Archive for July, 2011
Foldats takes up permanent seat on judicial bench
(CNS): Valdis Foldats, who has been serving as a temporary magistrate in the Summary Court since the beginning of the year, has been made a permanent part of the judiciary. Although formerly appointed by the governor, Foldats was selected by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. It is that body’s second appointment to Cayman’s courts and its first magistrate. Throughout April and May, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission carried out an open recruitment process, advertising the post locally and overseas. Following a short-listing process, an interview panel interviewed four people for the job and Foldats was selected.
Foldats will take up his permanent post on 1 October, a vacancy created by the retirement of former Magistrate Grace Donalds.
Having worked as the Clerk of Court for nine years, during which time he also gained experience as an Acting Magistrate, Foldats is no stranger to the post. Before he became Clerk he had joined the Judicial Administration as the Registrar of Appeal/Senior Deputy Clerk.
He was called to the Bar in Canada in 1984 and prior to moving to the Cayman Islands he spent fifteen years practicing law in the areas of criminal, coroner and disciplinary proceedings.
The Judicial and Legal Services Commission was established in the new constitution introduced in November 2009 and made its first appointment in June, when it advised the governor to appoint Justice Richard Williams, who starts in September as a Grand Court Judge.
Summer Rugby heats up
(CIRU): It was a bumper week of tries in Round 4 of the Summer Touch Rugby League 2011 with 139 tries scored in just 12 matches. Players are clearly getting their attacking mojos working with dazzling footwork and great handling. Three teams even reached double figures on the scoreboard, leaving defences scratching their heads as to how to counteract such offensive flair. In Division 1, PWC had the stand out performance running in 12 tries against Team LIME. After a first round defeat, PWC are on a 3-game winning streak and going from strength to strength. They shared the tries between 8 different players and their usual slick passing and offloads were too much for a Team LIME unit that has been improving all season. (Photo: Caroline Deegan)
This win closes the gap on the league leaders and PWC must surely be considered contenders for the title.
Maples1 and Genesis Five Nations, the oldest and fiercest rivalry in the history of Cayman Touch Rugby, could not be separated, playing out a 5-5 draw. Joint league leaders before the game, they had a titanic battle with no quarter given and none asked. These two teams play tough touch rugby and any game is a difficult one to referee. Kudos must go to James Waters for keeping a lid on proceedings. Both defences, normally as tight as an old pair of pants, conceded more tries in this one game than they have all season – a fact that will displease both captains who pride themselves on their miserly offerings in the “tries against” column.
Lisa Kehoe, like a diminutive Phil Collins but with more hair, orchestrated all that was good for Genesis and was rewarded with 3 tries and the MVP award. As the smallest player on the pitch it clearly demonstrates that this form of rugby is not all about size. A spokesperson for Genesis said, “There was something in the air tonight, we thought we were down and out but we don’t give up and against all odds we came back in the second half. At face value a draw is a good result!”
Ogier beat DMS, 7-4. It was their first win of the season and they have been threatening this for some time. The fine double act of Waters and Blair, the Fast and the Furious, were the difference on the scoreboard with a hat-trick apiece but both would give credit to their team for providing the support and running lines needed to effect the win.
Walkers Blue Iguanas still can’t find that all-important first win of the season although they ran Appleby mighty close, eventually losing 5-7. Stuart Geddes put in a stand-out performance with his overall play, composure on the ball and three tries.
In Division 2, the stand out match was a top of the table clash between Maples2 and UBS. Something had to give as both came into the game with a 100% record to date but it was Maples2 that took the honours, winning out 7-3. They were never in danger against a UBS team that had little answer to the marauding talents of the ginger assassin Andrew Dean. His personal tally of four tries was an excellent return for a team performance that showed both determination and skill in equal measure.
The Trident Titans move into third with a well fought 4-3 victory over Happyfish Ticklers. Titans play some inventive rugby with good inside offloads that keep the defences guessing and often on the back foot. Titans always had the edge and squandered a few chances in the first half but with two tries from Riley Mullen they sealed the win. Ticklers speedster Iain Blackwell scored a great try, standing up the Titansdefence before sprinting round the outside to score in the corner.
Harmonic recorded their first win of the season with a performance against Campbells that belied their position near the foot of the table. Rob “Der Blond Bomber” Aspinall, showed the way with three well taken tries, the pick being a clean break from halfway, and then deceiving the covering defender with an audacious overhead dummy being scored in the corner. Captain Tim Rossiter was most pleased for his teammate stating, “Rob hasn’t scored three times in one night for a long time. He can stand proud after that performance.” Campbells showed plenty of pluck throughout and ran in four tries of their own. Young Richard Thomas was voted MVP for his all action display and avid touch followers will be pleased to note that Shelly Cox broke her barren spell of scoring when, resplendent in what must now be considered her “lucky” new boots, she covered several inches of turf to score at the end.
KPMG1 continued their topsy-turvy season with a convincing win over DART. Rattling up 8 tries to 2, Gerhard Albertyn was the pick of the bunch with three tries and an all-round top performance. They’ll be looking to build on this win in the next part of the season. DART will want to put this early season form behind them as they sit bottom of the table with four defeats on the trot. Their usual try scoring ability deserted them and their problems in defence continue. Maybe a few practice sessions are needed to get that first victory.
It was a try time in the opening fixture of Division 3 as Ernst&Young were hammered 1-11 by a Deloitte team that remain undefeated and in second place. Neal Ainscow ran in 4 tries and was ably supported by Gareth Wilkinson (3) and Rob Fysh (2). Curtis Wilson made the solitary response for Ernst&Young who succumbed to their heaviest defeat of the season and remain at the bottom of the table.
However, they were surpassed by a 13 try bonanza by KPMG2 who underlined their dominance of the league beating Island Heritage 13-5. Ian Robertson got 5 tries, the most any one player has scored in a game all season. The Heritagers’ never gave up and ran in a creditable 5 tries of their own, Marvin Gordon with a hat-trick.
In an entertaining game, Queensgate Grizz’s Old Fellas got their annual victory with a 9-6 win over Credit Suisse. The Suisse defence had more holes in it than a large Emmenthal cheese and these were wonderfully exploited by Venassio Toketokevanua. He teased, toyed and tantalized with ball in hand, leaving defenders grasping at thin air and gasping at his speed of turn as well as his turn of speed. He was more provider than scorer though with the main scoring being done by the husband and wife tag-team of John and Sinead Wagner. The best double act since Ken and Barbie, each scored two a-piece to maintain marital harmony. There’s life in the Old Fellas yet.
Rawlinson&Hunter move up to third with their 2nd win on the bounce against an inconsistent GCM team. Conrad Proud maintained his fine record of scoring in every round so far with another two tries taking his season total to 8. He is ably supported by Emma Santiago, who also notched up two tries, making it four tries in three games for her.
This week’s Heineken Touch Player of the Week goes to TR-veteran Lisa Kehoe. With more energy than a Duracell bunny she scored eight tries for three different teams. She will be holding seminars all week to pass on her secrets of eternal youth to devotees and followers alike. Well played Ma’am!
Perez acquitted for 2nd time
(CNS): Full story – A Grand Court judge took three hours to deliver another not guilty verdict in the case against Jose Perez for the murder of Marty Gareau in Bodden Town in May 2008. Perez was acquitted on Tuesday for the second time following his retrial for the crime, which had lasted more than 6 weeks. Justice Smith noted that the crown's case relied very heavily on the fingerprint evidence. However, for a number of reasons the judge said he could not rely on the evidence of the crown's fingerprint experts as he told Perez he was free to go. The judge said that in future when the crown relies so heavily on fingerprint evidence, the experts should not only visit the scene but make contemporaneous notes that could be used in court.
Perez was charged with the murder of the Canadian national a few weeks after the badly beaten body was found at Gareau’s Beach Bay home over four years ago. Gareau had been killed when his skull was crushed with some kind of blunt weapon during the course of what was clearly a vicious attack. Perez, who is a Honduran national, was charged with the crime when two faint bloody prints were found on the door frame of the garage where Gareau’s body was eventually found.
However, Perez, who always denied the killing, had an alibi for most of the weekend when his friend Gareau was killed. Only a few weeks before, Perez had been to Gareau’s house for a barbeque, when he had spent time in the garage area.
Perez was acquitted during his first judge alone trial as the judge had stated he could not be sure Perez was the murderer, but had suggested in his ruling that the burden of proof was elevated because it was the crime of murder. As a result, the crown appealed the ruling and Perez, who was a free man after his first not guilty verdict for around five months, was re-arrested and was forced to face a second trial.
This time the case lasted across eight weeks, when both the crown and the defence called an array of expert witnesses, who argued over the time of death, footprint evidence and finally the crucial fingerprints. The judge had noted that Perez had called numerous witnesses to support his defence, despite having no burden to prove anything. The judge also said he was not convinced financial difficulties that were being experienced by Perez at the time of the crime was motive enough to turn a man who was describe as kind and of good character into a vicious killer.
The defence’s position was that throughout the investigation that Perez had cooperated and had volunteered his prints and his DNA. The fact that he never attempted to leave the country, even when the crown had appealed the first verdict, was also noted by the judge.
In his ruling the judge raised concerns that the evidence from the prosecution’s two fingerprint witnesses, despite being presented as experts, was not sufficiently reliable for him to find the defendant guilty. Justice Smith said that when the prosecution case relies substantially on fingerprints, the failure to have the prints verified and the lack of contemporaneous notes to explain the experts’ findings “rendered the fingerprint evidence unreliable”.
The judge noted that even if he were to assume that the prints belonged to Perez, he was concerned that neither of the experts were in a position to convince the court that they could say with any certainty when the prints arrived there — before or after or at the same time as the blood. One of the print experts had told the court that was not her area of expertise, and in the case of William McKay the judge said he was not convinced by him.
“I cannot attach any weight to their opinion,” he said. Justice Smith stated that he was not impressed by McKay, who had said that in his opinion the print and the blood were made at the same time.
The judge said he tended to agree with defence counsel that the man had made a mistake with the prints and had attempted to cover it up during his evidence. “I have not been made sure that he has the experience to convince me, and I cannot rely on his evidence. The prints could have been left on the door when the defendant went for dinner.”
The judge said he was not sure and accordingly he told Perez he had found him not guilty as discharged him from custody.
Crew of missing vessel alive
(CNS): Update – Earlier this afternoon one of the crew members of the Miss Janice, which has been missing for five days, contacted his family to say all six men who had been on board the vessel were safe and well, police confirmed Tuesday afternoon. The 37-foot vessel sank on Sunday, 17 July, approximately five hours after setting sail from Grand Cayman. The men had been floating in the water for nine days without any food or water when they were picked up by a passing tanker this afternoon. The tanker, the CPO Sweden, is currently en route to Houston, Texas, and is expected to dock in Houston on Thursday 28 July.
Police said that a short time ago a member of the Miss Janice crew, Travis Welcome, spoke to his family and to Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay of the RCIPS by satellite phone and confirmed that all six crew members are safe and well.
The Miss Janice departed Grand Cayman on Saturday,16 July, with four Caymanians and two Honduran nationals on board, heading for Swan Island, Honduras, but never arrived. A five-day air and sea search was launched began after the Miss Janice was reported missing last Thursday, 21 July, covered more than 4,000 square miles and involved the RCIPS Marine and Air Operations Units as well as the Lynx helicopter from RFA Wave Ruler.
The RCIPS thanked the media and all of the partnerorganisations who assisted during this search.
Cayman fund in courtroom movie drama
(Courthouse News): Investors in Aramid Entertainment Fund, a Cayman Islands mutual fund, claim hedge fund manager David Molner took more than $60 million in loans for himself – half of the fund's capital – and hid it from auditors. The plaintiffs, two other Cayman Islands companies, say Aramid was established, ostensibly, to issue loans to other companies in the entertainment business, but that Molner made loans he "never had any intention to collect upon." Plaintiffs Wimbledon Financing Master Fund and Stillwater Market Neutral claim in Superior Court that Molner "executed a series of ultravires, insider transactions designed specifically to siphon funds from AEF shareholders."
Plaintiffs say all but one of the loans are "currently non-performing or have been written off altogether," and the full extent of Molner his co-defendants' "looting remains unclear as a result of Molner's ongoing refusal to allow an audit, his refusal to provide proper disclosures, and his active concealment of AEF's true financial condition."
The defendants include Screen Capital International; Aramid Capital Partners; Timothy Levy; Thomas McGrath; David Bree; Roger Hanson; Thomas Adamek; Stonehenge Capital Company; and Future Capital Partners. Plaintiffs seek at least $60 million in damages and an injunction preventing defendants from "transferring or selling assets and conducting transactions" on behalfof the fund. Plaintiffs are represented by Daniel Petrocelli with O'Melveny & Myers.
Killa-Panthers see victory and Wolverines dominate
(GCFFA): The second week of games in the women’s league of the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association, played last Saturday morning at the Camana Bay Field, saw Andro Killa-Panthers and Dominoes Wolverines come out victorious. After losing the opening season game to the Wolverines, Andro Killa-Panthers came with a 18-13 win against the Pythons, the newly formed team relatively full of rookies. Quarterback’s Christina Pineda and Lisa Malice shared duties, with Pineda completing seven out of thirteen passes, with one interception, and Malice with six completions out of thirteen attempts.
Killa-Panthers’ Gillian Roffey caught the first touchdown pass from Malice. Tonia Ebanks caught a beautiful long pass thrown by Pineda, leaving her clear to run in the second touchdown. Kristen Watler-Miller caught Pineda’s next touchdown pass in the second half, bringing the Killa-Panthers up from a tie-game. Roffey and Ebanks both had an additional three receptions on offense.
The defensive side for Killa-Panthers was also led by Gillian Roffey, whose quick-footed finesse saw her with three tackles, followed by Becky Coe and Jennifer Allen, both with two tackles for their defense. Sophia Dilbert also turned up the speed, successfully blitzing the Pythons’ quarterback thrice, thus stunting their opponents ability to make it up the field. Heather Roffey’s interception on defense also added to the Killa-Panthers momentum.
For the Pythons, after having only a few weeks to gel together as a team, their cohesiveness definitely surprised the Killa-Panthers and spectators alike. Sponsored by Mario Rankin, the Pythons stepped onto the field this past Saturday for the first time, and proved that although their team is new, they certainly are not a walk-in-the-park.
Playing as the starting quarterback position for the first time, Tamika Byrd showed her strength as a passer and as a runner. Although only completing three out of eleven passing attempts, Byrd’s quick and precise throws will be a challenge to defend once her offensive line is able to hold onto her balls.
The three receptions on offense were made by Pythons’ Lana Jarvis and Carla McLean. One of the highlights of the day was for QB Byrd, as she escaped a blitz from the defender and ran the ball through several defenders from around the 30yard marker in the Python’s end, all the way to the other end of the field for a touchdown. Carrie Barnett also had a vital interception for the Pythons, zeroing in on a ball and running it in for a touchdown, tying the game at 12-12.
On defense, Jessica Maxwell led the Pythons with seven tackles, followed by Jessica Ebanks with fourtackles and three sacks from rusher Shayla Torres. Although the offensive side for the Pythons needs to find their stride, the team’s defensive line-up kept the Killa-Panthers on their toes.
The day’s second game between Dominoes Wolverines versus Lone Star Jager-Monsters saw the Wolverine’s shut-down the Monsters with a final score of 26-0.
Antoinnette Lewis, quarterback for the Wolverine’s completed thirteen out of twenty-five passes, and Nadisha Walters stepped infor a moment as QB, with one out of two passes completed, and a short rush for a touchdown.
Lewis spread the ball around with touchdown passes to Alexandra Terry, Jahzenia Thomas and Catherine Ebanks. Terry also caught the ball for two-extra points. On offense, Lewis kept her eye on track-athlete Alexandra Terry, who also caught six additional passes, and Christsania McLean, who caught three passes.
McLean also cleaned up on defense with seven tackles and an interception, followed by Eleanor Berry with four tackles. Agueda Broderick managed to slip her slight frame through the blockers to sack the Monsters’ quarterback twice, and Fracesca Hamann caught a second interception for the Wolverine’s.
For the Monsters, who faced their second loss of the newly begun season, the team simply could not mesh on the field. New quarterback Michelle McTaggart completed sixteen out of thirty passes, with two interceptions. Erica Bosch-Bone also stepped up to QB for one foiled pass attempt.
Bosch-Bone was one of McTaggart’s favorite receivers, catching four balls, followed by running back Christine Bisnauth receiving three passes. It was the three receptions downfield by Janycee Parchment that brought the Monsters beyond the 40 yard line, and the simple throws down the middle of field that were being completed in the second half finally brought some offensive action by the Monsters, although a little too late in the game.
The defensive line for the Monsters was led by Renee Thompson with five tackles and Kayleigh Jennings with four tackles. Christine Bisnauth, Melanie Lewis and Christina Hefner each had three tackles, and Tricia Miller rushed past the strong blocking by Wolverine’s offense, sacking the quarterback twice.
Week three of women’s flag football action on Saturday mornings at the Camana Bay Field sees the current top-seeded teams Hammerheads Lady Sharks against Dominoes Wolverines at 10am, and Lone Star Jager Monsters versus the Pythons at 11am. Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be on sale.
RFA chopper simulates disaster overview
(CNS): Officers from the RFA Wave Ruler carried out a mock aerial overview of Grand Cayman Monday much the same way they would if the island was to suffer a disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane. The goal would be for the naval team to assess the impact of the “disaster” and the conditions left in its wake. The Lynx helicopter tour was flown by Lt Commander Garth Atkinson along the islands’ coastline, covering areas which are usually impacted. Following a crisis, such an initial tour would precede a more detailed post-impact assessment. It would also help determine where help, like food and water, is most needed. (Photos Lennon Christian)
On board the chopper was the director of Cayman’s Hazard management McCleary Frederick as well as Steve Freeman who was described in a GIS release as the “Assistant Defence Attaché” who is based in Jamaica along with Duncan Taylor, the governor.
“I learned today that we can see most of Grand Cayman’s infrastructure – roads, utilities and facilities – simply by traversing the coastline,” said Frederick. “We also identified new potential helicopter landing sites.”
Naval officers also met with officials from the Health Services Authority and the Cayman Islands Red Cross to discuss response in the event of a major disaster. In addition, the ship’s company participated in a search and rescue exercise.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Wave Ruler is here on a return visit through Tuesday, 26 July, and visits Cayman Brac on Wednesday to discuss disaster relief with Sister Islands’ District Commissioner Ernie Scott and other officials, and tour the island.
Maples provides scholarships for non-legal studies
(CNS): Following the tradition of also helping young people to forge careers outside of the legal profession local law firm Maples and Calder has awarded scholarships to four young Caymanians to study economics, management, veterinary medicine and computer science. Maples is one of only two law firms in Cayman that has a non-legal scholarship programme. The programme, which has been running for over ten years, provides partial funding for school expenses each year until the completion of the student's further education. It is intended to supplement the student's financial assistance package.
This year’s recipients were Priscilla Brown, John Fawkes, Sheena Jackson and Jonathan Tatum.
"Their individual dedication and passion to achieve excellence were key factors in our scholarship selection process," said Henry Smith, Global Managing Partner at Maples. "Every young person should be afforded the opportunity to further their education. We're delighted to assist these talented students with achieving their goals."
Priscilla Brown has begun her tertiary education at the University College of the Cayman Islands where she studied Business Administration. The Maples scholarship will give her the opportunity to complete her final years of tertiary education at the University of South Florida where she will major in Management. Aside from allowing him to open John Fawkes his own Stock Brokerage and Venture Capitalist Firm in the Cayman Islands he will be attending university in the UK to study Economics. Meanwhile, Sheena Jackson will be completing her tertiary education in Computer Science at the University of Waterloo to study Computer Science. Jonathan Tatum with a lifelong interest in reptiles will be studying at the University of Missouri to earn a degree in pre-veterinary medicine.
The Maples non-legal scholarship is offered on an annual basis and is available to Caymanians who wish to pursue an undergraduate or post-graduate degree in any field. The firm also awards annual legal scholarships.
The application process usually begins in May of each year. For more information on Maples' non-legal and legal scholarship programmes, please contact Michelle Daykin on 949-8066, michelle.daykin@maplesandcalder.com or visit the Careers section of our website maplesandcalder.com
Cops fail exams but papers remain under wraps
(CNS): The country’s information commissioner has upheld a decision by the police not to release the RCIPS promotion exam papers as she said it could undermine the credibility of the promotion processes and in turn the entire police force. The request to see the papers was made by an officer who had taken this year’s exam, which had changed format and which he and his colleagues had said was unfair. Although Jennifer Dilbert said some of the accusations by the applicant about the fairness of the process were outside her remit she determined that the police had a right to define and raise the standards if they wanted when it came to promoting staff.
“There is a significant public interest in allowing a public authority, particularly a police service, a reasonable amount of liberty to define and, if necessary, raise the standards against which it measures candidates for promotion, and to formulate its examination questions accordingly,” she said in her fourteenth decision.
Dilbert also noted that the RCIPS management had been willing to accommodate the needs of the applicants while defending the exam questions and process. Prior to commencing the FOI process, the public authority offered to allow the applicant to view the exams, but would not allow them to remove copies from their offices.
Although Dilbert found that the RCIPS had acted within the law by keeping the exam papers and answers under wraps, once again the information boss criticised the procedures followed by the RCIPS during the application.
Dilbert revealed that the chief officer took nearly two months to complete the Internal Review despite the law providing only 30 calendar days with no provision for extending the time period. On top of that the CO caused more delays by remaining unresponsive to the communications of the ICO during the mediation process.
“As late as one day before the Notice of Hearing was sent out, nearly three months after the appeal to the ICO was made, and more than seven months after the request was originally received by the RCIPS, the Chief Officer retracted the previous Internal Review decision, and reformulated his conclusions based on a new exemption,” she said.
While the retraction of a previous position itself was not a problem, as Dilbert explained that it is a legitimate outcome of mediation, delaying an internal review denies an applicant’s right to access government records. She also criticized the RCIPS FOI process as she said it became apparent that people inside the service were not communicating with each other
With so many officers failing this year’s exam, the records request was made to try and determine if the paper was unfair and the reason for the low pass levels. The applicant had also made complaints about the exam before making the FOI. It is understood that officers who took the exam complained about the practice of candidates having to write their names on their answer sheets, which allowed the examiner to know the identity of the officer at the time of marking, as well as the appropriateness of the questions, both in terms of composition and content. In addition, the room where the exam was held and the time allocated was said to be inadequate. All of this reportedly led to a very high rate of failure, though the rate was not revealed.
The applicant indicated that it is common in academic circles for past papers of exams to be made available to everyone, and concern was raised that officers who sit the exam for a second time would be at an unfair advantage over those sitting for the first time.
The RCIPS had claimed, however, that disclosing the papers, which included questions that would be used again, meant that an officer who does not actually possess the required knowledge of the laws, policies, procedures, and practices of the rank could pass the exam, with obvious ramifications.
Dilbert agreed and said the release could prejudice the conduct of the police because it could undermine the RCIPS’ ability to conduct exams and grant promotions according to standards deemed desirable by senior management and the Training Unit.
The commissioner noted that the applicant’s unwillingness to accept the offer made by the RCIPS to allow all of the failed candidates to view their own exam paper with the answers marked also undermined the application but said the RCIPS should release questions and answers when they are removed from the paper.
Dilbert further recommended that the allegations of unfair practices and maladministration made by the applicant might be appropriate for the Complaints Commissioner to address.
Film commission focuses in on festival
(CNS): Grand Cayman may have its very own film festival in the not too distant future following the first steps by the Cayman Islands Film Commission to seek out proposals for producing the event. In a release about the terms of reference for interested parties by the commission on Monday officials said the goal was to promote the local film commission and the potential industryand raise awareness of the Cayman Islands’ potential as host to film and television projects. The concept of a film festival is a new area for the Cayman Islands and the commission said it hopes to follow in the steps of successful festivals around the world from Cannes to New Zealand.
“Through hosting this type of event the Cayman Islands will have a presence in an unexpected realm of engagement,” the film commission which is part of the department of commerce stated in the terms of reference which are now available. “There is great value in this event, as it will ultimately drive visitation, which is the Department of Tourism’s top strategic objective.
The commission said it has collaborated with key stakeholders including the tourism department and Camana Bay in an effort to establish a joint approach.
“The potential in this event concept will allow the Cayman Islands to engage an affluent market of director, producers, actors and the like,” the commission stated. “In anticipation of the Film Festival growth, as with Camana Bay, DOT would focus on the event to generate and increase brand awareness which is the second priority for the Tourism Department.”
The Cayman Islands Film Commission (CIFC) was established in January 2009 to promote and develop a local film industry. As a government agency, it promotes the Cayman Islands as a prime location for film, television, music video, and advertising productions, and facilitates these productions with every aspect of production from development and pre-production through post-production.
The CIFC acts as a liaison between film makers and local government agencies. It works to build capacity in the local entertainment community to create opportunities for Caymanians to write, produce, direct, and possibly finance their own projects entirely within the Cayman Islands. Through an educational programme, locals are trained to aide incoming producers, studios,and productions as a whole.
So far the Cayman Islands has been the location of a around two dozen movies, short films and TV shows including the blockbuster The Firm, as well as home grown director Frankie Flowers’ Haven and of course who could forget the celluloid masterpiece that was The Cayman Triangle.
People interested in submitting proposals can read the full terms of reference below