Public sector keeps benefits

(CNS): Civil Servants will not be forced to make a fifty percent contribution to their health care according to a memo from the deputy governor’s office. Despite the announcement by the premier that he would be looking to reduce health benefits, freeze pensions and cut salaries of public sector workers in order to address the country’s forecasted deficit, a memo sent to senior civil servants on Thursday indicates that the pension freeze is being deferred, and health care benefits will not now be pursued. The Cayman Islands Civil Service still faces uncertainty regarding earnings, however, as the memo indicated salaries would not be cut in March but the pay reduction was still on the table for April.

CITA calls on cops to act

(CNS): The local tourism industry has raised its voice against the rising crime in the islands and called on the police to do more to stop the criminals and gangs, which the industry says, are seeing the Cayman Islands as a land of opportunity with inadequately checked borders and few consequences to their actions. The Cayman Islands Tourist Association Board of Directors has called on the RCIPS to try harder and asked both the police and the governor at what point will they realize that taking the same action will yield the same result and move towards a more aggressive policing policy.

Don’t cut CS pay, say MLAs

(CNS): Inflicting hardship on civil servants is no way to help Cayman out of the recession, the PPM has stated and called on government to cut operating expenses and downsize the public sector over time. Moses Kirkconnell pointed out that cutting pay will be disastrous for Cayman Brac’s economy, which is dependent on public sector workers, and called on the government not to take the money from the pockets of his constituents. During the public meeting on Tuesday evening, the PPM team all spoke in support of a need to reduce operational expenditure but said cutting salaries was not the way forward.

PPM rejects Chuckie’s demo

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman headline news , Cayman politics(CNS): The planned public protest against government which was scheduled for Saturday, 13 March, has been cancelled. The demonstration had been organised by Charles Clifford, the former cabinet minister, who now says he has lost the support of his colleagues in the PPM for the march because of government’s turnaround on the sale of the new government building negating the need to protest. Clifford, however, states that what he sees as the damaging changes to immigration policies must still be protested, but without the organisational support of the party the demo won’t go ahead.

CUC chases deposits

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman headline news, CUC(CNS): Following a number of reports to CNS that customers were being asked to give financial deposits, CUC have confirmed that a review of their customer accounts has led to some people being requested to supply a deposit or increase the amount held on account with the power supplier. One person complained that although they had been a customer since the 1970s and had never once missed a payment, the power firm had written to them demanding a $2,000 deposit, which they found excessive and unnecessary.  In a statement to CNS, CUC said it had a policy of requiring deposits from all commercial customers.

Marine cops close Sand Bar as seas turn rough

(CNS): Officers from the RCIPS Marine Unit closed the Sand Bar today, Thursday 11 March 2010, as winds increased across Grand Cayman. Urging people on the water to use caution, Inspector Brad Ebanks, officer in charge of the Marine Unit said that during this type of inclement weather the unit faces increased demands as more boaters find themselves in distress. “RCIPS has been working with the Water Sports Operators for a number of years now in efforts to ensure safety for people who use the water and marine life alike,” he said.

Burglars’ getaway not so clean after all

Cayman Islands News, Cayman Brac local news, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service(CNS): Following reports of two burglaries in Cayman Brac that involved heavy goods, police say they have made an arrest in connection with the strong-arm burglars who might not have had such a clean getaway after all. Police confirmed that the washing machine and drier, which had allegedly been stolen from an unoccupied residence in the Watering Place area on Monday 22 February, were recovered from a house in the Alta Vista area yesterday. A 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman have now been arrested on suspicion of burglary and released on police bail as enquiries continue. Area Commander Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay said the two were arrested following a local police operation

Civil servants work on alternatives to pay cuts

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman local news, Cayman Islands civil service(CNS): Following an emergency meeting that brought together around 700 public sector workers on Monday, the president of the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association said that he and his colleagues would be spending Wednesday evening putting the finishing touches to their collective thoughts regarding government’s proposed salary cuts. James Watler told CNS that Monday night’s meeting went well but raised more questions than answers for many public sector workers. He explained that for some it was the first time they were really hearing the details of the proposed salary and benefit cuts, which caused genuine concern.

Property experts assess Cayman’s declining market

Cayman Islands News Grand Cayman business news, Cayman property market(CNS): Although the Cayman Islands real estate market is continuing its four-year downward trend, analysts say this year’s fall in value was, at least, not as much as had been expected.  Although transfers fell by around 9%, Charterland Ltd chartered surveyors said it could have been a lot worse. Simon J Watson, the firm’s director, said there has been much speculation as to how the Cayman property market was impacted by the economic environment of 2009. The decrease was expected but it was actually less than many property experts had predicted, he observed.

Chamber warns of coercion over pension holiday

(CNS): Following the recent move by government to remove the mandatory obligation for employers and employees to pay 10% of earnings into pension funds the Cayman Islands Chamber Pension Trustees have raised their concerns that employees may be forced to agree to employers stopping their pensions even though the new law says it must be voluntary.  The Chamber has also warned that regulating and managing this change in the law will prove problematic increasing the costs of pension administration as well as allowing more non-compliance.

Pelican flies free after emergency care

(CNS): Cayman Wildlife Rescue volunteers have successfully released a juvenile Brown Pelican that was rescued in Pease Bay. The pelican was found by a concerned member of the public in February during rough weather.  When the bird did not fly away when approached, it was apparent it was suffering as a result of the weather and needed emergency care. Volunteers captured the pelican and took it to Island Veterinary Services where the vet said the bird was slightly underweight and dehydrated.  The Pelican was taken to the Cayman Wildlife Rescue facility, where a dedicated band of volunteers ensured that he was fed sprats twice a day. 

Businesses face implications of latest shooting

(CNS): The small business owners in Barnes Plaza, where a woman was shot in the face last Friday afternoon, are assessing the impact on their future livelihood. Some are concerned that the gangland attempted murder on their doorstep could drive customers away, while others have told News 27 that the shooting was all about the people involved and not the location. The concerns of many of those in the area mirror those of residents throughout the island -- it's not where, they say, but how many -- that is, the problem with shootings or major criminal incidents seeming to take place almost daily.

PPM: “Mac's big budget lie”

(CNS): The former education minister has said that the premier knew that this year’s budget was over ambitious and would never balance. Alden McLaughlin said McKeveva Bush had presented a “pretend budget” to the Legislative Assembly in order to ease the pressure from the UK. Accusing him of lying to both the people and the UK about the expected revenue, the opposition MLA said at a public meeting last night that the leader of the country had placed the Cayman Islands in an even more precarious position so that he could beat up on the PPM. McLaughlin said Bush had put too much pressure on business with fee increases and undermined confidence with his false declarations of the country’s bankruptcy.

Premier faces UK on finances

(CNS): The Cayman Islands premier will be meeting with the UK government this week to discuss the Miller Report and the state of the country's finances. Following the revelations in his address to the country on Monday evening that the government will need to borrow again to balance the 2009/10 budget, McKeeva Bush will also need to seek permission from the FCO’s Overseas Territories Minister Chris Bryant. The last time Bush went to London seeking UK approval for borrowing he was told the UK wanted to see direct taxation, and while he was eventually granted permission, it was based on a number of conditions, including a balanced budget for this year. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)

Ezzard takes on budget alone

(CNS): Frustrated by government’s refusal to convene an emergency Finance Committee meeting as he requested, Ezzard Miller, MLA for North side, is taking on the budget single handed. Convinced that there are numerous areas in spending that government could cut more easily than the salaries of civil servants, the independent MLA says that he will be examining the budget documents line by line to see the exact details of each appropriation and attempt to cut unnecessary expenditure. Miller told CNS that he believes this is what government should do first before taxing public sector workers.

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