Archive for July 4th, 2011
Sharks in Bahamas to get legal protection
(CNS): Sharks in the Bahamas are to be offered legal protection according to the local media. The Tribune is reporting that new legislation is currently under review by the country’s Attorney General after a 10 months campaign by the Bahamas National Trust and the PEW Environment Group to make the Bahamas a sanctuary for sharks. The islands are home to one of the world's healthiest shark populations, while global populations but at present there are no laws to prevent shark fishing or the export of shark meat and fins. Meanwhile, the lack of protection for sharks in Cayman was raised recently when a hammerhead was sold for meat at the George Town fish market.
Although the sharks are protected when they are within the waters of the Cayman Islands' marine parks there is no protection for them anywhere else.
Globally all shark populations have declined dramatically, including the scalloped hammerhead, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists as endangered. This means this type of shark is considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Locally these sharks were sighted with more regularity no more than a decade ago. However, in recent years sightings have diminished for unknown reasons and the current status of local populations of scalloped hammerheads remains largely undetermined.
Last month during Penny Palfrey’s record breaking swim between Little Cayman and Grand Cayman three whitetip sharks were killed as they posed a threat to the marathon swimmer.
The DoE said that the whitetip has decline by 99% in the last fifty years. However the department is involved in a two year collaborative study with Marine Conservation International (MCI), the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University and the Save Our Seas to better understand the current status of sharks in our local waters.
The project is funded by the UK’s Overseas Territory Environment Programme (OTEP) and the Save Our Seas Foundation and will result in comprehensive management recommendations to ensure sharks receive the protection and recognition they so desperately require.
Free summer music camp for teachers and students
(CNS): Thanks to the support of a number of local sponsors a Florida based musical organisation is coming to Cayman this month to host a free summer camp for 180 kids. The camp will be hosted by Creative Music Project, Inc. will be hosting the camp for students and a parallel professional workshop for music teachers from July 5-8, 2011, 8:30am- 3:00pm daily. The camp will take place at Red Bay Primary School/Mary Miller Hall for primary students and Clifton Hunter High School for secondary students. 15 CMP members have flown into Grand Cayman to take the classes and inspire young Caymanians to make music.
“At both sites, students will participate in various creative activities including playing instruments, singing, movement activities, cultural connections, songwriting, music technology, composing, arranging, improvising and also have the chance to enjoy live performances from some of our members,” organizers stated in a release.
“Music educators will participate in interactive activities and presentations from our members. They will also be given resources to help build on their own music programs within the schools.”
The week will come to a close with a mini-concert on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 7:00pm at Mary Miller Hall where the public are invited to view a showcase of what the students have accomplished during the week.
For more information visit www.creativemusicproject.org or Janelle Tibbetts Janelle@creativemusicproject.org.
Creative Music Project, Inc. (CMP) said it is an organization which looks to promote student-based musical creativity by providing improvisation and composition activities accompanied by technology-based, multi-disciplinary methodology.
Cayman makes ‘Brides’ honeymoon top 20
(CNS): The premier said that the Cayman Islands has proved itself to be a niche market contender after coming in the top 20 honeymoon destinations in the world for Brides Magazine. The survey ranks Cayman at number 15 . “Niche marketing has a special place particularly for Caribbean destinations which all have an abundance of sun, sand and sea,” McKeeva Bush said this week after his representatives collected the award at a Caribbean tourism event in New York last month.“This award boosts our market strengths and proves that we are truly a top contender.”
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman was also listed as joint second best Caribbean resort for newlyweds in the survey which was conducted in partnership with travel agents Signature Travel Network.
Chief Officer in the premier’s ministry Carson Ebanks said that the department was thrilled that the Cayman Islands was selected. “Our enchanting islands have something to offer for all honeymooners – relaxation, adventure, nature, incredible epicurean experience and much more. For a week or a month, the Cayman Islands is a perfect place for honeymooners,” he added.
‘Price’ on gunmen doubles
(CNS): The reward now on offer for the arrest of the masked men who shot Kemar Golding in the face last week has increased to US$10,000 as the local branch of CrimeStoppers has matched the $5k pledge made by the Cayman Islands Brewery. Golding was a brewer for Caybrew and his employers issued a statement in the wake of his miraculous survival putting up the money for information leading to the conviction of the gunmen who shot him during the failed robbery attempt at the Red Bay jerk stand. Golding had been helping his friend who worked there dispose of garbage on the night of Wednesday, 29 June.
The bullet fired directly at his face entered his left eye and exited behind his ear on the side of his face. Since that time he has lost the use of his left eye permanently. Although he was taken to the Cayman Island Hospital for treatment initially, he has since been flown for treatment in a hospital in Miami and is in a serious but stable condition.
All three suspects involved in the crime wore masks and spoke with Caymanian accents. One was wearing a hoody type jacket. After shooting the victim, the suspects then ran off towards the Lighthouse school and towards Red Bay Primary School. Nothing was stolen and the offenders left empty handed after shooting twenty-eight year old Golding
“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 Wednesday 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). Your tip will remain completely anonymous and could help solve this case.
“If you know anything at all, please provide any information you have that will help find the criminals behind this senseless act of violence,” said a spokesperson from Crimestoppers.
On Saturday, 9 July, from 9am the Cayman Islands Brewery will be holding an open day for everyone to come and drink and socialize completely free. All four Caybrew brands will be on offer as well as food provided by top local restaurants and entertainment to raise donations for Golding.
"We will be giving away many many prizes,"siad Mathew Leslie as he invited everyone to come along. "You have shown your support to Kemar and the Brewery Family and this is our way of thanking you the best we can.
"Bring some chairs or blankets for the grass. Bring your taste buds and come thirsty! We need to bring back positive attitudes in the community so please come out and if you want to bring a grill and bbq then by all means please do. A sense of community is the only thing that will stop these criminals as they will know we will not stand for these crimes in our islands," he added.
Governor says constitution ensures ‘high standards’
(CNS): The governor described the country’s constitution as the document which ensures government is held accountable to the “highest standards” in his constitutional message on Monday. Against the current background of political unrest and uncertainty, Duncan Taylor said that the document which the Cayman Islands adopted in 2009 was the cornerstone of democracy. “This Constitution tells us who can make decisions and how you can challenge those decisions,” he said. “It serves to reduce the powers of the government and to devolve more power to the people.”
Taylor said that everyone had an obligation to take stock of its contents. “I urge you to familiarize yourself on the Constitution by visiting one of the Commissions websites or contacting the Commissions Secretariat,” he told the people as he asked them to embrace the document.
With less than 18 months to go before Cayman introduces its bill of rights, the constitutional expert who advised the Cayman government during the negotiations with the UK, Professor Jeffrey Jowell paid a visit to the island to meet with the various commissions that have been established under the constitution.
“In my view the Cayman Islands Constitution is one of the most interesting and advanced in the world,” he said. “It gives more autonomy to this British Overseas Territory than to any other,” Jowell said in a radio appearance.
During the course of this week under the theme Embracing our Constitution, there will be a number of media appearances by those involved in implementing the provisions of the country’s newest constitution. For more information visit Commissions Secretariat in the Smith Road Centre, tel: 244-3685 or one of the websites relating to the constitution:
www.standardsinpubliclifecommission
See the governor's full message below.