Archive for July, 2012
Panama party cost $70k
(CNS): Government spent over $70,000 on a two-day promotion in Panama at the end of May when it took some 38 delegates on an excursion to the new Cayman Airways destination. Records released by the Department of Tourism following a freedom of information request by CNS revealed that the two-day event marking the launch of the Cayman Airways direct service into Panama City cost the public purse $ 71,489.16. Officials said the trip was designed to promote the Cayman Islands as a new leisure destination to travel trade professionals and to Panama’s media. The 38 delegates included guests of the premier, the Chamber of Commerce and CITA representatives, as well as private sector tourism stakeholders.
The event took place between the 28-31 May, while civil servants back in Cayman were struggling to produce the 2012/13 budget. The premier came in for severe criticism from the opposition and the public over this and other trips he took against the backdrop of the ongoing budget crisis.
The two-day party followed the inaugural flight by CAL to the destination, which is hoped will develop into an important trade route for Cayman and produce future dividends. As this was an inaugural trip, the premier invited a contingency of people, described as “influential Caymanians” in a release from the department following the trip.
“The goal behind this action was to help enhance future package development for the route and to also help to educate the Caymanian public as to the potential benefits of such areas as cost-effective overseas medical care,” officials said.
Panama is currently being cited by government as a possible alternative to reduce Cayman's overseas medical care. The country is also believed to offer trade and tourism expansion projects, as air traffic routed through the country to and from Latin America is set to increase; and the Panama Canal is projected to double capacity starting in 2014.
Meanwhile, the director of tourism said the Cayman party was necessary to help promote the Cayman brand as it is little known in Panama.
“As The Cayman Islands has very little brand awareness in the Panamanian market, it is important that the rich sounds, colours and excitement are incorporated into marketing and promotional activities such as this, to help paint a vibrant image on a previously blank canvass and give a sweet taste of what we in the Cayman Islands have to offer,” Shomari Scott he said in the release.
He added that between 60 and 75 of the top travel agents attended and some of the leading TV programmes in Panama were on hand to cover the information session.
“We were able to excite, educate about the destination and introduce the wholesaler that will be distributing the Cayman Islands product to the travel agents, and this is ultimately the channel that will influence and facilitate travellers from this region,” Scott said of the $70k promotional investment.
The bill for the Panama party included $14,717.36 for accommodation at Le Meridien Hotel, Panama City, for delegates and $19,000 in airfares and around $25,000 for the main Cayman Nights event.
See details in released records below. The DoT has redacted the names of the delegates under the provisions of section 23 of the Freedom of Information Law, which deals with personal information .
Related articles:
Filling GAB could save $2M
(CNS): One of many shortcomings identified in the latest report by the auditor general, the failure to establish proper business needs on major projects before embarking on them has been extremely costly. The new government administration building is, according to Alastair Swarbrick’s latest findings, only 60% occupied but could be saving the public purse some CI$2 million a year in leases if government entities actually move into it. Although government entities such as CIMA and MACI had signed on to move into the building and had offices designed for them, the failure to establish a proper process before the project started to assess who really should, or needed to, utilize the building has resulted in wasted space.
Despite having 100s of square feet unoccupied in the building, government departments and agencies continue to lease accommodation all over the George Town area. Swarbrick stated that if the new energy efficient building was properly utilized there could be significant savings to the public purse as he urged government to use the building.
Speaking at a press briefing Thursday about his latest report, "Management of Major Capital Projects", he said someone needed to take the lead and fill the building.
“Government could save more than $2 million per year if it used the space effectively and reduced the existing commercial leases," he said. “It is a highly efficient building.”
At the end of the audit, the General Administration Building housed about 580 staff. The problems stemmed from the failure at the outset to properly define government’s needs in a strategic business case and no one officially signed for the responsibility at the beginning to see which government departments would move in, Swarbrick explained.
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) and the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI) had both signed on to move to the new building but a decision was made later that they would not do so after all. Swarbrick said it was unclear why the decision was made so much later but there was no coordination at the beginning with the various groups involved in the development of the government building. Throughout the life of the project, which entities would and which would not move in constantly changed.
The auditor stated that the building should have been designed based on a proper business plan that properly defined and set out the exact needs of government, which may have resulted in a smaller building and some savings.
“There was a lack of clarity over the responsibility for identifying which government agencies were to be tenants in the new building,” the report states. “We could not identify a Government ministry that had the overall responsibility for determining the Government’s accommodation policies and needs.”
They pointed out that the relevant ministry and its steering committee did not have the mandate to determine which agencies would eventually be housed in the building and that was left to the project management team.
“Numerous lists of potential tenants were prepared, considered by the steering committee, and then presented for approval by Cabinet. However, for various reasons, some of which are not clear to us, the lists continued to change from the date of Cabinet approval to proceed with the project, throughout the development of the request for proposals, after the construction began, and even after construction was substantially complete,” the report says.
The constant changes pushed up the cost of the building and led to delays in the project leaving the building under-utilized.
“While Cabinet was warned about the impact that changes could have in terms of additional costs and project delays, the changes continued nonetheless. The ineffectiveness of the reporting relationships to ensure that there was better control over project governance was clearly documented in the files we examined. These documents reflected a situation where some agencies refused to relocate to the GAB and others made unreasonable demands for changes to the design even into the construction period."
Swarbrick noted, however, that the foresight of the project manager's proposal that the building be designed for flexible use ensured that the extent of that cost has been minimized.
Although there are problems over government’s use of the GAB, Swarbrick said that the CTC process was followed properly and the project was well managed and could be used as a standard for future projects.
“Government assigned a well-qualified and experienced project manager … who employed industry accepted project management practices that should be considered as standard practice for the management of all future major capital projects,” he said, adding that it was the manager who in the end saved money for the public purse by overcoming the significant challenges and changes associated with the project.
By contrast, the report is considerably more damning regarding the management of the three high school projects and points to serious losses to the public purse.
Check back to CNS next week for more on Swarbrick's latest revelations.
See full report below.
Market at the Grounds mango mania
(CNS): More than 400 people came out to the 3rd annual Mango Fest held in conjunction with Market at the Grounds last weekend where local chefs and farmers showcased the many varieties of the fruit and use in cooking. The Cayman Islands Agriculture Society and Department of Agriculture also took the occasion to celebrate the local fruit and teach visitors about it. A wide variety of jams, cakes, tarts, cookies and juices were sold at the family fun event. The agriculture minister, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly described Mango Fest as a “key cultural event”.
"Festivals such as these provide the opportunity for growers of mangoes and tropical fruits to share their different crop varieties with the community and are an ideal forum for crop producers and business owners to showcase their produce, arts and crafts, food and merchandise. It was a great family outing and I would like to thank all those who made the day possible," the Deputy Premier said.
The local varieties of mango in season and at the show were mainly the Nam Doc, Julie, Kent, Valencia Pride and Jakarta. Cayman’s celebrity chefs and representatives of Slow Food South Sound showcased their culinary expertise, with the mango. Dishes included mango ice cream, grilled mango and manchego bruschetta, as well as curried mango spring roll, mango tarte tatin with almond cream dessert, tuna ceviche with Julie mango and crispy cassava, smoked pork shoulder using mango wood with mango barbeque sauce, green mango slaw and mango flan.
Mango trees were also on sale at the event and the Department of Agriculture took the opportunity to educate the public on the care of mango trees and the effects of the disease, Anthracnose, by distributing a leaflet on the subjects. In addition, the Society's display included general information about mangos and a variety of mango samplings, cakes and juices.
Politicians decide to make top titles eternal
(CNS): Members of Cabinet have decided that top politicians and speakers of the LA will keep their 'honourable' monikers for all eternity because of the “burden of responsibility borne by those posts”, according to government officials. A release from GIS stated that people who have held top political positions in the Cayman Islands Government or presided over the legislature will retain the title of “Honourable” in perpetuity. Officials have said, however, that there will be no cost to the public purse and that the small numbers of posts involved will limit the potential for proliferation of holders.
Government said a soon-to-be revised Order of Precedence will include an explanatory note to this effect, although the former post-holders will not otherwise appear on the list that outlines the ceremonial order for government officials.
As a result of the change former LOGBs, such as Truman Bodden (1994-2000) and Kurt Tibbetts (2005-2009), are entitled to resume use of the so-called honorific title. Those who have since passed away will also be bestowed with their honourable titles beyond the grave.
Meanwhile, past Speakers Linford Pierson and Edna Moyle may also begin using the designation. The current deputy premier, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly, who served as Speaker from 2001-2003 can retain her honourable title should she leave Cabinet.
National Hero Sybil McLaughlin, who was the first Speaker of the House (1991-1996), is already honourable.
The position of leader of government business (LOGB) became defunct following the enactment of the Cayman Islands Constitution 2009, which introduced the new title of premier, a position presently held by McKeeva Bush, who had previously served as LOGB from 2001-2005.
Cayman U19s off to Mexico to defend their title
(CRFU): The Cayman Islands under 19 rugby team travels to Mexico City on Friday July 6 to defend their Caribbean championship crown won last July in Cayman at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.In last year’s tournament, Cayman defeated Barbados in their opening match, before seeing off Bermuda in a tough semi-final and then Trinidad & Tobago in a nail biting final. This year Cayman will get their campaign started against hosts Mexico on Saturday July 7.Cayman haven't met Mexico since defeating them in the final back in 2009.
Cayman’s second game of this year’s tournament will be against Barbados, and if they are successful in these games, they could meet either Bermuda or Trinidad & Tobago in the final on Saturday July 14.
Cayman’s most recent warm up match was last Saturday against a Shane Williams XV. Williams who was on island for the Cayman Rugby Football union annual dinner, is an international superstar of rugby. Williams is one of the world’s most exciting wingers, known for his side-step and electric acceleration and has played 91 international matches for Wales and the British and Irish lions, scoring 60 tries. He was also the 2008 IRB world player of the year.
Cayman have had an impressive recent record in the Caribbean championships, winning the title 3 times in the past 4 years. This squad is the most experienced for a number of years with three members, Morgan Hayward, Tom Mann and Alex Pineau, playing for the full men’s Cayman International XV’s side in this year’s regional campaign which saw Cayman defeat Mexico and the Bahamas on home soil.
All of the squad, management and parents have been working hard for months to raise the funds for this 10 day trip. The venture would not have been possible without financial support from the Cayman Islands Government and the following local businesses.
DART, Deutsche Bank, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Rawlinson & Hunter, Pestkil, Caledonian Global Financial Services, Otis Air Conditioning, ICG Management Limited, Universal Air Conditioning, Cayman Pal, Island Air, CUC, Rankine & Kerrie McMillian, DMS Offshore, the Security Centre and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters RFC.
Games will be streamed live over the internet on
http://www.justin.tv/fmru#r=l6QtvHU~&s=em
See the U19 sqaud profiles below U19 Squad Profiles
Cayman’s lord chairs UK web-snooping committee
(CNS): Lord Blencathra, the head of the Cayman Islands UK office and Cayman’s cheerleader in the corridors of power in London and Brussles, is chairing a committee to examine the British Government’s draft Communications Data Bill. "Each and every one of us" will be affected by the bill, the Conservative peer told the BBC on Thursday. Blencathra chairs the joint committee of MPs and peers holding the inquiry and stressed a privacy-security balance. Under government's plans, internet service providers will have to store details of internet use in the UK for a year to allow police and intelligence services to access it.
Records will include people's activity on social network sites, webmail, internet phone calls and online gaming.
Ministers argue that changes are needed to ensure that law-enforcement agencies can access data about new technology communication just as they are currently able to with older forms of communication.
"This committee wants to ensure that the draft bill will ensure a sufficient balance between an individual's privacy and national security," said Lord Blencathra. "We intend very thoroughly to examine the government's proposals and hope to hear from interested bodies and organisations about exactly how the changes in technology and the way we use it should be reflected in legislation about access to communication data."
Lone dolphin may be aggressive warns DoE
(CNS): Marine mammal experts at the Department of Environment (DoE) are warning people not to swim in the water with a lone male dolphin currently swimming around the North Sound. Over the past two weeks, the DoE has received several reports about the bottlenose dolphin, which is said to be approaching boats in the sound, swimming back and forth within small areas for hours or days and rubbing against moorings and anchor chains. "Observing a wild dolphin is a rare privilege in the Cayman Islands,” said DoE Research Officer Janice Blumenthal. “However, wild dolphins, especially lone dolphins, can be unpredictable and dangerous when approached by swimmers.” (Photo Fulvio Bonati)
She added that the DoE was warning members of the public not to be tempted to enter the water with this animal.
"People who have approached the dolphin have reported ‘jaw-clapping’, which is the dolphin rapidly snapping its mouth open and shut. Dolphins use behaviours such as jaw-clapping to communicate dominance among members of the pod. In interactions with swimmers, this can convey agitation and aggression and is a clear warning sign," Blumenthal warned.
This is not the first time the government department have received reports about a lone dolphin and for several years people have spoken of a solitary dolphin living in the North Sound. It is not known whether this bottlenose dolphin is the same long-term resident dolphin. Given its smaller size when first sighted, the DoE believes it might be a young animal which was separated from its pod.
The reasons why some dolphins become solitary are not well known. While some lone dolphins have become famous for their friendly behaviour, international marine mammal experts have many concerns for the safety of lone dolphins and people when interactions occur, DoE experts explained.
The dolphins sometimes display aggressive and sexual behaviours directed toward swimmers who approach or harass them, leading to serious injuries and even death. In addition, veterinary experts are concerned about the potential for transfer of diseases from dolphins to humans and vice versa. For lone dolphins, habituationto people often leads to changes in behaviour, infections and injuries such as propeller strikes from inhabiting areas of high human activity.
To avoid altering the natural behaviour of the apparent local resident dolphin, the DoE is asking asks members of the public who see the dolphin to watch it from a distance, not approach too closely, and not to attempt to feed the marine animal.
In order to gather information on the behaviour of the animal, sightings should be reported to DoE by phone (949-8469) or email DoE@gov.ky.
Six months more for building material duty cut
(CNS): Despite the budget difficulties faced by the government at present, the premier’s office has announced that import duty concessions on building materials will be extended for another six months. In a release on Thursday afternoon, McKeeva Bush, who is also the minister of finance, said the extension was an effort to further stimulate economic activity so the concessions would continue on until 31 December. Under the extended concessions imports of building materials to Grand Cayman will be charged a flat rate of 15% for the period 1 July to 31 December instead of the usual 22%, and imports to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will be 100% duty free.
“The extension of these concessions is consistent with the government’s ongoing efforts to stimulate growth in the economy,” saidBush. “I encourage all developers and other stakeholders to accelerate their construction activity during this further concessionary period.”
For the purpose of these concessions, building materials have been defined as: All physical components and substances, whether solid or liquid, used in the construction, renovation or restoration and forming a permanent part of any building or related structure.
Items such as furniture, accessories, electronics and appliances are specifically excluded.
Government offers new post-grad teacher training
(CNS): The education department is on the hunt for exceptional people to become teachers. Starting in September, in partnership with the University of Sunderland in the UK and the University College of the Cayman Islands, the department will be offering a new teacher training programme as part of the Ministry’s “TeachCayman” initiative. One of the goals of that initiative is to attract high-performing individuals to the teaching profession. Students will follow an internationally recognised, on-line programme leading to the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) which will be complemented by specially designed workshops.
Cetonya Cacho, the Co-ordinator for Initial Teacher Training, who is on secondment to the Ministry from her post as principal of Bodden Town Primary school said it was an internationally recognised qualification. “It is aligned with the Cayman Islands National Curriculum and will prepare teachers who meet the Cayman Islands National Professional Standards for Teachers,” she added.
The course is a one-year, full-time programme, designed to prepare new teachers for the primary years in Cayman Islands schools. The course is intended to attract Caymanians but non-Caymanians will be considered. Applicants must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate studies or a 2.2 honours degree. No prior teaching experience is necessary as teaching experience will be a key part of the programme organised and supported by the Ministry.
“Teaching is a most honourable profession and one that should be respected and valued,’ said the education minister, Rolston Anglin. “It is also a profession in which we need to see more young Caymanians. As a result, my ministry felt that it was important that a high quality teaching qualification should be provided locally. I encourage all those who wish to pursue teaching as a career to consider this opportunity and apply for this course.”
Chief Officer in the Ministry, Mary Rodrigues explained that the University of Sunderland has substantial experience in delivering on-line Initial Teacher Training programmes in a number of different countries. It has been quality assured by OfSTED.
“It is a very flexible and accessible way of following a PGCE programme. Alongsideof their academic studies, student teachers will spend a substantial amount of time based in a Cayman Islands school practising their teaching skills and will be supported individually by a designated, trained, mentor who is an experienced classroom teacher,” she said.
Applications for this course are now being accepted. Application forms and all the details of the course can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website: www.education.gov.ky. Alternatively, interested persons can email teachcayman@gov.ky or call 244-5736 or 244-5724 for more information. The application deadline is Friday July 13, 2012.
Legal appoints a new solicitor general
(CNS): Government officials said that Jacqueline Wilson has now taken up the post of the Cayman Islands’ new Solicitor General in the wake of the acting government solicitor’s departure to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The Portfolio of Legal Affairs said Wilson who is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, was selected following an open recruitment process to fill the vacancy created when Cheryll Richards QC, the former Solicitor General was appointed as Cayman’s first Director of Public Prosecutions, an office independent of Legal Affairs.
Wilson is no stranger to the Cayman Islands having previously worked as an attorney in the Attorney General’s chambers for 5 years, leaving in 2002 to work with British Virgin Islands government where she has been for the past ten years.
Richards, who is now has the DPP, has independent responsibility for Public Prosecutions, a role formerly carried out by the Chambers of the Attorney General prior to the 2009 Constitution. As a result Wilson will now be responsible for the day to day management of the Solicitor General’s office which on behalf of the Attorney General deals with all government civil and advisory matters. She will also be the Portfolio’s Chief Officer under the Public Service Management Law.
The Deputy Governor and the Attorney General said they were pleased to have Wilson re-join the Cayman Islands government service and said they were confident in her ability to manage the responsibilities associated with the post.
The Attorney General thanked Vicki Ellis who was acting as Solicitor General for the greater part of the period when the post became vacant. She is now a judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He has also expressed his appreciation to both Douglas Schofield and Reshma Sharma for also acting for short periods prior to Wilson’s arrival.
Wilson said it was a privilege to return to Cayman and was grateful for the support from the Portfolio of Legal Affairs. “I will make every effort to fulfil the expectations and to effectively discharge the responsibilities of the post,” she added.