ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday april 30, 2015 SportS | page 17 By riTe wary of prowling Tigers Pressure matches in Division I this weekend High of 88 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights 2 to 4 feet. editorial | page 4 who will choose To run in The ‘dump disTricT’? Road User If luck isn’t on your side, BritCay is. Extra benefits come without having to pay more premium if you insure your car with BritCay. BritCay also has a great reputation for settling claims fast. Ask for a quote. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky FREE $10 Million ASSET PROT ECTIO N! with motor cover* *private motor insurance Boundaries report deadline in June BrenT fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands 2015 Electoral Boundary Commission will complete its re- vision of the territory’s voting map by June, when it will be submitted to the governor and the Legislative Assembly, commission chair Lisa Handley said this week. The commission will complete its public hearings Thursday night in North Side dis- trict, Ms. Handley, an American political scien- tist, said. She is expected to return to Cayman in May to draft voting maps that split Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands into separate single-member voting districts. “The [boundary commission] report will be submitted in June,” Ms. Handley said Monday. After the report is given to the govern- ment, Premier Alden McLaughlin has con- stitutional responsibility for “tabling” it – making it public – in the Legislative Assembly. Section 89 of the 2009 Constitution Order states he may do so “with or without” modifications to the Electoral Boundary Commission recommendations. If the Progressives-led government does make modifications to the district map, it is required to make its reasons for doing so public in the Legislative Assembly as well. Majority approval of the district map by assembly members is required prior to sending the final report to the governor. If she approves, she will order the new map to take effect “upon the next dissolution of the as- sembly after it is made.” Undecided A key issue in the redistricting debate re- mains whether Grand Cayman’s two eastern- most districts will remain separate or whether they will be drawn together. Ms. Handley said this week that no deci- sions in that regard have been made by the boundary commission, and that the final deci- sion would be up to local legislators. The issue derives from the fact that the Cayman Islands, with 18,297 registered voters as of April, would have about 1,016 as a “voter” average per district if the is- lands were divided into 18 single-member constituencies. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – which are guaranteed two LA rep- resentatives by the 2009 Constitution Order – would not come close to that number if ConCern rises over pay inequity in publiC seCtor James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government is facing increasing dissat- isfaction over pay, with salary inequality blamed for driving talented employees out of the public sector. The Civil Service Association this week added its voice to that of Police Commissioner David Baines and education officials, who have raised concerns that austerity policies have undermined the concept of equal pay for equal work in the civil service. James Watler, president of the association, said it is time for government to end the “re- strictive policies” which he said have created an “inequality of pay between Caymanian and expatriate staff.” He said, “If the public want a service to be provided, the persons providing that service must be paid properly and equitably. Anything less is unfair.” His comments echo those of Commissioner Baines, who said the public sector pay freeze is having a disproportionate impact on Caymanian officers. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson ac- knowledged that “pay stagnation” is a source of frustration in the civil service, but sug- gested austerity measures are beginning to be relaxed thanks to government’s improving fi- nancial position. He said the issue of pay inequity is “not one of Caymanian versus non-Caymanian, but more generally an issue of existing employees Dr. Edlin Merren passes at 83 Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Prominent Caymanian dentist Dr. Thomas Henry Edlin Merren died on Tuesday at the Cayman Islands Hospital. He was 83. Dr. Merren was a pioneer in den- tistry and in business, and was one of the first Caymanians to go overseas to receive dental training. He served as a dentist for 45 years after qualifying at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his fundamental ed- ucation at Munro College in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, after leaving Triple C School in Cayman, and started work at the Government Dental Clinic in 1960. This involved travel to each district and to Cayman Brac under dif- ficult circumstances. Dr. Merren, who received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975, was also hon- ored on this year’s National Heroes Day as a pioneer of healthcare in Cayman. Norman Bodden, a close friend of Dr. Merren, described him as “genuine and loyal.” “Dr. Edlin was an outstanding family man, a good father and good husband,” he said. “He was also a very community-minded Caymanian who gave his best to the general public and to the church, not only locally but internationally as well. “As a dentist, he provided top service to his patients and treated them with loving care and professionalism. He went on missionary trips Dr. Edlin Merren, 83, passed away on Tuesday. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday april 30, 2015 • Cayman Compass 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 y x CHILD 44 R 6:40 I 9:40 FURIOUS 7 3D (PG13) 12:45 I 1:30 2D I 3:45 I 4:30 2D 6:45 I 7:30 2D I 9:45 PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 (PG) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:20 WATER DIVINER R 1:10 I 3:50 I 7:20 I 10:00 THE LONGEST RIDE (PG13) 3:40 | 9:50 HOME (PG) 12:20 I 3:10 GET HARD (R) 1:15 I 7:10 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - $8.00 UCCI Dean of Administration Perry George passes away Michael Klein mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Perry George, the dean of administration at the University College of the Cayman Islands, passed away Wednesday morning. An economist, IT spe- cialist and educator, Mr. George joined UCCI, then the Community College of the Cayman Islands, in 1996 as senior lecturer and the head of the Computing Department, where he pro- vided strategic leadership in curriculum development and implementation, and IT development. UCCI President Roy Bodden said, “Dean George’s passing is most regrettable. He leaves a deep void which will be very hard to fill. I con- sidered him a friend, so for me it’s a double loss. My con- dolences go out to his wife, children and the rest of his family. We at the University College will try to honor his memory by continuing his stellar work at UCCI.” In 2000, Mr. George was promoted to associate pro- fessor and head of Arts and Sciences, where he was in- volved in the development of several associate and certifi- cate programs as well as the establishment of a Student Counseling Department. He became the chair for the Council of Chairs in 2009 before being ap- pointed dean of adminis- tration in 2011. Both leader- ship roles gave Mr. George responsibility for UCCI op- erations, policymaking and implementation. He served on various committees at UCCI, in- cluding secretary to the Academic and Administrative Committee and co-chair of the Graduation Committee. He also took an active role in the planning of UCCI’s 10th Charter Anniversary Celebrations. Mr. George also served as First Vice President for the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions, council member of the University of the West Indies (Mona and Open Campus) and FCMI member of the Chartered Institute of Management. He enjoyed singing, coaching basketball and playing cricket. Dominica-born Mr. George was a keen club cricketer around the Caribbean and in London. He represented the Cayman Islands at Masters level, a team for which he also served as the treasurer for a number of years. Abali Hoilett, presi- dent of the Cayman Islands Cricket Association, said Mr. George had been a member of Cayman cricket for a long time. “This extends back to his playing days with Blue Marlin International Cricket Club, and since then he has been a supporter of the youth and development programs in Cayman. “He was definitely one who thought that through cricket a lot of things, like discipline, could be ac- complished. And he always wanted to see the youth be- come involved in the game. I think Cayman cricket as a whole has lost an invalu- able member of the crick- eting fraternity. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family,” Mr. Hoilett said. Mr. George was also a member of the West Indies Cricket Board. He was ap- pointed a special member of the Cricket governing body in 2013 after he was nom- inated by the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions to represent the universities and colleges in the region on the board. Theo Cuffy, technical di- rector at the Cayman Islands Cricket Association, said Mr. George was “an integral part of our cricket. He was very much part and parcel of the cricket scene.” Ricardo Roach, a former student at UCCI and fellow- cricketer said, “Mr. George was a true gem. He was one who always strived for ex- cellence and never hesitated to assist anyone. He will be greatly missed.” The college closed as a mark of respect to Mr. George at 1 p.m. Wednesday. UCCI will hold a commiser- ation ceremony in memory of Dean George for fac- ulty members and staff on Thursday, April 30, at 3 p.m. Overstayer pleads not guilty to four burglaries carol WinKer cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com With help from an in- terpreter of his language from the Philippines, Rogelio Ragado Acena pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to four charges of burglary, all at commercial premises. Assisted informally by at- torney John Furniss, Acena first elected to be tried in Summary Court. Magistrate Valdis Foldats set trial for three charges on Wednesday, July 1, with the other for mention. Acena, 44, had appeared in court previously, charged with the Nov. 27 burglary of the Digicel store in Countryside Shopping Village, where phones and tablets with a total value of $4,792 were reported stolen. On Tuesday, when he ap- peared from custody for a mention of that charge, three more charges were brought. Acena is accused of bur- glary at Paige and Company Beauty Salon on Smith Road; $400 in cash was stolen on March 11. On March 25, he is accused of entering Clean and Trendy Beauty Salon on Eastern Avenue as a trespasser and stealing $800 worth of lotions, clothes and accessories. On March 26, he is accused of burglary at Da Station Bar on Shamrock Road, where two computers with a total value of $3,300 were stolen. Acena was also charged with overstaying since March 11 this year and he pleaded guilty. Mr. Furniss said the prosecution’s case in- cluded fingerprints and DNA, which he would discuss with the defendant. premier’s closer look at environmental health Premier Alden McLaughlin checks out a microscope during a visit last week to the Department of Environmental Health. The department now comes under the remit of the premier, who added the health ministry to his portfolio late last year. As well as taking a tour of the Department of Environmental Health’s administration offices and lab, he also visited the George Town Landfill compound where he met staff and learned about the day-to-day operation of the department. PassPort office closes for staff training The Passport and Corporate Services Office will have shortened opening hours on Friday, May 1, and be closed all day on Wednesday, May 6. The office will open at 10.30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Friday and will not open on May 6, due to staff training, according to an announcement re- leased by the passport of- fice this week. Mucinex liquid recalled A label error has re- sulted in a recall of over- the-counter Mucinex liq- uids. Foster’s Food Fair and several pharmacies in Cayman carry the cold and flu medication. The items include Mucinex Cold & Sinus Liquid and the company’s Cold, Flu & Sore Throat Liquid products. The bottle label lists all ac- tive ingredients but may not have the correct drug facts label on the back. A Foster’s spokesman said the company pulled all the products from its store shelves. Reckitt Benckiser, the wholesaler, initiated the recall. A press release from Foster’s states the incor- rect label does not give consumers information about risks associated with taking the drug, par- ticularly for people with liver problems who take Acetaminophen, com- monly sold as Tylenol. Jury rePort date changes The Grand Court jury re- port date has been changed. Grand Court jurors who are in the April 1 to June 30 session are now to report on Monday, May 4 at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 945-5072 for the most up-to-date information. Mr. George “Dean George’s passing is most regrettable. He leaves a deep void which will be very hard to fill.” Roy Bodden, UCCI president BVi Pier exPanded for More cruise shiPs ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands (AP) — A tourism project that included an ex- panded cruise ship pier has been completed in the British Virgin Islands and is expected to draw tens of thousands of ad- ditional visitors per year, officials said Wednesday. The BVI has berthing agreements with Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line for around 425,000 visitors per year, a 21 percent increase over cur- rent levels, industry officials said at a ceremony marking the pier’s expansion. The project renovated the pier built in 1994, length- ening and widening it to ac- commodate larger vessels. The economy of the British Virgin Islands is heavily de- pendent on tourism but the project has faced controversy.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday april 30, 2015 Dedication. To their team. To their career. To Dart. Dart is honoured to congratulate and thank these 13 individuals for their 160 collective years of experience and long-standing dedication to the Dart organisation. At Dart, we provide a meaningful and fulfilling work environment for our people–they are at the core of our business, they are the cornerstone of our success. 13 People. 1 Common Value. Noel Mowbray 10 years Reynaldo Powery 10 years Steve Bullings 10 years Sean Bent 10 years Barrington Burton 10 years Kevin Orden Anglin 10 years Greg Barnes 10 years Ivan Webb 10 years Karl Noble 10 years Marlene Smith 10 years Jeff Turner 20 years Robin McCarter 20 years Shirley Myles 20 years Powers of MLAs questioned Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The relative power and influence held by Cayman Islands backbench members of the Legislative Assembly – or “councilors” as they are more often described these days – was questioned during a public hearing held this week in George Town. The questioner, Cayman Turtle Farm Managing Director Tim Adam, asked members of the Electoral Boundary Commission what powers were given to elected MLAs who were not members of Cabinet. Under the Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009, 18 Legislative Assembly members are elected to serve, but it is the members them- selves who decide after the election who will form the ruling government and who will serve in Cabinet. Boundary commission members answered that MLAs have the ability to make laws and the responsibility to rep- resent their constituents’ con- cerns in the assembly. Section 59 of the Constitution states: “The legislature may make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Cayman Islands.” However, Premier Alden McLaughlin said the back- bench position had, in recent years, morphed into some- thing far more influential. “[The role of the MLA] is more important now than it was 15 years ago,” Mr. McLaughlin said. Mr. McLaughlin explained that, every Monday, all mem- bers of the Progressives-led government meet in a polit- ical caucus that essentially decides what business would be carried forward on behalf of the government. “In caucus, we all have equal voice and vote,” the premier said. “If [a proposal] has no support in caucus, the bill, the policy … does not go forward in the first place. “The Cabinet alone, even if [a proposal] goes to the House, can pass nothing. In many ways, Cabinet is a formal process … the real decision-making is done in caucus.” Mr. McLaughlin stressed the importance of consensus- building in the current ver- sion of the Westminster po- litical system adopted by the Cayman Islands. The system is based on a majority rule principle that one former Cayman Islands legislator de- scribed as “the minority must have its say, but the majority will have its way.” “Politics, at the end of the day, is a numbers game,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “You can get absolutely nothing done unless you have the majority of the people in the House supporting what you’re trying to do. I would not be the premier if the majority of my team did not support me to be premier. The ministers wouldn’t be ministers if they didn’t have my confidence and support. “There has to be some level of consensus and agree- ment on principles and pol- icies among the majority, otherwise the government cannot begin to function.” Councilors Continuing a process that started under the former United Democratic Party gov- ernment, the Progressives party has assigned its back- benchers to assisting roles within the various ministries. For instance, George Town MLA Joey Hew works as councilor to the Ministry of Tourism under Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell. George Town MLA Roy McTaggart is the ministerial councilor for financial ser- vices under Minister Wayne Panton and George Town MLA Winston Connolly is councilor for education under Minister Tara Rivers. The councilors’ roles are undefined in any leg- islation and they are not contained with the 2009 Constitution Order. Inserting a definition of the legislative councilors’ roles and responsibilities was proposed by North Side MLA Ezzard Miller in a pri- vate members’ motion made last year which was deferred after government indicated it would seek to bring a raft of “uncontroversial” amend- ments to the governing doc- ument. Several of those changes have since been op- posed by Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush and any con- stitutional change during the current government’s term is uncertain. Police recruitment drive ends Thursday Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police recruit hope- fuls have until the end of Thursday to get their ap- plications in. More than 100 candi- dates who meet the min- imum qualifications have applied so far, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Police have been on a month-long recruit- ment drive, looking for Caymanians and perma- nent residents between 18 and 40 to join the service as entry-level constables. Ultimately, 12 to 15 appli- cants will be selected to begin training in August. Chief Inspector Kurt Walton said the job is “an opportunity to come out and serve your commu- nity.” He said it’s a good job for the right candi- dates, adding, “It’s served me well over the past 28 years.” Mr. Walton said 113 ap- plications have met the initial qualifications so far. Another 50 were re- jected because they did not meet the requirements for status, did not have a clean criminal record or were not physically fit. “We’re confident we can find 12 individuals out of these 113,” he said. “It will be a competitive process based on merit.” The hiring process, which begins in May, is ex- pected to take two months. Successful candidates should know if they have been admitted by the be- ginning of July to give them a month to leave their current jobs. The new recruit training is sched- uled to begin Aug. 3. RCIPS training and development manager Inspector Kevin Ashworth, in an earlier interview, said new recruits will be the department’s leaders in the future. Trainees this year, he said, “have the prospect of becoming senior offi- cers and will be the future leaders in the department.” Mr. Walton said the last recruitment drive was in October 2013, during which the police ser- vice received more than 200 applications. For more information on the application process and to apply, see the RCIPS website at rcips.ky. “In many ways, Cabinet is a formal process … the real decision-making is done in caucus.” Premier Alden mClAughlinThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 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. – EDITORIAL – Thursday apriL 30, 2015 • Cayman COmpass The press conference called last week to update the public on the progress of resolving the long- standing problem of the George Town landfill gave us an all-too-familiar sense of déjà vu: Haven’t we heard all this before? For example, we heard that hazardous substances were detected near the site, but not in significant con- centrations. We learned that as far back as 1992. We were told nutrients leaching from the landfill were detected and are impacting the canal mouth entering the North Sound. Based on photographic evidence and the verdancy of the vegetation in the area, we’ve known that for several years. We were told that there is no quick fix to the George Town landfill, something we’ve certainly known for a quarter century (and counting). Perhaps more interestingly, we were also told by AMEC Foster Wheeler consultant Julian Bromhead that ultimately the current efforts are “about looking at closing and capping the landfill site to limit the leaching of further nutrients from the site.” Now that’s beginning to sound remarkably like the message from the previous government when describing the proposal put forward by the Dart group. Premier Alden McLaughlin was quick to clarify, however, that only the parts of the George Town landfill that are already essentially closed would be capped, and his administration stands by its decision to base future landfill operations on the current site. One of the problems with the current site, beyond the fact that it isn’t lined, is an eyesore, and is on the main tourist thoroughfare from the airport to Seven Mile Beach, is that it’s near capacity. Premier McLaughlin’s response was that the amount of waste going into the landfill would have to be significantly reduced, which, of course, leads inexo- rably to the next question: how? By all indications, Grand Cayman’s population is growing, not declining, and more people equate to more solid waste. Let’s contemplate a not far-fetched scenario, namely that stay-over tourism will continue to increase and that over the next decade Grand Cayman’s population will reach 100,000. Is it conceiv- able that the current site, already 80 feet high, will be able to accommodate the waste produced by a popula- tion of that size? But wait, there’s more. The previous minister with responsibility for the landfill, Osbourne Bodden, informed the country that he, his committee, and his consultants were putting together an “integrated solid waste management system” that would last 50 years! Is anyone in government (or elsewhere) willing to argue seriously (without a smile on their face, a wink in their eye, or their fingers crossed behind their back) that the current site, already overflowing and growing by the hour, will be able to accommodate the needs of Cayman’s population 50 years into the future? Composting? Yes. Recycling? Of course. Educating our populace on how to reduce their waste output? Certainly. And the good news is that we can, and should, start doing all of those things today. The not-so-good news is that the mass of dispos- able material produced by a well-to-do, growing popu- lation such as ours cannot be managed on the current site of Mount Trashmore. Not today – and certainly not 50 years from today. Incumbent George Town elected members advo- cating to keep the dump in their district (the gov- ernment’s position) might want to consider another position their government supports: one-man, one-vote. If the government has its way, it is likely George Town will be subdivided into six “mini-districts,” each represented by one elected member. One of those dis- tricts we’ll call the “dump district.” Might our premier (or any of his Progessives colleagues) opt to run in the “dump district” on the campaign platform, “Let’s Keep the Dump in George Town”? Stay tuned. Things are about to get interesting ... Who will choose to run in the ‘Dump District’? Defending FOI and the information managers I would like to respond to the editorial in the April 28 Cayman Compass (Freedom of Information: Ready for up- grade), in which you outline the problems the Compass has experienced recently with a number of requests for in- formation, and question the abilities of information man- agers in general in dealing with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law. First of all, let me clarify that it is the Cabinet Office which is tasked with, and funded for, training informa- tion managers and providing case-specific advice, not the Information Commissioner’s Office. The FOI Unit in the Cabinet Office was specifically created and funded to pro- vide support for information managers since the inception of the FOI Law in 2009 – and even before. The Unit did a stellar job in the initial years, but as staff members left and were not replaced, its atten- tion and resources appear to have become gradually di- luted in other directions, to the detriment of information managers and the important service they provide under the FOI Law. Anecdotal evidence of many information managers’ inability to apply and inter- pret the Law correctly led to a strong suspicion that the legal requirements in the FOI Law which mandate informa- tion managers training were not being met and I raised the issue of training and sup- port with the deputy governor, the Cabinet secretary and the chief officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service in the first part of 2014, as an urgent pri- ority for their attention. The response I received was uniformly positive, but it was not clear when ex- actly steps would be taken to address the issue. A few months later, the Information Commissioner’s Office revis- ited this topic by conducting a survey of information man- agers and publishing a report and the survey data on our website (see: www.infocomm. ky/document-library). As widely reported at the time, while most informa- tion managers were found to be competent and trained, the 2014 survey report found that far too many informa- tion managers had not been provided with training, had nowhere to turn for case-spe- cific advice and lacked sup- port from their own organiza- tions’ senior management. As such, many information man- agers were essentially unable to meet their and their public authorities’ obligations under the FOI Law. Since then, in the first three months of 2015, the Cabinet Office has made a credible effort to address the training gap by holding a number of general and fo- cused training sessions for information managers and other public officers involved in administering FOI, with a total of 167 participants, in addition to 47 informa- tion managers trained on the use of the FOI tracking system and 19 participants in a special sensitization ses- sion at the Department of Immigration. I understand that steps are also under way to address the FOI Unit’s ability to provide specialist advice to information man- agers on an ongoing basis. I hope that these posi- tive steps indicate a renewed commitment to FOI on the part of the Cabinet Office and government at large, which I sincerely welcome. While acknowledging that indi- vidual problems remain, in the light of the Information Commissioner’s Office’s ear- lier nuanced survey find- ings, I think it is therefore not warranted to generalize that “information managers do not know the basic facts of compliance,” as the editorial implies. When the FOI Law was unanimously passed in 2007, the Legislative Assembly committed to a long-term vi- sion of the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction where gov- ernmental accountability, transparency and public par- ticipation in national deci- sion-making were recognized as fundamental principles of governance. Some years later, the accomplishment of these goals remains ongoing and challenging. While we can disagree whether or how the FOI Law is “ready for upgrade,” as the editorial claims, in the mean- time the Law is worthy of the full support and respect of all, and its objectives deserve to be defended. Jan Liebaers acting Information Commissioner From CaymanCompass.Com “Permanent residence scams afoot, police say,” April 27 It would be interesting to find out why the Financial Crime Unit has only just woken up to this. This sort of scam has not only been going on for years. It’s not just PR applications either. I know people who in the past were asked for fees of CI$300 to CI$500 to facilitate or speed up work permit approvals. David Williams Permanent residence in it- self is somewhat of a scam. I could understand if it was called Extended Work Permit, but it is very difficult to un- derstand logic of naming this arrangement permanent residence when all its con- ditions and payments, even logical actions – like selling your house to buy cheaper one – can easily result in it being cancelled. Not- so-permanent permanence? stanislav Zholnin “A quixotic approach to censorship,” April 29 Normally I agree with the majority of editorials, how- ever not this one. Whilst I agree that “protecting chil- dren from the potential harm of seeing such images should not be the role of a govern- ment, but of parents,” there clearly needs to be a body that sets the rating for inde- pendent unrated movies. It is fantastic that we are having more indepen- dent movies produced in Cayman and it stands to reason that these movies will need to be rated by a body to give cinema-goers and parents/guardians advice on who should be viewing these movies. Clearly, whilst it would be within the board’s remit to change an already rated film, one would hope that there would need to be an exceptional reason for this. It stands to reason then that the members of the board would need to be carefully selected to ensure that we do not see a puritanical regime of film censorship. simon Watson Government for the sake of government. Has anyone thought this through? A pizza restaurant on island used to show “The Voice,” “The X-Factor,” and so on. It is not rated, so would NBC have to send a pre-release recording to the censor board? I have a 5-hour docu- mentary called “Victory at Sea” which includes re- stored historical footage and documents naval ac- tion in WW2. It is unrated, though some of the footage is quite graphic. Having three people watch that – 15 man-hours – seems a waste of time because any prospective audience would be quite aware of the likely content. Not rated does not mean it should be rated; it means a viewer (or parent) should exercise their own discretion. How about protecting everyone from exposure to harmful over-government? andy Gray 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” I hope that these positive steps indicate a renewed commitment to FOI on the part of the Cabinet Office and government at large …5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday april 30, 2015 Premier Health BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. 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CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky CLAIMS Total 2014 209,003 (638,901 CGI) CLAIMS Speed3 days5 days 10 days 83%96%99.6% Financial Accuracy 99.9% Statistical Accuracy 99.3% Road dangers focus of memorial walk Walkers and joggers will gather early Saturday to remember Marcia Donaldson Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Before dawn Saturday morning, walkers and joggers will gather at the east end of South Sound Road for a me- morial walk to remember Marcia Donaldson, who was killed last week by a sus- pected drunk driver while on her morning walk. The organizer and people planning to join the walk hope to bring attention to problems with drunk driving and road safety in Cayman. Nine people have died on Cayman’s roads so far this year. Ms. Donaldson was hit and killed while walking on South Sound Road near Old Crewe Road shortly before 5 a.m. last Saturday. Police ar- rested a man at the scene on suspicion of causing death by drunk driving. Earlier in the week cyclist Donnie Ray Connor, 59, was killed in a hit and run on the Linford Pierson Highway. Police arrested a 24-year-old Bodden Town man on Sunday on suspi- cion of killing Mr. Connor. Millicent Webster, who describes Ms. Donaldson as her best friend for more than 20 years, said her friend was “an innocent person out for her morning walk.” She is or- ganizing Saturday morning’s walk, along the same route Ms. Donaldson took six days a week, to bring attention to the problem of drunk drivers in Cayman. “Until someone stands up and says this can’t happen in our country, nothing will happen,” she said. Ms. Donaldson, whom Ms. Webster describes as in her 40s, leaves behind a husband, two children and a grandchild. “We’re losing too many people to drink driving,” Ms. Webster said. “These are not animals, these are loved ones.” Ms. Webster asks people coming to the memorial to gather at 4:45 a.m., wear a white T-shirt and bring a flower. The walk will go to Red Bay Dock and back to Hurley’s. She said she hopes to make the walk an annual event. Speaking out on road dangers Cyclists and runners on Grand Cayman say cars are a constant threat, and most have their own stories of ac- cidents or near misses. Shane Delaney, who has spent several years regu- larly cycling and running on Cayman’s roads, said, “Traffic doesn’t respect people on the road,” whether they’re walking, jogging or cycling. He told a story of a re- cent incident on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway when he and a friend were riding on the side of the road “well out of the way” and a car tried de- liberately to scare them off the road. Just this week, he said, he saw a car in front of him veer towards a young woman running toward traffic. He described the stretch of South Sound Road, be- tween Cayman Crossing and the entrance of Old Crewe Road, where Ms. Donaldson was hit as poorly lit with no sidewalk, but nonetheless it is a popular spot for jog- gers and walkers. The early morning presents additional challenges, Mr. Delaney said, because at that time drivers can be tired, coming off a long overnight shift, or been out all night drinking. Patrick Loughnane, who said he’s been a cyclist for close to two decades and has been riding in Cayman for two years, explained his ex- perience here, saying, “Drivers are neglectful, even angry.” He added, “I’m almost afraid of cycling on this island.” Another regular runner and cyclist, Justine Plenkiewicz, echoed Mr. Loughnane’s fear to exercise on Cayman’s roads. “I was almost run over once when running across the entrance to Dart Park and some car wanted to go into the parking lot. Even though as a pedes- trian I have the right of way, the driver still rolled down his window and hurled in- sults at me for being in his way,” she said. Those taking part in Sunday morning’s Solidarity Walk for the Prevention of Drunk Driving are asked to meet at the entrance to South Sound Road, near Hurley’s, at 4:45 a.m., wear a white T-shirt and bring a flower of their choice. Marcia Donaldson was struck and killed just before 5 a.m. April 25. The organizer and people planning to join the walk hope to bring attention to problems with drunk driving and road safety in Cayman. Earth Month survEy asks about cycling to work Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com To celebrate Earth Month, the Department of Environment is running a se- ries of surveys on environ- mental issues. This week, the department wants to know what people think about riding a bicycle to work. The hope is, a department spokesman said, “to ascertain what the difficulties and bar- riers are to prevent people from bike commuting.” He said the survey has been getting a lot of re- sponses every day, with a wide range of issues from road safety to not having a place to lock up a bicycle or take a shower at work after commuting by bike. He said the department may keep the online survey running longer beyond this week since the response has been so strong. The Department of Environment has run two other surveys this month to ask people in Cayman about renewable energy and public transport. The spokesman said next week’s survey will ask about home energy efficiency. The spokesman called the surveys “a fact-finding mis- sion.” He said the department hopes to “better inform gov- ernment about issues with cycling” and other topics from the surveys. He said he rides a bicycle occasionally and hasn’t had safety issues himself, but added, “Obviously, issues of personal safety are a pretty common thing.” The survey is available online at http://svy.mk/1FycZ1Q. Cyclists ride along South Sound Road. The Department of Environment is currently carrying out a survey about cycling in Cayman. - Photo: ron shillingForDThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community Calendar ■ Community Calendar is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. Thursday april 30, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, APRIL 30 BOUNDARY COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING: North Side Civic Centre. 8 p.m. The public is invited to share thoughts on single- member constituencies and where the boundaries should be drawn. The proposed change would mean each voter casts only one vote. In the present system, voters may elect a varying number of candidates to the Legislative Assembly, depending on the district in which they reside. YOUNG AT ARTS: Today is the deadline for performers ages 12 to 17 to book an audition for the Intensive Summer Term. Auditions will be held at the Harquail Theatre on May 9 and May 16, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit www.artscayman.org/ young-at arts. To book an audition spot, email cayfest@candw.ky or call 949-5477. COMEDY PLAY: “Duets” plays tonight at Prospect Playhouse, presented by Cayman Drama Society. Show time 7:30 p.m. $25 per person, $15 for students. Show continues May 1-2. For tickets, contact www.cds.ky; boxoffice@cds. ky or 938-1998. FRIDAY, MAY 1 PASSPORT OffICE: The Passport and Corporate Services Office will open at 10:30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. due to staff training. It will close again all day on Wednesday, May 6, for the same reason. BRAC CANCER AWARENESS: Public meeting 7 p.m. at the Veterans and Seamen’s Building, 205 Ashton Reid Drive. Organized by the Lions Clubs Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac with the Cancer Society. A doctor and cancer survivor will speak about prostate and colon cancer. Free testing available starting 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 2 JUMBLE SALE: John Gray Memorial Church Hall, next to the 4-Way Stop, West Bay. 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Clothes, household items, toys etc. Funds raised will go towards the church’s mission outreach. DEALS ON WhEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in Bodden Town at Lorna’s Texaco Gas Station parking lot from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. THURSDAY, MAY 7 YOUNG MUSICIAN AWARD: The Young Musician of the Year will be named at the Prospect Playhouse during the evening, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at the door. $5 adults, $2 children. This event is sponsored by Butterfield Bank as part of the National Children’s Festival of the Arts. RUNDOWN: The annual comedy show opens tonight at the Harquail Theatre, 8 p.m. and continues May 8-10, May 15-17, and May 31. Shows from Thursdays to Saturdays start at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for youths and seniors. Available from Grand Harbour Health Care Pharmacy, Funky Tang’s, Foster’s supermarkets, the Harquail Theatre and the Cayman National Cultural Foundation offices. SATURDAY, MAY 9 DEALS ON WhEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in East End close to Pirates Cove Bar, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. OUR LITTLE MISS: The 2015 scholarship competition pageant takes place at the George Town Town Hall 7:30 p.m. Adults, $15; children 12 & under, $10. ThE ART Of PhOTOGRAPhY: Free drop-in family activities at the National Art Gallery based on the exhibition “Plastic in Paradise” by Heidi Bassett Blair. Activity sheets and art materials will be available in the breezeway for children of all ages. Self-guided tour packs can be collected for families to use as they explore the exhibition. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free coffee and tea available in the Art Café. Donations welcome. For additional details email education@nationalgallery. org.ky or call (345) 945 8111. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 fOOD hANDLERS: Certification courses in basic food hygiene are offered by the Department of Environmental Health; today and May 27, June 10 and 24; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DEH conference room in the Environmental Centre, 580 North Sound Road. $15 per person covers all materials and fees; pay at DEH headquarters, 580 North Sound Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call 949-6696. SATURDAY, MAY 16 DEALS ON WhEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in West Bay at the junction of the West Bay Town hall, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. GENERAL INTEREST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: CONCACAF Under-15 Boys Youth Tournament in Grand Cayman from Aug. 11–23, needs volunteers. Email volunteers@cifa.ky, call the Cayman Islands Football Association office at 949-5775 or visit www. caymanfootball.com. hIV TESTING: Free HIV testing is available every Tuesday year-round at the Cayman Islands Red Cross on Thomas Russell Way. Anyone wishing to get tested should arrive by 9 a.m. Testing will be available every Tuesday, 9-10 a.m. Contact HIV/AIDS Coordinator Laura Whitfield at 244-2631. fREE GALLERY TOURS: Free guided tours of the temporary exhibition Plastic In paradise: Scenes of Real Life Fictions by Heidi Bassett Blair are available for students of all ages at The National Gallery. Students will discuss the exhibition and get hands-on art activities that incorporate literacy and numeracy. Until July 3. For information or to book a tour contact 945-8111 or education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. SChOOL REGISTRATION: Registration of students enrolling in or transferring to government schools for the 2015/2016 school year is open through June 26 at the Department of Education Services and the Cayman Brac Teachers Centre. Parents may pick up registration forms at government schools, the Department of Education Services at 130 Thomas Russell Way, George Town, or the Brac Teachers Centre. Registration for reception classes is open for qualifying children who are age 4 before Sept. 1, 2015. GRANTS fOR ThE ARTS: Registration is open for grants from the Cayman National Cultural Foundation for art-related projects that need some financial help. CNCF hands out grants twice a year. Visit www. artscayman.org/grants-for- the-arts for guidelines and a registration form. Deadline is July 15. ChILDREN & fAMILY SERVICES: The West Bay office of the Department of Children and Family Services is closed until further notice. Staff have been relocated to Commerce House on Dr. Roy’s Drive. People in need of assistance should call 949-0290. ThRIfT ShOP SEEKS CLOThING: The Humane Society Thrift Shop is desperately low on stock. Clothing, accessories, toys, small appliances, shoes, bric-a-brac and pictures are needed. Please bring donations to the Humane Society building on North Sound Road. BEThESDA COUNSELING CENTRE: At 68 Mary St. caters to all who seek help. Call 946-6575. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. REEf RESTORATION: Certified divers are invited to work on the Cayman Magic Reef restoration in George Town. A schedule of work dates and times is posted on Facebook under Cayman Magic Reef Recovery. Dates, times and places are listed under Events for volunteers to check and sign up. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Painting open studio available Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Watler House, Pedro Castle. This is an opportunity for adult intermediate artists to work at their own pace on their own projects. To register, contact openstudio@ visualartcayman.com or 546-9422. $10 per day or $15 non-members. ART fOR STUDENTS: The National Gallery hosts free Active Learning Sessions for students of all ages. Part tour, part art activity, the tour takes students up-close with the National Collection – more than 50 years of Caymanian art history – providing links to literacy, mathematics, social studies and science. For information or to book a session, contact 945-8111 or education@nationalgallery. org.ky. PINK LADIES: Coffee Shop at Cayman Islands Hospital is open Monday- Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, drinks, snacks. Takeout orders welcome, call 244- 2661. Funds are donated back to the community. Contact pinkladiescayman@ gmail.com. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay Artisans Market every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society has artists displaying arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale between noon and 8 p.m. near KARoo. For more information about being a displaying artist, contact info@visualartcayman.com or 546-9422. MIND’S EYE: Guided tours for up to eight people are offered at Mind’s Eye – The Visionary World of Miss Lassie, Cayman’s intuitive artist. $8 per adult, $4 per child. Tours by appointment, 10-11 a.m., second and fourth Saturdays. Contact the Cayman National Cultural Foundation by email at admincncf@candw.ky or 949-5477. hUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOfT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:45 p.m. to assist with training athletes in track and field, bocce and football. Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Contact Penny McDowall, 516-2578, soci@candw.ky or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. RED CROSS ThRIfT ShOP: Open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at RC headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. ART TALK fOR SENIORS: This National Gallery program engages people age 60 and over in conversation about art by focusing on a particular piece from the gallery or special exhibition every other Thursday. Admission is free, refreshments provided. 2-2:45 p.m. For more information, contact education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. ALZhEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: For anyone who is a caregiver, spouse, child or friend of someone suffering from this debilitating disease. Group meets the last Wednesday of every month at the Hibiscus Conference Room at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Contact Dorothy at 924-4170 or email alzheimersgroup. caymanislands@gmail.com. C.A.S.K. KARATE: Free public Tai Chi at Camana Bay on Sundays (ongoing). 8:30- 9:30 a.m. Contact Greg Reid on 925-3367 or email caskkarate@gmail.com. WAITING fOR JOSEPhINE: This is an ongoing appeal for second-hand magazines for the waiting rooms at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Please take magazine donations to Books & Books at Camana Bay or deposit them in the big bin outside the Cancer Society on Maple Road (opposite the hospital). For more information, contact Carol Hay at 526-6932. SPECIAL NEEDS fOUNDATION Of CAYMAN: For anyone who is a parent, relative, friend or carer of a special needs child. Also for professionals interested in special needs. SNFC is a nonprofit organization providing information, resources, education and support with meetings, social events and newsletters. Contact www. specialneedsfoundation.ky. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@ museum.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar.7 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday april 30, 2015 INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION The Foundation is currently oering one scholarship for a maximum of four years to a Caymanian High School graduate. Preference will be given to those candidates who intend to pursue a career in the nancial services industry upon graduation from university. However applications from all disciplines will be accepted. Candidates should be prepared to begin their university degree programme in the 2015 school year. The choice of university must be approved by the Foundation. Applicants should possess a minimum of ve good passes at CXC or ICGSE or equivalent. Evidence of educational achievements and, if possible university acceptance should accompany the application. In addition, a brief biography and a narrative as to the reason for the choice of University/Course should be included. Additional details and an application form can be obtained at www.caymancaptive.ky Applications should be submitted preferably by pdf, no later than 9th of May 2015 to: william.forsythe@caymancaptive.ky or delivered to the IMAC oce at Landmark Square, Suite 3E-2, 64 Earth Close, West Bay Road AARON FARRINGTON, KAYLA SOLOMON & ASHLI WELCOME – 2014 RECIPIENTS Cayman Islands. Clearly Better Business. Child month kicks off on Friday Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A packed schedule of ac- tivities is being organized for this year’s Child Month, which begins Friday, May 1. The theme this year is “Opening our Hearts.” The Department of Children and Family Services, along with the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, is promoting a number of public activities and educational events, all of which are free to children, but they will be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A celebrity reading day at various pre-schools around the island kicks off the start of the month’s activities on Friday. The following day, at the Batabano carnival, a teen pregnancy awareness booth will be set up. The annual church service led by children will take place at the Church of God Victory Tabernacle located on Eastern Avenue on Sunday, May 3. Events in May include ed- ucational sessions on local radio stations, family din- ners, a “healthy top up” at the Agriculture Pavilion, and a special Mother’s Day fea- ture. Activities will be pro- moted with the National Museum, Family Resource Center, Circle of Love Women’s Ministry prayer breakfast, Youth Services, and Feed Our Future. On May 17, there will be a “Family Fest” at the Agriculture Pavilion and on May 23, Kirk Office will host a “Colourthon Children’s Arts and Craft Festival.” There will also be Yoga Family evening at the George Town town hall and a board games evening. People considering be- coming foster parents can join others at Grand Old House for dinner and to learn more about fostering on Thursday, May 28. The next day, there will be an All Island Dress Down Day to assist Feed our Future, and on Saturday, May 30, there will be cupcake wars at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. A Cotton Tree Bay Church of God Service will bring the month’s events to a close on May 31. Encouraging national par- ticipation, Youth Services Minister Osbourne Bodden said, “Our children are our most prized possession and their care and upbringing determines what our society becomes, as children are a product of their environment. The Ministry, and I as Minister, take this very se- riously under our youth mandate and much of our focus is geared into en- suring that our children and young people are pro- tected and given every op- portunity to succeed. I look forward to an exciting month of activities and thank all at Children and Family Services and the Ministry who have planned and organized events.” For more information on Child Month, contact the Department of Children and Family Services in Grand Cayman on 949-0290 and on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on 948-2331. Edna Moyle primary gets new laptops Students with special ed- ucation needs at Edna M. Moyle Primary School now have access to new lap- tops to help improve their reading and writing skills. Ten laptops donated by Roland Stewart of Paramount Investments to the school will be used in a new assisted reading and writing program for stu- dents, according to school principal Marcia Rennie. The Acer Aspire Switch laptops have removable keyboards, so can also be used as tablets. Steven Durksen, the Education Ministry’s in- formation and communi- cations technology man- ager, said that as well as helping with students’ lit- eracy and numeracy, the de- vices will also be used as a pilot for deploying Windows 8 and Office 365 at the Edna M. Moyle Primary School, before being rolled out to other schools. “Also, these tablets can be used at the school as e-book readers with our new online library solution that we are currently rolling out to all schools,” Mr. Durksen said. Parent Jay Ebanks or- ganized the donation, and along with Education Minister Tara Rivers and Education Councilor Winston Connolly, was on hand when the laptops were handed over by Mr. Stewart. Minister Rivers thanked Mr. Stewart for his dona- tion, adding, “I would also like to thank Jay Ebanks for being a parent who supports his children’s school and making this donation a reality.” “We live in a modern age where technology is at the forefront of almost ev- erything we do,” she said. “Incorporating the use of technology in the classroom helps to assist students with their learning. It also enables them to become more comfortable using such devices, by staying up to date with the tech- nology that is being used and driving innovation in our world today.” Education Minister Tara Rivers, right, receives one of the donated laptops from Roland Stewart of Paramount Investments. Joining them are, from second left, school principal Marcia Rennie, Education Councilor Winston Connolly, Steven Durksen, ICT manager at the Education Ministry and parent Jay Ebanks.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Thursday april 30, 2015 • Cayman Compass single-member constituen- cies were to be adopted. Also, East End and North Side districts, if left alone by the boundary commission, would not have anywhere near 1,000 voters apiece. Meanwhile, George Town – if divided into six single- member districts – would av- erage more than 1,200 voters per district. Commission member Steve McField said ordi- narily the variance in voting population between the dis- tricts would be too great to meet international standards. However, the Constitution Order specifies that commis- sioners “shall have regard to existing electoral districts” in redrawing the voting map. “If we did not have the constitution to guide us, ordinarily those two dis- tricts [East End and North Side] would have to be com- bined,” Mr. McField said. “We could make a recommenda- tion to leave them as they are or to combine them … but you’ll have to wait until you get our report.” More members? Boundary commission members also had not de- cided on whether a voting map with 18 members would be drawn or if an additional LA seat might be added. “The commissioners could recommend that George Town has an addi- tional constituency with an- other seat in the Legislative Assembly,” Mr. McField said. Ms. Handley initially said the commission in- tended to draw 18 separate single-member voting dis- tricts, to replace Cayman’s current six-district, multi- member election system. However, she conceded during a public meeting in George Town’s Mary Miller Hall that the 19th seat issue is “one of the things we are taking into account,” and that the commission might even draw up alternate maps, based on input it re- ceives from district resi- dents this week. That answer was given after George Town resident and former member of the Legislative Assembly Lucille Seymour asked whether the work done by the com- mission “would have cov- ered” the potential exten- sion of the LA to 19 or even 21 seats. “I sincerely believe that should be taken into consid- eration,” Ms. Seymour said. to Haiti, where he worked tirelessly with other members of the community that were included in the mission to do dental work free of cost. That is the kind of person he was.” He continued his profes- sional development through the years by attending dental clinics at Emory University with his wife Helen, who served as his dental assis- tant for 40 years. Dr. Merren and his wife traveled to Haiti numerous times with a missionary team from Ministries in Action and Elmslie Memorial Church to provide dental services. He served on numerous stat- utory boards and was in- strumental in founding the local Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast Committee. Dr. Merren’s daughter Suzan recalled that in the 1980s, her father could often be seen walking rapidly on South Church Street with his Sony Walkman after work in the evenings. He also enjoyed his evening swim in the sea behind his home on South Church Street. “He had a full life and was energetic, loving, kind and exceptionally gen- erous,” she said. Premier Alden McLughlin, who is also minister of health, said he was deeply saddened to learn of Dr. Merren’s passing. “I’ve known and respected him all my life. I can re- member him as the lone den- tist in Cayman, working out of a building next to the old George Town hospital in the ‘60s. My mother was the dis- penser [pharmacist] at the hos- pital in those days,” he said. He described Dr. Merren “as one of our medical pio- neers, a fine dentist, a won- derful human being and a great Caymanian who served his country and his people in a number of important roles, including that of chairman of the Immigration Board.” “His contributions to the development of modern-day Cayman are significant and should be acknowledged with gratitude. With his passing, we have lost another of the great nation builders of his era and I have lost a friend and mentor,” the premier added. Dr. Merren was born on July 31, 1931 to Carley and Verdie Merren of South Church Street. His father was a merchant with several stores in the community. Dr. Merren developed a deep love for helping people, and he also enjoyed the comfort of a loving and close-knit family as one of four siblings. He and his wife Helen Elizabeth Watler were mar- ried on Dec. 20, 1957 at Elmslie Memorial Church. Dr. Merren is survived by his wife Helen; son Gregory; daughters Suzan, Paula, Lisa and Jennifer; seven grand- children, Josh, Zach, Ashleigh, Lauren, Hannah, Jonathan and Emily; sons-in-law Robert Ebanks and Dean Scott; and a sister, Zelma Lee Watler. Funeral services will be announced at a later date. versus new hires.” Mr. Manderson said he plans to relax the current ban on incremental pay increases to allow staff to be financially rewarded for exceptional per- formance or for obtaining ad- ditional qualifications. The issue of pay in- equality appears to be the unintended consequence of a series of austerity mea- sures introduced to help keep government spending in check following the global fi- nancial crisis. Mr. Manderson said a freeze on incremental pay in- creases had meant that a dis- parity arose between existing staff and new recruits, who were able to negotiate sala- ries in line with their pre- vious earnings. He acknowledged that in areas such as education and policing, where a relatively high number of employees come from overseas, “the problem may seem to mani- fest as a Caymanian versus non-Caymanian issue as non- Caymanian staff are regularly recruited to fill vacancies.” He said staff are now re- ceiving regular appraisals, and performance-related pay increases are being in- troduced to correct “genuine pay anomalies.” “I have advised our staff that it is our intention to relax the ban on within-grade increments to reward staff who have obtained additional qualifications [or] are per- forming their jobs more pro- ficiently as a result of years of experience,” he added. Mr. Watler said he was pleased that the issue of pay inequity was beginning to be addressed. He said a planned cost-of-living pay in- crease in July for all civil ser- vants should be the first step in rolling back “no longer needed” austerity policies. “The policies of the last decade-and-a-half of denying staff opportunities for incre- mental advancement within their jobs has contributed to dissatisfaction among staff and across the Civil Service, which has contributed to the loss of good employees to the private sector, and makes at- tracting new staff difficult. “These restrictive policies are particularly hard on per- manent, generally Caymanian staff as contracted officers are able to negotiate their salaries when hired or re- hired, while permanent staff are kept on the ‘new hire’ pay point for years, sometimes until they leave the service out of frustration.” Police Commissioner Baines last month high- lighted issues of pay inequity in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, saying the sit- uation was “gravely unfair.” “We have people who have joined this service, some- times 10 years or more ago, and they were put on a set point on their appointment,” he said. “Since then, various moratoriums have been put in place, so you actually get a discrimination against some of our local officers, who are left on the point they were appointed on.” Premier Alden McLaughlin was among a number of members of the Legislative Assembly to raise similar concerns about pay disparity in schools during a Finance Committee hearing in 2014. “I am aware of close to eight or nine Caymanian teachers who are considering leaving the public service be- cause of the salary issue, of their feeling of not being treated fairly compared to teachers recruited from over- seas,” he said. A freeze on incremental pay increases, a 3.2 percent civil service wide pay-cut and a moratorium on recruit- ment were among a series of cost-cutting measures in- troduced between 2008 and 2012 to help rein in govern- ment spending. Mr. Manderson said those measures were intended to be temporary to help gov- ernment comply with U.K.- mandated spending con- straints, designed to help reverse an operational deficit. He said the civil service has made “tremendous con- tributions” to improving gov- ernment’s financial position. He suggested the era of austerity is almost over, with a 4 percent pay increase, ef- fective from July 1, among a number of measures planned to improve pay in the civil service. He said 267 staff re- ceived promotions or pay increases following job evaluations in 2014, and per- formance-related raises are being introduced, “How soon we are able to progress with these ad- ditional pay considerations will be closely tied to mon- itoring our financial per- formance,” Mr. Manderson said. “I am cautiously opti- mistic about our ability to provide financial rewards to existing, high-performing staff within the civil service in the near future. Our re- cent track record shows we are doing the right things to make this possible.” Concern rises over pay inequity in public sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. Manderson Dr. Edlin Merren passes at 83 Dr. Edlin Merren, third from left, is presented to Queen Elizabeth II by Governor Peter Lloyd, left, during her visit to the Cayman Islands in 1983. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Boundaries report deadline in June CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Dr. Edlin was an outstanding family man, a good father and good husband. He was also a very community minded Caymanian who gave of his best to the general public.” NorMaN BoddeNThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday april 30, 2015 Accusations against French soldiers French prosecutors are investigating accusations that French soldiers in Central African Republic sexually abused children they were sent to protect. Dr. Donald E. Machen DMD MSD MD Board Certified Orthodontist Professor of Orthodontics Located at Pasadora Family Dental Centre Pasadora Place Smith Road, GT. He will be in office from Friday May 1st to Saturday the 2nd, 2015 www.pasadorafamilydental.ky Call 943 2222 to book an appointment. Aid reaches remote villages; Nepal death toll tops 5,000 ‘We are hungry,’ villagers say GUMDA, Nepal (AP) — Hands pressed together in suppli- cation, the Nepalese women pleaded for food, shelter and anything else the helicopter might have brought on an in- and-out run Wednesday to this smashed mountain vil- lage near the epicenter of last weekend’s mammoth earth- quake that killed more than 5,000 people. Unlike in Nepal’s capital, where most buildings were spared complete collapse, the tiny hamlets clinging to remote mountainsides in Gorkha District have been ravaged. Entire clusters of homes were reduced to piles of stone and splintered wood. Orange plastic tarps used for shelter now dot the cliff sides and terraced rice paddies carved into the land. “We are hungry,” cried a woman who gave her name only as Deumaya, gesturing toward her stomach and opening her mouth to empha- size her desperation. Another woman, Ramayana, her eyes hollow and haunted, re- peated the plea: “Hungry! We are hungry!” But food is not the only necessity in short supply out here beyond the reaches of paved roads, electricity poles and other benefits of the modern world. These days, even water is scarce. Communication is a chal- lenge. And modern medical care is a luxury many have never received. Gumda is one of a handful of villages identified as the worst hit by Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake, from which it will almost cer- tainly take years to recover. As in many villages, though, the death toll in Gumda was far lower than feared, since many villagers were working outdoors when the quake struck at midday. Of Gumda’s 1,300 people, five were killed in the quake and 20 more were injured. As the helicopter landed Wednesday with 90-pound sacks of rice, wind and rain whipped across the crest of the mountain. Seeing the con- ditions, the U.N. World Food Program’s Geoff Pinnock shouted over the roar of the propellers, “the next ship- ment has to be plastic sheets. These people need shelter more than they need food.” About 200 villagers hud- dled under a few umbrellas and plastic tarps as they waited to receive the aid, some with runny noses and chattering teeth. With the er- ratic Himalayan weather, aid workers are worried about keeping people warm, fed and safe. “More helicopters, more personnel and certainly more relief supplies including medical teams, shelter, tents, water and sanitation and food are obviously needed,” said Pinnock, who was coor- dinating the aid relief flights. With 8 million Nepalese affected by the earthquake, including 1.4 million needing immediate food assistance, Pinnock said the relief effort would stretch on for months. “It doesn’t happen over- night,” he said. Nepalese police said Wednesday the death toll from the quake had reached 5,045. Another 19 were killed on the slopes of Mount Everest, while 61 died in neighboring India, and China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported 25 dead in Tibet. The disaster also in- jured more than 10,000, po- lice said, and rendered thou- sands more homeless. The U.N. says the disaster has affected 8.1 million people – more than a fourth of Nepal’s population of 27.8 million – and that 1.4 million needed food assistance. Planes carrying food and other supplies have been steadily arriving at Kathmandu’s small airport, but the aid distribution pro- cess remains fairly cha- otic, with Nepalese officials having difficulty directing the flow of emergency supplies. About 200 people blocked traffic in the cap- ital Wednesday to protest the slow pace of aid delivery. The protesters faced off with police and there were minor scuffles but no ar- rests were made. Police arrested dozens of people on suspicion of looting abandoned homes as well as causing panic by spreading rumors of another big quake. Police official Bigyan Raj Sharma said 27 people were detained for stealing. But in a sign that life was inching back to normal, banks in Kathmandu opened for a few hours Wednesday and stuffed their ATMs with cash, giving people access to money. Thousands of people lined up at bus stations in the cap- ital, hoping to reach their hometowns in rural areas. Some have had little news of family and loved ones since Saturday’s quake. Others are scared of staying close to the epicenter, northwest of Kathmandu. “I am hoping to get on a bus, any bus heading out of Kathmandu. I am too scared to be staying in Kathmandu,” said Raja Gurung, who wanted to get to his home in western Nepal. “The house near my rented apartment collapsed. It was horrible. I have not gone indoors in many days. I would rather leave than a live a life of fear in Kathmandu.” In some heartening news, French rescuers freed a man from the ruins of a three- story Kathmandu hotel more than three days after the quake. Rishi Khanal, 27, said he drank his own urine to survive. Khanal had just fin- ished lunch at a hotel on Saturday and had gone up to the second floor when ev- erything suddenly started moving and falling. He was struck by falling masonry and trapped with his foot crushed under rubble. “I had some hope but by yesterday I’d given up. My nails went all white and my lips cracked … I was sure no one was coming for me. I was certain I was going to die,” he told The Associated Press from his hospital bed on Wednesday. In other developments: ■■ Chinese authorities have closed all climbing on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest for the spring. Meanwhile, some climbers in Nepal have announced plans to try to return to the mountain ■■ President Barack Obama has spoken to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of Nepal to express sym- pathy over the thousands of deaths and vast de- struction. The two leaders discussed U.S. military and civilian efforts al- ready underway to help Nepal and international aid groups in their emer- gency rescue and response ■■ The Nepal Mountaineering Association has increased to 19 the number of reported fatalities from the ava- lanche on Mount Everest. A female villager pleads for food after an aid relief helicopter lands at the remote mountain village of Gumda. - PHOTOS: AP Residents wait in the rain as an aid relief helicopter lands at Gumda village, which is near the epicenter of Saturday’s massive earthquake. With the erratic Himalayan weather, aid workers are worried about keeping people warm, fed and safe.Next >