JAMES ANDREW WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A novel new concept to use cable cars to bring cruise passengers into George Town has been put forward as an eleventh hour solution for the port project. The design would involve two dock platforms close to the reef line, where the ships drop anchor. Passengers would be trans- ported from the dock into Grand Cayman using cable cars suspended from two towers, envisaged as an iconic architec- tural feature of the new port. James Eldon Whittaker Jr., CEO of Next Development and the GreenTech group, presented the plans to government of- fi cials and members of rival campaign groups Save Cayman and Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future earlier this month. He believes the concept of a Cayman SkyBridge is the ideal solution to preserve the reefs and provide a solution for cruise berthing in Cayman. He said the cable car system would involve four overhead lines from each terminal and use cars that could transport 15 passengers at a time, with an estimated journey time of three minutes. The system would use 43 cars on each line and be able to move 20,000 passengers per hour, he said. Mr. Whittaker said the design is based on proven technology used on a larger scale elsewhere in the world, most notably over London’s Thames river. He said it was much faster than tendering and would also bring extra value as a unique and exciting feature of Cayman’s cruise port. “I don’t think there is a better alternative,” he said. “The traditional port is going to cause signifi cant environmental damage, and not having a dock is also going to be a problem. “I am a practical person and I want to see the country get a pier, but I don’t want to see the environment destroyed to do it.” He said his fi rm partnered Soulful Holly ■ travel Summer getaways Popular vacation destinations B8 Technology Nat Geo’s bonanza Bonza National Geographic app offers many puzzles B10 Parenting Learning to let go Parenting tips for the new school year B11 Rickety Bridge Blazing new trails for South African wines B6 Food & Drink Friday august 21, 2015 • Cayman Compass We carry 5 quality brands with 20 models to choose from! Sleek modern scooters and motorcycles so you can have fun while looking good! 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CAYMAN WEEKENDER Summer getaways EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 A TOAST TO OUR NEW HOSPITALITY GRADUATES TUESDAY - FRIDAY - SUNDAY 17.95 $39.95 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Stating its members were “shocked” by press reports of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly’s debate on the defi - nition of marriage last week, the Human Rights Commission accused certain MLAs of using their elected positions to espouse “poi- sonous hate speech and threats of violence” against homosexual men and women. The fi ve-member commission, in a press state- ment issued Thursday afternoon, said the use of elected offi ce to “peddle inaccurate, vitriolic and thoroughly hateful misinformation” concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender com- munity – an already maligned section of the public” – was disappointing, to say the least. “Parliamentary privilege is just that – a priv- ilege,” the commission’s statement read. “With it comes great responsibility. It was disappointing to see it so disgracefully abused last week. “It is also a source of particular regret that, apparently, the overwhelming majority of members present at that ‘debate’ did not see fi t to challenge these statements in any way,” the press release stated. The “debate” referred to in the commis- sion’s statement took place Aug. 13 on a private members’ motion fi led by Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden which sought to confi rm the defi - nition of marriage in the Cayman Islands as be- tween one man and one woman. The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 already defi nes marriage as such, as does the Marriage Law. Mr. Eden’s presentation on his motion, which he said was “based on Holy Bible evidence,” was not limited to a discussion of the defi nition of marriage. He also admonished Marriage debate was ‘hate speech,’ rights commission says FIRST HOSPITALITY GRADUATES HIRED LOCALLY ASHANI FRANCIS-COLLINS afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com Eight of the fi rst graduates of the School of Hospitality Studies have already been hired for full-time jobs in the industry in Cayman. The hospitality studies program at the University College of the Cayman Islands last month graduated 18 of the 25 students who en- tered the program in September 2014. Wayne Jackson, director of the School of Hospitality Studies, said employment for the students is the ultimate goal and that keeping the local market in mind was crucial while cre- ating this program. “We are aligning ourselves with what the employers need because if the employers don’t think they can hire this person, it means that we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing,” he said. The eight graduates have accepted jobs at Abacus, Grand Old House, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Red Sail Sports and Holiday Inn Resort Grand Cayman. Two graduates were already employed at Grand Cayman Beach Suites and Ortanique be- fore enrolling in the program. Donnette Goddard, head of placements at the school, said another graduate is on an extended internship, while two others are pursuing fur- ther education overseas and locally. Another fi ve graduates are actively seeking employment. Mr. Jackson and Ms. Goddard said they welcome any companies that are interested Cable car solution proposed for cruise port Cable cars have been put forward as a new solution to the port project problems. - IMAGE: ARTIST’S RENDERING PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2015 2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Friday august 21, 2015 • Cayman Compass 945-2290 • West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Fresh, Healthy & Delicious! Cayman Cookin’ Over a Wood Fire! Taste why we’re voted “Best”! If you’re Hungry! Hungry! Come to Chicken Chicken! International Award-Winning Caribbean Chicken! Eat-in!Take-out! Indulge on a feast for 2 to 4 or 6 or more! With an awesome selection of sides to choose from. Salsa Tuesdays with DJ Flex Free lessons with Kirk starting 9.30pm Every Tuesday Call 949-2231 or email: thewharf@candw.ky Tuesdays Salsa Free lessons with Kirk starting Don’t forget Next Week Last Friday of EVERY MONTH! is almost here “BOOGIE NIGHTS” Friday August 28th Old School Dance Party 70’s disco & 80’s classics Music By DJ FLEX Starting at 9:30pm Tonight! Friday Happy Hour 5pm-7pm with FREE Hors d’oeuvres + Drink Specials BEER $3.50 MIXED WELL $4.75 GLS.WINE $6.75 Come for Happy Hour and stay and enjoy the Beautiful Sunset!! CHEF’S DAILY 3 COURSE DINNER SPECIAL ONLY CI$39 EVERY MONDAY - SUNDAY NOW SERVING A la Carte and Kids Menu also available GARDEN VIEW Apts. 6 x 1b, 1b apartments Located West Bay Solid return on investment Great Opportunity l l l l Fabulous! CI$439,000 Member CIREBA MLS#402103 345-945-4411 info@cirealty.ky caymanislandsrealty.com Mobile: 345-323-8573 O ce: 345-943-8573 / Fax: 345-949-9753 heather.richards@remax.ky / www.remax.ky Heather Richards DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN! Cayman Islands Member of CIREBA Doubletree Lane Spotts Newlands Spacious and modern 3b/2b family home has nice quality furnishings, granite counter-tops and SS appliances. Beautifully landscaped and well fruited with gazebo. Easy access to George Town, Schools and conveniently located. MLS 403789 CI $250,000 Shabbat Candle Lighting time on Friday, August 21 6:31pm Chabad Jewish Center of the Cayman Islands jewishcayman.com-345.516.4474 CALL LIN 548 0000 lintibbetts@yahoo.com Vienna Circle House 4 bed 4.bath 5000 sq/ft Pool $7000 CI p/m Grandview Ocean Front 2 bed 2 bath corner apt Pool Tennis $4800US Smugglers used underwater tunnel CALEXICO, Calif. (AP) – The ar- rest of a drug smuggler in scuba gear led to the dis- covery of a tunnel from Mexico that’s partially under- water and ends in a canal. Evelio Padilla pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in San Diego to one count of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. Border Patrol agents said in court documents that they discovered a soaked Padilla in a wetsuit next to the All- American Canal, about 7 miles east of Calexico, California, on April 25. Near him, they found a breathing tank with a “re- breather” to prevent surface bubbles, and several vacuum- sealed and giftwrapped pack- ages that held a total of 55 pounds of cocaine. That led to the discovery of the 150-foot-long tunnel, which began at a house in Mexicali, Mexico, and ended under the water of the canal. The drugs were put on a trolley system on the dry Mexico side of the tunnel, and smugglers would use scuba gear to retrieve it from under the canal’s water from an opening that is normally obscured by rocks. “Drug smugglers will try anything to move their product – even scuba diving in an underwater tunnel,” U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a statement. “The ingenuity of the smugglers is matched only by our determination to thwart it.” According to the crim- inal complaint against him, Padilla, a 28-year-old Honduran national who had been living in Mexicali, was told he would be helping to get people across the border, but after jumping the inter- national boundary fence was told he would be smuggling drugs instead. Padilla said he had no other option. Authorities have not said whether they have learned who built and operated the tunnel, or whether more ar- rests were expected. Padilla faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at sentencing. This April 25 photo from the U.S. Border Patrol and introduced as evidence in U.S. District Court, shows a trolley in the Mexican side of a tunnel that Border Patrol agents said was used by Evelio Padilla, a Honduran national, to smuggle more than 50 pounds of cocaine into the U.S. - Photo: U.S. Border Patrol via aP Three men were ar- rested following a fight on Shedden Road Wednesday evening that left two men injured, according to police. Officers responded to a disturbance at Beauty Salon and Barber Shop on Shedden Road near the intersection with North Sound Road at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. Police arrested two George Town men, ages 19 and 20, and a 21-year- old Bodden Town man on suspicion of affray. Witnesses in the area on Thursday described a scene where two of the men were beating up a third. Police say one of the men “received cuts from a sharp bladed instrument and another received a small wound to the head.” Both were treated at a hospital and turned over to police custody. Two of the men were released on police bail. The 19-year-old was also arrested on a separate matter, according to police, and remains in custody. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A woman accused of helping a man who was convicted in North Dakota for his role in a Jamaican lottery scam has pleaded not guilty in federal court. Melinda Bulgin, of Providence, Rhode Island, is charged with four counts, including mail and wire fraud. Authorities say Bulgin handled money on be- half of Lavrick Willocks and Sanjay Williams, de- scribed as leaders of two separate scamming oper- ations based in Jamaica. Williams was found guilty after a 10-day trial in May. Willocks is charged but remains in Jamaica. Jamaican lottery scams have been hap- pening for years, but rarely prosecuted. This case began when an FBI agent from North Dakota interviewed a Harvey woman who said she lost money in the scam. Bulgin’s court-ap- pointed attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. MIAMI (AP) – U.S. Coast Guard officials say 65 Cuban migrants have been returned to Bahía de Cabañas, Cuba after having been discovered at sea. Local media outlets re- port that seven migrants were brought back to Cuba on Tuesday after two interdictions. Fifty-eight Cuban mi- grants – from four inter- dictions – were repatri- ated Saturday. Coast Guard 7th District Chief of Enforcement Capt. Mark Fedor said in a state- ment that the Coast Guards efforts to secure the U.S.- Caribbean border help pre- vent tragedies at sea. Since Oct. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard 7th District estimates that 3,611 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate to the United States. Three arrested, two injured in Shedden Road fight Woman PleadS not gUilty in Jamaican lottery Scam 65 cUBan migrantS retUrned home By US coaSt gUard CORRECTION In a story on page one in Monday’s Cayman Compass titled “Government says mar- riage is between one man, one woman,” the names of Members of the Legislative Assembly who were absent during the vote on Anthony Eden’s motion should have read: Premier Alden McLaughlin, Joey Hew, Ezzard Miller and Wayne Panton. The Cayman Compass strives for accuracy and is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can email the editor at newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Friday august 21, 2015 4993 LIME - BACK TO SCHOOL - BROADBAND OFFER - Full Page Ad - CMYK - 10.33 x 15.97 - 18 August 2015 BROADBAND BIG GRADES WITH SUPERFAST BROADBAND ALCATEL POP 7 TABLET LIME Terms & Conditions apply. Score a FREE 7 inch Alcatel tablet with 1GB of mobile data when you sign up for any new Superfast Broadband plan. Sign up online or visit any LIME store today. MOVE UP TO PLUS GET A $25 VOUCHER TO SPEND AT PRICED RIGHTCharles lane If you were a psychiatrist and a chronically depressed patient told you he wanted to die, what would you do? In Belgium, you might prescribe this vulnerable, desperate person a fatal dose of sodium thiopental. Between October 2007 and December 2011, 100 people went to a clinic in Belgium’s Dutch-speaking region with depression, or schizophrenia, or, in sev- eral cases, Asperger’s syn- drome, seeking euthanasia. The doctors, satisfied that 48 of the patients were in ear- nest, and that their condi- tions were “untreatable” and “unbearable,” offered them lethal injection; 35 went through with it. These facts come not from a police report, but an article by one of the clin- ic’s psychiatrists, Lieve Thienpont, in the British journal BMJ Open. All was perfectly legal under Belgium’s 2002 euthanasia statute, which applies not only to terminal physical illness, still the vast ma- jority of cases, but also to an apparently growing mi- nority of psychological ones. Official figures show nine cases of euthanasia due to “neuropsychiatric” disor- ders in the two-year period 2004-2005; in 2012-2013, the number had risen to 120, or 4 percent of the total. Next door in the Netherlands, which de- criminalized euthanasia in 2002, right-to-die activists opened a clinic in March 2012 to “help” people turned down for lethal injections by their regular physicians. In the next 12 months, the clinic approved euthanasia for six psychiatric patients, plus 11 people whose only recorded complaint was being “tired of living,” ac- cording to a report in the Aug. 10 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine. If you find this sinister, I agree. Bioethicists Barron Lerner and Arthur Caplan, who reviewed the data from the Low Countries in JAMA Internal Medicine, observe that the reports “seem to validate concerns about where these prac- tices might lead.” That’s putting it mildly. Thienpont acknowledges that “the concept of ‘unbear- able suffering’ has not yet been defined adequately” and that “there are no guide- lines for the management of euthanasia requests on grounds of mental suffering in Belgium.” Yet she and her colleagues continue to put the mentally ill to death, insisting that they are respecting their wishes – though, as she writes, “further studies are recommended.” Thienpont’s co-author Wim Distelmans, a leading advocate of euthanasia, has ended the life of a 44-year- old who was anguished, but not terminally ill, due to a botched sex-change opera- tion. Distelmans also put to death identical 45-year-old deaf twins who said they lost the will to live upon learning they would eventu- ally go blind. Frank van den Bleeken, imprisoned for 30 years for rape and murder, sought eu- thanasia from Distelmans, citing his incurable violent impulses and the misery of life behind bars. Belgian of- ficials and Distelmans ini- tially agreed; a lethal in- jection the murderer might have gotten as punishment in the United States would be supplied as therapy in anti-death penalty Europe. In January, however, Distelmans backed out just before the scheduled proce- dure – there was still hope for van den Bleeken to get treatment at a facility in the Netherlands, he said. Distelmans faced little accountability either way. The body empowered to scrutinize his actions, after the fact, was Belgium’s Euthanasia Control and Evaluation Commission — of which he is co-chairman. It has reviewed thousands of cases since 2002 but re- ferred exactly none to law enforcement. The “very worrisome” trends in Europe “should give us pause” about where the “assisted dying” move- ment might lead in this country, Lerner and Caplan write. To be sure, by authorizing doctors to administer lethal drugs, in terminal and non- terminal cases, the Benelux countries go far beyond laws in Oregon and four other states, which permit physi- cians to prescribe, not ad- minister, a fatal dose — and only in cases of terminal physical illness. Those limitations, and their effectiveness since Oregon adopted its law in 1997, help explain why 24 states, and the District of Columbia, are consid- ering assisted-suicide leg- islation, which 68 percent of the public supports in some form, according to a Gallup poll. What’s noteworthy about euthanasia in Europe, though, has been its ten- dency to expand, once the taboo against physician- aided death was breached in favor of more malleable concepts such as “patient autonomy.” “What is presented at first as a right is going to become a kind of obligation,” Belgian law professor Étienne Montero has warned. In 2013, euthanasia ac- counted for one of every 28 deaths in the Netherlands, three times the rate of 2002. In the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, one of every 22 deaths was due to eutha- nasia in 2013, a 142 percent increase since 2007. Belgium has legalized euthanasia for children under 12, though only for terminal physical illness; no child has yet been put to death. The United States, like Europe, is aging, with all that implies for the spread of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. If pres- sure rises for more doctor- assisted death, Lerner and Caplan insist, “physicians must remain primarily healers.” “Part of the problem with the slippery slope,” they write, “is that you never know when you are on it.” Charles Lane is a member of The Washington Post’s editorial board. (c) 2015, The Washington Post. The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Last month, a ceremony was held for the graduates of the inaugural School of Hospitality Studies program at the University College of the Cayman Islands. The 10-month program combined classroom studies as well as on-the-job training modules at hospitality and tourism businesses. Of the 25 students who entered the program last September, 18 of them graduated. Given the demands of the course work, and of the hospitality industry in general, this seems a reasonable success rate. Restaurateur Markus Mueri, one of the founders of the program, noted that the biggest challenge for the students was the transition from school to the reality of work. “You have to be 10 minutes early, you have to be smiling and have a good attitude, and be able to work with people,” he noted. For some, that was too much to ask. But almost three-quarters of the students who started the program proved they had what it takes, and many are already off on their next step toward a career in the hospitality industry, whether that is pursuit of further university degree in hospitality management or, as is the case with several of the graduate students, jobs in the industry. All of this is good news for the Cayman Islands and its tourism industry, which desperately needs more bright and smiling Caymanian faces interacting with our visitors. Although 18 young people might seem like a low number in the context of the number of unemployed Caymanians, it’s a positive step that addresses a labor need that will only continue to grow with the opening of new resort properties over the next five years. Hopefully, the School of Hospitality Studies will be able to realize its goal of attracting even more students for the program that starts next month. Make no mistake; the hospitality industry isn’t for everyone. The work, and particularly the hours, can be demanding. But for the people who take the job seri- ously and who take pride in their work, the profession can be very rewarding in that they have the ability to put smiles on customers’ faces on a daily basis. Unlike many other professions, the hospitality industry can offer a fast track to advancement for those with dedication, talent and ambition. Many who get into the business when young will eventu- ally end up either in management or owning their own company. However, there are many other bright and talented young Caymanians who have chosen career paths in other fields apart from the ultra-competitive law, accounting and banking professions. Work experience while studying might not be easy to come by in these other fields, which is why it’s important for local busi- nesses to give young people meaningful internship opportunities. Here at Pinnacle Media, we couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of our summer interns this year. One of them is Ashani Francis-Collins, whose byline in recent weeks has made regular appearances on the pages of the Compass. Today is her last day on the job before she heads back to college, but she is most welcome to continue to work with us on holidays, school vacations, and ulti- mately in a full-time position following her graduation. In fact, when we encounter young Caymanians such as Ashani who have shown the desire, ability and attitude to become a good journalist, they will always find the front door of the Compass open to them and a challenging rewarding job waiting for them when they complete their studies. – EDITORIAL – A toast to our new hospitality graduates 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” Friday augusT 21, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Euthanasia’s slippery slopeThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 Cayman Compass • Friday august 21, 2015 The ones who know exactly where they are going www.pwc.com/ky/careers At PwC, opportunities in the field of accounting are everywhere. We’ll help you find the path that’s right for you. We’ll coach you, mentor you and refine your skills. We’ll offer you a variety of experiences so you can build relationships and grow your career. Each year we go through a process of selecting bright young Caymanians who have shown exemplary grades, character and integrity. PwC would like to wish our scholarship recipients the best, whether they’re heading into a new school year, or embarking on the next chapter of their career. Our students are working hard to advance their careers and we’re working hard to attract, nurture and develop the right people for our business. 2014 Recipients Christopher Bodden Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Tampa. Sarah Hale Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at Huron University College. Geoffrey Butler Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Edinburgh. 2009 – 2010 Recipients2011 Recipients William Hinds Articling as an Assurance Associate since June 2015. Ashley Soto Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Belmont University. Alex Gordon Will begin articling as an Assurance Associate this fall. David Bodden Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Baylor University. 2012 Recipients2013 Recipients Stephanie Hunter Currently completing a Master’s Degree at the University of Liverpool. Vanessa Williams Will begin articling as an Assurance Associate this fall. Stephon Wright Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at Kennesaw State University. Kimi Grant Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Andrews University. © 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Cayman Islands partnership. All rights reserved. With an annual scholarship budget up to US$200,000 and an extensive training scheme, PwC provides opportunities for young Caymanians to pursue a University degree and ultimately a professional accounting designation. If you or someone you know is interested in a career in accounting, visit us at: www.pwc.com/ky/careers 2015 Recipients Adah Grant Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Tampa. Matthew Guitard Pursing a Bachelor’s Degree at New York University. Kelsie Woodman- Bodden Currently pursing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Tampa. The world’s most attractive professional services employer for business students6 LOCAL NEWS Friday august 21, 2015 • Cayman Compass Rules • Allclientswhoareapprovedforaloanduringthepromotionperiodwillbeeligible towinprizes • EmployeesofRBCRoyalBankanditsadvertisingagenciesarenoteligibletoenter • PromotionstartsJuly22andendsSeptember15,2015 Prizes WIN great Plus, get a chance to For more information call or visit any RBC Royal Bank branch or go online at www.rbc.com/caribbean Lose some RATE off your loan and enjoy lower, more affordable monthly payments from RBC Get: Low interest rates Secured and unsecured loans for any purpose AshAni FrAncis-collins afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com Abijith Anu, 15, from Cayman Brac, received the Proud of Them award for his success in academics. In the new school year, Abijith will enter Year 11 at Layman E. Scott Sr. High School. Afterward, he said, he plans to tackle his A-Levels, and study to eventually work in the field of medicine. “When I received this award I felt not only proud, but also pleased that my hard work was recognized,” he said. “I feel I received this award because [of] the amount of hard work my par- ents, teachers and community put in the past years to help me excel in my academics.” Abijith has received awards of academic excel- lence and achievement con- sistently since Year 1, was presented a leadership award in 2012 and 2013, and also received an outstanding con- duct award in 2013. He has won two national spelling bees, a local orator- ical competition and placed fourth in the subsequent re- gional competition, won the Lions Club speech compe- tition twice, won first place at the 2013 Rotary Central Science Fair, and earned silver in the 2013 Commonwealth Essay Competition. Abijith has also been in- volved in the Cayman Brac Leo Club and Cayman Brac Junior Achievement. He is also well-decorated for his achievements in sport. He won the Layman E. Scott Senior High School cham- pion boy position in 2014 and 2015. He has also been a member of the Cayman Brac Football Club in the under-15 and under-21 sections. In his spare time, Abijith enjoys playing football or simply spending time with his friends. Proud of Them Abijith Anu receives recognition for academic achievement Abijith Anu AshAni FrAncis-collins afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com Caymanian teens learned about sustain- ability this month from the United World Colleges Cayman Islands National Committee’s first “short program.” “Toward a Sustainable Future” sought to engage young people on such issues as biodiversity, marine envi- ronment and recycling, orga- nizers said. Thirteen young people ages 14 to 16 participated in the program from Aug. 6-9. Aubrey Bodden, chair- woman of the local chapter, explained why the topic was chosen. “We believe it is impor- tant to promote discussion on these important issues and equip young people with the knowledge and tools to become agents of change,” she said in a press release. “Though we concen- trated on the natural en- vironment in particular, our presenters sought to integrate social and eco- nomic considerations to provide a holistic view of sustainability.” According to a statement from the local chapter, all course participants reported increased awareness of sus- tainability issues and indi- cated that they would apply the skills they learned in their own lives. One participant, Ayanda Jones, 15, said, “We need to be proactive as a community and as teenagers because we are the future.” Elijah Samson, 14, added, “One person does make a difference and the whole community makes an impact.” Sponsorship from the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, Rotary Central and various businesses helped UWC to offer the scholar- ships. A total of $30,000 was raised for UWC’s scholar program. Minister Tara Rivers, quoted in the UWC release, said she was proud to be in- volved with the initiative. “As a United World College alumna myself, I am very familiar with the benefits provided through the UWC educational move- ment,” she added. “I believe it’s important to support such local initia- tives that provide our young people with diverse learning opportunities where they can grow and develop into global citizens, right here at home.” Young Caymanians embrace a sustainable future Students, with presenters and facilitators, celebrate the hosting of uWC’s Cayman Islands National Committee’s first local ‘short program.’7 LOCAL NEWS James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden has called on the Cayman Islands Football Association to hold “free and fair elections” on its leadership. Government could “re-eval- uate” its support for the or- ganization amid a continuing wrangle over the handling of nominations for its internal elections, Mr. Bodden warned. Mr. Bodden told the Cayman Compass, “My feeling is that the CIFA Executive needs a refresh. It’s been en- trenched too long and I be- lieve they should welcome a free and fair elections and let the clubs decide.” “I’m not happy with what I’ve heard and seen so far, and I’ve made this known publicly and to CIFA leader Bruce Blake,” he added. His comments come after Renard Moxam’s attempt to run for election was blocked. Mr. Moxam had announced his intention to challenge Mr. Blake for the first vice presi- dent’s role at CIFA’s annual congress at the Marriott resort later this month. He said the association needed fresh leadership and a change of image to restore confidence and bring sponsors back to the game following the corruption allegations that led to the arrest of Jeffrey Webb, who served as CIFA president for the past 24 years. Webb, who was also a FIFA vice president, was ar- rested along with other FIFA officials and sports mar- keting executives and is facing trial in New York on bribery charges. He has de- nied any wrongdoing. Mr. Blake, acting presi- dent of the Cayman Islands Football Association, is one of three executives whose po- sitions are up for election at the annual congress. Mr. Moxam said Monday he was seeking legal ad- vice after being told he would not be permitted to run in the election. According to correspon- dence, he was initially told his nomination had been ac- cepted, only to be informed after the deadline that his pa- perwork did not conform with the association’s rule book. The dispute centers on differing interpretations of CIFA’s rules on how many clubs are required to support a candidate’s nomination before their application to stand for election is accepted. Mr. Moxam argues that both he and Sharon Roulstone, whose nomination as assistant general secre- tary was rejected on similar grounds, were given legiti- mate expectation that they would be able to run when their nominations were ini- tially accepted. He said they were not informed of any issue until well after the deadline had passed. Mr. Bodden appeared to support that position on Thursday in his statement to the Compass calling for open elections. He added that govern- ment, which gives around $130,000 every year in grant funding to CIFA, had other concerns, including percep- tions of lack of progress on the Center of Excellence. “I’ve also noted the recent rush to do things on the long awaited facility in Prospect that should have been done a long time ago,” Mr. Bodden said, “and I’m not pleased with this either. “If their stance continues, myself and the government will reevaluate our support of the organization as it stands.” Cayman Compass • Friday august 21, 2015 Minister questions CIFA election process kelsey Jukam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com Tropical Storm Danny turned into Hurricane Danny on Thursday morning, becoming the first hurricane of the season. The system, which is the fourth named storm of the season, was churning in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,100 miles east of the Windward Islands as of late Thursday afternoon. Gilbert Miller, a weather forecaster with the Cayman Island’s National Weather Service, said although current predictions have the storm skirting the northern Caribbean and continuing a northward path, the storm could still af- fect the Cayman Islands. “I think everyone should be prepared, no matter what happens with this storm,” Mr. Miller said. The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a bulletin at 5 a.m. Thursday that said Danny was “in no hurry,” moving west at 10 miles per hour, with winds at about 50 mph. By 11 a.m., Danny had picked up enough speed to be designated a Category 1 hur- ricane, moving west-north- west at 12 mph with wind speeds of 75 mph. The storm has a 10 nau- tical mile diameter eye, and, according to the National Hurricane Center, satellite images indicate that Danny is an unusually small trop- ical cyclone. To put the size of the storm into context, Nick Wiltgen, a Weather Channel meteorologist, tweeted that by his calculations, 321 Hurricane Dannys could fit into one Hurricane Sandy, the deadly 2012 storm that caused massive destruction in the Caribbean and the United States. According to the National Hurricane Center, Danny’s compact size makes it subject to significant fluctuations in strength, which are “notori- ously difficult” to predict. Forecasters say Danny might have the opportunity to strengthen somewhat as low- shear conditions are expected to continue through Friday. On the other hand, the storm continues to be surrounded by dry mid-level air, which could slow its intensity. Current models predict that Danny will weaken back into a tropical storm or trop- ical wave as it moves into the eastern Caribbean Sea in the next few days and encounters high shear and dry air. Most models have the storm moving west or north- west, hitting the Windward Islands Monday and passing through Puerto Rico some- time Tuesday. Danny becomes first hurricane of the season Mr. BoddenThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 homosexual behavior in general and warned people against “satanic confusion.” Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo, who seconded Mr. Eden’s motion, said that while he did not wish to “launch an assault on ho- mosexuals,” in his Bible, ho- mosexuality is a sin, and he “shouldn’t be expected to support legislation that would allow sin.” Finance Minister Marco Archer also spoke in favor of the motion during the debate, but in far milder terms. In the end, 13 Legislative Assembly members voted in favor of the motion. Four members, Premier Alden McLaughlin, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller and George Town MLA Joey Hew, were absent for the vote. Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly also spoke in support of the motion fol- lowing the debate, although the Speaker’s position does not get a vote in House proceedings un- less to serve as a tie-breaker. Since the vote, Minister Panton and George Town MLA Winston Connolly have sought to clarify their respective posi- tions on the motion in various local media, but neither spoke during the Aug. 13 debate. The commission congratu- lated Minister Panton for his “brave and principled” stand against discrimination, abuse and bullying “in the face of these venomous comments.” In a letter sent to Premier McLaughlin on Wednesday, Human Rights Commission Chairman James Austin-Smith invited the premier to con- demn “in the strongest possible terms the most unstatesman- like, inaccurate, vitriolic and thoroughly hateful statements” made during the debate. Mr. McLaughlin and rep- resentatives of his office were contacted for comment on the commission state- ments and Mr. Austin-Smith’s request, but the Cayman Compass had received no re- sponse from the premier by press time Thursday. Those statements, ac- cording to Mr. Austin-Smith, included equating homosexu- ality with bestiality; equating homosexuality with pedo- philia; claims that homo- sexual behavior was “wicked and immoral” and a “social and moral evil”; making per- sonal threats of violence to- ward homosexuals; and suggesting that “crushing a baby’s skull and sucking their brains out had become a human right.” “I was disappointed that not one member [of those present] appears to have chal- lenged statements that were clearly false and, even if not actually calculated to incite hatred, were certainly likely to,” Mr. Austin-Smith wrote to the premier. “Had these statements been made out- side the privilege provided by the Legislative Assembly, it is quite likely that they could have constituted the commis- sion of a criminal offense.” As he has previously, Mr. Austin-Smith urged the Cayman Islands government to take note of a recent ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that found Italy in breach of established human rights principles for failing to offer enough legal protection to same-sex cou- ples. Italy is one of the few Western European countries that maintains a national ban on same-sex marriage. The letter sent to the pre- mier recommended that the government introduce legis- lation recognizing same-sex unions. Local laws currently forbid gay marriage but are silent regarding the forma- tion of civil unions. The government was also urged to introduce laws to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. “The time when individ- uals could be persecuted on the basis of their sexual orien- tation has now long passed,” Mr. Austin-Smith’s letter to the premier read. The letter sought to receive a response from the premier on the Human Rights Commission’s concerns within seven days. with engineers from around the world and invested its own money to produce the designs. He said the idea had been in the works for several years, but he was waiting for the environmental impact assessment to conclude be- fore putting the plans in the public domain. He believes the dock and cable car system could be put in place for around $170 million – likely cheaper than the traditional port concept once the cost of environ- mental mitigation measures are factored in. The current design in- cludes two towers, in the shape of a sail, with an un- derwater observatory to take people beneath the waves as an additional attraction. “What we want is for those towers to be an iconic architectural feature that people associate immediately with Cayman,” he added. Mr. Whittaker said the cable cars and underwater viewing area, next to the Balboa shipwreck, could become attractions them- selves. He believes some of the operational costs could be offset by running evening tours and selling naming rights to the cable car system. The plans involve building two terminals on the sandy bottom between the shallow reef and the reef wall, with cantilevered piers stretching out into the deep water beyond the wall. He said the platforms would be affixed to the sea bed in less than 70 feet of water. Some land reclamation would be required for the land-side facilities, but the bulk of the dredging – the main sticking point for op- ponents to the traditional pier concept – would no longer be required. Doppelmayr Garaventa, the engineers responsible for the London cable car system known as the Emirates Air Line, have been involved in the design process. Mr. Whittaker added. “This idea has never been done in the Caribbean, but this is not an experimental technology by any means. These sky transit systems have been used the world over and in similar applications and in much larger and more com- plex scale. “The team involved has built these types of sys- tems all over the world, in- cluding the Emirates Air Line in London, which is actually much larger and more com- plex than what we are pro- posing for Cayman.” He said the cars could be housed inside the terminals during hurricanes, and the lines and towers would be en- gineered to withstand storm winds and high seas. The de- sign would use renewable en- ergy technology, he added. James Whittaker, the CEO of Next Development, and James Whittaker, the writer of this article, are not related. Friday august 21, 2015 • Cayman Compass Regal chain checking bags in US theaters LOS ANGELES (AP) – Movie the- ater chain Regal Entertainment Group has begun to check bags in response to shootings at theaters around the country, a procedure it acknowledged on its website was “not without flaws” and would inconve- nience guests but provide better security. It’s unclear when the policy began, but several local TV sta- tions reported online that cus- tomers noticed the change in Texas, Virginia, Florida and Ohio beginning earlier this month. Regal spokesman Richard Grover did not respond to re- quests for comment Wednesday. The Knoxville, Tennessee, com- pany operates some 570 the- aters around the country. On its website, the company says “security issues have be- come a daily part of our lives in America” and says that bags and backpacks are subject to inspection before entering. National Amusements Inc.’s Showcase chain, which runs about 30 theaters in the north- eastern U.S., says on its website that it has banned backpacks and packages and reserves the right to search purses and bags. It says the policy, which began Aug. 7, will be in place “for the time being.” AMC Theatres spokesman Ryan Noonan said, “we don’t comment on security measures publicly.” Other chains, in- cluding Cinemark and Carmike, did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this month, a man with a history of mental ill- ness and armed with a pellet gun, hatchet and pepper spray attacked guests at a mostly empty movie theater in Antioch, Tennessee, before being shot dead by police. Two weeks before that, a man shot and killed two people and wounded nine others be- fore fatally shooting himself during a screening of the movie “Trainwreck” at a theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. Cable car solution proposed for cruise port CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Marriage debate was ‘hate speech,’ rights commission says Mr. EdenMr. Austin-Smith A cable car system could transport 20,000 passengers per hour, according to the man behind the Cayman SkyBridge concept. - IMAGE: ARTIST’S RENDERING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 First hospitality graduates hired locally in establishing a relation- ship with them and be- coming potential employers of graduates. “They are ready for interviews and ready to work hard,” Ms. Goddard said. “We are looking for opportunities for them.” Luciano De Riso of Grand Old House, which has hired two gradu- ates, Brianna Watler and Laurent Bodden, said the restaurant initially had taken on four interns from the program. He said that when he started working at Grand Old House three years ago, “We had no Caymanian employees ex- cept permanent residents. I looked around and saw that we needed them in the front of house and more local recipes in the kitchen. Hopefully, [chef] Brianna can really bring that to us now.” He said he did not un- derstand why more local people did not work in the hospitality industry. “Besides the fact that it’s a good place to work, you can meet people from all over the world,” he said. Graduate Addie Christian, who now works at Abacus as a server, said she chose to explore the hospitality industry because “I just really like the feeling of knowing something I did can put a smile on someone’s face.” Abacus owner Markus Mueri, a member of the founding board of the School of Hospitality Studies, said he had made it a “top priority” to intro- duce young Caymanians to the industry by teaching them the ins- and-outs of the business and providing them with firsthand experience as interns in his restaurants. In this first year of the program, more than 45 people from various organizations partnered or became involved with the program, Mr. Jackson said. “We were quite selec- tive in terms of who we brought on board,” he said. “We wanted to en- sure that wherever [the graduates] were placed, the organizations had the skill set required to de- velop competency and the time and commitment necessary to devote to the program.” The application deadline for next year’s program has been extended to Monday, Aug. 24. For more information, contact Mr. Jackson at wjackson@ucci.edu.ky. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “It is also a source of particular regret that, apparently, the overwhelming majority of members present at that ‘debate’ did not see fit to challenge these statements in any way.” Human RigHts Commission statement9 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Friday august 21, 2015 We’re incredibly honoured to be named 2015 Global Bank of the Year – the first bank in the world to receive this international recognition, two years in a row. We are very proud of this award because it reflects the dedication and passion of our employees—their commitment to our clients and to the communities we serve. This award is also about our clients, who put their trust in us to help them create the future they want. They inspire us to reach new heights every day. A really BIG thank you to our employees & clients A really BIG thank you to RBC Royal Bank wins Best Retail Bank In The World... again. - Retail Banker International It’s All About You Visit rbc.com/caribbean New elections map goes to governor, assembly Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The redrawn electoral boundaries map for the Cayman Islands was pre- sented to Governor Helen Kilpatrick Thursday, for- mally marking the end of the British territory’s third effort to change its voting districts since 2003. The report of the 2015 Electoral Boundary Commission was pre- sented to the clerk of the Legislative Assembly Thursday afternoon as well, leaving the ap- proval of the new voting maps in the hands of the Legislative Assembly. Commission chairperson Lisa Handley, an American political scientist, said the earliest local lawmakers could take up the question of approving or rejecting the commission’s report would be at the next sitting of the House – tentatively set for late September. Earlier draft maps of the new voting bound- aries, which seek to change Cayman’s elections system to single member voting districts, depicted 19 sepa- rate districts, creating one more MLA seat than cur- rently exists. Ms. Handley was asked whether the final version of the boundary commission’s report made any significant departures from the ones released for public review in late June. “You have a pretty good idea what to expect,” she said. The draft maps con- tained seven single member districts in what is now the multi-member voting district of George Town, four single member dis- tricts apiece in what are now Bodden Town and West Bay districts, two single member districts repre- senting Cayman Brac and Little Cayman and retained the boundaries of current single member districts East End and North Side. Governor Kilpatrick said she was “very happy” with the public review process for the voting maps used by the Electoral Boundary Commission, although she did manage to get a paper cut handling the large rolled up district maps after they were presented to her by Ms. Handley Thursday afternoon. “It all went very smoothly, and for an exten- sive consultation, that takes a lot of work in organizing,” Ms. Kilpatrick said. Premier Alden McLaughlin has said he in- tends to put the change to single member districts in place ahead of the territo- ry’s 2017 general election. The change proposed will implement the prin- ciple of “one person, one vote,” taking away the ability of voters in the larger multi-member dis- tricts of West Bay, George Town, Bodden Town and the Sister Islands to elect more than one representa- tive to the assembly. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, second from right, receives the report of the 2015 Electoral Boundary Commission from members Steve McField, chairperson Lisa Handley and Adriannie Webb. - Photo: Jewel levy AshAni FrAncis-collins afrancis-collins@pinnaclemedialtd.com Amy Thompson, a 19-year- old Caymanian interested in the hospitality industry, has received an $8,000 scholar- ship from Comfort Suites. General Manager Thomas Mason said Ms. Thompson is very deserving of the scholar- ship opportunity. “We are excited to see her progress through univer- sity and return to work at Comfort Suites and take on a position with more authority and responsibility,” he said. Ms. Thompson was ini- tially hired as a front desk clerk, and Mr. Mason said they were very impressed with her customer service and her work ethic. “In short, she is an ideal candidate to sponsor in fur- thering the hospitality in- dustry in the Cayman Islands,” he said. Ms. Thompson plans to pursue a bachelor’s de- gree in hospitality at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. “The reason why I started doing hospitality is because I have a passion for helping people and meeting people’s needs, and I don’t like a 9-to–5 shift where you just sit behind a desk,” she said. “I want to get out there and make a change, make people happy, and get them to know a little bit more about my island. “It’s wonderful, it’s like a dream come true,” she said of the scholarship. “Getting help from Mr. Mason … [and] to have them help me to pursue a dream of someday becoming a hotel manager – it’s great.” Mr. Mason said, “Although we’re not a large hotel with a significant budget, we do want to help employees, espe- cially our young Caymanian employees, achieve their goals and potential.” Local hotel supports big dreams Amy Thompson accepts the scholarship from Gary Rutty, managing director of Comfort Suites, left, and Tom Mason, general manager.Next >