Headline News

US$10,000 reward for robbers

Cayman News | 01/10/2010 | 42 Comments

(CNS): Fidelity Bank, Cayman Crime Stoppers and the RCIPS have joined forces to offer a reward of up to US$10,000 for information leading to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the of the people responsible for the bank robbery last Friday, 24 September. Shortly before 10.00am on Friday, three men, all armed with what appeared to be firearms, entered the Fidelity Bank on Dr Roy’s Drive. They threatened customers and staff before making off with a sum of cash. No shots were fired and although no–one was injured, staff and customers were left shaken by the ordeal. Initial reports indicated thatthe men responsible made off in a black coloured Jeep Compass. Following the robbery CID, uniformed and armed officers immediately attended the scene. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)

The RCIPS Air Operations Unit was also deployed to assist in the search for the suspects. To date no arrests have been made in connection with this crime.

One suspect had brown complexion, was 6 feet in height and weighed about 180 pounds. He was wearing a white overall over his face and dark glasses.

The second suspect was around 5’9” in height, slim build, 170-180 pounds with a dark brown complexion. He was wearing denim pants and a white and grey coloured shirt.

The third suspect was around 5’9” in height, 170-180 pounds, with a dark brown complexion. He was wearing a white shirt and dark pants.

All three had their faces covered and were carrying what appeared to be firearms.

Announcing the reward, Detective Superintendent Marlon Bodden said, “We are grateful to Fidelity Bank and Cayman Crime Stoppers for joining with the RCIPS to offer this reward. The men responsible are still at large but there is no doubt that someone knows who they are, where they are and the location of the firearms used in this crime. This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff members and the customers involved.”

Bodden said that although no-one was injureda number of people, including an expectant mother, were left traumatised by the ordeal. “We hope that the reward will encourage people who know who these men are to contact police as quickly as possible.”

Anyone with any information about this crime should inform the police immediately. Calls can also be made to Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS).

Wine shop denial quashed

Cayman News | 01/10/2010 | 17 Comments

(CNS): The Grand Court has quashed a decision by the Cayman Islands Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) to refuse a local wine merchant a conditional license ahead of a planned $3 million commercial development in West Bay. However, the battle is not yet over for Jacques Scott, which had been denied a change of location retail licence for a new flagship store. Although the decision by the board was overturned. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie has not yet given directions on the next step in lieu of an affidavit from the deputy chair of the LLB, who presided over the decision. While Jacques Scott is hoping for a direction to grant the licence, the LLB is hoping for an entirely new hearing.

Legal arguments between Maples and Calder, acting for Jacques Scott, and the Attorney General’s Office for the LLB lasted for over four hours on Thursday afternoon during a judicial review of the board’s decision brought by the wine merchants.

While the legal department did not object to the quashing of the decision to refuse the license, counsel for the AG’s office asked for a direction for a new hearing. The attorney said that owing to “procedural irregularities” and the failure on the part of the board to consult various parties before it made its decision, the LLB was entitled to correct those mistakes by having an entirely new hearing in which the chief fire officer, planning and the commissioner of police, among others, could be consulted.

Maples argued, however, that the LLB’s claim was too late and that it had already had plenty of opportunity to consult the various parties at a long hearing in April this year, when objections were argued extensively and numerous people had their say. Mac Imrie said it was unfair and prejudicial to his client to go through the process again and that any future decision had to be based on the information from the previous hearing. If theAG’s office was now admitting that the original refusal was wrong, there was only one lawful course of action left and that was to grant the license.

Imrie had argued that all of the concerns regarding traffic and public order issues had been thoroughly addressed at the original hearing, where thepolice were present. He also pointed out that the store would be a fine wine and luxury kitchen shop, similar to the store at Country Side Village in Savannah. He said the store would close at 7pm, a security guard would be on duty during opening hours and it would not be selling single units of alcohol. It was therefore unfair to suggest the store, which was part of a wider commercial development, would add to the crime problems of the district.

“It’s not a bottle shop; it’s an upmarket store selling fine wines and luxury kitchen goods — something you can’t get in West Bay at the moment,” Imrie added.

The lawyer also pointed out that traffic issues would form part of the planning considerations and if the firm did not deal with those it would not be granted planning permission anyway, so there was no need for the LLB to solicit the Central Planning Authority at this early stage.

“This smacks to us of doing everything it can to stop the development,” Imrie said as he argued against allowing the LLB to completely start over and seek more objections.

The legal department argued that the LLB should be allowed to correct the irregularities which it said had taken place during the hearing and decision making process. While it accepted the decision to refuse had to be quashed, the LLB did not accept that the reasons for the denial were invalid but had been reached without following proper procedures, which was to solicit input from the commissioner of police, the fire officer, the CPA, the chief medical officer and others.

The CJ raised a number of concerns that the legal department had been late raising the point of procedural irregularities, but at the end of the four hour legal wrangling he said he wished to see an affidavit from the deputy chair, Noel Williams, in order to clarify the irregularities that the LLB wanted to cure. Although the CJ was not persuaded by the entire list of the people the board wanted to consult at a new hearing, he said there could be an issue of public interest regarding the input from the commissioner of police.

Jacque Scott has plans to be anchor tenants in their own development of a new retail complex on the empty lot next to Foster’s Supermarket Republix in West Bay, set to open at the end of next year. The LLB turned down the application by licensee Peter Dutton, who wanted to change the location of a liquor license from the Little Liquor Store on North Church Street to the new store, following a hearing of the board in April.

During the hearing objections were heard from local businesses that were concerned that another store would put them in financial difficulty as well as concerns of crime levels in the area and traffic congestion. Garett Haylock, speaking on behalf of the West Bay Residents Committee, who signed a petition objecting on moral grounds about to bringing more alcohol to the district.

At the time of the hearing Dutton saidthat the company was aware of objections to the store but had taken out an advertisement to spell out the plans in the local press. He had described the development as a statement of confidence in the West Bay district, which would bring business and employment to the district. The key issue, however, was the liquor licence and the need for a conditional grant for the flagship store before planning permissions could be sought.

Following Thursday’.s courtroom battle, Dutton said he was pleased that the first step in getting the denial of the licence overturned had been succesful. The next step now would be to persuade the courts that the board should be directed to grant the license.

Two robberies in one night

Cayman News | 01/10/2010 | 29 Comments

(CNS): Update Friday 6pm – Police have now confirmed that the one stop mini-mart was not robbed last night. Although staff reported suspicious people around the store when police attended the scene there was no one there an RCIPS spokesperson said during office hours. However, Domino’s Pizza Parlour in Mary Street George Town was robbed around 6:20pm when robbers armed with at least one hand gun escaped with a small amount of cash. The second robbery occurred at around 8pm at a popular waterfront restaurant in West Bay. Sources tell CNS that two armed men robbed Alfresco’s Restaurant on Town Hall Road taking money from the cash register, the chef and two customers before escaping on foot. Police station. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

The robbery at Dominos came in the wake of an attempted robbery there on Wednesday evening when two robbers were reportedly foiled by the store’s new security system. CNS understands that no one was hurt during any of the incidents and no shots were fired.

Mid-morning Friday police released more details on the Domino’s Pizza robbery and the Alfresco’s Restaurant robbery.

No details were confirmed by police last night as all three robberies occurred out of ‘office hours’ and police, who are now only speaking to the media during business hours, could not be reached for comment.

The RCIPS have said except in the case of a serious crime information will only be given to the media regarding criminal incidents during office hours, described as 8:30am-4:30pm Monday- Friday. CNS is calling on members of the public to help us keep the wider community informed. Please contact our news room with any information about crimes taking place in your neighbourhood on crimedesk@caymannewsservice.com or 926 6816.

West Bay restaurant robbed

Cayman News | 01/10/2010 | 46 Comments

(CNS): Update Friday 11:00am – The RCIPS has issued descriptions of the armed robbers who targeted a popular waterfront restaurant in West Bay on Thursday evening at around 8pm but offered no new details. Sources told CNS last night that two armed men robbed Alfresco’s Restaurant on Town Hall Road a little after 8pm, some two hours after a pizza parlour was robbed in George Town. Both suspects are described as being around 5’10” in height and of slim build. One had a fair complexion and was wearing jeans, the other a dark complexion and dark pants. Both had shirts covering their faces. The robbers reportedly fled the restaurant on foot after threatening staff and taking cash but it is understood no one was hurt during the incident and no shots were fired. CNS also understands that a local mini-mart in the district may also have been robbed. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)

With the increasing breakdown of communication between police and media, CNS is calling on members of the public to help us keep the community informed. Please contact our news room with any information about crimes taking place in your neighbourhood on crimedesk@caymannewsservice.com or 926 6816.

Robbers try again at Dominos

Cayman News | 01/10/2010 | 16 Comments

(CNS): Update Friday 10:47am – Police have now confirmed that two masked suspects robbed Dominos Pizza in Mary Street last night, Thursday 30 September, following a failed attempt the night before. No arrests have been made in relation to the incident. The RCIPS said that just before 6:20pm two masked men, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun, forced their way into the premises and threatened staff before making off with a small sum of cash. No shots were fired and no-one was injured in the incident. It is believed that the suspects left the scene of the crime in a green Honda Civic. Police immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search for the suspects and the getaway car. A short time later the abandoned car was recovered in a parking lot to the rear of Puritan Cleaners, Eastern Avenue. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

Enquiries with the owner revealed that the vehicle had been stolen from outside the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town, on Thursday morning.

One of the suspects is described as being 6 feet tall, slim build, wearing a white long sleeved hooded shirt, faded jean pants and a black mask. The other is said to be approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, slim build, wearing a black long sleeved hooded shirt and a black mask.

Although police were on the scene Thursday evening, officers refused to reveal any details of the robbery. As the incident occurred outside ‘office hours’ no one else from the RCIPS could be reached for comment. Despite the lack of official confirmation last night, CNS learned that after Wednesday night’s failed attempt, Thursday’s robbers did escape with an undisclosed sum of cash. It is not known at this time if these were the same men.

According to News27 yesterday’s robbers were foiled by a new security system in which those trying to gain entry have to be buzzed in to get through the door, so when the robbers hit the buzzer a female employee managed to scare them off. It is unclear how they managed to bypass the system this evening.

The system was put in place as the store is no stranger to robberies. The same branch was robbed back in June when armed men crashed through the doors and stole cash before making their escape. No one has been arrested in connection with that crime.

Anyone with any information about this crime should call George Town police station on 949-
4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477(TIPS).

Census secure, says ESO boss

Cayman News | 30/09/2010 | 33 Comments

(CNS): The director of the Economics and Statistics Office says that information given to workers during the national census will be secure. With only ten days to go before the national count, Maria Zingapan said the information given to enumerators will not be linked to personal individuals when the information is entered into the database. No organisations, such as insurances companies, will get access to the personal details given in the survey and the public can feel safe answering the survey. Zingapan said that legal names are not required and people can use nicknames merely to distinguish between members of a household. She explained that sole householders do not need to supply a name at all for the questionnaire.

She explained that names and telephone numbers are only there for follow-up to clarify certain responses specific to a person if it is needed.

Zingapan also reassured the public that the information will not find its way to any other agents.

“By law, ESO cannot and will not be providing individual census data to any agency including government bodies,” the ESO director told CNS in the wake of concerns raised by readers.

“ESO also follows international best practices for national statistics offices where data collected from households and businesses are used for statistical purposes only and no individual data are to be released. These best practices also govern the ESO through the Statistics Law (1996 Revision) as Amended (2010).”

She explained that the purpose of the health questions is to guide health services policy and planning at the community and national level. No individual information will be provided to any government agency outside of the ESO or to any private sector group or industry. In 2007 a significant number of health status questions were asked in the Survey of Living Conditions but none of that information has been provided to the insurance industry, or any industry for that matter, Zingapan noted.

“ESO places utmost importance on its confidentiality obligations to its respondents with the penalties for breaches of this confidentiality strengthened in the Statistics Amendment Law 2010,” she said. “Among households, ESO’s past surveys, which include the Labour Force Survey (LFS), enjoys one of the highest response rates (80-85%) in the region. In the upcoming 2010 Population and Housing Census, ESO hopes that all households will similarly be as co-operative to the census enumerator and responsive to the census questionnaire.”

She asked the public to welcome the enumerators and pointed out that household interviews are not new to Cayman. As ESO conducts household interviews for the Labour Force Surveys (LFSs) annually – sometimes twice in one year.

Although, some jurisdiction do such surveys via the post or even on-line, Zingapan explained that ESO conducted a survey in 2008 to guage the preferred method for household surveys or censuses and over 65% of people who were asked said they preferred face-to-face interviews. “Most importantly, the United Nations recommends face-to-face interview as the best method for censuses and surveys to ensure high coverage and good quality,” she added.

The statistics expert said that on-line census systems are technically complicated and costly and no Caribbean countries have used the internet. She also noted that the recent 2010 US census did not use an online option.

“While the ESO initially considered this way back in 2008, it was not pursued for a variety of logistical and financial reasons,” Zingapan said. “A key reason is that the census field work requires three simultaneous activities: canvassing and listing of dwelling units, and interview of households. Canvassing means going through an enumeration area to identify all buildings or structures that are used as dwelling units. Identified dwelling units should correspond to household interviews. The matching of canvassing/listing activities with an on-line interview and subsequent verification would make this process complicated and costly.”

Online and postal censuses also require more time from the participants and the public will need to at least read the Census manual for themselves. “This option requires more hours from the respondents than the average 20 minutes required in face-to-face interviews,” she said explaining that twenty minutes is the estimated time for an enumerator to interview a household with 2-3 members. “It is very typical that posting would eventually require follow-up face-to-face interviews for those with incomplete or poor-quality returns. This turned out to be the case in the 1999 Census,” she said.

The national count begins on 10/10/10 and the ESO is hoping to get a 100% accurate count of the number of households and therefore population of the country on that night. Officials also hope that they will get a 100% response on the household survey, which is comprised of 67 questions.

Aside from getting a snapshot of the lives of people Cayman, it is hoped the survey will result in a cross section of comprehensive statistics to help inform future government policy regarding services and management of emergencies.

The office has also released a number of the questions that the public will be asked during the interview by enumerators, ranging from migration and immigration issues to education standards. The first and most important question will be how many people were living or staying at a house on census night.

All the questions can be viewed here. Scroll down and click on "Census SAMPLE Questionnaire".

Cops go quiet on crime

Cayman News | 30/09/2010 | 36 Comments

(CNS): Although sources tell CNS that an attempted robbery took place at the Domino’s Pizza Parlour in Mary Street last night, the police say that cannot offer the public any information. It is unclear what time the incident took place, how the robbers were foiled in their attempts or how the men or women were armed. Police told CNS this morning that they were aware of an incident but were unable to offer information for the public and advised us to call the press liaison officer. Recent instructions from RCIPS officials to the media advise that outside of office hours the duty sergeant or inspector at George Town police station would be the source of information for media distribution. However, officers have become increasingly reluctant to talk with the press, making it difficult for local media to keep the public informed. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

This is at least the second time that robbers have targeted the small takeaway restaurant, but with no informationcoming from the police we are unable to say if anyone was hurt or the property was damaged. In June masked armed men crashed through the store’s front doors and left with a small amount of cash.

Kurt says Mac has no plan

Cayman News | 29/09/2010 | 83 Comments

(CNS): The government does not have any real plans to improve the country’s economic fortunes and “is floundering hopelessly” as it tries to work out what to do, the opposition leader told the country on Wednesday night. In response to a recent address to the nation by Premier McKeeva Bush, the leader of the opposition, Kurt Tibbetts, says that despite the premier’s globe trotting endeavours he had achieved little in his 500 days in office and the country’s fortunes have continued to decline under the new administration. Speaking on Radio Cayman and Cayman 27 the PPM leader said the premier has not put forward one meaningful solution to stimulate the economy since he was elected

In his own address to the country the opposition leader referred to the premier’s extensive travel since taking office on a number of occasions as well as the failure of the wining and dining of international leaders to woo any new investors or millionaire residents to the islands.

Criticising the hikes in fees Tibbetts spoke a lot about the proclamations that the premier has made consistently since coming to office that have not led to anything concrete.

Tibbetts said that after two budgets and two -soon to be three- world tours to promote and encourage inward investment the government cannot point to one economic success story or one tangible project that has started since it took office the opposition leader said.

In his statement he claimed that there was nothing of substance in the premier’s address earlier this month, to reassure the people. “The country’s economy cannot prosper on a diet of the Premier’s rhetoric and travel stories,” Tibbetts said of the current government statements and rhetoric.

Pointing to the premier’s announced 11 point plan Tibbetts said it would be fine if he had just been elected but his government has been in office for nearly a year and a half, delivered 2 budgets, numerous policy statements and conducted various reviews and reports.

“A full year ago government announced a National Planning Initiative and the appointment of two strategic advisors who would prepare a plan dealing with the physical, social, cultural and economic development of the country. What has happened to that plan?” Tibbetts asked. “We haven’t heard a word about it since the grand announcement 12 months ago.”

He also pointed to what the PPM have called ill conceived and hastily drafted legislation affecting the financial services sector, saying that some of the changes to laws have raised very serious concerns in the financial industry which are also adding to the wider problems caused by the extensive increases in fees and duties which Tibbetts says are crippling the local economy.

“What must be considered at this point are not so much the most recent promises and rhetoric of the Premier, most of which we have heard before, but the effect of the measures which have been taken by the government since it took office 16 months ago to alleviate the impact of the recession on Cayman, its people and businesses,” he said. “We must ask: Have the actions of the government actually improved life for the people who live, work and invest here? This is the question which must be answered in evaluating the performance of the government over the past 16 months. “

The issue of immigration, Tibbetts said was not the reason behind Cayman’s economic misfortunes. He also noted that the previous government had closely examined the length of the break in stay and were advised that 12 months was the safest minimum period.

“We considered reducing the break to six months but were advised against it because of concerns that such a short break, if challenged, might not be considered by a court to have broken the individual’s legal and ordinary residence in this jurisdiction. We are perplexed as to how the Premier can announce that advice from the United Kingdom says that we can make the break following roll-over as limited as we want in our legislation and I call on him to make that advice public,” Tibbetts said.

He pointed out that in 2003 the premier insisted that two years was the minimum break but today the government advisors are purported to be giving completely different advice.

Tibbetts cautioned acting on the adviceparticularly in light of a recent report by the UK Parliament advocating the right to vote should be given not just to citizens of Overseas Territories but the residents as well.

Given the failure of current policies to help stimulate the local economy or assist the flagging financial and tourism sectors Tibbetts posed the question of what the government has been doing since it was elected 500 days ago.

The opposition leader called on the current government to roll back hikes in license fees and other taxes to relieve small businesses as well as the financial services sector and give an undertaking that there will be no further increases during this term. Tibbetts also said government should introduce tax breaks and incentives to rejuvenate small businesses.

He asked government to get public spending under control, publish the plan on how the administration intends to do it and convince investors and the Cayman public that it is realistic. When it comes to immigration Tibbetts said the government’s review of the immigration laws and policies should be done openly with full disclosure of legal advice and not behind closed doors.

The opposition address was transmitted on Radio Cayman Wednesday evening 29 September after the 7 pm news and again after the 10 pm news. It was also broadcast on CITN (channel 27) at 8pm on Wednesday. It will also be aired on Cayman 27 again on Thursday morning at 8:00 am and evening at 8:00pm.

The leader of the opposition’s full speech.

Bakery robbed in rain

Cayman News | 29/09/2010 | 26 Comments

(CNS): Updated 4:45pm — Despite the inclement weather conditions it appears local robbers were not put off by the downpours and squally conditions. Police have now confirmed reports that Caribbean Bakery on Mount Pleasant in West Bay was robbed just before noon today. Two armed assailants escaped with a small amount of cash after threatening a female member of staff. One of the men was armed with a hand gun but no shots were fired and no one was hurt. Detectives are now appealing for witnesses and say that both men are described as approximately 5"7 in height, slim build, both wearing blue jeans and long light coloured shirts with their faces covered. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)

The police helicopter was deployed in the wake of the armed robbery and police confirmed on Thursday morning that three teenagers had been arrested in the West Bay area soon after the robbery. Officers were seen arresting two young men close to the entrance of The Shores along Batabano Road. A third suspect was then apprehended along Mount Pleasant Road. All three men are now in police custody.

Detective Constable Marcia Myles of West Bay CID is appealing for anyone who has information regarding this crime to come forward. The public can phone West Bay CID on 949 3999 or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS)

FOI ‘ID’ing’ will be costly

Cayman News | 29/09/2010 | 14 Comments

(CNS): The information commissioner has pointed out that removing the right for the public to make freedom of information requests anonymously could be a difficult and costly exercise. Following comments by the premier on a number of occasions that he does not think that it is right for people to withhold their identity when applying for information, Jennifer Dilbert has said that trying to verify who people are would require even more work on the part of government information managers. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, which was Right to Know Day, Dilbert said while government had the ability to remove the right to anonymity it would not necessarily be in its interests to do so and would be both expensive and impractical.

“As I have said before, I don’t see how it can practically work,” said Dilbert. “It won’t be easy for information managers to verify the identity of an applicant. I imagine they will have to request a passport or a notarised application, which will just add to their workload and, of course, the costs. It is also very likely that those concerned about revealing their identity will simply ask other people to make their requests for them, so there is little point in attempting to remove the anonymous application.”

The information commissioner pointed out that the elected government has the power to change the law but, as elected officials, they must do what the electorate wants and she doubted that there would be support for the removal of anonymity. She explained that during the upcoming review of the law, while there were a number of changes the Information Commissioner’s Office was recommending to speed up the process, it would be down to the Legislative Assembly to decide what changes, if any, would be made.

Jan Liebaers, the deputy information commissioner, questioned why the identity of a requester was relevant, except where an individual is asking for their own personal files, because general public information belongs to everyone. “Why would you want to know, what could possibly be the reason?” he asked rhetorically, adding that there was certainly no good reason why a government official would need to know an applicant’s identity.

The deputy commissioner said he believed that there had been some association with some people in government departments confusing vexatious requestswith anonymous requests. However, Liebaers pointed out that they were different and that the law dealt very clearly with vexatious applications.

“It is inappropriate to associate anonymity with vexation,” he said. “These are two very different things and it is clear what is vexatious and we have seen very, very little of it.”

Liebaers said that for a wide number of reasons the ability to request information anonymously was important and it underscored the fact that the information was for everyone and anyone and not just the person making the request.

The country’s premier has made a number of public criticisms of the Freedom of Information Law and in McKeeva Bush’s latest interview with Cayman 27 he said the “wrong information should not be allowed to get into the wrong hands” and accused the “haters" of using information against people. At both press briefings and from inside the Legislative Assembly Bush has also criticised CNS and other media for making requests, as well as members of the public who have used pseudonyms.

However, the information commissioner said that despite the rhetoric and the comments by the premier, no one was interfering with her work and the law was providing access. “I am under no pressure. My office remains independent and I do not feel fettered in anyway,” Dilbert added. “Whatever is being said, the law’s working as the information is getting out there.”