off on Tuesday 24 August, with 10 contestants competing to be crowned the biggest loser after sixteen weeks on Tuesday 14 December. Committee chairperson, Leandra Charles, said that she was delighted with the progress this year’s contestants are making. "This year has really been one of the most successful to date and the camaraderie amongst the group is really inspiring,” she added.
Since the start of WOW, contestants have taken a whole new lifestyle approach, aided by a wide range of health and fitness industry experts. In addition to exercising five times a week at Body Sculptor or Curves, contestants have joined in a wide range of introductory classes on Saturdays exposing the group to enjoyable activities that they can possibly continue after the contest is over. This has included spinning at Revolutions, martial arts at Purple Dragon, yoga at BodyWorks, stretch classes at Flow, Zumba at Miss Jackies, Qigong at the Wellness Centre, and Bollywood dance at the Dance Studio.
WOW contestants also host a two-mile walk every Sunday at Safehaven starting at 7:00am, in which the public are encouraged to join at no charge. This past weekend as part of WOW’s “pay it forward” component, the group walked together for Meals on Wheels and even brought a few furry friends from the Humane Society to tag along.
“The group’s overall health has progressed tremendously; they smile bigger, walk taller, and work out with confidence and effortless enthusiasm,” Leandra said. “You wouldn’t recognize them from their application pictures, thanks to this year’s sponsors for their generosity we’ve been able to motivate them with a variety of activities and prizes."
The committee also arranges social events for WOW which have included a salsa party hosted by the Wharf Restaurant and Family Fun Day at the Oasis with catering by WOW’s official grocery store, Foster’s Food Fair, and Subway.
During the sixteen weeks a personalized diet, under the watchful eye of registered dietician Chad Collins and a guided grocery tour at Foster’s Food Fair Airport helped contestants learn how to shop wiser and read past misleading food labeling. Prizes for winners inseveral categories such as most weight loss, most body fat lost, and most participation, include a blackberry from LIME, a makeover at La Mer and studio time at Picture This, and gift certificates from Reflections and Funky Monkey. To join in our events and to follow the contestant blog on their journey to a healthy lifestyle, visit www.caymanactive.com/wow or email wowcayman@yahoo.com.
Cops burn $2.75m of cocaine
(CNS): Millions of dollars worth of drugs went up in smoke at the George Town landfill this morning as the RCIPS officially burned a huge haul of drugs recovered from the country’s coastline recently. Police said a significant portion of the drugs that were set alight had washed ashore on Monday night in East End. On 8 November officers were informed that a large quantity of drugs had been found on the beach. Investigations revealed that the packages contained around 78 lbs of cocaine. Together with a smaller haul in West Bay last month, which police think is connected, the cocaine recovered represents a street value of $2.75million the police said. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)
Following the discovery in East End the drugs, which was one of the biggest hauls of cocaine in recent times, were transported to a secure location while a land, sea and air search was conducted but no more drugs were found in the area. Police do believe however, that the haul was related to a smaller find in West Bay last month.
“Around two weeks ago a smaller package of cocaine weighing around 3 pounds was recovered from the beach in West Bay,” said Inspector Bennard Ebanks. “The packaging used for both the West Bay and East End hauls is similar and we believe they may be from the same shipment.”
He explained that the RCIPS was actively liaising with other law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions in connection with the recovery and maintaining observations and patrols throughout the Island, particularly the East End area.
“Whether the ultimate destination of the drugs was Cayman or any other island or jurisdiction we are pleased that they are now out of circulation and did not make it onto the streets,” he said. “I would remind anyone who finds any suspicious package, particularly when it containsdrugs, they should immediately contact the police. Possession of drugs is an offence and carries a heft prison sentence.”
Along with the more than 80lbs of cocaine destroyed on Friday morning (12 November) police also burned 167.5 lbs of ganja and a small amount of ecstasy and methylphenidate.
Chamber seeks answers for future of Cayman
(CNS): A day long forum on Thursday hosted by the Cayman Islands Chamber of commerce was focused on finding ways to secure a successful economic future for the country. Bringing together public and private sector experts, Stuart Bostock the Chamber president said the Future’s Conference was not an initiative to meet for the sake of meeting, but a commitment to getting results. Having identified five key drivers of the countries economy he said the goal was to pool knowledge resources and come up with the answers. The conference was opened by Mike Adam on behalf of the premier who said the five drivers were in line with government’s goals.
Bostock explained that these so called economic “drivers” were not plucked out of the air but had been identified by government and industry associations and confirmed based by the results of the Chamber of Commerce annual State of Business Survey. The drivers he said are to develop talent , create a business friendly climate, build a smarter infrastructure, enhance the quality of life, and agree on ways to diversify our economy.
The goal of the forum the president stated was to find ways to achieve the goals. “Cayman’s answers are right here in this room and we can start here,” Bostock said to the delegates. “The pooling of our minds and resources, putting individual gains and agendas aside, I am confident will provide the answers we need.
He explained that the work of the groups during the forum would lead to a report based on the thoughts and initiatives. “Within a week we will start to see the product of today’s breakout sessions and within a month or two we will see that product developed into a report by the Steering Committee and approved by government. That report, identifying common objectives will be the foundation of an economic development strategy that we have all created,” he added.
Bostock said the expertise and experience had brought the delegates to the forum where the goal was to develop the objectives and actions. “I honestly hope that today’s discovery of working together, will commit you all to the process of the Future of Cayman and that your efforts will continue,” the president told the people there.
In the address to the audience at the opening of the forum by Adam – from the premier, who had travelled to St.Lucia on a hurricane relief mission, he said the drivers they would examine during the forum were compatible with much of what the premier would like to see achieved in the Cayman Islands. “Creating a business friendly climate and developing talent are priorities of this government,” Adam said on behalf of McKeeva Bush, adding that governmentwill pay close attention to what comes out of the forum .
The main objective is for the chamber to compile a full strategic plan for the country which will be given to government and Bush said he would take its recommendations under advisement,
A web-site has been developed for the initiative where more details of the aims and objects can be found www.futureofcayman.ky.
Shetty to run GT heart unit
(CNS): Dr Devi Shetty has signed an agreement with the Cayman Islands Government to establish a heart unit at the George Town Hospital. The renowned cardiac surgeon’s own Narayana Group will be funding and managing the special unit, which will give Cayman’s heart patients access to proper cardiac care on island for the first time. The announcement was made at the opening of country’s first national health care conference on Thursday evening. Minister Mike Adam delivered an address on behalf of the premier explaining that the unit would save money for government as funding overseas health treatment was one of its biggest costs but would also save patients the need to travel.
The HSA’s chief officer, Lizette Yearwood, said the unit will be up and running in about eight to nine months time as some modifications needed to take place in the operating room but the unit and much needed cardiac cath lab would be operational in well under a year.
Health Minister Mark Scotland said the agreement with Shetty was in keeping with government’s promise to improve the quality of and access to care and pointed out the enormous savings in time as well as money. The HSA will also benefit as patients will receive aftercare at the Cayman Islands Hospital following their procedures.
The gesture by the Indian surgeon, who will be footing all of the set up costs and then managing the unit, also offers a clear demonstration that he is still committed to his much larger planned health city.
The premier, who was delayed on his return from St. Lucia, arrived in time for the signing ceremony, when he thanked Shetty for delivering on the cardiac unit, something which, he said, the country had been in need of for many years. McKeeva Bush said he also looked forward to the establishment of Shetty’s proposed health city, of which he was in full support.
At the opening of the conference and before the announcement Shetty delivered an impressive presentation on his work to reduce the cost of health care in India and his view of the importance of the industry in the world economy. Shetty spoke about his belief that the world can be brought out of recession through the health care industry, which can create millions of jobs.
The surgeon called for the need for health practitioners to be able to transfer their skills from place to place as this was the key to making health affordable for everyone. Shetty said that the reason why health care costs so much is because there is an acute shortage of manpower around the world, but he said this need not be the case and it was medical councils that created an artificial shortage.
The doctor revealed that health care is the world’s second biggest industry at more than $4.5 trillion annually but because it was so fragmented people did not realise its size. He indicated that most of that money was spent in the United States, where the sector was worth some $2.5 trillion. As the world’s population ages, Shetty said, the industry was set to grow even more but he lamented the fact that while so much money was already spent, less than 10% of the world’s population can actually access any kind of operation when they need it, which was something he wanted to change and separate health care from affluence.
The 20-20 Health Conference continues on Friday and Saturday at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. Shetty will deliver a second presentation on medical tourism at 2:15 on Friday afternoon.
Liquour board denies making new JS decision
(CNS): The Liquor Licensing Board has denied making a new decision to grant a provisional licence to Jacques Scott for its new flagship store in West Bay, despite a letter from the Attorney General’s Office to the wine merchant stating that the licence had been granted subject to planning approval. On Thursday afternoon the LLB issued a press statement saying no meeting of the board had been held to reconsider the application and no variation had yet been granted for the store. In possession of an order from the chief justice and a letter from the AG, Jacques Scott said, however, that it did not think the LLB statement was accurate.
Nevertheless, the LLB said on Thursday that it had still not met to reconsider the Jacques Scott application for a change of location licence in connection with the new West Bay store so it was the board’s position that nothing had been granted and it was still up for reconsideration at the earliest opportunity.
The board stated that reports in the media on 3 November (CNS – Wine Shop gets new decision) that said the licence had been granted were incorrect.
“Since 3rd November and the present date the Board has had no opportunity to meet for the purposes of reconsidering the variation as there was no quorum following the absence of one member due to medical reasons,” it said in a statement. “The Deputy Chairman of the Board did not approve the application pursuant to section 13 of the Liquor Licensing Law but instead actually agreedonly to a reconsideration of the application by the Board in quorum, as soon as reasonably possible and in accordance with the Order of the Chief Justice.”
It said that as a statutory board charged with responsibility for matters concerning liquor licensing in Grand Cayman, it understands that the courts may guide the board in its decision-making but that ultimate responsibility and power to grant any variation rests solely with the board.
However, having received a letter from the attorney general’s chambers on 3 November saying the license was “hereby granted”, Jacques Scott said it believed the board was wrong.
“The Board was ordered by the Chief Justice to reconsider the application and reach a decision in accordance with the findings of the Court within 14 days,” the wine merchant said in a statement to CNS. “If it was true that no reconsideration of the application had taken place within 14 days of the Chief Justice’s order then the Board would have been in breach of the Judge’s clear direction to make their decision quickly. No-one from the Attorney-General’s chambers or the Board has suggested to us that the letter of 3 November was written in error, and of course we would have heard about it before now directly from the Attorney-General’s chambers or the Board if that was indeed the case.”
According to the chief justice’s order, the board was told to reach a new decision on the licence within two weeks of his order of 25 October based on the information the board hadreceived at the original application hearing in April after he squashed the original refusal. The chief justice pointed out the grounds of refusal were not appropriate as the conclusions fell outside those reasonably available to the board.