ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Tuesday November 3, 2015 SportS | page 17 raNkiNe was iNspired by pele Brazilian legend motivated football ref High of 89 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 sTalliNg, sTalliNg, sTalliNg, sTalliNg, sTalliNg, sTalliNg … 178210_PRINT-Compass-6colx1*5.pdPage 1 12/8/14 11:20:19 AM EY REpoRt updatE Few job cuts, less outsourcing in gov’t plan breNT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although proposals will initially lead to few job losses and no outsourcing of func- tions to the private sector, the Cayman Islands government announced Monday that it would seek to move forward with a total of 51 recommendations derived from the 2014 Ernst & Young consultant report. Seventeen of those projects will be sub- stantially completed prior to the May 2017 general election if all goes according to plan, Premier Alden McLaughlin said. During a press conference announcing which areas identified in the consultant’s re- port government would seek to move ahead with, both Premier McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said it was a “misconception” that what EY recommended was a “program of outsourcing.” “The objective on our part is not to seek massive cuts in the civil service,” Mr. McLaughlin said. The recommendations government had ac- cepted were broken up into phases. Phase 1 recommendations consisted of those 17 areas that government intended to complete before the next election. Phase 2 and 3 recommenda- tions identified nine areas where work could be done prior to May 2017, but where com- pletion may have to wait until the next gov- ernment’s election. Phases 4 and 5 recommen- dations were more complicated, longer-term projects that could not be completed, at the Court to hear 16 Criminal appeals Life sentences to be argued Carol wiNker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal began its winter session on Monday with a list that includes 16 criminal appeals and three civil matters. Two appeals involve arguments against sentences of life imprisonment. Jeffrey Barnes received a life sentence in September 2013 after his third con- viction for rape. Brian Emmanuel Borden received a life sentence after being found guilty of mur- dering Robert Mackford Bush in September 2011. Borden is also appealing his conviction, which came after trial by judge alone. Defense attorneys will argue that a life sen- tence is contrary to Cayman’s Bill of Rights, which states that no person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treat- ment or punishment. The basic submission is that a sentence without a definite length is inhuman punishment. Other matters include an appeal by Igor Domladis, who was sentenced last November to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to causing the death of Zak Quappe by dangerous driving. Phillip Rose is appealing his convictions, which include four counts of rape, and a sen- tence of 14 years. The complainant/victim in all counts was a woman with whom Rose had been in a relationship. He was convicted and sentenced in 2012 after trial by judge alone. Simon Julio Newball is appealing his conviction and sentence for theft of jewelry from Magnum Jewelers in December 2011. The value of the items stolen was more than uCCI to offer uS university courses Technology makes partnership possible James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The University College of the Cayman Islands has entered into a partnership with West Chester University in Pennsylvania that will allow students of the universities to enroll in courses at both institutions. UCCI President Roy Bodden called the partnership a “historic moment” for the uni- versity and said the future of higher edu- cation in the Cayman Islands will involve much greater use of technology to offer stu- dents access to courses from partner uni- versities all over the world. “This is the future,” he said. “The use of technology is evolving in education to the point where you can sit in the comfort of your kitchen or your living room and get a world-class education.” The memorandum of agreement be- tween UCCI and West Chester University will enable students in Cayman to en- roll in courses at the American university, which caters to more than 16,000 students. The partnership involves a mix of online learning and student exchange as well as access to community internships. Students at West Chester will also be able to enroll in courses delivered in Cayman. “Massive Open Online Courses – MOOCs – are giving students access to international institutions,” Mr. Bodden said. “You can get a university education without leaving the Cayman Islands. “Technology is bringing accessi- bility which was hitherto not available. Can you imagine someone in Bodden Town or East End having access to West Chester University courses without leaving their home?” He said both universities still had a role to play in facilitating courses and pro- viding a support network to students, but PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » uCCI has announced a partnership with a pennsylvania university. - photo: taneos ramsaY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Tuesday November 3, 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 BURNT (R) 1:10 I 4:20 I 7:30 I 10:05 GOOSEBUMPS 3D (PG) 1:30 I 4:00 2D I 7:15 I 9:40 LAST WITCH HUNTER (PG13) 1:40 I 4:30 I 10:00 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (PG) 12:45 2D I 4:10 I 7:10 2D I 9:25 STEVE JOBS (R) 1:00 I 3:45 I 7:00 I 9:50 THE MARTIAN 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 3:35 2D I 6:40 I 9:45 2D BOND MARATHON QUANTUM OF SOLACE (PG13) TUESDAY: 7:00 Just down the street from Owen Roberts International Airport, Rayburn Ebanks organizes provisions, including bananas, breadfruit, limes and pumpkins at his outdoor market on Crewe Road. The 76-year-old set up shop at the site about two years ago, and he says business is steady. - Photo: Matt LaMers one-stop shop Mattilee Verona Tatum, 89, passed away on Oct. 21, 2015 at Claridge House Nursing Facility in North Miami. Born Dec. 19, 1925 in Grand Cayman to William Hoyt and Ellie Elizabeth Chisholm Tatum, Mattie was reared on the island along with her four sisters, Eula, Grace, Nancy, and Maizie; and her two brothers, Fred and Ed. She and her sisters moved to Jamaica where Mattie worked as an executive secretary for the Jamaica Fruit Company. She and her sisters then moved to North Miami, Florida where they worked and became U.S. citizens. Her brothers Captain Fred Tatum and Ed Tatum, also U.S. citizens, were employed by Gulf Oil Corp.’s marine department. Mattie was a member of Central Church of the Nazarene and a true Christian. She loved her family and enjoyed life with her sisters in Cayman, Jamaica, and North Miami. She was an avid driver and was very proud of her secretarial career. Mattie’s cute personality and optimism, along with her over- whelming generosity made her a fun person to be around. For years she has missed her beloved mother and other family members. She lost her sister, Nancy, July 28, 2015. From then on, she ex- pressed her desire to join her family in heaven, where she now has tri- umphantly arrived. She was an avid driver and was very proud of her secretarial ca- reer. Mattie’s personality and opti- mism, along with her overwhelming generosity made her a fun person to be around. She loved her family and enjoyed life with her sisters in Cayman, Jamaica, and North Miami. For years she has missed her be- loved mother and other family members. She lost her sister, Nancy, on July 28, 2015. Mattie is survived by her nieces, Linda Briggs, Nancy Goolsby, and Libby Jannise of Texas. A Memorial Service for both Mattie and Nancy will be held at Wesleyan Holiness Church in North Side, Grand Cayman Thursday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, do- nations may be made to Wesleyan Holiness Church, North Side, Grand Cayman. Submitted by Linda Briggs Grand Court jurors who were given a date to attend Court Oct. 7 to Dec. 31 are now to report to jury duty on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 9:45 a.m. Potential jurors are ad- vised to call the jury informa- tion line at 945-5072 for the most up-to-date information. OBITuARy Mattilee Verona Tatum, 1925-2015 Date change for granD court jury Duty PARIS (AP) – Two French pilots who escaped the Dominican Republic to avoid 20-year prison terms for cocaine trafficking have been arrested at their homes before being taken to a judge. Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos fled the Dominican Republic on Oct. 27 despite a court order to remain in the country pending appeal. They have denied wrong- doing, saying they did not know the private plane they had been hired to fly carried 26 suitcases of cocaine. Eric Dupond-Moretti, lawyer for Odos, criticized how the arrests Monday were handled. Another twist emerged Monday when a lawyer for former President Nicolas Sarkozy de- manded clarification about reports that the judge in the French drug investigation requested the ex-leader’s cellphone data. Sarkozy, who is not linked to the trafficking, flew with the private charter company in 2013. WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from clothing companies that claim they have legal rights to sell shirts with the image of reggae icon Bob Marley. The justices on Monday let stand a lower court ruling that said the mer- chandisers had used his likeness to sell clothing at Walmart, Target and other stores without permission from Marley’s children. Marley’s heirs control the rights to the reggae star’s image through a com- pany called Fifty-Six Hope Road Music. The company sued rivals A.V.E.LA and others in 2008, arguing that their sales of Marley merchandise violated fed- eral trademark law. A fed- eral court ordered the companies to pay more than $1 million in profits and damages. A federal appeals court agreed, citing evidence that consumers were con- fused about who endorsed the merchandise. France arrests pilots who fled Dominican Republic over drug term us suPreMe court wiLL not hear aPPeaL over use of BoB MarLey’s Mattilee Verona Tatum Pascal Fauret SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A Puerto Rico legislator who was injured in a car crash died on Monday morning, and authorities said they were investigating whether he had a medical condition that contributed to his death. Police said Rep. Carlos Vargas Ferrer hit a news- paper vendor after he lost control of his car early Monday, then crashed into a light pole in the San Juan suburb of Rio Piedras. Dr. Israel Ayala, a spokesman for the hospital where Vargas was declared dead, told reporters they were performing other tests to determine how he died be- cause his injuries from the crash alone were not severe enough to kill him. The 44-year-old lawyer was elected in 2012 and was a member of the governor’s Popular Democratic Party, representing the south-cen- tral mountain towns of Cidra and Cayey. Authorities said the newspaper vendor is in critical condition. The administration of Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced three days of mourning. Puerto rico LawMaker Dies after car crash3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 3, 2015 Remember Wear a poppy. poppy. We ask that you remember our Veterans by sending a donation, however small, to the Cayman Islands Veterans Association at P.O. Box 11686, Grand Cayman KY1-1009. FBI joins probe into comic book artist’s disappearance Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The disappearance of a comic book artist who went missing while snor- keling off Grand Cayman’s East End in March has now drawn the attention of U.S. federal investigators. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service confirmed Monday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with local police in connection with the “open investigation” into Norman Lee’s disappearance. A police spokesperson said the FBI’s participa- tion is similar in many “investigations involving missing persons from other jurisdictions.” Mr. Lee, 47, went missing while snorkeling with his wife off the eastern coast of Grand Cayman, near the former Reef Resort and Morritt’s Tortuga on Thursday, March 5. According to police, Mr. and Mrs. Lee were separated during the swim. Police said Mrs. Lee said she swam back to shore, but could not find her husband and “raised the alarm.” Mr. Lee was reported to have vanished about 250 yards off shore. He has never been found and police have since pre- sumed him to be deceased. The RCIPS has not com- mented regarding whether Mr. Lee’s disappearance was considered suspicious. Three remanded for 813 pounds of ganja CArOl WInKer cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men appeared in Summary Court on Monday charged with illegal landing and importation of approxi- mately 813 pounds of ganja. The Jamaican defendants are Jade Fitzgerald Brown, 43; Peter Yone Perrin, 32; and Garth Anthony Stewart, 42. All are from White House in Westmoreland, Jamaica. Details of the charges are that the three men “and others unknown” had the ganja in their possession at sea within Cayman wa- ters on Sunday, Oct. 25. They are further charged with landing without per- mission of an immigration officer at the Rum Point dock on Sunday, Oct. 25. None of the men had an attorney. One indicated a desire to enter pleas, but Magistrate Valdis Foldats suggested that they might wish to apply for legal aid because of the seriousness of the charges. No disclosure bundles were available to the defen- dants at this early date, as Police launch second round of community clinics The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is launching another round of its commu- nity clinics throughout the Cayman Islands. Police officers make them- selves available to the public by setting up the clinics at various locations in the dis- tricts, for example, outside shops or community centers. Officers will man tables and distribute information and crime prevention tips in the clinics, according to a statement from the RCIPS on Monday. “Officers can also dis- cuss with the public the results of the survey con- ducted during the clinics in June and challenges that were identified by residents in different districts,” police said in the release. “The RCIPS invites the community to approach of- ficers and share their con- cerns and perspectives about how we can work together to make Cayman safer. We are looking forward to meeting and speaking with you,” po- lice said. The schedule of clinics are as follows: George Town Cayman Islands Hospital, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Hurley’s Supermarket, Wednesday, Nov. 4. 4:30-6 p.m.; Government Administration Building, Thursday, Nov. 5, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Foster’s Food Fair, The Strand, Friday, Nov. 6, 4:30-6 p.m.; Kirk Market, Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern districts Foster’s Food Fair, Countryside Shopping Village, Monday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Chisholm Supermarket, North Side, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Foster’s Food Fair, East End, Saturday, Nov. 7, 4–6 p.m. West Bay Cost-U-Less, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to noon; Foster’s Republix, West Bay, Saturday, Nov. 7, 1-3 p.m. Cayman Brac Market Place, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to noon; Kirkconnell Supermarket; Tuesday, Nov. 3, 5-6 p.m.; Tibbetts Enterprise, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10-11 a.m.; Rubis Gas Station, Watering Place, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 3-4 p.m.; L&M Supermarket, Thursday, Nov. 5, noon to 1 p.m.; Billy’s Supermarket, Friday, Nov. 6, 6-7 p.m.; Rubis Gas Station, West End, Saturday, Nov. 7, 9-10 a.m.; The Shoppe, Saturday, Nov. 7, 3-4 p.m. Little Cayman Southern Cross Club, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 5-5:30 p.m.; Village Square, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 5-5:30 p.m.; Airport/ Public Works Department/ Department of Environment, Thursday, Nov. 5, 10-10:30 a.m.; Little Cayman Beach Resort, Thursday, Nov. 5, 11-11:30 a.m. Comic book artist Norman Lee went missing while snorkeling off East End. - Photo: GARY hIGGINS/the PAtRIot LedGeR MAN chARGed IN wALkeR deAth cASe Police late last week charged a 25-year-old man with driving under the influence in a crash in which Marcie Donaldson, 46, was killed as she walked along South Sound Road in late April. The man was arrested at the scene of the early morning accident. He was bailed at the time but seven months later police have now charged him with causing death by careless driving and causing death while driving under the in- fluence of alcohol. Ms. Donaldson was on her regular Saturday morning walk, just be- fore 5 a.m. on South Sound Road on April 25, when a vehicle ran off the road, striking her be- fore running into a CUC utility pole about 400 feet from the intersection with Old Crewe Road. Ms. Donaldson died at the scene. Two weeks after Ms. Donaldson’s death, almost 500 joggers and cyclists joined to walk and ride along Ms. Donaldson’s reg- ular route from the round- about to Red Bay Dock, each leaving a flower at the spot where she fell. the men were arrested in West Bay on Friday, Oct. 30. The magistrate re- manded them in custody until Tuesday, Nov. 10. He also urged that any legal aid application be dealt with urgently.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. Tuesday November 3, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Noah FeldmaN There’s something ines- capably charming about the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the British Parliament with 817 active members. But the usually discreet charm of the aristoc- racy is under attack after the Lords used its power to delay tax-credit cuts passed by the Conservative majority in the House of Commons. The prospect of a Tory government complaining about tradition is deliciously ironic, but it does raise two serious questions: Is there a place for an unelected chamber in a modern democ- racy? And what benefits, if any, stem from its slowing or delaying the operation of the elected government? It should be noted that there’s a nice question of constitutional law at stake in the controversy. Ordinarily, the Lords’ delaying power doesn’t extend to money bills. The excuse provided by the Labour-Liberal Democrat co- alition that slowed the bill was that, in form, it isn’t budgetary at all, but rather a “statutory instrument.” What’s fascinating to constitution buffs world- wide is that the constitu- tional rule that the Lords can’t delay money bills isn’t written down in a single constitution – nor can it be resolved by a court. The U.K.’s unwritten con- stitution is, and has al- ways been, a complex com- bination of statutes, rules, principles and precedents subject to uncertainty, ne- gotiation and debate. This rule in particular dates back more than a cen- tury. In 1909-10, the Lords initially blocked, and then under pressure passed the so-called people’s budget, which systematically re- distributed wealth through social programs for the first time in British his- tory. The aftermath was the Parliament Bill of 1911, which significantly limited the power of the House of Lords. It specified that the Lords could delay money bills by a month, and gave the speaker of the Commons the authority to certify what was a money bill and what was not under the terms of the law. The upshot is that any constitutional crisis over the current delay will have to be resolved by the Commons and the Lords themselves. It’s broadly accepted that the Commons could, if it wanted, pack the already overstuffed House of Lords with new conservative peers. Although a few MPs have recom- mended that course, it’s un- likely to be taken. That leaves the under- lying challenge to the un- elected chamber’s legitimacy in a modern, democratic state. It helps a little that to- day’s Lords, unlike their his- toric predecessors, mostly did not inherit their posts. In 1999, almost all of the he- reditary peers were purged from the house by legisla- tion that left just 92 behind. The current Lords are in es- sence lifetime political ap- pointees – a bit like U.S. Supreme Court justices, but with much less power. The classic justification for an upper chamber is to slow down the enthusiasms of popular democracy. In the famous metaphor attributed to George Washington, the U.S. Senate (then elected in- directly by the state legisla- tures) was like a saucer. The hot tea of legislation passed by the directly elected House of Representatives could be poured into the saucer to cool it down be- fore drinking. As the metaphor shows, there’s something slightly paternalistic, even conde- scending about the idea that the people’s democratic ex- pression needs to be tem- pered by wise people chosen undemocratically. Indeed, critics condemned the orig- inal Senate as aristocratic. Yet it remains the case that rational deliberation can be enhanced by a check, how- ever brief, on major, transfor- mative legislation. Because the Lords can only delay leg- islation, not block it, their goal is always to drive fur- ther public reflection. In democracies, the public sometimes forgets to pay enough attention to major issues. A delay, judiciously deployed, is a signal to the public to sit up, listen and weigh in. If not overused, the delay should push the gov- ernment to justify its pro- grams convincingly. Knowing that a Lords majority from other parties might delay legislation there- fore forces the government to internalize the costs of poten- tially unpopular laws that it wants to pass. In a democ- racy, that’s a benefit – one that no other state institution is well-placed to deliver. In theory, an elected upper chamber with the same lim- ited powers could perform the same role. Since 1999, there have been multiple proposals to elect the Lords. That would give the chamber a democratic pedigree. But if the election of the Lords takes place at the same time as the election for the Commons, the results should be roughly parallel. If that happens, the checking func- tion would disappear. This would raise the question of why an upper chamber is needed at all, given that the House of Commons is al- ready elected. It emerges that some lag in the composition of the two houses is a good thing. Party control should ideally be dif- ferent in each. That won’t al- ways happen, of course. But the more it does, the better. Properly configured, then, an unelected upper house is actually a boon to democracy. And, anyway, wouldn’t it be a shame to give up on the old- fashioned pleasure of saying “M’Lord” and M’Lady,” even if it’s only to a bunch of retired do-gooders and superannu- ated politicians? Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard and the author of six books, most recently ‘Cool War: The Future of Global Competition.’ © 2015, Bloomberg View Stalling, stalling, stalling, stalling, stalling, stalling … For more than 50 years, the site of the George Town Landfill has been a dumping ground for Grand Cayman’s waste. For more than 25 years, our governmental leaders have recognized the landfill as a problem in need of urgent action. As the waste has accumulated, lawmakers have filled the intervening years with voluminous, verbose (and expensive) reports, costly overseas visitations and public consultation ad nauseam. Not surprisingly, all have converged upon the obvious solution: The George Town landfill must be closed, and a new landfill must be created elsewhere — ideally far from the main thorough- fare into Seven Mile Beach or the downtown commercial and capital district. The latest report, by U.K. consultant Amec Foster Wheeler, offers more of the same. According to consul- tants, even if the government spends tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of dollars on reduction, recy- cling and waste-to-energy measures — the George Town landfill will reach absolute maximum capacity in “a limited number of years” after the baseline scenario of 2021. After that, guess what? A new landfill must be created elsewhere on the island. Never during the half-century of Mount Trashmore’s existence has holding a round of “open house” consulta- tion sessions ever been considered more than a prelimi- nary and, yes, political, step in the search for a solution to Cayman’s solid waste problem. Yet, that is precisely what the current government is about to engage in. Again. Starting the week of Nov. 16. We, of course, already know well the community’s opinion of the dump: It smells, it’s unsightly, and it’s most likely dangerous to our health. The public wants it fixed, and it wants this government to fix it. In large measure, this Progressives government was elected on that singular campaign promise. It collectively declared that it had the solution to this menace in our midst — and it didn’t. Some two-and-a-half years since their election, followed by a number of horrible landfill fires, the Pro- gressives government has made progress, some of it cosmetic: They’ve cleaned up the site, brought in much- needed new equipment, and become far more adept in extinguishing fires when they spontaneously ignite. We also welcome the recent hiring of Canadian engineer Mark Rowlands, an experienced waste management pro- fessional, as the new assistant director of the Depart- ment of Environmental Health, in charge of solid waste. However, the Progressives have not advanced one practical inch toward actually getting rid of Mount Trash- more for good. They are still dilly-dallying with the millions of tires littering the landfill, apparently still viewing them as an asset, rather than a liability, on the balance sheet. Likewise, we’re now talking about “mining” the site as if our trash contains treasure that can be economically recovered and sold or converted to energy or whatever. Frankly, we often drive by the landfill and, try as we may, it still doesn’t look like a gold mine to us. It looks like, well, a dump (and not a very good-looking dump at that). As we move forward, it is instructive to recall the “NO DUMP IN BODDEN TOWN” campaign mantra since it remains a guiding (and inhibiting) principle in moving toward a country-wide waste-management solution. Readers will recall that the Bodden Town candidates, and a small but vocal activist group, objected to the landfill in their district. At the time, the Progressives lead- ership desperately needed the support of the Bodden Town members in order to form a government, and they signed on to the very odd “ring-fencing” of Bodden Town as a dump-free district. The consequence of this, of course, was that the Dart organization’s offer to pay for the new landfill in Bodden Town (about a $60 million commitment) was rejected by the Progressives government, and the deal died. Viewed in that light, the rejection of the Dart offer appears to have been both politically opportunistic and remarkably cavalier. Every report that comes out lacking an immediate action plan, every round of public consultation with no clear objective, and every “strategic” document that is produced without a corresponding and compelling plan for project financing is, in our opinion, just another means to delay, delay, delay, perhaps through the 2017 election. In the meantime, the monster we colloquially call “Mount Trashmore” continues to grow. Good lords for British democracy The U.K.’s unwritten constitution is, and has always been, a complex combination of statutes, rules, principles and precedents subject to uncertainty, negotiation and debate. Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne arrives at Downing Street on Tuesday after the House of Lords blocked government plans to cut tax credits. – 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 find their own way”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 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 November 3, 2015 TUESDAY, NOV. 3 MUSEUM REOPENS: The Cayman Islands National Museum reopens today after a weekend tenting. Normal business hours resume – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4 BOOK LAUNCH: An evening with Sybil McLaughlin to mark the publication of her life story, “From Island Girl to National Hero.” Books & Books, Camana Bay, 6 p.m. Call 640-2665. THURSDAY, NOV. 5 ARt fOR tHE ELdERLy: EY’s Art for the Elderly for Cayman Brac hosted by the National Gallery from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. SATURDAY NOV. 7 fUN RUN: Breeze Fusion 3 mile walk/run family friendly fundraiser for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), and Meals on Wheels. Starting at 6:30 a.m. from Smith Cove. Pram pushers welcome, post-race kiddies race for children ages six and under. Event registration is $20 for adults, $10.00 for students under 16. Pre- race registration available at radiocayman.gov.ky and caymanactive.com/breeze. No registration at the event. BRAC CONCERt ANd BARBECUE: Veterans & Seamen’s Society Country Jamboree & Steak Cook-Out. Under the stars at the Veterans & Seamen’s Compound, 6:30 p.m. For further information and tickets, contact Liz Walton- Thompson at 925-3924 or Capt. Arlin Tatum 916-0837, or any VSS member. SUNDAY, NOV. 8 BRAC REMEMBRANCE dAy SERVICE: The Cenotaph, District Administration Lawn, 10:30 a.m. CHURCH CONCERt: The Church of God Bodden Town invites everyone to Hallelujah 2015, a concert in honor of Sister Wilks. Guest speaker is Bishop Clovis Wilks and more than 30 churches will participate in this event in the open air on the church ground starting at 7 p.m. MONDAY, NOV. 9 ONE NIGHt ONLy: Apostle 13 and the Disciple of Demons, a spiritual play with music, by Colin G. Wilson. Prospect Playhouse. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 students, $5 children. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Curtain 7:30 p.m. HERItAGE dAy: Pirates Week Cayman Brac Heritage Day. Heritage House, Contact bracpiratesweek@gmail.com. TUESDAY, NOV. 10 NEEdS UNIt: The public is advised that the Needs Assessment Unit, located in Aqua Mall, on the George Town waterfront, will close at noon today and tomorrow. It will also be closed all day on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12 and 13. The office will resume normal hours of operations at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 17. SATURDAY, NOV. 14 BAKE SALE: The Cayman Islands Girl’s Brigade National Council holds a bake sale as a fundraising event. A.L. Thompson’s, from 8:30 a.m. A good variety of cakes will be available. SIStER ISLANdS COOK-Off: Annual culinary fundraiser for the Sister Islands Tourism Association, hosted by the Southern Cross Club, Little Cayman. Tasting tickets $30. Wristbands and drink tickets on sale from 4:30 p.m. onward, tasting room opens at 6:30 p.m. Raffle drawing at 7:30 p.m. Music by Wild Knights. Call 948- 1099 for information. BRAC fUNdRAISER: Red Cross Variety Concert & Fashion Show. 7 p.m., Aston Rutty Centre. THURSDAY, NOV. 19 SCHOOL PLAy: St. Ignatius School Drama Department presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, and Saturday. Also a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets on sale at the school office. Phone 949-9250 for further details. GENERAL INTEREST WAStE MANAGEMENt: Interested individuals are encouraged to visit www. ministryofhealth.gov.ky to review the draft National Solid Waste Management Strategy. Open House sessions are planned by the ministry for the week of Nov. 16 to meet with members of the public and get their feedback and comments on the draft strategy. BUSINESS LICENSING: The Department of Commerce and Investment has extended its Business Licensing Counter hours in Grand Cayman from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, for people to submit trade and business, liquor, tobacco, and Special Economic Zone license applications. SPECIAL OLyMPICS: Volunteers are needed. 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. 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. 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., Thursday 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. REd CROSS tHRIft SHOP: 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 and times are listed under Events, for volunteers to check and sign up. NCVO VOLUNtEERS NEEdEd: Volunteers needed for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations 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. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. PERIPHERAL SPACES: 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 artists’ 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 artists display 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. The National Museum reopens on Nov. 3 after scheduled preservation work that began Friday on the building and its historical and cultural artifacts. – Photo: taneos Ramsay6 LOCAL NEWS Tuesday November 3, 2015 • Cayman Compass District Days West Bay Landmarks: Nurse Leila’s historic home Cayman was recently treated to a unique celebra- tion of the arts, featuring the songs, poems and music of West Bay. Held at the Harquail Theatre, October Odyssey served up an im- pressive slate of talented en- tertainers assisting in chron- icling the life and district of one of West Bay’s more be- loved inhabitants, the late Nurse Irksie Leila Yates. The event was orga- nized by the National Trust’s West Bay Committee, which works to preserve the heritage of West Bay for future generations. The night of perfor- mances from Rico Rolando, Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette, Curtis Barnett, Anika Conolly, Rupert Ackermon, and Xhalecia Grayson, among others, brought the his- tory and vibrancy of the district alive for all those in attendance. The goal, to raise funds for the restoration of Ms. Yates’s house, also provided an op- portunity to learn about the life and times of Cayman’s beloved midwife, and to un- derscore the significance of the efforts being undertaken to protect her historic home. Located on West Church Street, just off the four-way junction in West Bay, Nurse Yates’s house was acquired by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands in 2006 thanks to a generous dona- tion from Maples FS. Its famous inhabitant was born in 1899, the youngest of six children, to Arthur and Jacintha Yates. In order to pursue a career in nursing, she walked from West Bay to George Town to attend lectures. She began her training under Dr. George Overton in 1917, and in 1921, she progressed to midwifery. By the time she retired in 1971, Nurse Leila had deliv- ered more than 1,000 babies, many of them in the mothers’ homes or at her own house. Ms. Yates also worked as a reporter, including for the Caymanian Weekly news- paper, providing lively up- dates on the goings-on in West Bay. She died in 1996, and has been posthumously recog- nized for her achievements in nursing. She appears on the Cayman Islands “Pioneers in our History” range of stamps, released in 2011, and was hon- ored this year at the National Heroes Awards, which recog- nized those who have contrib- uted to the development of health services and wellness in the Cayman Islands. Her memory is also being honored through the National Trust’s efforts to preserve her home. Oral histories given by others describe how the orig- inal home was damaged in a 1917 hurricane. What was left was moved from the area where the junction of the North West Point Road and Town Hall Road in West Bay meet today, to its present lo- cation on West Church Street. The building sits in an area of historical importance for West Bay, in close prox- imity to Mr. Dick’s Bakery, Mr. Stafford’s Ice Cream Shop, Capt. Lorraine Henning’s house and Caleb Powell’s house on Henning Lane, which was used by doctors, dentists and Mrs. Rose, the dispenser. The wattle and daub house stands as an example of traditional architectural and construction methods used in Cayman. Such homes were usually set on posts of ironwood, with walls con- structed of a “wattle” of inter- woven branches filled in with plaster “daub.” It is said to be the first house in Cayman to have glass windows installed, an event which caused great excitement among neighbor- hood children, whom Ms. Yates recalled gathering out- side in order to peer through the panes. There are no houses of this kind left in the Sister Islands, and those remaining in Grand Cayman are grad- ually disappearing, either through demolition or dis- repair. Restoration work on the home that respects tra- ditional building techniques is estimated to cost between $150,000 and $200,000. “It is vital for the Trust to have the needed repairs carried out on Nurse Leila’s historic home, as this is the only wattle and daub home the Trust has in its portfolio of historic properties,” said Christina Pineda, executive director of the National Trust. “Nurse Leila was too impor- tant a fixture in Cayman’s history for us to do any- thing less than our best to honor her memory and her life’s work.” For more information on Nurse Leila’s house and other National Trust properties, visit nationaltrust.org.ky. FiFTy years ago Planned duel in 1770 recounted The Oct. 13, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Compass, recounted a story that happened in 1770 in Batabano: “It may be of interest to our readers to know who were the first inhabitants of Batabano in the district of West Bay. In the year 1770, a John Shearer Jackson ar- rived from Chatham, England. Shortly after, he married Elizabeth Bodden, daughter of Governor William Bodden, and from this union came the family of Jackson. Some time after, another Englishman surnamed Jennett arrived in Batabano. “In those days, land was owned simply by fencing in the portion one wanted. Jackson and Jennett each fenced in a por- tion. A dispute arose between the two men when one claimed the other had trespassed on his property. “To settle the dispute they decided to fight it out with pistols. The day was ar- ranged for the fight. Someone informed Jennett not to fight Jackson as he was a good marksman. When Jennett understood this, he would not fight and the two men met, made friends and lived in peace. “The remains of Jennett’s house, built of lime and sand, can still be seen, but Jackson’s house was built where the Batabano cemetery is now. Pieces of plates, pots and wall have been found there. “This site is adjacent to the land pur- chased by Cable and Wireless Ltd. Thus we have the English owning land belonging to Englishmen long ago.” West Bay native Nurse Leila Yates was one of Cayman’s most well-known and beloved midwives. The creative arts community has come together to raise funds to renovate her historic home, one of the island’s last remaining wattle and daub structures. The former home of one of Cayman’s most beloved midwives, the late Nurse irksie Leila yates, is in dire need of repairs. - Photo: Jewel levy a stamp commemorating Nurse Leila yates.7 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 3, 2015 West Bay kids make splash in Little Cayman Sir John A. Cumber students spent three days on Little Cayman attending a marine ecology course learning about ocean ecosystems. Sir John A. Cumber stu- dents from teacher Desiree Powery-Tatum’s Year 5 class are celebrating an effort that led to a big prize involving a plane trip and fun in the sun. On Sept. 30, they trav- eled to Little Cayman to at- tend a three-day marine ecology course at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s Little Cayman Research Centre, after their poster was selected as one of the win- ning entries in a competition for primary school students. As part of a number of initiatives marking CCMI’s 10th anniversary, three classes were selected to at- tend the course, with all ex- penses paid. The class spent time at the research center experiencing hands-on learning about ma- rine ecosystems, the threats they face and ways to help protect and conserve them. The marine ecology course furthers CCMI’s goal of making every child in Cayman “ocean literate” by age 12, supporting the Cayman Islands’ curriculum by reinforcing knowledge ac- quired in the classroom with field experience. The topic for the poster competition was “Threats to the Cayman Islands Reefs,” which offered a great op- portunity for the students to share their views cre- atively, the school noted in a press release. After researching the topic, the class worked to- gether to decide on all as- pects of the poster, including the layout and the drawings they wanted to include. The final winning product was submitted at the end of June. Learning of the win, the class was excited to have the chance to apply what they learned in school at CCMI’s Little Cayman Research Centre. During their trip, the stu- dents attended lessons on the ecology and impacts of eco- systems. Outdoor activities that complemented the class- room lessons included snor- keling and exploring Little Cayman’s reefs. Students also partici- pated in a beach cleanup and toured the Little Cayman Museum and National Trust, furthering their opportunities to learn more about terres- trial ecology and the history of Little Cayman. In the spirit of commu- nity, the students decided to share and present their ex- periences and new learning to their fellow students at a school assembly. GeorGe Nowak In Cayman’s early days, musical in- struments con- sisting of a fiddle, cow skin drum, coconut grater and sometimes a banjo or guitar, which were played at special gather- ings like ship launchings and weddings. In this image, the late Boyd Hydes tunes up his fiddle for an upcoming kitchen dance, an event in which musicians literally played in the kitchen of the host’s house. Boyd Hydes, Leighton “Duxie” Ebanks, Erskin Ebanks and Cleveland Ebanks were some of the more famous minstrels from the West Bay district, along with national icon Julia Hydes. They would propel listeners to rhythms and dance that prompted fun and laughter. This image is from the book “The People Time Forgot” by George Nowak. Individual prints can be purchased at the Cayman Islands National Archive, profits from which are used to support projects of the Cayman Islands National Museum. Members of teacher Desiree Powery-Tatum’s Year 5 class show off the winning poster depicting threats to Cayman’s reefs. Boyd Hydes – Photo: GeorGe Nowak Boyd Hydes Sir John A. Cumber students learn about wildlife inhabiting the Tarpon Lake wetland. West Bay8 LOCAL NEWS Tuesday November 3, 2015 • Cayman Compass very least, until the next gov- ernment’s term. There were also 13 areas identified where government indicated it would not carry through with recommenda- tions contained in the EY consultant report. Phase 1 Ongoing projects for the up- grade of Owen Roberts Airport facilities on Grand Cayman, the development of cruise berthing facilities in George Town harbor and improve- ments to the George Town landfill were all listed in the first phase of the government projects “to be completed.” None of those pro- posals strictly followed ini- tial recommendations made by EY consultants, but all were moving forward under the Progressives-led ad- ministration’s plans, Mr. McLaughlin said. A proposal to merge pri- mary school campuses in Cayman Brac could be ex- panded to include the high school as well, consoli- dating them onto one loca- tion on the Brac bluff, Mr. McLaughlin said. However, a business case for the merger was still being developed. Consolidation of public utilities under one regulatory body would occur during the current government’s term, Mr. McLaughlin said. Also, government was planning to move forward with the con- solidation of various indepen- dent watchdog offices under the leadership of a single om- budsman, a move opposed by the current leadership of those offices. The consolidation was expected to add a new branch to the complaints commis- sioner’s function, that of a cit- izen complaints procedure re- garding policing matters. Also proposed prior to May 2017 was the merger of various public sector cultural offices including the National Museum, the Cultural Foundation and the National Gallery under one “cultural entity.” In relation to all proposed mergers, government has generally indicated savings would be relatively low. There is an ongoing review of government communica- tions functions, including the operations of government’s television and radio stations. However, that is not specifi- cally referred to as a merger any longer in the documents. The sale of Radio Cayman is no longer an option, offi- cials confirmed. A business case for what government in- tends to do with its informa- tion services is being pre- pared, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said. Mr. McLaughlin said gov- ernment would seek to raise the retirement age of public sector workers from 60 to 65 by April 2016. That was being done in conjunction with proposed changes to the Cayman Islands’ private sector retirement system, also due to come before lawmakers later this year. Other “projects” to be com- pleted by the end of the cur- rent government’s term are public project procurement reform, including the estab- lishment of a central bidding function across government, certain “efficiencies” developed within the customs service, a restructuring of the Tourism Attractions Board and the re- location of the management of the Cayman Islands London Office under the direction of the Cabinet Secretary’s Office. The last item involving the London Office’s new manage- ment is the only project rec- ommendation the government has so far listed as “completed and closed.” Land sales The premier also noted that a total of 69 properties now held by the Crown would be offered up for sale. Most of those parcels were smaller tracts of land in more developed areas that govern- ment had no particular use for, Mr. McLaughlin said. One small property in George Town district was recently sold for $103,000. It is the first land sale under the aus- pices of the EY report/Project Future program. The land sales would not involve any significant swaths of property within some of Cayman’s less populated dis- tricts, Mr. McLaughlin said. “We took the view that big parcels of land, whether they’re up in the East End bush or not, are not things that we should be trying to dispose of,” he said. “Government is not cash-strapped … there’s no reason we should sell those at the moment.” Phases 2-5 Vague recommendations to “address unemployment” and “transform education gover- nance” make up phases 2 and 3 of the government projects. Premier McLaughlin said education reforms would largely entail projects out- lined previously by Education Minister Tara Rivers following critical evaluations of the public school system com- pleted earlier this year. Any specific measures to further address local unem- ployment were not identified by the government on Monday. “It is absolutely unac- ceptable, with 22,000 work permits … that you have any substantial number of Caymanians unemployed,” Mr. McLaughlin said. The Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries Department, as well as Planning and Building Inspection Units would also be reviewed as part of Phase 2 of the project, Mr. McLaughlin said. The National Drug Council and ongoing govern- ment catering services will also be looked at with an eye toward potentially out- sourcing some functions. The government will also review plans to improve debt collection under phases 2-3, in particular with an esti- mated $80 million in “bad debts” looming at the Health Services Authority. Longer term Additional specific plans which may be discussed, but not completed by the sitting government in phases 4-5 of the project included: ■■ Consideration of al- ternate means of pro- viding health services, including outsourcing or a joint venture with the private sector. This includes a review of the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company operations ■■ The potential out- sourcing of government vehicle maintenance ■■ Potential commer- cialization of the Postal Service ■■ Reviewing outsourcing options for the National Roads Authority and the Public Works op- erations in relation to road maintenance ■■ Reviewing potential for reducing govern- ment security costs, particularly within the prisons and the courts. EY Report update: Few job cuts, less outsourcing in government plan that he expects future invest- ment in higher education in the Cayman Islands to be on technology and on facilitating partnerships with repu- table universities rather than bricks and mortar. “One of the greatest ad- vantages of such a collabo- ration will be for our gov- ernment,” he said. “It will not be necessary to con- struct expensive edifices and buildings. Resources can be more effectively dis- tributed by increasing the number of students who are in a position to take advantage of education through ICT [Information and Communication Technologies].” The prac- tical details of the partner- ship are still being worked out and a team from the Cayman Islands will visit West Chester in March to discuss which courses can be offered to students at both locations. Information and Communications Technology experts from West Chester will also be in Cayman next month to see what upgrades may be required to facilitate online courses. The aim, said Mr. Bodden, is for Cayman stu- dents to be able to sit in a classroom at UCCI and par- ticipate fully in a course at West Chester, starting in the 2016/17 academic year. Dr. Greg Weisenstein, president of West Chester University, who was the keynote speaker last week at UCCI’s commencement ceremony, said the agree- ment would be mutually beneficial and would also involve student exchanges and access to internships in Pennsylvania and Cayman for both sets of students. “This is a wonderful op- portunity for West Chester to work with a very fine in- stitution here in the Cayman Islands,” he said. “I can’t imagine our students not wanting to come here, not just for the educational ex- periences, but in the middle of winter when it is a whole lot colder in Pennsylvania than it is in Cayman.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 UCCI to offer US university courses EY rEcommEndations that havE not bEEn accEptEd a number of recommenda- tions contained in ernst & young’s original consultant re- port to government were out- right rejected. according to Premier alden mcLaughlin, most of these pro- posals either would have in- creased cost to government, would have been infeasible to government operations or were determined to be unnecessary. Here’s a look at what govern- ment will not implement from the ey report: ■■ Increasing or creating fees for civil aviation registry, taxi licensing or for auditors over- sight committee functions ■■ selling the university College of the Cayman Islands or merging it with the Cayman Islands Law school ■■ selling or leasing the Water authority-Cayman ■■ merging the special eco- nomic Zone advisory board with the Trade and busi- ness Licensing board. also rejected here was a plan to merge the former Cinemato- graph board with business li- censing functions ■■ Privatize the Cadet Corps or change it into a non-govern- mental entity ■■ merge a number of related health advisory councils, ra- tionalizing them under one entity. also rejected with this was a proposal to merge the animal Welfare advisory Committee with the veteri- nary board ■■ a proposed restructuring of the Cayman Islands mone- tary authority and the Gen- eral registry ■■ a merger of the Hotel and Li- quor Licensing boards ■■ Commercializing the mari- time authority of the Cayman Islands ■■ various proposed adjust- ments to the operation of Cayman airways. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – The leaders of South Korea and Japan resumed formal talks Monday after a 3½-year freeze and agreed to try to re- solve the decades-old issue of Korean women forced into Japanese military-run brothels during World War II. The agreement is a step for- ward but not a breakthrough. Ties between the two coun- tries have sagged to one of their lowest ebbs since the late 2012 inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who takes a more hawkish, na- tionalistic stance than many of his predecessors. Seoul be- lieves that Abe seeks to ob- scure Japan’s brutal colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula in 1910-1945. The biggest source of fric- tion is over Japanese re- sponsibility for wartime sex slaves, who were euphemisti- cally called “comfort women.” Historians say tens of thou- sands of women from around Asia, many of them Korean, were sent to front-line mili- tary brothels to provide sex to Japanese soldiers. Japan has apologized many times before, but many South Koreans see the statements and past efforts at private compensation as insufficient. Abe hoped to weaken a 1993 apology but later prom- ised not to do so following protests from South Korea and elsewhere. On Monday, Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye agreed to try harder to settle the issue through dia- logue, according to Park’s office. “President Park noted the issue of ‘comfort women’ is the biggest obstacle in efforts to improve bilateral ties. She stressed that the issue must be quickly settled in a way that our people can accept,” said Park’s senior adviser for for- eign affairs and national secu- rity, Kim Kyou-hyun. Abe confirmed the agreement. “On the comfort women issue, I think the issue should not become an obstacle for the next generation so we can build future-oriented coop- erative relations,” he told re- porters after the meeting. “We have agreed to speed up our negotiations toward a resolu- tion as soon as possible.” Japan, South Korea agree to worK to reSolve wwII Sex Slave ISSue Family members of South Korean victims of World War II stage a rally against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday. - photo: ap US$300,000. Newball was convicted after trial by jury and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. Three men who pleaded guilty are ap- pealing their sentences for the robbery of Diamonds International on New Year’s Day, 2014. Jonathan Mark Ramoon, who car- ried a firearm, received 15 years. James McLean, who smashed showcases with a hammer, received 12 years. Christopher Julian Myles, the driver of the get- away car, was sentenced to 10 years. The court’s winter ses- sion is scheduled to last until Nov. 20. President Sir John Chadwick is hearing the appeals with Justice John Martin and Justice Sir Alan Moses. Court to hear 16 criminal appeals CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 HealtH Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 3, 2015 Tech, data drive healthcare changes Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The future of healthcare is here. Rural patients can get cognitive-behavioral treat- ment for depression through an interactive website; doc- tors and nurses can help a patient over email or text message; Google can find patterns of flu outbreaks based on search terms; and a bracelet can record a pa- tient’s vital signs and send them real-time to a doctor. Technology is evolving quickly and healthcare is advancing with it. Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros, director of medical staff development for Baptist Health interna- tional and the first woman to head Florida’s Department of Health, presented on big ideas emerging in healthcare in the coming decade at the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference last week. “Two of three Americans go to ‘Doctor Google’ first,” Dr. Ros said. Recent research, she said, found that 75 percent of people in the United States are interested in digital ser- vices for healthcare, whether that’s websites, smartphone apps or other online offer- ings. “There’s a lot of demand for patients to get involved in their own care,” she said. “Patients want surprisingly mundane offerings,” she said, like online medical records, cost comparisons and other simple information online. Wearable devices, Dr. Ros said, are also giving doctors and patients more choices. Things like the FitBit, which tracks a wearer’s steps, she said, “have huge potential in clinical care, particularly for the elderly.” Simple-looking bracelets can already mon- itor someone’s heart rate, blood oxygen levels and other vital signs and tell someone if a patient falls. Soon, she said, a device like the FitBit could track the number of times a pa- tient coughs or goes to the bathroom. The devices can then transmit all the health information back to a doctor or nurse for monitoring and alert a caregiver if there are problems. A study in Boston found that home monitoring re- duced readmissions by half, not with wearable devices but by doctors and nurses regularly checking in with patients by phone or online. “Telehealth is expected to grow exponentially,” she said. Telehealth can be as simple as an automated phone system to remind pa- tients to take their medi- cines and follow treatment plans. It can also give rural patients access to doctors at far-flung hospitals to treat mental health problems or go through physical rehabilita- tion programs. All of these online ser- vices and wearable devices produce a lot of data. Even searching for medical terms in a search engine like Google can give public health offi- cials a new tool to fight dis- ease. Dr. Ros said last year Google was able to use data from searches about flu symptoms to track flu trends with 90 percent accuracy. IBM’s Watson supercom- puter, famous for beating out the reigning human cham- pions on Jeopardy! in 2011, can now take a patient’s symptoms and history and determine the likelihood of a patient’s diagnosis with up to 90 percent accuracy. IBM has a new cloud-based system for Watson with, according to the company, one of the largest healthcare databases in the world. The U.S.-based computing system works with medical records, along with its vast library and ma- chine learning abilities, to re- duce readmissions, automate outreach to patients and im- prove engagement. All of this new technology is improving the work of doc- tors, but also, Dr. Ros said, empowering patients. People can search their own condi- tions to ask doctors better questions, get second opin- ions online, and shop around for the best and least expen- sive doctors and hospitals. “Around the world, costs are rising quickly,” Dr. Ros said. She noted that much of the increased costs come from unnecessary tests and procedures. She said there’s a new emerging trend to pay doctors on results, not the number of patients they see and tests they order. The new systems and on- line tools promote trans- parency for doctors and hospitals so patients and policymakers can under- stand how money is spent and where it’s wasted. Soon, Dr. Ros said, a device like the FitBit could track the number of times a patient coughs or goes to the bathroom. With a new building dedicated to treating cancer and neurological disorders and now the ability to perform heart and liver transplants, the Cleveland Clinic’s Weston, Florida hos- pital aims to attract more people from the Cayman Islands for their most complicated treatments. More than 250 people traveled to the non- profit hospital near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for treatment last year, ac- cording to Cleveland clinic representatives who were in Cayman last week for the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference. While on the is- land, hospital staff hosted a training workshop with employees at the Health Services Authority on im- proving patient experience, the second year the U.S. doctors have given the free training for the HSA. Rob Stall, with Cleveland Clinic’s inter- national operations, said beyond doing advanced surgeries and treating com- plicated cases, treating pa- tients and families well is the hospital’s specialty. “We have a long rela- tionship with Cayman,” said Dr. Antonio Briceno, vice president at the hos- pital’s global health center, including bringing doctors to Florida and Cleveland for training. The hos- pital used to have a con- tract with CINICO to treat people in the national in- surance plan, he said. Dr. Briceno compli- mented the growing med- ical offerings in Cayman, but said, “We want to help in those cases where you don’t have the facilities.” Those cases include can- cers and transplants. “The facility in Florida is growing,” he said, and patients from Cayman can, at times, get to the stroke center or intensive care unit faster than some from the Florida Keys. Cleveland CliniC wants to attraCt Cayman’s siCkest patients Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Building palliative and hospice care into the medical system earlier for pa- tients with advanced cancers and other serious conditions is good, mentally and physically, for patients and families, and for a health system’s budget, said U.S. palliative care expert Dr. Thomas Smith. “It turns out, telling people the truth doesn’t make them depressed,” said Dr. Smith, director of palliative medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, even when the truth is that they are going to die. He presented last week at the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference about how palliative care has been integrated across the Baltimore-based hospital system. Presenting recent research on pal- liative and hospice care, that is, caring for a patient at the end of life, Dr. Smith talked about the importance of getting to know patients’ wishes before they be- come too sick to speak for themselves. This means knowing if someone wants to be kept alive with a feeding tube or CPR, making sure she or he has a will and that someone has been selected to make medical decisions on their behalf. “Physicians are terrible at predicting what people want. Turns out, families are even worse,” Dr. Smith said. He added, “I don’t care what your wishes are. I want to know so I can re- spect those wishes.” The doctor showed conference goers an online form that the U.S. state of Maryland uses to make it easy for doc- tors and patients to make end-of-life de- cisions before they get sick. Beyond the practical of breathing tubes and do-not-resuscitate orders, Dr. Smith said doctors should talk to pa- tients about what their spirituality in- volves, and go into things like making sure there aren’t family issues like a brother or child they haven’t spoken to for years. “These are things you need to take care of while you’re well,” he said. He pointed to research that showed that 90 percent of cancer patients want their medical team to know their spiri- tual needs during treatment. “It’s very hard for us … to look someone in the eye and tell people they’re going to die,” he said. “If you can move that conver- sation up a couple months, people do things differently,” Dr. Smith explained, “[then] they’re much less likely to die in a hospital.” Dr. Smith said research shows that it is easier for patients and family mem- bers to hear the bad news from a doctor they’ve never met before instead of the oncology team they’ve known for months or years. He said at Johns Hopkins, doc- tors trained in palliative care and end- of-life issues are embedded with the cancer center and other practices where patients regularly face fatal conditions. He said he tells patients, “Tell your story while you still can.” He says talking about family and spirituality is important, and doctors can urge patients facing death to reconnect with family members or a church and do things they could regret never doing. For ex- ample, Dr. Smith said, he pushes young moms facing terminal cervical cancer to journal with their children. He said that in his practice, a patient facing the end of her or his life, given enough time, should visit hospice facil- ities or meet with nurses and doctors who can provide home care during the final stage of life, assuring patients are comfortable and well cared for. “Hospice makes people live longer,” Dr. Smith said. He presented a review of re- cent literature on outcomes from hospice care and most studies point to terminally ill patients living longer, from a few weeks to a couple months longer than those who die in a traditional hospital setting. Palliative care overall also reduces costs to a health system, and Dr. Smith talked through research findings that show hospitals and healthcare systems spend less when patients opt to enter hospice care instead of spending their last days and weeks in a hospital. Hospice care extends life, saves money, research shows Dr. Briceno Wearable devices, such as the FitBit, are growing in popularity. Making decisions early about palliative and hospice care for patients can have major benefits, U.S. palliative care expert Dr. Thomas Smith says.Next >