Archive for October, 2012
CINICO claims 80% satisfaction rate
(CNS): Although the results of a recent survey have not yet been made public, the CEO of the government’s health insurance company has said the research shows the organisation is on the right path. Following the completion of the multi-phased market research project aimed at gauging customer satisfaction which included a series of focus group discussions and an online survey among CINICO’s public sector customers, Lonny Tibbetts said while there was work to be done things were improving. The result show that more than 80% of customers were satisfied with their policy the government company boss stated adding that the full results will soon be posted on CINICO’s website.
“There is a real sense from the results that the service we are providing at CINICO is improving and that it will continue to improve,” he said. “I am heartened in particular by the statistic that 83% of CINICO members are ‘very/somewhat satisfied’ with their CINICO insurance policy, so we are definitely on the right track.
“The results have highlighted three areas in particular on which we will focus our energies – processes, the organisational culture and communications. In this respect, we will be gearing up to improve aspects of our service such as the speed of the claims submission process, our responsiveness to requests and communications between CINICO and its members,” Tibbetts added.
Local public relations and marketing firm, Tower Marketing, conducted the various stages of the research. “We were happy to work with CINICO as this important research will provide valuable information which can be used to make informed, strategic decisions for the future direction of the organisation,” Lynne Byles, Managing Director of Tower Marketing, said.
The survey result will be available on www.cinico.ky shortly officials said.
Hurricane Sandy on course for Kingston
(CNS): Jamaica was being pounded by rain Wednesday lunchtime as Sandy became a hurricane. The Category one hurricane was located around 30 miles south of Kingston at 1pm local time. With maximum sustained winds of 80mph and higher gusts the storm was moving towards the capital at 14mph. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami warned that additional strengthening was still possible before Sandy made landfall on the south coast. Hurricane force winds currently extend outward up to 25 miles with tropical storm force winds extending a further 140 miles. Forecasters said 20 inches of rain was possible in some areas of Jamaica which could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Despite Sandy’s path being well to the east of the Cayman Islands local forecasters warned of very high seas. The hurricane is currently around 270 miles se of Cayman Brac and is expected to bring heavy showers which could lead to flooding of low-lying areas, especially over the Sister Islands.
Fresh to strong east to northeast winds, and very rough seas are expected in Cayman over the next two days, peaking near nine feet and a marine warning remains in effect.
Meanwhile, in Jamaica the airports were closed and cruise ships changed their itineraries as Jamaicans were subject to a 48-hour curfew in the major towns to keep people off the streets and in an effort to deter looting while hundreds of people have moved to shelters to wait out the category one storm.
Teenager charged with rape
(CNS): Police have charged a nineteen-year-old man with rape following an incident in Prospect in the early hours of Saturday morning. The teenager appeared in court Wednesday and was remanded in custody to HMP Northward ahead of his next appearance in Grand Court. He was arrested by police after fleeing the scene of the reported rape of a woman, who was known to the man, in a car at around 4:00am on 20 October. Police officers chased the vehicle signalling for the teen to stop. As the car sped into the North Sound Estates, it drove off the road into bushes and the officers immediately arrested the man. Meanwhile, police said that a victim who was stabbed n George Town on Friday remains in hospital but is now in a stable condition.
The 49-year-old man was stabbed in the early hours of Friday morning in Kingbird Drive, George Town and a 25-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder remains in police custody.
CAL cancels flights in face of Hurricane Sandy
(CNS): Cayman Airways has made further changes to its flight operations as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The airline has cancelled flights Wednesday’s schedule flights KX 620 from Grand Cayman to Kingston-Montego Bay, KX 621 from Montego Bay/ Kingston to Grand Cayman and Cayman Airways Express flight KX 4516 from Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac. All other flights are presently expected to operate according to the published schedule. However, there are further cancelations on Thursday including KX 600 from Grand Cayman to Kingston and KX 601 from Kingston to Grand Cayman as well as Cayman Airways Express flight KX 4510 from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman.
The national flag carrier said it will then add flights KX 620 from Grand Cayman departing at 5:00pm arriving Kingston at 6:00pm, KX 621 departing Kingston at 7:00pm and arriving Montego Bay at 7:30pm, KX 621 departing Montego Bay at 8:30pm arriving Grand Cayman at 9:30pm.
“Should weather conditions further alter Thursday’s flight schedule to and from Jamaica, extra flights will be scheduled on Friday,” the airline stated Wednesday lunchtime. “Cayman Airways and Cayman Airways Express flights to the Sister Islands (except for KX4516/4510) for 24th and 25th October are currently on schedule as we continue to monitor changing weather conditions.”
Change fees and penalties are being waived for those passengers travelling on Cayman Airways to or from Jamaica and to or from Cayman Brac from 24 to 26 October and passengers are able to re-book their flights from 24 until31 October.
Passengers are advised to contact their travel agent or Cayman Airways Reservations and Ticket Office for alternate travel arrangements. The Cayman Airways Grand Cayman City Ticket Office is open daily from 8:30am to 6:00pm. The Reservations Department is open from 7:00am to 9:30pm.
The Cayman Airways Reservations and Ticket Office in Jamaica can be reached on 876-926-1762 or 876-929-7778. Scheduled opening hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm but their operating hours will vary dependent on Tropical Storm Sandy. The Kingston Norman Manley International Airport can be reached on 876-924-8092.
Due to the uncertainty of the weather situation surrounding Tropical Storm Sandy, for the latest flight information, passengers are advised to monitor the Cayman Airways website at www.caymanairways.com or call the Cayman Airways Reservations Department on 345-949-2311 (within the Caribbean) or 1-800-4-Cayman (1-800-422-9626) within the United States.
Fraser brothers sandwich McCallum in sea swim
(CIASA): The 24th Annual CUC 800m Sea Swim; 2 current and 2 past Olympian, 142 swimmers and countless volunteers. Those are the numbers from last weekend’s Sea Swim and the times are just as impressive. Leading the pack from the start were Olympians Shaune and Brett Fraser and Stingray Swim Club’s Alex McCallum closely followed by Iain McCallum, Simon Butler and Coach Darren Mew. For those on the shoreline the top three finishers provided an exciting race to the end with Shaune, in 10:42 just coming in ahead of Alex in 10:43 and Brett in 10:53.
First woman across the line was Camana Bay Aquatic Club’s Danielle Boothe in a time of 12:21 and an impressive 11th place overall finishing position.
Featuring two current Olympians: Shaune and Brett; and two past Olympians: Andrew Mackay for Cayman and Darren Mew for the UK, Cayman Swimming’s Technical Director Coach Ian Armiger was impressed with the event: "the presence of Cayman Olympic stars, Shaune and Brett Fraser, added extra spice to the ever popular CUC Swim. Their presence obviously inspired all the participants, none more so than Alex McCallum who produced a superb performance.
Amongst the whole field there were examples of personal success; from category medalists to those entering for the very first time. Without doubt a superbly organised event”
Pat Bynoe-Clarke, Manager Corporate Communications at CUC echoed Coach Ian’s enthusiasm: "CUC is committed to supporting our youth and inviting Shaune and Brett to come home and compete in our sea swim seemed like a win-win for all of us. They are extraordinary young men, their commitment and dedication to their sport is self-evident and they were gracious, charming and excellent role models for Cayman’s swimmers – young and old alike. I would also like to thank all of the CUC family members who participated in the swim and to congratulate our first finisher – Lauren Hew – who won a Bronze Medal at Carifta in the Bahamas earlier this year.”
Coach Andy Copley swimming in his first open water swim since arriving in Cayman had this to say about the event: “there were good swims all around by the kids on the island today – both CBAC and Stingray. I think it's really fantastic to see both clubs out in full force taking part in the fun”.
Every sea swim it seems as if the overall top twenty finishers get younger and younger, and this is a testament to the continually increasing focus on providing them with excellent coaching in the competitive age group levels. But, special mention must be made of one of Cayman Swimming’s most loyal supporters and participants Victor Thompson. He doesn’t let anything hold him back and finished the swim in a respectable 15:16, crossing the finish line first in his age group and in 39th position overall – ahead of his longtime swimming competitor Mr Frank Flowers and a host of other swimmers. Their success, along with that of many other swimmers is just one more reason that swimming is heralded as an excellent sport for maintaining fitness for athletes of all ages!
CUC provided all swimmers with goody bags and the top three finishers in each age group also received trophies: 8 & Under Girls – Avery Lambert, Boys – Liam Sinclair; 9-10 Girls – Zororo Mutomba, Boys – Zachary Moore; 11-12 Girls – Stefanie Boothe, Boys – Matthew Somerville; 13-14 Girls – Catriona Macrae, Boys – Simon Butler; 15-19 Girls – Danielle Boothe, Boys – Alexander McCallum; 20-29 Girls – Alison Dean, Boys – Shaune Fraser; 30-34 Women – Kristy Van Den Broek, Men – Darren Mew; 35-39 Women – Andrea Kilam-Higgo, Men – Johann Prinsloo; 40-44 Women – Tessa McLean, Men – Marius Acker; 45-49 Women – Laura McLean, Men – Richard Hew; 50-59 Women – Anne Jackson, Men – William McFarland and 60-69 Women – Barb Person and Men – Victor Thompson.
Full results are available on CIASA’s website www.ciasa.ky in the Open Water/CUC 800M section tabs.
The next CIASA organized Open Water Sea Swim is the Pirates Week 5K Swim which takes place on Saturday November 10th 2012.
Taskforce to begin work on disabilities policy
(CNS): The government is finally beginning work on a disability law, according to minutes released by the Deputy Governor’s Office. The record of the 8 October meeting of civil service heads revealed that the Policy Coordination Unit in the Cabinet Office will be coordinating the development of a national disability action plan, as well as a national disabilities policy and law. The senior civil servants heard that the work will require inter-ministry collaboration and the creation of a taskforce to submit information to the unit regarding current provisions and practice in the area of disabilities.
“This work will be supported by work already completed, including the Ministry of ET&E’s July 2012 proposals to support the development of a National Action Plan, as well as work previously completed, including a Report of the Legal Committee for Persons with Disability, which provides a foundation to draw on for the development of Drafting Instructions,” the minutes revealed.
The CIG has talked for many years about the need for disability legislation. But despite the creation of a comprehensive report by the legal sub-committee for persons with disabilities, which was submitted to Cabinet more than three and a half years ago, no further developments of any significance have been reported since.
Mangroves in judge’s hands
(CNS): Activists who had gained an injunction against a developer who was dumping fill into the ocean to reclaimland for a condo development are now waiting for a judge to decide the future ofthe marine environment in South Sound. Justice Charles Quin heard submissions from environmental activist group Protect South Sound and RC Estates, the developer, on Tuesday over the court-ordered cessation of work at the site. The activists won a temporary injunction last week but want it extended until their appeal is heard by the Planning Appeals Tribunal. After hearing the arguments, the judge said he would deliver his decision within the next two weeks, but in the meantime the injunction stays in place.
The developer was given permission by the CPA to extend the shoreline by over 50 feet along 2,000 feet of shoreline in South Sound and to construct a seawall ahead of the development of several condos. However, the activists have appealed the decision as they say the Central Planning Authority (CPA) erred in law when it agreed with the attorney representing RC Estates that the land lost during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 could legally be reclaimed. The activists say that the law states clearly that coastal boundaries are not fixed.
In addition, the decision by the CPA is seen as one which could set a disturbing precedent if allowed to stand, with landowners across the island attempting to reclaim old eroded sea boundaries in accordance with previous surveys.
Despite recommendations from both planning and the environment departments against it, the CPA went ahead and granted permission and the developer began dumping marl into the ocean last week. Aside from the obvious threat to the marine life in the area, the fill was being poured directly onto a mangrove replenishment project managed by the Department of Environment and funded by an outside grant from the United States.
With government applying for and receiving an important international grant on one hand and then giving planning permission for construction in the same spot on the other, the DoE has expressed serious concerns about how that will impact any future international grant or support for the numerous critically important projects the DoE is involved with in an effort to try and save the islands' threatened natural environment.
Related articles:
Mangroves perish under fill (17 October 2012)
South Sound mangrove threat (3 September 2012)
Sandy heads to Jamaica but rough seas for Cayman
(CNS): At 7am local time this morning Tropical Storm Sandy was located about 95 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica with winds of over 70mph. Travelling at around 14 mph the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said it expected Sandy would become a hurricane before it moves across Jamaica late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Although Sandy poses no direct threat to Cayman local forecasters said very rough seas, fresh winds, overcast skies and thunderstorms are expected over the next 24 hours as the storm, with tropical forces winds extending across 140mph, passes to the east of the Cayman Islands.
Some cloudiness and showers are expected to spread into our area from today through Thursday evening and heavy showers may lead to flooding of some low-lying areas, especially over the Sister Islands between Wednesday and Thursday.
With fresh to strong east to northeast winds, and very rough seas over the Cayman area a marine warning remains in effect for Cayman. Very rough seas are expected through the next few days with wave heights near 5 to 7 feet from peaking near 9feet by Thursday with a gradual reduction of wave heights through Sunday. These waves should have significant impact on the east to northeast coasts initially, gradually affecting the northern coasts by tonight and the northwest coasts from tomorrow evening through Sunday.
Visit www.weather.ky for local details
Botanic Park under threat
(CNS): The Queen Elizabeth Botanic Park in Frank Sound is the latest important natural resource on Grand Cayman to be threatened by development. Despite significant concerns raised by the Department of Environment and the National Trust among others, the Central Planning Authority has over the last six years given planning permission to Eagle Assets Investments Ltd to develop various lots surrounding the park in what is emerging as a proposed mixed use development. The DoE has warned that this will not only fundamentally alter the aspect of the park but it will threaten its entire future along with the extensive flora and fauna inside it, including the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme.
Following a freedom of information request by CNS to various government departments including planning, lands and survey and the DoE, a significant number of documents were released that reveal the concerns the government’s environment experts have had for some time and that the government, which is a 50% owner of the park along with the National Trust, has failed to object to the threatening development as it is entitled to do as an immediate neighbour.
According to the DoE’s technical review committee, which is persistently ignored by the CPA, the accumulative applications by the developer equate to the potential development of around 535 acres of land and that a Planned Area Development (PAD) application should have been submitted to planning along with a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
In a memo at the beginning of October relating to the latest application to the CPA by the developer, which is for a golf course backing onto the Botanic Park and still under consideration, the DoE said it was concerned about the cumulative impact of the development and a lack of consideration within the context of the other Eagle Asset development parcels.
The DoE pointed to the encirclement of the Botanic Park through the series of development applications, which have been strongly resisted by the department due to the significant adverse impact on the blue iguanas. Nevertheless, all of the applications, modifications and changes considered by the CPA to date have been granted, posing a significant threat to the future of the important conservation and tourist facility.
“The current application parcel is land occupied by individuals from the free-roaming population of blue iguanas which originates from the Park,” the DoE warned in its comments to the CPA on the latest application for a golf course. “Removal of this habitat would directly impact this population. The potential introduction of roadways and associated cars would make this area significantly less inhabitable for the iguanas.”
The comments come at the same time as the recent news that the hard work of the director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, Fred Burton, had achieved a significant milestone. In the latest publication of the ICUN red list the blues were re-classified from 'critically endangered' to 'endangered' as a result of the increase in their numbers in the wild.
In addition, the DoE pointed out that the Botanic Park is part of an official important bird habitat, providing sanctuary to the Vitelline warbler, Caribbean Elaenia, Yucatan Vireo and Thickbilled vireo. “The potential loss off surrounding vegetation and ingress of invasive species would severely compromise the Park’s IBA status,” the DoE warned.
The government environmental experts also noted that the design of the winding trails which extend through the Botanic Park combined with the undeveloped land beyond its boundaries contribute to its great feeling of size despite being on only 60 acres. But if the vegetation bordering the Park was removed, it would become highly susceptible to edge effects.
“The future of the Park will be compromised by development in such close proximity, particularly as vegetative buffers between development sites and the Park are already being eroded, “ the DoE stated. “The DoE recommends that this application should either be held in abeyance pending a comprehensive PAD application and EIA, or refused on the grounds of prematurity.”
In addition to the memo sent by the DoE to planning, the director also attempted to galvanize the Lands and Survey Department to also object on behalf of the park as a neighbour, but that did not happen.
In submissions made to the CPA in July by the DoE, which were ignored, the department pointed out that the effect of this development would be to turn the Botanic Park, which is currently surrounded by wilderness, into an “urban park”, fundamentally altering its characteristics. The experts warned that the development would damage the aesthetics and would be visible to those visiting the park as they walk within its boundaries.
In short, the experts said, development so close to the park would be highly undesirable and they recommended that government use money from the environmental protection fund to buy the land. Instead, however, the CPA granted the application.
While the DoE would be expected to have genuine concerns about the development, they were not alone. The Water Authority also raised concerns about the plans for lakes to be excavated on the site, which the developer has said would supply fill for the development. The authority, however, warned that the project is very close to the North Sidewater lens, which could be compromised by the planned lakes and other elements of the proposed development.
With the opening of the Clifton Hunter High School and the proposed medical tourism project by Dr Devi Shetty, there has been an expectation that the hitherto less developed eastern districts would be subject to great attention from developers. However, the decision to allow this project so close to the park, and in particular the part of the park associated with the blue iguana project, is likely to raise very real concerns among the increasing number of local environmental activists.
It should also raise questions in the community about the CPA’s continued failure to factor in conservation and environmental considerations when making decisions about planning applications.
Nine people hurt in bus-car smash
(CNS): The driver and eight passengers from a local bus are being treated in the George Town hospital following a two vehicle road crash in Bodden Town this afternoon. Police said that shortly after 3:10pm on Tuesday, 23 October, a Toyota Hiace bus and a BMW car collided at the junction of Shamrock Road and Northward Road in Bodden Town. Emergency services were called to the location and the injured were transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital. Despite the number of people hurt, police said it is not thought that any had sustained serious injuries but this has yet to be confirmed by medical staff. The driver of the BMW was not injured and police enquiries into how the crash occurred are on-going.