Archive for June, 2011
Government workers clock up decades of service
(CNS): Scores of government employees were recognised last week for lengthy careers in the Cayman Islands public service. With no awards being handed out since 2007 the list of veteran civil servants was significant with 200 people being honoured at a special do at Pedro St James. The longest serving member of the service was Nellie McCoy who has served government for 43 years. Seven other public sector workers had also clocked up four decades. In applauding the employees Donovan Ebanks, the acting governor, who was himself awarded for long service noted the pressures faced by government workers.
“We all are grateful for the privilege of serving our people and earning an honest living. There always are seasons when we wish things could be different, but we will continue to do all we can to contribute to the welfare of our Islands,” he said. He also implored civil service veterans to “impress upon juniors the importance of dedication and commitment.”
Meanwhile, James Watler, president of the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association, which co-sponsored the event thanked his members for their “steadfastness, commitment, loyalty, wisdom, perseverance and burning desire to get the work done. You have done commendable jobs, and can be justly proud,” he said.
Forty year veterans included Lewie Ceato Hydes, Delores Solomon, Francine Gardner, Meredith Hew, Jenodell Myles, Michael Dilbert and Carolyn Parsons. The late Adora Bodden-Groome and Shirley Dinspel were posthumously honoured for their service.
UCCI joins forces to boost local farming
(CNS): With more and more Caymanians choosing to turn their hand to growing their own food a recent inaugural Agricultural Workshop saw more than twenty local farmers and garden enthusiasts complete the programme. Offered by the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society, the Department of Agriculture and the University College of the Cayman Islands the eight week course covered plant propagation, vegetable production, hydroponics, pests and disease control among others to help growers improve their results. Courses were taught by Dr. Joseph Jackman and experts from the Department of Agriculture and participants recently received their certificates at a ceremony held at the Stacey Watler Pavilion.
UCCI, President Roy Bodden, who is himself a farmer, explained that the college was committed to taking the programme to the next level where future students taking part in the workshop series alongside some academic courses will be eligible for the award of a UCCI Certificate in Practical Agriculture which will allow them to apply for entry into an appropriate Associate Degree programme.”
Bodden pointed out that societies which are able to produce the food that they consume without having to depend on other jurisdictions are greatly advantaged as he asked everyone tocontinue supporting and encouraging local farmers. More workshops and programmes are already in the works and a course on livestock is already underway.
Julianna O’Connor-Conolly, Deputy Premier and Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture whose ministry is focusing on improving and encouraging more agricultural production in the Cayman Islands expressed her pleasure at seeing a diverse group of both male and female participants at the workshop. Speaking about the technology that supports modern agricultural practices she said: “We have to embrace technology very intimately, working smarter not harder, to achieve greater results whilst encouraging involvement of younger generations.”
TV to charge for paper bills as part of ‘green’ plans
(CNS): WestStar TV the islands' television service provider is encouraging customers to sign up for its e-billing service in order to cut down on paper – and of course posting costs. Taking a carrot and stick approach the firm said customers who sign up now are being offered the chance to win prizes but by September people who are still asking for paper bills will be charged a fee. The e-billing, is the firm said, part of the company’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This month, customers who sign up for e-billing will be entered to win one of three 64 GB Apple iPads.
“We are encouraging customers to sign up now for e-billing as we prepare to add a service charge for printed bills as of September 1st,” Director of Operations Traci Bradley said.
Internally, WestStar officials eliminated the use of disposable cups for water and coffee, giving each employee a canteen and travel coffee mug encouraging staff to avoid unnecessary waste. The company’s headquarters at Television Centre are being outfitted with motion sensors so lights will only come on when someone is actually using the space. This is in addition to the energy-efficient lighting which was installed last year.
And most recently, an internal “Green” committee was formed to continue to find and implement new ways to reduce, re-use, and recycle.
WestStar is the third telecommunications provider in the industry to introduce a fee for printed bills with Digicel leading the market in 2010 and Logic announcing last month they will be charging for printed bills.
“We’ve seen the supermarkets successfully implement ‘green’ shopping bags,” Bradley, added. “The community has responded well and we must also do our part.”
WestStar officials hope the community will support this initiative and sign up for e-billing by emailing a request to support@weststartv.ky or by calling 745-5555. The draws for the Apple iPads will be done on Daybreak June 30th, August 2nd and August 31st.
The firm said customers can also save gas by signing up for direct debit, or paying their WestStar bills at any of the Islands’ District Post Offices.
No deal yet on EE port
(CNS): Government has not yet given the East End Sea Port a green light, officials said Wednesday, although the premier has said he thinks it is a worthwhile project that could diversify the economy. Criticising a report on CNS, the premier’s press secretary has issued a statement that no announcement has been made on the project and that the law which has been drawn up by the developer is merely a draft for proposed legislation. Speaking on behalf of McKeeva Bush, his press secretary said if government decided to support the law there would be a full public consultation period before it was brought to the country’s parliament for approval.
Charles Glidden described a report on CNS that government was intending to pursue the project as a “vicious and malicious lie”, despite recent comments made by the governor. In last week’s Throne Speech, which reveals the government’s intention’s for the next financial year, the governor said that in the “area of development ongoing plans include a new cargo facility in East End.” However, the premier’s press office said that this comment was not an announcement that government intended to go ahead with the project.
With community-wide concerns that government does intend to proceed with the commercial port at High Rock in East End as proposed by private developer and land owner, Joseph Imparato, Wednesday’s statement denies that any commitments have been made. Nevertheless, the government said it was pleased that the developer has completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The EIA has been published in full by the developer on his website. Aside from identifying the significant environmental risks and what mitigation could be undertaken, the EIA also reveals the details of the legislation the developer has requested that would create a special development zone of some 1,500 acres on the site of the proposed project at High Rock in East End.
This zone around the facility would circumvent the normal planning laws as well as exempt any development in that area from duties, fees and taxes. The premier’s press secretary stated on Wednesday, however, that this was only a draft proposal for legislation and that any law that was implemented would be reviewed by the legal department.
“If the Cabinet found that it could support any draft legislation, prepared by any entity outside of government, the Legal Department would have to satisfy itself that that draft legislation is in the best interest of the Cayman Islands,” Gidden said on behalf of Bush. He said that this draft legislation would then go to the people for consultation and input, then Cabinet, before it would be taken to the Legislative Assembly for debate.
“While the Premier thinks this is a worthwhile project that can help diversify our economy and give it a solid backbone for the future, this project has not been given the go ahead by the government,” the press secretary’s statement said.
On pages 44 through to 47 in the Environmental Impact Assessment the proposed legislation drawn up by the developer is set out in detail.
See the press secretary’s statement below.
Surplus falls short of target
(CNS): Although next year’s budget has not yet been finalized, civil servants tell CNS that the public purse is likely to end this year with a small surplus but still short of the premier’s $15 million target. Despite instructions from McKeeva Bush, as minister of finance, to senior government officials to rein in spending during the last few months of the year, CNS has been told that the final core government surplus is likely to be around $4.5 million — more than ten million less than the premier had asked for. However, the final result is still an improvement given that the original predictions for this financial year was for a deficit of over $30m.
In a memo circulated to senior government officials last month the premier had said predictions of a $5 million deficit at that time were unacceptable and he said he needed a $15 million surplus. Bush explained that he would be using $5 million to pay down debt, another five to meet pension liability payments and the last five million would be used towards next year’s operating expenditure.
However, with some ten million dollars less to play with than he had hoped, Bush will need to decide whether the government loans, the pension issue or next year’s expenditure needs the small surplus most.
Speaking on Cayman 27 earlier this week Bush said that next year’s budget was still in the hands of the UK and the OT minister Henry Bellingham who is said to be concerned over personnel costs. The premier will not be able to present government’s spending and earning expectations for the next financial year until the FCO gives its approval.
Bush also confirmed recent speculation that next year’s spending plan calls for a total deficit of around $8 million, despite the original goal as agreed with the UK of a $10 million surplus. According to the three year plan which was agreed between the FCO and the CIG government in May 2010, prior to the start of the 2010/11 financial year government was expecting to deliver a budget surplus for the forthcoming financial year, after an anticipated deficit this year of around $30 million.
However, Bush told the TV station that he was not able to make any more cuts on personnel expenditure, the area where the UK wants Cayman to cut its spendin, as that was in the hands of the governor or the deputy governor.
The latest civil service head count is around 3,600, which, despite entrenchment and recruitment freezes, is still a less than 10 percent cut on the service’s peak figure of 3,900 people in 2008.
CNS has contacted the deputy governor’s office in connection with what, if any, cuts will have to be made to public sector personnel cuts in the next financial year, but so far there has been no response. The Cayman Islands Civil Service Association recently confirmed that it has not been informed about any new cuts in salaries or benefits in relation to the concerns of the UK. Nor is it clear if the portfolio intends to make head count cuts over and above natural attrition or the existing recruitment moratorium.
According to the three year plan (posted below) personnel costs were to have been reduced by 7 percent for the 2011/2012 fiscal year and byfurther 3 percent in the 2012/2013 fiscal year. It said that the targets would be achieved through a combination of divestment or restructuring of departments as well as through discussions between the governor’s office and the civil service.
The plan had called for personnel costs to come down from the 2010/11 figure of $228,647 to $212,642 during 2011/12 and then a further fall to $206,262 in the last year of the plan, when government is expected to have achieved a surplus of more than $60 million.
Cops arrest visitor for fraud
(CNS): A US citizen who was attempting to sell property along Seven Mile Beach that didn’t belong to him has been arrested for fraud. Police say that the 65-year-old man, who was visiting the Cayman Islands from Colorado, is currently in custody in connection with the suspected fraud offences which relate to an attempted property sale scam. Officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Financial Crime Unit arrested the man around 4:20pm yesterday, Tuesday 31 May, following an operation in the Seven Mile Beach area, where the man was trying to sell a condo worth around USD$500,000.
Police said that the operation was conducted after officers received a report that the man had attempted to sell property on Grand Cayman, at the Poinsettia condos, which did not belong to him and without the owner’s authority.
He was arrested on suspicion of uttering false documents and attempting to obtain property by deception and he remains at the George Town police station while enquiries continue.
LIME hosts global maintenance forum on GC
(CNS): Technicians from all over the world that help keep the international lines of communication open will be visiting Grand Cayman next week for a specialist conference. Fifty members of the Atlantic Cable Maintenance Repair Agreement (ACMA) representing over 36 companies from all corners of the Atlantic Region are coming to discuss the crucial work that this not for profit organization does and to ensure it can keep doing. Local telecommunications firm LIME which is a member of the ACMA is playing host at the Marriot from Monday for the four day conference.
Donnie Forbes, Head of Service Support and Delivery, is LIME’s representative and the organizing host for the event. “For 45 years LIME has been keeping the people of the Cayman Islands connected to the rest of the world. Technology has allowed our two core pillars of industry, tourism and finance to grow and develop into the world class businesses that we know today. LIME is delighted to welcome all the ACMA delegates not only to discuss business, but also to give us the opportunity to showcase our beautiful Islands,” he said.
ACMA is a cooperative agreement among more than seventy companies on four continents. It is run by its member companies for the benefit of the cable owners. Its goal is to provide the highest quality repair and maintenance service availableanywhere at the lowest possible price.
Specially-designed cable ships, each with its own dedicated ROV, with experienced crews and the most modern equipment, are available at strategically located base ports throughout the Atlantic Ocean to undertake repairs, wherever and whenever needed. Because of its asset- and cost-sharing methodology, it offers unparalleled service at a fraction of what it would cost to provide to individual systems. And because of its not-for-profit nature, 100% of all savings is shared among the member companies.
The Cayman Islands relies almost totally on submarine cables to keep it connected to the rest of the world. LIME officials said that the firm continues to invest in submarine cables and just this year a new major submarine cable was brought on line. The “East-West” cable links Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the west of the Caribbean to the British Virgin Islands in the east and lands in the Dominican Republic, one of the key markets in the Caribbean region.
“For businesses and residents alike there’s nothing amusing about an undersea cable break,” LIME said. “After an earthquake of Central America several cables in the Gulf of Mexico were damaged which affected some of our voice and internet traffic. With downtime and restoration costs running as much as $10 million a day on some systems, faults have to be located and repaired swiftly. This requires experience, expertise and state of the art vehicles – all of which are standard with ACMA.”
Kane acquires HSBC’s insurance arm
(CNS): The insurance management operations of HSBC have been acquired by the specialist risk and insurance management services company Kane. The firm announced the completion of the deal on Wednesday stating it had received approval from all the relevant regulatory bodies. As a result of the acquisition, the company is now the largest global, independent insurance manager. Stephen May, Group CEO of Kane, said it was a fantastic achievement to successfully unit the two companies to create a truly international platform. “Our aim now is to enhance our existing customer relationships, create new ones, build on our range of world-class services, grow our industry-leading team and seek new opportunities to strengthen our leading position in the insurance management arena,” he said.
Kane has appointed Keith Tozzi as Group Chairman and Roy Fellowes as Global Managing Director of Kane Insurance Management.Tozzi has held numerous chairmanships of public and private companies, and has a strong track record in leading companies through periods of structural change. Fellowes was formerly CEO of HSBC InsuranceManagement (HIM) and in his new role will be responsible for driving the Group’s global strategy. Further appointments will be announced shortly the company said in a release announcing the acquisition.
Keith Tozzi said it was an exciting prospect to lead Kane at a time when it is on the brink of significant growth and development. “The purchase of HIM represents the first in a series of steps as Kane looks to expand its capabilities and I look forward to working with Stephen and the rest of the team as we see this through to fruition,” he added.
Fellowes said significant time and effort had been devoted to ensuring the smooth integration of HIM into Kane. “The company unites our breadth of expertise, comprehensive service offerings, global reach and unparalleled reputation for client satisfaction and I look forward to playing my part in the ongoing success of our organization,” he said.
Following the deal the Kane Group has now expanded to include: Kane (Bermuda) Ltd; Kane (Cayman) Ltd; Kane (USA), Inc; Kane (Guernsey) Ltd and Kane (Malta) Ltd. The company said it now provides an extensive range of services, including: Captive Management, Insurance-Linked Securities Administration and Life, Pension and Investment Administration.
Touched in the sun
(CRFU): It was a busy day under the hot sun last Saturday as the 2011 touch rugby season kicked off at the South Sound Rugby Ground. Twenty-four teams, and over 200 players turned up for the opening Seeding Day, a day to determine which of the three Divisions the teams would play in over the course of the next three months. The start of any season is a chance to meet new team mates, brush up on rugby skills, renew rivalries from years past and lay down a marker for the new term. Each team was slated to play three games with the results being analyzed by the Competition Directors to determine the league fixtures for the year. Photos Caroline Deegan
The opening match saw Genesis Five Nations, resplendent in their figure hugging shirts, pick up where they left off last year with a thumping 5-1 win over Appleby, although it looks like the close season has not been too kind to some of the men-folk, and a quick trip to the sauna to lose a few of those winter pounds may berequired. See you in the gym boys!
Last year’s Division 1 Champions, Maples 1, started their campaign with back-to-back wins. New recruit Jo Ziegler put in some fine performances, capped off with a great solo try against PWC. Captain Marty Livingston was happy with their general play but said improvements in defence would be needed if they were to emulate their triumph of 2010.
A notable entry to Division 1 is the newly formed Team LIME. With a mixture of experienced rugby guys and girls and a few new faces to the sport they put up some credible performances and managed a great win over the southern hemisphere dominated Harmonic team. However, they have been handed a baptism of fire in their opening fixture of the league with a game against the holders Maples 1.
Walkers Blue Iguanas, last year’s undefeated champions of Division 2, were slow out of the blocks and were handed a couple of heavy losses in the early part of the day. A victory in their last game, plus last season’s form, has managed to secure them promotion to the top tier, but they’ll have to improve if they are going to mix it with the big guns.
There were notable victories by Happyfish Ticklers, DMS and KPMG 1, the latter managing two 7-try hauls to earn them plaudits for top performances of the day. KPMG 1 play fast, attractive rugby and should be fighting for honours at the top of the second division.
Last year’s Division 3 champions, the Trident Titans had a great day winning all three games and conceding only one try, a performance good enough to earn them promotion to Division 2 where they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Also moving up from Division 3 will be the Happyfish Ticklers and Dart.
As the day wore on, the heat sapped the players’ strength and lowered energy levels, but the crowd was treated to a thrilling late game between Appleby and PWC with the former coming out winners in an epic 7-6 battle. If these teams can take this form into the season they’ll be tough to beat and make for great viewing.
Queensgate Grizz’s Old Fellas had a sterling return to form and lost all three games, managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a “classic” encounter with UBS. Despite the Old Fellas leading on three separate occasions, a calamitous missed touch in midfield, by the mercurial Mikey Johnston, gave UBS a breakaway try and a lead they never looked like losing. It’s back to the drawing board for the Old Fellas… or is it just back to the bar? The dream continues…
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 world of touch rugby.
The season starts in earnest on June 6th, with games taking place on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the South Sound Rugby Ground starting at 5.30pm.
Division 1
Appleby
DMS
Genesis 5 Nations
Walkers Blue Iguanas
Maples 1
Ogier
PWC
Team Lime
Division 2
Campbells
DART
Happyfish Ticklers
Harmonic
Maples 2
Trident Titans
UBS
KPMG 1
Division 3
Credit-Suisse
Deloitte
Ernst & Young
GCM
Island Heritage
KPMG 2
Queensgate Grizz's Old Fellas
Rawlinson & Hunter
Government encourages people to get fit
(CNS): As Cayman joins the region in marking Caribbean Nutrition Day first designated on 1 June 1 in 2005 by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, health officials are highlighting the benefits of healthy eating and an active lifestyle. With diseases related to unhealthy lifestyles placing the greatest pressure on the country’s healthcare systems the authorities are sending out the message of eating right and keeping fit. There are many physical, mental, and social benefits to a physically active lifestyle, including stress management, improved heart health, lower body weight and body fat, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis, or brittle bones.
The theme for this year’s nutrition day is theme “Healthy Eating and Active Living: Do a Variety of Physical Activity Today and Every Day” is in line with the “Be Fit Cayman” wellness campaign. This theme encourages all sectors of the Caribbean population to be physically active throughout a variety of leisure time, occupational and household activities, transportation, sports and structured exercise.
Physical activity is any movement produced by skeletal muscles that uses energy. It varies by intensity (e.g. light, moderate, or vigorous), duration, frequency, and type of activity. We will differ in our needs for physical activity depending on our age, health condition, and personal goals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults exercise aerobically at least 30 minutes most days of the week in addition to strengthening muscles. When it comes to kids, experts recommend an accumulation of 60 minutes of structured activity daily to help develop motor skills, such as practicing throwing and kicking a ball, dance, gymnastics, or learning to ride a bike or swim. This should go along side at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of free play daily (running, jumping, skipping, climbing,chasing etc.). Except when sleeping kids should not be inactive for more than 60 minutes at a time
Kids over six and into their teens should also be engaging in 60 minutes aerobic activity daily, including muscle strengthening activity such as gymnastics, push-ups, and bone strengthening activity like jumping rope, running three times per week.
People aged 18 to 64 are encouraged to take at least 2 ½ hours per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, including muscle strengthening or 1 ¼ hours per week of vigorous intensity aerobic activity such as jogging, swimming, cycling including muscle strengthening lifting weights, resistance training) 2 days per week. For those over 65 experts say if they can manage the two and half hours they should also undergo the same type of exercise or as much physical activity to improve muscle strength and balance 2 or more days per week as they can manage.
Meanwhile, eating fresh health food is vitally important and for the first time this weekend Little Cayman will be showing off its home grown produce at the inaugural Little Cayman Agriculture Show.