Highlights from the Print Newspaper edition - Issue No. 475
Updated as of | Wednesday, 27 August 2003 | 4:00PM
Up Front
News
Editorial
Letter to the Editor
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
News From Our Region
Cayman Net News Daily Comics
Community Calendar
The news is good for a change with regard to tourism from both sectors, as the figures for visitors in July indicate that
Air and Cruise Tourism Up
Both air and cruise ship tourism figures rose in July from the preceding two months. The 178,375 combined tourists represent the most ever to visit the Cayman Islands during the mid-summer month.
Air arrivals in July were up 1,829, or 7.41 percent, from June, and 26.69 percent from May, as a total of 26,491 stay-over tourists came to the county during the month.
The rise for cruise arrivals was even starker as 151,884 cruise passengers came to shore, a 30.6 percent increase from June. The figure also represented a 10.26 percent increase from July of 2002.
The month's cruise arrivals took the total for the year to over one million.
Stay-over tourism, however, still remains lower than in previous years. The July figure is 8.15 percent lower than in 2002, 17.87 percent lower than 2001, and 22.09 percent lower than in 2000.
The month of July is historically the strongest month of the summer for Cayman tourism, and this year was no different.
September is usually the slowest month for tourism. Last year, only 11,333 tourists arrived by air during the month, which represented the lowest figure for air arrivals in any one month since the beginning of the year 2000.
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Minister
of Works, Hon. Linford Pierson Inspects New Road
At the "walkabout" to inspect the new Grand Harbour extension of the eastbound lanes of Shamrock Road are (l-r) Mr. Andrew Carter; Mr. Denis Thibeault; Mr. Paul Parchment, Mr. Crosby Solomon, Chief Engineer of Public Works Mr. Colford Scott, PCW&IT Permanent Secretary Mr. Kearney Gomez, Minister of PCW&IT Hon. Linford Pierson, Ms. Jennifer Ahearn, Deputy Chief Engineer for Public Works Mr. Mark Scotland, Ms. Pat Ebanks, Mr. Lachlan Dyett, and Ms. Aileen Samuel.
The Minister of Planning, Communication, Works and Information Technology, the Hon. Linford Pierson, along with key Public Works personnel inspected a portion of the new Grand Harbour extension road on Monday afternoon.
The extension, which added another eastbound lane to Shamrock Road from Grand Harbour to Marina Drive in Prospect, will alleviate much of the traffic problem during the evening rush hour.
"I am very pleased with this major improvement to our roads," Mr. Pierson said, noting that he will also benefit from the expansion because he lives in the Patrick's Island area of Prospect. "I couldn't believe my eyes when it only took me 15 minutes to get home. It used to take me over an hour."
Ms. Pat Ebanks from North Side also says she has noticed a big difference in her drive time home, saying that the new road saves her about 45 minutes.
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Virus
Update
Cable & Wireless would like to advise its customers that the recent computer viruses or worms have not directly affected the Internet Service provided by Cable & Wireless. Traffic has increased dramatically as the viruses and worms propagate over the Internet. This, combined with power failures over the weekend has caused connection problems. Customers are advised to reset their dialup or ADSL modems if they experienced power fluctuations over the weekend.
Customers can also visit the following websites, which provide online scanning tools for free: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sobig.f@mm.removal.tool.html
Once their PC is clean, customers are encouraged to purchase Anti
Virus software.
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News
Antigua PM supports creation of CSME
PM Lester Bird addressing the CSME consultation. Photo by NGT
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: International aid has all but dried up so there must be an expansion of the economic space in the region. So says Antigua Prime Minister Lester Bird.
Mr. Bird made the remarks on Monday evening, 25th August, while welcoming the Assistant Secretary General of the Caribbean Community and his team to Antigua and Barbuda for the start of a two-day consultation on Antigua and Barbuda's Obligation Under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
The event was hosted by the island's Ministry of Planning, Trade, Industry, Commerce and Public Service Affairs.
In his brief address, Prime Minister Bird said, "....we cannot continue to operate as small micro states whose economies of scale are minimal. We have to expand the economic space and give ourselves the opportunity to create markets which will allow us to be competitive."
He noted that while Antigua and Barbuda will soon be a part of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, "We have nothing to sell to the Americas unless we begin at home and create the competitive products that will allow us to operate within the larger area."
PM Bird said "the idea
of a Caribbean Region free of barriers, strengthened by its collective
resources and opportunities, has been a shared vision that inspired
the commitment of integrationists from the early days."
The prime minister also took the opportunity to urge private sector
business owners to become more active in this process.
The CSME was developed to create a single economic space for the Caribbean Community countries to pool their resources in order to gain access to certain trading benefits.
Listed among the main points of the CSME are coordinated and sustained economic development, full employment of all factors of production, improved living standards, the achievement of increased competitiveness and expansion of trade and economic relations with other CARICOM and Latin American countries.
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Mars
closest to Earth on Wednesday morning
Linda Dean Appelqvist
If counsellor and author Dr. John Gray's theories in the book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus are to be taken literally, then the males of our species will closer to their homeland than at anytime during the last 60,000 years early Wednesday morning.
The two planets, Earth and Mars, rotating on their axes at varying speeds as they revolve around the Sun, are moving closer to each other. On 27 August at 4:51 am in the Cayman Islands, the Red Planet will come within 34,649,589 miles of us and will be the brightest object in the sky, next to the moon and Venus.
Mars will rise at nightfall on 26 August and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 am on 27 August. The next time the fourth planet from the Sun may come this close to Earth will be in 2287.
With apologies to songwriter Dave Martins, "if you ask me where I'd really like to go if I had one Mars left to see, I would say, let me see it in Cayman."
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Cayman
Airways adds extra flights to Kingston and Montego Bay, JA
Due to an overwhelming demand
of flights for passengers returning home to Kingston and Montego
Bay, Cayman Airways is pleased to announce that extra flights
have been added to the Jamaica schedule.
These extra flights will operate to Kingston on Thursday afternoon
28 August, Sunday morning 31 August,
and Monday afternoon 1 September.
The flights to Montego Bay will operate on Thursday afternoon the 28 August, Sunday morning the 31 August, and Monday afternoon the 1 September.
For further information, please call Cayman Airways Reservations Department at 949-2311 or your local travel agent.
Jurors for the current session of the Grand Court were not required on Tuesday 26 August. Instead, they are required to return on Tuesday, 2 September 2003 at 9:45 am.
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Lightning
strike caused Sunday's power outage
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, 24 August, electricity service was interrupted for consumers in the Prospect area and the eastern districts including Savannah, Bodden Town, Frank Sound and East End.
During a lightning storm in the Savannah area, a shield wire on the Company's 69kV transmission line was struck causing it to fall into and trip the 69kV line and the 13kV line below. Heavy rain conditions hampered restoration efforts as CUC crews experienced some difficulty in identifying the exact location of the strike. Repair work was carried out in a short time and power was restored to customers after just under two hours.
Consumers in the Rum Point and North Side east to Old Man Bay were not affected as the Rum Point 69kV submarine cable serves them.
The press release from CUC says that the company regrets the inconvenience caused to customers in the affected areas.
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New
date for opening of George Hicks
The Education Department advises the public that George Hicks High School will now open on Wednesday, 3 September for year seven students and Thursday, 4 September for all students.
Therefore, years seven, eight and nine should report for classes on Thursday, 4 September.
Parents are kindly requested to take note of these changes, which are necessary to ensure that all buildings are ready for the start of the academic year. Some classrooms, which have been fitted with replacement floors, will require the additional two days for teachers to move in and set up their furniture and equipment.
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People's
Progressive Movement promises surprise at 6 Sept. Inaugural Conference
At a press conference to discuss the People's Progressive Movement's upcoming Inaugural Conference were (l-r) Chairman of the Organising Committee Mr. Alfonso Wright, George Town MLA Alden McLaughlin and East End MLA Arden McLean.
Flashback to last
year's PPM's members conference (l-r) Ms. Lucille Seymour, founding
member of the PPM, businesswoman Mrs. Anna Rose Washburn; Mr.
Alden McLaughlin, Mr. Arden McLean, MLA; Leader of the Opposition
in the Barbados Parliament, Mr. David Thompson; Ms. Edna Moyle,
MLA; Senator Julian Hunte of the United Labour Party in St. Vincent;
Mr. Anthony Eden, MLA and Reverend Randolph Turner.
People's Progressive Movement (PPM) Member and George Town MLA Alden McLaughlin said "the country will be pleasantly surprised" with some of the new members that the political party will announce at its Inaugural Conference on Saturday, 6 September.
"This swelling of the ranks will represent a significant increase in the number of potential candidates in the 2004 election," said Mr. McLaughlin at a press conference last Monday.
The all-day Inaugural Conference will take place at the Community College's Multipurpose Hall. On the day's busy agenda is the election of the party's Executive, including a Political Leader, the chairman of the party, three vice-chairmen, a general secretary, an assistant general secretary, a treasurer and six general officers.
The party will also discuss some of the problems now facing the Cayman Islands. "A period in the Conference will be devoted to dealing with many worrying issues that confront this country," said Mr. McLaughlin.
Mr. McLaughlin said that part of Cayman's troubles arise from the current Government's approach to the administration of the country.
According to Mr. McLaughlin, the PPM offers a "viable and imaginative alternative to the current Government." The George Town MLA said that the PPM believed its philosophies "reflect the vision and views of the vast majority of persons in these Islands."
Conference organising chairman Mr. Alfonso Wright indicated that the PPM now has just over 900 members. "About 20-25 members have applied over the past two weeks," he said.
The Conference will also feature a notable guest speaker. At last year's Induction Ceremony, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsavles, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines spoke to the party's members. The PPM has stated that someone of no less stature will speak this year.
Mr. McLaughlin has indicated that the speaker is a Prime Minister from another Caribbean country with an academic and teaching background, giving rise to the probability that the speaker is St. Lucia Prime Minister Mr. Kenny Davis Anthony.
For members with no transportation, the PPM will provide rides to the Conference. Members should contact their district chairperson or call 945-1776 to arrange transportation.
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Electoral
Boundary Commissioners present report
Mr. Carl Dundas (left front) chairman of the Boundaries Commission, on Friday (22 August) presents report dividing Cayman into 17 constituencies. Centre is HE The Acting Governor, Mr. James Ryan. At right is Attorney-at-Law Adriannie Webb, who, along with Mr. Eddinton Powell and Mr. Dundas, served on the three-man team. Mr. Powell was away from the Islands for Friday's presentation.
The Electoral Boundary Commissioners have completed their month-long public consultative exercise on the division of the Cayman Islands into 17 constituencies, presenting their report to Acting Governor, HE Mr. James Ryan, on Friday 22 August. Speaking on behalf of his team, Chairman Carl Dundas described the process as "harmonious," saying that the team achieved consensus. He expressed appreciation for widespread cooperation throughout the process.
HE the Governor had commissioned the report following the passage of the UK Order in Council on 11 June 2003. The Boundary Commissioners began their work on 22 July. Right on the deadline, the Commissioners handed over three sets of the written report, maps showing the boundaries of the 17 constituencies, and electronic versions of both on CDs.
Accepting the report, Mr. Ryan said that a copy would be forwarded to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The public would be informed on the recommendations in due course. He anticipated that the documents would be debated in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Ryan thanked Commissioners Carl Dundas, Adriannie Webb and Eddinton Powell (who was unavoidably absent from the Islands for Friday's presentation) for their hard work in what he termed a "difficult task" in a tight timeframe.
"I believe that the work of the Commissioners will go down in history," he said, "as a job well done." He said it was a "delight" to have Mr. Dundas here to carry out this important task
The Acting Governor expressed
thanks to the entire community, those who attended and participated
in public
meetings, and those who assisted, including the staff of the Elections
Office, particularly Messrs. Kearney Gomez, Orrett Connor, Colford
Scott, Higher Executive Officer Tosca Connor, as well as key personnel
at the Lands and Survey Department.
Chairman Dundas said that the report's appendices were fully descriptive of the constituencies, showing the degree to which the Commissioners achieved equality of numbers among the 17 constituencies.
He noted the long overtime hours that Elections Office and Lands and Survey staff contributed to the project's success. He reflected on the constraints the team faced, including the tight timeframe and the lack of a total picture of registered voters.
Ms. Webb praised Mr. Dundas' chairmanship, saying that his Caribbean background and insights had made him an excellent choice. Speaking of Mr. Powell's contribution, she said that she had enjoyed working with both.
"Mr. Powell and I tried
to be as fair as possible. We listened to what the public had
to say," she explained,
noting that at every meeting they were asked to respect traditional
boundaries. "We sought to respect that while maintaining
parity in numbers."
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Cayman
contingent participates in Parade of Nations
Anjuli Bradshaw leads the way for the Cayman Islands in Dutch Suriname during opening ceremonies for CARIFESTA VIII, the Caribbean's festival of the arts participated in by more than 30 countries. Anjuli carries Cayman's flag as Erica Jackman, Ica Eden, Suzette Charley, Mekeisha Mason and the rest of the Cayman Islands CARIFESTA team march in the parade of nations. More than 20 artists and performers from the Cayman Islands are on-hand to take the art and culture of our islands to the rest of the Caribbean. photo by Nancy Barnard
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Editorial
Resisting Imported Prejudices
Here in the Cayman Islands, the diverse ethnicities of this country have resulted in a culture that does not isolate issues like race and colour to create the barriers of prejudice and discrimination.
This may be contrasted with other countries, like the United States, which have developed tendencies of viewing many issues from a black versus white perspective.
There are, of course, reasons for such developments in the US, borne out of a history of slavery, segregation, discrimination and the mere fact that African-Americans exist as a minority.
The Cayman Islands, however, apart from being comparatively much smaller than the US, has developed differently from American society, and is arguably a role model for those nations which cannot seem to surpass racial barriers.
Those who visit these islands often notice the harmonious mixture of culture, ethnicity, and race. Especially when it comes to the issue of race relations, this country can be considered more socially evolved than many places in the world, including the US, Great Brittan, and most, if not all, other Caribbean countries.
Certainly the intermixing of families has played a major role in the way Caymanians view the race issue, as has the small size of the country, which has forced close interaction of the races. Over the years of such close mingling, we have learned that black, white or tan (beige, as some say) we all put our pants on one leg at a time, that we all basically have the same fears, aspirations and potential. This has been an evolution in which we should take great pride.
This co-existence is truly beautiful when considering that the exposure to each different type of culture cultivates humanity and kindness toward mankind an example the rest of the world should wisely emulate.
Notwithstanding this achievement, people must remain wary of influences from those who have not come to see things the way we do, for whatever reason, and to be vigilant about other types of discrimination, such as that towards specific nationalities.
In a place where the right to live and work is given high esteem, there is always a risk that animosity will arise between those who feel that they belong and those who merely reside here.
Recently, an incident occurred at a local shopping plaza, in which an elderly expatriate woman was told to go back to the place she came from with a flurry of nationalistic and racial slurs, all because she allegedly took a parking space that someone else had wanted. The woman was taken aback by the remarks, but did not respond.
No one is deserving of such remarks, regardless of their national background or race. To see this type of rudeness rising in the Cayman Islands is a disturbing development. While this type of behaviour is certainly not the norm for people of Cayman, it is nevertheless becoming more prevalent these days.
One negative aspect of our importing people from all over the world is that these people bring with them, along with positive influences, prejudices learned in their differently evolved societies.
The challenge for the people of these Islands therefore, is to learn and assimilate the beneficial characteristics expatriates offer us, while at the same time resisting those offensive traits that are detrimental to our special way of life.
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Letter
to the Editor
A developer's point of view on a "Sustained Economy"
Dear Sir,
In 1976, the late Hon. Jim Bodden wisely proposed Barkers as the next area for tourism, as it was relatively close to the airport. West Bay, being the heaviest populated district, needed jobs, and Barkers had enough good beach to provide ample public beach for the Caymanians and the tourist accommodation necessary to sustain the economy, without dredging or removing mangroves.
Barkers has two very large public beaches,
without a National Park. One is 1,300' of Public Open Space on
its northwest shoreline and the other is proposed for 1,150' of
shoreline at the tip of Barkers. Government needs to improve and
complete the road, to make these public beaches suitably accessible.
However, Barkers is now proposed for a National Park, to be purchased
from many Caymanian families and long time investors.
The North Sound area, immediately adjacent to Crown land is a
massive area of 17 parcels, mostly zoned low-density residential
with some mangrove buffer and no beach, but now proposed for hotel/tourism.
It is believed to be for sale and requires negotiating with only
one owner.
Should Barkers be the National Park? Or should the National Park be the Crown land with 37 percent mangrove buffer, at Salt Creek? This land is currently proposed for rezoning to hotel/tourism, is already owned by government, (so no purchase is necessary), is presently used for hiking, is more central, has better road access to ensure less congestion and would be more threatened if developed, due to the dredging and mangrove removal that would be required.
A National Park needs a road that can service Caymanians, residents, work permit holders, tourists and thousands of cruise ship passengers in tour buses and taxis daily. The road to the North Sound and Salt Creek area is more suitable for a National Park than the road to Barkers.
The US has 360 million taxpayers, huge corporations and foundations, all helping to support their National Parks and they still operate at a loss. Government should be good stewards in creating a National Park.
Seven Mile Beach is almost depleted with exclusive, residential condominiums, as second homes for people from other countries that on average spend only one or two weeks a year here. The majority of these condos are not for rent and even if they were, they are too expensive for tourists. Even if all owners stay for an entire month, which is not 10 percent of the year, 90 percent of the year the majority of Seven Mile Beach sits vacant, with no contribution to the airlines, rental cars, taxis, utilities (power, telephone, TV etc.), maid service, restaurants, groceries, tours, souvenirs or shopping, virtually contributing nothing into the economy.
Consequently, our economy is failing. To
blame 9/11 is only an excuse. Cuba, the Dominican Republic and
Mexico are doing well with high occupancy, as are East End's time-share
hotels. Our high priced, seven-storey hotels and condos alone
do not provide the competitive, balanced tourism necessary for
a sustained economy, which is obviously evident with Cayman's
high-vacancy factor and many people laid off without jobs.
Cayman needs competitive tourist development, affordable to the
middle-class tourist. Millions of baby boomers are retiring and
will do so for the next eight years. The high-priced hotels will
not be on their vacation itinerary and we will lose this huge
sector of the tourist market. Middle-class tourists are not riff-raff,
and on average, spend more, still buying souvenirs and taking
in every tour they possible can. After all, we allow thousands
of cruise ship passengers in daily and they cruise all-inclusive
for as little as $400 a week, which is less than most airline
tickets alone. Cruise ship tourists do contribute to the economy,
but very little in comparison to overnight tourists.
Prosperity and 112 percent employment were the days of affordable accommodation Galleon Beach Hotel, Royal Palms, Holiday Inn, and smaller condominiums rented to tourists all 100 percent Caymanian staffed, that did not sit vacant like the 2,500 + square foot condos do today, with Caymanians and tourists meeting on the beach, at barbeques and Sunday brunch. Together, they enjoyed and shared Cayman's beach and culture and this is what did and will keep tourists coming back, not hotels without Caymanians, without beach or across a busy road, not seven-storey hotels less expensive and more attractive elsewhere, nor seven-storey residential condos.
Tourists come to Cayman specifically for the beach; the land God blessed us with, for our enjoyment and to sustain the economy and livelihood of all generations to come. It was to be developed, both sensibly and with sensitivity for the environment, to attract the majority of the tourist market. To do this now will start to restore and sustain the economy, without threatening the environment. The North Sound and Salt Creek are better park than hotel land and taking out more mangroves could cause a storm to come through the reef, funnel along the dredging and up the canals to swamp Cayman, as the island is only one mile wide in this area.
Rumor has it there is a sale for "B" on the North Sound now being negotiated. Shouldn't Government purchase this land, adjoining their Crown land and save the Cayman Islands millions of dollars in creating a National Park, which would be similar if not bigger than that proposed at Barkers?
Why rezone land for someone to sell for
profit, to allow a new investor to develop it and at the same
time, ask the West Bay Caymanian owners to sell their land for
as little as possible, after holding on to it for so many years,
being promised they could develop, realize, and share in some
profit like everyone else, particularly now that it makes sense
to develop it with suitable tourist accommodation and provide
jobs for West Bay.
Some investors buy land, have it rezoned, do not build on it,
but resell it for profit, being very shrewd land speculators,
but Caymanians and investors at Barkers are willing to develop
now, to help restore the economy, in balance with the environment,
as soon as government makes it possible.
Why spend more than necessary for a National Park, take away all that beach from sustaining the economy, dredge the North Sound and remove the mangroves, when it isn't necessary?
Is Government considering Salt Creek for a casino hotel, similar to Atlantis in the Bahamas? Tourism is down, our economy is down and a sure way to take down our culture and society is with casinos. The paychecks spent in casinos will steal the schoolbooks, food and clothes right off the back of the children for generations to come.
A "Cayman casino" will never be a specific tourist destination, as Las Vegas is more easily accessible, very inexpensive and returns more for your money in all ways, to include casino payoffs, which are based on the percentage of play. Would a casino hire Caymanians to run it, work the slots and the tables? Who would be the winner and benefit from a casino and who would be the big loser?
To maintain and enhance the quality of life in Cayman, safeguard the economic, cultural, social and general welfare of the people and ensure a "Sustained Economy", there must be a balance between tourism and the environment. This does not include rezoning to hotel/tourism, Crown land or private land suitable for a National Park that if rezoned hotel/tourism will require removing mangrove buffer and dredging, to be suitable for hotel development and then turn around and unnecessarily pay millions of dollars more, to purchase land for a National Park that is already zoned and suitable for hotel/tourism.
Government should propose the North Sound
Land at Salt Creek for a National Park, improve and
complete the road to the public beaches at Barkers, encourage
suitable and needed hotel/tourism on the remaining Barkers beach
and preserve the mangrove buffer and stop dredging the North Sound.
This will start to restore tourism, jobs and the environment and
result in a "Sustained Economy."
Marnie Turner
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Seven
Mile Beach erosion persists
Dear Sir,
Thank you for publishing the photo of the Beach erosion on 7 Mile Beach. Since that photo was taken the problem is even greater.
I do not know if anything can be done but
I am stunned that the government will spend 30 million
dollars on the turtle farm as buildings on West Bay Road are about
to fall into the sea.
I think that the government should save their money. If the beach erosion continues the sea turtles will be found on West Bay Road.
Bill Barnwell
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News
about Cayman in the Foreign Press
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
Stock scam proceeds hidden in Cayman
SAN DIEGO, USA The San Diego Union Tribune reports that convicted penny stockbroker Harold Gallison Jr. who defrauded investors out of millions of dollars, sought to hide proceeds from his stock scam in accounts in the Cayman Islands.
Jamaica up, Cayman down
KINGSTON, Jamaica
The Jamaica Gleaner reports that Jamaica had the highest number
of stopover tourist arrivals in its history during the month of
July whilst the Cayman Islands suffered an arrivals decline of
4.5 per cent from January to May.
Cayman firefighters attend aviation course
TEESSIDE, England According to the Western Mail, three firefighters from the Cayman Islands completed a rigorous two-and-a-half-week aviation course at the International Fire Training Centre at Teesside Airport with 19 firefighters from the UK.
Cayman junior golfer comes third
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados The Daily Nation reports that the Cayman Islands' Johnny Widmer was third in the 13-15 years boy's division of the inaugural Barbados Junior International Golf Open with a score of 232.
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News
From Our Region
Former Barbados minister may have spoken out of turn
The rumour mill is buzzing in Barbados regarding the recent abrupt resignation of Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development, Mr. Ronald Toppin.
One of the main claims for his sudden resignation is being blamed on loose lips. The Barbados Nation on Sunday 4th August, reported that Mr. Toppin quit because he spoke out of turn on a matter surrounding Cable & Wireless and the Fair Trading Commission.
His public response to a news report was carried by Starcom Network on 8th August.
Political pundits quoted by the paper, called the resignation "unusual."
But Deputy Prime Minister and general secretary of the ruling Barbados Labour Party, Ms. Mia Mottley, shot down such speculation, calling them entirely out of place.
"We were all together in Cabinet on Thursday and there was no indication of anything whatsoever that would suggest any truth to what is being idly suggested," the Nation quoted Ms. Mottley as saying. "It has come as a shock to all of us in the party. Obviously it must have been a difficult decision for him, and one arrived at after due consideration."
Mr. Toppin has declined to comment on his decision to leave the post after only less than 100 days in office. All he would say is, "I will be returning to my legal practice."
He resigned on Thursday, 21st August. The reason is publicly still unknown.
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Satellite
broadcast by exiles will fail, says Fidel
President Fidel Castro
Cuban exiles plans to broadcast news and talk shows hosted by exile leaders will fail. So says President Fidel Castro.
TV Marti, which went on the air in 1990, broadcasts its signal from a balloon tethered to Cudjoe Key in Florida, about 20 miles east of Key West, Fla., and plans to broadcast to Cuba.
But it is unclear whether the effort will succeed, especially since the Cuban government reportedly prohibits most ordinary citizens from having satellite dishes, AP reported.
But President Castro finds the idea funny. "I read something about that and I was laughing. They are always inventing something," AP quoted the President as saying.
More than 20,000 families on this island of 11.2 million are estimated to have satellite antenna and reception equipment purchased illegally on the black market.
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CCJ
is a go says chair of legal service commission
Come November, the Caribbean Court of Justice will be a reality, whether the islands' parliament ratifies an international treaty or not.
So says chairman of the Regional Judicial and Legal Service Commission Sir David Simmons.
The Trinidad Guardian quoted Sir David as saying, "The fact that the treaty is not ratified here does not affect the operation of the court or operation of the Commission."
"We're not waiting
on you," he added, using the opportunity to slam critics
who deemed the swearing
in of the commissioners as unlawful.
"If we have functions to perform and we wish the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago to act on our behalf and he says 'yes,' and we said 'it would be a good thing if we take an oath to show the solemnity of the occasion,' that's a matter we're entitled to decide among ourselves," said Sir David.
He also took the opportunity to slam T&T's opposition United National Congress Mr. Robin Montano, who had called the commissioners political appointees.
"It is totally incorrect
and untrue to suggest that we are political appointees,"
said the Commissioner. "Unfortunately, that kind of suggestion
betrays a level of ignorance that comes from a failure to familiarise
oneself with the treaty establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice."
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Jamaica's
Education ministry to reduce classroom size
Jamaica's Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Mr. Wesley Barrett, says the ministry is moving to reduce classroom size across the island.
The CEO, who was fielding questions from teachers at the 20th August opening of the 39th annual Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) conference at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, said that a programme of rationalisation at the secondary level was also taking place.
He said the trimming of classrooms would be done on a phased basis, following a programme of assessment of student population in the schools, according to JIS News. The classes will be trimmed to 35 students to one teacher, said Mr. Barrett.
He told the teachers that the Ministry would be continuing with the shift system for some time longer, as part of efforts to achieve universal access to primary schooling.
"Regrettably, we are not in a position to give you a time-table for the phasing out of the shift system. In fact, to be candid, we have to be looking at some other schools that we may have to put on shift," said the education official. "The fact is if we are really to achieve the goal and target of universal secondary education we cannot do away with the shift system now. Of course, some schools will be coming off, as over time some schools have come off the shift."
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Guyana's
president welcomed as hero in the Indian village of his ancestors
President Bharat Jagdeo is welcomed in India
Guyana's President Mr. Bharat Jagdeo walked on rose petals on Sunday, 24th August, treading the path of his ancestors before him in the tiny Indian village of Thakurain Purwa.
The President was accorded a hero's welcome, with farmers who have never seen electricity showering him with flowers and sweets, news reports indicate.
"Luck has smiled on
us now that the president's roots have been traced here. Otherwise
our village would
have always remained an unnoticed and uncared for place,"
village chief Mohammed Ishaq told AFP.
Of the 28 families in Thakurain
Purwa, 24 claim some relation to the Guyanese president. President
Jagdeo is in India for economic talks with Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee. Today, he will hold talks with the prime minister
and attend a state banquet hosted by President Abdul Kalam. He
will be in India for
six days.
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Grenada's
Child Welfare Authority investigates abuse of teenager by a government
official
A teenager living in a Grenadian foster home for girls was allegedly slapped by Grenadian Senator Ms. Yolande Joseph.
So claims opposition leader Mr. Michael Baptiste. His comment has prompted the country's Child Welfare Authority to investigate the allegation, AP reported.
"We launched the investigation following a call made by opposition leader Michael Baptiste, the news service quoted Mr. Clement Francis, head of the welfare authority, as saying.
The senator has denied the claims and said she will take legal action against Mr. Baptiste for attempting to sully her reputation.
Return
Carifesta
week opens in Suriname
Thousands of diverse cultures and ethnicities jammed to music in the streets of Suriname's capital to celebrate the opening of the VIII Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival, or Carifesta.
The week-long fest continues under the theme, celebrating the region's diversity and indigenous roots, and will feature the food, art, cultural shows and intellectual discussion from some 28 countries.
Government culture ministers
from several different islands attended the opening event on Sunday,
24th August, including those from St. Lucia, Cayman Islands, French
Guiana, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago along with
Secretary General of Caricom, Mr. Edwin
Carrington.
Community Calendar
Through 5 September
The International College of Cayman Islands is now enrolling new and continuing students for fall quarter on weekdays at 1 to 5 pm. Registration continues until 5 Sept. Classes begin on 8 September and end on 13 November. For information telephone 947-1100.
From 21 August onwards
Red Bay Primary School uniform shop (located in the main building) will be open on weekdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 10 am until 2 pm. For further information telephone 947-6333.
Wednesday, 27 August
The National Gallery presents a complimentary art history lecture series and film evening entitled 'Art Flix.' This month features the work of Roy Lichtenstein. Lecture starts at 5:30 pm. The National Gallery is located on the ground floor of Harbour Place, George Town. For information call 945-8111.
Through 29 August
Re-registration for all parents who are home schooling their children, for the September 2003-July 2004 school year. Forms can be collected from the Chief Eduction Officer's secretary at the Education Department, or by telephoning 244-1733. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 29 August.
Saturday, 30 August
Future Sports Club players, members and supporters are selling tickets for their Annual Fair which will take place on Saturday, 30 August 2003 at the West Bay Town Hall Field, 2 pm to 10 pm. Proceeds will be used to purchase property and build an Educational and Training Facility.
Saturday, 30 August
National Drug Council garage sale at the Lions Centre, gates open at 5 am. Booths are limited. Call 949-9000 to book.
31 August - 5 September
Light of the World Church will present 'Equipping Believers for Signs and Wonders' from Monday through Friday at 7 pm, and on Sunday at 9 am, at St. Bodden Plaza, upstairs from 'Little Darlings.' Guest speaker: Apostle Fred and Joy Omoruyi.
Tuesday, 2 September
Cayman Brac High School opens for students. New and transfer students who have not attended induction should report to school on Monday 1 September. For further information contact 948-2226.
Wednesday, 3 September
The Cayman Islands Diabetes Association monthly meeting takes
place at 6 pm, at the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association Hall,
behind the Public Library.
3-4 September
George Hicks High School opens on 3 September for year seven students and 4 September for all other students.
Friday, 19 September
Visual Arts Society's 25 Anniversary Gala evening. Tickets are available at the VAS Centre in Eucalyptus Plaza. The cost is $75 per person, or group tables of 10 for $675. For more information or ticket reservations telephone 949-6479.
Saturday, 27 September
2003 Glamorous Granny Pageant, at the Mary Miller Hall. Divisions
include 'Grandmothers,' 'Grandfathers,' 'Ms.' and 'Full Figure.'
Application Deadline 12 September. Entry forms available from
George Town Public Library, Fosters Airport Food Fair, and Hurleys
at Grand Harbour. For further information telephone Jewel, 947-1040,
Bridget, 947-2403 or Gretta, 948-1414.
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