Archive for February, 2012
Cayman Rugby gears up for the “Big Game”
(CRFU): Even though the Cayman Rugby domestic season is still in full flow the Cayman Rugby Football Union has its eye firmly on the horizon as the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers approach. Many will need no reminder that the qualifiers for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand opened with Cayman taking on Trinidad at the Truman Bodden stadium in George Town and again Truman Bodden will play host to what promises to be yet another big day for Cayman Rugby and quite possibly the biggest sporting spectacle Cayman will see in 2012. Cayman’s road to the Rugby World Cup starts in Kingston on 7 April when Cayman play Jamaica and continues at home on 21 April when Cayman take on Mexico. Photos Caroline Deegan
The 2011 Caribbean Championships saw Cayman defeating Jamaica at home and losing to Mexico away by 1 point! Tickets for what the Cayman Rugby Union has dubbed “Cayman Big Game 1” are available online at www.caymanbiggame.com
With the Cayman Union expecting to sell nearly 3000 tickets, entry on the day (if any) will be CI$30 per person whilst tickets are available online now at a mere CI$15 and patrons buying online receive a 20% off -official tournament T-Shirt coupon in the mail with their tickets.
With Maples and Calder already coming on board and donating 500 youth tickets to the Big Game 1 tickets are already flying out the door and with the day starting at noon and running till 11pm with a schedule featuring local vendors, the Cayman vs. Mexico game at 4pm and an after party featuring DJ XS running till 11pm patrons will certainly not be disappointed!
Next Games at the Cayman Rugby Football Club:
Alex Alexander Memorial League Trophy 5th Round;
With the DHL Storm looking set to secure the Alex Alexander Memorial Trophy the only thing standing in their way is the Krys Global Buccaneers who know that if they can defeat the Storm this weekend and deny their opposition any bonus points then they should have a real chance at stealing the Cup with only 2 games left in the regular season. With the John Doak Architecture Iguanas and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters now out of the running for the league trophy all their focus is building towards the DART Knockout Vase and no doubt the Pigs Trotters will be licking their lips at the prospect of picking up their first win in over a year over a faltering Iguana side.
11 February 2012
Krys Global Buccaneers vs. DHL Storm @2pm
Queensgate Pigs Trotters vs. John Doak Architecture Iguanas @4pm
All games are streamed live worldwide on www.caymanrugbytv.com
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Activists file law suit to protect Caribbean reefs
(CNS): The Centre for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit in the US seeking greater protection for threatened coral reefs in the Caribbean. The lawsuit claims that the National Marine Fisheries Service has ignored scientific evidence that parrotfish and other grazing fish play a key role in promoting the health of coral reefs. As a result the suit asserts that government’s authorization of targeted parrot fishing poses a risk to elkhorn and staghorn corals, protected under the Endangered Species Act. “The Caribbean’s coral reefs are already in deep trouble, and reducing the parrotfish that help them stay healthy only makes matters worse,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the Centre in a release.
“If we don’t take steps now to safeguard the creatures that keep these vital reefs alive, we risk losing all of it..”
According to the lawsuit, the National Marine Fisheries Service violated the Endangered Species Act by finding that the targeted fishing for parrotfish would not jeopardize already imperiled corals or “adversely modify,” in other wordes damage, their critical habitat.
Excessive algal growth threatens the health of Caribbean reefs, choking out corals and degrading the habitat that other reef creatures — such as fish, sea turtles and lobsters — depend on. Fish, especially parrotfish, that graze on algae around coral reefs play a key function in providing suitable habitat for corals to settle and build those reefs.
Fish populations in the Caribbean have been overfished, including the parrotfish that are the subject of this lawsuit; managing the overfishing of parrotfish will help corals recover and become more resilient to other threats, including global warming and ocean acidification.
“Restoring healthy populations of elkhorn and staghorn coral is critical to restoring the health of Caribbean reefs as a whole,” said Andrea Treece, an attorney with Earthjustice. “These corals provide shelter, nursery grounds, and hunting grounds for an incredible array of fish, lobsters, sea turtles and other species. Without better protection, we risk losing the entire reef community.”
“Corals are competing with algae, and without a robust population of parrotfish, the algae are going to win,” said Sakashita. “But wise management of our reefs can keep algae in check and promote both healthy corals and healthy fish.”
Elkhorn and staghorn corals were once the dominant reef-building corals in the Caribbean but they are perilously close to extinction. Corals suffer from a variety of threats, including pollution, global warming and ocean acidification. A key threat to corals, however, continues to be overfishing and competition with algae.
The corals have declined by more than 90 percent since the 1970s. In 2006, the two corals were protected under the Endangered Species Act in response to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Sailors spruce up Cayman beaches during shore leave
(CNS): Crew from the Royal Fleet Ancillary (RFA) Fort Rosalie helped clean-up recently during a visit to Grand Cayman. Sailors gave staff from the parks and cemeteries unit a hand sprucing up Governor’s beach and Smith Cove despite the rain. “The visit to Grand Cayman was recreational; however, whenever the RFA ships visit, no matter their purpose, they are always willing to assist with community projects,” said Third Officer (Systems) George Counsell. “We thought it might be a nice idea to see if some of the crew could do something constructive on land to improve a small part of Cayman, whether it is building, painting, repairing or general tidying up."
the sailor also described the clean up as a "a nice break from the routine of the ship" as well as giving something back to the community.
Acting deputy in the ministry Jonathon Jackson was grateful tp the sailors for their time and effort. “Ugly trash on our beautiful beaches is not a good sight to see. The Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit works hard to keep our beach clean. It is always good to get help and we thank the crew for doing their part.”
Fort Rosalie has been deployed in the Caribbean as part of Atlantic Patrol (North) (AP(N)) since the beginning of December, carrying out a number of official duties (e.g. relating to the recent UK/Caribbean Forum in Grenada) and activities related to drug interdiction. She has made stops in the United States, Jamaica, Grenada and now Grand Cayman.
It has a crew of 149, including 10 women. She is captained by Captain Ross Ferris,who was born in 1954 in Feock in Cornwall. He joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1972 as a Deck Cadet, initially aboard TS Worcester at Greenhithe on the Thames.
Built by Scott-Lithgow, Greenock the ship entered service as RFA Fort Grange in 1978. Her name was changed to RFA Fort Rosalie in 2000 to avoid confusion with RFA Fort George. When fully laden, she displaces 23,384 tonnes and with her Scott-Sulzer RND90 22,300 horsepower main engine, can achieve speeds of up to 22 knots. She is fitted with a bow thrust unit for slow speed maneuvering.
She can replenish warships and other RFAs at sea from a cargo of stores, victuals and ammunition. The flight deck is capable of operating four Westland Sea King helicopters and when carried, up to 45 Royal Navy air crew are embarked. The present Fort Rosalie is the second to bear the name. The first Fort Rosalie was a WW2 standard ship built by United Shipyards Canada. She entered RFA service in 1945 and served until 1973.
Fort Rosalie served in the Falklands Campaign in 1982, Operation Desert Storm 1991 and Operation Telic 2003.
YCLA reveals the 2012 final five
(CNS): The five young Caymanians in the running for the annual local leadership gong were revealed by organisers Monday. Garth Arch, Dara Flowers Burke, Casandra Morris, Orchid Morrison and Samantha Widmer will have to wait until Saturday 12 May to find out which one of them will be crowned the Young Caymanian Leader at a black tie gala which will be televised on Cayman27. (Photos David Wolfe)
Organisers said the finalist has been selected from a large group of impressive nominations that were delivered by the community late in 2011.
“The YCLA selection committee was presented with an almost insurmountable task; a task to identify five finalists out of so many suitable candidates who embody the mantra of the Young Caymanian Leadership Award. The five finalists are certainly all upstanding young leaders in our community,” said Jonathan Tibbetts, Chairman of the Nomination Sub Committee.
Tibbetts, the 2006 YCLA winner said the committee members, who are all YCLA Alumni and previous award winners, spent much time reviewing, confirming
and questioning the submissions. “The five finalists were selected for their dedication to growing our islands and young people; their discipline in their careers and volunteerism; and their desire to change the islands for generations to come,” he added.
Now it’s down to the Honorary Board of Directors who will judge and score the five finalists via a secret ballot based on video interviews and their achievements. Any of these board members with close ties to any of the five finalists withdraw themselves from this final process.
The name of the recipient has always been a well-guarded secret until it is announced live during the telecast.
Previous recipients of the YCLA are Olivaire Watler in 2000, Dax Foster in 2001, Sara in Collins in 2002, Steve Blair in 2003, Cindy Scotland in 2004, Jonathan Tibbetts in 2006, Canover Watson in 2007, Stephen Ryan in 2008, Elroy Bryan in 2009, Collin Anglin in 2010 and Natalie Urquhart in 2011.
According to the biographies supplied by the YCLA the finalist come from a diverse range of backgrounds and include a lawyer, an engineer, a civil servant, an accountant and a writer.
See biographies below.
Puerto Rico plans eradication of Iguanas
(NBC): Puerto Rico, plagued by iguanas for years, is taking a violent stand against the ubiquitous reptiles. The government is proposing an iguana eradication project that would both eliminate the long-time nuisances, and bolster the territory's lackluster economy by exporting the reptiles' meat for as much as $6 a pound. "That is a lot more than chicken," said Daniel Galan Kercado, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. "It has great economic potential." The reptiles have cost the U.S. territory hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by sunbathing on San Juan's airport runways.
They disrupt traffic and cause power outages by building nests near power plants and wrecking building foundations by burrowing holes underneath them.
The Department of Health approved Galan's plan to train volunteers to capture live iguanas and bring them to a processing center where they can be killed and prepared for export. The complete plan is expected to be finalized by May, when it will be presented to several government agencies for final approval.
Robbers take cash and car
(CNS): Three masked armed men made off with a small amount of money and a white Honda Odyssey motor vehicle during an overnight robbery. A spokesperson for the RCIPS said that officers were called to an address in Palm Dale, George Town at around 00.30 am on Tuesday morning where a 35 year old man and his 32 year girlfriend were robbed by the three masked men at their home. One suspect was armed with a handgun, the second with a machete and the third was carrying a knife. Alongside the undisclosed sum of cash the robbers made off with the car registration 142 696, which was parked outside the victims’ house. No shots were fired and no one was injured in the incident.
Two of the suspects are described as around 5 foot 10 inches in height, slim build with faces covered wearing blue jeans and the third man had a stocky build and he was also wearing blue jeans. Police said all three had their faces covered and spoke with a Jamaican accent
Police noted that the plate number shown above could have been removed since the theft of the vehicle.
Anyone who has any information regarding the robbery, is asked to contact George Town police station on 949-4222, the RCIPS tip-line 949-7777 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477(TIPS).
Health charity creates on-line site for donations
(CNS): The Caring for Life Foundation created to support the local health care has begun a campaign to raise money to buy much needed equipment and supplies for the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority. The foundation has developed an interactive website, www.caringforlife.ky, where donations can be made securely online with the help of Scotiabank which is donating banking and processing services. “The goal is to facilitate the fundraising process by making it easy for Cayman's residents, as well as international donors, to contribute any amount they wish,” says Caring for Life Foundation Chairperson, Sharon Diaz of Scotiabank.
“The site also provides updates about Caring for Life's activities and events, and ways to get involved in supporting the foundation. We hope as many people as possible will stay in touch with us via this new communications platform designed to connect us to the community.”
The organisers have also begun a television campaign sponsored by WestStar TV to explain the importance of the foundation, show real-life testimonials and invite viewers to donate and contribute to improving the level of care at Cayman Islands hospitals.
"We all want to be able to count on excellent medical care whenever we or our loved ones need it,” says Jackie Hansen, member of the Caring for Life Board of Advisors.
“Going overseas for treatment can be costly and disruptive to families, not to mention the critical time that can be lost. By reaching out and asking all residents to give what they can, here and there, even if it is only a small amount, we know there can be a multiplier effect. If everyone gives a little, we'll end up with a lot."
A special fundraising initiative is being launched with the help of local supermarket Foster's Food Fair, where shoppers can donate to the Foundation right at the register when paying for their groceries. This campaign will run through February and March. "We always say 'At Foster's Food Fair We Care', and we hope to demonstrate this by partnering with the Caring for Life Foundation. Their success will impact all of us," says Ayiesha DaCoteau, Marketing Manager at Foster's.
Scotiabank is also onceagain the key sponsor of the foundation’s annual Golf Tournament this Friday, 10 February, at North Sound Golf Club.
“There is limited space available for teams to sign up and we welcome any companies that wish to be added as an event sponsor for this always-exciting event,” says Sarah Hobbs, Deputy Chairperson of the foundation. Other supporting sponsors of the tournament this year are: CUC; Deloitte; Conyers Dill & Pearman; Digicel; Walkers; AL Thompson; BDO; Bodden & Bodden; and Five Continents. Anyone wishing to be a part of this year’s event can contact: Jacqueline Forrester at: jacqueline.forrester@scotiabank.com.
The Foundation’s Board of Advisors is dedicating the launch of these initiatives in loving memory of Sharon Hurlstone, one of the Foundation’s Founding Board members, who passed away last week.
“Ms Hurlstone will be terribly missed by all of us, and we are very grateful for her dedication to and tireless support of this cause,” says Wil Pineau of the Foundation’s Board of Advisors. “We know she would be proud of these new achievements, and her footsteps along the way have helped us to reach these milestones today.”
Since it was first launched, the foundation has supported a number of projects including the purchase of equipment to test the hearing of all infants born at the Cayman Islands Hospital as well as other needed diagnostic equipment.
Anyone wishing to make a donation is invited to call (345) 945-1722 or donate online at www.caringforlife.ky
Reprieve given to 37% of workers due for rollover
(CNS): In its latest round-up of statistics the immigration department has revealed the first figures relating to the term limit extension permits (TLEP), which came into effect in the final quarter of last year. Following changes to the immigration law, work permit holders due to be rolled over were given a window of opportunity to extend their working stay in Cayman by a further two years. Of the more than five hundred people facing rollover between October and December last year, just over one third applied for the opportunity to stay, leading to 134 people being the first holders of the new rollover reprieve permit.
The figures show that out of 511 foreign workers who were faced with their seven year stint coming to an end in October, November or December of last year, 191 applied to stay on. From those applicants 134 were approved and given one of the new term limit extension permits. The applicants came from a variety of trades and professions but the largest number was 68 approvals for craft and related trade workers, such mechanics, electricians, carpenters, painters, masons and plumbers.
There were also 48 people given TLEPs in the elementary occupations, such as domestic helpers, kitchen and laundry attendants, beach attendants and general cleaners and labourers.
In the tourism related sector, which is where many of the TLEP applications were expected to come from, there were only 19 applicants. The smallest group of applicants came from the professions where the boards and immigration staff approved just four TLEPS.
Over the next 12 months the immigration department says that a total of 2,350 people will be coming to the end of their term limit and will be able to make an application for a TLEP. The busiest two months for the immigration department will be March and December when 247 and 259 people respectively will be facing rollover if they don’t make a TLEP application.
The people who don’t need to make TLEP applications but who will stay past the seven year rollover are those workers who have secured key employee status. Key employees are workers who possess particular skills or experience and whose employment is critical to their employer. They can remain in Cayman on work permits for a total of nine years and, unlike people on TLEP, they can apply for permanent residency in their eighth continuous year on island.
220 people were designated key during 2011, while a further 118 were refused, more than half of whom were Jamaican. Since 2009 the immigration department figures reveal that there have been 336 refusals of key employee applications and around 150 of those have been unskilled workers. However, 45 professionals and managers have also been refused key employee in the last three years.
The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board processed 2,392 applications for residency and the right to be Caymanian in 2011 and 372 applications were refused. The largest group of applicants were from spouses of Caymanians, the second largest group was applications from people on work permits who had passed through the eight year residency.
Of the variety of statistics revealed in the latest report, it remains clear that with almost 20,000 foreign workers in Cayman, an average of more than 7,500 customers visiting the headquarters counter every month and an annual revenue collection of over $70 million, immigration remains one of government’s busiest departments.
See Immigration’s year end statistical report for 2011 below.
Dart $5m reported toACC
(CNS): A complaint has been filed with the country’s Anti-corruption Commission over the $5 million cash donation the Dart Group made to government in connection with the ForCayman Investment Alliance. North Side representative Ezzard Miller says it appears that the payment by the islands’ largest developer to government falls foul of section 15 of the anti-corruption law and needs to be investigated. The independent MLA told CNS that he has made an official complaint with the commission as he says the money seems to have been paid to influence an outcome and not as a transaction on the crown land it is seeking to swap.
Miller explained that if this cash donation is a part payment or deposit for the purchase of the West Bay Road land then the cash should be going into the general treasury coffers and not earmarked for a specific project, which seems to be the case.
The recent $5 million cash donation is understood to be part of a $20 million payment that the Dart Group intends to pay when or if government enters into a full agreement with the developer.
This first sum of money is part of a package known as the ‘West Bay corridor projects’, which involves land swaps, a road extension, the enhancement of the public beach and the closure of a disputed length of the West Bay Road in connection with the development of a five star resort on the former Courtyard Marriott site.
The money the Dart Group has given was earmarked for a “Save the Mortgage” initiative, which will see it used to help people facing the loss of their homes as a result of mortgage arrears. The rest of the cash, according to statements made by both government officials and Dart, will also be specifically earmarked for certain educational and community projects, as opposed to joining general revenue.
According to Miller, the fact that the developer has had input into where the cash will be spent and that the money has not gone through the treasury demonstrates that it is not being given as a payment for purchase but as a payment to influence a government decision. And, he added, if it is for a transaction then it is not being handled correctly and still needs investigation.
“What was this $5 milllion for, other than to influence a specific outcome?” Miller asked. “If it is for a deposit or a transaction then it is being misappropriated because the person making the payment should not be allowed to specify where the money is being spent as it should be going to general revenue and form part of the budgetary process.”
The North Side MLA added that, in this case, the people “making the contribution are involved in deciding how it is going to be spent,” he said. “I have asked the Anti-corruption Commission to investigate as I believe this contravenes section 15 of the law.
“I question the developer’s ethical commitment on this proposed deal with government to due process,” he said. “If the payment is made in order to negotiate a political advantage, that cannot be considered due process.”
Miller also stated that, despite public claims that the Dart Group will be transparent and follow the process regarding the various projects, it is already undermining that claim by using a section in the national roads law that will allow the developer to avoid having to submit valuations and bring the proposal to the Legislative Assembly over the West Bay Road swap.
Section 14 of the roads law allows government to simply add land from a closed road to an existing portion of land. “This avoids the process of valuing the land, debating the transaction in the Legislative Assembly or any input from the governor,”Miller stated.
Aware that his critics believe he is opposing without offering alternatives, Miller told CNS that his concern is the need for process and transparency in what is viewed as an unusual and controversial proposal.
He said that a major project such as the ForCayman Alliance should not involve the politicians at the technical level. The independent member said that if he were in government, such a proposal would be assessed and managed by government’s technical arm, and not the political arm, to ensure transparency and due process with an objective assessment of the pros and cons for the entire Cayman Islands.
Police arrest hammer wielding intruder
(CNS): An intruder who made off with only a bottle of rum after breaking into one Seven Mile Beach condo and attempting to break into a second was arrested by police in Bodden Town last week. The RCIPS confirmed Monday that officers were called to the Island Club Condos on the West Bay Road after an occupant found an intruder inside the apartment armed with a hammer sometime before 10 on Tuesday night. The would-be burglar had demanded cash but when the occupant shouted out the offender made off with a bottle of rum. Shortly after police received a report from a neighbouring condo at Casa Caribe where the burglar had attempted a similar condo invasion but he was unable to gain entry.
Police said the suspect left the condos in a vehicle and a short time later that vehicle was stopped by police in the Bodden Town area and a man was arrested. A police spokesperson said the suspect has since been bailed while enquiries continue and confirmed that no-one was hurt during the incidents.