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Online postings from caymannetnews.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
- Fidelity Insurance
Fidelity would like to advise all of its customers that the banking,
insurance and pension services companies are operating out of our offices on
Dr. Roy’s Drive. Insurance customers having difficulty reaching the office
should call (345) 949- 7822, or send an email to
insurance@fidelitycayman.com.
Claims will be accepted for N.E.M. (West Indies) Limited and Royal Star
Assurance policyholders until Friday October 29, 2004.
- Home and Garden show draws popular support
Would you please send contact information for the Garden Club? We are
new to gardening in the islands and could use the guidance and expertise of
locals to tell us what grows best here, etc. Thank you! - Craig Mock
- Kareem begins Athens stretch run with a win in Belgium
Can you please make contact with Kareem and give him my email:
eleniduke24@hotmail.com Tell
him I am Helen from Athens 2004 Olympic Village
- Helen
- Our prayers are with you
I definitely know what the Cayman Islands are going through even though
I live in Kentucky. My father lost his house down there. When I heard that
the hurricane was going through Cayman I was in church. You guys were
definitely in my prayers
- Leon Hughes
- Tourism Head eyes US Thanksgiving for hotel sector
Good job. See you for the winter - Mark Carson
- The Barefoot Man Ready for Tourism
Can’t wait to get a copy - Carroll Isbell
- Death announcement: Budd Gordon
I have only recently discovered your Net News site, particularly as we
were devastated to watch the onset of Ivan. My wife, Margaret, and I along
with our two children Wendy and Scott spent seven wonderful years in Cayman
back in 1973-79. One of our first apartments was on Walkers Road, where Budd
had his first school and our house backed on to the school and we passed our
children over for their first early learning. It is a sad time for Budd’s
family and we send our sincere condolences. If any former friends or
colleagues are still around, we would love to make contact and catch up on
news. Thank you for this opportunity to pay our respects - Brian Allison
- Import duty cut
The recent cuts in import duties seem a positive step toward recovery in
some ways, but they do penalize (i.e. tax) people because they suffered
losses as a result of Ivan’s destruction, thus compounding their losses.
This seems to add insult to injury.
At least the reductions are far greater than the amounts cited in your
article: e.g., 10 percent is 50 percent of 20 percent, an important bit of
basic arithmetic in government planning. The correct statement would be that
the 20 percent duty has been reduced by 10 percentage points, which is a 50
percent reduction in the 20 percent duty, not a ten percent reduction -
Mary
- Cruise Ships may be here before the end of the month
I am hoping that my cruise ship will be able to dock at your port during
my scheduled arrival there on Wednesday, November 10, 2004. I have been
there before and took part in one of the stingray tours. I am now traveling
with six other family members who have never cruised before and am hoping
they get to see your magnificent island and what it has to offer those of us
who are visiting. Thank you - Deanna
- It’s good to be back to work. I work in one of the stores in town but I
don’t have a place to live in. I lost everything during the hurricane. Where
do they expect us to stay?
- Anonymous
- Gov’t says communications stood up to Ivan
You should do a story about the ham radio operators that checked into
the hurricane net during the peak of the storm. One name that comes to mind
is Andrew Eden ZF1EJ at Pedro Castle Road. He lost all his towers and
antennas but managed to get on the air to give reports to the net on the
storm - Richard Konrad W9JA/Zf2HS, Onalaska, WI 4650
- Not accurate that there was no US media coverage at all
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/10/19/cayman.brac.ap/index.html
- This is the first print version of a national US news provider I’ve
noticed since Ivan. Notably, it seems to track or repeat statements already
published by Cayman Net News.
Radio in the US reaches many people and addresses many stories that are not
always covered in the mainstream press. I would attribute the lack of
coverage to the communications problems that Cayman endured, which prevented
most any type of broadcast and dissemination of information other than those
individuals who took it upon themselves to work with the modest and impacted
resources available to them. Good old fashioned “hustle” as they would say
in the US - Pablo
Two amateur radio enthusiasts kept the world in touch with the Cayman
Islands
Where there is a will (especially two) there is always a way. I have
visited the Cayman Islands and this article proves what I felt the whole
time I was there - that the Cayman Islanders are resourceful,
community-based people. From taxi drivers, to hotel crew, to amateur radio
enthusiasts. God bless you. God Bless the Cayman Islands - Carol
Sheffield
- Relief Assistance
I worked with the Department of Social Services from 86-90. If there is
any assistance needed by the people of the Islands, just ask - Mark Price
- On Schools
First I must agree with so many that Caymanians are demonstrating a
great attitude and will no doubt have what it takes to get through this
disaster. I have heard that the Education Ministry/Department made comments
that the foreign teachers would be a priority. This may have some merit but
first I thought the majority of teachers were now ‘Caymanian’. If the word
status holder is not applicable in other situations, should it not be
disallowed under these conditions? In my opinion all those with status
should be treated ‘equally’ in all situations.
Second, if the Caymanian teachers or civil servants with status are treated
with so much more respect and consideration, how will this affect the morale
of the ‘real’ Caymanian? Those who have inherited this honour through
birth-right or those with status not looking to also be treated as a
foreigner to obtain benefits for themselves or families.
Third, the most distressing observation from the alleged comments was that
our leaders were not moved to put the needs of our children first. If Ivan
could not move them to say that our children’s education would be priority
then this aspect of our society will still need another ‘jolt’. Our leaders
need to have the courage to accept that being appreciative of foreign
workers should not stop us from being able to stand up for the indigenous
people.
I pray that we use this opportunity to not be responsible for others first
but address the needs and concerns of our own people, especially our young
people. This is an excellent opportunity to emphasize the simple, kind
strong nature of our people and I pray our leaders will free themselves from
the mental bondage of their associations and look to their own people first
-.Anonymous
- Two Sides Of The Coin
So, was Cayman Airways really that good or was the government not
letting other airlines in? Rumors abound, but I would like to know the
official stance - Anonymous
- Cable & Wireless
I have great pride in Cable & Wireless for their service during and
after the hurricane that our cell phone was working. Keep up the good work
and to a lot of people - never throw away the old for the new. - Gloria
Gall
- Ivan survivors search for reasons and pieces to re-build
Great article - very well-written! - Jonetta
- Cayman Islands should not be begging for overseas aid
Feel free to send your assistance to the other countries, as will we. We
have actually rejected quite a bit of overseas assistance rather than your
claims of begging for aid. The Cayman Islands are a God-fearing set of
islands. However, you, in your incompetence, believe that a hurricane was
the result of our “wickedness.”
So I’m assuming Florida must have been REALLY “wicked” (to put it in simple
terms for you) this year due to the FOUR hurricanes that hit it, and did
quite a bit of damage.
Or for that matter, I’m assuming New York was a bad little boy 3 years ago
when its great World Trade Center fell to the ground.
Oh by the way, maybe you’re not aware but the US is a MUCH larger money
launderer than the Cayman Islands, so why is there anything left of the US?
If you think you are God to judge and say that we deserve this because of
our “wickedness” think of what Jesus said regarding the poor man who was
born blind. When people asked who sinned to cause this man to be blind He
replied, “neither this man nor his father or mother has sinned, but that God
may be glorified through his healing”.
By the way, just to let you know, the Cayman Islands sent assistance to NY
when the WTC fell. The Cayman Islands enjoy the good relationship we have
with the USA, and narrow minded persons like you will not stop that -
Matt
- Disappointed by the lack of US media coverage
I myself have also visited Grand Cayman a few times. I looked on all the
news stations which included CNN, etc. The only news I heard was the local
news in Miami that showed some of the people coming to Miami from the Cayman
Islands. I further found a little information on the net from the BBC only.
I could not believe that we mostly covered Cuba, which did not even get the
storm. I hope you also have a speedy recovery - Janet Cull, Fort
Lauderdale, FL, USA
- We were scheduled for a vacation on Grand Cayman from the 12 September
to the 26 September. My sister flew in from South Africa and we were so
excited as we exchanged timeshare two years ago for this trip, but to our
disappointment had to cancel at the last moment because of Hurricane Ivan.
We have heard such wonderful things about the island and the people. We have
you all in our prayers and are praying for everyone to get through this. We
WILL visit your beautiful island soon - Helga Bezuidenhout
- I have observed that some Jamaican nationals are rejoicing over
Hurricane Ivan’s effect on the Cayman Islands. I hear their comments at the
supermarket, gas station and even at the shelters. I really don’t have time
to get into much detail, but can someone answer these questions for me: 1.
what is it that Caymanians owe Jamaicans? 2. When Jamaicans work in Cayman
do they get paid? 3. Why do Jamaicans come to Cayman? 4. Are you going to
hire a Jamaican to clean up your yard? 5. If you are a Jamaican and you
don’t feel at home in Cayman, why don’t you leave?- A Young Caymanian
- I am a Caymanian businesswoman with four postpaid accounts with Digicel.
I called just before the hurricane to find out why my account was
disconnected as I have signed up for direct debit. I was told that I had to
speak to a Ms. Wendaine Wright about this issue. When I spoke to her she was
quite rude and showed no form of good customer skills whatsoever. Every time
she told me to call back it would go to her voicemail and she would never
call me back.
As a result of this error by Digicel I suffered for three days without
service and I lost a lot of business due to this. I lately learnt from a
former employee of Digicel that she is in law school and she is on a work
permit with Digicel doing a position that a Caymanian could be doing. I am
deeply concerned about all of this and what is happening here in Cayman.
When Digicel started here on the island I was so impressed with their
service and reliability towards their customers. I feel so embarrassed now
because of me boasting to my friends about Digicel’s good service and
ethics. If Digicel wants to continue to be one of the leading telecoms
carriers here on the Island, they should look into hiring staff that are
more pleasant with the customers and not those that act as if they are
actually one of the directors themselves - Unhappy Customer
- I kept waiting to hear a response to offers from help in the USA.
Politics aside, we’re closer. We understand hurricanes and the damage. And
the God awful fear sitting in the dark and hearing the winds howl. And it
seems to go on forever. I live in Orlando and we did not get any “5”. How
can anyone begrudge your people aid and comfort? God knows UK turned to us
before for aid. Then we were “cousins”. I am a retired medical person. If
your country called for help, I would be there with my own food and tent and
hands to help - Dianne Jones
- Cayman Airways complimented for their dedication
I too wish to compliment Cayman Airways for a job well done. I was
evacuated on Tuesday after the storm and I was so happy to see Cayman
Airways on the runway. I could tell that the employees were very tired. Some
of them were sweating and trying to accommodate all the passengers. There
was water, and drinks (something that was a precious commodity at that time)
in the hanger for anyone that needed a drink. I will always fly Cayman
Airways, because they deserve my dollars, they were there for the people of
Cayman. A job well done Cayman Airways - Julie
- I was so thrilled to get Radio Cayman
Please keep this as a feature. I pull your screen up every day to keep
in touch. While I read your news I listen to Radio Cayman and I feel like I
am home – D R Jones
- Tackling the issue of accommodation
We are property owners with two units in Britannia but we can’t get any
information on the state of the units. We are trying to telephone, email,
SMS everyday but we can’t get through to anyone. We have been off the island
in Canada and Hong Kong and would love to help with accommodation requests
if we just had some way of getting information on our properties. We don’t
know whether we still have tenants or habitable properties. Any thoughts
would be greatly appreciated - Steven Lutz
- Thanks to all of you that keep us posted on a daily basis. My thoughts
and love go out to my loving friends and extended family. Keep up the
spirit. Freedom! Love - Darlene Bachmann
- Post Ivan Issues - Part 1
I have lived in the Cayman Islands. Your country has been in denial. Why
would any North American tourist now spend his/her “hard earned vacation
money” on you? The Cayman Islands will go back to what it was beforehand -
Caroline Stewart Rahming
- Rock the Block Party On Fort Street Raises $3000
How could and event with 2,000 people raise only $3,000? Could someone
explain this to me? - Anonymous
- Cayman government financial management activities… over eighteen billion
invested in China. Why hasn’t this matter been brought to the attention of
the inhabitants of Cayman? After all without a people you don’t have a
country. What’s with the block party raising $2,000.00CI when your
government is sitting on close to 18 billion in China? - Ceraphina
- Editor’s note: This reader seems to be under the erroneous
impression that the published total of inward investment into China made
through financial vehicles established in the Cayman Islands and used by
foreign investors for this purpose is actually owned by the Cayman Islands
Government. None of such investments is owned by the Cayman Islands
Government.
- Opposition calls for revisit of lending policy
Mr. Tibbetts and others in authority need to know (if they don’t already
know) that at least one bank – the former Barclays Bank – has an unwritten
rule that no loans are given to people 60 or over. It doesn’t matter how
much property you own for them to hold as collateral, and it don’t matter
that you have a good credit rating with them, or that they are getting your
civil service pension every month so they can take the loan payment out of
it... the answer is still “No” if you are over 60. It just happened to me,
so they are obviously continuing this policy which is particularly bad at
this time when the older population is suffering from loss of their homes -
Aggravated Caymanian
- Storm Over Debris
I cannot believe that the Government would even consider outsourcing
this work if the crews and equipment are available on the Island. In a time
when people are trying to put their lives back together, any expenditure of
monies by the Government should be given to the companies located on Grand
Cayman first - S. Friesen
- Tackling dampness, mould and mildew
A good and inexpensive way to soak up water from wet or damp areas is
“kitty litter”. It is highly absorbent and easily swept or vacuumed up. It
even comes in nice smelling kinds! Try it! - Dottie Smith
- Brac caves act as ideal hurricane shelter
Tremendously interesting article, especially as Lance Boley is the son
of one of my closest friends, Maureen McLaughlin - Flo Isbell
- Death Announcement: John D Bostock
May God bless him as he was a kind man. I really wish others would
follow his example - Elizabeth
- CUC keeps up the pace of power connection
I was part of the Fortis Power Restoration Team from Canada and arrived
home back from Grand Cayman on October 18, 2004. Interested in an update on
the power restoration efforts. Also a big thank you to the many great people
I met during my four week stay - Chris Costello
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