ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 High of 90 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. ABCDE NATIONAL WEEKLY Politics Not your usual surrogate 4 Nation Targeting corruption globally 9 Data Cities that are hard to forget 17 5 Myths On being transgender 23 China’s crustacean connection World economic currents have Maine’s most famous export --- lobsters -- riding a wave PAGE 12 THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WASHINGTON POST China’s crustacean connection EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHEN PRIVATE FUNDS SUBSIDIZE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Conservation Council in spear conundrum JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The National Conservation Council has raised concerns that its responsibility for renewing spear fishing licenses may con- flict with its legal duty to protect threat- ened fish species. The council approved a new regulatory re- gime for licensing of all kinds of marine ac- tivity, including spearfishing, last week, paving the way for the final sections of the National Conservation Law to be brought into force. Those changes move responsi- bility for licensing spearfishing from the Ma- rine Conservation Board, which will no longer exist, to the council. During its meeting Wednesday, council members raised concerns that granting such licenses may be difficult, given the ex- isting pressures of overfishing and its pri- mary role to protect species that would be targeted by spearfishermen. “The current level of fishing is unsus- tainable. It would be very difficult for us as a council to license new spearguns or renew existing spearguns in the absence of an ex- pansion of the marine parks,” said council member Fred Burton. Council members agreed to write to the minister asking how it should handle spe- argun applications in the face of its dual re- sponsibility to license the activity and to protect the targeted species. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the De- partment of Environment, said the council could only issue licenses for activities like spearfishing if it were satisfied those activities would not negatively impact a threatened spe- cies or its habitat. She said it would be hard to satisfy those conditions without the extra protection that would come from an expanded system of COMPETITION COMING TO CAYMAN’S PROPANE INDUSTRY ALAN MARKOFF amarkoff@pinnaclemedialtd.com If all goes as planned, Grand Cayman’s propane fuel supplier that has enjoyed a mo- nopoly for more than a half century will have competition by the end of this year. Clean Gas Ltd. announced last week that it had submitted a planning application for a bulk storage facility capable of holding up to 300,000 gallons of propane fuel in Grand Cay- man’s Industrial Park, off Sparkys Drive. The initial investors of the company in- clude businessmen Randy Merren and Marcus Cumber, attorney James Bergstrom and Min- ister of Financial Services Wayne Panton. “For us, it’s about giving a choice to con- sumers in the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Cumber said, adding that while starting a business in competition with the long-established sole provider of propane carries some risk, it was a risk he and his partners were willing to take. “We have four like-minded Cayma- nians that see an opportunity in this partic- ular market,” he said. “We felt that with the growth of [Cayman’s] economy that there was room for a new provider to enter the market. There’s a risk we might get kicked … but from a redundancy standpoint, it’s good to have competition.” Mr. Cumber said that although Home Gas – the current sole supplier of propane on Grand Cayman – will have a competitive advantage because the direct underground pipeline be- tween the Sol Petroleum terminal on South Church Street and its facility on Walkers Road eliminates transportation costs, there is still enough profit margin to supply propane at a Fast action helps save Caymanian’s life ALAN MARKOFF amarkoff@pinnaclemedialtd.com It is against the odds that young Caymanian John Miller III is still alive. When Mr. Miller was in- volved in a motorcycle accident last October, he suffered internal injuries severe enough to kill most people. “His aorta was damaged,” said Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, chief cardiac surgeon of Health City Cayman Islands, refer- ring to the human body’s main artery. He added that usually when people suffer this kind of injury, medical statistics indi- cate that 90 of the victims die before they reach the hospital, and of the 10 percent who make it alive to the hospital, half of them die within 24 hours. Mr. Miller’s accident oc- curred in North Side, just after 4 p.m. on Oct. 18. Because there was no ambulance available, he was transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital by private car, arriving there around 5 Walkers don tiaras and sneakers for fundraiser More than 250 people turned out at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Harbour Sunday morning to support the ‘Sneakers and Tiaras’ walk to raise funds for medical expenses for brain tumor sufferer Mary ‘Meg’ Bodden, pictured, fourth adult from right, and to raise awareness of the disease for Brain Tumour Month. For more on this story, see page 2. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil and motorcycle accident victim John Miller III. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY MAY 23, 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. - MONDAY - X-MEN: APOCALYPSE 3D (PG13) 12:40 I 2:00 2D I 3:50 I 5:40 2D 7:00 I 9:00 2D ANGRY BIRDS 3D (PG) 1:00 2D I 4:10 I 7:10 2D I 9:40 CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR 3D (PG13) 1:00 I 3:40 2D I 6:30 I 9:30 2D THE NICE GUYS (R) 1:15 I 6:50 THE JUNGLE BOOK (PG) 4:00 I 9:50 BARBERSHOP 3 THE NEXT CUT(PG13) 4:20 I 7:10 (NO SAT) I 9:45 (NO SAT) Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) LONG TERM RENTALS AT HARBOUR HEIGHTS 2BR/2BA CI$2,600 + utilities + 1 cleaning/wk. 4 separate units. Six to 8 months’ duration. Spectacular on SMB near Public Beach. No children. No pets. Month deposit required. Contact Paula/Shandy at 945-4295 Dr. Wayne R. Porter MD F.A.A.D. Dermatologist call : 946-9020 between 9am to 5pm Dees Plaza #282 on Crewe Road, GT He will be in office from May 23rd - 27th, 2016 Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Dr. Vivek's offi ce at Smith Road Plaza from 17-25 May, 2016 For appointments please call (345)945-6077 +1 (345) 323-7840 www.drbarryrichter.com Governor to ‘short-list’ candidates for police commissioner this week BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Royal Cayman Islands Police Commissioner David Baines has not departed yet, but the process to select his replacement is well under way, Governor Helen Kilpat- rick’s office confirmed Friday. Following advertisements both internationally and lo- cally for the $130,000-a- year post, representatives of the governor’s office said that they expected short- listing of the candidates to occur next week. The formal interview process would commence afterward, officials said. A total of 53 people ap- plied for the job, including some Caymanians, the gover- nor’s office confirmed. Job interviews will be conducted by a panel made up of the governor, deputy governor, Bermuda Police Commissioner Michael De Silva and two panel mem- bers to be selected, one by Premier Alden McLaughlin, the other by Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush. Cur- rent Commissioner Ba- ines, who leaves that job of- ficially at the end of the month, is not involved in the selection process. The governor’s of- fice set no time frame for the final selection of the new commissioner. Mr. Baines’s departure was agreed with the gov- ernor earlier this year after a public uproar over a number of incidents involving po- lice management and ad- ministrative issues, most notably the RCIPS response to five missing boaters off 12 Mile Bank on March 6. Those boaters – including two children – have never been found. The outgoing commis- sioner will receive an addi- tional year’s salary through to May 31, 2017 including pension benefits, the gov- ernor’s office said, due to the circumstances of his departure. “[Mr. Baines] will leave his post by mutual con- sent as the unfair criticism and defamatory comments [have] undermined his au- thority to the extent that his leadership of the RCIPS is no longer tenable,” a March governor’s office statement noted. “Given this, the gov- ernor determined that it was in the best interests of the Cayman Islands to honor the terms and conditions of the commissioner’s contract.” Premier McLaughlin said in March that he was con- cerned that, given the polit- ical climate that exists at the moment, it might be difficult to find a replacement for Mr. Baines quickly. However, if a new com- missioner is selected rel- atively soon from among the 53 applicants currently before the governor’s of- fice, it could leave Cayman with the prospect of hiring a new police commissioner and paying that person a six figure salary, in addition to paying Mr. Baines. The previous RCIPS com- missioner who held the post under a long-term contract, Stuart Kernohan, also did not last until the end of his working agreement. Mr. Kernohan was ter- minated in 2008 by former Governor Stuart Jack, about a year prior to the end of his four-year contract. Mr. Ker- nohan sued the Cayman Is- lands government over the firing and won a substantial settlement following a pro- tracted court battle lasting almost five years. Following Mr. Kernohan’s tenure, a number of tempo- rary replacement commis- sioners from the U.K. and Cayman filled the role, in- cluding U.K. Metropolitan Police senior officer David George, former U.K. Civil Nu- clear Constabulary deputy chief James Smith and RCIPS Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis. One candi- date who was appointed as acting commissioner, former St. Helena police chief Royce Hipgrave, decided not to take the job 48 hours after ar- riving in Cayman. Walkers don tiaras for fundraiser stroll JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dogs, children and adults, wearing every- thing from tiaras to tutus, were out in force Sunday morning to participate in a fundraising fun walk. To show their support for Mary “Meg” Bodden, who has a brain tumor, some 250 people turned up for the “Sneakers and Tiaras” fun walk event, which took place from the Holiday Inn in Crystal Harbour to the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, said event organizer Jen- ique Smith. Standing at the finish line and encouraging walkers with claps, Ms. Bodden said she was delighted that so many had shown up to give her their support. “Please don’t stop doing it ‘cause we all need you … we are all one, and no one fights through these things alone,” she said. Ms. Bodden works in the women’s ministry at the First Baptist Church. The funds will go toward helping her with medical ex- penses as she travels over- seas for medical treatment. “It was just a fun cre- ative walk I started to make a difference in the commu- nity, and the turnout was absolutely amazing,” said Ms. Smith. “All the funds raised through the event will go towards the cause.” Ms. Smith is planning to hold the event annually and to pick a person in the local community each year who needs help and support. “This year, we are so happy we could benefit Miss Meg who is suffering from a brain tumor. I was in church one day and over- heard Miss Meg’s testi- mony about her disease and wanted to do something to help,” she said. The event also supports brain tumor awareness month in May. FOUR ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING, ILLEGAL LANDING Police arrested two Cu- bans and two men from Cayman in East End on Thursday evening after re- ceiving a report of a “suspi- cious vessel” making its way to shore. According to a police statement, the Joint Marine Unit and Air Operations Unit tracked the vessel to Gun Bay Dock. Once it docked, marine officers arrested the four men. The two Cubans, ages 44 and 36, and a 59-year-old man from West Bay were ar- rested on suspicion of en- gaging in smuggling. The fourth man, age 42, of West Bay, was arrested on suspi- cion of illegal landing. “Please don’t stop doing it ‘cause we all need you … we are all one, and no one fights through these things alone.” MARY BODDEN Participants dressed up in tutus and tiaras for Sunday’s fundraising walk. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Police Commissioner David Baines A total of 53 people applied for the job, including some Caymanians, the governor’s office confirmed.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 CHAMBER PENSION PLAN WWW.CHAMBERPENSION.KY Everyone’s life story is different. Let us write your retirement chapter. James is fascinated with Japanese culture and anime. This inspired him to write and illustrate his own stories and launch his own publishing company. One day he hopes to visit Japan - to explore the culture, beautiful scenery and rich history for himself. Review of CarePay debacle complete BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The internal review of the Cayman Islands govern- ment’s catastrophic five-year, US$13 million dollar con- tract for hospital patient in- surance adjudication services has been completed, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Friday. Mr. Manderson said he expected to receive details of the CarePay contract audit by the end of this month, once government entities in- volved in the review had an opportunity to review the report. The review was or- dered shortly after the end of a criminal trial that focused on former Health Services Authority Board Chairman Canover Watson’s role in an alleged scheme to defraud the government. Watson was sentenced to seven years in prison after a jury found him guilty of five out of six crim- inal charges against him. Neither Mr. Manderson nor Internal Audit Unit Di- rector Deloris Gordon com- mented on the audit’s find- ings when asked Friday, but the deputy governor has pledged to release the report to the public. The audit is not a criminal investigation, but an admin- istrative review of the actions taken by Cayman Islands government workers during the procurement and imple- mentation of the hospital patient swipe-card contract. The contract was awarded to a local company named Advanced Integrated Sys- tems Cayman Ltd., in which Watson had an interest that he did not disclose. Mr. Manderson said the review would consider “com- prehensively” all activities surrounding the bid process and award of the contract. Watson, 45, was accused at trial of orchestrating, with business partner and friend Jeffrey Webb, a scheme that prosecutors said sought to si- phon $3 million from govern- ment coffers. A number of current and former civil servants took the witness stand during the proceedings to give the Grand Court their accounts of what occurred during the scheme between mid-2010 and mid-2013. The testimony at trial included statements indi- cating there was “little scru- tiny” given to the five-year, US$13 million contract for the CarePay swipe-card system for public hospital patients. The heads of the Health Services Authority and Cayman Islands National Insurance Company admitted they had not read the agree- ment before it was signed. A US$2.4 million expense for the proposed expansion of the CarePay card system to private sector insurers and healthcare providers was in- serted into government’s 2011/12 budget, but no con- tract for the purported agree- ment ever existed. The system expansion never happened, even though a total of US$1.8 million was paid for it. It was also revealed that Watson, as HSA chairman, was put “in charge” of the CarePay project implementa- tion, involving complex com- puter programming tasks for which he had no spe- cific knowledge or training to assess. This was allowed to occur over the protests of then-hospital information technology chief Dale Sanders. Mr. Manderson appointed Ms. Gordon to lead the re- view, and indicated audi- tors would be given a “wide mandate” to look into all areas, from the overarching civil service decision-making process down to the bid process specifics. During the trial, Crown prosecutors alleged that Watson rushed through the original CarePay contract pro- cess and later bamboozled civil servants – and possibly a government minister – into ap- proving funds for the system expansion, even though no contract existed for it. Mr. Manderson said he did not wish to prejudge the Internal Audit Unit’s review, but did indicate that such re- views generally, depending on what they find, can lead to disciplinary action taken against government workers if that is warranted. BUSINESS PLAN FOR NEW SUNRISE CENTRE UNDER WAY Plans are under way to create a new and improved Sunrise Adult Training Centre, with a committee being formed to work on an outline business case for the project. According to a press re- lease issued by the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs last week, the goal is to provide a pur- pose-built center that can support and develop inde- pendent living skills for cli- ents, provide therapeutic and recreational programs, and enhance and develop social and interpersonal skills. “The establishment of the Steering Committee is a sig- nificant step in this project which has been needed for quite some time. It is evident that there is a genuine need for a purpose-built facility to cater to the needs of the cli- ents of the center,” said Min- ister of Education Tara Rivers. She said the 28-year-old program had operated for the last 15 years out of a partially retrofitted duplex. While cli- ents and staff had done their best, “despite these restric- tions and challenges,” she said, the demands for access to the programs had grown substantially and the center “cannot operate much longer under current conditions.” Cabinet approved a “stra- tegic outline case” for a new facility on March 1 and gave permission to proceed with developing an outline busi- ness case. A request for pro- posals was issued inviting consultancy services to help develop an outline business case, “to review the cost im- plications of available op- tions for a facility in a more centralized location, the ex- pansion of program services, and increase in client enrol- ment,” the release stated. Options for public-private partnerships and ways the wider community can con- tribute to the project will also be explored. Acting director at the Sun- rise Centre, Kim Voaden, said, “Based on the current wait- list, anticipated graduation rates from Lighthouse School and present enrolment at the Centre, as well as refer- rals from the community and mainstream education, we anticipate that the Cen- tre’s enrollment will grow, and that potential clients on our waitlist will be served once suitable facilities and staffing are provided.” The committee consists of representatives of the Ministry of Education, staff and clients of the Sunrise Adult Training Centre, Public Works Department, Plan- ning Department, Lighthouse School and Special Olympics Cayman Islands.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. 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 findtheirownway” THE TELEGRAPH (LONDON) EDITORIAL BOARD The EU referendum is be- coming a classic story of David vs Goliath. On one side, a small coalition of Brexiters – most prominently Boris Johnson hurtling around the regions in a battle bus. On the other side, almost every powerful and wealthy name that the establishment can drop. And yet, despite all its advantages, the Remain camp has failed to establish an early, sizeable lead. Project Fear has not yet worked. We have concluded the first round of campaigning since the local elections, and the rallying of the es- tablishment has been re- markable. First: David Cam- eron, sharing a platform with David Miliband, said that Brexit would leave the world vulnerable to war. Next: Gordon Brown made his case for an “outward looking” Britain. Then: Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, injected a tradi- tionally nonpartisan insti- tution into electoral politics by saying that Brexit’s ef- fects could include “a tech- nical recession”. Later: Sir John Major warned that the Leave campaign was di- viding Britain. Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Mone- tary Fund, also said that to abandon the EU would crash the stock market. If Brexit is such a danger to life and limb, many voters will be asking themselves why Mr Cameron saw fit to trigger a referendum on it in the first place. They will also find some of these alli- ances of convenience rather strange: until recently the Government was at war with the IMF over its economic strategy. And those not alien- ated by all this negativity might be looking across the English channel and asking themselves if it isn’t a risk to stay within the EU. A new, devastating Mori poll has revealed the extent to which other EU states are worried about the future. Some 60 per cent of Italians would like a referendum on membership; 48 per cent say they would vote to leave. No wonder. Unemployment is high in Italy, industry is suffering and the banking sector is in serious trouble. A majority of respondents to polling in Italy, Poland, the US, India and South Africa also say that they believe the British economy would fare better after Brexit. In other words, the warnings and threats have not been cutting through. That might change after the recent onslaught, but even then the Leavers have a powerful weapon up their sleeve: immigration. Up- dated numbers from the Of- fice for National Statistics finally explained the dis- crepancy between the offi- cial immigration figure and the much higher number of National Insurance num- bers – revealing that 1.5 million more EU citizens have come to the UK than many thought. This high- lights Mr Johnson’s point that democracy has been eroded by a series of broken promises made by succes- sive governments – that the referendum is becoming a plebiscite not just on the EU but on a Byzantine political class that overwhelmingly favours Brussels. How long can the Re- main camp continue to root its campaign in threats and warnings largely un- supported by cogent argu- ments and fact? Celebrity- backed projections not only sound insubstantial but also run the risk of alien- ating the public even further – giving the impression that they are being terrified into voting Remain rather than persuaded. A similar tactic was tried during the Scot- tish referendum and nearly backfired. The establishment would be wise to remember that the British have a deep and abiding affection for po- litical underdogs. © 2016, Associated Press The Cayman Heart Fund, and all the members of the Cayman Islands community who pitched in, deserve praise for their successful campaign to raise $150,000 to buy a new ambulance for the Health Services Authority. They should be proud of their efforts, which will result in a much-needed emergency services vehicle for the people of this country. However, we cannot help but wonder if these kind- hearted volunteers would feel so good about their contri- butions if we were to frame our observations in a manner that is different, but equally true: That their yearlong campaign will result in government being able to provide an additional $150,000 in subsidies to the Cayman Turtle Farm; that the government will now be able to abstain from collecting another $150,000 of the tens of millions of dollars in outstanding debt owed to the Health Services Authority; or that the government can allocate $150,000 to a new initiative that provides pension payments to former one-term legislators. Let us clarify further. The Heart Fund, volunteers and contributors are all doing good work. The new ambulance is a good thing. In fact, it’s a life-saving necessity. That is precisely why it should have been an expense incurred by the public sector – not the private sector. By giving the government money for a new ambulance, the Heart Fund is effectively providing a subsidy to the gov- ernment to continue pursuing projects that are less nec- essary, even downright wasteful. (It should be noted, clearly, that not all donations, charitable contributions, or philanthropic gifts of goodwill fall into the ambit of our argument here. We are speaking only of the ones that subsidize government budgets, not those, for example, such as HospiceCare or the Red Cross that are private in nature.) As we’ve written before, when the government is drafting its budget, every dollar is a decision and is an indication of how our elected leaders rank their priori- ties. Too often, the private sector, acting out of the most noble intentions, effectively provides our officials with the opportunity to shirk responsibilities that fall squarely within the public sector sphere. When the Humane Society conducts spay/neutering programs or houses animals to be adopted, it spares the government from effectively addressing the societal problems of negligent pet owners, animal abuse and roaming feral creatures. When professionals in the community provide numeracy and literacy programs in public schools, it takes the onus off of government to provide basic education to our young people. When groups such as the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association or the Cancer Society donate medical equip- ment to the public hospital, it enables the Health Services Authority to keep from balancing its books or demanding the funding it obviously requires to function satisfactorily. Altogether, when the private sector pitches in to shoulder what should be government’s burden, it allows our lawmakers and bureaucrats to avoid making tough decisions that might be politically unpopular, but are absolutely necessary. As a rule, the voluntary contributions from the com- munity may help address the symptoms of a problem, but, ultimately, also give the government an excuse never to fund adequately the necessary services it has com- mitted to. Put simply, if the Health Services Authority takes on the responsibility of providing ambulance services, it has to provide (and pay for) ambulances. When private funds subsidize government responsibilities MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Brexiters are the political underdogs Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London, poses for a selfie in Truro, England, during the first day of a nationwide bus tour to campaign for Brexit. – PHOTO: BLOOMBERG NEWS/LUKE MACGREGOR5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 PremierHealth BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town.Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac. Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Ltd. acts solely as an agent on behalf of various insurers; it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. You said you needed more choice when it matters most. You got network care first with BritCay. BritCay was first to offer an overseas network option in 1995. This ensures that you get access to world class facilities. At home, we have invested in solid partnerships with local providers. They are paid on time, claims are simple and you have easy access to benefits. It means your health plan is as convenient to use overseas as it is at home. CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky cgigrp In 1984, BritCay joined Colonial Group International (CGI). In 1995, BritCay was the first company to offer Cayman residents an overseas network option with world class facilities. It was the first of many changes to come.notable firsts! Six months later, no charges filed in jewelry store heist BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although two people were arrested in January in connection with a No- vember jewelry store rob- bery on West Bay Road, no charges have been brought against anyone in connection with the case. Equally as important, from store owner Mitzi Cal- lan’s perspective, none of the jewelry pieces – many of which were made by the long-time Cayman Is- lands business owner – have been recovered. “The pieces that were stolen were handcrafted jewelry that I designed and made, in addition to limited edition Carrera y Carrera,” Ms. Callan said. “The pieces that were stolen were of sig- nificant amount and obvi- ously, as an artist, it has wounded me tremendously.” Mitzi’s Fine Jewelry has been at its West Bay Road location for about 26 years, Ms. Callan said, and she has been in the jewelry business here since 1976. Asked whether the extent of the robbery on Nov. 18, 2015 would force her to shut down, Ms. Callan declined to comment. “It is a small busi- ness,” she said. On Friday, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice released images of many of the jewelry pieces taken during the heist. Photos of 26 separate pieces, including emerald and dia- mond rings and necklaces, were made public in an ef- fort to find information about those responsible for the robbery. Police said they believed other pieces not pictured in the release had also been stolen. “Detectives believe that someone has seen this jew- elry in past months or knows its whereabouts,” the police release stated. “He or she may have information about who stored it or may have been offered it for sale. They may have seen someone wearing this jewelry, quite possibly in unexpected cir- cumstances for such high- value items.” Although no one has been charged in connection with the Nov. 18 robbery, court testimony from late No- vember 2015 in a separate theft case referenced the jewelry store robbery. In that court appearance, a former Mitzi’s Fine Jew- elry employee, Madeiny Wil- liams-Rodriguez Ebanks- Pol, 37, denied involvement in the Nov. 18 robbery – stating she had been kid- napped that day, just before the robbery took place. Ebanks-Pol was charged with two counts of theft from the store. The thefts oc- curred on Nov. 7 and Nov. 11. Defense attorney Keva Reid told the court during the late November appear- ance on the theft charges that Ebanks-Pol went to the jewelry store on Nov. 18, 2015 to pick up her em- ployment check. As she was leaving the store, the de- fendant said she was kid- napped at gunpoint. She said she ran from the place where her kidnappers even- tually left her and managed to reach the door of a nearby residence where the occu- pants called police. Ms. Reid told the court that a public announcement issued by police on Nov. 23 asking for information as to the whereabouts of Ebanks- Pol in relation to “a series of incidents” at the jewelry store had given the wrong impres- sion. In February, Ebanks- Pol admitted stealing a dia- mond ring, valued at $4,000, and a charm bracelet, valued at $2,000, from Mitzi’s Fine Jewelry on Nov. 7. She also pleaded guilty to stealing a gold necklace and a diamond pendant from the store four days later. Ms. Callan said Thursday that she did not want to comment regarding the po- lice investigation into the robbery, but noted that the alleged thefts “were a se- vere breach of trust” and “made it very difficult as a small business owner to move forward.” A $10,000 reward has been offered through Cayman Crime Stoppers for information that leads to the recovery of the stolen jewelry or the conviction of those re- sponsible for the robbery. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the stolen jewelry, or information regarding the robbery, should contact the Drugs and Serious Crime Task Force at 649-7710 or Louise.Daniels@ rcips.ky. Anonymous tips can be provided via the Miami-based call center of Crime Stoppers at 800- 8477(TIPS), or online: www.tipsubmit. com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=681. “The pieces that were stolen were of significant amount and obviously, as an artist, it has wounded me tremendously.” MITZI CALLAN, jewelry store owner A selection of jewelry stolen from Mitzi’s Fine Jewelry on Nov. 18. – PHOTOS: SUPPLIED BY RCIPSMONDAY MAY 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days George Town 50 YEARS AGO: William Lawrence Nixon profiled In the May 25, 1966 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, George Towner William Lawrence Nixon was pro- filed in the paper’s “Person- ality Parade” column: “Serving as foreman of the jury at the recent murder trial was William Lawrence Nixon of George Town but this was no unusual occu- pation for Mr. Nixon. From the age of 18 years, he has been summoned to serve on juries in the Grand Court al- most every year at one or other of the sessions in ad- dition to many inquests. “The case that stands out most vividly in his mind is that of Haldean Bodden v. Lindo DaCosta when the jury was confined for nine days and eight nights. In those days jurors were only paid 1 shilling 6 pence per day, which was little com- pensation for a man with a business which had to be closed down for the period of a trial. “As this is only one of the many ways in which William has served, and is serving the community, we feel he is worthy of the honour of being feted on our pages. “Born in George Town in 1909, the son of Laurannia Carter, he was later adopted by Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Dias. “His formal schooling under teachers Sams, Hitchman and Watson lasted barely two years from Jan. 1 1924 until September 1926. These were hard times and it was necessary to work in order to eat. “His first employment was as water boy, backing water for the cement mixers who were working on the government warehouse and he continued until this job was finished. He next be- came assistant to the late Inspector Watler who was the tidewaiter [customs of- ficer] and worked inside the warehouse he had helped to build. “Whilst working there, he was also seeking other means and got in touch with the late Mr. J.L. Llewellyn who was the only policeman in the island at that time and who was also a shoemaker. By watching Mr. Llewellyn at work on shoe repairs and assisting him, he eventually became so proficient and skilled at the task that he was able to do as well as his tutor and start up in this line on his own. “His next venture was to rent a shop from Samuel Smith Junior … then one day Mr. J.T. Brown (now of Boilers) who was anxious to sell a shop which he owned came and offered it to Mr. Nixon. The price was eventually agreed upon as $30 … however, the land was not yet his as this was owned by the daughter of Mr. R.C. Dias and had been leased to Mr. Brown. Upon negoti- ation, it was agreed that Elsa would give William the first option if she ever wished to sell and just be- fore Mr. Dias died, Wil- liam promised him he would look after his two daughters, Elsa and Arlett, which he has faithfully done until today. “In March 1936, there- fore, he opened the grocery store which is today a fa- miliar sight on the George Town landscape … In 1953, he was elected as a member of the Assembly of Jus- tices and Vestry on which he served until 1955 …. Mr. Nixon was a member of the original Cayman Is- lands Yacht Club and the first Chamber of Commerce … and he has often been called upon to settle land disputes, [and among other things] went into citrus growing in a serious way and is now acknowledged as the #1 citrus man in this community … “He was married to Mar- garet Verona (nee Terry) of Bodden Town and they have two children, William Lancelot, aged 10 years, and Karen Verona, aged 8 years – altogether a very happy family.” National Gallery hosts caregivers National Gallery staff and volunteers recently wel- comed a group of more than 25 nurses and care- givers to mark International Nurses Day. The gallery’s assistant cu- rator, Kerri-Anne Chisholm, and Kerwin Ebanks from the gallery’s education depart- ment gave tours of both the gallery’s permanent collection and the temporary exhibition titled, “Native Sons – Twenty Years On” during the event, held on Thursday, May 12. Gallery staff came up with the idea for the appre- ciation day after noticing the nurses who accompany se- niors groups and other out- reach program groups that often visit the gallery also expressed an interest in viewing the exhibitions and learning more about the art on display. “We wanted to show ap- preciation to these nurses and making sure they have a time [to visit the gallery] for themselves,” said Mr. Ebanks. After learning about the exhibitions, the group of caregivers enjoyed coffee, tea and scones from the gal- lery’s Art Cafe, and were of- fered a sneak peek of this year’s outreach exhibition, the “Gift of Healing,” a sub- ject that resonated with the special guests. The new exhibition, curated by this year’s Deutsche Bank intern Can- dace Welcome, showcases close to 100 works of art by 68 students who have par- ticipated in the gallery’s out- reach programs this year. “I hope that visitors will leave feeling inspired and touched by the artworks on display,” said Ms. Welcome. “I would like them to ex- perience the way art has mo- tivated each individual within the outreach programs to seek change and to choose positivity, despite their dif- ficulties. It is my hope that they too will be inspired to do the same,” she said. “I am thrilled that these works are on public display so everyone can appreciate the tremendous achieve- ments that have been made this year.” National Gallery out- reach programs include: Art Haven (classes for partici- pants from Caribbean Haven, HMP Northward, HMP Fair- banks and HMP Northward Juveniles), taught by Joseph Betty and sponsored by Lori Monk and Kevin Butler; EY’s Art Talk for participants aged 50+, taught by Kerwin Ebanks and sponsored by EY; EY’s Meet Me, held in Grand Cayman and in Cayman Brac for residents of rest homes, taught by Kerwin Ebanks and Simone Scott and sponsored by EY; and Sunrise Art Club for adults with disabilities, taught by David Bridgeman. The gallery’s Outreach programs cater to a wide va- riety of community groups, ages and artistic levels. Art classes are held on site at the National Gallery where possible, and for some in- structors go out into the community to lead art proj- ects. Classes encourage the discovery of new skills and development of abilities through experimentation and apply concepts of art therapy where appropriate. “Outreach is a vital link for people in the community who may not be able to at- tend public NGCI programs, such as children with dis- abilities, young offenders, se- nior citizens, elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s and ordinary people strug- gling to free themselves from drug addiction,” said the gallery’s operations and program manager Tanya Whiteside. The Gift of Healing will be on display until May 25. The caregivers had the chance to check out a number of exhibitions and got a sneak peek at the latest show, ‘The Art of Healing.’ Jackie Hickey and Cindi Roper enjoy tea at the Art Cafe.7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 DISTRICT DAYS District Days George Town Families snuggle up and read at Cayman Academy JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Families enjoyed bedtime sto- ries, drama and literacy fun at the “Snuggle Up and Read” event, held last week at Cayman Academy School Hall. From 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, children and parents visited var- ious classrooms to color, read and snuggle, while sampling free hot chocolate and cookies. Along with taking in some presentations they also got to participate in a pajama contest and a free raffle. The event was staged by the Department of Children and Family Services, along with Cayman Academy and Literacy Is For Everyone, known as LIFE, as a way to promote literacy as a family affair. The Cayman Public Library also took part in the event. “We wanted to encourage par- ents to read with their children, which would factor in that love for reading, because there is only so much that can be done at school,” said Marilyn Conolly, ex- ecutive director at LIFE. LIFE provides supplementary literacy programs and initiatives for children and adults, thereby helping to raise the quality of education in the public school system, Ms. Conolly said. At the event, parents were given handouts on reading tips for their children. Cassandra Parchment, child month coordinator at Children and Family Services, said it was a fun night for families and the aim was to make the public aware of literacy for children in the Cayman Islands. Ms. Parchment said there were many consequences of illiteracy, which range from people not being able to fill out forms prop- erly, to broader social problems like domestic violence and juve- nile delinquency, as well as the potential for illiteracy continuing through generations. Miss Lassie GEORGE NOWAK Gladwyn K. “Lassie” Bush, pictured in this photo taken in the mid-1980s in her home along South Sound road, began painting at the age of 62, after what she describes as a visionary experience. Divine, religious themes are distinct in her works, which she painted on canvas, and the walls, windows and furnishings in her home. Miss Lassie was awarded a national honor, Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1997, and received the award during the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in Grand Cayman on June 15, 1998. She was also a recip- ient of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Heri- tage Award. Miss Lassie passed away on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 at the age of 89. Her home is now part of the Cayman Cultural Foundation. 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. Andy Martin in the studio Andy ‘The Cayman Cowboy’ Martin recently made a visit to C&B Studios where he spent the weekend recording a new song titled ‘It’s Fresh.’ Since his first big hit, ‘Letter from Sea,’ Mr. Martin has recorded four albums. His songs are featured regularly on Rooster FM, Radio Cayman and various stations in the Bay Islands. C&B Studios, located in Red Bay is owned and operated by local musicians Chuck and Barrie Quappe. - PHOTO: GEORGE NOWAK Jayanna Rankine and Renee Shillingford cuddle up to read the book ‘Boundless Grace.’‘Snuggle Up and Read’ was fun for the children. Alejahdro Kerr and mum Merranda enjoy the book ‘Bug In A Rug.’8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daughter of former police commissioner returns to marry ALMA CHOLLETTE achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com Having once called Cayman home, Zoe Butcher, daughter of former police commissioner, the late Ronald “Ron” Francis Pocock, re- turned to the island for the first time after more than 40 years for her wedding at Surfers Beach in South Sound last week. Mrs. Butcher said her fa- ther served as head of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service from 1968 to 1974. “I was here when younger with my mum and dad and [as] they’re no longer alive, we thought it would be a nice thing to come back and get married in a place that meant a lot,” Mrs. Butcher said. Commissioner Pocock’s wife (and Mrs. Butcher’s mother), Joan Pocock, worked in the government’s finance and development department for two years, and then as a secretary in the governor’s of- fice for four years. After his stint serving as police commissioner in Cayman, Mr. Pocock and his family, including Zoe, then aged 8, moved to Miami, Florida before moving back to England. He never returned to work in the police force. Instead, life for the ex-com- missioner entailed traveling to Ghana in Africa to work in management at Obuasi Gold Mine. He also ran a few of his own businesses. “From what I remember,” said Mrs. Butcher of her fa- ther’s social life, “he always on the golf course.” Mr. Pocock, originally from Gerrards Cross, Buckingham- shire, passed away, at the age of 65, in 1995. “He’s now buried in Ascot, in Berkshire,” said Mrs. Butcher. Her mother has also passed away. Mrs. Butcher, owner of a pet business, and Mr. Butcher, a development manager, have been together for five-and-a- half years, and have five chil- dren between them. The couple, who said they met on an Internet dating site, got engaged on a trip to New York, on top of the Rockefeller Center, in February last year. “I got down on one knee in front of a lot of Japanese tourists taking photos, and it was snowing at the time,” said Mr. Butcher. “And she looked at me and said ‘What’re you doing down there?’ And, thankfully, she said yes.” On Wednesday, May 18, Rev. Donovan Myers offici- ated their wedding at Surfers Beach, with a reception at The White House. The wedding was planned by Juliette Heath of Five Star Events Cayman. Having arrived on May 13, the couple explored the island where Mrs. Butcher had once lived, paying visits to attractions such as Rum Point, Stingray City, and the Turtle Farm. They also visited the Lob- ster Pot. “It was sentimental [vis- iting the Lobster Pot] because I remember my mom and dad sitting at the bar. And I would sneak to the kitchen and see what they’re doing,” Mrs. Butcher recalled. But it was a visit to the Cayman Islands National Museum the night after they arrived in Cayman that kick-started the trip down memory lane. “It was a Saturday, we went to the National Mu- seum, and we believed there is a photo in the museum that they use as part of their backdrop in a video, and it very much looked like a pic- ture of Zoe’s dad,” said Mr. Butcher. “There was a person coming down the stairs of the building, apparently which was used a courthouse and other things, and it looked like a picture of what Zoe has of her dad.” “And so I said [to Zoe] ‘that looks like your dad,’” he said. “The pair of us started Googling while we were here and found some information.” Among the information they found online was a com- ment referring to her father by a reader, Chris Johnson, on a March 30 Cayman Compass editorial about the impending departure of current Police Commissioner David Baines. “I didn’t think there would be anyone on the island that remembered [my dad] or maybe would be alive,” said Mrs. Butcher. “We would re- search [back] home [about my dad] but we didn’t really come across anything.” They contacted Mr. Johnson, who turned out to be an old friend of Mr. Pocock, and met him on Friday. The couple leaves for Eng- land on Monday evening. Zoe and Vince Butcher got married last week after Zoe returned to Cayman, where she spent part of her childhood and where her father, Ron Pocock, was police commissioner. – PHOTO: JULIETTE HEATH Former Police Commissioner Ron Pocock. – PHOTO: COURTESY OF ZOE BUTCHER9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 23, 2016 Football ‘legends’ raising hope for recovering addicts JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some of Cayman’s most prominent businessmen and politicians will lace up their football boots Monday to raise money for recovering drug and alcohol addicts in the latest in a series of charity “legends” matches. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson is slated to turn out for a West Bay se- lection against a visiting Bodden Town team that will feature Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden. Also lining up in West Bay colors are Island Air owner Marcus Cumber and Arden “Cheeky” Rivers, one of the organizers of this month’s Cayman Airways Invitational youth tournament. Suiting up alongside Mr. Bodden will be some of his local political rivals, including Mark Scotland, who preceded him as Sports Minister and Dwayne Seymour, both former legislators in the United Dem- ocratic Party. Those rivalries will be put to one side on Monday night, however, with local pride on the line. The match starts at 7 p.m. at Ed Bush Stadium. Entry is free but donations and a raffle will be held in aid of the Hope for Today Foundation, a West Bay-based halfway house which helps addicts get their lives back on track. Brent Hydes, who runs the foundation, will turn out for the West Bay side. He said the event, the latest in a se- ries of matches, was raising awareness of the need for a communitywide response to the problems associated with drug addiction. “It is about raising some funds for the Halfway house,” said Mr. Hydes, “and, most of all, highlighting the issues we have in the community with misuse of drugs and the con- sequences for our country in terms of crime and the break- down of families.” Some of the players on show Monday may have lost some of the pace and skill of their younger days, but there will be no shortage of com- petitive spirit on display, Mr. Hydes said. Minister Bodden said he was hoping to roll back the years and relive his glory days as a midfield general for Bodden Town. “We will be shaking off the cobwebs and dusting off the boots and giving a display of all the old skills and giving West Bay a good run. We are expecting to steal the spoils and bring the cup back to Bodden Town,” he said. He urged the public, par- ticularly Bodden Towners, to make the trip out to West Bay to support the old boys and contribute to a worthy cause. Deputy Governor Man- derson said he was hopeful the West Bay Legends, who lost twice to George Town ear- lier this year, could get their first win in the series. “So far, I have played the last 10 minutes of each game but perhaps an earlier start might bring some luck,” Mr. Manderson said. “I com- mend the organizers of the football event. Not only as it brought some of us older folks back to playing foot- ball, but we are supporting an excellent cause.” Mr. Hydes acknowledged that everybody wants to win “but the whole idea is for the old boys to come together, have some fun and raise some dollars for the halfway house,” he said. “Most of all,” he added, “I want to highlight the impor- tance of rehabilitation and the role we all have to play in dealing with this commu- nity issue. Cayman is going down a dangerous road in terms of drug addiction and the consequences and we appreciate the involvement of everyone who is taking part on Monday. It shows that ev- eryone recognizes that this is all of our problem and we have to work together to deal with it.” Mr. Hydes, who will take to the field himself, said he has been in training since his West Bay Legends suf- fered successive defeats at the hands of George Town earlier this year. “I have to make sure it doesn’t happen again, against Bodden Town – then we are coming for revenge against George Town.” West Bay MLA McKeeva Bush said his playing days were over, but he is spon- soring one of the trophies for the legends soccer series. “Brent does an excellent job and anything I can do to support him and his founda- tion, I always try to do. He is helping people put their lives back together and he deserves our support,” Mr. Bush said. The teams will compete for the Marcus Cumber Cup, with the second place team receiving the McKeeva Bush Community Shield. Some of the ‘legends’ gather after the last charity match.Next >