Archive for May 8th, 2011
Teen robbers pulled shotgun trigger, says crown
(CNS):Two teenage would-be robbers were officially charged with attempted murder Friday, along with a number of other offences when they made their first appearance in court. Jonathan Welcome (17) and Jordon Powell (18) failed to rob Blackbeard’s liquor store in Grand Harbour on Monday 2 May when the staff refused to give them money from the cash register and three members of the public apprehended the suspects as they tried to flee the scene. Laying out the particulars of the offence the prosecution revealed that one of the boys had pulled the trigger on the gun, which luckily for the men who struggled with the teens, did not go off.
The gun which the accused men took to the scene of the attempted robbery was loaded the court heard, and during the struggle outside theliquor shop, despite the attempt by the suspects to fire the shotgun, it did not discharge. According to the crown’s case the young robbers were seen by a number of witnesses at the scene and they were then chased and apprehended by some of those witnesses who were armed with a knife and a machete, before the police arrived.
During Friday’s court room hearing the two young men were charged with attempted murder, two counts of attempted robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of a prohibited weapon, before being remanded in custody for another two weeks when their case is expected to be transmitted to the grand court.
Powell, who was carrying pepper spray, is also facing an additional charge of assault which will be handled in the summary court.
Gallery boss takes leadership prize
(CNS): After several years of men dominating the awards, a woman finally took away the Young Cayman Leadership title for 2011. On Friday evening Natalie Urquhart, the Cayman National Gallery director, beat out Richard Christian, Ventisha Conolly, Shari Whittaker and Chantal Whittaker to take the award at a glitzy event at the Ritz Carlton. Urquhart accepted the award from last year’s recipient, Collin Anglin, as she paid tribute to her fellow finalists. Urquhart began her career with the gallery as a volunteer before joining full time as an education officer. After spending time out doing her Master’s degree in London and working at the Tate Gallery, she returned to Cayman and took the gallery’s top job in 2009.
A passionate promoter of the arts, Urquhart, who turns 35 this month, has already created a number of projects aimed at encouraging young people into the sector. Her latest venture is the creation of a specialised mentorship programme for young artists and performers with like-minded adults, giving young talent the opportunity to take advice from those who have been before. The programme is scheduled to be launched in September.
This year’s theme was "Family – Building the Foundation". This year’s key note speakers for the evening were Mark and Susan Merrill, founders of the Family First charity, who say their passion is placing the role of the family back in everyone’s lives.
The annual award was started in 2000 and recognizes young Caymanians who are making a significant contribution to society and are role models to other young Caymanians.
Man denies shooting East End house
(CNS): Cody Miller (18) pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the Grand Court on Friday in connection with a shooting in East End in February. Miller also pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm. Accused of firing shots at a house in Sea View Road in the early hours of Saturday 12 February, Miller denied attempting to cause the death of another. A police report at the time revealed no one was injured in the incident when several shots were fired at the house and through the window. A trial was fixed for 21 November this year and Miller, who lives in East End, was released on bail until his next appearance. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
The father of Jeremiah Barnes, the four-year-old child shotand killed in February last year at a West Bay gas station, also appeared in court Friday to answer charges regarding an alleged incident just before the killing of his son in January 2010, which took place on Capt Joe and Osbert Road. Andy Barnes pleaded not guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and threatening violence. His trial is set for 5 December and Barnes was released on bail.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Ebanks pleaded not guilty to rape and defilement in connection with an incident that took place on 27 December in West Bay. Ebanks denied having unlawful intercourse with an underage girl and was remanded in custody until the trial date set for 20 June.
Local finance firm creates conference scholarship
(CNS): At over $4000 a ticket not many ambitions young Caymanians interested in the sector were able to attend the recent GAIM conference at the Ritz Carlton, despite it being one of the major events for the fund industry. As a result dms Management Ltd. (DMS), partnered with South Street Capital Management LP and GAIM to introduce the GAIM Ops Scholar Award. Ralston Thorpe, was the first ambitious young Cayman that got the chance to go to the event which is described as strengthening operational due diligence in response to game-changing hedge fund industry trends.
The conference served as a platform to educate and inform industry professionals on critical issues and provided the opportunity to discuss possible changes to due diligence and compliance processes moving forward, DMS said.
Don Seymour, founder of DMS and a Managing Director, said, “The hedge fund industry is the most important industry in the Cayman Islands, however the GAIM Ops conference had not been accessible to many young Caymanians due to the steep ticket price of $4,100. This year, DMS introduced our GAIM Ops Scholar Award to share the incredible learning experiences of GAIM Ops with deserving young Caymanians. We are grateful to GAIM and South Street Capital Management LP for their assistance in implementing the award and for caring about the Cayman Islands community.”
He explained that he guided Thorpe, the award recipient, throughout the conference, helping him to network and understand the issues being discussed. “The feedback on him was excellent, and DMS looks forward to offering the same opportunity to another bright and ambitious young Caymanian next year,” Seymour added.
Cyclists take on the bluff in Brac challenge
(Crankers): The second instalment of the Cayman Challenge Cycle Series saw cycle wheels scorching the roads of Cayman Brac in the Estella Scott-Roberts Memorial Bluff Challenge recently By far the hardest races in the whole series, the 60 mile or so road race with six ascents of the bluff and rolling terrain on the higher elevations and 13.5 mile Time Trial whichalso ascended the Bluff was well liked by those who took part. Race organizer and founder of 53//11 Crankers Cycling Club, Barry Jones said it was the most “beautiful and most challenging” course in all the Cayman Islands and that’s “before you add the windy conditions.”
He explained that the cycling club plans to make races on the Brac a regular part of its racing schedule. “Bicycle racing has not been on the Brac in 20 years and that has all changed now with this event. Before going to the Brac I had only seen the course from aerial photography and even then I was excited about the possibility of racing over it. These two courses represent the ‘Challenge’ in Cayman Challenge Cycle Series.”
This series saw the return of Endurance Cycle Club out of Port Moore Jamaica back to improve on their previous successes in the Hero’s Day Ten Sails Cycle Challenge. The team which included former participants Mavin Anderson (President/Team Manager), Tyrone Edwards and Shacquille Sinclair had two new participants in Kevin Lyons and Karl Douglas.
Like the first event in the series the Brac leg also saw the return of the heavy wind blowing out of the east which meant that the out leg on each of the three laps was a challenge even before the ascent of the Bluff. Riders also had to contend with the well document boiling heat on the Brac. None the less the racing was top class.
With the help of Barry Jones 53//11 Crankers Team put in some big early attacks the first of which came after the five mile rolling start miles on the ascent of the bluff. With his attack he succeeded in shedding a lot of the field which also included the two new members of the
Endurance team. With huge gaps in the field he quickly went back to work in softening up the leading group which included the other three members of the Endurance. This however was no easy task and he had to be very watchful of a counter attack.
“I wanted to test the caliber of the field as well as the new participants from Endurance. With the lack of team mates I decided that the best form of defense was to go on the offense as Endurance would be lining up to attack me to claim the team honors,” Jones said.
On the second lap of three times 20 mile course, Sinclair of Endurance went off the front to open a huge gap on the pack and it was up to the other riders to bring him back to the field. Sensing the reluctance of the rest of the group, and with the Endurance team not having to contribute to the chase with a team member out front, Jones took it on his shoulders to carry the burden of closing the gap and not allowing young Sinclair to run away with the victory.
However Jones got caught in two minds as he wanted to conserve some energy before the next climb but also stay away from the chasing riders which included Lyons form Endurance which would swing the balance even more in their favor. Jones was now the preverbal meat in an Endurance sandwich.
Up the fourth ascent of the Bluff, Mavin Anderson of Endurance leapt out of the pack and Jones, with Edwards (Endurance) in tow, responded instinctively to try and close the gap but could only come within ten meters of the catch before he had to surrender his effort. Edwards sensing a weakening Jones also used the opportunity to put in an attack of his own and being Endurance best climber quickly ate up the gap to his team mates while Jones could only watch as the three riders steadily pulled away.
With three members in the brake and no one in the trailing group up to the task of chasing Endurance was on course for a podium sweep across the finish line. With the overall weekend being decided on time difference they set about opening as much time between them and the field knowing that Jones was a much better time trialist while also trying to wrest the team competition from Crankers grasp.
Jones for his part went about the task of limiting his loses in hopes that fortune would favor the chasers and that somehow the gap to the leaders would close. “With the Cayman Classic only a week away I also wanted to fine tune my form so I did the lion share of the work,” he added.
Reaching the finish line with a healthy lead, the three Endurance members then shifted focus on who would take top honors for the day. This fell to Anderson, who is the established sprinter of the club, with Edwards and Sinclair finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Finishing almost 8 minutes clear of the chasing pack Endurance also wrested the team title form Crankers for the series even with the next day’s time trial and two more races in the series still to come. Despite extending himself Jones still had enough to take fourth over the line in a bunch sprint.
Road Race Results
Mavin Anderson (Endur) 2:49:33
Tyrone Edwards (Endur) s.t.
Shacquille Sinclair (Endur) s.t.
Barry Jones (53//11) + 0:8:00
The next day at the Estella Scott-Roberts Bluff Time Trial facing the same winds and heat the cyclist set out in reverse order of the previous days standings at two minute intervals to try and conquer this challenging 13.6 mile course.
The lead changed several times between the early starters but settled when Kevin Lyons (Endurance) finished hi run in a time of 00:37:00. With the marker set, Jones who set out fourth from last knowing that the day would be won by gains made in the first five miles into the headwind and wanting to show that the previous days result did not reflect his abilities, had the quickest time at the first check point with Sinclair, who trailed him on the course, coming through in second place +0:01:25 slower. Lyon who was now leading the race had posted the third best time with Edwards fourth and Anderson fifth well off the pace.
The second check point which included the ascent a descent of the bluff saw Sinclair post the fastest time for the sector and reduce a bit of Jones’s lead but once on the flat Jones quickly put his more muscular frame into the task and with the headwind now switched to a strong tail wind, summoned a monster gear which he cranked up to in excess of 30 mph over certain section of the leg.
At the finish Jones posted the fastest time of the day 0:33:18 and waited anxiously to see if the three Endurance riders, still out on course, would challenge his time. One by one they crossed the line unable to match Jones’stimes with Sinclair who not only retained his healthy lead over his team mates but also ran out the top junior for the second day running and the whole series to date with absolutely no chance of him losing his grip in this competition. Lyons who entered the first checkpoint in third place also finished the day in third place by a mere12 seconds over Edwards who had closed most of the gap on the return section of the course.
Karl Douglas of Endurance took the top honors in the Masters.
Time Trial Results
Barry Jones (53//11) 0:32:10
Shacquille Sinclair (Endur) 0:35:46
Kevin Lyons (Endur) 0:37:00
Tyrone Edwards (Endur) 0:37:12
Weekend Standings
Shacquille Sinclair (End) 3:25:19
Tyrone Edwards (End) + 0:01:26
Mavin Anderson (End) + 0:02:22
Barry Jones (53//11) + 0:04:24
Overall Series Standings
Shacquille Sinclair (End) 13:16:41
Tyrone Edwards (End) 13:25:37
Mavin Anderson (End) 13:26:58
Barry Jones (53//11) 13:28:01
Team Standings
Endurance Cycling Club
53//11 Crankers Cycling Club
“The turnout wasn’t what we expected but under the circumstances we had to perform well and ensure that we achieved our target in taking over the top spots in all the categories and the individual standings,” said Mavin Anderson president of Endurance Cycling Club after the race.
“Due to the fact that it was a completely new terrain for the team, we had to make do with the little information gathered upon reaching the Brac. That said we have to say a huge thank you to the 53//11 Crankers Cycling Club and their sponsors for making all this possible. Special thanks also goes to Barry Jones and his family this has been a huge under taking and a well put together series so far. Keep up the good work, looking forward to see you all in June.”
Jones organiser of the event reflected on the series which thus far has been a resounding success and was grateful to the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation for accepting his offer to host a race in honour of Estella who hails from the Brac.
He was also gracious to Beacon Furniture, Guavaberry Marketing, Cayman Airways, Cayman Physiotherapy, Pappagallo Restaurant, A.L. Thompson’s, Orchid Development Ltd, Anchor Construction, Fluff‘n’Fold, The Alexander Hotel and many others for their support of the series.
He was also quick to note that the Cayman Islands consists of three islands and “we will be looking to host event on all three…yes that means Little Cayman as well which will force us to be a bit more creative,” Jones added.
The next race in the series will be held on the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend June 12 -13 with more details to follow shortly.
Swiss bank client files human rights complaint
(Swissinfo): An American client of Swiss bank UBS has lodged a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. He objects to having his account information revealed to the American tax authorities under the administrative assistance agreement between Switzerland and the United States. More specifically he cites violations of his right to privacy and of the principle of equal treatment. In early March, he was among a number of clients whose appeals were rejected by the Federal Administrative Court – which is why he has turned to the European court. While the Strasbourg-based court cannot prevent Switzerland from sharing data with the US, it can reprimand Switzerland.