Archive for June, 2011
Bush letter over land zoning
(CNS): The letter that appears to have triggered the police investigation into “financial irregularities”, which may involve the country's premier, is about the rezoning of land that was owned by Stan Thomas. Independent member Ezzard Miller has confirmed that the
document posted below is a copy of the letter that came into his possession earlier this month, which he sent to the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin said it was the same document that he had seen, which he understood had come to light during civil proceedings in the Grand Court.
The letter, which appears to have been sent from the fax machine in the former ministry of tourism and environment, is headed "Windsor Development Corporation" and is dated 7 October 2004, around four weeks after Hurricane Ivan had devastated Grand Cayman.
It is signed by W. McKeeva Bush and appears to be a request for payment of $350,000 to Windsor Development in connection with re-zoning of land in the West Bay Seven Mile Beach area.
The letter indicates that Bush had ensured that all of the “proposed re-zoning issues have been agreed and approved by Cabinet”, as he asked Thomas to wire what was described as the balance on the transaction.
The letter does not make clear what land the transaction involves but it is understood that the land owned by Thomas in the area, which he acquired earlier in 2004, was the property that was recently sold to the Dart Group and where it plans to develop a new resort .
Miller said that after the letter came into his possession this month and he heard that a year long investigation was taking place, he made an FOI request to the planning department and found that the company named in the letter did not make the re-zoning application on the land owned by Thomas.
It is understood that the document which triggered the investigation was uncovered during a civil case in Grand Court that involved Stan Thomas and Ron Zimmer regarding various land transactions, which was eventually settled.
It is not clear if this letter is the same document that the premier alluded to at a rally for jobs on Saturday on Seven Mile Beach, when he stated that it was a “real estate bill” that the investigation may have been concerned with. He had also stated in the Legislative Assembly last week during the budget debate and Finance Committee hearings that “people were twisting people's letters”, but he did not say if that was directly linked to the current police investigation.
Although neither the police commissioner nor the governor have confirmed that Bush is under investigation, they have both confirmed that an investigation of some kind is taking place, which was instigated by the governor after “financial irregularities” were brough to his attention.
CNS sent both offices a copy of the letter and asked for comment on the document but both delined to give further comment on the matter.
Barnes in danger, says lawyer
(CNS): The father of Jeremiah Barnes, the four-year-old child shot and killed at a West Bay gas station last year is in fear for his and his family’s life, the Summary Court heard today. Thirty-one-year old Andy Barnes, who was arrested following an operation in North Side earlier this month, was charged by police with possession of an unlicensed firearm and appeared in court Thursday afternoon (30 June). His defence counsel, Nick Dixie, said he was in the odd position of deciding not to make a bail application because the police had made no provision to protect his client, despite the fact that the RCIPS had intelligence that Barnes was a target. Barnes is a key witness in the crown’s case against Devon Anglin for the murder of his son.
Dixie pointed out that Barnes needed to be in custody for his own protection but it was hardly a long term solution. He said that requests for protection for his client and his family, especially his wife, who is also a witness in the same murder case, had been made numerous times and the police were well aware the danger he was in and the various attempts that had been and were still being made on his life.
“It is the police themselves that have told Mr Barnes that they have credible intelligence that his life is in danger,” Dixie told the court. “I hope by the next appearance the crown is in a position to protect Mr Barnes and his family.” The lawyer added that there was an argument that, given the circumstances, Barnes should be removed from the island. Dixie told Magistrate Valdis Foldats that there was far more to the case before him than meets the eye but there was a certain inevitability about the outcome of the situation which was very frightening.
Barnes was arrested after police searched the house he was living at in North Side and found the loaded gun inside a cushion on the porch chair. The operation was reportedly carried out at the property as a result of intelligence given to the police. The crown said that following his arrest Barnes admitted having the illegal firearm because of the threats made against his life.
As Barnes was remanded in custody until 12 July, his lawyer asked if it could be to Eagle House rather than HMP Northward as Barnes was vulnerable in custody as well as outside.
Masked men attempt to rob cabbie
(CNS): A taxi driver was assaulted last night by three men wearing white masks when he answered a call for a fare on the West Bay Road. Police confirmed this morning that the incident occurred around 10:45pm (Wednesday) but no one was injured and no cash was taken. The police said the victim did not see a weapon, and although he was hit in the head, he was not hurt and managed to elude his assailants The incident took place in the area of Captain's Bakery and occurred more than an hour before a 28-year-old man was shot in the face during another attempted robbery by three masked men in Red Bay. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
All three suspects in the Captain's Bakery incident are described as being; 5’5” in height, slim build, dark complexion and had their faces covered by white cloth. Although no weapons were used during the incident and the driver did not see any weapons the police were not ruling out the possibility that the incident wasn't linked to the shooting which occurred at the jerk chicken stand by the Drama Society.
Anyone with information about the crime should contact George Town police station on 949-4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).
Women get a handle on flag football 7s
(GCFFA): The women’s flag football league, organized by the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association, kicked off this past Saturday at the Camana Bay Sports Field with a couple of friendly games. Rookies and veterans alike started off the season by taking part in an open scrimmage, where players were split into teams and worked to drive down the field with athletes that could very well be their archrivals come next week. The open game not only served as an opportunity for ladies new to the sport to get some firsthand experience, but it was a chance for all competitors and coaches to get clarification on the new rules of the 7 vs 7 game.
Rookie player, Kristen Watler-Miller stated, “The pre-season games were an excellent idea to give new players like myself an idea of what to expect during the regular season. It was a non-intimidating atmosphere that allowed us to become more familiar and confident with the format of the game, so that we will be better prepared for when the season starts. It was very much appreciated and now I’m even more excited for the season to start!”
The late morning, 20 minute-long exhibition games saw the Domino’s Pizza Wolverines take on the Androgroup Killa-Panthers on Field 1, and the Hammerheads Lady Sharks battle the Lone Star Jager Monsters on Field 2, as the newly formed Pythons looked on. The Wolverines defeated the Killa-Panthers 12-0, while the Lady Sharks also came out on top, beating the Monsters 12-0.
With the introduction of shadow blocking, more players on the field and a larger playing field, the new 7 vs. 7 format proved to be very exciting, and it will be interesting to see how each team tackles the new challenges throughout the 2011 season.
Seasoned player Becky Coe stated, “It was a lot of fun to play the first 7 vs 7 game without having to worry about the score board. Some of these ‘rookies’ are more than ready to take on the vets!”
The official season will begin Saturday, July 9th 2011, with games running from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm at the Camana Bay Field. All flag football enthusiasts, or anyone interested in learning more about the game, are encouraged to come out and enjoy the friendly competition.
UBS wins clash with the Titans
(CRFU): It was another day in paradise for Genesis Five Nations who ran out convincing 6-2 winners over Ogier in Division 1. Employing their tried and trusted “ABACAB” system (player A to Player B etc) the titanic triumvirate of Dan “Duke” Andersen, Mick “Rutherford” Kehoe and Roger “the other one” Priaulx steamrollered up the pitch to score two tries a piece, all orchestrated by the diminutive figure of Lisa Kehoe as the dummy (half). In the battle of the two corporate law giants it was Maples1 who won this legal drama with a thumping 10-1 verdict over Walkers Blue Iguanas.
Although lacking a degree of composure in the early exchanges Maples1 eventually found their rhythm with some smart inter-passing and offloads. Rudolf Weder and Jyoti Choi caused significant damage with their pace and asked some serious questions of the Walkers defence who were guilty of leaving gaps out wide.
It would appear that a try for Walkers Blue Iguanas is as rare as the cerulean reptile from which they derive their name. However, their effort and determination to play to the very end is to be commended and justice was eventually served when Joss Morris crossed the whitewash for their first try of the season. The jury is out for Walkers right now and it may be back to the boardroom for some fresh ideas. On this evidence it would be criminal if Maples1 weren’t challenging for top honours come the end of the season.
Team LIME recorded their first victory of the season with a fine performance running in 8 tries over Appleby, Iain Blackwell scoring three. PWC notched up a 5-1 win over DMS. The scoreline was a little harsh on a spirited DMS side but PWC were just too strong in the end. A fine try from Etienne Duvenage makes Play of the Week as he gratefully accepted a deft over-the-shoulder pass from team-mate Ruan van Vuuren to run in unopposed for the touchdown.
In a rain soaked end to the week, Division 2 had some interesting match-ups. The gods were not on the side of the Trident Titans in their clash with UBS. As if Poseidon himself had arranged the torrential rain, the Titans were drowned by a mere mortal in the shape of Scott Brittain who put in an MVP performance including two tries for a 4-2 victory.
Campbells and KPMG1 fought out an entertaining 6-6 draw. Dicky Thomas, full of beard and full of running, scored an excellent try. Another notable performance from Johnny Doak for Campbells was counteracted by Ben Blair and Phillip Fourie for KPMG1 who weighed in with a couple of tries each.
In a feisty match-up between Harmonic and Maples2, the spoils eventually went to the Maples outfit 8-3. It was a highly vocal game, both sides being guilty of questioning the referee’s decisions too frequently and were lucky to avoid censure. Ultimately, the bigger squad of Maples2 proved decisive, and there were some good performances on show from the lands-down-under by aussie Tim Rossiter (Harmonic) and aussie bracker Andrew Dean (Maples2)
The Happyfish Ticklers made sure DART weren’t laughing this week with a thumping 12-5 win. With the highest score of the season so far, the Ticklers ran in tries from all over the pitch, including scores for Fiona Brander, Nicky White and Chandra Friesen.
Credit-Suisse continues to dominate Division 3 as they clocked up a convincing 4-1 win over GCM.
Playing with precision and innovation they made the most of their opportunities and with Michelle Bailey throwing the most outrageous of dummies, the GCM defence could not hold back the tide, as wave after wave of attacks came their way.
Deloitte and Rawlinson&Hunter battled to a 4-4 draw with Nadine Holdness standing out for her excellent defensive work. This helped secure R&H’s first points of the season.
KPMG2 maintained their challenge at the top of the table eventually overcoming a spirited Ernst&Young team, winning 7-5. A brace of tries for Neil Montgomery, JS Kruger, and Ian Robertson maintained KPMG2’s 100% record but it was Alison Lebitshnig of Ernst&Young that was the stand out player on the day with a fine try and all round great play.
Age and injury seem to have taken an early toll to Queensgate Grizz’s Old Fellas as a poor turnout meant they had to default against Island Heritage. This was Heritage’s second walkover in two weeks and the teams played out an exhibition game so as not to disappoint their fan who turned up. He went home happy.
Player of the week
This week’s Heineken Touch Player of the Week goes to Danny Santiago of Harmonic. Honesty and integrity are essential in touch rugby and Danny displayed both when agreeing that he hadn’t touched an opponent who went on through to score. He does the sport credit. A bucket of cold ones to you, Sir!
This year caymanrugbytv.com will be showing a selection of touch rugby games each week. Fans can also become friends of Cayman Rugby on Facebook to see player profiles, interviews and get an inside look at the worlds of touch rugby.
Robbers shoot victim in face
(CNS): A young man was seriously injured following a robbery attempt at the jerk chicken hut in Red Bay last night, despite offering no resistance. The attempted robbery took place around 11:30pm on Wednesday evening as the staff began to close the stand. Three armed men carrying what seemed to be hand guns emerged from behind the Drama Society Theatre and demanded cash. Without provocation, one of the robbers fired a shot and the young victim, who was a customer at the stand and was helping staff was hit in the face. Following the senseless act of violence the robbers fled on foot empty handed in the direction they came, sources tell CNS. The young man who was still conscious was rushed to the Cayman Islands hospital. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
Friends of the twenty-eight – year old victim, who worked for the Cayman Islands Brewery, said Thursday morning that despite the severity of his injury he is alive and doctors are making every effort to stabilize him so he can be airlifted for further treatment. He has lost an eye but it is believed the young brewer has not suffered any brain damage although the bullet passed through his face.
The RCIPS has now confirmed the incident and officers are appealing for witnesses. All three suspects wore masks and spoke with Caymanian accents. One was wearing a hoody type jacket.
“ These are dangerous individuals who need to be caught before they injure or kill some other innocent person ,” said Detective Sergeant Wright. “ If you were in the area at the relevant time last night and have any information about what took place, or the identity of the gunman and his accomplices, please call us now.”
Information can be passed to George Town CID on 949-4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477(TIPS).
PPM: Demo not the problem
(CNS): The leader of the opposition has said it is absurd for anyone to suggest that the people’s right to a peaceful protest about their government is the cause of destabilization. Following the march on Tuesday, Alden McLaughlin pointed out that the opposition and the people have made every sensible effort to deliver a message to the premier about the various concerns they have but he is refusing to listen. In the face of a letter to the local media from former political representatives Truman Bodden and John McLean, the PPM leader said the opposition had done everything it was possible to do to address the lack of transparency and the lack of compliance with the law but to no avail.
“We have raised the issues on the floor of the House, we have a filed a motion of no confidence that has not even reached the order paper, we have railed on the talk shows, we have held public meetings, what more can we do?” he asked. He pointed out that the government has once again adjourned the Legislative Assembly without giving members a date to return.
He noted that when the politicians are sitting, the premier controls everything that is on the order paper and both the opposition and the independent member are at the mercy of McKeeva Bush when it comes to getting their motions on the floor of the LA for debate or the parliamentary questions answered.
McLaughlin pointed out that there were very real and genuine concerns among the local business community, the financial sector and the public at large, not just about the inappropriate project proposals, but about the way decisions were being made and in particular the circumvention by the premier of due process. He said this was further compounded by the recent revelations that the premier is at the centre of a police investigation concerning 'financial irregularities'.
He said this was the issue that was causing any instability. He pointed out that, if anything, the march demonstrated that the one thing that did remain alive and well was democracy and that the people were still able to speak out despite the many who are afraid to do so.
His opposition colleague, Arden McLean, had suggested the same thing when he MC'd the peaceful demo outside the LA Tuesday. McLean had gone a step further, however, and suggested that investor confidence was being undermined because everybody was "holding their hands out for their piece of the pie".
In their letter, which was sent to various media houses and can be seen here on Cayman27 site (it was not sent to CNS), Truman Bodden and John McLean criticised the opposition for leading the demonstration.
“The democratic right to public demonstration should be used as one of the last resorts. Internationally the demonstration may be associated with instability in a world where recently governments have been removed by demonstrations and riots,” they wrote. The two former ExCo members blamed the party system and its further entrenchment in the new constitution, adding that under the old system “extreme actions were rarely used”.
The opposition leader said he disagreed with Bodden and McLean and the Compass editorial on Wednesday, which had also criticised the demonstration.
“This was not a riot or civil disobedience,” McLaughlin pointed out. “It was a peaceful protest carried out in an orderly manner with permission of the commissioner of police. It is absurd to suggest that it was destabilizing.”
The leader of the opposition said he was worried about potential destabilization but people exercising their democratic right was not causing that instability.
“It is the constant undermining of the rule of law and the spectre of corruption that is the problem,” the PPM leader added. McLaughlin said crime, the economic problems, the high cost of living and unemployment were undermining the country and this is what needed to be addressed.
Peddie shot nine times
(CNS):The Grand Court has heard that 25-year-old Alrick Peddie, aka ‘Bling’, was hit with nine bullets when he was gunned down in West Bay on the afternoon of 24 March last year. On Wednesday, the third day of the trial of Jose Sanchez (24), Roger Bush (36) and Aaron Crawford (18), who are accused of killing Peddie, the prosecution presented evidence from the victim’s wife, several police officers, reports from DNA and telecoms experts, as well as statements from the defendants. The crown’s case against the West Bay men relies heavily on the eye witness account given by Michael Ebanks, who said he saw the three men in a dark tinted Honda Civic at the scene at the time of the shooting. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
Ebanks states that he was with Peddie only seconds before he was shot. He told the court this week that he saw the three defendants pull up to the house in Willie Farrington Drive in the red car and as they started to get out he ran from the scene. He revealed that, seconds later, he heard six to seven gun shots. Ebanks said he returned to the same place he had been with Peddie when the shooting stopped and found him on the ground with multiple holes in his body.
On Wednesday, Peddie’s wife’s told the court that her husband had worked as a security guard at the Next Level night club on West Bay Road but had quit after the murder of Carlo Webster, who was shot in the head inside the club in September 2009.
During cross examination by the defence attorney representing Bush, she said Peddie was not working that night and although she was aware that “talk on the street” had been that he had some connection to that shooting, it was not true. She told the court that people may have said things “but nothing was proven as fact.”
A statement given to the police by Crawford, who was only seventeen at the time, was also read to the judge, who is hearing the case without a jury. Shortly after his arrest Crawford denied having anything at all to do with the murder of Peddie.
He said he was home that afternoon with his sister-in-law and did not leave the house until after 5:15, when he went with her to the local pre-school to fetch his step-daughter and her children. The teen told the police he had no idea why someone would call his name and he never owned or even fired a gun in his life except for a flare gun several years before.
Crawford said he knew ‘Bling’ and had hung out with him in the past but it had been some time since he had seen him. As far as he was aware, the accused teen said, Peddie had no trouble with anyone and he didn’t know why they had killed him. The defendant did, however, tell the police during the interview that he had heard that perhaps Peddie had something to do with getting a gun into the club the night Carlo Webster was shot but he didn’t know what he had got messed up in.
The trial continues in court one tomorrow before Justice Harrison, who is presiding alone in what is a busy week for Cayman’s Grand Court, as three out of Cayman’s five judges are currently sitting in criminal trials.
The re-trial of Josue Carillo Perez for the murder of Canadian national Martin Gareau in May 2008 has entered its sixth week and is currently before Justice Smith, who is also presiding alone. Theretrial has included a number of recalls of police witnesses and video evidence from expert witnesses. The case is, however, expected to close by the end of this week when counsel will make their closing speeches in a case that hangs on two smudged finger prints.
Meanwhile, Veramae Watson is facing trial by jury for the death of Edwin Edwards in 2007 as a result of dangerous driving. The prosecution told the five women and two men serving on the jury that Watson was driving a Jeep with a homemade trailer carrying rocks, which was badly secured. As a result, the trailer came away from Watson’s Jeep and headed into the path of a local mini-bus being driven by Edwards, who swerved and hit a tree. Edwards died of his injuries a week after the smash in hospital in Jamaica.
Mechanics school offers hope for young car enthusiasts
(CNS): With constant complaints in the community about the need for vocational training for young people on local business is doing what it can to help train the country’s next generation of mechanics. Superior Auto owners, Mark and Denise DeMercado open a school for mechanics in September and was recently acknowledged by the government’s National Youth Commission (NYC) “Somebody needed to reach out and help our young people, especially those unable to attend schools overseas,” the DeMercados said about their school.
Their formula for a small automotive trade school was simple: provide free training – accredited by the Jamaican German Automotive School (JAGAS) – to interested youth.
Volunteers, staff members and the DeMercados, conduct classes from 8 til 3 each weekday, and there is a balance between classroom and hands-on learning. Six young men enrolled last year but the number dwindled to three dedicated students, Christopher Jackson, Leandru Ebanks and Giovanni Ordonez. They were joined this month by Jessica Dixon and she will continue in September.
“You have to learn in order to earn,” master mechanic Mark DeMercado tells his recruits. “And you can do that by working hard and proving yourselves.”
Explaining why he and his wife had started the project, DeMercado said he had benefitted from a similar initiative in Jamaica. He too received his certification from JAGAS, a school that has produced hundreds of professional mechanics. And as in Jamaica, the Cayman syllabus includes mandatory core subjects – maths, English, technical drawing, science and physics. All must be passed before students can be certified.
Superior Auto aims to develop a pool of qualified local mechanics, but that with this in mind, the initial group of students still has a way to go before they can be assessed as being technically competent.
They must first pass 30 JAGAS classes with minimum scores of 70 percent, in order to become level-one mechanic helpers. After that, they must serve as apprentices for three full years while gaining level three certification, with which they can work in a leadership capacity.
But the Cayman programme does have an accelerated component, for it covers levels one and two simultaneously, as explained by volunteer, coordinator Levi Allen — Superior Auto’s quality assurance staffer.
“Those with sufficient aptitude can come out with a level-two qualification by next year,” he said. “And others will have at least acquired basic competency.”
And while the ultimate goal is long-term success, some more immediate rewards may also occur. For example, the DeMercados will keep one of the first trainees on-staff after the level-one training is completed this summer – and on a small stipend.
In the coming school year the Superior Auto programme will accommodate ten local students, but twice that number have applied to attend.
During their initial year, the DeMercados did receive some help for the youths to sit JAGAS examinations in Jamaica. Rotary Sunrise sponsored the June trip to Jamaica. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers has already contributed towards the summer exams, but more help is needed for this not-for-profit training programme.
“And for those who might doubt the students’ dedication,” DeMercado noted, “They’re always here on time. The parents are equally committed, and turn up for “PTA” meetings even on Saturday mornings.
The training facility was reviewed by National Youth Commission (NYC) members during a visit last week. As an independent commission, the NYC monitors and advises on the status of young people, and advocates for developing positive solutions to their needs.
“I look forward to the day when I can have my car serviced by one of these ambitious young mechanics,” said NYC Chairperson Jenny Manderson. “I commend the DeMercado’s initiative, and laud the sponsors and volunteers who make this training possible. The participants and their parents should certainly feel proud to be involved.
“I urge more enterprises to step forward to craft public and private sector partnerships in areas that can provide training opportunities and recognized tech-voc qualifications,” she added.
Marine research to shape future of parks
(CNS): Following the assessment of sixty sites in Cayman waters by a team of researchers the Department of Environment will soon be releasing the results of this comprehensive scientific review of the Islands’ marine parks order to inform their future management. “Halfway through the three-year project, we are well on track and progress has been great. Researchers have conducted dozens of reef surveys looking at fish numbers and sizes, coral cover and species composition,” saidDoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie. “The next step will be to analyse the data and present our findings, which we hope to do early next year.”
The environment boss explained that it would be important to have public feedback on the research as the community’s input will form a critical part of the process. “It is vital that people feel a sense of ownership in the future of local marine parks and the resources they protect,” she added.
DOE and Bangor University staff assessed 60 sites across all three islands looking for stressors such as coral bleaching, disease and overfishing. “The survey included different habitats in deep and shallow waters. We also purposefully selected sites in and, outside of the marine parks system to see if there is a difference,” said Project Leader and Senior Lecturer in Marine Sciences at the Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Dr. John Turner.
The team has also been looking at the DoE’s longer-term data set to take into account changes in reef health over time.
All this information will now be fed into a decision support software programme developed specifically for marine-protected areas. The software will map and produce options for enhancement to the marine parks system to provide optimum protection for Cayman’s marine life.
“This project allows us to gather scientifically robust data that will help us understand how effective our marine park system has been over the last 25 years, what risks it faces at present and what we need to do to ensure viability of our marine resources in the long-term,” Ebanks-Petrie said. “When the marine parks were established, we had a different set of risks to consider. At this time, the threats to our reefs have changed. This initiative will ensure that our marine protected areas keep pace with local and global threats,” she said.
The Darwin study is a collaborative effort between the DOE, the Bangor School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University in Wales, and US-based The Nature Conservancy. DOE Senior Researcher Croy McCoy leads the fieldwork. The project is partly funded through a Darwin Initiative international research grant of CI$344,000 through the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and ultimately supports an improved marine parks system.