Archive for June, 2013
Election cycle needs to change
(CNS): As the new PPM governmentfaces a race against the clock to bring an emergency appropriations bill to the Legislative Assembly before the end of June just a few weeks after being elected to office, the premier acknowledged last week that government needs to change the election month back to November. Alden McLaughlin said that having the fiscal year start on 1 July with a May election cycle presented difficulties for a new government and a decision would have to be made about changing the election time because that was far cheaper than trying to change the financial year. However, while cheaper, it will not be without controversy since the choice is between the current administration adding six months to their term or cutting it short by six months.
Cayman’s elections were previously held in November, which is why government has a July to June fiscal year rather than following the calendar. However, because of the devastating and unexpected arrival of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, just two months ahead of the General Election, the UDP administration at the time postponed the national poll until May 2005 under an agreement that it would be changed at a later date.
However, after the PPM won that election the UDP, then in opposition, objected to an addition to that government’s term of six months to November 2009. The PPM government was also reluctant to cut short its term in office. However, given economic fallout of the international fiscal crisis, had it gone to the polls in November 2008, there may have been a very different outcome.
Despite being the political party to benefit from the extended period in office to May 2005, the last UDP administration also refused to cut its time in office short and, as a result, Cayman went through its thirdMay election, continuing the conflict with the fiscal year.
Speaking on Radio Cayman’s TalkToday show last week, the premier said changing the election date was a discussion the new government needed to explore. He noted the controversy that would surround the decision but said that the logistics pointed to moving that date rather than the fiscal calendar.
“That is a discussion I want us to have,” he said. “The fiscal year was moved to match election cycle, which used to be November, and then Ivan changed that and put election back,” he said. He pointed out that the UDP had got the extra six months but it would still be controversial as the question would be should this administration get three and a half years or four and a half years.
“It is controversial but I want to explore that early,” he added.
Ezzard Miller, the independent member for North Side who had brought a motion to the Legislative Assembly during the last administration, also called on government to act as soon as possible and re-synchronize the election calendar with the fiscal one. He pointed out that it would be stupid to go through the process of changing the financial year, so it had to be the election and it was petty for each of the administrations to continue arguing over six months.
Miller said he did not care whether the new government got more or less and he would support a vote either way, as the important thing is that it is changed. He said he would be raising the issue again in the country’s parliament as soon as possible. He added that if the current government does a good job then it should not be worried about losing six months.
The North Side independent MLA pointed to a number of problems created by the conflict in the calendar that would be resolved by the election’s return to November. He said this would give any new administration time to put together a strategic policy statement and properly prepare a full budget.
CNCF hosts 5th Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase
(CNS): Films from all across the Caribbean region will be showcased in Cayman later this month as the Cayman National Cultural Foundation plays host to the 5th Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase from 18 – 29 June. Twenty one films have been selected from Cuba, Haiti, Belize, Venezuela, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands among others which included animated movies for children to fascinating documentaries and love stories, as well as controversial films on what some might consider taboo subjects. The annual film festival represents filmmakers from the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and its diaspora.
It provides audiences with access to a wide selection of films not readily available online, in theatres or in stores and tickets for the various movies are now on sale.
Tickets cost $5 per day for adults or $20 for 5 night pass while kids aged 12 and under can enter free. The CNCF also has group discounts or two week festival passes available. To purchase tickets email admincncf@candw.ky with your phone number or call 949-5477.
For more information go to http://www.artscayman.org/tcfs
FDA wait brings US cancer doctor to Cayman
(CNS): A US-based doctor and biomedical researcher who has developed a radiation and chemotherapy-free cancer treatment has opened a clinic in the Cayman Islands because, he says, the wait for the Food and Drug Administration’s approval is years away. Thomas Wagner, PhD, said Cayman was the best available option while the FDA decides if his treatment regimen will be accepted for use in the United States. Describing his treatment as a lifesaver which can benefit patients now, the doctor told a South Carolina newspaper that it involves injecting patients with a vaccine made from their own tumour cells.
Although the clinic’s arrival was noted by the former health minister earlier this year, there has been no official information about the treatment released to the general local media in the Cayman Islands.
However, Wagner spoke with the GSA Business, a bi-weekly newspaper in his native South Carolina about the treatment.
“Every human being is different and every cancer is different,” Wagner said. “If we take every molecule that is in a patient’s tumour and use that complete molecular profile to activate their immune system, that is the best you can get.” He added that “cancer starts in all of us about 10 times a day” and is naturally treated by some bodily process. Wagner said drugs interfere with that natural treatment, while his method enhances it.
Wagner, who has served as a scientific adviser to the World Health Organization, to Congress and to the Reagan administration, described his treatment as providing a better quality of life than other invasive treatments. “It is my belief that the future of medicine will not involve small molecules put in pills or injected into a patient,” he said.
The Perseus PCI (Personalized Cancer Immunotherapeutics) clinic is based at the Smith Road Centre in George Town, and Dr Sook Yin is the clinic’s treating physician for patient care plans. Each patient plan is being coordinated by a team of US-based and licensed doctors who are also licensed to practice in the Cayman Islands.
Wagner is said to be a pioneer in cell-based therapies. In the early 1980s he co-founded Diagnostic Hybrids, which makes and markets cellular and molecular diagnostic kits used for respiratory and other diseases. He is a founder of the Ohio Edison Biotechnology Institute and formerly directed the Greenville Health System’s Oncology Research Institute and Clemson University’s Biomedical Institute. He currently is a director of the Orbis Health Solutions medical research firm in Greenville, a funding partner of Perseus.
The clinic has started scheduling treatments for patients, including some from the doctor’s Greenville area, and his US supporters believe that, despite the lack of FDA approval, his treatment method should be available to patients now as an alternative to sickening chemotherapy and radiation and other immunotherapy treatments that do not only use a patient’s own cells.
Wagner said he “thought long and hard” about how to best make the treatment an option for patients now and decided on the Cayman Islands clinic.
“It’s not a question of escaping the United States or anything like that,” Wagner said, adding he had complied with local regulations and law. He predicted that results from treating patients at the clinic will show his immunotherapy method should be allowed there.
Although insurance won’t cover treatment at the clinic or the out-of-country travel costs for US patients, which could range from $40,000 to $100,000, Wagner said that this is still half the cost of some other cancer treatments and his method doesn’t use drugs and isn’t embraced by powerful pharmaceutical companies. Wagner added that his non-pharmaceutical method “doesn’t fit most business models” and is at odds with a corporate mind-set that steers the course of cancer treatment financially.
Wagner said eligibility for clinical trials is limited to “people who have failed everything else. If they die from this they are going to die anyway.” He said 14% of the patients who have participated in his treatments are still alive.
Former minister seeks public apology from cops
(CNS): Following the dismissal of charges against him last week, Dr Frank McField, a former Cabinet minister and recent political candidate in the general election, is seeking compensation and a public apology for his treatment at the hands of the police. McField was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing police following an incident at his restaurant in George Town in May last year, when officers from the RCIPS had tried to seize equipment being used to play music after midnight on a Sunday. Following McField’s own submissions, as he acted in his own defence, the magistrate dismissed the charges when she agreed with the former politician and playwright that there was no case to answer.
Following the dismissal, McField wrote to commissioner David Baines pointing out that the trial, which took place while he was campaigning for office, undermined his efforts because the issue of candidates facing the courts while running for office was an election issue.
The former minister wrote to the top cop last week stating, “Much was said and made of the fact that several candidates in our recent elections had cases pending before the courts,” he wrote. “I was one of those candidates who had to suffer the humiliation and disadvantage of campaigning while on bail. However, my case never needed to come before a court because it was obvious even to the Pope’s dog that the seizure of some of my possessions, and my arrest and detainment was unlawful.”
On the night in question, a private party was being held at the premises, which does not have a liquor license in any event, and at around 1:30am officers entered the restaurant and attempted to seize the music equipment. When the manager of the premises, Silvana Lewis, who faces four charges in connection with the incident, tried to stop them, there was a struggle and she was arrested. It was then that McField became involved and was also arrested for obstructing police.
McField successfully argued, however, that the police should not have entered his premises to take anything without a warrant or without having made an arrest beforehand. In this case the prosecutor had agreed that it was not clear if the officers were acting in accordance with the law. The magistrate said that any reasonable doubt had to be resolved in the defendant's favour.
The trial for both McField and Lewis had begun in February but court delays caused the summary trial drag on, and when it came close to the election, McField had asked for an adjournment, leaving him in the midst of criminal proceedings while trying to get elected in George Town. In the end, McField was only able to attract just over 3.6% of the vote and lost his deposit, a result the candidate believes was impacted by the legal issues and the publicity surrounding it. In his letter to the commissioner, McField asked for a public apology and compensation.
“Above all, the rule of law requires that those who make, adjudicate and apply the law should be subjected to the same law. In other words, the police should be subject to the self-same law that they apply and uphold,” he stated. “It is the mark of the police in a fully-fledged and mature democracy that they bind and subject themselves to the very law that they are pledged to uphold. Commissioner David Baines, I call upon you as the captain of this immature democracy to have your officers offer me, a Justice of the Peace, a public apology and begin talks on ways in which I may be compensated for this public humiliation and loss of credibility and trustworthiness: keys words in the May 2013 elections. “
He accused the police of attempting to criminalize Cayman youth and what he called radical intellectuals like himself. McField also pointed to the video footage he has from the night, which he gained as a result of evidence disclosure, that shows what he said was the “cruel behaviour” by the officers in the case towards Lewis and claims that a discussion about their dislike of working with Caymanian officers in the RCIPS was also recorded.
“Mr Baines, I had to act as my own defence counsel because the majority of these officers of the court are like your policemen and women, here for the money and joy ride and to hell with the rights of the natives. Therefore, if I need to take further actions to win back my humanity, I will do so by any means necessary,” McField said in his letter.
The case is now expected to return to Summary Court in July, when the charges against Lewis for assault will be heard.
Cops round up Tortuga robbery suspects
(CNS): A 25-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman were taken into custody by police Tuesday in connection with the robbery at the Tortuga Bakery and Liquor Store on North Sound Road at the weekend, after they when they were stopped in George Town in a car suspected of being used in the daylight heist. A police spokesperson said that at around 1pm yesterday (11 June), officers of the RCIPS stopped a white Ford Ranger along North Church Street George Town. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested on suspicion of robbery and are currently in custody assisting with the enquiry. The vehicle was seized as part of the investigation.
Police are still seeking witnesses or any information relating to the robbery, which happened at around 10 O’clock on Saturday morning. The robber was said to have approached an employee of Tortuga as the person was arriving at the store. He pointed what appeared to be a small firearm at him and demanded cash before making his escape. People with any information can call any of the police stations or Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS(8477).
Mac’s charges consolidated
(CNS): The eleven criminal charges that have been filed against the former premier and leader of the United Democratic Party, McKeeva Bush, may be consolidated, officials said Tuesday. With mounting rumours that the charges relating to theft and corruption offences had been dropped, a police spokesperson stated that the prosecution was on-going. Bush, who is now the leader of the opposition, is expected in court on Friday 28 June, when he will answer charges that include allegations that he used a government credit card to unlawfully withdraw thousands of dollars in cash from ATMs in US casinos while travelling for business and pleasure. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
As the RCIPS and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) continue their investigations into the former premier of the Cayman Islands and wait on the public prosecutor’s office over what are believed to be at least a dozen further charges, a spokesperson for the police said the RCIPS was aware that the director of public prosecutions (DPP) was considering changing the indictment relating to Bush’s charges. However, the issue was a matter for the crown counsel concerned.
"The case against Mr Bush is now in the courts system and the issues therein may be considered sub-judice. It should also be noted that any decision made in relation to charges and the framing of indictments is a matter for the DPP's office,” the spokesperson stated. "The RCIPS understands that no charges have been dropped but that consideration has been given to consolidating some of the charges … Any confirmation of such action, or any comment relating to it, must be made by the DPP's office and not the RCIPS. It would be inappropriate for the RCIPS to comment further on this matter," she added.
Although Bush already faces eleven charges relating directly to the misuse of a government credit card and abuse of office, investigations into various other allegations, from the infamous Stan Thomas land zoning affair to a more recent transfer of a fee on behalf of Bush to a regional university in connection with an honorary doctorate are also still underway.
However, the UDP leader has categorically denied all charges and allegations against him, accusing local authorities of conspiring with the governor and the FCO, among others, to oust him from political office. He has also denied any knowledge of a $1 million donation paid to the Jamaican based University College of the Caribbean (UCC) on his behalf in connection with the honorary degree. However, the college chancellor admitted that the university’s foundation had received and returned the gift when the special degree that Bush was supposed to receive was not bestowed.
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Gunman escapes attempted murder rap
(CNS): A 35-year-old man from George Town was found guilty Tuesday of a number of offences, including the unlawful possession and use of a firearm and assault. However, he escaped the most serious of the charge against him of attempted murder when the presiding judge said she was unconvinced that the crown had proved Leighton Griffin Rankine Jr had intended to kill anyone. Rankine was charged with trying to kill two men in the car park of a West Bay Road nightclub in February last year after a major altercation, when he opened fire with a handgun. During the trial police officers who were called to the scene said Rankine had the weapon in his hand when they arrived and one man had been shot.
Justice Marva Macdonald-Bishop, who was presiding over the case without a jury, said in her verdict that the crown counsel did not succeed in convincing her that it was Rankine's intention to kill anyone that night. But he was found guilty of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and the unlawful use of that weapon, as well as wounding and assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
The two complainants in this case, Mitchell Wright and Joylon Fredericks, were both treated at the hospital in George Town that night, one for a gunshot wound and the other for wounds sustained in the fight, which happened in the car park of Club 7, where Rankine was accused of shooting at the men.
Rankine was remanded in custody after the verdict and the sentencing hearing was set for Thursday. Rankine is looking at a statutory minimum of ten years for the possession of the weapon alone. However, because of the use of the weapon and the assault, Rankine could be looking at an even longer stretch.
Cayman delegation seeking fair play in UK
(CNS Business): The Cayman Islands government will be seeking to ensure that the latest OECD initiative surrounding the exchange of financial information is fair and equitable among all countries, onshore or offshore, when they attend the pre-G8 meeting this weekend. Wayne Panton, the new financial services minister, said Cayman’s commitment to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters was another step in its long history of compliance with international standards and it will not have any adverse impacts on the local financial services sector provided there is a level playing field around the world for information exchange to maintain the jurisdiction’s competitive edge. Read more on this and other stories on CNS Business
CUC bills going up
(CNS): Despite the hefty fuel bills that consumers on Grand Cayman already face due to duty and high oil prices, the local Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has approved an increase in the basic rate CUC charges customers, which will take effect this month. The ERA confirmed that it has approved an application made by the monopoly electricity supplier in April to increase the rate by 1.8%, further squeezing hard hit consumers. The ERA board said the increase applies only to the CUC base rate, which is being increased from 10.46 to 10.65 cents CI per kWh. This rate equates to about one third of the typical monthly CUC bill, the board noted, so the increase will translate to around 0.5% of a total bill.
As per the law, one of the main functions of the ERA is to "monitor and regulate all licensees in a manner that promotes sustainable competitive practices; provides an opportunity for a fair and reasonable return to licensees; and protects the economic interests and well-being of consumers by keeping tariffs and rate structures as low as can reasonably be achieved," the board said in a release Tuesday.
The ERA added that CUC submitted the application for a base rate hike on 2 April in accordance with the Rate Cap and Adjustment Mechanism (RCAM) described in Condition 25 of the CUC Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Licence.
“[T]he RCAM is based on a formula that incorporates readily available external data to determine the Price Level Index,” the board stated. “The RCAM is calculated using the most recent CUC audited financial statements to calculate CUC’s permitted return on rate base and a weighted average consisting of 60% of the Cayman Islands Consumer Price Index (CI CPI) and 40% of the United States of America Consumer Price Index (US CPI).”
The board said that these indices are adjusted to remove the effects of prices of food and fuel, as reported by independent authorities for the most recent calendar year.
“On review and confirmation of the CUC audited financial reports, the CI and US CPI reports, the 2012 CUC Return on Rate Base and June 2013 Base Rate Adjustment calculations, the ERA approved the CUC 1.8% Rate Base increase on May 10, 2013 which, as a result of 2012 inflation in both the Cayman Islands and the USA, CI CPI and US CPI of 1.0% and 1.9% respectively the Required Rate Adjustment as per Condition 25 of the CUC T&D Licence equates to 1.8%,” the board said in justification for its decision.
While only a small overall hike, many people in Cayman are already fighting hard to find the money for their light bills and, as the islands head towards the hottest time of year, the battle to keep fuel bills down just got a little harder.
An informational insert detailing how this change will affect the various Consumer Classes has been included in CUC June 2013 Billings, officials said.
More information about the CUC T&D Licence, the Rate Cap Adjustment Mechanism or the ERA, please visit the CUC website or the ERA website.
Bank backs martial arts special programme
(CNS): Cayman National is joining a list of local sponsors to back the Purple Dragon Martial Arts scholarship programme for local youngsters who have been identified as having special issues such as behavioural problems, physical challenges or coming from disadvantaged homes. “We have been inundated with reports from families, social workers and teachers who have seen the improvement in children from this programme,” said Sensei Floyd the owner of the martial arts school as he thanked the latest sponsor. “Purple Dragon provides a foundation for personal development and growth. It also helps children apply structure and discipline to their lives,” he added as he explained the need for the support.
“For every sponsorship of a child’s participation fees by generous companies such as Cayman National, their lives are positively impacted,” Floyd said.
Sponsors will gain a contract from each student, committing to regular attendance and timeliness, maintenance of school grades and behaviour reflecting respect for individuals and property. Scholarship sponsors will also receive twice-yearly reports from the Purple Dragon teachers, parents, school and counsellors, tracking the performance of their student.
“Cayman National is delighted to be a part of the Purple Dragon Scholarship programme, as we believe this will significantly improve the lives of our young people by encouraging mental and physical growth through challenging times,” stated Christy Braggs from the bank.