ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 SPORTS | PAGE 16 BUCCANEERS AND STORM TO MEET IN CAYMAN RUGBY FINALS High of 86 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHEN GOVERNMENT CAN DO NO WRONG 180914_PRINT2-Ad-Strip-IrishJog.Page 1 2/15/16 1:26:22 PM 2,500 Cayman families getting social welfare assistance JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Needs Assessment Unit is significantly under-resourced and lacks the necessary man- power and legislation to help move people from welfare to work, according to its director Tamara Hurlston. The unit currently caters to 2,500 fami- lies, including 877 people on permanent fi- nancial assistance. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee on Friday, Ms. Hurlston acknowl- edged that there is limited follow-up for people who receive long-term financial assistance. “There are persons on permanent fi- nancial assistance who would have been there for many years without being re- assessed,” she said. She said the unit lacks the manpower or the authority to offer assistance to help people on welfare transition into the workforce. “Our desired result, ultimately, is to help persons to become self-sufficient. One of the ways we could do that is by offering pro- grams, which we should be doing at the mo- ment, but we don’t have the resources or the legislation,” she said. “We currently have persons, indigent and the underprivileged, waiting for some form of assistance with programs because we don’t have the resources. “At the moment, what would help the Needs Assessment Unit the most is having proper legislation and having ap- propriate staffing levels.” To fill its current functions efficiently, Ms. Hurlston said the unit needs 40 staff, in- cluding 20 assessment officers and several compliance officers. Currently, the unit has 24 staff, including 12 assessment officers, and no compliance officers. She acknowledged that people looking for assistance are frequently given appointments several months away, while others wait early in the morning outside the Needs Assessment Unit in the hope of being one of the dozen or LUXURY HOME SELLS FOR RECORD PRICE JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A luxury property at a gated community overlooking the North Sound has sold for US$7.925 million – a record for a single-family home in the Cayman Islands. The property, a six-bed home at Vista del Mar, was sold within three months of being listed, according to International Realty Group. The previous record for a luxury family home was a US$7.5 million property at Sand Bluff in East End, according to figures from Government flies Commonwealth flag When the Commonwealth Flag was raised Monday morning outside the Government Administration Building in George Town, it was one of 850 hoisted in observance of Commonwealth Day around the world. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, assisted by Police Inspector Ian Yearwood, raised the flag before a contingent of government offi- cials, members of the Legislative Assembly, honorary consuls, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and members of the public. This is the third year the raising of the Commonwealth flag, an initiative launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat in the U.K., has occurred. The flag, which was illuminated overnight, will remain flying for 24 hours. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Governor Helen Kilpatrick and Police Inspector Ian Yearwood raise the Commonwealth flag outside the Government Administration Building in George Town on Monday morning. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » HEALTH CITY PERFORMS FIRST TAVI OPERATION KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com Medical professionals at Health City Cayman Islands recently completed the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in the country. The complex cardiac procedure, an alter- native to open heart surgery, was performed on Cayman Islands patient Dianna Merren in February. It was the first such procedure to be performed in the English-speaking Caribbean, Health City officials said. 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(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 RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Embattled Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called a meeting with her closest advisers and congres- sional leaders on Monday, a day after nationwide demon- strations urging her ouster brought millions of people into the streets. With an estimated 3 million people thought to have taken part in more than 100 protests nation- wide, Brazil’s top newspa- pers hailed Sunday’s events as the largest political dem- onstrations in the country’s history and said they’d suc- ceeded in further compli- cating Rousseff’s already difficult situation. Rousseff is fighting impeachment proceedings in Congress amid the worst recession in decades and a sprawling cor- ruption investigation that has closed in on key figures in her Workers’ Party. The Folha de S. Paulo daily said Sunday’s anti-Rousseff demonstrations were larger than mass protests in 1984 demanding direct presiden- tial elections amid the coun- try’s military dictatorship. “Surprised by the strong turnout on Sunday, the gov- ernment has been put on alert that it needs to act quickly” to avoid Rousseff’s impeachment, a report in Folha said Monday. Rousseff’s meeting Monday morning in the Planalto presidential palace was considered a way to plot a way forward and secure the congressional support nec- essary to halt impeachment proceedings. Lower house Speaker Eduardo Cunha, a Rousseff foe, is expected to form a commission to begin impeachment proceedings sometime this week. Although she’s seen her approval ratings dip into the single digits, Rousseff has categorically ruled out re- signing, saying last week it was objectionable to demand the resignation of an elected president without concrete evidence the leader had vio- lated the constitution. The government is hoping that pro-government demon- strations scheduled for this Friday will help to shore up Rousseff’s position. Still, in a statement Monday, the U.S.-based Eurasia Group political and economic risk consulting firm put at 65 percent the proba- bility that Rousseff will not serve out her term, which ends in 2018. The statement said Sunday’s turnout was fanned by the “ballooning” Petrobras corruption probe and the “highly polarized environ- ment” that followed the police action earlier this month that saw Rousseff’s predecessor and mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, spirited to a Sao Paulo police station to answer questions in the Petrobras investigation. Brazil’s government regroups after protests Demonstrators parade large inflatable figures depicting Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in prison garb and current President Dilma Rousseff dressed as a thief, in Sao Paulo on Sunday. - PHOTO: AP PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Hundreds of protesters, many farmworkers, led by Ethel Kennedy, dem- onstrated near the home of Wendy’s fast food chain’s chairman in hopes of convincing the com- pany to pay a penny-per- pound fee for its toma- toes to supplement some farmworkers’ wages. The Palm Beach Post reports the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ march near billionaire Nelson Peltz’s home was peaceful Saturday. A federal judge had ruled the coalition could use loudspeakers but said marchers must remain on the sidewalk. Kennedy, the 87-year- old widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, led the charge onto the barrier island where protesters held signs to boycott the chain. Some acted out a skit. Tomato harvesters make an average of about $10,000 during the six- month season, earning 50 cents for every 32-pound basket they fill. The coalition says the program can add $20 to $150 to their weekly checks. The coalition has used demonstrations and sometimes con- sumer boycotts to pres- sure the five largest fast- food companies – Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Taco Bell – into joining its “fair food program.” All but Wendy’s eventually joined. The company has said the farmworkers are not Wendy’s employees and it doesn’t feel it is appro- priate to pay another com- pany’s workers. Participating com- panies pay the extra penny-per-pound to their tomato growers to sup- plement field worker wages in Florida and six other states: Georgia, the Carolinas, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Immokalee is a south- west Florida farming town about 100 miles from Palm Beach where the co- alition is based. Peltz, a 73-year-old in- vestor, has a net worth of $1.35 billion and is the 423rd richest American, according to Forbes maga- zine. One of his companies, Triarc, bought Wendy’s in 2008 for $2.3 billion and he became chairman. The coalition has used demonstrations and sometimes consumer boycotts to pressure the five largest fast- food companies into joining its “fair food program.” FARMWORKERS PROTEST NEAR HOME OF WENDY’S BILLIONAIRE CHAIRMAN (AP) – A federal judge on Monday ordered a former deep-sea treasure hunter to stay in jail until he answers questions about the location of 500 missing gold coins. Defendant Tommy Thompson has been held in contempt of court since December when Judge Algenon Marbley found he violated a plea deal by refusing to respond. Marbley said Monday that he hoped Thompson would have an “epiphany” about the coins and other assets con- nected to the recovery of the SS Central America, which sank off the coast of South Carolina in 1857. Thompson, wearing an or- ange jail uniform and sitting in a wheelchair, said he never saw or touched the coins, minted from gold taken from the shipwreck. He said he told everything he knew during depositions last fall. “I said what I know about them,” Thompson told Marbley. “There can’t be an epiphany.” “I’m going to take that as a ‘no,’” Marbley said. He ordered Thompson to stay in jail for another 60 days. Thompson is also being fined $1,000 a day until he cooperates. “As long as you are con- tent to be a master of mis- direction and deceit to the court, I am content to let you sit,” Marbley said. Thompson’s attorney told the judge discussions are under way with the govern- ment to resolve the impasse. Former deep sea treasure hunter to stay in jail3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 180904_PRINT3-Ad-QP-IrishJog-15MPage 1 3/11/16 3:14:14 PM Health City CEO Chandy Abraham said in a press con- ference last week that the procedure marks the es- tablishment of a Structural Heart Disease Interventional Program at Health City, which will use the “heart valve team” concept Health City physicians have created. The heart valve team who performed the procedure on Ms. Merren was comprised of Health City senior cardi- ologist Dr. Ravi Kishore, se- nior cardiac surgeon Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, and as- sisted by senior anesthesiolo- gist Dr. Dhruva Krishnan. The physicians were guided by Dr. Stephen Brecker from St. George’s Hospital in London. “This is indeed a proud moment for Health City and the Cayman Islands, as suc- cessful completion of such a complex procedure speaks vol- umes about the capabilities of our doctors and what we have been able to achieve as a hos- pital in just under two years,” Dr. Kishore said in a press re- lease. The procedure was life- changing and life-saving for Ms. Merren, 75. “I have been very sick for a long time, so when the doc- tors at Health City offered me a safe solution, I was very grateful,” Ms. Merren said in a press release. “Being the first patient for this procedure made me a little nervous, but the wonderful medical team put my fears to rest, providing me with all the information I needed to understand the pro- cedure and the risks.” Prior to the procedure, Ms. Merren had been regu- larly admitted to a hospital for heart failure caused by a con- dition called severe valvular aortic stenosis. According to Dr. Kishore, the aortic valve is the most important valve in the heart, as it connects the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle, to the major artery of the body, the aorta. During severe valvular aortic stenosis, blood is un- able to flow freely between those two conduits and the heart becomes less efficient. The condition usually af- fects the elderly, and symp- toms include shortness of breath, chest pains, dizzy spells and blackouts. The con- dition is very serious, causing recurrent heart failure and even sudden death. People who have developed symp- toms from the condition have a 50 percent chance of dying within the first two years fol- lowing diagnosis, unless the aortic valve is replaced. Typically, the valve would be replaced during a surgical valve replacement, which in- volves surgically opening the chest. However, many patients with severe valvular aortic ste- nosis, such as Ms. Merren, are deemed too high risk for open heart surgery. The TAVI procedure, which is a minimally invasive sur- gery, is an alternative for such high-risk patients. During the procedure, an artificial valve is inserted through a 6mm or 7 mm opening in the upper thigh under general anesthesia. Ms. Merren’s procedure took just under two hours, and she was discharged from the hospital within a couple of days. “The surgery has changed my life, and I am already feeling much stronger and healthier,” Ms. Merren said. According to Dr. Kishore, 3 percent of all people over the age of 75 and 5 percent to 7 percent of people over the age of 80 have severe val- vular aortic stenosis. The car- diologist estimates there are probably 50 patients in the Cayman Islands with undiag- nosed aortic stenosis. “Considering Cayman Islands has one of the highest longevities in the world, this is going to be an important treat- able problem,” Dr. Kishore said at the press conference. Dr. Kishore said the suc- cess of the procedure “firmly establishes the competence” of Health City’s cardiovascular team in handling complex pro- cedures, and the team plans to introduce many such com- plex hybrid procedures with the Structural Heart Disease Interventional Program. Dr. Abraham said Health City is “extremely proud” of its physicians, nurses and techni- cians who make it possible for the hospital to offer such com- plex procedures that benefit individuals who are suffering. “The most gratifying thing for us, more than the tech- nical prowess of doing some- thing like this, is to have made a difference to another person, and this is what exemplifies the team and the work here at Health City Cayman Islands,” Dr. Abraham said. “Our focus is to be patient- centered and to collaborate across various specialities to improve access to advanced high-tech care in this region.” Judge to decide on sanity of woman who killed daughter CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Attorneys made their closing arguments Monday in the case against Tamara Butler, accused of killing her 6-year-old daughter in October 2014. The question for the verdict in the judge- alone trial is not whether Butler killed her daughter, but if she knew what she was doing was wrong. Butler told psychologists after her arrest that God had told her to shave her head and then told her to kill her daughter Bethany. The ques- tion over the defendant’s state of mind will mean the dif- ference between murder and manslaughter when Justice Alastair Malcolm delivers his verdict on Monday. “Following God’s com- mand or not, did she know what she was doing was wrong?” said Crown prose- cutor Cheryll Richards. The weeklong trial in- cluded testimony from po- lice, several psychologists and Butler’s husband Lenford Butler, a sergeant in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Mr. Butler told the court how his wife changed dramatically after she lost her job with the police service as a civilian employee working on the front desk. He told the court how, on the night of the murder, his wife shaved her own hair and eyebrows before trying to shave their daugh- ter’s. He stepped in to stop his wife, but later he had to go to work for a midnight to 7 a.m. shift. He testified that he was concerned enough – and his daughter was scared – that he locked the girl in the master bedroom and gave her his cellphone, putting 911 on speed dial. The Crown argued that Butler knew what she was doing was wrong. Ms. Richards acknowledged that the defen- dant was “substantially im- paired.” But, she said, the cru- cial question is one of degree. The prosecutor pointed to who Butler responded to after police found her early on Oct. 27. 2014, and whether she was, as the defense and sev- eral doctors suggested, “in a catatonic state.” She did not respond to officers once she got to the hospital, but she did respond to a doctor and she got on an exam table when requested. “If she had been in a truly catatonic state, there would have been no selectivity over who she corresponded with,” Ms. Richards argued. In transcribed sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Marc Lockhart, Ms. Richards said the doctor led the defendant to answer in certain ways to make her sound less stable. “She’s thinking about culpa- bility in her mind very, very clearly,” she said. The defense, for its part, did not dispute that Butler killed her daughter. But, said defense attorney Trevor Burke, the question is why “an otherwise devoted and loving mother” would kill her own child. To see that his client was not in her right mind, Mr. Burke said, the judge can “rely on the simple facts of the case itself.” The attorney, citing tes- timony from psychologists, said his client believed that God told her that she would have to shave her hair and remove her fake fingernails before she could be admitted into heaven. The events that night leading up to the murder were a “very clear indication of sig- nificant psychosis,” he said. To say, as the Crown ar- gued in part, that Butler shaved her head and killed her daughter to get revenge on her husband for sus- pected infidelity, Mr. Burke said, was “too trite, too simple, and barely scratches the surface.” The judge set 2:30 p.m. March 21 to deliver his verdict. Health City performs first TAVI operation Dr. Chandy Abraham, Dr. Ravi Kishore, Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Dr. Dhruva Krishnan and Dr. Sumit Modi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “The most gratifying thing for us, more than the technical prowess of doing something like this, is to have made a difference to another person.” DR. CHANDY ABRAHAM, CEO, Health CityThe 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 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS When government can do no wrong • A National Roads Authority employee is driving a bulldozer. He falls asleep at the wheel, and the con- struction vehicle rams through the wall of a nearby house, injuring several people. They are unable to sue the authority or the employee, or make a suc- cessful insurance claim, because of an immunity provision in the law • A Health Services Authority nurse commits a critical error during a normally routine procedure at the Cayman Islands Hospital, resulting in a serious infection that causes the patient to die. The family is unable to sue the authority or the nurse because of an immunity provision in the law • An Airports Authority supervisor is caught stealing from a passenger’s suitcase, but instead blames it on a nearby employee, who is terminated on the spot without due process. The employee is unable to claim compensation for unfair dismissal because of an immunity provision in the law. Those are just a few hypothetical examples of potential injustices that could occur under immunity clauses that have found their way into several laws governing government entities in the Cayman Islands, protecting authorities, staff and directors from being held liable for their actions, so long as they weren’t acting in “bad faith.” A ruling from Justice Richard Williams has made “Section 12” of the Health Services Authority Law the most notorious of the immunity provisions, but the reality is that Section 12–like clauses exist in multiple laws, including legislation governing the National Roads Authority, Airports Authority, Planning Depart- ment, Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and Maritime Authority. Collectively the clauses give great power to author- ities and public servants — by putting the public at great risk. Simply put, what the immunity clauses do is create a climate of “victors versus victims,” where the victors are the public agencies, and the victims are the ordinary members of Cayman society. Since Justice Williams’s ruling on Section 12, various officials have attempted to claim that the resulting blanket immunity was an unintended consequence of trying to craft legislation that would protect appointed board members from being held personally liable for damage caused by the authority or its employees. The legislative paper trail, we believe, points to the opposite conclusion: that the blanket immunity was abso- lutely intentional, and was meant to shield the public agencies from accountability for errors or accidents. Consider the history of Section 12 in the HSA Law. In the 2003 version of the law, Section 12 protected the authority, staff and directors from liability unless there was “dishonesty, fraud or wilful neglect.” Lawmakers revisited that particular section in 2004, adding a new section (Section 12A) granting indemnification to directors, and injecting the “bad faith” phrase into Section 12. When the HSA Law was overhauled in 2010, the Section 12 and 12A were combined, retaining the “bad faith” phrase. Additionally, the HSA has fended off several poten- tial lawsuits by invoking its immunity under Section 12. We don’t know if other authorities have blocked legal actions by bringing up their own immunity clauses. The point is, Section 12 and similar clauses have been subjected to individual scrutiny by lawmakers and attorneys time and time again over the years. It was not — and never was — a “drafting oversight,” as is now being claimed. When Justice Williams made his ruling, he wasn’t “legislating from the bench.” He was simply describing the legal reality in Cayman. Justice Williams has said that the issue of whether Section 12 runs afoul of our constitutional Bill of Rights “is one of great public importance” and also said that lawmakers may want to reconsider their policy on the blanket immunity provision. In our opinion, the immunity clauses consti- tute no less than a clear and present danger to the public. Each day those provisions remain on the books is another day we are all at risk. Premier Alden McLaughlin should convene an emergency session of the Legislative Assembly with the sole objective of vaporizing Section 12 and its siblings from the legal framework of this country. Immediately. This needn’t be a complicated or lengthy task. If the Premier needs to borrow an editor, we have several at the Compass who are experienced in getting rid of “bad copy” on deadline. Just hand us a red pen, and we’ll draw the “X.” 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” India’s free health clinics VIVEK WADHWA Special To The Washington Post Rupandeep Kaur, 20 weeks pregnant, arrived at a medical clinic looking fa- tigued and ready to col- lapse. After being asked her name and address, she was taken to see a physician who reviewed her medical history, asked several ques- tions, and ordered a series of tests including blood and urine. These tests revealed that her fetus was healthy but Kaur had dangerously low hemoglobin and blood pressure levels. The phy- sician, Alka Choudhry, or- dered an ambulance to take her to a nearby hospital. All of this, including the medical tests, happened in 15 minutes at the Peeragarhi Relief Camp in New Delhi, India. The entire process was automated – from check-in, to retrieval of medical re- cords, to testing and analysis and ambulance dispatch. The hospital also received Kaur’s medical records electroni- cally. There was no paper- work filled out, no bills sent to the patient or insurance company, no delay of any kind. Yes, it was all free. The hospital treated Kaur for mineral and protein defi- ciencies and released her the same day. Had she not re- ceived timely treatment, she may have had a miscarriage or lost her life. This was more efficient and advanced than any clinic I have seen in the West. And Kaur wasn’t the only patient, there were at least a dozen other people who received free medical care and prescriptions in the one hour that I spent at Peeragarhi in early March. The facility, called the “mohalla” (or people’s) clinic, was opened in July 2015 by Delhi’s chief min- ister, Arvind Kejriwal. This is the first of 1,000 clinics that he announced would be opened in India’s capital for the millions of people in need. Delhi’s health min- ister Satyendar Jain, who came up with the idea for the clinics, told me he be- lieves that not only will they reduce suffering, but also overall costs – because people will get timely care and not be a burden on hos- pital emergency rooms. The technology that made the instant diagnosis pos- sible at Peeragarhi was medical device called the Swasthya Slate. This US$600 device, the size of a cake tin, performs 33 common med- ical tests including blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, blood haemoglobin, urine protein and glucose. And it tests for diseases such as malaria, dengue, hepa- titis, HIV, and typhoid. Each test only takes a minute or two and the device uploads its data to a cloud-based medical-record management system that can be accessed by the patient. The Swasthya Slate was developed by Kanav Kahol, who was a biomedical en- gineer and researcher at Arizona State University’s department of biomedical informatics until he became frustrated at the lack of in- terest by the medical estab- lishment in reducing the cost of diagnostic testing. He worried that billions of people were getting no med- ical care or substandard care because of the med- ical industry’s motivation in keeping prices high. In 2011, he returned home to New Delhi to develop a solution. Kahol had noted that de- spite the similarities be- tween medical devices in their computer displays and circuits, their packaging made them unduly complex and difficult for anyone but highly skilled practitioners to use. They were also in- credibly expensive – usually costing tens of thousands of dollars each. He believed he could take the same sen- sors and microfluidics tech- nologies that the expensive medical devices used and integrate them into an open medical platform. And with off-the-shelf computer tab- lets, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence soft- ware, he could simplify the data analysis in a way that minimally-trained front-line workers could understand. By Jan. 2013, Kahol had built the Swasthya Slate and persuaded the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in Northern India, to allow its use in six underserved dis- tricts with a population of 2.1 million people. The de- vice is now in use at 498 clinics there. Focusing on reproductive maternal and child health, the system has been used to provide an- tenatal care to more than 22,000 mothers. Of these, 277 mothers were diag- nosed as high risk and pro- vided timely care. Mothers are getting care in their vil- lages now instead of having to travel to clinics in cities. A newer version of the Slate, called HealthCube, was tested last month by nine teams of physicians and technology, operations, and marketing experts at Peru’s leading hospital, Clinica Internacional. They tested its accuracy against the western equipment that they use, its durability in emergency room and clinical settings, the ability of min- imally trained clinicians to use it in rural settings, and its acceptability to patients. Clinica’s general manager, Alvaro Chavez Tori, told me in an email that the tests were highly successful and “acceptance of the tech- nology was amazingly high.” He sees this technology as a way of helping the millions of people in Peru and Latin America who lack access to quality diagnostics. The opportunity is bigger than Latin America, how- ever. When it comes to health care, the United States has many of the same problems as the developing world. Despite the Affordable Care Act, 33 million Americans or 10.4 percent of the U.S. pop- ulation still lacks health in- surance. These people are disproportionately poor, black or Hispanic, and 4.5 million are children. As a result, they receive less pre- ventive care and suffer from more serious illness – which are extremely costly to treat. Emergency rooms of hos- pitals are overwhelmed by uninsured patients seeking basic medical care. And when they have insurance, families are often bank- rupted by medical costs. It may well be time for America to build mohalla clinics in its cities. Vivek Wadhwa is a fellow at Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University, director of research at Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke, and distinguished fellow at Singularity University. His past appointments include Harvard Law School, University of California Berkeley, and Emory University. © 2016, Washington Post5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 Lawmakers told caucus makes government land sale decisions BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An initial decision on which Cayman Islands gov- ernment “surplus” properties would be put up for sale was made by the Progressives-led administration’s political caucus, a senior civil servant told lawmakers last week. Planning Ministry Chief Officer Alan Jones told the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday that the caucus group, which consists of all elected members from the Progressives government bench as well as senior party officials, had winnowed the 279 surplus properties to 69 identified as “likely” for sale. Mr. Jones stressed that a final decision on which gov- ernment lands would be sold remained, as per legal requirements under the Registered Lands Law, in the hands of Cabinet. He also told lawmakers that Lands and Survey department of- ficials provided information to Progressives caucus mem- bers regarding the land’s use currently and what the par- cels might be used for in the near to medium term. “Ultimately, that deci- sion [to identify the number of properties likely for sale] was taken by caucus,” Mr. Jones said. “I’m shocked to hear that caucus has made decisions … that certain properties can be sold prior to the business case being made by the gov- ernment on all properties,” said North Side MLA and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ezzard Miller, adding that he did not know which 69 out of the 279 prop- erties were for sale. Earlier in the Public Accounts Committee pro- ceedings, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson indicated that the Progressives’ policy of running Cabinet business through its political caucus first had certainly “made our Cabinet meetings flow very well.” Mr. Jones said the Planning Ministry agreed it seems a “sensible practice.” Mr. Miller responded, “We cannot assume that a body that is not identified anywhere in the process of selling government’s property in the relevant legislation … we can’t simply acquiesce that that body has some au- thority to make these deci- sions because it doesn’t. “I accept that no final de- cision [can be made by the political caucus]. But some people have knowledge which the public does not yet have that certain pieces of prop- erty in government are likely to be sold. When that goes beyond the persons charged under statute to have that in- formation, I think one has to be a little bit concerned.” A 2011 review by the gov- ernment Lands and Survey department found that 279 parcels of Crown owned land – valued at about $60 million – were not being used in gov- ernment operations. This in- formation was reported in a 2015 audit by the Cayman Islands Auditor General’s Office concerning government land use. “Some of these proper- ties constitute a liability to the government as they have been encroached upon or used for dumping trash,” the 2015 audit found. According to the audit re- port, the Ministry of Planning has been evaluating 279 properties, including the 69 considered “available for sale” and will be making recom- mendations to Cabinet re- garding how government can dispose of the land. “We noted that [govern- ment agencies] receive little direction as to what prin- ciples should be used to manage real property,” audi- tors reported. “We found no central manager in the gov- ernment responsible for set- ting real property manage- ment policy overall.” Mr. Jones said it was his belief that the winnowing process approved by caucus was more of an effort to elim- inate from government’s con- sideration lands that were unlikely to be sold by gov- ernment because they may have some use in the near fu- ture. When it is completed, a business case for the sale of the 69 Crown properties will deal with the particulars of those parcels. Mr. Jones said the business case was never expected to deal with every piece of surplus land govern- ment owned. There is no legal require- ment for any legislation, or any matter that comes before Cabinet, to first be considered by a political party structure, but Mr. Manderson noted this was a decision the current government had made at the start of its term. Premier Alden McLaughlin previously explained that each Monday all members of the Progressives-led govern- ment meet and essentially decide what business will be carried forward on be- half of the government. Mr. McLaughlin said the caucus meetings put all elected mem- bers, whether the premier or a backbench member, on equal footing. “In caucus, we all have equal voice and vote,” the premier said. “If [a proposal] has no support in caucus, the bill, the policy … does not go forward in the first place. “The Cabinet alone, even if [a proposal] goes to the House, can pass nothing. In many ways, Cabinet is a formal process … the real decision-making is done in caucus.” “Ultimately, that decision [to identify the number of properties likely for sale] was taken by caucus.” ALAN JONES, chief officer, Planning Ministry Montessori By The Sea storytellers shine An 8-year-old student at Montessori By The Sea school is among the top 10 winners in the Caribbean in a competition for young emerging writers. Gabriella Lulu Mills earned recognition for her submis- sion, “The Grateful Stingray.” A number of lower ele- mentary students who par- ticipated in the Butterfly Storybook Project earned accolades for their story- telling skills when they were presented with cer- tificates honoring their achievements on March 1. The competition is for young emerging writers in the Caribbean ages 7-11. Rotary Central Grand Cayman sponsored the local students’ entries. Other students who participated in the con- test were Jagger Alban, 8, and Christopher Jackson, 7, who co-wrote “The Giving Pumpkin,” and Sophia Jackson-Briggs and Laila Cassidy, both 8, who co-au- thored “The Caring Parrot.” The stories in this year’s contest were to have a Caribbean flavor and re- flect the theme of “Giving Something Special to Someone Special” through acts of kindness, friend- ship, leadership and/or re- spect, said Rotary Central’s Vocational Service Director Sandy McFarlane. Gabriella’s winning story was about a little stingray named Tiny who was sad be- cause she had no tail. The little stingray is adopted by a lovely stingray named Ben who gives his tail to Tiny. “As this is a Rotary project, Rotary Clubs across the Caribbean are tasked with reaching out to local schools in sponsoring as many students as possible to write their story,” said Ms. McFarlane. “This is a tremendous achievement for the young writers to have their work and talent recognized, and we wish them every success for their future,” she said. “Rotary Central is com- mitted to fostering educa- tion in our children, and we look forward to and are privileged in continuing this support throughout our communities.” MLA Ezzard MillerAlan Jones Back, from left, teacher Victoria Norris, Rotary Central Acting President Susie Bodden and Vocational Service Director Sandy McFarlane. Front, from left: Jagger Alban, Gabriella Lulu Mills and Sophia Jackson-Briggs. BT WATER PIPELINE WORK DELAYED The Water Authority has temporarily halted its work replacing a water pipeline in Bodden Town. Work on the project began in mid-January and involves replacing the water main along Bodden Town Road between Gun Square Road and Manse Road. According to a press release issued Monday by the company, some 1,150 feet of new pipeline has been installed, with 1,000 feet of pipeline remaining to be put in place. Water Authority Deputy Director Tom van Zanten said there had been “a sig- nificant delay” in the de- livery of materials for one of the company’s reverse osmosis plants, which had impacted the progress of the Bodden Town work. Customers along the new pipeline will be given notification prior to being connected to the new water main as this will require a brief interruption in water service, according to the company. While the project is on hold, there will be two brief road closures. Bodden Town Road will be closed to through-traffic from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 16. Mr. van Zanten said, “The Authority will be installing pipelines across Bodden Town Road to connect the residents of Cumber Avenue, Monument Road and other side roads to the new water main. Water Authority per- sonnel will be stationed at the intersections of Bodden Town Road and Condor Road, and Bodden Town Road and Anton Bodden Way to direct local traffic as necessary.” During the road clo- sures, motorists should di- vert around Bodden Town via Anton Bodden Drive. Bodden Town Road will be closed to through-traffic from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 16.TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay Green space: Garvin Park Park offers boat launch and ideal relaxation site West Bay’s Garvin park is tucked away on the shores of the North Sound, just down the road from Morgan’s Harbour. One of West Bay’s three parks, along with the Heritage Field community event venue, it features green space, rest rooms, plenty of parking and a gazebo. According to Recreation Parks and Cemeteries unit Acting General Manager Mark Bothwell, a West Bayer himself, this park is known locally as “Liar’s Tree” and is a popular spot for dis- trict residents who use the boat launch for their small boats and wave runners, or just spend time chatting and swapping stories. The park is named after the late “Sirley” Garvin who lived on the site, as is the road leading to the park. Local resident Kem Jackson noted that the land the park is on was originally owned by John Jackson, who passed away about 60 years ago. The spot was known locally over the years as Jackson’s Barcadere and was a popular boat launch location, as it remains today. West Bay also has two other public parks, the little Al Al parkette in Botswain’s Bay near the lighthouse, and Scholars Park, near the Ed Bush stadium. The Growing Communities initiative, which is a public/ private partnership between Dart Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands Government facilitated the design, build, restoration and maintenance of five district park including Scholars Park. The partnership’s website notes the park was founded in October 2001 and named after the district’s Division 1 football team. In fact, many of the park’s amenities are painted in the team’s blue and yellow strip colors. In 2011, a series of renova- tions to the park resulted in improvements to the land- scaping and the addition of brand new play facilities. Scholars Park is an ideal park for families, featuring plenty of shade, gardens a variety of plants and trees, a large sandy playground and expansive grassy areas for kids to play. Maintaining local parks Mr. Bothwell notes that his unit does its best to maintain the district’s parks within its budget, doing maintenance as possible, including mowing, hedge trimming, and servicing rest rooms. “We have a great team of staff, they work really hard to maintain the parks to as high a standard as possible,” said Mr. Bothwell, noting that currently the unit does not have the budget for enhancements. “We have a lot of very nice parks here in Cayman, a lot of work goes into keeping them in good repair, and we hope that people enjoy using them.” Cayman currently has 16 public parks, along with 18 public beaches, distributed among the districts. The unit manages 68 acres, 16 restrooms and 12 ceme- teries, seven days a week. “We are lucky to have so many parks, for such a small island, though, it seems that not all of them experi- ence heavy use by locals,” said Mr. Bothwell. 50 YEARS AGO: Girls’ Brigade tea for Canadian trip In the March 16, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman Ebanks and daughters Treaty Mae and Patricia arrived on the 12th from New York where they have been residing for a year. Treaty Mae plans to marry Mr. Carlyle Glidden on the 25th. “Mrs. Sarah Smith re- turned the same day from New York having vis- ited her son and his wife for 3 months. “Mr. Will Jackson ar- rived on the 13th from the S.S. ‘Cubahama.’ “Miss Ione Yates re- turned to her home in Tampa after a short visit with relatives and friends. “The Youth Fellowship of the Bosun Bay Presbyterian Church will hold a debate at their Manse on Friday 18th at 7:45 p.m. Motion: ‘Resolve that space exploration be discontinued,’ also a quiz on space events and explo- ration. The winner will re- ceive a prize. Everybody is cordially invited. “We welcome back Mr. and Mrs. Delp from U.S. who have their home in this district on the Beach Road. They arrived on the 13th. “Mrs. Helen R. Ebanks (Vella) celebrated her 70th birthday quietly at home on the 13th. Her grand- daughter Cindy cele- brated her birthday on the same date. “Mrs. Gerold Smith is happy to be home after an absence of 20 years. She lives in Jamaica where her husband is pastor of the United Brethren Church in May Pen and is visiting for a few weeks. “Miss Edna Jefferson arrived from Baltimore on the 6th where she spent 7 months with her uncle, Cromwell Ebanks and his children after the death of his wife in June last year. “Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Rivers celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary at their home in Bosun Bay on the 11th. It was their first anniversary in Cayman. They left for their home in Port Arthur, Texas on the 13th after an en- joyable visit to relatives and friends. “A Tea Party sponsored by the Girls’ Brigade, to raise funds for the mem- bers of the Brigade who are going to Canada for a visit this summer, was held in the United Church Hall on the 11th. Tickets were sold and refreshments served. Mrs. Cumber and some Canadians were among the visitors. A visitor from Canada gave a brief speech on the work in Canada.” Garvin Park is a popular boat-launching site with plenty of parking. Garvin Park is located near Morgan’s Harbour. - PHOTOS: ALAN MARKOFFCAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay Sir John A. Cumber students celebrate Commonwealth Day In recognition of the spe- cial place Cayman holds as a U.K. Overseas Territory, students and teachers of the Sir John A. Cumber IB World School came together to celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday. Observed globally among member countries on the second Monday in March, this year’s theme was “An Inclusive Commonwealth.” With enthusiastic par- ticipation from staff and students, the day started with a parade of flags rep- resenting the 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Many of the stu- dents were dressed in colors representing the flags they displayed. The school’s morning program of events fea- tured presentations on se- lected countries, including Trinidad and Guyana. The assembly was also treated to performances of songs and poetry by stu- dents and staff, including a performance by singer and teacher support assistant Jamesette Anglin, which re- ceived thunderous applause. Event chair Dianne Varona spoke to the as- sembled students on this year’s theme, echoing the sentiments of the Commonwealth Charter that everyone should be in- cluded and respected and should be treated equally and fairly, no matter their circumstances. Ms. Varona, the special education needs coordi- nator at the school, showed the students a video of a blind and autistic girl dem- onstrating her impressive singing talent. The day’s celebrations also included a staff lun- cheon featuring dishes rep- resenting the various na- tionalities among the staff, and classes participated in Commonwealth-related ac- tivities throughout the day. Students sing an enthusiastic rendition of ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’ to wrap up the morning’s program. Among the teachers and students who donned traditional dress were school staff members Dianne Varona, back left, and Delicia Wright and students April Ebanks, front left, representing Kenya and Katherine Kumar representing India. Sir John A. Cumber students present a parade of flags.Students Ashley and Elliana participate in the parade of flags. Support assistant Delicia Wright accompanies students on the conga drums.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Screenprint & Embroidery Your logo/art printed here cost $1.00 LNG@candw.ky so applicants able to be processed on any given day. Ms. Hurlston said she has advocated for more resources and that the unit has seen some in- creases in staffing levels, but, like other depart- ments, it is subject to budget constraints. The committee is inves- tigating government’s re- sponse to a damning au- ditor general’s report, which pointed to a lack of oversight and account- ability for the $50 million spent annually on pro- viding assistance to those in need. During the proceed- ings on Friday, indepen- dent legislator Winston Connolly said he is con- cerned that the unit was “putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.” He said welfare pay- ments, as well as benefits for seamen and veterans, appear to be handed out in- definitely without checks or follow-up, and questioned whether anything was being achieved. “You are talking about 10 percent of government revenue. That is a signifi- cant amount of money,” Mr. Connolly said. “It needs the proper structure and personnel. This is so ripe for losing money, it’s like throwing cash out the door. We don’t have any way to assess or bridge people from welfare to workforce,” he added. Ms. Hurlston accepted this was accurate. “We do need proper re- sources to operate this unit,” she said. “One of the issues we are having is the ability to allow persons to come off welfare by of- fering them some support.” At an earlier Public Accounts Committee hearing, Dorine Whittaker, chief officer in the Ministry of Community Affairs, ac- knowledged there is no co- ordinated strategy for how public money is spent on the islands’ most needy. She said the auditor’s report is being used as a springboard for reform, with the aim of producing a “business case” for a new social assistance plan by the end of the year. At the ceremony, Premier Alden McLaughlin read the Commonwealth Affirmation after the honorary rep- resentative of the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Cayman Islands, Lemuel Hurlston, read a message from the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary- General, Kamalesh Sharma. Soon after the flag hoisting, students of Cayman Islands schools met at the Legislative Assembly to hold a Youth Parliament, where they debated two mo- tions, one on abortion and one on public transport. Queen Elizabeth II, in her Commonwealth Day message released to mark the day, called on citizens to be open to ideas and en- couragement. “By including others, drawing on collec- tive insights, knowledge and resources, and thinking and working together, we lay the foundations of a harmonious and progres- sive society,” she said. “The greater the diver- sity of those included in such a shared enterprise, the greater the gains. Each of us has cause to celebrate the sense of belonging expressed in our 2016 theme: ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth.’” She also called on people to put the notion of an in- clusive Commonwealth into practice by supporting those in need and those who feel excluded in all walks of life. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association that includes 53 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, the vast ma- jority of which were for- merly under British rule. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Government flies Commonwealth flag Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, honorary representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society in Cayman, Lemuel Hurlston, Police Inspector Ian Yearwood and Governor Helen Kilpatrick at Monday’s Commonwealth flag raising ceremony. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 2,500 Cayman families getting social welfare assistance the Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association. The record for a condo- minium is higher, $13 mil- lion for an opulent penthouse at the Water’s Edge develop- ment on Seven Mile Beach. The Vista del Mar home, on a 1.25-acre lot, was ini- tially advertised for more than US$9 million and fea- tures distinctive high ceil- ings, a spacious lobby and dual curved stairways, as well as spectacular views of the North Sound, according to the IRG listing. The house was sold to an investor from Europe. Jeremy Hurst, of the real estate firm, said, “The sale, at around US$8 million, in- dicates that the ultra-luxury sector of the residential market is really starting to establish itself and confirms that international inves- tors are seeing real value in Cayman real estate product. “It comes on the back of other ultra-luxury market sales on Seven Mile Beach during the first quarter of 2016 and strong sales across the island in both the ultra- luxury, high-end and mid-end market sectors.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Luxury home sells for record price This luxury single-family home in Vista del Mar sold for US$7.9 million. The interior of the luxury home in Vista del Mar. CUBANS CONVICTED OF US CRIMES COULD FACE DEPORTATION MIAMI (AP) – As Washington normalizes re- lations with Havana, nearly 30,000 Cuban nationals con- victed of crimes in the U.S. may face deportation. The Miami Herald re- ports that 28,400 Cuban nationals have served their prison terms and face au- tomatic deportations. Some 18,000 live in Florida. For decades they’ve been re- leased under supervision by immigration authorities be- cause the U.S. had no diplo- matic relations with Cuba. Authorities say there’s no imminent change planned for immigration policy to- ward Cuba. Republican Miami Congressman Carlos Curbelo says dangerous criminals should be de- ported at the earliest date possible, while those con- victed of minor offenses should be given the oppor- tunity to stay. Miami defense attorney Jose “Pepe” Herrera says many Cuban inmates didn’t anticipate any U.S. change to- ward Cuba when they signed waivers agreeing to deporta- tions to avoid immigration detention proceedings. The Miami Herald reports that 28,400 Cuban nationals have served their prison terms and face automatic deportations.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 • TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016 EASTER SERVICES BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Palm Sunday, March 20: Children will do Palm Processional. Good Friday, March 25: Morning Worship, 11 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 27: Sunday School 10 a.m., Morning Worship 11 a.m., Evening Worship 7 p.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m. Good Friday: Noon, Stations of the Cross; 1 p.m. Passion Service. Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 6 p.m. Easter Monday: 8:30 a.m. CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH: West Bay. Good Friday: Noon, Stations of the Cross; 1 p.m. Passion Service. Easter Sunday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m. STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Cayman Brac. Good Friday: Noon, Stations of the Cross; Passion Service, 1 p.m. Easter Sunday: 11 a.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 15 SICKLE CELL SUPPORT: The Public Health Department hosts a Sickle Cell Support Group meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Cayman Islands Hospital’s Public Health Waiting Room. All are invited to the session where Health Services Authority General Practice Coordinator Dr. Anna Matthews will lead the discussion. For further information, contact Genetics Coordinator Joy Merren at 244-2630 or email joy.merren@hsa.ky. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 GARDEN LUNCH AND LECTURE: National Gallery. Lecture begins at noon. Lunch is 12:30 until 2 p.m. Curator will discuss the exhibition “EN MAS’ – Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean.” Tour is free and open to the public. Reservations recommended for groups of four or more. DCI CLOSES EARLY: The Department of Commerce and Investment, including its Trade and Business Licensing Counter on the first floor of the Government Administration Building, will close from 11:30 a.m. for a staff training event. DCI’s main office will reopen on Thursday at 8:30 a.m., and the Trade and Business counter will reopen at 9 a.m. WOMEN’S SELF-CARE: The public is invited to join the Family Resource Centre for an evening of learning about self-care. The free session, supported by Rotary Central, is a part of Honoring Women’s Month activities. Session starts 6 p.m. at the Family Resource Centre at the Compass Centre, George Town. To register, contact Family Resource Centre on frc@gov.ky, or www.facebook. com/FamilyResourceCentre or 949-0006. WORKFORCE DISTRICT VISIT: A National Workforce Development Agency representative will be at the West Bay Library 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to assist the public with Job Link Program registration, the national training program, Passport2Success, internship opportunities, assistance with preparing resumes and for interviews. Call 945-3114 or email nwda.training@gov.ky. FLOETRY: Meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Books & Books. Join Cayman’s poets and performers as they share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. Attendees are free to share their own work or listen to others. THURSDAY, MARCH 17 BRAC COURT: Summary Court is held in the Aston Rutty Civic Centre today and tomorrow, from 10 a.m. 5K IRISH JOG: St. Patrick’s Day event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Britannia Golf Course, hosted by Butterfield and the Grand Cayman Beach Suites. Fee is $10 per person and all proceeds will be donated to the Cayman Islands Cadets Corps. Visit www.caymanactive.com or ButterfieldGroup.com for registration forms. CHAMBER COURSE: “How to Run a Successful Business” by Derek Jones, 2:30– 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $175. Future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: “The Exceptional Presenter” by Julie McLaughlin, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $150. Future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 18 INTERNSHIP: Today is the deadline to apply for an internship offered by Prosperity Capital Management Ltd. This is an opportunity to gain experience of accounting, as well as some specifics of the funds industry. Practical training sessions and daily hands-on experience. The internship is for those studying finance or accounting at a local college/university. Email nwda.internship@gov.ky or call 945-3114 for application forms. SATURDAY, MARCH 19 DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile shop will be in East End 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., close to the Pirate’s Cove Bar. Items available include clothing, linens, shoes, household items and more. EARTH HOUR: The National Trust invites the public to participate in this global movement by pledging to turn off non-essential lighting for Earth Hour, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Earth Hour was created by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 to raise awareness for the planet. Also, the Trust encourages unplugging electronic devices that are not needed. EARTH HOUR PICNIC: As a part of the National Trust’s Families in the Wild program, the Earth Hour Picnic in the Dark is set for 6-9:30 p.m. at the amphitheater at Dart Family Park, South Church Street. Stories, acoustic performances, screening of “The Lorax” and presentation to explain how climate change affects Cayman. All are encouraged to bring blankets, pillows, snacks, flashlights and insect repellent. Light refreshments will be available. The Astronomical Society will assist stargazers. SPRING INTO GLAZING: Class for intermediate students and students who have previously taken a ceramic art course with 3 Girls & a Kiln; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Susan A. Olde Art Studio, National Gallery Education Centre. Cost is $80, materials included. To register, email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. LITTLE CAYMAN AGRICULTURE SHOW: Blossom Village Park. Contact Debbi Truchan 925-6442 or debit@candw.ky. MONDAY, MARCH 21 CAREERS FAIR: All interested students and members of the public are invited to a Careers Fair at Cayman Academy. Representatives of Northern Caribbean University and of professions and businesses in Cayman will be available to advise on options. The Cayman Chapter of the NCU Alumni Association will be available to discuss a scholarship being offered for study this year. The fair runs from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 24 PUB QUIZ: Cayman Islands Humane Society benefits from this event at Fidel Murphy’s. 7 p.m. $10 per person, maximum of six per team. Call 949-5189 to reserve a table or contact sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. SATURDAY, MARCH 26 HISTORY OF CARNIVAL: Henry Muttoo lectures on the fascinating and complex history of Caribbean Carnival. National Gallery, 6 p.m. Admission free; open to the public. CHALKFEST: The competition at Market Street in Camana Bay, from 1 p.m., is open to artists of all ages and abilities. Registration fee of $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Proceeds benefit the National Gallery outreach program. Prizes for the best work. Entry categories are: Primary (5-10 years old), Middle School (11-13), High School (14-17) and Adults (18+). Chalk provided free. Participants are encouraged to bring rags, sponges and buckets to help with blending and covering large areas. Free water and sunscreen. THURSDAY, MARCH 31 CHAMBER COURSE: “Debt Collection, How to Avoid and Collect Bad Debt” by Sarah Allison, 9–11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $175. Future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SME WORKSHOP: Chamber of Commerce office, Governors Square, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, APRIL 1 PASSPORT2SUCCESS: Caymanians between the ages of 17 and 23 are invited to apply for the next course in the Passport2Success program, which begins April 25. Today is the deadline to apply. Email nwda.training@gov.ky or call 945-3114 for more information. Visit www.passport2Success.ky to apply. SATURDAY, APRIL 2 BAKE/CAKE SALE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church – Women in the Church hold a bake sale at A. L. Thompson’s Home Depot from 7 a.m. MONDAY, APRIL 4 YOUTH CHOIR: Cayman Youth Choir welcomes youth ages 11-16 to audition 6-7 p.m. at Cayman Prep School, Smith Road. The Cayman Youth Choir provides the opportunity to experience the challenges, joys and rewards of choral singing. For more information, contact Miss Ems on music_ems@icloud.com or through Facebook on www. facebook.com/KYyouthchoir. THURSDAY, APRIL 7 JOSEPH … DREAMCOAT: Cayman Drama Society presents Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starting tonight at the Prospect Playhouse. 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Adults $30. Students $20. Show continues tomorrow and Saturday, then April 14-17, 21-24. Matinees April 17 and 24, 5 p.m. Email boxoffice@cds.ky. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 STUDENTS’ FILM MAKING: The Cayman National Cultural Foundation has extended its registration deadline until today for students wishing to enter their short films in the Young Image Makers competition. The Foundation is allowing students more time over the Easter holidays to work on their films. Interested persons can submit films to CNCF offices behind Harquail Theatre by 5 p.m. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.artscayman.org/ young-image-makers. For more details, email info@artscayman.org. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 CERAMICS – RAKU: Class with Alan Darvil, 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Susan A. Olde Art Studio, National Gallery Education Centre/Gardens. Cost is $150, materials included. Traditional and contemporary techniques using horsehair and other combustible materials to fire pieces of bisqueware (provided). No pottery experience necessary. To register, email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The National Trust will screen ‘The Lorax’ at its Earth Hour Picnic in the Dark on Saturday, March 19. The picnic, which will also include stories and acoustic performances, will be held from 6-9.30 p.m at the amphitheater at Dart Family Park, South Church Street. – PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURESNext >