sports | page 18 RichaRds dances aRound Rivals Rugby ace prepares for Halloween 7s High of 91 Low of 81 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 GoveRnment pRotection isn’t fRee ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – tuesday septembeR 29, 2015 back to back wins www.butterfieldgroup.com Proud winner of The Banker’s prestigious Cayman Islands Bank of the Year award for 2013 and 2014. Bank of the year... Again! Dan MaRino NFL legend to offer leadership advice ‘nikki’s Voice’ marathon team pushes the limits Residents warned over renting rooms to tourists Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com For the last three months, 24-year- old Nikki Christian has been preparing to compete in her first marathon. On Saturdays she can be found at Seven Mile CrossFit, and every Sunday morning she wakes up at 6 a.m., puts on her neon-col- ored sneakers, and sets out to train along the wide stretch of Esterley Tibbetts Highway heading into West Bay. The schedule is rigorous, the goal daunting. It would be for anyone new to the world of competitive running. That Ms. Christian has taken this on, though, is extraordinary. To compete in James WhittaKeR jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Officials are clamping down on Cayman Islands residents who rent spare rooms to tourists using home-sharing websites such as Airbnb. Several people who used the website to ad- vertise rooms for rent to tourists have taken down their listings after being told they need a license from the Hotel Licensing Board. The Department of Tourism confirmed that anyone who rents short-term accom- modation of any kind must be licensed, in- spected and pay relevant taxes and fees. One Cayman Islands resident said he had hosted several guests in his spare room by posting on the website, which he also used to find accommodation in other countries whenever he traveled. He said he stopped accepting tour- ists and took down his profile on the site after being told he had to meet li- censing requirements, including prop- erty inspections from the Department of Environmental Health, fire department and the Hotel Licensing Board. “We were just doing it for a little bit of extra cash from a spare room. We made a lot of friends doing it and introduced them to Cayman. We didn’t realize we were doing anything wrong,” he said. James WhittaKeR jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Legendary quarterback Dan Marino will be in Cayman next month to share his secrets of suc- cess, on and off the field, with business leaders. The former Miami Dolphins star, recognized as one of the greatest quarter- backs in NFL history, is visiting the island to give a speech at the THRIVE leadership event at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Friday, Oct. 23. He will also attend a charity beach barbecue the fol- lowing day. Mr. Marino told the Cayman Compass many of the skills he developed on the field translate to the boardroom. “It is really about people and relationship- building, working together with common goals and having a passion for what you do. “Football is not just about the quarterback. There are so many people involved, working to- gether to win a football match. It is never just about one person. That is the case in business and life too,” Mr. Marino said in a phone interview. Off the field, he has made cameos in a handful of movies, including a part in the Jim Carey movie “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” and he briefly had an ownership stake in a NASCAR racing team. He also established the Dan Marino Foundation with his wife, Claire, after their son was diag- nosed with autism. “We have raised a lot of money and been able to help a lot of people through our charity,” he said. “It is something we are very proud of.” Mr. Marino’s appearance at the leadership event will involve a 60-minute speech and ques- tion-and-answer session, and will focus on leader- ship and teamwork. It is part of the THRIVE event series organized by Gamut Global Events, which brought motivational guru Jack Canfield to the is- land earlier this year. Mr. Marino will also host a charity beach bar- becue on Seven Mile Beach in front of the gover- nor’s residence. Though Mr. Marino, 54, has been retired for some time, he says he may chance his arm for some touch football while in Cayman. “I’m sure I will throw the ball around a little bit on the beach,” he said. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Scott Ruby and nikki Christian are training to compete in the Cayman islands Marathon. – Photo: Kelsey JuKam Dan Marino2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Tuesday sepTember 29, 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. - TUESDAY - $8.00 * UPCOMING RUGBY MATCHES AT THE CINEMA – THURS * VISIT WWW.BIGSCREEN.KY FOR MORE INFORMATION. 18 YEARS & OVER HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (PG) 12.30 I 2:50 I 5:05 2D I 7:20 9:35 2D EVEREST 3D (PG13) 12:50 I 3:35 2D I 7:10 I 9:55 THE PERFECT GUY (PG13) 1:20 I 3:45 I 7:00 10:00 SICARIO (R) 12:30 I 3:15 I 6:50 I 9:45 MAZE RUNNER 2 3D (PG13) 12:40 I 3:40 2D I 6:40 I 9:40 2D THE TRANSPORTER (PG13) 1:10 I 7:30 BLACK MASS (R) 4:00 I 9:50 There is only one day left to submit nominations of “Pioneers in Agriculture” for the upcoming National Heroes Day. Sept. 30 is the deadline for the submission of nomina- tion forms. The government invites the public to nominate people who have made significant contributions to agriculture in the Cayman Islands over the decades. Heroes Day 2016 will honor those pioneers from Cayman’s farming communi- ties on Jan. 25. Farmers, ranchers, veteri- narians, or those involved in dairy farming or the turtle industry are eligible for the awards. ■■ The five nomination cat- egories are: Early Pioneer – Anyone who made a significant contribution before 1960 (may be alive or deceased). ■■ Pioneer – A person who made a significant contribution between 1960 and 2005 (may be alive or deceased). ■■ Emerging Pioneer – A person who has made significant contributions from 2005 to present. ■■ Memorial Scroll – Any de- ceased individuals who were leaders or notable contributors to the de- velopment and/or de- livery of agriculture in the Cayman Islands. ■■ Long Service Award – People (living) who may not necessarily have been a leader, but who have contributed for 10 years or more. Nomination forms are available at post offices, the Government Administration Building, online at ministryofhealth.gov. ky, or contact Kerry.Forbes@gov.ky. Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Bodden Town com- munity enjoyed a free family fun day on Coe Wood Public Beach on Saturday. Friends of Bodden Town, along with residents Stafford Berry and Vincent Frederick, staged the day of celebra- tions to encourage residents to come out and mingle. Children raced along the beach chasing bubbles, while others took to the sea grape trees and streets in search of items during a treasure hunt. A raffle awarded trips to Stingray City and gift certificates. Activities also included face-painting, storytelling, giveaways, music, food and drinks. Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police rescued two men before dawn Saturday after their boat capsized off North West Point in West Bay. The Joint Marine Unit received a distress call at 4:15 a.m. from two Bodden Town men, ages 26 and 32, who said they were about five miles off North West Point, according to police spokeswoman Jacqueline Carpenter. The men told police their 38-foot Panga boat had en- gine trouble and was taking on water, Ms. Carpenter In a story on page B4 of the Sept. 25 edition of The Weekender under the headline “Christmas tree sale benefits avia- tion scholarship,” the web- site for ordering Fraser fir Christmas trees and down- loading applications for the Zak Quappe Flight Scholarship should have read Trees4LifeCayman.com. The Cayman Compass strives for accuracy and is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can email the editor at newsdesk@pinna- clemedialtd.com. DeaDline nears for ‘Pioneers in agriculture’ nominations Residents enjoy community beach day 38-foot boat capsizes off West Bay correction Gia Suckoo pretends she is a fairy. Kids play on the beach as bubbles fill the air. - Photos: Jewel levy stated in a press release. According to the re- lease, the boat had capsized by the time the police boat reached the scene an hour later, and the men were sit- ting on the hull. “Neither required medical attention,” the police spokes- woman noted. She said a 55-gallon drum of fuel likely spilled into the water. A fuel slick can be seen in images taken from the police helicopter later in the day. A harbor patrol boat towed the stricken Panga back to shore Saturday. Snorkeler rescued off Spotts An 18-year-old woman got into difficulties while snorkeling on the reef off Spotts Beach around 4 p.m. Sunday. The police helicopter re- sponded while passers-by on paddleboards helped the George Town woman to safety, according to Ms. Carpenter. The woman was un- harmed, the police spokes- woman said. “There’s definitely some choppiness there,” she noted, “especially when the seas are rough.” Boat stolen West Bay police are searching for a 25-foot Cobia boat stolen late Sunday or early Monday from the dock behind Admiral’s Retreat at Drake Quay in West Bay. The white boat, with the name “Amanzi” near the bow on both sides, was discovered missing at 5:30 a.m. Monday. The boat has twin Yamaha engines and a center console. The bright side of the moon Bathed in orange, the moon looms large in the sky over North Side, Grand Cayman. Stargazers on the island were able to view a rare astrological event as banks of cloud cleared late Sunday to reveal the ‘super blood moon eclipse.’ Cayman residents joined people all over the world as they pulled up deck chairs and pointed telescopes and cameras at the night sky. The phenomenon is caused by the rare combination of a supermoon, when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, and a lunar eclipse. It hasn’t happened since 1982, and won’t happen again until 2033. - Photo: ellen cuylaerts3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 OCTOBER , The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR PINK RIBBON SPONSORS SUPPORTING SPONSORS to our Thank ou Joan Lunen Featuring Celebrity Keynote Speaker and Breast Cancer Survivor Bill seeks importers’ fuel pricing information Fines, jail time threatened for non-compliance Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Proposed changes to Cayman’s laws governing the handling or storage of dangerous substances will require all fuel importers to provide detailed infor- mation on their operating costs to government’s regu- latory agency. Initially, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts, who has responsibility for the Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate under his min- istry, said the price re- porting requirements would be included as part of a new Public Utilities Bill expected to come before the Legislative Assembly in November. According to the Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage [Amendment] Bill, 2015, as proposed: “The chief petro- leum inspector shall … col- lect from importers, and compile, analyze and ab- stract, information on fuel prices and pricing methods and provide such information to the minister.” The minister in question would be the elected official placed in charge of the petro- leum inspectorate. At the mo- ment, that is Mr. Tibbetts. At the request of the pe- troleum inspector, the im- porter is required to provide information on the price of all fuel imported and sold and the “pricing methods” used by the importer in the sale of fuel to [retail] opera- tors and consumers. Those costs can include: initial costs, cost of freight, insur- ance and brokerage fees, cus- toms duties, estimates of fuel in stock, and the amount and type of fuel to be imported in the next shipment. The legislation proposes a $20,000 fine or imprison- ment for one year, or both, for anyone who fails to provide information or who provides false information to the gov- ernment inspector. In addition, the bill would allow government to sue the importers to force them to provide the infor- mation required. Minister Tibbetts has often spoken of his desire to place some financial re- porting requirements on Cayman’s two major fuel importers. He did not re- turn calls from the Cayman Compass about the amend- ments to the dangerous sub- stances bill. Historically, fuel com- panies Esso and Chevron- Texaco, and more recently operators Sol Petroleum and Rubis, have refused to release such data as would be required by pro- posed amendments to the Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage Bill, saying it is proprietary com- mercial information. Mr. Tibbetts said in August that government reg- ulators must have a clear idea of what the companies are charging local retailers for fuel before they can make any assumptions about “fair” local prices at the pump. In addition, Mr. Tibbetts said regulators must have that data to determine whether Cayman’s two petroleum dis- tributors are actually in com- petition with one another. “If it is determined that the market is not competi- tive, as I suspect it will be, then the government will promote and ensure effective competition,” Mr. Tibbetts said. “If these measures fail to ignite price competition amongst the participants … then the government’s next step will be outright market price regulation.” Price control legislation for local retail gasoline and diesel fuel is something pe- troleum distributors have long warned the government against, stating that it could lead to fuel shortages in the market. In January, Alan Neesome of Sol Petroleum urged the government to re- consider taking such a step. “In a regulated market, the regulator [government] must guarantee a reason- able return to the regulated industry,” Mr. Neesome said. “Sol shares the government’s objective of making fuels available at competitive prices, and the current free market in Grand Cayman is undoubtedly accomplishing this objective. “Pump pricing here overall [has] decreased sub- stantially, in line with in- ternational pricing, whereas prices in other jurisdictions in our region, especially those with regulations, are in many cases higher when compared to the equivalent price per imperial gallon for the same product.” Price variance Cayman’s fuel market has the tendency to create pricing oddities, as was observed around Grand Cayman last week. Rubis retail out- lets started dropping their prices on Monday, Sept. 21, at various locations, ending Thursday at an average of $4.37 per gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline at sta- tions in Bodden Town, George Town and West Bay. Meanwhile, as of Thursday, Sol Petroleum- supplied stations posted an average $4.69 per gallon of regular unleaded in the same areas. The same prices were recorded during the last Petroleum Inspectorate re- view on Sept. 11. The disparity created some unusual situations among competing stations Thursday. For instance, in Bodden Town, Lorna’s Rubis advertised its regular unleaded price per gallon at $4.38 and its pre- mium per gallon price at $4.94. Just down the street, Mostyn’s Esso advertised $4.69 a gallon for regular, un- leaded – 31 cents higher than Lorna’s. However, its premium price was $4.79 per gallon – 15 cents lower. Mr. Neesome said the variance in prices could be explained via a number of factors, the most likely being that Sol Petroleum imports its fuel independently from Rubis, therefore fuel delivery times are different and so are the prices charged on a par- ticular shipment. “The wholesale price from Sol to our customers reflects the inlaid price of inven- tory and changes as existing layers of inventory are ex- hausted, but it is also subject to competitive market forces,” Mr. Neesome said. “Sol does not set the price at the pump. We can make recommenda- tions but the service station dealers are all independent Caymanian businessmen and women and they are free to set the price.” Also, with the most recent price drop, Sol “recognized” market changes only as re- cently as last Monday, Sept. 21, Mr. Neesome said. The legislation proposes a $20,000 fine or imprisonment for one year, or both, for anyone who fails to provide information or who provides false information to the government inspector. Pump prices on Grand Cayman started falling last week, but not everywhere. – Photo: taneos Ramsay Mr. TibbettsThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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 sepTember 29, 2015 • Cayman COmpass When a shift in the free market occurs, rarely is the appropriate reaction an increase in regulations. Yet that is precisely the first instinct of many governments. We see this dynamic play out in the Cayman Islands too often. Something “happens” in the economy. Someone complains. Government steps in with a “solution.” And then the real problems begin. Two such instances are highlighted in today’s Compass, concerning “home-sharing websites” such as Airbnb, and price reporting requirements proposed for fuel importers. In both instances, our government has responded to private sector activity by threat- ening, explicitly or implicitly, to put those businesses out of business. Does anyone really believe that a government clampdown on short-term rental accommodations is going to make Cayman a more attractive destination for tourists (or tourism entrepreneurs)? Or that the govern- ment’s demanding to know about fuel importers’ oper- ating costs is ultimately going to benefit consumers? We think not. The more probable outcomes are that fewer people will visit Cayman than otherwise would have, fewer rooms will be added to Cayman’s “hotel inventory,” and companies engaged in importing fuel into our country might reconsider. If one, or both, of our fuel distributors were to abandon this market, Cayman would, quite literally, be close to “out of gas.” This is a very dangerous game that government appears to be playing. That being said, we do understand why our offi- cials have been tempted to act in these two cases. Tourism is one of the key pillars of Cayman’s economy, and the Airbnb-listed accommodations compete directly with existing small (and large) operators who have been meeting expensive government-mandated requirements, such as licensing, property inspections and taxes. The situation is not unlike the scenarios playing out in many countries between “ride-sharing” programs such as Uber and legacy taxi cab companies. Globally, government regulation often comes per- ilously close to “protectionism,” and those who are being protected are not consumers but entrenched, and oftentimes politically connected, “practitioners” who benefit by measures that increase the “cost of entry” into their industries. In regard to fuel importers, it is undeniable that the price of gasoline in Cayman is both high, and highly volatile. Gasoline, of course, differs from other imports, such as T-shirts, in that it is a vital commodity. So, again, we understand the government’s temptation to act – and it does have options. Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts is exactly correct when he seeks to ensure that there is a competitive relationship – not a collusionary one – between our two petroleum importers. If Mr. Tibbetts has evidence of collusion or price fixing, he should publicly and per- suasively present it. However, the very last thing Cayman needs is what Mr. Tibbetts has proposed as “government’s next step” – “outright market price regulation.” Government price controls are antithetical to a free- market, capitalist-based economy, and Mr. Tibbetts would do well to review the economic literature – there’s plenty of it – before venturing further into the morass of state-controlled pricing in selected industries. The bottom line is, even in a small place such as Cayman, successfully controlling commerce in a country is an extraordinarily complex operation that requires the deftest of touches, not the heaviest of hands. The surest way to influence an economy is certainly not by government threats or, even worse, government edicts. Government protection isn’t free Migrant crisis exposes EU’s dysfunctions The millions of refu- gees pouring into Europe should prove a boon to its slow growing economies. However, with unemployment so high in austerity bur- dened Mediterranean states, German eagerness to fill jobs with Syrians and other refu- gees is an indictment of the EU’s dysfunctional economy and cultural rigidities. Numerous economic studies show immigrants boost growth when native workers are in short supply or they provide skills com- plementary to the indige- nous work force. California agriculture would not be possible without migrant labor, and America’s home builders would be hard pressed to get along without Central American masons and carpenters. In the 1950s, Turkish and Caribbean immigrants boosted economic growth in the U.K. and Germany and more recently, arrivals from Central and Eastern Europe have helped the U.K. economy outperform a German economy saddled with an aging population and labor shortages. Many refugees pressing through Hungary to reach Germany and other pros- perous northern economies, like those fleeing Soviet tyr- anny in Eastern Europe for America in the 1960s, bring significant skills. The EU is hardly starved for labor or university gradu- ates. Youth unemployment av- erages more than 40 percent in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, and EU rules permit the easy migration of citizens to states offering more op- portunities. However, German employers in manufacturing, information technology and other industries appear more eager to open apprenticeships and training programs to ref- ugees than to recruit southern European youth. Simply, refugees have al- ready relocated to Germany and have a much stronger incentive to succeed than native Europeans. They cannot as easily qualify for European social programs that even France’s socialist prime minister concedes “sponsor unemployment” and discourage work. Portuguese textiles and pottery manufacturers located in rural areas complain they cannot find enough workers, despite the country’s high un- employment. Now, those busi- nesses are pressing their gov- ernment to relocate refugees to their communities. It seems Portuguese youth most want to live in Lisbon, take government benefits and complain about the absence of opportunities. Primary and secondary schooling in southern Europe is not comparable to northern Europe in quite the same way education is similar in middle class Mississippi communi- ties and suburban New York. And few southern European children effectively learn German or other northern European languages, other than perhaps English. Consequently, young people in southern Europe do not have the same incentives, but face similar integration problems, as Syrians and other refugees to exploit employment opportunities in Germany and most other northern European economies. Popular resistance to mas- sive waves of immigrants may appear irrational but much of it is not. Whether in Germany, Portugal or the United States, immigrants do make the eco- nomic pie bigger but when they compete for the same jobs as native workers, they can also drive down wages in those occupations. It would be costly for German businesses or even rural Portuguese textile and pottery manufacturers to ac- tively recruit in Lisbon, so in- stead they seek refugees and avoid offering relocation assis- tance and higher wages. In the United States, firms like Disney abuse the H1-B visa program to replace highly skilled, well paid American workers with immigrants – fueling nativism and pandering by some presi- dential contenders. More importantly, most European states were founded on the basis of eth- nicity. Many may be effective at integrating immigrants into their work forces but are not particularly adept at as- similating them culturally. In contrast, the United States was founded on a system of easily embraced egalitarian principles and has successfully absorbed, albeit with some political indiges- tion, wave after wave of eth- nically diverse newcomers. America can handle its im- migrants culturally, as well as economically, because from the beginning it was designed, perhaps inadvertently, to be an assimilation machine. Whereas Europe, thanks to overly generous social pro- grams, Balkanized educa- tional systems and national cultural silos, cannot even figure out how to move unem- ployed youth from Portugal to opportunities in Germany. Peter Morici is a professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He served as chief economist of the U.S. International Trade Commission from 1993-1995. He tweets @pmorici1. Pope gives Congress lesson in politics ClivE Crook In listening to the pope’s address to Congress, I was initially most interested to hear what he would say about capitalism. Would he remind the U.S. Congress that the unfettered pursuit of profit is “the dung of the devil”? Or would he be blunt? As his engaging and care- fully calibrated talk went on, it became clear he wasn’t looking to offend. For the purposes of this event, busi- ness wasn’t the dung of the devil. On the contrary, it could be a “noble vocation.” Good to have that cleared up. Shrewd papal triangula- tion drew attention to the more theatrical aspects of the event. How would the holy father read his audience, and how would his audience react? Would there be alter- nating cheering ovations, in the familiar pantomime style – with moments of hesitation as the leaders of the nation work out what they think by looking at their neighbors? That would be unseemly, but these habits can be hard to break. The pope could have made any such restraint impos- sible, had he misjudged the occasion. The left has em- braced Francis because he’s been unusually outspoken on economic issues. The fact re- mains, in political terms he’s both an extreme social con- servative and an extreme eco- nomic progressive. This gives Democrats and Republicans alike a lot to cheer and a lot to cringe away from. It would be as easy for both sides to despise him as it is for them to adore him. If the pope had described in plain terms his positions on, say, abortion and income redistribution, or gay mar- riage and climate change, he’d have tested Congressional de- corum severely. He decided to tread gently. Sounding more like an archbishop of Canterbury than a bishop of Rome, he called for less po- larization and more pragma- tism. So most of the applause was bipartisan. Even his re- marks about the sanctity of life drew appreciation from all sides, because he carefully neglected to mention when he believes life begins. In this way, he enabled ev- erybody to honor the occa- sion by being not just pleased but overjoyed by what he said. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Florida, tweeted, “Hopeful that Congress takes the Pope’s message on poverty to heart and acts to address income inequality.” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted, “A beacon of righteousness and dignity, @Pontifex has been a steadfast voice for the virtue of life, marriage, and reli- gious liberty.” Lavish praise on the pope for the things you agree with, and pretend not to notice views that enrage you when anybody else expresses them. If only presidents could in- spire such generosity. Clive Crook is a Bloomberg View columnist and a member of the Bloomberg View editorial board. © 2015, Bloomberg View Peter Morici [Y]oung people in southern Europe do not have the same incentives, but face similar integration problems, as Syrians and other refugees to exploit employment opportunities in Germany and most other northern European economies.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 Data on police patrol boats not recovered Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported last week that ves- sels in its marine fleet were out of service for two-and- a-half years and cost nearly $600,000 to repair, the com- puterized records that nor- mally would be used to verify those figures have never been recovered, the Cayman Compass has learned. The admission was made in email correspondence ob- tained by the Compass fol- lowing reports in the news- paper on the time spent in dock by Joint Marine Unit patrol craft between January 2011 and February 2014. Statistics provided by the RCIPS via a Freedom of Information re- quest from the Compass indi- cated that three patrol boats were effectively out of service for more than two-and-a-half years, while another craft was decommissioned after the de- partment spent nearly $90,000 trying to fix it. What was not provided, and which the Compass had requested, was the number of times each patrol boat had been damaged and when those damages occurred. The original open records request, filed Feb. 19, 2014, has been repeatedly delayed, largely due to multiple com- puter hard drive crashes in the server used to store po- lice department data between late 2013 and early 2014 at the Citrus Grove building in George Town. Attempts have been made over the past year to recover the records, the majority of which were able to be restored, according to the government Computer Services Department. However, it appears that not all records were success- fully retrieved. In response to the Compass’s follow-up request for the number of times the marine unit boats were dam- aged, the RCIPS informa- tion manager, Superintendent Adrian Seales, noted in an email to the Information Commissioner’s Office: “This question remains my biggest challenge in the absence of the service logs [for the pa- trol craft].” Mr. Seales indi- cated he contacted marine commanders to try and re- trieve the information. The Information Commissioner’s Office re- sponded: “So you are saying that the [computer] records were not ever restored or were not able to be restored?” Mr. Seales’s reply stated: “No – the marine commander manually word searched each vessel on the drive in gath- ering the answers provided through reports of which I am in possession. Not only [are] the records of the service logs gone, but so is the engineer who worked on the vessels.” The information commis- sioner’s representative then re- sponded: “This is still not clear. Was computer services suc- cessful in restoring the infor- mation? Yes or no? If no, what records are the marine com- mander searching through?” Mr. Seales’s response: “No. Records searched – interof- fice memoranda/reports.” The Compass asked the Information Commissioner’s Office prior to the publica- tion of a Sept. 21 story on the marine unit repairs and repair costs if it believed the RCIPS response was ac- curate. Deputy Information Manager Cory Martinson in- dicated he had no reason to believe the records provided were not accurate. However, the RCIPS did not state that the records it provided in response to the Compass request had been extrapolated from other areas, and not from the source data on the corrupted computer files. Damaged files Cayman Islands Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers, an archivist by trade, has repeatedly sounded the alarm following the Computer Services Department and the RCIPS’s ongoing efforts to recover trillions of bytes worth of police department data fol- lowing hard drive crashes in October 2013 and March 2014. Mr. Liebaers has said the government needs to take steps to ensure this does not happen again. Initially, officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has oversight respon- sibility for the police ser- vice, reported that 1.2 tera- bytes of data on the Citrus Grove hard drive had poten- tially been corrupted. “My main concern … was that reasonable efforts should be made to recover the data, and they appear to be doing that,” Mr. Liebaers said. However, he expressed ad- ditional managerial concerns about the preservation of computerized data in general that the information com- missioner believes should be addressed. “How is it that a [hard drive] backup is corrupted and nobody knows?” Mr. Liebaers asked. “Aren’t backups tested occasionally to make sure they actually contain real, us- able data? Apparently that was not the case.” The Computer Services Department eventually found that a portion of the RCIPS server at Citrus Grove “did not get backed up.” “The origin of this problem was traced back to the re- building of the server after the October 2013 crash, when the storage was divided into four logical data drives to ef- fectively manage the RCIPS’s large volume of storage,” com- puter services officials re- ported. “After reviewing the backup logs, it was deter- mined that the backup job for the RCIPS server was only manually updated with three of the four logical drives. So a portion of the server did not get backed up.” The server contained a number of files, including ma- rine unit operations data, as well as certain records held by the police commissioner’s office, authorities reported. However, officials have never been able to identify specific records that may have been lost. Mr. SealesMr. Liebaers Data on police marine patrol craft remains corrupted and unretrievable, the Cayman Compass has learned. – Photo: Brent Fuller Year 6 students in gov- ernment schools are con- tinuing to learn traditions that were once a way of life to Caymanians. The Heritage Arts program taught by Chris Christian, owner of Cayman Traditional Arts, encompasses Caymanian art, history, culture, cuisine and more. Originally initiated into just a few government schools in 2011, the Heritage Arts program is now also being taught in various pri- vate schools, the Lighthouse School, the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre in West Bay, as well as on the Brac. Mr. Christian said the pro- gram is important because it gives children the opportu- nity to learn about their heri- tage and culture. “By instigating such im- portant local education among our young people, we enable Cayman’s heritage not only to be remembered but encouraged and enhanced,” said Mr. Christian. Cerrone Glasgow, a Year 6 teacher at Prospect Primary, said, “Mr. Christian has been a welcome addi- tion to the staff at Prospect Primary School.” The heritage program in- volves hands-on experience with students making and using arts and crafts, story- telling, making and sampling of Caymanian dishes and painting on canvas. Students welcome heritage arts in new school year Prospect Primary School students, from left, Zanahria Chambers, Davonte Howell, Jahziah Johnson and Aysia Mason roll dough to make fritters.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 • Cayman Compass ‘Nikki’s Voice’ marathon team pushes the limits the marathon, Ms. Christian will be pushed in a specially designed racing wheelchair. Ms. Christian has cere- bral palsy, a congenital dis- order caused by damage to the brain at birth. The con- dition affects people in different ways. The most common form, which Ms. Christian has, is called spastic cerebral palsy. It causes impaired muscle co- ordination, making it diffi- cult for her to stabilize and move her body. She practices taking steps sometimes with the help of others, but she does not walk on her own. While she may not be the one running, the en- deavor requires her phys- ical and mental endurance, bravery and trust. And it requires teamwork. As her “pusher” Scott Ruby says, “She pulls me.” “She’s got the heart of a warrior,” he added. Ms. Christian and her family never imagined she would do anything like what she is now attempting. But if all goes as planned, and with the help of her team, called “Nikki’s Voice,” Ms. Christian will become the country’s first assisted marathoner when she competes in the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon in December. “I am determined,” she said. That’s a trait she shares with her co-racer Mr. Ruby, a seasoned marathoner who holds the current record for Cayman’s 54-mile ultra- marathon. Mr. Ruby came up with the idea to run the marathon with Ms. Christian this year, to give a person who has never been able to run, or even ride a bike, the experience of speeding through the open air and competing in a major race. “Every year in the mar- athon we see a bunch of youngsters in wheelchairs down there,” Mr. Ruby said. “They’re always there clap- ping and cheering, some of them are just trying to clap for us, and they don’t even know us.” “I thought, ‘Boy, wouldn’t they like to be cheered for?’” he said. Mr. Ruby was also in- spired by Team Hoyt, a father-son pair from Massachusetts who have competed in thousands of races, including marathons, triathlons and even Ironman competitions. Rick Hoyt is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, so his father, Dick, has pushed or pulled him through every race they have done together. Mr. Ruby thought that somebody should do the same in Cayman, and ap- proached Ms. Christian and her family, whom he had known for years. Ms. Christian was on board with the plan almost immediately, and her family talked it over with each other and Ms. Christian’s doctors. Her family has always done what they can to en- sure that she is able to have a wide range of experiences. “I try to get her out there and make her as indepen- dent as possible,” said her mother, Velma Christian. “I’ve taken her everywhere that a normal person would go. I try to make her life as normal as possible.” Ms. Christian gradu- ated from Triple C School in 2009 and hopes to eventu- ally attend college. She goes to physical therapy a few times a week and frequently goes on drives with her fa- ther when he comes home from work. At present, much of her time during the week is spent at home, with the Christians’ live-in helper. About a year ago, her family says, Ms. Christian’s behavior began to change. She was once an avid reader, always on the computer re- searching or on the phone texting with friends. Then she stopped. She began to eat less too, and became less talkative. This was some- thing that had to be consid- ered before making the deci- sion to compete in the race. “At first we were skeptical because of the change in her behavior … but we decided that we would do it,” her fa- ther, Raymond Christian, said. “It’s just a different way of motivating her, trying to reinstate that attitude that she had before.” Over the course of training, Ms. Christian’s family has been by her side the whole way, taking photos and videos during CrossFit training, and riding in their truck behind Ms. Christian and Mr. Ruby as they run, to provide a safety barrier between them and the cars speeding by. Her 25-year-old brother has also come out to nearly every training session. “It’s for her, so that’s all that matters to me,” Corey Christian said. “If I had the power, I would give her my legs to walk.” In addition to her family, several other individuals make up team Nikki’s Voice. Mr. Ruby’s wife, Miles Ruby, is the team nutri- tionist, monitoring all of her husband’s workouts and “I just hope people see us and it makes their day better and makes them realize that, with a little bit of love and a little bit of gratitude, nothing is impossible.” Scott Ruby, ‘pusher’ for Nikki Christian Ms. Christian’s racing wheelchair has been specially adapted for the rigors of road racing. The Christian family, Raymond, Velma, Corey and Nikki, with Scott Ruby. Raymond Christian and daughter Nikki at CrossFit 7 Mile. Nikki Christian and Scott Ruby train at CrossFit 7 Mile. – Photos: Kelsey JuKam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 Masters in Human Resource Management Coming to the Cayman Islands and starting October 7th For HR Practitioners and Senior Managers The University of Portsmouth is delighted to be offering a 5th Masters in HRM to be delivered by University of Portsmouth Faculty at UCCI. The first two academic years of classes are fully taught on island, plus a supervised research based project. This programme is perfect for HR professionals and senior managers who wish to to develop HR skills and knowledge, gain a respected Masters Qualifica- tion and benefit from CIPD Membership. For Class Schedule, Fees and Payment Plans and Frequently Asked Questions: www.port.ac.uk/cayman/hrm If you are interested contact: Marjorie Corbridge: marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk Director of Recruitment, University of Portsmouth Cayman Masters in HRM Or A university representative, Sally Rumbles, will also be on island from 30 September and is available to meet up to discuss this Master’s in HRM – contact marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk Or Talk to one of our Master’s Ambassadors: Andrea Brown, Julie Campbell, Briana Ebanks, Angella Bent-Thomas, Glenda Dilbert-Davis, Kimlon Law- rence, Tamara Ebanks Or Come to our Open House at UCCI on Monday 5 October 2015 anytime from 5pm to 7pm – in the Professional Development Centre (above the UCCI Library). Just call in to meet Sally Rumbles and Gary Rees, no need for an appointment. Enhance your career prospects, gain a Masters and gain CIPD membership! The marathoners share a laugh as they train to compete in December’s Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon. Velma Christian helps her daughter ring the gym bell to celebrate a CrossFit ‘personal best.’ The team relax after a workout. Nikki watches as Scott works out at CrossFit 7 Mile. The racing wheelchair is a customized ‘Team Hoyt’ chair. Rick and Dick Hoyt are a father-son racing team. Rick Hoyt, like Nikki, has cerebral palsy. ensuring that he has the fuel he needs to run such long distances while pushing Ms. Christian. Mr. Ruby’s daugh- ters are part of the team too, taking photos and videos so that the world can follow Ms. Christian’s progress. The team also has an engineer who modifies the chair as is- sues arise during training. The team now has three sponsors: CrossFit 7 Mile Beach, HomeGas, and a company called Zija, which provides Mr. Ruby’s nutri- tional drink. When Ms. Christian and Mr. Ruby compete in December, they will be sur- rounded by members of the running class Mr. Ruby teaches, who will help en- sure that the chair is pro- tected in the crowd of around 2,000 runners. “It’s an amazing team,” Ms. Christian said. “My heart is full.” Over the course of training, her personality has become stronger – she smiles a lot, she cracks jokes, making herself and her teammates laugh. And she is becoming more like she was once, with a healthy appetite and a fondness for texting, as several early-morning texts to Mr. Ruby prove. With the support of her team, Ms. Christian is not only finding her own voice again, but also making sure the world knows what people with disabilities can accomplish. “When we compete in the marathon, the goal is speed,” Mr. Ruby said. “We’re not in this to survive … we’re not going to be the ‘Aww, here they come team.’ We’re going to be the … ‘they’re fast team.’” To date, Mr. Ruby has run almost 500 miles with Ms. Christian’s chair, and she has been along for most of those. She has decided to partici- pate in as many of Mr. Ruby’s training sessions as possible before the 26.2-mile race. “I feel like I need to do it with him to appreciate it more,” she said. The training has begun to intensify. They just added a weekday evening run to the schedule and are plan- ning to run in a few races before the marathon. After a run Wednesday evening – a 5K completed in 21 minutes and 49 sec- onds – the team assembled at Coconut Joe’s for dinner. Ms. Christian had some ques- tions about the marathon for Mr. Ruby. Would she have to get up early? Yes, he said. Would they get to wear spe- cial T-shirts? Yes. All the team members will get T-shirts with blue flames on the side, just like the ones on her chair, and Ms. Christian is pretty excited about that. “What’s [the marathon] like?” she asked Mr. Ruby. “It’s lights and flashes and people cheering for you, people succeeding and failing. And there are people making history. Like you,” he answered. Mr. Ruby hopes that ul- timately the whole commu- nity will become a part of “Nikki’s Voice.” He encour- ages passers-by who see the two on the road to “honk the horn, give us some love.” “It’s so easy to throw money at a problem and make it go away, or think you’re making it go away, but just to lend somebody your ear, or lend somebody your heart, it makes a big difference,” Mr. Ruby said. “I just hope people see us and it makes their day better and makes them realize that, with a little bit of love and a little bit of gratitude, nothing is impossible.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 • Cayman Compass Another user who had listed her home on Airbnb said she was warned by Immigration staff after her guests put her ad- dress on an Immigration arrival form. She said she had no idea a license was re- quired for using Airbnb. The site promotes itself as a hub connecting trav- elers with hosts willing to offer them short-term accommodation, often in their own homes. A spokesperson for the Hotel Licensing Board said it has a responsi- bility to ensure all accom- modations rented to visi- tors meet standards of cleanliness and safety. She said this applies to all properties, from single rooms and studio guest houses to multi- unit condos and hotels. “Accommodations that are promoted and being rented without an of- ficially issued Tourism Accommodations License, which represents that all criteria have been met, will be contacted by the HLB Secretariat for in- spection and compliance with the Tourism Law,” she added. Peter Huntingford, spokesman for Airbnb, said the website brings in additional tourists and could help boost the Cayman Islands economy. He suggested it is unre- alistic to expect people hosting visitors in their homes to meet the same criteria as hotels and of- fered to work with tourism officials in Cayman to find a solution. “Airbnb is complemen- tary to the existing tourism industry in the Cayman Islands,” he said. “Local hosts help to grow and di- versify tourism beyond the regular hot spots, and spread economic benefits to new communities, fami- lies and small businesses. “But the rules cur- rently being applied to home sharing in the Cayman Islands are com- plex and confusing. They were designed for a dif- ferent industry in a dif- ferent era and don’t fit this new activity.” He said policymakers around the world are im- plementing simple, modern rules for people who share their homes. New regulations in the U.K., France and parts of the U.S. have helped sim- plify the registration pro- cess and make it easier for people using Airbnb to pay taxes, he said. Several people who used the website to advertise rooms for rent to tourists have taken down their listings after being told they need a license from the Hotel Licensing Board. Blatter tells FIFA staff he has done nothing illegal or improper ZURICH (AP) – Sepp Blatter told his staff he has done “nothing illegal or improper,” the FIFA president’s legal team said Monday. Blatter was back at FIFA headquarters three days after being interrogated by Swiss investigators at the scandal-battered governing body’s headquarters. Blatter is expected to hand over power in February when an emergency elec- tion is held, triggered by the president’s resignation statement four days after being re-elected for a fifth, four-year term in May. But the 79-year-old Blatter does not appear to be plan- ning any sudden exit despite being the subject of a criminal investigation over his man- agement of world soccer. “President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and in- formed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as presi- dent of FIFA,” Blatter’s at- torney, Richard Cullen, said in a statement. Blatter was questioned by Swiss investigators on Friday about why FIFA paid 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) to UEFA President Michel Platini in 2011 for work supposedly carried out at least nine years earlier. Blatter denied wrongdoing and Platini, who is also a FIFA vice president, was only ques- tioned as a witness. “President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that Mr. Platini had a valu- able employment relation- ship with FIFA serving as an adviser to the president beginning in 1998,” Cullen said. “He explained to the prosecutors that the pay- ments were valid compensa- tion and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions.” The statement did not ref- erence allegations Blatter un- dervalued the awarding of World Cup rights to former vice president Jack Warner. “Because of the continuing investigation President Blatter will answer no fur- ther questions at this time,” Cullen’s statement concluded. As FIFA was attempting to contain the latest escalation in the corruption scandal, meetings shaping leaders of the future who can po- tentially salvage the body’s reputation were being held at headquarters. FIFA’s women’s leader- ship development program is intended to spur gender equality at the world body and its regional affiliates. Thirty-five aspiring female leaders have come to Zurich to learn from 16 mentors. “Undoubtedly, FIFA’s de- cision making in the future will be better if more women are included at the top table,” FIFA executive committee member Moya Dodd told The Associated Press. The former Australia player is one of three female members of the FIFA’s ruling body, which has lost several executives in recent years be- cause of corruption. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Argentine voters focused on economy, not corruption BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – The corruption allegations against several top govern- ment officials are stunning: The convicted killer of three men alleges that the Cabinet chief ordered the hit, the vice president is being tried for bribery and authorities are investigating a possible money laundering scheme at a luxury hotel owned by President Cristina Fernandez. In many nations, such alleged malfeasance would sink a party’s chances in presidential elections. Not so in Argentina, where the poll leader ahead of the Oct. 25 vote, Daniel Scioli, is a stalwart of Fernandez’s Justicialist Party and has largely run on its 12-year record. The only opposition can- didate campaigning on a platform of cracking down on bad-acting politicians, Sergio Massa, came in a distant third in August’s open primaries. “In this country, nobody loses sleep over corruption,” said Patricio Giusto, an an- alyst with consulting firm Political Diagnostics. For voters in Argentina, which has suffered periodic financial crises and has the dubious distinction of the largest default in world his- tory, the top issues are crime and the economy. But there are other reasons Argentines shrug when it comes to polit- ical wrongdoing. A politically charged cli- mate, combined with a slow- moving and many argue inept justice system, makes it hard for average people to discern what’s true, and easy for politicians accused of a crime to claim opponents are out to get them. The South American na- tion of 41 million ranks 107 out of 174 on Transparency International’s corruption perception index, scoring worse than other Latin American countries tradi- tionally known for shady dealings, such as Mexico, Bolivia and Brazil. “Corruption is inherent in the culture,” said Sergio Rojas, a 26-year-old who said he has not yet decided who he will vote for. Rojas added that Argentines often reconcile the problem by saying to themselves, “they are all thieves, so we have to vote for whoever robs the least.” A recent poll by the Center for Study of Public Opinion, a Buenos Aires-based think tank, found that voters’ top issue was crime, closely fol- lowed by inflation and the economy. Corruption was a distant fourth. Jamaican Consulate hosts public meeting on money transfers Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Jamaican Consulate will host a public meeting Tuesday evening to address concerns over sending re- mittances, and the difficul- ties faced by people without bank accounts in converting Cayman dollars to U.S. cur- rency to send money through the cash transfer services. Jamaican Vice Consul Elaine Harris said, “This is an issue facing a large segment of the community,” not just Jamaican nationals. She said the meeting, at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall in George Town, is open to the public and she ex- pects representatives from JN Money Services, the Cayman Islands Bankers Association and Councilor Roy McTaggart from the Financial Services Ministry to be on hand to ex- plain the current situation and answer questions. “Government recognizes the seriousness of this,” she said, adding that the meeting “could help correct some misinformation” in the com- munity about the money transfer issues. She said there were some “conspiracy theories” about the U.S. cur- rency shortage caused by a lack of information, including a theory that the money transfer problems are tar- geted at specific nationalities. In recent weeks, banks, facing a shortage of U.S. cash, began exchanging Cayman dollars for U.S. currency only for account holders, and other banks are charging steep fees for people without bank accounts. CIBC FirstCaribbean, for example, is charging CI$50 to ex- change up to US$500. In late August, cash transfer companies like MoneyGram and JN Money Services began to allow transfers only in U.S. cur- rency after they lost their local bank account. The com- panies had to start ship- ping the cash directly to the United States to get it into the global banking system, causing a shortage in U.S. dollars in Cayman. Last year, people in Cayman sent almost US$180 million off island through cash transfer companies. Jamaican workers here sent about US$110 mil- lion back home last year. The second largest recipient of re- mittances was the Philippines, which received almost US$24 million. If remittance levels stayed the same during the U.S. cash crunch, that would account for roughly $15 mil- lion in U.S. cash going out each month. Workers already have to pay about 9 percent to send money overseas through a cash transfer, and with the fees for people without bank accounts, it can cost more than US$110 to send US$500. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, in an earlier interview, stressed that the shortage will be tem- porary. He said his ministry is working with the banks and money transfer services to find a long-term solution. The head of the police ser- vice’s Financial Crime Unit will also be on hand Tuesday evening, according to police spokeswoman Jacqueline Carpenter. She said the cur- rent cash situation increases the risk for people who do not have bank accounts, with robbers potentially targeting people who have to hold onto their cash. She said the potential for black market money ex- changes increases the risk of counterfeiting in both U.S. and Cayman currency. Ms. Carpenter said the po- lice service has not received any complaints about illegal money exchange operations. Last year, people in Cayman sent almost US$180 million off island through cash transfer companies. Residents warned over renting rooms to touristsTUESDAY, SEPT. 29 PAINTING, DRAWING CLASSES: At Watler House Studio on the grounds of Pedro Castle every Tuesday through 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. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 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. CHAMBER COURSE: Workshop on the Exceptional Presenter. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at Governors Square. Presented by Julie McLaughlin, deputy chairman, Cayman Islands Association of Mediators and Arbitrators. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. Chamber members, $150. Future Members, $225. 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. SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION: Annual general meeting. 6 – 7 p.m. at Hope Academy. Members of the Foundation and members of the general public with an interest in Special Needs are welcome to attend. Contact 324- 1298 or susiebodden@ transformationscayman.com for further details. SATURDAY, OCT. 3 BRAC QUEEN: Miss Cayman Brac Festival Queen 2015. 7 p.m. Aston Rutty Civic Centre. Contact bracpiratesweek@gmail.com. MUSEUM ANNIVERSARY: Cayman National Museum’s 25th anniversary fundraiser. 7 p.m. at the Cayman Turtle Farm. $50 per person includes dinner with dessert and soda or iced tea. Cash bar available. Music, silent auction. Call Eziethamae at 916-1559 for tickets or visit museum gift shop. THURSDAY, OCT. 8 CHAMBER COURSE: Giving Feedback Skills by Xenia Goddard. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members, $250. Future members, $300. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, OCT. 9 VOICES FOR HOSPICES: An Evening on Broadway with champagne gala opening. Prospect Theatre. 7:30 p.m. $75. Tomorrow, 6:45 p.m., tickets $50 or $25 for under-12s. Contact 945-7447 or chc@candw.ky for tickets. SATURDAY, OCT. 10 PILATES FOR PINK: 9 – 11 a.m. at ARC, Camana Bay. Workout from 10 a.m. Registration $25, includes tank top and exercise band. All proceeds to CI Cancer Society. 946-6006 or info@energycayman.com. MONDAY, OCT. 12 CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part 1. 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members, $150. Future members, $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. LEADERSHIP CAYMAN: Orientation Session 1. 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Free. Applications for Leadership Cayman accepted until Oct. 30. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, OCT. 13 CHAMBER COURSE: Communicating Effectively by Terry Carson. Today and tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members, $225. Future members, $300. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14 LEADERSHIP CAYMAN: Orientation Session 2. 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Free. Applications for Leadership Cayman accepted until Oct. 30. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. GENERAL INTEREST DRAMA SOCIETY: Cayman Drama Society presents the musical “Rent.” 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. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed as training resumes. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for Track/Field, Football and Bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. 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 and Primary School Hall on Smith Road. For more information, contact 923-6915 or info@caymanchoir.com. 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.–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. 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. 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 to 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 to 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. 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. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at CI Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS CLUB: meets at George Town Public Library 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. This is a chapter of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Contact George R. Ebanks, 916-0687/322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail. com for more information. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Full of Beans Cafe, Pasadora Place on Smith Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or check www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at the Lions Centre 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. For more information, check website at www. rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. For more information, email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. OUR ANGELS FOUNDATION: With the support of Cayman HospiceCare, welcomes all to the Conch Shell House Wednesdays 6 p.m. for Full Circle Grief Recovery group support meetings. This is a free service for everyone who has experienced loss. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 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. Cayman Compass • Tuesday sepTember 29, 2015 Next >