ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 SPORTS | PAGE 16 KIM MATCHES SORENSTAM’S LPGA TOUR SCORING RECORD High of 83 Low of 74 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ROGUE BIKERS DRIVING THE COUNTRY CRAZY 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Residents: SMB being destroyed by vendors BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Unlicensed businesses, carelessly dis- carded trash and dangerous watercraft oper- ations are adding to a “lawless mentality” on Grand Cayman’s Public Beach that residents have warned is in danger of being “destroyed by a growing horde of unlicensed vendors,” according to complaints filed last week with the government’s Ministry of Tourism. “The very symbol of this beautiful island and the magnet that draws both Caymanians and multitudes of tourists is being destroyed before our very eyes,” read an eight-page letter sent to Tourism Ministry Councilor Joey Hew Friday by the Harbour Heights development’s strata management council and signed by council member Bob Loverd. Harbour Heights is a condominium complex just south of the main Public Beach area. “The beach … does not seem to be regu- lated by law [and] government officials do not appear to have the authority to act,” the Harbour Heights letter read, adding that the revamped Public Beach area just south of the under-construction Kimpton hotel seems to have become a haven where “unlicensed ven- dors aggressively compete with each other to offer a carnival of competing services.” Over the weekend, the management of the Avalon Condominiums supported the Harbour Heights organization’s comments. “We too have observed the gradual, but steady increase in commercial activity at the Public Beach, and for the first time in my nearly 20 years of wintering here we have had vendors peddling their wares to people on our beach,” said Warren Nock, chairman of the condo management strata. “The beach expe- rience here has been unique in the Caribbean. In addition to the wonderful natural elements, guests have felt welcomed, safe, and left in SHOT FIRED DURING ROBBERY AT WB RESTAURANT BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com One customer was struck in the head, sev- eral other customers were robbed and a shot was fired during a hold-up at West Bay’s Alfresco restaurant Sunday night. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported that a number of customers dining on the outdoor deck of the North West Point Road eatery were accosted by two of the three suspects who stormed the business just after 9 p.m. Sunday. One customer sustained a head injury, according to owner Phillip Wilson, who took over the operation just a few months ago. A police report on the incident said the customer who was struck got into a struggle with one of the suspects, at which point an- other robber fired a shot into the air. Upon hearing the gunshot, police said the customer surrendered his wallet. The customer was taken to the hospital, treated and released. According to police, a gun-toting suspect wearing a ski mask took money from the cash register, while two other men wearing ban- danas over their faces took money and other belongings from customers on the outdoor patio. Mr. Wilson said there were dozens of tourists and local patrons there at the time. “It’s really sad,” he said. “Alfresco is so im- portant to bringing tourism into the commu- nity. We had a lot of tourists there [Sunday] and we lost a lot of money [Sunday] night.” Police said the three suspects ran to Henning Lane and fled in a silver car headed in the direction of West Church Street. Officers cordoned off the scene and interviewed wit- nesses. No arrests were immediately reported. Sun halo shines over Cayman A celestial phenomenon was visible over Cayman on Monday morning in the form of a sun halo, also known as a ‘sun dog.’ It appears as a circle or halo around the sun, and is caused by sunlight refracting through cirrostratus clouds in the upper atmosphere. Cirrostratus clouds are made up mostly of ice crystals, and the refraction of sunlight through the crystals has a similar effect to that of light through a prism. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY A. L. THOMPSON’S SUES LOCAL DEVELOPER BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A lawsuit seeking more than $650,000 from a local developer and one of his compa- nies was filed last month by A. L. Thompson Building Supplies Ltd. The writ concerns a credit applica- tion dating back to October 2003 between Empire Development and its owner and di- rector, Lewis Ebanks. The terms of the deal, according to the writ, were that A. L. Thompson’s “would provide building supplies on credit to [Mr. Ebanks].” When contacted for comment Monday, Mr. Ebanks denied all claims made against him and against Empire Development in the law- suit. The writ says Mr. Ebanks “defaulted” on the terms of payment by June 2012. The law- suit alleges that Mr. Ebanks signed a prom- issory note during the same month which agreed on payment of $100,000 on the debt by July 31, 2012 and an additional payment of $150,000 by Aug. 31, 2012. Additional monthly installments “no less than” $20,000 were due starting in September 2012, according to the writ. It is alleged that Mr. Ebanks also signed a personal guarantee on July 6, 2012 to guar- antee all future and present debts owed to A. L. Thompson’s by Empire Development Company Ltd. “[Mr. Ebanks] failed to make any payments pursuant to the [promissory] note,” the writ states. “[Empire Development] failed to make payments for goods and services in accor- dance with the first and second agreements [contracts with A. L. Thompson’s].” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 22, 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 - 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (PG13) 12:50 I 3:20 I 7:10 I 10:00 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR (R) 3:40 I 7:30 I 10:10 ZOOTOPIA 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 1:00 2D I 3:00 I 3:30 2D I 5:30 I 7:15 2D I 8:00 I 9:45 2D ALLEGIANT - THE DIVERGENT SERIES (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:00 I 9:50 LONDON HAS FALLEN (R) 1:20 I 4:00 I 7:20 I 9:40 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Lighthouse School will have a new principal when the school year be- gins in September, the Ministry of Education announced Monday. Elroy Bryan, currently deputy principal at Savannah Primary School, succeeds Carla MacVicar who officially retired in September 2015, but agreed to stay on until her re- placement was found. “We are so pleased that Mr. Bryan has decided to take the position of principal at the Lighthouse School,” said Christen Suckoo, chief officer in the Ministry of Education. “He is bringing invaluable ex- perience to the post, much of which he actually gained on the job at LHS.” Mr. Bryan has been at Savannah Primary since 2013. Previously, he was a senior teacher and head of the phys- ical education department at Lighthouse School for 14 years. In a press release, Mr. Bryan said he is looking for- ward to leading “one of the greatest schools in the world.” “I have a strong desire to see our students excel in life and I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that they succeed, as I always strive to go the extra mile to perform my duties with the utmost professionalism,” Mr. Bryan said. “I am a product of our education system and I am motivated to improve the education standards of my beloved Cayman Islands.” Mr. Bryan said working at Savannah Primary, the second-largest primary school on island, has “enhanced his leadership skills greatly” and increased his confidence in his ability to lead change within a school. According to the Ministry of Education press release, Mr. Bryan was one of the “driving forces in the use of restor- ative practices to support the students,” and, as part of the leadership team he also anal- yses assessment data, reviews staff performance and pro- vides support and guidance for staff to improve standards of achievement. During his 14 years at the Lighthouse School, Mr. Bryan said, the students “trans- formed” his life. “It was at [Lighthouse School] that I first experi- enced the joy of watching stu- dents reach milestones that they never thought were pos- sible,” Mr. Bryan said. “I am extremely excited about re- turning to the school in the capacity of principal, where I can continue to lift up this school as the beacon of hope that it has been for so many children and adults alike.” Mr. Bryan received the 2009 Young Caymanian Leadership Award and won the Golden Apple award for excellence in teaching. He accompanied the Special Olympics Cayman Islands Team to several games as the head coach for soccer and track and field. “It was at [Lighthouse School] that I first experienced the joy of watching students reach milestones that they never thought were possible.” ELROY BRYAN, new principal Lighthouse School names new principal Elroy Bryan GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana has ap- pointed a retired army general to investigate al- legations of widespread corruption in the South American country’s anti- narcotics agency. Officials said Monday that hearings into the matter will start next month after a suspected drug trafficker accused local officials of reselling seized drugs and allowing certain drug shipments to pass checkpoints. President David Granger has said the al- legations are serious enough to warrant an of- ficial investigation and an upcoming reorganization of the agency. GUYANA TO PROBE ANTI-DRUG AGENCY Police arrested five people following a search of a home in George Town on Friday. Two of those ar- rested were charged and appeared in court on fire- arms possession charges on Monday. Police said they carried out the search around 6:15 a.m. Friday at a residence in the vicinity of Crewe Road, where they seized a .38 revolver and six live rounds of ammunition. Andy Barnes, 36, and Yannick McLaughlin, 32, were both charged with possession of an unli- censed firearm. They ap- peared in court Monday and were remanded to cus- tody to Tuesday, March 29. Barnes, represented by attorney Crister Brady, did not apply for bail. McLaughlin, represented by attorney John Furniss, applied for bail, but Magistrate Valdis Foldats withheld it. A 37-year-old man, with an address in George Town, was charged with possession of cocaine and drug-related offences. He was bailed to appear in Summary Court on Tuesday, March 29. A 21-year-old woman, of West Bay, was released on police bail. Another woman who was also arrested was later released. FIVE ARRESTED FOLLOWING GT HOUSE SEARCH NEW MANAGEMENT AT CAYMAN REPORTER BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some management changes have been made at the Cayman Reporter newspaper, according to staff members there who say a further announce- ment would come in the next few days. The daily newspaper plans to bring in Bob Taylor, a U.S. citizen, as its new general manager. According to the Reporter’s majority shareholder, Dr. Steve Tomlinson, Mr. Taylor has not begun work yet. He has previously worked in Cayman as the chief ex- ecutive officer of Cayman 27’s parent company WestStar TV. Catherine Tyson has been named the news- paper’s deputy general manager and confirmed she started work there Monday. Ms. Tyson de- scribed the changes as a “management shift.” Newspaper publisher Deon Ebanks was still at the offices Monday and would stay on as a consul- tant, Ms. Tyson said. Ms. Tyson said the newspaper intended to remain a daily publica- tion with a significant online presence. Inquest held for hospital patient Evidence expected to take three days CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An inquest began Monday into the death of Tanya Edith Welcome Joseph, who died on Sept. 25, 2010 after routine gall bladder sur- gery at Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital. The first witness in the hearing was government pa- thologist Dr. Shravana Jyoti who gave a detailed ac- count of the post-mortem examination he conducted. Questioned by attorney Simon Dickson, who rep- resents Dr. Christopher Bromley, who performed the surgery, and Dr. Stephen Gaye, the anesthetist, Dr. Jyoti agreed that surgery was not the cause of death. The autopsy was negative for any cause of death, Dr. Jyoti elaborated, but he also collected various body fluids for testing. The tests, known as toxicology analysis, con- ducted at Cayman’s Forensic Science Laboratory and at NMS Labs in the United States, found that one of the drugs in Mrs. Joseph’s blood sample was Pethidine. Dr. Jyoti concluded that the physical cause of death appeared to be “Pethidine toxicity in a case of peri- procedural death related to elective laparoscopic cho- lecystectomy. Complication of polydrug toxicity in ther- apeutic levels adminis- tered for treatment pro- cedure is considered a contributing factor.” Dr. Jyoti said he dis- cussed the case and test re- sults with two other pa- thologists, who concurred with his findings. He pointed out that he is not an expert in toxicology. Questions from other at- torneys were largely about the various drug test results and the monitoring of the patient after surgery. Dr. Stuart Hamilton, also a pathologist, gave evidence via video link. He agreed that the autopsy findings were “relatively non-specific.” He said there was nothing in- trinsically wrong with not being able to say why a person died. It was person- ally and professionally dis- appointing, but it is not un- common, he said. Queen’s Coroner Angelyn Hernandez told the five men and two women on the jury that an inquest is an inquiry to answer factual questions concerning cause of death and the sequence of events that led up to the death. It is not a trial and is not for ap- portioning blame or guilt. She expected that the jury would hear from witnesses through Wednesday, and she would sum up on Thursday. Interested parties are al- lowed to ask questions of the witnesses, the Queen’s coroner said. For that reason, several attorneys were present. Anthony Akiwumi rep- resents Robert Joseph, husband of the deceased. Michael Wingrave attends on behalf of Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital. Crown counsel Toyin Salako attends on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. FLORIDA TOURIST MISSING OFF VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACH CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) – Authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands are searching for the body of a 22-year-old woman from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after a wave swept her off a rock in St. Thomas. Police said Monday that Savannah Rey Finn was with her boyfriend and two friends in Peterborg Point when the incident oc- curred. Authorities said Finn was seen face down in the water late Friday and ap- peared to be lifeless but that they could not rescue her because of high surf and rough waters. Police said her boyfriend also was swept away but climbed back on the rock and was rescued.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 SCIENCE? In 2002, the Water Authority’s Laboratory became the first in the Caribbean specialising in water and wastewater analysis to be accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, a certification that the Authority has held ever since. WORLD WATER DAY 2016 Our passion is water, what’s yours? ENGINEERING? The Authority’s Engineering Services Department is responsible for the design and construction of all civil works projects in the areas of public water supply and wastewater management in the Cayman Islands. OPERATIONS? The Water Supply, Wastewater Collection & Treatment, and Buildings & Equipment Operations teams are responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the Water Authority. The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “WATER AND JOBS”. Here at the Water Authority, we believe in the power of water and jobs to transform people’s lives. That’s why we offer an Annual CI$30,000 Scholarship, host a summer internship programme, and are committed to internal development. So, whether you see yourself in a lab coat or a hard hat, working at a desk or in the field, the Water Authority may have a career for you! Log on to www.waterauthority.ky to learn more. Water Authority - Cayman “Suppliers of the World’s Most Popular Drink” Cayman BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Replacement police holding cells, which had lain idle since their arrival on Grand Cayman in April 2014, opened earlier this month, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officials confirmed last week. The modular holding fa- cility opened in the Fairbanks area of George Town on March 11 and was used to house suspects arrested by the police over the fol- lowing weekend, according to RCIPS Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton. Police officials said a few kinks were still being worked out at the detention facilities, but said all prisoners would soon be “booked in” at the modular trailers rather than at the George Town central police station. The police cells at the downtown station were de- scribed in a United Kingdom prison inspector’s report from 2013 as “barely fit for human habitation,” but they were still being used as of earlier this month to hold people who are ar- rested, prior to their release or detention in Fairbanks or Northward prisons. The new modular cells, which cost government US$2.1 million and can house up to 24 inmates, were con- structed in Chicago, shipped to Cayman and moved into place near Fairbanks Prison in mid-April 2014. Officials with the Ministry of Home Affairs said at the time that they expected the units to be opened within six weeks – the beginning of June 2014 – but that did not happen. The delay was largely due to stalled planning inspec- tions and outfit of the facili- ties, ministry officials said. The new cells are re- quired, in part, to bring Cayman’s prisoner detention facilities in line with human rights legislation. The current Progres- sives-led administration an- nounced plans last year to eventually shutter the cur- rent George Town Police Sta- tion, which has been con- demned, selling the land it sits on and moving the police station to what is envisioned as a law enforcement com- plex – to include the courts building – off Crewe Road. It has not been made clear whether, if this plan is pur- sued, prisoner detention fa- cilities would be moved to that site as well, or kept in the Fairbanks area. Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts has said that the project is moving along and that government “would very much like” to sell parcels of land totaling 1.7 acres at the site of the current po- lice station and former ve- hicle licensing building on Elgin Avenue. “Where the police station is now is perhaps the most valuable piece of property left in central George Town, and of course, the police really need new premises,” Mr. Tibbetts said in 2015. “We could dis- pose of that property because the police station doesn’t need to be in that location.” Mr. Tibbetts said govern- ment owns several parcels of adjacent land near Jose’s gas station on Crewe Road which are being eyed for a new courts facility. However, the courts building itself would not need the entire property, he said. The idea is to sell the 1.7 acres where the police station sits in down- town, and to arrange with the buyer a leaseback for roughly two years so that the RCIPS could continue to oc- cupy the building. However, when asked about the government plans to move the police sta- tion from downtown George Town, Chief Superintendent Walton expressed doubt about such a proposal. “I’m 47 years old, I’m going to retire [from the po- lice] at age 60,” he said. “When I retire, we’ll still be in this [central George Town] station.” Two years later, police modular cells open The modular cell facilities opened on March 11, and were used to house suspects arrested by the police over the following weekend. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS The new cell facilities had lain idle since their arrival on Grand Cayman in April 2014.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. “Burglars creep into boy’s bedroom, chased off by dad,” March 21 It’s really time to inform people that they need to watch their backs in Cayman. “‘Now when we have friends and family over, we have to tell them it isn’t that safe,’ he said.” What a powerful statement that is, coming from more and more people who visit these shores. Unfortunately it’s true. Michael Davis Our hotels charge a pre- mium rate above our compe- tition, partly because of safety. If we lose that, we may need to compete at the same price level as Jamaica. And provide the same barbed wire–guarded enclosures for our tourists. Norman Linton In Bodden Town, we are having the 3 o’clock bandits breaking into people’s homes and stealing cases of drinks, juice and oatmeal cookies. The police need to put un- dercover cops on the roads around that time, in the areas of public beaches, because it seems like that is where they congregate and make prep- arations for late-night rob- beries. Undercover police can learn a lot by hanging out on public beaches after 10 p.m. and around closing time at shops and street corners. Twyla Vargas TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Long before you see them, you hear them: Engines gunning, tires squealing, the racket reverberating up and down our streets. Then they appear — helmetless, licenseless, popping wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic, all at breakneck speed — the menacing motorbikers of Grand Cayman, personifications of road death and lawlessness. Just how little regard they have for the safety of themselves and others, these motorbikers display through their reckless behavior. Just how little regard they have for the police is best exemplified by the recent brazen theft of impounded vehicles, right from law enforcement’s own backyard. To put it bluntly, these motorbikers are driving police — and the rest of us — crazy. And it’s time to stop them. “Every single day, we’re getting complaints about these bikes on the road,” Royal Cayman Islands Police Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton said. (Let us at this point differentiate between Cayman’s “motorbikers,” the topic of this editorial, and the law- abiding, safe and courteous “motorcyclists” who take great pride in the maintenance of their two-wheeled machines and their conduct on the road.) Compounding the issues of general nuisance and public endangerment is the fact that motorbikes, in other Latin American and Caribbean locales, are the “getaway” vehicles of choice for thieves and violent criminals. (Why use a comparatively slow and bulky car to commit a crime, when you can simply hop on a nimble bike that police are hesitant to chase? It worked wonderfully for the pair of gunmen who robbed the Camana Bay jewelry store last month.) Our ever-astute readers have been chiming in with their own thoughts and observations on the issue. We’ll share some of their comments from our website here: “Unless the police crush every bike that has been taken, they will be back out on the road, legal or illegal. It is time we stop asking why about things and get into action about them.” “Agreed 100 percent on the ban. If I see another hoodlum popping a wheelie on the public road, I’m gonna bust a blood vessel in my head!” “Fairbanks Road is a popular race track for these noisy illegal bikes with un-helmeted riders. They’ve been reported to cops and where are they? Nowhere to be seen. If it is so easy to steal from under their noses, just how effective can they be on the road in law enforcement?” Of course, there are serious concerns about why, and how, police evidence — including significant quanti- ties of drugs, as well as the motorbikes — is being “lib- erated” from the George Town police station. (And just how is it that the police station’s CCTV cameras have not been working when those thefts have occurred?) Putting aside that topic for now, however, and focusing on the topic of motorbikers’ misbehavior, it appears there is not very much that police can do to stop them. The comments we may be tempted to make in regard to certain court decisions might infringe upon a rather vague area of Cayman Islands law (it’s called “scandalizing the judiciary”), so we will simply reprint, without comment, a passage from Justice Alex Hen- derson’s 2013 Grand Court judgment, in relation to a 2008 police chase that ended in the deaths of two men who were being pursued, which has made police wary of speeding after law-breaking motorbikers: “The accident was contributed to, if not caused by, the speed at which [the pursued man Alex] Callan was driving. He was doing so because a police car was chasing him. Had the pursuit been terminated, it is more probable than not that Mr. Callan would have slowed down to a normal speed so as to avoid attracting further police attention. The negligent failure to end the pursuit was one factor which contributed to the accident.” What do our readers think about that? Rogue bikers driving the country crazy In the Land of the Falling Moms STEPHEN J. LYONS Special to The Washington Post In the Land of the Falling Moms, every ob- stacle beckons with a kind of gravity. The curled corner of a rug. The slightly raised en- tryway. The uneven sidewalk. The slick tile. In the Land of the Falling Moms, the difference be- tween upright and upended is measured in inches, but the consequences are calcu- lated in months. One morning, my mother awakes more or less fully in- tact, or at least unbroken. She gets out of bed, loses her bal- ance and falls into a wall. She rights herself, somehow dresses and shuffles with her walker to the assisted- living dining room for break- fast. Because she has frac- tured her collarbone, pubis and sacrum, the pain must be excruciating. Yet she tells no one. She finally calls me that night. “I fell,” she tells me. The ambulance is on its way. She cannot say where it will take her. She doesn’t know what time it is. Or what day. Or what year. At the emergency room, she complains that the sur- faces are all too cold and hard. That the attending staff is too rough as they twist and turn her damaged body for X-rays. Don’t they know she hurts? The doctor dis- covers that she also has a urinary tract infection. She gets morphine. So long ago that it does not seem real, when my mother was a single working mom, and healthy and whole, she took me to a makeshift outdoor skating rink. We wore corduroy coats, mittens and knit caps. The cold wind off Lake Michigan took our breath away. I tired and wanted to return to our apartment and wrap my arms around the ra- diator. She wanted to skate just one more time. I whined and begged, but she won out, promising hot cocoa. On her last time around the rink, she fell and broke her arm. We did not own a car. We walked back to the apartment, her arm hanging unnaturally. Once home, she called a taxi, a luxury for us, and we rode to the hospital. I read comic books while they set her arm in a wet, bulky cast. Then we took the bus home. She made me my cocoa, and the next morning she went to work. She never mentioned the pain. To me, she was invincible. Now, after four days at the hospital, my mother is trans- ferred to a nursing home in the same building as her as- sisted-living apartment. Here she will receive physical and occupational therapy. Her se- nior complex provides the entire “continuum of care,” as though the last years of life are “not perceptibly different from each other,” as the com- munity’s definition states, instead of a series of an- guishing setbacks, each event stripping away another layer of confidence from the ones we love. When Mom arrived at her apartment five years ago, she was in independent living. A year later, as her dementia worsened and she was too confused to take her pills or operate a coffee maker, she was moved to assisted living. Now, nearer the end of the continuum, she sits in a wheelchair, her arm in a loose sling, her hair in a long braid, wearing nubby, no-slip hospital socks. She is con- fused but not withdrawn. I remind her of the last time she was here, following a fall in the bathroom, when she cut her head on the shower door and ended up in an intensive care unit with bleeding in her brain. “I did? I don’t remember that,” she says, looking past me out the window. “How are things in Iowa?” she asks. I live in Illinois. I go upstairs to my moth- er’s one-room apartment. Since her fall nothing has been touched. Her purse is half hidden under a pillow. Her bed is unmade. A cup of cold coffee and various papers are scattered on a table. I select an armful of blouses, pants, underwear and a couple of family pic- tures. Before I close the door I take one last look. I doubt whether she will return to this room. Stephen J. Lyons’s most recent book is ‘Going Driftless: Life Lessons from the Heartland for Unraveling Times.’ © 2016, Washington Post 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” FROM CAYMANCOMPASS.COM5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 Two-thirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom Yes! You can drink the water! Proudly serving Seven Mile Beach and West Bay with a safe and reliable supply of drinking water for over 40 years. 1% of the world’s water is drinkable About 1 in 9 people lack access to an improved water source People in Africa and Asia have to walk an average of 3.7 miles (6 km) to collect water 90% of the world’s fresh water is frozen in Antarctica Did you know... Preserve... Conserve... Give... Protect... Help... ...that you can do something? www.caymanwater.com Two-thirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom Yes! You can drink the water! Proudly serving Seven Mile Beach and West Bay with a safe and reliable supply of drinking water for over 40 years. 1% of the world’s water is drinkable About 1 in 9 people lack access to an improved water source People in Africa and Asia have to walk an average of 3.7 miles (6 km) to collect water 90% of the world’s fresh water is frozen in Antarctica Did you know... Preserve... Conserve... Give... Protect... Help... ...that you can do something? www.caymanwater.com Proudly serving Seven Mile Beach and West Bay with a safe Scientists find research gold in Brac caves KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com The caves in Cayman Brac may or may not have once been used by pirates to hide their loot, but today the caves are an underground treasure trove for scientists studying the impact of climate change and humans on the evolution of species. A team of scientists from the University of Manchester and the College of Charleston (South Carolina) recently published an article de- scribing the findings of what they hope will be just the first of several scientific proj- ects the team will conduct in the caves of Cayman Brac. “I was utterly gobsmacked at how good the fossil record is in these caves because in tropical climates, things don’t usually preserve,” Phil Manning said of his first field trips to the caves a few years ago. “I don’t need to come to Cayman to get a suntan,” he said. “I want to come to Cayman to crawl through caves in the dark.” Mr. Manning, a pro- fessor of paleontology at the College of Charleston, said a cave system such as the one in Cayman Brac is “akin to having a time machine.” “We can see in the caves what life was like on the is- land before humans and also how humans have impacted life,” Mr. Manning said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to measure what happened to endemic species.” The team’s first project on the Brac involved testing a technique to determine if a bone specimen is suitable for radiocarbon analysis – or carbon dating – which is a way of determining the age of archeological artifacts of biological origin. Carbon dating requires the presence of collagen, the main protein in bones, and is preserved in fossils. Sometimes, however, collagen has deteriorated, making an otherwise well-preserved specimen unsuitable for carbon dating. Tropical cli- mates, in particular, have a poor survival record for an- imal remains because of the high temperatures and hu- midity that can affect col- lagen survival. Since carbon dating is an expensive technique, scien- tists are interested in deter- mining whether a specimen is suitable for the testing, to cut down on the number of failed dating attempts. The technique the scien- tists in the Brac used to de- termine whether a sample would be suitable for carbon dating is called “ZooMS” or “collagen fingerprinting.” It was first developed by team member Mike Buckley as a means to identify spe- cies of animals from tiny bone fragments. Mr. Buckley said that while DNA testing is often used to identify spe- cies, the DNA samples of the materials he works with are often too degraded to test, either because the mate- rial is too old or because of the climate. With collagen finger- printing, scientists extract a sample of collagen from a fossil and identify a “fin- gerprint” comprised of the unique chemical markers in the chains of amino acids that exist in the collagen. Mr. Buckley and another team of scientists used col- lagen fingerprinting to iden- tify a 3.5 million-year-old specimen as the first evidence of an extinct giant camel in the high Arctic. In Cayman Brac, the sci- entists found that collagen fingerprinting was a suc- cessful method of catego- rizing whether samples are suitable for dating. The method was tested on “sub-fossil bone specimens” from the Brac caves, several of which were remains of a now-extinct species of hutia, a large rodent. According to the scientists’ recently published article, “Collagen Fingerprinting: A New Screening Technique for Radiocarbon Dating Ancient Bone,” all of the bone sam- ples that yielded radio- carbon dates generated ex- cellent collagen fingerprints, and conversely those that gave poor fingerprints also failed dating. Mr. Buckley said his re- search is primarily about biodiversity change through time and the effect that hu- mans have had on the native fauna, and how quickly ex- tinctions occurred. “Cayman Brac is a great place to do this kind of re- search because it’s relatively pristine. It’s really untouched when it comes to more recent developments, so we’ve got quite a good geological ar- chive,” Mr. Buckley said. Mr. Manning said they have discovered several ex- tinct animals in the caves. He also said that some of the dates are so young on some of the bones that it could be possible that some of those animals thought to be ex- tinct are not, and “that’s a huge deal.” “I am absolutely positive that the Cayman caves can tell us something about the climate, its impact on spe- cies, and the impact of hu- mans on the evolution of spe- cies,” Mr. Manning said. “If you think of biodiversity hot spots on the planet, you’re living in one. You’re living in one of the most precious ecosystems that exists on the planet.” He said he hopes there will be additional re- search projects conducted in Cayman Brac, but that the re- searchers are desperately in need of funding in order to conduct future studies. The Brac cave scientists, from left, Mike Buckley, Andrew Chamberlain, Phil Manning, Victoria Egerton, Bill Sellers and their Cayman Brac nature guide Thomas ‘TJ’ Sevik, back center. Not pictured is Virginia Harvey, lead author of the team’s recently published article.TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS In the March 23, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “On Feb. 12, 1966, Mr. Robert L. Ebanks took as his bride Miss Sheila Maria Cuff of Bridgeton, N.J. Mr. Rupert Ebanks is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ackermon, also of Brooklyn, all formerly of West Bay, Grand Cayman. “Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Bush returned to New York on the 19th after a short visit, having obtained their visa for permanent residence in the U.S. Leaving on the same flight were Mr. Alford Smith, Misses Margaret Rose Bush and Elese Ebanks, visitors to New York. “Miss Annie Joy Ebanks is home on her school vacation from Jamaica. She will re- turn in September to continue her studies. “Mr. Kinwick Gordon arrived on the 19th. He was employed by N.B.C. Mr. Everston Ebanks left on the 20th for Puerto Rico to join the S.S. Commonwealth. This is his first trip abroad. Mr. Noel Ebanks left on the 20th to resume his work with N.B.C. on the S.S. Commonwealth. “Mr. Hervey Ebanks arrived on the 20th from the S.S. Edward L. Steiniger where he worked for N.B.C. Mr. Aston Ray arrived on the 20th from the S.S. Imperial St. Lawrence. “Mr. and Mrs. Denby Graves were the happy parents of their 3rd child and 2nd son, born on the 20th weighing 8 1/2 pounds, named Cliff Ian. “Miss Jenny Lind Hydes celebrated her birthday on the 14th at home with her rela- tives and friends, and a very enjoyable eve- ning was spent.” 50 years ago: Work picks up for seamen District Days West Bay WB STUDENTS TAKE PART IN COMMONWEALTH DAY MARCH Sir John A. Cumber Primary School students participated in Commonwealth Day last week when the school’s Rainbows and Brownies attended the annual Commonwealth march and Church Service at St. George’s Anglican Church on Sunday, March 13. All schools and uniformed groups took part in the march, led by the Rainbows from Cox Lumber to the church. After the service, the girls had a chance to have photos taken with Governor Helen Kilpatrick.The Sir John A. Cumber Rainbows get ready to lead the Commonwealth Day march. Young actors enjoy cultural outing Young thespians from Sir John A. Cumber Primary IB World School recently had the opportunity to immerse themselves in another cul- ture during a trip to a local restaurant. The arts students vis- ited Southern Spice Indian Restaurant on March 2, for a cultural experience that proved to be a big hit. The school’s music and drama teacher, Rebekah Jefferson, noted that the students who study dance, drama and music work hard, and they like to celebrate their success in new and interesting ways. “This year, we decided to have the actors experience something a bit different,” said Ms. Jefferson. “As aspiring actors, these young people may have to travel abroad for perfor- mances in the future and be immersed in cultures and cuisines that they are unfa- miliar with,” she said. “As an IB school, we en- courage our students to dis- play tolerance, which is so important in discovering the world around us. Southern Spice Indian Restaurant gra- ciously agreed to work with us in giving our students a taste of Indian cuisine.” The students enjoyed a spread of Indian foods, while Southern Spice owner and master chef Raj Kumar shared information on the dishes and culture of his homeland. Students enjoyed a spread of Indian foods while master chef Raj Kumar shared information on the dishes and culture of his homeland. The young actors experience some Indian culture at Southern Spice restaurant.Students eagerly tuck in to a variety of tasty dishes.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 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 22, 2016 EASTER SERVICES SUNRISE SERVICES: Sunday, March 27 at 6 a.m. on public beaches in three locations: Coe Wood Beach in Bodden Town, Seven Mile Public Beach, Red Bay Dock on South Sound Road. Everyone is invited to come and worship. This is sponsored by the Cayman Ministers Association. BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 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. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Holy Week reflections, Tuesday, Wednesday, 6 p.m. Maundy Thursday, 6 p.m. Good Friday, Stations of the Cross, 8 a.m., The Passion, noon to 3 p.m. Holy Saturday, Pilgrimage walk to East End, 4:30 a.m. Sunday of the Resurrection, Service of Light, 5 a.m. Sung Eucharist and sermon, 9 a.m. followed by Easter brunch and egg hunt. 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 22 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT: is currently recruiting volunteers for several programs. Contact JA Cayman at jacaymanislands@gmail.com or 949-4306. NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: The 25th National Day of Prayer will be held on the grounds of the Glass House in George Town, noon until 12:50 p.m. This event is hosted by the Cayman Ministers Association and all are invited to attend. FIGURE PAINTING: Class at Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James, 7-9 p.m. This is an opportunity for artists of all levels to develop life drawing/painting skills working with a qualified instructor and live model. $25 for members/$35 non-members. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com or 546-9422. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Visual Arts Society offers Ceramic Open Studio to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere: 9 a.m. to noon at the Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. Drop-in fee is $15 pp/$25 pp non-members. Continues Wednesdays through April 27. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities available. For more information, visualartcayman@yahoo.com. THURSDAY, MARCH 24 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. 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. FRIDAY, MARCH 25 MALE VOICE CHOIR: The Cayman Islands Male Voice Choir presents an Easter Cantata at Elmslie Memorial Church, 7:30 p.m. All are invited. SATURDAY, MARCH 26 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. TUESDAY, MARCH 29 NARRATIVE ART: Classes with a qualified art instructor at Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James, 7 – 9 p.m. Artists of all levels will explore the theory of narrative art discovering ways to tell stories. Sessions continue Tuesdays through April. Discounted rate for 10 sessions. Drop-in fee is $25 or $35 for non-members. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com or 546-9422. THURSDAY, MARCH 31 PUBLIC MEETING: The Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to attend the public meeting to discuss the new Trade and Business Licensing Law at the Town Hall in George Town. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. 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. 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 RELATIONAL WISDOM: The Church of God Chapel in George Town sponsors a live interactive seminar on “Discovering Relational Wisdom.” Venue is the Family Life Center 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration fee is $25 and includes a workbook, snacks and a hot lunch. Registration deadline is Monday, March 29. To register, phone 949-9393 or visit the church office in the Family Life Center. Everyone is welcome. GARAGE SALE, CAR BOOT SALE: 6–11 a.m. at St. Ignatius School car park and Loyola Hall. All kinds of items on sale at bargain prices. Breakfast also on sale. Anyone wishing to sell can book a spot for $25. Anyone wishing to donate items (in good condition) can drop them off anytime between now and April 1. Phone 949-6797 or email Ignatius@candw.ky to book a spot, arrange for collection of larger items, or volunteer to help. All proceeds for the new Adoration Chapel. 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. PAINTING OPEN STUDIO: Visual Arts Society offers Painting Open Studio 3-6 p.m. for youths/adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere at Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. $10 pp members/$15 pp non- members. Materials and instruction not included. Sessions continue Saturdays in April. For more information, contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com. MONDAY, APRIL 4 YOUTH CHOIR: Cayman Youth Choir welcomes youth ages 11-16 to audition 6-7 p.m. at Cayman Prep School. The Cayman Youth Choir provides the opportunity to experience the challenges, joys and rewards of choral singing. For more information, contact Miss Ems 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. GENERAL INTEREST LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs announces the opening of the local scholarship application program. Applications must be received electronically by midnight on April 30. Those wishing to apply should visit the website at www.education.gov.ky/ scholarships. The Secretariat can be contacted at scholarships@gov.ky or phone 244-2482. TAKE CHILDREN TO WORK DAY: For Honoring Women’s Month, the Family Resource Centre encourages employers from various fields and all levels of employees to participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day throughout March. The purpose is to educate youth on various career options and to empower them to pursue careers without the boundaries of traditional gender stereotypes. The FRC encourages feedback from employees and their children and promoting the impact of their experiences through www.facebook.com/ FamilyResourceCentre or on the center’s Twitter handle @CaymanFRC. For more information, contact the Family Resource Centre on frc@gov.ky or 949-0006. LOBSTER SEASON CLOSED: The Department of Environment reminds the public that the closed season for lobster is March 1 until Nov. 30. It is illegal to take, purchase, receive or possess lobsters originating from Cayman waters. The closed season encompasses the months in which lobsters are most likely to spawn. People who suspect that lobsters are being fished during closed season can call 911, or DoE enforcement officers directly. Grand Cayman: 916-4271 or 949-8469; Cayman Brac, 926-0136; Little Cayman, 916-7021. FREE HIV TESTING: The Public Health Department advises the public of extended hours for free HIV screenings offered at the Cayman Islands Red Cross on Huldah Avenue, George Town. The free testing is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Cayman Islands Humane Society will hold a pub quiz to raise money for its animal shelter at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Fidel Murphy’s.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Kayak Easter SALE! Kayaks In Stock Stalker Pro kayak – KYD$ 775.00 (including deluxe seat and paddle) Stingray 95 single kayak – KYD$ 550.00 (including deluxe seat and paddle) Call : 516-1924 or Email: sales@sandbarkayaks.com www.sandbarkayaks.com peace to rid themselves of the stresses and pressures of life at home.” Complaints about unli- censed businesses of many kinds operating on the public beach area are nothing new. In January 2013, the Cayman Compass reported that gov- ernment, following prom- ises of a crackdown on ven- dors who did not maintain an updated trade and busi- ness license, had abandoned that effort. A statement from the Department of Tourism at the time noted: “DOT wel- comes vendors offering vis- itors and residents a taste of our heritage and culture in public spaces. However, it should never occur to the extent where our visi- tors and residents begin to feel harassed.” There were political con- cerns at the time – just a few months before the May 2013 general election – that such an enforcement effort would have affected vendors at the George Town craft market and local roadside vendors as well, though the focus of the roundup was public beaches. Michael Morgan, owner of V-Kool Water Sports, a busi- ness that offers visitors and residents rides on flotation devices, was particularly vocal about the proposed crackdown, stating there was “no teeth” in the law to ad- dress the public vendors op- erating in public places. “There is nothing written in the law prohibiting us from doing business on the beach,” he said at the time. “I had a license, but now they are refusing to renew it. I have been under threat now for over a year but there is nothing in the law that says we should not be here. I haven’t stopped because I don’t agree with what they are trying to do without a written law in place to back up their actions.” Mr. Morgan holds much the same view today. When interviewed Monday at the V-Kool tent, he said he be- lieves all the Caymanian vendors have a right to be on Public Beach. “Everybody down here, they’re just trying to make a living. They’re renting chairs and umbrellas just to make ends meet,” he said. Daphne Bennett, 67, said she has gotten pushback from Seven Mile Beach resi- dents, but believes she and other chair renters aren’t hurting anyone. Ms. Bennett said some of the beach chair renters have tried to get a trade and business license, but they’ve all been denied. “It seems like they don’t want to [give out the li- censes],” she said. “i know [the residents] don’t like it, but no one ever came out and said they don’t want us on the beach.” New law In January, a revamped Trade and Business Licensing Law took effect. It set more stringent require- ments around the payment of licensing fees and gave Department of Commerce and Investment inspec- tors the ability to enforce the law using the same powers given to a police constable in the exercise of their duties. License renewals for businesses are required to be submitted at least 28 days before the expiry of the current license and there are substantial late fees for not filing. Despite the new law coming into force, resi- dents along Seven Mile Beach said Friday that they were “puzzled.” “There does not appear to be evidence that it is being applied to unlicensed vendors on the public beach,” the Harbour Heights letter read, adding that one local business owner in the area, Handel Whittaker of Calico Jack’s, noted there were no fewer than 17 unli- censed operators at present. “Meanwhile, the unlicensed vendors on the Public Beach are using public land for their private profit.” Mr. Hew, a George Town MLA, responded imme- diately to the Harbour Heights management letter, indicating a meeting of the government agencies re- sponsible for the legal en- forcement would be held this week to address the is- sues. He declined to com- ment until the matter is dis- cussed further. Jet Skis Multiple businesses that rent Jet Skis operate in front of the Public Beach area on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. According to the Harbour Heights strata management, some have in- surance, some do not. In the view of the man- agement council, a number of the Jet Ski operators are unregulated “out of control” and “highly dangerous.” “Both the staff of Jet Ski operators and renters con- tinually drive at high speeds in the area in front of Harbour Heights,” the strata management letter read. “It is only a matter of time be- fore some innocent swimmer is hurt – perhaps killed.” Police Commissioner David Baines on Friday or- dered his marine unit com- mander and West Bay Police Station Commander to con- duct an enforcement action on the “Jet Ski issues described.” “We have already had a Jet Ski fatality last year due to failures in this area by the users,” Mr. Baines said, asking officers to look into the possibility of seizing uninsured Jet Skis if that could legally be done. Beach chairs Another unlicensed vendor business that has cropped up since 2013 on Public Beach involves large stacks of beach chairs that are rented to cruise ship tourists and other visitors on a daily basis. During the morning on a busy cruise ship day, “those chairs are lined up side- by-side from Calico Jack’s [in the north] to Harbour Heights [in the south] forming a nearly impen- etrable wall of aluminum and plastic,” according to the management council. “There is not a single stretch of beachfront where a family can sit down without being caught in a tangle of chairs or accosted by vendors,” the resident council noted. The management council also questioned whether any of the beach chair rental companies have em- ployees, whether those em- ployees are paid pensions or healthcare benefits in ac- cordance with the law, or if they even maintain trade and business licenses. In addition to the beach chairs, the manage- ment council claims ille- gally sold soft drink cans and wrappers from food- stuffs are littered about the chairs and not collected when the beach chairs are stacked back up at the end of the day. Minimart robbed The Alfresco rob- bery was one of a pair of weekend robberies to occur in West Bay district. About 24 hours ear- lier, Eddie’s No. 2 Minimart (known as Malcolm’s Minimart) on Birch Tree Hill Road was robbed by a man who police said pointed a handgun at a fe- male employee who was alone in the store. Police said the sus- pect emptied the cash reg- ister and also took five mobile phones. The store employee was not hurt. The suspect is described as about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, with dark brown skin, wearing a long- sleeved shirt and a sweater. Police said he carried a black or purple string bag during the robbery. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Residents: SMB being destroyed by vendors Shot fired during robbery at WB restaurant CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 As of the date of the writ’s filing (Feb. 9, 2016), it is alleged that a principal sum of $450,000 was owed, with interest accruing from July 31, 2012 and totaling more than $142,000 at the date the lawsuit was filed. The total sum sought to be recovered in the lawsuit was $659,144.44, according to court records. Attorneys for A. L. Thompson declined to comment Monday about the claim. Mr. Ebanks commented regarding the claims made in the February writ: “This started off as a barter transaction, building sup- plies in exchange for two apartments. A request was later made to change it to a cash transaction by the claimant [Mr. Thompson]. “Therefore, the al- legations [made in the writ] are wholly incorrect and misleading.” Mr. Ebanks said he re- futed the allegations made in the writ and stated they had nothing to do with his proposed Gran Palazzo development on Grand Cayman’s North Sound. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A. L. Thompson’s sues local developer “The very symbol of this beautiful island and the magnet that draws both Caymanians and multitudes of tourists is being destroyed before our very eyes.” BOB LOVERD, Harbour Heights Management Council HAITI LAWMAKERS REJECT ACTING LEADER’S PRIME MINISTER CHOICE PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – A majority of lower house lawmakers rejected the in- terim president’s pick for prime minister Sunday evening, leaving Haiti’s provisional government in limbo. The rejection of econo- mist Fritz Jean as Haiti’s No. 2 official was a signif- icant setback for a month- old interim government that is supposed to be in power for only 120 days. Not only does President Jocelerme Privert not have a prime minister running the government’s day-to- day affairs, but he also has not been able to get an electoral council authorized to organize a twice-post- poned presidential runoff vote now tentatively sched- uled for April 24. Jean was nominated and then sworn in at a ceremony at the National Palace in the hopes his ex- perience and reputation as an economist and former governor of Haiti’s central bank would overcome ob- jections from opposition lawmakers. In his inau- gural speech as the desig- nated premier last month, the U.S.-educated official said the interim govern- ment had a “short mission to get everyone together.” But various political figures, including out- going Prime Minister Evans Paul, strongly de- nounced Jean’s appoint- ment and induction. Rows of chairs and umbrellas along Public Beach leave little room for residents who want to enjoy the area, according to a complaint filed with the Ministry of Tourism.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 22, 2016 Russia warns of use of force in Syria Russia has warned the United States that it will start responding unilaterally to cease-fire violations in Syria if the U.S. refuses to coordinate rules of engagement against violators. 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 Castro, Obama meet in historic visit Cuban president demands US leave Guantánamo HAVANA – President Obama hailed a “new day” in U.S.- Cuban relations and called for greater respect for human rights here on the first full day of his official visit, but his counterpart, Cuban President Raúl Castro, de- manded that the United States leave its Guantánamo Bay naval base and end its embargo before relations can be truly normalized. Standing beside President Obama, Castro welcomed him for what he called a “his- toric” visit here, and congrat- ulated him for taking steps within his executive power to normalize relations. But relations will never truly be normal, Castro said after a meeting with Obama here, until the United States leaves Cuban territory and ends the sanctions that he said have done so much damage to the Cuban economy. “Much more can be done” between the two countries “if the embargo is lifted,” Castro said. “We recognize the po- sition President Obama is in, and the position his gov- ernment holds against the blockade, and that they have called on Congress to lift it.” At the same time, he said, there remain “profound dif- ferences that will not disap- pear over our political model, democracy, human rights, so- cial justice, international re- lations, peace and stability.” The Cuban people, he said, will not “relinquish what they have gained through great sacrifice.” Obama began his re- sponse by saying that “for more than half a century, the sight of an American presi- dent in Havana would have been unimaginable. But this is a new day. Un nuevo dia.” There is “one over-arching goal” to normalization, Obama said, “advancing the interests. … of both Cubans and Americans. That’s why I’m here.” “We continue, as President Castro indicated, to have some very serious differ- ences,” including on human rights, Obama said before outlining progress that two have made with new travel, agricultural and business agreements, as well as part- nerships on health, education and the environment. Castro displayed some anger in a question and an- swer session following their statements. When CNN re- porter Jim Acosta, the son of Cuban immigrants, asked about political prisoners, Castro responded: “If there are political prisoners, give me a list, right now. What political prisoners? Give me their names, and if there are political prisoners, they will be free by tonight.” While human rights ac- tivists say there are several dozen being held in Cuban prisons for political crimes, Cuba maintains that those prisoners said to be polit- ical have been convicted of common crimes. The Cubans rolled out full military honors for Obama, a display perhaps warranted by Castro’s long history as minister of defense from the 1959 revolution until he took over the presidency from his brother, Fidel Castro, in 2008. Obama’s first stop of the day was at the Plaza of the Revolution, where he laid a wreath at the massive statue of 19th century Cuban inde- pendence hero Jose Martí, who gazes pensively down at the place where Fidel Castro for years delivered stem-winding speeches de- nouncing U.S. imperialism. Obama was accompanied at the plaza by Cuban Vice President Salvador Mesa, who fought in the revolution and against U.S.-backed exile forces defeated in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. The two stood at attention as a mili- tary band played the Cuban and U.S. national anthems. Immediately after the wreath-laying, Obama was mobbed by Cuban and U.S. television reporters standing in the plaza. He smiled and winked and began walking, through a stiff breeze under cloudy tropical skies, to the nearby palace. In the central hall of the palace, he was greeted by Raúl Castro, and the two smiled and shook hands warmly. It is was the fourth meeting between the leaders, who first greeted each other at the 2013 funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. They also held bilateral meet- ings in April and September. ©2016, The Washington Post Cuban President Raul Castro and President Barack Obama meet in Havana on Monday. – PHOTO: AP Congolese ex-VP convicted at international court Landmark judgment in fight against impunity for sex crimes in conflict THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The International Criminal Court convicted a former Congolese vice president Monday of murder, rape and pillage committed by mem- bers of his militia in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003. The judgment was hailed as a landmark in the fight against impunity for sex crimes in conflict. The unanimous convic- tion of Jean-Pierre Bemba marked the first time the court has convicted a suspect based on his role as a mili- tary commander. It also was the court’s first judgment rec- ognizing rape as a war crime and crime against humanity. Bemba, 53, is the highest- ranking person yet convicted by the court. He showed no emotion as Presiding Judge Sylvia Steiner read out the long judgment high- lighting horrific crimes by his militia. He will be sentenced fol- lowing a separate hearing. His defense lawyers can appeal. Presiding Judge Sylvia Steiner of Brazil outlined a litany of rapes by mem- bers of Bemba’s militia, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, after it was de- ployed to Central African Republic to help forces loyal to then-President Ange-Feliz Patasse fight rebels led by Francois Bozize. Bozize’s forces ultimately won and he replaced Patasse as president. Steiner said women, girls and men were targeted by Bemba’s forces, often with multiple soldiers raping women and girls in front of other family members. In one incident, a man’s wife was gang raped and when he protested he, too, was raped at gunpoint. “Entire families were victimized,” Steiner said. “Victims included the elderly men, women and children.” Bemba was convicted even though he spent much of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even so, the three-judge panel said that he was able to communi- cate with his troops using ra- dios, as well as satellite and mobile phones and also saw reports of their grave crimes in the media. Steiner called what little action he did take to pre- vent or punish crimes by his forces “grossly inadequate.” The convictions for rape as a war crime and crime against humanity will be a boost for the court’s Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who has made the fight against sexual assault in con- flict one of her priorities. Human rights activists also welcomed the convic- tions. “This first guilty ver- dict at the ICC for sexual vi- olence shines a spotlight on the use of rape as a weapon of war,” Geraldine Mattioli- Zeltner, international jus- tice advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. Jean-Pierre BembaNext >