Local News

(CNS): A stalwart of Cayman politics, Edna Moyle, a former Speaker of the House and representative for North Side for four terms, passed away at the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town this afternoon (21 May). A mother of five, she was a founding member of the People’s Progressive Movement and served as speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2005 until 2009. An experienced legislator and politician, Moyle lost her battle with cancer after being ill for several months on the eve of the 2013 election. With a long career in in politics, Moyle began as secretary to the Administrator of the Cayman Islands in 1966 to 1969, then became deputy clerk of the Legislative Assembly in 1971 until 1979. A working mother throughout her life, she also championed the cause of women.

(CNS): A group of Cuban refugees which includes several people who have landed and been deported from Cayman before has turned up in Little Cayman. The group of thirty migrants which includes one woman developed engine trouble near Cayman Brac this morning. However, the refuges pressed on after the weather cleared, stating that they were on their way to Honduras, but instead ended up in Little Cayman. It is not clear where the migrants are now but immigration officials say the group includes a number of repeat travellers, including one person who has been to the Cayman Islands three times previously.
 

(CNS): While The Jamaica Gleaner has claimed that CNS has been threatened with a law suit over a recent article, neither this media house nor CNS journalist Wendy Ledger have received any such threat. Following the publication of an article which revealed that the RCIPS and the Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Committee were investigating a money transfer made to the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) of US$1 million in relation to the honorary doctorate that the former Cayman Islands premier was scheduled to receive, the UCC chancellor, Dr Herbert Thompson (left), demanded that CNS publish the full correspondence between him and Ledger, but we have received no request to remove the article or any specific complaints of factual error.

(CNS): The troubles at the Cayman Islands Airports Authority are continuing as the former financial controller at the government authority is seeking the court’s intervention in the decision by the board to sack her last year. Shelly Ware has filed a judicial review stating that she wants her job back and a finding from the courts that not only was there no misconduct on her part but that she was an exemplary employee. Following an internal audit conducted by one of the directors on the board, Ware was fired by the board chair, Richard Arch, in December 2012 after more than three years at the airport. Ware states in her application that she was never given an opportunity to respond and that the chair did not have the authority to sack her in the first place.

(CNS): The son of local musicians Chuck and Barry Quappe has been killed in a road smash, which is now being investigated by police. Sources have confirmed that 21-year-old Zac Quappe was killed in the crash that occurred early Saturday morning on South Church Street near Sand Cay condos. Police released information about the two-vehicle collision on Saturday at around 12:15pm. A spokesperson said the driver of a second vehicle had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving after he was treated at the hospital. Police said the crash happened at about 3:11am on 18 May when both cars were speeding southwards on the single carriageway with a 30mph limit road.

(CNS): The police have confirmed that a 63-year-old man who was visiting Cayman on a cruise ship died Thursday after a snorkelling trip off Eden Rock. The US tourist was swimming with friends at around 10am on 16 May when he got into difficulty. The man was brought to shore by his friends where CPR was administered by emergency staff. He was then taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. A spokesperson for the RCIPS said that the matter is now under investigation by the Joint Marine Unit.

(CNS): The various groups opposed to the West Bay Road closure are continuing on with their fight, despite the recent disappointment regarding one of the legal challenges. The judicial review application filed by Rupert Ackermon, one of the leading activists in the Truly4Cayman group, was thrown out by  Justice Charles Quin as a result of the time line, and the legal questions surrounding the deal were therefore never aired. However, a second legal action filed by four West Bay women who are also part of a broader group of activists opposing the Dart-NRA deal with government are awaiting a court date for their writ of summons to be heard.

(CNS): With the General Election less than one week away, the Elections Office is reminding all liquor licence holders that no alcohol can be sold or given away until 7pm in the evening on Polling Day, an hour after the polls close. This includes bars, restaurants, hotels, duty free stores, as well as local liquor shops. Elections Supervisor Kearney Gomez also reminded employers that they must allow all staff members who are registered voters time off to go to the polls and that all political advertisements and banners and other inducements to vote for a particular candidate or party must be removed by midnight on Tuesday 21 May.

(CNS): The minute record of the weekly meetings between the deputy governor and the civil service ministry heads are increasingly shorter and reveal less and less about what goes on at the high level meetings. Although Franz Manderson was blazing a trail of transparency when he first began voluntarily releasing the record of what goes on behind the close doors of high-level public sector meetings, the scant information on the minutes being released is offering less insight into the workings of government rather than more.

(CNS): Friends and family of Cayman’s Javelin star Alex Pascal will be able to watch the local sporting hero graduate from Florida Air Academy on Friday, as the college is streaming its graduation ceremony on line. Pascal, a gold medal winner at the recent Carifta Games, will graduate as part of the class of 2013 in a ceremony that may not have changed in the school's 50 year history, but which has embraced modern technology to allow more and more people to join the celebration. Pascal will wear his formal military uniform and accept his graduation certificate from FAA President, James Dwight. He will then join graduates in the “Hat Toss,” a joyful tradition marking the end of the graduate’s time at Florida Air Academy.

(CNS): One man is in hospital and a second was in police custody following a hit and run on the West Bay Road early on Saturday morning. The victim who has received head injuries was struck by a car as he crossed the West Bay Road close to the strand shopping centre. The man was hit by a motor car travelling south which fled from the scene. The injured man was taken to the George Town Hospital where doctors have said his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Following the hit and run the driver of the vehicle believed to be involved was identified and located at his residence. He was arrested on Suspicion of Leaving the Scene and DUI.

(CNS): Government has finally released the full value for money report conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the controversial agreement it had with Dart Realty and the National Roads Authority. After months of secrecy, all of the documents are now in the public domain and posted below. Although CNS has not yet had the opportunity to study the documents, early indications show CIG is down $20 million in the short term. The much anticipated deal and reports were released late Friday afternoon, as announced by the minority government on Thursday. They include the details of the third amendment, which was never agreed to after Dart pulled out of talks this week.

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and the RCIPS have joined forces to create a new six week training programme for the young recruits. The police said the goal was to develop and enhance the leadership skills and knowledge of the Cadets and teach them about uniformed and other community based services. The programme will be certificated and aims to expose the Cadets to activities which will allow them to build confidence, develop new skills and provide civic and career awareness. Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis said he was sure the Cadets will learn a lot from the great initiative which may help swell the ranks of the local police force.

(CNS): Dr William Petrie, the director of the Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU), has become the eponymous hero of its new facility, and while the mosquito boss was immortalized in the new hanger, long term MRCU employee Janet MacMillian was honoured with the pesticide building being named for her. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who has responsibility for the MRCU,announced the names of the buildings at the opening of the aircraft facility, which includes a 12,402-square foot hangar, a 2,787- square foot custom-built pesticide store and a 1,600 square-foot evaporation basin and car park facility last month.

(CNS): The mission to raise awareness about alcohol misuse in Cayman Bcac got off to a running start last month when the Brac Against Alcohol Misuse (BAAM) charity hosted a walk/run and evening of entertainment that raised more than KYD800 for its public education programmes. In the months before its launch, BAAM worked with the National Drug Council (NDC) to develop a community-wide programme to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse, and in particular underage drinking. Chairperson Annie Rose Scott said BAAM was born out of a deep concern about the increase in the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths over the past few years in Cayman Brac.