ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Cayman celebrates Queen’s birthday Hats were optional but plenty were seen at the garden party in Cayman to cele- brate Queen Elizabeth II’s of- ficial 90th birthday over the holiday weekend. To mark the monarch’s birthday, dignitaries first con- verged on downtown George Town in front of the Legisla- tive Assembly to view the tra- ditional parade of Cayman’s uniformed services and a royal salute, and to witness a 21-gun salute and offer three cheers to the queen. Among those in the pa- rade were the Royal Cayman Islands Police band, detach- ments from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, HM Prison Service, veterans, PLEASE TURN TO PAGES 7 AND 9 » Record field for Flowers swim A record 1,010 swimmers took the plunge Saturday as Seven Mile Beach was transformed into a sea of color for an emo- tional 24th edition of the Flowers Sea Swim. American open-water swim cham- pion Chip Peterson led the field home on a poignant day for organizer Frank Flowers, who lost his wife Eve to acute myeloid leukemia in April. “It is the first one without my wife,” said Mr. Flowers, who swam with his son Frank Jr. and daughter Dara Flowers Burke. “It was a touching and emotional moment. She was very sick last year, but we were always hopeful that God would give us a miracle.” Proceeds will go toward the Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s Eve Flowers Bone Marrow Donation Fund. For more, see page 23. Governor Kilpatrick at the garden party on her front lawn. Chip Peterson, an American open-water swimming champion, won the Flowers Sea Swim. Frank Flowers, sea swim founder, dives in for the 24th annual event, which this year raised money for a bone marrow donation fund set up in memory of Mr. Flowers’s wife Eve, who passed away in April. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Dan Scott receives his OBE medal from Governor Helen Kilpatrick.2 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS REGIONAL 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. - TUESDAY - WARCRAFT 3D (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 2D I 7:00 I 10:00 2D ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 3D (PG) 1:10 2D I 4:20 I 7:15 2D I 10:00 X-MEN: APOCALYPSE3D(PG13) 12:45 2D I 3:45 I 6:50 2D I 9:45 NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (PG13) 12:40 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:40 ANGRY BIRDS (PG) 1:30 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:30 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES OUT OF THE SHADOWS 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:00 2D I 6:50 I 9:40 2D Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Sponsored by: SATURDAY, JUNE 18th 8PM LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT 11.30 TO 4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11-3PM Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, George Town 945-3490 OPEN FOR DINNER DELIVERY AFTER 5PM 6th Year Anniversary G. Leon O. Powell 14th June 2010 – 14th June 2016 Today’s is 6 years since my son passed away But I will love him until my dying day. So please listen to my memories every now and then Family and friends, please allow me to talk about Leon His hair was black, his eyes were brown. He never left without saying I love you. He never caused us any pain, With his life we had everything to gain. We gained from him even in death He brought us together and there is no greater wealth. Yes, for our son there could be no other I thank God for choosing me to be your Mother. So rest in Peace my Son Forever In our Hearts, Soul & Mind From your Loving Mom & Stepfather A Tribute To LEON We regret to announce the passing of Wallace Kendal Thompson who departed this life on Tuesday 7 June 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 Wednesday, 15 June, 2016, at Elmslie Memorial United Church. Viewing will be held from from 1:00 PM one hour prior to the service Interment will follow in Dixie Cemetery. Last of the 49 bodies removed from Orlando nightclub “We will not be defined by the act of a cowardly hater,” Orlando mayor vows ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The last of the bodies were removed from an Orlando gay night- club overnight as investiga- tors dug into the background of the gunman, who called 911 to profess allegiance to the Is- lamic State during the attack that left 49 victims dead. “We will not be defined by the act of a cowardly hater,” Mayor Buddy Dyer vowed on Monday, a day after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The killer, who died in a gun battle with a SWAT team early Sunday, was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year- old American-born Muslim. FBI officials said they had in- vestigated him in 2013 and 2014 on suspicion of terrorist sympathies but could not make a case against him. Mateen opened fire at the Pulse Orlando club with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in such close quarters that the bullets could hardly miss. He was gunned down after police used explosives and a small armored vehicle to punch a hole in a wall and allow dozens of club-goers to escape, police said. “I’ve always felt so safe here for my family, kids. And now, I don’t know,” said Marlon Massey, who lives across the street from the club, in the city known to tourists around the globe as the home of Walt Disney World and other theme parks. President Barack Obama called the shooting an “act of terror” and an “act of hate” against a place of “solidarity and empowerment” for gays. Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cam- eron have sent messages of condolence from Britain for the attack. Buckingham Palace says the queen sent a message to President Barack Obama saying: “Prince Philip and I have been shocked by the events in Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected.” Law enforcement authori- ties said Mateen made a 911 call from the club in which he professed allegiance to the Islamic State. Authorities have not said whether Mateen was di- rected by the Islamic State or simply acted in sympathy with the terrorist group in a so-called lone wolf attack. His father suggested another motive: anti-gay hatred. The father said his son got angry a few months ago when he saw two men kissing in Miami. And Mateen’s ex-wife said he was mentally ill – specifically, bipolar. Mateen was the son of an Afghan immigrant and lived in Fort Pierce, Florida, where he had worked as a security guard. The Islamic State’s radio called Mateen “one of the soldiers of the caliphate in America.” Al-Bayan Radio, a media outlet for the ex- tremist group, hailed the at- tack, saying that it targeted a gathering of Christians and gays and that it was the worst attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. Even if the attacker sym- pathized with the Islamic State, it was unclear whether the group planned or knew of the attack beforehand. Mateen’s father, Seddique Mir Mateen, told reporters Monday that the attack was “against my principles, against what I taught him.” “I am as sad as the rest of the country,” he said. He said if had known what his son was planning, he would have arrested him himself: “I don’t allow nobody to do any kind of crime or terrorist act in- side the United States.” Thirty-nine of the dead were killed at the club, and the others died at hospitals, the mayor said. By Monday morning, families of 24 of the victims had been notified, Dyer said. Workers removed the bodies four at a time on stretchers and loaded them into white vans. The action was repeated over and over. The covered bodies were taken to the county medical examiner’s office. All were there by 11 p.m., Dyer said. At least 53 people were hospitalized, most in critical condition, and a surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center said the death toll was likely to climb. On Monday morning, of- ficials emphasized that there was no immediate threat to the public. Several hundred supporters march to a park in Santa Ana, California, after a vigil in support of the Orlando shooting victims. People from across the country, and leaders from around the world, sent their condolences. - PHOTO: KEVIN SULLIVAN/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER VIA AP Pastor Annette Stubbs, along with members of her church in Orlando, prays for victims a few blocks from the Pulse nightclub where the mass shooting took place the night before. - PHOTO: LOREN ELLIOTT/TAMPA BAY TIMES VIA AP3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 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 June13th - 20th, 2016 Personal Insurance **applies to new policies only. Certificate can be used with motor insurance. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. Box 254, Cayman Brac KY2-2101 Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International insurance, health, pensions, life Save up to $400 with home and car insurance insurance, health, pensions, life $250** CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE Car insurance deductibles from $200 and extra free benefits. When you buy BritCay’s buildings insurance you will receive a $250 gift certificate**.Our home insurance policy holders are entitled to a 10% discount on car insurance too. With the lowest deductibles at $200, you also save when you claim. We have many standard benefits that come free with your cover, when some providers require additional premium. Ask BritCay for a quote! CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky SAVE $250* when you insure your home! 10% discount on car insurance if you have home insurance Free $500,000 public liability (home insurance) Free $10 million liability protection (car insurance) Free US$40,000 collision damage waiver for USA/Canada rental cars (car insurance) Interest free monthly payment option Policy conditions apply - ask for details. cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! West Bay MLAs call for GM mosquito release delay Premier says project will go ahead as planned KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com West Bay opposition MLAs are calling for the suspension of plans to release millions of genetically modified mosqui- toes in their district. Opposition Leader McK- eeva Bush sent a letter to Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin last week, asking that government hold off on implementing the planned release until “more public discussions and educa- tion have been completed and a more satisfactory assessment of risk can take place.” “There seems to be need for more scientific answers to sci- entific questions and we must ask for the above position to be adhered to, and that is, a hold put on the project,” the letter stated. The letter was co-signed by West Bay MLAs Eugene Ebanks and Bernie Bush, who read it out during a speech in the Legislative As- sembly on Thursday. It states that while the MLAs gave “preliminary sup- port” for the project after an initial meeting with MRCU of- ficials, the go-ahead was given “in the absence of any concerns at that time because constitu- ents would not have known the intentions of the project then.” “New questions have now arisen and more public dis- content has come to bear,” the letter states. It comes on the heels of a petition signed by more than 600 residents calling for a six-month suspension of the project. The release is part of a mos- quito control solution devel- oped by U.K. biotech company Oxitec, which involves releasing “friendly” sterile Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to help fight the species which transmits viruses such as dengue, chi- kungunya and Zika. The Mos- quito Research and Control Unit and Oxitec will implement the project. Premier Alden McLaughlin responded to the West Bay MLAs in a letter Friday, saying that the Cayman Islands “stands to benefit tremen- dously from Oxitec’s collabo- ration with the MRCU” and he “regrettably cannot accede” to the request to put the project on hold as he does not believe it would be “in the best inter- ests of the Cayman Islands.” “The MRCU has done an out- standing job in controlling the Aedes aegypti population here, however, they are finding it dif- ficult to do so,” Mr. McLaughlin wrote. “The Aedes aegypti are showing resistance to many of the available insecticides, and their ability to lay their eggs in very small quantities of water around houses makes it virtually impossible to eliminate all of their breeding sites. “These are challenges that are not unique to our situation here, they are being faced around the world wherever the Aedes aegypti is found. As a result, there is an urgent need to iden- tify and employ new tools in the control of this disease vector.” Mr. McLaughlin noted in his letter that the World Health Organization “recommends the use of this technique, following a thorough review by an inde- pendent group of renowned sci- entists from around the world,” and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published a preliminary “Finding of No Sig- nificant Impacts,” which found Oxitec’s mosquito control solu- tion would not have a negative impact on human health or the environment. “There was a tremendous amount of information and re- search submitted to the FDA as part of the process leading up to the preliminary [Finding of No Significant Impacts], and I believe that, combined with the endorsement from the WHO and the results from Oxitec’s work in other jurisdictions, rep- resents a robust body of ‘sci- entific answers’ to support the project,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “I have asked the MRCU and Oxitec Cayman to continue their public education efforts, and I encourage you, and the people of the Cayman Islands, to continue to engage with MRCU and Oxitec and learn more about this important and innovative project.” West Bay MLAs, front row, from left, government minister Tara Rivers and Cayman United Party representatives Capt. Eugene Ebanks, Bernie Bush and McKeeva Bush met on May 5 with, back row, from left, Bill Petrie of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit and Renaud Lacroix and Glen Slade of Oxitec to learn about plans to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes in their district this month. The three opposition members have now raised objections to the project and are calling for it to be delayed. BREAKERS LICENSING FACILITY TO OPEN IN JULY A third government vehicle licensing facility is due to open in Breakers in July, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts an- nounced last week. The new licensing opera- tion, across Sea View Road from the South Coast Bar and Grill, will maintain the same hours as the West Bay licensing office. Both will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Mr. Tibbetts said he hopes the Breakers facility can spare residents in the eastern dis- tricts a trip into town to get their car inspected, and make it easier for heavy vehicles to be inspected at a purpose- built operation in Breakers. The government currently op- erates one licensing office in George Town from Monday through Friday and the other in West Bay. “Those who live up that way will not have to cram the Crewe Road main depot during lunchtime during the week and they can plan life a little better,” Mr. Tibbetts said. The West Bay vehicle li- censing office is “bursting at the seams,” the minister said, with staff turning people away during Saturday operations when it is the only licensing fa- cility open on Grand Cayman. Mr. Tibbetts said govern- ment would “give it about three months” to see what traffic volumes at the three li- censing facilities looked like before deciding whether an- other operation might be needed in West Bay. 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. When I was younger, my left-wing friends said conser- vatives unfairly attacked them for being unpatriotic and anti- American simply because they disagreed on how to deal with the Soviet Union. Now the shoe is on the other foot. On Friday, in a story in the Washington Post about the Center for Freedom and Pros- perity (I’m chairman of the center’s Board of Directors), former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin has accused me and others of “trading with the enemy” be- cause of our work to protect and promote tax competition. Here’s the relevant passage. Former senator Carl Levin … said in a recent interview that the center’s activities run counter to America’s values and undermine the nation’s ability to raise revenue. “It’s like trading with the enemy,” said Levin, whose staff on a powerful panel investigating tax havens regularly faced public challenges from the center. “I consider tax havens the enemy. They’re the enemy of American taxpayers and the things we try to do with our revenues – infrastructure, roads, bridges, education, de- fense. They help to starve us of resources that we need for all the things we do. And this center is out there helping them to accomplish that.” Before even getting into the issue of tax competition and tax havens and whether it’s disloyal to want limits on the power of governments, I can’t resist addressing the “starve us of resources” com- ment by Levin. He was in office from 1979-2015. During that time, federal tax receipts soared from US$463 bil- lion to US$3.2 trillion. Even if you only count the time the Center for Freedom and Pros- perity has existed (created in late 2000), tax revenues have jumped from US$2 trillion to US$3.2 trillion. At the risk of understatement, Sen. Levin has never been on a fiscal diet. Let’s now address the main implication of the Post story, which is that it’s somehow wrong or improper for there to be an organiza- tion that defends tax compe- tition and fiscal sovereignty, particularly if some of its funding comes from people in low-tax jurisdictions. [A] little-known nonprofit, listing its address as a post office box in Alexandria, be- came a persistent opponent of U.S. and global efforts to regu- late the offshore world. … the center met again and again with government officials and members of the offshore in- dustry around the world … Overseas, the center set out to persuade countries on the blacklist not to cooperate with the OECD, which it derided as a “global tax cartel.” In Wash- ington, the center lobbied the Bush administration to with- draw its support for the OECD and also worked to block anti- tax haven legislation on Cap- itol Hill. To spread the word, the center testified before Con- gress, published reports and opinion pieces in leading fi- nancial publications, and drafted letters to lawmakers and administration officials. Representatives of the center crisscrossed the globe and sponsored discussions in 2000 and 2001, traveling to London, Paris, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Panama, Barbados and the British Virgin Islands. To Sen. Levin and other folks on the left, I guess this is the fiscal equivalent of “trading with the enemy.” In reality, this is a fight over whether there should be any limits on the fiscal power of governments. On one side are high-tax governments and international bureaucra- cies like the OECD, along with their ideological allies. They want to impose a one-size- fits-all model based on the extra-territorial double-taxa- tion of income that is saved and invested, even if it means blacklisting and threatening low-tax jurisdictions (the so- called tax havens). On the other side are pro- ponents of good tax policy (including many Nobel Prize- winning economists), who be- lieve that income should not be taxed more than one time and that the power to tax should be constrained by na- tional borders. And, yes, that means we sometimes side with Switzerland or Panama rather than the Treasury De- partment. Our patriotism is to the ideals of the Founding Fathers, not to the bad tax policy of the U.S. government. In any event, I’m proud to say that the center’s efforts have been semi-successful. In May 2001, the center claimed a key victory. In a dramatic departure from the Clinton administration, Paul O’Neill, the incoming Treasury Secretary appointed by Bush, announced that the United States would back away from the reforms pushed by the OECD. … fewer than half of the nations on the OECD black- list pledged to become more transparent in their tax sys- tems, a victory for anti-tax forces such as the center. Even the other side said the center was effective. … said Elise Bean, former staff director and chief counsel of Levin’s Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which started investigating tax havens in 2001. “They travel all around the world and they have had a tremendous impact.” … “They were very effective at painting the OECD’s work as end-times are here for tax competition, and we’re going to have European tax rates im- posed upon the whole world if the OECD’s work continued,” said Will Davis, the former head of OECD public affairs in Washington. What’s most impressive is that all this was accomplished with very little funding. Tax returns for the center and a foundation set up in its name reported receiving at least US$1.4 million in rev- enue from 2003 to 2010. In other words, the center and its affiliated foundation managed to thwart some of the world’s biggest and most powerful governments with a very modest budget averaging about US$175,000 per year. And I don’t even get compen- sation from the center. So while Sen. Levin had de- cades of experience spending other people’s money in a pro- miscuous fashion, I work for an organization, the Cato In- stitute, that is ranked as the most cost-effective major think tank, and I’m on the Board of a small non-profit that has a track record of achieving a lot with very little money. Yet another example of why we should be thankful that tax competition makes it more difficult for politicians to extract more revenue from the economy’s productive sector. Daniel J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, is on the Editorial Board of the Cayman Financial Review. Last week, The Washington Post published a long, somewhat puzzling story on a small nonprofit group in the Washington, D.C., area that advocates against enacting onerous and unfair restrictions on the inter- national financial industry. Based on documents, including fundraising pitches and letters, culled from the “Panama Papers” data leak, the 4,000-word “investigation” into the Center for Freedom and Prosperity exposes the group’s (often successful) opposition to U.S. legislation designed to “crack down on offshore secrecy.” The upshot of the narrative is that the center has done nothing illegal, or unsavory, or even secretive. Indeed, by the very nature of its mission, the center is extremely vocal about its positions on tax policy and U.S. treatment of international financial centers. If the story were intended to be a “hit job” on the center and “tax havens,” and that’s what it certainly appears to be, The Post’s journalists are badly in need of target practice. And while The Post piece is merely the latest in a lengthening line of Panama Papers “exposés” – a common feature of which is to estab- lish subjects’ “guilt by association” rather than actual guilt – we at the Compass take particular umbrage to this one rather personally, for multiple reasons. We’ll name two. First, we do not appreciate the assertion by former (thankfully) U.S. Sen. Carl Levin that the center’s pro- international finance policies are equivalent to “trading with the enemy.” Excuse us … When did the Cayman Islands become America’s enemy? Politically, Cayman is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, one of America’s oldest and most steadfast allies. Several times a day, jets and cruise ships deposit visitors from the U.S. to our shores. Cayman regularly, and graciously, plays host to top U.S. officials, including on several occasions, former Presidents. Many thou- sands of Caymanians and Cayman residents happen to be American, and American taxpayers. Sen. Levin dedicated much of his career in office to destroying places such as Cayman (and doing severe damage to the U.S. economy in the process), but we have enough perspective, and decorum, to refrain from labeling him and his ilk as “the enemy.” Second, the chairman of the center targeted by The Post is none other than distinguished American economist Daniel J. Mitchell. He, along with economist Richard W. Rahn, who is also mentioned in The Post article, are members of the editorial board of the Com- pass’s sister publication, Cayman Financial Review. We are proud of that association. Messrs. Mitchell and Rahn (and, of course, the inimi- table Anthony Travers) consistently and courageously carry the banner for international financial centers, the communications and public relations mission that the Cayman Islands government and our financial services sector fail at so miserably. We will not elaborate further on the specifics of The Post story. Instead, alongside this editorial we have published thoughts from Mr. Mitchell, who as our readers can see is more than capable of explaining where Sen. Levin and The Post have erred. If The Post’s investigative (and imaginative) jour- nalists wish to delve into the practice of international finance and tax minimization, they needn’t sift through the trove of documents stolen from the Mossack Fonseca law firm. Instead, they should interview their own owner Jeffrey Bezos, who purchased The Washington Post in 2013. As the founder of online retailer Amazon, whose billions of dollars in “tax disagreements” with gov- ernment authorities have been well-documented, Mr. Bezos is a practical expert on the topic. Consider this: As was reported by Reuters and others in 2012, Amazon used an arrangement in Luxembourg to avoid U.S. taxes amounting to more than US$700 million over a half-dozen years. $700 million! To put that dollar figure into perspective, the next year Mr. Bezos com- pleted his purchase of The Post newspaper for about a third of those savings – US$250 million. Since then, Mr. Bezos has invested heavily in The Post, including constructing a new headquarters and hiring dozens of newsroom staff. Perhaps The Post’s journalists should consider con- gratulating, rather than castigating, Mr. Mitchell and thought leaders such as himself. It’s not much of a stretch to suggest that Mr. Mitch- ell’s cause is paying their salaries. Post vs. Mitchell: The hit job that missed its mark TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘Trading with the enemy’? DANIEL J. MITCHELL DANIEL J. MITCHELL 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 find their own way”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 Home Options BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. Box 254, Cayman Brac KY2-2101 Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International insurance, health, pensions, life In 1984, customers knew us as BritCay. In 2016, they and the next generation still do. insurance, health, pensions, life Home owners across two generations know BritCay as a company that offers security, stability and great customer service. When you asked us to stay by your side through Hurricane Ivan we did. $300 million claims and 12 years on, we are stronger and more capable. The company remains a partnership of local family shareholders and CGI and we’re proud to still be known as BritCay. CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky Save CI$250** with new home policies! Interest-free monthly payment plan Save 10% on car insurance with home insurance Lowest deductibles - fully comprehensive car insurance CI$200, no extra premium required. * FREE with private motor insurance ** Applies to new private buildings insurance policies only. Certificate can be used to purchase car insurance from BritCay. cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! CI$250** CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE CI$10 Million * ASSET PROTECTION! at no extra cost with motor Bishop supports gay rights “There is almost nothing in the Bible about this.” JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- gender people is a “religious imperative,” according to a British bishop who vis- ited the Cayman Islands this week. The Right Reverend Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buck- ingham, spoke in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples during the “Queering Paradigms” con- ference, an annual interna- tional forum on LGBT is- sues, held this year in the Cayman Islands. The bishop told the Cayman Compass that he believes most Christians are compassionate people who support equal rights. He said it is church leaders, rather than their congregations, who are the biggest obstacle to progress. “The fact is, there is al- most nothing in the Bible about this,” he said. “There are five verses out of 32,000. You can pick out sound bites from the Bible to validate al- most any point of view. We have to learn how to read the Bible more carefully.” He said the message of the Bible, and of Jesus’s teachings, in particular, is of tolerance and compas- sion, and “love they neighbor as thyself.” Bishop Wilson, who also met with some local pastors during his visit, said evan- gelical Christians have been on the right side of history in almost every debate about freedom, from slavery to human trafficking. “When it comes to LGBT liberation, evangelical Chris- tians have often been part of the problem, not the solution. I am interested in how that can change,” he said. As in the Cayman Is- lands, the church in the U.K. has been resistant to change on the issue of human rights for people of different sexual orientation. “Many of my colleagues are very anxious about this whole area,” he said. “They think it is dangerous. They think it is explosive, and they want to play safe.” But, he cautioned, “it is not going to go away by being angry about it.” He said the church’s oppo- sition to same-sex marriage is not grounded in the teach- ings of Jesus. “There is a difference be- tween religious organiza- tions and faith. Jesus was more interested in faith than he was in religious organiza- tions,” he said. “The crisis is among church leaders and not among ordinary Christians who are usually patient, tol- erant people, who want to love thy neighbor as they love thyself. The “Queering Para- digms” conference, held over the weekend at the Chamber of Commerce offices, also heard from Caribbean anti- homophobia activist Mau- rice Tomlinson, as well as local panelists, who dis- cussed the issues facing the Cayman Islands. Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni, judge at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, gave a talk about the criminal prosecution of sexual orien- tation and its effect on the mental health of a society. The event also featured a screening of “The Abomi- nable Crime,” a documen- tary that explores the culture of homophobia in Jamaica through the eyes of gay Ja- maicans who are forced to choose between their home- land and their lives after their sexual orientation is exposed. Premier: No referendum needed on civil unions BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com No public vote on the acceptance of a legal status similar to mar- riage for same-sex couples is needed because the Pro- gressives-led government has no intention of imple- menting such legislation, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Friday. The possibility of a ref- erendum on civil unions has been broached by two Leg- islative Assembly members – Bodden Town’s Anthony Eden and Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush – during their budget debates over the past two weeks. Both vehemently oppose plans to recognize same-sex mar- riage or any similar legal status in Cayman. In response, Premier McLaughlin said there “need not be any such con- cern” that the issue is part of the current govern- ment’s agenda. “This government is not pushing, nor are we prepared to move toward the recog- nition of same-sex unions or civil unions … or any such thing,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Quite what the U.K. does to this issue is another matter entirely.” Mr. McLaughlin said his government’s efforts have been targeted at “avoiding as far as possible the making of an Order- in-Council which would impose such things on a country and a people who, thus far, I have no indica- tion would like to see that as part of our culture.” The local Constitution Order [2009] gives the gov- ernor power to legislate in situations where protecting British interests or avoiding contingent liabilities to the U.K. government arise. The last such Order-in- Council to be issued in- volved the abolishment of the death penalty for murder in the early 1990s. Mr. Eden, a founding member of the People’s Pro- gressive Movement party [now called The Progres- sives], left the government benches late last year over the issue and became an independent. The premier noted that Cayman’s constitution pro- hibits discrimination on a range of issues, including sexual orientation. Cayman’s constitution and its Marriage Law recognize marriage as being between one man and one woman. On Friday, Mr. McLaughlin cautioned legis- lature members to take care in how they address the civil unions/gay marriage issue. “My view … is simply this: When I read my Bible and ponder the teach- ings of Christ, I recall well his exhortation to us to ‘love one another as I have loved you.’ I do believe we need to love and be tol- erant of one another and appreciate that discrimina- tion in any form is wrong. Our constitution speaks to Cayman being a God-fearing country based on tradi- tional Christian principles, including tolerance.” “Many of my colleagues are very anxious about this whole area. They think it is dangerous. They think it is explosive, and they want to play safe.” BISHOP ALAN WILSON Bishop Alan Wilson6 TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS DISTRICT DAYS District Days George Town New exhibition celebrates budding artists A new exhibition fea- turing work from young art- ists from across the Cayman Islands opened to a packed house last week. At the launch on May 31, visitors and artists had the opportunity to mingle and ad- mire more than 162 pieces in a cross-section of styles that make up the “Tomorrow Land” exhibition of student artwork from six Walkers Art Clubs. The after-school art clubs, now in their 11th year, have more than 300 participants ranging from preschoolers to high school students, in- cluding young people with special needs. Instructors include Monica Powery, Simone Scott, David Bridgeman, Sarah McDougall and Chris Mann. Through a combination of hands-on instruction and in- dividual experimentation with art foundation principles, art club participants learn tech- niques, art history, self-con- fidence and how to form and articulate opinions about the work they are creating. In addition to individual art projects, students work col- laboratively on projects that connect participants to one another across sociocultural divides and encourage them to appreciate the unique abili- ties of their peers. “Visitors can expect to see many creative and colorful pieces by students, including drawings, paintings, chalk art, crafts, collage, mixed media, thatch work, masks and a host of installations,” said cu- rator Candace Welcome. “We will be showcasing in- stallations of sea creatures, human figures, junk art and even a large rocket ship.” She explained that she and instructor Monica Powery de- vised the rocket ship as a group project. “In the first stages, we made a plan to design the body of the rocket ship based on Randy Chollette’s piece in the ‘Native Sons’ exhibition called ‘Love Is.’ We achieved this by drawing an illustra- tion of the rocket ship and listing all the materials which we used over the year to com- plete it,” said Ms. Welcome. “During class, we divided the tasks into three groups, making sure that each ac- tivity allowed the toddlers to participate with the help of their parents or guardians. This activity continued for two lessons, and for the first time in the pre-schoolers’ program this year, the kids were engaged in learning to create with a team of other little ones. This was a perfect way to teach the kids the value of teamwork and how to appreciate each child’s unique mark.” Walkers senior partner Mark Lewis noted that Walkers has worked closely with the National Gallery on a variety of children’s arts initiatives since 2002. “The Walkers Art Club is a creative, engaging, and accessible after-school program which enables stu- dents of different age groups from both public and private schools to meet and interact over art,” he said. “We are immensely proud of the program and delighted to be invited to open the third annual Walkers Art Club ex- hibition, [and] we are looking forward to seeing the inspiring array of artwork on display and witnessing firsthand the remarkable talent of Cayman’s young artists.” Numerous accolades from parents and teachers of children taking part in the clubs reflect the positive im- pact the program is having on the lives of the partici- pants, especially in allowing them express themselves in alternative ways, and by giving them access to art in- struction that is otherwise out of reach. “As we aim to develop talent and nurture creativity at the National Gallery, we look forward to watching students from the Walkers Art Clubs pursue further qualifications in the arts and to becoming our creative innovators of to- morrow,” said the gallery’s op- erations and programs man- ager, Tanya Whiteside. “We commend Walkers for their long-term commit- ment to this program and are grateful for their ongoing support,” said gallery di- rector, Natalie Urquhart. The “Tomorrow Land” exhibition runs until June 15. New book for George Town library Wedding planner Jo Anne Brown recently donated a signed copy of her newly published coffee table book “Caribbean Wedding Style” to the George Town Library. Ms. Brown made the presentation on June 8 prior to the official publication launch party at Celebrations in Camana Bay that evening. The book will be part of the library’s Cayman Islands Collection, a permanent collection of work by local authors which will include cultural and historical material to be housed in the historical library section of the building, which is currently being renovated. Director of the Cayman Islands Public Library Service Ramona Melody and Deputy Director Paul Robinson accepted the book from Ms. Brown. 50 YEARS AGO: Ships weather Hurricane Alma; rainy Queen’s birthday In the June 15, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, news out of George Town included: “The three ships which gave everyone cause for deep and sincere concern when hurricane Alma menaced the Caribbean last week, are … safe in George Town harbor. “The ‘Kirkco’ had to be abandoned by her crew for many hours and tossed it out in the harbour. “To everyone’s amazement, she did not break adrift al- though one of her anchor chains parted. The imbibers who awaited ashore were no doubt disappointed that she did no smash up on the iron- shore as her cargo included beer, spirits etc. “The ‘Cayman Hope’ and the ‘Temac’ who were on their way to Cayman, battled through heavy seas and dreadful weather. The ‘Cayman Hope’ had steering trouble and a shortage of lube oil to add to her difficulties. “Practically every radio in the Cayman Islands, it is almost certain, stayed tuned to the wavelength on which the ship-to-shore radio conversa- tions could be picked up and everyone breathed a sigh of re- lief and thankfulness when the ships came through the storm and made safe harbour.” In other news: “On Saturday last, there was a heavy downpour of rain just prior to the time ap- pointed for the ceremony in honour of the birthday of H.M. the Queen. This meant that a shortened and less impressive ceremony had to be held inside the Town Hall … Three hearty cheers were given for Her Maj- esty after which Her message for Commonwealth Day, also celebrated on this occasion, was read by His Honour [the Administrator] … “The gathering then dis- persed and many took advan- tage of the kind invitation of His Honour to go to Govern- ment House. Here the sun was shining and everyone took the opportunity of congratulating both recipients on the hon- ours conferred on them by Her Majesty.” George Town correspondent Leila Yates also noted: “We are happy to have Miss Annie H. Bodden, M.L.A., back home again from Miami after her recent illness. We wish for her continued health to carry on her good work.” ANNOUNCEMENT Stargazing at Camana Bay The Cayman Islands Astronomical Society will present telescopes to a number of schools at a special event at Camana Bay on Tuesday, June 14. The event opens to the public at 7:45 p.m., and weather permitting, society members will lead star and planet gazing through the society’s telescopes. Art Club members from left, Ashaunti Bodden, Shante Barrett, Chrisonique Taylor and Tianna Hurlston.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 Queen Elizabeth II’s official 90th birthday was cel- ebrated in style in Grand Cayman on Saturday. Festivities began with a uniformed services pa- rade and awards ceremony in downtown George Town. This was followed by a garden party on the lawn of Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick’s home at Government House. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS Jonas Watler, 2, and Jacob Watler, 5 LeJae McLean of Cayman Islands Imperial BeautiesGovernor Helen Kilpatrick inspects the uniformed services. Actors from the Cayman Drama Society perform part of their ‘Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’ at the garden party. Keith Parker Tibbetts Jr., center, with members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association, from left, David Smalldon, Paul Ebanks, Dale Banks and Rudy Kudritzki Premier Alden McLaughlin with his wife Kim, left, and Lucille Seymour Austrian consul Martin Richter, left, Laetitia Bush and Eric Bush, chief officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs Neri Miller, 7, and Shameka Clarke, who sang the National Song on Saturday.Nancy Saur and Dr. Sook Yin at the garden party Check out these photos and others by visting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) 8 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS From the very day that you were born, You know you had my heart. You blessed my life with so much joy right from the very start. at lovely grin would light the room, Even when times were bad. at little laugh would li me up, Whenever i was sad. We know that time goes by so fast, You emerged from childhood days. I’m proud you are my precious son, In so many di erent ways. You’re strong, kind, and compassionate, To everyone you know. You’re such a special blessing, And I do love you so. Even though you’re all grown up, With a life that’s so worthwhile; You still ll my days with joy, When I see your great big smile. From your adoring mom Happy 21st Birthday Matthew aka “Ma Nigg” Love Always, Kimberley aka “Your Nigg” You’re strong, kind, and compassionate, You’re always thought of in a very special way, and you’re wished the nest things in life, today and every day! Trial judge commends 911 caller CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Justice Malcolm Swift commended a witness on Thursday after she and se- nior Crown counsel Tricia Hutchinson read through a transcript of her call to 911 when a vehicle hit two pe- destrians along West Bay Road on Jan. 25, 2015. Lisa Ebanks was giving evidence in the trial of Simon Courtney, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm and dangerous or reckless driving. “Well done on the 911 call,” Justice Swift told Ms. Ebanks. “That was pretty brave of you.” Ms. Ebanks, the prop- erty manager for Villas of the Galleon on West Bay Road, told the court that at around 5 p.m. on Jan. 25, she was sitting with her father and guests in front of her office, waiting for other guests who were due to check in. She heard a noise and saw two “things” go into the air. She asked a guest what they were and was told, “Those are two people.” Ms. Ebanks said she called 911, while guest Kelli Travis Parker ran ahead of her to the front of the prop- erty to help the accident victims, Richard and Kathy Schubert. Ms. Ebanks said while she was on the phone with the 911 operator, she saw a man coming from the vi- cinity of the entrance/exit and going toward her of- fice door. She asked twice if she could help him, but he did not respond either time. Ms. Ebanks said that the man, whom she under- stood had been in the car involved in the accident, walking in the general vi- cinity of the laundry room. She explained that Villas of the Galleon is next to The Ritz-Carlton property and The Ritz-Carlton “has a big wall between us. The laundry room backs up al- most to that wall.” When the operator asked her to describe the man who had come through her prop- erty, Ms. Ebanks did, noting that the man had gotten out of his car, leaving his wife in the vehicle, and one of the tires had come off the car. Jury visits scene On Friday morning, the judge and jury, along with at- torneys and court staff, vis- ited the scene at Villas of the Galleon, where Ms. Ebanks pointed out areas she had given evidence about on Thursday afternoon. The court group then walked to The Ritz-Carlton, where they followed the path taken by a man identi- fied as the defendant as he was shown on CCTV going through resort corridors, around the pool area and onto the beach. The group also saw Seven restaurant, where Courtney, his wife and two others had attended a five-hour champagne brunch prior to the incident. Justice Swift had ex- plained to the jury that it was not usual for a defendant to attend a site visit, although it was his right to do so if he wished. In this case, the de- fendant did not attend. On Friday afternoon, witnesses included Collin Redden, an accident recon- structionist who attended the scene, took photos and mea- surements, and examined the vehicle involved. It was a Mustang Shelby GT 500, which he described as a track- inspired, high-performance vehicle with two to three times as much horsepower as an average passenger car. He agreed with Justice Swift that the manufacturers recommended particular tires for the car and recommended that they not be replaced with anything else. “Well done on the 911 call,” Justice Swift told Ms. Ebanks. “That was pretty brave of you.” On Friday, jury and court members visited the scene of the accident. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2016 FIND YOUR BEST DEALS DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE OVER 10,000 CARS IN STOCK Tel : +81 42 440 3440 | Email : top@beforward.jp www.beforward.jp Shipped to George Town Cayman Islands DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE DREAM CAR AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE Gov’t approves pension changes, petition heads to governor BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Legislation approving a raft of changes to private sector pension plans in the Cayman Islands were ga- zetted last week, but the various sections of the re- vised law will not come into effect until Cabinet mem- bers give the order. The sweeping changes, the first wholesale overhaul approved for Cayman’s Na- tional Pensions Law since it took effect in 1999, were ap- proved by lawmakers ear- lier this year. They include changing the retirement age for private sector workers, now at 60, to 65 – and desig- nating 65 as the “normal age of pension entitlement.” The bill will also prevent most people from receiving a lump sum refund from their savings fund before re- tirement, unless they are al- ready 65 or have less than $5,000 in the account. Now, Cayman’s pensions legisla- tion allows people who leave the islands for at least six months to collect a refund after they have stopped con- tributing the pensions plan for at least two years. The private sector pen- sion plans are governed under separate legislation from civil service employees, whose pensions are man- aged by the Public Service Pensions Board. The new law, once Cab- inet puts it into effect, will allow the funds to be trans- ferred to an analogous re- tirement savings account two years after they depart. However, in most cases, re- funds are restricted. Ministry of Employment officials said Friday that they were preparing docu- ments for Cabinet so law- makers can approve the commencement order for the revised law. The commence- ment order will state the dates each section will come into effect. The order does not have to go to the Legislative As- sembly for approval, min- istry officials said. A public petition that was started against three partic- ular changes to the pensions law – the retirement age, the pension refund restric- tion and the change in max- imum pension contributions – now has more than 1,100 signatures. According to the legislation, pension contri- butions must equal 10 per- cent of the employee’s salary up to earnings of $87,000 per year, with 5 percent being contributed by the employee and a matching 5 percent contributed by their employer. The previous max- imum amount was up to $60,000 per year. Petition organizer Mi- chael Caputo announced Friday that he expected to send the petition to Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick and Premier Alden McLaughlin, as well as opposition inde- pendent MLAs Ezzard Miller and Arden McLean, imme- diately after the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend. Mr. Caputo has previ- ously argued that increasing the retirement age is not necessarily “for the ben- efit of the employees in the islands” – as Section 2 of the National Pensions Law states. He also noted his view that “Changing the age of retirement to 65 and giving it a new name (age of pension entitlement) is not for the benefit of employees in the islands,” he said. Although the law does allow retirement plan par- ticipants to transfer funds to a different retirement ac- count, North Side MLA Ez- zard Miller has described that process as quite diffi- cult, even if the transfer is between pension plans in the Cayman Islands. Under the law, the Na- tional Pension Office in the Cayman Islands would have final say on whether funds can be transferred to any off island account. Some commenters on Mr. Caputo’s petition noted their concern that pension funds could be taken from them if they were returned to a retirement fund in their home countries. One petition commenter indicated: “I’m signing be- cause this is not helpful to us, Filipinos, once it has been transferred to a pen- sion plan in our country. This only mean[s] one thing, big problem in claiming our hard-earned money!” The petition, at this stage, even if it is signed by 1,100 Cayman Is- lands voters, would not be enough to force an island- wide referendum. Cayman celebrates Queen’s birthday Girls Brigade, Scouts and the Cadet Corps. This was followed by a ceremony at which some prominent local figures were honored. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, after carrying out her duty as representative of the queen by inspecting the assem- bled uniformed services, pre- sented EY Managing Partner Dan Scott with Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal. “I am most honored and humbled by it because I think it is an award that is some- thing that comes from the cul- mination of the community as a whole,” Mr. Scott told the Cayman Compass. “So while I am here receiving it, there are many people who contributed to me and what I do. “It is important to be com- munity-minded and pay it forward. We are here but for a while, so may we make it a better place as we move on.” Also at the ceremony, Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson announced that Charles Wesley Watler has been named a Member of the Most Ex- cellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his ser- vices to the community in the Cayman Islands, and that Philip Agustus Rankin will be awarded the Certificate and Badge of Honour for services to the financial services industry in the Cayman Islands and to the board of Cayman Airways. Those who attended the ceremony were given a com- memorative gift to mark the queen’s 90th birthday – a button designed by Govern- ment Information Service’s graphic designer Kara Coe for the celebration. Then it was on to the more relaxed portion of the celebra- tion – a garden party on the lawn of Government House, the home of Governor Kilpat- rick on West Bay Road. Guests were treated to a performance by the Cayman Youth Choir and a segment of the comedy “The Complete Works of Wil- liam Shakespeare (Abridged)” by members of the Cayman Drama Society. London festivities Celebrations in Cayman were carried out in far warmer and drier weather than those in England, where the skies opened and revelers donned ponchos to keep off the rain at a street party on The Mall in London on Sunday. The street party was the grand finale to a weekend of festivities marking the queen’s birthday. Members of the royal family spent about 30 min- utes greeting guests on a “walkabout” along The Mall, after which the Queen thanked everyone for the birthday wishes she had re- ceived during the year. “To everyone here today and those holding street parties elsewhere, I would like to say thank you for the wonderful support and en- couragement that you con- tinue to give to me,” she said. “I hope these happy cel- ebrations will remind us of the many benefits that can flow when people come to- gether for a common pur- pose as families, friends or neighbors.” On Saturday, the queen attended the annual “Trooping the Colour” cere- mony, an event she has taken part in every year since the start of her reign in 1952, except in 1955 when it was canceled due to a national rail strike. Wire services contributed to this report. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive on Sunday in an open-top Range Rover at the Patron’s Lunch street party in The Mall, central London, attended by 10,000 people in honor of the queen’s 90th birthday. - PHOTO: TOBY MELVILLE/PA VIA APNext >