Archive for June, 2011
First tropical storm forms close to Mexican coast
(CNS): Tropical storm Arlene, the first of the 2011 season, formed at around 7pm (CDT) in the south-western corner of the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday. The National Hurricane centre said Arlene had formed only 240 miles east of Tuxpan, Mexico. The season’s first storm had already reached winds of 40 mph with higher gusts when the NHC issued its first bulletin. The centre warned that some strengthening was forecast during the next day or so as the cyclone heads towards land. Tropical Storm Arlene was moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph and forecasters said a turn toward the west was expected with the storm reaching the coast by Thursday.
Tropical storm force winds currently extend outward up to 115 miles and the storm, when it hits land is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Veracruz with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches over mountainous terrain. With tropical storm conditions expected to be affecting the warning area by Wednesday the NHC said there was little time for people to prepare. The NHC said a tropical storm warning is in effect for Barra de Nautla to Bahia Algodones where tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours.
Police seek missing witness during robbery enquiry
(CNS): The detectives investigating an armed robbery at Jose escape gas station on Crewe Road earlier this month are asking a witness who was a customer in the store at the time to come forward. Police said Tuesday that a man was served by the staff just before the lone masked, gun man entered the gas station store at around 8.40 pm on Friday, 3 June, brandishing what appeared to be a handgun. No arrests have been made in connection with this enquiry to date but the officer in charge said police are keen to speak to the customer as they believe he may have information that could help the enquiry. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
Detective Constable Karen McQuade said the man was served by staff just before the robbery took place. “This customer may have information which could be vital to the enquiry”, said DC McQuade. “He was still within the premises when the robbery took place but left the scene before officers could make contact with him. He is described as having a black complexion and being of large build. He had dread lock hair and was wearing lilac-light blue shirt ¾ length denim shorts and work boots. He may also have facial hair. It isn’t known if he left the gas station on foot or in a vehicle.”
During the robbery the lone gunman who had threatened the attendants and taken an undisclosed sum of cash before he made off behind the building where he discharged a shot. Despite the robbery discharging his weapon no-one was injured in the incident. The gunman was described as being approximately 6ft 1inch tall, dark complexion wearing full black clothing, gloves and mask.
The witness, or anyone who can assist in tracing him, should call George Town CID on 949- 4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).
Demo banned from LA steps
(CNS): Hundreds of protestors came out on Tuesday morning to march through George Town to send a message to government about their concerns over development proposals and the way the premier is handling them. However, the planned final destination of the Legislative Assembly steps was altered at the last minute when the opposition leader said the speaker of the House had objected to the MLAs and the activist group leaders addressing the crowd from that spot. Police barriers were erected along the pavement forcing the protestors into the road and as a result the political and group representatives made their addresses from a truck bed parked in front of the LA.
The PPM members and the MLA from North Side all pointed out in their addresses to the crowd that the Legislative Assembly was the people’s House and they should not be prevented from using it. However, McLaughlin told CNS that he had exchanged various letters with the speaker who said she was not happy about the demonstration coming to the LA. The PPM leader said she led him to believe that she had issues regarding her personal safety and that the organisers should have asked her permission. As a result she had forbidden the members of the LA and the people from speaking on the steps or using the pavement in front of the building.
It did not, however, prevent the rally from continuing as the demonstrators waved a variety of placards, boards and banners, carrying slogans such as “More trees and less bush” or “No means No Mr premier” and “Fowl cut teeth today Bubo” alongside “Say no to the big hole” and protests over government project proposals.
The march left the cricket ground around noon and walked up Elgin Avenue for a stop at the new government building, where Denise Miller, the leader of the Young Progressives, led the crowd as they called for McKeeva Bush to resign and asked the ministers to join them on the march to the LA. Although no one left the government offices as the marchers made their way to the country’s parliament, their ranks were swelled by many people who left their offices during the lunch break to join the protest.
MC’d by the PPM member for East End, Arden McLean, some of the people who took the opportunity to articulate the concerns of the crowd outside the parliament building included theformer tourism minister Charles Clifford, Chairman of the Concerned Citizens Group Alice Mae Coe, Captain Bryan Ebanks the founder of SaveCayman, and former West Bay election candidate Paul Rivers, as well as the MLAs.
When the opposition leader took to the truck bed he said he had written to the premier and invited him to come and listen to what the people had to say but he didn’t see him. McLaughlin added that the people had gathered because they were all concerned about the direction the country was taking under the leadership of “Mr Bush and his merry band the UDP”. He revealed that the heavy equipment operators had not turned up because the premier had bought their absence with the promise of future work or intimidated them with the threat of no work if they came.
However, close to 500 people had braved the hot sun and possible recriminations to show their concerns. “You have come out to make very clear to them that no matter how much they offer or how much they threaten there are still people in this country who are ready to stand up and say no Mr Bush no, we have had enough,” he said.
McLaughlin added that the country was only half way through the UDP term but it probably couldn’t survive another two years.
“The protest cannot end today … we must continue to make out voices heard until those who live in the government administration building … understand that this country is not for sale,” the PPM leader told the crowd.
Ezzard Miller said he biggest problem everyone at the rally had was “W.McKeeva Bush, ‘cos we can’t move him!” he yelled, as the crowd cheered. The North side MLA pointed out that the opposition leader’s motion of no confidence wasn’t going anywhere because they could not get it on the agenda because the premier was in charge of that agenda. “The man is premier, minister of tourism, minister of development, chairman of Business Committee, chairman of Finance Committee – nobody can do that many jobs good!” Miller said as he led the crowd in a chant of “McKeeva must go!” He called on the UDP members to move the premier as they were the only people that could do it.
McLean, who emphasised his commitment to doing whatever it took to stop the East End port, said that the people engaging in peaceful demonstrations about their concerns were not the reason why investors were being driven away, as the premier had suggested on a number of occasions. “We are not running away the investors,” he said. “Everybody is holding their hands out for their piece of the pie, that is what is running the investors away,” Mclean added as he drew the peaceful demonstration to an end.
See video clips of protest march
Vote in the CNS poll: Did the protest march (28 June) accomplish anything?
Cayman Brac dive vacation heals mind and body
(CNS): Once a year Leland Walker takes a vacation, not just from the routine of daily life but from the constant pain he has lived with for the past 14 years. The only time that he is pain free is when he scuba dives, and the only time he gets to do that is on the annual Dive Pirates Foundation trip to Cayman Brac. Walker is an ‘incomplete quadriplegic’, which, he explained, means he still has feelings in his toes and can feel the water, and he believes the relief from his chronic pain is due to a combination of the pressure underwater and a relaxed mind. Diving, he said, takes his mind off the pain. “I think about how beautiful this earth is, and that most people don’t get to witness it.”
The Dive Pirates Foundation is a non-profit organization that sponsors people with disabilities with scuba training, dive gear and a paid trip to the Brac Reef Beach Resort to complete their certification. On their first Brac vacation in 2004, the DPF brought a group that included four adaptive divers and their buddies. On this year’s trip, which wrapped up this weekend (Saturday 25 June), they brought a group of 83, which filled the hotel to capacity. Among them were the latest sponsorship recipients: two amputees, two paraplegics, one quadriplegic, as well as an adaptive diver with paralysis on his left side, one with a closed head injury, one with burns and fused ankles, and one with an injured back – results of combat injuries, car accidents or illness. Past sponsorship recipients, two amputees and four quadriplegics, who returned this year included Walker, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was on his fourth trip to the Brac.
“It’s the best week of my life every year,” he said. “The diving gets better and better on each trip.” Walker and his dive buddy, his sister Muzette Walker, made three dives a day for five days, and among this year’s highlights he saw a grouper feeding, a yellow sea horse, a large crab and a moray eel, and he swam next to a turtle. But it’s not just the diving that keeps him coming back to the Brac, he noted. “There are a lot of caring people here and everyone helps when they are asked. I don’t get this love at home!” (Right: Leeland Walker wins the Dive Pirates 'Floatila' contest during his week on the Brac)
Largely because of the relationship that has built up between the Dive Pirates and the Brac Reef, when the Tibbetts family, who own the hotel, rebuilt it after Hurricane Paloma demolished most of it in 2008, they included three wheelchair accessible rooms and concrete or wooden walkways throughout the resort. In addition, most of the dive staff with Reef Divers, which operates from the hotel, are SSI trained to assist adaptive divers, and according to Walker they seem to enjoy the group as much as the Pirates enjoy coming.
“Both airports (Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac) have employees that work very hard to accommodate our divers,” commented Sophie Wimberley, one of the founders of the Dive Pirates. “We have tremendous support from the ground crew, especially at Cayman Brac, who individually lift these men and women out of the planes and back in when we leave. This is hard work and they seem to enjoy helping and refuse extra tips or help from any of us. They are heroes!”
She also makes special mention of Philip Ebanks at Continental Airlines in Grand Cayman. “He personally came to work at 7am one year, without our asking, and checked us all in early so that we could visit Grand Cayman for the day without lugging our bags around. Now that we have a Saturday mid-day jet, this is no longer necessary, but he was great to do this for us. Last year Cayman Airways had changed their schedule for the jet service to a 9pm departure, but when we all arrived in Grand Cayman, they boarded us and we took off earlier.”
Before he took up scuba in 2007, Walker said, he felt as if he was just living day to day. He lost the use of his legs in a freak accident in 1997 and the shock and depression lasted for four years. He lifted weights to keep in shape but his disability plus the responsibility of being a single father with two daughters weighed him down. When his massage therapist suggested diving to him he took to the idea immediately, and his sister was excited about training with him as his buddy – but it wasn’t an easy process.
“I was scared out of my mind getting in the pool the first time and had a panic attack, but I never thought about giving up,” he said. To overcome his fears he practiced using the snorkel with his head in a bucket to try and control his breathing. On his first ocean dive he hyperventilated again, but this time not because he was scared but because he was excited. However, he regained control of his breathing and as he descended he relaxed. “Everything was so beautiful. There was stuff you only see on the Discovery Chanel,” he said.
Walker hopes to return next year and says he has no desire to dive anywhere else. “I recommend Cayman Brac to everyone, disabled or not,” he said.
For more information about the foundation or the trip to Cayman Brac go to divepirates.org.
Cruisers sink while air passengers stay up
(CNS): The latest statistics from the Department of Tourism have confirmed what business owners dependent on cruise passengers have been saying for several weeks that the numbers are way down. After a strong start to the year the drop in cruise passengers which began in April continued in May with an almost 20% dip compared to May 2010. Last year 114,504 cruise passengers docked in George Town during the month of May compared to 91,909 this. Meanwhile arrivals at the airport remained on the upward trajectory with a 7.4% in the people flying into the Cayman Islands.
While the outlook for the cruise tourism becomes increasingly gloomy with a first quarter decline of more than 13% so far 2011 continues to look better for stay-over guests with a more than 10% increase on the first quarter of 2010.
Once again air arrivals were boosted with a more than ten percent increase in passengers from Canada. In May 2010 1283 people flew to Cayman from Canada but last month 1417 passengers came from that country. Although passengers from the UK and the rest of Europe showed a decline of around 11% the increase of almost 9% from all across the USA meant 23,440 arrived at Owen Roberts International compared to 21,824 in May 2010 and 21,438 in 2009.
The steep decline in cruise passenger arrivalsfor the month however, does not bode well for the summer months for businesses in downtown George Town. The 91,909 cruise arrivals for last month is the worst statistic for more than a decade not since 2000 have less people sailed into the port during May.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry was celebrating its own last week with CITA’s annual Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards at the Grand Cayman Marriott. Government officials and those in the business were there to hand out gongs to employees in the industry who have gone above and beyond the call of duty as ambassadors for Cayman.
National symbols threatened by port, says NT
(CNS): The National Trust has become the latest organization to add its voice to the growing opposition to the proposed East End commercial port and has urged government not to give its approval to the project. The organization said the risks far exceed the potential benefits that couldbe derived from it. “Its impact on the people, the land, the sea and the ground water will be to the detriment of present and future generations of these islands,” it stated. It said the port posed a threat to both the national tree and the national flower.
The organization pointed out that the land area under consideration is home to many native reptiles, birds and other animals including a variety of native plants many of which are endemic and on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as either endangered or critically endangered. “These include our National Tree, the Silver Thatch, and our National Flower, the Wild BananaOrchid,” the Trust noted in the statement.
“The National Trust supports the Government in its efforts to create sustainable development in the Cayman Islands. We believe, however, that this project is culturally and environmentally unsound as it will adversely affect the environment both on land and off shore as well as the lives of the residents of the Cayman Islands, particularly those in East End.”
The East End Sea port and development zone is a project proposed by Joseph Imparato which would, if it were allowed to go ahead mean the total destruction of several hundred feet of coastline and at least two pristine dive sites, as well as the potential to damage several other dive sites.
Aside from the impact on the natural environment the NT raised its concerns about the urban changes associated with this development that “will alter forever the way of life on Grand Cayman, and particularly for the people of East End,” as it stated its opposition.
Solar stations offer greener route for Cayman drivers
(CNS): Although promises of making electric cars legal by June appear now to have been pushed back again to September, John Felder, CEO of Cayman Automotive announced plans to open the islands’ first Solar Panel charging station for electric vehicles last week. The first of twelve planned stations where drivers will be able to plug in their cars will have two slots and is located in Governor’s Square. The prototype station is expected to be fully functional by the end of this year in anticipation that legislative changes will allow all types of electric cars to use at least some of Cayman’s roads. The solar powered stations will generate electricity using pollution-free solar cells and mark a step towards a greener future for the islands.
With plans for another 11 stations EV drivers will eventually be able to drive island-wide, and recharge their electric cars. Felder also noted the new stations will attract business from people who are coming to plug in their cars as it takes a bit longer that filling up with gas.
“The charging stations will also help to boost local businesses that have them on their premises,” Felder said, “When you take your electric car to Camana Bay or Kaibo, Governors Square or Fosters Food fair, you are also going to spend money while your EV is being charged.”
The Solar Panel Charging Stations for EV will use a modular design of solar panels built as a canopy above parking spaces of a vehicle-charging device, or an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) which encompasses a communications and control system, data collection equipment, a transformer and connection to the local CUC power grid.
Cayman Automotive is the first authorised EV delear in the Caribbean, and recently introduced the much sought after, Chevy Volt as well as offering the ZENN, the Wheego Life, and Tazzari sport vehicles, which are 100 per cent electric powered. Felder said that a full line-up of the Caribbean’s first 100 per cent electric trucks and vans will be introduced later this year as he keeps his fingers crossed that the necessary legislation will reach and be approved by the Legislative Assembly this September
Meditation can cut heart attacks by as much as half
(Daily Telegraph): Transcendental meditation, the relaxation technique made famous by the Beatles, can cut heart attack and stroke death rates by up to 50%, new research has found. The practice, which involves the continual repeating of a mantra, was found to reduce high blood pressure, cholesterol and thickening of the arteries. It is also protects against diabetes. "This is a seminal finding," said Dr Norman Rosenthal of the American government's National Institute of Mental Health. "The prevention of heart attack and stroke and actual lengthening of lifespan by an alternative treatment method is exceedingly rare, if not unprecedented.
“If Transcendental Meditation were a drug conferring so many benefits, it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster."
Stress is a major factor in heart disease and meditation experts say the technique can help control it.
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed 201 men and women with an average age of 59 who suffered from the narrowing of arteries in their hearts for nine years.
Marl stirs up Finance Committee row
(CNS): MLAs engaged in heated debate during Friday’s Finance Committee session over the fate of marl sitting on site at the now-shelved project to build the Beulah Smith High School in West Bay. Part of the committee’s look at projected 2011/12 appropriations for the Ministry of Education, Training and Employment, the questions raised centred on the $2.1 million spent on site preparation and the marl left piled on the vacated construction area. The plans for Beulah Smith were put on hold in the wake of the global financial meltdown that began in 2008.
In addition, Rolston Anglin the education minister took issue with the decision of the previous PPM government to go ahead with the four school projects – Beulah Smith, John Gray and Clifton Hunter high schools and the renovation of George Town Primary School (which was later shelved) – in the face of the deteriorating global and local economic climates.
As for the marl, the minister said his biggest concern was now securing the material. He added that work done at the site cost a total of $3.4 million, including $1.3 million to local contractor MacAlpine. Premier McKeeva Bush addressed the cost of the now-abandoned site. “As Minister of Finance, my concern is what I’m hearing now about,” he added, referring to the money that has been spent on maintaining the site.
Bush also said the marl constitutes a potential flooding threat. “The high piles of marl are not good for the neighbourhood,” he said, adding that if there were drainage problems, rainwater would back up that could cause serious flooding.Bush said he was worried how potential flooding would affect the area’s natural drainage ability.
“I will ask the minister to revisit (this issue), since we don’t have the money to build Beulah Smith,” he said, pointing out that the piles of marl would have to be moved.
MLA Cline Glidden asked former Minister of Education Alden McLaughlin why his PPM administration went ahead and filled the site with marl, when the government didn’t have the funds to carry the project forward.
McLaughlin said there was extensive discussion and planning about the construction of the three high schools and pointed out that Glidden helped break ground at the Beulah Smith site. He added that government never entered into the $49.8 million contract with MacAlpine because of what was happening in the global and local economies.
“We decided to discontinue a number of projects,” he said, adding, “It was as simple as that.”
In response, Anglin said that planning, caution and living within means “went out the window” over the four years of the PPM government, accusing that administration of poor planning, fiscal irresponsibility and poor decision making.
“I don’t know when the country is going to be able to afford a third high school in Grand Cayman,” Anglin said, adding that they would have to look carefully at the site and decide what to do with the materials there. The choice was to let it erode and lose money or get some value to the country by using “good old Cayman common sense.”
Judiciary triggered enquiry
(CNS): A police investigation which may involve the premier was set in motion by a member of the judiciary and not by the opposition, the PPM leader said Monday. Alden McLaughlin noted that, despite comments made by McKeeva Bush at a jobs rally on Saturday, the opposition did not trigger the investigation that McLaughlin says involves the premier, and that the information was uncovered in a civil court case which led to the governor becominginvolved. Duncan Taylor confirmed that he had notified the police commissioner of an “issue” which led to an investigation but he has not said if it involves Bush. Meanwhile, Ezzard Miller has called for the premier to resign to avoid putting Cayman at risk of a “TCI situation”.
The premier has not yet released an official statement regarding the financial probe of alleged activities believed to have taken place during Bush’s previous term in office as the islands' leader. The premier told CNS Monday that there was nothing to investigate because "his hands were clean and his heart pure”. On Saturday Bush had suggested that the accusations referred to a “real estate bill which he had sent to someone” and that it was the PPM’s plan to have him investigated.
However, the opposition leader said the investigation had nothing at all to do with his party. “This came from the judiciary," McLaughlin stated. “The matter was unearthed because of documents found in civil proceedings in the Grand Court in 2010. This has nothing to do with the opposition asking for an investigation.”
McLaughlin said the only connection the opposition and the independent member have to this investigation is that they were aware of it taking place and wrote to the governor about its progress. He explained that he and Miller sent letters to the UK representative and other non-elected government officials, as well as the police commissioner in his role as chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission, to find out what was happening with the investigation, given what they said was the gravity of the accusations.
Ezzard Miller told CNS that he had very grave concerns about the accusations given the correspondence he had seen and said the premier should resign. If the Bush would not step down voluntarily his party members should remove him from the leadership position on a temporary basis in order to allow the investigation to take place. “I believe the premier should do the right thing and resign and not put Cayman at risk of having a similar situation arise here as did in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Miller said.
He warned that the only people who can remove the premier from office part-way through a term was his own party. “If he won’t reign his party should ask him to step down, otherwise they are putting the country at risk of having the UK suspend the constitution,” Miller added.
So far, the details of the “financial irregularities” remain unconfirmed by both the police and the governor, who have refused to name anyone but have merely stated that an investigation is “ongoing”. However, the governor has not denied claims made by the opposition leader on Sunday that Bush is at the centre of the police probe, which is alleged to involve several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I can confirm that in February 2010 an issue was brought to my attention which alleged financial irregularities,” the governor said Monday. “I referred the matter to the commissioner of police who subsequently decided to launch an investigation. I am advised that this investigation continues.”
Given that the governor does not usually become involved in the day to day concerns of the Financial Crimes Unit, it is apparent that the investigation he refers to is no ordinary FCU case.
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any ongoing police investigation or to divulge any details of the investigation or the names of those people being investigated, and quite wrong to speculate on what might be the outcome. I am satisfied that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service continues to take the matter seriously and to deal with it properly,” Taylor added.