Visiting and local scuba divers alike can now get certified and licensed to help cull the invasive red lionfish. These lionfish have now become a major menace for the Cayman Islands. Cayman dive operators can now teach the PADI Lionfish Tracker Distinctive Specialty course. Upon completion, a local lionfish culling license will be provided. Some Cayman dive operators are now offering reduced course fees to visitors and residents this fall. Currently there are boats running from various dive operators each week to use these new skills.
“Snorkelers can help too as many lionfish can be found in shallow waters just off shore and in the canals in the North Sound. This is prime breeding ground for lobsters, groupers, snappers and more, so removing lionfish from the North Sound can play a huge role in helping to cull the invasion” stated Nancy Easterbrook of Divetech. “They are tasty – a light white fish that needs a little special handling while filleting to remove the venomous spines, but well worth it. Many restaurants are now serving lionfish on a special or full time menu, so ask for lion fish when you are next out to dinner, or try it at home. Not only will this help create a market for the lionfish, but it will have the positive side effect of reducing the demand for the ‘traditional’ eating fish like conch, grouper and snapper, allowing fish stocks to grow and be sustainable.”
Contact your local diver operator for further information.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Blood Drive on the Brac
Every year the Cayman Islands joins the international community in recognizing World Blood Donor Day which takes place on June 14th. This year Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac is conducting another donor drive from Sept 19th – Sept 23rd. Anyone interested is invited to give the blood bank a call at 948-2243 ext.124 or visit the Faith Laboratory. The entire process takes about 45 minutes.
Volunteers will be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire to determine if they are able to give blood. Certain restrictions are still in place for persons who have spent time in the United Kingdom due to the risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, part of the family of diseases which includes Mad Cow.
“On behalf of the H.S.A. I would like to commend Faith Hospital for taking their continued efforts and I would urge as many members of the Brac community to participate and possibly save the life of someone they know and love,” said Lizzette Yearwood, C.E.O – Health Services Authority.
Volunteers will be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire to determine if they are able to give blood. Certain restrictions are still in place for persons who have spent time in the United Kingdom due to the risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, part of the family of diseases which includes Mad Cow.
“On behalf of the H.S.A. I would like to commend Faith Hospital for taking their continued efforts and I would urge as many members of the Brac community to participate and possibly save the life of someone they know and love,” said Lizzette Yearwood, C.E.O – Health Services Authority.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Caymanian-Style Home in Cayman Brac
This 2 bedroom/2 bathroom Caymanian style home is for sale on Cayman Brac. It has been completely refurbished and includes a fully screened wraparound porch to spend outside enjoying paradise. The home is situated on a large .70 acre lot offering plenty of privacy. Priced at $425,000 US, please contact your Cayman Brac real estate experts to view this delightful home.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Cayman Brac Historic House For Sale
The Spellman McLaughlin Home on Cayman Brac is up for sale. One of a few remaining homes built in the traditional manner, the Spellman McLaughlin Home once sheltered 133 people in the 1932 Hurricane and served as a medical and distribution center for scarce emergency supplies after the storm had passed. Priced at US $375,000, the home is located in the Creek district and includes the house and its adjoining lot, including a private graveyard.
In 1995, the National Trust awarded current owner Brunzil McLaughlin-Rivers, the Award of Distinction for the Preservation of Historic Places. With many such homes either being torn down to make way for modern developments or being left to decay, the house is amongst the few of its kind that has been maintained and is in good condition.
Construction began in 1926, with Captain Spellman McLaughlin overseeing all aspects of the construction process, according to the National Trust. Largely built of imported wood from Mobile, Alabama, the home was completed in 1930 and Captain McLaughlin and his wife raised their four children there. When he passed away in 1991, he willed it to his youngest child, Brunzil McLaughlin-Rivers, who renovated the home and lived there with her husband and son until they left the island in recent months and put the home up for sale. The home covers 1,628 square feet and has eight exterior rooms built around a central dining room. It has a complete wrap-around verandah, and while modernised to accommodate television, internet and telephone service, as well as kitchen and bathroom facilities, the home has changed little since 1930.
According to the Trust’s Historic Programmes Manager Denise Bodden, they only have jurisdiction over homes which are donated to them and cannot financially afford to keep every historic home in the Cayman Islands under their care. Therefore, they encourage homeowners who live in historic homes to care for them. “I would suggest that those who have traditional Caymanian homes on Cayman Brac should try to protect them before development really hits the island,” said Bodden. She said that the Trust has recognised a number of homes on the island that should be protected under the law, particularly the Spellman McLaughlin Home, the Carter House and the Eldemire House, for their unique architectural elements, the fact that they are among the oldest structures on the island and because they survived both the devastating hurricane of 1932 and Hurricane Paloma in 2008.
In 1995, the National Trust awarded current owner Brunzil McLaughlin-Rivers, the Award of Distinction for the Preservation of Historic Places. With many such homes either being torn down to make way for modern developments or being left to decay, the house is amongst the few of its kind that has been maintained and is in good condition.
Construction began in 1926, with Captain Spellman McLaughlin overseeing all aspects of the construction process, according to the National Trust. Largely built of imported wood from Mobile, Alabama, the home was completed in 1930 and Captain McLaughlin and his wife raised their four children there. When he passed away in 1991, he willed it to his youngest child, Brunzil McLaughlin-Rivers, who renovated the home and lived there with her husband and son until they left the island in recent months and put the home up for sale. The home covers 1,628 square feet and has eight exterior rooms built around a central dining room. It has a complete wrap-around verandah, and while modernised to accommodate television, internet and telephone service, as well as kitchen and bathroom facilities, the home has changed little since 1930.
According to the Trust’s Historic Programmes Manager Denise Bodden, they only have jurisdiction over homes which are donated to them and cannot financially afford to keep every historic home in the Cayman Islands under their care. Therefore, they encourage homeowners who live in historic homes to care for them. “I would suggest that those who have traditional Caymanian homes on Cayman Brac should try to protect them before development really hits the island,” said Bodden. She said that the Trust has recognised a number of homes on the island that should be protected under the law, particularly the Spellman McLaughlin Home, the Carter House and the Eldemire House, for their unique architectural elements, the fact that they are among the oldest structures on the island and because they survived both the devastating hurricane of 1932 and Hurricane Paloma in 2008.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Cayman Brac Gets Twelve More Homes
With in excess of $600,000 in available funds, The Sister Islands Affordable Housing Development Corporation (SIAHDC) recently made a planning application to build 8 additional homes at the West End site and 4 homes at Watering Place.
SIAHDC is a government-funded, not-for-profit entity formed in January 2006 to build affordable housing for those applicants who meet necessary qualifications. Phase 1 (4 homes) of the plan was completed just prior to Hurricane Paloma in 2008, and Phase 2 (4 additional homes) was completed in April 2010. Local contractors won the bids to construct phases 1 and 2 for $365,500 and $413,031 respectively.
The Watering Place site can accommodate 15 homes and the West End property has room for 20 to 30 homes.
Successful applicants own their own homes and land outright.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Post Office Finds New Home in Heritage House
After 3 long years of having to temporarily relocate, the Creek Post Office on Cayman Brac has officially re-opened. The new location is the re-furbished heritage home of the island's first midwife, Petrona Connolly-Bodden, located at 5 Cantlin Drive. The original post office suffered severe damage from Hurricane Paloma in November 2008. The building also houses the Sister Islands Sports Office.
Customers can conveniently top-up mobile phones for LIME and Digicel, as well as make WestStar payments. Post office hours are:
Monday - Thursday 9am-11:30am, 1:30pm-3pm
Friday - 9am-11:30am, 1:30-3:30pm
Saturday - 9am-11:30am
The official opening was attended by Minister of District Administration and Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Acting Permanent Secretary of District Administration Tristan Hydes, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of District Administration Jonathon Jackson, Sister Islands District Commissioner Ernie Scott and Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow.
Customers can conveniently top-up mobile phones for LIME and Digicel, as well as make WestStar payments. Post office hours are:
Monday - Thursday 9am-11:30am, 1:30pm-3pm
Friday - 9am-11:30am, 1:30-3:30pm
Saturday - 9am-11:30am
The official opening was attended by Minister of District Administration and Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Acting Permanent Secretary of District Administration Tristan Hydes, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of District Administration Jonathon Jackson, Sister Islands District Commissioner Ernie Scott and Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Brac Bash Underwater Photo Competition
September 2011 marks the 15 year anniversary of the sinking of the M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbetts off the shores of Cayman Brac. In celebration of this event, the Sister Islands Tourism Association (SITA) has initiated an underwater photo competition. The competition is open to all non-professional photographers who are not residents of the Cayman Islands. Submission of an underwater photo of the sunken frigate runs to August 30.
The grand prize for the photo contest is free airfare on Cayman Airways, a 7-night stay at the Brac Reef Beach Resort with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner; 6 days of 2-tank diving at Reef Divers and airport ground transfers. The grand prize winner will also receive free admission to the Brac Bash Cook-off and will become an official judge for this fun event. The Brac Bash is an annual event held in honor of the sinking of the M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets and is spearheaded by SITA.
The M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets was build in the Soviet Union in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. It was purchased and sunk by the Cayman Islands Government and christened the M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets after a Cayman Brac politician. The ship has become a major dive attraction on the Brac.
There is no format specified for the photos submitted. Entries for the competition should be sent to sita@candw.ky.
The grand prize for the photo contest is free airfare on Cayman Airways, a 7-night stay at the Brac Reef Beach Resort with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner; 6 days of 2-tank diving at Reef Divers and airport ground transfers. The grand prize winner will also receive free admission to the Brac Bash Cook-off and will become an official judge for this fun event. The Brac Bash is an annual event held in honor of the sinking of the M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets and is spearheaded by SITA.
The M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets was build in the Soviet Union in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. It was purchased and sunk by the Cayman Islands Government and christened the M.V. Capt. K.P. Tibbets after a Cayman Brac politician. The ship has become a major dive attraction on the Brac.
There is no format specified for the photos submitted. Entries for the competition should be sent to sita@candw.ky.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)