Archive for January, 2013
Local Hockey tournament raises funds for Cancer
(CaymanHockey): Hockey fans around the world are rejoicing with the recent news that the 113 day NHL lockout is now over. Whilst the season won’t start for another ten days, fans of the sport can get their hockey fix this weekend as the CI Youth Roller Hockey Club hosts the 3rd Annual Cayman Hockey Fights Cancer Youth Street Hockey Tournament. Taking place beside the ARC at Cayman International School on Saturday, January 12th, this tournament is designed to help grow the sport of hockey but more importantly raise funds for the Cayman Cancer Society.
This year, fifty percent of the proceeds raised will be donated directly to the Cayman Cancer Society with the intention of funding a special project to build a new chemotherapy unit at the George Town Hospital. The other fifty percent will be injected back into youth hockey with the hopes of further developing the programme and getting more and more kids participating in the sport.
Aaron Knapik, one of the volunteer tournament organisers is grateful for the support the event continues to receive year after year. Mr. Knapik said, “Once again we are very pleased that the community continues to rally behind this event and our efforts to raise funds for such a worthwhile benefactor – the Cayman Cancer Society. We are thankful for the support of our main sponsors, Camana Bay, Ernst & Young and the Dart Foundation. We also wish to thank our junior sponsors, Mourant Ozannes, Greenlight RE, Re/Max and Willis Global Insurance. Most of all we wish to thank the kids, for coming out and experiencing a fun day of hockey whilst raising funds for other kids who due to cancer, may not yet be able to experience such a magical day.”
Jennifer Weber of the Cayman Islands Cancer Society said, “The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is grateful for all the donations we receive from the generous community in which we live. When people choose to give to the Cancer Society, they are helping us help others in Cayman. Donations earmarked for special projects like a new chemotherapy unit will help us create a new state of the art facility in partnership with the Health Services Authority. These large scale projects come with large costs but the benefit to the community, the patients and families is priceless.”
With the majority of players gaining their hockey experience from Kings Youth Roller Hockey League, one component of the tournament is to have one member of the team not be in the league. This caveat is to help introduce kids to a new sport and help grow the hockey programme in Cayman. Roller Hockey is a relatively new sport to Cayman that has caught on quickly. There were 160 participants in the Street Hockey tournament last year and even more players are expect to register for this year’s event. There is also a category for interested ‘Hockey Moms’ in addition to age divisions covering 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U and 15U.
Street hockey requires minimal equipment. It can be played in running shoes and in most cases with a plastic hockey stick, making it an inexpensive activity that can be done in drive ways after school or on weekends.
The tournaments of the last two years raised funds in excess of CI$20,000 for local charities, including Cayman Hospice and UNICEF Cayman Kids. The CI Youth Roller Hockey Club expects to raise more funds this year through additional sponsorship and increased registrations.
Although registration is closed, the tournament remains a fun spectator event for those not playing and the organizers encourage all those who need a little hockey fix or enjoy watching a great sport to come down to Camana Bay (the road in front of CIS’s athletic facilities) this Saturday. The tournament is scheduled to start at 9am and will last for most of the day. For more tournament information please contact Aaron Knapik at: aknapik@ps-ltd.com or call 345-323-0898.
Christmas Rugby tradition alive and well
(CRFU): The Cayman Rugby Union membership joined together to celebrate the festive season with their annual Boxing Day “President’s vs. Captains” match on Saturday 26 December at the Rugby Club. The Boxing Day game, played in Cayman since the Cayman Rugby Union’s inception, has been an opportunity for players of all ages and abilities to get a social run around and enjoy the lighter side of the sport of rugby… namely the camaraderie (whilst still keeping some semblance of competitiveness at the back of their minds).
With the Cayman Rugby Union providing complementary champagne and a full Christmas buffet it was a wonder why the players did not forgo sweating it out under the lovely Cayman sunshine to enjoy the food and booze but tradition won over and the game went ahead.
A young looking President’s XV (barring the presence of CRFU President Derek Haines playing at Hooker) took on an experienced Captain’s XV and the vigour and youthfulness of Derek Haines’s team won the clash 50-37.
Whilst the score line didn’t show it the game was a close affair in the early stages before Haines’s troops started to show their greater fitness and speed over the Captain’s XV
Only 3 days later the Rugby action continued at the South Sound Ground on 29 December with a U25 vs. U19 New Year’s game. The U19’s, starting their preparation for their 2013 Caribbean Championship campaign took the opportunity to field their overseas players home for the holidays and the very entertaining game was won by the U25’s. The U19’s showed bright moments in attack but the overall defence was showing some holes for the older more experienced players to attack.
CAL drops Panama flight for summer 2013
(CNS Business): Despite the much celebrated introduction of a flight to Panama by Cayman Airways, what was meant to be a seasonal gateway has now been axed by the airline. The much heralded new route lasted for less than three months before it was cut after government spent more than $71,000 on a two-day promotional event and party in Panama City last May. However, Dallas in Texas, a gateway requested by the tourism sector, has proved to be a great success and will become a year round gateway. Even though Department of Tourism officials indicated that when the Panama flight was cut in September itwas merely a seasonal change and that the route would return to the schedule, this has not been the case. Read more and comment on CNS Business
Cayman sneezes through 300 cases of flu in 2 weeks
(CNS): Health Officials issued a warning about a seasonal peak in flu cases Thursday after 303 cases were reported in the last week of 2012 and the first week of 2013. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Kiran Kumar, said the increase in influenza cases in Cayman was similar to the situation that is presently being widely reported in the United States of America (USA). In the Cayman Islands, flu season usually runs from October to March, and peaks in December and January. During the last week of December 2012, cases of flu-like illness reported to Public Health authorities reached 148, and in the first week of January 2013 they reached 155.
Similar numbers were reported for the same period in the 2009 pandemic, with the number of cases reaching 160-170 per week.
Up to mid-December the 2012 season had been very mild compared to 2011, with an average of 80-90 cases reported per week. In an average year, 40 cases are reported per week during the summer, and about 80-90 cases per week during the flu season, with cases rising to more than 100 per week during the months of December and January. With the country in the midst of peak flu season, Kumar advised the public to follow preventative measures to avoid contracting the disease:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (throw the tissue in the trash after you use it); wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze (if soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub may be used); avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth otherwise germs may spread; try to avoid close contact with sick people; if you are sick, stay home from work or school until your illness is over.
Members of the public who did not yet get their flu vaccine are urged to get the shot as soon as possible, as it will still help for the rest of the season. The vaccine is only effective for one season. Dr Kumar emphasizes that the World Health Organization (WHO) is strongly recommending for all pregnant women to be vaccinated. The flu vaccine is being offered for free to all residents and no appointments are necessary.
All persons 6 months of age and older, should get the flu vaccine. It is especially important for people at high risk for complications from influenza, and those who live with or care for them to be vaccinated early each year. High-risk persons include the following:
Young children 6 months to four years of age, but especially those under two years; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; persons of any age with weakened immune systems and those with chronic medical conditions such as heart, kidney and lung diseases and diabetes; and people living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Persons who did not yet get their flu vaccine are urged to get their flu shot as soon as possible, as it will still help for the rest of the season. The vaccine is only effective for one season. Dr Kumar emphasizes that the World Health Organization (WHO) is strongly recommending for all pregnant women to be vaccinated. The flu vaccine is being offered for free to all residents and no appointments are necessary.
Flu shots can be obtained at the following locations:
The General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital; Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac; All District Health Centres from 2pm to 4pm. Monday through Friday; Little Cayman Clinic.
Residents of Little Cayman should contact the clinic to make arrangements.
TCI authorities deny Misick’s arrest is unlawful
(CNS): The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) attorney general’s chambers has denied that the former premier, Michael Misick, has been unlawfully arrested or that he is being treated any worse than any other British prisoner held in custody in Brazil. The islands’ legal official also stated that the former leader was being offered consular assistance by both the UK and the Brazilian government. In a statement released on Wednesday the TCI authorities said that the request for his extradition would be submitted this month and if it is not contested Misick will be ‘speedily’ returned to TCI to face questioning.
Misick has already declared publicly that he wants to return to his native country and that he will not contest the order.
Misick was arrested in Rio last month and has since been held in a high security prison in Brazil in what are believed to be particularly uncomfortable conditions. Misick has not yet been charged with any crime but he fled TCI more than two years ago in the wake of a corruption scandal in which he was implicated and which led to a major investigation and the suspension of the islands’ constitution by the British.
An international warrant was issued for his arrest last year and executed by the Brazilian authorities in December. Misick had been in the country for some time where he had applied for political asylum but had recently been refused.
"Michael Misick is the subject of an extradition request made lawfully and properly, in accordance with the relevant treaty in place between the UK and Brazil, asextended to the Turks and Caicos Islands,” the TCI Attorney General’s chambers said Wednesday in the wake of written complaints by Misick from his jail cell and from his family, which were posted in the local media in TCI this week.
“As such, he is currently being held in accordance with the terms of this Treaty, under a provisional warrant of arrest. The Treaty requires that the full request with supporting documentation is to be submitted formally within 60 days (following his arrest on 7 Dec 2012). It is intended that this request be submitted in Jan 2013. Following this, Mr Misick will have the opportunity to consider whether he wishes to contest his extradition,” the TCI legal office stated.
“If he does not contest the extradition, and there are no other outstanding issues, then everything possible will be done by Turks and Caicos authorities, in collaboration with his legal advisors and the Brazilian authorities, to ensure his speedy return to face questions in relation to alleged crimes during his time in office and to face trial in accordance with our laws,” the office added in the release.
Misick has already made it clear that the UK does not need to go through the extradition process and he is ready and willing to return immediately. He has also claimed that his human rights are being violated and the family states that he is being held in terrible conditions in the high security prison.
“We have received assurances that during his time in custody Mr Misick will receive consular assistance from the British Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, who will work to ensure that Mr Misick receives the same level of treatment as other British prisoners in Brazil, and is treated in accordance with international minimum standards,” the attorney general’s spokesperson said, adding, “The consular staff in Rio will provide the same level of consular assistance offered to all British Citizens in Brazil.”
New government sits in first parliamentary session
(CNS): The Cayman Islands’ new minority government will be sitting in its first parliamentary session today, Thursday 10 January and putting to the test the understanding it has with the opposition benches to form a quorum. There is no indication that the PPM or the independent members will not turn up however and the session is almost certain to go ahead. According to the draft order paper, the government is bringing three pieces of legislation to the House relating to the financial services sector none of which are expected to generate controversy. There is no indication that any MLAs will be voting against the bills and the new premier should not have a difficult session ahead of her.
Some eleven outstanding financial reports from various government entities, including the Turtle Farm, are being presented alongside the draft bills which include the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2013, the Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Exempted Limited Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (posted below).
After making a commitment to consult, the new premier, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, has already stated that she will not be bringing any legislation to the parliament over coming months that does not have consensus with members of the opposition. The parliament is due to be dissolved by the governor on 26 March ahead of the general election on 22 May. In the meantime, the premier has said she is confident that her Cabinet of five former UDP members will be able to continue holding on to government until the people go to the polls.
The parliamentary session, which will be televised live on CIGTV20 is likely to be unremarkable except for the crush on the opposition benches as the PPM and two independent members will be joined by the four UDP members under the leadership of the former premier McKeeva Bush.
Police confirm arrest in downtown George Town
(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) has confirmed that officers from uniform support arrested a 25-year-old man on Monday 7 January close to the FirstCaribbean bank in the heart of downtown George Town in the middle of the afternoon. The man was arrested on suspicion of threatening violence, possession of a weapon and possession of an unlicensed firearm, but no gun was found on the afternoon of thesearch. The man, who is believed to be from East End, and the car that he was in were searched by officers who recovered a knife. A police spokesperson said that the operation and subsequent arrest had been carried out in connection with a report made to the RCIPS earlier that day regarding threats.
Public servants target of health campaign
(CNS): Civil servants have are being given some help keeping New Year’s resolutions to get healthy with a series of presentations by the Civil Service College. The newly introduced Health and Wellness Week aims to empower civil servants to take ownership of their health, government officials stated. CSC Deputy Director Andrea Fa’amoe explained that the college is organising activities focused around the theme of wellness during the second week of every month this year. At the first Lunch and Learn event on Monday (7 January), participants learnt from Heart Health Centre’s Education and Programmes Coordinator, Jodie Kelley, RN, that heart disease is preventable.
Strategies for prevention include keeping: blood sugar; blood pressure; triglycerides and cholesterol, especially LDL, or bad cholesterol, within prescribed limits, while exercising regularly, eating right, cutting out smoking and immoderate alcohol use, as well as managing, if not reducing, stress.
Nurse Kelley reminded the audience that New Year’s resolutions have a better chance of success if they are "very specific, realistic and forgiving". So, she said, resolving to walk 30 minutes a day for three days a week, has a far better of chance for success than vowing to walk five miles every day. "But get moving! Exercise is by far the best "pill" you can take,” she told the public servants
Kelly said heart disease continues to be the primary cause of death in the Cayman Islands, spurred by uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as a bad diet and genetic predisposition. "The way you live daily affects your heart," she cautioned.
On Tuesday the presentation focused on nutrition, Wednesday’s on physical fitness and Thursday’s family well-being and the scheduled topic for Friday is finance.
For more information on heart-health visit info@hearthealthcayman.com or www.hearthealthcayman.com
Letter to the Governor
Please accept this letter as an apology on the behalf of the vast majority of Caymanians I have spoken with and heard comment from (The Silent Majority) that we have been deeply embarrassed by the behaviour of McKeeva Bush as a Caymanian and even more so as a premier, supposedly representing us.
We believe that, although you may have known all along, you can now see that McKeeva did not represent the majority of Caymanians in what he said or did. He was able to continue to wield power largely because of his manipulation of the issue of ‘One Man One Vote’ over the years, which allowed him to operate with a minority of support from voting Caymanians.
Over his period of power, McKeeva has made many decisions that we have been very much against but have been unable to prevent. In this most recent term, he has cost the country millions of dollars as a direct result of his decisions and actions. I am sure we do not have a full understanding of all he has cost us, but cancelling the port project started by the PPM and the costs associated with that, the whole Cohen fiasco, the cancelling of the GLF port deal and the associated penalties are some of the issues which have cost us unnecessarily. We are sure we will continue to see issues come to light that will end up costing us even more.
We are very concerned about what he may have tried to commit these Islands to that we may not be aware of as yet. We have no way of knowing what these may be but a recent example would be the attempted deal with the Philippine Airlines.
Of major and urgent concern to us is the ongoing Dart deal in which he was instrumental. While none of us would try to stop Dart from investing in Cayman, we believe (especially where concessions are being sought from our government) it has to be done in a manner which is beneficial to both the Caymanian people and the Dart Group. From the little information we have, it seems obvious that McKeeva did not get a fair deal for the Caymanian people. We have not been allowed access to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report, but from all accounts it did not find the deal to be fair and we are sure it looked at the issues raised by many regarding, amongst other issues, future concessions which were to be given to the Dart Group.
Probably the most urgent issue is the closure of a stretch of the West Bay Road. This brings absolutely no benefit to the Caymanian people. The new road that Dart is building will open up his landlocked properties in that area and make them more valuable. While the new road will benefit the Caymanian people as a bypass road to ease traffic to and from West Bay, it also benefits Dart by increasing the value of his holdings in this area. The closing of a stretch of the current West Bay Road benefits no one except the Dart group.
We therefore urge you to use all your powers to stop the closure of this stretch of West Bay Road. If McKeeva has bound us in some way, we ask you to stand firm and fight it, even legally if necessary, as you are our last chance to stop it. It is Crown land and you will have to sign transfers of ownership if that is the manner in which it was planned. We ask you to refuse on our behalf to do this. We understand this may require public funds being utilized if it becomes a legal battle and we have been very upset with the wasting of public funds over these recent years, but we feel very strongly that this is an issue worth fighting for, especially when compared to some of the wasted funds in previous cancelled deals.
4 arrested in jewel heist
(CNS): Four men have been arrested and are currently in police custody in connection with the Kirk Freeport robbery on Monday evening. Police said that the men had been arrested on suspicion of various offences including being in possession of an offensive weapon, possession of ganja and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent as well as robbery. The suspects reportedly made off with a significant quantity of Rolex and Breitling watches during the armed hold up which happened around 6:45pm at the duty free jewellery store located at the Strand off the West Bay Road in the heart of Grand Cayman’s tourist district.
One of the masked men was reportedly brandishing a handgun when the gang entered the store and threatened staff before making their escape, the police believe on foot to the rear of Kirk Freeport and towards the construction site on West Bay Road opposite The Caribbean Club.
An RCIPS spokesperson stated Wednesday that officers investigating the crime were continuing to follow positive lines of inquiry but were appealing for witnesses to the robbery or to anyone who may have seen the suspects either before or after the incident.
Three of the four men are described as being over six feet tall and the fourth between 5’5 and 5’9. All of the men were wearing masks and the first man was described as having a slim build and wearing a woollen black ski type mask with no holes cut out for the mouth. He was wearing a heavy black ‘bomber’ style jacket and black pants or possibly jeans with dark coloured gloves.
The second robber was slim to medium build and was wearing a black mask, a black jacket, black pants and black shoes, also with dark coloured gloves. The third man was described as slim wearing a black mask, a black jacket, black pants and black basketball style shoes with white soles and white toes. He was wearing light coloured gardening style gloves. The final robber was described as medium build and wearing a black mask, a black jacket, blue jeans and black shoes. He was also wearing light coloured gardening style gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Drugs and Serious Crime Task Force at 949-4222, or Crimestoppers on 800 TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous.