ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Tuesday November 10, 2015 High of 89 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights 3 to 5 feet. ABCDE NATIONAL WEEKLY Worst Week Gov. Terry McAuliffe 3 Nation The next big LGBT fight 9 Music Honoring the roots of blues 16 5 Myths About bacon 23 Searching for greatness Trump’s supporters are united in their belief the U.S. has lost its mojo and that the GOP candidate is the best bet for getting it back. PAGE 12 THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WASHINGTON POST Searching for greatness Editorial | pagE 4 ClifToN HuNTer: How low CaN iT go? 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! Health services fails to collect $120 million since 2005 Government misses out on millions more in bills breNT fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A number of government agencies, in- cluding the public hospital system and sev- eral ministries and portfolios, have missed out on the collection of tens of millions of dollars, meaning significantly more than $100 million due has not been placed in public coffers over the past decade. The largest single issue identified by the Auditor General’s Office last week existed in the Health Services Authority, which, as of 2014, had written off bad debts totaling $65 million dollars. Heading in to 2015, the health authority ex- pected to have amassed nearly $70 million in further bad debts – meaning bills that had not been collected within a year. However, govern- ment accounts show that figure had not been discounted, and that collection efforts for at least part of that amount were still under way. The auditor general’s office noted in its re- views of the government’s 2013/14 fiscal year that annual provisions for bad debts were running about $15 million per year since 2010. “If the full provision is eventually written off, the Health Services Authority will have written off at least $120 million in receiv- ables in the last nine to 10 years,” Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison confirmed. “Ultimately, the financial performance and po- sition of the Health Services Authority reflect the rising cost of providing healthcare and the challenges in collecting its revenues.” The bad debt accumulation, at least in the public hospital service, is partly due to a deci- sion not to take debtors to court. In June, the Cayman Compass reported that government’s estimated unpaid hospital Fuel pricing data not public, commissioner rules breNT fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although the Cayman Islands government may have access to certain fuel pricing infor- mation from local distributors Sol Petroleum and Rubis, that information is not currently considered to be public, Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers ruled last week. The decision follows an open records re- quest from a member of the public for fuel cost invoices Sol and Rubis provide to the cus- toms service in order to pay the proper duty on the gasoline and diesel they import. Mr. Liebaers, in his review of the matter, said both importers have provided fuel in- voices that show the cost of imported fuel to customs since last year. He also noted that while legislation was recently passed re- quiring a number of other specific costs the fuel importers pay, the law stopped short of requiring that information be published for the general public. Mr. Liebaers agreed with the fuel compa- nies that the release of such pricing data to the public could constitute “an actionable breach of confidence” on the part of the im- porters. In other words, Sol or Rubis could be sued by other fuel suppliers they deal with if that information was released. Both fuel companies, along with govern- ment lawyers, responded to the request for in- formation. All sought to withhold the data. “Anyone with access to the [fuel] invoices Honoring our heroes Governor Helen Kilpatrick lays a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph during the Remembrance Day ceremony Sunday in George Town. Hundreds of people, including members of the Veterans Association and Seafarers Association, took part in ceremonies on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac to honor veterans from World War I and World War II and those who lost their lives at sea. For more, see page 11. - photo: Kelsey JuKam PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Tuesday November 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass www. REGmovies.com SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - $8.00 SPECTRE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:45 I 6:45 I 7:30 I 9:35 GOOSEBUMPS 3D (PG) 1:30 I 4:00 2D I 7:05 I 9:40 2D LAST WITCH HUNTER (PG13) 1:40 | 4:10 I 7:20 I 10:00 PEANUTS 3D (G) 12:35 I 2:50 2D I 5:05 2D I 7:20 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (PG) 12:45 2D I 4:10 I 7:10 2D I 9:30 BURNT (R) 1:10 I 4:20 I 10:05 www.tonymosleylifeinsurance.com Nicole Miller fashion show is ‘Street Sweet’ VICKI WHEATON vwheaton@pinnaclemedialtd.com More than 200 people were treated to canapés and a glass of bubbles as they took their places out- side Abacus restaurant in Camana Bay in anticipation of the Nicole Miller fashion show on Nov. 5. The runway show fea- tured Miller’s “Street Sweet” Spring 2016 col- lection, with the famous American designer herself in attendance. The plan was to mimic Miller’s New York and Paris shows, so just as her collection opened at those shows with a break dancer making his way down the runway ahead of the models, the same was wit- nessed here. The event was organized by Nicola de Lima of NKY Collections and the Cayman chapter of 100 Women in Hedge Funds, which raises funds “for charities focused on women’s and family health, education, and men- toring,” according to the group’s website. Cassandra Powell was the emcee for the evening and Christina Bodden, chair of the philanthropic committee for 100WHF Cayman addressed the crowd, along with the vis- iting CEO of 100WHF global, Amanda Pullinger. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) program. “We were so proud and thrilled to see the commu- nity turn out for such an exciting event to support the launch of Global Angels program in Cayman and to close out a successful year with LIFE, our 2015 benefi- ciary,” said Ms. Bodden. Ms. de Lima said, “It was a magical evening, and the rain gods worked with us to ensure that it was a huge success. Nicole Miller is nothing less than amazing and we were very proud to take Cayman to the next level in the fashion industry.” Lindsay Japal shows off a spring outfit from the Nicole Miller fashion show at Camana Bay. – Photos: taneos Ramsay A model walks down the runway. More than 200 people turned out for the fashion show. The runway show featured Miller’s ‘Street Sweet’ Spring 2016 collection. Nicole Miller, left, is recognized by the visiting CEO of 100 Women in Hedge Funds, Amanda Pullinger. Proceeds of the event were donated to the Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) program. Queen leads BRitain in annual seRvice honoRing waR dead LONDON (AP) – Across Britain, people paused for a moment’s silent re- flection Sunday to re- member the country’s war dead as Queen Elizabeth II led an annual service in the capital. The monarch was joined by other royals, senior pol- iticians, and hundreds of veterans and well-wishers who filled the streets of Whitehall for the solemn ceremony, held every November at the Cenotaph war memorial. A hush fell over central London as Big Ben struck 11 a.m., with all those at- tending – as well as mil- lions up and down the country – observing two minutes’ silence. The ser- vice takes place every year on the 11th hour on the nearest Sunday to the anni- versary of the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. The day now also pays tribute to all those fallen in subsequent conflicts, in- cluding World War II, Iraq and Afghanistan. The queen laid the first wreath of red poppies – a potent symbol of WWI and remembrance throughout the Commonwealth and many other countries – at the foot of the monument. She was followed by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, who was in- vited to the event by the queen this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the lib- eration of his country fol- lowing the end of WWII. Prince Philip, the queen’s husband – and Princes William, Harry and Andrew, who have all served in the armed forces – all paid their respects. Afterward, veterans pa- raded down the streets as military bands played. Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, and Queen Elizabeth II arrive to attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. - Photo: aP3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 10, 2015 HomeOptions BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. Box 254, Cayman Brac KY2-2101 Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Shop around and pay less for more insurance! Save $250** with your car insurance! • $250** gift certificate with each new buildings insurance policy (see below) • Convenient, interest-free installment payments • Competitive deductibles • Fast, uncomplicated claims service! • Flexible home contents and lifestyle protection Ask for a quote 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky FREE $10 Million ASSET PROTECTION! with motor cover* $250** CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *private motor insurance **Applies to new private buildings insurance policies only. Certificate can be used with car insurance purchase from BritCay. cgigrp Crime prevention program up against funding crisis James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com There’s an audible intake of breath as officer Anthony Stewart pulls out the black replica pistol. If he did not have the class’s attention be- fore, he does now. Simple possession of a firearm like this will get you 10 years in prison, he tells the students. Use it in a crime and you’re looking at 20 years. You can kiss your youth goodbye. More gasps. The message is clear: In the long term, guns do not pay. The police firearms expert was one of seven speakers, including drug counselors, gang specialists and prison officers, delivering an anti- crime message to John Gray High School students at the Family Life Centre on Friday. The event, organized by the Youth Anti-Crime Trust, is viewed as an impactful way of using real-world ex- perts to reach teens who may be at risk of getting in- volved in crime. But organizers say a lack of stable funding means Friday’s event will be the last. Bonnie Anglin, chair- woman of Youth ACT, said the charity needs $20,000 an- nually to put on four events. She said government had contributed some funding on an ad-hoc basis to the crime prevention days held so far, but the event needs a more consistent source of cash. “This is the only crime prevention program there is,” said Ms. Anglin, who says she agreed to organize the events following a request from the previous government based on recommendations from the National Security Council. “We constantly hear about new courts, a new prison, new security cameras, but there is no national crime prevention strategy. None of the recommendations [from] all the reports that have been done have been implemented. “They spend a lot of money to catch criminals, to get legal aid and to lock them up, but there is no money to get them on the right track in the first place. “Why not spend some money to reduce the num- bers going into Northward? Maybe then we won’t need more police and a bigger prison.” Since the first anti-crime day in May 2013, Youth ACT has organized 10 such events, delivering presentations to students in different year groups at all three Cayman Islands high schools. The events each cost $5,000 to organize. Government has funded three of them. The other seven were backed by spon- sors including Appleby, Rotary, Cayman National Bank and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Each time an event is planned, Ms. Anglin says she has to write a new grant pro- posal and go cap in hand to government and businesses looking for funds. She has asked for a pur- chase agreement with gov- ernment, guaranteeing $20,000 a year in funding to host four events annually, but has received no response. She said the board mem- bers of Youth ACT all have full-time jobs and can only do so much fundraising to support something that should be a national priority. At Friday’s event, Year 8 students from John Gray rotated through seven presentations. In one classroom, Dr. Elma Augustine, a clinical psychologist, talked to stu- dents about the impact of drugs and alcohol on their brain and physical health. In another presentation, Detective Patrick Beersingh talked about the reality of gang life. In other events, magistrates and even pris- oners have talked to students about the impact and conse- quences of crime. “It has a bit more impact to hear it from people like us who have been through it and can talk about our own personal experiences,” said Mitchell Exctain, a former crack cocaine addict turned pastor. Brent Hydes, of the Hope for Today halfway house, spoke alongside Pastor Exctain about the impact of drug addiction on life, career and family. Mr. Hydes, himself a re- formed drug addict, said, “We really can’t stop anyone from taking drugs. What we can do is carry the message of the danger and the consequences. “It is essential for young people to have the message.” Anthony Stewart, the po- lice officer who gave the pre- sentation on guns, says chil- dren are receptive to the messages being delivered. “I think they listen to me more than a parent or a teacher because of my position. I can command their attention. “I let them know about the penalties and the conse- quences [of] being involved with guns and try to really bring it home to them. It is really an eye opener to them.” Christen Suckoo, chief officer of the Ministry of Education, said the ministry had made a contribution to the cost of the event over the past two years and was prepared to continue that funding. He did not say how much, but Youth ACT says the ministry has made two $5,000 donations, while the Ministry of Home Affairs has made one $5,000 donation over the two-and-a-half years the events have been running. Dr. Elma Augustine, a clinical psychologist, talks to students about the impact of drugs and alcohol on their brain and physical health. 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. 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” About two weeks ago, Cayman Islands government auditors revealed that the book value of Clifton Hunter High School was “at least” $20 million less than what it cost to build. What could be worse? This: The $20 million “depreciation” appears to be the result of “inflationary” tactics resorted to by the Ministry of Education after an earlier report pegged the value of the Frank Sound campus even lower — at between $70 million and $85 million … compared to the $90 million value in the revised report … and the $110 million in construction costs (which, by the way, included an overrun of about another $40 million). In brief, in the opinion of the authors of the first valuation report, Clifton Hunter was actually worth $25 million to $40 million less than it cost to build. In a previous editorial, we went over some of the cost overruns that led to the runaway spending on Clifton Hunter. Let us, in this space, focus instead on what happened after the campus was constructed. As the Compass reported in Friday’s newspaper, a review by the Auditor General’s Office showed that in 2012, as part of a government-wide assessment of Crown properties, valuation experts appraised the cost of Clifton Hunter at between $70 million and $85 million. Ministry officials then sought a “second opinion” on the school valuation from a second firm, a move that Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison said left auditors “a bit surprised.” As we can see, the figures provided by the second group of valuers were indeed rosier, but still dismal. Also take note that the conception, construction and financial gamesmanship in regard to Clifton Hunter has spanned multiple governmental administrations, led by both major parties. This is not an “either/or” issue when it comes to the PPM and the UDP: It is a “both.” In the face of the poor valuation report, the Ministry of Education’s modus operandi — that is to “rewrite and revise” — was congruent with govern- ment’s wonted behavior whenever unwelcome infor- mation presents itself. Recall, if you will, perhaps the definitive moment in such “sanitization” by the Ministry of Education, when in early 2013 then-chief officer Mary Rodrigues engaged staff members in rewriting a highly critical report on behavior in Cayman’s government schools. Following the rewriting process, officials then tried to “bury” both versions of that behavioral report, and then, after the reports were effectively “leaked” to the public by lawmakers, officials actively resisted releasing emails that demonstrated who altered the initial report, and why. Since the sanitization incident, Ms. Rodrigues moved from her education post to a role leading a special team tasked with implementing “Project Future,” the Ernst & Young report on downsizing and streamlining Cayman’s public sector. And our readers know well what has happened there — history, as it were, repeated itself … this time not through a rewriting of the report, but a reinter- pretation of it, with the government effectively trans- forming the goal of “Project Future” from making gov- ernment smaller and financially sustainable into, well, something quite different (including a rallying cry in support of the government’s major capital projects). Which brings us full circle, in a sense, and provides us with the opportunity to reinforce the point that if we do not pay close attention to the past and present actions of our officials, then in the future we shall surely pay another way — with our pocketbooks. Clifton Hunter: How low can it go? Tuesday November 10, 2015 • Cayman COmpass “Juvenile justice center write-off: $678,000,” Nov. 6 Another big chunk of money that could have gone towards putting jetways on the new airport. David Wheaton Really no surprise to me. Just watch the train of thoughts exercised by the government. If they did not build it, then their decision is to let it stay there and rot like the kiosk/huts at the Bodden Town public beach. Seen them lately? The people of Bodden Town could have made use of them; but spiteful MLAs said, “No, let them stay there and rot.” How thoughtless! Let’s see how many of the “broom sticks” Bodden Town people will put back in again to govern them. Twyla Vargas Probably the most expen- sive foundation ever built. L. Bell Government should sell the piece of property, and make the people that went to Missouri repay the $11,583 back to the taxpayers. It’s ob- vious that the taxpayers did not benefit from this trip. Ron Clair Ebanks With all the talk of how bad Northward is, how the youth in school are causing trouble, young adult/teen un- employment, lack of mental health facility, you would think that the Cayman Islands government would complete this facility. So, maybe right now they’ll only have one or two juvenile criminals – how about in the future? Where’s the forward thinking? Why not use it as part of rehab for teens and young adults so they can be in a more conducive environ- ment than the prison. They’ve already let a partially built high school linger. Brian Roberts It is outrageous that $700,000 was written off for a remand center at Fairbanks for which planning permis- sion for a 21,000 square-foot facility and $8,000,000 in es- timated construction costs were approved in 2011! The plan was killed, canceled, in 2012 because of lack of gov- ernment funding and because government was “unable to identify alternative use for the structure foundation” which lies bereft in a quiet location. How about a psychiatric center (named in honor of a leading Caymanian family, who might provide some funding for the facility) for mental illness being built in that location? How difficult would it be to resurrect the plans and dig for money for such a much-needed project? Surely a facility is desperately needed to house (even tempo- rarily) sufferers of mental ill- ness on all three islands. There is no such fa- cility on either of the Sister Islands. Mental health is an issue for all Caymanians – surely as crucial as a dock for humongous cruise ships in Hog Sty Bay and the de- struction (long-sought) of the George Town dump. nan socolow I seem to recall that when the new civil service palace was built (no hesitation in this case!) that one floor was reconfigured to meet the de- tailed specifications of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority at a cost in excess of what we are talking about here, only for the CIMA to change their mind and say they were not moving in. The rationale for the new building was to reduce gov- ernment’s rental bill, yet it was only a little more than half-full two years after com- pletion, with many govern- ment departments and agen- cies continuing to rent from private sector landlords. Unfortunately, waste and mismanagement are a fact of life in the public sector, and there is no sign of this changing. Roger Davies “School worth $20M-$40M less than it cost,” Nov. 6 This should be surprising to no one! Government can’t even keep the parking meter system working at the airport … Let’s begin worrying about the new airport and the new port facility. J. Bodden “Red ink, wastepaper: Clifton Hunter’s book value,” Nov. 2 And my child will suffer as a result, who will com- pensate her for the lack of teacher training due to the “open plan” that no one was prepared for, because it was a modern idea. So I will have to hire a tutor to make up for the crap school design. Thanks for the awesome Cayman public school ed- ucation. Be proud, fellow Caymanians, and never wonder why the expats get the “good jobs.” LJ Day “When is a ‘loan’ not a loan?,” Nov. 6 Now that’s a loan I would sign up for! I guess with this loan I could pay off my medical bills to the Health Services Authority, but why? That’s free too. Throw in the largesse of Nation Building funds, driveway paving and other vote-buying goodies and I’m sold. Heck, at some point the Cayman government may ac- tually pay you to live/vote here. This sense of entitlement and superiority would then allow me to belittle foreigners as job stealers and “driftwood.” Bob Williams “Slower summer affects tourism growth,” Nov. 6 How about the cost of living is too high? Tourists have choices and beaches in Mexico are the same. The difference? Everything is cheaper. My hotel charged me US$15 per day for 3 meals. I had oceanfront on the beach US$130 per night. They cleaned up the seaweed every morning before I went out to swim. I had room service for US$10. Other hotels didn’t charge anything. Wake up! We need to bring down these prices. There are hotels with Jacuzzis in your bedroom or on the porch. David miller “91-year-old Bodden Town rope twister keeps tradition alive,” Nov. 5 Bless you, Ms. Powell, for keeping the traditions of the “old” Cayman alive. In most places these items are treated as heirlooms and art! Hopefully your fingers will continue to be nimble and quick and you have many more years enjoying your craftwork! Carol Cooper Around the world such wonderful handmade prod- ucts like this are becoming ex- tinct. Young people have no in- terest in learning these skills. So buy a basket from Ms. Powell. You are buying a piece of history and an heir- loom for your children. norman Linton “EY Report update: Few job cuts, less outsourcing in gov’t plan,” Nov. 3 The authors of this report, like many others, have fallen into the classic error of mis- taking the true role of the civil service. It does not exist to get anything done (obviously), rather it exists to provide em- ployment for voters. In the circumstances, hell will freeze over before any government makes any meaningful cuts. John Harris From CaymanCompass.Com The government spent $678,000 on a foundation for the abandoned juvenile justice center. – Photos: taneos Ramsay Built for $110 million, the book value of Clifton Hunter High school is only around $70 million-$90 million.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 10, 2015 Fidelity Pension Plan Fidelity Financial Centre on West Bay Road Thursday, November 19th, 2015 6:00pm - 7:00pm Fidelity Financial Centre, West Bay Road & Esterley Tibbetts Highway Cayman Financial Centre, Dr. Roy’s Drive, George Town info@fidelitycayman.com RSVP: Carolee.Crowley@fidelitycayman.com Phone: 914-2179 Light refreshments 2015 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING [] Government agencies all pass audit test Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although some may have scored only a “C” in terms of taking a math exam, all Cayman Islands government agencies have managed – for the first time – to not entirely fail audits of their annual fi- nancial statements. The passing grades were received for the 2013/14 fi- nancial year and repre- sent improvement over the prior year, Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison said Thursday. A few agency au- dits are still to be completed, but Mr. Harrison said all en- tities audited by his office so far received “unqualified opinions,” which indicate ac- curate, fairly provided finan- cial information or “qualified opinions,” meaning that a few problems were identified. None of the 2013/14 au- dits received an “adverse” opinion or “disclaimer of opinion” – a major change from just five years ago, when most of the government agencies being audited were given those outcomes. Six of the 15 government ministries or portfolios re- ceived unqualified audit opinions for the 2013/14 year, while 17 of the 27 statu- tory authorities and govern- ment-owned companies also received unqualified audit opinions for that year. Even the government agencies that did not fare so well, such as the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Tourism which received “qualified” audit opinions, put in the best information they had ever provided. “No credible or reliable fi- nancial information has been available publicly for nearly 10 years for these entities,” the auditor general’s office stated in its review of the ministries’ reports. “Issuing a qualified opinion on both ministries for 2013/14 is a significant step forward.” All is not good news, Mr. Harrison cautioned. Government auditors are still finding weaknesses in areas like keeping track of inven- tory or effectively managing construction projects. The major problem for government agencies in the continued reporting of an- nual financial statements is the type of information they are making public. For instance, while many agencies are turning in rela- tively complete financial re- cords to the auditor gener- al’s office on time, they are often not including written reports that explain exactly what the agency is doing with the money it receives. Mr. Harrison said this type of specific detail is often not easily discerned from a spreadsheet. “Public sector entities also need to explain what they did with the money,” he said. “This essential infor- mation is not being prepared by government officials.” Another area of reporting that continues to lag, in the auditor general’s view, is in the tabling – the act of making public – the reports in the Legislative Assembly. Some financial records – in- cluding the financial reports for the entire public sector for 2013/14 – are not pre- sented to the Assembly until years later, limiting the pub- lic’s ability to learn from them while the information is relevant. “Some reports have been languishing in government offices for over a year,” Mr. Harrison said. “These delays are simply unacceptable for good accountability.” In many cases, there ap- pear to be few reasons for such public reporting delays, auditors said. “The hard work of govern- ment’s accountants and my auditors to meet the statu- tory deadlines is undermined by these delays and any op- portunity for real account- ability is lost only because the reports stay at someone’s desk,” Mr. Harrison said. Mr. Harrison Woman hospitalized after stabbing in George Town Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman remained in critical condition at the Cayman Islands Hospital over the weekend fol- lowing a predawn stabbing Saturday. The RCIPS reported the incident occurred after 4 a.m., after they received a 911 call indicating that “a fe- male had been stabbed in the neck at the Dolphin Centre on Eastern Avenue.” Police said the woman was able to speak with of- ficers on the scene before she lost consciousness. As of Sunday, she remained in the hospital’s critical care ward following surgery. No arrests were immedi- ately reported. Police seek ganja suspect The last of four suspects accused of bringing more than 800 pounds of ganja into Cayman aboard a boat that landed in North Side district last month is still being sought by police. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is seeking the public’s assis- tance in locating Geranimo Vaughan, who landed in North Side on Oct. 25 along with three other men. Anyone with information regarding the incident at the Dolphin Centre or who has information on Vaughan’s whereabouts is urged to contact the George Town Police Station at 949-4222 or Cayman Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS). Firearms charge A 46-year-old man is due in court Tuesday on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. The man was ar- rested along with an 82-year- old woman on Nov. 5. An unlicensed firearm and am- munition were recovered. The woman was released on bail. Tuesday November 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay After decades of writing, friends finally meet KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com In 1947, a Royal Navy ship called the HMS Porlock Bay visited Grand Cayman. As was common in those times, a dance was held to welcome the men aboard the vessel, and that is where local girl Ardyth Smith met a sailor she never forgot. His name was Alvin Stoppard Thompson, from Southampton, England. Ms. Smith thought he was friendly, and “nice-looking,” and he quite liked her, too. The next evening, she accompanied Mr. Thompson to another event, this time aboard his ship. It was the beginning of a unique friendship, even though the two never saw each other again. Mr. Thompson’s ship had been dispatched to Belize, British Honduras to protect against Guatemalan threats to the colony, and shortly thereafter, the vessel was decommissioned. It never re- turned to the Cayman Islands. While in Belize, Mr. Thompson found a Caymanian vessel, and asked if anyone on board knew Ms. Smith and could take a letter to her. By a stroke of fate, the captain of that ship was her uncle. For years, the two wrote to each other. “They were ordinary, friendly let- ters,” Mrs. Smith said. “There wasn’t too much happening in those days.” He sent her postcards, pictures of the verdant New Forest area of southern England, close to his home in Southampton. And they ex- changed photographs – Mrs. Smith, now 85, keeps two photos of Mr. Thompson on a shelf in her home in West Bay to this day, among other photos of her family. After a few years of writing back and forth, she had col- lected a bundle of letters from Mr. Thompson. But then she got mar- ried to Ervin Smith, a Caymanian seaman, and had second thoughts about keeping them. It would not be appropriate for a married woman to have letters, even just friendly let- ters, from another man, she thought. She decided to get rid of them. “My mother said that I should never have burnt them, because they were so sweet,” Mrs. Smith said. Mr. Thompson also married, and the two stopped writing to each other. Yet their connection con- tinued, through Mr. Thompson’s family. And the result was that 68 years after Mrs. Smith met the handsome young sailor at a George Town dance, they were, in a way, re- united, when his niece, Pat Wilding, and her husband, Rod, visited Cayman this October. “It was wonderful,” Mrs. Wilding said of meeting Mrs. Smith in person for the first time. “We hugged as if we’d known her all our life.” For although Mrs. Smith had stopped writing letters to Mr. Thompson, she had continued writing letters to his sister-in-law, Peggy Thompson. They wrote to each other, frequently on birthdays and other holidays, and Mrs. Smith often sent presents to the Thompson children, including Pat. “We couldn’t wait for Christmas to see what came, and you’d look for the stamp to see if it was from Cayman,” Mrs. Wilding said. She says she especially loved the colorful dresses Mrs. Smith would send, because at that time in England the clothes for children were rather drab. Ms. Thompson died at 43, and Mrs. Wilding, then 21, took up her mother’s correspondence with Mrs. Smith. “We continued writing and then about six, seven years ago, Ardyth contacted me and said ‘I’d love for you to come over, I’d really like to meet you,’” Mrs. Wilding said. The timing never seemed quite right, but Mrs. Wilding knew if she was going to meet her family’s long- time pen pal in the Cayman Islands, it needed to be soon, while Mrs. Smith was still healthy enough to receive guests. So Mrs. Wilding and her husband at last came to visit Mrs. Smith in October. “We first met Ardyth on Oct. 20, the day we arrived,” Mrs. Wilding said. “She was waiting in the hotel reception when we arrived to check in. She spotted us first and we went across to say hello. It seemed so natural to hug and kiss even though we had never met before.” Mrs. Smith was very glad that the Wildings were finally able to come to Cayman to meet her. “They’re enjoying the island – re- ally crazy about the island – soaking up the sun, getting very brown,” she said. The English visitors also spent plenty of time visiting with Mrs. Smith at the home she has lived in for the entirety of her married life, at the end of a long gravel driveway in a quiet neighborhood near Mount Pleasant in West Bay. Mrs. Wilding enjoyed looking at Mrs. Smith’s old photographs, es- pecially those of her bright-eyed uncle at 19, and Mr. Wilding en- joyed learning all about the his- tory of the Cayman Islands from Mrs. Smith. “Ardyth is a phenomenal histo- rian,” Mr. Wilding said. “She knows ev- erything about the Cayman Islands.” Mrs. Smith also presented Mrs. Wilding with a piece of her own family’s history – a little pin that Mr. Thompson had sent to her so many years ago. Mrs. Wilding plans to give the little token to Mr. Thompson’s sons. Mrs. Wilding said her experi- ence corresponding with Mrs. Smith had made her wish that people still practiced the art of letter-writing. “I think people should still write letters,” Mrs. Smith said. “It comes from the heart.” A recent reunion marks the full circle of a remarkable correspondence relationship that began between two young people who met in post-war Cayman. Alvin ThompsonArdyth Smith Rod and Pat Wilding with Ardyth Smith - Photo: Kelsey JuKam “I think people should still write letters. It comes from the heart.” Ardyth Smith 50 yeARS Ago The week in West Bay In the Nov. 10, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay cor- respondent Leila Yates reported on various comings and goings in the community: ■■ “Miss Andalene Bush returned from Ja. on the 1st having vis- ited that island to make ar- rangements for entrance into hospital to train as a nurse.” ■■ “We are pleased to see Mr. Stowell Ebanks, who has been sick for a few weeks, feeling much better and back at work.” ■■ “Mrs. Linette Collins left on Sat. for Ja. after spending a few weeks with her relatives.” ■■ “Mr. Layman Rexford left on Mon. to join the S.S. ‘Oceanic’ as 2nd cook.” ■■ “Capt. Dalgon Ebanks left on the 5th for the U.S. to bring a boat here for Capt. Bob Soto.” ■■ “Mr. James Williams arrived on the 6th. He was 3rd engi- neer on the S.S. Admiral.”Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 10, 2015 DISTRICT DAYS 7 West Bayers Kem Jackson and Loxley Banks worry the catboat craft is in danger of being lost. They hope to inspire more young people to gain hands-on experience building the boats before it’s too late, District Days West Bay Keeping the catboat tradition alive By Basia Mcguire bmcguire@pinnaclemedialtd.com If you’ve heard of catboats, then you’ve probably also heard of West Bayers Kem Jackson and Loxley Banks. Both just short of age 78 and born only three months apart, the two longtime district residents have been friends since childhood, and share a pas- sion for Cayman’s distinctively blue sailboats known as catboats. Dropping by for a tour of the outdoor work- shop at Mr. Jackson’s home close to Morgan’s Harbour, it’s easy to tell that their dedication to preserving the catboats is steeped in their wish to see the knowledge about this special symbol of Cayman’s heritage passed on to fu- ture generations. As Catboat Club members, they visit schools and offer free catboat rides, as well as organizing occasional regattas. Mr. Jackson once even took the King of Sweden, in Cayman for a scouting event, for a catboat ride in the North Sound. Lore has it that a certain Walton many gen- erations ago on Cayman Brac had opened a large bean pod, and examining it, had a light- bulb moment for a new type of boat. Certainly the catboat shape does resemble a long bean. Its distinctive canoe shape with two sharp ends makes it highly maneuverable. With the influx of outboard motors, local catboat owners took to squaring off the sterns of their boats to mount the engines. Today, Mr. Banks estimates only seven or eight operational catboats in traditional condi- tion remain in Cayman. As for how the catboat got its name, that same Walton, legend has it, had stored his new boat under some coconut fronds, and when he returned some time later a cat had given birth to kittens in the cozy shelter. Mr. Banks coun- tered with another possibility: The name comes from a “cat rig” type of sail rigging used on the boat. Whatever the “real” historical truth, there’s no doubt the catboat has made an indelible im- pact on Cayman. According to the Cayman Catboat Club, from the beginning of the 20th Century through the 1950’s the catboat was an integral part of the islands’ economy. An important possession for seafaring Caymanians for generations, the little boats were used as the pickup trucks of the past, in Mr. Jackson’s words, transporting people and goods between the districts. “The materials for the first building at Rum Point got there by catboat,” he noted. Catboats were also relied upon in Cayman’s traditional turtling industry. Loaded up on schooners, sometimes stacked one on top of the other, the little boats were deployed at turtling spots in the Western Caribbean from Cuba to Nicaragua. They were used to catch and carry turtles back to the larger ships, which would then transport the turtle products to Jamaica and Key West. Mr. Jackson noted that the catboats were handcrafted using a plane, a saw, a hammer and a hatchet, along with plenty of muscle and elbow grease. The timbers forming the boats’ interior ribs were typically made of hardwood like mahogany and plopnut. “The key was to use timbers that were al- ready bent, so the wood would be stronger,” said Mr. Jackson. He pointed to the large orig- inal timbers in the Captain D, named after Captain Dalson Ebanks, built around 1940. The sails were traditionally made of either flour sacks, coco sacks, or a lightweight canvas known as blue edge duck. He added that the task of building a catboat from scratch using such traditional methods is getting more difficult. The lumber materials used to make the boats are increasingly scarce. Both men were keen to underscore that while explaining how the boats are made is helpful to a degree, experience and education go hand-in-hand. They worry the craft is in danger of being lost. They hope to inspire more young people to gain hands-on experience building the boats before it’s too late. “I learned how to make them at the side of my grandfather ‘Uncle Bob’ Jackson,” said Mr. Jackson. “That’s the best way to learn.” Catboats at a regatta.Fishermen haul in a turtle on a catboat: - Photo: Cayman national arChive Loxley Banks, a member of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association, with Kem Jackson holding a sample timber at the catboat workshop. - Photo: Basia mCGuire Year 5 classes of the Sir John A. Cumber School received a donation of 93 brand new dictionaries from the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise. The Usborne Illustrated English Dictionary contains over 1,000 illustrations, over 10,000 entries and 25,000 straightforward definitions. “It has been really amazing to see the kids get so excited by the dictionaries,” said Rotary Sunrise president Christine Mathews. “It’s quite motivating to see them get immediately absorbed.” Rotary Sunrise’s literacy director Sue Mander and Education Minister Tara Rivers were on hand to help give out the books. DiCtionary Donation Sir John A. Cumber students inspect new dictionaries, which were donated by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday November 10, 2015 • Cayman Compass On December 1, IMAC (Insurance Managers Association of Cayman), will host the 23rd annual Cayman Captive Forum at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Over 1,400 specialists including captive directors, CFO’s, risk managers, service providers and captive managers from around the world will converge in Cayman for the conference. The December issue of The Cayman Islands Journal will be given out at the conference, an excellent opportunity to showcase your company. In addition, The Journal will be inserted into the Cayman Compass on Wednesday, December 2 and complimentary copies will be delivered to offices, retail establishments, and executives throughout the island. Approximate total readership is 30,000. The December Issue A Special Advertising Feature! MANAGEMENT & CAPTIVE INSURANCE RISK (345) 949 5111 | sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ad Sales Deadline: Thursday, November 19 There are 700+ captive insurers registered and managed in the Cayman Islands. Assets and skill sets long established in Cayman make it unique as a domicile for captives. bills rose from an estimated $30 million in 2010 to what is expected to be $80 million by the end of the current budget year in June 2016. The unpaid debts in- creased to their current levels following a government de- cision to “scale down” collec- tion efforts by the Treasury Department’s debt collection unit, Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson confirmed. “Perhaps as far back as 2010, a decision was made by the then-govern- ment that … the unit was told not to pursue the col- lection of debts through the courts,” Mr. Jefferson told the Legislative Assembly’s Finance Committee in June. Mr. Jefferson said other efforts were being made to collect the amounts due. He said that could be in the form of telephone calls to the debtors and writing let- ters to them to remind them that they are due to pay the government. The government can, in certain cases, place a charge against a property for payment of a past-due medical bill. However, Mr. Jefferson acknowledged that some of the past-due debts – dating back 10 years or more – are likely a lost cause and government needs to do something about them. Other debts The Health Services Authority is one of many gov- ernment entities that audi- tors reported have encoun- tered difficulties in collecting what was owed them. For instance, the former Ministry of Finance and Development noted it had $3 million in “doubtful debts” out of a total $7.4 million it was due during 2014. Auditors said those ex- penses also related to med- ical bills where certain payments were made to indi- viduals who had to go over- seas to obtain treatment. Why the payments were made via the Ministry of Finance and Development was not imme- diately clear. Other ministries with outstanding bills included the Ministry of Education, which reported about $1 mil- lion outstanding receivables for the year, and the former Ministry of Planning, which wrote off $1.3 million in re- ceivables during 2013/14 and which listed an addi- tional $2.1 million in debts that had gone more than 90 days past due. Auditors did not state what those amounts were specifically related to. “We have raised concerns over the effective manage- ment of accounts receivable, the potential impact on cash flow and the risk of lost rev- enue to the government by not taking effective action,” Mr. Harrison’s report noted. Debt collection The government has iden- tified debt collection as a medium-term priority in its evaluation of the Ernst & Young consultant’s report from 2014. The government’s own evaluation in relation to the unpaid debts in the public hospital system indi- cated: “This position is not sustainable.” The govern- ment advocated addressing the health authority debts as a “high priority” via a system redesign to ensure bad debts do not continue to accumulate. A similar debt collection program would be proposed throughout government if it was deemed necessary, the government’s response to the consultant report stated. Health Services fail to collect $120 million since 2005 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Clock ticking on daylight saving time James Whittaker JWhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A committee involving fi- nancial industry and tourism officials has been estab- lished to help ensure a glitch- free transition when the clocks go forward in the Cayman Islands for the first time in March. The clocks went back an hour in the U.S. Nov. 1, ending daylight saving time for the year. When they go forward again in the spring, Cayman will follow suit. The change means the time in the islands will be in sync with Eastern zone time in the United States, or the same as New York and Miami, for example, year round. The move is designed in part to make life simpler for businesses, but the extra hour of daylight is also ex- pected to make a difference to tourists and residents. Commerce Minister Wayne Panton said a com- mittee has been established to work out any logistical is- sues ahead of the switch. The policy decision to make the transition in March 2016 was taken earlier this year, but has not been widely publicized. Mr. Panton said, “This committee is about prepara- tion for implementation so that there is a smooth transi- tion and it doesn’t take any- body by surprise. “I’m sure everyone is fa- miliar with the concept of daylight saving time, but there are some practical is- sues to sort out.” Airline schedules, which typically change with the time zone to accommodate the switch in the U.S., will no longer need to make such contingency plans, he said. Wil Pineau, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the committee, said there are some logis- tical issues to be worked out. “There are adjustments that need to be made to cer- tain banking systems, and the cruise lines and air- lines will need to be notified to organize their schedules accordingly.” Barry Bodden, pres- ident of the Chamber, said it makes sense for Cayman to move to daylight saving time. “There are some advan- tages to the financial ser- vices industry of being on the same time zone as New York. Even though it is only an hour, it makes a differ- ence,” he said. He acknowledged that not everyone is in favor, but said the Chamber membership supported the move and was pleased it was being imple- mented as early as next year. “I think if our financial industry and our tourism industry are saying there are advantages to being in sync with the U.S., those are the two main pillars of the economy. “There are advantages to doing it and I don’t see too many negatives,” he said. “Anything that is going to improve our business cli- mate is a good thing.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Tuesday November 10, 2015 can calculate the whole- sale price Sol pays for the supplies,” Sol represen- tatives argued in their submissions to the in- formation commissioner. “Although there are fur- ther intermediary costs, a comparison between the wholesale price and ad- vertised price or the price CUC publish[es] in their fuel factor statements will yield a close approxi- mation of Sol’s ‘mark up’ on the supplies. “The confidentiality of this information is of critical importance to Sol’s ability to effectively compete and operate its business in Cayman.” Rubis representatives argued that the open re- cords request was an at- tempt to use the Freedom of Information Law, which does not apply to private companies, to grant back-door access to proprietary commercial information, simply be- cause the customs service holds the records. Mr. Liebaers pointed out that neither Sol nor Rubis provided any spe- cific contracts that set out the rules of confiden- tiality for their pricing information. The information com- missioner said he was also “puzzled” to learn that some cost information from the fuel distributors is already supplied to gov- ernment, since lawmakers claimed many times that this information was not available to them. The Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage (Amendment) Law, 2015, would require fuel importers to divulge far more detailed infor- mation about their op- erations to government than they currently pro- vide. The law as passed states: “The chief petro- leum inspector shall … collect from importers, and compile, analyze and abstract, informa- tion on fuel prices and pricing methods and pro- vide such information to the minister.” The minister in ques- tion would be the elected official in charge of the petroleum inspec- torate. Currently that is Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts. At the request of the petroleum inspector, the importer is required to provide information on the price of all fuel im- ported and sold and the “pricing methods” used by the importer in the sale of fuel to retail operators and consumers. Those costs can include: initial costs, cost of freight, in- surance and brokerage fees, customs duties, es- timates of fuel in stock, and the amount and type of fuel to be imported in the next shipment. In addition to a fine, the bill would allow gov- ernment to sue the im- porters to force them to provide the informa- tion required. The legis- lation does not require that the information be made available to the general public. Fuel pricing data not public, commissioner rules Woman found off SMB identified Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman found dead in Grand Cayman’s main tourism district early Sunday was identified by family members as a local financial services industry worker and mother of three children. Cassandra Hurlston, 38, was found near the Tiki Beach bar and restaurant along West Bay Road over- night Sunday after family members called police late Saturday expressing con- cerns for her welfare. Ms. Hurlston was not re- sponsive when she was lo- cated, and medical personnel were not able to revive her with CPR. She was pro- nounced dead at the Cayman Islands Hospital early Sunday, police said. Initial reports to po- lice indicated Ms. Hurlston was found slumped over the wheel of a vehicle, but Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers had cordoned off a wooded area just north of Tiki Beach early Sunday and appeared to be searching that area as well. Police Chief Inspector Harlan Powery de- clined to elaborate on the investigation, stating only that detectives had not de- termined what caused Ms. Hurlston’s death. Mr. Powery said offi- cers received a request for help just before midnight Saturday from Ms. Hurlston’s family stating they had not been able to locate her and were growing concerned. Ms. Hurlston’s father-in-law, former Cayman Islands Chief Secretary Lemuel Hurlston, said Sunday his family did not believe she had met with foul play and indicated Ms. Hurlston had recently exhib- ited signs of depression due to personal issues. She worked in Cayman as a corporate administrator at Intertrust, a large finan- cial services and investment funds administration firm. A Royal Cayman Islands Police officer walks through the area just off Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach where a woman’s body was found early Sunday. – Photo: Brent Fuller Fourth BritCay robber pleads guilty Tareek Crawford admits involvement in October 2012 daylight crime Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The fourth man involved in the 2012 armed robbery of a BritCay courier entered a plea of guilty Friday in Grand Court to the single charge of robbery. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards said the basis of the plea by Tareek Kevin Crawford was acceptable to the Crown. Crawford pleaded guilty to stealing CI$8,117 and US$593, the property of BritCay Insurance Co. on Oct. 4, 2012, and at the time of doing so using force or threat of force against a named courier. Crawford was 18 at the time. The other three robbers were sentenced last year after pleading guilty to rob- bery and possession of an unlicensed firearm, a Bryco .38 semiautomatic pistol. Cayman Compass re- cords show that Brandon Reno Liberal and Manuel Ramirez Carter were each sentenced to seven years in prison. John Phillip Cohen Ebanks, who entered his pleas early and assisted the Crown, was sentenced to three years. Carter, 32 at the time, was the gunman who approached the cou- rier outside BritCay House on Eastern Avenue. Ebanks, 50 at the time, was his get- away driver. Liberal, then 27, and Crawford were in another vehicle that picked up Carter and Ebanks after they abandoned their car. Crawford’s attorney in 2012 argued that he was unfit to plead. Ms. Richards told Justice Charles Quin that Crawford was now con- sidered fit. Justice Quin agreed to defense attorney Laurence Aiolfi’s request for a social inquiry report before sen- tencing. The judge noted that victim impact state- ments were already on file. He set Jan. 14 as the date for sentencing and continued Crawford’s bail until then. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Carson pledges to advocate for statehood for Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Republican presidential can- didate Ben Carson traveled to Puerto Rico on Sunday to support the U.S. territory be- coming the 51st state, saying that would strengthen the United States. Carson attended a po- litical rally of statehood supporters and pledged to advocate for statehood for the island. He said Puerto Rico has done much to justify be- coming a state, pointing to its century-long association with the United States and the participation of its resi- dents in fighting U.S. wars. “We probably have more patriotic Puerto Ricans than almost any other state. Look at all the contributions that have been made to America. So you know you have al- ready paid your dues. When you look at all the other ter- ritories that became states, very few of them have met all of the requirements that Puerto Rico has. So there is really no reason that we should not be doing this,” Carson said. He said the current fi- nancial struggles of Puerto Rico’s government, which is trying to refinance $72 billion in public debt and spark an economy that has been in a slump for nearly a decade, is no reason to deny statehood. Puerto Rico’s debt prob- lems are the result of it being treated unfairly as a territory and the situation would im- prove with statehood, he said “The last two states, Hawaii and Alaska, also had a significant problem fi- nancially until they became states – then things took off and that will happen here as well,” Carson said. His one-day trip to Puerto Rico follows visits to the is- land by fellow Republican candidates Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, who have also expressed support for statehood. In four nonbinding refer- endums on the island’s status held over the past half-cen- tury, the idea of statehood has never won a clear ma- jority from Puerto Rican voters. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but those living on the island do not owe fed- eral income taxes, paying only Social Security and Medicare taxes to the fed- eral government. Their one member in Congress does not have a vote. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson He said the current financial struggles of Puerto Rico’s government is no reason to deny statehood. Crawford’s attorney in 2012 argued that he was unfit to plead.Next >