ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday augusT 6, 2015 sports | page 17 special Olympics Team resTing Long break before more competition High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 The gOvernOr’s new ride: uber, iT ain’T Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp Moxam seeks to lead football association James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Renard Moxam has launched a bid to lead the Cayman Islands Football Association, saying the organization needs a fresh start under new leadership following negative pub- licity in the wake of corruption allegations that have shaken the world game. Mr. Moxam said he has secured the neces- sary support from member clubs to run as a candidate for first vice president at the asso- ciation’s annual congress this month. That role currently carries the responsi- bility of acting president, following the sus- pension of Jeffrey Webb from football-re- lated activities by world governing body FIFA pending the outcome of his trial in the U.S. Bruce Blake is currently first vice president and acting president of the Cayman Islands Football Association. Announcing his candidacy in a letter to clubs this week, Mr. Moxam said, “The recent global and regional allegations against FIFA and CONCACAF and its senior leadership have cast a cloud over football all around the world as well as right here at home. “Like many persons, I fully respect the no- tion of innocent until proven guilty, and I still wish and hope for the best outcome in this situation. But we are also all aware that our local association and the sport in general in Cayman has suffered and continues to suffer a negative impact on its image and credibility due in part to these recent events.” Mr. Moxam, the current national teams di- rector, told the Cayman Compass that some of the current CIFA leadership has been in- volved in the association for too long to offer a genuine opportunity for change. He said new leadership, new vision and real reforms are needed to restore the image of Cayman foot- ball and bring sponsors and community part- ners back into the game. “Without a positive, credible image, local commercial partners and government will have major reservations relative to re-engaging in AdditionAl CiMA-Webb ConneCtions identified All have recused themselves, chairman says brenT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A total of five individuals working for the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority have been identified as having “some connection” to Jeffrey Webb, the Caymanian businessman and ousted FIFA official charged in a U.S. racketeering and bribery investigation that has stunned world football. Monetary Authority Chairman Grant Stein said Tuesday that all five people, whom he did not name, have recused themselves from any involvement in CIMA’s ongoing review of local transactions related to the U.S.-FIFA probe. “My understanding is that there are five people at CIMA that have some connection to Jeff Webb,” Mr. Stein said, “all of whom have recused themselves from the review.” Mr. Stein said he was not entirely aware of all the connections between Webb and the five employees, but as Cayman is a small island, he was not particularly surprised to find that those close connections existed. Most of the connections involved either direct family links or links through marriage, he said. The issue of conflicts arose in early June, when it was revealed that CIMA Managing Director Cindy Scotland’s husband, former gov- ernment minister Mark Scotland, has worked since last year for the Cayman Islands Football Association under its president, Webb, and was in Switzerland with Webb at the time of his arrest on May 27. In addition, former gov- ernment minister Cline Glidden’s wife, Gloria, serves as deputy head of CIMA’s banking divi- sion. Mr. Glidden was working for CONCACAF on the creation of a regional football dispute Aussie tax data exchange unlawful, court rules James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A judge’s ruling that the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority acted unlawfully when it handed over a trove of docu- ments on two Cayman-registered companies to Australian tax au- thorities has been upheld by the Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the de- cision to provide documents, re- quested as part of an investiga- tion into a suspected offshore tax-evasion scheme involving two Australian accountants, was mishandled by Cayman’s tax authority. The written judgment from Sir John Chadwick, president of the Court of Appeal, upholds an ear- lier Cayman Islands Grand Court ruling that the Tax Information Authority had not followed all of its legal obligations before re- leasing the information to its the governor’s new ride Governor Helen Kilpatrick, pictured with Eurocar’s Matthew Bodden, picked up the keys to her new Jaguar on Wednesday. She arrived at the Eurocar showroom in her beige Lincoln Town Car, with dings and scratches on the bumper. The 2015 Jaguar XJ arrived two weeks ago on board the Royal Navy’s RFA Lyme Bay ship, delivered free of charge. “I am delighted to be the first governor to use the new flag car,” Ms. Kilpatrick said. “Jaguar has been a leading British brand in the global motor industry since 1945. I am particularly pleased that Cayman Islands government [was] able to replace the current, uneconomic flag car with a vehicle that provides such good value for money.” Government bought the car through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for about $53,000, a 57 percent discount from the $125,000 retail price. – photo: tAneos rAMsAy PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday augusT 6, 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. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - $8.00 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (PG13) 1:10 | 4:05 | 7:00 | 9:55 VACATION (R) 1:30 | 4:20 | 7:20 | 9:40 PIXELS 3D (PG13) 1:00 | 3:30 2D TRAINWRECK (R) 7:05 | 9:50 SOUTHPAW (R) 1:15 | 4:00 | 7:15 | 10:00 ANT-MAN 3D (PG13) 1:40 2D | 3:40 | 7:05 2D | 9:30 MINIONS 3D (PG) 1:20 | 4:40 2D | 7:10 | 9:45 2D Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Telecom regulators have rejected Digicel’s bid to ac- cess LIME’s copper and fiber networks so that the mobile phone company could offer home Internet service. Digicel complained to the Information and Communications Technology Authority in 2012, asking the authority to force LIME to give Digicel access to the wired network so that the company can offer a competing ser- vice without the cost of rolling out its own infrastructure around Cayman. LIME Cayman Islands CEO Bill McCabe, responding to the decision, said, “If LIME had been forced to provide com- petitors with access to the networks we have invested so heavily in, it would have stifled future incentives for both in- frastructure-based competition and technical innovation.” LIME has almost com- pleted a project to roll out a fiber network across the Cayman Islands, giving sig- nificantly faster consumer broadband access to the Internet and digital television. Two other companies, Infinity Broadband, trading as C3, and Logic, are building similar net- works to compete for Internet and TV customers. All three companies have signed agree- ments with ICTA to make the networks available country- wide in coming years. Amid the stiff competi- tion for fast broadband con- nections, companies imported more than $20 million of telecom and recording equip- ment last year, according to the Economics and Statistics Office annual trade report. The total set a new record for the value of telecom and re- cording equipment – consid- ered one category for govern- ment records – brought into the country last year. ICTA sided with LIME in the ruling released last week, saying that LIME made sig- nificant investments to install the network, and that allowing a competitor to have access, known as “unbundling,” would make it less likely for compa- nies to do these types of ex- pensive infrastructure projects. In written arguments to ICTA, Digicel argued that un- bundling LIME’s network would increase broadband ac- cess for consumers. But, in its decision the authority notes, “Broadband penetration in the Cayman Islands is already at a high level compared to many other countries.” ICTA data shows there are 41 broad- band Internet connections per 100 people in the country. The United States, for example, had fewer than 32 connections per 100 residents at the end of last year, according to U.S. govern- ment figures. Digicel, in a 2013 submission to the authority, said its Internet service in Bermuda is on av- erage a quarter of the cost of LIME’s Internet service here. The company writes there is “signif- icant room for immediate im- provement in terms of the prices for consumers in the Cayman Islands if a fit for purpose fixed access product is provided.” The authority disagreed with Digicel’s arguments, de- ciding that it would not be in the public interest to force LIME to share its network. Digicel declined to com- ment on the ruling. West Bay resident not guilty of possession with intent to supply CarOl WInKer cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After a two-day trial, Magistrate Valdis Foldats found a West Bay resident not guilty of possessing 6.4 pounds of ganja with intent to supply. The magistrate agreed with defense attorney John Furniss that there was no case for Carl Demmie Ebanks to answer. A police officer gave ev- idence that he and others went to a residence around 11 p.m. on July 26, 2013, with a search warrant. The door was open, but there was no response when officers called out. The officers then entered the premises. In the bathroom, an officer found a black plastic bag containing ganja in a locker under the basin. Efforts were made to get a scenes-of-crime officer to photograph it in po- sition, but no one was avail- able. An officer took pictures with his cellphone. After leaving the building, the officer saw a bucket at the front of the house. He searched it and found several plastic bags and ganja. Questioned by Mr. Furniss, the officer confirmed that nobody was there when he went to the house. Asked if the premises belonged to Mr. Ebanks, the officer said that was what he had been told when he went to the area. Mr. Furniss asked about forensic evidence such as fin- gerprints or DNA. The officer did not recall whether any prints had been recovered. He said a request had been made for DNA testing, but he was not aware of any results being returned. The officer agreed that he had learned two other adults lived in the house. On Monday, Crown counsel Neil Kumar con- cluded the case for the pros- ecution by playing a tape of the defendant’s interview. In it, he denied any knowledge of the illegal drug. In his no-case submission, Mr. Furniss argued that the police had not shown that the premises was used exclu- sively by the defendant. He also noted the lack of finger- print or DNA evidence. The magistrate agreed. He pointed out that there was no schematic to show where the washroom was in the house or whether use of it was ex- clusive to any one person. The drugs in the bath- room were not in clear view, he pointed out. Further, there had been zero evidence of odor. The officer had gone past the bucket outside the house and only found that portion of ganja when he was leaving. The magistrate also did not know whether the bucket was out- side the door or 50 feet away. In summary, there had to be enough evidence to sat- isfy him beyond reasonable doubt. In this case, he said, there was insufficient evi- dence that the defendant had knowledge of the presence of ganja on the premises. ICTA records show telecom companies spent about $40 million on their networks in 2013, and almost $30 million last year. Digicel denied access to lIMe network No owner of ganja stashes found SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A deepening drought in Puerto Rico that has af- fected 2.5 million people forced the government on Wednesday to extend se- vere water rationing mea- sures to more communities that are already struggling with an economic crisis. Another 180,000 cus- tomers will now receive water only every third day, raising the total facing 48-hour cuts in service to 400,000, as the U.S. terri- tory’s main reservoirs con- tinue to shrink, according to the island’s water and sewer company. “We have to keep the water that’s available under control,” said Alberto Lazaro, the com- pany’s executive director. Nearly 13 percent of Puerto Rico is under an extreme drought and an- other 39 percent under a severe one, according to The National Drought Mitigation Center. July was the fourth driest month on record in San Juan since 1898, with only 1.6 inches of rain, said Carlos Anselmi, a meteo- rologist with the National Weather Service. So far this year, it has rained as much as 12 inches less than usual in San Juan, and as much as 20 inches less in some areas at the Carraizo reservoir, he said. Digicel has opened an outlet in the new building at 72 North Church Street in George Town. Digicel is the anchor tenant of the con- temporary building, which opened earlier this year. The new retail store, called Waterfront, of- fers “knowledge and tech zones,” where customers can come in, learn about and play with the latest technology devices, in- cluding wearables, tablets and home entertainment. Digicel CEO Martin Bould said the store is also part of the company’s com- mitment to the revitaliza- tion of George Town. “We want this store to be seen as a destination, driving people back into the heart of the town,” he said. WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government on Wednesday announced a $5 million re- ward for information leading to the recapture of one of the world’s most wanted drug kingpins, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman of Mexico. The U.S. also set up a tip line for information about Guzman, who escaped from one of Mexico’s most secure prisons last month via a so- phisticated mile-long tunnel that opened up in his cell’s shower stall. The acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chuck Rosenberg, said he believes Guzman is in Mexico, prob- ably hiding in his home state of Sinaloa, Mexico. But Rosenberg acknowledged that the elusive Guzman could be anywhere. “I think he is still in Mexico,” Rosenberg said in a meeting with reporters. “Do I know that? No. It’s an edu- cated guess.” Guzman has twice been captured and twice escaped. He was first jailed after being extradited from Guatemala in 1993 and escaped from a maximum security prison in 2001. Thirteen years later he was arrested again in the seaside resort town of Mazatlan and escaped again about 16 months later. Mexican authorities have announced a $3.8 million re- ward for Guzman, who is be- lieved to have a net worth of about $1 billion. Rosenberg said the DEA and U.S. authorities continue to work with their Mexican counterparts on the search for Guzman. The U.S also set up a tip line for information about Guzman, who escaped from one of Mexico’s most secure prisons last month. Puerto rico extends water restrictions as drought worsens Digicel opens new store us offers $5M for inforMation on escaPed Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, in 20143 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 6, 2015 Family who lost home in fire to help others rebuild James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A family who received un- precedented community sup- port after their home was de- stroyed by fire aim to “pay it forward” by coming to the aid of another Cayman family who lost their home in similar circumstances. The Buttrum family have formed a demolition crew of community volunteers to go to Bodden Town on Saturday and assist Jake Manderson and his family in leveling their fire-damaged property. The home, which Mr. Manderson shared with his mother and 15-year-old brother, went up in smoke on July 4. Mr. Manderson said the wood and concrete structure, inherited from his grandparents, was around 100 years old, with exten- sions added over the years. He said the family had no insurance on the building, which would have to be torn down and rebuilt. They had raised some do- nations, including from AL Thompson and Flowers Block, but little attention had been paid to their predicament until a separate fire in George Town on July 25 left 17 people homeless. That fire sparked an outpouring of commu- nity support, coordinated by Matthew Leslie of the Cayman Islands Brewery, including donations of food, clothes, labor and equipment. Arch and Godfrey construction firm has also stepped in as project manager for the rebuilding of the family compound. Now the Buttrum family say they want to give some- thing back by helping out Mr. Manderson and his family. Alwin Buttrum said, “The Buttrum family, along with the Windsor Park commu- nity, are forming a crew to go out there on Saturday and help to tear down the building and clean up and get them to where they can begin construction. “We have had a lot of blessings and we wanted to pass it on to them.” Island Waste Carriers, which helped tear down the remnants of the Windsor Park home last week, and Mr. Leslie will be among the vol- unteers assisting on Saturday. Mr. Buttrum said, “Hopefully we can get things started and motivate the Bodden Town community to come out and support them, like everyone has supported us.” Mr. Manderson said his family had been reaching out for donations but their plight went largely unnoticed until the Windsor Park fire galva- nized community support. “A lot of people didn’t know about the Bodden Town fire till the other one hap- pened in town,” he said. He added that it was humbling to get assistance from a family in the same predicament. “I am very grateful because they are in the same situation as us,” he said. “For them to reach out to us is amazing.” Mr. Leslie, who sparked the community response to the George Town fire with a series of Facebook posts, said he was helping get a team together to assist in Bodden Town. He said the commu- nity had shown its strength by coming together to help the Buttrums and he hoped people would do the same for Mr. Manderson and his family. “It is a very similar situ- ation, it is just that nobody paid attention to it at the time,” he said. “I think fires do strike a chord, particularly when there are children in- volved. When a home full of memories goes up in smoke, that really affects people.” The home Jake Manderson shared with his mother and brother in Bodden Town was destroyed by fire last month. New accountant general named Matthew Tibbetts has been named as the Cayman Islands government’s new accountant general, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson announced Wednesday. “I am delighted that we have identified another highly capable Caymanian for this important post,” Mr. Manderson said. Mr. Tibbetts is a certified public accountant and has served in the public sector for 14 years. His former government positions included deputy chief financial officer in the Ministry of Health, chief financial officer (desig- nate) at the Health Services Authority and seven years as the chief financial officer in the government Portfolio of the Civil Service. Most recently, he served as acting deputy chief of- ficer in the Portfolio of the Civil Service. Mr. Tibbetts, who was appointed following a recruitment for the posi- tion, will take up his new post on Sept. 14. The accountant gen- eral is government’s prin- cipal accounting officer and is responsible for consol- idating the government’s public sector budget and financial statements. Mr. TibbettsThe 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 augusT 6, 2015 • Cayman COmpass 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” The governor’s new ride: Uber, it ain’t The governor’s got a brand-new Jag. We refer, of course, to the new flag car for our governor, the chief representative of Mother England in the Cayman Islands. The 2015 Jaguar XJ (in “Polaris white”) is a beautiful piece of machinery that is aptly suited to its function as “the most prestigious vehicle in the Cayman Islands vehicle fleet,” in the words of a news release from the Office of Governor Helen Kilpatrick. The press statement, and Governor Kilpatrick herself, point out that, in addition to its aesthetics, the new Jaguar offers “good value for money,” and that the United Kingdom Foreign and Common- wealth Office was able to leverage its buying power to “secure a heavily discounted price for this new vehicle.” Additional cost savings were secured in the form of free shipping aboard the Royal Navy vessel RFA Lyme Bay. Generally, we are vocal proponents of our public sector reducing expenditures wherever it make sense. However, in certain cases, such as the governor’s vehicle or our premier’s travel accommodations, we believe that anything less than first class is simply insufficient. When the subject is the public presentation of our country’s top executives while conducting the official business of the Cayman Islands, appearances are essential. Put another way, pomp – a cultural bequeathment from our British heritage – is important. When Cayman’s official motorcade arrives at the Legislative Assembly for the annual Throne Speech, it is only fitting that Governor Kilpatrick (or any of her successors) steps out from a shining luxury automo- bile – rather than a sand-strewn, rust-encrusted beach Jeep … or even an aging, cringe-inducing Lincoln Town Car. Likewise, when Premier Alden McLaughlin travels to represent Cayman in, for example, Bermuda at the U.K. Overseas Territories meeting, he should sit com- fortably in the foremost section of the airplane, enter- tain guests at fine dining establishments and reside in the most excellent hotel accommodations. She is, after all, the Governor of the Cayman Islands. And he is, after all, the Premier of the Cayman Islands. Those are offices which merit our highest respect, and the individuals who occupy those posi- tions should project an analogous image of Cayman to the outside world. Not only that, but, the governor and the premier have – through their corresponding responsibilities – earned those emoluments. We eye critically the trend, in recent decades, where politicians and public figures attempt to portray themselves as homespun populists, regardless of their actual characters, personalities or policies. Indeed, one of the hallmark questions of U.S. surveys during presi- dential campaigns is which candidate people would feel most comfortable “having a beer with” – as if that has any bearing on the negotiation of international treaties, coordination of congressional bodies or com- manding of military forces. Frankly, we are of the opinion that our leaders actually are not “just like us” – and moreover, should not be. If they were, why on earth would we allow them to lead? Governor Kilpatrick, enjoy your new Jaguar. Let it be a reminder of the critical duties with which you have been entrusted, and a symbol of the great faith that Cayman has in you and the nation whose authority you represent. Cecil was a bad boy “American, single-hand- edly, saves 600 African ante- lopes and 12 baby elephants – by killing a lion.” As you read the first part of the pre- vious sentence, you most likely are thinking “this is a good guy.” But when you read the last part of the sen- tence – particularly if you are a cat lover – you may be thinking “this is a bad guy.” Adult lions on average eat about 15 pounds of meat a day. In the wild, they feed primarily on medium-size animals, such as antelopes and occasional baby ele- phants. The late Cecil the lion, killed by the American dentist, was reported to be about 13 years old. Cecil probably killed and con- sumed roughly 70,000 pounds of meat during his life, which likely included many hundreds of antelopes and baby elephants. When you see a wild- life movie where a lion is chasing an antelope, do you root for the lion or the ante- lope? Even if you are a cat lover, how many antelopes do you think should die to feed one lion? In Northern Virginia where I live, whitetail deer are very plentiful – too plen- tiful, according to the wild- life biologists. So the county police and others kill deer from September to February by shooting them with guns or arrows. The local animal rights people are opposed to such deer “culling,” but seem to have no good answers as to how to control the deer population. The deer repro- duce rapidly because their natural predators have been eliminated – and have only partially been replaced by the automobile. Each year, there are thousands of col- lisions between deer and au- tomobiles. A few years ago, in a tragic accident, a local school librarian was killed when her car hit a deer. If we killed all of the deer, how many automobile accidents, including some human deaths, would be avoided? How many deer lives should be sacrificed to save one human life? Some may con- sider this to be a politically incorrect question, but bi- ologists, economists, polit- ical leaders and others are forced to think about such questions. The statistics about deer populations and related auto accidents are quite robust, so the question is not academic. People naturally do not like to think about such tradeoffs. The American dentist who killed the lion (and apparently did not realize that he was not in a legal hunt) has received death threats. If some of these death threats are serious, one wonders if the people who make them have thought about how many human lives are worth one lion life or vice versa – and how they came to such a conclusion. Many vegetarians are opposed to killing animals for food. Even though I am a meat eater, I have little doubt that very few humans will be killing animals to eat a few decades from now. The reason is based in eco- nomics rather than a great moral awakening about eating animals. Food scientists are rap- idly increasing their ability to produce (or grow) artificial meat – with all the texture, appearance and nutrition of meat from animals. At some point, this will become more efficient than raising cattle and chickens, and the switch will take place. But the con- sequences are unlikely to be wholly to the animal lovers’ liking. If there is no com- mercial market for cattle – given that artificial meat and milk will become less expensive and more nutri- tious and tasty – few will go to the trouble, cost and time of raising cattle, and the number will plummet from hundreds of millions to a few thousand in zoo-like set- tings. Dairy cows and beef cattle are no longer capable of happily romping around fields, taking care of them- selves without the helping hand of man. Sea turtles are an en- dangered species because there are international pro- hibitions against trading in sea turtle products, such as meat and shells, and Americans are not allowed to raise them for commer- cial purposes. The late Sir Antony Fisher (a major British chicken producer) and his colleagues developed the technology and a farm for raising sea turtles, like chickens, decades ago, in the Cayman Islands. Their plan was to replenish wild stocks of turtles by raising them in ponds until they were large enough to avoid most pred- ators, at which time a cer- tain percentage would be returned to the ocean. This effort would be paid for by selling turtle meat and shells of those that were not set free. Alas, animal rights ac- tivists, who could not think beyond stage I, successfully lobbied for the trading ban – leaving sea turtles unneces- sarily endangered. When I was a teenager, I worked one summer on a dairy farm and was warned not to name any of the animals that we might later eat. It is hard to eat a cow that you had named Marilyn, or a pig you had named Dan. So my advice to my friends who like to hunt – don’t shoot animals with first names like Cecil. Richard W. Rahn, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. © 2015, The Washington Times RichaRd W. Rahn When you see a wildlife movie where a lion is chasing an antelope, do you root for the lion or the antelope? Even if you are a cat lover, how many antelopes do you think should die to feed one lion? In this undated photo provided by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Cecil the lion rests in Hwange National Park, in Hwange, Zimbabwe. The lion’s killing by an American dentist, aided by two Zimbabwean guides, has sparked protests and outrage. – Photo: AP5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 6, 2015 Children’s Corner at hospital gets makeover Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Children’s Corner at the General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital is now a fun and colorful space for youngsters receiving medical attention. The paintings and equip- ment are a gift to the children of the Cayman Islands from the Judicial Administration, Prison Services, Sunrise Community Church and the Book Nook, which officially handed over the project on Wednesday. A mural on the wall is decorated with brightly col- ored storybook and Disney characters, such as Jiminy Cricket, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Cinderella, Lilo, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Ariel and Pocahontas. Colorful children’s fur- niture stacked with toys, books and other objects for play are just waiting for young ones to arrive. Among those attending the unveiling of the refur- bished site on Wednesday were Health Services Authority CEO Lizzette Yearwood, court adminis- trator Kevin McCormac and prison director Neil Lavis. Ms. Yearwood thanked all those involved, saying it was encouraging to see the community getting in- volved in the hospital system and taking the ini- tiative to help improve the environment at the Health Services Authority. “I’m sure the kids that are going to be at the General Practice Clinic … will definitely be dis- tracted and entertained while they are waiting to be seen,” she said. Updating Ms. Yearwood on the work, Mr. McCormac said the initiative involved an incredible mix of skills and ability as people from the courts, the private sector, Sunrise Community Church and prisoners at Northward had come together to create a beautiful space for the children to enjoy while they are waiting for medical at- tention at the hospital. Mr. Lavis said, “It … gives prisoners a sense of purpose. Every morning they worked hard, [and] at the end they produced something which gives them structure and a sense of purpose.” He said it was a real pleasure to donate the fur- niture to the children’s area. “It’s a worthy cause [and] we are always looking for opportunities to pay back the community.” He said many teams and individuals were involved in getting the furniture orga- nized, sourcing the toys and getting people to the hos- pital to do the painting. Shanna Wallace, acting human resources officer in the Judicial Department, came up with the initial idea after a visit to the hos- pital when she found it challenging to distract her active 5-year-old, Caleb, while he was awaiting med- ical attention. The design and the concept of the paintings were developed by artists Lacey Quesada and Alexis McDonald, both of whom worked for the courts at the time. Later, the project was taken on by a team of others, including Damani Gow, acting secretary for the clerk of courts, who put his art training to work by doing a great deal of the painting, particularly in the last few months, said Mr. McCormac. Mr. Gow acted as team leader for a core group of painters that included Dorothy Ojerio, Raidez Perez and Darcy Noon. Court Administrator Kevin McCormac presents the Health Services Authority’s CEO Lizzette Yearwood with a plaque for the Children’s Corner, in the company of Prison Director Neil Lavis and members of the Judicial Administration, Prison Service and the HSA. - Photos: Jewel levy The Children’s Corner at the General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital has a new mural. The Children’s Corner is now decorated with brightly colored storybook and Disney characters.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community Calendar ■ Community Calendar is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. Thursday augusT 6, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 GALLERY COLLECTIONS: Lecture by Natalie Urquhart, National Gallery curator and director, 6-7:30 p.m. She will discuss the history of the National Gallery collections and how the current collection was acquired over the years. Other topics include collections policy, future plans, conditions and requirements for long-term care. For more information or to RSVP, email info@ nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. NATIONAL PENSIONS: The public is invited to a discussion of the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill in the Bodden Town district, at the Savannah Primary School Hall, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 BRAC CELEBRATION: Jamaican Culture-Conscious Committee presents One-Love Independence, Emancipation Showdown. 7 p.m. Scott’s Dock, Call 939- 6952 for more information. MONDAY, AUGUST 10 NATIONAL PENSIONS: The public is invited to a discussion of the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill at the East End Civic Centre at 8 p.m. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: Tonight’s free film at 7 p.m. is “Home” (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. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 NATIONAL PENSIONS: The public is invited to a discussion of the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill in West Bay at the Shirley Kidd Memorial Hall at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 NATIONAL PENSIONS BILL: The public is invited to the final meeting to discuss the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill. It takes place in George Town at the Town Hall, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, AUG. 18 MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: Tonight’s free film at 7 p.m. is “The Hundred-Foot Journey” (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, AUG. 20 BRAC COURT: Summary Court convenes in the Aston Rutty Civic Centre today at 10 a.m. and continues tomorrow. PUB QUIZ: At Fidel Murphy’s. $10 per person. Six people maximum per team. All proceeds to the Humane Society program for transferring dogs to new homes in the U.S. Call, 949- 5189 to reserve a table, or email sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. SUMMER CAMPS BRAC CAMP: Summer Culture Camp, Aug. 3–14. 8:30 a.m. to noon. Heritage House, ages 5–13, Cost $50 per child per week, Contact simones@candw.ky or 917- 7718 for more information. RUGBY CAMP: The CRFU hosts a summer rugby camp for children ages 8-14, Aug. 24-28, 8 a.m. to noon. Cost per child is $125 for the week and includes a rugby shirt. Coaching by members of the Cayman national rugby team. For more information or to register, contact Edward Westin, 927-1337 or cme_ westin@hotmail.com. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The Church of God Chapel – George Town extends an invitation to all children ages 3 to 13 to attend Vacation Bible School, “Scavenger Hunt,” 6-8 p.m., Aug. 3-7, at the Family Life Centre. There is no charge. Call 949-9393 to register. CAMP JAM: All youth ages 13 to 17 are invited to attend Camp JAM, a creative Christian Arts Camp at the Family Life Centre, 6-9 p.m., Aug. 10-14. Activities include, singing, dancing, instruments, and drama. Call 949-9393 to register. Cost is $35. A team from Anderson University is coming to work with the children and youth. 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.-5 p.m. at Elmslie Memorial Church Hall. $80 per week includes camp fee, field trips, snacks and lunch. Activities include arts and crafts, sports, science, talent show, Bible study. Contact 324-8707 or creativecampers@live.com. ART AND CRAFT: Organized by the Visual Arts Society. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, until Aug. 12, from 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. Visit visualartcayman@yahoo.com. GENERAL INTEREST NCVO SCHOOL YEAR: Miss Nadine’s Preschool and Jack and Jill Nursery are registering for the new school year, which starts Aug. 31. Both facilities are under the auspices of the National Council of Voluntary Organizations. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Heather Lopez, Director, at 945-1078 or ncvopreschool@ncvo.org.ky. Cost includes breakfast, lunch and one snack daily. AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail. com for meeting times. NCVO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers are needed for various activities within the National Council of Voluntary Organisations’ Children Services programs. Contact Alta Solomon at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo.org.ky. SUMMER BOOK SWAP: Every Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the end of 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. 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 is free and open to the public. Current exhibition is the gallery’s permanent collection. A 20-minute documentary film, “Caymanian Art – A New Frontier,” by Jacob Olde VI will be screened on a loop throughout the exhibition “All Access.” PUBLIC FEEDBACK: The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs and the Department of Labour and Pensions has released the Labour Relations Bill, 2015 and the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2015 for public consultation. These bills can be accessed on the Ministry’s website, www.education.gov.ky/ labourpensions. In addition to participation at district meetings, the public can email their feedback on the bills to lpl@gov.ky. BETHESDA COUNSELING CENTER: 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 Club 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. 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. 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. to 5 p.m. Mon-Fri and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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: Opening hours are Monday – Friday 3:15 – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. 90A Anthony Drive, George Town. Contact Alta Solomon at 949- 2124 or ncvocoordinator@ 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.7 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 6, 2015 40% OFF SELECT SUNGLASS BRANDS!!! The Island Plaza 345-946-2507 Camana Bay 345-640-5339 With the right sunglasses all selfies look good 40% OFF SELECT SUNGLASS BRANDS!!! The Island Plaza 345-946-2507 Camana Bay 345-640-5339 With the right sunglasses all selfies look good 40% OFF SELECT SUNGLASS BRANDS!!! The Island Plaza 345-946-2507 Camana Bay 345-640-5339 With the right sunglasses all selfies look good 40% OFF SELECT SUNGLASS BRANDS!!! Cows on the moo-ve Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com After some 10 years in custody at Northward Prison, 35 cows may be heading out to greener pastures. Thirteen male and 22 fe- male Red Poll/Charolais cattle among the prison’s herd are up for auction as Northward now has more cows than it can handle. “We are selling off the cows because we just need to have a manageable amount for prison consump- tion and to continue with the rehabilitation program, which is done for training,” said Austin William, the of- ficer in charge of the prison’s rehabilitation program. He said the prison owns 65 cows. The herd started off with a small number of cattle, which has in- creased over the years through breeding. The cows, which live in the pasture across the street from the prison, are part of the prison’s rehabilitation program, which teaches pris- oners skills to help them get jobs in the agriculture in- dustry upon their release. The cows also provide meat for the prisoners. Bidders can fill out a bidding sheet, available at Northward Prison or at the Department of Agriculture warehouse and front desk, and make an offer on indi- vidual animals. The bid must be placed in a sealed enve- lope, marked “Cattle Bid,” and delivered to Northward. Where a calf and mother are listed together on the bidding sheet, these must be sold together, as the calf has not yet been weaned from the mother. The envelopes will then be opened by a board, the offer prices will be reviewed, and the successful bidders will be notified. Payment for the cattle must be made before they can be removed from the site, officials said. Red Poll cattle are mainly used as beef suckler cows. They are known for easy calving and successfully raising a high proportion of their calves. Charolais are raised for meat and may be crossed with other breeds. Anyone who wants to view the cattle at Northward Prison can contact Mr. Williams at 526-2832 to arrange a viewing time. The closing date for the receipt of bids is Monday, Aug. 10. Call for Chevening scholarship program The Governor’s Office in- vites applicants to sign up for the United Kingdom’s prestigious Chevening scholarship program. Professionals and public servants from the Cayman Islands are eligible to apply for the scholarship under the program, which is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, according to a statement from the Governor’s Office. Awarded to individ- uals with strong academic backgrounds, a Chevening Scholarship offers finan- cial support for a mas- ter’s-level degree at any of the U.K.’s leading uni- versities. Applicants have until Nov. 3 to submit their applications. Applicants must be cit- izens of one of the 160 Chevening-eligible coun- tries and intend to re- turn there after studies, hold a degree that meets the entry requirements for the chosen master’s pro- gram, and have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying. According to the re- lease, the Chevening team is particularly interested in hearing from applicants in the Cayman Islands who wish to study good governance, public finan- cial management, envi- ronmental studies and di- saster preparedness. Those interested in ap- plying should read the on- line guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selec- tion criteria before submit- ting an application. Chevening history The Chevening program began in 1983. Scholars are selected from 160 countries and territories, excluding the U.S. and the EU. More than 1,500 scholarships were awarded in 2015/2016, and there are more than 44,000 Chevening alumni. The name comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent, cur- rently the joint official residence of the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary. For more information locally, contact Gill Skinner on 244-2431 or email gillian.skinner@fco.gov. To apply, visit www.chevening.org/faqs. Details are available at www.chevening.org/apply. The Northward cows are all a breed of Red Poll mixed with Charolais. – Photo: Charles DunCan “We are selling off the cows because we just need to have a manageable amount for prison consumption and to continue with the rehabilitation program, which is done for training.” Austin WilliAm, prison officerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Thursday augusT 6, 2015 • Cayman Compass sponsorship relationships with CIFA,” he said. Mr. Moxam said both CONCACAF and FIFA are looking to new leaders and ideas to clean up their image, and CIFA needs to do the same. He believes reforms, in- cluding fixed-term limits for board members and greater financial transparency and accountability, need to be introduced. “CIFA’s credibility and image is at all-time low,” he said. “In my opinion, the re- cent events force us to turn over a new page and re- think our governance of foot- ball in Cayman. “I have a lot of passion and conviction for the history and the future of the sport. Equally I understand that the changes cannot be done by myself alone and I appreciate the need for collective efforts and humility in this proposed task. If successful, I want to work tireles sly in the in- terest of Cayman football.” He said he supports greater financial account- ability, including the pub- lication of detailed quar- terly or biannual accounts, and open tendering for FIFA- funded projects. He added, “After dis- cussions with membership clubs, I know there is con- sensus that there must be a total independent audit done on all administrative and fi- nancial matters relative to CIFA. That should happen parallel with a complete analysis on the state of the game in our islands, followed by consultations with mem- bership clubs and then ap- proving a development plan which would be a road map for the game going forward.” But he said he would re- sist some reforms proposed at the world level, in partic- ular potential changes to the one-country, one-vote system that gives Cayman an equal say in world football to any other country, including global powers such as Brazil and Germany. Mr. Moxam met represen- tatives from several clubs on Tuesday to outline his plat- form and to ask them to back his candidacy. If elected, he said he would work with clubs to build a long-term develop- ment plan for the game, in- cluding reater focus on youth development, training of coaches and technical sup- port to clubs. He would require the support of a majority of club delegates at the asso- ciation’s Aug. 29 congress to become first vice president of the organization. Mr. Moxam added, “The sport belongs to all members of the community, football clubs and their players. We should not lose track of that understanding. Equally, the players and clubs must take their roles and responsibili- ties relative to the principles of the sport seriously. “There needs to be a con- centrated effort to reconnect the public with the sport and a bigger/better appreciation and understanding of the good people and events that make up our football history. In turn, we need to embrace and use some of that positive history to build a respected football culture and great fu- ture for our youngsters and the community at large.” resolution court and was also in Switzerland with Webb for FIFA’s annual meeting prior to the arrests. Mr. Stein said there were no allegations of wrongdoing against either Mr. Scotland or Mr. Glidden stemming from the FIFA probe. The new CIMA chairman revealed Tuesday that KRyS Global has been retained by the authority to conduct fo- rensic audits of any trans- actions linked to Webb or former Cayman resident Costas Takkas, both of whom are charged in the U.S. crim- inal investigation. The forensic accountants’ probe will be overseen by a three-person committee of CIMA officials staffed by CIMA’s head of banking Charles Ilako, head of com- pliance R.J. Berry and Deputy General Counsel Andre Mon Desir. When the review is complete, the committee will present a report rela- tive to the accountants’ find- ings to CIMA’s “non-executive board” – meaning without CIMA’s managing director being present. The purpose of appointing the committee, Mr. Stein said, was to separate any investi- gations CIMA and its forensic accounting consultants con- duct into the local finan- cial transactions referenced in the U.S. indictment from whoever in the regulatory authority may have “connec- tions” to Webb, Mr. Stein said. At least one current and one former Cayman Islands bank, Fidelity and Barclays, were named in connection with the U.S. federal court in- dictments, although neither bank was accused of wrong- doing in court records. For the time being, the CIMA committee and its fo- rensic accountants will focus only on the Fidelity Bank transactions identi- fied in the U.S. indictment re- leased on May 27, Mr. Stein said. If there were other areas of concern identified in the course of the review, the investigation could ex- pand, he said. The charges Top officials at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands confirmed in early June that Webb remained employed at the bank on a part-time con- sulting contract until the end of 2012, which includes the period when he is alleged to have solicited bribes via in- termediaries in exchange for awarding the commercializa- tion rights to certain FIFA football tournaments. According to U.S. fed- eral court indictments, sep- arate bribe payments fun- neled through U.S., Hong Kong and Cayman Islands bank accounts were negoti- ated in 2012 with then-FIFA Vice President Webb and then-CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz, who is identified in the indictment as “co-conspirator #4.” The indictment states that the 2012 discussions were to negotiate the media and mar- keting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifier matches. These rights were being sought by a U.S. sub- sidiary of the Brazilian-based Traffic Group – Traffic USA – which wanted to buy the rights from the Caribbean Football Association, federal court re- cords state. Co-conspirator #4 was employed by the Traffic Group at the time, but later in the year became the gen- eral secretary of CONCACAF. The chief executive of Traffic USA, Aaron Davidson, is also charged in the U.S. investiga- tion into FIFA. Near the end of these talks, co-conspirator #4 met with indicted defen- dant, Takkas, identified as a close associate of Webb’s. The meeting took place in Hungary. “Takkas told co- conspirator #4 that Webb wanted a US$3 million bribe in exchange for the [foot- ball union] contract to be awarded to Traffic USA,” the court records state. It is also alleged that the bribe was split among two companies, Traffic USA and another company iden- tified as “Sports Marketing Company C,” so that each would pay US$1.5 million to Webb. It is further alleged that Traffic USA’s payment was transmitted to Takkas through a Miami bank to an HSBC bank in Buffalo, New York, and eventually trans- ferred to an HSBC bank in Hong Kong. The indictment alleges that two wire transfers to- taling US$1 million were sent from Hong Kong to a cor- respondent account in New York City for credit to an ac- count in the name of Kosson Ventures – a company con- trolled by Takkas – at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands. The records state that the re- maining US$500,000 owed by Traffic USA was paid into an- other account controlled by Takkas at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands. “Takkas subsequently transferred the funds to an account in the name of a swimming pool builder at United Community Bank in Blairsville, Georgia,” the criminal complaint reads. “[This was] for the ben- efit of the defendant Jeffrey Webb, who was having a pool built at his residence in Loganville, Georgia.” Federal prosecutors state that Takkas’s participation in the funds transfer was “more intermediary” in nature and was “designed to conceal the fact that Jeffrey Webb was the beneficiary of the payment.” It was unclear from the in- dictment whether Webb ever received the other half of the alleged bribe money from “Sports Marketing Company C.” Webb pleaded not guilty in federal court last month to all the charges against him. Australian counterparts, fol- lowing an application under the relevant Tax Information Exchange Agreement. The ruling could have im- plications for how future re- quests for information from foreign authorities are han- dled under Tax Information Exchange Agreements. Anthony Travers, senior partner of Travers Thorp Alberga and former chairman of Cayman Finance, said the court judgments make it clear that a high level of scrutiny and review is essential before private information is shared with foreign tax authorities. “What is clear from the Court of Appeal judgment is that to obtain informa- tion that would otherwise be regarded as confiden- tial under Cayman Islands law through the mecha- nism of a Tax Information Exchange Agreement requires strict compliance with the terms of that agreement,” he told the Cayman Compass. In his original September 2013 ruling, Justice Charles Quin quashed the Tax Information Authority’s original decision to pro- vide information to the Australian Taxation Office on two Cayman-registered firms, MH Investments and JA Investments, which it ob- tained through FCM Ltd., the registered agent of the two companies. Justice Quin’s decision followed a request for ju- dicial review from the two companies. Australian tax authori- ties, at the time, were in the midst of an investigation into alleged tax schemes ar- ranged by Australian ac- countants Vanda Gould and John Scott Leaver, who they suspected were the ul- timate beneficial owners of MH Investments and JA Investments. Justice Quin ruled that the Cayman Tax Authority had consented to four re- quests for information from the Australian Taxation Office without ensuring that the information sought re- lated to periods after July 2010, as stipulated by the terms of the Tax Information Exchange Agreement be- tween the two countries. The Tax Information Authority also had no au- thority to consent to the use of the documents in foreign proceedings without ap- plying to the Grand Court for directions. This, together with the failure to notify the parties subject to the information request and allowing them to make written representa- tions on whether the infor- mation should be released, had infringed their rights to privacy, as well as to a fair and public hearing under the Cayman Islands Bill of Rights, Justice Quin ruled. He ordered the Tax Information Authority to write to the Australian Taxation Office demanding the return of the files and revoking its consent for use of the documents in court proceedings. The Australian courts refused this request but subsequently dropped criminal tax evasion and money laundering charges against Gould and Leaver. The Tax Information Authority appealed Justice Quin’s ruling, arguing that Gould and Leaver, and not the two Cayman Islands in- vestment firms, were the par- ties subject to the informa- tion request, and therefore be entitled to contest the re- lease of the information. The Court of Appeal dis- missed this interpretation. Sir John Chadwick wrote, “In failing to serve notices under section 17(1) on ei- ther JA Investments Limited or on MH Investments, the Authority failed to afford to those companies the oppor- tunities to challenge the va- lidity of the requests which, under the law, they were in- tended to have. “In those circumstances, the Authority reached the conclusion that the requests were in accordance with the Australian Tax Information Exchange Agreement without taking into account whatever representations those companies might have wished to make.” The judgment notes that the law has subsequently been changed to specifically indicate that the person en- titled to be notified is the “foreign taxpayer under in- vestigation,” which in this case would have been Gould and Leaver. The judgment notes that the authority had not noti- fied Gould and Leaver, either, and would therefore have been in breach of the law in any event. Mr. Travers said the Court of Appeal, in up- holding Justice Quin’s judg- ment, confirmed the protec- tions afforded by the law to the rights of individ- uals and companies sub- ject to requests for confiden- tial information by foreign tax authorities. He said the subsequent change to the law would not have changed the out- come of this case. Mr. Travers added, “Subsequent revision to this legislation changing the identity of the persons upon whom no- tice must be served does not adversely affect the effi- cacy of the Tax Information Exchange Agreement but avoids any doubt as to the correct procedure that must be followed by the Tax Information Authority and clarifies the identity of the persons who must in the specified circumstances re- ceive due notice of the infor- mation request so that ap- propriate challenge may be made to the court in good time where warranted.” Aussie tax data exchange unlawful, court rules CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Additional CIMA-Webb connections identified CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Moxam seeks to lead football association CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Pope addresses divorce, remarriage Pope Francis declared on Wednesday that divorced Catholics who remarry, as well as their children, deserve better treatment from the church, warning pastors against treating these couples as if they were excommunicated. Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 6, 2015 On Greek island, paradise becomes a purgatory for migrants NORTHEASTERN LESBOS, Greece – The heaving rubber raft, packed with 49 people, had motored more than halfway across the narrow strait that separates Turkey from Greece when it began to rapidly fill with water. “Whoever can swim, get out or we will all die!” yelled an Iraqi woman near the front, her belly swollen with an unborn child conceived amid war and now facing mortal peril at sea. Dutifully, four men jumped overboard into the wind-whipped waves as others blew whistles, flailed their arms and shouted prayers into the cloud- covered sky. Minutes later, the raft ca- reered into the rocky shoreline. It was followed soon after by the four men, who had been plucked from the water by a passing fishing boat. “Union!” the refugees cheered as they set wobbly foot in this staggeringly beautiful new land. Their crash landing on the Greek island of Lesbos, wit- nessed by a Washington Post reporter, had given the refu- gees from Iraq and Syria an all-important toehold in the European Union. With its aqua-green shoals, olive-tree- studded mountains and five- star resorts, it looks every bit the paradise they had dreamed Europe would be. But within hours, par- adise for the new arrivals turns into purgatory. For it is here on this enchanting island that two of the conti- nent’s great crises converge – an unparalleled flow of mi- grants from the war-satu- rated regions that ring the continent, and the struggle of an EU member that can barely support its own citi- zens, much less tens of thou- sands of desperate foreigners. Having escaped failed states, the migrants find themselves in a failing one. Once they make their way off the beach, they are wel- comed to Europe with a long, hot trek through the island’s mountainous interior fol- lowed by days and nights in fetid, crowded refugee camps that veteran international aid workers say are among the worst they have seen. “We ran away from war. We ran away from violence. We came to Europe be- cause we want to live like human beings,” Zahra Jafari, an almond-eyed 30-year- old Afghan, said as she pre- pared for a night’s sleep amid the sand fleas and perva- sive whiffs of excrement that mark life in the camps. “But here it smells so bad. There’s no water here. There’s no food here.” “This is the opposite of what we thought Europe would be,” she said. “It’s a di- saster – just like my country.” Local officials do not dis- pute that conditions in the camps are poor. They ac- knowledge being unprepared and overwhelmed by the scale of arrivals after years of man- aging much smaller flows. As the migrant numbers have surged this spring and summer, the island’s mayor, Spyros Galinos, has fired off letter after letter to EU offi- cials, the Greek government in Athens and international aid organizations seeking urgent assistance. Only the latter have come through with meaningful help, ac- cording to his spokesman. “The minister of inte- rior visited, said ‘Keep up the good work,’ and he left,” said the spokesman, Marios Andriotios. But the Greek government, of course, is broke. Europe’s absence has been more difficult for local officials and aid workers here to fathom. And yet it reflects the often dysfunctional and slow-footed way that the EU has responded to the migrant crisis, with many northern European governments re- luctant to share a burden that has been felt dispro- portionately along the conti- nent’s southern flank among countries that are already deeply in debt. Until this year, Italy was the top destination for mi- grants seeking to enter Europe by sea. But now that dubious distinction is held by Greece – the EU country that can least afford the strain – with an increasing number of migrants forgoing the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean aboard rickety ships in favor of the quicker yet still perilous route through the Aegean in an overstuffed dinghy. Nowhere has that shift been felt more acutely than here in Lesbos, where the number of arrivals in July alone was nearly three times the total from all of last year. Separated by just eight nau- tical miles from the Turkish coast, the island’s shores have become the landing spot for 20 or more rafts a day, each packed with dozens of men, women and children. The majority of the new ar- rivals are fleeing the war in Syria; Iraqis and Afghans make up most of the rest. Lesbos has nothing to offer the migrants – a fact they know well. This is just the first stop in a far longer odyssey that they hope will take them to countries such as Germany, Sweden or Denmark, where they be- lieve they will be able to re- ceive asylum and find work. But first they must stay in the camps for up to a week to obtain the registration needed to travel through Greece legally. For many, it is an unex- pectedly grim welcome. The toilets – just five of them in one camp for a population of hundreds – are typically out of order. The men shower in the open for all to see. The women have no place to shower at all. With the tents often full, the only protection from the searing midday heat is thin mesh netting or the sparse shade of an olive tree. “At least there’s no violence here. No bombs exploding. No kidnappings,” said Haydar Majid, a 32-year-old Iraqi who said he had worked as an in- terpreter for the U.S. Army. “But this place isn’t for hu- mans. It’s for animals.” © 2015, The Washington Post Afghan refugees gather outside the Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, Greece. – Photos: the Washington Post/alessandro Penso A Syrian migrant is tended to by his wife and a friend after he ingested seawater on his way to Greece.Next >