ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – Thursday december 24, 2015 Holiday office hours Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS: 24th and 31st December closed noon. 28th December closed all day. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas There’s no doubting it’s the Christmas season in Cayman, with roundabouts and front yards crammed with festive lights and decorations. Above, the lights at the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital roundabout on the East-West Arterial lend some holiday cheer. For more photos, see pages 14 and 15. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY MARRiOTT SOld TO UK iNvESTMENT gROUP James WhiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com One of Grand Cayman’s busiest hotels, the 295-room Marriott Beach Resort on Seven Mile Beach, has been sold to the London and Regional global property investment group. The recently renovated resort was expected to sell for more than US$100 million when it went on the market in January. CBRE Hotels, the company that negotiated the sale, confirmed Wednesday that the U.K.- based group had acquired the property from Genbar Cayman Company, Ltd. They declined to reveal the final purchase price. More than $15 million was spent on the hotel in 2013 and 2014, including extensive renovations to the guest rooms and a com- plete refit of the lobby and restaurants. The new owners are considering further upgrades to the spa and pool area. Marriott Hotels has a long-term con- tract to market and manage the property and the resort will remain part of the Marriott brand, meaning the sale will not have an impact on staff. London and Regional describes itself as MlA McTAggART jOiNS PROgRESSivES Says he’ll run again in 2017 brenT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com George Town MLA Roy McTaggart removed the “independent” from his title Tuesday, joining the Progressives political party and announcing that he would campaign with the Progressives for re-election in 2017. The ranks of the Progressives party mem- bership within the ruling government are back up to 10 as a result of Mr. McTaggart’s move, at least for the time being. The shift does not affect the overall balance of power within the 18-member Legislative Assembly. Mr. McTaggart was already a member of the Progressives backbench, along with fellow Coalition for Cayman- supported candidate Winston Connolly. The Progressives-led coalition maintains a total of 11 representatives on the ruling govern- ment’s side of the aisle, including indepen- dents Mr. Connolly and Minister Tara Rivers, Putting on the ritz Backstage at Cayman’s busiest hotel at Christmas James WhiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com For chef Lucas Julien- Vauzelle Christmas Day be- gins at 5 a.m. as the first batch of turkeys go into the oven in the vast kitchen of The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman hotel’s banquet hall. By the time he clocks off, close to midnight, an estimated 3,000 people will have been served with Christmas meals across the resort. “I like to come in when the day is just beginning and get that Christmas feeling” says the 30-year-old Frenchman, head chef in the banquet kitchen. “I try to stay through to the end. It is very important to be in the kitchen and feel tired with my guys.” For the staff at The Ritz- Carlton, the Christmas feeling means something different than to most people. It’s the single busiest day of the year at the hotel. Friends, family and gifts under the tree will have to wait for another day. The hotel’s Christmas brunch, despite an eye-opening $150-a- head price tag, has been sold out for a month and expectations are high. It is not just about the food, acknowledges executive chef Frederic Morineau. “I think The Ritz-Carlton has been able to establish itself as the place for a celebration like this,” said Mr. Morineau. “People spend that price because they know this is where they get that holiday feeling.” The Christmas magic they aim to create does not happen by accident. It is painstak- ingly put together in the weeks leading up to the big day. Teams of chefs, pastry spe- cialists, servers, florists, floor managers, display artists and audio visual experts are respon- sible for planning and executing every detail. Chef Lucas Julien-Vauzelle hard at work in The Ritz-Carlton kitchen. – PHOTO: MATT lAMERS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday december 24, 2015 • Cayman Compass A la Carte menu @ Regular ala Carte prices will be served + Featuring “Christmas Roast” Turkey and Ham with all the trimmings Call 949-2231 or email: thewharf@candw.ky Barefoot Man and Sea N’B LIVE From 8-11:00pm Come for Dinner Stay for Dancing THIS SATURDAY Dec. 26th & THIS MONDAY Dec. 28th A la Carte menu @ Regular ala Carte prices Tables are still available TONIGHT X-Mas Eve Dec. 24th & TOMORROW X-Mas Day Dec. 25th OPEN for Dinner 5:30 – 10pm Cayman’s Most Affordable Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Monday! 345-945-4411 info@cirealty.ky caymanislandsrealty.com East End Development Parcel 0.76acre, 220ft of beachfront Zoned Beach Resort / Residential US$499,000 Member CIREBA MLS#402703 BEACHFRONT ! www.capitalrealty.com.ky Alvin Sluchinski 525.8850 alvin@capitalrealtycayman.com Member of Cireba BRITANNIA ESTATES LAGOON LOT .3325 ACRE Exclusivity, privacy, security US$333,000! MLS# 403936 Virtual reality tech saves baby’s life CORRECTION In the Community Calendar of Tuesday’s Compass, the time of the Christmas Day service for the Elmslie Memorial United Church in George Town was incorrect. The service will be held at 9 a.m. The Cayman Compass strives for accuracy and is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can email the editor at newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com. More than three boxes and three bags full of toys and books, collected by the Immigration Department, were delivered to the Cayman Islands Hospital’s pediatric ward last week. The department char- itably organized the toy drive at two locations – Immigration headquarters and the Cayman Centre of- fice – before presenting the ward with the presents on Friday, Dec. 18. “The idea is to allow sick children to cele- brate Christmas although they will not be at home with their families and friends,” said Chastine Rankine, appeals/freedom of information clerk with the department. Ms. Rankine had sug- MIAMI (AP) – A 4-month- old infant with a con- dition that doctors had deemed inoper- able is ready for her first Christmas after a seven- hour open-heart surgery in Miami that was helped by a cardboard box. Doctors at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital used an iPhone tucked inside a Google Cardboard vir- tual reality imaging device to plan a complex pedi- atric procedure on Teegan Lexcen on Dec. 10 by con- verting a two-dimensional CT scan into a three-di- mensional model of a tiny heart, multiple news media outlets reported. Teegan, one of the twins born Aug. 20 to Cassidy and Chad Lexcen of Minnesota, was born with only one lung and a critically deformed heart. Doctors in Minnesota deemed the newborn inop- erable – “a word we hate here,” said Dr. Redmond Burke, Nicklaus’ director of cardiovascular surgery. Surgeons took scans of Teegan’s heart and lung and uploaded the images to a smartphone, viewing them using Google Cardboard. The surgeons then performed the life- saving operation. From left, immigration staffers Elizabeth Daniels, Chelsea McField and Chastine Rankine deliver some Christmas gifts. gested that the depart- ment establish a toy drive when her daughter had taken ill and had to be kept in the Miami Children’s Hospital over the Christmas holiday. The Immigration Department has been op- erating the toy donation program for three years. Presents from the 2015 drive will remain under the Christmas tree until they are distributed on Christmas day. Immigration officers on Christmas missionThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Thursday december 24, 2015 Samsung J5 or Samsung S6 from $ 349 $ 9.99 discoverflow.ky/xmas let the warmth flow Post a selfie on Flow social media using #IlovemyJ5 and you could win $1000. Plus you could win a Supermarket Sweep as well as $5000 cash. treat yourself to a Flow terms & conditions applyThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Thursday deCember 24, 2015 • Cayman COmpass It’s Christmas Eve in the Cayman Islands. How things have changed. We don’t just refer to our journey through the year 2015, which we’ll reflect upon more next week in our news and opinion pages. In this column, we’ll turn our attention to the lengthier trajectory of time arcing over decades, not months, connecting us to Christmases in Cayman’s past. In years gone by, the hallmarks of a Cayman Christmas included “white sand yards, local Christmas beef, kitchen dances, heavy cakes, handmade gifts, carolers and special church services” — the Compass described those mainstays in an article in our “Christmas Holiday Guide” that was published Thursday, Dec. 10. Most people who have lived in Cayman for a good amount of time, even if they don’t partake in those activi- ties themselves, are generally aware of the basics. The white sand yards, hauled up from the beach by the bas- ketful, mimicked the appearance of pristine snowfalls in northern climes. The feasts of Christmas beef and pork (punctuated with homemade desserts) were rare events, practically celebrations unto themselves, the painstaking products of time-honored, and time-consuming, culinary techniques, involving garden spices, generationally bequeathed recipes and long hours of slow-cooking. Church services and activities, of course, were (and for many, still are) the focal point of the season, providing opportunities for people to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to congregate, literally, with one another. What made Christmas in Cayman even more special, relatively speaking, than other holidays in Cayman, and perhaps even Christmases in other places, is that it was a time of great arrival — not of Santa Claus; but of fathers, uncles and brothers — of local seamen returning from voyages across the globe to their cherished islands and beloved families. Their sentiments of longing for home are so characteristic of traditional Cayman that they are encapsulated in the lyrics of our official national song, “Beloved Isle Cayman.” The ways in which our country’s forebears marked Christmas Day tells us much about their lifestyle the other 364 days of the year. In brief, it was — materially speaking — disciplined, spartan and oriented around sub- sistence. Metaphysically speaking, however, there was a richness of connection among the community that has perhaps waned with the accumulation of the country’s monetary wealth. Remnants of Cayman’s history, more vivid than reflec- tions and more whole than mere fragments, survive with us in our actions of today and will persist into the future, well after our generation is gone. As French novelist Marcel Proust observed, “The past is not fugitive. It stays put.” The kernels of identity, that made our country “Cayman,” echo in the repetition of customs, in activi- ties that may be performed semi-consciously, or even passively in the names of places. White sand yards may be less ubiquitous than they were before, but they can still be seen in front of traditional homes, such as Miss Lassie’s house in South Sound, and in miniature models and paintings of Cayman-style cottages. Recipes and cooking technology have evolved, but Christmas beef, and all the fixings, remain staples of holiday menus. Although the maritime industry no longer holds the same economic importance it once did, the idea of “home- coming” has been enshrined in the distinct observance of Cayman Thanksgiving. (For an example of the significance of the church as an institution in Cayman, look no further than the name of “Church Street” that runs along the George Town waterfront.) As we stated at the beginning of this editorial, much, obviously, has changed in the long history of Cayman. But much has remained the same. Though with the passage of each year, we become more and more bedecked with “things” that help us mark the holiday, Christmas is fundamentally a time when we pause to cherish what really matters, and what really endures: The spirit of Christmas, peace and joy. From the Compass to you, Merry Christmas, Cayman Islands. Christmas spirit: Peace, joy and goodwill to all Christmas message from the governor Once again, we are ap- proaching another won- derful Christmas season in the Cayman Islands. I am very much looking forward to sharing Christmas here with my daughter again this year, and I hope that you will also be surrounded by family and friends at this precious time. I never cease to be hum- bled by the kindness and benevolence of the Cayman Islands community. The huge scale of charitable efforts, and the enormous variety of community events, dem- onstrates the unique spirit of the people of the Cayman Islands that makes our so- ciety so special. One event which really bought this home to me was the recent passing of Aunt Julia Hydes, whom we all knew as the oldest person in Cayman. Miss Julia has left a wonderful cultural legacy for these Islands through her unique musical works. I was particularly impressed to see how the commu- nity came together to pro- vide support and care to those who were grieving her loss. It is at times such as this that I feel particularly proud to be the Governor of these islands. Taking care of our el- derly friends and relatives is always important, but Christmas is a special oppor- tunity to provide them with the love and support that they deserve. In these modern and busy times we must not forget those who helped to establish the strong foun- dations which we can now build on for the future. At this time of year we must also look wider than our own Islands, to our Caribbean neighbours and beyond. 2015 saw some ex- treme weather with storms, hurricanes and typhoons oc- curring around the world. Our neighbours in the Bahamas were severely af- fected by hurricane Joaquin in October, suffering ex- treme flooding and the tragic loss of the cargo ship, El Faro, and the 35 crew members on board. In August we saw the ter- rible devastation caused by tropical storm Erika to the island of Dominica, where 31 people lost their lives and almost 600 people lost their homes. Our government made a generous financial contribution towards the di- saster relief effort there, and the U.K. government was able to divert Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship, Lyme Bay, to provide immediate assis- tance as well. 2015 also saw suffering in communities further from our shores. Nepal experi- enced terrible devastation as a result of the earthquake and aftershocks in April, which tragically claimed the lives of 8,000 people. Again, I was proud to see how generous the people of the Cayman Islands were in giving much needed financial support, and showing soli- darity with our small but vi- brant Nepalese community. It is because of our vul- nerability to extreme weather here in the Caribbean that I am very pleased to see the continuing support of the British Navy in the region. Two ships, HMS Severn and RFA Lyme Bay, came to the Caribbean this year. These ships patrol the Caribbean and the North Atlantic to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance if needed. They also engage in counter-narcotics patrols, and both ships have visited Cayman to work to improve coordination with our local disaster management bodies. I am indebted to the crew of both ships for providing us with this additional security this year. At Christmastime we can pause and be grateful that the Cayman Islands and its people have stayed safe and secure for another year. Christmas is, of course, a time to celebrate with family and friends, but it is also a time to think about those who are not as fortunate as ourselves. We must continue to assist our neighbours, es- pecially those who are in fi- nancial difficulty or who are sick or elderly, and to look out for children who may need our help. On behalf of the com- munity, I would like to thank all those who worked throughout 2015 to keep us safe, healthy and prosperous. This includes the emergency services, who always work tirelessly on our behalf, civil servants, churches, clubs and charities. These people are not concerned with recogni- tion or reward and they de- serve to be given great credit and thanks from all of us. Many of these people will continue to work throughout Christmas, so that we can enjoy the holidays in peace and good will. We are very grateful for their selfless service. I wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy and harmonious New Year. Governor Helen Kilpatrick Christmas message from the Premier We find ourselves once again at the time of year when everything and ev- eryone is just a little more special. It’s Christmas. There’s a magic in the air as we bustle about in search of the right gifts and food. But today I would like us to slow down just a little and consider all that we have to be thankful for in Cayman. Today the world around us is filled with news of doom and gloom from ter- rorism attacks to coun- tries facing serious finan- cial hardships. We hear and read stories of people fleeing their homeland be- cause of wars or injus- tice and of countries that are overwhelmed with the burden of the refugees. In a world where so much seems to be going wrong, we sometimes don’t appreciate how blessed we are in the Cayman Islands. That’s what we should be doing this Christmas season; counting our many blessings and being thankful for them. While we are not without our own issues in Cayman, we have most certainly been richly blessed as a country. Christmas is a time that reminds us to be thankful for our families and friends and the many opportunities to gather for food, fellowship and making memories. I know that I am thankful for my wife, my two sons, my father and sisters as well as my extended family and the many people I am fortunate enough to call friends. We can be thankful that once again God has spared us the wrath of another dev- astating hurricane this year and we pray our good for- tune and blessings continue into the upcoming New Year. In Cayman we are blessed with a sun that is constantly kissing us and we are surrounded by the most beautiful water in the world. We are also blessed and thankful that we are a country that, as it says in our Constitution, is “A God- fearing country based on traditional Christian values, tolerant of other religions and beliefs.” I count as our blessings and am thankful for the many businesses that have chosen the Cayman Islands as their home base and for the tourists who find our homeland as appealing as we do. We are thankful for the farmers and fishermen whose provisions we con- sume year-round, but espe- cially at Christmas. I do believe that some- times we forget, in the grand scheme of things, that Cayman is blessed be- yond measure. So let us turn aside the tragedy, tur- moil and treachery we see the world over and instead dwell on thankfulness. It is my hope that during this special time of year you take some time to reflect on your personal blessings and those of the Cayman Islands and offer thanks. It is my sincere hope that each of you has a joyous Christmas and that these feelings of goodwill to our fellow man will carry over into the New Year. Today many will un- wrap their Christmas gifts and receive nice surprises. But there are still gifts we can give. I have a few sug- gestions made by Oren Arnold, a novelist, journalist and humourist: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. On behalf of Government, my family and myself, I wish each of you a very blessed Christmas season. premier alden mcLaughlin Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” At Christmastime we can pause and be grateful that the Cayman Islands and its people have stayed safe and secure for another year. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2015 Thursday december 24, 2015 • Cayman Compass District DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town What’s your favorite part of Christmas in Cayman? Christmas is just another day in paradise. albert Berry From left: My favorite part of Christmas in Cayman is spending time with family, friends and the fireworks. Rodrick pearson I enjoying the cooking and opening gifts with my children. michelle morgan I love spending time with family and friends. Jeannie Williams My favorite part of Christmas in Cayman is eating the food, spending time with family and friends. Tenisha Ebanks It is a pleasure hearing what presents people get for Christmas and sharing the blessings of God. angel Bembrige To enjoy togetherness and time with family. Dennis Hue Enjoying time with family and friends. natalie Richards I love going to church at Bodden Town Church of God. Louis Rhoden JeWel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com With Christmas just around the corner, the season brings with it all sorts of special mem- ories and traditions. On a recent morning these Bodden Towners shared their favorite things about Christmas in Cayman with the Compass. In the Dec. 22, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town corre- spondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “This will be my last article before the Christmas anniversary and so I wish to take this opportunity of extending to my readers Seasons Greetings. “The Christmas season is essentially a season of peace and goodwill. It is perhaps fortunate that such a season should follow so closely behind the re- cent general elections, the campaigns of which generated undue hate and animosity. “This coming Christmas would for us in Bodden Town and throughout the Cayman Islands be a season of fine meaning if we can allow the forces of hate to be buried with the spades of goodwill. By so doing, we will maintain the ‘Christ’ in Christmas rather than al- lowing the season to revert back to its pagan concepts for which it was known prior to the birth of Christ. “It was at Bodden Town that the first congregation of the Presbyterian Church was established. It is there- fore significant that with the merger of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of Jamaica and Grand Cayman into the United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman, the first meeting of the Council of the new church should have been held in Bodden Town. This meeting took place Wednesday evening last. “Roy Bodden, a student at Mico Training College for teachers in Jamaica, returned home on Saturday last for his Christmas vacation.” 50 years ago Bodden Town Christmas message: bury the hate The Savannah United Church Sanctuary choir and friends, led by music minister Noel Wallace raised their voices to celebrate the hope-inspiring metaphor of “Light! Out of the Darkness,” at the yearly Christmas cantata held on Dec. 13. More than 300 people filled the church on Sunday morning and the choir deliv- ered an impressive performance from the first song to the last. They were joined by guests Rudy Myles and Dwight Williams, the Savannah Male Voices, Abigail Ebanks and young instrumentalists. The congregation joined the choir in the singing of “Joy to the World” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and the cantata ended with a special rendition by the choir of “Joy to the World.” With the reported consensus that the concert was the best one yet, the church then held its annual Christmas brunch of turkey, ham, beef, barbecue chicken, escovitch fish, potatoes, gravy, salads, fried plantain, corn- bread and a wide variety of desserts. United in faith and in mUsic grenda solomon and rudy Myles perform ‘o Holy Night.’ I enjoy spending time with family and friends. shirley ClarkeCayman Compass • Thursday december 24, 2015 DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town A Bodden Town Christmas Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Bodden Town Heritage Committee was hard at work conjuring up old-time holiday memories and cheer, spiced with a dash of modern day traditions, at its annual Christmas exhibition at the James Manoah Bodden Town Civic Centre. Blending past and present, traditional Christmas trees, local fruits, Christmas nativity scenes, train sets, old photographs, bottles, plates and crockery joined modern elaborately decorated Christmas trees decked with col- orful lights and moving train sets in a celebration of the season. The heritage display first opened for the Quincentennial year in 2003, and includes many precious and prized pos- sessions on loan from families across the district and be- yond, put on display for others to admire. As she welcomed those attending the 2015 opening on Dec. 22, Heritage Committee chair Mary Lawrence said she was looking forward to having members of the com- munity drop by in the days leading up to Christmas. Heather Tatum admires the Christmas trees.Ormann and Betty Wood enjoy the rocking chairs. Ben Tatum has fun with the train set. - Photos: Jewel levy Heritage Committe chairwoman Mary Lawrence shows young Benjamin Tatum toys of yesteryear. The Bodden Town Heritage Committee members Claudette Eden, Agnes McCoy, Ellen Eden, Betty Wood, Ormann Wood and Mary Lawrence put the display together for people to enjoy during the Christmas season. The Year 6 students had lots of fun singing in the show. - Photo: Paulette Rankin Playing to a packed house, the Savannah Primary juniors’ musical “Star of Wonder” was held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah. The show dra- matized the Christmas story through dance, drama, orches- tral music and song, with the drama and dance/movement portion directed by Jessica Eden, and the band, choir and bell chorale/chorus conducted by Junior Hines. The apprecia- tive audience made note of the great singing and quality of the production, making for a truly enjoyable event for both per- formers and friends and family in attendance all around. musical chRistmas at savannah PRimaRy8 LOCAL NEWS Thursday december 24, 2015 • Cayman Compass Shenni Vanessa Pamela Dacosta February 27, 1978 – November 19, 2014 Dearest Shen, this is your 2nd Christmas in Heaven Your beauti ful voice has joined the Heavenly Choir As they sing glory to God in the Heaven And peace, goodwill toward men. The Angels looked down From Heaven one night They searched for miles afar And deep within the distance They could see a Shining Star. They knew that very instant That the Star was theirs’ to gain So they took you up to Heaven Forever to remain. But down here we miss you so Our hearts are broken all over again We can’t understand why you had to go And leave us with so much pain. A million ti mes we needed you A million ti mes we cried If love alone could have saved you You never would have died. Shen, we miss you so Very much We love you so Very much Your broken hearted Parents, Marlene & Ashton Bodden And all the Family As they sing glory to God in the Heaven And peace, goodwill toward men. That the Star was theirs’ to gain As they sing glory to God in the Heaven And peace, goodwill toward men. That the Star was theirs’ to gain Tel: 345:943-4663 24 hr service Email: churchills@candw.ky | www.churchillsfuneralhome.com 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Per gallon prices for reg- ular, unleaded gasoline fell below $4 per gallon this week at some George Town petrol stations. Jose’s Rubis displayed full serve prices for a gallon of regular, unleaded fuel at $3.95, while Maedac Rubis displayed full serve prices for the same fuel at $3.97 per gallon on Wednesday. It was the first time any local fuel stations had dis- played per gallon prices below $4 per gallon since March 2015, which was pre- viously the lowest point local fuel prices had reached in at least two years. However, there was reason to believe local fuel prices could be falling further in the new year, based on interna- tional benchmarks. As of Dec. 21, average na- tional retail prices for un- leaded gasoline in the U.S. fell below US$2 per gallon for the first time in more than six years. By Wednesday, that price had edged up slightly to just above US$2. The American Automobile Association reported this week that more than two- thirds of U.S. petrol stations are now selling gas under $2 per gallon and that drivers in 47 of the 50 states had been able to find at least one re- tail station selling gas below US$2 per gallon. Internationally, Brent crude oil prices fell below US$36 per barrel on Tuesday of this week, that benchmark’s lowest level since July 2004. U.S. crude oil future costs were slightly higher than Brent crude, but still remained around an 11- year low. Roller-coaster Since hitting the March low, Cayman’s petrol prices have fluctuated signifi- cantly, going up by an av- erage 55 cents per gallon as of mid-July and then falling gradually between September-November. While pump prices were falling in the latter part of the year, legislation re- quiring Cayman’s two major fuel distributors to reveal specific price information on gasoline and diesel ship- ments was approved. The Dangerous Substances Handling and Storage (Amendment) Law, 2015, requires the Cayman Islands chief petroleum in- spector to collect and analyze information on fuel prices and pricing methods from importers – Sol Petroleum and Rubis – and provide that information to the govern- ment minister responsible for the petroleum inspectorate. Upon request, the im- porters are required to pro- vide fuel pricing information including: initial costs, cost of freight, insurance and bro- kerage fee, customs duties, es- timates of fuel in stock and the amount and type of fuel to be imported in the next shipment. Refusal to disclose that information upon request, or to provide false informa- tion, can lead to a maximum $250,000 fine upon convic- tion, according to the law. “The government has run out of patience with trying to negotiate some sense of reasonableness with the fuel distributors,” Premier Alden McLaughlin said in October. “We believe that … they col- laborate about fixing prices. We are not going to let the current free-for-all with fuel prices remain.” Cayman gas prices drop below $4 per gallon George Town resident Wesley Douglas fills his tank at the Rubis gas station on Crewe Road. Mr. Douglas said he’s happy about falling prices, but said they have room to drop further. – Photo: Matt LaMers ‘The Beast’ to recycle Christmas trees The Department of Environmental Health will be putting its new wood grinding machine, nick- named “The Beast,” into ac- tion in the New Year’s to re- cycle Christmas trees. Between Jan. 1 and 22, collection containers will be placed at locations throughout Cayman to enable people to deposit their trees for crushing and mulching. The re- sulting mulch will be available free of charge to members of the public. Rather than just dump their Christmas trees at the landfill after the fes- tive season, residents are being urged to drop them off at DEH collection points where they can be recycled and put to good use in gardens and yards throughout Cayman. Collection points will be at the Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay, Spotts Dock, Smith Road Cricket Oval, and the Frank Sound Road entrance. “Recycling natural trees is great for our gar- dens, it saves us money and reduces our im- pact on the environ- ment,” said Department of Environmental Health Assistant Director for Solid Waste, Mark Rowlands. “The Beast” will be on show to the public from 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Smith Road Cricket Oval. Residents are en- couraged to bring bags and shovels on Saturday morning to claim free mulch, and to arrive on time as it is expected there will be much demand. For more information, contact the Solid Waste Unit on 949-8793. Collection points will be at the Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay, Spotts Dock, Smith Road Cricket Oval, and the Frank Sound Road entrance.9 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday december 24, 2015 We regret to announce the passing of Myrtle Jane Brown “Aunt Dean” Who departed this life On Tuesday, 15th December, 2015 Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held on Sunday, 27th December, 2015, at Aston Rutty Centre, Cayman Brac, 3:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 2:00-2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Watering Place Cemetery, Cayman Brac. MY FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN Phebe Ebanks I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below, with tiny lights like heavens stars, re ecting the snow. The sight is so spectacular! Please wipe away that tear, for I am spending Christmas with Jesus this year. I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear but the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir I sing with up here. I know how much you miss me; I see the pain in your heart. But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart. So be happy for me my dear ones. You know I hold you dear. Just be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus this year. Please love and keep each other, as our father said to do, for I can’t count the blessings or love he has for each of you. So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear. Remember I love you and I’m spending Christmas with Jesus this year. Shared by: Husband Larribee, children Jewel, Shane & Shaun, grandchildren & great grandchildren. We all miss and love you dearly and your lovely smile will take us through this holiday season that you loved much. Kind deed on bus leads to quest for cruise passengers Cruise ship passengers Jerry and Pam Reding had only a first name to go on when they tried to track down a Caymanian woman who had helped ensure they did not miss their boat. All they knew was the woman they had met on a public bus during their visit to Grand Cayman early this month was called Arlene, worked in the tourism in- dustry and lived in West Bay. They wanted to thank her for her kindness to them on the West Bay-bound bus and her efforts to make sure they made it back to George Town in time for the last tender to their ship. On their trip, on Dec. 2, the couple got on the bus during a downpour and got chatting with the woman. In a letter to the Cayman Compass, Mr. Reding wrote, “As we rode, she proudly detailed Cayman history and geography, mile by mile, while exposing us to her inner beauty and Cayman kindness. “While we expressed that we only had an hour and 15 minutes to return to the last Port Authority tender prior to our ship’s departure, she qui- etly expressed some concern about our timely return to George Town. “What happened next was unexpected; we encoun- tered one of several yellow school buses stopping at al- most every city block to un- load students. That’s when Arlene pleaded to the bus driver our need to return to the port even more quickly than his present schedule; she even stayed with us as she passed her home to see that we would safely re- turn to George Town without missing our ship’s departure, which we barely did, jumping onto the last tender as it began its last journey back to the Carnival ship Freedom. Whew! It was close.” Once they returned to their home in Conroe, Texas, the couple embarked on a quest to find the good Samaritan who had helped them, spending several days making phone calls to the National Museum, The Ritz- Carlton, the post office and the Cayman Turtle Farm, among others. “We wanted to thank her and to get a card and package to her in time for Christmas,” Mr. Reding said. Then the Redings called the Port Authority, who put him through to their se- curity section, who put him through to dispatcher Waldo Parchment. “Normally I deal with that kind of thing, finding things for people,” Mr. Parchment said. “This is the first time I had to find a person. Usually it’s wallets or phones, I track things down.” “They described Arlene. I didn’t know who they meant at first, they didn’t give me a last name,” he said. On a hunch, he contacted Arlene Parker, who works at the Cayman Land and Sea Cooperative tour operation, and asked if she had met an American couple on a bus and if she’d had a lively con- versation with them about President Barack Obama, as Mr. Reding had described to him on the phone. “She said ‘That was me.’ The next day, I called [Mr. Reding] back and told him I’d found her,” Mr. Parchment said. On Tuesday, gifts for Ms. Parker and Mr. Parchment from the Redings arrived by FedEx in Cayman as a way to thank the pair – Ms. Parker for her assistance and friend- liness and Mr. Parchment for finding her. The Redings sent the package to the Cayman Compass office where Ms. Parker and Mr. Parchment picked up their gifts – col- lectible Hallmark musical Christmas ornaments. As pleased by the grati- tude shown by the Redings and their efforts to track her down to thank her as she was by the gift, Ms. Parker said, “I never had anything like this in my life. This is great. It’s a big surprise. “The amount of people I’ve met on the bus … and told them about the Cayman Islands or gave them a tour, this is the first time some- thing like this has happened and I’ve been working in tourism for 10 years.” She said after she got to chatting with the couple on the bus, and had checked with them when their tender was leaving, she had delib- erately skipped her stop to stay with them. “It was their first time here on island, so they [were] strangers to our land. I would want to be treated that way if I was on a strange island … I just wanted them to enjoy themselves and let them know it was safe to be trav- eling here and traveling on a public bus.” After Mr. Parchment put them in touch, Mr. Reding called Ms. Parker. “I was so excited to hear from them because they searched the place down to get in touch with me,” she said. Mr. Reding, a retired building developer, said he and his wife travel a lot around the world and had met many people, but were impressed by the friendliness they encountered in Cayman, especially from Ms. Parker, and they had wanted to do something special for her. In a post-script to his letter, Mr. Reding wrote: “My wife Pam and I want to thank all the Waldo Parchments, all the Arlene Parkers, and all the Caymanians alike for their wonderful Cayman Kindness. This Christmas Eve, we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Arlene and Waldo surely made ours.” Waldo Parchment and Arlene Parker with the Christmas gifts they received from Jerry and Pam Reding. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Jerry and Pam Reding on board the Carnival Freedom the night before they arrived in Grand Cayman.Next >