Son of liquor board chief has licence refused

Simon Welds of Cayman Mobile Bartending requested permission to sell liquor on Friday nights through to 2:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

Mitchel Welds, Simon Welds’ father, is the Liquor Licensing Board Chairman and he had to recuse himself whilst his son’s application was discussed and refused.

There have been a number of controversial issues recently relating to family connections to the Board’s chairman that also has a board member who is his niece.

The Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the Liquor Licensing Board after it received a “report of alleged corruption in relation” to the board.

**“When officers stop smuggling it [ganga] ….. then we stop smoking it”

Leighton Rankine (26), was sentenced last week to serve 30 days consecutive to his current sentence of 13 years for firearm and wounding offences he carried out in February 2012, after pleading guilty to possessing ganja inside Northward Prison.

When he was asked by Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn if he had anything to say to the court he said, “When the officers stop smuggling it and selling it to prisoners, then we stop smoking it.”

The magistrate would not make any comment on Rankine’s accusation as there was nothing to support it.

All she would say was the defendant had a choice not to smoke it and a choice not to possess it.

** Statement by Prison Service on allegations of Prison Officers trafficking drugs

As a result of the CNS article dated 18 December 2013 [that carried the same headline quote], Prison Administration conducted an inquiry into the allegations made in court that Prison Officers are trafficking drugs into Northward Prison.   Mr Leighton Rankine was interviewed at Northward Prison on Friday, 20 December 2013 and became uncooperative and unable to the support the statement made in Summary Court on Tuesday.

Appleby staff support Meals on Wheels Christmas initiative in Cayman

Appleby staff has raised around $1,200 (£730) to support a Meals on Wheels initiative that will help vulnerable people in the Cayman Islands to enjoy a proper Christmas meal.

Staff from Appleby’s Cayman office handed over the money raised at a special ‘Dress Down’ day event to Beulah McField, executive director of Meals on Wheels, who organised the drive to assist families in need during the holiday season.

The festive initiative is run by the Rehoboth Ministries, which deliver nutritionally balanced meals to some of Cayman’s most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly and disabled.

Bonati breaks 5 Cayman records

Stefano Bonati, last month whilst competing for the Camana Bay Aquatic Club at the Mega City Short Course Special, in Ontario, broke five Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) records:

#1. 8 and Under Year Old Boys – 200 Meter IM –  Stefano Bonati of Camana Bay Aquatic Club –  3:32.51; the previous record was held by S. Bonati, it was 3:43.85 and was set in Oct. of 2013.

#2. 8 and Under Year Old Boys – 100 Meter Butterfly –  Stefano Bonati of Camana Bay Aquatic Club –  1:56.00; the previous record was held by J. Bailey, it was 1:57.43 and was set in Nov. of 2011.

#3. 8 and Under Year Old Boys – 100 Meter IM –  Stefano Bonati of Camana Bay Aquatic Club –  1:38.19; the previous record was held by A. McCallum, it was 1:40.57 and was set in June of 2013.

#4. 8 and Under Year Old Boys – 100 Meter Freestyle –  Stefano Bonati of Camana Bay Aquatic Club –  1:27.69; the previous record was held by L. Sinclair, it was 1:27.81 and was set in Oct. of 2012.

#5. 8 and Under Year Old Boys – 100 Meter Breaststroke –  Stefano Bonati of Camana Bay Aquatic Club –  1:53.27; the previous record was held by D. Lewis, it was 1:56.15 and was set in Dec. of 2011.

Cayman rugby kicks off new season at South Sound

Saturday (14) was the start of Cayman’s rugby season at the Rugby Club’s ground at South Sound.

It was the first domestic XVs rugby played in Cayman since the 2012/13 season finished six months ago.

Saturday’s results were as follows:

Heineken Charity Shield:

The Iguanas – 23 Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers -10

Heineken Wooden Spoon

The Pigs Trotters – 32 Fidelity Cayman Storm – 12

Bomb Hoaxer identified

Appearing in court on Friday (20) the man accused of making a hoax bomb threat on Saturday December 14 2013 has been identified as James Bernie Williams (53).

Williams pleaded guilty to the charge and said he had lost his job at Caribbean Club and had been drinking at the time of making the call. He admitted to having a drinking problem and asked for help.

Williams is a resident of West Bay.

See related iNews Cayman stories:

December 14 2013 “Attempted robbery & bomb threat” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/attempted-robbery/

December 18 2013 “The Editor Speaks: Bombing Hoax” at:

http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-editor-speaks-bombing-hoax/

December 19 2013 “Bomb hoax – two arrested, one charged – other released” at:

http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/bomb-hoax-two-arrested-one-charged-other-released/

NDC’s Purple Ribbon Pledge

The National Drug Council is bringing back its Purple Ribbon Pledge for New Year’s Eve. A fleet of 8 buses will ferry people to all districts from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on New Years Day.

For over ten (10) years the NDC has partnered with local businesses and restaurants to coordinate the Designated Driver Programme and the New Year’s Eve Purple Ribbon Bus service during the Holiday Season. The community continues to respond tremendously to the free buses on New Year’s Eve, which was established to assist in reducing the number of drinking and driving incidents on our roads. Drink driving wrecks lives, it can lead to arrest, imprisonment, lost of driver’s license, and ultimately being responsible for taking someone’s life.

Go to the NDC website for more details: http://www.ndc.ky/

Reward offered for info to catch dog killers

Cayman Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward to anyone offering information leading to the arrest and conviction of dog killers. Crime Stoppers Cayman is facilitating the payout, following an alarming rise in the number of animals poisoned by the deadly herbicide Paraquat.

If anyone has any information that could catch Paraquat poisoners, they are urged to call Crime Stoppers, in complete confidence, on 800-TIPS (8477).

Company facing multiple pension charges gets trial date

Saoirse Holdings Ltd has been charged with 29 counts of making false representations on work permit applications.

It is alleged the company falsely stated on work permit applications that several employees were or were intended to be enrolled in a pension plan.

The date for the trial is scheduled to commence on September 8^th 2014.

Harry Lalli, a director of Saoirse has entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the company.