ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 Sport | page 17 sereNa TOps VeNus aT us OpeN Extends Grand Slam bid High of 91 Low of 81 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 The big, risky baha mar beT Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp Ocean-based power a step closer to reality James WhiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com In a small but significant development, with implications for the Cayman Islands, Hawaii has opened the world’s first Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant. The Pacific island state flipped the switch last month on a 100-kilowatt facility, capable of providing power to 120 homes. Essentially a research project, the state- funded Makai Ocean Engineering plant is just a fraction of the size of a similar development being proposed in the Cayman Islands. OTEC International LLC hopes to begin construction on a floating power plant off the coast of North Side in Grand Cayman next year. The company is in the midst of the envi- ronmental impact assessment process on a planned project that, if approved, would pro- vide an initial 6.25 megawatts of electricity to Cayman’s national grid. A power purchase agreement between the energy firm and the Caribbean Utilities Company is expected to go to the Electricity Regulatory Authority in the coming months. Ultimately, OTEC International believes its plant could be scaled up to provide 25 mega- watts – around a quarter of Cayman’s elec- tricity needs. Derek Dyson of OTEC International said the Cayman project would be the first com- mercial application of the technology, which uses the extreme temperature difference be- tween sea surface and deep waters to create electricity. He said he hopes the necessary ap- provals will be accomplished by the end of the first quarter of 2016. He said the Hawaii project provides further proof that the process can be a sustainable, renewable power source. “The Hawaii project should give people even more confidence that this is technology that works,” he said. Gérard C. Nihous, an OTEC expert at the University of Hawaii, told Scientific American magazine that the value of the Makai project lITTlE DEClINE IN CAYMAN gAs prICEs breNT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Steadily falling fuel prices in the U.S. and worldwide since early July once again are not reflected at the pump on Grand Cayman, statistics examined by the Cayman Compass reveal. Stubbornly high gas prices were also seen last year during the period between late June and mid-October. According to records kept by the Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate, the average price for a gallon of regular, full-service un- leaded gasoline was $4.71 in early July. By late August, although some stations had dropped their price per gallon below that, the average from the inspectorate’s figures was $4.72. The petroleum inspectorate has not re- leased an updated gas price report since Aug. 28. However, in recent days, average per gallon prices for unleaded regular, full-service gaso- line have dropped to around $4.63, based on the newspaper’s own tally at the petrol sta- tions. That represents a 2 percent drop in price since early July. In the U.S., as of early July, the av- erage price per gallon of regular unleaded was US$2.77. In late August, the American Automobile Association reported the national average at US$2.45. On Sept. 9, the average price of a gallon of regular, unleaded fuel in the U.S. was US$2.38. The U.S. figures represent a 14 percent drop since early July. AAA estimated nation- wide per gallon prices would fall below US$2 by the end of 2015. Also, Brent Crude oil prices per barrel – a key international benchmark for petroleum pricing – have fallen erratically, but sharply More families opting for private schools James WhiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com More parents in the Cayman Islands are opting to send their children to private schools, new statistics show. Both the Cayman International School and Triple C have added staff and class- rooms after reporting record enrollment fig- ures for the 2015/16 academic year. The figures follow a three-year trend of rising numbers at private schools and slightly declining enrollment at the islands’ public schools. According to data from government’s Economics and Statistics Office, overall en- rollment in private schools rose by 280 from 2,787 at the start of the 2012/13 academic year to 3,067 at the start of the 2014/15 school year. During the same period, enroll- ment in government schools dropped from 4,956 to 4,739. Mable Richardson, head of Triple C, said the school had added mobile classrooms and converted part of the library into new classroom space to cope with the increase in numbers over the past few years. The Cayman International School has also expanded, adding six classrooms, two school support offices and upgrading the football pitch to accommodate its highest intake since 1994, when it was known as PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » The Cayman International School added six classrooms this summer. - pHOTO: TANEOs rAMsAY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass www. REGmovies.com SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - $8.00 THE TRANSPORTER (PG13) 1:00 | 4:15 | 7:00 | 9:20 SHAUN THE SHEEP (PG) 12:45 | 3:00 | 5:10 | 7:20 | 9:30 FANTASTIC FOUR (PG13) 4:00 | 9:50 NO ESCAPE (R) 1:30 | 4:30 | 7:15 | 10:00 SINISTER 2 (R) 3:40 | 7:20 | 9:40 DRAGONBALL Z (NR) 1:20 MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E (PG13) 12:50 I 6:45 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (PG13) 12:55 | 3:50 | 6:50 | 9:45 Puerto Rico unveils fiscal reform plan to reduce debt SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s government re- leased a long-awaited fiscal reform plan on Wednesday that would reduce much of the island’s $72 billion public debt and calls for restruc- turing the remainder at the expense of bondholders. The five-year plan ad- dresses only $47 billion of the U.S. territory’s debt, leaving out debt held by Puerto Rico’s troubled power company, as well as its water and sewer company. Even if the plan is implemented, of- ficials noted the island’s gov- ernment would still face a $14 billion financing gap from 2016 to 2020. They also said that meeting debt payments as scheduled could prevent the government from pro- viding essential services to Puerto Ricans. “A consensual compro- mise of the creditors’ com- peting claims … will be re- quired in order to avoid a disorderly default … and a legal morass that will fur- ther destabilize the com- monwealth’s economy and fi- nances,” the plan stated. During a background briefing late Tuesday, mem- bers of the group that worked on the plan said Puerto Rico’s Government Development Bank would run out of money by the end of this year if action is not taken and warned that the government would face a li- quidity crunch next year if the plan is not implemented. It is unclear how creditors and bondholders will react to the plan, which still requires approval by Puerto Rico’s leg- islature and governor. The plan calls for the cre- ation of a five-member con- trol board, whose members would be appointed by the governor but would take into account suggestions from creditors and potentially the federal government. The board would oversee imple- mentation of the plan and have oversight of most public corporations including the Government Development Bank, but not the power or water and sewer companies. The group suggested that the board could impose sanc- tions, including a ban on entering into contracts, au- tomatic expense cuts and au- tomatic hiring freezes if the government does not comply with the plan. Among the other pro- posals in the nearly 80- page plan is that the gov- ernment ask for a 10-year waiver from future min- imum wage increases for young workers, invest in pri- vate-public partnership, cut subsidies to municipalities and the University of Puerto Rico, crack down on tax evaders, continue consoli- dating public schools and offer early retirement. It is unclear how many of these suggestions will be im- plemented. Officials said they anticipate an intense debate in Puerto Rico’s House and Senate and noted that 2016 is an election year. The plan also states that Puerto Rico should seek equal treatment from the U.S. government regarding tax incentives and health care reimbursements. Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has said the $72 billion public debt is unpayable and needs restructuring. Judge orders guatemalan ex-president Jailed on fraud charge GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Former President Otto Perez Molina was ordered jailed on charges of fraud, conspiracy and bribery Tuesday in connection with a customs corruption scandal that took down much of his government and forced him to resign. Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ordered the ex-pres- ident held during the in- vestigation into whether he should stand trial. Galvez determined there was enough evidence to link him to the fraud ring, known as “La Linea,” or “The Line,” in which businesspeople paid bribes to avoid import du- ties through Guatemala’s customs agency. Galvez said he issued the detention order due to a “danger of interference with the truth,” noting that sev- eral people in the case are fugitives and suggesting Perez Molina could use his influence to hinder the in- vestigation. The former president was ordered held for three months. Perez Molina has main- tained his innocence, saying he is being prosecuted on rumors and hearsay. The scheme, uncov- ered last year by prosecu- tors and a U.N. commission known as CICIG, which is investigating criminal net- works in the country, is be- lieved to have defrauded the state of millions. Perez Molina’s former vice president, Roxana Baldetti, has already been jailed and faces charges. Prosecutors said she re- ceived at least $3.7 million in bribes. It was another blow against entrenched corrup- tion in the small Central American country and an- other first for Perez Molina, who became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president to resign when he stepped down last week. The corruption scandal brought together thousands of protesters, from the in- digenous to business people and clergy, all demanding the president resign and fundamental changes in the political process. Burglar chased down after tip A burglary suspect was caught and charged this week after police re- sponded to a tip in central George Town. Royal Cayman Islands Police said a resident re- ported a burglary in progress at Sterling Estates in George Town around 10:15 a.m. Monday. When officers ar- rived, a man who was found near the home fled. Police chased down and arrested the 38-year-old suspect, identified in court as Shane Edward Connor, who was charged Tuesday with one count of burglary and one count of attempted burglary. The burglary charge alleges theft from an apartment of electronic goods with a total value of approximately $1,850. The alleged burglary at- tempt was at an apartment in the same complex. Following his court ap- pearance, Connor was re- manded in custody at Northward Prison. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, stands next to Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, during a joint news conference in San Juan on Tuesday. Talks were held to develop a partnership with the U.S. territory to help it emerge from a deepening economic crisis. - photo: ap Guatemala’s former president Otto Perez Molina Burglary, handling charges withdrawn Defendant wore electronic monitor for nine months CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man charged with bur- glary and handling stolen goods last year was dis- charged this week after the Crown withdrew the charges. Philip Dudley McLaughlin, 53, had been accused of entering a ware- house on Industrial Way as a trespasser between Nov. 16 and 17, 2014, and stealing $35,000 worth of liquor. An alternative charge was han- dling 51 bottles of liquor, valued at $1,500, knowing or believing them to be stolen. In withdrawing the charges, Crown counsel Nicole Petit advised Chief Magistrate Nova Hall that the defendant had been wearing an electronic monitoring device while waiting for the outcome of his court case, so it could now be removed. When McLaughlin first appeared in court on Nov. 20, the Crown objected to bail. Some of the reasons cited in- cluded his apparent lack of employment and the finding of the 51 bottles of liquor at his premises in George Town. Defense attorney John Furniss told Magistrate Grace Donalds that McLaughlin’s income came from tenants who occupied the property, which was easily accessible by other people. He advised that McLaughlin had certain medical issues, which made him wonder if his client could even lift cases of liquor. Among the conditions of McLaughlin’s bail were wearing an electronic mon- itor, a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and reporting to po- lice twice a week. On Dec. 4, McLaughlin pleaded not guilty to both charges and trial was set for Aug. 24. On that date, how- ever, Mr. Furniss was in- volved in a Grand Court trial and McLaughlin’s trial was rescheduled. Mr. Furniss asked the Crown to review the matter. On Tuesday, Ms. Petit with- drew the charges.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 OCTOBER , The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR PLATINUM SPONSOR to our Thank ou Joan Lunen Featuring Celebrity Keynote Speaker and Breast Cancer Survivor Cayman’s human rights issues to be aired internationally James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The gay law professor at the center of an immigra- tion test case challenging the unequal treatment of ho- mosexuals in the Cayman Islands has been invited to make a presentation on the issue to the International Bar Association. Leonardo Raznovich will speak before the association of lawyers from across the world at its annual conference in Vienna in October. He said he would high- light the situation in the Cayman Islands to the world’s legal fraternity. “We have a decision at the moment in which the ju- risdiction is in clear breach of the European Convention on Human Rights,” he said. “Nobody is talking about same-sex marriage here; we are talking about basic rights – equal age of consent, protec- tion in employment, equal im- migration rights.” He said a legal frame- work for some sort of regis- tration of same-sex partner- ships is also now required by the European Court of Human Rights. The court’s decisions ultimately extend to Cayman because of its territorial rela- tionship with the U.K. “It is time for the jurisdic- tion to adopt the right rules to comply with its international obligations. I’m really grateful to have the chance to present the case of what is going on here to the International Bar Association.” Mr. Raznovich, who helped students organize a series of public lectures on the issue earlier this year, was told in June that his contract with the Truman Bodden Law School was not being renewed. His British partner of 16 years has submitted an ap- plication to have him listed as a dependent on his work permit. The Immigration Board refused the application, indicating it did not have the power to accommodate the re- quest. Now the lecturer has been given a visitor’s permit pending his appeal. He said he had not sought to be an activist on the issue. “I am not comfortable with it,” he said. “What I’d really like is for the government to take action and to understand that the only thing I’m asking for is compliance with the rule of law.” Leonardo Raznovich, speaking earlier this year at the Truman Bodden Law School lecture, which he helped organize. - Photo: James Whittaker Cayman community rallies around Dominica Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com For about three days last month, Martin Royer did not know what had happened to his mother, brother, sister and other relatives on the small eastern Caribbean island of Dominica. Tropical Storm Erika hit the island on Aug. 27, knocking out communications, bridges, roads and even the country’s two airports. On Saturday, some of the phone lines were back. “I have heard from them, they’re doing well. My mom is in the northern part of the island and the description of the damage there is not as bad,” Mr. Royer said. Mr. Royer, a minister at the George Town Church of Christ on Grand Cayman who is orig- inally from Dominica, said it will be a long road back for his home country. “It was only a tropical storm, but the rainfall in that particular storm was very heavy, 12 inches in four hours in some areas [on the southern coast],” he said. “Most of the people died in one community … it has to do with a lot of flash flooding.” Dominica is familiar with the impact of tropical cyclones, having experienced Hurricanes David, Alan, Hugo and Marilyn since the 1970s, Mr. Royer said. However, 31 dead and dozens more missing in the wake of the recent storm is a “huge number” – greater than the entire number of Dominican work permit holders in the Cayman Islands. Despite the Dominicans’ small numbers here, resi- dents from around the is- lands are now chipping in to help out the distressed eastern Caribbean island, the minister noted. Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Monday that gov- ernment would contribute about US$500,000 for the re- covery effort. The local chapter of the Red Cross, working with Mr. Royer, has set up an account at Butterfield Bank where donations can be made. Rotaract and LIME have also contributed to the fundraising efforts. In addition, Mr. Royer said fundraisers will be held in different venues on each of the next three Saturdays. The first will be at both the George Town and West Bay Church of Christ. Then, on Sept. 19, fundraising efforts will be held outside several local supermarkets. On Sept. 26, additional fundraisers will be held at the churches. Certain donations are needed more than others. Minister Royer said basic es- sentials, flashlights, blankets, first-aid kits and dry foods are the most in demand. He urged those who wish to as- sist not to donate water, which is heavy and expensive to ship, and to go easy on clothes. School supplies for children are needed, since about 3,000 people remain in shelters and some of them are children who have been left without class- rooms for the time being. Travel within and to and from Dominica has been ex- tremely difficult since the storm hit. “Many of the communities have been isolated because the bridges between them have been washed away,” Mr. Royer said. “It would be like living in North Side and you can’t get to East End.” Both airports are closed, including the main airport, which has no working ter- minal, Mr. Royer said. Some special “military” flights have been allowed in, but regular commercial flights won’t be coming in for some time. Cayman’s government has pledged that Cayman Airways planes would be used to bring in supplies to the nearest available point where they might be shipped to Dominica. Mr. Royer said shipments of some supplies are coming in from neighboring islands, in- cluding Guadeloupe, St. Martin and St. Lucia.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 • Cayman COmpass The big, risky Baha Mar bet The $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort — the largest such project in the Caribbean — was supposed to lift the Bahamas’ tourism industry to new heights. Instead, due to delays and bankruptcy proceedings, the envisioned “Bahamian Riviera” is foundering, and threatens to drag the Bahamas’ economy down with it. Once again, the painful lessons of the Bahamas may prove instructive to the Cayman Islands. We will refrain from delving into specific culpabilities because the complex matters are currently being untangled through the court system. Generally speaking, though, the Baha Mar quagmire demonstrates the danger that presents itself when a government entwines its goals for the common welfare with the outcome of a single development, over which it has no real control. Put another way, “social engineering” and “civil engineering” do not always mix. In order to illustrate the magnitude of Baha Mar and its potential impact (negative or positive) on the Bahamas, let us sketch out some rough figures: • The population of the Bahamas is 380,000, about seven times larger than Cayman • The tourism industry accounts for nearly half of the Bahamas’ economy, about double the share of the tourism sector in Cayman • The completed Baha Mar project, including four new hotels, another renovated hotel and a casino, would have nearly 3,000 rooms — 10 times that of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman • The construction cost of Baha Mar is $3.5 billion (and rising) — more than 10 times the estimated cost of the Dart Group’s Kimpton hotel on Seven Mile Beach. The key players in Baha Mar are a Bahamian devel- oper who has been pursuing the resort for more than a dozen years, Chinese government-owned construc- tion companies, the Export-Import Bank of China, and Bahamian public officials, who have enmeshed them- selves in the project from beginning to end by granting concessions, insisting on the inclusion of Bahamian workers, petitioning to place Baha Mar’s affairs under control of Bahamian courts rather than U.S. courts, and even, lately, paying the salaries of some 2,000 Bahamian workers at Baha Mar (but not to expatriates, primarily temporary laborers from China). With a reported 97 percent of Baha Mar built, but construction stymied for the near future, rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country’s credit rating to just a hair above “junk bond” status, and fore- casted a “negative” outlook for the country’s economy. The downgrade resulted merely from the anticipated delay of Baha Mar’s opening (originally set for December 2014) until after the Bahamas’ high tourism season this December, not from any expectation that the project will fail outright. That is a further indication of just how much risk the Bahamas has exposed its economy to in the pursuit of cashing in on Baha Mar. Perhaps even more troubling is this: On the cusp of Baha Mar’s completion, observers, including S&P, remain unconvinced about the long-term viability of Baha Mar when it is operational, basically over concerns whether the mega-resort will generate enough demand to keep its rooms filled, if adequate airlift capacity can be created to bring the necessary number of tourists over, and also what impact Baha Mar may have on the nearby Atlantis resort. To bring this topic back home, we in Cayman should feel fortunate that our country’s biggest devel- oper — Dart — has the ability to self-finance its own projects, a decades-long relationship with Cayman and a spotless track record in terms of delivering on, and often exceeding, its promises. We should feel similar gratitude for the partnership between Dr. Devi Shetty’s Narayana Health and Ascension Health, who have brought us Health City Cayman Islands, which has the potential to diversify, and therefore strengthen, Cayman’s economy. We must also give our public officials credit for, in the past and future, generally “keeping out of the way” — except to provide assistance and encourage- ment — when the private sector expresses an interest in investing in our islands. We hope that cautionary tales, such as those that continue to be spun in the Bahamas, can serve to help guide our officials to continue to pursue prudent courses of action in the future. Trump sets tone for ‘boneless’ GOP “I remember, when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum’s Circus, which contained an exhibi- tion of freaks and monstrosi- ties, but the exhibit on the pro- gram which I most desired to see was the one described as ‘The Boneless Wonder.’ My parents judged that that spectacle would be too re- volting and demoralizing for my youthful eyes, and I have waited fifty years to see The Boneless Wonder sitting on the Treasury Bench.” – Winston Churchill in the House of Commons, re- ferring to Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, 1931 WASHINGTON – Donald Trump, whose promises are probably as malleable as his principles, promises to sup- port the Republican nom- inee. Some of his rivals for the nomination, disoriented by their fear and envy of him, are making the GOP seem like the party of boneless wonders. Some, who loudly la- ment how illegal immigrants damage the rule of law, have found a heroine in Kentucky. A county clerk, whose de- votion to her faith is not stronger than her desire to keep her paycheck, chose jail rather than resignation when confronted with having to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court and the Constitution regarding same-sex marriage. Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker think her re- ligious freedom is being trampled. So does Ted Cruz, who surely knows better. He clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist and must remember the 1892 case in which a Massachusetts po- liceman claimed that rules restricting political activity by police violated his con- stitutional rights. Rejecting this claim, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court wrote that the officer “may have a constitu- tional right to talk politics, but he has no constitutional right to be a policeman.” Trump, the tone-setter of today’s GOP, recently chastised Jeb Bush for an- swering in Spanish a ques- tion that was asked in Spanish. Trump said Bush “should really set the ex- ample by speaking English while in the United States.” Trump presumably deplores the fact that a leading Illinois Republican politician in the late 1850s bought one of the region’s many German- language newspapers, and even briefly took German les- sons. Abraham Lincoln did so, says Harold Holzer in “Lincoln and the Power of the Press,” in order to “boost his appeal to the most im- portant voting bloc in his re- gion.” Somehow, Americans of German extraction – the largest group of Americans – seem to have assimilated even though Lincoln set a sinister “example.” In an extended recent riff on how great and loved he is (“Kanye West … loves Trump. He goes around saying ‘Trump is my all-time hero.’ He says it to everybody.”) and on subordinate matters, Trump cited, as evidence that “our country is being killed on trade,” this: “They have in Japan the biggest ships you’ve ever seen pouring cars into Los Angeles, pouring them in. I’ve never seen any- thing like it. We send them beef, and they don’t even want it. It’s going to end, and they’re going to like us.” Well. Leaving aside Japan’s strange willing- ness to purchase unwanted beef, most Japanese vehicles that pour into America do so from plants in America. The vehicles are assembled by Americans using mostly American parts. So, after Iowa’s evangeli- cals have plumbed Trump’s theological depths (“When we go in church and I drink the little wine, which is about the only wine I drink, and I eat the little cracker – I guess that’s a form of asking for- giveness”), South Carolinians can evaluate his America- can’t-compete, trade-is- killing-us campaign. There, his woe-is-us narrative will collide with cheerful realities that Republican Gov. Nikki Haley recently described in a Washington speech: Flat-screen TVs are made in Winnsboro, bicy- cles are made in Manning (the New Jersey company moved its manufacturing there from China), and five foreign-owned tire compa- nies (Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Giti Tire and Trelleborg) manufacture in the state. So do Mercedes and, in 2018, Volvo. South Carolina has what Germany does not have – the world’s largest BMW plant, from which vehicles pour at a rate of one every minute. Recently Trump told MSNBC that, after his speech the day before, “The CNN re- porter said it was the single greatest political speech she’s ever heard.” Asked which reporter, he said: “I don’t know her name. But she was wearing a beautiful red dress.” National Review’s Jim Geraghty reports that CNN says neither of its corre- spondents at the Trump event wore red. Novelist Mary McCarthy said of playwright Lillian Hellman, “Every word she writes is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘the.’” If that was so, Trump is not even an original. (Disclosure: The colum- nist’s wife, Mari Will, works for Wisconsin governor and GOP presidential candidate Scott Walker.) George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to oppose the Iran nuclear agreement. According to polling, Mr. Trump maintains a double-digit lead on his opponents in the GOP primary field. - Photo: AP Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway”5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 www.CaymanLuxuryProperty.com | 945.6000 | 7 Mile Beach & Cayman Kai Offices | Buying & Selling Real Estate, Contact Us. Personalised, not franchised. M ember of CIREBA Texas family finds ‘pennies from heaven’ at Cayman grave Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Local folklore has it that pennies were left on and around a grave in remem- brance of the deceased. Every year Verna and Cal Rutherford from Port Arthur, Texas, visit Cayman to tidy up Mrs. Rutherford’s family’s cemetery plot on Monument Road. This year, the couple found more than 100 coins at the grave site. “We are considering them ‘pennies from heaven,’” Mrs. Rutherford, nee Wood, said, adding that she won- ders if there is some sort of Caymanian folklore, prank or superstition behind the scat- tered coins. “My pocket is full and there is more,” said Mrs. Rutherford’s sister-in-law, Ronda Wood, brushing off the grave to clean it. “Maybe they threw them over the graves so Tommy Wood will not play any pranks on them,” said Mr. Rutherford. “My little brother was known all over the island, and he played pranks on ev- eryone,” Mrs. Rutherford explained. The family took the coins back home to Texas with them and plan to frame them. Tommy Wood, Mrs. Rutherford’s brother, died last year of cancer and the family held a memorial for him on Cayman. He lived in Cayman, working in the water sports industry, for several years throughout his life, as did his brother Leonard. Verna, Tommy and Leonard are the children of Leonard Olney Wood and Verna Ethel Bodden Wood (daughter of Capt. Benny Bodden), who moved to the United States in the late 1940s, but the family re- turned on vacation here every year, Mrs. Rutherford said. The family got permis- sion from the Department of Environmental Health to have some of Tommy’s re- mains and a marker placed at the cemetery, where other Wood family members are also buried. When she was in Cayman last week for the cleanup of the grave site, Mrs. Rutherford placed a conch shell filled with flowers at the bottom of Mr. Wood’s marker. On her hands and knees pulling bush and weeds from around the marker in the graveyard, Mrs. Rutherford, along with her husband and sister-in-law, shared the his- tory of the Wood family plot – forgetting about the pen- nies for the moment. “My grandfather is buried over there,” she said, pointing to the middle of the cemetery. Laurel Wood, a member of Mrs. Rutherford’s family who lives on island, said they have been burying members of the Wood family in the little cem- etery plot since the 1800s. “This would make the little family plot one of Bodden Town’s oldest grave sites,” she said. “Uncle Carlton, Aunt Merle, Uncle Tim, Janette and Evans my grandpar- ents, are all buried here,” said Mrs. Rutherford, gently placing a bouquet of flowers by a head marker. She said the property next door was owned by her grandparents and when they passed away, it was handed down to other family members. During her stay in Cayman, Mrs. Rutherford also found time to enjoy some of Cayman’s local food. Captain Benny’s home was where the fish shack restau- rant now stands in Bodden Town. She said they were all delighted to gather there with friends and family to enjoy dinner. Local lore It is said by some lo- cals that pennies are left on graves, most of all, in remem- brance of the deceased. Some ancient superstitions say that if you drop a coin and make a wish, the dead person can help you. Some residents said it would keep away the “dup- pies” (ghosts). According to the Cayman Islands National Trust, in days gone by, there were no community graveyards in the Cayman Islands. It was the practice for each family to be responsible for the safe burial of their dead. During the 18th century, people started to set aside a small portion of their land to serve as the family graveyard. The Woods’ graveyard, like many other plots in those years, was built on family property. As good soil was scarce and needed to grow crops, it could not be spared for such a purpose. Much of the re- maining land was made up of very hard, coral limestone, which was extremely difficult to excavate with the simple tools available. Throughout the three is- lands, numerous family plots can still be seen be- tween the road and the sea, including the Wood family plot on Monument Road op- posite Bodden Town’s Coe Wood Public Beach. It had a number of wooden crosses which were used as grave markers in years past, but most were destroyed in Hurricane Ivan. In recent times, some new graves have been added to the small Wood cemetery plot. Cal Rutherford watches as his wife, Verna, right, and her sister-in-law Ronda Wood place a conch shell with flowers at the grave site of Tommy Wood, in the Wood family plot on Monument Road. - Photo: Jewel levy New National Gallery exhibit explores identity A new exhibit at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, focusing on explora- tion of identity in contemporary Caymanian art, opens Thursday. A program of events will accompany the exhibit, “tIDal shift – Explorations of Identity in Contemporary Caymanian Art.” The program kicks off with a lecture from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday on contemporary Caribbean art initiatives. Holly Bynoe, chief curator of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, will speak about various art initiatives she is spearheading in the region, including ARC mag- azine, a publication that fo- cuses on contemporary art- work created in the Caribbean and its diaspora. Ms. Bynoe, who is originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is also co-director of Caribbean Linked, a regional artist residency program in Aruba. The lecture will also fea- ture Amanda Coulson, director of the Bahamas National Art Gallery, speaking about global initiatives the gallery has been involved with in Venice, Cuba and throughout the region. Ms. Coulson is a Bahamian-American art critic who has written for nu- merous art journals. She is also one of the co- founders of the VOLTA art fair in Basel, Switzerland, and New York. This year’s New York VOLTA fair focused on art from the Caribbean and Africa and featured the works of seven Caribbean artists. Thursday’s event at the National Gallery will also in- clude a group discussion about artists’ residencies and exchanges in the Caribbean. The “tIDal shift” exhibit runs until Nov. 5. “We are considering them ‘pennies from heaven.’” Verna rutherfordThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community Calendar ■ Community Calendar is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, SEPT. 10 CARIBBEAN ART: Lecture explores contemporary Caribbean art initiatives, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the National Gallery. Group discussion follows about artist residencies and exchanges in the Caribbean. Refreshments will be served. Free admission; donations welcomed. DRAMA SOCIETY: Cayman Drama Society presents the musical “Rent,” opening tonight with special happy hour from 6:30 p.m. Show runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. Due to adult content, strictly PG 13 with parental supervision. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students. WINE-DOWN: Art and Music Festival at Peripheral Spaces in Camana Bay. 6-8 p.m. Live music, food, wine, kids art display, raffle, local artists’ work for sale, Chris Mann art piece up for auction. Funds will be donated to Humane Society. Market Street across from Bay Market. For more information, email marymccallum@candw.ky. BOOK LAUNCH: “Awoken” by Danielle Roberts. 6 p.m. Books & Books, Camana Bay. SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 NCU ALUMNI: Friends and alumni of Northern Caribbean University are invited to participate in a formal initiation ceremony as a member of the Cayman Chapter of the NCU Alumni Association, at Kings Church, Walkers Road. For registration and details, visit www.NCUCaymanAlumni.com or call 938-2209. Deadline for ceremony registration is Wednesday, Sept. 9. KIDS ART CLUB: Visual Art Society offers this opportunity on Saturdays through Nov. 21, from 9-11 a.m. Drop-in fee $35 per session per child; $115 for 4 sessions, paid in advance. Venue is Pedro Castle at the Watler House Art Studio. For more information, email visualartcayman@yahoo.com. SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 BACK-TO-SCHOOL RALLY: For all children, young people, families and friends, 9:45 a.m. at the Wesleyan Holiness Church, Northwest Point Road in West Bay. All are invited. Morning worship follows at 11 a.m. with Rev. Cumberbatch, WHC Caribbean general superintendent as guest speaker. MONDAY, SEPT. 14 CHAMBER WORKSHOP: Time management and productivity, presented by Catherine Tyson. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members, $150. Future members, $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, SEPT. 15 CHAMBER WORKSHOP: Self-motivation, presented by Joy Baldridge. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members, $250. Future members, $300. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16 SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION: Community meeting 6-7 p.m. at Hope Academy in Grand Harbour. There will be a presentation on the new Special Educational Needs/ Disabilities Strategy Policy. Foundation members and those wishing to join are welcome to attend this free event. For further information, contact Susie Bodden at susie@ specialneedsfoundation. ky or check www. specialneedsfoundation.ky. THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Be Informed series. The topic of government procurement will be covered by the strategic adviser to the deputy governor, Peter Gough, and the newly appointed director, Central Procurement Office, Craig Milley. 3–5 p.m. at Governors Square. Free admission. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. PUB QUIZ: Humane Society pub quiz at Fidel Murphy’s, 7 p.m. $10 per person, maximum of six people per team. All proceeds toward transferring dogs to new homes in U.S. Call 949-5189 to reserve a table or contact sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. CANCER SOCIETY: Continuing Medical Education for all allied medical professionals. Marriott Beach Resort 5–9 p.m. Three credit hours will be awarded. Contact victoria@cics.ky for more information. FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 MENTORING PROGRAM: Volunteer adult mentors are sought for the John Gray High School “Aim Higher” initiative for Year 11 students who have agreed that they want to participate in the program at the school to help them realize their potential. Stage 1 training is this evening, 5:50-8:30 p.m. Stage 2 training is Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Laura Hatfield on 328-0300. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross Mobile Thrift Shop will be in West Bay, at The Lord’s Church compound, junction of the West Bay Town Hall, 6-10 a.m. Items available include clothing and shoes for children and adults, household items, linens, ladies’ accessories and more. PUBLIC HEALTH FAIR: Marriott Beach Resort, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission. Organized by Cancer Society. TUESDAY, SEPT. 22 PAINTING, DRAWING CLASSES: At Watler House Studio on the grounds of Pedro Castle every Tuesday, Sept. 22 to Nov. 24. Location painting and drawing, 9–11 a.m.; life drawing, 7-9 p.m. This is an opportunity for artists of all levels to have instruction and guidance from a qualified art instructor. $25 per session/$35 non-members, or 10 sessions $200 or $280 non-members. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo. com or 546-9422. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24 BRAC COURT: Summary Court held in the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, from 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. NATIONAL TRUST AGM: The Annual General Meeting of the members of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, 6 p.m. upstairs at the George Town Yacht Club, the Barcadere Marina at 606 North Sound Road. SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 5K WALK/RUN: Starts 6 a.m. from Seven Mile Beach Public Beach. The Hope Foundation organizes this event to raise funds for and awareness about its halfway house for recovering addicts. To register, call Brent Hydes at 928-9099 or Christopher Burke at 326-6783. Entry is free; trophies for top finishers in different categories. Raffle tickets available for $25. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 LABOUR AND PENSIONS BILLS: Today is the final date to comment on the Labour Relations Bill and the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill. They can both be accessed at www.education.gov.ky/ labourpensions. Feedback can be provided by emailing lpl@gov.ky. GENERAL INTEREST CAYMAN NATIONAL CHOIR: The choir is looking for new members. All are welcome to come and sing with the country’s national choir. No audition required. Every Monday from 7:30-9 p.m. at Cayman Prep Primary School Hall on Smith Road. For more information, contact 923-6915 or info@caymanchoir.com. READING TREE: The book swap is open from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the end of September in Cassia Court at Camana Bay. Everyone is invited to come by, take their pick and replace it with one of their books. With a back-to- school theme, books include children’s storybooks, fiction, and motivational and career-focused books for older students. NCVO SCHOOL YEAR: Miss Nadine’s Preschool and Jack and Jill Nursery are open for the new school year. 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. 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. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m.- 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. PERIPHERAL SPACES: Open Tuesday to Saturday. Noon to 8 p.m. (closed by 3 p.m. on Saturdays). Market Street across from Bay Market. Pop up working studio/art gallery with local artist works displayed for sale. Art classes Tuesday and Thursday, 6-8 p.m., plus other special events. For more information, email marymccallum@candw.ky. 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. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo. com or jr@cib.ky or 546- 9422 for more information. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 We offer a career opportunity to ‘Be Your Best With the Best.’ Join Pinnacle Media’s sales TeaM Open the dOOr tO an amazing career Long-term career Opportunity Financially rewarding complete Benefits package dynamic Work environment Your chance to excel! Email hr@pinnaclemedialtd.com with Sales Rep in subject line. is not its size, but its ability to demonstrate the process. He said despite some engi- neering challenges, the tech- nology behind OTEC was proven and the barriers to its development were largely economic. Mr. Dyson said OTEC International is confident that its plant is financially viable. “We have patents which are really around driving down the cost of the tech- nology. We are making it as efficient as possible so we can be competitive with other alternative generation re- sources,” he said. “That’s one of the strengths that differentiates us from Makai, which was re- ally research focused without a cost-benefit analysis.” OTEC International President Eileen O’Rourke said the project has the backing of the Baltimore- based Abell Foundation, which has a philosophy of patient investment in inno- vative technologies, allowing them to take more time to yield returns than would nor- mally be possible. She believes the opening of an OTEC plant in Cayman will be a “major milestone” for the technology and for re- newable energy generally. The OTEC process in- volves using large amounts of warm surface water to boil ammonia, creating gas to power conventional tur- bines. Cold water, piped up from almost 4,000 feet below the surface, is used to con- vert the ammonia vapor back to a liquid for recycling in a “closed loop system.” One key advantage that OTEC has over other re- newables, such as solar and wind, is it would pro- vide “firm power genera- tion,” meaning it could run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and therefore would not require diesel genera- tors to be constantly spin- ning as a backup, according to the terms of reference for the ongoing environmental impact assessment. Ocean-based power a step closer to reality CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Makai OTEC plant opened in Hawaii last month. 2015 storm season slow at peak Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The historic peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is Sept. 10, but it has been a very slow season so far this year. Thursday is also one day before the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan, when a much busier hurricane season wreaked havoc in Cayman and around the region. The quiet storm forecast is due to a combination of cool Atlantic water temperatures off Africa, El Niño warming waters in the Pacific, and this year’s wind patterns breaking up storms, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in the United States. In a recent interview, Cayman Islands Weather Service Chief Meteorologist Kerry Powery said, “El Niño dis- rupts overall global patterns and depresses tropical activity.” So far this year, there have been seven named storms. The Hurricane Center down- graded Grace, the latest storm, to a tropical wave Wednesday morning. The storm, now with 30 mph maximum sustained winds, continues to head west into the Caribbean at 18 mph, according to Wednesday’s fore- cast from the Center. Despite Grace’s downgraded status, many in the northern Caribbean are looking forward to the rain to help ease the se- vere drought in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba and other islands in the region. U.S. forecasters predict that the tropical wave will have some impact on parts of the region, but not enough to fill the nearly empty reservoirs in places such as Puerto Rico. A tropical wave passed through Cayman at the begin- ning of last week, the remnants of Tropical Storm Erika, drop- ping almost an inch of rain in 24 hours at Owen Roberts International Airport, with wind gusts up to 42 mph, ac- cording to the Cayman Islands Weather Service. Erika caused serious flooding in Dominica, killing at least 31 people and causing more than US$226 mil- lion in damage, according to the Associated Press. According to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service hurricane data, there have been 74 direct hits by hur- ricanes and tropical storms on the territory since 1852. Of those, 21 hit in September, in- cluding Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Ivan passed over the Cayman Islands on Sept. 11 and 12 with 155 mph winds, leaving flooding and destruction in its wake. The Category IV storm killed two and damaged build- ings, the remnants of which remain standing to this day. Sixteen years before, almost to the day, another Category IV storm hit the islands – Gilbert hit the Cayman Islands on Sept. 13, 1988, with maximum sus- tained winds of 150 mph. The Atlantic hurri- cane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Thursday is also one day before the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan, when a much busier hurricane season wreaked havoc in Cayman and around the region.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass the Faulkner Academy. Leaders at both schools say the influx of new stu- dents is a mix of Caymanians and expatriates. Jeremy Moore, director of the international school, said new faculty and staff have been added to assist with the increase in students. Enrollment at the Cayman International School in- creased from 510 two years ago to 582 at the start of this school year. Mr. Moore said the school was “elite but not elitist” and catered to 30 different nationalities. Enrollment at Triple C is also on the increase at all age levels. Figures from the school show an increase from 350 in September 2012 to a record-breaking 425 this year. Ms. Richardson said new teachers and teaching as- sistants had been recruited. She said if the growth in de- mand continues, the school would have to look at re- stricting numbers. “We don’t want to become too big,” she added. Ms. Richardson, prin- cipal and chief administra- tive officer at the school, attributed the rise in num- bers to the success of its students in exams and the quality of teaching. “It is like any other busi- ness,” she said. “Satisfied customers means re- peat customers as well as new customers.” She said the school’s last few graduate classes had re- ceived more than $1 mil- lion in scholarships for further studies from the private sector. The school uses a U.S. cur- riculum and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International. A spokeswoman for Cayman International School, which is governed by the International Schools Service, said its new sports field was certified by world soccer gov- erning body FIFA and would also be available for commu- nity use. Education Minister Tara Rivers declined to comment. The Economics and Statistics Office report says the increase in school num- bers in 2014 coincided with an overall increase in the is- lands’ population in 2014. “The increase in en- rollment is due to private schools which altogether reg- istered a growth of 6.3 per- cent (or 181 students), while that of government schools fell by 2.0 percent (or 97 stu- dents),” it states. overall since early July. According to figures com- piled by the Nasdaq and Bloomberg News Service, the price per barrel of Brent Crude was around US$65 per barrel in early July. In mid- to-late August, the price per barrel bottomed out at about US$42, then saw a small spike at the end of the month. As of Sept. 9, it settled at US$48.25 per barrel. That’s nearly a 26 percent drop within the past two months. The same trend, though more pronounced, was noted toward the end of 2014 when U.S. pump prices fell by a na- tional average of about 20 percent between late June and mid-October and the price of Brent Crude fell by 29 percent during the same period. From early July 2014 to late October 2014, the Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate recorded a drop in prices of three cents per gallon for regular, unleaded fuel. Petition Stating they are “fed up” with “high” gas prices, a group of residents is de- manding that government and local fuel distribu- tors take action to reduce petrol prices. The group, organized by George Ebanks, is seeking signatures on a petition from Caymanians, other res- idents and tourists against what Mr. Ebanks has referred to as “unreasonably” high fuel prices. “We are now used to seeing our visiting tourists taking pictures of our fuel station [sic] publicly dis- played gasoline prices; no doubt because our prices are incomprehensible,” Mr. Ebanks said in a statement. The Progressives-led co- alition government has been critical of local fuel companies Rubis and Sol Petroleum. Planning and Infrastructure Minister Kurt Tibbetts warned gas and diesel distributors in August that they must turn over their operational cost data to government or face fuel price control legislation. Mr. Tibbetts said during an address to the Legislative Assembly that a Public Utilities Commission Bill, seeking to require petrol dis- tributors to reveal what they pay for bulk fuel shipped to the Cayman Islands and their markup on fuel, will be presented before the end of the year. Historically, fuel com- panies Esso and Chevron- Texaco, and more recently operators Sol Petroleum and Rubis, have refused to release such data, saying it is proprietary commercial information. The locally operating fuel distributors have sought to downplay comparisons between U.S. prices and Cayman Islands fuel prices due to the massive differ- ences in the two markets. The petrol distributors also note that they typi- cally receive fuel shipments about every three to four weeks and that cargo may have loaded on the supply ship several weeks before ar- riving here. This delay has often been blamed for cre- ating a lag in pricing com- pared to current interna- tional rates. Little decline in Cayman gas prices Stating they are “fed up” with “high” gas prices, a group of residents is demanding that government and local fuel distributors take action to reduce petrol prices. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 More families opting for private schools CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Gov’t takes steps to new courthouse Proposals for business case invited Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com When the courthouse in central George Town was de- signed in the mid-1970s, some planners thought the two courtrooms were “too gen- erous,” according to court ad- ministrator Kevin McCormac. The Cayman Islands Judicial System now runs 10 courtrooms a day on average and has outgrown the building it has called home since it was completed decades ago, Mr. McCormac said. The Ministry of Planning this week issued a request for proposals for consul- tants to begin planning for a new court facility. The RFP asks companies to bid on the outline business case for a new building to replace the aging courthouse. “We are in a building that is way out of date,” Mr. McCormac said. The tender for the out- line business case is one of the first steps in the process that could potentially take several years before govern- ment breaks ground on a new court facility. Mr. McCormac said he hopes to have more court- rooms to hear more cases si- multaneously and speed up the process for criminal de- fendants and civil lawsuits to work through the judi- cial system. He said there are several other factors, in- cluding moving tribunals to the judicial building. “Policy decisions need to be made,” he said, before a new court building can become a reality. “We would want to see quite a significant increase” in the number of courtrooms available, he said. Mr. McCormac pointed to issues with the building beyond just the number of courtrooms. “The provision for jurors is poorer that we [hoped] it would be,” he said. He also noted that the court lacks facilities to keep witnesses and victims sepa- rated during a trial. Complaints about the fa- cilities for witnesses came up in a recent report from a crim- inal justice adviser seconded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from the United Kingdom. Claire Wetton, who spent four months with the DPP ear- lier this year, wrote: “There is little by way of witness care at the court and the police do not have a witness care unit. This was particularly ap- parent at court, as there is no separate waiting area for vic- tims and witnesses and they often sit in the same waiting area as the defendant and his/her supporters outside of the courtroom.” Ms. Wetton recom- mended a short-term solu- tion to put vulnerable wit- nesses in an interview room as a waiting area, but she wrote that a long-term plan should give witnesses a ded- icated waiting area, away from defendants. US HoUSe RepUblican diviSionS tHReaten planS on iRan deal WASHINGTON (AP) – Divisions among House Republicans threw sched- uled votes against the Iran nuclear accord into disarray Wednesday as other foes rallied outside the Capitol. The drama unfolded on a day when the presiden- tial campaign was colliding head-on with the congres- sional debate on the Iran deal, which is strongly backed by the Obama ad- ministration and other world powers. It aims to curb Iran’s nuclear pro- gram in exchange for bil- lions of dollars in relief from international eco- nomic sanctions. House GOP leaders were forced to delay plans to open debate on a resolu- tion of disapproval as some Republicans threatened to withhold their support. Frustrated that the disap- proval resolution looked short of support in the Senate, these Republicans were demanding an alter- nate approach. The surprise disagree- ment occurred just mo- ments before the House was to begin debating a procedural measure on the resolution. Opponents of the Iran deal attend a Tea Party rally on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington. - pHoto: ap Cayman’s courthouse in George Town was built in 1977.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday sepTember 10, 2015 Mudslide kills at least 7 in Guinea A local leader in Guinea says at least seven people were killed and 12 others injured in a mudslide. A local community leader said Wednesday they are trying to locate the bodies in the mud in the village of Tougnifili. EU seeks deal for its countries to share 160,000 migrants BRUSSELS (AP) – The head of the European Commission issued an impassioned plea Wednesday for Europe to face up to its immigration crisis, urging EU countries to agree by next week to share 160,000 refugees and warning that Greece, Italy and Hungary can no longer handle the influx alone. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled a list of new pro- posals to help Europe con- front its biggest refugee emer- gency since World War II. “The refugee crisis will not simply go away,” Juncker told EU lawmakers, noting that some 500,000 migrants have entered Europe this year, many from conflict-torn Syria and Libya. “It’s high time to act.” “We are fighting against Islamic State. Why are we not ready to accept those who are fleeing Islamic State?” he said. Juncker’s new plan in- volves sharing 120,000 refu- gees from Greece, Italy and Hungary among 22 member states, on top of a proposal the EU’s executive made in May to share 40,000 refugees from just Greece and Italy. Britain, Ireland and Denmark are not legally bound to take part, due to exemptions they have negotiated previously. Greece, Italy and Hungary are not included. The Czech Republic and Slovakia immediately rejected the idea that compulsory quotas might be imposed, while other nations had al- ready criticized the new pro- posal even before it was made public. It chances of success hang in the balance because a solid majority of the 28 EU states must support the move for it to take place. More than 378,000 mi- grants have entered Europe this year, including over 256,000 crossing the sea to Greece and nearly 120,000 braving the Mediterranean to reach Italy, according to the International Organization for Migration. Hungary estimates that more than 160,000 people have crossed its borders alone this year. The latest proposals were drawn up as Budapest was busy building an anti-migrant fence on its border with Serbia. Tens of thousands have entered just in the last few months, many cramming into buses and trains bound for Germany. Despite the urgency, the EU’s first refugee plan never won full support, and only around 32,000 refugees have been allocated. Hungary was among the countries to reject it, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Juncker wants both plans endorsed Monday at a meeting of EU interior min- isters in Brussels. “This has to be done in a compulsory way,” he said. In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel backed the new immigration plan and also called for it to be made compulsory. “We need a binding agree- ment on a binding distribu- tion of refugees among all member states, according to fair criteria,” Merkel said. Germany has taken in more migrants than any other EU country, and would have to accept more than 31,000 more under the scheme. On Monday, France threw its weight behind the EU plan by saying that it would take in 24,000 refugees this year, exactly the figure pro- posed in the new scheme. Britain, which is not taking part, announced sep- arately that it would wel- come up to 20,000 refugees currently in countries out- side the EU over the next five years. Ireland is also taking 520 refugees from camps outside Europe. But Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said Wednesday that his govern- ment’s opposition to manda- tory quotas for migrants has not softened. “The compulsory quotas are not a good solution,” Sobotka said in a statement. “To continue with a dis- cussion about their estab- lishment all across Europe only prevents us from taking really important and necessary steps.” The Czechs argue most of the migrants have been heading for Germany and don’t want to stay in the Czech Republic anyway. Hungary has also made a similar argument. This new response marks a shift to rapid humanitarian action as the EU begins to accept that longer-term policy moves are ill-adapted to the scale of the refugee emergency. But it only accounts for a fraction of the people seeking better lives in Europe. The EU estimates that two in three migrants arriving are fleeing conflict and would prob- ably qualify for international protection. Those coming in search of jobs alone are likely to be sent back home. To help ease the burden on European migrant- screening facilities, Juncker also announced a list of “safe countries” including Albania and Kosovo, from which thousands of people have fled this year. The “safe country” tag is likely to mean that few asylum applications by na- tionals from those countries will succeed. The full “safe” list is made up of candidates for EU membership or coun- tries hoping to join. They are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Almost 50,000 people from Kosovo applied for asylum in the EU in the first three months of this year. More than 21,000 did so in Germany. More than 9,000 Albanians sought asylum in July, mostly in Germany, Sweden and France. Longer-term, the Commission also unveiled a plan to set up a 1.8 billion- euro (US$2 billion) fund to help African nations better manage their borders and help reduce the number of migrants heading for Europe. The money would focus on northern Africa and Horn of Africa countries like Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. Juncker appealed to all 28 member states to match the Commission’s ambitions by providing funds of their own. Ethiopia charges two with human smuggling ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – A court in Ethiopia charged two men over the deaths of four Ethiopians who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to go to Italy. The two suspects, Ethiopians identi- fied as Umer Musa and Abdel Menan Adem, were charged with “holding people hostage,” the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported Wednesday. Prosecutors said the two defendants, in collabora- tion with accomplices in Sudan and Libya, accepted money to transport the four migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean in March 2015. “As soon as they reached Tripoli, they were locked in a container and forced to call their family mem- bers to force them [to] send money,” the charge sheet said. Members of the vic- tims’ families sent a total of $3,400 to the suspects, but their boat sank off the Mediterranean while they were attempting to reach Italy, it said. The same court also charged another man, iden- tified as Mohammed Ahmed, over allegedly smuggling people who were brutally killed by the Islamic State group in Libya in April. Ethiopia is attempting to stem the flow of citizens seeking to illegally migrate to Europe. The government says it has recently arrested 200 suspected human smugglers and new legis- lation has been drafted to strengthen punishments for human trafficking. Ethiopia’s current laws stipulate prison terms ranging from five to 20 years for crimes related to human smuggling and a maximum fine of $2,500. Migrants rest by the railway track near Roszke, southern Hungary, on Wednesday. Migrants eager to pass through Hungary toward central Europe are making their way on foot at Hungary’s southern border with Serbia. – Photos: AP European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivers his State of the Union address Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.Next >