ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday February 4, 2016 sports | page 16 Vardy keeps LeicesTer’s premier League TiTLe charge roLLing High of 86 Low of 76 Moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet editorial | page 4 being seLF-reLianT: cayman’s economy in The ‘new normaL’ PremierHealth You said you needed the flexibility of overseas Rx. You got it first with BritCay. BritCay was first with overseas Rx and direct billing pharmacy benefits for Cayman residents. It means your health plan is as convenient to use overseas as it is at home. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp Chief officer Bush takes London post brenT FuLLer bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Senior Cayman Islands civil servant Eric Bush has been appointed to lead the govern- ment’s London office, a post he once had over- sight responsibility for during the tumultuous tenure of former office chief Lord Blencathra. The London office, which has not had full-time leadership since March 2014, when Lord Blencathra’s contract was not renewed, is responsible for coordinating and directing Cayman’s lobbying and intergovernmental re- lations efforts in the U.K. and Europe. Ironically, it was Mr. Bush who delivered the news to Lord Blencathra two years ago regarding his contract not being renewed. Since then, London office staffers have been filling in, but no clear leader for the office has been identified. The leadership vacancy has come at a crucial time for the islands, given the U.K.’s mounting pressure on the overseas terri- tories to accept some form of centralized beneficial ownership registry. Mr. Bush’s appointment is effective July 1. His government chief officer post, technically a step up in the civil service pecking order from London office director, will be advertised and a replacement sought as normal. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Wednesday that the London office’s impor- tance to Cayman cannot be understated and that Mr. Bush’s career would actually benefit from the move. Recycling firm to remove tires James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After five previous unsuccessful at- tempts to find a buyer for a mountain of scrapped tires at the George Town landfill, officials now plan to pay a recycling firm to get rid of them. A contract to dispose of the tires has been conditionally awarded to Island Recycling. Neither the Central Tenders Committee or the Department of Environmental Health were prepared to say how much the com- pany will be paid to dispose of the tires. The Cayman Compass understands that the fee will depend on precisely how many tires are actually at the site. Previous estimates of the number of tires have varied from 500,000 to 2 million. Government had hoped to find someone to buy the tires but gave up after five re- quests for proposals failed to find a suit- able bidder. Roydell Carter, the director of the Department of Environmental Health, said five companies had responded to a revised RFP last year. “This is the first time government con- sidered paying some money to the suc- cessful bidder to remove the tires,” he said. Mr. Carter said the contract was con- ditional and had not been finalized as yet. He referred the Compass to the Central Tenders Committee for more details. The CTC had not responded to questions by CarePay trial Jury deliberating on Watson case brenT FuLLer bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com One man and six women must now de- cide the fate of Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson, charged in six separate counts related to alleged corrupt acts in- volving the award of a public hospital system patient services contract. The jury received final instructions from Grand Court Justice Michael Mettyear Wednesday after- noon and began deliberating the case, which Port authority helPed fund cruise Pier rePort James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government appealed to the Port Authority for help to cover a $1.8 million shortfall in funding for the environmental impact assess- ment on the proposed cruise pier project, ac- cording to Port Authority meeting minutes. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell at- tended a Port Authority board of directors meeting to make a personal plea to the au- thority to help out. Mr. Kirkconnell told directors if they did Mr. Bush PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » An estimated 500,000 to 2 million tires are currently piled up at the George Town landfill. - Photo: chris court2 LOCAL NEWS Thursday February 4, 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. - THURSDAY - Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) KUNG FU PANDA 3 3D (PG) 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) 1:00 I 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 One family’s battle with foreclosure Owner featured in BBC documentary gets ready to leave her home of three decades James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Emily Seymour, 67, sur- veys the scene from the front porch of the home she has owned for 30 years. Junk cars line the roadway. Washing on the line wafts in the breeze. Her dog, tied to a tree in the front yard, strains against its leash and barks at the sound of visitors approaching. The home itself is crum- bling. Damp has eaten away part of the walls, the roof is leaking, there is black mold everywhere and the ceiling sags ominously in places. It is not much, but it is home, and the retired postal worker, facing eviction at the end of the month, has mixed feelings about leaving. At this point, she has given up the battle to save the property off Northward Road, Bodden Town, which she shares with her hus- band Elvin, 72, her daughter Georgeann Dias and her three grandchildren, twin boys, aged 11, and a 13-year-old girl. The foreclosure of Ms. Seymour’s home is one of more than 300 forced sales in the Cayman Islands in the past five years, the majority of them residential properties. After falling behind on the mortgage payments for two years, the bank foreclosed on the home and Ms. Seymour and her extended family are desperately searching for a place to rent. “I wanted to pass this home on to my children and grandchildren and leave them with something, but now we have to start again,” said Ms. Seymour. But the home, partially repaired after Hurricane Ivan, has been slowly eaten away by damp and has become a health hazard. After years of holding on, she is ready to let go. “We have to leave. I’ll be glad to leave,” she acknowl- edges, though she fears for the future, with the family still searching for some- where to rent in the Bodden Town area, with a modest monthly outlay. Ms. Seymour featured in the BBC’s recent “Trillion Pound Island” documentary as part of a short segment on the pockets of poverty that exist alongside the extreme wealth of the banking industry. Her case was put forward by the filmmakers as an ironic juxta- position to the riches flowing through the territory and an example of the inadequacy of social services in a country with no direct taxes. She’s not sure how to feel about how the show, which contained some inaccura- cies, presented her or the Cayman Islands. While navigating the bu- reaucracy of government’s social services has been a source of frustration, there has been assistance from that sector. The charity Acts of Random Kindness, which exists to assist families with immediate help while they secure government support, has also been there to help in times of serious need. Tara Nielsen, who runs ARK, believes Ms. Seymour’s story is typical of many fami- lies in tough situations in the Cayman Islands. It involves a mixture of bad luck, some bad decisions and a welfare system that is not always ef- ficient or agile enough to re- spond adequately to those in most immediate need. The trouble started for Ms. Seymour, who worked for 11 years at the post office and before that at the Wholesome Bakery, when Hurricane Ivan ripped the roof off the home and completely flooded the property in 2004. She had fallen behind on insurance payments because of what she says was an administra- tive mix-up with the bank, so there was no payout. She received $15,000 from a government fund to help people with house repairs after the storm. That took care of the roof, but the prob- lems with damp and mold persisted. The kitchen was badly damaged and the in- terior walls were in a state of disrepair. She struggled through on her post office salary with some help from ARK, which brought in volunteers from PwC to help fix up the kitchen and deal with some of the worst mold. But after the death of her son Dwayne in a motorcycle accident in Florida in 2007 and her re- tirement from the post office in 2011, managing the mort- gage and the repair costs be- came more troublesome. When she was first threat- ened with eviction in 2014, ARK helped her renegotiate, bringing the monthly pay- ments down to $850 a month from $1,050. She had already refinanced once, in 2002. It took some advocacy from ARK, but the charity and the family acknowledge that gov- ernment ultimately did what it could. Ms. Seymour now gets $550 a month in poor relief. Her husband gets a similar amount from the Ex-Gratia Seaman’s benefit. Ms. Seymour says she also got a lump sum pension payment when she left government and still re- ceives around $150 a month. Their daughter Georgeann, a mother of three, suffers from diabetes and has been in and out of work but is now bringing in an income from her job at a grocery store. Even with that assistance, the mortgage has always been a struggle, on top of three kids to feed and utility bills to pay. When the house was flooded again from a leak in the bathroom, it became un- manageable and Ms. Seymour stopped paying the mortgage. Ms. Nielsen said, “Between Dwayne’s death and Emily’s retirement, things just es- calated. Although I wanted Emily’s wish to come true to keep her home, the house is a health hazard. We want them to move out. There is no point fighting for it any more, the battle has been lost.” Now ARK is looking to get the family set up in a new home. They have until the end of February to find some- where to live. The charity is asking anyone who can as- sist, financially or otherwise, to contact Ms. Nielsen on taranielsen@arkcayman.com. “I hope that Emily can find security again, in a new home that is not a health hazard to her or the grandchildren, that she can finally get the rest she deserves, where she can enjoy the children and not spend her days praying that she can put food on the table, pay her mort- gage and utilities,” Ms. Nielsen said. She said Ms. Seymour’s situation is not unique. “Even someone who has worked hard all their life and done their best for their family can end up in this situation,” she warned. “There are so many sto- ries where families began their lives in the cycle of poverty, but worked hard and got out of it, providing for their chil- dren and [having] an accept- able standard of living, but due to varying circumstances … largely Hurricane Ivan, were hurled back into the night- mare they fought so hard to escape from.” New fire chief begins work Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although he does not have a uniform yet, new Cayman Islands Chief Fire Officer David Hails officially started work on Tuesday. Mr. Hails, 56, a 30-plus- year fire service veteran in the U.K., was introduced to the Cayman Islands in December via a surprise meeting with local firefighters. During a week spent here in early December, Mr. Hails toured a number of fire sta- tions and apparatus, under- going what he termed a “bap- tism by fire” ahead of taking the full-time appointment this week. Mr. Hails, who has trained many Caymanian firefighters over the years, told a group of firefighters at West Bay station in December that he would not be successful without the backing of the rank-and-file. “I can’t do it without your support,” Mr. Hails said to about half a dozen fire officers gathered in the break room. “All poli- tics aside, we need to re- member what we’re here for, and that is to save lives and protect the community.” Mr. Hails, just off eight years with Serco International Fire Training Centre, told the Cayman Compass he intended to work to dispel the image that local fire crews “sit around and play backgammon all day.” Mr. Hails said he became interested in Cayman after speaking with a few local firefighters who had come to the center for training courses. He said Wednesday that he views Cayman as “a good challenge” and prom- ised the local fire officers that recruiting in the depart- ment would not be “skewed” in favor of “his friends” as he had heard some firefighters allege in his first meeting with them. New fire chief David Hails, left, meets with West Bay firefighters in December. - Photo: Brent Fuller Emily Seymour surveys the scene from the front porch of her home. - Photo: James WhittakerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 Cayman Compass • Thursday February 4, 2016 Baptist Health International Cayman Islands Office 23 Lime Tree Avenue Governors Square, Suite 4-101 Grand Cayman 345-749-3304 CANCER CARE CHANGING THE FUTURE OF Proud Supporters of the Cayman Islands Cancer Society WORLD CANCER DAY February 4, 2016 Baptist Health International Cayman Islands Office: 345-749-3304 BaptistHealth.net/Cancer • 786-596-2373 • International@BaptistHealth.netThe 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. Thursday February 4, 2016 • Cayman COmpass The wider world “out there” is so fraught with economic uncertainty that even experts cannot agree on what they see when they gaze into their darkened crystal balls. That’s all the more reason for Cayman Islands leaders to focus their attention on our own solitary vessel, in order to steward our country through the unknown – and indeed, unknowable – waters of the future. The latest issue of The Cayman Islands Journal (published in print yesterday and available online at www.caymancompass.com/the-journal) features dueling perspectives on the global economy, from New York-based economic forecaster David Levy and Royal Bank of Canada chief economist Craig Wright. Of the two, Mr. Levy is comparatively more pessimistic than is Mr. Wright – though they share significant reserva- tions about future economic trends. Looking at China, Mr. Levy says, “China has far greater problems of debt and overcapacity than other emerging markets … The situation threatens – almost promises – to cause the politically unsettling Chinese recession and financial debacle that Beijing desperately wants to avoid.” Mr. Wright, on the other hand, is bullish: “The concern is policymakers may not be able to juggle all of these balls. We think they have been successful at that.” On the topic of the Eurozone, Mr. Wright says, “the crisis story is over.” Mr. Levy sees things differently, predicting, “As for the sovereign debt problems, expect the crisis to come roaring back.” Both men are optimistic about the United States. In regard to the global economy as a whole, Mr. Levy describes it as “deflationary,” while Mr. Wright settles on “a new normal” where there will be “a slower speed limit for growth in the major economies around the globe.” While informative, the above observations are not the most exhilarating. Although Cayman plays an outsize role in the international financial system, our country is of course far too small to influence the arc of human progress. In other words, when it comes to global trends, our population is squarely on the “effect” side of the equation, as opposed to the “cause.” The wisest strategy for Cayman to pursue is quite basic: Be aware of what we have no control over; take care of what we do; and be able to discern the difference. Fortunately for us, but unfortunately for others, examples abound in our neighborhood of how not to cul- tivate a fruitful island economy. Look at the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has a dwindling/escaping population of 3.5 million and a debt of US$72 billion. It is currently urging U.S. federal lawmakers to allow its government effectively to declare bankruptcy, following the example of the city of Detroit and other U.S. political entities. We do not intend to be hyperbolic, but Puerto Rico is the closest thing the Caribbean has to Greece. All of these financially failed jurisdictions, small and large, share certain characteristics – in particular, borrowing immense sums of money over extended periods of time, in order to pay for wildly expensive populist projects, with no plan to repay those debts. (For instance, Puerto Rico’s public power authority racked up US$9 billion in debt while providing free electricity to all of the territory’s 78 munici- palities, many government-owned businesses and some for-profit companies – for decades, according to The New York Times.) But back to Cayman, and to public finance funda- mentals. The best thing our elected officials and top civil servants can do for our country is to run a tight ship, in the form of a professional, accessible and fiscally prudent government. (Here, we’ll give Finance Minister Marco Archer a pat on the back for his quiet diligence over the past several years, in making sure that our budget numbers add up properly, while meeting debt obligations and the restrictions of the U.K.’s Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.) As a country, our focus should remain on running budget surpluses, returning as much wealth as possible into the pockets of the people (through tax cuts), investing – responsibly – in much-needed public projects and services, and laying the groundwork for future gen- erations via a functional and adequately funded educa- tion system. Being self-reliant: Cayman’s economy in the ‘new normal’ 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” Detroit’s unacceptable schools Washington Post Editorial Board Children who go to school in Detroit face conditions that are inexcusable. Not just buckled floors, moldy walls and rodent infestations: There are also the days of missed instruction because of teacher sick-outs and the millions of dollars of crip- pling debt that rob class- rooms of needed resources. Student achievement ranks among the nation’s worst. The entire system, not just the physical plant, is in need of drastic overhaul. The problems of Detroit schools got new national at- tention after the teachers union there filed a lawsuit ar- guing that physical conditions were so unhealthy and unsafe that the fundamental rights of students to a “minimally ad- equate education” were being violated. The children affected are mainly poor and mostly African American. The suit demands the ouster of state emergency manager Darnell Earley. On Tuesday, he an- nounced he would step down at the end of the month. Earley, who had previ- ously presided over the city of Flint and its now lead- contaminated water system, was but the latest in a suc- cession of emergency man- agers put in place by the state in response to the sys- tem’s mismanagement and broken finances. Their lack of success has prompted some to call for the re- turn of the 45,000-student school system to local con- trol. That’s understandable but probably not construc- tive; it was the incompetence and corruption of local offi- cials that prompted the state to get involved in the first place. The system’s problems now are beyond the ability of local officials to solve without state help. The massive debt, much of it in pension liabilities, trans- lates to about US$1,100 per student being spent on debt service rather than classroom needs. The system is faced with the prospect of going broke by April, which would also affect other Michigan school districts, since the state is constitutionally responsible to cover many debts. The best way out seems to be a legislative package put forward by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. He would create a community school district to run the schools, leaving the current district just to collect property taxes and pay down the debt. Under the plan, the state would provide US$715 million over about 10 years to cover US$515 mil- lion in operating debt and US$200 million in expenses, including repairs to school buildings. A board appointed by the governor and the Detroit mayor would run the new district, including hiring a superintendent. The plan faces some op- position, including from law- makers outside Detroit who are not keen on having to bail out the city’s system. But no one should find it accept- able to have children con- signed to schools where they have to worry about rats and leaking ceilings – and where, not coincidentally, not much learning is going on. © 2016, The Washington Post Zika and the war against mosquitoes BloomBErg ViEW Editorial Board Zika seems to have arrived in Central and South America overnight, but it cannot be expected to leave as fast. Ending this public health emergency will require a per- sistent assault on the mos- quitoes that carry the virus. It’s painstaking work that has to proceed on two fronts, in the laboratory and on the streets: not just cleaning all the trash and other reservoirs of standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs, but de- veloping new scientific tools and techniques, including ad- vanced insecticides and ge- netically modified insects. Given the size of the chal- lenge, it may be motivating, if also a bit frustrating, to recall that a similar push in the 1950s and ‘60s largely eliminated in the Western Hemisphere the mosquito that now carries Zika. By the ‘70s, though, public health officials had let down their guard. For the people-loving Aedes aegypti mosquito (which also transmits dengue and yellow fever), this created an opportunity to return and thrive as never before. Getting rid of the mosqui- toes will be harder this time around, and only in part be- cause the world has grown denser and more connected. Mosquitoes have also devel- oped resistance to the in- secticide DDT. And in the half-century since Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” warned of DDT’s health dan- gers, insecticide development has stalled. New compounds are needed that, like DDT, can be sprayed on walls and cur- tains and are effective for as long as six months. Another approach is to tamper with mosquito bi- ology. It’s possible, for ex- ample, to infect mosquitoes with bacteria that pre- vent them from transmit- ting dengue and other vi- ruses, probably including Zika. Males (which don’t bite people) can be treated in this way and released into the en- vironment, so the bacterial infection spreads. Male mosquitoes can also be sterilized or geneti- cally modified (quite safely) so that they cannot success- fully reproduce. This strategy is being tested in Brazil and other countries with impres- sive results. Even before ge- netically modified mosqui- toes are ready for widespread use, they could be deployed in the worst-affected areas. Relentless mosquito-con- trol efforts, along with new vaccines against Zika, can eventually bring this out- break under control, even if they can’t vanquish mosquito- borne infections altogether. The fight between human and insect is never-ending. The only realistic goal is to forever maintain the upper hand. © 2016, Bloomberg View Student achievement ranks among the nation’s worst. The entire system, not just the physical plant, is in need of drastic overhaul.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 Cayman Compass • Thursday February 4, 2016 THEY ALL MA TTER T O US Everyone knows the iconic pink ribbon is the awareness colour for Breast Cancer, but not everyone knows that lavender is the awareness colour for all cancers. For more information call the CI Cancer Society: 949-7618 Everyone knows the iconic pink ribbon is the awareness colour for Breast Cancer, but not everyone knows that All Cancers LAVENDER Bladder Cancer YELLOW Brain Cancer GRAY Breast Cancer PINK Cervical Cancer TEAL/WHITE Childhood Cancer GOLD Colon Cancer DARK BLUE Esophageal Cancer PERIWINKLE Head/Neck Cancer BURGUNDY/IVORY Kidney Cancer ORANGE Leiomyosarcoma PURPLE Leukemia ORANGE Liver Cancer EMERALD Lung Cancer WHITE Lymphoma LIME Melanoma BLACK Multiple Myeloma BURGUNDY Ovarian Cancer TEAL Pancreatic Cancer PURPLE Prostate Cancer LIGHT BLUE Sarcoma /Bone Cancer YELLOW Stomach Cancer PERIWINKLE Testicular Cancer ORCHID Thyroid Cancer TEAL/PINK/BLUE Uterine Cancer PEACH Honors Caregivers PLUM To learn what’s happening around the world today go to: www.worldcancerday.org is the new Pink Today is world cancer awareness day. Consider what you can do to join the ght against cancer for your community and for yourself. Remember that early detection saves lives! Ladies, get your mammograms and pap tests. Men, get your PSA test done. Thursday February 4, 2016 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town District civil servant gets kudos from government Savanah’s Evelyn McTaggart was given the Deputy Governor’s Award for her outstanding service in November 2015. Mrs. McTaggart was nominated for being flexible and willing to assist in her role as deputy fund and cash flow man- ager at the Treasury Department, ac- cording to a press release. The Employee of the Month honor is part of the Deputy Governor’s Award program which recognizes civil servants who exceed expectations. During the award presentation on Jan. 29, it was noted that Mrs. McTaggart’s warm, caring and positive attitude has invited staff to approach her with questions and concerns. “She has a unique ability to connect with ev- eryone who comes in contact with her and she expertly identifies the specific needs of each customer, coupled with providing the best and most innova- tive solutions to problems,” states the release. “What is even more remarkable is that she is able to demonstrate her caring attitude to customers even when she is operating under intense pressure and deadlines.” Accountant General Matthew Tibbetts, who nominated Mrs. McTaggart for the award, said she is not only an ex- ceptional employee who provides excel- lent customer service for both internal and external customers, but she is ex- ceptional in keeping to deadlines and encouraging teamwork. “From the feedback we get from Mrs. McTaggart’s customers, they always feel valued and their requests have been viewed seriously and are properly ad- dressed,” he said. “This quality demonstrates her high level of professionalism. Not only does she carry out her duties with a smile, care and concern, but her de- tailed knowledge of the policies and procedures of the Treasury Department equips her with the ability to provide quick solutions,” he continued. “This ensures compliance with established best practice and departmental policies and procedures.” Financial Secretary and Chief Officer for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Kenneth Jefferson added: “Mrs. McTaggart’s excellent work ethic has been ac- knowledged by this award, and it is well deserved.” Deputy Governor Franz Manderson praised Mrs. McTaggart for her cus- tomer service acumen. “She is viewed as a shining ex- ample of customer service excellence in the Treasury Department and the Civil Service as a whole,” he said. “This recognition symbolizes and re- inforces the values and standards that we expect all staff to exhibit. She serves as a role model for all Cayman Islands Civil Servants.” From left, Accountant General Matthew Tibbetts, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Evelyn McTaggart, Financial Secretary and Chief Officer Kenneth Jefferson and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Marco Archer. Ms. McTaggart was given the Deputy Governor’s Award on Jan. 29. In the Feb. 2, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, Bodden Town corre- spondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “Each morning for over a week now a group of men from this Town travel to a point almost opposite the Beach Club, off the West Bay Road, where they are engaged in clearing the property of Mr. O. W. Foster. “It is encouraging to note that some of the men of this town have begun to benefit from what promises to be a boom year for these islands. With the airport resurfacing soon to get under way, the numerous developments planned for the West Bay Beach area and other parts of the island and the continued erection of new homes and office buildings, the la- bour force of this island should look for- ward to a heyday. With the labour force fully employed, it follows that there will be more money in circulation, a fact that should [be] to the benefit of many. The more money there is in the hands of the labourers the greater will be their pur- chasing power. The merchants will sell more and likewise will be forced to import more. An increase to importation will mean in- creased revenues for government in the form of customs duties. “One wonders what the financial brains of the islands plan to do with any increase in revenues. Surely they should consider utilizing it on our roads, now that the heavy equipment brought here for the airport resurfacing is available. If this opportunity is lost, the job will still have to be done in a short time at a far greater cost. It should not be forgotten that the heavy equipment that will ply our roads during the airport resurfacing period is going to hasten their deterio- ration, so the powers that be had better start planning that now. “Let’s hope when next the roads are being resurfaced there will be enough asphalt left for the eastern districts after the roads of the ‘city’ of George Town and its suburbs have been surfaced.” 50 YEArs AGo: Questions on government spending GeorGe Nowak ren and Mikael seffer’s White Dog studio opened in Breakers four years ago, showcasing a variety of original artwork and prints. The Breakers studio has become a popular stopover with visitors and locals on their way to and from the far districts. on sunday, Jan. 31, Ms. seffer took home Poinciana Awards in the categories of Best scenic Painting-Drawing for “Day’s Catch,” and Best subject Painting for “Ms. Nell and Tommy.” The paintings are available for viewing this week at a pop-up art exhibition at the strand. When the seffers are not out on the ocean surfing, you’ll find them working in the studio most afternoons. The couple’s work can also be seen in various locations around Cayman, including at the Gallery at The ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. District artist making a splash Artist ren seffer in her Breakers studio. - Photo: GeorGe NowakCayman Compass • Thursday February 4, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town District readies for Agriculture Show AlmA Chollette achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com The 49th Cayman Islands Agriculture Show is taking place once again this year on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10 at the Grounds in Lower Valley. The Cayman Islands Agriculture Society’s George Smith said the show will feature many attractions including a mechanical bull, an equine performance, along with live- stock and produce competitions, craft ex- hibits and various demonstrations. Mr. Smith invited anyone, beginner or pro- fessional, to give the mechanical bull a whirl. Audiences will be treated to a horse perfor- mance by the riders of the Equestrian Centre, featuring Pan American Games participant and Olympic Games qualifier, Jessica McTaggart. Additional features are more kids’ activi- ties and areas for children than ever before, as well as a fruit carving competition, spon- sored by the Foster’s Group. It’s the first time that event is taking place. Mr. Smith said this year’s show aims to incorporate a carnival theme throughout its games, setup and display. “We are reaching out to the community to support the local agriculture sector, and show the real importance of agriculture in Cayman,” said Mr. Smith. “Support goes a long way to helping farmers continue what they do.” Also this year, fair-goers can expect im- proved parking, extra seating, and additional tents for shade.Avery Eden demonstrates cane juice making. Nursery staff show off their wares at a plant sale in 2014. This year’s Cayman Islands Agriculture Show is slated for Feb. 10 at the Grounds in Lower Valley. GeorGe NowAk Originally opened as the Lighthouse Club in 1966, the structure was designed and owned by Leon Hull. The head carpenter on the project was Cedric Levy of Bodden Town. Mr. Hull used narrow gauge railway tracks shipped in from Texas as the reinforcing beams, which proved their robustness as the main structure of the Lighthouse Restaurant held firm during Hurricane Ivan. The restaurant opened under its current ownership in 1992, helmed by proprietor Giuseppe Gatta, and has developed a loyal following. More recently, a new deck over the water – com- pleted in 2012 – provides diners with an upgraded setting for a scenic meal. Mr. Gatta has made a name for himself on the cu- linary scene, but is also rec- ognized for his role in estab- lishing the Protection Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) animal welfare charity, along with his wife Susanna, Alex Stewart and Marleine Gagnon. In January, the Lighthouse launched its newest offering, a Rent-a-Chef service, as well as cooking classes for groups of six to 10. Then and now: the Lighthouse in Breakers The Lighthouse restaurant today. - Photo: Jewel levy The Lighthouse under construction in 1966. - Photo: leon hull An elector’s registration drive will be taking place at the Agriculture Show from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for anyone who needs to register as a voter for the General Elections. Documentation Needed for Caymanian Status Holder ■■ Birth certificate ■■ Caymanian status certificate ■■ Photo ID: Passport or driver’s license Caymanian Born and Caymanian parent/s or grandparent/s ■■ Birth certificate of applicant ■■ Birth certificate of a parent or grandparent who was born in the Cayman Islands ■■ Photo ID: Passport or driver’s license For queries, call the Elections Office at 949-8047 or email electionsoffice@candw.ky. Voter Registration8 LOCAL NEWS Governor Kilpatrick will respond on election concerns Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The formation of a coali- tion among Cayman’s dis- parate political opposi- tion groups seems a remote possibility at this stage, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said this week. Mr. Bush’s comments come in the wake of an up- roar over the possibility of early elections in the British Overseas Territory. Five inde- pendent lawmakers met with Governor Helen Kilpatrick last Friday to oppose Premier Alden McLaughlin’s sugges- tion that a vote might have to be called in 2016 – possibly as early as April or May of this year. “I don’t know that an elec- tion at this point is right for the country, but the govern- ment has to be able to op- erate,” Mr. Bush said. “If it can’t, then the obvious thing is to go back to the people.” Mr. McLaughlin said this week that he had not decided anything regarding an early vote and has not officially re- quested the governor to dis- solve parliament and call for new elections. One way to avoid parlia- mentary gridlock that would eventually necessitate early polls is for independent Legislative Assembly mem- bers and Mr. Bush’s Cayman Islands Democratic Party to join up and form their own co- alition. At the moment, such a group would need at least two more members – even if all five independents and the three CDP members got together. Mr. Bush said Tuesday that he did not have much hope for this outcome. “It’s unlikely to be,” Mr. Bush said. “I don’t think that I want to join any govern- ment with the two of them … [North Side MLA] Ezzard [Miller] and [East End MLA] Arden [McLean].” Mr. Bush also pointed out that three independent MLAs, Anthony Eden, Alva Suckoo and Winston Connolly, have said they will not join any political groups prior to the regularly scheduled May 2017 vote. At present, Mr. McLaughlin’s Progressives-led government coalition main- tains a majority of 10 mem- bers, including Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly. Mr. McLaughlin said last week that, even with the slim majority – given that Ms. O’Connor- Connolly is pre- siding over the House and thus usually does not have a vote – it would be difficult for the coalition to govern with a nine-member bench. In that scenario, if one govern- ment member left during a Legislative Assembly meeting the eight-member opposition benches could clear out and scuttle the meeting. Mr. Bush acknowledged the possibility that a mi- nority government could be formed, if enough members from opposite sides agree. However, he said such an agreement was inherently unstable, particularly if the group had to govern the ter- ritory for any length of time. “It’s [the premier’s] call,” Mr. Bush said. “If he cannot run the government, then there needs to be an elec- tion. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is. [Premier] Alden [McLaughlin] is going to do what’s best for Alden. If [the coalition government] doesn’t want him, then move him. That’s a solution, rather than going to the polls, I guess.” Governor Kilpatrick’s of- fice indicated it would re- spond to independent mem- bers’ concerns regarding the possibility of a 2016 general election, perhaps as early as this week. Five independent MLAs, including Mr. Miller, Mr. McLean, Mr. Eden, Mr. Suckoo and Mr. Connolly, signed a letter dated Jan. 28 re- questing Governor Kilpatrick provide “an explanation of the measures you propose to take if the possibility of an early general election arises.” The independent mem- bers noted that there ap- pears to be no reason for an early vote at this stage, since Mr. McLaughlin’s Progressives-led coalition maintains a majority in the House. The members said it appeared the Cayman Islands Constitution only grants the power to call early elections to the governor herself, and said that power is only to be used if no single political party or like-minded group can form a majority. Mr. McLaughlin said that it was “ironic” that assembly members who had caused instability in government by switching political sides were now concerned about the prospect of early elections leading to uncertainty. Thursday February 4, 2016 • Cayman Compass Here to support ® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence Cancer is a devastating part of the lives of many families across the Caribbean. Most distressing is that it affects our children too. In 2008, we established the RBC Caribbean Children’s Cancer Fund, which provides financial support for medical treatment and care to Caribbean kids under the age of sixteen years diagnosed with cancer. To date, we have been able to assist more than 40 children from across the Caribbean. In the spirit of this year’s theme, We Can, I Can , let’s join hands and hearts to help our children fight this dreaded disease. World Cancer Day 2016 – We Can, I Can Give hope. Save lives. Mr. Bush Work begins on East-West Arterial The National Roads Authority has begun work to install a concrete barrier on the central meridian along the East-West Arterial be- tween the Red Bay round- about and the Dr. Tomlinson roundabout. Preliminary work is already under way, according the roads authority, but the major works begin Thursday, starting with the east-bound lane. The NRA says it expects to finish the work on Friday, Feb. 19, adding that “little disruption of the traffic flow is expected.” Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, with some possible work at the weekends. Once the Red Bay project is complete, according to the NRA, the next project will be enhancements along Bobby Thompson Way. There is also initial work under way to prepare to convert the Esterley Tibbetts Highway to four lanes. Bush: Government has to operate “I don’t know that an election at this point is right for the country, but the government has to be able to operate.” McKeeva Bush, opposition leaderThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Cayman Compass • Thursday February 4, 2016 Premier Alden McLaughlin, for whom Mr. Bush served as chief officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, called the appointment a “bit- tersweet” selection. “I know that he will leave a big void,” Mr. McLaughlin said. The London office is now managed under the Cabinet Secretary’s portfolio, which also falls under the premier’s oversight. Mr. Bush said he was looking forward to the new challenge and would be re- locating to the London area with his family. Lord Blencathra The former director of the Cayman Islands London of- fice was left idle for nearly two months in 2013 after statements indicating he was “no longer in charge,” leaving the highly paid lobbyist un- able to work with U.K. gov- ernment officials or the British foreign office. That claim was one of sev- eral made by Lord Blencathra, formerly known as David MacLean of Scotland, in a complaint filed with the Cayman Islands government regarding the “rude behavior” of some of his staff mem- bers in the London office. The House of Lords repre- sentative served as Cayman’s London office director and the territory’s chief lobbyist in Europe between late 2011 and March 2013, when his contract with the Cayman government ended. “The London office is to- tally dysfunctional and it will have to be sorted out one way or another before we have a real catastrophe on our hands,” Lord Blencathra wrote in a June 2013 email to Cayman Islands government chief officer Dax Basdeo and Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose. “If the Hon. Premier wants to cancel my con- tract, then so be it. But if not, then two people in the office must start behaving professionally.” Angry and sometimes ex- pletive-laced emails obtained by the Cayman Compass that went back and forth be- tween Lord Blencathra, mem- bers of the London office staff and the local govern- ment in Cayman, revealed a culture of bickering, back- biting and bureaucratic delay in the office that interfered with the territory’s ability to present its message effec- tively. The former London of- fice director also flagged in- stances where the situation caused other overseas terri- tories leaders to tell Cayman to “get its act together” and which led the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office to temporarily cut off communi- cations with the U.K. Lord. According to the formal complaint made by Lord Blencathra in July 2013, he said he was informed in late January 2013 that an- other London office employee was now “in charge” and that he was “just a consul- tant with no authority.” This message was also appar- ently delivered to the chair of the U.K. Overseas Territories Association during a Jan. 31, 2013, annual general meeting. After months of confusion over the issue, it was chief officer Mr. Bush who ulti- mately stepped in to resolve the situation. In summarizing his com- plaint to Cayman Islands government officials in July, Lord Blencathra stated: “[The employee’s] interference in delicate policy matters at a high political level, for which I am responsible, has re- sulted in some shambles and almost catastrophe.” On July 26, 2013, Mr. Bush responded to the complaint by Lord Blencathra, stating he was “struck by the disre- spectful tone” of an earlier email sent by the London of- fice employee. “While I appreciate that there may be differences of opinion between you and Lord Blencathra, you must recognize that he is your line manager …,” Mr. Bush said. “I would advise you that any further discourse/communi- cation which is undertaken in the disrespectful tone of some of your recent emails to Lord Blencathra will be con- sidered to be in direct con- travention of the code of con- duct and values and may result in disciplinary action.” The two employees ref- erenced in the complaint by Lord Blencathra still work at the Cayman Islands London office. press time Wednesday. Ultimately, the shredded tires could end up in a new golf course, planned for the eastern districts. Developer Ironwood said last week that it had received authoriza- tion from the Department of Environment to use the shredded tires as fill for its planned Arnold Palmer de- signed golf course. The developer says re- search from its own experts as well as the Department of Environment, showed there would be no environ- mental cost to using the tires in the golf course. Mr. Carter said the Department of Environmental Health received no bid from Ironwood to take the tires and the scheme would be subject to a separate agree- ment between the developer and the winning bidder. Denise Gower, spokes- woman for Ironwood, said in a statement last week, that the company would be taking the tires. “Undoubtedly, the tires are a significant environ- mental threat where and as they are. But, the Cayman Islands Government has acted responsibly and has found a viable solution. That Ironwood will be able use material that is currently an environmental hazard and convert it to a product that will benefit the environment is the ideal outcome, for the Government, for Ironwood and the earth,” she said. The tires have been la- beled a health hazard be- cause of the fumes they give off during fires – a fre- quent problem at the site. They are also eating up rap- idly diminishing space at the landfill. not agree to provide the money, the port project would be stopped, according to the minutes of the April 2014 meeting. Some board mem- bers expressed concern that the move would have an ad- verse impact on the solvency of the Port Authority. Those concerns appear to have been allayed through an agreement to allow payment of insurance debts owed by the authority to the government to be deferred. The directors ultimately voted unanimously to approve a contribution of $1.8 million to help pay for the environmental impact as- sessment. The minutes, which provide a summary of Mr. Kirkconnell’s pitch to board members, indicate that the minister suggested that the signing of the contract for the environmental impact assess- ment and engineering report would signal the official start of the building of cruise piers. He said the EIA would iden- tify mitigating environmental factors but would “most likely” not stop the project. The minutes indicate that Mr. Kirkconnell said, at the time, that the future of the project hinged on finding the extra money. The summary of his state- ment, says, “There is a cur- rent and immediate shortfall of some $1.8 million that is needed to cover the consul- tancy contract that is about to be signed. “A commitment of having these funds available is needed before the consul- tancy contract can be exe- cuted and all this has to be done immediately. All pos- sible other government rev- enue avenues have been ex- hausted and it will now be up to the Port Authority to cover this cost, “If the board of directors does not agree to provide this money then the project will be stopped and he did not want to see this happen. Members were urged to ap- prove the funds.” The minutes indicate that the Port Authority’s deputy director of finance, who at the time was James Parsons, raised concerns about the impact on the authority’s fi- nancial position. He highlighted some $2.6 million in insurance debt owed by the Port Authority to government and noted that the auditor general had raised concerns about its finances in a report on the solvency of the port. Since then, he said, the Port Authority had made sig- nificant strides in paying in- surance monies to govern- ment and the financial ratios were now back within accept- able accounting levels. “The board of directors was concerned about the ability of the Port Authority to financially operate with paying down on insurance debt and at the same time being requested to contribute an additional $1.8 million,” the minutes state. The discussions involved a deferral of the insurance debt and the potential for Port Authority land, which was being used by the Customs Department and was valued at around $3 million, to be officially transferred to gov- ernment as payment for the debt. Later publicly available minutes indicate that the formal paperwork was being prepared for a deferral of the insurance debt payments, but make no mention of the land exchange going through. Mr. Kirkconnell said there was nothing unusual about the situation. “The construction of the cruise piers and the revital- ization of George Town are projects that the PPM cam- paigned on and pledged in its election manifesto to deliver for the people of the Cayman Islands. Government believes it has the mandate of the people to deliver on those pledges and these projects are consequently considered a government priority.” He said the Port Authority’s profits belonged to the people of the Cayman Islands and it made sense that they would be used to help fund the en- vironmental impact assess- ment. He said the minutes clearly indicated that the contribution of $1.8 million would be moved forward with the Finance Minister Marco Archer, through the Senior Assistant Financial Secretary Michael Nixon, which was the normal process for cash transfers from statutory au- thorities to the government’s general fund. has been ongoing since late November. The seven-member jury will be required to decide a guilty or not guilty verdict on each count of the indictment against Watson. The former managing director of financial ser- vices company Admiral Administration and re- cipient of the 2007 Young Caymanian Leadership Award is accused of per- sonally benefitting from the 2010 award of the CarePay patient swipe- card contract to a com- pany he and business partner Jeffrey Webb are alleged to have controlled from behind the scenes. The Crown alleges Watson directed that con- tract award, worth mil- lions of dollars a year, to the local company – AIS (Advanced Integrated Systems) Cayman Ltd. – and its Jamaican busi- ness associates while he chaired the Health Services Authority board of directors. Watson denies all the allegations. His defense suggests that the accusa- tions made by the pros- ecution are largely based on a misreading of the ev- idence before the court. Watson has denied any beneficial interest in AIS Cayman and testified that monies paid to him by Webb between 2010 and 2012 were sums he was owed previously by his friend and associate – not a reward given for his as- sistance in procuring the CarePay contract. To convict on any one count of the indict- ment, the seven jurors must agree the Crown has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is possible Justice Mettyear could allow for a majority verdict on any of the counts, meaning at least five jurors must agree Watson is guilty on some or all of the counts. Agreement as to Watson’s guilt by fewer than five jurors on any of the counts means he must be found not guilty on those counts. Watson faces two counts of conspiracy to defraud under the common law, one charge related to money laun- dering activities, and charges of breach of trust, fraud on the government and conflict of interests under the Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Law. Justice Mettyear was clear in his instructions to the jury that the charges against Watson are not a “package deal” and that each count must be con- sidered separately. It is entirely possible that jurors might believe Watson to be guilty on some of the charges and not others. The judge in- structed that a “mix and match” verdict would be just as acceptable as finding Watson guilty on all counts or not guilty on all counts. Mr. Kirkconnell The leadership vacancy has come at a crucial time for the islands, given the U.K.’s mounting pressure on the overseas territories to accept some form of centralized beneficial ownership registry. Chief officer Bush takes London post CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CarePay triaL Jury deliberating on Watson case CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 recycling firm to remove tires CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Port authority helped fund cruise pier report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >