Archive for November, 2011
Local Pioneers and King James Bible stamps released
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Postal Service has released two new sets of stamps this month: one makes up this year’s Christmas stamp collection, which also celebrates the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, and the other honours the Cayman Islands ‘Pioneers of Our History’, and features Capt Royal Brazley Bodden Sr, Almeria Alberta McLaughlin Tomlinson, Miss Irksie Leila Yates and Major Joseph Rodriguez (Roddy) Watler. The five-set Christmas series features King James I, the monarch who was responsible for organising the most famous English translation of the Bible, which is one of the most published books of all time. A portrait of King James is featured on the 75¢ stamp.
The 25¢ stamp depicts the cover of the KJB and illustrates the apostles Peter and Paul seated above the central text, flanked by Moses and Aaron. In the four corners, sit Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, authors of the four gospels, with their symbolic animals.
The 80¢ stamp features William Tyndale, who in 1526 translated the first version of the New Testament into English. He is considered to be the ‘Father of the English Bible’, but rather than being a hero, he was imprisoned and later tried, defrocked and sentenced to death. The $1 stamp depicts the printing of the King James Bible and the $1.60 stamp is of the translators, a group of 48 scholars.
The ‘Pioneers of Our History’ series was released on Friday, 11 November and later on that day, the families of the four pioneers celebrated the launch at the Governor’s House along with Governor Duncan Taylor and his wife, Marie-Beatrice Taylor, Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and Speaker of the House Mary Lawrence.
Capt. Royal Brazley Bodden Sr, MBE (1885–1976) was a skilled architect and shipbuilder. His works included the vessels Lady Slater and the Cimboco. He designed and constructed the Elmslie Memorial Church, as well as the General Post Office, Public Library and Town Clock, andthe town halls in West Bay, Bodden Town and East End, among other landmark buildings.
Mrs Almeria Labertha McLaughlin Tomlinson (1882–1974) was a highly respected midwife on Cayman Brac, who delivered hundreds of babies from Spot Bay to West End and also in Little Cayman, to which she travelled by catboat, sometimes in very rough seas.
Miss Irksie Leila Yates (1899–1996) hailed from Grand Cayman and was drawn to nursing from childhood. After leaving school, she worked with Dr Overton, the island’s only doctor, receiving valuable training in handling both deliveries and infectious diseases, and by 1919 she was known as Nurse Leila. She delivered her first baby in 1923. In 1952 she began delivering babies at the Cayman Hospital.
Major Joseph Rodriguez (Roddy) Watler (1890–1965) served the Islands in the Police Force for over 30 years, principally as Inspector of Police but also as warehouse keeper, lighthouse keeper, bailiff, customs officer and aide-de-camp to the Commissioner of the Cayman Islands and visiting governors. Major Rodriguez was also honoured with a medal of bravery for actions during the 1932 hurricane, when he and another person traveled in a canoe from South Sound through Prospect and Red Bay, rescuing people who had been swept from their homes. He was given the title Major during World War II as head of the Home Guard.
Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow said, “From the beginning, we planned that this series would be a living, breathing issue in which the public would be able to participate by nominating pioneers.” Each pioneer is celebrated in a booklet containing a brief biography as well as stamps.
The subcommittee for this stamp issue has already met to begin working on the second ‘Pioneers of Our History’ set of stamps. “What we are asking the public to do when making a nomination is to complete it with the person’s biographies and several pictures of that person,” Glasgow said.
The criteria set by the Stamp Advisory Committee are that the persons nominated should have been deceased for at least 10 years and that they made a significant contribution to the national development of these islands. Persons may be nominated in the following categories: maritime, architecture, science, environment, health care, politics, sports, arts, education and performance.
The ‘Pioneers’ and the Christmas stamps are currently on sale at all post offices. For more information, contact Philatelic Bureau 946-4757.
Charity survey to strengthen civil society
(CNS): The estimated 250 registered charities operating in the Cayman Islands, as well as all non-registered Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are being invited to take part in a survey, which Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor says will provide a comprehensive picture of the civil society sector in the Cayman Islands, identifying their sphere of activity and influence in the community. According to Marilyn Conolly of Innotiva Ltd, who is managing the study, the research will be broad in scope covering non-profit and non-governmental agencies, such as the Cancer Society and Special Olympics as well as churches and professional associations that all are included in the civil society sector.
The key outcome of the research project is to build capacity of civil society in the Cayman Islands to encourage their role as advocates, and supporters of good governance in our community.
The research is co-sponsored by the Governor’s Office and the Office of the Premier, and all CSOs who complete the survey will be listed in Cayman’s first comprehensive online civil society directory, as well as being eligible to win CI$1000 worth of advertising from dms Broadcasting and CI$700 worth of advertising from Cayman News Service and CNS Business.
While government and the private sector support a significant number of non-profit and non-governmental organisations, there are many unanswered questions about the role, scope, finances, and activity areas of these organisations as well as the impact of these organisations on the community at large, a release from Innotiva says.
Governor Duncan Taylor explained, “The Cayman Islands and the Caribbean Overseas Territories as a whole are undergoing significant social, economic and environmental transformation. This research will provide a comprehensive picture of the civil society sector in the Cayman Islands, identifying their sphere of activity and influence in the community. I am pleased that my Office is able to support this worthwhile and important exercise.’”
The survey that will be accessible to the public online and will be used as a tool to examine the needs of CSOs and the extent to which they collaborate, share resources and support national priorities. The survey responses are strictly confidential and the names of organisations will not be disclosed in the survey analysis.
Premier McKeeva Bush acknowledged the work done by civil society organisations for the enhancement of the common good of the community. “I encourage all relevant organisations to take part in this survey because the government and the public at large need to have a clearer understanding of the role of civil society organisations, and the challenges they face. We know that a large number of non-profit organisations are at least partly funded by the government; we know too that there are some generous private donors,” he said.
“In these difficult economic times however, we need to collaborate more and share resources for most cost-effective results. From professional associations to grass roots organisations, the role of the civil society sector in this community is likely to expand, as the public-private partnership in our islands is enriched by broadened corporate social responsibilities. This research will provide us with much needed data on how we can develop that partnership more effectively.”
Government said that it intends to make good use of this research to facilitate the timely evolution of a more far- reaching partnership with CSOs.
To learn more about this research and to take the survey go to caribbeancivilsociety.org or contact Marilyn Conolly at 938-6300.
Clampers’ days numbered
(CNS): The unanimous passage of the long awaited Traffic Law by the members of the Legislative Assembly on Friday evening heralds in a modern regime for the islands' roads and transport sector, and one that does not include clampers. Alongside improved safety issues, such as banning the use of mobile phones without a hands free set while driving, the law provides for the licensing and use of electric cars and the registration of driving instructors. The law also spells the end of clamping firms, in line with bans in the UK, where the practice had been described as curb-side extortion, a point the deputy premier said she completely agreed with.
As Juliana O’Connor Connolly, who is the minister responsible for traffic, wrapped up the parliamentary debate on the legislation, welcomed by all members, she read a number of reports from the British press regarding the issue of what she said the media had called “cowboy clampers” .
The deputy premier stated that she agreed with the sentiment in many of the articles published in the UK over the last few months, in particular by the Daily Mail, which had led the campaign to ban the practice altogether. O’Connor Connolly said clamping was both disproportionate and counter-productive and added that there had been cases in Cayman like those in the UK where people were intimidated by the agents who had immobilized their cars and marched to ATMs to pay up before they would remove the offending clamp.
Clamping is a relatively recent practice in the Cayman Islands but after just a few short years the parking management firms' high parking fines — up to $85 — had caused considerable concern in the community and had seen the politicians seeking ways to ban the practice. Independent member Ezzard Miller had brought a private members motion last year asking government to ban the practice, which he believed was illegal.
During the debate on the law the PPM member for East End spoke about the frustrations that have been caused by the clamping companies and not least the extortionate rates they have charged people to remove the wheel clamps. He said he had no sympathy for the businesses involved and jobs that may be lost.
“It’s my job to protect jobs for Caymanians and I ain’t ever seen a Caymanian clamp anybody,” McLean told his colleagues as he offered his support to the ban and the traffic law.
The minister confirmed that, as was the case in the UK, where clamping firms had asked for compensation in the wake of the ban and been given none, there would be no compensation for the local parking management firms either.
Parking enforcement will be in the hands of the police under the new law and people wishing to regulate parking on private land will be able to use barriers to limit access.
The new traffic bill repeals the 2003 version of the law and will come intoeffect when the regulations are completed. The minister futher revealed that a law is being researched and drafted that will relate to public transport and therefore parts of the traffic bill will eventually be moved into a separate piece of legislation that will deal entirely with public transport issues.
Dealing with everything from the registration of vehicles to the enforcement of road safety measures, the law covers some 143 different clauses. It has also redefined what a motor vehicle is so that vehicles powered by electricity can be licensed and allowed on all roads.
The law provides for some foreign nationals to drive in the Cayman Islands without applying for a local licence for up to six months. After that time the foreign licence holder will need to pass a written test to acquire a local licence. Drivers from non convention countries will not be offered the six months and will need to pass both a written and road test before being able to drive here.
The law also provides for the regulation of driving instructors who take money from learner drivers for lessons. Although parents, guardians and friends who are not charging a fee will still be able to teach young drivers, official instructors will need a certificate of registration to charge money. Instructors will be committing an offence if they take cash for driving lessons unless they are registered with the new driving instructor authority and have received a certificate, which must be displayed in the instructor’s vehicle.
See draft of traffic bill here
Judge directed to release memo over letters scandal
(CNS): The information commissioner has ordered the content of a memo sent by the chief justice to the police regarding letters to the press he believed were scandalizing the judiciary to be released. Although the judicial administration had at first denied having the record, after it was discovered the public authority denied the request because it said that the investigation was not complete. Commissioner Jennifer Dilbert said she remained unconvinced that the investigation was on-going as no evidence was produced to support the claim and ordered Judicial Administration to release the record, which relates to letters sent to Cayman Net News that a former grand court judge was accused of writing.
The latest decision by the information commissioner centres on a missing document following a request made earlier this year by an applicant who was given access to a number of personal records related to a public tribunal but who was not satisfied that every document that had been requested had been disclosed. With the assistance of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) the missing document was eventually found, but when it was, the Judicial Administration said the FOI law did not apply to it as it related to judicial functions.
Having been given access to the record, the ICO concluded that the document was administrative in nature and not related to judicial functions so it was subject to the freedom of information law. As a result, the courts then denied access on the basis that it was part of a continuing investigation.
Dilbert was also not persuaded by the public authority’s arguments during the hearing that the investigation was continuing, especially given the time that had elapsed in connection with the tribunal in question that the memo related to, and that no evidence was submitted to support the claim.
“The FOI Law places theburden of proof on the public authority to prove that it has acted in accordance with its obligations under the Law,” Dilbert said. “While there are certainly situations where records relating to law enforcement need to be protected, the law requires that there is a real and substantial ground for the expectation that harm could occur for this exemption to apply. Judicial Administration has not presented me with these grounds.”
In her decision she noted that the document in question was not a record relating to law enforcement and much of what it contained is information that is already in the public domain, since the tribunal was held in public. With the exception of the last paragraph of the record, which contained personal information of a third party unrelated to the issues, Dilbert gave the judicial department 45 calendar days to appeal the decision.
According to Dilbert’s decision, the document in question is a memo written by the chief justice referring an issue to the police for investigation. Although the tribunal is not mentioned by name in Dilbert’s ruling, the memo relates to letters that were written to Cayman Net News that the courts believed were an attempt to scandalize and effectively undermine public confidence in the local judiciary.
The issue became a key element in the tribunal of the former Grand Court judge, Priya Levers, who was removed from the bench for misbehaviour. Although the tribunal had concluded that she was not the author of the letters, a point she had always vehemently maintained, it was revealed during the judge’s case that the islands' top judge had referred the matter of the letters to the police in an effort to discover the author, who wrote the letters under a number of pseudonyms.
See the Information commissioner’s full decision below.
Man attacked outside George Town restaurant
(CNS): The RCIPS is currently investigating an attack on a 42-year-old man that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning outside a George Town restaurant At about 12:49am on 20 November the Emergency Call Centre received a report that a man had been physically assaulted by a number of other men. Police said the victim "was not welcomed by his assailants" when he arrived in the vicinity of Jah T’s in McField Lane and a fight was said to have erupted, during which he sustained multiple stab wounds, lacerations and bruises to various parts of his body. Emergency personnel attended the scene and the victim was taken to the George Town hospital, where he was admitted and treated for his non-life threatening injuries and was discharged later on Sunday.
A police spokesperson said officers are investigating the matter but no one has yet been arrested in connection with the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact George Town Police Station on 949 4222, the RCIPS tip-line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS).
Motor cruiser sinks after running aground on reef
(CNS): Police have confirmed that a 72ft Pacemaker motor cruiser which ran aground on the reef north of the Sandbar late Thursday night has broken up on the reef and lost almost 90% of 2,000 gallons of fuel into the ocean. The crew of the unfortunately named Plight was rescued, but despite efforts by the Marine Unit, local marine experts and the boat’s own crew to salvage the yacht, the boat has now disintegrated, officials said Sunday. With bad weather hampering salvage operations, only around ten percent of the fuel was removed and some floating debris from the wreck was saved, but the crew was able to salvage the batteries. Almost the entire vessel, including the bow and its super structure, its engines and generators, is now submerged on the reef.
Only part of its stern is still visible above the water.
A crew from Harbour House Marine, which has been working with police and the boat owners to salvage the vessel, reported that the fuel tank and extra fuel has broken away from the boat and apparently floated away but there were no signs of fuel leakage in the North Sound.
“The RCIPS Marine Unit and the Harbour House crew are searching the coastline in the area to see if the fuel tank can be located,” a police spokesperson stated.
The Port Authority receiveda distress call from the captain of the Plight late on Thursday night stating that the vessel was on the reef and taking on water. The Niven D from the RCIPS Marine Unit was sent to resuce the boat but not before the captain was forced to abandon the ship and take to the life boat. The marine rescue vessel got to the location at around 1am and escorted the two crew members who were on board to the North Sound Bacadere safe and well.
The Plight was crewed by two men, aged 35 and 38, both from New South Wales, Australia, who are still on island and are not suspected of breaching any laws.
The vessel had about 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its fuel tank and was travelling from Miami, Florida, via Cuba to the Panama Canal, destined for Australia. The captain of the vessel decided to stop in the Cayman Islands due to an approaching Nor’easter.
Hobson’s choice
I thought I would set myself a goal to try and write a commentary on the markets and not use “Europe”, “periphery” or “debt”. As you can see I just failed, which is a good thing as this commentary would be decidedly short if I hadn’t. The past couple of weeks haven’t been a good time to be a prime minister. Having seen two go, Greece’s Papandreou and Italy’s Berlusconi, there must surely be a bit of unease being at the top.
To read this and other Business Viewpoints and to comment click here.
Adam calls on George Towners to nominate council
(CNS): The UDP’s George Town representative, Mike Adam, is asking residents of his constituency to submit nominations for the district's new advisory council at a meeting Tuesday evening. With the two opposition MLAs boycotting the process because of the government’s decision to appoint rather than allow a vote on members, the UDP minister appears to be spearheading the process. At the first meeting in George Town regarding the process earlier this month, the district’s fourth elected member, UDP backbencher Elio Solomon, was not present. Adam, who is also the government minister for community affairs, encourage the capital’s residents to join in the process of forming the council.
“It is from these nominations that Cabinet will select the members of the Advisory District Council. To those who are approached to be nominated, I say this is a great opportunity to serve and influence the betterment of our community and the country,” Adam said.
All nominations can be handed to any George Town MLA, according to the law, but Adam advised people not to give theirs to opposition members. “Although residents have the right to hand their nomination to any of the four George Town MLAs, people should hold in mind that the PPM have publicly stated that they are boycotting the nomination process,” Adam said as he asked people to attend Tuesday’s meeting, when the deadline for acceptance of nominations would be announced.
Residents can make nominations for general membership or for a particular office, such as chairman, vice chairman, treasurer or secretary. Each district council is allowed a total of ten members. Nominations must be submitted in writing and signed. The nomination must also be countersigned by the nominee to indicate that the person is willing to serve. Both the person making the nomination and the nominee must be residents of George Town. The nomination must be accompanied by a brief biography or resume that indicates the suitability of the person to serve on the Advisory District Council.
According to the law, council members must live in the relevant electoral district and because of special qualifications, training, experience or knowledge of the district be “suitable for appointment to a council”, and according to government, Cabinet will define and decide who is suitable.
The law calls for councils to advise their MLA or MLAs on matters affecting their district as well as issue that may affect the country as a whole.
Nominations can be mailed to: ADC Nominations c/o The Ministry of Community Affairs, Gender & Housing, Government Administration Building, Box 109, Grand Cayman KY1-9000.
CIMA warns directors of regulatory enforcement
(CNS Business): The days of non-compliance by fund directors are done, according to RJ Berry, head of compliance at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Speaking at the Cayman Fund Focus, hosted by Campbells, the regulator warned that the fund sector would see an increase in enforcement. Berry admitted that CIMA’s powers had been weak but he wanted to see a new regime where the authority had the power to disqualify directors. "You are going to see a drastic increase in the number of regulatory enforcement actions this year, simply because over the last two to three years we’ve had our nose to the grindstone and the days are done when you redeem your investor out and ignore the regulator with your termination requirements,” Berry warned delegates. Read more on CNS Business
Much loved local pastor dies after long illness
(CNS): The pastor of the Agape Church in George Town and chair of the Constitutional Commission, Pastor Al Ebanks, has passed away after a long illness. The much loved pastor who will be sorely missed, not just by his parishioners but the whole community, was equally well known for his work on the country’s constitution as he was for his work in the church and the wider community. Pastor Al died on Friday evening sometime around 7pm and his death was announced by his Constitutional Commission colleague, Wil Pineau, at the national health conference on Saturday. Among his very many public roles Pastor Al was a former chair of the Health Services Authority and remained a director.
On Saturday the Cayman Ministrer's Association said: "We give grateful thanks to the Lord for the gift and privilege of knowing such a good shepherd and guide, having him as our friend and benefiting from his outstanding leadership."