Guest Writer
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Uruguay students in stock market smash
(BBC): For secondary school pupils in Uruguay, it was supposed to be a hands-on experience in the world of finance. It turned out to be a lesson that would benefit many, Wall Street analysts included. With $10,000 seed capital in hand, supplied by their professor of economics, two groups of 17 and 18-year-olds invested in stocks, obtaining an annual return of 42.5%. "Any hedge fund manager in the world would kill for those results," said John Younger, a Canadian national who worked in finance for 17 years in Canada and New York, before moving to Uruguay.
According to one of the schoolchildren, Jean Paul Deletraz, the key to their success is simple. "We are out there on the market, we understand the trends, what is cool or not, more than Wall Street bankers who spend their days behind their desks, away from reality," he says.
Savannah Primary and Cayman Prep share trophy
(CISC): The primary division in the 2010 RBC School Sailing Championship was a thrilling event for students and spectators alike. The regatta was sailed on 26 November 2010 at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club (CISC). Each school had a team of ten sailors who raced a total of eighteen races. Conditions were perfect and competition was fierce. The overall lead changed hands a number of times and there was very little to choose between any of the schools. Cayman Prep started well in the individual team events but were not as strong in the team relays although they held the lead going into the final race.
Savannah Primary had a very organised team with some very enthusiastic teacher/coaches and overall showed the most consistent sailing. Red Bay Primary showed good strategy in several races but didn’t have the consistency in depth. Prospect Primary, who have on their team two of the best youth sailors in Cayman, sailed well but the pressure seemed to get to them and their challenge fell off towards the end.
With all teams very close on points the championship went down to the wire with the final Gold Medal race counting for double points. Red Bay won the race but it was not quite enough. Savannah took second which was just enough to tie Cayman Prep on points overall. The championship was shared for the first time in the twelve year history of the event.
Coach Raph praised the children and their teachers for their efforts over the year in preparing for this regatta. “Each year the schools programme grows bigger and the standard of sailing and levels of teamwork were outstanding today.”
Ms Annie Manderson from Royal Bank was on hand to present the trophies and she too praised the kids for putting on such a great display of discipline and team work.
As always CISC is grateful for the support of the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture for continuing to support our school sailing programme and to RBC for being our longest serving sponsors who make this marquee event possible every year.
Final results
1st= Cayman Prep & Savannah Primary
3rd Prospect Primary School
4th Red Bay Primary School
The RBC High School Championship is scheduled for Friday 3 December
Sarasota International Six-a-side Cricket Festival
(CNS): It was with great expectation that the 2010 Sarasota Heineken sponsored Village Greenies touring party boarded the specially chartered Cayman Airways jet at Owen Roberts International Airport (Terminal 1). Boasting two sides of varying ability and experience, hopes were high that a 17 year drought in the tournament could be finally ended. The Village Greenies, captained by David McGrath, had been weakened by the late withdraw of talismatic all rounder Frankie Hinds but on paper still boasted enough talent to challenge. The Evergreens,captained by David Groves, and with player coach Ian Goodall at the helm also looked to have more than enough experience to be a force.After a mad dash from Tampa airport both teams took the field for their first games.
The Greenies unfortunately capitulated against a strong Anzacs team, much to the annoyance of captain McGrath, who embarked on a verbal spat with the spectators. The Evergreens, however, cruised through unscathed against the Mad Dogs, led home by an unbeaten 25 from Matthew Walker.
Days two and three continued in a similar vein with the Greenies continuing to struggle and the Evergreens dominating the opposition. At the end of the group stages the Evergreens had comfortably booked their place in the Sunday Final (4 wins 1 loss) whilst the Village Greenies would be taking the day off (1-4).
Finals day dawned, and with some sore heads and tired legs in the camp the Evergreens would be taking on the Springboks. Having studied the pitch and the overhead conditions Coach Goodall selected the team of Walker, Adams, Sawle-Thomas, Beck, Grover and Dreadsy to take the field. Missing out on this occasion were fellow tourists The McGrath twins, Rotsey, EE Ming Wetherell and Sellars.
By the time of the final the crowd had swelled and the party double decker stand was full. In addition a gaggle of snow geese and pack of wild hogs had been drawn to the ground in a trance by the horns and scratch pads of master hunters Dreadsy, Texas, Sellars and Peter McGrath
Captain Groves lost the toss and the burly Springboks chose to bat. After the customary Jerry Beck first ball bumper and some lusty hitting from the South Africans, the Evergreens’ bowlers and fielders battled back from a poor start and the innings closed on 77-3 from their 5 overs, which looked to be a challenging total. Openers Charlie Adams and Matthew Walker walked out to bat and took the game to the Springboks pacers with a mixture of boundaries and scrambled twos. Walker departed for a well crafted 25 and Dickie Thomas joined Adams at the crease. Despite a few nervous moments these two guided the Evergreens home to a famous victory with two balls to spare and the crowd, already built up into a frenzy by the quality of the Evergreens cricket, went crazy. Captain Groves accepted the trophy from an emotional Larry Parry and the shield will be taking pride of place in the soon to be constructed Village Greenies Little Cayman Hunting Lodge.
Top performers on the field during the tournament with the bat were tour MVP Matthew Walker with a total of 122 runs, Charlie Adams with 68 runs and Nick Sellars with 58 runs. Top Bowlers were Walker again with 5 wickets, David Groves with 4, Matthew Glyde and Jerry Beck with 3. A special mention must also go to Adams who has been attending the festival every year for the last 17 years and who finally tasted victory in a Sarasota final for the first time at the ripe old age of 67.
Cayman ‘For Sale’
This past weekend (thanksgiving) it was refreshing to see a noticeable increase in the number of visitors (tourists) to the north coast of Grand Cayman. I was able to interact with many of these guests at several functions and casual conversations, as is customary, I am always anxious to hear their impressions of the area and Cayman in general. The first question they asked, “Why is everything for sale?
I have simply run out of sensible answers and now bluntly admit to our guests that it is a case of “let’s keep doing the same things while expecting different results”. How do we expect to attract new buyers when the impression is that everyone is leaving the area?
A few also expressed their dismay at the large power line poles and the bright red lights on the top of each. The question was asked-why not put the electric lines underground, especially since the area is mostly sandy soil. While I agreed wholeheartedly, I did not have an answer for this one.
This feedback confirms that the things some of us who live here and take for granted, our guests find to be out of context for a so-called “high end destination” and it has a serious effect on their impressions of our country and their desire to return or invest.
For many years I have been asking the Cireba officials to address the issue of the numerous for sale signs which has cheapened the entire north coast. Today, I decided to count the signs and travelled from Morrits Tortuga to Rum Point, Kaibo Park and down Frank Sound rd; to my amazement there were 130 for sale signs on the main road, (I did not check the side roads). I also understand that the signs standing independently along the road are also in violation of the Planning laws.
A couple months ago I discussed this issue with the President of Cireba, and I offered a sensible solution: establish a joint CIREBA/DOT information office in the area so that our guests could visit for information and those interested in real estate could view the listings and arrange viewings. In addition, I offered to assist them in finding a suitable location for such a center. As usual, the answer – we will study it and get back in touch.
I have travelled to many “high end “destinations overseas and found the use of information centers very common; in fact in many areas it is against the town ordinance to erect a for sale sign. As the majority of our real estate agents are from overseas one would have thought that they would be aware of this and try something new for a change.
In this time of severe economic hardships when many of us who own real estate and cater to our visitors are struggling just to survive, one would think that we (collective country) would be acting outside of the box (listening to our guests feedback) to sustain ourselves during these hard times; while working as hard as possible to improve our environment, surroundings and maintain values, (a building moratorium anyone?). Instead we keep grumbling along wishing and hoping things will get better soon; but not this time. Only by utilizing new ideas and hard work will it get better. For the past 10 + years nothing of any substance has taken place with respect to improving the product “Cayman” and the results and statistics prove this point. Yet we keep looking for excuses as to why our market is down, instead of looking in the mirror.
To compound our problems we now have a barrage of plastics and other garbage which appears to have floated in from Haiti along the entire north coast beaches. Again, I recently asked our Govt. to send out a few prisoners to clean it up like we did a few years ago under the auspices of the North coast tourism council. It was great for the inmates and well received by the community. Again, the answer was we will study it and let you know. What is there to study? Garbage is ruining our beaches and the coral reefs and we need to clean it up. In addition, we have many young north siders out of work now and the lion fish is also invading our reefs- could it not be arranged that a small bounty be worked out to pay these young men to go out and kill these lionfish? Or is that to be studied as well?
Cayman had two assets when we started in the tourism business 50 +years ago; – friendly, hospitable, hard working and caring people and a pristine environment. For those who are still trying to decide what label to put on the jar “Cayman”, I suggest you look inside the jar as the contents are diminishing fast. Our efforts should be on fixing the product not wasting time and scare dollars on what the label should be. But the latter is so much easier than the former, so we continue with the charade.
For the real estate industry I would like to remind them of what President Reagan told Gorbachev about the Berlin Wall: “Tear down these signs!"
Cayman has been asleep for too long regarding our tourism product; it is time we wake up before our dream turns into a real nightmare.
Volleyball action kicks off this weekend
(CIVF): Miss Cayman, Cristin Alexander, will be making an appearance as a Cayman Islands National team player in the Cayman Airways Spike Fest, a 3-day international (indoor) volleyball event, which kicks off at 5pm tomorrow evening at the Sir Vassell Johnson Hall, UCCI Gymnasium, beside the Truman Bodden Stadium. The Cayman Islands teams are scheduled to play at 7:00pm on the initial day of competition. This free-to–the-public event is organised and hosted by the Cayman Islands Volley Ball Federation (CIVF). The games will attract six male teams and four female teams from across the Caribbean, including Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Jamaica, St Lucia and the United States.
The Cayman Islands will be active competitors while hosting Cayman Airways SpikeFest.
Two international volley ball specialists (pictured above), Barry Miller, Chairperson of the Manitoba Volley Ball Officials Association, and Azad Hosein of Volley Ball Canada, a certified FIVB (Federation International de Volley Ball) referee will be attending. Miller and Azad have conducted three clinics, where upwards of 20 individuals will have received primary certification as national referees and officials.
Spikefest, which is sanctioned by regional volley ball governing body,North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Federation (NORCECA), is a sprout off the success of International Beach Volley Ball Tournaments held here in March of this year and in 2009.
Games commence at 5:00pm this evening under the direction of CIVF International Games Director, Fareed Hosein, and an army of CIVF members and volunteers. LIME will be giving away six mobile phones during the three day event.
This is a free admission event sponsored by Gold sponsors Cayman Airways and The Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports & Culture, along with Cayman National, LIME, Calico Jack’s, Acqua Penna, Heineken, Coconut Car Rental, Vibe 98.9, Vison Marketing, Andy’s Car Rental and the Cayman Islands Red Cross, without whom this would not have been possible. For further information on the tournament, please contact CIVF Public Relations Director, Carl Brown at 916-2057.
UK imposes new permanent immigration quota
(Miami Herald): Britain will impose a tough annual limit on the number of non-Europeans allowed to work in the UK and slash visas for overseas students as it seeks to dramatically reduce immigration, the government said Tuesday.Home Secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons that the number of non-EU nationals permitted to work in the U.K. from April 2011 will be capped at about 22,000 – a reduction of about one-fifth from 2009. But thousands of people who are allowed to work in Britain on intracompany transfers aren’t included in those figures – or under the new quota.
Daily aspirin dose ‘for everyone over 45’
(Daily Telegraph): Evidence is building that the benefits for many healthy middle-aged and older people “far outweigh” the side effects, according to the academics. In particular, individuals at higher risk from the country’s two biggest killers would be helped by taking the painkiller as a preventive medicine, they added. The experts were speaking at the Royal Society of Medicine a month after research from Oxford University published in The Lancet showed that taking 75mg of aspirin daily for five years reduces the risk of getting bowel cancer by a quarter, and deaths from the disease by a third. A 75mg dose is a quarter of the standard over-the-counter pill.
What’s in a name?
Iconic names should not be replaced. They serve to remind us of our history and heritage, keep us rooted and, hey, if you are into the numbers, it’s also usually a very smart business decision. Well known brand names like Tortuga Club, Blue Horizon, Galleon Beach, Pedro Castle, Rum Point, Seaview, Cayman Turtle Farm, Matilda Corner, Caribbean Club, Welly’s Cool Spot, Smiths Barcadere, Miss Lassies, and Pageant Beach, just to name a few, are deeply ingrained in our collective memory.
We really must stop the total destruction of everything we have here, including the names of our long established and cherished places.
There seems to be some painful recognition of the value of these names as of late after costly mistakes, for example with the Turtle Farm being changed back after its ill fated time as Boatswains Beach. Other shrewd developers have maintained the name links even if the property has been redeveloped and bears little resemblance to the original, such as Morritt’s Tortuga Club, Seaview, and Caribbean Club.
With the Westin Casuarina Hotel now in financing problems, let’s hope that when they do get back on their feet, the owners, whoever they might be, reinstate the property as the (blank) Galleon Beach Hotel. There are just too many memories of these places to let the names be lost forever. As for the developer of the so called Watercolors (whoopee), please reconsider going back to something of the original name – say Beach Club 10 (for new height). It will serve you well … and there is no charge for my consultancy fee.
Hopefully, places like the Buccaneers Inn and Pageant Beach will one day also be re-born.
Sister Islands World Diabetes Day Lighting Ceremony
(CNS): A short walk around the Stake Bay Loop at 4.15pm on 14 November kicked off the World Diabetes Day event on Cayman Brac. This was followed by the blue lighting of the Cayman Brac Museum to create awareness that an increasing number of people are being affected by diabetes. In her welcome address, Thelma Galbraith of the Cayman Islands Diabetes Association-Sisters Islands quoted President Jean Claude Mbanya of the International DiabetesFederation,, who said, “World Diabetes Day is about mobilizing the global community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes awareness. We want all concerned to take the necessary action to control an epidemic that affects the lives of over 300 million people in the world today.”
Galbraith said, “All concerned means the patients, care givers, relatives and friends, nurses, doctors and pharmacist, the government. Everybody. We are proud to say we have one of the best health care system in the Caribbean and a government that cares for its people.”
Acting Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly applauded the small learning group for their contribution to our islands and was extremely pleased that it continues to make a significant impact on the global battle against this disease.
World Diabetes Day was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world. In 2007, the United Nations marked the Day for the first time with the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, which made the existing World Diabetes Day an official United Nations World Health Day. The theme for 2009-2013 is Education and Prevention. The slogan for 2010 is: “Let’s take control of diabetes. Now”.
The Sister Islands group meets every second and last Thursday at the Faith Hospital Conference Room at 7.00pm.
Drinking and driving
Recently an acquaintance of mine pled guilty to DUI after driving into somebody. I do not know the details regarding what happened or whether the victim survived but what I do know is that she was over the legal alcohol limit while in control of her vehicle and that she hit an innocent pedestrian.
I was interested to see what comments she may have made relating to this incident on her Facebook page and was surprised to find a jolly and upbeat commentary ofher life including parties she has held recently and no mention of this terrible incident. There were also multiple messages from people telling her how wonderful she is and how they were all thinking of her. Now I know she must be going through a difficult time and be frightened for her future and hopefully remorseful of her actions. I understand that she may have been putting on a brave face – but I felt that some recognition of what happened – even a heartfelt apology to the victim would have been more appropriate. It is nice that her friends offer support; perhaps I am harsh but I cannot bring myself to muster much sympathy for anyone who has caused an accident because they drove a vehicle drunk.
I am tired of hearing every other week of single car accidents at night here in Cayman, where I have to assume the majority of them were caused by a driver unable to control their vehicle or react in a timely manner because they were under the influence of something. I shudder as I recall a dinner conversation with some girlfriends – 5 to be exact – and the subject got onto drink driving and every one of them laughed as they told stories about their narrow escapes from the law when they had been driving drunk or how “if you just try to stay between the lines you will be OK”. I was the only person at that table who not only doesn’t drive after drinking but views it totally unacceptable to risk other people’s lives by taking such frivolous risks.
I have been on the island for 7 years and am very aware that it is basically socially acceptable here to drive whilst over the limit. I have even spoken to people who say that when they lived in their home countries they never drove when drunk and have only started to here because everyone is so relaxed about it.
As far as I am concerned, no amount of alcohol when driving is safe. Those people who think that they can gauge their own sobriety as the night progresses should surely know that as they get increasingly drunk they will also believe that they are capable of anything and are less able to be a good judge of their own capabilities. How can anyone be such a fool as to think that alcohol does not affect them or that “it will never happen to them”? How can people, not even for one minute, imagine the consequences of an accident caused by their own inebriation or the devastating effect it would have on the lives of the innocent? I for one know that I could never forgive myself if I were to hurt another person or, worse, deprive a family of a loved one due to my own stupidity. The guilt would eat me alive.
I know I am at risk of sounding holier than thou – so be it. I simply want to put a message out there that driving under the influence is not acceptable. In fact it is utterly irresponsible. It is easy not to drink drive – set a limit on only one drink, or better still no alcohol … if you have more, take a cab. And no, getting into another car being driven by someone drunk does not make it any better. Please do not condone this behaviour – let people know that it is simply not OK. We cannot risk other people’s lives, for what? A quicker journey home and a few dollars saved. It simply isn’t worth it.