ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Tuesday december 22, 2015 Sport | page 16 PanThers reTain PerfecT record Outlast Giants 38-35 High of 86 Low of 75 Seas: Moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. editorial | page 4 TurTle farm: saddled wiTh debT, saddling uP TurTles 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Five Foreign attorneys reFused admission in aHaB litigation Application highlights issues in Legal Practitioners Law brenT fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five of seven London-based solicitors and barristers were denied admission to practice law in the Cayman Islands for limited pur- poses following a ruling made by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie earlier this month. Justice Smellie denied the majority of the applications citing Grand Court practice direc- tions, or rules, that state limited admission of ju- nior counsel will not be granted in Cayman ex- cept in “unusual and special circumstances.” “This is for the well-recognized policy and practical reasons that the services of attorneys- at-law of equivalent experience will be readily available from amongst the local profession,” Mr. Smellie’s ruling on Dec. 10 indicated. The admission of the additional non-Cay- manian attorneys, sought by local firm HSM Chambers and its partners Huw Moses, Bill Helfrecht and Ian Lambert, emphasized the “highly unusual and complex nature” of the civil court case in which the firm is involved. The matter has been ongoing in one form or another in the Cayman Islands and other international courts since 2009 and is expected to go to trial in Cayman in mid-2016. The civil case alleges the misappropriation of more than US$5 billion by a defendant named in the case, Maan Al Sanea, from the financial divi- sion of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Co., also known as AHAB. The particular case against what are re- ferred to as the AWAL Companies, including the bank Mr. Al Sanea owned, is that they as- sisted Mr. Al Sanea in the alleged misappro- priation. The AWAL Companies, in what the chief justice refers to as a “correspondingly complex defense,” have denied AHAB’s claim. Mr. Al Sanea has consistently denied all allegations related to the matter, which prompted lawsuits in several countries, in- cluding the Cayman Islands, where a number of companies in which he was involved were registered. HSM Chambers, in particular Messrs. Helfrecht and Lambert, have been representing the AWAL Companies interests in the litigation. “The litigation has indeed become both complex and work-intensive, involving … the tracing of significant sums through many bank accounts in various jurisdictions,” Mr. Justice Smellie stated in his ruling. “The re- sources required to fight litigation on this scale are significant, both in terms of money Economy growing slower than predicted in 2015 Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands’ economy in 2015 is not growing as fast as economists had pre- dicted, according to government figures released last week. Government also announced final gross domestic product figures for 2014, adjusting those numbers up now that all the data is in. Based on data collected from local businesses, the gross do- mestic product estimate for 2014 shows that the local economy expanded by 2.4 percent, ex- ceeding the 2.1 percent early es- timate released in July. Sixteen of the country’s 18 industries, in- cluding hotels and restaurants, posted improved economic per- formance in 2014. With the growth in 2014, the country’s GDP per capita reached $48,642, higher by 3.3 percent when compared to 2013. While economists previ- ously predicted the gross do- mestic product for the Cayman Islands would grow by 2.1 per- cent in 2015, the forecasted growth rate has now been ad- justed to 1.7 percent for the year, according to the Cayman Islands’ Semi-Annual Economic Report for 2015. The new adjustment covers a christmas blessing for west bay crew Seasonal work crews seek long-term opportunities James whiTTaKer jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Between the stigma of a lifelong struggle with drug addiction and a son in jail for murder, Katina Masura Anglin has strug- gled to find steady employment. Small places have long memories and misdeeds are not soon forgotten. The 44-year-old has had some hard times and admits she has made her share of mistakes. Leaning on a rake at Barkers public beach in West Bay, Friday, as she joined a crew of jobseekers working on the govern- ment’s Christmas clean-up, Ms. Anglin was looking ahead to a brighter future. “Cayman is so small, it is hard to make a new start, but that is what I am trying to do,” she said. Ms. Anglin is one of 700 people who signed up to work on the National Community Enhancement Project, a govern- ment initiative to offer seasonal work at a decent salary to the unemployed. It is just a week for most, but the pay-off is about more than money in the bank. “The relief this has brought to these people is hard to express,” says Ms. Anglin. “They have money for pre-school fees for January, they are able to buy Christmas presents for their children and parents, they can get the turkey or the ham for Christmas PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » Katina Masura Anglin rakes seaweed in Barkers National Park. She is among some 700 people taking part in the National Community Enhancement Project, a government initiative to offer seasonal work at a decent salary. – PHoto: matt lamers PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS Tuesday december 22, 2015 • Cayman Compass www. REGmovies.com SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - $8.00 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS ROAD CHIP (PG) 1:15 I 3:40 I 7:10 I 9:30 STAR WARS VII 3D (PG13) 1:00 I 2:00 2D I 4:00 2D I 5:00 7:00 I 8:00 2D I 9:20 I 10:00 2D SISTERS (R) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 9:55 THE GOOD DINOSAUR 3D (PG) 12:30 | 4:00 2D I 6:30 I 9:40 2D IN THE HEART OF THE SEA 3D (PG13) 12:45 2D I 3:00 I 6:45 2D Court of Appeal president retires CArol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sir John Chadwick, who succeeded Justice Edward Zacca as president of the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, has retired after serving for seven years. He said his goodbyes at the end of the winter ses- sion last month. Justice Chadwick formally retires in mid-January. His successor, Sir John Goldring, is expected to be sworn on Jan. 20 as the court’s third president. Prior to Sir John Chadwick’s departure, col- leagues and court staff gath- ered for an informal farewell ceremony. The highlight was a portrait unveiling, with Justice Chadwick’s framed photograph joining other ju- dicial luminaries displayed in the lobby outside Courts 1 and 2. Justice Chadwick pre- sided over criminal and civil appeals, with the most publicized being his court’s decisions in or- dering a retrial of four men for the robbery of Cayman National Bank at Buckingham Square [they were found guilty by a jury, as they had been the first time] and a retrial of Devon Anglin for the murder of 4-year-old Jeremiah Barnes [the verdict is expected next month after a judge- alone trial]. Other rulings of gen- eral public interest in- cluded a recommendation that consideration be given to whether the basic tariff for defilement should be raised. In another matter, Justice Chadwick’s court upheld a sentence of 16 years, noting it was impos- sible to say that was exces- sive for the rape of a child. During his tenure, the court also refused to hear an appeal against a sen- tence of seven years for a domestic burglary at night by a man with previous convictions. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie described Sir John’s judgments as “brimming with intellect and depth of knowledge of the work- ings of the law,” adding that it had been “a privilege to have had Sir John serve Students inspire Christmas stamp designs Designs by Cayman Islands students are fea- tured on the latest issue of Christmas stamps from the postal service. The Cayman Islands Postal Service invited stu- dents aged 6 to 18 to submit their designs on the theme of the meaning of Christmas in Cayman. Of the more than 50 par- ticipants, the winners of the stamp design compe- tition were four students from St. Ignatius Catholic School – Samruddhi Tagalpallewar, Arianna Anglin, Cerys Martin and Zara Garofalo – and Cayman Prep’s Clementine Bonnie Lumsden. The winning designs in- cluded vibrant illustrations of the native fauna, such as a Cayman crab, green parrot and sea turtle, in addition to a bright yellow sun. The first-day cover in- cluded a rosy Christmas or- nament ball. The winning stamp series are valued at 20, 25, 75 and 80 cents. “I am very pleased that the stamp design compe- tition has resulted in a very artistic and colourful stamp issue designed by local school children,” said Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow. “Each year it is challenging to create a Christmas stamp issue that reflects a theme relevant to the Cayman Islands. “The 2015 Christmas stamp issue is a little more unique because of the input from the children; and, I thank all of the children who submitted entries for the competition.” Colleagues and court staff gather with Sir John Chadwick, rear center, after his portrait is unveiled. Back row, from left: Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn, chair of JLSC Ormond Williams, Sir Richard Field, Sir Bernard Rix, Sir John Chadwick, Audrey Bodden, Kevin McCormac and Justice John Martin. Front row, from left: Justice Richard Williams, Justice Michael Mettyear, Deborah Bodden, Justice Ingrid Mangatal, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie and Justice Charles Quin. the Cayman Islands Courts for seven years.” At the informal ceremony, he noted that while the Judicial Administration had sought to honor Justice Chadwick’s re- quest to keep his departure formalities as quiet as pos- sible, he could not conceive of Justice Chadwick leaving without thanking him, however modestly, for his service. In turn, Justice Chadwick spoke of how honored he felt to have served in Cayman. He noted that he was leaving behind an extremely strong team, and thanked the chief justice for all his support of the team. He observed that, with his departure, there was not a single judgment left out- standing from the final sitting of the 2015 session over which he presided. The departing Court of Appeal president thanked the administrative staff sup- porting the work of the Court of Appeal. In particular, he paid tribute to Audrey Bodden, the registrar of the Court of Appeal; court shorthand of- ficers Karen WoonSam and Carol Rouse and Senior Court Reporter Karen Myren; and Marshal “JR” Douglas. “I am going feeling that I am leaving the Court of Appeal in very good hands,” Justice Chadwick said. Following the portrait un- veiling, the Chief Justice presented on behalf of the Judicial Administration to- kens of appreciation to Justice Chadwick. The new Court of Appeal president, Sir John Goldring, comes to Cayman after a ca- reer in the legal services and judicature of England and Wales, most recently as a Lord Justice of Appeal and the Senior Presiding Judge.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 22, 2015 GALLERIA PLAZA | 949-7884 | OPEN 9AM - 6PM WITH BRANDS FROM NIKE | ADIDAS CHAMPION NEW BALANCE UNDER ARMOUR BODY GLOVE LARGEST SELECTION OF ATHLETIC APPAREL ON ISLAND Corals harvested for beauty products James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A U.S. cosmetics com- pany has been granted rare permission to harvest small amounts of soft corals in Cayman’s waters for use in beauty products. The secret to long eye- lashes, coveted in the beauty industry, has been identified in an extract from a species of Gorgonian coral, known as sea whip, found in abun- dance in Cayman’s waters. Maxey Cosmetics has agreed to pay royalties to government of $25,000 per kilogram, to harvest the tips of these corals to extract a product called black sea rod oil, used to help grow natu- rally long lashes. It is anticipated that the agreement could net as much as $500,000 for Cayman’s Environmental Protection Fund over the five- year agreement. Maxey Cosmetics has pre- viously done research work in Cayman’s waters to create a synthetic variant of the extract. Now they plan to market an all-natural version, using Cayman’s coral as the key ingredient. The company’s web- site is already advertising a product called Maxeylash Island Girl, for $75 per bottle, which it describes as a “new formulation con- taining Black Sea Rod Oil from the Caribbean Sea.” Gina Ebanks-Petrie, di- rector of the Department of Environment, said it was possible to sustainably har- vest the tips of the coral without negatively impacting the environment. Ordinarily, taking coral anywhere in Cayman’s terri- torial waters is prohibited. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie said the cosmetics company had agreed to a number of con- ditions, including restricting harvesting to defined areas outside of the marine parks and periodic monitoring of harvest sites from the Department of Environment. Tim Austin, deputy di- rector of the department, said sea whips were quick growing corals. He said the tips could be safely harvested in small quantities without impacting growth rates in the long term. He said the variety and scope of potential adapta- tions of corals remained the focus of significant research and could yet yield important medical discoveries. “It is amazing what is still left in nature to be discov- ered,” Mr. Austin said. “That is one of the reasons why it is important to keep healthy coral reefs around. A lot of medicines are derived from natural products and who knows what potential discov- eries remain to be made?” Environment Minister Wayne Panton said Maxey had a proven track record of sustainable practices and would work in collabora- tion with government ex- perts. He said the agree- ment incorporated clauses that took into account ma- rine conservation legisla- tion and the Convention on Biological Diversity, which attempts to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of a country’s natural resources. Other conditions specify the amount of the tips of coral that can be collected, which allows the colony to regrow and to be sustained. Maxey Cosmetics has agreed to pay royalties to government of $25,000 per kilogram, to harvest the tips of these corals to extract a product called black sea rod oil, used to help grow naturally long lashes. A U.S. cosmetics company has signed a five-year contract with the Cayman Islands government to harvest black sea rod, also known as sea whip. HM Customs officer Philip West has been pro- moted to the post of assis- tant collector after 24 years with the department. Most recently, he had been leading the container scanning operations. “I am humbled and de- lighted to be given the op- portunity to serve my de- partment and my country in the capacity of assistant collector of customs,” Mr. West said in a press release. “I will continue to strive for excellence in service, while protecting our borders and safeguarding the govern- ment’s revenue.” Mr. West said his ad- vice for young Caymanians is “never give up.” He ex- plained, “This was my second time applying for the ACC position and this time, seven persons had ap- plied. Work hard and your worth will be noticed and appreciated. Make sure you make the most of the edu- cational opportunities you receive and give that your best shot.” The department named him senior customs officer of the year in 2014. Mr. West has training in drug detec- tion and interdiction, fire- arms and self defense, ac- cording to the statement. ‘Star’ customs officer promoted Mr. WestThe 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. Turtle Farm: Saddled with debt, saddling up turtles The Cayman Turtle Farm had a big idea – and a bad idea: train green sea turtles, starting with a female named “Myrtle,” to give rides to visitors in the water. So read a news story that appeared on the front page of Monday’s Compass. The Turtle Farm pursued, in earnest and utilizing staff resources, a plan where turtles would approach visitors and allow them to hold on to their shells for “turtle-back rides.” It requires only a modest exercise of the imagina- tion to envision how this particular proposal might have come about. It’s a classic case of “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Turtle Farm staff members, no doubt, can’t help but notice how their neighbor (and rival) across the road, Dolphin Discovery, is continually attracting throngs of tourists at premium prices and thus is thriving finan- cially. The following train of thought might ensue: “Well, what do they got that we haven’t got? Financial disci- pline? … Private sector ingenuity? … The flexibility to adapt to free market conditions? … Hold the phone – Dolphin rides! Of course!” A neuron fires. A synapse is bridged. A light bulb illuminates. When the Turtle Farm’s former head animal trainer Amy Souster was told of the grand scheme, she reacted thusly: “I physically laughed,” she related to a Compass reporter. “I kept waiting for them to say they were joking.” However, they were not joking. According to our news story, “[T]he idea was to have two shows a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, when six visitors could take turns being pulled through the water by the turtle.” Turtle Farm Managing Director Tim Adam said, “It was so cool to watch, and the people loved it.” Now, we consider Mr. Adam to be a good man in an untenable position, and as a rule we fully support Mr. Adam as Cayman’s expert-in-all-things-turtle. We make an exception, however, for turtle riding. It is, precisely as Ms. Souster put it, “a terrible idea.” The reasons are numerous. We shall pick three. First – in terms of playfulness of personality, warm- bloodedness, intellect, velocity and grace – turtles aren’t exactly dolphins. To put it one way, if we were to put on a “dinner and a show” starring turtles and dolphins, guess which species would appear on the menu, and which on the playbill. Putting it another way, from an advertising angle, riding a turtle doesn’t exactly have the same zip to it as, say, riding a roller coaster. Second – salmonella. Like most reptiles, turtles carry salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tracts. That poses a potentially serious health hazard to people (particularly children) who touch turtles, who swim with turtles in enclosed areas, or in the case of turtle- riding, both. (Concern over salmonella transmission is the reason cited by the Turtle Farm in finally, thank- fully, nixing the turtle-riding idea.) Third – animal abuse. We aren’t saying that turtle- riding, inherently, constitutes an abusive practice, but it certainly could appear that way, particularly to animal rights activists such as World Animal Pro- tection, who have the Turtle Farm squarely in their crosshairs as a target for closure. On top of issues of crowding, diet, handling, infection, butchering, etc., the last thing the Turtle Farm needs to do is introduce an unnecessary practice that could further tarnish its less-than-sterling reputation. Setting all of the above aside, the main conclu- sion that we draw from this latest effort is not just that turtle-riding is a bad idea, it’s that the Turtle Farm seems all out of good ideas. It is a failed tourist attrac- tion that drains $10 million per year from the public treasury and presents an easy opportunity for those who would malign the image of the Cayman Islands. From a financial and public relations perspective, the government-owned company is a liability, not an asset. 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” Tuesday deCember 22, 2015 • Cayman COmpass WASHINGTON – A week ago Saturday, Barack Obama gained the second jewel in his foreign policy triple crown: the Paris climate accord. It follows his Iran nuclear deal and awaits but the closing of Guantanamo to complete his glittering legacy. To be sure, Obama will not be submitting the cli- mate agreement for Senate ratification. It would have no chance of passing – as with the Iranian nuclear deal, also never submitted for the Senate ratification Obama knew he’d never get. And if he does close Guantanamo, it will be in defiance of over- whelming bipartisan con- gressional opposition. You see, visionary thinkers like Obama cannot be bound by normal consti- tutional strictures. Indeed, the very unpopularity of his most cherished diplomatic goals is proof of their pro- phetic farsightedness. Yet the climate deal brought back from Paris by Secretary of State John Kerry turns out to be no deal at all. It is, instead, a series of carbon-reducing promises made individually and unilat- erally by the world’s nations. No enforcement, no sanc- tions, nothing legally binding. No matter, explained Kerry on “Fox News Sunday”: “This mandatory reporting require- ment … is a serious form of enforcement, if you will, of compliance, but there is no penalty for it, obviously.” If you think that was gib- berish, you’re not alone. NASA scientist James Hansen, America’s leading carbon ab- olitionist, indelicately called the whole deal “bulls–-.” He’s right. The great Paris achieve- ment is supposed to be global “transparency.” But what can that possibly amount to when you can’t even trust the reporting? Just three months ago, the world’s greatest carbon emitter, China, admitted to having underreported its burning of coal by 17 per- cent, a staggering error (as- suming it wasn’t a delib- erate deception) equal to the entire coal consump- tion of Germany. I’m a climate-change ag- nostic. But I’m realistic enough to welcome prudent hedging against a possible worst-case scenario. I’ve long advocated for a multilateral agreement (unilateral U.S. ac- tions being climatically use- less and economically sui- cidal) negotiated with the most important players – say, India, China and the European Union – containing real limits, real numbers and real enforcement. That would be a genuine achievement. What the climate-change conference produced instead was hot air, applauded by 196 well-fed participants. (Fourteen nights in Paris, after all.) China promises to begin reducing carbon emis- sions 15 years from now. India announced it will be tripling its coal-fired elec- tricity capacity by 2030. Meanwhile, the Obama ad- ministration is effectively dismantling America’s entire coal industry. Looking for guidance on how the U.S. will fare under this new environmental re- gime? Take a glance at Obama’s other great triumph, the Iran nuclear accord. Does the American public know that the Iranian parlia- ment has never approved it? And that the Iranian pres- ident has never signed it? Iran is not legally bound to anything. As the State Department freely ad- mitted (in a letter to Rep. Mike Pompeo of the House Intelligence Committee), the deal “is not a treaty or an executive agreement, and is not a signed document.” But don’t worry. Its success “will depend not on whether it is legally binding or signed, but rather on the extensive verification measures” and our “capacity to reimpose – and ramp up – our sanc- tions if Iran does not meet its commitments.” And how is that going? On Nov. 21, Iran conducted its second test of a nuclear- capable ballistic missile in direct contravention of two U.N. Security Council prohi- bitions, including one that in- corporates the current nuclear agreement – which bans such tests for eight years. Our response? After Iran’s first illegal launch in October, the administration did nothing. A few words at the United Nations. Weren’t we repeatedly assured that any Iranian violation would be met with vigorous ac- tion? No worry, again. As U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power told a congressional hearing last week, “discussions are a form of U.N. action.” The heart sinks. It was obvious from the very beginning that the whole administration promise of “snapback” sanctions was a farce. The Iranians knew it. Hence their contempt for even the prospect of American pushback: two il- legal missile launches con- ducted ostentatiously even before sanctions are lifted and before they receive their US$150 billion in unfrozen assets early next year. Why not? They know Obama will ignore, down- play and explain away any violation, lest it jeopardize his transformative foreign policy legacy. It’s a legacy of fictional agreements. The prolifera- tors and the polluters are not bound. By our own volition, we are. Only Guantanamo re- mains. Within a month, one-sixth of the remaining prisoners will be released. Obama will not be denied. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group Legacy or bust The great Paris achievement is supposed to be global “transparency.” But what can that possibly amount to when you can’t even trust the reporting? Charles Krauthammer President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the White House on Friday. Obama sought to lay the groundwork Friday for his last year in office by vowing not to fade in the background but instead use his remaining months to push long-standing goals to fruition. – Photo: AP5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 22, 2015 BERMUDA BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS DUBAI HONG KONG LONDON MAURITIUS SINGAPORE conyersdill.com THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF CONYERS DILL & PEARMAN IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT MEALS ON WHEELS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. SEASONS GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2016. 2015 - 12 - Charity Advert - 5x7 - The Cayman Compass Ad.indd 112/17/2015 4:26:28 PM Davenport Development Ltd. wishes to inform our customers that our office will be closed as of midday December 23rd, 2015 and will reopen on January 4th, 2016 at 9a.m. The Management and Staff would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a safe, healthy and DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENT LTD SALES OFFICE (345) 949 4979 INFO@DAVENPORTDEVELOPMENTLTD.COM DAVENPORTCAYMAN.COM Little Cayman honors Gladys Howard’s last request KatHLeen Bodden-Harris On the front cover of the late Gladys Bravenec Howard’s memorial pro- gram was a representation of her last request of family, loved ones and friends from the Little Cayman commu- nity, in the form of Constance Jenkins’ poem “Weep Not for Me.” The poem reads, in part, “Please do not dwell upon my death, but celebrate my life.” With that, the staff of the resort she owned and ran for three decades, Pirates Point, the community of Little Cayman and the local district committee of Cayman Islands National Trust began a two- day affair in celebration of Ms. Howard’s life. They began at the Little Cayman Baptist Church on Thursday evening, when family and friends from far and wide gave tribute to her hospitality, generosity, kindness, culinary genius, madcap adventures and zest for fun in life. The furthest traveling contributor journeyed from Sweden to send off his former boyhood mentor in style. He had been a foreign exchange student under Ms. Howard’s care in her home- town of Tyler, Texas. Thursday evening opened with her long-time employee and friend, Gay Morse, of- fering a piano prelude and her daughter, Susan Howard, giving an opening statement. Reverend Audley Scott offici- ated the services. Her friend Suzy Soto paid tribute to Ms. Howard’s early pioneering days in Little Cayman, while Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell gave recogni- tion of the benefits reaped in the Cayman Islands by Ms. Howard’s efforts. The Sister Islands Tourism Association was represented by Ash McKnight, who pre- sented a SITA plaque in her memory. The plaque has been erected in the resort’s lobby, under Ms. Howard’s picture and with a host of other ac- colades the hotel’s founder had earned over the years. Former and current em- ployees of Pirates Point took turns to tell stories of their tenure under Ms. Howard’s guidance. Musical tributes were given from the Little Cayman Baptist Singers and Charmaine Coore. Celebrations continued the following evening with a costumed street parade be- ginning from Southern Cross Resort at dusk. The whim- sical crowd traveled slowly into the sunset, ending at Pirates Point Resort, where a party was held. There, hosted by daughter Susan, the chefs and staff offered a feast and fete befitting any Ms. Howard would oversee her- self, with a fun-filled eve- ning of music and dancing. Singers and guitarists per- formed at the resort to pay final tribute in song. One was rewritten to commemorate and reflect on Ms. Howard’s contribution as an “eco-war- rior” for the indigenous wild- life of Little Cayman. Ms. Morse described the scene at the resort: “There was lots of music and dancing, with a conga line of people dancing through the bar. It was really quite Gladys. I am sure she was up there smiling.” Ms. Howard passed away on Oct. 3, at the age of 83, at her home in Texas after a four-year battle with cancer. Ms. Howard In memory of the late Gladys Howard’s fun-loving life, a costume parade was held in Little Cayman on Friday.Tuesday december 22, 2015 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAY District Days West Bay 50 years ago: Car knocks out power In the Dec. 22 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspon- dent Leila Yates reported: “The Beechcraft plane arrived from Swan Island on the 17th with Mr. and Mrs. Carrinford Bodden, Capt. and Mrs. Harry Glidden, Mr. Joseph Bush, Mr. Harry Bush and two American men, who were en route to their home in Miami, as passengers. “Returning on the 15th were Mrs. Rayburn Farrington and her baby whom she had taken to the doctor in Tampa. Her husband, who works in Tampa, accompanied her home. “The district of West Bay was without light from 3 a.m. until 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, caused by a car knocking down an electric pole. The car was driven by Crosby Ebanks. The car is completely destroyed, but no one was injured. Dallas Ebanks and Lewis Anglin were also in the car. The accident happened on West Bay Road near Island House.” What’s your favorite part of Christmas in Cayman? From family to food and everything in between, Christmas has a special meaning to many people here in Cayman. Out and about on a recent morning, these West Bayers volunteered to share their favorite things about the holiday season with the Compass. – Photos: Jewel Levy Celebrating Jesus’s birth and being closer to the meaning of Christmas.” Daisy Jackson Helping the people that everyone seems to have forgotten.” Emma powell The food and time to enjoy family and friends.” Laura mcLaughlin It’s my first time in Cayman and I am hoping to enjoy the water, meet with family and friends, and enjoy the food.” Lillian morris Celebrating life with Jesus in my heart and relaxing with family and friends.” mervin Rowe To have my children visit from Jamaica and seeing the Crighton lights.” nathelia Bennett Being with family, friends and the food are my favorite parts of Christmas.” omar powery To celebrate the extra friendliness that comes out during Christmastime in West Bay, which is a jolly time.” owen Evans My favorite part of Christmas in Cayman is the food.” Velma Biggs We love the lights at the Crighton’s and the Elmslie Memorial Church Service.” Trisha Kersey, left, and Linda Kersey7 DISTRICT DAY Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 22, 2015 District Days West Bay Sir John A. Cumber Primary Christmas shows impress The students at Sir John A. Cumber Primary put on an impressive effort in two Christmas produc- tions to help usher in the holiday season. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, the Infant Department brought in the festive season with their Christmas show, fea- turing singing, dancing and poetry for an appreciative au- dience of parents, family and friends. Following the per- formances by the children in Reception and Year 2, the Year 1 and Year 3 groups presented their mini musical, “Busy, Busy Bethlehem,” which fea- tured Roman soldiers, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, kings, angels and the baby Jesus, with the adorable performers delivering the show with great gusto. On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Choir and junior ac- tors, led by school music di- rector Rebekah Jefferson, presented “Happily Forever After! This is not a fairy tale.” The musical followed the story of Brooke, who be- comes separated from her family while on vacation. After trying on a beautiful princess cape she found, she was transported to a medi- eval kingdom where she came across many colorful charac- ters, including Princess Pride, Madame Luxuree and Lady Windabag, along with Sir Brags A Lot and his faithful assistant, Page One. The story then takes a turn as a humble carpenter they meet along the way helps them to safety, and bat- tles Dragon Doom on their behalf, leaving the characters and audience with a gospel message befitting the season. Along with friends and family, the enthusiastic au- dience included government minister Tara Rivers. 11-YEAR-OLD IS SANTA CLAUS TO LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN An 11-year old West Bayer’s successful toy drive will be helping to deliver Christmas morning smiles to some kids in need in the community. The Department of Children and Family Services recently received more than 25 wrapped gifts for chil- dren aged 6 to 10 years from young Nadia Simmonds, who collected the presents from guests at a Christmas party she hosted on Dec. 12. “I am fortunate, but I also know that there are many children who are not as for- tunate,” she said. “So I want to help make their Christmas special. Even though this is a small way of making some children happy, it would be nice if many more fortunate children did this too. “My friends all helped make this possible and I want to thank them.” Rebecca Gaze, 11, was one of the young people who con- tributed a gift to the drive. “I think it was a brilliant idea by Nadia as it made us think about other chil- dren less fortunate than our- selves and we were able to give them a lovely gift for Christmas. Nadia is very thoughtful,” she said. “Giving to this cause is important to me because it can make a real difference to a child’s Christmas,” added Anais Small, also 11. The gifts were handed over on Dec. 16 at the John Gray Memorial Church in West Bay. Christmas is Hair! When it comes to hair design, Annmarie Tomlinson is no stranger to the game. “I’m a designer,’ said Ms. Tomlinson when she dropped by the Compass recently to show off her latest creation. Noting that barbering for a living in Jamaica helped kick-start her passion for hair, Ms. Tomlinson plans to come up with a different elaborate hairstyle every two weeks to honor the festive season in all of Cayman’s districts. To mark Christmas in West Bay, Ms. Tomlinson chose to fashion her hair in a fun arrangement of colors, lights, wreaths, mistletoe and ornaments. – PHOTO: JEwEL LEvY Nadia Simmonds, fourth from left, at her recent Christmas party. Members of the infant show cast waiting in the wings. The choir performs at the junior concert. Christmas attire set the festive mood at the infant show.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. CHRISTMAS SERVICES EAST END/GUN BAY UNITED CHURCH: East End. Christmas Day, 9 a.m. at East End Church. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service at Gun Bay United, 10 p.m. WILLIAM POUCHIE UNITED CHURCH: North Side. Christmas Day service 8:30 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night Joint Service with Webster Memorial, 10:45 p.m. WEBSTER MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: Bodden Town. Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 10:45 p.m. SAVANNAH UNITED CHURCH: Christmas Day, 8 a.m. Dec. 31, Youth Watch Night 7:30 p.m. Traditional Watch Night, 10:30 p.m. ELMSLIE MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: Harbour Drive. Dec. 24, Christmas Eve service, 7 p.m. Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 10:30 p.m. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: West Bay. Dec. 25, Christmas Day service, 10 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 11 p.m. Jan. 3, choir cantata, “Glory in the Highest,” 6:30 p.m. BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Christmas Day, worship service and Christmas choir cantata, 11 a.m. Dec. 27, children’s Christmas play, 11 a.m. Christmas choir cantata encore presentation, 7 p.m. Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve Service, 10 p.m. SAFE HARBOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Worship service held at the South Sound Community Centre, 10 a.m. The public is invited. For more information, call 949-1835. ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND: Dec. 24, Christmas Eve service of 5 Lessons and carols at Royal Crown Room, Grand Cayman Beach Suites, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 25 at St. Alban’s Church, 461 Shedden Road, Matins, 9 a.m. and Christmas eucharist 9:30 a.m. Dec. 26 Holy Communion, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 27 Matins 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1, “The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus,” 12:30 p.m. Holy Communion. Every Sunday 6 p.m., evening prayer. LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: Smith Road. Dec. 25 Morning service, 7 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 10 p.m. CHURCH OF GOD CHAPEL: West Bay. Dec. 23, Caroling in the community. Dec. 27, Morning celebration, 10:45 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night celebration, 10 p.m. FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD: Old Crewe Road. Christmas Day, 10 a.m. New Year’s Eve, 10 p.m. CHURCH OF GOD, FULL GOSPEL HALL: Christmas Day, morning service in George Town and West Bay, 6:30 a.m. Dec. 31, Watch Night services in George Town, Savannah, West Bay and North Side, 10:30 p.m. ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Courts Road off Eastern Avenue. Christmas Eve, Children at the Manger, 6 p.m. Carols, 10:45 p.m., Mass, 11 p.m. Christmas Day, 8 a.m. Dec. 26, 8 a.m. Dec. 27, 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Dec. 29, Holy Innocents, march through George Town. Dec. 31, Watch Night service, 11 p.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, children’s Christmas play at 5:15 p.m. followed by Children’s Mass, 6 p.m. Carol service 11 p.m. followed by Midnight Mass. Dec. 25, Mass at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve, Mass at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eucharistic Adoration, 10 p.m. Mass at 11 p.m. New Year’s Day, Mass at 8:30 a.m. CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH: West Bay. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Carol service at 7:30 p.m. Mass at 8 p.m. Dec. 25, Mass at 9:45 a.m. New Year’s Day, Mass at 9:45 a.m. BRAC STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., Mass. TUESDAY, DEC. 22 HIV TESTS: Red Cross office, Huldah Avenue. Today is the final testing for HIV until Jan. 12. Tests are free. HOLIDAY MOVIE: “Home Alone” shown on giant outdoor screen in Gardenia Court, Camana Bay. 7 p.m. Families invited, free admission. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23 CHRISTMAS RECITAL: Miss Jackie’s School of Dance performs holiday classics 6:30 p.m. The Crescent, Camana Bay. Admission is free. THURSDAY, DEC. 24 AIRPORT POST OFFICE: All post offices, like other government offices, will close at 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, except for the airport post office, which will remain open until 3 p.m. in order to accommodate the collection of Christmas parcels. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30 HEROES DAY VENDORS: National Heroes Day organizers seek vendors to provide samples of Caymanian food items at the ceremony in Heroes Square on Jan. 25. Today is the deadline to submit a proposal along with a completed menu form to the Protocol Office at email protocol@gov.ky, or by delivery to the Government Administration Building. Vendors can provide quotes on any menu item. Copies of the menu form can be obtained from the first floor of the Government Administration Building. For more information, call 244-3612. THURSDAY, DEC. 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE: Celebration at Camana Bay. 6 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. No Resolutions Party, The Crescent. Free admission. Fireworks 7 p.m. and midnight. FRIDAY, JAN. 1 FAMILY FUN DAY: Old Time New Year, hosted by Tara Rivers. Ed Bush Field, noon till 4 p.m. Free admission, free refreshments. Games, bouncy castles, demonstrations and performances. Arts and crafts for sale. GENERAL INTEREST GARBAGE COLLECTION/ LANDFILL ACCESS: For East End residents (from Will T Drive, Lower Valley to East End and North Side) and Cayman Brac and Little Cayman residents, garbage will not be collected on Christmas Day; collection will resume on Dec. 26. Commercial collections islandwide will be suspended on Christmas Day – collections typically scheduled for Dec. 25 will receive priority on Dec. 26. On Christmas Day, all landfills will be closed and will reopen on Dec. 26. The 24-hour drop-off site at the George Town landfill will remain open throughout the holidays. There are no changes to residential and commercial collections or landfill access on New Year’s Day. For more information, contact the Department of Environmental Health Solid Waste Unit on 949-6696. IMMIGRATION HOURS: The Immigration headquarters (including public counters, and the Passport and Visa offices) will close to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 24, and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 29. These offices again close to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 31 and resume at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 4. IMMIGRATION BOARDS: The meeting dates for the Immigration Boards are as follows. The Work Permit Board’s meetings resume Jan. 11. The Business Staffing Plan Board resumes Jan. 6. The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board resumes Jan. 14. While the boards are on leave, the work of the Administration, Border Control and Enforcement sections of Immigration will continue. GUIDED TOURS: The National Gallery offers free guided tours by appointment until Jan. 2 of the exhibition “Now & Then – A Photographic Journey Through Time.” Participants will get interactive activity sheets. Topics include art, social studies, narratives, history, literacy and numeracy. For information or to book a tour, contact NGCI at 945-8111 or education@nationalgallery. org.ky. RED SKY AT NIGHT: The Cayman National Cultural Foundation invites applications from visual and performing artists, filmmakers, food vendors and volunteers interested in taking part in this annual event. Early registration runs through Friday, Dec. 18. Download registration forms online at www.artscayman. org/cayfest or contact the CNCF on cayfest@candw.ky or 949-5477. 2016 CALENDARS: Sale benefits NCVO and Cayman HospiceCare. Local artwork, recipes and events. Call 949-2124. $15 includes envelope for mailing. BANKING EMAILS: The Police Financial Crime Unit reminds the public to be suspicious of banking instructions received by email purporting to be from banking institutions or individuals known to them. The FCU has seen an increase in wire transfers and other banking activity initiated on the basis of fraudulent instructions over email. Members of the public should always treat such communications carefully and call the bank or individual to verify the instructions received. Anyone who receives an email with suspicious banking instructions should forward it to RCIPS.FCU@rcips.ky. IMMIGRATION DEPT.: Members of the public will be accommodated at the Department of Immigration’s Cayman Centre office on Owen Roberts Drive only with a scheduled appointment. Customers without appointments should attend Immigration Headquarters on Elgin Avenue. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. Tuesday december 22, 2015 • Cayman Compass Arthur Rodriques Thomas (Fondly known as “Bob”) On your 1st Anniversary in Heaven December 22, 2015 God Looked around His Garden and found an empty place He then looked down upon the earth and saw your weary face He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest God's garden must be fruitful and beautiful… He saw the road was getting rough for you and the hills were hard to climb So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine." Your life was full with a blessed family, good friends and good times. We miss your smiles, jokes and your garden treats. Fondly remembered by: Your Step-Daughter, Family and Friends. Gone …..but not Forgotten…May your soul rest in Peace. December 22, 2015 God Looked around His Garden and found an empty place He then looked down upon the earth and saw your weary face He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest God's garden must be fruitful and beautiful… He saw the road was getting rough for you and the hills were hard to climb So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine." Your life was full with a blessed family, good friends and good times. We miss your smiles, jokes and your garden treats. Fondly remembered by: Your Step-Daughter, Family and Friends. Gone …..but not Forgotten…May your soul rest in Peace. Christmas services will be held at Elmslie Memorial United Church in George Town at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 10:30 a.m on Christmas Day.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 22, 2015 Island Art & Framing is Going out of Business! 50% OFF EVERY FRAMED PICTURE from LARGE over the sofa size to 8x10 & everything in between. 50% OFF on all Original Stretched Art 25% OFF on all art prints Island Art & Framing The Shoppes at Grand Harbour. Red Bay. By the Skate Board Park Hours Saturday 10am-4pm Weekdays 10am-6pm Fri till 5:30 947-2606 dinner. It is a good thing. “It is a good salary, too. The appreciation for the gesture outweighs the eco- nomic value.” For people who, at times, feel forgotten, it is also about respect. “All of a sudden, we have pride,” Ms. Anglin said. “We look at our communities, at our beaches and roadsides and think, we did that.” The number of people who signed up for the Christmas project far exceeded that an- ticipated by government. Under the scheme, work su- pervisors are paid $12 an hour and laborers are paid $10 an hour. The workers had to be split into three shifts, each getting a week’s worth of work. They were split into district teams working with the National Roads Authority, the Department of Environmental Health and the Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit. Mark Bothwell, the project manager, said no one had been afraid to wield a rake or push a wheelbarrow. “Most of these guys, 95 percent, in my opinion, are willing and ready to work,” he said. “We have been very happy with the way most of them have worked and the attitude they have shown.” Many of the Caymanians on site at Barkers on Friday believe they face a stigma in the workplace. They say the number of people that signed up for the Christmas program shows that when a reasonable wage is on offer, local people are eager and ready to get their hands dirty and put in a shift. “What has happened in the last 10 years, there has been a lot of cheap labor im- ported. Caymanians can’t af- ford to work for those sala- ries,” said Cadion Ebanks. Howard Rivers agrees. “As a Caymanian, they know they have to give me $8 or $10, but they can bring in a foreigner and pay them $4.” Mr. Ebanks has worked, in the past, for the planning department and as a marine officer. Now in his late fifties, he says he has been looking for a job for three years. He was chosen as the foreman for the West Bay crew and will work the full three weeks For himself and his crew, he hopes it leads to full- time employment. “Everybody has put their hand up and put in a good day’s work,” he said. Mr. Rivers has had injury problems over the last few years, including losing an eye after being assaulted. Unless one looks very closely, it is hard to tell his right eye is artificial. But the injury has impacted his em- ployment opportunities. “Most job sites won’t give me work. I try to do a few things on my own as well, but it is nice to have this. “The only thing is, I wish it was year round,” he said. For Jessica Ebanks, a single mother with a 4-year- old daughter and another child on the way, the cleanup project is a blessing. “The Christmas money is great, it’s a start,” she said. “I will get a few presents for my little girl but that will be that. I am going to save the rest.” “It would be good if it happened more often,” added the 21-year-old, who has been looking for part-time work after graduating the Passport2Success program. Many of the other workers agreed. Georgette Rivers used to work as a teller at a bank. She has been trying to set up her own pet grooming busi- ness, but welcomes the tem- porary work. “It has been a great learning experience,” Ms. Rivers said. “I now know how to operate a weed wacker and a leaf blower. “I think we need this more often. A lot of Caymanians are good with their hands. If you take the time to teach them and treat them right, you will have a good worker.” Shane Rankine said he would be spending the Christmas cash on his four kids. He said the week of work was great, but people needed long- term opportunities. “If even half the people that have come out for this could get work, that is 350 people. That is big,” he said. “That will bring down the un- employed population. “We want to work, we just need more opportunity.” A Christmas blessing for West Bay crew CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Howard Rivers, a 46-year-old resident of West Bay, was the victim of an assault two years ago that has seriously impacted his employment opportunities. On Friday he was part of a crew cleaning up Barkers National Park. – PHOTOs: MATT LAMERs Georgette Rivers operates a leaf blower on Friday. She’s part of the National Community Enhancement Project, a government initiative to offer seasonal work to unemployed Caymanians.Next >