Archive for August 11th, 2011
AG to probe nation building
(CNS): The auditor general’s office has confirmed that it will be initiating a value for money audit of the premier’s national building fund but it has not yet set a date for when the probe will begin. Following the increase in public interest in the relatively new government budget item, a spokesperson for the audit office said it would be doing a report. Two FOI requests have revealed some, though not all, of the details of where the money was spent, but how the decisions were made isnot yet clear. The auditor’s office indicated that it would need to look into exactly how money was being allocated because without transparent criteria for giving money to the various entities there were risks in terms of value for money.
The Nation Building Fund falls under the premier’s ministry and first appeared in the 2009/10 budget when $2.9 million was appropriated. The following year another $3.5 million was allocated to the line item and in the most recent Finance Committee hearing members were asked to vote again for more than $3 million. When McKeeva Bush was probed by the opposition for details on the fund during Finance Committee, he refused to be drawn and said he “wasn’t writing out the cheques”, as he accused the opposition leader of not liking the programme.
However, during the last brief meeting of the House at the beginning of this month the premier read a statement detailing where the funds had been spent over the last two years and government’s release of documents following FOI requests revealed more information. The criteria, however, for the distribution of the money have not been made clear and it is this area which the auditor’s office says it will need to review in particular.
The audit office, which is currently focusing its attention on trying to audit the outstanding government consolidated accounts, said it could not give an exact date when it would commence but it planned to do the audit before the end of this financial year.
In the last three budgets almost $10 million has been allocated to this particular line item, listed as TP52 in the budget documents. In response to two freedom of information requests, the ministry released a breakdown of where the money went during the first two financial years. The open records revealed that more than half ($4.1 million) had gone to a number of local churches but the records also reveal significant disparities between the donations, with one West Bay church receiving over $1.3 million, while another had received only $12,000.
The documents also showed that during the 2009/10 financial year $95,000 had been given out in grants for a variety of projects and programmes, from Catboat building to a grant to the CNCF. Almost $350,000 had gone to local contractors who lost out when the scrap metal contract with Matrix collapsed and some $17,000 had been spent on educational costs for students outside of the normal scholarship system managed by the education ministry.
In the last financial year just under $46K had been spent on rangers for the Barkers area, which is being earmarked to become a national park, and almost $50,000 had been spent on the Christian Heritage Park in George Town. A total of $1.3 million has been given to various entities for a number of different projects or donations to charities as well as hurricane shutters for the elderly and a donation to the Pines Retirement Home. More than $4,500 was also listed as being spent by the premier on Mother’s Day flowers.
This past year more than $350,000 had been given to young people outside of the normal scholarship programmes under the nation building programme for tuition, living expenses, bus fares and money for books. Again there was considerable difference between the amounts given to different students ranging from $450 given to one, and more than $36,000 to another student.
The premier said the fund was used to give money to anything that could be considered beneficial for nation building. In his latest statement about it, he took aim at those who chose to deride the fund as he stated that there was a “keen need” for nation building which his government intended to address.
“The concept of nation building is not a new one, as I started this many years ago through assistance given to young Caymanians who wished to further their education but did not have the financial means to do so,” Bush told the LegislativeAssembly. “Although there was no title given to it at that time, this was the start of what we now call the Young Nation Builders Programme.”
He went on to explain where the money had gone and to justify the need to help some students who did not meet the criteria for scholarships available in the private sector or through the education department.
See the premier’s full statement below and the FOI request documents regarding the nation building fund.
(For ease of viewing the PDF documents, click "view" then "rotate view" and "counter-clockwise")
Latest searches yield nothing
(CNS): Eleven days since Kerran (KerryAnn) Baker was last seen on CCTV footage at a local supermarket police revealed that the latest searches in Frank Sound and South Sound have yielded no further clues regarding the possible whereabouts of the missing twenty-five year old woman. Senior officers said on Wednesday at the daily press briefing regarding the investigation that they were no closer to finding Kerran despite continuing efforts. “We just don’t know what has happened to her,” DS Marlon Bodden said as he once again appealed for anyone who communicated with Kerran on Saturday 30 July to contact the police as he said he was convinced people knew more than they were saying.
Officers had continued searching yesterday this time in Frank Sound and South Sound but CS John Jones explained this was as a result of ‘guestimates’, snippets of info and local knowledge hunches, and not as a result of any concrete leads. “We are keeping up with the searches in the absence of other intelligence,” Jones said.
The officers also revealed that there were no further updates relating to any forensic discoveries or details relating to Kerran’s phone which has still not been found.
“We continue to press on with the investigation,” Jones said, adding that there was still hours of CCTV tape to review and other diverse lines of enquiry to continue following. He also clarified queries that the CCTV which the RCIPS was looking at came from businesses in the area and was not from the public system. He said that while some CCTV cameras have been erected recently, the system was still not up and running.
“In this case it would have certainly helped if the public CCTV system had been in place,” Jones said. “It would have been quite useful and it continues to be rather frustrating that it is taking so long for the system to be operational.”
Bodden also revealed that the RCIPS was interviewed by a Jamaican Radio Show on Tuesday allowing Cayman officers to make a direct appeal to people in Kerran’s native Jamaica who may have spoke with her or exchanged bbm or text messages on the Saturday when she was last seen.
Bodden said the police continued to be frustrated too about the failure of those who knew something to come forward. Despite yesterday’s pleas for people who had communicated with Kerran via bbm to contact the police no one had.
“Someone may have lost their life here this is a very serious situation, we need to try and get some answers, we need people to assist us,” the senior officer added.
Twenty five year old nurse, Kerran Baker who lived alone in Bodden Town was last seen on CCTV tape at Foster’s supermarket near the airport on Saturday 30 June at around 7pm. A friend raised the alarm on Sunday having not hear from her and after going to her apartment found no sign of Kerran but her handbag bag and unpacked groceries on the counter of her kitchen.
On Monday 1 August police found Kerran’s car parked at Pedro St James a few miles away from her home and the following evening the keys for that car thrown in the bushes nearby. Police say that they believe that Kerran had no plans to go out on that Saturday night with any of her friends and by all indications from the situation in her home she was preparing a meal before she disappeared.
Anyone that has any information at all about Kerran (Kerry-Ann) Baker is asked to call the crime hotline 949 7777, Kerran’s father Wilmot Anthony 321 4271 or Crimestoppers 800 TIPS (8477)
Heritage park tender released
(CNS): Despite being short of public cash, government has released the tender request for its Christian Heritage Monument on the site of the old government Tower building. The new park will include a bell tower and bust platforms set in landscaped gardens, and although it has not been revealed how much it will cost, the premier held a groundbreaking ceremony for it in April this year following his announced intention to create the homage to the country’s cultural heritage when the country had money. According to the RFP circulated on Friday, the project includes erecting a Bell Tower, restrooms, a gazebo and five bust platforms. The total footprint is about 3,488 sq ft and government wants to begin construction in September with the goal of finishing the project by Heroes Day 2012.
Funds for the construction of the park, located at the intersection of North Church Street and Fort Street in George Town, are understood to be coming from the premier’s controversial nation building programme, and according to documents released following an FOI request by CNS, almost $50,000 was spent in the last financial year on bronze statues and plans for the monument. (See below.)
According to RFP documents the bell tower, which will form the centralfeature of the park, will be over 43 feet tall and the other key features will be the five bust platforms that will commemorate National Heroes.
The project as a whole will be delivered under the auspices of the National Planning Initiative, a programme which has been described by the premier as promoting “integrated national planning”, but the funding is understood to come from the Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development and its development has been a collaborative effort led by the Public Works Department, with support from the Recreational Parks & Cemeteries Unit, the Planning Department, and the National Heroes Committee.
“Much more can and will be done to celebrate and augment our national heritage. Our children and grand-children need to have more opportunity to benefit from our gifts as Caymanians,” Bush said about the project earlier this year. “This monument will represent our strong Christian heritage and will show our pride in upholding these values, traditions and aspirations. This project on the whole, will greatly enhance our capital, and its benefits will be felt and appreciated by the whole community.”
Local companies with the right experience and skills are asked to submit tenders before the deadline on 2 September.
See tender request here.
Wolverines and Sharks hunt down opponents
(GCFFA): Halfway through the Dart Women’s League in the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association the two top teams that have held their position since the beginning of the season are Domino’s Wolverines and Hammerheads Lady Sharks. Week five’s games saw the Wolverine’s victorious against the lowest ranked team, the Pythons, with a score of 20-0. Antoinette Lewis of the Wolverine’s shared quarterback duties with Dionne Whittaker. Lewis is rightfully holding onto her number one ranked QB spot with an impressive 15 out of 17 passes completed, including two throws in the end zone resulting in touchdowns.
Whittaker showed her finesse as the Wolverine’s back-up QB, with nine out of 12 passes completed, one being a touchdown pass and one ball being intercepted.
Top receiver for the Wolverines continues to be Alexandra Terry, who caught eight balls, one of them being a touchdown pass. The QB’s spread the ball around to Jahzenia Thomas, Benecia Thompson and Christsania McLean with three receptions each, followed by Saneata Smith, Schmarrah Rhoden and Eleanor Berry, who each had two catches. McLean and Rhoden caught the other touchdown passes and Smith brought in the two extra points.
The Wolverines showed solid teamwork on defense with Smith leading the line-up with three tackles, followed by Shinette Rhoden, Agueda Broderick and Catherine Ebanks, each with two tackles. Nadisha Walters also broke through the Pythons linemen, sacking their quarterback twice. Eleanor Berry and Francesca Hamann each intercepted a ball while on Wolverine’s defense.
For the Pythons, their starting quarterback Tamika Byrd was missing in action this past week, leaving Carrie Barnett to carry the team against the Wolverine’s. Barnett completed nine out of 17 passes, with two passes being intercepted. Jamesette Anglin also attempted two passes as quarterback. Carla Martin led the Pythons offense with four receptions, followed by sprinter Sheyla Torres with three. Jamesette Anglin also caught a ball, and the Python’s favorite receiver, Jessica Ebanks, had a quiet game on offense with one reception.
On defense, Cynthia Powell led the Pythons with five tackles, followed by Ebanks with four, and Barnett with threetackles. Karina Chiari and Lana Jarvis each had two tackles to add. Although the Pythons are steadily improving on defense, the combined experience of the Wolverine’s players was too much for the Pythons to stop.
In the second game of the day, the Hammerheads Lady Sharks defeated the Androgroup Killa-Panthers 8-0. The Lady Sharks were missing their starting QB, Bobeth O’Garro and their quickest receiver Scimone Campbell. However, backup QB Ellen Downey led the team to victory with 19 completed passes out of 31 attempts, and one interception thrown.
Lilia Conolly had her best game of the season so far, leading the offense with four receptions, and narrowly slipping by two defenders to run in the lone touchdown for the Lady Sharks. Courtisha Ebanks is right behind Conolly, also with four receptions, one of them being the two-extra points gained in the end-zone. Downey did a nice job of spreading the ball around to offensive players, as Serena Yates and Dionne Anglin each caught three passes. Although the Lady Sharks made it near their end-zone a few times, they were only able to secure one touchdown as the Killa-Panthers stopped many plays with their excellent defense.
For the Sharks’ defense, Dionne Anglin had her best game yet, leading the team with five tackles, followed by Ebanks and Keisha Anglin in the middle, with three tackles each. Katherine Maw also contributed greatly with three sacks on the Killa-Panthers’ QB and Ebanks came through with one sack. Playing corner on defense, Conolly also caught an interception to add to her game stats.
The Androgroup Killa-Panthers, currently in fourth place in the league, played a tight game against the Lady Sharks by allowing only one touchdown in the first half of the game. QB duties were shared between Christina Pineda and Lisa Hill-Malice. Pineda completed only seven out of 17 pass attempts, with one interception thrown, while Malice completed eight out of 14 passes.
The Killa-Panthers showed their prowess with Pineda often falling back from the line of scrimmage to act as a second quarterback, in an attempt to trick the Lady Sharks’ defense.
For the Killa-Panthers offense, Pineda received four passes, followed by Caron Murphy with three receptions. Sophia Dilbert, Jennifer Allen, Tonia Ebanks and Malice each had two receptions on offense. The final few minutes of the game looked like the Killa-Panthers were going to get their first touchdown with Pineda’s long ball to Dilbert, but the ball was placed a few yards out of her reach, and the team wasn’t able to get on the scoreboard.
On defense, Heather Roffey saw the most action with five tackles, followed by her sister Gillian Roffey with four, and Janique Sampson with three tackles. The fast-footed Dilbert managed to sack the Sharks’ QB, Ellen Downey, twice, and Natalee Dyke also slipped in between the offensive linemen for a sack.
Week six of the Dart Women’s League will be played this Saturday at the Camana Bay Field with the Domino’s Wolverine’s against the Androgroup Killa-Panthers at 10am, followed by the Hammerheads Lady Sharks versus Lone-Star Jager Monsters at 11am.