SportS | page 16 tee time for juniors National championships for kids High of 91 Low of 81 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 2 feet. editorial | page 4 Cayman tourism: on Cable Cars and Cruise ships ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – tuesday august 25, 2015 178210_PRINT-Compass-6colx1*5.pdPage 1 12/8/14 11:20:19 AM Chief Superintendent Walton: More than 150 burglars known brent fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kurt Walton has been chasing Cayman Islands burglars for the better part of two decades. During that time, the now-chief superin- tendent of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, who worked for most of 1990s in the criminal investigation department solving burglaries, has come to an inescap- able conclusion. “Will we ever arrest our way out of this problem? No, We have to be looking at other problem-solving issues,” Mr. Walton said. The senior police officer provided these statistics collected by the police department over the past 15 years: Between 2000 and 2004, the Cayman Islands averaged 613.8 burglaries per year. During 2005 and 2009, Cayman averaged 639.2 break-ins per year. In the past five years, Cayman averaged about 592 burglaries annually. “The numbers are very consistent,” Mr. Walton said, nothing that the only year in the past 15 in which burglaries fell below 500 was 2012. This year, police have made more than 100 arrests in connection with burglaries that have occurred since January. Statistics as of June 30 indicate that it is likely the Cayman Islands may see more than 600 break-ins again this year. “I am convinced it’s not going to just go away,” Mr. Walton said. “It certainly was this way for the entire 1990s. There needs to be a different approach.” The first thing that needs to change, the chief superintendent said, is the public perception that only a few culprits are re- sponsible for all the break-ins in Cayman. That perception, he said, was shattered during an internal command staff meeting earlier this year. “There’s no ‘10 or 15 guys’ involved in Mix of excitement, skepticism greets proposal james Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A proposal to use cable cars to trans- port cruise passengers into George Town would need buy-in from cruise lines to be a workable option for the port, ac- cording to campaign group Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future. Kirk Freeport boss Chris Kirkconnell, one of the key figures in the group advo- cating for piers in George Town, said the new concept is an exciting idea if it turns out to be feasible. However, he said the idea, put forward by a group headed by James Eldon Whittaker Jr. of GreenTech, would not work without the endorsement of the major cruise lines. “It is exciting to see the pictures and it is amazing that someone is thinking out- side the box and trying to find a solution that, theoretically at least, checks all the boxes,” said Mr. Kirkconnell. (AP) – U.S. investors got a serious jolt Monday when the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 1,000 points minutes after the market opened in a wave of selling that circled the globe after a historic plunge in Chinese stocks. Though the declines eased significantly as the morning went on, the market plunge sent a shiver of fear through Americans with retire- ment accounts or saving to buy a home that the bull market is over. The Dow was down 642 points, or 3.9 per- cent, to 15,817 points as of 3:25 p.m. Eastern time. The S&P 500 dropped 76.9 points, or 3.91 percent, to 1,893. The Nasdaq composite fell 172 points, or 3.67 percent, to 4,533 points. The three indexes are down for the year. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index briefly slid into correction territory after the opening – Wall Street jargon for a drop of 10 percent or more from a recent peak. The last market correction was four years ago. Treasurys surged as inves- tors bought less risky assets. The Dow fell 1,089 points within the first four minutes of trading as traders dumped shares. But the fire sale was short-lived. A wave of buying cut the Dow’s losses by half just five minutes later. Heightened concern about a slowdown in China had already shaken markets around the world on Friday, driving the U.S. stock market sharply lower. The rout continued Monday as China’s main stock index sank 8.5 percent. The prospect of a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy has left investors unsure of how to gauge which companies might be a good investment. Burglaries ‘not just police problem’ Cautious optimism over cable car cruise plan US StockS pare loSSeS after 1,000- point Dow plUnge Five young Caymanian interns who spent their summer working at Pinnacle Media are completing their internships and getting ready to return to their schools and colleges for the new term. Pictured at a farewell gathering with Pinnacle colleagues on Friday are, from left, holding framed keepsakes: newsroom intern Ashani Francis-Collins, who is in her final year at the University of Toronto studying for a Bachelor of Arts in English and media studies; Tishann Wright, a Clifton Hunter High School student who worked with the sales team; Dylan Jackson, a student at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, who interned in the graphic design department for the second time; and Devonnie McEwan, a Cayman Academy business student who worked on the Cayman Compass newspaper and What’s Hot magazine. The fifth intern, Elicia Wilson, who could not be present for the photo, is a student at Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is studying for her Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. She worked in the production/graphic design department. – pHoto: StepHen clarke interns complete summer at pinnacle Media PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Prosecutors in Guatemala al- leged Monday that former vice president Roxana Baldetti ac- cepted $3.7 million in bribes as part of a customs corrup- tion scandal that forced her from office and has shaken the government of President Otto Perez Molina. Baldetti’s appearance in court followed her arrest on Friday. Outside the courthouse, a crowd of dozens of people yelled “Corrupt! Thief!” during the heavily guarded hearing. Judge Miguel Angel Galvez noted the prosecutors’ statements weren’t formal accusations. “The only thing they are doing in legal terms is to state that there is a rea- sonable suspicion,” he said. Prosecutors said Baldetti, who resigned on May 8, pock- eted 50 percent of the bribes funneled to a chain of offi- cials who helped businesses evade import duties. She has denied any wrongdoing. A criminal ring known as “La Linea,” or “The Line,” al- legedly was led by Baldetti’s aide, Juan Carlos Monzon Rojas, who currently is a fu- gitive. Authorities presented a chart diagramming the structure’s alleged organiza- tion that showed Monzon as the mastermind. Perez Molina apologized to Guatemalans Sunday for the corruption scandal that has thrown the country into polit- ical crisis, but insisted he will not resign his post and that his conscious is clear. Even business cham- bers normally supportive of Perez Molina have asked him to resign. Investigators are seeking to revoke the presi- dent’s immunity from prose- cution in the case. Tuesday augusT 25, 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. $8.00 - TUESDAY - HITMAN: AGENT 47 (R) 1:00 | 3:30 | 7:00 | 9:55 MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E (PG13) 6:40 I 9:50 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (PG13) 12:55 | 3:50 | 6:50 | 9:45 FANTASTIC FOUR (PG13) 12:50 | 4:00 THE GIFT (R) 1:15 | 3:45 | 7:30 | 10:00 STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (R) 3:15 I 6:40 I 9:30 ANT-MAN 3D (PG13) 12:30 Students learn about leadership By KelSey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com More than two dozen students learned leader- ship skills and participated in community service proj- ects while attending the first Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program sponsored by the Rotary and Rotaract clubs of the Cayman Islands. A total of 28 students be- tween the ages of 15 and 18 attended the sessions from Aug. 13 to 16. Martin Ruben, chairman of the program’s organizing committee, described it as a “resounding success.” “The students all felt that it was something that they would take forward in their lives and make a difference in making choices going for- ward,” Mr. Ruben said. On the first day, in ses- sions at the University College of the Cayman Islands, students learned about leadership styles and took a quiz to determine their own leadership per- sonalities. On the second day, students volunteered at a YMCA day camp and at the Pines and Golden Age retirement homes. They also spent the after- noon on the beach, informing people about polio, which Rotary International is dedi- cated to eradicating. The stu- dents also collected funds for worldwide polio prevention programs. Mr. Ruben said the students were pleased to find that they could make a differ- ence locally on a global issue. On the third day, the stu- dents learned about leader- ship pitfalls. “You need to understand what possible impact you might be having as a leader in your sphere of influence,” Mr. Ruben said. On Saturday evening, stu- dents were treated to a free- style rap performance by youth motivational speaker Rashad Jones. On the final day of the event, students learned how to be successful leaders in their own lives. Mr. Ruben pointed out that Rotary Youth Leadership Awards are held all over the world. He said Cayman Rotary clubs have been sending students from the Cayman Islands to the awards event in Florida every year for the past 15 years. This year, the clubs decided to host their own event in order to give more students the opportunity to participate. The Rotary clubs will con- tinue to send some students to the event in Florida. In the past, students were nomi- nated by schools and the public to be sent to Florida. This year the clubs will send four students who won awards at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards on island. The four students, awarded for leadership traits, such as integrity, that they demonstrated during the four-day event were Kayla Prendergast, Brandon Saunders, Zoe Basdeo and John Tomlinson. Mr. Ruben said the Rotary and Rotaract clubs are pre- pared to host the awards program on an annual basis. “We feel it’s important for youth on the island to have as many opportunities to be engaged in leadership training and become better leaders in our community,” Mr. Ruben said. “The students all felt that it was something that they would take forward in their lives and make a difference in making choices going forward.” Martin ruben, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Students participated in the first Rotary Youth Leadership Awards event held in the Cayman Islands. Ex GuatEmalan vicE prEsidEnt facEs bribEry allEGations Carol WinKer cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man charged with wounding and possessing an offensive weapon was remanded in custody by Magistrate Grace Donalds until Tuesday, Aug. 25. The defendant appeared in court Monday after an in- cident on a beach in George Town on Friday involving a machete. Jameil Livingstone Rankine appeared in Summary Court briefly. His defense counsel, Martha Rankine, advised that she wished to make an applica- tion for bail. Rankine, 22, is charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to a named male. He is further charged with carrying an of- fensive weapon, a machete. A third charge alleges using threatening behavior at night in the presence of a named female, a person who was likely to be caused harass- ment, alarm or distress. A police report initially indicated that Rankine had been arrested for attempted murder after officers re- sponded to a report of a dis- turbance on the beach behind Snooze Lane. An injured man, 25, was taken to Cayman Islands Hospital where he re- ceived treatment for a wound to his face. He has since been released. Both Rankine and the complainant are East End residents. Bail sought after machete incident NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The roommate of a man ar- rested in a Louisiana state trooper’s death was found dead Monday, and the sus- pect in the trooper’s slaying is also suspected in this case, a sheriff said. The man was found dead Monday in a home he shared with Kevin Daigle, 54, in Moss Bluff, Calcasieu Parish Tony Mancuso said Monday at a news conference. He said a deputy went by the home Monday morning after authori- ties were notified that the roommate had not arrived at work. The deputy found the roommate dead amid signs of a struggle. The roommate’s name was not immediately released. “We are just now pro- cessing the scene,” he said. “We really don’t have a lot of answers.” Senior Trooper Steven Vincent, 43, died Monday, a day after an apparently stranded motorist shot him in the head and then stood over him to tell him he was going to die soon, state po- lice said. Authorities plan to charge Daigle with first-de- gree murder in the troop- er’s slaying. Vincent had been trying to help a man whose pickup truck was stuck sideways in a ditch, Col. Mike Edmonson said. “Tragically these things happen far too often around the country. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Steven and his family,” said Edmonson during a news conference Monday. “I watched the tape yes- terday. It was frightening to watch,” Edmonson said, referring to the dashboard video. Officials have not released the video, but Edmonson said it showed that Vincent did every- thing right. Edmonson also intro- duced the good Samaritan who he said wrestled the sawed-off shotgun away from the man accused of shooting the trooper. “This is a hero,” Edmonson said of Robert LeDoux of Iowa, Louisiana, a town of about 3,100 where one of Vincent’s brothers is police chief. LeDoux was the first of four people who stopped to help. Another driver who had passed the shooting scene told LeDoux that a trooper had been shot, so LeDoux sped there, jumped out, and grabbed Kevin Daigle and “moved him off our trooper,” Edmonson said. LeDoux then used Vincent’s radio to let police know an officer was down and ask for help. LeDoux did not speak at the news conference. Edmonson shook hands with him and then hugged him. Edmonson said Daigle, 54, of Lake Charles, was under arrest at a hospital. suspEct in troopEr dEath also suspEctEd in roommatE slayinG3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Study classes for non- Caymanians taking the Immigration Department’s permanent residence exam – or those who just want to learn more about the Cayman Islands – will re- sume in October. The University College of the Cayman Islands ini- tially intended to schedule the next round of per- manent residence study classes for September, but UCCI’s Professor Livingston Smith said last week there was a slight scheduling glitch and now the classes will begin a month later. “We took a short break over the summer and we should resume the first weekend of October,” said Professor Smith, one of two instructors for the course. Mr. Smith said the re- sponse from students in the first three cohorts of the class had been over- whelmingly positive, and he wishes to continue the classes “as long as there is an interest” from the public. The course has been held in four-hour sessions during one weekend day for four consecutive weeks. It instructs applicants on the history of the islands since their discovery in 1503, as well as issues of culture, governance and constitu- tional legislation. As part of their appli- cation for permanent res- idence in the Cayman Islands, prospective long- term residents must earn at least 110 points in a system that evaluates them in a number of areas, in- cluding investment in the islands, volunteer work, employment, earnings, age and nationality. The permanent resi- dence test is a 40-question multiple choice exam on Cayman history and cul- ture. Each correct answer on the test is worth half a point – for a total of 20 points – toward the resi- dency application. The new permanent res- idence scheme, approved by the Legislative Assembly in 2013 and made law in October of that year, pres- ents a much more diffi- cult and expensive path to citizenship than previ- ously. The UCCI test course was developed after some test-takers under the old PR scheme complained that the questions were too difficult or simply ir- relevant to the issue of prospective citizenship. Since the advent of the new permanent residence system, there have been far fewer applicants for per- manent residence. Although Immigration Department records indi- cate that more than 350 people have applied for permanent residence status since the law was changed in 2013, that number is a far cry from the hundreds of PR and key employee status applications the de- partment and immigration- related boards were ap- proving each quarter prior to the change in the law. The main reason for the decline in applications is thought to be the up-front costs now associated with filing them. Those costs include re- quirements to pay a one- year work permit fee, a one- time fee based on salary, a $1,000 application fee and any dependants’ fees. If the application is denied, ev- erything but the $1,000 fee is returned to the applicant or the company supporting them. Depending on the person filing the applica- tion, the initial fees can total between $3,000 and $30,000 – or more. “I submitted one last week where the applicant was a high earner, had two children and a spouse listed as dependants and … the total fees submitted with the application [were] almost $40,000,” said local immigration attorney Daniel Altneu. Mr. Smith said the response to the course from students in the first three cohorts of the class had been overwhelmingly positive. Pr test classes to resume in October People preparing to take their permanent residence tests can attend classes on the subject at UCCI from October. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe 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” Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 • Cayman COmpass At birthday parties, on bar stools and around the office water cooler, a popular topic of conversation in recent days has been the idea floated by a Cayman Islands businessman to bring cruise passengers into George Town via a sophisticated system of cable cars. Effectively, James Eldon Whittaker Jr. has intro- duced an aerial dimension to the port discussion, which heretofore has been confined to the sea (tender boats) and land (cruise dock). Now, we won’t comment on the relative merits or disadvantages of the cable car suggestion, other than to observe it has stoked greater interest in the port discussion among the general public, including perhaps for people who may not have been paying attention to (or even cared much about) the subject to date. We believe that when it comes to the cruise port — with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money on the line, and the potential economic implications to Cayman ranging into the billions — the more attention and more conversation there is, the better. Indeed, apart from purely financial considerations, the decision on whether to go ahead with cruise berthing, or not, will largely determine the course of Cayman’s entire tourism industry for decades to come. It is that significant. (We encourage our readers to visit, or re-visit, the Compass’s comprehensive special report on this issue, “The Dock Debate,” which was published July 30, and is still available online at the Compass Data Desk, www.compassdatadesk.com.) Since the release of the consultants’ report on the expected environmental impact of the cruise berthing project (which followed a separate report by consul- tants on the expected economic impact of cruise berthing), we have been receiving from our elected leaders mixed messages, maybe even indicative of a divided government. Ostensibly, the elected government has been waiting for — guess what — the results of even more consultants’ reports before they will indicate if they will continue to pursue the cruise dock in George Town harbor. Given the quantity of information already on hand, we don’t understand what could possibly be gleaned from any new reports that could swing the government’s decision from “yea” to “nay,” or vice versa. That being said, this Editorial Board is preparing to issue our own “official” stance on the cruise dock debate in the near future. When we do publish that editorial, our arguments will not hinge on likely negative consequences to the marine environment. Frankly, while the environmental report provides details as to how much reef, or how many shipwrecks, precisely, may be harmed, we don’t think it was partic- ularly illuminating to read that constructing immense concrete structures and undertaking a massive amount of dredging may destroy everything in the near vicinity. Of course it will. But the unavoidable harm to the environment constitutes, to us, just one bullet point on the list of pros and cons. Of far greater consequence, in our opinion, are the potential effects on Cayman’s economy and, perhaps even more importantly, on the quality of life for Cayman’s residents. Cayman tourism: On cable cars and cruise ships Nicaragua can’t stop dreaming of a canal JustiN Fox Late last year, Nicaraguan authorities said that con- struction was about to begin on a US$50 billion canal con- necting the Atlantic and the Pacific. Hong Kong-based HKND Group, led by Chinese billionaire Wang Jing, was going to do the work and ar- range the financing, and the whole thing was supposed to be done by 2020. Well, Bloomberg’s Michael D. McDonald just paid a visit to El Tule, a town on the shores of Lake Nicaragua that is slated to be destroyed to make way for the canal. He reports: “The townspeople haven’t seen any signs of canal workers in months. And the work that was done was mar- ginal. A handful of Chinese engineers were spotted late last year making field nota- tions on the east side of the lake; early this year, a dirt road was expanded and light posts were upgraded at a spot on the west side where a port is to be built. “Juharling Mendoza, a 32-year-old local entrepre- neur, is so convinced that the project won’t proceed that he’s constructing a two-story house with three guest rooms and an attached convenience store just outside of El Tule. He says bluntly: ‘There isn’t going to be a canal.’” This is a view with a lot of historical precedent to back it up. People have been talking about building a canal across Nicaragua for almost five centuries, and making seemingly serious plans to do so since at least 1849, when American ship- ping and railroad entrepre- neur Cornelius Vanderbilt, hoping to corner the market on travel from the East Coast to newly booming California, signed a canal deal with the Nicaraguan government. There has never been much actual digging, though. Vanderbilt, who was mainly in the passenger-transport business, soon realized that he could get a similar benefit at a tiny fraction of the cost by providing passage across Nicaragua via small steam- boats along the natural canal provided by the San Juan River and Lake Nicaragua and then horse-drawn carriages for the few hilly miles be- tween the lake and the Pacific. Vanderbilt’s passage had a huge impact on the U.S. His biographer T.J. Stiles writes: “Simply put, he helped transform a rush for gold into the lasting establishment of American civilization on the Pacific. By steeply reducing fares and offering faster ser- vice, Vanderbilt sped up the flow of migrants to the West and gold to the East, where it had a significant impact on the economy.” For Nicaragua, the effect was more fleeting. Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 rendered the Nicaraguan passage su- perfluous, and the country went back to dreaming about a canal. The canal has be- come “one of the most im- portant mythical elements in Nicaraguan history and lit- erature,” writes University of Cincinnati literature pro- fessor Nicasio Urbina. Since the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, pro- viding the first quick way to move heavy freight from ocean to ocean, it has also been a huge source of eco- nomic envy. Panama, a barely inhabited Colombian province when Nicaragua was already a nation of charming cities and wealthy cattle ranchers, is now by far the most affluent country in Central America, with a gross domestic product per capita more than four times Nicaragua’s. Panama’s affluence is clearly due to its canal, but by this point there’s much more to it than that. The country’s capital has be- come a sort of Dubai on the Pacific, a skyscraper-studded regional financial and com- mercial hub. It’s a little hard to see how digging a ditch across Nicaragua will trans- form Managua into a place like that. One can understand why the Nicaraguans keep dreaming, but by this point you would think they’d be better off finding something else to dream about. I happened to be in Managua in 1995, when the Nicaraguan National Assembly gave the go-ahead for an updated version of Vanderbilt’s passage – a rail- road connection across the country with container ports on both coasts. That “dry canal” never made much prog- ress, and now Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Colombia have com- peting rail projects that seem closer to realization than Nicaragua’s, if all pretty un- likely. The attraction of the dry canals is that ships too wide for the Panama Canal could make use of them, the cost of constructing such a pas- sage is much lower than dig- ging an actual canal and re- moving containers from ships and putting them on trains might provide opportunities for logistics and even manu- facturing work in countries in great need of good jobs. Wang Jing’s purported plan for Nicaragua, on the other hand, is for a giant canal wide enough to handle new ultra-large container ships that won’t be able to fit through the Panama Canal even after a big expansion scheduled to be completed next year. It isn’t certain that those ships are going to catch on, and even if they do the odds that such a canal could actually pay for itself seem slim. With head-on competi- tion, I imagine that both the Panama and the Nicaragua canals would struggle to pay their bills. Such com- petition could be a boon for global shipping, I guess. But it wouldn’t make Nicaragua into another Panama. More to the point, it’s looking less likely by the day that it will actually happen. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg View columnist writing about business. © 2015, Bloomberg View Since the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, providing the first quick way to move heavy freight from ocean to ocean, it has also been a huge source of economic envy. Ships navigate Panama Canal waters in Gamboa, Panama, on Aug. 8. - Photo: AP5 LOCAL NEWS The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands will have extended hours for its “All Access – Late Night” exhibition tonight, Tuesday, Aug. 25. Curators and educators will be on hand until 8 p.m. to talk to visitors about the history of the gallery’s per- manent collection, as well as the environmental conditions and conservation require- ments for the collection’s long-term care and future plans for increased interpre- tation and scholarship, the gallery said in a statement. The “All Access” exhi- bition, which opened in July, features a behind- the-scenes look at the permanent collection. Visitors can learn how to assess the condition of artwork, as well as the de- tails of collection care and management. Also during the eve- ning, the documentary “Caymanian Art – A New Frontier” by young local filmmaker Ernst Jacob Olde VI, will be screened. The short film traces the devel- opment of the gallery’s per- manent collection and ex- plores the diverse range of artists represented. “All Access – Late Night” will run from 5–8 p.m. and tours will be held hourly, on the hour. The exhibition runs until Sept. 3. Cayman Compass • Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 www.carcity.ky - 949-5525 - salesrep@carcitycayman.com - M-F 9a-6p : S 9a-2p 3 YEARS WARRANTY 3 YEARS LICENSING 2015 CR-V’S AVAILABLE Join us / Like us at: /carcitycayman.com 3 YEARS FREE OIL CHANGE Cultural market opens at East End Blow Holes Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new market featuring local foods and East End crafts has opened across from the Blow Holes. A sign high on a pole on Sea View Road, opposite the popular attraction, points tourists to the shaded craft stands and picnic tables. Across from the stairway leading down to the rocks, the new venture hopes to pull in tourists who stop by the side of the road to watch the geyser-like displays. Tourists can now see arti- sans, all from East End, ply their craft, carving driftwood into statues and furniture, or weaving thatch palm into hats, baskets and fans. At the Blow Holes, plumes of seawater shoot 20 to 30 feet into the air from sub- merged caverns as wave after wave crashes ashore, an ef- fect due to pressurized water and air being forced through the holes and caves carved into the rock over eons. “The popular landmark is often the first impression that visitors get of East End before they enter the dis- trict, but there is nothing else there for them to do,” said East Ender Edney McLean, now retired, who said he came up with the idea decades ago. For many years, Mr. McLean has wanted to de- velop the area around the popular site to offer more of a cultural experience to visitors. “By providing more cul- tural things for visitors to buy and see, visiting the Blow Holes will only fur- ther enhance their Cayman vacation experience and give them something to look forward to when they return,” he said. To kick-start the ini- tiative on Saturday, Mr. McLean, along with other East End artisans and cooks, welcomed visitors to an open-air market. Visitors were treated to a wide sampling of local heri- tage and culture, including guided tours, arts and crafts, folk tales and music. Local cuisine is also on offer, in- cluding turtle stew, salt beef, fried fish and coconut water. “The attraction will help boost our economy and support our tourism industry by providing a high-quality welcome to East End for all visitors to enjoy,” said Mr. McLean. The idea to make the attraction into something broader was born 30 years ago, he said. “I’m keeping it Caymanian,” Mr. McLean said. “We’re losing too much of our culture. When I see people selling things with a tag made in Cayman but not from Cayman, it makes me want to offer a more genuine taste of not just East End, but Cayman on a whole.” The initiative also gives artists, cooks and farmers in East End an outlet to sell their goods. “A lot of tourists come to the Blow Holes … sometimes up to 200 tourists in one day,” he said. “They stop, take pic- tures and then what? They ask for something to drink after making the short hike and local things to buy, but there is nothing for them. By providing these things, the visitors will find the area more pleasing.” The market will be open throughout the week except for Sundays. “The popular landmark is often the first impression that visitors get of East End before they enter the district, but there is nothing else there for them to do.” EdnEy McLEan Carmen Connolly and Eulene McLaughlin demonstrate thatching at the new market at the Blow Holes. Edney McLean shows off a stingray he carved from a single piece of driftwood found in East End. – Photos: Charles DunCan Alan Ebanks, a tour guide at the Blow Holes, places a coconut on a stand. - Photo: Jewel levy Gallery to hold late night viewing The “All Access” exhibition, which opened in July, features a behind-the- scenes look at the permanent collection.TUESDAY, AUG. 25 BRAC HIGH SCHOOL: Layman E. Scott Sr., 9-10:30 a.m. for Year 12 students to collect exam results/ initial consulting. MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: 7 p.m. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (PG). Tonight’s free film is the last of the summer series. 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. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES: George Town PPM office hosts this round of seminars, 7 p.m. tonight and Aug. 29. The free program, which features retired local banking professionals, aims to provide personal financial advice to residents. Refreshments will be served. Contact Sharon on 945- 1776 or 945-8292. THURSDAY, AUG. 27 PRIMARY SCHOOL ORIENTATION: For new students only; children must be accompanied by their parent/ guardian. George Town Primary, 8-10 a.m.; Red Bay Primary, 9 a.m. to noon; Prospect Primary, 9-11:30 a.m.; Edna M. Moyle Primary, 9-10 a.m.; West End Primary, 9-10 a.m. for reception students, and 10:30- 11:30 a.m. for new transfer students in Years 1-6; Creek and Spot Bay Primary Schools, 10-11 a.m. HIGH SCHOOL ORIENTATION: Clifton Hunter, 9:30-11 a.m. for new transfer students in Years 7-11; Layman E. Scott Sr., 9 a.m. to noon for new transfer students in Years 8 and up; Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Year 11 students to collect results and register for classes. NCU ALUMNI: The Cayman chapter of the Alumni Association of Northern Caribbean University has launched its website www.ncucaymanalumni.com. Graduates and friends of NCU may sign up as members. Anyone interested is invited to a general meeting of the alumni chapter on Aug. 27 at Cayman Academy Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A social networking period will include registration and refreshments. FRIDAY, AUG. 28 PRIMARY SCHOOL ORIENTATION: For new students only; children must be accompanied by their parent/guardian. Sir John A. Cumber Primary, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Lighthouse School, 9-10 a.m.; Savannah Primary, 9-10:30 a.m.; Bodden Town Primary, 9-11 a.m.; East End Primary, 9 a.m. to noon. HIGH SCHOOL ORIENTATION: John Gray, 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for Year 7, 9:30-11 a.m. for new transfer students in Years 8 and up; Clifton Hunter, 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. for Years 7 and 11; CIFEC, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Year 12 students to collect exam results. SUNDAY, AUG. 30 GOSPEL SEMINAR: Seventh-day Adventist Church presents “Impact East End” at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre at 7:30 p.m. nightly (except Thursdays and Fridays) through Sept. 19. Sabbath service is 9 a.m. Free marital counseling, youth rap sessions, family life presentations, musical presentations and more. Guest speaker is Pastor Marlon Robinson. Transportation provided throughout the district. MONDAY, AUG. 31 PRIMARY SCHOOLS BEGIN: All government primary schools reopen at 8:30 a.m. HIGH SCHOOLS BEGIN: Layman E. Scott Years 7-11, John Gray and Clifton Hunter high schools begin at 8 a.m. TUESDAY, SEPT. 1 BRAC HIGH: Layman E. Scott’s class induction for Year 12 will begin at 8:30 a.m. CIFEC: The Further Education Centre begins at 8 a.m. MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES: The John Gray Memorial Church Hall hosts the West Bay meetings tonight and Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. The free program, which features retired local banking professionals, aims to provide personal financial advice to residents. Refreshments will be served. Contact Sharon on 945-1776 or 945-8292. 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. 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. GENERAL INTEREST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The National Drug Council is preparing to conduct the fourth cycle of Her Majesty’s Prison Survey from Sept. 7-11 to determine drug and alcohol prevalence. Volunteers are needed 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–3:30 p.m. If interested, contact the NDC at 949-9000 or info@ndc.ky. 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. 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. NCVO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers are needed for various activities within the National Council of Voluntary Organizations Children Services programs. Contact Alta Solomon at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo.org.ky. 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.” BETHESDA COUNSELING CENTER: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. 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 restaurant. For more information on displaying your work, email info@visualartcayman.com. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays from 5:30- 6:45 p.m. to assist with training athletes in track and field, bocce and football. Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Contact Penny McDowall, 516-2578, soci@candw.ky or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. PINK LADIES: Coffee Shop at Cayman Islands Hospital is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, drinks, snacks. Takeout orders welcome, call 244-2661. Funds are donated back to the community. Contact pinkladiescayman@gmail.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays from 7 p.m. at KARoo restaurant in Camana Bay. No fee, easels provided. Artists of all levels invited. KARoo offers two complimentary tickets for wine or beer. For more information contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com or jr@cib.ky or 546-9422. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: Open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. WAITING FOR JOSEPHINE: This is an ongoing appeal for secondhand magazines for the waiting rooms at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Please take magazine donations to Books & Books at Camana Bay or deposit them in the big bin outside the Cancer Society on Maple Road (opposite the hospital). For more information, contact Carol Hay at 526-6932. SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION OF CAYMAN: For anyone who is a parent, relative, friend or carer of a special needs child. Also for professionals interested in special needs. SNFC is a nonprofit organization providing information, resources, education and support with meetings, social events and newsletters. Contact www.specialneedsfoundation.ky. PAWS THRIFT SHOP: Bodden Town Shopping Plaza, opposite Bodden Town Post Office. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Please do not leave donations outside shop. Call Sharon, 324-9760; or Susanna, 916-3957 for more information. All proceeds for animal welfare. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The Claws-It Thrift Shop, 153 North Sound Road is always in need of donations of all types of clothing, shoes, household items, linens etc. Garage sale leftovers welcome. Volunteers always needed. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call the manager Terri-Ann Watler at 945-5596 or email cihs.thriftshop@outlook.com. ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH BARGAIN CORNER: Located upstairs at St. George’s Anglican Church Preschool on Courts Road, off Eastern Avenue. Last Saturday of the month, 7-11 a.m. NEW TO YOU BARGAIN SHOP: Opening hours are 3:15–5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday. 90A Anthony Drive, George Town. Contact Alta Solomon at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo.org.ky. HUMANE SOCIETY DOG WALKERS: Volunteers needed to walk dogs. Anyone who can spare an hour is asked to come to the shelter around 9 a.m. HUMANE SOCIETY DOGS ON BEACH: Volunteers meet at public beach at 11 a.m. on Sundays with shelter dogs for training and playtime. We are looking for volunteers willing to pick up and drop off the dogs to and from the beach. Contact the Humane Society at 949-1461 or call Susan at 938-9903; email susang@candw.ky. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman.com/ caycompass/portal/community-calendar. 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. Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 “What’s a company that’s doing business with China actually worth right now? When you’re not sure, you tend to sell,” said JJ Kinahan, TD Ameritrade’s chief strategist. The U.S. market slide was broad. The 10 sectors in the S&P 500 headed lower, with energy stocks notching the biggest decline, 2.8 percent. The sector is down 23.5 per- cent this year. Citrix Systems was down the most among stocks in the S&P 500, shedding $5.26, or 7.1 percent, to $68.65. AGL Resources led among the gainers, rising $13.92, or 29.1 percent, to $61.78. China growth concerns aside, U.S. stocks have been primed for a sell-off for several months, said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist and economist for Wells Capital Management. “I’ve been of the view since late last year that this market is in a vulnerable position,” Paulsen said. “It’s gone almost straight up for six years.” Stocks have been on a bull run of more for more than six years, after bottoming out in March 2009 in the aftermath of the financial crisis and the Great Recession. Stocks have kept climbing even as corporate earn- ings growth has slowed. The price-earnings ratio for the S&P 500, a measure of how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of company earnings, climbed as high as 17.2 in March. That was the highest level in at least a decade, according to data from FactSet. Oil prices, commodities and the currencies of many developing countries also tumbled Monday on con- cerns that a sharp slow- down in China might hurt economic growth around the globe. Benchmark U.S. crude dropped $1.41, or 3.5 per- cent, to $39.03 a barrel in New York. It fell 87 cents a barrel on Friday. Brent Crude, a benchmark for in- ternational oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell $2.50 to $42.96 a barrel. The big slump in com- modity prices could turn out to be a boost for econ- omies throughout the world, though. “Everyone is getting the equivalent of a massive tax cut,” said Paulsen. “This is more of a stimulative event for the global economy.” Worries about a China- fueled global economic slump sent markets overseas lower. In Europe, Germany’s DAX fell 4.7 percent, while the CAC-40 in France slid 5.4 percent. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares dropped 4.7 percent. burglaries,” he said. “I’ve personally counted 150 faces in terms of individ- uals who were active in burglaries and I wasn’t in- cluding those who were in jail at that time.” While some “career” burglary suspects commit multiple offenses, others are offenders in their late teens who are not nearly as persistent, Mr. Walton said. One person arrested earlier this year was 14 years old. Some burglars are supporting a drug habit, others just prefer to steal for a living, he said. Whatever the stated reasons why people commit their crimes, many who are released from prison “genuinely want” to turn from a life of crime, Mr. Walton said. For most, that lasts about four to six weeks, before the offenders return “to their old tricks,” generally due to a lack of employment opportunities and community support. “We have to catch these individuals before they’re released from prison,” Mr. Walton said. “Say, [four] months [before] being re- leased … you have a needs assessment with social services, employment, the prison, collaborating. [The suspect] is going to be re- leased in four months’ time … what do we have in place? “This is not a police problem any longer. This is a society problem and other agencies need to be involved. There has to be a holistic approach to it.” It’s an issue Cayman Islands Director of Prisons Neil Lavis knows well and which he has sought to ad- dress by partnering with local businesses and em- ployment agencies to try and place inmates in jobs upon their release. A release under tempo- rary license program was introduced last year for in- mates coming to the end of their sentences to get involved in voluntary or paid work. Mr. Lavis said if prisoners can establish that they are credible, re- liable workers while in custody, more businesses will be willing to take a chance on them once they are released. Recidivism rates at Northward Prison average around 70 percent for all offenders. “If they go out with some money behind them, a job to go to, somewhere to live and some training to address some of their issues, they have a far better chance,” Mr. Lavis told the Cayman Compass in late 2014. Chief Superintendent Walton said he realizes the idea of hiring ex-con- victs may seem unpalat- able to many local busi- nesses and recruitment agencies. But he insists something has to change in the way Cayman is dealing with the bur- glary problem. “What’s the alternative? Just continue what you’re doing now?” Cayman Compass • Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF HELPING HOMEOWNERS FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME. TEN FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL CIREBA TRAINED REALTORS TO ASSIST Phillip Wood 916.0257 phillip@capitalrealtycayman.com www.capitalrealty.com.ky Franklin Close, 3bed/2bath home By Bodden Town Primary. Immaculate, built in 2007, 2 car garage. CI$345,000 MLS 404544 “Will we ever arrest our way out of this problem? No.” Kurt Walton, chief superintendent, RCIPS Burglaries ‘not just police problem’ US stocks pare losses after 1,000-point Dow plunge Mr. Walton CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tad SToner tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com She is not talking, but Tara Godfrey promises an enormous, exhilarating sur- prise when the keynote speaker is introduced on the evening of Oct. 17 at the 15th year, the crystal anniver- sary, of the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards. In past years, The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman cer- emony has featured such high-profile personalities as Fox News presenter Steve Doocy and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. This year’s speaker, said Ms. Godfrey, YCLA Foundation coordinator, “is going to be awesome – and a surprise.” She says only that the speaker has signed on and is a woman, but offers no more de- tails: “I’m not telling you now. I can’t break my word, but it will be great,” she promises. This year’s YCLA must choose from among 39 can- didates, the most ever nom- inated, entailing the most complex winnowing process the selection committee has ever faced. The five-member com- mittee has only just started to work through the list, com- prising 75 percent women and 25 percent men, all be- tween the ages of 20 and 35. Chairman of the selection committee, Cayman Brac Power and Light General Manager Jonathan Tibbetts, says the group is “already working through” the nominations, “doing the vetting, checking Facebook and LinkedIn, making calls, looking at them. “The profiles of this new group of young Caymanian leaders are extremely im- pressive,” he said. “It is won- derful to know that so many outstanding young people are out there, already making their mark on our society, and providing role models for the younger generation. They serve to reinforce the mission of the YCLA, which is to rec- ognize them and provide a platform for spreading their positive messages of hope and encouragement to our youth. The committee will have a very difficult task selecting the final five candidates for YCLA 2015, but it is going to be a very exciting time.” Ms. Godfrey is at a loss to explain the dominance of women at the event, but says it’s not unusual. What is remarkable, she says, is the quality that un- derpins the overwhelming quantity of this year’s field of candidates. “This age group of people is just phenomenal,” she says. “They are highly educated and have worked for every- thing they have – nothing has been given to them. They have the time and the desire to give back to the community. “In the course of all this, I have spoken to all of them, and they truly are honored to have been nominated. They don’t do any of this for recognition.” The foundation will not release any of the 39 names, but will advertise the five fi- nalists when a decision has been made. Mr. Tibbetts did not say when the finalists would be determined, but Ms. Godfrey said the deadline has passed. “We hoped to have the five by now, even today,” she says, but the length and excel- lence of the roster has delayed the process. “It’s not a job I would want,” Ms. Godfrey says. “We have to have the five be- fore Sept. 15, the date of the Governor’s Tea.” Mr. Tibbetts said that once the selection is com- plete, the five finalists will be forwarded to the 11-member board of directors who will record interviews with each candidate, ultimately electing the winner in a secret ballot. The Oct. 17 ceremony, ti- tled “Legacy of Leadership,” promises to be among the most gala of the celebrations in the decade-and-a-half of the award. “YCLA 2015 will be an in- spiring, uplifting and unfor- gettable event,” Ms. Godfrey says, hoping to bring to- gether as many former final- ists and recipients as pos- sible for a “special tribute” as this year’s winner is crowned. The 39, she said, are drawn from a broad range of professions: teachers, law- yers, accountants, athletes, civil servants and “most of them community leaders in one respect or another.” Last year’s Young Caymanian of the Year was Kadi Merren-Pentney, a certi- fied public accountant at PwC. She graduated from Triple C High School, subsequently earning a degree, magna cum laude, in business administra- tion from Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, and then earning a master’s degree in accounting and taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University. Record number of nominations for young leaders award CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, when the Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 530 points ahead of another 500-plus point drop by end of the trading day on Monday. - Photo: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass Phone: 949-5111 Ad Space Deadline: September 8 October Cautious optimism over cable car cruise plan “It doesn’t need my ap- proval. I think what they need now is to take it to the cruise lines themselves and to get their feedback. Find out if they are interested in using it and if they will invest in it. “If they are, and it is fea- sible and affordable, then he is home free. Our group is not dedicated to any partic- ular form or type of cruise berthing. We know tendering is not the future for the in- dustry and we want the best solution we can get.” He said if cable cars could provide similar speed of dis- embarkation to berthing, then it would be worth looking at. Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future, which also in- volves leading figures from the Turtle Farm, water- based tour operators and other businesses that ser- vice cruise passengers, in- sists the main advantage of cruise berthing is the addi- tional time it gives passen- gers in the Cayman Islands compared to tendering. The cable car concept has also been cautiously welcomed by rival campaign group Save Cayman. Keith Sahm, general man- ager of Sunset House and one of the leaders of the group campaigning against a dock, said any solution that pre- vents damage to the reefs would be worth considering. But he questioned whether it would be workable in Cayman’s climate and if it could be resistant to storms. “If it can do everything he [Mr. Whittaker] says it can do, then great. I person- ally don’t want to throw out any type of alternative, even using the tenders in a more upgraded capacity. “One thing we really like about the cable car idea is that it takes away the need for dredging, which is a real plus.”An artist’s rendering of the proposed cable car project. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman Islands student beats thousands in essay competition Martina Watler, 13, a stu- dent at St. Ignatius Catholic School, has been named ju- nior runner-up in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2015, from among 7,200 junior entries, and will be invited to Buckingham Palace to accept her prize. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will present the winners with their awards in October on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, patron of the competition. Writing on this year’s theme: “A Young Commonwealth,” Martina’s entry was a “vulnerable but brave examination of a young girl’s inner world, her anxi- eties and her dreams,” ac- cording to a statement from the Royal Commonwealth Society, which announced the award recipients. An excerpt from Martina’s entry reads: “Mom said, ‘Baby, do you have free time?’ “Yeah, sure, mom. Yes, it’s true, I get a lot of free time; Yes, mom, it’s true, I worry a lot; yes, it’s true, I don’t listen; Yes, mom, it’s true, I cover my face with a lot of makeup; yes, mom, it’s true that you work hard for my education and I should try more. Yes, mom, it’s true! It’s all true!” In their description of Martina’s entry, the panel of 96 judges, said: “Martina writes powerfully from the point of view of an anxious teenager trying to cope with the intersection between her view of herself and her moth- er’s view of her. Her vocabu- lary and phrasing success- fully reflect the tensions in her world. The essay is poi- gnantly amusing too.” The Royal Commonwealth Society release quotes Martina as saying, “I en- tered the Commonwealth Essay Competition because I wanted to inform young people of how amazing they can be and what amazing ad- vantages youth have.” Martina’s hobbies include drawing, reading, math- ematics and science. She wants to be an orthodontist or a forensic pathologist and “hopes to be able to make a positive change in the world by inspiring young people,” the release said. Michael Lake, director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, said, “The Royal Commonwealth Society is delighted that in its 132nd year, the essay competition has received a record number of entries and that submis- sions came through from all across the Commonwealth. I am particularly impressed by the way in which those young people are able to ar- ticulate thoughts of great maturity and insight that will be important to the world in which they will grow up. Their inspirational pieces of writing testify to their strong desire to make a difference.” More than 13,000 entries from more than 600 schools in 49 Commonwealth countries and territories were submitted for this year’s competition. The senior winner of the competition was Paraschos Cant, 16, of Cyprus; senior runner-up was Tawanda Mulalu, 18, of Botswana; ju- nior winner was Nathan Swain, 11, of Tristan da Cunha. Martina and the other three top winners will be in- vited to “Winners Week” in London, a series of cul- tural and educational activ- ities which will culminate in the awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The Queen’s Common- wealth Essay Competition, founded in 1883, is the world’s oldest international schools writing contest. Martina WatlerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Australian, NZ firefighters help US About 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand have arrived in Boise, Idaho, and are scheduled to receive protective gear Monday before heading out to fight fires burning in the West. Cayman Compass • Tuesday augusT 25, 2015 Puerto Rico statehood backers see opportunity as woes deepen MANATI, Puerto Rico (AP) – Revelers arrived in cars sporting the American flag and wore clothes in red, white and blue as they cel- ebrated the anniversary of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood political party with deafening salsa music and speeches. Like many others worried about the U.S. territory’s fu- ture, those rallying Thursday night in the coastal town of Manati believe that state- hood can help pull it out of a nearly a decade of eco- nomic stagnation. “Puerto Rico has to become a state,” insisted 63-year-old cele- brant Norma Candelario. With unemployment at 12 percent, and the public debt reaching $72 billion, advocates for making the Caribbean island the 51st state say the economic woes are strengthening their ar- guments. As a state, Puerto Rico’s municipalities and public utilities would no longer be prohibited from restructuring their debts through bankruptcy. It would also receive more of certain kinds of federal funding that other states get. “The crisis has made us more visible worldwide,” said Carlos Pesquera, a former Puerto Rico trans- portation secretary who at- tended the rally. “I would have preferred that the crisis not happen, but we’re going to take this as an opportu- nity to define our status, to see it as a solution.” Puerto Ricans have been divided over their relation- ship to the U.S. mainland for decades. Since 1967, most voters in three referendums have favored remaining a semi-autonomous territory, which advocates say pre- serves the island’s cultural identity and provides more local control. Statehood was a close second place in all three votes, with independence coming in a distant third. But support for joining the union rose in each referendum and appears to be gaining. In the most recent election, in November 2012, for the first time more than half of voters said they favored a change from the territory’s current status and a plurality said they supported statehood. Backers of the status quo said the ballot was flawed and rejected the outcome. A recent poll by local research firm Gaither International found 40 per- cent of Puerto Ricans fa- vored statehood, with 27 percent opposed and 33 per- cent expressing no opinion. Among those with an opinion, 60 percent favored statehood, compared with 56 percent in a similar poll conducted five years ago. “Puerto Rico needs state- hood at some point because of the economic crisis,” said Nel Balseiro, 43, a funeral home owner and former mayor who until two years ago supported the status quo. “We need that to have a real chance at progressing.” The gains for statehood re- flect the dismal times on the island, said Gilberto Castro de Armas, managing director at Gaither International. An estimated 144,000 people left the territory be- tween 2010 and 2013 in the largest exodus in decades and about a third of all people born in Puerto Rico now live in the U.S. main- land. So many businesses and schools have closed and so many people have left the island that some neighbor- hoods resemble ghost towns. “Political changes occur during times of economic and social stress,” said Castro de Armas. “You don’t have to be a fortune teller. People are abandoning the ship because they think it’s sinking.” Statehood proponents say the exodus is the best proof of growing support for their cause. Judith Colon, 44, who manages social media ac- counts for Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood party, said moving to the U.S. is among the few options avail- able to Puerto Ricans struggling economically. She and other statehood supporters say joining the union would provide the kind of needed economic benefits Puerto Ricans get when they move to the mainland. The local government receives lower Medicaid and Medicare reimburse- ments, forcing it to spend more than $1 billion a year in Medicaid alone than if it were a U.S. state, said island congressional representative Pedro Pierluisi, who is run- ning for governor next year. Puerto Rico also faces lim- ited child tax credits and is barred from accessing other tax credits including one meant to promote labor participation, and there is no supplemental Social Security income for disabled people, he said. In addition, there’s a cap on a nutritional assistance pro- gram in which the island is shortchanged by roughly $1 billion a year, he said. “The current crisis has brought to light the limits of Puerto Rico’s current terri- torial status,” said Pierluisi, who promises to hold a ref- erendum on whether the is- land should become a state if he’s elected. “From an eco- nomic standpoint, there’s no question that billions of ad- ditional dollars would be flowing into Puerto Rico’s economy if we were treated equally and fairly … The dis- parities we have in the way federal programs apply in Puerto Rico are atrocious.” Statehood supporters also say joining the union would end their perceived second- class status. Even though Puerto Rico residents are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote in the presidential election and have only one representative in Congress who has limited voting power. But the island’s Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, whose party supports the cur- rent commonwealth status, has said statehood “would turn Puerto Rico into a ghetto.” Others, like Jorge Colberg, secretary of Garcia’s Popular Democratic Party, say Puerto Rico’s economic problems are a result of poor public administration, not its status. “Spending more than what you have has nothing to do with political status,” Colberg said. He said that holding a plebiscite now would create uncertainty for investors as the island tries to restruc- ture its debt and warned that statehood would eliminate certain tax breaks and in- crease other taxes. Puerto Rico statehood would require approval from Congress, where it would face a tough fight because the territory is considered to lean Democratic and it would have two senators and five representatives if it became a state. But it could be hard for Congress to block it if a strong majority of Puerto Ricans demonstrated support for joining the union. President Barack Obama has said he supports state- hood if Puerto Ricans clearly back it, and Republican pres- idential candidate Jeb Bush has said he believes state- hood is the best option. Many on the island think Puerto Rico is nearing that day. “This is the best inher- itance we can leave our children,” said Candelario, who moved back to the is- land from the Bronx to help out a struggling daughter. “I have grandchildren, and I would like to leave them something special. It would be good if they could study here and work here.” Statehood proponents say the exodus is the best proof of growing support for their cause. Supporters of the New Progressive Party attend a rally last Thursday marking the pro-statehood party’s 48th anniversary in Manati, Puerto Rico. - Photo: APNext >