Archive for January, 2011
Tourism sector “buoyed” up by sinking of Kittiwake
(CNS): The industry body that represents local tourism businesses says that the local dive sector has been buoyed up by a surge of interest in the destination as a result of the historic scuttling of the former US naval vessel, the Kittiwake, in the first week of the New Year. Officials from the Cayman Islands Tourism Association have said that there has been considerable interest from divers who plan to come to the Cayman Islands now just todive what the industry describes as a “new and exciting wreck dive”. Forty-six commercial vessels have already been licensed to take visitors to the attraction as well as sixteen private boats and interest is still growing, CITA said. (Photo by Courtney Platt)
“The Kittiwake is by far the best thing to happen in Cayman’s dive industry in the last decade,” said Steve Broadbelt of Ocean Frontiers. “Local operators are thrilled with the international response and demand to visit this new attraction.”
According to officials, the new artificial reef is already averaging over one hundred divers per day and numbers are expected to increase as the word gets out about this unique new dive site.
CITA is now dealing with all the required paperwork to license operators and private visitors and organise annual passes for residents.
“We expect to receive and process the required paperwork from those operators and residents expressing interest by the end of the month,” said Trina Christian, CITA Executive Director.
All licensed vessels receive two full colour dive slates illustrating the wreck and used to help safely navigate the wreck and, for those qualified, to allow them to know which areas of the wreck can be penetrated.
In addition, commercial operators who are licensed vessels receive 3 annual (staff) passes and licensed private vessels receive two annual passes.
“CITA is urging all vessels to submit their license applications as soon as possible in order for them to start taking bookings for the busy March/April Spring Break period,” officials urged.
The project, which was the brain child of Nancy Easterbrook, was seven years in the making, and finally came to historic fruition in front of the world’s media and drew significant positive international attention in a dramatic controlled sinking just off Seven Mile Beach on 5 January.
Law firms can’t afford articled clerks, says Jennings
(CNS): Following questions surrounding a number of graduates from the Cayman Islands Law School who have been unable to do their articles, the president of the Law Society has called on the legal profession to review the system. Charles Jennings has said that many smaller law firms in Cayman are neither in a position to offer the variety of work needed for articles, nor can they afford to take on clerks and train them. Despite there being some 550 qualified attorneys practicing in the Cayman Islands, it was recently revealed that around a dozen young local trainee lawyers had not been able to qualifybecause they could not find a place to complete the practical element of their qualification.
Speaking at the opening of the Grand Court last week, Jennings said that expectations regarding articles had to change and 2011 should be the year when the system was reviewed. The former partner with one of the islands’ largest law firms, Maples and Calder, said that while the Law Society sympathises with “their predicament” and was doing what it could to help, he warned that there were reasons why they could not all find places and that it was time to rethink the situation.
“Several law firms, particularly the smaller ones, simply cannot afford to take on an additional full-time employee to train, and furthermore do not have the facilities, or indeed the breadth of practice, to even meet the training requirements currently in force,” Jennings said.
He said that he was coming to the conclusion that the profession, the judiciary and the law school might need to revisit the whole question of articles, the remuneration and the expectations of employment following them.
“The Law Society certainly believes that well qualified, bright and able Caymanian graduates from the law school must have the means offered them to be admitted as attorneys-at-law here,” he said, adding that for some the present system was not delivering. “I’d like to propose that we ear-mark 2011 as the year in which we closely examine and … revise the present requirements to ensure it does … in a manner that sensibly meets the demands of both those students and … commercial and business reality.”
During the ceremonial opening Attorney General Sam Bulgin and President of the Cayman Bar Association James Bergstrom had both noted that there were still graduates that had not found places but everything was being done to find a solution to the situation.
Following Jenning’s speech, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie also remarked that it was unfortunate that after studying hard to qualify for the profession these young lawyers were being denied the ability to qualify, and called on the profession to help.
The problem was raised in the Legislative Assembly at the end of last year when MLA Alden McLaughlin asked why the young would-be lawyers were struggling to find places and what efforts were being made by the attorney general to put pressure on legal firms to provide the necessary training opportunities for young Caymanians.
At the time Bulgin said it should be part of a lawyer’s DNA to both train law school graduates and do pro bono work but government should not have to compel the legal profession to undertake these important roles.
Unemployment near 10%
(CNS): The labour minister has revealed that the unemployment rate in the Cayman Islands is currently at 9.9%, according to statistics compiled by the Economics and Statistics Office. Rolston Anglin told members of the Legislative Assembly on Friday that there were 2,417 people registered with the Department of Employment Relations (DER), with 977 of them saying they were unemployed. Explaining the discrepancies, the minister said the way people are registered creates duplication and many people who are employed register in order to seek a new position. The minister pointed out that the figure compiled by the ESO was different to the DER’s list as, he said, the department was not responsible for calculating the unemployment rate. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
Answering questions posed by the opposition member for George Town, Alden McLaughlin, the minister revealed that most of the 977 people whom the DER said were without work were Caymanian or married to a Caymanian and only 129 were permanent residents but all of them had the right to work in Cayman. The statistics from the DER also suggested considerably more women than men were registered as unemployed, with 573 of the 977 listed as female.
He further revealed that almost 100 of those seeking work had said they held a degree or a professional qualification, and as a result the DER was focusing on trying to get those people into work as it was obvious they should be the easiest to place.
The minister revealed numerous problems at the department, saying it was not best placed to deliver services to the public. He said the job market without proper electronic registration and some kind of assessment tool, and until job seekers could be properly assessed, the staff could only register applicants in accordance with what they toldthe department.
He said he was, however, close to making a decision on a proper professional online registration and assessment tool that would enable the department to match people to vacancies and communicate with the Work Permit Board. Anglin said that, at present, employers complain that when a candidate is sent by the DER they are more often than not unsuitable for the position and he said the only way this could be address was to a way of professionally assessing people.
He spoke about the legacy of problems in the department based on how people were registered, the failure of candidates to inform the jobs unit that they had moved, the inability to verify the work experience of applicants and multiple registrations as preventing the unit from matching job-seekers to vacancies. He said that the department had only successfully reached half of the 977 who say they are unemployed
Despite the problems, however, the minister said that during 2010 the DER had placed 166 people in jobs.
He said it was understandable that people would find it unacceptable that there was such a high number of people looking for work when there were more than 20,000 permits, but that could not be resolved until there was a professional system in place.
The Work Permit Board has had concerns about the quality of information coming from the DER for many years. CNS recently saw a copy of a memo that had been circulated by the former chair of the board just over one year ago questioning the statistics provided to the board by the DER and the mismatch between figures. It raised concerns that, while the DER was publicly claiming that over 843 people were looking for work, a closer assessment of those figures revealed that it was 346 — a significant discrepancy.
“It is very important that we have reliable data going forward or we will not make the best informed decisions as a board,” he said at the time.
3 suspect robbers arrested
(CNS): Following three separate robberies over the weekend, police say they now have three men in custody in connection with two of them. The RCIPS said that after a police operation in the Northward area on Saturday night, the third man (aged 18) was arrested on suspicion of committing the robbery at the Plum Tree grocery Store on Friday evening in which a man sustained serious injuries to his head. The teenager is currently in police custody while enquiries continue and the victi who underwent surgery at the weekend, remains in hospital. Police also arrested two men on Saturday in connection with a robbery that evening at a George Town money transfer store only yards from police headquarters. Those two also remain in police custody. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
The weekend’s robberies started with the incident at the Plum Tree store in Northward at around 8:30pm. Police reported that two men, armed with machetes, entered the convenience store, assaulted the male member of staff and grabbed the cash register before making their escape. Then, some two hours later in West Bay, two members of staff at Tim Buc Tuu restaurant were held up at gunpoint as it was closing for the night by two robbers, who made off with both tips and takings. No one was hurt in that incident and so far police have not apprehended any suspects.
On Saturday evening the Reggae Money Express in Elizabethan Square, George Town, only yards from the offices occupied by the police commissioner, was alos robbed. One man entered the premises with what was believed to be a firearm, threatened staff and made off with a sum of cash. No shots were fired and no-one was hurt during that hold-up. Later in the evening police conducted an operation in the George Town area involving uniform, CID and armed officers and two men (aged 19 and 21 years) were arrested on suspicion of robbery, the RCIPS said.
Elmer to give more Cayman documents to WikiLeaks
(Guardian): The offshore bank account details of 2,000 "high net worth individuals" and corporations – detailing massive potential tax evasion – will be handed over to the WikiLeaks organisation in London tomorrow (Monday 17 January) by the most important and boldest whistleblower in Swiss banking history, Rudolf Elmer, two days before he goes on trial in his native Switzerland. Elmer, who after his press conference will return to Switzerland from exile in Mauritius to face trial, is a former chief operating officer in the Cayman Islands and employee of Julius Baer bank, which accuses him of stealing the information.
The first crop of documents which Elmer leaked were scrutinised by the Guardian newspaper in 2009, which found "details of numerous trusts in which wealthy people have placed capital. This allows them lawfully to avoid paying tax on profits, because legally it belongs to the trust … The trust itself pays no tax, as a Cayman resident", although "the trustees can distribute money to the trust’s beneficiaries".
Now, Jack Blum Elmer’s lawyer says, "Elmer is being tried for violating Swiss banking secrecy law even though the data is from the Cayman Islands. This is bold extraterritorial nonsense. Swiss secrecy law should apply to Swiss banks in Switzerland, not a Swiss subsidiary in the Cayman Islands."
Cops arrest suspect robbers
(CNS): Update Sunday 8:30am — Police have now arrested two men in connection with a robbery on Saturday at a George Town money transfer store. The robbery which took place at the Reggae Money Express, in Elizabethan Square, in George Town only yards from the Police Headquarters occurred at around 6.30 in the evening. One man believed entered the premises with what was believed to be a firearm, threatened staff and made off with a sum of cash.No shots were fired no-one was injured in the incident. Later that evening, following a police operation in the George Town area involving uniform, CID and armed officers, two men (aged 19 and 21 years) were arrested on suspicion of robbery, the RCIPS said. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
The two men are currently in police custody while enquiries are ongoing.
The robbery came in the wake of two other robberies on Friday night in Northward and West Bay where the robbers were armed with machetes and guns respectively. In the incident in Northward at the Plum Tree convenience store a man sustained serious injuries when he was assaulted by one of the suspects.
Officers are now seeking witnesses and anyone with information on what is the fifth robbery of 2011 can call George Town CID on 949 4222 or crimestoppers on 800 8477 (TIPS)
Teen arrested for Brac smash in minster’s car
(CNS): Update Monday 3:00pm — Police say that earlier today, Monday 17 January, a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with an accident Friday night, when a Mitsibushi SUV owned by the deputy premier apparently went out of control, left the roadway and overturned.The teen has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. He has been released on police bail and police enquiries are ongoing.
The incident happened about 10:30pm on Friday, 14 January, on Lewin Brown Drive, off Major Donald Drive close to Juliana O’Connor Connolly’s home on Cayman Brac’s Bluff.
According to the RCIPS, there were four teenagers (two males and two females all aged between 14 and 17 years) in the car at the time of the incident. No other vehicles were involved. Emergency services attended the location and found that the two male occupants of the car had left the scene. The two females who were still at the location were conveyed to the Faith Hospital, one was released following treatment and the other was admitted to hospital but has since been released. The two male occupants of the car attended the hospital that night and were also released following treatment.
The SUV is the deputy premier’s personal vehicle, not the Brac VIP car.
Three car smash in heart of tourist district
(CNS): Despite the push by the RCIPS to improve the standard of driving on Cayman’s roads, car smashes continue to be a frequent occurrence. Last night three vehicles were involved in an accident on West Bay Road near the Westin Casuarina Resort and Cayman Falls shops at around 10pm. Although it appeared no was injured during the accident, the cars were badly damaged. In the Legislative Assembly on Friday the premier also called on drivers to take more care on the roads as he said the number of accidents could have a detrimental impact on the country’s tourism sector. Government has said that it has plans to reduce the speed limit on parts of the West Bay Road and introduce more cross walks when it brings amendments to the traffic law later this year. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)
Anyone with information on the accident can call the police traffic department on 946 6254
Man hurt in 1 of 2 robberies
(CNS): Update 3:05pm Sunday – Police say an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with an incident at the Plum Tree grocery store on Friday evening, the first of two armed robberies on Grand Cayman that night. The suspect is currently detained in police custody while enquiries continue. A male victim is currently in hospital recovering from injuries received during the robbery. Police reported that two men armed with machetes entered the convenience store in Northward just after 8:30pm, assaulted a male member of staff and grabbed the cash register before making their escape. Meanwhile, some two hours later two members of staff at Tim Buc Tuu restaurant were held up at gunpoint as it was closing for the night by two robbers who made off with both tips and takings. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)
At the Plum Tree store on Northward Road, not far from the country’s prison, the member of staff sustained head and hand injuries in the incident. The injuries, which are believed to have been caused by a machete, are not thought to be life threatening. He was taken by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town, where he remains this morning (Saturday) and is currently in a stable condition.
Detective Constable Manley Berry is appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact Bodden Town CID or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).
In West Bay an employee of the Tim Buc Tuu on Town Hall Road, West Bay, was sitting on the patio at the front of the premises while his co-worker was finishing up inside. He was confronted by two masked men, one of whom had what appeared to be a gun. He forced the staff back inside the premises, where they threatened the female worker before stealing both the night’s takings and the contents of the tip jar. The suspects were last seen running off to the rear of the restaurant but other witnesses say they may have escaped in a green car.
No one was injured and no shots were fired during the incident but staff were shaken by the ordeal, although they found time to commend the very quick response of the West Bay officers, who they said were on the scene within ten minutes of the robbery.
The suspects are both described as being Caymanian, around 5’4”in height, light complexion, wearing black long sleeved shirts, black pants, white tee shirts over their faces and black gloves. One male was of stocky build and approximately thirty years of age. The second male was described as being slim and in his mid-twenties.
Detective Constable Nathan Turner of West Bay CID is investigating the incident and would be keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the relevant time last night and saw the incident take place or the suspects fleeing the scene.
Anyone with information on either crime can call West Bay CID on 949-3999 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800- 8477 (TIPS).
Armed robbers swipe laundry takings
(CNS): Following an armed robbery of a woman carrying the takings from a small business last night, police are advising business owners and staff to vary the methods and times of carrying cash as much as possible and say more than one person should be present when cash is being transported. Police say that just after 10.00pm on Thursday,13 January, the woman, an employee of the Quick Wash Laundry in Eastern Avenue, locked up and left the premises. She then walked towards the Cayman Trade Centre. Suddenly two men, armed with what appeared to be firearms, came from behind the Trade Centre and grabbed her bag containing a sum of cash. No shots were fired and no-one was injured in the incident.
The men were last seen running towards Churchill’s Funeral Home and then into Bodden’s Road. One of the men responsible is described as around 5’4” in height, wearing a camouflage jacket and black hooded top. His face was covered with what appeared to be a bandana. The other man is around 5’11” in height wearing dark clothing and a hooded top.
Detective Superintendent Marlon Bodden said, “Although the victim was not injured she has been left shaken by the ordeal. Eastern Avenue is a busy road both with foot and vehicle traffic. Therefore, if you were in the area last night and saw anything suspicious, please get in touch with us at George Town police station.”
Bodden went on, “This incident further highlights the need for business owners and staff to take all possible security steps to ensure the safety of those carrying cash. Our advice is that the methods and times of carrying cash should be varied as much as possible and that more than one person should be present when cash is being transported. The best case scenario would be to employ recognised security or cash transit companies to carry cash but we recognise that for small businesses that may not always be possible.”
If anyone needs further information about cash handling and transportation, they should contact their local police office.
Anyone with information about this crime should call George Town police station on 949-4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).