ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 SPORTS | PAGE 15 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR YOUTH TEAM TO PLAY IN CAYMAN High of 84 Low of 75 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. A small craft warning in effect from tonight. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE SECRET SHAME OF DOMESTIC ABUSE 180914_PRINT2-Ad-Strip-IrishJog.Page 1 2/15/16 1:26:22 PM Three firefighters on paid leave for two years No charges in probe of murder-suicide photos BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three Cayman Islands fire ser- vice officers remain on paid leave two years after they were sus- pended for allegedly taking and dis- tributing on social media graphic crime scene photos of a murder-sui- cide in Bodden Town. A criminal investigation pro- ceeded against the three men, but no charges were filed following an 18-month review by police and Crown prosecutors, officials with the government’s Ministry of Home Affairs said. Sometime in September or October 2015, the case was passed to the ministry for an administra- tive review. However, at that time a permanent chief fire officer had not been named to lead the department, so the case languished. “The police investigation super- seded the disciplinary process,” said ministry chief officer Eric Bush. “It has concluded, so it can now be pro- gressed by the chief fire officer.” Fire Chief David Hails, who started work at the Cayman Islands Fire Service last month, said he has been made aware of the photo incident. “I am reviewing all documen- tation related to it to ascertain if any disciplinary action is required under the Fire Brigade Law,” Mr. Hails said. “I will also review cur- rent procedures and policy to de- termine if any improvements are PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Two young boys among five people missing at sea Capsized fishing boat found JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men and two boys, ages 9 and 11, were missing at sea Monday afternoon as fears grew for their safety following the dis- covery of their capsized fishing boat. The police helicopter, assisted by a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 aircraft and several pri- vate vessels, continued to search the wa- ters around Grand Cayman Monday after- noon for the five missing boaters, named by family members as Gary Mullings, Edsell Haylock, Nicholas Watler, Kamron Brown, 11, and his brother Kanyi Brown, 9. The distraught mother of the two boys, Melody Mullings-Brown, said Monday morning she was going through hell waiting for news of her children, who had been on their first deep-sea fishing trip, with their uncle, Gary Mullings. “I’m just hoping to see my kids again …,” she said. “They are the bubbliest kids ever. They bring joy wherever they go. They are happy; they are just my joy.” As news emerged that the capsized boat had been discovered, there were emo- tional scenes around the George Town Police Station where family members had gath- ered, and nearby where a church group was leading a prayer vigil for the missing men and children on the lawn of the former gov- ernment headquarters. Some vented their anger at the police, whom they accused of being too slow to begin searching for the missing boat, a blue 28-foot Panga-style boat with twin 85 horse- power Yamaha engines. Earlier, the boys’ father Imron Brown told the Cayman Compass his brother-in- law had taken the boys on a fishing trip Sunday while he and his wife were at work. He said he had not realized they were going so far out to sea, but later discovered they had been fishing at 12-Mile Bank. It was late in the day before he realized they had not returned, and the family began to gather at the police station to ask for help. Police say the Air Support Unit had only one pilot available and deemed it was too late at that point – around midnight – to begin a helicopter search across such a wide area of ocean. A spokesperson for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said the helicopter was deployed Monday morning and its crew spotted the overturned vessel 20 miles southwest of Grand Cayman at 11 a.m. She said, “Further search efforts are under way around the vessel and in the nearby area. So far, no survivors have been found.” The boat had not been recovered by press time Monday, but search vessels had sighted debris from the vessel in the area where the helicopter had earlier seen the boat, the spokesperson said. A family friend, with his own boat, began the search overnight, returning at 4 a.m., while other boaters joined the search Monday morning. Mr. Brown said, “We have five Caymanians on a boat drifting away from the Cayman Islands. The government has a helicopter, all kinds of speedboats and there are two small babies on board – an 11-year- old and a 9-year-old – my babies. What is so complicated to go out and try to find them?” Police insist the search began as soon as possible, and they are con- tinuing their search. “The Air Support Unit determined that a search and rescue could not be undertaken across this wide area in the middle of the night with only one pilot available, and that to do so would endanger both pilot and crew. The Joint Marine Unit also assessed Kanyi Brown, 9, left, and his 11-year-old brother Kamron are missing at sea, along with their uncle Gary Mullings and two other men. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » The boaters had been on board this 28-foot, two-engine Panga-style boat. - PHOTO: RCIPS2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - ZOOTOPIA 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 1:00 2D I 3:00 I 3:30 2D 5:30 7:15 2D I 8:00 I 9:45 2D DEADPOOL (R) 1:10 I 7:10 I 9:40 RISEN (PG13) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:00 I 9:30 EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG13) 1:20 I 3:50 I 7:20 I 10:00 GODS OF EGYPT 3D (PG13) 12:40 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) OPENING HOURS: Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 10pm Sunday Buff et 11.30am - 3pm Sunday Dinner 5pm - 10pm Queen’s Court Plaza, West Bay Road, SMB t. (345) 949 7955 e. info@ThaiOrchid.ky Thai Orchid’s Weekend brunch is a well loved traditi on in Cayman and Thai Orchid off ers their own version of the weekend indulgence. Come and Celebrate with us Our 20th Anniversary Live Music for the Month of March SATURDAY & SUNDAY BUFFET Royal couple complete whirlwind visit to Cayman MATT LAMERS mlamers@pinnaclemedialtd.com Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, wrapped up their two-day itinerary on Monday by presenting Lashonda Powell with the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in a ceremony at Government House. The royal couple returned to Grand Cayman on Monday after an overnight visit to Little Cayman, where they at- tended a private event at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. Prince Edward has been a patron of CCMI since 2003. At the award ceremony, Prince Edward offered some words of encouragement to the youth in attendance. “Life is full of challenges and this award prepares for those,” he said. “The award also presents you with lots of opportunities. If you seize the opportunity you have today and learn from the skill and the experiences we give you here, then whatever oppor- tunities life throws at you in the future, you’re going to have the confidence to be able to seize those, to go through those doors wher- ever they open up.” Ms. Powell, a member of Savannah United Church, volunteered in the soup kitchen and as a leader in the Cayman Islands Girls’ Brigade. Her Gold Award chal- lenge consisted of a five-day trek in Grenada, where she also completed a residen- tial project. Ms. Powell is the 65th Gold Award winner in Cayman. “I hope and trust that today’s events will in- spire you to challenge your- self,” Katherine Jackson, Cayman’s chair of the Duke of Edinburgh Award com- mittee, said at the event. “You need to challenge yourself because life will challenge [you] head on.” Rev. John Jefferson Sr., speaking before the cer- emony, told the Cayman Compass that he hopes the event galvanizes youth. “It reminds us of our her- itage and the responsibility of the nation,” he said. “The hope of the nation rests in their hands, because we have a godly heritage.” Rev. Jefferson served as the first chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh Award committee in Cayman from 1968 to 1976. Earlier in the day, the Countess of Wessex spoke at an event hosted by 100 Women in Hedge Funds at the National Gallery. “I’ll be looking to serve as an advocate for increased di- versity in the financial ser- vices industry, as well as raising the industry’s visi- bility and appeal for young women considering their ca- reer options,” she said. The countess became global ambassador for the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Next Generations Initiative last November. It was launched to inspire ac- cess and network support to young women seeking to start careers in finance and investments. “Mentoring is a pow- erful tool to aiding success,” she said. Prince Edward, the youngest son of Elizabeth II, has been married to Sophie since 1999. They have two children, Louise and James. The couple left Cayman Monday afternoon. The royal couple returned to Grand Cayman on Monday after an overnight visit to Little Cayman, where they attended a private event at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. The Earl and Countess of Wessex presented Cayman’s Lashonda Powell with the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS Rev. John Jefferson Sr. shakes hands with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as she arrives at Government House. Jazlyn Hydes, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands, meets the Countess of Wessex. They talked about being a princess. Jazlyn was there with her Big Sister, Leslie Arnott. Prince Edward offers words of encouragement to students from St. Ignatius Catholic School.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 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. TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Two years ago, on a Sunday morning in February, 21-year- old Nichelle Anna-Kay Thomas was found dead, in a closet, her throat slashed. Hanging from a tree in the yard was the body of 39-year-old Devon Roy Campbell — formerly her boyfriend, then her abuser and finally, her killer. This is a tragedy that could — and should — have been prevented. During the 21 months when Ms. Thomas was living in this country with Mr. Campbell, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service received five reports of incidents involving the couple, who were Jamaican nationals. That’s five failed opportunities to save Ms. Thomas’s life. In October 2012, Mr. Campbell admitted to police that he had physically assaulted Ms. Thomas. In September 2013, Ms. Thomas told police that Mr. Campbell had taken her passport, their baby and their baby’s passport. In January 2014, the month before she was killed, Ms. Thomas told police that Mr. Campbell had threatened her with a screwdriver. No charges were ever levied. No arrests were ever made. No forms were ever filed with the police Central Referral Unit. In support of police, Denise Gower of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre said domestic violence presents officers with a “terribly tough job” because victims often say they do not want to press charges against their abusers. That, reportedly, is what occurred with Ms. Thomas. To an extent, we agree with Ms. Gower. The police do deserve our support, and domestic violence is a difficult and emotional issue. It is good that police have, according to Ms. Gower, “implemented a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence.” But that change in policy comes too late for Ms. Thomas. We admire and commend the Crisis Centre for its efforts. This organization does fulfill a role in providing women and children a safe haven from their abusers. However, the Crisis Centre can only offer to help. If a person refuses that help, as Ms. Thomas did, the Crisis Centre’s remit ends right there. That is why domestic violence is not an issue to be resolved primarily by social services or benevolent charities. The moment that anyone — boyfriend, spouse, acquaintance or stranger — commits a physical assault against anyone else, it clearly becomes a matter for police and, more broadly, the criminal justice system. The surest way to protect victims of crime is not through compassion and condolence, but through arrests and prosecution. That being said, police officers are only human. We com- municate regularly with RCIPS, from uniformed cops on the beat, all the way up to the police commissioner. We can report with accuracy that police are not immune to the reverberations of judgments that may appear to establish the priorities of our judiciary. Consider, for example, the case of local radio talk show host Austin Harris, who admitted to assaulting a woman in public (specifically at the victim’s leaving-the-island party) in March 2014. Following a predictable pattern, Mr. Harris’s victim, who happened to be an upstanding member of the community and well-known public servant, said she didn’t want to pursue charges against him. More than a year later, after the matter finally went to court in May 2015, Magis- trate Angelyn Hernandez discharged Mr. Harris (who had pleaded guilty) with “no conviction recorded.” That, incidentally, was the same judgment (“no convic- tion recorded”) meted out to fellow radio talk show host Kenneth Bryan, who was found guilty last month — not of raising his fist to a woman — but for raising his voice to a male police officer. Those are just a few stories that have been published in the pages of the Compass. Many other credible ones — some involving prominent members of society, including elected officials, past and present — reach the ears of our newsroom but can never be substantiated enough to appear in print. We pledge to re-emphasize our commitment to this topic and to redouble our efforts to verify and then bring these sorts of sordid tales into the public light, no matter the identity or position of the abusers. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” will not be the policy of this newspaper. Every year, Grand Cayman’s Business and Professional Women’s Club hosts a “Silent Witness March” to show soli- darity for victims of domestic violence and bullying. While we believe their hearts are in the right place, quite frankly our country has more than its fair share of “silent witnesses.” What Cayman needs is witnesses who testify, police who arrest and juries or judges who convict. The secret shame of domestic abuse 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” Delay interest rate hike until after primaries The Federal Reserve should delay further raising interest rates until after the major party presidential nom- inees emerge this summer. United States GDP growth was only 1 percent in the fourth quarter, and the economy came perilously close to heading south this winter. Employers added 242,000 positions in February but 304,000 more Americans reported working part-time by choice and average wages fell. Higher-paying jobs in manufacturing, mining and the oil patch continued to dis- appear. Americans opting out of full-time employment and sinking pay hardly paints a picture of economic health. Troubles in China, Japan and Europe have pushed up the value of the dollar. In 2015, a surge of cheap im- ports, depressed sales of U.S. capital goods and the like abroad, and the mul- tiplier effects on domestic spending and investment cut GDP growth by about one third. The drag imposed by a strong dollar on growth is not likely to relent until at least this summer. Whatever the shortcom- ings of President Barack Obama’s economic policies, businesses have adjusted plans to his regime, but the populist revolt led by Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders is making them skittish about more changes for the worse. Hillary Clinton, the Democrat most likely to be- come president, has coun- tered Sanders’ redistribu- tionist policies and punitive agenda toward business by promising voters more free stuff too – such as extended Obamacare benefits and free college tuition – and to pe- nalize American compa- nies that relocate production abroad, don’t “invest in em- ployees” or welcome unions. Thanks to Obama’s expan- sion in the earned income tax credit, Medicaid, food stamps and the like, families with children earning between US$20,000 and US$50,000 a year face a 50 to 80 percent marginal tax rate — from higher payroll and income taxes and lost government benefits – when a parent re- turns to work or goes from part-time to full-time em- ployment. Obama has cre- ated a welfare dependency trap, and Clinton promises to make its chains on the working poor even heavier. U.S. corporate taxes are near the highest among in- dustrialized countries, and trying to keep businesses like Nabisco and Carrier from leaving for Mexico may break some short-term job losses, but such restrictions will surely discourage new invest- ment in U.S. locations by both American and foreign multi- nationals. Moreover, punitive measures for firms that don’t invest in employees or wel- come unions can easily be abused by selective and vin- dictive enforcement – much as the IRS targeted conser- vative groups and private in- dividuals that contribute to them. It’s no accident that in the wake of the financial crisis, Republican-leaning CEOs in the failed auto sector were ousted when their firms took government aid while Democratic-leaning banking executives in New York kept their jobs. An awful lot of what is new and innovative can’t be blocked from leaving America through any means, and look for the drug, technology and creative industries to increas- ingly locate in Ireland, the U.K. and even Mexico. Simply, making America more like France will give Americans French growth (not much) and French unemployment (an awful lot). On the Republican side, polls indicate Donald Trump, if nominated, can’t beat Clinton. But Ted Cruz is an- other story. He promises to repeal Obamacare and every Obama executive order that circumvented congress. All that may be necessary but highly disruptive. Looking at it all, no wonder business investment fell the second half of 2015 and shows no sign of significant recovery. Whether Clinton or Cruz takes over in January 2017, both can be expected to climb down from campaign promises and recognize any president gets more with sugar than vinegar when dealing with business. When the party nominees emerge this summer, a more realistic perspective on what the winner is likely to ac- tually do once in office will emerge. For the Fed, it would just be better to let presiden- tial politics work out, at least until summer, before hiking interest rates. Peter Morici is a professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He served as chief economist of the U.S. International Trade Commission from 1993-1995. He tweets @pmorici1. GOP presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz applaud before a Feb. 25 debate in Houston, Texas. – PHOTO: BLOOMBERG/ANDREW HARRER PETER MORICI5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 RoadUser BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life If luck isn’t on your side, BritCay is. You have a 1 in 10 chance of a road vehicle accident and BritCay is the only company offering CI$10 million asset protection at no extra cost with car insurance. Seven claims have exceeded CI$1 million, one being CI$7 million. Ask BritCay for a quote. New car replacement (new cars only, 12 months max.)* US$40,000 damage to overseas rental cars at no extra charge* Fast-track repairs! Authorised Repairer programme *Policy conditions apply- ask for details CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky cgigrp Marjorie Corbridge, the Course Leader for the Professional Certificate in HR Practice in Cayman Islands, is on-island from Wednesday 9 March and able to meet up with you either at the Comfort Suites or at your workplace. Contact Marjorie today for more information: marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk Marjorie Corbridge has delivered Masters and professional HR programmes in the Cayman Islands (since the year 2000), also in Malaysia, Guernsey, Russia and extensively in the UK. Graduates of the Professional Certificate in HR Practice say: An enlightening experience into the HR world, well balanced between theory and practice. The tutors made the learning interesting and applied to the workplace. My knowledge of the legal issues affecting HR has improved tremendously. Professional Certificate in HR Practice: Classes start at UCCI on 15 March Perfect if you work in HR and perfect for managers, supervisors and administrators Become HR qualified and boost your career! Too good to miss! Further information: www.port.ac.uk/caymanchrp Health City Cayman Islands hopes to attract Canadians on surgical waiting lists to the Grand Cayman hospital for non- emergency procedures. The East End hos- pital recently opened an of- fice in Hamilton, Ontario, to work with doctors and pa- tients in Ontario and Quebec to bring patients to the Cayman Islands instead of waiting there for such pro- cedures as knee and hip re- placements, cataract surgery and hysterectomies. According to the Ontario Ministry of Health, the av- erage wait time for hip re- placement surgery is almost 200 days from when a sur- geon orders the operation for patients in and around Hamilton, Ontario. For a heart bypass operation, the Health Ministry website lists a 58-day wait time. “In a perfect world, we would be able to meet the de- mands of Canadians needing surgery here in Canada in a timely manner,” Canadian an- esthesiologist Cynthia Horner said in a press release from Health City. “Given our current cli- mate, this is becoming more difficult, and Canadians are choosing to look for other op- tions. For those patients who choose to travel abroad for health services, Health City Cayman Islands is a great option,” Dr. Horner said. Health City opened in 2014 with an aim toward breaking into the North American medical tourism market, giving patients in the United States a less ex- pensive option for non- emergency surgeries and giving Canadians a way to get off the public health system wait list. Dr. Chandy Abraham, CEO and head of medical services at Health City, said, “While we are known for our exper- tise in cardiac surgery, we also have outstanding sur- geons in high need areas such as orthopedic and bar- iatric procedures. “We have the capacity, the skills and the facili- ties to treat patients from Canada and around the globe,” he said. The role of the Canadian office is to help patients who are considering going over- seas for treatment. Health City staff in Ontario will co- ordinate between the pa- tient, her or his physician in Canada, and doctors at Health City, according to a press release, The Ontario staff will also help with travel arrangements and, if necessary, trans- lation services. Health City opens office in Canada Defendant denies knifing man on purpose CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com David Andrew Bodden, on trial for attempted murder, told a jury on Monday that he never meant to cut Blake Barrell on June 16, 2015 in downtown George Town. “I was trying to hold Blake till police got there,” he said. He gave an account of threats on his life in the days preceding June 16 and said he asked police for help nu- merous times. He said Mr. Barrell and another man had threatened him. On the day of the inci- dent, he was driving on Fort Street with two police offi- cers following him in another vehicle so that he could take them to people who could give a statement about the discharge of a firearm on the night of June 8. As he was driving, Mr. Barrell pulled up: “He gave me the gun finger two times,” Bodden said. He said Mr. Barrell then noticed the police and sped off. Bodden said he hoped po- lice would go after Mr. Barrell and hopefully find him with a gun. He was watching the police in his rearview mirror and decided he would try to catch Mr. Barrell. By the time he looked down again, he had crashed into Mr. Barrell’s car. “It happened so quick,” he said. Commenting on CCTV being shown to the jury and Justice Charles Quin, Bodden said Mr. Barrell was over- taking a vehicle and Bodden ended up on the wrong side of the road because he was following him in case Mr. Barrell threw a gun out the window. The CCTV showed Bodden’s Jeep Cherokee going into the side of Mr. Barrell’s car near the Admiral Building on Fort Street. Bodden said he only did that to stop Mr. Barrell because Mr. Barrell was trying to re- verse out and leave the scene. “I wanted police to catch him,” he said. When Mr. Barrell out of his car and ran, Bodden ran after him. The defendant explained that the only reason he had a scalpel blade was because earlier in the day he had been at the laundromat washing his work clothes and street clothes. He had worked at a funeral home as an assistant mortician. When he was taking the clothes out of the washer to put in the dryer, he put the blade in his pants pocket. While doing his laundry, he had been talking to police on the phone and an officer told him to come to the station, he explained. He took his clothes home and went to the station. “You had the blade acci- dentally?” defense attorney Amelia Fosuhene asked. “Yes, ma’am,” Bodden replied. She then asked why he had it when he got out of the car to chase Mr. Barrell. Bodden said the blade had stuck him in his groin, so he took it out of his pocket because it could seriously injure him. Bodden said he was scared and did not know if Barrell was going to shoot him there, but he did not want him to get away or get rid of the firearm. When Bodden caught up with Mr. Barrell, he held him by the front of his shirt. Mr. Barrell was trying to throw him over, and Bodden’s head was down. Police officers separated the men. Bodden said he did not know Mr. Barrell was injured until a policeman told him. Ms. Fosuhene asked if he intended to kill Mr. Barrell. Bodden said no, if he had any such intention, he knew where Mr. Barrell lived. Asked if he intended to cause Mr. Barrell serious bodily harm, Bodden said no. “When he was trying to get out of his vehicle, I could have rammed my Jeep into him if I wanted to,” he added. Senior crown counsel Elisabeth Lees was sched- uled to begin cross-exam- ining the defendant after the lunch adjournment. Mr. Barrell gave his evi- dence last week via video link and described cuts to his neck and chest. He said he was in hospital 11 days. “I was trying to hold Blake [Barrell] till police got there.” DAVID ANDREW BODDENTUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay 50 YEARS AGO: Three births and other arrivals In the March 9, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mr. and Mrs. Livingston Powery are the happy par- ents of their first child, a daughter born on the 3rd. Weight 7 1/2 pounds. “Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Powery became the happy parents of a son on the 4th. “Mr. and Mrs. Reeves Powery are happy to have a daughter on the 2nd. Weighing 8 1/2 pounds. “News has been re- ceived that Mr. Chesley Ebanks fell from a place on board a ship and re- ceived injuries to his leg. He was sent to the hos- pital and wrote to say he hopes to be out soon and will be coming home. “Messrs. Elsworth Ebanks and Eddie Ebanks arrived on the 3rd from the U.S. Elsworth had been there for some time, Eddie went to renew his permanent visa. “Miss Joyce Ebanks left on the 5th to resume studies at the U.C.H. where she is in training as a nurse. “The ‘Vivia G.’ and the ‘Adams’ arrived at the weekend with a good catch of turtle. “Master Baxter Curtis Rivers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter C. Rivers Jr., recently celebrated his third birthday at his home in Port Neches, Texas. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Rivers Sr. of West Bay.” Turtle Farm’s education programs bring learning to life The district of West Bay is home to a unique opportunity for young- sters to connect with Cayman’s nat- ural and cultural heritage. Providing students a close up view of turtles and local wild- life, the Cayman Turtle Farm’s ed- ucational programs cater to chil- dren from kindergarten age up to high school. “We have about 2,000 young people visit the Turtle Farm each year through our education pro- gram,” said Geddes Hislop, the Turtle Farm’s Curator for terrestrial exhibits and education programs. He said visits are designed around the school curriculum, ad- dressing a variety of subjects while offering visual, tactile and auditory learning. ‘Living laboratory’ “We cater to the various cogni- tive learning types, and our ‘living laboratory’ has a selection of lesson plans, exhibits, and experienced personnel to share practical knowl- edge in topics such as sciences, so- cial studies, math, business and tourism,” said Mr. Hislop. Popular topics include tur- tles, ecosystems, mangroves and local heritage. “Kids studying the national sym- bols, for example, will get a presen- tation on the symbols, then we will use the tour to reinforce what was discussed,” Mr. Hislop said. He noted Turtle Farm staff teach by using an integrated approach to reinforce lessons and to use as many learning styles as possible. The lesson usually ends with a conservation message that the chil- dren are encouraged to take home. Recently a group of 5- and 6-year-old students from Savannah Primary School came to see some of the animals they had been looking at in books and writing about in their “Circle of Life” unit, where they learned about animal groups like amphibians, fish, birds and mammals. Seeing the real-life ani- mals proved to be an exciting and eye-opening experience for the students. “That’s what’s so special about the Cayman Turtle Farm and why Cayman’s schools love to use it as a resource, as it makes the natural world come alive,” said the Turtle Farm’s acting chief marketing of- ficer India Narcisse-Elliot. Mr. Hislop explained that for children studying Cayman’s his- tory and culture in their social studies class, the Turtle Farm of- fers field trips covering tradi- tional practices like turtling, or ex- ploring silver thatch. “For the turtling lesson, we show them the model of the Goldfield turtling schooner. We have nets on hand for the students to try out. We talk about the whole process of catching turtles and bringing them to market,” he said. “Basically, we make it as interac- tive as possible.” Mr. Hislop said high school stu- dents studying tourism often take the opportunity to use the Turtle Farm for a case study, conducting surveys with visitors and learning about the farm’s tourism business model. Mr. Hislop also conducts presen- tations at schools across Cayman on various topics. “Getting a hands-on experience at the Turtle Farm is really a great way for Cayman’s students to learn about the islands’ animals, heritage and economy,” said Mr. Hislop. Geddes Hislop Savannah Primary School students enjoy the turtle tanks. Schoolchildren regularly visit the Cayman Turtle Farm as part of the farm’s educational programs. “We have about 2,000 young people visit the Turtle Farm each year through our education program.” GEDDES HISLOP, curator, Turtle Farm7 DISTRICT DAYS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 District Days West Bay Sir John A. Cumber students get growing A group of West Bay youngsters recently had the chance to brush up on their gardening knowledge with a fun hands-on outing. It was green thumbs all around as the Sir John A. Cumber Primary Year 2 stu- dents aged 6 and 7 paid a visit to Vigoro nursery on Thursday, Feb. 25. The students are cur- rently learning about plants, their uses, their benefits and how they grow, explained the school’s communications co- ordinator Annette Vaughan. “Sir John A. Cumber Primary is an IB World School, and one of our major methods of instruction and learning is through guided inquiry, hence the educa- tional trip,” said Ms. Vaughan. “This helps to develop or strengthen their thinking and communication skills. As a result, they become more knowledgeable on the subject of inquiry and [are] more open-minded.” The trip to the Vigoro Nursery in Lower Valley was part of the students’ school exercise. The lesson was “How Does Your Garden Grow?” focusing on the sim- ilarities and differences be- tween plants. The children were also gathering information about how and why natural habi- tats should be preserved. Students asked questions and took notes, and manage- ment and staff shared inter- esting facts about plants with the students, and passed on some gardening tips. After the formal part of the visit concluded, students took the opportunity to buy some plants for their homes and classroom. In a follow-up activity, the students started their own box gardens. Erskin Ebanks GEORGE NOWAK Depending on the weather, every morning, just as the sun was rising (except on Sundays) Erskin Ebanks would cautiously maneuver his 12-foot boat over the West Bay ironshore and head out to sea. In the vast ocean he would navigate west and return just after midday with his catch. Sometimes the fish were biting, and some- times not, but there was no such thing as a bad day of fishing for Mr. Ebanks, even if he came home empty handed. He once pulled in a 450 pound marlin – with a hand line. In this photo, taken sometime in the mid-1970s, Mr. Ebanks is pictured cleaning his catch on the ironshore. Mr. Ebanks passed away in 1998. This photograph is from the book ‘The People Time Forgot’ by George Nowak, available at the National Museum. All proceeds from the sales of the book go toward museum projects.Erskin Ebanks cleans his catch. - PHOTO: GEORGE NOWAK Fishing tournament to honor ‘Gressy’ In the spirit of tradition, family and friends are planning a fishing tournament in memory of the late Gressmon Ebanks. Slated for Easter Monday, March 28, the catch and release tournament is set to start at 9 a.m. and finish at 2 p.m. Mr. Ebanks, who passed away in April 2013 was an avid fish- erman in West Bay, especially in the waters around Barkers. “This fishing tournament is about preserving our heri- tage and culture,” explained Eziethamae Bodden. “It was always a Caymanian tradition to hold Easter catboat regattas and picnics, doing some fishing and have children race min- iature coconut boats in the Barkers Bay area.” There are no entry fees, and competitors are asked to bring their own lines, bait and other supplies. For more information, contact Eziethamae Bodden on 916-1559 or Rudy Powery on 949-3208. Barkers Bay, where Gressmon ‘Gressy’ Ebanks enjoyed fishing. - PHOTO: ALAN MARKOFF The students listened attentively to the presentation. The Year 2 outing to Vigoro gave students a hands-on chance to learn about plants. The Year 2 students were excited to take part in the outing.8 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘80s-inspired fitness festival draws crowd JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com More than 100 people got into the groove early on Sunday morning as they took part in a flashback to the 1980s fitness fest at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay. The one-hour exercise jam hosted by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens raised money for the club’s many com- munity projects. Local fitness instructors, working out to the beat of ‘80s music, put the 107 participants through their paces with a session of cardio, strength training, Zumba and Pilates. “This is the first time we have done something like this and we want to make it an annual event and hope- fully the word of mouth will get around,” said Rashada Clarke, an af- filiated member of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. According to Ms. Clarke, the event will replace the club’s previous “Walking Workout” events. The event raises money for the club’s seniors’ programs, literacy for children, dia- betics awareness, education programs, sight program and promoting lead- ership among young people through the Leos Club. “The event is only one hour be- cause we recognize people have to get to church, have a family day and do whatever they have to on a Sunday,” said Ms. Clarke. “We had fun putting the music together, and all the local in- structors did it out of the goodness of their hearts and put a lot of work into hosting the event,” she said. Participants are put through their paces. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Lions Club of Tropical Gardens members Kerry Nixon and Norma McField. There was plenty of ‘80s attire, such as leggings, leg warmers and headbands, on display at the fitness fest.Instructor Laura Ribbins hands out gift certificates.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 8, 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 that due to rough seas and no air support, police marine vessels could not be deployed until the morning,” according to a statement. A police marine boat, the Guardian, briefly joined the search Monday morning but encountered rough seas and returned to port after sus- taining damage. Ms. Mullings-Brown said Kamron, a student at John Gray High School, and Kanyi, a student at Red Bay Primary, were on their first fishing trip. She said she had not re- alized her brother had taken them fishing until late in the day. It was after 10 p.m. when she got a call from her husband to go and check her brother’s house. At that point, she realized the boat had not returned and she drove to the police station, where extended family mem- bers of the five people on board were still gathered Monday morning. Mr. Mullings’s niece Venicia Mullings thanked the members of the community who had rallied round to sup- port them, including those who had gone out on boats to search. She said she did not understand why the police could not send the helicopter out at night to look for the missing boat. According to the police statement, the boat was re- portedly seen leaving 12-Mile Bank between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday with one en- gine operating. Police say there was no distress call from the boat and later investigations re- vealed there had been no ac- tive communication on one of the men’s cellphones since 2:47 p.m. A phone belonging to another man on the boat was disconnected at 3:41 p.m. Sunday afternoon, police said. All boats, cruise ships and the U.S. Coast Guard were alerted overnight to the missing ves- sel’s description and picture. The police statement added, “We understand the families’ grief and anguish and express our sadness at these circumstances. We will continue to be available to provide all information and answers to their questions and will continue the search and rescue operation.” required to ensure incidents of this nature are not re- peated in the future.” Why police and prosecutors spent 18 months reviewing what ministry officials had iden- tified early on as an ad- ministrative issue was not clear. A police spokesperson said Friday that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service would comment on the matter when the coro- ner’s inquest was complete. According to a po- lice statement released in February 2014, the three fire officers were the “subject of a report” to the chief fire of- ficer and the chief officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs in relation to photographs of Devon Roy Campbell and Nichelle Anna-Kay Thomas, whose bodies were found on Feb. 9, 2014 on a property in the Lookout Gardens area of Bodden Town. The photos of the crime scene depicted the remains of Ms. Thomas and the body of Mr. Campbell hanging from a tree in the side yard of the home where Ms. Thomas worked part-time as a care- giver to an elderly resident. The police statement from 2014 indicated: “The police enquiry into the circulation of the images continues and the RCIPS is in close liaison with the [Director of Public Prosecutions’s] office who will ultimately decide what, if any offenses, have been com- mitted in relation to the dis- tribution of the images.” The firefighters could face disciplinary action over the photos, up to and including losing their jobs, according to the terms of Cayman’s Public Service Management Law. The images were spread via social media in the days following the murder-suicide. Ms. Thomas’s mother was hospitalized after seeing im- ages of the crime scene. Two young boys among five people missing at sea Three firefighters on paid leave for two years CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I am reviewing all documentation related to it to ascertain if any disciplinary action is required under the Fire Brigade Law.” DAVID HAILS, chief fire officer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Melody Mullings-Brown, mother of the two boys missing at sea, was anxiously waiting for news outside George Town Police Station Monday morning. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church hold a prayer vigil outside the Glass House on Monday morning, as family and friends of the missing boaters gathered at the nearby George Town Police Station. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Campaign donors having second thoughts about Rubio Florida senator losing big-dollar contributors TAMPA, Florida (AP) – Just when Republican presiden- tial candidate Marco Rubio needs them the most, big- dollar contributors from the party’s wealthy main stream are having second thoughts about his future in the 2016 race. Fresh misgivings about Rubio’s path forward are the latest – and poten- tially the most debili- tating – in a series of ob- stacles that threatens the Florida senator’s fu- ture in this rollercoaster Republican campaign. “Super Tuesday came and Rubio didn’t do as well as some of us hoped. So people are saying, ‘Let’s see how this thing shakes out,’” said Craig Duchossois, who contributed $500,000 last year to a group that backed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. “I’m holding back,” the Chicago-based investor said of his own plans. Despite flashes of poten- tial in recent weeks, Rubio has struggled to reconnect with the tea party voters who made him a favorite during their national break- through six years ago, in- stead watching them flock to presidential rivals Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Rubio campaign officials concede that Rubio likely cannot remain in the race without winning in Florida, where public polls show him second to Trump. Rubio’s team says the campaign’s polling shows the race tight- ening, with Trump leading by single digits, slightly less than recent public polling. Rubio, elected to the Senate in 2010, also has not fully harnessed the finan- cial muscle of the GOP old- guard eager to derail Trump, despite the shift in focus by many to Rubio after Bush quit the race last month. The result is a Catch-22 for Rubio, who needs the money to win the March 15 primary in his home state of Florida, while donors wait out those results for signs of his long-term viability.Next >