Archive for July, 2013
Elections office re-opens with cheques for staff
(CNS): Problems with financial difficulties, the handover to a new team and the change of responsibility from the Portfolio of Internal Affairs to the Home Affairs Ministry have been addressed and the Elections Office reopened Monday with normal office hours after its temporary closure, which had raised concerns among workers and service providers. The new supervisor of elections said that his new team is now responsible for all of the outstanding bills, and the final stipend payment requests for staff were being processed and were expected to be ready for collection from the office in Smith road by Tuesday afternoon.
Wesley Howell told CNS that there had been a number of issues to resolve, not least the office’s budget overspend for 2013 as a result of an election and a referendum in the same 12 month period.
“The new Supervisor of Elections team are responsible for the processing of all outstanding 2012-2013 bills for the Elections Office which was incurred by the previous administration,” Wesley Howell explained. “I am pleased to advise that the final stipend payment requests for staff are being processed by the financial staff in the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is my expectation isthat the stipends cheques for election office workers will be ready for collection for Elections Office on July 9th starting at 1pm.”
He added that payments to vendors were also expected to be processed during this week, which would allow for the books for the Elections Office under the Ministry of Home Affairs, formerly the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs, to be closed for the year end.
“Once this process is complete and the 2012-2013 books are clear, the new Supervisor Team will be working with the fFinancial and aAdmin staff within the Portfolio of the Civil Service for the 2013-2014 budget year," Howell stated.
He explained that the delays with the post-election payments were down to normal delays with financial year end processing as well as the need to secure funds to cover the overspend by the Elections Office for the 2012-2013 financial year. In addition, the delays were compounded, Howell said, by the demands on the finance and administrative resources to execute the reshuffling of departments between ministries and portfolios, as a result of the reorganization of government since the elections.
Howell said that he expected the details of candidates' election expenses would also be completed by the end of Tuesday.
Check back to CNS for details and analysis of how much the candidates spent on their general election campaign.
Over 37% of local kids left primary school fat
CNS): According to statistics released by the public health department, 208 students (37.3%) moved from the primary to high school either overweight or obese last year. And while kids are growing in girth as well as knowledge while in school, a considerable number are entering the system with weight problems. More than one third of children who entered government primary schools in September 2012 did so carrying too much weight, officials revealed this week. Of the 530 students screened by public health practitioners at the start of the 2012/13 school year, 177 were either obese or overweight. Officials explained that children are screened at the start of school to identify possible weight problems with the goal of offering health programmes.
However, there are indications that the number of kids leaving school fat is surpassing the already hefty number entering overweight, which is a significant concern for health providers, education professionals, parents and ultimately the young people who are starting off their education with significant health issues.
While being overweight seems to be the main problem, there is also a concern that on average around 7% of kids come to school underweight. Overall less than 60% of children in Cayman are coming to school with a healthy, normal weight for their age.
Officials said that they use Body Mass Index as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for children and the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend its use to screen for overweight and obesity in children as young as two years old.
“Body Mass Index (BMI) is useful to offer appropriate guidance and counselling to parents of overweight and obese children. Also the data is utilized in offering weight reduction programs,” public health officials stated.
The percentage of overweight children entering schools in the Cayman Islands during the period 2009-2012 remained relatively consistent. However, school year 2010-2011 showed a higher percentage of obese children (23.3%). 2010-2011 also had the lowest number of students who were underweight (4.9%). Again there has been an increase of obese children from 13.7% in 2011/12 to 17.4% in 2012/13.
The percentage of overweight children has been gradually increasing, and while there has been a decline of obese children, which may point to a healthier trend, Director of Public Health Dr Kiran Kumar notes that there is a pressing need to reduce the number of overweight children and to control obesity in school-entry with plans afoot for an awareness campaign.
Health experts have also warned that childhood obesity is a major public health issue because it leads to the non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, which have all been identified as the main health problems in local adults.
See tables below showing test results for school entry and pre-high school.
63% of Shetty workers local
(CNS): There are currently 220 workers on the construction site of the first phase of the Health City Cayman Islands, the tourist medical facility being developed by renowned Indian heart surgeon, Dr Devi Shetty, in East End. Of those, just over 63% are Caymanians, Gene Thompson, the Health City’s project director, told a group of visitors from the Chamber of Commerce during a recent tour of the site. In addition to the 140 Caymanians who are employed there, Thompson said more than 20 independent equipment operators working on the project are all Caymanian. The project boss also revealed that the hospital is on target to open in February of next year.
The Health Cityis continuing with the public outreach programme to keep the community informed of progress and provide site tours to various community leaders, associations, and groups, he said. During the tour, the Chamber members were also provided with information on several unique systems in the construction that have allowed what Thompson said was “the rapid progress, while providing the highest level or construction and strength”.
The building is being constructed to a Cat 5 hurricane standard and includes many green initiatives, including Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC), solar, waste recycling and reduction techniques, water harvesting, and a few other programmes.
The health facility is being built in the High Rock area of East End and promises to bring high-quality, affordable healthcare services to the Cayman Islands, based on the model developed by Shetty in India. The project is a joint venture between Narayana Hospitals of India, Shetty’s group and Ascension Health Alliance, the largest, Catholic, non-profit, healthcare organization in the United States.
Health City Cayman Islands is being built in phases over the next 15 years and will require a capital investment of around US$2 billion, officials say. Once complete, it could employ as many as 9,000 people. Construction began in February of this year on the first phase of the project, which is a 140-bed tertiary care hospital.
Chantal to swing away from Caribbean Sea
(CNS): Early predictions from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami that Tropical Storm Chantal could be heading along the southern coast of Cuba and near to the Cayman area have been revised. On the current path Chantal poses no threat to our region as the storm is now predicted to pass across the Lesser Antilles then the eastern Caribbean, heading between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola before moving along the Northeast coast of Cuba and up towards Florida. According to the NHC, at 8am on Tuesday Chantal was about 45 miles NNW of Barbados and was still speeding along at 26mph. Packing winds of 50mph, some strengthening is forecasted for Chantal, whose winds currently extend out some 90 miles from the centre.
Cash handouts won’t help
(CNS): Two of government’s backbench MLAs made it clear Monday that they and their colleagues will not be digging into their pockets to help constituents through handouts from their salaries but will be working on broader policies to address the many issues facing a significant number of people in Cayman at present. Although Al Suckoo and Joey Hew both said they recognised the hardships that people across Cayman are suffering, $50 handouts won’t help people in the long run. Policies that will grow the economy and give everyone the opportunity to help themselves will be far better for the country as a whole than continuing the handout culture, they said.
Speaking on Radio Cayman’s Talk Today show on 7 July, the MLAs made it clear that, while they may be well paid by many people’s standards, most of the politicians who were elected to government this time around had earned far more in their previous careers and had gone into politics to make a change and not for the salary.
Referring to certain expectations of voters that, once in office, their MLAs will give physical handouts to help with light bills or other pressing financial difficulties, the two new parliamentarians said that their salaries were not sufficient to help everyone who was now in need but it didn’t mean that they would not be doing what they could in other ways to help their constituents.
“Ministers are still doing clinics and we will help wherever we can,” said Hew, who represents the people of George Town. “We all want to help; that’s why we ran for office in first place.”
He explained that by spending their time working with their ministers to develop broader policies to address the many difficulties the economic situation has created will mean that they can help more people, rather than giving hand outs to individuals or trying to deal with every specific one-off problem that is presented to them as MLAs
“We are not saying that we can’t deal with requests,” Suckoo, who was elected in Bodden Town, said. “Everyone’s need is important and we are not ignoring people but the best way to help is to develop the broader policies and for us to meet the promises made on the campaign trail, as dealing with each and every individual case won’t allow us to deal with the policy changes that are needed to help everyone.”
The two men discussed a number of issues on the government radio’s lunch time show Monday and said the new administration was now getting settled in but there was much work to be done. Promising big things to come from the PPM government, they said it had been very well received by the private sector, from which there had been an outpouring of support and offers to assist. The men also said the new government had been warmly welcomed in the government building, with the civil service offering much appreciated support.
“We have had a lot to do just getting started,” Hew said. “From the outside it might not look like much is happening but a lot is going on with a lot of things underway. We will soon be saying more but we need to get our heads wrapped around everything that needs doing as we only have four short years to get it all done,” he added.
Camera catches cop blocking disabled parking slot
(CNS): A serving female police officer has been given "advice and guidance" by her superintendent and the police have offered a public apology after the cop parked outside a coffee shop and blocked a disabled parking spot. The officer, who was in uniform but in an unmarked car, was caught on camera as she entered the local café and left the vehicle she was driving parked right outside the door in a no parking area as well as blocking access to the parking space designated for disabled drivers and passengers. In the wake of a recently launched campaign to name and shame inconsiderate drivers, the cop was snapped on film and the picture was circulated around the island and to the officer’s bosses.
In a statement released Monday afternoon following the distribution of the picture, Superintendent Adrian Seales offered a public apology.
“The RCIPS apologizes to the public for the action of the officer responsible. The officer has been identified given advice and guidance by their superintendent,” he said. “The RCIPS will continue in our support to persons holding disable permits fully recognizing the need in finding designated parking within public spaces. We remain committed in this campaign and heightening awareness and public education.”
The campaign to name and shame inconsiderate drivers continues and organisers are still asking members of the public who see vehicles blocking or parked in disabled slots to take pictures of the vehicles and to send them to the RCIPS. It was started by West Bay parent Chelsea Rivers, who created flyers to place on the windscreens of drivers who have abused disabled spots.
"I realise this is a work in progress (sadly) and that we'll have to build the awareness over time to the point that people actually stop and think about what they're doing. I would hope that the RCIPS would be on board in every way," Rivers said when she saw the picture of the officer. "People should understand that they will be called out in a very public way. With the need and means to keep the public honest, everyone is open to criticism … especially law enforcement officers."
Rivers said this latest picture made her angry that a police officer would feel it is ok to do this but she was heartened that the public is noticing and not afraid to challenge such behaviour.
"The RCIPS needs to know that the public is watching and will do as they do, be it driving and texting/talking or parking in blue spots. There can be no double standards with this," she added. "We are organising ourselves to move to the next level, gearing up for sensitivity training at offices, setting up meetings with the RCIPS and the hospital and working with the government to ensure that the needs of the disabled are considered and met. It's more than just about parking spaces for us, but this is a very important start."
Local community activist and supporter of the campaign, Sandra Catron, added that everyone needs to obey the law.
“We, the residents of the Cayman Islands, believe that everyone should obey the laws of this country – especially those seeking to enforce the laws and garnish our respect. There’s a general move on social media to expose RCIPS officers who break laws and I am personally making sure that the commissioner is made aware of every incident that is brought to my attention.”
Catron said she has particular concerns about police who continue to use their phones while driving, even when it is clearly not an emergency. Although the police are exempt under the law, there is growing support that officers pose just as much threat to road users when using their cell phones casually as any other driver.
Visit The Blue Spot Facebook page, and email TheBlueSpot345@gmail.comwith photos of inconsiderate drivers.
Related article:
Mother takes on inconsiderate ‘parkers’
Primary students show-off at year end
(CNS): Students from Sir John A. Cumber Primary School (SJACPS) in West Bay were showing off what they had learned recently on their unique Primary Years Programme (PYP) which is part of the school’s authorized partnership as an International Baccalaureate (IB) world school. The IB PYP is an international programme focusedd on the holistic development of children as inquirers both in and out of the classroom. As an IB school, one of the functions is to keep the parents, and general school community informed of the students’ learning and other actions and activities of the school. SJACPS provided that opportunity with a year-end display open to the public June 12 – 14.
All year levels are involved with the IB PYP at SJACPS and were on-hand at the open house to talk about what they learned through the programme. One of the visitors was the new education minister and district MLA Tara Rivers who was guided by the students who explained their projects and how these projects evolved.
One of the projects displayed was the students’ consideration of natural resources. In pursuit of the central inquiry of how human activity can harm or protect our natural resources, the students presented the Minister with an educational information brochure they produced on how the public can reduce, reuse and recycle.
“I was most impressed with the student’s comprehension of the impact of waste not only to our country, but across the world and their influence as citizens of the world,” said Rivers.
While the IB PYP programme develops trans-disciplinary skills such as social, thinking, communication, research and self-management, the purpose is to help these young people develop into citizens of the world in relation to culture, language, learning and living together.
Wallace, principal of SJACPS added that students are engaged and producing high-level of work.
“It is evidence of their growing research and analytical skills. These are skills that are becoming critically important for learners to master as they become more exposed to uncensored sources of information such as is represented by the internet,” she said.
Webb launches regional anti-racism campaign
(CNS): Local soccer boss Jeff Webb, the CONCACAF President and Chairman of FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, launched the football body’s new campaign this week ahead of the Gold Cup’s first game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Embrace Diversity is a regional initiative created to provide a strong, recognized, effective and influential voice to promote integration within the football community and society. "We have a special responsibility in the way we can impact football and society," said Webb during his opening remarks at the launch. "CONCACAF has the opportunity to lead the way by implementing its first awareness campaign that supports the basic social principle of integration among cultures, religions, genders and races.
“We need to recognize that we have a great deal to learn about each other and must embrace this opportunity for the evolution of our beautiful game,” he added.
The Embrace Diversity campaign, unveiled before the opening match between Canada and Martinique, will be showcased on field boards throughout each of the competition’s 25 games. By working towards creating an environment of deference that fosters football’s continuous journey to impart positive role models to society, CONCACAF has initiated a long-term crusade to instil values that advocate integration.
“Even though we have come a long way in the pursuit of integration, discrimination still plays an active role as an unfortunate reflection of society within our game,” added General Secretary, Enrique Sanz. “The CONCACAF family is committed to enhancing the benefits of embracing diversity within our region in our quest to eliminate any type of discrimination from our fields. These are the first steps into a broader global mandate led by President Webb.”
Following FIFA Member Associations’ approval of the Anti-Racism and Discrimination resolutions during its 63rd Congress held in Mauritius, the implementation of CONCACAF’s campaign will support the goal of bringing universality to the mechanisms that combat racism and discrimination across all regions. The resolutions proposed by FIFA’s newly-formed task force, led by Webb, were developed to promote equality of rights to all people and eliminate race-based discrimination in every region and every country where football is played through sanction, education and prevention.
"I am extremely pleased that the football family has finally united with a firm stance to provide a strong, effective and influential voice against all forms of racism and discrimination through focusing on education, prevention and sanctions," said Webb. "I am honoured to have been asked to chair this crucial task force."
CONCACAF’s Embrace Diversity campaign was developed as a first step to take action on discrimination concerns raised within the football community in the region. In the future, it may include educational and awareness activities, coalition campaigns, prevention and legislation that can facilitate the referral of concerns around discrimination incidents within football.
“By safeguarding the basic principle of respect amongst all individuals in our stadiums, we hope to contribute to remove discrimination barriers within society,” added Webb. “Ignorance and prejudice are the ill of humanity. We want to make sure that nothing steers the focus away from the game of football.”
Webb was appointed Chairman of FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force by President Joseph Blatter in March 1st, 2013, with the directive to oversee all matters related to racism in football.
“Needless to say the challenges are numerous, but creating an environment of cooperation and establishing a clear roadmap to the desired goal will surely advance football’s continuous journey to fostering integration within the football community,” Webb added.
CIFA to hold meet and greet for volunteers
(CNS): Come Tuesday, July 9, CIFA’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the CONCACAF Under 15 Boys’ Development Tournament will be opening its hospitality doors to its volunteers. “Wefeel that it is important that our CIFA Ambassadors have an opportunity to meet with members of our LOC, become familiar with our short and long –term goals, and gain an understanding of what will be expected of them.” said LOC’s Chairman Bruce Blake.
The tournament, scheduled for August 13 – 25, promises to bring some 600 players, officials and their families to Grand Cayman. It presents an opportunity for members of the Cayman community to share in hosting them in a variety of ways such as liaison officers, sales clerks, administrative assistants, hosts and hostesses, translators and medical personnel, among other roles. Venues for the tournament are the Ed Bush Football Field in West Bay, George Town Annex and Truman Bodden Sports Complex which takes organizing the event to another level.
Said Charmaine Moss, Chairperson for Volunteers, “The two-hour event is designed to give all those attending an opportunity to interact with Chairpersons of our various committees and sign-up for their area of interest, in addition to sharing their ideas for providing first class Cayman hospitality to our visitors. It’s a great occasion for students on holidays, Cayman friends and families who are returning home for the summer and community service individuals and groups to contribute towards strengthening our tourism product. ”
Persons interested in and /or requiring more information on becoming a CIFA Ambassador should attend the Meet and Greet Information Session at the South Community Centre on Tuesday, July 9 at 5:30pm. Those unable to attend may email the LOC at volunteers.cifa@gmail.com
Mac says bank robbed CIG
(CNS): The former premier of the Cayman Islands attacked Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson, accused CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank of robbery and expressed his distrust of members of the Central Tenders Committee in correspondence relating to his failed attempts to once again re-package the public debt by circumventing the tendering process towards the end of last year. Correspondence released following an FOI request by CNS reveals a tirade from McKeeva Bush to FS Jefferson after he had advised the premier to use the CTC and follow process. However, Bush blamed Jefferson for the collapse of the Cohen deal in 2011 and the subsequent deal with the local bank, which he described as "robbery".
The exchange of emails (attached below) between the former leader of the Cayman Islands and Jefferson was copied to the governor, who expressed his concern about the abusive correspondence, and reveals that Bush believed the local authorities were conspiring to make him “look bad” and undermining his constitutional right to make the potential new loan deal.
The correspondence, which includes expletives, also shows that Bush regarded Nick Freeland, who was appointed as chair of the CTC last year, as the “governor’s man” and he expressed his distrust of the appointment of Richard Harris, which he said had been made without his knowledge. Inaddition, Bush accused Jefferson and other government officials, including the governor and the auditor general, of conspiring to deliberately stop him from trying to get a better deal for government and the country.
Warning the FS that he would not allow him to go “down the same road again”, as he had implied that it was Jefferson who had “shoved” CIBC into the mix, Bush said that if the governor, Jefferson and others got their way, it would not be the last of it.
The emails sent in October and November of last year make it clear that Bush believed Jefferson had a hand in the collapse of the controversial deal with Cohen and Co and suggested that Peter Young, who had advised on that deal and who was a leading member of the UDP at the time, “should have sued everyone” in relation to the failed deal.
This latest correspondence relates to attempts by Bush, with the assistance of attorney Wilton McDonald, to contract Caledonian Bank to organise the re-financing on more than $300million of the government’s debt. Bush made it clear he did not want to use the tendering process and was insisting that Caledonian, with whom he signed an engagement letter, remained in the mix, even if the issue went to tender.
The finance ministry confirmed Monday that an invoice sent to government for $300,000 for that bank’s services, as per the engagement letter signed by Bush, without the knowledge of the UK or local ministry officials, was never paid. Wilton McDonald also contacted CNS and stated that he had taken no fees for his services in arranging the negotiations with Caledonian.
Emails between Jefferson and Freeland, the CTC chair, indicate the concerns raised by officials by the efforts to circumvent process once again. Freeland told Jefferson that his advice to Bush to terminate attempts to deal solely with Caledonian and engage in a proper tender was not just a matter of rates but penalties that the CIG could incur by an early termination of some loans. He also noted the need to consider the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility, an agreement the premier had signed with the UK the previous year, and the need for an independent business case to justify the re-packaging.
Bush’s efforts to re-finance the deal were eventually scuppered by the UK. However, the ministry has withheld part of the FOI request relating to the letter sent to the FCO requesting the re-packaging and any response that may have related to it. CNS has requested an internal review of the decision.
See related article on CNS: