iNews Briefs
Tenders sought for Cayman Brac Airport redevelopment
The CIAA is inviting tenders from interested contractors to undertake the planned refurbishment and expansion of the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CKIA) in Cayman Brac.
The scope of works includes construction of a Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) Room, In-transit lounge, and expansion of the arrivals hall.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Hon. Moses Kirkconnell stated that “The Charles Kirkconnell Airport is pivotal to the growth and development of tourism as it is the only way visitors can access Cayman Brac. The changes are designed to enhance the baggage screening process and create more space for travellers, thus improving the travel experience. Longer term, the goal is to create a high-quality environment which provides Cayman Brac with well-connected access to the global marketplace.”
Interested contractors have until Friday 24th January, 2014 to submit their bids and the contract is expected to be awarded by 10th February. The project is scheduled to commence 17th February, 2014 and be completed by 16th May, 2014.
The Charles Kirkconnell International Airport is owned and operated by the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) and has a staff complement of 34 employees. In 2012 the Airport processed 515,722 pounds of cargo and 12,184 pounds of mail. In addition, there were 65,106 passenger movements and 9,490 commercial and private aircraft movements, which contributed to the island’s growth and development.
Darwin Post-project Launch
The Ministry of Financial Services,Commerce & Environment and the Department of Environment (DoE) have announced the launching of a Darwin Post Project.
Three visiting specialists will be here in Cayman:
Dr. John Turner- Darwin Initiative project partner and Senior Lecturer, Bangor University
James Byrne- Darwin Initiative project partner and Marine Science Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy
Brice Semmens- Darwin Initiative project partner and Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Christy Pattengill-Sernmens – Darwin Project Partner and Reef Environmental Education Foundation(REEF)
Following proposals for an enhanced Marine Parks system, an additional Darwin Post-project funding has been acquired to address four key issues: (1) The invasive lionfish, (2) the use and management of Cayman’s multi-species spawning aggregations, (3) fish overspill (4) limited enforcement capacity.
As novel solutions, DoE plans to launch its first suite of smart phone and tablet applications to improve enforcement capacity and efficiency while engaging the public.
The launching will take place on Friday, 24th January 2014.
Governor visits schools
In line with her commitment to get to know the people of the Cayman Islands, Governor Helen Kilpatrick has undertaken a round of school visits. Escorted by Minister of Education, the Hon. Tara Rivers, Her Excellency has already visited East End Primary, Clifton Hunter North Side, North Side Primary and Bodden Town Primary.
The Governor said:
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet the Principals, Staff and, above all, some of the pupils. I was particularly impressed by how welcoming and polite the children were.”
This week she is looking forward to visiting Savannah Primary School at 11.30 on Thursday 16 January and Prospect Primary on Friday 17 January at 9.00. Visits to the other schools on the islands will be scheduled at a later date.
Calling all authors!
Are you, or do you know a published author? If so, we want to speak to you!
The Cayman Islands Public Library Service is currently in the process of developing a comprehensive Cayman collection of books written and published by local authors and we want to make certain that we have your literary work on our shelves.
Our goal is to ensure that we have a complete set of books and a detailed bibliography of materials available at each of our six library branches.
Please help us complete our Cayman collection by contacting Ramona Melody at [email protected] or calling the George Town Public Library at 949-5159.
Christmas Mulch Available on January 25
Mulch made from natural Christmas trees will be available for collection by the public on Saturday 25th January at approximately. 8am at the George Town Cricket field. The ‘Christmas mulch’ is part of the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) recycling programme which aims to reduce the amount of waste entering the George Town landfill by recycling the natural Christmas trees into mulch.
Residents are asked to drop off their natural Christmas trees for mulching by January 23rd.
Residents can drop off their trees at the following locations:-
• Ed Bush Stadium, West Bay
• George Town Cricket Field
• GT Landfill public drop-off area
• Spots Dock, Savannah Newlands
• Entrance of Frank Sound Rd
• Front of George Dixon Park, East End
The free mulch will be available for pick up at the George Town Cricket Field on Saturday, January 25 at 8 am.
DEH Director Roydell Carter urged residents to bring their own bags and shovels to collect the mulch. Mr Carter further encouraged residents to come early as by the end of the morning all of the mulch is usually taken.
The public is also reminded that aluminium cans, used motor oil, used cooking oil, batteries and scrap metals are still being collected by the department as part of its on-going recycling programme.
For more information, contact DEH’s Solid Waste Unit at 949-8793 or Tania Johnson at 743-5952.
Clifton Hunter High School students attend mock interviews
On Friday 17th January 2014 Year 11 students at Clifton Hunter High School met with over twenty business professionals that included Cayman Animal Hospital, Cayman First Insurance, Cayman National Bank, Deloitte, KPMG, Red Sail Sports, Reef Resort and Superior Auto.
Students arrived out of uniform dressed for success for a mock interview day. They went through the interview process with business professionals who then provided feedback on how they performed and what they can do to improve to make themselves more employable.
Cayman writer’s book series reaches Middle East
Lady Rabia Abdul Hakim, who was born Tina Dilbert, is to have her new Caribbean children’s series published by Lebanese publisher, Jarrous Press.
Lady Rabia lived in Saudi Arabia for almost a decade, and she has used her life experiences to develop the series called Caymanians in the Kingdom. The set of books has also acquired world-wide Arabic rights before even being printed in English.
Lady Rabia has authored more than 48 short children’s stories, is the creator of the culturally-inspired, Caribbean children’s series, ‘Kaa Kaa & Tokyo’ and is the Founding Patron of the Big Draw KY, drawing festival.
Excerpts from ‘Kaa Kaa & Tokyo’ was also published in iNews Cayman in 2012.
CUC receive a writ from injured former employee
A writ of summons has been issued at the Grand Court of Cayman by Travers, Thorpe, Alberga to Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) on behalf of their client Kurt Scott.
Scott is a former CUC employee who was injured in the 2011 explosion at the CUC plant in George Town.
The writ states the claim for personal injuries and consequential loss and damage was caused by the negligence and/or breach of duty and/or breach of contract of the defendant, its employees, servants or agents.
The writ also states Scott was severely injured by an explosion in the engine room on the defendant’s premises.
Cayman’s equestrians tie for first place
Months after winning the Caribbean Equestrian Federation Dressage competition, Cayman swept the regional competitions last December by winning the CEF Show Jumping competition as well.
Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation President Sharon Hinds said 2013 was “probably the most successful year of competitions for youth equestrianism in Cayman ever.”
Lawyer wants suicide verdict recorded as wife’s death
Andreas Haug, a partner at Maples, is seeking to have the open verdict that was recorded at the inquest following his estranged wife’s death changed to death by suicide.
His wife, Lija Godenzi (43) was found hanging in her George Town apartment on April 7th 2013, even leaving a text message saying “I want to die,” and comments from her psychiatrist about her depression, but the inquest jury could not say definitively how she died.
Haug’s lawyers are claiming coroner, Eileen Nervik, led the jury to a false verdict, in part because she suggested the deceased’s husband might have murdered her.
An autopsy report, read at the inquest, indicated the manner of death was “consistent with suicide” and said there were no signs of injury or a struggle.
The police investigation of her death had concluded no crime had been committed.
The coroner, amongst many other complaints in the writ, was said to direct the jury that “hanging is not the usual method used by women to end their lives”. No evidence had been heard at the inquest to support this conclusion.
Usain Bolt to run in the Golden Spike in June
From Caribbean360
The six-time Olympic champion will race for the seventh time at the meet, part of the IAAF World Challenge Series.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Wednesday January 15, 2014, CMC – Usain Bolt has confirmed his intention to compete again at the Golden Spike in Ostrava in June, organizers have said.
However the Jamaican great says he is still undecided whether to run the 100 or 200 metres on June 17.
Bolt said earlier that his goal for this year was to break his own 200m, world record of 19.19 seconds.
“Ostrava is a fast track when the weather is good,” Bolt said.
“I look forward to good weather and good performances in 2014”.
The six-time Olympic champion will race for the seventh time at the meet, part of the IAAF World Challenge Series.
For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/sports/1105855.html?utm_source=Caribbean360+Newsletters&utm_campaign=b3ac48f088-Vol_9_Issue_010_News1_15_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_350247989a-b3ac48f088-39393477#ixzz2qVjGpmT4
American resident found with ganja at airport
An American resident of Cayman Brac was found to have ganja in his checked luggage at the Charles Kirkconnell Airport. He was en-route to Grand Cayman on Cayman Airways.
Airport security alerted Customs officers who then arrested him. He was also found to be in possession of a drug utensil.
Cayman’s governor made a Rotarian
Cayman’s Governor, Helen Kilpatrick was made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman at their meeting last week at The Westin.
She was presented with a badge and promised to uphold Rotary’s ideals, including the club’s motto “Service above self.”
SUP(er) KIDS! Free Stand Up Paddleboarding fun day
From Chatterbox
As we had so much fun at our last free Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) afternoon for children with any type of special need, learning challenge or disability – we’re doing it again!!!
It will be held at Governor’s beach from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday 1st February 2014 and this time Maples Fund Services are kindly sponsoring us.
Please share this information, so we can reach out to as many children and their families as possible. To book a space, please call 926 1693 or email [email protected]
See attached flyer for more details
