Archive for August, 2013
Turtle number increase cuts meat price
(CNS): The Cayman Turtle Farm is cutting the price of its meat as a result of a more productive breeding season and better management of the animals. With thousands of the endangered animals at the farm, what appears to be improvements in husbandry, diet and the overall health of the turtles has led to an increase in numbers, which the farm said has enabled them to reduce the normally hefty price tag. With over 8,000 turtles currently at the farm, the growth in numbers will also result in more of the farmed animals released into the wild, even though question remain as to whether the release programme is an appropriate method of conservation.
The reduction in price has been welcomed by the Department of Environment (DoE) as cheaper farmed meat is expected to reduce poaching pressure on the wild population. DoEDirector Gina Ebanks-Petrie said that any drop in meat prices would reduce incentives for illegal take, "so the DoE welcomes the planned reduction in the cost of turtle meat from the Farm.”
CTF Managing Director Tim Adam said the price decrease is the result of several factors, including increased egg and hatchling production at the farm.
“Over the last breeding season in 2012, the Cayman Turtle Farm greatly increased egg and hatchling production as a result of various actions including enhancements to the breeder diet, removal of unproductive breeders and changing the ratio of males to females in the breeding pond, as well as younger breeders becoming more mature and so better able to reproduce,” Adam said. “During the current 2013 breeding season now in progress, results so far indicate numbers similar to and even a bit ahead of last year’s numbers of egg production, which produced a bumper crop of hatchlings.”
Adam also said that lowering turtle meat prices helps in conservation efforts as cheaper legal farmed turtle meat means less incentive to poach turtles from the wild. “We strongly believe that a reduction in turtle meat prices will help to further reduce or eliminate poaching of wild turtles,” he said.
The CTF boss said that as many as 400 turtles could be released into the wild as a result of the increased hatchling production.
“We have completed work on additional quarantine tanks and our veterinarian, Dr Martha Keller, has implemented new pre-release quarantine protocols,” Adam explained. “The first turtles to be released under these new protocols are currently in the quarantine process, which runs for approximately three months. We anticipate that the Farm will be able to release up to 100 turtles at a time, so as many as 400 turtles could be released each year,” he added.
The new prices, which will come into effect from 1 September, are $19.00 per pound for turtle steak, $9.00 per pound for turtle stew meat, $7.00 per pound for menavelins, and $4.50 per pound for bone. All prices are in CI$ and each type of product is sold in five-pound lots. For turtle stew, for example, that is a 25% price drop.
However, the Cayman Turtle Farm remains the target of an international campaign to stop the breeding of the animals for meat and to re-invent the facility as a conservation centre.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals is still attempting to communicate with CTF management following its damning report, which exposed significant problems at the farm. The attention from the WSPA did lead to some improvements, including the recruitment of a full time vet and better conditions in the storage facilities.
However, concerns remain about the conditions and about releasing farm-reared turtles into the wild, regardless of the quarantine process.
In addition to the issues raised by the animal welfare charity, the farm continues to be a significant drain on public coffers, sucking in a subsidy of around $10 million per annum of public money to keep it open.
7MB hotel bar robbed
CNS): Less than 48 hours after a terrifying home invasion in Savannah at the hands of four masked gunmen, the police are on the hunt for two more suspects following an armed robbery at a West Bay Road hotel. Police were called to Treasure Island in the heart of Cayman’s tourism district along Seven Mile Beach after 11pm on Thursday night after two men entered the hotel lobby and robbed an employee of cash at gunpoint. The men were described as tall and dark in complexion; one was around 6ft 1inch and the second around 6ft 3inches. Both robbers wore blue jeans, blue hoody, black shoes, black gloves and blue masks. One was armed with a silver handgun with a wooden handle and the other a black handgun.
No shots were fired and no one was injured during the hold up and the gunmen ran towards the beach, heading towards West Bay direction.
Anyone who may have spotted these men or have any information of the robbery are asked to report it to any of the police stations or call 800-TIPS (8477) or call 949-7777.
A victim’s story
I was raped just four years ago and by someone I knew. Even though I'm an adult, what that person stole from me will never be replaced. For a long time it remained an open wound for me and only very recently I can even speak about it. This man raped me. He may not have physically beaten me or threatened my life or family, it happened once, but I'm thankful that he was at least sentenced to five years.
Now, someone please tell me how our little children are being raped, molested multiple times and these monsters get just a few months! Where is the justice?
I learned to speak out and share what happened when a close family member confided only recently that she was raped by someone she knew and felt ashamed and afraid to report it.
Rape is too common in Cayman and it’s like a secret that some people want to keep hidden. Even worse, it seems to be accepted by too many as just something that happens and should be brushed under the rug. There are many more incidents than what is being reported.
To be violated all over again, through rape kits, examinations, questioning by multiple detectives or officers, prosecutors, testifying with more questioning, all the shame, guilt, regret, hurt, anger that you have to go through — and then they get away with it?
I was an adult and thought I was dealing with it all right, although I wouldn't talk about it to friends or family, not even counseling — just wanting to bury it as best as I could — until I witnessed relationships and friendships crumble around me. I became a different person, someone that I didn't even like, but being in that dark place changed me. I was afraid, depressed and full of anger. Now imagine a child trying to cope with that!
It took a lot to be able to say the word "rape" and today I, another victim, ask: if this was to happen to your son, daughter, brother or sister, how would you feel? Why are these wicked and disgusting people getting away with these crimes as if they stole a soda pop from a store?
Is it really OK to say that someone can destroy a person, not only their life but destroy that person as a individual and get away as if they did nothing, then go ahead living life hiding behind the "law"?
All my life I have heard stories of things happening to children (boys and girls), women and men in Cayman and the problem sexual abuse, child molestation and rape was in our country.
I remember my parents “warning” me of certain individuals in my community or overhearing adults talking about incidents that had happened in the past. But as I grew older, I couldn't understand why all these warnings and stories were only whispered between one another. What about everyone else that didn't know or were new to the area or country, how would they know who these “bad people” were?
I do not support the practice of not naming the perpetrator in the media reports. When such crimes are committed against us and to a family member, we want to protect ourselves or hide because of the shame that we may feel. But the victims did nothing wrong. We want to protect our privacy, especially young people or children, but how are we going to protect the other potential victims out there?
In Cayman the names of these perpetrators are protected, which only increases the risk that this person can re-offendand there will be more victims. It will continue to be a cycle of abuse. No one wants to talk about it. And in addition to that you have sentences that range from a few months to even suspended sentences. Where is the justice for the victims? There is so much wrong with that picture.
I ask all the people we voted into government to LEAD our country, to help protect us, our children, our families and each other — mandatory, harsher sentences for sex offenders and a Sex Offender Registry!
Or … did you all decide to run in our election to warm a seat and collect a salary? It’s your turn to answer and really show the Cayman Islands what everyone of you really think about this disease infecting our country.
I ask everyone to ask at least five others to sign this petition and let's show everyone that this will no longer be accepted and we are not going to make this sore linger anymore.
I beg you! If I could save one person from ever experiencing what I did, I would do anything I could to do just that.
What will YOU do?
After school programme helps 1400 kids
(CNS): Michael Myles, the programme coordinator for at-risk-youth for the ministry of education said that the extended after school programme has grown from some 60 kids to more than 1400 at the end of the last school year. With the growing number of students registering to take part the initiative, first launched by the ministry under the previous administration in April 201, and supported by the current government still needs more cash from outside government coffers. Recently, Myles picked up a cheque from Rotary Sunrise for $5k towards its growing funding needs
“A major part of this programme right now is ensuring that we can sustain it long term. We need sponsorships in order to ensure that this programme lasts and to ensure that we can expand the programme to encompass more children,” he told the members at a breakfast meeting.The programme ensures primary and secondary children have quality activities to fill their time between the hours of 3pm to 6pm Monday through Friday.
The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise said it sees the benefit of the programme and as a result has provided financial support over the years. This latest contribution was a joint donation from the club’s Youth Service and Community Service Committees.
Environmentalists raise concern over habit threats
(CNS): According to environmentalists in the neighbouring island of Jamaica one if its largest protected areas is under threat. In circumstances not unlike those in Cayman, Jamaica has already lost significant tropical dry forest and trying to protect what is left from development is a losing battle. Activists there now say that the Portland Bight Protected Area, recognized as one of the last and greatest remaining examples of tropical dry forest, is threated by a trans-shipment port proposed by China Harbour Engineering Company — the Beijing based firm that raised controversy here in the Cayman Islands with its involvement with the UDP government and the potential cruise berthing facility.
Campaigners in Jamaica say that Goat Islands, included in the Portland Bight, have long been recognized as extremely important for habitat conservation and the reintroduction of the Jamaica’s critically endangered iguana there has prevented its extinction. The area is already under threat from local pressures for charcoal and this potential development could spell the endfor the habitat.
In Beijing, on 22 August Jamaica’s environment minister, Robert Pickersgill, announced that Goat Islands is “under very serious consideration” as the site for the planned port. Aside from the threat to the rare habitat and the endangered iguana, environmentalists also warn that the industrial port would also have serious negative effects on the marine environment and threaten the fish sanctuaries.
Activists are asking people to write to the local press to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed development and concern about the pressing need to protect the scarce habitat.
Letters@gleanerjm.com and Editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
See more at ICUN http://www.iucn-isg.org/latest-news/environmental-threat-in-jamaica/
Lawyers boost charity coffers by $23k
(CNS): Staff working at Appleby (Cayman) Ltd have raised over US$23,000 in the last 12 months for ‘Meals on Wheels’ and Cayman HospiceCare through a special ‘dress down for work’ programme where employees have donated donating a portion of their salary to help the charities. Appleby’s Cayman office Managing Partner, Bryan Hunter, said each year staff identify charities they feel are most in need of financial assistance. “This year we are delighted to be supporting Meals on Wheels and Cayman HospiceCare and know that the money we have raised will be put to immediate use,” he said.
Staff have also supported charitable organisations in areas such as education, sports, women’s needs, and animal care.
“Charitable giving is an integral part of our commitment to Cayman and an integral part of our corporate responsibility programme which has been in place since the firm was established in 1945,” said Hunter. “Over the last few years the programme has allowed us to donate in excess of $60,000 to Cayman HospiceCare, and other charities have also received significant funding in the past such as the Cayman Islands Humane Society, Estella Scott Roberts Foundation, Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, and Cayman Islands Cancer Society.”
For the coming fiscal year Appleby has expanded the programme to support three charities: The Extended Afterschool Programme, Cayman HospiceCare, and Cayman Islands Humane Society. All of these organisations will receive funding during 2014.
Senior cop calls for help from business community
(CNS): The RCIPS’ district commander for George Town, Chief Inspector Angelique Howell has highlighted the many social issues that impact crime following a meeting in Windsor Park held on Tuesday evening. CI Howell met with 25 residents in the community and she calling on the businesses community in the capital to volunteer time, expertise, equipment or other resources to help strengthen that and other local communities, as she notes this is all part of the collective and indirect fight against crime.“Sometimes people just need one chance to make a better life for themselves, so let’s come together as a community to give people in Windsor Park an opportunity to have that one chance,” Howell said as she called for support.
The meeting, which is part of a series of events hosted by the capital’s senior officer provided a platform for the police and residents to discuss a wide range of issues from after school programmes to anti-social behaviour.
“I was very impressed with the passion for change demonstrated in Windsor Park on Tuesday,” said Howell. “The residents discussed a range of issues that impact on them daily – youth issues, traffic matters, drugs and alcohol abuse and concerns about crime. It’s clear that they want to see improvements within their community and that they are keen to see positive changes for them and for future generations. The residents were very vocal about their desire for the community to come together and find solutions for the issues they face.”
Howell said the people at the meeting had some very specific ideas about what they want to do to improve the community, but they need help to get them off the ground. “That’s why I’m asking for business owners and residents to consider donating their time, expertise or equipment to help improve the quality of life in Windsor Park,” she explained. “One young man told me about a gardening company that has been started, but they need assistance with equipment and the maintenance of that equipment. They also want to establish an electrical program to provide people with the skills that could ultimately lead to employment – but that programme costs $150 per person”
Howell also said young people in the area need bibs for their after school football programme one of a number of activities designed to provide the people in the area with the tools to be more constructive and productive.
Anyone who wishes to discuss assisting the Windsor Park community with time, equipment or expertise should contact CI Howell onAngelique.Howell@rcips.ky, SPC Fran General on Fran.General@rcips.ky, or Windsor Park Neighbourhood Officer PC Emrol Smith onEmrol.Smith@rcips.ky.
Police said that further community meetings in the George Town area will be announced in due course.
CCTV is fighting crime
(CNS): Despite concerns in the community that the island-wide CCTV project has been an expensive but ineffective crime fighting solution that is not functioning properly, both government officials and the RCIPS have defended the cameras and pointed to its growing importance in the battle against crime. Eric Bush, the chief officer in the home affairs ministry, said the National CCTV System is online and is being used properly. With 253 cameras at 78 locations across Grand Cayman, at noon yesterday all but three cameras, which are in need of repair, were working, equating to 98.82% being in service. So far, the RCIPS has made close to 500 requests for footage in crime cases from the centre where the information is stored.
“There have been 484 RCIPS requests for archived video images or reports from those that have occurred within the field of view of the cameras for which officers charged with investigating those accidents are grateful for the assistance,” Bush told CNS. “This includes the latest fatal accident, which clearly captured the circumstances of the collision on the CCTV system. There has been video captured of numerous crimes in progress, such as robberies, and situations in which the system has aided in tracking the movement of suspects in vehicles and on foot following crimes, as well as many motor vehicle collisions,” he added.
The National CCTV programme has been designed to be passively monitored by the Public Safety Communications Centre and Electronic Monitoring Centre as well as the George Town, West Bay and Bodden Town Police Stations.
“If an incident occurs, such as a robbery or violent crime, the staff at any of the locations can select the appropriate cameras and either view in real time or do searchesfor suspects or witnesses,” Bush explained, as he defended the importance of the system to crime fighters.
“The National CCTV Programme is working well and is of high benefit to RCIPS and the public. It is likely that as time goes on, more and more information will come out of future court cases regarding the benefit that CCTV has played in apprehending criminals.
“We have an additional 23 cameras at eight locations that have been funded and will be installed within the next couple of months,” Bush added. This includes moving cameras from the now-closed West Bay Road by Public Beach to the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension.
With such an extensive network now across Grand Cayman, the RCIPS confirmed that it has been an exceptionally useful tool and was used during a recent trial to help secure a murder conviction.
"It is now a routine pPolice line of investigation,” a police spokesperson told CNS. “We have used CCTV in wide ranging offences, from public order, theft, damage, burglary to more serious crimes of firearms and murders. The recent murder conviction of Tareek Ricketts saw compelling evidence on the movement of his vehicle.”
While the police cannot be certain at this point of the number of convictions that have resulted with the assistance of CCTV, the video evidence can sometime assist the defence too.
To date, 23 members of the Department of Public Safety Communications and almost 100 members of RCIPS have been trained use the system. The police said that all of its critical incident managers are trained, along with all the sergeants and special constables on shifts and over 30 detectives from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Drug and Serious Crime Task Force.
Bush explained that training not only includes how to operate the cameras and how the software and technology works but it also includes extensive discussion about the Cayman Islands CCTV Code of Practice, which is available to the public on the 911 website.
“Adherence to that Code of Practice ensures that the system is only used for the intended legal purposes,” he said
Officers can also request copies of video images that contain evidence and the staff at the Electronic Monitoring Centre make two copies – one for the officer and one for safekeeping. But from a data protection point of view, all video images, unless they have been formally requested and approved, are automatically purged after sixty days.
Family raise alarm over missing teen
(CNS): A teenage boy has not been since by friends or family since he left school friends at the bus stop on Walkers Road around 1pm Wednesday. Javaka Kellier, who is 17 years old, 5ft 7in and about 175lbs with burn scars on his hands, neck and chest area, was last seen wearing black pants and grey T-shirt in the bus park at CIFEC Campus (Old John Gray High School) yesterday. His family, who are very concerned, said at Javaka left his phone home and has not made contact with anyone since, which is not like him.
A missing person report was made to the police around 9:30pm last night when he did not return after they had assumed had had been at the Boxing Gym near the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.
When he failed to return home at a reasonable hour, the family raised the alarm. If anyone has any information, they can contact his mother at 917-3729 or call 911.
PPM re-shuffles authority boards but keeps chairs
(CNS): The chairpersons of three critical statutory boards have all been retained. Instead of the usual political overhaul, Sherri Bodden-Cowan remains at the helm of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Dale Crighton remains as chair of the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) and Lemuel Hurlston stays in the chair at the Water Authority (WA). There were some changes at the ERA but, aside from the chair, there was a clean sweep at the ICTA, while all members of the Water Authority were re-appointed. There has also been a re-shuffle at the Development Control Board, which approves planning applications for the Sister Islands. Ashton Bodden takes over as chair from Ernie Hurlstone, who has not been re-appointed.
The members of the ERA are: Sherri Bodden-Cowan (chair), Derrick Tibbetts and Dara Flowers-Burke (both re-appointed), and new members Anna Rose Washburn, Reginald Nixon, Alee Fa’moe Member, and from Cayman Brac, former district commissioner Kenny Ryan, who now works for CB&LC Power & Light Company as plant manager. Charles Farrington is the Managing Director/Secretary and another member will be the chief officer or a designate of the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure (PLAHI). The appointment is for three years.
Miguel Barcelo, Gene DaCosta, Gavin Dixon and Michael Herland have not been re-appointed to the ERA Board
The members of the ICTA are: Dale Crighton (chair), John Thompson, Ian Tibbetts, Gene Banks, Daniel Ebanks, Jean Gordon, Chris Gourzong, plus the chief officer or a designate from PLAHI. David Archbold, the ICTA managing director is an ex-officio member and secretary. The appointment is for three years.
George Berry, Alexander Bodden, Lyndhurst Bodden, Joseph Jackman, Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden, Chris Narborough, John Thompson and Paul Tibbetts were not re-appointed to the ICTA Board.
The members of the Water Authority Board are: Lemuel Hurlston (chair), James Gill, Otto Watler, Christopher John Randall, Alfonso Wright, Tannya Mortimer, Hansen Bingham Ebanks, plus the chief officer or a designate from PLAHI, the financial secretary or designate and the attorney general or designate. WA Director Dr Gelia Frederick-van Genderen is secretary. The appointment is for two years.
Ashton Bodden has been re-appointed to the Development Control Board but takes over as chair. Royce Dilbert and Melgreen Reid have been re-appointed, while previous members Captain Arlin Tatum, Alva "Billy" Bodden and Garston Grant have re-joined the board and Zanda Scott is a new member. Planning Officer Andrea Stevens is the executive secretary. The appointment is for two years.
Ernie Hurlstone, Larry Bryan, Ronald "Foots" Kynes and Delano Lazzari have not been re-appointed to the DCB.
For more details see the Extraordinary Gazettes on the government website: