ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday July 9, 2015 sports | page 15 island air Touching The heighTs Summer rugby league enjoyed by all High of 90 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. editorial | page 4 governmenT welfare programs need assisTance 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 cgigrp charges allege webb, watson benefited from hospital contracts Unnamed “others” involved, not charged BrenT fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb and Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson have been identified in court charges as the “controllers and beneficiaries” of a local company that is embroiled in a corruption probe over the award of a public hospital pa- tient swipe-card contract. Webb and Watson were each charged last week with various offenses in connec- tion with the December 2010 award of the CarePay swipe card contract by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority to Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) Cayman Ltd. Watson served as chairman of the Health Services Authority board of directors at the time the contract was awarded to the company that Crown prosecutors allege he controlled. In statements to the press, Watson has pre- viously denied all allegations of corrupt acts. Webb is being held in detention in Switzerland awaiting extradition on sepa- rate charges filed in U.S. federal court against him in connection with an international rack- eteering and bribery probe involving world football’s governing body. The Cayman charges allege Webb and Watson jointly committed two counts of con- spiracy to defraud under common law, one count of breach of trust by a public officer under the local Anti-Corruption Law and one count of conspiracy to convert criminal prop- erty under the local Penal Code. Miriam Rodriguez, Watson’s former per- sonal assistant at local financial services company Admiral Administration, was also charged in connection with the alleged con- spiracy to convert criminal property. The CarePay contract issue publicly arose in June 2014 during hearings before the Legislative Assembly’s Finance Committee in which lawmakers raised concerns about the swipe-card system’s overall operating costs. Those costs included a 4 percent payment made to AIS Cayman Ltd. on each insurer- approved healthcare transaction in the local ProPosed districts average 1,330 voters charles duncan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The new electoral districts proposal has an average of 1,330 potential voters per district, with the exception of the two Sister Island districts, each with about 600 voters, North Side with 800, and East End with 610 voters. The remaining 15 districts are di- vided among West Bay, George Town and Bodden Town. The public had their final opportunity this week to make comments to Electoral Boundaries Commission members, who ex- pect to deliver a report in August proposing 19 electoral districts for the Cayman Islands. The three-member commission has been meeting for months and delivered its long- awaited redistricting maps on July 1. The new maps preserve the existing North Side and East End districts, despite their low popula- tions, and add a district to George Town. “It’s more problematic to have districts with too many people than too few,” said com- mission chair Lisa Handley, an election dis- tricting expert from the United States who has worked on similar efforts around the world. She spoke Tuesday night in George Town to a crowd of 25, one of the final public comment sessions for the commission. Ms. Handley said the United States is unique in making population the primary concern in redistricting. “Most countries rec- ognize sparsely populated areas as having special status.” Auditor: Ministry took ‘unnecessary risks’ with student safety School opened before completion, without certificate of occupancy charles duncan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thirty months after opening to students, Clifton Hunter High School still does not have its certificate of occupancy, according to a new auditor general’s report. “We believe that the ministry took un- necessary risks with the safety and wel- fare of the students attending the schools at the time,” the report from the Office of the Auditor General, released Tuesday, states. The audit accuses the ministry of not managing the project effectively, leading to cost overruns and delays, and delivering far less than it promised. The audit also alleges the education minister at the time, Rolston Anglin, had inappropriate influence in who received contracts, which, in part led to the problems with the project. Mr. Anglin had not responded to requests for comments as of press time Wednesday. The audit details extensive problems with the Education Ministry’s planning and building projects from 2005 through 2013 when government proposed three new high schools and a number of new primary PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Clifton Hunter High School still does not have a certificate of occupancy, despite having opened two-and-a-half years ago. - PHoto: taNeos raMsaY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday July 9, 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. y x TERMINATOR: GENYSIS 3D (PG13) 1:05 I 3:40 2D I 7:00 I 9:40 2D JURASSIC WORLD 3D (PG13) 1:00 I 3:45 2D I 6:30 I 9:15 2D INSIDE OUT 3D (PG) 1:10 2D I 4:00 I 7:15 2D I 9:45 MAX (PG) 12:45 I 3:20 I 6:50 I 9:25 MAGIC MIKE XXL (R) 1:20 I 4:10 I 7:20 I 10:05 TED 2 (R) 1:10 I 3:50 I 7:10 |10:00 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - $8.00 www.tonymosleylifeinsurance.com Young Caymanians get Dart scholarships Cayman Islands’ Minds Inspired scholarship pro- gram has selected three Caymanian students for its 2015 high school and uni- versity scholarships. Chloe DaCosta, 18, re- ceived the William A. Dart university scholarship. She graduated from St. Ignatius High School with honors and a GPA of 4.17 with recogni- tion on the honor roll and effort honor roll with dis- tinction. She was awarded funding to attend an ac- credited university, mentor- ship by Dart employees and work experience. Jade Wilkinson and Christian Dyer are recipi- ents of the Minds Inspired high school scholarship pro- gram. Both are 14 and at- tend Cayman Prep and High School. They have excelled academically with A and A* grades in all core subjects. In addition to the four- year high school scholar- ship, based on academic excellence with a focus in mathematics and science, the Minds Inspired high school scholarship program provides its scholars with a mentoring program with Dart employees and “enrich- ment activities” intended to further inspire and expose the students to multiple opportunities. “The 2015 Minds Inspired applicants were of an incredibly high caliber,” Mark VanDevelde, chief executive officer for Dart Enterprises Ltd., said in a statement. “We are encour- aged and delighted by the range of accomplishments they embody: from aca- demia to sports, and from the liberal arts to commu- nity service; and we are pleased to welcome Jade, Christian and Chloe to the Minds Inspired family.” Ms. DaCosta plans to pursue a double bachelor of arts in the fields of jazz dance and body sciences at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, com- bining her interests in physical therapy and sports medicine with her passion for dance. She was involved in a variety of school initia- tives, sports, extracurric- ular activities and chari- table giving. She took part in the Builders Club, Key Club, annual drama pro- ductions, concert band and choir and served as a stu- dent council representative. She also participated in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, inter-school foot- ball activities and compe- titions, and interscholastic swimming and track meets. She also helped organize annual fundraisers for the school and volunteered at the Catholic Church. Jade and Christian both have interests in sports and sciences. Jade hopes to “combine her passions by pursuing a degree in a field such as sport science, sports management, sports psychology or sports an- alytics,” while Christian is considering the field of sports psychology. Jade wants to continue competing in sports such as track and field, sailing, tag rugby and soccer. She has competed in tennis for the past three years. She has participated in the Middle School Model United Nations Club since September 2014 and in March, traveled to New York City to debate world issues, where her res- olution on gender violence was passed. Christian also partici- pates in sports, including tennis, football and track and field. He represents his school in the under-18 foot- ball team – something he hopes to continue in the next school year, and he also invests time giving back to the Cayman com- munity through his work with Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness. Other high school finalists were Trey Milgate of Cayman Prep and High School, Maia Thompson of Montessori by the Sea, and Alexander Cummer of Cayman International School. The Minds Inspired high school scholarship program was launched in 2012, and in 2013 was joined by the William A. Dart Memorial scholarship, which provides funding, mentorship and support to Caymanian stu- dents with exceptional aca- demic records attending, or about to attend, university. Minds Inspired high school scholars Jade Wilkinson and Christian Dyer, with Mark VanDevelde and Jackie Doak of Dart. Chloe DaCosta, 2015 Minds Inspired university scholar, third from left, with Dart representatives Mark VanDevelde, Joanne Lawson, Jackie Doak, Glenda McTaggart, Chris Duggan and Juliet Du Feu. Third bullet in two months found at airport AshAni FrAncis-collins afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com A visitor to Grand Cayman was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm for a bullet discovered in his lug- gage, the third such incident on island since May 1. Wilmer Lobo Alvarez’s family vacation was delayed after customs officers found a bullet in his luggage at Owen Roberts International Airport, Magistrate Grace Donalds heard in Summary Court on Tuesday. Alvarez, 36, pleaded guilty, stating that he is the holder of a firearm license in Honduras, and that he did not realize the bullet was still in the bag when he brought it with him. He apologized to Magistrate Donalds and to the court, saying it was never his inten- tion to jeopardize any lives. Alvarez was ordered to pay a fine of $750 or serve two months in prison. A cus- toms officer advised the court that Alverez’s bail had been set at US$1,250, so the money being held could be used to pay his fine. Alvarez, a Honduran national, does not speak English, so a customs officer acted as a translator. He was charged with pos- session of an unlicensed firearm after one .40 caliber round was discovered in his hand luggage on Monday, July 6. Cayman’s firearms law includes ammunition in its definition of a firearm. Crown counsel Kenneth Ferguson said Alvarez was en route from Honduras to Miami via Grand Cayman when the bullet was found in Alvarez’s hand luggage on the conveyor belt for an X-ray. Workers from Flowers Air Dispatch Service noticed a suspiciously shaped object. Mr. Ferguson said a cus- toms officer was summoned and advised of the discovery and escorted Alvarez to the search room. Former Cayman residents on trial For $300m vaCation rental Fraud MIAMI (AP) — A Miami couple is on trial in Miami on charges they orches- trated a $300 million fraud involving thousands of in- vestors who were promised big profits by purchasing dilapidated properties that would supposedly be turned into luxurious resorts. On trial are Fred Davis Clark Jr., former president of Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas, and Cristal Clark, a top sales agent. They are former residents of the Cayman Islands. Prosecutors say banks and about 1,400 individual investors were defrauded. Opening statements were set for Wednesday in federal court. Prosecutors say inves- tors in some cases were falsely promised returns of between 15 and 20 percent on properties in Florida, Las Vegas and the Caribbean. The Clarks previously pleaded not guilty to bank fraud, mail fraud and con- spiracy charges. If con- victed, they each face potentially decades in federal prison.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday July 9, 2015 Arsenic testing under way, doubt cast on poison claim TAd SToner tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Researchers from the Pan American Health Organization have taken sam- ples from at least three mem- bers of Frank Sound’s Powell family and are scheduling others, while also testing neighbors, plants, cattle and soil for arsenic poisoning. Charles Powell, owner of the arsenic-contami- nated 14.5-acre Frank Sound farm, said Tuesday that so far he and one of his grand- children had been tested by visiting inspectors from the Pan American Health Organization, while his son Chad Powell said he was to be tested on Wednesday. “They are still up there,” the elder Mr. Powell said, de- scribing the presence on his farm of rotating teams of in- spectors from the Jamaica offices of PAHO and the Kingston-based International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences. “They tested me, one of my grandchildren, and the neighbors. They will test the others [grandchildren], but they had school, so I’ve been told the doctors from PAHO will do the testing this week,” he said. Charles Powell has six grandchildren, and said testing would extend to two other children in a nearby rental property. He said the ICENS in- spectors were “going down” into the soil and had already drilled 45 holes, 21 of them in three particular spots where arsenic-infused ash was buried after incineration of chemically treated plywood. “They are trying to find the main source where it [ar- senic] is coming from. Then they will look for how far it’s spread,” he said. “The plan is to get [tested] all the people living up there, something like 50 of them,” said Chad Powell. “They will also do the soil and the ani- mals. My father has about 15 or 16 cattle.” Both PAHO and the Ministry of Health de- clined to answer ques- tions about testing sched- ules, on-site teams or an agenda for results, although Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, in charge of the inves- tigation program, said ear- lier the lab work would take a month to complete. Meanwhile, former Cabinet Secretary Orrett Connor, head of the Cayman Islands Recovery Operation and post-Hurricane Ivan cleanup effort, disputed many of Charles Powell’s claims of official negligence at the site. Mr. Connor said Mr. Powell had contracted with CIRO and partner MC Restoration for the 2004 cleanup, volunteering his land for rubbish disposal, accepting $30 per hour as “site manager” and asking to retain much of the mulch and waste product from grinding and incinerating tons of vegetable matter and arsenic-infused plywood used in post-storm repairs. “There is no other res- idue up there,” Mr. Connor said. “We supervised them [MC Restoration] and they cleared up. “There is a lot or swamp up there and still a lot of machinery up there. “He [Charles Powell] wanted the material to remain on his property, but we said no because the arsenic levels were too high. He thought he could sell the mulch.” He disputed Charles Powell’s claim that 250,000 cubic yards of ash had been produced, and that 4,000 cubic yards of the ash, moved in 2006 to a sealed pit at the George Town Landfill, was the entire total. “It’s not true,” Mr. Connor said of the higher figure, pointing out that PAHO and ICENS were “just testing the soil” because no waste remained on-site. He pointed to other sites where similar grinding, mulching and burning had occurred. “There was another site in Frank Sound, where the Ironwood development is being put down, and that is owned by the same people who owned MC Restoration. “There was a site in West Bay, in the Northwest Point area. The owner wrote to us and congratulated us on how we handled the site and leveled it off. “There is another site on the [East-West Arterial] bypass, and we’ve never had any complaints,” Mr. Connor said. David and Tom Moffitt, MC Restoration owners and developers of the $360 mil- lion Ironwood residence and golf course development, said they tested their land three years or four years ago and found it clean. The tests “had no rel- evance to Ironwood what- soever,” they said through spokeswoman Denise Gower, “but was done for other reasons. It has a clean bill of health.” Mr. Connor pointed to arsenic as naturally occur- ring chemical – if in modest quantities. “Arsenic is naturally forming, and the problem is that no one did any tests before, so no one knew the levels,” he said. A Ministry of Health of- ficial echoed Mr. Connor, underlining the need to await test results: “The Cayman Islands govern- ment is still in the investi- gation process,” said Nancy Barnard, deputy chief of- ficer for policy and plan- ning. “Accordingly, at this point, the media should await the final investigative report which will include findings and recommenda- tions to mitigate any prob- lems, if indeed there are any arising.” Cabinet Secretary Orrett Connor, head of the Cayman Islands Recovery Operation and post-Hurricane Ivan cleanup effort, disputed many of Charles Powell’s claims of official negligence at the site. Young marine enthusiast makes generous donation ASHAnI FrAnCIS-CoLLInS Afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has received a heartfelt donation of US$1,000 from Nolin Godwin, a 10-year-old visitor from Atmore, Alabama. Nolin raised the money by selling paintings and draw- ings in his hometown over the past six months. After he and his mother found the Foundation’s Facebook page last year, he was immediately drawn to helping Mr. Harvey with his conservation efforts. “I just love all of it,” he said, when asked why he felt so inspired by Mr. Harvey’s work. “I love marine life and painting. I wanted to help.” Nolin’s parents said they noticed his love for ma- rine life and art at a young age, and were motivated to get him to meet Mr. Harvey and see someone who was making a living as a marine biologist and a painter. Gordon Godwin, Nolin’s father, said that he is very proud of his son’s devotion and hard work. “We went to meet [Guy Harvey] and, out of nowhere, Nolin said ‘I’m thinking about selling my paintings and giving some of the money to your founda- tion,’” Mr. Godwin said. “He was taking orders and painting while being in school and playing soccer … he had to manage his time to get things done but he really enjoyed it.” Nolin’s parents said they especially appreciated the way Mr. Harvey encouraged Nolin in his efforts and made him feel like his thoughts and ideas held value. “We’ve been really im- pressed with Guy Harvey and the way he treats Nolin. In this day and age, finding somebody who is worth looking up to is hard,” his father said. “We met with him again and Guy Harvey was genuinely excited to see Nolin. He even featured him in his documentary ‘Sharks of North America.’” Mr. Harvey said that he was equally as impressed with Nolin’s efforts and his devotion to helping the ma- rine environment. “During his most recent visit, he was able to assist us with the southern stingray survey at the sandbar and see firsthand the marine research work that his generous donation will help fund,” Mr. Harvey said. Nolin raised around US$1,500 in total and elected to give a portion to his local church, donate $1,000 to Guy Harvey’s foundation, and used the rest to pay for his own scuba diving gear during his visit to Grand Cayman. Cayman Airways adds flight to La Ceiba Cayman Airways is in- creasing the number of flights this summer to La Ceiba, Honduras. The airline will fly three times a week from Grand Cayman to La Ceiba. Citing increased demand for summer travel between the two locations, Cayman Airways has added a Wednesday flight to its July and August schedules. Cayman Airways cur- rently operates flights year-round on Friday and Monday between Owen Roberts International Airport and La Ceiba. The one-hour flight de- parts Grand Cayman at 1 p.m. and arrives in La Ceiba at 1:25 p.m. The re- turn flight leaves La Ceiba at 2:25 p.m. and arrives in Cayman at 4:45 p.m. La Ceiba is the tourism capital of Honduras. The city, which lies on the northern coast of Honduras and the southern edge of the Caribbean, of- fers daily ferry services to the islands of Útila and Roatán – popular destina- tions for diving. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman makes ‘World’s Best’ list Hotel voted 10th out of top 25 resorts The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has been named one of the best hotels in the Caribbean by Travel and Leisure magazine on its 2015 “World’s Best” list. The resort on Seven Mile Beach came in at number 10 on the list of 25 best ho- tels in the Caribbean region. The magazine called the 144-acre resort, which in- cludes a 365-room beach- front hotel, a “high-end playground” with a “who’s who of branded ameni- ties,” such as “Jean-Michel Cousteau nature tours, a Greg Norman–designed golf course, Nick Bollettieri tennis pros, a La Prairie spa, and five restaurants, including one run by ac- claimed chef Eric Ripert.” The list is determined by surveys completed by the magazine’s readers. Responses from travel-in- dustry professionals are ex- cluded from the final tally, and a destination must re- ceive a minimum number of mentions to be eligible for inclusion on the list. Hotels that make the list have been rated on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and value. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, received a score of 88.27. The number one slot in the list was shared between the Jade Mountain resort in Soufrière, St. Lucia, and Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Whitehouse, Jamaica – each of which re- ceived a score of 92. Marine biologist and artist Guy Harvey with Nolin Godwin, who donated $1,000 to the Guy Harvey Foundation, by selling his own marine artwork in his hometown in Alabama.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Thursday JuLy 9, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Former U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey once said, “The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.” According to any of those standards, it is difficult to assign a passing grade to the Cayman Islands government. Certainly our officials have been spending vast sums on various “safety nets,” which in this case are as porous as the term implies. A new report from the Office of the Auditor General shows that public assis- tance programs account for nearly 10 percent of gov- ernment’s core budget, totaling more than $50 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year. The problem with social services in Cayman isn’t the amount of money being spent, necessarily, but how that money is being spent. Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick has reported that individual assis- tance programs, providing money or benefits directly to Caymanians, “are operating without objectives and there is no measurement of their performance.” He said, “Government has therefore failed to ensure that programs are helping those in need and achieving results.” While we at the Compass are no proponents of big government spending or welfare dependency, we do support taxpayer-funded social assistance programs that are aimed at helping people who are truly in need (and only those people). The rationale for our stance is moral, practical and philosophical: Why would we humans bother to band together as an organized society if not for the very reason of the “strong” pro- tecting the “weak”? In Cayman and elsewhere, too often it is the weakest among us who suffer unnecessarily because of the actions of the strong, whether it be outright exploitation, or, more commonly, simple neglect or mismanagement. Consider, for example, the government’s affordable housing projects — the units in West Bay that have been deemed unsuitable for occupation, yet remain occupied; or the newer homes in Bodden Town that have remained vacant since they were built. Or look to the litany of shortcomings in government assistance programs documented in the auditor gen- eral’s report, including: “political direction” as to who receives public assistance, a lack of set criteria for who should get assistance, “no coordinated strategy” for ensuring that people in need receive help in a timely way, and that budgets for social welfare programs were based on previous years’ budgets and not on the actual level of need for the programs. “Government has not taken the necessary steps over the years to ensure it is providing assistance in the right amount to the right people at the right time, and thus [is] ultimately failing the people they are supposed to serve,” Auditor General Swarbrick said. Rather than a properly managed public welfare system, Cayman has a patchwork of programs that, in part, act as an institutional disincentive to gainful employment by the able in mind and body, and foster a culture of government dependence (in a country where, we remind our readers, many hundreds of for- eigners hold work permits for jobs that require little or no prior experience or skills, and who, while making “low” wages, do not receive public assistance). Every dollar that is given to someone who does not really need it, is a dollar that could have been given to someone who does. Make no mistake: There are thousands of Cayma- nians, particularly the young, the old, the disabled and the infirm, who are in dire need of help and who would greatly benefit from public assistance in the purest sense of the term. Many of those people do not receive the help they need to break the so-called cycle of poverty, because our social services system itself is broken. Government welfare programs need assistance A tantrum masquerading as governance WASHINGTON – When Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras de- cided to call a referendum on a bailout offer from Greece’s creditors – an offer that ex- pired before Sunday’s ref- erendum – he informed the Greek nation in a televised speech. At 1 a.m. Mediterranean lifestyles are different. Greece’s chosen style of living is dependent on others’ choices. Tsipras is a peculiar phe- nomenon, a defiant mendi- cant. He urged voters to do what they did. In voting “no,” they asserted that Greece’s dignity is incompatible with loans that come with con- ditions attached. Tsipras’ Syriza Party insists, however, that dignity is compatible with perpetual dependency on the forbearance and pro- ductivity of others. Karl Marx, an intellectual for whom labor as most 19th- century people experienced it was only a rumor, detested the division of labor because it “alienated” workers. But al- though Syriza partakes of the European left’s unending ro- mance with Marxism, its pro- gram requires a particular division of labor: Greece will live better than its economic productivity can sustain, and more productive Europeans will pay the difference. Until socialism arrives, Marx said, “the worker ... is only him- self when he does not work,” a sentiment many Greeks em- brace by retiring on govern- ment pensions at age 50. Left-wing parties in other southern European coun- tries – Portugal, Spain, Italy – are watching to see if Greece can turn weakness, indeed prostration, into strength: Continue to rescue us or we will collapse into a conta- gious mess. Actually, the risk of economic contagion is slight: Greece’s economy is about the size of Louisiana’s, and is 2 percent of the euro- zone’s, and markets have dis- counted a Greek default. The real danger is a political con- tagion – a flight from free- market reforms elsewhere. It is said that the European Union is a splendid idea but that the euro – the common currency – is a bad idea. Actually, the euro is a bad idea that is the logical application of an even worse idea – the European Union. By the middle of the 20th century, after the Somme and the Holocaust, Europeans were terrified of themselves. This propelled the movement toward European unity, yet another of Europe’s misbe- gotten enthusiasms. One from which Margaret Thatcher, a daughter of the “Mother of Parliaments,” quickly recoiled. In 1988, she said: “We have not success- fully rolled back the fron- tiers of the state in Britain, only to see them reimposed at a European level with a European super-state ex- ercising a new dominance from Brussels.” In the gen- eral election campaign ear- lier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron promised a referendum on British mem- bership in the EU. It will be more important than this year’s parliamentary elections because it will determine whether future parliamentary elections will matter. The EU exists to require nations to “pool” their sover- eignties in unelected, unac- countable bureaucracies. The retrograde point of the EU is to leech from national par- liaments powers that were hard-won over many centu- ries of struggle. National gov- ernments rendered unserious by the EU are apt to regress to adolescence, as with Syriza’s referendum – a tantrum mas- querading as governance. Seventy years after the guns fell silent, the drive to turn “Europe” from a geo- graphic into a political ex- pression lacks the excuse of preventing continental con- vulsions caused by nation- alistic militarisms. Now, the drive for “ever closer union” – which means ever-more atten- uated democracy – is fueled by the traditional socialist (and, in America, the progressive) goal of expanding the reach of a mandarin class of supposed experts in social rationality. Today, the European Parliament has 24 official languages, and the fate of “Europe” is said to be linked to the future of ramshackle Greece. There, on Sunday night, people poured into Athens’ Syntagma Square to celebrate having told the creditors to send more money with fewer strings attached. Many cele- brants came to the square by subway, which did not charge riders because capital controls, a consequence of five years of negotiations with creditors and evasions of reality, had made currency scarce. On Sept. 30, 1938, when French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier’s plane bringing him back from the Munich conference was landing in Paris, he feared that the crowd gathered at the air- port would be furious because of the concessions that had been made to Hitler. When Daladier saw that the crowd was cheering, he reportedly said: “The bloody fools.” After the 61 percent “no” vote was announced in Sunday’s refer- endum, there was dancing in the streets of Athens. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group Left-wing parties in other southern European countries – Portugal, Spain, Italy – are watching to see if Greece can turn weakness, indeed prostration, into strength: Continue to rescue us or we will collapse into a contagious mess. GEORGE F. WILL A tourist passes graffiti in Athens on Wednesday. Greece made a request for aid from Europe’s bailout fund Wednesday as it rushed to deliver details of its proposed economic reforms in time to secure the country’s future in the euro and avoid a descent into financial chaos. - 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 July 9, 2015 100 Women Who Care program launched in Cayman JeWel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Women in Cayman who have an interest in helping others have started their own chapter of 100 Women Who Care. The concept is simple. Take 100 women with $100 each and put them in a room. Three charities explain why they need a financial boost, and the 100 women vote on one that will receive all of the money on the spot. Earlier this year, another newly established group, 100 Men Who Give A Damn, raised $21,500 for its chosen charity Meals on Wheels at its inaugural meeting. James Stephen, along with others, brought the concept of 100 Men Who Give A Damn to Cayman. At the time, he said some women had expressed in- terest in getting involved and the plan was to set up a similar initiative – Cayman’s “100 Women Who Care.” “Basically, it’s the same concept, the same structure and same goal as 100 Men Who Give a Damn as it is for 100 Women Who Care. You get as many people in a short period of time to give $100 and make a difference,” said Emma Graham-Taylor, who kick-started the women’s group in Cayman. “I heard from so many women that they wanted to do something and be involved in some way in giving back to their com- munity, but time and funds were limited, ... with 100+ Women Who Care Cayman Islands, we now have a simple mechanism to make a huge difference in the community,” she said. Refusing to take the credit for establishing the women’s group in Cayman. Ms. Graham-Taylor said she went on Facebook to see who else wanted to be involved and the response was overwhelming. “We’re working to create some structure to the chapter, with a small committee of amazing women, to put ev- erything in place to hold our first meeting,” she said. As of Wednesday after- noon, the Facebook page al- ready had more than 550 likes. Following the example of other groups across the world, and the men’s chapter in Cayman, Ms. Graham- Taylor said the already estab- lished 100 Women Who Care groups internationally have proven that a committed group of like-minded women can have a tremendous local impact and it does not have to be complicated. How it works Ahead of each meeting, each member can nominate one local charity. All nomi- nations go into a draw. Three charities pulled from the draw are invited to make a five-minute presentation to the assembled members at the meetings and make a case for the charity and its needs. Following the presen- tations, members in atten- dance vote on their preferred charity and the organization with the most votes walks away with the funds raised, said Ms. Graham-Taylor. Meetings are held four times a year. The first meeting of the Cayman Islands branch of 100+ Women Who Care will be on Oct. 14 at a venue to be announced. More in- formation is available at www.100womencayman.com or on the group’s Facebook page. “Basically, it’s the same concept, the same structure and same goal as 100 Men Who Give A Damn as it is for 100 Women Who Care.” Emma GraHam-Taylor Police: Scammers targeting permanent residence seekers The Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is warning people seeking permanent residence in Cayman to avoid scammers promising a quick and easy way to ob- tain that status. It’s the second warning police have issued this year about the permanent resi- dence scams. “Please be advised that there is no such expedited immigration process under way at this time and that such solicitations are un- lawful and fraudulent,” a statement from the Financial Crime Unit read. Permanent residence applications can only be made by individuals who have lived in the Cayman Islands for at least eight consecutive years. The process involves submitting a completed and signed application form as well as a number of supporting docu- ments to the Department of Immigration. These in- clude a cover letter, a po- lice clearance certificate, a medical questionnaire, character and bank ref- erences and evidence of property ownership. The applicant must also pay certain prescribed fees at the time of making the ap- plication to the Immigration Department. There is no other way to apply for per- manent residency. Child’s homemade lemonade to benefit Humane Society vICKI WHeATON vwheaton@pinnaclemedialtd.com An enterprising young girl will be transforming lemons into lemonade and hopefully into some do- nations for the Cayman Islands Humane Society on Friday. Madison Ameline, 8, will be selling candy, Rice Krispies treats and lemonade on South Church Street near Boilers Road from noon to 1:30 p.m. to raise money for the charity. The handwritten three- page press release of the event was delivered to the Pinnacle Media of- fices by Madison herself, including contact infor- mation, prices that people can expect to pay for the treats, and the address and times of operation. Madison stated that she is really looking for- ward to Friday. “I’ve been begging my parents every year to do this since I was [three],” she said. This price list is part of a three-page press release submitted by young fundraiser Madison Ameline. - Photo: Justin uzzell Police are reminding the public that permanent residence applications can only be processed through the Department of Immigration as they warn against a scam on island. Brac resort to renovate, reBrand The Brac Reef Beach Resort, a popular diving destination on the south- west end of Cayman Brac, has announced plans to up- grade and renovate its facil- ities this fall, including re- naming its hotel the Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Improvements will in- clude a new multi-level bar, a free-form resort pool, room enhancements and re- sort-wide renovations. In addition to the reno- vations, the resort will be rebranded with a new logo and its new name. “We felt it was impor- tant to indicate that the is- land of Cayman Brac is part of our product,” said Jason Belport, general manager of JEM holdings which oper- ates the resort. Mr. Belport said the name change will help international travelers searching for their next destination to identify the location of the resort. The resort, which pro- vides a unique “valet ser- vice” for divers who can explore more than 100 dif- ferent reef, wall and wreck dive sites, has regularly garnered rave reviews and received the 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. Extensive upgrades are slated to begin in August and finish in November. The resort will remain open during renovations. “We’re extremely excited about the future of the re- sort and what the improve- ments will bring to the is- land and to the resort,” Mr. Belport said. The Brac Beach Reef Resort is dropping the ‘Reef’ from its name. - Photo: stePhen clarKe “We felt it was important to indicate that the island of Cayman Brac is part of our product.” Jason BElporT, general managerThe 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 July 9, 2015 • Cayman Compass MONDAY, JULY 13 GRAND COURT JURORS: The Grand Court jury report date has been changed. Grand Court jurors for the July 1-Oct. 6 session should report today at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 945- 5072 for the most up-to- date information. NATIONAL GALLERY: The gallery has extended hours for the summer: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the exhibition halls are free and open to the public. Current exhibition is the gallery’s permanent collection. TUESDAY, JULY 14 MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: Tonight’s free film at 7 p.m. is “Annie” (PG). Families are invited to Gardenia Court in Camana Bay to set up a picnic on the grass, or just bring a blanket, relax and enjoy the show on the outdoor big screen. THURSDAY, JULY 16 QUIZ NIGHT: Humane Society fundraiser at Fidel Murphy’s, 7 p.m. Entry is $10 per person. Teams can have up to six people. To book a table, email sarah. dyer.81@gmail.com or phone Fidel’s on 949-5189. SATURDAY, JULY 18 FAMILY FUN DAY: The National Gallery hosts a free Fun Day with scavenger hunt- like activities in both the upper and lower exhibition halls as well as outdoors for the whole family. Food and beverages will be made available for guests. ACTORS SHOWCASE: One night only. Cayman Drama presents the acclaimed play “Twelve Angry Jurors (Men).” Acting workshop participants present monologues and scenes, while the teen acting school presents “Twelve Angry Jurors.” No reservations required. $10 admission. Happy hour starts at 6 p.m. Show time 7 p.m. Email chairman@cds.ky. WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION: The Special Needs Foundation of Cayman holds its next Parent Support Meeting 6-7 p.m. at the Discovery Centre, Camana Bay. Contact 321 2957 or email susie@ specialneedsfoundation. ky for further details or visit www. specialneedsfoundation.ky. SUMMER CAMPS SUMMER PROGRAM: Light of the World Afterschool extends its program to all-day, until Friday, July 31. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for children from Years 1 to 7. Special emphasis on literacy and numeracy, directed by qualified and experienced teachers. Program will include art and craft, inside and outside games; field trips to parks, historic places and Camana Bay. Venue is 65 Smith Road. For more information, call 926-1541 or 326-0871. Registration open now. TEEN CHALLENGE: For teens only, ages 13-16. Ends July 10; 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the Red Bay Church of God (Holiness), Church Hall, Lord’s Way, Red Bay Estates. For more information, phone 926-1821/925-2509. Daily lessons, activities, treasure hunt, prizes and snacks; all free. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: July 20 to 24 at Calvary Baptist Church on Walkers Road for ages 5 to 17. From 8:30 a.m. till noon daily. Call 949-0629 for more information. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Church of God Chapel at 1275 Frank Sound Road holds Vacation Bible School Monday-Friday, July 13-17 for ages 5–12. 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Theme is “Camp Discovery – Jesus at Work Through Us.” Free lunch provided. Call 947-3691 to register. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The Red Bay Church of God (Holiness), at 38 Lord’s Way, Red Bay Estates, holds Vacation Bible School, July 13-17 for children ages 3-12. 6:30–9 p.m. Theme is “Discovering God’s Everlasting Love.” Daily lessons, games, craft, prizes and snacks. Free. For more information, phone 916-3800. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: First Assembly of God Vacation Bible School. July 13-17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For ages 4-15. Theme is “Everest, Conquering challenges with God’s mighty power.” $45 includes registration fee. Lunch and snacks provided. Contact 945-2182 to register. NATIONAL GALLERY SESSIONS: Summer sessions of art-related activities for kids every Thursday till Aug. 20, 2-4 p.m. Free, but space is limited. Register at education@nationalgallery. org or 945-8111. CREATIVE CAMPERS: In session through Aug. 28, for ages 3-13. Runs 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Elmslie Memorial Church Hall. $80 per week includes camp fee, field trips, snacks and lunch. Activities include arts and craft, sports, science, talent show, Bible study. Contact 324-8707 or creativecampers@live.com. FEARLESS EXTREME: Leadership and Prevention Camp. Organized by Cayman Islands Youth Development Consortium. July 13-24 for ages 7-9 and 10-14. Mary Miller Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. $75 per week, includes transportation. Contact sylviawilks@ caribbeanyouthassets.com or 917-3885. ART AND CRAFT: Organized by the Visual Arts Society. July 20-Aug. 12. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon. $45 per session or $120 per week, or $485 for the month. Camp takes place on the grounds of Pedro Castle at the Watler House Art Studio. Contact visualartcayman@ yahoo.com. GENERAL INTEREST SUMMER BOOK SWAP: Every Monday through Sunday, July through August, at the Learning Tree, Cassia Court in Camana Bay. Book lovers can find titles for all ages and interests. Browse the selection, take your pick and replace it with one of your favorites to help spread the joy of reading. 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. 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. 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. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the catboat clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman. com. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:45 p.m. to assist with training athletes in track and field, bocce and football. Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Contact Penny McDowall, 516-2578, soci@candw.ky or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. PRESCHOOL FUNDING: The Ministry of Education offers funding to assist eligible young Caymanian children to attend an early childhood center (preschool). Application forms are available at the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue, at the Department of Education Services on Thomas Russell Way, and from early childhood center directors/operators. For further information, call 244-5735 or contact turnette.stewart@gov.ky or renee.barnes@gov.ky. 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. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@ museum.ky. 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. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays from 7 p.m. at Karoo restaurant in Camana Bay. No fee, easels provided. Artists of all levels invited. Karoo offers two complimentary tickets for wine or beer. For more information contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com or jr@cib.ky or 546-9422. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: Open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at RC headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. WAITING FOR JOSEPHINE: This is an ongoing appeal for second-hand magazines for the waiting rooms at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Please take magazine donations to Books & Books at Camana Bay or deposit them in the big bin outside the Cancer Society on Maple Road (opposite the hospital). For more information, contact Carol Hay at 526-6932. SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION OF CAYMAN: For anyone who is a parent, relative, friend or carer of a special needs child. Also for professionals interested in special needs. SNFC is a nonprofit organization providing information, resources, education and support with meetings, social events and newsletters. Contact www. specialneedsfoundation. ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. PAWS THRIFT SHOP: Bodden Town Shopping Plaza, opposite Bodden Town Post Office. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Please don’t leave donations outside shop. Call Sharon, 324-9760; or Susanna, 916-3957 for more information. All proceeds for animal welfare. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The Claws-It Thrift Shop, 153 North Sound Road is always in need of donations of all types of clothing, shoes, household items, linens etc. We also welcome garage sale leftovers. Volunteers are always needed, too. Opening hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri and 9-4 Saturday. Call the manager Terri-Ann Watler at 945-5596 or email cihs.thriftshop@ outlook.com. ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH BARGAIN CORNER: Located upstairs at St. George’s Anglican Church Preschool on Courts Road, off Eastern Avenue. Last Saturday of the month, 7-11 a.m. NEW TO YOU BARGAIN SHOP: Run by National Council of Voluntary Organizations, is looking for volunteers to assist. Call Alta Solomon, 949- 2124. Anyone clearing out unwanted items is asked to think of the NCVO. To donate, email ncvocoordinator@candw.ky To view projects see www. ncvo.org.ky. HUMANE SOCIETY DOG WALKERS: Appeals for volunteers to walk dogs. Anyone who can spare an hour is asked to come to the shelter around 9 a.m. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Thursday July 9, 2015 For decades Baha’is have been imprisoned in Iran Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, 42, is an optometrist and owner of an optical shop in Tabriz, where he lived until early 2008, when he moved to Tehran. He was born 16 May 1973 in the city of Urumiyyih. He spent his childhood and youth there and, after receiving his high school diploma in mathematics, he went to Tabriz at the age of 18 to study to become an optician. He later also studied sociology at the Advanced Baha’i Studies Institute (ABSI). At the age of 23, Mr. Tizfahm married Furuzandeh Nikumanesh. They have a young son, who was in the third grade when his father was arrested in 2008. Since his youth, Mr. Tizfahm has served the Baha’i community in a variety of capacities. At one time he was a member of the Baha’i National Youth Committee. Later, he was appointed to the Auxiliary Board, an appointed position which serves principally to inspire, encourage, and promote learning among Baha’is. He has also taught local Baha’i children’s classes. Mr. Tizfahm and the other six Iranian Baha’is previously highlighted in this series have completed seven years of their 20 year prison sentence. They are among the more than 100 Baha’is currently unlawfully held in Iran’s most infamous prisons for their religious beliefs. Persecution covers from the cradle to the grave. Children are denied the right to attend public primary, secondary and tertiary schools. When they are taught at home they become outstanding students but their teachers are often arrested and jailed. Baha’i cemeteries are desecrated and destroyed and burial permission is often denied by the Iranian authorities. The Baha’is of the Cayman Islands and Jamaica thank you for reading about these victims and ask that you pray for all who are persecuted. Here is the seventh of seven stories, remembering seven years in prison shop in Tabriz, where he lived until early and youth there and, after receiving his also studied sociology at the Advanced For further information, contact The Regional Baha’i Council at 949-3435/916-4130 or email: bevndale@candw.ky public hospital system. Legislators were incred- ulous at the time when it was revealed that, in addi- tion to the 4 percent charge per transaction, the govern- ment had apparently handed over $2.4 million at the start of the contract that Cayman Islands National Insurance Company chief executive Lonny Tibbetts described as a “capitalization fee” and an additional US$1.4 million in system implementation costs. One of the conspiracy to defraud charges alleges that during a period between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 21, 2013, Webb, Watson and “others” – who are left unnamed in the charges – conspired to de- fraud certain entities that entered into contracts with or provided funding to AIS Cayman Ltd. The charges al- lege that it was dishonestly represented to the govern- ment’s Ministry of Health and the Health Services Authority that funding granted for the “national rollout” of the CarePay system would be used for such purposes. The other conspiracy to defraud charge alleges that AIS Cayman Ltd. was set up “in a manner which disguised the involvement of Webb and Watson as controllers and ben- eficiaries of the company.” It alleges that “false documents” were provided to Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands in order to obtain a bank account for AIS Cayman Ltd. The breach of trust alle- gation, filed under Section 13 of the Cayman Islands Anti- Corruption Law, alleges that Watson breached the “stan- dards of responsibility and conduct demanded” of him as chairman of the Health Services Authority board of directors. The Crown fur- ther alleges Webb aided and abetted Watson during the period the breach of trust offense was alleged to have been committed. The breach of trust charges allege that Webb and Watson were the control- lers and beneficiaries of AIS Cayman Ltd., which received more than US$3 million from Health Services Authority contracts. These interests in AIS Cayman Ltd. were not disclosed, the charges allege. Webb and Watson also had directorship interests in other identified compa- nies that prosecutors said were “intended to ben- efit” from funds paid to AIS Cayman Ltd. The conspiracy to convert criminal property charges filed against Webb, Watson and Rodriguez under the Cayman Islands Penal Code allege that those three indi- viduals “and others” – who were not identified – con- spired to convert criminal property, namely funds paid to AIS Cayman Ltd. by the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority and the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company. Watson and Rodriguez appeared in Summary Court on Tuesday and were due to appear again in Grand Court on July 17. Criminal charges filed in the Cayman Islands court are allegations of crime and are not considered proof of wrongdoing until a case has been adjudicated as such. She told the group that the primary considerations for the new districts were natural boundaries and ex- isting districts. Population totals came in third in the commission’s consider- ations, based on the group’s mandate in the Constitution, she said. The biggest popula- tion centers the commis- sion had to deal with were in the Savannah-Newlands, Red Bay-Prospect and cen- tral George Town areas. The draft maps make significant changes to break up those areas and add a district in George Town to give each district roughly 1,330 poten- tial voters. Ms. Handley said the commission figured out the numbers of potential voters, versus actual regis- tered voters, based on the 2010 Census. They counted anyone who is 15 or older and would be eligible to vote in 2017. school classrooms. Only one of the new high schools, Clifton Hunter, is in use. Martin Ruben, who led the audit team, said many of the construction issues at the school have been dealt with, but there are still some out- standing safety concerns that have not been addressed. He said he was at the school just a couple weeks ago and saw wheelchair ramps that were missing railings. “We would have ex- pected all significant issues to be dealt with prior to the school opening,” Mr. Ruben said. He called the audit re- port a “case study in a min- istry not equipped for project management.” Mr. Ruben said the fact that the building has not re- ceived a final certificate of oc- cupancy, more than two and a half years after opening, is “symptomatic” of misman- agement from the ministry. Many of the issues with the construction projects over the past decade, auditors said, are due to the ministry’s lack of experience managing big infrastructure projects. “The ministry is orga- nized and designed to de- liver education, not build in- frastructure,” Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick said when he released the report this week. Ministry officials did not respond to direct re- quests for comment, but ear- lier released a response to the audit. The ministry re- lease states that all big proj- ects will now go through the central government project management office instead of being handled within the ministry. Additionally, min- istry officials write in the response, they will form a project steering committee and develop business cases for big future capital works, as is the standard for major government projects in the Cayman Islands. In an interview Wednesday, Mr. Ruben and Mr. Swarbrick said they were hopeful to hear that the min- istry would begin using cen- tralized government services for building projects. Suzanne Larson, the in- spections supervisor with the Planning Department’s Building Control Unit, said it is common for projects to open and operate with spe- cial permission, sometimes for extended periods of time, before receiving a final certif- icate of occupancy. A building can get a special permit as long as all fire, life and safety issues are addressed, with permission from the plan- ning director, she said. Problems with other schools Work on the new John Gray High School came to a halt after more than $56 mil- lion in work had been com- pleted, and plans for a third school were shelved early in the planning process. “While a new John Gray High School is partially built, the four buildings at that site are only partially completed and will require significant additional funding to get to the point where students can use them,” the audit found. Mr. Ruben said the min- istry missed an opportu- nity to review both projects in 2009 when government and the prime contractor on the project, Tom Jones International, parted ways in a dispute and the min- istry, under new leadership, brought the project manage- ment in-house. “There was no clear evalu- ation,” Mr. Swarbrick said. “It was piecemeal after that.” “The ministry has de- livered less than it prom- ised at a far higher cost than planned, and what has been delivered has been late,” he said. “The people of the Cayman Islands and the students who need proper buildings in which to learn are still waiting for the high school infrastructure prom- ised by the government sev- eral years ago.” The audit calls for the Education Ministry to assess the John Gray site and de- velop a strategy to finish the school before the investment is completely lost. Responding to the rec- ommendation, the Education Ministry release states: “The Ministry has accepted the recommendation that an assessment of the John Gray High School project site should be carried out and a strategy developed to manage its risks and future development. “The Ministry fur- ther confirms that this ap- proach is being factored in to the process required by the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) now embedded in the Public Management and Finance Law as it seeks to complete construction of that school.” Auditor: Ministry took ‘unnecessary risks’ with student safety Potential voters The commission used 2010 Census data on Caymanians who were 15 years and older to count potential voters Bodden Town East1,364 Bodden Town West1,341 Cayman Brac East594 Cayman Brac West610 East End743 North Side802 George Town Central1,354 George Town East1,304 George Town North1,300 George Town South1,328 George Town West1,331 Newlands1,344 Prospect1,343 Red Bay1,336 Savannah1,319 West Bay Central1,330 West Bay North1,319 West Bay South1,325 West Bay West1,314 Charges allege Webb, Watson benefited from hospital contracts ContinUeD FroM PaGe 1 ContinUeD FroM PaGe 1 Proposed districts average 1,330 voters Canover WatsonJeffrey Webb ContinUeD FroM PaGe 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 U.S. plan would overhaul business taxes A bipartisan framework emerged in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday to overhaul the taxes paid by U.S. firms on foreign profits while potentially providing much-needed funding to repair the nation’s roads and bridges. Thursday July 9, 2015 • Cayman Compass Greece’s Tsipras short on allies as he tries to avoid ruin BERLIN (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has stretched his EU partners’ patience to the limit with months of missteps and contradictory moves and now, having just four days to save his country from ruin, is finding his list of al- lies is short. Even potentially sympa- thetic southern Europeans have become skeptical to- ward the 40-year-old leftist radical. France’s Socialist President Francois Hollande has emerged as a potential mediator between Greece and its creditors, but he’s unlikely to overcome stiff German-led resistance to cutting Greece yet more slack. Tsipras swept to power in January on promises to bring an end to the hated spending cuts he blamed for an economic depression. That would have required extracting far-reaching con- cessions from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders. But the inexperienced leader apparently failed to grasp the complexities of the European Union. Rather than tackle the details of an economic plan to get new loans, as creditors wanted, Tsipras sought to convince other European countries to overhaul their fundamental approach to rescuing Greece. He tried, for example, to convince them to stop fo- cusing on spending cuts and loosen the terms of Greece’s existing loans. Whatever the merits of his economic views, Tsipras failed to make political alli- ances in Europe. “One of the sticking points was that, right after taking of- fice, Alexis Tsipras went on a big tour of Europe to seek co- alition partners, but within a very short period of time he scared off all his European partners for various rea- sons,” said Julian Rappold, a European policy expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in Berlin. After months of on-off talks, Tsipras shredded much of the remaining goodwill with his shock move last week to call a referendum on the terms creditors had offered and his decision to campaign for a “no” vote. The creditors say Greece must lay out a detailed reform pro- gram if it hopes to get aid. Merkel, a key figure in five years of bailouts for Greece, notes the country is only one of 19 eurozone democracies whose views must be respected. “We have shown a great deal of solidarity with Greece,” she said after meeting Hollande on Monday. “On the other hand, Europe can only keep together and stand together ... if every country also takes responsi- bility for itself.” Hollande, meanwhile, is trying to use France’s role as a driver of European unity, its diplomatic weight, and cultural affinity for Greece to find middle ground. That also helps Hollande fend off domestic challenges from those who brought him to power on his own prom- ises to “finish with austerity” but feel he has betrayed that ideal and hasn’t done enough to stand up to Merkel. But Merkel’s position en- joys support from other fis- cally strong countries in northern Europe such as the Netherlands and Finland, and officials in eastern European countries such as the three Baltic nations that have pushed through their own painful reforms are sounding even tougher. They have long since become exasperated by Athens’ often-chaotic negoti- ating style and perceived foot- dragging on reform plans. “You know, there was a promise for today. Then, they’re promising for to- morrow,” Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said after Tsipras failed to produce a detailed reform blueprint at Tuesday’s emer- gency eurozone summit. “For the Greek government it’s every time ‘manana.’” Rather than tackle the details of an economic plan to get new loans, as creditors wanted, Tsipras sought to convince other European countries to overhaul their fundamental approach to rescuing Greece. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras delivers his speech Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. - Photo: AP SYDNEY — China’s stock rout has reached a tipping point. Losses in Shanghai and Shenzhen spilled across Asia Wednesday, sending the re- gion’s benchmark gauge to- ward its steepest drop in two years. The eight biggest Asian markets fell at least 1 per- cent, with Hong Kong shares posting their biggest decline since the financial crisis. Gauges of equity volatility in the city and Tokyo surged. Even as the first three weeks of China’s stock slump wiped out $3.2 trillion in value, developments in the Greece crisis and the Federal Reserve’s latest prognostica- tions took center stage for many asset managers. That’s changing as the deepening rout forces investors to weigh what the losses mean for the global growth outlook. “Chinese equities are tran- sitioning from a period where we’ve had weak economic growth and a very strong equity market, to an equity market which is looking for confirmation of economic strength,” said Stephen Corry, Hong Kong-based chief in- vestment strategist at the pri- vate-bank unit of LGT Group, which oversees about $136 billion. “It has failed to ma- terialize so far. The selloff is therefore an indication that investors have lost confidence in policy makers’ ability to reflate the economy.” Shares across Asia tum- bled and the yen gained after markets in China and Hong Kong plunged more than 5 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 3.2 percent as of 4:15 p.m. in Hong Kong, set for a correc- tion and heading for a five- month low. Australia’s S&P/ ASX 200 Index lost 2 per- cent. U.S. stock-index futures slid 1.2 percent. Wednesday morning saw another flurry of government support measures for the market, with the central bank promising “ample liquidity.” State-backed China Securities Finance Corp. is seeking at least 500 billion yuan (US$81 billion) in liquidity to bolster equities, people familiar with the matter said. At least 1,300 compa- nies halted trading in their shares. The equity losses in Shanghai and Shenzhen equate to 15 times Greece’s gross domestic product last year. © 2015, Bloomberg News Chinese stoCk rout riPPles ACross AsiA As feArs mount The New York Stock Exchange unexpectedly halted trading on all stocks Wednesday morning after experiencing a major tech- nical glitch. Trading resumed after an outage of more than three hours caused by tech- nical problems. There was no interruption at the dozens of other U.S. stock exchanges Wednesday, including the Nasdaq, so in- vestors were still able to buy and sell stocks easily. The NYSE described the problem as an internal issue and not the result of a breach of its systems. The freeze in trading at one of the world’s largest exchanges is highly un- usual. A U.S. official told the Washington Post that there was “no indication” that the problems were a result of a cyber attack. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that the incident “seems like a tech- nical issue.” Stocks stopped trading just around 11:32 a.m. The NYSE said that all orders made during the freeze will be canceled. But trading con- tinued on other exchanges, and Nasdaq index officials said at noon its trading sys- tems were operating normally. In a statement at 12:10 p.m., NYSE said, “We’re ex- periencing a technical issue that we’re working to re- solve as quickly as possible. We’re doing our utmost to produce a swift resolution & will be providing further up- dates as soon as we can.” U.S. markets had dipped slightly before the outage amid worries that falling Chinese stocks would ripple throughout the global economy. By 12:30 p.m., the S&P 500 had fallen 1.2 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 1 percent. Wednesday was a day for technical problems. The outage at the NYSE came just hours after United Airlines temporarily grounded its flights due to what the company said was a “network connectivity issue.” NBC News quoted two unnamed U.S. officials as saying that there was no indication that the market shutdown was related to the grounded airplanes. And at about the same time as the NYSE freeze, the Web site of The Wall Street Journal went down. “We are aware that the homepage is down and we are working to be back up as quickly as pos- sible,” said Colleen Schwartz, a company spokeswoman. The NYSE problems come at a time when regula- tors have struggled to cope with the technological revo- lution that has transformed trading from a human-cen- tric endeavor to one driven by computers. One of the most har- rowing events was the May 2010 “flash crash,” when the stock market plunged nearly 1,000 points in min- utes, then whipped back up. Other high-profile glitches followed, including the runaway trades linked to faulty computers at Knight Capital in 2012. Technical problems halted trading in Nasdaq-listed stocks for more than three hours in 2013. Facebook’s debut on the Nasdaq exchange was delayed considerably in May 2012 when technical issues marred the company’s initial public offering. Ted Weisberg, who has traded on the exchange floor for nearly five decades, said his brokerage firm, New York- based Seaport Securities, has been able to keep trading on other exchanges, which were not affected by the glitch. “It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last time,” Weisberg said. “You rely on computers, and computers break.” A senior Obama admin- istration official said: “The president has been briefed on the ongoing issue at the New York Stock Exchange, and of- ficials at the White House and the Treasury Department are monitoring the situation.” The Securities and Exchange Commission, whose job is it to police the mar- kets, said it was it was mon- itoring the situation. “We are in contact with NYSE and are closely monitoring the situ- ation and trading in NYSE- listed stocks,” SEC Chair Mary Jo White said in a statement. © 2015, The Washington Post NYSE trading outage ends after more than three hours9 WORLD&REGIONAL Cayman Compass • Thursday July 9, 2015 Barclays fires chief executive Britain’s second- largest bank names John MacFarlane to post LONDON (AP) — Barclays fired chief executive Antony Jenkins on Wednesday, con- cluding he wasn’t moving quickly enough to put past scandals behind the bank and increase profits. The bank, Britain’s second largest, announced that John MacFarlane had taken over as executive chairman, fully effective July 17 when he re- tires from transport oper- ator FirstGroup. A search for a permanent successor is underway. Jenkins has been the standard-bearer of a mission to overhaul the bank’s cor- porate culture after a string of troubles, including a role in rigging the London inter- bank offered rate, or Libor, a benchmark for consumer in- terest rates around the world. Jenkins became CEO in 2012, succeeding the brash American Bob Diamond, whose style came to epito- mize the disdain that many held for the country’s banks following the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Jenkins offered no apology for his three-year tenure. “It is easy to forget just how bad things were three years ago both for our in- dustry and even more so for us. I am very proud of the significant progress we have made since then,” he said. “Our capital position is much stronger, our business model is more balanced, we are much more disciplined on cost management, we have made good progress in re- building our reputation and we are seen as a leader in the application of technology to our business.” However, Barclays PLC continued to be dogged by the sins of its past. In May, for example, it was one of four giants of global banking who agreed to pay more than $5 billion in fines to regula- tors and plead guilty to ma- nipulating the global cur- rency market. Its shrinking investment bank was failing to deliver the profits it once engendered and critics said Jenkins had cut it back too far. MacFarlane said it was time to offer a fresh perspec- tive and that a new approach was required. “As a group, if we aspire to bring shareholder returns forward, we need to be much more focused on what is at- tractive, what we are good at, and where we are good at it,” he said. “We therefore need to accelerate revenue, costs and capital performance. We also need to become more externally focused and deal with the internal bureau- cracy by becoming leaner and more agile.” Mr. Jenkins Subway, spokesman split amid investigation No charges filed against longtime spokesman Jared Fogle The sandwich chain Subway announced that it and longtime spokesman Jared Fogle had “mutually agreed” to suspend their re- lationship, hours after inves- tigators raided his Indiana home on Tuesday morning. Fogle, who for more than a decade starred in television commercials for the com- pany, was not arrested or charged with any crime, his attorney said. Earlier in the day, as media reports showed authorities interviewing Fogle and removing elec- tronic equipment from his home in Zionsville, Subway said that it was “shocked about the news.” The company added that it believed the investigation was related to the arrest of a former employee of Fogle’s foundation. This spring, Russell Taylor, then the ex- ecutive director of Fogle’s charity, was arrested after in- vestigators found more than 400 child pornography videos at his home. “Subway and Jared Fogle have mutually agreed to suspend their relationship due to the current investiga- tion,” a Subway spokesman said in a statement late Tuesday. “Jared continues to cooperate with authori- ties and he expects no ac- tions to be forthcoming. Both Jared and Subway agree that this was the appropriate step to take.” Fogle’s attorney, Ron Elberger, said in an emailed statement to the Post that “Jared has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charges. He has not been de- tained, arrested or charged with any crime or offense.” First starring in Subway ads in 2000, Fogle quickly became the chain’s most no- table face, using the story of his “Subway diet” to help portray the deli chain as a healthy alternative to its fast- food competitors. National tours and mar- keting campaigns fea- turing Fogle, often holding up an old pair of wide-set blue jeans, ran through the 2000s, helping the Milford, Connecticut-based sandwich shop become the world’s big- gest restaurant chain, with more than 44,000 franchises across 110 countries. Special agent Wendy Osborne, an FBI spokes- woman for the Indianapolis field office, confirmed Tuesday that there was activity being conducted in the Zionsville area by the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but said she could not disclose the na- ture of the investigation. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in the Southern District of Indiana said in an email that he could not confirm or deny the ex- istence of an investigation. A telephone number listed for Fogle in Zionsville rang unan- swered Tuesday. Tuesday’s actions followed the arrest of Taylor, former executive director of Fogle’s charity, which is focused on combating childhood obesity. Federal and state in- vestigators believe Taylor was filming minors in his home, including “inside the bathrooms or bedrooms of Taylor’s current and former Indianapolis residences,” the statement noted. The sexually explicit material was allegedly produced be- tween 2012 and 2015. Taylor was charged with seven federal counts of pro- duction of child pornog- raphy and one possession charge, according to an an- nouncement by the U.S. at- torney’s office in May. He later attempted suicide while in jail, the Indianapolis Star has reported. In a statement released to local media shortly after Taylor’s arrest, Fogle said he was “shocked to learn of the allegations against Mr. Taylor.” “Effective immediately, the Jared Foundation is severing all ties with Mr. Taylor,” Fogle said in the statement. © 2015, The Washington Post Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle leaves his home Tuesday in Zionsville, Indiana. FBI agents removed electronics from the property. - Photo: AP Microsoft cuts 7,800 jobs as phone sales flag NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft will cut 7,800 jobs and take a $7.6 billion impairment charge as it at- tempts to revive its flagging phone hardware business. The company paid $7.3 billion for Nokia’s phone business in April 2014, seeking to push rapidly into the smartphone sphere as its traditional software business slowed. Microsoft ultimately wanted to build an ecosystem that made customers that are loyal to a slew of products, much as Apple and Google have done so successfully. But Microsoft’s Windows Phone system has gained little traction against Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android system. Now the company says it will write down more than the entire cost of buying Nokia in the fourth quarter and also take a $750 million to $850 mil- lion restructuring charge. “We are moving from a strategy to grow a stand- alone phone business to a strategy to grow and create a vibrant Windows eco- system including our first- party device family,” CEO Satya Nadella said in a printed statement. The Nokia deal was made under Nadella’s pre- decessor Steve Ballmer, who wanted Microsoft to make its own smartphones and tablets. But Nadella has been moving away from this strategy in order to focus on the company’s core software business and related services. Last year, he announced a broad restructuring in- cluding cutting 18,000 jobs, the biggest round of layoffs in the company’s history. About half of those, 12,500, were jobs associated with the Nokia unit. He has also warned employees of the need to “make some tough choices in areas where things are not working.” Other recent moves in- clude handing off some its digital advertising busi- ness to AOL and selling its street-image mapping oper- ation to Uber. Microsoft said it will give more details when it reports fourth-quarter earnings on July 21. Shares slipped 7 cents to $44.23 in morning trading. PlAne crAsh 2nd fAtAl trAgedy for fAmily in A week MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (AP) — A collision between a small plane and an F-16 fighter jet that killed a father and son was the second fatal tragedy to strike their family in just four days, a relative told The Associated Press. Authorities found the body of 68-year-old Michael Johnson, the passenger, in the Cooper River in a rural, sparsely populated area in South Carolina, Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury said. They are still searching the same area for the body of his son, 30-year- old Joseph Johnson, who was piloting the Cessna 150 when it was torn apart by its crash with the jet Tuesday. On Saturday, Jim Johnson and his wife, Beverly – Michael Johnson’s brother and sister-in-law – were found dead at their home in Missouri, said Connie Stallworth, the men’s sister. The couple’s 16-year-old grandson has been charged with second-degree murder in their slayings, police said. “It’s unbelievable. There just aren’t words to express it. I’m dumbfounded that it happened twice in a few days,” Stallworth said. NTSB investigator Dennis Diaz told reporters Wednesday that his first goal is to document the two crash sites, which are about 10 miles apart. He also said the F-16 pilot, who ejected safely, will be interviewed. However, that may not happen for several days. Investigators will look at flight data recorders and interview witnesses, though that is expected to take months, Diaz said. He would not comment on the direction, speed or al- titude at which either air- craft was traveling. The jet’s pilot, Maj. Aaron Johnson from the 55th Fighter Squadron, was taken to Joint Base Charleston’s medical clinic for observa- tion, officials from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter said in a news release. The jet crashed into woods around the privately owned Lewisfield Plantation, an estate dating to 1750. “We heard the plane crash,” said Leo Ramsey, who has worked at the plantation for about 30 years. “And then we took off from where I was at, I guess I was about a half- mile from it, when we saw a cloud of smoke.”Next >