New Police Probe to Begin

James Smith Acting Police Commissioner

Cayman Juice Comment: Ah, it never ends. Probes and investigations, reports, and accusations. Yet Caymanians never really find out the details of the corruption on the police force. Even worse no one stands trial for the corruption. They either get suspended with pay, or sent packing back to England.

By Tad Stoner


Top officials will soon be launching a second phase of an investigation into allegations of corruption, focusing specifically within the Cayman Islands Police Service, Acting Commissioner James Smith has said.

Named ‘Operation Cealt’, a Celtic word meaning ‘justice’, the new probe will focus on “a small number of allegations”, which nonetheless, he said, went beyond simple internal or administrative problems.

”If they were administrative I would not take such a serious view,” Mr Smith said at a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon, “but I do. These are serious allegations of criminal conduct. They are untested, however, and I want to be very careful. They require laborious investigation and I need to study them.

“Let me just say I am very proud of the people that have come forward, and it’s time to prove or disprove [the accusations]. Matters of corruption are most difficult to prove and it needs time, but when severe allegations are made, I need to get to the bottom.”

He indicated he was identifying trustworthy officers to move the probe forward.

“I have begun an inspection of the intelligence division so they can handle sensitive information and protect those who have come forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials have yet to make a decision as to who will lead that new probe.

The new investigation will be entirely separate from Operation Tempura, the almost 18-month-long inquiry into an unauthorised entry into offices at Cayman Net News by two of its employees in the summer of 2007, the possible complicity of top police commanders in the event and the 24 September arrest of Grand Court Judge Alexander Henderson.

Mr Smith told reporters on Tuesday that he was seeking individuals and groups in both Europe and Western Australia who could take charge of the new probe.

“The [appointment] decision will be made by me, based on a whole host of things,” Mr Smith said. “We are looking for the right people with the right skills at the right time for the right price. I’ve looked across Europe for an alternative service provider that can carry the investigation forward.

“I have my own confidential sources and know of other companies and people capable of this kind of work. I know a group in Western Australia with this kind of experience. I am trying to stay within jurisdictions that have English law.”

While he declined explicitly to rule out Senior Investigating Officer of Operation Tempura, Martin Bridger, for the post, he acknowledged that pressure from elected Ministers and the public had thrown the officer’s future into doubt. On 3 February, Cabinet formally declined to fund any further investigations headed by Mr Bridger, saying his conduct in the Henderson affair had tarnished his credibility.

“Call it what you want to, I will make the judgement on the chief investigator. The investigation should be headed by someone appropriate, capable of carrying on an inquiry and supported by skilled investigators. [The probe] will be apart from [independent of] the RCIP, but still include my senior staff.”

Mr Bridger, he said, would remain on the island: “He’ll finish up Operation Tempura, continuing the job he was employed to do.”

He left the door open, however, to Mr Bridger, a former colleague, and appeared to set aside at least some of the blanket criticism leveled at Operation Tempura and its team of investigators by Judge Sir Peter Cresswell, who overturned Mr Henderson’s search and arrest in two judicial reviews late last year.

“Of course he could,” Mr Smith said, asked if SIO Bridger might be appointed to head Operation Cealt. “People seem to forget the professionalism displayed up until the Henderson case. Martin Bridger and his team have done some extremely good work. If he were guilty of misconduct, it would be a serious matter. Mistakes were made, but I don’t like punishing people for mistakes.

“People learn by what they have done, and while some things could have been done differently, we are doing debriefings so people understand. The Cresswell decision was damning and there is no way around that, but we learn from these events,” he said. “We want to make sure we don’t repeat, going forward, some of these things.”

A report on Operation Tempura has been passed to HE, the Governor Stuart Jack, but, calling it “highly confidential and extremely sensitive”, Mr Smith said he had not given it to Cabinet or MLAs, although, he said, Ministers had supported ongoing investigations.

He did not elaborate on when Operation Cealt might start or Operation Tempura end, suggesting they would run a natural course.

“The job of the Commissioner of Police is very complex, and no man, no Minister and no government shall tell an officer of the law what to do, who to arrest or to engage in any activity,” Mr Smith said.

“The Cabinet knows [that] and they respect that position. I don’t know how they will react until they get my reaction on what to do, who will do it and how long it is going to take,” he said.

Police Arrest Suspected Drug Sellers

Police Arrest Suspected Drug Sellers
A man was arrested in North Side on Thursday, 15 January, and approximately 4 pounds of ganja was seized during an operation by Bodden Town Police and the Drugs Task Force (DTF). The RICPS said that the 29-year-old man was arrested at an address in Old Man Bay on suspicion of possession of ganja with intent to supply, and remained in police custody up until press time. The arrest comes after a number of others that were made in West Bay earlier last week. Over a two-day period (Wednesday into Thursday), two people, a male and female, were arrested for possession of ganja with intent to supply following an operation at an address on Watercourse Road. These two also remained in police custody up until press time. On Tuesday 13 January, West Bay officers arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of possession of ganja and consumption of a controlled drug. In a separate incident, a 56- year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine and consumption of a controlled drug. Both have been released on bail pending further investigations. “Tackling drug related crime is one of our top priorities,” said Detective Inspector Livingston Bailey of the Drugs Task Force. “We’re working hard to address the use and sale of illegal substances and anticipate more arrests over the coming weeks. In addition, the arrival of more vessels for our Marine Unit will assist greatly in intercepting illegal drugs destined for our country. Those involved in drugs should take this as a warning. If you haven’t been caught yet, it’s only a matter of time.” Anyone with information about criminal activity should contact their local police station or call Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS) to pass on information. All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property and/or drugs.

Newer, faster patrol boats arrive

Two new vessels have arrived in the Cayman Islands boosting the capability of the joint Police, Customs and Immigration Marine Unit. New interceptor boat in action. Photo: RCIPS The two 38–foot fast interceptor vessels are the second and third additions to the fleet following the arrival of Cayman Defender in September and are part of a $7.7 million government investment into border protection. In total, four new vessels and a state of the art marine base to be built at the end of Hirst Road in Newlands to house customs, police and immigration officers are being added to enhance border patrols. The first step to launching the new boats in Cayman waters was taken on Monday, when Marine Unit officers began an intense one–week training course with Safe Boats International, the manufactures of the vessels. The training covered topics such as boat construction, engine installation and maintenance, electronic system management, hull repair and boat maintenance. “This specialist training will ensure that the vessels, and the Marine Unit, reach their full potential,” said Royal Cayman Islands Police Superintendent Mike Needham, who has led the Marine expansion project. “Once they are on the water, there is little doubt that they will have an immediate effect on drugs and firearms trafficking.” The fourth and final addition to the Marine Fleet, a 65–foot all purpose patrol boat is expected to arrive in Cayman in the coming weeks.

Timeshare owner sues Morritt’s Tortuga

A New York couple is suing Morritt’s Tortuga Club and Resort for a refund of their time–share payment claiming the resort company failed to build their holiday home.

Malte and Marlo Lorenz have filed a writ at the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, suing Morritt’s for nearly US$68,000.

Speaking from New York this week, Malte and Marlo Loren told the Caymanian Compass that their experience with Morritt’s had put them off returning to Cayman. “We fell in love with the place. We thought it would be a great place to come for Christmas every year and now it’s turned into a horrible mess. I don’t think we’ll be back.

“On that first trip, we had a ground–floor unit on the beach. That was nice. We have twin eight–year–olds, and it was a real easy location. That’s why we bought a unit on the ground floor on the beach… I would never have bought something on the fifth floor, it changes the whole dynamic of the vacation” Mr. Lorenz said.

He added: “I have had a timeshare in St. Martin and we’ve been going there every year for winter, so Cayman was quite a unique place to us. We had sliding glass doors on the beachfront, with white sand and were just 20 feet from the beach. That was the ideal.”

According to the writ, the couple has also been paying maintenance fees on the property since November 2006.

Malte and Marlo Lorenz, who own a successful New York–based textile company called Thro, say they arranged to use a timeshare property at Morritt’s through Global Resource Management, a promoter of timeshare properties in Florida in April 2006.

During their visit, they decided to buy their own one–bedroom timeshare property at the resort to use two weeks a year, an arrangement they later upgraded to a two–bedroom unit for use three weeks a year.

The writ stated that they entered into an agreement with Morritt Properties Cayman Ltd. to purchase a property to use two weeks a year and could take up occupancy in 2007. The unit cost US$18,410.25, which the couple paid on 8 May, 2006.

Two weeks later, they upgraded to a two–bedroom unit for an extra cost of US$12,090, and extended their agreement to add an extra week a year at an extra cost of US$27,662.

The writ states that the agreement they signed on 20 May included the clause: “A purchaser of an un–built unit, buying on a pre–construction basis, may terminate and cancel the contract, should the unit not be ready at the occupancy date specified in the purchase agreement. Under such circumstances, the purchaser would receive a full refund.”

When Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz showed up at the complex at the end of December 2007, they were told the unit was not ready to be occupied and were placed instead in a fifth–floor unit, an arrangement the family says was unsuitable for their eight–year–old twins.

According to the writ: “At all times, the plaintiffs’ owner statements, maintenance fee statements and special assessments did not disclose any delay in the construction of the plaintiffs’ unit nor the fact that it had not been built.”

The writ, filed by Cayman law firm Samson and McGrath, continued that resort representatives assured them orally when the agreement was signed that the apartment would be completed on schedule by December 2006.

It added: “To date, no date for completion of the unit has ever been given by the defendants.”

The couple was told in early January last year that the unit was still u–built and no dates for building or occupancy were provided, according to the writ. At that point, they asked for a full refund of their money.

They are suing Morritt Properties Cayman Ltd. and Morritt’s Tortuga Club and Resort Ltd. for a total of $67,957, plus costs and interest. That includes maintenance payments in November 2006 of $1,610 and in November 2007 of $2,410.

The resort company has filed a defense with the court.

The couple is among more than 10,000 owners at Morritt’s, which suffered $20 million worth of damage in Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Two wooden buildings were razed following the storm, and one was rebuilt as a five–storey, concrete building, known as The Wembley.

Dutch Hoffman, general manager of Morritt’s, said he could not comment specifically on the lawsuit, but said the company had spent $25 million on the resort since Hurricane Ivan and had built units that were available to all owners.

“We have extra units in the Wembley building and in the meantime we are not selling those units. We have made that inventory available to owners,” he said, adding that almost all owners had bought on a right–to–use basis, rather than buying particular units to use during specific weeks.

He added that the company had intended to start rebuilding the second building in Autumn last year, but due to the credit crunch, Morritt’s had postponed the work.

“It’s all ready to go, we’re just waiting for the credit markets to soften a little bit,” he said.

Mr. Hoffman said the Lorenzs’ case was the first legal action of its kind against Morritt’s.

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Note: If you are interested in a Time-Share go here and do your homework first.

Man arrested in West Bay shooting

Royal Cayman Islands Police have made a quick arrest in connection with a shooting outside a West Bay restaurant–store Thursday night.

Investigators took a 33–year–old suspect into custody Friday on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He had not been charged as of Friday afternoon.

The Thursday night attack left a West Bay man in critical condition.

The victim, identified as 40–year–old Tony Ebanks, was taken to hospital in a private vehicle around 11pm Thursday after he was shot near the Super C restaurant on Watercourse Road.

Witnesses at the scene said Mr. Ebanks and a few others were sitting on a truck outside the restaurant when a suspect opened fire and ran off. The restaurant was closed at the time, according to its owner.

Super C owner Caches Stewart said Mr. Ebanks, who lives across the street from the store, has been shot at before in an apparent dispute with other local residents. He said he didn’t expect Thursday night’s violence to overly affect his business.

“For now, people for the first couple days will avoid it,” Mr. Stewart said. “But people in the area know who is who and what is what.”

The shooting is the second major incident of gun violence to occur in the first week of the New Year. On 3 January, a 17–year–old man was shot to death, and a 22–year–old seriously wounded outside a George Town nightclub.

There is not believed to be any connection between the two attacks.

DOLPHIN SWIM ADVENTURE IN GRAND CAYMAN

Two swim–with–dolphin facilities have just opened recently in Grand Cayman – Dolphin Discovery across from Boatswain’s Beach in North West Point and Dolphin Cove on Garvin Road by Morgan’s Harbour in West Bay.

For a fee, the dolphins will shake your hand, kiss your cheek, let you kiss them back and take individuals on splashy rides in the water.

The hope is that these swim with flipper facilities will be good for not only tourism, but for children, and adults in Cayman. As well all concerns about the treatment of the animals have been addressed, and all are assured that they will be getting the best care, food, and handling.

Tourists will be charged: $179US for adults, and $159 for children.

Missing and abducted dogs in Cayman

It is a wide held belief that some Filipinos in Cayman eat the wild chickens and dogs in Cayman. There are eye witness accounts of up to 15 Filipino's living in a one bedroom dwelling. That in itself should tell the story of economic hardship for some of these people while living and working in Grand Cayman. Although, 1CI dollar is worth 50 Filipino pesos, the cost of living in Cayman is very expensive if you only earn $3.00CI an hour (there is no minimum wage) and have to pay $800CI plus utilities for a 1bdrm shack of an apartment. Granted these types of jobs are menial, and do not require back breaking labor.

However, now family pets are going missing. Case in point, a friend's dog recently went missing (he had a collar on and ID) and was found chained up and looking ragged in a cage in the back yard with slices of flesh cut out from different parts of his body. The home was occupied by up to fifteen Filipino people! The police were called and the event recorded after he liberated his frightened pet, but no charges were laid, because of lack of proof that the thieves stole the dog and were slowly eating it.

This brings into question if some Filipino's even eat dogs. Well the answer is yes, and the information is here and here.
Some Filipino's bring this habit to Cayman and continue with it surreptitiously. This is quite perturbing. Makes you wonder if this restaurant is serving dog or some other illicit meat.

People lock up your pets if you care about them! If dogs can eaten, so can the wild iguanas, cats, and other critters running around the island.

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Update: Notice that I said some Filipino's. Not all Filipino's eat dogs, nor are they all uneducated, immoral, and sneaky. So save the comments stating that am I a racist, and examine your own views on other races. Now go lock up your dogs and other pets people of Cayman!

Joe Ann Cowin, bodybuilding competitor, goes pro

Cayman figure competitor Joe Anne goes pro

Joe Anne Cowin continued her fantastic season recently when she took home two trophies in the WNBF/INBF amateur figure competition in Manhattan, New York City.

Competing against 30 other women from around the world, she earned the right to compete as a professional in future events after she won her 'tall' class which enabled her to go head to head with her counterpart in the short category for the overall title. Having wowed the judges the now she picked up the amateur winner's trophy and is now able to compete for the considerable prize money that will be available in future events, including next June's Mr/Mrs Universe in Barbados.

Originally from the Isle of Man, Joe Anne is now a Cayman resident. As part of her routine Joanne trains for up to four hours a day, beginning with an early morning cardio session at 4.30am. From there it's off to the day job as a hairdresser before heading back to the gym for another two hours after work. She does this six days a week with a break on Saturdays with no signs of slowing down: 'As I'm now professional I really have to step it up as the pro division is so much tougher. I generally eat very healthily but I do have a sweet tooth which does have to be indulged sometimes!' 'The build-up to a competition can be very demanding trying to juggle work with the gym and my personal life as I have to cut myself off to a lot of things like alcohol and partying. My friends understand but three months of doing this can be a very long time.'

For the time being Joanne is still taking time to enjoy her recent success with her friends and family but with her next event awaiting her in March it won't be long before the Island athlete is back in the gym working towards her third win in 12 months.

Cayman Jazz Fest will take place at Pageant Beach on 4 December.

Although Jazz Fest features a number of internationally–acclaimed artists, the festival also takes great pride in having Cayman’s jazz, pop and soul artists share the stage with the globally recognized stars.

The list of performers at Jazz Fest will include:

• Stuart Wilson, who is best known for his many performances in both the Cayman Islands and Great Britain with his band, Love Culture.

• Wilson & Love Culture have opened for acts such as Damian Marley, Richie Spice, Beres Hammond and a host of others.

• Jonathan Ebanks, who has opened for Chaka Khan, Third World, Ziggy Marley, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest and many others.

Ebanks’ latest album "Tales of the G–string" is set to be released in December.

• Impulz, a band performs regularly at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman and other five star venues will also be performing.

• Band members include Rex Watler, Edward Frederick, Mark Hydes, Stephen McDermott, Stephanie Webster, Darrell Carter and Doug Whitfield.

“The Friday night concert promises to be a dynamic show,” said Acting Director of Tourism, Shomari Scott.

“The Department of Tourism has always supported Cayman’s artists and we are glad that there are so many talented performers who can add a truly unique dimension to Cayman jazz fest.”

Festival ticket prices if purchased by December 3 are as follows: Thursday December 4 at Pedro St. James, CI$75; Friday December 5 and Saturday December 6 at Pageant Beach, CI$50/night. In addition, an entire festival package can be purchased for all three nights for CI$160.

Valet parking service will be available on Thursday night, while on Friday and Saturday, parking is available at the Almond Tree.

The Pageant Beach concerts will be open seating and offer free admission to children under 12–years old.

Friday and Saturday night attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets. Please note that coolers, camera's or video

equipment will not be allowed on site.

Tickets can be purchased at the Department of Tourism, Funky Tangs and Atlantic Department Store.

For more information, visit www.caymanislands.ky/jazzfest

Governor sacks Commissioner Kernohan

Stuart Kernohan Police Commissioner

H.E. the Governor Stuart Jack, in an uncompromising 18 November statement, has sacked Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan -- accusing him of an “unauthorised absence” and “inappropriate action” -- and announced an immediate search for a replacement.

The statement came just 24 hours after a spokesman for Mr Kernohan released a 9 October letter from the commissioner to the governor, recalling the 14-month anti-corruption probe by Mr Jack’s Special Police Investigation Team, including his own 15 May suspension, and demanding within seven days an apology, an end to the investigation of his own conduct and unspecified damages.

The letter sent on behalf of Mr. Kernohan on 9 October was released to the press Monday afternoon by a spokesman. That release came more than five weeks after it was sent. Attorneys from the Campbell’s law firm, which is representing Mr. Kernohan, said they had received no response from Governor Jack.

“We…require you, within seven days, to confirm in writing that any investigation against Mr. Kernohan is at an end, to reinstate him to his position within the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, with a full public apology, a full indemnity against his legal costs and payment to him of a sum (to be agreed) in relation to the damage that you have caused to his reputation by way of damages for breach of contract, malicious prosecution and/or slander and/or libel, failing which Mr. Kernohan’s rights are fully reserved,” the 9 October letter stated.

Said Governor Jack, “I can now advise that after reviewing all the circumstances of Mr Kernohan’s conduct as it relates to the terms and conditions of his employment, including his continuous unauthorised absence from the Islands, I am left with no option but to accept that he has unilaterally severed his contract with the Cayman Islands Government, and I now therefore treat it as at an end,” the Governor said in a five-paragraph statement late on Tuesday, 18 November.

“I am advised that the termination of the contract [will] not in any way affect the ongoing Police investigation against Mr Kernohan, whom I understand the police intend to interview shortly,” the governor wrote, after calling on the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs “to immediately commence the recruitment process for a new full-time Commissioner”.

Until Tuesday’s statement, the Office of the Governor had neither acknowledged receipt of the letter nor offered a response.

Mr Kernohan, Chief Detective Superintendent John Jones and Deputy Police Commissioner Rudolph Dixon were all placed on “required leave” on 27 March by the Governor and Martin Bridger, Senior Investigating Officer of Mr Jack’s Special Police Investigation Team, as part of an anti-corruption probe of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

On 15 May, Mr Jack and Mr Bridger placed both Mr Kernohan and Mr Jones under formal investigation, while arresting Mr Dixon on charges of obstructing justice and misconduct in public office.

Neither Mr Kernohan nor Mr Jones has been charged with any offence, nor have they been questioned by the investigation team.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, new Acting Police Commissioner Royce Hipgrave was scheduled to arrive, replacing outgoing Acting Commissioner David George, who is set to leave in late November after eight months in the position.

In his Tuesday statement, the Governor lamented Kernohan’s Monday release of the 9 October letter: ”I am personally disappointed that Mr Kernohan would publish private correspondence sent to me at a time when we consider potential disciplinary acts against him. Not only was this an inappropriate action, but the letter also contains groundless allegations which I categorically refute,” he wrote.

The reference to “potential disciplinary acts” refers to Mr Jack’s 10 September move to pursue sanctions against the commissioner after three fruitless orders in July and August that Mr Kernohan should return to George Town from the UK, where he had been since late April looking after his ailing father.

“Groundless accusations” are a reference to Kernohan’s 9 October charges of “an unlawful and irrational exercise” of executive power by Mr Jack, who deprived the commissioner of his job “for no good reason”, and acted “in bad faith and maliciously”, prolonging a “wholly pointless and expensive police operation to the disrepute” of Mr Kernohan and the people of the Cayman Islands.

Closing his 18 November “Update on Commissioner Stuart Kernohan”, Mr Jack said he would “continue to ensure that the public is kept up-to-date as developments take place”.

Mr Jack’s office did not respond to a list of questions by press time, leaving unanswered whether the move meant an end to all disciplinary sanctions against the commissioner and if Mr Jack anticipated legal recourse by Mr Kernohan.

The Ascent of Money, is the Cayman Islands' first-ever TV sponsorship deal

Cayman's Revolution Will Be Televised

Parmy Olson

A TV series that explains the origins of the financial crisis has a surprising sponsor: the Cayman Islands.

What television lacks in entertainment it makes up for in irony these days. A new show that aired in Britain on Monday and claimed to unravel the mysteries behind the global financial crisis, may look a little awkward once it gets to the bit about tax-evasion and dodgy, off-balance sheet funds. Its main sponsor? The Cayman Islands.

The British overseas territory isn't only a popular off-shore tax haven--it is also where many large banks parked the toxic debt securities in the last few years before the credit crisis erupted, leading to huge write-downs, losses and now, layoffs.

The six-part television series on Channel 4 and titled The Ascent of Money, is the Cayman Islands' first-ever TV sponsorship deal and worth "a six-figure" sum, the Islands' department of tourism said in a press release. It added that "the followers of the series present exactly the right profile and demographic of visitor who will want to book a holiday to the Cayman Islands."

Till now, some of Cayman's most popular tourists have been financiers: its light-touch regulation has led around 80.0% of the world's hedge funds to incorporate themselves there, and the secrecy it provides on off-shore accounts has spelled $400.0 billion in lost tax revenue from individuals and corporations, according to Richard Murphy of U.K. consultancy Tax Research.

More significantly, many of the world's large banks, including Citigroup (nyse: C - news - people ) and HSBC (nyse: HBC - news - people ), parked billions of dollars worth of credit derivatives off their balance sheets and into funds known as structured investment vehicles (SIVs), which were also incorporated in Cayman to take advantage of their lax regulation.

Most of these SIVs have now been shut down after failing to roll over their commercial paper last winter because their assets were largely American subprime mortgages. The SIVs had to be brought back onto banks' balance sheets, leading to huge write-downs, losses and the drying up interbank lending that led to the global credit freeze.

Citigroup, which announced Monday that it was cutting 53,000 jobs, once had around $80.0 billion parked in SIVs that were incorporated on the Cayman Islands. (See "Black Hole Banking.") In December last year, the bank had to put $49.0 billion worth of assets from those SIVs on its balance sheet, leading to the big write-downs of 2008.

Channel 4 spokeswoman Jenny Cummis denied that the Cayman Islands could have influenced the content of The Ascent of Money because the show had been made before the sponsorship deal was struck.

While its choice of the program is odd, Cayman is clearly seeking to change its image. The SIVs are gone and more laws are being proposed that are moving toward cracking down on the secrecy that Cayman offers. "These places actually have two choices," said Murphy. "They either sell real financial services that can survive under the glare of transparency, or they find something else to do."

In a choice between balmy Caribbean weather and credit derivatives, it is probably a lot easier to sell the former.

Hurricane Paloma Update: Cayman Brac Suffered the Most Damage

Grand Cayman was luckily outside the eye of the storm. As was Little Cayman fortunately for them.However, Paloma did to Cayman Brac what Ivan (2004) did to Grand Cayman. The Brac will need all the help it can in rebuilding.

(From left) Maxine Moore and her mother, Mary McCoy in
front of Mrs Moore’s devastated Little Cayman home.

Cayman Islands bracing for Hurricane Paloma

Cayman Islands braced on Friday for Hurricane Paloma, a strengthening storm expected to make landfall within hours.

Paloma grew into a Category 3 storm Friday evening with winds near 185 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Centre in Miami. It said the storm is expected to keep growing as it nears the affluent British territory.

The government has drawn up evacuation plans for residents in low-lying areas and coastal regions.

"We have asked everybody to come off the streets and to be home and safe right now," said hazard management director Barbara Carby.

The Cayman Islands government asked all hotels to remove guests from the ground and first floors.

Rainfall up to 15 inches was expected over parts of the Cayman Islands and its national weather service forecast waves rising up to 30 feet, which would cause dangerous coastal storm surges.

Water service across Grand Cayman was turned off, and power likely will be cut as the storm nears, hazard management director Barbara Carby said.

"We have asked everybody to come off the streets and to be home and safe right now," she said.

Stranded tourists watched dark clouds gather from their hotels or beachfront restaurants.

"It was a real surprise," said Rick Douglas, a 50-year-old from Toronto who checked weather Web sites before flying to the Caribbean. "It just said there was a tropical depression starting, but I didn't think it would turn into anything serious."

His wife, Susan Douglas, was confident they would be safe as long as they follow orders. "Grand Cayman has been there and done that, so they are prepared," she said.

The government has also ordered the airport closed, Tourism Minister Charles Clifford said Friday, adding that extra flights were added Thursday for those looking to leave.

"I hope I'm right, but I don't think this will be a major event," said Clifford.

The centre of the storm was about 50 kilometres south of Grand Cayman, the largest of the islands, at 7 p.m. ET. It is expected to reach Grand Cayman later Friday or early Saturday before hitting the coast of central Cuba by Saturday afternoon, the forecaster said in an advisory.

Still recovering from the havoc wreaked late in the summer by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Cuba could be hit even harder than the Caymans.

The storm appeared to be en route to the central-eastern city of Camaguey, which was badly battered by Hurricane Ike in September.

Cuban official newspaper Granma said Friday that Paloma poses "a potential danger for the island." A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for several Cuban provinces.

Cuba's government has deployed the early stages of its civil defence system, advising people in central and eastern parts of the country to be prepared to evacuate should conditions worsen.

Update: Two Men Apprehended in Estella Roberts Murder Case

Condensed from the Cayman Net News, and the Cay Compass

Thursday 30th October, 2008

Two men accused of killing Cable and Wireless communications manager Estella Scott–Roberts, appeared in Summary Court Thursday facing numerous charges including murder, abduction and robbery. One of the suspects, 27–year–old Kirkland Henry, was charged with an additional count of rape in connection with Mrs. Scott–Roberts’ murder. Kirkland Henry worked as a gardener and lived in George Town . The other murder suspect, 25–year–old Larry Prinston Ricketts, worked as a carpenter and also lived in George Town.

Solicitor General Cheryll Richards told the court that police obtained detailed statements from both men admitting to the allegations during police questioning. As well, they were both in possession of two of Mrs. Scott–Roberts’ cell phones; one found on each man. She said there was also forensic evidence connecting Kirkland Henry to the deceased. Mrs. Richards recommended that both men be remanded in custody on the charges. Mrs. Richards stressed that “these are serious charges against them", and Magistrate Margaret Ramsay–Hale agreed, stating “charges of this nature…by two foreigners, there is no doubt they are a flight risk,”.

The men were interviewed at length by police prior to Thursday’s court appearance, and neither had retained Counsel by the time of the proceeding. Both of the accused were remanded into custody and are to appear before the court again on November 6th, 2008.

Two Men Charged with Rape of 5-year-old Girl

No pictures of the two Caymanian suspects are available.

By Trent Jacobs Two men have been formally charged with raping a five-year-old girl after being arrested last week. Kent Robert Ebanks, 52, of West Bay, has been charged with three separate instances of rape and Marden Hernandez-Kirkconnell, 26, has been charged with one count of rape of the young girl. The crimes were reported to police on the evening of Monday, 20 October, the same night Mr Ebanks was arrested; Mr Hernandez-Kirkconnell was arrested the following day. As defined by the Cayman Islands Penal Code, rape is considered to be unlawful sexual intercourse with another person without consent and is punishable by up to life in prison. In Cayman, the severity of the charge is the same regardless of the age of the rape victim. Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) spokesperson Deborah Denis told Cayman Net News, “It’s still the same charge of rape and rape is the highest sexual offence charge there is in the Cayman Islands.” The child was taken to a hospital for treatment but has since been released, according to the police, and is said to be “doing ok.” The rape case was made public last week in a widely circulated email that included a picture of a man alleged to be one of the rapists and included a warning to call police if the man was seen. That same day the RCIPS issued a release explaining that the email was not an official police document. The subject of child sexual abuse has gained media attention following the two-year sentence recently given to a man who was convicted of indecently assaulting a five-year-old boy. Last week, the RCIPS issued a statement explaining that in 2006 they forwarded their sex offenders registry proposal to the Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin, who approved the proposal and submitted it to the Legal Drafting Department where, according to police, it still remains two years since its original drafting. When reached by Cayman Net News a representative from the Legal Drafting Department said that they have been told not to speak to the press about the sex offenders registry and all inquires were to be handled through Acting Attorney General Cheryll Richards. She could not be reached for comment by press time. Sandra Catron, a former candidate for public office and radio talk-show host, who has been outspoken on the issue, recently declared that in light of the Government’s inaction to pass the sex offenders registry into law she will launch a public sex offender registry online. According to the RCIPS statement, “The advantages of such a register include the increased supervision and tracking of convicted sexual offenders, particularly those at high risk of re-offending after expiry of their parole or probation period, through knowledge of their patterns of offending and place of abode and employment which will highlight any contact they may have with potential new victims.” The proposed registry will include data such as the perpetrators name, aliases, distinguishing marks, picture, address, place of work and DNA samples. The Legislative Assembly will decide whether the public will have access to such information. In the US, Megan’s Law or the Sexual Offender Act of 1994, makes public such information as opposed to the UK where similar legislation maintains the privacy of sexual offenders. “It just shows their lack of complete interest in the matter,” Ms Catron said of the Government’s failure to pass the legislation that would inform the public of sex offenders living in the community. In a reference to the recent murder of woman’s rights activist Estella Scott-Roberts and the possible implications of taking action herself on the issue of sexual abuse, Ms Catron said, “I’m putting my life at risk here potentially and in physical danger because our Government refuses to get off of their behinds and do the right thing by the people in this country.” She described the crime against the young rape victim as “horrific” and said she hopes justice is served properly in this case. “I’m glad that charges were brought which hopefully means there is sufficient evidence for a successful prosecution. It just makes me physically sick to even think of the possibility of that happening.” Ms Catron is also pushing for broader education regarding sexual abuse but insists that the public be made aware of convicted sexual criminals living in the Cayman Islands, whether they are Caymanians or foreigners. She noted that she is in the early process of forming a petition to convince the Government to take action on the matter saying, “The public has a right to know.” Ms Catron added: “[I’ll do] whatever is necessary to show the Government that the majority of people in this country are in favour of a public sex offenders registry that they themselves can go online and access.”

Cayman's Estella Scott-Roberts Victim of Foul Play

Published on Saturday, October 11, 2008 in the Cayman Net News
The body of Estella Scott-Roberts, Cable and Wireless Corporate Communications Manager, was found in a burnt-out car today (Saturday, October 11, 2008). She had been missing since leaving friends last night at a Deckers restaurant on Seven Mile Beach. Mrs Scott-Roberts, 34, was from Cayman Brac and was the driving force behind the creation of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, where she held the position of Executive Director for three years before joining Cable and Wireless in 2006. Well-known throughout the Cayman Islands as a strong advocate for the rights and well-being of women, she was also a staunch advocate for the empowerment of young people. Detectives have confirmed that the burned vehicle found in the Dykes is the registered vehicle of Mrs Scott-Roberts. The vehicle is a 2007, black, Ford Edge, license plate number 129-257 and detectives would like to hear from anyone who saw the vehicle after 11.30pm last night (Friday, October 10). The car has been removed from the scene for forensic examination and the remains have been taken to the morgue. A forensic pathologist from the United States is expected to arrive in Cayman tomorrow (Sunday, October 12) to carry out a post mortem on Monday. “The body in the vehicle has been very badly burned,” said Senior Investigating Officer, Chief Inspector Peter Kennett. “At this time it is not possible for us to confirm the identity of the victim.” Police are appealing for sightings of Mrs Scott-Roberts or her vehicle. She was last seen leaving Deckers restaurant on West Bay Road sometime between 11 and 11.30pm last night, however nobody saw her drive from the car park. “Somehow, Mrs Scott-Robert’s vehicle got from Deckers to the Dykes,” said Mr Kennett. “It’s vital that we trace the last movements of her and her car and appeal for anyone who may have seen her vehicle prior to it being found this morning to come forward.” Anyone who can assist should contact George Town police station on 949-4222 and ask for the Criminal Investigation Department or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477. The police investigation began this morning after Mrs Scott-Roberts was reported missing. Her cell phone was traced to the West Bay area and a search commenced. On the request of the police, officers from the Department of Environment assisted with the search of the Dykes, due to their intimate knowledge of the area, and it was one of these officers who located the vehicle and called 911. Detectives are continuing their investigations this evening and anticipate a further update for the community and the media in the morning. Further details will be reported as soon as they are known.

Grand Court Judge Alexander Henderson Arrested, Puts Up a Fight

Grand Court Judge Alexander Henderson, who was arrested on September 24th 2008 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The exact circumstances that led to his arrest are as follows:

Executing the search warrant on the morning of Wednesday Sept 24th, 2008, a six-member Metropolitan Police team seized computers, documents and Mr Henderson’s Canadian passport before confiscating the Justice’s keys and phone and arresting him for “misconduct in public office”.

Held for questioning in the George Town police station, the Judge returned home about 6:00 pm, but on Thursday was questioned again by police, spending a total of almost eight hours under interrogation.

In a startling two-page statement issued Mr Henderson defended himself against the accusations, saying he had been arrested “simply so they [police] could interview me”.

“When asked by police to give a statement about this,” he said, “I provided one in writing months ago and said I would answer questions posed in writing, but would not submit to an oral cross-examination. The Chief Justice, Solicitor General and the Special Prosecutor all agreed that it was the correct approach in the case of a member of the judiciary being questioned in such circumstances.”
“The police”, he wrote “demanded an oral interview repeatedly.”

Justice Henderson said the misconduct allegations for which no charges have been laid, derive from a series of events involving former Cayman Net News reporter John Evans in the wake of a mid-2007 series of letters-to-the-editor highly critical of the Cayman Islands judiciary.

The Justice, an acquaintance of Mr Evans, said he was suspicious of the letters’ authorship.

“I told Mr Evans I would be interested in hearing anything he might learn about the identity of the author(s),” Mr Henderson wrote.

On 3 September, and without permission, Mr Evans entered the offices of Net News owner and Editor-in-Chief Desmond Seales, seeking -- without success -- evidence of a previously alleged corrupt relationship between Mr Seales and Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Ennis.

“It is alleged that he also planned to search for evidence of the identity of the letter writer(s),” the Justice wrote, “and that this entry into his own place of employment amounts in law to burglary.”

The Justice rejected any suggestion that he may have abetted Mr Evans: “I did not ask or encourage Mr Evans to conduct a search of his employer’s offices. I did not ask or encourage him to commit any illegal act.”

The 64-year-old Henderson was Acting Judge of the Cayman Islands Grand Court from 2000 to 2003 and Acting Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Supreme Court in 2001.

The Governor f Cayman Islands has not suspended Mr Henderson, although he did not attend a scheduled trial on Friday, telling a Canadian interviewer that he was “taking some vacation”.

Judge Henderson served as a Supreme Court Judge in Vancouver from 1995 to 2003 after 25 years in private practice and as an assistant city prosecutor.

Forward to what the current drama is with Mr. Henderson.

He has filed an application for judicial review. This application concerns the decision by Justice of the Peace, Carson K Ebanks, to sign warrants permitting police officers to enter and search Mr Henderson’s home in South Sound and his office at Kirk House.

Campbells, the attorneys acting for Mr Henderson, have asked for an urgent ex parte hearing of the application, in other words a hearing without the opposing parties being present.

The application seeks declarations that the entry of police officers into Mr Henderson’s home, and his office and robing room at Kirk House and the searches conducted there on 24 September were unlawful.

Mr Henderson also seeks the return of all items seized from his home and Kirk House office, as well as damages and costs.

According to the court documents filed on Mr Henderson’s behalf, the decision by Mr Ebanks to grant an application for search warrants was unlawful for the following reasons:

• Mr Ebanks had no, or no sufficient, information upon which he could be satisfied that there were reasonable grounds to suspect the commission of the offence of misconduct in public office.
  
• Mr Ebanks was not informed of the decision "In the Matter of Operation Tempura". [This is believed to be a reference to an earlier decision of the Chief Justice denying search warrants in relation to Commissioner of Police Stuart Kernohan and Detective Chief Superintendant John Jones.]
  
• Mr Ebanks therefore failed to take into account important matters relevant to his decision.
  
• The warrants purport to have been issued by the Court whereas Mr Ebanks is not a competent Court of the Cayman Islands. Accordingly, the warrants do not comply with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (2006 Revision).

A full hearing of the application is requested for 17 October 2008, assuming that leave is given by the court to take the matter forward.

The Best Condo in Cayman Brac

Carib Sands on Cayman Brac

Need some romance in your life? Get your partner, leave the
kids behind, and take off for Cayman Brac between
Sept - November. It is low season on these islands, so not
only are you liable to have well furnished condo to yourself,
you will have the pool and beach front to yourself as well.
Buy whatever you would like to cook and eat on your stop
over in Grand Cayman first, prepare your mate a fabulous
dinner, and dine by candle light on your private patio. Then
spend the next day exploring the island by car or bicycle.

The Carib Sands is our favorite retreat on Cayman Brac.

Interior and Exterior Views
A few shots of the exterior and interior of Carib Sands.

CS1 View Of Carib Sands Pool Relax in a large freshwater pool surrounded by wooden deck with lots of room for lounge chairs and tables.

CS2 Large Dock A large dock with two story building and dive operation extends out from the Carib Sands property. The second story has hammocks and always a nice ocean breeze.

CS3 View From Brac Caribbean The Carib Sands facility is just beside the Brac Caribbean property and sits on a quiet ocean lagoon.

CS4 Well Appointed Bedrooms Double and twin beds in a colorful island motif.

CS5 Fully Equipped Kitchen No problems with any meal in these fully equipped kitchens. Contains microwave, fridge, stove and oven.

CS6 Living Room Relax after your dive or snorkel in a comfortably furnished living room.

Hurricane Gustav damage estimates in the Cayman Islands

Damage estimates ranged from a “couple hundred thousand” to “a couple of million” dollars in the wake of a Sunday, 31 August, tour of the storm-damaged Sister Islands by MLAs, Ministers and H.E the Governor Stuart Jack.

The Sunday-morning helicopter tour, on an aircraft provided by visiting British warship HMS Iron Duke, covered both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, the harder hit of the two Hurricane Gustav-ravaged Sister Islands.

“Every dock in Cayman Brac was damaged,” said Sister Islands MLA Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, citing between seven and 10 piers around the island.

“We found major damage to the dock at the Reef Resort; between 25 and 30 electrical poles were down on Little Cayman and between 15 and 20 on Cayman Brac. People need electricity desperately.”

Water and roof damage affected homes on both islands, she said, while Little Cayman buildings suffered a variety of structural damage.

“I would estimate the damage at a couple of hundred thousand dollars. We’ve been through quite a few storms, but this was the strongest since 1980,” Ms O’Connor-Connolly said, discounting even 2004’s Hurricane Ivan, which, while devastating Grand Cayman, left the Sister islands relatively unmolested.

“Just because there was no roof damage to some places, does not mean you don’t have water damage,” said District Commissioner Ernie Scott, exhausted after four sleepless nights touring the two islands.

“There was roof damage in multiple places; the South Coast Road was breached in about six places. We had flooding on the south coast, and a bit on the north.”

He said a team from Caribbean Utilities Company was aiding Cayman Brac Power and Light crews and working alongside a Cable & Wireless squad to restore power and communications.

“I’d have to be guessing about when things will get back to normal,” Mr Scott said, “but power is going to take about two days to three days and that may not be to every household. The company is trying to get the high-tension lines restored.

“We are also trying to get the feeder roads back together. In the Brac, all the roads are cleaned, although not necessarily cleared, but they will allow passage; of course the utility guys have to be able to get through. Otherwise it’s impossible to restore power.”

He said a Monday, 1 September, meeting of the local “damage-assessment committee” would plan a house-to-house tour of both islands, listing repairs and allocating resources. “That is likely to take a couple of days as well,” Mr Scott said.

Leader of the Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), the Hon McKeeva Bush, said God had “blessed us and blessed the islands”, sparing residents any physical injury.

“I went over with Rolston [Anglin, MLA for West Bay] and Cline [Glidden, MLA for West Bay] and Mike Adam [tentatively tapped as UDP candidate for George Town in May elections]; we saw a very successful preparation effort by various government agencies – particularly the Fire Services – who, along with the rest of the Civil Service, did an excellent job of preparing. Quite a few people in the community also pitched in.

“There were some poles down, and some damage to resort areas and the Brac Reef Resort lost its dock. I would think that the damage is a couple of million dollars, but they are about up and running with electricity now,“ Mr Bush said, although he was less sanguine about Little Cayman.

“Little Cayman took tremendous damage,” he said, “and it’s going to take them about a week to get back (up to normal); a lot of the houses were damaged.”

He said 60 people remained in public shelters on Sunday, down from a high of 432 on Cayman Brac plus another 14 on Little Cayman, where the eye of the category 1 hurricane passed within 28 miles, with winds up to 57 miles per hour and gusts of 84 mph.

On Grand Cayman, little damage was reported apart from the collapse of 12 utility poles at the Queen’s Highway, a scattering of debris and rough seas as the storm came no closer than 52 miles.

Bad Customer Service Complaints

What has happened to friendly and quality service? Please allow me to explain, as here are some examples.

I have been coming to Cayman for many years and have recently experienced some very poor service on this Island.

I took my family to Margaritaville last week. We were seated at a table and after 12 minutes I asked a server walking by if I could please have a menu. She said this is not my section, and pointed over to a man, stating that it was his section. Another 20 minutes gone by and still no service. We left.

We then went to Subway. The server asked what I would like, I placed my order. She then turned around sneezed and without missing a beat asked what kind of bread?

Never covered her face or washed her hands after the sneeze.

We left and ate lunch elsewhere.

The next evening, we went to the Wharf, where the bartender dipped a glass into a bin of ice to fill it with ice. A piece of my glass was chipped and to this day I do not know who is going to get the chip in their mouth.

This same restaurant also has a sign at the bar, gratuities not included, but when you get your bill there is a 15 percent charge.

I shop at Foster’s about two times per week. Upon check out, I cannot even get a thank you from the clerk. How sad!

It seems many of the businesses in Cayman have gone down the tubes. What happened to cashiers saying “Hi” and “Thank You/Bye”, “Have a nice day”, anything?

I spent a lot of money at Kirk Home Centre as well, the clerks here act as if you are lucky that they are cashing you out. Again, no greeting or thank you.

These are consistent everywhere we went. I am sad to see my hard earned dollars are not appreciated in Cayman.

Where is the local health department?

Servers should be trained to follow basic health standards and managers should train for proper customer service.

I was really appalled at the new lower standard of service all through this Island. I do hope it improves.

L. Tomasso

Note: The Cayman Juice strongly agrees that friendliness and attentiveness is missing in the customer service department of most retailers and industries in Grand Cayman. One only notices when they leave the island and go to a place like Trinidad, or Toronto, and then return to Cayman and make the comparison.