Let's See IF This Works: Premier calls for crackdown on crime

Hon Mike Adam, Minister of
Community Affairs
and Housing

The recent spike in crime prompted the Premier, the Hon McKeeva Bush, to call for a crime-fighting task force to be implemented immediately following the shooting death Monday night of four-year-old Jeremiah Barnes, killed when two men approached the parked car he sat in with his family at the Hell gas.

“It was a senseless act possibly involving drugs, where an innocent boy was killed”, said the Premier.

The special task force will work with the Commissioner of Police, David Baines to develop strategies to deal with the new wave of offences, and is fully supported by the government and the Governor His Excellency Duncan Taylor, according to the Premier. He also acknowledged that the newly-appointed National Security Council (NSC) will also advise the government on crime and public safety policies.

The government has adopted “a policy of zero tolerance” and supports the purchase and implementation of additional security measures including CCTV, machinery for x-raying containers to identify weapons, more effective coastal patrols, and strengthening of gang legislation.

Some policies would take effect over the long-term, but the task force can be established immediately.

The Hon Mike Adam, Minister of Community Affairs and Housing, said that preventative action among families needs to start with parents being more accountable. In addition, more community youth programmes should be created.

“There are those who need to be rounded up and locked away,” said Mr Adam, “but there are many others who will benefit from social intervention programmes.”

Mr Bush asserted that many perpetrators involved in recent criminal activity are not foreign criminals: “They are Caymanian, and the community must give their full support to the police in order to bring the perpetrators of crime to justice.”

In one recent incident, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) reported that a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm entered Mr G’s barber shop on Eastern Avenue on Friday, 12 February, at 7:50 pm, threatening a man in the shop with a gun before running off.

In another incident, Police reported that shots were fired in the area of School Road in George Town on Monday 15 February at about 1:15am, damaging a parked car.

“With help from the public,” said the Premier, “and the time needed to carry out our policies, our efforts will result in less crime, more business and job creation.”

Drug arrests in Sister Islands - Just Weed, no Cocaine

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service conducted a number of operations in the Sister Islands over the weekend resulting in the arrest of 15 people for drug related offences.

RCIPS said that on Sunday, Cayman Brac members of the Drugs Task Force and other police officers joined forces with the Immigration Department, the Department of Environment and HM Customs and Excise to carry out a number of operations designed to target the use and sale of illegal drugs and to ensure an accurate record is available of temporary workers on the islands assisting with the post Paloma cleanup operation.

The first operation was conducted at the Divi Tiara complex. A number of rooms were searched by officers and two people were arrested. Two men, aged 34 and 31, both residents of George Town, Grand Cayman, were arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession of ganja and consuming controlled substances.

The two men have been released on police bail pending further investigations. Along with the drug seizures, a number of prohibited weapons were found and seized and in the grounds of the complex a quantity of ganja was found and seized. In addition, a number of Immigration offences were detected during the operation; these will be investigated by the Immigration Department.

A second operation involving the police and HM Customs was carried out at an address in the West End area of Cayman Brac, resulting in the arrest of two more people. A 30-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, both Cayman Brac residents, were arrested on suspicion of possession of ganja and consumption of a controlled drug. Both have been released on bail pending further investigations.

A third operation was carried out in Little Cayman by police and HM Customs. As a result, a 40-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of ganja and consumption of a controlled drug. The West Bay resident was transported to Grand Cayman for processing.

Additionally, police arrested a sixth suspect Monday at the airport on Cayman Brac. The 28-year-old was held on suspicion of possession of ganja, and released on station bail.

“The Sister Islands should not be seen as a soft or easy target for criminal behaviour,” said Area Commander, Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay. “We will not tolerate crime in either Cayman Brac or Little Cayman and all those involved in illegal activity should be aware of this.

If you come here thinking you can get away with it, think again.”

Mr Kay also said that the involvement of officers from the Drugs Task Force in Grand Cayman should not go unnoticed.

“Even though we are separated by water, we have full access to all available resources in Grand Cayman and work hand in hand on tackling crime and disorder,” he said.

Cayman Islands Helps Victims of Haitian Quake

Here are some of the agencies assisting in the relief effort.

Cayman Red Cross

916–1742

rxadmin@candw.ky

925–0681

949–6785 ext. 22.

hbalgobin@gmail.com

Accepting monetary donations for the relief efforts. Persons wishing to donate funds can go directly to the Red Cross or make a deposit at Butterfield Bank under the Cayman Islands Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal (02–201–035054–04).

National Building Society of Cayman

945–2014

Staff members have set up donation boxes at teller counters for customers to make contributions. The funds collected will be deposited to the Cayman Red Cross account at Butterfield Bank. NBSC, 71 Eastern Avenue

The Cayman Council of the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

947–1963

cicucjci@candw.ky

Yves and Carmen Fontaine

326–6340

Arranging a container to locate on lot next to Buttonwood Club on Shedden Road.

St. Ignatius Church and School

949–6797

Jeremy.rice@st–ignatius.com

Collecting funds. All parishioners, parents, students and staff are being asked to contribute between 14–24 January.

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort

949–0088

Collecting can goods, clothes and anything that can be of help to the Haiti people. 389 Seven Mile Beach Fernando Soler or Stephanie Amante

Stephanie.amante@marriotthotels.com

Wesleyan Holiness Church, West Bay

949–3394

949–1121
926–0594
johnbettycase@hotmail.com
samaritanoutreach@hotmail.com
Accepting monetary donations. Persons wishing to donate funds can drop it in the container at church or deliver it to the school office.

Taste of Cayman

All those attending this Saturday’s event, starting at 5pm at Camana Bay can donate at the entrance to the festival where Red Cross booths will be set up.

Digicel

All Digicel mobile customers can text the letters ‘HELP’ to 5151 to donate a dollar to the telecom company’s earthquake relief effort. Digicel has already donated some $5 million to the relief project in Haiti.

LIME

All LIME mobile customers can text the word ‘Haiti’ to 4376 (HELP) to donate $2 to the telecom company’s earthquake relief effort. LIME employees have launched an employee donation initiative across the 13 islands in which the company operates to collect cash, clothing, canned, non–perishable food and personal hygiene items to send to Haiti. LIME will match the donations dollar for dollar.

Sunset House

Sunset House will not be charging for shore diving tanks this coming weekend. (JAN 16 – 17, 2010). Instead of payment for tanks, Sunset will be asking for a minimum donation of CI$5.00 to go to the Red Cross.

Dolphin Cove and the YUDP

On Sunday, 17 January, Dolphin Cove will be donating all revenue made for the day to assist with the YUDP and its Haitian Relief Funds. Special Discounted rates are available for residents and as a special thank you for supporting this initiative, Dolphin Cove will be giving away free CD Photo Packages to every family, individual or buddy group taking part.

Cayman Outreach

916–1563

The group is arranging a container to be located in the parking lot of Cayman Shoe Shop on Eastern Avenue. They are seeking building material, clothes, shoes, tinned food, dry food, medicine; no garbage. Donation times 8.30am until 5.30pm Monday through Saturday

ADRA

Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency along with the Cayman Islands Conference of Seventh–day Adventists will be taking up a special offering in each of the Adventist churches for the next two weeks and dispatching those funds off to Haiti immediately.

The Director of ADRA Cayman is Mr. Benny Moore and he can be reached on 916–2936. The numbers for the conference headquarters are 949–2647, 949–8167 and for President Clarke, his cell number is 916–5510.

Foster’s Food Fair

Foster’s is collecting donations for Haiti relief. All monies collected will be forwarded directly to the Cayman Islands Red Cross for relief efforts tied to the earthquake. Monetary donations can be made at all 5 Foster’s Food Fair IGA stores and Priced Right at every cash register via PLU 650.

Other agencies

InterAction, a coalition of U.S.–based international non–governmental organizations, has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it here: www.interaction.org/crisis–list/earthquake–haiti

To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text Haiti to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. The organization is also accepting donations through its International Response Fund, www.redcross.org

To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Haitian Yele charity, text 501501. The money will be added to your next phone bill.

To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit www.theIRC.org or call toll free, 1–877–REFUGEE.

To donate through Oxfam’s emergency appeal, visit www.oxfam.org.uk

Cayman - two years of record–setting violence

By Brent Fuller

Cay Compass

Twelve of the 15 homicide victims in Cayman’s past two years of record–setting violence were Caymanians; all but three of whom were under the age of 30.

The average age of the 12 Caymanian shooting victims was approximately 25 years.

The years 2008 and 2009 are believed to be the deadliest the Cayman Islands have ever experienced, with seven people killed in 2008 and eight who died in violent incidents last year.

Three foreign nationals, 40–year–old Frederic Bise 47–year–old Martin Gareau, and 24–year old Fabian Reid also lost their lives in the spate of unprecedented violence in the past two years.

All but one of the eight people killed in 2009 were Caymanians.

There is also a marked difference between the two years in the type of killings occurring. The year 2008 saw only two deaths caused by shootings; 2009 recorded six.

Investigators have also noted an increase most recently in gang–related shootings. At least four of the past five deaths have been shootings that cops have blamed on gang disputes.

“Certainly the ones that I have experienced whilst I have been here have been gang–related,” Police Commissioner David Baines said during an interview prior to the 30 December shooting death of 27–year–old Fabian Powell.

Mr. Baines was specifically referring to the deaths of four men between early July and mid–October including the 5 July shooting of 28–year–old Omar Samuels, the 8 July shooting of 20–year–old Marcus Ebanks, the 10 September shooting of 35–year–old Carlo Webster, and the 13 October shooting death of 24–year–old Fabian Reid.

“They have links, definitive links,” Mr. Baines said.

The commissioner cautioned the public not assume that the recent string of killings is simply gang members offing each other. In fact, he said young Marcus Ebanks’ death was the result of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Marcus Ebanks was not a gang member, not involved in organised crime and neither were the two young lads who were with him,” Mr. Baines said. “(The shooters) were after somebody else, but it doesn’t matter who they were after. One young man is dead, one is paralysed for the rest of his life and one is mentally hurt with the loss of a brother.”

Marcus’ brother, 18–year–old Rod, recovered from his injuries in that shooting. Fourteen–year–old Adryan Powell did not. He is expected to remain paralysed from the waist down, despite the best efforts of Miami doctors.

According to police, Marcus Ebanks’ shooting death is not the only one where the suspected shooters apparently got the wrong man.

Shots fired into the car that Fabian Reid was in on 13 October in Newlands were believed to have been intended for another individual; that individual – not Reid – was believed to be the person who shot Carlo Webster inside the Next Level nightclub in September.

Webster’s killing was also believed to be retaliatory.

Police said it was too early to discuss motive in the most recent killing, that of Fabian Powell. However, Powell was at one time considered a suspect in the January 2008 shooting death of 18–year–old Josh Hooker. A police wanted flyer, inadvertently released to the public last year, identified Powell as the man who was wanted for questioning in connection with Josh Hooker’s death.

Powell was never charged in connection with that shooting.

Solving crimes

The Caymanian Compass examined the case clearance rate for the last 15 killings the Islands have experienced.

For 2008, charges and convictions were obtained in two of the seven homicides; those of 21–year–old Aaron William Berry and 20–year–old Brian Rankine. A suspect was also arrested and charged in the death of Canadian national Martin Gareau, but that individual was found not guilty at trial.

The October 2008 rape and killing of Cable and Wireless Communications Manager Estella Scott–Roberts has led to charges against two men who are expected to face trial early this year.

No charges have been filed in the 2008 deaths of Josh Hooker, Frederic Bise, and 23–year–old Mark Jefferson.

In 2009, prosecutors obtained a conviction in the killing of local DJ Sherman “Jazzy B” Bodden, and have charged a man in the March death of 21–year–old Sabrina Schirn. That man, Randy Martin, is currently on trial for murder.

Three men have also been charged in Omar Samuels’ death and are scheduled to face trial.

Arrests were made in connection with Carlo Webster’s shooting, but no charges have been filed. Similarly, no resolution has been brought in the killings of 17–year–old Jerome “J.C.” Russell, Marcus Ebanks, Fabian Reid, and Fabian Powell.

Police Identify Murdered Man at Popular Jamaican Eatery "Welly's"

Police identify murdered man on Sound Way
Published on Sunday, January 3, 2010 in the Cayman Net News
A crowd gathered at the scene of last week’s murder along Sound Way Update: Following a post mortem yesterday (30 December) police can now confirm that Fabian Powell, whose body was found on Tuesday morning near Welly’s Cool Spot on Sound Way, George Town, died of gunshot wounds. He was formally identified by his sister. George Town detectives investigating the murder of the 27-year-old man, a Caymanian who resided in George Town. In the hours following the discovery of the body, murder detectives have spoken to dozens of people in the area and carried out a full forensic examination of the scene. It has been established that the victim had spent the early part of Monday night (29 December 2009) at Welly’s Cool Spot in Sound Way. People have come forward to report that they heard sounds similar to gunshots in the area of Sound Way on Monday night about 10:00 pm. There is also a report of gunshots being heard around 3:00 am on Tuesday morning. Despite the fact that these sounds were heard, no reports were made to the RCIPS at the time. Detective Chief Inspector, Peter Kennett, who is leading the enquiry, said, “We are keeping an open mind about the motive for the murder.” He noted that his team will continue actively to trace people who were at Welly’s Cool Spot on Monday night to establish the last movements of the victim. “If you were in the bar on Monday and you have not already spoken to my officers, then please call the incident room,” he said. “The victim was very well-known in the area. If you saw or spoke to him on Monday night we would be very keen to speak to you. The victim was wearing a white marina sleeveless t-shirt, black faded 3/4 length jean pants with a scroll logo on the back left and black shoes. If you did not know the victim but saw anyone answering this description on Monday night, or in the early hours of Tuesday morning, please get in touch. “It is concerning that despite the fact people heard what appeared to be gunshots on Monday night/Tuesday morning no such reports were made to the police at the time. If you were in the area and heard shots or a disturbance, then again my officers would be interested in speaking with you as soon as possible,” Mr Kennett added.

A Smoke Free Cayman - Almost

Tobacco Law in Effect

(Grand Cayman - CITN) -


Cayman’s Tobacco Law, 2008 is in effect from today, Thursday, 31 December 2009.


Business owners are reminded that all legislated smoke-free areas must be clearly marked. These include enclosed bars, restaurants and pool halls, parks, any commercial transport, public toilets and public transportation terminals (e.g. the cruise terminals) and all shops and shopping centres.


Tobacco vendors must also display the necessary signs according to the law. Sample signs are available from the Public Health Department. For more information call 244-2621.

Armed Robbery - North Side

Bodden Town detectives are appealing for witnesses after a female cashier was robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday. At about 11.55 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 December 2009, a female cashier was working within the Nicho Norte liquor store in Frank Sound Road. At that time a masked man entered the store, presented what appeared to a firearm and demanded cash. The suspect then made off from the premises with a small amount of cash. No shots were fired and no one was injured as a result of the incident. The man is described as being approximately 5’11” in height with brown eyes and of skinny build. He was wearing a green and black mask which covered his head, a black top and blue pants. Detective Constable Alric Palmer is appealing for anyone who may have been in the area of the store around 11.55 a.m. on Wednesday and witnessed the robbery, or the suspect making off from the scene, to contact Bodden Town CID on 947-2220. Information can also be passed to Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS).

Police Recover Stolen Vehicles & Arrest Suspects

Posted Thu, Dec 31st 2009, 16:31
(Grand Cayman - CITN) -

Comment: Really!!! Where are you going to go fast enough on an island to get rid of two high value cars? And everyone knows the cars are going by slow boat to Jamaica!

One man and two juveniles have been arrested following a police operation in the West Bay area last night (30 December) which resulted in the recovery of two “high value” stolen vehicles according to police.

A police spokesperson says at about 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, police received a report that two motor vehicles – a Nissan 350z convertible and a Nissan Murano - with a combined value of CI$70,000 had been stolen from Automotive Art on Shedden Road, George Town.

“About 5.00 p.m. that day officers from West Bay, CID and DTF raided several addresses in the West Bay area. During the operation both stolen cars, and various other items of stolen property including a number of tyres, were recovered by police.”

A 17-year-old man and two 16-year-old male juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of theft and burglary.

Police enquiries are ongoing.

Why Do Caymanian's Shirk Away from Work in the Tourist Sectors?

Faces of tourism

By: Cyril Perkins

Follow the comments here

I was in a very popular seaside bar on the other afternoon. I was served by a very pleasant young lady who spoke excellent English even though it was obviously not her first language. She told me that she was from Latvia and had only been on the island for two weeks.

This made me wonder how she had managed to get a work permit when there are a number of unemployed Caymanians perfectly capable of performing the unskilled and less than onerous duties that she has. Now that I come to think about it, I realise that every bar worker I have ever come across here, and there have been quite a few, has been an expat. They are American, Canadian, South African, Australian etc.

There is a similar situation in restaurants. I have never been served by a waiter or waitress who is not an expat. Austrians seem to dominate here, although there are many other Europeans. Never Caymanians.

Why are there no Caymanians?

This is an island that relies heavily on tourism and yet young Caymanians are not working in that industry. Certainly, working as a bartender or a waiter means starting at the bottom but there is experience to be gained that could be of benefit elsewhere and there is also the possibility of promotion. It must be a better prospect than unemployment.

I was talking to a restaurant owner recently about why he had no Caymanian staff. His response was interesting, instructive and depressing. He told me that he advertised a position and (as a long time resident and a status holder who is concerned about rising local unemployment levels) stipulated that only Caymanians should apply.

He received three applications; one from a young man and from two women whose ages ranged from 18 – 21. He interviewed them all. Then he made a difficult decision, as all three applicants were suitable. Later he phoned the successful candidate and told him that he could start the next day. The Caymanian applicant declined the offer. The reason, he told the restaurateur, was that he had not realised what the job involved when he applied and he did not want to work on Friday and Saturday evenings. That was when he went out with his friends. The other two gave the same response for the same reason when called to be offered the job.

Why they applied for the job in the first place is a question that I don’t have the answer to. Didn’t they realise that working in a restaurant was not a Monday to Friday, nine to five job? The restaurant owner has hired a Spaniard.

I am not going to attempt to draw any conclusions from this but I do find it ominous and deeply depressing.

2009 economy went from bad to worse

By Michael Klein In 2009 signs of a recession were visible across Cayman’s key economic indicators and employment figures. Data released in November by the Economics and Statistics Office showed that the Cayman Islands’ gross domestic product had contracted at an annualised rate of 7.1 per cent during the first six months of 2009. The semi–annual report of economic indicators projected an overall shrinking of the Cayman economy by 5.8 per cent for the full year amidst “recessionary conditions in source markets” that impact the domestic economy. A year earlier in 2008 Cayman’s economy had still delivered modest growth of 1.1 per cent, compared to an average GDP of between 4.4 and 6.5 per cent in previous years. The recession impacted all of Cayman’s industry sectors. In the retail segment merchandise imports fell by 13 per cent revealing lower demand and sales volume. The tourism industry experienced a fall of air arrivals by 13.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent lower cruise passenger numbers than in the first half of 2008. The construction industry which on the whole is strongly influenced by tourism activity saw a decline in the total value of building permits of 17 per cent. The financial services sector, which is highly dependent on mutual fund and company registrations, had to deal with a drop in mutual fund registrations. In September 2009 the number of funds had gradually increased to 9,838 from its low of 9,705 in the first quarter. Although numbers are expected to have slowly picked up in the fourth quarter, they will still be down from a record 10,291 in 2008. New company registrations declined by an unprecedented 46.2 per cent compared to figures for the first half year of 2008. Bank and trust company registrations fell by 3.9 per cent while stock exchange listings contracted by 16.1 per cent. Only the number of insurance licenses increased, by 1.9 per cent. In the real estate market, property transfers fell by 21 per cent in number and 43.3 per cent in value. All the negative development in the economy had a significant impact on the job market. Unemployment rates were forecast to increase for the third straight year, reaching 5.5 per cent in 2009, the highest unemployment rate in a decade. Between November 2008 and November 2009 work permits and government contracts for non–Caymanian workers declined by 12.4 per cent or 3303 permits down from 26,659 permit holders. In addition to the deteriorating global economy and its implications for the tourism and financial services industry, the reduction of the Caymanian labour force by several thousand workers in turn exacerbated the crisis for the local economy, as it significantly reduced the amount of money that was spent for example in the in the retail and real estate industry. Government workers accounted for one of the largest drops in employment for foreign work permit holders in the Cayman Islands over the past year. The number of government contracts alone dropped by 10 per cent in 2009. The largest reduction in the workforce took place in the construction industry, showing a decline of over 15 per cent. The number of carpenters on permits fell from 923 to 773 in that time, heavy equipment operator permits went from 248 to 199, masons dropped from 629 to 545 and skilled and unskilled labourer permits went from 1,536 to 1,185. The tourism and hospitality industry also saw employment numbers decline by more than 10 per cent. In the financial services industry the number of accountants on work permits fell by more than 16 per cent, while professional managers declined by over 11 per cent. While the immediate economic outlook is still gloomy, Cayman Islands Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson expects an economic recovery for the latter half of 2010.

No help in cop shooting

By Brent Fuller Four officers were in shot up car Four Royal Cayman Islands Police officers will be thanking their lucky stars this holiday season that they get to spend Christmas Day with their families. Less than a month ago, the officers were driving down Shedden Road early Saturday morning when bullets pierced their patrol vehicle through the back windshield, grazing one officer in the neck. That officer, a special constable with the police service, was treated for minor injuries and released. The other three inside the patrol vehicle were unhurt. That’s the good news. The bad news from the police perspective is that not one tip has been phoned into the Crime Stoppers operation about the 28 November shooting in George Town. “The shots fired at police were non–provoked and set up as if the officers were being ambushed,” Crime Stoppers Chairman Eric Bush said. “The action and intent was to kill the police officers who were on routine patrol.” “This was an act of cowardice.” In the days following reports about the police officer’s shooting, Crime Stoppers received pledges of up to $50,000 from the business community for anyone whose information led to the arrest and conviction of those involved. Crime Stoppers tips are kept strictly anonymous and are answered by call centres located in Florida, USA, and Canada. Mr. Bush said Crime Stoppers is concerned about the perceived lack of response in connection with the shooting and doesn’t simply want this issue to go away. He and other Crime Stoppers board members are wondering whether the organisation’s message is reaching its intended audience. The group even went so far this week as to seek advice from members of the local press on how best to garner the public’s cooperation in the most serious criminal cases like the police shooting. “There are people in this community who know who are involved…and where the guns are hidden,” Mr. Bush said. “I am hopeful that our community will show that they are against acts of violence and support the police by giving them the information needed.” Mr. Bush said Crime Stoppers will be exploring new ways of communicating with the public in 2010, including urging the police to release photographs and even video of suspects believed to be involved in criminal activity when it is available and appropriate to do so. He said the organisation would consider using some of the new social media such as Facebook and Twitter to help get its message out. In relation to the police officer’s shooting on 28 November, Mr. Bush said he hoped to receive Crime Stoppers board approval to increase the available reward. According to its operating rules, Crime Stoppers can only offer up to $1,000 for information in any one case – but additional donations from the private sector can up the ante considerably. In more than 100 years in Cayman, the police service has never lost an officer in the line of duty. Comment: No one has come forward to help Cayman police because Caymanian police officers are not respected. Period. To earn respect they have to give respect, and that corrupt department should be ashamed of themselves.

Men Accused of Murdering Estella Scott Roberts in Court

Posted Fri, Dec 18th 2009, 18:01
(Grand Cayman - CITN) -

Both men accused of murdering Estella Scott-Roberts in October last year now have full legal representation.

The men appeared before the Judge this morning. Larry Ricketts will be represented by Jamaican QC Delano Harrison and Junior Counsel Lee Freeman. Kirkland Henry will have Ian Bourne as lead counsel and Ben Tonner will be the junior.

Trouble finding senior counsel to represent the two accused men pushed back the date of the trial. However, the trial will start on 21 January 2010.

The men are expected back in court before that date though, to elect whether they want a trial by jury or judge alone. That election will happen on the 14 January.

Beach erosion, reef & fish decline cited as priority

Posted on Wed, 12/09/2009

(CNS): While world leaders are still convening in Copenhagen to decide how humanity can address the problem of climate change on a global scale, the local national climate change strategy workshop has come to a close. According to a release from government, at the end of the three day event, beach erosion, reef and fisheries decline, rising energy, food and water costs, and higher insurance premiums were cited as the issues requiring priority attention in Cayman’s climate change strategy, which was described as a “big leap forward” by the environment minister.

Addressing participants at the end of the workshop, Minister of Environment Mark Scotland said much more work needed to be done but Cayman that had “taken a big leap forward in arriving at a climate change plan that lists priorities as well as possible mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies.”

He warned, however, that many other problems are vying for people’s attention, and communicating the strategy to the public will be a key factor in obtaining feedback and acceptance.

“For me, one of the best ways we can get climate change on the national agenda is to focus on the myriad opportunities it presents to all sectors,” he said.

Some of those opportunities highlighted at the workshop include a regional branding initiative wherein Caribbean nations sign up to become carbon neutral tourism destinations, diversifying into a ‘green’ economy, and reducing living costs through alternative energy sources.

“None of us living here can claim that we will be able to escape the impacts of climate change, and so I hope that the final strategies will include practical targets to involve the entire population,” Scotland added.

Cayman’s strategic priorities were established by members of Cayman’s National Climate Change Working Group and sector specific public and private sector stakeholders

Climate Change issues affecting Cayman had been identified in January through previous stakeholder consultations and these issues were ranked at the workshop according to four different indicators of importance to prioritise them.

In addition to setting national priorities, participants also discussed possible policies to address these issues, as well as an outreach campaign to obtain public input before drafting a Climate Change Green Paper, early next year. This Green Paper will be used to formulate the Draft Climate Change Strategy.

The workshop was funded by the UK Department for International Development as part of the Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories (ECACC) Project. This project is managed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

Visiting experts were Dr. Neville Trotz, CCCCC science advisor; Judi Clarke, CCCCC public outreach specialist; George de Romilly, an environment law expert; and Ottis Joslyn, national coordinator of the Implementation of Adaptation Measures in Coastal Zones Project, also managed by CCCCC.

For more information on Cayman’s sustainable development initiatives go to http://www.doe.ky/about/sustainable-development-unit/

Time for government to get serious about recycling

Commentary: By Patrick Chester Today I did something on this Island I would never have done during my time in the UK, the US or Europe. I threw a tin can in the garbage. I shouldn’t feel bad about not recycling it though. No-one on Grand Cayman should. Because until there’s a government sponsored home recycling drive in place, there’s nothing we can do. I threw the tin away, off to a life on top of what could be Cayman’s highest point; the landfill mountain outside of George Town. I found myself asking, as well as the main garbage bin for household rubbish that can’t be recycled, where are the separate boxes for paper, for tins and glass and for plant waste? I know many do recycle, many do take care to turn off lights and many still preach lessons taught by their elders to never waste clothes and food. But even in this age of consumerism there’s no room for ignoring the mountain of garbage on this island. Put simply, there’s no more reason to throw away a tin can than there is to follow it with a few dollar notes in the waste basket too. A quick search through Cayman’s newspaper archives shows that the majority of businesses on the island are working hard to be environmentally responsible. Recycling initiatives in schools, in bars and the Global Green Caribbean’s initiative to recycle old telephone directories shows there’s a growing will amongst Cayman’s citizens and businesses to work on this. But recycling should start in the home. We all have a hand to play in keeping the island clean. By allowing the government to ignore household waste, the mountain of trash will only grow. Although responsibility ultimately falls to us to dispose of recyclable trash in the proper way, it’s the government which has to step in to ensure there’s a service available to guarantee household waste will be discarded properly. The attitude of government has to be that if people take care in what they throw away, it will then ensure it’s properly collected and recycled. In Europe, the EU has pushed forward for the last decade with its Landfill Directive, a policy requiring European governments to commit to find new ways of dealing with their household waste. This has included the large scale composting of biodegradable material, something which Grand Cayman would have a ready use for, even if only to provide high quality compost for parks and wildlife areas. On June 16 of this year, the ever-sensible Dave Schudel and Jack Benz gave some good pointers on what we as citizens can do to reduce the size of the landfill: “Don’t buy what you don’t need, buy items with less packaging, reuse what you can, give to charity rather than throw away and so on.” Dave and Jack questioned whether this would make a difference to the size of the landfill. It seems a start, but the landfill should be a last resort for garbage. Better to put a system in place to categorize different materials before it leaves the home or business. A recycling plant would be an expensive upfront cost but once in place that landfill will be full of only materials, which can’t be recycled. A composting site for vegetable and fruits would cost even less, and could be used as high quality soil feed. Is there a reason then why the government has so far offered only half-hearted gestures to update what is an archaic way to dispose of household waste, simply allowing it to fester in the heat? Possibly it’s the economic cost of recycling. In truth, we make little on the island. What would Cayman do with the recycled metals, plastics and paper if it couldn’t be reused for products manufactured on the island? In other countries it could be fed back into the manufacturing industry, so what could our government do with it? Is it too costly to ship it out to where it could be sold for reuse? Caybrew’s pledge to collect empty bottles makes sense. It must lower its operating costs to be able to reuse the glass, rather than import bottles from abroad. On the other hand, it makes no economic sense for Crown Imports to collect up its empty Corona bottles, as it would have to ship them back to the US for reuse. It’s easier for the importers to simply ignore island recycling, to the detriment of the island. So could it be living on an island is holding the government back from updating its garbage disposal system? If it is a cost issue, ignoring Mount Trashmore will continue to unless it’s forced to put a recycling process in place by the people. Critics will say that this is not the time to be worrying about introducing costly new measures to protect the environment, when the island economy is facing economic losses as part of the global downturn. But our environmental actions should stand firm against the cost to our pockets. Never should we allow our civic duty to be pushed aside by economic pressure. Never should we discard good ideas to maintain a status quo that’s incompatible with the environment, and soon to be the rest of the world. Recycling is the most immediate way we can ensure Grand Cayman retains its beauty, and set an example to other Caribbean islands. Urge the government to make a stronger case for recycling. The future isn’t landfills, dumping garbage on cargo boats or burning it, it’s working smarter to minimize waste. Tins, bottles and paper should be in a separate box outside the home or apartment. The government should organize a separate collection after general garbage is collected, and it should subsidize the collection. It can sell the recyclable material it collects. All over the world and as Dave and Jack said on cruise ships too, people are starting to smarten up to the idea of recycling. Let’s not let Grand Cayman fall by the wayside in this new age of austerity. About the Author: As a researcher and writer for a marketing business consultancy, Patrick Chester worked in writing positions between Grand Cayman and London for the past two years.

Next Level Nightclub Gets Reincarnated Into Another Club

The former site of Next Level nightclub will be refurbished, renamed and its new owner is hoping to have it re–opened by early to mid–December.

Workers remodel the inside of the former Next Level, which will open as Jet nightclub in mid–December. Photo: Brent Fuller

Island Pools company owner Joe DeFilippo confirmed Friday that he had purchased the nightclub business from former owner Harry Lalli who was never able to get the club going following a deadly shooting inside the premises on 10 September.

The liquor licence–holder, Christian Sorenson, will remain the licensee and building owner.

Mr. DeFilippo said the new club would be called ‘Jet’ and would be redesigned in attempts to bring a more upscale clientele to the establishment.

“We’re going to put a lot of time into making it very nice inside, and obviously safe,” he said.

The early morning of 10 September, 35–year–old Carlo Webster was shot in the head on the dance floor of the Next Level and another man was wounded by what police later said was either a bullet ricochet or errant gunfire.

Mr. DeFilippo, who owns O Bar and the Attic bar located on the opposite side of West Bay Road from the former Next Level site, said a significant security presence will be maintained at the new Jet club. He said it will not be unusual to see 10 or more security guards on site during busy evenings.

“On a busy night at O Bar we have that many,” Mr. DeFilippo said, adding that he also intended to have K–9 security eventually implemented at Jet nightclub.

Security costs have been steadily rising for Cayman’s nightclub owners, and a few clubs, including Pepper’s and Everglo (Pit Stop) have closed down within the past year or so partly due to violent incidents which have occurred around their premises.

“Our cost of security at O Bar has gone from $4,000 a month to $10,000 a month in the last two years alone because of the recent violence,” Mr. DeFilippo said.

Royal Cayman Islands Police and the Liquor Licensing Board have assisted in drafting new proposals for Cayman’s Liquor Licensing Law, but those plans have not come before the Legislative Assembly. Several nightclubs have adopted new security measures, including metal detectors and pat–down searches of patrons, at the request of the board.

No charges have been filed in connection with September’s shooting at Next Level. Police arrested three men within a day after the shooting, but all three were released without charges.

In any case, simply closing down a nightclub or bar that has been a problem spot can end up creating more problems than it solves.

Just ask RCIPS Inspector Richard Harford.

In an interview earlier this year, Inspector Harford confirmed that at least two shootings in central George Town occurred near areas where unlicensed street parties, commonly known in the Cayman Islands as ‘sessions’ were being held.

Whether those involved in the recent shootings were actually attending the street parties in both instances was not known, but Harford freely admits that the unlicensed events are a major headache.

“Some of these guys are persistent,” Harford says. “They (hold parties) every weekend, and that’s actually where all of the anti–social behaviours take place.”

Street parties also tend to move around to make it more difficult for police to find them.

“It’s the balloon effect,” said Mr. Harford. “You put pressure on one side and the other side blows up.”

Inspector Harford said police in George Town are making greater efforts now to control these illegal parties which generally happen between midnight and 6am on weekends.

Not only are those who host the parties, play music and sell alcohol acting illegally, but Mr. Harford said individuals who attend the sessions might also be arrested if police arrive.

Samson says he doesn’t believe the sessions are as big a problem as they were in the late 1990’s in Cayman. However, he says closing one club can just lead its patrons to go down the street to the next one.

This situation can be addressed by nightclub and bar owners, Samson says.

“What we have tried to do, and to a certain extent it was done, that if you’re banned from a particular nightclub – if there was a way we could network with each other so (that person) doesn’t show at somebody else’s doorstep,” Samson says.

DeFilippo also notes that under the current law, not all liquor licensees are treated equally. He points out that some bars are allowed to serve alcohol on Friday nights until 1.30am or 1.45am now. Nightclubs must stop serving at 2am, although they can remain open until 3am.

“There are bars now acting as clubs,” DeFilippo says. “They have 250-300 people and they don’t have to follow the laws of the clubs. Some of them have one security guard.”

Nightclub owners and tourism-based business have also urged government to allow nightclubs to remain open until at least 1am Sunday. Currently, the Cayman Islands Music and Dancing Law require those premises to shut down at midnight Sunday.

“From a standpoint of tourists coming to the Islands, it’s necessary,” he says. “I would invite anybody to come and stand there on a Saturday night when tourists are here for the first time and they have to leave at 12 o’clock. The amount of abuse we take…it’s ridiculous.”

In another related issue, a woman was mugged earlier this year in the parking lot across the street from the Waterfront restaurant.

The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce has advocated that island-wide connectivity be established for CCTV cameras, so that those video feeds can be sent directly to police stations. Bar and club owners have also supported that proposal.

What happens outside nightclubs and bars has been another touchy issue, with club owners arguing they simply can’t police everything that happens in the street around their establishments.

“What has been our experience is that when there’s a major incident and we get hauled before the board and chastised...(police) show up for a while and then they slack off,” Samson says.

Clubs have asked police to maintain presence in their parking lots, particularly around closing time on the weekends to make sure those hanging around in the lots don’t get into scuffles after-hours. RCIPS officers have done so in the past as staffing levels and calls for service have allowed.

RCIPS Chief Superintendent Adrian Seales says bar and nightclub security is a top priority for the police.

“We’ve adopted a high-profile policing approach in the areas surrounding the bars and clubs,” Seales says, adding that the clubs themselves have taken a number of steps in the past 18 months to better secure their own premises.

“These include the use of metal detectors, stop and search operations, roadblocks and high visibility patrols at peak times.”

Seales also hinted at a new Cayman Islands “Bar Watch Programme” that will introduced in the beginning of 2010 by the RCIPS, but provided no further details.

Drug Dealer Dainian Cecil Henry could still be hiding out on Grand Cayman

RCIPS: Escapee could still be here

By Brent Fuller Despite his escape from custody nearly three weeks ago, Royal Cayman Islands Police believe convicted drug suspect Dainian Cecil Henry could still be hiding out on Grand Cayman. Dainian Cecil Henry “I believe that Henry is still on the Island,” RCIPS Chief Inspector Peter Kennett said. “He will be laying low and probably only coming out in darkness.” Henry, 28, escaped from custody at the George Town Police Station on 25 October after pushing down a woman holding a baby and running away. He was last spotted on Elgin Avenue. RCIPS officers searched two properties last week looking for Henry, but he was not located. “He will be getting desperate,” Mr. Kennett said. “He will probably try to change his identity by growing a beard.” Police have urged members of the public not to approach Henry, but to report sightings of him immediately. “He may well be trying to leave the Island by boat – perhaps bound for his native Jamaica,” Chief Inspector Kennett said. “I would not recommend trying to smuggle him out of the country as the marine forces both here and in Jamaica are on high alert. It is a serious offence to assist an offender which could well lead to imprisonment.” Henry was actually found guilty this week of being concerned in the possession of cocaine with intent to supply. He was not in court for the guilty verdict Tuesday. RCIPS officers also want Henry in connection with firearms–related offences. Jamaican and Caymanian authorities are not the only ones looking for Henry. Turks and Caicos police are also on alert, and have told the Caymanian Compass that their country’s immigration authorities have been notified about the situation in Cayman. Henry was a suspect at one time in the 2005 robbery and murder of a Turks and Caicos police constable. However, detectives said last month that he was interviewed and cleared in that case. The Jamaican national does have an ex–wife in Turks and officers there thought it might be possible he would attempt to go there. Henry is no stranger to the Cayman Islands court system, having been brought in previously on charges of being concerned in the importation of cocaine, threatening violence, resisting arrest and giving a false name. Henry has been in custody for matters related to firearms, according to police, and officers have asked the public not to approach him but to report any sightings of him immediately.

Police Commissioner David Baines said a group of 15 people were responsible for the majority of the recent gun crimes

In a frank address to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon, Police Commissioner David Baines said a group of 15 people were responsible for the majority of the recent gun crimes being committed in the Islands.

Mr. Baines said some of these individuals had previously been arrested and even charged in connection with shootings, but were let off either because of insufficient evidence or witnesses who were scared to come forward.

“At the moment we have 15 individuals who are spoiling our outlook for the future,” Mr. Baines told a group of about 100 Chamber members at the Grand Marriott Resort. “These 15 individuals are well–known to our officers. Regretfully, some of these individuals have walked free.”

Although he did not mention any specific names, Mr. Baines did make reference to the recent deadly shooting inside the Next Level nightclub. He also noted another individual had been featured in a recent police service press release seeking information that could lead to the apprehension of a firearms suspect.

The commissioner said some steps needed to be taken to reform not only how the Royal Cayman Islands Police handle criminal investigations, but in how the criminal justice system is administered.

Mr. Baines noted exploring the potential for more judge alone trials, as opposed to trial by jury, might be one option.

He said that some cases had come to court with “evidence in other jurisdictions that would have convicted people” but ultimately failed because jurors here were intimidated.

“When we have people in the judiciary who are fearful of retribution, how can we expect the public to come forward?” he asked the Chamber audience.

However, Mr. Baines also bluntly acknowledged the failings of police investigations at certain crime scenes, which he admitted sometimes led to embarrassing newspaper headlines. Part of the problem he said was that officers had not received the proper training in law enforcement techniques.

“We have not responded with the right skilled people at the right time,” he said.

Once that training is in place, the commissioner said he would like to devolve responsibility during crime scene response to the actual officers on the ground.

“Traditionally, it’s gone back to a hierarchy approach,” Mr. Baines said. “I’m looking to lose some of the rigidity in the hierarchy.”

Mr. Baines said he also planned to bring in law enforcement experts from the UK to assist RCIPS officers in criminal investigation and interviewing techniques. One of those individuals, Steve Brougham, arrived in Cayman this week.

Four charged in US to Cayman firearms smuggling caper

By Brent Fuller, brent@cfp.ky Sunday 20th September, 2009 Posted: 13:50 CIT (18:50 GMT) Four men, at least two of whom are from Cayman, have been charged in US federal court in connection with separate firearms–related incidents. According to federal court indictments obtained by the Caymanian Compass, three of the men are accused of conspiring to smuggle firearms into the Cayman Islands via a freight forwarder in Broward County, Florida. The fourth man is charged with illegally possessing a .40 calibre Glock semi–automatic pistol as a non–immigrant alien having been admitted to the United States. It was unclear from court records whether the two indictments had any connection to each other. Special Counsel to the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alicia Valle said the three men charged in the guns shipping case pleaded guilty in August. Their sentencing date is set for early November. According to federal court records, David Gilbert Lyons, Mitchell Anthony Brown, and Brittanio Jermie Walton each face five counts in the indictment alleging they conspired to ship firearms, attempted to export firearms, delivered firearms to a common carrier without notice, attempted to ship firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and possessed firearms with serial numbers obliterated. Federal court records indicated that Mr. Lyons travelled from Grand Cayman to Miami on 2 April to meet up with Mr. Walton and Mr. Brown. On 10 April, the charge alleges that the three drove to Pennsylvania to obtain firearms and returned to Miami about four days later. Attempting to cover up what they were shipping, the federal court indictment alleges that the three men went to a Home Depot store in Hialeah, Florida to buy light fixtures, ceiling fans, a hedge trimmer, and a window air conditioning unit. Two days later, court records charge that seven boxes containing the items bought at Home Depot were delivered to a freight forwarder in Port Everglades, Broward County, Florida. “All (the items) concealed firearms and ammunition,” the indictment stated. The indictment did not specify the amount of weapons and ammunition the three men were attempting to ship. The items were merely described as firearms, ammunition, and gun parts. The case falls under federal jurisdiction in the US because federal law states that no “defence articles or defence services” can be exported from the US to a foreign country without a US State Department licence. Four of the counts the three defendants face carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The other count, attempting to export firearms, carries a maximum 10–year term. The indictment does not mention who the weapons were shipped to in the Cayman Islands. However, firearms importation charges have been filed locally in connection with a case that involved the recovery of several imported handguns earlier this year. Ms Valle said the US Attorney’s Office in Miami did not have any public records pertaining to that case. Royal Cayman Islands Police have repeatedly refused to comment on any aspect of the gun transhipment investigation. Gun possession charge In the separate indictment, Marvin Matthew Watson has been charged with possessing a firearm in the US “which had been transported in interstate or foreign commerce” in violation of US law. According to court records, a jury trial in the case was due to start earlier this month. But the US attorney’s office could not provide details. If convicted, Mr. Watson could face up to ten years in US federal prison for possession of a firearm by a non–immigrant alien. Comment: This has been going on by various groups of Jamaicans and Caymanian youths for years! Even Caymanian fishermen are part of the smuggling.

Next Level Nightclub Shooting - A Murder Waiting to Happen Type Club

Next Level nightmare

By Brent Fuller One dead, one hurt in shooting One man died and another was hurt in a shooting that occurred inside the Next Level nightclub on West Bay Road early Thursday morning. Police officers investigate Thursday morning’s deadly double shooting at the Next Level night club. Photo: Brent Fuller Approximately 100 people were inside the club when shots rang out around 1.30am, according to witnesses there who have spoken to the Caymanian Compass. “The first shot sounded like someone dropped a bottle,” said one man who the Compass is not identifying in order to protect him from retaliation. “I saw the body drop and the second shot went off. “I’m still speechless; sleepless…I’ve never seen anyone get shot in front of me, especially not in Cayman.” The dead man, and intended victim was identified as Carlo Webster, a West Bay resident in his early to mid–30s. The second man, a bystander who hit in the stomach by gunfire, and was hospitalised and expected to recover. Those inside the club reported two or three gun shots being fired, and were unsure whether the second man was even a target of the shooting. No arrests had been reported in the killing as of press time Thursday. Mr. Webster’s death is the sixth homicide to occur in Cayman so far this year. Next level landlord and liquor license–holder Christian Sorenson said he was at the club until about 1.15am on Thursday and that prior to the shooting, everything had appeared normal. Wednesday nights at Next Level are generally well–attended by local college students, but the crowd thins out a bit in September when some of the clientele head back to school overseas. Mr. Sorenson said the Next Level was at about one–third capacity just before the shooting happened. “Everything looked normal, not really crowded…there was no sign that anything was wrong,” Mr. Sorenson said. Witnesses said some shoving and shouting occurred just before the shooting, but by that time Mr. Sorenson had left. The Next Level is well outfitted with security cameras, eight on the inside and four on the outside. Mr. Sorenson said the cameras record video for up to six hours at a time. Police are examining the videos. The club also employs security guards that search those entering at the front door using metal detector wands and full–body pat down techniques. “I’m stunned that someone would have done this in front of witnesses and cameras,” Mr. Sorenson said. “If they’re crazy enough to do this…I just don’t know.” Next Level owner Harry Lalli said he was seeking more information on the incident and was unable to make a statement by press time. Police Commissioner David Baines said the Next Level would be closed for the foreseeable future as it is a crime scene. “As part of our investigation we will look at issues related to the club and any identified failings will be reported to the Liquor Licensing Board,” Mr. Baines said. There have previously been crime problems around the Next Level and the adjacent parking lot, particularly near closing time in recent years. However, just last year liquor board chairman Mitchell Welds praised the establishment’s efforts in improving security. “Security looks pretty tight there,” Mr. Welds commented at a board meeting in September. Another board member said that Next Level was setting the example that other nightclubs on Grand Cayman should follow. RCIPS Chief Inspector Peter Kennett said police were urging witnesses to the crime to come forward, and said there were likely to be a fair few given the number of people at the club Thursday morning. “Did you see someone leaving the area or a car driving away? If you did please come forward,” Mr. Kennett said. Those with information were asked to call either George Town police station at 949–4222, the RCIPS anonymous voicemail service at 949–7777, or Crime Stoppers at 800–8477.

One man hurt during burglary

A man sustained injuries to his hand after he disturbed four men who had broken into the Lighthouse restaurant on Bodden Town Road last week.

The 34- year-old victim called the 911 Emergency Communications Centre at 2:40 am reporting that four men had broken into the building. Police responded to the scene and learnt from the victim that he had been working in the kitchen when he heard noises coming from the restaurant.

Upon entering the room he saw four masked men in the area of the cash register. He said he was hit on the arm with a crowbar and the men fled from the location.

The man did not require an ambulance but was advised to seek medical attention. A small amount of cash had been taken from the register and some items were missing from a showcase. The fire extinguisher had also been set off in the restaurant.

Three further burglaries occurred in the Eastern Districts overnight. Officers were called at 1:50 am by a woman reporting that her house in Paradise Villas on Sea View Road had been broken into. The woman said she had been woken by dogs barking and when she went downstairs she found the front door open. Officers responded and found the woman’s TV had been taken along with her handbag, some cash, some jewellery and a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. A second break-in at Paradise Villas was reported to police at 6:35 am.

A man reported that an X-Box game and a number of bottles of alcohol had been taken from his house overnight. It is thought the offenders gained entry to each apartment by prising the front doors open. Officers believe the dead bolts on the doors might not have been functioning properly and so would not have been as secure as they could be.

At 5:55 am police were alerted to the fourth break-in at Chester Watler’s heavy equipment on Bodden Town Road. The office of the company had been entered after a door was forced open. Some alcohol, a box of cigarettes and a small amount of cash has been confirmed as missing and an inventory is being carried out to see if anything else has been taken.

Detectives from Bodden Town are leading the investigations. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Joseph Wright at Bodden Town police station on 947-2220. Residents are reminded to do all they can to protect themselves from burglary, including locking all doors and windows, not leaving valuable items on display and using stoppers on windows and sliding doors so that even if the lock is broken entry cannot be gained easily.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.