ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday February 11, 2016 sports | page 18 NaTioNal swim champioNships CARIFTA qualifiers this week High of 79 Low of 70 Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. Small craft warning is in effect. editorial | page 4 The real crime aT The New JohN Gray Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. 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 Bush questions no-bid deal breNT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A behind-the-scenes political squabble has erupted over the construction of a new govern- ment-leased vehicle licensing facility in Breakers. The facility, which is due to open in stages later this year, will serve as a vehicle inspection station, particularly for heavy trucks and special- ized construction equipment, according to owner George Anthony “Tony” Powell. Mr. Powell said he also intends to open an auto parts store on site, with the idea being that those who get their vehi- cles inspected at the facility can find replacement parts if their inspection fails. Earlier this month, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush raised questions about whether there had been a proper bid process for the $1.4 million facility, which completed construction in January. Mr. Bush questioned why no request for proposals had been issued for the project, ei- ther for its construction or for the government lease of the facility. Governor Helen Kilpatrick responded to Mr. Bush’s questions, which were submitted to her in January, by stating Cabinet had approved an an- nual rental of Mr. Powell’s building at $31,406 per year – $12 per square foot for the licensing facility – and that Planning and Infrastructure Minister Kurt Tibbetts had recused himself from that vote. “Minister Tibbetts recused himself from the decision on this lease because he has a separate business relationship with Mr. Powell,” the gover- nor’s Jan. 28 letter read. “[Mr. Tibbetts] has no in- terest in the property in question.” Regarding Mr. Bush’s questions about the re- quest for proposal, the governor explained that Mr. Powell had offered the previous government, led by Mr. Bush, to develop the Breakers facility in exchange for a lease agreement. The governor said that former Planning Minister Juliana O’Connor- Connolly agreed the project was “necessary and beneficial” but that the previous government simply couldn’t fund the lease. In 2013, Mr. Powell wrote the ministry again, now under the direction of Mr. Tibbetts, the gov- ernor said. “Given that there were no other facilities in the area suitable for these purposes, and because the facilities are being secured through lease arrangements, a request for proposal was not considered necessary,” Governor Kilpatrick’s Kelsey JuKam kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com From the moment the gates opened at the Stacy Watler Agriculture Pavilion in Lower Valley on Wednesday, the produce market was abuzz as shoppers stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables. They were among thousands who turned out for the 49th Annual Agriculture Show, which displayed a cornucopia of Cayman’s finest agricultural products and traditional crafts. Farmer Hamlin Stephenson, who was selling vegetables, and fruit trees and showing goats at the show, said the re- cent cool weather has been excellent for his crops. “The beginning of the year was very, very warm, so we had a lot of insects that would trouble things like cabbage, kale, lettuce,” Mr. Stephenson said. “But, with the cool weather, most of them are disappearing and the tomatoes, with this cool weather, they love it.” He said the show was shaping up to be another success for the Agricultural Society, and he was pleased that visi- tors and residents came out to support charles duNcaN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Residential water rates have been dropping along with energy costs, with energy charges on water bills from both the Water Authority and Cayman Water reduced by 30 percent over the past year. Cayman Water customers’ bills also were lowered by al- most 4.5 percent after the com- pany adjusted its rates at the beginning of the year based on a formula defined under an agreement with the Water Authority. The Water Authority has not changed its rate since 2012, though the public utili- ty’s base rate is about $2 lower than that of Cayman Water. The energy adjustment factor, an additional charge to water rates, varies monthly with the cost of power. With plunging global oil prices and lower rates for diesel imports, combined with new tax breaks for the Caribbean Utilities Company, lower electricity bills translate to lower bills for water from the island’s power- intensive desalination plants. Gregory McTaggart, vice president of local operations for Cayman Water, said the energy factor also serves as a cap on how much his company can add to bills to recoup electricity costs. In an email, he noted that this is “an efficiency factor that caps the specific amount of electricity the company can use to produce a gallon of water. If the company exceeds this efficiency factor, it cannot Governor says minister ‘recused himself’ from dvdl lease vote Thousands attend annual Agriculture Show Water prices drop with energy costs Shoppers at the Agriculture Show snap up fresh fruit and vegetables. - Photo: Kelsey JuKam PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday February 11, 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) THE BIG SHORT (R) 1:10 I 4:05 I 7:00 I 9:55 JANE GOT A GUN (R) 1:30 I 4:10 I 6:50 I 9:15 KUNG FU PANDA 3 3D (PG) 12:20 I 2:40 2D I 5:00 I 7:20 2D I 9:40 THE BOY (PG) 1:20 I 4:30 I 7:15 I 9:35 RIDE ALONG 2 (PG13) 1:00 I 3:30 I 7:10 I 9:40 THE 5TH WAVE (PG13) 1:10 I 4:00 I 7:30 I 10:10 In Central America, gangs an obstacle in battle against Zika CUSCATANCINGO, El Salvador (AP) – For health workers bat- tling Zika across much of Central America, the imme- diate menace is not the mos- quitoes that transmit the virus. It’s the gangsters who control the streets, and some- times threaten their lives. Armed and well-organized street gangs known as maras exert near-total control over entire neighborhoods, using sentries to track everyone who comes and goes. In some cases, they deny ac- cess to health crews they suspect of working with po- lice or a rival gang. In 2014, an emergency medical technician accom- panying a fumigation team in greater San Salvador was shot dead by mara members after they lifted his shirt and, according to local media re- ports, found he had a tattoo from a rival gang. Similar in- cidents have played out in neighboring Honduras and in Guatemala, where fumiga- tors are chased by thugs, as- saulted or charged a small tax for access. “The state is absent” in such areas, said Carlos Carcach, a criminologist with the Superior School of Economics and Business in El Salvador. “The state is being replaced by the gang.” More than 7,000 sus- pected cases of Zika have been identified in El Salvador, where government offi- cials have advised women to put off pregnancies for two years due to severe birth de- fects tentatively linked to the virus. The country has also launched a campaign against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, relying on aggressive fumi- gation and the removal of standing water and refuse where its larvae can breed. But El Salvador, a country of just 6 million people, re- corded more than 700 mur- ders in January and had a homicide rate of 103 per 100,000 inhabitants last year, believed to be the highest of any country not in open war. That’s the environ- ment in which government health workers struggle to contain Zika. To get into Cuscatancingo, on San Salvador’s outskirts, a reporter met a local resi- dent outside town and trav- eled there in his car, which would not raise the gangs’ suspicions. Approaching the Villa Mariona government health clinic, the driver rolled down the vehicle’s win- dows so a group of young Mara Salvatrucha gang- sters in low-hanging jeans, gelled hair and plaid shirts could see who was inside. One asked what was going on, and whether the re- porter had cameras. When a police foot patrol came up the street, a teen shouted “Policia!” into his radio and the youths ran. Several years ago, the clinic was forced to shut down for several months be- cause staff members were being extorted, according to Nelson Mejia, Villa Mariona’s sanitation coordinator. He and the then-director met with gang members to ex- plain why it was important that they work there. Gang members asked that their people get prompt treatment at the facility then agreed to allow operations to resume under a wary truce. But there have been more incidents. Gang members beat up and took away a man working on a local water project for the health min- istry. Once, when a clinic em- ployee was going door-to- door for a health project, a gang member called to warn that he should leave im- mediately because he was suspected of being a cop. Another worker on a fumiga- tion mission left after being intimidated by gangsters. “When this clinic re- opened, it reopened with fear,” Mejia said. Whenever a suspected case of Zika is identified, the Villa Mariona clinic tries to send teams into the area to look for others with fever and to destroy mosquito breeding areas. Mejia said workers from another clinic in Cuscatancingo have been denied entry at times. Eduardo Espinoza, vice minister of health, said such incidents are sporadic. “We haven’t had any significant trouble except in some areas, specifically in the metropol- itan area,” Espinoza said. In Guatemala, fumiga- tors planned to go into one Guatemala City neighbor- hood last week but locals warned it was too dangerous, said Sergio Mendez, fumi- gation coordinator for the health ministry. “We don’t ask for help from the police or the army to enter an area, because later they go and carry out raids,” Mendez said. “And we have to go back. The people think we reported them.” Gangs can also hamper the fight against Zika and other public health efforts in less-direct ways. Fear of the maras leads many residents to refuse to answer the door or let health workers inside. Of the nine suspected Zika cases in the area served by the Villa Mariona clinic, only five have been identified be- cause people refuse to share relatives’ phone numbers or addresses. It’s common for people to suddenly and se- cretly relocate to escape gang threats, making it difficult to do proper follow-up and con- tain the epidemic. Mejia said fear also con- tributes to the root causes of the epidemic. For example, when a water pipe breaks in a gang- controlled neighborhood, the government responds slowly because sending a repair crew is dangerous, he said. That leads to un- reliable service in the area, prompting locals to stock- pile water in barrels perfect for mosquito breeding. More than 7,000 suspected cases of Zika have been identified in El Salvador, where government officials have advised women to put off pregnancies for two years due to severe birth defects tentatively linked to the virus. Residents carry empty water buckets in the La Comuna 2 neighborhood of Guatemala City, where Health Ministry workers are fumigating against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The soldier behind them is there to provide security for health workers against gangs that control the streets. - Photo: AP HAVANA (AP) – Otto Macias was 19 when he left Cuba in the throes of a so- cialist revolution, enlisted in the U.S. Army and went to fight communists as a machine-gunner in Vietnam. He returned from battle in 1969 – broken and suffering from post-trau- matic stress and schizophrenia, his family says. After years of hospitaliza- tion in New York, Macias, then a U.S. cit- izen, was well enough in 1980 to fly to Cuba to visit relatives he had not seen in decades. He never returned. As he stayed with family in Havana, Macias’s hallucinations became so bad he required hospitalization and constant care from doctors or loved ones, his rel- atives say. Less than a year later, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cut off his monthly pension of $60 – a large sum for Cuba, where salaries today av- erage about $25 a month. The U.S. agency never explained the cutoff, but the fam- ily’s American lawyer says he’s certain it was because of the United States’ trade embargo on Cuba. Now, Macias’ family is suing the U.S. government seeking to reinstate the pen- sion. They say President Barack Obama’s loosening of the embargo offers the ailing 75-year-old a final chance to re- gain his benefits and win the recognition of the military service that his adopted country has denied him for 35 years. “It’s about justice,” said Macias’ niece, Anitica. “He was on the battlefield … he dedicated his life to that. He mutilated his life. He didn’t have a family because of it. They need to pay attention to him; they owe him an explanation. They need to recognize him.” More than 200 Cubans who had worked at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and for the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II successfully sued the U.S. government in 2001 when it would not pay benefits to people living in Cuba. The court ruling allowed Cubans who still had documents proving their service to receive benefits, said Carlos Enriquez, a Florida lawyer who repre- sented the men or their survivors. “They sent them their money,” Enriquez said. “They purchased cars, they pur- chased homes. It changed their lifestyle.” Macias lives with his brother in a modest apartment in a high-rise in east Havana. Psychologically stable after years of treatment but suffering from skin cancer, he spends his days running small errands like buying bread, then watching television or petting the fam- ily’s graying dachshund. Vietnam vet sues VA for unpaid benefits while living in Cuba Otto Macias speaks during an interview at his home in Havana, Cuba. – Photo: AP3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday February 11, 2016 Trust Company Ltd., Nagoya JAPAN - Satisfying customers since 1988 get an instant quote on our website: +81-52-219-9024 sales@japanesevehicles.com facebook.com/JapaneseVehicles f LEXUS GS 2006 8,800 US$ S/N 174184 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2001 880 US$ S/N 174302 BMW 1 SERIES 2009 6,550 US$ S/N 174069 NISSAN NOTE 2007 1,150 US$ S/N 174045 MERCEDES SLK280 2008 11,800 US$ S/N 173931 HONDA STREAM 2007 1,780 US$ S/N 173925 HONDA VEZEL 2015 17,500 US$ S/N 173935 NISSAN DUALIS 2011 10,800 US$ S/N 174028 MERCEDES GLK300 2009 20,000 US$ S/N 174070 Get a FREE 30 Day Guarantee with your vehicle purchased from Trust Company Ltd.! High Quality Vehicles | Timely Shipping | Reliable Service | Great Prices Prices listed are FOB. Freight cost and taxes are not included. 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The practicing Jewish community on the Brac is confined to just three people, the Waltons and their son. But the congregation at the Temple swells on some Friday evenings to upward of a dozen people as tourists passing through the island seek out a place to worship. The ornate white building with its large timber door and window cut in the shape of the Star of David, rarely fails to impress. “It has a shock value for visitors. They arrive looking for a thatch hut and they find this place with Italian marble beams and blue pearl granite covering the floor,” says Mr. Walton. The Waltons also do community outreach. They have hosted classical music events and even Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the temple. Schoolchildren are fre- quent visitors to the property, where they can learn about the Jewish faith and the contribu- tions of Judaism to the world. Mr. Walton, who had the temple built in 2002, has now been recognized for his ef- forts by the Commonwealth Jewish Council. He was invited to a recep- tion at the House of Lords dining hall in London last November, where he was pre- sented with an ancient clay oil lamp from the Roman Byzantine era. The lamp is a miniature version of the oil lamps used in the ancient temples in Jerusalem representing God’s presence among his people. The lamp, which carries the inscription, “presented to George Walton for his out- standing contributions to Commonwealth Jewry,” was presented to Mr. Walton by Lord Jon Mendelsohn, pres- ident of the Commonwealth Jewish Council. “It was one of the most profound experiences of my life,” said Mr. Walton, ex- plaining that the lamp sym- bolizes his efforts to keep the light of the Jewish faith alive. He gave a speech to the 230 members of the council, telling them of the syna- gogue’s ongoing religious, social, and educational pro- grams and events. Mr. Walton traces his own Jewish roots to his grand- mother, who arrived in the Brac from Portugal via Jamaica and Grand Cayman at the start of the last century. He believes many early settlers in the Cayman Islands were originally Jewish but stopped practicing or con- verted to Protestantism. The faith just made sense to him, he says, and he stuck with it. After spending 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and marrying his wife, who is also Jewish and from New York, he returned to the Brac in the ‘90s. Now he aims to give back to the community through his work at the temple. “I have had a rich life and God has been good to me,” he said. “A lot of people on the island have never had those kind of opportunities. We try to give back through the temple.” George and Lynne Walton, center, receive their award from Lord Jon Mendelsohn and Laura Marks of the Commonwealth Jewish Council at the House of Lords in November. The ancient clay lamp presented to George Walton for his contributions to the Jewish faith. George Walton and his wife Lynne outside the temple they built on Cayman Brac.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Thursday February 11, 2016 • Cayman COmpass Stealing from a school is a near equivalent to robbing the poor box at a church. In other words, schools should be hallowed ground. Accordingly, we regard as an act of sacrilege the theft of materials from the John Gray High School construc- tion site off Walkers Road in George Town. Security guards noticed three men skulking around a storage area on the site. When the guards approached, the men (as cowards tend to do) ran away, fleeing the scene in a white car. We, of course, hope police are able to identify and arrest the miscreants, and then have them prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That being said, the real crime that occurred at the John Gray construction site wasn’t the theft of copper wire and assorted sundry — but the fact that John Gray remains a collection of half-finished, abandoned struc- tures, nearly eight years after officials broke ground on taxpayers’ “investment” of more than $54 million. Though it is certainly significant, the amount of dollars spent can’t by itself be used to quantify the magni- tude of the offense perpetrated by consecutive govern- ments. Rather, we must look to other metrics, such as test scores, graduates’ proficiency in spoken and written English, college achievements, job placements, etc. … Any and all of which fall well short of what we expect, and what our children deserve. However, if you prefer to consider matters from a “value for money” perspective, the Cayman Islands public education system spends far too much money to buy far too much illiteracy, in terms of the resources put into the system, on a per-pupil basis, compared to the results that the system produces. Now, we aren’t saying that all of Cayman’s public school graduates emerge from the educational system without an adequate education. On the contrary, plenty of those young people are industrious, intelligent and inquis- itive. As a company, we consider ourselves fortunate to be able to employ such individuals. The key word, however, is “individuals” — as in, they happen to be people who (usually with the support of conscientious family members) are motivated to succeed, regardless of the situation that is presented. Unfortunately (and we even hesitate to use that word, because what we describe is the natural “bell curve” of human characteristics), not all of our young sprouts are hardy enough to thrive in such hostile circumstances. Many, in order to cultivate their own potential, require an atmosphere more conducive to growth and development. While we as a society have little control over children’s home environments, we do have the ability to determine what their daily experience is like when they reach school — which should be, as we stated above, a sanctuary for learning. Our point is not that all would be well with public edu- cation in Cayman (or even, necessarily, any better) if the John Gray project had been completed. The shininess of a school’s physical facade has little to do with the quality of teaching and learning that goes on within the class- room walls. We find ourselves returning to the example of the financially catastrophic high schools project for a couple of reasons: • The vast amount of money, resources and attention that government has squandered on the construc- tion project could have been invested elsewhere, more wisely and efficaciously • The government’s mismanagement of the high schools construction project is a highly visible analogy for the government’s mismanagement of the futures of class after class of Caymanian high school graduates. The second point is especially important because once ill-educated students leave the confines of the school system, the threat is that they fall into the obscurity of unemployability. Disillusioned, idle and perhaps impov- erished, they re-surface as assailants of the society to which they were never prepared to contribute. That is, as criminals. Who knows? Perhaps whoever is responsible for the theft of materials at John Gray would not have thought fit to steal from schools as adults, if they had been better served by schools as students. The real crime at the new John Gray Language, labels and libertarians What does a “progres- sive” stand for? How does this differ from what a lib- eral, conservative or liber- tarian stands for? More so than in most years, the pres- idential candidates are de- bating about labels. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders got into an argument last week about what a progres- sive is, and Mrs. Clinton en- lightened everyone by telling us “the root of that word, progressive is progress.” There are two conflicting philosophical views as to the proper role of government. One sees the role of the state to protect the individual from the transgressions of others, while at the same time pro- tecting the individual from the state in order to ensure individual liberty. The other view is that the function of government is to protect the collective, and to directly pro- vide for individual needs. Correctly said, there is an endless struggle between the “libertarians” and the “stat- ists.” The statists tend to look to government – more regu- lation or spending – to cure every perceived ill, while lib- ertarians tend to look to the private sector to solve most problems. Sloppy journalists often refer to this struggle as being between the right and left, which loses much of its meaning. Most of the Republicans refer to them- selves as conservatives – whose standard definition means those “who adhere to traditional methods or views.” Yet, there are real differences between the policies of the conservative candidates when it comes to foreign policy, im- migration, marijuana decrimi- nalization and the role of the states versus the federal gov- ernment – demonstrating how elastic the term “conservative” has become. The classic definition of “liberal” is “one who is open- minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, tra- ditional or established forms or ways.” In Europe, the lib- eral parties normally lean to less intrusive government, while in the United States the statists captured and per- verted the word as a syn- onym for bigger and more intrusive government. The big-government programs, which began in a major way in the 1930s, were beset with so many failures that by the Reagan era, “liberal” had be- come almost a dirty word, so many statist politicians fled from it and captured the word “progressive,” which had a much better but mean- ingless ring to it. The “progressive” Hillary Clinton wants more govern- ment regulation, spending, and taxation, while the “pro- gressive” Bill Clinton told us two decades ago that the “era of big government is over” – and did, in fact, preside over a relatively smaller government in his second term. The pro- gressive politicians say they want government actively in- volved in creating new jobs – primarily through more gov- ernment spending. Yet, at the same time, they push for much higher minimum wages that kill job opportunities for the least skilled (which only those in complete denial of re- ality refuse to admit). The pro- gressives tell us they want to break up the big banks. Yet, because the costs of all of the new financial regulations, which are often the brain children of the progressives, fall much harder on small banks than the big banks, the number of banks in the United States has fallen by 30 percent in the last 15 years. Labels such as liberal, pro- gressive and conservative tell us little about which laws a politician is actually going to promote. Most people to some extent have both some liber- tarian and some statist views, e.g., students who are in favor of drug legalization but want “free stuff” from government to be paid for by others. Note how many Iowa farmers are in favor of smaller govern- ment and free markets, but push for ethanol subsidies. Libertarians, in contrast with anarchists, see a nec- essary role for government, including the promulgation and enforcement of laws nec- essary for the common de- fense and a civil society. Few of even the most ardent stat- ists (including socialists and communists) want to see a return to only government- owned restaurants, particu- larly among those who had dined in them in the old Soviet Union. Even Cuba now has many privately owned and operated restaurants. It would be useful if those who write on politics would replace the terms “right” and “left,” and “liberal,” “progres- sive,” “moderate” and “conser- vative” with “libertarian” and “statist” – where appropriate. By using language and labels more carefully and precisely, it would help the public to un- derstand why the “conserva- tive” Rand Paul and the “so- cialist” Bernie Sanders can agree on drugs but strongly disagree on government en- titlements. There are many issues where people have strong disagreements – which do not fit neatly in all cases into a libertarian-statist di- chotomy – such as abortion and the necessary level of defense spending. The great philosopher- economist F.A. Hayek, beloved by most conservatives, re- ferred to himself as an “Old Whig” like the conservative icon Edmund Burke, rather than as a conservative. John Locke noted the Whigs fought for “a standing rule to live by, common to everyone in so- ciety and not to be subject to the inconstant, uncertain, ar- bitrary will of another man.” Hayek, like Burke, believed in the importance of tradition and argued that existing in- stitutions should not lightly be overturned – a position held by most conservatives and many libertarians. The American Founders and the Constitution largely reflected the beliefs of the Old Whigs. Better to be an “Old Whig” on most issues, rather than a “new socialist.” Richard W. Rahn, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. LETTER To ThE EdIToR Killing Cayman’s coral I wonder when govern- ment will do something to prevent the destruction of coral and the environment in the Cayman Islands. I think that it’s time for government to start put- ting in moorings to pre- vent the destruction of the corals. The government need to be stopped from col- lecting money and talking about reef restorations. I know of a lot of dam- aged sites, and a lot of talk about reef restorations, but I know that it would be a very long time before the sites look like they looked before the damage occurred. Cayman Compass, can you please give an up- date on the progress of all the damaged sites and re- covery the restoration has made, to know if restora- tion is even working? I re- ally think that this is a good story to bring to the public attention because if the destruction of corals and the environment con- tinues, there would not be any in the near future. Ron Ebanks 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” RichaRd W. Rahn RichaRd W. Rahn [T]here is an endless struggle between the “libertarians” and the “statists.” The statists tend to look to government … to cure every perceived ill, while libertarians tend to look to the private sector to solve most problems.5 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday February 11, 2016 FIND YOUR BEST DEALS DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE OVER 10,000 CARS IN STOCK Tel : +81 42 440 3440 | Email : top@beforward.jp www.beforward.jp Shipped to George Town Cayman Islands DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE Navy ship heading for Cayman James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com British Royal Navy ship the HMS Mersey, which assists with anti- drug trafficking operations and is on standby for disaster relief in the region, will call into Grand Cayman on Thursday. The 250-foot vessel, with a crew of 48, left its home port of Portsmouth in the U.K. in January and will be on patrol in the northern Atlantic until July. The ship has a remit to provide “security and as- surance” to the U.K.’s Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and will visit all six during her time in the region. Joint exercise planned During the visit to Grand Cayman, the ship’s crew will con- duct a joint exercise with the police marine unit. There will also be an evening reception and tours of the vessel for local students. On Friday, crew members will take part in a community project with the Sunrise Adult Training Center in West Bay, helping to create a vegetable garden at the facility. Some of the crew will also take part in the Caybrew Challenge Quiz with a team of local football fans. Commanding Officer Lt. Cmdr. Richard Hewitt said, “I’m looking for- ward to bringing Mersey to Grand Cayman and to continue to show the Royal Navy’s commitment to U.K. Overseas Territories, as well as working with organizations such as the Royal Cayman Islands Police Marine Unit.” The HMS Mersey is one of the Royal Navy’s four River Class offshore patrol vessels. The ship has a doctor and medical team on board in case as- sistance is needed in a disaster. The vessel can make 10 tons of fresh water per day and is also able to embark shipping con- tainers of aid and equipment if re- quired, using her own cranes, ac- cording to a press statement from the Governor’s Office. “The Mersey will also reinforce trade links with Central America and reaffirm relationships with for- eign partners, including the Mexican Navy. She will also take part in the multinational exercise Trade Winds 16 in June. Additionally she will conduct counter-narcotics pa- trols with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team em- barked for boarding operations,” the statement said.The HMS Mersey will be in port in Cayman this week. – PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Three given jail sentences for firearm offense CarOL WiNker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two men were jailed Tuesday for 10 years each and a woman was jailed for two years for possessing an unlicensed firearm. Julia Elizabeth Lewis, 27, was sentenced for possession of a .38 Hi-Point pistol at Countryside Shopping Village on Aug. 16, 2013. Judge Michael Mettyear sentenced Jordan Manderson and Austin Jackson, both 22, in relation to the same inci- dent as Lewis. Cayman’s Firearm Law sets a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for a person found guilty of the offense after trial; if the de- fendant pleads guilty, the mandatory sentence is seven years unless there is some exceptional circumstance. Lewis pleaded guilty in October 2014. In summing up what happened next, the judge said he found excep- tional circumstances. He quoted her attorney, Nicholas Dixey, as saying Lewis took the “brave step” of giving evidence against Manderson and Austin, who were charged with posses- sion of the same firearm. Both pleaded not guilty and elected trial by judge alone; Justice Mettyear found them guilty in November 2015 and adjourned sen- tencing pending social in- quiry reports. Senior Crown counsel Tricia Hutchinson, summa- rizing the incident, said the charges arose after police received a report of a car driving dangerously. Officers gave chase in the vicinity of the Spotts Beach area. Just before the car crashed into a utility pole near Countryside in Savannah, an object – the gun – was thrown from the pas- senger side of the vehicle. The three occupants, Jackson, Manderson and Lewis, were seen leaving the car. The court heard that Lewis picked up the gun and ran with it into the shopping center, where a security guard saw her put it in a waste bin. When he removed it, Lewis begged him to give it back to her, saying she had two chil- dren and did not want to go to prison. The guard gave it back. Lewis then threw the gun into bushes behind the shop- ping center. Closed-circuit TV captured all of her move- ments. She left the scene, changed clothes and then re- turned, telling officers at the scene that the car was hers. Questioned further, she gave three different accounts and denied being involved with the firearm, which had ammunition in it. At the time, there was no evidence against Jackson or Manderson relating to the gun. Lewis initially pleaded not guilty and was to have gone on trial in 2014. When Mr. Dixey asked the trial judge what sentence would be likely if Lewis pleaded guilty, he was told there were no ex- ceptional circumstances and the sentence would be seven or eight years. However, after her guilty plea, Lewis provided state- ments that became the basis of the case against Manderson and Jackson. After the men’s trial and again at sentencing, Justice Mettyear said he was quite sure Lewis regretted her part in the incident. She had lied in order to distance herself from the gun, but then de- cided to tell the truth. “I feel she is a decent young woman who has done her best to give a balanced account,” the judge said. Jackson, who was sup- posed to fix something on her car, picked her up after work, and Manderson, whom she did not know, was in the back seat. On the way to her home in Savannah, the men passed a gun back and forth. At one stage, Jackson put it on her lap. She picked it up and put it on his lap. She asked what he was going to do with it and he began to sing, “Kiss the gun.” She was afraid he was going to kill her. When police began chasing her car, she wanted to disassociate herself from the gun. Because she had touched it, she was aware her DNA might be on it, so she threw it from the car just before the crash. Manderson told her to pick it up and she did, carrying it into Countryside, where she again threw it away. Manderson later got a ride from someone he knew and got Lewis to come along as they drove around the shopping center. She showed him where she had thrown the gun the second time. This was the action that Justice Mettyear said made it impossible for him to pass a sentence of less than two years. He said Lewis could have told police about the gun after the crash. In telling Manderson where it was, “she must have sus- pected at the very least that he wanted to recover it. Had that happened, it might still be out on the street,” he said. Mr. Dixey advised the court that Lewis went into custody for eight months after her guilty plea and was bailed in May 2015. He said that time was equal to a sentence of one year and he asked that she not be sent back to prison. He cited a case in the U.K., where the mandatory min- imum sentence is five years. There, a woman had kept a gun for someone over a pe- riod of months. Her sentence was reduced on appeal to six months. In Lewis’s case, she had held the gun for a matter of seconds. A sentence of 12 months would be proportional, he urged, and would not be considered unduly lenient. Justice Mettyear sen- tenced Lewis to two years imprisonment, with credit for time served. For Manderson, attorney Laurence Aiolfi referred to medical reports which de- scribed him as functioning mentally at the level of an 8-year-old. Justice Mettyear pointed out that Manderson had worked as a boat captain and interacted with tourists from all over the world. During his trial, Manderson had given his evidence without difficulty, the judge said. Manderson had said he could not remember, but this was in the context of being drunk at the time. The judge found no exceptional circumstance. For Jackson, attorney Crister Brady accepted that his client had previous con- victions for serious offenses and asked for justice tem- pered with mercy. The judge said he would not raise the sentence above the manda- tory minimum.Thursday February 11, 2016 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town Music legend ‘Lammie’ wins Lifetime Achievement Award KeLsey JuKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com Fireworks lit up George Town harbor Monday evening to cele- brate renowned musician Lambert “Lammie” Seymour as he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association at the Cayman Mardi Gras kick-off event. Mr. Seymour, who was born in George Town but has resided in Bodden Town for the last 26 years, has been contributing to Cayman’s music scene for the last 50 years. He’s perhaps best known as the lead singer of the reggae band Memory of Justice, which rose to prominence in the early 1980s, top- ping the Caribbean charts for eight weeks with their second album, “Me and My Crew.” But Mr. Seymour was jamming long before that. Mr. Seymour was born in 1954 and at the age of five he decided he wanted to be a musician. He bought his first instrument, a rhythm guitar, in 1967. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to the bass guitar, and by 1968 was playing in his first band, the Soulful Flames, enter- taining crowds at the Agricultural Show grounds and town dances. Eventually, he would pick up the keyboard, and become known for his smooth singing voice, too. According to the music and en- tertainment association presi- dent, Jean-Eric Smith, Mr. Seymour faced a unique challenge when he first started playing the guitar. Mr. Seymour is left-handed but in those early days of his musical career, there were only right-handed gui- tars available to him. Undeterred, he turned it upside-down, emulating musicians like Jimi Hendrix. Mr. Smith, who presented the award to Mr. Seymour, said that while many of his recent fans might not even know that he’s a bass player, he’s “one of the best bassists in the Caribbean.” Mr. Smith described Mr. Seymour as “shy” and “unassuming,” and during the first part of the music legend’s career he shied away from the limelight, often standing with his back to the audience. “He never sang a note,” Mr. Smith said. “But that would change in the coming years.” After playing with his mu- sical idol, the band Humble and the Meek, at the then La Fontaine hotel (now Royal Palms) during the early 1970s, Mr. Seymour and his friends launched the first iteration of Memory of Justice. As bands often do, members disagreed about what their focus should be, and Mr. Seymour and his friend, Charles “Greggie G” Gregory, played for a time on their own. This is when, out of necessity, Mr. Seymour began to sing. “What a shock to the system,” Mr. Smith said. “The previously shy bassist now had to stand up in front of the crowd and play and sing at the same time.” Eventually, other musicians were recruited to fill out the band, but Mr. Seymour retained his role as lead vocalist. The band included Allan “Tabio” Myles, George Powell, Jonathan Ebanks and Gary Ebanks. “They worked like crazy, night after night, producing their dreams of recording original songs in a small studio on Eastern Avenue called Caymaniac Studios,” Mr. Smith said. “They developed over 100 songs.” The band’s albums were very well received, and they were invited to play at festivals, opening for acts like Chaka Kahn. Mr. Seymour has performed all over the island, the Caribbean, and at many venues in Central America and North America, as well. He’s played background music for many local artists, and today he appears with the Swanky Kitchen Band. Exhibiting that reluctance to be in the spotlight, Mr. Seymour was a man of few words as he accepted his award. “It feels wonderful,” he said, before Mardi Gras organizer Matthew Leslie could coax a few more remarks from him. Mr. Seymour used the opportu- nity to advocate for other musicians. “I want to say to the Cayman Islands that musicians need to get paid,” he said. “We need to get paid, it’s long overdue, and the music will not get any better if the people in power don’t get involved and try to do something with it.” Mr. Seymour says the music in- dustry is “nowhere near” where it should be, because most people are unwilling to pay for it. He hopes that the public will support local talent by buying their records, at- tending performances, and lobbying the government to create more live music venues, particularly in hotels. He wants the people of Cayman to see that “music is a driving force everywhere in the world.” And he, for one, is never going to stop playing it. Lambert ‘Lammie’ Seymour won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Cayman’s music scene. Cayman Mardi Gras organizer Matthew Leslie and award recipient Lambert ‘Lammie’ Seymour. - Photos: Kelsey JuKam In the Feb. 9, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a pre- cursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “Sunday a week ago a motor car ran off the road and over the preci- pice at the dangerous guard house corner at the entrance to this town. “This incident brings to mind the fact that a few years ago, fol- lowing the representations of the then assembly members of this constituency, a start was made at putting a fence around this corner. Construction was of wood and the fence was never completed. “Today one cannot even find the remains of what was put up. This is but another example of waste of government funds. “While some instances of cars running off the road at this point can be attributed to careless driving, the long overdue construction of a properly reinforced concrete wall around this dangerous corner may some day prove the dividing wall be- tween the life and death of some in- nocent motorist or passenger. “While driving or walking through this town one cannot help but no- tice the nuisance being created by hanging telephone wires in front of the residences of some citizens. “Even if the residents of this town have to wait on Cable & Wireless (W.I.) Ltd. for the resto- ration of a telephone system, they should not be exposed to the nui- sance and danger of hanging wires at their front doorsteps.” 50 years ago: Some recommended improvementsCayman Compass • Thursday February 11, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town The fishermen of Bodden Town Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hugh Bush, Kevin Levy, Olson Levy, John Andrews, Truman, Tony and Ronnie Minzett, Marko Whittaker and Bradley McLaughlin are all from a long line of Caymanian fishermen. They carry on a fishing tradition that has been passed from father to son. Fishing is not a life for everyone. Long hours, hard work and bad weather are enough to keep most people on land. But if you ask any of these young men taking to the seas on calm days, or even in rough weather, they will tell you it is lots of fun catching fish. The older Caymanian gen- eration had to fish because, for many, it was the only way to feed their families. It’s doubtful they saw it as a sport. Today’s young people are both able to feed their families and relish the enjoy- ment of fishing. In the old days, most fish- erman left their beds well be- fore sunrise. Kids on the way to school could see them in the early morning, walking the beaches, casting nets onto the schools of fish swimming in the shallows or packing up the dory to head to sea. They were making a living. Those who did not have the little boats called dories would sit on the beach with line in hand waiting on a big pull. Some fishermen spent time in shallow waters set- ting fish traps which they made at home from wire and branches of the rosemary tree while others repaired boats and mended nets. Bodden Town fisherman Hugh Bush spoke about being out on the open ocean and the great excitement of a good catch of fish. “It is relaxing, part of tra- dition and a way of life for me,” he said, adding that some days there was a good catch and others none. “It can be rough and hard and dangerous out there sometimes, but it’s what I love to do when I get the time.” Sometimes, things go wrong. “Last year, we went out and the boat and engine busted open because of the rough weather,” he said. The boat started taking on water and sinking, and sea water began mixing with the gas in the engine. “We had to bail and row like hell all the way from Morritt’s in East End to get the boat to the launch ramp next to Over the Edge in North Side,” he said. “The most dangerous thing that can happen to a fisherman at sea is to have his boat sinking.” While many fishermen admit that fishing can exact a physical and emotional toll, it can be quite adventurous and fun at times. Fishermen have to know the fish they are after, how best to catch them, how best to bring them in, and how to keep them fresh until they bring them to shore to sell. They also have to know the sea. Changes in the sea af- fect boat gear as well as the fishing. Kevin Levy said for him fishing is about having fun. Getting food and making a sale makes it all even more worthwhile. The fishermen love to joke around about their adven- tures on the sea. Mr. Levy recounted how Mr. Bush was chased by a barracuda while he was in the water. “Bushy just turned around and quickly pierced the fish,” he said. “It was fried barra- cuda and fritters that night for supper.” Mr. Bush shot back with another story: “One time Kevin went fishing with plaits and beads in his head, and the fish starting chasing him because the fish thought the beads in Kevin’s head was food,” he said. The fishing tradition clearly will live on for now, it seems, with many more sto- ries waiting to be told. Fishermen typically draw a crowd eager to see the catch of the day. Bradley McLaughlin, Hugh Bush and Kevin Levy clean fish on the Coe Wood Public Beach in Bodden Town. - Photos: Jewel levy Truman Minzett carries on a Cayman tradition. Celebrating coconuts at Pedro Castle Pedro Castle will be going nuts for coconuts on Feb. 20. The Savannah historic site will be the setting for Coco Fest, a coconut festival happening in partnership with Tamer Soliman and Rob Tyler, the team behind the documentary “Bright Spot,” which examines the traditional role of coconuts in Cayman. Mr. Soliman, a nutri- tionist, noted that the Cayman coconut is a boun- tiful food source with leg- endary properties, and was once a traditional staple in the Caymanian diet. Organizers say the event, which runs from noon until 4 p.m., will offer a fun-packed day for all the family with lots of activities and will cel- ebrate the Cayman coconut and its ties to Cayman cul- ture and heritage. Coco Fest is also aimed at supporting a growing local coconut industry, giving local vendors the opportunity to showcase their products. Producers of food, drinks, beauty products, crafts and games made from coconuts will all be on site, displaying their wares. The documentary “Bright Spot” will also be showing from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the theater. The organizers note the event also aimed at re- membering a time when the local coconut industry was very important. The celebrations are warmly welcomed by the CEO of the Tourism Attraction Board, Gilbert Connolly. “We are very pleased to be hosting this cultural event at Pedro Castle and are enthu- siastic for the opportunities it will bring to the Cayman community,” he said. Admission for adults is $5 and kids under 12 are free. For more information, contact Debbie Bodden on 947-3329, email info@ pedrostjames.ky or Shayma Hamdi on 949-6999, email marketing@tab.ky. Coco Fest will be on the grounds of historic Pedro Castle. Allen Hurlstone and Vernon Lester Ebanks show off some fresh coconuts at Pedro Castle.THURSDAY, FEB. 11 STAR WATCH: The Astronomical Society’s meeting will be at Pedro St. James starting at 7 p.m. If more than 50 percent cloudy then the meeting will be canceled. Interested persons may phone (not text) – 925-7657 around 6:45 p.m. if there is any uncertainty. Non-members are asked to park outside and walk in. CINE CLUB: Film screening of “Black Orpheus,” set during Carnival in Rio. 7:30- 9:30 p.m. National Gallery. See www.nationalgallery.org. ky or call 945-8111. MOONLIGHT AND MOVIES: Valentine’s Day Series tonight through Saturday, 7 p.m. Gardenia Court, Camana Bay. Moviegoers can cuddle up and enjoy a romantic comedy on a giant outdoor screen under the stars. “Stardust” tonight, “Footloose” on Friday, and “Beauty and the Beast” on Saturday. The series is free. Guests are welcome to bring their own blankets and snacks, but there are lots of options nearby for snack essentials or other treats. FRIDAY, FEB. 12 FISH FRY: St. Ignatius School canteen. Fridays during Lent. Serving from 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. Menu includes mahi- mahi for $10 or snapper, $12, with all the trimmings. CHAMBER COURSE: “Basic Grammar and Writing Skills, Part 2” by Catherine Tyson. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $150. Future members $225. www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, FEB. 13 EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING: The Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association holds its monthly meeting today, 9-11 a.m. There will also be a workshop on “Social and Emotional Development.” For more information, call 939-7426 or 322-3556. STORY AND CRAFT TIME: 10:30 a.m. at Books & Books, Camana Bay. Every Saturday, young readers and their parents can join the storytellers for new tales and crafts that inspire imagination and creativity. SUNDAY, FEB. 14 RUN FOR LOVE: 5K run/ walk. 4 p.m. Start and finish at Bayshore Mall. All proceeds benefit children at the National Council of Voluntary Organisations’ foster home. Registration fee is $15 adults, $5 for those under 18. Children’s race is free. Trophies, medals for top finishers, plus automatic entry for raffle. Register online at www.caymanactive.com/ valentines or from 2:30 p.m. on day of race. For more information, contact 949- 2124 or ncvocoordinator@ ncvo.org.ky. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 FLOETRY: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Books & Books. Join Cayman’s poets and performers as they share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. This event is open to the public. All are invited to share their own work or listen to others. THURSDAY, FEB. 18 A WALK IN HER SHOES: Fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, where sponsored males will strut in high heels to raise money and awareness of this charity, which aids victims of domestic abuse. 5:30 p.m. on Market Street, Camana Bay. For more details and how to participate, contact Michelle at 925-6347. GARDEN LUNCH AND LECTURE: At the National Gallery. Lunch and lecture of En Mas’– Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean. Lunch inspired by the exhibition and its New Orleans roots. The complimentary lecture begins at 12 noon and lunch is served until 2 p.m. CHAMBER COURSE: “Employment, the Hiring Process.” Presented by Huw Moses. 9–11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $175. Future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: “Basics of Budgeting.” Presented by Terry Carson. Today and tomorrow 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $225. Future members $300. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 MUSIC AT NATIONAL GALLERY: The Cayman Arts Festival makes its way to the National Gallery at 6 p.m. Celebrate the sounds of African and Caribbean music. Admission is free. CHAMBER COURSE: “Situational Leadership.” Presented by Xenia Goddard. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $350. Future members $400. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, FEB. 25 BRAC COURT: Summary Court will be held today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. in the Aston Rutty Civic Centre. CHAMBER COURSE: “Immigration – Permanent Residence, Work Permits and Status.” Presented by Nick Joseph. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $350. Future members $400. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WORKSHOP: “Enhancing the Value of Micro and Small Businesses,” by James Andrews of Integra Realty Resources. 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, FEB. 26 BRAC PAGEANT: The Creek and Spot Bay Primary PTA Committee presents The Most Amazing Parents Pageant. 6:30 p.m. Aston Rutty Centre. Entry fee is $25. For more information, contact Sharissa Ritch at 924-1861. CAREERS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING EXPO: From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in UCCI’s Multipurpose Hall. Free admission. Businesses interested in exhibiting should contact Nicola Burke at 743-9129 or email membership@ caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, FEB. 27 RED SKY AT NIGHT: In celebration of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Red Sky at Night, the National Gallery will be open to the public for a late night viewing of the exhibition EN MAS’ – Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean. 4 – 10 p.m. Admission is free. PRINCESS TEA PARTY: Girls’ Brigade National Council annual fundraising event. Venue is Audrey Whittaker’s residence, 1237 Frank Sound, North Side. 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 and available now from any Girls’ Brigade officer. BRAC AGRICULTURE: The annual Cayman Brac Agriculture Show takes place at the Agriculture Grounds on The Bluff. Contact Chevala Burke or Marcia Rankin, 948-2222. BRAC CRUISE SHIP: The cruise ship MV Serenissima will visit Cayman Brac 2-10 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 5 PAWS IN THE SAND: Dinner at Rum Point Restaurant to raise funds for Protection of Animal Welfare Society. Tickets are $125 per person, with free ferry service leaving SafeHaven Dock at 5 p.m. for cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. Includes Broadway show, silent and live auctions. Tickets from Lighthouse Restaurant or contact 916-1731 or 916-3957. GENERAL INTEREST ADULT ART COURSES: New art courses at the National Gallery include drawing and painting, followed by batik and hatting. See www. nationalgallery.org.ky/news/ ngci2016adultcourses. CONSUMER PROTECTION: The Law Reform Commission invites comment on the discussion paper, “Consumer Protection – Entrenching Consumer Supremacy in Cayman Islands Legislation.” The paper can be viewed on www.lrc.gov.ky. Submissions should be emailed to cilrc@ gov.ky or sent by post or hand to the Director of the Law Reform Commission, 4th Floor, Government Administration Building, Portfolio of Legal Affairs, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 136, Grand Cayman, KY1- 9000. Deadline is April 29. EXHIBITION: The National Gallery is the venue for the exhibition of “Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean.” This traveling exhibition explores the influences of Carnival on contemporary performance and practices internationally. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay Artisans Market every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale between noon and 8 p.m. near KARoo restaurant. For more information on displaying your work, email info@ visualartcayman.com. REEF RESTORATION: Certified divers are invited to work on the Cayman Magic Reef restoration in George Town. A schedule of work dates and times is posted on Facebook under Cayman Magic Reef Recovery. Dates and times are listed under Events, for volunteers to check and sign up. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@ museum.ky. NCVO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers needed for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations’ Children’s Services programs. Contact Alta Solomon at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo. org.ky. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. PINK LADIES: Coffee Shop at Cayman Islands Hospital is open Monday- Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, drinks, snacks. Takeout orders welcome, call 244-2661. Funds are donated back to the community. Contact pinkladiescayman@gmail. com. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community Calendar ■ Community Calendar is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. Thursday February 11, 2016 • Cayman Compass Breno Mello stars in ‘Black Orpheus’ which will be screened at the National Gallery Thursday, Feb 11.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 PARIS (AP) – French law- makers have approved a di- visive bill aimed at making it possible to revoke the citizen- ship of people convicted on terrorism charges. The bill, presented by Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls in the wake of the Paris attacks last year, passed by 317-199 Wednesday in parliament’s lower house, the National Assembly. The measure revealed deep division among the ruling Socialists. Many on the left expressed indigna- tion at the move and refused to vote for it. Justice minister Christian Taubira resigned last month in protest. The measure also divides the op- position conservatives. Valls justified the need for the bill by the terrorist threat. “Because we are at war, we must unite,” he told journal- ists after the vote. “This is a great day for the Republic, for unity, for France and for the fight against terrorism.” The reform, which would alter the Constitution, is still far from being definitively adopted. It also needs to be voted on by the Senate and ultimately would require a three-fifths majority vote from lawmakers of both houses. The government says the measure would con- cern a very small number of people but is of high sym- bolic value. The decision to revoke a person’s French citi- zenship would be made by a judge and would apply to ter- rorism-related crimes. Human rights groups had warned that the bill risked discriminating against mi- norities of immigrant back- ground as the initial text tar- geted dual nationals only. In response to the criti- cism, the Socialist government removed the mention of dual nationals and extended the measure to all French citizens. That risks leaving a person stateless, which could be in conflict with France’s obliga- tions under international law. Another measure in the bill would introduce the prin- ciple of the state of emer- gency into the Constitution. It would apply in the event of a terrorist threat or a nat- ural disaster for a 12-day pe- riod that could be extended by a vote of the Parliament, as under current law. Cayman Compass • Thursday February 11, 2016 letter read. “In the case of a leasehold interest, the law requires only that the arrangement provides value for money. [The] Lands & Survey Department [has] negotiated on the Department of Vehicle and Driver’s Licensing’s behalf and the agreed rent cost is supported by the [government’s] chief valuation officer.” Mr. Bush questioned the governor’s views with regard to the request for proposals. “How come it’s not con- sidered necessary?” Mr. Bush asked. “Lots of people got land in Bodden Town; who would be the best developer for it? That’s the question. Are there not other persons in Bodden Town, North Side or East End who could have done this? “It’s not the matter of the person that got it, nothing against [Mr. Powell], the fact that he has a business rela- tionship with Kurt Tibbetts is the whole thing. I am talking about good governance which they are not adhering to.” Mr. Bush also questioned what the response would have been if he were the Planning and Infrastructure Minister when such a deal arose. “Everything that I had to do, every project, not just the dock but the Turtle Farm … Spotts dock, the Chinese couldn’t do it because we had to go to tender. When we were looking at the dump, we had to go to tender. “If this had been one of the persons they have ac- cused me … of having busi- ness with, then what would the PPM have said?” Mr. Powell said Monday that while he did not have a problem with the opposition leader asking questions re- garding the DVDL project, no rental agreement of this rela- tively small size should have to go to the Central Tenders Committee bid process. Mr. Powell also said that he and his wife were the sole owners of the Breakers land where the facility was built and that they bore the full costs of the construction. “Everything here was above board,” Mr. Powell said. “Mr. Tibbetts has absolutely nothing to do with it.” Mr. Powell noted, as did the governor, that various governments – dating back to the mid-’90s term of the Thomas Jefferson-led ad- ministration – had negoti- ated with local landowners regarding such a public-pri- vate partnership. One such deal involved an office in Pease Bay, Bodden Town for DVDL facilities. A separate business plan was prepared in 2006 by then-Works Minister Arden McLean. “Several sites in and around Bodden Town, have been considered, but for a variety of reasons, none of these proved viable,” the gov- ernor’s letter indicated. The Cayman Islands Auditor General’s office con- firmed Tuesday that it had not reviewed any aspect of the DVDL project to date. However, in a report issued last year the auditor’s of- fice talked about the likely prevalence of such public- private partnerships in the future and noted the govern- ment has no policy in place to guide the approval of those proposals. “Detailed policies and pro- cedures are still required to ensure that the government receives value for money,” the 2014 governance audit report noted. “Examples of such policies and procedures exist and have been used for a considerable period of time in other jurisdictions and it should not be difficult to adopt and customize the re- quired framework for the Cayman Islands.” Governor says minister ‘recused himself’ from DVDL lease vote The new automotive center in Breakers will serve as a government vehicle inspection and registration center. – Photo: GeorGe Nowak collect back this excess from its customers.” Cayman Water, which services West Bay and along Seven Mile Beach, has seen its energy sur- charge drop from $4.02 per 1,000 U.S. gallons in January 2015 to $2.82 last month. At the Water Authority, the public utility providing water service for the rest of the island, the surcharge was lowered from about $3.93 to $2.67 per 1,000 gallons over the past year. The energy adjustments change month to month, but rates are reviewed an- nually. Cayman Water cut its rates by about 4.4 per- cent in January to $18.63 per 1,000 U.S. gallons. The Water Authority’s rate of $16.58 has been the same since 2012. Water Authority com- munications officer Hannah Reid, responding to ques- tions by email, wrote, “Had the Authority adjusted its rates in 2013, 2014 or 2015, customers would have seen increased rates and the base rates would be 1.69 percent higher than they are currently. “The Water Authority Board decided to forgo these rate adjustments in view of the fact that a dif- ferent method for rate ad- justment based on the Rate Cap Adjustment Mechanism may be intro- duced shortly.” That new rate-setting formula is similar to the way CUC sets power rates based on the consumer price index. The new rate proposal has proven to be a point of contention be- tween the Water Authority and Cayman Water, and ne- gotiations continue. Mr. McTaggart said, “We are unsure how the rates will change in the future because of the on- going negotiations we are engaged in with [the Water Authority] for a new license and the fact that WAC is mandating a new rate ad- justment mechanism sim- ilar to CUC’s.” The energy adjustment factor, an additional charge to water rates, adjusts monthly with the cost of power. Water prices drop with energy costs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Christie suspends 2016 White House bid NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended his cam- paign for the Republican nomination for president after failing to break out from a field in which non-traditional candidates are making strides. That’s according to a two people familiar with his plans, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publically. Christie had banked his cam- paign on a strong finish in the state, but placed sixth in New Hampshire, despite having spent more than 70 days campaigning in the state. It was the final blow for a can- didate whose campaign, at points, saw glimmers of hope, but had trouble from the get-go raising money and building support in a crowded Republican field domi- nated by another brash East coaster: Businessman Donald Trump. Christie spokeswoman Samantha Smith is still insisting “no decision has been made.” Once seen as a Republican super- star, Christie’s reputation was badly damaged by a scandal in which aides purposely created traffic jams to punish a local mayor who chose not to endorse Christie’s re-election. He’ll return home to finish his second term as governor of New Jersey, where he faces a slew of un- solved problems and rock-bottom approval ratings from residents polls show feel he neglected the state to pursue his national ambitions. Christie had staked his cam- paign on a strong performance in early voting New Hampshire, where he headed immediately after his an- nouncement speech, holding well- received town hall events. He racked up a long list of notable endorse- ments from state legislative leaders and, at the end of 2015, looked like he was breaking into the top tier after a video of him discussing a friend’s struggle with drug addic- tion went viral. But when votes were tallied in the Granite State late Tuesday, it was increasingly apparent that Christie lacked the numbers needed to support a prolonged campaign. The attacks in Paris and San Bernardino in particular played to Christie’s advantage, allowing him to talk about his previous position as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey and play up his law-and-order creden- tials. And a commanding perfor- mance during the last GOP debate before the New Hampshire primary earned him strong reviews. But with a field filled with nu- merous other options, including current and former governors and senators, Christie never con- solidated support, despite being praised by both fans and rivals as one of the Republican party’s best communicators. Christie, it seemed, had missed a better chance four year ago when he was begged by some of his par- ty’s most powerful statesmen and donors to run in 2012, when the field was weaker and smaller. But Christie declined, saying that he did not feel like he was ready. In the meantime, Christie’s ag- gressive political team worked to rack up endorsements and wide victory margins in his re-election bid for governor as a springboard for 2016. The bill, presented by Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls in the wake of the Paris attacks last year, passed by 317-199 Wednesday in parliament’s lower house. FreNch lawmakers aPProve divisive citizeNshiP bill French Prime Minister Manuel VallsNext >