High of 88 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Queen’s birthday Flowers Sea Swim The open water event is back and better than ever B8 Technology Lifestyle Events ■ BOOKS Wedding Jo Anne Brown’s new coffee table book B9 Human Resource Machine Problem-solving app tests your programming skills B3 The Case of the Missing Statue When Durty Reid Walker came to life in George Town B10 STOLI FLAVOURS2 for $ 56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $ 56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertificates. com EVAN WILLIAMS BLACK 1L WENTE VINYARDS Wine from California 20% OFF 750ml Bottle Offer valid until 30 June Photo: David Wolfe Wedding Wedding Wedding queenqueenqueen Queen’s birthday Her Majesty’s 90th is celebrated this weekend B4 CAYMAN WEEKENDER Wedding queen EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 EXTENDED BAR HOURS: PRUDENT POLICY OR ‘ONE FOR THE ROAD’? ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 VICTIM: EVERY BONE IN FACE BROKEN AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who was seriously injured when he and his wife were struck by a car last year told a jury that every bone in his face was broken in the incident, while his wife stated that her neck was broken. American tourists Richard and Kathy Schubert had arrived in Grand Cayman the day before they were hit by a car as they were walking to a restaurant along West Bay Road on Jan. 25, 2015. The couple gave evidence Wednesday via video link in the trial of attorney Simon Courtney, 47, who is charged with two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm and dan- gerous or reckless driving. Mr. Schubert said he was hit from behind by a car, but did not know what had happened because he was unconscious for 10 days. He was flown to Miami, but did not remember any of that. “Every bone in my face was broken,” he told the court. The doctor who performed surgery needed a photo to see what he had looked like. Mr. Schubert said doctors were amazed that he did not lose his sight or sustain brain damage. The surgeons did not get his teeth back in the right spot, he noted. Mrs. Schubert said the last thing she re- membered was passing The Ritz-Carlton hotel. She woke up in hospital with head and leg lacerations. She wondered why she felt no pain. Doctors took another X-ray and found that her neck was broken. She described treat- ment to her head and leg, adding that she wore “a hard collar” for three months. She was in hospital in Cayman and Florida for a total of nine days. On Thursday, the court heard witness Debt or deceit? Hotel bill dispute highlights gray area JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The case of a tourist arrested at the air- port over an unpaid guesthouse bill has high- lighted the fine line between civil and criminal disputes in the Cayman Islands. While police insist their officers were pur- suing a criminal complaint and not acting as de facto debt collectors when they jailed American tourist Fuambai Ahmadu in connec- tion with the $233 bill, Ms. Ahmadu disputed the charge and said she considered the matter a civil dispute that should not have involved law enforcement. The incident has raised questions about the gray area between civil and criminal mat- ters and the scope of a police officer’s powers in mediating such disputes. Rachel Specht of ARKA corporate and legal services, which lists private debt dispute res- olution among its specialties, said the differ- ence came down to criminal intent. “Criminal behavior is where there is an in- tention to obtain a benefit without providing something in return. That is clearly where the criminal conduct lies.” While someone who intentionally walks out on a hotel bill would be criminally li- able, someone who withholds payment based on a dispute over quality of services, for ex- ample, would have to be pursued through the civil courts. Exactly where the case of Ms. Ahamdu and the unpaid guesthouse bill falls on that spec- trum is a matter of debate. Under Cayman Islands law, it would be an offense for police to attempt to broker pay- ment of a disputed debt in lieu of criminal Margaritaville designs unveiled JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first renderings of the Margarita- ville Grand Cayman Beach Resort were re- leased this week, with the developer antic- ipating it will be “substantially complete” by the end of the year. The artwork shows a revamped lobby area dotted with potted palms and new furniture, as well as refurbished rooms. Michael Wilkings of the Howard Hospi- tality Group said the development would be completely different from the old Trea- sure Island resort. “It is a total renovation, every surface, every piece of furniture is being changed. It is a totally different look.” Renovation work is under way and Mr. Wilkings expects the first phase, including The License to Chill bar will be situated in the lobby. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » An artist’s rendering shows the new-look lobby area in what will be the Margaritaville resort.2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman’s Most Affordable Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Monday! Eugenio Leon Harpist Extraordinaire, serenades tableside tonight and every Friday night! Salsa Tuesdays with DJ Flex Free lessons with Kirk starting 9.30pm Every Tuesday Tarpon Fish Feeding 7:30pm & 9:00pm Nightly “BOOGIE NIGHTS” Friday, June 24th Old School Dance Party 70’s disco & 80’s classics Music By DJ FLEX Starting at 9:30pm Salsa 7:30pm & 9:00pm Nightly7:30pm & 9:00pm Nightly “BOOGIE NIGHTS”“BOOGIE NIGHTS” Friday, June 24Friday, June 24 Old School Dance Party 70’s disco & 80’s classics “BOOGIE NIGHTS”“BOOGIE NIGHTS” Friday, June 24Friday, June 24 Old School Dance Party 70’s disco & 80’s classics Don’t forget NEXT Last Friday of EVERY MONTH is almost here! Tonight! Friday Happy Hour 5pm-7pm Call 949-2231 or email: thewharf@candw.ky Salsa Free lessons with Kirk starting Specializes in: HAIRCUTS - MALE & FEMALE / EYEBROWS / HOT RAGS / OLD & NEW SKOOL DESIGNS / etc. 328-4306 / 917-7386 Police warn nighttime revelers over illegal weapons CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police this week, amid criticism against the Li- quor Licensing Board for extending the opening hours for bars and night- clubs, sent out a statement warning anyone caught with a weapon at night will be prosecuted. It is illegal for people to carry weapons, including knives and machetes, at night in clubs, restaurants, bars, theaters, parking lots or other places where people assemble. The pun- ishment for carrying a weapon can include a $5,000 fine and up to four years in prison. Police say they will be out in force for the long weekend to try to prevent more violent incidents outside clubs and bars. The Liquor Licensing Board announced last week that, except for Sat- urday nights and Sundays, bars would be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m. and nightclubs until 4 a.m. In one case last weekend, the police state- ment notes, “We learned of a bar at which secu- rity personnel removed ten knives from patrons who entered the establishment, and then returned these knives to patrons when they left.” Inspector Lloyd Marriott, acting area commander for George Town with the police ser- vice, said in the statement, “We do not intend to crit- icize security personnel, who might not be aware of the law.” He continued, “We would also like to remind bar and nightclub owners that they have a positive duty under Section 26 of the Liquor License Law to notify police of drunk and disorderly persons and ask such people to leave the premises, without neces- sarily providing a reason.” Speaking of the gather- ings that often spring up after closing times outside bars and nightclubs, In- spector Marriott said, “Sec- tion 68 of the Penal Code describes certain assem- blies that can be unlawful, and we will be enforcing this as well in an effort to reduce the kinds of dis- turbances we have seen as of late.” Joe DiFilipo, owner of the Attic bar and Obar nightclub on West Bay Road, said the additional hour that he’s now allowed to keep his nightclub open probably will not help his business and, in fact, could do more harm than good. He said, “I completely agree with the police in that this will create more problems – nightclubs don’t need 4 a.m. it will only cause more cost and problems for clubs.” Brendel named new Executive Editor of Compass We are pleased to an- nounce that Patrick Brendel is the new Executive Editor of the Cayman Compass, with responsibility for the print newspaper and the Cayman- Compass.com website. Mr. Brendel joined the Compass in 2011. Since 2013, he has been the Editorial Writer for the newspaper and a member of the Compass’s Editorial Board. He holds a bachelor’s de- gree in English from the Uni- versity of Notre Dame in In- diana, as well as a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. He has experience as a re- porter and editor for publi- cations (both online and in print), mainly in Texas. He is married to Rachael Brendel, a professional ac- countant who is Caymanian. They have three children and reside in George Town. Mr. Brendel’s appointment as Executive Editor does not have any immediate effect on other management positions in the Compass newsroom. Mr. Brendel reports di- rectly to the Publisher, David R. Legge, who remains Ed- itor-in-Chief. Norma Connolly remains Managing Editor of the Compass, a position she has held since 2013. In making the announce- ment, Mr. Legge said that “Patrick is a most-extraordi- nary publishing professional. He brings to his new post not only a tireless work ethic (he sends out emails well into the night, and they begin again at about 5:30 the next morning), but also the highest of jour- nalistic standards. “Importantly, in addition to being a fine writer, he is a prolific reader, well-schooled in classical literature, history, politics, economics and both local and global affairs. “All of us at Pinnacle Media congratulate Patrick on his expanded role at the Compass. We, and Cayman, are fortunate to have him.” CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com National Roads Authority workers will be back at the Red Bay roundabout through the rest of the month, con- tinuing to prepare the site to rebuild the roundabout. The main work of re- building the roundabout so it angles inward instead of the current outward- facing angle will happen in July and August, according to the NRA. For the next three weeks, crews with the NRA, Ca- ribbean Utilities Co. and the Water Authority will be moving utilities and modi- fying the concrete islands di- viding the roads in and out of the roundabout. NRA senior engineer Ed- ison Jackson said any lane closures this month will be minimal. Even without lane closures, he asks drivers to “be mindful of workers present” and follow their di- rections to keep crews safe. “We’re doing all the prep work,” Mr. Jackson said, so the main work over the summer can go quickly. He said the NRA will have to close lanes and redirect traffic while crews rebuild the roundabout. The heavy work of tearing up the road and put- ting down the new surface will be done in July and August when schools are not in session to minimize traffic impact. The work to change the angle of the roundabout is meant to make the road safer for drivers. The stan- dard for roundabouts is to angle inward. The outward angle at the Red Bay roundabout and several others in Cayman, according to road-design standards, makes it more likely that cars will skid off the road. Work starts again on Red Bay roundabout Work will resume this month to rebuild the Red Bay roundabout. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY David R. LeggePatrick BrendelThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 Big on control Small on price Restart live TV. Record multiple channels at the same time. Pause, rewind and play TV shows over and over again. With 50% off all Flow TV packages. It’s all yours from as little as $ 19.50 a month for three months. discoverfl ow.ky/tv Conditions apply.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. FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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 EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Later hours for bars and nightclubs may provide opportunities for partiers and business owners to cel- ebrate, but may also lead to additional headaches … for police. This week, Grand Cayman’s Liquor Licensing Board announced that bars and clubs can now stay open later at night on Mondays through Fridays. (To be precise, bars can stay open until 2 a.m., and clubs can stay open until 4 a.m., into the wee hours of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.) On Saturday nights, the “Cinderella” curfew remains in place — with bars and clubs still having to shut down when the clock strikes midnight, ushering in Sunday. In regard to allowing bars and clubs to operate later, the Compass has no particular issue. As a matter of principle, the owners of any legal, licensed and otherwise upstanding businesses should be allowed to open when they want and close when they want, on any day they want — dictated not according to the whims of government officials, but by the needs and desires of customers. That being said, if officials are going to place restrictions on certain types of businesses (say, ones that serve alcohol), then they should do so only after consulting with the appropriate stakeholders, and giving priority to the public interest, rather than special interests. The extension of hours for “boozing” is a reflection of the fact that Cayman is an international tourism destination and is a concession to that 21st century reality. Tourists expect it. However, it is logical to anticipate that increasing the amount of time that people can engage in social drinking in public could lead to an increase in post-drinking behavior that is irresponsible, illegal and dangerous — such as violence or driving under the influence. Therefore, it seems to us remarkable, and not in a good way, that the Liquor Licensing Board did not appear to seek advice or opinions from the agency that will be responsible for dealing with the effects of the change in policy; namely, the police. Acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Ennis said, in a news story we published Wednesday, “It is disap- pointing to learn of the decision to extend hours for bars and nightclubs selling liquor via a media query; although not strictly required, the RCIPS was not invited or consulted on the consequential impact that this will likely have on public safety and police resource deployment, which will have to be adjusted or shifted to address the increase in the number of incidents we have already seen occurring around nightclubs in the early morning hours.” We share, and echo, Commissioner Ennis’s concerns. We’ll also raise a question of our own, from a business perspective. How is it that government offi- cials continue to allow bar and club patrons to drink (and if they so choose, to drink themselves into oblivion) later and later into the night … now almost until sunrise … but for only five days a week — and not on Saturday night (arguably the best partying night of the week)? The answer, of course, is political. It appears to stem from perceived or actual pressure from churches (armed with congregations of voters) to keep their day of worship set apart, not only spiritually but secularly. It’s similar to why Cayman still clings to long-obso- lete Sunday trading laws. (Never mind the knotty little detail that bars, after closing at midnight, can re-open before noon on Sunday.) Our sober thought is that this makes little sense. Coherent regulation should not come with a religious “chaser.” Extended bar hours: Prudent policy or ‘one for the road’? The fatal sickness of ‘free stuff’ The U.S. economy has been going nowhere for seven years, and there are increasing fears that it is going into a recession with only 38,000 jobs being cre- ated last month. At the same time, Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves on the planet, is sinking into economic chaos. None of this need happen. The disease is the same – only the fever is higher in Venezuela. Politicians, at least going back to ancient Rome (with its bread and circuses), quickly understood that they could buy temporary support from the people if they were promised “free stuff.” As Margaret Thatcher famously said: “The problem with socialism is that even- tually you run out of other people’s money.” The amazing and disap- pointing fact is that every student or even casual ob- server of socialism knows that it always fails because it destroys the incentives for hard work, creativity and ini- tiative. Most countries that have tried it end up as thug- gish places because more and more coercion is required to control the people. Sixty years ago, Cuba and Vene- zuela were the richest coun- ties on the Caribbean and were only exceeded by Argen- tina in per capita income in Latin America. During the past 60 years, the United States has had real growth of about 3 per- cent per year – respectable but not spectacular. Poorer developing countries nor- mally grow at a faster rate until their per capita in- comes begin to reach the levels of the rich countries, at which point growth tends to slow. The accompanying table contains data of sev- eral countries that under- took very different eco- nomic policies. The numbers show their per capita income change relative to that of the United States over the 60- year period. Chile, for example, had a per-capita income of only about 23 percent of the U.S. back in 1955, but now has a per-capita income of about 42 percent. For the first half of the period, Chile did not have a coherent set of economic policies, including several years of Marxist economics, and actually became poorer relative to the U.S. But for the last 30 years, Chile has em- braced free-market policies within the rule of law, protec- tion of private property and free trade, causing it to grow much faster than the U.S. Cuba, the darling of the left, has become relatively poorer compared to the United States and almost all of Latin America, with a total loss of civil liberties. And the many naive swallow the Kool-Aid and overlook the continuing disaster. Sixty years ago, South Korea by contrast was des- perately poor, much poorer than Cuba or Venezuela, but now is a rich country with a per-capita income 65 percent of the U.S. This miracle was achieved by embracing free- market economics. Sweden and Switzerland were both high-income de- veloped countries 60 years ago, but while Sweden built a comprehensive welfare state, Switzerland main- tained a smaller govern- ment approach. The Swedish model ran into difficulty in the 1980s and 1990s, so the level- headed Swedes partially re- versed course by reducing tax rates and the rela- tive size of government, in- cluding instituting a voucher system for education and Chilean-like largely pri- vate social security system, which enabled them to grow again. The smaller govern- ment Swiss model worked even better, allowing them to overtake the U.S. in per capita income. And finally back to Vene- zuela, which grew rapidly on the basis of oil revenues, and by 1978 per capita incomes were almost 70 percent of those in the United States. But as a result of welfare statism and socialism, its rel- ative incomes are back where they were 60 years ago, the stores are empty and people are hungry. Socialism has at least a two-century unblemished record of untold human misery. Yet in the eyes of all too many, including much of the press, the romance of the idea dwarfs the reality. Pros- perity and freedom can only flourish when the majority stands up to those who ad- vocate the childlike fantasy of socialism. Richard W. Rahn, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. © 2016, The Washington Times RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHNThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 6 LOCAL NEWS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A beach fun day with free paddleboard lessons and a group paddle on Sunday will be the first in a series of events to raise money for foster children and young- sters with special needs in the Cayman Islands. Organized by the group Keep Calm and Paddle On, the goal is to raise awareness, as well as money, for the Na- tional Council for Voluntary Organisations’ foster home and for the Special Needs Foundation Cayman. The event, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Public Beach on Seven Mile Beach, will fea- ture kids races, paddleboard yoga and free smoothies. The day will finish with a group ride from Public Beach to Governors Beach and back. Boards will be provided for those who do not have their own. “We are aiming to get as many people as possible out on the water at once to make a spectacular sight,” said Yaz Muratagic, one of the orga- nizers and the founder of Keep Calm and Paddle On. A bartender and paddle- board instructor, Mr. Murat- agic set up the group sev- eral years ago as part of a fundraising paddle across western Canada. Now the organization has expanded and is putting on multiple events. A bingo night and lip sync battle have also been organized, while Mr. Muratagic will paddle around the island over three days at the end of July to raise money. He will attempt another long-distance journey in an area of Canada later in the year. Proceeds from all the events will be split evenly be- tween the two charities, said Nik Tatarkin, who is also or- ganizing the fundraising effort and will take part in the long- distance paddle in Canada. “We want to bring people out to the beach, have a good time and raise awareness for these causes,” he said. The lip-sync battle is scheduled for June 24 at Harquail Theatre. Hosted by television news reporter Joe Avary and Discover Cay- man’s Monica Walton, the friendly competition will feature 12 people sponsored by various businesses. Tickets are $25 per person, and all proceeds go to the charities. For more information, visit kcpo.ky. FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS OFFICE OF THE HONORARY JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS The Jamaican Consulate’s website www.jaconsulatecayman.org has been updated. We encourage all Jamaican nationals to visit the website and register online. The Jamaica Consulate 2nd Floor, 342A Dorcy Drive, Industrial Park George Town, Grand Cayman Tel: 345 949-9526 Fax: 345 945-7294 E-mail: jamaica@candw.ky Website: www.jaconsulatecayman.org PUBLIC NOTICE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT: Please be reminded especially during the hurricane season, to keep important documents (e.g. Birth Certifi cates, Passports and Insurance Policies) in containers that are waterproof, fi reproof and portable. Please visit the Cayman Prepared website at: www.caymanprepared. gov.ky for a listing of available shelters in your area. The information and application forms for Jamaican passports and entry visas are also available on our website. These services may be interrupted during the threat of a hurricane and persons should ensure travel documents and visas are updated. “We are aiming to get as many people as possible out on the water at once to make a spectacular sight.” YAZ MURATAGIC, founder, Keep Calm and Paddle On Paddleboarders aim to make a splash for Cayman charities While Monday’s public holiday is designated to mark the official birthday of 90-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, celebrations in Cayman, which include a parade and a garden party, will be held on Saturday. The parade by uniformed services begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a brief cere- mony outside the Legislative Assembly, at which recipi- ents of the Queen’s Honours will be recognized. Managing Partner of EY Dan Scott will receive an OBE, and Rudy Myles will receive the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour for his decades-long commitment to the arts, his career and the wider community. Organizers are asking guests and the general public to be in place by 9 a.m. In the event of wet weather, the ceremony will take place inside the town hall in George Town, starting at 10 a.m. Garden party Immediately after the cer- emony, a garden party on the lawn of Government House will be held from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. and all are invited. Organizers ask guests to ad- here to the semiformal dress code. Hats are optional. Road closures Fort Street, from the harbor front junction with North Church Street to the junction with Edward Street, near the town hall and clock tower, will be closed from 6 p.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Saturday for the parade and ceremony, police said. The junction of Albert Panton and Fort streets will also be closed. Public invited to Queen’s birthday celebrations A family fun day is planned for public beach on Sunday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 Contact: admissions@icci.edu.ky or call 345.947.1100 www.icci.edu.ky Felicia Bodden Cynthia Campbell Shenek Conolly Ava Fearon Kimari Fletcher-Barrett Paula Ford George Gorham Derick Johnson Melody Martin Patriann Monteith Desiree Myles Cashema Rankine Naresa Robinson Diana Virtue Jeo ery Walton U.S. accredited 100% student job placement and overseas university transfer rate Outstanding Teaching Industry Connected Online, Face-to-Face and Hybrid Focused on producing career-ready graduates committed to adding value to the marketplace and contributing to a strong Cayman through service and civic engagement. Sigma Beta Delta, a U.S. based academic honor society was founded in 1994 to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishments among students of accounting, business administration, and management. It also serves to encourage and promote aspirations toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind. Students must be in the top 20% of their academic program, be of good moral character, and be invited to membership by the faculty. College chapters must be approved by the Sigma Beta Delta National Board based on outstanding academics and a commitment to educational excellence. Sigma Beta Delta is the fi rst academic honor society for ICCI and believed to be the fi rst internationally recognized academic honor society established in the Cayman Islands. ngratulatin to the fi rst student inductees of Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management, and Administration. By being inducted, you are joining the ranks of the best business students in the world. We are very proud of you!The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Claudine Annmarie Simons who passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Elmslie Memorial United Church, Harbour Drive, George Town at 10:00a.m. Viewing will be from 9:00-9:45a.m. Interment to follow at Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Claudine Annmarie Simons who passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Elmslie Memorial United Church, Harbour Drive, George Town at 10:00a.m. Viewing will be from 9:00-9:45a.m. Interment to follow at Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.comCondolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.comCondolences can be registered at We have been asked to announce the passing of Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of a Caymanian Icon Ms. Mary Ann Frances Ebanks-Ramoon, affectionately known as “Ms. Frances”, who passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on June 11, 2016 at Elmslie Memorial United Church at 2:00p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment to follow at Dixie Cemetery. In lieu of owers please contribute to the George Town Happy Seniors Fellowship in her memory. My dear family & friends, I cannot express my thanks to you for your thoughtfulness, caring and love plus your prayers for my recovery. It is heartwarming to know that I am loved by so many people and I want to thank you sincerely for all your good wishes. I am like the old man who was asked, “You mean you are drunk already this morning?” to which he responded in a drawled voice, “Not yet but getting there!” I’m recovering well and thanking you all for your lovingness. God bless each one. Lovingly, Mary Thompson My dear family & friends, I cannot express my thanks to you for your thoughtfulness, caring and love plus your prayers for my recovery. It is heartwarming to know that I am loved by so many people and I want to thank you sincerely for all your good wishes. I am like the old man who this morning?” to which he responded in a drawled voice, “Not yet but getting there!” I’m recovering well and thanking you all for your lovingness. God bless each one. Lovingly, Mary Thompson It is with deep sorrow that we announce the transition to the other life of Simon “Bongo” Owiti, a charming Son of Kenya, who departed this life on May 22, 2016 in the Cayman Islands. We’ll forever cherish the fond memories we shared with you Simon and you will be greatly missed by your family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Assembly of God church located at 195 Old Crewe Road in George Town, off Linford Pierson Highway, Grand Cayman on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:00p.m. Mr. Owiti will be repatriated to Kenya. “Kwaheri Simo, Nenda Salama Mzee”. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the transition to the other life of Simon “Bongo” Owiti, a charming Son of Kenya, who departed this life on May 22, 2016 in the Cayman Islands. We’ll forever cherish the fond memories we shared with you Simon and you will be greatly missed by your family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Assembly of God church located at 195 Old Crewe Road in George Town, off Linford Pierson Highway, Grand Cayman on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:00p.m. Mr. Owiti will be repatriated to Kenya. “Kwaheri Simo, Nenda Salama Mzee”. It is with deep sorrow that we announce Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com It is with deep sorrow that we announce the transition to the other life of departed this life on May 22, 2016 missed by your family and friends. We regret to announce the passing of Cynthia Lavonne Solomon who departed this life on Monday 30th May 2016. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, 12 June, 2016,at the George Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, Smith Rd. Viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM Saturday 11 June, 2016 at Bodden Funeral Service, Walkers Rd. Interment will follow in Dixie Cemetery. Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven Missing and loving you always Mommy, Melissa & Brooklyn. Thank You The family of Cassidy “Lenny’ Jackson Would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed with his funeral arrangements, came by to visit, sent their deepest condolences, phone calls, prayers and food. We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support shown during this diffi cult time. Esmae & Canell, Melissa & Ken, Charmine, Cristin, Cristaino & Brooklyn & the rest of the Family May God bless you. testimony via video link from Kelli Travis Peters, a tourist with first aid training, who told how she assisted Mrs. Schubert. Mrs. Peters said she and her family were staying at Villas of the Galleon and she was outside with other people, including her son, who was watching CUC workers across the street. She explained that there is a wall about five feet high around the property. Mrs. Peters said she heard the sound of an engine rev- ving and then tires squealing. She did not see any impact, but she heard it and then saw a man fly into the air above the wall. As she ap- proached the driveway en- trance, she saw a woman lying in the parking lot. She went to the woman to administer first aid. She saw a man closer to the sidewalk, about 20 feet away. CUC workers were tending to him. She also saw a female sitting in the front passenger seat of a maroon Mustang that had come to rest on the sidewalk. She said the injured woman had a laceration over her eyebrow and it con- tinued to the back of her head. Mrs. Peters said she stabilized the woman’s neck. The woman was in and out of consciousness, not really speaking, but moaning. A man approached from the maroon Mustang. Mrs. Peters said she did not see exactly where he came from and she did not see him get out of the vehicle. She said he came over, holding a pair of eyeglasses. He tried to hand her the glasses, but Mrs. Pe- ters said she could not let go of the woman’s head. The man then addressed the injured woman. Mrs. Pe- ters quoted him as saying, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” Then he placed the glasses on the wom- an’s stomach, stood up and walked away toward the office of the Villas of the Galleon. Asked by senior Crown counsel Tricia Hutchinson to describe the man, she said he had a receding hairline, hair the color of “dirty blonde and brown combination.” She es- timated he was about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, in his 50s and Caucasian. Asked if the man tried to assist her and the victim, Mrs. Peters answered, “No.” She said CUC workers came over to help. One ele- vated the woman’s leg, which was deeply cut; one held her hand to try to comfort her until the ambulance came. Asked about the man who had come over with the glasses, she said she did not at any point see him return to the area. Questioned by lead de- fense counsel Trevor Burke, Mrs. Peters agreed that it had been raining most of the day, but at the time of the acci- dent it had stopped briefly and then started again while she was assisting the woman. She said she remembered people holding tarps over the injured woman. the first 100 rooms, lobby area and one of the restaurants, to be complete by the end of August. The lobby bar will be renovated with a new name, the License to Chill bar. The resort will also feature a Margaritaville Coffee Shop, as well as the Banana Wind Café with ocean views and a swim–up bar at the main pool. The property’s sig- nature restaurant, Yara, aims to be a “dining destination” for tourists and locals. The Miami-based Howard Hospitality Group completed the purchase of Treasure Is- land in November last year, announcing a deal to redevelop the venue as a Margaritaville resort. The resort will fea- ture 285 rooms, multiple bars and restaurants, and designated kids zones with a two-story pool slide. Margaritaville designs unveiled CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Victim: Every bone in face broken after being hit by car With careful staging, Obama backs Clinton, nudges Sanders WASHINGTON (AP) – Testi- fying to Hillary Clinton’s grit and experience, Pres- ident Barack Obama en- dorsed his former secretary of state’s bid to succeed him on Thursday and urged Dem- ocrats to line up behind her. It was all part of a care- fully orchestrated pressure campaign aimed at easing Clinton rival Bernie Sanders toward the exit and turning fully to the fight against Republican Donald Trump. Obama’s long-expected endorsement, delivered via web video, included a forceful call for unity and for “em- bracing” Sanders’s economic message, which has fired up much of the liberal wing of his party. Obama sought to reassure Democrats that Clinton shares their values and is ready for the job. “Look, I know how hard this job can be. That’s why I know Hillary will be so good at it,” Obama said. “I have seen her judgment. I have seen her toughness. I’ve seen her com- mitment to our values.” Obama’s testimonial came less than an hour after the president met privately with Sanders at the White House to discuss the fu- ture of Sanders so-called po- litical revolution – one that will not include him taking up residence at the White House. Sanders emerged from the meeting subdued and indicated he had gotten the message. Although he stopped short of endorsing Clinton, the Ver- mont senator told reporters he planned to press for his “issues” – rather than victory – at the party’s July conven- tion and would work with Clinton to defeat Trump. “Needless to say, I am going to do everything in my power and I will work as hard as I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States,” Sanders said, standing in the White House driveway with his wife, Jane, at his side. Clinton declared victory over Sanders on Tuesday, having captured the number of delegates needed to be- come the first female nom- inee from a major party. The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 charges. However, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service insists that is not what hap- pened in this case. Though police acknowl- edge they are not ordinarily responsible for disputes in- volving unpaid debt, they say the circumstances in this case, as reported to them, went beyond a normal civil dis- pute and were rightly treated by the officer as a criminal investigation. Police said in a state- ment at the time of the arrest last month that Ms. Ahmadu was offered the option to pay when she was arrested at the airport, and she declined. She was allowed to leave Cayman two days later, having spent a night in the cells, after agreeing to pay up just prior to a hearing in Summary Court. Charges of obtaining ser- vices by deception were with- drawn by the Department of Public Prosecutions on the morning of the hearing and an envelope of cash was handed over through her lawyer. Ms. Ahamdu, who had spent the week in the Cayman Islands to watch her son play for Washington’s DC United in a youth soccer tournament, told the Compass outside court that she was stunned to be charged and jailed for what she viewed as a civil dispute. She claims the owner of the home insisted she leave, two days into her agreed five- night stay, after she refused his request to pay the full bill in cash in advance. She said she wanted to pay by credit card or by cash at the end of the stay. She believes the proprietor broke their contract, leaving her with the inconvenience and expense of finding a new place to stay. In those circum- stances, she disputed that she should have to pay for the two days, but eventually handed over the cash to avoid prosecution. Martin Richter, who was named in court as having made the complaint to police, declined to comment on the circumstances of the incident. Police defend actions Since the incident, the Compass has sought an- swers from the police over their involvement. Questioned about why it was considered necessary for Ms. Ahmadu to spend the night in jail, rather than have her passport removed pending the court hearing, spokes- woman Jacqueline Carpenter said the decision was at the “discretion of the custody ser- geant” and declined to com- ment further. Asked why police had in- volved themselves at all in what could be viewed as a civil dispute, she said the circum- stances, as reported, appeared to be more than a simple case of “bad debt.” She said the police officer had responded in “good faith” to a complaint from a member of the public. The fact that the Depart- ment of Public Prosecutions agreed to bring charges, before withdrawing them on the day of the case, is viewed by police as vindication of their deci- sion to arrest. There is a higher burden of evidence involved for prosecutors in bringing charges than for police in making an arrest. Police declined to put for- ward a senior officer to an- swer questions, but Ms. Car- penter said her responses had been coordinated with senior management. “The officer who investi- gated the complaint was re- sponding to an actual com- plaint from a member of the public and acted in good faith in doing so. Clearly since a charge was ap- proved by Crown Counsel, there was basis for an arrest for a criminal offense,” Ms. Carpenter said. “It is accepted, however, that matters arising purely out of a civil agreement are best dealt with by way of civil remedy,” she added. Ms. Carpenter acknowl- edged that Ms. Ahmadu was offered the option to pay at the airport, but had declined, saying she had no money and did not believe she owed any- thing, despite confirming she had not paid for the two nights she stayed at the guesthouse. The spokeswoman insisted police were not offering a deal to avoid charges when they of- fered her the chance to pay and would not have taken the money themselves on Mr. Richter’s behalf. “As a matter of policy, we are not a debt collecting agency, and if Ms. Ahmadu had indeed chosen to pay at that time, it would have been inap- propriate and against policy to accept payment on behalf of a third party. Arrangements with the complainant would have had to have been made.” Legal gray area Exactly how such disputes should be handled is a legal gray area. Ms. Specht, of ARKA corpo- rate and legal services, says it is all about intent. “If you go into a hotel, spend the night and walk out without intending to pay, that is criminal conduct. “The other side of the coin is where you believe you have not received what you were promised. There is no intention to obtain anything without re- ward, but you feel you haven’t been given what was agreed; for example, if it is full of mold and the roof is leaking, then that becomes a question of a private dispute between a hotel and a customer over what is legitimately owed. “If you believe you haven’t got what you were promised and you refuse to pay, I don’t think you can be said to be in- tending to deprive someone of their property or services.” Where two parties have different stories, she said, the line between criminal and civil could become blurred, as ap- pears to have happened in this case. “You can well understand how, in the initial stages of an investigation, it may not be immediately clear whether something is a civil dispute or a criminal act. It comes down to intent. If there is an in- tention to pay and you can’t agree what, if anything, you are going to pay because of a dispute over the services, then that is a civil issue.” Ms. Specht said the circum- stances of this case appeared to be more of a civil dispute. “If it is a civil issue, then it is certainly not for the po- lice to get involved. It is up to the two parties to bring proce- dures in a court. It would ef- fectively be making the police debt collectors to involve them in a dispute like that.” In criminal cases, she said, repaying the debt should be irrelevant to whether charges and prosecution were appropriate. “It is strange for her to be kept in prison for a night and then for the charges to be dropped once the money is paid. “If there is merit in the charges, then whether she paid or not would generally be irrelevant, other than as miti- gation at sentencing.” She said asking for pay- ment and not proceeding with charges could be viewed as a practical compromise. But, she added, “It sits un- comfortably with me because it seems to be using the police or criminal court as a means of recovering a debt in an in- stance where you have a dis- pute between two parties.” Horek case In 2012, a theft case against Kerry Horek, a property man- ager accused of stealing more than $20,000 in rental pay- ments, collapsed because a po- lice officer was found to have acted inappropriately. A magistrate ruled the of- ficer committed the offense of “compounding” by at- tempting to obtain payment of the missing rental money for the benefit of the landlord by way of an agreement that Ms. Horek would not be pros- ecuted if she paid the money. The Penal Code sets out this offense, including the de- scription, “Whoever asks or at- tempts to obtain any benefit of any kind for himself or any other person upon any agree- ment or understanding that he will abstain from, discon- tinue or delay a prosecution, or will withhold any evidence, is guilty of an offense.” In that case, the magistrate said, the police officer had taken an active, aggressive and partisan role. “In essence, he was acting as an unregulated, private debt collector while clothed in the authority of a police officer – ‘pressuring’ the defendant to make payments under threat of arrest. “The investigating officer’s actions, although perhaps un- witting (in the sense that he was unaware of the offense of compounding) were cer- tainly unlawful, in essence, he facilitated the commission of an offense. The ruling was upheld on appeal to the Grand Court. “A situation in which a po- lice officer decides to take the law into his hands by acting as a private debt collector for an aggrieved landlord, thereby placing pressure on an indi- vidual, who claims to be inno- cent of any crime, to repay an alleged debt under threat of arrest is intolerable.” Police not debt collectors In this incident, police have insisted the circum- stances can be distinguished from the Horek case. In all such cases, legal experts say, the validity of comparisons would have to be determined through a more detailed ex- amination of the evidence. A police spokesperson said the two cases were dis- tinct and suggested Ms. Ahamdu had accepted re- sponsibility when she paid the money. Ms. Ahmadu told the Compass at the time that she paid the money so she could go home, and the pro- ceedings involved no formal admission of guilt. Ms. Carpenter added, “We don’t think that it is helpful to re-litigate this case in the media as Crown counsel was satisfied that an offense was properly made out. Ms. Ah- madu accepted responsi- bility when she appeared before the magistrate, who dismissed the charges after she agreed to pay the out- standing amount through her attorney.” Ms. Carpenter said police did not involve themselves in debt collection and only intervened in cases where there appeared to be criminal conduct. “It is important to note public expectations as we get numerous reports involving bad debt, most notably dis- putes between landlords and tenants, which members of the public expect us to inves- tigate. Again, while these are treated strictly as civil mat- ters, we will assist by en- suring that the disputes do not escalate into a breach of the peace.” Amid the fallout from the arrest of Ms. Ahmadu, the Compass sought com- ment from some of Cay- man’s leaders about the police actions and the im- pact of the incident on the tourist destination. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell gave his backing to the police, saying the fact that the woman involved was a tourist was “irrelevant.” “Based on the circum- stances of this case, the po- lice responded to a report of a person who had received ser- vices and was apparently at- tempting to leave the juris- diction without settling their bill. The Ministry has confi- dence in the RCIPS to take action in accordance with the law, having investigated and assessed the matter. The status or position of an indi- vidual in terms of whether he or she may be a resident or visitor, would be irrelevant as to whether the circumstances warrant an arrest.” Governor Helen Kilpatrick declined to comment, saying it was an operational matter for the police. Debt or deceit? Hotel bill dispute highlights gray area CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fuambai AhmaduNext >