ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Tuesday december 29, 2015 Sport | page 14 roundup of 2015’s mosT popular sporTing evenTs High of 86 Low of 75 Seas: Moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small crafts should continue to exercise caution over open water. editorial | page 4 be smarT: sTay safe, drive sober 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Fireworks legal, but regulated Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com Many revelers this holiday season will choose to ring in the New Year with a literal bang and head to the beach or their backyards to set off their own fireworks shows. While some jurisdictions have strict regula- tions restricting where individuals can shoot off fireworks, pyrotechnic lovers in the Cayman Islands seem to enjoy a relative freedom as to where personal fireworks are permitted. What many might not realize, however, is that there are a number of laws that regulate and restrict where fireworks can be used on the island. Those planning to shoot off fireworks in George Town, South Sound, or along Seven Mile Beach, for example, should check in with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands first. Fireworks displays – from small do- mestic events to major commercial or cere- monial displays – can pose a risk to aircraft, particularly when planes are approaching, landing or taking off. Individuals planning to shoot fireworks anywhere within three nautical miles of Owen Roberts Airport, or under approach and depar- ture paths, are legally required to coordinate with the aviation authority in order to pre- vent potential threats to aircraft operations. Fireworks displays outside of those areas, but where the display height is expected to exceed 200 feet above ground level must also be coor- dinated with the aviation authority. According to Alastair Robertson, director of air navigation services regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority, the law does not dif- ferentiate between commercial displays or private events. Mr. Robertson said the authority has is- sued approvals to eight events scheduled over the holidays. “The onus is on the individual to act re- sponsibly and not to endanger aircraft by causing damage to it, or by distracting the crew.” Mr. Robertson said. If the safety of an aircraft is endangered, Mr. Robertson said, the law allows for pros- ecution and penalties, including a fine or im- prisonment depending upon the severity of the incident. The Cayman Islands Penal Code (2013 Revision) also describes what type of trouble individuals shooting fireworks could get into. The code allows a $2,000 fine for anyone who throws or sets fire to any firework “to the danger or annoyance of any passenger or inhabitant in any street.” Royal Cayman Islands Police Service spokesperson Jacqueline Carpenter said the Caledonian bank bankrupt and in liquidation after SEC files lawsuit michael Klein mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com After more than 44 years in business, Cayman bank Caledonian went into bank- ruptcy in February, just days after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Caledonian Bank, Caledonian Securities and three other broker-dealers in Belize and Panama in con- nection with sham stock of- ferings and penny stock pump and dump schemes that alleg- edly netted the orchestrators of the fraud US$75 million. As of January 2015, Caledonian Bank had total as- sets of approximately US$585 million, about 1,550 customers and nearly 1,900 active accounts. After U.S. courts froze all of Caledonian’s U.S. assets, depos- itors tried to withdraw US$68 million in a virtual run on the bank and all banking operations were suspended. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority placed the bank in controllership on Feb. 10, four days after the lawsuit was filed by the SEC, and re- voked Caledonian’s banking li- cense on Feb. 16. The bank’s controllers filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York on Feb. 18 and later in Australia to prevent depositors from New HospiceCare site announced norma connolly nconnolly@pinnaclemedialtd.com It’s an empty dirt lot now, but possibly as early as the end of next year, a site on West Bay Road will be the new home of Cayman HospiceCare. Dart, which has donated the land to HospiceCare, last week unveiled a sign at the site announcing the location of the new hospice, next door to Coconut Joe’s bar and restaurant. Construction of the building is ex- pected to begin next year, once planning permission is secured, said HospiceCare chairman Chris Duggan. “This is an incredible site that will pro- vide the ideal surroundings for our new in- patient facility and I would again like to thank the Dart Group, on behalf of Cayman HospiceCare, for donating this land to us,” Mr. Duggan said. The new building, which is expected to be a four-bed facility, will allow HospiceCare to provide inpatient care to clients. The donation from Dart also means that the charity will save some $72,000 in annual rent. Cayman HospiceCare is currently lo- cated at the Conch Shell House on North Sound Road. Architect John Doak is contributing his expertise to HospiceCare for the design of the new building. Mr. Duggan said HospiceCare is working TOP STORIES 2015 Cayman HospiceCare’s new facility will be based on this site on West Bay Road. – PHoto: NorMa CoNNollY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS Tuesday december 29, 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 POINT BREAK 3D (PG13) 1:20 2D I 4:30 I 7:20 2D I 10:05 DADDY’S HOME (PG13) 12:30 I 3:00 I 6:30 I 9:40 STAR WARS VII 3D (PG13) 12:40 I 1:00 2D I 3:40 I 4:00 2D 6:45 I 7:00 2D I 9:50 I 10:00 2D SISTERS (R) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 10:00 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: ROAD CHIP (PG) 1:15 I 3:40 I 7:10 I 9:30 Greetings and Blessings ART STUDIO Prints and Originals #1B Pleasant Dr., W.B. Maureen Andersen (Berry) 525-8525 Dart donates vehicles to Special Constabulary Dart handed over a spe- cial Christmas gift to the po- lice’s Special Constabulary on Christmas Eve with the donation of two Land Rovers to be used in road safety operations. The vehicles, two Discovery 3 Land Rovers, which had previously been used by Dart and were named CBAY1 and CBAY2, have been transferred to the Special Constabulary and will be used primarily for traffic enforcement and road safety initiatives, ac- cording to Dart vice president of community development, Chris Duggan. When not being used for traffic management, the vehicles will be used as regular patrol vehicles. The Special Constabulary is made up of volunteer police constables who provide oper- ational support to the regular officers of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Mr. Duggan, who volun- teers as a constable for the Special Constabulary, said, “The Special Constabulary has full access to the RCIPS fleet of vehicles – vehicles which are also used by the regular officers and so are frequently not available for use by the officers of the Special Constabulary. “The designation of two additional vehicles specifi- cally for use by the Special Constabulary is a significant boost for our team and means that more officers can be on the road patrolling.” He added, “The donation by Dart, and the addition of two vehicles to the fleet, will assist in making the roads safer for the community during the holiday season and beyond.” Aon and KPMG partnered with Dart on the initiative and are sponsoring the refit of the vehicles, which includes the addition of external police stripes to make them easily identifiable as police cars. ARK delivers food gifts for Christmas Some 4,000 blue enve- lopes containing food vouchers were distributed to fami- lies islandwide this year by local charity Acts of Random Kindness in its annual “Giving is Receiving” campaign. The organization decided on food vouchers instead of food-filled bags this year so that families could choose the items they prefer for the holidays. Vouchers and cash dona- tions were expected to reach about $30,000, according to ARK, which has been in opera- tion for nine years. Tara Nielsen of ARK Cayman said the campaign demonstrated “the power each citizen has in making a posi- tive difference in a person’s life and how vital it is to be in- volved in your community. “As a result, we have expe- rienced a wonderful and gen- erous response from the com- munity. The private sector provides a huge amount of money via ARK, to relieve the turmoil of many of Cayman’s citizens in extreme circum- stances of crisis.” The foundation is run by volunteers and 100 percent of the money donated/raised goes directly to those in need. The pro-bono enterprise seeks to assist people on a case-by- case basis. However, the ma- jority of cases are of hunger, medical crisis, living condi- tions, utility reconnection or specialty supplies for the ill/ disabled, Ms. Nielsen said. “To date, we have assisted approximately 400 individuals this Christmas, with numbers rising as further donations come in,” she said. She added, “We have had the pleasure of many hugs of gratitude and stories of mothers being brought to tears by the relief of their donation. Families were telling us they ‘otherwise would not have had a Christmas’ and would have struggled to even provide a special meal for their children, let alone provide gifts. “We always remind those we assist that it is the Grand Cayman commu- nity who makes it possible to prove such desperately needed relief.” Ms. Nielsen said the or- ganization could not carry on its work without the “epic community support” it was receiving. “It truly demonstrates how much Cayman cares about those less fortunate and how this issue has now come to the forefront,” she said. “People re- ally have begun to take per- sonal responsibility to reach outside of themselves, their own lives, look around and see how they can help change lives, one life at a time. We can do it together; this campaign is proof of that.” RotaRact assists students oveR holiday Students across Grand Cayman are set to re- ceive new shoes, cour- tesy of Rotaract Blue’s “Put Your Best Foot Forward” initiative. The program was started to address the need of many families facing fi- nancial difficulty who could not afford new school shoes for their children, the organization said. “With many families having to make decisions between paying a utility bill and buying a new pair of shoes, children are often forced to attend school with inadequate shoes,” the organization said in a press release. Rotaract represen- tatives presented gift vouchers from the Winners Circle Sports store to the Department of Children and Family Services on Dec. 18 and distributed to stu- dents as gifts over the hol- iday period. The vouchers offer discounts on Vans and Air Force Ones shoes. Rotaract started the cam- paign as a back-to-school program in August this year, but decided to resurrect the initiative at Christmas fol- lowing a strong response from its sponsors. From left, Police Commissioner David Baines, Chris Duggan of Dart and Sergeant Craig Coe of the Special Constabulary at the handover of the Land Rovers donated by Dart last week. - Photo: taneos RaMsay Paulinda Mendoza-Williams, deputy director of clinical services at the Department of Children and Family Services, left, accepts a donation from Alice Ramos, president of Rotaract Blue Cayman Islands. Acts of Random Kindness distributed hundreds of blue envelopes containing food vouchers in Cayman this Christmas.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 29, 2015 PremierHealth BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town.Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac. 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In 1995, BritCay was the first company to offer Cayman residents an overseas network option with world class facilities. It was the first of many changes to come.notable firsts! House damaged in car smash Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman needed hospital treatment after a car passing her house in July Street in George Town smashed into a parked car, pushing the parked vehicle into the house. The impact shook the house, causing a suit- case to fall off a shelf and hit the woman inside the house on her head as she slept, the property’s owner, Winnie Chong, told the Cayman Compass. The incident hap- pened around 4:22 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23. Police said the female driver of a blue Chevrolet Equinox lost control of her vehicle and struck a parked Honda Civic, shoving the parked vehicle into the house and causing damage to the home. The female occupant of the house, as well as the driver, were transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital where they received treat- ment and were later released. Ms. Chong pointed out where a small fence was smashed into pieces and a wooden beam sup- porting an overhang in the driveway was nearly split in two. The back bumper of the parked Honda Civic was ripped off, and the trunk and the back window of the vehicle were smashed. The female driver was ar- rested on suspicion of DUI and careless driving. She was later released on police bail. The damaged Chevrolet Equinox remained outside the house on July Street on Monday. – Photos: Kelsey JuKam The parked car, which was struck by a passing Chevrolet Equinox, smashed into the house, damaging a fence and a beam. two machete woundings rePorted over christmas Police called to fights in Bodden Town and West Bay Emergency services re- sponded to two separate re- ports of people being in- jured by machetes over the Christmas holidays. In both cases, the inju- ries appear to have been sus- tained during fights. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, shortly before 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve, police and the ambulance service were called to a Bodden Town ad- dress over a report of a male victim receiving a serious in- jury to his hand. Police said the man had been injured by another man with a machete in a bar fol- lowing a dispute between the two men. The victim was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital and released on Christmas Day after receiving treat- ment for his injury, which po- lice described as serious but non-life-threatening. No one has been arrested in connection with the at- tack and police said they are continuing to search for the attacker. On Christmas Day, shortly after 7 p.m., police received another report of a man in- jured by a machete attack, this time in West Bay. The man suffered a hand injury after being chopped with a machete. A second man was also injured in the incident, receiving facial inju- ries after being hit by a con- crete block. Police said the men had been involved in a dispute. Both men were trans- ported to the Cayman Islands Hospital and were still being treated as of Sunday, Dec. 27. Neither injury was life- threatening, police said. No arrests have been made in relation to this assault. Other police reports Police and emergency ser- vices also responded to a number of other incidents over the holiday period, in- cluding a car fire off Sparkys Drive in George Town, Police said they and the fire ser- vice were called to the scene shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, after a vehicle being tested by a male driver became “engulfed in flames.” The fire was put out by fire officers. No one was in- jured and police said there were no suspicious circum- stances regarding the fire. On Christmas Eve, a 77-year-old pedestrian who was crossing Eastern Avenue in George Town was struck by a Ford Ranger shortly after 9 p.m. The pedestrian was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released on Christmas Day. The male driver of the car was not injured. Police said there had been no arrest in this incident. Police are appealing for members of the public who witnessed or have information regarding any of the above incidents to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222, the RCIPS tip line at 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS (8477).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. 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” Tuesday deCember 29, 2015 • Cayman COmpass Even though we have no ice or snow on our roads, winter is the most treacherous time of year to be driving in the Cayman Islands. The culprit responsible for the heightened danger on our streets isn’t Mother Nature, but alcohol consumption, carelessness and risk-taking. As the Cayman Compass reported last week, in the past month there have been about 150 vehicle collisions, including 69 in the seven-day period before Christmas. That monthly total is about twice the average for the other 11 months of the year, according to police. And those wrecks have been piling up, despite the increased presence of law enforcement during its annual holiday season traffic crackdown, called Operation Magpie – and with New Year’s revelry yet to come. Police will remain out in full force on Cayman’s roads through Friday, Jan. 1 and the following weekend. Some of our readers may find themselves having roadside dis- cussions with officers that they’d rather not, about things such as cell phones, seatbelts, vehicle registration or insurance. However, as Police Commissioner David Baines said, that’s far from the worst conversation one could be having with police. “To those who complain that increased policing on the road is a nuisance at holiday time, imagine being the officer who has to be the one to inform a family of a tragic loss at Christmas, or even worse, being the family member at the receiving end of that tragic news,” Com- missioner Baines said. “We are out there to prevent this, and we need people to do their part so we can finish this year with no more road tragedies.” During the day, drivers would be wise to exhibit a greater-than-typical amount of courtesy and patience, and should check vehicular blind spots and rear-view mirrors even more carefully than usual. That applies double during the nighttime or if it happens to be raining. If you feel you’ve perhaps had one eggnog too many – or suspect a loved one may be in a state of holiday cheer incompatible with operating a motor vehicle – do the right thing and call a taxi cab, obtain a designated driver, or make other transportation arrangements. (For New Year’s partygoers, the free Purple Ribbon Bus service will be in operation again this year.) Usually it’s best to make those plans ahead of time, before alcohol impairment sets in, distorting the percep- tion of one’s own mental conditions and physical abilities. Even if you don’t realize you’re too intoxicated to drive, the arresting officer surely will. That being said, we are steadfast proponents of the concepts of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Like Commissioner Baines, we are far less concerned about the legal fates of drivers who exercise bad judgment, than we are about potential ramifications that one person’s bad decision may have on other people’s lives. To drive drunk because it is more convenient than identifying a sober driver, or remaining sober yourself, is a base and selfish act of disregard for the well-being of the people you are endangering and the individuals who care about them. That’s in direct opposition to the spirit of the holidays. During these final days of Christmas and New Year’s joy, let’s be smart and work together to keep Cayman’s roads friendly and safe. Be smart: Stay safe, drive sober Editorial YEar in rEviEw Immigration and employment “Work permits and unemployment: Exposing the myth,” March 9 The assertion that for- eign workers take jobs from Caymanians has been reported and re- peated so often that the utterance has attained nearly mythic stature. And that’s where it belongs: in the realm of myth. … When work permits go up, Caymanian unemploy- ment goes down. When work permits go down, Caymanian unem- ployment goes up. In other words, it is simply not evidence-based to equate the issuance of a work permit to an expa- triate with a lost job op- portunity for a Caymanian. Sorry, Ezzard. … Simply put, the healthier Cayman’s economy, the more job op- portunities are available … for everybody – expatri- ates and Caymanians alike. “Work permits and PR: Unshackling Cayman’s economic progress,” July 24 Over the past year, the number of work permit holders in the Cayman Islands rose 9 percent – from 20,360 to 22,232 people. This includes a 12 percent increase in workers from Jamaica, who now number about 9,100. Make no mistake – that is very good news for Cayman’s economy. … We maintain, and evi- dence-based analysis sup- ports, the argument that the more people working in Cayman, regardless of immigration status, the better for the overall economy – and the better the overall economy is, the more job opportuni- ties there are for everyone, both Caymanians and non-Caymanians. When functioning properly, it’s a cycle of positive feedback. … Rather than con- tinuing to treat expatri- ates as “rented” labor for a specified rollover pe- riod, we should trans- form our immigration re- gime so that work permit holders are regarded fun- damentally as candidates for permanent residence, and potentially full-blown Caymanian status. In other words, provide expatriates with a clear and level pathway to citi- zenship, so to speak. … This evolution in im- migration ethos would encourage expatri- ates to keep and invest their money in Cayman. And, as foreign workers – after proving them- selves as fit additions to our society – transition to PR status, it would re- duce our country’s re- liance on work permits and make that particular number increasingly ir- relevant to the condition of Cayman’s economy. “The uncomfortable truth about unemployment,” Oct. 29 The relationship be- tween “work permits” and “work” continues to be er- roneously overstated in the Cayman Islands. Here is the truth, dem- onstrated by statistical evidence: There is no correlation between the number of work permit holders on island and the number of unemployed Caymanians. If anything, more work permits in- dicate a stronger local economy, meaning more job opportunities for ev- eryone – Caymanians and expatriates. The danger in the prevailing mis-asso- ciation presents it- self when “work permit holders” become synony- mous with “unemployed Caymanians.” Although this mythology is purely fictional, it can lead to … resentment, divisive- ness and disorder. … The reality is, when seeking out job candidates, the mentality of employers is already “Caymanians first, expatriates last,” for fiscal, rational and, yes, cultural reasons. If our officials persist in playing at an inappro- priate “blame game” – that is, blaming employers for unemployment – then half of the discourse on Cayman’s social and eco- nomic problems is based on falsehoods. And we will never be able to ad- dress the real issues. For the good of ev- eryone living in this country, it is time to end the public charade, and once and for all, to expunge the excusa- tory untruth that most of Cayman’s businesses discriminate against Caymanians. They don’t. “Judicial ‘slapdown’: Government better pay attention,” Sept. 1 Did you hear that? It might sound like the fall of a gavel – but if you listen more closely, you may rec- ognize the noise of flood- gates opening. We refer to the judi- cial decision of Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, who, when ruling in favor of two women whose appli- cations for permanent res- idence had been denied, used the following terms in reference to our territo- ry’s immigration process: “miscarriage of justice,” “immediate and obvious concerns,” “opaque, uncer- tain and prone to arbitrari- ness,” “appearance of bias,” “unconscionably long de- lays,” “impeded the course of justice” and “irrational” under the Constitution. The deluge to which we allude relates to a flood of potential court actions that could be filed by any number of Caymanians, res- idents or foreigners who have suffered unjustly be- cause of capricious deci- sions made by politically ap- pointed boards in Cayman, across the spectrum of ad- ministrative law. … This Editorial Board is of the opinion that Cayman has almost every right in the world to de- lineate immigration poli- cies as strictly and specifi- cally as is desired, so long as they are transparent and consistent. The caveat is this: Cayman does not have the right to create a set of guidelines, particularly on something as important as permanent residency, that are incompatible with universal principles rec- ognized by the United Kingdom (and relevant European courts). Cayman is a derivative of that net- work; our legal system is founded on common law; and we must adhere to the concept that our learned members of the judicial bench might cite as “nat- ural justice.” That applies to all leg- islation, not just immigra- tion, and throughout the bureaucracy, including Cayman’s myriad of ap- pointed boards, which rou- tinely issue decisions that could quite easily become the basis for successful legal action. We would venture to guess that there are hun- dreds, if not thousands, of instances of injustice that align with the fundamental framework outlined in the ruling by Justice Smellie, and that could potentially be subject to the same sort of scrutiny. “Abusing the most vulnerable among us,” April 13 The most illuminating reading of the Cayman Islands government’s re- port on the minimum wage has little to do with wages and everything to do with decency. … In the course of arriving at a deceptively simple public policy proposal, the committee delves into some of the darkest re- cesses of our country, pulling back the curtain on attitudes, behaviors and practices that, in hindsight, many may prefer to have been left undisturbed or, at least, unremarked. The real substance of the committee’s report is related only tangentially to the topic of the minimum wage. The report’s greater value consists in its depic- tion of a minority of mis- creants in Cayman society, who – emboldened by “cul- tural norms” and enabled by a complicit system – reg- ularly mistreat, abuse and exploit their most vulner- able fellow human beings … people whom they, iron- ically enough, have invited to occupy positions that often necessitate a great amount of trust. The injustices the com- mittee documents have not been perpetrated by cold, profit-calculating companies, but by indi- vidual Cayman house- holds (our country’s “moms” and “pops”) who employ Jamaican and Filipino do- mestic workers. The stories related by those household workers to the committee are ones not typically found within the pages of this news- paper, or in any local media, not because we aren’t told about them, but because we are rarely told about them “on the record.” The storytellers are scared, and perhaps rightly so. … The gross ill-treatment of Cayman’s “helpers,” nannies and housekeepers is a stain on our country’s conscience that cannot, and must not, be ignored or tolerated. In the words of Lady Macbeth, “Hell is murky.” The only solution for darkness is sunshine.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 29, 2015 Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Allegations of wrong- doing, libel and conspiracy were flung about in the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly as well as in the courts as the fallout from the May 2013 general election continued well into 2015. It started with Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush’s deci- sion in mid-April to file a pri- vate members’ motion in the assembly in which he asked for an independent review of “the involvement of the [U.K.] Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Office of the Governor, Commissioner of Police and the then-Leader of the Opposition [referring to now- Premier Alden McLaughlin] in the conspiracy to remove the then-constitutionally elected premier [referring to Mr. Bush].” The legislative motion stated that Mr. Bush had in his possession “irrefutable documentary evidence” of in- terference by the governor’s office in conspiring, along with local elected represen- tatives and civil servants, “to topple a democratically elected government while misusing the power of the state and its judicial and law enforcement arms.” Mr. Bush did not make any of this “irrefutable ev- idence” public on April 15 when he held a press con- ference to discuss details of his private members’ mo- tion, but promised to do so if the motion was heard by the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Bush, while under a criminal investigation, was removed from the premier’s office in December 2012 fol- lowing a no-confidence vote of the Legislative Assembly against his government. An interim government, made up of five members of Mr. Bush’s former United Democratic Party, led the Cayman Islands between late December 2012 and May 2013, when the cur- rent Progressives-led coali- tion was voted into office. “The indigenous people of these islands have had their rights infringed by using the jurisdiction as a[n] instru- ment to further the economic designs that were contrary to the interest of the indigenous people and, through systemic policies of discrimination, that constitutes a gross vio- lation of their fundamental human rights protected under the United Nations Charter and the European Union regulations,” the mo- tion read. In addition to calling for an independent commission of inquiry, Mr. Bush’s motion also sought to mete out “ap- propriate responsibility” by making the inquiry public and allowing it to initiate legal action, if required, “at the appropriate international legal forum.” Mr. Bush also asked for what he called an “independent historical re- view” of legal measures taken by U.K. authorities “that has led to the marginalization of the indigenous Caymanian population and disrepute of its financial industry.” Asked for a response to Mr. Bush’s legislative motion, Premier McLaughlin said, “I think the Leader of the Opposition has finally taken leave of his senses.” The next month, Premier McLaughlin sued Mr. Bush in the Grand Court for defa- mation – the act of making public allegations of wrong- doing that are untrue. The lawsuit alleged Mr. Bush had attempted to “destroy the po- litical and legal career” of Mr. McLaughlin by way of var- ious public statements. “[Mr. Bush] falsely and maliciously stated that he had written correspondence between the various parties including [Mr. McLaughlin] thereby asserting that [Mr. McLaughlin] was party to correspondence which proved his involvement in the undemocratic plan to remove [Mr. Bush] from office,” the writ of summons filed in the case claimed. Premier McLaughlin stated in his writ that both the private members’ motion filed by Mr. Bush and subse- quent statements published by the local and international media essentially accused Mr. McLaughlin of commit- ting a number of criminal offenses. The lawsuit listed among those potential alle- gations that Mr. McLaughlin had been accused of of- fenses contrary to section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Law (abuse of office), miscon- duct in a public office and criminal conspiracy offenses under the Cayman Islands Penal Code. “[Mr. Bush] will have known perfectly well, and it is the case that the above al- legations against a public figure, in this case the premier of the Cayman Islands, would be highly destructive of public confidence and likely to de- stroy the political and legal career of [Mr. McLaughlin],” the lawsuit states. Then in October, Mr. Bush filed a lawsuit of his own against Cayman’s Police Commissioner David Baines and former Governor Duncan Taylor, who left Cayman in 2013 to become Britain’s am- bassador to Mexico. The writ alleges there was no legitimate basis for Mr. Bush’s arrest and charge and that the investigation set out to destroy him politi- cally. “The prosecution of the plaintiff was malicious,” the lawsuit stated. “The defendants wanted to bring him down politically and to have him arrested and charged prior to the 2013 general election, so that he would be forced to resign as Premier before the election and to ensure that he was not re-elected as Premier of the Cayman Islands.” Governor Taylor did not respond to the lawsuit. Mr. Baines denied that he was involved in any con- spiracy to unseat Mr. Bush’s political party in 2013. “I welcome the opportu- nity to respond fully to the misrepresentations made by Mr. Bush in his court writ and the legal process it has initiated,” Mr. Baines said. †Scotiabank Gold MasterCard® Holiday Bonus: Receive an additional 2% cashback bonus along with the current 3% Cash Back at all Grocery Stores & Supermarkets for a total of 5% Holiday Bonus Cashback. Offer good from Dec 1st to Dec 31st 2015. Holiday Bonus of an additional 2% cash back on all qualifying purchases made by the cardholder at merchants which are classified in the MasterCard network as Grocery Stores & Supermarkets (Merchant Code: 5411). The referred additional 2% cash back will be applied on their first $2,500 USD qualifying purchases (or equivalent in local currency) spent during the Promotional Period. The maximum cash back reward amount to be earned on the additional 2% bonus during this promotion is $50 USD (or equivalent in local currency). The amount of qualifying purchases and the amount of cash back reward earned will be shown separately in your credit card statement. The cash back earned in this Holiday Bonus Promotion will be credited in the credit card account in November 2016. The Holiday Bonus Promotion will be governed by all the clauses stated in the Scotiabank Cash Back Rewards Program for Credit Cards Terms & Conditions. ® Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence. ® MasterCard and BusinessCard are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated, used under licence. Visit cayman.scotiabank.com/creditcards for more information. /ScotiabankKY#MostCashBackEver Visit your nearest branch or cayman.scotiabank.com/creditcards Just for the holidays! Discover what’s possible From December 1 to 31, 2015, get up to 5%† cash back when you use your Scotiabank Gold MasterCard.® Need a card? Apply today! FOR THE HOLIDAYS!†ALL YEAR ROUND! everywhere else 1% at gas stations & grocery stores 3% at pharmacies 2% at grocery stores 5%† Just for the holidays! From December 1 to 31, 2015, get up to 5%† cash back The new Trade and Business Licensing Law will commence on Friday, 1 January 2016. The Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) will administer the new law and highlighted seven important aspects that the public should know about it. 1. New forms. There is now one form to complete for grants, renewals and incentives under sole trader; and one form for grants, renewals and incentives for companies. There is a checklist to assist persons with completing the application. 2. Timeframes for renewal applications. If you are renewing your licence, you must submit your renewal application prior to its expiry. The timeframe to submit renewal applications is between three months, and 28 days, prior to the expiry of the licence. 3. Additional documentation requirements. Persons who are renewing their licences will be required to provide health insurance and pensions documentation at the time they submit their renewal application. 4. Penalty for late filing. To help ensure and maintain efficiencies in the licensing process, DCI will enforce penalties for late applications. 5. Tickets and fines. Persons who breach their business licence requirements in Cayman will be subject to receiving tickets and paying fines, as DCI’s trade officers will now have greater enforcement responsibilities. 6. Surcharge. Licence holders who do not pay the renewal fee within 28 days after the expiry date of the licence shall, unless the Board waives it, pay a surcharge not exceeding 25% of the renewal fee for every month, or part of a month, that the renewal fee is not paid. 7. Appeals Tribunal. Business owners who want to question a Trade and Business Licensing Board decision will have an opportunity to do so, through the Trade and Business Licensing Appeals Tribunal. Understanding the New Trade and Business Licensing Law, A to Z For more information visit www.dci.gov.ky or call 945-0943 2015: Bush, McLaughlin take legal action Mr. BushPremier McLaughlin TOP STORIES 20156 LOCAL NEWS Tuesday december 29, 2015 • Cayman Compass 50 Years ago: Holiday news and an anniversary In the Dec. 22, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspon- dent Leila Yates wrote: “Mrs. Billy Yates and daughter left on the 20th for Jamaica to meet her husband. He calls in there on the S.S. J. Louis. She will stay in Ocho Rios for a while. “Home for the holidays is Mr. Lewiston Ebanks, having graduated on the 15th from Youth and Action School in N.Y. Mr. Eugene Ebanks arrived on the 18th from the U.S. where he works. “Mrs. Davis Bodden and two children left on the 15th to meet her husband in Louisiana. “Miss Rebecca Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Smith, who was here visiting relatives from August was called home to Jamaica because of the illness of her sister. They live in May Pen but were formerly of North Side. “Mr. and Mrs. Marson Wallace cel- ebrated their fifth wedding anniver- sary on the 15th at the home of Mrs. Wallace’s mother and made it a happy event for all attending. “Mr. Sherdon Smith who arrived on the 19th from the U.S. was an employee of N.B.C on the S. S. Ore Chief. “Miss Anglin left by plane for Swan Island on the 19th. “Miss Eileen Hydes returned home 18th from Jamaica where she is training to be a teacher. Travelling on the same plane was Mrs. Leaton Parsons to be here when the stork brings her a pre- cious gift. “Capt. McCherry Ebanks left on the 10th for Jamaica to see his wife who has been there one week under medical care. Also leaving on the 16th was Mr. Marson Wallace for Tampa to resume his work. “Miss Karen Parsons is here visiting relatives and friends. She has been in Jamaica for some time in school. She is the daughter of Mrs. Rudolf McLaughlin who lives in Jamaica.” District Days West Bay What is your New Year’s resolution? With the New Year just around the corner, it’s a time for reflection and dreaming big. And of course, for many, this time of year brings the requisite New Year’s resolution. Out and about on a recent morning, some West Bayers shared their resolutions with the Compass. We all have the same resolution to lose weight. Latoya Thompson, Richard Thompson, Jonia Thompson and artur Romanowski. Be the best mom. Jessica swaby Come back to the sun. alan Kelly No more sodas. Lanie macasaet Spend more money on the family. mark Keys To eat healthy mary and alexander Keys Travel more next year. sujeewa perera Go to church, hope it will be a good year. Daphne Bennett Jack Fraser wants to be nice to his sister Ann-Marie and she promises to eat her vegetables.7 DISTRICT DAY Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 29, 2015 District Days West Bay West Bay’s own sustainability pioneer Catboat builder looks to both the past and the future Basia McGuire bmcguire@pinnaclemedialtd.com The white picket fence signaling Kem Jackson’s neatly groomed property close to Morgan’s Harbour is an inviting signpost to any visitor looking for a fasci- nating window on local his- tory and heritage. But what many might not know is that it is also a place that offers a snapshot of Cayman life that is most definitely looking to the future. With a workshop on his property, Mr. Jackson is well known in the community for his efforts in preserving Cayman’s catboat tradition. Mr. Jackson’s commit- ment to passing along the knowledge of his generation through his work with youth and through the Catboat Club has led to recognition in the form of an MBE and a National Heritage Award. However, Mr. Jackson’s interests span far beyond the little blue catboats. His commitment to honoring the past, while trying to make the world better for future generations, makes him a true sustainability leader. Now 78, Mr. Jackson’s calm exterior belies the fact he has led an exciting life. The West Bay native went to sea as a young man of 21 in the 1960’s when, he hu- morously noted, his first job mostly involved peeling po- tatoes. But before long, some tinkering skills he’d acquired in Cayman proved useful. “I heard the engineers on the deck trying to get the generators started. I had some experience with those kinds of generators, being from Cayman, and I got them to start,” he said. It did not take long before he had worked his way up to chief engineer. After spending a few de- cades working on the ships, he then spent time at sea in the treasure hunting game in the Bahamas and beyond. He remembers finding a cannon that had some major design flaws. “This cannon was so old, they hadn’t come up with a way to connect the different sections of the barrel prop- erly, so it would fly apart when fired,” he said. “So, there certainly was always a new man firing it every time.” While interested in the past, Mr. Jackson also has an firm eye on the future. Mr. Jackson’s interest in what’s new and cutting-edge, and his technical talents have also led him to become a dif- ferent kind of pioneer. In a time when some local resi- dents have been making the news for their modern, en- ergy-efficient and clean elec- tricity generation designs, Mr. Jackson has for years been quietly running an off- the-grid system at his home that would wow even the most jaded green-power enthusiasts. Proudly showing off art- work on the property done by local special needs students, Mr. Jackson offered the Cayman Compass a tour of the large garden, grow houses and an orchard boasting or- anges and other fruits. Then he nodded toward a humble shed nearby. On the top, an array of solar panels glinted in the morning sun. “Those run the fridge, two water pumps, the lights, a fan and the washing machine,” he said. Opening the shed door, he pointed out an elaborate bat- tery installation inside. He then opened a small door on the side of the house, revealing another assemblage of hoses and other hard-to- identify items. “This is where our water comes from – it’s 25 ppm [parts per million] salt,” he said, showing his home de- salination system. “It makes about 50 gallons an hour.” “I’ve been making my own drinking water since 2000,” he added, noting the clean water heads to a cistern and excess water is used to main- tain the garden. The small windmill on the roof provides another en- ergy source. Turning around to scan his property, he noted that he feared not enough was being done to pass on the knowledge and cultural his- tory to younger generations. “For example, did you know that hundreds of schoo- ners were built in Cayman?” he asked. “Now, that’s defi- nitely something worth fol- lowing up!” Clearly this keen steward of Cayman’s past and future heritage is not about to slow down anytime soon. Kem Jackson, left, and friend Loxley Banks at the catboat workshop, adorned with artwork, at Mr. Jackson’s West Bay property. – Photos: Basia McGuire Kem Jackson’s garden contains a rich bounty of produce.An orchid house is just one of the garden’s features.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday december 29, 2015 • Cayman Compass REOPENING OUR DOORS TO SERVE YOU THIS IS We’ve reopened Western Union® services at Foster’s Food Fair Island wide. For more information call (345) 943-4700 on the design plans with Mr. Doak, hoping to fi- nalize them in the first quarter of 2016, at which point they will apply for planning permission. “We will then com- mence construction once all planning permission is in place,” Mr. Duggan said, adding that he hoped the new hospice would be operational by the end of next year. “[We] recognize this is a somewhat optimistic target,” he added. “We will certainly aim for that mile- stone though and, if not, by the end of [the first quarter] of 2017, we will definitely be in.” The site is expected to include an administration building and an inpatient unit, each measuring 3,000 square feet, as well as out- door areas, gardens and covered walkways. As well the land dona- tion from Dart, there has also been a huge public re- sponse to the creation of the new hospice, much of it channeled through mar- athon runner and Dart’s senior security manager Derek Haines. Mr. Haines handed over $1.35 million to HospiceCare earlier this year – money raised in do- nations and pledges for six marathons he ran in 2014. That money will go toward the construction costs. “Dart’s generosity and ongoing support of HospiceCare in our com- munity is greatly appreci- ated and we look forward to working with them, and the wider community, as we commence the con- struction of our new fa- cility in the New Year,” Mr. Duggan added. taking legal action in these countries before proceed- ings in the Cayman Islands are resolved. The Cayman Islands Grand Court first confirmed the CIMA-appointed control- lers and on Feb. 23 ordered the winding up of Caledonian Bank and Caledonian Securities, making the con- trollers joint official liquida- tors of the two entities. Caledonian and its co- defendants Clearwater Securities Inc. and Legacy Global Markets SA in Belize and Verdmont Capital SA in Panama are accused of of- fering stocks for sale to in- vestors in the U.S. without the required registration of the shares for public sale. The SEC alleges that shares in four shell compa- nies – Swingplane Ventures, Goff Corp., Nostra Energy and Xumanii Inc. – were sub- ject to bogus registration statements that purported the stocks had been sold to public shareholders in Serbia, Mexico, Ireland, Norway, Panama and Jamaica. The agency claims that the stock offerings were a sham and the shares remained in the control of the issuers and their affiliates. The restricted securities were then “passed off” as free-trading shares and sold to the public in the United States in alleged vio- lation of Section 5 a) and c) of the Securities Act. Judge slams SEC and depositors will receive about 90 cents on the dollar Both Caledonian and Verdmont had their initial freezing orders substantially lowered but for Caledonian the reduction came too late to prevent the demise of the bank, when it was unable to meet all customer with- drawal requests prompted by the asset freeze. District Judge William Pauley III at the Southern District of New York slammed the U.S. securities regulator for the effect the freezing order against Caledonian had on the bank and its deposi- tors, calling it “a pre-emptive strike” and “incredible gov- ernment overreach.” Caledonian’s liquidators estimated in their second re- port to creditors of the bank, released Sept. 4, that deposi- tors would receive between 89.5 cents and 94 cents on the dollar, provided the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s claim against the bank was resolved and no new unaccounted claims were made. Liquidators struck an agreement with the SEC to settle the lawsuit and in December informed creditors that the settlement terms do not include any financial penalties for the bank. Any financial claim by the regu- lator would have impacted the return to Caledonian’s de- positors and creditors. This settlement in prin- ciple must still be approved by the Cayman Islands Grand Court – a hearing is sched- uled for Jan. 26, 2016 – and the U.S. District Court. In the case, the SEC was forced to amend its ini- tial claim against erdmont, pulling back on some of its initial accusations, but the securities regulator said it could not confirm whether Caledonian was involved in the scheme or had simply acted as a broker in the case, because the bank had not provided any customer infor- mation due to Cayman’s bank secrecy laws. Caledonian Securities and Verdmont did not deny having traded the shares but asserted that they did so only on behalf of their customers. Co-defendants Caledonian’s co-defendant Verdmont further claimed that as broker it was ex- empt from Section 5 because it had made a reasonable in- quiry into the circumstances of its customers’ proposed sales. Verdmont applied for a judgment on the plead- ings on the basis of the submitted evidence. But on Nov. 10 the judge rejected the motion for a judgment on the plead- ings, effectively ordering the case against Verdmont to go to trial. The judge said it was impossible to conclude on the basis of the pleadings whether Verdmont’s inquiry of its clients and their transac- tions was reasonable given their volume and timing, and the fact that they were coordinated across mul- tiple entities holding ac- counts at Vermont. “What are the odds that ‘independent shareholders’ around the globe would in- vest in such obscure en- terprises and then de- cide – spontaneously and simultaneously – to sell their positions through the same Panamanian broker- dealer?” the judge asked in his written order. The operators of Belize brokers Legacy Global Markets SA and Clearwater Securities, the other defen- dants in the case, have ei- ther been arrested or sur- rendered into U.S. custody in connection with sepa- rate SEC securities fraud investigations. police do not get many com- plaints about fireworks aside from noise complaints. “However, we warn people not to throw fireworks into streets or at cars, homes or each other,” Ms. Carpenter said. “If we do encounter this behavior, these people will be prosecuted.” Another law restricting fireworks use is the Towns and Communities Law (1995 Revision), which states that no person should set fire to any firework in any public place, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the chief fire officer. The pun- ishment for anyone who vio- lates this law is a maximum $1,000 fine or imprisonment for six months. However, according to Gilbert Rankin, acting deputy of the Cayman Islands Fire Department, only businesses planning large commercial displays, using bigger explo- sives, need to have a license, and the fire department has to be on standby at those com- mercial fireworks displays. Mr. Rankin said the fire department has no control over smaller, private fire- works use, but urges mem- bers of the public to be “cau- tious of their surroundings,” and make sure that no prop- erties might be in danger. “Shooting off on the beach is not a problem for the public,” Mr. Rankin said. Individuals complying with the laws should still be vigilant and follow basic safety guidelines, according to the fire department and fireworks retailers. David Kirkaldy, owner of fireworks store Fireworks Limited, said that people need to use common sense when picking a location to set off fireworks. “Obviously, when you are near a sensitive location such as a seniors residence or hospital or a vet office or stables, one should not be lighting fireworks,” Mr. Kirkaldy said. “The danger to others is far too great and ultimately the person who decides to light a product in an un- safe area or manner is liable for any outcome.” New HospiceCare site announced CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fireworks legal, but regulated Fireworks seller Gene Trott tells customers to use common sense, follow all the manufacturer’s instructions and be respectful of neighbors when setting off fireworks. – Photo: Kelsey JuKam Caledonian bank bankrupt and in liquidation after SEC files lawsuit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Caledonian House on Dr. Roy’s Drive, George Town. – Photo: taNeos Ramsay CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The new building, which is expected to be a four-bed facility, will allow HospiceCare to provide inpatient care to clients.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 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. Cayman Compass • Tuesday december 29, 2015 From our family to yours 24/7 GYM | SAUNA CHRISTMAS SERVICES EAST END/GUN BAY UNITED CHURCH: East End. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service at Gun Bay United, 10 p.m. WILLIAM POUCHIE UNITED CHURCH: North Side. Dec. 31, Watch Night Joint Service with Webster Memorial, 10:45 p.m. WEBSTER MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: Bodden Town. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 10:45 p.m. SAVANNAH UNITED CHURCH: Dec. 31, Youth Watch Night 7:30 p.m. Traditional Watch Night, 10:30 p.m. ELMSLIE MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: Harbour Drive. New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 10:30 p.m. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: West Bay. Dec. 31, Watch Night Service, 11 p.m. Jan. 3, choir cantata, “Glory in the Highest,” 6:30 p.m. BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve Service, 10 p.m. ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND: 461 Shedden Road. 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. 31, Watch Night Service, 10 p.m. CHURCH OF GOD CHAPEL: West Bay. Dec. 31, Watch Night celebration, 10 p.m. FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD: Old Crewe Road. New Year’s Eve, 10 p.m. CHURCH OF GOD, FULL GOSPEL HALL: 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. Dec. 29, 10 a.m., Holy Innocents, march through George Town. Dec. 31, Watch Night service, 11 p.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. 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. New Year’s Day, Mass at 9:45 a.m. 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 TREE MULCH: The Department of Environmental Health continues its program to collect natural Christmas trees for mulching. Trees are crushed and turned into mulch, which is given to the public at no cost. From today through Friday, Jan. 22, collection containers will be placed at various sites across Grand Cayman, including the Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay, the Smith Road Cricket Oval, Spotts Dock and at the entrance of Frank Sound Road. 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 MUSEUM GIFT SHOP HOURS: Dec. 29-31, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jan. 1 and 2, 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. CULTURAL FOUNDATION: The offices of the Cayman Islands National Cultural Foundation are closed in observance of the Christmas holidays. The CNCF will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4 at 9 a.m. To reach someone over the holidays, email cncf@candw.ky or leave a message on the CNCF voicemail, which will be checked periodically – 949-5477. IMMIGRATION HOURS: The Immigration headquarters (including public counters, and the Passport and Visa offices) reopens 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. 2016 CALENDARS: Sale benefits NCVO and Cayman HospiceCare. Local artwork, recipes and events. Call 949-2124. $15 includes envelope for mailing. REEF RESTORATION: Certified divers are invited to work on the Cayman Magic Reef restoration in George Town. A schedule of work dates and times is posted on Facebook under Cayman Magic Reef Recovery. Dates and times are listed under Events, for volunteers to check and sign up. 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. 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. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters on Thomas Russell Way. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. NCVO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers needed for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations’ Children’s Services programs. Contact Alta Solomon at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo. org.ky. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. PERIPHERAL SPACES: Tuesday to Saturday. Noon to 8 p.m. (closed by 3 p.m. on Saturdays). Market Street across from Bay Market. Pop-up working studio/art gallery with local artists’ works displayed for sale. Art classes Tuesday and Thursday, 6-8 p.m., plus other special events. For more information, email marymccallum@candw.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. Organizers of the ongoing reef restoration project are looking for more volunteers.Next >