High of 87 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. Dinner in White Don your palest clothes for a unique dining experience B3 Concerts in South Florida Beyoncé and P earl Jam and Boston, oh my! B4 Community Music Events Get your hula on ■ FOOD AND DRINK Nothing to ‘wine’ about Surprising Cabernets from Napa B6 Giant sale at St. Ignatius Give your secondhand goods the boot B2 FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS STOLI FLAVOURS2 for $ 56 Until 31 July THURSDAYS 5 to 7 pm The Greenery (near The Strand) FRIDAYS 5 to 7 pm Governors Square STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July A TASTE OF TORTUGA… Join us Complimentary Wine Tastings Take home a bottle of the featured wine for 15% o . For more information about our weekly specials and events follow us on Facebook facebook.com/TortugaFine WinesandSpirits Tacky shirts are welcome at Aloha Luau B5 PHOTO: JUSTIN UZZELL CAYMAN WEEKENDER Nothing to ‘wine’ about EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 MEALS ON WHEELS: PLATES FOR SENIORS, NOT PLATITUDES ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 Call now (345) 916-5308 Schedule a free consultation CAYMAN ISLANDS SPRAY FOAM Call Call for your FREE installation quote Operation Tempura records released Bridger/Polaine complaint, legal evaluation made public with some redactions BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com More than four years after the initial open records request was filed for the docu- ments, Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kil- patrick’s office has released two controversial reports, sought by a retired U.K. journalist, related to the ill-fated Operation Tempura corruption investigation. The records, in several parts, detail an ini- tial complaint made by Tempura’s legal ad- visor Martin Polaine which was later carried forward by former Tempura chief investigator Martin Bridger. Also included in the records release is a 185-page evaluation of the Bridger/ Polaine complaint done at former Gov- ernor Duncan Taylor’s request by U.K. attorney Benjamin Aina, Q.C. The records, in particular Mr. Aina’s evalu- ation of the Bridger complaint, are expected to reveal heretofore unknown details of the corruption probe, which took more than two years and more than $10 million to resolve. Operation Tempura ended with the arrest, charging and criminal trial of two prominent Caymanians – former MLA Lyndon Martin and former Deputy Police Commissioner Rudi Dixon – neither of whom were convicted of any crimes. The Tempura fiasco also led to the disman- tling of the RCIPS command structure in early 2008 which involved the suspension of Mr. Dixon, Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan and Chief Superintendent John Jones during the investigation. Mr. Kernohan was later fired, but was never charged with any crimes. Mr. Jones won his job back at the police ser- vice. Mr. Dixon, following his trial, won a sub- stantial settlement from the government. Also arrested as part of Tempura was Baines: Government ‘lucky’ to avoid lawsuits over jail cells BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands is fortunate to have avoided legal challenges under the territo- ry’s 2009 Constitution Order due to the con- dition of its former police jail facilities in George Town and West Bay, Police Commis- sioner David Baines said Wednesday during an opening ceremony for new jail facilities in Fairbanks, George Town. “We’re lucky we haven’t been sued for constructive torture,” Mr. Baines said, re- ferring to activity tantamount to torture by putting suspects who hadn’t been convicted or even charged, in some cases, in a lockup that had been condemned and which fre- quently reached temperatures of 110 de- grees. “This has moved us from the 18th century cages that we have,” he said. Senior police commanders gave govern- ment officials, prosecutors, human rights advocates and the press a tour of the new modular jail facility, which opened in mid- March, about two years after it was initially scheduled to become available. “[The opening] has taken far, far longer than we would have liked,” Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » Police officers at the new jail facilities in Fairbanks monitor CCTV feeds from both inside and outside the building. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » HEALTH CITY NOT BARRED FROM COMPETING Local partner says hospital ‘enhances’ healthcare services Health City Cayman Islands local partner Gene Thompson said this week that the East End medical tourism facility is not competing with local health services “for the most part,” even though there is no specific prohibition against it. Mr. Thompson’s comments were made fol- lowing statements by the government hospi- tal’s chief doctor that Health City seemed to have an unfair advantage over other local pri- vate sector providers. “Health City does not have any spe- cific clause in our contract that precludes us from providing any healthcare services,” Mr. Thompson said Wednesday. “That being stated our focus is mainly on super speciality ter- tiary healthcare that isn’t provided on island.” Mr. Thompson said Health City’s focus is and will continue to be on medical tourism, aimed at bringing health services to the Ca- ribbean as well as North and South America. However, the hospital is also able to provide high-quality care in certain specialized areas of medicine that do not currently exist in Cayman, he said. “This is due to the majority of our ser- vices being within the cardiac realm, as well as within the realm of high-end orthopedics,” Mr. Thompson said. “Due to the demand from our international patients we are offering ser- vices such as GI [gastrointestinal], bariatric, neurosurgery and spine surgery. We had origi- nally requested HSA to provide some of these 2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Music By DJ FLEX Starting at 9:30pm NO, IT’S NOT APRIL FOOLS! Good Friday was the last Friday of the month. “ Boogie Nights” is Tonight April 1st Friday, April 1st Old School Dance Party 70’s disco & 80’s classics Barefoot Man and Sea N’B Starting live at 8:00pm Come for dinner Stay for Dancing Or come to our beautiful Oceanside Bar and listen to the Sweet Sounds of Barefoot Man TOMORROW Saturday, April 2nd TONIGHT NO, IT’S NOT APRIL FOOLS!NO, IT’S NOT APRIL FOOLS! Good Friday was the last Friday of the month.Good Friday was the last Friday of the month. Call 949-2231 or email: thewharf@candw.ky Friday, April 1Friday, April 1stst TONIGHTTONIGHT “BOOGIE NIGHTS” 945-2290 • West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Fresh, Healthy & Delicious! Cayman Cookin’ Over a Wood Fire! Taste why we’re voted “Best”! If you’re Hungry! Hungry! Come to Chicken Chicken! International Award-Winning Caribbean Chicken! Eat-in!Take-out! Indulge on a feast for 2 to 4 or 6 or more! With an awesome selection of sides to choose from. 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DUNCAN, CPA US TAX COMPLIANCE AND PLANNING IRS ISSUES VOLUNTARY OFFSHORE DISCLOSURE EXPATRIATION FACTA A US Certifi ed Public Accountant with over 30 years experience in international tax issues. High school administration office burgled BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Several offices and desks at George Town’s St. Igna- tius High School adminis- tration building were broken into sometime during the Easter holiday period, but police could not immediately identify when the break-in had occurred. Police were called around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to the Walkers Road school where officials reported five desks and three offices in the main administration area had been “ransacked.” According to St. Ignatius parish office head Suresh Rajaian, the burglary sus- pect or suspects had gone through each of the desks and offices looking for spare cash or valuable items. As far as Mr. Rajaian could tell, only one laptop had been taken. However, he said since school staff members were on holiday, the full extent of the burglary might not be known until people return and determine what, if any- thing else, was missing. The school has been on break since Friday, March 25, and classes are not due to re- sume until next week, so po- lice officers could not pin down an exact time the crime was committed. Mr. Rajaian said it ap- peared burglars got in through the back door of the administration office building by breaking the lock. Burglar assaulted 2 women after stealing phone through window Woman’s nose broken in struggle CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A burglar who reached through a house window to steal a mobile phone in the middle of the night as- saulted two women after he was caught in the act, a court heard. Cliff Albert Smith was sentenced Thursday to five years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to seven sets of offenses. Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn agreed with defense at- torney Alice Carver that the burglary in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2015, was unusual, in that Smith admitted opening a window and reaching in to steal a phone. The magistrate pointed to new sentencing guide- lines that say it is an ag- gravating factor when occu- pants are home at the time a residence is entered. In this case, injuries caused to women in the house were charged separately. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said the incident occurred in George Town when a woman in the house heard a window opening and saw a man standing outside. She told him to leave and called police. The man started throwing stones at the house. She opened the door and chal- lenged him and he then threw a rock and a bucket at her. She ran after him and there was a struggle. Mr. Wainwright said the man had something over his face. In the struggle, the cov- ering came loose and the woman recognized the sus- pect as someone who walked through the area regularly. As they grappled, she fell to the ground and he kicked her in the face, breaking her nose. The woman’s elderly par- ents were awakened and her mother came to her aid. The burglar assaulted the mother before running away. When police arrived, they found Smith hiding in nearby bush, with the house oc- cupant’s phone in his pos- session. Smith, 46, denied any recollection of the in- cident, saying he had been drinking heavily. Ms. Carver said Smith’s alcohol and ganja abuse were at the root of his offending. He asked to be sent to Ca- ribbean Haven for residential treatment. “He is remorseful … embarrassed … he wants to be given a chance,” Ms. Carver concluded. The magistrate had ad- journed sentencing until Thursday because she had given Smith a suspended sen- tence in 2012 and wanted to review her notes. She also wanted to consider Smith’s offending since 2012, as outlined by Mr. Wainwright. The magistrate noted that Smith had 52 previous convictions for drugs, vio- lence and dishonesty. When he came before her in 2012, she gave him a 12-month sentence suspended for two years. Admitting his addic- tion problems then, he had said, “I can’t do it myself. I want to try the program. I’m smarter and older. I don’t want to go to prison.” Smith’s sentence at the time included conditions that he attend counseling and outpatient and relapse pre- vention programs at least twice per week. “He had ample oppor- tunity to avail himself of the treatment programs mandated,” the magistrate pointed out. She had to con- clude that his plea for re- habilitation in 2012 was a hollow one and she was un- able to consider that his plea now was any more genuine. Passing sentence on Thursday, the magistrate said she hoped Smith would take advantage of treatment pro- grams at Northward and go to the counseling center if needed after his release. Smith was charged with carrying a restricted weapon in February 2013. While on bail for that, he was charged with disorderly conduct at a supermarket and then a daylight burglary at a residence in which a watch was stolen and a DVD player. He pleaded guilty to that offense. In 2015, he assaulted a man he said owed him money and he was found with ganja in his pocket while at the George Town Police Station. In sentencing, the magis- trate activated the 12-month term she had suspended in 2012. For the daylight bur- glary, she sentenced him to two years. For the “hand through window” burglary, she sen- tenced Smith to 26 months, to be served consecutively. The assaults that followed were serious, she said. In addition to a broken nose, the young woman had sustained lacerations to her lip, a swollen face and one fingernail was ripped from the nail bed. The sentence should have been 18 months, but the guilty plea reduced that to 12 months, the mag- istrate said. Hitting the woman’s mother was charged as common assault, which at- tracted a sentence of four months, reduced to 10 weeks for the guilty plea. Considering totality of sentence, the magistrate or- dered that only six months should be consecutive. All other sentences were made to run concurrently. Sentences for the earlier burglary and the November incident are to be served after the sus- pended sentence. Smith, 46, denied any recollection of the incident, saying he had been drinking heavily. BODDEN TOWN MAN ARRESTED IN BURGLARIES A Bodden Town man, Jeff Pandohie Powell, has been charged in connection with two burglaries at pri- vate homes in that district last month. Royal Cayman Islands Police officers arrested Powell on around 11 a.m. on Monday, March 28, after sighting the suspect and tracking him down. Powell has been charged with burglary, attempted burglary, criminal tres- pass, theft and refusing to provide a urine sample, police said. The charges arise from burglaries that occurred in Bodden Town on March 20 and March 26. Powell appeared in court Wednesday and has been remanded to North- ward Prison until April 14.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 discoverflow.ky/myplan Flow terms and conditions apply. Get the Samsung Galaxy S6 right now and spread the cost over 12 months. Then, in a year’s time upgrade your smartphone again – the choice is yours. $ 10 stay ahead with the samsung S6 for less than per monthThe 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 offi ce. FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Meals on Wheels: Plates for seniors, not platitudes When public sector budgets are being crafted, every dollar is a decision. Where money is allocated — say, toward education, roads or the Turtle Farm — is an indication of the value placed on that subject or cause. In that context, ranking at or near the bottom of gov- ernment’s list of priorities are the hundreds of elderly Caymanians who are hungry, isolated and vulnerable. Cayman Islands offi cials regularly indulge in long- winded homages to our country’s heritage and history, but when it comes to funding programs that care for the people whose legacy is the society of today, the clatter of spare change resounds far more loudly than any speech. Our senior citizens can’t eat lip service. Many people in the community understand that, including the staff (two) and volunteers (more than 100) of Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels, who prepare and deliver hot, nutritious and free lunches every day to seniors around Grand Cayman. They go from door to door, bringing plates — not platitudes. Often, the meal is a means for volunteers to offer other forms of assistance, whether that’s bringing seniors medications, caring for their pets or simply checking on their welfare. Sometimes, the Meals on Wheels volunteer is the only human being that an elderly person sees on a regular basis. Meals on Wheels Executive Director Beulah McField has helped lead the effort for 19 years, during which time the charity’s client list has grown from 14 seniors to about 180. Many of the people Meals on Wheels feeds (including every one of the 47 senior clients in East End) have been referred to the organization by gov- ernment’s social welfare agencies, which either are not equipped to provide immediate aid or whose remit is a different demographic. Meals on Wheels operates on a budget (not counting administrative costs) of about $200,000 per year, translating to a per-meal cost of $5, from the grocery store shelves to the seniors’ homes. Of that, the government provides a mere $52,000. That represents one-one thousandth of the govern- ment’s $50 million in expenses on social welfare assis- tance programs. On top of its current client list, Meals on Wheels has identified more than 160 people who need assistance in West Bay and North Side. Serving those people will require two new food preparation facilities. A capital fun- draising campaign for a combined George Town/West Bay kitchen is expected to be launched shortly. In order to help expand its services into all dis- tricts across Grand Cayman, last year Meals on Wheels went to government, hat in hand, and asked for a sizeable increase in its subsidy — an additional $88,000 per year. Government gave the organization $8,000. This year, Meals on Wheels again requested the additional funding. This time, offi cials said, “No.” Gov- ernment, they said, doesn’t have the money. Keep in mind that Cayman’s annual public sector revenues are about $880 million — untold millions of which are lavished on losing enterprises such as the Turtle Farm and Cayman Airways, are dissipated through bureaucratic ineffi ciencies, or are outright squandered in ways that only become known, ex post facto, through auditors’ reports. Some seniors are unable to leave their home to exchange vouchers for groceries. Some cannot cook any more. Some are surviving on crackers … or even dog food. (Ms. McField can attest to that.) Somewhere in Cayman, someone’s grandmother isn’t just hungry — she’s starving. Sorry, government can’t afford to help. On April 9, Meals on Wheels is holding its annual Orange You Glad Gala fundraiser at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. Given the government’s lack of commitment, support from the private sector is even more urgently needed. Several years ago, the organization had run out of funds and faced the prospect of closing its kitchens in East End and Bodden Town, leaving scores of seniors to go hungry. At the time, Cayman residents stepped up with cash donations and offers of assistance — including, notably, local developer Joe Imparato, who is on the board of directors, and son Rob, who is now chairman of the board. We trust that individuals and companies will answer this call as they have done in the past, and continue to do, because caring for our seniors is a most noble and worthy cause indeed. Our community recognizes that, even if our offi cials do not. The four foreign policies WASHINGTON – After dozens of contests featuring cliffhangers, buzzer-beaters and a ton of fl agrant fouls, we’re down to the Final Four: Sanders, Clinton, Cruz and Trump. (If Kasich pulls a miracle, he’ll get his own column.) The world wants to know: What are their for- eign policies? Herewith, four candidates and four schools: pacifi st, in- ternationalist, unilateralist and mercantilist. (1) Bernie Sanders, pacifi st. His pacifi sm is part swords-into-plowshares utopianism, part get-thee- gone isolationism. Emblem- atic was the Nov. 14 Dem- ocratic debate which was supposed to focus on the economy but occurred the day after the Paris mas- sacre. Sanders objected to starting the debate with a question about Paris. He did not prevail, however, and answered the fi rst ques- tion with some anti-terror pablum that immediately gave way to an impassioned attack on his usual “handful of billionaires.” Sanders boasts of voting against the Iraq War. But he also voted against the 1991 Gulf War. His reaction to all such dilemmas is the same anti-imperialist/pac- ifi st refl ex: Stay away, but if we must get involved, let others lead. That’s for means. As for ends, Sanders’ foreign policy objectives are invari- ably global and universal, beginning above all with climate change. The rest is foreign-policy-as-social- work do-goodism, most es- pecially undoing the work of U.S. imperialism. Don’t be surprised if Pres- ident Sanders hands Guanta- namo Bay over to the Castros, although Alaska looks rela- tively safe for now. Closest historical analog: George McGovern. (2) Hillary Clinton, internationalist. The “Clinton/Obama” for- eign policy from Ukraine to Iran to the South China Sea has been a demonstrable failure. But in trying to fi gure out what President Clinton would do in the fu- ture, we need to note that she often gave contrary ad- vice, generally more asser- tive and aggressive than President Obama’s, that was overruled, most notably, keeping troops in Iraq be- yond 2011 and early arming of the Syrian rebels. The Libya adventure was her grand attempt at human- itarian interventionism. She’s been chastened by the di- saster that followed. Her worldview is tradi- tional, post-Vietnam liberal internationalism – America as the indispensable nation, but consciously restraining its exercise of power through multilateralism and near-ob- sessive legalism. Closest historical analog: the Bill Clinton foreign policy of the 1990s. (3) Ted Cruz, unilateralist. The most aggressive of the three contenders thus far. Wants post-Cold War U.S. leadership restored. Is prepared to take risks and act alone when necessary. Pledges to tear up the Iran deal, cement the U.S.-Israel alliance and carpet bomb the Islamic State. Overdoes it with “carpet” – it implies Dresden – although it was likely just an attempt at rhetorical emphasis. He’s of the school that will not delay action while waiting on feckless allies or farcical enti- ties like the U.N. Closest analog: Ronald Reagan. (4) Donald Trump, mercantilist. He promises to make America strong, for which, he explains, he must fi rst make America rich. Treating countries like companies, he therefore promises to play turnaround artist for a for- eign policy that is currently a hopeless money-losing op- eration in which our allies take us for fools and suck us dry. You could put the Sanders, Clinton and Cruz foreign pol- icies on a recognizable ideo- logical spectrum, left to right. But not Trump’s. It inhabits a different space because it lacks any geopolitical coher- ence. It’s all about money. He sees no particular purpose for allies or foreign bases. They are simply a fi - nancial drain. Imperial Spain roamed and ravaged the world in search of gold. Trump ad- vocates a kinder, gentler form of wealth transfer from abroad, though equally gold-oriented. Thus, if Japan and South Korea don’t pony up more money for our troops sta- tioned there, we go home. The possible effects on the balance of power in the Pa- cifi c Rim or on Chinese he- gemonic designs don’t enter into the equation. Same for NATO. If those free-riding European leeches don’t give us more money too, why stick around? Concerns about tempting Russian am- bitions and/or aggression are nowhere in sight. The one exception to this singular focus on for- eign policy as a form of na- tional enrichment is the Is- lamic State. Trump’s goal is simple – “bomb the s--- out of them.” Yet even here he can’t quite stifl e his mercantilist impulses, insisting that after crushing the Islamic State, he’ll keep their oil. Whatever that means. Closest historical an- alog: King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598). On Jan. 20, one of these four contenders will be sworn in as president. And one of these four ap- proaches to the world will become the foreign policy of the United States. Don’t say you weren’t warned. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. © 2016, Washington Post Writers Group 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 fi nd their own way” Charles KrauthammerKrauthammerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS SPONSORS: South Sound S F avour the outh Cayman Airways plane damaged by private jet The newest addition to Cayman Airways fleet, its 34- seat Saab prop plane, was damaged last week by the jet blast of a nearby private air- craft, according to the airline. The Saab aircraft was parked and secured for the night when it sustained “minor damage” from the jet blast of a nearby private air- craft as it was maneuvering on the ramp at the Owen Roberts International Airport, Cayman Airways stated in a press statement. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority is investigating the incident. The Saab 340B+, which is the plane dedicated to serving the Brac from Grand Cayman, was removed from its sched- uled operations in order to re- ceive the necessary repairs. During this time, Cayman Airways says it has made al- ternative scheduling and air- craft arrangements to ensure all passengers are accom- modated with “minimal inconvenience.” The Saab, which took its inaugural flight in No- vember and replaced the pre- viously leased Embraer 120 in January, is expected to re- sume service later this week. Cayman Airways CEO Fa- bian Whorms said in the press statement that the plane has been operating “very reliably” since its full launch into service. “So, to have this unan- ticipated removal from ser- vice over the Easter weekend was very disappointing,” Mr. Whorms said. “Cayman Air- ways apologizes for any in- convenience caused during this period and we thank our loyal customers for their con- tinued support.” Cayman Airways’ Saab 340B+ which services the Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac route has sustained minor damage. – PHOTO: CHARLES DUNCAN The 7th annual Queering Paradigms conference, an international conference focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender is- sues, will be held in Cayman in June. The focus this year will be on addressing issues with human rights and sexuality in the Caribbean. Conference organizer Ol- ivia Connolly said, “The Ca- ribbean in particular is quite far behind” in terms of meeting human rights obliga- tions. She said she hopes the conference will “bring atten- tion to the legal deficiencies in the region.” She explained that the con- ference is looking for papers dealing with relevant studies in a number of themes, in- cluding religion, law, health, family and culture. “‘Queer’ in the academic sense means anything that challenges binary distinc- tions of gender and sexu- ality,” she said. A challenge to discrimination Organizers note the aim of the conference is to chal- lenge discrimination and “to provide intellectual tools for empowerment of both academics and activists in the Cayman Islands and the wider Caribbean region.” The organization re- cently announced two key- note speakers. Eugenio Raul Zaffaroni, justice at the Inter American Court of Human Rights, will speak on decriminalizing homo- sexuality, and Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, will address religion and homo- sexuality, according to con- ference organizers. Last year, the conference was held at the Canterbury Christ Church University in the U.K. Earlier conferences in the Americas have been held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and Quito, Ecuador, in 2014. Ms. Connolly added that the conference is “a good way to continue to build on the momentum” she said has been developing in the Cayman Islands for gay, les- bian, bisexual and trans- gender rights. “Government is becoming more aware of the problems and the deficiencies in the law,” she said. Organizers have sent out a call for academic papers for the conference. More details are available at www.queeringparadigms.com. Cayman to host LGBT conference CAYMAN REPORTS 5TH WATER DEATH SINCE JANUARY A man found floating in the water just off Public Beach on Grand Cayman has become the islands’ fifth water-related fatality since the start of 2016. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice, the man, a 43-year-old from the U.S., was taken to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital after he was found. He was pronounced dead early Thursday afternoon. The incident marks the third water related fatality to occur in the Cayman Is- lands during March. Two other incidents were reported from January. The number does not in- clude five missing boaters, including two children, who were lost in Cayman’ terri- torial waters near 12 Mile Bank on March 6. That inci- dent is being investigated as a missing persons case after police called off their search and recovery operation.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS In Loving Memory of Kent Mitchell Rankin, CMH It saddens our family to announce the untimely death of a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Pioneer and Visionary in our community, Kent “Biggie” Rankin. Over the past two years, “Biggie” has valiantly fought cancer. On Monday, 28th March, 2016, he passed away peacefully and painlessly at his residence in Bodden Town. In 1967, Kent Rankin launched his first company, Paramount Carpets, as the sole employee. Forty-nine years later, the establishment has evolved into one of the leading flooring companies in the Cayman Islands and has been honoured with various local as well as international awards for exceptional sales and service. From its origins of Paramount Carpets, the Paramount Group of Companies has grown and 27th February 1945 to 28th March 2016 diversified, encapsulating high performing ventures, spanning hardware, household, marine; retail and service; community finance, professional services, real estate, media and agriculture, to name a few. While “Biggie” has passed on, his legacy remains intact, with the next generation to take the Paramount Group to new heights. Mr. Rankin, is survived by his wife, Ruth, children, Gary, David, Kenny, Paul, Albert, Sophia, Haymond, and Kendra; sixteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The Family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made at the Service, to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and/or the Cayman Islands HospiceCare. His Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, 2nd April, 2016 at Church of God (Universal) on Walkers Road | Viewing: 1:30p.m. - 2:15p.m. | Service: 2:30p.m. Interment to follow at Garden of Reflections on Old Prospect Road Service Provider: Churchill’s Funeral Home PH: 345.943.4663 or 345.926.0030 www.churchillsfuneralhome.com Kent Mitchell Rankin, CMH “Biggie” Taste of Cayman winners and sponsors honored KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com Taste of Cayman’s Best of Competition winners and the event’s major spon- sors were recognized by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association at a reception Wednesday afternoon. The Best of Competition winners and the event’s plat- inum and gold sponsors were presented with commemora- tive Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival plates. The Bistro’s James Sedgley and the restaurant’s chef Alan Pressly received a plate commemorating the restaurant’s win for “Best Food.” Secret judges awarded the honor to the restaurant which served braised short rib with onion soubise and port reduction at the festival. Maria Mercedes Royo, su- pervisor at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s Andiamo and Sean Blanchette, sous chef at Andiamo accepted a plate at the reception for the People’s Choice award win. The Ritz-Carlton restaurants, Seven and Andiamo, served a gnocchi poutine savory dish and a sticky toffee pudding with butter pecan ice cream dessert at the festival. Jacques Scott was an- other big winner at the fes- tival, receiving the award for best booth for its Zacapa Room and the award for best drink for its Zacapa Man- hattan. Jacques Scott’s Jo- anna Austin and Jacques Scott brand manager Simon Crompton accepted plates at the reception. Platinum sponsor Ca- mana Bay and Gold spon- sors Hurley’s Media and Digicel were also recognized at the reception. While Taste of Cayman is CITA’s largest annual fund- raiser, the association also shared some of the proceeds with the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre this year. Event attendees were able to donate cash or un- used tickets into donation boxes. Through these do- nations the Crisis Centre raised $1,615.23. “We are so thrilled to help the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre,” CITA executive di- rector Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks said in a press release. “Many of us take for granted the safety and security we have in our family and relation- ships. The services that the Crisis Center provides can save lives, and we are so happy to be a part of that.” The donations will help the crisis center to shelter, clothe and feed victims of do- mestic abuse. “Taste of Cayman is a wonderful family event and we are very happy that this year CITA has chosen us to be the beneficiary of it,” said Ania Milanowska, execu- tive director of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. “We truly enjoyed the partnership with Taste of Cayman and the event itself. “Domestic violence af- fects the whole family and only by working to- gether we can eradicate it from our community. Thank you for this opportunity to raise much needed funds and awareness.” The next Taste of Cayman will be held on Jan. 28, 2017. CITA has already started planning the event and hopes to make it the best and big- gest yet. The Ritz-Carlton’s Sean Blanchette and Maria Mercedes Royo, center, with the Department of Tourism’s Jessica Pawlik, left, and CITA’s Hollie Whitelocke with Taste of Cayman awards. - PHOTO: KELSEY JUKAM The Department of Tourism’s Jessica Pawlik, The Bistro’s James Sedgley, CITA’s Hollie Whitelocke and The Bistro chef Alan Pressly.9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016 Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. We regret to announce the passing of the late Phyllis Myrtle Mckenzie nee Ebanks who departed this life on Friday March 18,2016 A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Saturday April 2, 2016 at 10am at the West Bay united church (John Gray) We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Chris Ollen McLaughlin who passed away tragically on Friday, March 11, 2016. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, John McLean Drive, East End at 3:00p.m. Viewing will be from 2:00-2:45p.m. Interment to follow at East End Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, John McLean Drive, East End at 3:00p.m. We sadly say goodbye to our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend of so many. He passed away peacefully in his home in Grand Cayman on Monday, March 28, 2016. Julius Royston Bozman, "Whitey" was born on January 12, 1925. He grew up in a small south-eastern Ohio town and served in World War II in the navy as an assistant navigator on destroyer escorts. Following the war, Julius graduated from Ohio University with a degree in geology and was ready to take on the world. After numerous jobs in the eld as a surveyor and on various seismic crews, Julius moved his family to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1956 to work with one of the major oil companies. But his personality and ambition was not conducive to working for others and he struck out on his own as an independent oil man (a “wild cat” oil man) after a mere 7 years of working for the big oil companies. This is where his life exploded with potential and he had the fun and success that stayed with him for the rest of his life. 1969 was the year that he rst found Grand Cayman, in the yearly search of how to escape the cold, harsh winters in Calgary. The love of this island, the people, the climate, and the waters, brought Julius and his wife, Ruth, here as permanent residents in 1975. He had the opportunities here to meet people from all over the world every day. He loved this diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on the world of politics, economics, and life in general. But above all, Cayman was very much a small town to him, much like his little town of McConnelsville, Ohio. He was thrilled when he nally became a citizen of the Cayman Islands and the proud owner of a Cayman Islands passport. Julius lived a life loving the outdoors through his geology, y- shing, scuba diving, skiing, golf and tennis. Therefore, he stayed very t and active until just the last couple of months of his life. Then heart failure caught up to him and he died quietly at home in his own bed. His spirit is forever free now. Julius is survived by his three daughters and their spouses, four grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. In lieu of owers, Julius would like any remembrances to be made to the Pines Retirement Home, a local non-pro t home for seniors or the Cayman Islands HospiceCare. A Memorial Service for Mr. Julius Royston Bozman, a ectionately known as “Whitey”, will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Churchill’s Funeral Home, 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town at 3:00p.m. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Cecil George Hedge affectionately known as “Cuz”, who passed away tragically on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Church of God Universal, Walkers Road at 10:00a.m. Viewing will be from 9:00-9:45a.m. Mr. Hedge will be repatriated to Jamaica. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Cubans out of community centers, immigration officials confirm BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An acute overcrowding situation involving dozens of Cuban migrants who were forced to temporarily live in various community centers on Grand Cayman has subsided, at least for the time being, Immigra- tion Department officials confirmed Wednesday. The final group of 18 Cuban migrants who had been living at the William Allen McLaughlin commu- nity center in East End were taken back into the main Im- migration Detention Centre in Fairbanks, George Town Wednesday afternoon, Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith said. Cubans who had landed illegally in the islands over the past several months had also been kept in North Side’s Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre and the James M. Bodden Civic Centre in Bodden Town, but Mr. Smith said those facilities had been emptied about two weeks prior to Wednesday. At one stage between Jan- uary and February, immigra- tion officials recorded be- tween 130 and 140 migrants being housed on Grand Cayman. The main detention center on Fairbanks Road can only hold about 60 people, so the remainder had to be spread across the less-popu- lated eastern districts. “Within the last month, there has been a decline in frequency of Cuban boats [in Cayman’s territorial waters],” Mr. Smith said, adding that immigration officials were not entirely certain what led to the drop-off in makeshift craft that are often seen in local waters. Typically, the boaters are classified as economic mi- grants, fleeing poor wages in their home country and seeking entry to the U.S. via Central America and Mexico. If the migrants come ashore, or inform Cayman authorities that they wish to be taken into custody, they are housed at the detention center to await their repatri- ation – a process that often takes months to complete. In recent months, as the Cuban arrivals have piled up, the re- patriation process has been unable to keep up. Mr. Smith said a number of Cuban nationals had been sent back within the last few weeks, enough so that the community centers were no longer needed for housing. However, Mr. Smith said the Immigration Detention Center remained full to ca- pacity and the arrival of any other Cuban migrant vessels in the coming weeks could put Cayman back in the same situation. Prisons Director Neil Lavis, who has oversight re- sponsibility for immigration detention, said there were a total of 55 Cuban detainees now being kept at the Fair- banks facility. Two others, who are serving time for il- legal landing in the islands, are at Northward Prison. Four other migrants, in- cluding a pregnant woman and a juvenile who appar- ently made a trip with a parent from Cuba earlier this year, are being kept in a hotel, Mr. Lavis said. The pregnancy presents a specific set of difficulties for local law enforcement offi- cials, both medically and le- gally. Women past 28-weeks pregnant are sometimes not allowed to fly due to risks of entering premature labor. Also, if the child is born in Cayman, it has the poten- tial to become “stateless,” since it typically would not be given Caymanian status and Cuban authorities might not accept the child back into their country. Both is- sues could present problems with repatriation. The general upsurge in Cuban migrants has been noted since late 2014 in Cayman and is usu- ally blamed on specu- lation that the U.S. will change its immigration rules regarding landed migrants – often called the “wet-foot, dry-foot policy.” In 1995, the U.S. Congress revised the 1966 Cuban Ad- justment Act, basically al- lowing anyone who fled Cuba and who managed to enter the U.S. to pursue residency a year after entering. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s administration agreed with the Cuban government that it would stop admitting mi- grants found at sea. Since then, Cubans found in the waters between the two nations are repatriated or sent to another country if it is determined to be un- safe to send them back to Cuba. Anyone who makes it to shore gets an oppor- tunity to remain in the U.S. and potentially qualify for expedited permanent resident status. President Barack Obama’s late 2014 announcement re- garding his administration’s change in policy toward Cuba brought some concerns that the “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy would end and that, going forward, any illegal migrants would be expelled, whether found on land or at sea. U.S. Coast Guard offi- cials said in January 2014 that “coyotes” – people who profit from assisting in the transport of illegal mi- grants – were perpetuating rumors that the wet-foot, dry-foot policy would end, seeking to encourage more illegal migration. Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands government has spent considerably more than US$1 million in the past two budget years partly due to housing, medical and feeding costs for the migrants, and partly due to additional secu- rity measures that had to be taken at the Immigration De- tention Centre to prevent the migrants’ frequent escapes. “Within the last month, there has been a decline in frequency of Cuban boats.” BRUCE SMITH, acting chief immigration officer The Immigration Detention Centre in central George Town is packed full again, but officials are no longer having to put migrants in local community centers. – PHOTO: BRENT FULLERNext >