ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Wednesday november 25, 2015 sports | page 24 corridan has hectic marathon day Physio will run, then treat ailing runners High of 85 Low of 75 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. Small craft warning is in effect. editorial | page 4 straight talk on gay marriage Premier condemns anti-business rhetoric James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Premier Alden McLaughlin admonished legislators for anti-business, anti-expat rhetoric that he warned risked hurting the island’s economy. The premier supported an amended ver- sion of a private members’ motion from back- bencher Winston Connolly, who called for changes to business licensing laws to en- courage training, development and ownership opportunities for Caymanians. But Mr. McLaughlin publicly distanced himself and his government from rhetoric from some legislators in a lengthy parliamen- tary debate that ran till midnight on Monday. He said, “I support the motion but I could not sit quietly and let people believe that I subscribe to that anti-expat, anti-business sentiment espoused by some members of this house, because I do not. I will not allow the government, which I have the honor and privi- lege to lead, to be branded with that.” Mr. Connolly’s original motion, which called for an end to all exemptions to the Trade and Business Licensing Law and Local Companies (Control) Law, was amended pre- debate to a more general request that govern- ment consider strengthening and enforcing legislation to allow Caymanians to prog- ress up the career ladder in all industries, in- cluding to ownership positions. Mr. McLaughlin said government would not have supported the original motion. “It would, in effect, amount to expropriation of assets of shareholders in various businesses, including banks and trust companies, insur- ance companies and the like,” he said. While acknowledging that some tweaks to the law were needed, he said, “Some of the rhetoric expounded over the course of this de- bate is of great concern. I’ve no doubt it will also be of grave concern to the business com- munity and the broader community.” Mr. McLaughlin said the world eco- nomic recovery and Cayman’s own recovery were fragile. “The last thing we want is to send the signal that foreign business and foreigners and anyone who was not born here to Cayman CarePay ProjeCt Costs ‘inCreased massively’ Prosecutors allege Watson, Webb tried to cover up ‘sham’ brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The proposed costs of a public hospital patient swipe-card project increased by as much as US$3.5 million after bid documents for the deal were submitted to former Cayman Islands Health Services Authority Board chairman Canover Watson, Crown prosecutors alleged Tuesday. Meanwhile, prosecutorial statements pre- sented in the corruption trial of Watson and his former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez also alleged that the local company Watson and close friend Jeffrey Webb formed to receive some business from the swipe-card system had “sham” frontmen installed as di- rectors to cover up their personal involvement. During the continuation of his opening speech Tuesday, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran said “a most re- markable change in the documentation” sub- mitted by Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) Jamaica to win the bid for the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority’s patient billing system contract had occurred. The change, Mr. Moran said, occurred after AIS Jamaica’s bid documents were sent to Watson on Nov. 4. At most, the senior prosecutor noted, initial bids from AIS Jamaica for the health services’ proposed “real time” customer billing system contained US$872,000 in what were referred Western Union reopens After four months, Cayman Islands currency can again be used for remittances charles duncan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A months-long crisis in remittance ser- vices, used by many in Cayman to support family overseas, appears to be coming to a close. Western Union, which closed without warning in July, reopened with a new com- pany backing the transfers Tuesday morning with as much notice as when it closed. Western Union, which has been closed for four months, reopened through Jamaica-based GraceKennedy Remittance Services Ltd. The company is reopening the cash-transfer windows in Foster’s Food Fair locations Tuesday and Wednesday and, for the first time since August, people will be able to send remittances with Cayman Islands dollars. Representatives with government and GraceKennedy declined to comment on the reopened remittance counters, instead waiting until a Wednesday press conference to announce details of the deal. Elaine Harris, honorary Jamaican vice consul, said, “We are very pleased to learn that the remittance transactions can now be done in Cayman Islands dollars. This will pro- vide tremendous relief for our nationals and others remitting funds to families overseas.” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Leisa Thompson-Garric mans the newly reopened Western Union counter at Foster’s Food Fair at the airport. - PHoto: CHarles dUnCan2 LOCAL NEWS Wednesday november 25, 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. - WEDNESDAY - $8.00 HUNGER GAMES: MOCKING JAY PART 2 (PG13) 12:20 I 12:45 I 3:25 I 3:50 I 6:30 7:00 I 9:40 BY THE SEA (R) 12:30 I 6:45 THE 33 (PG13) 3:30 I 9:50 SECRET IN THEIR EYES (PG13) 1:30 I 4:10 I 6:50 I 10:05 SPECTRE (PG13) 12:45 I 4:15 I 7:30 I 9:30 PEANUTS 3D (G) 1:00 I 4:00 2D I 7:15 I 10:00 2D Shillingford’s sports snaps raise charity cash Parting gift to Cayman HospiceCare from Compass sports editor James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com If you’ve run a mile, ridden a bike or kicked a ball in the Cayman Islands over the last eight years, chances are you’ve been photographed by Ron Shillingford. The Cayman Compass’s veteran sports journalist, who bids farewell to the island next month, held an exhibition of some of his sports photog- raphy at Chelsea’s bar on West Bay Road on Monday night. More than $1,000 was raised for Cayman HospiceCare through do- nations and the sale of the images. Athletes, cyclists, soft- ball players and plenty of sporting parents turned up to buy the pictures, donate to charity and say goodbye to the man who has been writing about and photo- graphing sports events on the island for the better part of a decade. “I was chuffed with the turnout,” Mr. Shillingford said. “It was great to share some of my pictures with Cayman’s athletes and get some value from them for a fantastic cause.” Some of the most memo- rable moments caught on Mr. Shillingford’s camera have in- cluded boxer Charles “Killa” Whittaker’s title winning mo- ment in 2011 and Usain Bolt’s 100m Cayman Invitational run in 2013. The Flowers Sea Swim, the Cayman Islands Marathon and the Irish Jog have also provided great im- ages over the years. But, for Mr. Shillingford, the local athletes, from the Olympic contenders to the weekend warriors, that fill the sports pages week after week are just as important. “I’ve photographed them all multiple times, particu- larly the winners, but I’m still going to miss it,” he said. Derek Haines, who made headlines for his charity marathon runs in support of the hospice, helped organize Monday’s fundraiser. He said Mr. Shillingford had made a fantastic contribution to sports in Cayman and would be sorely missed. “I consider him a friend and I will certainly miss him; as I believe so will the population of Cayman. He has been a great asset to sports journalism.” Danielle Coleman, di- rector of operations and development for Cayman HospiceCare, said Monday’s event had been excellent, with a total of $1,150 raised. Ron Shillingford, with Derek Haines and Cayman HospiceCare’s Danielle Coleman. Compass sports editor Ron Shillingford with a small sample of the photos he has taken over the years. - PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKER3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday november 25, 2015 Efforts to help migrants thwarted by police JamEs WhittakEr jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A group of Cayman Islands residents who char- tered a vessel to try to bring food and water to migrants on a ramshackle boat say marine police prevented them from assisting the men. The incident is the latest flash point in an ongoing conflict between public sen- timent and government policy on offering assistance to migrants, usually from Cuba, who pass through Cayman’s waters en route to Central America. John McDow and Jonathan Parchment, who work for Kirk Home Centre, say they were on their way to a job in West Bay Friday when they spotted the small wooden craft, just off shore. “They were waving these water jugs, holding them up- side down to show that they were empty,” said Mr. McDow. The men’s first instinct was to help, they said. Together with friends, they raised $54 and bought water, bread, spam and corned beef, and basic medicine. They took the supplies to the Dolphin Discovery dock, but saw the boat being es- corted out to sea by ma- rine police. They then bor- rowed a boat and intercepted the migrants’ boat a few miles offshore. “The Cubans could see we had food and water and they started jumping up and down, waving and shouting,” said Mr. McDow, but police intervened. Mr. Parchment said, “They told us if we gave any as- sistance, they would have to take [the migrants] in to Cayman and send them back to Cuba. We couldn’t even drop it in the water.” When the men returned to shore, a friend chartered an- other boat to follow the Cuban boat outside of Cayman’s ter- ritorial waters, 12 miles off- shore. But the skipper re- turned later in the afternoon, having been thwarted again in an effort to assist, the men said. Police say the boat did not make it outside territorial waters and they were obliged to intervene. Mr. McDow said he had previously used a kayak to bring supplies to migrants in a boat who had signaled for help off George Town. He said he thought he was al- lowed to assist as long as the boat did not land in Cayman. “We are both fishermen, we know what it is like to be out on a boat even for a few hours without water. We can’t imagine what it is like for several days at sea. We just wanted to help,” Mr. Parchment said. Under the terms of a memorandum of under- standing signed in 1999, and updated in 2015, between the Cayman Islands and Cuban governments, migrants en- tering Cayman waters cannot be given any assistance and those who land in Cayman must be repatriated to Cuba. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson told the Cayman Compass that changing the policy of non-assistance would risk Cayman being branded in- ternationally as supporters of illegal immigration. Mr. Manderson also com- mented on a Facebook post about Friday’s incident. He wrote, “Do you know they were Cubans? Were they another nationality trying to get into the USA to cause harm and destruc- tion? Do we really know the truth? The policy of no as- sistance was made for good reason and is supported by international agencies. “Giving them a few gal- lons of water and potentially sending them to their death on the high seas can’t be hu- mane. Our policy is to pro- vide no assistance. They can come ashore and be fed and housed. If they are refugees they can stay, if they are eco- nomic migrants, they will go back to Cuba. “Of course, all that de- pends if they are really Cubans. Do we really know who they are? What would be the reaction of the USA if we supported terrorists to enter that country. Anyone want to bet their USA visa on the answer?” Jacqueline Carpenter, spokeswoman for the police service, said both the migrant vessel and local boat were in territorial waters when the Joint Marine Unit prevented the transfer of fuel and other supplies on Friday. “The actions of JMU of- ficers were fully in line with and in fact required per gov- ernment policy and the MOU between the Cayman Islands Government and the Cuban Government,” she said. “JMU officers afforded the mi- grants the opportunity to dis- embark their vessel and be taken ashore, also per gov- ernment policy, but they de- clined to do so, as this would mean being repatriated to their country of origin at some point in the future.” The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission has previously looked into the policy and decided it was “harsh, but on balance, the right policy.” “You can’t encourage people to set off in these un- seaworthy boats … knowing that you can come to Cayman and we’ll fuel you up and re- pair your boats and send you on your way again,” Human Rights Commission chairman James Austin-Smith told the Cayman Compass in a pre- vious interview. “You may not get here in the first place, and that’s contrary to any of our obligations under interna- tional law,” he said. Mr. McDow said he did not understand the logic in this situation. “If they are really concerned about someone going out to risk their lives, why is it OK to send them out there without food and water,” he asked. “How is that better?”The Cuban migrants off West Bay on Friday.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. Wednesday november 25, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Here we go again. The politicians in Washington are whining and complaining that “evil” and “greedy” corporations are being traitors by engaging in corporate inversions so they can leave America. The issue is very simple. The United States has a very unfriendly and anti-com- petitive tax system. So it’s very much in the interest of multinational compa- nies to figure out some way of switching their legal do- micile to a jurisdiction with better tax law. There are two things to understand. First, the United States has the world’s highest corporate tax rate, which undermines job creation and competitive- ness in America, regardless of whether there are inversions. Second, the United States has the most puni- tive “worldwide” tax system, meaning the IRS gets to tax American-domiciled com- panies on income that is earned (and already subject to tax) in other nations. Unfortunately, the White House has no desire to ad- dress these problems. This means American com- panies that compete in global markets are in an untenable position. If they’re passive, they’ll lose market share and be less able to compete. And this is why so many of them have decided to re-domicile, notwithstanding childish hos- tility from Washington. The Wall Street Journal is reporting, for instance, that the long-rumored inversion of Pfizer is moving forward. “Pfizer Inc. and Allergan PLC agreed on an historic merger deal worth more than US$150 billion that would create the world’s biggest drug maker and move one of the top names in corporate America to a foreign country. … The takeover would be the largest so-called inver- sion ever. Such deals enable a U.S. company to move abroad and take advantage of a lower corporate tax rate else- where … In hooking up with Allergan, Pfizer would lower its tax rate below 20 percent, analysts estimate. Allergan, itself the product of a tax- lowering inversion deal, has a roughly 15 percent tax rate.” While there presumably will be some business syner- gies that will be achieved, tax policy played a big role. Our friends on the left have a blame-the-victim ap- proach to this issue. Here’s what the Wall Street Journal wrote in September, before the Pfizer-Allergan merger. “Remember last year when the Obama Treasury bypassed federal rule-making procedures to stop U.S. com- panies from moving over- seas? It didn’t work. … Watching U.S. firms ske- daddle, President Obama might have thought that per- haps the U.S. should stop taxing earnings generated outside its borders, since almost no one else on the planet does. Or he might have pondered whether the in- dustrialized world’s highest corporate income tax rate is good for business. Being Barack Obama, the President naturally sought to bar com- panies from leaving. And his Treasury, being part of the Obama Administration, natu- rally skipped the normal pro- cess of proposing new rules and allowing the public to comment on them.” But even this lawless ad- ministration has not been able to block inversions by regulatory edict. “… in the year since the Treasury Department tight- ened its rules to reduce the tax benefits of such deals, six U.S. companies have struck inversions, compared with the nine that did so the year before.” Meanwhile, foreign takeovers of U.S. firms, which have the same effect of pre- venting the IRS from cap- turing worldwide earnings, are booming. These acquisi- tions exceed US$379 billion so far this year, … far above any recent year before Treasury acted against inversions. So the policy won’t generate the revenue that Mr. Obama wants to collect, but it is suc- ceeding in moving control of U.S. businesses offshore.” This should be an ar- gument for a different ap- proach, but Obama is too ideological to compromise on this issue. Every inverted company (and every foreign company of any kind) pays tax to the IRS on income earned in the United States. All that happens with an inversion is that a company no longer pays tax to the IRS on income that is earned in other nations (and already subject to tax by govern- ments in those nations). But that was income that the United States should not be taxing in the first place. Daniel J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, is on the Editorial Board of the Cayman Financial Review. This column appeared on International Liberty, www.danieljmitchell.wordpress.com. On some subjects, particularly ones whose funda- mental nature is cultural or moral, there is no clear opportunity for compromise. In the Cayman Islands, same-sex marriage is one of these. Here in Cayman, two groups have coalesced in regard to the topic: Those who are adamantly against same-sex marriage, civil unions or even nominal changes to the status quo — and, on the other side, everyone else. The former group almost certainly constitutes the majority of Caymanian voters. The chasm separating the two sides is abyssal. For example, consider the recent exchange of letters between Premier Alden McLaughlin and Human Rights Commission Chairman James Austin-Smith. While the tone of the correspondence is unfailingly civil (for that, we give the two gentlemen credit), it is obvious from the content that there could be no greater distance between Premier McLaughlin and Mr. Austin-Smith on this subject. Premier McLaughlin is firmly on the side of Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden (whose fiery denunciations of homosexuality have made headlines) and the main- tenance of existing legal arrangements, and Mr. Austin- Smith is on the other. Mr. Austin-Smith’s commission has given three recommendations to the Progressives government, all of which Premier McLaughlin has either refused or ignored. The commission’s first recommendation was the introduction of legislation to recognize same-sex civil unions. Second, that the government outlaw discrimi- nation on the basis of sexual orientation. Here’s the obvious truth: No elected government in Cayman, in the foreseeable future, will on its own volition attempt to legalize same-sex civil unions (or marriages) in this country. Judging by their remarks on the House floor, not only do most lawmakers per- sonally disagree with same-sex marriage (or any step in that direction), but the prevailing popular consensus against same-sex marriage would make such an action political suicide. For similar reasons, there is probably little more appetite among our politicians to pursue anti-discrimination ordinances targeting a person’s sexual orientation. Mr. Austin-Smith argues that in the event of a chal- lenge to Cayman’s laws, the European Court of Human Rights would almost certainly rule against Cayman. That is possible. However, even if that does happen, we would expect Cayman’s authorities to resist taking any responsive action until and unless the U.K. steps in and forces these islands to do so. Third, the commission recommended that Premier McLaughlin condemn “in the strongest possible terms” the language employed by Mr. Eden on the House floor, where he described homosexuality as, in a word, “evil.” Here we are in agreement with Mr. Austin-Smith. As we have written in previous editorials, Mr. Eden has conducted himself in a manner that is unaccept- able for an elected representative. Particularly when he called for Mr. Austin-Smith’s dismissal from his appointed position, based on religious beliefs (or lack thereof), Mr. Eden ran afoul of sacrosanct protections enshrined in Cayman’s Constitution. It behooves Premier McLaughlin, and each respon- sible member of government, to take Mr. Eden to task for his regrettable remarks. Thus far, the silence has been deafening — but telling. That is not to say we are in accordance with every- thing Mr. Austin-Smith says or does. Certainly not. We question why gay rights has ascended to cause célèbre status, amid the litany of potential human rights violations that occur systematically in Cayman on a daily basis. Where, for example, was Mr. Austin-Smith when the government passed its motion financially punishing this newspaper for expressing our opinion against cor- ruption in Cayman? Had not Mr. Austin-Smith even read the Cayman Constitution’s Bill of Rights which enshrines the right of free speech and protects those who practice it from political retribution? Where does the commission stand on the issue of police eavesdropping on private citizens’ tele- communications? What about the hundreds of people whose immi- gration status remains in limbo while the government dithers on their permanent residence applications? Or the thousands of people in Cayman who are denied the most basic right of political representation? We are deeply concerned any time when a gov- ernmental appointee appears to be prioritizing his or her public agenda based on personal priorities or beliefs, a practice Mr. Austin-Smith would be well- advised to avoid. Straight talk on gay marriage Blame politicians for corporate inversions Daniel J. Mitchell Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” First, the United States has the world’s highest corporate tax rate … Second, the United States has the most punitive “worldwide” tax system …The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 Cayman Compass • Wednesday november 25, 2015 Wednesday november 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Sister Islands In the Nov. 24, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch wrote about the service that was held at the Cenotaph in Stake Bay on Sunday Nov. 14 to observe Armistice Day, which later became the public holiday known as Remembrance Day. “The District Commissioner gave a brief ad- dress. He remembered not only the war dead, but those who died in the 1932 hurricane, 33 years and 6 days from this date – 40 at sea and 43 on land – the biggest disaster ever to hit this island. “Pastor Allen of the 7th Day Adventist Church called for 2 minutes silence and pronounced Benediction. A wreath was presented to the District Commissioner by Constable W. J. McLaughlin, who took it and placed in on the Cenotaph. “The service was dignified and impressive and there was a large gathering of people from all districts.” Ms. Ritch also detailed a fire that partially de- stroyed the shop and stock of W. Taylor Foster’s North East Bay Store on Nov. 15. “At about 7 a.m. smoke was seen coming from the windows by men on a truck on their way to work. Immediate report to Mr. Foster brought his son Raymond to the shop, accompanied by the truck and men. They opened the shop door and found the kerosene refrigerator on fire. The blaze was quickly put out with water. Raymond then returned for his father and took him to the shop. Quickly people from all around came and gave wonderful help.” 50 years ago armistice Day on Brac GeorGe Nowak In this photo taken a few years before he died, Jake McLaughlin plays an old lap steel guitar, while posing with a drawing he made of country music star Hank Snow. There is a very close legacy link between country music and the Cayman Islands. Before 1976, there were no radio stations in Cayman. Music was broadcast in homes on record players, old- fashioned Victrolas or on jukeboxes in bars and clubs. The few tourists back then found it peculiar hearing fiddle, steel guitar and a banjo on a tropical island rather than the customary calypso, reggae and ska. Before the rise of tourism and banking, the main source of making a living in the Cayman Islands for most men was tur- tling, farming or working as mariners on huge ships that sailed the globe. Oil tankers, container vessels and even military craft pre- ferred Caymanian seafarers. Often, the men would be away from home and family for months (sometimes years) at a time; it was a lonely occupation. To pass time, the sailors would listen to the powerful U.S. radio stations broadcasting country music, such as WSM in Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry. The tear-jerking songs fused with loneliness and a vast boundless ocean could weaken the hearts of the manliest of men. When they made port in some distant land, the sailors would purchase vinyl recordings of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Hank Snow or Kitty Wells. Their record collections would eventually end up on Grand Cayman or Cayman Brac at the bottom end of a needle in some Wurlitzer jukebox. Bracker Jake McLaughlin, known as Uncle Jake to those who knew him, spent many years at sea and later worked with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. He was such a country music fan that he not only purchased the albums, he also drew pictures of his favorite singers and sang their songs while playing his lap steel guitar. He passed away in 2011. 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. Jake McLaughlin - Photo: GeorGe NowakCayman Compass • Wednesday november 25, 2015 DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Sister Islands Pirates Week in history Getting ready for parade festivities at a past Pirates Week in Little Cayman. Young buccaneers at a past Little Cayman Pirates week. Expect plenty of wenches and rogues at this year’s Little Cayman Pirates Week. This Southern Cross Club float celebrated the many nationalities of the staff. The Heritage Celebration has a special place in the Little Cayman winter schedule, ushering in the busy tourist season. This year’s events promise lots of fun for the whole family. Festivities kick off on Friday, Nov. 27 with a dance at the Hungry Iguana starting at 9 p.m. Guests can expect prizes and giveaways and must be sure to stay for the fireworks show at Salt Rock Dock at 11 p.m. Saturday’s festivities officially begin with the float parade at 3 p.m. at Head O’Bay at the Hungry Iguana. The afternoon also has float and costume competitions, followed by fireworks at 7 p.m. The Saturday dance starts at 8 p.m. Those in attendance can expect prizes and giveaways. The fun continues on Sunday with a farewell lunch at McCoy’s Lodge from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Year 6 students at Brac West End Primary School hold up the thatch work they created at a Heritage Arts lesson, which aimed to familiarize the young participants with the traditions that were once a way of life in the Cayman Islands. - Photo: Cayman traditional arts Brac Heritage This Friday’s Little Cayman Heritage Celebration, part of Pirates Week, promises lots of fun for the whole family. Festivities kick off on Friday, Nov. 27 with a dance at the Hungry Iguana. Here are some photos from previous festivities.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Wednesday november 25, 2015 • Cayman Compass We Buy Gold!We Buy Gold! Cash For Gold Silver, Coins and Broken Jewelry Cash Paid on the Spot! Call 927-8565 Cash For Gold • Shedden Road 949 2256 • Look for our BIG SIGN on Crewe Road, turn down Orchard Lane all the way to the end. *Soil, fertilizer & mulch excluded LONG BLACK WEEKEND SALE 30% OFF EVERYTHING! Thursday - Saturday 7:30 - 5:30 • Sunday 10 - 4 email: powerflo@candw.ky • Website: www.powerflower.ky Locally Grown, Locally Owned for 30 years Premier condemns anti-business rhetoric parents are unwelcome.” He urged legislators not to assist in creating an envi- ronment where businesses felt unwelcome, warning that they could uproot and go elsewhere, as they had done in other countries in the region. The members still present in the Assembly as the debate came to a close, voted unanimously to ap- prove the motion, which read: “Be it therefore re- solved that the Government considers amendments to business licensing laws with a view to removing re- strictions to employment, training, development and ownership opportuni- ties for Caymanians and be it further resolved that Government consider en- forcing existing laws, reg- ulations and policies and utilizes immigration ac- creditation programs more fully to hold business more accountable as well as to reward and acknowledge those business[es] that hire, train and promote Caymanians through var- ious levels including own- ership positions.” Mr. Connolly opened the debate Monday calling for an end to exemptions in business licensing legisla- tion, which he said essen- tially allowed some firms to opt out of offering ad- vancement and pathways to ownership for Caymanians. He said Caymanians were, in effect, being prevented from getting to the top in the best paying professions in the country. Several legislators weighed in on more general issues about employment and immigration. North Side independent legislator Ezzard Miller re- peated claims that a rev- olution was possible in Cayman, suggesting a peaceful Martin Luther King-style figure that en- sured we “keep the status quo but Caymanians get a part of it” would be prefer- able to a Malcolm X figure that decided Caymanians were not getting anything, so they would “mash it up anyway.” He said Caymanians had for too long been “scared” to stand up to foreign- owned businesses for fears that they might leave. “If there was anywhere else for them to go, they wouldn’t come here in the first place. Certainly, after they come here and invest and set up shop, they ain’t gonna leave in a hurry.” Arden McLean, inde- pendent legislator for East End, questioned why it had taken a “young Turk” like Mr. Connolly to bring a private members’ motion for the issue to be considered. He criticized other legislators for making pleas to industry to give jobs and opportunities to Caymanians, saying in- stead government should en- force existing laws. “The time for prayers is over, the time for begging is over,” he said. Editor’s Note: A story in Tuesday’s Cayman Compass incorrectly referred to the details of the original mo- tion filed by Mr. Connolly, not the amended version that was debated and ap- proved on Monday. Last year, people in Cayman sent almost US$180 million in remittances, and more than US$110 million of that went to Jamaica. Sitting at the newly re- opened Western Union counter at the Foster’s by the airport, Leisa Thompson- Garric said she had already had some customers send money before lunchtime. A GraceKennedy repre- sentative at the grocery store said this was the first time the company had operated in the Cayman Islands. Western Union closed suddenly on a Friday in late July when Fidelity Bank de- cided to shut down the cash- transfer windows. After Fidelity, Cayman National Bank, the only re- maining bank to give accounts to remittance companies, pulled out of the business and left Jamaica National Money Services, MoneyGram and others without a local bank. The cash-transfer com- panies restricted customers to only sending U.S. dollars, and banks started charging non-account holders fees to convert Cayman dol- lars to U.S. cash. There have been months of closed-door negotiations among banks, remittance companies, government and others since the summer. Cayman National closed the accounts for the remaining cash transfer companies on Aug. 26 and left the services without a way to convert Cayman dollars to U.S. funds on the way to the interna- tional financial system. Fidelity and other banks cited higher risk and tighter regulations in the U.S., Europe and other jurisdictions as the reason behind pulling the services. Many governments have tightened rules on cash transfers, concerned that the services could be used by drug dealers, terrorists and others to move money qui- etly. Banks in Cayman feared that if they continued to give banking services to remit- tance companies they too could lose their banking rela- tionships in the U.S. Without bank accounts, the remaining remittance companies could only ac- cept U.S. cash, which was then transferred directly to a bank off island. The sudden demand for U.S. cash led to banks in Cayman running out of U.S. currency and having to import cash, charging fees as high as $50 to con- vert Cayman to U.S. dollars for people without bank ac- counts. In recent weeks, the cash shortage has eased, with some banks no longer capping how much people can convert to U.S. GraceKennedy Money Services Ltd. is part of the GraceKennedy Group, which has a range of fi- nancial and food hold- ings and is perhaps best known in Cayman for its Grace hot sauces. The com- pany’s money services di- vision operates Western Union locations in Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, Guyana and six other Caribbean countries. Crown opens case against Devon Anglin for murder of Jeremiah Barnes CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Members of the court hearing the murder trial in- volving defendant Devon Anglin visited the scene of the fatal shooting of 4-year-old Jeremiah Barnes Tuesday morning. Justice Charles Quin, court staff and attorneys traveled to West Bay to see various sites featuring in the trial. The convoy of seven ve- hicles included a prison van with Anglin inside. He did not leave the van, but defense at- torneys David Fisher and Lucy Organ spoke to him at the first site, the Hell Service Station. It was there that Jeremiah was shot on Feb. 15, 2010, while in the back seat of the car driven by his father, Andy Barnes. Hell Road was blocked for about 20 minutes as Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kennett (now retired) summarized what had occurred there. Special note was made of the location of a CCTV camera that captured images of the shooter from the back. Mr. Fisher noted that the position of an ice machine was significant in the various witness statements and he asked if the machine had been moved. He was assured that its location was the same as in 2010. The court party walked around the back of the service station and observed how a vehicle could “loop around,” in the words of lead prosecutor Andrew Radcliffe. At each venue visited, there were armed police offi- cers and the police helicopter hovered overhead. Other sites visited included the West Bay Police Station and two residences. The group left West Bay around 11:30 a.m. and pro- ceedings resumed in Court One shortly after noon. Justice Quin, who is hearing the matter without a jury as Anglin elected, said of the visit, “It certainly was ex- tremely helpful to me.” Mr. Radcliffe then began his formal opening of the Crown’s case and was ex- pected to conclude after the lunch adjournment Tuesday. He said he would be showing the court footage from the service station’s CCTV. Court visits scene of child’s shooting death Western Union reopens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 At each venue visited, there were armed police officers and the police helicopter hovered overhead.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Wednesday november 25, 2015 Copper Falls Steakhouse Invites You to Enjoy a Traditional American anksgiving with us ursday November 26, 2015 from 5:30 to 10:30pm For CI$29.95 Turkey with Herb Stu ng and Gravy Cranberry Sauce Mixed Vegetables Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Reservations recommended, please call 945-4755 A Rare Steakhouse, Very Well Done We Have Gi Certi cates Available For Your Christmas Present Needs Pink Ladies CHRISTMAS Pink Ladies CHRISTMAS BAZAAR BAZAAR Sat day 28 N emb 2-5pm Camana Bay Arts & Reeati Cen e ADULT $5CHILD(4 YEARS +) $5 Proceeds to Pink Ladies Community Projects Homemade Tea - Country Kitchen - Handmade Crafts Plant Sale - White Elephant - Kids Arts & Crafts - Books Musical Entertainment - Silent Auction - Raffle Prizes Santa’s Groo Tickets available for purchase from any Pink Lady, the Pink Ladies Coffee Shop at George Town Hospital or at the gate on the day. Santa’s Groo featuring NCVO, Cayman’s ARK, Cayman HospiceCare, Cayman Islands Humane Society and the Garden Club of Grand Cayman to as “start-up” costs. Those documents were sent to both Webb and Watson in various drafts days before they went to the government’s Central Tenders Committee. By the time bids were of- ficially opened at central ten- ders for evaluation on Nov. 5, 2010, the maximum “start- up” costs for the AIS bid had gone up to US$1.37 million, prosecutors said. Moreover, by the time the AIS Jamaica proposal for the customer billing system was recommended as the bid winner in late November, the ongoing costs over the course of the five-year contract had increased by an estimated additional US$3 million, prosecutors stated. “The costs … to the public for doing business with AIS dramatically changed,” Mr. Moran said. “The inflation of these fees was an entirely dishonest act which served no purpose other than to line the pockets of those who stood to benefit from doing business with AIS Jamaica.” Watson chaired the technical bid review com- mittee that recommended AIS Jamaica win the bid on Nov. 29. That contract was approved by the Health Services Authority Board of Directors, chaired by Watson, in December 2010. Precisely who was re- sponsible for the changes to the bid amounts was not stated in court, but earlier testimony from Monday in- dicated that both Watson and Webb had personal inter- ests in a local company, AIS Cayman Ltd., that was being formed as a subsidiary of AIS Jamaica to operate as a local partner in the hospital pa- tient claims system contract, once it was awarded. Various email communi- cations sent between Watson, Webb and AIS Jamaica rep- resentatives were read out during court testimony Tuesday and showed Webb “pre-approving” certain com- munications that Watson in- tended to send to AIS rep- resentatives. Mr. Moran alleged that Watson also sup- plied Webb with details of other interested project bid- ders for the hospital patient payment system. Further statements in- dicated Webb, acting on behalf of AIS Jamaica representatives, sent ques- tions for Watson to ask during bid evaluation committee meetings. In 2011, when the CarePay swipe-card project had “hit the buffers,” according to Mr. Moran, prosecutors alleged Webb and Watson appeared to be focusing on buying themselves houses in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area. ‘Sham’ directors During court testimony Monday afternoon, Mr. Moran said the registered di- rectors of AIS Cayman Ltd. were listed in October 2010 as Caymanians Joscelyn Morgan and Eldon Rankin and Jamaican businessman Douglas Halsall, who owned AIS Cayman’s parent com- pany, AIS Jamaica. Mr. Moran argued Monday that it was actually local businessmen Watson and Webb who ran AIS’s local operations from behind the scenes, disguising their in- volvement and “defrauding” both the Health Services Authority and the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company of significant sums in the award of a contract for the public hospital swipe- card system. Mr. Moran said the ap- pearance of Messrs. Morgan and Rankin on the reg- istration documents for AIS Cayman Ltd. was “a complete sham.” “Although these individ- uals do exist, neither of them appears to have played any visible role [in the company],” Mr. Moran said. Mr. Rankin was identi- fied in court as the owner of a local construction com- pany, while Mr. Morgan once worked as a bookkeeper for an auto shop. Mr. Moran said Mr. Morgan, the listed 60 percent “local” owner of AIS Cayman Ltd. left the is- lands and had not returned for some time. He eventually began receiving some pay- ments “at a very late stage,” the prosecutor said. Criminal investigations into the CarePay contract award also revealed that fees to register the local company in the Cayman Islands were paid from a Butterfield Bank account held by TCB con- struction, a firm owned by Watson’s family. Mr. Moran alleged that Rodriguez, acting on behalf of Watson, asked Butterfield representatives not to list the name of the construction firm on the check issued for the registration of AIS Cayman Ltd. The bank did not comply and the check ended up in the prosecution’s records. The Crown further alleged that Watson, when asked about the registration by po- lice officers investigating the case, indicated that he did not register the company. Watson, Mr. Moran said, ex- plained that AIS Cayman Ltd. must have been registered by the directors after they saw a request for proposals re- garding the computerized swipe-card system issued by the Health Services Authority. “It’s simply not true,” Mr. Moran said, indicating the Crown evidence in the case included details that Webb and Watson had made efforts as early as September 2010 to register AIS Cayman Ltd. in order to profit from the hos- pital swipe card contracts. A significant amount of the profits earned from the CarePay contract by the local arm of AIS were received, prosecutors said, by another company – The W Group – which was entirely controlled by Watson and Webb. “The answer in rela- tion to who was behind AIS Cayman is pretty obvious,” Mr. Moran said. “It was their company [referring to Watson and Webb].” The Crown has a list of more than 30 witnesses to call in its case which seeks to prove six counts against Watson, including two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common law, one count of conflict of interest contrary to Cayman’s Anti- Corruption Law, one count of fraud against the govern- ment, one count of transfer- ring criminal property and one count of breach of trust under the Anti-Corruption Law. Rodriguez is charged with one count, along with Watson, of transferring crim- inal property. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Webb, who is also charged in the case, will not be present for the trial. Prosecutors indicated he could face trial in Cayman at a later date. CarePay project costs ‘increased massively’ Canover Watson, right, with his attorney Trevor Burke, QC, arrives at court Tuesday on the second day of his corruption trial. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >