SPORTS | Page 17 Spieth SendS Statement aS big aS hiS 8-Shot win High of 87 Low of 77 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. ediTORial | Page 4 american gunS, Jamaican violence, cayman crime ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – tueSday January 12, 2016 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM CarePay trial Prosecutors detail Payments to Watson from ais-carePay account brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Attempting to prove Cayman Islands busi- nessman Canover Watson personally benefited from the CarePay hospital patient swipe-card contract, Crown prosecutors on Monday de- tailed a number of payments made to Watson or his relatives from the bank account set up to handle profits from that contract. The payments were all “admitted” – meaning prosecutors and defense lawyers agreed they were correct. Watson is accused of using his position as former chairman of the Health Services Authority board to di- rect the award of the five-year, US$13 million hospital system deal to a local company, AIS Cayman Ltd., which he and business partner Jeffrey Webb allegedly controlled via the use of “sham” frontmen directors. Prosecutors stated that between Dec. 23, 2010, when the account was opened, and July 2013, Webb was the sole signatory to the Fidelity Bank account that AIS Cayman Ltd. used. Webb did allow certain other in- dividuals to conduct transactions from the account on his behalf. Fidelity Bank never received any com- plaints that suggested any payment or transfer from the AIS Cayman account was fraudulent, prosecutors said. An amount of US$100,000 was trans- ferred from the AIS Cayman account in two separate payments between December 2010 and January 2011 to another company, P&W Distributors, which Watson co-owned. A few days after those transfers were made, the money went to another account held by Stars align for cayFilm Star Wars cast and crew lined up for July event JameS whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cast and crew from the “Star Wars” movie franchise have been lined up for this year’s film festival in Grand Cayman. Tony Mark, director of the CayFilm Cayman International Festival, said it was a major coup to get such big names to the event in its second year. He added, “We’re keeping the names of the individuals coming under wraps for now, but we will say that some of the names will be totally unbelievable.” One name that has been confirmed is that of producer Robert Watts, who worked on all three of the original movies. Mr. Watts, who also worked on the “Indiana Jones” franchise, will receive a lifetime achievement award at the event over the July holiday weekend. The “Star Wars” connection is a timely boost for the festival, given the popularity PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » tony Mark, director of the CayFilm Festival, says cast and crew of ‘Star Wars’ are expected to attend the festival in July. – PHoto: taneos ramsay PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Pump prices average below $4; lower power bills likely brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Average fuel prices on Grand Cayman last week fell below the $4 per gallon mark for the first time in more than two years, according to data provided by the Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate. The average price per gallon of reg- ular, unleaded self-serve gasoline was $3.93 on Jan. 8. The petrol price drop will not only affect drivers filling up their vehicles, but also residents paying to turn on their lights and run the air conditioning in their homes. The average price of diesel fuel per gallon fell even more than the av- erage price of unleaded gasoline, to $3.90 per gallon as of Jan. 8, the inspectorate reported. In addition to the price drop, a government-agreed reduction in stamp duty on diesel fuel imports for Caribbean Utilities Company took ef- fect this month. The previous rate of 50 cents per gallon imported was lowered to 25 cents at the start of the year. The import duty rate charged to CUC has been lowered from 75 cents per gallon since late 2014. Even without the additional duty reduction and considering higher per gallon prices for diesel fuel, CUC re- ported a significant drop in consumer prices as of its last quarterly report in the fall of 2015. The utilities company reported in November that it was paying 37 percent less for fuel than it did at the same time Gas prices are continuing to fall in Cayman. - PHoto: taneos ramsay2 REGIONAL NEWS Tuesday January 12, 2016 • Cayman Compass SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - THE HATEFUL EIGHT (R) 1:00 I 4:30 I 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 JOY (PG13) 1:10 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:55 STAR WARS VII 3D (PG13) 12:40 2D I 3:40 I 6:45 2D I 9:50 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS ROAD CHIP (PG) 1:15 I 3:40 I 7:10 I 9:30 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Ringling circus elephants to retire in May ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is ending its el- ephant acts a year and a half early, and will retire all of its touring elephants in May. The move comes amid in- creasing scrutiny of circus elephant acts with local governments passing “anti- circus” and “anti-elephant” ordinances in response to concerns over animal cruelty. The circus’s parent com- pany, Feld Entertainment, told The Associated Press exclusively that all of the iconic elephants will be permanently retired to the company’s 200- acre Center for Elephant Conservation, located be- tween Orlando and Tampa. The company announced in March that it would re- tire the full herd to the center by 2018. But once offi- cials began planning details, they realized “we could actu- ally do this a lot sooner” be- cause building the new struc- tures to house the retiring elephants didn’t take as long as they originally thought, said Alana Feld, Ringling’s executive vice president and show producer. It costs about $65,000 yearly to care for each elephant, Feld said. Eleven elephants cur- rently tour with the circus. “They’ll be joining the rest of the herd,” Feld said. She’s part of the family that owns Feld Entertainment, which owns the largest herd of Asian elephants in North America. In addi- tion to the elephants still touring, 29 of the animals are on the property now, and two are on breeding loans to zoos, Feld said. Animal rights groups on Monday applauded Ringling’s new time line and announcement. “Like the elephants them- selves, it had outsized im- portance because of the sym- bolic value of the enterprise,” wrote Wayne Pacelle, presi- dent and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “Ringling had been one of the biggest defenders of this kind of archaic animal ex- ploitation, and the imminent end of its traveling elephant acts signaled that even one of the most tough-minded and hardened animal-use com- panies now recognized that the world is changing and it had to adapt.” Elephant acts have been showcased by Ringling for more than a century and have often been featured on its posters. But because so many cities and counties have passed “anti-circus” and “anti-elephant” ordinances, it became difficult to orga- nize tours of three traveling circuses to 115 cities each year, Feld Entertainment CEO Kenneth Feld said last year. Fighting legisla- tion in each jurisdiction is expensive, he said. Los Angeles and Oakland prohibited the use of bull- hooks by elephant trainers and handlers last April. The city of Asheville, North Carolina, also nixed wild or exotic animals from per- forming in the munici- pally owned, 7,600-seat U.S. Cellular Center. Ringling’s new show will begin in July without the giant pachyderms. “We’re looking at a lot of new ways of doing things,” Feld said. She said the retired ele- phants at the CEC will also be part of cancer research. Cancer is much less common in elephants than in humans, even though the big animals’ bodies have many more cells. That’s a paradox known among scientists, and now researchers think they may have an explanation – one they say might someday lead to new ways to protect people from cancer. A young Asian elephant named April belonging to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus plays in the sand in her enclosure outside the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The circus is ending its elephant acts early, and will retire the animals in May. - PHOTO: AP SAudi PriSOner AT GuAnTAnAmO releASed AfTer 14 yeArS MIAMI (AP) – A Saudi pris- oner at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who authorities said was a re- cruiter and fighter for al- Qaida has been sent back to his homeland, the Pentagon said Monday amid a wave of releases from the de- tention center. Muhammed Abd Al- Rahman Al-Shamrani was among the first prisoners taken to the U.S. base in Cuba when it opened in January 2002 to hold sus- pected enemy combatants. He had long been deemed too dangerous to release even as most of the prisoners from Saudi Arabia were sent home. A profile of al-Shamrani first released by the Pentagon in 2014 said he “almost cer- tainly remains committed to supporting extremist causes, and has continued to incite other detainees against the detention staff at Guantanamo.” His attorney, Martha Rayner, had said that the allegations against him were no more serious than prisoners who had already been released. His case was reviewed again last year by a govern- ment board amid an effort by President Barack Obama to re- duce the Guantanamo prison population and move the re- mainder to the U.S. The board concluded that the Saudi se- curity measures and rehabil- itation program for militants are adequate to minimize the risk of him taking part in ex- tremist activities. “Mr. al-Shamrani looks forward to participating in the Saudi reintegration pro- gram, reuniting with his family and establishing a peaceful and productive life in his home country,” said Rayner, professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York. Al-Shamrani is the fourth of 17 prisoners expected to be released this month from Guantanamo. The prison now holds 103 men, including more than 40 cleared for release. U.S. military guards walk within Camp Delta military-run prison, at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba. - PHOTO: AP PuerTO ricO’S criSiS THreATenS TO cuT GAS, POwer SuPPlieS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s government and some institutions face a worsening cash crunch that threatens to cut off their access to gasoline and electricity amid the island’s economic crisis, officials said Monday. The U.S. territory reached a tentative deal late last week with Total Petroleum Puerto Rico Corp. after the company warned it would no longer supply state vehicles with gasoline because of the gov- ernment’s $16 million debt, said Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for the General Services Administration. The deal is good only if the government makes a $3 million payment on Monday and another $4 million payment before month’s end, he said. Puerto Rico’s heavily in- debted public power com- pany also announced it would cut electricity to three hospitals and clinics this week because they have not paid their multimillion- dollar bills. Jose Daniel Echevarria, a spokesman with the Electric Power Authority, said that cuts in service can be avoided only if the hospitals and clinics agree to a payment plan in upcoming days. The company already cut off power to the gov- ernment’s Highway and Transportation Authority last month because of un- paid bills. Service was re- stored when a payment plan was implemented. The island’s worsening financial situation comes as Puerto Rico struggles through nine years of eco- nomic stagnation and faces $72 billion in public debt that the governor says is unpayable and needs restructuring. “We’re already seeing the first consequences of this situation,” Public Affairs Secretary Jesus Manuel Ortiz said at a press conference on Monday. “If we don’t ad- dress the reality of this crisis, it will only worsen.” Ortiz renewed the gov- ernment’s plea for the U.S. Congress to give Puerto Rico access to some sort of bankruptcy mechanism. The government already faces its first lawsuit over how it has diverted funds to meet certain bond payments as its liquidity dwindles. Members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources are scheduled to talk about Puerto Rico’s economic problems on Tuesday. U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, recently pledged the House will come up this year with “a respon- sible solution” for the is- land’s debt problems. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing an appeal on a ruling that barred Puerto Rico from giving munici- palities the power to declare bankruptcy.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday January 12, 2016 FIND YOUR DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE OVER 10,000 CARS IN STOCK Tel : +81 42 440 3440 | Email : top@beforward.jp www.beforward.jp Shipped to Cayman Islands GGeorge Town McTaggart makes it big with band Transviolet Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com A musician with Caymanian heritage is in the spotlight after per- forming with her band on an American television show last week. Sarah McTaggart, who graced many an open mic stage at local venues when she resided in Grand Cayman, performed with her Los Angeles-based electro- pop band Transviolet on the “Late Late Show with James Corden” on Jan. 7. Ms. McTaggart, a singer and lyricist for her band, is the daughter of local busi- nessman and musician Steve McTaggart and niece of local musician Mark McTaggart. In addition to playing local open mics, Ms. McTaggart performed at the 2010 Cayman Culture Jam, the Hope for Haiti Concert, and for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’s 2009 telethon. She dreamed of making it big in the music industry as she performed at var- ious venues in the Cayman Islands, and it appears Ms. McTaggart is well on her way to stardom as her band gar- ners rave reviews from fans, critics, and fellow musicians. On July 16, Transviolet released its first song, “Girls Your Age.” The same day, American pop star Katy Perry tweeted praise for the band to her 72.5 million fol- lowers, catapulting the song to a No. 1 spot on the charts of influential music blog Hype Machine. A week later, One Direction member Harry Styles tweeted the lyrics of “Girls Your Age” to his 25.6 million followers. Given such high praise for the song, it’s no surprise that the band chose to per- form the hit during their first big television performance. The tune has been streamed more than two million times on Spotify, and other songs by the band are gaining at- tention, too – “Bloodstream” has been played more than a million times on Spotify, and “New Bohemia” and “Night Vision” have been played more than 500,000 times. The four-piece band’s sound has been compared to other synth-pop musicians, such as Lorde, Lana del Rey and Halsey. Transviolet is signed to Epic Records and has an EP available on iTunes. Forecasters predict higher temps, rainfall in first half of 2016 Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Weather forecasters pre- dict the next six months will be warmer and wetter than usual in Cayman and across much of the region, due in large part to the con- tinuing El Niño warming the Pacific Ocean, according to the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum. December 2015 was one of the wettest on record, with more than 5 inches of rain through the month, according to the Cayman Islands Weather Service. The 30-year average for December rainfall is about 2.8 inches. Last year’s rainfall pat- terns were almost the op- posite of an average year, with very little rain in July through October, and heavy rains in November that almost doubled the 30-year average. Predictions from the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum call for higher than normal rainfall over the coming months in Cayman, Cuba, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. Regional forecasters predict less rain in the leeward and southern Caribbean islands, continuing a drought that has left much of the area dry over the past year. Forecasters with the Climate Forum say the lower rainfall in the eastern and southern Caribbean is due directly to El Niño. For Cayman and its neighbors, reduced winds in the upper atmosphere will likely lead to stronger rainstorms and increased rainfall over the coming months. Most of the region will likely see temperatures higher than normal, ac- cording to forecasters, with the eastern Caribbean states seeing the warmest temper- atures. Cayman will likely see above-normal tem- peratures for the first six months of 2016, the Climate Forum notes. According to data from Cayman’s weather service, 2015 was not a typical year for rainfall in the region. September and October are typically the rainiest months for the islands, with a 30- year average of more than 8 inches of rain in each month. But last year only a fraction of the expected rain was re- corded in those two months. Last year was the driest July on record, with 1.6 inches of rain, far from the average 5.8 inches the is- lands normally see, ac- cording to rainfall data dating back to 1957 from the Weather Service. August did not quite set a record for the least rainfall. About 1.3 inches fell in August 2015, the second- driest August on record after 2009, when only about half an inch of rain fell during the month. The av- erage rainfall for August is about 5.9 inches. The trend turned around for November and December, typically drier months, with almost double the average rainfall for each month. November had more than 11 inches of rain and December had more than 5 inches. Despite the late rains, Cayman is almost 10 inches of rainfall below the 30-year annual average of about 56 inches per year. December 2015 was one of the wettest on record, with more than 5 inches of rain through the month, according to the Cayman Islands Weather Service. The 30-year average for December rainfall is about 2.8 inches. Sarah McTaggart performs with her band Transviolet on the ‘Late Late Show with James Corden.’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” Last week we were browsing through editions of newspapers in our region, as we do on a regular basis, when the following editorial caught our eye: “Obama’s gun-control plan doesn’t go far enough.” The column goes on to discuss “exasperation with America’s obsession with arms that has helped cement it as the most dangerous developed country in the world” … “the wave of mass shootings that have flooded the streets of America with blood” and so forth. While somewhat hyperbolic, the statements in the column constitute, more or less, fair comment — and under normal circumstances would not arrest our attention. Except for one thing: The source of the edi- torial, which decries the “crescendo of gunfire from assault rifles and modified handguns across the heart- land,” is none other than the Jamaica Gleaner. The Gleaner, of course, is the flagship newspaper of our dear colonial cousin to the southeast — a vibrant nation, rich in culture and natural resources; a beau- tiful island that thousands of our local residents still call “home;” and, statistically speaking, one of the most violent places on the planet. Coincidentally, in Monday’s Compass we published a story about a jump in murders in Jamaica last year, bringing the country’s homicide rate up to about 45 slayings per 100,000 people. For the record, that’s about 10 times as high as the murder rate in the U.S. and three times the homicide rate in Chicago (one of the “murder capitals” of the U.S.), whose population of 2.7 million people is roughly equivalent to that of Jamaica. For the record, Jamaica is an annual fixture the rankings of the world’s most dangerous countries. Those numbers, of course, are not surprising. We mention them not to disparage the country of Jamaica, whose history is intertwined with ours in so many ways, nor even primarily to point out the irony of the Gleaner’s editorial condemning gun violence in the far safer country of the U.S. If that was all the editorial said, we probably would have raised our eyebrows and moved on, without any comment of our own. However, the second half of the editorial goes on to blame the ubiquity of guns in the U.S. for the prevalence of gun violence in Jamaica. “The U.S. government ought to recognize that its porous borders and lax security regime have been allies in the internationalization of American crime, with crippling consequences to Jamaica and other Third World coun- tries that do not have the fiscal capacity or strong gov- ernance infrastructure to stem the tide” … With a few pen strokes, the editorial board of the Gleaner substitutes the reality of homegrown violence in its gang-infested country, perpetrated by Jamai- cans against Jamaicans, with the false image of an American insurgency. People in Jamaica blaming Americans for gun violence in Jamaica is just as nonsensical as people in Cayman blaming Jamaicans for gun violence in Cayman … which, as it so happens, people in Cayman do all the time. And that is the reason for our editorial — not to criti- cize the writings of another publication but to illustrate an error in thinking that is all too common (in Cayman, Jamaica and across the world) and, yes, dangerous. In Jamaica — and to a much lesser extent in Cayman — the crime rate is a local problem — and the eradication of it is a local responsibility. Blaming others is a rhetorical diversion, not a practical solution. American guns, Jamaican violence, Cayman crime Tuesday January 12, 2016 • Cayman COmpass Use ‘EU reform’ to reform UK Marc chaMpion Last week Britain’s David Cameron made a rare visit – for a Western leader – to Hungary’s pa- riah-like Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Cameron can’t be picky: He needs all the friends he can get to se- cure agreement for the “fun- damental” change to the EU he has promised Britons so they can vote to stay in the bloc in a referendum. Reaching a deal next month as planned now ap- pears to hinge on Cameron’s demand for a four-year delay before new EU arrivals can claim welfare benefits in Britain. He has already con- ceded that he’ll have to com- promise: Outright discrimi- nation against EU citizens won’t be accepted by Poland, or even Hungary – no matter how cloyingly helpful Orban sought to appear on Friday. So Cameron will have to re- form Britain at the same time he reforms the EU. That’s an idea worth exploring more. There are many reasons why host nations are dis- turbed by immigration and, in Britain, one of these is a sense of unfairness. It seems unfair that foreigners should be able to come to Britain to claim benefits without having paid tax there first; un- fair that low-skilled British workers should face competi- tion from illegal immigrants willing to work under the table; unfair that schools and hospitals should suddenly be overwhelmed, extending waiting times and class sizes for locals. I’m with the FT’s Martin Wolf in thinking that the whole renegotiation is a cha- rade. But why not use it as an occasion to fix some of these very real U.K. problems, which aren’t even just about intra-EU migration? The way Britain’s wel- fare system is structured is indeed uniquely accommo- dating for immigrants. It is the only nation in the western EU (to which 98 percent of intra-EU migrants go) that doesn’t require people to pay into social security insurance funds, or simply work, for a given period of time before they can claim unemploy- ment and associated housing benefits. It hands out child benefit in cash. It offers tax credits to top up the incomes of low paid workers. And none of this is conditioned on prior work. The net result is that Britain’s working poor re- ceive a top up of 82 percent of their earned income from the government, one of the highest levels in the EU. That makes Britain one of the best places in the bloc to be poor and working. Reportedly, a compromise is being discussed in the EU under which everyone in Britain would have to be res- ident four years as an adult to receive benefits. The 18 to 22 year-old Briton who loses out from the change would be compensated in a way that doesn’t break EU law (a typical EU fudge). Why not? Cameron has been talking since 2012 about removing the right to unemployment and housing benefits from 16 to 24 year olds, so youngsters don’t start out their careers on welfare, but have to “earn or learn.” Indeed, why not go fur- ther and create a partially in- surance-based system a little more like those on the conti- nent, so that tax-payers feel a greater connection between what they put in and their own potential good? That might also help with labor mobility, making people more willing to risk change. Britain shouldn’t lose the positive as- pects of its welfare system – its focus on the poor and in- centivizing work – but there’s room for change. Similarly, in 2006, former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government introduced an identity card to U.K. residents for the first time, arguing that this would – among other things – make it pos- sible for the government to more effectively inspect em- ployers to ensure they aren’t using illegal immigrants at exploitative rates of pay. One of the first things Cameron did on coming to power was to abolish the ID cards, which conserva- tives in particular resented as a breach of privacy. Never mind the contradiction of that opposition from a nation that accepts being the most watched (on CCTV security cameras) in the democratic world; they won’t be revived by Cameron. He could, however, rein- troduce an ID card for non- EU passport holders, which employers must have on re- cord, ready for inspection, for those they hire. Properly used, that could give an im- portant sense that control and fairness are being intro- duced to the system. One could say the same of housing, schools and hos- pitals. Much resentment of immigrants comes from the perception that they are squeezing locals out of scarce housing and school places, and extending waiting times for medical treatment. Some proposals have been made to boost central funding for local authorities that receive most immigrants. The solution to these problems clearly can’t be found just by reforming the EU. Fixing them requires fi- nally doing what’s needed to unblock Britain’s planning system and devolve control over schools and hospitals so that local authorities with better knowledge of popu- lation growth patterns can plan for expansion – some- thing at which the present centrally-directed system fails abysmally. The reason these things aren’t happening, or at best slowly and partially, is that they are difficult. And even if achieved, they wouldn’t pro- vide the political frisson of forcing the EU to mend its ways, which is what Cameron wants to help him win the referendum to keep Britain in Europe. Indeed, the irony of changing Britain for its own benefit is that some measures would make it look more like its continental EU neighbors. Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs for Bloomberg View. © 2016, Bloomberg View A big test for Venezuela’s opposition BlooMBerg View editorial Board The newly elected coali- tion that was now in charge of Venezuela’s congress rep- resents more than 20 par- ties, but they share three big goals: freeing political prisoners, healing the coun- try’s wounded economy, and ultimately getting rid of President Nicolas Maduro. All three objectives are worthwhile, but if the coali- tion moves too rashly, it will risk driving Venezuela further into chaos. A flat-out push for Maduro’s ouster is likely to backfire. For one thing, the opposition itself is di- vided over the strategy. And Maduro, with the courts in his pocket, is well positioned to blunt it. He has already sought to weaken the new legislature with a flurry of decrees and legal challenges. At best, if the coalition succeeds in forcing Maduro from office, Venezuela would remain divided along the same lines that have been drawn for decades. At worst, it would provoke civil unrest by the “colectivos,” the armed militias that late President Hugo Chavez nurtured to de- fend his toxic populism. There’s no doubt Maduro and the other standard- bearers of Chavismo have turned the country with the world’s biggest oil re- serves into its worst eco- nomic performer, with chronic shortages of basic goods and medicine and the world’s second-highest ho- micide rate. Creeping autoc- racy has swallowed the ju- diciary and undermined the free press. High-ranking offi- cials have been implicated in drug dealing. And Venezuela’s foreign policy has devolved into picking territorial fights with its neighbors and giving comfort to Syria, Iran, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba. But the new lawmakers will be more successful if they move patiently and with con- sensus. Freeing those impris- oned for their political beliefs, unmuzzling the press, and re- leasing reliable economic and other data will help to stoke healthy public debate. What most Venezuelans want, however, is a func- tioning economy. Sadly, Maduro’s recent cabinet re-shuffle will not make achieving that any easier: He just appointed an economics minister who believes that Venezuela’s record-breaking inflation does not exist “in real life” and is instead caused by speculation and hoarding. Faced with such nonsense, Venezuela’s new legislators should spend less time re- moving portraits of Maduro and Chavez from the halls of the National Assembly and more time offering common- sense solutions to Venezuela’s deep economic problems. Venezuela’s neighbors and friends can help by holding Maduro to strict account, as some are already doing. The U.S., for its part, should make clear that it is prepared to investigate allegations of drug dealing and corrup- tion in Venezuela, and to im- pose new sanctions on those Venezuelan officials who sub- vert democratic processes, human rights and freedom of the press. In December’s elections, Venezuelan voters clearly chose to turn away from the Chavez era. The people they voted for should now have the power and the freedom to make that change – and the patience to do so without pro- voking a destructive backlash. © 2016, Bloomberg ViewThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 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 January 12, 2016 TUESDAY, JAN. 12 OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS: The public is invited to attend a meeting about overseas tertiary scholarships hosted by representatives from the Ministry of Education’s Scholarship Secretariat. 5:30–7 p.m. at the Town Hall in George Town. Representatives from Flagler College in St. Augustine. Florida, will be on hand to answer questions. Interested students can also register to meet privately with the Flagler College representatives from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13. To register, email jmarino@ flagler.edu. BRAC NATIONAL TRUST: Cayman Brac Committee for the National Trust meets at 7:30 p.m. in the District Administration conference room. REVIVAL SERVICES: The West Bay Wesleyan Holiness Church continues its week of Revival Services with guest speaker Rev. Sidney Grant, president of Hope International Ministries of Hobe Sound, Florida, through Sunday, Jan. 17. All are welcome. WEDNESDAY, JAN 13 JURY DUTY: Grand Court jurors for the January to April session should report today at 2 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. The change is to accommodate the formal opening of Grand Court for 2016. Jurors in an ongoing trial will be directed by their presiding judge. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Today, Jan. 20 and 27. Visual Arts Society offers Ceramic Open Studio to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere 9 a.m.-noon at the Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle. $15 members; $25 non- members. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities are available. More information at visualartcayman@ yahoo.com. ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: The general public meeting will be at Pedro Castle, starting around 6:30 p.m. Non-members are asked to park outside and walk in. If more than 50 percent cloudy, the meeting will be canceled. Phone (not text) 925-7657 around 6 p.m. for an update if there is any uncertainty. SHAKESPEARE WORKSHOP: The Cayman Drama Society presents a workshop on Shakespearean acting techniques, 7-9 p.m. $25 for members, $40 for non-members. Space is limited. Email chairman@ cds.ky to book. THE BOOKENDS CLUB: Books & Books, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join members as they meet to review their latest pick, “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway. All are invited to share insights and impressions in an open discussion. THURSDAY, JAN. 14 ExHIBITION EN MAS’: The National Gallery holds a members’ reception, 6-8 p.m. to open the exhibition of “Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean.” This traveling exhibition explores the influences of Carnival on contemporary performance and practices internationally. Renew membership today and get first access to the exhibition. Contact on 945- 8111 or info@nationalgallery. org.ky. FRIDAY, JAN. 15 JUNIOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA: Any students age 12 or younger who play an orchestral instrument are invited to join in the Cayman Arts Festival. Rehearsals are Fridays 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the John Gray High School Music Department. Email fmcconvey@yahoo.com for more information. REGISTER FOR RED SKY: The Cayman National Cultural Foundation invites applications from visual and performing artists, filmmakers, food vendors and volunteers interested in taking part in the annual Cayfest “Red Sky at Night” event. The end of today is the registration deadline. The festival is set for Feb. 27. Download a registration form at www.artscayman. org/cayfest or contact marketcncf@candw.ky or call 949-5477 for more information. SATURDAY, JAN. 16 NEW YEAR’S SOCIAL: Caymanians Against Economic Injustice invites the community to an old- time town hall dance at the Town Hall in George Town from 7:30 p.m. All are invited to come out and enjoy an evening of Caymanian fellowship and friendship. For further information, call 917-7734 or 927-4733 or email CAEIcayman@gmail.com. MONDAY, JAN. 18 PAINTING OPEN STUDIO: Visual Arts Society offers Painting Open Studio today and next Monday to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere: 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle. $10 for members; $15 for non- members. Materials and instruction not included. For more information, contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com. TUESDAY, JAN. 19 CHAMBER COURSE: “Basics of Budgeting” by Terry Carson. Today and tomorrow 9 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $225. Future members $300. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky/ events. FIGURE PAINTING: Classes today and next Tuesday. Watler House Studio on the grounds of Pedro Castle: 7–9 p.m. This is an opportunity for artists of all levels to develop life drawing skills from real life model with instruction from a qualified art instructor. $25 per session for members; $35 for non-members. For more information, visualartcayman@yahoo. com or 546-9422. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20 DRAMA SOCIETY AGM: The Cayman Drama Society invites all members and interested parties to attend the annual general meeting at 7 p.m. Members will receive the chairman’s report, theater management report and the treasurer’s report. Members may pay their membership dues at the meeting. All interested parties are welcome to join prior to the meeting. Happy hour starts at 6 p.m. with the formal meeting at 7 p.m. FLOETRY: Books & Books, 6:30-7:30 p.m. All are invited to join poets and performers as they share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. This event is open to the public; feel free to share your own work or listen to others. THURSDAY, JAN. 21 CHAMBER COURSE: “Time Management and Productivity” by Catherine Tyson. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $150; Future members $225. Register online at www. caymanchamber.ky/events. SATURDAY, JAN. 23 BURNS SUPPER: Cayman HospiceCare hosts a Burns Supper at the Grand Old House. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased from Cayman HospiceCare at Conch Shell House on North Sound Way. MULCHING: The Department of Environmental Health will mulch Christmas trees at the Smith Road Cricket Oval at 9 a.m. and showcase a new wood grinding machine, nicknamed The Beast. Residents and children are welcome to watch the mulching process before claiming their free mulch. DEH staff asks interested persons to arrive on time in the morning and to bring their own bags and shovels. SUNDAY, JAN. 24 GARDEN CLUB FAMILY DAY IN THE PARK: The Garden Club of Grand Cayman hosts a Family Fun Day at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Games, performances, tours, local food and more. Call 925- 5531 for more information. THURSDAY, JAN. 28 BUSINESS WORKSHOP: “Social Media Tips for Micro and Small Businesses” by Cayman Islands Yellow Pages and KRyS Global. 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Free. Register online at www. caymanchamber.ky. BRAC COURT: Summary Court is held at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre from 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. SUNDAY, JAN. 31 MARITIME SCHOLARSHIP: The Maritime Authority and the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs have joined to offer a scholarship in the areas of naval architecture, marine engineering, marine survey, maritime administration and nautical studies. Applicants should be 18 or over. Consideration will be given to applicants looking at specialist maritime legal services, human resource management, accounting, information technology and other areas which support the maritime sector. Today is the deadline to apply. Information on the scholarship can be downloaded at www. cishipping.com by emailing human.resources@ cishipping.com, calling 949-8831 or visiting the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry Facebook page. HATITUDE TRUST GALA: Fundraiser for the National Trust at Grand Old House. Patrons are encouraged to dress as someone famous from history whether real or fantasy, in full regalia or just highlighted by choice of hat. Tickets for Brunch Upon a Time are available at the Trust retail store at the Dart Family Park in South Sound. Guests will enjoy unlimited bubbles and a brunch buffet. $75 for Trust members, $100 for non-members. $105 for Trust annual membership and ticket. $1,500 for corporate table. For further information or to reserve tickets email marketing@ nationaltrust.org.ky or call 749-1121. GENERAL INTEREST OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS: The application process for overseas tertiary scholarships began on Nov. 15. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31. Please visit www.education. gov.ky/scholarships to apply online. TREE MULCH: Through Friday, Jan. 22, collection containers for natural Christmas trees will be placed at 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. See Jan. 23. ADULT ART COURSES: New art courses at the National Gallery include drawing and painting, followed by batik and hatting. See www. nationalgallery.org.ky/news/ ngci2016adultcourses. CONSUMER PROTECTION: The Law Reform Commission invites comment on the discussion paper, Consumer Protection – Entrenching Consumer Supremacy in Cayman Islands Legislation. The paper can be viewed on www.lrc.gov.ky. Submissions should be emailed to cilrc@ gov.ky or sent by post or hand to the Director of the Law Reform Commission, 4th Floor, Government Administration Building, Portfolio of Legal Affairs, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 136, Grand Cayman KY1-9000. Deadline is April 29. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.compasscayman. com/caycompass/portal/ community-calendar. The public is invited to view the stars with the Astronomical Society at Pedro Castle at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.Tuesday January 12, 2016 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay 50 years ago: a peaceful Christmas, sad passings and a wedding In the Jan. 5, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay corre- spondent Leila Yates wrote: “Christmas passed qui- etly here, everyone cooper- ated and there were no ac- cidents. The Churches held some very interesting pro- grammes which were well attended. Watch night ser- vices were also held by the various churches with good attendance. “A very unusual hap- pening occurred in the dis- trict on New Year’s Day when a joint funeral for Mr. and Mrs. Azariah was held in the Pilgrim Holiness Church. Mr. Azariah died on the 31st and Mrs. Lydia in the early morning of the 1st, a few hours apart. They both died in the hospital. Mr. Azariah had an infected foot and his wife had surgery 2½ weeks ago. They both were born in 1879. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Edward Shinel, assisted by Rev. John Croft. Left to mourn their loss are Ducan, Wallace, Ackerman, Calvin and Corine, two sisters Bertha and Rhodell, and many other relatives. Their bodies were interred side by side in the N.W. Point Cemetery. “Arriving home during the holidays were Miss Adelee Ebanks who was visiting in the U.S. for eight months with her sister Glenis Nell who lives in New York, Mr. Lee Crowe who went for medical aid after receiving a severe injury to his head, Mr. Vibert Hydes who works in New York and Mr. Leroy Ebanks from New York. “At the Presbyterian Manse on Jan 1st, Mr. Robert Ebanks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Crosby Ebanks, took as his bride Miss Elmie Ruth Ebanks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dalzon Ebanks. The bride was given in marriage by Mr. Eddie Ebanks, Miss Louie Mae Ebanks was maid of honor, Miss Gay Parsons bridesmaid, Mr. Eugene Ebanks best man, Mr. Earl Ebanks groomsman. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Raymond Coke.” Presbyterian Church of Boatswain Bay celebrates 85 years Emerging from humble beginnings, the Presbyterian Church of Boatswain Bay, with its motto “Know God, Love God, Serve God,” re- cently celebrated its 85th anniversary. The church was started as a Sunday school on Nov. 23, 1930 by the late Samuel Osbert Ebanks, better known as Mr. Bertie, and his late sister Elizabeth Ebanks, known as Miss Liz. Mr. Ebanks was inspired to start the school, a very long, hot and dusty three miles on foot from West Bay, as a way to spread Christian knowledge and to serve the Presbyterian church. At that time, only a narrow winding footpath connected Boatswains Bay to West Bay, a trek groups of Boatswains Bay residents made once a week to do their Saturday shopping, and to sell or barter their produce. In 1937, the modest school, which had until then been operating under a sea grape tree on the property of Uncle Billy Allen, moved into the School House on the Hill. In 1957, the congregation moved into its own church building and in 1970 relo- cated to the current building. That move in 1970 was to make room for classes for the disabled, which was the start of the Lighthouse School. To mark the church’s 85th anniversary over the Nov. 21, 2015 weekend, church members gathered at the Centennial Towers, site of Mr. Bertie’s former home, then walked along Town Hall Road to the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church to com- memorate the journey taken in the church’s early days. The congregation also fol- lowed up with commemora- tive services and events. The founders of the church: samuel osbert ebanks, better known as Mr. Bertie, and his late sister elizabeth ebanks, known as Miss Liz. The Presbyterian Church of Boatswain Bay today.Cayman Compass • Tuesday January 12, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay Powell museum a jewel box of West Bay history AlmA Chollette achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com For Tony Powell, no item, whether outdated, unwanted or timeworn, is without value. Bernard “Tony” Powell is the owner of Powell’s Museum and Craft Shop, situated in the community of West Bay on Boggy Sand Road. The Cayman Compass recently got to the chance to catch up with the collector, and learn more about his fascinating hobby. Growing up, the young Mr. Powell was first influenced by his aunt’s salvaging of items such as coffee mills, tum- blers and clocks at her home. For years, she managed to accumulate many items, in- cluding his favorite: a cow- shaped clock. As a boy, Mr. Powell al- ways preferred the outdoors. “Daddy had a general shop. He sold all kinds of groceries, like salt beef, mackerel [and] salted bacon to varnish, paints, oils and threads. Ribbons too. Around Christmas he’d sell apples and grapes,” he said. “I would have to help around the shop, but I al- ways liked being outside. I would help him with the cows. That’s how I avoided being indoors.” Many years later, his fa- ther’s shop, formerly known as Prentice’s Shop, was trans- formed into what is now a small community museum with Powell family roots. “I first opened the mu- seum around 1990,” Mr. Powell said. “I place all my collectibles in there. The store itself is a family heirloom.” Mr. Powell first began his collection by gathering mor- tars used for pounding rice. These days, the museum, which is located next to an- other West Bay landmark, the Heritage Kitchen, fea- tures manifold items and artifacts. Cabooses and old- time washboards join an old- fashioned stove. Souvenirs and thatch brushes and everything else possibly Caymanian are on dis- play. All items have been donated, found or col- lected by Mr. Powell and other contributors. Running the shop on be- half of Mr. Powell is Rose Tatum. Ms. Tatum, who has worked at the Powell gallery for more than four years, was elated to share all that she knew about the items dis- played, and the history be- hind each. She noted the museum is divided into separate areas, showcasing domestic, seafaring, family tree and wooden craft items. “I have often heard people tell me that we hold much more items than other museums on island,” said Ms. Tatum. In the wooden craft sec- tion of the collection, items made from naseberry, cedar, jasmine and broadleaf woods are on display. The seafaring section features items like block and tackle sets, sex- tants and ship brass. The re- maining sections feature the Powell family tree and por- traits, and domestic items such as washboards, and mortars and pestles. After the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the museum closed down, but in 2011 the gallery received gov- ernment funding to carry out renovations and to upgrade what was left of the building. “I have worked in the shop ever since I left school,” said Mr. Powell, who is a re- tired construction worker. “Now I just spend most of my time up at the farm. I grow pumpkins, plantains, bananas.” After sharing some farming tips, Mr. Powell elab- orated on his inspiration for the museum. ”What really made me want to collect was seeing West Bay place second every year for [Pirates Week] Heritage Day. East End was always first. One day I made my way down there and wit- nessed how much more arti- facts they had.” He resolved to do some- thing about it. “There is nothing like this on island,” Mr. Powell con- cluded proudly. “The mu- seum is a [collection of] mem- orabilia of Cayman back in those days.” Powell’s Museum is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact 917-9120. Powell’s Museum and Craft Shop on Boggy Sand Road in West Bay. – Photos: AlAn MArkoff Bernard ‘Tony’ Powell An old corn mill and clay pot, two of the many artifacts in Powell’s Museum. One of the artifacts in Powell’s Museum is this clock, reportedly the first used in the West Bay Town Hall.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Tuesday January 12, 2016 • Cayman Compass of the latest edition of the franchise, “Episode VII, The Force Awakens,” which has been a box-office smash since just before Christmas. Mr. Mark said, “The set- ting here is more intimate than what you would find at big film conventions or premieres. We are a small island and that makes for a much more up close and personal experience with individuals who have worked on seven of the most successful films of all time, either in front of or behind the camera.” He said he was shocked at how quickly CayFilm had grown and the stars it was able to attract. Mr. Mark said he re- ceived more than 100 film submissions for this year’s festival on the first day of the application process and 250 in the first week. Another day has been added to the festival weekend to accommodate all the events, including daily film screenings, ques- tion-and-answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, a movie premiere and two celebrity gala events. Opening night will be July 1, and the closing gala will be on July 4. For local filmmakers, Mr. Mark said, the fes- tival provides an oppor- tunity to showcase their work and to learn from some of the best in the business, including some of the crew who worked on the billion-dollar “Star Wars” franchise. Loren Carpenter, the co- founder of Pixar Animation Studios, responsible for “Toy Story,” “Monsters Inc” and “Up,” among others, will be returning to the fes- tival this year. Cinematographer Adam Kane, who worked on hit television series including “Heroes” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” is also lined up for a panel discussion on the movie business. For filmmakers seeking some publicity for their work, Mr. Mark said interna- tional film buyers will also be attending the festival. “The exposure at CayFilm is invaluable for young talent,” he said. “It truly is a great opportunity to get your film seen by a potential buyer. For young local filmmakers, especially, who are going through the process of submitting for festivals, it is good practice for the road ahead.” Submissions for the 2016 CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival can be made on Film Freeway at www.filmfreeway. com/festival/CayFilm. Stars align for CayFilm in 2014. Customers, in turn, had seen their charges per kilowatt hour drop from 28 cents to 19 cents. CUC typically passes on fuel-related costs for elec- tricity generation to cus- tomers with a two-month “lag” in price. A sharp overall drop in consumer prices recorded in the first half of 2015 was also mainly attributed to declining fuel prices. Finance Minister Marco Archer said Cayman had recorded a more than 25 percent drop in the cost of electricity and gas through mid-2015 and a drop in transportation costs of 7.6 percent through the first half of the year, the latest data available. Fuel prices The fuel price drop that sent average gasoline prices well below $4 per gallon by early January began just prior to Christmas. It was the first time any local fuel stations had displayed prices below $4 per gallon since March 2015, previously the lowest point local fuel prices had reached in at least two years. The average prices below $4 per gallon reached all around Grand Cayman, from the highest for regular unleaded in North Side dis- trict at $3.98 per gallon to the lowest, $3.90 per gallon in George Town at Jose’s Rubis station. Prices per gallon on Cayman Brac were hov- ering around $4.50 per gallon for regular, unleaded fuel. On Little Cayman, prices were steady at $5.74 per gallon. The U.S. national av- erage per gallon for regular, unleaded gasoline was just below US$1.97 on Monday. The International fuel benchmark, Brent crude (US$32.68 per barrel) reached its lowest price since the 2008 financial crisis. Watson at Butterfield Bank. In September and November 2011, two sepa- rate payments were made from the AIS-Fidelity account that went in part to a com- pany called Evolution Home Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. The first payment to the company, prosecutors said, was for US$27,000, and the second was for just under US$18,000. The Crown sug- gested these amounts went to pay for a home entertain- ment system Watson had in- stalled at his residence in Loganville, Georgia. A number of cash deposits made to P&W Distributors, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, went from the AIS Cayman account to P&W and were later deposited in the account of another company, CRW Holdings, which was part owned by Watson. In August 2012, the AIS Cayman account was debited for US$15,000, which went to pay about half of the money given to Cayman Islands Football Association audi- tors Rankin-Berkower for au- dits completed between 2009 and 2011 on behalf of the football association. Other payments from the AIS Cayman account included: ■■ Debits on June 22, 2012 to repay amounts of US$14,700 and US$25,300 owed on Watson’s credit card. ■■ A debit on June 26, 2012 of US$8,310.15 to pay for repairs/work on Watson’s vehicles. ■■ A debit on June 27, 2012 of about US$3,500 for a credit card belonging to Watson’s father. ■■ A debit on Aug. 6, 2012 of US$6,309 paid to a travel company for an airline trip to London for Watson’s daughter. A number of other pay- ments for home and life in- surance and LIME (now FLOW) bills were paid from the account to Watson, ac- cording to prosecutors. In total, the Crown has al- leged that Watson personally benefited from the award of the CarePay contract by more than US$348,000 between 2010 and 2013. During the course of the prosecution case, which ended on Monday after sev- eral weeks in court, it was re- vealed that Joscelyn Morgan, one of the alleged “sham” directors of AIS Cayman, had left Cayman some 18 months ago. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran said Monday that Mr. Morgan was still wanted for questioning by police in con- nection with the case. The other named local di- rector, Eldon Rankin, had been listed as a prosecution witness at the start of the case, but Mr. Rankin never appeared to give testimony. The third listed director of AIS Cayman, Jamaican busi- nessman Douglas Halsall, was never listed as a witness in the trial. Pump prices average below $4; lower power bills likely CarePay trIal Prosecutors detail payments to Watson from aIS-CarePay account CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. Mark said he received more than 100 film submissions for this year’s festival on the first day of the application process and 250 in the first week. Clinton confronts rival Sanders as Iowa polls tighten WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Hillary Clinton has spent much of her presidential campaign looking past Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, focusing in- stead on Republicans and the November general election. No longer. Three weeks before the lead-off Iowa caucuses and with polls suggesting a tight- ening race, she now is con- fronting the Vermont senator more directly, attempting to undermine his liberal cre- dentials on gun control, healthcare and even the Wall Street regulations that have been the core of his insurgent campaign. “It’s time for us to have the kind of spirited de- bate that you deserve us to have,” Clinton told voters on Monday. “We do have differences.” After months with a com- fortable edge in most Iowa polls, the former secretary of state finds herself bat- tling an underdog rival in a state that has a history of re- warding anti-establishment campaigns – a situation that brings back echoes of her 2008 loss to Barack Obama. While she has locked up the vast majority of support from party leaders and large donors, Sanders has cap- tured the hearts of many in the Democratic base with his unapologetically liberal eco- nomic message. An NBC/The Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released Sunday found Clinton with 48 percent and Sanders with 45 percent of likely caucus goers, representing a closer margin than past polls have indicated. Sanders has maintained an edge in New Hampshire, which neighbors his home state of Vermont, making Iowa even more important for Clinton. The NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll showed Sanders with 50 per- cent and Clinton with 46 per- cent in that primary. Clinton still holds a strong advantage among black and Latino voters who play a bigger role in the primaries in late February and March. But even if Clinton pulls out a win in Iowa, a narrow vic- tory could set off alarms among Democrats about her strength against Sanders, who started the campaign as an obscure senator polling in the single digits. Until now, Clinton has rarely mentioned Sanders by name at her campaign events, choosing instead to warn voters about the risks of electing a Republican. She has pointed to efforts by Republicans to repeal Obama’s signature health- care law – the president ve- toed the most recent try – as a sign of what could come if Democrats lose the White House. But on Monday, she wid- ened her healthcare critique to include Sanders, saying he would “rip up” the law and put power in the hands of states. Sanders said during a town hall meeting in Perry that large number of under- insured and as well as sky- high deductibles demand a better healthcare system, which he would seek through his single-payer, Medicare- for-all system. Said Clinton: “I sure don’t want to turn over health- care to Republican gover- nors for heaven’s sake. I think it’s a risky deal.” That’s not quite the situation: While states would have some leeway under Sanders’ plan, his of- fice says they would not be al- lowed to opt out completely as Republican governors have done with the Medicaid expan- sion provided under the cur- rent healthcare law. Clinton also announced a new plan that would impose a 4 percent fee on taxpayers making more than $5 million – an effort to match Sanders’ focus on income inequality. And she talked about guns. When Obama said last week he would not support a Democratic nominee who did not support “common-sense gun reform,” Clinton’s team quickly sought to turn it to their advantage, reminding voters that Sanders had backed legislation in 2005 that protected gun-makers from lawsuits. an NBC/the Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released Sunday found Clinton with 48 percent and Sanders with 45 percent of likely caucus goers, representing a closer margin than past polls have indicated. - Photo: APBERLIN (AP) – A string of at- tacks on women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve blamed largely on foreigners was “in- tolerable,” Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said Monday, but “nothing ex- cuses” retaliatory assaults on immigrants. Merkel has proposed making it easier to deport im- migrants involved in crimes, and her spokesman Steffen Seibert emphasized the gov- ernment is looking into both “possible consequences for criminal law [and] possible political consequences for the intolerable crimes.” But after Cologne police said a group of Pakistanis and a Syrian were attacked in the city on Sunday, Seibert said Germans must not blame all the nearly 1.1 mil- lion migrants who entered the country last year, and said the government is also focused on their welfare. “We’re doing all of these things to protect the popu- lation in Germany,” he said. “We are also doing this for the great majority of innocent ref- ugees who have sought refuge from bombs and war in our country, and who should get this protection and who are prepared to adapt to the rules and values in our country.” The six Pakistani na- tionals were attacked Sunday by around 20 people and two of them were briefly admitted to a hospital, po- lice said. Also Sunday eve- ning, five people attacked a Syrian man, who was injured but did not need treatment. Police official Norbert Wagner said authorities are treating those attacks as anti- foreigner crimes and believe that assailants arranged to meet via social media, news agency dpa reported. The New Year’s Eve as- saults stoked tensions over Germany’s open-door policy to refugees and prompted politicians to call for tougher laws against migrants who commit crimes. “As abominable as the crimes in Cologne and other cities were, one thing remains clear: there is no justification for blanket agitation against foreigners,” Justice Minister Heiko Maas said, adding that some people “appear just to have been waiting for the events of Cologne.” Authorities and witnesses said the New Year’s Eve at- tackers were among a group of about a thousand people, described as predominantly Arab and North African men, who gathered at Cologne’s central train station. Some broke off into small groups and groped and robbed women, police said. Maas has said German au- thorities need to quickly deter- mine whether the assaults were coordinated or were linked to similar offenses in other cities including Hamburg. Incidents also were reported in Sweden and Finland. North Rhine-Westphalia state police told lawmakers Monday, however, that so far their investigation had found no indication the Cologne at- tacks were coordinated, or linked to others, dpa reported. Cologne police say 516 criminal complaints have now been filed with them in connection to the New Year’s attacks. About 40 per- cent involve allegations of sexual offenses. Cologne’s police drew crit- icism both for their response and for their slowness to re- lease information. Police chief Wolfgang Albers was dismissed Friday by North Rhine-Westphalia state’s in- terior minister, Ralf Jaeger. At a session Monday of the state legislature’s home affairs committee, Jaeger said Cologne police had not called in reinforcements who were offered. Of the 19 suspects identi- fied by name by Cologne po- lice, 10 were asylum-seekers and the other nine were be- lieved to be in Germany il- legally, according to a report Jaeger submitted to the com- mittee. None was registered as living in Cologne, and four are now in custody for rob- beries committed during the New Year’s events. Separately, 32 suspects have been identified by fed- eral police, who have juris- diction over the Cologne train station security, the Interior Ministry said. They in- clude 22 asylum seekers but also three Germans and an American, among others. The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Pistorius asks top court to hear appeal The legal team of Oscar Pistorius says it has asked South Africa’s Constitutional Court to let the team appeal the double-amputee Olympian’s murder conviction for the killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Cayman Compass • Tuesday January 12, 2016 Matthew Omar Owens January 12, 1984 – September 5, 2015 Dearest Matt, This is your 1st Birthday in Heaven. A special person, a special face Someone we love and can’t replace Never selfi sh, always kind These are the memories you left behind A smile for all, a heart of gold The very best the world could hold Loved with a love beyond all telling Missed with a grief beyond all tears Matt we love and miss you so much Your broken hearted parents, Mom (Jacks), Dad (Drew) Mommy (Miss Jen) Tach, Mark, Chris, Baby Mathieu, Markie, Nicko, Leo, Cam’ron & Brad The very best the world could hold Loved with a love beyond all telling Tensions in Cologne prompt retaliation People stand in front of posters and flowers near the main train station in Cologne, Germany on Monday, near the site where a number of women were assaulted on New Year’s Eve. - Photo: AP WASHINGTON (AP) – A Syrian scientist stricken with cancer and seeking a new start for his family in Michigan will represent Syrian refugees as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama for the president’s final State of the Union address. President Barack Obama has committed to ac- cepting an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees, but some Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates are critical of the expansion. Republican presidential can- didate Ted Cruz, for example, noted the recent arrest of two Iraqi refugees. During an interview with CNN that aired Sunday, Cruz empha- sized that they came to the United States “using the same vetting that President Obama wants us to trust with Syrian refugees.” Refaai Hamo, his son and three daughters landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in December, anx- ious to rebuild their lives. Hamo fled to Turkey from Syria after a missile attack killed his wife and one other daughter. He was profiled on the popular photo blog Humans of New York as “The Scientist.” The White House said Sunday that Hamo will be among about two dozen guests invited to sit near the first lady on Tuesday. The guests include sev- eral veterans and service members, including one of the three Americans who thwarted an attack aboard a Paris-bound train. Those on the guest list will highlight issues that Obama has attempted to prioritize during his tenure, such as expanded health insurance coverage, and issues that he hopes to work on during his final year, such as criminal jus- tice. The guest list includes a California man whose partner was killed in the San Bernardino attack, the first female Army Reserve officer to graduate from the Army’s elite Ranger School and a plaintiff in the land- mark Supreme Court case that found same-sex cou- ples have a constitutional right to marry. One seat will be empty, to represent the victims of gun violence. Obama read about Hamo’s story last month. His cancer had gone un- treated because he lacked health insurance. More than $450,000 for the family was raised through an on- line fundraising campaign actor Ed Norton had set up for them. The White House described Hamo as living the kind of life in Syria that is associated with the American dream. He mar- ried his college sweetheart, and they built a life to- gether before a missile tore through the complex he helped design and where his family lived. Obama told Hamo through a Facebook posting that, “Yes, you can still make a difference in the world, and we’re proud that you’ll pursue your dreams here. Welcome to your new home. You’re part of what makes America great.” Syrian refugee among first lady’s guests for State of UnionNext >