ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2015 SPORTS | PAGE 16 GOLDEN START AT ISLAND GAMES Cayman’s athletes win 15 medals in two days High of 90 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CRUISE BERTHING: WHERE IS ITS PROPER PLACE? No change for small districts in remapping Draft boundary maps retain status quo for East End and North Side BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four of the Cayman Islands six voting dis- tricts were divided up into separate single- member constituencies in draft electoral maps made public this week. However, the redrawn voting maps, which are set to be used during the May 2017 gen- eral election, did not impact the smaller dis- tricts of East End and North Side. Both areas retained their current shapes and were not combined with one another, despite having smaller voting populations than the newly formed single-member constituencies in Bodden Town, West Bay and George Town. “We are of the view that East End and North Side should not be combined, despite their lower populations,” Electoral Boundary Commission Chairperson Lisa Handley said. Cayman’s Constitution Order 2009 di- rects the commission to take account of nat- ural boundaries and existing voting districts during its work. Commission member Steve McField, a local attorney, noted during public hearings earlier this year that the constitu- tion’s wording did not provide “a guarantee” for the smaller districts. Ms. Handley, an American political scien- tist, noted the two voting districts had already been operating as single-member constituen- cies for some time. “Comments made to the commissioners during the public hearings indicate that a very clear majority of those who spoke to the issue, especially in East End and North Side, strongly agree that these two districts form distinct communities of interest and should not be submerged within a single electoral district,” she said. The draft maps released on the Elections Office website Monday are not the final word on the matter. Public meetings will be held next week to obtain further public input on the draft documents. The final Electoral Boundary BLOOD BANK SEEKS YOUNGER DONORS ASHANI FRANCIS-COLLINS afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority’s blood bank is on the hunt for youthful blood as it encourages younger members of the community to register as blood donors. All blood types are needed and welcomed at the blood bank, but volunteer Kristine Miranda placed emphasis on the need for younger donors, saying, “We are trying to re- cruit more teenagers and young adults from age 17 and up because most of our donors are already in their 50s and 60s.” Judith Clarke, Health Services Authority laboratory manager, explained why younger donors should step forward. “It is important to have both young and old donors, but the younger donors are more likely to be in better health and much fitter,” she said. “The younger donors also need to perform their civic duty in the same manner as the older ones.” The Health Services Authority and Cayman Blood Donor Services held a blood drive last month to mark World Blood Donor Day at the Cayman Islands Hospital Atrium. The blood drive managed to process more than 70 people, gaining 38 new donors. The theme at this year’s drive was “Thank you for saving my life,” a message that means even more when considering the fact that one pint of blood has the ability to save up to three lives. Ms. Clarke was pleased with the event’s success. “The main objectives of World Blood Donor Day are to educate the commu- nity about blood donation and to increase our donor database,” she said. The process to become a donor involves Thieves steal church documents in burglary JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thieves made off with valu- able church documents after breaking into the Family Life Centre in George Town. The criminals stole a safe that contained the original land registry documents of the Church of God on Walkers Road, as well as cash and a number of stamps and seals is- sued by the church, including the pastor’s seal. “This is very distressing for the church. These documents and seals are of immense sig- nificance to the church and its community,” said Marjorie Ebanks, the church’s volunteer administrator. “The church ex- ists for the people, we help and reach out to people – if they are hungry, they can come and get a bag of food, so it is very dis- tressing to think [thieves] would break into the church on a Sunday evening and take away precious things from us.” The church’s building has a security system in place, but the Family Life Centre does not, Ms. Ebanks said. She added that the church would Criminals gained access to the Family Life Centre by prying open a window at the front of the building. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Marjorie Ebanks, the Church of God’s volunteer administrator, with the broken safe dial and smashed key box left behind by thieves. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Wednesday July 1, 2015 • Cayman Compass www. 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Nevertheless, attorneys John Furniss and James Stenning continued with their applications for bail on behalf of defendants Johan Manuel Acosta-Sierra, 25, and Trinidad Alcontara Bienvenido, 31, both of an Eastern Avenue address. They are Dominicans here on work permits – Acosta- Sierra as a chef and Bienvenido in a hairdressing salon. Mr. Furniss appeared for both men on June 19 and 23, and has spent considerable time with them, but said it was now clear that they re- quired separate represen- tation. He noted that legal aid had been applied for on the basis of the conspiracy charge; now the men face a new charge of burglary and would have to re-apply for legal aid on that basis. Then the court would be asked to have the grant backdated. The Legal Aid Law in- cludes burglary as a “sched- uled offense,” meaning one included on a list of offenses for which the court shall grant legal aid to someone who does not have the means to instruct an attorney. Conspiracy is not a sched- uled offense. Mr. Stenning said he was quite alarmed by the legal aid refusal, especially when a man’s liberty was at stake. He said an application might have to be made under the Bill of Rights. “My client should have representation appointed by the state,” he said of Acosta-Sierra. “For me to stop repre- senting him would put my client at a great disadvan- tage,” he added, explaining that the man’s English was limited. A Spanish-language interpreter has been assisting at all court hearings. Details of the conspiracy charge are that the two men conspired together with a unknown person on or be- fore June 15, 2015, to commit the offense of burglary in the South Sound area. The new burglary charge was brought against them separately, but the details are the same: that each man en- tered a premises at a stated address as a trespasser be- tween June 7–9 and stole a 45-inch flat screen TV, two bronze table lamps and a flashlight, with a total value of US$2,650. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright listed his objec- tions to bail. Magistrate Grace Donalds heard in detail from the defense attorneys, who put forward people in the community who would stand as sureties. The magistrate ruled that bail would be withheld and the defendants remanded in custody. Their next court appearance will be on Tuesday, July 7. Pope’s Cuba, US itinerary published VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis will meet with home- less people, immigrants and prisoners during his up- coming trip to Cuba and the United States and become the first pope to address the U.S. Congress. He’ll also pre- side over a meeting about re- ligious liberty – a major issue for U.S. bishops in the wake of the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision. The Vatican published the itinerary Tuesday for the ea- gerly awaited Sept. 19-28 visit. Francis added the Cuba leg onto the start of his U.S. trip after helping contribute to the historic thaw in U.S.- Cuba relations. In Cuba, he’ll celebrate Mass in Revolution Square in Havana – as both of his pre- decessors did during their trips to the Caribbean island nation. He’ll travel to Holguin and pray before the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, the pa- tron of Cuba, and meet with Cuban families in the eastern city of Santiago. Francis arrives in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22 and the next day will be wel- comed at the White House by President Barack Obama, the Vatican said. Francis will address Congress on Sept. 24, and will meet with homeless people later in the day at a local parish, St. Patrick’s. On Sept. 25, Francis will speak on sustainable devel- opment at the United Nations, where he’ll have another op- portunity to voice his con- cerns about the environment. Republicans in the U.S. Congress, and even some Republican U.S. presiden- tial candidates, have largely shrugged off Francis’ de- nunciation of the current global economic system in which wealthy countries ex- ploit the poor and pollute the Earth in the process. Nevertheless, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said lawmakers were welcoming the unprecedented papal visit “with open ears and hearts.” Francis will host an in- terfaith gathering at Ground Zero in New York and meet with children and immigrant families in Harlem. Unlike his predeces- sors, Francis has no meeting with the Jewish community listed on the official itin- erary. Francis, though, has very close relations with U.S. Jewish groups and is known to change course during for- eign trips to add extra en- counters. An unannounced encounter with victims of priestly sexual abuse is also a possibility. While Pope Paul VI in 1965, St. John Paul II in 1979 and Benedict XVI in 2008 celebrated Mass in Yankee Stadium, Francis will cel- ebrate Mass for a smaller crowd in Madison Square Garden. He’ll also preside over a vespers service at the newly spruced-up St. Patrick’s Cathedral. On Sept. 26, he will join the church’s World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, a big rally for the Catholic Church’s traditional teaching on families. He will host a “meeting for religious liberty” on Independence Mall with immigrants and the Hispanic community, the Vatican itin- erary said. U.S. Catholic bishops have for years decried what they say are attacks on religious liberty, particularly over na- tional healthcare laws that require insurance coverage for contraception. The bishops’ latest rallying cry has come in the wake of the Supreme Court decision declaring that same-sex mar- riage is legal nationwide. In this file photo, Pope Francis meets Cuban President Raul Castro during a private audience at the Vatican on May 10, 2015. Pope Francis will visit Cuba in September. – PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Wednesday July 1, 2015 Also effective July 1, Graeme Sunley assumes the role of PwC Cayman territory leader, succeeding Frazer Lindsay, who moves to the new and broader role of assurance leader for a wider network of PwC firms in the Caribbean. Graeme will continue his responsibility as asset management leader for PwC Cayman and a wider network of PwC firms in the Caribbean. Graeme’s wealth of client experience and industry knowledge in the financial services sector will ensure that we continue to build trusted relationships in the Cayman Islands and across the region. Graeme and Frazer reflect the values of our highly talented people with the right capabilities, insights and industry knowledge necessary as leaders to tackle the issues and opportunities facing the marketplace. About PwC With more than 185 partners and staff, PwC has served the Cayman Islands’ market for 45+ years. We provide professional services in assurance, tax consulting and deals. Whether you’re one of our clients or team members, we’re focused on building deeper relationships and creating value for you in everything we do. We start by getting to know you. You do the talking; we do the listening. What you tell us shapes how we use our network of 195,000 people in 157 countries around the world—and their connections, contacts and expertise—to help you succeed. Effective July 1, 2015, Craig Smith becomes the newest partner in PwC Cayman’s assurance practice. As an integral part of PwC Cayman’s asset management group, Craig specialises in alternative investment companies, with a particular emphasis on offshore and onshore hedge fund products. Craig, a native of the Cayman Islands, is a certified public accountant and CFA charter holder. He delivers local and global market insight to PwC clients every day. Craig began his career with PwC Cayman in 1999 as an associate. A few years later he challenged himself overseas at PwC in New York, where he spent four years building relationships and gaining invaluable experience. After returning to PwC Cayman in 2006, Craig progressed quickly to senior manager and then director. Now as a partner, Craig aspires to lead his team to a higher level of performance and value creation for our asset management clients. Congratulations, Craig! We’re pleased to announce the advancement of three leaders at PwC. These leadership changes mark important milestones for PwC Cayman and the wider network of PwC firms across the Caribbean in fulfilling our purpose: to build trust in society and solve important problems. Being excited about what comes next Expanding the playing field Leading PwC and the future of business “I knew a future with PwC would be promising; I’m incredibly proud to become part of the leadership team and look forward to the opportunities the role presents, not only for myself, but for the people, clients and communities we serve.” Craig Smith Visit us at www.pwc.com/ky for more information. © 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Cayman Islands partnership. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the Cayman Islands member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. www.pwc.com/kyThe 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. Leonid Bershidsky The twin shocks of the massacre in Tunisia and the financial meltdown in Greece have sent tourism shares sharply lower. The industry has grown in- creasingly resilient in recent years, however, and it prob- ably will recover relatively quickly. That would be good news for shareholders, but it could also reflect a false sense of complacency. The steep declines in travel and tourism stock prices haven’t only affected big European companies such as TUI and Thomas Cook, but even Royal Caribbean Cruises and Priceline, which are less vulnerable to trouble in southern Europe and North Africa. The pessimism is likely to be short-lived, because the global travel industry regen- erates with lightning speed. Initially, traffic to Tunisia and Greece will drop, but sim- ilar destinations will pick up the slack. For example, when the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square erupted in 2011 and hotel occupancy at Egypt’s seaside resorts fell by almost 40 percent, the United Arab Emirates benefited with oc- cupancy rising 8 percent for the year. The data show recov- eries even at destinations that have undergone a ca- tastrophe. According to a Deloitte study published in the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report: “Occupancy levels in New York hotels took 34 months to recover from 9/11 (2001), and the wider U.S. market took 45 months, with the im- pact compounded by an eco- nomic recession. For compar- ison, Madrid bounced back in 12 months from the 2004 train bombings, and London recovered in nine months from the July 2005 attack.” In 2013, two years after the Fukushima nuclear ac- cident, Japan had a record number of foreign visitors, 9 million. After the SARS out- break in Asia and the swine flu epidemic in Mexico, hotel occupancy rates recovered within a year. This resilience partly re- flects the efforts of affected countries. When tourist numbers dwindled in Bali, Indonesia, after a series of bombings in 2005, the island used a steep devaluation of the Indonesian currency to run an advertising campaign with the slogan “Our loss is your gain!” Greece might con- sider a similar message if it reintroduced, and promptly devalued, the drachma. In Tunisia, too, tourist flows are mainly sensitive to prices: If they are low enough, the at- tack will cease to be a deter- rent to tourists. The growing accessibility of travel and the increasing sophistication of the tourist industry are turning the world into a product. Going places today is less of an ad- venture now than it was 20, or even 10 years ago. That’s convenient, because the pop- ulation of wealthier coun- tries, which provide most of the world’s leisure travelers, is aging. Older travelers are less interested in adventure of the nerve-tickling kind, and they encourage the in- dustry to make staying in one country a lot like staying in another. In many cases, trav- elers don’t even care what’s going on in the country they’re visiting. When Bangkok experienced a series of coups in 2008, Thailand’s resort islands didn’t experi- ence a drop in tourist traffic. This kind of separation is good for economies, but I’m not sure it’s equally good for the traveler’s psyche. We bet on the industry’s ability to shelter us from harsh re- ality. Yet other lands are not amusement parks. some- times reality intrudes – from the lack of cash in teller ma- chines to a hail of bullets on a beach. Leonid Bershidsky, a Bloomberg View contributor, is a Berlin-based writer. © 2015, Bloomberg News Wednesday JuLy 1, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Cruise berthing: Where is its proper place? As the finer details of cruise berthing in George Town have begun to come into focus, accordingly the two sides, for and against the proposal, have begun to coalesce. But before the situation crystallizes into an intrac- table conflict, and perhaps becomes characterized by personalities, politics and ideologies, rather than prag- matism, we think it is instructive to take several steps back and consider the idea, and the reality, within a broader context. How, and where, does cruise berthing fit in with plans for downtown, Grand Cayman’s tourism strategy, and the Cayman Islands’ lengthy list of major capital projects and other priorities? In regard to the cruise berthing proposal currently on the table, we have on one side a group of propo- nents pointing to estimates of 1,000 new jobs and an added $250 million or more into the local economy over 20 years. On the other side, we have a group of opponents pointing to predictions of the destruction or degradation of coral reef and dive sites, leading to an economic loss of about $100 million to $165 million over 20 years. The table having been set, local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce President Johann Moxam introduces the relevant topic of discussion: “Are the costs — economic, environmental and social costs — worth the benefits?” From our standpoint, it’s a close call — too close, at the moment, for us to issue an “up or down” assess- ment for what would constitute a public investment of some $150 million or more (since we’re dealing with government, probably more … maybe a lot more). So allow us to take some time and survey the rest of the room. How does cruise berthing fit in with a vision for a revitalized downtown George Town? If we go forward with the cruise dock, then presumably cruise tourism is the future of downtown. Can “new urbanist,” mixed- use residential/commercial development coexist with throngs of tourists in the shadow of massive ships? Does the cruise dock preclude such a transforma- tion? Is such development desirable or possible, in the absence of a dock? What role, and how prominent a role, does Cayman want cruise visitors to play in our overall tourism strategy? Is there a “critical mass” where cruise tourism actually acts as a deterrent to stay-over tourism? Or is more of both always better because cruise passengers feed the businesses that cater to people who arrive by airplane, and vice versa? If we have to choose, which is our priority: pursuing the US$55 million Owen Roberts International Airport project, or the $150 million-plus cruise dock? We as a country have limited public resources — in terms of money, manpower, ministerial management and time. Meanwhile, ever-battling for those resources are a seemingly unlimited number of projects and proposals that also stake strong claims to imme- diacy and importance, for instance: the George Town landfill, Grand Cayman’s wastewater system, Grand Cayman’s airport, road upgrades (including improve- ments in and around downtown that consultants say are needed to make cruise berthing successful), the East-West Arterial extension, street maintenance, a proper mental health facility, new correctional facilities, the unfinished John Gray High School construction project, the delivery of primary and secondary educa- tion, University College of the Cayman Islands, the new courthouse, a new police headquarters, etc. With budgetary constraints and the next election less than two years away, our government must focus on doing a few things correctly, rather than many all at once, if we are to accomplish a single one of them. The proposed cruise berthing facility is a very large, ambitious and high-profile project that will make a lasting impact on Cayman, presumably in many ways for better, but also perhaps for worse. The question we ask at this time is, given the pros and cons, and the wider context, where does the cruise dock rank among other costly capital projects and major initiatives that are also in Cayman’s “need” category? Can tourism industry shield us from reality? The pessimism is likely to be short- lived, because the global travel industry regenerates with lightning speed. Initially, traffic to Tunisia and Greece will drop, but similar destinations will pick up the slack. Mounted police officers patrol on the beach of Sousse, Tunisia, on Sunday after 38 were killed Friday in a terrorist attack. – 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 find their own way”5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday July 1, 2015 Your home. Your terms. Introducing a better way to own your home or access equity. Scotiabank’s Variable Flex Mortgage brings you: • Lower rates • Rate lock guarantee for 1 year • Flexibility to switch to fixed rate options Ask our knowledgeable Home Loan Advisors if a Variable Flex Mortgage† is right for you. † This product only applies to owner/non-owner occupied residential properties. Customers must comply with the Terms and Conditions applicable to Scotiabank Mortgages. Mortgage applicants must meet Scotiabank Mortgages lending criteria. 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For information on how you can own your own home on your terms, contact us today. cayman.scotiabank.com/yourhomeyourterms PAYMENTS AS LOW AS: $100,000 | $449 $250,000 | $1,123 $500,000 | $2,245 Loan Amount | Monthly Payment RATES AS LOW AS: † 3.50% Discover what’s possible Find us at /ScotiabankKY JetBlue flight to NYC diverted due to ‘straNge smell’ Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A JetBlue flight from Owens Roberts International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York had to be diverted and made an unexpected landing Monday evening after pi- lots reported a strange smell in the cockpit, according to the airline. The 1:46 p.m. flight out of Grand Cayman landed safely in Charleston, South Carolina, just before 5 p.m. U.S. east coast time. Passengers from JetBlue Flight 766 took off again for JFK Airport on a different airplane at 10:37 p.m., according to Charleston International Airport spokes- woman Charlene Gunnells. She said JetBlue ordered pizzas to feed the passen- gers waiting in the inter- national terminal while the airline brought in another plane. A JetBlue spokes- woman said there were 137 people on board. Ms. Gunnells said air traffic control told airport operations in Charleston at 4:45 p.m. that the pilot had asked to be diverted “so the plane could be checked out.” The Airbus A320 touched down 11 minutes later. JetBlue’s Sharon Jones said passengers went through customs and border control in Charleston before boarding the new plane for New York. Prison insPection rePort Punishments can be arbitrary, unregulated Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new inspection report describes Northward Prison’s segregation unit, in which in- mates are placed following in- fractions, as having “wretched conditions” and called the use of punishments “unregulated and arbitrary.” Prison records, according to the report, show the cells were in almost continuous use before the inspectors’ visit, but there were no inmates in the unit during the an- nounced inspection. The report from the United Kingdom’s HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, following up on a highly critical 2012 report, found little change in condi- tions in the segregation unit. The report states, “The accom- modation remained appalling.” The inspectors write that the punishment system used to send inmates to segregation had little oversight by senior management, and prisoners could be sent into the isolation cells for up to two weeks based on arbitrary decisions by staff. Prisons director Neil Lavis, who was brought in after the 2012 report to help turn around the troubled prisons, declined to speak with the Cayman Compass about the new report. ‘Wretched conditions’ Inspectors write that con- ditions of the segregation fa- cility is “completely unaccept- able.” The report continues: “Prisoners were held in segre- gated conditions for long and indeterminate periods without review and there was no effec- tive reintegration process. The environment was unaccept- able; cells were in a poor state of repair, some being dirty and graffiti strewn, with almost no natural light and leaking toi- lets, and not all cells had run- ning water.” The report notes that pris- oners were held in these cells for around 23 hours a day. Prison records, reviewed during the inspection, showed the time prisoners spend in segregation had been reduced to seven to 14 days depending on behavior. The 2012 inspec- tion notes that at that time prisoners were normally held in segregation for at least 28 days. The segregation cells at Fairbanks women’s prison are in better condition, according to the report, but oversight “was similarly inadequate.” In the unit, inspectors write, “Some prisoners were subject to additional extreme restric- tions on their movement, such as the application of shackles and handcuffs, without proper reason or authority.” There were no prisoners held in segregation during the inspection, according to the report. But, inspectors write, “The wing diary showed that the high-control cells had been used almost constantly before the inspection.” Inspectors also found that the high-risk unit, normally re- served for the most serious of- fenders or people deemed es- cape risks, was also used as an alternative segregation unit. The report repeats the in- spectors’ recommendation from 2012: “The current use of segregation should be re- placed by a regulated, risk-as- sessed and controlled system of segregation. Cells should be suitably equipped and access to a suitable regime provided. Prisoners should be individu- ally case managed and, where possible, plans made and im- plemented for reintegration into the main population.” Punishments ‘arbitrary’ While visiting Northward and Fairbanks prisons for eight days in January, the in- spection team observed the disciplinary process in action. The inspectors write, “The ad- judications we observed were relaxed and conducted appro- priately but some of the re- cords we saw displayed little evidence of enquiry beyond the ’guilty‘ or ’not guilty‘ plea and we were not assured that quality assurance processes were effective.” The report notes inmate complaints “about arbitrary decisions and unregulated punishments.” The inspectors write that, beyond inmate an- ecdotes, “We observed an un- regulated, arbitrary punish- ment issued on the young person’s unit to a young person who was located in a lockdown cell with loss of as- sociation for not making his bed; this had not been autho- rized and there were no re- corded reasons for it.” Prisoners could end up in segregation “without legitimate authority or senior manage- ment oversight,” according to the report, and record keeping was called “inadequate.” Inspectors write, “We saw staff engaging with prisoners and most prisoners seemed to be at ease in their company. However, prisoners repeat- edly expressed their frustra- tion at what they saw as the indifference and inaction of staff in meeting their needs, as well as the unaccountable ex- ercise of authority.” A ‘housed’ cell in the northward segregation unit, where prisoners are held for their own protection. the inspection report notes these cells are similar, though with better light and ventilation, than the neighboring segregation cells. - Photo: uK PrisoNs iNsPeCtorateThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Wednesday July 1, 2015 • Cayman Compass Know the facts. Be informed. The status quo is not an option Cruise lines have indicated they will reduce operations if Cayman’s berthing facility is not improved. A decline in cruise tourist arrivals will have grave consequences for Caymanian jobs and businesses. Right now, the country is already missing out on the larger Oasis class cruise ships, and statistically bigger spending passengers. It’s not 15 acres of live coral The recent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report does not say that 15 acres of coral will be destroyed. The area being referred to has visibly far less than 15 acres of live coral. The vast majority of the defined dredging area is hard-pan and squab bottom. Jobs for Caymanians The livelihood of Caymanians depends on cruise tourism. Those businesses that serve the cruise tourism sector are a significant employer of Caymanians – watersports operators, taxis and tours, retail, restaurants, land and water-bas ed attractions. Government income to keep our country running The government income from cruise tourism funds schools, hospitals, roads, housing, social services and other important infrastructure that keeps our country running. Improving our cargo needs The new cruise berthing facilities will greatly enhance our cargo infrastructure. In a country where approximately 90% of our goods are imported, this is an important issue. Avoid, mitigate or offset any environmental impacts We support a scientific, risk-based approach to the management of dredging. The berthing facility can be developed in accordance with the principles of ‘avoid, mitigate, offset’ to manage the balance between economic development and environmental protection. Don’t make a decision based on inaccurate, unsubstantiated scaremongering by those with a vested interest in keeping the status quo. The Cayman Islands government is investing strongly in our cruise tourism infrastructure to ensure we remain equal to or ahead of world standards. The government’s proposed cruise berthing facility will stimulate growth, create employment opportunities and encourage sound development to produce positive economic benefits for the country. We support the protection of the marine environment but we are not going to see the economic future of the Cayman Islands shut down. Now is the time for change. Cayman’s future is too important to not have an honest discussion on this issue. To have your say on the Cayman Islands’ future visit our website www.CaymansPortCaymansFuture.comThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2015 Commission 2015 report will be submitted to the governor and the premier following those hearings and any tweaks the com- mission members make to the maps. “We consider the single- member district boundaries we have proposed to be pro- visional at this point,” Ms. Handley said. “We will take [the public’s] views into con- sideration when finalizing our recommendations.” The public debate sur- rounding the increase in the number of districts and regarding whether East End and North Side should be combined derives from the fact that the Cayman Islands, with 18,297 reg- istered voters as of April, would have about 1,016 as a “voter” average per dis- trict if the islands were divided into 18 single- member constituencies. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – which are guar- anteed two Legislative Assembly representatives by the 2009 Constitution Order – would not come close to that number if single-member constitu- encies were to be adopted. Also, East End and North Side districts, if left alone by the boundary commission, would not have anywhere near 1,000 voters apiece. Meanwhile, George Town – if divided into six single- member districts – would average more than 1,200 voters per district. With seven districts, that average number of voters comes closer to 1,000 per district. Mr. McField said, or- dinarily, the variance in voting population between the districts would be too great to meet interna- tional election standards. However, the Constitution Order 2009 specifies that commissioners “shall have regard to existing elec- toral districts” in redrawing the voting map. “If we did not have the constitution to guide us, ordinarily those two dis- tricts [East End and North Side] would have to be combined,” Mr. McField said during a public hearing in April. The upcoming public meetings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 7 at the George Town Town Hall and at 5:30 p.m. on July 8 at the Savannah United Church Hall. No change for small districts in remapping a screening to measure blood pressure and haemo- globin. Donors are also re- quired to fill out a ques- tionnaire that checks for any illnesses or other cir- cumstances that may make a person ineligible to do- nate blood. The blood bank encourages honesty on this questionnaire for a safe and speedy process. Blood drives are nor- mally held every June and December. Outside of these blood drives, people can be- come donors at any time. On the day of the blood drive, HSA staff were also on hand to register people for its new Patient Portal. The portal is a free ser- vice that allows patients to get online access to test re- sults and other medical his- tory, request and cancel appointments and send a secure message to the HSA care team. For more information on donating blood, contact the blood bank at 244- 2674. The bank is open from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Blood bank seeks younger donors to getting a security system in the office building as well. The safe’s dimen- sions are approximately 24 x 15 x 12 inches. Patricia Downey, the church’s finance assistant, said she wished forgiveness on the thieves and encour- aged them to think about their actions. “It would be even better if they came to the church and found God instead of being brought to justice,” she said. “That would give the oppor- tunity to invoke change in them as a person instead of just a temporary solution of punishment.” Officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police said the break-in occurred some- time between Sunday eve- ning and Monday morning. The burglars gained access to the Family Life Centre by prying open a window at the front of the building. Ms. Ebanks said that on Monday morning when the church’s custodian arrived at 6 a.m., she discovered the safe was gone. A front panel of a drawer in Ms. Ebanks’ office which had been locked was also ripped off. “The drawer only contained odds and ends, and nothing was taken from it,” she said. A key box located near the safe that contained keys for the church and the Family Life Centre was also smashed and the keys stolen. Ms. Ebanks said that all locks were changed fol- lowing the incident. The safe’s dial was smashed and left at the scene, suggesting that the thieves could not open it, and instead pried the safe off the wall and took it with them, she said. Ms. Ebanks said she never imagined that theft would be an issue at the church. “The safe was more for protection from fire than from theft – we never thought anyone would steal those things,” she said. “I don’t think they had in- terest in the documents, but they took the safe thinking there was money in it. It contained a little over a thousand dollars – thank- fully not from the offering – as well as some computer backup drives, documents and keys. “We are not as concerned about the money as we are with the documents and urge the culprits to return the files to the church.” Church leaders are appealing for anyone who has any information on the robbery to contact the George Town Police Station on 949-4222 or Detective Anthony Daniels on 926-5505. From left, volunteers Greg Honeyghan and Kristine Battad-Miranda of the Health Services Authority, James Myles of the Cayman Blood Donor Service, HSA Lab Manager Judith Clarke, and Irma Arch and Carl Brown of the Cayman Blood Donor Service gather at last month’s blood drive. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Thieves steal church documents in burglary CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Children and Family Services director retires The Director of Children and Family Services, Alicia “Jen” Dixon, is retiring from her government post after 33 years of service effective Sept. 1. “I am looking forward to spending time with my family here at home and overseas, as well as continuing to pursue my hobbies of gardening, cooking, family history re- search and the completion of my family tree,” she said. “I have devoted my life to my work and truly am looking forward to devoting more time to my family,” she added. In a statement re- leased by the Ministry of Community Affairs this week, Ms. Dixon is described as an advocate on the rights of children, domestic vio- lence, parenting and other social issues, who saw many changes during her tenure with government. These in- cluded the establishment of the Cayman Islands Marine Institute, the development of the Child and Youth Services Foundation (CAYS), the de- velopment and passing of the Youth Justice Law and Children Law, and more. Her career began when she joined the civil service in April 1978 as a clerical officer in the Ministry of Health, Education and Social Services. She was trans- ferred to work as senior cler- ical officer in the Probation and Welfare Unit for three years before moving over- seas to pursue her studies in social work. In 1985, she received her bachelor of science degree in so- cial work from the Westchester Social Work Education Consortium of the College of New Rochelle, New York. On her return to Cayman, Ms. Dixon joined the Department of Social Services, and was appointed the first Caymanian deputy director in October 1987. She served in that capacity until she be- came director in 2012. According to the ministry, under Ms. Dixon’s watch, the department assisted other government departments with the managing of Tent City and an influx of almost 1,200 illegal Cuban migrants. She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her commitment. In 1996, she gradu- ated from the University of Miami with a master’s de- gree in business adminis- tration. Also in 1996, she was involved in the study of the family in Caymanian society, and later in the Participatory Poverty Study of the National Assessment of Living Conditions. In 1998, she was involved with emergency disaster man- agement and trained along with others as facilitators for the Domestic Violence Intervention Training Program in 2000 at the University of the West Indies Campus in Kingston, Jamaica. In the ministry state- ment, Ms. Dixon thanked the ministers and chief of- ficers and those she had worked with over the years, including shelter volunteers and district represenatives. “She recognizes the contri- butions of her current staff in addressing the various so- cial issues impacting society and encourages them to con- tinue their good work,” the statement noted. She also lauded her family and, in particular, her late mother, Sheila Yvonne Jackson Espeut, for “providing her with the strong foundation and guiding principles which have governed her personal and professional life, as well as giving her limitless support in all her efforts.” Alicia ‘Jen’ Dixon No Women’s World Cup final for Blatter ZURICH (AP) – FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not be traveling to Canada for Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final, FIFA said Tuesday, as criminal investigations into soccer’s governing body continue in the United States and Switzerland. Secretary general Jerome Valcke will also be absent from the biggest event in women’s soccer. FIFA said in a state- ment that “due to their current commitments in Zurich, the FIFA President and the FIFA Secretary General will remain at the FIFA Headquarters.” Blatter announced plans to quit earlier this month – four days after being elected for a fifth term – under pressure from FIFA spon- sors over the escalating criminal investigations. FIFA’s executive com- mittee will set the date for a new presidential election at an emergency meeting on July 20 in Zurich. The American case al- leges bribery in the 2010 World Cup hosting vote and widespread bribery and racketeering, implicating se- nior FIFA officials in orga- nizing competitions in North and South America. Seven men among 14 indicted have been detained in Zurich and face extradition to the United States.8 WORLD&REGIONAL Wednesday July 1, 2015 • Cayman Compass We Buy Gold!We Buy Gold! Cash For Gold Silver, Coins and Broken Jewelry Cash Paid on the Spot! Call 927-8565 Cash For Gold • Shedden Road Dr. Douglas Van Putten Ophthalmologist Please call 945-7588 for appointment will visit Tropical Optical July 7th, - July 10th, 2015 Little hope of survivors in Indonesian military plane crash MEDAN, Indonesia (AP) – Rescuers with heavy ma- chinery searched a shattered residential neighborhood Tuesday for any survivors from an Indonesian air force transport plane that crashed shortly after takeoff and killed more than 70 people. The C-130 Hercules, car- rying military personnel and their families, went down in Indonesia’s third-largest city of Medan, striking a building. Witness accounts suggested the plane suffered an engine fire before crashing. Air force spokesman Rear Marshal Dwi Badarmanto said 74 bodies were recov- ered. About 30 of the dead were identified and included air force personnel and rela- tives, he added. Air force officials said more than 100 people may have been on the C-130, but there was little hope of finding survivors. It is un- clear how many people on the ground were killed. The crash of the transport plane, which had been in ser- vice since 1964, occurred only two minutes after it took off from Soewondo air force base around midday. The pilot told the con- trol tower that he needed to turn back because of engine trouble, said air force chief Air Marshal Agus Supriatna. “The plane crashed while it was turning right to return to the airport,” he said. Many passengers were relatives of military per- sonnel. Hitching rides on military planes to reach re- mote destinations is common in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago that spans three time zones. Indonesia has a patchy civil aviation safety record and its cash-strapped air force has also suffered a se- ries of accidents. Between 2007 and 2009, the European Union barred Indonesian air- lines from flying to Europe because of safety concerns. The country’s most recent civilian airline disaster was in December, when an AirAsia jet with 162 people on board crashed into the Java Sea en route from Surabaya to Singapore. There have been five fatal crashes involving air force planes since 2008, according to the Aviation Safety Network, which tracks aviation disasters. Fahmi Sembiring of Medan said he saw the gray Hercules flying very low as he was driving. “Flames and black smoke were coming from the plane in the air,” he said. Sembiring said he stopped not far from the crash site and saw several people res- cued by police, security guards and bystanders. Another man, Janson Halomoan Sinagam, said several of his relatives were on the plane. “We just want to know their fate,” he told MetroTV, weeping. “But we have not yet received any information from the hospital.” The plane’s manifest showed there were 50 people on the flight from Medan in Sumatra to the remote Natuna island chain, ac- cording to North Sumatra Police Chief Eko Hadi Sutedjo, but the actual number was considerably higher. Supriatna said there were more than 100 passengers and a crew of 12 on the plane before it reached Medan. It had traveled from the capital, Jakarta, and stopped at two locations before arriving in Medan, a city of 3.4 million. It was the second time in 10 years that an airplane has crashed into a Medan neigh- borhood. In September 2005, a Mandala Airlines Boeing 737 crashed into a crowded residential community shortly after takeoff from Medan’s Polonia airport, killing 143 people including 30 on the ground. On Twitter, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he and his family extend “heartfelt condolences” to the families of victims. The government will eval- uate the age of air force planes and other important military equipment, he said. 2 dead after man sets himself on fire on Japanese bullet train ODAWARA, Japan (AP) – A man set himself on fire on a high- speed bullet train in Japan on Tuesday, killing himself and another passenger as the coach filled with smoke, a fire official said. At least 26 other people were injured, three seri- ously, mostly from smoke inhalation, Odawara Fire Department official Ikutaro Torii said. The man’s motive wasn’t clear. The passenger poured an oil-like substance over his head before setting him- self on fire, authorities said. Kyodo News service re- ported that he used a lighter. Officials said the fire was at the front of the first car of the train, which was heading from Tokyo to Osaka. “I said to myself, ‘This is bad!’” said Takeo Inariyama, a 54-year-old businessman trav- eling in the second car. “I saw everyone running toward me and smoke coming. Also the smell [of smoke] filled the car. So I felt my life was in danger.” The train stopped on the outskirts of Odawara city, about 50 miles west of Tokyo, when a passenger pressed an emergency button after finding someone col- lapsed on the floor near a restroom at the back of the first car, a transport min- istry official said on condi- tion of anonymity, citing de- partment rules. The passenger on the floor, a woman, was later pronounced dead, reportedly from inhaling smoke. Crew members rushed to extinguish the fire, said Kengo Sasaoka, a spokesman for Central Japan Railway Co., which oper- ates the bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka. TBS television broadcast a video of passengers evacu- ating the smoke-filled coach, some coughing, others cov- ering their faces with towels and handkerchiefs. Witnesses provided some- what varying accounts to Japanese networks. One passenger, in a tele- phone interview with TBS, said the man approached him when he was standing out- side the driver’s compartment and told him to stay away be- cause it would be dangerous, then poured an orange-col- ored liquid over himself. Public broadcaster NHK quoted a 58-year-old busi- nessman as saying the man walked up and down the aisle a few times before returning with a plastic container that splashed a liquid on the businessman’s shoulder as he walked by. The man then started dumping the liquid on the floor, and the businessman quickly left as he smelled gasoline, he said. Japan’s suicide rate is among the world’s highest, and a number of people jump off station platforms in front of approaching trains every year. Self-immolation, though, is relatively rare. Two oc- curred last year, one fatal, but both were political protests. France links beheading, gas plant attack to islamic state PARIS (AP) – French in- vestigators have uncovered links between Islamic State militants and the man who hung his employer’s sev- ered head at a gas plant he was attacking, a prosecutor said Tuesday. The man, Yassin Salhi, has said he was acting purely for personal reasons when he beheaded his boss after being reprimanded for dropping equipment from a pallet, according to his lawyer. But prosecutor Francois Molins said his acts went well beyond a simple work- place dispute. With a long-bladed knife and a gun in hand – as well as two brand new flags emblazoned with the Muslim declaration of faith, Salhi tricked his boss into getting into the van, knocked him uncon- scious and strangled him, Molins said. About a quarter-mile be- fore reaching the plant, he decapitated his victim, and then almost immediately sent two photos of the re- mains to a friend in Syria: One was a selfie, and the other included an image of the severed head placed carefully on the torso. Then Salhi, a truck driver with a history of radical Islamic ties dating back to 2003, drove into the plant filled with flammable gas canisters, Molins said. When he was tackled by firefighters responding to the explosion and blaze, he cried out “Allahu akbar,“ the Arabic phrase for “God is great,” Molins said. A passenger is carried out of the bullet train which made an emergency stop in Odawara, west of Tokyo Tuesday. A passenger poured oil and set himself on fire, causing fire and smoke in the car. - photo: kyodo news via ap Rescuers search for victims at the site where an air force transport plane crashed in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday. - photo: apThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Business Cayman Compass • Wednesday July 1, 2015 US court: Apple violated antitrust law Apple violated antitrust laws by colluding with publishers to raise electronic book prices when it entered a market in 2010 that had been dominated by Amazon.com, a divided federal appeals court panel said Tuesday. SEC filing indicates Verdmont owners traded in pump and dump schemes MichAel Klein mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com New evidence in the Caledonian case suggests that the owners of co-defen- dant Verdmont traded in the penny stock Goff Corp. for their own benefit. Panamanian broker- dealer Verdmont had previ- ously stated in court doc- uments that it had only conducted a single day trade for its own account, which resulted in a profit of $11,300, and that all other trades in the manipulated stocks had been effected on behalf of clients. Verdmont has made an application for a judgment on the pleadings on the basis of the currently submitted evidence, effectively trying to have the case dismissed. In response to the motion, the SEC has filed two invest- ment account applications that show that Verdmont owner Glynn Fisher is the director of Cayman com- pany Creekside Capital – the beneficial owner is Pescata Foundation – and that fellow Verdmont principal Taylor Housser is the owner and director of BVI-based Jacametra Inversiones, S.A. An excerpt of trading re- cords also submitted by the SEC shows that both companies traded in Goff Corporation – one of four al- legedly restricted and ma- nipulated penny stocks. According to the single sheet of trading re- cords for the period of March 18 to April 3, 2013, Jacametra Inversiones made a profit of $23,905 and Creekside Capital made a profit of $19,899. Creekside Capital was in- corporated in Cayman in October 2003 and Jacametra Inversiones was incorporated in January 2007, according to the records. The SEC said it had obtained the documents from foreign regulators. The SEC case claims that restricted securities of four companies “were passed off” as free trading stock held by shareholders unaffiliated with the issuers. Stock cer- tificates were then trans- ferred, without restrictive legends, to Caledonian Bank and Caledonian Securities in Cayman, Clear Water Securities and Legacy Global Markets in Belize, and Verdmont Capital in Panama or brokerage accounts held by these firms. The companies sold the stock from those accounts to the public and thereby vio- lated U.S. securities laws, the SEC alleges. The stock sold involved four practically worthless penny stock shell compa- nies whose stock price was manipulated in pump and dump schemes and ulti- mately collapsed to zero, ac- cording to the SEC. The commission main- tains that its amended com- plaint, filed on June 5, prop- erly alleges a prima facie case that Verdmont had violated Section 5 of the Securities Act by selling se- curities issued by Goff Corp., Norstra Energy and Xumanii, Inc., in unregis- tered distributions and that the case should go to trial. Verdmont does not deny that it sold the penny stocks on behalf of clients to the public but maintains that, even if the stocks were re- stricted, it is covered by the broker-dealer exemptions to Section 5. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 16. The court also extended the time for Caledonian to re- spond to the amended com- plaint by 60 days until Aug. 24. The SEC and Caledonian’s liquidators are currently ne- gotiating a settlement. OECD: Energy taxes misaligned with environmental impacts of energy Governments are under- utilizing taxation as a tool to curb the environmental con- sequences of energy use, fore- going revenue and weakening their attack on the principal source of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for cli- mate change and air pollu- tion, the OECD claims. Taxes on energy use pro- vide a transparent policy signal and are one of the most effective tools governments have for reducing the negative side effects of energy use, the organization said. However, according to a new analysis that compared energy taxes in 41 coun- tries, energy taxes are poorly aligned with the negative side effects of energy use, and are having limited im- pact on efforts to reduce en- ergy use, improve energy ef- ficiency and drive a shift towards less harmful forms of energy. “Current taxes on energy use are low and incoherent,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “Tax policy is not being used effectively to reduce the adverse health impacts and emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from energy use. There is still considerable scope to use taxation to improve the envi- ronment and containing cli- mate change.” The new research pres- ents a comparative analysis of the structure and level of energy taxes in the 34 OECD member countries and seven G20 partner economies: Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa. Together those countries represent about 80 percent of global energy use. The study translates stat- utory tax rates into effective tax rates per unit of energy and per unit of carbon di- oxide for a wide range of en- ergy types and uses. The report finds that taxes on energy use are low compared to the environ- mental costs of energy use, both on average and within many countries. The weighted average ef- fective tax rate on all energy use across the 41 countries is EUR 14.8 per tonne of CO 2 from energy use. This is well below estimates of the so- cial cost of carbon, at around EUR 30 per tonne. When the cost of other negative side-ef- fects from energy use are also considered, this strengthens the conclusion that average tax rates are very low rela- tive to the harmful effects of fuel use. Economy-wide country tax rates on energy vary widely, from just over EUR 0 per tonne of CO 2 to EUR 107.3 per tonne of CO 2, with significant differences be- tween different fuels and uses, and within countries. Taxes are particularly low, or zero, on some of the most harmful fuels, making them unduly appealing to end-users. Coal, which contrib- utes significantly to climate change and local air pollu- tion, is the lowest and least frequently taxed fuel: 85 per- cent of coal used for heating and process purposes in the 41 countries is untaxed, and the average tax rate on coal is less than EUR 2 per tonne of CO 2. By comparison, oil prod- ucts are taxed at EUR 49 per tonne of CO 2 on av- erage, with the vast majority of oil products subject to energy taxes. Taxes differ strongly among users, in ways that are not explained by differ- ences in environmental im- pacts. They are much lower for heating and process fuels and the electricity sector than for transport; and they also differ between fuels used for the same purpose. The simple average effec- tive tax rate on energy use in the transport sector is EUR 70 per tonne of CO 2, against EUR 3 per tonne of CO 2 in heating and process use and in electricity production. Thirty-nine countries tax diesel for transport use at lower rates than gasoline, despite the greater environ- mental harm from diesel use. “The evidence presented in this report provides con- crete suggestions for reform to make sure that taxes on energy use help achieve eco- nomic, social and environ- mental objectives more effec- tively,” Mr. Gurría said. Mr. Gurria SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s finan- cial future hung in limbo Tuesday as economists and officials warned that the U.S. territory could head down Greece’s path if it is not allowed to de- clare bankruptcy as it struggles with $72 billion in public debt. The island prepared to close a troubled fiscal year amid intense investor scru- tiny just hours before the first of several multimil- lion-dollar debt payments is due. It remained unclear whether the government would meet the roughly $400 million obligation due Wednesday, obtain yet an- other extension from credi- tors, or default. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has said that the overall debt is unpayable and that he will seek a moratorium on payments, although it is still unknown whether bondholders will agree to that or opt to re- solve the issue in court. “The bombshells that have come down from Puerto Rico in the last two days have not been particularly well orches- trated,” said David Tawil, co-founder and portfolio manager of New York- based Maglan Capital. “You really don’t do those things without … wanting to shock the market … or preparing the market and gaining consensus.” Unlike Greece, Puerto Rico cannot seek emer- gency financing from an in- stitution because it’s a U.S. territory. Some economists say that leaves bankruptcy as the most financially sound alternative. “Both are in desperate need of a solution, but nei- ther can access the solution they’re asking for, which is a bankruptcy process,” said Eric LeCompte, ex- ecutive director of Jubilee USA Network. He noted that if Puerto Rico were considered a de- veloping country, it would be the eighth most heavily indebted country in the world. If the island does not obtain the right to de- clare bankruptcy, it will ei- ther restructure the debt or go into default, he said. “That’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s between a rock and a hard place in terms of how to move forward.” Puerto Rico’s governor is pushing for the right for the island’s agencies to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 9. He also plans to establish a team to come up with a fiscal and eco- nomic reform plan to help jumpstart the economy of the island, which is in a nearly nine-year reces- sion. The team has until Aug. 30 to develop the plan, which requires leg- islative approval. Economists say PuErto rico nEEds right to bankruPtcy oPtion Next >