High of 86 Low of 75 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT REAL ESTATE MARKET REVIEW >>PAGE 13 ENERGY OIL PRICE FALLOUT What the future holds as price plunges >>PAGE 2 ENTREPRENEURS MEET CEO PAUL LINDLEY Great startups and working in the Key of E >>PAGE 6 GLOBAL ECONOMY ECONOMISTS PESSIMISTIC Technology the only bright spot >>PAGE 7 PAGE B13 SPECIA L REPORT March 2015 Journal Special Report Real Estate Market Review 2015 ❚ DEVELOP ERS ❚ REAL ESTATE FIRMS & AGENTS ❚ COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ❚ ARCHITE CTURE & DESIGN ❚ RENTALS ❚ PROPERTY LISTINGS ❚ BANKS ❚ PROPERTY INSURAN CE ❚ PROJECT MANAGE MENT ❚ CONSTR UCTION ❚ ECO-LIVIN G 1 49 Work permits have no negative impact on Caymanian employment Cayman Finance: Time to refocus CHARLES DUNCAN The expat experience is a common one in Cayman. The government Economics and Statistics Offi ce, in a list of fun facts about the Cayman economy, declares there are people from 135 countries living in Cayman. In fact, look- ing at the past 15 years of available employment data, the number of work permit holders has al- ways been higher than the number of Caymanians in the workforce. Unemployment for Caymanians jumped in 2009, following global recession trends, but it has never re- covered. Based on available data from government, Caymanian unemployment hit 9.5 percent in 2009 and has remained at more than 9 percent since then. A common refrain has been to blame the number of work permits as a way of explaining why Cayman- ian unemployment has remained so high. The number of work permits in Cayman has no im- pact on Caymanian unemployment rates, according to an analysis of data from the Economic and Statistics Of- fi ce and the Immigration Department. Looking at the number of work permits and un- employed Caymanians over the past 15 years shows that the Caymanian unemployment rate is actually lower when there are more people in the country on work permits. Conversely, when work permit num- bers drop, Caymanian unemployment increases, ac- cording to the data. Politics North Side MLA Ezzard Miller recently argued during an appearance on Cayman 27 for a cap on work permits. He said, “What we need is for Cayma- nians to get some of the jobs that are available. The only way that will happen is if government tightens up on work permit process.” But that doesn’t line up with the data about unemployme nt and the experience of recruiters and human resource managers in Cayman. Premier Alden McLaughlin made that point in his State of the Nation address in February: “All data indicate that unemployment is falling and is projected to continue to fall over the next few years as projects come onstream and as we get more and more people into jobs. “An increase in work permits is a clear indica- tion that the economy is rebounding; that employ- ers are hiring.” He continued: “There is a view in some quar- ters, however, that every time you grant a work permit, it means a Caymanian did not get that job. But this is not necessarily the case. In many cases the grant of a work permit for a managerial or pro- fessional position means a business is growing and actually creates additional jobs for administrative, secretarial or support staff.” Politics aside, the data show that Mr. McLaughlin’s argument is much closer to the reality on the ground. MICHAEL KLEIN Jude Scott, the new CEO of Cayman Finance, the association representing the fi nancial services industry, says the industry has grown and has been very suc-cessful, “but we all now have to reinvest.”It is not the time to sit on the sidelines and not participate with ideas or funding while others do the work that they also benefi t from, he adds. To achieve, this Cayman Finance needs to be inclusive and representative, and encourage organizations throughout the fi nancial services industry to become members of Cayman Finance. That will allow the organization to have the fund- ing to actively promote and defend the Cayman Islands and give each member input into the process. “It’s time for us to refocus. We have growth opportunities and challenges that we face. Some are going to put in more than others, but if we each put in, spend the time sharing knowledge, we are going to build something that is even better that everyone is going to benefi t from,” he says. Scott takes over an organization that in the past called for more government fund-ing to promote the jurisdiction. Two years ago, Cayman Finance signed a memoran-dum of understanding with government, and for two years, government committed a small amount, compared to its tourism promotion budget, for joint initiatives. “We do need government to invest more in the industry,” notes Scott. “They are aware of that and they have multiple challenges, but I think we are also at the point – recognizing how important the in- Jude Scott PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » MA RCH 2015 • WWW . CA YJO U RN AL.CO M People lining up outside the Immigration Department. THE CAYMAN ISLANDS JOURNAL Work permits have no negative impact on Caymanian employment EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘PAY TO PLAY’: TERMINATIONS AND SUSPENSIONS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 Cuba, Cayman talks set to resume on status of refugees TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Representatives from Havana and George Town will meet soon for further negotiations on an agreement regarding treatment and re- patriation of Cuban migrants, with Cayman seeking to stem costs likely to exceed the US$1 million from the last government budget year, officials said. Wesley Howell, deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and a member of Cayman’s delegation to the long-delayed talks, said 88 Cubans passed through Cayman in January, eclipsing the 24-per-month av- erage in 2014 and only four per month in 2013. Since late January, more than 75 Cuban migrants have passed through or landed in Cayman Brac. The Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas also spent more than US$1 million last year on Cuban refugees. In 2012 and 2013, Cayman spent more than $800,000 to house, feed and repatriate Cuban migrants. Refugees detained by the Immigration Department are housed at a detention facility in Fairbanks, which accommodates up to 30 people. However, more than 30 migrants fre- quently arrive in a single boatload. Meanwhile, according to Cuba’s am- bassador to Jamaica Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, the U.S. refugee policy known in- formally as “wet foot/dry foot” remains in place, driving an exodus from Cuba. Under that policy – a consequence of the 1995 revision of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 – a Cuban caught on the waters be- tween the two nations (with “wet feet”) is sent home or to a third country. Those who make PREMIER NAMES NEW POLITICAL AIDE BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin has named Frank Cornwall Jr. as his new po- litical assistant, replacing Kenneth Bryan, who was fired Friday. Mr. Bryan had been on paid suspension following criminal allegations filed against him in December. The announcement regarding Mr. Cornwall was made public via a government email sent Monday afternoon. The new political assistant is a long- time behind-the-scenes backer of the People’s Progressive Movement who has worked in the construction business, as well as in the Department of Environmental Health and Department of Health. Mr. Cornwall is also a community vol- unteer. He was a goalkeeping coach for the Cayman Islands Under-15 team that competed in last year’s CONCACAF regional tournament, and he also works with students at Savannah and Prospect primary schools. “I welcome Mr. Cornwall,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “I have been without a political assis- tant since December. My constituency work is being neglected and the needs of the people I was elected to represent are not being met.” Mr. Cornwall’s appointment, like all the premier’s office staff apart from his per- sonal assistant, is on a contractual basis. He is considered a political appointee, not a civil servant. He is described by Premier McLaughlin as a “grassroots George Towner” who “knows the district inside and out.” The premier said earlier that his decision to fire Mr. Bryan was one that he regretted “had come to this point.” Mr. Bryan said Saturday that he was fired over politics. “[The premier] admitted to me that I’m a Cruise line pledges $100k to reef restoration Reef was damaged by Carnival Magic anchor JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Carnival Cruise Lines has stepped up with a $100,000 donation to support the restoration of a sec- tion of coral reef that was severely damaged by one of its cruise ship anchors. The cruise line maintains it was mistakenly directed to anchor at the site, about 650 feet outside the desig- nated anchorage, by the Port Authority’s licensed pilot. They say the pledge – described as an initial dona- tion – is a gesture of goodwill that shows how much Carnival values the marine environment. “We hugely value the beautiful reefs and pris- tine environment that make the Cayman Islands so extraordinary,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Lines. “When you consider that coral reefs cover less than 0.2 percent of the ocean floor, we understand the para- mount importance of preserving and protecting them.” Volunteer divers have been working for months to try to salvage live coral and mitigate the damage to the reef. The Carnival Magic regularly visits Grand Cayman. In August 2014, it accidentally dropped its anchor on a coral reef off George Town, badly damaging the site. The company made a donation as a gesture of goodwill. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURT PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 The donation marks the first time any of the three parties involved in the in- cident has made an effort to support the community volunteer project that has been going on for the past six months. Neither the Port Authority nor Bodden Shipping, the other two par- ties involved, has made any comment since the incident on Aug. 27 last year. Volunteers have put in hundreds of man-hours sal- vaging live coral from the rubble and are now begin- ning the painstaking process of reattaching it to the reef using marine epoxy. Experts say the project could take several years. A fundraiser on Friday raised $28,000 to help sus- tain the effort. A report on the accident, prepared by the Department of Environment in November, said the cost of the damage to the reef could run to mil- lions of dollars. The depart- ment recommended that government seek voluntary donations rather than pur- suing a criminal investiga- tion, which it said would be a lengthy and costly process. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, who met with Carnival Cruise Line ex- ecutives in February, com- mended the cruise line for its willingness to collaborate in the conservation project. He said, “The Cayman Islands government is appre- ciative of this gesture which has been provided in good faith by a most valued tourism partner. This initial pledge to provide funding will assist the important work being un- dertaken on the reef, which is largely a community effort by teams of dedicated volunteers whose primary motivation is to conserve our island’s spec- tacular marine environment.” Environment Minister Wayne Panton said, “The Ministry thanks Carnival for this initial donation and we welcome their continuing partnership with us on this critical restoration work.” Cruise line pledges $100k to reef restoration Cargo plane forced to make emergency landing Third incident at airport in two months JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A cargo plane apparently experienced engine problems as it came in to land Tuesday afternoon in Grand Cayman, prompting a full emer- gency alert at Owen Roberts International Airport. Roads around the airport were closed and fire and am- bulance crews were called to the scene at 2:22 p.m. The plane, an IFL Group twin-prop contracted to transport cargo for Cayman Airways, landed safely at 2:45 p.m. No one was injured. Acting Fire Chief Johnny Bodden said the plane’s crew reported that the starboard engine had shut down. There were two people on board the aircraft, which was car- rying just over 5,000 pounds of fuel. This was the third re- ported emergency landing at the airport this year. Last month, a DHL plane carrying flammable goods was forced to make an unscheduled, emergency landing at the air- port when one of its engines failed. That plane was still on the tarmac at Owen Roberts on Tuesday. Earlier in January, an- other IFL Group plane char- tered by Cayman Airways veered off the runway and into the grass, forcing the air- port to shut down for four hours and resulting in a se- ries of delays. According to Kafara Augustine of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, Tuesday’s incident did not delay scheduled flights. Traffic around George Town was snarled for about half an hour as motorists were rerouted away from the airport. Neither Cayman Airways nor the IFL Group responded to requests for comment by press time. Mr. Bodden said initial re- ports suggesting there had been a fire on board were in- accurate, based on a false in- dicator in the cockpit. Emergency crews stood down just before 3 p.m. Fire crews were on standby during and immediately after the emergency landing. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY The donation marks the first time any of the three parties involved in the incident has made an effort to support the community volunteer project that has been going on for the past six months. The plane, an IFL Group twin-prop contracted to transport cargo for Cayman Airways, landed safely at 2:45 p.m. No one was injured. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 • CAYMAN COMPASS it to shore (“dry feet”) get a chance to remain in the U.S. and later qualify for expe- dited legal permanent resi- dent status, and eventually U.S. citizenship. “The Cuban Adjustment Act and the wet foot/dry foot policy are still strong incen- tives for irregular migration from Cuba,” Ambassador Guanche said, “and they have an impact also on the Cayman Islands.” In the wake of President Obama’s policy shift to- ward opening up relations between the two coun- tries, many Cubans fear the Cuban Adjustment Act may be suspended or abolished. Mr. Howell said he be- lieves these concerns are likely driving increasing numbers of Cubans to flee. He said talks on a new Havana-George Town mem- orandum of understanding are “progressing via diplo- matic channels,” adding they have been “taking longer than expected.” Talks were last held in September 2014. “We are hopeful to sign a new agreement with Cuba in the coming months,” he said. The agreement currently in effect dates to 1999. It established a seven-day time frame for notifying Havana about refugee ar- rivals and identifying the individuals involved. There were concerns that any identification might com- promise refugee claims for political asylum. However, Mr. Howell said, “Repatriations typi- cally take three to six weeks, but can be significantly longer than that, with some repatriations taking up to three to five months.” Adding to the delays is what Mr. Howell called a “double approval” pro- cess, whereby Cayman es- tablishes the identities of the refugees, but then must wait for Havana to confirm the information. Finally, both sides must agree to the schedule for repatria- tion flights. The flights, all on Cayman Airways, are part of overall processing costs. “Cayman Airways for safety reasons have a limit as to how many repatri- ated migrants can be flown on a scheduled commer- cial flight with other pas- sengers,” Mr. Howell said. “Therefore, the costs for repatriation can range from a few seats when buying seats on a sched- uled flight to Havana ... to higher costs when a charter flight is required for larger numbers of mi- grants. These costs can range from several tickets at approximately US$300 each on a scheduled flight to a charter flight of ap- proximately US$10,000. “All costs are borne by the Cayman Islands govern- ment,” he said. Cuba, Cayman talks set to resume on status of refugees liability to him,” Mr. Bryan said. “He could care less about what’s happening to me. If it’s going to affect his reign, then he’s going to get rid of me.” Mr. Bryan said that while he still supported the PPM political party and what it stood for, he could no longer back Mr. McLaughlin as its political leader. Other vacancies A number of other high- ranking positions, not in the premier’s office, but in Mr. McLaughlin’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Health and Culture, remained without full-time managers as of press time Tuesday. Acting directors or depart- ment chiefs are currently staffing those jobs. The hiring process for those jobs is handled by civil servants and managed under the Public Service Management Law, not by the premier. A decision regarding sus- pended Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans has not been made. She is on “required leave” – suspen- sion with pay – until at least March 24. The Immigration Department’s director of boards, Kimberley Davis, also remains on paid suspension while various allegations re- lated to the approval of a work permit are investigated against her. Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands government is still in the recruitment process for a new head of the fire service, a process that has dragged on for two years following the retirement of former Chief Fire Officer Dennom Bodden. Various acting chiefs have filled the role since then, but none has been appointed on a full- time basis. A new full-time head of the Cayman Islands London Office has not been ap- pointed, despite the depar- ture of Lord Blencathra a year ago. In addition, the Cayman Islands government is searching for the sixth time since 2012 for a collector of customs, who operates under the Ministry of Finance. Premier names new political aide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. CornwallMr. Bryan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Meals on Wheels: 170 meals a day at $4 each CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four staff members and dozens of volunteers with Meals on Wheels put out up to 170 meals a day for senior citizens who, through health or financial issues, can’t make themselves a hot dinner. Meals on Wheels ran into some financial problems of its own about a year and a half ago. But now, staff says, while the organization still runs on slim margins, it’s no longer on the brink of shut- ting its doors. In a small, bustling com- mercial kitchen in a Rotary building in central George Town – one of three kitchens the organization operates in Cayman – volunteers and two staff members cook saltfish and cabbage, rice and plantains and pack the meals into Styrofoam con- tainers. They pile the pre- pared meals on tables as volunteer drivers show up to deliver the food to older people around George Town and West Bay. Beulah McField, executive director of Meals on Wheels, explained that bringing meals to seniors does more than give them a hot meal. “They can stay in their home longer and retain indepen- dence, and sometimes our visit can be the only contact they get that day.” Last year, Ms. McField said, Cayman Meals on Wheels made more than 37,000 meals from its kitchens in George Town, Bodden Town and East End. The numbers fluctuate, but she said the staff and volun- teers send out an average of 170 meals a day. Ms. McField said they do all that for $4 a meal, which includes all costs, from buying the ingredients to paying four staff salaries. “We don’t make much, but that has allowed us to grow,” she said. Talking about growth is a far cry from where the organi- zation was in the fall of 2013. As reported in the Cayman Compass, Meals on Wheels staff were preparing to close the kitchens in Bodden Town and East End because they didn’t have the money to op- erate them. She put out a call to help raise $30,000 by the end of the year and a number of local businesses stepped up to fill the gap. “Fundraising is critical,” Ms. McField said. Meals on Wheels is get- ting some attention this week. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and George Town MLA Joey Hew joined other government officials to vol- unteer with the organization. And this weekend, Meals on Wheels is hosting its Orange You Glad gala on Saturday evening at Luca. Four dollars a meal is the level set by the not-for-profit organization’s board of direc- tors, but the menu is varied. This week it includes saltfish, stewed chicken and Salisbury steak, all with vegetables, soup and other sides. “We try to mix it up,” said Milda Myrie, one of the two cooks employed by the orga- nization. Ms. Myrie said they always make an alternative dish for people they know won’t like the main selection of the day. They also make a couple extra portions, Ms. Myrie said, because people will walk in if they haven’t eaten. “They know we’re here and we don’t turn anyone away,” she said. Meals on Wheels cook Milda Myrie dishes out the day’s 80 meals in the George Town kitchen. The Cuban Adjustment Act and the wet foot/ dry foot policy are still strong incentives for irregular migration from Cuba, and they have an impact also on the Cayman Islands.” BERNARDO GUANCHE HERNANDEZ, Cuba’s ambassador to Jamaica “I welcome Mr. Cornwall. I have been without a political assistant since December.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN INDIA ORDERS TV STATIONS NOT TO GIVE RAPIST A PLATFORM NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian authorities ordered televi- sion stations Tuesday not to broadcast a documen- tary about a gang rape on a New Delhi bus in which one of the attackers blames the victim and says she could have avoided being killed if she had not fought back, a government official said. The order followed an outcry over giving a con- victed prisoner a nation- wide platform to express repugnant views about a horrific crime that shocked Indians and prompted hun- dreds of thousands to take to the streets in protest. In response to the 2012 attack, India’s government rushed through legislation doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalizing voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women. “What is there in spreading the views of a rapist?” said activist Vrinda Adiga. The documentary, “India’s Daughter” by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, was to be shown on Sunday, International Women’s Day, in India as well as in Britain, Denmark, Sweden and sev- eral other countries. 2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 • CAYMAN COMPASS © Warner Bros. Pictures © 21st Century Fox www. REGmovies.com SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - WEDNESDAY - FOCUS (R) 1:30 | 4:10 | 7:20 | 10:00 SEVENTH SON 3D (PG13) 1:10 | 3:35 2D | 7:10 | 9:40 2D KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (R) 3:45 | 6:50 | 9:50 FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (R) 1:00 | 7:05 SELMA (PG13) 12:50 | 3:50 | 7:00 | 10:00 PADDINGTON (PG) 1:20 JUPITER ASCENDING (PG-13) 4:00 | 9:55 SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 3D (PG) 12:45 2D | 3:00 | 5:15 2D | 7:30 9:50 2D Maritime board to discuss Walton’s fate BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The board of the Cayman Islands Maritime Authority is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to address the po- sition of the authority’s long- time director, Joel Walton, in the wake of criminal charges filed against him last week. Mr. Walton, who has been at the helm of the maritime authority since 2004, ap- peared in Summary Court last Thursday on charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, insulting the mod- esty of a woman and causing fear or provocation of vio- lence, according to a state- ment from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. He is due to return to court on March 10. Mr. Walton was arrested just after midnight Feb. 25 on suspicion of assault and suspi- cion of insulting the modesty of a woman. Police did not state where the arrest occurred. He has not responded to repeated attempts by the Cayman Compass to contact him about the charges. Board member Kirkland Nixon said Thursday was the earliest date a quorum for the meeting might be met as sev- eral members are out of town. Haitians’ ‘Brazilian dream’ sours as employment hard to find SAO PAULO (AP) — Under a scorching sun, dozens of Haitians shuffled impatiently about the brick-walled court- yard of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. The sight of an approaching employer sparked a skirmish, with the men pushing against each other, jostling for attention. “How many people you need?,” several men shouted. “I need a job, what do you want me to do?” No matter what the job was, someone in the crowd yelled out, “I can do that!” There are fewer jobs in Brazil than there are Haitians looking for work. An open- door policy intended to help migrants from the impov- erished island is fueling Brazil’s largest immigra- tion wave since World War II and prompting calls for law- makers to do more to help the new arrivals. “Seeing so many seeking jobs and so much hunger for work, it creates tension,” said the Rev. Paolo Parise, a priest who directs the par- ish’s efforts to help Haitian migrants and other impover- ished newcomers. While Haiti is picking it- self up from the 7.0 earth- quake that devastated its capital in 2010, progress has not been enough to keep tens of thousands of Haitians from chasing op- portunities abroad, mainly in the United States and the Dominican Republic. But Brazil also has be- come an attractive landing spot for migrants eager to find a toehold in Latin America’s biggest economy. Brazil has no limit on the number of humanitarian visas it issues to Haitians. National Migration Council figures suggest more than 52,000 Haitians have mi- grated since 2012 and have become the country’s largest group of foreign laborers, outpacing Portuguese who long held the top spot. “No other country opened the doors for them like Brazil,” said Duval Magalhaes, a demographer at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais state who has researched the Haitian migration in Brazil. Wooldeens Turenne, 23, once earned a reliable income guiding missionary workers helping quake victims in Haiti. But such work gradu- ally dried up and, last year, Turenne saw it was time to leave. Despite being fluent in English, going to the United States wasn’t an option due to its restrictive immigra- tion laws. Instead, he flew to Panama, then Ecuador, where he received his visa to enter Brazil. He then flew to Sao Paulo. Jobs can be found in con- struction, agriculture and factories, but the salaries barely cover Brazil’s high cost of living, let alone leave Haitians enough money to support family back home. Employers know Haitians are desperate, and com- monly pay them $300 to $400 a month, barely above the legal minimum. “If they know you are an immigrant, they don’t pay you the salary they are sup- posed to, and they will give you a lot of work to do,” Turenne said. “It’s better than Haiti, yes, but it’s not pos- sible to make a good living.” Two out of three com- panies interested in hiring migrants through Parise’s church are turned away be- cause they don’t want to comply with labor laws, or their work sites don’t meet safety standards. MEXICO UPSET BY PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR KEY POSTS MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Enrique Pena Nieto faced criticism Tuesday for having a pos- sible conflict of interest in his nominations for at- torney general and Mexico’s highest court. The accusation struck a raw nerve because they involve the top two posts in a criminal justice system widely perceived as corrupt and inefficient. Critics blasted Pena Nieto’s choice of Arely Gomez to replace Jesus Murillo Karam as attorney general because she’s the sister of top Televisa news executive Leopoldo Gomez. Pena Nieto has been criticized for close ties to the television giant, in- cluding his marriage to a top star, first lady Angelica Rivera. Rivera acknowledged last year that she made $10 mil- lion from Televisa the year she retired and re- ceived a house from the television network. Leopoldo Gomez de- nied in a newspaper column Tuesday that he had any influence over his sister’s career. “Nobody can supply one single piece of evi- dence that links my career and hers,” Leopoldo Gomez wrote. “We are united by blood. But we each have our own careers.” Haitian migrants wait to find a place to sleep and employment outside Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, which helps recently arrived migrants in Sao Paulo, Brazil. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” “Menacing motorbikers: Disturbers of the peace,” March 3 This article is spot on. There are a certain group of very inconsiderate obnoxious bikers who on a regular basis wheelie down the main road in front of my house, over- take and undertake other cars, and most commonly rev up their already loud engines in a certain residential area near where a biker friend of theirs crashed and died less than six months ago. While those of us neigh- bors who witnessed that bike accident do feel your pain, please understand that we don’t want to be reminded of that day either. What your racket does to us is takes us right back to the moment when your friend was laying out in the road that fateful morning. It was painful enough to have to see him like that on that day, and not be able to help him, and it is still painful to think about even now. Your revving up is ex- tremely loud, to the point of waking my sleeping chil- dren out of their beds, and the hours of night that you choose to do these things is also extremely inconsid- erate. Do all of us a favor and stop it now please. We do not want to see any more of you laid out on the road like your friend was. The speed that they travel up and down that 30 miles- per-hour stretch is beyond imaginable sometimes, and the way how a little bike can shake a whole concrete house is actually quite terri- fying when you are trying to sleep. God help us if they ac- tually run off the road and into your house. I do not want to get the police involved out of respect for your deceased friend, but if it continues like this I will have no choice but to do just that. Heck, it might just save your own lives. Sasha Wright I, too, loathe the motor- bikes racing through traffic on the weekends, but it made me think … Maybe there’s a need for a dirt bike track on- island. This could be a great opportunity for an enthu- siast to fulfill an apparent recreational need. There is vacant land in the industrial area. One could possibly re- vamp the old racing drag strip in Breakers. Luella Neuberg WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 • CAYMAN COMPASS One difference between civil servants and everyone else in the Cayman Islands is a parachute — or, more precisely, a paycheck that keeps showing up regard- less of whether they are showing up for work. Kenneth Bryan, who until last Friday was Premier Alden McLaughlin’s political assistant, abruptly con- fronted that distinction when he was fired by the premier. In August, Mr. Bryan faces a criminal trial over allegations that he verbally assaulted police outside a nightclub last October. (Mr. Bryan has pleaded not guilty.) He was charged in early December and had been on paid suspension until his termination. Premier McLaughlin explained that Mr. Bryan couldn’t discharge his duties adequately while he was facing serious charges. Our sympathies are with both men. First, Mr. Bryan remains innocent until proven oth- erwise. The loss of position and income may pose real hardships on him and his family, with difficulties exac- erbated by the matter pending before the courts. As he asked rhetorically, “Who’s going to hire me before this trial?” The Premier, of course, understands this as well. However, we have no quarrel with his decision. It is the Premier’s right — indeed his duty — to enforce the terms of employee contracts – including exercising the option of termination. (We’ll note here that Mr. Bryan is consulting with his attorneys regarding his particular contract.) If Mr. Bryan had been a civil servant, however, rather than a political employee, he almost certainly would still be receiving his check as his case pro- gresses toward adjudication. Consider the case, for example, of former Work Permit Board secretary Tichina Rickfield. Ms. Rick- field continued to receive full pay for five years while authorities pursued a criminal investigation against her, culminating in a trial in which she was found not guilty of all charges. At the highest level of the same department, Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans has been on leave for three months following allegations of misconduct that have now been determined to be “administrative” (rather than “criminal”) in nature. She continues to receive her full paycheck. Here’s the question: Why do Cayman’s civil servants receive special benefits that are unavailable to political appointees in government – and would be unheard of in the private sector? We’re not advocating that every civil servant who faces a criminal allegation should be suspended without pay or terminated automatically. Certainly not. Every instance is different and each deserves a com- passionate examination. We’re also not faulting suspended or furloughed civil servants for accepting the ongoing paycheck that is offered to them. (Who can forget the three chief officers — Deborah Drummond, Angela Martins and Diane Montoya — none of whom was ever accused of any wrongdoing — who continued to receive full pay for years before coming to a final settlement with government?) Our issue is with the people writing the checks, not the people cashing them. In cases where accusations of misconduct involve Cayman’s often slow-moving justice system, termina- tion or suspension without compensation should be options available to their government bosses – even if that requires rewriting our relevant legal statutes. ‘Pay to play’: Terminations and suspensions UCCI board chair on ‘viability report’ On Feb. 12, a press confer- ence announcing the recom- mendations of the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) Joint Study Team Viability Report was held. The purpose of this exer- cise was to inform the public that the Board of Governors and senior faculty and staff have undertaken the impor- tant task of formulating rec- ommendations that will lead the University College to- wards fiscal success. This after the institution has ex- perienced shrinking reve- nues for the past five years resulting in operating losses and an entity with limited cost flexibility and an unsus- tainable operating model. Furthermore, it was to un- derscore the fact that this was only the first phase of an ar- duous process that will in- volve, among others, consid- ering the input of the rest of the UCCI’s employees and forming teams that will look at each of the recommenda- tions meticulously before they are discarded or implemented. During the press confer- ence, I elaborated on the first recommendation which sug- gested eliminating the two- year associate degree pro- grammes in business and substituting a new four- to five-year business degree programme, run similarly as the bachelor of science de- gree in nursing. Taken out of context by some media personnel, my comment appeared to have caused some dismay by members of the UCCI com- munity and the general public and I wish to set the record straight. I have the greatest respect for the students and alumni of UCCI as well as the pro- fessors, staff and adminis- tration. The same is true for the individuals and organiza- tions who provide monetary and other assistance for our students. I would never un- dermine the value of their sacrifice and efforts in trying to pursue an education for a brighter future. My intention was to re- iterate the importance of ensuring that our gradu- ates have a fighting chance in this globally competitive labor market. The best way I know how is to encourage them to pursue a bachelor’s and even a master’s degree after completing their asso- ciate degrees. Having worked in the busi- ness industry for over 40 years and climbing up the corporate ladder from an entry level po- sition to top level manage- ment, I know (and many, if not all, will agree) that it will serve our young Caymanian men and women well to take advantage of further educa- tion opportunities. It is for this very reason that I believe it is impera- tive for us as an institution to work together to keep the doors of UCCI open so that we can continue serving the community. This will only happen if we achieve a com- prehensive solution that will ensure viability, sustainability and restore fiscal balance. The hard work and dedi- cation of the UCCI commu- nity should be commended and we thank them all for their ongoing commitment to our students and our country. Sheree Ebanks Chair, UCCI Board of Governors FROM CAYMANCOMPASS.COM5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 178510_PRINT2-Ad-HP-ChipandPin.pPage 1 3/3/15 9:51:21 AM UCCI seeks international accreditation JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The University College of the Cayman Islands will find out within a month if it has gained the right to become an accredited institution for the first time. An inspector from the U.K.-based Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities has been on site at UCCI for the past two days. Lee Hammond, of the or- ganization, said his inspec- tion covered everything from health and safety standards to the type of qualifications delivered at the institution. J.D. Mosley Matchett, dean of graduate studies and professional develop- ment at the university col- lege, said accreditation would provide external val- idation of the work being done at the college. She added “It would be a major step in the matura- tion of UCCI.” She said it would help facilitate international ex- change between similarly accredited colleges overseas and add credibility to UCCI. Mr. Hammond met with faculty, students and admin- istrators at UCCI and sat in on lectures on Monday and Tuesday this week. He is also looking at data from the college and the kinds of career prospects enjoyed by its graduates. He will prepare a re- port on his visit for review by the accrediting orga- nization’s board and alert the university within four weeks if its application has been successful. ASIC is an accreditation body for private colleges of- fering academic, technical and vocational training. The organization has accredited schools all over the world, including in the U.S., India, Malaysia and Botswana, as well as more than 100 pri- vate colleges in the U.K. Mr. Hammond said ac- creditation was used by the schools for marketing pur- poses, as well as to bolster credibility. He said “The accredi- tation is for the institu- tion as a whole, it doesn’t validate courses or confer the right to give degrees. We do look at the quali- fications offered but they need to be approved or ac- credited independently.” Ms. Mosley Matchett said many of the institution’s various courses were ac- credited through external organizations. The nursing program, for example, is accred- ited through the Nursing Council of Jamaica. UCCI is also in the process of seeking accreditation from the U.S.-based International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education for its business programs. Roy Bodden, president of UCCI, said, “While our stu- dents are accepted in col- leges and universities all over North America and increasingly now in the United Kingdom, we at UCCI realize that accreditation carries merits, advantages and prestige beyond what is currently available to the institution. “Accreditation is a metic- ulous and rigorous process, nevertheless, I am confident that the University College will perform creditably on this, its first attempt.” Despite the absence of accreditation to this point, Mr. Bodden said it was “be- yond dispute” that UCCI had demonstrated its ability to prepare students for the world of work. He said accreditation with ACIS would provide further proof that UCCI was providing internationally benchmarked education to its students. COMMONWEALTH DAY TO FOCUS ON YOUTH This year’s Commonwealth Day celebration, observed on Monday, March 9, will focus on the youth of Cayman. Commonwealth Day is celebrated worldwide on the second Monday in March every year. The theme this year is “A Young Commonwealth.” To kick-start events in Cayman, a Commonwealth Day Service will be held at Saint George’s Anglican Church on Sunday at 4 p.m. All are invited to attend the ser- vice, particularly nationals of Commonwealth countries who are resident in or visiting the Cayman Islands. At the church, uniformed groups and schools will par- ticipate in a display of flags representing various countries within the Commonwealth. The University College of the Cayman Islands choir, the International College of the Cayman Islands ensemble, and a violin ensemble from local primary schools will perform musical selections. Immediately after the service, there will be a garden reception. On Monday, schools will participate in morning as- semblies, view exhibitions, and take part in flag pa- rades or story telling and students will dress as their favorite counterparts from Commonwealth countries. The Cayman Islands Youth Parliament will also be held on Monday, during which high school students will act as members of the Legislative Assembly for a day. This year, students will debate two motions – one dealing with an amendment to the Sunday Trading Law to allow more Sunday trading, and the other which deals with a mentoring program in the public high schools. The debates are organized by the Cayman Islands branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Royal Commonwealth Society is also inviting all schools to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Essay Competition. The re- sults will be announced in September 2015. The University College of the Cayman Islands is seeking accreditation as an institution.6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 • CAYMAN COMPASS KIRK MOTORS LTD AUTO CARE CENTER Auto Care Center diagnose the problem and fix it right the first time. We have certified licensed technicians. We diagnose and test your vehicle so we will NOT charge you for a FULL SERVICE if it’s not needed - NO HIDDEN FEES. FREE QUOTE. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE. 100% Customer Satisfaction OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Mon-Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 9am -12pm. • Oil & Filter Service $54.95 • 2 or 4 wheel Alignment starting at $80.00 • Diagnostic Scan Test $59.95 • Full A/C Service $85.00 • Shuttle Service to your Home or Office in the George Town area $FREE Scouts urged to ‘change the world’ Cayman’s Scouts and Girl Guides are celebrating Scout Week with a challenge to “Make a difference ... change the world.” The events began March 8 with a Founder’s Day Service at John Gray Memorial United Church in West Bay. Throughout this week, members of the Cayman Islands Scouts Association and Girl Guides will take part in tree planting, chores, public service work, group so- cials and a basketball cham- pionship, with the celebra- tions culminating on Saturday evening with a campfire gathering. Last Sunday, scores of Cubs, Brownies, Beavers, Rangers, Girl Guides and Scouts paraded their colors. The event also included songs, scriptures, offi- cial greetings and affirma- tion of their promises to the movement. “I encourage parents and families to get more in- volved and to challenge your children with whole- some, healthy activities,” said Scouts Chief Commissioner Orrett Connor. Mr. Connor also gave an update on the new Scouts Headquarters in George Town, which is scheduled for comple- tion this month. The building will serve as the base for Scouts, Girl Guides and mem- bers of the Girls Brigade. The Rev. Tara Tyme- Campbell delivered the sermon at the ser- vice, which was also at- tended by Scouts Executive Commissioner Winton Hayle and Girlguiding’s Island Commissioner Allison Taylor. Mr. Hayle reminded at- tendees that “scouting and guiding have contributed sig- nificantly to youth develop- ment the world over; so, wear your emblems with pride.” Ms. Taylor emphasized the week’s theme, which is to change the mind-set from “What can I get” to an atti- tude of “What can I give?” Scouts and Guides celebrate the beginning of Scout Week on Sunday with a service at the John Gray Memorial United Church. Events set to mark a month of honoring women Several events are planned throughout March to mark “Honoring Women Month.” On March 8, – International Women’s Day – the Family Resource Centre, which is coordinating activ- ities this month, will host an event from 4-6 p.m. at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. The featured attraction is the premiere of two local films by PCreative: “Beautiful Struggle” and “Girls Voice,” both starring women and girls of the Cayman Islands. The film “Beautiful Struggle” looks at girls who become mothers at a young age and how their lives change. “Girls Voice” fea- tures high school girls from all over Grand Cayman sharing their unedited opin- ions on family, school, drugs and sex, and advice for future generations. Explaining the theme of this year’s International Women’s Month, “Making It Happen,” Miriam Foster, the Family Resource Centre’s program coordinator, said it calls for more women to take action in senior lead- ership positions, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and entrepreneurship, as well as for equal recogni- tion of the genders in arts and sports. “Do not wait for some- thing to happen. Get out there and do it,” she said. At the March 8 event, photo displays of women who “make it happen” will be featured, along with images from the “He For She” photo campaign, a United Nations initiative led locally by Celebrations Ltd., in which men are encouraged to stand in solidarity in support of gender equality. “Celebrations is pleased to be able to work with the United Nations group to add the Cayman Islands to their global map of supporters, thanks to this first commit- ment. We will be calling for and accepting pledges year- round and collaborating with other organizations regularly to flourish the movement. Every pledge is a promise for change and aware- ness,” said Celebrations’s JoAnne Brown. In the “He For She” cam- paign, men are asked to pose against a white background holding a white sign with lettering in black saying “#HeForShe” and send the photographs to stevana_ hanna@celebrationsltd.com or tag Celebrations Ltd. on Facebook or Instagram. The Family Resource Centre also plans to incorpo- rate women-focused activi- ties into its regular family skills session classes. These will take place at East End Primary School on March 19, and at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre on March 30. On March 22, the Color Me Purple 5K Walk/Run starts from Smith Cove and continues along South Sound to The Avenue. Registration is $15. All participants are asked to wear purple or the 5K shirt ready for color powder bombing from the stations. The event raises money for programs the Family Resource Centre provides to women and children in the community. For a full list of activities this month, contact 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. Celebrations Ltd. and the Family Resource Centre are urging men to take part in the ‘He for She’ campaign.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2015 The donation marks the first time any of the three parties involved in the in- cident has made an effort to support the community volunteer project that has been going on for the past six months. Neither the Port Authority nor Bodden Shipping, the other two par- ties involved, has made any comment since the incident on Aug. 27 last year. Volunteers have put in hundreds of man-hours sal- vaging live coral from the rubble and are now begin- ning the painstaking process of reattaching it to the reef using marine epoxy. Experts say the project could take several years. A fundraiser on Friday raised $28,000 to help sus- tain the effort. A report on the accident, prepared by the Department of Environment in November, said the cost of the damage to the reef could run to mil- lions of dollars. The depart- ment recommended that government seek voluntary donations rather than pur- suing a criminal investiga- tion, which it said would be a lengthy and costly process. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, who met with Carnival Cruise Line ex- ecutives in February, com- mended the cruise line for its willingness to collaborate in the conservation project. He said, “The Cayman Islands government is appre- ciative of this gesture which has been provided in good faith by a most valued tourism partner. This initial pledge to provide funding will assist the important work being un- dertaken on the reef, which is largely a community effort by teams of dedicated volunteers whose primary motivation is to conserve our island’s spec- tacular marine environment.” Environment Minister Wayne Panton said, “The Ministry thanks Carnival for this initial donation and we welcome their continuing partnership with us on this critical restoration work.” Cruise line pledges $100k to reef restoration Cargo plane forced to make emergency landing Third incident at airport in two months JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A cargo plane apparently experienced engine problems as it came in to land Tuesday afternoon in Grand Cayman, prompting a full emer- gency alert at Owen Roberts International Airport. Roads around the airport were closed and fire and am- bulance crews were called to the scene at 2:22 p.m. The plane, an IFL Group twin-prop contracted to transport cargo for Cayman Airways, landed safely at 2:45 p.m. No one was injured. Acting Fire Chief Johnny Bodden said the plane’s crew reported that the starboard engine had shut down. There were two people on board the aircraft, which was car- rying just over 5,000 pounds of fuel. This was the third re- ported emergency landing at the airport this year. Last month, a DHL plane carrying flammable goods was forced to make an unscheduled, emergency landing at the air- port when one of its engines failed. That plane was still on the tarmac at Owen Roberts on Tuesday. Earlier in January, an- other IFL Group plane char- tered by Cayman Airways veered off the runway and into the grass, forcing the air- port to shut down for four hours and resulting in a se- ries of delays. According to Kafara Augustine of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, Tuesday’s incident did not delay scheduled flights. Traffic around George Town was snarled for about half an hour as motorists were rerouted away from the airport. Neither Cayman Airways nor the IFL Group responded to requests for comment by press time. Mr. Bodden said initial re- ports suggesting there had been a fire on board were in- accurate, based on a false in- dicator in the cockpit. Emergency crews stood down just before 3 p.m. Fire crews were on standby during and immediately after the emergency landing. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY The donation marks the first time any of the three parties involved in the incident has made an effort to support the community volunteer project that has been going on for the past six months. The plane, an IFL Group twin-prop contracted to transport cargo for Cayman Airways, landed safely at 2:45 p.m. No one was injured. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >