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PIN participants enjoy positive experience with PwC
(CNS): A group of George Town Primary students have recently completed the PIN (Positive Intervention Now) afterschool programme at St George’s Anglican Church along with the completion of the academic year. The students have been able to enjoy the programme (which runs from 3pm to 6pm Tuesday to Thursday), thanks in part to the generous support of sponsors and volunteers, including a group of fifteen volunteers from major sponsor, PwC. The programme, run by the Education and Youth Committee of St George’s Anglican Church, focuses on youngsters of 10 and 11 years of age, who are generally in their last year of primary school.
The programme helps to shape the youngsters spiritually, intellectually and emotionally, through this often difficult transition into the teenage years. As well as focusing on intellectual pursuits such as homework, maths and reading, the programme also offers youngsters the chance to perfect their table etiquette, develop spiritual awareness and also work on fun art and science projects.
Assistance from a variety of corporate sponsors means the programme has been able to run for the last five academic years, and offers the youngsters a hot meal each day, field trips to places such as the George Town Library, as well as picnics and fun family events.
Marlene Ricketts is the PIN programme facilitator, and she says that she is deeply grateful to the efforts of volunteers like PwC because she can truly see the considerable positive impact their involvement has had on the students.
“We thank PwC for its continued commitment to the programme,” she said. “Without corporate sponsorship our programme might not have lasted as long as it has. PwC does not only financially support PIN, but they have also provided laptops and a great number of volunteers who help throughout the year. It makes such a difference when they are there because the children get more individual attention. Besides helping the children with work there has been incidental learning as the volunteers from PwC led a special project called “The world through my eyes” to teach the children basic photography.”
Angilynn Chan-Baraud, PwC’s Assurance and Business Development Manager, coordinates the firm’s efforts to assist the PIN programme. Baraud says that broadening PwC’s input this year to actively spend time with the young people has been a very rewarding experience all around.
“Our volunteers have very much enjoyed spending time with and getting to know all the young people who attend the PIN programme,” she said. “For the photography project we provided each student with a disposable camera and asked them to take pictures for one week. Their work has been displayed at the PIN programme and we were very impressed by the results. We all attended the PIN closing ceremony recently and we were extremely proud of all the young people with whom we have worked. Community involvement at this level is extremely important to all of us at PwC and we thank the youngsters for making PIN such an enjoyable programme in which to participate.”
Confirming thefirm’s commitment to the PIN programme, Baraud applauded Ricketts and her team for their endeavours to assist Cayman’s youth development.
“Ms Marlene, her assistants, St. George’s Anglican Church and the PIN Board have again undertaken a huge effort this year to help guide the students through this tough transitional time in their lives and we are delighted to continue to help in this cause. Congratulations to everyone involved for helping to guide the young people on to a bright future.”
HMS Lancaster sunk by Cayman Rugby
(CRFU): A team from the HMS Lancaster, in Cayman waters during the Hurricane Season, took on a local Cayman Rugby Select XV on 22 June in a game that marked the end of the local rugby XV’s season. With the end of the domestic and international Rugby XV’s season the Cayman Rugby Union now makes way for the Rugby 7’s season which will be highlighted by the 2013 NACRA 7’s Championship to be held here in Cayman in November 2013. The HMS Lancaster XV, coming from wins over Bermuda U19 XV and a loss to Key West RFC, fielded 12 players and borrowed the remainder from their Caymanian hosts and it wasn’t long before Cayman started to pile the points on their visitors. (Photo by Caroline Deegan)
The heat, and the fact that HMS Lancaster players do not often get the opportunity to train as a team whilst on deployment, lead to a 66-7 mauling! HMS Lancaster’s only try on the day being recorded by honorary Seaman Iain Blackwell.
Whilst the rugby action was a one sided affair on the pitch the HMS Lancaster XV enjoyed food and drink provided by the Cayman Rugby Union in recognition of their arrival on Island which forms part of a long history of games played by the Cayman Rugby Union against visiting British Naval Ships.
HMS Lancaster now moves to Turks and Caicos where they hope for better fortunes on the Rugby pitch. Turks and Caicos recently played their first full IRB sanctioned International Rugby match against Jamaica which they lost 31-13.
Photos by Caroline Deegan:
Lanc1: HMS Lancaster forward Sam Winfield looks to make his way to the Cayman try line.
Lanc2: Ricardo Brown touches down for 5 of Cayman’s 66 points on the day.
Youth Act steers kids away from crime
(CNS): At the launch of a new youth crime reduction programme over 300 Year 8 students from John Gray, Clifton Hunter and Cayman Brac’s Layman Scott high schools learned about the importance of taking personal responsibility for choices and the consequences of poor choices. According to the organisers, the message that came through at the Youth Anti-Crime Trust’s (Youth ACT) day-long Youth Crime Awareness & Prevention Day pilots, held at JGHS on 31 May and CHHS on 21 June, was that it is not by chance but by the choices we make that our future unfolds. Youth ACT members, presenters and the education ministry have collaborated to develop a range of 30-minute interactive workshops on such hard-hitting topics as gangs, drugs and alcohol and misuse of firearms.
A far cry from a conventional education programme, according to a release from the ministry, the students heard from experts in criminal justice and rehabilitation, including: prisoners, judges, prosecutors, prison officers, police officers, drug counsellors, psychologists and testimonials about the causes and effects of crime. School counsellors were also in attendance to offer assistance when and if needed and social workers were on call.
Through role play, students also experienced the loss of freedom that comes with convictions for breaking the law. They were on “lock down” throughout the day, escorted to and from workshops by volunteers from the Prison Services and RCIPS, with the restrictions that would be applied to prisoners.
At the end of the day, students and adults celebrated the lifting of these restrictions with a debriefing and celebration session.
CHHS students Sharon Laidlaw and Jordan Ebanks, both describe their experience at the crime awareness day as fun and interesting. Asked which session had the greatest impact, Ebanks said, “I was really surprised by the effects drugs and alcohol can have on your life.”
Laidlaw added, “I learned a lot from the sessions today, but mostly that I’m the one who has the voice and all the power of choice.”
The Youth ACT is a newly formed non-profit association created to implement effective prevention programmes to address anti-social behaviour and prevent youth crime. The key objective of Youth ACT is to empower children with the required knowledge to prepare them to deal with the social, emotional, at-risk behavioral and academic demandsplaced on them by society. In addition, Youth Act intends to advocate for a change in public policy and in the way penalties and punishment are administered to our youth in support of restorative justice.
Youth ACT Chairperson Bonnie Anglin, explained the programme’s focus on education as a means of prevention and commented, "Too often, adults expect children to have the knowledge and experience to make good decisions without having provided the needed information."
There are three main influences on children and young people; family, school and community. The Youth ACT pilot project was developed by involving all stakeholders in the process of creating a variety of programmes through the school and the community to address youth crime prevention through education.
Michael Myles, Ministry of Education’s At-Risk Programme Coordinator and board member of Youth ACT, stated, “The challenges we are encountering in our country do not rest on the shoulders of one person, one agency and/or one community stakeholder. In order to ensure that we are successful with improving the lives of our people and our youth, we must all carry the burden, for it is only then we will experience long-lasting progress in the lives of our people.”
Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia, board member of Youth ACT, said, “As a representative of higher education these initiatives are critical to ensuring that our young people are positioned to benefit from higher education. When we equip them with the skills necessary to successfully navigate life through good choices, we increase the likelihood that they will access higher education and therefore have greater opportunity to succeed.”
Education Minister Tara Rivers attended the launch of the John Gray pilot, and offered her thanks and congratulations to Youth ACT and the many different individuals and agencies who worked with the Education Ministry to develop and implement the Youth Crime Awareness and Prevention Days.
“It is important that we as a country recognize that there is crime among our youth and that we must be proactive in educating our young people and showing them that crime is not the answer. I very much support the need for crime prevention in the schools’ curriculum and look forward to continuing to work with Youth ACT to help our youth to make positive choices in their lives,” Rivers commented.
Caribbean policymakers gather in Bahamas
(CNS): Cayman 27's News Director, Ben Meade, was among more than 100 public and private sector policymakers from around the Caribbean gathered in The Bahamas this week to look at sustainable solutions for economic and population growth in the region. Several topics pertinent to development in small island-nations were discussed, including Enhancing the Logistics and Connectivity of the Caribbean, Improving the Investment Climate in the Caribbean, and the Political Economy of Growth in the Caribbean in Times of Limited Choices. a release from the local TV station said that Meade attended a 24-25 June Caribbean Growth Forum regional workshop as a specially-invited guest of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
“You have been selected based on your stellar track record of forums such as this; your wide reach and strong roots in the Caribbean and the ability to disseminate accurate, timely and salient information to a diversified audience,” stated an invitation from the organisers.
“I think this is a great opportunity to take stock of where we are in the Cayman Islands compared to what some of our neighbours in the Caribbean are doing. I am looking forward to assessing the wins and losses of other jurisdictions and see what lessons can be learned from a Cayman context,” said Mr. Meade.
Attending the gathering were government leaders, business leaders and officials from several multinational agencies like the IDB, World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, Caribbean Export Development Agency and the United Kingdom Department for International Development.
“The topics being discussed will have an impact on the lives of everyone but the message often gets lost in the jargon of government officials and technocrats. It is important that the media is involved in this dialogue to help better get the information out to the wider community in a format they can understand,” Meade added.
Cayman 27 will air a series of special reports on development issues addressed at the two-day meeting.
Donate old phones at Rock and Reggae concert
(CNS): Organisers of the Cayman Rock and Reggae Festival, which will take place next month at Camana Bay, have made it easy for those attending donate old phones for a good cause. Music Republic CEO Ian Hemming and Principal Mark Beckford announced that the concert will feature cell phone donation bins to collected used and damaged phones for the Find Your Voice programme benefit the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. Inspired by KPMG’s global employee philanthropic programme called BRIGHT, Find Your Voice provides clients of the CICC, an organisation dedicated to providing a safe shelter for women and children in abusive relationships, with new mobile phones and new telephone numbers by using the proceeds of the recycled used or damaged mobile phones toward the purchase of new ones.
Music Republic, the hosts of The Rock & Reggae Festival, say it is the first concept in the Cayman Islands which will stage two unique and distinct music genres.
Rarely presented together, the event will feature two headliners, Air Supply and Third World Band celebrating each genre, as well as other up-and-coming acts, such as Chronixx, Brave Yesterday, Stuart Wilson, and Inverse, to create a musically diverse show.
Organisers say that from sundown to early in the morning, the audience can groove to the beats of this artsy,edgy and culturally raw experience in one of the world's premier vacation destinations, the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Rock & Reggae Music Festival 2013 will take place on 12 July at the Festival Green at Camana Bay,Grand Cayman. Gates open at 5:30pm.
The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre is the only women's safe house in the Cayman Islands and has provided housing, counselling and support services to more than 700 women and their children since its inception in 2003. The CICC is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by security personnel and caring individuals trained in providing support and education to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Crisis Centre provides the services that help clients make a healthy transition to a life free from violence.
Find Your Voice was developed to provide a new phone number, mobile phone, and set amount of pre-paid minutes to women coming through the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. A key aspect of the program is involving the community in the solution – the community is asked to donate their old mobile phones and accessories, which are sent to a recycling company. The proceeds from this are used to fund the program. This program provides women with independence, a practical aid in their time at the Crisis Centre and afterward, and knowledge that the community has made this program possible.
Photo: CICC Executive Director Ania Sedgley (left) and Gabrielle Beckford, Production Assistant Music Republic,
Type 1 diabetes vaccine hailed as ‘significant step’
(BBC): It may be possible to reverse type 1 diabetes by training a patient's own immune system to stop attacking their body, an early trial suggests. Their immune system destroys the cells that make insulin, the hormone needed to control blood sugar levels. A study in 80 patients, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed a vaccine could retrain their immune system. Experts described the results as a "significant step". Normally a vaccine teaches the immune system to attack bacteria or viruses that cause disease, such as the polio virus. Researchers at the Stanford University Medical Centre used a vaccine with the opposite effect – to make the immune system cease its assault.
In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys beta cells in the pancreas. This means the body is unable to produce enough insulin and regular injections of the hormone are needed throughout life. It is a different disease to type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by an unhealthy diet.
The vaccine was targeted to the specific white blood cells which attack beta cells. After patients were given weekly injections for three months, the levels of those white blood cells fell.
Government extends import duty concessions
(CNS): Cayman Brac drivers will continue to enjoy a greatly reduced import duty on gasoline, at least for the next six months, which will continue to be 12.5 cents per gallon. Brackers and people on Little Cayman also get to keep the 100% import duty waiver on building materials imported to the Sister Islands. The flat 15% import duty rate on building materials imported to Grand Cayman has also been extended to the end of the year. The Finance & Economic Development Ministry says this is to further stimulate economic activity on the islands. The normal rate of import duty on motor gasoline is 75 cents per gallon, whilst the normal import duty rate on building material ranges from 17% to 22%, according to the ministry.
In announcing the extension, Finance Minister Marco Archer said, “The extension of these concessions is consistent with the government’s ongoing efforts to stimulate growth in the economy, and I encourage all developers and other stakeholders to accelerate their construction activity during this further concessionary period.”
For the purpose of these concessions, building materials have been defined as: “All physical components and substances, whether solid or liquid, used in the construction, renovation or restoration and forming a permanent part of any building or related structure.” Items such as furniture, accessories, electronics and appliances are specifically excluded.
Cuba revises its migration policy
(CNS): Cuban nationals no longer have to obtain a Travel Permit or a Letter of Invitation before travelling out of Cuba, following a change in migration policy by the Cuban government, but they will need a valid, ordinary Cuban passport and the appropriate visa issued by the country to which the citizen is travelling. However, some Cubans are continuing to arrive as economic migrants. Cayman 27 reported that a 27 Cubans sailed into George Town Tuesday, 25 June, landing close to Cassanova Restaurant, where they were met by immigration officials. Two remained behind, one for medical reasons, but the rest continued on their journey. (Photo courtesy Cayman 27)
A release from the Cayman Government Information Services warns Cuban citizens residing in the Cayman Islands that they should be aware of key changes made earlier this year by the Cuban government to the Cuban Migration Policy. These amendments took effect from 14 January this year, following which Cayman Islands Department of Immigration officials sought clarification from the Cuban consulate in Jamaica.
Following are the updated guidelines that relate to new policy:
- Cuban nationals no longer have to obtain a Travel Permit or a Letter of Invitation before travelling out of Cuba.
- The required travel documents include a valid, ordinary Cuban passport and the appropriate visa issued by the country to which the citizen is travelling.
- Ordinary passports issued before the January change will remain valid.
- If applicable, Cuban citizens may request updated passports from the Ministry of the Interior (via the Honorary Cuban Consul in Jamaica).
- Cuban passports are valid for six years and must be updated every two years at the Consulate Office (i.e. A passport issued in 2013 will be valid until 2019, but its validity shall be updated in 2015 and 2017).
- Cuban citizens travelling on “private affairs” will be permitted to remain outside of Cuba for up to 24 months from the date of departure from.
- Applications for passport extensions and authorized stays beyond 24 months must be submitted to the Cuban Consular Office in Jamaica.
- “Private affairs” refers to personal reasons not related to the Cuban Government or the State.
- Cuban nationals taking up long term residency in the Cayman Islands are required to apply to the Cuban Consular Office in Jamaica for a “PRE” (RESIDENTE En El EXTERIOR) endorsement in their passport. This includes Cuban nationals married to Caymanians.
- In regards to longer periods of stay in the Cayman Islands, Cubans will be required to obtain evidence of an “Extension of Stay” validated at the Cuban Consulate in Jamaica.
- Passport/travel extension services can be carried out at the Cuban Consulate in Kingston – and usually without the applicant having to attend in person.
- There are application and material requirements associated with such service transactions.
- Given such an extension to the period during which they may remain outside of Cuba, work permit approval periods may also be extended for up to 22 months.
- The Cayman Islands Department of Immigration has no authority to makeallowances or exercise discretion, outside of what is presented by the Cuban government.
Any further questions on the law, and on entitlements, travel documents or travel obligations, should be addressed to the Cuban Consular Office, Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, in Jamaica.
Cuban citizens may contact the Honorary Cuban Consul in Jamaica at email: consul2@cwjamaica.com; or, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cuba at: www.cubaminrex.cu. Or, call: DIGICEL (876) 619-1442/3; LIME (876)978-0930/1.
See press release from the Cuban Embassy in Jamaica below.
Ozzie visits blood bank for World Blood Donor Day
(CNS): Health Minister Osbourne Bodden visited the Health Services Authority blood bank recently to help raise awareness of the importance of giving blood and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day. Minister Bodden recognised Cayman’s generous blood donors and encouraged more people to follow their lead. “Thank you to all of our blood donors. By giving blood, you are saving lives, so please encourage your friends and family to do the same,” he said. “World Blood Donor Day is a goodreminder to all of us of the importance of continuing to give blood throughout the year.” (Photo: the minister and blood donor Tracy McComb)
Minister Bodden added, “A limited amount of blood in the Blood Bank is a threat to public safety, presently the Blood Bank has 25 per cent lower than optimum. All blood types are needed to keep supplies at a healthy level for our community.”
For more information, visit the HSA website or call (345) 949-8600.
Premier: FFR needs review
(CNS): Overly ambitious targets to cut expenditure that were agreed by the UK and the previous UDP government have "unintentionally stifled the rebound in the Cayman economy”, the new premier said this morning. Addressing the Legislative Assembly before Finance and Economic Development Minister Marco Archer brought the interim budget motion to the House, Alden McLaughlin outlined government’s medium to long term economic strategy to reduce expenses in a “gradual, phased approach” without causing economic or social harm and to the islands. “We stand behind the Cayman model of taxation and do not support the introduction of income tax, payroll tax, property tax or value added tax,” the premier stated.
The Progressive administration agrees with the underlying policy principles of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) set out in the Public Management and Finance Law, such as improving medium term planning, delivering valuefor money, more effective management of risks and improved accountability, McLaughlin said.
However, he said the four year financial plan agreed last year between the UDP government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of the 2012/13 Budget approval set “very aggressive targets” for reducing expenditure and capital investment while growing revenues “at a rapid rate” to comply with certain financial targets by the end of the 2015/16 financial year.
“We believe that these targets are overly ambitious given the short timeframe set for compliance and have stifled the rebound in the Cayman economy,” the premier said. “We believe that a more gradual, phased approach should be taken regarding the timeframe for compliance as the achievement of compliance must be balanced with the need for the government to implement measures to stimulate sustainable economic growth and diversification.
“In my opinion it makes absolutely no sense for the government to go about improving its financial position while ignoring the economy. This would put the livelihood of our people; education of our children; healthcare; infrastructure; personal safety and everything we enjoy today in great jeopardy.”
Referring to the recent meeting in London with FCO officials, the premier said the Cayman delegation “notified them of our intentions to develop a revised medium term fiscal plan for the Cayman Islands and they have indicated their support of our actions in this area.” He said this revised plan would be developed as part of the 2013/14 Budget process and presented to the LA with the substantive 2013/14 Budget in September.
“The government is currently a major player in the economy and if expenditure reductions are not managed carefully there could be significant negative shocks to the Cayman economy which can quickly compound and create recessionary pressures – something that we want to avoid as best we can and not to bring on ourselves,” McLaughlin explained.
The FCO has called for a quick reduction in the number of public servants, but while there “scope for some reduction”, he said, “we cannot just cut the number of civil servants with the stroke of a pen in order to meet some arbitrary target. Any reduction must be managed so that we do not negatively impact services to the public or add to the social ills of the country.” He said the Cayman government had agreed to reduce the size of the civil service through natural attrition and strict review of all contract renewals, a policy that has been applied by the deputy governor over the past year and has “stemmed the growth in the civil service”.
The premier said the government would be “critically examining” the various statutory authorities and government-owned companies to see how to improve their financial performance. “We are not going to rule out possible divestment or restructuring of these entities but will make sure that any decisions in that regard will be done the properly with transparency, consultation and appropriate analysis,” McLaughlin said.
Regarding the management of public debt and achieving sustainable revenue flows, government’s existing debt portfolio “should be refinanced in a way that creates a clear path to pay down and extinguish debt in a structured and affordable manner. Where possible and financially feasible we will implement a strategy to move away from interest-only bullet bond type borrowing instruments,” he said. “For any remaining non-amortizing debt we will establish a sinking fund to enable us to pay off those debts in full when they mature. Doing so will create a greater level of comfort and certainty in terms of the country’s ability to meet the debt obligations when they become due.”
Government revenue measures should generate cash for government operations withoutunnecessarily burdening private society “to the point where it discourages investment and economic growth. We stand behind the Cayman Model of taxation and do not support the introduction of income tax; payroll tax; property tax or value added tax,” the premier stated.
Reiterated the PPM’s election promise to introduce minimum wage legislation “as soon as practicably possible”, he said, “We must have an economy that allows each and every Caymanian the opportunity to obtain employment with an appropriate level of remuneration that they can support themselves and their families.”
In the medium to long term, government has identified “two critical and significant infrastructure development projects which need to be done as quickly as possible: the Grand Cayman Cruise Ship Berthing Facility and the Owen Roberts International Airport Redevelopment.” McLaughlin said, “Both of these projects are crucially important to the continued viability of the very important tourism sector of our economy and will positively impact the wider Cayman economy in both the short and long term once implementation gets underway.”
He also noted the possibility of another major infrastructure project, which would be a public private partnership, and if it came to fruition will serve as a catalyst for economic development in the eastern districts of Grand Cayman.
“The Cabinet is committed to following all due processes to ensure proper design, planning, financing, procurement and implementation of these projects to ensure that value for money is maximized and the desired economic outcomes are achieved,” he stated.
Last year, the UDP government made the decision to eliminate or significantly reduce the renewal of property insurance on the assets of core government and statutory authorities and government-owned companies, along with the renewal of the catastrophe risk insurance facility or CCRIF, without implementing alternative risk transfer mechanisms, the premier said.
“My Administration has taken the decision to reinstate these protections as they are necessary to help safeguard the country from the financial risks associated with the unpredictable loss or damage to our assets,” he said. “Let us not forget the lessons of Hurricane Ivan or Paloma. Many individuals and businesses are still dealing with the financial impact of these events and the current state of public finances with low cash reserves and prohibitions on borrowing does not leave much ability for the Government to deal with the aftermath of such events.”