ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 DISTRICT DAYS | PAGE 7 STUDENTS SET OFF ON READING ADVENTURE High of 87 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ABSOLUTE ZERO: PR APPLICATIONS PUT IN DEEP FREEZE RoadUser BritCay’s car insurance travels with you. CI$40,000 overseas rental car cover*is free with BritCay motor insurance Lowest deductibles from CI$200, for no additional premium, fast track auto repairs and fast claims service. Ask BritCay for a quote. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky FREE CI$10 Million ASSET PROTECTION! with motor cover* *private motor insurance *Collision damage waiver cgigrp Emergency legislative meeting fizzles, police motions not heard BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two attempts to hold a special emer- gency meeting of the Cayman Islands Legis- lative Assembly failed Wednesday after law- makers were unable to obtain the requisite number of attendees either in the morning or the afternoon. On Wednesday morning, all eight elected members of the Progressives political party did not attend the emergency meeting and did not send messages as to their whereabouts, leading House Speaker Juliana O’Connor-Con- nolly to adjourn the meeting and summons the missing members to appear later in the day. About four hours later, the Speaker at- tempted to reconvene the meeting. In that in- stance, Premier Alden McLaughlin attended to object to the lack of a quorum. Education Minister Tara Rivers had objected to the same issue during the morning meeting. In both instances, Ms. O’Connor-Connolly called a five-minute recess to seek to sum- mons absent lawmakers to the chamber. Both times, no members of the government bench agreed to attend. Eventually, Ms. O’Connor-Connolly ad- journed the emergency meeting, stating the business it was held to review would be heard during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Legislative Assembly on April 25. Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush at- tempted to raise an objection during the after- noon meeting, but the Speaker had already ad- journed the meeting and walked out while Mr. Bush was still talking. Later on, East End MLA Arden McLean shouted up to a balcony full of onlookers. PR APPLICANT MISSES DEADLINE BY ONE DAY BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A permanent residence-seeker had his ap- plication to stay in the Cayman Islands for the rest of his life rejected because he missed the filling deadline by a single day, according to claims made in the Grand Court last month. Maurice Wilson alleges in a Grand Court writ that his application, made on Feb. 13, 2015, and rejected nearly a year later, on Feb. 1, 2016 was denied “as it was noted that the applicant is not eligible as the immigration records show that the applicant applied out of time and beyond the time frame of his 9th year of legal and ordinary residence.” It was determined that the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board there- fore had no jurisdiction to deal with Mr. Wil- son’s application. It is argued in the lawsuit filed on March 22 that the “error” which occurred in filing late was not the fault of the applicant. “A fair hearing … could have addressed the issue of why [Mr. Wilson] was one day out of time, thus supporting documents would have been provided for clarifications,” the court re- cords state. “[Mr. Wilson] was not permitted to explain in a separate letter and provide proof of why his application was filed a day late which shows error on the part of the board [and] could have been corrected in short order.” The application requests that the board’s decision to refuse permanent residence for Cayman Airways to replace fleet JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Airways will replace its fleet of aging jets with four new “state of the art” aircraft over the next four years. Government has approved a “fleet mod- ernization plan” for the national airline to replace the four 737-300 jets, which are be- tween 15 and 20 years old, with new 737- 8Max planes, straight off the Boeing pro- duction line. Tourism and airline leaders said the switch would essentially pay for itself and will not result in any increase in the gov- ernment contributions to Cayman Airways, which totaled $23 million at the last budget. Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms said the superior fuel efficiency, lower op- erational costs and greater passenger capacity of the new planes made the switch affordable. Philip Rankin, chairman of the airline’s board of directors, added, “Based on our projections, from maintenance savings and fuel alone we can more than pay for the lease on these aircraft.” The 737-8Max planes have 40 more seats and burn 20 percent less fuel than the 300-series, according to Mr. Whorms. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said the new jets would significantly ex- pand the reach of the airline, potentially en- abling it to open up new routes, direct from the west coast of the U.S. He said upgrading the fleet would po- sition Cayman Airways to take advantage of an anticipated boom in tourism arrivals and improve its bottom line. With new developments, including the Kimpton Hotel, Margaritaville and Dart’s PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Cayman Airways’ Boeing 737-300 planes will be replaced by the next generation Boeing 737-8Max aircraft. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS THE BOSS (R) 1:00 I 3:40 I 7:00 I 9:30 MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (PG13) 1:15 I 4:30 I 6:50 I 9:55 BATMAN V SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 3:45 2D I 8:00 THE PERFECT MATCH (R) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:50 LONDON HAS FALLEN (R) 9:40 ZOOTOPIA 3D (PG13) 12:45 I 3:30 2D I 6:45 9:20 2D SATURDAY April 16th 8PM Sponsored by: SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Diary tells of Bouchard’s hopes for wealth, stability CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Gratitude, concerns about financial security and sexual intimacy were themes re- peated in diaries Mi- chelle Bouchard kept from January 2010. A Grand Court jury heard prosecuting counsel read ex- tracts from the diaries on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bouchard has pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of theft alleging that she stole a total of CI$1.59 million and US$805,806 from Australian James Bruce Handford be- tween May 2010 and October 2012. When the diaries begin, Bouchard is 49 and Mr. Hand- ford is 82. Bouchard’s first diary entry is for Jan. 5, 2010, in which she notes Mr. Hand- ford has provided her with a calm oasis after she was let go from her job. “He has also provided financial stability I have always lacked. I am for- ever grateful to Jim for the safe haven.” On Jan. 7, she says she needs to decide if she will begin a relationship with him. “I must be ready to leave the island if I do not want to commit to Jim.” Four days later, she won- ders, “Will Jim continue to support me if I do not have an intimate relationship with him?” On June 30, 2010, she writes that her work permit application was “yanked,” so she wanted to apply to the law school for full-time stu- dent status. On July 28, she writes that Mr. Handford “wants to have a sexual relationship with me, but he does not say what he will give me in return other than some form of room and board, which frankly isn’t enough to keep me in his life.” She says she wants some as- surance of a good monthly in- come, financial security and enough to retire comfortably. On Aug. 20, Bouchard prays, “God, if Jim and I are meant to be together make it so – I want to be able to feel secure …. Dear God, I need to thank you for bringing Jim into my life. He is a Godsend emotionally and financially.” On Sept. 15, she says she would like to be his partner if he guarantees to support her and provide her with ample money every month and gifts at Christmas, her birthday and Valentine’s Day, like nice jewelry, trips and property. In return, she would manage his affairs, make sure his life is well managed and he will not be taken advan- tage of by others. Retirement security “Please make it so that we get married and I ben- efit from his fortune in order to secure my retirement,” she writes. The next days she says she is afraid of being considered a gold digger. “But, honestly, if I do have sex with him, I want some serious compensation …. I also know that as long as we do not have sex I am in the only position of power I have available to me. Other than that he holds all the cards.” On Sept. 30, she says Mr. Handford is like a guardian angel. “I like doing things for him – it makes me feel good. I also like making sure he is well taken care of by sup- pliers and traders …. God, I love being a designer but it’s now time to make some se- rious money …” Having turned 50 in Sep- tember, Bouchard writes on Oct. 3, “I am concerned about Jim’s health either mental or physical deteriorating and having my future needs not taken care of if I have no offi- cial standing in his life.” Joint account On Oct. 9, she writes that she has decided to have Mr. Handford’s tenants deposit their rent money into her and Mr. Handford’s joint account, so she can monitor monthly payments and he can transfer the money into his personal accounts as he likes. On Oct. 21, she says that Mr. Handford told her he de- posited $100,000 so that she could have access to funds when she needs them. She re- ally appreciated that and paid off her credit card balances. While on a trip to South Africa with friends, she re- cords receiving an email on Nov. 13 that her work permit has been granted and she starts Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. On Nov. 14, she says, “I have to be grateful to Jim for paying for all this travel with the money he has put in our joint account.” The next day she says she wants Mr. Hand- ford to donate $10,000 to the cause of the “big cats” at a wildlife reserve. “But how do I do that without telling him I was in South Africa?” Back in Cayman with Mr. Handford, on Dec. 3, Bouchard writes, “I will stay here as long as I have access to funding my lifestyle. If he pulls the plug on the funding, then I have to find another reliable source of income. “I am gorgeous, healthy, wealthy, stylish, smart, savvy and finally I am starting to respect myself enough not to give any old man my love and my body.” On Dec. 14, she re- ports that Mr. Handford is buying her a beautiful white gold and diamond watch worth about US$40,000. On Dec. 28, she writes, “God, thank you for the talk Jim and I had. He tells me he will give me all his prop- erty in Cayman. I just need to know I will also have enough $ to support them until I sell them.” On Jan. 3, 2011, she says, “I think my greatest fear is having a relationship with Jim and he will want sex all the time …. I can’t even imagine that he is good in bed. But who knows, he might. God, thank you for all that he has brought in my life.” Written guarantee On Jan. 15, she says she wants Mr. Handford to pur- chase her a home that has one or two efficiency apartments that will bring on a monthly income. “If I get all these things, I will gladly be his girl- friend. Then I would propose that if we are both happy with our sex life, after three months we can get married and then I want a written guarantee that I will inherit his condo and boathouse and three of- fice suites with 2 million cash to maintain it.” In February, she says she has a sinking feeling that Mr. Handford is attracted to a named woman at a particular restaurant. She “knows for cer- tain” that if this woman got her claws into him, “he would be married to her in no time.” On May 8, she expresses frustration because she has asked Mr. Handford to borrow US$500,000 for a mortgage to purchase a home for herself. “Dear God, I have decided to stop waiting for Jim to help me and I will start to help my- self and others and let you and the universe take care of me and my needs.” Four days later, she tells God she is “super grateful” that she had the privilege to receive CI$500,000 “as a gift from Jim.” She indicates she will use the money to pur- chase rundown properties, fix them up and sell them at a profit. Several entries in June indicate she has purchased a condo to upgrade. On June 29, she writes, “I enjoy taking care of Jim’s properties. God, please see to it that I inherit all his Cayman properties …” On July 4, she writes, “God, please help me ensure that I get Jim to put all his assets into my name in his will so they become mine when he dies.” On Aug. 21, she notes that Mr. Handford will be returning from Australia in two weeks and her freedom will come to an end. “My biggest fear is losing my power once I sleep with him.” She asks God to help her “pay this year’s tuition [for law school] before Jim gets back because I want to be fully paid up before his return in case I have to move out.” On Sept. 1, she notes that Mr. Handford’s daughter, Susan van Dijk, “is getting her accountants involved with her father’s accounts so my days may be numbered if her dad’s bank records go back for a long time. I am pretty sure he will protect me from harm be- cause I have legitimately been working my ass off taking care of all his properties and leases and tenants and what little I have been using for myself was discussed as needed to supplement my loss of income.” On Oct. 30, she prays, “Dear God, please protect Jim from harm and keep him safe from his own drinking. He fell and cut his nose quite badly on the large glass table …. What’s interesting is that when he gets really drunk, he doesn’t remember what we argued about the night before, so I can just about say whatever I want to him and it doesn’t re- ally matter.” ‘Gravy train’ On Nov. 22, she writes, “Dear God, I believe that my gravy train has decided to leave the station. I really want to finish law school in Cayman. God, please help me to convince Jim to support me while I am a student for the next 2.5 years.” On Dec. 4, she writes that Mr. Handford is trying to force her to have sex with him by cutting off any financial sup- port she had from him. She says she has decided to put her condo up for sale. She asked him for $12,000 for living expenses and for some surgery she had discussed with him. “He did not have a check out for me, so there is a good possibility that the gravy train has come and gone.” On Dec. 15, Bouchard writes, “Dear God, I realized yesterday for the very first time that I am officially a mil- lionaire! That is so awesome. I had no idea, but given that I would need at least 10 times that to be able to retire once and for all – I still need to work hard and be frugal and keep my eye open for lucrative opportunities.” On Jan. 28, 2012, she notes Mr. Handford’s chronic cough and says she is taking him to see a doctor. On Feb. 6, she says, “I have to realize that I am very blessed to live rent- and ex- pense-free and as long as he allows us to have a joint account where I can get funds for my living expenses that is great.” On Feb. 18, Bouchard dis- covered that Mr. Handford had closed their joint account. She decided to tell his daughter that his mental decline was re- quiring serious attention and notes that “my income stream has been literally cut off.” On Feb. 26 she wonders if God could convince Mr. Hand- ford to give her $200,000 to finish law school. On May 30, she writes that Mr. Handford’s daughter has requested the number of the joint bank account. “I have emailed the bank to remind them that the info is confiden- tial …. I suspect that some- thing is going on.” While in Toronto on July 18, Bouchard writes that she has to make some cash trans- fers to her Canadian account from her Cayman accounts. “That will be my top priority to transfer funds up to here.” On Aug. 15, she says, “I can see that Butterfield is be- coming picky about my ac- counts with them, so I am going to transfer a large amount out to Scotiabank this week …. I understand they have to be careful, but I hate the tone of their emails, they are almost accusatory …. God, I hope they have all the info they require so they will leave me alone from now on.” On Sept. 26, she notes that members of Mr. Handford’s family have arrived and are at the condo. She refers to “agree- ments we made a long time ago and when he committed to helping me become finan- cially independent, I accepted his proposal and engagement. I don’t have a clue if he will re- member this …” On Sept. 27, she is making sure to pay all her school fees and all the money necessary to be able to live in Cayman for two years without income “just in case things turn sour while his daughter is here.” Income stream cut off The last diary entry is for Sept. 29, when Bouchard writes that she is in the pro- cess of finding out that her in- come stream from Mr. Hand- ford is being cut off by his family. “I will definitely go peacefully if they promise to allow me to go without any complications to myself or my balances. Dear God, please protect me from any harm and allow me to benefit from Jim’s generosity towards me over the last few years without clawback, paybacks, or adverse consequences.” The jury has already heard that Mr. Handford made a statement to police in October 2012, after which Bouchard was arrested. Michelle Bouchard3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 ATTENTION Livestock Farmers ATTENTION Livestock Farmers Stacy Watler Pavilion Upstairs Room Upcoming Livestock Extension Seminars Upcoming Livestock Extension Seminars Free Admission Registration required. Refreshments will be served. For More Information or to Register: Email tiffany.chisholm@gov.ky or Call: Mrs. Tiffany Chisholm at 947-3090 April Thursday, 21st ‘Getting the MOST out of your layers’ - Layer Farming - 6:30pm Lecturers— Dr. Kanyuira Gikonyo (Senior Veterinary Officer) & Mrs. Tiffany Chisholm (Livestock Extension Officer) Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture May Thursday, 11th ‘Standards of Practice for Cattle Farming’ & ‘Sustainable Cattle Farming in the Cayman Islands’ - 6:30pm Lecturers— Dr. Samantha Dorman (Veterinary Officer) & Mrs. Tiffany Chisholm (Livestock Extension Officer) Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture Thursday, 26th ‘Sustainable Livestock Farming’ - CAYMAN BRAC ONLY - 6:30pm Cayman Brac Administration Building Lecturers— Dr. Kanyuira Gikonyo (Veterinary Officer) & Mrs. Tiffany Chisholm (Livestock Extension Officer) Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture June Saturday, 4th ‘Goat Workshop-Hands on Practical’ 9am-11am Bodden Town (Mr. Hamlin Stephenson’s Farm) Lecturers— Mr. Ronald Green (Senior Animal Health & Welfare Officer), Mrs. Tiffany Chisholm (Livestock Extension Officer) & Mr. Clint Myrie (Animal Health Assistant) Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture Cayman gets 1st Olympic-length swimming pool ALMA CHOLLETTE achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first Olympic-length swimming pool in the Cayman Islands was unveiled and filled on Wednesday. The pool is part of a new private condo development in South Sound by Davenport De- velopment, called Vela, and will be one of three Olympic-length pools once all three phases of the project are complete. The pool will not be open to the public, but it is gar- nering interest in the swim- ming community. At least one family has already chosen to live there because the children are keen swimmers. The first phase of the devel- opment, valued at $25 million and sitting on 110,000 square feet of property, features the two-lane, 50 meter pool. The 4 feet, 9 inch deep pool was filled Wednesday for the first time with 120,000 gallons of salt water. With there being “no chemicals, no chlorine, it’s better for the skin [for both] kids and adults,” said Dav- enport Development’s co- owner Paul Pearson. Built by pool specialist, Water- mania, a Guatemalan com- pany, the swimming pool project took four and a half months to complete. Mr. Pearson said the ad- dition of the Olympic-length pool was inspired by Frank Flowers and his daughter, Dara Flowers-Burke. Mr. Pearson said Daven- port decided to introduce Olympic-length pools “because we could,” adding, “Well, Frank and Dara had asked me for a number of years to build the pools this size.” “It is a certified Olympic pool,” said Mr. Flowers, whose companies provided the Vela project with both water and insulated concrete form blocks. Mr. Flowers described Davenport’s choice in using salt water in the pool as “next generation technology.” “They’ve gone green,” he added. Competitive swimmers in Cayman have long called for an Olympic-size pool, as expo- sure in a 50-meter pool would allow them to build endurance and speed. Currently, swimmers train in pools that are considerably shorter, such the Lions and Ca- mana Bay pools, both of which are 25 meters long, with eight and six lanes respectively. While there will be no public access to the private pool, Mr. Pearson said that as Davenport is a major sup- porter of the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Associ- ation, residents of Vela who are swimming club members could invite their friends to use the pool. According to Chilian Wong- Ellison, a mother of three young swimmers, including 13-year-old Carifta medalist Sabine Ellison, the pool was a big part of her family’s deci- sion to purchase a unit at Vela. “They’re excited about any pool,” she said, “but they thought the 50m was brilliant.” “It is definitely an asset for any swimmer in any par- ticipating event to have ac- cess to a 50m pool,” said Mrs. Wong-Ellison, whose daughter brought home five Carifta medals in March. “I can see the benefits of swimming through my kids,” she said. “I can also see for myself the health ben- efits of swimming.” The former director of the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association went on to say that having a 50 meter pool with two lanes, “is a step in the right direction of that ultimate dream of a 50m pool sports complex on island.” Phase one of Vela is sched- uled to open in July or August. Groundbreaking for phase two is expected in August. From left, deliveryman Noel Huslin of CL Flowers & Sons, Ken Thompson of Davenport Development, Frank Flowers of Flowers Group Ltd., and Paul Pearson of Davenport Development fill the Vela Olympic-length pool.The 50-meter pool at Vela is Cayman’s first Olympic-length pool. - PHOTOS:TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS After taking nearly a year to examine a man’s application for permanent residence, the Cayman islands government rejected it — because it was filed a single day late. So, one day late for the applicant, one year late for the government. We’ll allow a moment for that statement to sink in. As we report in today’s Cayman Compass, Maurice Wilson spent nine years of his life living and working in this country. Then, on Feb. 13, 2015, he filed an appli- cation to make Cayman his permanent home. On Feb. 1 of this year, government officials deemed the paperwork should have been submitted Feb. 12, 2015, and therefore the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board had no jurisdiction to consider Mr. Wilson’s application. In a Grand Court writ Mr. Wilson subsequently sub- mitted, he argues that an “error” — not his, but the board’s — resulted in the application being filed late, and that if he had been allowed to provide an explana- tion, the matter would have been cleared up right then and there. Officials, however, apparently would hear none of it. According to the lawsuit, “[Mr. Wilson] was not per- mitted to explain in a separate letter and provide proof of why his application was filed a day late which shows error on the part of the board [and] could have been corrected in short order.” Rather than weighing the substance of Mr. Wilson’s application, and whether he as an individual would be a positive contributor to Cayman society, the board found an easy way to say, “No.” With Mr. Wilson’s case in mind, think back to Chief Justice Anthony Smellie’s landmark ruling last year, where he concluded that the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal’s decisions denying a pair of PR applications were substantially wrong and amounted to a “miscar- riage of justice.” Among a litany of reproofs contained in his judgment, Justice Smellie noted “unconscionably long delays” and deemed that the tribunal had “impeded the course of justice” by using materials to judge the applications without allowing the applicants to speak to that material. Does that ring any bells? What also may sound familiar is the following observation we have made several times in this edito- rial space, and which over the years has evolved from hypothesis, to thesis, to practical statement of fact: The Progressives government’s real immigration policy is to have zero immigration. Mr. Wilson’s story is a clear example of how the new PR system, which took effect in law in October 2013, is purposefully designed to deny applications whenever possible, to delay consideration of applications for as long as possible, and to never, ever approve applica- tions, if at all possible. Although compelling, Mr. Wilson’s case is just an anecdote. But consider the numerical evidence, which is even more demonstrative: Of the 638 PR applica- tions filed between October 2013 and February 2016, a total of 27 (including Mr. Wilson’s) were refused, and one person withdrew his or her application. Of the remaining 610 applications, a grand total of ZERO has been approved. In the meantime, the government continues with its latest stall tactic, the commissioning of a consultant’s report to examine various issues in the government’s own Immigration Law. The report was due to be com- pleted sometime this spring, but we’ve heard no word about its contents or recommendations. All the while, hundreds of our neighbors, colleagues and coworkers twiddle their fingers, agonize about the futures of their families, and wait, wait, wait. We all know where this will end — in the lap of the next elected government … with possible detours through the courts. Absolute Zero: PR applications put in deep freeze The case for offshore RICHARD HAY Eye-popping revelations in the Panama Papers have fanned concerns that the so-called “tax havens” lie at the center of a giant web of criminal conduct. Some, in- cluding U.K. Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn, have demanded that these centers be “shut down,” and so disconnected from the global grid. The uproar in- vites examination of the role played by such centers in the world economy. Allegations of criminality are easy to make and readily understood by the public. The workings of the international financial system, by contrast, are not easily communicated or grasped. Many of those who benefit from offshore centers – including those re- ceiving workplace pensions – are unaware of the key role played by such centers in their financial affairs. Asked by a reporter why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton, the famous American crook replied “That’s where the money is.” Money is the lifeblood of criminal enter- prise so it is not surprising that tax evasion and other il- licit funds are found in finan- cial centers, whether Panama or Canary Wharf. Unless the plan is to “shut down” the global finan- cial system one should not be alarmed to find that some fraudsters slip through the defenses deployed by most modern finance centers to keep them out. As the recent coverage shows, more impor- tant questions turn on the extent to which criminal fi- nance is systemic in any par- ticular center and whether the abuses in cross-border fi- nance outweigh the positive contribution of that activity to the global economic system. The world is politically segmented but economically integrated. Domestic sys- tems are national fiefdoms, ill-suited to facilitating inter- national transactions. Prop- erly regulated and efficient international financial cen- ters provide the linkages be- tween countries necessary to promote cross-border trade and finance. Global- ization has contributed to a doubling of world GDP over the last generation. Much of that benefit has accrued to emerging market countries, where dramatic declines in poverty have followed from connecting local workforces to world consumers. The economic emancipa- tion of China and the conse- quent elimination of grinding poverty for some 500 million people has flowed from trade, not aid. China’s growth has been symbiotic with the ex- pansion of the world-leading finance centers in Hong Kong and Singapore. Inter- estingly, these two centers rely on British-inspired laws and institutions, a charac- teristic shared by the U.K.’s offshore centers. Imagine the alternative to the use of well-regulated offshore centers. A lender to a project in China would ex- tend credit to a Chinese com- pany, with contractual ar- rangements drafted by a Chinese lawyer under local law. Disputes would be adju- dicated by Chinese judges. It is easy to see that many in- ternational investors may de- cide the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Detractors often cite se- crecy as the reason for the success of U.K.’s offshore centers. Yet peer reviews con- ducted by the Financial Ac- tion Task Force and the OECD – supported by studies con- ducted by World Bank and independent academics – show that those centers have robust transparency stan- dards. In fact, U.K. Crown Dependencies Jersey and Guernsey clock the highest scores globally for compli- ance with FATF require- ments. Most other British off- shore centers are similarly highly regulated. Like Singapore and Hong Kong, the true appeal of the U.K. offshore centers re- sides in their widely trusted British-inspired laws, courts and professionals. The pre- dictability and security of- fered by British institutions make such jurisdictions mag- nets for international inves- tors seeking reliable struc- tures for international investment. Many of the users of those centers live in countries with deep insti- tutional deficits, kleptocratic governments and poor con- trol over local criminal el- ements. Britain enjoys soft power and should take pride from the world’s interest in transacting under its widely respected legal institutions. Thanks to the U.K.’s close fi- nancial, political, and legal links to those centers the City of London – and the whole British economy – benefits hugely from them. U.K. offshore centers sup- port British jobs producing goods or services for export, increase financing avail- able for investment in the country, upstream bank de- posits to U.K. financial insti- tutions, elevate the rate of re- turn for savings in the U.K. and increase U.K. tax reve- nues through their activities. A 2013 survey conducted by Capital Economics, the re- spected U.K. economic con- sultancy, shows that Jersey supports over 140,000 British jobs – six times as many as the entire U.K. steel industry. International invest- ment from diverse sources is pooled in funds in tax- neutral countries like the Cayman Islands, which hosts many of the world’s hedge funds. Cost-efficient facilities afforded by such centers in- crease investment and pen- sion returns, improving the lives of ordinary workers in retirement and easing the so- cial welfare burden on cash- strapped governments. Such pooled funds are liable to tax in the countries where their income and gains are earned, and again when received by the ultimate investors. Are these arrangements suspect simply because there is not a third level of tax where the funds are pooled? So, what would the world look like if Jeremy Corbyn got his way and shut down the U.K.’s offshore centers? One might expect the loss of jobs and investment in Britain as well as lower pension re- turns. One might also antici- pate a slowdown in interna- tional commerce given the removal of key platforms for intermediating global invest- ment and a resulting impact on growth in both developed and emerging economies. The money would go to other cen- ters which covet the U.K. fam- ily’s widely admired franchise in the world financial system. The author is Head of Tax at Stikeman Elliott (London) LLP and Counsel to the International Financial Centers Forum. Properly regulated and efficient international financial centers provide the linkages between countries necessary to promote cross-border trade and finance. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 ROTARY CENTRAL Log on to www.caymancarnival for more information World premiere for Cayman-made movie JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Facing fears, from swim- ming with sharks to talking to a room full of strangers, is the inspiring theme of a new documentary by Cayman Islands-based film- maker Michael Maes. Mr. Maes made his first feature-length movie, “Epiphany,” about his wife, Ellen Cuylaerts and her battle to overcome her fear of water to become a noted wildlife photographer. The movie, which pre- miered at the Vail Film Festival in Colorado last weekend, is also about Mr. Maes’s and his children’s struggle with social inter- actions as a result of high- functioning autism. “It is mostly about Ellen, who many people in Cayman know is a world- renowned wildlife photog- rapher,” said Mr. Maes, who lives in North Side. “It is about struggles she has overcome and how she has guided and shepherded her family, her children and her husband, through the social aspects of life.” The story aims to shine a light on the issue of autism, as well as sending a powerful con- servation message. Focussing on Ms. Cuy- laerts and her family’s en- counters with the natural world, it features footage of her and her children swim- ming with tiger sharks, whale sharks and other ex- otic sea creatures. Mr. Maes said the story aimed to transcend those themes to show how even the most ele- mental fears, like a fear of sharks, can fade when we confront them. “It is very raw and honest,” he said. “It is a per- sonal story but ultimately everyone can relate to it be- cause it is about personal growth and healing. There is a conservation message be- hind it but it is also about looking at yourself, how you can grasp your life and change things in your life. “Epiphany is about facing your inner fears and getting in charge of your own life. Regardless of the environ- ment, be it sharks, be it au- tism, many people will relate to the core of the story.” The movie took two years to shoot and features loca- tions across the globe, from the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas to Mr. Maes’s home country, Belgium. After four months in post-production, the film premiered Friday in front of an audience of around 100 festival goers and movie business insiders. Mr. Maes, who has high- functioning autism, prefers to be behind the camera, rather than in front of it. But he confronted his own anxiety to take part in interviews and ques- tion-and-answer sessions about the movie. “I was very nervous but the reception was all posi- tive. This was the first to- tally dispassionate audi- ence we had shown it too. Most of them didn’t know much about sharks and were amazed by some of the things they saw.” He said the movie was a team effort and had taken the hard work, skill and dedication of a number of talented people to complete. It will be shown at film festivals in the U.S., and at special screenings in As- cension Island and Singa- pore over the next month. A Caribbean premiere is planned in the Cayman Is- lands, though a date has yet to be confirmed. A poster for the movie, which features the tagline, ‘How to make an ordinary life an extraordinary experience.’ Michael Maes shoots footage of a tiger shark for his movie, ‘Epiphany.’ – PHOTO: ELLEN CUYLAERTS Wildlife photographer Ellen Cuylaerts is the star of a documentary made by her husband, Michael Maes.THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town In the April, 13, edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “The newest resident on Cumber Av- enue in this district is a goat. Not the Vil- lage Ram, but a scientific ram used by Dr. Giglioli in his mosquito research pro- gram. This highly perfumed animal is the sole occupant of a new mobile home on the premises of Mr. Livingston Terry. The goat’s scent draws mosquitoes into the house which is merely a trap from which the insects cannot escape. “Mr. Terry, the goat’s caretaker informs me that this very docile animal has ad- justed himself to his surroundings, and seems to be aware of the important role he is playing. “The mosquito research trap, as the goat’s house is technically known, has been used in one or two districts already, and after a few days will be shifted to an- other location. “The research in Grand Cayman has already proved of great interest to the en- tomological world as it is understood one or two unidentified species of mosqui- toes have been discovered here. It is also understood that more than 90% of the mosquitoes found here breed in the salt marshes, and have nothing more deadly than their aggravating stings. Of course, there are a few of the carriers of disease type, which incidentally breed in stag- nant water around homes. “This article is not intended to scare anybody but merely to show that the time is ripe to look into the mosquito problem. “It is hoped that children will refrain from molesting the goat as he is one of the many factors involved in catching, classifying and perhaps even the eradica- tion of the mosquito. “Mr. Orman Whittaker and his daughter Winsome returned from Ja- maica on Thursday. Mr. Whittaker, who sought medical aid in Jamaica for a minor ailment, is now much improved. Another case of Dr. Horter’s ‘You have to go overseas.’ “Mr. Whittaker is the owner and op- erator of a school bus and he is fast be- coming famous for the delicious ice cream which he dispenses daily from ‘Whittak- er’s Caravan.’” 50 years ago: Mosquito research device spurs interest Hopes are high the track will encourage exercise and sport in local community A new four-lane track is now under construction at the Bodden Town Primary School. Hopes are high it will benefit a wide cross-section of the commu- nity, from young children to retirees residing in Bodden Town, as well as the eastern districts. Work by the Public Works De- partment and Island Paving, which was selected after a tendering pro- cess, has already begun on con- structing and surfacing the track. It is anticipated that the approx- imately 400 meter (1,312 feet) track will not only boost the school’s own track program, but that it will be used to supplement district track meets held by the Cayman Islands Athletic Association. With track and field being one of the Cayman Islands’ focus areas, Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden said he believes the facility will serve as an effective tool to get more children involved in the sport, as well as contributing to the general development of the national ath- letics program. “The school will benefit greatly,” said Mr. Bodden. “The young students will be able to be trained properly on a track, and hopefully get better results on sports days.” The track is also expected to benefit recreational walkers in the community and provide a safe and convenient place for residents to work out. Mr. Bodden noted that the field has always been a popular place for the community to get some exercise, and efforts to keep the site service- able are nothing new. In fact, it’s been an ongoing labor of love that has forged some strong community bonds over the years, the minister pointed out. “The Bodden Town Primary School field has always been a com- munity field, and back in my foot- ball playing days we took ‘own- ership,’ as it were, of it,” said Mr. Bodden. “The Bodden Town Football Club, led by David Powell from the club and of blessed memory, resoiled the field, grassed it and installed the lights that are still there.” Mr. Bodden said that, aside from being used as a playing field, the site has always been a popular walking and running venue for res- idents who come in the mornings and evenings to go around the pe- rimeter for their exercise. “From first-hand knowledge, I’m aware of the roots and holes on the ground that cause great discomfort to those of us who use it at times,” he said. “As sports minister, one of my goals has been to provide a track so that students and local residents can exercise properly at the sports field,” he added. Mr. Bodden said that while for now the track will be surfaced with asphalt, in the future he has plans for a track covering to be added to provide an even better surface. Mr. Bodden said the cost of the track is about $60,000. “But I consider that to be not too expensive considering the ben- efits to come,” he said. “Indeed, it’s a real win-win for the school and the community.” Director of Sports Collin Anglin also expressed his pleasure at the progress of the project. “The more we all exercise on a regular basis, the better our health and quality of life will be – while re- ducing the costs of healthcare,” he said. Mr. Bodden says he is looking forward to the many benefits of the new track. “I am sure this will be a great asset to the community going for- ward and those who use it are truly excited,” he said. “I’m sure it will encourage others to get outside and stay fit. Fit- ness leads to better health, and [a] healthy community is always to be desired.” The track is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month. Construction has already begun on the new track which is expected to be completed in coming weeks. Work begins on new recreation track Osbourne Bodden The track will also benefit recreational walkers in the community and provide a safe and convenient place for residents to work out.CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town Students set off on reading adventure JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com On a recent morning, Bodden Town Primary students were very excited to find out how Silly Sally got to dance a jig with a pig, to learn all about a mouse named Meg and to find out how spilled milk changes into a rabbit. On Tuesday, April 12, the school launched its Home Reading Pro- gram, marking the first day for students to take books home. The program benefitted from a huge boost from Rotary Sunrise, which donated more than 1,600 Scholastic books to the literacy initiative. Rotary Sunrise literacy di- rector Su Mander said, thanks to the program, which supplies a variety of books suitable for dif- ferent reading levels, students will now have the opportunity to engage in daily reading at home, to support their literacy skills and foster a love for reading. She said the 1,600 books were enough to start the small li- brary, with all the books sorted according to level into different plastic bins, so that with their teachers’ help, students are easily able to head to the right bin and select a book. Students get to pick their own books, which are small, short and colorful. During Tuesday’s morning as- sembly, students expressed their appreciation for the books. Antic- ipation was high as the students waited to visit the library to browse and select a book to take home for the very first time. “I am excited. Today Bodden Town Primary launched its Home Reading Program,” said Year 6 student Jenique Anderson during the morning assembly. Anay Rivers, also a Year 6 stu- dent, said reading was one of her favorite leisure activities, but until now she hardly had any books at home. Now things are about to change. “I can’t wait to dive into those book from the comfort of my home,” said Kalie Henry. At the assembly, students also watched a video about the impor- tance of reading every day. Kimberly Watler-Lit- rico, the school’s deputy prin- cipal, thanked Rotary Sunrise for sponsoring the program. Students will be able to borrow books from the library from Monday to Thursday, but no books will go home at the week- ends or holidays. “We don’t have a librarian at the moment but the school does have a volunteer librarian, Cheryl-Ann Ed- wards,” said Ms. Watler-Litrico. “Ms. Edwards participates in classes with the juniors and helps to check books in and out of the library.” Ms. Mander explained the level reading program, as it is known, was a project that was started in East End Primary School last Sep- tember by sponsors Genesis Trust and Corporate Services. Rotary Sunrise is sponsoring the Bodden Town reading club. “The reading books are at var- ious levels so that students can read the books on their own or with a family member at a level that is suitable for them,” said Ms. Mander. “The point of having level reading books is that it gives the child confidence if they are reading it and can read it well. They start at a lower level and then go all the way up,” she added. Ms. Mander encourages family members to read with the chil- dren taking part because re- search shows parental involve- ment or family involvement in literacy is essential to help build a child’s confidence. “Help them read, speak and communicate better – the key is, literacy starts at home,” she said. Rotary was able to purchase all the books and other items for the program with a district grant, and assistance from Rotary Sunrise lit- eracy member, Faye Lippitt. As for bringing the program to more schools, Ms. Mander said considerations included finding corporate sponsors and the size of the school. Along with Ms. Mander, Ro- tary President Christine Matthews, Ministry of Education chief officer Christen Suckoo, the ministry’s lit- eracy specialist Brad Wilson and other Rotary Sunrise representa- tives also attended the event. Rotary was able to purchase all the books and other items for the program with a district grant, and assistance from Rotary Sunrise member, Faye Lippitt. Bodden Town Primary launched its home reading program during morning assembly Tuesday. Year 5 student Julius Blackwood says the prayer. Students visit the libary to choose books in the company of Rotary Sunrise, Ministry of Education and school representatives. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Year 1 students Jada Dixon-Lam, Kelsea Blake and Alexanjrea Bailey show off the books they chose.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 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. THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, APRIL 14 LUNCH AND TOUR: Garden Lunch at the National Gallery with 20-minute guided tour at noon. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 CHILDREN’S DIABETES: The Director of Education with Life For A Child will discuss coping with diabetes at different ages. A question and answer period will follow. Venue is Hibiscus Conference Room, Cayman Islands Hospital, 11:30 a.m. All families with children with diabetes are invited. Life For A Child is a program endorsed by the International Diabetes Federation. It assists people with diabetes up to age 26. BRAC LIBRARY: All are invited to Reading with the Rotarians 10 a.m. till noon, Cayman Brac Public Library. SLOW FOOD DAY: Market and chef demonstrations 10 a.m. till noon, The Paseo and Bon Vivant at Camana Bay. Locally minded chefs will partner with local growers to transform ingredients straight from the farms into delicious fresh dishes. Guests can watch the chefs at work and taste their creations, then shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables. This event is free and open to the public. EARTH DAY CLEANUP: Participation by Chamber of Commerce is 7–10 a.m. Seeking volunteers. Resources will be provided while supplies last. Register at www.caymanchamber.ky. 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. SUNDAY, APRIL 17 MEMORIAL WALK: 5K walk in support of the Dr. J. Hugh Cummings Memorial Scholarship Fund. 6:30 a.m. From the ICCI Campus in Newlands. Registration forms available on campus or via Cayman Active online www.caymanactive.com/ icci5K. BRAC 5K CHALLENGE: The Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge. 6:30 a.m., from Museum to Catboat Plaza and back. Prizes and a raffle. The event aims to raise $50,000 to help Cayman Heart Fund buy a new ambulance. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Entry fee is $20 for ages 14 and older; $10 for ages 13 and under. Registration takes place April 14 and 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the District Admin Building. Saturday at the museum 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.odg.gov.ky/DG5K for the registration form and further details. TUESDAY, APRIL 19 SEAFARERS ASSOCIATION: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association advises all members that there will be a General Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 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. Anyone interested 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. FLOETRY: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Books & Books. All are invited to join Cayman’s poets and performers as they share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. Free admission. THURSDAY, APRIL 21 BRAC COURT: Summary Court is held in the Aston Rutty Civic Centre from 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. PUB QUIZ: Humane Society’s fundraiser at Fidel Murphy’s. 7 p.m. $10 per person, maximum of six people per team. Call 949-5189 to reserve a table or contact sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. CHAMBER COURSE: Immigration, Work Permits (BVPs, TWPs and RERCs), by Nick Joseph. 9-11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $175, future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, APRIL 23 YARD SALE: Valuable items at reasonable prices. 6 Devon Road, the Moravian Church premises in Prospect. From 6 a.m. A fundraiser for the church. FAMILY FUN DAY: National Gallery hosts free family fun art activities based on the exhibition Native Sons – Twenty Years On. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special workshop with Native Sons artist Chris Christian starts at 10 a.m. OUTREACH DINNER: Cayman Outreach Association Dinner Meeting takes place 7:15 p.m. at Triple C School Auditorium. Guest Speaker is Dr. Moland Pusey of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Admission $15. For details call Raphael Bodden, 925-7798. SUNDAY, APRIL 24 REVIVAL SERVICES: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds Revival Services April 24-29. Sunday, 6 p.m. Weeknights 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker is Rev. Leon George of St. Croix, USVI. All are welcome. 5K CHALLENGE: The Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge takes place in Grand Cayman. The event aims to raise $50,000 to help Cayman Heart Fund buy a new ambulance. It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Registration takes place on April 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and April 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Government Admin Building. Visit www.odg.gov.ky/DG5K for registration form and further details. TUESDAY, APRIL 26 CHAMBER COURSE: Time Management and Productivity, by Catherine Tyson. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Members $150, future members $225. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 ART DISCUSSION: Panel Discussion at National Gallery. Doors open 5 p.m. Discussion begins at 6 p.m. Join artists, curators and members of the public for a thought-provoking discussion about the work of the Native Sons and Caymanian art. Admission is free. THURSDAY, APRIL 28 FREE SME WORKSHOP: Unlock your Retail Potential – Tips & Tricks for Success, by Savage Consulting. 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Intellectual Property Basics – Copyright, Trademarks and Patents, by Sophie Davies. 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 29 BAKE SALE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church Women in the Church (WIC) hold a Cake/Bake Sale 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. at Bank of Nova Scotia, George Town. Funds raised will assist with the Ladies Conference to be held May 13-15. CONSUMER PROTECTION: Today is the deadline for comments on the discussion paper, “Consumer Protection – Entrenching Consumer Supremacy in Cayman Islands Legislation.” The paper can be viewed on www.lrc.gov.ky. Submissions should be emailed to cilrc@gov.ky or sent by post or hand to the Director of the Law Reform Commission, 4th Floor, Government Administration Building, Portfolio of Legal Affairs, 133 Elgin Ave., George Town, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 136, Grand Cayman, KY1-9000. PRESCHOOL FUNDING: Today is the last day to apply to the Ministry of Education for the Early Childhood Assistance Program, which provides early childhood center funding for Caymanian children between 3 years old and Reception age as of Sept. 1 and who meet financial criteria. Application forms can be collected from the Government Administration Building, Department of Education Services or early childhood centers, or download from education. gov.ky/portal/page/portal/ mehhome/education/ earlyeducation. SATURDAY, APRIL 30 LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs reminds everyone that applications for the local scholarship program must be received electronically by midnight, 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. GENERAL INTEREST JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT: is recruiting volunteers for several programs. Contact JA Cayman at jacaymanislands@gmail.com or 949-4306. NATIVE SONS: Local artists display 20 years of their work. Free admission. National Gallery on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. NARRATIVE ART: Classes with a qualified art instructor at Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James, 7–9 p.m. Tuesdays through April. Artists of all levels will explore the theory of narrative art discovering ways to tell stories. Drop-in fee is $25 or $35 for non-members. Contact visualartcayman@yahoo.com or 546-9422. 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. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Visual Arts Society offers Ceramic Open Studio to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere: Wednesdays through April 27, 9 a.m. to noon at the Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. Drop-in fee is $15 members, $25 non-members. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities available. For more information, visualartcayman@yahoo.com. VISUAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS: Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Ltd. and the National Gallery will award a four-year scholarship for a student who wishes to pursue an undergraduate degree in the Visual Arts field. Scholarship is worth US$20,000 per year. Application forms, information sheets and additional opportunities for students can also be found on the NGCI website www.nationalgallery.org. ky. Applications can be submitted directly to the NGCI Education Department at education@nationalgallery. org.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit caymancompass.com/events.com. Chefs Edward Lee, left, and Mike Lata will be guest chefs at the Slow Food Day on Saturday, April 16, at Camana Bay.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 Screen Printing Digital Printing Athletic Printing Sublimation Print Embroidery Tee Shirts & Sports Shirts Screenprint & Embroidery Tel: 949-3852 171 Eastern Ave. E-mail: LNG@candw.ky www.aceprint.ky “I am fighting to maintain your democracy,” Mr. McLean said. “They are fighting to take it away from you and turn it into a dictator[ship].” Motions to be heard at April 25 House sitting Premier McLaughlin did not make any statements during Wednesday’s after- noon meeting other than to object to the lack of a quorum. The premier has promised to hear both leg- islative motions during the regular course of busi- ness during the April 25 House sitting. Mr. McLaughlin has previously characterized the effort to hold the emergency meeting as “pure opposition politics” and has said his gov- ernment is busy dealing with many other relevant issues facing Cayman, including a recent media assault by the U.K. Labour Party leadership on the financial services in- dustry here. Police management and response motions Mr. Bush said the issues concerning local police man- agement and response would not go away and will con- tinue to be top of mind for Cayman voters in the run-up to the next general election. “He can run, but he can’t hide,” Mr. Bush said. “He can’t get away from this.” The emergency meeting was called about a month ago to hear two legislative motions that questioned various aspects of local po- lice management, as well as the police service’s response to an incident in which five boaters went missing in Cay- man’s coastal waters. Lawmakers moving the motions have alleged mul- tiple failures by police man- agement and its U.K.-based supervisors. The motion seeking to review police management procedures, filed by East End MLA Mr. McLean, has requested that a Cayma- nian be installed as police commissioner. The motion preceded the announced de- parture of RCIPS Commis- sioner David Baines who is set to leave the service at the end of May. Nine members, no quorum All eight opposition and independent MLAs were present in the House at the start of Wednesday morn- ing’s meeting and one member of the government bench, West Bay MLA Ms. Rivers, was present on the government side. Ms. Rivers rose to object to the meeting being held as a majority of House mem- bers – 10 – were not present. After some legal dis- cussions, Speaker Ms. O’Connor-Connolly ad- journed the House for five minutes and sum- monsed the missing mem- bers, who included Premier McLaughlin, Deputy Pre- mier Moses Kirkconnell and Ministers Kurt Tibbetts, Osbourne Bodden, Wayne Panton and Marco Archer. Progressives backbenchers Joey Hew and Roy McTag- gart were also missing. After the midday break, the House resumed once more with all opposition and independent mem- bers present, and with Ms. Rivers being swapped out on the government bench for Premier McLaughlin who again objected to the lack of a quorum. Emergency legislative meeting fizzles, police motions not heard Mr. Wilson be reconsidered and that he be allowed to remain in Cayman while that process plays out. Since the Immigration Law changed as of Oct. 26, 2013, up through February of this year, a total of 15 residence applications – in- cluding Mr. Wilson’s – have been refused simply be- cause of legal difficulties, mostly due to late filings. Ministry of Home Af- fairs chief officer Eric Bush has explained that, under the rewritten law, perma- nent residence applications must be filed only after a person has gone past eight years of continuous resi- dence in the islands. How- ever, the application has to be filed before that indi- vidual reaches nine years of continuous residence. At nine years, if the appli- cation has not been filed, the person would have to depart Cayman for at least a year prior to re- turning to work. Of the 638 permanent residence applications filed between October 2013 and February 2016, another 12 were outright refused by the board. Those applica- tions were denied during 2013-2014. Last year, no perma- nent residence applications were either approved or denied by the Caymanian Status and Permanent Res- idency Board. One person withdrew their application during 2015. Premier Alden McLaughlin’s office has commissioned a consul- tant’s report to examine several issues related to how permanent residence in Cayman is granted and how the boards responsible for hearing those applica- tions handle their business. That consultant report was expected to be completed this spring, but further im- migration reform proposals have not appeared on the Progressives-led govern- ment’s agenda. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The premier has promised to hear both legislative motions during the regular course of business during the April 25 House sitting. Cayman Airways to replace fleet PR applicant misses deadline by one day planned five-star hotel on Seven Mile Beach in the works, he said there was a 20 percent increase in “room stock” expected. He added, “We want to put them in a position to be successful for the growth that is coming.” Neither Mr. Kirkconnell nor Mr. Rankin would say how much they expect the annual lease arrangement to cost in advance of the pro- curement process, through the Central Tenders Com- mittee. The planes cost be- tween $90 and $110 million to buy, according to Boe- ing’s website. Mr. Whorms said the tech- nical advances made by Boeing in developing the next genera- tion of 737 aircraft made the arrangement possible. “We are at a time in his- tory where technology is bringing costs down and we are able to take advantage of that,” he said. “These planes are com- pletely state of the art.” He said the model was designed to deliver a level of reliability that was unprecedented. Cayman Airways has been plagued by delays in recent years, largely caused by main- tenance issues with its fleet. Mr. Whorms said the new air- craft would mean a “75 per- cent reduction” in delays. “This positions us at the front of the pack when it comes to equipment … Be- cause of the significant im- provement in reliability, we will be able to do a lot more with less.” He said the additional cargo space also created po- tential business opportuni- ties for Cayman Airways. The airline will bring a different Boeing 800 series plane into service in No- vember as an interim mea- sure, and intends to replace the full fleet of 737-300s on a phased timetable between 2018 and 2020. By 2020, the airline will have a full fleet of four 737- 8Max aircraft. Cayman Airways pur- chased three of its 737-300 aircraft, which it had pre- viously leased, in 2014. Mr. Rankin said the decision made sense at that time be- cause the cost to buy the planes was significantly lower than the lease cost over a five-year period. He said it had always been the plan to replace the planes with more modern aircraft as they were due for “retirement,” though he said there was still interest from other airlines in purchasing them from CAL. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “[Mr. Wilson] was not permitted to explain in a separate letter and provide proof of why his application was filed a day late …” GRAND COURT WRIT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 All opposition and independent members of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly attended Wednesday’s emergency meeting, but the government benches were sparsely populated. Education Minister Tara Rivers objects to Wednesday’s meeting being held without the requisite number of lawmakers present. – PHOTOS : BRENT FULLERNext >