ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 BUSINESS | PAGE 12 GOV’T CONSIDERS NEW STEPS TO ATTRACT REINSURANCE INDUSTRY High of 88 Low of 77 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE PROGRESSIVES’ UNFINISHED BUSINESS #203 Alissta Towers, 85 North Sound Road, Grand Cayman KY1-1109, T: + 1 (345) 949-9744 E: Aleisha.Lalor@caribbeanalliance.com www.caribbeanalliance.com Bill mandates public disclosures for politicians, civil servants, board members BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Elected politicians, senior government workers and appointed board members will have to submit disclosures of personal busi- ness interests and finances for public review, according to amended legislation approved by Cayman Islands lawmakers Monday. The changes were approved in a unani- mous Legislative Assembly vote to support the Standards in Public Life (Amendment) Bill. The original law was passed in early 2014, but was never put into legal effect, largely be- cause of complaints from appointed members of boards and commissions serving at the re- quest of politicians. The disclosures man- dated by the initial law, board members ar- gued, were far too broad – extending in some cases to distant relations and employees of the board members. “The great challenge we’ve had with this bill is trying to strike the right balance,” Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said. “If we wind up with disclosure requirements which are so onerous that people are unwilling to volunteer to these [boards and commissions] positions, then we will have to completely revamp the system that we have.” Under the amended legislation, which still requires a one-third vote of parliament and the signature of Governor Helen Kilpatrick, board members will not have to declare mem- berships in any professional group, charity or special interest organization. Interest disclosure requirements for appointed board members extend only to their immediate family – spouses and dependents – and are to be declared only when the board member holds property or manages anything on behalf of that person or if that person manages something for the board member. For politicians and senior civil servants, the required disclosures are more stringent, but more or less unchanged from the initial legislation that was passed more than two years ago. CIVIL SERVANTS DENY AGREEMENT REACHED TO END FREE HEALTHCARE Finance minister: Healthcare costs ‘overwhelming the budget’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Civil Service Association has strongly denied that any agreement has been reached to end the policy of free healthcare for govern- ment workers. Finance Minister Marco Archer said Thursday that it had been “pretty much ac- cepted” that civil servants would pay part of their own healthcare premiums from 2018. The association said no such deal has been agreed. In an announcement circulated to all gov- ernment workers Tuesday, James Watler, pres- ident of the association, said the association was “as surprised as anyone else” at Mr. Ar- cher’s comments. He wrote, “We don’t know who this has been pretty much accepted by, but no, the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association has not been asked, formally or informally, to ac- cept anything of the sort.” Characterizing the change as an “attempt to void contractually agreed obligations” with civil servants, Mr. Watler said previous dis- cussions on the issue were unproductive and had ended without any agreement. He called for all parties to come back to the negotiating table and agree to a “fair compromise.” “It is unfortunate that that fairness was Law removes public officers from corruption board CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Changes to the Anti-Corrup- tion Commission Law, approved by the Legislative Assembly on Monday, remove public of- ficers from the commission’s board and give the commission its own police force. The Anti-Corruption Com- mission will now consist of five people appointed by the gov- ernor, and will no longer include the police commissioner, com- plaints commissioner and au- ditor general. The changes, approved unanimously by members of the Legislative Assembly on the second reading, will “fur- ther enhance the independence of the Anti-Corruption Com- mission,” said Attorney General Sam Bulgin. Mr. Bulgin told legisla- tors, “The law will allow the Anti-Corruption Commission to call in the expertise of the com- missioner of police or the au- ditor general,” but does not give the public officers a vote on the board. The changes also shortened commissioners’ terms from five Cap lifted, prices lowered on renewable energy program The Caribbean Utilities Company’s CORE program (Consumer Owned Renewable Energy), has raised its 4 megawatt cap to 6 MW and lowered the price it pays for renewable energy it buys from the public or businesses. The program, which started in 2009, seeks to encourage people to develop renewable energy systems such as solar panels or wind turbines. The pictured solar array at 89 Nexus Way in Camana Bay is one of the installations participating in the CORE program. For more on this story, see page 10. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 640-FILM (640-3456) 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. - WEDNESDAY - Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 DIARY OF A BADMAN (R) 2:00 I 4:30 I 7:00 I 10:05 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) 3:45 I 9:50 HIGH STRUNG (PG) 1:10 I 3:50 I 7:10 I 9:40 HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR 3D(PG13) 1:20 I 4:15 2D I 7:20 I 10:00 2D BATMAN V SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE (PG13) 12:30 I 6:30 Ortanique to close in June Latest change in Camana Bay’s bar and restaurant scene JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com One of Camana Bay’s orig- inal restaurants, Ortanique, is closing in June, following on the heels of the closure of Michael’s Genuine earlier this year. The Dart group, which op- erated both restaurants on licensing agreements with the established Miami eat- eries, confirmed the decision this week. No plans have been an- nounced for a brand to take the space, though Dart has indicated it is looking for a tenant. A spokeswoman for the company said the five-year contract with Ortanique had ended and the restau- rant would serve its last meal on June 30. Arrange- ments are being made for the restaurant’s staff to pursue employment opportu- nities at the six new restau- rants that will be housed at the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa. The move follows several recent changes in the bar and restaurant scene at Camana Bay. The Brooklyn pizza and pasta restaurant took the place of Michael’s Genuine, while English-style pub The King’s Head opened next door. The Upper Crust also revamped and rebranded as Lola Bistro. Dart said in a statement that Ortanique, as one of the town center’s original restau- rants, had helped establish the area’s reputation. “The restaurant’s team has helped to position Ca- mana Bay as a key culi- nary destination within the Cayman Islands, from its award-winning mojito and beloved breadfruit tacos to Cindy’s strong reputation as a chef committed to sus- tainable, high-quality sea-to- table cooking,” it said. Cindy Hutson, the Miami- based chef responsible for the restaurant’s “cuisine of the sun” brand, said she and business partner Delius Shirley have enjoyed their time in Cayman and hope to be back for some of the is- land’s culinary events. “While Delius and I have enjoyed our five-plus years in Grand Cayman and all the friends we have made over our contract term, we have made the deci- sion to focus on our Orta- nique Miami, and new ven- tures Zest Restaurant and Zest MRKT in downtown Miami,” she said. Dart’s statement added, “We look forward to Cindy’s continued involvement with the Town Centre’s thriving culinary calendar, including events such as Slow Food Day, as she returns with her unique take on Caribbean cuisine in years to come.” CharityDrive raises $25,843 for Breast Cancer Foundation Island Heritage’s annual CharityDrive, with a new el- ement added this year, has raised $25,843 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. During the drive on April 23, Island Heritage donated $1, up to $25,000, for every “support” click on the company’s Face- book page, every Instagram like, every Twitter mention, and for every car that entered the Island Heritage roundabout. This year’s fundraiser also included a new element, the CharityPlunge. Participants at Royal Palms paid to go down an inflatable water slide to win random prizes and for a chance to win the grand prize of $2,000. “The plunge was better than fun. It was a blast,” said Benjamin Zack, an Amer- ican tourist, and the grand prize winner. Mr. Zack and his family were on the last day of their Grand Cayman vacation when he came across the Charity- Plunge event. “Thank you to Island Her- itage for a great event and, moreover, for supporting a cause that is near and dear to our family’s heart,” said Mr. Zack, whose father is a colon cancer survivor, and whose aunt is undergoing radia- tion treatment in the U.S. for breast cancer. “The directors of the Breast Cancer Foundation were hum- bled and thrilled to have been chosen by Island Heritage as the recipient of their an- nual CharityDrive. We are so grateful to them,” said Ja- nette Fitzgerald of the Breast Cancer Foundation. “These funds will go di- rectly to our wellness pro- gram, which aims to help breast cancer patients here in Cayman to get through the debilitating and brutal treat- ments that they have to en- dure to beat this horrible dis- ease.” Currently, 82 people are registered with the program, she added. For more information, visit www.breastcancerfoundation.ky or email info@breastcancerfoundation.ky. JAMAICA POLICE SEEK MOTIVE IN KILLING OF 2 US MISSIONARIES KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – Jamaican police said they are trying to determine the motive in the weekend slayings of two American missionaries in the north coast area where they lived and worked. A team of officers is in- terviewing residents of St. Mary parish in northern Jamaica where the bodies of Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53, were found in bushes along a rural road where they were traveling on motorbikes. There were no sus- pects two days after the first slain missionary was found. Jamaica’s police force, which has long strug- gled to solve the great ma- jority of the island’s homi- cides, has given only the broadest outline of the case and will not say what con- dition the bodies were in. “I can tell you we’re working assiduously to bring resolution to this matter. But the motive is still very unclear,” said As- sistant Police Commis- sioner Ealan Powell, who leads the force’s criminal investigation branch. Randy Hentzel was from Donnellson, Iowa, and had five children with his wife, Sara. Harold Nichols was from Randolph, New York, and is survived by his wife, Teri. The men and their wives worked for a Pennsylvania- based religious organiza- tion called Teams for Med- ical Missions that has been in Jamaica since 1990. They did evangelism and Bible ministry, built homes and provided healthcare. They were apparently killed Saturday on their way to check on the foun- dation of a home they were building for a needy family. One of the men was found with his hands bound. Ray Shive, a former di- rector of Teams for Medical Missions who knew both men well, described them as “quintessential mission- aries” with tremendous en- ergy ministering to people in the Caribbean country that they loved. Nichols did evangelical work in Jamaica for some 12 years, while Hentzel was there for six. “They had absolute commitment to their work, great faithfulness and earned the respect and love of those in the com- munity. I really could not say enough good about them,” Shive told The As- sociated Press. He said the men and their families never re- ceived any threats that he knew of. Bill Brooks, a childhood friend of Nichols who runs an advertising agency in New York, said he was shocked by the news. He had recently helped or- ganize a rare vacation for the Nicholses. “Unlike a lot of us who spend their lives making money, Harold gave his whole life to helping people,” Brooks said in a phone call from Manhattan. Ortanique’s five-year contract with Camana Bay has come to an end and the restaurant will close in June. Cindy Hutson, chef and owner of Ortanique, says she has enjoyed her time in Cayman but wants to concentrate on her new Miami businesses. Island Heritage mascot Sonny presents Breast Cancer Foundation founders James Bovell, left, and Kim Lund with the CharityDrive and CharityPlunge proceeds, totaling $25,843.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 RBC Royal Bank Launches Private Banking in Cayman On 20 April 2016, RBC Royal Bank officially launched its suite of Private Banking services in the Cayman Islands. Held at The Ritz Carlton, guests experienced an evening of entertainment, networking, and presentations on the featured product offerings, while connecting directly with RBC’s senior executives and private banking team. Bringing introductory and welcome remarks, RBC’s Country Manager, and Area Vice President Omari Corbin, explained that the launch of this service is part of the overall implementation of the private banking suite of services which are offered across the Caribbean. “We seek to provide a differentiated and comprehensive level of service to our key clients in the region,” he added. Interim Head, Private Banking Patrice Ritchie, spoke specifically to the features of the product offering. Current and potential clients were assured that the RBC Private Banking Team will cater to their specific needs, while helping them achieve their short- and long-term financial goals. At the event, Mrs. Ritchie officially announced the appointment of the private banking team including, Private Banker Antonette Baptist and Private Banking Associate Elicia Copeland, both of whom are Caymanian. “We are excited as this new feature ties in well with our value proposition, including our partners at RBC Dominion Securities who are here tonight,” added RBC Managing Director, Bahamas, Cayman & Turks & Caicos Islands Nathaniel Beneby. Over 170 participated in the grand event, which also showcased an orchestra of 18 student instrumentalists and local jazz band Bona Fide who provided entertainment throughout the night.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS It is the first week of May 2016. This is noteworthy because one year from now, it will be May 2017 — and there will be an election (that is, if one is not called before then). The clock is ticking on this Progressives-led admin- istration. In the coming months, our elected govern- ment will be subject to intensified scrutiny as to what it has done — and what it hasn’t. The focus, unfortu- nately for officials, will probably fall upon the latter. The Progressives ascended into office three years ago with two major capital projects on their agenda. It seems unlikely they will be commenced, much less completed, by the time of the next election. First, consider the cruise dock. Following studies and debate, the Progressives Cabinet formally approved the decision to move forward with cruise berthing for downtown George Town in late October 2015. More than six months later, the Cayman Islands does not appear to be any nearer to actually realizing this goal. Last week, the government put out advertisements seeking proposals for civil engineering designs for the proposed facility. In other words, the project is still on the “drawing board.” Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Moses Kirk- connell said, “My ministry continues to have product discussions with cruise lines in relation to their involve- ment in the berthing facility and contact has been made with the [U.K.] Foreign and Commonwealth Office.” Translation: Grand Cayman’s cruise tendering industry remains safe and secure for the foreseeable future. Similarly preserved is cruise visitors’ view of our island’s most shameful landmark, the George Town Landfill, a panoramic vista that is visible from the decks of every cruise ship that comes into harbor. While the cruise ship business is volatile (on Monday the first U.S. cruise ship in nearly 40 years visited Havana and two other ports in Cuba), the dump is with us for the long haul. The landfill project has lapsed into the bureau- cratic equivalent of hibernation, perhaps a coma. We have heard almost nothing about it from govern- ment during this calendar year. Officials’ last word on the topic was, essentially, that they aren’t going to identify a site for a new landfill … punctuated with platitudes about recycling. Remember that the Progressives campaigned in 2013 on a pledge — “No dump in Bodden Town” — and a promise — that they had already identified a remedy for the George Town landfill, which emboldened them to throw away the Dart Group’s $60 million proposal to fix it for good. Three years later, all we have from the Progressives is a set of consultants’ documents estimating that a landfill solution will cost more than $100 million and take five years to implement — and that won’t even preclude the need to create a new landfill. We won’t dwell extensively on every single thing the Progressives said they would do, promised to do, or started to do, but so far haven’t done. Nevertheless, here is an abridged list: • Recommendations in “the EY report” on reorga- nizing, streamlining and downsizing the civil service (apart from the pathetic proposal to merge the offices of the Information Commissioner and the Complaints Commissioner into a single Ombuds- man’s Office) • The East-West Arterial highway • The demolition of the Glass House and creation of a new public park • Meaningful reform of Cayman’s government schools system • Decisions on 610 permanent residence applications filed between October 2013 and February 2016 — ZERO of which have been approved. Granted, the Progressives may view this final item as something to run a campaign on, rather than to run away from. But make no mistake, in light of recent judicial rulings, the backlog of stymied PR applications represents a significant legal liability for Cayman and our control over our immigration system. With quadrennial elections, we have just entered the equivalent of the “fourth quarter” — not too late for the government to pull out a victory, but it has a lot of ground to make up in a very short time. The Progressives’ unfinished business 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” LETTER Pray for Cayman My fellow Caymanians: I feel led by God this morning to remind us Cay- manians that we have the greatest heritage of any people anywhere and it is time to wake up and recog- nize this privilege. As a people, we never knew much about money and the greatest of life, so to speak, but we never went hungry; we were a happy and blessed people. In our land there was confidence in each other and a man’s word was his bond. We were a God-fearing people; we loved God and one another and there was unity and confidence in one another. Families went to church together and our homes were the most beau- tiful picture of love and unity. I am 88 years old, I love my people and this land, but I am so concerned by what I see, and pray daily for this country and those that are responsible for running it. Caymanians, it’s time to get back on your knees, trust God and pray to him for guidance in our lives and our country. John D. Jefferson UK can’t afford to quit EU BLOOMBERG VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD If it votes to leave the Eu- ropean Union in next month’s referendum, Britain will bear a substantial and lasting eco- nomic cost: That’s the conclu- sion of several authoritative new studies. Campaigners for exit must either refute these findings or say why they don’t matter. Their efforts up to now have fallen far short. The Vote Leave campaign has cast the referendum mainly as a decision about sovereignty, democracy and immigration – legitimate con- cerns. But the economic con- sequences can’t be waved aside. The latest official study, from the Organization for Eco- nomic Cooperation and Devel- opment follows assessments by the IMF, the U.K. Trea- sury and others. They all say much the same: leaving the EU would hit trade, weaken Britain’s vital finance industry and reduce inward foreign in- vestment. There’d likely be knock-on effects as well: less innovation and slower growth in productivity. The OECD report puts the long-term annual cost at be- tween 3 percent and 8 percent of gross domestic product – similar to the Treasury study. The OECD’s central estimate of 5 percent is equivalent to a tax of roughly 3,200 pounds (US$4,700) per household. Against this battery of of- ficial economic assessments, the exit campaign has fielded a pamphlet arguing that Brit- ain’s economy will prosper more outside the EU than in- side. The authors make a few good points – saying, for in- stance, that Britain could adopt a policy of unilateral free trade, rather than trying to negotiate new agreements with all its trading partners, as the other studies mostly assume. They’re probably right that this would give better results. Yet it’s a stretch to think this improvement, even com- bined with other optimistic assumptions, would be enough to turn a substantial net economic cost into a sub- stantial net benefit. And by the way, the radical policies needed to yield this better outcome – not only unilateral free trade but also root-and- branch deregulation – are no-hopers in political terms. The European Union isn’t the only thing standing be- tween Britain and the free- market utopia envisaged by some (though by no means all) Brexit campaigners. Indeed, some of worst- case scenarios mentioned in the official studies seem quite plausible by comparison. The prospect of much lower inward investment is especially disturbing. Britain is running a big current ac- count deficit, at 7 percent of GDP. If Brexit leads foreign investors to pull their cap- ital out, or even to reduce their rate of new investment, Britain might have to reduce its external deficit by depre- ciating sterling and severely squeezing imports. London’s role in interna- tional finance is another vul- nerability. Some 7 percent of U.K. economic output comes from financial services – 11 percent if you include related legal, accounting and manage- ment-consulting services. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has rightly stressed the risk that Brexit poses to this part of the economy. The problem for the exit campaign is not just that it is refusing to take these dangers seriously, but that its leading figures have no agreed plan for the kind of trade agree- ments, if any, they would seek after leaving. Rather than de- scribing a politically viable alternative to EU member- ship, they offer heroic spec- ulation, and, when pressed for details, start quarreling among themselves. If this doesn’t change, they will surely lose the vote – or deserve to, anyway. © 2016, Bloomberg View The European Union isn’t the only thing standing between Britain and the free- market utopia envisaged by some (though by no means all) Brexit campaigners.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 Travel Financial and Accounting, legal Government insurance services & other business and other services 432.8 170.2 485.6 470.6 Foreign Exchange Revenue from Services in 2014, CI$Million INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION william.forsythe@caymancaptive.ky SCHOLARSHIP Applications should be submitted by pdf only, no later than 20th of May 2016 to: The above Foundation is currently offering a scholarship for a maximum of four years to a Caymanian High School graduate. Preference will be given to those candidates who intend to pursue a career in the nancial services industry upon graduation from university. However applications from all disciplines will be accepted. Candidates should be prepared to begin their university degree programme in the 2016 school year. The choice of university must be approved by the Foundation. Applicants should possess a minimum of ve good passes at CXC or ICGSE or equivalent. Evidence of educational achievements and, if possible university acceptance should accompany the application. In addition, a brief biography and a narrative as to the reason for the choice of University/Course should be included. Additional details and an application form can be obtained at www.caymancaptive.ky Erica POWELL CURRENT RECIPIENT Erica POWELL CURRENT RECIPIENT Family plea to hit-and-run driver: ‘Give yourself up’ Cyclist Tony Moore was killed on Saturday JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The family of a 34-year- old man killed in a hit-and run incident at the weekend have appealed to the driver responsible to “do the right thing” and “give yourself up.” Police are still hunting for the motorist who fled the scene of the accident which killed cyclist Anthony Moore, known as Tony, in the early hours of Saturday. “It was heartless, cow- ardly and callous to leave him to die alone on the side of the road without any help,” Mr. Moore’s sister, Nicola Moore-Gothar, said Tuesday as she called on the driver to turn himself or herself in. The family is in the midst of a double tragedy and was still coming to terms with the sudden death of Mr. Moore’s fa- ther, Peter, just a week before the hit-and-run. Mrs. Moore-Gothar said it would give the family, particularly her mother, some comfort if the driver came forward. “We appeal to whoever is responsible to please do the right thing and come forward. His mother de- serves this. He deserves this. He did not deserve to die in this way,” she said. Mr. Moore, of North Sound Estates, New- lands, was struck by a ve- hicle on Hirst Road, Sa- vannah, sometime between 3:15 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. The driver did not stop and had not been caught as of Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Moore-Gothar said she had few details of the accident. She described her brother as a big-hearted man who loved his family. She said his death had left them heartbroken. “It is a huge shock. We just lost our father last Sat- urday, also a sudden un- timely death. “Tony had a big heart; he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He loved his mother dearly and has been very supportive of her during the last week.” Mr. Moore’s immediate family are his mother, Katie Moore, his sister Nicola Moore-Gothar and his brother-in-law An- dros Gothar. He also has a 7-year-old niece and a 3-year-old nephew. Mrs. Moore-Gothar said the family has been inundated with mes- sages of support. “We have been hum- bled by the overwhelming amount of support we have received and we thank ev- eryone from the bottom of our hearts for their kindness,” she said. “It is amazing and heartwarming to see how many lives Tony has touched and we thank everyone for sharing such wonderful stories with us.” Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact PC Orville Harris on 324-9853 or Sergeant Butler on 325-5958. Police are still hunting the motorist who fled the scene of the accident which killed cyclist Tony Moore in the early hours of Saturday. Anthony Moore, 34, was killed in a hit-and-run incident Saturday. MAN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER Stabbing victim remains in hospital Police arrested a 23-year-old man from North Side on Tuesday on suspicion of at- tempted murder. The suspect was ar- rested following the stab- bing of a 36-year-old man on the evening of April 20 at a residence in Lariat Road, North Side, police said in a media statement. According to the RCIPS, the suspect remained in police custody Tuesday. He had not been charged by press time. Police said the stabbing victim was still in hospital in critical but stable condi- tion and is due to be taken off island to Jamaica for further medical treatment. In an original state- ment issued by the RCIPS on the April 20 stabbing, police said officers had at- tended the scene where they found a small crowd of people assisting the victim, who was bleeding from stab wounds, on the ground in the yard of the residence.6 DISTRICT DAYS WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS District Days Sister Islands 50 YEARS AGO: A bus for the Brac In the May 4, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, Cayman Brac correspon- dent Lilian Rich wrote: “Late afternoon Tuesday, 19th, as Captain Keith Tib- betts drove the green and gold [Chevrolet 48 passenger bus unloaded from the Motor Vessel Kirkchief] on to solid ground cheers of joy re- sounded through the atmo- sphere. Within seconds the sun slipped below the horizon. The local community had re- ceived their reward for their day’s waiting, for the pulse of life quickens with the arrival of the ships and special cargo claims universal attention. “The vessel arrived midday on the 18th. There was thought of unloading the bus that afternoon. With an East North East wind blowing, nature proposed the next effort for late afternoon Tuesday when the wind would abate. The pontoon of 57 drums lashed to lumber with native thatch rope manned by Messrs. Bentley Brown, Lionell Bodden, LeRoy Tibbetts and Esmond Brown went out for her. Caymanian seamanship performed its task skillfully. “The bus is a gift of several independent Baptist churches, primarily of McMinville Bap- tist Church of Nashville, Ten- nessee, of which Rev. Douglas Hastons is pastor and of the Fellowship Church of Green- ville, Tennessee, with which Rev. Emery Riggs is associ- ated. They visited the churches here in December past. It is to be used for Sunday school and youth work in an effort to build strong a Christian youth organization on the island. The donors have consigned the use of the bus to the deacon of the Bethel and Fellowship Baptist Churches, Pastor Rev. Randall Douglas. “On Saturday afternoon, April 30, the bus was deco- rated with flowers and used to bring the membership of the Bethel Church to the Fellow- ship Church where the bus was dedicated to the service of God and afterwards the fellowship enjoyed refreshments.” Brac author nets top literary prize Brac author Kathleen Bodden- Harris is finally enjoying a well- needed break and some well-de- served time to celebrate. In the midst of a jam-packed month of coordinating Earth Month events on the Brac, Ms. Bodden- Harris learned that her 2010 book, “Quest on the Marl Road” had won first prize at the inaugural Cayman Islands Literary Awards held on April 23 at the George Town Public Library. Due to her hectic schedule, Ms. Bodden-Harris was unable to at- tend the ceremony, as she had already committed to the Na- tional Trust’s Dinner in the Dark event that evening. Simone Scott accepted the award on Ms. Bodden-Harris’s behalf. The awards featured eight cat- egories – Inspirational/Family, Bi- ography/Memoir, Devotional, Po- etry, Non-Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, and Children’s, with the top selec- tions entered in the finals, and the overall winner earning the Book of the Year designation. Describing the origins of the book, Ms. Bodden-Harris cited her passion for conservation for initi- ating her first foray into writing. “As I would walk, hike, ride my bike, or just sit on my deck or porch, I observed the world of nature around me,” she said. “The book is a vehicle to ex- press my concerns regarding the haphazard leaps in development that seems to be more a cancerous growth left unchecked. The brown booby birds roost and nest atop the bluff in my backyard and the sur- rounding areas. Land crabs and soldier crabs share my property and thrive on the organic waste I toss to them. “I’m watching generations of Brac rock iguanas live and transit the common grounds my home is built on. Even the spiritual walk I built in my backyard, the labyrinth, the iguanas seem to understand to be a special space. I walk the path and they relax on the stones or path as if to show me it’s important to them as well. “Add the unique personalities of the characters I call friends and acquaintances who have been in- jected into the animal cast, and the book is a perfect reflection of life in the Brac.” The book, she explained, gives a voice to the animals to convey their concerns and fears for their future, with humans depicted as an invasive spirit conquering and manipulating the environment for their own devices. “They lack foresight to see how the web of life is so easily dissolved as the last strands cleave to the wil- derness,” said Ms. Bodden-Harris. In the book, the iguanas act as the Brac’s elders, and the lighthouse is able to impart knowledge to the book’s crab heroes about humans and their motivations. “‘Quest on the Marl Road’ be- came like an obsession to write,” said Ms. Bodden-Harris. “It took me exactly one month to complete my first draft of the book. My pub- lisher pressed me to get the book to market before tourist season.” Ms. Bodden-Harris says a sense of urgency drove her to start weaving her experiences into tales and spin them together to produce a book that would call the readers to recognize the need for a “call to action.” “In the past six years since the book was first published, I’ve watched my tale transcend from fantasy to fact,” she said. “We live in a circle of life – once the bonds that preserve what is good and natural are broken, there is no fixing and no amount of [retro- spection] will make it better again. This is the compulsion that drives me on to finish the series.” Ms. Bodden-Harris said the book was originally written as a stand- alone work, but she learned the characters had developed a fan base over the years. Since the ending is ambiguous, readers were asking her to resolve some of the unanswered questions, and she says a second book is in the works. She says the act of writing, though she had never done it before, proved quite easy. “Immersing [myself] in my Cay- manian heritage seemed to conjure skills I’d never practiced before. I love reading, and my Caymanian parents made sure I explored the natural wonders of the U.S. with them when I was young,” she said. “I enjoyed working with my children as young- sters and taking them out in the nat- ural world to experience outdoor life. I’m now a grandmother, so it’s my duty to pass on my island heritage and respect of wildlife to the next generation, and inspire the youth of this island nation to nurture nature and practice good stewardship of the natural beauty and resources [with] which we as Caymanians have been richly blessed.” Ms. Bodden-Harris added that she saw the book as a useful tool for visitors to “complete the vaca- tion picture,” opening up their eyes to the Brac’s environmental issues. “Whilst enjoying the tale, you’ll be getting an education,” she said. “In [the Brac’s] small dense coastal wetlands, jagged bluffs and quays, rocky and sandy shores, splits, caves and forests are rare gems needing protection and conser- vation efforts to keep them in per- petuity. They, and the surrounding seas, deserve our respect. These three tiny islands we call home are our responsibility to champion and guard, [as] they will be missed sorely when they are gone.” The audio book is currently available only on Cayman Brac. “Quincy Brown did a wonderful job narrating the story. His rich bari- tone voice and quick-witted ani- mated characterizations added a whole new dimension to the story with his colloquial quips and native dialects,” said Ms. Bodden-Harris. “Locals and longtime residents will quickly recognize native friends and acquaintances in the voices of the cast members.” The hard copy is available on Grand Cayman in shops including Book Nook, Books & Books, the shops at the National Gallery, the National Museum, the National Trust, Pedro St. James, the Bo- tanic Park and the Turtle Farm, and at Owen Roberts Airport. In Cayman Brac, it is sold at the Trea- sure Chest’ Also available on Am- azon, “Quest on the Marl Road” will be available in e-book form and at large bookstores in the U.S. later this year. Kathleen Bodden-Harris with her award and story protagonists Lenny the Land Crab and Sarge the Soldier Crab. Mother’s Day tea party on the beach A Mother’s Day afternoon tea party will take place at Casa Cassiopeia, 3226 Guy Banks Road, Little Cayman this weekend. The Mother’s Day Tea Under the Seagrape Tree takes place on Sunday, May 8, at 3 p.m. “It’s a chance for all of us to stop and take the time to recognize mothers,” said or- ganizer Debbi Truchan. “It’s an opportunity for those living here who are away from their families and mothers to honor them, and, of course, to appreciate the mothers who are with us as well.” Dress for tea is smart casual, but bringing along beachwear for sand castle building and beach fun is recommended. Attendees are invited to stay for the bon- fire and wiener and marshmallow roast. Changing rooms and shower are provided. To RSVP, contact 925-6442 or debbit@candw.ky.CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Sister Islands Keira Bodden wins Little Miss Brac Keira Bodden, 10, was crowned Little Miss Cayman Brac at the pageant hosted by the Lions Club of Cayman Brac at the Aston Rutty Centre on April 30. Keira was also winner of the People’s Choice award and the award for best talent. Thirteen contestants from ages 8 through 12 vied for the title. Raeann Scott and Tashell Dawson were first and second runners-up, respectively. Jenae Scott won best talent award, and Sheila Watler won the prize for most photogenic contestant. Along with enjoying the talent competition, fashion shows and a group dance number, the crowd was en- tertained by rap from Tashuan Young. The Little Miss/Little Master Cayman Brac pag- eant, open to all Brac pri- mary school students in Years 4 to 6, was first held last year. Boys and girls com- peted last year, but this year only the Little Miss portion of the competition was held, as the minimum of five male contestants was not met. Under the direction of or- ganizer Melanie Scott, the competition started with a pre-show interview with judges Keisha Syms, Melrose Gooding and Noreen Thomas. The contest also featured a talent portion, casual and formal wear segments, and on-stage questions. Ques- tion topics included the prob- lems kids face today, what to look for in a friend, and how the contestant might spend a million dollars if she had it. The opening act fea- tured a dance number by all the contestants with sup- port from Koalition dance troupe choreographer Sophia Johnson and members of Ko- alition. Jonathan Tibbetts was the emcee. Yvette Gayle of the Lions Club said there were at least 350 well-wishers packed into the Aston Rutty Centre for the event. She explained that the pageant is not a beauty contest, but rather a way to encourage confidence in young people. “The contestants learn about grooming, poise, how to answer questions and et- iquette, as a way to garner confidence,” said Ms. Gayle. “It’s about building team spirit as well, as they have to work together to build up to the event.” Preparations for the pag- eant took about a month, with contestants practicing their individual sections and rehearsing the show for weeks in advance, with behind-the-scenes support from the Lions Club, parents and the community. “It was such a rewarding experience watching the girls blossom before your eyes. It was a process that brought out the best of the kids,” said Ms. Gayle, noting that the girls’ various talents impressed the judges and the spectators. “Really, the transforma- tion of these girls was like watching a caterpillar be- coming a butterfly. You could see them coming into their own, especially on that night.” Sylvia Christian GEORGE NOWAK Sylvia Christian was a seamstress, thatch maker and one heck of a good singer on the island of Cayman Brac. When she sang Hank Williams’s “May you never be alone like me,” her sweet voice would send chills down your spine. This photo was taken of her on Moth- er’s Day sometime in the mid-1980s. She passed away in 2009, leaving nine children and 29 grandchildren. This photograph is from the book ‘The People Time Forgot’ by George Nowak, available at the National Museum. All proceeds from the sales of the book go toward museum projects. Bakers wow judges at Brac Cupcake War Young bakers were strutting their pastry-making stuff at the fourth annual Brac Cupcake War on Saturday, April 30, at Layman E. Scott High School. Topping the high standard set by last year’s winners, the Cupcake Angels Vitoria Buttrum and Leslie Anderson, pictured is this year’s winning Team Vargas comprising, from left, Haylie Tibbetts, Jzane Vargas and Jhadarie Smith. They impressed judges Daniella McGowan, Victor Crumbley and Brittney Bodden with their delicious delights that delivered on this year’s challenge of one fruit and one diabetic-friendly creation. The contest was organized by the Child Month Committee and the Youth Services Unit. Teams were limited to three people, aged between 10 and 25. Team Vargas heads to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on May 28 for the Cayman Cupcake War finals. – PHOTO: ANNIE ROSE SCOTT The contestants worked for weeks, perfecting their moves for the group dance number. - PHOTO: JAMES TIBBETTS, JET PHOTO Showing off their awards from left are second runner-up, Tashell Dawson, winner Keira Bodden, and first runner-up Raeann Scott. – PHOTO: SIMONE SCOTTThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS years to three. Mr. Bulgin called the five-year com- mitment “onerous” for commission members. The commission would take complaints of corrup- tion and investigate allega- tions against public officials. Created in 2010, the com- mission, until now, has had two members appointed by the governor serving along- side the three public officers, with the police commis- sioner as chairman. The attorney general said the vision for the new commission is to tap re- tired judges, police offi- cers, accountants, attor- neys, justices of the peace and other “suitable” candi- dates. The members and the chairman will be appointed by the governor. The amendments also change how the commis- sion investigates corruption allegations. Since its incep- tion, the commission has used investigators from the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. The changes give the commission its own in- vestigators with the power to look into allegations and make arrests. Anti-corruption investi- gators can still ask the po- lice for help with investiga- tions, and the RCIPS will be responsible for holding sus- pects in custody. “Officers will be indepen- dent of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service,” Mr. Bulgin said. The changes also broaden the definition of who is sub- ject to the law, to include volunteers or those working for government without pay. The law includes people who do “any activity carried out for a government entity,” Mr. Bulgin said. The commission came under fire earlier this year when it was revealed that it had not met since February 2015. The commission fi- nally met again in February this year. The membership has been in flux since Com- plaints Commissioner Nicola Williams left in January 2015 and the two appointed members left a month later. Former Auditor Gen- eral Alastair Swarbrick left his position in July, leaving acting heads in the Com- plaints Commission and the Auditor General’s Office. Po- lice Commissioner David Ba- ines recently announced his upcoming departure from the RCIPS, meaning all three spots will be vacant. Jail ordered for threat against magistrate Sentence starting point of three years should be a shock, court says CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A defendant who made a threat against a magistrate while in court cells was sen- tenced Monday to four months in prison, with a further 12 months’ suspended sentence. Justin Donovan Moore, 27, pleaded guilty to the charge that on Feb. 26 at the court- house and in the presence of a court marshal, he made a threat to cause serious harm to Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn, intending the marshal to fear that the threat would be carried out. Crown counsel Neil Kumar explained that Moore had attended Family Court proceedings on that day. Magistrate Gunn found him in breach of a maintenance order and sentenced him to four days in custody. In the cell area, Moore said, “She ain’t leaving here without getting shot. I’m not saying I will do it myself, but I know people who do not like her and will do it for me.” The marshal reported what he had heard. Moore remained in custody, pleading guilty on March 7, when the court or- dered a threat assessment and social inquiry report. Magistrate Valdis Foldats used a starting point of three years when calculating the sentence. “I think the starting point has to be high enough to be a shock to everyone,” Mag- istrate Foldats said, to deter anyone who might be in- clined to commit the same of- fense. The magistrate, Crown counsel Mr. Kumar and de- fense attorney John Furniss agreed that there was no local case that they could look to as a precedent. “We’re fortunate we don’t have any guidance here; that means it’s very rare,” the magistrate said. He added his intention that it not happen again. The charge was brought under the section of the Penal Code dealing with “threat to kill” – anyone who makes a threat to another person to kill or cause se- rious harm to that person or another, intending that the person will fear the threat would be carried out, com- mits an offense and is liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years. A threat may be com- mitted in a public or a pri- vate place. Mr. Furniss agreed that the court had to look at the deterrent aspect of sen- tencing. He suggested a starting point of nine to 12 months for someone with no previous convictions. In Moore’s case, he noted, the threat was not made in open court: “It was the grum- bling when he got down- stairs.” It was said on the spur of the moment and Moore regretted saying it. “I don’t think there’s any fear that he presents a threat to any member of the judiciary,” Mr. Furniss said. The magistrate observed that such a threat was an attack not only on a magis- trate, but also on the whole judicial system, even though it was words and not actions, even though it was over in a matter of seconds. Mr. Furniss detailed his client’s personal circum- stances, including care for a child born with difficul- ties. With Moore in cus- tody, the child’s mother has had to deal with problems on her own. The magistrate referred to the social inquiry report and said Moore’s partner needed him; she had spoken highly of him as a father to their child. He said Moore had done the right thing by taking full responsibility for his offense, expressing regret and affirming that he will not do it again. The magistrate explained that he had ordered a risk as- sessment because “We have to take these things seri- ously. We have to make sure judicial officers are safe.” The investigating officer had re- ported there was no evidence that the threat had progressed beyond the initial stages. “Maybe it was anger and frustration at the time, but we don’t know that until af- terwards,” the magistrate pointed out. He concluded that the threat was not planned or calculated, and Moore had significant personal mitiga- tion that far outweighed the aggravating features. Using the three-year starting point, he deducted 12 months after considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances. From the re- sulting 24 months, he gave a one-third discount for the guilty plea. Of the remaining 16 months, he ordered Moore to serve four months and have the other 12 months “hanging over his head” as a suspended sentence. The magistrate also gave Moore credit for the time he has been in custody. “She ain’t leaving here without getting shot. I’m not saying I will do it myself, but I know people who do not like her and will do it for me.” JUSTIN MOORE, defendant The Standards in Public Life Law, 2013, requires “a person in public life,” within 90 days of assuming office, to make a declaration to the Commission for Standards in Public Life of income, as- sets and liabilities acquired during the previous year. For a Legislative Assembly candidate seeking election, that declaration should be made before the person files nomination papers. There- after, no later than June 30 of each year, the declaration must be updated. Those required to reg- ister include all Legisla- tive Assembly members (in- cluding the deputy governor and attorney general), the Speaker of the House, civil service chief officers and deputy chief officers, chief financial officers and their deputies, heads of depart- ments, section or unit chiefs and their deputies, as well as top officials within statutory authorities or government- owned companies and ap- pointed board members who oversee those authorities. Certain reporting require- ments are different and less stringent for appointed board members. The law does not apply to the judiciary. East End MLA Arden McLean and George Town MLA Winston Connolly ob- jected to the public declara- tion and reporting require- ment for everyone listed in the law, including ap- pointed board members. They said they had no problem with politicians being required to declare their private interests, but, Mr. Connolly said, in the case of board members – and some civil servants – it did not seem right. “We don’t want people to feel that, if they serve the public, that everything they have is to be used against them,” Mr. Connolly said. For members of the Legis- lative Assembly, Mr. McLean advocated placing the current register of interests, once it is updated with new information required under the Standards in Public Life Law, on the In- ternet for “all and sundry” to see. Right now, the register can only be inspected in paper format during business hours. not extended to civil servants before claims were made pub- licly about what has or had not been ‘pretty much accepted’ [on their behalf] by unknown par- ties,” Mr. Watler added. Mr. Archer told the Cayman Compass Tuesday that his comments in the Legislative Assembly last week simply echoed remarks made in his 2015/16 budget speech. He said it was not finan- cially sustainable for govern- ment, which currently allo- cates 20 percent of the national budget to healthcare costs, to continue to fund free health- care for all its staff. “We have to realize that the country cannot afford to bear the full cost of healthcare pre- miums for all civil servants. It is overwhelming the budget,” he said. He said both he and the deputy governor spoke about the issue at last year’s budget session, so the comments made Thursday should have come as no surprise to anyone. “I have said previously that this will be implemented in 2018. The details of how it is done have to be sorted out, but when it happens has been decided.” The Portfolio of Civil Ser- vice is responsible for working out the details. Mr. Archer said discussions would need to take place over the level of contribu- tion required, which pay cate- gories of workers would be in- cluded, and how the changes would be phased in. He said delayed cost-of-living increases could be implemented simul- taneously to make the changes “pay neutral.” Pensioners and those classed as indigent, as well as seafarers and veterans, would continue to receive free health- care under the new policy. Even after the changes, he said, gov- ernment workers would con- tinue to enjoy far more gen- erous healthcare packages than were available for the private sector. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson told the Compass Tuesday that the civil service is in the process of reviewing its terms and conditions of ser- vice, with a view toward re- ducing costs, including cost sharing for healthcare. “We are committed to the time line of 2018 as originally announced by Minister Archer. There is a process to be fol- lowed in order to achieve this result, which includes detailed analysis and consultation with our staff. I wish to assure civil servants that no decisions have been made on how we will de- liver cost sharing on healthcare as this process is ongoing.” In his remarks in the House on Thursday, Mr. Archer said the new arrangement would mean the civil service, which is now restricted to Health Ser- vices Authority medical ser- vices, would have more choice. Mr. Watler, in his statement Tuesday, welcomed this, but in- sisted there are still a number of other sticking points, in- cluding the likely reduction in use of HSA services, which had “derailed previous discussions” and remained unresolved. He also highlighted con- cerns over the “rising cost of health insurance” generally, which he said many civil ser- vants are not in a financial po- sition to bear. “We were saddened to note the conflation of health insurance costs for civil ser- vants, pensioners and indigents continues,” he said. “This leads to attempts to tax civil servants to pay not just for coverage that they were promised and con- tracted to receive, but social coverage as well.” Despite those concerns, he said the association is willing to work on a compromise and wrote to Deputy Governor Manderson offering to host a roundtable discussion for “all relevant parties.” “As we said at the end of the last, unproductive discussions we had, ‘if everyone is not in- volved in the discussions, they will continue to go nowhere,’” he said. Bill mandates public disclosures for politicians, civil servants, board members Law removes public officers from corruption board CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Civil servants deny agreement reached to end free healthcare CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016 Cabinet ministers to approve their own ‘code of conduct’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An updated “code of con- duct” for Cayman Islands gov- ernment ministers – first con- sidered three years ago – is expected to go to Cabinet members shortly for approval, which means the ministers themselves will approve rules for their own conduct. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who collabo- rated on the proposed code along with the Cabinet Of- fice, submitted a draft to the Commission for Standards in Public Life in May 2013, ac- cording to a commission re- port made public last week. On Monday, Mr. Man- derson said the final draft of the code for ministers should be presented to them soon. According to the public standards commission’s re- port, dated August 2013 to February 2014: “[The commis- sion] looks forward to sight of the final version that extends to the conduct of ministers not only in their ministerial capacity, but also in a per- sonal and political capacity as elected members of the Legis- lative Assembly representing a constituency or particular community interest.” Premier Alden McLaughlin pledged in October 2013 to re- lease the code of conduct for Cabinet members, stating that the current 1995 code was “woefully out of step” with the 2009 Constitution Order. Mr. McLaughlin said both the old code and the new would be released once Cab- inet approved the documents. “We are setting the bar for any future governments,” Mr. McLaughlin told mem- bers of the Legislative As- sembly at this time. He said code of conduct guide- lines will also apply to non- voting members of Cabinet – the deputy governor and the Cabinet secretary – but that those members’ interests and conflicts will be overseen by the governor. In the 2013/14 report made public last week, public standards commission mem- bers expressed concern about the “behavior” of certain public officials that fell out- side of their official duties. “The commission has … received information from members of the public ex- pressing their concerns re- garding the unethical be- havior of public officials,” the report noted. “Based on the information provided, it would appear that most, if not all, of the incidents re- ferred to relates to behavior of a personal nature and does not fall within their capacity of public officials. “It is recognized and agreed … that the commis- sion’s powers do not extend to engagement with a public official’s private life or deal- ings except where the circum- stances raise a reasonable in- ference of lack of integrity, incompetence, corruption, conflict of interest or lack of standards of ethical con- duct in the conduct of that official’s public functions. “The commission never- theless recognizes and ac- cepts that there may be in- stances where the lack of integrity or ethical standards in an individual’s life could either lead or reasonably be expected to lead to an allega- tion of corruption on the part of the individual in the ex- ercise of his or her duties in public life. “It is therefore the posi- tion of the commission that until such time as the req- uisite statutory powers are conferred upon the commis- sion, any reasonable allega- tions of lapses of standards in public life will be referred to the attention and, if nec- essary, appropriate action on the part of the relevant au- thority, including the Anti- Corruption Commission.” “The commission has … received information from members of the public expressing their concerns regarding the unethical behavior of public officials.” COMMISSION FOR STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE REPORT Health City pledges to support Adventist hospitals Health City Cayman Is- lands has pledged to support regional Seventh-day Adven- tists hospitals in a memo- randum of understanding that was signed last month. Administrators of Health City and the Seventh-day Ad- ventist healthcare agency overseeing regional Adventist hospitals – Adventist Health- care Services Inter-America – met in Miami on April 18 to sign the memorandum. The formal agreement stipulates that Health City will help to provide afford- able medical care, education and training, and access to affordable medical supplies for six Adventist hospitals in the Caribbean and Latin America, according to a press release from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Caribbean Adventist hos- pitals benefitting from the memorandum include An- drews Hospital in Jamaica, Community Hospital in Trin- idad, Antillean Adventist Hospital in Curacao, Vista del Jardin Medical Center in Do- minican Republic, and Haiti Adventist Hospital in Haiti. A hospital in Mexico is also a beneficiary of the agreement. Adventist leaders hope the agreement can eventually be extended to the rest of the 14 hospitals managed and oper- ated by the Adventist Health- care Services Inter-America, according to the release. Adventist health admin- istrators said this relation- ship with Health City will “ultimately result in consis- tency of standards across all Adventist hospitals in the Caribbean and Latin America.” Health City’s assis- tant chaplain, Pastor Se- thres Dixon, Project Di- rector Gene Thompson and CEO Dr. Chandy Abraham represented the hospital at the signing ceremony. Mr. Thompson and Dr. Abraham signed the memorandum on behalf of Health City. Ellie Honore represented Adven- tist Healthcare Services, and Pastor Israeil Leito signed for the church. “We are honored to be part of this project,” Dr. Abraham said, as he ad- dressed church leaders at the signing ceremony. “The Sev- enth-day Adventist Church has mission hospitals across the Caribbean islands which align with the way we think.” Witness protection changes, magistrates bill approved BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A sweeping plan to create a connected wit- ness protection program across the Caribbean over- seas territories and Ber- muda has fallen apart and now Cayman must move forward with its own leg- islation to shield people who testify against crimi- nals, Attorney General Sam Bulgin said Monday. Lawmakers approved changes to the Justice Protection Law, 2008, on Monday that will sepa- rate witness protection re- sponsibilities into two areas: A protection pro- gram to be managed by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and an investigative agency to look into cases where wit- nesses might need pro- tecting, to be run by the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. Both programs, now managed on a case-by- case basis by police, need the backing of current law to protect them from potential human rights claims, the attorney gen- eral said. Also, Mr. Bulgin noted that the earlier leg- islation was written at a time when it was envisaged that local police would be able to send witnesses to other overseas territories for safekeeping. “That initiative stalled, if I might put it that way,” Mr. Bulgin said. There may still be cases where sending a protected witness overseas is de- sired, but those agree- ments will be worked out on an as-needed basis, Mr. Bulgin said. In many cases, the overseas territories will not accept a witness who himself has a criminal re- cord, he said. In others, the witness may not wish to be away from his or her Cayman family for any length of time. The amended legisla- tion approved on Monday allows for witness protec- tion in new types of crim- inal investigations in- cluding assaults, arsons, threats to life and corrup- tion-related probes. Previ- ously, the legislation set a much narrower definition on which criminal investi- gations qualified for witness protection measures. Mr. Bulgin said the RCIPS had maintained the program in an ad-hoc fashion “with great ef- fectiveness,” but that the police could not be ex- pected to do so any longer, with the arrival of human rights legislation. “There is a need for a far more structured arrange- ment,” he said. Lawmakers unanimously approved a second reading of the bill Monday following debate. A formal third reading of the bill and its signature by the governor is still required prior to it be- coming law. Judges’ pay Cayman Islands Sum- mary Court judges, known as magistrates, will no longer be paid or receive pensions as civil servants, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Monday. Lawmakers approved the Judges Emoluments and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2016, for the first time placing court magistrates on their own pay scales and under the judicial retire- ment plan. “This is an important step in ensuring the inde- pendence of all members of our judiciary,” Mr. Man- derson said. Once the legislation receives a formal third reading and is signed by the governor, magistrates will be in the same retire- ment scheme as Grand Court judges. Premier Alden McLaughlin There may still be cases where sending a protected witness overseas is desired, but those agreements will be worked out on an as-needed basis, Mr. Bulgin said. Health City Cayman Islands representatives met with Seventh-day Adventist Church administrators at the Inter-American Division headquarters in Miami to sign a memorandum of underststanding.Next >