Highlights from the Print Newspaper edition - Issue No. 509
Updated as of | Tuesday, 14 October 2003 | 4:00PM
Up Front
News
Editorial
Local Commentary
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
US Immigration korner
News From Our Region
Community Calendar
Sports
Sports Calendar Event
Cayman residents might want to avoid George Town during the day on Tuesday, 16 December, as the Port Authority has scheduled
8 Ships: 20,000 in One Day
A one-day record-breaking 20,240 cruise ship passengers will descend on George Town on Tuesday, 16 December, raising the real possibility of over-crowded shops and traffic congestion.
It is believed the eight cruise ships bringing the tourists in is the largest number ever to visit the Islands at any one time, although the Port Authority was unable to confirm this.
In a previous interview with a local newspaper, Mrs Lania Rittenhouse, Cayman's Director for Tourism said that there should be a balance not only in the amount of cruise ship visitors in relation to stay-over visitors, but also in the numbers of cruise passengers allowed into the country on any given day. Mrs Rittenhouse said at the time that the number of cruise visitors should be limited to 9,200 per day, and that arrivals should be evenly spaced so that there aren't 14,000 visitors arriving one day, and none the next.
Mrs Rittenhouse was not available to comment on the situation that will arise on 16 December as she was off the Island on official business.
The Port Authority, with whom the responsibility of booking cruise ships rests, could offer no comment either, but according to sources on the Island, this will be the largest amount of cruise ships to harbour at one time and a record number of passengers will be offloaded. Asked who would authorise the decision on what cruise ships came to port and when, a Port Authority represenative said, "The Hon McKeeva Bush makes that decision."
Chief Inspector Courtney Myles, Royal Cayman Island Police (RCIP) said his forces will be ready. "We are made aware of how many cruise ships will be coming into port and how many passengers will be onboard. We increase both foot and mobile patrols in relation to how many passengers will be coming ashore."
With respect to the busy day on 16 December, Inspector Myles said, "We will have at least two dozen police on patrol in downtown George Town."
One of the biggest problems with 20,000 visitors coming through the port and into the George Town area between 8 and 9 am is the traffic congestion that it may cause.
hief Inspector Myles said that on a previous occasion a 'road-blocking' system had been put into place to direct traffic away from Harbour Drive and this is something that might be reinstated on 16 December.
A shop owner, who wished to remain anonymous, predicted it would be a typical December business day, "Most shop and restaurant owners in the downtown area are aware in advance of the cruise ships and number of passengers expected calling at the port. We obtain our information from the Port Authority website so we can plan ahead as too how many employees will be working those specific days.
"Sometimes business is better when there are fewer cruise ships in port as people don't seem to like to come into congested shops and browse and on such occasions tend to disappear to the beach and other attractions on the Island."
The ships visiting that day will include the Zaandam, Grandeur of the Seas, Coral Princess, Inspiration, Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Conquest and the Norwegian Majesty.
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Safeguard
and Shield Security Add Strength
(l-r) Desmond Prout, Safeguard Security Operational Supervisor, with new Operations Manager, Frank Brennan.
Safeguard Security Services
and Shield Security Services, Cayman's safety specialists, recently
strengthened its team by welcoming Mr Frank Brennan onboard.
Joining both companies as Operations Manager, Mr Brennan brings
with him 17 years experience in law enforcement and community
relations. He will be handling the day-to-day operations for both
companies as well as becoming the primary point of contact with
all clients.
Prior to joining the Safeguard/Shield team, Mr Brennan was a sergeant in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service where he headed up the Community Relations Department.
His achievements include implementing and coordinating the DARE Drug Prevention Programme in primary schools in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. He also established the Bicycle Unit Project, which under his leadership increased the amount of police officers patrolling the streets on bicycles.
"I'm excited for this new challenge. I'm looking forward to applying my knowledge and experiences gained while part of the Police service to my new position," Mr. Brennan said.
Adrien Briggs, owner of Safeguard and Shield Security Services added, "Ultimately we're in a service industry. Frank's expertise, professionalism and background in customer service will be a huge benefit to us. We're thrilled to have him onboard, and his addition to the staff will only enhance the service that we're able to provide to our customers and employees."
Safeguard Security Services Ltd. has been in operation for just under ten years. They offer security guard services, mobile patrols and private investigation, among other services.
Their sister company, Shield Security Services Ltd., is operated by Safeguard and has been operating in Cayman for over twenty years. They offer armoured truck service.
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Friends
of the Deaf is There With a Helping Hand
Friends of the Deaf is an association formed by hearing people, who's aim is to help deaf people in the community by befriending them, as well as acting as a voice to represent their needs.
The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month in the Red Bay Church of God church hall.
Although hearing people started the association, there are also three deaf people on the committee who help to ensure that the deaf people are properly represented.
The group was set up after the principal of the School of Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Jamaica visited the Cayman Islands, after which a sign language course was offered.
Participants of the course, wondering how to use their newly acquired skills, decided to meet regularly in order to try to help deaf people.
Since being granted a charter to run as an association in May this year, Friends of the Deaf has been meeting with various groups in order to raise the profile of the needs of deaf people in the community.
The Minister of Health, the Hon Gilbert McLean, and the Minister of Education, Human Resources and Culture, the Hon Roy Bodden, both attended one of its meetings earlier in the year.
Ms Judy McTaggart, one of the founding members of Friends of the Deaf, said the introduction of text messaging for cellular telephones by Cable & Wireless was a big step forward for deaf people, as it gave them a new way of communicating.
She highlighted some of the problems that have been encountered by deaf people in the Cayman Islands. "Deaf people need an interpreter (sign language user) in hospitals to describe their illness properly to the doctor," she said.
Ms McTaggart also described a situation where a deaf person had to appear in court, but there was no interpreter there to help represent them.
She said that one of the most pressing priorities for the association was therefore to have a social worker, trained in sign language, and who could represent deaf people in some of these situations.
Pastor honoured by Seventh-Day Adventists
Pastor Jeffery Thompson,
president of the Cayman Islands Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists,
accepting an award from Mrs Annie Price from the Board of Directors
of Asi-Cayman, at the Marriot Hotel
Pastor Jeffery K Thompson, president of the Cayman Islands Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists, was honoured by the Adventist Laymen's Services and Industries (ASI-Cayman) for 13 years of service, during a banquet held recently in honour of him and his family at the Marriot Hotel.
The Hon Roy Bodden, Minister of Education, Culture, and Human Resources, headed the list of officials in attendance and spoke highly of Pastor Thomson, as well as the impact of the Adventist Church in the Community.
Mr Leon B Wellington, Vice President of the Inter-American division of Seventh-Day Adventists, presented the address, commending Pastor Thompson for his "gentle yet firm leadership."
Mr Wellington also commended
Pastor Thompson for his help in the growth of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in the Cayman Islands during the past 13 years.
Pastor Thompson was born on the island of New Providence in the
Bahamas. He began his career as a photojournalist at the Tribune
newspaper company, before studying to be a minister in 1976.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology in 1980, Pastor Thompson served the Seventh-Day Adventist church in the Bahamas as a pastor and evangelist, before being elected to the presidency of the Cayman Islands Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists in 1990.
Pastor Thompson is presently chairman of the Cayman Islands Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists Executive Committee, and the Cayman Academy.
Pastor Thompson's motto is, "Do the best that you can, while you can, for as many people as you can."
Minister acknowledges
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a global mental health education project organised by The World Federation for Mental Health and commemorated in more than 100 countries each year.
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2003, which was on Friday 10 October, was Emotional and Behavioural Disorders of Children and Adolescents.
The selection of this theme reflects the need to increase the awareness of the public concerning the devastating effects of mental and emotional disorders in children and adolescents.
It focuses worldwide attention and concern on the identification, treatment, and prevention of emotional and behavioural disorders in children and adolescents.
One of the goals of this year's World Mental Health Day campaign was to encourage advocacy efforts that would promote enlightened public policy, increase availability of treatment services, and develop and implement effective preventative strategies in order to reduce the suffering of children and their families.
According to The World Health Organisation, up to 20 percent of children and adolescents worldwide suffer from an impairing mental illness, but only one in five receive the help they need.
The Hon Gilbert A McLean, Minister of Health said: "The programmes and activities planned by the Mental Health Department of the Health Services Authority to commemorate World Mental Health Day in the Cayman Islands will help the citizens of our community better understand the needs of children and adolescents who experience emotional and behavioural problems, encourage parents to seek assistance from health care professionals to help their children, and encourage government to plan and fund services necessary to effectively treat and prevent emotional health problems in young people."
He added: "We have made major advances in the treatment of the mentally ill in our Islands and my goal is to not only ensure that their needs are met through improved services and treatment, but to also seek to remove the shame and stigma usually associated with this debilitating disease.
"With our plans this year to update and modernise the Mental Health Law and the opening of the purpose-built Mental Health Centre at The Cayman Islands Hospital on 17 October, we will have made great strides towards achieving that goal."
Mr McLean concluded: "I congratulate all of the staff of the Mental Health Centre on their plans to make World Mental Health Day an important event in our community because, as they have said, it helps all of our fellow citizens learn more about mental health issues and encourages everyone to support improved services and policies on behalf of children and families."
More information about Mental Health Services can be obtained by contacting Ms Ann Morris at the Mental Health Centre Outpatient Office, 244-2650.
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HE
Receives new telephone directory
His Excellency the Governor, Mr Bruce Dinwiddy CMG, accepts the first phone directory from Cable and Wireless Chief Executive Mr Tim Adam. On the left is C&W's Head of Sales Mr Alee Fa'amoe, on the right are Caribbean Publishing's CEO Mr David Reed and Office Manager Ms Ementina Evans.
The report covers British territories' legislative, administrative and other measures as at 31 March 2002 aimed at giving effect to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
In outlining its assessment of Cayman human rights status, the report observed that if the territory's current position of racial harmony were to change, "the Government of the Cayman Islands would, of course, be extremely concerned and it would react accordingly. But there is no evidence to suggest that this would be likely."
The CERD report underlined that "the Government of the Cayman Islands is aware of the need to be alert to the possibility that individual, isolated cases of racial discrimination could occur from time to time, especially in the private sector, and also to the possibility that administrative policies and practices might have consequences which, although only indirectly and inadvertently, had a racially discriminatory effect."
The report follows on the heels of Cayman's formation of a national human rights steering committee to oversee local compliance with various human rights conventions, including CERD. This committee is headed jointly by the Minister of Education, the Hon Roy Bodden and the Minister of Community Services Dr the Hon Frank McField.
With that and other local initiatives, the report indicated that the Cayman Islands was considering the best way of ensuring that racial harmony was sustained. This included efforts to incorporate a "justifiable" Bill of Rights in the proposed new Constitution for the Cayman Islands.
The report said this would include a provision "prohibiting any law that is discriminatory (either of itself or in its effect) and also any discriminatory action by public officer or public authority or by anybody exercising a statutory function."
The report referred to the process of ascertaining views of the community in this regard by the three-man panel of Constitutional Commissioners who presented their report last year.
The report noted that the question of incorporating a Bill of Rights into the constitution of Overseas Territories had been advanced by a number of meetings of the Conference of the Attorneys-General of the Overseas Territories, which had commissioned a study on the possible need to update the existing fundamental rights' provision in the constitutions of some Overseas Territories and how best to further this cause among territories that do not have these currently in place.
That study has been completed and its report has been circulated to all the Overseas Territories for detailed consideration, the report said.
The UK CERD report further noted that as far as any potential racial discrimination in the private sectors of territories, the discussion was ongoing as to whether the constitution should be enlarged to embrace this issue or whether it should be dealt with by separate legislation. If the route of legislation was followed, consideration would be given to what form that legislation should take.
Cayman's large expatriate workforce, representing some 79 countries, in addition to the huge numbers of tourist arrivals and the wide racial mix in the settled population, was noted.
In that context, the report highlighted the relevant objectives of Vision 2008 which sought to foster "a caring community based on mutual respect of all residents of the Cayman Islands." That initiative, it was noted, was moving into implementation phase.
The hitherto lack of a formal conduit of publicising reports is to be remedied by the conversion of the Human Rights Today website into one for this specific purpose. The web site is currently being revamped and converted for this purpose by the Government Information Services.
It was further proposed that the Government website would be linked to the Human Rights Today web site and that reports would be distributed to all public schools and college libraries.
A citizenship education course which incorporates human rights issues has been introduced in the public schools, beginning September 2003.
The Government Information Services has also agreed to issue regular releases to inform the public about the availability of, and means of access to, copies of the various treaties and of the reporting information relevant to each of them.
A copy of this report to CERD is available at the Government web site, at www.gov.ky.
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Closed
season reminder over conch and whelk
The Department of Environment has reminded people that the season for conch and whelk is still closed for the remainder of October.
No-one may take, buy, receive or possess either item if taken from Cayman waters.
Artist's 'can-do' message
encourages others to develop their creative talent
Irish artist Tony Crosbie explains the thinking behind his work. "These are people who cannot talk, they have to say everything with their eyes," he says.
Tony admires the work that was done in the Fairbanks women's prison, part of the 'From Within' exhibition.
Tony Crosbie is a self-taught Irish artist, who has been teaching a number of art workshops in the Cayman Islands, encouraging young people to develop the creative spark within them.
Tony visited Cuba for three months, which
has resulted in the exhibition Viva Cuba, recently shown at the
National Gallery, alongside another exhibition called From Within,
work that has been done by young people attending Tony's art classes.
Tony draws on his own experiences in life and uses them as a source
to inspire others.
"My dream as a young child was to be an artist, but I never got a chance to fulfill it," he said.
"I left school saying, 'I want to be an artist,' but when I went home, it was 'get out and get a job,'" he added.
"I got married at the age of 17, but by the age of 23 my marriage was over and I was somersaulted into a life of insanity involving alcohol abuse."
At the age of 37, Tony decided he would
make some changes in his life. "I stopped using alcohol or
drugs to hide, and picked up the brush. Things took off from there."
Tony's message for young people who come to his art workshops
is that they should not limit their creativity, as he did for
all those years, by thinking that they can't do something.
"I get young boys and girls coming in to see me working in the studio, and saying, 'I can't draw, I can't paint,' and they go out of there drawing and painting," he said. "We throw the word 'can't' out of the window."
Tony explained the value of art as a kind of 'safety-valve' for the human psyche. "I came from a background of not dealing with things through running off, so the freedom that I now have through my work allows me to release all of those demons," he said.
Freedom of expression and the absence of limitation in the creative act, sum up the feeling behind Tony's work and the work that participants of Art Magnet, one of the workshops for young people that Tony had been teaching at.
All the young people work in a very uninhibited way, and in just a few minutes from the workshop beginning, the papers attached to the workshop walls are covered with colourful and imaginative images.
Tony talks about the importance of creating what he calls 'a safe place,' at the workshops, so the young people there will have total freedom to talk about anything they wish, without fear.
"It's all about freedom, all about understanding, all about giving them a platform to speak about anything they want to speak about," Tony said.
He also expressed the desire that the workshops would continue once he had left the island.
Diving in at the deep
end for marriage literally!
Romantics will be diving in on 15 November the day for lovers to exchange their marriage vows or to renew them during Cayman Aqua Vows.
This is the world's largest underwater wedding ceremony and will take place in the Cayman Islands.
The event provides couples with the opportunity to tie the knot or replenish their love for each other in a unique and naturally beautiful setting.
The world famous Seven Mile Beach will host a late afternoon underwater ceremony, with an official land ceremony and sunset beach reception immediately following.
Couples may marry, or renew their vows underwater in scuba gear or in a submarine, and their guests may witness the event either from a semi-sub, above the water, in a boat or by snorkeling and looking down on the event.
Revised sponsorship number
for the Purple Ribbon Bus
People wishing to sponsor the Cayman Islands Road safety Advisory Council's Purple Ribbon bus on New Year's Eve should do so by contacting Mr Graham Walker, telephone 949-9070 rather than telephoning Aileen Samuel, as was previously given as the contact telephone number in the Cayman Net News article entitled, Purple Ribbon Bus Service Continues.
Taking a Break to be Festive
The venue of the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo last weekend has reminded us of an issue we have raised in the past, but which needs to be revisited: the pressing need for a proper convention centre/event venue in the Cayman Islands.
Many years ago, the purpose-built conference facility, at what was then called Transnational House and is now known as Grand Pavilion, was, at the time, a solution in search of a problem. Now the problem exists, but we no longer have the solution.
With the Business Expo and the Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event combined Thursday night at the Lions Centre, an estimated 2,000 people crammed into the small facility, as this year's attendance swelled because of the IT players' presentations. Not only was it difficult to walk through the aisles because of the crowd, the temperature must have been 100 degrees and higher in places inside.
Making matters worse was the parking situation, with cars lining the roads and roundabouts and filling every nearby business parking lot. With cars on the side of the road, and sometimes even in the road, Expo goers had to resort to walking in the street amidst traffic.
The scene played out much the same way the next day, and traffic along the main road was once again seriously disrupted, as it is with almost any event held at the Lions Centre.
We have heard that the Lions Club are still trying to pay off their Centre after all these years and that they don't charge enough for its usage. But they cannot really charge more for a facility that is not even air-conditioned. Clearly this is one of those "chicken and egg" situations that should be addressed in the absence of any alternative location.
The construction of the
Lions Centre in the first place was an imaginative, bold and commendable
move on the part of the service club, but the facility is now
outdated.
Surely, government could step in by one means or another and provide
the funding to upgrade the facility. At least this would represent
a stopgap measure, if nothing else, until more advanced facilities
became available.
Long-term, however, the Cayman Islands need a spacious, modern, multi-use convention centre with multi-media capabilities and adequate parking. Though the Ritz-Carlton will add a 9,300 square foot ballroom to the Island's inventory of venues, the facility will not only be insufficient for events, but also for the type of big conventions we should be trying to attract.
A proper convention centre would be a logical step in furthering high-quality tourism here.
It would allow us to compete with other destinations in the region and worldwide. Business and professional attendees at conventions constitute a target market not only for the financial industry, but also for stay-over tourism, as well as representing potentially year-round business that would help alleviate the seasonal visitor cycle.
Considering the amount of
work that went in to setting up and organising the Expo, it is
truly a shame that many people decided to leave very quickly because
of the heat.
With telecommunications companies out in full force at the Expo,
demonstrating the dramatic technology advancements this country
can expect to see almost immediately, it was indeed ironic that
venue in which the state-of-the-art was unveiled, was decidedly
out-dated and inappropriate for the country we have become.
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Local
Commentary
The problem of drug abuse among today's youth
By Stephanie Bush
The teen-agers of today's generation have
been so cat-ered to, that they do not even know what real res-ponsibility
is. Their ambition and initiative is something greatly to be
desired.
In school, they have settled for a life of mediocrity, and have
formed bad habits that are going to follow them throughout the
rest of their lives. Sadly, most of them don't even realise it
until they've dug themselves into a hole so deep they do not even
know which way is up.
As a young person, I know what it is like to want to get out of high school and be out from under the rules of parents. There is this overwhelming desire for independence and the "need" to take care of yourself.
However, the real world is nothing like it is perceived to be. Those problems that were so big in high school and the "unfair" ways of life your parents placed upon you is nothing like what you are faced with out there. But you are so ready to get out there and you are so sure that you know it all, that you dive in head first and fall flat on your face.
Young people are so used to the mediocre ways they have developed for themselves that just as in high school their biggest goal is to get by. In school it was studying just enough to pass the test, now it's finding a job that starts out on the bottom that pays just enough to finance the parties on the weekend. They never plan for the future, but just live for the moment.
They have no desire to better themselves and get ahead in life. Instead of trying to better themselves and become productive members of society, they are having babies and not taking care of them, getting into drugs, violence, and costing our already financially challenged government more money to enlarge our prison.
Bad manners follow closely behind the laziness of today's generation. Respect and plain common courtesy are practically non-existent with kids today. Elders are treated like equals, and it is not even really looked on as disrespect anymore. The parents, teachers and other "role models" in these kids' lives are somewhat to blame for this because they have condoned it for so long.
However, it no longer just reflects on the parents, but when young people are working in the tourist industry and are disrespectful to the customers, it starts to reflect on our island as a whole.
People don't want to shop somewhere where they are going to get flak from a kid with no character, and as a result businesses start to suffer. Having manners works both ways. You can be remembered for the professional and decent way you handled your job and move up in life, or you can be remembered as the kid with the lousy attitude who will probably end up without a job.
The future is in our hands young people, and we've got to decide exactly how we want our kids, and their kids to grow up. Are you setting an example worth following or are you merely "existing?" The choice is yours. Life is a precious gift-don't waste it.
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
Bahamians may get shares in Cayman water
company
NASSAU, Bahamas The Nassau
Guardian reports that Bahamians may get the chance to invest in
Cayman-based water utility Consolidated Water Company, which has
acquired a majority holding in Nassau-based Waterfields Company.
Silver medal for the Cayman Islands chefs
KINGSTON, Jamaica According
to the Barbados Daily Nation, a national silver award went to
the Cayman Islands during the Taste Of The Caribbean Culinary
Competition, which concluded in Jamaica recently.
Now there's competition for Cayman in
Malaysia
HONG KONG, China Tax-News
reports that Labuan, an island off the coast of East Malaysia
is trying to attract more offshore companies, in competition with
places such as the Cayman Islands.
Cayman to share ten percent of 2007 World
Cup matches
HAMILTON, Bermuda According
to the Royal Gazette, 90 percent of the games in World Cup 2007
will be held in the Caribbean, leaving 10 percent to be divided
up between Canada, the Cayman Islands and the United States.
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US
Immigration Korner
US Immigration Korner
Felicia Persaud
This is a column created
especially for immigrants concerned or unsure of issues pertaining
to the US Immigration Law. The column will answer some of our
readers frequently asked questions and provide answers from qualified
immigration attorneys and advocates lobbying for the US immigration
cause.
Q: I am illegal in the US and I don't have anyone to sponsor me. I don't even have a work permit, but I would like to know if there is a way I could get one legally?
A: The US immigration law has specific clauses that allow for an undocumented immigrant to adjust their status from 'illegal' to 'legal' resident in the United States.
There are no short-cuts. According to the US Citizenship & Immigration Services, you may be eligible to apply for adjustment to permanent resident status if you are already in the United States and if you are the spouse, parent, unmarried child under age 21, the unmarried son or daughter over age 21, the married son or daughter, or the brother or sister of a United States citizen and have a visa petition approved on your behalf.
Additionally, you will qualify if you are the spouse or unmarried son or daughter of any age of a lawful permanent resident and you have a family-based visa petition approved on your behalf; you are an 'alien' who has an approved visa petition filed on your behalf by a United States employer; you were a fiancé who was admitted to the United States on a K-1 visa and then married the US citizen who applied for the K-1 visa for you; you are an asylee or refugee who has been in the United States for at least a year after being given asylum or refugee status; you received notice from the Department of State that you won a visa in the Diversity Visa Lottery; you are a Cuban citizen or native who has been in the US for at least a year after being inspected, admitted, or paroled into the United States; you have been a continuous resident of the United States since before 1 January, 1972; your parent became a lawful permanent resident after you were born or your spouse became a lawful permanent resident after you were married.
Once your Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) has been filed, you will then be eligible to apply for a work permit, but not before.
You will be eligible to adjust your status under Section 245 I of the immigration law if you meet any of the aforementioned requirements.
However, you will have to pay a $1,000 penalty fee in order to adjust in the US and not have to leave the country or face the five to ten-year bar.
About the writer: Felicia Persaud is a New York-based journalist
and head of Hard Beat Communications. If you or someone you know
has an immigration question, then email Felicia directly at hardbeatinc@aol.com.
Individuals can keep their anonymity if preferred, since questions
will not be answered personally!
Vincentian PM speaks out on banana crisis
Dr Ralph Gonsalves
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, says a national effort is
required for the salvation of the banana industry locally and
regionally.
Speaking at the sitting of the House of Assembly recently, the
Prime Minister said although his administration had done many
things to assist local farmers, some good farmers had been feeling
the pinch of the ailing industry.
He told fellow house members
that he used the plight of the farmers as a cue to implement certain
corrective measures. Dr Gonsalves, who in the Caribbean quasi-
government with responsibility for bananas, announced that the
agricultural input warehouse would be reduced for the rest of
the year.
He also disclosed that government would pay the warehouse, on behalf of the Banana Growers Association, almost $EC 0.5 million to subsidise the price at which fertilizers were sold to farmers.
Dr Gonsalves also noted that under the Agricultural Diversification Project, a large sum would be spent on the preparation of farmers to meet the Euro General Agricultural Practice (GAP) standard.
The Prime Minister said while it was important that these measures be put in place, he felt it necessary to put "an ease" on the farmers.
"We have to deal with
the issue of rural poverty," he stated.
The banana situation took a down turn when Britain entered the
Single Market in Europe in January 1993.
In July of that year, a series of changes regulating the entering of bananas into the market were made, and according to Dr Gonsalves, those changes progressively have made the market situation worse for Windward Islands farmers.
He told those attending the sitting that export production levels had fallen from 76,095 tonnes in 1992 to 34,543 tonnes in 2002 and quickly added that due to the passage of tropical storm Lili last year and the prolonged drought experienced this year, the estimated production level for 2003 would be just below 30,000.
Dr Gonsalves said the ability for farmers to thrive and survive under such trying conditions was a measure of their resilience and hard work.
Caribbean countries must integrate, says US ambassador
Caricom countries must integrate their markets if they are to survive in a liberalised trading environment.
That was the word from US Ambassador, Dr Roy Austin when he addressed the Caribbean Latin American Action Forum entitled Financial Integration One Regional Capital Market.
The Trinidad Guardian quoted Ambassador Austin as saying the integration of the region's markets must be a joint effort of the public and private sectors.
"Small economies are disadvantaged when they compete in the globalised market. Limited production capacity and restricted access to capital make it difficult to compete against much larger countries or economic blocks," the paper quoted Mr Austin as saying.
"To survive in the global market place, integration is vital. Therefore, for small markets, progress means accepting the necessity for integration. Then these markets must develop a strategy to promote integration."
Speaking just after the forum's luncheon, Mr Austin noted while Caribbean states had been working together to remove market limitations, they could do more to increase access to open markets.
He acknowledged the process of integrating capital markets was not easy, it reaped monetary and social rewards as well.
"Capital market integration fosters mutual prosperity," added the US ambassador. "Growth which results from efficient and liberalised economies, increases the pool of wealth and gives everybody a chance to prosper."
Those who participated at the CLAA forum, held at the Hilton Trinidad, included Central Bank Governor, Mr Ewart Williams, Republic Bank Chairman, Mr Ronald Harford, First Citizen's Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mr Larry Howai and RBTT Financial Holdings Ltd, Director, Mr Philip Marshall
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Grenada
opposition party says California recall is relevant locally
Grenada's opposition People's Labour Movement says the recall of the governor of California has some relevance to the politics of the island.
CMC recently quoted PLM leader, Dr Francis Alexis, as saying, that the recall of Governor Gray Davis was based on the huge public debt "involving gross mismanagement."
He said Grenada's public debt now stood at EC$1.8 billion and was "relatively comparable" compared with the debt accumulated by the out going California governor.
Dr Alexis called on the ruling New National Party to desist from wasting money on refurbishing a number of buildings including the St George's Market.
He said the government "has shown persistent incompetence regarding national structures" and warned that, "Grenada cannot afford such millions of dollars wastage by NNP not knowing what it is doing on the St George Market."
Grenada is gearing up for a general election that, although constitutionally due next year, could be held by December this year, CMC quoted political observers as saying.
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Cable
& Wireless names new boss for three Caribbean islands
Cable and Wireless has named Mr Ian Blanchard, as the new chief executive officer for Cable and Wireless with responsibility for Dominica, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
In his new post, Mr Blanchard, the former
general manager of C&W Dominica Limited, will oversee Cable
and Wireless operations in the three Caribbean Islands.
Two years ago, Mr Blanchard became the first Dominican to hold
the post as general manager of the Dominica branch.
Before becoming manager, the 37-year-old worked as an engineer with the Dominica office and later held top managerial positions in Cable and Wireless offices in Yemen and Barbados.
Mr Blanchard is the son of former long-serving Police Chief Desmond Blanchard.
Legislators
in French St Martin propose holding referendum
French St Martin wants to be a distinctly
separate territory from Dutch
St Maarten.
Legislators in St Martin have sent a proposal to the French Minister of Overseas Departments, Ms Brigitte Girardin, asking that a referendum be held on 7 December to determine the issue, AP quoted officials as saying.
The proposal will also be forwarded to French
President Jacques Chirac for review.
St Martin currently is administered as a sub-prefect of the nearby
French Caribbean overseas department of Guadeloupe, but officials
have been pressing for separate status under French rule to increase
control of their affairs.
The Dutch territory of St Maarten, which splits an island with St Martin, is also pressing for greater autonomy.
St Maarten is currently lumped together in the Netherlands Antilles with the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba and St Eustatius.
In 2000, nearly 70 percent voted in a non-binding referendum to make St Maarten a separate self-governing Dutch territory like Aruba, which broke from the federation in 1986.
But during a visit in February, Dutch Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Minister, Mr Johan Remkes said the proposal was out of the question, saying, "the door is closed."
About 14 percent voted for independence while the remainder were split between staying with the Netherlands Antilles or giving St Maarten more local control.
Antigua
parliament to set new date for publication of voters' register
PM Lester Bird
Antigua & Barbuda's new voters register will be published by 15 November, once parliamentary approval is given at its sitting later this month.
Prime Minister Mr Lester Bird, in a recent
government communiqué, said he would move an amendment
to the Representation of the People Act today (Tuesday), to extend
the time for the preparation and publication of a revised register
of electors.
After the publication of the new list the Electoral Commission
is required to publish another by 31 March, 2004.
Antigua and Barbuda's political parties are gearing up for a general election that, although constitutionally due next year, is widely expected to be held before the end of this year, according to CMC reports.
The Bird amendment comes after the Electoral Commission failed to publish the list by the 30 September deadline.
Officials said the failure was due to the injunction granted by the courts preventing the completion of Claims and Objections in the St John's Rural East Constituency. The commission is also hearing appeals against a number of rulings made by registration officers.
Air
Jamaica adds four more planes to fleet
Jamaica's national airline, Air Jamaica is adding four new fuel-efficient aircraft to its fleet of 20.
The Jamaica Gleaner recently quoted Mr Christopher Zacca, the airline's deputy chairman and chief executive officer, as saying the new carriers would save the company about J$1 billion annually in fuel costs.
Mr Zacca, who was speaking at the dedication ceremony of two of the four new A321s in the towns of Spanish Town and Mandeville, said the airline woukd also be embarking on an aggressive marketing campaign in the next 14 to 15 months as part of efforts to recover revenue lost in the wake of the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
He implored policymakers to "ensure that all the players in tourism get it right; the infrastructure, the marketing, the product, the image."
Mr Stewart said the next aircraft would be dedicated to Bob Marley, the late reggae icon.
Haitians
repatriated each month from the Dominican Republic
Haitian migrants seeking a better life in the Dominican Republic, are being repatriated in the droves each month.
The Associated Press reported recently that as many as four thousand illegal Haitian migrants were repatriated each month. But many migrants had often sneaked back over the border days after they had been repatriated, officials told AP.
The two countries share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Between 600,000 and 1 million Haitians live in the Dominican Republic, most illegally.
Haiti, with 8 million residents, is the
poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
In recent weeks, protests have dominated the island as opposition
grows to the President Jean Bertrand Aristide's government.
Belize-Guatemala
working towards ending border problems, says OAS
Belize and Guatemala may finally be agreeing to end their border dispute, the Organization of American States says.
Representatives of the two countries recently met at OAS headquarters "to review the implementation of the confidence-building measures contained in an agreement signed by the parties on 7 February, 2003."
Guatemala and Belize have been embroiled in border disputes.
The OAS statement added, that the measure aimed to strengthen peace and security between the two neighbours.
Community Calendar
Saturday, 18 October
A Native Landscaping Book Fair and
Plant Sale at Hobbies and Books, Books by the Bay, Grand Harbour,
from 10 am until 2 pm. Includes genuine Caymanian native plants
for sale as well as free a native plant seed exchange. Sign up
to receive free native plant posters by e-mail. For more information
contact Cayman Wildlife Connection at info@caymanwildlife.ky or
phone 917-8395.
Saturday, 18 October
An Anniversary Dinner at First Baptist
School Hall, in celebration of the World Christian Fellowship's
fourth anniversary. Dinner begins at 7 pm. Tickets cost $25.
24 and 25 October
A seminar for 'The Seven Laws of
the Learner' will be held Friday, 24 October at John A Cumber
School Hall, from 7 to 9:30 pm and Saturday 25 October from 9
am to 3:30 pm.
Through October
The updated Events Calendar is available
from Government Information Services (GIS). The Calendar may be
downloaded from the Local Issues section of government website:
www.gov.ky, or contact GIS by telephone, 949-8092, or email, gis@gov.ky
to obtain a copy.
Every Thursday
The Women's Health Centre is holding
a breastfeeding clinic every Thursday from 12:30 to 2 pm. The
Clinic will be held at the Women's Health Centre, in the Cayman
Islands Hospital. The service is free and no appointments necessary.
Every Friday
The Kids 4 Christ youth programme
has recommenced at the Church of God Chapel Family Life Centre
on Walkers Road. Kids 4 Christ is for children 4 -12 years old.
It meets every Friday and runs from 6:30 - 8 pm and is free of
charge. The children learn Bible lessons, create crafts and play
games. For more information, please call 949-9393.
Lifeline Confidential Counselling Service
Any adult who needs to discuss problems
can call 949-6969. The help line is open from Monday to Friday,
7-10 pm, and is organised by
the NCVO.
Cayman women to play international football
Lined up in medal
podium order are the top three finishers (left-right) Brendan
Touhey, who finished third, Steve Evans, who finished first and
Glen Holden, who finished second.
The Cayman Islands Cycling Association has undertaken to conduct
a series of time trials and training rides through the end of
November.
Alfred Ebanks and Craig Merren are supervising the action. Varying distances from 10K to 40K time trials are included, alternating weekly with training rides of 100-plus miles.
Two 10K time trials have been completed.
At the first outing, Steve Evans nipped
Glen Holding by a single second, as Steve was timed at 13:42.
Brendan Touhey was third in 14:05. A total of 13 people participated.
In the replay on the second weekend, the first week's three fastest
finishers were among the missing for various reasons.
All six cyclists who were present the first
week and competed in the repeat were able
to improve on their initial results.
Dave Walker turned in a time of 13:26 to
lead
the group.
Swim competition success for newly enrolled ICCI student
Newly-enrolled student at the International College of the Cayman Islands, Christian Monsen, recently completed the Neutrogena two-mile Sea Swim, along with 87 other competitors of all ages.
Christian took the foot-long blue and silver trophy for the 20-24 age group, and, as the lone entry in that category, came in first and last! He may be the only one in his category in other pursuits, also. With a variety of interests, this young man plans to further his studies of environmental science, economics, education, ethics, religion and photography.
Swimming isn't Christian's only water sport. He also freedives 140 feet, with a single breath, and is working on an underwater photography project.
Another one of Christian's endeavors ties in with his college's renovation plans. In training for the upcoming triathlon and full marathon, Christian is looking for sponsors for these, and his other, athletic competitions. Anyone wishing to sponsor Christian and, in doing so contribute to the future of ICCI, may call Linda Appelqvist, Director of Public Relations, 947-1100, Extension 206. Born another hemisphere away, in Japan, Christian is certainly making his mark here in the Cayman Islands.
Le Tour de George Town cycling race raises money for Lions
Le Tour de George Town top finishers and other award winners along with Lions president Mr Alden McLauglin (third from right).
After a hiatus of several years, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman held their annual Bike-a-thon, this year dubbed Le 2003 Tour de George Town on Sunday morning, 6 October.
Some 28 riders made up of Lions, family members, friends and cycling enthusiasts set off at approximately 6:45 am from the Lions Centre, riding a circuitous 8.1-mile course.
One group of eight riders enjoyed the ride so much, they did it again for a 16.2 ride. Heading up this eager group doing the double lap was Cabinet Secretary Mr. Orrett "OC" Connor , an avid cycling enthusiast, along with Lions Anthony Ritch and Ian Callow.
First home in the single lap group was Lion President Mr Alden McLaughlin, closely followed by 12-year-old Josh Ebanks. Lion President McLaughlin, in a show of sportsmanship, disqualified himself for any award and then presented Certificates of Appreciation to the leaders.
The top riders to cross the finish line
in the single lap race were Josh Ebanks in first place, Lion Rayal
Roberts in second place and Matthew Owen in third place.
In the double lap contest, Dennis Brooks finished first, followed
by Orrett Connor and Risa Gordon.
The award for the youngest rider went to 8-year-old Nicholas Burk, while Stanley Scott earned the distinction of being the oldest rider.
The award of being the last to finish went to Amaris Coe, daughter of Lion Life Member Barclay Coe, who rode along with her son Nicholas.
Lion Jeff Parker Special Event Co-Coordinator thanked each of the cyclists for their continued support and advised that, next year, a more determined attempt would be made to secure the attendance of cycling great Lance Armstrong, since part of the reason the event was named Le Tour de George Town was in effort to entice the five-time Tour de France winner to participate. Mr Parker also said that next year's event would have a longer route.
Cyclist Orrett Connor indicated that their group would be increased in size and he has already marked his 2004 Calendar for this event.
Following the short presentation ceremony, cyclists and Lions were treated to a light breakfast of fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee.
Funds raised from this event have been earmarked for Lions' Youth Programmes including Leos, Youth Violence and Big Brother Big Sister.
Rugby Union hires first development officer
Mr. Matthew Seales (right) is congratulated by Mr Peter Cockhill of the law firm Boxalls, his sponsoring company, for recently being named the Cayman Rugby Football Union's first development officer.
The Cayman Rugby Football Union (CRFU) is delighted to announce the recruitment of its first rugby development officer on a part-time employment basis.
Using part of the funds that have been granted to it from the Ministry of Sports for the further development of the game, Matthew Seales has been hired by the CRFU to deliver programs to children within the schools at grades 5, 6 & 7.
Matthew has burst on to the rugby scene in Cayman during the last year, winning a coveted place with the U18 Rugby Academy, as well as being selected to travel with the Senior Men's National squad for the big match in Bermuda on 18 October.
Boxalls law firm sponsors Matthew's participation at the Academy, with some of the funds used to assist him with travel costs for the Bermuda match. Boxalls is the latest in a number of sponsors who have stepped forward to assist players attending the Academy and investing in the youth of the Island.
Matthew has completed level 1 coaching courses from both the Cayman Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board and is now looking forward to completing his refereeing level 1 this month.
'I am delighted with Matthews progress," said Academy director Mr Richard Adams, "He is a product of the John Gray High School rugby programme, which has proven very popular. He is one of many fine athletes who have tried rugby from that school. He has worked hard in the Academy, and should be a good example to his peers. Matthew has undertaken the coaching course and equipped himself well. I understand that he has also coached and participated well in other sports, and so is not a stranger to the concepts of sport development."
Mr Adams noted Matthew's dedication to the sport. "The fact that he has been able to accomplish all of this in such a short period speaks volumes for the amount of work he has put into the sport, and of his great athletic ability. He is meeting the ideals of the rugby program, those being community leadership, fair play, and ethical behaviour," he said.
With regard to the Academy's goal of expanding rugby in the Cayman Islands, Mr Adams says he is pleased with the progress. "I am particularly delighted that Boxalls have come forward, not only to sponsor Matthew, but also set up a working relationship," he said, "Of course the main aim is to ensure that the people of Cayman become involved in the development and promotion of the sport of rugby so that it has a firm hold and can grow from within. This is definitely a step in the right direction."
Bank of Butterfield Triathlon warm-up races under way
Marketing Officer Rhonda Serrano (right) of Bank of Butterfield presents Anne Scaife of the Cayman Islands Triathlon Association with the Bank's sponsorship cheque for CI $8,000.
The 10th Annual Bank of Butterfield Triathlon will take place at the Public Beach on Sunday, 23 November, starting at 6:30 am.
Two more build-up races will take place at the entrance to Safehaven on Sunday 26 October and Sunday, 9 November. Both races start at 7 am with registration from 6:15 am. Teams or individuals are welcome.
For more information, please contact Anne Scaife at 914-7530 or log on to the Cayman Islands Triathlon Association's web site at www.caymantri.com.ky
Budweiser Dart Business League
Name of Teams Points
Peter Wight Holdings (3M)
2
Costal Realty 2
Woods Furniture & Design 2
Corner Pocket 2 1
Corner Pocket 1 1
Keisha's & Co. 1
Mario's Plumbing 1
Creative Tech 0
Moon Bay 0
ITAL 0
Tuesday, 14 October
The Cayman Brac Primary School is
holding a series of football matches for the students. Years 3
and 4 will be separated into two teams and will be playing against
each other. Also Years 5 and 6 have been separated into two teams
and will be playing at the same time. All matches begin at 3:30
pm.
Thursday, 16 October
Phoenix Athletic Club will be holding
its Annual General Meeting at King's Sports Centre at 7:30 pm
sharp. Call 9453970 for more information.
Saturday, 18 October
Cayman Islands Athletic Association
will be holding the Flowers Cooperate Relay at JGHS, Walkers Road.
Saturday, 18 October
Kiwanis Club 23rd Annual 'Bike-a-Thon',
20-mile bicycle ride from the East End Blow Holes to Smith Cove.
Bicycles to be dropped off at the trailer situated at the downtown
drivers' licensing building on Friday, 17 October, 4-6 pm, prior
to being transported to Blow Holes at 6 am on Saturday. For further
information, telephone Roger, 949-7666 or Arie, 946 5656.
Sunday, 19 October
The Phoenix Athletic Club presents
United Nations Day two-mile run/walk at 5 pm. National costumes
or symbols are encouraged. Call 945-3970 for more information.
Monday, 20 October
Hash House Harriers run, Cayman
National Bank, Elgin Ave at 5:30 pm.
Saturday, 25 October
Beacon Realty International 5K Sea
Swim. Race starts at Holiday Inn at 8 am. Participants must pre-register
on Monday, 20 October at Lion Pool or Holiday Inn on 24 October,
between 7 pm and 8:30 pm. For more information, email relaxo@candw.ky
or mcfark@candw.ky.
Monday, 27 October
Hash House Harriers run at Silver
Thatch Dr., off Legacy Dr., Tropical Gardens at 5:30 pm
Every Monday
The Cayman Islands Duplicate Bridge
Club meets every Monday night at 7:15 pm. Visitors are welcome.
For more information, call Audrey at 949-2371.
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