Archive for May 10th, 2011
Drivers injured in head on road smash
(CNS):Two people were taken to the Cayman Islands hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a head on collision in George Town. The incident which took place around 1:40 am (10 May) occurred on Crewe Road and one of the drivers is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol though no arrests were said to have been made at the scene. It is unclear the extent of the injuries suffered by the two female drivers and police are reportedly investigating the incident.
(Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
New CS savings under wraps
(CNS): The official arm of government said that it has identified more savings for the public coffers with the completion of the second phase of a civil service review. However, how much those saving are has not yet been revealed to the people of Cayman. According to officials, part two of this public spending assessment examined the police, education, Children and Family Services, the Cayman Islands Airport Authority, the Ports Authority, Fire Service, Customs and Computer Services, which together account for more than $200 million of public expenditure and was completed in January.
Following questions submitted by CNS about where government was with the review of the public sector and what further savings had been identified, officials from the Deputy Governor’s Office released a statement Monday afternoon saying it was anticipated that it would be discussed by Cabinet shortly.
The review was part of an agreement with the Cayman Islands government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office made in September 2009, as part of the conditions of the UK’s approval for the local government to extend public borrowing beyond the parameters of the Public Management and Finance Law. The teams were formed in October 2009 made up of senior civil servants andone representative from the private sector, who were then trained by an external team from the US, UK and Singapore “in business process reengineering and other review techniques”, government officials stated.
The focus was on improving the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of the public service and reducing the costs, and the review of the first four agencies identified around $17 million of potential savings across CINICO, tourism, the Prison Service and public works. These four entities were selected as the first group as between them they represented around $72 million of the government’s wider expenditure.
The report was completed and made public last year and the results of the second phase were expected before the end of 2010. However, so far no further information has been given to the public about the savings revealed in this phase. The Deputy Governor’s Office has revealed that the third phase of the review began last month and includes Planning, Immigration, Lands and Survey, DVES, National Roads Authority and the Health Services Authority. These agencies represent $126 million worth of expenditure and the reviews are scheduled to finish by mid June 2011.
Officials also revealed that government has now engaged expert advisors from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada s to assist the review teams but did not say how much that would cost the public purse.
Parents to get lessons on connecting with kids
(CNS): A new education pilot project starting in the next school year aims to bring parents into the schoolroom to tackle tricky subjects to help them better deal with their children when it comes to bullying, alcohol, self-esteem, STDs, obesity and of course, drugs. The parent education workshop programme is designed to educate parents with the facts and give them the confidence to confront difficult issues that may be affecting their children. Given the significant numbers of local kids using them, the first workshop is on drugs.
Officials said the programme has been designed to accommodate parents’ busy schedules as each weekly session over a period of 4 weeks is just 30 minutes long.
Lead by education specialists the half hour sessions will include a range of hard-hitting DVD Documentaries from the “Connect with Kids” series to stimulate discussion. ““Talking to our Kids about Drugs” will be presented in partnership with the National Drugs Council. Parents will discuss how to talk to their kids so they will listen; the types of drugs kids are using and their effects as well as how pick upon the signs and symptoms of drug abuse.
Nat King, Subject Leader for the John Gray Life Skills programme said the workshops have been developed by the Life Skills Department. “The Ministry of Education has provided us with the resources that are a key part of the programme including the “Connect with Kids” series of DVDs and other materials. Agencies such as National Drugs Council and the Health Services Authority have pledged their support.”
King explained that this first workshop is a pilot for a series of workshops to be offered during the 2011/12 school year.
Chief Officer in the education Ministry, Mary Rodrigues said the pilot was part of the ministry’s goal to create new and innovative ways for adults to connect with students in the education system on issues that put their health and safety at risk.
“I am excited to see the programme launched, with the John Gray High School taking the lead. The “Connect with Kids” materials are exciting and innovative. They are excellent tools for providing information and getting people of all ages to talk about some very challenging but important topics, such as drugs, bullying, self-esteem,” she said. “This is a trial run, which we hope to see extended and made a part of the offerings at all three of our high schools during the next school year. We look forward to the discussions among the schools and parents that the John Gray pilot will no doubt generate.”
During the next school year, the parent education programme will be complemented by sessions for students in Year 7, 8 and 9 during Life Skills Lessons.
“We have worked to incorporate the “Connect with Kids” materials into our Life Skills Curriculum,” Nat King added. “Next year we will aim to coordinate the parent workshops with the student lessons, for greatest impact. We want our students and their parents learning and discussing the same topics at the same time, so that the learnings in our schools can continue and be reinforced at home
Parents can chose to attend sessions on Wednesday mornings: 8:00-8:30 am or
Thursdays afternoons: 5:30-6:00 pm. For more information on the new John Gray Parent Education Programme, contact Nat King at nking@jghs.edu.ky or 938 8577 or Charlene hyatt at chyatt@jghs.edu.ky
Mac to reveal 3 projects
(CNS): The premier has said that by moving away from the exclusive cruise port deal with GLF construction, new potential development partners are offering three infrastructure projects instead of one. In another address to the nation broadcast on radio and TV Monday evening McKeeva Bush saidhe plans to reveal the full details of these projects at a public meeting tomorrow. Although he did not say what the other two projects besides the cruise port would be, sources close to government have suggested the redevelopment of the airport and the construction of a pier at the Cayman Turtle Fam in West Bay are on the agenda.
Reflecting on the work of his government since taking office two years ago, Bush said that it had stabilized public finances, resisted “the dark shadows" of direct taxation and encouraged investment. Although times had been hard, he said that was down to the previous administration and the world recession but things were now turning around and it was not the time to change horses.
As government approached its midterm point, he said, it had substantially accomplished two key priorities — restoring investor confidence and eliminating the budget deficit. Despite the recent memo to civil service bosses that the country was facing a $5 million deficit for the end of this fiscal year, he said that he would not accept that deficit. Bush announced that he had instructed the civil service to spend only on “the most vital of necessities” and anything else would not be honoured by the Treasury.
He pointed out that government had forecast a core government deficit of $30 million for this year so it had done an excellent job of stabilizing the government’s financial affairs. His government had, he said, resolutely resisted "the dark shadow of direct income and/or property tax."
Although the country was not out of the economic woods yet, government had stabilized things, Bush claimed. “We escaped all of these risks — and we are getting through these difficult times in reasonably good shape,” he said. The people should not to be fooled by the opposition, the premeir added, saying that while it had a democratic right to bring the motion of no confidence, what was immoral were the lies being told about members of his government.
“Despite the problems we inherited – unemployment, increasing crime, the world financial crisis – we have halted the downward slide, we have stabilized the situation, and now we are re-starting our economic assent. So keep your eyes focused on reaping the rewards that your government has worked hard in preparing for you,” the premier told the people of Cayman.
Now was the time to get to work and begin “driving those shovels into the ground”, Bush said, referring to the various development and investment projects, such as the proposed economic zone and the Shetty hospital.
Government had to prioritize the development projects, he said, as they were needed to get as many people as possible back to work and to create spinoff benefits across the economy.
Bush said that was why he had to “move away from our agreement with GLF” but that in the new proposal being considered, “The Cayman Islands will get three projects instead of one,” he revealed, adding that he would explain in more detail tomorrow night.
The public meeting will be held outside the court house in George Town on Tuesday evening at 8pm.
Read the Premier's speech in full as given to the media, which differed slightly from the broadcast statement.
Cuba reform may permit foreign travel
(BBC): Cuba says it is studying plans that would allow its citizens to travel abroad as tourists for the first time in more than 50 years. The proposed move is one of 313 reforms backed by the Communist Party Congress behind closed doors in April and published in new economic guidelines. Other reforms include legalising the private sale of property and cars andexpanding private co-operatives. The moves are part of a major shake-up of Cuba's struggling economic model. Details of the proposed reforms are sketchy. The guideline referring to foreign travel simply states: "Study a policy that allows Cubans living in the country to travel abroad as tourists."