Local News

(CNS): The new George Town library received another welcome boost this morning when Andrew Reid, a partner with Maples and Calder, the partner sponsor of the library extension development handed over another instalment of US$700,000 in the financing of the project. In total the legal firm will be donating some US$2.5 million to complete the new building which is expected to be open in a few weeks.

(CNS): The pending arrival of new residents on the government’s temporary housing assistance programme into their neighbourhood prompted the people of Flute Lane in West Bay to convene a meeting with the local police recently. Existing residents had the opportunity to meet with the newcomers, who are currently housed in temporary accommodation on Scholars Drive but who will shortly be moving into the old John Silvers hotel, and discuss what were described as issues of “mutual concern".

(CNS): Shovels were out in force last month at the ground breaking for the planned 8,800 sq ft Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) main office on Shamrock Road. Despite the fact that government has cut some of its planed capital projects because of the economic downturn this is one that has escaped the chop and likely to bring a welcome reprieve to anyone who has experienced the frustrations of the current main George Town office.

(CNS): An event designed to raise funds to assist people in the community who are in dire need was not well supported by the public and as a result the Lean on Me Committee (Charity) will not able to fund any more projects in the near future, a release from the charity said. Their first annual Spring Celebration Masquerade Ball - A Spring Affair was held Saturday evening, 21 March, at Camana Bay, but the charity actually reported a loss after all ticket sales were collected and some of its expenses paid.

(CNS): Forty children from three local schools enjoyed a new reading experience during a field trip to Cayman’s newest town, Camana Bay. Students from Red Bay Primary, George TownCayman’s newest book store. Accompanied by Anne Briggs, Literacy Coordinator for Red Bay Primary, the children enjoyed a tour around the shop before they were taken out to Gardenia Court for a story reading and arts and crafts session.

(CNS): In the wake of the brutal murder of Sabrina Schirn whose body was found in the district residents in the High Rock Road area of East End have, police said recognized their vulnerabilities to crime and are looking at launching a neighbourhood watch programme. In a meeting, with area commander Richard Barrow, Sergeant Ian Lavine, Neighborhood Officer for East End, PC Treva McIntosh and Community Development Officer Delmira Bodden almost all the residents in the area turned up to discuss their concerns.

(CNS): While officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service are regular visitors to Cayman’s schools as a result of a number of initiatives, home school students don’t come into contact with police officers quite as much. As a result PC Gaunett Harvey recently spent time with a group of 8 youngsters who are outside the school system and gave them an inside look at life at George Town Police Station.

(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said that it is making the most of its new training centre at Governor’s Square. With assistance from the Legal Department a course relating to case file completion and statement writing for the courts is currently underway for regular police officers. This course aims to refresh and update officer’s knowledge on the important work needed for the court room to help with successful prosections.

(CNS): Despite the seemingly endless warnings over email and text scams, the Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said it has received further reports from the public. As a result, once again residents are being urged to be on guard. “If you receive an unsolicited email or text informing you that you have won money in a competition you have never heard of and certainly never entered you should consider this a scam,” said Detective Constable Adrian Neblett.

(CNS): The smallest Cayman Island and the only one without a hospital is now more prepared for medical emergencies after 44 Little Cayman residents were fully certified or re-certified in various areas of first aid and life saving techniques during a a multi-agency training session held at the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Organized by the RCIPS, the course saw participants trained in CPR, AED (defibrillator training) and first aid, under the instruction of EMT Brian Burchell from Cayman Brac and Mary-Ellen Cutts, the Little Cayman Nurse.

(CNS): Cayman Brac police officers are warning drivers who insist on carrying passengers in the back of trucks that they could find themselves in court. Stressing the extreme dangers of carrying passengers in this way, police say drivers who do not heed these warnings will be prosecuted. Sergeant Matt Dawson said. “This practice is extremely dangerous and any such truck involved in even a minor accident could result in the death or serious injury of a passenger carried in this way.”

(CNS): Every primary school library in the Cayman Islands has received a $200 gift certificate for books from Trust and Management Services group Walkers Global Holdings. A direct contribution from the Walkers staff, the gift certificates replaced the firm’s annual kids Christmas party which was cancelled following the impact of Hurricane Paloma, which affected so many families. The firm said given the circumstancesbuying books seemed a more appropriate contribution.

(CNS): Local Lions and Leos were captured working in the community on both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac by a visiting film crew from Lions Clubs International. From beach clean-ups to tackling breast cancer and screening schoolchildren for eye defects, the Cayman Lions Family demonstrated some of the fine work they do for the people and places of the Cayman Islands.

(CNS): Two Caymanian students at the University College of the Cayman Islands recently earned the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. Katrina Parchment and Regina Bennett sat the Human Resource Certification Institute’s PHR exam earlier in the academic year and are the first UCCI students to earn this distinguished qualification. The certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute, signifies that recipients possess the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination and demonstrates a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field.

(CNS): Anyone baffled by the language of the proposed constitution can now read a version of it written in layman’s terms. An electronic version of the Explanatory Guide – the ‘reader-friendly’ document that explains the new provisions of the new Draft Constitution – was released last Friday, 20 March, and is available online. Printed copies will be out next Friday, 3 April, as a special newspaper insert and will also be available at various outlets, including post offices, public libraries and supermarkets.