ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Monday January 18, 2016 High of 80 Low of 70 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet with higher swells expected along the west and north coasts. Small crafts should exercise caution over the open waters from evening. ABCDE NATIONAL WEEKLY Worst Week Rand Paul 3 Politics The GOP’s Hispanic struggle 4 Hollywood A history of crime and movies 16 5 Myths On China’s economy 23 Assessing the threat Officers’ newest partner infighting crime is big data,but privacy advocates aren’thappy about it. PAGE 12 THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016. IN COLLABORA TION WITH THE WASHINGTON POST Assessing the threat Editorial | pagE 4 yellow plates, green energy SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA grand opening for Brac resort JaMes whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The newly named Cayman Brac Beach Resort opened Friday with a new bar and sprawling lagoon-style swimming pool at the ocean’s edge. The hotel and dive resort, de- scribed as the backbone of the island’s tourism industry, was closed for four months while ex- tensive renovations took place. “We wanted to re-imagine the resort and give it a jolt and a wow factor,” said Michael Tibbetts, whose grandfather Linton opened the resort in 1985. The two-story bar, including an upper-floor lounge area and observation deck looking out across the pool to the Caribbean Sea, is the signature feature of the redesign. Upgraded rooms and a new photographic mural of the Brac’s Coral Arches dive site were also unveiled at the event for invited guests, including Premier Alden McLaughlin. Mr. Tibbetts said his family, who rebuilt the 40-room hotel after it was devastated by Hurricane Paloma in 2008, were as committed as ever to the Brac and were hopeful for the future of the tourism in- dustry on the island. He said the next step in the resort’s redevelopment would be to add new rooms. “It is not just about driving new visitors, but also raising the quality of the re- sort for our guests,” he said of the improvements. “I think this elevates the tourism product for the Brac. It gives guests picturesque views and differentiates us from other properties in the Cayman Islands.” Mr. Tibbetts, joint di- rector of the family company JEM Holdings with his sisters Emily Tibbetts-Allenbach and Jessica Tibbetts-Buchanan, Chefs, foodies gather for Cayman Cookout Epicureans enjoyed four days of cooking demonstrations, lavish meals and festivi- ties with some of the world’s most famous chefs at the annual Cayman Cookout over the past week. The most notable names included chef, author and television star Anthony Bourdain, chef and Emmy Award-winning television host Eric Ripert, Chef Jose Andres, named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012, and other chefs who have won James Beard Awards, Michelin Stars and many of the cooking world’s top honors. The Cayman Cookout, hosted by Food & Wine magazine, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and the Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman, ran from Thursday evening through Sunday with three full days packed with food and wine. Demonstrations ran the gambit from the “Taste of Texas” with chef and writer Dean Fearing, the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine,” to mixology, the art of mixing cock- tails, with Charles Joly, and numerous wine tastings for the best wines from around the world. For more photos, see page 10. CaRePay tRial Watson: Minister scotland agreed on carePay exPansion US$1.8 million paid for nonexistent system ‘rollout’ Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hours before government officials signed what became known as the CarePay con- tract, behind-the-scenes negotiations on the five-year, US$13 million deal were still occur- ring, Canover Watson testified in his criminal trial last week. The talks, which Watson brokered, were between CarePay system contractor, Jamaican businessman Douglas Halsall, and former Health Minister Mark Scotland over whether the government could “guarantee” the even- tual expansion of the hospital patient swipe- card system to private sector insurers in the Cayman Islands. The initial contract for the system cov- ered only the operations of the Health Services Authority, affecting about 13,000 government- insured employees, their relatives and individ- uals who otherwise could not obtain health- care. However, Watson – the chairman of the Health Services Authority at the time the CarePay contract was signed – testified that From left, Jessica tibbetts-Buchanan, Premier alden Mclaughlin, Sister islands District Commissioner ernie Scott, emily tibbetts-allenbach, tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Michael tibbetts cut the ribbon on the redesigned resort. – Photo: JaMes Whittaker PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Chef Jose Andres, named by Time magazine as one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012, was among the notable names at this year’s Cayman Cookout. - Photo: stePhen clarke2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Monday January 18, 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. - MONDAY - RIDE ALONG 2 (PG13) 1:00 I 3:30 I 7:00 I 10:00 THE HATEFUL EIGHT (R) 5:30 I 9:00 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 THE REVENANT (R) 12:15 I 3:40 I 7:10 STAR WARS VII 3D (PG13) 12:40 2D I 3:40 I 6:45 2D I 9:50 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS ROAD CHIP (PG) 12:40 I 3:10 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A tourist from Arizona was fined $1,250 on Thursday after pleading guilty to five charges of importing controlled drugs. Three charges were related to medications for which he had no prescrip- tion. Two were for ganja. Mark Jonathan Stratford, 52, admitted to having the items when he came to Cayman on Dec. 23. Crown counsel Neil Kumar said Stratford de- clared to Customs officers that he had wine and food stuffs. A further search of his luggage revealed six vials of a purified form of liquid ganja, 10 color- less capsules of a purified form of liquid ganja, three alprazolam tablets, six hy- drocodone tablets and three diazepam tablets. Mr. Kumar described two of the medications as pain killers. All items were sent to a laboratory for analysis. The liquid ganja weighed one-10th of an ounce. The ganja in capsules weighed 4.44 grams. The defendant was in- terviewed on Dec. 30, made admissions and was coop- erative, Mr. Kumar sum- marized. He handed pho- tographs of the items and certificates of analysis to Magistrate Grace Donalds. She asked if Stratford had anything to say. He apologized to the court and to the Customs officers. The magistrate im- posed fines of $250 for each offense, for a total of $1,250. Stratford had been bailed after posting a $1,000 bond for his ap- pearance in court. Customs officers said they would transfer the sum to the courts office, leaving him with a balance of $250 to pay. Tourist brought in drugs without prescription Jurors who are in the Jan. 13 to April 5 ses- sion should now report on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 9:45 a.m. Please call the Jury Information line at 945- 5072 for the most up-to- date information. Jury notice The magistrate imposed fines of $250 for each offense, for a total of $1,250. Charles DunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The 2016 Miss Cayman Islands contestants took a tour of the island Saturday, each riding atop a car, smiling and waving as the beauty pageant hopefuls cruised the island from West Bay to East End. Miss Cayman 2015 Tonie Chisholm led the motor- cade on the day-long tour. A truck loaded with speakers and a DJ pro- vided the soundtrack for and drew attention to the young women vying for this year’s crown on Jan. 30. The eight contestants for 2016 followed the lead car as the tour made stops in each district. They waved and smiled, using the stops to mingle and pose for photographs. Miss Cayman Islands Chairwoman Derri Lee said, “The traditional motorcade is an event that always drums up a lot of support from the community.” This year’s contes- tants are Latrese Haylock, Theresa Cole and Samantha Rea of George Town; Schilo Scott from the Brac; Shanice Kelly of Bodden Town; and Erin Nicole Hislop, Jamie Rogers, and Monyque Brooks of West Bay. Tickets are on sale for the pageant on Jan. 30 at the Lions Centre. The theme this year is “World of Color.” Miss Cayman hopefuls tour Grand Cayman SAO PAULO (AP) – The Brazilian government an- nounced it will direct funds to a biomedical research center to help develop a vac- cine against a virus linked to brain damage in babies. Health Minister Marcelo Castro said Friday that the goal is for the Sao Paulo- based Butantan Institute to develop “in record time” a vaccine for Zika, which is spread through mosquito bites. Institute director Jorge Kalil said that is expected take three to five years. Brazil is currently expe- riencing the largest known outbreak of Zika. The virus has been linked to a recent surge in birth defects in- cluding microcephaly, a rare condition in which newborns have smaller than normal heads and their brains do not develop properly. The Health Ministry says 3,530 babies have been born with microcephaly in the country since October. Fewer than 150 such cases were seen in all of 2014. Most have been concen- trated in Brazil’s poor north- east, though cases in Rio de Janeiro and other big cities have also been on the rise, prompting people to stock up on mosquito repellent. Some women of means have left the country to spend their pregnancies in the United States or Europe to avoid infection. The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mos- quito, which can also carry dengue and chikungunya. “Today there is only one way to fight the Zika virus, which is to destroy the mos- quito’s breeding grounds,” Castro said. “The final vic- tory against the virus will only come when we de- velop a vaccine against that disease.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert Friday advising pregnant women to avoid traveling to Brazil and several other countries in the Americas where Zika outbreaks have occurred. Brazil funds research of vaccine for Zika virus The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can also carry dengue and chikungunya. Miss Cayman Islands 2015 Tonie Chisholm leads Saturday’s motorcade around Grand Cayman. Miss Cayman Islands 2016 contestants greet spectators around Grand Cayman on Saturday. - Photos: charles Duncan3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Monday January 18, 2016 Think:Inequality Addressing the Global Imbalance Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Tuesday 19 Jan 2016 Save the Date A world class speaker line up. Global vision with local impact. Thought provoking review. What are the top trends facing the world in 2016? What does this mean for Cayman? Join some of the world's most thought provoking experts to explore the threats and opportunities and how they impact our local progress. CEO 2016 brings you some of the most exciting speakers on the international conference circuit: Dr. Dambisa Moyo; Global economist and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Dr. Vikram Mansharamani; Global equity investor and Lecturer at Yale University. Rasmus Ankersen; best selling author, speaker on performance development Craig Wright; Chief Economist with Royal Bank of Canada and trusted advisor to businesses and athletes. fidelityceo.com Visit our website Think:Inequality Addressing the Global Imbalance Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Tuesday 19 Jan 2016 Save the Date A world class speaker line up. Global vision with local impact. Thought provoking review. What are the top trends facing the world in 2016? What does this mean for Cayman? Join some of the world's most thought provoking experts to explore the threats and opportunities and how they impact our local progress. CEO 2016 brings you some of the most exciting speakers on the international conference circuit: Dr. Dambisa Moyo; Global economist and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Dr. Vikram Mansharamani; Global equity investor and Lecturer at Yale University. Rasmus Ankersen; best selling author, speaker on performance development Craig Wright; Chief Economist with Royal Bank of Canada and trusted advisor to businesses and athletes. fidelityceo.com Visit our website Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com More armed police offi- cers have been put on reg- ular patrol shifts to start 2016 as part of a police de- partment reorganization. The reordering involves a change in all police offi- cers’ working shifts that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service brass hopes will bring “predictability and greater capacity for planning” with regard to policing activities. “The new shift pattern also increases the number of officers on each shift, en- abling us to manage work- loads and calls for ser- vice more easily,” RCIPS Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton said. The changes involve taking a certain number of police officers from the specialist armed unit, known as the Uniform Support Group, or USG, and putting them on regular pa- trols. Mr. Walton said the specialist USG unit will be maintained, in addition to the increased armed pa- trols in Grand Cayman’s districts. Mr. Walton said police trained additional officers in firearms proficiency in 2015, anticipating the move would occur. “We cannot comment on when or where armed units will specifically be stationed for operational security reasons,” he said. “What we have done dif- ferently is decentralize the USG by attaching armed officers to shifts island- wide. At the same time, we have retained a number of armed officers within the USG. “This reordering and ad- ditional training enables us to cover the island more comprehensively, in gen- eral, and reduces response times of armed officers,” Mr. Walton said. Armed police responses, while previously avail- able around the clock, have raised some concerns about response times. The issue was discussed in the Legislative Assembly as far back as 2010, when RCIPS Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brougham an- nounced plans to train an additional 24 armed police officers. The assembly debate occurred shortly after the high-profile armed rob- bery of Mostyn’s Esso [now Sol Petroleum] station in Bodden Town. North Side MLA Ezzard Miller said that a “failure” to have weapons in all police cars led to the first responding officers having to wait at a police protective cordon near the scene. Eventually, the rob- bery suspects were tracked down; one of them was ar- rested by an unarmed po- lice officer who received a police commissioner’s com- mendation for his work on the case. With regard to Mr. Miller’s comments, Mr. Brougham confirmed the MLA’s description was con- sistent with RCIPS policy. “[The officers] would be told to sit at a cordon point,” he said. “And watch the guy run off into the bushes?” Mr. Miller asked. Mr. Brougham said at the time that another 24 armed officers would be trained, but how they were to be deployed was not certain. Police Commissioner David Baines has said many times that he does not wish to arm all RCIPS officers for fear that individuals in the community would begin to view them as an “occupation force” and re- fuse to speak with them or give them assistance in criminal investigations. Shift change The RCIPS had been using a five-shift system in which all regular patrol of- ficers worked six days and had four days off. That has been changed to a three-shift, eight-hour workday system, in which officers work six consec- utive days and then have three days off. All police officers will work eight hours in any given day, as opposed to the previous shift in which officers might have worked anywhere from eight to 12 hours per shift. In addition to increasing the number of officers on any given shift, the new system also reduces an offi- cer’s time away from work, which can interfere with developing information in ongoing investigations, po- lice said. The eight-hour work- days mean there will be three “shift changes” during any 24-hour period. Police said the new deployment plans allows for extra offi- cers during “peak hours.” Changes involve taking a certain number of police officers from the specialist armed unit, known as the Uniform Support Group, and putting them on regular patrols. Police increase armed patrols Uniform Support Group officers respond to a call in September 2015. Some USG officers have been put on regular patrol shifts this year as part of a police department reorganization. - Photo: taneos RamsayThe 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” While we rarely comment on commentary that is submitted to us, today we will make an exception for two letters — one on vehicular registration plates, and another on global warming — that appear opposite this editorial. In the first letter, the writer describes a trou- bling situation involving the Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing and fading registration plates (which most of our readers might call “license plates.”) The standard registration plate for a resident’s car is yellow with black lettering. Over time, the yellow coloring on the plates can fade or peel away. When that happens, or alternatively if a plate is lost or destroyed in an accident, the driver goes to the DVDL and pays $75 for a new set of plates, plus $40 for a new coupon and log book (because those are linked to the numbers on the registration plate). There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of the above. Our letter writer’s grievance is as follows: “[T]he number plates that DVDL sold us a few years ago were not fit for purpose. Either DVDL had specified the wrong yellow paint, given Cayman’s bright daylight or heat, or the manufacturer had used the wrong plate. Either way the innocent motorist is having to pay $75 because someone else was incompetent. How unfair is this?” That, to us, seems like a fair question. While we are not prepared to condemn DVDL based on this one letter, we have heard similar stories about prematurely-fading registration plates from other indi- viduals. It is, in short, cause for concern. The idea that the government is causing people to incur additional costs in exchange for providing inferior products and services is, we’re sorry to say, sadly self-evident. Think, for example, of the $2-per-tire fee that has failed to check the accumulation of tires at the George Town Landfill; the $20 million-plus annual subsidy given to Cayman Airways; the $110 million-or-more spent on Clifton Hunter High School; or the $250 million in annual personnel costs for Cayman’s civil service. If you want a less-grand example, just think of the years of frustration caused by the demonic “parking machines” at the airport. At least that issue will shortly (fingers crossed) be behind us. Nevertheless, the point is that in far too many instances, Cayman residents find themselves paying premium prices for subpar government products and services. Moving on, the second letter we publish today is on the unrelated topic of climate change. In it, the writer criticizes an editorial published Jan. 6 in which we advised our officials against pursuing potentially costly measures to combat carbon emis- sions at the expense of the country’s economy and other more practical and pressing priorities. For clarity and intellectual honesty, the editorial did not address the validity of “climate change science,” as the letter writer suggests. Our main point was based on the factual observation that Cayman accounts for approximately 0 percent of global carbon emissions. Other than “cheering from the sidelines,” the Cayman Islands can do nothing to influence the rising or lowering of the planet’s temperature. Nothing. To put this another way, it is a waste of energy and resources — a diversion, really — to tilt at such wind- mills while real environmental realities, especially our festering fuming dump, go unaddressed. Yellow plates, green energy Monday January 18, 2016 • Cayman COmpass Letter to the editor Faded registration plates I wonder how many of you reading this have already been “robbed” of $75 through no fault of your own. I am sure that many others, like me, will find out that you have when you visit the offices of the Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) to, say, renew your driver’s li- cense. The police will have observed that your yellow number plates are not per- fectly yellow anymore and have faded or peeled and so have informed DVDL. Thousands of us are being forced to pay $75 be- cause the number plates that DVDL sold us a few years ago were not fit for pur- pose. Either DVDL had spec- ified the wrong yellow paint, given Cayman’s bright day- light or heat, or the manu- facturer had used the wrong paint. Either way the inno- cent motorist is having to pay $75 because someone else was incompetent. How unfair is this? It would be interesting to know how many addi- tional thousands of dol- lars are being raised by this for DVDL. Judging by the number of close friends who have been caught by this and the pile of faulty plates I saw in the West Bay DVDL office this other day, I guess that it would be a vast amount. It is not only the cost but also the extra work that this causes. The number plates have to be physically changed and then registration docu- ments, the windscreen sticker and insurance documents all have to be changed. Was a cheaper and more convenient alternative ex- plored? Could not an agent have been appointed to re- spray the faulty yellow plates at no cost to the motorist? This would be in line with that which car manufac- turers do when they find that a faulty part has been fitted. George Tustin Letter to the editor response to Jan. 6 editorial The Cayman Renewable Energy Association (CREA) wishes to address the editorial of Jan. 6, entitled “Cayman’s combat with climate change: A bunch of hot air”. It behooves us to provide a counter point to your readers who are at risk of being misinformed by the opinions expressed on the im- portance of climate change to all countries and about the re- alities of climate change itself. CREA believes your readers should be made aware that man-made cli- mate change and its negative global affects are agreed by a vast majority of the global scientific community. Those who deny climate change exists rest squarely on the fringe of global consensus and have very little evidence to support their position, de- spite being historically well funded by the multi-trillion dollar fossil fuel industry. Denying of climate change aside, perhaps the most alarming and disappointing aspect of your editorial is the apathy and hypocrisy shown towards Cayman’s responsi- bility to fight climate change and reduce our carbon emis- sions. Essentially the edi- tor’s position is that we are a small country and as such we should do nothing while expecting others to do it for us. In this country we see similar attitudes regarding the importance of renewable energy by our elected leaders as well, so this is not new al- beit unfortunate. If we as members of a local, regional and global so- ciety took the editors point of view it would make no sense for any individual to help solve problems that take collective efforts to solve. Why vote in elections, you’re only one vote. Why donate to worthy causes like cancer re- search or feeding the poor, you are just a small contribu- tion. The examples could go on and on but hopefully the point is clear, big problems often take collective effort, large and small. As a low-lying island na- tion that is on the front line of the negative affects of cli- mate change, as a member of a regional and global community and as one of the highest carbon emitting countries in the world per capita; Cayman has a moral, economic, social and envi- ronmental responsibility to do our part in reducing our Carbon Emissions. Economies outside North America, Asia and Europe make up a small percentage of the total global carbon emissions, but that’s no excuse for not doing our collective part to solve this global problem. To be fair big econo- mies and small have made a plethora of excuses as to why they should do nothing or at most make minimum contributions while ex- pecting others to do more; so the editor doesn’t have ex- clusivity over this unfortu- nate line of thinking. That said, its that kind of apathy which is a major reason why this problem has reached epidemic levels and why only collective col- laboration, as evidenced by so many countries (including Caribbean nations) at the re- cent COP21 is the only viable way forward. CREA believes the Secretary-General of the United Nations may have said it best “Climate change does not respect borders, it does not respect who you are – rich and poor, small and big. This is what we call a global challenge, which re- quires global solidarity”. James Whittaker, chairman, Cayman Renewable Energy association Editor’s note: Letter writer James Whittaker is not related to Compass reporter James Whittaker.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Monday January 18, 2016 CROSS ISLAND RELAY HASH HOUSE 42nd Annual CROSS ISLAND RELAY SUNDA Y 7th, FEBRUAR Y 2016 HARRIERS Organized by Cayman Hash House Harriers Register online at www.caymanactive.com until 5pm on Thursday 4th February. Race packet pick up and in-person registration at Camana Bay Tower between midday & 4pm on Saturday 6th February. Race route and rules on www.caymanhash.com Join Us For Any questions email: caymanhash@gmail.com Starts: 6:00 am Awards: 10:00 am Entry Fee: CI $120 per team CROSS ISLAND RELAY Come out and participate in the longest running race event in the Cayman Islands. Teams of 6 people run 4 miles each starting from Colliers Public Beach and finishing at Smith Cove. T-shirts for all participants. Trophies awarded in male, female and corporate divisions. Register early to avoid disappointment – race limited to 100 teams. Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com After one of the deadliest years ever on the country’s roadways, Cayman Islands police officers are vowing to do whatever they can to im- prove safety in 2016. Inspector Adrian Barnett said officers will continue the concentrated traffic en- forcement efforts of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s holiday safety ini- tiative, Operation Magpie, throughout the year, with more roadblocks during the day and night, in addition to other strategies. Mr. Barnett, head of the RCIPS Traffic Management Unit, said he hopes educa- tion, enforcement, a more visible police presence and proactive policing can help to improve road safety this year, but that “it’s up to the motoring public, as well.” “I’ve been beating the drum for years and years … but if people don’t listen, there isn’t going to be any change, whether we’re on the road or not,” Mr. Barnett said. “We can’t be every- where at once.” Last year was particu- larly difficult for the in- spector and other officers who handle serious traffic accidents. “Every time there is a fa- tality, we have to knock on somebody’s door, inform somebody that a relative has been killed in a car crash,” Mr. Barnett said. “Last year was a rough year for me and for my guys.” Twelve people died on Cayman’s roads last year – three times as many as in 2014 – making it one of the deadliest years on record. Non-fatal traffic acci- dents were up last year as well. While final 2015 traffic statistics will not be released until the end of this month, Mr. Barnett said there was an average of 40 collisions a week in 2015. In the first week of 2016, there were 39 collisions. “For the size of this is- land, these figures … it’s absolutely scandalous,” Mr. Barnett said. The high rate of road deaths in the Cayman Islands in 2015 puts it among the most dangerous countries in which to drive in the Western Hemisphere, according to data col- lected by the World Health Organization and published in its Global status report on road safety 2015. The report includes the rates of road fatalities for 180 countries, using data from 2013, or the most recent data available. The Cayman Islands is not included in the report, but if it had been (using the 2013 road fatality rate), the country would have been ranked then as one of the safest in the Americas, and in the world, with a road fatality rate of 10.26. Recalculating Cayman’s ranking using its death rate for 2015 (20.6), the country becomes the seventh most dangerous country (out of 32) in which to drive in the Americas and 66th most dangerous country in the world. According to Mr. Barnett, various factors contributed to the high incidence and se- verity of traffic accidents, in- cluding road design and the fact that there are more cars on the road than ever before. Most of the accidents, he said, are minor fender- benders that could be easily avoided if drivers were more alert. More than anything else, though, speeding and drunk driving are to blame for the worst accidents, he said. “Drunk driving here is an epidemic,” Mr. Barnett said. He wishes there were more taxis and a bus system that catered to riders at night, in addition to a more efficient daytime service, so that drunk drivers might be less inclined to take a chance driving themselves home. But drivers were not the only people in danger on Cayman’s roads this year. Some of the more serious traffic accidents in 2015 in- volved pedestrians. “If you’ve ever driven on South Sound at six o’clock in the morning, it’s absolutely horrible. It’s like running a gauntlet,” Mr. Barnett said. “You’ve got people running with their dogs, you’ve got cyclists, you’ve got people walking with no lights.” Mr. Barnett said pedes- trians need to be more vigi- lant when walking near or crossing a road, and in gen- eral, everyone using the road system needs to take responsibility for safety by following the road code and taking common sense precautions. The inspector acknowl- edged, however, that many people think they can do anything on the road and get away with it. “That is the feeling on the island at the moment,” Mr. Barnett said. “And that’s going to stop.” He said police “get a lot of stick” for not enforcing traffic laws, but the num- bers show just how many dangerous drivers the police arrest. Last year, he said, 284 people were arrested for DUI, a significant jump from 153 in 2014. In the first half of 2015, 593 people were ticketed for speeding, com- pared to 659 for all of 2014. So far in 2016, nine people have been arrested for DUI. “These figures speak for themselves,” Mr. Barnett said. The inspector said his goal for his police career is to go a full year without any traffic fatalities. It has never happened, he said, adding that he has dealt with more than 100 traffic fatalities over the years. He hopes that 2016 will be the year to reach his goal, but the chance of that hap- pening, “is very, very slim.” “But you never know. If we can get past the first three months of the year [without a fatality], then we might be getting somewhere.” Police urge road safety after deadly year The driver was not seriously injured in this rollover on Dec. 19, 2015. Last year was one of the deadliest years ever on the country’s roadways - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYMonday January 18, 2016 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days George Town Gaelic heritage builds cultural bridges When it comes to opening lines of communication and under- standing, sport has proven time and again to bring people of all stripes together. That is certainly the case with Gaelic Football in the Cayman Islands, which brings both first timers and old pros of this Irish sport out for fun and competition through various tournaments and levels of play. On Jan. 9 and 10, a dozen teams competed in the 2016 FLOW Mixed 9s Gaelic football Championship at the Cayman International School in George Town. Team Harmonic are champs Seasoned players and nov- ices played alongside each other, through group and knockout stages where Team Harmonic came out champions after nar- rowly losing out in previous years. They took home the Pete O’Neill trophy, beating team FLOW in an entertaining final. The weekend witnessed gru- eling and closely fought matches, where spectators were treated to what appears to be amazing things ahead in the Gaelic Football season starting later this month. “The Cayman Islands Gaelic Football Club is one of the longest running sporting clubs on the is- land,” said the club’s public rela- tions officer, Dave O’Driscoll. “From humble beginnings, the size of the club today pays testa- ment to the committed and fun- loving members it retains.” International roster Non-Irish members account for more than half of the club. Players come from Cayman, the U.K., New Zealand, Canada and other countries. The fun-loving nature of the club and socially-embracing members attract people from all nations and industries in the Cayman Islands, Mr. O’Driscoll said. To accommodate the rising in- terest, the league is expanding from eight teams to 12 this year. Social events include fund- raising table quizzes and the end- of-season Gala Awards Dinner. Last year the club hosted a chil- dren’s fun day at the Cayman International School, with kids of all ages learning the fundamen- tals of the sport. “The day was such a suc- cess that talks are under way to host a kids Gaelic Football camp this year, with the hopes of set- ting up an under-age league, not unlike what Cayman Rugby has achieved in recent years,” said Mr. O’Driscoll. Last year saw the club’s most successful international tour, where both the men’s and wom- en’s teams took home silver- ware from the Gaelic Football Championships in Chicago. That trip was the fourth in- vitation to the prestigious tournament. “All these events would not be possible, of course, without a ded- icated volunteer committee, which meets all year long to discuss and organise the year’s itinerary,” said Mr. O’Driscoll. He said plans for this year in- clude another international tour, this time to Seattle, Washington. Players are selected from the year’s league by a dedicated coaching group, and will train throughout the summer. History Mr. O’Driscoll said the first Cayman Gaelic football match was played between an Ulster 15 team and a Rest of Ireland Select 15 team at the Rugby Club in South Sound on July 18, 1987. It was then decided that a second match should be organized for St. Patrick’s Day the following year. This proved successful to the point that the game now is a cen- terpiece of Cayman’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. As the sport’s popularity grew, an informal men’s 7-a-side league was established in 1998. The team names, Western Gaels, Wolfe Tones, Gabriels and Cabra Gaels, have been retained to this day. Following the success of the league, with more than 40 players, it was decided to establish a formal club, complete with consti- tution and officers, and a meeting was held on May 19, 1999. The inaugural women’s foot- ball league was organized in 2001. The team names, Na Piarsaigh, Buffer’s Alley and Oliver Plunketts, also have been retained by the league ever since. “The club has now become an integral part of the Cayman sports and social calendar, with current playing members now reaching 300. “As well as the Mixed 9s tour- nament in January, the league which runs from January to June, and the St. Patrick’s Day family event, the club also hosts the International Rules test matches between Ireland and ‘The Rest of the World,’ a battle for brag- ging rights which carries a lot of weight,” noted Mr. O’Driscoll. For more information, email info@caymangaelic.com or visit www.caymangaa.com. The Mixed 9’s team captains at a recent tournament. Teams in action at the mixed 9’s tournament.Men and women compete together at the Mixed 9’s tournament. Team Harmonic, winners of the recent mixed 9’s tournament. Team Epic DayCayman Compass • Monday January 18, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days George Town George Town parents are Partners in Print Basia McGuire bmcguire@pinnaclemedialtd.com A series of parent work- shops focused on developing literacy skills in Year 1 chil- dren at George Town Primary launched on Jan. 12. With support from the Literacy is for Everyone (LIFE) charity, the 90 minute Partners in Print workshops are de- signed for parent and child to attend together. Year 1 teachers Natasha Wight, Trista Welcome and Tamika Bodden guided parents in a variety of interactive ac- tivities aimed at supporting lit- eracy development. At the end of the work- shop, children received a book of their choice, and dinner was provided for all. “This parent program gives students the opportunity to build a strong literacy foun- dation through home-school partnerships,” said Education Department literacy coach Sarah Douglas. She said the workshops offer instruction on how par- ents can support building their children’s foundational reading skills at home through a va- riety of fun activities. “We show parents the helpful things they can be doing at home that include reading with their child, spelling words, practicing the letter sounds in a fun way, and practicing reading comprehen- sion,” she said. “Engaging parents is es- sential for young readers, as is having books around the house,” she noted, adding that support from LIFE means each child has a book to take home at the end of each workshop. “There is a proven cor- relation between number of books in the home and reading achievement,” said Ms. Douglas. Workshops have spots for 30 families. Organizers focus on Year 1 participants since reading achievement at that age has a big impact on future reading success, Ms. Douglas said. Each of the three workshops has a different focus. “For example, the first one looks at discriminating letter sounds, the next will build on that using phonics, and the last one focuses on comprehen- sion,” said Ms. Douglas. “Within each session par- ents learn three activities, so by the end they will have nine different reading activi- ties to do with their children at home.”Parents and students take part in reading activities. Deputy George Town Primary Principal Dorothy Bodden-Wilson leads a session at a previous workshop. 50 Years aGo: Airport faces maintenance hurdles In the Jan. 12, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, updates on the airport included: “The full-time Groundsman is now working at the airport, but, once again, for the umpteenth time, the Ford Cutter has broken down. A Ransom Rotary Slasher which is designed to cut through sugar plantations or grass has, therefore, been or- dered through the Crown Agents and should arrive soon. “Provision has also been made in the current Estimates for the purchase of an at- tachment for the tractor which will brush stones and pebbles from the runway, collect them in a box and damp the surface to pre- vent dust flying. This is essential when jet aircraft are introduced. “Plans are in hand to add office accom- modation to the airport building and, when the present season is over, it is proposed to cover the area outside the immigration room so that people coming to meet visitors can stand or sit in the shade. Mr. Griffiths, our P.W.D. Civil Engineer is giving professional advice regarding this construction. “Mr. D. Delpratt leaves for Jamaica next week to spend 10 days with his family and to inspect the latest Crash and Rescue equipment etc. at Palisadoes Airport. Mr. F.L. Chadwick, Airport manager, goes home to England for 4 weeks leave next month.” PwC volunteers and George Town Primary students joined for an afternoon of fun on Jan. 5. Breaking out the side- walk chalk, basketballs and soccer balls was a fun way to do some team-building and give PwC staff a chance to meet youngsters from the community. “An event like this is a great way to start the new year and term, and PwC for years has always supported us,” said George Town Primary Principal Marie Martin. “We value this partnership.” Forging community connections at GTPs The nice weather made for an enjoyable afternoon for George Town Primary students and PwC volunteers. Workshops offer instruction on how parents can support building children’s foundational reading skills at home through a variety of fun activities.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Monday January 18, 2016 • Cayman Compass About 40 runners came out Sunday for the second Cayman bRUNch, a new running club that meets quarterly for a social run followed by brunch. Run organizers, inspired by a similar event in Colorado, pick a new restaurant, run route and charity for each event. The social run has 5K and 10K routes, but runners can set their own route and their own pace, and they’re greeted at the end with coffee and a full breakfast. Organizer Taura Ebanks noted, “It’s not competitive, it’s very social.” She said the next event will be in a couple months, and details will be available on the group’s Facebook page or caymanbrunch.com. Cayman bRUnch serves charities Runners Mary Martin, Michael Ivanchain and Elena Oster cool down after Sunday’s run. - Photos: Charles DunCan Taura Ebanks, Gary Gibbs and Monique Bush organized Sunday’s Cayman bRUNch. Mr. Halsall and his com- pany, Advanced Integrated Systems of Jamaica, were keen to ensure their system would also be used by Cayman’s private sector healthcare providers. The day before the CarePay contract was due to be signed, Dec. 20, 2010, Mr. Halsall flew to Cayman and met with Watson, ju- rors in the trial heard. Early the next day, Watson said he and Mr. Halsall discussed the possibility of reworking the CarePay contract so that Mr. Halsall could have “some assurances” the con- tract would expand beyond government-insured clients. Watson testified that then-Minister Scotland re- fused to agree to such terms because he did not want government seen to be forcing the private sector into accepting the deal. Watson said he put Mr. Halsall directly on the phone with Mr. Scotland and the two discussed it. Following the phone con- versation, which Watson said he was not privy to, Mr. Halsall told Watson that Minister Scotland gave a commitment that the then- United Democratic Party Cabinet backed the CarePay system expansion, even if it did not currently have the funds in the government budget to support it. “Based on the minister’s commitment, [Mr. Halsall] was prepared to go for- ward,” Watson testified. The CarePay contract was signed by a number of government officials and by Mr. Halsall later the same day. Provisions for the ex- pansion of the CarePay system to the private sector were not included in the contract signed on Dec. 21, 2010. On Friday, Watson’s lawyer, Trevor Burke, QC, asked him if there ever was a formal contract for the CarePay system to private sector insurers. “No,” Watson replied. The second count of the Crown’s indictment against Watson alleges that he and business as- sociate Jeffrey Webb de- frauded the government by misrepresenting that funds had been set aside for the CarePay system expansion when they actually had not. Mr. Burke has argued that such a claim is “nonsense” and that former Minister Scotland and many others were well aware of plans for the expanded system. During Watson’s tes- timony Friday, Mr. Burke recounted a number of communications be- tween Watson, Ministry of Health senior staff, Mr. Scotland and Mr. Halsall regarding the CarePay system expansion. Watson testified that Minister Scotland became concerned in mid-2011, after delays in implementing the CarePay patient card system for the public hospital, that expansion to the private sector might not occur as quickly as he had promised. Acting on instructions from Mr. Scotland, Watson testified that he drafted a letter updating all in- volved on the progress of the CarePay system and the proposed expansion of the system to the private sector. That letter included pay- ment terms for the system expansion costing US$2.4 million, half of which was to be paid “up front” and the remaining two 25 per- cent payments on separate dates depending on when various stages of the expan- sion were completed. Watson said Mr. Scotland was aware of those terms and that they had been agreed. Watson said Advanced Integrated Systems, Mr. Halsall’s com- pany, had given him the terms in the first place. “The minister agreed them with AIS?” the judge asked. Watson testified that he had personally agreed the terms with AIS and passed those terms to Mr. Scotland, who had also green-lighted the expansion with the un- derstanding that AIS would enter into contracts on its own with the private sector healthcare providers. Previously, the court heard that US$1.2 mil- lion was paid in August 2011, representing the first half of the CarePay system expansion. Another payment of US$600,000 was made in May 2012. The third install- ment of US$600,000 was never paid. The expansion of the CarePay patient card system never occurred. Watson stated the project “stalled” after the May 2013 election of the Progressives-led govern- ment and that he was not reappointed to the HSA board in 2013 when his term ended. ‘No personal interest’ Asked directly Friday whether he had any per- sonal interest, or had ben- efited personally from the CarePay contract, Watson stated he had not. Watson agreed he took a “hands on” role in the project at the prompting of then-Min- ister Scotland, who rec- ommended him as “point person” on the contract. The court heard that Mr. Halsall relied on Watson to the point where he re- fused to speak with anyone else – even Webb, his orig- inal local business partner – about the contract. In March or April 2011, Watson testified that Mr. Halsall offered him a high-ranking posi- tion in AIS Jamaica’s cor- porate structure because he was so impressed with Watson’s performance. Watson said he was interested and did ex- plore the opportunity, but agreed he could not take any such position without first resigning from the HSA board. He said he did not have a financial in- terest in the local arm of Mr. Halsall’s company, AIS Cayman Ltd., at any time. Watson considered this opportunity, the court heard, to the point where he set up a private consulting firm named AIS Consulting Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands in anticipation that he would take on a consulting role in Mr. Halsall’s firm when his ap- pointment to the HSA board expired in July 2011. Watson testified that he attempted to resign from the HSA board, but that then-Minister Scotland “was very upset” and in- sisted that he stay to finish up the CarePay contract im- plementation and sort out a “revolt” that was occur- ring among HSA doctors at that time. Watson said he in- formed Mr. Halsall that he could not take the AIS position and that he had agreed to stay on the HSA board for another year at Mr. Scotland’s insis- tence. He testified that the BVI consulting company he established was never used and never opened a bank account. In previous submissions before the court, Crown prosecutors have argued that the BVI company was established to accept ex- pected payments from the CarePay contract expan- sion Watson intended to re- ceive. Those payments, at one point, were expected to reach as much as US$5.8 million, prosecutors alleged – although there was no evidence that the Cayman Islands government ever agreed to spend such a sum. The Crown had not pre- viously mentioned Watson receiving any offers of em- ployment from AIS Jamaica. CAREPAy TRIAl Watson: Minister Scotland agreed on CarePay expansion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Based on the minister’s commitment, [Mr. Halsall] was prepared to go forward.” CaNover WatsoN Canover WatsonThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Monday January 18, 2016 PremierHealth BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town.Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac. Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Ltd. acts solely as an agent on behalf of various insurers; it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. You said you needed the flexibility of overseas Rx. You got overseas Rx first with BritCay. In the 20 years since we introduced overseas network benefits, BritCay recognised that people were travelling more for work, college and vacation, so we delivered benefits to meet these needs. That’s why BritCay was first with overseas Rx and direct billing pharmacy benefits for Cayman residents. It means your health plan is as convenient to use overseas as it is at home. CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky cgigrp In 1984, BritCay joined Colonial Group International (CGI). In 1995, BritCay was the first company to offer Cayman residents an overseas network option with world class facilities. It was the first of many changes to come.notable firsts! closed the hotel during off-season while the work was completed. Previously named the Brac Reef Resort, it was renamed to fit with the branding of the family’s two other hotels, the Little Cayman Beach Resort and Cobalt Coast, which it ac- quired in December and renamed as the Grand Cayman Beach Resort. Mr. Tibbetts said it is exciting times for the Brac company, which is looking to exploit its presence on all three islands with multi- destination dive packages. Ernie Scott, the district commissioner for the Sister Islands, said the renova- tions were magnificent. “It is encouraging to see this kind of private invest- ment in the island,” he said during the ceremony. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said increasing airlift into the Brac is paying dividends and cre- ating opportunities for in- vestors like the Tibbetts family to expand. He said the resort is the backbone of tourism on the island and praised the family for their de- cades-long commit- ment to the Brac. “I am very pleased that the legacy established by Linton Tibbetts has not only thrived, but has passed on to the next gen- eration, and continues to grow from strength to strength,” he added. Premier Alden McLaughlin said, “I think this is probably the most tangible evidence that the work we have done and the money we have invested in improving the airport and the flight schedules to the Brac is paying off. “Cayman Brac has al- ways been a challenge as a viable economy, because of the population numbers. They need tourism even more than Grand Cayman.” Michael Tibbetts takes part in the opening ceremony on Friday for the renovated Cayman Brac Beach Resort. - photos: James Whittaker Grand opening for Brac resort CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Michael Tibbetts said the renovations brought a ‘wow factor’ to the destination.Next >