Breaking News
Val "Withdraws" fromCNN ... Donna leaves CITN
Val Lichtenstein (left),Donna Bush (right)
Rick Catlin ...leaves Caymanian Compass
Donna Bush ...leaves CITN
Anita Law ...leaves GIS
Val Lichtenstein... withdrawsfrom CNN
Val Lichtenstein, the former host of RadioCayman's popular talk show, 'Talk Today', and Acting Senior NewsEditor, who announced at the end of September that he would bejoining Cayman Net News on November1, has withdrawn his employmentapplication with this news organization, citing changes to a "handshakedeal".
Val, who was slated to be the paper's Associate News Editor, wasgranted a two-year Work Permit to be employed by Cayman Net Limited.
Following a government-imposed ban on Radio Cayman's airing ofa news story regarding a Swiss advisory against Cayman's bankingsector on September 19, Val, in a press statement declared his"intense disagreement with senior Government officials overtheir actions and statements" regarding the matter. "Itseemed like the right time to pick up the phone, call DesmondSeales (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Cayman Net News) andask him if he had anything for me. When he said yes, and mademe a generous offer, I wrote and tendered my resignation -- effectivethe 31st of October," he said.
"I'm very excited by the prospect of writing news and commentaryfor an audience that used to listen to me talk," he saidof his plan to join the newspaper at the time. "Cayman'smedia is being reinvented before our very eyes and Mr. Seales'vision which took the Cayman Islands to the rest of the world,while giving just about everyone living here a voice, is withoutquestion," he continued.
Commenting on Val's "withdrawal", Mr. Seales noted thatsince the publication's inception some nine months ago, it hasassiduously sought to present a view of "All Things Caymanians"to local readers through its print edition and a world-wide audiencethrough its web site and the boundless opportunities availablethrough the Internet.
"The quality of the publication and our commitment to thismission have been attracting a number of professionals from hereand elsewhere," Mr. Seales said. "We have to be carefulthat while we are still growing, the persons we engage to helpus build a formidable team should fully understand the publication'smission and our adherence to good order, ahead of their own personalagenda. Many will call, but a select few will be chosen,"he added.
Cayman Net News' second weekly edition will debut on Tuesday,7th November, with a special election souvenir pull-out. The newspaperwill now appear twice weekly, with separate editions on Tuesdayand Thursday night.
Elsewherein Cayman's media...
Cayman Net News understands that CITN's-- the local television station's Channel 27 news anchor, DonnaBush, is moving to Cable & Wireless as Corporate CommunicationsManager, effective November 13. She ends a tenure of over fiveyears at the station.
Confirming the appointment, C & W's head of Customer Service,Phillip Hislop noted that Ms. Bush's appointment is part of thecompany's effort to "boost up our whole corporate communicationsdepartment."
CITN's station manager, Mike Martin, also confirmed that Ms. Bushdeparture, but said that an announcement would be made after theelections.
Meanwhile 'Talk Today's host position, which was vacated by ValLichtenstein, has been filled by Joel Francis, effective 1st November.He has been employed to the station for four years.
Rick Catlin, a senior writer with the Caymanian Compass, has leftthe island with his family, ending his12-year employment withthe newspaper.
Anita Law, an Information Officer with Government InformationService for the past three years, has resigned effective the endof November. She covered Internal and External Affairs, Ministryof Tourism, Commerce, Transportation and Works and all governmentdepartments falling under these portfolios.