ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Wednesday January 20, 2016 sports | page 19 athletes battle the elements in mercuryman triathlon High of 82 Low of 72 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. A small craft advisory is in effect. editorial | page 4 the tibbetts family legacy continues on cayman brac Devon Anglin not guilty of child’s murder Evidence supporting identification was weak and tenuous, judge says carol WinKer cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Devon Jermaine Anglin has been found not guilty of murdering Jeremiah Barnes on Feb. 10, 2010, when the 4-year-old was fatally shot while seated behind his father in the family car at the Hell Gas Station in West Bay. Justice Charles Quin took more than two hours Tuesday to read his judgment, setting out the reasons for his conclusion that the evidence did not prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Anglin was guilty of any of the counts on the indictment. He had been charged with the murder of Jeremiah; the attempted murder of the boy’s father, Andy Barnes; and possession of an unlicensed firearm. It was accepted by both prosecution and defense counsel that Mr. Barnes was the intended target. Justice Quin concluded with this obser- vation: “The parents and family of Jeremiah Barnes have endured untold and unimagi- nable anguish, suffering and grief because of the untimely and tragic death of this young 4-year-old boy. I do recognize that they, and many others throughout these islands, will be deeply disappointed that Jeremiah’s killer has not yet been brought to justice. “However, the rule of law and the memory of young Jeremiah would be ill-served by this court if it failed to observe and apply the high standards of burden and standard of proof which are demanded of the courts of the Cayman Islands,” he said. Court then adjourned. Anglin, who will be 30 years old on Friday, had a few moments with his mother before he went back down the stairs into the holding cells. They touched hands and spoke quietly. There were few people in the gallery. After his mother kissed him, Anglin went back into custody. CARePAy tRiAl Where is ex-Minister scotland, jurors ask Watson: I had “instructions” from government on CarePay bids brent fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jurors in the criminal trial of former Health Services Authority board chairman Canover Watson want to hear from former Cayman Islands government Minister Mark Scotland in the case. However, they were told Tuesday by Grand Court Judge Michael Mettyear that they might not get such an opportunity. The veteran judge broached the issue after reading a written question passed to him from Mural depicts iconic Cayman beauty Muralist tansy Maki lowered the curtain on her newest artwork on Monday. located at the entrance of the Royal Watler Cruise terminal and commissioned for the Port Authority, it depicts iconic Caymanian sights to remind locals of their surroundings and provide a backdrop for visiting tourists. See page 5 for the full story. - Photo: Matt laMers arrest Made in ruM Point robbery charles duncan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Bodden Town man has been charged with robbery and causing grievous bodily harm in connection with a robbery in Rum Point on Jan. 11 in which an elderly man was punched in the face. The Crown prosecution, in a bail hearing Tuesday, accused David McLaughlin-Martinez of paying off a drug debt by scouting out a home and keeping watch while another man robbed three tourists at knife point. Gov’t caught off guard by MlA’s departure Connolly “won’t join” opposition groups brent fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The ruling Progressives gov- ernment coalition has been left with a bare majority of nine MLAs on its side of the Legislative Assembly, not counting the Speaker of the House, with the departure of George Town MLA Winston Connolly on Monday. Mr. Connolly confirmed Tuesday that he would sit in the opposition ranks when the assembly meets in February. He said he did not intend to join either the opposition Cayman Islands Democratic Party or any “independent groups” that might form during the re- mainder of his term. “I will not be joining the of- ficial or independent opposition groups and will continue to sup- port the government on any pro- posal it brings which I believe is in the best interests of the people,” Mr. Connolly said. Premier Alden McLaughlin indicated Monday evening, following the release of Mr. Connolly’s statement, that he re- mained uncertain about whether the George Town MLA had actu- ally departed from the govern- ment bench. Mr. McLaughlin said he had several private meetings with Mr. Connolly and noted his public statements fol- lowing those meetings that Mr. Connolly indicated he was not leaving government. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Wednesday January 20, 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. - WEDNESDAY - 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) Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Dr. Vivek's offi ce at Smith Road Plaza from 18-29 January, 2016 For appointments please call (345)945-6077 +1 (345) 323-7840 www.drbarryrichter.com #1 Alexander Place • Dorcy Drive, GT 926-5425 bobdaigle@me.com www.caymankarateacademy.com 4 Weeks Of Karate Including Uiform • Focus • Discipline • Exercise • Fun Like us on Facebook George Town, Grand Cayman * For The First 15 People To Contact Us! $69 US argues against release of CONCACAF chief Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The U.S. Department of Justice is opposing the re- lease on bond of indicted CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit because it fears the Honduran national may leave the country if he is released from custody on a low bond. Hawit, who was arrested last month in Switzerland as part of the ongoing FIFA cor- ruption and bribery probe, did not contest his extradi- tion to the U.S. He pleaded not guilty last week to rack- eteering and bribery charges during an appearance in federal court. The two previous CONCACAF presidents, Jeffrey Webb of Cayman and Jack Warner of Trinidad, were also arrested and charged in connection with the FIFA investigation, which alleges that numerous cur- rent and former world foot- ball officials accepted bribes in exchange for awarding commercial rights to cer- tain football tournaments to sports marketing companies. CONCACAF is FIFA’s re- gional governing body for football activities in the Caribbean, North and Central America. Webb is out of prison on bond and facing sen- tencing after pleading guilty in November to racketeering, money laundering con- spiracy and wire fraud con- spiracy charges. Warner is fighting extradition to the U.S. from Trinidad in a legal process that is expected to take years. No one currently sits in the leadership position at CONCACAF. Internal elections for the organization are ex- pected to be held in May. In seeking to hold Hawit in prison, U.S. authori- ties asked for a US$4 mil- lion bond, secured by at least US$500,000 in prop- erty and/or cash. Hawit and his attorneys have proposed a number of “bail packages,” including one on Jan. 15 that sought release on a US$50,000 cash security for the bond. “The government respect- fully submits that, with the current bail package, $50,000 in security is far too low to warrant pre-trial re- lease,” the Department of Justice stated in a three- page letter seeking Hawit’s continued confinement. “The proposed security has not been offered by any relative or friend with moral suasion over the defendant,” the department stated. “It is troubling that de- spite the defendant’s stature in his community and net- work of extended family and other contacts, no proposed surety has offered to post any collateral on the defen- dant’s behalf. This … would appear to speak volumes about the extent of the sure- ties’ faith in [Hawit’s] willing- ness to abide by the terms of pretrial release.” Hawit’s net worth is esti- mated to be about US$2 mil- lion, according to Department of Justice statements. A hearing is set for Thursday in U.S. federal court in the Eastern District of New York regarding his pro- posed release on bond. Alfredo Hawit, left, and FIFA President Joseph Blatter in Budapest, Hungary in May 2012. – Photo: AP SeverAl election officeS AttAcked in hAiti AS runoff neArS PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Stone-throwing demonstra- tors on Monday smashed car windows and set at least two vehicles ablaze in Haiti’s capital, hours after several electoral offices were attacked in northern towns as the country pre- pares for a Jan. 24 presiden- tial and legislative runoff. Roughly 2,000 pro- testers took to the streets in downtown Port-au- Prince calling for new elections and the imme- diate removal of outgoing President Michel Martelly, among other grievances. Roads were blocked with flaming tire barricades and more than a dozen motor- ists had their cars pelted with rocks. A truck and an SUV were torched by young men near a police station. Police dispersed opposi- tion protesters and cleared most roadblocks by late after- noon. Officers scattered some demonstrators with tear gas in the downtown slum of Bel Air, one of many impoverished areas where young people who have never held any kind of steady job are easy pickings for political actors looking for protesters for hire. High school science teacher Elisme Nerius walked his 9-year-old son home from school near a barricaded intersection where black smoke was still billowing from burning tires. “My hope is that when my boy is old enough to vote this country can finally hold decent and calm elections,” Nerius said. In northern Haiti, Police Inspector Michel Henri said three elec- toral offices were set on fire late Sunday in towns around the city of Cap-Haitien and at least two others were damaged by hurled rocks. Henri said the three of- fices that were set ablaze “weren’t totally destroyed” because locals managed to douse the flames. A protester hacks a gas station pump with a machete during a protest against President Michel Martelly’s government to demand the cancellation of the Jan. 24, elections, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Monday. – Photo: AP Mexico wAntS to queStion ActreSS About drug lord MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexican authorities want to talk to actress Kate del Castillo, who arranged Sean Penn’s interview with drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, a government official said Monday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that investiga- tors have formally asked del Castillo to meet with them about the encounter she and Penn had with Guzman. The official said Monday that it is unclear when that will happen and added that del Castillo is considered a witness and is not accused of any crime. Guzman is the Sinaloa drug cartel capo who was captured earlier this month in Los Mochis, Sinaloa state, six months after escaping from a max- imum-security prison. Penn’s article about Guzman was published by Rolling Stone the day after his capture. Eduardo Sanchez, spokesman for Mexico’s presidency, said last week that the government would investigate whether a crime was committed during the meeting between the drug lord and the actors, but that there was no criminal probe of Penn or del Castillo. However he criticized the idea that someone with in- formation about a wanted fugitive would not share it with authorities. Del Castillo responded to criticism last week via Twitter, writing: “Not sur- prisingly, many have chosen to make up items they think will make good stories and that aren’t truthful. I look forward to sharing my story with you.”3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 20, 2016 Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited is licensed to conduct securities business by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. SPEAK WITH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL AT BUTTERFIELD Now’s the time to map out your financial goals and a plan to help get you there. At Butterfield, we can help you define an investment strategy that’s right for you. Let’s chat. For more information and an appointment to discuss your investment needs, please contact us today on 815 7522 or 815 7719. www.butterfieldgroup.com This year I will... Start my MBA Review my investments(today) Save money for Retirement Take a cruise Start an education fund Buy a home Minimum wage coming in six weeks Government tackling inequality, premier tells conference James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government will intro- duce a $6-an-hour min- imum wage on March 1, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced at the Cayman Economic Outlook conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Tuesday. Following the recommen- dations of an advisory panel report last year, there will also be a lower threshold of $4.50 for workers who re- ceive gratuities, room and board or similar benefits. Mr. McLaughlin, in a speech that chimed with the conference’s theme of in- equality, highlighted the min- imum wage and the planned Labour Law among the mea- sures government is taking to address income disparity in the Cayman Islands. Of the minimum wage, he said, “We believe it will help reduce the inequality caused by the low wages that both Caymanians and expa- triates earn in some parts of our economy.” A resolution of the Legislative Assembly is still required before the minimum wage, approved by Cabinet in May last year, becomes law. It was expected to be folded into the new Labour Law but could be introduced as stand- alone legislation if that bill, which has drawn opposition from the business commu- nity, is delayed. Markus Mueri of NM Ventures Group, which owns several restaurants including KARoo and Abacus, said he had not been aware of the March 1 implementation date for the minimum wage. But he believes the pri- vate sector is ready for the change, which is expected to impact the hospitality, se- curity and domestic worker trades in particular. “I had not heard about it until this morning, but for us, it is not a problem. We pay that much anyway,” said Mr. Mueri. He said he would, how- ever, like to see more de- tail on how the law would be enforced. The minimum wage advisory committee es- timated that the minimum wage would apply to al- most 6,000 employees in the Cayman Islands. Mr. McLaughlin said in his speech that there were times when government needed to intervene to tackle economic inequality. “This is not about gov- ernment acting as a trade union but it is about recog- nizing that sometimes the ex- isting imbalance in economic power needs to be tilted back a little.” He acknowledged that the proposed Labour Law had been more controversial. “We recognize business concerns over some of the proposals and we are lis- tening, but businesses too must recognize the inequali- ties in the labor market,” he added, highlighting the in- crease in the retirement age from 60 to 65 as an impor- tant measure in the bill. The Labour Relations Bill, which represents a complete rewrite of the cur- rent Labour Law, would create a number of signifi- cant changes, particularly in the area of employment con- tracts and how dismissal of workers is handled. Mr. McLaughlin also high- lighted in his speech govern- ment’s new jobs program, called “Ready2Work KY,” which involves government paying the wages of private sector employees during a trial period as an incentive to firms to take a chance on un- employed Caymanians. He said government is “aggressively” tackling unem- ployment and urged the pri- vate sector to do its part. “At the end of the day, we expect that those Caymanians finding jobs will give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and I en- courage those of you who may have a job to offer, to make a Caymanian your first choice,” he said. Mr. McLaughlin also high- lighted the tourism school, addressing pay disparity for civil servants, and reducing duty on fuel in an effort to cut utility bills as actions his government has taken to re- duce inequality in Cayman. Earlier in the day, Anwer Sunderji, the CEO of event organizer Fidelity Bank, in- troduced the theme of the conference by highlighting growing global inequality as a potential threat to world political stability and the Cayman Islands business model. Citing recent news reports that the richest 1 percent of people in the world control more wealth than the rest of the world’s population com- bined, he said, “Most made money through successful companies and innovation, but concentrating wealth to this extent gives rich political donors far too much political power and ability to shape the rules that govern the economy, to undermine social mobility, democracy and eco- nomic stability. “They have all benefited from a system of trade, tax and regulatory rules tipped in their favor at the expense of wage earners.” He added, “Even Oxfam is jumping on this bandwagon. Using data from Credit Suisse, it is asking for tax ha- vens to be banned. “Clearly, unless some- thing tangible is done about this matter, the Cayman Islands and other interna- tional banking centers will feel the backlash.” Premier Alden McLaughlin delivers his state of the nation address on Tuesday at the Fidelity Cayman Economic Outlook conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. - 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” The grand reopening of the Cayman Brac Beach Resort deserves three cheers — one for each gen- eration of the Tibbetts family, starting with patriarch Linton Tibbetts and going on down to his grown-up grandchildren, who are continuing the family’s legacy of investing in their beloved Sister Islands. Linton Tibbetts was, of course, the most successful self-made entrepreneur, not just from the Brac, but very likely in the history of the Cayman Islands. “Mr. T,” as he was popularly known, built a business empire in Cayman and Florida, including construction materials suppliers Cox Lumber and Tibbetts Lumber, before his death in 2011 at the venerable age of 88. His wife of 63 years, Pauline “Polly” Tibbetts, passed away on Jan. 4 of this year. She was 89. We at the Compass, together with many others in the com- munities in which she lived and traveled, feel keenly the loss of Mrs. Tibbetts, who was the very embodi- ment of benevolence and warmth. Last Friday’s event must have been, then, both bitter and sweet for the younger members of the Tibbetts family, who cut the white ribbon on a re-imag- ined and re-designed version of the resort their grand- father established in 1985. During the opening ceremony, Michael Tibbetts encapsulated in a few sentences the family’s approach to building in the Brac, which for them is inseparable from “building up” the Brac. “It is not just about driving new visitors, but also raising the quality of the resort for our guests,” he said. “I think this elevates the tourism product for the Brac. It gives guests picturesque views and differenti- ates us from other properties in the Cayman Islands.” Rechristened from the Brac Reef Resort, the new Cayman Brac Beach Resort dovetails with the family’s other diving-oriented hotels, the Little Cayman Beach Resort and Cobalt Coast Resort, giving them a presence on each of the three islands. (Along with Michael Tibbetts, the joint directors of the family company are his sisters Emily Tibbetts-Allenbach and Jessica Tibbetts-Buchanan.) Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, himself a proud Bracker who represents the Sister Islands in the Leg- islative Assembly, also honed in on the continuing con- tributions from the Tibbetts family. “I am very pleased that the legacy established by Linton Tibbetts has not only thrived, but has passed on to the next generation, and continues to grow from strength to strength,” he said. With sterling roads, ubiquitous airlift, and nearly all of Brac residents on the government payroll, the public sector has done far more than its fair share for the future of the Brac — well past the point of dimin- ishing returns and, arguably, even to the extent that it is harmful. That level of government intervention has not, and will never, give rise to financial prosperity in that island (or in fact, anywhere). Generally speaking, if the goal is to help the Brac to flourish economically, the example of the Tibbetts family and their ongoing “reinvestment” should be an inspiration to the many successful Brackers for whom the craggy isle will always be home, even if they have long since relocated to Grand Cayman or beyond. The Tibbetts family legacy continues on Cayman Brac Wednesday January 20, 2016 • Cayman COmpass China’s market chaos China’s economic chaos is fomenting fear across global stock markets, and President Obama would do well to start listening to Donald Trump about the menace posed by Beijing’s economic strategies. For two decades we have heard about the coming Asian Century and how China’s hyper growth and so- cialist market economy pro- vide developing countries with a better alternative to western-style capitalism. In reality, China’s strat- egies are remarkably pat- terned after the “Japanese miracle” of the 1970s and 1980s. An undervalued cur- rency – calculating what a yuan actually buys in China it should be trading at about 3.53 per dollar not the current rate of about 6.49 – makes its products artificially inexpen- sive at Wal-Mart and many western products prohibi- tively expensive in China. Additionally, developing economy status in the WTO permits China to maintain much higher tariffs than western nations, and its banks have provided endless credit to state-owned enter- prises even as profitability dwindles into losses. To satisfy a resulting rav- enous appetite for energy and materials, commodity rich na- tions like Saudi Arabia, Chile and Australia invested heavily in more oil wells, bigger mines and refining facilities. Its export juggernaut im- posed trade deficits on the U.S. and many European economies, and slowed their growth and jobs creation. During the Bush/Obama presidencies, the U.S. economy has averaged only 1.8 percent annual growth. That’s about half the pace achieved during the Reagan- Clinton years and goes a long way toward explaining falling family incomes. Prior to the 2008 finan- cial crisis, consumers in the United States and Europe borrowed heavily against homes and through their governments to maintain living standards. Meanwhile, China manufactured its own real estate frenzy by forcing farmers into new cities with inadequate employment op- portunities and few real eco- nomic imperatives but to boost construction activity and juice GDP statistics. When the bubbles burst, the Europeans and Americans reformed their banks, whereas Beijing encouraged even more lending for everything from factories to luxury flats. And it encouraged ordinary Chinese to pour savings into and borrow from banks to pur- chase stocks and drive equity prices to unrealistic levels. Like Japan at the dawn of its lost decade in 1990, Chinese businesses cannot grow their exports or do- mestic sales enough – and or- dinary folks cannot find good enough paying jobs – to sup- port all the debt and many would be bankrupt if domi- ciled in the West. The Chinese collapse is driving down global oil and resource prices, sending commodity-based economies into recession and pum- meling the U.S. mining and petroleum sectors. Chinese private investors are heading for the doors – panic selling stocks and con- verting their yuan into dol- lars as fast as they can find ways around Beijing’s restric- tions on investing outside the Middle Kingdom. Fear of a permanent col- lapse in global commodity markets is inspiring private investors elsewhere to also seek safe haven in the dollar by buying real assets, such as New York condominiums, and Treasury securities. All of this is driving the dollar up against the yuan and other currencies and killing the demand for U.S.- produced goods and services. U.S. businesses are in- creasingly reluctant to invest in factories and equipment, and the durable goods indus- tries – the backbone of U.S. exports – has shed 35 thou- sand jobs since last summer. Now, disappointing hol- iday season sales indicate pessimism is spreading to consumers, and the economy could easily slip into reces- sion this winter. If Obama does not want his presidency punctuated by another economic crisis, he must finally do some- thing radical about the over- valued dollar – especially against the yuan. Donald Trump’s proposed 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports is remarkably sim- ilar to a tax suggested by Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman and a logical step to stop Beijing from shifting its unemployment and finan- cial woes onto the backs of hardworking Americans. Peter Morici is a professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He served as chief economist of the U.S. International Trade Commission from 1993-1995. He tweets @pmorici1. Peter Morici People walk by Chinese government ‘China Dream’ propaganda billboards near a construction site in Beijing on Tuesday. Columnist Peter Morici says the chaotic Chinese economy is a menace to the U.S. – Photo: AP5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 20, 2016 ®/TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Have a business on-the-go? Introducing RBC EZPay Now you can use your mobile devices to take credit card payments anywhere. Available only at RBC! Learn more at our EZPay Launch Event on Thursday, 28 January at 5:30pm. RSVP: Space is limited. Please confirm your attendance to lana.cranston@rbc.com or 914-8221 by Tuesday, 26th January, 2016. Splashy mural brings Cayman icons to George Town cruise terminal MaTT LaMerS mlamers@pinnaclemedialtd.com Muralist Tansy Maki hopes her newest artwork featuring iconic Caymanian sights gives tourists and resi- dents a sense of gratitude for visiting or living in such a beautiful place. The mural, at the entrance to the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal, was unveiled in a ceremony on Monday after- noon. Joining Ms. Maki were dozens of guests, along with Deputy Premier and Minister of District Administration, Tourism and Transport, Moses Kirkconnell, Deputy Director of the Port Authority Clement Reid and Director of Tourism Rosa Harris. The mural was three weeks in the works, and Ms. Maki said she fought through 10 straight days of rain and wind to finish the painting, which was com- missioned by the Cayman Islands Port Authority. “I drew on my passion and love for the nature and wild- life of Cayman. It’s special to me to be able to do something that’s symbolic of Cayman,” Ms. Maki said. “Hopefully it will inspire people to come back. The Cayman Islands was my inspiration.” Ms. Maki runs MindsEye Art Ltd. and has created mu- rals for The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Luca restau- rant and private residences. The mural for the Port Authority does not have a name, but Ms. Maki calls it “Natural Cayman.” Made with sealed and protected acrylic paint, she expects that it will last for more than 10 years with upkeep and maintenance. The mural is heavy in Cayman symbolism. The Wild Banana Orchid, Cayman’s national flower, is depicted, as is the Cayman parrot. “Both of which can be seen whilst hiking the Mastic trail, a favorite pastime of mine for the 16 years I have lived and worked here,” the artist said. “The conch shell is recog- nized and associated with the ways conch has been used in traditional Caymanian dishes for generations. “The blue iguana is en- demic to Cayman and is represented to remind us how unique and special Cayman is, and hopefully encourages locals and tour- ists to head out to Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park and volunteer with the Blue Iguana Program that is run there, and explore the beautiful gardens. “The green sea turtle is seen as a symbol of old-time Cayman traditions, and also represents the diverse marine life that can be seen snor- keling and diving here, or out at the Turtle Farm.” Mr. Kirkconnell said the mural’s imagery is something very special that tourists will be able to take home. “It was only a blank wall, but now it’s a symbol of Grand Cayman,” he said. Ms. Maki added, “Upon completion, my thoughts were of gratitude and appre- ciation to live and work in such a beautiful place, and a feeling of pride to have been given the task of capturing some of the islands’ beauty with my art work.” Muralist Tansy Maki lowered the curtain on her newest artwork on Monday at the entrance of the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal. – photo: Matt LaMers6 DISTRICT DAYS Wednesday January 20, 2016 • Cayman Compass District Days Sister Islands Preparations kick off for Trust annual fundraiser Basia McGuire bmcguire@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Little Cayman District Committee for the National Trust will hold its 24th Annual Easter Auction on Saturday, March 26. Funds from each auc- tion are used for projects on Little Cayman which support National Trust of the Cayman Islands’ mission to preserve natural environments and places of historic significance for present and future gener- ations of the islands. While the date seems far in the distance, the preparations for this annual event start well in advance, ensuring the popular and routinely suc- cessful fundraiser goes off without a hitch. Organizers noted that the date will be upon them soon and planning needs to start now. “Easter is earlier this year and will be here be- fore you know it,” said com- mittee chairwoman Betty Bua-Smith. As always, the auction will be at the National Trust house with a food booth out- side and beverages indoors provided for attendees. “The way it works usu- ally is that we start off with a silent auction, and then halfway through the event, at about 6:30, we begin the live auction,” said Ms. Bua-Smith. “Then halfway through that, we do a special projects event, and this year that spe- cial project is to add to our land purchase fund.” She added that after the live auction, there is an ad- ditional 20 minutes for last- minute bids on select silent auction items. “Our event is always a great success, and we are hoping to raise some really good money to find land for booby birds, iguana nesting or environmental preserva- tion,” she said. Organizers of the 2015 auction noted that event was a great success, allowing for a number of things that were needed to protect the habitat of the indigenous rock iguana from the inva- sive green iguana in Little Cayman to happen. “Necessary equipment has been purchased, people have been trained on its use, and efforts have been coor- dinated with those of the Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac Trust districts. This will be an ongoing effort over the coming years,” the committee pointed out in a letter to Trust members and friends. The committee noted that auction items which are most popular are those that repre- sent Cayman, especially sea life, birds and land animals and landscape. Bidders espe- cially like works by local ar- tisans and artists. Cash do- nations, particularly from those unable to attend, are also welcomed. The commit- tee’s goal in 2016 is to raise funds to purchase more rock iguana habitat. “As the population and number of homes and cars on Little Cayman increases, it has become even more im- portant to expand the pro- tected nesting and living areas for the rock iguana,” the committee noted. Contributions in previous years led to the group ac- quiring an important nesting area at Preston Bay, as well as the construction of a boardwalk to allow visitors to enjoy the site with min- imal impact. The criteria for the land purchases include the im- portance of the site to rock iguanas for feeding, nesting or mating, proximity to other protected land, to create large core areas for the activities of iguanas, im- portance of the site for other endangered species, in- cluding birds, amphibians, other reptiles and plants, the ecological diversity of the land and habitat to be pro- tected, and the historical significance of the site for Little Cayman. For more information on the auction, contact Betty Bua-Smith at 948-1077 or 325-1097. 50 yearS ago: excitement at the Brac airport, births In the Jan. 19, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac cor- respondent Lilian Ritch wrote: “The airport terminal on Wed. 12th was a little spot of excitement. It was rather fuller than usual, perhaps be- cause of the windy, drizzly, chilly weather outside. “We heard our C.B.A. plane circle twice before she came down on the strip on the third round. She was resting there about 20 minutes when the roar of another plane passed over our heads. In seconds, the men had our ‘baby’ clear of the runway, her tail about to enter the doorway of the terminal. “Parker Tibbetts got busy on the phone contacting Grand Cayman and Jamaica but they knew nothing of a plane bound our way. He tried to make contact with the plane herself – no reply! Due to overhanging clouds we could hear but not see her. “Our District Commissioner then ordered people and cars out and away from the terminal, anticipating a forced landing. However, this un- identified plane, having circled sev- eral times, at about 200 feet never did land. The C.B.A. pilot waited until he could be reasonably certain that our visitor was out of the way, then took off with his passengers about an hour behind schedule. We appreciate the prompt and precautionary attitudes of our D.C., the pilot and plane agent. “Mr. and Mrs. Sam McCoy of Spot Bay became the happy parents of their third son on Wednesday, 12th. “Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone Grizzel of Little Cayman and West End re- ceived the gift of a second son on Friday the 14th.” Peter Hillenbrand and the late gladys Howard at the 2015 auction. The easter auction will be held at the Little Cayman Trust House on March 26. From left, volunteers Casey Van eyssen, Michelle Davis, Dianne Fite and Peter Hillenbrand at the 2015 auction.Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 20, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Sister Islands Brac airport veteran retires James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Longtime Cayman Brac airport worker Daryl “Bud” Walton retired last week after nearly three decades. Mr. Walton, officially the airport’s maintenance officer, was lauded Friday as an all- rounder who had helped keep the airport running smoothly. “The dedication of people like Bud are what sepa- rates this airport from many others in the region,” said Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, who, along with Premier Alden McLaughlin presented 55-year-old Mr. Walton with a plaque during a ceremony at the airport on Friday. “It is never a pleasure when a long-term employee retires, but when you know his success and effort and all the things he has done for this island, I am glad to be able to tell you we wish you the richest blessings,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. The tourism minister also announced that the air- port, now named the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport, had been recognized by the Caribbean Journal as the best small airport in the region. He said the award from the magazine was a tribute to Mr. Walton and all the staff at the facility. For Mr. Walton, who started as a security worker, it is the end of an era. He has done a number of jobs over the years and says he was always happy to help out in any way he could. When Princess Alexandra visited in 1989, he recalls he drove his Daihatsu Charade out onto the tarmac to light the way from the plane to the terminal because the outside lights had yet to be installed. Another memorable mo- ment was in the aftermath of Hurricane Paloma when Mr. Walton and his colleagues worked around the clock to clear the runway and get the airport open so planes could arrive with aid from Grand Cayman. He says he will miss the work and his colleagues. “The island is so small, I will still see everyone,” he added. Bud Walton poses in front of the Caribbean Journal article recognizing the Brac’s airport as the best small airport in the region. - PHOTOs: JAMEs WHITTAKER Bud Walton accepts his retirement plaque from Premier Alden McLaughlin and Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell. A few social happenings will have Brackers out and about this coming long weekend. It’s all about enjoying some old- time rock ‘n’ roll under the stars for a good cause at the Full Moon Sock Hop. The party takes place Saturday at Cayman Brac Public beach. The $25 tickets for this fund- raiser for the National Trust District Committee for Cayman Brac include food and a free drink. The evening will feature a raffle, live auction, dancing, DJ, and an ice cream soda bar – conjuring up the good old days. Poodle skirts recommended but not required. On Monday, the Lions Club of Cayman Brac will hold its an- nual Corporate Cup. The free event brings the Brac community together in friendly team competition. “This is a Lions Club of Cayman Brac project, the aim of which is to encourage community spirit, unity, and to emphasize the importance of physical fitness,” said Kevin Roberts, past club president and member of the Corporate Cup committee. Participants ages 4 and up are welcome to take part. Teams of four compete in a friendly relay, with All Nations United Pentecostal Church vying to defend its cup title against all comers and hold onto the vic- tors’ trophy for another year. The event categories include a corporate division, which features both a run and walk, and a high school division, which pits students from the school houses against each other. There is also a reception/ primary division for the youngest racers. The course follows the Stake Bay loop, with the start and finish at the museum, and organizers hope to get things going by 7 a.m. “We are still looking for teams to participate, and you can pre-register by contacting any member of Lions or register at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event,” said Mr. Roberts. “We really encourage teams to come out for this fun activity, es- pecially since it’s free,” he said, adding that the event is sponsored by Cayman National Bank and all participants get a T-shirt and water. For more information, contact committee chair Lion Dionne Smith on 925-7341. Long weekend events on the Brac Volunteers at last year’s Lions Corporate Cup.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Wednesday January 20, 2016 • Cayman Compass On-island HR programme: become HR qualified in 2016 Professional Certificate in Human Resource Practice (CHRP) Perfect if you work in Human Resources and for managers, supervisors and administrators who want to develop HR skills The HR business context and contracts of employment Recruitment and selection interviewing Cayman labour law and employee relations Managing performance and managing discipline Managing pay, benefits and rewards Discrimination law and equality of opportunity HR classes will be delivered on-island by University of Portsmouth Faculty At UCCI in 6 teaching blocks: 4 x 4 days + 2 x 2 days March to October 2016 Marjorie Corbridge, Stephen Pilbeam, Debbie Tizzard and Gary Rees Check out the website for full details: www.port.ac.uk/caymanchrp Gain the Professional Certificate in HR Practice, become an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and boost your career through being HR qualified. Please contact Marjorie Corbridge: marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk Director of Recruitment, Cayman Islands: University of Portsmouth Business School Starts Tuesday 15 March 2016-too good an HR opportunity to miss! He is serving a sentence of life imprisonment for the September 2009 murder of Carlo Webster, for which he was convicted in January 2012 after trial by judge alone, which Anglin appealed unsuccessfully. The verdict of Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in that case was up- held by the Court of Appeal in December 2012. According to the Conditional Release Law passed last year, a sentence of life imprisonment for murder shall be 30 years in- carceration (unless the sen- tencing judge decides other- wise) before the prisoner can be considered for conditional release on license. Anglin was tried previ- ously for Jeremiah’s murder; after trial by judge alone in August 2011, he was found not guilty. The Crown ap- pealed and the Court of Appeal set aside the ac- quittal, citing an error in law by the judge. The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial, not reaching any conclusions as to Anglin’s guilt or innocence. The retrial took place in November and December 2015. In delivering his ver- dict, Justice Quin said he had to remind himself of the spe- cial need for caution when considering eyewitness iden- tification evidence. He noted that as de- fense counsel David Fisher and Lucy Organ had pointed out, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes may have assumed that Anglin wanted to kill Mr. Barnes or do him serious bodily harm because he had been a close friend of Carlo Webster and might retal- iate against Anglin for Mr. Webster’s fatal shooting. Both Mr. Barnes and his wife Dorlisa had identified Anglin as the shooter. Both had known him most of his life. Both said they saw his distinctive misaligned eye, which Mr. Barnes called a squint and Mrs. Barnes called a cockeye. Honest witnesses can be mistaken, the judge noted. He had to consider the circum- stances in which they had seen the gunman. The lighting at the gas station was good and there was nothing be- tween the windshield of the car and the gunman to ob- struct their view. But the opportunity to observe the gunman was very short. Mr. Barnes was trying to start the car when the gunman first ap- peared. He was then driving away, pushing Jeremiah and his brother down in the back seat. Mrs. Barnes had screamed after seeing the gunman, closed her eyes and ducked below the dashboard before the first shot was fired. Mrs. Barnes had said she looked straight at the gunman and he had nothing on his face. Mr. Barnes said the gunman was wearing two bandanas, one above the eyes and one below. However, he did not say that in his statement to police or during the fist trial. A man who was working at the gas station that night saw the gunman approach. He described the person as wearing a Halloween mask and initially thought it was some kind of prank. CCTV footage from the gas station showed the gunman wearing a hoodie and a mask or some face covering. Video image expert Grant Fredericks accepted that the gunman had a mask or some face covering. Justice Quin noted that Mr. Barnes had given incor- rect descriptions of what the gunman was wearing, saying he had on black pants and a black jacket with red stripes. CCTV showed the gunman wearing blue jeans and a green hoodie. Anglin report- edly wore black clothing ear- lier in the day. Although Mr. and Mrs. Barnes said they were cer- tain the gunman was Anglin, their eyewitness identifica- tion evidence was very poor and made in extremely diffi- cult circumstances, the judge said. “I cannot be sure that their purported recognition of Devon Anglin is correct.” There was evidence of gunshot residue on Anglin’s clothing and in the car he had been seen in. But two gunshot residue experts said there was a significant chance of in- nocent contamination. Anglin was arrested by officers who had carried firearms. The res- idue in the car could have been the result of where the car was searched. A comparison of clothing worn by the gunman and by Anglin – as seen on court- house CCTV when he at- tended court that same day – showed that the jeans and shoes might or might not be the same, Justice Quin sum- marized. Anglin’s hairline was consistent with the gunman’s hairline, but the CCTV footage was very low resolution. He found this evi- dence to be tenuous, in- herently weak and not ca- pable of supporting the eyewitness evidence. Two teenaged girls had given evidence that they had seen Anglin the evening of the shooting, but could not say whether they saw him before or after 8 p.m. – the time of the shooting. There was also evidence that Anglin had showered at his cousin’s home after 8 p.m. and that he had been drinking, but neither of these factors in- creased the reliability of the eyewitness evidence and was not capable of supporting it. The case for the prosecu- tion was conducted by lead counsel Andrew Radcliffe, assisted by senior Crown counsel Elisabeth Lees. Justice Quin pointed out that it was not the duty of the prosecution to obtain a con- viction by all means at its command. The duty was to lay all evidence before the court. Devon Anglin not guilty of child’s murder CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Iran moves assets, awaIts benefIts as sanctIons are lIfted TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran successfully transferred some of the billions of dol- lars’ worth of frozen over- seas assets following the implementation of the nuclear deal with world powers, the head of the country’s central bank said Tuesday. But ordinary Iranians are still waiting to see how their daily lives will improve and how fast Iranian companies will gain access to financial markets worldwide. Credit cards still do not work in the Islamic Republic and its ATM ma- chines remain separated from the rest of the world. That is not likely to change soon as many of the world’s major financial services companies operate in the United States. Iranian state televi- sion quoted Valiollah Seif, the head of Iran’s cen- tral bank, as saying that Tehran transferred funds from banks in Japan and South Korea to other banks in Germany and the United Arab Emirates. He did not say how much money was involved in the transfers, though he said the nuclear deal would give Tehran access to $32 billion in overseas assets and lower international currency transactions for the country by 15 percent. The Mideast commer- cial hub of Dubai would be the most likely place in the seven-state Emirates feder- ation for Iran to move its funds. The port city is home to a large Iranian expa- triate community and has a long trading history with nearby Iran. Emirates NBD, the largest bank in Dubai, de- clined to tell The Associated Press whether it was doing business with Iran now that nuclear-related sanc- tions have been lifted, citing a policy of confidentiality regarding potential or ex- isting customers. However, it said “various regula- tory authorities” have re- leased guidance since the deal was implemented on Saturday. The bank said it is reviewing that guid- ance to better understand the obligations and re- strictions that apply to banks in the UAE. Jeremiah BarnesThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Wednesday January 20, 2016 Mitzie L. Whittaker Sunrise 17.Dec.1968 Sunset 20.Jan.2009 Seven years has passed since that sad day, when one we loved has passed away. And while she lies in peaceful sleep, her memory we shall Always keep. Always loved and remembered by: Mom Oleta & Dad Barton Sisters: Lavonne & Marilyn Brothers: Marty & Barton Jr. and the rest of the family We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Earl Anderson Rivers of West Bay, who passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2016. A Service of Thanksgiving and committal will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at Northwest Point Cemetery, West Bay at 4:00p.m. In lieu of owers, donations can be made to Cayman Islands Hospice Care at the grave site. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com In response to fur- ther questions about Mr. Connolly’s departure from government, Premier McLaughlin said in an email Tuesday, “I will let the media have a considered response in due course, just not today.” It is possible for the ruling government coali- tion to carry on with nine members in the Legislative Assembly, according to the Cayman Islands Constitutional Commission. The split currently would put nine government mem- bers on the bench, including independent Minister Tara Rivers. Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly makes the 10th member of the Progressives-led coali- tion, as Speaker she is un- able to vote unless it is to break a tie vote. On the opposition benches, there will now be eight MLAs, including three members of McKeeva Bush’s Cayman Islands Democratic Party and five independents, including re- cent Progressives party de- serters Anthony Eden and Alva Suckoo. Constitutional Commission Chairman David Ritch indicated in a public statement ear- lier this month that the leg- islature could maintain a 10-member quorum to carry on meetings even with nine members on the govern- ment bench. The reason is that someone in the opposi- tion would have to show up to object to the meeting of a nine-member government, meaning that person’s arrival would fulfill the 10-person quorum requirement. However, both Mr. Ritch and Opposition Leader Bush noted that a number of operational problems arise for a nine-member government bench. One option for the Progressives-led coalition could be to put Speaker O’Connor-Connolly back on the government side of the House. In that case, another Speaker would have to be chosen from inside or out- side the assembly. Mr. Bush applauded Mr. Connolly’s move to the opposition benches. “He is doing the right thing in being a true indepen- dent,” Mr. Bush said. “The country is better off with this move.” Mr. Bush also noted that there are now more independent members on the opposition benches than there are members of his own opposition party. However, he did not believe there would be a change in opposition leadership. “All three members [re- ferring to Mr. Eden, Mr. Suckoo and Mr. Connolly] have said they are not joining anyone,” he said. “We will work for the bet- terment of our people.” Independent legis- lator Ms. Rivers, for whose Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Mr. Connolly was councillor, said she respects his deci- sion and understood that his move was “in the best in- terests of his constituents.” She added that she con- sidered herself an indepen- dent in the Progressives-led government and would con- tinue in her role. Asked for his reaction to Mr. Connolly’s move, gov- ernment minister Osbourne Bodden said he was disap- pointed and “didn’t see any reason” for Mr. Connolly’s decision. “It makes no sense,” he said. “We have a good government; we’ve had no major issues. Stating that he con- siders the Progressives still have a strong govern- ment, he added, “Politics is a funny business.” a member of the six-woman, one-man jury that has been hearing the corruption case since late November. “It’s a good question, a sensible question,” Justice Mettyear said, explaining that Mr. Scotland was not called as part of the Crown’s case, which is now com- pleted. Justice Mettyear said he was not certain whether the defense intended to call him as a witness. It was be- lieved that Watson would be the only defense witness called to testify. Mr. Mettyear indicated that he intended to direct the jury in his summing up of the case at the end of the trial not to speculate about why certain individuals were not appearing as witnesses or “what they would have said if they had been here.” “You’ve got enough to think about with what you have heard,” he told the jury. Mr. Scotland’s name, along with a number of other high- ranking former and current government officials, has come up through the course of the two-month trial. The second count of the Crown’s indictment against Watson alleges that he and business associate Jeffrey Webb defrauded the govern- ment by tricking officials into believing that funds had been set aside for the CarePay system expansion when they actually had not. Watson’s attorney Trevor Burke, QC, 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. Watson testified last week that behind-the-scenes ne- gotiations on the five-year, US$13 million deal were still occurring just hours before the CarePay patient swipe- card contract was signed. Although Watson bro- kered the talks on Dec. 21, 2010, he was not privy to a telephone conversation that day between Mr. Scotland and CarePay system con- tractor, Jamaican busi- nessman Douglas Halsall. Watson said Mr. Halsall wanted former Health Minister Scotland to “guar- antee” the eventual expan- sion of the hospital patient swipe-card system to private sector insurers in the Cayman Islands. When it was first im- plemented, the CarePay patient card system was activated only for the public hospital system. Watson – the chairman of the Health Services Authority at the time the CarePay contract was signed – testified that Mr. Halsall and his company, Advanced Integrated Systems of Jamaica, were keen to en- sure their system would also be used by Cayman’s pri- vate sector healthcare pro- viders as well. Watson testified that then- Minister Scotland refused to agree to such terms be- cause he did not want gov- ernment to be seen as forcing the private sector into ac- cepting the deal. Watson said he put Mr. Halsall directly on the phone with Mr. Scotland and the two discussed it early on Dec. 21. Watson testified that Mr. Halsall told him 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 forward,” Watson testified. Neither Mr. Scotland nor Mr. Halsall has appeared as a witness at the trial and could therefore not verify Watson’s testimony about their discussions. Watson’s ‘instructions’ During cross examina- tion by Crown prosecutors Tuesday, Watson testified that he had “instructions” from the former United Democratic Party govern- ment that Mr. Halsall’s tech- nology was the one govern- ment wished to approve. Watson testified that he received this word as early as Aug. 12, 2010 – four months before the CarePay contract was signed by government officials and AIS Jamaica owner Douglas Halsall. “Are you suggesting that the government told you Halsall’s solution was the only solution in the world?” Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran asked Watson. “Did the gov- ernment tell you this was the only solution in the world?” “The government gave me a mandate to try and de- liver the system that they wanted,” Watson said. “The fact of the matter is clear, Mr. Halsall’s presentation [to government officials on Aug. 11, 2010] triggers this re- quest for proposal. “[The instruction] was clearly to bring Mr. Halsall’s system on board.” Mr. Moran asked Watson whether request for proposal documents released later in 2010 were “lying” and if a technical review committee formed to review bids sub- mitted by proposers “had quite a different mandate” than the one stated. “The intention was al- ways to bring the system that we saw in the presentation on Aug. 11 [2010] into exis- tence as quickly as possible,” Watson said. Evidence presented ear- lier in the trial indicated that a number of potential bid- ders for the hospital’s pa- tient claims management system did exist. Former hospital IT director Dale Sanders told jurors that some half a dozen companies ex- pressed interest in bidding on the project. One local com- pany, Brac Informatics, also stated it wished to bid but ended up not doing so as the deadline approached. Watson stated his belief during testimony Tuesday that AIS Jamaica owned the only system “in the world” at the time the bids went out that could both verify a hos- pital patient’s insurance cov- erage and “adjudicate” the pa- tient’s claims – determine how much the insurance company owed and how much the pa- tient owed – immediately. Watson said there was no reason to go through the request for proposal pro- cess to get other bids on the contract, because Mr. Halsall’s system was the only one that could do what government wanted for the hospital system. Mr. Moran suggested that Watson had done no research to verify that at the time gov- ernment decided in August 2010 that AIS Jamaica’s system was the one it wished to use. “You have no idea, do you?” Mr. Moran asked Watson, referring to his claim that AIS Jamaica was the only company that could pro- vide real-time patient claims adjudication. “What you said to the jury is not true.” “It is still my belief … to this day,” Watson said, adding that the AIS-CarePay system was a solution that “everyone in the room” felt would solve the hospital’s problems. A magistrate denied the bail request, citing the se- riousness of the crime and the potential for the defen- dant to commit additional crimes while out on bail. The magistrate sent the case to Grand Court. “This is a horrendous crime,” Magistrate Valdis Foldats said at the hearing. If found guilty, Magistrate Foldats said, “the sentence would be in the double digits.” The Crown alleges that McLaughlin-Martinez, 38, had worked as a plumber in the beachfront home in Rum Point and no- ticed valuables around the house. In order to repay a $2,400 debt for “sev- eral ounces” of cocaine, the defendant led the drug dealer to the home, the Crown alleged. The other man, who po- lice are still searching for, robbed the three tourists from Kentucky, U.S. According to the pros- ecutor, a 77-year-old man was alone on the porch when the unnamed man came up and punched him in the face, fracturing his cheek bone. The man’s wife, 76, and a 61-year-old woman, the couple’s care- taker, were inside. The man forced his way into the house and robbed the tour- ists of cash, electronics and jewelry, including the cou- ple’s wedding rings. The two women were not injured. The trio had been on vacation in the Cayman Islands since Dec. 12. Denying bail, Magistrate Foldats said, “This is so far beyond societal norms” that it “scares the court.” He said, “No bail conditions would satisfy me.” McLaughlin-Martinez will appear in Grand Court on Jan. 29. Gov’t caught off guard by MLA’s departure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. Connolly said he also did not intend to join either the opposition Cayman Islands Democratic Party or any “independent groups” that might form during the remainder of his term. CArePAy triAL Where is ex-Minister Scotland, jurors ask CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. Scotland Arrest made in rum Point robbery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >