SportS | page 16 OtisAir WAnderers crOWned chAmps Heineken Sunday League winners editorial | page 4 GeOrGe tOWn revitAlizAtiOn: A privAte mOment ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – thursdAy mAy 7, 2015 High of 86 Low of 71 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. Premier Health BritCay has one word to describe policy holders. People. People, not policy holders BritCay prioritises the needs of patients with efficient access to benefits. That’s why we settled 209,003 health insurance claims in 2014, 96% in 5 working days. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES 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 cayman FOi being ‘undermined’ Former information boss speaks out Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Signs of decay are beginning to appear in the structure and operation of the Cayman Islands open records regime, which was once lauded as the Freedom of Information leader in the Caribbean, Cayman’s former informa- tion commissioner said this week. In an exclusive interview with the Cayman Compass, Jennifer Dilbert warned that the current commissioner’s office was being “starved” of resources by govern- ment and that a plan to merge that of- fice with other government oversight agen- cies under one “super ombudsman” would make things worse. “I don’t see it being workable, I don’t see it effecting any savings,” Mrs. Dilbert said. “We’ve seen [the] immediate effect of talking about the merger [of the information com- missioner and complaints commissioner’s offices]. [Former Complaints Commissioner] Nicola Williams is gone, [Acting Information Commissioner] Jan [Liebaers] is at loose ends. You’re already undermining the office just by talking about it.” Mrs. Dilbert, who left the civil service in December 2013, was Cayman’s first infor- mation commissioner after the Freedom of Information Law took effect on Jan. 5, 2009. Since her retirement, Mr. Liebaers – a for- eign national – has served as commissioner on an acting basis. Full five-year contract ap- pointments for the information commission- er’s post and the complaint commissioner’s position have not been made. The complaints commissioner’s office is now being run by an administrator. Mr. Liebaers’s contract expires this month. Bush seeks removal of anti-corruption commission memBers Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush has asked government to con- sider removing the police commissioner, the auditor general and the complaints commissioner from the Anti-Corruption Commission due to what he termed “serious conflicts of interest.” A private members’ motion filed by Mr. Bush states: “There is evidence that, by the fact of their membership on the Anti- Corruption Commission, there [are] serious conflicts of interest which do not [conform] to the good practice of the rule of law and rule of natural justice. “Be it now therefore resolved that the Anti- Corruption Law is changed to reflect the re- moval from the commission of the commis- sioner of police as chairman and member, the complaints commissioner and the auditor general as a member.” The initial motion filed Tuesday by Mr. Bush mentioned only the auditor general and the police commissioner. An amended version filed on Wednesday included the complaints commissioner. Mr. Bush’s motion did not specifically state what evidence of conflicts of interests there might be regarding these positions or how those alleged conflicts might not conform to the “rule of law.” Police Commissioner David Baines and Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick were con- tacted for comment on the motion Wednesday. Neither had responded by press time. Cayman currently has no permanent complaints JAmes WhittAker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The United Kingdom is bracing for an extended period of political uncertainty, with polls showing the two main parties al- most neck-and-neck going into the general election on Thursday. Expats living in the Cayman Islands, as well as politicians and financial industry insiders in the British Overseas Territory, will crowd around television screens Thursday night to watch the results come through in what is expected to be the closest U.K. election in 40 years. Pollsters are predicting that neither Labour nor the Conservatives – the two main political parties – will gain an overall majority, meaning there could be days, even weeks, of backroom deal-making and dis- cussions before a new govern- ment is formed. Many Brits living in Cayman already cast their votes be- fore the April 22 deadline for postal votes, or by proxy vote on UK election too close to call Storms forecast to continue through weekend Ominous clouds gather above the George Town harbor Wednesday before a heavy downpour soaked the capital. Cayman National Weather Service forecasters say storms will stick around until the end of the week, but will likely be less severe on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, a tropical system off Florida could become the first named storm in the Atlantic, almost a month before hurricane season officially begins. For more, see page 7. - photo: taneos ramsaY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday May 7, 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. - THURSDAY - $8.00 CFA Society Cayman to hold ‘investors first’ seminar The CFA Society Cayman Islands will join other char- tered financial analyst soci- eties from around the world to recognize May as “Putting Investors First Month,” a global initiative that seeks to build awareness and unite investment professionals in a commitment to place investor interests above all others. CFA Society Cayman Islands will host a free presen- tation at 5 p.m. May 20 at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort with Carl Richards, CFA, to mark its participation in the global initiative. Throughout May, many of the 144 CFA societies world- wide will host local events, and call attention to the needs and rights of investors by endorsing the Statement of Investor Rights, a list of 10 rights that any investor should expect from financial service providers. “Today our members join a host of investment profes- sionals around the world to stand together for what is right, and in investors’ best interests,” said Neville Hicks of the CFA Society Cayman. “It is our aim to raise awareness of the paramount responsi- bility of all financial profes- sionals to protect the interests of investors above all else.” The CFA Society en- courages investors to read and endorse the state- ment of rights, which ap- plies to financial products and services such as in- vestment management, re- search and advice, personal banking, and insurance and real estate. It includes rights that investors are entitled to ex- pect, such as objective ad- vice, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and fair and reasonable fees. The state- ment is intended to help in- vestors demand that finan- cial professionals abide by these rights. “We want to encourage investors and investment professionals to share and endorse the Statement of Investor Rights so we can ensure a global commit- ment to ethical principles and strengthen a culture of ethical behavior,” Mr. Hicks said. “We hope to inspire the financial industry by partic- ipating in Putting Investors First Month, be it through our May 20 event or en- dorsing the Statement of Investor Rights.” Hot Chocolate singer Errol Brown dies at 71 in the Bahamas LONDON (AP) — Errol Brown, the lead singer of the band Hot Chocolate, has died in the Bahamas, his manager said Wednesday. He was 71. Manager Phil Dale said the singer, best known for hits “You Sexy Thing” and “It Started With A Kiss,” died earlier Wednesday of liver cancer. Dale said Brown’s death had come as a surprise. “(Brown) had been poorly over the past few months but he never dis- cussed it,” Dale said. “He’d be sadly missed by his friends and family. He was an extremely good personal friend.” Brown moved to Britain from Jamaica with his mother at age 12. In 2003, he was hon- ored by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to pop music and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Hot Chocolate released their first record “Love is Life” in 1970, and enjoyed numerous chart hits in the 1970s. In 1981, they played at a pre-wedding party for Prince Charles and Lady Diana in Buckingham Palace. Brown is survived by his wife, Ginette, and two daughters. Virgin Islands police suspect US man in slaying of parents KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A 24-year-old Massachusetts man is suspected of fa- tally stabbing his parents during a family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands and then fleeing the three-island Caribbean territory, investi- gators said Tuesday. Acting police Commissioner Delroy Richards said police offi- cers found the bloody bodies of Kenneth and Jane Young of Sudbury, Massachusetts, on Monday at a rental con- dominium in a resort com- plex of the U.S. dependen- cy’s main island. Territory authorities is- sued an arrest warrant for their son, Mikhail, and he was detained by police in Sudbury, a wealthy town out- side Boston. Authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands said there were no other suspects. “We don’t have a mo- tive at this particular point,” Richards told reporters during a conference call from the tourism-dependent U.S. islands. Richards said the family arrived together April 28 on the island of St. Thomas, where they had rented a condo at the Crystal Cove Beach Resort in a scenic area called Sapphire Bay. But early Saturday, the son went to the resort office and told staff he needed a taxi to the airport, then departed alone on a flight to the U.S. main- land and returned to his hometown, Richards said. The bodies of his 73-year- old father and 66-year-old mother were found two days later with multiple stab wounds, according to investigators. Sudbury police said Young was arrested on a warrant for a proba- tion violation, which a dis- trict attorney said was on a charge of indecent exposure. During an appearance in Framingham District Court on Tuesday, he was ordered held without bail on the ar- rest warrant from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Authorities said in court that the suspect’s parents had taken out restraining orders against him in the past. Young’s lawyer said he has mental health is- sues and requested a competency hearing. Virgin Islands offi- cials said two police of- ficers would be sent to Massachusetts to bring Young back to face murder charges pending against him. In Massachusetts, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Young has not waived extradition and is scheduled for a May 12 status hearing. The Boston Globe said Jane Young retired in January after 17 years as a math teacher at Lincoln- Sudbury Regional High School, according to a mes- sage to the school commu- nity from Superintendent Bella Wong announcing the deaths. The couple’s killings raised the territory’s homi- cide count to 15 for the year, Richards said. That is roughly the same amount of killings during the same period last year on the U.S. islands of just over 100,000 people. Pressure mounts for Guatemala VP to quit GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan business leaders on Wednesday added their voices to growing calls for the vice president to step down because of a customs corruption scandal in which her former private secretary is implicated. Jorge Briz, president of a prominent trade associa- tion representing agricul- tural, commercial, industrial and financial businesses, said Vice President Roxana Baldetti’s resignation would be good for the Guatemala. “It would have a positive im- pact on society (and) it would strengthen democracy in the country,” Briz told reporters. Baldetti has not been im- plicated in the scandal and denies any involvement. She has said she does not in- tend to step down, and President Otto Perez Molina has declined to ask for her resignation. But demands for her res- ignation have mounted in re- cent weeks. Errol Brown, frontman of the band Hot Chocolate, has died at the age of 71. - PHoto: aP aGency to beGin fliGHts from orlando to cuba ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Florida travel agency will soon be offering twice- weekly flights between Orlando and Cuba. Island Travel and Tours says it will be begin non- stop service between Orlando and Havana on July 8. The charter flights will take place on Wednesdays and Sundays. Island Travel and Tours president Bill Hauf says the aim of the flights are to provide more options to travelers wanting to visit Cuba, including local col- leges, universities, religious groups, businesses and other organizations. The travel agency also flies six times a week from Miami to Havana and pro- vides packages including hotels, rent-a-cars and tour programs through the Cuban island. All flights have received official government approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mikhail Young3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday May 7, 2015 We use them every day, though it’s not something we think about very often. But each time you fl ush the toilet, you’re sending money down the drain - not to mention wasting a valuable resource. In a typical single-family home, average indoor water use is around 70 gallons per person per day. It is estimated fl ushing accounts for about 30 percent of overall household water consumption. According to U.N. water statistics, conventional fl ush toilets in middle- class households account for approximately 30 percent of global water use. Considering that only three percent of the world’s water is fresh - rest is saline and ocean-based - many question if it is reasonable to use so much water to fl ush toilets. As countries across the world are facing serious challenges in maintaining healthy and affordable water supplies, it’s more important than ever to use water wisely and not waste it. That’s especially true in island nations such as the Cayman Islands, where water is a precious commodity. In addition, it takes large amounts of energy to produce clean water. Most toilets use 1.6 gallons per fl ush. But with older models, it is much higher - around 3.5 to 5 gallons, and even up to 7 gallons, per fl ush. It adds up to gallons and gallons of water every single day, in every single household and business. Since fl ushing is the single highest use of water in the average home, it represents a prime opportunity for water conservation. Obviously, it’s time to green the “throne”. Along with retrofi tting or buying a newer low-fl ow model to conserve water, other products are available to help cut back. That’s the idea behind Green Throne, a new product introduced to the island by entrepreneur Robert Hamaty, founder of Tortuga Rum Company, who developed the formula. The product is available at Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits outlets as well as select hardware stores. Green Throne is a water- saving technology created to help families and businesses conserve water and become more environmentally friendly. “Mrs. Hamaty and I found a convincing need for this product in the Cayman market especially in Little Cayman where our cottage has only cistern water . Running a home or business in the Cayman Islands certainly comes at a cost, and using Green Throne can markedly reduce your costs,” he says. “Most importantly, conserving water is better for the environment, and we all need to be conscious.” Green Throne includes toilet blocks, which turn the water green in the bowl, and deodorizers. Hamaty says it’s a simple way to reduce water consumption both for the benefi t of the planet and the pocketbook. The idea is to skip fl ushing #1 - letting Green Throne do its work. Experts agree that frugal fl ushing is one of the best ways to reduce water use in the home. That’s been the go-to rule of water conservation for decades, adhering to the catchphrase “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, fl ush it down”, which has been popularized by the likes of California Governor Jerry Brown in times of drought. The Green Throne adage is: “If it’s green, it’s clean. If it’s brown, fl ush it down!” There is debate, of course, over the practice, with such concerns as odor and even appearance. However, the Green Throne system makes it a more user-friendly experience since it sanitizes and deodorizes the toilet bowl, keeps the water from being yellow and prevents staining. A two-year supply of toilet blocks for a 3-bathroom home is CI$95. Each tablet lasts 15 days after being placed in the water tank. Comparing data from a Cayman Islands water bill, the average saving per month for a four-bedroom home is $117 - which adds up to a little over $1,400 on your water bill each year. “I use it in my home, my offi ce and at my retail businesses,” notes Hamaty. “We immediately noticed a reduction in our water bills when introduced.” The Water Authority conducted two separate tests, requested by Green Throne, on the product with the results showing there are no effects on the septic tank or plumbing and that it is safe to use. Another benefi t of the system is detecting leaks. Because the blocks turn the water green, it provides a visual for leaks - and the toilet is a prime place to fi nd one. Sometimes it is easy to tell that your toilet is leaking - a dead giveaway is the sound of running water. But there are also silent leaks, caused by a faulty tank, ball or overfl ow, and these leaks are often overlooked. An easy way to check is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait about 10 minutes and then look in the bowl. If there’s colored water, there is a leak. Green Throne automatically checks for these silent leaks, helping to clean up your toilet’s act while saving water and money. Experts agree that frugal fl ushing is one of the best ways to reduce water use in the home. GREEN YOUR THRONE to save water and money ADVERTORIAL NOW AVAILABLE Flush Less Save Water Cleans Deodorizes Sanitizes Visually Detects Leaks Cleans Deodorizes Flush Less Save Water Sanitizes Visually Detects Leaks For more information logon to: www.greenerthrone.com Call us 623-7701 ext. 247 or Write to us: sales@greenerthrone.com Wholesale: $48 (60 packs of 2 tablets) Retail: $1.20 per pack of 2 tablets (available at Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits or Discount Liquors locations) Save up to $117 per month on your water bill! Female officers dismissed at airbanks James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two prison officers have been fired from Fairbanks women’s prison for ne- glect of duty and making false statements, officials have confirmed. The dismissal of the two female officers this week is the latest disciplinary issue to affect the prison service. Suspensions at Northward Two officers are on re- quired leave while an in- vestigation continues into the discovery of a se- cret camera, hidden in a manager’s office at HMP Northward. Another officer was suspended, and later resigned, last December after it was revealed that he was a registered sex of- fender in another country. Neil Lavis, director of prisons, said the termina- tions at Fairbanks were not connected to the hidden camera incident. He said the timing of the dismissals was unfortunate, but coincidental. “There is no real pattern,” he said. “I haven’t changed my approach. I made it clear when I got here that I will support and help staff if they made an honest mis- take. But if they knowingly break the rules, then they have to go through the disci- plinary process.” According to a statement from the prison service, the officers were charged under the Prison Officer (Discipline) Regulations. Officials declined to give details but said in the statement, “The circum- stances were so serious as to warrant the award of termination.” The dismissal of the two female officers this week is the latest disciplinary issue to affect the prison service. Two prison officers fired Attorney chArged with ‘grievous hArm’ in hit-And-run Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands at- torney has been charged in connection with a January hit-and-run collision along West Bay Road that injured two tourists. Simon Courtney, 49, was charged Tuesday with dan- gerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident and in- flicting grievous bodily harm in the January crash near The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. He is due to appear in court on May 25. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the two tourists from the U.S. were hit while walking along the sidewalk outside the Villas of the Galleon around 5 p.m. on Jan. 25. The man suffered se- rious facial injuries and was airlifted to the U.S. where he has since undergone at least two surgeries. He is ex- pected to survive. The man’s wife was also struck and suffered head injuries. She was treated at the Cayman Islands Hospital and has recovered from her injuries. Police said the driver lost control of his car when the accident occurred. A witness said the driver got our of his car, came over to the injured victims, apologized and left. A woman sitting in the pas- senger seat of the vehicle was left at the crash scene. Mr. Lavis Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman National Bank has reimbursed all cus- tomers who were double billed in late April. The du- plicate charges happened when customers shopped at merchants who use Cayman National for credit card pro- cessing or at the bank’s ATMs, the bank said. The issue was caused by a technical problem, ac- cording to the bank. Visa cards from banks other than Cayman National were double charged between April 25 and April 27 when customers swiped their cards on CNB processing systems. Cayman National mar- keting manager, Shari Whittaker, confirmed that the double charges have been refunded and the bank is still investigating what happened. “Upon discovery of the duplication, Cayman National immediately started the process of re- versing those dupli- cated transactions.” Ms. Whittaker said. “Because the reversal oc- curred over the weekend, and each of the receiving banks process the files in- dependently, affected card- holders may not have seen an immediate correc- tion,” she told the Cayman Compass. Ms. Whittaker said the bank continues to investi- gate what she called a “com- munications error.” The error did not affect CNB customers but did hit accounts at other banks, in- cluding Butterfield Bank. In a statement to customers, Butterfield said it would re- fund any overdraft or de- clined card fees that re- sulted from CNB’s error. “Cayman National apolo- gizes for any inconvenience caused to any cardholders. We continue to investigate the issue so that any nec- essary correction may be made,” Ms. Whittaker said. CNB double charges reversed FThe 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. Revitalizing central George Town is such an ambi- tious and attractive undertaking that, frankly, we can’t wait for it to get started. Along with bringing new life to our capital’s core, it is equally an opportunity to revive Cayman’s public/private partnership model that historically has served these islands so well. Nearly everyone agrees that government can never be the architect, engineer and financier of the plan to reinvigorate downtown. It simply doesn’t have the resources — financial, physical, or creative — to direct such an undertaking. Minister Kurt Tibbetts seemed to acknowledge that in his recent statements regarding the revitalization effort: “When we talk about expense, that is all to do with private sector development. The private sector is going to be spending money, yes, to revitalize the district, but they are doing that on a commercial basis,” he said. Mr. Tibbetts added that government will spend $20 million on improving road connectivity and still more on making downtown more pedestrian friendly. The govern- ment also continues to pursue the George Town harbor cruise berthing project, though the related “addition by subtraction” proposal — that is, removing the cargo docks away from downtown — has been absent from the government’s agenda for quite some time. An important way the government can act as facilitator to investors is, ironically, by doing less, not more. It should ruthlessly reduce red tape and lower or eliminate fees associated with development in the downtown area. (In principle, we oppose the reduction of duties and/ or fees for private developers, but it has become such a common practice — in Cayman and elsewhere — that investors have come to consider such concessions as part of their routine negotiating strategy. To remain competitive with other jurisdictions, we may just need to accept the practice and move on … ) At this point, let us lend our support to the gov- ernment’s road works that serve to route automobile traffic around downtown, rather than through it. Hope- fully the expansions and widenings of Godfrey Nixon Way, Linford Pierson Highway, Smith Road, etc., will finally de-clog the regular bottlenecks that develop during rush hour south and east of downtown. We will, however, add a word of caution to Mr. Tibbetts and his planners who would push the idea of implementing “trolleys” or other “park and ride” systems with the expectation that drivers will park their cars on the fringe of downtown and then take public transit to downtown’s core. People become much less likely to use public transit each time they must switch their mode of travel (i.e. from car to bus or “trolley”) and even more so when walking distance exceeds a quarter-mile (probably shorter in Cayman, due to hot and humid conditions). As has been demonstrated at Camana Bay, a suf- ficient supply of nearby parking is vital to viable devel- opment — a conundrum that has never been ade- quately addressed in our center city. Many (most?) of our citizenry won’t venture into George Town during the week simply because there’s no place to park. On two related topics, we aren’t so sure about the advisability of demolishing the old Glass House on Elgin Avenue and replacing it with a park. We question whether that is the “highest and best use” of this valuable property. Additionally, we are skeptical, given its location, whether a park will attract enough visitors to justify such a non-commercial use. If, however, the plan is simply to “park the park” until a better oppor- tunity presents itself, that might make more sense. In regard to the “Turtle Dome” — the proposed waterfront ice-stadium touted by Mr. Tibbetts as a key plank in downtown’s redevelopment — we’ll reserve our judgment. For now, we’ll simply wish those private entrepreneurs “smooth skating and good luck.” George Town revitalization: A private moment Thursday May 7, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Governing Britain, with Scotland Marc chaMpion Bloomberg View Gordon Brown, the former British prime minister from Kirkaldy in Scotland, is pacing a small hall in cen- tral Glasgow, working up a sweat as he delivers the kind of barnstorming speech that helped turn Scotland’s in- dependence referendum in favor of the union last year. It’s clear the Labour Party activists in the room are hoping – beyond hope – that he can pull it off again for Thursday’s British election. It seems very unlikely he can. That’s because this elec- tion north of the border is in many ways a rerun of last year’s independence vote, only now Labour is being punished for Brown’s success a year ago. Worse, Brown may unwittingly be undoing the work he did in saving the union. Indeed, it isn’t im- possible that the next prime minister to enter Downing Street will be the last to govern a Britain that includes Scotland, as a direct result of the tactics used by both Labour and the Conservatives to secure an election win. The air of desperation among the Labour activists who came to hear Brown and the party head for Scotland Jim Murphy speak on Tuesday was palpable. The previous day, Murphy had to abandon a rally in Glasgow’s cen- tral square, when he and the Labour-supporting comedian Eddie Izzard were shouted down and jostled by Scottish nationalists. Murphy is even trailing the Scottish National Party in his own constituency and may not get reelected. Labour faces a wipeout in Scotland on a scale that even locals find hard to ex- plain. From 41 seats in 2010, opinion polls suggest the party may end up with 12 or fewer. The Liberal Democrats, who had 11, may disappear. The SNP, which had just 6 seats after 2010, may get as many as 50, conceivably even all 59 in Scotland, making them the third-largest party in Westminster. That’s enough, potentially, to cost Labour a majority and enable the SNP to decide which party rules Britain for the next five years. “The only way to get a Labour government is to vote for a Labour candidate,” Brown thunders. He goes on to warn against the dangers of having a party that’s com- mitted to Scottish secession hold the balance of power at Westminster. “This election isn’t just about whither the U.K., it’s about whether the U.K. exists at all,” he says. Brown is right, but for the wrong reason. His argument is that if the SNP takes seats from Labour, Labour may lose to the Conservatives. And even if the Tories can’t then find enough partners to form a gov- ernment, Labour won’t be able to make a deal with the SNP; so toxic to the English is the idea of having a Labour gov- ernment reliant on Scottish na- tionalists that Labour leader Ed Miliband has ruled out any formal deal. The Tories, mean- while, are playing on that fear, warning that a vote for Labour is a vote for Britain to be run by the SNP from the shadows, as a Labour government cuts informal deals to secure each piece of legislation. The Tory strategy is clearly dangerous to the union, but so is Labour’s. Brown was using the flip side of the Conservative argument to warn Scots against voting for an avowedly Scottish party, because it could never be accepted into a British government. And how better to con- firm the SNP’s case that Britain’s political system doesn’t respect the decisions of Scottish voters? “Labour saying that it won’t associate with the SNP has made people really angry,” says Jim McLaughlin, who owns the “Yes Bar,” just around the corner from where Brown is speaking. He renamed his pub after the pro-independence movement during last year’s referendum campaign. And on Tuesday, he temporarily changed the color of its logo from red (Labour) to yellow (SNP). McLaughlin was a Labour supporter until the day after the referendum, when he – like tens of thousands of others – joined the SNP. He thinks Labour has got their election campaign tactics in Scotland all wrong, and I suspect he’s right. To McLaughlin and other pro-independence Scots, Labour became “Red Tories” once they joined with the Conservatives in campaigning against independence. And with only one Conservative MP in Scotland, there is no greater insult. Even the ha- rassing of Murphy and Izzard on Monday was indicative, he thinks: “Bringing a cross- dressing English comedian to campaign for you in central Glasgow maybe isn’t so wise.” The normal democratic response if the SNP wins the balance of power on Thursday would be to in- vite it into government, just as Prime Minster David Cameron did for the Liberal Democrats in 2010. It would be reasonable to demand that the SNP commit to not calling another independence referendum during the course of the Parliament if it wants to take part in governing Britain, and the SNP might well decline and choose op- position. But if it is simply unacceptable to have a party that sets out to represent specifically Scottish interests in the cabinet, then Great Britain probably doesn’t de- serve to have a future. The opinion polls may be wrong, of course. Maybe the SNP will only get 20 or 30 seats – yet that would still be a four- or five-fold increase from their 2010 result. And the London-based parties’ undemocratic campaign mes- sage to Scots would remain. The referendum celebration McLaughlin planned at the “Yes Bar” last year fizzled as defeat became clear, but he’s already hired a bigger venue to host a party on Friday night. Because this time the SNP, and the cause of Scottish nationalism, can’t lose. Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs for Bloomberg View. © 2015, Bloomberg News Britain’s former Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, left, and Scottish Labour Party leader Jim Murphy participate in a question and answer session in Glasgow, Scotland, while on the General Election campaign trail Tuesday. - Photo: AP 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”5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday May 7, 2015 One-Day Workshop The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman June 8, 2015 America’s #1 Success Coach www.Thrive.ky | info@Thrive.ky (345) 945-1515 | (345) 525-7070 Founder of the book series Chicken Soup for the Soul Buy Tickets Now EARLY BIRD SPECIAL $395 Package of 5 tickets @ $295 each (After May 8th, ticket price $495 each) Publishing Phenomenon MAGAZINE JACK CANFIELD JackCanfield 3x8_3x8 Jack Canfield 5/4/15 12:21 PM Page 1 Stormy weather delays Godfrey Nixon Way project Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Recent rains have pushed back the schedule for the Godfrey Nixon Way resur- facing project. Crews will begin working overnight to catch up, but the road is still two to three weeks from completion, according to the National Roads Authority. National Roads Authority senior engineer Edison Jackson said the road would be one way only, from about 6:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., giving ac- cess to traffic coming from the Butterfield Roundabout. During those times, it will be closed to traffic coming from Eastern Avenue. Traffic from Eastern Avenue will have to take a detour to get to North Sound Road or the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. Both lanes of the street will be open for morning and evening rush hours and through the day. “We had big plans to make big moves this week but the weather has not cooperated,” Mr. Jackson said. He added that the National Roads Authority workers had planned to pour concrete for new gutters Wednesday, but rain showers again delayed the work. He urged drivers to avoid the area as much as possible, es- pecially when the unpaved section of the road is wet. “We’re waiting for a break in the weather,” he said, adding that he hopes road crews working in two shifts will be able to get caught up soon. Traffic is especially hard on the unpaved road after big rains such as the ones this week, dotting the lane with potholes as cars splash through the mud. Country Comes to Bodden town for mayfest Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com “Country Comes to Town,” a Mayfest event hosted by the Bodden Town Heritage Committee with the stated aim of bringing the community’s diverse nationalities together, is scheduled for the Discovery Day holiday, May 18. Celebrations at the Harry McCoy Senior Park, Gun Square, Bodden Town will feature vendors show- casing the food, culture and history of various coun- tries, including local island fare. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prizes will include the raffling of 22 yards of washed concrete stone, one piglet and a $200 voucher to get the winner’s carpet or upholstery cleaned. The event is free, but the raffle tickets selling at $25 will help support the seniors’ home and heri- tage displays, as well as future events. A national and kids’ costume competition, best booth, traditional games, cultural displays, arts and crafts on sale and on dis- play, combined with local and international food, bev- erages and music will com- plete the day’s activities. For more information, call Ellen Eden on 925-5600 or Agnes McCoy on 916-3646. Cayman comes third in oratorical contest Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com With just a few points separating the top three win- ners in the Caribbean District Optimist International Oratorical Contest, 16-year- old Cayman John Gray stu- dent Chauntol Hylton placed third in the girl’s category. Mark Ray, president of Optimist Club of George Town, said, “We are extremely proud of Chauntol. After she won the local Oratorical Club Contest, we knew she would represent the Cayman Islands with pride and make the country extremely proud.” He added, “She displayed tremendous poise and deliv- ered an impressive oration on the topic, ‘How my opti- mism will help me press on to greater achievements of the future.” School-aged students representing the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Lucia and Jamaica con- verged at the New Kingston Conference Center in Kingston, Jamaica last month to compete in the fi- nals. The Barbados team of young orators were the win- ners of the contest. Chauntol’s mom Marsha Clark said her daughter found entering the contest an extraordinary experience. “She was the only one repre- senting Cayman and she felt really proud of her achieve- ment,” she said. Prior to entering the contest, she said, she was not a particularly opti- mistic person but just by entering the contest, she sees things in a different light. She now wants to form a junior optimists club for young people. Students entering the fi- nals also toured the Bob Marley Museum and Devon House in Kingston. The Oratorical Contest is an annual event geared at “bringing out the best in kids.” Organizers say it is de- signed to help young people gain experience in public speaking and provides them with an opportunity to com- pete for a scholarship to- wards their education. The Optimist Club of George Town meets the first and third Thursday of every month at 6.30 p.m. at the Family Life Centre off Walkers Road. A rainy week has delayed work on Godfrey Nixon Way. - PHoto: taneos ramsay Visitors have fun at the first Mayfest event. Chauntol Hylton with Dunbar McFarlane, who started the Optimist Club in Cayman.The 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 May 7, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, MAY 7 ROAD WORK AT NIGHT: The National Roads Authority requests that drivers avoid Godfrey Nixon Way in the evenings until nighttime work to redevelop the road is completed. Work on the road is taking place around the clock. Traffic will be one way only from 5 p.m. to midnight each evening, as access from Eastern Avenue will be closed. 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 BRAC CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL: The National Children’s Festival of the Arts Sister Islands Showcase takes place at the Aston Rutty Centre from 6 p.m. Light refreshments on sale by Creek-Spot Bay Primary School Year 6. THE PURSE-DRIVEN LIFE: An event on the theme of the Purse-Driven Life. East End United Church Hall, 6:30 p.m.; $15 includes meal. Bring your favorite purse from years past or present; you may win the prize. Lots of fun, prizes and surprises. NCU ALUMNI: All alumni of Northern Caribbean University are invited to attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m., at the Savannah Adventist Church. Pastor Ivor Harry will chair the meeting. 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 SERVICE: No Sunday School or evening service on Mother’s Day at the Red Bay Church of God (Holiness). Mother’s Day service begins at 10:30 a.m. 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. TUESDAY, MAY 12 CAREGIVERS DAY: The National Gallery celebrates International Nurses Day by inviting all nurses and caregivers to an appreciation breakfast and guided tour at 9 a.m. Coffee, tea and pastries will be served. For more information, contact education@nationalgallery. org.ky or 945-8111. 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. FRIDAY, MAY 15 NATIONAL GALLERY INTERNS: The National Gallery is accepting applications for the 2015/16 yearlong NGCI Deutsche Bank Internship, in addition to their shorter NGCI Summer Internship program, which runs June through August. Today is the deadline for Summer Internship applications; May 31 for the 2015/16 NGCI Deutsche Bank Internship. For application forms, visit www.nationalgallery. org.ky and for additional information call 945- 8111 or email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. 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 GIRLS BRIGADE: West Bay Girls Brigade Company hosts a Talent/ Spring Fashion Show at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Showtime 7 p.m. Admission is $10; $5 under age 12 (includes light refreshments). Cupcakes will be on sale. Tickets available now or at the door. Call 926-3842 or 322-2212. CHALKFEST: 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. SUNDAY, MAY 24 FUN RUN: As part of Child’s Month, Cayman Academy hosts a “Walk for a Child” 5K fun run from 6 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Resort, adjacent to the North Sound Golf Course. Registration is $10 for adults and $5 for under 12s and all Cayman Academy students. Participants can register at the school, Kings Sports Centre gym, Funky Tangs or the Seventh-day Adventist conference office. Part proceeds will go toward the Bethany Butler Art National Gallery Scholarship Fund. FRIDAY, MAY 29 PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING CORAL NURSERIES: The Department of Environment invites proposals from those interested in establishing coral nurseries. Following Cabinet’s approval of a policy for managing coral nurseries, the department is accepting proposals through May 29, with projects to commence in October 2015 or later. Proposals should be for establishing nurseries for Acropora corals and eventual outplanting on Cayman’s reefs. Proposals or requests for information may be submitted to DoE@gov.ky. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Thursday May 7, 2015 GRADUATION FEATURE2015 Graduation is a milestone moment in life To make the experience even more memorable, the Cayman Compass will be publishing a special 2015 Graduation Feature on Thursday, May 28. It is the perfect opportunity for advertisers to not only reach the proud parents of these young graduates, but the next generation of Caymanian professionals. Ad space deadline: Tuesday, May 19 949-5111 | sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Rain likely to continue through weekend Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Rainstorms will continue through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service, but they will probably not be as severe on Saturday and Sunday. An unusual late-season cold front and an upper-level trough have combined to bring storms to the West Indies and a poten- tial tropical depression to the southeast coast of the United States, said Cayman chief me- teorologist Kerry Powery. The storm off Florida’s east coast could become the first named tropical system of the year, almost a month be- fore the official start of hur- ricane season. “It’s a rarity to have a cold front so close to the start of hurricane season,” Mr. Powery said, but not entirely unexpected. The storms will con- tinue this week, potentially lightening somewhat on the weekend, the meteorologist said. He is predicting afternoon showers Saturday and Sunday. The Cayman National Weather Service says winds will be east to southeast at 10 to 15 knots, and seas will have waves of 3 to 5 feet through the weekend. The storms here, Mr. Powery noted, are “not trop- ical in nature.” It’s similar to a winter weather pattern but with lots of moisture from the tropics, he said. The rain in Cayman is from the same weather pat- tern as the potential tropical depression off the southern U.S. coast, but not directly con- nected, he said. The U.S. National Hurricane Center is watching a tropical system move north off the east coast of Florida. U.S. fore- casters say the system has a 60 percent chance of turning into a tropical depression be- fore the weekend. A depres- sion is a tropical cyclone with a closed center of circula- tion and maximum sustained winds of 38 miles per hour, or 33 knots, or less. Hurricane Center fore- casters say conditions Thursday and Friday make it more likely for the system to strengthen. If it gathers enough strength, it will earn the name Ana, as the first named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season. U.S. Weather Service models suggest the storm could track close along the coast of the Carolinas. Forecasters warn that the system will likely bring high seas and heavy rains to the southeastern coastal region of the U.S. commissioner. The other two Anti-Corruption Commission members are private citizens of the Cayman Islands. Previous motion There has been at least one other legislative motion seeking to address the cur- rent membership of the Anti- Corruption Commission, which was formed following the passage of the territory’s Anti-Corruption Law in 2010. The motion, filed in 2011 by North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, notes that the mem- bers of the commission, in- cluding the commissioner of police as chairman, the au- ditor general and the com- plaints commissioner “are very busy people in their pri- mary roles.” Mr. Miller’s proposal sought to remove the re- quirement under the Anti- Corruption Law for the po- lice commissioner to be the chairman of the anti-corrup- tion board. Rather, the five members, including a retired lawyer and a retired judge/ magistrate/justice of the peace would elect a chairman at their first meeting. Then-Premier McKeeva Bush said government would accept Mr. Miller’s motion but wanted to make a change that gave the administration some flexibility in dealing with any potential amend- ments to the law. ACC concerns Issues regarding the practical operation of the commission, including the fact that three high-ranking civil servants sit on the anti- corruption board, have been flagged almost since the es- tablishment of the Anti- Corruption Law. Former Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Chairman Tim Ridley has previously em- phasized the point. Speaking at a public event in September 2011, Mr. Ridley said he did not intend to criticize Mr. Baines or anyone on the com- mission. However, Mr. Ridley warned about the dual roles that the members of the anti- corruption board have and noted that as part of good governance moving forward, the Anti-Corruption Law “may have to be revisited.” Mr. Baines has conceded that there is a question over whether the commission is appropriately constituted, and that the dual roles are a challenge. Bush seeks removal of Anti-Corruption Commission members CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tourists run for cover in George Town during a downpour on Wednesday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Thursday May 7, 2015 • Cayman Compass Tuesday. The result has po- tential implications for the Cayman Islands, with the issue of tax-evasion a key talking point on the cam- paign trail. Observers here believe the territory can expect more pressure from the U.K. on its financial services industry, regardless of who ends up in power. “Whatever the face of the U.K. coalition, none of the possible members have any love for offshore fi- nancial centers generally, so I think it will be just more of the same,” said Tim Ridley, the former chairman of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Labour leader Ed Miliband, in particular, tar- geted overseas territories during the campaign, threat- ening to blacklist countries that did not create public registers of beneficial owner- ship for offshore companies. “Billions of pounds are being lost in tax avoidance. Today we’re serving notice on tax havens linked to Britain that they must open their books within six months of a Labour government, or face international action,” he said in a campaign speech. His comments were dis- missed in Cayman as hypo- critical and “out of touch,” but some believe the rhet- oric itself is damaging to the islands’ reputation and an example of the increased hostility offshore financial centers could face under a Labour-led government. Anthony Travers, chairman of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange, said, “The continued mischaracter- ization of the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction where taxes are evaded, which is the un- derlying implication of the demand for a public reg- ister of beneficial interests, made by both the Labour leader, Mr. Miliband, and the Prime Minister, Mr. [David] Cameron, clearly harm the Cayman Islands’ reputation.” He said British politi- cians on both sides failed to understand the reasons for Cayman’s success and con- tinued to push for levels of transparency and oversight beyond what was necessary or what currently exists else- where, including in the U.K. He added, “Although we have seen very little in the way of support for the Cayman Islands financial ser- vices industry from the cur- rent coalition government led by Mr. Cameron, we can safely conclude that a Labour government led by Mr. Miliband would be more, not less, hostile to the offshore fi- nancial centers.” Former Premier McKeeva Bush said historically there had been little variance be- tween the approach of Labour and the Conservatives toward the Cayman Islands. “Whoever wins, Cayman is going to be in the same boat policy-wise. Between the U.S. and the U.K., they are going to put a lot of pressure on Cayman’s financial industry.” Mr. Bush said he hopes whoever gets into power will take a different approach to- ward relations with Cayman and will treat the island “more equally.” He believes Mr. Miliband is the most likely prime min- ister, likely in coalition with the Scottish National Party. UK election too close to call The Progressives-led gov- ernment has publicly sup- ported a proposed merger of the two offices. Discussions have also been under way for some time regarding ad- ditional duties for the of- fices, including a police com- plaints function and a data protection regime. Mrs. Dilbert said during an interview Tuesday that she could see combining police complaints with the local ombudsman’s office, and that combining data protection with the informa- tion commissioner’s duties was already in the works at the time she left government. However, she said, put- ting all four of those tasks together under one depart- ment head or chief officer would result in confusion and poor decision-making. “This ‘super person’ idea … might end up with the person making the ulti- mate decision not being the best person to do so,” Mrs. Dilbert said. Whoever is selected for the post would have to maintain a certain exper- tise in open records law, data protection legislation, policing and ombudsman functions, all of which are specialized jobs that can involve legally complex decision-making. “Who is going to have all of those skills?” Mrs. Dilbert asked. In the meantime, prior to any final decisions being made on any merger, the in- formation commissioner’s office is left in a “reactive” position, responding only to appeals of open records requests. What is being ne- glected, she said, is ongoing training of government staff members whose job is to initially respond to in- formation requests. This has led to a few re- cent mistakes with FOI re- quests, one of which has ended up in court and an- other where it appears a government agency has not followed the FOI Law, she said. “The lack of continued training of Freedom of Information managers [is a problem],” Mrs. Dilbert said. “Between that and the sup- port that information man- agers get from ‘higher-ups,’ it’s the structure that gives us problems, and we don’t have a minister champi- oning our cause. “[FOI] is something that is good for Cayman.” Data protection Plans to have the infor- mation commissioner’s of- fice, or whatever agency it is merged into, handle Cayman’s proposed data protection regime could also be affected if the person ultimately respon- sible for data protection is not seen as “independent.” Data protection refers to the safeguarding of per- sonal information by both private and public sector entities. Cayman’s proposal for a data protection law is based on 1995 data protec- tion rules drawn up by the European Union. The advantage to en- acting data protection is that Cayman’s financial services industry will gain EU “adequacy status” for privacy protection, making it ostensibly more attrac- tive to foreign investors, particularly those from European countries. However, part of the ad- equacy status attainment requires that the person in charge of data protec- tion is entirely independent. Mrs. Dilbert said prob- lems could arise if the in- formation commissioner’s office, or the “super om- budsman,” takes over data protection duties under the current system. “If they muck about with the independence of data protection, it won’t get that [adequacy] status,” she said. Caribbean FOI Freedom of Information laws in the Caribbean have largely struggled through years of delay, political re- sistance and government bureaucracy. However, during a first- of-its-kind FOI conference in Kingston during 2013, Laura Neuman of the Atlanta, Georgia-based Carter Center – a nonprofit public policy development initiative – said the Caribbean region had “come a long way” since the start of the 21st cen- tury on open records laws. Ms. Neuman considered the Cayman Islands’ open re- cords regime to be one of the Caribbean’s “greatest success stories.” In the first four years of FOI in Cayman, from January 2009 to January 2013, more than 3,000 re- quests for information were made for government re- cords. By way of compar- ison, Belize has had an FOI law since 1994, but only a small number of open records requests have been made over the past two decades. In the Bahamas, efforts to pass an open records law flopped, while in Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Kitts pro- posed laws have been drafted but not yet con- sidered by the various gov- erning bodies. “How all of these coun- tries have fared [with FOI] is still in question,” Ms. Neuman said. Cayman FOI being ‘undermined’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 UK ElEction - QUicK GUidE How do pEoplE votE? People in each constituency vote for a single Member of Parliament to represent them in the house of Commons in a first- past-the-post poll. There are a total of 650 MPs across England, scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. To form a government, a political party must gain more than half of those seats (known as an overall majority) in the house of Commons. wHat if no party wins? If no party gains an overall majority – a near certainty in this election, according to all available polls – then there will be a “hung parliament.” at that point the main parties negotiate with the smaller groups in an effort to form a coalition government. wHo can form a coalition? The party with the most MPs will have the best chance to form a coalition gov- ernment, but this does not have to be the case. any party can negotiate in an effort to form a government. Who becomes Prime Minister ultimately comes down to which leader commands the support of the majority of MPs in the house of Commons. Labour, for example, could lose the race but win the war if they finish second to the Conservatives but are able to form a coalition with one of the other parties, most likely the scottish National Party. coUld tHErE bE a mUlti-party coalition? The current government is a coalition be- tween the Conservatives and the Liberal democrats, led by Conservative leader david Cameron. Polls suggest that the Liberal democrats’ support has disintegrated over the past four years to the extent that even a coalition of the MPs from those two parties would not be sufficient to form a government. That raises the prospect of a multi-party coalition, with smaller parties like the Green Party or even the united Kingdom Independence Party becoming the king- makers on the basis of a handful of seats. Pundits in the u.K. suggest this outcome is unlikely, however, because of the com- plexity of forming a working coalition among such disparate groups. wHicH minority party Has tHE most inflUEncE? The scottish National Party, which ac- cording to the latest polls could take as many as 53 seats, is likely to hold the balance of power. The sNP has more in common with Labour ideologically and would more likely form a coalition with Ed Miliband’s party. however the pros- pect of an unlikely alliance between the sNP and the Conservatives has been raised as a possibility in an arrangement that would see the two countries going in different directions. Many pundits believe that a Labour/sNP government is now the most likely combination, even if the Conservatives win the most seats. wHat if no onE can aGrEE to a coalition? If no one wins an overall majority and neither Labour nor the Conservatives can form a coalition government with the smaller parties, then one of the two par- ties could opt to go it alone in a minority government. such governments are in- herently unstable and would require loose coalitions with other parties on an issue- by-issue basis to get legislation passed. Pundits in the u.K. believe this option would likely lead to another general elec- tion, potentially this year. “[FOI] is something that is good for Cayman.” JennIFer DIlbert, former information commissioner Mrs. Dilbert CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron lays bricks during a campaign visit to a home building scheme in Lancaster, England, while campaigning for votes Wednesday. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday May 7, 2015 Missing paintings returning to Germany Five paintings missing since World War II are being returned to collections in Germany at the behest of the heirs of their American acquirers. The paintings include three won by an American GI in a poker game. Report: Germanwings crash co-pilot tried slow descent before PARIS (AP) — The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 appeared to have practiced a controlled descent on his flight into Barcelona just two hours before he inten- tionally crashed the A320 jet into a mountainside on the return flight to Duesseldorf, air accident investigators said Wednesday. Authorities are still puz- zling over why co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who had suf- fered from suicidal tenden- cies and depression in the past, sent the Barcelona-to- Duesseldorf flight straight into the French Alps on March 24, killing all 150 people on board. This latest development about an earlier flight ap- pears to support the as- sumption that the crash was not only deliberate but also premeditated, and raises questions about all of the flights where Lubitz was in the cockpit. Lubitz seemed to be toying with the plane’s settings on a March 24 flight from Duesseldorf to Barcelona, programming it for sharp descent multiple times in a 4½-minute period while the pilot was out of the cockpit before resetting the controls, France’s BEA inves- tigation agency said in an in- terim report on the crash. Prosecutors have said that Lubitz intentionally locked the pilot out of the cockpit and crashed the plane on its return flight to Duesseldorf. Wednesday’s 30-page re- port said the same crew was aboard both flights – and the pilot appeared to have left the cockpit during the earlier flight as well, for about 4½ minutes. On the first flight into Barcelona, shortly after the pilot left, the “selected alti- tude” of the flight changed repeatedly, including several times being set as low as 100 feet above the ground. The report says co-pilot Lubitz also put the engines on idle, which gives the plane the ability to quickly descend. It would be highly un- usual for a pilot to repeat- edly set a plane for such a low altitude for no apparent reason. However, the report says that Lubitz did so while he was being asked by air traffic controllers to bring the plane down gradually from 35,000 feet to 21,000 feet for its scheduled descent to Barcelona. A chart released by the BEA showed the plane didn’t actually descend sharply while Lubitz was repeatedly adjusting the settings, so the passengers and crew might not have noticed any change. The BEA report did not make it clear whether all the steps needed for the repeated de- scents were taken by Lubitz. “The captain didn’t re- alize at all, because the co- pilot’s tests during the out- going flight took place during a normal, pre-programmed descent and it never had an impact on the plane’s trajec- tory,” said Remi Jouty, the director of BEA. Aviation ex- perts said the findings were clearly unusual. “The process of going up and down with the selected altitude is not normal – but I can’t tell you what was going on in his head,” said Antoine Amar, a top official in France’s main pilots union SNPL and an Air France pilot who has flown the A320, the same type of plane in the Germanwings crash. Germanwings’ parent company Lufthansa techni- cally could have known about Lubitz’s apparent rehearsal on the outbound flight, but only if it had looked at the flight data in the short pe- riod while the plane was un- loading and loading passen- gers in Barcelona. Germanwings said it “wel- comed any new information that can help clarify what happened” but said it would not comment on the BEA re- port because of the ongoing investigation. It would also not comment on whether other flights involving Lubitz were now under re- view. The airline referred all questions to French prose- cutors and the French civil aviation authority. Amar, the French union official, suggested there was little that air authorities could have done between the two flight legs. Control towers, he said, wouldn’t have needed access to the cockpit recorders to know that Lubitz had repeatedly chosen a 100-foot altitude during the flight. Duesseldorf prosecutors who are investigating the co- pilot said they don’t know if any passengers on the first flight into Barcelona were even questioned. Lufthansa spokesman Helmut Tolksdorf said Wednesday by phone that the airline had not yet had time to analyze the new details re- leased by the French author- ities and planned no imme- diate comment. The BEA report didn’t an- alyze why Lubitz repeatedly tried to descend the plane going into Barcelona and did not say if it would be looking into other flights where Lubitz was in the cockpit. However, the agency said it is continuing to look at the “systemic failings that may have led to this accident or similar events.” The investigators are fo- cusing on “the current bal- ance between medical confi- dentiality and flight safety,” a reference to whether German rules on patient pri- vacy may have prevented Lufthansa from being fully aware of Lubitz’s mental health issues. The BEA said investi- gators are also looking at “compromises” made on se- curity after the Sept. 11 at- tacks in the U.S., notably on cockpit door locking sys- tems meant to protect pi- lots from terrorists. Since the Germanwings crash, several airlines have imposed rules requiring two people in the cockpit at all times. French prosecutors are conducting a sepa- rate criminal investigation into the crash. It remains unclear why Lubitz would have wanted to crash the plane. German au- thorities say he researched suicide methods and cockpit door security online in the week before the crash. Duesseldorf prosecutors said they would not com- ment on the BEA report until they have finished evalu- ating Lubitz’s computer and other documents. Lufthansa CEO, Carsten Spohr, left, and Lufthansa’s chairman of the supervisory board Wolfgang Mayrhuber attend a minute of silence late last month for the victims of the Germanwings plane crash. - Photo: AP Netanyahu races to form narrow coalition government JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was racing against the clock Wednesday to put together a governing coalition or else face an al- most unimaginable scenario by which he would be forced out of office. Netanyahu was holding furious consultations with the hawkish Jewish Home Party in order to secure a narrow 61-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. If he fails by the end of the day, President Reuven Rivlin must appoint someone else the task of forming a coalition. After Netanyahu’s Likud Party won March 17 elections with 30 seats, it seemed he would have a relatively easy time forming a coalition. But talks stalled this week when Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman unexpect- edly stepped down and an- nounced his secular nation- alist Yisrael Beitenu party was joining the opposition. That left Netanyahu depen- dent on Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, a former aide who has a rocky relationship with Netanyahu. Netanyahu has secured deals with three partners controlling 53 seats. They in- clude Kulanu, a centrist party focused on economic issues, and two ultra-Orthodox reli- gious parties. Fuming over the deals giving ultra-Orthodox par- ties ministerial power over religious services, Bennett is driving a hard bargain. Slated to serve as education minister, Bennett is now de- manding the job of justice minister for a party member. The Jewish Home party is linked to the West Bank set- tler movement and unlikely to push for Netanyahu’s ouster, a move that could open a potential path to gov- ernment of the more dovish Zionist Union. Even if, as ex- pected, they reach a deal, Netanyahu would have a thin majority, leaving him vulner- able to extortion from any in- dividual coalition lawmaker. A narrow coalition would have a difficult time passing economic reforms favored by Kulanu. It also would be averse to Palestinian peace moves and likely favor ex- panded settlement con- struction, putting it on a collision course with the international community. Likud officials concede such a government would not be effective or last long, raising speculation that Netanyahu will ultimately reach out to the Zionist Union and its leader, Isaac Herzog. Netanyahu was holding furious consultations with the hawkish Jewish Home Party in order to secure a narrow 61-seat majority in the 120- seat parliament. Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuNext >