High of 89 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights 3 to 5 feet. The Room Three Latest in the app series is a visual feast B7 Film Technology Trends ■ music Pantastic, man! Focus on ‘Bright Spot’ Friday November 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass BUY 2 GET 1 FREE! Select any 3 bottles from the brands above and get the least expensive FREE! STORE HOURS: MON SAT 10AM TO 8PM The Main Store, Shedden Rd • The Wine Cellar, Galleria PlazaOPEN UNTIL 10 PM Countryside Shopping Village, Savannah • Morritts Shopping Centre, East End BUY 2 GET 1 MAC makeup Highlighting trends for the season B6 Pantastic, man! Learning from Earl La Pierre B8 Take a trip down Sticky Toffee Lane Chef George Fowler launches book B2 Photo: StePhen Clarke Film sheds light on a priceless natural resource B3 Cayman Weekender Pantastic, man! Editorial | pagE 4 Earl la PiErrE: Cayman’s ‘man of stEEl’ eSTaBLISHed 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – friday novEmbEr 13, 2015 retiring airport staff received lucrative ‘severance packages’ CIAA chairman: “It’s ridiculous” brEnt fullEr bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some employees at the Cayman Islands Airports Authority received “severance pack- ages” upon their retirement during the govern- ment’s 2012/13 budget year, and possibly in prior years, the Cayman Compass has learned. The severance packages – which totaled tens of thousands of dollars in some cases – were paid in addition to employee pensions normally due upon retirement. Airports au- thority officials said they were aware of fewer than 10 cases where the packages were paid. Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison said Wednesday that it appeared none of the former airport employees who received the “severance” payment had provisions in their contracts providing for such a payment. “What we’re seeing here is that there is no provision in the contract for severance pay- ments to be made. The board [authorized] it,” said Audit Principal Martin Ruben, when asked about the issue last week. “It’s ridiculous. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it,” said 40-year civil servant and Cayman Islands Airports Authority Board Chairman Kirkland Nixon. “People don’t get severance payments when they retire.” Typically, severance payments, under the Cayman Islands Labour Law, are made when an employee is made redundant or wrongfully terminated. They can equal between one and two weeks’ pay for each year the person has worked for the company. For instance, someone retiring from the airports authority who made $60,000 per year would earn about $1,154 per week, and if they were paid for 30 years of service, they would receive close to $35,000 in “severance.” Mr. Ruben said lump sum payments can be made in the public sector upon a worker’s re- tirement, but such payments are usually ar- ranged beforehand. Mr. Nixon said airport board members Pirates Week gets under Way CharlEs dunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Don your hats and boots and try to find a friendly parrot to sit on your shoulder – the pirates are invading this weekend. The black flag of the Jolly Roger, a flag that once could have gotten a man hanged around these parts, now flies along the streets of George Town to welcome the thousands expected to invade the water- front Friday and Saturday for Pirates Week. Forecasters with the Cayman Islands Weather Service expect partly cloudy the real Pirates of the Cayman islands JamEs WhittakEr jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com In the spring of 1717, a small turtling schooner was captured off the coast of Grand Cayman along with its crew. The ringleader of the raid was an ex- iled English sailor with a thick black beard and a fearsome reputation, named Edward Teach. That relatively minor act of piracy, at Kimpton ramping up for 2016 opening JamEs WhittakEr jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kimpton Hotels has begun the recruitment process for the newly named Seafire Resort and Spa on Seven Mile Beach, ultimately seeking to hire 300 staff ahead of its opening in November 2016. The name was officially an- nounced Wednesday night to around 200 invited guests, in- cluding Cayman’s political and business leaders, at a launch event in the lobby of the unfin- ished hotel. Still a year away from com- pletion, the construction site was temporarily transformed into a glitzy auditorium, with walls of large-screen televi- sions flickering with images of the multimillion-dollar con- struction project. The hotel group’s chief exec- utive officer, Mike DeFrino, told guests he had high hopes the re- sort would bring jobs and pros- perity to the Cayman Islands. He believes the resort and its five restaurants will become an important part of the commu- nity, attracting locals as well as new visitors. guy Harvey’s art makes waves Guy Harvey’s marine life artwork is heading back to the sea that inspired it. Mr. Harvey’s artwork appears on the hull of a Norwegian Cruise Line ship that is making its inaugural journey this weekend. The artist, along with family and friends, will also be making the voyage. For more on this story, see page 2. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Friday November 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass Mobile: 345-323-8573 Office: 345-943-8573 / Fax: 345-949-9753 heather.richards@remax.ky / www.remax.ky Heather Richards DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN! Cayman Islands Member of CIREBA Doubletree Lane Spotts Newlands Spacious and modern 3b/2b family home has nice quality furnishings, granite counter-tops and SS appliances. Beautifully landscaped and well fruited with gazebo. Easy access to George Town, Schools and conveniently located. MLS 403789 CI $240,000 NEW PRICE! CARIBBEANCAFEA Lunch /Dinner 11am-10pm Daily A with DJ Flex Free lessons with Kirk starting 9.30pm Every Tuesday TOMORROW Saturday, November14th Barefoot Man and Sea N’B Starting live at 8:00 -11:00pm Come for dinner Stay for Dancing Harpist Extraordinaire Eugenio Leon Serenades Tableside Tonight Friday and every Friday! Salsa Tuesdays Tarpon Fish Feeding 7:30pm & 9:00pm Nightly Fish FeedingTarpon TONIGHT! Friday Happy Hour 5pm-7pm FIREWORKS @ 8:30pm From GT Harbour Drink Specials Come for Dinner or at our Ocean Side Bar for a agreat view of the Fireworks with DJ Flex starting Salsa with DJ Flex Salsa with DJ Flex with DJ Flex Call 949-2231 or email: thewharf@candw.ky 345-945-4411 info@cirealty.ky caymanislandsrealty.com Mangrove Bay Design / build available Strata Lots US$266,000 Member CIREBA MLS#404863 NEW CANAL FRONT SUBDIVISION ! Twenty-seven civil servants accepted diplomas at the Civil Service College graduation on Oct. 29, with 20 completing associate degrees in public administration and seven more receiving certificates in public administration. More than three-quarters of the civil servants achieved honors by earning a final grade point average of 3.5 or more. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson lauded the efforts of this year’s graduates and certificate recipients, “I am delighted that so many of our civil servants are making the effort to enhance their education. This is an important step towards excellence.” Pictured here with Chief Officer in the Portfolio of the Civil Service Gloria McField-Nixon, center, are four of the civil servants who earned certificates of public information. They are, from left, Raquel Matute, Dwayne Bodden, Jodene Scott and Winsome Prendergast. A craft fair featuring a variety of locally made arts and crafts takes place this weekend at St. Alban’s Church, 461 Shedden Road. Organized by a group that calls itself the Church Mice, the fair runs from noon until 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. The fair will also feature an attic treasure stall. PIEDRA HERRADA, Mexico (AP) – The number of monarch butterflies reaching their wintering grounds in cen- tral Mexico this year may be three or four times higher than the previous season, authorities said Thursday. Mexican Environment Secretary Rafael Pacchiano said initial reports suggest the butterfly population is rebounding. “We estimate that the butterfly population that arrives at the reserve is as much as three and could reach four times the sur- face area it occupied last season,” Pacchiano said, but did not explain how the calculation was made. Civil servant grads Craft fair this weekend Mexico hopes to see 3-4 tiMes More Monarch butterflies Guy Harvey’s artwork adorns new cruise ship James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com For Cayman’s marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey, there has never been a bigger canvas or a wider audience. Mr. Harvey, along with 100 of his family and closest friends, will set sail this weekend for the inaugural voyage of the Norwegian Escape, a 4,200-passenger cruise ship that will travel through the eastern Caribbean. Emblazoned on the mam- moth hull of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ newest ship is the dis- tinctive artwork of Mr. Harvey. A giant sailfish adorns the bow, with a cast of Caribbean sea creatures, including a turtle, stingray and whale shark, following in its wake, alongside the Guy Harvey logo. Mr. Harvey helped sketch the placement of the images on the side of the ship be- fore they were transposed onto the hull using a process known as laser projection. He was among guests, including the mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Gimenez, and pop star Pitbull at the christening ceremony in Miami on Monday. “It was the first time I had seen it in the sunlight and the colors really pop. The shipyard has done a fantastic job,” he said. Mr. Harvey will step on board again Friday when the ship makes its first journey from its home port to the Caribbean. The ship will not be seen in Cayman any time soon; it is currently com- missioned on the Eastern Caribbean route. Mr. Harvey’s stores will be on board and he will appear in person three times a year to give talks on conservation and art. His Guy Harvey tele- vision channel will be in all rooms as part of the deal. Cruise ships and conser- vation have not always gone hand in hand, but Mr. Harvey believes the design and pol- icies of the ships have im- proved from an environ- mental perspective. He hopes, through his art and his on-board lectures, to reach a wider audience with a conservation message.Eye to eye: Guy Harvey checks out his work. - photo: courtesY GuY harVeYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Friday November 13, 2015 this Christmas win $1000 every week let it flow discoverflow.ky/xmas let the warmth flow Weekly draws for $1000 cash plus you’ll be entered into our Supermarket Sweep to win all your Christmas goodies plus $5000 cash. Easy ways to enter: • TopUp $10 or more • Buy any data plan over $5 • Sign up for Mobile, Broadband or Flow TV service Flow terms & conditions applyThe 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” Friday November 13, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Meet Earl La Pierre. Even if you haven’t heard of him — you’ve most likely heard him … or his music, or that of his thou- sands of protégés in the Cayman Islands. Mr. La Pierre is the closest thing Cayman has to an iconic musical treasure. Instead of strings, wood- winds and brass, the “orchestras” that Mr. La Pierre conducts are composed of steel pan. Mr. La Pierre’s photo graces the front cover of today’s edition of Weekender (included inside this newspaper). The occasion, as our inside story relates, is in honor of a recent award he received on the 75th birthday of the iconic Trinidadian steel band, Invaders. But that award is just, to use an industry term, the “news hook.” In reality, Mr. La Pierre would be worthy of an article in our publications at just about any time over the past 25 years, during which period he has been one of the most important figures in the develop- ment of the musical arts in Cayman. According to Mr. La Pierre, “I’ve taught perhaps 3,000 kids in Cayman since 1989. Every year I probably teach 100-plus in the school system.” To put it another way, if you are in Cayman, and the familiar notes of the steel pan reach your ears, you are probably experiencing the fruits of Mr. La Pierre’s genius. The arc of Mr. La Pierre’s life, which, of course, has been guided by his music, is distinctive yet completely in character with the Caribbean, and Cayman. His nar- rative is informed by international experience, but is grounded in the traditions of his hometown upbringing. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Mr. La Pierre inher- ited his love for music from his mother. Despite his mother’s aversion to the reputation of the “bad guys” who were the local musicians, Mr. La Pierre couldn’t resist the call of the steel pan. “I always wanted to play, and the Invaders were my love,” he said. He committed himself to the craft, and the steel pan led him all the way to Toronto, where he founded the group Afropan in 1973, which has gone on to win the city’s annual Pan Alive competition more than 30 times. In 1986, Mr. La Pierre first visited Cayman, and he came down for good three years later, when then- Pirates Week chief Dave Martins (himself a musician of The Tradewinds fame) invited him to lead a band to play under George Town’s Clock Tower. Since then, Mr. La Pierre has started many local steel bands and has taught students at schools across the island. Two of his remaining dreams, he says, are to create a full-time Cayman School of Pan, and to start an official Cayman National Steel Band to represent the country in overseas competitions. Such is the performance of Mr. La Pierre’s life and vocation, ovation after ovation, encore after encore. Earl La Pierre: Cayman’s ‘Man of Steel’ Cameron and the EU ThE TElEgraph (london) The fact that David Cameron has written a letter to the President of the EU Council setting out Britain’s terms for a renegotiation of its membership terms is emblematic of the institu- tion’s aggrandizing tenden- cies. Until a few years ago this post, currently occupied by Donald Tusk, the former Polish premier, did not even exist. It was created by the Lisbon Treaty to add to four other presidencies. This is the real backdrop to Mr. Cameron’s search for a new deal, which his letter to Mr. Tusk formally initiated. Those who argue against re- forms and in favor of the status quo must acknowl- edge how far the EU has de- veloped from the loose asso- ciation of common trading partners most people thought we were joining 40 years ago. Still, the four key points that Mr. Cameron set out are more about stopping Britain being drawn further into an inte- grated superstate rather than repatriating powers. Mr. Cameron says he is confident he can get a deal and there seems no obvious reason why he should not since the rest of the EU does not want Britain to leave and the demands are modest. The area where he will have greatest difficulty is with rules for claiming benefits. Here, Mr. Cameron wants other EU citizens to work and contribute for four years be- fore qualifying for tax credits and other payments. This would be fine if the same rules applied to UK citizens; the issue is whether it is pos- sible to treat other EU citi- zens differently. Moreover, it is by no means clear that new benefit conditions would have much impact on immigration. Mr. Cameron said that 40 per- cent of recently arrived EU workers claim benefits; but it does not follow they would be deterred from coming if the payments were unavail- able for four years, even were the European Court to accept such discrimination is lawful. So, a fundamental change to Britain’s position in the EU is not anticipated and is not even being requested. Perhaps this was never a realistic hope; but in his Bloomberg speech three years ago in which he an- nounced plans for a refer- endum, he foresaw a “new settlement” in Europe, one “in which … some powers can be returned to member states.” Little is now heard of re- patriation of sovereignty. Mr. Cameron is effectively pre- paring the ground for a ref- erendum that invites voters either to support the status quo with some modifications, or to leave. That at least has the virtue of clarity. © 2015, Telegraph Media Group Stuff Americans don’t need Mark WhiTEhoUsE What makes the U.S. economy grow? A look at consumer spending data of- fers a simple if perhaps trou- bling answer: Increasingly, it’s people buying stuff they don’t need. Any effort to separate wants from needs involves subjectivity. One person’s luxury may be another’s ne- cessity. That said, some catego- ries of spending tracked by the Bureau of Economic Analysis – such as jewelry and restau- rants – consist primarily of stuff that pretty much anyone, if pressed, could do without. Such goods and services make up almost a fifth of personal consumption, or an annual- ized US$2.3 trillion in the three months through September. For most of the past six decades, this non-essential consumption played a sec- ondary role in economic ex- pansions, with spending on more important items such as groceries and shelter taking the lead. In the new millennium, though, the roles have switched. Since the cur- rent recovery began in mid- 2009, spending on stuff people don’t need has grown at an average annualized rate of 3.3 percent, compared with 2 percent for other stuff. The increasing importance of non-essential spending has various possible interpreta- tions. On the bright side, it could be a sign of greater overall prosperity: If people have largely taken care of their basic needs, then the ups and downs of consump- tion might simply be mi- grating to discretionary items. Alternatively, it could re- flect the increasing concen- tration of wealth in the hands of the rich, who naturally de- vote a larger share of their expenditures to luxury goods and services. Their income has become more volatile in recent decades, so perhaps their spending is doing the same, driving faster growth in non-essential goods during recoveries. If so, that could mean a bumpier ride for less affluent folks. Whatever the expla- nation, the message for a fragile global economy is the same: If you want it to keep growing, you’d better hope Americans keep buying stuff they don’t need. Mark Whitehouse writes editorials on global economics and finance. © 2015, Bloomberg View [T]he four key points that Mr. Cameron set out are more about stopping Britain being drawn further into an integrated superstate rather than repatriating powers. Since the current recovery began in mid-2009, spending on stuff people don’t need has grown at an average annualized rate of 3.3 percent, compared with 2 percent for other stuff.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 Cayman Compass • Friday November 13, 2015 6 LOCAL NEWS Friday November 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass CAMANABAY.COM/HOLIDAYS #CAMANABAY Join a parade of red and white for a 3K jolly jog around Camana Bay and support a very special cause. Registration includes a Santa T-shirt* and net proceeds will benefit numerous local charities through the Camana Bay Christmas Give. *Based on availability. Cannot be guaranteed for day-of registration. Costume encouraged. For registration and more ways to support the Camana Bay Christmas Give, visit The Discovery Centre or go to camanabay.com/holidays ADULTS: $35 | CHILDREN 5-12: $10 | UNDER 5: FREE A Jolly Jog for a Cause Saturday 28 November 6am Registration; 6:30am Start, The Crescent One man was hospitalized and another was arrested fol- lowing a fight in West Bay late Wednesday. According to police re- ports, a 26-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach in “what appears to have been a dispute between friends” after 9 p.m. He was in stable condition at hospital on Thursday. A 24-year-old man was ar- rested Wednesday night on suspicion of wounding, po- lice said. Police: Man stabs friend during dispute Privy Council upholds Cayman unlicensed firearm conviction Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Privy Council has overturned a decision of the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, upholding the con- viction of Robert Aaron Crawford, 22, for possessing an unlicensed firearm. Crawford had received a sentence of 10 years for the of- fense. The charge arose from an incident in November 2011, when Crawford was chased by a police officer and was seen throwing something into nearby bush. Police later re- covered a gun at the scene. Crawford chose to be tried by judge alone, and Justice Charles Quin found him guilty in 2012. In 2013, the Court of Appeal overturned the convic- tion and acquitted Crawford, not ordering a new trial. The Crown appealed that deci- sion to the Privy Council and the matter was heard last month. The judgment of the five-member board was re- leased on Wednesday. The judgment pointed out that Justice Quin’s finding of guilt was based substantially on his assessment of the evi- dence of the officer who had chased Crawford. He had found the officer’s evidence to be accurate and reliable. The chase on foot took place after 3 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2011 near the Island Heritage roundabout on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway after Crawford crashed into nearby guardrails. Two Uniform Support Group of- ficers had been pursuing the vehicle as the result of a report that Crawford had pulled a gun on someone. There was a passenger in the car driven by Crawford; when the car crashed, both occupants got out and ran. Each officer picked a man to pursue. The officer who chased Crawford said he saw him throw a silver-colored gun. He was able to tackle Crawford a short time later. After a search of the area, with commercial lighting and a metal detector, a loaded silver stock German Luger pistol was found. The Privy Council noted that no one ever suggested that the officer did not see Crawford throw something and that “At no stage during the trial was it suggested on behalf of [Crawford] that the gun had been brought to the scene by police and planted.” The Court of Appeal had held that Justice Quin erred in his treatment and analysis of evidence regarding the sig- nificance of the absence of Crawford’s DNA on the gun, and discrepancies in photo- graphs taken by two officers. The Privy Council dis- agreed, saying it was the Court of Appeal that erred, rather than the judge. Justice Quin had di- rected himself that a person who handles a gun may not always leave recover- able fingerprints or DNA on it. The presence or ab- sence of DNA or fingerprints does not determine guilt or innocence of any defendant. As to the photographs of the gun at the scene, there had been issues about a round of ammunition seen in one set of photos but not the other, and whether the gun was on top of the foliage or beneath it. The Court of Appeal adverted to the possi- bility that officers might have “improved” the evidence by moving the gun. The Privy Council said Justice Quin addressed this point, asking whether it un- dermined the officer’s ev- idence of seeing the gun thrown and then the gun being found. There was no soil or vegetation at- taching to the gun to sug- gest it had been in the bush for some time. The gun was old and had an ill-fitting magazine, but was in full working order. Justice Quin had directed himself that what mattered was the evidence of the of- ficer who chased Crawford. If it was truthful and reliable, Crawford was guilty; if there was any doubt about the of- ficer seeing a gun, Crawford had to be acquitted. The Privy Council said Justice Quin was right to direct him- self that the case depended on the officer’s evidence. “Unless there is some error of principle, or material to show he was plainly wrong, this is exactly the kind of as- sessment which ought not to be disturbed by an appellate court without clear reason,” the Privy Council said. After being caught, Crawford had told the of- ficer, “That guy had a gun.” The Privy Council said this suggested that the gun was in the forefront of Crawford’s mind at the time and he was attempting to put the blame on someone else, apparently his passenger. This also sup- ported the officer’s evidence. “Neither in respect of the photographic evidence nor in respect of the DNA evi- dence were the criticisms of the Court of Appeal justified,” the Privy Council determined, and there was no basis for departing from Justice Quin’s verdict. The charge arose from an incident in November 2011, when Crawford was chased by a police officer and was seen throwing something into nearby bush. Police later recovered a gun at the scene.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Compass • Friday November 13, 2015 8 LOCAL NEWS Friday November 13, 2015 • Cayman Compass In lieu of owers, donations can be made to the Cayman Heart Fund, at Cayman National. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Trevor Weston Scott who passed away on Thursday, October 29th, 2015. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, November 14th, 2015 at the Seaman’s & Veteran’s Centre, Cayman Brac at 11:00am. Viewing will be from 10:00 to 10:45am. Interment to follow at Watering Place Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Hazel Azeith McLean-Scott affectionately known as “Aunt Zeet” who passed away on Monday November 2nd, 2015. A funeral service will be held on Sunday November 15th, 2015 at the Spot Bay Holiness Church, Cayman Brac at 3:00p.m. Viewing will be from 2:00 until 2:45p.m. Interment to follow at the Spot Bay Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of who passed away on Monday November 2nd, 2015. We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Veronica Crawford who passed away on Friday November 6th, 2015. A special viewing will be held on Monday November 16th, 2015 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Churchill’s Funeral Home, at 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town. Ms. Crawford will be repatriated to Jamaica. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Veronica Crawford who passed away on Friday November 6th, 2015. A special viewing will be held on Monday November 16th, 2015 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Churchill’s Funeral Home, at 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town. Ms. Crawford will be repatriated to Jamaica. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of November 16th, 2015 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Cassandra Lee Hurlston who passed away on Sunday November 8th, 2015. A Memorial and Thanksgiving Service, will be held on Thursday November 19th, 2015 at the George’s Anglican Church, George Town, Grand Cayman at 3:00p.m. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com A Memorial and Thanksgiving Service, will be We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Clarice General who passed away on Wednesday, November 11th, 2015. A Service of Thanksgiving, will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Obituary Capt. James Ebanks Howell, 1921-2015 Capt. James Ebanks Howell passed away at home surrounded by his children on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. He was best known to most simply as Howell. Howell was born on Sept. 20, 1921 to Calvin and Ida Ebanks of West Bay. He mar- ried his devoted and loving wife, Marrie Borden Howell of Mount Pleasant, Grand Cayman, in 1949. In 1950, Howell and Marrie moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where their five children were born and raised. A young man during World War II, Howell joined the Trinidad Volunteer Marine Corps as a signalman. Years later he worked as a merchant marine for Texaco and retired as captain in 1981. Captain Howell loved gardening, being outdoors and telling stories (some more truthful than others) of his life. He was also a de- voted Dallas Cowboys fan. Howell was preceded in death by his wife, Marrie; daughter, Jen Howell Hayden; and grandson, Stephen Howell; four sisters and one brother. He is survived by his son, Dennis Howell (wife Sandy Norris Howell) of Nederland; daughter, Ida Howell Ross (husband Ridley Ross) of San Antonio; daugh- ters Avis Howell and Edith Howell, both of Beaumont; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and one spe- cial nephew, Larry Washburn, and one brother-in-law, Owen Farrington, both of Grand Cayman. Pops, as he is called by his grandchildren, is also survived by: Jimmy Howell of Italy, Christopher Howell of North Carolina, Michael Ross of Florida, Bryan Ross of Alabama, Brittni Boyden Robins of New Mexico, and one step-grandson, Austin Gaspard of Texas. Pops also has three great-grandsons and eight great-granddaugh- ters. Pops is also survived by Freckles, his companion dog of 13 years. Security concern delayS murder appeal Only two of seven courtrooms have purpose-built docks CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Security concerns prompted the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal to adjourn hearing argu- ments on Thursday on be- half of Brian Emmanuel Borden, who is appealing his conviction for murder and his sentence of life imprisonment. Court president Sir John Chadwick adjourned the matter until next week after hearing from a senior prison officer who said the prison ser- vice would not be happy with the security in Kirk House, where the appeal court was sitting. He did not elaborate. Attorneys met with the three-judge panel in closed court before media representatives were al- lowed to attend. Justice Chadwick noted that it had been anticipated that the ap- peal would be heard in Court 2 in the Law Courts Building. Courts 1 and 2 are the only courtrooms with a purpose-built dock in which defendants sit and which leads directly into the area of holding cells for individuals who are in custody. On Thursday, Court 1 was being used for an attempted murder trial and dozens of prospec- tive jurors attended for jury selection. Court 2 was being used for the ongoing trial of two men who have pleaded not guilty to pos- session of an unlicensed firearm. Kirk House, which is across the street from the courthouse, has four courtrooms originally in- tended for civil cases and for criminal cases for de- fendants not in custody. One of the concerns was the single entrance/ exit used by defendants, as well as witnesses, at- torneys and the public. Other concerns included lack of a holding cell and only one set of rest rooms. The George Town Town Hall is used occa- sionally for traffic mat- ters. Court 3 is in the courthouse. Where there is no dock, defendants sit at a table with their attor- neys or sit in chairs be- hind them or at the side of the room. Borden’s appeal is now scheduled for Nov. 18. Borden was found guilty after trial by judge alone of murdering Robert Mackford Bush in West Bay in September 2011. Kenneth Bryan assault trial adjourned to Feb. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The trial of Kenneth Bryan, charged with disorderly con- duct and assaulting police, has been adjourned until Feb. 2, 2016. Bryan, a former polit- ical candidate and aide to Premier Alden McLaughlin, was in court on Wednesday for the second day of his trial, which started in August after his pleas of not guilty. The only witness to give ev- idence on Wednesday was Inspector Dwayne Jones, the investigating officer, whose taped interview with Bryan was played for Magistrate Philippa McFarlane. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright did not close the case for the prosecution after that, since there was one more witness to be called – the cus- tody officer at George Town Police Station on the night Bryan was arrested. This of- ficer had not attended court by 2:30 p.m. and the magistrate granted the adjournment. In his interview, Bryan ex- plained that he had become involved in a disturbing sit- uation on the night of Oct. 10, 2014, in the parking lot of Dreams Night Club. He said he saw an off-duty fe- male officer whom he knew and she seemed distressed and frightened. The woman’s former boy- friend, Jermaine, was in- sulting her and yelling at her and nobody was standing up for her. Bryan said he spoke to Jermaine, saying “Leave her alone or I’ll call the police.” Then two men came over to assist Bryan. The woman was able to leave the scene, after which a scuffle broke out, Bryan re- lated. Police officers came and the only person he saw ar- rested was one of the men who had assisted him. He told the officer, whom he knew, that he had the wrong man. Another officer put his hands on Bryan’s chest and told him he was obstructing justice and Bryan replied that he was just trying to explain, trying to give information. In the interview, Mr. Jones told Bryan that another of- ficer at the scene had stated that when Bryan first ap- proached, he said, “What the f–- is going on?” Bryan denied using the ex- pletive at any time; he said he did use a phrase which he did not consider bad, but the officer told him if he said it again he would be arrested for common assault. He agreed his tone was probably loud be- cause he was trying to explain. He denied pointing his finger in the officer’s face. He said he did point his finger, but only after the officer pointed his finger at him. Bryan was ar- rested and taken to the George Town Police Station and subse- quently bailed. The interview took place a week later. During the interview Mr. Jones suggested that Bryan had been warned several times, but had persisted in his conduct. Bryan said he did comply and he denied about 80 percent of what police officers had said in their statements. Cross-examined by defense attorney Karin Thompson, Mr. Jones said he was not the ini- tial investigating officer: that had been a constable at the scene. The matter was handed over to Mr. Jones about a week or week and a half later. Kenneth bryan Capt. HowellThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Friday November 13, 2015 Next >