Archive for November 9th, 2011
FSB finds Cayman Islands compliant
(CNS Business): The Financial Stability Board has found that the Cayman Islands has “sufficiently strong” regulatory and supervisory standards when it comes to cooperation and information exchange on the global stage. In a new report the FSB said 41 countries were determined to be compliant or largely compliant with all, or all except one, of the relevant cooperation and information exchange standards. The premier, in his role as finance minister, said the conclusion regarding Cayman’s adherence to cooperation and information exchange standards “is robust affirmation that the jurisdiction is well respected, and a good place to conduct business.”
“In terms of cooperation, the Islands are placed alongside the giant economies of the G7 and G20 countries,” McKeeva Bush said.
Crime fight to create 20,000 jobs in Trinidad
(CNS): Fighting the country’s rising crime problem will create employment for more than 20,000 people Trinidad’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced. Government will be investing some $300 million as part of the strategy to fight crime in a programme entitled “Reclaiming Our Youths, Embracing Our Future”. In a statement in the House of Representatives on Wednesday she said the job creation exercise will engage mainly youths from vulnerable communities. Earlier this week, Persad-Bissessar announced that the government had lifted the curfew imposed after the country’s State of Emergency was declared on 21 August but the emergency remains in place.
Persad-Bissessar has advised citizens to observe the law as government reserves the right to impose limited curfews “when and where necessary,” she said.
The PM said government would expand CCTV across cities, malls and vulnerable areas and increase the number of mobile patrols. “We will introduce a range of specifically targeted social and cultural initiatives to strengthen community life,” she said.
The T&T government is also considering the abolition of Preliminary Inquiries and video conferencing at court to reduce transportation costs.
YCLA officials issue last call for 2012 nominations
(CNS): There is only one week remaining for the Cayman public to nominate candidates for next year’s Young Caymanian Leadership Award 2012. Anyone may nominate a Caymanian a between the ages of 20 and 35 including employers, employees, parents, siblings, coworkers, fellow church members, friends or spouses. “There are so many young leaders that deserve the recognition, but it is up to the public to take the time and nominate them for the YCLA,” said Melissa Wolfe. “The Foundation relies entirely on the community to bring our young Caymanians to the forefront.” (Photo by David Wolfe)
Every year, five finalists are selected from the nominations that are collected from the community. All five are honoured during the annual gala evening awards ceremony, which is televised live on Cayman27 when the recipient is announced on live TV.
The event, which sells out every year, is attended by hundreds of Cayman’s top community and business leaders. “The Foundation has received outstanding submissions over the years and we highly encourage people to resubmit those applications for the 2012 Award,” added Wolfe.
“Those candidates have continued to show leadership qualities that should be honoured and recognized.”
2000 YCLA recipient Olivaire Watler said the award presented an opportunity to recognize and celebrate young leaders not simply for their own sakes, “but as sources of inspiration for our youth who are beset by so many negative influences in our society today."
The managing director of CIMA who won the award in 2004 said the opportunity to hold the YCLA title is an honour and a privilege.
“It is a platform that mustbe used to positively influence our young people but also it is the one avenue which is certain to bring the recognition to the many Young Caymanians who have contributed and who will continue to contribute to the development of our country.
2004 YCLA recipient,” said Cindy Scotland
Canover Watson chair of the HSA who won in 2007 said the country’s young leaders need support.
“Please nominate one of our shining stars for the YCLA so they can burn bright for all our young people to see that they too can reach for the stars,” he said.
YCLA will be accepted only until Tuesday, November 15h, 2011. Anyone interested in nominating a young Caymanian between the ages of 20 and 35 are encouraged to act now and contact Melissa Wolfe at ycla@candw.ky.
Officials also pointed out that if a candidate has been nominated in the past, the nomination must be resubmitted for consideration for the 2012 YCLA. Nomination forms may also be obtained by emailing ycla@candw.ky or online at www.ycla.ky
Airport upgrades runway to comply with regulations
(CNS): Officials from the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) said that it will be undertaking work on the apron and runway at Owen Roberts International Airport over the next month that may disturb neighbours in the area. The work involves the creation of taxiway shoulders in order to comply with international standards and will be carried out at night when flight operations end and stop by 5:00 am each morning before the airport reopens. The project, which is being carried out by Island Paving Ltd, involves excavation of the grassed areas, grading, compaction and paving of thetaxiway shoulders.
“The CIAA regrets any inconvenience, however minor, which may be experienced by neighbouring properties from the use of bright lights and heavy equipment, including dump trucks, which are removing debris from the site to a designated location on airport property,” a spokesperson stated.
Turtle farm to release up to 40 hatchlings
(CNS): Despite the continued breeding problems at the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm officials said that the annual release will still go ahead this year during Pirates Week. The farm said that the release will include 9 yearlings and up to 40 advanced hatchlings, depending on sponsorship. According to a release from the farm the yearlings will be fitted with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) which are micro transponders encased in a glass case about the size of a large grain of rice. These electronic tags are injected under the skin and can only be detected with a scanner allowing researchers around the world to identify individual animals and better understand migration and nesting patterns.
Last season, five females tagged and released from the Cayman Turtle Farm in the 1980s, returned to lay their own eggs on Cayman beaches.
The Farm’s release program, known to biologists as ‘headstarting’, has placed over thirty-one thousand green sea turtles into the wild since 1980.
Historically, the Cayman Islands boasted one of the largest green sea turtle populations in the Caribbean and possibly the world. When Christopher Columbus came across the islands in 1503 there were so many turtles he named them ‘Las Tortugas’.
As early as the 17the century the turtles were in serious decline and were already commercially extinct but by 1900, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) deemed the local population to be extinct
According to the Department of Environment, today, there are less than thirty adult female green sea turtles nesting in the Cayman Islands each year. One objective of the headstarting programme is to help replenish the local population of reproducing green sea turtles.
The 31st annual release which has usually take place off seven mile beach will this year take place on Sunday, 13 November at 4pm in the North Sound, off Safe Haven near the North Sound Golf Course. The public is invited to join in and visitors to the Farm, leading up the event, can enter a raffle for a chance to release one of five Hatchlings into the sea.
To take part or find out more about sponsorship opportunities call 949 3894 or email sponsorship@turtle.ky
Tagged sharks return home as researchers learn more
(CNS): Three tiger sharks tagged off the coast of Grand Cayman as part of a collaborative research project have returned to local waters after almost a year travelling around the Caribbean. Although Tina was last tracked off the coast of Jamaica, Coco is in the deep water off Grand Cayman at present and Luiza, who was last heard of off Honduras – Nicaragua in the summer, has come home for a visit and officials are watching to see when she will leave again on her voyage around the Caribbean. The three sharks were given satellite tags as part of an extensive survey of the sharks around the Cayman Islands, which has revealed information on what species there are and some of the threats to Cayman’s large marine animals.
The project is a joint effort between the Department of Environment (DoE), Marine Conservation International (MCI), the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University and the Save Our Seas Foundation.
Studies elsewhere have shown that where large sharks have been fished out, the resulting catch of desirable fish for the fishers has drastically changed and reduced in species and numbers. The current study will provide information on the situation in the Cayman Islands and help to prevent such a disastrous situation for our waters.
The long migration paths of the three tigers show the sharks use a large part of the Caribbean Sea. Dr Mauvis Gore from Marine Conservation International said the tracks show the extensive areas that the tiger sharks need to patrol for food and in turn help to keep a balance in the seas.
Despite their precarious situation, there is no law to protect sharks in Cayman waters but hopes for the species have been raised in the region following the ban on shark fishing by Belize, Mexico, St Maarten, Honduras and the Bahamas. Timothy Austin, Deputy Director of the DoE, welcomed the ban by neighbouring countries. “This will give a boost to the health of the marine environment for the Caribbean,” he said.
A boost to shark conservation has also come from the Cayman Islands Brewery, which is donating five cents to the project from the sale of every can of its new award winning White Tip lager.
Any sightings of shark, whale or dolphin helps and can be reported to the DoE at doe@gov.ky or on 949-8469.
Wright makes George Town Pay
(CIFA): Elite SC kept up their great form in the Cayman Islands Premier League with victory over George Town in an entertaining see-saw encounter at the T.E. McField (Annex) Sports Complex. George Town began well and should have taken the lead through Tex Whitelocke who fired over from just outside the box after linking up well with fellow strike partner Justin Pierre. Minutes later Pierre had a chance of his own as he latched on to a great cross from Fabian Malcolm but he failed to control his header as it went wide left of the target. Dwayne Wright made George Town pay for their missed opportunities in the 27th minute when he calmly slotted Elite ahead notching his eleventh goal this season.
George Town hit back 5 minutes later when Justin Pierre atoned for his earlier miss; Pierre made no mistake as he powered home his header this time giving Elite keeper James Josephs no chance.
Greg Ebanks’ men were far from their best but dug in to earn their fourth consecutive win as Elite SC look to keep pace with league leaders Scholars International.
Despite losing three of their last five games, George Town played some great football and always looked dangerous on the attack as they enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half. Tex Whitelocke had another golden opportunity to score finding himself with time and space in the opposing box. After some good build up play Whitelocke was set free from a cheeky back heel pass from GT’s David Harding, unfortunately Whitelocke fired straight into the arms of Elite keeper James Josephs. George Town continued in this vain and but without reward, Justin Pierre’s cross teed up Tex Whitelocke who looked certain to score at the far post but he guided his header just over the bar.
However, even when they are not playing well, Elite’s quality ensures they remain a threat and they demonstrated this with aplomb four minutes before full-time, a lapse of concentration in the George Town defence gifted Dwayne Wright half an opportunity to score and the league’s leading scorer kindly obliged as he scored Elite’s second of the game and his twelfth on the season.
The late game at the annex saw Bodden Town get back to winning ways as they comfortably beat Roma United 4:0. Casey Mclaughin got BT off to a great start in the second minute when he curled home his shot from just outside the eighteen yard box. Bodden Town grew in confidence and played some exciting football moving the ball with purpose and taking the game to Roma. Jorronie McLean got the second for Bodden Town. Cayman International Theron Wood and Kareem James both chipped in with goals to complete the 4:0 win.
In other action at the Ed Bush Sports Complex in West Bay Tigers FC moved up into fourth after a 1:0 win over Cayman Athletic, Miguel Simms was on hand to give Tigers all three points whilst Scholars International’s lead at the top of the league was cut to just one point after they failed to break down a resilient Future side with the game ending in a 0:0 draw.
The Cayman Islands Premier League will return on Sunday November 20, 2011 after the upcoming International break. The Cayman Islands Men’s National team plays their final two World Cup Qualifier games this weekend. On Friday November 11, 2011 the National team play in Santo Domingo against the Dominican Republic before returning home to play the final match of their World Cup campaign on Monday November 14, 2011. The Cayman Islands Men’s National team will look to pick up some points in their remaining two games as they currently sit pointless at the bottom of Group A in the North, Central America and Caribbean Region Qualifiers. For ticket information please visit www.facebook.com/caymanfootball
See standings below
French firm buys out regional fuel supplier
(CNS Business): International petroleum distributor Rubis has bought the Chevron's fuel distribution in the Cayman Islands, as well as in the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos. In a press release about the acquisition Tuesday the firm said the purchase includes a retail network of 39 service stations under the Texaco brand, as well as commercial and aviation supplies. It will place the firm in the lead in each of the countries with an average market share of 45%. There are no indications yet how the sale will directly impact the local fuel supply or the owners of the Texaco branded gas stations in the Cayman Islands. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
Earthquakes worse than hurricanes, report finds
(CNS): A new study published by the medical journal The Lancet states that natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods do not put such a strain on medical authorities as earthquakes, of which there are about a million each year, or around two earthquakes per minute. Floods and hurricanes typically cause deaths due to drowning but few serious medical or surgical injuries. As such, these other disasters do not usually overload the existing medical system, the report says. By comparison, earthquakes not only cause many deaths initially, but also many severe injuries requiring complex surgical and resuscitative medical care.
By destroying medical facilities, roads, and bridges, in addition to interrupting medical supply chains, earthquakes devastate a country’s ability to deal with medical situations and create a large, unmet need for complex surgical andmedical care.
In the past decade alone,earthquakes have caused more than 780 000 deaths, The Lancet says, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of all disaster-related deaths. In addition to these deaths, earthquakes have directly affected another 2 billion people during this time.
The threat of earthquakes will probably increase because of global urbanisation and the vulnerability of large urban centres, the report states. Many of the most populous cities in the world are on fault lines, and thus millions of people are exposed to earthquakes.
People’s mental health can also be severely affected by earthquakes, The Lancet states, and thought of suicide may become more prevalent in areas hit by such a natural disaster. “Of all natural disasters, earthquakes are associated with the highest rates of suicide,” the report says.
In particular, young people are particularly vulnerable in countries where earthquakes have hit. Many developing countries, where high proportions of the populations are young people, are located in earthquake-prone regions, the report advises. Children are often at higher risk of injury and death during earthquakes than are adults. In Haiti, 53 per cent of patients were younger than 20 years old and 25 per cent were younger than 5 years. The elderly are also at risk, with a higher death rate than younger individuals after such natural disasters.
Law to increase towing costs
(CNS): Drivers who are towing trailers or other industrial equipment with wheels will have to insure them in order to comply with the new amendments government is proposing to make to the law that deals with motor vehicle third party insurance. The bill to amend the motor vehicle insurance (third party risks) law (2007 revision) is primarily designed to accommodate electric cars on the public roads but it also covers other vehicles which will now need to be insured. By changing the definition of “motor vehicle” in the law to just "vehicle" the law will require almost anything with wheels that will be towed on the roads, as well as driven, to have insurance cover.
The law states that “vehicle” now means almost any wheeled or tracked vehicle capable of being driven or towed on a road, and includes an electrically powered vehicle, agricultural vehicle, earthmoving vehicle, motor cycle, scooter, wheeled trailer and autowheel. The law does indicate that it does not include a “hand cart, barrow or baby carriage,” and they will not need to be covered by insurance.
The law is due to be debated in the Legislative Assembly next week and the independent member for North Side has already raised a number of concerns about the legislation as he says it will increase costs for small businesses and farmers because of the need to insure industrial and agricultural equipment for the roads if they are to be towed.
“This is yet another increase to the cost of business which will slow down the economy,” Miller said as he pointed out thatowners will now need to not only buy separate third party insurance for their trailers but also any of the wheeled or tracked vehicles that are not usually used on the roads.