ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday November 19, 2015 sports | page 15 lawyers aim To hosT global eveNT Attorneys want rugby tournament High of 89 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights 3 to 5 feet. editorial | page 4 CaymaN braC employmeNT: a saab sTory HomeOptions Shop around and pay less for more insurance! $250 gift certificate can be used to purchase BritCay motor insurance Home Insurance with BritCay offers convenient, interest-free monthly payments, flexible cover, fast claims, competitive premiums and deductibles. Ask for a quote. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *applies to new buildings policies cgigrp MLA Anthony EdEn ‘We do not need an atheist chairing our Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission’ Legislator blasts Commission’s position on same-sex marriage breNT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Saying recent statements showed a “total apparent dis- respect for the majority of resi- dents in Cayman,” Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden suggested Wednesday that the current chairman of the Human Rights Commission be replaced. Mr. Eden, making a personal explanation in the Legislative Assembly, “strongly suggested” that government appoint a chairman of the commission “who is not an atheist.” “It is my belief that we do not need an atheist chairing our Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission,” Mr. Eden said. “I am sick and tired of some people disrespecting my Caymanian people.” Mr. Eden’s comments were made in relation to a public spat in August that pitted mem- bers of Cayman’s lesbian, gay, bi- sexual and transgender commu- nity against the longtime Bodden Town representative and several other members of the assembly who spoke out against civil unions or gay marriages being le- gally sanctioned in Cayman. Legislators in mid-August had debated a private members’ mo- tion filed by Mr. Eden titled “The preservation of traditional mar- riages.” Mr. Eden’s presentation on his motion, which he said was “based on Holy Bible evidence,” was not limited to a discussion of the definition of marriage. He also admonished homosexual be- havior in general and warned Liberty GLobaL to buy CabLe & WireLess miChael KleiN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Liberty Global has agreed to buy Caribbean telecommunications company Cable & Wireless Communications for US$5.3 billion. The board of Cable & Wireless said it con- cluded that the $8.2 billion deal, including CWC’s debt, was in the long-term best inter- ests of the company, its shareholders, em- ployees and customers, after the operator of Flow in Cayman was approached directly by Liberty over a sale last month. Under the terms of the deal, Liberty offered $1.32 per CWC share and a 4.5 cent special dividend that would be paid on the closing of the transaction. This represents a premium of approxi- mately 50 percent on CWC’s share price at the start of the takeover talks on Oct. 21 and an 18 percent premium on the Nov. 13 share price. Sir Richard Lapthorne, chairman of CWC, said, “While we remain confident that CWC’s unique and highly attractive business has a substantial long-term growth opportunity ahead of it, we believe the recommended offer represents an attractive premium for share- holders and secures earlier delivery of our long-term value potential.” Liberty Global is the world’s largest inter- national cable television company, with nearly 27 million subscribers and about $18 billion in annual revenue. The company’s operations Charles duNCaN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Egrets fish in the ponds, swallows hunt mosquitoes, big green iguanas sun them- selves on the runway, a colony of feral cats lives nearby, and annual swarms of land crabs take over the North Sound side of the runway. The airport on Grand Cayman fights a daily battle against wildlife, trying to keep the birds and other creatures out of the way of airplanes as they land and take off. Veterinary students and professors from St. Matthews are starting a new study on the ecosystem in and around the airport in an effort to keep wildlife out of the way of Grand Cayman’s air traffic, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority’s chief safety of- ficer Andrew McLaughlin said during the annual CIAA Hazardous Wildlife Working Group meeting Tuesday. The last major incident involving a bird strike at Cayman’s airports was in Airport critters a constant battle PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Mr. Eden Airport staff constantly monitor the runway for birds, iguanas and other animals that could get in the way of planes taking off and landing. - Photo: Jeff brammer PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday November 19, 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. - THURSDAY - $8.00 THE 33 (PG13) 1:00 I 4:20 I 7:20 I 10:10 SPECTRE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:45 I 8:00 I 9:20 I 9:45 GOOSEBUMPS 3D (PG) 1:30 I 2:40 2D I 6:50 I 7:20 2D OUR BRAND IS CRISIS (R) 1:10 I 3:40 I 7:00 I 9:30 PEANUTS 3D (G) 12:20 I 2:35 2D I 4:50 2D I 7:05 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (PG) 12:25 2D I 4:10 I 5:05 2D I 9:30 Jury notice Grand Court jurors who are in the Oct. 7-Dec. 31 ses- sion are advised that the report date of Nov. 23 has been changed. They are now to report for jury duty on Friday, Nov. 20, at 9:45 a.m. Please call the Jury Information line at 945-5072 for the most up-to-date information. Chile soccer federation boss flies to US amid probe SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – The president of Chile’s soccer fed- eration traveled to the United States on Tuesday amid a cor- ruption investigation and less than a week after taking a 30- day medical leave. Local television aired footage of a gaunt-looking Sergio Jadue arriving at Santiago’s airport sur- rounded by a large group of reporters. Jadue declined to comment on whether he will be helping U.S. author- ities who are investigating corruption in world soccer, saying only in a soft voice that he was taking “a couple of months of vacation” with his family before boarding a plane to Miami. Last week, Jadue returned from an unexpected trip to Brazil and told reporters that he had no reason to resign and dismissed rumors that he had traveled to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Hours later, members of Chile’s in- vestigations police, the coun- try’s equivalent of the FBI, visited the headquarters of the federation to notify Jadue and other officials that they were wanted for questioning as part of a probe. The head of Colombia’s soccer federation, Luis Bedoya, recently resigned citing personal reasons. Both have been vice presi- dents of the embattled South American football confed- eration, CONMEBOL, but they were not among the soccer executives named in a U.S. Department of Justice probe in May. Colombian prosecutors, however, have said they are investigating financial trans- actions by Bedoya and have requested information from U.S. authorities. The U.S. Justice Department has indicted 14 soccer officials and busi- nessmen on charges of bribery, racketeering, and money laun- dering. Among them are two former CONMEBOL presi- dents, who are fighting extra- dition to the U.S. Cuban boat spotted off braC James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A ramshackle, homemade boat, likely carrying Cuban migrants, was spotted off Cayman Brac on Wednesday morning. Around a dozen men, sheltering from the rain be- hind plastic sheets, were vis- ible on board the green and white wooden craft as it passed by the Brac. According to Gary Wong, deputy chief immigration of- ficer in Grand Cayman, the Cubans did not appear to have attempted to dock on the Brac. He said he was still awaiting more informa- tion from his counterparts on the Sister Islands on Wednesday morning. Makeshift vessels carrying Cuban migrants headed for Central America, many of them hoping to reach the U.S., have been a common sight in Cayman’s waters for years. In the early part of 2015, the is- land appeared to be inun- dated with migrant boats, with the immigration deten- tion center straining to cope with the influx. Fears that special status and residency rights enjoyed by Cubans who make it to the U.S. may be revoked as relations between the two countries are normalized, were cited as potentially driving the increase. The arrivals appeared to have slowed down later this year, though a boat carrying 48 migrants landed on the Brac in August. A ramshackle boat, believed to be carrying cuban migrants, was spotted off the Brac on Wednesday. – pHoto: ed beatY police make quick arrest in store heist A man was arrested shortly after a jewelry store robbery Wednesday in Grand cayman’s main tourist district. the royal cayman islands Police Service reported the robbery at Mitzi’s Fine Jewelry just before 1 p.m. Police said a man with a handgun was involved in the heist on West Bay road, but no injuries were reported. Officers located the suspect and a vehicle that may have been used in the robbery shortly after responding to the scene. - pHoto: taneos ramsaY US, Cuba sign first environmental accord since thaw in relations HAVANA (AP) – The United States and Cuba signed an agreement Wednesday to join forces and protect the vast array of fish and corals both countries separated by just 90 miles of water share in common, the first envi- ronmental accord since an- nouncing plans to renew dip- lomatic relations. “We recognize we all share the same ocean and face the same challenges of under- standing, managing, and con- serving critical marine re- sources for future generations,” said Kathryn Sullivan, chief of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The memorandum signed by U.S. and Cuban officials in Havana directs scientists with the Florida Keys and the Texas Flower Garden Banks national sanctuaries to collab- orate with researchers at two similarly fragile and protected reserves: Guanahacabibes National Park and the Banco de San Antonio, located on the island’s westernmost region. Ocean currents carry many of the same fish and organ- isms off the coast of Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, making col- laboration on topics like pres- ervation and sustainability an area of mutual interest for sci- entists in both countries. “Fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, birds and other marine life exist in ecosys- tems that rarely fall within maps drawn by man,” said Jonathan Jarvis, director of the U.S. National Park Service, which also signed the accord and will participate in the new exchange. Washington and Havana announced last December that they would resume dip- lomatic ties, and formally did so in July. Environmental cooper- ation has been one of the most visible areas of prog- ress in the relationship as the United States and Cuba negotiate and discuss a number of issues. They in- clude much thornier matters on which the two countries remain far apart, such as the U.S. embargo and the naval base at Guantanamo, as well as Cuba’s record on rights and democracy. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced in October that the countries were working on a marine-pres- ervation accord. That same month, Cuba and the U.S.- based Environmental Defense Fund unveiled an initiative de- signed to protect shark popu- lations, record fishing vessel catches and develop a long- term conservation plan. And in April, NOAA and Cuban sci- entists circled the island on a research cruise to study the larvae of bluefin tuna, a highly threatened and commercially valuable species.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday November 19, 2015 ROCK Seniors MAKE CASUAL FRIDAY COUNT! For more information Call: 949-3905 / 916-5967 or Email: info@mealsonwheels.ky Ribbons $5.00 Tee Shirts $15.00 Sponsored by Join us on Friday, the 20th of November for the annual dress down day to end senior hunger. Help us deliver more hot meals and warm smiles, ensuring no senior goes hungry. Get your t-shirts today. Cayman’s Seniors THANK YOU! Digicel ad blocker delayed Eastern Caribbean regulators reject the ad blocker for breaking Net neutrality rules Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A network-level ad blocker for Digicel’s data customers has been delayed in the Cayman Islands as regulators in the region reject the pro- gram that will block Internet ads from reaching Digicel smartphones and other data plans. Digicel announced last month that it would install software on its servers to block ads, similar to programs like Ad-Blocker Plus that users can install on their computers and phones. The system has been running in Jamaica for more than a month, and was originally scheduled to begin in Cayman on Nov. 11. Digicel head of public re- lations Antonia Graham, re- sponding to email questions, said, “This is about Digicel protecting customers’ data from abuse. With ads using up as much as 10 percent of a customer’s data plan allow- ance, this move allows our customers to browse the mo- bile Web and apps without in- terruption from unwanted ad- vertising messages.” Ms. Graham said the com- pany has not set a new date to launch the software. She said the program will prevent online advertising from using up its customers’ data allowances. In a state- ment, the company noted, “Currently, these companies do not pay to make use of the network and the services they provide on it suck up bandwidth to make money for themselves through ad- vertising while putting no money in.” Companies like Google and Facebook will be able to pay Digicel through rev- enue-sharing agreements to get their ads through the blocking software and in front of users. The Eastern Caribbean Telecomm unica tions Authority, the telecom reg- ulator for five Eastern Caribbean states, wrote a letter to Digicel recently, telling the company that the ad blocker violates Net neu- trality rules in the countries. Net neutrality is the idea that all Internet traffic should be treated the same by ser- vice providers and not given special access or a “fast lane” to big companies that can pay for it, like Netflix or Facebook. A statement from the Eastern Caribbean regu- lators states, “Service pro- viders should treat all data on the Internet the same, not intercepting, interrupting, blocking, degrading, dis- criminating or charging dif- ferentially, by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, mode of communication or source or destination of communication. “The implementation of this technology by Digicel will hinder the growth, usage and deployment of broad- band,” writes the regulator, which represents Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Russell Richardson, general counsel for the Information and Communications Technology Authority, said his staff is monitoring the implemen- tation of the ad blocker “and any impacts on busi- nesses and consumers in the Cayman Islands.” Responding to questions about the reception from tele- coms regulators, Digicel’s Ms. Graham wrote in an email, “This initiative is unambig- uously pro-consumer. We maintain positive relation- ships with our regulatory au- thorities across the region and are engaging with them on this issue.” Public school teacher charged with indecent assault Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands public school teacher who was sus- pended in February over al- legations he indecently as- saulted three underage girls appeared in court Tuesday to face criminal charges. The teacher was charged with three counts of in- decent assault in connec- tion with a matter that was reported to police. The Cayman Compass is not identifying the man or the school where he worked due to a court order issued Tuesday that no information be released in the media or elsewhere that could lead to the identification of the victims. According to police re- cords, the teacher, 41, was arrested March 10 and was formally charged on Nov. 10. The matter was set for hearing on Dec. 1. Police said the teacher was suspended “as soon as the matter was reported to police” and that they are not aware of his current em- ployment status. Digicel’s attempt to block Internet ads, similar to the one shown in the photo, from reaching mobile devices in the Cayman Islands has been rejected by regulators, at least temporarily. – Photo: taneos ramsayThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Thursday November 19, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Cayman Brac employment: A Saab story On the front page of Tuesday’s Compass, we ran the following headline: “Brac airport, CAL to add 21 jobs.” Perhaps an asterisk, after the word “jobs”(*), should have been affixed. You see, Tourism Minister and Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell was lauding the creation of new employment in connection with the new Cayman Airways Saab airplane and increased air service to and from the expanded Cayman Brac airport. As we reported in Tuesday’s article, “Of the 21 new jobs, four are with the Brac fire service, five with the Cayman Airports Authority, three with District Administration and nine at the Cayman Airways reservation office.” Those are, of course, all public sector entities. That’s where the asterisk comes in, as an acknowledg- ment that these are jobs created by government fiat, not by market demand. We aren’t disparaging the actual work that the gov- ernment jobs entail, and certainly not the workers who fill those positions. What we caution against, however, is perpetuating the illusion that government spending equates to real job creation. As opposed to new hires in the private tourism sector, the 21 new government jobs on the Brac won’t add one farthing to local tax revenues. Because their salaries and benefits are drawn from the public purse, the 21 “additional” jobs actually constitute 21 individual acts of subtraction from taxpayers’ pockets. Just as on Grand Cayman, the Brac’s tourism sector is limited primarily by the number of available hotel rooms. Minister Kirkconnell alluded to that, high- lighting development at the Reef Resort on the Brac and the future Le Soleil d’Or resort — good news both — but not directly relevant here. At best, improving and expanding air travel to the Brac could facilitate economic growth by removing impediments to tourists who want to travel to the Brac, but can’t currently find seats on a flight. In his remarks, Minister Kirkconnell noted the airport “is the starting point … to trigger more jobs” (and apparently more Saabs; Cayman Airways is planning to buy a second new plane for the Brac). The assumption seems to be that empty airplane seats today might translate to future tourists tomorrow. That is a highly risky, and expensive, bet. For the record, this winter Cayman Airways is sched- uled to fly, on average, more than five flights a day to the Brac — about twice as many as it flies from Miami to Grand Cayman. In terms of air service, the Brac already appears to be well-serviced and well-saturated. The same could be said about government jobs. Back in April 2013, then-candidate Kirkconnell said about 90 percent of employed people on the Brac work for government and draw their paychecks from the public payroll. If true (or even close to true), that would suggest that our bigger “Sister Island” has practically no private sector economy whatsoever. It is totally depen- dent for its sustenance and, indeed, survival on the umbilical cord that connects it to the treasury of the Cayman Islands government. Perhaps ironically, we applaud Minister Kirkconnell for looking out for the constituents he represents. We can’t recall a more effective elected member when it comes to delivering funds, goods, and services to his district. Twenty-one jobs are no small change. Our concern, of course, is that none of this is sus- tainable and raises the difficult question of how long Grand Cayman taxpayers can afford, or will be willing, to subsidize its increasingly dependent “sister.” UCCI President: The importance of STEM As an educator, I have been casting around for a considerable time asking my- self, “When will we, in this society come to the realiza- tion of the importance of STEM as the driving force of the XXIst century?” My quest for an answer has recently been struck by two important releases. In order of importance these are: the newly released “UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030” and an ar- ticle published in the Global Edition of University World News, Nov. 15. The article, captioned “Pressing problems spur radical shift in global sci- ence,” opens with this in- teresting observation by Irina Bokova, the UNESCO Director-General – “The de- bate between quick scien- tific gains and long-term public investment in basic and high-risk research to enlarge the scope of scien- tific discoveries has never been so relevant.” With no disrespect to the accountants, attorneys and all those who practice in ancillary services, this is a statement to which those of us in Caymanian society who lay claim to enlightenment should be paying increasing attention. And, yet, it seems that our focus is eternally concentrated on cloning more accountants, more attorneys and more business majors, in spite of the apparent logjam and the lamented dimin- ishing employment prospects in these areas. The challenges of the twenty-first century are challenges which will have to be solved by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) experts. Permit me to once more reference the UNESCO Director-General when she remarked that there is a re- lentless drive toward inno- vation to overcome global pandemics, water shortages, food and energy insecurity and climate change. An increasing number of countries are incorporating science, technology and innovation in their national development agendas in order to move toward such innovation and the knowledge economy. Here in the Cayman Islands we are facing the prospects of a shrinking economy based upon international finance. Additionally, the second pillar of our economy is similarly fickle, as competition for the tourist dollar becomes more acute by the day. The most sobering reality in this realm, however, has to be the question of how are we going to balance developing needed tourism infrastructure with the potential destruction of our environment? Here at the University College we have been fol- lowing this debate while, at the same time, heeding the global trend of STEM pro- motion. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Bill Hrudey, the UCCI faculty, students and certain enlightened private sector elements and token gov- ernment support, the bien- nial UCCI STEM Conference draws regional and interna- tional support. Led by the en- ergy and scientific expertise of Dr. Hrudey, complemented by private sector donations, the University College boasts of having, comparatively speaking, the best solar ob- servatory in the Caribbean. This Observatory and the leadership and inspiration of our STEM faculty mem- bers has ensured that UCCI is geared up for a position at the cusp of science and inno- vation. The STEM programs are growing in popularity and our achievements are limited only by our inability to purchase cutting edge technology and lack of space for modern laboratories. We are encouraged by the dedi- cation of our instructors and by the aptitude displayed by our students, buoyed by Dr. Hrudey’s inspiration. Those wishing to learn of the caliber of our stu- dents need only be informed that just this past summer two of our female students, Kerry Forbes and Samantha Cridland won the first and second prizes, respectively, at the International Summer Camp put on for Women in Science and Engineering in Wels, Austria. Now, if our students can accomplish this with access to only a poorly equipped laboratory, imagine how they would perform with state-of- the-art equipment in a spa- cious and modern laboratory. Finally, let me return to the idea of STEM in our na- tional development and sug- gest that the time has now come for the convening of suitably interested persons to determine what, if any, im- portance STEM should have in our National Strategic Development Plan? With respect to the UNESCO Science Report: Toward 2030, I strongly recommend its consider- ation by our national edu- cation establishment and policymakers. I shall wait with eager anticipation to see whether we have the courage to embark on the proper path, or whether we will be fed more of the same over-used asseverations. J. a. Roy Bodden, Jp, president, University College of the Cayman Islands An increasing number of countries are incorporating science, technology and innovation in their national development agendas in order to move toward such innovation and the knowledge economy. UCCI President Roy Bodden says his university has ‘the best solar observatory in the Caribbean.’ The UCCI Observatory, run by Dr. Bill Hrudey, produced this image of a large solar flare and filament on Aug. 7, 2013. Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway”5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday November 19, 2015 UCCI awards highest honor to three citizens KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com While UCCI’s 2015 com- mencement celebrated the hard work of dozens of its graduates, the highest form of recognition bestowed at the October ceremony was re- served for three of Cayman’s most notable contributors. Heber Arch, Henry Muttoo and Granville Burns Rutty each received the col- lege’s highest award, an honorary doctorate. The honorary degree is re- served for individuals who have made a positive and lasting contribution to the de- velopment of the Cayman Islands, in a range of fields. Mr. Muttoo, artistic director at the Cayman Islands Cultural Foundation, gave an address on behalf of himself and fellow honorees, thanking the college for the honorary degree, which he said “recognizes the worth of those whose work has been largely unsung but has, never- theless, made a lasting contri- bution to and for the better- ment of these Cayman Islands.” “What is truly ours, what is Caymanian, is what the cul- tural foundation has been at- tempting to excavate and share over the last 30 years, and that is precisely why this initiative of yours – awarding the uni- versity’s highest honor to de- serving citizens – is of critical importance,” Mr. Muttoo said. Mr. Muttoo, who received an honorary doctorate of arts, was recognized for his positive impact on the arts and culture of the Cayman Islands and throughout the Caribbean. He said it was “humbling” to re- ceive the degree. Mr. Muttoo has been ar- tistic director at CNCF for 26 years, and he has also worked as a theater arts practitioner throughout the Caribbean, de- signing or directing for major artists, including Nobel Prize winner Derek Walcott. Mr. Muttoo said he is proud that he was able to help bring the topics of culture and art “from behind the breadfruit tree” to the forefront of people’s consciousness and recognize those who were making ar- tistic contributions by helping to get their work disseminated to the public. In his address, Mr. Muttoo told UCCI graduates to “defy anyone who tries to keep you in what they think is your place” while striving to achieve their goals. “As Caymanians – how- ever you came by that identity – your first order of business is to work to build a country in which you want to live, in which you want your children and grandchildren to live,” Mr. Muttoo told the graduates. Mr. Rutty also believes that graduates should con- sider how they can give back to their country. He said Cayman’s young people might be guided by President John F. Kennedy’s famous quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” “They should embrace the opportunities that are now available in Cayman,” Mr. Rutty said. The college awarded Mr. Rutty with an honorary doc- torate in business to recog- nize his contribution to the political and economic devel- opment of the Cayman Islands, particularly the develop- ment of commerce. “I thought it was an honor, and at my age I was glad to be recognized,” Mr. Rutty said. Mr. Rutty, who was born in Cayman Brac in 1932, studied hotel management in Florida. He said that during his time in Florida, he recognized busi- ness opportunities he thought would work in Cayman. Mr. Rutty began his profes- sional career in the Cayman Islands in 1957 as the general manager of the Pageant Beach Hotel. He was also a founding member of the Sleep Inn Hotel, and founded the Comfort Suites in 2000. Over the years he also ven- tured outside of the hotel in- dustry. Along with Capt. Bob Soto, Mr. Rutty started Sport Fishing Headquarters, which later became Bob Soto Diving. That was the first of many businesses Mr. Rutty would start, as diverse as laundro- mats, low-cost apartment rentals, and restaurants, in- cluding Cayman’s first fast food restaurant, Burger King. Outside of his business ventures, Mr. Rutty is well known for his contributions to Cayman politics. He won a seat in the Legislative Assembly in 1962 as a representative for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Mr. Rutty is proud of what he accomplished during his tenure as an MLA, espe- cially his firm stance that the Cayman Islands should re- main an Overseas Territory rather than go independent with Jamaica and the West Indian Federation. Mr. Arch, a founding partner and director of Building Performance Americas Ltd., received an hon- orary doctorate in business for his contribution to the develop- ment of the Cayman Islands. When he was told he would be receiving the honor, he said he was “shocked, very excited and humbled at the same time as I questioned, ‘why me?’” Mr. Arch, who is managing director and chairman of the board of construction company Arch and Godfrey, has 39 years of experience in engineering and construction across the Caribbean and the U.S. He has served on numerous govern- ment boards and committees, including a nine-year tenure as chairman of the board of the Central Planning Authority. In 1998, he was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to the community and the construction industry. He has also received several other awards for his contributions to Cayman’s development. “In my opinion, wealth, pos- sessions or accomplishments are not a true measure of true success,” Mr. Arch said. “True success is the progressive re- alization of a worthwhile goal which is only fully achieved when one focuses on his or her spiritual development as well as personal achievements.” Mr. Arch said he loves the islands with all his “heart, soul and mind” and therefore al- ways endeavors to “contribute as much as I can in everything that I can to our ‘Beloved Isle Cayman.’” He said he hopes Cayman will remain a “God- fearing country where all of its people can have the oppor- tunity to develop their full po- tential in every aspect of their lives” and be “a place where each person will respect and build up each other, a place where dreams can become re- ality.” He encourages recent UCCI graduates to “be the best person you can be.” “Be yourself, develop an exemplary character, be pas- sionate about your vocation, be kind and generous, always striving to make your island a better place for those who will follow after you,” Mr. Arch said. UCCI orator, Livingston Smith, presents honorary doctorates to Granville Burns Rutty, Heber Arch and Henry Muttoo at the October commencement ceremony. Mr. RuttyMr. ArchMr. MuttooThursday November 19, 2015 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT Days District Days Bodden Town BT Heritage Day Basia McGuire bmcguire@pinnaclemedialtd.com This year’s Bodden Town Heritage Day on Friday promises to bring Bodden Town’s history and culture to the fore. The event is at Harry McCoy Sr. Park off Gun Square Road and admission is free. Organizers say they will highlight Bodden Town’s historic role in Cayman’s de- velopment, as Cayman’s first capital and a leader in the islands’ education system. Visitors of all ages will have the opportu- nity to explore interesting exhibits and dem- onstrations chronicling life in the district. The gates open at 11 a.m., and this year plenty of parking will be available for visitors. For those who stop by during the day, great times to visit will be late morning and early afternoon, said Heritage Day com- mittee member Ellen Eden. “From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is when we will be having lots of old-time demonstrations and games,” she said. These include fish and fritter making and other cooking in an old-time kitchen and a caboose; a laundry demonstration with washboard; thatching and basketwork exhibits, and displays of artifacts. Many delicious food offerings are planned, and with the event falling on a Friday, it should make for an ideal end-of- week lunch or dinner outing. “We will be offering special dishes that are well known in our district, like stewed crab, conch stew and Cayman-style beef, as well as traditional drinks like tamarind and swanky,” said Ms. Eden. She noted that tours of the heritage buildings on the grounds will be conducted every hour. Nurse Josie’s senior center and another adjacent building will feature cul- tural and historic exhibits. “Along with historic items, we will have the elaborate Pirates Week festival queen costumes on display from previous years, for example,” said Ms. Eden. “And for the kids, we’ll have a special shop set up just for them with items for sale starting at just a dollar,” she added. Local musicians will provide entertain- ment, and the evening will kick off with a performance from Dance Unlimited. Visitors are urged to stick around for the fireworks at 8 p.m. Pirates arrive at a previous Bodden Town heritage day. - Photos: Jewel levy Annikki Brown, Leighla Whittaker, Andrew Rivers, Myllie Bush, Kayla Jennings, Reuben Ebanks, and Marco Whittaker on the Bodden Town float at the Pirates Week 2015 parade last Saturday. - Photo: yvette McField Noah Hill samples some spices. Rose Myles makes peppermint candy at a past Bodden Town heritage day.Cayman Compass • Thursday November 19, 2015 7 DISTRICT Days District Days Bodden Town Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Visitors attending Bodden Town Pirates Week Heritage Day activities this year will no longer have to worry about parking. A new lot officially opening at 9 a.m. on Thursday Nov. 19 will provide ninety- seven new parking spaces, built on gov- ernment crown land off Ena Close on Anton Bodden Drive. The lot will give visitors access to the functions at Harry McCoy Sr. Community Park, off Gun Square. A 12-foot-wide, 430-foot-long footpath also connects the parking lot to the park and other historical sites in the area, making access much easier for visitors. Bodden Town Heritage Committee member Betty Wood said, “Traffic con- gestion and finding a place to park on Cumber Avenue and Gun Square during events keeps a lot of people from at- tending.” She hopes the new parking area will encourage more people to come along this year. To get to the new parking lot, visitors can either take the Anton Bodden bypass at the Bodden Town Primary School or by the Bodden Town District Health Centre. New parking for BT Heritage Day visitors A newly created parking area will enable more people to park their vehicles within walking distance of the Bodden Town Heritage Day activities. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY GeorGe Nowak Aluda Forbes’s daughter Nell Connor, who still lives in Breakers, would say of her mother: “Oh, Mama had a memory of a card.” As a midwife, Ms. Forbes delivered some 300 babies in her time. She would ride horseback or by donkey to the outlying districts and stay with the mother for a week or two after delivery. For a delivery her fee was around 7 shillings, about 70 cents nowadays. If the mother could not pay, she would send the midwife home with salted fish, sugarcane, cassava and sometimes lantern oil. In this image, Ms. Forbes peers out from the door of her old wooden-framed home in Breakers where she lived next to her daughter until she passed away in 1986 at the age of 93. This image is from the book ‘The People Time Forgot’ by G. Nowak. The book is available at the National Museum and all proceeds go toward museum projects and programs. 50 yeArs AGo iN BoDDeN TowN: rededicating the church In the Nov. 17, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “Sunday last was an important one in the life of the Presbyterian Church at Bodden Town. The morning ‘Remembrance Day’ Service, at which there was a Parade by members of the Girls Guildry was conducted by the Rev. J.S. Wint, a former minister of the charge during the years 1916-19. That night the church was rededicated at a service of worship conducted by the Rev. Raymond Coke of the West Bay charge and at which the sermon was delivered by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman the Rev. John C. Stewart. During the course of the service a plaque in memory of Mr. Montgomery Woods, late Elder of the church was unveiled by his widow. The existing building which was first opened in 1936 was subjected to extensive roof and exterior repairs under the supervision of Mr. W.W. Bodden. Following the service of re- dedication a joint Communion Service for all the Presbyterian charges of Grand Cayman was conducted by the Rev. J.S. Wint. “It should be a source of great pride to the citizens of this area to know that with the re-birth of the Bodden Town Presbyterian Church under the guidance of the Rev. T. Redpath, who was inducted in 1896, is associated the beginning of the ed- ucational uplifting of Caymanians. It was during this period and from this charge that Cayman got her first Minister of Religion, trained nurse and trained teacher. This tradition has been maintained through the years as many of the professional sons of the soil continue to serve in our Civil Service with distinction.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community Calendar ■ Community Calendar is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. Thursday November 19, 2015 • Cayman Compass THURSDAY, NOV. 19 HERITAGE DAY: North Side celebrates the District Day of Pirates Week at Water Cay Public Park (next to Kaibo Restaurant), 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fireworks 8:30 p.m. Food vendors on site. BRAC COURT: Summary Court 10 a.m. today and tomorrow at Aston Rutty Civic Centre. TREE LIGHTING: Heroes Square, 6:30 p.m. All are invited to the 50th anniversary Rotary Christmas tree lighting celebration. INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY: Kings Sports Centre, 4-8 p.m. Free celebration for men and boys includes bowling, rock climbing, snacks, tips and raffles. 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. PUB QUIZ: Fidel Murphy’s. 7 p.m. $10 per person. Six people maximum per team. Contact 949-5189 or sarah.dyer@gmail. com to reserve a table. Proceeds to Cayman Islands Humane Society. PUBLIC MEETING: The public is invited to hear representatives from Jamaica’s Northern Caribbean University, who will speak about that institution’s empowerment programs targeting parents, youth and young men/ young fathers, 6:30 p.m. at Cayman Academy, Walkers Road. The meeting is to raise awareness of the plans, secure support and gain feedback on the way forward. Implementation of these free seminars is anticipated in second quarter of 2016. Meeting sponsored by the local NCU alumni chapter. FRIDAY, NOV. 20 HERITAGE DAY: Bodden Town celebrates the District Day of Pirates Week at Harry McCoy Park/Nurse Josie’s Senior Centre, Gun Square Road. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Temporary access thru Ena Close from Anton Bodden Road). The festivities continue from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. at the Coe Wood Public Beach, with fireworks at 8 p.m. Food vendors on site. JURY DUTY: All Grand Court jurors in the current session are to report for jury duty today at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 945-5072 for the most up-to-date information. DRESS DOWN DAY: Annual Meals on Wheels Dress Down Day. Help by purchasing an orange ribbon for $5 or a T-shirt for $15 and wearing them on Dress Down Day. Companies are encouraged to match employee donations. For more information or to sign up to participate, contact caymanmealsonwheels@ hotmail.com or 949-3905. SATURDAY, NOV. 21 BRAC MOVIE NIGHT: Rotary Club of Cayman Brac and Department of Children & Family Services present Movie Night at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre. TREE LIGHTING: Ninth annual tree lighting 6-8 p.m. The Crescent at Camana Bay. Musical performances, a special visit from Santa Claus. Christmas lights around the Town Centre will officially be turned on around 7 p.m. HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET: Camana Bay, from 4 p.m. An array of artisanal products made in Cayman, including pottery, batik, woodwork and mosaics. PUBLIC MEETING: The public is invited to hear representatives from Jamaica’s Northern Caribbean University, who will speak about that institution’s empowerment programs targeting parents, youth, and young men/ young fathers. 4:30 p.m. at Kings Church, Walkers Road. The meeting is to raise awareness of the plans, secure support and gain feedback on the way forward. Implementation of these free seminars is anticipated in second quarter of 2016. Meeting sponsored by the local NCU alumni chapter. TUESDAY, NOV. 24 FREE HOLIDAY MOVIE: 7 p.m. “The Nightmare before Christmas” (PG, 1993) Gardenia Court, Camana Bay. Families can gather in the courtyard to enjoy their favorite Christmas films on a giant outdoor screen. Tuesdays through Dec. 22. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 NOSOTROS: Spanish Floetry at Books & Books, Camana Bay. 6:30-7:30 p.m. All are invited. Free admission. FRIDAY, NOV. 27 PLAYHOUSE FAMILY CHRISTMAS: Cayman Drama Society presents a one- hour Christmas variety show for the entire family. Tonight and tomorrow, doors open at 6:30 with curtain at 7:30. Matinee Sunday at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:15. Final shows weekend of Dec. 4-6. Adults $15, children under 12, $10. Purchase tickets online at www.cds.ky or call 938-1998. OUTDOOR GOSPEL CONCERT: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds Outdoor Gospel Concert featuring the Red Bay Gospel Band. 7:30 p.m. At Airport Park. Free admission. Food and drinks on sale. SATURDAY, NOV. 28 PINK LADIES CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: 2-5 p.m. The Arts & Recreation Centre, Camana Bay. The annual fundraiser features homemade tea, handmade crafts, white elephant sale, silent auction, special performances. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from any Pink Lady or at the gate. LITTLE CAYMAN: Pirates Week Little Cayman weekend. Contact pirates@candw.ky SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE: 6:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow. On the grounds of First Assembly of God Church. 195 Old Crewe Road. Free admission. All are invited. Call 929-5380 or 945-2182 for further information. FESTIVAL OF THE SEAS: The Central Caribbean Marine Institute invites everyone to join a night of adventure at The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Little Cayman Research Centre. For more information about purchasing sponsor tables and tickets, contact Brittainy at bslade@reefresearch.org. GENERAL INTEREST 2016 CALENDARS: Sale benefits NCVO and Cayman HospiceCare. Local artwork, recipes and events. Call 949-2124. $15 includes envelope for mailing. 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 at 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.-4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-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. to 2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. 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. NCVO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers needed for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations’ Children’s 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. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. The Christmas tree lighting at Camana Bay takes place Saturday at 7 p.m., with festivities starting at 6 p.m. on The Crescent. - Photo: StePhen ClarkeThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday November 19, 2015 Shenni DaCosta February 27, 1978 - November 19, 2014 We rejoice knowing that you are a beloved partaker of God’s great inheritance, that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading which was reserved for you in heaven. (1Peter 1:4) Love Kam and Daddy To our precious Angel who left us one sad year ago on November 19, 2014 Shenni Vanessa Pamela DaCostaShenni Vanessa Pamela DaCostaShenni Vanessa Pamela DaCosta We wish we could see you one more time Coming walking through the door But we know that is impossible We will hear your voice no more. We know you can feel our tears And you don’t want us to cry Yet our hearts are broken Because we can’t understand Why someone so precious had to die. We pray that God will give us strength And somehow get us through one sad year ago on November 19, 2014one sad year ago on November 19, 2014 And somehow get us through As we struggle with this heartache That came when we LOST YOU. Our family chain is broken And nothing will ever be the same But as God calls us one by one The chain will link again. Today marks 1 year since you left us Words cannot express the pain we have felt And still continue to feel We miss you and love you so VERY much. From: your brokenhearted parents, Marlene & Ashton Bodden and all the family We miss you and love you so VERY much. people against “satanic confusion.” Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo, who seconded Mr. Eden’s motion, said that while he did not wish to “launch an assault on ho- mosexuals,” in his Bible, ho- mosexuality is a sin, and he “shouldn’t be expected to support legislation that would allow sin.” Human Rights Commission Chairman James Austin-Smith opined in a statement three months ago that part of the Aug. 13 debate by some assembly members amounted to “poi- sonous hate speech” that was an abuse of parliamen- tary privilege. Mr. Austin-Smith said Wednesday that he had not heard or had time to review Mr. Eden’s most recent com- ments on the matter and could not provide any re- sponse. Mr. Austin-Smith has said in previous public appearances that he does not believe in God. Mr. Eden said Wednesday that his com- ments from the Aug. 13 as- sembly debate had been taken out of context, and he spoke out against the notion that many Christian nations around the globe had ac- cepted same-sex marriages. “How can we call them Christians when they transgressed the word of God?” he said. The Bodden Town MLA also took a few shots at former Truman Bodden Law School professor Leonardo Raznovich who, after his work contract was not re- newed in Cayman, filed an application with the Immigration Department to become a dependent on his male partner’s work permit. The relevant immi- gration board indicated it could not accommodate the request. Mr. Raznovich has filed an appeal. “Mr. Raznovich has made a living in Cayman … and because he does not agree with the lifestyle of the vast majority of Caymanians for over the last 500-plus years, he now wishes us to change our beliefs,” Mr. Eden said. “Not on my watch.” Mr. Austin-Smith re- quested in August that Premier Alden McLaughlin respond to the Aug. 13 Legislative Assembly de- bate and invited him to de- nounce “in the strongest terms” any statements that targeted homosexuals, sub- jecting them to ridicule or even potential abuse in the community. By press time Wednesday, the premier’s response to that request – if one had been received – had not been made public by either Mr. McLaughlin’s office or the Human Rights Commission. Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick’s office was contacted for a response to Mr. Eden’s sug- gestion that Mr. Austin- Smith should be removed from his post because he is an atheist. The Cayman Compass had received no reply by press time. are mainly based in Europe after a number of acquisi- tions which included British cable operator Virgin Media and Dutch telecommunica- tions provider Ziggo. Since further consolida- tion of the industry in Europe may attract the opposition of regulators, Liberty is focused on growing in other regions. Liberty Global’s chief ex- ecutive, Michael T. Fries, said the acquisition would add significant scale and manage- ment depth to the company’s operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. CWC, which after the takeover of Columbus Communications recently rebranded its services in Cayman from LIME to Flow, said the deal would improve the company’s ability to offer products and services to cus- tomers in the region and add 1.5 million customers in Puerto Rico and Chile. “Backed by our strengths in adjoining markets and in leading submarine and ter- restrial fiber networks, to- gether we expect to grow our consumer and B2B offers even faster,” CWC said. Bill McCabe, the chief ex- ecutive of Flow in Cayman, said the joint entity would combine the complemen- tary skills of both organiza- tions and materially improve the company’s provision of products and service to cus- tomers in the region. For Cayman’s operation specifically, it will be “busi- ness as usual” until the deal is complete, he added. “We will continue with our plans to enhance the customer ex- perience and continue to deliver innovative prod- ucts such as the recently launched Flow TV product.” Phil Bentley, chief ex- ecutive of CWC, noted that since the launch of the com- pany’s new strategy two years ago, CWC has trans- formed itself into a re- gional operator of broad- band Internet, television, telephone and wireless ser- vices. The recent acquisition of Columbus accelerated the company’s competitive posi- tioning and Liberty Global will offer scale and “world- class capabilities,” he said. Liberty Global owner John Malone already has a 13 percent voting stake in CWC as a result of the company’s take- over of Columbus, which was partly owned by Mr. Malone, for $1.9 billion in cash and stock. The deal is expected to be completed by the second quarter of next year. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MLA Anthony EdEn ‘We do not need an atheist chairing our Cayman Islands human Rights Commission’ Liberty Global to buy Cable & Wireless Michael t. Fries, CEo of Liberty Global CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Seattle giveS caSh to turn average Joe into political player SEATTLE (AP) – Many voters do not have the money to donate to po- litical candidates or don’t care enough to bother. But what if the government gave them $100 to dole out as they saw fit? That’s the experiment under way in Seattle after voters this month adopted the nation’s first voucher system for campaign con- tributions. The idea is to get those who do not nor- mally donate more in- volved in politics as a way to counteract the influence of big corporate donors and wealthy individuals. “We’re very eager to see how it works,” said Michael Malbin, executive director of the Campaign Finance Institute in Washington, D.C. “One of the major problems people have with the political system is that it’s finan- cially controlled by too few people. Nothing’s going to stop wealthy individuals from making independent expenditures, but those will be less powerful if more people are engaged.” The U.S. Supreme Court has chipped away at re- strictions on political dona- tions, including in the 2010 Citizens United case, which allowed unfettered inde- pendent spending by cor- porations and unions. Alan durning, author of an initiative passed by Seattle voters that created the nation’s first voucher system for campaign contributions, holds an artist’s depiction of a possible design for the vouchers. - photo: apNext >