Slight to moderate with wave heights 2 to 4 feet. High of 85 Low of 72 1 SPECIALFEATURE CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 5, 2015 Editorial | pagE 4 Cayman on fire: Sound the alarm! … Bury the report Happy Mother’s Day Special feature eStaBliSHeD 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – tueSday may 5, 2015 179108_PRINT-Butterfield-YMOY-6cPage 1 4/23/15 3:16:40 PM Customs order bans paraquat importation Brent fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Following through on a promise made ear- lier this year, the Cayman Islands government has banned the importation of the chemical herbicide paraquat into the territory. According to an amendment to the Customs [Prohibited Goods] Order: “The im- port of the following is prohibited – (a) para- quat dichloride; and (b) any derivative of para- quat dichloride.” The amendment to the order was approved by Cabinet last Tuesday and was made public on Friday. The community group that started a pe- tition in 2012 to ban the importation of the deadly chemical, which can be fatal if in- gested in sufficient quantities, celebrated the announcement on its Facebook page: “This will save many of our pets’ lives and probably our children’s lives as well.” The ban via the customs order does not address anyone who already has paraquat, which is generally used as a weed killer, in their possession. “You only need a small amount to kill,” the Ban Paraquat group wrote. “Look out for con- tainers and food lying in the roads, keep your pets on leashes and in your gardens and be responsible pet owners.” Members of the Progressives government caucus announced in March that they would ban the importation of the chemical herbi- cide. The decision was announced shortly be- fore community advocates proposed to hold a rally outside the Government Administration Building in support of a paraquat ban. Selena Tibbetts, a local attorney who cre- ated the Ban Paraquat Facebook page, said a TV regulators seek new formula for local content JameS Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Television regulators are con- templating collecting fees from cable companies to create a uni- versal service fund to help pay for the production of “public ser- vice broadcasting.” The Information and Communications Technology Authority, which is in the pro- cess of developing guidelines for the mandatory broadcast of local content on Cayman’s tele- vision networks, could raise money from its licensees to make grants available for cer- tain types of programming, ac- cording to its managing director Alee Fa’amoe. He said local news, sports, government information and community events would be mandatory under the new regulations. Cable companies will not be allowed to meet their local con- tent obligations by using govern- ment television. If a commercially viable local television station proves impos- sible in the private sector, a uni- versal service fund will be ac- tivated to help pay for content creation, Mr. Fa’amoe said. Cable companies have pre- viously been required to show a certain amount of community programming as part of their li- censing requirements. ICTA began considering a new framework after WestStar pedestrian-only zones part of Gt plan Glass House to be replaced with park JameS Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Improving the roads network, making parts of downtown pedestrian-only areas and changing zoning to allow new types of development are among some initial ideas put forward by government for the revital- ization of George Town. The old government building, known as the Glass House, will be demolished and replaced with a park, paid for by a private donor, as part of the redevelopment. Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said government’s aim is to put the physical and regulatory infrastructure in place to stimu- late new development in the capital. Speaking to business leaders at a Chamber of Commerce lunch last week, Mr. Tibbetts urged them to “put your money where your mouths are” and help reverse the “steady drain” of life from George Town. He said, “This is not just a face-lift or a beautification project, it is meant to be the true restoration of our capital into a bustling mixed-use neighborhood for Mr. Fa’amoe The former government building, known as the Glass House, will be demolished and replaced with a park, paid for by a private donor, as part of the proposed redevelopment. - photo: taneos ramsay PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MEXICO CITY (AP) — A drug cartel that unleashed a wave of attacks in the western Mexican state of Jalisco used a rocket-propelled gre- nade to force down a mili- tary helicopter, a security official said Monday. National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido told the Televisa net- work that the Friday at- tack showed the Jalisco New Generation cartel had signif- icant firepower. Previously, the government had said only that attackers had fired upon the helicopter, without de- scribing the weapon. Later, in an interview with Radio Formula, Rubido said “it is the first time that they’ve shot this kind of helicopter.” Authorities have known for years that cartels possess such weapons. “Very likely they [crim- inal organizations] have al- ready tried to use them against helicopters,” said Alejandro Hope, a security expert and former official from Mexico’s intelligence service. “What’s new is that now they did it.” At least 15 people were killed and 19 injured in a series of attacks in Jalisco on Friday, during which 11 banks and five gas stations were burned. Rubido said three soldiers from the helicopter are dead, raising to six the number of people killed in that attack. TUESDAY MAY 5, 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 AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 1:00 2D I 3:35 I 4:10 2D I 6:40 I 7:20 2D I 9:45 FURIOUS 7 3D (PG13) 12:45 I 3:45 2D I 6:45 I 9:45 2D AGE OF ADELINE (PGI3) 1:20 I 4:20 I 7:00 I 9:40 UNFRIENDED (R) 7:30 I 9:50 PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 (PG) 1:00 I 4:00 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - $8.00 Jose Sanchez accused in shooting death of Solomon David Webster, a Special Olympics athlete CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jose Guadelupe Sanchez elected trial by judge alone on Monday after pleading not guilty to the murder of Solomon David Webster on Sept. 7, 2014, at Miss Daisy Lane in West Bay. He also entered a plea of not guilty to possession of an unli- censed firearm, a Colt pistol. Lead defense counsel Mark Heywood told Justice Charles Quin that the heart of the case was the firearm, which he described as an old Colt Commander. Mr. Heywood said the firearm had been recovered and analyzed. A partial DNA profile was obtained, he re- vealed, but the Crown expert had said it was suitable only for exclusion purposes. The defendant and the de- ceased were both excluded, he summarized. He questioned whether a third man was a contributor to that profile. Mr. Heywood is in- structed by attorney Guy Dilliway-Parry. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards is conducting the prosecution, assisted by Senior Crown Counsel Tricia Hutchinson. Proceedings were ad- journed until Tuesday morning for counsel to dis- cuss a disclosure issue per- taining to a witness. Approximately 70 jurors attended for jury selection; they were directed to re- turn for another matter on Tuesday morning in Court 5. Murder defendant elects trial by judge alone JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Desly Kyshon Missick, the winner of a culinary compe- tition for young chefs hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, is off to London this week. He will spend a week working alongside famed British Chef Adam Handling in his restaurant Adam Handling at Caxton, located at St. Ermin’s Hotel in London’s trendy West End. Missick, 20, who works at the Camana Bay restaurant Ortanique, competed in a se- ries of culinary challenges in January, with the finals judged by Handling and Executive Chef Frederic Morineau of The Ritz-Carlton. Missick’s Cayman lob- ster creation scored over Zack Myrie’s dish as the two junior chefs battled for top honors. Missick was named the winner at the Governor’s House, working alongside Chef Handling to prepare and plate the governor’s dinner. “Right after I did the lobster dish, the first thing Adam said was, ‘This is something I would actually sit down and eat.’ That made me feel good because he was saying if he went to a res- taurant and ordered the dish, he would have no complaints. That boosted my confidence and made me feel good. “Tasting a few things [Handling] served that night was awesome. I hated beets with a passion, but that night Adam made me try something that was 100 percent beet dish and I loved it,” he said. Chef Handling said he was delighted to welcome Missick to his restaurant. “London is the most dy- namic foodie city in the world, so it will be great for a young Caymanian chef to experience how we do fine dining British style,” he said. Missick said he is a little nervous about the trip, but thinks he will be just fine. He said he wants to im- prove his knowledge on how to present, plate and emphasize his flavors. The young chef has done exceptionally well, despite only having been cooking profes- sionally for the past year. He started at Ortanique as a server assistant. After being accepted for a tourism apprenticeship, he started the apprentice- ship course at the University College of the Cayman Islands while continuing to work at Ortanique. Missick said he surprised himself by wanting to become a chef, because no one in his family had previously taken it up as a career. He is not certain where it will lead him, but is taking advantage of the oppor- tunity to learn more. “It [has] a hectic schedule, and further up in the culi- nary world it can be quite demanding. But for now this is really what I want to do,” he said. Working at Ortanique, he enjoys just being in the kitchen and getting the experience. “I would like to thank The Ritz-Carlton and British Airways for the opportunity to travel to London to work under ‘Master Chef’ Adam and to gain his award-winning knowl- edge and skills,” he said. US soccer to play Guatemala The United States will play Guatemala in an exhi- bition July 3 at Nashville, Tennessee, the Americans’ last game before opening the defense of their CONCACAF Gold Cup title. They also have up- coming exhibitions in the Netherlands on June 5 and in Germany five days later. The latest addi- tion to the schedule was announced Monday. The Americans open the Gold Cup, the champion- ship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, against Honduras on July 7 at Frisco, Texas. The Americans play Haiti four days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts, and close the first round against Panama on July 13 at Kansas City, Kansas. Pacific swell closes Mexico beaches Pounding surf pushed by a Pacific swell continues af- fecting Mexico’s entire Pacific coast, swamping some beach- front restaurants and driving tourists off the sand. In Guerrero state, civil protection director Raul Miliani, said Monday that he would request a declaration of disaster. The southern state has seen surf of 9 feet to 12 feet that has closed beaches. Miliani said that as of Sunday, 224 people remained in shelters from the commu- nity of Coyuca de Benitez, up the coast from Acapulco. Ship traffic in Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico’s largest port, continued normally Monday, but the port was closed to small craft. Far to the north, Cabo San Lucas also saw beach access re- stricted by high surf. Fidel Castro meets with Japanese foreign minister An official Cuban news- paper reports that Fidel Castro joined his brother, President Raul Castro, for a rare appearance to meet with Japan’s foreign minister. The 88-year-old former leader spoke with Fumio Kishido about improving relations between the two nations. Kishido arrived in Cuba on Friday with a delegation of business leaders. He is the first Japanese foreign min- ister to visit the island. Dominican gov’t probes hotel collapse Part of a small bou- tique hotel collapsed over the weekend in the colonial district of the Dominican Republic’s capital. No fatali- ties or injuries were reported. The Dominican govern- ment on Sunday appointed a commission of experts to determine the cause of the partial collapse at the Hotel Frances Santo Domingo in a historic quarter that has been the focus of extensive public works projects. The hotel is part of the French Accor chain. It was temporarily closed last week as work crews dug up streets. © 2015, Associated Press A story on page 5 of Monday’s Compass titled “In road fatality, a call to action,” incorrectly stated where the pro- ceeds of an orchid sale would be used. The pro- ceeds will go to a cause or foundation in memory of Marcia Donaldson. 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. The young chef has done exceptionally well despite only having been cooking professionally for the past year. Winning young chef off to London REGIONAL NEWS BRIEFS CORRECTION Mr. Missick ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE FORCED DOWN MEXICAN HELICOPTER STABBING OUTSIDE LOCAL BAR BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A local fisherman was stabbed in downtown George Town Saturday night, the Royal Cayman Islands Police confirmed. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. in the vi- cinity of Cayman Cabana. Police said a 22-year- old man was stabbed in the back and in the hand during a fight with another man. The victim was taken to hospital. His condition was not immediately available. No arrests were re- ported by police as of press time Monday. 3 LOCAL&REGIONAL Cayman Compass • Tuesday May 5, 2015 James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s climbing com- munity is among several groups raising money for earthquake-hit Nepal amid a growing humanitarian crisis in the Himalayan nation. The death toll from the quake has surpassed 7,000, with thousands more still unaccounted for. Villages have been devastated, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and author- ities struggling to get aid to remote areas. Members of the local Nepalese community, many of whom have family mem- bers directly affected by the disaster, have raised more than $5,000 to assist the aid effort. The Indian commu- nity has also raised money, and the Cayman Islands Red Cross is organizing a month- long campaign. Whisky Mist is hosting a “sing for Nepal” night on Wednesday, featuring local bands the Neverines, Suckerbox and Safe World. There will be a $10 entry fee and 15 percent of bar sales will go to the Acts of Kindness Collective, which is working in Nepal with vic- tims of the earthquake. Climbers Angel Robledo and Jo Clark have orga- nized a fundraising event at XQ’s on Thursday at 7 p.m., featuring a talk by Guy Manning, the Cayman-based lawyer who climbed Mount Everest, as well as a presen- tation on the earthquake. Ms. Robledo said, “We’ve both been to the Himalayan range in Nepal many times. To see the whole country hit by a disaster like that, we have to do something to help. “The Nepalese are one of the loveliest people I have ever met in my life. They live in the most challenging conditions. When you know the people and you see what is happening on the news, you have to do something to try to help.” Ms. Clark said she had worked as an expedition leader in Nepal and she has friends who have been af- fected by the quake. The event will feature a raffle and auction, with items including a rock from the top of Mount Everest. The proceeds will go to the American Himalayan Foundation, which does aid work in Nepal and is running a specific campaign for the earthquake victims. Members of Cayman’s Nepalese community are in the process of setting up their own fund for victims of the disaster. Suresh Budhathoki said his family is living in a con- struction truck following the quake, amid fears that after- shocks could cause further damage to their homes in his home town, around 60 miles from Kathmandu. He said there is an urgent need for more tents and food, as well as medical supplies for the many Nepalese people who had been left homeless. “We have collected some funds from among the Nepalese people here and we are sending it on Monday. We have had a lot of support,” he said last week. Sangeetha Prabhakar said Cayman’s Indian com- munity is also contributing to the effort. “At the moment we are col- lecting money. Almost all the Nepalese people here have had family who have been af- fected in some way,” she said. Carolina Ferreira, deputy director of the Cayman Islands Red Cross, said the organization is in the process of planning a campaign for Nepal. Anyone who wants to make a donation can contact the Red Cross on 916-1742 or email deputy@redcross.org.ky. Raffle tickets for the climbing event at XQs are on sale at the restaurant and at Agave Grill and Bliss Yoga. For more information, call 947-9770. Cayman rallies to support Nepal Climber Angel Robledo is among those organizing a fundraising event Thursday night at XQs Bar & Grill. Puerto Rico legalizes medical pot SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor on Sunday signed an executive order to authorize the use of medical marijuana in the U.S. territory in an unexpected move following a lengthy public debate. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said the island’s health secretary has three months to issue a report detailing how the executive order will be im- plemented, the impact it will have and what future steps could be taken. The order went into immediate effect. “We’re taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental to our development and quality of life,” Garcia said in a state- ment. “I am sure that many patients will receive appro- priate treatment that will offer them new hope.” The order directs the health department to autho- rize the use of some or all controlled substances or de- rivatives of the cannabis plant for medical use. Garcia said the govern- ment also will soon outline the specific authorized uses of marijuana and its deriva- tives for medical purposes. He noted that medical mar- ijuana is used in the U.S. mainland and elsewhere to treat pain associated with migraines and illnesses in- cluding epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and AIDS. Medical marijuana is al- ready legal in 23 U.S. states, and a group of U.S. legislators is seeking to remove federal prohibitions on it. Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Jamaica re- cently passed a law that par- tially decriminalized small amounts of pot and paved the way for a lawful medical marijuana sector. Jaime Perello, president of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives, said he sup- ported Garcia’s order. “It’s a step in the right di- rection,” he said. “One of the benefits that patients say they receive the most is pain relief.” Opposition legislator Jenniffer Gonzalez said Garcia’s actions leave the law of controlled sub- stances in what she called a “judicial limbo.”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. The scathing review of the Cayman Islands Fire Service should have been treated by government offi- cials as an “18-alarm” conflagration, one alarm for each of the recommendations put forth by England’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Peter Holland. Instead, they tried to dump it into the nearest wastebasket, hoping it might spontaneously combust. It didn’t. The report was completed early last year but only released to the public recently, following an open records request from the Cayman Compass. After perusing the document, we’re not sure what is more alarming, its contents — which describe a fire service that is overstaffed, undertrained and, above all, poorly managed — or the government’s reaction to it — that is, ignore it and hide it. Our commentary should not be interpreted as being critical of Cayman’s individual firefighters, who, along with our police officers and emergency medical technicians, have chosen vocations that demand courage and often require significant personal sacrifice in order to ensure the safety of the larger community. We share the view of what our fire service “could” be, as described in the report and endorsed by Premier Alden McLaughlin and Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush, namely, “at the forefront of the development of the Islands [in] its rightful place as a premier public service.” It appears, however, there are many miles yet to go. Focusing on actions directed at the management level, Mr. Holland, the senior U.K. firefighter (who performed his work “pro bono” and deserves our country’s grati- tude), outlined 18 steps for Cayman’s fire service to take in his initial (!) report, including: • “restructuring of the fire service to reduce the numbers in the establishment at each rank, from deputy chief fire officer down to and including station officer” • “introduce a training and development programme linked to a performance review, with clear expecta- tions, guidelines and performance criteria for staff” • “transfer the call handling and incident support capability to the Department of Public Safety Communications” • “consider an increase in the number [of] inspecting officers” … and develop “a robust system for monitoring the progress of building code contravention reports.” It is unclear at this time whether any of the recom- mendations have been implemented since the report was submitted in February 2014. Quite frankly, we doubt it. The first reason for our skepticism is that no single person in the fire service has been in a position to make those changes. Since April 2013, the fire service has been without a permanent chief fire officer, fol- lowing the retirement of Dennom Bodden. A recruit- ment process for a new, full-time fire chief last year ended without a successful candidate being hired. Another recruitment process is currently under way. The second reason is the government’s reaction to the review, which we’ll describe as “stop, drop and roll”: Stop talking about it. Drop the subject. Roll the report into a paper ball. (If not for the Freedom of Information Law, we doubt the report would ever have become public.) The problem goes far beyond dysfunction within the fire service. The entire situation — the invitation to an outside expert consultant, the resulting honest criticism, the cowering from the bad news that was delivered — is emblematic of how our government too often operates. It is nothing short of shameful that this report was suppressed. Little children are inclined to hide things (like bad report cards) from their parents. This is, indeed, a bad report card on our fire service. But it’s the government that deserves the F-minus — for its clumsy attempts to conceal it. Cayman on fire: Sound the alarm! … Bury the report Tuesday May 5, 2015 • Cayman COmpass HSBC should not delay in returning to Hong Kong William Pesek Bloomberg View In retrospect, HSBC’s de- cision in 1993 to abandon Hong Kong for London’s Canary Wharf was one of modern history’s worst busi- ness moves. It seemed per- fectly wise at the time, just four years ahead of Hong Kong’s return to China and amid the early stages of Europe’s common cur- rency boom. When the 1997 Asia financial crash arrived, it probably left Chairman William Purves and his col- leagues feeling pretty happy about their decision. Just a dozen years later, being based in Europe seemed much less attrac- tive. First there was Wall Street’s subprime debacle. That was followed, in short order, by the euro crisis, the Libor controversy, the chip- ping away of Swiss banking secrecy and a British tax clampdown that cost HSBC US$1.1 billion in 2014. It should be no surprise that current HSBC Chairman Douglas Flint now thinks returning to Hong Kong “would be potentially inter- esting.” Indeed, the only real question is, what is Flint waiting for? HSBC finds itself in an enviable negotiating posi- tion. Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying’s superiors in Beijing would relish having one of the world’s premier fi- nancial institutions choose greater China over the West. President Xi Jinping would herald the move as a vote of confidence in China’s eco- nomic stability and his par- ty’s broader legitimacy. It also would send a message to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy street protesters that their public agitation can’t derail big business. HSBC would prob- ably be rewarded with as many deals and partner- ships in the Chinese market as its bankers can handle. That would cheer the bank’s long-suffering shareholders. But there’s more at stake in Flint’s decision than share prices and balance sheets. A move by HSBC could accel- erate the pace of Chinese eco- nomic reforms. The Communist Party has tended to keep a relatively tight grip on the flow of money in China, but an entity of HSBC’s size would expect to be granted more freedom in its business transactions. The bank’s presence in Hong Kong would give Xi strong incentive to loosen capital controls and make the country’s banking system more transparent. That would probably trigger a number of benefi- cial effects for the Chinese economy. Consider what happened after other Asian governments accelerated the internationalization of their banking and trade systems after the region’s fi- nancial crisis in the 1990s. Once countries lowered their financial defenses, businesses had no choice but to adopt global prac- tices and stomach greater competition. Similar shifts would likely occur in China after any HSBC move. State- owned banks that hoped to operate in HSBC’s orbit, for example, would have to im- prove their corporate over- sight and the quality of their assets. It wouldn’t be a seam- less relocation, but the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, created just after HSBC de- parted for Britain, is ready to oversee the transition. In just two decades, the HKMA has built a formidable track re- cord. It has protected a dollar peg from numerous specu- lative assaults and steered the city’s economy through myriad financial and health panics. It has also pursed an aggressive loan-to-value policy that’s kept default rates low and worked with international institutions in ways that have enhanced Hong Kong’s standing as a fi- nancial center. True, the HKMA has never been responsible for a finan- cial institution that’s too-big- to-fail. (Make that too big to save: With a balance sheet of US$2.6 trillion, HSBC is nine times the size of Hong Kong’s entire economy.) HKMA head Norman Chan will have to expand operations and hire loads of new regulators and analysts. But the HKMA be- lieves it’s up to the challenge and says it “takes a positive attitude should HSBC con- sider relocating.” Reformers in Beijing should, too. HSBC re- turning to its roots would be a clear win-win, for the short term and long term. The bank may have erred in uprooting itself some 20 years ago, but it’s time to let bygones be bygones. William Pesek, a Bloomberg View columnist based in Tokyo, writes on economics, markets and politics in the Asia-Pacific region. © 2015, Bloomberg News From CAymANComPASS.Com “Turtle-shaped ice rink planned to help revitalize George Town,” May 4 An improvement to the downtown core of George Town is long overdue. Not only for the local people but for the visiting tourist product as well. Why is it when a group of investors who want to in- vest in Cayman come calling there are nothing but nega- tive comments? This is the first truly vi- able multi-purpose venue that could actually provide a place for “other” activities. I am sure many more people would attend major functions such as trade shows, Miss Cayman pag- eants, music concerts, etc. if they were not held in dirty outdated venues that can be unbearably uncomfortable. shannon Emslie A huge game changer for George Town – a central plank in the redevelopment of the capital? This has got to be one of the most ridiculous ideas proposed by any Cayman Islands government in the last 40 years. David Wheaton “UCCI Dean of Administration Perry George passes away,” April 30 We have truly lost a gentle giant, very humble man who displayed a high degree of professionalism. I want to join with others to offer my condolences to his family and then to his colleagues at UCCI. May he rest in peace. Jasmine Douglas “A quixotic approach to censorship,” April 29 This reminds me of the board in Oxford, Mississippi, in the 1970s. My constitu- tional law professor was on it and said it ended only after the rest of the panel got tired of watching nudie movies together. Ginnie Gardiner “Pan competition shows Cayman’s talent,” May 1 When you hear the sound of the pan drums how can you not feel happy? Our family will be visiting your island in June and hopes to hear some pan music. It is great that the young people are taking part in the tradition of the pan drum. Keep it up. pete Digiacomo “Who will choose to run in the ‘Dump District’?” April 30 Very little in life remains unchanged. You are either moving forward or moving backward most of the time. While moving backward may be invited by some, most people wouldn’t be served very well from it. Christoph Walser It wouldn’t be a seamless relocation, but the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, created just after HSBC departed for Britain, is ready to oversee the transition. In just two decades, the HKMA has built a formidable track record. Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 HealthNEWS Doctors perform throat-area transplant Polish surgeons say they have successfully performed a rare and extensive transplant of the throat area. The patient, 37, suffered from advanced cancer of the voice box. Cayman Compass • Tuesday May 5, 2015 91 Sherwood Drive • 946 - 8697 - 946- 4676 email info@tonystoys.net - www.tonystoys.net Pre-owned and new cars sales Authorized government vehicle inspection center Distributor for Castrol products Tires - Tires - tires- major brands Expert at sourcing hard to fi nd parts Service European/Japanese and American vehicles Full Body Shop service Tony’s Toys, taking good care of You Fixing posture problems When discussing posture, most people think about how they sit or stand. That is only one type of posture, what we call static posture. Static posture is how the body is aligned while not moving. Postural problems are often first noticed with static posture, such as someone slumping while sitting. There is a second type of posture to consider and that is dynamic posture. Dynamic posture is how the body is aligned during movement. Problems with dynamic pos- ture may be noticed with sports. A swimmer may no- tice one shoulder doesn’t stroke like the other or a yoga practitioner may find one hip doesn’t move like the other. Since both static pos- ture and dynamic posture in- volve joints and muscles, a problem with one can lead to a problem with the other. Both static and dynamic postural faults create imbal- ances in the muscles of the human body. There is a care- fully choreographed pull and counter pull relationship be- tween opposing muscles in the body. An imbalance in this tug-of-war between opposing muscles can lead to injuries involving the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. Poor dynamic and static posture can both lead to in- jury creating a vicious cycle of further injury and pain. This cycle starts with either repetitive motion (dynamic posture) or poor prolonged positioning (static posture) that leads to injury. Depending on the degree of injury there will be varying degrees of inflammation, pain, muscle spasm, muscle trigger points (knots) and tissue adhe- sions. These muscle changes will alter the muscle function, both in its ability to move and stretch. The altered muscle function goes on to create dis- tortions in muscular balances and movement patterns, set- ting the stage for more injury. A classic example is someone who has had their elbow in a cast for a few weeks and then cannot straighten their arm when the cast is removed. The bicep muscles have shortened and are now too tight to allow the arm to straighten. However, the functional balance of movement between the bicep and the triceps mus- cles is also lost creating prob- lems with any controlled elbow movement. Hip flexors The most common muscle imbalances are due to static posture, as so many people spend a large percentage of the day sitting. Sitting cre- ates a very well known pat- tern of muscle shortening and tightening. Perhaps the biggest and most important muscles affected due to prolonged sitting are the hip flexors (Iliopsoas muscle). The hip flexors job is to pull the knee up towards the chest. While sitting (static pos- ture) the hip flexors are placed in this position for prolonged periods and then shorten to this size. When people attempt to stand upright with short- ened hip flexors, several movement patterns (dy- namic posture) are affected. People with tight hip flexors stand and walk with excessive pelvic tilt, creating a sway-back posture. This ex- cessive arching of the lumbar spine causes the thoracic spine to round forward cre- ating a hunching upper back posture. Over time, even the cervical spine can be affected with straightening and for- ward head carriage. Tight hip flexors also means that the balance be- tween the hip flexors and the abdominal muscles is lost. The hip flexors, being tighter, will activate during most ab- dominal exercises. Meaning all the crunches in the world won’t do anything for your abs, but will further aggravate the hip flexors. The hip flexor muscles also need to work in balance with both the hamstrings and gluteal muscles. When this balance is lost, buttock tight- ness and hamstring injury will often follow. Hip flexor tightness will affect most sports activities. Swimmers and runners are the two groups of athletes that find tight/shortened hip flexors to be particularly det- rimental to their performance. Shoulders Another easily identifi- able postural fault is for- ward rounded shoulders. Forward shoulder posture is greatest with those who spend prolonged time sitting at a desk or computer (static posture). For many, this pos- ture is learned while a stu- dent and then continues on in professional life. Forward shoulder posture can also result from poor exercise selection (dynamic posture). Over-development of the chest and back mus- cles that cause the shoul- ders to round forward while avoiding those exercise that pull the shoulders back can create this posture. It is common to see in all athletes, but swimmers in particular typically exhibit this posture. The muscles responsible for pulling the shoulders back (trapezius and rhomboids) over time become lengthened and weak. Correspondingly, the muscles in the front (pec- toral and anterior deltoid)be- come tight with trigger points. Internal rotation of the shoulders creates greater stress on the rotator cuff set- ting the stage for tendonitis or greater injury. Stress and injury are also common in the neck, upper shoulders and upper to mid back. Correction of postural faults takes time and effort. Muscle changes that were cre- ated over months and years are not easily reversible. Be patient and work at your corrections. If these faults have been present long enough to create injury or other movement distortions, you may require treatment from a healthcare provider trained in sports medicine or movement patterns. Dr. Jemal Khan is a chiropractor Health and government officials formally cut the ribbon on the new MRI ma- chine at the Cayman Islands Hospital last week. The 3 Tesla MRI, which has been in use since July, is part of a $4 million public- private partnership between the government and 3T Cayman, which runs the MRI inside the hospital. The hospital expects more than 2,500 patients to make use of the imaging machine every year. The hospital had been without an MRI – magnetic resonance imaging – a cru- cial tool in diagnosing a host of problems from torn liga- ments to brain tumors, for six months until the new ma- chine arrived. It’s a complicated piece of equipment, essentially using a powerful magnet to see inside the body. Councilor for Health Roy McTaggart, speaking at the ribbon cutting, said, “I may not quite know how it works, but I do know it’s crit- ical to the delivery of health- care in Cayman.” The nearest similar ma- chine is in Miami, said prac- tice manager for 3T, Ethel Slay. She came from the radiology unit at Miami Children’s Hospital and landed a job using the same technology here. Showing off the new fa- cility, she said patients un- dergoing MRI can change the color of the lighting in the room, play their own music or load photos or video onto a screen. MRI patients basically have to lay in a small metal tube for 20 minutes while the system takes images – not an easy thing for anyone with even mild claustrophobia. The lighting and music, Ms. Slay said, gives the pa- tient, who could be facing a serious illness or injury, some choices. “They can be empow- ered in some ways,” she said, even if it’s changing the room lighting from red to purple. The hospital had an MRI – with half the power – set up in a trailer, before the new machine came online. Hospital welcomes new MRI Long periods sitting at a computer can affect posture and health. Time to Align dr. jemal khanThe 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. Tuesday May 5, 2015 • Cayman Compass WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 PassPort office: The Passport and Corporate Services Office will be closed all day due to staff training. THURSDAY, MAY 7 YoUNG MUsiciaN award: The Young Musician of the Year will be named at the Prospect Playhouse during the evening. Program starts 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 29-31. 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 at the Strand and the Cayman National Cultural Foundation offices. SATURDAY, MAY 9 charitY car Boot sale: Fundraiser in association with the Cancer Society for focus on skin cancer awareness. Car park opposite 89 Nexus Way in Camana Bay. 7 a.m.-noon. $25 seller’s entry. Free entry for buyers. Sellers should be set up by 6:30 a.m., so please arrive by 5:45 a.m. to receive your designated spot. Email marina.flynn@elian.com to reserve a space. earlY childhood associatioN: The Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association invites its members and interested persons to its monthly meeting at St. Ignatius School from 9-11 a.m. There will be a workshop on creativity in young children. Call 322-3556 or 925-2004 for info. deals oN wheels: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in East End close to Pirates Cove Bar, 6-10 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. SUNDAY, MAY 10 Mother’s daY lUNch: The Central Scranton Community holds its annual Mother’s Day lunch, 1 p.m. at Central Scranton Community Park. All are invited. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 BookeNds clUB: Members review their latest pick, “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. All are invited to share insights and impressions in an open discussion. Books & Books. 7-8:30 p.m. 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, 6-10 a.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 floetrY: Poets and performers share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. All are invited to share their own work or listen to others. Free and open to the public. 7-8:30 p.m., Books & Books. SATURDAY, MAY 23 chalkfest: 12th annual Chalkfest competition at Camana Bay along Market Street, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This family event includes a live DJ performance, face painting, balloon animals, a magician show and more. The competition is open to all ages and abilities. Registration fee $5 for kids, $10 for adults. Proceeds benefit the National Gallery Outreach Program. Prizes awarded. Entry categories are Primary (5-10 years old), Middle School (11-13), High School (14-17) and Adults (18+). Chalk provided free; participants are encouraged to bring rags, sponges and buckets to help with blending and covering large areas. Free water and sunscreen. 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.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Tuesday May 5, 2015 Central Cayman Islands THANK YOU www.rotarysciencefair.ky Rotary Central extends sincere gratitude to the following who contributed to the resounding success of the 2015 Annual Science Fair on Saturday 25th April 2015. Our Corporate Sponsors: Our Judges: Steve Burrows Fred Burton Janice Blumenthal Cathy Childs Chris Cooke Tim Courtis Steve Durksen Gina Ebanks-Petrie Ahmed Elsheshtawy Ed Fitzgerald Jane Haakonsson Jessica Harvey Antoinette Johnson Joni Kirkconnell Walter Mustin Gerard Pereira Karlene Singh Sacha Tibbetts Thank you to Councillor Connolly, Temporary Minister of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs. Thank you also to all the teachers, parents, families and friends of the students, and Rotary Central members who took part. Your support is invaluable. Earth Sciences 1st - Ethan Spencer, Justin Spencer 2nd - Krish Lalchand 3rd - Elizabeth Thoppil Food & Health 1st - Benjamin Tatum, Lucas Tatum 2nd - Manusri Prabhakar, Krista Buck 3rd - Jessa Powell, Xandria Bramble, Gioenne Rocero Life Sciences 1st - Gianna Simms 2nd - Alexandra Bush, Joseph Welcome 3rd - Jordan Butler Physics, Chemistry & Computer Science 1st - Amara Duncan, Miquela Montana 2nd - Johnathon Bedasse 3rd - Giselle Ebanks Ages 10 - 11 Rebecca Gaze Ages 9 and under Aiden Powery Rotary Central’s Most Innovative Brandon Saunders Congratulations to this year’s Science Fair Winners: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT & GENDER AFFAIRS businesses, residents and the tourists that visit our shores.” Mr. Tibbetts told the Cayman Compass he be- lieves government’s role will be as a facilitator for private sector development. He said $20 million is being spent on improving road connec- tivity, and more money would be spent on beautifying side- walks and making the town more pedestrian friendly, but the main investment would have to come from private sector projects. The proposed improve- ments will tie in with a number of planned projects, including the new cruise piers in George Town harbor. Mr. Tibbetts hopes the private sector will get in- volved in projects, poten- tially including multi-story parking garages on the edge of the downtown district, freeing up land currently used for parking to be used for development. An outline plan, pre- sented by Tristan Hydes, deputy chief officer in Mr. Tibbetts’s ministry, and Kenneth Ebanks, a consultant on the George Town project, included the potential use of “trolleys” in the capital – tram-style vehicles that could ferry tourists into newly cre- ated pedestrian zones as part of a park-and-ride scheme. According to the officials, a number of developments, including a hotel and a su- permarket, with office space and housing above, have been proposed and could pro- ceed once necessary zoning changes are made. No mention was made of the cargo docks, long consid- ered a barrier to improving nightlife in George Town. Mr. Ebanks said the plan could involve turning Fort Street and the southern part of Albert Panton Street into pedestrian zones. Parts of Harbor Drive could also be pedestrian areas or turned into a one- way street in order to im- prove pedestrian access. The proposals also involve tree planting to create additional shaded areas on sidewalks in the capital. The ideas and slideshow, presented by Mr. Ebanks and Mr. Hydes, were char- acterized as conceptual thoughts rather than con- crete plans. Mr. Ebanks said the next step is to reach out to stakeholder groups and finalize a draft plan for the capital in the next few months. Mr. Tibbetts said funding the roads would be the gov- ernment’s main financial contribution. “This plan that we are devising is to set the stage so that we don’t have de- velopment being done in an ad hoc fashion. “When we talk about ex- pense, that is all to do with private sector development. The private sector are going to be spending money, yes, to revitalize the district, but they are doing that on a commercial basis.” petition with more than 4,800 signatures of voters and non-voters was de- livered to former Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor in May 2013, but wasn’t passed along to the elected government until six months later. The person credited with initiating the peti- tion, Island Veterinary Services nurse Jennie Boyers, said she got fed up with the sheer number of pets, dogs in partic- ular, dying from what was obviously paraquat poi- soning. Island Veterinary Services has recorded more than 200 cases of suspected poisoning from the chemical since the year 2000 in the Cayman Islands, and at least 50 of those cases have been confirmed through testing to be the result of para- quat poisoning. Ms. Boyers said a fellow veterinary nurse at the practice watched both of her dogs die from paraquat poisoning after the animals ate chem- ical-laced meat that was left on the side of the road in West Bay while they were on walks with their owner. Depending on the amount of the chemical consumed, it may take a dog weeks to die as the poison slowly restricts the animal’s breathing and destroys its organs. In most cases, the dogs have to be euthanized to prevent further suffering, Ms. Boyers said. There is no known cure for para- quat poisoning. Paraquat can also kill humans, especially small children who might get their hands on the sub- stance, or even children who are licked by an an- imal that has ingested a certain amount of it. Ms. Tibbetts believes it is only a matter of time before such a case occurs. “There are little land mines laying around on the ground,” she said, “and if you touch one, that’s it, game over.” Republican candidate field grows by two Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson launch U.S. presidential bids WASHINGTON (AP) — Former technology executive Carly Fiorina and retired neurosur- geon Ben Carson jumped into the race for the Republican presidential nomination Monday, both longshots who nevertheless have the potential to attract a more diverse group of supporters to the party. Fiorina is likely to be the only prominent woman to seek the GOP nomination, with Carson the only likely African-American. They are both also political outsiders in a field likely to be dominated by governors, former gov- ernors and senators. The two are not consid- ered political allies, and the timing of their announce- ments, planned weeks ago, is coincidental. Fiorina, 60, chose a nation- ally broadcast morning net- work news show to announce her candidacy, and she also posted a video. The former chief execu- tive of Hewlett-Packard Co., appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said she understands “executive decision-making.” She also criticized Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, the front-runner for her party’s nomination, for a lack of transparency, including the use of a private email server while secretary of state, and foreign donations to her family’s charitable foundation. “I have a lot of admira- tion for Hillary Clinton, but she clearly is not trustworthy,” Fiorina said. Carson, 63, also got ahead of himself on Sunday, con- firming his plans to run in an interview on an Ohio televi- sion station. He declared his candidacy in his hometown of Detroit on Monday, telling sup- porters the nation is “a place of dreams” where people can thrive when freed from an overbearing government. “It’s time for people to rise up and take the govern- ment back,” he said. “The political class won’t like me saying things like that. The political class comes from both parties.” Both candidates begin the race as underdogs in a cam- paign expected to feature sev- eral seasoned politicians, among them former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Yet while they have claimed much of the early at- tention and favor from donors, the GOP race is a wide-open contest that could ultimately feature as many as two dozen notable candidates. The Republican field is al- ready more diverse than it was four years ago. Rubio and Cruz are each vying to become the first Hispanic president. And most of the candidates are in their 40s and 50s. Still, Republicans have ac- knowledged a pressing need to broaden the party’s ap- peal beyond its traditional base of older, white men. President Barack Obama won re-election in 2012 with the strong support of women and ethnic minorities, who are be- coming a larger portion of the American electorate. Raised in Detroit by a single mother, Carson prac- ticed medicine and served as the head of pediatric neuro- surgery for close to three de- cades at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Carson directed the first surgery to separate twins connected at the back of the head. His career was notable enough to inspire the 2009 movie, “Gifted Hands,” with actor Cuba Gooding Jr. de- picting Carson. He gained national renown in conservative politics after condemning Obama’s health care law at the 2013 national prayer breakfast. He has established a strong base of vocal support among tea party-backers, some of whom launched an effort to push Carson into the race be- fore he set up an exploratory committee earlier this year. Yet he has stumbled at times in the glare of na- tional politics. He has sug- gested the Affordable Care Act is the worst thing since slavery, compared present-day America to Nazi Germany, and called problems at the nation’s Veterans Affairs hospitals “a gift from God” because they re- vealed holes in the country’s effort to care for former mem- bers of the military. Customs order bans paraquat importation “This will save many of our pets’ lives and probably our childrens’ lives as well.” Ban Paraquat grouP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pedestrian-only zones part of GT plan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. TibbettsThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday May 5, 2015 • Cayman Compass complained that it was at an unfair advantage because it ran Cayman 27 at a financial loss to fulfill a mandate to produce local content, while others met their obligations with CIGTV or lower-budget lifestyle programming. Mr. Fa’amoe said “guid- ance notes” had been devel- oped for mandatory public service broadcasting. The details of how that will be achieved will be fine-tuned by an industry working group over the next few months. It is possible, he said, that Cayman 27, if it con- tinues to produce local con- tent that fits the definition of public service broadcasting, could be made a “must carry” channel on all networks. He said the associa- tion is keen to stay out of the commercial arrange- ments but could get involved in providing grant sup- port if necessary. “Who pays for what is not the primary concern for us – whether or not the con- tent meets the standard or definition of public service broadcasting is our main remit,” he added. Following Logic’s take- over of WestStar, which owned Cayman 27, the fu- ture of the station has been a source of speculation. The potential sale of the station, which was primarily funded through WestStar’s revenues rather than its own profits, could impact the availability of local programming further. Mr. Fa’amoe said the ICTA law envisages a universal service fund, from fees from licensees. He said this could be used to help fill gaps in programming not being met in the private sector. He said it remains an open question whether a local tele- vision station, independent of other sources of revenue, is viable in Cayman’s market. He added, “If the private sector is not able to deliver public service broadcasting, then we have a duty to make sure it is delivered.” He said an independent body would likely be needed to admin- ister the fund and make deci- sions on grant proposals. “We would want to levy a public fund like that only to fill a gap that the pri- vate sector was not filling,” he said. “If there is a com- mercially viable television station out there doing a good job, then maybe we could focus funding in some other direction.” TV regulators seek new formula for local content Report proposes new BT fire station Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Calls for a new fire station somewhere in the Bodden Town area are being heard again nearly a decade after a similar idea was proposed and then shelved due to lack of government funding. The consultant’s report completed on the Cayman Islands Fire Service last year was largely critical of de- partment calls for additional staff and resources, but it did suggest that a significant sec- tion of Grand Cayman was being left short of fire and emergency medical coverage under the current fire service operation scheme. “The review team sup- ports the development of a new fire station in the Bodden Town area to pro- vide improved community service to the south and east of Grand Cayman,” Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser for England, Peter Holland, wrote in his report for the Cayman Islands Ministry of Home Affairs. According to estimates recently completed by the government Economics and Statistics Office, Bodden Town has significantly out- paced West Bay to become the Cayman Islands’ second– largest district by popula- tion. Also, Elections Office and Electoral Boundary Commission reviews have noted the three fastest- growing areas of Grand Cayman in terms of voters are Prospect, Newlands and Savannah. Two of those areas are in Bodden Town district. Now, the fire service main- tains three stations, one in West Bay, one in Frank Sound and its headquarters at the Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town. The airport fire station pro- vides domestic [land-based] and aerodrome [airport] fire services. Situations have arisen in the past, particularly in the area of emergency medical responses, when emergency crews in George Town and West Bay have been called away, leaving the remote Frank Sound station to cover any additional emergencies that might arise. The problem with the new fire station proposal, and the one made by the former People’s Progressive Movement government in 2007, is money. In 2007, the Bodden Town Emergency Centre was de- signed and even had some landscaping work done prior to the 2009 general elec- tion and the then-United Democratic Party government dropping the idea. The $15 million plan for a combined police, fire and medical re- sponse facility also included, at one time, a landing pad for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Helicopter and a fire- arms practice range for law enforcement officers. The new fire station sug- gested in the report con- tained no such grandiose ideas, and in fact, recom- mended the new station with no proposed funding increase to the fire service. “[The money for construc- tion] could be provided by savings generated by the in- troduction of alternative duty systems at other stations and alternative appliance types [referring to fire trucks] for the domestic [fire] service going forward,” Mr. Holland said. “Any new fire station de- velopment would not need to be staffed using a ‘whole time’ duty system.” Overstaffing in the fire ser- vice was a major issue identi- fied by a U.K. review team who visited Cayman in late 2013. The number of calls received for fire emergencies in the Cayman Islands “do not sup- port the current crewing model of 24/7 staffing on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac,” the consultant review found. Statistics produced by the 911 Emergency Communications Centre have revealed that the fire service, on average, was responding to fewer than three calls per day during the 2012/13 budget year. Mr. Holland described a fire service that was “top- heavy with senior officers,” while, in the meantime, local ambulance crews – of which there are three to cover all of Grand Cayman – were re- sponding to nearly 10 calls for service per day. The report recommended the introduction of “alterna- tive duty systems” for fire- fighting staff, potentially to include on-call services and perhaps a volunteer element to the fire service. It also ad- vocated for fire service crews to support emergency med- ical care in the islands. In addition, the re- port recommended down- sizing some of the heavy trucks used by the fire ser- vice. For instance, the large ladder trucks used by the fire service – while undoubt- edly top of line, Mr. Holland said – are often too large to quickly navigate the narrow side streets in some Grand Cayman neighborhoods. Also, there are relatively few loca- tions where local structures reach three stories, the report noted – mainly just in cen- tral George Town and along Seven Mile Beach. “Any new fire station development would not need to be staffed using a ‘whole time’ duty system.” Peter Holland, chief fire and rescue adviser for England “If the private sector is not able to deliver public service broadcasting, then we have a duty to make sure it is delivered.” alee Fa’amoe, Information and Communications Technology Authority managing director CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Italian ships rescue nearly 6,800 migrants; baby born at sea ROME (AP) — Italian rescue ships brought migrants by the thousands to the coun- try’s southern ports, in- cluding a baby born aboard a navy vessel, as crowded shelters in Sicily and on the mainland struggled Monday to find room for them. Some politicians based in northern Italy, meanwhile, vowed that their regions wouldn’t take in any of the Mediterranean Sea migrants. In a three-day period ending Sunday, 6,771 sur- vivors were rescued in the seas north of Libya from overcrowded rubber din- ghies and unseaworthy fishing boats sent out by smuggling rings, the Coast Guard reported Monday. Ten bodies were found Sunday on boats or in the sea. Calm seas and mild tem- peratures fueled the spike in human trafficking – just like it did last month when nearly 6,000 migrants were rescued during a few days of good weather. Italy has not yet released the total number of migrant arrivals in April, but the relentless stream of migrants this year is on track to surpass the 170,000 rescued at sea by Italy in 2014. The navy said a woman, in labor when rescued Sunday, gave birth to a girl aboard one of its patrol ships. Mother and daughter were fine and the patrol boat, carrying 654 migrants who were saved in four dif- ferent rescue operations, headed to port. Other rescuers had grim tasks. An Italian tugboat, among several commercial vessels saving migrants on Sunday, also recovered two corpses, the Navy said. The surge of arrivals set Italian port mayors and charity organizations scrambling to find beds for the migrants. Many mi- grants will seek asylum be- cause of war or persecution and hope to reach relatives in northern Europe. But until their applications are processed, which could take months or longer, asylum- seekers are supposed to stay in Italy. In Reggio Calabria, where 780 migrants dis- embarked in the “toe” of the Italian peninsula, pri- ority was being given to keeping migrant families to- gether, many of them in a gym, and 14 migrant babies were being given medical checkups at local hospitals. Around 540 other Reggio Calabria migrants were being taken to the Tuscany or Emilia Romagna regions in the north. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano vis- ited the Italian island of Sicily on Monday, confer- ring with local authori- ties wrestling with how to shelter the growing number of migrants. The Milan-based gov- ernor of Lombardy, mean- while, vowed not to take in any more migrants. “In a few days I will be in Rome. And I’ll re- peat to the interior min- ister that Lombardy has al- ready done its part,” Gov. Roberto Maroni was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA as saying. “If there is any funding available, it should be spent on our cit- izens and not for clandes- tine” migrants. Italian astronaut brews first fresh espresso in space CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first Italian woman in space is now the world’s first orbiting barista. Over the weekend, astro- naut Samantha Cristoforetti fired up the first espresso ma- chine in space. She posted a photo of herself on Twitter from the International Space Station on Sunday, sipping from a cup designed for use in zero-gravity. For the special occasion, she put on her “Star Trek” uni- form top. “Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever de- vised,” Cristoforetti said via Twitter, quoting from the old TV series, “Star Trek: Voyager. “ “Fresh espresso in the new Zero-G cup! To boldly brew …,” she added. Cristoforetti, who re- turns to Earth next week fol- lowing a half-year mission, almost didn’t get any space espresso. The experimental, Italian-made espresso maker, dubbed ISSpresso using the International Space Station initials, was supposed to ar- rive in January, but didn’t get to orbit until April because of a shipment backlog. How did she like the space brew? She didn’t say on Twitter, but she was all smiles for the cameras and gave a thumbs-up. It had to beat NASA’s instant coffee, drunk by straw from a pouch. The espresso actually is brewed in a clear pouch, behind the closed door of the boxy coffee maker, and that’s how Cristoforetti and NASA crewmate Scott Kelly first sampled it. Cristoforetti later switched to the small, pitcher-like zero-g cup, a new American-made item. Italy’s 120-year-old coffee maestro Lavazza and the Turin-based engineering firm Argotec, which teamed up on the space espresso project with the Italian Space Agency, were thrilled to see their 260-mile-high results.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 NY officer remains in critical condition An NYPD officer was in critical but stable condition early Monday, two days after being shot in the head while sitting in an unmarked car in Queens. The suspect, Demetrius Blackwell, was ordered held without bail. Cayman Compass • Tuesday May 5, 2015 No explosives found in car used in Texas attack Police kill two gunmen who opened fire at anti-Muslim cartoon competition GARLAND, Texas (AP) — Federal agents searched an apartment in Phoenix as part of an investigation into a shooting outside a suburban Dallas venue hosting a pro- vocative contest for Prophet Muhammad cartoons, the FBI confirmed Monday. A police officer shot and killed two gunmen who opened fire outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland on Sunday night. A security officer was wounded in the shooting. Garland officer Joe Harn says the men had used as- sault rifles, and that one of- ficer had fatally shot both gunmen. Harn also said inves- tigators searched the men’s car and detonated several sus- picious items, but no bombs were found in the vehicle. “We were able to stop those men before they were able to penetrate the area and shoot anyone else,” Harn said. The FBI said the Phoenix residence was being searched for indications of what prompted the attack. The contest Sunday, hosted by the New York- based American Freedom Defense Initiative, would award $10,000 for the best cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any phys- ical depiction of the Prophet Muhammad – even a re- spectful one – is considered blasphemous. Drawings sim- ilar to those featured at the Texas event have sparked vi- olence around the world. Agents also searched a white Chevy minivan at the Autumn Ridge Apartments complex in Phoenix. They took what appeared to be plastic bottles out of the vehicle. A federal law enforcement official has identified one of the suspects in the shooting as Elton Simpson. The offi- cial, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investi- gation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said investigators were searching Simpson’s property in con- nection with the case. Court documents show a man by the name of Elton Simpson was convicted in 2011 in federal court in Phoenix of making a false statement by lying to an FBI agent in January 2010 about whether he had dis- cussed traveling to Somalia. According to the documents, Simpson had discussed with an FBI informant a desire to travel to Somalia, but denied to an FBI agent that he’d had any such discussions. According to trial tes- timony, Simpson is an American Muslim who be- came the subject of a crim- inal investigation in 2006 because of his association “with an individual whom the FBI believed was at- tempting to set up a ter- rorist cell in Arizona,” U.S. District Judge Mary H. Murgia said in her order convicting Simpson. Prosecutors alleged that the false statement involved terrorism, but Murgia’s order said prosecutors hadn’t proved that part of the alle- gation. Another federal judge later sentenced Simpson to three years of probation. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama was in- formed about the shooting. He said the president be- lieves there is no form of ex- pression that would justify an act of violence. The event Sunday fea- tured speeches by American Freedom Defense Initiative president Pamela Geller and Geert Wilders, a Dutch law- maker known for his out- spoken criticism of Islam. Wilders received several standing ovations from the crowd and left immediately after his speech. Wilders, who has advo- cated closing Dutch doors to migrants from the Islamic world for a decade, has lived under round-the-clock po- lice protection since 2004. “We were able to stop those men before they were able to penetrate the area and shoot anyone else.” Joe Harn, police officer BIDUR, Nepal (AP) — It was an unlikely escape. By his own account, he should have died. But when the humble hut of stacked grey stones collapsed onto Funchu Tamang, who believes himself to be 101 years old, his daughter-in- law quickly pulled him from the wreckage. He was hit in the chest by a rock during the quake. A couple of ribs were broken, giving him trouble breathing. The next day, just when his son arrived from Nepal’s northwest, Tamang was weak and de- lirious. “I thought my fa- ther was dead,” 58-year-old Bal Bahadur Tamang said Monday. But the old man had only fallen unconscious. They revived him, but a few days later it became clear he needed more med- ical help. His wheezing was getting worse. He was tired and often dizzy. They called the Nuwakot district hospital for help, which sent a po- lice helicopter to land near his village and bring him in on Saturday. On Monday, doctors monitored Tamang’s vital signs at the makeshift clinic set up in the parking lot of the district’s medical office in the partially ru- ined town of Bidur. Funchu Tamang’s ordeal is yet another of the extraor- dinary stories of resilience and survival coming out of Nepal after it was rocked by a 7.8-magnitude quake on April 25. It killed thousands and left hundreds of thou- sands more homeless. When he arrived, doctors treated Tamang for a par- tially collapsed lung. They bandaged cuts he received in the chaos after the quake. Two days later, he was alert and sitting upright, chat- ting. His blood pressure was a cool 101/62. His injuries were mostly healed, to the point where doctors said he could go home Tuesday. Funchu Tamang is so old, he has lived through two such devastating quakes. But he barely remembers the 1934 temblor that hit with a magnitude of 8 and leveled cities. The more recent scare, however, is fresh in his mind. “This one was really bad. I was afraid. I felt as if I would die,” he said from his parking lot hospital bed. He’s still confused by the ordeal, and won- ders if he may be testing fate a bit too far. “I’m very lucky to be alive. But I am so old. I don’t think I can survive anymore. I can’t see properly. I can’t work, can’t move properly,” he said, wearing a T-shirt de- picting the king and queen of Bhutan, a hand-out from visiting Bhutanese medics. “I am an old man. It is my time to die.” “I’m very luck y to be alive. But I am so old. I don’t think I can survive anymore.” FuncHu Tamang Centenarian survives Collapse of stone hut during nepal quake, worries he’s testing fate Name reveals tribute to Princess Diana, Queen and Prince LONDON (AP) — Britain’s newborn princess has been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – seen as a tribute to Prince William’s parents and grandmother. The princess is the second child of William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, royal officials said Monday. Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, appears to be a nod to the new- born’s grandfather, Prince Charles. The middle names honor Queen Elizabeth II, the infant’s 89-year-old great-grandmother, and the late Princess Diana, William’s mother. The princess is fourth in line to the throne after Charles, William and her older brother Prince George. William and Kate intro- duced the baby princess to the world Saturday eve- ning, just 12 hours after Kate checked into a London hospital to give birth. The baby weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother, was among the first to react on Twitter. “Perfect names. My 2-year old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly name-sharing,” he tweeted. Earlier Monday, Westminster Abbey’s bells pealed and gun salutes were fired across London in honor of the newborn princess. In a display of traditional pageantry, dozens of deafening volleys were fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London to mark the occasion. The couple had kept the world guessing about the name until after both sets of grandparents got a chance to visit Kensington Palace on Sunday to meet their granddaughter. Bookmakers had taken huge amounts of bets on the name, and Charlotte had been a favorite choice, a front-runner alongside other guesses like Alice and Victoria. “Charlotte was the hot tip over the weekend,” Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said. “We may have lost a fortune, but we’re paying out with a smile and wish the duke and duchess all the best.” Another bookmaker, William Hill, said they were relieved because their top bet had been Alice. Spokesman Rupert Adams said 5,096 punters cor- rectly guessed the name, and in total they would pay out just over 100,000 pounds (US$151,100) in the name market. Royals traditionally look to their family tree for name ideas, and Britain’s royal history has seen sev- eral Charlottes. Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, was a keen bot- anist and founded London’s Kew Gardens. Born in 1744, the queen had 15 children. George IV also named his only child Charlotte in 1796, but she died in child- birth at the age of 21 in 1817, leading to a mass out- pouring of grief in Britain. Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, appears to be a nod to the newborn’s grandfather, Prince Charles. New princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Funchu Tamang, who believes himself to be 101 years old, recounts how he suffered injuries in late April’s earthquake, at a makeshift hospital in Nepal. - photo: apNext >