Archive for December, 2013
Tourism body offers backing to conservation law
(CNS): The Cayman Islands tourism product has benefited from the decades of protection of the ocean environment and the establishment of marine parks more than 25 years ago, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) said this week, as it offered its formal support to government on the long-awaited National Conservation Law. The private sector tourism body said that environmental issues directly affect tourism businesses’ future ability to be competitive in the marketplace. The importance of a protected and pristine environment was emphasised by Environment Minister Wayne Panton this week when he pointed out that visitors to Cayman do not come to see concrete and steel.
Although the bill is expected to be steered through the Legislative Assembly next week, it is still stirring controversy as the last round of public meetings demonstrate considerable misconceptions in the public domain about the law.
When asked about how the legislation will help a man put food on the table, Panton explained that without it the tourism product would be undermined and in time putting food on the table will be increasingly difficult for everyone.
CITA, which has consistently backed the need for a conservation law, said it had reaffirmed that commitment with its membership on Monday. Following a general meeting of the association, where the Department of the Environment was invited to present the details of the law, officials said a survey of members showed continuing support for the legislation of up to 87% of the membership in favour of the law, which, it said has been the “leading provision of CITA’s top tourism issue of the environment.”
In a short statement the association pointed to the "sustainable operating practices to support longevity as well as sustainable development to assure industry growth" in the proposed law. CITA also urged government to enforce this and the marine laws once the legislation was enacted.
“CITA advocates the government’s full enforcement of those laws currently in place,” it said in a statement released Thursday. “CITA supports the National Conservation Law’s intent to provide the same level protection for the terrestrial ecosystem and vigilant enforcement of laws affecting both the land and marine environments.”
The public meetings continue this weekend on Cayman Brac on Saturday and in East End on Monday before the debate in the LA next week.
Meanwhile, the newest local advocacy group promoting conservation Sustainable Cayman has created a petition and a statement of support for the NCL and is encouraging people to sign and add their reasons for supporting the bill to the statement.
Samanth J to perform at tonight’s Music Fest
(CNS): After weeks of anticipation, the Cayman Islands International Music Fest (CIIMF) will light the skies over Grand Harbour tonight, Friday 6 December (gates open at 7 pm). Comparable to the Department of Tourism’s Jazz Fest, CIIMF has created a massive buzz with its line-up of artists such as Percy Sledge, Ginuwine, Verse Simmonds, Omi and a host of well-known local acts. Fulfilling its promise of having a surprise artist, Mogul Entertainment has invited 17-year-old Jamaican singer-songwriter Samantha J to be part of the event. A combination of youth, beauty and talent has made Samantha J an overnight ‘hot ticket’.
In just a few weeks, Samantha J has erupted onto the Jamaican music scene with her still unreleased first single "Tight Skirt," her debut song that has gone from the pages of her notebook to the airwaves of Jamaica and beyond in lightning speed.
As part of CIIMF, the event’s promoters held the Xposure talent show at Beaches restaurant. The winner Terry Williams, and runner-up, Dexter Ebanks, will both perform at the main event on Friday night.
People who purchased early bird tickets and early concertgoers can enjoy the concert from a special area, courtesy of Cayman Airways, which they can access between 7 pm to 10 pm.
With a theme of “celestial decadence", there will also be a luxury VIP lounge with a posh cigar and cognac retreat, décor by Celebrations and food by Mise en Place, ‘top-shelf’ wines and spirits by Cayman Distributors, as well as divas clad in magnificent costumes by Caymanian designer, Reba Dilbert.
Visit ciimf.ky for more information.
Robber grabs cash at Wellys
(CNS): A masked man grabbed an undisclosed sum of cash from Wellys restaurant on Thursday afternoon in a daylight hold-up at knife point, police have confirmed. The man, who was described as black and dressed in green T shirt, black pants with a Jamaican accent, armed with a knife entered the well-known George Town bar and restaurant at around 3pm, (5 December). The robber threatened the female staff member, who handed the cash to the suspect. An RCIPS spokesperson said the robber made good his escape towards the rear of Welly's. The police are seeking assistance and anyone with information is asked to call GT police station on 949-4222, the RCIPS tip line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers at 800 TIPS 8477.
LIME and bikers team up over Toys4Tots
(LIME) Local telecommunications company LIME has again partnered with the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association (CIMRA) for its annual Christmas Toys 4 Tots drive to provide gifts of toys for children throughout the Cayman Islands who may not otherwise get gifts. This is the sixth year LIME is joining forces with CIMRA to help share more joy during the holiday season. The toy drive started on Tuesday 3rd December 2013. Toys 4 Tots invites the public to drop off unwrapped toys at various locations throughout Grand Cayman, which includes all LIME stores.
Every person that donates a toy at a LIME store in Grand Cayman will receive an entry form to win some super smartphone prizes from LIME.
“The true spirit of Christmas is about bringing a little more cheer to a few more people and Toys 4 Tots is a real favourite among all LIME staff” said Bill McCabe, LIME Cayman Islands’ CEO. “We’re delighted to be involved with this important initiative again this year and hope that as many people as possible will help support such an important and worthy cause.”
Keith Keller, President of the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association said, "We are pleased to be partnering again with LIME for the toy drive. In the past, our relationship has garnered wonderful results bringing lots of toys for the children. This is the time for giving and we ask you to bring your Christmas cheer and include a toy donation or two on your Christmas shopping list. And to those who have donated in the past, thank you and we look forward to seeing your assistance again this year."
The CIMRA Toys 4 Tots toy drive includes a host of activities: You and the kids can get a picture with Santa at the LIME store in Galleria – 4pm to 6pm, Friday December 6th.
Drop off a toy at Cost U Less between 10am and 4pm plus during LIME’s happy hour you can choose a gift from the LIME GIFTmas tree – Saturday December 14th.
Toyzapalooza Rock N’ Rock music concert at the ClubHouse, Treasure Island Resort on Seven Mile Beach. Admission is $10 or a toy donation. Plus you could win some amazing prizes provided by LIME. Bands rocking the night include Zipper Envy, Live Round and NLMB (No Longer My Burden). Concert starts at 6:30pm on Saturday December 14th.
8th Annual Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Toy Run to Northside on Sunday December 15th. Enter to participate by donating a toy. Registration starts at 10am with kick stands up at 11am sharp. Beach barbeque at Northside Public Beach takes place after the all island toy ride.
If you are not able to attend any of the events then the public is reminded to drop off a toy at any of the collection locations, which are: LIME stores in Galleria Plaza, Anderson Square, Heritage Square and Countryside Shopping Village, Cost U Less and Saxon on Eastern Avenue.
Booze board chair confirms NYE extension
(CNS): Bars, clubs and restaurants will all be able to serve booze for the New Year celebrations beyond their usual licensing hours as the chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board has confirmed the annual extensions. Mitchell Welds said that liquor licence holders will get one-hour extension beyond regular closing times on New Year’s Eve. “This extension applies to all seven categories of liquor licenses; however, this does not mean that general permission is being granted for all licensed premises to close at the latest time permitted,” Welds stated in a release. He emphasised that the additional hour can only be added to the closing time that each business is currently permitted to open.
Welds also noted that all other license stipulations remain in effect.
“Liquor sales and the playing of music must cease during the last ten minutes of permitted opening hours for retail, hotel, restaurant, and beer or wine categoriesof licenses,” he said.
Customers also are expected to vacate the premises before closing.
For more information, license holders and members of the public may contact the Liquor Licensing Board’s Executive Secretary Marva Scott on 244-3168 or email marva.scott@gov.ky.
Kids deliver ‘spellbinding’ performance
(CNS): Five primary school students made history on Tuesday night in the annual Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Primary School Spelling Bee final when they all nailed every word. Oneika Duncan and Shante Reid of George Town Primary (GTPS), Jordanne Saunders of Cayman Academy, Javon Lewison of Prospect Primary (PPS) and Theodore Thompson of Truth for Youth captured the top honours when each of them spelt every word correctly. In a show of spelling genius, one by one the five dispatched words such as 'cinquefoil', 'proboscis' and 'coccyx', forcing the organisers to spend over an hour attempting to put together an entirely new set of words for a further spell off.
In the end, all five finalists who performed perfectly through to the end of the spell-off were declared first prize winners. Sponsors Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and its Area Vice President, Michael Munnings, and the organisers decided to up the prize stakes and give all of the participants the first prize when the kids simply could not be caught out.
Reigning champion GTPS retained the Best School trophy, with a winning score of 89 earned by a talented trio of girls that also included finalist Jessica Stewart.
Since the RBC-sponsored spelling bee began in 1998, GTPS has won top honours six times, although Creek and Spot Bay Primary leads with seven titles. Other winners have been Prospect Primary twice and Bodden Town Primary once.
At the same time, all 15 finalists, nine boys and six girls, turned out to be winners with performances that kept the audience of parents, teachers, family members, friends and well-wishers enthralled for nearly four hours.
Munnings said he was proud to have been a part of the wonderful display of talent by the youngsters in this 16th Annual RBC Royal Bank Spelling Bee Competition.
“At RBC, we realize the importance of developing our youth, and we remain committed to this investment, to facilitate a successful future for them and our community at large. Congratulations to all, and especially to our five-way, first place winners," he said.
Other finalists included: Deidre Edwards – BTPS; Okezie Eleweanya – Cayman Academy; Thomas Sevik – Creek & Spot Bay Primary; Andrew McLaughlin – First Baptist; Samuel White and Patrick Thompson – PPS – Shmritee Arun – St. Ignatius Primary; and Dequan Smith and Thaddeus Solomon – Savannah Primary.
Job programme brings hope for 23 more graduates
(CNS): Another group of young people have passed through the government’s job training programme which readies young people for the workplace and helps improve their chances of getting work in an increasingly tough employment market. Of the 23 young people who graduated from the 12th session of Passport2Success four of them already have full time work, while a fifth has a paid internship and a further six are now pursuing higher education. This was the third group this year to complete the 12-week programme where they receive practical hands-on training in occupational, personal and job-specific skills. Since it started over 240 young Caymanians have been on the programme.
The trainees participated in work placement with an opportunity to impress potential employers and provided volunteer work through community service hours. Participants earned a monthly stipend, including potential performance related bonuses.
Programme Coordinator Shannon Seymour said the program has continued to attract a growing number of applicants.
“We received over 50 applications for the 25 spaces available for Cohort 12. This speaks volumes of the need and desire to acquire these kinds of skills, and reflects the positive reputation of the P2S programme,” she said.
Now in its third year, P2S has prepared over 240 young Caymanians to enter the work force with professional-level competencies and renewed confidence. On average 85 percent of participants complete the programme, with approximately 35 percent having already securing employment by graduation, and 61 percent within a year of graduation. In the 12 months post-graduation, 18 percent of graduates also report furthering their education.
Although a government initiative it is delivered in partnership with private sector sponsors Kirk Freeport, Webster Tours and Century 21. Webster Tours provides transportation to participants to attend classes and for group excursions during the programme. Kirk Freeport provides gift bags for the special awards at every graduation, and helps to teach participants about dress and grooming in the workplace.
Education and employment minister Tara Rivers said the programme provides an excellent opportunity for young people to develop professional skills and build confidence as they enter the workforce. The P2S programme continues to deliver in its ability to provide these young people with a considerable competitive advantage in gaining access to jobs,” she said.
Mandela dies at home in Johannesburg age 95
(CNS): Nelson Mandela, the founding president of the new South Africa, has died at his home aged 95, the country’s current president Jacob Zuma has announced. In an address to the nation, Zuma said Mandela "passed away peacefully". Family had gathered at his home as the former leader had been very ill, having spent nearly three months in hospital with a lung infection. He died at his Johannesburg home at 8.50pm local time. Mandela, who led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison, will be given a state funeral. In the wake of the news, Cayman’s premier said it grieved his heart to have learned of the South African hero and former president’s death.
“He was one of the most beloved leaders of the 20th Century,” Alden McLaughlin said in a short statement Thursday evening. “His struggle for freedom in South Africa was tireless and it gained him the respect of the world. His compassion, humility and humanity were an inspiration not only to his country, but to many of us in the Cayman Islands who want only to make lives better for our people.
“He brought about reconciliation and hope to the people of South Africa, and while he was controversial for most of his life, he eventually became a shining light of optimism for all of us, all over the world,” he added. .
Even when he was imprisoned for 27 years at Robben Island for trying to overthrow the pro-apartheid government, he rallied prisoners and showed leadership skills that would serve him well when he became that country's first fully-representative democratically elected president, McLaughlin noted.
“We all knew that he had been ill, in and out of hospital for quite some time. But as in all deaths, expected or not, the loss is a heavy burden on our hearts. This is truly a sad day. But we as a world are in a better place for his service to his fellow man, South Africa and the world. I and the people of the Cayman Islands send our condolences not only to his family, but to the South African community as well as the Diaspora," the premier added.
ERA starts-over on new power bid process
(CNS Business): Following the allegations of corruption surrounding the selection of DECCO to generate an extra 36 megawatts of power in Grand Cayman, the Electricity Regulatory Authority is re-tendering the project. It is now seeking statements of qualifications from potential bidders to participate in the new competitive solicitation to build, own and operate the new generating capacity by 2016. On 15 July the ERA confirmed that it had cancelled the previous solicitation process due to "unavoidable and unforeseen delays". The problems on the previous selection were triggered when the ERA’s former MD, Joey Ebanks, was sacked, arrested for theft and other offences and charged, but then began making allegations of corruption surrounding the process. Read more on CNS Business
CARICOM to discuss regional teen pregnancy
(CNS): Trinidad will be hosting a conference next week focusing on the problem of teen pregnancy in the Caribbean. CARICOM officials said the purpose of the consultation is to explore the opportunities and challenges in addressing adolescent pregnancy which has been identified by the Caribbean Community as a priority issue. Organized by CARICOM and the United Nations Population Fund with support from the government of Trinidad and Tobago
It will involve various stakeholders and high level officials from the Caribbean who work in that field, will also seek to chart a course of action to educate, empower, support girls, and reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy.
According to the UNFPA State of World Population report 2013, motherhood in childhood is a huge global problem, especially in developing countries, where every year 7.3 million girls under the age of 18 give birth. In the Caribbean, despite the fall in total fertility rate, adolescent birth rates remain relatively high. Among girls aged 15 – 19 years old, the birth rate ranges from 26 to 97 per 1,000 adolescent girls. Guyana, Belize, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and Suriname have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the Caribbean.
CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General Human and Social Development Dr Douglas Slater who will be attending the consultation commented that "adolescent pregnancy and births should not be seen merely as a reproductive health issue. There are substantial economic, social and human cost attached to them and tackling this issue should be a priority in every Member State of the Community."