(CNS): Following the premier’s announcement that the government will be bringing changes in February to the Legislative Assembly concerning the Immigration Law, Sherri Bodden, chair of the Immigration Review team, has explained that the goal is to reduce the break in stay for expatriate workers to the minimum amount possible that will still be considered a genuine legal break. Six months is likely to be the shortest time-break that foreign workers can take in order to return to start from scratch and not be automatically entitled to citizenship after ten years.

(CNS): A woman who was one of three victims of an armed robbery that took place at a condo complex on Seven Mile Beach, West Bay Road two weeks ago has spoken out about her terrifying ordeal and says she and her room mates are scared to go out. Like most of the armed robberies that have taken place on the island over the last six months, no one has been arrested for the robbery in which, the woman told News 27, she and her room mates were assaulted. According to the television station, the police say that they are still working actively on this investigation.

(CNS): Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd has announced plans to break ground in 2010 on a new, 100,000 square feet of mixed use Class AA Commercial Office and Retail development in Camana Bay. While the firm said that Decco was likely to be the general contractor most of the work will then be subcontracted to local firms creating as many as 200 trade jobs and ‘multiple opportunities for dozens of sub-contractors” Justin Howe, the VP Development for development told CNS. The company said the commitment to build comes at a time when the economic stimulus from it will be welcomed by the community.

(CNS): West Bay police are joining forces with local security companies and Crime Stoppers to offer tips to the community on crime prevention. Representatives from Security Centre, Island Electronics and Crime Stoppers will be available to demonstrate some cost effective equipment which can be used to assist in securing homes and property. Police officers will be on hand to offer the community, including business owners and condo managers, general tips about how not to tempt crooks and the simple steps they can be taken to keep both people and property safe.

(CNS): The failure by the country’s civil servants to manage the cuts which were mandated during the previous administration has been called into question by Auditor General Dan Duguay (left). Despite requests by the then Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts in 2008 to cut expenditure by at least six percent, Duguay said few departments actually achieved any savings in public spending and in may cases actually increased it but no one has been held to account. During a panel discussion held at the Cayman Business Outlook conference, financial consultant Paul Byles also raised the pressing need to address the spending part of Cayman’s budget equation.

(CNS): Residents and other concerned citizens are making a last minute push to get as many signatures as possible on their petition opposing the Emerald Sound development project in the South Sound area. The opposition to this particular development has focused heavily on the developer’s goal to cut a channel from the sea through the South Sound road to the main site, where the main residential condo complex will be constructed adjacent to Bel Air Drive. Berna Cummins (left). one of the people spearing heading the objections. told CNS that this potential development impacts all Caymans resident and not just those in the immediate neighbourhood.

(CNS):  In the wake of the devastating events in Haiti, the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit is warning people to watch out for scams connected to appeals for donations to help people in the disaster struck country. As a result of the earthquake, people all across the world are doing what they can to assist but the unit said the public should make sure they make their donations to recognised organisations, and that they do not give out personal or financial information via the phone or email.

(CNS): Government backbencher and West Bay MLA, Cline Glidden, will be heading up a new commission dedicated to tourism, the premier has announced. Although the new Constitution does not provide for junior ministers or undersecretaries of state to government ministers, McKeeva Bush has placed Glidden at the head of a new Tourism Commission which he says will steer the industry towards a new future. Under the premier’s ministry, Bush said Glidden will work on a plan to turn around the tourism product.

(CNS): Udpated Friday 8:00pm - Police have named Jason McDonald, of New York City, as the cruise ship passenger who died on board the Liberty of the Seas on Thursday 21 January, and have confirmed, following a post mortem examination earlier today, Friday 22 January, that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. About 12.47pm on Thursday police were informed that the body of 37-year-old was found within his cabin on board the cruise ship, which was moored in George Town harbour.

(The Tribune): An international securities/brokerage business yesterday said it expected client assets under administration at its Bahamas office to grow by upwards of 50 per cent to $300-$320 million, due to its regional consolidation plans, as it warned this nation not to follow Cayman's lead in raising business costs. Craig Lines, LOM (Bahamas) general manager, told Tribune Business that apart from the Bahamas' US pre-clearance facility and better air transportation links, the other factor that influenced the company to consolidate its operations here, rather than in the Cayman Islands, was the 'more than doubling' of the latter nation's licence and permit fees within the past five years.

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Red Cross has so far raised over $100,000 for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The charity also noted, following the scare caused by the earthquake felt in Grand Cayman on Tuesday, the importance of having a comprehensive family disaster plan so that residents of all ages can feel better prepared in the event of any disaster. In the wake of the devastation in Haiti, the local chapter of the NGO said it is important for parents to talk to their children about disasters, and use this opportunity to educate them about safety measures, as well as to the review your own family’s plans.

(CNS): The controversial rollover policy is to be changed, the premier has announced. Although he did not reveal the details, McKeeva Bush told the business community that there would be a number of changes coming in the arena of immigration. Revealing that certain categories of jobs within the financial services have now already been identified to receive three-year permits, he promised that, from now on, the business community can look forward to a more efficient immigration service. Speaking at the Cayman Business Outlook, he also said that, although government revenue was down $30 million in the first half of the fiscal year, government spending was down $37 million.

(CNS): Following the disruptions at John Gray High School on Tuesday in the immediate aftermath of the 5.9 earthquake, the education minister has said it was regrettable that a student had to be restrained but that security at the school was vital to its management. Rolston Anglin said that parents needed to know children can be safe at school but blamed them for adding to the problems. Chief Officer Mary Rodrigues commended staff and teachers over their handling of the evacuation, although the minister, who was reportedly overseas at the time, has said that, following the incident, the emergency response would be reviewed.

(CNS): Despite the problems resulting from the sheer volume of cases going through the Cayman Islands Summary Court, the chief justice has pointed to the introduction of diversionary and court supervised treatment programmes as one of the success stories for the criminal justice system in 2009. Anthony Smellie said that 140 people are currently involved in these specialist programmes, from the drug court to the new mental health programmes, which are successfully addressing the complex problems associated with certain offenders.

(CNS): Although employers were expecting not to have to pay pension contributions once government increased the work-permit fees, officials have confirmed that the legislation which will be required to remove that obligation has not yet been addressed. The National Pensions Office has confirmed that employers must still make contributions for all their staff.  Although the office has received a number of enquiries from local businesses, staff confirmed that the law has not changed.  A spokesperson for the premier has said, however, that plans to change the law which mandates pensions for foreign workers is still under discussion.