(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.

(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

(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.

(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.

(CNS): Almost four years after it was published government officials are holding a retreat in order to discuss the report written by Yolande C. Forde on the pre-disposing factors to criminality in the Cayman Islands. The report which pointed the finger at the inadequacies in Cayman’s education system and also criticised the historical neglect, by the Cayman authorities, on the causes of crime in favour of the punishment of crime. However, the Ministry of Community Affairs says he wants to focus on crime prevention strategies at te heart of the community.

(CNS): Years of visiting the sick and elderly and focusing on the needs of young women in our community are the reason why Elma Deldee Ebanks, 71, and Madda Whittaker, 38 have been nominated as First Caribbean International Bank’s 2009 Unsung Heroes. The bank’ programme recognizes ordinary Caymanians who do extraordinary things for their community as true heroes are those who give of themselves willingly without the promise of any reward or recognition, and these two women are proud examples of that philosophy the bank said.

(CNS): One of the two men serving a life sentence for murdering Estella Scott-Roberts has been given three more prison stretches by the country’s leading judge. Twenty-seven year old Kirkland Henry was sentenced to another 20 years for rape, 15 years for abduction and 13 years for robbery, to run concurrently with his life sentence, by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in the Grand Court on Monday morning. Meanwhile, Devon Anglin who is charged with the murder of four-year-old Jeremiah Barnes briefly appeared in Summary Court this morning but his case was adjourned as he still has no legal council.

(CNS): Following the recent theft of a washing machine and drier on Cayman Brac police are now investigating the theft of a filing cabinet from the Watering Place Post Office after a burglar not put off by the size and weight of potential loot made of with it. Sometime between 11.30 am on Saturday, 6 March, and 9.00 this morning, Monday 8 March, the three drawer cabinet, which is cream in colour, disappeared. The drawers contained a small amount of cash, stamps and cell phone top-up cards. “The cabinet is heavy therefore it’s likely that a vehicle may have been used to transport it. I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of the post office over the weekend to contact me,” PC John Morrison said.

(CNS): During the 12th anniversary of Honouring Women Moth (HWM) the Department of Counselling Services’ Family Resource Centre will be recognising women who have broken gender barriers and shattered glass ceilings under the theme, Women Making History. On Monday morning Cayman will celebrate the UN’s International Women’s Day (IWD) with a ceremony in front of the Government Administration Building hosted by the department and the Minister for Community and Housing Affairs  Mike Adam.

(CNS): One of the world’s largest news agencies has now picked up on the escalating gang violence that is plaguing the Cayman Islands. A short Associated Press news piece reports on the latest shooting, which took place in downtown George Town on Friday afternoon, literally yards from the offices of some of Cayman’s leading offshore businesses. The independent news agency is the oldest and one of the biggest news houses in the world, and according to its website, on any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news of some kind from AP. The stories are picked up by thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online news providers across the globe.

(CNS): Some regular restaurant customers of the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm were offered the chance to buy turtle stew at a 25 percent discount from Thursday evening through Friday morning until the farm sold off its extra stock. The farm confirmed this was a one-off sale and the meat has not been reduced on a permanent basis. Following the price increases last month, the farm has been readjusting the production programme to meet the changes in demand. Managing Director Tim Adam explained that there was some surplus stew in the recent production run and he said the farm made a decision to discount some of the meat to long standing customers.

(CNS): There will be increased activity personnel and emergency vehicles at the Glass House this afternoon that may look like an actual emergency, but it is just a drill. Hazard Management Cayman Islands says an earthquake drill is currently being conducted at the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue in George Town. HMCI says there is no emergency situation in the vicinity of the Glass House.
 

(CNS): Police have confirmed that at around 2:00 this morning shots were fired at a house in Templeton Street in the Windsor Park area of George Town. No one was injured though a number of cars were damaged. Police have cordoned off the area, which is currently being examined by scenes of crime officers. CNS understands that this could be yet another gang related incident.
 

(CNS): Royal gongs from the UK will no longer be the only honour that can be bestowed upon Caymanians once the Legislative Assembly passes a bill to introduce a new system of awards from the premier’s office. Public input is now sought on the appropriate criteria for the honours which will give recognition to people in the community left out of the UK system. Presenting the draft bill McKeeva Bush said royal honours were limited and the local government had no control over was given those accolades. He said there was a “persistent unsatisfying sense that deserving people are left out,” of those awards and he wanted to find a way to address that.