caymannewsservice

[caymannewsservice]

Man stabbed during fight on West Bay beach

(CNS): One man is in hospital in a serious but stable condition, this morning, and another man is in jail after a fight at the public beach in West Bay in which one man was stabbed in the stomach. Police found the wounded man when a car pulled up to a police checkpoint at Yacht Drive roundabout on the ETH with its hazard lights on at around 12:15am Sunday. Officers approached and saw the victim…

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NCC members seek judicial review over unlawful removal

Stuart Mailer (CNS): The recently fired chair of the National Conservation Council, Stuart Mailer, his colleague Patricia Bradley and the very first NCC chairperson, Christine Rose-Smyth, have sent a letter to Cabinet asking it to revoke what they argue was the unlawful decision to fire six NCC members. The letter is a precursor to seeking a judicial review. Continue reading NCC members seek…

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Housing report to remain secret as crisis worsens

(CNS): The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has found in the Cayman Islands Government’s favour and ruled that the report by a ministry task force into the country’s housing crisis can remain secret. Although the work was conducted using public money and the government said it would help them tackle one of Cayman’s major social challenges, neither its findings nor recommendations have been revealed…

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Watler convicted of murdering Duffel on DNA alone

Ian Duffell (CNS): Lindsay Kirk Watler (55) was found guilty of murder on Wednesday by a jury of nine women and three men following a two-week trial. Watler had denied killing George Ian Duffell (51) and continued to do so as the jury read out their verdict when he said, “I didn’t do it.” Duffell was murdered on the night of 14 October during a confrontation in West Bay. The crown’s case was…

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HSA appoints new chair after Ozzie's departure

Yvette Dilbert (CNS): The Health Services Authority (HSA) has appointed Yvette Dilbert as the new board chair after Osbourne “Ozzie” Bodden stepped down after more than three years in the role to hit the campaign trail. Dilbert has a list of relevant health and public policy qualifications and experience, having served as Faith Hospital administrator for 20 years before she retired at the end of…

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US visitor dies following snorkelling trip

(CNS): A 73-year-old woman died Tuesday afternoon, the first water-related death this year. Police said she had been out snorkelling with a tour boat when she encountered difficulties at around 2:50pm. She was assisted back aboard, and the crew administered oxygen to her as the vessel headed to the South Terminal in George Town. The woman, a visitor from the United States, lost consciousness as…

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Chilean ATM thieves jailed for 14 months

(CNS): Three Chilean nationals who were charged with theft and money laundering last year were recently convicted and sentenced to 14 months in jail. On Tuesday, 4 February, the court granted the crown’s request for a confiscation order against the ringleader of the gang, as he had played a leading role in the sophisticated crime. This allowed the government to seize assets from him, including…

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Referendum battle heats-up between CPR and ACT

George Town Harbour, Grand Cayman (CNS): Grassroots activists from the Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) campaign and those from the cruise industry’s lobby group, the Association for Cruise Tourism in the Cayman Islands (ACT), are locked in a battle that the well-funded pro-cruise group, even before the government begins pouring public cash into the fight, thinks its winning. However, the CPR…

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Six Cuban migrants arrive in East End

(CNS): The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) confirmed that a boat carrying six migrants, understood to be Cubans, entered Cayman waters in East End around 9am on Tuesday, 11 February. CBC said it responded promptly to the reports, and all of the individuals were located and taken into custody. The six migrants are being processed in accordance with established CBC protocols, officials…

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UPM sacks six NCC members, including experts

Previous members of the National Conservation Council (CNS): The UPM has fired all of the appointed experts from the National Conservation Council in what appears to be a shocking act of revenge against the NCC members, who advocated against the government’s attempts to gut the National Conservation Act and successfully challenged errors by the Central Planning Authority in court several…

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Saunders: Roper alleged MPs involved in organised crime

Chris Saunders addresses parliament (CNS): During a Cabinet meeting in December 2022, Martyn Roper, the Cayman Islands governor at the time, accused members of the government of being involved in serious organised crime, Chris Saunders told parliament last week. Saunders tabled two emails written in January 2023, one from Roper to members of Cabinet and the other his response, which referred to…

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Drivers start 2025 with high number of crashes

RCIPS traffic unit officers (file photo) (CNS): The RCIPS responded to 92 collisions last week, indicating that 2025 could be another terrible year on Grand Cayman’s roads, with many drivers continuing to ignore the police when they urge them to take more care. Fortunately, most of these crashes only caused damage to vehicles, and very few people were injured. Continue reading Drivers start…

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Second food delivery driver attacked by robbers

(CNS): Police are urging delivery drivers to exercise caution after another food delivery man was assaulted and robbed on Saturday night in Windsor Park, George Town, around 9pm. As the driver was dropping off food at a residence, he was approached by two men with dogs. He was assaulted and attacked by the dogs but managed to escape and call for help. The robbers made off on foot in an unknown…

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Bill to curb sexual harassment passes after 20 years

Wayne Panton addresses parliament (CNS): Two decades after legislation to curb sexual harassment in the community was first proposed, a bill was passed in parliament last week just days before the final meeting wrapped up ahead of the 2025 General Election. The new law, championed by Wayne Panton when he was premier, obligates employers to draw up policies and disciplinary consequences to tackle…

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Man arrested for poaching 70 conch in marine park

(CNS): A Department of Environment conservation officer was injured by a suspected poacher when he arrested the man for taking conch from a marine park. The DoE said the man was arrested last week after he was found in possession of 70 conch poached from the Marine Protected Area in Barkers, West Bay. He can also expect to be charged with assault after he threw a large rock at the DoE Officer who…

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50 years in law earns former CJ seat on UK Privy Council

Sir Anthony Smellie (CNS): Sir Anthony Smellie, a former chief justice of the Cayman Islands, has been appointed to the Privy Council. In a release from the judiciary, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale congratulated her predecessor, saying it was a fitting recognition of his long and distinguished career as a leading jurist in the Cayman Islands. Sir Anthony’s appointment will enable the…

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Where is Cayman heading?

Depressed Young Caymanian writes: This government is hellbent on wasting public funds on the most ridiculous projects, and for what reason, I honestly don’t know. With this kind of spending, aren’t we headed for bankruptcy at some point? So many of the proposals, especially during this election season, seem like they’re trying to destroy the main pillar of our economy — the financial services…