Archive for November, 2011
Sex offender jailed for truck terror
(CNS): A judge has sentenced a 38-year-old man to four years in jail after he subjected his date to a terrifying ordeal when she refused to have sex with him. Murphy Powell pleaded guilty to wrongful confinement and dangerous driving as a result of keeping a woman in his truck as he drove erratically across the length of Grand Cayman, taunting her after she rejected his advances. Justice Charles Quin said that although Powell, who already has several convictions for sexual related offences, did not physically harm the woman, it was clear “that the woman was frightened out of her wits” by the speed he was driving and because she had no idea what he planned to do to her.
A considerable part of his victim’s ordeal was recorded by 911 emergency services as she had the foresight to dial 911 on her cell phone, which she had in her bag, once her date with Murphy turned into a nightmare.
Colleen Cummings had spent the afternoon of Sunday, 31 January, on a date with Powell, in which they had gone to a few bars around Grand Cayman. As the afternoon turned into evening the victim said she wanted to go home. But when they finally departed from the eastern end of the island and began heading back to George Town, where the victim had parked her own car, Murphy turned to his date and told her that her that he was going to sleep with her that night. The woman refused, pointing out that they had only recently met and needed to get to know each other.
From that point on, Cummings said, Murphy changed and, after being perfectly well behaved throughout the date, began to be verbally abusive. He told her that if she was not going “to put out, then she should get out” of the truck, which he was by this time driving erratically at a frightening speed, making it impossible for his victim to escape.
In shock by the sudden turn of events but unable to get out of the car without risking her life as they charged towards South Sound, Cummings repeatedly told Murphy she would not sleep with him and asked him to stop the truck, which he would not do. As the defendant reached South Sound he turned the truck around and headed back east. She then dialled 911 on her phone and beganengaging him in conversation to direct the attention of the operator to her plight and her location.
Her ordeal was then recorded for some 42 minutes as Murphy drove her to the High Rock area of East End, where he drove down a dark road and the woman said she was “distraught and hopeless” as the police had still not come to her aid. At this point the victim was afraid that she would be raped or even killed. Although the truck was not locked ,she could not get out as Murphy was driving dangerously fast.
Close to the quarry in the area, Murphy stopped the truck and ordered her outside, where she said it was pitch dark and she was far too afraid to get out. The defendant then started up the truck again and continued on his hair raising ride across the island taunting and verbally abusing his date.
As the truck reached Midland Acres Murphy spotted a police car and he sped up to some 90 miles an hour, and despite her pleas for him to slow down, he carried on at break-neck speeds through Bodden Town with no lights as the police gave chase.
Eventually the defendant appeared to become concerned and began to slow down as they approached Savannah and the victim seized the opportunity to jump from the truck. The defendant sped off.
The police continued to chase the defendant, who, despite crashing the truck, ignored the instructions of the police and continued speeding away. With more police in pursuit, the defendant continued driving dangerously weaving across traffic and on the wrong side of the road into George Town, where the police ordered the cars in pursuit to stand down and the defendant escaped the authorities.
However, two weeks later he gave himself up to police and eventually admitted his guilt and apologised to his victim. “I was doing stupidness and going too far,” Murphy admitted to the court, as he said he was vexed his date had refused to have sex with him and he had had too much to drink.
Although he did not physically harm his victim, Justice Quin said he had still subjected her to a terrifying ordeal as a result of her not knowing what the defendant was going to do and because of the sheer speed and dangerous manner in which he drove.
Referring to Murphy’s decision to take his victim to the quarry in East End, he said this was when she was in greatest fear for her safety. “This was wrongful confinement which caused extreme mental anguish … and the complainant experienced a nerve shattering ordeal from which she is still recovering,” the judge stated in his ruling.
The judge gave Murphy two and a half years in jail for the crime of wrongful confinement and a further 18 months to run consecutively for the dangerous driving, resulting in the four year sentence. He also gave a two year driving ban to begin after his release from prison. The court heard that Murphy had a number of previous convictions, including four for sexual assault and one for assault.
Dart to divert gifts from tenants to the needy
(CNS): The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens is hoping to double the number of Christmas hampers it gives to families in need this holiday season. Last year the service club managed to deliver 32 baskets but with the help of Camana Bay and the Regatta Office Park they hope to help more families. Colleen Cummings, Assistant Property Manager for Dart Realty said that instead of giving Christmas baskets to the firm’s office tenants the funds would diverted to help those who are truly in need. “Christmas is the season for giving and sharing time with our loved ones, and we wholeheartedly support the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens in their efforts to help those who may not be able to afford to prepare a holiday meal for their family,” she said.
Lion Belinda Blessitt Vincent, President of the LCTG said that this initiative has impacted many families in the community and has allowed the Club to make a positive difference in these lives and the sponsorship will allow the Club to provide for more families this year. The Lions Club is now collecting the names of families who are in need and would benefit from this effort. “Please contact us at lctg1993@gmail.com if you or you know someone who would like to benefit from this initiative,” Vincent said.
Ed Semans, Senior Property Manager for Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd said Dart was keenly aware that there are many families in the Cayman Islands who are struggling to make ends meet, let alone give their children a memorable Christmas.
“As a community we have a responsibility to assist these families and Dart Realty is proud to play its part by helping several worthy local charities and organisations to continue their amazing work at this time of year,” he added.
Doctors call for return to family-based healthcare
(CNS): Two of Cayman’s medical practitioners have called for more focus on the relationship between patients and family doctors and less on specialists referrals for every medical need. The local doctors said that family-based medicine was the cornerstone of healthcare and could help to reduce escalating healthcare costs. Dr Steve Tomlinson said patients should only be going to the ER if they had a real emergency and should not be hopping from physician to physician and demanding procedures that they did not need, while Dr Virginia Hobday, vice president of the Cayman Islands Medical and Dental Society, said that quality care was not always expensive and that change was needed.
She pointed to the spiraling cost of care, particularly obstetric and tertiary level care, combined with exponential medical malpractice coverage. “At some point a breaking point will come,” she warned at the Healthcare 20/20 conference, held last at The Ritz-Carlton earlier this month. “The CIMDA does not want to see doctors forced out of obstetrics in the Cayman Islands, as has happened in other countries.”
Dr Hobday said that even though tremendous research had been undertaken, modern healthcare systems did not consistently deliver safe, effective and affordable healthcare. “In the US, spending is twice that of other developed countries, yet key quality outcome indicators lag behind international benchmarks,” she said.
The doctor used the example of palliative care as a good indicator of quality and cost effective healthcare, stating that as the medical director of Cayman Hospice Care she saw patients, as in other parts of the world, incurring huge bills pursuing aggressive treatments and debilitating chemotherapy, which their doctors had advised.
“Some of these are futile and can cause unnecessary suffering at a stage of disease which cannot be cured or the patient even given useful time,” Hobday said, adding that there was also excessive use of technology to investigate when the outcome of these tests would no longer make any difference to the care the patient receives.
Palliative care had been proven to be cost effective globally, because it was community-based, nurse-led and low technology. It avoided patients being admitted to hospital which saved money and kept them at home where they wanted to be, she said.
Looking at medicine as an art as well as a science might help to reduce costs, Dr Hobday suggested. “Robust primary care, preventative-based healthcare and family based medicine are the cornerstones of healthcare systems, rather than open access and specialist-led care, would reduce costs. Practicing defensive medicine never will,” she said.
Engaging the consumers by providing information on conducting healthy lifestyles was also necessary and providing programme options to allow them better access to services based upon their personal needs was also crucial, she said.
Dr Steve Tomlinson, founder and physician at the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, said that the increases in costs for healthcare in Cayman were caused by a number of factors, including importation of commodities mostly from the US, a lack of benefit from economies of scale, escalating malpractice premiums, utilities among the highest in the world and immigration costs.
“We know that healthcare is costly and every effort must be made to stop it spiraling out of control,” he said, stating that a country’s healthcare must rely on its economic model. Dr Tomlinson said that health began with being healthy and that all health professionals could help more with this. He said patients should avoid the over utilisation of healthcare services and only go to the ER if they had a real emergency.
The doctor told the audience patients should stop jumping from doctor to doctor when they could not get a 24 hour service and stop demanding procedures from their doctors that they did not need. He also warned patients to only sue a medical professional when it is absolutely necessary and not simply because they did not like the doctor and wanted some extra cash.
He urged patients to use local services whenever possible. “Too many consumers use overseas services unnecessarily, even for a Pap smear,” he confirmed and referred to Dr Hobday’s speech when she said family-medicine ought to be the cornerstone of healthcare, using specialists only when necessary.
“Properly implemented this will reduce healthcare costs,” he agreed. “The more specialists in Cayman the less patients have to spend on going overseas.”
Alyssa Chin back after injury
(CIFA): After eight months of rehabilitation recovering from an injury, 17-year-old Alyssa Chin returned to the Cayman Islands Women's National Program this week. Chin, who attends the Raburn Gap Nacoochee School in Georgia, USA, returns after a long layoff from football. At times during the long road back from injury, she questioned whether she would ever play football again, but as she re-joined her team mates in her first week of training since the injury, it was clear to see she was happy to be back. Chin represented the Cayman Islands at the under 17 level. She was part of the Cayman team that made it to the final round of World Cup qualification back in 2010.
Women's Technical Director Thiago Cunha is delighted to have Alyssa back.
"Alyssa is a very talented player and she will add quality to the team, she will also bring plenty of experience to the group as she has already played in World Cup Qualifiers before," she said.
Alyssa has been taking part in morning and evening sessions as the Cayman Islands under 20 National team prepare for the final group stage of the Caribbean Football Union World Cup Qualification process. The ladies will travel to Santo Domingo in early January to face the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Haiti.
The Cayman Islands will start their campaign against the hosts Dominican Republic on January 6, 2012 and then face Jamaica on January 8, 2012 before finishing up with a game against Haiti on January 10, 2012.
Group E Fixtures to be played at the Estadio Panamericano, San Cristobal:
Date Time
6/1/2012 14:00 Jamaica vs. Haiti
6/1/2012 16:00 Dominican Republic vs. Cayman Islands
8/1/2012 14:00 Cayman Islands vs. Jamaica
8/1/2012 16:00 Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
10/1/2012 14:00 Haiti vs. Cayman Islands
10/1/2012 16:00 Dominican Republic vs. Jamaica
See Alyssa Chin scoring the winning goal for the Cayman Islands against Haiti in March 2010 here
McField on ministry payroll
(CNS): A freedom of information request has revealed that local attorney Steve McField has been contracted by the premier’s ministry as a legal consultant to research a range of policy matters, from legal aid to national honours. According to the “scope of services” in the contract, McField is required to review and advise on government business, undertake legal research, assist with the development of a “country strategy” and nation building, as well as interpret opinions,case laws and other documents, advising the premier on appropriate action. McField is being paid CI$7,000 per month and the ministry confirmed that up to September he had received a total of $77,000 from the public purse.
The first contract for this consultancy position of “Senior Analyst, Legal Research and Development” was for a period of seven months and was signed on 1 November 2010. A second was then signed in June this year for a further seven month period ending 31 December 2011, the FOI request, which was made by a CNS reader, revealed.
The contract states: “The consultant is engaged in the business of conducting research and advise on legal issues and will provide advice on policy development, institutional development and historical development and has considerable skill, knowledge and experience in those said fields.”
The list of services in the first schedule on the contract is wide ranging and indicates that McField is being employed as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development, as well as to the office of the premier, and that he takes his instructions from and reports directly to the minister.
The schedule lists nine services with subcategories that require McField to “advise and research policy development, institutional development and historical development,” among other issues.
The requirements go well beyond the legal aid research that McField was originally assisting government with, when the premier removed the budget from the courts during his first year in office with the view to opening a public defender’s office. Since then, that funding has been returned to the chief justice and the legal aid programme is still being managed by judicial administration after the proposal for the office, which McField was earmarked to head up, was dropped in the wake of the review committee’s findings.
The contract still includes a requirement for McField to examine the reform of the legal aid system but it also contracts the local attorney to a much wider remit. It calls on the lawyer to research and evaluate other government policies and proposals, including investment, the development of Caymanians and the priorities for government to achieve a sustainable economy. It also speaks about advising on nation building, as well as offering legal advice.
During the period of the contract McField has acted as a courtroom advocate for the UDP government backbench MLA Dwayne Seymour, who faced charges of perverting the course of justice relating to an incident outside a Seven Mile Beach Hotel in May 2010, but who was eventually acquitted.
The attorney is also acting on behalf of McKeeva Bush, who has filed a law suit against the owner of Cayman News Service, Nicky Watson and her reporter Wendy Ledger, as well as Randy Merren, the owner of the local radio station Rooster, and Daphne Orrett, a caller to the show.
It is not clear if the premier is paying McField separately from his own funds as his personal attorney in those cases or if the lawyer is undertaking that work as part of this government contract.
Teenage cruise tourist critical after jet-ski smash
(CNS): A 16-year-old girl who was visiting the Cayman Islands from New York is expected to be airlifted to a hospital in Florida today after sustaining critical injuries during on ocean collision on Thursday afternoon, police have confirmed. The teen was riding an inflatable banana boat near the Seven Mile Public Beach yesterday when it was hit by a jet-ski at around 12:45pm. An RCIPS spokesperson said that the jet-ski was being ridden by a 17-year-old boy when it collided with a yellow banana shaped inflatable that was being towed by a power boat. The teenager was riding on the ‘banana’ with a 24-year-old woman and they were both thrown from the inflatable when they were hit by the jet-ski. All three people involved were cruise ship passengers, the police spokesperson added.
The women were taken to the Cayman Islands hospital in George Town in the wake of the incident for treatment and the 24-year-old was released soon after but the teenager is now in a critical condition and arrangements are being made to send her to the United States for treatment.
Police enquiries into how the collision occurred are on-going and anyone with information is asked to contact George Town Police station on 949 4222
Story-time for grown-ups as festival opens on LC
(CNS): This year Cayman’s much loved international story-telling festival will open on the Sister Islands when Gimistory’s first gig is on Little Cayman, Saturday afternoon (26 November) followed by a night time performance in Cayman Brac before heading to Grand Cayman next week. The festival presents a line-up of 25 performers from all over the world as well as Cayman, including Quincy Brown and the much loved Ezekiel and Aunt Sookie, who may have a few stories to tell about the premier this year. Regular performers such as the internationally renowned Ken Corsbie and the incredible Master Extempo Calypsonian the Black Sage will also be on the bill.
Evoking an atmosphere of the old days when storytelling was Cayman’s only form of entertainment the festival is free of charge and takes place on the beach under the stars. Each night will open with steel pan courtesy of Cayman's own Michael Lemay and the free fried fish, fritters and swanky (Cayman style lemonade) will be served at the end of the show.
In 2009, the "fry fish 'n swanky" tradition of Gimistory took a new twist and became a culinary competition. Each district now competes for the honours of Best Fried Fish, Best Swanky or Best Fritters.
During the days, the local and international storytellers will visit local schools making special presentations to students.
Admission to the festival is free and more information on the schedule can be found at Cayman National Cultural Foundation.
New unit created to co-ordinate government policy
(CNS): Long serving career civil servant Robert Lewis has been appointed to head up a new government policy unit. The Cabinet Office’s Policy Coordination Unit has been created to coordinate the development and implementation of policies across all government ministries and portfolios, officials said in a release Friday. Lewis is working with a small team to develop independent advice for the Cabinet, the National Security Council, the premier and other agencies – as directed by the Cabinet Secretary. One of the first projects which Lewis has undertaken is to complete an action plan to implement the national Crime Reduction Strategy (CRS).
The CRS plan offers a four-pronged approach to crime reduction: early intervention, reducing re-offending, prevention and situational prevention.
“This holistic approach holds fast to the adage ‘prevention is better than cure’. In particular we maintain that, for crime to be effectively reduced in the medium’ to long-term, special attention must be given to early intervention,” said Lewis.
Lewis has served government for 24 years – most recently as the Department of Planning’s Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Development. He also sat on several committees tasked with developing national policies and enhancing departmental efficiencies.
At present he also sits on the National Energy Policy Committee, the Census Advisory Committee, and the National Climate Change Adaptation Working Group. He also chairs an energy policy subcommittee, which focuseson energy efficiency and conservation in relation to land-use, construction processes and buildings.
Cabinet Secretary Orrett Connor, said, “With proven strengths and experience, Lewis is well-equipped to contribute to government’s strategic growth.”
In a press release government officials said, Lewis conducts occasional lectures and discussions on leadership, management and career development. He has presented locally and overseas to government entities and non-governmental organizations on policy and managerial topics such as strategic planning, smart growth and empowerment.
“I am passionate about facilitating the professional development of government’s aspiring supervisors and managers in the interest of more efficient and effective public service,” he says
The new policy director holds two masters degrees: in Public Policy and Management (University of London); and in Urban and Regional Planning (Florida Atlantic University). He also holds management certifications from Napier University (Scotland); and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The CRS plan can be viewed here
TCI’s former deputy leader denies allegations
(CNS): The former deputy premier in the Turks and Caicos Islands has accused the local Investigation team appointed by the UK of a massive conspiracy to tarnish and destroy the reputation of politicians and other high-profile people on the islands. Lillian Boyce admitted that she was arrested and charged with conspiracy, in relation to the sale of land for a proposed hotel and condominium development at North West Point. "They charged me with conspiracy, but they know deep in their hearts that they had no reason or evidence to charge me….I am completely innocent.” Boyce said. "The SIPT should be charged with conspiracy because it is clear that this whole investigation is politically-motivated and premeditated.”
The former minister for education told the TCI Sun that it might be her now but there was a lot more to come.
“After more than two years of enjoying an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands and putting pressure on the Treasury, they now have to justify why they wasted millions and millions of dollars, while the country is broke, civil servants are being sent home and poverty is increasing,” she said. “Even MPs in the House of Commons have expressed concern about the millions of dollars that they are spending."
Boyce is understood to be the third person now to face charges in the long running investigation in into official corruption in TCI by the UK. The probe started after the British government implemented direct rule of its Caribbean territory after the government's finances collapsed.
"The facts are that over the past few months I have been cooperating fully with the SIPT on a voluntary basis,” Boyce said. “They interviewed me extensively on a number of occasions and I was completely honest and open with them. Sometime in early October, they contacted my lawyer Neale Coleman and set a date for me to return to continue the interview process.
“When I returned to their office on November 21st , accompanied by my husband Hayden, the officers sat across from me and in a few minutes told me I was under arrest and asked me to sign a form. Contrary to reports, I wasn't picked up by SIPT, I wasn't handcuffed and none of my documents were taken. They asked me to return two days later, I did so with my lawyer and they said they will charge me with conspiracy to defraud the government. I categorically denied those charges, because I know and they know that I did not conspire with anyone to defraud government."
Boyce, who served as a Cabinet Minister in the Progressive National Party (PNP) from 2003 to 2008, said she was grateful for the support she had received from family and friends, members of her church, the wider Turks and Caicos Islands community and around the region.
"The people who know me can tell you that I've worked extremely hard over the years for everything that I have and to build my reputation as a businesswoman and a true servant of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and I'm not going to allow the SIPT or anyone to destroy any of that," she added. "They are abusing and misusing their power. What they are trying to do to me and many others is unfair and it is wrong, but God does not sleep."
Murder suspect released
(CNS): The police confirmed Friday that they have not charged the 35-year-old man who was arrested in connection with Kerran Baker’s murder but have released him on police bail while enquiries continue. Officers arrested the man on suspicion of murder one week ago following a police operation in the Prospect area on Thursday, 17 November. Although the law only allows the police to hold a suspect for eight days before charges are brought, the authorities can apply to the courts for an extension on the period. It is understood that no application was made to the courts.
Although the body of 25-year-old Kerran (Kerryann) Baker has never been found, police began treating her disappearance as a murder soon after the investigation began as aresult of the circumstances. She was last seen on Saturday, 30 July and captured on CCTV at Foster’s airport location supermarket. The Jamaican practice nurse was reported missing by a friend when she and other friends of Kerryann’s were unable to make contact with her.
On the Sunday after she was last seen and heard from a friend persuaded the landlord to open Kerryann’s apartment where they discover her half unpacked groceries in her kitchen along with her bag. It seemed apparent that Kerryann had been interrupted by something or someone as she was putting away the shopping and left her apartment with just her phone and car keys.
Her vehicle was discovered in Pedro St James a few days after her disappearance and the keys to the car in bushes near by, which was the last trace of the women that police say was the victim of foul play.
Anyone who has any information in relation to the disappearance of Kerran is asked to contact George Town police station on 949-4222, the RCIPS tip-line 949-7777, or Crime Stoppers 800-8477 (TIPS).