Highlights from the Print Newspaper edition - Issue No. 395
Updated as of |
Tuesday, 2 May 2003
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Up Front
News
Editorial
Letter to The Editor
The Last Word
Current Commentaries
News Analysis
Special Report
Health News
Pondering
Cayman Net News Daily Comics
Sports
Sports Summary
A proposal to build a seaquarium/eco-theme park that includes a swim-with-the-dolphins programme has met with resistance from environmentalists creating
The Dolphin Dilemma
A Caymanian corporation called The Living Sea Ltd. (TLSL) is applying to the Central Planning Authority to construct a seaquarium in the Morgan's Harbour area of West Bay.
 Mr. Jean-Michel Cousteau |
 Mr. David Bodden |
The primary feature of the proposal is a swim-with-the-dolphins (SWTD) programme that has drawn the criticism of environmentalists, including Mr. Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the late world-famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau.
In a letter to local media dated 21 April (see page six inside), Mr. Cousteau urged the Cayman Island Government to reject the proposal, warning of dire consequences for the dolphins, the tourism industry, and the tourists who would swim with the dolphins themselves.
Caymanian businessman Mr. David Bodden, the President and Managing Director of TLSL, met with Cayman Net News to impart what he believes are the benefits of such a project and to allay some of the public's concerns.
The seaquarium, which would be located on 9.27 acres of land with 330 feet of frontage on the North Sound and 850 feet of frontage on a private canal, would offer significant economic benefits to both Government and the community in general according to Mr. Bodden. "The Government would get significant revenue immediately in the form of stamp duty on the transfer of the property," he said, adding that the Government would also receive revenue from annual licensing fees and the duty on goods they would have to import.
Mr. Bodden said the community would also benefit. "The project would also create another 35 to 100 new jobs," he said, also stating he hoped even the necessary highly skilled positions like marine biologists would eventually come from the community. "It will create the need for a completely new field here. We will be looking for Caymanians who will train for these jobs."
The developers say that perhaps the most important benefit of the project would be the addition of a popular new tourist attraction for the island. As part of their feasibility marketing research, TLSL polled Stingray City visitors with the following question: "As a visitor to the Cayman Islands, would you like to interact or swim with dolphins in a well-planned, constructed and managed seaquarium?" The respondents, mostly from the United States and Canada, overwhelmingly said yes. "Ninety-seven percent of the tourists we asked said they would like to go to a swim-with-dolphins facility," said Mr. Bodden.
SWTD programmes allow people to actually
touch, hold and swim with dolphins in a controlled environment.
Guests get to spend 15 to 20 minutes in the water with the mammals.
These programmes have become increasingly popular throughout the
Caribbean region, with facilities in Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas,
Jamaica, Curacao, and other islands. There are also over a dozen
of such programmes in the United States.
TLSL proposes to import up to 20 dolphins from Roatan, Honduras.
"We are primarily looking for dolphins bred in human care,"
said Mr. Bodden. The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences would
assist in the developing and operating of the SWTD programme.
The interactive dolphin program would be just one part albeit
the essential part of the seaquarium. "What we would
really like to create is a tropical oasis with lush landscaping
and boardwalks. It would be somewhere visitors could also enjoy
the cool ocean breezes," said Mr. Bodden.
If successful, Mr. Bodden said he could envision expanding the seaquarium into a general amusement park. "We could add attractions annually, like sea lions or even a water park, but first we have to have the base attraction, and that would be the swim-with-the-dolphins programme."
Another benefit of the seaquarium would be that it could operate 365 days a year, said Mr. Bodden.
As for the objections to the SWTD programme,
Mr. Bodden is not overly concerned. "Developers are always
going to have a debate with environmentalists," he said,
"Environmentalists are always going to take the side that
nothing should be changed."
With regard to Mr. Cousteau's assertion that a SWTD facility could
hurt local tourism if it were to open in Cayman, Mr. Bodden strongly
disagreed. "I think it is alarmist to say tourism would be
affected adversely," he said, "This is a new attraction
that people will enjoy."
Mr. Bodden says that he finds it "totally
hypocritical" for environmentalists to complain about keeping
dolphins in captivity. "I've never seen a horse born with
a bridle in its mouth or a saddle on its back," he said,
"And what about all the zoos in the world should we
close them all down too? I think we have to be careful not to
let special interest groups impress their preferences on other
people."
Claims that TLST is only in the project for the money leave Mr.
Bodden incredulous. "I'm a businessman. I don't know any
businessman that enters a venture to lose money. I accept that
I will have to convince some people of the project's worthiness,
and I'm willing to take that risk. But I think the majority should
rule in this case. That's not to say the minority might not be
right, but the majority should still rule."
As for the timeline, everything depends on if and when TLST gets
planning permission. "Investors are lined-up both locally
and overseas, and nearly every day we get a new approach,"
said Mr. Bodden, "But we're not trying to just throw this
project together, we're trying to do it properly."
Ultimately, Mr. Bodden feels the project will be welcomed here. "We offer sea, sand and sun here, and The Living Sea keeps in line with what and who we are. It will be good for West Bay, and it will be good for Cayman.
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Graduates
arm themselves to stay safe on the roads
John Gray 12th-year students preparing
to go on final examinations study leave this week will go armed
with food for thought on staying safe on Cayman's roads.
Patricia Ebanks, mother of one of last year's graduates who died
tragically as a result of a one-car accident in which he was the
driver, painted a vivid picture of what happens to a person in
the second after they hit a solid object while travelling at 50
mph or faster. The risks of accidents and death go up 200 percent
for every 10 mph over 50 mph, she said.
She fervently hoped that there would be no further deaths of teen drivers on Cayman's roads. This was totally possible for this group if this year's class took to heart the information contained in the brochure she left with them at the end of Monday morning's presentation to the class of 2003.
Ms Ebanks also left copies of a parent-teen contract covering the main vulnerabilities that driving posed for first-time teen drivers, and invited them to give their names to class teachers if they wanted to participate in the programme.
Members of the public who would like to get copies of the brochure and or the contract may call 244-1755 or email mattsafe@gov.ky.
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Pioneers of
affordable local housing
The principals of Frank Hall Homes stand outside the 100-year-old traditional Caymanian house downtown at Mary Street that serves as their corporate headquarters. Pictured are (l-r) Tony Connolly, Frank Hall and Heber Arch. A special feature on the pioneer developer of local affordable housing will appear in the supplement Real Estate Today in an upcoming issue of Cayman Net News.
British Prime
Minister, Tony Blair
Britain prepares to
vote in local, regional polls
LONDON (AFP)
Britons went to the polls Thursday in local and regional
elections seen by analysts as a mid-term test of the popularity
of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his ruling Labour party.
More than 30 million people are eligible to cast ballots for some 11,800 representatives in 340 local councils across England and Scotland.
Campaigning has been low-key, with the major political parties focusing on education, health care and other neighborhood issues.
But with many traditional Labour supporters angered by Blair's support for the US-led war on Iraq, analysts predict voters will punish Labour to some degree.
Indian hair fetches
millions on global market
NEW DELHI (AFP)
India exports human hair worth 33 million dollars every
year to 10 countries including China, Hong Kong and the United
States, a minister told parliament on Friday.
China, Hong Kong, Tunisia and the United States are the biggest buyers of Indian hair and products made from it, Junior Commerce Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
India has sent delegations to Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the United States to try to increase their orders for hair, he said.
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News
Local songstress seeks global audience
Ms. Natalie Rankine
An East End Lady who writes song lyrics as a hobby has had one of her songs recorded by a U.S. publishing company.
The song, "Release My Body," with lyrics by Natalie Rankine, is part of a music compilation produced by Tumba Records on a CD entitled "Hands Across America Vol. 4" and is one of three songs by Natalie that the company plans to issue.
The lyric writers contribute US$369 towards having a melody composed to fit the words and to have the song recorded by a studio group in the US and released on a CD. Under the business arrangement, lyric writers earn 47 cents for every CD sold after production costs are met.
Mrs. Rankine has been writing song lyrics since the 1980's and says her main interest is in country music and religious themes.
The CD was released for sale in March 2003 by New World Publishing of Weymouth, Massachusetts and is available through two websites CDBaby.com and NewWorldPub.com Jeff Rosen, President of New World Publishing, says that apart from online sales the aim is also to have the material picked up by established artists for commercial release.
Mrs. Rankine said the company is interested in recording two other pieces of material she has written "Empty and Broken" and "That Faded Petal" and plans to do others as well.
Said Mrs. Rankine: 'It's something I do for the love of it and it's nice to see the songs being exposed this way."
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Deputy Director
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Acting Principal
Officer |
Principal
Officer |
Principal
Officer |
The training of local senior prison staff continues, with four managers recently completing studies in various areas.
Deputy Director Claire Range attended a three-week Strategic Human Resource Development course. Offered the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, the course was attended by senior civil servants from various public sector agencies around the Caribbean. The syllabus covered recruitment and pre-retirement preparations, career development, training and general human resource administration.
Last year Mrs. Range also passed the Certificate in Personnel Management course. Run by government's Personnel Training Unit, the six-month course was supervised by Chichester College in England and Portsmouth University. It provided in-depth study into areas such as job performance assessments and recruitment tactics. She previously completed the Crown Agents Management Training Course in England prior to being confirmed as the Cayman Islands' first female deputy prison director in 2001.
"These courses are extremely beneficial, both personally and to the prison service as a whole. However, there is a need for a wider management network and I encourage my colleagues, as well as others throughout the civil service, to learn these new management tactics," said Mrs. Range.
Mrs. Range's colleague, Acting Principal Officer Stephen Atherley, is following this path. Last month, after a year's study, he was awarded an overall high merit pass in the course work and examinations for the Cambridge International College diploma in business management/administration.
His course included areas such as budgeting, personnel management, interviews, recruitment and welfare issues. Mr. Atherley noted that the techniques and knowledge gained can be applied both to his administrative duties and general management of the prison facilities and prisoners.
Continuing this educational trend, he departs this month for the United Kingdom to attend a two-week commanders' course at the Prison Service Central Control and Restraint Training Centre. As acting principal officer, and with 15 years' prison experience, he is second in charge of Alpha wing, which holds prisoners with behavioural programmes.
"Prison staff have to cover a range of resident needs, from juveniles, females, refugees and prisoners with mental problems, to general issues such as staff, maintenance, security and kitchen services. Therefore a broad knowledge of management techniques is invaluable to the prison environment," said Mr Atherley.
The Prison Service has also announced that Principal Officers Richard Barton and Daniel Greaves have successfully completed the Certificate in Personnel Management. Mr. Barton, who received a merit pass, is in charge of Bravo and Charlie wings. Mr Greaves, who earned a merit-plus pass, also passed the three-week Drug Interdiction Course run by the United States' Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Jamaica in 2001.
Commending all four staff, Prison Director John Forster said that the service, with a current population of almost 250, is a dynamic and complex 24-hour operation. "We must have properly trained and professionally qualified staff to lead the service," he said. "It requires hard work, dedication and ability to work for examinations whilst holding down a difficult and stressful job. Their results are a clear indication of the way the Prison Service is going. I am very encouraged by this and proud of their successes."
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Mr. Jarold Smith and young friends at the door of the house built by his grandfather. |
A group of North Side children escort Mr. Smith to Hutland Park. |
Children of North Side joined together with other district residents and police and fire services, last Friday, April 25th to honour and listen to stories of Mr. Jarold Henry Smith, a 90-year-old Caymanian, who once lived on the land that the new district's park is situated on.
The park is currently being upgraded and
beautified as a part of the "Growing Communities" project,
a multi-million dollar partnership bet-ween the Dart Foundation
and Cayman Islands Government to build five district parks before
the end of 2003.
Hours before the event was due to start, Mr. Smith was already
found relaxing in a canvas hammock inside the home he grew up
in, built by his grandfather around 1925. The home is located
adjacent to the Hutland Park and can be seen from just about anywhere
within the park boundaries.
The history of this land holds a very special meaning for Mr. Smith. Earlier in the week, Mr. Smith organised for fresh sand for the doorway with carefully arranged conch shells as a border. The front yard of the home, which is filled with many varieties of fruit trees, was cleared to properly welcome the children who came to collect him for the storytelling day.
The children gathered at 11:00am at the soon-to-be-opened new park. Members of the North Side PTA, as well as other residents of North Side and staff from the Dart owned West Indian Club Nursery handed out t-shirts and balloons from the Dart Foundation, and supervised the short walk around the park's fencing to collect Mr. Smith from his house. D.A.R.E. programme representatives, police, and fire services also escorted the children and ensured the short walk on the road was a safe one.
When the enthusiastic group brought Mr. Smith back into the park, they walked him along a specially laid 20-foot red carpet into a custom-made, lushly landscaped storytelling area courtesy of the West Indian Club Nursery. Then the children and adults gathered around Mr. Smith and listened to the history of the park's land, stories about his old home and other interesting tales of the North Side from years gone by.
Mr. Smith, fondly referred to as Brother Jay, was born on December 5th, 1912. During his storytelling, he shared with the children how the small wooden house was built with lumber that was auctioned off from shipwrecks and the roof was made of thatch.
Where the park is now located was the area of land that he, along with his mom and sister, used to cultivate potatoes, yams, cassava and bananas. He described to the children how he used to carry the produce from the land to the sea, and then sail by boat from North Side to George Town to sell the produce to local merchants.
Mr. Smith's final words for the day addressed the children, "boys and girls you are the men and women of tomorrow. Listen to your parents and respect them; listen to your teachers and respect them; have respect for yourself and the land that you live on. And always, always remember to be kind", the perfect ending to stories of history, land and personal integrity.
Upon completion of the stories, Mr. John Papesh, vice president of Dart Management, and a representative of the Dart Foundation, presented Mr. Smith with a plaque of appreciation. He shared how he first met Mr. Smith about a year ago when he came to North Side to look at the land that was to be developed for the new park.
Mr. Papesh said how he found Mr. Smith relaxing in the shade sitting on a bench under a large tree watching the children play. Soon after meeting, Mr. Smith passionately described the history of the land and the importance of parks for the betterment of the community. "I knew immediately that his stories and ideas needed to be shared. His vision of what parks stand for are directly inline with the what the Dart Foundation's 'Growing Communities' initiative is all about bringing families together to foster positive values, community spirit and pride," stated Mr. Papesh.
The day of storytelling concluded with face painting, food and cotton candy, all compliments of the Dart Foundation. Mrs. Alex Johnson, who played a key role in helping organise the community event, noted that, "the people of North Side have long awaited something like this park in our district, as it will allow young and old to go to the park and enjoy themselves in a safe and wholesome environment. The older folks can go to the park sit there and read or just enjoy the cool breeze that is so abundant there." Having grown up across the street from Mr. Smith and where the park is located, she can fully see the importance of a park for the district of North Side.
Along with the many families, North Side MLA, Edna Moyle was present to support the district's festivities, as was Margely Reve, representing the Ministry of Community Services, Gender Affairs, Youth & Sports. Ms. Reve was pleased with how the day turned out commenting that, "the Government is proud to be a part of this Dart Foundation/Government joint project of "Growing Communities" by developing parks. The Ministry appreciates all who helped to make this day possible as well as the Dart Foundation".
Founded by the Dart family in the 1980s, the Dart Foundation is a privately funded organisation that is committed to public purposes, specifically, making donations to not-for-profit entities such as schools, hospitals, government and publicly supported charities and their affiliates.
Historically, it has been and remains the Foundation's preference to make grants in support of educational and youth designed programmes that are community based and provide meaningful growth opportunities.
Grand Opening dates for the East End and North Side parks will be announced in the coming weeks. Tentatively the North Side park, located in Hutland, is scheduled to open in June. Anyone who attended the September 2001 opening of West Bay's Scholar's Park will know that the grand openings are a 'carnival' day filled with fun, laughter, food, entertainment and activities including a proper ribbon cutting ceremony. Later this summer, George Town and Bodden Town will be next to benefit from the "Growing Communities" initiative.
The Dart Foundation has committed to maintaining the soft landscaping and playground equipment until the end of 2006. Government is responsible for all general maintenance, security, and beginning in January 2007, will assume full responsibility for all facets of these parks.
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Editorial
Protecting Cayman's financial record
Diligence has been the operative word since the mid-1980's as the Cayman Islands Government has consistently stepped up their efforts to combat money laundering and regulate their tax-free financial services.
After Switzerland, Cayman was the first country to enter into a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with the United States way back in 1986, which basically allowed for the exchange of information for investigation and prosecution of crimes. A number of other regulations followed into the 90's, including the Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law Revision of 1995, the Creation of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority in 1997, the Drug Trafficking (International Cooperation Law) in 1998 and the Cross-border supervision in 1999.
Between 2000 and 2001, the Cayman Islands,
under apparent pressure from the Mother Country, as well as the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
gave in and amended its Monetary Authority Law, the Proceeds of
Criminal Conduct Law as well as its Banks and Trust Companies
Law and the
Companies Management Law, among others.
In fact, Cayman as well as the Bahamas and
Bermuda among other tax-free havens, all vowed "to eliminate
any harmful tax practices (yet) maintain their zero-tax systems."
They also pledged to the OECD, "transparency for tax purposes
so that tax administrations could prevent and detect violations
of the civil and criminal tax laws."
In the Cayman Islands' case, its laws became extremely stringent.
Among the new requirements coming out of 2000, was that "All
entities that provide
services relating to money transactions, cheque cashing, currency
exchange and dealing in travellers cheques, if not licensed under
the Banks and Trust Companies Law 2000, are now required to be
licensed under the Money Services Law 2000."
Service providers are now required to keep more detailed information pertaining to their clients, whilst failure to report suspicious transactions is a criminal offence.
While it is applauded that the government
has committed to monitor financial activity in these islands,
there is still lingering concern that these draconian laws are
leading to a drop in company registrations and other financial
services in the Cayman. The new microscopic approach, while a
great way to flush out criminal activity, is also
preventing the country from attracting future investment.
These laws have become a serious red-tape that is stifling and will eventually choke the life-blood out of our economy.
The new Perry Christie administration in the Bahamas, like analysts, have recognized this and are moving to review its Financial Transactions Reporting Act and the International Business Companies Act.
Facing a $125 million debt, Prime Minister
Christie is obviously very concerned about removing the noose
that has been stifling investment in the Bahamas while still keeping
true to international financial requirements. He has insisted
he will do what is necessary right away, to ensure the Bahamas
removes the image that it's anti-business.
Is there similar hope for relief in Cayman's future?
There remains anxiety that the stringent laws put in place two years ago have made us impotent. Instead of reproducing, we have experienced economic dormancy.
Conceivably, with the advent of a revised constitution, it may be an opportune time for our government to revisit these laws, and take action where necessary to remove doubt that Cayman, as a financial planning jurisdiction, is reasonable and willing to accommodate business transactions that could stand up to the most stringent scrutiny.
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Letter
to The Editor
Swim with Dolphins facility discouraged
Dear Sir,
I would like to add my voice to those of many Caymanians concerned about the possible introduction of a swim-with-dolphins facility in the Cayman Islands.
The project's supporters claim that it would be a financial gold mine, but in the long run, a captive dolphin facility would destroy the Cayman Islands' outstanding eco-tourism credentials, and is certain to rebound to the detriment of the local economy. Already several thousand tourists, from over 30 countries, have signed petitions expressing their opposition to the proposed park.
Why? Because swim-with-dolphin programs are simply a disaster in the making, both for the dolphins and for the people who visit them. The Cayman facility, operated by a group called Living Sea, reportedly plans to house its dolphins in "natural enclosures." This is an oxymoron. For a dolphin accustomed to roaming free up to 40 miles per day, any enclosure is unnatural, and thus the Living Sea facility is in effect little more than a concrete jail. The dolphins, reputedly transferred from captivity in Honduras, were taken violently from their family and home range, and held in pools or pens. In the Caymans, their situation will not improve; they will still be fed dead fish and coerced (by the promise of food or the imposition of hunger) to perform tricks and interact, whether they want to or not, with humans.
To counter the global outcry over what amounts
to forced labor of a sentient, social and intelligent animal,
the swim-with-dolphins industry has added a few new wrinkles to
the now familiar justification of its own self-serving goals.
Cayman citizens should not be surprised if they hear some of these
specious claims.
For one, swim-with-dolphins programs like Living Sea purport to
be educational. In fact, they are anti-educational, because they
foster the false impression that dolphins are gentle, "warm
and fuzzy" creatures, when they are far more complex and
interesting, and capable of a range of behaviors, including violence.
They are predators with a dominance hierarchy. The false impression
leads to ignorance, notenlightenment. This ignorance hurts both
dolphins, who are captured and sentenced to life terms for crimes
that don't exist, and humans, who can be injured physically, cheated
financially and short-changed intellectually.
Some of these businesses also infer that buying time with a captive dolphin helps nurture a greater respect for these animals, even a desire to protect them. This logic has always escaped me, since the chief threat to bottlenose dolphins is the captive dolphin industry.
Some operators claim that swimming with dolphins is therapeutic. Children suffering from Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other conditions are frequent visitors to swim-with-dolphins facilities. While I understand the feelings of reverence and awe that contact with these magnificent creatures inspires, it is critical that people everywhere understand that there is no scientific evidence to prove that swimming with dolphins provides a medical benefit for humans. Other programs, using domesticated animals and plant environments, have similar results and do not involve the cruelty inherent in dolphin captivity.
Far from universally beneficial, swimming
with dolphins can actually be bad for you. Broken bones, lacerations,
internal injuries, shockthese are just a few of the wounds
reported by paying customers.
The effects on dolphins are even worse. After surviving a traumatic
capture and many don't dolphins are confined in a
space that does not allow them to exercise even their most basic
natural functions. They suffer from enforced monotony, confinement
stress, poor diet, disease, muscular atrophy. So the life span
of a captive marine mammal is not only considerably shorter than
that of a wild one, but considerably less worth living.
Australian researchers have found that the problems do not disappear when the operation is moved to open pens or bays, such as that proposed by Living Sea. Even wild dolphins habituated to human contact spend up to seven hours interacting with people, and literally forget to feed. In addition, tour boats routinely scare away the schools of fish that dolphin pods herd into feeding position.
Finally, some facilities claim they are engaged in research. But the fact is that captive dolphin husbandry is the only "science" they are capable of producing. And any "findings" that might emerge are more suited to profiles in understanding the human psyche than to peer-reviewed cetacean research.
Although swim-with-dolphins operators are adept at exploiting grey areas in the law, time is not on their side. Australia is considering legislation that would limit the hours and locations of interaction. In the Caribbean, the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol of the Cartagena Convention protects marine mammals, and in Mexico, a new law prohibits the capture of dolphins for display. It would be a shame if the Cayman Islands were to fall from what is the wave of the future in ecotourism into the host of environmental profiteers.
Over the past several years, I was privileged to be a consultant for the Ministry for Tourism. During that time, I took pride in helping to promote locales, like Stingray City and Tarpon Alley, that offered tourists the opportunity to experience the Cayman environment on its own terms.
Swim-with-dolphins operations are incompatible with this philosophy, and are an insult to those of us who view humanity as stewards of nature. They are bad for dolphins, bad for tourists, and in the end, bad for business.
I strongly urge the responsible authorities to preserve the Cayman Islands' positive environmental image, and reject the proposed facility.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
President, Ocean Futures Society
Gambling with our Future
Barrie
Quappe
Not too many people could truthfully say they haven't fantasized about winning a jackpot and paying off debts, student loans, mortgage or whatever and being debt-free with the freedom to do or go wherever they dreamed, but couldn't before due to limited cash. C'mon admit it you've been there.
We appear to have two very clear groups in Cayman for and against all forms of gambling, or do we? Sports clubs, schools and other non-profit groups constantly gamble ahem, raffle, off a prize for the lucky ticket buyer. Is this gambling when it is for a good cause? Of course it is. Is it a problem?
Well, lets look at a definition for "problem gambling":
...is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological", or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.
If we work with the above definition, I don't believe that supporting your kid's school or other charity fundraiser can be "problem gambling". Religious proponents can quote the bible to support that gambling comes from greed (covetousness) which is a sin, that it is destructive and that get-rich-quick schemes are a hoax. On the other side, there are those who can quote the bible in supporting the drawing of "lots".
A group that calls themselves the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) in the USA are in the business of opposing gambling in order to "restore the "American Dream" of hard work and education as being the best way to get ahead.." On the other side of the fence, a study (some of which is relevant locally) conducted by the Fraser Institute, an independent Canadian economic and social research and educational organization finds that:
1. Problem gambling is not very prevalent
2. The social benefits of gambling are under-appreciated
3. The social costs of gambling are overstated
4. The economic benefits of gambling outweigh the economic costs
5. Gambling benefits Indian Reservations
6. Internet gambling should be regulated rather than prohibited
7. Gambling should be privatized
8. Consumer freedom of choice is preferable to government paternalism
If the buying of a lottery ticket or the playing of a game of chance is the same as buying a movie theatre ticket insofar as both ends are for entertainment, then what is the big deal?
The big deal, according to the NCALG is about clear indicators that link rates of lotteries and crime, and of gambling and organized crime.
Everyone knows that origins of the Casinos of Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Cuba were built by murderous characters, but the excitement it brought to (many or most of) the masses carries to this day, many times on a pure entertainment level.
Are Casinos still tied to organized crime? The NCALG says yes, but I would temper that knowing the source. That said, if Cayman were to move forward with Casinos, we had better make sure all the blanks are filled in on the "know your customer form."
If you find the summarized information here dizzying, that's good. The issue of gambling is complex and not to be thought through in simple terms. In our times of stressed infrastructure and wanting to balance development with preservation we need to look for other means of income that are not development-oriented as our Government's coffers have traditionally been dependent on.
Think about it but give the issue its full due and full research. I will.
Any comments or questions?
e-mail me at barriequappe@hurleysgroup.com.
The Peter Principles: A post-war postulate
By Peter Roff, United
Press International
WASHINGTON (UPI) Recent developments
in Iraq have already overshadowed the stunning military victory
of just a few weeks ago. The Saddam Hussein regime collapsed with
surprising speed while U.S. and British soldiers entering Baghdad
were greeted as liberators rather than conquerors, just as
President George W. Bush had predicted. But glory is fleeting
and attention has already moved elsewhere.
The disintegration of civil authority throughout Iraq has created problems that tempered the victory. Democratization efforts cannot begin where the system is in chaos.
Shiite demonstrators, possibly supported by Iranian mullahs, have struck a chord in America's collective memory. Their demand for an Islamic theocracy to take power in Baghdad nearly mirrors what followed the ouster of the Shah of Iran.
Religious zealots hijacked the Iranian pro-reform movement shortly after the Shah surrendered the Peacock throne and fled the country. Pro-democracy demonstrations became frenzied expressions of anti-Americanism that reached a fever pitch when student protesters seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took the staff hostage.
To those Americans old enough to remember, it is still a fresh memory. Fears of a similar outcome in Iraq with an Iranian-allied religious autocracy replacing Saddam as Baghdad's absolute ruler may, if the allied powers are not careful, become the driving force in post-war policy.
This would be a grave error. The liberators of Iraq must keep their eye on the ball, moving toward a democratic system where the rule of law rather than rule by men is paramount.
Those who will be dispensing advice to the post-war government must not repeat the mistakes U.S. advisers made in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Assisting the transitions as Soviet-style systems collapsed throughout Eastern Europe and Russia, they emphasized the need for expanding and securing political rights over the need to codify economic rights.
Friedrich Hayek, the Nobel Prize-winning Austrian economist, correctly recognized that the free-market capitalist system is the only one through which individuals can intelligently coordinate a society. The sudden appearance or even the imposition of political rights is not sufficient to guarantee peace, liberty or democracy.
"We have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant," Hayek once wrote, adding that this led many of his generation to understand "that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom."
"The ideal of democracy rests on the
belief that the view which will direct government emerges from
an independent and spontaneous process. It requires, therefore,
the existence of a large sphere independent of majority control
in which the opinions of the individuals are formed," Hayek
said.
The large independent sphere he describes can only be achieved
where the right of citizens to acquire, amass and transfer property
exists and is protected, hence the need for an emphasis on economic
rights in a reborn Iraq.
The need for a better future for Iraq also should not preclude the need to establish an accurate record of events. A 25-year regime that preserved itself through terror likely amassed a considerable archive, documenting its evil acts.
To ensure justice is done, incriminating Iraqi state papers uncovered after Baghdad fell should be made public. This would allow the world to see in minute detail how Saddam terrorized the Iraqi people for his own pleasure and enrichment.
A full and accurate historical record would satisfy the demands of world opinion and put to rest significant pre-war questions about the need for military action. It would also assist the effort to insure perpetrators of terror are punished for their crimes.
The effort to find Nazi war criminals and bring them to justice continued well into the final decades of the 20th century. The Nazi crimes against humanity were not forgotten; likewise, the crimes against the Iraqi people should be documented and those who committed them should be punished.
Such an effort would send an important signal to the world's remaining tyrants. A stated resolve to hunt down Saddam and his minions to bring them to justice, for as many years as it may take, may speed the spread of liberty throughout the world.
The principle is simple. Tyrants like Saddam who threaten the world and do not surrender power voluntarily but instead are driven out as he was must be caught and punished. There must be no safe haven for those Iraqi leaders who escaped before the government fell.
Further, the same fate should be befall
those who served in morally equivalent positions to those held
by the Nazis of lesser rank who may not have set policy but were
nevertheless responsible for carrying it out. Under cover of state
authority, they used their power to terrorize, to torture and
to oppress innocent Iraqis.
The world should give them up. If found, they should be tried
for their crimes and, if guilty, punished. Such resolve may not
stop the next dictator but may give those who make his tyranny
possible pause to reconsider their actions.
Delays to British euro referendum could create uncertainty
LONDON (AFP) The British government's unwillingness to specify when it might hold a referendum on euro membership could create "uncertainty" in the country's economy, a long-awaited MPs' report into the issue said Monday, 28 April.
And while euro entry could provide benefits, serious worries about planned reforms to the way the European Central Bank decides interest rates for the euro zone could prove an "obstacle", the House of Commons Treasury Committee said.
The cross-party group spent four months quizzing politicians, economists, businesspeople and a series of other interested parties about the possible outcome of euro entry.
British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown is due to announce by the first week of June whether the government's five economic tests on the benefits of euro entry have been met, and thus whether a referendum should be held.
While many predict that Brown will say the tests have not yet been passed, the committee said it was possible he might also decide to re-run them at some unspecified time in the future.
"For understandable reasons the Chancellor declined to speculate on this point when asked, but such a rolling re-run of the five tests could lead to uncertainty in the British economy," it noted.
For British firms, longer-term business planning "may well be contingent on knowing where government policy is heading," the authors added.
The committee was also heavily critical of planned reforms of the European Central Bank's interest rate-setting body.
Under the present system, the governors
of the central banks of the 12 euro-zone nations each have a vote
at the ECB's monthly meetings in Frankfurt to set interest rates
for the whole euro-zone.
But with the EU set to expand to up to 30 nations, the ECB agreed
last year to introduce a rotation system to prevent the group
becoming too unwieldy.
It would mean the five biggest nations Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain sharing four seats, taking it in turns to sit out for one rotation period in five.
"It is regrettable that such an important decision on reform was taken so quickly, and with limited debate," the committee said of the changes.
"We think the prospect of UK exclusion from 20 percent of ECB interest rate votes could prove to be an obstacle to entry."
However the 70-page report also highlighted
the potential pitfalls of Britain staying out of the euro club.
The government risked closing off a "window of opportunity"
to influence reform of the euro system if it simply ruled out
membership now.
The committee also strongly urged the government to engage an often apathetic public more fully in the euro debate, and to consider providing them with balanced information.
"We should be seeking to maximise the level of participation in a referendum and to maximise the extent to which voters feel they have been given the information necessary to cast their vote, based on their knowledge of the issues involved," it said.
Return
Special
Report
Interfaith summit calls for greater tolerance
By AL SWANSON
CHICAGO (UPI) - More than 75 leaders of major Christian, Muslim and Jewish groups Wednesday called for greater religious tolerance to ensure peace in the post-Iraqi War world.
"In a dark time the eye begins to see," said Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the national Council of Churches. "We cannot afford to live in a decade of violence and war."
The two-day interfaith summit at the O'Hare Marriott Hotel was convened to consider who should administer human rights, humanitarian aid and reconstruction in post-war Iraq and how interfaith understanding can benefit U.S. foreign and domestic policy.
Edgar, a former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, said fundamentalism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction had changed the world, and religious tolerance and understanding of different faiths is vital to maintaining peace.
Edgar, in an interview on WBEZ-FM's "Eight Forty-Eight," condemned hate speech, saying the core of all religious faith and tradition is respect for one another.
"We need to come together as we've done at this summit to think broadly about how we can model some new behavior here in the United States, to stand up and speak clearly - an alternative voice to some of those negative fundamentalist voices - and to also urge our colleagues around the world to model that behavior as well," he said.
"We're not going to be a very happy place if for the next century all we do is go to war with each other and think badly of one another.
"This is an important time in history," he said. "This is the second year of 9-11. It's important for us to realize that 9-11 changed us and we have a responsibility to care for each other."
Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America, said the voice of the nation's conscience was being articulated at the conference, the first held since the U.S. invasion to oust Saddam Hussein from Iraq.
Syeed said America is coming of age and has become more accepting of pluralism.
"We have to congratulate ourselves
that we here in this country we have created a sense of respect
for diversity. We have succeeded in creating a society that can
pride itself as a pluralist democracy."
However, Syeed said it was tragic that somehow America had been
represented by policies and behavior that had been totally unproductive.
"There have been many excesses committed,"
he said. "During the Cold War period, America was associated
as a sponsor of major dictators, oppressors, corrupt regimes.
We want to be pre-emptive in that sense so that our country does
not get involved in situations where there is moral compromise
on the basic fundamentals of this country," he said.
Syeed said America's role in past conflicts had been perfectly
clear. After World War I, the United States helped create the
League of Nations and after World War II the United Nations was
chartered in New York City.
The conference dealt with how America should be viewed in the world and how we should interact with the rest of mankind.
"President Bush said at one time that
these religious leaders are the voice of our nation's conscious,"
Syeed said. "The idea was that this nation represents the
rule of law - we are not colonialists. We don't invade a country
and annex it to our country ... We have the worldview of establishing
institutions to which people can belong, to which nations can
belong."
Some of the religious leaders attending the summit opposed U.S. military intervention in Iraq and many signed a joint statement after Sept. 11, 2001, calling on Americans to respect differences of religion, race and worship.
Summit delegates - including the Rev. John
McCullough, executive director, Church World Service; the Rev.
Tyrone Pitts, general secretary, Progressive National Baptist
Convention; the Rev. Victor Makari, a Middle East specialist of
the Presbyterian Church; Dr. Janis Love of the United Methodist
Church; John Borelli with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops;
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom
Center, and Jean Stokan of Pax Christ - released, at a news conference
their first joint declaration since the war began.
Return
Health
News
Health News
Canada reports two new deaths from SARS, bringing death toll to 23
TORONTO, April 30 (AFP) Two men suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome died in Canada, health authorities said Wednesday, bringing the nationwide SARS-linked death toll to 23.
A 72-year-old man and a 39-year-old man, the youngest SARS victim in Canada to date, died in Ontario province, the region most severely affected SARS area outside Asia.
Health authorities here had warned that five people had been in critical condition at that beginning of the week and that more deaths could be forthcoming.
The men, before their death, were already being treated as probable SARS cases in hospital.
Earlier Wednesday, health officials said that the number of possible SARS cases nationwide remained stable overnight at 346.
Some 255 of the cases had been given hospital clearance or are at home, the health ministry said.
Ontario remains the most affected Canadian province with 143 probable cases one less than Tuesday and 119 suspected cases, up one from Tuesday.
The figures from all other provinces remain unchanged.
British Columbia has four probable and 67 suspect cases; New Brunswick two suspect cases; Saskatchewan one suspect; Alberta six suspects; and Prince Edward Island four suspect cases.
Two-thirds of unwanted pregnancies in France occur despite contraception
PARIS (AFP) Two-thirds of unwanted
pregnancies among French women occur despite the use of contraception,
according to a study published Wednesday in the European journal
Human Reproduction.
The study entailed responses among 1,034 women who had had an
abortion or whose last pregnancy was unwanted, and among 1,829
women chosen at random among 14,704 households.
A fifth of the pregnancies occurred among women who were using so-called natural contraception abstaining from intercourse during fertile periods of their cycle and a similar number occurred among women who took the Pill.
The remainder were women who used an intra-uterine device (IUD) or whose partner used a condom. Only a third of unwanted pregnancies occurred among women who used no contraception at all.
The study, conducted by the France's national medical research institute INSERM, said that although the Pill and IUD have the highest reliability rating for preventing pregnancy, many of the women said they had had forgotten to take their oral contraceptives as prescribed or that the IUD had fallen out or become displaced.
Round Mangos
There are two mango trees in my yard, not exotic like Bombay, Hayden or East Indian, just plain, common, Cayman round and long mangos. This season with the crop beginning to ripen and fall to the ground my thoughts drifted to the past when mangos were our prime fruit nothing imported just locally grown stringy and hairy, in abundance, for eating and cooking and making preserves. Actually I enjoyed eating the fresh ones best; eating them under a tree or at a table was very enjoyable.
However, another way was even better. Regardless of the location, while swimming at Smith's barcadere, Hog Sty Bay, off the shore or at the beach, eating the mangos while in the water was delightful with the juice running down the chin; it was very easy to clean-up after the feast.
With so many mangos during the season, an enterprising 'Old Man' decided that there must be another way to utilize each crop. Eventually, after experimenting with various recipes and mixtures using bottles and small containers (rum bottles and jars) he developed a formula which would produce an intoxicating brew. Now he thought big! Using wooden barrels for fermentation, he mixed batches in open half barrels; after mixing six barrels he waited for each barrel to mature.
Because I was friendly with two sons of the Old Man I knew what was going on, while visiting the 'store room' frequently. I learned that a typical barrel of JUMP STUDY or JOHN STURDY (that seemed to be the name) consisted of the pulp and skins of several hundred selected and washed round mangos, about 40 gallons of rain water and plenty of white sugar. After a vigorous mixing, each batch was strained and poured into the wooden barrels with enlarged bung holes, which were plugged very tightly to produce, and airtight seal.
At the end of three months, the first barrel was opened with little fanfare. Samples were passed around; members of the family all stated that while there was a good mango flavor there was 'no kick', to which the Old Man stated that each of the remaining barrels had various amounts of hops to speed the fermentation and increase the alcoholic content. A month later barrel #2 was sampled in the presence of 'guests' all of who desired some rum to give more 'kick'.
At the end of the fifth month at the uncorking of barrel #4 still more guests were present to sample the brew, this time less rum and more JUMP STUDY was consumed attesting to the improved potency of the grog. Before leaving the last two barrels to mature for one more month, it was noticed that both showed slight foam and bubbles around the bungs. A sure sign that a high internal pressure had built-up. Less than a week after that, there was a small explosion when the barrels exploded scattering JUMP STUDY all over the store room and blowing a hole in the thatch roof.
The Police Force (on their bicycles) investigated immediately, took statements plus warning the Old Man of possible prosecution. Eventually the JP's at the Friday Petty Court threw out the case because the law was vague about the making of mango JUMP STUDY. Later-on, the Old Man became a born again Christian after promising never again to make JUMP STUDY.
Kareem takes Bronze in Martinique
Kareem Streete-Thompson kisses his bronze medal after coming in third in an international track & field meet in Martinique last week.
Not many have the courage or the perseverance to reclaim past greatness. Count Kareem Streete-Thompson among the few! Kareem is back - back in form and back on the world stage. Kareem won bronze at the Conseil General de la Martinique/ IAAF Grand Prix II meeting, in the Stade "Dillon" in Fort de France, Martinique, Saturday 26 April.
Kareem's jump of 7.95 meters equaled that of silver medalist Younes Moudrik (Morocco) and was just 1.6 inches shy of gold medalist Savante Stringfellow (USA).
This is Kareem's first significant international competition since winning bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and recovering from a knee injury. "It felt really good to be back competing with the big boys, and even better to feel like I still belong with the upper echelon of jumpers", effused Streete-Thompson. "I am still not 100% because my approach is still a little shaky. What isn't in question is my jumping ability."
"It was very exciting to be going up against Stringfellow. He has been very consistent over the last 2 years, so I expected him to jump well. The fact that he only jumped 4 centimeters longer encourages me further", noted Kareem. Stringfellow is the reigning World silver medalist and current joint IAAF World Ranking Event leader while Moudrik is ranked #7.
Kareem said it was nice to be back on the medal podium. "It obviously feels great, but that is one of my major goals every time I compete. Not only will it boost my confidence but it will carry me to next weekend's meet."
The upcoming meet in Mexico City on May 3rd will be a further acid test for Kareem. The field will include Stringfellow, Miguel Pate (USA, World #3) and Ivan Pedroso (Cuba, World #10). "The stakes will be high. The altitude in Mexico City is favorable for big jumps, especially remembering Bob Beamon's long-standing world record being set there in the '68 Olympics. It will also be an honor to compete in the old Olympic Stadium. My goal is to jump over 8.20m, which will further re-establish my standing as one of the best jumpers in the world."
Even though Kareem was in Martinique, he still keeps an eye on events involving other Caymanians. "I was thrilled to hear Andrew Mackay qualified for the 2004 Olympics. This is monumental for the swimming program. I think this will show the younger swimmers that anything is possible with hard work." Kareem added, "I am also extremely happy for Coach Dave. He has worked tirelessly to bring the swim program to prominence. I have always felt that once an athlete believes in their coach's philosophy then good things will happen. Coach Dave has achieved that objective. This is just the beginning, and the sky is the limit for the swim program from here on out!"
It may be more than a year away, but Athens
could become a very familiar place for Cayman in 2004.
Beginning in May, you can follow Kareem each week at www.jumpstreete.ky
as he pursues excellence and the podium at World Championships
in Paris (August 2003) and the Athens Olympic Games (August 2004).
Cayman Rugby Union's Academy showing benefits in first year
Members of the Cayman Islands Rugby Academy (back row left to right) National Coach and Technical Director Richard Adams, Arlond Brooks, Matthew Seales, Joseph Westin, Jorry Remizowski, Robert Robinson, Carlton Thomas and Shane Westin. (Front row left to right) Keith Levy, Gabe Powell, Karime Ranking, Kramer Bell, Jorge Remo and Joshua Clark. Missing from photo: Darcy Powell and Stewart McMillan.
Richard Adams, Technical Director of the Cayman Rugby Union is pleased to announce that the long awaited Rugby Academy for players between the ages of fourteen and nineteen has commenced. On April 16th, fifteen players started what the Cayman Rugby Union believes is the future of elite Rugby for the Islands.
"It has been a tremendous struggle to get this program off the ground. Rugby is very new here on the Islands, especially with much of the youth. The game has had, however, a very warm reception in many of the schools and we can now see well over 1,000 children playing the game during school each year," said Mr. Adams.
"The Academy therefore was the logical next step where we can hone the skills of these young players to elite levels of competition," he added.
As in most projects the biggest problems are financial and the hardest hurdles have been finding sponsors willing to finance the development of the scheme.
The Technical Director says that he has been delighted that so many have shown interest in this scheme and especially with Scotia Bank who's generosity has allowed the Rugby Union to start the program.
eanwhile, they are seeking more sponsors for the remaining costs associated with the program.
"Kings Sports Center has also been incredible making their excellent facility available to us at a superb rate, sponsoring each player to use their facility. They have made all of their very professional staff available to us as well as the arena and warm up rooms, and other facilities. Their response to our requirements has been exceptional and extremely professional," Mr. Adams exclaimed.
The Union is trying to ensure that these young athletes receive a rounded experience not only in Elite levels of preparation but in the responsibilities that go along with Elite Athleticism. As such they are insisting that each participant maintain or improve their current level of schooling, as well as participating in community activities such as coaching or refereeing with younger players. They also encourage the players to volunteer for activities at school or in the community in general. They also maintain a very strict drug policy and players are randomly tested.
The sponsorship program is also based with both the sponsor and the players' interests in mind. "What we are trying to achieve is to place each player with a sponsor company. That company can offer, training, career advice, holiday employment, further education opportunities and hopefully employment. It gives the companies a chance to get to know the players and the players a goal to work towards early in life. We ask that each company donate $2,200 a year to the program. This money pays directly for equipment, memberships, coaching, some travel and educational materials," the coach confirmed, adding "It is our hope that as many as twenty-five players each year can be a part of this program if we can find the sponsors."
The program consists of daily training sessions at Kings sports center starting at 6:00am and finishing at 7:00am before school. The sessions are dedicated to physical conditioning. Players then have two evening sessions each week where they learn the technical components of the sport as well as lectures on other elite aspects of preparation such as psychology, nutrition, leadership, ethics and fair play.
Return
Cayman Shines
at CARIFTA Swimming Championships
The tired but jubilant returning C.I. Junior Swim Team show their satisfaction of a job well done at the 2003 CARIFTA Championships.
(l-r) Jennifer Powell, Heather Roffey, Laura Stafford and Kaitlyn Elphinstone celebrate their silver medal performance in the Girls 15-17 Years 4 x 100m Medley Relay.
The 2003 CARIFTA Championships were another watershed event for Cayman Islands Swimming. This annual regional age group championship held 19-21 April at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica featured 12 countries from across the Caribbean.
The 27-member team Cayman
team, led both in and around the pool by co-captains Andrew Mackay
and Lizzy Haines, established more than 100 improved or personal
bests (PB's) times. More than one-half of the squad established
PB's for every event in which they competed. The largest time
drops of 19.20 seconds by Peter Stasiuk and 17.64 seconds by Ashley
Stafford represent improvements of 9.3% and 9.1%. These time drops
are considered extraordinary. Australian Swimming labels a 3%
time improvement per year (not season) as exceptional by swimmers
in their National Junior Team program.
"We are amazed how the Cayman Islands Team has again come
to CARIFTA and demonstrated a superior class of performance that
stretches from the youngest to the most experienced" noted
Head Coach Anil Roberts of Trinidad & Tobago. An Advisor to
the T&T Ministry of Sports, Coach Roberts added, "The
Cayman Islands has shown tremendous courage and conviction by
supporting Coach Dave Kelsheimer's program over these past eight
years."
As the swimmers produced
impressive personal improvements, their Herculean efforts resulted
in rewards. Cayman struck gold 26 times, an all-time high and
the greatest number of all countries. That means Kingston's National
Stadium was filled with the sounds of 'Beloved Isle Cayman' for
more than one-third of the time when anthems were played for top
performances. Cayman swimmers also broke 11 CARIFTA event records,
and Cayman now holds 18 event records for these annual games.
While Shaune Fraser won gold in each of the individual events
(10) he entered, Taejsha Rae Solomon and Meg Fisher-Wells reached
the podium for the first time. Perhaps the most poignant moments
came when Andrew Mackay first missed, then made the qualifying
standard for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
"I can't tell you how impressive it is for Coach Dave to
have produced an Olympic Qualifier at this early a date",
remarked Coach Chris Anderson. Coach Anderson is the Head Coach
for the Pembroke Pines program in the Ft. Lauderdale area of Florida,
and is also the coach for Jamaican swimming sensation Alia Atkinson
who competed at CARIFTA 2003. "Andrew Mackay's qualification
is extraordinary. I just submitted my own long-term plan to our
Board and I'm suggesting it will take us 12 years to maybe do
what Cayman has already accomplished in 8 years. I'm not surprised
the parents and coaches from the other countries want to know
how Coach Dave and the swimmers produce this level of success."
Jason Smith
Who would have expected that a simple weekend toy for the family would create a waverunning champion? For Jason Smith, that toy has led to watersports glory.
The sixteen-year-old Caymanian wowed audiences by winning last year's Jet Around Cayman, and has now just returned from the first of five Waverunner Circuit Races in Stuart, Florida with two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. This was Jason's first international competition, and he competed as the youngest of all participants.
"If I qualify in the next four races in Florida this year," he says, "I'll be able to compete at the World Finals at Lake Havasu, in Arizona. That's my goal."
Not only did Jason make
his parents proud, but he gained special recognition from one
commentator at the race, who announced, "That kid from Cayman
rented that craft but he's riding it like he stole it!"
Jason's friends make up his team of what they jokingly refer to
as 'Madkanics', due to their relentless efforts to help Jason
maintain the speed he requires. "I'd like to thank them all,
from the Z-unit," he says.
Return
Sports
Summary
Sport Summary
Monica Seles of the United States
Ten years on, Seles still has stabbing flashbacks
BERLIN (AFP) American tennis star Monica Seles admitted on Wednesday that the nightmares of the stabbing she suffered here ten years ago are still haunting her.
"I still have flashbacks. I could never forget what happened," said Seles who was just 19 when she was attacked by Gunther Parche, a fanatical fan of her then-rival Steffi Graf.
Parche leapt onto the court while Seles was playing against Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva in the Hamburg tournament here and stabbed the teenager in the back.
"I would have liked not to have been attacked but I always appreciate being a tennis player and I hope that continues to be the case for some time," Seles told reporters in Miami.
"The security measures were not sufficient. Anything could happen on the courts, during and after matches."
Australia minting coin to mark Rugby World Cup
SYDNEY (AFP) Australia's mint will produce a commemorative silver and gold coin to mark the nation's hosting of this year's Rugby World Cup, officials said Wednesday.
The first of the 77-dollar (48 US) coins will be issued May 23 and feature the William Webb Ellis Cup, international rugby's top prize.
The Royal Australian Mint said the coin would be pure silver with gold plating to enhance the image of the trophy. It plans to produce 20,000 of the pieces for worldwide distribution.
The 20-nation Rugby World Cup tournament opens in Sydney on October 10 and runs to November 23.
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