Archive for February, 2013
Amateur astronomers build their own telescopes
(CNS): The students on an astronomy course at the UCCI have gone a step further than mere star gazing and have constructed their own telescopes. The Observatory Amateur Telescope Making course taught by Dr Wm. (Bill) Hrudey saw the would astro-physicists construct fully functional telescopes giving striking images of the moon, planets and other celestial objects. The home-made stargazers made on the eight week course are 6" f/8 Newtonian reflectors on a Dobsonian mount
The engineers of these impressive telescopes are Jordan and her Dad Kevin Butler, Dr W Veit and Richard McLeod, Eric Cronier and his son and, Jason Blitzstein. The course ran parallel with the basic Astronomy course at the Observatory taught by Chris Cooke and Richard McLeod from the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society which means the students also now know what to look for with their new instruments.
Roulstone guarding independence in GT race
(CNS): Sharon Roulstone is the second independent female candidate to declare her intention to join the George Town battleground to win one of the six seats up for grabs in the Legislative Assembly this May. Although Roulstone said that she has gone through the process of seeking endorsement from the Coalition for Cayman, she has not heard from the group and, regardless of the endorsement, she said she would be fiercely guarding her independence during the political race and once in office if she is returned by the capital’s voters. Nevertheless, Roulstone said she shared similar views with the coalition team that is running in the capital and would be happy to work with them in a government.
Roulstone said the issue at this election is the need for a new and more accountable style of leadership in the country’s parliament. She said that all MLAs needed to recognize that they are answerable only to the Cayman people, not to party leaders, as she emphasised the fact that she was free of the constraints imposed by political parties.
“Over the course of recent political administrations, the interests of the Caymanian people have not been represented in the true spirit of democracy,” said Roulstone. “Instead, our leaders seem to give priority to the interests of the party over what is the overall good for the country. I will bring a fiercely independent voice to the Legislative Assembly and make sure the interests of hardworking Caymanians are represented,” added Roulstone.
“I have a passion for the people, history and culture of the Cayman Islands,” said Roulstone. “With our country heading in the wrong direction, I feel a personal duty and responsibility to help restore hope in the hearts of the Caymanian people by getting our beloved country back on track. It’s time we return to a government that is honest and transparent, is always fiscally responsible and, finally, looks out for the bests interests of all of Cayman.”
No stranger to campaigning, Roulstone hit the streets this summer as one of a group of people who campaigned hard ahead of the referendum on one man-one vote and is still strongly in favour of the introduction of single member constituencies as soon as possible.
Roulstone was born and raised in the heart of George Town and continues to live there today. She earned her law degree from the University of Liverpool, then worked for many years with the firm of Walkers before starting her own firm in 2003. She has served on many government boards and private sector organisations, including the (former) Immigration Board, CINICO, the Maritime Authority (MACI), the Civil Service Appeals Commission and the Work Permit Board. She has also served with the Chamber of Commerce, the National Trust, the Caymanian Bar Association, the Cayman Arts Festival and the YMCA.
Agricultural Society gets its cash
(CNS): A public spat between the premier and her chief officer appears to have been resolved and the local agricultural society has received its regular $20,000 from government as a contribution to the Agricultural Show. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly described the removal of the cash from her ministry's budget as “very unfortunate” and reiterated government’s commitment to the annual show. O’Connor-Connolly had publicly criticised her senior staff on Radio Cayman last week regarding the issue but she said since then she had met with her chief officer, who had apologised and explained how the error had occurred.Speaking at the government press briefing on Thursday, she said that Chief Officer Alan Jones had been away when the situation arose and it was not actually Jones who had removed the funding, but he took responsibility as he too was annoyed but had found the $20k for the society at the 11th hour.
The premier, who is also the agriculture minister, admitted that she had been unhappy about the situation and she had expressed her feelings about it. But following the explanation and a certainty that it could not happen again, she said the situation was resolved, the air cleared and the society paid.
O’Connor-Connolly said that she was only made aware of the missing cash on the day of the show, which took place on Ash Wednesday, 13 February. The money, which is an annual grant, covers some of the cost of the show held in Savannah at the Department of Agriculture’s grounds in Savannah.
This year’s showattracted some 8,000 people, where she said an enhanced product had been on show from local farmers, along with a diversification into crafts and other things. The premier said she was pleased to see the level of camaraderie amongst the district farmers rather than competition, despite the battle for the ribbons on offer for livestock and produce.
See more about the show and results on Facebook.
Cabinet secrecy may be lifted
(CNS): The strict secrecy of what goes on behind Cabinet’s closed doors may soon be relaxed, according to the deputy premier, who says that he would like to see government publish a Cabinet newsletter. Rolston Anglin said at a public debate at the UCCI last week that he believed the twenty year restriction before details and documents from the inner government circle meetings can be released is too long, and on Thursday he said that, while actions from Cabinet eventually come into the public domain through the gazette, laws or public policy papers, it would be far better to release the information in more cohesive way.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, he said that most of what happens in Cabinet could easily be made public after the meetings, summarising the key issues. While issues that related to national security or were commercially sensitive should remain under wraps, Anglin said there was no reason why much of the rest could not be in the public domain in some form of journal or minutes.
Anglin said he did not know why such a policy had not been implemented during the last three years that he had been in Cabinet but he said he had put the idea forward, adding that the blanket twenty year ban on the release of all information was too long.
While a lot of what happens in Cabinet meetings, such as regulation changes, are eventually reported via the gazette, in a time of more open and transparent government the public should not have to wait for that when government could easily share timely and significant information in a more comprehensive manner, he said. “Why have such a piecemeal approach?” he asked rhetorically.
During the UCCI debate Anglin said the Cabinet needed to reform the legislative framework towards a right to know environment and all ministries should be publishing more information and not waiting on freedom of information requests. He also said the minutes of all public authority meetings should be published.
Whether or not there was support for the idea of more openness during the past administration, it appears that if the next government is made up of independents, the opposition, the new interim members or a mix of all three, the issue could gain traction, since most of the candidates who took part in the UCCI debate on Wednesday night supported the release of Cabinet information.
Wayne Panton, who is running with the PPM in Bodden Town, pointed out very succinctly why government should be far more transparent, including revealing what happens in Cabinet to the public. “It’s about the people’s business,” he said.
Currently, Cabinet is made up of the five elected government ministers, plus the governor, his deputy and the attorney general. When the group meets it decides government business, such as which laws will go to the Legislative Assembly and government policy.
Some decisions are discussed in public almost right away when they become policies or plans, such as the recent national health and national education strategies. Laws also become public documents, as do regulation changes, when they are gazetted. However, the Cabinet does not publish its agenda or minutes and discussions and deliberations usually remain secret.
TCI politicians win VAT battle with UK
(CNS): The UK’s overseas territories minister has given in to the pressure from elected officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands not to introduce VAT. Mark Simmonds wrote toboth Premier Dr Rufus Ewing and Opposition Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson stating that he would instruct the local governor not to sign the order which would have introduce the sales tax to the territory on 1 April. However, Simmonds makes it clear that the new government will need to find the money from somewhere to produce surplus budgets and find its own way to replace the loan guarantee from the UK by 2016.
Simmonds said it was the Turks government that would be held accountable for the country’s finances and he was not about to allow a reversal of the progress made by the previous UK-led interim government. He said that to prevent that reversal the TCI government would face more difficult choices to ensure stable and sustainable revenues and expenditures in the absence of VAT.
The FCO minister told Ewing that his opposition to VAT made him responsible for the consequent decisions to ensure the fiscal health of the islands' public finances and he would be held accountable. He said that the UK still believed that without VAT the tax burden in TCI would fall on a smaller number of businesses and households and the TCI would need to take further steps to cut spending to achieve the necessary surplus budgets as agreed in the local agreement regarding fiscal responsibility.
Simmonds said the UK would be keeping a very close eye on the public purse and the UK would not accept a return to the previous dire financial situation.
The British minister also criticised the local politicians for the use of a private members bill to overturn the VAT legislation. He said that he would not allow the governor to assent to that bill but instead he would be directed not to sign the order on the VAT legislation, which would prevent the sales tax from being implemented.
He also took aim at what he described as the vitriolic public attacks in TCI recently on the judiciary and public servants and called on the premier to condemn the unacceptable level of debate.
Although an elected government has now been returned to office in TCI, the relationship between the new politicians on both sides of the Assembly and the UK government and its representatives in the jurisdiction has deteriorated. The local government has accused the British of continuing to take a colonial approach to the territory and undermining the democratically elected officials.
See letter below.
Wrapping papers banned from prison
(CNS): Officials that supervise the country’s prison will be banning wrapping papers that are used by prisoners mostly to smoke ganja and not, as is usually claimed, to smoke tobacco. Following correspondence from a concerned citizen whopointed out that, while the authorities profess to be doing their best to control what is believed to be a prevalent use of ganja at HMP Northward, large size wrapping papers were still legal hand-ins. Already banned from the prison ‘shop’, the Portfolio of Internal Affairs confirmed Monday that “going forward the papers would no longer be allowed as hand-ins.”
In a CNS report last year, a former inmate revealed how he was able to use individual wrapping papers given to him by security guards at the jail as currency for snacks and cigarettes.
In the wake of more revelations recently by the UK prison inspectorate about the use of drugs in Northward, a concerned citizen queried the position of the portfolio, which is responsible for the facility, over the apparent contradiction about wrapping papers. Although they are no longer sold on prison property, the papers are still coming into the prison lawfully through the hand-in system.
In a letter to Eric Bush, the member of the public said he was aware that the deputy director of Northward Prison had defended allowing the continued hand-in of wrapping papers as the possession of the papers was not an offence.
Permitting papers into the prison was, the writer said, facilitating the use of ganja in the prison and demonstrated the "utter futility" of the RCIPS and the courts going through the motions at great expense to the public purse to incarcerate people for drug offences if the authorities continued to turn a blind eye to the use of drugs once the people were locked up. The author also pointed to the “unacceptable waste of money” for the Caymanian taxpayer to continually warehouse at any one time about 200 drug users on a rotational basis.
The portfolio head has now confirmed that the papers will no longer be allowed, as he agreed that the items do nothing to assist with the rehabilitation or security of inmates and may contribute to illegal activities.
However, other sources have told CNS that any blanket ban on papers will just increase their value in the prison as they, along with the drugs, will continue to be smuggled in as the drug use continues. With little rehabilitation and some inmates incarcerated and criminalized because of their habit, the drug problem in Northward is unlikely to be resolved by the banning of Rizlas.
Related articles on CNS:
UDP moves to Bodden Town on campaign trail
(CNS): The United Democratic Party will be moving its campaign trail to Bodden Town tomorrow evening but it is not clear who will be on the platform as the former premier has not yet revealed who he well be fielding in the district. While Chris Saunders is expected to be one of the party’s four hopefuls the public split between McKeeva Bush the interim government will see the other three as yet unnamed UDP candidates running against two of Bush’s former Cabinet colleagues – Dwayne Seymour and Mark Scotland. However, both incumbents and the UDP candidates are likely to find the district a tough campaign ground in light of their support for the proposed relocation of the country’s landfill.
The UDP and the two interim Cabinet members support the ForCayman Investment Alliance with the Dart Group, which proposes to close the George Town dump and open the first phase of a waste-management site close to the wetlands in Midland Acres, an issue which has divided the district. The last time the UDP went to the district the then premier faced a relatively small but angry group of protestors regarding the proposed move.
With both the UDP and the former UDP members all supporting the move the opposition PPM has a serious chance of making a clean sweep in the district where it is fielding the incumbent Anthony Eden, former representative Osbourne Bodden, along with newcomers Al Suckoo and Wayne Panton.
One other independent has declared for the district so far, but with four weeks to go before nomination day no C4C hopefuls have yet announced their candidacy in Bodden Town.
The UDP has still not revealed its intended slate but the party which opened its new party HQ in George Town in last week party officials have stated that the UDP will field a full set of candidates in the three main districts. So far only Chris Saunders has been revealed as a certainty for one of the four BT seats. However, former Coalition to Keep Bodden Town Dump Free member Vincent Frederick who left the advocacy group told his former fellow campaigners that he was looking to join the UDP ticket at the forth coming elections.
Despite his defection from the cause and alleged intention to run with the UDP neither he nor the party have confirmed his candidacy.
The Meeting is scheduled for 7pm at the Bodden Town Post Office Parking Lot and officials from the UDP said everyone is invited to attend.
Sex offender avoids jail
(CNS): A 31-year-old man has been given a two year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to the defilement of teenage girl, who was sexually assaulted by the West Bay man. As a result of a list of mitigating factors, including mental health issues, and despite a 40% chance of him re-offending, Andrew Ebanks avoided going to jail Friday when the judge ordered him to attend psychiatric and medical counselling under the alternative sentencing law. Having already served eight months on remand but with a wife and two children to support, the judge said the most important thing was to create the circumstance where the defendant would never commit such an offence in the future.
During sentencing the court heard that Ebanks had forced himself on his victim but the crown did not pursue the second charge against him for rape, content to accept the defendant’s guilty plea on the charge of defilement, leaving the more serious charge on file.
When describing the facts of the case, prosecuting counsel said the teen had hidden under a bed in a locked room to avoid her attacker. Nevertheless, the defendant was said, while drunk, to have pried open the door, pulled the teenager from her hiding place and forced himself upon her. The defendant denied that he raped the young girl and claimed the act was consensual, even though the girl was only thirteen. The teenager did not tell her parents but confided in a friend, who in turn told a family member who made a police report.
On arrest the defendant admitted having sex with the teen but denied forcing her. “I didn’t mean to do it but I did … I couldn’t help myself, I know I did wrong,” he told the officers.
A social enquiry report revealed a troubling and disturbing history, in which Ebanks himself had been neglected and abused and had faced mental health problems. A local psychiatrist described him as a man with “many significant psychological problems”. The judge said the social enquiry report revealed a total absence of normality in his family relationships throughout his entire life, which were “nothing less than deeply sad”, adding that the defendant had significant medical and emotional difficulties.
Having pleaded guilty at the outset and cooperated completely throughout the investigation with the authorities and as he had no previous convictions, the judge took an approach that he said would help Ebanks change his behaviour.
Nevertheless, as he handed down his sentence the judge noted the trauma suffered by the teenage victim and the impact it has had on her family. “This is a serious offence and one cannot underestimate the psychological damage and emotional trauma that the young girl and her family have suffered,” Justice Quin said.
While such an offence would normally attract a custodial sentence, the judge added that Ebanks had already served eight months on remand and since his release he had complied with all of his bail conditions and had been commended by his probation officer. With a full time job and a family to support, the judge said it was important that the defendant continue to provide for his dependents.
“I have taken into account everything that has been submitted by both counsel and I have read the social enquiry report, the victim impact report and the medical reports relating to the defendant," Justice Quin said in his ruling. “What is of utmost importance is that the court must endeavour to create the circumstance to try to ensure that the defendant does not ever commit or even contemplates committing any such offence again.”
He ordered the two years he imposed to be suspended and, invoking the alternative sentencing law, he said Ebanks was to be placed under the supervision of the Department of Community and Rehabilitation for two years. The judge also directed the defendant to attend psychiatric counselling.
United wemust stand
Too often in this day and age the youth are not too interested in the political affairs of their country—which presents a problem, especially in the Cayman Islands. It is usually the case that they think politics does not concern them when in actuality government actions encompass the entire population.
For some, going out and having a laugh may seem to be the pinnacle of their agenda, in contrast to the minority that wish to take a stand on the issues that indeed affect us all. I’m not saying young people shouldn’t enjoy their adolescence but they should at the very least exercise their voice and their opinions. It is too frequent that I hear young Caymanians complaining about the political situation, however, these are also the ones who are eligible to vote but do not vote as a part of their respective electorate.
For the youths who are reading this Viewpoint, I would like to suggest some reasons as to why you should vote in these upcoming general elections on May 22nd:
- The time is right—and by that I am inferring that an entirely new field of independent candidates has joined the political arena. These candidates are autonomous thinkers who use their conscience when making decisions and do not collectively decide an outcome based on the agenda of other politicians—contrary to the existing political parties.
- Your vote does count. You could make adifference. Your right to vote could be the difference between electing a promising government hereafter this election and electing one which fails to serve its country.
- Many youths complain about not being able to make entry into the workforce due to there being many foreign professionals which can bargain lower wages here in Cayman. The only solution to this is to be heard so that the elected members of your district can rectify this problem. Whether its immigration reform or diversification of the national economy, you must vote and make that voice of yours be heard or else nothing can be accomplished.
- Cayman’s infrastructure is in desperate need of a development and expansion. You may think this has nothing to do with you but when you take into account that tourism is a key industry to these islands, the development and economic potential of the current Port and Airport could be further maximised. Amelioration of any infrastructure carries a multiplier effect: more visitors will surely strengthen the economy.
- Lastly, this is your home. The current economic situation shouldn’t be the reason you have to move elsewhere and leave your island behind only for visiting. Only united can the politicians of the future acknowledge us. Remaining quiet is the easiest way to be forgotten.
I believe firmly that as a collective, we the youth of the Cayman Islands, must stand as one united unit. Twenty-years down the line I want to be living in a Cayman that I can enjoy, and a Cayman that my children can enjoy as well. We shouldn’t remain quiet until we think we’ve matured to an age where it finally matters to us. Politics makes business tick. Politics is what can make this island better, or make this island worse.
You choose.
Athletic meet cancelled
(CNS): UPDATED: Officials from the Cayman Islands Athletics Association said the planned weekend meet has been rescheduled due to circumstances beyond the CIAA's control and details of the new dates will be released shortly. In the meantime, the upcoming CUC meet will be used as a CARIFTA qualifier.
Young athletes from across Cayman will be competing for a place on Cayman’s CARIFTA team as well as the chance to compete at IAAF Worlds this weekend with the annual Truman Bodden Track Meet.
Hosted by the Cayman Islands Athletic Association the event is one of the association’s major meets as it comes ahead of the Inter-Primary Championships and CARIFTA 2013. As a result officials are expecting a large turn-out of young athletes competing in preparation for the international season. The competition begins at 6pm Friday I March and continues at 9am Saturday, 2 March at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.
The events and age groups are as follows:
FIELD EVENTS AGE GROUPS
LONG JUMP M/F 7 – 8, 9 – 10, 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
HIGH JUMP M/F 9 – 10, 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
BALL THROW M/F 7 – 8, 9 – 10, 11 – 12
JAEVLIN M/F 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
TURBO JAVELIN M/F 9 – 10, 11- 12
SHOT PUT M/F 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
DISCUS M/F 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
RUNNING EVENTS AGE GROUP
100M /110M HURDLE M/F 14 – 16, 17 – 19 & OVER
80M M/F 7 – 8
100M M/F 9- 10, 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15-16, 17 & OVER
150M M/F 7 – 8, 9 – 10
200M M/F 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15-16, 17 & OVER
400M M/F 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
800M M/F 11 – 12, 13 – 14, 15 -16, 17 & OVER
1500M M/F 13 – 14, 15 – 16, 17 & OVER
3,000M M/F 13 – 14, 15 – 17, 17 & OVER
4 X 400M M/F OPEN
4 X 100M M/F OPEN
Registration is open to ages 7 and above and forms can be obtained by contacting Sana Tugman at 924-1649, Coach Williams at 925-1943 or Coach Yen at 925-6917. Completed forms may be returned to any of the above persons or to ciaa_secretary@hotmail.com. Registration closes on Wednesday, 27 February at 6:00pm.
Officials are asked to please make an effort to come out and assist with the various events in order for the meet to run smoothly.