Topic: George Town
New fire chief plans focus on response times, risk management
David Hails underwent what he described as a “baptism by fire” this week during an unannounced visit to the Cayman Islands, where he was introduced as the new chief fire officer.
Cayman National Bank celebrates Christmas the old-time way
Cayman National Bank’s old-fashioned “Home for Christmas” was an evening of yuletide merriment and festive fare for those attending the Tuesday evening event.
Cruise anchor reef scare in George Town harbor
A patch of coral reef in George Town harbor suffered damage from a cruise ship anchor Wednesday, sparking concern among scuba divers and environmentalists.
Jamaica National still waiting for money transfer solution
Jamaica National Money Services representatives told its customers at a public meeting Tuesday that it is optimistic that it will soon be able to resume accepting Cayman currency.
Devon Anglin trial: Experts give evidence on gunshot residue
Gunshot residue was found on the clothing of Devon Anglin, accused of killing 4-year-old Jeremiah Barnes, a court heard this week.
Esterley Tibbetts Highway widening project begins
The project to widen the southernmost portion of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway to four lanes, which was announced on Nov. 25, is already under way.
Murder trials, other trial dates set in 2016
A trial date for a woman charged with the murder of her daughter and another trial date for two men charged with a murder in George Town in July are among those set for the coming year.
New dump excavators delivered
The Department of Environmental Health took delivery on Dec. 3 of two new excavators for the George Town landfill.
Primary Football League playoffs take center stage at Annex
The first round of the 2015/2016 CUC Primary Football League and Girls’ Primary Football League playoffs concluded on Saturday at the Annex Field with a number of thrilling match-ups.
Charges laid in pedestrian's death
A man facing two charges relating to the death of pedestrian Marcia Donaldson in April appeared in Summary Court on Monday.
Christmas wishes: Keep it kind, Cayman Islands
Our elected statesmen would do well to draw inspiration from the sounds of Christmas, and utilize the feelings of goodwill and politeness to temper their political discourse.
An adventure in food for GT youngsters
Feed Our Future gives some lessons on how to prepare tasty low-cost meals.
Healthy eating and reading skills on the menu for students
George Town Primary has been the scene of a number of special events and educational presentations for students in past weeks.
HSA staff delivered CarePay checks to Watson's business
Checks for a hospital swipe-card contract were delivered to the business offices of the former health authority board chairman, a court heard last week.
Landfill conundrum: ‘Location, location, location’
In irony almost beyond words (but not quite), the government's "solution" to the George Town dump site is to make it permanent.
Marathon runners take to the streets
Runners reported a hot, humid course for the annual Cayman Islands Intertrust Marathon. Some 1,300 turned out for the marathon, half-marathon and relay.
Woman wounded at nightclub car park
Police responded early Saturday to multiple fights at the parking lot outside Nectar nightclub. An 18-year-old woman was cut.
Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon
There is still time to register for the Cayman Islands Marathon, and if you don't want to run, at least head out to cheer competitors on.
Parade of Lights promises a colorful spectacle
Boats are readying their engines for the spectacular Parade of Lights, scheduled for Dec. 5 at Camana Bay.
Roads closed for Sunday's marathon Sunday
Several roads in Grand Cayman will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Sunday during the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, according to an advisory issued by police.
George Town street fair divides opinion
A street fair selling local food and crafts to cruise ship passengers in George Town is dividing opinion in the capital.
Suspended sentence handed down for beach machete attack
A defendant who admitted hitting a man in the head with a machete three times was given a suspended sentence on Wednesday.
Christmas charity calendars and cards
One of the ways you can support a local charity this season is to buy specially created calendars, cards or tree ornaments that donate funds directly to specific organizations.
Police theft: Missing drugs, missing answers
The recent revelation made by Police Commissioner David Baines — that suspected corrupt police officers are under investigation over the theft of $1 million in drugs from the George Town Police Station — could be cause for greater confidence in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service or, potentially, the reverse.
Lack of new landfill raising questions about waste management
The failure to identify a new site for landfill undermines government’s attempts to develop a long-term waste management strategy, critics have warned.
Handouts to voters: Charity or vote buying?
When it comes to standing up in the Legislative Assembly against the practice of “vote buying,” George Town MLA Winston Connolly stands alone.
50 years ago: Bella Henning deemed interesting
In the Dec. 1, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, the weekly column “Personality Parade” highlighted a woman from West Bay:
Commissioner: Corrupt police played part in drug theft
Suspected corrupt police officers are under investigation over the theft of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and ganja from the George Town Police Station, Commissioner David Baines has acknowledged.
Free AIDS testing this week
Six days of free HIV/AIDS testing have been organized this week as part of the observance of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.
How a wealthy country can be so broke
Q: Why can’t our emergency responders have nice things? A: Because our public officials keep spending the money on other stuff.
Playoffs kick in now for primary kids
Primary school football action concluded its regular season games on Saturday with Cayman Prep, Savannah Primary and Cayman International School respectively topping the Under-9, U-11 boys’ and Girls’ Primary Football League standings. All teams now go into the playoffs.
Teenager dies on boys home outing
A 14-year-old boy who died in an accident off a South Sound beach on Sunday was on a group activity organized by the Bonaventure Boys Home at the time.
50 years ago: News from George Town
In the Dec. 1, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, George Town correspondent Frances Bodden reported on some of the happenings in the district:
At the Compass, we don't practice 'gotcha' journalism
It is never our intent to misrepresent the statements or positions of the people we cover. We don't engage in, and won't stand for, "gotcha" journalism.
Connolly cannot get backing for ban on handouts
Independent legislator Winston Connolly has voiced his disappointment at the failure of his colleagues to support his calls for an end to the practice of politicians giving handouts to constituents.
Eden's Progressives departure sets off political uproar
The departure of long-serving Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden from the Progressives-led government last week sparked a behind-the-scenes political scramble and was viewed by some Cayman politics insiders as a potential foreshadowing of others leaving the Progressives party.
Mr. Eden said he would sit on the other side of the Legislative Assembly when the House next meets in the new year.
Fort George carries unique history
Fort George was once a key lookout point on Grand Cayman.
Local blackouts follow island-wide power outage
Intermittent power outages over the weekend followed an island-wide blackout overnight on Thursday.
Overnight blackout cuts power across Grand Cayman
A fault in Caribbean Utilities Company’s distribution system Thursday
night led to an island-wide blackout that lasted about six hours. The
company reports that power was fully restored around 5:15 a.m. Friday.
When limited infrastructure limits growth
Cayman's Internet issues comprise one facet of an overarching quandary that calls into question the very economic future of our islands.
CarePay trial: Health Ministry duped into paying $1.2M, claims Crown
Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson deceived local government officials into paying an additional US$1.2 million for the expansion of a public hospital patient swipe-card system by “doctoring” copies of the initial CarePay card contract and sending it to Ministry of Health officials in August 2011, Crown prosecutors said Thursday.
Christmas schedule: merry seasonal events
The schedule of festive events is packed and varied, with something for everyone.
Review: From Island Girl to National Hero
The biography of Miss Sybil McLaughlin offers a compelling look at the life of the Cayman Islands' only living National Hero.
Dart, government confirm highway expansion deal
The Esterley Tibbetts highway will be expanded to four lanes along the full length of the route within the next 18 months after government and developer Dart Realty confirmed they had finalized the outstanding details of the National Roads Authority agreement.
The deal also involves the US$14.6 million purchase by the Dart group of the Dragon Bay lands on the North Sound.
eShore celebrates Thanksgiving
Foreshore Offshore celebrated American Thanksgiving.
Hotels, restaurants profit from Pirates Week, seek better coordination
Hotels and restaurants close to the George Town waterfront reported a successful Pirates Week, although some said better coordination was necessary between businesses and the official celebration committee.
Marathon organizers appeal to drivers to respect runners
When the Cayman marathon is staged next week, the danger to entrants from motorists is a real one, so the organizers are appealing for extra diligence from drivers.
Pines celebrates Thanksgiving
The Pines Retirement Home in George Town celebrated American Thanksgiving.
50 years ago: Eyesores and need for cemetery
In the Nov. 24, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Arthur Hunter wrote that it was a pity that restoration of historical sites was confined to those in George Town, particularly Fort George.
Government funds for vehicle, asset replacement diverted
The Cayman Islands government has not planned appropriately for the need to replace old, outdated equipment in a number of areas – including service vehicles – and has actually spent money intended for that purpose on other things.
Those findings were included in a special government committee report on the management of public finances released last week.
Premier McLaughlin stands up against populist pandering
We applaud Premier Alden McLaughlin for his response to intemperate, irresponsible and divisive remarks made by his elected colleagues.
Stabbing case goes to Grand Court
A man charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a stabbing at the weekend appeared in Summary Court Tuesday.
Bulk waste collections begin
It’s time to get rid of old household appliances, furniture and yard waste: the annual bulk waste clean-up campaign started this week.
Efforts to help migrants thwarted by police
A group of Cayman Islands residents who chartered a vessel to try to bring food and water to migrants on a ramshackle boat say marine police prevented them from assisting the men.
Call for greater ownership opportunity for Caymanians
Caymanians are being prevented from getting to the top in the best paying professions in the country, MLA Winston Connolly claimed as he proposed changes to legislation governing business in the territory.
Car smashes into historic house
A car crashed into the historic Arthur Bodden house in George Town Saturday morning, damaging the fence and part of the building that holds the old printing press.
Tree lightings kick off holidays
It may not be December yet, but it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the Cayman Islands.
Thousands came out for the Christmas tree lighting at Camana Bay Saturday night, while hundreds came out for a tree lighting Thursday evening that was hosted by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman.
50 Years ago: New Royal Bank building opens
The Nov. 10, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, reported:
Learning through the arts at George Town Primary
Developing innovative and creative ways to successfully improve children’s reading and writing skills is a challenge for teachers.
Man killed in car crash
A 21-year-old man was killed early Saturday in a one-car accident on West Bay Road.
Police report two violent attacks over weekend
Two unrelated violent attacks occurred over the weekend, one in George Town and another in the vicinity of Seven Mile Beach, police reported.
Still no sanctions for breaking finance law
For about a decade, the Cayman Islands Government failed to file consolidated financial statements on time, or in any sort of auditable form, as required by the territory’s Public Management and Finance Law.
Man killed in crash
A 21-year-old man was killed early Saturday in a one-car collision on West Bay Road.
Cayman Islands Brewery wins big at Caribbean festival
The Cayman Islands Brewery garnered a number of medals at the 5th Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival in St. Maarten held earlier this month.
50 years ago: North Side News
In the Nov. 17 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, North Side correspondent Nettie McCoy wrote:
Brunneman is Pirates 5K champ
The swimming community had a full schedule over the weekend, with a 5K swim and two clinics for younger swimmers.
Wright's on target again
Dwayne “Gaza” Wright has been one of the Premier League’s top scorers for years and this season is no exception. The Elite Sports Club forward hit his sixth goal in five games as Elite beat George Town 2-1 at the TE McField Annex on Sunday.
Carnival donates $75K for reef conservation
The philanthropic wing of Carnival Cruise Lines has donated $75,000 for the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s coral reef conservation and education programs on Little Cayman.
Cuban detention center guards paid $1 million in overtime
The Cayman Islands government spent nearly $1 million on overtime during the last budget year for guards to monitor Cuban migrants temporarily housed in George Town.
The overtime spending was also noted as putting “even greater strains” on a prison staff already stretched thin.
Palmer's batting makes him player of the year
Christopher Palmer was named player of the year when the Cayman Islands Cricket Association held its annual awards night in George Town on Saturday.
Red Bay aims for third U-11 title
There was some excellent youth football during the sixth round of the 2015/16 CUC Primary Football League and Girls Primary Football League regular seasons on Saturday.
Run in the Dark raises $1,600
The inaugural Run in the Dark 5K in downtown George Town on Nov. 11 raised more than $1,600.
