ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Wednesday March 25, 2015 SportS | page 17 aces set for pWc toUrnaMent Tennis stars compete this weekend High of 86 Low of 69 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 2 feet. editorial | page 4 ey report: another one bites the dUst? EY report six months later brent fUller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A number of options proposed in the re- view of Cayman Islands government ser- vices by the Ernst & Young accounting firm remain under consideration more than six months since the 240-page review was re- leased to the public. A number of other recommendations made by the accounting firm have been re- jected or changed by Cabinet members. The Cayman Compass took a look at a number of higher-profile recommen- dations from the report and where they have ended up: Sale, divestment One recommendation was to sell off or divest certain government assets, in- cluding “surplus” land, the water/sewage system, the government office building and Radio Cayman. Premier Alden McLaughlin has more or less rejected any sale of the Water Authority, Cayman or the Government Administration Building. Mr. McLaughlin also said govern- ment was not convinced it made “good busi- ness sense” to sell and then lease back the government office accommodations. The government also declined to sell public broadcaster Radio Cayman, instead opting for a merger of the radio station, govern- ment-owned CIG TV-20 and the Government Information Services department. If the sale of Radio Cayman were not im- plemented, this was a secondary recommen- dation involving the approximately 35 staff PR seekeRs can enRoll in ‘test class’ brent fUller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Prospective permanent residents in the Cayman Islands can now opt to receive some study help in preparation for the history and culture exam they must take as part of the PR process. For $200, the University College of the Cayman Islands will offer enrollment in a month-long, weekend course aimed at as- sisting potential “new Caymanians” in taking the permanent residence test. The first round of courses is to begin the weekend of April 4. The course can be taken on Saturday or Sunday and will be taught by either UCCI professor Livingston Smith or professor Christopher Williams. Following completion of the course, UCCI will provide the Immigration Department with the names of the participants. Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith said the course represents the first time his department and UCCI have partnered in an educational effort. “We have already discussed that the [class- room] presentations will be robust, interactive and thoroughly enlightening,” UCCI President Roy Bodden said. “We look forward to a mutu- ally beneficial exercise.” Immigration Department statistics recently examined by the Cayman Compass revealed that relatively few non-Caymanians have ap- plied for PR since the Immigration Law was amended in October 2013. According to records provided by the de- partment, 337 residency applications have been received since changes to the law made Jet crashes in French Alps carrying 150; Europe in shock SEYNE-LES-ALPES, France (AP) — A Germanwings jet carrying 150 people from Barcelona to Düsseldorf slammed into a re- mote section of the French Alps on Tuesday, sounding like an av- alanche as it scattered pulver- ized debris across a rocky moun- tain and down its steep ravines. All aboard were assumed killed. The pilots sent out no dis- tress call and had lost radio con- tact with their control center, France’s aviation authority said, deepening the mystery over the A320’s mid-flight crash after a surprise eight-minute descent. The crash left officials and families across Europe reeling in shock. Sobbing, grieving rel- atives at both airports were led away by airport workers and crisis counselors. One German town was rent with sorrow after losing 16 high school students coming back from an exchange program in Spain. “This is pretty much the worst thing you can imagine,” a visibly rattled Haltern Mayor Bodo Klimpel said at a hastily called press conference. As helicopters were deployed to reach the crash site, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged reporters not to speculate on the cause. “We still don’t know much beyond the bare informa- tion on the flight, and there should be no speculation on the cause of the crash,” she said in Berlin. “All that will be in- vestigated thoroughly.” Lufthansa Vice President Heike Birlenbach told reporters in Barcelona that for now “we say it is an accident.” In Washington, the White House said American officials were in contact with Rescue workers and helicopters stand at Seyne-les-Alpes in the French Alps on Tuesday as search- and-rescue teams struggle to reach the remote, snow-covered crash site of the Germanwings passenger plane. - Photo: aP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » The EY report recommended the sale of Radio Cayman. – Photo: chRis couRt PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL or fell from the ship Sunday night. Royal Caribbean Cruises said in a state- ment that a review of the ship’s closed-circuit camera footage shows the man climbed over the railing of deck 12 and jumped. The ship docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Monday after a four-night cruise that stopped in Cozumel, Mexico, on Saturday. Coast Guard crews searched with a helicopter and a cutter on Monday. Jamaica: High levels of benzene in air from dump fire KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican health officials says air quality tests done in the wake of a massive dump fire show such high levels of a known carcin- ogen that they now con- sider it a significant public health issue. The health ministry says air tests taken March 13-14 show the highest levels of benzene the government agency has ever recorded. In a Monday state- ment, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse described it is a “significant public health” matter. But at the same time, the ministry notes that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say long-term benzene exposure means exposure of a year or more. A week ago, DuCasse said she did not believe there would be any long-term ef- fects from the dump fire that blanketed Kingston with noxious smoke. Man killed while visiting wife’s grave CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands say they have charged a home- less person with killing a 79-year-old man who was visiting his wife’s grave. Police said Tuesday that 25-year-old Major Lee Womack also is accused of stealing the victim’s wallet, shoes and hat. © 2015, Associated Press Coast Guard searches for cruise ship passenger MARATHON, Fla. — The search continues for a man who fell from the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship about 20 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys. The U.S. Coast Guard says they don’t know whether the man jumped Wednesday March 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass www.tonymosleylifeinsurance.com 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. © Warner Bros. Pictures © 21st Century Fox RUN ALL NIGHT (R) 12:50 | 3:45 | 7:15 | 10:00 FOCUS (R) 1:30 | 4:10 | 7:20 | 10:05 THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG) 12:45 | 3:30 | 6:50 | 9:40 INSURGENT (PG13) 3D 1:00 | 4:20 2D | 7:00 | 9:50 2D BLACK OR WHITE (PG13) 1:10 | 4:00 | 7:10 | 9:55 CINDERELLA (PG) 12:40 | 3:15 | 6:45 | 9:20 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - WEDNESDAY - John Gray’s ‘recycled’ tree wins prize John Gray High School students have been awarded the prize for the best deco- rated tree at the Cayfest Red Sky at Night festival. The festival, held last month, featured trees dec- orated by students as part of the third annual compe- tition. The trees, some filled with lights, others with paper decorations, or flags and symbols, served as a vi- sual treat for visitors to the grounds of the F.J. Harquail Cultural Centre throughout the festival. This year, the the compe- tition was open to groups of five from schools only, with a prize of $1,000 in art sup- plies, organizers said. Competing schools in- cluded George Town and Prospect primary schools, Grace Christian Academy and the John Gray High School Art Club. “The schools chose their own themes and a panel of judges, along with CNCF’s faithful Facebook friends, se- lected the winning school,” said a statement from the or- ganizer, the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. John Gray High School’s theme was “A Rainbow Garden,” and 95 percent of the materials in their col- orful display were recycled, the CNCF pointed out. “George Town Primary School shared their love of Cayman’s flora and fauna, as well as our maritime heritage; Prospect Primary School took us around the globe with flags, sym- bols and objects from var- ious countries and cul- tures; and Grace Christian Academy used a subtle com- bination of blue and white along with angelic cutouts to transform their tree,” the statement said. CORRECTION A story titled “Climber tackles Seven Summits for Cancer Society” on page 1 of Tuesday’s Compass mis- takenly said Guy Manning had tried to climb Mount Everest several times be- fore reaching the summit. Mr. Manning reached the summit of Everest on his first attempt in May 2013. Also, the story contained the incorrect number of sherpas who were killed in the 2014 avalanche – 16 were killed in the disaster. The Cayman Compass strives for accuracy and is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can email the editor at newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com. REgIONAl ROuNduP Students at the John gray High School Art Club used recycled materials to decorate the winning tree. Rita Estevanovich, left, of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, with deborah Richey and Aimee Randolph of John gray High School.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Wednesday March 25, 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. “We are examining what agencies and services could possibly be privatized. There are no sacred cows.” — Premier Alden McLaughlin, February 2014 “We can’t fall down on this.” — Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, July 2014 “Does this elected government have the fortitude to challenge the 4,400 Caymanian public servants who comprise the country’s single-largest voting bloc; or will they, like their predecessors, ultimately crumble?” — Cayman Compass Editorial Board, July 2014 “The country must recognize that privatization is not a panacea that, when poured down upon a public service, will miraculously cure all ills ... We also want to emphasize that, like any other government initiative, in order for true success, it is the individual civil servants that must make it happen. Thus, our involvement is critical.” — Civil Service Association President James Watler, September 2014 The Cayman Islands government’s partnership with Ernst & Young to reduce the size, scope and cost of the public sector held special promise, in part because it was endorsed by Premier Alden McLaughlin, whose administration commissioned it, and was supported publicly by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who would be central to its implementation. The EY Report proposed (note that we’re speaking of it in the past tense, much as one does of the deceased after the funeral) to cut public expenditures by reducing the number of government entities and, by proxy, shrinking the number of civil servants. The report was touted (we believe correctly) as a roadmap directing Cayman toward long-term fiscal sustainability. Now more than six months since the press con- ference at which this report was introduced, little of substance appears to have been accomplished — and it appears we have another “dust gatherer” in the making. We refer our readers to Page One of today’s newspaper for a depressing recital of what was proposed in the report (plenty) and what to date has been accomplished (almost nothing). Take for example, Radio Cayman, the govern- ment-owned broadcaster which the consultants sug- gested should be sold to the private sector. Not only did officials decide not to sell Radio Cayman, they also appear to be reconsidering their own “Plan B” — merging Radio Cayman with government’s other com- munications entities, including GIS and CIG-TV. The government’s responses to other recommen- dations in the EY Report — such as selling certain public assets, immediately outsourcing some 200 government jobs, establishing U.K.-style academies to deliver public education, creating public-private part- nerships for the cruise dock and airport projects, pri- vatizing waste disposal and shuttering the Cayman Islands Development Bank — have ranged from “no” to “maybe someday” to “we’ve got other consultants working on that.” Former Education Chief Officer Mary Rodrigues was appointed in mid-August to lead a four-person unit charged with carrying out the EY reforms approved by Cabinet. Since that time, she has been both inaudible and invisible. In response to an emailed request for comment from a Compass reporter on the progress (or lack thereof) of her team, Ms. Rodrigues deferred to Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who is off island until next week. Which leads us to ask: What, exactly, have Ms. Rodrigues and her cohorts been doing over the past seven months? Perhaps that is a question for the deputy governor, after all. EY Report: Another one bites the dust? Wednesday MarCh 25, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Writers: Build up UCCI A good education of Caymanians is Cayman’s fu- ture. It is most important and should never be measured in terms of money even though spending must be sensible and reasonable. We applaud the University College of the Cayman Islands and President Roy Bodden, a former minister of education who has been a visionary and hard-working president who is committed to advancing UCCI. We also applaud Linford Pierson – a highly educated former per- manent secretary of educa- tion, and the UCCI Board members, faculty and ad- ministration for the recent report. However there are hundreds of millions of dol- lars that should be cut from other less important exces- sive expenditures rather than education. The timing of this ex- ercise is unfortunate as UCCI is being assessed for accreditation. We support and re- peat some of the Cayman Compass’s Feb. 17 editorial. Government’s total budget is $744 million and UCCI’s an- nual budget is only about $7 million or 1 percent, and only $4 million is subsidy. Education in Cayman is free for Caymanians and higher education is as important and it needs to be subsidized as well. Rather than damage UCCI by cutting its small budget, reduce Cayman Airways’s $20 million allocation. CAL only received a $4 million sub- sidy during our third and fourth governments ending in 2000, when annual tourism arrivals in the year 2000 were the highest until 2014. Reduce the Turtle Farm’s al- location or subsidy of $9.5 million. Reduce the civil service budget. The PPM government largely wasted $47 million several years ago on the six unfinished buildings at the John Gray High School; the excessive expenditure on the $110 million Clifton Hunter School and its heavy an- nual recurrent cost hurt the public funds. UCCI got no such expenditure and UCCI is in need of upgrading the facilities largely built sev- eral decades ago by ours and past governments. For many years, the predecessor to UCCI, the Community College, educated outstanding students at as- sociate degree level. One ex- ample is Dr. Alexandra Bodden Psy.D., MA., MS.ClinPharm, Licensed Psychologist and Adjunct Lecturer at UCCI. She did her associate’s degree in sociology at the Community College and all of her credits other than one were accepted at the University of Virginia, one of the top U.S. univer- sities, and she entered the third year there. So please do not cut the associate’s degrees! The lon- gest journey starts with the first step. Quoting the Compass, when it comes to higher education in the Cayman Islands, “the watchword should be vision not via- bility.” Minister of Education Tara Rivers, we know that you are visionary, highly ed- ucated and capable, so please take an early stand for vi- sion in higher education. Truman Bodden John mcLean 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 find their own way” FRom CAYmAnCompAss.Com “Waste management project manager: New landfill site needed in future,” March 24 It’s sad that such a beau- tiful island nation is trapped due to inept politicians un- willing to follow through on campaign promises. Each election cycle begins with the same promises and then nothing happens when they get into office. Maybe once tourism starts falling off due to competi- tion from Cuba for Cayman tourism dollars and enough “Trashmore” fires drive tour- ists away we’ll get a politi- cian with enough guts to act on their promises. I hate to say it, but Cayman is getting complacent at a time they can’t afford to. Dwight martin Low-tech recycling is fairly easy to implement. For ex- ample, I live in a town with about 10,000 people. We have a machine that crushes glass and also crushes and bales aluminum cans. There is also a machine that compresses the cardboard. There is a good market for the glass, the alu- minum and the cardboard. Some garbage can be re- cycled into topsoil and the vegetation can be chipped up and thrown into the compost. Waste-to-energy is more ex- pensive and is not as likely to be practical in Cayman. William Jack The Cayman Islands gov- ernment needs to build a little momentum and get things moving a little faster. Recycling is taking off and people are making money from the profitable sectors. Aluminum cans are being collected privately and the government tardiness may well leave those companies skimming the cream – the profitable side of the recy- cling business – and leaving the CIG with the profit neu- tral and loss making parts of the puzzle. To avoid this, there needs to be some faster progress. The chasm to be bridged is to give landfill a numerical value! This will allow people to properly balance the equation. Suddenly things that are barely profitable to recycle look much more attractive when you factor in that it costs e.g. $250 per ton to con- sign it to Mt. Trashmore. andy Gray5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday March 25, 2015 OTHER BANKS up to $538 per month RBC ROYAL BANK approx. $394 per month OTHER BANKSRBC ROYAL BANK Same car, same price. Just a lower monthly payment at RBC. Spot the difference: Call or visit any RBC Royal Bank branch or go online at rbc.com/caribbean NO Pay me nts for 60 da ys! 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Used under licence. Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The man who co-wrote American movie classics “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” will be presented with an award during the Cayman Islands’ first inter- national film festival June 18 to 21. It was announced this week that Paul Schrader, 68, would be the recipient of the inaugural award for Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting at the CayFilm International Film Festival and that the award will bear his name in subsequent film festivals held in Cayman. The tribute to Mr. Schrader is set for June 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The festival is the brain- child of local photogra- pher Tony Mark. The orga- nizers hosted a launch party last year at The Ritz-Carlton, which included appearances by actor Terrence Howard and film director Jonathan Chu. Mr. Mark has said the international film festival is meant to create “a buzz” about the Cayman Islands as a world-class film lo- cale. The festival will in- clude screenings, including an exclusive premiere, ques- tion and answer sessions and panel discussions with filmmakers, as well as two gala events. The festival is also working to set up a Cayman Media Academy to offer classes for various careers in the film industry. The ultimate goal is to have a full-time associate’s degree program at the University College of the Cayman Islands, Mr. Mark said. Screenwriter Schrader gets film fest nod Mr. Schrader Camana Bay road closures Camana Bay’s Forum Lane will be reduced to one lane of traffic on weekdays for the next two weeks. It will be closed completely on weekends until April 5 to facilitate construction work in the area. According to Camana Bay representatives, the road is being closed in order “to ensure the safety of the public and all those in- volved in the construction stages, including Camana Bay Town Centre visitors.” Access to the Town Centre can be gained through Nexus Way and Market Street, and parking will remain available in the Forum parking garage behind Mail Boxes Etc., Eclipze Hair Design and Day Spa, and Audi. In addition to the road closure, maintenance work will be done during the next couple of weeks in the Solaris parking lot in front of the cinema. Some sections of the parking lot will remain open for use. Signs will direct visitors to alter- nate parking in the Solaris parking structure. For more information, email info@camanabay.com. preschooler wins pirate art contest Arisa Davis of Shining Stars Preschool learned last week that she had won first place in the Pirates Week art competition. Students were asked to draw a depiction of Pirates Week, and in the Preschool category, Arisa’s pirate ship was chosen as the winner. She is pictured here with her work of art and her teacher Stacie Ann Chambers.6 LOCAL NEWS The Clifton Hunter High School Senior Choir won the overall prize at the Lions Club of Grand Cayman all-is- land Youth Choir Competition last Saturday at the Lions Community Centre. Clifton Hunter also took first place in the Senior High and Junior High cat- egories. Savannah Primary School took first place in the Junior category. “The winners of the com- petition were really engaging, very well prepared and re- ally came out and did their best,” said Nicole Bodden, a judge overseeing the compe- tition, along with local judge Georgi-Ann Jackman and over- seas judge Priscilla Blanco. “Both the director and the students really gave the other choirs something to live up to. The preliminary round was good, which we listened to by recordings, but hearing them perform live ... the choirs had really prepared for the competition. That was really interesting,” she said. Speaking about the other choirs, Mrs. Bodden said they too were well prepared by teachers and represented their schools well. “Each school should be very proud of what their school produced,” she said. “The first year I thought the competition got off to a great start, and when the Lions Club suggested it being an annual event, I thought that it could be very positive for music in the schools and create healthy competition between both public and pri- vate schools,” she said. More than 800 people turned out to enjoy the stu- dents’ musical talents. Other schools in the com- petition were St. Ignatius Catholic School, Cayman Prep and High School, John Gray High School, Montessori by the Sea, and Triple C School. “This event proved to be a successful joint commu- nity effort in aid of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands organiza- tion,” said Rayle Roberts, Lions president. “Through this annual event, we will be able to in- fluence the youth in our local community in many ways and also advocate for arts ed- ucation within our schools,” Mr. Roberts said. The event was supported by the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, and the Department of Education Services. Wednesday March 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass Rawlinson - Scholarship ad - half pg - 2015.indd 13/19/2015 9:13:12 AM School choirs sing their hearts out Students of Cayman Prep and High pre-junior choir sing ‘Let your light shine,’ their school song. - PHOTOS: GERARDO OCHOA-VARGAS Clifton Hunter High School’s senior choir won the overall prize.7 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday March 25, 2015 Chamber Pension: PENSION IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MANAGING MONEY. • Quality diversified, balanced, investment portfolio • Local knowledge & international expertise • Run solely to benefit members • Keeping you up to date • Solutions for every life stage • Help when you need it • Expert advice • Low fees IT’S A MATTER OF TRUST Trust in local knowledge and international expertise. PENSION IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MANAGING MONEY. need it IT’S A MATTER IT’S A MATTER international expertise. Chamber Pension Plan Hotline 345-745-7630 P.O. Box 609 • Grand Cayman KY1-1107 • Cayman Islands • admin@pensions.ky • www.chamberpension.ky • /ChamberPensionPlan 87 graduate Drug Rehab Court since 2009 Latest session shows options used in program Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two young men graduated from the Drug Rehabilitation Court on March 19, bringing to 87 the number of partici- pants who have completed the program since the first graduation ceremony in 2009. The first graduates took 18 months to achieve the program’s goals of sobriety, stable housing and employ- ment. Of last week’s suc- cessful participants, one re- quired 13 months and 25 court appearances, while the other took 19 months and 63 court appearances. Magistrate Valdis Foldats detailed some of the other aspects of their journey through the drug court pro- gram. In the open court ses- sion that followed, 16 other participants were individu- ally spoken to about their progress or lack thereof, with sanctions or rewards rein- forcing the message. Mr. Foldats pointed out that the graduates had started out the same – having substance abuse issues and offenses. Each decided to take charge of his life, come to court, plead guilty and say, “I need some help.” One of the two gradu- ates started with the drug court in February 2014. On March 11, 2014, he tested clean. In June, he arranged his schedule to put his coun- seling first and all non-drug court commitments second. By October, his participa- tion in group sessions was especially noteworthy as he opened up and challenged others appropriately, giving and receiving advice. The other man took a different route, Mr. Foldats noted. “We used every re- source we had, including jail [for therapeutic re- mands], an electronic mon- itor, even switching his counselor. At some point, he decided he wanted to be someone different.” In June 2014, he was still having difficulty with the program, feeling agitated, de- pressed and ready to quit. Somehow, the professionals in the treatment team and his mother were able to get through to him. Within two months, he was doing well in counseling with good at- tendance, participation and motivation, Mr. Foldats said. “He has made a change. He found a way to create a new life out of his old life.” That way included using his sense of humor; avoiding old friends who continued to use drugs; and taking re- sponsibility for himself. Several months later, he got a new job. “The whole team has been pleased with his te- nacity,” Mr. Foldats said. To other drug court par- ticipants present he said, “Find your own path. Rely on all the help that is here. See how you can pull yourself up. … I hope their journeys will energize everyone here. You can get to your goals if you stick with the program.” One young man still in an early stage of the program was sanctioned because he tested positive for drug use after previous warnings; he was taken to the court cells for the remainder of the ses- sion. “Abstinence is part of the program,” he was told later. His penalty was 20 hours of community service. He was given a new date by which he must test clean or face seven days in custody. Another man was moved up a phase because he was complying with all directives. Mr. Foldats read what he had told counselors. “I won’t go back for anything in this world. I feel lucky that I’ve seen what drugs do to people and to me. I’ve gained the re- spect of my boss and family. I’ve gained my self-respect.” One man was congratu- lated for being compliant, staying clean and attending counseling sessions. But he had a minor violation re- garding his electronic mon- itor. “If you want the monitor removed, compliance must be total,” he was told. Some drug court par- ticipants are staying at Caribbean Haven, the resi- dential rehabilitation center. They were asked about their progress and willing- ness to continue. One man told the court, “I’m going to push forward.” “Fabulous,” Mr. Foldats re- plied. “You have to make the right decision every day.” Two men were discharged from the program after com- mitting new offenses, both burglaries. Their situations had been discussed privately by the drug court team be- fore court began. One offender told the court, “I would never have committed those of- fenses if not for the stress I was under.” The magistrate said it was possibly the first time he disagreed with the team in his decision to send the of- fender back to regular court. He said the man had been in the program long enough to be aware of the resources; he could have gone to the Withdrawal Management Unit at the hospital, he could have called his counselor or probation officer, but he didn’t. “I have to preserve the integrity of the program,” he pointed out. Drug court officer Katrina Watler revealed that 21 of the 87 graduates have re- offended, but there was no breakdown available to indi- cate whether the re-offending had involved drugs or other criminal activities or whether they were traffic violations. Ms. Watler said traffic of- fenses would be in the mi- nority, but defense attorney John Furniss later suggested that a more precise break- down should be obtained: even if the offense reported was something like assault or disorderly conduct, it would be useful to know if any drug abuse was involved, he urged. The Drug Rehabilitation Court currently has 30 participants. Members of the drug court treatment team include, clockwise from left, court officer Katrina Watler, defense counsel John Furniss, head of the counseling center Susanne Clements, and probation officers Erica Ebanks and Maxine Anglin. - Photo: Carol WinkerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Wednesday March 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass IN LOVING MEMORY OF Jesse E. Arch August 13th, 1953 - March 25th, 2013 Forever in our hearts. Love from your children & Family. Sandra Rowe March 25, 1969 July 6, 2014 To Our Beautiful Mom “Mother you were our Hero, everything we wish to be” A million times we needed you A million times we have cried If our love alone could have saved you We would never have let you go Your place will always be in our hearts No one else can ll that void Mom you didn’t die alone because part of us went with you The day God took you home. Happy First Birthday in Heaven Our Angel All our Love: Jasen, Adrian Jr. DeAndre Happy First Birthday in Heaven Our Angel March 25, 1969 July 6, 2014March 25, 1969 July 6, 2014March 25, 1969 July 6, 2014March 25, 1969 July 6, 2014 members at GIS, the television station and the radio station. Mr. McLaughlin is expected to meet with consultants in the U.K. this week to further dis- cuss proposals. There is no word yet on when or whether the merger will take place. Health services Another recommenda- tion was to outsource or es- tablish a joint venture with a private sector entity to run or participate in the Health Services Authority. This is under review and is expected to take some time to establish and set up, if it is approved. The Civil Service Association has ex- pressed concern regarding “fly by night” operators in the healthcare industry that might take control at the Health Services Authority. Privatization The initial recommen- dation from the EY report to create an academy-style system for local public schools has been taken up in another consultant review by the KPMG accounting firm. Consultant Roland Meredith has said potential options could range from “adding innovation” to the public schools system to the implementation of academy schools. The EY report rec- ommended a pilot scheme that put four govern- ment schools under private sector control. Education Minister Tara Rivers has said the academy approach is under review. Public-private partnership arrangements for the cruise berthing project and the air- port expansion at Owen Roberts International Airport were also suggested. Premier McLaughlin has said the government is al- ready “far along” with its de- velopment plans for the new cruise dock and the airport expansion, and plans to im- plement them according to strategies already announced by government. The report also recom- mends privatization of waste disposal. This is being looked at by government in the wider con- text of George Town Landfill remediation efforts. The gov- ernment just purchased five new garbage trucks for use by the Department of Environmental Health. Cayman Islands Development Bank The EY recommendation was to shutter the loss-making bank if the “political will” did not exist to carry it forward. According to Finance Minister Marco Archer, there is such a will in the Progressives-led administration. “Mistakes were made in the past which led the Cayman Islands Development Bank to the brink of bank- ruptcy,” Mr. Archer said. “This government has taken a more measured approach. Where a business shows true potential, the [develop- ment bank] will be placed in a position to provide further credit facilities.” Other recommendations One proposal to imme- diately outsource 200 gov- ernment jobs to the private sector, saving $2 million per year, has not been imple- mented to date. This recommendation in- volved mainly security-re- lated jobs in the courthouse or the prison. A joint venture with the postal service and a private sector vendor to deliver par- cels and post that would cut costs and provide more ser- vices than currently handled by the postal service remains under review. A recommendation was made for the medium-term sale of the University College of the Cayman Islands. UCCI has proposed budget-cut- ting measures since then, aimed at shaving $500,000 off the school’s yearly oper- ating budget. The centralization of gov- ernment human resources and simplification of gov- ernment budget reporting was recommended. This is expected to be done as part of the revisions to the Public Management and Finance Law, according to Minister Archer. The report proposed the creation of a government Utilities Commission. The idea here is to monitor all utilities, including petroleum, electricity and water-sewage providers, under a “one stop shop.” Premier McLaughlin has proposed the commission this year as a way to reduce costs and better monitor local fuel distributors and retailers. The EY report also recom- mends no long-term IT plan for government. Instead, it identifies 18 specific areas in the central government ser- vice that could be outsourced immediately, thereby cutting jobs and expenses from the public sector payroll. The EY suggestions were being com- pleted around the same time another consultant review of government IT services was being done by the Deloitte ac- counting firm. Deloitte rec- ommended a longer-term strategy in which IT stayed under the control of the gov- ernment, but certain services were outsourced. Both Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and civil service chief officer Mary Rodrigues were contacted for this story, but did not provide a response by press time. their French, Spanish and German counterparts. “There is no indication of a nexus to terrorism at this time,” said U.S. National Security Council spokes- woman Bernadette Meehan. Photos of the crash site showed scattered black flecks across a mountain and several larger airplane body sections with win- dows, five in one chunk and four in another. French offi- cials said a helicopter crew that landed briefly in the area saw no signs of life. “Everything is pulver- ized. The largest pieces of debris are the size of a small car. No one can ac- cess the site from the ground,” Gilbert Sauvan, president of the gen- eral council, Alpes-de- Haute-Provence, told The Associated Press. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a black box had been located at the crash site and “will be immediately investigated.” He did not say whether it was a data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder. Germanwings is low-cost carrier owned by Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest airline, and serves mostly European destinations. Tuesday’s crash was its first involving passenger deaths since it began operating in 2002. The Germanwings logo, nor- mally maroon and yellow, was blacked out on its Twitter feed. Germanwings said Flight 9525 carried 144 passengers, including two babies, and six crew mem- bers. Officials believe 67 Germans were on board, including 16 high school students from Haltern, and, according to the opera house in Düsseldorf, bass baritone Oleg Bryjak. Dutch officials said one citizen was killed. The plane left Barcelona Airport at 10:01 a.m., then began descending again shortly after reaching its cruising height of 38,000 feet, Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann told reporters in Cologne. The de- scent lasted eight minutes. Eric Heraud of the French Civil Aviation Authority said the Germanwings plane lost radio contact with a con- trol center at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, but “never de- clared a distress alert it- self.” He said the com- bination of loss of radio contract and the plane’s quick descent prompted the control center to declare a distress situation. residency status far more dif- ficult to obtain. Since Oct. 26, 2013, none of the applications has been heard because of legal uncertainty surrounding how to interpret the points system that governs whether an applicant will be successful. The department recently stated that the legal issues had been cleared up, and that the PR history and culture tests would soon be administered. The 337 applications do not include another 11 re- ceived prior to the change in the law which are still being considered under the old im- migration regime. The primary reason for the decline in applications is be- lieved to be the cost of paying up front for application fees, permit fees and fees for depen- dents, which could total thou- sands, even tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. However, a number of ap- plicants who took the his- tory and culture test that was administered under the old Immigration Law have privately expressed frustra- tion to the Compass about questions on that 20-ques- tion test. The new PR test has been expanded to a 40-ques- tion multiple choice exam. The government has de- clined to release sample test questions for either exam. However, some of the questions provided to the Compass last year from the old test revealed that they included queries about the names of the wood beam that ran through the center of Cayman-style houses, the name of the pen in which live turtles were kept and the name of a local fiddle player who once performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Under the new testing scheme, each correct answer will be worth half a point, with a maximum of 20 points toward permanent residence. Successful PR applicants must earn at least 110 points in a system that judges them based on numerous catego- ries, including investment in the islands, volunteer work, their job, their earnings, their age, their nationality and any Caymanian connections they may have. The Immigration Department is now con- tacting all PR applicants to schedule test dates, and the aim is to have all the testing for current applicants com- pleted by July 31. In addition to the class- room course, several books available at the UCCI book- store have been listed as approved study materials. They include: ■■ The Cayman Islands in Transition: The Politics, History and Sociology of a Changing Society by J.A. [Roy] Bodden ■■ Founded Upon the Seas: A History of the Cayman Islands and Their People by Michael Craton and the New History Committee ■■ Caymanian Expressions: A collection of say- ings and phrases used in the Cayman Islands by Kevin Goring ■■ The Lawless Caymans – A Story of Slavery, Freedom and the West India Regiment by Brian Kieran EY report six months later CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 PR seekers can enroll in ‘test class’ Mr. Bodden CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We have already discussed that the [classroom] presentations will be robust, interactive and thoroughly enlightening.” ROy BODDen, president, UCCI Jet crashes in French Alps carrying 150; Europe in shock People arrive at Barcelona airport in Spain on Tuesday, after hearing of the plane crash. - Photo: AP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 WORLD&REGIONAL Cayman Compass • Wednesday March 25, 2015 178433_PRINT-Buttrfld-UndrGrdSchPage 1 3/24/15 10:28:32 AM Canada to conduct air strikes in Syria against Islamic State TORONTO (AP) — Canada is expanding its military mis- sion against the Islamic State group to include air strikes on targets in Syria, Prime Minister Stephen Harper an- nounced Tuesday. Harper told Parliament that he will not seek “the express consent” of the President Bashar Assad gov- ernment for the air strikes, but will work closely with al- lies who have been carrying out such airstrikes against IS over Syria in recent months. Canada will be the first NATO country, other than the United States, to conduct air strikes in Syria. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have also done so. Canadian air strikes have been limited to IS targets in Iraq thus far. Canada also has 69 special forces soldiers training Kurdish peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq. The IS group controls a wide swath of territory across the Syrian and Iraqi border. “The government recog- nizes that ISIL’s power base, indeed the so-called caliph- ate’s capital, is in Syria,” Harper said, using an alter- nate acronym for the mili- tants. “ISIL’s fighters and much of its heavier equip- ment are moving freely across the Iraqi border into Syria, in part for better protection against our air strikes. In our view, ISIL must cease to have any safe haven in Syria.” Harper also announced a one-year extension of the mission, which is now set to expire on March 30, 2016. Although the Canadian mission doesn’t need par- liamentary approval, the government is submitting it to a vote to show con- sensus. The motion is as- sured of passage because Harper’s Conservative Party has a parliamentary ma- jority, though the Opposition New Democrat Party and the opposition Liberal Party both said they would not support it. The proposed extension lasts beyond the Canadian federal election in October. The Canadian special forces soldiers were sent to northern Iraq last September on a mission that was billed as noncombat with the troops supposed to be working far behind the front lines. But the Canadians have been helping the Kurdish forces by directing coalition air strikes against Islamic State fighters, a role gen- erally considered risky be- cause it means they are close to the battle. The Canadians’ efforts complement those of the United States, which has con- ducted the vast majority of the air strikes. But in their role of targeting air strikes, the Canadian special forces soldiers are performing a task that so far the U.S. mil- itary has been unwilling to do. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has repeat- edly said the U.S. would con- sider directing attacks from the ground but that it has not yet done so. As a result, the military mission is somewhat contro- versial in Canada. The government notes in the motion that it will con- tinue “not to deploy troops in a ground combat role” de- spite the fact that soldiers are near the front lines and have been involved in at least two firefights. The military has said the soldiers acted in self-defense in those cases. A Canadian soldier was also killed by Kurdish fighters in a friendly-fire inci- dent this month. The Canadian mission also includes six CF-18 fighter jets, a refueling tanker aircraft, two surveil- lance planes and one air- lift aircraft, with about 600 airmen and airwomen based in Kuwait. ReseaRcheRs find fossil of ‘supeR salamandeR’ species LONDON (AP) — Fossil re- mains of a previously un- known species of a croco- dile-like “super salamander” that was a top predator more than 200 million years ago have been found in southern Portugal, researchers an- nounced Tuesday. The species grew up to six feet in length and lived in lakes and rivers, University of Edinburgh re- searchers said. The team said the spe- cies, given the name Metoposaurus algarvensis, was part of a wider group of primitive amphibians that were widespread at the time but became extinct. They are the ancestors of modern am- phibians such as frogs, and are believed by paleontol- ogists to have lived at the same time the dinosaurs began their dominance. Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who led the study, said the new species, which had hundreds of sharp teeth, is “weird com- pared to anything today.” It was at the top of the food chain, feeding mainly on fish, but it was also a danger for newly appeared dinosaurs and mammals that strayed too near the water, Brusatte said. The team says the find es- tablishes that this group of amphibians lived in a more diverse geographic area than had been thought. This artist’s rendition, made available by the University of Edinburgh, shows a previously unknown species of the ‘super salamander’ that lived more than 200 million years ago.Next >