Archive for April 4th, 2013
Deputy governor enters fun run
(CICC): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has pledged to participate in the first annual BDO Cadet Corps 5K Fun Run, set to take place Sunday April 7th. Manderson will also be the Official Patron of the event, which is intended to benefit the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC), a youth organisation for secondary school students between the ages of 12 and 17. The programme is designed to teach the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, responsibility and a sense of accomplishment, while instilling self-esteem, teamwork and self-discipline.
“As a participant and Patron, I am excited to be involved in the inaugural BDO Cadet Corps 10K and 5K run in support of Cayman Islands Cadet Corps,” said the Deputy Governor. “I encourage all civil servants to join in and do something positive for both their health and colleagues,” he added.
There is also a 10K format race, which allows entrants to participate as individuals as well as part of a team of four. The race is scored similarly to a cross country competition, where each runner completes the course, and the individual scores are added together to compile an overall team score. A children’s race is also scheduled to take place.
Mr. Manderson is hopeful the CICC run will appeal to civil servants. “I hope with initiatives such as this run, we can inspire Cayman to become more active,” said Mr. Manderson. “Introducing our youth and future leaders to the sport of running is something I’m passionate about and hope to see reflected especially through participation from our civil servants,” he said.
“BDO is delighted to provide support to the Cadet Corps”, said Director Russell Smith, adding, “With the assistance of organizers, Race Caribbean, BDO Cayman is confident the inaugural race will be a tremendous success, and the Cadet Corps’ event will become a key fixture in the annual sporting calendar.”
The event is also supported by Tower Marketing and Caribbean Creations. Organisers are seeking additional funds from the local business community, who can email jenna@tower.com.ky for information about sponsorship opportunities. Runners can register online at caymanactive.com or visit cadetcorpsrun.ky for more information.
Christian denied appeal
(CNS): The first casualty of the election has expressed his disappointed that he was disqualified without being given the chance to challenge the decision. Richard Christian told CNS that the Elections Office prematurely released the statement about his removal from the Bodden Town ballot paper, even though he had been advised he still had until 4 April to appeal the decision through the courts. Christian, a former member of the UDP, had resigned from the party and was hoping to campaign on the People’s National Alliance ticket with the incumbent members of the minority government. The decision to disqualify him was made by the district’s returning officer because he has a valid US passport, which is not permitted under the constitution.
Admitting that the end result could still have been the same, Christian said he was not offered the opportunity to state his case, which he believes is valid, before the statement was released by the office. After he received the letter setting out the reason for his disqualification, he had told the Elections Office that he would be seeking legal advice.
“I do not agree with the disqualification,” Christian said, as he pointed to Section 61 (2) (b), which defines that he is qualified, adding that there is a contradiction between 61 (2) (b) and 62 (1) (a). “I qualify to be elected as my citizenship is by birth and I have a Caymanian parent/grandparent, but yet I'm disqualified because I renewedand travelled on my US passport at age of majority,” he said, noting that he had first obtained a US passport when he was a minor.
However, the constitution states that the renewal of a passport of another country after the age of majority, which in Cayman is 18, is a voluntary allegiance to another country, which has to lapse before a qualified Caymanian can be eligible.
Nevertheless, Christian said that he has to travel on a US passport into the US as he cannot get a visa for his Cayman passport.
“I was advised some time ago by US officials that I am a US citizen and have to use my US passport when traveling there. That is the US law; I cannot change that. I cannot simply surrender my US passport; I would have to renounce my citizenship. But section 61 (2) (b) does not require me to,” Christian claimed, despite the constitution’s position on the holding of a second citizenship. Christian argued that the constitution only requires eligible candidates to renounce their citizenship if they were born in Cayman and then went on to obtain another citizenship by their own act.
“To me that is a contradiction of the law and it needs to be clarified,” he said.
Christian said Cayman is the only home that he knows. “My mother, father, sisters and grandparents, with one exception, are all born Caymanians. My wife and children are also born Caymanians and a majority of my family reside here. I have never voted, paid taxes, worked or own any property in the US,” he said, adding that if he had clearly known that he had to give up his US citizenship to run for election, he would have done so months ago.
“I had spoken with US officials on a visit they made to Cayman to meet with US citizens at the Marriott Hotel last year and I attended for the sole purpose to ask them on the procedure to renounce my citizenship. However, after looking at the Cayman Constitution I saw that it was not required in my instance,” the would-be politician stated.
Christian said he was seeking legal advice on whether to challenge the disqualification because of what he said was the Election Office’s failure to allow him the seven day window to appeal before publicly declaring him disqualified. “That is a clear violation of my rights,” Christian stated and said that he would make a decision shortly on his next move.
Although Christian is the only candidate that has been declared disqualified by the Elections Office, questions relating to dual nationality, residency periods prior to election and even candidate's convictions are still raising questions about some of the 57 candidates still expected to be involved in the political race for office.