ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Wednesday January 6, 2016 sports | page 20 serena Williams WithdraWs at Perth, inJury tOll GrOWs High of 82 Low of 71 Smooth to slight with wave heights of less than 2 feet. editorial | page 4 Cayman’s COmbat With Climate ChanGe: a bunCh Of hOt air Brac hotel owners told to clean up site Divi Tiara unsightly and unsafe James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The owners of the Divi Tiara Beach Resort on Cayman Brac have been served with an en- forcement order requiring them to demolish dilapidated buildings and clean up the site. The hotel, vacant for almost a decade, has become an eyesore on the island, and planning officials are concerned that the site is unsafe. Now the Brac Development Board has served the owners of the property with no- tice requiring them to clean up or face poten- tial fines. A section of the Development and Planning Law allows such enforcement where the “ru- inous, dilapidated or unsafe condition of any building” is impacting the neighborhood. The notice, filed late last year, gives the U.S.-based owners until February to respond. Moses Kirkconnell, the tourism minister and MLA for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, conducted a site visit with members of the de- velopment board in August. He said he hopes the situation will now be resolved. “The owners allowed the property to fall into disrepair after they closed it,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. “It is aesthetically unpleasing and there is a safety issue there as well. We are hopeful that they will now take steps to remedy some of the issues identified.” When the 71-room hotel closed in 2006, its owners cited economic problems, including insufficient airlift from the U.S. The buildings were severely damaged in Hurricane Paloma in 2008, diminishing the chances that the hotel would reopen. Vacationing US police officer tackles beach thief James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com New York police officer Ken Augsbach came to Grand Cayman to take a break from fighting crime. But when he spotted a thief snatch a wom- an’s purse on the beach, in- stinct took over. He sprinted after him, across a road and into an over- grown area littered with broken bottles before hauling him to the ground. The 52-year-old officer, on vacation with his family, was joined in pursuit of the thief by others, including a van driver who temporarily abandoned his tour bus to give chase. They held on to the thief until police ar- rived and arrested him. “It is not good for tourism when someone does something like that and I wasn’t about to let him get away with it,” said Mr. Augsbach. He said he had been walking along the beach at Smith Cove when he heard a commotion and saw a man running from behind the tree line with a woman’s bag. “It was an instinctive reac- tion. I wasn’t really worried for my personal safety. “If we were in the water swim- ming and someone was stealing my wife’s purse, I hope someone CarePay trial Potential new evidence delays trial brent fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Testimony in the criminal trial of Caymanian businessman Canover Watson has been delayed for at least a day, possibly longer, after the discovery of potential new ev- idence in the case. Grand Court Justice Michael Mettyear informed jurors Tuesday morning that the evidence consisted of information con- tained on seven USB computer memory sticks, often called “jump drives,” that were found in Watson’s office the day of his Aug. 28, 2014 arrest. Information on the jump drives – literally thousands of separate computer files – ini- tially were thought to have been lost, but have been recovered, the jury was told. Mr. Mettyear informed the jury that attor- neys requested additional time to review the information, and that the effort would take at least a day to complete. The court was sched- uled to meet again Wednesday morning, but it was not certain whether testimony would re- sume at that time. Issues regarding the whereabouts of the computer jump drives found in Watson’s office at the former Admiral Administration building were raised during the trial on Monday. According to statements made in the trial, evidence obtained by Royal Cayman Islands Police investigators from the jump drives was retrieved and copied during searches of Watson’s business office on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, 2014. Watson’s lead attorney Trevor Burke, QC, suggested Monday that the jump drives themselves had not been located. Mr. Burke, during questioning of a Crown witness who examined the jump drives, elic- ited that the witness could not find those a crane lifts a boat off the ironshore in front of Don Foster’s on tuesday morning. the vessel, called the Honey Badger, was unmoored by rough weather conditions and briefly capsized before being swept ashore. The boat is used by volunteers with the Magic Reef Recovery effort who have been working to repair a coral reef that was damaged by a cruise ship anchor in 2014. For more on this story, see page 5. – PHoto: taneos raMsay PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » rough weather damages volunteer boat2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Wednesday January 6, 2016 • Cayman Compass www. REGmovies.com SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - WEDNESDAY - $8.00 CONCUSSION (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:00 I 9:45 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 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS ROAD CHIP (PG) 1:15 I 3:40 I 7:10 I 9:30 SISTERS (R) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 10:00 Virginia goVernor becomes fourth to Visit cuba since detente HAVANA (AP) – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe began a trade mission to Cuba on Monday, expressing op- timism about imminent changes in the U.S. relation- ship with the island but seeming less certain his trip would quickly generate new business for his state. McAuliffe is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a close ally of Bill and Hillary Clinton and a long- time advocate of trade with Cuba. He is the fourth governor to visit Cuba since Dec. 17, 2014, when Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro declared an official end to one of the world’s longest-running hostile relationships. McAuliffe said he sees this year as key for U.S.- Cuba relations, saying the United States could allow freer travel to the island and end a ban on American busi- nesses selling goods to the country on credit. Cuba has cited the credit limit as a prime reason it has sharply reduced purchases of food from states such as Virginia. “I think 2016 is going to be a very big year. This is an important legacy item for President Obama,” McAuliffe said. “I think this is the year we can get an awful lot of things done: normalization of relations, extending credit, open travel. These are all things I hope to accomplish this year. I think we can do it.” The White House said last week that Obama may travel to Cuba in March, be- coming the first sitting U.S. president to visit this is- land since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. While U.S.-Cuba de- tente has moved relatively quickly on the diplomatic front, efforts to increase business have been far slower with the United States’ half-century-old trade embargo against the island still in force. Despite an initial rush of American business en- thusiasm, there have been few big U.S. business deals with Cuba. None of the four U.S. governors’ trips have spawned significant commercial ties except for a relatively small sale of chicken parts by Arkansas poultry companies fol- lowing a September visit by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. McAuliffe met with Cuba’s top foreign trade of- ficial Monday morning and watched the heads of the University of Havana and Virginia Commonwealth University sign an agree- ment for academic coopera- tion and exchanges. UCCI calls for TEDx speakers The University College of the Cayman Islands is looking for speakers for its next TEDxUCCI talk, scheduled for March 19. This event is the second of its kind hosted by UCCI. Organizers say the talk series aims to inspire people to break from their comfort zones, to think innovatively and ex- change ideas without fear. This year’s TEDxUCCI talk is called “FutureVision,” in which each speaker will be invited to speak on “an idea about the future that’s worth sharing with the local com- munity as well as with an in- ternational audience.” JD Mosley-Matchett, dean of graduate studies and pro- fessional development and TEDxUCCI event curator, said in a press release, “We are looking for people from all dis- ciplines: thought leaders, vi- sionaries, artists, inventors, hobbyists and adventurers who will provide a glimpse of what the future might hold for us all. Those chosen will take to the TEDxUCCI stage to express their ‘FutureVision’ in 18 minutes or less.” She added, “So, please, consider this a personal invitation for all oral, visual, demonstrable, and kinesthetic (but definitely interesting) presenters to apply to be featured at the March 19 TEDxUCCI event.” TED is an organization de- voted to ideas worth sharing through three pathways: Technology, Entertainment and Design. These talks often consist of inspirational ways to self-improve while learning a variety of new “life-tricks” or life hacks. TED also created a pro- gram called TEDx, with the “x” referring to local and in- dependently organized events, such as TEDxUCCI. These events typically consist of a combination of live speakers and TEDTalk videos. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 15. For more information, visit www.tedxucci.ky or Kristel Sanchez at ksanchez@ucci.edu.ky. Speakers and attendees of last year’s ‘TEDxUCCI: Fearless’ sharing a light moment. Summer takeoff set for new BA jets JAmeS WhittAker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com British Airways will start flying its newer Boeing 777- 200 jets into Grand Cayman from July. The larger planes, which will continue to be routed through the Bahamas, mean a slight increase in airlift from the U.K. into the islands. Work to strengthen the runway, which airport offi- cials have always said will be required to allow the Owen Roberts International Airport to accommodate the planes, is not expected to be com- plete by July. Albert Anderson, CEO of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, said the work is scheduled for later in the year. “It is not going to prevent them coming in,” he said. Mr. Anderson said en- gineering reports indi- cated that the runway could handle the aircraft in the short term, though some re- inforcement work would ulti- mately be required. He said a request for pro- posals on the design work was about to be issued. The work, and British Airways’ decision to replace the Boeing 767-300s with the 777s, will not impact the air- line’s ability to fly direct to Grand Cayman. An extended runway would still be re- quired for a plane of that size to take off from Grand Cayman with a full load of passengers and fuel. Currently, BA planes add fuel and passengers at the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau before continuing on to London Heathrow. There are no current plans to extend the runway. British Airways described the switch to Boeing 777 jets as a boost to its service in Cayman that could increase tourism from Europe. Diane Corrie, the air- line’s commercial manager for the Caribbean, said, “The larger aircraft will be espe- cially welcomed by the busi- ness communities on both is- lands, including executives of the banking and finance sector, insurance companies and law firms and residents of Cayman who travel fre- quently to London and be- yond on British Airways. “There will be increased capacity, especially in the premium cabins, and this will also help to boost vis- itor arrivals from the U.K. and Europe.” The 777 aircraft will offer a choice of three cabins – Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller, and will continue to operate four times a week. Boeing 777-200 jets are due to fly into Cayman later this year on the Heathrow route. – Photo: british airWaYs3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 6, 2016 180603-Ad-Butterfield-Visa-Gold-1 111/17/15 6:21:34 PM Legislation contemplates ‘conditional fee’ lawsuits Brent FuLLer bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Providing poorer Cayman Islands residents access to the courts and just compensa- tion in civil litigation is listed as a major concern in the Law Reform Commission’s draft proposal to allow con- ditional fee or contingent fee lawsuits in the territory. A draft bill, called the Private Funding of Legal Services Bill, was presented in late December by the com- mission. The bill generally suggests a compromise be- tween a U.S.-style contin- gency fee system, in which successful lawyers are paid a percentage of their client’s winnings in a civil suit, and a U.K.-style conditional fee system, in which lawyers can be paid their normal fee and sometimes an additional “up- lift fee” only if the cases are successful in court. Contingency fee lawsuits are not allowed in Cayman. In practice, conditional fee cases are allowed by Grand Court rules. However, the applica- tion of those rules has varied in the past. The Law Reform Commission pointed to a local court case in 2012 when a conditional fee compensation agreement made by a woman who was injured in a police car crash was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which then advised the government to review its current legisla- tion regarding post-trial com- pensation for attorneys. “[Both conditional fee and contingent fee] agreements have been viewed by propo- nents over the years as fun- damental routes to access justice by lower income per- sons, while opponents view such fee agreements as in- centive to excessive litigation and argue that they promote a compensation culture,” the Law Reform Commission stated in its discussion paper on the topic. One issue holding up leg- islative reform on the topic is the existence of what the law commission terms “ancient” statutes dating back to me- dieval England that outlawed the assistance of any party involved in litigation without justification, a practice called maintenance, and accepting payment or something of value in return for that assis- tance, called champerty. Both of those criminal offenses still exist in the Cayman Islands, although they have since been abol- ished in England. The Law Reform Commission recom- mended that both offenses be removed from the books as part of the new draft legisla- tion governing the payment of conditional fees in litigation. Various local law firms over the years have argued for the need to accept some regulated system that allows for conditional fee agree- ments in civil court cases. One firm, Solomon Harris, supported such arrange- ments following a 2009 deci- sion of the Cayman Islands Grand Court. In that case, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie sanctioned the use of a con- ditional fee agreement. “This [decision] is signifi- cant for liquidators in a sit- uation where the company has no money due to wrong- doing by persons who could, and should, be held liable for the situation of the com- pany,” Solomon Harris repre- sentatives opined. “Without some way to pay for the lit- igation, wrongdoers might avoid liability.” There are several points against contingency fee ar- rangements that the law commission raised as well, including that they can gen- erally increase the overall cost of litigation and that they can give rise to bogus or frivolous legal claims. The commission also warned against the reputa- tional damage to the legal profession that has occurred in some jurisdictions, such as the U.S., where personal in- jury attorneys especially are often held in disrepute. It is proposed by the draft bill that the Grand Court would be able to review any conditional or contingency fee arrangement between a lawyer and their client prior to that agreement being entered into. Public comment is in- vited on the proposed leg- islation. Comments must be submitted to the Law Reform Commission by March 31. New labor aNd peNsioNs director Named A former pensions in- spector, police officer and immigration officer has been named to head the Department of Labour and Pensions, succeeding former director Mario Ebanks. Bennard Ebanks’s ap- pointment was announced Tuesday. Mr. Ebanks recently rejoined the Department of Labour and Pensions after a stint in the Immigration Department, where he led the enforcement compliance unit. Mr. Ebanks has worked as a senior pensions in- spector, as well as acting di- rector of labor and pensions and acting superintendent of pensions. He began his career in the civil service with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, where he served for 18 years and left the ser- vice as commander of the Joint Marine Unit. He later earned a law degree from the University of Liverpool. Mr. Ebanks said in a press release Tuesday that the Department of Labour and Pensions is going through a “period of change.” “The modernization of its laws, policies, and proce- dures – while also addressing the matters raised in the Office of the Complaints Commissioner reports (‘Danger: Construction at Work and Penny Pinching Pensions’) – will be essential to the department’s effective- ness,” he said. Bennard EbanksThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Wednesday January 6, 2016 • Cayman COmpass Cayman’s combat with climate change: A bunch of hot air In the wake of December’s much-celebrated world summit in Paris, which concluded with 195 countries committing to mitigate the effects of climate change, environmental officials in the Cayman Islands are pushing for reviews of our territory’s corresponding regulations. Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks- Petrie said, “To date, actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change have not been a focus of national policy. “This will need to change if we are to make any mean- ingful progress on the issues surrounding climate change.” We hate to throw cold water on Cayman’s “anti-global warming” aspirations, but here’s a bucketful from the still- frosty Antarctic ocean: Any second that Cayman spends on attempting to combat climate change will constitute a waste of time, energy and money. Consider the arithmetic: Let’s say about 60,000 people live in Cayman. Out of the roughly 7 billion people on Planet Earth, our country accounts for approximately 0.0009 percent of the global population, which, in statis- tical terms, is equivalent to zero. And that is precisely the net impact that Cayman could ever have on the global environment, no matter how we choose to live, commute or consume. To believe for even a moment that moderating Cayman’s output of carbon dioxide could have any tangible result — other than harming our economy — can only be attributed to poor number sense, a lack of common sense, or sheer egotism. Remember that Cayman is a society whose existence, as we know it today, is founded upon the burning of fossil fuels, whether it’s used to electrify our homes and businesses, or to power the planes and ships that bring people and goods to our shores. “Policies relating to energy security and climate change are intimately linked as they both seek to reduce our current reliance on carbon-based energy production, and for the Cayman Islands, one is as essential as the other,” Environment Minister Wayne Panton said. We disagree. While energy production is indeed linked to theories of climate change, in Cayman the idea of “energy security” is so much more significant than climate change that on a practical level there is no relationship. We mentioned above that Cayman is utterly depen- dent on fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. That is probably not the most ideal situation for our country. This Editorial Board is always in favor of promoting increased competition in all areas of the private sector, and that includes energy production. That cannot be achieved effectively or efficiently through the government’s setting of arbitrary targets for renewable energy. Rather than trying to reduce or eliminate Cayman’s carbon footprint, our officials should aim to reduce or eliminate taxes on all forms of energy — whether it’s diesel, natural gas, coal, geothermal, solar, wind or wave-generated. Then, let the people (after exam- ining their pocketbooks and their consciences) decide what they want to consume. When it comes to the free market and consumer choice, our officials should formulate policy based on the consideration of Cayman’s economy, and never on fanciful notions about the global environment. (Editor’s note: We often find ourselves disagreeing in print with the actions of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie. Allow us to take a moment to give her some well-deserved credit. Just before Christmas, the government announced a new agreement with U.S.-based company Maxey Cosmetics to harvest the tips of sea whip coral in order to extract an ingredient that promotes the growth of eyelashes. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie was quoted as saying that Cabinet granted Maxey an exemption to the ban on coral harvesting because the cosmetics company agreed to her department’s recommended conditions. As part of the deal, Cayman’s government will receive a royalty of $25,000 per kilogram of harvested coral, plus an additional royalty for the extracted oil, which will be deposited into Cayman’s Environmental Protection Fund. In this instance, Ms. Ebanks-Petrie and her department put the interests of Cayman’s people before qualms over coral, and we congratulate them accordingly.) Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Letter to the editor Cayman recycling a mess How pleased I was to see recycling stations appear at supermarkets. However, it is obvious to anyone that the containers are not fit for the purpose. Whoever was responsible for ordering the containers obvi- ously did not know what hap- pens elsewhere in the world. Where else are small plastic bins with lids used for glass? … Answer: nowhere. Where else are bins which have dirty heavy lids that one has to lift to put your recy- cled plastic etc. into the bins used? … Answer: nowhere I could not believe how I saw that these metal con- tainers were being emptied at Kirk’s the other day. Two guys, one actually standing in the bin, were having to shovel the mixed recycling materials into large canvas bags. Judging by the mess that regularly surrounds the recy- cling stations, either the con- tainers are not big enough or they are not emptied fre- quently enough. Recycling in Cayman, in my humble opinion, is a mess. Fit-for-purpose containers are vital and the recycled ma- terials must be collected from stations in a manner fit for the 21st century. If the private company cannot do it then the government must take over the recycling program. George Tustin Corruption’s tragic returns Washington Post Editorial Board Disasters, both natural and man-made, tear a hole in society. When that tear comes in a place such as China, sys- temic failures often are ex- posed as well as lives lost and dreams crushed. The landslide that came roaring down on the Chinese city of Shenzhen on Dec. 20 un- derscores yet again the dan- gers of unbridled growth, lax safety inspections, corrup- tion, unaccountable govern- ment and lack of rule of law. Shenzhen has special significance for China: It is the location of the first of the special economic zones that eventually turned the nation into the low-cost manufacturing floor of the globe. Hundreds of mil- lions of Chinese migrated to work in its booming fac- tories. The plants spread for miles in every direction along with drab dormito- ries where workers were boarded, their laundry flut- tering in the wind. More recently, Shenzhen was attempting to reinvent itself anew as a high-tech hub, and the construction disgorged enormous quanti- ties of waste. In 2013, a dump was opened in an old quarry on the outskirts of the city. Trucks rumbled to the site day and night, unloading dirt and debris until it became a mammoth heap. The opera- tors of the dump were paid by the truckload, so there was incentive to take in as much as possible, despite the risks. And the risks were not unknown. According to the New York Times, last October the Shenzhen Evening News published a lengthy inves- tigation of the city’s over- whelming amount of con- struction waste. The Wall Street Journal reported that a local environmental moni- toring firm proposed on Dec. 16 to suspend the landfill’s operations pending efforts to address some of the safety risks it had identified. Four days later, the land- fill turned into a deadly ava- lanche of red mud, crashing into some of the dormitories below and burying residents alive. More than 70 people are missing, and only a dozen have been pulled alive from the wreckage. The catastrophe quite possibly could have been pre- vented with better manage- ment and attention to safety, but over and over again, di- sasters in China point to an economic system in which safety and the environment have been neglected by busi- ness and the party-state. Baby formula was found to be adulterated in 2008; high- speed trains collided on a viaduct in Zhejiang prov- ince in 2011; massive explo- sions ripped apart a chem- ical storage facility in August at the port of Tianjin. Even natural disasters such as the 2008 Sichuan earthquake ex- posed failings: Thousands of children died when shod- dily built schools collapsed on them. Disasters happen every- where, including the United States, which has seen in recent years bridges col- lapse, trains derail, planes crash. In some ways what distinguishes China most is the response. When disaster strikes, Chinese officials have at- tempted to censor news reports or lay blame on low-level bureaucrats or un- derlings. An encouraging sign in recent years has been un- restrained cries of popular outrage on social media. But long after the catas- trophe has passed, the larger failure remains unaddressed: a system of arbitrary rule from above that is never re- quired to answer to the people. It seems to be the one edifice in China that doesn’t quaver and fall. © 2015, Washington Post When disaster strikes, Chinese officials have attempted to censor news reports or lay blame on low-level bureaucrats or underlings. From the Web “How to address unemployment (Hint: Education),” Jan. 4 Another way to solve un- employment – create more business. Reduce the per- centage ownership require- ments for Caymanians and more business will get started. More business started equals more employment. J Bodden In my experience of run- ning a sizeable operation in Cayman, I found two issues to be paramount: the first was the attitude toward use of business time for personal matters, and the second was that those that had armed themselves with qualifica- tions were too ready to sit back and assume that the best jobs were theirs by right. arthur Rank5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 6, 2016 Reef recovery boat damaged as rough seas hit George Town Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com A boat used by reef res- toration volunteers was damaged Tuesday morning when rough weather condi- tions caused it to break from its moorings and land on the ironshore. The vessel, called the Honey Badger, is used by vol- unteers with the Magic Reef Recovery project who have been working to restore a large patch of reef that was destroyed by a cruise ship anchor in August 2014. Anticipating the rough weather, volunteer Joe Avary was headed to move the boat out of the way when he re- ceived word that it had al- ready capsized. More waves righted the boat, taking it onto the ironshore in front of Don Foster’s Dive. “One of the good things that saved this from being worse was that the anchor had fallen off the boat when she capsized, and the anchor caught onto the ground and kept the boat from going any further,” Mr. Avary said. “We’re really lucky that we had a boat in one piece,” he added. The Magic Reef Recovery volunteers bought the boat with cash from a fundraiser and a $100,000 donation from Carnival Cruise Lines, which owns the Carnival Magic cruise ship that dropped its anchor and chain at the site. The Honey Badger has been in operation since June last year. Moxam Industries sup- plied a crane to help reef volunteers hoist the boat into the air and onto a trailer so it could be taken away for repairs. Mr. Avary said it is “a major setback” to the re- covery effort, but that the project has overcome many challenges in the past, from rising sea temperatures, to finding volunteers. Volunteers had thought they would be close to fin- ishing the restoration pro- cess by the end of 2015, but as water temperatures rose and corals were bleached, the group decided not to stress the corals any more. But Mr. Avary said vol- unteers are getting close to a point where they can shift their focus to monitoring the reef’s progress. “We’re soldiering on, we’ll get the reef done,” he said. Looking at the “bigger pic- ture,” he said the storm was actually good for the reef by washing away damaging algae that was clogging the coral. “When the water temper- ature gets high, algae starts to settle in on everything, so storms are really good for reef health,” Mr. Avary said. The rough seas also af- fected cruise ships Tuesday. The three ships scheduled to come into George Town on Tuesday, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection and Pullmantur Cruise Ship Management’s Zenith did not moor due to the rough weather conditions. Five cruise ships, carrying up to 13,703 passengers, and two cargo vessels, are sched- uled to come into George Town harbour on Wednesday. Cayman Islands National Weather Service meteo- rologist Allan Ebanks said water conditions should be better Wednesday, as the cold front that caused rough seas Tuesday has dissi- pated outwards. He forecast a north to northwest wind flow at 5 knots and wave heights of about 2 feet or less Wednesday. While there might still be some swells along the west coast Wednesday, making the seas around the dock area a bit bumpy, Mr. Ebanks said, he doesn’t “ex- pect the seas to be rough.” Volunteers move a trailer into position on the Don Foster’s Dive dock, in preparation for getting the Honey Badger boat off the ironshore. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY6 DISTRICT DAY Wednesday January 6, 2016 • Cayman Compass District Days Sister Islands 50 Years ago: golden wedding anniversary celebrations In the Jan. 5, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, under the head- line, “Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Foster celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversary,” Cayman Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch wrote: “‘This is your life, Mother and Dad, 1915 to 1965.’ “This is the title of the Golden Wedding Anniversary Album com- piled by the eight children, Charles, Audrey, Floyd, Berkley, Zeta, Ouida, Dennis and Trevor, of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Foster of Groveland. “It was on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at 5 p.m., 50 years ago, that Arnold Foster and Miss Agatha Van de Sande stood together in her moth- er’s yard at the Creek and were joined in holy matri- mony by Rev. J.J. Griffiths. The bridegroom recalls today that during the years they have sought nothing for themselves, at no time either went back on the other; they have fought to train their children and today they thank God for each and pray that each may receive a blessing for honoring their parents. “On Wednesday last, their children honoured them with a 50th Wedding Anniversary Buffet Supper at their home at which were present some 86 rela- tives and friends sharing in their joy and thanksgiving. The hour set was 6 p.m. A hooded candle glowing on either side of the begin- ning of the walkway showed the path to the door where Nancy Kirkconnell and Sherry Foster, little grand- daughters, stood to wel- come the guests with ‘Good Evening’, and ‘We’re glad you could come.’ Three older cousins, Jenny and Charles Foster and Moses Kirkconnell, invited them to sign the register. The wed- ding cake was simply 50. “The toast to the couple was proposed by Mr. Charles Y. Briggs whose reminis- cences paid tribute to the Foster family, stating that it was they who caused him to remain. In congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Foster, he said it took a long time to do all the wonderful things they had accomplished – building ships, a home, opening a shop – so many things and not least the achievement in which he has been associated with Mr. Cappi, [of] Cayman Brac Power and Light Co., Ltd. He asked God’s blessing on them both. “Mr. Dennis Foster ex- tended a warm and cordial welcome on behalf of his brothers and sisters, saying, ‘On this very special occa- sion we are happy to see you participating and sharing our joy.’ To the youngest, Trevor, was given the privi- lege of presenting their gift, a gilt wall plate inscribed ‘To our parents on their golden wedding anniversary, Dec. 29, 1965 with love and ap- preciation. Your children.’ He expressed grateful aware- ness of God’s rich blessing that the family should all be alive and be all together. “Mr. Arnold (Cappi) Foster told how happy he was to see everyone. Relating the distances from which his children had come, and their coopera- tion with Dennis to build up this anniversary celebra- tion among themselves he said, ‘My wife and myself are glad that they have af- forded us this day – the sac- rifices are too great for us. For themselves it was won- derful, – yes! This brought them together, I say it is God’s blessing!’ And he thanked his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law to whom they owe so much. Rev. Randall Douglas blessed the cake and supper followed. “Guests sat around can- dlelit tables out of doors. The gifts were beautiful and relatives and friends will forgive the special men- tion of an ultra-modern re- frigerator from the children and grandchildren, weather plaque from Edmund and Lewis Foster (bros.) and their families (U.S.A), and a reproduction of their wed- ding picture from Mrs. Melita Rivers, (sister U.S.A.). “For the family the eve- ning was replete with that deep joy of kindred hearts beating as one.” Cayman Brac’s oldest resident laid to rest Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Myrtle Jane Brown, Cayman Brac’s oldest resi- dent, passed away on Dec. 15, 2015. She was 101. Affectionately known to all as Aunt Dean, Mrs. Brown, the grandmother of Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, was laid to rest on Dec. 27. Two hundred and fifty people, including Premier Alden McLaughlin, digni- taries and other officials at- tended the service for her life at the Aston Rutty Centre on Cayman Brac. At the service, Ms. O’Connor-Connolly shared Mrs. Brown’s life story, noting that her grandmother had at- tended the Baptist Church at the Creek with her parents Eli and Mary Jane Scott ever since she was a toddler. Growing up on the Brac in those days, there was no opportunity for Mrs. Brown to pursue secondary or ter- tiary education. However, she did attend the little Creek School under the direction of Teacher Hill and throughout her life never hesitated to share what she had learned with others. In 1931, she married Lewin Astor Brown, and the couple had six children, Chestly, Valdalee, Annilee, Natilee, Shirleymae and Delma. Mr. Brown preceded his wife in death in 1983. “The last conversa- tion that I had with her be- fore she died, she reassured me that she was ready to meet her Jesus,” said Ms. O’Connor-Connolly. “I kissed her forehead and said ‘Aunt Dean, you want me to come back tomorrow?’ She tightly squeezed my hand and said, ‘Oh yes, when you come back I will kiss you twice as much.’ That was our Aunt Dean,” she said. She recalled how Mrs. Brown loved to dress up in her younger days. Ms. O’Connor-Connolly said for a long time her grandmother had a new dress made every week for Sunday Church. As they grew older, when she would request a new dress, she would specify that it should not be one for old people, because she was not yet old. “Aunt Dean was a very kind and generous lady, an excellent cook, baker and homemaker. She was not a lady of great wealth but she was satisfied with what she possessed and was very eager to share it with all,” said Ms. O’Connor Connolly. “We will all miss Aunt Dean as her passing is a colossal loss to our family, but we take comfort that she has the promise of eternal life with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Left to mourn her passing are her chil- dren Annilee Ebanks and Shirleymae O’Connor; her sisters Rita Scott, Viola Brown and Atheida Bodden, and her sons-in-law Fritz Gayle and Reynold Ebanks; grandchildren Barry, Juliana, Jacqueline, Joyce, Donna, Patrick, Ingrid, Raymond, Tiffany, Burnard, Susan, Kirk Standford, Jeff, Maerino, Cherrylyn, Ernie, Curtis, Jareen, Jennifer, Chuck and Jessie, as well as many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, special nieces and nephews and a host of other rela- tives and friends. Myrtle Brown, with her daughters shirleymae o’Connor, left, and annilee ebanks, on her 100th birthday.Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 6, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAY District Days Sister Islands Brac character’s latest creation turning heads Ronald “Foots” Kynes, the lanky Brac resident who towers some 6 foot 8 inches, is a true Brac character. Mr. Kynes, creator among other things of the “Atlantis” under- water art installation, is an artist, builder and designer. His art pieces have elic- ited much criticism and de- bate, but have been rec- ognized in popular dive magazines worldwide, and by networks including CNN, NBC, and CBS. One of Mr. Kynes’ latest works is an art piece of two “missiles” bearing the com- munist hammer and sickle pointing offshore, a source, according to Mr. Kynes, of much speculation and, as he calls it, “scuttlebutt.” In fact, the so-called mis- siles are wing-mounted fighter jet fuel drop tanks, which Mr. Kynes picked up at a military auction in 2002. With a bit of paint and cre- ativity, he transformed them into mock missiles, in a “theme art” piece he has dedi- cated to his late “Popa.” “My father was a career military man, who was closely involved in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis,” said Mr. Kynes. “We were watching a doc- umentary on the event on the anniversary in 2002, and note he was a real ‘yes, sir, no, sir’ kind of father, and he turned to me and said, ‘Son, you never know how close you came to not waking up,’ and that was all he had to say. I dedicated this artwork, which is also kind of a joke, to him.” The joke, aside from the missiles being fake? They re- ally are aimed at the exact GPS coordinates of the White House, which was in the sights of the real Cuban mis- siles in 1962. The artwork’s realistic appearance, though, was enough to send rumors abuzz. “People here were spec- ulating they were real mis- siles which had fallen off a Russian ship heading to Cuba, and more recently, that they are really filled with dynamite, and that there was a U.S. plane flying over the Brac using infrared to check to see whether they were armed or not,” said Mr. Kynes, incredulously. He notes he always has art in the works, and his workshop currently resem- bles “an Orlando theme park,” in his words. Always open to company, Mr. Kynes warmly welcomes visitors and their accompanying criticism. “An artist creates and the public judges,” he said. “Art is art, and this particular piece is all in good fun.” Full Moon Sock Hop promises Rock ‘n’ Roll under the stars Brac residents are urged to mark their calendars for the upcoming Full Moon Sock Hop on Jan. 23, to be held at the Public Beach. Organizers say the National Trust fundraiser is becoming a popular winter event. This year, the $25 entry includes a chance to “cut the rug” to “oldies rock music,” a drink with food, and an ice cream soda bar, with additional drink tickets for soda, beer or wine avail- able for purchase at the front gate. “Our local DJ, Mark Knowlton, will also play the role of auctioneer for our live auction,” said organizer Kathleen Bodden-Harris. The auction begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include top-of-the-line fishing gear, a weekend getaway to the Wyndham Reef Resort, dive packages, a 52 inch bev- eled glass table top, and dinner for two at Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Resort, she said. The funds raised will be put toward the National Trust’s Brac land acquisition fund on the Brac. “Cayman Brac has no gov- ernment-sanctioned reserve for any native animal spe- cies or indigenous trees and plants, save that of what the National Trust has acquired,” said Ms. Bodden-Harris. “Through funds raised and generous donations from contributors, parcels of land have been set aside to allow the natural beauty of the Brac to thrive in its natural state. The benefit of our fundraisers goes directly to this cause preserving and conserving what is in- nately Cayman Brac for now and generations to follow,” she added. Ms. Bodden-Harris is ex- cited about the new outdoor venue at the beach, which dovetails with the Trust’s focus on conserving the Brac’s natural heritage. “January is typically a dry month and we count on the seasonal return of part- time residents fleeing the cold and enjoying their hol- idays in the Brac. Since the National Trust is all about the great outdoors, we count on our fundraising venues to be outdoor events,” said Ms. Bodden-Harris. “Our last winter venue at the Alexander Hotel is no longer available, there- fore, we sought the Public Beach and checking our cal- endars, we found that hol- iday weekend to also include a full moon rising in the evening.” She noted that histori- cally, the Trust’s winter fun- draisers are very well at- tended. Last year’s Winter Gala was expected to draw 100 guests, but 110 turned up. “We hope to meet or ex- ceed the same enthusiastic crowd this year,” she said. Tickets are on sale now for both the event and Split the Cash Raffle, which fea- tures a number of prizes and for which the grand prize winner does not need to be in attendance. Dress attire is “Smart Saturday Night Wear,” with pizzazz encouraged. “This is the time to dig in your closets for your old poodle skirt, biker leathers, hippie garb or your Elvis costume,” Ms. Bodden-Harris said. “And don’t forget your dancing shoes. A photogra- pher also will be on hand to take picture with a old- time rock ‘n’ roll backdrop to commemorate the occasion.” Tickets for the raffle and the event are now on sale from Trust members. For more information on the event, call 547-0892. The Brac’s ‘Foots’ is a real character. - Photos: GeorGe Nowak The artist’s mock rockets. The Brac is known for its natural beauty. Funds raised from the Full Moon Sock Hop will go towards the National Trust’s Brac land acquisition fund. National Trust land acquisitions provide reserves for the Brac’s indigenous plant and animal species, such as this brown booby with its chick.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Water Authority - Cayman REMINDER FOR LICENSED PLUMBERS Annual Plumber Licence Renewal Fees are due for 2016 All Apprentice, Journeyman and Master Plumbers must renew their licence each year. Please bring a completed renewal form and the appropriate fee to the Water Authority’s Administrative Headquarters on Red Gate Road before 31 January, 2016 to ensure your licence stays current. NOTE: Fees for 2016 Plumber Licences as per The Water Authority Regulations 2012 are as follows: Apprentice Plumber CI $20.00 per year Journeyman Plumber CI $50.00 per year Master Plumber CI $100.00 per year Plumber’s Licence Renewal Forms along with a list of all currently renewed Licensed Plumbers can be found on our website at www.waterauthority.ky. All non-Caymanian applicants must include a copy of a valid CI Work Permit. For further information please contact the Plumbers’ Examination Board Secretary at 949 - 2837 ext. 2001. The owners of the hotel have previously been served with abatement or- ders by the Department of Environmental Health to clean up parts of the site. They have complied with some, but not all of those orders, according to pre- vious Cayman Compass in- terviews with Department of Environmental Health staff. The new notice, signed by Director of Planning Haroon Pandohie, requires the owners to dispose of all re- fuse, debris, garbage, timber, bulk waste and broken glass at the site. The owners are also in- structed to secure the swim- ming pool area and empty it of rainwater, demolish di- lapidated structures and “improve the physical dis- repair and visual appear- ance of the buildings.” They are also required to main- tain the property on a reg- ular basis. Failure to comply, the notice says, is a crim- inal offense carrying fines of up to $25,000 per day on conviction. would do the same for us,” Mr. Augsbach said. He said several people had also given chase and helped him detain the thief. “It was a group effort between me and that van driver and I was lucky to be the one that took him down,” he said. “I think you could see from the way people re- acted that type of thing isn’t tolerated in Cayman. It is a safe place to come and you don’t see crimes like that too often. “I have been to many beautiful locations in the Caribbean, but you don’t get the same sense of security and safety anywhere else.” He said the incident had not changed his opinion. “If anything, it is one less bad guy to worry about.” Al Handell Pearson, 42, admitted the theft when he appeared in Summary Court on Monday. The court heard that the victim, a cruise ship passenger, had been swim- ming in the ocean with her husband when they spotted the man rifling through their things. They also gave chase and raised the alarm. The court heard he had told police that he had not eaten for three days and had snatched the bag “against my better judgment.” Mr. Augsbach, an of- ficer in Suffolk County, New York, said he felt bad for the man if he really had not eaten in days. “I have been a police officer for 30 years and when someone is poor and hungry, I do feel for them,” he said. “I told him if he had asked me for a few dollars, I would have given it to him. I’m sure everyone on the beach feels the same.” drives in a second search of Admiral Administration’s of- fices in July 2015. The at- torney suggested that, aside from whatever was copied and preserved by police, other documentation on the drives had effectively been lost. Some of those records, he suggested, may well have been used by Watson’s de- fense, even if police investiga- tors and prosecutors had no use for them. Both the IT director for the former Admiral Administration (now Maitland) and a Cayman Islands government com- puter forensics expert tes- tified Monday that they did not know what had become of the jump drives. The government computer forensics expert who testified, Anhill Carsana, said Monday that he was told the jump drives had been returned to Watson, but Mr. Burke said that was not the case. It was not expressly stated during Tuesday’s pro- ceedings how the other in- formation contained on the seven jump drives had been recovered. Watson, 45, faces six charges in relation to cor- ruption offenses connected to the December 2010 award of a public hospital contract which the Crown alleges Watson directed as chairman of the Health Services Authority board of directors. Watson’s associate Jeffrey Webb is also charged with aiding and abetting Watson. Webb is not facing trial in the Cayman Islands. Watson’s former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez has also been charged with one count in relation to the case. Both Watson and Rodriguez have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. The prosecution’s case had been expected to end this week, with the defense opening its case by putting Watson on the stand on Jan. 11. However, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran said he could not confirm whether the ear- lier time line would hold, given Tuesday’s delays. Vacationing US police officer tackles beach thief CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vacationing New York police officer Ken Augsbach, in white T-shirt, and a tour bus driver restrain a thief after catching him snatching a bag at Smith Cove. Brac hotel owners told to clean up site CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CAREPAY TRIAL Potential new evidence delays trial CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The property now lies empty and abandoned. The Divi Tiara hotel, which closed in 2006, was badly damaged in Hurricane Paloma in 2008. – PHOTOS: ED BEATY The owners have been ordered to demolish the dilapidated building.9 WORLD&REGIONAL Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 6, 2016 DOUBLE Your Advertising Impact with these two must-read publications PACKAGED TOGETHER ADVERTISE IN BOTH EDITIONS AND RECEIVE A 50% DISCOUNT ON YOUR AD IN THE SECOND PUBLICATION AD SPACE DEADLINE Monday, January 11 FOR ADVERTISING CALL 949-5111 EMAIL sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Obama thrusts gun control debate into 2016 campaign WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is making good on his pledge to politicize gun violence. The package of gun- control executive actions Obama formally announced Tuesday has pushed the con- tentious issue to the fore- front of the 2016 presiden- tial campaign, just weeks from the Feb. 1 Iowa cau- cuses. While Republicans and Democrats are deeply divided on the issue, both parties see Obama’s actions as an op- portunity to generate enthu- siasm among primary voters. But in a general election, the gun debate becomes a blurrier political proposi- tion. Public opinion polls show Americans overwhelm- ingly support expanding background checks for gun purchases, but are more di- vided on the broader ques- tion of stricter gun laws. The gun-control advocacy move- ment has gained wealthy backers, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but the National Rifle Association remains one of the most dominant forces in American politics. “It’s an issue that both [sides] are really going to want to talk about for the next couple of months, but I don’t know how much they’re going to want to talk about it in the fall,” Matthew Dowd, a former political adviser to President George W. Bush, said of the eventual presiden- tial nominees. For now, Obama’s gun ac- tions are a central topic as candidates crisscross Iowa, New Hampshire and other early voting states. GOP contenders promise that if they get elected, they’ll swiftly repeal Obama’s ac- tions, which include steps to expand background checks for gun purchases. GOP front-runner Donald Trump vowed to “un-sign” the presi- dent’s measures. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said that on his first day in the Oval Office, “those orders are gone.” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that while Obama may currently hold the power of the pen, “my pen has got an eraser.” On the Democratic side, front-runner Hillary Clinton has unveiled her own pro- posals for gun-control ex- ecutive actions and enthusi- astically endorsed Obama’s measures even before the pres- ident’s official announcement. “I know that a Republican president would delight in the very first day, reversing ex- ecutive orders that President Obama has made,” Clinton told voters in New Hampshire. The cornerstone of Obama’s executive actions is a background check re- quirement for guns pur- chased from dealers even if they’re bought online or at gun shows. The new federal guidance aims to narrow the so-called gun show loophole that allows some purchases to occur without a back- ground check. In announcing the ac- tions in the early days of 2016, Obama is purposely thrusting the issue into the center of the presidential campaign. As he foreshadowed his executive or- ders last fall, Obama said ad- dressing gun violence is “some- thing we should politicize.” The emphasis on gun issues marks a shift for Democrats, who have shied away from the subject in recent presidential elec- tions, not only because of the NRA, but also due to competing views within the party. Clinton and Obama both treaded carefully on guns when they faced off in the 2008 Democratic pri- mary, and the president did not attempt to pass con- gressional legislation until the shooting of elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, which occurred about a month after his 2012 re-election. Democratic losses throughout the South, however, have narrowed the number of elected officials in the party who oppose gun restrictions. Gun-control backers also point to shifts in public opinion and the rise of well-funded advocacy groups as reasons Democratic candidates can campaign on the topic with fewer electoral risks. Actions to expand back- ground checks, for example, have broad public support. A CBS/New York Times poll conducted in October found that more than 90 percent of Americans favor requiring background checks on all po- tential gun buyers. Bloomberg has pumped millions of dollars into gun- control advocacy efforts, in- cluding donations to can- didates who support more restrictive measures. An or- ganization founded by former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was badly wounded in a 2011 shooting, also has raised millions to promote gun control measures. “There’s more organiza- tion, there’s more capacity, there’s more money,” said Kristin Goss, a public policy professor at Duke University who has studied gun-control advocacy groups. But asked whether the new organiza- tions can succeed in matching the energy and organizational power of the NRA in a general election, Goss said, “That’s an open question.” Surveys have shown that gun-control supporters lag those who favor fewer restric- tions on most measures of po- litical activism. During the failed legislative efforts in 2013, the NRA mobilized its mem- bers to flood Capitol Hill with phone calls and letters urging lawmakers to oppose the White House-backed measures. Still, Republicans know that while opposing nearly all restrictions on gun laws may be the only acceptable position for many GOP pri- mary voters, it could be less attractive in a general elec- tion. Associated Press-GfK polls conducted in October and December found 58 per- cent of Americans favor stricter gun laws. That’s up slightly from 52 percent two years ago. President Barack Obama is making good on his pledge to politicize gun violence. The package of gun-control executive actions Obama announced Tuesday has pushed the contentious issue to the forefront of the 2016 presidential campaign. – Photo: APNext >