Highlights
from the Print Newspaper edition - Issue
No. 513
Updated as of | Monday,
20 October 2003 |
4:00PM
Up Front
News
Editorial
Local Commentary
Letter to the Editor
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
US Immigration
News From Our Region
Community Calendar
Sports Calendar Events
After meeting for two days behind closed doors in Ottawa, Canada, little was accomplished except for a resolution to keep trying to reach an agreement
OECD On Course To Fail?
A meeting in Ottawa, Canada last week that brought together the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members and offshore financial centres failed to resolve the main issues of contention between the two sides, according to press reports.
Mr Daniel J Mitchell
Though the session's 20 represented OECD member states and 20 represented countries with offshore financial centres did not come to any agreement on a way forward, the vast majority committed to continuing the process to eliminate tax havens that provide shelter for tax evasion and other criminal or terrorist activities.
The Cayman Islands was one the countries represented at the two-day, closed-door meeting. Once again it was the "level playing field" issue, something the Cayman Islands has brought up repeatedly with OECD, that proved the major sticking point. The offshore financial centres are seeking policies that traditional European tax havens must abide by as well.
Complicating the matter is fact that the European Union (EU) exempted Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg from having to adopt the OECD's policies at least until 2010, five years after others would have to accept standards on the exchange of banking information.
Switzerland, a member of the OECD but not
the EU, is also refusing to cooperate with some of the policies
the OECD wants offshore financial centres to adopt.
A spokesperson for the Cayman Islands said of the impasse, "The
OECD has praised our cooperation but is sadly unable to deliver
its own key members."
During the session, two Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, informed the panel that they were suspending their commitments under the OECD's initiative.
The meeting's mixed results were open to a wide range of interpretation. The US-based Centre for Freedom and Prosperity (CF&P) saw the lack of agreement at the session as a huge victory. "The OECD's tax harmonisation effort has hit a brick wall, and this is good news for the global economy," said CF&P president Andy Quinlan, "If high-tax nations are worried that jobs and capital are fleeing to low-tax jurisdictions, they should fix their bad tax laws rather than trying to create a global tax cartel."
Daniel Mitchell of the Heritage Foundation
saw the meetings as a serious blow to the OECD. "The collapse
of the OECD proposal is good news for free market tax policy."
However, Ken Warn, a writer for the Financial Times said that
the initiative was "pulled back from the brink of collapse"
and reported that one OECD representative said: "Disaster
has been averted. The bottom line is that the momentum towards
higher standards of transparency and the exchange of information
is continuing."
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Director
of House Joins Trade Show Session
Cayman Islands Director of Tourism, Lania Rittenhouse
Director of Tourism, Mrs Lania Rittenhouse, represented the Cayman Islands at the Tenth Annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show as a member of a panel, whose discussion topic was entitled Converting Cruise Passengers To Land-Based Vacationers. The event took place recently in St Maarten.
The Eleventh Annual Conference will be held in the Cayman Islands, 8-11 October, 2004.
The panel discussion examined what was being done, and what could be done to increase the return rate of cruise passengers as land based vacationers, and it allowed the Director to showcase the Cayman Islands Welcome Back! programme which is currently being tested. The panel session took place last Wednesday.
Mrs Rittenhouse's background in the cruise industry, and her current role as Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands, provides her with a great depth of information on the subject and allows her to speak with insight and knowledge on 'who' the cruise ship guest is, and how best to attract them back.
Other speakers included Mr Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Ms Pamela Richards, Commissioner of Tourism, USVI Department of Tourism; Mr Rick Murell, President, Tropical Shipping; the Hon G A Dwyer Astaphan, Minister of Tourism, Commerce & Consumer Affairs, St Kitts & Nevis Ministry of Tourism.
Other members of the Cayman Islands delegation, in attendance at the conference were the Hon McKeeva Bush, Minister of Tourism, Mr Charles Clifford, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Ms Gloria McField-Nixon, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Elected Members Mr Cline Glidden and Mr Lyndon Martin, Mr Paul Hurlston, Cayman Islands Port Authority, Ms Paula Roy, Ministry of Tourism, Mr Shomari Scott and Ms Rhonda Cornwall, Department of Tourism and representatives of the private sector.
"I was honored to have been selected to participate on the panel as this is a significant issue being faced throughout the Caribbean," commented Mrs Rittenhouse.
"This was also a good opportunity to share the Cayman Islands belief that every cruise guest is viewed as a potential land based guest, and early results from our newly-launched Welcome Back! cruise conversion programme are encouraging," she concluded.
For many cruise executives, Caribbean destinations, suppliers and tour operators, the annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show is the premiere industry event of the year. The Conference provides a unique setting in which industry trends and current issues can be discussed in an open forum, and as such it attracts over 800 industry partners and nearly 100 cruise executives.
Civil Aviation Driector Refutes Newspaper Report
Civil Aviation Director Mr Richard Smith reads a statement refuting a report in another publication.
Editor's Note: On Friday, 17 October, the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Mr Richard Smith called an "urgent press briefing" to read a statement concerning a report that appeared in another publication the day before. Since members of the press were not allowed to ask any questions after the statement was read (because of the pending legal action, according to a CAA representative) Cayman Net News can only reprint the statement as it was presented.
"My attention has been drawn to a news item appearing on page 2 of the issue of the Caymanian Compass of the 16th October 2003 under the heading "Island Air, Gov't work on landing fees."
"This news item was
published without reference to the Civil Aviation Authority or
to me as the Director of Civil Aviation. If the usual courtesy
procedure had been followed the inaccuracies that the said news
article contained would have been avoided.
"It is correct that Mr Mervyn Cumber requested a meeting
with me in my capacity as Director of Civil Aviation on a 'without
prejudice' basis and that he gave me a 'without prejudice proposal'
in relation to the Civil Aviation Authority's claim against Island
Air to recover unpaid landing and parking fees.
"This 'without prejudice' meeting was not a meeting with Island Air and the Cayman Islands Government as the Caymanian Compass article incorrectly states.
"The Civil Aviation Authority is an autonomous statutory Authority and any 'without prejudice' proposals made to it are not proposals made to the Government of the Cayman Islands. This suggestion that it was to the Government that such proposals were made is totally incorrect.
"It is also incorrect for Mr Mervyn Cumber to suggest that I as the Director of Civil Aviation agreed to carry to the Ministry the proposals contained in the 'without prejudice' letter. I made no such agreement. I indicated to him that I was going to meet with my Attorneys in the near future and that I would respond back to him in regard to his proposals.
"Although Mr Cumber may have told the Caymanian Compass that his Company was exempt from paying landing and parking fees as a result of a verbal agreement between him and Mr Tom Jefferson, I would like to state that Mr Jefferson has denied in a detailed Affidavit filed in the Grand Court that any such agreement was ever made by him with Mr Cumber.
"Furthermore, the Civil Aviation Authority maintains that Mr Jefferson in his capacity as a Minister of the Government to which Mr Cumber turned for assistance, after the Civil Aviation Authority refused to waive the outstanding landing fees, had no authority to make any binding agreement for the waiver of landing fees on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority. The Director of the Civil Aviation is the only official authorized to do so. It is our understanding that Government was prepared to give some assistance to Island Air and an offer was made but this was refused by Island Air.
"It is incorrect to say that at a recent hearing before the Honourable Chief Justice that he ruled that Island Air must pay landing fees of $1.134 million. The Honourable Chief Justice did rule that the Civil Aviation Authority's action against Island Air should not be struck out and dismissed and gave directions for the proceedings to be progressed expeditiously.
"It is therefore correct to say that legal proceedings against Island Air are to continue but those proceedings are incorrectly described by the Caymanian Compass news item as proceedings by the Government against Island Air. They are proceedings by the Civil Aviation Authority against Island Air, for the payment of landing and parking fees owed to the Civil Aviation Authority by Island Air.
We can confirm that we understand that on the first of October, 2003 Island Air did apply to the Air Transport Licensing Authority (which is a completely separate statutory body from the Civil Aviation Authority) to raise their airfares but that, that request was denied and subsequently an undertaking was given by Island Air to the Court and to the Air Transport Licensing Authority that no increase to airfares would be put into effect without first obtaining prior approval from the Air Transport Licensing Authority to do so and to reimburse all customers (and agents thereof) who had paid fare increases since 1 October, 2003 with an amount equal to the difference in value between the published fares of 30 September, 2003 and the 1 October, 2003."
Fine Dine-In service website launched
(Left to right) David Fielding, Luciano Canzanella, Ken Moore, and Erik Stafford
Residents and visitors can now enjoy the convenience of ordering dinner online thanks to Cyberbiz, a local technology company, and FINE DINE-IN, Cayman's premier restaurant delivery service.
As of 1 October, the new website (www.finedinein.com) enables customers in both Cayman and Bermuda to place their orders for dinner directly online for the first time, without having to even pick up the phone.
Erik Stafford, creative director at Cyberbiz, headed up the project. "We are very excited about this website," Erik explained. "It was enormously challenging as there are some currently roughly 60 restaurants located in the two countries, with a total of more than a thousand items.
We also wanted to architect the project for scalability, so that in the future, if Fine Dine In decides to expand, the website system will expand with them."
To check out Cyberbiz' latest efforts, log on to www.cyberbiz.ky today, or call them at 946-3249 for more information.
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Scholarships
reaches record number
(l-r) Scholarship recipients Mr Nicholas Frazier, Ms Amy Bothwell with Mrs Lania Rittenhouse, Director of Tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism has awarded nine scholarships, a record number, to Caymanian students pursuing tertiary education.
Initiated in 1996 this scholarship was designed to encourage, and to assist, young Caymanians who have chosen to make tourism their career of choice. It is available to students who demonstrate financial need and who wish to pursue a Bachelor's or an Associate Degree in an approved tourism, or tourism-related discipline.
Since it started, and including this year's recipients, the total number of students who have received Ministry of Tourism scholarships now stands at 26.
The Hon McKeeva Bush, Minister of Tourism said: "There are so many reasons that young people today should choose to make tourism their career of choice. I congratulate all the 2003 scholarship recipients for doing so and I challenge each of them to excel as Caymanian ambassadors. While they are away at school studying they have the perfect opportunity to talk about the Cayman Islands and to promote our sun, sand and serenity to everyone they meet."
The 2003 Ministry of Tourism scholarship recipients are: Ms Tawnie Tomlinson has been accepted to Iowa State University where she will pursue a BA Marketing; Ms Amy Bothwell is attending the University of North Carolina where she is completing a BSc Business Administration; Mr Nicholas Frazier will attend Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island, studying for a BA Hospitality Management; Mr Richard Tresidder, will study Hospitality Management at the Southampton Institute in the UK; Ms Yvete Cacho will pursue a BSc Hospitality Management at Florida International University (FIU); Mr Cecil Roberts, completing his BSc Tourism & Marketing, will transfer to FIU next semester; Ms Crystal Chisholm, BSc Hospitality Management, FIU; Ms Donna Ebanks-Miller will pursue an Associates Degree in Hotel & Tourism Management at the International College of the Cayman Islands; and Ms Dianne Conolly will study Marketing and Tourism at the University of Surrey in the UK.
"The calibre of applications for this year's scholarship was very impressive," commented Mrs Lania Rittenhouse, Director of Tourism. "We are delighted to have been able to assist so many students. We wish them all the best in their studies, and hope that upon their return they consider the Department of Tourism as a potential career track."
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Mary-Lou is applauded
by CIMA
Re-elected: Mrs Mary-Lou Gallegos
The Offshore Group of Insurance Supervisors (OGIS) has re-elected Mrs Mary-Lou Gallegos as Secretary on its Executive Committee.
Mrs Gallegos, who is Head of Insurance Supervision for the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), said: "I have served as Secretary to the OGIS since 1997 and I appreciate the confidence expressed by the group in the re-election."
"Fulfilling this role has afforded many opportunities to interact with and learn from, as well as provide assistance to, insurance regulators around the world."
"Working with the OGIS and other insurance regulators involved, provides a good understanding of the international issues in insurance regulation and is certainly advantageous in working through these issues."
Mrs Cindy Scotland, Managing Director of the CIMA, applauded Mrs Gallegos on her accomplishment.
"We at the Authority are extremely proud of Mary-Lou being re-elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the OGIS, and we are confident she will once again excel in this capacity," she said.
"This role not only presents growth opportunities for Mary-Lou but also contributes to the continued high recognition of the authority and the Cayman Islands in the offshore insurance regulatory community, and gives us the opportunity to have a voice in the development of international standards."
The OGIS, which was founded in 1993, is a grouping of insurance regulators representing domiciles engaged in the supervision of international insurance business. The main objective of the OGIS is to promote the proper supervision of offshore insurance business through providing mechanisms and forums whereby its members may discuss areas of mutual interest and concern and formulate appropriate policies.
In addition to the Cayman Islands, current members of the OGIS include the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Labuan, Macau, Mauritius, Samoa and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Donovan is winner in FCCA essay contest
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| Contestant Shenika Williams | Contestant, Shelly Levi |
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| Contestant, Karen Edwards |
Contestant,
Nikita Stewart |
The Festival Queen competition will open the Pirates Week festivities on Friday, 24 October at 7:30 pm.
The competition, which will be held in central George Town, by the south terminal, will judge each contestant on their appearance according to a Caymanian theme.
The prize of $1,500, sponsored by the Quincentennial Celebrations Office, will be awarded to the winning contestant together with a sash and crown. The four contestants fighting for the title will be Shenika Williams, Shelly Levi, Karen Edwards and Nikita Stewart.
The George Town Primary School Quadrill dancers and Dance Unlimited teen dance group will also be performing in the show. Keen revelers are invited to the pre-festivities party on Thursday, 23 October, while fitness enthusiasts will be participating in the five-kilometre run on Friday afternoon.
The Pirates Week fireworks display will follow the Festival Queen Competition.
Where Are the Cayman Arnolds?
The Cayman Islands are no less a nation of immigrants than the United States but, as we have pointed out on several previous occasions, the attitudes of the two countries when it comes to immigration and the position of immigrants in society are diametrically opposed.
The United States has long recognised that immigration is crucial to its economic growth and, by and large, welcomes newcomers with open arms. It can be argued that the diversity of the population in America, through the gleaning of the best ideas and characteristics of many cultures, is part of what has made the nation the force it is today.
Immigrants are also a fundamental component of the economic success of the Cayman Islands over the years, but we have always treated them as a necessary evil, to be permitted to stay only for a specific period of time or, if allowed to remain, kept hanging on year to year as to future permission.
Any form of 'belongership' (Status) in the Cayman Islands was conferred begrudgingly, and we say again that the recent willingness of the present Government to address this issue is to be applauded. It is the manner in which this has been undertaken that leaves a great deal to be desired.
In the United States, any citizen, whether by birth or grant, is able to run for any public office, except that of president, and even that may be changed if current proposals to amend the US Constitution are approved by the necessary majorities. Negative publicity raised in relation to non-native political candidates in the US is seldom if ever seen.
Arnold Schwartzenegger is just the latest of over 1,000 foreign-born people who have held political office in the United States over the years. Included in that number is two former secretaries of state, the German-born Henry Kissinger and the Czechoslovakian-born Madeleine Albright. Schwartzenegger is not even the only non-US-born governor in the 50 states, with Canadian-born Jennifer Granholm, considered one of the rising stars in the US Democratic Party, currently holding that post in Michigan.
In the Cayman Islands, on the other hand, it was not that many years ago that a well-known local businessman who registered as a candidate in a general election was forced to withdraw as a result of threats made against him, based upon the suggestion that he was not a "true Caymanian", whatever that is.
It is to be hoped that this shameful attitude has diminished and, especially with a significant number of new voters at the next election who themselves are not "true Caymanians", the fact of foreign origin will become less of an issue amongst the electorate.
In addition, with the new Immigration Law proposing that all "Caymanians" whether by grant of Status or otherwise are equal under the law, perhaps more people who are not "true Caymanians" will offer themselves as candidates in the coming elections.
If non-Cayman-born persons were allowed to run for elections, then the general voting public would have to decide whether a person's place of birth, or their abilities to lead, their loyalties to a cause, and their love of their home are more important criteria for those they elect to office.
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Local
Commentary
Time for young people to do some giving back to the less fortunate
By Stephanie Bush
We all know that sports are a prominent thing here on our islands. Newspapers and magazines dedicate at least two pages to the subject, there are many channels on TV about it, and there is not a day that goes by that you don't hear something about one sport or another.
The majority of young people are involved in the various sports. What many people do not know is that while some sponsors give their full support to these individuals, there is great reluctance to support schools going abroad on mission trips. I'm not talking about Mission Impossible here, but trips that benefit both the student going and the people who are impacted by them.
Students who take part in these trips go to other parts of the world to help those who are less fortunate than themselves, and at the same time spread the Gospel. Now that is not something you hear every day, is it? "Spreading the Gospel." People may tend to think, "who wants to waste time spreading the Gospel," and better yet, what does "spreading the Gospel" even mean?
\I am currently a student at Wesleyan Christian Academy, and we take one mission trip a year, and I can say from personal experience that going on a mission trip is more fulfilling than any sport I've ever played or any amount of money that I have ever made. Everyone has heard the saying, "It is better to give than to receive," (that is a Biblical saying by the way), and giving, truly is much more satisfying than anything you could ever get.
People get paid millions of dollars for throwing a ball through a hoop, while parts of the world are living in poverty, filth, and disease, and the missions that are trying to help these people are making tremendous sacrifices. They give up their comfortable lives and their ways of living to reach out and help someone else, and they are happier than most sports players.
Young people need to be more encouraged to do things that are actually worthwhile with their lives things that will make a difference in the world in our island. There is nothing wrong with making a career out of a sport, but it shouldn't consume your entire life, and it shouldn't stop you from giving something back to the world. What exactly are you giving the world by playing a sport?
I've said it once and I'll say it again; The young people of today are tomorrow's future, and the adults in their lives need to be the ones to make the difference and give the encouragement needed to make them the young people they have the potential to be.
Thank you to everyone who helped me at a difficult time
Dear Sir,
It is with great humility that I write this letter of gratitude to someof our Island Doctors and caretakers, who many times go unappreciated.
First thanks for the support and prayers from many friends at CITA for your updates and caring.
I want to thank, first of all, Dr Shirley Cridland, for coming to check on me, and her invaluable assistance in getting me the necessary attention. Dr Steven Pickering for coming to my aid in a time of crisis and his valuable input along with the assistance of Dr Cumings, Dr Smith and Dr Bhaget, performing a proceedure that saved my life in the wee hours of the morning one long night in March at George Town Hospital.
Thanks to all the nursing staff who participated
in my care. I cannot be remiss in thanking those in Miami at the
Miami Heart Institute, namely Dr Kevin Coy
and his group of cardiologists and caring staff.
I also must thank Margie and Gil Bodden for being there for that last slide into the life saving needle of the air ambulance, both times.
It is very encouraging to have you there with a send off that is warm and caring, especially, around 5 am, and all the work making the arrangements, along with the very nice lady, Hazel Brown at the hospital.
Thank you to Cayman General Insurance staff for your assistance and support on my behalf.
Thanks to Desmond (Seales) and Cayman Net News for the kind mention regarding my situation. Thanks to the air ambulance and ground ambulance crews.
I am indebted to my wonderful family. We have so many good caring people here in Cayman. It sometimes gets lost in negative comments and complaining seems to be popular.
Good wishes to the new Hospital Director,
Michael Elliott and his wife, Billie.
The new reorganization and improvements are necessary, the recent
attention to cardiac problems with a resident cardiologist has
been needed for some time.
The number of people who have spoken to me about having heart problems, has been enormous. It would seem that we need a group like the cancer society, which does a great deal for cancer patients.
Suzy Soto
Consider
the dangers which come with more cruise ships
Dear Sir,
I have been a homeowner on Boggy Sand Road
since 1988 and a frequent visitor to the Island since 1970. To
keep up with what is going on while I am off island, I read
Cayman Net News daily.
I read with interest your editorial regarding the potential conflict of interest between the Florida Cruise industry and government. Your point is well taken that government seems to have chosen to pursue increased cruise ship landings to stay over tourism.
However, one aspect of this choice has not been noted by your editorial pages or news reports, and that is that part of the deal with the Florida Cruise industry loan is the planned cruise tender dock and government building in West Bay.
Unknown to most Caymanians and apparently the news media on the Island is the fact that the existing small wooden dock now at the site was opposed by the Department of the Environment (DoE) when it was proposed several years ago.
The DoE was concerned that the construction
would negatively impact on the coral and fish life in the area.
Now government contemplates expanding the area of impact tenfold,
with hundreds of cruise tenders driving through the marine park
every day.
I hope that Cayman Net News and all other media will take a critical
look at this potential environmental disaster before it is too
late.
Once this facility is built and the cruise ship tender traffic disrupts the reef life and fish life in the marine park it will be too late. This reef has taken centuries to grow and it will only take a few years to be destroyed.
Then the only tourists on the island will be from cruise ships because the reef and fish life that have been the biggest draw for tourism will be gone.
I just hope that someone in the media will take on this cause and save Seven Mile Beach and the Marine Park. Short-term thinking will cause permanent long-term harm.
To date no plans have been finalised, nor has an environmental report been published. (Your editorial points out the difficulty in securing such information from government). Please attempt to get government to publish these reports before a final decision is made. The people of the Cayman Islands deserve no less.
James T Hynes
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
News about Cayman in the Foreign Press
Cayman bid for British warship formally
rejected
PLYMOUTH, England The Torquay
Herald Express reports that the British Government last week approved
plans to sink the old warship HMS Scylla as Britain's first artificial
diving reef off Plymouth, in competition with a similar proposal
from the Cayman Islands.
Aggie Wranglers ad lib in Cayman
COLLEGE STATION, USA According
to the Battalion, the Texas A & M Wranglers dance team ran
into an old fan when a Caribbean cruise they took stopped in the
Cayman Islands. They visited the Lone Star Bar & Grill, where
they'd heard the owner was an Aggie, who was thrilled to see fellow
Aggies and asked them to perform.
Irish tax authorities find "crooked"
accounts in Cayman
DUBLIN, Ireland The Associated
Press reports that judicial-led probes have exposed several schemes
for funnelling funds offshore, including one in the Cayman Islands
run by the deceased accountant of a former Prime Minister, Charles
Haughey. In March, Haughey agreed to pay the Revenue Commissioners
five million euros (US$5.85 million) in overdue tax and penalties
following a six-year legal struggle.
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News
From Our Region
One-third of Belize population living in poverty
Thirty-three percent of Belizeans are living in poverty, says The Living Standards Measurement Survey on Belize for 2002 that updates the 1995/1996 Country Poverty Assessment Report.
CMC quoted a statement as saying that the 2002 poverty estimates indicated that 10.8 percent of the population of Belize was either very poor or indigent, while 33.5 percent was classified as poor.
The poverty rates reportedly varied by district and were highest in Toledo, Belize, at 79 percent and lowest in Belize District, at 24.8 percent. The rates of poverty in the Orange Walk and Stann Creek Districts were very similar and only slightly above the national rate. Cayo and Corozal Districts joined Belize District as the areas with the lowest levels of poverty, according to the report.
"The 1995 and 2002 surveys used different methodologies to estimate the poverty line, which does not allow for direct comparison; however, when the 1995 methodology was applied to the 2002 data, the results indicated a decrease in poverty from 33 percent in 1995 to 25.7 per cent in 2002," CMC quoted the statement as saying.
But it added that despite the overall decrease, the Toledo District still showed an increase in poverty.
"Several policy issues and recommendations emerged from the general findings of the 2002 poverty study, which will be key in future policy decision-making and in the design of an updated National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan for 2004 to 2009," the statement added.
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T&T
House approves Manning budget
PM Patrick Manning
The 2004 budget plan, presented recently by Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Patrick Manning, has been approved by the House of Representatives.
Associated Press reports indicate that the budget was approved after four-days of debate. Opposition party members however, declined to vote but since Mr Manning's ruling party, the People's National Movement controls the house with a 20-16 majority, the plan was passed unanimously by the governing party representatives.
The budget moves to the 31-member Senate, which is scheduled to begin its debate on Tuesday, 21 October. The measure is also expected to pass there because the governing party holds the majority of the Senatorial appointments.
PM Manning's budget totals Trinidadian $22 billion (US$3.7 billion), a 10 percent increase over last year. Of that amount, about TT$2 billion (US$330 million) will be spent on jobs and assistance programs aimed at reducing poverty.
Judge rejects video conferencing for Jamaican teenage sniper suspect
Jamaican-born teenaged sniper suspect, Lee Boyd Malvo, may not be able to have witnesses from Jamaica, including his mother, testify on his behalf.
A judge has refused to allow defense witnesses to testify from far-flung locations via video conferencing.
Prosecutors said that setting up and maintaining a video link would be too expensive and make it too difficult to cross-examine the witnesses.
A defence expert testified that video conferencing would cost about $11,000.
Circuit Judge Jane Marum Roush said she did not think the video conferencing would save money, as the defence contended.
Defence attorneys said they planned to call 20 to 30 witnesses from Washington, Louisiana, Jamaica and Antigua, including as many as seven from the Caribbean who are not allowed to enter the United States.
Among those barred from the country is Malvo's mother, Ms Una James, who left last year on an immigration violation and agreed never to return, AP reported.
Malvo is scheduled to go on trial on 10 November in Chesapeake in the fatal shooting of an FBI analyst.
Malvo, 18, was born and raised in Jamaica and met sniper suspect, John Allen Muhammad, while living in Antigua. The two are accused of conducting a shooting spree in the Washington area that killed 10 people over a three-week period last year.
Muhammad, 42, is on trial separately in Virginia Beach in the slaying of a man at a filling station.
Trinidad
opposition accused of racial strife
Trinidad & Tobago's Planning Minister, Mr Keith Rowley has accused the opposition United National Congress (UNC) of invoking racial strife in the country.
The Trinidad Guardian quoted Mr Rowley as making the accusation in his budget contribution in the Lower House, where he also accused the UNC of misusing international funding while in office.
Mr Rowley accused the UNC of invoking "all kinds of racial barbs and race" and said the UNC would be happy to create mayhem and racial discord in T&T.
"So they actively try to engage in creating racial ferment. They'd like the East Indian population to respond to their exhortations based on racial lines," said the Minister. "(But) I'm so happy the East Indian community has chosen, by and large, to ignore the UNC and not risen up and burned down T&T, because that is what they (UNC) want."
The Minister also accused the UNC of vetoing international funding and low interest rates in favour of local funding with 11 percent interest, because the international agencies had stricter procedures. The country was deprived of millions of dollars in funding as a result of this, he said.
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US
government to appeal over visa scam ruling
Officials in the US District Attorney's office in Chicago, Illinois are reviewing the decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit which vacated the 262 month-sentence imposed on convicted visa fraudster and former US ambassador to Guyana, Mr Thomas Carroll, Stabroek News reports indicate.
The Appeals Court recently called the sentence draconian in view of the fact that his co-conspirator, Guyanese businessman Mr Haleem Khan was sentenced to just 38 months, which included the time he had been incarcerated since his arrest in March 2000.
An official of the US District Attorney's office in Chicago, Illinois told the Stabroek News: "The government is reviewing the decision and we are considering our options which could include asking the appeals court to reconsider its decision or seeking an appeal of our own."
Montserrat's
leaders are optimistic about proposed integration moves under
Caricom
Talks between British, Caricom and Monsterratian officials ended recently with a general feeling of hope on the part of the colony that it would be allowed to join other members of the Caribbean Community in establishing a regional court and single market economy.
The Associated Press reported
that Caricom and British officials both agreed they "found
no insurmountable legal impediments" to the Island's participation.
The officials agreed, however, that some legal issues would require
further consideration.
The British colony is the only one of the regional group's 15
members that has not signed protocols to establish the court and
economic bloc.
The Island's government is requesting British permission to participate fully.
Caribbean
countries get $44 million to fight HIV/AIDS
Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Jamaica and the nine other countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States grouping will soon receive US$44 million in funding to help fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
AP quoted officials from a UN-backed global AIDS fund as saying, however, that the amount of money each country got would be decided next month.
Before this year, Haiti was the only country in the region to receive help from the fund.
National
day of mourning declared for Dominica's 'Ma Pampo'
Dominica's Cabinet has declared,
22 October a National Day of Mourning for the woman they claim
was the world's oldest person, Mrs Elizabeth 'Ma Pampo' Israel.
Mrs Israel died recently at the age of 128. An official funeral
is set for Wednesday at the Roman Catholic Church in Portsmouth.
Ma Pampo's coffin will be draped with the state's flag and all flags on public buildings will be flown at half mast on that day.
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Guyana
sugar workers return to work
About 200 sugar workers in the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Wales Estate, are back at work after a week-long protest over wages.
The workers, according to AP, were concerned that a recent change in the system used for measuring the amount of cane they cut and delivered to the factory had translated into lower earnings.
Guysuco officials have agreed to review the processing system and have begun talks with Mr Komal Chand, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union.
Return
Trinidad
teen released after ransom is paid
Fourteen-year-old kidnap victim, Christopher Tackorie, is back home with his family after they paid some TT$100,000 for his return.
Christopher was reportedly dropped off on the side of a road in Chaguanas in central Trinidad three days after he was snatched from his family's home. He was unharmed.
The kidnappers had initially demanded TT$3 million but the family settled for the TT$100,000 AP quoted police as saying. No arrests have been made.
Bajan
mother charged with killing daughter
A 40-year-old Barbadian
woman has been charged with stabbing her eight-year-old daughter
to death.
Sonia Archer, appeared briefly before Magistrate Pamela Beakles
and will remain in custody on a murder charge until her next preliminary
hearing, which was set for 12 November.
Archer was not required to enter a plea, AP reports indicate.
Little Ashley Archer's body was found last week with multiple
stab wounds at her home in Blair Land. Police said they were awaiting
final autopsy results to determine the cause of death, but declined
to give further details on the investigation.
If convicted, Archer could be sentenced to life in prison.
Community Calendar
Tuesday, 21 October
The Cayman Islands Society of Human Resource Professionals is
holding its Annual General Meeting at 8 am at the Sea Harvest
Restaurant, Sunset House Hotel, South Sound.
There will be a presentation by Mr Philip Scott on the Investors
in People programme. Breakfast will be available for all members
and guests. For confirmation or further information call 947-0840
or 945-2726.
Tuesday, 21 October
Police community meeting will be held at 7:30 pm at Watler's Road
Park, George Town.
Wednesday, 22 October
The Department of Environmental Health will hold a Basic Food
Hygiene Course. For more information call the DEH 949-6696.
Wednesday, 22 October
Police community meeting will be held at 7:30 pm at Savannah Primary
School, Savannah.
Thursday, 23 October
Sharing The Good News In My World, courses that will involve helping
communicate the Gospel using a style with which people are comfortable.
The cost is $100 for eight workshops and will be held from 6 until
7 pm at Cayman Prep School, Walkers Road. Call ITLD at 947-5519
for details.
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.
Friday, 24 October
The All Nations United Pentecostal Church's mass choir will be
holding a live album recording in its sanctuary at 7:30 pm. The
cost for tickets is $8 to help pay for the recording. For details
call 949-9533 or 949-9379
Saturday, 25 October
Lions Annual Breakfast at the Lions Centre from 10 am to 2 pm.
The price for all-you-can-eat is $25. Tickets are available from
all Lions and Downtowner Squash Club members.
For more information contact Osbourne Bodden at 916-4439 or Ercly
Bodden at 916-0812
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.
Sports Calendar Event
Monday, 20 October
Hash House Harriers run, Cayman
National Bank, Elgin Avenue 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 Lions Pool or Holiday Inn on 24 October,
between 7 pm and 8:30 pm. For additional 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.
Saturday 8 November
Flowers Corporate Relay Run takes
place. Further information about the event can be obtained from
the president Mr Bernie Bush on 916-3169 or the coach Mr Kenrick
Williams on 927-3046 or 943-1111.
Every Monday
The Cayman Islands Duplicate Bridge
Club meets every Monday night at 7:15. Visitors are welcome. For
more information, call Audrey at 949-2371.
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