ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 High of 90 Low of 77 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 DELINQUENT PENSIONS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED? WE THINK NOT PremierHealth You said you needed the flexibility of overseas Rx. You got it first with BritCay. BritCay was first with overseas Rx and direct billing pharmacy benefits for Cayman residents. It means your health plan is as convenient to use overseas as it is at home. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES 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 Kimpton seeks staff as construction nears completion JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com As an expanded crew of around 700 con- struction workers races to finish the new Kimpton Seafire Resort, the hotel’s management team is ramping up its recruitment drive to find 400-plus staff to work in the new facility. A few staff are already in place, working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly when the first guest checks in on Nov. 18. Among them is Megan Graves, the Kimp- ton’s people and culture director, and the person responsible for assembling the team that will open the hotel. CAYMAN, OTHER TERRITORIES TO BE BRIEFED ON BREXIT BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Representatives of British Overseas Ter- ritories were due to meet with U.K. for- eign office representatives Thursday amid the fallout from the Brexit vote to dis- cuss how the territories may be affected by upcoming changes. The meeting, to be held in London, will be attended by Cayman’s new London office director Eric Bush via conference call. Mr. Bush will leave Cayman for his post at the end of the week. The U.K. will be represented by Peter Hayes, the Foreign and Common- wealth Office’s director for the British Over- seas Territories. “We have a lot of questions,” Mr. Bush said. “I’m not sure they’ll be able to answer them at this point.” Mr. Bush said Cayman has many of the same political questions about Britain’s break from the European Union that are being asked around the globe. However, there are also some practical considerations regarding the availability of EU-directed funding assistance available to the overseas territories. For instance, Mr. Bush said, there are cer- tain funding instruments, such as the EU’s development fund that Cayman would like to participate in. “Particularly EDF [Euro- pean Development Fund] funding that is applicable until 2020 that we can apply for,” he said. “Does this [Brexit vote] now change that?” Although it is estimated that Brit- ain’s full separation from the EU will take at least two years, there may be some me- dium-term changes in the way Cayman’s Court: Work permit change was legal BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An Immigration Department decision to grant new work permits to two Cayman Is- lands attorneys who quit their jobs last year was legal, a Cayman Islands Grand Court judge has ruled. The decision issued June 17 may have far- reaching consequences for non-Caymanian workers’ ability to swap jobs in the islands, giving wider discretion to the chief immigra- tion officer to allow such moves than was thought to exist. In the decision, Justice Seymour Panton refused a judicial review application filed by law firm Appleby [Cayman] Ltd. that sought to challenge a decision by Acting Chief Im- migration Officer Bruce Smith. Mr. Smith had refused to revoke a work permit granted to one of the attorneys and gave a temporary work permit to the second attorney after ap- peals regarding the permit decisions were made to him. Justice Panton said Mr. Smith had not erred in law and that the judicial review re- quest appeared to be an unintentional attempt to “involve the chief immigration officer in un- necessary and unwarranted litigation.” In the request for court review, Appleby representatives stated that two of their law- yers – referred to in the decision only as “at- torney A” and “attorney B” – “resigned simul- taneously on June 4, 2015 in a team move to work for [another firm of attorneys-at law].” That firm has been identified in other court records as Harneys. In August 2015, Appleby requested that the Business Staffing Plan board not grant the SPORTS | PAGE 17 MUD NO OBSTACLE FOR THREE-TIME CHAMP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » As the hotel nears completion, focus has turned to recruiting people to work in it. Workmen put the finishing touches on the Kimpton Seafire’s top-floor suite. – PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. y x *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - INDEPENDENCE DAY RESURGENCE 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:15 I 7:00 I 9:50 2D ME BEFORE YOU (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:55 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:30 I 7:20 I 10:00 FINDING DORY 3D (PG) 12:30 I 1:00 2D I 3:00 I 3:45 2D 6:45 I 7:15 2D I 9:15 I 9:40 2D NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (PG13) 12:40 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:40 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) Students steer drones in pilot program ALMA CHOLLETTE achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com Through the YMCA’s “Dis- covery with Drones” pro- gram, students from Sir John A. Cumber Primary School flew a drone for the first time this week. On Tuesday, 24 stu- dents spent their evening learning about drones, flying them and meeting with drone professionals. Led by YMCA instructor Desmond White, students were introduced to the many uses, and possible uses, of drone technology on the is- land. Students then became acquainted with the con- trols and the drone itself and watched a demonstration be- fore test-driving their steering abilities in the school’s hall. Malaya Myles, 10, found it to be “too hard,” she said with a laugh, “but I got used to it.” Nevertheless, “It’s fun to fly with,” she said, adding that she hopes her parents will buy one for her. Malaya said the program is “fabulous and great because they have great teachers.” After every student had a go at flying a drone, they watched a special presen- tation by three representa- tives of AirVu, a drone oper- ations company specializing in media production, safety and security. Damien Murphy, Gene Pas- cual and Mick Davidson of AirVu demonstrated one of their drone’s capacity to reach high elevations and its filming ability. The AirVu drone flew much higher than the school, which impressed the students. YMCA operations man- ager Gillian Roffey said, “I definitely think the kids have shown an interest.” Ms. Roffey said Discovery with Drones is a 10-week pilot program to encourage students to participate in re- lated after-school activities during the new school year. “It’s so great to see kids into technology,” said Guy Thornton of Digicel, which is sponsoring the program. “We were looking for ways to help define digital skills in youths. Mr. Thornton added that students can now access a technology that was once only accessible for military use. Discovery with Drones so far has been introduced to students from Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay and John Gray High School in George Town. The pilot program will continue at the YMCA’s summer camps, and or- ganizers hope all govern- ment schools will eventu- ally sign up. Students participating in the ‘Discovery with Drones’ program make a run to avoid a falling drone. - PHOTOS: ALMA CHOLLETTE Students watch a drone in action. Mission to retrieve sunken ship’s ‘black box’ delayed JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Federal officials have an- nounced a one-month delay in the mission to retrieve the “black box” of a freighter that sank in the Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Joaquin last October. The National Transpor- tation Safety Board said Wednesday in a statement that the launch has been postponed to the first week of August because resources needed for the mission aren’t yet available. Officials previously had said NTSB, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy personnel would depart in early July from Little Rock, Virginia, to the site near the Bahamas where El Faro sank. The freighter lost propulsion during the storm and sank in 15,000 feet of water between Jacksonville, Florida, and Puerto Rico. All 33 crew members died. The recorder may hold audio that can shed light on its final moments. A young drone pilot tries her hand at flying one of the machines for the first time. CONGRESS EDGES CLOSER TO PASSING PUERTO RICO RESCUE PACKAGE WASHINGTON (AP) – Con- gress edged closer to deliv- ering relief to debt-stricken Puerto Rico as the Senate on Wednesday cleared the way for passage of a last- minute financial rescue package for the territory of 3.5 million Americans. Puerto Rico is in a de- cade-long recession and has $70 billion in debt. A $2 billion payment to cred- itors is due Friday. Thou- sands have fled the is- land and moved to the U.S. mainland as busi- nesses have closed, schools have struggled with lim- ited electricity and hospi- tals have asked for cash payment in advance for some medication. The White House and Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress have warned that without help from Washington, Puerto Rico will descend into eco- nomic chaos, with signs al- ready pointing to a human- itarian crisis. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken- tucky, scheduled a final vote on the legislation for Wednesday evening. Ear- lier Wednesday, the Senate voted 68-32 to move for- ward on the bill, paving the way for passage. The House passed the bill earlier this month, so Senate passage would send the bill to Pres- ident Barack Obama for his signature. The legislation would create a control board to oversee the U.S. territory’s finances and supervise some debt restructuring. The legislation would not provide any direct finan- cial aid to the territory, but leaders warned that a bailout could eventually be- come necessary if Congress does not take this step. “If we don’t act before the island misses a critical debt payment deadline this Friday, matters will only get worse – for Puerto Rico and for taxpayers,” said McConnell said. The control board would be similar to one that oversaw the District of Columbia in the late 1990s. Its seven members would oversee negotiations with creditors and the courts over reducing some debt. In addition to creating the board, the bill would re- quire the territory to create a fiscal plan and fund public pensions, which the Puerto Rico government has shorted by more than $40 billion. The White House and Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress have warned that without help from Washington, Puerto Rico will descend into economic chaos,3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 30, 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 Thank you, National Trust For working alongside us, and for assisting us in protecting and preserving the environment. Together, we are making Ironwood a sustainable community that respects Cayman’s beauty, its culture and its heritage. Sincerely, Ironwood Mothballed John Gray school construction project to resume McAlpine awarded contract for $7.9m sports hall job JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Building contractor McAlpine has been hired to complete the sports hall at the new John Gray High School site as gov- ernment prepares to re- sume the mothballed construction project. Government has bud- geted $7.9 million for the job, the first phase in a re- newed effort to complete construction of the school, which was left half-built after money ran out. The gym will be com- plete early next year in time for students to sit their exams in the new building in May 2017, officials said Wednesday. McAlpine won the con- tract after a competitive bid process involving four other companies. Education Minister Tara Rivers said, “I look for- ward to McAlpine delivering on the goals set for this project and handing over a building of which we all can be proud.” Students, parents and teachers were consulted by the project management team before designs were finalized, she said. Chief Officer in the Min- istry of Education, Christen Suckoo, said officials had learned from the mis- takes of past school con- struction projects. “The project team took on board the lessons learned from the challenges and is- sues at Clifton Hunter High School, and consulted the teachers at that school on what is and isn’t working on that campus so as to avoid repeating or perpetuating the same issues at the new John Gray campus,” he said. Government was forced to spend extra money mod- ifying Clifton Hunter after educators said the open- plan design was not condu- cive to learning. This time, teachers and John Gray’s new principal, Jon Clark, were consulted in advance. Mr. Suckoo said sugges- tions included the addi- tion of an automatic cur- tain to divide the hall and allow two classes to be taught at the same time; court striping for all indoor sports; and a new space for PE theory classes. There is no indoor area for PE classes at John Gray High School. Ian Pairaudeau, man- aging director of McAlpine, said, “We are delighted to contribute to the govern- ment’s effort to improve the educational facilities in Cayman. “McAlpine has a long- standing history of pro- viding high-quality construction developments in Cayman, and our team of well experienced con- struction professionals, all of whom are Cayma- nians, is more than ca- pable of successfully com- pleting the project.” As of March 2012, $54.4 million had been spent on the new John Gray High School. At the time, then-Educa- tion Minister Rolston Anglin estimated an additional $43 million would be required to finish the job. The current government has indicated it will seek to complete the development in phases over a number of years. Government was forced to spend extra money modifying Clifton Hunter after educators said the open-plan design was not conducive to learning. Veteran customs managers retiring MLA questions reasons for departure, concerned over morale BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two senior managers at the Cayman Islands Cus- toms Department will re- tire effective July 1, leading to a significant reshuf- fling in the upper ranks of the service. Deputy Customs Col- lector Collie Powery and Deputy Collector Emalie Wilks have a combined 73 years of experience at the department. However, Cayman Islands Opposi- tion Leader McKeeva Bush noted last week that nei- ther is “pensionable at this point.” Mr. Bush asked Deputy Governor Franz Manderson during a meeting of the Legislative Assembly’s Fi- nance Committee why the two veteran customs chiefs were retiring at this stage. “My concern would be any situation like this, you get a lowering of morale,” Mr. Bush said. “Full staff don’t know the reasons why … they start to get uneasy about the whole situation.” Mr. Manderson said staff had no reason to feel uneasy and that the two officers were retiring with full benefits. “They’re not losing anything,” Mr. Man- derson said. Customs Collector Charles Clifford said Wednesday that sugges- tions indicating that the two senior officers were being forced to retire were “incorrect.” He declined to discuss the details of any individual employee’s re- tirement arrangements. “Both Mr. Powery and Ms. Wilks are long-term employees of the Customs Department with 37 and 36 years of service, respec- tively,” Mr. Clifford said. “I take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for their devoted service to the Customs Department.” The retirements will leave the customs service with a number of individ- uals in acting leadership roles for the time being. Two deputy collectors, Kevin Walton and Jeff Jackson, and three assis- tant collectors, Kerrylyn Ebanks, Nickolas Rivers and Lisa Kelly, have been named to those positions temporarily while posi- tions are advertised for the permanent jobs, Mr. Clifford said. Deputy Customs Col- lector Marlon Bodden will stay on in his current role, Mr. Clifford said. Deputy Customs Collector Collie Powery and Deputy Collector Emalie Wilks have a combined 73 years of experience at the department.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. THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” “I am therefore proud … that with the passage of the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 the Office of the Complaints Commissioner has deemed that the Ministry and Department have now success- fully complied with the OCC and this report is now offi- cially closed by their Office.” — Employment Minister Tara Rivers, June 24 Hold off on the champagne, the horns and the hats. For background, in 2010, then-Cayman Islands Complaints Commissioner Nicola Williams published a bombshell report showing that 670 local businesses were delinquent in paying their employee pensions. Three years later, Ms. Williams demonstrated that number had grown to 1,144 businesses. Ms. Williams’s 2010 report included 21 recommen- dations that the government should follow to address weaknesses in the law, in the system and in enforce- ment of private pensions requirements. Before the Legislative Assembly last week, Employ- ment Minister Tara Rivers applauded her ministry for implementing all of those recommendations (except one that was withdrawn by the complaints commis- sioner’s office), and has effectively declared that, in regard to Cayman’s problem with unpaid pensions — “Case closed.” You may have read the above information in a news story we published on Page 8 of Wednesday’s Compass. There’s a reason the story appeared in the inside of the newspaper, instead of being splashed across the front page in 80-point type: The problem of employers not paying their employees’ pensions (and, more despicably, sometimes stealing their employees’ contributions to their pension plans) has not, indeed, been solved at all. Here are three reasons why we are keeping our sparkling beverages on ice: First, the letter from Acting Complaints Commis- sioner Bridgette von Gerhardt instructing the ministry that it has complied with all of her office’s recommen- dations is based, largely, on the new National Pensions Law that legislators approved this May. The trouble is, the new law is not yet in effect, nor have the all-impor- tant accompanying regulations yet been drafted. To declare that the new law has accomplished anything is, in our opinion, extremely premature. Second, one of the major issues identified in the 2010 report, perhaps of even greater importance than shortcomings in the law, was the non-enforce- ment of the law. There is a critical difference between merely passing a new law — even if it’s superior to the old one — and enforcing the new law. The proof is in the prosecution. Lastly, as interesting as we find the number 20 (as in how many recommendations the complaints com- missioner put forward), the key number from Ms. Wil- liams’s report is far greater: 1,144 — specifically, the number of businesses identified as being delinquent in their pension payments. No one should declare victory, or accept such a declaration, until that number of 1,144 has been whittled down to zero, or near to zero, and then is kept as low as possible through enforcement, the courts, fines and penalties, and, if necessary, the police and prison. To re-employ Ms. Williams’s phrase from her 2010 report, the private pensions system is still a “ticking time-bomb” that hasn’t yet been defused. Delinquent pensions: Mission accomplished? We think not The hinge of the Great War “See that little stream? We could walk to it in two minutes. It took the British a month to walk to it – a whole empire walking very slowly, dying in front and pushing forward behind.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Tender Is The Night” WASHINGTON – The walk began at 7:30 a.m., July 1, 1916, when British infantry advanced toward German trenches. In the first hours, eight British soldiers fell per second. By nightfall 19,240 were dead, another 38,230 were wounded. World War I, the worst man-made disaster in human experience, was the hinge of modern history. The war was the incubator of Communist Russia, Nazi Ger- many, World War II and in- numerable cultural conse- quences. The hinge of this war was the battle named for “that little stream,” the river Somme. The scything fire of ma- chine guns could not be nul- lified even by falling curtains of metal from creeping ar- tillery barrages that moved in advance of infantry. Geoff Dyer, in “The Missing of the Somme,” notes: “By the time of the great battles of attri- tion of 1916-17 mass graves were dug in advance of major offenses. Singing columns of soldiers fell grimly silent as they marched by these gaping pits en route to the front-line trenches.” William Philpott’s judi- cious assessment in “Three Armies on the Somme: The First Battle of the Twentieth Century” is that the Somme was “the cradle of modern combat,” proving that indus- trial war could only be won by protracted attrition. And hence by the new science of lo- gistics. The 31 trains a day re- quired to supply the British at the Somme became 70 when the offensive began. The ro- mance of chivalric warfare died at the Somme, which was what the Germans called Ma- terialschlacht, a battle of ma- terials more than men. Geo- graphic objectives – land seized – mattered less than the slow exhaustion of a nation’s material and human resources, civilians as well as soldiers. In the next world war, the distinction between the front lines and the home front would be erased. In 1918, Ran- dolph Bourne, witnessing the mass mobilization of society, including its thoughts, dis- tilled into seven words the es- sence of the 20th century: “War is the health of the state.” Rela- tions between government, the economy and the individual were forever altered, to the ad- vantage of government. Military necessity is the most prolific mother of inven- tion, and World War I was, Philpott writes, “a war of in- vention,” pitting “scientific-in- dustrial complexes” against each other: “Gas, flame- throwers, grenade-launchers, sub-machine guns, trench mortars and cannon, fighter and bomber aircraft, tanks and self-propelled artillery all made their battlefield debuts between 1914 and 1918.” Attritional war had begun in earnest at Verdun, which occupies in France’s memory a place comparable to that of the Somme in British memory. And the Somme offensive was begun in part to reduce pres- sure on Verdun and to demon- strate that Britain was bearing its share of the war’s burden. In December 1915, Win- ston Churchill, then 41, said, “In this war the tendencies are far more important than the episodes. Without win- ning any sensational victo- ries we may win this war.” The war itself may have been begun by a concatenation of blunders, but once begun it was worth winning, and the Somme, this “linear siege” (Philpott), set the tendency for that. Germany, trying to slow the trans-Atlantic flow of ma- terial, resorted to unrestricted submarine warfare, which, five months after the Somme ended, brought the United States into the war and, in a sense, into the world. Thomas Hardy’s descrip- tion of the 1813 Battle of Leipzig – “a miles-wide pant of pain” – fit the battle of the Somme, where a soldier wrote, “From No Man’s Land ... comes one great groan.” The Somme ended on Nov. 18, with men drowning in gluti- nous lakes of clinging mud sometimes five feet deep. This was the war that British poet Rupert Brooke had wel- comed as God’s gift to youth awakened from sleeping, “as swimmers into cleanness leaping.” By November a mil- lion men on both sides were dead – 72,000 British and Commonwealth bodies were never recovered – or wounded. Twenty-two miles of front had been moved six miles. But because of this battle, which broke Germany’s brittle confidence, the war’s outcome was discernible. Not so its re- verberations, one of which was an Austrian corporal whose Bavarian unit deployed to the Somme on Oct. 2. Adolf Hitler was wounded on his third day in the line. The battle of the Somme is, in Dyer’s words, “deeply buried in its own aftermath.” As is Europe, still. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2016, Washington Post Writers Group The World War I Thiepval Memorial in France contains the names of 72,194 British and South African soldiers who died in the Somme sector and have no known graves. French graves also lie at the memorial. – PHOTO: AP GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach spent last weekend in Grand Cayman, meeting compatriots from the Philippines at the Pinoy Pride Independence Month celebration, meeting potential Miss Cayman contestants at the Lobster Pot and greeting many Cayman Islands residents. She also toured the island by land and sea, spending some time at most of the districts. Matthew Leslie, event director for Cayman Mardi Gras, which brought Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to Cayman, meets the pageant queen at the airport. - PHOTO: ALBERT CABUDOY Miss Universe and Miss Cayman pay a visit to Pedro St. James in Bodden Town. Miss Cayman and Miss Universe pose under the flags of the Philippines, the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom. - PHOTO: YVETTE MCFIELD Miss Universe meets Garth Arch and his 2-year-old daughter Anasofia. Miss Universe visits Camana Bay. - PHOTO: YVETTE MCFIELD Riley Ondoy, left, and Ryan Von Abrantes, MCs for the Pinoy Pride Independence Month celebration at the Lions Centre, interview Miss Universe. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Cayman Monyque Brooks share a laugh as they take a stroll in George Town. - PHOTO: YVETTE MCFIELD Miss Universe, Wyndham Reef Resort Director Gaetan Babin and Miss Cayman at the East End resort. - PHOTO: JOSEPH DOMINGO Miss Universe’s visit to CaymanTHURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town Summer fun was easy for kids in days gone by JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com School will soon be out for summer and hundreds of schoolchildren will be looking for something to do. That is when the fun begins for the children of Bodden Town. For most government schools, the last day of school is Friday, July 1, which means there will be plenty of time for reading, playing and exploring the outdoors. If you are looking for a free summer program, consider what Bodden Town children did in days gone by. Parents did not worry about finding things for chil- dren to do; kids found their own activi- ties outdoors and they were all free. However, summer fun never began be- fore all the chores were completed. The dishes had to be cleaned, the house mopped, clothes picked up, the yard swept. Once that was all done, chil- dren were told to be back home before nightfall, which rarely happened. Youngsters were routinely “thrown out” the back door and left to play in the yard, parks or local patches of nature and empty lots, or near the sea. Going to the beach would not have been complete without mangoes. These were thrown into the ocean, dived for and eaten. The reason? Mangoes taste much better when they are soaked in seawater. Seagrapes were also a pop- ular fruit picked at the beach. Grape leaves folded into a cone were used to hold the grapes. After swimming, it was time to fill empty paint cans with white sand. The sand would be taken home and used to decorate the yard for the Christmas season. There were not much in terms of nighttime activities because of the swarms of mosquitoes, but during the hot summer nights children still snuck out to play invented games like “moon- shine baby” and better known ones like hide-and-seek, by the light of the moon. Games were played outdoors in the days before Xboxes, Nintendo, iPads or Internet. Outdoor sports were marbles, building dollhouses, hopscotch, spin- ning gigs, climbing trees and digging holes on the beach. Learning to cook and farm were also part of the experience. After helping the farmers in the neighborhood with planting produce, the children would dig sweet potatoes and cook them on coals in a caboose. Games were played outdoors in the days before Xboxes, Nintendo, iPads or Internet. Summer fun at the beach. In the June 29, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “Following our news item last week that a 74-year-old grandmother was looking after a newborn baby due to its mother’s illness, we now report a little further on this fine lady. “[Nettie] Levy, who when measured by Bodden Town’s yardstick of longevity is not yet old, is very proud of her latest offspring. This is her second great-grandchild. “At her age, Mrs. Levy is still going very strong and hopes to live to see about a dozen more great-grandchil- dren and even one or two of her fifth generation. As Mrs. Levy herself is descended from a line of long-lived an- cestors, she will undoubtedly see her wishes materialise. Her mother lived to the ripe age of 105. “Mrs. Levy, an ac- tive member in the United Church, engages in all the town’s religious and social activities. Succeeding genera- tions will remember her zeal in agitating for and getting government to put through the public road now known as [Cumber] Ave. which runs past her home. “In an interview with Mrs. Levy, she told me that she is much impressed with modern technology especially in the medical field. Mrs. Levy, who was a midwife in the days before we had trained maternity nurses, is convinced that many mothers and infants suffered and died because of lack of knowledge. She makes mention of the re- duction in the mortality rate since free examinations and care have been provided for pregnant women. “A most entertaining con- versationalist, Mrs. Levy also opines that the modern age is superior to the horse and buggy days of her childhood, and that the present genera- tion has much to be thankful for. “Mrs. Levy was in her youth an excellent horse rider and is quite famous for her escapades on her favorite mare ‘Sinclair.’ “Walking as erect as when she was a teenager, this woman is a shining example of the result of taking every- thing in moderation, praising God for every blessing and refusing to worry over trifles. “Last week’s issue of the Caymanian Weekly pub- lished the fact that young Bill Wood from Bodden Town had undergone surgery at the hospital. On Thursday, Bill’s parents took him to Jamaica as his condition was consid- ered serious. “It is no secret that the in- creased rate of accidents and sickness is outgrowing our medical facilities. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, but someone has to do some- thing before the problem gets out of hand. “The hospital is staffed by only one doctor who has to be surgeon, diagnostician and consultant, besides run- ning a daily clinic and taking care of a large amount of clerical and administrative work as department head. “For years, our doctors have had to work outside the normal working hours. Some time ago, a law was passed to prevent the private prac- tice of our government doc- tors. This selfish law, which also prevents the individual from getting attention at a time convenient to himself or herself should be abol- ished. No one man can at- tend to all the sick within the regular clinic hours set by our government. Such re- strictions as have been im- posed by this law will keep away rather than entice men to work here.” 50 YEARS AGO: Septuagenarian Nettie Levy profiled The Visual Arts society will host a ce- ramics open studio on Sunday, July 3, at the Watler House studio at Pedro St. James from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $15 per person for Society members, $25 for non-members. The studio is scheduled to run the first Sunday of each month. The Visual Arts Society’s kids’ summer arts camp at the Watler House Studio, now under way, runs through Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Open to ages 6-12 with some flexibility, the cost is $45 per child per class, or $80 for two classes and $150 for four classes. Cost includes materials and a light snack and juice. Contact the Visual Arts society at workshops@ visualartcayman.com or call 546-9422. VISUAL ARTS AT PEDRO ST. JAMES The Visual Arts society offers lots of ways to get creative this summer.CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days Bodden Town Bodden Town youngsters re- cently were treated to a behind- the-scenes tour of police marine and air operations. An excited group of 28 Year 4 students from Bodden Town Pri- mary School visited the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Joint Marine Unit and the Air Operations Unit on June 15, and learned about police specialist operations from a number of officers. They also saw a demonstration by the police service’s K-9 Unit during their visit to the RCIPS Marine Base. The visit was organized fol- lowing a request from the school, following a similar visit by Year 4 students last year. The students have been learning about the dif- ferent types of jobs police officers do. The students and chaperones first visited the RCIPS Marine Base, where they met the police, immigration and customs officers who make up the unit, and then watched demonstrations of police marine equipment, such as radios, safety vests and lights. They were given a short briefing on naviga- tion by Capt. Randolph Jackson, a customs officer and U.K. Overseas Territories maritime instructor. “I always find that children are fascinated by the charts,” said Capt. Jackson. “Although it is a bit technical, it is not difficult to en- gage them. They want to learn.” Afterward, the students were led outside where they saw a demonstration by K-9 officer PC Adrian Menzies and police dog Shadow. While PC Menzies and Shadow were out of sight, ma- rine officers hid a small quantity of drugs in the shed, in a place students chose. PC Menzies and Shadow then conducted a search of the premises, and as Shadow approached where the drugs were hidden, the students began to cheer. When Shadow indicated where the drugs were to PC Men- zies, they burst into applause. “One of Shadow’s main jobs is to find hidden drugs, and he does this very well,” said Inspector Leo Anglin, RCIPS marine commander. “He has found drugs twice in the last month alone.” He explained how Shadow and PC Menzies communicate through commands and body language. “And what do we know about drugs?” he asked the children. “We don’t do them, right?” “No, sir!” the students responded. The children then boarded the RCIPS marine vessel Guardian to view the boat’s controls and hear about the work of marine offi- cers from Capt. Hugh Bush, police constable. Capt. Bush briefed them on the safety requirements of the vessel and the kind of patrols and police work the vessel does. The boat re- mained docked while the students were on board. After leaving the RCIPS Ma- rine Base, the students visited the Air Operations Unit and received a briefing about the police helicopter from PC Ronnie Pollard, tactical flight officer. All students were given the opportunity to wear a helmet, have their picture taken, and look inside the helicopter at the controls and safety gear. The students demonstrated keen interest throughout all the presentations, peppering the of- ficers with questions, including: “What happens to Shadow the po- lice dog when he retires?” The an- swer: He either continues to live with his handler or is re-homed with a family. “How high can the police he- licopter fly?” was another ques- tion. The children learned that the chopper generally flies at 800- 1,000 feet, with a ceiling of 12,000 feet. The officers said they were en- couraged by the students’ interest. “As an organization, we have the responsibility to help mold the future generations of this country, and it starts right now with early interactions,” said In- spector Anglin. “I remember seeing the patrol vessel Protector at Public Beach during the annual air show when I was a kid and saying to myself that one day I wanted to work on a police boat. You just cannot predict the positive impact such early impressions might have on a child.” All students were given the opportunity to wear a helmet, have their picture taken, and look inside the helicopter at the controls and safety gear. PC Adrian Clarke demonstrates proper use of a life vest to the students.Inspector Leo Anglin introduces police dog Shadow and his handler PC Adrian Menzies. PC Ronnie Pollard answers students’ questions about the police helicopter. Primary students tour police basesThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS two lawyers the right to work for Harneys. Initially, the court docu- ments state, the work permit for “attorney A” was refused, but that decision was later reversed. After some corre- spondence between Appleby and the chief immigration of- ficer, the decision to grant the work permit was upheld. In February, a temporary work permit was granted to “at- torney B” and Mr. Smith in- dicated this also would not be revoked. The request for judicial re- view asked the court to force Mr. Smith to reconsider his decision regarding “attorney A” and quash his decision re- garding “attorney B’s” permit. Justice Panton stated that the application amounted to “a question of whether the chief immigration officer had the power to do what he did.” Section 50 of the Cayman Islands Immigration Law states that during the period covered by a work permit, the permit holder may not change his or her employer unless the chief immigration officer or the immigration-related board finds there are “spe- cial circumstances.” Those can include where a job has become redundant, where the worker is being victim- ized by the employer, where the employer has changed due to corporate-level action or where the worker has been given permission to change jobs by their employer. Justice Panton stated that the list of “special circum- stances” defined in the law was not meant to be exhaus- tive. “The chief immigration officer has been clearly given a discretion by the legisla- ture,” he noted. “I do not see why leave should be granted for a chal- lenge to be mounted in re- spect of the chief immigra- tion officer’s exercise of a discretion that the law gives him,” Justice Panton wrote. Appleby lawyers pre- sented Hansard records of previous Legislative As- sembly debates where law- makers indicated their po- sitions on the matter of job changes. However, the judge regarded those statements as “unhelpful.” “Legislators the world over have, from time to time, said one thing yet legislated an- other,” Justice Panton wrote. “In my view, if the legisla- ture wishes to prevent situa- tions such as the instant one, it must say in clear language that the chief immigration of- ficer has no discretion, and list exhaustively the circum- stances the chief immigration officer should consider.” London office operates. “How it works now, once a month or twice a month … the [Cayman] represen- tatives from the U.K. travel to Brussels,” Mr. Bush said. In effect, the London of- fice representative also acts as the liaison to the EU, he said. The core function of the Cayman Islands London Of- fice, to improve and enhance the territory’s relation- ship with the U.K., will not be affected by Brexit, Mr. Bush said. However, it may change how Cayman han- dles its relationship with the European Union. Officially, Britain han- dles all such international diplomatic relationships on behalf of its overseas ter- ritories, but Mr. Bush said Cayman may decide to op- erate its own European of- fice in the Belgian capital, if it is practical and economi- cally feasible. “There’s nothing to stop [us] having a presence, an office [in Brussels],” he said. The Cayman Islands gov- ernor’s office said Thurs- day’s meeting was solely “to discuss the overseas terri- tories interests in the refer- endum result.” Outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron said the U.K. would consult with Gibraltar, the territo- ries and Crown dependen- cies in advance of the “new negotiation” with the Euro- pean Union. There have been se- rious economic concerns in Britain and the EU since last Thursday’s referendum on leaving the bloc. On Tuesday, the British pound hit a new 31-year record low, but recovered some- what on Wednesday. The Associated Press reported that shares in Royal Bank of Scotland fell 15 percent and stock markets declined across Europe. Negotiations were con- tinuing on Wednesday be- tween British and Euro- pean leaders over precise terms, including immigra- tion and investment reg- ulations, for the U.K. fol- lowing its separation from the union. “I’ll have a ringside seat to see how this unfolds,” Mr. Bush said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. She says Kimpton Seafire will ultimately employ some- where between 450 and 475 people. Around half that number have been hired, and she hopes to have the rest on board before in-house training for the new team on Oct. 3. A job fair is planned at Craft bar and restaurant on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to allow candidates to mingle with management and apply for positions at the hotel. “We are still looking for people in food and beverage, front of house, back of house. There are still jobs available in almost every position at the hotel,” Ms. Graves said. Around a third of the em- ployees hired so far are Cay- manian, and about 70 people have been hired from the Beach Suites hotel, which will close in September. Ms. Graves said she hopes to increase the ratio of Cay- manians as the recruitment drive continues. “We are really working to get that number up,” she said. “We want the hotel to be really representative of Cayman and have that local flair.” With the hotel opening in high season, she said, it is looking for experienced people who can “hit the ground running.” In the long-run, she said, the hotel will seek partner- ships with the University College of the Cayman Is- lands and others to help train people to join its workforce. “We are hoping we can in- spire excitement about the hospitality industry as the first new hotel to open up in 10 years,” she added. John Cardona, Kimpton Seafire’s director of sales and marketing, said the hotel al- ready has bookings for late November and will also pull from the advance bookings at the Beach Suites. He said the hotel aims to be running at greater than 70 percent occupancy by January. The Kimpton has also announced the opening of three restaurants, including, in the main hotel, Ave and Avecita, which features a 12-seat chef’s bar, where diners can see the food being prepared. Coccoloba is a more casual beach restaurant planned for the site of the former Surfside bar. Kimpton seeks staff as construction nears completion Cayman, other territories to be briefed on Brexit Court: Work permit change was legal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The hotel’s main banquet area will host functions and events. Work on the restaurant continues apace.A computer generated rendering shows what the restaurant will look like when complete. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016 DESI, we thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too We think of you in silence, we often speak your name All we have are memories, and your picture in a frame Your memory is our keepsake, with which we will never part God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts A million times we`ve wanted you, a million times we cried If love could only have saved you, you never would have died It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn`t go alone For a part of us went with you, the day God called you Home. To our Precious DESI who left us three sad years ago on 30 June, 2013 From your loving parents, John and Olive Bodden, your brothers John and Michael, your aunts, uncles, cousins and host of friends THURSDAY, JUNE 30 NEW STUDENT DEADLINE: All students entering government or private schools in Cayman for the first time must have health screenings, including students entering reception programs. Public Health Department staff conduct the screenings, which are free. For those entering schools in West Bay and the eastern districts, screenings take place at the district health centers through June 30. STUDENT FILMMAKERS: The Young Image Makers Red Carpet Premiere takes place at the Harquail Theatre, 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Semiformal dress code. For more information, visit www.artscayman.org/young- image-makers, or email info@artscayman.org. FRIDAY, JULY 1 ‘LEGACY OF LIGHT’: Watercolor paintings from the early collections of the National Gallery and the National Museum will be on show at the National Gallery throughout summer. The exhibition opens to the public today. SUNDAY, JULY 3 CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: For adults who want to work independently at the Visual Arts Society facility, Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle. $15, or $25 for non-members. Clay, glazes available. For more information, see visualartcayman@ yahoo.com. SERVICE FOR GRADUATES: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all graduates, preschool through higher education, to the graduates’ service, 7 p.m. MONDAY, JULY 4 CAR BOOT SALE: The Optimist Club of George Town holds a car boot sale in the car park on Walkers Road across from the gas station and Burger King, from 5:30-8 a.m. Items priced as low as $1 and will include kid and adult clothing, shoes, accessories, electronics and more. All proceeds go to the various children’s programs facilitated by the Optimist Club. For more information on the club, call Mark at 916-2844. PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL: Camana Bay, 5-8 p.m. Celebrate Cayman Constitution Day, U.S. Independence Day, Canada Day, with live music, games and prizes, food and drink stands. Fireworks at 8 p.m. HOLIDAY FOOD STALL: Gun Bay United Church has a food stall at Elliot Conolly Civic Centre starting at 11 a.m. Turtle, conch, beef, rabbit, barbecue chicken, curry chicken and lobster, cassava cake, biscuit cake, pineapple upside-down cake, homemade ice cream and coconut tarts available. TUESDAY, JULY 5 MOONLIGHT AND MOVIES: Families can spend time together taking in a PG-rated movie on the big screen under the stars, 7 p.m. in Gardenia Court in Camana Bay. Dine at one of the restaurants before the film, or set up a picnic on the grass, or just bring a blanket. Showing tonight, “The Boxtrolls.” Kiddie Drive-in on first Tuesdays. Kids are invited from 5 p.m. to build a car from cardboard boxes provided. FRIDAY, JULY 8 PROUD OF THEM: Today is the deadline to submit nominations to the Proud of Them youth recognition program. Youth ages 10-25 who are reaching new heights of achievement in academics, sports, their career, culture, business or community service can be nominated. Forms can be found at www.MCAYS. gov.ky. For more information, email proudofthem@gov.ky, or visit www.facebook.com/ ProudofThemKy. TUESDAY, JULY 12 MOONLIGHT AND MOVIES: Tuesdays, through August, at 7 p.m. in Gardenia Court in Camana Bay. Families can spend time together taking in a movie under the stars. Dine at one of Camana Bay’s restaurants before the film, or set up a picnic on the grass, or just bring a blanket to relax and enjoy the show on the outdoor big screen. Showing tonight, “Shark Tale.” WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 BOOKENDS CLUB: All are invited to join in discussing Marlon James’s “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Books & Books. FRIDAY, JULY 15 BOOK SIGNING: Ross Tibbetts will sign his work of fiction, “The Walker – ‘80s Sci Fi in Beach Town U.S.A.” Group discussion. Free admission, 6:30 p.m. at Books & Books. SUMMER CAMPS, BIBLE SCHOOLS BIBLE SCHOOL: Friday, July 1, is the last day to register for The Church of God Chapel – GT Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 to 13. Vacation Bible School is held July 5-8 from 6-8:30 p.m. Closing ceremony and fun time party on Saturday, July 9. Venue for all events is the Family Life Center. Registration is free. ARTS CAMP: Registration is due by June 30 for the Cayman National Cultural Foundation Summer Arts Camp. Aug. 11-19. Open to students ages 7-16. Children age 6 are accepted if an older sibling is enrolled. Activities focus on the visual, traditional and performing arts, with classes in drama, storytelling, dance, and more. Field trips highlight Cayman’s cultural and maritime heritage. Registration forms can be found at www.artscayman. org/creative-kids. Cost is $150 per child for seven days, snacks and lunch included. Payment due July 15. For more information, email cncf@artscayman.org or call 949-5477. ADVENTURES IN ART: Presented by the National Trust and Art Nest Creative Studio. Held at Dart Family Park Aug. 1-5 and 8-12 for ages 4-10. Runs 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $300 per week includes snack, lunch and materials. Aftercare till 5:30 p.m. is $25 additional. Register at www.nationaltrust.org.ky. TEEN CHALLENGE: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds a Teen Challenge, with the theme “Deep Sea Discovery,” for ages 13-19. July 4-8, 6:30- 9:30 p.m. Bible lessons, games, snacks and lots of activities. All free. For more information, call 925-2509 or 926-1821. BIBLE SCHOOL: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds Vacation Bible School for ages 3-12, July 11-15, 6:30-9 p.m. Activities, craft, bible lessons, snacks and prizes. All free. For more information, call 924-8611 or 916-3800. SUPERHEROES: Cayman Theraplay and Chatterbox present a camp targeting social communication and motor skills for ages 4-7. July 5-8, 10:15 a.m. to noon. Aug. 8-12, 9-10:30 a.m. $285 per week. At Cayman Theraplay, Plaza Venezia. Email admin@ caymantheraplay.com. SPORTS CAMP: Camana Bay Sports Complex. Weekly, starting July 5. 8 a.m. to noon for ages 6 to 14. $125 first week. Weeks starting July 11 and 25 are $150. Contact cbsc@camanabay.com. BASKETBALL CAMP: July 18-22 at the Arts and Recreation Centre (ARC). $150 per person. 8:30 a.m. till noon for ages 7-12; 12:30-4 p.m. for ages 12-17. Contact cbsc@camanabay. com or 640-2878. STARFISH VILLAGE: Camana Bay. Enrichment activities for ages 3 to 12, divided by age groups. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. $80 per day, with other rates by the week or half day. Contact info@starfish.ky. SHUTTERBUGS: For young photographers. Picture This Studios, Camana Bay. Mondays, ages 8-11 from July 11. Fridays, ages 11-16 from July 15. Each session is 9 a.m. till noon; $35. Contact bouke@picturethis. ky or 943-3686. WATERCOLOUR KIDS CLUB: Saturday mornings 10 a.m. to noon. National Gallery. July 9 to Aug. 13. Free watercolor art activities for kids. These creative drop-in sessions will inspire families of all levels and abilities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bookings are not required. For more information, contact education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. GENERAL INTEREST NCVO PRESCHOOL: Miss Nadine’s, the NCVO preschool, and Jack & Jill Nursery now have spaces for children 3 months to 5 years. They are on a first- come, first-served basis, so parents are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Contact Miss Nadine’s Preschool at 945-1078 or email ncvopreschool@ ncvo.org.ky. NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNIT: The Needs Assessment Unit has new hours. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. PINK LADIES: Coffee Shop at Cayman Islands Hospital is open Monday- Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, drinks, snacks. Call 244-2661. Money is donated back to the community. Contact pinkladiescayman@gmail.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass. The Young Image Makers Red Carpet Premiere is at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Harquail Theatre.Next >