Golden boot for Cayman footballer

Cayman Islands U15 footballer, Leighton Thomas Jr, won the ‘golden boot’ at the U-15 CONCACAF Tournament by being the highest grossing football scorer in the competition.

This was despite Cayman failing to progress to the semi-finals and finals.

Cayman Islands lost only one game and that was to fourth place Bermuda.

Pascal Earns Gold, New National Record at the Junior Pan-American Championships

From Mizzou Tigers

The incoming Tiger begins his career already internationally decorated

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Freshman Alex Pascal is already generating excitement as he prepares to embark on his career as a Mizzou Tiger.  The Cayman Island javelin thrower earned gold with his final toss of 72.83m (238-11.25) at the Pan-American Junior Championships over the weekend, competing against a field boasting the top athletes from the U.S., Canada, and other countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

That mark earned him his second Cayman Island Record in the event this summer, with the first coming in May at the CAC (Central American & Caribbean) Championships where he placed second with a throw of 71.85m (235-8.75).  His personal best performance on Saturday would not only have put him at No. 2 on the All-Time Top Ten List for Mizzou, but also earned him a podium finish at the NCAA Championships this past spring.

This wasn’t the first time Pascal sported his country’s colors at international competition.  He was fourth at the 2012 CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) Games, and competed in the 2012 IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Junior Championships and the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.mutigers.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/082613aaa.html

LA meets on Wed 4^th September

Cayman Islands Government will meet on Wednesday 4^th September

The Government has called a meeting of the Legislative Assembly (LA) on Wednesday 4^th September to address in particular the appropriation changes over the last four years that were not addressed under the previous United Democratic Party administration.

The Public Management and Finance Law require supplementary appropriation bills to be brought to the LA for the particular fiscal year in which the changes are made. However, none have been brought to the House since 2009.

Also on the Agenda is to elect a member of the opposition to fill a vacant seat on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Bodden Town Progressive’s member Alva Suckoo vacated the seat recently after Coalition for Cayman member of the LA, Roy McTaggart, joined the government backbench. This gave government the majority in the PAC.

Progressive’s 4year plan approved by UK

The Premier’s Office issued a statement on Tuesday (27) that the (FCO) has approved the government’s revised four year plan that they had submitted on 15^th August.

The statement said there were no new borrowings and the plan included continued repayment of existing loans and zero inflationary revenue measures.

Premier Alden McLaughlin said, ““I am extremely pleased that we are able to put behind us the uncertainty and anxiety that has attended the budget process over the past four years. The country now has a four-year plan that provides certainty and stability to the government’s future fiscal planning and provides challenging but realistic targets.

“From [local government] meetings, a fiscal plan was devised that is credible, sustainable and provides the necessary trajectory for us as a country to meet the fiscal targets outlined in the Public Management and Finance Law.”

The plan has been agreed by the FCO ahead of government’s presentation of the full 2013/14 Budget set for the end of next month. The plan outlines Cayman’s global fiscal targets for the next four budget years and the strategies that will be employed to achieve them and gain compliance with the fiscal ratios contained in the Public Management and Finance Law (2012 revision).

The statement said UK’s overseas territories minister, Mark Simmonds welcomed the commitment to fiscal planning and to achieving the key debt ratios agreed in the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility by the end of the financial year 2015/16. He also approved the top-down multi-year approach to fiscal planning taken by the government, which he believes will be a powerful tool for sustainable public expenditures and revenues.

See also iNews Cayman story today “UK approves Government’s Fiscal Plan” for the complete release from The Office of the Premier

Former RCIPS cop’s submission case thrown out by judge

Herbert Muschette, a former serving 10 year Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) officer, who accused police management of forcing him from the service, had his case rejected by High Court Judge Alex Henderson.

Muschette claimed a combination of threats made by Deputy Police Commissioner (DPC) Steve Brougham and a whispering campaign against him drove him to resign against his will.

Management, he said, had suggested he was a shady cop and had made it clear that a police officer suspected of crime and corruption could be allowed to walk away without fear of prosecution so long as he left RCIPS.

There had never been any evidence that Muschette was in fact a bad police officer and he was seeking past wages since his 2010 departure, a declaration that he was unlawfully dismissed and his job back.

The Crown claimed Muschette’s decision to resign was entirely his own and he did not like being transferred from the traffic department to regular policing at George Town police station. This followed two general complaints filed with the Professional Standards Unit against him and he then resigned. Whatever DPC Brougham did or did not say had no real influence on Muschette’s decision.

Justice Henderson found that while DPC Steve Brougham may very well have wanted Herbert Muschette to resign and while there may have been rumours and gossip circulating about him this did not amount to a wrongful dismissal.

The Judge also said his impression of Muschette when he gave evidence during the trial was a man attempting to tell the truth “but the accuracy of his recollection must be questioned.”

Policy training to enhance services for politicians

A number of workshops on government’s policy framework to ensure proper development and implementation of policies so documents outlining the goals and ambitions of government don’t end up gathering dust on shelves has been introduced by Robert Lewis, Director of the Policy Coordination Unit.

Ministers, councillors and political advisors in the Progressive’s government attended the workshops.

Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, whose office coordinates the development and implementation of government-wide policy, organised the sessions.

Retrial of baker set for October

Dave Bryans (47) whose conviction for swindling Fosters Food Fair of over $300,000 worth of cinnamon rolls, spicy buns and bread loaves that he did not deliver was overturned by the Court of Appeal, faces a retrial in October.

Brac child rapist sentenced to over 9 years jail term

A Cayman Brac man (38), who was convicted of rape and indecent assault on a child was handed a sentence of nine years and three months on Friday (23).

The child was only 12 when the man raped her and then forced her to have oral sex with him when she was 13.

The defendant was married to the child’s mother when the offences were committed. This was considered to be in breech of trust as there was a family connection between him and the child. He was also accused of threatening his victim into silence and raped her when her mother was absent from the home and committed the indecent assault when the child’s care situation was considered vulnerable.

The defendant, who had claimed his innocent throughout the trial, said his sentence was “ridiculous” as he left the courtroom.

Island Companies shuts its doors

Island Companies, which is owned by Dart Enterprises, announced it is closing the doors of waterfront Flagship stores following what the company described as “years of declining cruise arrivals, existing market conditions and the 2-3 year outlook.”

Dart issued a statement on Tuesday (27) saying, “Although the government has confirmed its commitment to the new cruise ship berthing facility, realistically, even if the project was to start this year, it is still a few years out.

“The decision was supported by the fact that all of the products offered in these stores [Island Time, Watch Me/De Sunglass Man, Pandora and Island Jewellers] will still be available at our other George Town location, Island Plaza, as well as the Camana Bay and Airport locations. Additionally, the unique apparel store – Caribbean Canvas Company – also located in the Flagship building remains open.

““Given the other Island Companies locations, all of which remain open, we were able to reassign 17 sales professionals to other stores.”

However, five people in its head office lost their jobs in the store closures, including three work permit holders, one residency and employment rights certificate holder, and one Caymanian.

And what will happen to the available space in the Flagship Building?

The statement said, ““We are currently evaluating our options to activate the soon-to-be-vacant space. Island Companies remain committed to George Town through our open and operating retail investments in downtown along with all the other retail businesses in George Town. We look forward to the start of the new cruise berthing facility.”