ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday augusT 13, 2015 sports | page 15 K-FiT sTages mma Training seminars Tae kwon do club will host Sensei Nardu High of 91 Low of 81 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 3 feet. editorial | page 4 speed limiT immobiliTy: sign oF The Times 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 auditor general swarbrick resigns, to remain in job until october Announcement made amid lawmakers’ criticism brenT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Alastair Swarbrick, the Cayman Islands auditor general for the last five years, an- nounced his resignation Wednesday morning just as he was on the receiving end of some sharp public criticism from Cayman’s po- litical opposition leader. Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush had ac- cused Mr. Swarbrick of “recklessly” misusing the power of the auditor’s office to damage the reputation of the Cayman Islands. Mr. Swarbrick declined on Wednesday to respond to Mr. Bush’s accusations, but he said he would do so at a later date. Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick said in a statement released Wednesday that she “reluctantly” accepted Mr. Swarbrick’s resignation and thanked him for his “pro- fessionalism and integrity” on the job since his appointment in 2010. Mr. Swarbrick, 47, who had a contract in Cayman through July 2016, has accepted a position as a senior policy adviser for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development based in Paris. He is now due to stay in the Cayman post until early October. Mr. Swarbrick confirmed Wednesday that he had begun applying for the OECD job in January and that his decision to re- sign had “nothing to do” with any current Consultants: alternate Cruise port sites worse than Gt James WhiTTaKer jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Consultants say there would be 20 times more environmental damage as a result of the dredging required if cruise piers were built in South Sound or West Bay instead of George Town harbor. Environmental engineers say they were not asked to look at other sites, with government committed to the capital. But their outline analysis of previous proposals in Red Bay off South Sound Road and Barkers in West Bay suggests the George Town site is more envi- ronmentally friendly. In response to public concerns that other sites should have been considered, raised during a consultation exercise on the environ- mental impact assessment on the port, con- sultants Baird and Associates suggest George Town has numerous advantages. These include: ■■ The natural environment is already compromised by years of shipping and port activities ■■ Significantly greater dredging, with associated environmental impacts, required at other sites ■■ Capital cost of facility will be significantly lower in George Town ■■ Proximity to George Town business dis- trict. The consultants note, “The dredging volumes associated with the development Growth slows in stay-over tourism Charles dunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com While Caribbean stay-over tourism in- creased more than 7 percent in the first six months of this year, the Cayman Islands has seen only a 1.5 percent rise, according to a new report on regional tourism. That’s down from a more than 10 percent increase in the first half of last year. The new report from Integra Realty Resources found that all but one of the Caribbean’s 13 most popular vacation spots witnessed average stay-over growth. Cuba and Barbados grew by more than 14 per- cent in the first half of the year, and Aruba added more than 18 percent. Only Martinique recorded a drop, of about 3 percent. IRR Senior Managing Director James Andrews said the brisk growth Cayman has seen in tourists staying over is unsustain- able without adding more hotel rooms. “Arrivals to Cayman grew 3.5 percent the first half of 2012, about 6.5 percent the first half of 2013, and about 10 percent for the first half of 2014. That level of growth is un- sustainable without new hotel rooms, and there has been no new product in Cayman for a number of years,” he said. At the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s annual meeting in April, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell pre- dicted a 5 percent increase in stay-over tourism for the year. He said that adding The Dart-owned Kimpton hotel will add 263 rooms to Seven Mile Beach next year. – photo: taneos ramsay PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Mr. Swarbrick2 LOCAL&wOrLd Thursday augusT 13, 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 FANTASTIC FOUR (PG13) 1:15 | 3:45 | 7:00 | 10:00 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (PG13) 12:55 | 3:50 | 6:50 | 9:45 VACATION (R) 1:30 | 4:20 | 7:20 | 9:40 RICKI & THE FLASH (PG13) 12:50 | 3:30 | 7:15 | 9:50 ANT-MAN 3D (PG13) 12:45 | 3:40 2D | 6:45 | 9:30 2D MINIONS 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:15 2D | 7:30 | 9:55 2D Police describe robbery chase James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A police officer described how he stumbled across the scene of an armed robbery in progress at Blackbeard’s li- quor store at Grand Harbour shopping center. In a statement read to the Grand Court on Wednesday morning, Constable Hugh Cotterell said he was chat- ting with two woman selling Christmas trees outside Hurley’s super- market when one of them spotted an armed man out- side the neighboring store. “She was looking to- wards Blackbeard’s and stated she saw a man with a gun in his hand and a hoodie over his head,” the officer said in his statement. He said the woman saw the man get into a black Ford Escape. The of- ficer jumped in his own car and pursued the ve- hicle before losing sight of it in Prospect. His statement was read into evidence on day two of the trial of Andrew Lopez, Bron Webb and Randy Connor, who have been charged with the December 2014 robbery. After losing sight of the getaway vehicle, the officer said he was advised by his superiors to return to the scene of the robbery and take statements. A second officer, Constante Aydoc of the armed Uniformed Support Group, who gave evidence in person on Tuesday, said he and his partner were sent to Prospect to search for the suspects. He said they were driving along Morningside Drive when they spotted a man peeking out from the inside of a home and no- ticed a black SUV parked in the driveway. He said the officers grabbed their weapons and were approaching the house from a neighboring property when he spotted a man coming out of a small side room heading toward the SUV. Officer Aydoc said he jumped a fence dividing the two homes and approached the man. His partner shouted “armed police” and in- structed him to get on the ground, he said. Seconds later, the of- ficer said, he spotted an- other man, moving in a crouching position from the small room to a second vehicle. He intercepted the man and instructed him to lie on the ground. The two men, later iden- tified as Webb and Lopez, complied with the instruc- tions. Aydoc said he then looked into the side room and found two other men, one of whom was later identified as Connor. More officers then ar- rived and took control of the scene, the officer said. The trial continues. Seaman’s son dedicates his call to the Bar Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s newest attorney, an aeronautical communica- tions engineer and son of a seaman, was called to the Bar of the Cayman Islands last week. When Kernilon Dwaine Owens was called to the Bar on Aug. 7 by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, the gallery was packed with relatives, work colleagues and well- wishers, including Premier Alden McLaughlin, Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush and present and former MLAs. In moving Mr. Owens’s application, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin detailed the new attorney’s accomplish- ments in electronics and com- munications engineering, his Master of Science degree, and his work with Cayman’s Civil Aviation Authority, where he created and adminis- tered the first Department of Communications, Navigation and Surveillance. Mr. Owens, in his first ad- dress to the court, focused on another aspect of his back- ground – family members he thanked for the nurturing environment they had pro- vided, their values, and the emphasis they placed on the pursuit of knowledge. He made special men- tion of his father Crawford Owens, “who sacrificed family life to be away at sea to en- sure that my siblings and I obtained a quality education. Although I only saw him for some 70 months of our lives, he was the first person to tell me that I wrote like a lawyer. “This month and year will mark 20 years since his sudden death at sea – a trau- matic, life-changing event that uprooted me from the foundations of my comfort zone at the time,” Mr. Owens said. “It was the defining mo- ment in my life that placed me squarely into what I had to discover was the complex legal area of admiralty law, and thereafter with other ex- periences in my aviation ca- reer, became the signpost and primary catalyst for my later consideration towards the study of law.” Noting that his father’s birthday anniversary was in three days, Mr. Owens said, “It is my wish, dad, as I make my maiden speech and voyage as an officer of the court, that through this cer- emony, I am giving you your birthday present in fulfill- ment of your vision for me.” He also paid tribute to other family members who had helped him reach this stage in his career: his great- grandmother – West Bay’s first librarian – who instilled in him a love of reading; his mother Darlene, for her ex- ample as a community volun- teer, civil servant and justice of the peace; his wife Karen and their children, for un- conditional support and un- derstanding when studies de- tracted from family time. He thanked the many teachers who had believed in him as a youth at Cayman Preparatory School and Cayman Islands High School. It was Mr. Bulgin who de- tailed the new attorney’s ac- ademic background, from those early years when Mr. Owens’s interest in the ap- plied physical sciences began and he took extra classes in electronics and amateur radio. He later studied elec- tronics and communications engineering in Chelmsford, England, acquiring a Higher National Diploma with Distinction and then un- dertook by private study his Graduate Professional Examination in electrical en- gineering. He earned his mas- ter’s degree in engineering project management from Lancaster University. Mr. Owens joined the civil service in 2000, moving from a commercial telecommuni- cations career to his regula- tory and policy career in the newly created post of head of telecommunications and engineering with the Civil Aviation Authority. Appointed as the first aeronautical telecommuni- cations regulator in Cayman, he created and developed the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Department. There he advised the Civil Aviation Authority on poli- cies for air traffic services, competency, certification and safety management systems in accordance with interna- tional standards and recom- mended practices. Mr. Owens remained at the aviation authority until 2005, and then became the head of the Department for the Office of Telecommunications, an agency under the Ministry of Communications Works and Infrastructure. He also served as government’s chief technical adviser for telecom- munications. In 2013, he was appointed chief technology officer for the Ministry of Home Affairs and later that year was seconded to the Portfolio of Legal Affairs. He began a correspon- dence course in legal studies in 2003, sitting in his first two examinations just days before Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. He switched to the University of Huddersfield in 2005 and began the Bachelor of Laws degree course by dis- tance learning. After graduating with honors in 2011, he pursued the professional practice course at the Cayman islands Law School, graduating in 2012. He did his articles with the chambers of the attorney general, the office of Solicitor General Jacqueline Wilson, and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards. While un- dertaking his articles, he acquired accreditation in International Arbitration. Mr. Bulgin summarized: “Hence we have in Mr. Owens a rare combination of law, arbitration and professional engineering – a unique com- bination that neverthe- less has synergies, and I am confident he will be an in- valuable member of the legal profession.” Chief Justice Smellie also commented on Mr. Owens’s unusual and impressive journey to the Bar. He said Mr. Owens already appreci- ated the hard and fast disci- plines of science and would now be combining that with the nuances of law, which is as varied as human nature itself. Celebrating the Bar call of Kernilon Owens, center, are, from left, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin and Solicitor General Jacqueline Wilson. At leAst seven deAd in ChinA port explosions BEIJING (AP) – Huge explo- sions sparked at a warehouse for dangerous material in the northeastern Chinese port of Tianjin have killed at least seven people and injured hundreds, officials and state media outlets said Thursday. The state-run Beijing News said on its website that between 300 and 400 people had been admitted to hospitals in the city, east of Beijing. It says the explo- sions shattered windows and knocked off doors of buildings in the area. Police in Tianjin said at least seven people were killed. They said an ini- tial blast took place late Wednesday night at ship- ping containers of a ware- house for hazardous materials owned by a logistics company. The official Xinhua News agency said an initial explo- sion triggered other blasts at nearby businesses. The National Earthquake Bureau reported two major blasts before midnight, the first with an equivalent of 3 tons of TNT, and the second with the equivalent of 21 tons. Photos apparently taken by bystanders and circu- lating online on microb- logs show a gigantic fire- ball high in the sky, with a mushroom-cloud.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 13, 2015 On 31st July we (Digicel) opened our new and innovative retail store at the Waterfront in George Town, further delivering on our promise to enable customers to “ Experience More. ” As with the recently opened store in Camana Bay, Waterfront gives customers an unrivalled retail experience offering a broad range of services including knowledge and tech zones where they can come in and learn about the latest technology available including wearables, tablets and home entertainment. Martin Bould, Digicel CEO, said: “We are truly proud of the store and the service it will offer. It’s another way customers can Experience More. We want our customers to not only come in and play with technology but enjoy the rich content experience we will provide. They will be able to experience the fastest LTE on island, with the best range of smartphones, cutting edge wearables and the hottest connected devices that you can touch and interact with. “We are delighted to be able to bring the very latest technology and best in class retail experiences to Cayman and also demonstrate our commitment to the revitalization of George Town. We want this store to be seen as a destination, driving people back in to the heart of the town.” Come in today and experience more at our brand new waterfront location in George Town New Digicel Store 72 North Church Street Trial starts for premier’s former political assistant Faces disorderly conduct, assaulting police charges CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kenneth Bryan, former po- litical assistant to Premier Alden McLaughlin, and a po- litical candidate in the 2013 elections, appeared in court Wednesday, charged with disorderly conduct and as- saulting police. Bryan pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from an incident outside Dream nightclub around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2014. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright summarized the case for Magistrate Philippa McFarlane before calling po- lice officers as witnesses. Crown counsel’s summary He said officers on rou- tine patrol were in the night- club parking lot dealing with an altercation between two men. Bryan became involved and was verbally abusive to the officers, questioning why they were arresting one of the men, whom he referred to as his cousin. The officers told him to calm down and step away, but he refused and continued to be verbally abusive, using profanities, the court heard. Warned to stop or be ar- rested, Bryan allegedly con- tinued his behavior, ap- proaching one of the officers and pointing his finger in the officer’s face, which consti- tuted the assault. He was taken to the George Town Police Station, where he was bailed to a later date. In his interview days later, he accepted his presence at the scene, but he denied the extent of the profanities at- tributed to him. He accepted pointing at the officer, but not in his face. The altercation in which Bryan became involved was between individuals referred to by officers as “Jermaine” and “TC.” Earlier that evening, the court heard, a female of- ficer had been assaulted by Jermaine, who has since pleaded guilty. In his interview, Bryan said he had approached of- ficers because they were ar- resting the wrong man – TC instead of Jermaine. (Jermaine was arrested days later). Cross examination The officer who ar- rested Bryan gave his evi- dence and was questioned by defense attorney Karin Thompson. He said the in- cident between him and Bryan was separate from the earlier incident. He agreed that Bryan in a later conversation said he was protecting and de- fending the female officer. The witness also confirmed that he was the investigating officer until the matter was given to an inspector. The trial was not ex- pected to conclude in one day. At press deadline, no date had been set for its continuance.Kenneth Bryan Nail salon robbery case to Grand Court A man charged with robbing a nail salon is to appear in Grand Court on Aug. 21. Paul Winston Myles of George Town is charged with robbing Elegant Nails & More in George Town on July 10. He appeared in Summary Court on Wednesday. Myles, 38, is charged with stealing, together with a person or persons unknown, cash totaling $843, cell- phones and personal effects belonging to three people, and putting them in fear of being subjected to force. He is further charged with possession of an imi- tation firearm with intent to commit robbery at the nail salon on Godfrey Nixon Way. Defense attorney Laurence Aiolfi made an ap- plication for bail, but Crown counsel Nicole Petit objected. After hearing from both counsels, Magistrate Valdis Foldats withheld bail. Woman arrested in home burglary A 42-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday at the scene of a burglary at a residence on Andy Drive in Windsor Park, George Town. Officers found the woman while responding to a report of a burglary in progress at the home at about 2:20 p.m., according to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service press release. The statement said entry to the home had been through a window, but did not specify whether the woman was in the residence when police made the arrest. The woman re- mained in police custody Wednesday afternoon. Charity announCes ‘dress doWn day’ Meals on Wheels has an- nounced its annual Dress Down Day will be held on Friday, Nov. 30. The charity wants to give its supporters plenty of no- tice to prepare for the day, which is a major fundraiser for the organization that helps feed many elderly and house-bound residents. Meals on Wheels execu- tive director Beulah McField said, “Individuals can help by purchasing an orange ribbon for $5 or a T-shirt for $15 and wearing them on Dress Down Day. We are encour- aging companies to match employee donations.” For more information, email caymanmealsonwheels@hotmail.com or call 949-3905.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. 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” Thursday augusT 13, 2015 • Cayman COmpass It is difficult to think of an act of governance more simple than setting a speed limit. Our officials’ con- tinuing inability to achieve this simple objective – i.e., changing a few signs – is another piece of evidence that the delivery of basic public services in Cayman is increasingly bureaucratically paralyzed. Pardon us if we embellish a bit. But our government’s years of inaction on speed limits, despite multiple deaths and injuries on notoriously hazardous stretches of road, has exceeded our limits – of tolerance. To review, the first People’s Progressive Movement administration (from 2005-2009) entertained pro- posals to lower the 40-mile-per-hour speed limit on West Bay Road and to install pedestrian crosswalks. Several crosswalks have now been installed, but the speed limit remains the same. In November 2013, the National Roads Authority and associated Traffic Management Panel launched a public consultation process, unveiling an island-wide map of proposed changes to speed limits on various roads across Grand Cayman, including reducing the speed limit on much of West Bay Road from 40 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour. The authority’s plan was placed before Cabinet in late February or early March 2014 – nearly a year and a half ago. In April of this year, following a serious accident on West Bay Road that left a teenage pedes- trian in critical condition, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said the speed changes on West Bay Road would take effect in May. That deadline, obviously, has passed. Now, the NRA says the speed limit changes are “in the hands of the ministry,” whose officials in turn say they hope to effect the alterations by mid-September, meaning a month from now. What, we ask, is taking so long? Further, how is it that something as straightfor- ward as speed limits needs to be handled by so many distinct entities throughout government – NRA, its special “Panel,” the ministry, Cabinet, etc.? We would think that this issue could be managed with a traffic engineer’s study and bullet-point list of recommenda- tions, followed by a cursory examination and stamp of approval by the relevant officials. After the initial analysis and report have been completed, the length- iest step in the procedure should be the physical act of changing out the signs (meaning, maybe an after- noon’s work, including drive time). Fundamentally speaking, we are skeptical that altering digits on signage will impact the behavior of problem motorists – particularly in the absence of the requisite enforcement of the law by police. However, in the spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte: “If you start to take Vienna – take Vienna.” Our officials’ lethargic approach to speed limits is merely one illustration of public sector slothfulness on a range of issues, many of them of far greater com- plexity and magnitude, including the George Town landfill, pensions, healthcare obligations, sewage, real education reform, affordable housing, and even the much-ballyhooed National Conservation Council, to name a few. And, oh yes, let’s not forget the imple- mentation of the “EY Report.” We at the Compass are supporters of proposals to “slow it down,” in terms of vehicular velocity on West Bay Road, but not in regard to governmental processes. Speed limit immobility: Sign of the times Bush defends Nation Building program In response to the recent Compass editorial on the auditor general’s report The United Democratic Party remains an advocate for all people of the Cayman Islands regardless of creed, color, status or political af- filiation. It is in that spirit through which the Nation Building Fund was created. Our objective was to pro- mote increased specialties within our social infrastruc- ture though the enhancement and rebuilding of our family through the sanctity of the church, which is our heritage; and the promotion of edu- cation for varying levels of ability, which is the only way to combat the social break- down of our society. As an established po- litical party we welcome an audit of our activities at any time, as a mechanism through which to improve processes and streamline policies. We are in the pro- cess of reviewing the au- ditor general’s review of the Nation Building Programme and would like the public to have confidence in our com- mitment to filling in any gaps and responding to que- ries surrounding the report. It is hoped that the audit was initiated with the spirit of community in effort to fairly depict a program that was implemented for the up- lifting of our community and not as a weapon to person- ally target any member of the United Democratic Party or the party itself, which has happened in the past. We make note of recent and highly controversial judi- cial proceedings, which high- lighted an element of govern- ment whose practices are to target and ruin the reputa- tions of certain Caymanians. Unfortunately, these acts occur under the watchful eye of very senior officials, who for whatever reason, partake in the systematic degrada- tion of their own people or simply stand by as our coun- try’s reputation becomes fur- ther tarnished locally and in- ternationally, too nearsighted and detached to recognize the permanent damage to our dear islands, which is sadly becoming a known legacy for that particular regime. To that end, we hope for a fair, objective, transparent and factual report, which should be, but we know has not been done to capture the experience and recollection of all administrative staff in- volved in the activities of the Nation Building Fund as well as the provision of fair com- mentary on the successes within the program. Support for the churches is vital to our religious and social development and we believe the church must be a partnership in our develop- ment and must be supported. The United Democratic Party also remains committed to the success of all people in the Cayman Islands, through successful programs like the Nation Building Program, which helped those who are suffering in the community, some starving and home- less, while it simultane- ously prepared many young Caymanians to improve so- cial injustices through educa- tion. We commend the recipi- ents who are our future, who are our Caymanians, who de- serve a chance and some- times even a second chance to succeed. We also congrat- ulate those who were suc- cessful in the program and are committed to making a social difference throughout our beloved Cayman Islands. mcKeeva Bush, Leader of the Opposition As an established political party we welcome an audit of our activities at any time, as a mechanism through which to improve processes and streamline policies. Foreign buyers aren’t ruining cities JustiN Fox London, as we have all heard, has been taken over by foreign oligarchs who hardly ever visit their dwellings, pricing out regular hard- working intellectuals and dulling the city’s vibrancy. But if that is the case, Janan Ganesh writes in the Financial Times, why is it that London’s population – after decades of decline back when the city was so “captivatingly earthy” – has just passed its all-time peak of 8.6 million? Why indeed? The same goes for New York, also known for glassy new luxury condominium towers that stand empty most of the time while the owners earn their money in Moscow or Shenzhen and spend it in the Swiss Alps or on the French Riviera. After de- clining through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the city’s population is at an all-time high that’s almost identical to London’s: 8.5 million. Then there’s San Francisco, where tech bil- lionaires get more blame than foreigners for sending real estate prices skyrock- eting. Despite those crazy prices and a generally devel- opment-unfriendly political environment, the city’s popu- lation hit an all-time high of 852,469 in 2014. Now, there really are ghost buildings and even ghost neighborhoods in New York and London where high- end apartments owned by foreign zillionaires stand dark and vacant most of the time. As the New York Times documented last year, 57 per- cent of the apartments from East 56th Street to East 59th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue in Manhattan are vacant at least 10 months a year. But that is six very ex- pensive city blocks. New York has a lot more blocks than that. Another scary statistic, trotted out last year by New York Magazine, is this: “According to data compiled by the firm PropertyShark, since 2008, roughly 30 percent of condo sales in large-scale Manhattan developments have been to purchasers who either listed an overseas ad- dress or bought through an entity like a limited-liability corporation, a tactic rarely employed by local home- buyers but favored by for- eign investors.” Large-scale Manhattan condo developments, though, are just a small, if growing, part of New York City’s housing stock. And yes, there are a lot more “ultra- high-net-worth households” around the world than there used to be, but they’re still a tiny minority. It seems more likely that the main factor behind the sharp gains in real estate prices in New York and other hot cities is simply demand from people who actually want to live and work there. Sure, it’s a bit perverse to have rich people – foreign or otherwise – buying apartments and leaving them vacant in cities where there’s already huge demand for housing. In New York, which now effectively subsidizes absentee owners by taxing income and commercial property heavily while giving residential property a break, changing the tax code to remove that subsidy would probably be a good idea. On the whole, though, that so many foreigners want to buy real estate in your city is a good sign. If this real estate were to stay empty until the end of time, that would not be so great. But that is not how things usually work. The Chinese buyers who have become the leading foreign acquirers of U.S. real estate are for the most part not ultra-high-net-worthers but affluent people who are hedging their bets about their country’s future. If things go badly in China, they or their kids may move in to that house in Orange County or condo in Vancouver. If things go swimmingly, they’ll sell and bring their money back home. Real estate may last forever, but real estate investments usually don’t. And when today’s wave of foreign investment ends, we may actually miss it. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg View columnist writing about business. © 2015, Bloomberg View On the whole, though, that so many foreigners want to buy real estate in your city is a good sign.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 13, 2015 CALL US TODAY! 623.1400 www.capitalrealty.com.ky CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF HELPING HOMEOWNERS FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME. TEN FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL CIREBA TRAINED REALTORS TO ASSIST EU team evaluates Cayman’s Doppler weather radar system CharlEs DUnCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com An evaluation of how the Doppler weather radar system is working in the Cayman Islands brought a team from the European Union to the islands recently. The team is preparing a report on how the joint EU- Cayman Islands project could help with programs like this in the future. A grant from the EU paid for the 4 million euro (US$4.5 million) Doppler radar system that has been in use on island since early 2013. The system added more coverage to a regional radar network, giving a fuller pic- ture of storm activity across the Caribbean that feeds into an international mosaic of Doppler coverage. Murray Phillips, who led the evaluation for EU con- sultant B&S Europe, said in a statement, “So far from our interviews within the local community, the response to the radar project has shown great interest, knowledge and has been extremely positive.” Doppler radar technology can cut through clouds seen in satellite views and esti- mate how hard rain is falling in the brightly colored maps that are nearly ubiquitous in weather forecasts. The radar has been down several times in the past year, most recently for more than two weeks in June. The system went down just after a tropical wave that dumped nearly 10 inches of rain on Grand Cayman in three days, the third biggest rainfall in the past 10 years. National Weather Service Director General John Tibbetts blamed the June failure on a broken gearbox in the German-made radar. A technician with the weather service tried to fix the problem, but ultimately a German technician had to come to Cayman to get the system back up and running. The radar, in East End’s High Rock area, covers up to 250 miles from Grand Cayman. The images con- nect with other radar sys- tems in Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico to give a better pic- ture of storms in the western Caribbean, said NWS fore- caster Avalon Porter, who was interviewed while the radar was down in June. The radar, he said, “fills a void in the northwest Caribbean.” But he notes that Cayman’s forecasters oper- ated without the brightly col- ored rain maps, relying on satellite imagery. The EU assessment fol- lows up on an earlier finan- cial audit of the project. “The report we will pro- duce completes an overall as- sessment of the success of the project in achieving its overall objectives as envis- aged by the EU delegation in Jamaica and the government of the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Phillips said. The most recent work by the consultants here, ac- cording to the National Weather Service, looked at the infrastructure, including analyzing building quality and construction, time de- lays and ensuring the facility meets local engineering and building code requirements. The weather service state- ment notes, “The report will evaluate some seven impor- tant EU criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, im- pact, sustainability, coher- ence [compliance with local policies] and added value to the community.” The facilities evaluation and audit will be combined into one report for the EU. The release from the weather service states, “The report will among other things provide a reference for the Government of the Cayman Islands regarding ca- pacity building in important national institutions during the course of implementing large scale national projects such as the radar project. “Additionally, the final evaluation report will pro- vide the EU with valu- able insights which will be useful in informing future similarly funded projects, both regionally and in other parts of the world.” B&S did not return re- quests for comment and did not say when the report will be delivered to the EU or made public. Cayman’s Doppler radar system fills a gap in a regional network of weather radar coverage. Second lawmaker opposes independent offices merger BrEnt FUllEr bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com North Side MLA Ezzard Miller is the second Cayman Islands lawmaker to publicly oppose the government’s pro- posed merger of two inde- pendent offices that oversee requests for public informa- tion and handle complaints about public entities. Mr. Miller joined East End MLA Arden McLean in denouncing the gov- ernment’s plan, which the Progressives-led coalition has said would improve the effi- ciency of both the complaints commissioner and informa- tion commissioner’s office. “I oppose the fusion of the office of the complaints commissioner because I be- lieve, personally, that is going to be a backwards step,” Mr. Miller told the Legislative Assembly Wednesday. Mr. Miller, who chairs the Standing Select Committee to Oversee the Office of the Complaints Commissioner, said his committee was “equally divided” over the idea to combine the informa- tion commissioner, complaints commissioner, data protection functions and a potential po- lice complaints function under one “super ombudsman.” He said he wanted to make his position on the proposal known publicly in case he was required to cast a deciding vote in committee proceedings. Mr. Miller said he also wished to register his dis- appointment in the way that former Complaints Commissioner Nicola Williams’s contract negotia- tions had been handled by the government and the governor. “The job she has gone to in the U.K. certainly indicates her value,” Mr. Miller said. Ms. Williams has been ap- pointed as the U.K. Service Complaints Commissioner, who acts as the ombudsman for the U.K. Armed Forces. A bill moving through British Parliament aims to strengthen the role of that office. The Cayman Islands gov- ernment’s level of support for the independent offices gener- ally came into question during the departure of Ms. Williams and in the handling of a suc- cessor to retired Information Commissioner Jennifer Dilbert, who left that office in December 2013. No one has served on a permanent basis since Ms. Dilbert left. Mr. McLean said in June that the proposed merger of the two independent offices might be considered unconstitutional. “I will never, ever support [this],” Mr. McLean said. “If we amalgamate a number of these bodies, then we compromise that indepen- dence by having one person [as] the head of them all. It is a serious matter and I want to go on record … to say that I am not supporting the amal- gamation of these offices. “What are we going to do, put two, three hats on one indi- vidual? And then you get some members in one authority knowing what the others [are] doing? And then the tenets of secrecy [are] eroded.” While both the complaints commissioner and informa- tion commissioner have public reporting functions, appeals handled under the Freedom of Information Law and any private individual’s complaint about a governmental body are kept confidential. Freedom of Information and the complaints com- mission functions are pro- tected to a certain extent under the Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009, but there is no specific pro- vision that requires both a complaints commis- sioner and an information commissioner. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said in June that the government was putting together a business case for the merger, including how much money – if any – would be saved by such a move. “The idea at a very high level is to merge these of- fices to where they’ll be in one location, hopefully cross- training staff to where we can have a more efficient ser- vice,” Mr. Manderson said. “Certainly, we will not go down this road if we felt the independence of these offices will be compromised. On the contrary, we feel that it could be enhanced.”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 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 WEST BAY TRUST: The West Bay District Committee of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands holds its annual general meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall, near the 4-Way Stop/Centennial Towers. 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. SATURDAY, AUG. 15 GARAGE SALE: St. George’s Anglican Church on Courts Road off Eastern Avenue, holds a sale of children’s clothing, electronics, luggage, household appliances. Sales starts at 5:30 a.m. MONDAY, AUG. 17 BRAC POLICE: New area commander Inspector Wendy Parchment will hold an introductory meeting with the public at the Aston Rutty Centre between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. TUESDAY, AUG. 18 ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: The next meeting of the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Pedro Castle. All are welcome. Non-members are asked to park outside and walk in. In the event of the sky being more than 50 percent cloudy, the meeting will be canceled. If in doubt, please phone (not text) at 7:15 p.m. 925-7657. 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. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 VEHICLE & DRIVER’S LICENSING: The Dept. of Vehicle and Driver’s Licensing informs the public that both offices (West Bay and Crewe Road) will be closed today for a staff retreat. Normal hours will resume on Thursday, August 20. Normal hours are: West Bay office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Crewe Road office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 or email sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com to reserve a table. SATURDAY, AUG. 22 DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in East End close to the Pirates Cove Bar at 6:10 a.m. Items available include ladies’ bags and accessories, clothing and shoes for men, women and children, toys, books, linens, household items and more. SUMMER CAMPS 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. 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. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). 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. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Group addressing addictions and those affected by them, bridging the gap between 12-Step groups and churches. Meetings at CI Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www. overcomersoutreach.org. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS CLUB: meets at George Town Public Library 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. This is a chapter of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Contact George R. Ebanks, 916-0687/ 322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail. com for more information. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Full of Beans Cafe, Pasadora Place on Smith Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or check www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Leo Secretary Letisha Allen 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@ hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at the Lions Centre 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. For more information, check website at RotarySunrise. ky or contact info@ RotarySunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. For more information, email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Of George Town, Grand Cayman meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years meets Mondays, 9:30- 11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. OUR ANGELS FOUNDATION: With the support of Cayman HospiceCare, welcomes all to the Conch Shell House Wednesdays 6 p.m. for Full Circle Grief Recovery group support meetings. This is a free service for everyone who has experienced loss. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: With the Breastfeeders Support Group is offering Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m. to noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7:15 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Jane Bird at 947-1903. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: Meets third Wednesday of every month, Governor’s Square Boardroom at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/ BPWGrandCayman. BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: Holds MothertoMother meetings first Tuesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. outside Women’s Health Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Children welcome. Contact Women’s Health Centre at 244-2649. LIFE UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION: Advises all members that the monthly meeting luncheon is held on the last Thursday of each month. YBPW: Meets every third Monday of each month at the Woman’s Resource Centre. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 13, 2015 MAT T R E S S SE T S FULL $370 | QUEEN $475 | KING $575 3 4 3 Ea s t e r n A v e | 9 4 9 . 7 6 0 1 | w w w . u n c l e b i l l s . k y Book Your Company Holiday Party events@grandoldhouse.com closed august 29th - reopening october 5th w w w . gr andoldhouse . c om 5000 SQUARE FOOT WATERFRONT DECK SEATS UP TO 400 2000 SQUARE FOOT TENT ON DECK SEATS UP TO 200 - GREAT RAIN BACKUP 4 AIR CONDITIONED PRIVATE DINING ROOMS issues or accusations. “At times there have been challenges, and no doubt there will continue to be many more for my successor, but hopefully I leave behind an office that is better placed to deal with them [and] which can support and encourage the public service to continuously improve,” Mr. Swarbrick said. Mr. Swarbrick’s office has released a number of high-pro- file, controversial reports in the last several weeks. Those in- cluded evaluations of the gov- ernment high schools con- struction debacle, failures to properly monitor social wel- fare spending, and the most recent report that questioned whether government officials’ actions in two major develop- ment projects were lawful. Opposition Leader Bush was in the process of making a “personal statement” in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning de- nouncing Mr. Swarbrick’s office when the auditor general’s res- ignation was revealed. “Good riddance,” Mr. Bush said in response to the an- nouncement, which was brought to his attention by Premier Alden McLaughlin. Mr. Bush’s statement on Wednesday questioned whether the auditor general had the legal authority to reach some of the conclusions in the report that evaluated various government land management decision-making processes. The audit reviewed, among a number of other land deals, the National Roads Authority agreement between the gov- ernment and the Dart group of companies and the Health City Cayman Islands agreement. “The auditor’s reckless misuse of his position has se- riously damaged the reputa- tion of the Cayman Islands by calling into question any agreement that a foreign in- vestor who wishes to invest in the Cayman Islands may make with government,” Mr. Bush said in the Legislative Assembly Wednesday. “I would argue that the auditor general has done what he accused the Cayman Islands government of doing, by exercising a role that he has no legal authority to exercise.” The audit, which was pub- licly released last month, stated that the Cayman Islands government acted unlawfully and “without proper authority” in signing two of the territo- ry’s largest-ever private sector development agreements. The original National Roads Authority agreement, which paved the way for construc- tion of a Kimpton hotel and the permanent closure of a section of West Bay Road along Seven Mile Beach, was negotiated by elected ministers “without the knowledge or assistance of civil servants,” the report fur- ther stated. Mr. Bush’s dispute re- garding the land manage- ment audit is essentially that it was not a “financial audit” but rather that it delved into areas of legality and governance concerning project decision- making and funding that here- tofore had been the purview of Cayman Islands courts. “I doubt the Cayman Islands Constitution expected to confer that authority on the auditor general,” Mr. Bush said. In addition, Mr. Bush said the auditor general’s office had misconstrued or misun- derstood the role of Cabinet ministers and senior civil ser- vants. In seeking to define this role, Mr. Bush read section 44(3) of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order (2009): “The Cabinet shall have re- sponsibility for the formula- tion of policy, including di- recting the implementation of such policy … ” “The auditor general’s per- ception of governance structure is fundamentally at odds with the Westminster doctrine of the separation of powers as re- flected in the [Cayman Islands] Constitution,” Mr. Bush said. “It introduces a fourth arm of government: [civil service] chief officers who actually deliver policy outcomes. Chief officers, like other civil servants, are under the direction of Cabinet in general and relevant minis- ters in particular. “The auditor general had no legal basis to make an assess- ment regarding the legality of the Health City and NRA agree- ments,” Mr. Bush said. “His re- liance on the narrow focus of the Public Management and Finance Law, instead of the Cayman Islands Constitution, casts serious doubt on the reli- ability of his report. “What seems to motivate the auditor general is a pro- found distrust of politicians. His answer is to keep politi- cians as far away as possible from developers by having se- nior civil servants undertake operational decision-making. Why is it assumed that civil servants would be above ques- tion or be above corruption?” The audit report referred to some of the issues ad- dressed by Mr. Bush in the House on Wednesday. For example, government of- ficials acknowledged that elected ministers had played a greater role in relation to these two projects than typ- ically prescribed. However, the unnamed officials noted that, in their view, “It is not practical to exclude minis- ters from them, regardless of the governance frame- work of the Cayman Islands government” due to the “na- tional importance” attached to such projects. Mr. Swarbrick said in late July that he “had some sym- pathy” for the position ex- pressed in that statement. “This is a challenging issue and it’s something we continue to see across most of our audits,” he said. “Where does the polit- ical responsibility start and stop? There needs to be an open and frank discussion around that.” new hotel rooms should be a priority to keep the sector growing. “We have reached the satura- tion point and are experiencing the first signs of limitations in capacity,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. Tourist air arrivals in Cayman hit a record 382,000 last year, according to Department of Tourism statistics. Mr. Andrews of the IRR said the 2014 occupancy rate for ho- tels in Cayman was more than 70 percent, up slightly over the year before. He said the occu- pancy rate for the Caribbean re- gion last year was 69 percent. With the increasing occu- pancy rate, average daily rates for hotel rooms was up last year by more than 4 percent to about $340, much higher than the re- gional average of about $195. Mr. Andrews said, “Arrivals are dependent upon supply and demand for hotel rooms. Cayman is a mature market at present with no new hotels having come online in the last few years.” He said the increasing occu- pancy and room rates moved “to their logical stabilization at op- timal levels.” “Once Cayman reached an [average daily rate] of a certain level, occupancy cannot logically grow any higher … consumers will look to other destinations.” There are several hotel proj- ects in development, with the Dart-owned Kimpton on Seven Mile Beach the furthest along. The 263-room hotel is slated to open in November 2016, ac- cording to Mr. Andrews, and Dart has plans for another hotel to begin construction in 2018. There are also proposals for a new hotel in Bodden Town on Beach Bay and a renovation of the old Hyatt property in George Town. The Treasure Island Resort is on the market and could be renovated in coming years. Dart’s Ken Hydes, who is also president of the tourism as- sociation, said in April, “We have gone from a situation of trying to get bums in beds to the point where it is about finding the beds to put them in. It is a good position to be in.” Mr. Andrews said, “I think that we can stay competitive with the projects that are cur- rently being planned.” He said that with the time it will take for hotels to come online and the proposed airport expansion “there is potentially demand for hotel capacity that is beyond [what] we know about in the planning stage.” He noted, “Cayman has cer- tain challenges physically in that there is little land left on Seven Mile Beach and there are very few other beaches on the island that are consid- ered good enough for five-star hotel development. “However, we have the rep- utation for being a safe, high- end destination that is suit- able for adults and families alike,” he said. Regional hotel rates, ac- cording to the IRR report, went up more than 6 percent last year. Mr. Andrews said that the average daily rate for the Caribbean grew “at a rela- tively consistent rate of between 3.2 percent and 4.6 percent from 2010-2013.” Since 2010, occupancy rates went from negative growth to a 7 percent increase in 2012. Occupancy rates for the main 13 tourist destinations in the Caribbean went up about 1.5 percent last year. “The market has naturally found balance in pricing and demand,” Mr. Andrews said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Growth slows in stay-over tourism Auditor General Swarbrick resigns, to remain in job until October CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Thursday augusT 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass of a similar facility at the Barkers or Red Bay sites would be at least 20 times larger. The much larger volumes at these other sites are due to the shal- lower water depths and the requirement for a dredged access channel and turning basin.” Consultants respond to other concerns In a point-by-point re- sponse to submissions from the public in a consultation exercise, the consultants also attempted to address the main concerns raised. These are some of the key questions and responses. Was the impact on Cayman’s reputation as a dive destination properly considered? Many responses ex- pressed concern about the damage to coral reefs in George Town harbor, pointing out that the development site was in a marine park. Several people suggested the project would do “irreparable damage” to Cayman’s premier attraction, its coral reefs, as well as its reputation as a dive destination. The consultants re- sponded that their report had acknowledged the critical im- portance of coral reefs. They point out their role was to highlight the potential socio- economic and environmental impacts and that government would be responsible for de- ciding whether or not to go ahead with the project. Was the economic value of the reefs in George Town accurate? Some responses ar- gued that the value of the marine resources in the harbor had been underesti- mated, suggesting dive sites such as Eden Rock and the wreck of the Balboa were “irreplaceable.” Others argued the oppo- site, suggesting that economic losses to water sports busi- nesses in George Town would be offset by tourists using plentiful marine resources elsewhere on the island. The consultants said the estimate of a loss of $100 million to $165 million over 20 years to water sports businesses in the harbor was based on current spending rates. They note this did not factor in the trickle- down effect of that spending or the diversion of those tourist dollars elsewhere if the piers are built. They suggest the com- pleted outline business case, being produced by PwC, should take a more de- tailed look at these financial considerations. Will the project really impact 15 acres of coral? Several people ques- tioned the conclusion in the report that 15 acres of coral habitat would be im- pacted by the development. The consultants clarified that this also includes the surrounding habitat. “Approximately 15 acres of ‘coral reef habitat’ will be directly impacted by the project. This area includes hard pan and sandy bottom areas located amongst and between the reef features, as these areas are part of the functional ecosystem within the project footprint.” Did the EIA ade- quately consider mitigation measures? Some respondents sug- gested the EIA showed a worst-case scenario without considering mitigation mea- sures. The consultants coun- tered that the report con- cluded an in-depth analysis of the possible mitiga- tion measures and their likely impact. “The EIA study identified a range in possible mitiga- tion measures that could be employed to reduce or elim- inate adverse impacts on coral reefs in GTH [George Town harbor],” the consul- tants said. Was the potential for ship thrusters to spread sediment to neighboring reefs overestimated? The model simulations on the likely impact of a ship’s thrusters in kicking up sedi- ment – referred to as sedi- ment resuspension – was questioned during the con- sultation exercise. The consultants acknowl- edged that upon further in- vestigation and discus- sion with ship captains, the models had miscalculated the time the thrusters would be running. New models, based on a significantly reduced time frame, were calculated. “Turbidity plumes in these simulations are significantly less severe than those pre- sented in the Environmental Statement and shown at the public meeting, due to the reduction in the dura- tion of applied power in the model from 15 minutes to 1 minute,” the consultants said in their response. Is coral relocation really feasible or affordable? Several comments ex- pressed concern that relo- cating coral reef and wrecks impacted by the pier build, as proposed by the consultants, was likely to be expensive, with no guarantee of success, and may not even be feasible. The consultants wrote that it would be a fea- sible mitigation measure, but acknowledge it will not fully replace lost habitat and agree that success is not guaranteed. Coral relocation has been undertaken at numerous lo- cations around the Caribbean and elsewhere, they note. “It is generally a very complex, time-consuming and extensive process,” they noted. Expense is variable, but Baird has previously said it would cost a minimum of $13 million. Will the project really have no impact on Seven Mile Beach? Considerable skepticism was expressed in the public comments over the consul- tants’ conclusion that there would be no impact on Seven Mile Beach. Baird, in its response, stated that a comprehen- sive review of the impact on Seven Mile Beach was un- dertaken, including analyses of a historical database of beach survey data. The study found the primary source of sand for Seven Mile Beach to be the north coast of Grand Cayman, and noted that a prominent headland at the south end of the beach pro- vides an effective natural barrier to sand transport from George Town harbor. The findings are backed up by an earlier Department of Environment study, Baird wrote. Red Bay in South Sound has been discussed as a possible alternative site for a cruise dock. – PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Consultants: Alternate cruise port sites worse than GT BAcK TO ScHOOl gIvEAWAy On SATuRdAy Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Organizers of a new beauty pageant are giving away free school supplies to the first 150 students who show up at Airport Park on Saturday. “It’s for students who need them the most, but parents are welcome to bring any child along who needs sup- plies,” said Katrina Ebanks, organizer of the event and director of the Cayman Islands Imperial Beauties Scholarship Pageant. A parent must be present with a child to receive sup- plies, which will be given away at the park’s Hut #4 from noon to 3 p.m. Ms. Ebanks’s team pro- cured sponsorship in the community for the back-to- school initiative. It was the pageant’s first fundraiser. The pageant, in its in- augural year, aims to re- ward category winners with local educational scholar- ships. The first pageant – for girls and women ages 4 and older – is set to take place in April 2016. Fishermen warned over illegal shark fishing James whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Fishermen have been warned that catching sharks is now illegal in the Cayman Islands under the new National Conservation Law. A picture of a juvenile nurse shark among a cooler of fish at West Bay Dock was posted to the Department of Environment’s website on Tuesday afternoon by a con- cerned angler. The department sent an enforcement officer to the scene but said there was no sign of any activity by the time the officer arrived. Chief Enforcement Officer Mark Orr urged anyone who witnesses vi- olations of the law to call him on 916-4271 or call 911 rather than using Facebook. He said the Department of Environment re- lies on public tips and urged people to help them enforce the law. He said anyone caught taking protected animals illegally is liable to pros- ecution and could face a fine, the confiscation of their boat or jail time. He acknowledged that legislation protecting sharks is new in Cayman, and said the depart- ment is trying to edu- cate and warn people first before moving to more draconian measures. “We take it on a case-by- case basis. If it was some- thing that was happening repeatedly, we would take action,” he said. “We need to focus on educating people and making sure they know it is now illegal. “We have to let people know sharks are now pro- tected in Cayman’s waters. Even if they are caught accidentally, they have to be released.” Ellen Cuylaerts, an un- derwater photographer and advocate for protec- tion of sharks in Cayman’s waters and beyond, said education is key. “I don’t think everybody is aware that killing sharks is illegal in Cayman,” she said. “The conch and lob- ster season information is public knowledge these days; shark protection should be too.” She urged anyone who sees sharks being landed by fishermen to speak up. In the long term, she said, greater education on the value of sharks to the world’s oceans and Cayman’s marine eco- system would help prevent people from catching them. “We need to create public awareness and ed- ucate the younger gener- ation about the need for sharks in our ocean,” she said. “Getting more ocean education in the [school curriculum] would be the most effective way.” Sharks are included on a list of protected spe- cies under the National Conservation Law. Illegal catch: This image of a juvenile nurse shark was posted to the DoE’s Facebook page on Tuesday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday augusT 13, 2015 New Zealand reviews flag designs New Zealand is considering changing its flag. The public was encouraged to come up with ideas, and submitted more than 10,000 designs. A government-appointed panel has winnowed those down to 40 finalists. China currency falls for second day after surprise devaluation BEIJING (AP) – China’s yuan fell further Wednesday, fu- eling concern about a pos- sible “currency war” if other governments fight back with their own devaluations to compete in export markets. Shock waves from Tuesday’s 1.9 percent devalu- ation against the U.S. dollar, which was the yuan’s biggest change in a decade, spread through financial markets, causing stocks and Asian currencies to tumble. Beijing said the yuan’s de- cline was a one-time event and part of changes aimed at making the tightly controlled currency more market-ori- ented. But analysts said al- lowing market forces free rein could drive the yuan sharply lower. Those suggestions gained ammunition when the currency slid another 1.6 per- cent on Wednesday. “It is very possible that we could see a 10 to 15 per- cent drop in the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar in the next week or two,” said Duncan Innes-Ker of The Economist Intelligence Unit in a research note. Investors saw Beijing’s move as an effort to benefit its exporters but many econ- omists rejected that view be- cause global demand is weak. The yuan’s decline was small compared with fluctu- ations of freely traded cur- rencies. But after a decade of little or no movement, the change rattled financial markets and threatened to fan political tensions with Europe and the United States. While the International Monetary Fund welcomed Beijing’s support for market forces, the change sparked complaints in Washington by lawmakers who ac- cuse Beijing of manipu- lating its currency to gain a trade advantage. “This move may also trigger a new currency war” if central banks respond by trying to depress their coun- try’s own exchange rates, said Nicholas Teo of CMC Markets in a report. Asian currencies declined as the lower yuan weighed on prices in markets where China is a major trader. Malaysia’s ringgit and the Indonesian rupiah plunged to their lowest levels in 17 years. The Singapore dollar, Taiwan dollar and Philippine peso fell to five-year lows. China is exporting “de- flationary pressure,” said Morgan Stanley analysts Hans Redeker, Ian Stannard and Sheena Shah in a report. “This is not a marginal event, given China’s economic weight,” they said. Neighboring Vietnam an- nounced it was widening the band in which its own cur- rency, the dong, is allowed to fluctuate each day from 1 per- cent to 2 percent. That would allow the dong to depreciate faster, which prompted sug- gestions Vietnam might be trying to help its exporters compete with Chinese goods. On Wednesday, the Chinese central bank indi- cated it had no immediate plans to stop the yuan’s de- cline. It said the fluctuations would “converge to a reason- ably stable zone” following a “short period of adaptation.” Until now, Beijing set the yuan’s value each day based on a basket of currencies that is believed to be domi- nated by the U.S. dollar. That meant the yuan rose with the dollar over the past year, hurting Chinese exporters and raising the threat of po- litically dangerous job losses. Exports in July fell by an un- expectedly steep 8.3 percent from a year earlier. The yuan, also known as the renminbi, is allowed to fluctuate in a band 2 percent above or below a rate set by the People’s Bank of China based on its currency basket. The central bank said that starting Tuesday, the daily target will be based on the yuan’s closing the pre- vious day and information from traders about currency supply and demand. Tuesday’s change prob- ably was the “start of an en- gineered depreciation,” said Mizuho Bank in a report. China’s economic growth has slowed to an annual rate of just 7 percent, which is healthy for most countries but far below the previous decade’s double-digit pace. China becomes the third major trader to take actions that lower the value of its currency. Initiatives by Japan and the European Union over the past two years depressed the yen and euro by wider margins than this week’s de- cline in the yuan. DBS called the devalu- ation a “small and long- overdue adjustment that barely begins to make up for the really big moves in the dollar, euro and yen.” Beijing’s move could complicate the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision about when to raise interest rates that have been near zero since the 2008 global finan- cial crisis. The Fed was ex- pected to act later this year. A weaker yuan would re- duce the price of Chinese goods, pushing down al- ready-low U.S. inflation of 1.3 percent. The Fed wants to be “reasonably confi- dent” inflation is returning to its 2 percent target before raising rates. The IMF said the latest change would have no ef- fect on the decision about whether to add the yuan to the dollar, the euro, the yen and the British pound in the basket of currencies used to set the value of the Fund’s in- house currency, called Special Drawing Rights. The yuan’s decline was small compared with fluctuations of freely traded currencies. But after a decade of little or no movement, the change rattled financial markets and threatened to fan political tensions with Europe and the United States. – Photo: AP US Army copter crash-lands on ship off Okinawa Seven injured during training mission TOKYO (AP) – A U.S. Army helicopter crashed while landing on a Navy ship during training Wednesday off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, injuring seven people and damaging the air- craft, officials said. The H-60 helicopter made a hard landing on the USNS Red Cloud cargo vessel around 20 miles east of Okinawa, U.S. Forces Japan said in a state- ment, adding that the cause was under investigation. Okinawa is home to most of the tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Japan. The injured were trans- ported to a Navy hospital, the statement said. Their condi- tions were not available. Two of the seven injured belong to a Japanese spe- cial response unit called the Central Readiness Force, who were participating in the training, according to Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. One had a broken bone and the other a cut, but no spe- cifics were given. Japan and the U.S. are strengthening military co- operation as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government tries to bolster Japan’s de- fense role. The other 10 people aboard the helicopter were not hurt, said Japanese coast guard spokesman Shinya Terada. Japanese national broad- caster NHK showed video of the helicopter sitting on the cargo ship, with its tail broken off and its body partly covered with an or- ange tarp. The presence of so many U.S. troops on Okinawa – more than half of about 50,000 a.m.erican troops in Japan – has been a source of friction and Okinawans have long complained about crime, accidents and noise from the U.S. bases. A plan formulated in 1996 between the Japanese and American governments would move U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma from a populated neighborhood to a less developed area, but Okinawans want the Marine base moved off the island altogether. Wednesday’s accident co- incided with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga’s visit to the island for talks with Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, a vocal oppo- nent of the relocation plan. “For those who live near [U.S.] bases, it’s a serious matter,” he said at the outset of the talks, reminding Suga of Okinawa’s burden and risk of accommodating the U.S. military bases. Onaga has threatened to revoke an approval for rec- lamation work to build an off-shore runway in the area called Henoko. Suga called the helicopter accident “extremely regret- table,” and told reporters that he has lodged a protest to the U.S. military over it, asking for prompt information dis- closure, thorough investiga- tion and implementing pre- ventive measures. Since the island prefecture reverted to Japanese control in 1972, there have been 45 crashes involving U.S. mili- tary aircraft, according to Okinawan government sta- tistics. The island was the scene of a harsh World War II battle and was U.S. occupied for 27 years. A sheet covers a U.S. Army helicopter U-60 that crashed Wednesday on a Navy cargo vessel in the waters around 20 miles east of Okinawa. – Photo: Ryosuke uemAtsu/kyodo News viA APNext >