ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 SPORT | PAGE 17 CAYMAN RUGBY GEARS UP FOR BIG GAME 6 High of 86 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CAYMAN STANDOFF: COPS VS. CRIMINALS PremierHealth More claims get an automatic green light with BritCay! 57% of your claims were auto-adjudicated first* with BritCay. BritCay budgets for high volumes of claims. We pay more claims, more accurately and quicker than any other local health insurance provider. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES 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 cgigrp Green community plan for Grand Harbour JURY RETIRES TO DELIBERATE IN BOUCHARD TRIAL CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Grand Court jury of four men and three women retired Wednesday after- noon to consider evidence in the trial of Michelle Bouchard. Justice Paul Worsley directed them to re- turn separate verdicts on each of 26 counts on the indictment. Bouchard is charged with 15 counts of theft totaling more than $2 million from James Bruce Handford between May 2010 and October 2012, as well as one count of forgery, one of obtaining property by deception, three counts of transferring criminal prop- erty and six counts of attempting to transfer criminal property. Before they retired at 1:26 p.m. to consider their verdict, Justice Worsley instructed ju- rors on the law and reviewed the evidence. He said the prosecution’s case was that Bouchard was a scheming gold digger, while the de- fense said she was in a caring relationship with Mr. Handford and had access to money with no restrictions. The issue was whether Bouchard was acting dishonestly when she used money in both a U.S. and a CI joint account she held with Mr. Handford, the judge said. Justice Worsley called the jury back at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday and instructed them to return Thursday morning to continue their deliberations. Mr. Handford, now 88 and residing in a se- cure care facility in Australia, suffers from de- mentia. He gave statements to police in Oc- tober 2012. There were earlier indications that he was having memory problems. The judge said the defense was asking jurors to consider Mr. Handford’s mental state at the time; the prosecution said Mr. Handford’s statements were detailed and gave a balanced account of his relationship with Bouchard. Mr. Handford’s first statement said he met Bouchard after he bought a condominium that required decorating and the management company hired her. She subsequently asked to stay in a spare room for a few months while she got on her feet after losing her job. She of- fered to do secretarial work and her payment would be room and board. Mr. Handford opened a joint account so she could pay his bills, he said in his state- ment. Then he added her to his U.S. account to facilitate a business she wanted to de- velop – buying an old property, refurbishing it and selling it at a profit. She would keep the ‘Freak accident’ kills East End woman BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A long-time resident of Grand Cayman’s East End district died Tuesday afternoon in what family members described as a “freak accident” in the driveway of her property. Esther Scott, 66, died around 5 p.m. when she was struck by a Sterling dump truck that had just dropped off a load of aggregate in the front yard of her home on John McLean Drive. Ms. Scott’s grandnephew, Fa- bian Scott, who lived with her, said Ms. Scott signed for the de- livery of the marl, which he in- tended to use to fill in the back- yard of the property. Mr. Scott said the dump truck had backed into the driveway of the home, unloaded its con- tents and was preparing to drive away when his great aunt somehow got caught underneath the vehicle. “She can’t see really that good, it just looked like she got caught and pulled under the truck,” Mr. Scott said. Orange police markings could still be seen in the dirt- track driveway where Ms. Scott had been struck. Mr. Scott said the truck driver stopped on the road outside the house almost immediately, apparently realizing after the fact that he’d struck someone. “I guess he just didn’t see her,” Mr. Scott said. Dozens of members of the Scott family in East End gath- ered outside Ms. Scott’s sister’s house next door Wednesday fol- lowing the accident. Mr. Scott said the family was devastated by his great aunt’s sudden and untimely death, Periwinkle aims to be first LEED-certified community JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An environmentally friendly housing de- velopment, featuring 85 homes, is planned for Grand Harbour. Pre-construction sales have begun for the Periwinkle residential community on land overlooking the North Sound canals, next to Hurley’s Supermarket. The project aims to be the first of its type in the Cayman Islands to gain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification – an internation- ally recognized rating for environmentally friendly buildings. Ryan Ostendorf, of Periwinkle Develop- ment, said a planning application would go in next month for the first phase of the de- velopment, with construction set to begin in October. He said the project was fully financed and was backed by Caymanian in- vestors. Arch and Godfrey is the contractor. The project will feature a mix of Cayman-style cottages, courtyard town homes and waterfront town homes, around a large swimming pool, Jacuzzi and boat dock. Prices will range from $350,000 to $1 million. Mr. Ostendorf said the homes will fea- ture rooftop solar panels and an energy-ef- ficient design that will guarantee monthly An architect’s rendering of the Periwinkle community planned for the Grand Harbour area. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. © y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - THE JUNGLE BOOK 3D (PG) 1:00 I 1:30 2D I 3:30 I 4:00 2D I 6:30 7:00 2D I 9:00 I 9:30 2D THE BOSS (R) 1:00 I 3:40 I 7:00 I 9:30 BATMAN V SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE 3D (PG13) 3:45 2D I 8:00 CRIMINAL (R) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:50 ZOOTOPIA (PG13) 12:45 I 3:30 LONDON HAS FALLEN (R) 7:20 I 9:40 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Defense probes shooting victim’s gang links JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jason Powery was part of the so-called Birch Tree Hill gang and had received death threats in the months before he was shot dead outside a George Town bar, a court heard Wednesday. His friend Jerome Hurlston said he was not aware of rumors linking Mr. Powery to a handful of other shootings. But he ac- knowledged his friend had received a threat on Face- book, stating: “[expletive] you’re dead.” Brothers Justin Ramoon and Osbourne Douglas are jointly charged with murder in connection with the killing on July 1 last year. Mr. Hurlston testified Tuesday that he saw Ramoon shoot the 20-year-old victim in the face from point- blank range. Facing cross-examination Wednesday, he acknowledged that Mr. Powery had received a threat on social media from another man, not charged in relation to the crime. Under questioning from Ramoon’s lawyer Sean Larkin, QC, Mr. Hurlston accepted that he and Mr. Powery were part of a group sometimes called the Birch Tree Hill gang, though he said they were just friends from that area and did not identify themselves as a gang. He denied any knowledge of rumors, raised by the bar- rister, linking Mr. Powery to other shootings and an inci- dent of witness intimidation. He said he was unaware of other threats to Mr. Powery from rival West Bay “gangs,” referred to by Mr. Larkin. He said his friend had not sug- gested to him that he feared for his life. Asked if he was aware that Mr. Powery owned an AK-47 and had been photo- graphed with the weapon on Facebook, he said he had no knowledge of this. Asked if he owned or had ever owned a firearm him- self, Mr. Hurlston said no. He added, “I might need one now, after this,” referring to his testimony in the trial. He said he, Mr. Powery and their friend Justin Ebanks, had no reason to fear for their safety when they visited the Globe Bar on the night of July 1. Even after he says he saw Douglas with a gun, he said he was not afraid. “They (Douglas and Ramoon) are family to me. I wouldn’t expect them to do anything to me or my friends,” he said. Describing again the mo- ment his friend was shot, Mr. Hurlston acknowledged he had not fled the scene. Even when the shooter, who he identified as Ramoon walked up to him and raised the weapon, he said he did not run. “I stood like this and said ‘blood clot,’ and I car- ried on looking. I must have been ready to face my death because I never ran, I stood there,” he said. Mr. Hurlston had ear- lier testified that Ramoon had raised the weapon a second time, but the gun did not go off. He denied a suggestion from Mr. Larkin that he had removed a gun from Mr. Pow- ery’s body in the aftermath of the shooting. He acknowledged that po- lice had initially interviewed him because of rumors that he had been involved in the shooting himself. “Your clients were trying to mix me up in this, they said I set up my friend,” he told the barrister. “I went to clear my name and tell them what hap- pened … I don’t like police, I wouldn’t have gone to police to make a report.” Asked about other rumors linking different individuals to the crime, he said he had heard the mother of the two defendants claiming it was somebody else. “I was there, I can tell you what I saw happen,” he said. The trial was continuing Wednesday afternoon. Court visits scene of the crime JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Amid the squawking of feral chickens and the barking of a junk yard dog, Grand Court con- vened Wednesday in the un- usual confines of a cramped Scranton back alley. Swapping the sober sur- roundings of the courthouse for the parking lots, scrap land and alleyways around the Globe Bar, the court moved, en masse, to the scene of the murder of 20-year- old Jason Powery in central George Town. As armed police officers stood guard at every en- tryway to the area, witness Jerome Hurlston, clad in a bulletproof vest, pointed out the key locations referred to in his testimony. The two defendants, brothers Osbourne Douglas and Justin Ramoon, each with their hands and feet shackled, and flanked by a pair of prison guards, were among an entourage of law- yers, court staff and re- porters in attendance for the crime-scene walkthrough. Led by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards, Mr. Hurlston dem- onstrated where he and other witnesses had been standing when he says he saw his friend, Mr. Powery, shot in the face at point-blank range by Ramoon. Justice Charles Quin, who is presiding over the judge- alone trial, wore a suit and Panama hat as he surveyed the scene. Graffiti adorned the walls of the buildings around the bar; “Thug Life,” “Make dat money,” “RIP Chunks” … “Life, Love, Liberty.” A small crowd of on- lookers stood some dis- tance from the action. Two workmen sat under a blue tarpaulin at the back of the bar, temporarily downing tools to allow the proceed- ings to take place. A dog, straining at a chain on top of a scrap car, barked continu- ously in the background. Mr. Hurlston spoke only to illustrate elements of the testimony he gave Tuesday, showing where he had been standing at various points on the night of the shooting. He has testified that he clearly saw Ramoon shoot his friend at point-blank range on July 1 last year. Justin Ramoon, front, striped shirt, and Osbourne Douglas, back, step from the prison van outside the Globe Bar on Wednesday. – PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKER Justice Charles Quin walks the scene around the Globe Bar. Director of Public Prosections Cheryll Richards, in the black suit, leads the court entourage around the scene.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 ROTARY CENTRAL Log on to www.caymancarnival for more information Flow land lines suffer outage MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Telecommunications pro- vider Flow experienced out- ages on Wednesday affecting its fixed-line services, in- cluding inbound and out- bound calls. “We are experiencing an outage with customers making international calls and some customers are expe- riencing issues calling locally due to a transmission failure,” Flow said in a statement. Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Flow issued notices to its customers on Twitter and Facebook about the phone problems. Full service was re- stored by 1 p.m. The Chamber of Com- merce received some com- ments from member busi- nesses which were affected by the phone outages, Chamber CEO Wil Pineau said. The phone problems re- flected the results of a recent survey by the Chamber of the issues that companies are most concerned with. “We recently surveyed our members and asked them to identify some of the top in- frastructure issues,” said Mr. Pineau. “Internet speeds and access topped the list. There was no specific provider iden- tified in the survey but our members are seeking im- proved Internet speeds, access and reliability.” In addition to the telecommunication short- comings, survey respondents highlighted they were also concerned with waste man- agement and the remediation of the George Town landfill as another important infra- structure issue that should be addressed. The most impor- tant business needs iden- tified by Chamber mem- bers were the costs incurred when doing business and business growth. POLICE INVESTIGATING FUND THEFT The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service is in- vestigating the criminal complaint of a theft from a locally managed invest- ment fund. Police said the Finan- cial Crime Unit of the RCIPS opened the investi- gation on April 8, but had made no arrests as of press time Wednesday. The allegation comes from the local office of an investment firm and re- gards “a theft of a quan- tity of money by one of its employees from a fund managed on behalf of the client.” Police did not name the company or the em- ployee involved. MAY DEADLINE FOR SEAFARERS’ AND VETERANS’ BENEFITS Seafarers and vet- erans, and their spouses, who are receiving gov- ernment benefits, have until May 31 to up- date their information with the Ministry of Fi- nance and Economic Development. The ministry issued an advisory this week stating that anyone re- ceiving the benefits should have received a form to fill out and re- turn to the ministry. The forms can be returned by mail or dropped off in person at the Government Ad- ministration Building on Elgin Avenue. The ministry has been working to update its health insurance data- base since July 2015. Those who do not re- spond to the appeal for updated information risk losing their benefits. Anyone who has not received a form or has questions can call the ministry at 244-2224. Governor presented with Bob Soto biography Bob Soto’s granddaughter Amanda and his wife Suzy Soto deliver a copy of the late dive pioneer’s biography to Governor Helen Kilpatrick this week. Mr. Soto, who opened his first dive shop at the George Town waterfront in 1957, passed away in March last year, at the age of 88, leaving behind many stories in his own words, which were published in the book ‘Extraordinary Adventures.’ – PHOTO: 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 21, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman standoff: Cops vs. criminals In the early hours of Sunday morning, a large crowd gathered near McField Square in George Town to observe a dangerous confrontation between a gunman and police. Upon being stopped for questioning by police, 22-year-old Jonathan Welcome produced a firearm and pointed it at officers. In response, one officer drew his weapon and commanded Welcome to drop his firearm. Welcome refused to comply. As the throng watched, “The man, while pointing the gun at officers, fled into the densely popu- lated area of Rock Hole where he was able to elude capture,” according to a police statement. The showdown the crowd witnessed that night can be seen as emblematic of the overall situation of crime in the Cayman Islands, with violent criminals on one side, law enforcement authorities on the other, and society vulnerable to the crossfire. In regard to Sunday’s incident, the police statement praised the armed officer for exercising “extraordinary restraint and concern for public safety” by not igniting a gun battle in the presence of multiple onlookers, even though it meant that Welcome was able to escape. (His freedom may turn out to be temporary – police know exactly who he is, have distributed his photograph through local media and are encouraging people to share information about his whereabouts with police or Crime Stoppers. He should turn himself in immediately.) Some commenters have expressed contrary opinions, and warn that the officer’s refusal to use his weapon might embolden other gunmen who may now believe they can avoid arrest in the future by threat- ening police with firearms. We (with our limited knowledge of what occurred) think it unwise to criticize the armed officer’s split- second judgment based on what “might” happen in the future. Police who carry firearms do so in order to protect themselves, their fellow officers and the public – not to shoot criminals, unless there is no other choice. In this case, there was. The officer’s decision not to shoot may very well have saved lives and prevented collateral injuries. The task now for police is to ensure that Welcome is arrested and brought to justice. Just as in the tense standoff with Welcome, our police in general have been placed in an extremely precarious position. Brazen acts of criminality, much of it involving guns, appear to be on the rise – including armed robberies at Alfresco in West Bay, Al La Kebab in Marquee Plaza, Island Jewellers in Camana Bay and Discount Liquors in Pasadora Place. In the media, over the radio and on the Internet, certain segments of the Cayman community have formed a vituperative chorus to rave against the police. In part because of unfair and irresponsible criti- cisms, the overall toxic atmosphere and erosion of support for our peace officers, our police will soon face a vacuum in top leadership, with the impending depar- tures of Police Commissioner David Baines, Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brougham, Superintendent Mike Cranswick and Superintendent Robert Scotland – leaving only three officers remaining at the level of superintendent or above. Perhaps the most significant and most formidable duty for Governor Helen Kilpatrick, in the final year of her tenure, will be to fill the ranks of police leadership and set up the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for success. As governor, she is responsible for fighting crime “from the top down.” But the fundamental, and the far more important, responsibility of battling criminality “from the ground up” lies not with the governor, any U.K. appointee nor any Caymanian in the police leadership, but with the collective members of Cayman society. In the long term, in order to prevent our country from falling victim to waves of violence and lawlessness, we must address the cancer of crime before it develops and metastasizes. In this protracted war, our weapons will not be batons, Tasers or firearms – or anything designed to harm the body. Our weapons must be implements that cultivate the mind and spirit: education, accountability, employ- ment and opportunities. LETTER TO THE EDITOR ‘PR in principle’ I wish to explore an idea. This is an idea that favors the law abiding “everyday” class of people. This “PR in prin- ciple” idea is for the middle- class family or individual who comes to our shores; falls in love with our islands and our way of life; and wants to be- come an integral part of it; yet is not rich or of independent financial means. Currently, all persons who reach eight years of legal ordinary residence in the Cayman Islands are eligible to apply for Permanent Res- idence. Then the applicant is subjected to a process (points earned for various identi- fied parts; with a total of 110 points or more assuring the applicant of a grant). My idea uses this legal process but sort of “fast for- wards” the clock. What about if a small governmental depart- ment was created for the pur- pose of receiving applications early; say after four years of being ordinarily a legal resi- dent? This application would be simple yet carry some weight and direction. Here is how I envisage it happening and also how I think it would be beneficial to both the appli- cant and the local economy. Firstly; how it would ben- efit the applicant, who would have already been ordinarily a legal resident on the island; either by being the holder of a valid work permit or on a government contract. The ap- plicant would complete a pre- scribed form that would ask various questions and seek certain documents to support some of the answers given by the applicant. A small fee could be attached by the re- sponsible government de- partment charged (most likely it will remain with the Im- migration Department) that would serve to further boost government’s central revenue stream. However, revenue gen- eration would not be the main thrust of this exercise nor of this process. What it would seek to do, is to allow the ap- plicant to “test themselves” and to receive back from the designated governmental de- partment a formal letter; call it an “green light”; that would be a way shower. This letter would indi- cate and confirm to the ap- plicant that should they con- tinue on the path that they are currently pursuing, their chances of obtaining full Per- manent Residence after their completion of eight years of legal residence is very strong. This simple process would identify from early on if this applicant individual really wants to be a part of our cul- ture and our way of life. The process would enable the applicant individual to get good, reliable and indepen- dent feedback from an estab- lished governmental body as to how they are doing. It will put that feeling of comfort and assurance in their belly and allow the applicant indi- vidual to better decide from early whether to invest in real property in the islands. It is one of my personal positions that anyone who has been here for four years should have some indication on where they stand relative to their long-term tenure within these beloved Cayman Islands. After all, why pur- chase land, a home or invest in the country in other ways that would serve to stimu- late the local economy if you are asked to leave four years later? Some degree of se- curity must be available to the average law-abiding and hard-working legal resident. I say that after four years of being an ordinary legal resi- dent; the country should be willing and able to extend their hand of inclusion and friendship and say “keep this up and we want you!” Secondly, it will not only serve to further boost gov- ernment’s revenue generation; but more importantly; allow and even encourage the appli- cant to take proactive action to perhaps realize the sale of a property in their home country and then use those sale proceeds to fuel eco- nomic growth in our own is- lands’ economy by purchasing a home or property here. This not only fuels solid economic growth potential but also serves as a real testament to the authorities that a partic- ular applicant individual (or family unit) is/are indeed se- rious about becoming a part of our social fabric. And this is something that would be identified from early on as the PR in principle process would start once the person has completed four years of being an ordinary legal resident. In my mind, it would set the applicant individual (or family unit) free from unnec- essary doubts and fears as to “what their chances will be” and would also enlighten the applicant individual that should he/she/they; continue being law-abiding; continue being involved in our society; continue reflecting that “Cay- manKind” spirit and atti- tude; that upon their formal application after eight years of legal residency that their chances of obtaining full PR is fairly assured. Because my firm view is that we have many good and decent people in our midst who are neither rich nor of independent financial means, and should we find a way to work along with them and in the process give them that “comforting feeling at the bottom of their bellies” that we would have achieved a “win-win” situation that we all can be justly proud of. Indeed, it is also another of my personal positions that anyone that has been here for eight or nine years as an ordi- nary legal resident, has incul- cated themselves into our cul- ture; has been active within our civic society; has shown; by consistent and diligent ap- plication of their mannerisms and has shown that they re- ally want to make these is- lands their home; and has no criminal record … should get Permanent Residency as a matter of right and forgo all the ridiculous hassle and sub- jectivity that now ensues. In the end, I have always found that good people are not the loudest or the richest; but the “little man” who is humble enough to be a vi- brant and integral part of our social fabric but just needs to know that we, too, want them to become a part of us. George R. Ebanks 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” [A]nyone who has been here for four years should have some indication on where they stand relative to their long-term tenure within these beloved Cayman Islands.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 Apply today and get FREE† additional cards! Reward yourself in two easy ways Choose one or both! Welcome Bonus offers end May 31, 2016. †† Scotiabank Gold MasterCard® Get a Welcome Bonus of US$40† Cash Back ®Scotiabank / AAdvantage® MasterCard® Get a Welcome Bonus of up to 7,000 AAdvantage® miles† Travel Rewards ®® †Conditions apply. Subject to credit approval. 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Unless specified, AAdvantage® miles earned through this promotion/offer do not count toward elite-status qualification or Million MilerSM status. American Airlines® is not responsible for products or services offered by other participating companies. For complete details about the AAdvantage® program, visit www.aa.com/aadvantage. Scotiabank issues the Scotiabank/AAdvantage® card. American Airlines®, AAdvantage® and Million Miler are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. ®MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. /ScotiabankKY Go to cayman.scotiabank.com/bonusrewards to see how your rewards can add up. Cash Back Cayman_Q2 Credit Card2016_5.0667x7.8975.indd 14/17/16 8:17 PM Deportation ‘likely’ after Webb guilty plea BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman businessman Jef- frey Webb faces up to a 20- year sentence, possible de- portation and additional fines in exchange for his November guilty plea to racketeering and fraud-related charges in connection with the ongoing FIFA probe in the U.S. According to transcripts of court testimony from the Nov. 23, 2015 plea, which were released last week, U.S. District Court Judge Ray- mond Dearie noted that “re- moval” – deportation – from the U.S. would be a “likely” consequence of the guilty plea, but that the matter was largely out of the court’s hands. “[Deportation] is not a de- cision that I make,” Judge Dearie said during plea pro- ceedings, which were re- leased in heavily redacted form following a request from U.S. news agency Bloomberg. In addition to Webb’s plea hearing, tran- scripts for similar hear- ings related to FIFA defen- dants Alejandro Burzaco and Jose Margulies were also partially released. “It is a decision made by other authorities, immigra- tion folks,” the judge con- tinued, speaking to Webb and his attorney Edward O’Callaghan. “I bring it to your attention because it is a likely consequence of your conviction.” Cayman Islands resident Webb pleaded guilty in No- vember to racketeering, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, a total of seven criminal counts in the FIFA indictment, a case which now involves more than 40 former high-ranking officials in world football’s governing body. Webb, a former FIFA vice president, is accused of taking millions of dol- lars in bribes in exchange for awarding commercializa- tion rights for certain foot- ball tournaments in the re- gion. His sentencing is set for June 3. “I … abused my position of trust … by embezzling funds intended for the ben- efit of football organiza- tions that I represented and by soliciting and accepting bribes and kickbacks re- lated to other agreements between, for example, CON- CACAF [FIFA’s regional of- fice for North and Central America and the Caribbean] and third party vendors, for services and equipment,” Webb said during the sen- tencing. “I deeply regret my participation in this il- legal conduct.” It is likely that Webb will receive a reduced sentence in exchange for his cooperation with U.S. federal prosecu- tors in the FIFA investigation, but details of those arrange- ments were not disclosed in the court transcripts released last week. A 21-page plea agree- ment Webb signed was not released as part of the court records. Webb has a right to ap- peal the sentence if he feels the court’s decision on June 3 to be “unreasonable.” Judge Dearie pointed out that Webb also faces additional fines totaling US$500,000, or an amount equaling half of the proceeds he received from the crim- inal enterprise, in addition to the US$6.8 million he has already agreed to forfeit in relation to the case. “I’m not sure what the government’s thought are on that, but I have little, if any, discretion with respect to restitution,” the judge said. As far as Webb’s cur- rent situation in the U.S., court transcripts reveal that – while he is on court-super- vised release – he is currently the sole caregiver for his 2-year-old child whom he has with his wife, Atlanta-area doctor Kendra Gamble-Webb. During the proceedings, Mr. O’Callaghan asked the court to vary Webb’s super- vised release conditions to allow him to care for the boy while his wife is at work. The court agreed that Webb could leave his Loganville, Georgia home for the purpose of “run- ning errands” for the child. “Don’t abuse that privi- lege,” the court warned. “I … abused my position of trust … by embezzling funds intended for the benefit of football organizations that I represented …” JEFFREY WEBB Cayman’s 18-month ‘one-time’ budget will be sent to UK Archer: ‘We’ve done everything they’ve asked’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands gov- ernment will submit a one- time, 18-month spending plan to the U.K.’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office within the next week for pre-ap- proval, likely to be the last time Cayman will have to do so, according to Finance Min- ister Marco Archer. Although it appears Cayman will be back within all six measures of respon- sible financial manage- ment set out in local law, the final proof of that will not be known until the cur- rent government budget year ends on June 30, Mr. Archer said. Cayman has to submit its next budget to the U.K. prior to that date, the finance minister said. “With the upcoming budget, we would still have to seek approval because this goes to the Legislative As- sembly before the end of the [fiscal] year,” Mr. Archer said. “I always need to stress, this achievement doesn’t mean we have to stop complying with the requirements of the Public Management and Finance Law.” The upcoming 18-month budget is a transition, ac- cording to the finance min- ister, as Cayman switches its government budgets to a two-year cycle. The next budget will run between July 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2017. After that, the local govern- ment will issue two-year budgets starting Jan. 1 of one year and ending Dec. 31 of the next. Mr. Archer said the 18-month budget will not have as large an operating surplus as recent government budgets have shown, mostly due to timing. The 18-month period be- tween this July and De- cember 2017 will only con- tain one “high earning” revenue period between Jan- uary and April. Typically, the Cayman Islands government takes in most of its annual revenue during the first few months of the calendar year, when tourism revenues are at their peak and when most fi- nancial services-related com- pany fees are due. By contrast, the next budget will contain two “low revenue” periods – during the tourism off-season normally between August and No- vember – when government revenues tend to shrink. “Except for the opera- tional surplus, the perfor- mance [for the 18-month budget] is as good or better than in previous years,” Mr. Archer said. The 18-month plan does not include any proposals to borrow money or to add new government fees. The fi- nance minister said a recent increase in airport security tax was a requirement of the Civil Aviation Authority in line with international standards, adding that the money earned would be “ring fenced” for security purposes and not added to the govern- ment’s general fund budget. Mr. Archer acknowledged there could be some diffi- culty for lawmakers com- paring this year’s 12-month budget to the upcoming 18- month spending plan. To ease that comparison pro- cess, Mr. Archer said the cur- rent budget numbers would be estimated on an 18-month spending timeline, including budget planners’ best guess at what another six months of spending might have looked like. “It’s basically what the ex- pected expenditure [over 18 months] would have been,” Mr. Archer said. Both Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush and indepen- dent North Side MLA Ezzard Miller have strongly objected to the change to multiyear budgeting, stating it does not allow for proper scrutiny of government accounts until it is “too late.” Mr. Miller has said that the proposed 18-month “in- terim budget,” between July 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2017, would allow the current gov- ernment to effectively “skip” finance committee and stra- tegic policy reporting re- quirements during its last 12 months in office prior to the May 2017 general elec- tion. There have been rumors of an earlier election being called, but Premier Alden McLaughlin has brushed aside questions on the topic in recent months. “[The budget process] pro- vides some opportunities for government to spend money in that period leading to the election that is not going to be scrutinized until long after the next election takes place,” Mr. Miller said. Mr. Archer denied that would be the case under the Progressives-led government. He explained that while the budget plan would be ex- tended, first for 18 months and then to two years, annual audits and reviews of gov- ernment spending would still take place as prescribed by the law. Opposition Leader Bush pointed out that those audits have often lagged years be- hind the actual expenditure and that legislature members are not allowed to question those reports at the time they are made public, due to Leg- islative Assembly rules. “That is a long period of time when there is no scru- tiny,” Mr. Bush said. “Except for the operational surplus, the performance [for the 18-month budget] is as good or better than in previous years.” MARCO ARCHER, finance ministerTHURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town In the April 20, 1966 edition of the Cay- manian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “During the last two weeks, there has been an increase in the number of people arriving and leaving Bodden Town. As the tourist season is about over, this embarka- tion and disembarkation of the natives must be a boon to the airlines. “Not since the days of the gold rush in Nicaragua has there been such a constant movement. “It is an interesting fact that Bodden Town is the only district in which the pop- ulation has remained steady. When other places are studying means and ways of birth control to deal with the exploding population, or suffering from an exodus of the inhabitants to more urban areas, we seem to mark time with an invariable beat. “In the last half-century, Bodden Town’s population of about 600 has not differed more than a few score. “The many immigrations of the two weeks under review have been balanced in our own stereotyped pattern by the depar- ture of an equal amount of persons. “I am afraid that my readers would be bored with a detailed list of the many pas- sengers involved. However, there are few which must be mentioned, because of exten- uating circumstances. “Mr. Joe Watler, a resident of Mobile, Alabama, from the era of sailing ships 50 years ago, has returned to see his sister Mrs. Emil Watler. It was my pleasure to meet Mr. Watler. He bears all the hallmarks of a suc- cessful Caymanian. “Also returning to the island was Mrs. Crawford, an extremely agreeable visitor of many winters. She is now building a home in Pease Bay. “Mr. Edgar Wood went to Cayman Brac. He will be the local manager of Barclays Bank there, as the present incumbent of that post has an injured arm. “Miss Janice Solomon has gone to Ja- maica with a patient from this district. Janice is a qualified midwife. “Many others are enjoying the novelty of a first trip abroad. “Upon my requisition for a telephone in my home, I was told that there will be no house-to-house system for Bodden Town. Please watch next week’s issue of this paper for my article ‘How government has ne- glected Bodden Town.’ “On Saturday evening the 9th a motor car accident occurred at Pedro. A car driven by Collin Christian of this district came in contact with another car driven by Marcus Ebanks. Both cars were damaged and the police investigated the matter. This incident, though a minor one, attracted great atten- tion as it happened in the midst of the resi- dential area. “As I had prognosticated in a recent ar- ticle, the play on Easter Sunday night at the United Church Bodden Town turned out to be a truly great affair. “The capacity packed house was capti- vated by the dramatic ability of the whole cast. In an atmosphere of pure reverence, ‘The Easter Story’ was retold and relived by the talented actors who seemed so assured and competent. “Many who saw the play acclaimed it to be better than ‘The Life of Christ,’ which was currently showing at the theatre.” 50 years ago: Visits of note, and a home phone refused Bodden Town Primary to stage free concert Students will also take part in 15 performances ELPHINA JONES ejones@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town Primary School students are currently honing their talents and practicing hard to stage a free concert later this month. More than 100 pupils ages 4 to 11 have already signed up to perform in the “Swing into Spring” com- munity concert, which is the first of its kind that the school has organized in partnership with security company Cayman Islands Protective Services. Students will also be taking part in 15 perfor- mances, including singing, dancing, a fashion show and speech choir, along with in- strumental solos and an in- strumental orchestra, the school’s principal June El- liott said. The concert on Thursday, April 28, will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Bodden Town Civic Centre, which has a seating capacity of 250, and will last approximately an hour and a half. Hot dogs, pizzas, juice, chips and snow-cones will be on sale at the concert. Annette Paul, the main or- ganizer of the concert, said proceeds from the sale of refreshments will go to the school’s Parent Teacher Association. “The concert will show- case our students’ talents and should be a fun-filled evening the entire family can enjoy,” said Ms. Elliott. “We’d like other mem- bers of the community to at- tend too, as we’re looking to strengthen our links with the district as a whole.” According to Ms. Elliott, “Swing into Spring” is the first of many community-fo- cused events that the school will be organizing. “[The goal is to promote] our students’ positive image and amazing drive in cre- ating and pursuing their gift on many levels,” she said. The school’s music staff, Jocelyn Moss and Trilby Lingard, along with other staff, have been working since January to help stu- dents prepare for the con- cert, as well as for The Na- tional Children’s Festival of the Arts which concludes next month. Bodden Town Primary students practice their recorder skills. Their concert will take place on Thursday, April 28.CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town Reading Day inspires Savannah students Savannah Primary students had a cornucopia of activities to take part in on the school’s recent Reading Day. On Friday, April 15, students and staff enthusiastically dove into the day’s events dressed as their favorite characters, and explored the world of reading in a variety of ways. “Our goal was to awaken students’ enthusiasm and in- terest in reading a wide genre of books,” explained Savannah Primary principal Carol Nyack. One of the day’s high- lights was the “Reading Rocks,” segment where stu- dents interpreted reading songs such as “Gotta Keep Reading” by Heath and a re- make of Taylor Swift’s song “Shake it Off” in creative ways. Their imaginations were on show as they performed well- choreographed dances, gym- nastic routines, songs and poems. “Each item generated more and more enjoyment, energy and enthusiasm while driving home the goal of ‘you must read to succeed’ and how much reading really rocks,” said Ms. Nyack. Also keeping to the reading theme, a huge bulletin board was displayed at school’s en- trance for the “Guess your teacher’s book” challenge. Pic- tures of the teachers and a picture of the cover of their favorite book were placed on the board. Students matched the names of teachers and staff with what they thought was their favorite book. “We also had another seg- ment called ‘Read around,’ where teachers read with stu- dents from different years and classes,” said Ms. Nyack. On the day, the school also launched a reading competi- tion. Reading logs were distrib- uted to all students, and all stu- dents reading 100 pages will qualify for a prize by the end of May when the competition ends. The organizing committee included CarolAnn Peart and Annie Briggs. Reception Stewart did a great job performing ‘Gotta Keep Reading.’Reception Jones students were adorable as Very Hungry Caterpillars. The Year 2 Simpson-Johnson class during their performance. The Pedro St. James sign was recently knocked down by a passing vehicle. Thanks to CCTV footage provided by the RCIPS of the incident, which happened on Saturday, April 9, the driver was identified. It’s the second time the sign has been knocked down, prompting the attraction to move the replacement sign to a safer location. Members of the public are invited to submit their suggestions as to where the new sign should be placed, so it is easier to see and less likely to be knocked down again, to info@pedrostjames.ky. Sign knocked down Over the next few days, the dis- trict will be getting a little greener and artists will have the chance to channel their muses at some of the upcoming events in Bodden Town. On Earth Day, which this year falls on Friday, April 22, Bodden Town Primary will be joining other schools across the island in doing its bit for the planet, with a tree planting. This year’s global theme for Earth Day is Trees for the Earth, with this year’s Earth Day Network striving to plant 50,000 trees by Earth Day. “Trees reverse the impacts of land degradation,” the Earth Day Network website states. “They provide food, energy, and income. Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environ- mental sustainability. They filter the air and help stave off the ef- fects of climate change both glob- ally and locally. Cayman’s contri- bution to Trees for the Earth is a joint initiative by the National Trust, the Sustainable Cayman cit- izens’ group, and Cayman Growers nursery who have donated in- digenous trees including royal palms and mahogany to partici- pating schools. Members of Sus- tainable Cayman have volunteered to present a little talk at each of the participating schools at the planting, emphasizing the impor- tance of trees to the environment. The Visual Arts Society has a number of activities coming up at the Watler House Studio on the grounds of Pedro St. James. On Monday, April 25, from 1-4:30 p.m., the painting open studio wel- comes youth and adults who want to work independently in the Watler House’s inspiring atmosphere. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Materials and in- struction are not included. On Tuesday, April 26, the Society will be holding narrative art classes at the Watler House Studio with a qualified instructor from 7-9 p.m. Artists of all levels will explore the theory of narrative art, discovering ways to tell stories. The class will enable participants to develop their lateral thinking along with concept building to help them come up with ideas to build into a piece working in different mediums. There is a discounted rate for 10 sessions and the drop-in rate is $25 per session for members and $35 for non-members. Classes will be held every Tuesday until May 31. On Wednesday, the Society of- fers a ceramic open studio to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $15 for members and $25 for non- members. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities are available. For more information on these and other Visual Arts Society activities, email visualartcayman@yahoo.com. Coming up in Bodden Town8 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Brent Hydes is the manager of the Hope For Today Foundation residence in West Bay. Residents at the Hope For Today Foundation are responsible for all chores, including preparing meals and doing their own laundry. Currently there are seven people living at the halfway home in the Hell district of West Bay. – PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS To Hell and back With the help of the Hope for Today Foundation, recovering alcohol and crack addicts in Grand Cayman battle to rebuild their lives JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jason Dixon knew he was going back to Northward. He’d been out of jail for a couple of months and had quickly fallen back into familiar habits. Unable to find steady work and struggling to deal with the daily frustrations of life, he turned, as he had so often in the past, to drugs and alcohol. “I fell off the tracks, got back into using crack and smoking herb. I went back to drinking, then went back to stealing,” he remembers. It was a familiar cycle for Dixon, who has spent most of his adult life in and out of prison. When he was caught after a break- in at the home of a police officer, he did not expect any second chances. “I was back up for burglary and it was a police officer. I knew I was going to prison,” he says. But by the grace of God and a good attorney, he says, he ended up, instead in the custody of the Hope for Today Foundation, sharing a home with other recovering addicts and substance abusers under the watchful eye of halfway house man- ager Brent Hydes. That was eight months ago. He has been sober ever since and for the first time feels confident that he has a future that does not involve drugs, al- cohol and crime. “I have opened my heart up to God and I feel like a different person. When I look in the mirror, I see the person I knew when I was growing up, not the person I had become. I don’t have the urges for crack cocaine and ganja any longer. “The support and friendship I have found in this house make me stronger and help me to stay on the right path.” Dixon is one of seven people cur- rently living at the halfway home in the Hell district of West Bay, which provides a temporary haven for recov- ering addicts. Some are referred by the courts, some by the parole board, others refer themselves. With Grand Cayman’s only male prison bursting at the seams, Mr. Hydes believes it could be time to rethink Cayman’s crime-and-punishment approach. For Mr. Hydes, Jason Dixon’s story has a familiar ring to it. Around 25-30 people, many of them former in- mates, all of them struggling with substance abuse, come through the home each year. They find basic accommodation in a safe, drug- and alcohol-free zone, away from the temptations of their old environment. They also find a place to quietly readjust to society, to find work and gain some economic independence after sometimes lengthy spells in jail. “I have seen people come in here like Jason, like most residents, that have been completely broken. What pushes me to continue is hearing their stories,” said Mr. Hydes, reclining on a wooden chair on the balcony of the West Bay home. “It is amazing to see someone come here broken, bankrupt, and after a few months of recovery, they are laughing and smiling. The peace they find within themselves is absolutely amazing.” A zero-tolerance approach to sub- stance abuse, reinforced by fre- quent urine tests and bolstered by weekly Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are the core of the program. There are no exceptions to the ab- stinence rule. It’s not about punish- ment, it’s about creating an environ- ment where all the residents know the expectations, says Chris Burke, one of the Hope Foundation’s board mem- bers and a volunteer at the home. The reason it is effective, he believes, is it takes people away from the influences of their home environment. “It is about every single person in the house and every person has to know that they are in a clean and safe living space. If we start to let that slide, it won’t work.” Tony, another resident of the home, had battled for years with alcoholism, when finally, he decided he had had enough. Tony, like a number of other halfway house residents interviewed, asked for only his first name to be used. “I bought six beers, drank half of one and gave away the rest,” he said. “I felt like everything around me was crumbling. I was sick of drinking, sick of myself, I felt like I was unemployable. “If I hadn’t called Brent, I might have just lasted a week. Being here means I can’t drink and I have to be in the program and I have the support of people who have been there and done that and stayed sober in some cases, for 20 or 30 years. “It has been a 180-degree turnaround.” The halfway house is funded en- tirely through community sponsors and fundraising events, like the “Walk for Recovery” and a recent series of “Legends” football matches. The board is in “positive discus- sions” with government about possible grant aid, says Mr. Burke. With the prison at capacity, Mr. Hydes believes greater emphasis could be put on programs like Hope for Today, which focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The offenders at the home are prin- cipally those whose crimes were fueled by drug or alcohol addiction. Dealing with those underlying causes will make the community safer, he says. “I can only put it to you like one of our neighbors put it, ‘I know there are people in this community that struggle with substance abuse issues and rather than them being on the road committing crimes, I’d rather they were here, where I know where they PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2016 A zero-tolerance approach to substance abuse is the core of Hope for Today’s program. Literature at the the Hope For Today Foundation. A resident reads a magazine at the Hope For Today Foundation, a transitional living facility for former addicts. A resident collects his laundry from a clothesline at the Hope For Today Foundation home in West Bay. are and I know they are getting help.’ “It costs $70,000 to keep one person in prison for a year. We can run this house for less than that. If you look at the difference in those monies, it is beneficial to get involved.” With more funding, the home could deal with more prisoners, em- ploy a full-time counselor or assist the residents with transportation. “We do want the residents to work for what they have. We are walking a line between making things pos- sible for members of the house, while having them still work for it,” said Mr. Burke. It’s a strict environment. But for residents like John, who have been through other recovery programs, it seems to work. “I’m not going to say I like it, but I need it,” he says, “this is where I am supposed to be.” For George, another current resi- dent, a stint at the home has helped him get sober, get a job and start paying back the family and friends he let down in the days he was using drugs and alcohol. “I’ve been in and out of prison so much, the last time the judge didn’t know what to do with me. He gave me a chance to go to the halfway house and get my life together. “I have got good people behind me now and I wouldn’t want to let them down for anything in the world.” A sign of the home’s success, says Mr. Hydes, is that its former resi- dents return on their recovery birth- days – the anniversary of the day they stopped drinking or taking drugs – to celebrate and offer words of advice. Mr. Burke believes the community is also starting to appreciate it. “When people first found out there was a halfway house coming to this neighborhood and that people gener- ally had a criminal record, the feed- back was generally negative. Now after three years, when we have a barbecue, the neighbors come over.” The Clash of the Legends series of football matches have also attracted large crowds and corporate donors. An over-’40s select XI from George Town beat a team from West Bay in two separate games in February and March, raising $5,000 for the founda- tion in the process. Now teams from East End and Bodden Town are get- ting involved in the next matches, planned for May 23. “By getting involved, people are sending a clear message that we are responsible for the people in our com- munity and we must come together as a group and try to assist these in- dividuals that are struggling with substance abuse,” says Mr. Hydes. That kind of backing is crucial, he says. “Without the community support and the private sector, this program would not survive.” “The support and friendship I have found in this house make me stronger and help me to stay on the right path.” JASON DIXON, Hope for Today resident CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8Next >