Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Quindel Ames Victim of Hit and Run


Published on Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas celebrations turned to tragedy last Saturday night as a 55-year-old woman was knocked down and killed in West Bay by a hit and run driver.

Quindel Coleen Ames of Prospect Drive, George Town, was an accounts manager with the Health Services Authority (HSA). She had been attending an office party at Boatswain’s Beach and was hit by a car while using the pedestrian crossing outside the tourist attraction on North West Point Road.

According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), at approximately 11:30 pm on Saturday, 15 December, the 911 Emergency Communications Centre received a call from a member of the public reporting that a woman had been knocked down by a car on the pedestrian crossing outside Boatswain’s Beach, North West Point Road, and the driver had not stopped.

Police and an ambulance responded to the call, and Ms Ames was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police officers investigating the death believe the car involved to be dark in colour and are actively seeking information on its whereabouts and that of the driver.

It is also believed that the vehicle would have sustained front-end damage; police are asking local residents to keep a lookout for the damaged car and report anything they see to the police.

The vehicle is understood to have been driven past Boatswain’s Beach before the accident and had turned round to head back along the road before the collision occurred.

“We need to hear from anyone who has information in relation to this car,” said Investigating Officer, Inspector Adrian Barnett, adding, “If your friend, relative or neighbour returned home last night with front-end damage, please contact the police immediately. If you see a car abandoned with front-end damage - call the police immediately. We need to locate the driver as quickly as possible.”

A major incident room has been established at the Traffic Management Unit and anyone with any information can call investigating officers on 946-6372 or 946-6254 or the Senior Investigating Officer, Chief Inspector Courtney Myles direct on 926-0649.

A number of people were in the area at the time of the collision and the police are asking anyone who was there on Saturday night and who has not yet spoken to them to get in touch as soon as possible.
All information received will be treated in confidence and the RCIPS are appealing for any member of the public wishing to pass on information, no matter how trivial they feel it may be, to contact them and help find the driver of the vehicle.

Even before this incident, North West Point Road had been identified by the RCIPS as a road safety problem area. Officers had been operating speed and vehicle checks on the road along with regular deployments of the speed indicator sign.

UPDATE:

A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and leaving the scene of an accident, following a fatal hit a run on Saturday, 15 December 2007, has been released on police bail pending further investigations.

The man from West Bay was arrested on Tuesday, 18 December following the death of 55-year-old Quindel Coleen Ames, of George Town.

Friday, December 7, 2007

The Annual Magnum Jewelry Party

Jewelry designer Harry Chandi with models: Ambuyah Ebanks, Belinda Hart,
Stephanie Espeut and Josephine Shibli.

Magnum is a well known name in Grand Cayman. An accomplished jeweler, Chandi designs many of the original pieces on display in the store, some of which are entirely unique. Situated in the down town harbor front area Magnum may be a magnet for cruise visitors, but Chandi also has a loyal following of local customers who come back time and again to see his latest creations.

Chandi's glitzy party offered Cayman's "A Listers" the opportunity to see some of his most creative designs just in time for Xmas. Customers gathered around glittering glass cases, while the experts at Magnum explained that diamonds remain as popular as ever among customers. The rare colored stones from Australia such as canary diamonds which radiate an incredible yellow sunny hue, as well as the delicate pink and blue diamonds, are especially attractive as they make for unusual and beautiful pieces. The combination of a timeless diamond with a delicate color is a very attractive option for those seeking something a little more unique for their jewelry collection.

*Tip* You can wheel and deal with the specialists at Magnum, don't buy at face value.



Cayman Links


Cayman Islands Government

www.gov.ky

www.legislativeassembly.ky (Parliament)

www.immigration.gov.ky (Department of Immigration)

www.caymanislandscustoms.com (Customs Department)

www.occ.gov.ky (Office of the Complaints Commissioner)

www.npo.gov.ky (National Pensions Office)

www.hic.ky (Health Insurance Commission)

www.constitution.gov.ky (Constitution Modernization Initiative)

www.foi.gov.ky (Freedom of Information)

www.humanrights.ky (Cayman Islands Human Rights Committee)

Tourism

www.caymanislands.ky (Department of Tourism)

www.itsyourstoexplore.com (Sister Islands Tourism)

www.naturecayman.com (Nature Tourism)

www.atlantiscaymanbrac.com (Cayman Brac's Lost City of Atlantis)

Schools and Education

www.brighterfutures.gov.ky (Ministry of Education)

www.ucci.edu.ky (University College of the Cayman Islands)

www.johngrayrecyclers.org (JGHS environmental programme)

http://buildingcaymansfuture.blogspot.com (Education Ministry Blog)

http://buildingexcellencetogether.blogspot.com (Department Education Services Blog)

Conservation

www.nationaltrust.org.ky (National Trust for the Cayman Islands)

www.reefresearch.org (Central Caribbean Marine Institute)

www.johngrayrecyclers.org (JGHS environmental programme)

www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/little_cayman (Little Cayman Turtle Project)

Publications

www.caymannewresident.com (New Resident Magazine)

www.grandcaymanmagazine.com (GCM Editorials online)

Cayman Islands Weather

www.weatherincayman.com

C&W Yellow Pages

www.caymanislandsyp.com

Politics

www.pfr.ky (People For Referendum)

http://marlroad.com (Public Forum)

Cayman Media

Radio

www.radiocayman.gov.ky

www.dmsbroadcasting.ky

www.z99.ky

www.rooster101.ky

www.vibefm.ky

Television

www.cayman27.com.ky

Newspapers

www.caymanobserver.com (weekly)

www.caymannetnews.com (daily)

www.caycompass.com (daily)

www.cayjournal.com (monthly)

Commentary: Everybody's Business: Loopholes

Published on Friday, December 7, 2007

By: Gordon Barlow

In several past columns I have wondered how realistic it is to claim that Cayman operates according to the rule of law. There are just too many situations where unwritten rules and traditions carry more weight than laws solemnly passed by our legislators.

Where the Immigration Law applies, decisions are often made – and have always been often made – by Immigration Officers or Boards of political cronies in pursuit of either their personal agendas or their political agendas.

The political agendas (“stick it to the Jamaicans”, for instance) are clear, despite pro-forma denials; but personal agendas (“toss this man off the Island because he dumped my friend’s daughter”, for instance) are usually secret. I can’t see the Freedom of Information Law being of any help there...

Other decisions are sometimes made – and have always been sometimes made – by some public servants in pursuit of either their personal agendas or what they personally perceive as Cayman’s national interests.

The perceived national-interest agendas and the personal agendas tend to coincide more often than pure coincidence warrants. “It is in Cayman’s best interests that my generous and powerful friend gets to do what he wants to do.” Oh, really?

The draft Freedom of Information Law is as full of loopholes as the Immigration law is. Each of them might as well begin with the words, “All Sections of this Law may be enforced or not enforced at the complete discretion of whoever is in charge at the moment.”

In many ways, Caymanians’ selective attitude towards law-enforcement reflects the Islands’ history.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries “the lawless Caymanas” had few formal laws at all. For most of that time, the rules of life were made by pirates and slave-owners. We have plenty of laws now, but old habits die hard.

In Cayman, not everybody in our society is held accountable to the laws or the courts, because of all the discretionary exemptions. If you know a person with influence, he can use his discretionary authority to let you do what you want. So much for the rule of law.

In Cayman, it can take seventeen court appearances and four years of absent prosecution witnesses before a criminal accusation is finally thrown out by the seventeenth judge. In that particular case, which ended just last week, the victim received no compensation for her ordeal. The government lawyers and the Police witnesses were not held accountable.

Grand Cayman loses Hyatt hotel in name only

The Hyatt name will disappear from the Hyatt Regency (Grand Cayman) on Monday, 31 December 2007.

A press release from Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, on Tuesday, 4 December said, “Following a successful presence on Grand Cayman for two decades, Hyatt has announced that its 20 year contractual agreement expires on December 31, 2007 after which date it will no longer manage Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman.”

According to the release, the owner of the hotel, Embassy Investments Limited, will continue independently to operate the 53-suites section of the resort on the world famous Seven Mile Beach (a stone’s throw away) under the name of Grand Cayman Beach Suites.

Since Hurricane Ivan severely damaged the 253-guestroom section of the property in September 2004, it has remained closed while the owners and insurers battle over storm damage claims. The suites section has been back in operation for over two years.

“Nothing will change except for the Hyatt name. The quality of the product and services will remain at its highest level,” said Diego Concha, General Manager of Hyatt Regency (Grand Cayman).
When asked if Hyatt Hotels and Resorts will be looking to operate other properties in Cayman, Mr Concha said: “Hyatt remains committed to Grand Cayman and open to new opportunities. We will be very attentive to future developments.”

Hyatt will continue to work closely with the Grand Cayman Beach Suites, the release said.

Monday, December 3, 2007

The "Educated Caymanian"


Perhaps Minister McLaughlin can take these mandates to the schools and make it a school requirement. While he's at it he can also get the guy who put in his hair plugs to give an impromptu lecture on how to ineptly transplant hair so that it becomes extremely distracting.

Lobster Season Begins!

Lobster season officially began on Saturday December 1, 2007 and will last until February 29th 2008. No more frozen lobsters from the USA disguising themselves as all you can eat lobsters at Deckers. No more overpriced, but bland lobsters at the lobster pot.

Make sure you call ahead to your restaurant of choice and ask if the lobster is a Cayman catch, and then make a reservation securing your lobster.

Fresh lobster reigns in Cayman until the begining of next year. Come and get it!