Issue No. 819 Tuesday, 19 April 2005

Turtle farm paid US $1million fee

According to information and documents obtained by Cayman Net News, a financing agreement that the Cayman Turtle Farm, under the chairmanship of the Hon McKeeva Bush, proposed to enter into in 2003, was subsequently squashed by other senior government officials on the grounds that the participation by “middleman” advisors made the deal too expensive...  read more...

Tobacco freedom burns to an end

The days of selling cigarettes to children, smoking in enclosed buildings, public places and positioning tobacco products within reach of customers and other practices in relation to tobacco use are almost over, here in the Cayman Islands. The country is gearing to develop a new Tobacco Act that will implement the provisions of the world’s first public health treaty – the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)... read more...

Human Rights Committee speaks out on the rights of women

Honouring Women Month in the Cayman Islands, celebrated throughout the month of March, rightly honoured one half of society that has historically been undervalued. However, many women in these Islands remain vulnerable to abuse, despite giant strides by Cayman society. Cayman Net News invited the Cayman Islands Human Rights Committee to answer questions on Women’s Rights...  read more...

Protect our children and our future

This week is Earth Week all around the world and to mark the occasion Hon. Minister for Planning, Communications, District Administration and Information Technology, Juliana O'Connor-Connolly gave a message about this year’s theme and how it relates to the Cayman Islands. It is my pleasure to extend greetings to residents of the Cayman Islands on Earth Week...  read more...

Sufferin’ Snakes - keep out of people’s way

The most common snake you may encounter on the Cayman Islands is the Cayman Racer (Alsophis cantherigerus). Slim and fast-moving, it is brown on top with a light underbelly, often reaching an adult length of more than 4 feet. Racers feed on frogs, lizards, bats and birds, including the sick, the weak, the young and old, their eggs and invertebrates as well. Snakes are useful at keeping these animal populations in check... read more...

Person of the Day - Carmen Brown

Carmen Brown has been driving the postal van on Cayman Brac for almost two years. She also helps out at the Post Office at Stake Bay to relieve staff that work there full time during their lunch break. “My job is wonderful and the Postal staff are great to work with,” she says. Mrs Brown is the mother of four children between the ages of 16 and 33, and is married to Leroy – “Big bad Leroy Brown,” she jokes. She has been living on Cayman Brac for 27 years... read more...

OTHER NEWS

• 50 years of community spirit
• Chamber Roadside & Beach Clean-up
• Clever plants deal with nitrogen shortage
• Local notices and information
• News about the Cayman Islands in the Foreign Press

ELECTIONS 2005

• Chamber of Commerce District forums
• Chamber’s Forum cut short as power fails
• Elections Expenditure

EDITORIAL

• Taking the environment seriously

LETTERS

• HSA chairman disagrees with Net News
• Ex-pat bashing by locals
• False rumours about North Side candidate
• Getting the grey cells working
• “Information persons” badly needed
• Mrs Henriques earned her position
• Paying the price for unplanned, unmanaged development

COMMENTARY

• Time for politicians to stop the rot before it’s too late