ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Tuesday February 2, 2016 sports | page 15 John Terry To leave Chelsea aT end oF The season High of 86 Low of 74 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 GoinG viral: The war aGainsT The mosquiTo 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Police search for 3 Cubans who landed Sunday Marine unit rescues others at sea Charles dunCan cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three people from Cuba are on the run in Grand Cayman after landing at Beach Bay on Sunday. Police rescued another 15 migrants who ran into difficulties at sea on Monday. Two boats, carrying more than 60 mi- grants between them, stopped first at the Brac, where 25 got off the boats and were taken into custody, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The vessels then sailed to Grand Cayman. One landed in Beach Bay and could not get back out to sea. Immigration then took 21 people into cus- tody; four men disappeared from the group. Chief Inspector Claudia Brady of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said one of those four men returned to the boat and is in custody, and police are asking for public assistance to find the remaining three men suspected to be hiding in the Beach Bay area. The other boat moored off East End before the migrants continued on their journey. On Monday, Home Affairs Deputy Chief Officer Wesley Howell said that boat got into trouble at sea, but “all 15 souls on Researchers keep tabs on grouper sites Bad weather disrupts annual monitoring James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The numbers of Nassau grouper seen at protected spawning sites around the Cayman Islands are slowly in- creasing, according to re- searchers working on an on- going monitoring project. Department of Environment officers and staff from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation are once again keeping tabs on aggregation sites on all three islands this week as part of the Grouper Moon project. During the winter full moon, in either January or February, the normally solitary and ter- ritorial Nassau grouper travel long distances to gather in one spot to spawn. It is the only time the fish procreate, and the gathering is crucial to the survival of the spe- cies, considered an iconic fish in the Caribbean. Researchers have been mon- itoring the aggregation sites, which are protected from fishing during spawning season, since 2002. Bradley Johnson, research officer with the DoE, said bad weather had held back research, which began after last week’s Fired prisons oFFicer sues brenT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former deputy prison director alleges her firing from Her Majesty’s Prison Service in the Cayman Islands last year was illegal and should be voided by government. The claims by Aduke Joseph-Caesar are made in an application for judicial review filed with the Grand Court on Jan. 27. “The chief officer [of the Ministry of Home Affairs] acted illegally when he decided to, and did, conduct disciplinary proceedings,” the writ states, indicating that these proceedings should have been instituted by the prisons di- rector, Neil Lavis. Contacted Thursday, ministry Chief Officer Eric Bush said it would not be appropriate to comment on a matter before the court. The application for judicial review, which must be accepted by the Grand Court prior to the case moving to a full hearing, seeks for the court to declare Ms. Joseph-Caesar’s firing void and to reinstate her to the prison service. The claim also seeks payment of salary and pension contributions from the date the former deputy prisons director was termi- nated, Nov. 2, 2015. Ms. Joseph-Caesar’s dismissal came fol- lowing an internal inquiry into the discovery of a hidden camera in the office of another prisons manager. The camera was covertly re- cording from inside an air conditioning duct in the prison manager’s office. Mr. Lavis said at the time that it was “re- grettable” the prison manager’s privacy in the matter had been invaded. Two other prison officers were suspended in connection with the same incident. It is understood that one of the officers has since been reinstated. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Thousands of grouper aggregate at specific spawning sites after the January or February full moon. – pHoTo: ALeX MusTArd PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » El Arca arrived in Cayman waters over the weekend carrying more than 30 Cuban migrants. - pHoTo: cHArLes duncAn2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Tuesday February 2, 2016 • Cayman Compass SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) KUNG FU PANDA 3 3D (PG) 12:20 I 2:40 2D I 5:00 I 7:20 2D I 9:40 THE 5TH WAVE (PG13) 1:10 I 4:00 I 7:30 I 10:10 RIDE ALONG 2 (PG13) 3:30 I 7:10 I 9:40 THE FINEST HOURS 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:10 2D I 7:00 I 9:55 2D 13 HOURS - SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI (R) 1:15 I 4:30 I 8:00 NORM OF THE NORTH (PG) 12:50 I 3:10 STAR WARS VII (PG13) 6:45 I 9:50 Jamaica Pm calls early elections for feb. 25 KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – Jamaica’s top politician has set Feb. 25 as the date for general elections. The vote had to come by December, but Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says her People’s National Party is ready now. She made the announce- ment at a late Sunday rally in Jamaica’s capital to cheering supporters decked out in orange, the color of her party. Simpson Miller says her team is committed to a “peaceful campaign.” The contest will pit her faction against the Jamaica Labor Party led by former Prime Minister Andrew Holness. He led Jamaica for just over two months before his party lost 2011 elections by a 2-1 margin. Simpson Miller is seeking a second consec- utive term. She became Jamaica’s first female leader during a year-and- a-half stint in office that ended in 2007. Murder trial adjourned Defense raises point of law CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The trial of Justin D’Angelo Ramoon and Osbourne Wilfred Douglas on a charge of murder has been adjourned. They are charged with the murder of Jason Charles Powery, which occurred on the night of Wednesday, July 1, 2015 in George Town. He was 20 at the time and a resident of West Bay. The defendants en- tered their pleas of not guilty last year. On Monday, jury selec- tion began. However, de- fense counsel Sean Larkin subsequently asked to raise a point of law in the ab- sence of jurors. After discussion in the closed courtroom, Justice Charles Quin called ev- eryone back and advised that they were no longer re- quired that day or for the week. He asked them to re- turn on Feb. 8 and reminded them that up-to-date infor- mation would be available on the jury hotline. Mr. Larkin is instructed by attorney Alice Carver on behalf of Ramoon. Lead counsel Brendan Kelly is instructed by at- torney Laurence Aiolfi on behalf of Douglas. The case for the pros- ecution is being con- ducted by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards, assisted by Crown counsel Candia James. on historic foray, Castro visits France as Cuba opens up PARIS (AP) – Cuban President Raul Castro is paying an historic state visit to France as the Caribbean island opens up its economy. The trip comes after a breakthrough deal was reached in Paris in December to lighten Cuba’s foreign debt – and days after France hosted the leader of another long-time pariah state: Iran. Castro, 84, is on his first official trip to Europe since taking over from his elder brother Fidel in 2006. The Cuban president briefly stopped to Rome last year to meet with Pope Francis. He received a formal welcome Monday at the Arc de Triomphe monu- ment. He will attend later a state dinner with President Francois Hollande. The Cuban delegation is also meeting French busi- ness leaders and the UNESCO chief. The French government was instrumental in securing the debt relief deal. In December, the Paris Club of creditor countries for- gave $8.5 billion of overdue Cuban interest payments in exchange for Cuba’s promise to pay off $2.6 billion in loans from developed countries over the next year and a half. France, to which Cuba owed $4 billion in overdue loans, led the creditors’ negotiations. Hollande was the first French leader to visit Cuba in a half-century, with a trip in May aimed at boosting trade. French companies are looking for business opportu- nities to open up especially in tourism, transport, food and environmental industries. Cuba has seen a tour- istic boom last year in the wake of the normalization of its relations with the U.S. The number of French visiting the country has increased by 30 percent in 2015 compared to previous years. A dozen bilateral agree- ments are expected to be signed during Castro’s visit, in- cluding one regarding Cuba’s remaining debt to France, which amounts to $390 mil- lion. The two countries are also hoping to develop univer- sity and scientific exchanges. Jamaica confirms first case of Zika virus KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health has con- firmed one case of the Zika virus in Jamaica. The pa- tient, who has now recov- ered, is a 4-year-old child, according to the Jamaica Information Service. The child began showing symptoms on Jan. 17 after earlier returning to Jamaica from travel to Texas in the United States. The child was investi- gated at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for testing on Jan. 26. The ministry received the positive Zika virus test result from CARPHA late Friday afternoon, the Jamaica Information Service reported. The case is being inves- tigated to determine the source of infection and the child’s parents and family have been contacted and briefed by a team from the ministry of health. No other family member is ill at this time. As part of its investiga- tion, the Ministry of Health has undertaken the neces- sary community interven- tions in and around the area where the child lives to de- termine whether there are other cases and has height- ened vector control activities. The Minister of Health was expected to provide a full update at a press briefing on Monday. There is adequate medi- cation available in the public health system to treat the symptoms of Zika virus in- fection in the event of addi- tional cases being identified, the Jamaica Information Service reported. Cuba’s President raul Castro, center right, and French Minister Segolene royal, center left, attend a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown Soldier in Paris on Monday. - Photo: aP two indecent assaults reported on South Church Street Two women walking or running along a area fre- quented by exercisers on South Church Street reported indecent assaults on separate days last week. Police responded to the re- ports, which both took place between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and Saturday. In both cases a woman walking or running alone was grabbed by a man who emerged from bushes along the road and ran up be- hind her, then ran away after the assault. One assault occurred near Dart Family Park, with the man running off in the di- rection of Clayton Drive. The other occurred in the vi- cinity of Grand Old House, between Thompson Drive and Denham Thompson Way, with the man running off toward Denham Thompson. Neither woman was injured. In both incidents the per- petrator was described as somewhat tall and having a dark complexion. With re- spect to Thursday’s inci- dent, the man in question is described as wearing a black beanie hat and dark, short-sleeve shirt. With re- spect to Saturday’s incident, the man in question is de- scribed as slim and clean shaven, wearing camou- flage pants and a dark-col- ored short-sleeve T-shirt with a shoulder-length braided hairstyle. anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to call George town Cid at 949-4222 or the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(tiPS).The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Tuesday February 2, 2016 Jamie Lee Curtis Actress and Author Julia Immonen Founder, Sport for Freedom David Jones Co-Founder, One Young World Kerry Kennedy Human Rights Activist and Writer Jonathan MacDonald Founder, Thought Expansion Network Robert J. O’Neill Team Leader, Naval Special Warfare Development Group Kevin Mitnick ‘The World’s Greatest Hacker’ Meghan Markle Actress, Model and Humanitarian SUPERCHARGED ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS: FEBRUARY 4-5, 2016 • THE RITZ-CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN CAYMAN ISLANDS • CAYMANSUMMIT.COM PANTONE 130 PANTONE 179 PANTONE 425 PlatinumGoldSilver Executive Platinum 3 DAYS* TO JAY LENO & OTHER SUPERCHARGED SPEAKERS * week days only REGISTER NOW @ CAYMANSUMMIT.COMThe 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. In the November/ December 1971 edition of The Northwester magazine, the editor did a great cover story on Dr. Roy McTaggart, cov- ering all his achievements, particularly the fact that he was a pioneer in many fields such as shipping (the MV Cimboco was the life- line for Caymanians in the early years), the gas business, a local newspaper, tourism, being the first dentist, the su- permarket business, devel- oper of the Seaview Hotel and the first four-story building in Cayman, a longtime legis- lator, champion of free edu- cation and businessman, to name a few of his achieve- ments, and it also covered the fact that what Dr. Roy is most remembered for is his single-handed heroic stand against following Jamaica into independence. On Feb. 6 1972, Rev. George O.W. Hicks wrote a letter to the editor of The Northwester which is more truthful today than it even was in 1972. In light of Dr. Roy McTaggart being named a National Hero on Jan. 25, 2016, I wish to re- peat the letter of Feb. 6 1972 by Rev. Hicks: “Dear Sir: I enjoyed your cover story in the November/ December issue very much about Dr. Roy McTaggart. If there is one man in the is- lands who deserves some recognition, it is ‘Dr. Roy.’ However, I believe it might be in order to comment further about one aspect of the story, namely the portion devoted to Dr. McTaggart’s role in the move to separate the Cayman Islands from the Jamaican Independence movement and thus retain the status of a Crown Colony. “I realize it was mentioned in your story, but I feel it should be singled out again, since the issue involved might possibly be the most important step taken yet in the history of the islands. And, Dr. Roy McTaggart was the man mainly responsible for it! A man of foresight, he realized that becoming a part of Jamaica would not be ad- vantageous to the islands, and he rose to lead the move against it. “In the beginning, the majority of members of the Legislative Assembly were ready to vote for the link with Jamaica. It was only through the efforts of Dr. Roy McTaggart that the course of history for the islands was changed. Dr. McTaggart car- ried his ideas to the people of the Islands, convinced them of the advantages of remaining a Crown Colony, and then returned to the Assembly with the mandate of the people. “The result is well known: The Legislative Assembly voted unanimously to retain the status we enjoy today. “To understand the sig- nificance of this, reflect for a moment what it would be like if it had not been for Dr. McTaggart: Would the Islands be experiencing the tremendous economic growth that they are now under the tax haven status? Would our citizens be free from income and business taxes? Could we still enjoy the special im- migration status we enjoy with our friend the United States? Probably not. “The Cayman Islands are fortunate to have a man like Dr. Roy McTaggart to call on in times of need. Many Caymanians think of our ‘Dr. Roy’ as the ‘Winston Churchill’ of the Cayman Islands. It is easy to see why when the facts are known. “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr. Roy McTaggart for his efforts. We in the Islands owe him a debt that can never be repaid. “Yours sincerely, Rev. George O.W. Hicks.” That letter was written by Rev. Hicks in February 1972. The only fact that Rev. Hicks didn’t mention and that was told to us many times by uncle Roy himself, is that he drove around the island by himself and col- lected over 3,000 signatures on a petition from a popula- tion of less than 7,000, and spoke for over four hours when he presented it in the Legislative Assembly. I am repeating Rev. Hicks’s letter today in January 2016 because it applies as much, or more, today than it did then. Thank you to the gov- ernment for honoring “Dr. Roy,” and congratulations to him for an honor more than well deserved. David Wight Editor’s Note: We take particular pride in Dr. Roy McTaggart’s achievements, as he was the founder of The Caymanian Weekly newspaper, the forerunner of today’s Cayman Compass. The mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world. So says Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who adds, “When it comes to killing humans, no other animal even comes close.” Mr. Gates goes on to cite statistics showing that mosquitoes kill about 725,000 humans every year (about 600,000 from malaria alone); compared to 50,000 by snakes; 10,000 by tsetse flies (sleeping sickness); 100 by lions; and 10 by sharks. In case you were wondering, humans kill about 475,000 of their fellow humans per year. We in the Cayman Islands are far too familiar with the health threats posed by mosquitoes, particularly the nasty species Aedes aegypti, which prefers to live among humans and carries diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya. Aedes aegypti — and we’re going to repeat its name several more times, following Sun Tzu’s precept to “Know your enemy” — is also a vector for Zika virus, which is the latest headline-grabbing virus of African origin to sweep across Latin America and the Caribbean. Zika fever is similar to yellow fever, dengue and “CHIKV,” in that it is spread by the bite of Aedes aegypti and causes symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain. What may set this contagion apart, however, is its potential link to microcephaly, a serious birth defect, if a pregnant woman contracts the Zika virus. Simply put, microcephaly refers to a child being born with an abnormally small head. The condition can lead to severe intellectual or physical disabilities — though some children suffer little or no ill effects at all. According to a recent story in The New York Times, “For doctors, the diagnosis means an ailment with no treatment, no cure and no clear prognosis.” The connection between Zika virus and micro- cephaly (which, for the record, has not yet been estab- lished firmly, beyond a shadow of a scientific doubt) has engendered fear, rational precautions and mass media attention. On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus to be an international public health emergency. At this point, however, we would stipulate that, strictly speaking, in Cayman, our primary concern should not be the Zika virus. As we are writing this column, Zika has not yet been spotted on our shores. Its imminent arrival does not change the fundamental nature of our struggle. “Public enemy number one” is, and remains, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. While a troubling development, the Zika outbreak is neither the first nor the last item in a series of threats posed by Aedes aegypti. In the past several decades, Cayman’s govern- ment has been very good about suppressing the local mosquito population, through spraying, aerial bombing, and even the trial release of genetically modified mos- quitoes. If we were in charge of selecting National Heroes, we would have a statue erected in Heroes Square, post haste, of Dr. Marco Giglioli, founder of Cayman’s Mosquito Research and Control Unit. Setting aside that particular group of pilots, foggers and researchers, however, we caution against our country becoming too comfortable with our prevailing efforts to combat mosquitoes. For example, we can’t help but notice, driving around Grand Cayman after rainfall, the ubiquity of pools of standing fresh water, on government and private land, that are breeding grounds for this great public health menace. Zika virus or no, the absolute eradication of Aedes aegypti from Cayman should be a primary public health goal for our society. It would take a country- wide effort — involving all political parties, independent lawmakers, public servants and residents — but it could be a rallying cause to unite all of our people against a common enemy. Unlike the frantic, knee-jerk reaction to the locally nonexistent Ebola threat, the war against Aedes aegypti should be a measured, thoughtful and sus- tained response, guided by fact-based principles from reputable organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign could also be just cause to invite academics and experts from overseas to try novel approaches to eliminate Aedes aegypti in an isolated environment. Here’s a thought: Rather than welcoming in character assassins from the BBC, perhaps our government should welcome in mosquito assassins from the CDC. Going viral: The war against the mosquito Tuesday February 2, 2016 • CaYman COmpass Printed and Published by: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town send us yOur VieWs Or neWs: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com adVertise With us: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS daVid r. legge and Vicki l. legge EdITOR-In-CHIEf daVid r. legge A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” LeTTer To The ediTor In honor of ‘Dr. Roy’ The cover of the November/december 1971 issue of The Northwester featured dr. roy McTaggart, recently named a National hero.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Tuesday February 2, 2016 Tad SToner tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four new electric-vehicle charging stations will open this month around Grand Cayman, in- cluding at Lorna’s Rubis station in Bodden Town, which will offer free top-ups to motorists. The installation of the single charger will make Lorna’s the only combination electric-gasoline sta- tion in the Caribbean and the U.S., according to Cayman Automotive President and CEO John Felder, who is building the new facilities. Mr. Felder will import the latest high-end electric cars from California-based Tesla: its popular Model X Sports Utility Vehicle, and four-door Model S Performance P-85. Both will make their re- gional debut next month, unveiled at Cayman Automotive’s Grand Harbour showroom. Also, the Post Office will acquire a second Nissan NV-200e electric commercial van this month, fol- lowing the successful debut of the initial vehicle in mid-December. Bonus at Lorna’s Rubis “You can come in for a one-hour top-up, hang around, maybe pa- tronize the grocery store or liquor store, whatever you want, and it’s free,” said Lorna’s Rubis Manager Alexis Bodden. He explained that a top up – a one-hour charge that will supply 80 percent of an EV’s capacity – will be so inexpensive as to cost almost nothing. Mr. Felder earlier pegged the cost of a full overnight charge at between $3 and $4. Mr. Bodden said the single charger, no larger than a parking meter, connected to the main Caribbean Utilities Company grid, will be located adjacent to the petrol station on separate family-owned land next to the Grape Tree Café. “This is an exciting time,” he said. “There is a lot of move to- wards ‘green.’ Everything is moving towards renewable energy, so we thought we’d get on top of this be- fore everyone else did.” He expects a substantial expan- sion of the EV market, reinforced by Mr. Felder’s establishment of three more charging stations around the island: at the Kaibo Beach Bar and Restaurant, the Westin resort on Seven Mile Beach and at Cricket Square in George Town. Charging stations The new facilities will bring to 13 the number of stations island- wide. A Cayman Automotive map in- dicates another four in planning: at Andy’s Car Rental airport and Seven Mile Beach locations, and at Foster’s Airport and Savannah operations. Each station is a “level 2” fa- cility, offering one-hour “fast charge” top-ups to 80 percent on a 220-volt system employing a top-of-the-line J-1772 Connector linking the charger to the car. The one-hour charge enables a driver to travel 20 miles, Mr. Felder said. A full charge requires eight hours. A level one station provides only a “trickle charge.” A level 3 station can supply a full charge at 240 volts in a single hour, but at signifi- cant cost. Mr. Felder said his level 2 sta- tions were inexpensive to install, costing $1,500, while level 3 sta- tions exceed $10,000. “Providing this service has an indirect return on investment,” Mr. Felder said, pointing to Dart Realty and its Camana Bay charging sta- tions as an example. “They attract EV customers to Camana Bay to live, shop, go to a movie, restaurant, etc.,” he said, an- ticipating market growth. Only 45 EVs are on Cayman’s roads at present, but Mr. Felder says, “expect the ramp-up to increase as the first 100 percent electric SUV is about to be introduced under $25,000 to purchase.” Mr. Felder refers to electric vehi- cles made by Jianghuai Automobile Company of China. One of the vehi- cles was delivered to a local client last week. Ten more are en route, he said. Also en route, are Tesla’s two top-line vehicles, the Model X Sports Utility Vehicle and the Model S four-door sedan. Already, a smaller Model S has been operating locally for two years. Mr. Felder said he hopes to sell as many as 15 of the two models. Both models are ap- pearing in the Caribbean for the first time, priced between $105,000 and $155,000. He said duty charges on the Tesla imports were reduced from the usual 42 percent to 10 percent. The all-wheel-drive Model X can travel 257 miles on its 90 kilo- watt per hour battery. It features seating for seven in three rows, and accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. The third-row seats fold flat and the second-row seats lean forward and out of the way. The Model X is the first EV with a 5,000-pound towing capacity, and comes with gull-wing doors, enabling easy access to the rear seating. The all-wheel-drive Model S has the highest U.S. safety rating, and accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. It has a range of 270 miles on a single charge, a top speed of 155 mph, and digital control of motors, brakes and steering, preventing front or side collisions or wan- dering off the road. On-board cam- eras scan for a parking space and automatically direct the car to par- allel park. Mr. Felder said maintenance would be done by a Miami-based certified Tesla technician, who will visit Cayman twice a year or on-call and as needed for any immediate problems. Local insurers offered “no problem” with writing policies on the vehicles, he said. nascent eV market gets boost A map of Grand Cayman showing electric car charging stations that are active, under construction or proposed. Telecommunications com- pany Digicel last week signed a three-year partnership with Trinidadian producer, song- writer and soca musician Machel Montano to be its re- gional brand ambassador. Digicel Director of Marketing for the Caribbean and Central America, Peter Lloyd, said the telecommuni- cations company was happy to add Montano to the team. “He is a phenomenal artist who has shown his pedigree to the Caribbean and wider world for over 20 years. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and this partnership is no different. as customers will get exclusive content in- cluding live concerts, music videos and exclusive footage which will be available on free-to-air TV, mobile and pay TV for our Digicel Play sub- scribers to enjoy.” Digicel signs Machel Montano as regional branD aMbassaDor Soca legend Machel Montano is Digicel’s new regional brand ambassador.Tuesday February 2, 2016 • Cayman Compass DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay A district family celebration Members of West Bay’s Ebanks family were among the district’s honorees at the 2016 Heroes Day ceremony recognizing achievement in agriculture. The family made sure the moment was an affair to remember. Family member Eziethamae Bodden re- ported it was a truly special day as many close relatives were recognized for their contribution to agriculture. The late Emily Ebanks, known as “Gramma Emmy,” and the late Ima L. Ebanks, known as “Mama” were both hon- ored with a Memorial Scroll Certificate. Joseph H. Ebanks, Commander, Medal of Honor, known as “Daddy,” was awarded a Pioneer Insignia and Certificate in recog- nition of his work developing commercial scale agriculture. Now 91, Mr. Ebanks started farming in the late 1930’s on his family plantation in West Bay. He purchased his own land in the 1940’s. Also employed as a seaman, he took care of his grounds when home, and while he was at sea they were cared for by his mother Florence and his siblings. After completing his seaman years in the 1960’s, he became one of the biggest local producers of a variety of crops and vegetables, supplying the hotels on Seven Mile Beach including Galleon Beach and the resorts in the Barkers area with fresh produce. When Foster’s Food Fair opened in 1980, Mr. Bodden met with the late David Foster and was contracted to supply the store. After the Heroes Day ceremony, four generations of the Ebanks family, ranging in age from under 10 to over 80, gathered at Ms. Bodden’s home for a celebration, which was decorated for the occasion in a British theme, including a wreath on the front door displaying the Cayman Islands and the British flags, red, white and blue cutlery accompanying the home cooked meal, and printed programs. “The gathering was sweet as we re- membered our loved ones, thanked God for those who are still with us, and rem- inisced on the good old days in Cayman,” said Ms. Bodden. Denise Ebanks, Cindy Ebanks, Shena Anglin and Brenda Timothy with Ima L. Ebanks’ Memorial Scroll certificate. The Ebanks family gathered after the ceremony to celebrate the honorees. Eziethamae Bodden, Astor Ebanks and Mitzie Bailey with Joseph H. Ebanks’ Pioneer Insignia and certificate. Joseph Ebanks’ oldest child, Astor Ebanks accepted the award on his father’s behalf. In the Feb. 2, 1966 edition of the Caymanian weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspon- dent Leila Yates wrote: “I witnessed an accident on Fri. of last week which could have been a fatal one. Mrs. Yvonne Ebanks, walking along the road, was knocked down by a frightened horse and was thrown over a barbed wire fence. She received some minor injuries and was kindly cared for by a friend who lived nearby. “The horse had been frightened by two dogs one of them owned by the horse-rider. The other dog is always roaming the streets, despite the fact that its owner has up a notice which reads, “Beware of Bad Dogs,” and has been known to attack others on the street on previous occasions. “This matter of dangerous dogs roaming the streets should receive offi- cial attention, especially now that tags are available and owners are required to keep proper control of their dogs. “Mrs. Norman Ebanks (Marjorie) and baby left on the 24th for their home in Jacksonville after spending a very enjoy- able visit in her hometown. “Mr. and Mrs. Ebanks would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers of West Bay who have helped their three older children with their education. “They all live in the U.S. and are citi- zens, but they have never forgotten their school days with Miss Beulah Smith, Miss Isabel Powery and Miss Genevieve Bodden and sisters.” 50 yEArs Ago: Aggressive dogs cause for concern The Ebanks family gathered after the ceremony to celebrate the honorees. In the Feb. 2, 1966 edition of the Caymanian weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass dent Leila Yates wrote: “I witnessed an accident on Fri. of last week which could have been a fatal one. Mrs. Yvonne Ebanks, walking along the road, was knocked down by a frightened horse and was thrown over a barbed wire fence. She received some minor injuries and was kindly cared for by a friend who lived nearby. 50 y Aggressive dogs cause for concernCayman Compass • Tuesday February 2, 2016 DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay Literacy Week brings out creativity The Sir John A. Cumber Primary IB World School cel- ebrated Literacy Week from Jan. 26 – 29, under the guid- ance of literacy coach Giselle Elias and library skills teacher Annette Vaughan. “The purpose of the week was to fuel children’s natural curiosity for books, reading and learning,” said Ms. Vaughan. “Each day focused on a different theme with corresponding activ- ities. The first day was dubbed: ‘Hats Off to a Good Book,’ where students and teachers came dressed in fancy and cre- ative looking hats to drop every- thing and read.” Guest readers from the com- munity also took part in the week’s activities, which included a special ‘Read to me’ pyjama reading time. Enthusiasm was high as the students listened to stories from Marilyn Connolly of Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE), and Rita Estevanovich from the National Cultural Foundation. Parents who at- tended joined in to read with their children. Also during the week, classes competed against each other in a door decorating contest to de- pict a favorite book or literary theme, leading to some incred- ibly creative designs. The week ended with a charge to ‘Go Bananas for Books.’ “The acting principal, lit- eracy coach and staff all express appreciation to Camila Costa and the team from The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, as well as all volunteers, parents and others who have contributed to the resounding success of this initiative,” said Ms. Vaughan. Sir John A. Cumber students Brooklyn, Janelle, Ariah and Paige show off their hats. Velma Hewitt had fun reading to students. Mark Ray from the Department of Education Services reads to youngsters in the Sir John A. Cumber Primary library’s new reading nook. AlmA Chollette achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com On a 7-acre stretch in West Bay, a variety of trees, fruits and vegetables are grown by local farmer Tony Powell. Thriving in the rich loam soil, trees from naseberry to plopnut can be seen flourishing about the plot. The texture of the soil, and its knack for water reten- tion is what helps Mr. Powell successfully produce a wide array of produce including sugar cane, coconut, cassava, pumpkins, and fruits such as plums, mangoes, bananas, avo- cados, sweetsops and plantains. The farm also hosts bobwood trees, which were once used for corks, and turtle necks, used for turtling back in Cayman’s early days. Bordering the farm are sev- eral mahogany trees, the wood of which is traditionally used for fur- niture and boat building, along with sturdy logwood trees. Also known as bloodwood trees, they were used by early Caymanians as sturdy living fences for their yards. Farm-fresh produce West Bay farmer Tony Powell shows off a pumpkin. - Photo: Matt LaMers8 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) Tuesday February 2, 2016 • Cayman Compass Hats of all kinds, some themed, some classic, were on display at the National Trust’s “Hatitude” fundraiser at Grand Old House on Sunday. The event, under the theme “Brunch Upon a Time,” encour- aged patrons to dress as someone famous from history, real or fictional, in full regalia or just highlighted by a choice of hat. Photos by Maggie Jackson unless other- wise noted. Danielle Watler sported a hat featuring a butterfly and flowers. Wendy Wiltshire and Gina Kettner, who took home the title of “Most Hatitude” in the ladies category with her creation inspired by the Brazilian samba singer Carmen Miranda. Beth Biega and Vijay Singhera had Hatitude. The National Trust staff members, from left, Paul Watler, Sarah Robbins, Karie Bounds, Stuart Mailer, Cathy Childs, Danielle Watler and Clare Lumsden. Styling in their hats by the ocean were, from left, Sandra Alagirisamy, Rebecca Palmer, Cherie-Ann Henderson, Laura Anderton, Geetha Alagirisamy and Maggie Jackson. – Photo: AndreAs Kettner This distinguished group of hat-wearers included, from left, Karla Jackson, Joannah Bodden Small, Lady Rita Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Juliet Du Feu and Natalie Bogle.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Tuesday February 2, 2016 full moon, but he is hopeful that the necessary work can be completed this week. “We haven’t been able to get in the water as often as we wanted to be- cause of the conditions,” he acknowledged. Preliminary results from the surveys that have taken place suggest the numbers remain stable. Mr. Johnson said there had been a slow increase over the years. He said it took a long time for Nassau grouper to reach sexual maturity, meaning it would take many years for the species to recover from over fishing. The research includes volunteers counting fish and using laser calipers to mea- sure them. Some grouper have been fitted with acoustic tags and research is ongoing, using satellite tech- nology to track the distribu- tion of juvenile fish. Mr. Johnson said the study had established that grouper were resident to each island’s reef system. The DoE believes there are currently only three main spawning sites for grouper – one on each island. “Every reproductive size Nassau grouper heads to those sites after the January full moon. They have been known to travel long dis- tances to get there. It is in their genetic code.” Little Cayman has by far the healthiest population, with up to 4,000 fish some- times seen at the spawning site. There are far less on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, says Mr. Johnson. The Grouper Moon project features an ever-ex- panding educational com- ponent involving interac- tive lessons, including live broadcasts from beneath the waves. More than 200 students from more than 20 schools in the Cayman Islands, U.S. and Turks and Caicos took part over the past week. Broadcasts from the spawning site had to be can- celed because of the weather, though live sessions were still held from the Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman using special underwater cameras and microphones. The Grouper Education Project also features class- room sessions emphasizing the value of the fish as a “keystone predator” on the reef and highlighting the conservation challenges facing the species. “While the bulk of the lessons take place over the course of the two weeks in January and February, when REEF scientists and DOE staff are working at the spawning site, we have developed a set of pre-ac- tivities to help build back- ground knowledge as well as follow-up lessons to help deepen the students’ learning experience,” REEF and the DoE said in a press release promoting the educa- tion project. The research includes volunteers counting fish and using laser calipers to measure them. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Researchers keep tabs on grouper sites board were safely rescued today by the RCIPS Joint Marine Unit.” Mr. Howell said in an email, “We are concerned about the increased number of migrants that are we are encountering. The migrant vessels are typically more densely loaded with per- sons, and the northwesters this time of year makes the seas very treacherous, all of which makes the sea crossing more dangerous.” Cuban migrants are per- mitted to pass through Cayman waters, but if they come ashore they are de- tained and sent back to Cuba. Immigration data shows that 2015 had the highest number of Cuban arrivals in Cayman in the past 10 years, with 226 ar- rivals for the year. The pre- vious high had been in 2006 when 148 Cubans ar- rived in Cayman. Between the two boats, 64 migrants – 33 in one and 31 in another – entered Cayman’s waters over the weekend. The boat that landed on Grand Cayman on Sunday, an estimated 24- foot wood plank sailboat named El Arca, remained aground on Beach Bay on Monday afternoon. Many of the migrants’ posses- sions littered the beach and filled the boat. El Arca, Spanish for The Ark, has a deep keel steadied by outriggers with inflated tire tubes. The mast was fashioned from a thin tree trunk. This is the second time Cuban migrants have landed in the Brac this year. In early January, 22 men and one woman came ashore and were sent to the immigration detention center to await deporta- tion to Cuba. At the time, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Gary Wong said, “I was told that the vessel ap- peared to be unseaworthy. “It was my under- standing that the engine had conked out on them, so they were unable to go any further” he added. In this weekend’s in- cident, the migrants ap- peared to be well prepared. Amid the debris left on the beach where El Arca came ashore, oral rehydration salts and intravenous bags are left with clothes and cast-iron pots. Migration experts in the United States attribute the uptick in Cuban migration to the improving relations with the U.S. and concerns that the “wet-foot dry-foot” policy could soon come to an end. That policy in the U.S. puts any Cuban citizen who makes it to U.S. soil on a fast track to citizenship. Many Cubans would sail north for Florida, but the Cuban boats passing by Cayman are on the southern route that takes migrants to Central America, where they can travel by land and cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police search for 3 Cubans who landed Sunday Rehydration salts and IV equipment included with the belongings left on the beach where the Cuban migrants landed. - PHOTO: CHARLES DUNCAN WHO declares global emergency over Zika virus spread GENEVA (AP) – The World Health Organization de- clared a global emergency over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in the Americas, calling it is an “extraordinary event” that poses a public health threat to other parts of the world. The U.N. agency took the rare step despite a lack of definitive evidence proving the mosquito-borne virus is causing a surge in ba- bies born with brain de- fects and abnormally small heads in Brazil and fol- lowing a 2013-14 outbreak in French Polynesia. Monday’s emergency meeting of independent ex- perts was called in response to the spike in babies born with microcephaly in Brazil since the virus was first found there last year. Officials in French Polynesia also doc- umented a connection be- tween Zika and neurological complications when the virus was spreading there two years ago, at the same time as dengue fever. “After a review of the evi- dence, the committee advised that the clusters of micro- cephaly and other neurolog- ical complications constitute an extraordinary event and public health threat to other parts of the world,” WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said. WHO, which was widely criticized for its sluggish re- sponse to the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, has been eager to show its responsive- ness this time. Despite dire warnings that Ebola was out of control in mid-2014, WHO did not declare an emergency until months later, after nearly 1,000 people had died. “If indeed, the scientific linkage between Zika and microcephaly is established, can you imagine if we do not do all this work now and wait until the scientific evi- dence comes out?” Chan said. “Then people will say, ‘Why didn’t you take action?’” WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year, but no recommen- dations were made to restrict travel or trade. “It is important to un- derstand, there are several measures pregnant women can take,” Chan said. “If you can delay travel and it does not affect your other family commitments, it is some- thing to consider.” “If they need to travel, they can get advice from their physician and take per- sonal protective measures, like wearing long sleeves and shirts and pants and using mosquito repellent.” Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control advised pregnant women to postpone visits to Brazil and other countries in the region with Zika outbreaks. But offi- cials said it was unlikely the virus could cause widespread problems in the U.S. The last such public health emergency was de- clared for the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people. Similar declarations were made for polio in 2013 and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Such emergency declara- tions are meant as an interna- tional SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts to halt the outbreak, as well as prompting research into possible treatments and vaccines. There are currently no licensed treatments or vac- cines for Zika. WHO officials say it could be six to nine months before science proves or disproves any connection between the virus and babies born in Brazil or elsewhere with ab- normally small heads. Zika was first identified in 1947 in Uganda but until last year, it was not believed to cause any serious effects; about 80 percent of infected people never experience symp- toms. The virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syn- drome, which causes muscle weakness and nerve problems. Michael Osterholm, an in- fectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota, said it was still unclear how Zika had evolved since it first emerged in Africa, but that even minor genetic changes might have major consequences. “It could have just been some point mutation [in the virus] that has now made a big difference,” Osterholm said, adding it would likely take years to curb the mos- quito populations capable of spreading Zika – and be- fore local populations gain enough immunity for the number of cases to fall. Jimmy Whitworth, an in- fectious diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said we might soon see babies born elsewhere with mal- formed heads as the virus becomes entrenched in other countries. “It could be that we’re get- ting the strongest signal in Brazil,” he said. “But having these cases occurring and pinning it to Zika is tough.” Whitworth said it was important for WHO to act quickly, despite the lack of definitive evidence that Zika is responsible for the surge in microcephaly cases. “For situations like this, you have to essentially have a ‘no regrets’ policy,” he said. “Maybe this will be a false alarm when more informa- tion is available months later, but it’s serious enough on the evidence we have right now that we have to act.” A worker in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, fumigates for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus. Venezuela is reporting a jump in cases of a rare birth defect that may be linked to the Zika virus. - PHOTO: APNext >