Cayman Water Helps Fight Cholera in Haiti
Cayman Water Company recently made a donation of US$3,375 to purchase 75 water filtration devices to help eliminate cholera and other water borne pathogens and contaminants from drinking water in Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
The support was given in response the Caribbean Desalination Association’s (CaribDA) newly established Humanitarian Committee that launched a Haiti Relief Effort for its members and the general public to participate. Donations will be managed by the Pan American Development Fund (PADF) and are going towards the purchase of Sawyer PointONE Water Purifier Units and 5 gallons buckets (manufactured in Haiti by Plastech Industries). The cost of each complete unit is US$45 and covers the cost of shipping as well. The goal is to provide 1000 units with the capacity to provide purified drinking water for up to 340,000 people each day.
“While the residents of Grand Cayman enjoy the ubiquitous luxury of pure drinking water from the tap, Cayman Water is cognizant that there are many countries that do not. We commend CaribDA for taking the initiative to provide an effective means to meet Haiti’s most basic need.” said Karlene Singh, Business Development – Project Engineer at Consolidated Water and CaribDA Director. “Cayman Water is so pleased to be able to offer our support and help bring safe drinking water to our neighbour, especially in their time of need.”
The Caribbean Desalination Association (CaribDA) is a non-profit organization and represents members/sponsors from the Caribbean desalination and water reuse communities, utilities, industries, academia and government as well as individuals interested in water supply improvement in the Caribbean, specifically by means of desalination or water reuse.
The donation drive is open to the general public and more information can be found at www.caribda.com.
Cayman Water’s Education Program
Cayman Water Company (CWC) recently launched an education program, the first of its kind on the Island, to educate young children about their tap water and the desalination process. The presentations, given by Ms. Karlene Singh, Business Development – Project Engineer at schools within CWC service areas were so well-received by both students and teachers alike that the Company is looking forward to continuing with the program in George Town and the Eastern Districts this September.
The presentation touched on topics such as the historical means of obtaining drinking water here in the Cayman Islands, a step-by-step description of the desalination process, reverse osmosis, and water conservation. A visual presentation of how osmosis takes place in gummy bears immersed in water was given to prepare the students for a talk on reverse osmosis, the process used on the island to remove salt from seawater. Each student attendee received a giveaway bag with goodies including a pack of gummy bears with which they were encouraged to perform their own osmosis experiments. Each school was given a poster of the desalination process.
Mr. Gregory S. McTaggart, Vice President (Cayman) Operations for Consolidated Water said, “Water can be a pretty dry subject for kids, but Cayman is quite special in where it gets its drinking water and we thought it was important for kids to know that. Karlene has put together an interesting, fun and tasty lesson to engage the kids, which we hope they will carry with them for a long time to come and perhaps inspire them to learn more."
To date, presentations were done within Cayman Water’s service areas for grades five and six students of Cayman International School, John A. Cumber Primary School, Grace Christian Academy, and Wesleyan Christian Academy.
In the Photo: John A. Cumber Primary School students and Ms. Karlene Singh, after a fun and interesting presentation on desalination.
Ribbins Ride Raises $6,000 for HospiceCare
Despite inclement weather leading up to the day of the ride, the 4th Annual Pete Ribbins Memorial ride went on as planned on Sunday, August 14. Over 90 cyclists participated in both the 40km and 10 km rides, ranging in ages from 8 to 72. Through registrations and substantial donations from the Company’s Cayman and US staff, almost CI$6,000 was raised for Cayman HospiceCare, after Cayman Water’s match. To date, nearly CI$18,000 has been donated to Hospice in Pete’s memory.
John Tonner, COO of Consolidated Water and founder of the event said, “It was great to have the weather cooperate and for the sun to shine on an event that supports a cause as worthy as Cayman Hospice. The good folks at Hospice help so many in the community, including our old friend Pete Ribbins, and they do so during stressful and emotional times. It is hard work that they do and we are happy to support them. We would like to say a huge “THANK YOU” to the Police and Red Cross who helped keep everyone safe and for all the local businesses who donated prizes which were raffled off to reward participants of all ages. We are already looking forward to next year’s event and discussing how to grow it so we can support the great work that Hospice does.”
A social time for the participants and volunteers with refreshments, giveaways and prizes followed the ride, which started and ended at the Abel Castillo Water Works in Governor’s Harbour. Kevin Morales of Let’s Talk Sports provided smiles as the MC of the event. The event was also well supported by the many local businesses that provided a variety of prizes for the post ride draw, ensuring that it was a resounding success.
Kerrie McMillan, Operations & Fundraising, Cayman Hospice Care said “It is always such a pleasure to be involved in the Pete Ribbins Memorial Ride. It is a fun, family, friendly event in memory of a wonderful person and Cayman HospiceCare, as the beneficiary, is extremely grateful to all those who participate.”
The ride that was inaugurated as part of the Company’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2013. The event was held in honour of the Company’s late General Manager, Peter Ribbins, who was cared for by Hospice Care and who was an active member of the Cayman sporting community.
Planning for the 5th anniversary next year is already underway as Cayman Water’s staff is gearing up for an even bigger and better event!
Photo caption: Prize winner Nathan Irving, 8, visiting from New Jersey, participated in the 10km ride with his father, Euclid Irving.
Photo caption: Over 90 cyclists participated, despite the bad weather in the days leading up to the event.
Cayman Water Supports RAGBRAI
Alex Dailey, 9, recently participated in a nearly 500 mile ride across Iowa, spanning seven days, with his father Tim Dailey. The event, called RAGBRAI or the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa is billed as the world’s oldest, largest and longest road tour is in its 44th year and this was the Daileys’ first trip to participate.
Cayman Water proudly supported this young athlete in his endeavor to raise CI$3000 for three notable causes: Cayman Hospice Care, Cancer Society and One Dog at a Time. According to the elder Dailey, Alex was delighted to receive Cayman Water’s CI$300 donation, which helped push him over his target.
“We set US$3000 as a target thinking it would be a nice round $1000 for each of the charities,” said Tim. “However, the story of his ride was picked up by local Cayman media, the Des Moines Register newspaper in Iowa and the GoFundMe organization also asked to use his experience as a story, and the result was some anonymous and unknown donors sent in funds. That was very satisfying and helped Alex focus on the ride.”
Alex took up road riding a little over a year ago and has participated in local charity rides since getting involved in the sport.
Tim Dailey, a long-time affiliate of Cayman Water, has also supported the Company’s annual Pete Ribbins Memorial ride, now in its fourth year.
“We were delighted to have Cayman Water’s support for our RAGBRAI ride,” said Mr Dailey. “Alex enjoys getting out on his bike and decided to use the week long RAGBRAI tour ride to raise funds for three of his favored charities.”
Following on from the RAGBRAI ride, both Daileys say they are looking forward to the somewhat shorter (and flatter) Cayman Water Pete Ribbins Memorial Ride on 14 August.
“It will be a pleasant change to be back on the much less hilly roads of Cayman,” says the elder Dailey, adding, “as fun as RAGBRAI was, the hills were something new and challenging to us, but I think we would both do it again in a heartbeat!!!”
