Archive for December, 2012
Cabinet members leave UDP
(CNS): Following moves by the UDP to oust the members who formed a minority government following a successful no confidence motion in McKeeva Bush’s Cabinet, the former 'UDP 5' are all believed to have resigned from the party. Last week an e-mail sent by the UDP’s Bodden Town committee chair to district MLAs Mark Scotland and Dwayne Seymour gave the men seven days to depart of their own accord or face a hearing. Requests for the resignation of the two West Bay members, Rolston Anglin and Cline Glidden, were also issued and it is understood that all four men as well as the new premier, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, have all left the UDP voluntarily.
Check back to CNS for more on the status of the new government later this week.
Jamaican cops arrest Cayman fugitive
(CNS): Police in Jamaica have captured a man wanted in the Cayman Islands for several crimes. The Jamaican media is reporting that 31-year-old Dainian Henry, also known as ‘Yellow’, was arrested in St Ann on Sunday. The man is wanted by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, escaping custody, attempted robbery, resisting arrest, threatening violence and giving a false name and date of birth to the police. According to media reports, Henry was captured by members of the St Ann operational support team shortly after mid-day during an operation in the Lillyfield District, in Bamboo, St Ann.
The Constabulary Communication Network said Henry has been on the run since October last year. There was no indication from the RCIPS if they have asked for the fugitive to be extradited.
The RCIPS is reportedly still waiting for Ryan Edwards to be returned to Cayman after he was arrested in Jamaica in August in connection with the Cayman National Bank robbery in Buckingham Square, which took place last June. Edwards, a 36-year-old Jamaican national, was discovered in possession of cash stolen in the Cayman bank heist when he was arrested in the neighbouring island. Police reportedly found US$5,000 and CI$35,000 in the car he was driving, which the investigating officers connected to the daylight bank robbery. Edwards is believed to have fled by boat to Jamaica after the heist, in which the robbers stole around $500,000.
Shortly after the hold up, one man from West Bay, who has now pleaded guilty to his involvement in the robbery, was arrested and as a result police arrested further suspects, who are all due to stand trial next April.
Related article:
St Ann police nab Jamaican wanted in Cayman (Jamaica Observer 28 december 2012)
Over 100 crashes reported in one month
(CNS): In the last 30 days of the police safety campaign officers have dealt with 118 collisions on Cayman’s roads. In addition to the concerns over which the lack of attention people are paying when driving the cops also revealed that 28 people have also been arrested for DUI since 30 November when the Stay Alive campaign started. Ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations the police made a final appeal for drivers to be more responsible.”We want everyone to have a great time tonight and to bring in 2013 safely,” Superintendent Adrian Seales said.
“If you are going out tonight and you plan to drink, then please make the right decision; either designate a driver or use a taxi or bus. Let’s work together to make this New Year one to remember – for all the right reasons," he added.
In addition to the DUI charges and road crashes police said 100 people have been ticketed for speeding, 41 for use of cellphones while driving, 87 for not wearing seatbelts and 256 for a wide variety of other road traffic offences since police began the seasonal road education campaign.
NDC finds backers for free NYE bus
(CNS): The National Drug Foundation will be continuing its tradition of running the free purple bus on Grand Cayman this year after three businesses came forward to sponsor the service. For over ten years the NDC has partnered with local firms and restaurants to coordinate the Designated Driver Programme and the New Year’s Eve Purple Ribbon Bus service during the Holiday Season. This year Cayman National, Greenlight Re and Jacques Scott Group Ltd have come up with the cash to pay for the buses and drivers so party goers have no reason to drink and drive.
“We are thrilled to partner with these sponsors in an effort to make our community safer,” said Joan West-Dacres, Executive Director of the NDC. “It’s more than just a free ride, it saves lives.”
The NDC team encouraged everyone to take advantage of the free bus service, which will be run on a 30 minute schedule on New Year’s Eve by Reid’s Premier Tours. Routes extend throughout Grand Cayman, from West Bay to Bodden Town, with hourly buses to North Side and East End from 9:00pm to 4:00am.
"We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity for a safe ride home. Be safe, be smart, don’t drink and drive,” added Simon Miller from the drug council.
Banker and arts guru receive royal gongs
(CNS): Former banker, Leonard Ebanks and the director of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation Henry Muttoo will now be able to add some letters to their name after they both appeared in the queen’s 2013 New Year’s honours list. Officials revealed Saturday that Ebanks received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of services to economic development and the community while Muttoo (left) has become an Member of Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to art and cultural heritage. See attachment for local Cert Hons awards
Repatriated Cuban returns to Cayman
(CNS): One of several Cuban refugees that elected to remain in Cayman, who now faces an enforced return home, had been repatriated once already this year. Nevertheless, he and four other Cubans have decided to remain after their boat first passed through Cayman Brac on Wednesday and then later reached East End on Thursday night. Officials said that two people from a vessel carrying 30 Cuban migrants chose to remain on the Sister Island before the boat continued its journey. When it arrived in East End, the crew of the boat had initially intended only to carry out repairs but a decision was eventually taken by three passengers to remain here while the remaining 25 stayed aboard.
The vessel has now left Cayman waters and immigration officials are dealing with the five new refugees. They confirmed that one of them had been previously repatriated in April.
Government has notified all the relevant agencies that will be assisting with the care and security of the new migrants, who, added to those already here, brings the total number of Cubans currently in Grand Cayman to 30.
Tourist robbed in East End
(CNS): A visitor to Cayman was robbed in broad daylight on Thursday at a beach in East End. Police said the report of the mugging came in at 4pm yesterday after the male Japanese tourist, who was hit in the face, reported the incident from a local restaurant after passing drivers picked him up. An RCIPS spokesperson said the victim was robbed at Colliers Beach by two men, who punched him before stealing cash and items of property from the man's rental vehicle. The victim ran to the roadside and stopped a passing vehicle who took the victim to the local restaurant. The robbers were described as male, both with dark brown complexions, slim builds and aged between 20-30.
One was about 5'9 and was wearing a yellow t-shirt and three-quarter jean pants, and the second was around 5'7" and was also wearing three-quarter jean pants
Although the victim sustained minor facial injuries, he declined hospital treatment. His vehicle was a blue 4-door Suzuki Swift rental vehicle, which was parked at Colliers Beach. Police are appealing for witnesses to this incident and in particular to the occupants of the unknown vehicle that conveyed the victim to Tukka to come forward. It is not known whether the offenders left on foot or by vehicle
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police at949-4222, 947-2220 or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS).
GT gas station robbed
(CNS): Police are on the lookout for a man who robbed a George Town gas station in the early hours of Friday morning with a machete. An RCIPS spokesperson said that the masked robber struck at the Walkers Road Texaco Gas Station at around 3:37 am this morning. The culprit was said to have smashed the glass door of the station store and made his way in armed with a machete. Once inside the shop, which has been robbed several times in the recent past, the robber jumped over the counter and made off with a quantity of cash from the register before escaping from the scene on foot. The male suspect was described as 5 ft 6 in, dark complexion, wearing a black mask with a black cloth tied around his head.
His clothing was described as a black long sleeve sweater with a white inside t- shirt and long black pants. Police added that the man was of medium build and spoke with a local accent.
Anyone who was in the vicinity at the time is asked to contact the George Town CID at 949-4222 or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477
Final push for voters
(CNS): Officials from the Elections Office are making a final push for all Caymanians who are qualified to visit them today or Friday. The office will be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which means anyone who has not registered to vote will not be entitled to vote in the May 2013 general election if they don’t make it to the office today, tomorrow or next Wednesday, the final day for registration. With high hopes for s surge in voters at the 2013 national poll, officials from the Elections Office urged everyone to come and register right now.
The voters' register now contains well over 16,000 voters and officials are hoping to reach at least 18,000 but there may be as many as several thousand more people who are entitled to vote but who are choosing to stay outside the democratic process. Officials are keen to ensure that anyone who wants to register seizes the opportunity to do so.
All those who have Caymanian Status but have not been naturalized can still register to vote. Naturalization is no longer a prerequisite to qualify.
“Time is running out,” the office said Thursday. The final date for registration is 2 January 2013. Registering Officers will be available until midnight on that date and the Elections Office will have a registration station downstairs in the lobby of the Smith Road Centre (150 Smith Road) also open until midnight.
Meanwhile, the registering officer for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will be at Brac Executive Services from 9:00am to midnight on 2 January 2013.
The Grand Cayman office has a registration station downstairs in the lobby of the Smith Road Centre which will be open on Saturday 29th December between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
For those electors who have changed their names, occupations or street addresses since being registered this is also the final opportunity to complete a Form 13 to update their particulars. Those who have changed districts must also ensure that they are registered in the correct electoral district.
More informaiton is available at the Elections Office website here or contact Grasp your Future on 326 8556.
Van runs down cyclist on West Bay Road
(CNS): Police are hunting for witnesses and a male cyclist is said to be in stable condition after being hit by a van on the West Bay Road on Boxing Day afternoon. At around 2:58 pm on Wednesday 26 December, police said a GMC Savanah vehicle and a cyclist were involved in a collision in the vicinity of the St Matthews College dormitory on the West Bay Road. Emergency Services attended the scene and the cyclist was transported to the George Town Hospital.The cyclist who sustained injuries in the crash remains hospitalized. Anyone who witnessed the accident should call the George Town Police Station at 949 4222.