Archive for April 30th, 2011
Bushes enjoy consolation reception
(CNS): The UK’s foreign secretary and his wife hosted a reception at Lancaster House in London on Friday afternoon for the international guests to the Royal Wedding that didn’t make the invitation list for the reception hosted by the queen. McKeeva Bush and his wife Kerry joined leaders from other overseas territories as well as representatives from countries all over the world. The guests at William and Ffion Hague’s reception were bussed to the grade I listed mansion adjoining St James’s Palace on The Mall from Westminster Abbey following the royal wedding ceremony. The alternative Royal Wedding party for foreign VIPs is said to have cost the UK taxpayer £15,000.
Representatives of notorious dictatorships including North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe were among the 300 dignitaries who were invited to the champagne and canapes reception laid on by the Foreign Office.
Royal couple postpone honeymoon
(AFP): Britain’s Prince William and his bride will not be going on honeymoon this weekend, their St James’s Palace office said on Saturday, with the prince returning to his duties as a military pilot next week. The couple departed Buckingham Palace by helicopter for an undisclosed location and have made it clear they want the media to respect their privacy as they spend a private weekend in the country. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen not to depart for a honeymoon immediately," the palace said.
The smiling couple held hands as they strolled through the palace grounds, then shook hands with royal staff before leaving. The pageantry of their wedding service gave way to a night of dinner and dancing for the royal couple and 300 guests, who partied until 3:00 am.
The secrecy surrounding the couple’s honeymoon destination has led to intense speculation.
William, the second-in-line to the throne, has a deep love of Africa and he proposed to Kate in Kenya last year, so that has been mooted as a possible honeymoon spot. Jordan has also been touted as a possibility and would have nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family lived in the kingdom for two years when she was a child.
But given the current upheaval in the Middle East, it might be considered a compromised choice.
A secluded Caribbean island would allow the couple to escape the prying eyes of the media.
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Record gas price hike
(CNS): Daylight robbery was not confined to the heist at a local George Town restaurant on Thursday when drivers faced a legal hold up at the gas pumps. Fuel station prices jumped by a record 40 cents overnight and gas prices reached as much as $5.98 per gallon on Grand Cayman. With many believing that the international price for oil is set to increase further and no sign that government intends to remove the extra 25 cent duty place on fuel in last year’s budget in its fiscal plans for 20011/12, it’s not just drivers that are in for an expensivesummer. On Cayman Brac which had avoided the 25 cent duty increase prices had reached $5.67 per gallon on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning the education minister offered no comfort to the community when he said that government was not in a fiscal position where it could reduce fees and duty when it brings the budget next month.
The latest record breaking 40 cent hike comes on the heels of a 25 cent increase earlier in April a ten cent jump several weeks before that. While the increase spells pain at the pump it will also cause CUC bills to increase significantly and with the cost of doing business going up the consumer will be hit in the stores as well.
On Friday night the crude oil price passed US$114 per barrel in New York as a result of the weak dollar and the continuing unrest in the Middle East. This latest gas hike may the highest the Cayman Islands has experienced but it is unlikely to be the last before fuel prices come down.