ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 SPORTS | PAGE 17 CAYMAN RUGBY SQUAD SCORES RECORD WIN OVER BERMUDA High of 89 Low of 77 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 TIME TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS NONSENSE Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp Cayman’s Brits tuned in to Brexit debate Referendum too close to call JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com As the United Kingdom goes to the polls Thursday to decide on whether it will stay in the European Union, many British res- idents in Cayman have already cast their postal votes and are waiting to see what the country decides. Billed as the most important vote for Britons in half a century, the “Brexit” referendum has divided the country, with polls suggesting an even split between the “re- main” and “leave” camps. Led by British Prime Minister David Cam- eron, those in favor of staying in the EU argue that Britain faces a recession of its own making if it votes to leave the largest single market in the world. Rival campaigners, led by former London mayor Boris Johnson, say the EU has ballooned into a sprawling, undemo- cratic bureaucracy and claim a vote to leave will give the U.K. government more power to control immigration. Projections suggest that 46.5 million people have registered to vote out of a population of 64 million. Among those who have already cast postal votes are hundreds of British expatriates living in the Cayman Islands. Anyone regis- tered to vote in any U.K. election within the last 15 years was eligible to vote. (The dead- line has now passed.) Nicholas Dixey, a British lawyer who works with Nelson and Company in Grand Cayman, cast his vote several weeks in ad- vance and will be avidly following coverage of the results Thursday night. He said it is a high-stakes decision for the people of the U.K., with intriguing arguments on both sides. “What is for certain is that the decision on Thursday is a huge political decision with enormous consequences. A vote to leave may bring down the government, cause a cur- rency crash, and also could put the country on course to a second Scottish Independence vote,” he said. “On the other hand, a leave vote may instead usher in a bright new world 31 CIVIL SERVANTS ON PAID LEAVE BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thirty-one Cayman Islands civil ser- vants are on suspension with pay over var- ious issues, including criminal allegations, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson con- firmed Wednesday. The longest period of suspension in any one case is about four years, Mr. Manderson said. It involves a case that has been pending before the court for some time, he said. “There are some persons who have been suspended just recently, there are some who are before the court,” he said. The deputy governor was responding to questions from Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush in the Legislative Assembly’s Finance Committee. Mr. Bush asked what was the “worst case scenario” regarding any of the suspended employees. Mr. Manderson said, if convicted of a crime or of a serious administrative violation, civil servants can be “separated” — terminated — from the government. With regard to one specific case, an inves- tigation at the prison involving video record- ings of a prison employee authorized by a se- nior staff member, Mr. Manderson said one senior officer remains on paid leave while the other employee involved has left the govern- ment service. Mr. Manderson said the contract for one of the prison employees involved, a non-Cayma- nian, had expired and that person had left. He said the other, a former deputy prisons director, still has a civil case before the Grand Court as of Wednesday, and declined to com- ment on it. Water company wins half-billion-dollar Mexico bid TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s Consolidated Water Company has won its bid to build a half-billion-dollar desali- nization plant in Mexico, making the company a global leader in water-processing technology, and opening the way to parched markets in the southwest U.S. The award by the state gov- ernment of Baja California came on June 15 after a two- stage bidding process. Consoli- dated Water beat Spanish and Singaporean rivals, and hopes to begin construction early next year on the first of two phases, each supplying 50 million gal- lons of desalinated seawater to Tijuana and other northwest Mexico markets. “This is the biggest project we’ve ever done,” said Consoli- dated Water President and CEO Rick McTaggart, returning from the award ceremony in Mexicali. “It’s a long-term, 40-year project and puts us in a class of ‘desal’ experts capable of building Southern Cross owner wins lifetime achievement award The owner of Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Club, Peter Hillenbrand, received a lifetime achievement award Wednesday night for his contribution to the success of Cayman’s tourism industry. The dive resort owner and former chairman of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute said receiving the accolade at the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s Stingray Awards was ‘one of the greatest honors I have ever had.’ He received the award from Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell during the event at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. For more, see page 5. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS x SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - WARCRAFT 3D (PG13) 7:00 I 9:50 FINDING DORY 3D (PG) 12:30 I 1:20 2D I 3:00 I 3:45 2D 6:45 I 9:15 2D NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (PG13) 12:40 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:40 ME BEFORE YOU (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:55 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES OUT OF THE SHADOWS 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:00 2D I 6:50 I 9:40 2D CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:20 I 7:20 I 10:00 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) PURCHASE A PB&J FROM THE DELI AND HELP SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES WHO COMBAT HUNGER IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS promotion ends June 30th Spread The Love Accountant charged with theft of US$495,000 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Robert Neil Aspinall, an accountant, appeared in Sum- mary Court on Wednesday for 14 charges, including two for theft. Details of one charge are that Aspinall stole US$445,000 from Level Global Overseas Master Fund Ltd. between May 1 and Aug. 21, 2013. The second charge alleges that he stole US$50,414.20 from Aslan Capital Master Fund LP and Aslan Cap- ital Offshore Fund Ltd. on Nov. 6, 2012. No details of any charges were mentioned before Mag- istrate Angelyn Hernandez. Senior Crown Counsel Nicole Petite and defense attorney James Austin-Smith made a joint application for the matter to be adjourned until June 27 so that certain mat- ters could be reviewed. The magistrate extended Aspinall’s bail. He surrendered his passport to the court. Other charges include six counts of transferring crim- inal property, two counts of converting criminal property, two counts of forgery and one count each of false accounting and using criminal property. The alleged conversions of criminal property relate to US$200,000 for a deposit on the purchase of property on July 11, 2013, and the conver- sion of US$50,536.58 for the purchase of a BMW X3 ve- hicle on Oct. 21, 2013. The most recent alleged offense is a charge of trans- ferring criminal property – US$93,000 – between Dec. 15, 2014 and Jan. 19, 2016. TROPICAL WAVE PASSING TO THE SOUTH A tropical wave passing south of the Cayman Is- lands will bring clouds and showers before the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The bulk of the storm will stay south of Cayman, said Weather Service forecaster Gilbert Miller. He said a high pressure system behind the storm will bring partly cloudy skies and isolated showers for the weekend. “It’s officially summer now,” Mr. Miller said. It’s also hurricane season, and the Weather Service is tracking a series of tropical waves making their way across the Atlantic. “But those are a little too far out to comment on yet,” he said. The U.S. National Hur- ricane Center, tracking the tropical wave, expects the system to move west into Central America by Friday. Forecasters in Cayman say the weekend will be warm with high tem- peratures around 90 de- grees. The forecast calls for calm seas with 2-4 foot waves and winds averaging about 10 knots. Haines completes mountain challenge Marathon runner and fun- draiser Derek Haines has completed his latest chal- lenge for charity — climbing three mountains in Bolivia. Mr. Haines, along with Vico Testori and Barry Yetton, set out for Bolivia in May to climb Condoriri, Huayna Potosi and Illimani as part of “The Moun- tains and Marathons Chal- lenge,” to raise money for the Have a Heart Foundation. The foundation finances lifesaving heart surgeries at Health City for underprivileged children. With two of the moun- tains crossed off their list, they were waiting out bad weather to try to tackle Mount Illimani, but Mr. Haines explained that with conditions this season, com- bined with a lack of snow and increased hard ice cov- erage, they were advised that Illimani would be “dangerous and foolhardy” to tackle. Instead, the trio set their sights on the 19,855-foot high volcano, Mount Acotango, on the Chilean border. “This proved a blessing in disguise as we had the op- portunity to enjoy the beau- tiful scenery and geology as we drove south to the Sajama National Park,” Mr. Haines said by email. They set off before dawn, when the temperature was at 14 degrees Fahrenheit and “threatening frostbite,” he said. At 18,700 feet, after bat- tling windy conditions and treacherous terrain, Mr. Yetton, who was experiencing respiratory problems, on ad- vice from the lead guide de- cided to descend. Mr. Haines and Mr. Tes- tori continued the climb, traversing around a rock band and attaching cram- pons for the glacier climb to the summit. There, as on their other climbs, they unfurled the Cayman flag, almost giving them, in their own words, “a taste of paragliding into Chile.” With the three climbs completed, they treated themselves to some celebra- tory beer and a soak in the volcanic thermal springs. On their final day in La Paz, Mr. Haines addressed the Rotary Club of La Paz to tell them about the Have a Heart Foundation and to talk with a fellow Rotarian and heart surgeon from the local children’s hospital. The mountain challenge follows Mr. Haines’s 2014 challenge, in which he ran six marathons in a year to raise more than $1 million for Cayman HospiceCare. The first leg of the latest challenge was the 50K Off the Beaten Track in Cayman, which Mr. Haines ran in Feb- ruary. Also as part of the “Marathons and Mountains” challenge, Chris Bailey and Shane Delaney will take part in Ironman races in Wis- consin and Barcelona in July and October. In November and De- cember, Mr. Haines will run marathons in Cuba and Grand Cayman. For more information about the fundraising campaign for the Have a Heart Foundation, visit www.MM4HH.com. Vico Testori, left, and Derek Haines unfurl the Cayman Islands flag on the summit of Mt. Acotango in Bolivia. A tropical wave moves south of Cayman, Wednesday.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 Road User BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life You don’t have to be accident prone to have an accident. You have a 1 in 10 chance of a road vehicle accident. BritCay offers the lowest standard deductible at $200 and the best value fully comprehensive cover with extra free benefits. Ask BritCay for a quote. New car replacement (new cars only, 12 months max.)* US$40,000 damage to overseas rental cars at no extra charge* Fast-track repairs! Authorised Repairer programme *Policy conditions apply- ask for details. **Applies to new private buildings insurance policies only. Certificate can be used with home/motor insurance purchase. CALL 949-8699 or visitwww.britcay.ky cgigrp $250** CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE CUC commissions new generators KELSEY JUKAM kjukam@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands is now home to the most effi- cient diesel power plant in the region, Caribbean Utili- ties Company officials said Tuesday at the commissioning ceremony for a 40 megawatt generation expansion project. A year and a half after entering into a design-build contract agreement with Bur- meister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S and MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, the instal- lation of two 18.5 MW V48/60 medium-speed generation units, a 2.7 MW steam tur- bine and associated auxil- iary equipment, housed in a new building at CUC’s North Sound plant, is complete. Officials from CUC, Bur- meister & Wain and MAN celebrated the commis- sioning of the new generating units with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday afternoon. Now that the genera- tion expansion project has been completed, customers should experience more reli- able service and fewer power cuts, according to Sacha Tibbetts, CUC’s vice pres- ident of customer service and technology. “We were short on ca- pacity before – we weren’t short to the point where it was not enough, but we had less than we have now,” Mr. Tibbetts said. “And we have these new units, brand new and reliable, so as a result we have the benefit of the excess capacity to serve the need. So, in general, it should be better.” The approximately $85 million dollar project – the company’s largest capital project to date – will also help CUC produce energy at lower cost, according to the utility company. “It’s one of the most ef- ficient diesel power plants in the region, possibly the world,” Mr. Tibbetts said. “What that means is, for each unit of energy we’re using less fuel, which means that we would see a reduction in the amount of gallons needed to produce one kilowatt of energy, so that helps a lot with the fuel costs.” The generation expansion is unlikely to have any effect on CUC customers’ bills. In May, the company announced a 0.1 percent increase in the company’s base rate, adding approxi- mately 11 cents to the typical monthly bill. CUC President and CEO Richards Hew said the in- crease would support “on- going investment in in- frastructure necessary to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity ser- vice to all consumers,” and added that CUC’s base rates remain at or below most other utilities in the region. BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Department of Ve- hicle and Drivers Licensing has suspended some garages from doing inspections in the wake of claims they were passing non-roadworthy ve- hicles, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said Tuesday. Privately owned garages began performing vehicle in- spections in Cayman in 2007 as lines lengthened at gov- ernment vehicle licensing fa- cilities in George Town and West Bay. Department of Vehicle and Drivers Licensing Director David Dixon told the Legisla- tive Assembly’s Finance Com- mittee that a dozen private garages do inspections on the government’s behalf. However, Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo said he was aware that some busi- nesses are not operating above-board. “What some are in the practice of doing is saying, ‘I’ll pass [the vehicle] for you, but you need to come back and fix these problems’ … making a little business out of it. It may not be rampant, but it does occur.” Mr. Tibbetts said the government licensing depart- ment is well aware of the issue. “The fact of the matter is, some garages have been suspended already,” the min- ister said, without identifying which facilities have lost their inspection permissions. Spot checks Mr. Dixon said the depart- ment can “spot check” vehicle licensing operations at ga- rages. If the businesses are not meeting safety or vehicle inspection requirements, their inspections can be sus- pended for anywhere from three days to six weeks or for an indefinite time, he said. “Once a garage is found not to be compliant, they are struck off for a period of time,” Mr. Dixon said. Minister Tibbetts said the spot check process might be seen as an “honor system,” but he indicated it is difficult for the vehicle licensing de- partment to do more with the resources available. Mr. Dixon said that once a vehicle receives an inspec- tion sticker, the department has no authority to “enforce” issues regarding vehicles that are not roadworthy. How- ever, he said the department can do spot inspections of vehicles if it receives a com- plaint from the public. “I wasn’t aware you could do that,” Finance Minister Marco Archer said. “I hope the listening public got that.” Tailpipe emissions George Town MLA Win- ston Connolly asked if Mr. Dixon’s department could check vehicles for things like tailpipe emissions during an- nual inspections. Mr. Dixon said mufflers and tailpipes are examined for cracks and no vehicle would pass inspection if was emitting large amounts of black smoke from its exhaust. However, the department does not have the equipment or the legal mandate to test for tailpipe emissions. Minister Tibbetts said emissions legislation would be required before govern- ment could take such a step, and that certain testing equipment would have to be procured. Vehicle licensing staff would also have to be trained to use the equipment. “It is something that we aspire to, but I don’t see it happening in the immediate [future] because we just don’t have the resources to make it happen,” Mr. Tibbetts said. Some garages suspended from doing vehicle inspections CUC’s new 18.5 megawatt generation units are housed in a new purpose-built power building at CUC’s North Sound plant. Burmeister & Wain’s Chris Walker, CUC President Richard Hew and MAN’s Walter Offner cut the ribbon at the commission ceremony for CUC’s new generators. – PHOTOS: KELSEY JUKAMThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Time to pull the plug on this nonsense Each month for the past five years, someone in the new Government Administration Building has been receiving a bill from the Caribbean Utilities Company — in part to supply electricity to the old, vacant Government Administration Building — and has been paying those bills … amounting to between $180,000 to $240,000 per year. Although the continuing expenditure on the abandoned Glass House, which has been identified as a candidate for demolition for 10 years, appears not to have raised any red flags within the civil service, to us it is the equivalent of waving a red cape in front of a bull. (Only, it is we the tax- payers who are the ones getting charged.) More specifically, the $180,000 to $240,000 per year in CUC bills pays for electricity to three buildings: the empty Glass House, the George Town Police Station and the home of Radio Cayman. Although we wish we could, we can’t get any more specific than that. You see, government doesn’t know how much electricity is going to each of the three build- ings because they’re all on the same meter. Government facilities manager Troy Whorms said, “There are plans to separate the services in the future. “The data to determine [the exact power bill for the Glass House] is not available today and will require further monitoring to determine the actual usage of each facility.” When the Glass House was still in use, electric bills were about $660,000 per year. So at least we know the Glass House when empty is using less power than when it was full. In some ways, the fact that the power is still on in the Glass House is less disheartening than the fact that gov- ernment doesn’t know how much it’s paying to keep the (lights? air-conditioning?) electricity flowing to the vacant office building. Mr. Whorms said that’s because the three buildings are all on the same meter. Considering that these are three separate structures, we fail to see the special engi- neering challenges involved in installing meters (or sub- meters) to track the usage of electricity in each building. That sort of set-up is the norm around Grand Cayman. Think about apartment complexes, shopping centers or single office buildings with separate companies — all of those have separate electrical meters, and separate bills for each tenant. But in regard to the Glass House, lethargy and inaction have been government’s standing orders for the past decade. In July 2006 (after the Office of the Governor’s hasty self-eviction because of concerns about fire safety), then-Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said the Glass House would be demolished and the property under- neath turned into a public park. Although the last personnel moved from the Glass House to the new Government Administration Building in 2011, the anticipated demolition didn’t happen. Last February, Premier Alden McLaughlin “re- announced” plans to get rid of the Glass House. It “will soon be demolished,” he said. Nope, not yet. In September 2015, ministerial officials put the project out to tender, setting a start date for demolition of early October and completion date of January 2016. Those dates have receded into history, but the Glass House remains. On Tuesday, Mr. Tibbetts, who is now Minister of Planning, said, “Nothing … tells me that it is not better to knock that building down.” Minister Tibbetts is right. He’s been right for 10 years. But there’s a difference between saying the right thing, and doing the right thing — which is to make the Glass House disappear, starting with its monthly utility bill. THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Drop the ‘Brexit’ panic talk ASHOKA MODY The doomsday narrative of British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Bank of Eng- land and their official friends around the world is setting a course for a self-fulfilling financial panic. They insist that the British economy will be permanently poorer and global markets will be roiled if the British public votes to leave the European Union in a referendum on Thursday. These claims are based on fuzzy analysis. More seriously, they are deeply irresponsible. Make no mistake, if markets do panic it will be because of the hysteria that the officials have built up. To redeem them- selves, policymakers around the world must set up visible signposts now to dampen fi- nancial turbulence. Upon leaving the Euro- pean Union, Britain would trade less with Europe and more with other nations. It’s possible that overall trade may fall somewhat during the transition. But all econ- omists agree that the costs of such a decline would be small and short-lived. A just- released study from the In- ternational Monetary Fund shows that the share of British goods exported to the European Union fell stun- ningly to 45 percent in 2014 from 60 percent in 2000. This shift away from slower- growing Europe to the rest of the world is set to continue irrespective of Brexit. For this reason, the en- tire official campaign against a British exit, or “Brexit,” is based on the further claim that British productivity would fall precipitously. There is no evidence for this assertion. A possible small, transitional, decline in trade cannot cause such a large fall in productivity. It’s true that more trade has sometimes been associated with higher productivity, but only when countries emerged from eco- nomic isolation. For advanced economies, the evidence favors the op- posite possibility. The most productive firms are the most active exporters, and when it becomes harder to export, they redouble their efforts to improve productivity. For de- cades, as the deutsche mark appreciated, German pro- ducers held back an increase in their export prices by raising their efficiency. At the very least, the long-term economic conse- quences of Britain leaving the EU are neutral within a small margin that no econo- mist can parse, as many – in- cluding former Bank of Eng- land Governor Mervyn King – are beginning to acknowl- edge. And when there is no looming fundamental eco- nomic loss, all predictions of financial panic become judg- ments based on anecdotes. But such is the power of narrative that every ana- lyst sees the ghost of Brexit in every market movement. European bank stocks are down, the claim is, because of Brexit. It takes a mo- ment to recognize that Eu- ropean bank stocks have been falling behind for years as their leveraged bets are being unwound. Italian banks are walking on the edge of a precipice. The British economy has moved predictably with the degree of fiscal austerity: gratuitous austerity delayed recovery from the finan- cial crisis, a brief reprieve in 2014 drove a fleeting re- bound, and more anticipated austerity is causing a slow- down. No forecaster can – or should – try to discern a Brexit effect amidst these much larger movements. The world economy is in a fragile state. World trade, the best single barometer of global economic health, has been crawling. Indeed, the latest numbers suggest that world trade may not be growing at all. We know the reasons why. The Chinese economy has been grinding down, which has put a lid on Japanese and Asian growth. Though the euro zone is out of crisis mode for now, it is, at best, muddling ahead. And the United States has ceased acting as a global engine of growth. Now the collective voices of officialdom have primed fi- nancial markets to fear Brexit. There are enough fault lines in the global economy to worry about already. Adding this specter of a Brexit-in- duced financial collapse is misguided and self-indulgent. It is time now to step back from this dangerous course. Central banks should make a joint statement reassuring markets that they stand by with credible tools to protect global financial systems. If Britain decides to exit from the European Union, a chapter in post-War European and global history will come to a close. How the event is re- membered will depend on the wisdom of the present stew- ards of the global economic and financial systems. Ashoka Mody is a visiting professor in international economic policy at Princeton University. © 2016, Bloomberg View FROM CAYMANCOMPASS.COM On the GT waterfront I feel I should respond to the letter of Mrs. Mary Thompson, the mother of the developer, Kel Thompson. Mrs. Thompson, with all due respect, some of us for- eigners have contributed to the wellbeing of the Cayman Islands since we arrived. In my case it was 1968. I will not elaborate on my own contributions, and for your edification I do not use Western Union. I have the greatest respect for your late husband and his contributions but might add: Where would Cayman be without the early financial center pioneers – the very bread, excuse the pun, and butter of the island? The difference in phi- losophy between the views of your son and me, is that my son and I have tried to make my land more pictur- esque, for the larger open beach to be used by all, for no charge – whilst Mr. Thompson is fencing his two beaches off and de- nying access unless pay- ment is made. Your son has dumped dirt on my property, having dug up the road last year. He has dumped marl on the beach and has dug a huge hole for passersby to fall into. He contravened all set- back regulations against the objections of the De- partment of Environment, a body manned by Cayma- nians, as you would have heard on the excellent pro- gramme on Cayman 27 Tuesday night. Finally with the septic tank proposed to be almost next door to the fish market, will you continue to buy fish there? Chris Johnson5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 CAYMAN ACADEMY P.O. Box 515, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands Telephone – (345) 640 2630 Email:caymanacademyschool@gmail.com A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST INSTITUTION Cayman Academy Invites Applications for CAPE Starting 2016/17 Academic Year Cayman Academy is launching CAPE (the Caribbean Advanced Pro ciency Examination) in the 2016/17 academic year. Students with CSEC or equivalent secondary education certi cation are invited to apply. CAPE is equivalent to the British Advanced Levels (A-Levels), both of which are intended for entrance to regional, Canadian, and British universities. Students entering American universities with CAPE quali cations may be eligible for credits and exemptions in selected subject areas. CAPE grants certi cates for individual subjects, a diploma (a cluster of six subjects) or an associate degree (seven or more subjects). Subjects may be studied concurrently or singly. Cayman Academy starts its CAPE programme this year with the business strand, in the following subjects: Accounts Economics Management of Business Caribbean Studies Communication Studies This year, students may select an additional subject from the following options: Pure Mathematics Environmental Science Information Technology Application forms are available from the Registrar, Cayman Academy, telephone: (6402630 or 9267190) email: caymanacademy@gmail.com Deadline for applications is August 12, 2017 Southern Cross Club owner honored at tourism awards Divemasters, cooks and cleaners celebrated at Stingray awards JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Eight years in the family business was enough for Peter Hillenbrand to be sure it was not for him. He turned his back on the 9-to-5 life and took the plunge on a risky business venture, taking over a run-down Little Cayman resort. More than two decades later, he can safely say the gamble paid off. Mr. Hillenbrand was given the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s lifetime achieve- ment award Wednesday night, largely for his work in transforming the Southern Cross Club into a world-re- nowned luxury eco-resort. He was one of sev- eral winners at the annual Stingray Awards at The Ritz- Carlton hotel Tuesday night as tourism industry workers gathered to pay tribute to the best in the business. “It changed my life,” says Mr. Hillenbrand, of his de- cision, in 1995, to take over what was, at the time, a di- lapidated resort. It was tough at first, but he believes the challenges have been worth it. “The Department of Tourism was on the verge of closing it down when we took over,” he said “It was kind of a seedy resort. We have slowly built it up to what it is today and I think it is something we can be proud of.” After being presented with his award by Tourism Minister Moses Kirkcon- nell, Mr. Hillenbrand paid tribute to his staff and to or- ganizations like CITA and the Sister Islands Tourism As- sociation that have helped make the Southern Cross Club a success. “With the talent and the respect of the people out there in that room, just the fact that they nominated me is one of the greatest honors I have ever had,” he added. A diver since he was 8 years old, and a regular vis- itor to Little Cayman, Mr. Hil- lenbrand, who studied ma- rine biology, said it was the lure of the underwater world that attracted him to the is- land and that keeps him in- terested in the job today. “It is better than being an astronaut,” he said of ex- ploring Little Cayman’s reefs as a scuba diver. “You can learn about it a lot quicker, it is more accessible, less dangerous. If I ever get tired of the underwater world and the ecosystem in Little Cayman, then it is time to put me out of my misery.” He believes Little Cayman should and will stay a pris- tine island, untouched by too much development. “There is nowhere like it left in the Caribbean,” he said. “The biggest resort has 40 rooms and we are the second biggest with 14. We can continue to improve the product and there is room for more development as long as it is done responsibly. The ecosystem there and the nat- ural environment is unique and that is the attraction of Little Cayman.” There were many other winners on the tourism in- dustry’s big night, as servers, kitchen staff, divemasters and housekeepers gathered to honor their colleagues across the industry. Betise Bodden of Sunset House won the accommoda- tions employee of the year award for her dedicated ser- vice as a housekeeper at the resort. Lois Hatcher, a dive instructor at East End’s Ocean Frontiers, who also spearheaded a reef restora- tion project in George Town, won the water sports em- ployee of the year. Daniel Bond, who manages a fleet of boats for Red Sail Sports, won the water sports man- ager of the year award. Mr. Bond said, “I have a genuine interest in making sure people have a good time. We are all about getting the best experience possible and getting those repeat guests. I really enjoy what I do. I go to work every day happy and that helps me do a good job.” CITA President Ken Hydes, who was given the Minister of Tourism Award, said the staff were what made Cayman’s tourism in- dustry great. “The beaches and oceans and everything that makes Cayman great would all be for nought if it wasn’t for the people represented here to- night,” he added. WINNERS Accommodations: ■■ Manager – Charlie Thompson – Wyndham Reef Resort ■■ Employee – Betise Bodden – Sunset House Allied: ■■ Manager – Oraine Lawrence – Budget Rent-a-Car Grand Cayman ■■ Employee – Jay Mehta – Netclues Restaurant: ■■ Manager – Jen- nifer Dodd – The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman; Seven Restaurant ■■ Employee – Jolene Nelson – The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman Water sports: ■■ Manager – Daniel Bond – Red Sail Sports ■■ Employee – Lois Hatcher – Ocean Frontiers ■■ Long Service – Patrick Kenney – Red Sail Sports ■■ Rising Star – Kimberley A. Conolly – The Wick Candles & Scents Lifetime achievement award: ■■ Peter Hillenbrand – Southern Cross Club YMCA offers drone-inspired program A drone-inspired program designed to educate and raise awareness of technology is being offered this month by YMCA Cayman. “Discovery with Drones” will kick off at the Sir. John A. Cumber Primary School and John Gray High School. As part of the YMCA’s ex- tended after-school program, students will learn about the history and uses of drones, as well as safety and regu- lations, and basic navigation through simulator activities. The program has four levels and students will be required to meet proficiency at each level before pro- gressing to the next. According to YMCA Cayman CEO Greg Smith, “The YMCA is known for teaching through play, and this is an excellent opportunity to intro- duce students to technology in a fun way.” The YMCA has partnered with Digicel on the program. “We get many requests for support, but we feel this opportunity, in partner- ship with the YMCA, will really engage the youth of Cayman and provide them with meaningful skills in key areas such as science, electronics and video ed- iting that could be applied to a career in the future,” said Martin Bould, CEO of Digicel Cayman. “Our ambition is that as [a] result of this program, we can help inspire the next Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page and provide opportuni- ties for the youth of Cayman that might not otherwise be possible,” he added. “Discovery with Drones” is intended to teach students about the capabilities of technology and about career opportunities in the field. Depending on the pro- gram’s success and available resources, the YMCA may ex- tend the project across all government schools. The pilot phase will continue through the YMCA’s summer camps. For more information, call Vanessa Hansen of the YMCA at 326-3833. Jennifer Dodd, a head chef at The Ritz-Carlton’s Seven restaurant, accepts the restaurant manager of the year award from CITA board member Julie Hutton. Sunset House’s Keith Sahm presents the water sports employee of the year award to Lois Hatcher.6 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS District Days Bodden Town A Bodden Town wedding to remember Dwayne Seymour and Tiffany Rankin marry in a romantic setting with spectacular fireworks JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com In a setting glittering with elegance, Dwayne took the hand of his bride Tiffany and looked into her eyes, as more than 300 guests gath- ered round and fireworks ex- ploded overhead. Hundreds turned up at the Cayman Islands Bap- tist Church on Pedro Castle Road on June 18 to wit- ness the happy occasion as former Bodden Town MLA Dwayne “John John” Seymour married Tiffany Rankin on her birthday. From the time he met his Cumber Avenue bride, Mr. Seymour – a Gun Square boy – said he knew he wanted to marry her. “When we met, I could not believe a girl could make me laugh so much. It’s because of our Bodden Town connections, we have so much in common, we knew all the town jokes and town characters. That means a lot to me and makes me happier, so thank you, Tif,” said Mr. Seymour. He also thanked his wife’s son Ter- rell for allowing him to date his mother and called his two daughters, Dior and Tahiti, to sing a song accepting Tiffany as their stepmother. As guests arrived at the wedding, they were treated to soothing music played by vi- olinist Kate Allenger. Soon, the bridal party began to make their way down the aisle. Seven groomsmen and seven bridesmaids, one best man and maid of honor were followed by two flower girls scattering flower petals, a ring bearer and a sign bearer holding up the words: “Uncle Dwayne, here comes the love of your life.” Then looking oh-so-cute in a puffy purple tutu was the couple’s daughter Ta- nieyah Seymour, being pulled down the aisle in a Cinderella carriage by her sister Dior. At last, the bride made her ap- pearance in a white mer- maid-style gown sparkling with beaded embroidery, car- rying a bright bouquet com- plementing the colors of her peacock-themed wedding. They then said the vows that made them man and wife. At the wedding reception, a big gate decorated with colorful flowers opened into the dining and dancing area. Continuing the color scheme of the ceremony, round ta- bles placed under the tented reception area were be- decked in a variety of lux- urious linens, fine glasses and plates. Each table held a peacock floral arrangement in sparkling vases. The head table was lav- ishly draped with flowers and a ruffled, shiny blue table cloth. The wedding cake was five layers with a golden peacock on top. Even the tent ceiling was beautifully deco- rated with flowers and spar- kling chandeliers. As the guests arrived at the reception, they were greeted by hundreds of twin- kling lights, champagne, live music and cheese platters. Making their en- trance into the reception, groomsmen wearing fedoras made their way down the red carpet with the bridesmaids on their arms. The bride and groom followed. Soon after the reception started, the couple shared their first dance as husband and wife on a dance floor engraved with both names, as the guests looked on. The couple danced to Ed Sheer- an’s “Thinking Out Loud” in one of the most memorable moments, as Mr. Seymour held his new wife’s hand and twirled her around the dance floor. After a dinner from serving stations filled with shrimp, turtle, conch, chicken, beef and other accompani- ments, the couple had a few surprises in store for their many friends and family. Not only were the skies lit up with fireworks, but the bride, dressed in a jazzy funky silver dance costume, along with her bridesmaids, danced for her husband. Meeting the challenge, Mr. Seymour and his groomsmen had a blast dancing to “Up- town Funk.” The bride was also treated to a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” led by her new husband. And there was still more, as the groom surprised his wife with a performance by popular New York R&B singer Case, and the couple danced the night away. The decorations were by Clint Hunter of Imag- ination Events and the bridal floral arrangements were by the bride’s own company, Partyville. The couple is honey- mooning in Bora Bora in the South Pacific. 50 years ago: Robert Lee Berry earns military accolades In the June 22, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town news included: “On April 1, Robert Lee Berry, son of Mrs. Lyndal Berry and the late John Berry, formerly of Bodden Town, began his training at the U.S. Training Center, In- fantry, Fort Dix, New Jersey. “At the conclusion of an eight-week extensive basic training course, he received a medal and was one of four boys out of 200 to be awarded the Gold and Marble Statue. “His Certificate of Achievement reads: ‘In rec- ognition of receiving the highest score for his unit on the physical combat proficiency course con- ducted at the United States Training Centre, Infantry, Fort Dix, New Jersey on April 1, 1966. “‘His score of 475 out of a possible 500 points indi- cates he has proven him- self proficient in a most important phase of his basic training cycle. His outstanding performance is in consonance with the highest standards and traditions of the United States Army, and entitles him to a place of honor among the ranks of the Proud Rifles.’ “Present at the award ceremony in the audito- rium at the Camp, along with his mother, was her sister Mrs. Grace Whit- taker of Bodden Town, who is vacationing in New York with her daughter and her family.” Mr. and Mrs. Seymour with the groom’s daughters Tahiti and Dior Seymour and the bride’s son Terrell Brathwaite. New York R&B singer Case, brought in for the bride’s birthday, sings a song for the couple. Adorable Zayden Abrahams was the official sign bearer.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 District Days Bodden Town District fathers honored Fathers were honored on Sunday at the Bodden Town Church of God. Pastor Winston Rose led a special service focusing on what it means to be a good father, and the dads in attendance were presented with gifts from the church. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY BT Library renamed for Vernon Jackson JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town has dedi- cated its library to Vernon Jackson for his outstanding service to education, gov- ernment, Christian faith and community service. A Bodden Town native, Mr. Jackson, 87, grew up in a home in the shadow of the Bodden Town All-Age School, the building which then be- came the Town Hall and is now the Bodden Town Li- brary. For the community and those at the renaming cere- mony on Saturday, the con- sensus was that, after 10 years as the school’s head- master, it was only fitting it bear his name. A plaque was also un- veiled which bears the name Vernon L. Jackson Public Li- brary and Learning Centre. The unveiling was attended by Mr. Jackson’s family, in- cluding some visiting from overseas, library and gov- ernment officials and invited guests. Mr. Jackson said he was glad to see so many people there and remembered that reading was commonplace when he was a child. “I did not know where the books came from, but they went from house to house … we were all poor and if one happened to have a lesson book, it was shared,” he said. He also reminisced about the 1932 storm and the construction of the library building. “The smart boys binding it together were getting three pence for a barrel of sand to build it – and the men would get paid for their barrels too,” he said. According to the Cayman National Archives, in his address at the building’s opening, Commissioner Allen Wolsey Cardinall described the building as a place of refuge, an Assembly Hall and a school, with the building being large enough to cater to 625 people. The archi- tect was Rayal Brazel Sr. and the engineer was Edmund Samuel Parsons. At Saturday’s ceremony, Mr. Jackson’s daughter, Joy Basdeo, gave a glimpse into the history of her father. “My father is an enigma – a man before his time and also a man of his time – a gentle man and a gen- tleman. These gentlemanly qualities more than any- thing else made him beloved throughout the Cayman Is- lands and will ensure he is remembered long after his other accomplishments have been forgotten,” she said. His son Andre said his fondest memories growing up with his dad were the count- less fishing trips they had to- gether, his excellent advice, never hearing him swear or lose his cool, and that he was seldom angry or involved in an argument with anyone, and as a marriage officer, had never been involved in any deeds or acts that were not above board. “As the old people would say, ‘That’s man,’” said the younger Mr. Jackson. Minister of Education Tara Rivers said it gave her great pleasure to be there to honor Mr. Jackson for his re- markable achievements in the districts of Bodden Town and West Bay and also the Cayman Islands. “His passion for educa- tion and his commitment to the art of learning has re- ally inspired countless Cay- manians to expand their world view, stretch their imagination beyond these shores and further their ac- ademic development.” Ms. Rivers said she cer- tainly considered herself one of those Caymanians inspired by Mr. Jackson’s story – for this reason she thought it most fitting to recognize his contributions by renaming the Bodden Town library after him. “Mr. Jackson’s legacy will forever be etched on the institution of learning and enlightenment, and as a government we are grateful to Mr. Vernon for the foun- dation he has helped to lay in the areas of social services, education com- munication, infrastructure and human resources,” Ms. Rivers said. Minister Rivers with young readers at the library. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Mr. Jackson and family Mr. Jackson with dignitaries and guests.8 LOCAL NEWS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com More Cayman Islands government workers will be receiving a modest bonus in their paychecks this month. A one-time gratuity or bonus of 2.2 percent of salary was already headed to central gov- ernment’s 3,500 civil ser- vice workers. However, some 2,000 additional em- ployees who work in the statutory authorities and companies owned by the government apparently did not fall into the civil service category. Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Tuesday that Cabinet members had agreed to ex- tend the bonus to the staff of the authorities and gov- ernment companies, pro- vided the amount “does not result in any supple- mental expenditure” by those agencies. Mr. McLaughlin said the 2.2 percent bonus – which equates to $880 for a person earning $40,000 a year – is the most gov- ernment could do this year “without creating what we believe will be some diffi- culties for us.” The initial 2.2 percent bonus payment for civil servants was expected to cost government $2.5 mil- lion in the current 2015/16 budget year, which ends on June 30. It was not stated how much the additional bonus payments to the statutory authority and government company employees would add to that. Opposition Leader McK- eeva Bush asked whether the government might con- sider increasing the bonus amount for lower-earning government workers – those who earn less than $4,000 or $5,000 per month – “or whatever the figure is,” Mr. Bush said. “The 2.2 percent [bonus] doesn’t give much to them,” Mr. Bush said. Mr. McLaughlin said government realizes that those who earn less would get a smaller bonus, but said this is the best government could do at the moment. The premier pointed out that civil servants had re- ceived either one-time bo- nuses or a cost-of-living salary increase in three of the four public sector bud- gets brought by the Pro- gressives-led administra- tion since 2013. Mr. McLaughlin also said the government had set aside another $2 mil- lion to address “pay stag- nation issues” in the civil service over the course of the next budget. Those is- sues involve situations where government workers who have held the same jobs for a number of years have not received any salary increase and are no longer being paid competi- tively in their field. Cayman Islands elected officials will not receive the 2.2 percent one-time bonus this month, Fi- nance Minister Marco Archer said. Mr. Archer said there is no proposal for an across- the-board pay increase for civil servants during the upcoming 2016/17 govern- ment budget, which covers 18 months between July 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2017. The pay bonuses are being given to recog- nize “valuable contribu- tions civil servants have made in the past year,” Mr. McLaughlin said. THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Government using less fuel, minister says BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Since changes were made to its fuel distribution system in the wake of an 2010 audit scandal, the Cayman Is- lands Department of Vehicle and Equipment Services fuel depot has been distributing about 15,000 to 16,000 fewer gallons of petrol annually to government vehicles. Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts indicated Tuesday to the Legislative Assembly’s Fi- nance Committee that while he might be speculating somewhat, he suspects that “some people” are no longer refueling their private vehi- cles at the North Sound Road fuel station. “Theft,” East End MLA Arden McLean said. “Call it what it is. They were stealing it.” “I’m trying to be a little careful, that’s all,” Mr. Tib- betts said. “You would think that some of it could be at- tributed to that, but the [fuel card] system has some other safeguards.” In 2009, the government’s Internal Audit Unit looked at fuel use at the depot and found a number of what it termed “irregularities” in the usage of fuel — including some instances where two separate fuel purchases were made at the same time in varying amounts, and in- stances where the same gov- ernment vehicle was fueled twice in one day. Following up on the in- ternal audit review, former Auditor General Dan Duguay estimated that hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel purchases for government entity vehicles between Jan- uary 2008 and March 2009 were likely the result of “abuse and fraud.” In the wake of the au- dits, government updated its Gasboy fuel card system. The new system no longer allows the “pilferage” that used to occur at the fuel depot, Mr. Tibbetts said. Department of Vehicle and Equipment Services Di- rector Richard Simms told the Finance Committee that his department supplies 973 “registered units” (government vehicles) with fuel — 793 of which are on Grand Cayman. Mr. McLean estimated — based on government figures provided — that the fuel depot is “saving” about 20 gallons per year, per vehicle. That 20 gallons per ve- hicle equates to about $80 to $100 in savings per gov- ernment vehicle, per year on Grand Cayman, he said. “We need to tighten our belts,” Mr. McLean said. “We need to tighten the manage- ment of these vehicles.” Planning Ministry Chief Officer Alan Jones said Tuesday that he informed se- nior civil service managers during a recent department heads meeting that each gov- ernment division needs to do a better job of managing its vehicle fleet. Mr. Jones said it is not Mr. Simms’s responsibility to “police” how each and every government department uses its vehicles. Officially, the government- wide policy on take-home vehicles for staffers is that they are used only for gov- ernment business. In some circumstances, de- partments that have “on call” employees allow them to take home government cars, but generally “no personal use is allowed,” Mr. Jones said. The government gas station off North Sound Road. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURT DOCTOR FINED FOR NO CERTIFICATE CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dr. Clarence Charles was fined $500 on Monday for operating a healthcare fa- cility without a certificate from the Health Practice Commission. The facility was Rapha Medical Centre and the of- fense took place between March 31 and April 20, 2015. Defense attorney Richard Barton pointed out that the period included the Easter holidays, so the actual number of days the center was open to patients was more like six, not 20. Magistrate Valdis Foldats asked how many patients would have been seen during that period. After consulting with his client, Mr. Barton said the doctor would have seen no more than 10 pa- tients per day. The magistrate asked if there were any complaints of improper care. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said no, not according to the summary of facts in the pros- ecution file. He explained that the charge came about after po- lice received a report from the Health Practice Com- mission that Dr. Charles was operating the Rapha Medical Centre with an expired certificate. Dr. Charles had been ad- vised that his certificate had expired and he attended the commission office the same day to speak to the facilities inspector. On April 20, 2015, he admitted that he had con- tinued to treat patients after his certificate expired. He said he had not submitted the required documentation because his insurance had also expired. A charge of operating a healthcare facility without adequate public liability in- surance between Aug. 2, 2014 and April 13, 2015 was also laid against him. He was fur- ther charged with failing to have health insurance for himself, his spouse and one employee between Jan. 31 and March 31, 2015. On March 1 this year, Dr. Charles pleaded guilty to op- erating his facility without a certificate and the Crown agreed to let the four insur- ance charges lie on file. The magistrate said this meant that if the four charges are not acted on within six months, they would no longer be considered by the court. Mr. Barton explained that once Dr. Charles contacted the Health Practice Commis- sion and had signed docu- mentation with the chairman, in his mind he was being compliant. He accepted that, as owner of Rapha, he was responsible. “His attempts to rectify the situation should not be overlooked,” the at- torney urged. Mr. Barton argued that this case had to be distin- guished from a rogue practi- tioner setting up in a nefar- ious way to do a rip-off. The magistrate agreed that Dr. Charles was a sole practitioner, not part of four or five professionals billing at a high volume. Mr. Barton said it was no secret that Dr. Charles, now 64, has been ill. His particular illness (which was not speci- fied) was likely to have con- tributed to the situation in which he had found himself. It did not impair his clinical skills or judgment, but it seemed to have affected his ability to complete some of his administrative tasks. Dr. Charles had ceased all operations after his arrest in April, 2015, and Rapha Med- ical Centre remained closed, Mr. Barton advised. He said Dr. Charles’s ca- reer of 30 years had been unblemished until this inci- dent. He had practiced in Ja- maica, his native Guyana and in the U.K. before coming to Cayman in 2000. Several ref- erences were supplied to the court. Mr. Barton asked that no conviction be recorded in this case, citing the defendant’s early guilty plea, cooperation and personal circumstances. The magistrate pointed out that certification was a regulatory matter and it con- cerned public health. Medical clinics need to be properly licensed in all respects and this one was not, he said. He agreed that individual deterrence was not a factor, but he had to impose a sen- tence that would be a general deterrence. “The court has to send a message – for all fa- cilities, for all practitioners, there has to be a certificate.” The penalties include a fine of $50,000 plus $10,000 for every day the offense con- tinues, the magistrate noted. Those sums are a signal that once a facility does not have a certificate, it should not be operating, he said. Speaking to Dr. Charles directly, the magistrate said, “For you, it is the conviction that is the penalty. You are impecunious. Your company is going to be bankrupt. The nominal fine is $500. Pay by the end of August.” Premier Alden McLaughlin an- nounced Tuesday that Cabinet members had agreed to extend the bonus to the staff of the authorities and government companies. Government bonus payment expanded Premier Alden McLaughlinThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 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 where Britain once again is truly independent, optimistic and free to make its own laws and trade deals and stand on its own two feet, empowering its citizens and inspiring other nations.” For former Cayman Is- lands Monetary Authority Chairman Tim Ridley, the decision is more clear cut. He believes the U.K.’s eco- nomic prosperity depends on staying in the European Union and retaining access to the common market. “I find it hard to counte- nance the U.K. leaving the EU. I hope common sense will prevail,” he said. “Those Little Englanders in favor of Brexit have no sense of history or sensible idea of the future,” he said. “The leavers make some dan- gerous assumptions as to what any deal with the EU might look like. Britain’s fu- ture firmly lies within the EU, and she should work much harder to be at the top table and to influence outcomes, and not sit whinging outside the tent.” For the Cayman Islands, he said, the vote will not make much difference either way, though he suggests, on balance, Cayman is better served with the U.K. in the European Union. Across the Cayman Is- lands, political enthusi- asts and regular Brits will be tuning in to round-the- clock news coverage, with a result expected in the early hours of Friday. Matthew Sloane, a Liv- erpudlian who has lived in the Cayman Islands for more than six years, believes the decision is one that will im- pact the U.K. and its citizens for generations to come. He cast his vote several weeks ago for Britain to remain in the EU. “I think some people be- lieve we can just leave the most powerful economic union in the world and start re-creating the British empire and go planting flags all over the world again,” said Mr. Sloane, who works with Hur- ley’s Media. “A lot of people have not taken the time to study the issues or think about the re- percussions and are voting on emotion or perceived con- cerns about immigration. Basically, it is a fairly simple economic decision. I think it was irresponsible to have a referendum because you are asking people who don’t have the ability or the informa- tion to make a decision that will impact the country for generations. It was an incred- ibly bad call.” Ted Todd, a mathematics teacher at John Gray High School, is another British expatriate firmly in the remain camp. “Just because there are a few problems at the moment, it does not mean that we should throw a tantrum and get up and leave — this is the easy way out,” he said. “As a teacher, we always encourage our students to look for challenges and ac- cept them even if they are difficult, to work together with other students to over- come obstacles and learn together in the spirit of co- operation, and learn how to interact successfully with one another. I would urge the voters tomorrow to ac- cept the challenges head on, work within the current framework to effect change for the better and not to simply run away.” After controversy at the 2015 general election, when many overseas voters were left disenfranchised because ballot papers did not ar- rive on time, the process ap- pears to have gone smoothly this time. Christine Cooke, who was denied the opportunity to vote in the general election, said she had received her pa- pers and cast her vote weeks in advance. “I am happy to say I was able to take part this time,” she said. Some of the pre-refer- endum debate has centered on whether those who chose to leave the U.K. should be able to participate, or if the franchise should be extended further to all British citizens, regardless of how long they have been out of the U.K. Karen Perkins, a com- pany director with Ma- ples FS, believes expatriates should exercise their right to be involved. “I think it is very impor- tant for expats to vote and have a say in how the U.K. will be run,” she said. “After all, we can’t vote here.” some of the biggest plants in the world.” The company al- ready operates a plant in Bali, Indonesia, supplying between 44 million and 54 million gal- lons per year to a group of four-star and five-star hotels and residential properties. While revenues have not yet proved sufficient to reg- ister a profit, Consolidated Water launched the project only in late 2012 and an- ticipates local demand will ultimately consume the plant’s nearly 800,000 gallon per day capacity. Tijuana is the largest city in Baja California and part of the international San Diego- Tijuana metropolitan area, sharing a 15-mile border with the southern California city. The link between the two is the world’s busiest land- border crossing. A major in- dustrial and financial center, Tijuana has a population of nearly 1.7 million – boosted by 80,000 immigrants per year – and is among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Mexico. Consolidated Water’s Mexico project encompasses construction and opera- tion of a 100 million-gallon- per-day seawater reverse-os- mosis desalination plant and an accompanying pipeline to deliver water to the Mexican potable water system, and eventually hopes to supply be- tween 20 million and 40 mil- lion gallons per day to more than 3.3 million people in San Diego County, helping allay drought conditions plaguing much of southern California. Phase one of the project is scheduled to finish in 2019 and phase two in 2024. Consolidated Water has been working on the project since at least 2010, when it acquired a 50 percent stake in Mexico’s NSC Agua, described in the company’s annual re- ports as a “Mexican devel- opment company … formed to pursue a project encom- passing the construction, op- eration and minority owner- ship” of the plant. That stake was ultimately raised to 99.9 percent and in 2012, NSC Agua signed a 20- year lease with the govern- ment for 5,000 square meters of land to build water intake and discharge works. Subsequently, NSC bought 20.1 acres for the plant it- self, gained ocean access and contracted for 80 megawatts of power – the equivalent of more than half of Carib- bean Utilities Company’s an- nual production – from the adjacent generating plant. Consolidated Water has de- signed the piping network for incoming seawater and out- going fresh water, bound for both Mexican consumers and the U.S. border – although penetrating the American market will depend on U.S.- Mexico talks. Consolidated Water has al- ready spent $20.7 million for land and equipment in Ro- sarita Beach, and another $16.7 million in development expenses, which include an equipment piloting plant, a water data-collection pro- gram, engineering studies and governmental permits. In January 2015, the com- pany submitted a prelim- inary – and unsolicited – plan for the project, followed in late March by a more detailed proposal. Baja California accepted the plan as “in the public in- terest, opening public ten- ders on Nov. 6. On May 20, the Mexicali government named Consolidated Water the winner of the preliminary technical bidding, setting June 15 for the final selection. Mr. McTaggart said Con- solidated Water acquired in February “a controlling in- terest” in Florida’s Aerex In- dustries, paying $7.7 million for a 51 percent share. Based in Fort Pierce, Aerex manufactures equipment and provides services for a range of products for municipal water treatment and indus- trial water and wastewater treatment, providing “com- plete, customized solutions to your needs from membrane systems and vessel products to solutions and treatments for water and wastewater, pu- rification and recovery pro- cesses,” according to the com- pany website. At the end of last year, Aerex registered unau- dited revenues of more than $19 million. At the time, Mr. McTag- gart welcomed the acquisi- tion, saying it represented “an important first step of the expansion of our business model into other water-related industries and markets.” “The equipment it has manufactured for us is in- tegral to the performance of some of our most efficient and profitable desalination plants,” he said, pointing to the benefits of vertical inte- gration of Consolidated Wa- ter’s supply chain and that the company provided a U.S.-based platform to “ex- pand our customer base and product lines.” “I don’t want to get into the details of what negotiations we’re having,” Mr. Manderson said. East End MLA Arden McLean asked which prison officer had been fired, and whether the chief officer who did the firing had the authority to do so. “We take this place too lightly,” Mr. McLean said. “I expect answers. That is my job.” Finance Committee Chairman Marco Archer intervened and cautioned Mr. McLean that the government’s meeting “should not be taken as a substitute for the courts.” Mr. McLean argued that lawmakers have asked questions over and over about some of the government’s employ- ment-related issues and have not received an- swers — at least not in public — regarding what steps government had taken to address labor issues. Mr. McLean said previous private meetings with the deputy governor on the subject produced few “tangible” results. “There [are] no tan- gible results coming out of those, other than for [Mr. Manderson], it gives him the opportunity that we don’t question him in [Finance Committee],” Mr. McLean said. As the discussion grew heated, Mr. Ar- cher suggested: “You can do what you always do, go on the radio and say what you want to say … even though some- thing different has been said in the Legislative Assembly.” Cayman’s Brits tuned in to Brexit debate 31 civil servants on paid leave CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Water company wins half-billion-dollar Mexico bid Franz Manderson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A plane towing a pro-EU banner passes Big Ben in London, Wednesday, on the final day of the EU referendum campaign before Britain goes to the polls to vote on continuing its membership of the EU. - PHOTO: APNext >