Archive for August, 2014
AG’s outside lawyers costly
(CNS): Although both the Attorney General's Chambers and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) have an army of lawyers commanding some of the highest salaries in government, the two offices are spending as much as a half million dollars a year instructing overseas counsel. According to a freedom of information request about the travel expenses for both the public prosecutor and government's lawyer and their offices, one of the biggest tabs for both these chambers is the employment of overseas counsel for civil and criminal cases. While the ODPP usually pays legal aid rates when they instruct overseas lawyers for major criminal cases, lawyers instructed by the AG appear to be even more costly to the local taxpayer.
The records show that last year the DPP spent over $170,000 on barristers, usually British, to represent the crown in seven serious prosecutions. Despite the significant salaries of the DPP and her deputy, who are both Queen's Counsel, the office is still spending cash employing costly overseas counsel to lead the crown's cases.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Chambers, which are no longer involved in criminal cases and now only appear in court in order to defend government, also spent almost $350,000 on overseas lawyers last year to represent the government in civil cases, despite the salaries of both the attorney general and the solicitor general, as well as their collection of well paid lawyers. A previous FOI request recently revealed that the AG earns over $150,000 per annum and the solicitor general between $120,000 and $150,000, with another two lawyers earning over $100,000.
The attorney general took seven overseas trips last year, though the FOI did not specify where or why, spending some $55,000 compared to $28,000 spent on four trips in 2012. However in 2011 the AG took six official overseas trips and spent $65,000.
See details below of DPP and AG's spending on overseas counsel and travel as well as the breakdown of salaries in the AG's office.
Cops warn public to remain vigilant as thefts increase
(CNS): Following the recent revelations that the theft has increased in the first half of this year more than 80% compared to the first six months of 2013, the RCIPS is urging people to be more vigilant over their homes, businesses and property. Although serious crime fell marginally in the first part of 2014 compared to last year, the boom in thievery pushed the overall crime rate up by more than27%. While the fall in burglaries was welcomed by the police as that remains a specific concern for the wider public, the increase in theft will require extra vigilance, the police said.
"The RCIPS continues to urge the public to do what they can to help by ensuring vehicles, boats, sheds and yards are kept secure and items such as cameras, computers and phones are kept out of view and locked away," an RCIPS spokesperson stated, as he warned people to take care when parking their cars. "Wherever possible leave it in an area that is well lit and away from anywhere a potential thief could hide."
The police also asked people to report anyone acting suspiciously in their communities and neighbourhoods.
If any member of the public would like to receive further crime prevention advice, they are asked to contact their local police station where they will be put in touch with the neighbourhood officer.
Officer faces contempt charge after taking ‘sickie’
(CNS): A detective constable in the RCIPS who failed to appear in court last month, despite being a crucial witness, because he was on sick leave, is now facing contempt charges. DC Winston Harrison failed to show up for a Summary Court hearing on 30 July because his senior officer said he was unwell. However, the cop was spotted by the defense attorney in the case just two days later hobbling on a crutch into another courtroom to attend a civil private family matter. Concerned about the officer's failure to show in his client's case, Peter Polack requested that the magistrate bind the cop over. As a result, the officer has been summoned to answer a contempt of court charge.
DC Harrison was the lead officer in the summary case in question and the arrest of Andre Woodman on drug charges in 2013 but failed to appear for what described as "a crucial hearing”. But once Polack saw the cop limping to civil court just two days after he had failed to attend the criminal hearing, the lawyer raised his concerns. The magistrate made an order for the cop to be bound over to appear in Summary Court on 4 September to deal with the contempt allegation.
Harrison is already the subject of questionable behaviour in this particular case as Polack has complained that the warrant in the case had been "obtained in an unusual and unlawful manner", which had fallen short of the new standards surrounding warrants and JPs.
Football tournaments benefit the community
(CNS): The director of Cayman Islands National Football teams has said that the opportunities being provided by the regional football body go way beyond the goal count and competition on the pitch. Renard Moxam said tournaments held here provide great opportunities for young sports men and woman, improve standards for players, the pride for Caymanians in hosting international events as well as the benefits to the economy. As he oversees the preparations for the CONCACAF Girls U-15 tournament, which kicks off on 6 August and will take place on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, the local football director said winning would be great but it's not all that matters.
While he acknowledged that watching a local team become victorious is the ultimate goal, Moxam said success is not only be measured by winning.
“The wins and loss column is an important barometer that is looked at by most, but equally looking at the bigger picture,” he stated. “The larger goal is to make a major contribution towards the molding of young people in a positive manner and towards them becoming better athletes and better people, who will hopefully take future roles in the positive development of society.”
Moxam explained that these type of competitions provide an opportunity for Cayman players to learn how to perform under pressure as part of a team. "A vital skill that should benefit future generations of Caymanians whether at work, school or play," he added.
As well as the economic benefits the director said another key benefit to the local community is the pride felt by hosting international events of this magnitude. In the last year the Cayman Islands has successfully hosted the inaugural Boys’ U-15 Championship in August 2013, the first ever CONCACAF Sports Summit and the Women’s’ U-20 Championship in January 2014.
Having been involved in local football for more than three decades in several capacities, Moxam expressed great pride in Cayman’s track record as a host of regional football competitions and faith that the local organisers will deliver another world-class competition. “The Cayman Islands will be seen as a fantastic host country, wherein the true Caymanian spirit will come to the forefront and from a sporting stand point, that our country is seen as a viable challenger in future tournaments," he said.
The CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championship will be held at four venues. The Truman Bodden Sports Complex, T.E. McField Sports Centre, Ed Bush Sports Centre
and Cayman Brac Sports Field.
Group A: Cayman Islands, Curacao, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands
Group B: Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bermuda
Group C: Jamaica, Costa Rica, Anguilla, Belize
Group D: Canada, Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico
Ten-point reparations plan is seriously flawed
I don’t think that I have seen a comprehensive challenge to the ten-point reparations plan that our Caribbean governments are using as the blue print to press Europe for reparations. However, I think this plan can (and will) be successfully challenged. To start, we want Europe to apologize. The Europeans can successfully refuse this demand on several good grounds.
Firstly, both the supposed perpetrators and the supposed victims are long dead. Secondly, those alive in Europe didn’t commit the “crime”. Thirdly, andthis is the most powerful reason, slavery was both morally and legally acceptable at the time – both to the Europeans and the Africans. Far from apologizing, I think the Europeans should be proud of their great imperial past.
We also want repatriation. This most impractical aspect of this plan is quite laughable. What guarantees do we have that those in Africa will be glad to see us returning? If those thought that life was hard in the West, they should wait until they reach Africa! Also, it is interesting to note that many of those calling for this pipe dream actually have the means to go back, but refuse to do so.
We also want an “Indigenous People’s Development Programme”. As the ten-point plan itself says, the scholarship programme that the University offers to members of the indigenous community is woefullyinadequate. This is an admission that our own governments care very little about these peoples. The Europeans have been doing much more. For example, directly, they funded the upgrade of the water supply system in Dominica’s indigenous Carib territory. Indirectly, they have pumped tens of millions of Euros into Dominica – for both the native and non-native populations.
We also want “Cultural Institutions”. The first point I would like to make is that if we cannot come up with the intellectual means to create our own cultural institutions, then no amount of reparations can help us. However, the Europeans have been helping us in this regard. The Institute of Jamaica was started in 1879 by the then British governor. That organization is mainly responsible for the preservation of Jamaica’s culture. It has oversight responsibility for the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica, the National Gallery and other cultural organizations. What more do we want from the Europeans?
Then the European must help us solve our “public health crisis”. Again, this can be successfully challenged from many angles. Among others, firstly, no one two hundred years ago would have been able to foreseen the effect of the slave diet today, if there is any. Secondly, we today still continue to feed ourselves with this “poison” diet. Thirdly, the evidence for this claim is very unsound. Fourthly, our “modern” diet of fast food has done much to contribute to the health problems we have today and fifthly, this fast food diet would have done much to “dilute” the link to two hundred years ago.
As for our Illiteracy problem, the advances that we have had since independence have been due in large part to the assistance given to us by Europe. The ministry of education itself was created during British rule, in 1953. The University of the West Indies was started by the British in 1948 as a college of the University of London and given to us as a gift. Many of Jamaica’s popular schools were built during British rule. It may be true that at the time of independence we had a high illiteracy rate, however, it is through the same education system that the British bequeathed to us that we have been able to reduce this problem.
We also want an “African Knowledge Programme”. We want the Europeans to help us Africans in the West to know our history in Africa. In fact, it is largely because of the Europeans why we know what we do about Africa’s past. Napoleon’s discovery of the famous Rosetta stone and its translation in Europe enabled us to better understand the greatness of ancient Egypt. Many European universities and other organizations have done much to open up Africa’s hidden past. Of course, I wouldn’t want to discount what African universities are doing. But to claim that Europe isn’t helping us to know our past is very disingenuous. Also, with modern means of communication, we don’t need to be physically present in Africa to know its history.
This “Psychological Rehabilitation” demand is a strange one. I havea feeling that the “reparatory justice approach to truth and educational exposure” that is being demanded may cause more harm than good, especially if the truth about our own involvement in the export of slaves and the millions that died in Africa at our own hands are told to us.
I am still not sure how much more technology transfers we can get. From modern communication systems, to the internet, to modern transportation systems and the like, all of these have been transferred to us. Technology transfers also involve know-how, though education. As mentioned before, we have the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology, both started by the British. If we can’t use institutions like those to create a culture of science and technology, after over half a century of independence, then I can’t see how the Europeans will be able to do it for us.
Finally, we want debt cancellation. For some strange reason, our high debts are high because we were slaves! Why should the Europeans reward us after we voluntarily entered into these loan agreements with these creditors and then refuse to be prudent with these loans? However, we have received some debt write-offs. Guyana received some from Bulgaria in 2012. Haiti got some from the Paris Club in 2009. Jamaica has received four billion dollars worth of debt forgiveness from Britain between 1997 and 2004. It is utter nonsense if we think that all of our debts will be forgotten!
When one looks at this ten-point plan, the only impression that anybody can get of us is that we are a people determined to get more handouts. This ten-point plan is not an accomplishment – it’s an embarrassment. We need to ditch it and grow up.
Michael A. Dingwall writes from Kingston, Jamaica.
Teens arrested for Brac booze break-in
(CNS): Police officers on Cayman Brac arrested two 17 year old males on Tuesday on suspicion of burglary/handling stolen goods. After the arrests, several properties were searched on the Brac by police with the assistance of customs and officers from the Special Constabulary, which resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of liquor suspected to be stolen from Coral Isle Bar last Tuesday 29 July, when the rear glass door of the premises was damaged and a number of rum and whiskey bottles were taken. Chief Inspector Owens said, “Again I would like to thank the public for the information supplied to the police and our government partner agencies for their excellent support.” **Update inside**
Update: The two 17 year old males arrested have been charged with Burglary and Handling Stolen Goods in relation to the break in at Coral Isle Bar. They will be appearing in Court Today.
CAL celebrates 46 years with discount airfares
(CNS): Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) is offering heavy discounts on airfares as the company celebrates 46 years of service as the National Flag Carrier. Airfares are now on sale for travel from 10 September through 5 November this year but the flights must be booked by this Saturday, 9 August. On domestic and regional routes, sale fares start from just CI$38 each way for travel between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. Kingston and Montego Bay airfares are discounted down to just CI$68 each way, and Havana and La Ceiba airfares start from only CI$70 each way. Airfares are also on sale for travel this autumn between Grand Cayman and Miami, Tampa and New York (JFK).
Government and airport taxes and fees are additional for all quoted sale fares, and some conditions apply. Quoted fares are based on roundtrip purchase.
For details and to book any of the domestic, regional, or USA sale fares, customers can call Cayman Airways reservations on 949-2311, book online at caymanairways.com, or contact a local travel agent.
As part of the 46th anniversary celebrations, Cayman Airways will also host its annual Customer Appreciation Day at its ticket offices on all three islands on Thursday 7 August, which is the airline’s official anniversary date. Walk-in customers who purchase any of the sale fares on that day will receive giveaways and be entered to win the grand prize of a roundtrip ticket to any Cayman Airways destination. Second prize is 4,600 Sir Turtle Rewards miles, and third prize is 460 Sir Turtle Rewards miles.
Passengers travelling on 7 August will also be treated to raffles aboard all flights operating that day, with some lucky passengers winning a variety of prizes compliments of Cayman Turtle Farm and various industry partners.
Cayman Airways President and CEO, Fabian Whorms, said the board, management, and staff at the airline are extremely grateful to have such a loyal customer base. “These sale fares and activities are our way of showing our appreciation for customers’ commitment to Cayman Airways,” he said. “As we mark our 46th year in service, we look forward to serving our community for many more years to come.”
Judge warns young woman over dangers of Ecstasy
(CNS): Allegations of rape and sexual assault made by a young woman against her step-father after an alcohol and Ecstasy fueled night were thrown out of court last week as result of insufficient and discredited evidence. The young women admitted voluntarily taking the drug and drinking alcohol with her step-father when her mother was away but claims she passed out and woke wearing no underwear, a hickey on her neck and feeling discomfort. However, with little evidence to support her allegations and various inconsistencies in her story, Justice Charles Quin said there was not enough evidence to support a conviction in what he described as a "particularly sad case".
The court had heard that the young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons but who was over the age of consent at the time of the alleged rape, had been using drugs since she was 15. On the night of the alleged incident she had voluntarily consumed alcohol and taken Ecstasy, or 'mollie' as the drug is known on the street, having planned and agreed to do so some weeks earlier with her step-father.
The young womanhad admitted during her evidence that she had no memory of the sexual assault or the rape and had assumed her step-father had sex with her as she said she passed out but he had implied they had the next morning.
In his ruling in response to a 'no case to answer' submission by defense counsel, Fiona Robertson, the judge noted how upsetting the entire case was for the family involved but said there was not enough evidence against the defendant as he returned a not guilty verdict on the two counts.
Noting the young woman's continued use of ganja and her experimentation with other drugs, however, Justice Quin warned that she would face more trouble ahead.
"What is particularly sad is that the complainant has beenusing ganja since the age of 15 years old and she has become a frequent user of this illegal drug. I take this opportunity to warn the complainant that if she continues to take ganja and experiment with drugs such as Ecstasy, more trouble is inevitable for her," he added.
The judge made a point of noting that the collapse of the crown's case was not a reflection on either the police officer who carried out the investigation or the crown counsel who prosecuted the case.
College boss donates cash to new campaign
(CNS): Dr David Marshall, the president of the International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI), has donated CI$10,000 to kick off the college’s upcoming campaign to raise cash for more technology resources in the classroom. He is hoping that his contribution will encourage the alumni to dig deep and help him create work-ready students for Cayman's economy. Since taking up the college's top job in March, Marshall has been on a crusade to get the ICCI graduates from college into employment. He has raised admissions criteria, encouraged more rigorous academics, increased graduation requirements, and provided additional supports for academically struggling students.
Marshall says Cayman’s future economy will need more citizens with globally competitive portfolios.
“The new jobs coming to Cayman will require a workforce with outstanding critical thinking skills, excellent communication skills, and exceptional competencies in maths, technology, science, and engineering. There is no other way to produce this workforce other thangetting more young people to complete college with the skills employers need.”
The ICCI community-wide fundraising campaign officially kicks off later this month with a meeting of ICCI alumni.
“This meeting on August 17 is a real heart-to-heart with the scores of alumni out there who have done well. It is now time for them to reach back and provide opportunities for current students through donations to improve teaching and learning and to provide scholarships,” Marshall said.
While the ICCI board of trustees has matched Marshall’s donation with a promise of more to come he says the college needs more.
“I think people have to put their money where the mouth is,” he said. “It’s not enough to say you support the education of young people. I think you have to show that support by digging in your wallet personally to make sure young people have a chance to get where you are. Corporate donations are great, but when it gets down to it, individuals on the island also should be making personal contributions to higher education causes.”
Marshall’s donation follows his earlier contributions this year of CI$1,000 to ICCI’s scholarship fund and another CI$1,000 donation provided by some friends in the US. He says he personally will be making calls to companies and individuals in Cayman in the weeks to come for help.
“These are the country’s future leaders; they deserve the best," Marshall added.
Cops head out to talk to public in districts
(CNS): The RCIPS Area Commander for the Eastern Districts will be holding a series of community meetings in the districts this week, giving the public an opportunity to express their concerns about crime in their communities and also to hear exactly what the local police are doing about the obvious issues in the specific districts. The public meetings begin this evening at the Bodden Town civic Centre at 7pm, followed by a meting in North Side on Wednesday and East End on Thursday also at 7pm. Chief Inspector Brad Ebanks, who looks after all three districts, said, “We want to hear from you our Community Members. We will continue to work together with you in order to accomplish the same objectives, thus lessening crime and making our districts a safer place to live.”
The meetings are set for the following dates and times:
1. Bodden Town Civic Centre – Tuesday 5th August 7pm-9pm
2. North Side Civic Centre – Wednesday 6th of August 7pm-9pm
3. East End United Church Hall – Thursday 7th of August 7pm-9pm