ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – Thursday February 25, 2016 sports | page 15 ParalymPian’s wheelchair Push geTs boosT oF her own design High of 83 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. editorial | page 4 hsa immuniTy: legislaTive malPracTice Road User If luck isn’t on your side, BritCay is. Extra benefits come without having to pay more premium if you insure your car with BritCay. BritCay also has a great reputation for settling claims fast. Ask for a quote. 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 FREE $10 Million ASSET PROTECTION! with motor cover* *private motor insurance cgigrp Mother devastated by hospital judgment James whiTTaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com At 10 years old, Donette Thompson cannot walk or talk. She eats her meals through a tube and gets around in a wheelchair. “She talks to me in other ways,” says her mother Norene Ebanks (formerly Thompson). “She licks her lips for food, she groans when she wants to have something, she cries when she is in pain. “She’s a strong child, she has been through more than most adults could cope with but she keeps on going. She’s my little Duracell bunny.” Donette, who was born with cerebral palsy as a result of what her mother claims was negligent management of her labor, will need a lifetime of care. The Health Services Authority has denied that the child’s dis- abilities are the result of its neg- ligence. Ms. Ebanks has been fighting through the courts for compensation. “I just want a better future for my child,” said Ms. Ebanks, who would like to be able to af- ford a mobility vehicle for her daughter or adaptations to her West Bay home to make it easier for her to get around. A judge’s ruling Friday, that Section 12 of the Health Services Authority Law exempts the authority from lawsuits in OperatiOn tempura files review ‘impeded’ Bridger alleges good governance ‘compromised’ in case brenT Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands information commis- sioner and the former senior investigator of the ill-fated Operation Tempura police corrup- tion probe have alleged that top local officials took steps during the last two years to block public access and scrutiny to records related to the Tempura probe. In a Feb. 15 ruling, Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers said Police Commissioner David Baines “impeded” his access to crucial police investigative records during Mr. Liebaers’s court-mandated re- view of a 2012 Freedom of Information re- quest related to the Tempura case. Mr. Baines conversely accused Mr. Liebaers of seeking information from former Tempura senior in- vestigator Martin Bridger that was “outside his remit” to pursue in the course of the infor- mation commissioner’s duties. That February 2012 Freedom of Information request seeks certain documents related to the Operation Tempura probe and has so far been delayed, mainly due to the fact that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is investigating the conduct of Mr. Bridger in connection with the filing of a 2013 criminal complaint. The former Tempura investigator alleged that he was misled by two top Cayman Islands offi- cials and a member of the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the course of the Tempura investigation, an allegation the bryan found guilty, no convictions recorded carol winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kenneth Bryan, former political assistant to Premier Alden McLaughlin, was placed on probation for one year on Wednesday after Magistrate Philippa McFarlane said charges of disorderly conduct and assaulting police had been proven against him. However, after hearing mitigation from defense attorney Karin Thompson, the mag- istrate dealt with the matter under the Alternative Sentencing Law. She said she would not proceed to conviction, but would place Bryan on probation for one year and order him to pay $100 in costs for each day of his trial – $400 in total. She gave him three months to pay. Bryan was charged after an incident out- side Dream Night Club in the early hours of Oct. 11, 2014. He pleaded not guilty and maintained that he had been trying to as- sist police who had broken up a fight be- tween two men. The magistrate said Bryan had per- ceived that officers were arresting the wrong man while the man who had caused the initial problem had got away; that per- ception was wrong. The magistrate commended Bryan for his response to the situation that started the incident. He had felt compelled to Kenneth Bryan talks with his lawyer, Karin Thompson, outside the courthouse on Feb. 24. - phOtO: matt lamers Norene Ebanks cares for her 10-year-old daughter Donette Thompson, who has cerebral palsy. – phOtO: matt lamers PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Thursday February 25, 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 - ZOOLANDER 2 (PG13) 12:50 I 3:15 I 7:30 I 10:00 DEADPOOL (R) 1:00 I 3:30 I 7:00 I 9:30 KUNG FU PANDA 3 3D (PG) 12:20 I 2:40 2D I 5:00 I 7:20 2D I 9:40 50 SHADES OF BLACK (R) 1:30 I 4:10 I 7:40 I 10:10 HOW TO BE SINGLE (R) 1:10 I 3:50 I 7:10 I 9:50 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) An arts student will re- ceive up to US$20,000 a year for up to four years in a scholarship to attend studies overseas. The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and Deutsche Bank (Cayman) are offering the scholarship to local Caymanians and Cayman residents ages 17 to 25 who wish to pursue a ca- reer in the arts. As part of the 2016 NGCI Deutsche Bank Visual Arts Scholarship, one student will be awarded a maximum of US$20,000 a year for his/her visual arts education over- seas for up to four years. “Given the increased in- terest in tertiary art edu- cation, the NGCI Deutsche Bank Visual Arts Scholarship is a critical stepping stone in developing a creative in- dustry where students from all backgrounds are able to pursue a career in the arts,” said National Gallery director Natalie Urquhart. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for creative young people in Cayman wishing to further their ed- ucation, develop their tal- ents, reach their potential, and in doing, enhance the community in which we live and work.” Lorena Morejon and Simon Tatum received the award in 2014. Ms. Morejon is completing her undergrad- uate studies in film at Ithaca College in New York State, and Mr. Tatum is studying art history and painting at the University of Missouri. “Nurturing talent and en- couraging creativity through the arts is something that Deutsche Bank is passionate about, and qualities that are intrinsic to our own ap- proach,” said Janet Hislop, chief country officer. “With that in mind, I am delighted that the bank continues to support this scholarship that gives local Caymanian artists, such as Lorena and Simon, a really valuable and exciting opportunity to de- velop their talent and share their enthusiasm for the arts. I look forward to seeing some strong applications.” The scholarship is ad- ministered by the NCGI on behalf of the Deutsche Bank, with counsel from the Education Council of the Cayman Islands. Members from the NGCI Education Department will be at the Careers, Education and Training Expo on Friday to discuss and assist with ap- plications. The Expo, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the University College of the Cayman Islands. Applications for the 2016 NCGI Deutsche Bank Visual Arts Scholarship will accepted through April 30. Applications can be submitted directly to the NGCI Education Department at education@nationalgallery.org.ky. National Gallery offers $20,000 arts scholarship National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and Deutsche Bank internship and scholarship recipients. sir Richard awarded for Great shark Race victory During the recent Cayman Alternative Investment Summit at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Sir Richard Branson was presented with an original Guy Harvey print as the winner of the 2015 Great Shark Race. In the innovative race, created by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, businesses and individuals sponsor sharks through the purchase of satellite tracking tags. These tags allow researchers and the public to follow the fish online in near real time as they travel around the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The 2016 Great Shark Race kicks off on April 25. American pediatrician joins local practice Pediatrician Christine Zamastil has joined Dr. Gordon Smith’s Children’s Clinic practice in George Town. “Since joining Dr. Smith’s practice, I have en- joyed getting to know my patients and their fami- lies as well as getting to know the community as a whole,” she said. “I look forward to caring for children of all ages here in Grand Cayman. I hope that my training in infec- tious diseases will help me better care for the sick children here, while at the same time working to im- prove the overall health of children by focusing on strong preventative medi- cine initiatives.” Dr. Smith said he was delighted to have a well- qualified and experi- enced pediatrician join the practice. “The bulk of the work- load in pediatrics is due to infectious disease. There are new problems emerging with dengue, chikungunya, and now Zika to contend with, on top of all the ex- isting ones. I have always been an advocate for im- munizations against infec- tious disease. Next to clean drinking water, vaccination against infectious disease has been the main public health advance in the last 100 years,” said Dr. Smith. Dr. Zamastil, from the United States, did her med- ical school training at Rush University in Chicago where she obtained her medical doctorate. She then com- pleted a pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Zamastil continued her postgraduate training by completing a fellow- ship in pediatric infectious diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and is board certified in general paediatrics and paediatric infectious diseases. After completing her training, Dr. Zamastil continued her pediatric work as a clin- ical assistant professor of pediatrics for Ohio State University while practicing at a busy inner city clinic in Columbus. She has been prac- ticing at the Children’s Clinic on Smith Road since December. Dr. Christine Zamastil Moody’s strips Brazil of investMent grade status RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Brazil’s battered economy took an- other blow on Wednesday when Moody’s became the last of the three major credit ratings agencies to strip the country of its investment grade status. The agency lowered Brazil’s ratings by two notches, from Baa3 to Baa2 with a negative outlook. Fitch Ratings lowered Brazil into junk territory in December, mirroring a similar move by Standard & Poor’s in September. In a note accompanying its decision, Moody’s said the downgrade was driven by worries over an increase in government debt “in a low- growth environment” and the country’s “challenging polit- ical dynamics.” The agency said it expects the government’s debt to ex- ceed 80 percent of gross do- mestic product within the next three years and for the economy to contract by an average of 0.5 percent a year through 2018. Brazil’s finance ministry responded to the decision in a news release, stating that it would not alter its “commit- ment to necessary fiscal ad- justment.” The ministry said current measures under dis- cussion, including pension reform and a financial trans- actions tax, would result in the resumption of growth.3 LOCAL NEWS Cayman Compass • Thursday February 25, 2016 nsurance Managers Association of Cayman nsurance Managers Association of Cayman IMAC THANKS ITS SCHOLARSHIP DONORS The IMAC Board would like to extend grati tude to the following companies and organizati ons who have donated to the Fund in 2015. • American Group Surety • Artex Risk Soluti ons (Cayman) Ltd. • Associated Long Term Care • Atlanti c Northern Insurance • Avon Insurance Company • Coast to Coast Insurance Company • Eisner Amper Cayman • Equity Internati onal Insurance Company • Howard University Capitol Insurance • Ian Kilpatrick • InnerShield, Ltd. • Kane (Cayman) Ltd. • KPMG • MBS Insurance Ltd. • Insurance Managers Association of Cayman • Opti mal Professional Assurance Ltd. • RSM Cayman Ltd. • Sitnal Insurance Company • Solomon Harris • SSMHC Insurance Company • Terrapin Insurance Company • Wellington Security Internati onal • Westside Insurance Company The IMAC Scholarship was formed in 1994 to assist with the post high school educati on of young Caymanians. Contributi ons are derived from the Associati on, local insurance managers, capti ve insurance companies registered in Cayman, along with the proceeds of the annual Cayman Capti ve Forum held at the Ritz Carlton. The Fund currently supports 10 students in full ti me educati on overseas. Visit our IMAC website at www.imac.ky for the latest informati on on the Scholarship Fund, as well as a library of informati on on the Cayman Capti ve Insurance Market and “Like” the Facebook page to stay informed of all IMAC’s acti viti es. CAYMAN ISLANDS. CLEARLY BETTER BUSINESS. “I cannot wait to be the teacher who can touch the lives of my students and then I can help my litt le ones achieve their dreams just as IMAC has helped me achieve mine.” Erica Powell IMAC Scholarship recipient nsurance Managers Association of Cayman Police investigate indecent assault, child PornograPhy cases Police in Cayman are in- vestigating a case of indecent assault and a child pornog- raphy case. On Feb. 19, police received a report about an indecent assault involving a 36-year- old Bodden Town man and a juvenile female. Royal Cayman Islands Police have alerted international law en- forcement agencies about the suspect. In a separate case, a 38-year-old George Town man has been charged with pos- session of child pornography. The man was arrested in October 2015 and is cur- rently out on bail. After a lengthy investigation in- volving various RCIPS de- partments, the man was charged with four counts of possession of child pornog- raphy on a computer system and one count of accessing child pornography on a com- puter system. He is to ap- pear in court on March 8. Search widens for suspects in Camana Bay diamond robbery James Whittaker jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Images of two men who carried out a brazen diamond heist at a Camana Bay jewelry store are being circulated in- ternationally, with police in- creasingly convinced the rob- bery was a “professional job.” Detectives believe the pair may have come to Cayman specifically to carry out the raid and left the island quickly afterward, possibly by boat. “It was a professional job, there is no doubt about that,” said Detective Superintendent Mike Cranswick. “It was quite brazen, no face covering, which is un- usual, no gloves, no real drama inside the store. They only pulled the guns when they needed to and when the gun was racked, it was pointed to the floor.” He said the robbers, who spoke Spanish during the raid at Island Jewellers shortly before 9 p.m. on Feb. 17, knew what they were looking for and escaped with several loose diamonds. In the aftermath, the po- lice helicopter searched roads and waterways, and crystal- clear CCTV images of the men were immediately circu- lated at the airport. Since then, marine police have helped with the search, but police accept it is pos- sible the robbers may have escaped the territory. Police have released new CCTV footage as they con- tinue to search for the white dirt bike used as a getaway vehicle. The images show the bike passing through the Fidelity roundabout minutes after the robbery, heading in the direction of West Bay. “We want to know where that bike went after it left the Fidelity roundabout. It did not come out by Cost-U-Less, where the next government camera is. It has either gone left to West Bay Road or right toward the canals and water- ways,” said Mr. Cranswick. The CCTV images show the dirt bike almost colliding with another vehicle as it pulls away from its parking spot by construction hoard- ings at the entrance to the closed Camana Way at 8:46 p.m. Earlier footage shows the bike arriving with a single rider, who parks and meets his accomplice in front of the Apple Store. Mr. Cranswick said the entire event, from the first appearance of the bike to the escape, took just six minutes. He said he has no doubt someone would have seen the dirt bike, arriving or leaving the scene, and urged anyone with information to come forward. Since the robbery, im- ages of the men have been circulated locally, including in bars and areas where Cayman’s Spanish-speaking community gathers. So far, they have not been identified. “To not hide your identity, you would think these people have come into the island to do the job and maybe have left. They may be still on is- land, we don’t know. We are not ruling anything out at this point,” Mr. Cranswick said. He said police have been working with Immigration, Customs, airport security and Interpol since the robbery. “They were Spanish speaking. I am not going to speculate if they were from Cuba, Honduras or anywhere else. Interpol can hopefully assist in terms of identifica- tion,” Mr. Cranswick added. He said the certificates and security markings of the diamonds had also been shared with Interpol and it would be difficult for the jewels to be sold to a legiti- mate diamond dealer. There were reported sightings of both men in bars in Cayman before the rob- bery. The man in the Armani T-shirt was reportedly seen in Camana Bay town center around 2 p.m. on the day of the raid. Wearing the same shirt, he was also seen at the Strand shopping center the day before. Even if the robbery was carried out by international criminals, Mr. Cranswick be- lieves they would have had support locally. Anyone with information can call George Town CID on 949-4222 or 649-4222, or the Crime Stoppers Miami- based call center at 800-8477(TIPS). CCTV cameras inside the Island Jewellers store captured these images of the two suspects.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 25, 2016 • Cayman COmpass For the purposes of openness and transparency, the Cayman Islands Hospital ought to put up a sign in the emergency room, each waiting area and operating room to enlighten patients as to government policy: “Management and staff (including physicians) are not responsible for any injuries or deaths that may occur.” It seems only fair that people are aware of the risks, in light of the recent Grand Court ruling that upholds a section of the Health Services Authority Law granting the public healthcare system and its personnel immunity from medical malpractice lawsuits (unless “bad faith” can be proven, which is an extremely onerous legal hurdle to overcome). In other words, if you go to a public hospital or clinic in Cayman, and a doctor or nurse employed by the authority completely botches a procedure — maiming, disabling or even killing you — they are protected by law from being held accountable in a court of law. Make no mistake. We do not disagree with the judgment handed down by Justice Richard Williams. Like him, we do not see any other reasonable inter- pretation of section 12 of the HSA Law, which reads: “Neither the authority nor any director or employee of the authority shall be liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge of their respective functions or duties unless it is shown that the act or omission was in bad faith.” (See how clearly Cayman’s laws can be drafted, when it serves to protect the interests of a handful of public servants at the expense of the general public?) In addition to his interpretation of the law, we also concur with Justice Williams’s opinion about the law, i.e. that he is personally “uncomfortable with such immunity” and feels the implications of the law are “troubling.” He’s right. This isn’t merely an academic exercise. Section 12 carries real consequences. Take, for example, the front page story in today’s Compass about plaintiff Norene Ebanks (formerly Thompson), whose 10-year-old daughter Donette was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that has robbed her of the ability to walk, talk or even eat solid food. Ms. Ebanks claims her daughter’s disabilities are a result of negligence by the HSA — an argument the authority denies. Section 12, however, makes it so that no one will ever know why Donette has cerebral palsy, because it prevents Ms. Ebanks from seeking compen- sation, and forestalls an adjudication of the evidence. Justice Williams rightfully gave weight to the consideration of whether section 12 potentially runs afoul of the Cayman Islands Constitution. “The issue as to whether a statute providing immunity against claims in damages, including for clinical negligence, is incompatible with the Bill of Rights is one of great public importance,” he said. On a less fundamental, perhaps, but more imme- diate note, the legal fact that public hospital staff cannot be held liable for deadly mistakes and mishaps is a confidence-shaker in the public healthcare system. Imagine a private citizen who is advised by her doctor to undergo a medical treatment that can be per- formed at the public hospital, Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, Health City Cayman Islands or in Miami, Florida — with no significant difference in cost or quality. We don’t know which facility that person would pick — but we know the first one we’d cross off our list: the public hospital. Fortunately for Cayman’s civil servants, they enjoy free health coverage through CINICO. Unfortunately, they are funneled into the public healthcare system where, again, they have little recourse if they are the victims of medical malpractice. As is the civil service’s free health plan, the blanket immunity granted to the public healthcare system is yet another example of the government carving out special protections for itself, avoiding responsibility for its actions and competing on unfair and unequal terms with the private sector, which government forces to adhere to a different and stricter set of regulations. In this case, however, civil servants — who get free healthcare but only at the mercy of HSA — may find that those sets of double standards can cut both ways … perhaps even a bit too literally. HSA immunity: Legislative malpractice Weak reforms doom Venezuela’s Maduro Mac Margolis With Latin America’s most troubled economy heading toward default, there was hope that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro might discard half-measures and pull his country back from the edge. Instead, last week he announced policy changes that amounted to an optical illusion. To wit, although he raised the price of the world’s cheapest gas by as much as 6,000 percent (for high oc- tane fuel), he kept the price fixed – and thanks to govern- ment subsidies Venezuelans can still fill up for a world- beating four cents to the gallon. He simplified the con- founding, multi-tiered ex- change rate system and de- valued the bloated national currency, but by not nearly enough: On the street a greenback costs 1,000 boli- vars, at least five times the official government rate. So much for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oscar Arias’s warning from the floor of the Venezuelan National Assembly last week that “it’s not possible to overcome the crisis by deep- ening the current model, only by abandoning it.” Yet Maduro’s less-than- half measures did succeed in one thing: solidifying the consensus among Venezuela’s opposition for his removal. When exactly management of Venezuela’s “Bolivarian” revolution shifted from prof- ligate to incoherent is hard to say, but the latest contortions in Caracas attest to a new level of official distress: an annual rate of inflation that could reach more than 700 percent and gross domestic product set to shrink by 8 percent this year. Plunging oil revenues threaten the govern- ment’s ability to cover more than US$20 billion in bond payments, oil sector imports and loan repayments to China falling due this year. The only way to avoid default is if oil prices rebound to around US$70 dollars, the consultancy Oxford Economics wrote in a client note; Venezuela’s heavy crude currently fetches less than US$30 a barrel. Even then, the govern- ment may be forced to slash imports of food and medi- cine more deeply, worsening chronic shortages and poten- tially sparking social revolt. The prospect of insolvency has moved the government, however, to take measures for its own preservation. Consider its recent creation of a new oil company that will report neither to Maduro nor to the troubled state oil major PDVSA, but solely to the Defense Ministry. The most cynical reading of this maneuver is that the military wants a direct cut of the spoils from the only reliable source of hard cur- rency. “That would be rob- bery, pure and simple,” said Gustavo Coronel, an oil con- sultant and former PDVSA di- rector. Another version has it that the government wants to protect oil assets by shifting PDVSA’s holdings to a new company theoretically be- yond the reach of creditors. A more troubling theory is that the armed forces are taking an even more con- trolling role in Venezuela’s economy, much like Cuba’s “military executives” or Iran’s enterprising Revolutionary Guard. “This would confirm that Maduro is a military puppet,” said Coronel. What’s clear is that frustration over Maduro’s floundering leadership is mounting, along with pre- dictions that he might not finish his term, which ends in 2019. Colombia is reportedly weighing asylum for Maduro should he step down. In a proper democracy, the legislature would step up and help forge a national consensus. But after 17 years of bitter politics and execu- tive ring-fencing under the late Hugo Chavez and his successor Maduro, that’s un- likely. Last month, the oppo- sition-led National Assembly rejected Maduro’s bid for ex- ceptional powers to tackle the economic crisis. So Maduro simply turned to a pliant Supreme Court – which he’d taken care to re-stack in his favor in December – and over- ruled the congress, essentially shredding the constitution and declaring an institutional crisis. “The Supreme Court is our Berlin Wall,” said former Venezuelan diplomat Diego Arria, a prominent dissident. As long as Maduro re- mains in control, breaching that wall looks unlikely. The good news is that the im- passe has brought the coun- try’s quarrelsome opposition factions, each with their own ambitions, closer together: Even as one generally con- ciliatory leader has called for a popular referendum to cut short Maduro’s term, another has argued that Maduro be charged with “abandoning his post,” a move which would require a simple ma- jority of congressional votes. Removing an elected leader who has put a nation at risk is politically dangerous – millions of Venezuelans re- main loyal to the revolu- tion, if not to Maduro – but it’s also a safeguard written into the national constitu- tion. Venezuela’s democrats need to walk that line if they are to enlist the broad sup- port they’ll need to rescue the nation from its government, right the failing economy and stop hardship from devolving into social convulsion. It’s a measure of Venezuela’s despair that such extreme propositions are now on the table. Mac Margolis is a Bloomberg View contributor based in Rio de Janeiro. © 2016, Bloomberg View 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” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro - Photo: AP5 LOCAL NEWS Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Recommendations that government hold local plan- ning board meetings in public and consider replacing board members with a con- flict of interest, or restruc- turing the board itself fell on deaf ears, the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee heard Wednesday. Lawmakers raised a number of concerns during the committee’s review of former Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick’s land use audit from 2015, which looked at a number of areas, including how Cayman gov- erns the application for and approval of public construc- tion projects. The Central Planning Authority of Grand Cayman and the corresponding Cayman Brac Development Control Board came under specific scrutiny by auditors who indicated board proce- dures were often opaque and that members were clearly in conflict with regard to cer- tain projects. Audit manager Martin Ruben told Public Accounts Committee members that government knew of audi- tors’ findings “very early” in the audit process – as soon as 2014. A few weeks after the audit was released in mid- 2015, all current members of both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac’s planning boards were reappointed. Their meetings are still held in private, although detailed minutes are produced after those sessions. “Government had this in- formation very early and could have acted on it,” Mr. Ruben said. “Instead, they chose not to act on it, [contrary to] our recommendation.” The management response in the audit report indicated that it was up to the plan- ning boards to govern their own hearing procedures. “You cannot have a com- mittee that is an island unto itself,” George Town MLA Winston Connolly said. “There needs to be a crit- ical review of the Central Planning Authority member- ship and its procedures as a result [of the auditor’s report]. I find it highly unacceptable to say, ‘oh, the chairman will set the rules.’ Absolute power, dot, dot dot …” “I agree with that,” Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said. New accounts com- mittee chairman, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, alleged that he had seen “many in- stances” where Grand Cayman’s Central Planning Authority made decisions “solely unto themselves” and in contravention of the ter- ritory’s Development and Planning Law. “Who provides the checks and balances to ensure that the CPA is, in fact, following … the law?” Mr. Miller asked. Committee witness and Director of Planning Haroon Pandohie said ap- peals of planning decisions can be made to the Planning Appeals Tribunal. “Which is only done by the developer,” Mr. Miller opined. Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison said au- ditors hope the planning board’s deliberations will be done in the future in a “trans- parency environment.” Mr. Ruben said the 2015 audit report raised issues of the makeup of the planning boards and that certain in- dividuals on those boards had “greater opportunities” for conflicts of interest that posed a risk to government projects in certain cases. “But that committee was just reinstated for a pe- riod of time,” Mr. Connolly said, “so there won’t be any movements for [the ap- pointment period]?” “That’s correct,” Mr. Ruben said. Mr. Pandohie said he was not involved in the appointment of plan- ning board members, who are ultimately decided by government ministers. “Is there anything that prevents the Central Planning Authority from holding the meetings in their entirety in public?” Mr. Miller asked. Mr. Pandohie replied that both the agendas and min- utes of the board meet- ings are posted online. He said, in his opinion, a deci- sion to hold open meetings would be “something for the board” to decide. Cayman Compass • Thursday February 25, 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 HONDA INSPIRE 2008 4,500 US$ S/N 173298 LEXUS GS 2006 6,200 US$ S/N 172007 HONDA FIT 2005 890 US$ S/N 171899 NISSAN NOTE 2006 1,180 US$ S/N 174158 HONDA CR-V 2012 18,400 US$ S/N 174538 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R 1996 11,700 US$ S/N 173913 MERCEDES-CLASS 2010 17,300 US$ S/N 174626 BMW X1 2010 12,300 US$ S/N 174577 HONDA VEZEL 2016 18,500 US$ S/N 174627 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. Trust Company Ltd., Nagoya JAPAN - Satisfying customers since 1988 get an instant quote on our website:get an instant quote on our website: +81-52-219-9024 sales@japanesevehicles.com facebook.com/JapaneseVehicles 17,30012,30012,300 US$ S/N 174577 18,500 US$ S/N 174627 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. Risk Free 30 da ys Tr us t Mechanical G ua ran tee Employer pays compensation, no conviction recorded Carol Winker cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An accounting error led to charges against Burns Conolly Group Ltd. and its owner, ar- chitect Burns Conolly, at- torney Michael Alberga said in court Tuesday. The error was the deduc- tion of $714.42 from an em- ployee’s pay for medical in- surance over three months, which had not been paid to the insurance provider. After hearing submissions from him and senior Crown counsel Tricia Hutchinson, Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez brought the matter to an end. Mr. Alberga had brought a check payable to the former employee, and the magistrate directed that it be handed over and a signed copy be retained for the records. She then released all wit- nesses who were present for a trial. There were seven, in- cluding the complainant. Mr. Conolly had ap- peared in court in July 2015, when he pleaded not guilty to failure to effect and con- tinue a standard health insur- ance contract, and unlawful deductions by an employer. At the time, defense attorney Charmaine Richter advised that she wanted to make sub- missions on a legal point. The magistrate then sitting sug- gested that she let the Crown know the basis of her submis- sions in writing. Ms. Richter appeared with Mr. Alberga on Tuesday, but the defendant was not present. Mr. Alberga told the court that his client was not well and that the Burns Conolly Group was no longer opera- tional. He noted that a check had been sent last year to reimburse the employee, but someone in the Legal Department had sent it back. He turned to the legal point in the case – that the charges were statute-barred, as they had not been brought within a six-month period after a complainant – in this case, someone from the Health Insurance Commission – received sufficient informa- tion to lay a charge. He said the employee com- plained in September 2013, but the matter was not brought to the attention of Mr. Conolly until May 2014. He agreed that the charges were Category B and could be tried in Summary Court or Grand Court. He said the six-month limitation refers to Summary Court matters and that the offenses were pleaded to Summary Court. Ms. Hutchinson did not agree, pointing out that the charges were electable – that they could be tried in either court. She referred to a sim- ilar case that had gone to Grand Court. She said the matter had been reviewed and was not one in which the un- usual step of withdrawing the charges should be taken. She said payment of compensa- tion should be part of mitiga- tion before sentencing. The magistrate pointed out that the Crown had taken a different approach in many similar cases. “We do have cases that have gone on for years,” she said. The magistrate indi- cated she was not necessarily agreeing with the “statute- barred” argument. “I do, how- ever, see no purpose in pro- ceeding where the defense indicates willingness to pay and [the offense] was due to an accounting error.” She added that the law was meant for the benefit of employees, who had a right to their earnings apart from legal deductions. Mr. Alberga said, “The end result is good. Justice is served.” Panel: Gov’t ignored planning audit recommendations Mr. MillerMr. RubenMr. Connolly The management response in the audit report indicated that it was up to the planning boards to govern their own hearing procedures.Thursday February 25, 2016 • Cayman Compass 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town 50 years ago: Musings on land ownership In the Feb. 23, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Arthur Hunter wrote: “For the past several days the Grand Court has been occupied with the trial of a Civil Action that centres over a land dis- pute involving lands in the Meagre Bay area of this Island. “Land disputes are not uncommon here due to the fact that all titles to land are based on the old Common Law System and boundaries are merely de- fined by metes and bounds, and in most cases by ob- scure landmarks. “This state of affairs may have sufficed two de- cades ago but with the present land boom and the fact that foreign purchasers are investing substantial sums in the purchase of local land, it should not be allowed to continue much longer. Government is under a moral obligation to ensure that investors, even in land, are offered some measure of security, par- ticularly as title insurance is not easily obtainable on Cayman Islands. “For some time now it has been rumored that Government intends to in- troduce an up-to-date system of Land Registration whereby each land propri- etor will obtain a Certificate of Title for his parcel sup- ported by a survey map of the same. This, like many other Government projects is taking a long time before it is implemented. “It is recognized that an up-to-date system of Land Registration is a costly project but on the other hand it is one that can pay for itself. Each applicant for registration, which should be made compulsory, can be required to pay a fee based on the market value of the land which is the subject of the application. A portion of this fee can be appropriated to an assurance fund from which compensation can be paid to those persons who have been prejudiced by a bad Certificate of Title. “Surely some of the vast earnings being made by Government from the 3% Land Transfer Tax could be used to get a proper Land Registry established. Maybe the P.R.O. can en- lighten us as to future plans in this regard.” Diminutive schoolhouse a quaint Savannah landmark First opening its doors to students in September 1940, the Savannah Schoolhouse stands as a re- minder of Cayman’s educa- tional history. Currently standing near Savannah Primary School, the one-room schoolhouse is a tiny time capsule of days gone by. “Before the Savannah Schoolhouse was built, local children attended school at Spotts and neighboring Caswell,” notes a National Trust document on the site. “The great storm of 1932 destroyed the schoolhouse at Spotts and resulted in the gradual shift of the popu- lation towards Newlands, Savannah and Crewe Road. The construction of a local schoolhouse was a major event for the growing com- munity of Savannah.” The local craftsmen who built the schoolhouse were supervised by head car- penter Will Wallace Bodden, with many materials brought from George Town, and sand transported from Spotts Beach. Reflecting traditional Caymanian building styles, ironwood posts were used to support the building’s ce- ment walls. The Trust quotes Mr. Bodden recalling the ex- treme difficulty of sinking the posts into the hard rock. “By making a fire on the spot intended to hold a post, and leaving it to burn all night, the dolomite rock was softened making it easier for a freshly sharpened crowbar to penetrate. Using this method, two post holes could be completed each day.” The Trust notes that the school housed students aged 7-14, with pupils grouped according to their age and ability. The teacher would instruct one group at her desk while the remaining children would work on their exercises. The Trust also notes that discipline was strict, with punishments ranging from being sent to the corner to being rapped with a switch. “While learning to read, write and do arithmetic, the children also studied history, geography and science,” the Trust states. “Religious education was an important part of the cur- riculum, while ethics cov- ered the values and ideals of truthfulness, honesty, re- spect and hard work.” Students also took part in sports, singing, and were responsible for the upkeep of the premises. While the education of most students who attended did not con- tinue past age 14, some stu- dents went on to take the Jamaica Local Exam to earn a recognized qualifica- tion, and paving the way to further education. The school was open until 1981 when it was re- placed by the modern-day Savannah Primary School. After serving time as a store- room, it was scheduled to be demolished. However, the National Trust’s Savannah District Committee, estab- lished in 1987, decided to re- store the schoolhouse, which has allowed it to live on as a reminder of Cayman’s early days. Today, the schoolhouse is not open to visitors but can be viewed from the road, and the site features infor- mational signage. The restored old savannah schoolhouse sits just in front of the current savannah Primary school.7 DISTRICT DAYS Cayman Compass • Thursday February 25, 2016 District Days Bodden Town Fun times at Coco Fest Jewel levy jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The humble coconut had its star turn last weekend, garnering a massive amount of attention at Coco Fest. More than 900 visitors attended the event at Pedro Castle on Feb. 20. Hosted by the Cayman Tourism Attraction Board and Pedro St. James, the festival was aimed at sup- porting a growing local co- conut industry; giving local vendors the opportunity to showcase their products and remembering a time when the coconut was very important to Cayman. Tourism Attraction Board CEO Gilbert Connolly was impressed with the turnout. “The response to Coco Fest was greater than what we had projected and it is evident that this is some- thing that the community will support again in the fu- ture,” he said. Mr. Connolly thanked marketing coordinator Shayma Hamdi and the community for their sup- port in making the cultural event a success. Vendors and visi- tors were pleased with the outcome. “Overall it was a very nice day,” said Pedro Watler, public relations officer for the Bodden Town Cultural Committee. Mr. Watler was impressed with the variety of coconut products on dis- play, remarking that long before he reached the venue, he could smell fish and frit- ters cooked in coconut oil, just like in the old days. Pamela Thompson- Champoux, owner of co- conut oil-based beauty product, Couxcoux Oil, said it was a wonderful event. “I was thrilled to be in- vited and it turned out much better than any hopes I had,” she said. Susy McField’s salt beef coconut rundown was the first to run out, followed by Grand Old House’s coconut fish curry. Pedro Castle went nutty selling more than 400 fresh coconuts. There were 22 partic- ipating vendors in total, all showcasing their co- conut products, as well as local music artists Little Magic, Altered Minds and members from the Cayman Music Collective. “We want to thank all of our wonderful vendors and sponsors for making Coco Fest such a great day,” said Debbie Bodden, operations manager at Pedro St. James. “It warmed our hearts to see Pedro so full of life, and to see all the local talent that we have here in Cayman. “It was a great surprise to see how many uses the coconut tree has.” Tamer Soliman and Rob Tyler, makers of the doc- umentary “Bright Spot,” which sheds light on the history and use of coco- nuts in the Cayman Islands, were on hand as well. “We had a great turnout for the showing of our doc- umentary ‘Bright Spot,’ and ran six shows back to back. The response to the documentary in support of the coconut industry in Cayman was fantastic, and we want to thank everyone for coming out to show their support.” Among the crowd were visitors to the Visual Arts Society’s Annual Art Show, tour groups, and supporting members of the Ministry of Health and Culture. The kids enjoying the activity areas also had lots of fun. For more information on the vendors who participated in Coco Fest or to sign up for next year’s event, contact info@pedrostjames.ky. Desserts Divas Stacy Bounds, Karie Bounds and Jennifer Martinez. – Photos Jewel levy Debbie Bodden, Pedro’s operations manager, holds one of 400 fresh coconuts sold to visitors. Jewelry seller Elisa Quintero shows a necklace to Jennifer West.Shilpa Tagalpallewar gives Tyrece Whittaker a tattoo. Lisa Ebanks works on a carnival-themed design for the Red Sky at Night arts event.8 LOCAL NEWS Thursday February 25, 2016 • Cayman Compass 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 Permanent resident population drops 12 percent Numbers of Caymanians, work permit holders increase Brent Fuller bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s overall popu- lation has increased despite a 12 percent decline in the number of permanent resi- dents on the islands between fall 2014 and fall 2015. According to the gov- ernment Economics and Statistics Office, there were 735 fewer permanent resi- dents in Cayman in late 2015 than at the same time in the previous year. The number of Caymanians increased correspondingly during the same period by about 790, according to statis- tics office estimates. The drop in total perma- nent residents from 5,923 in fall 2014 to 5,188 in fall 2015 could be at least partly due to residency holders “graduating” to Caymanian status via the current immigration system. The net effect to the territo- ry’s population due to the shift would be nil. However, Cayman’s overall population rose during the period to an es- timated 60,413, up 3.7 per- cent compared to fall 2014, statistics indicated. Economics and Statistics Office Director Maria Zingapan said the data col- lected by her office could not provide certainty on the issue at this point. She said it could be “surmised” that some of the permanent residents listed in the survey may have changed status during the period between the fall 2014 Labor Force Survey and the fall 2015 survey. The total increase was largely fueled by a 2,100-person jump in the number of non-Caymanian work permit holders and gov- ernment contract employees between fall 2014 and fall 2015, according to the data. The Cayman Compass re- ported earlier this week that government numbers for work permits rose from ap- proximately 20,500 to 22,500 during the same period. The Economics and Statistics Office numbers in the fall 2015 Labour Force Survey are the result of sur- veys involving slightly more than 1,400 residents. The decline in perma- nent resident numbers comes against the back- drop of a logjam in the re- view process for that status. According to Immigration Department data, no one has been granted permanent residence status – permis- sion to remain in Cayman for the rest of their lives – since the Immigration Law was amended in October 2013. Of 638 total residency ap- plications filed since Oct. 26, 2013, a total of 12 have been refused. One applica- tion has been withdrawn and another 15 were barred from being heard by law due to various reasons, most be- cause they were filed late. A total of 610 permanent residence applications re- main unheard by the immi- gration authorities. As of last week, the Immigration Department re- ported there were slightly more than 23,000 active work permits and government con- tracts in the Cayman Islands – the highest number in the territory in nearly six years. Those include the permanent residency applicants living in the country while awaiting word on the outcome of their applications. Economics and Statistics Office figures indicate the economy kept up with the population increase. Overall unemployment dropped from 5.6 percent in spring 2015 to 4.2 percent in fall 2015. Caymanian unemploy- ment went from 7.9 percent in fall 2014, to 8.3 percent in spring 2015, to an estimated 6.2 percent in fall 2015. According to the government Economics and Statistics Office, there were 735 fewer permanent residents in Cayman in late 2015 than at the same time in the previous year. Call for police award nominations launched AlAn MArKOFF amarkoff@pinnaclemedialtd.com The call for nominees for 2016 Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Awards was launched with a reception hosted by Governor Helen Kilpatrick at Government House on Tuesday night. “This is the start as we run on to our awards evening on the 23rd of April,” said Police Commisioner David Baines, adding that while the gala dinner event has histor- ically been held on a Friday night, this year it will be on a Saturday because Cayman HospiceCare is having its annual “Big Bash” event on April 22. Launched in 2011, the RCIPS Outstanding Service Awards recognize officers and police support staff who “go above and beyond the call of duty.” Award categories in- clude Police Officer of the Year; Police Welfare Award; Special Constable of the Year; Support Staff Member of the Year; Diversity Award; and Community Award. Mr. Baines said the awards acknowledge “the good and noble and coura- geous and the public ser- vice” of Cayman’s police officers. He took the oppor- tunity to refute the idea ex- pressed in some media and blogs that Cayman’s officers are not effective. “This is the safest island in the Caribbean, and there’s 1 percent who say it isn’t true,” he said. “Trust me, it is. I’m not saying we’re perfect. We have a lot to do, but we’re doing it every year.” Pinnacle Media Ltd. co- publisher Vicki Legge, who helps organize the Police Service Awards, spoke to the reception attendees and en- couraged them to support the initiative by sponsoring the event, as well as by making nominations for the indi- vidual awards. In his sponsorship letter, Mr. Baines said the money raised goes to the Police Welfare Fund, which came into being in 1969 following the death of Officer Obediah Wilks in a road accident, leaving the officer’s six chil- dren in financial distress. A police ball to raise money was organized to provide fi- nancial assistance to Officer Wilks’s family, primarily to help cover the cost of their education, and the Police Welfare Fund was started. Today, in addition to helping the families of officers who have died, the fund has ex- panded to include supporting officers who have significant illness or injury. The Police Welfare Fund and the Police Service Awards initiative have no direct cost to the public. “It is our goal to secure private and corporate sup- port to underwrite the entire cost of the evening so that 100 percent of the proceeds from tickets sales will ben- efit the Police Welfare Fund,” Commissioner Baines said in his letter. “No government funds whatsoever will be used for this event.” Five levels of sponsor- ship are available, from $1,000 to $15,000. “Additional participation is available through the pur- chase of corporate tables and defraying the cost of tickets for attending officers,” Mr. Baines said. Nominations for individual police service awards should be made on the pertinent form and either hand-delivered to the nearest police station or sent by email to nominations@gov.ky by March 24. At the reception at Government House to launch the RCIPS Outstanding Service Awards were, from left, Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Police Commissioner David Baines, and Pinnacle Media Ltd. Co-publisher Vicki Legge. – Photo: Maggie Jackson Launched in 2011, the RCIPS Outstanding Service Awards recognize officers and police support staff who “go above and beyond the call of duty.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 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. Cayman Compass • Thursday February 25, 2016 LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT 11.30 TO 4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11-3PM Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, George Town 945-3490 OPEN FOR DINNER DELIVERY AFTER 5PM THURSDAY, FEB. 25 NORTH SIDE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Residents are invited to attend and bring their concerns to the monthly meeting of the North Side District Council, 8 p.m. at the Civic Centre. MLA Ezzard Miller will provide an update on legislative matters. 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,” presented 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 FOLK SINGERS: The Cayman Islands Folk Singers will present their concert, “Home and Away,” at the Harquail Theatre as part of the 2016 Cayfest Festival of the Arts. Caymanian compositions and regional favorites. Tickets are on sale at Foster’s Food Fair Strand location, Health Care Pharmacy in Grand Harbour, Funky Tang’s and the Harquail Box Office. Prices are $15 for adults and $10 for children. HOSPICECARE FLAG DAY: Today and tomorrow at numerous locations around the island, volunteers will collect donations for Cayman HospiceCare. Anyone who wishes to volunteer should contact chc@candw.ky. 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. 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 BRAC VOTER REGISTRATION: Anyone eligible to register as a voter may do so at the Agricultural Show, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Caymanian born and Caymanian parent/s or grandparent/s, documents needed are 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 Caymanian status holder, original documents needed are birth certificate, Caymanian status certificate, photo ID (passport or driver’s license). For queries, call the Elections Office at 949-8047 or email electionsoffice@candw.ky. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The National Festival of the Arts needs volunteers for all kinds of jobs, from setting up to selling tickets to modeling costumes and more. Shifts are 3-4 hours. Volunteers receive free entry to the festival, complimentary refreshments and an opportunity to give back to the community. Contact www.artscayman.org or admincncf@candw.ky or 949-5477. LATE VIEWING: 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. MONDAY, FEB. 29 JURY NOTICE: All Grand Court jurors in the Jan. 13–April 5 session should report for jury duty today at 9:45 a.m. PAINTING OPEN STUDIO: For adults who want to work independently. 12:30-4 p.m. Mondays until March 21. Watler House Studio at Pedro Castle. $10 for members of Visual Arts Society, $15 for non-members. Materials, instructions not included. Contact visualartcayman@ yahoo.com. TUESDAY, MARCH 1 FREE HIV TESTING: The Public Health Department advises the public of extended hours for free HIV screenings offered at the Cayman Islands Red Cross on Huldah Avenue, George Town. The free testing is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday. FRIDAY, MARCH 4 SPRING FLING: St. Ignatius School Fair. 3 to 6:30 p.m. on the school grounds. $5 ticket for prize draw. Games tickets are $1 each. Lots of food, games, fun and prizes. All are invited. SATURDAY, MARCH 5 FUR BALL: 1950s-themed gala at the Marriott to raise funds for the Humane Society. Special guest is Robert James Clarke, pet portrait artist. Tickets are $150, free welcome drink, wine and 3-course meal. Casual dress code with prizes for best-dressed male and best-dressed female. 7 p.m. Silent and live auction, raffle, live music. For tickets, contact cihsfundraising@ gmail.com or 949-1461. PAWS IN THE SAND: Dinner at Rum Point restaurant to raise money 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 p.m. Includes Broadway show, silent and live auctions. Tickets from Lighthouse restaurant or contact 916-1731 or 916-3957. SUNDAY, MARCH 6 CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Offered by Visual Arts Society for adults who want to work independently. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watler House Studio at Pedro Castle. $15 members, $25 non-members. Clay, materials and firing facilities available. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com. GENERAL INTEREST PRE-SCHOOL FUNDING: The Ministry of Education is now accepting applications from parents of children who qualify for the Early Childhood Assistance Program, which provides early childhood centre funding for Caymanian children between the ages of 3 years and Reception age as of Sept. 1 and who meet certain financial criteria. Application forms and information can be downloaded from www. education.gov.ky/portal/page/ portal/mehhome/education/ earlyeducation. Application forms may also be collected from the Government Administration Building, Department of Education Services or early childhood centers. Deadline is April 29. 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. Proceeds are for religious education and youth ministry. 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. 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. 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. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Ceramic Open Studio for adults on Wednesdays in March, 9 a.m. till noon. Figure painting classes Tuesdays till March 22, 7 p.m. Watler Studio at Pedro Castle. For more information, contact visualartcayman@ yahoo.com. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events.Next >