Cayman Compass - 6 July, 2016

High of 91 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. MICHAEL KLEIN Since the U.S. started loosening Cuba travel restrictions in Janu-ary 2015, the opening up of Cuba to U.S. tourists spelled potentially bad news for other vacation destinations in the Caribbean. An agreement between Cuba and the U.S. that allows commercial ﬂ ights to re- sume between the two countries will see six major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta and Jet Blue, launch new routes, starting this fall. In March, Starwood Hotels became the ﬁ rst U.S. hotel chain to sign a land- mark deal with the Cuban government to take over and manage three promi- nent hotels in Havana. In May, Carnival Cruise Line became the ﬁ rst U.S. cruise operator to sail to Cuba in 50 years. And the home-sharing website Airbnb, which entered the Cuban market last year, is growing fast. In Cayman, tourism ofﬁ cials have ob- served the developments and their im- pact on the local tourism product with an “it’s too early to tell” attitude. Yet, as U.S. tourists increasingly ﬂ ock to Cuba, the growth of stay-over tourist arrivals in Cayman has largely stalled. In mid-June, Cuba hit 2 million stop-over arrivals – a month earlier than when the number was seen last year. The 17.4 percent increase was the fastest rate of growth for stop-over arrivals in the Car- ibbean region, and it is growing from a large base, says Marla Dukharan, group economist for the Royal Bank of Cana-da’s Caribbean operations. Between January and April, the num- ber of American and Cuban-American visitors to Cuba nearly doubled com- pared to the same period in the previous year. Together, both groups represented 14 percent of all visitors to the country during that time. “To think that this is happening and it won’t have an effect on the Caribbean is THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT Safety & Security >>PAGE 13 INVESTING Free cash ow:- Formula for investment success >>PAGE 3 HOUSING Strata developments - Legal ruling could have an impact >>PAGE 6 TECHNOLOGY Blockchain - Financial services betting on it >>PAGE 7 PAGE 13 SPECIAL REPORT July 2016 Journal Spec ial Report Camana Bay building boom just beginning ALAN MARKOFF Despite uncertainly in the global economy, Camana Bay will see a dizzying amount of construction activity over the next several years. In addition to ongoing major in-frastructure projects in the area and the construction of a new Class A of-ﬁ ce building, Dart has plans to build even more ofﬁ ce buildings at Camana Bay, expand the Cayman International School and develop a large shopping plaza with integrated residential units, as well as a residential tower. Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. CEO Mark VanDevelde spoke extensively about the company’s ambitious plans that continue the massive investment in Camana Bay, which already totals more than a billion dollars. Camana Bay ofﬁ ce space Camana Bay, the mixed-use, master planned development that is the epi-center of the Dart Group’s investment on Grand Cayman, has thrived, particularly as a Class A ofﬁ ce location. Many of the Cayman Islands’ top ﬁ nancial services industry ﬁ rms now call Camana Bay home, and more are on the way.In January, the 18 Forum Lane build-ing – the Caribbean’s ﬁ rst LEED Gold- certiﬁ ed mixed-use commercial building – ofﬁ cially opened, with global account- ing ﬁ rm PwC as its anchor tenant. With-in days of its opening, construction be-gan on another Class A ofﬁ ce building – which will also be LEED Gold-certiﬁ ed – next to 18 Forum Lane. “I think every building we build from now on will have some LEED designa-tion or will at least be the equivalent of a LEED designation,” said VanDevelde, adding that building to LEED’s envi- ronmentally conscious standards is be-coming almost a requirement in places such as the United States. “Certainly we see the beneﬁ ts in … the direct savings you get from lower power consumption and efﬁ ciencies [like in air conditioning costs]. So there’s some real reasons and beneﬁ ts for that. “Even if you can’t directly connect Easing of US-Cuba relations could hit Caribbean tourism PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » The ongoing construction of the underpass is only the beginning of extensive construction activity at Camana Bay over the next several years. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » JUL Y 2 01 6 • W W W. C A Y J O UR N A L. C O M 1 65 Camana Bay building boom just beginning THE CAYMAN ISLANDS JOURNAL WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 9 FBI RECOMMENDS NO CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CLINTON EMAIL PROBE ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter Discover the adventure at the Join us with our resident rates CI $10 Adults CI $ 4 Children 786 Northwest Point Road, West Bay, Grand Cayman info@turtle.ky | www.turtle.ky | +1 345 949 2894 +1 345 949 2894 / Cayman Turtle CIMA cancels fugitive’s director registration CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Mon- etary Authority has canceled Ryan Bateman’s director regis- tration, the regulator announced this week. Bateman left the Cayman Is- lands in late 2014, accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm to a woman he lived with at the time. He faces other legal issues, including civil suits in Cayman Grand Court accusing B&C Cap- ital Ltd. of not returning assets to investors. On Tuesday, CIMA published the notice to Bateman, a Ca- nadian national, canceling his director registration. The deci- sion notice accuses Bateman of “carrying on business in a manner detrimental to the public interest, or to the inter- ests of the covered entities for which you are appointed as a registered director.” Additionally, the notice states, Bateman is not carrying out his business as a director “in a manner that is fit and proper,” and, the regulator writes, Bateman is “a person that is not a fit and proper person to hold a position as a registered director.” CIMA’s notice, signed by Managing Director Cindy Scot- land, says Bateman has not Former Governor Russell dies at 96 Thomas Russell, who served as Cayman’s third governor, be- tween 1974 and 1981, died Monday in Scotland. He was 96. Mr. Russell, widely acknowl- edged as one of Cayman’s most well respected governors, also served as Cayman’s territorial representative in the U.K. after his term in the governor’s of- fice ended. He served as Cay- man’s representative in London between 1982 and 1990, helping establish what is today the Cayman Islands London Office. “With his passing, the Cayman Islands has lost a true friend,” Premier Alden McLaughlin said Tuesday. “He was, by far, one of the most FIRST ZIKA CASES CONFIRMED IN CAYMAN Two cases of imported Zika virus in the Cayman Islands have been confirmed by public health officials. The mosquito-borne virus was contracted overseas by two female residents, Acting Med- ical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Ro- driguez said Tuesday. The first patient had traveled June 15-22 to a country where there is an outbreak of Zika, Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said in a press release. The resident reported that she started experi- encing symptoms on June 25, when she vis- ited the Health Services Authority. The second patient, a student who recently completed high school in a country with Zika cases, returned home on June 19. She reported onset of symptoms beginning on June 23 and sought medical attention on June 25. Health officials did not name the countries where the women had traveled. Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said there is no evidence of local transmission of Zika in the Cayman Islands. Mosquito Research and Control Unit Di- rector Bill Petrie said the unit is “monitoring the situation closely.” Health officials are reminding the public that while Zika is mainly transmitted through Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, other modes of BRYCE MERREN APPEALS US PRISON SENTENCE BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Acting without legal counsel, Cayman Is- lands businessman Gilroy Bryce Merren has filed an appeal in U.S. federal court of his nine-year prison sentence for drug pos- session conspiracy. The appeal filing, which was received by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico on June 15, appears to have been mailed from an ad- dress in Folkston, Georgia. Merren asks the court to “construe this pleading liberally and hold it to a less stringent standard than formal pleading to state valid claims on which [the] litigant could prevail.” Merren pleaded guilty in June 2015 to one count of drug possession conspiracy in a case that involved what federal prosecutors said was an attempt to set up a cocaine smuggling operation in Puerto Rico. Unknown to Merren, two of his co-conspirators were U.S. Home- land Security agents posing as drug dealers. Stormtroopers take Seven Mile Beach A legion of stormtroopers invaded Seven Mile Beach on Monday. But, no fear, the Cayman Islands is not under attack from the Galactic Empire. The stormtroopers are actually part of the Florida garrison of the 501st legion costuming group, which has legions of volunteers around the world ready to make appearances at ‘Star Wars’ themed events. The beach photo shoot, based on a trailer for the new ‘Star Wars’ spin-off movie ‘Rogue One,’ was part of the CayFilm celebrations. The stormtroopers were also on hand to hail Robert Watts as he received his lifetime achievement award at Monday night’s closing gala. There were video messages too for the legendary producer from Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia. For more, see page 10. – PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Thomas Russell PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 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. - WEDNESDAY - THE LEGEND OF TARZAN 3D (PG13) 1:10 I 3:45 2D I 7:00 I 9:40 2D INDEPENDENCE DAY RESURGENCE 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:15 2D I 7:10 I 9:55 2D CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:30 I 7:20 I 10:00 THE CONJURING 2 (R) 12:40 I 3:50 I 6:55 I 9:50 FINDING DORY 3D (PG) 12:30 I 1:00 2D I 3:00 I 3:45 2D I 6:45 7:15 2D I 9:15 I 9:40 2D Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) British ‘prog rock’ drummer brings more than music Musician displays artwork at National Gallery TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com At 66, Carl Palmer’s en- ergy – and ambition – are un- dimmed, and while conscious of his “celebrity” status, and persuaded of his “artistic” credibility, the acclaimed British “prog rock” drummer nonetheless manages a cer- tain charm. Recruited by friends for a private performance on Saturday in East End’s new high-tech recording studio, The Mill Cayman, Mr. Palmer arrived in Grand Cayman late last week on a mission to raise money for the National Gallery, promote his line of startling, glossy artwork and work with disadvantaged children on drum sessions. Starting Friday morning, the former Emerson, Lake and Palmer percussionist – currently touring interna- tionally with “The Rhythm of Light – Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy – Remembering Keith and the Music” – huddled for an extended drum session with students from George Town Primary School, West Bay’s Sir John A, Cumber Pri- mary School and Stepping- Stones’ after-school program for at-risk primary and sec- ondary students. At the weekend, Mr. Palmer performed at a closed-door event in East End with guitarist Paul Biela- towicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick, while exhibiting – and hoping to sell – his art- work, donating the proceeds to the National Gallery. Summer tour Mr. Palmer is currently on a 24-date summertime U.S. tour – a revue and reminder, advertised as “bold new ar- rangements,” of the music of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the 1970s British rock ‘n’ roll band that recorded nine al- bums in a sporadic career spanning almost 30 years. The founding musicians, led by keyboardist Keith Emerson and accompanied by guitarist Greg Lake and Mr. Palmer’s furious drum- ming, were among the cre- ators of Britain’s “progressive rock” movement. The trio’s efforts spanned top-40 success with “Lucky Man,” from their epony- mous debut album, to a global series of live perfor- mances to a permanent spot on the all-time greatest “prog rock” list with their fourth studio release, 1973’s “Brain Salad Surgery.” Remembering Keith Emerson In an interview at the Na- tional Gallery on Friday, Mr. Palmer, trim, gray-haired and professionally poised, spoke about the late Mr. Emerson, who died in March of a self- inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 71 in his Santa Monica, California, home. “I will deeply miss Keith and I want you all to know I will carry on flying the ELP banner and playing the great music with my band for many years to come,” Mr. Palmer said in a prepared statement. “We have lost a very talented and gifted musician, but this great music will continue for a long, long time.” He was guarded about his East End appearance, saying only that it was a private, corporate event, declining to name the sponsor. Artwork Mr. Palmer’s latest ven- ture is a series of prints, cre- ated digitally on a hand-held camera in a 12-foot-square Los Angeles studio, then transferred to canvas on a specially built IBM printer. He uses a unique set of drumsticks, tipped with nearly indestructible light emitting diodes, while the camera operator records the frantic arcs, blasts and bursts of brilliant color in the darkened room. “I can play the drums full-on,” he says, which in- cludes a pair of enormous Chinese gongs placed behind his shoulders, “and the LEDs won’t go out.” The process – and result – “is completely unpredictable and unbelievably exciting,” he said. Augmenting the produc- tion process, Mr. Palmer is able to manipulate the digital images, painting in additional colors, adding lights and su- perimposing imported images. He has already produced two sets of prints. The first, created in 2013, is titled “A Twist of the Wrist;” the second, in 2014, “The Rhythm of Light.” Marketed globally, each canvas can be reproduced ac- cording to demand, he said. “I have sold about 400 of these in the last four years,” earning anywhere from $300 to $6,000 per piece. Mr. Palmer said he has never had any formal art training. He also insists his artwork is not intended as a way to make his living. “I will always be a musician, so this [artwork] is not ‘instead of,’ but ‘in addition to.’” Rather grandly dubbed “electronic fusion crossover art,” his latest effort is, for now, a single canvas dedi- cated to the memory of Mr. Emerson, and includes a shadowy image of Mr. Palm- er’s face and a Moog synthe- sizer, among Mr. Emerson’s signature instruments. The drummer has already produced a handful of copies of the work, which took be- tween seven and 10 hours to complete. This piece, he said, was to be part of Saturday night’s exhibition. All proceeds from the event and art sale will go to the National Gallery, with the aim of boosting its annual fundraising needs of $400,000. Student drum sessions Mr. Palmer said the stu- dent drum sessions worked out nicely. “We played some games with the special-needs children, and they wanted to see how this new art form worked,” he said. The sharp audio and swift-moving lights proved particularly compelling, he said, “because it’s almost like a video game, so we had some fun with it.” His performance at The Mill Cayman, which has not yet announced a public opening, was meant for some people Palmer has worked with creatively and also on some other projects, he said. “I will always be a musician, so this [artwork] is not ‘instead of,’ but ‘in addition to.” CARL PALMER This November 1977 handout photo shows British rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer, with, from left, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer. – PHOTO VIA AP Carl Palmer with an example of his artwork at the Cayman Islands National Gallery. – PHOTO: MATT LAMERSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 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. WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The planned release of genetically modified mos- quitoes was delayed because — read carefully — the Cayman Islands government was unable to obtain a government permit. The Mosquito Research and Control Unit and its private sector partner Oxitec (a British biotech firm) had intended to release millions of GM Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in West Bay in mid-June, with the aim of dramatically reducing the “wild” population of the disease-carrying insects, which can harbor and transmit fearsome viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. However, their plans were stymied, and the sched- uled start date came and went, as the organizations waited on a “certificate of occupancy” for the labora- tory that breeds the GM mosquitoes. (Members of our property and development community can empathize — waiting on a “red card” is a familiar lament from that sector.) In brief, governmental authorities were tripped up by government’s own bureaucratic hurdles. We have a small confession to make. When we first recognized that the Cayman Islands government had missed its deadline for the release of Oxitec’s mosqui- toes, our initial hypothesis was that — when confronted with opposition from some segments of the populace who are wary of “genetically modified” anything — our elected leaders had blinked. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time that Progressives politicians wavered, or even wilted, under pressure. (See: The EY Report.) Whatever the reason for the delay of the Oxitec project, be it bureaucratic or political, it makes for a “bad” news story for government. If the government’s story is true, and there really was a lack of timeliness in regard to the certificate of occupancy, then it constitutes a strong commen- tary on the government’s inability to penetrate its own bureaucracy and get things done on schedule. If the government’s story isn’t true, then it indicates that officials may have prevaricated, are needlessly procrastinating, or have changed their minds as to the wisdom of the mosquito release. As for ourselves, we tend to believe officials when they say that the delay was caused by a run-of-the- mill problem with paperwork. As was reported in a news article we published on Tuesday’s front page, Oxitec is saying that the GM mosquitoes are now being bred and the release into West Bay will begin this month. (If officials do intend to terminate the GM mosquito program altogether, then they can’t possibly hope to keep up the narrative of “bureaucratic delay” or “soon come” forever … Well, then again — there has been considerable precedent set in regard to the George Town Landfill …) Anyway, as we’ve written previously, on many complex, scientific or technical subjects, such as tactics to combat Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the deci- sions are best left up to the experts. If our MRCU per- sonnel (with approval from other environmental and public health officials) have determined that Oxitec’s technology is Cayman’s best tool to minimize (or perhaps even prevent) outbreaks of mosquito-borne ill- nesses, then let’s get on with it already. No more delays, no more excuses. And ideally, no more mosquitoes. Things we detest: Red tape and mosquito bites Brexit: ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ NICHOLAS DIXEY It was not supposed to be this way. The script was for “Remain” to win with a narrow majority; the high “Leave” vote merely giving the European Union a bloody nose as a wake-up call against further political inte- gration. But five hours after the polls closed something went wrong. The BBC called the ref- erendum for “Leave.” We all watched open mouthed and agog as Nigel Farage gave a spluttering, incredulous vic- tory speech. Reality blended with fantasy, the world spun off its axis, the pound went into a nosedive, the prime minister resigned, and all hell broke loose. We then embarked on the five stages of grief. First, De- nial: MPs urged parliament to simply reject the result – democracy, the argument went, can be overrated. Then, Anger: there were furious (but pointless) street protests by “Remain” voters in London, and some “Leavers” also an- grily expressed buyers’ re- morse. Then, Bargaining: A petition, calling to retrospec- tively require at least 60 per- cent of the vote for “Leave” to win, collected 4 million sig- natures. (Encouraged by this reasoning, angry England football fans were later to de- mand a rerun of the match against Iceland, with England this time given a two-goal head start.) Then, Depression: Some have compared the out- pouring of despair in the U.K. to the death of Diana. At the time of writing we have yet to see the first glim- mers of Acceptance. In the week that followed the vote, we heard all the po- litical clichés – but then a week is a long time in poli- tics. The Queen responded to the chaos by evoking the famous wartime morale boosting poster, urging poli- ticians to keep “calm.” David Cameron smiled wryly with a nod to Enoch Powell as he uttered his last words before resigning – “All political lives end in failure.” Having brought him down, Boris Johnson surely reflected on the maxim that “he who wields the dagger shall never wear the Crown.” Johnson was himself to be stabbed in the back later in the week by his campaign manager, Michael Gove. “Et tu, Michael! Then fall, Boris.” The fear in the U.K. after the vote has been palpable. But much of this fear has been exacerbated by the fe- brile atmosphere that was al- lowed to grip the country be- fore the vote, and the vacuum in leadership that followed. The Brexit vote arose from a perfect storm within the incumbent Conserva- tive party, between its Euro- friendly MPs and Eurosceptic members. Cameron included the promise of this refer- endum in the last Conserva- tive Manifesto to stop conser- vatives from voting for UKIP and to finally lance this boil that had been festering in his party since Thatcher was de- posed in 1990. He gambled, and lost – big time. So who is next? Conservative Theresa May has played her hand brilliantly. It was a surprise that such a well-known Eu- rosceptic backed the “Re- main” campaign – but this was all positioning. May was completely anonymous during the campaign, but can now present herself as the unity candidate. May will not have it all her own way though – at the time of writing, Andrea Leadsom has emerged as her leading opponent. The MPs’ top two candi- dates will go forward to the members to decide, and al- though May is well-known and regarded, Leadsom will play well with members due to her true blue, right-wing “Brexiteer” credentials. It is looking likely that Britain will have another female prime minister shortly. For the official opposi- tion Labour Party, it is all about survival – the crisis was described by deputy leader Tom Watson as “exis- tential.” The historic divide here is between Labour MPs (who are actually interested in winning elections), and their navel-gazing socialist party members led by oppo- sition leader Jeremy Corbyn. In the days following the Brexit result, 20 shadow Cab- inet members left their posts and Labour MPs voted over- whelmingly that they had no confidence in Corbyn. Corbyn maintains the sup- port of the party members and has said he will not resign. MP Angela Eagle may challenge him, but nobody else will join the fray if Corbyn remains on the ballot paper, for fear of splitting the vote against him. Dan Jarvis, the charismatic, ex-paratrooper who would no doubt win votes from the To- ries, and give Labour a fighting chance at the next general election, will probably not get a look in. If it is uncertain what all this means for Britain, it is frankly anyone’s guess what it means for the Cayman Is- lands. Caymanians may not so easily use their British Overseas Territories pass- ports to live and work in the EU. A deregulated City of London may be a stiffer com- petitor for offshore business, but then again, Cayman may no longer have to fear dis- closure obligations being im- posed at the EU level. Only one thing is clear, this rollercoaster ride is not yet over – so keep your seat- belts fastened! Nicholas Dixey is a local attorney. David Cameron included the promise of this referendum in the last Conservative Manifesto to stop conservatives from voting for UKIP and to finally lance this boil that had been festering in his party since Thatcher was deposed in 1990. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM At Honda We Care About YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda vehicles. If you have a Honda vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family. HOURS OF OPERATION CONTACT INFORMATION CALL (345) 949-5525 DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME Car City MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM VISIT www.carcity.ky EMAIL service@carcity.ky CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS 2001–2015 AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL SAFETY *Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Airbag deployment with inflator rupture* SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Ombudsman’s office staff kept separate, savings pledged ‘Specialist’ skills will be needed BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Separate employees with “specialist” skills will staff the proposed Cayman Islands ombudsman office, which is set to encompass the activi- ties of public complaints, po- lice complaints and the infor- mation commissioner. The merger was expected to take effect by the end of the year, according to law- makers, although govern- ment planners indicated that they were still in the “fact finding” stage of the merger process. In an announcement last week, the deputy governor’s office indicated that while “corporate services” for the office would be merged – ad- ministrative staff, supplies and the like – staffing in each area would be made up of “specialist” employees. “As such, investiga- tors and analysts in each area will require different training and skill sets,” ac- cording to a statement re- leased Thursday by the team of civil servants handling the merger project. The team is led by Peter Gough, the special assistant to Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Government officials have said no one currently em- ployed by the Information Commissioner’s Office or the Complaints Commission- er’s Office would lose their job. Ten people now work in those two agencies. In addition to the infor- mation commissioner, who decides on appeals of open records requests, and the complaints commissioner, who deals with public com- plaints against govern- ment bodies that do not in- volve law enforcement, it is anticipated a police com- plaints function and a data protection function will be added at some stage. “The outcome of this ap- proach will be that the new office offers a one-stop shop where citizens and visitors will be able to lodge a range of complaints at a single in- dependent office,” the deputy governor’s office statement noted. “We believe that this is an important development, as among other benefits, it will avoid persons who wish to make a complaint against the police having to visit a police station.” Data protection The data protection as- pect of the office – aimed at protection of individual pri- vacy with regard to personal information – has not been decided. Lawmakers are ex- pected to consider a bill in the fall that would give the information commissioner data protection responsibili- ties. The government has un- successfully tried twice in the past five years to approve data protection legislation. In addition to the Data Protection Bill, government expects a separate Om- budsman Bill will have to be brought to the Legislative Assembly, along with some required changes to the local Police Law, Freedom of In- formation Law and the Com- plaints Commissioner Law. Savings Projected savings from the merger stated in a gov- ernment review of the pro- posal released earlier this year were expected to come mainly from not staffing separate offices. For in- stance, staffing a separate police complaints commis- sion was anticipated to cost more than $600,000 a year, according to estimates in the report. The government has never spent that amount be- cause the police complaints body was never formed. Savings on operating costs for the offices of com- plaints and information commissioners was antici- pated at $205,000, compared to what existed with a sep- arate commissioner leading both agencies. Neither office has had permanent leader- ship for more than a year while government managers awaited the outcome of merger talks. Acting Police Commis- sioner Anthony Ennis gave his support to the merger, stating that the police public complaints commission would be “accountable only to parliament.” “The police believe this project will assure the public of objective, unbiased in- vestigation of complaints,” Mr. Ennis said, adding that the police would continue to handle internal depart- ment complaints against staff. Only complaints from outside of the police service would be handled by the commission, he said. The government’s level of support for the two ex- isting independent offices has come into question nu- merous times since the de- parture of former Com- plaints Commissioner Nicola Williams in early 2015. Re- tired Information Commis- sioner Jennifer Dilbert, who left that office in December 2013, also raised serious questions about the pro- posed merger. No one has served on a permanent basis since either commissioner left their respective post. Independent MLAs Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller have publicly opposed the idea. Mr. McLean alleged last year that the merger of the two offices might even be considered unconstitutional. “I will never, ever support [this],” Mr. McLean said. “If we amalgamate a number of these bodies, then we compromise that independence by having one person [as] the head of them all.” “Investigators and analysts in each area will require different training and skill sets.” PETER GOUGH, chairman, ombudsman project team Peter GoughWEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay 50 years ago: Joyful arrival of a sixth child for Powerys In the July 13, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “After spending three months vacation with his family, Mr. Denniston Ebanks left on June 30 for Canada to join the S.S. Emperor for Na- tional Bulk Carriers. “Travelling on the same plane was Mr. John Ebanks of Northwest Point. This is his first trip abroad. “Mrs. Louise Ackermon and her daughter Patricia, left on the 2nd for New York. Master Attlee Ebanks has gone to New York to visit his mother Mrs. John Green while he is on holiday. “Little Wendy Lou has gone to visit with her grand- father, Mr. Jacob Manderson and her step-grandmother. Mrs. Ackermon accompanied both of them. “Mrs. Glennis Smith re- turned to New York where her husband works, on the 2nd. “Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Powery are home after Mrs. Powery had a tonsillectomy in Jamaica. “Their sixth child and third daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Powery on the 30th. “Mrs. Joseph Welds left on the third to obtain medical aid. “Arriving home on the 2nd after a long absence were Mrs. Bertley Bodden and her sister Mrs. Kenneth Panton. They live in Miami, Florida. Mr. Hussey Ebanks came in the same day. “Mrs. H.D. Collins and her mother left on Sunday for Cayman Brac. “Mrs. Jimmy Powell left on the 9th for Jamaica to seek medical aid. Her mother Mrs. Allen Ebanks accompanied her. “Mrs. Ken Panton (Alva) and her sister Mrs. Bertley Bodden (Connie) had an enjoyable eight- day visit with their sister Lilla and their 84-year old mother. It has been 22 years since they all met at one time. Mrs. Eme- line Hydes their mother is still quite active and can see to read without glasses.” Mermaid pays a visit to the Turtle Farm A fantastical aquatic vis- itor to the Cayman Turtle Farm last week had heads turning and youngsters agape. Mermaid Melissa’s lighthearted visit on June 28 had a serious mes- sage about protecting endangered species. Her experience as a surfer, animal trainer and free diver has culminated in a career as a pro- fessional “mermaid” and business owner, and she continues to gain fame through her YouTube channel and publicity work advocating ma- rine conservation. Mermaid Melissa (her legal name) took the opportunity to swim with the turtles at the farm, attracting considerable attention. At one point, she was joined by a young girl in her very own mermaid costume. The environmental advo- cate travels the globe to ma- rine conservation sites to spread her message about taking care of endangered species. “I have a saying: Let’s help save the oceans before all creatures be- come mythical,” she explained. “Because mermaids are myth- ical and children end up only hearing about them in books, we don’t want other sea creatures like these turtles to end up like that. That is why I’m here.” She added that she calls the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, home. “But it’s not the first time I’ve been here to the Cayman Islands and I’ve heard really great things about the Turtle Farm, so I was definitely glad of the invitation to come and visit,” she said. “Cayman’s one of my favorite places because I’ve also swum with the stingrays and there are lots of other local ‘hot spots.’ But I’ve also been as far as Australia and swum with the manta rays. In Japan, they have an aquarium there where I swam with the sharks and all kinds of different types of fish.” Mermaid Melissa has been working with animals since the age of 16, and over the last 10 years has devoted her life to an aquatic ca- reer. As a professional mermaid, she has also developed impres- sive free diving and breath holding skills, with a personal record of five minutes. “A lot of people want to know what a day in the life of a mermaid is like,” said the mermaid performer. “Well, it’s a very fishy lifestyle. “My tail weighs over 50 pounds so when I go to different places, I have to have help getting around. But I get to go to great places and it always seems to inspire children. That’s how I got successful on You- Tube – I’ve been able to share my message with them.” She noted that while it’s fun for children to meet mermaids, it might also give them a chance to consider a potential career stream. “It inspires children to maybe grow up and study marine bi- ology and maybe even become a vet,” she said. Mermaid Melissa continues to gain fame through her YouTube channel and publicity work advocating marine conservation. Kids’ signs spruce up nature trail Students from Prospect Primary School recently offered up some artistic new additions to the Cayman Turtle Farm’s Blue Hole Nature Trail. The students created brightly col- ored new signs for the different kinds of indigenous plants that can be seen along the trail in a project spearheaded by the Turtle Farm’s terrestrial exhibits curator, Geddes Hislop. “The Blue Hole Nature Trail is part of the Terrestrial Exhibits at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter, where many daily visitors take a five- to 10-minute stroll through a small Cayman woodlot, viewing birds, but- terflies, orchids and other native plants,” said Mr. Hislop. He explained that some of the trees along the trail had hand painted informative signs that had been cre- ated by a volunteer on pieces of driftwood some years ago. “When the Terrestrial Exhibits de- partment wanted to update the Nature Trail signs, it was decided that rather than ordering signs printed on plastic or metal, they preferred to use nat- ural materials that better fit the ambi- ance of the trail,” he said, noting that bamboo was the material of choice be- cause of its durability, and there is an abundance of bamboo driftwood avail- able on some of the beaches on the south and north coasts. “In 2015, the Terrestrial [Exhibits] staff approached John A. Cumber Pri- mary, the neighborhood West Bay school, and offered the sign-painting proposal as an International Baccalaureate art project,” said Mr. Hislop. “[We] provided the bamboo, paint and text for the signs. The project turned out very well, with the students doing re- search on bamboo, preparing and hand- painting the signs on the bamboo strips.” He said about five weeks later the Turtle Farm was able to in- stall 14 new signs. “In 2016, part two of the project was to complete a set of 13 additional signs,” Mr. Hislop continued. “This time, the project was offered to Prospect Primary School’s Crafty Club. In late May 2016, the signs were completed and I collected the colorful new signs from the Crafty Club, and gave an invi- tation to the proud students to visit the park for free entry to see their artwork on display at a natural outdoor gallery.” Raya Hydes joined Mermaid Melissa for a swim at the Turtle Farm. Prospect Primary School students present the Turtle Farm’s Geddes Hislop with new signs for the nature trail.CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 7 DISTRICT DAYS District Days West Bay Last weeks of school were action-packed Students at West Bay’s Sir John A. Cumber Pri- mary School enjoyed a va- riety of activities and events over the past few weeks in the lead-up to the end of the school year, including a ca- reers fair, the school leaving ceremony and a volunteer appreciation event. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman hosted the careers day for the Year 6 classes on June 20. It was jointly orga- nized by The Ritz-Carlton’s human resources manager Kristen Ford and Sir John A. Cumber teacher Annette Vaughan, who is the school’s library resources and buddy reading coordinator. “We took advantage of the opportunity to channel the students’ thinking and create that early career awareness as they prepare to move on to high school,” said Ms. Vaughan. “Some research indicates students are more focused, settled and directed when they have had early expo- sure to careers days, such as the one hosted by The Ritz-Carlton,” she added. “It widens their career spectrum and interests and intrinsi- cally motivates them.” An example of a student who has already developed an interest in a specific ca- reer is K’Neal Ebanks, who at 11 years old and with the encouragement of mentors like Ritz-Carlton pastry chef Crystal Marshall, has de- cided he wants to be a pastry chef. He has even made his very own promotional video of him baking a cake in his mother’s kitchen at home. The hotel’s hospitality, banquets, food and beverage, culinary, engineering, finance and Ambassadors of the En- vironment departments were also represented at the ca- reers day, offering some unique experiences. The students learned how to mix drinks from mixologist Carlos Cortes, and then got to mix and then drink their very own non-alcoholic drinks. At the hospitality booth, the stu- dents tested their skills and creativity at making various animals out of towels, while at the engineering booth Jon- athan Reyna taught the stu- dents how to work safely with nuts and bolts, screw- drivers and wrenches. Lune Vermeire from the Ambassadors of the Envi- ronment talked to the stu- dents about preserving the environment and about ca- reers within that field, like scuba diving. They also learned about the depart- ment’s efforts to reuse, re- duce and recycle. A few days later, the whole school came to- gether for the end-of-year prize giving and award cer- emony which was held on June 27. Students throughout the school were awarded or given special recognition for consistent effort, improve- ment, good citizenship and good behavior. Selected stu- dents were also given Save Our Youth Achievement Me- dallion Awards, which were presented by award founder George Roper. “The SOY Achievement Medallion Award seeks to recognize hard-working, well- behaved and community minded students,” explained Ms. Vaughan. “It offers an opportunity to publicly praise those stu- dents who deserve to be re- warded for their efforts.” The award is aimed at students who have dem- onstrated either the ability to lead and inspire others by example, significant academic improvement, an exemplary attitude and be- havior, love for the learning process, and/or community spirit for the school and the Cayman Islands. “Overall, the recipients should have demonstrated effort above and beyond classroom expectations,” said Ms. Vaughan. “Those recipients were also recognized for improve- ment in their Diagnostic Reading Assessment.” On Wednesday, June 29, the school held a special event honoring the many vol- unteers who have given their time to the students over the year. Students put on an im- pressive Hollywood-themed talent show, headed by music teacher Rebekah Jef- ferson, for the many volun- teers, school staff and par- ents in attendance, as well as Minister of Education Tara Rivers. Among the volunteers who were recognized were individuals from the various paired and buddy reading programs, including The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and Literacy is for Ev- eryone (LIFE) in conjunction with Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise and Cayman Islands Trust Company. Men- tion was also made of other consistent volunteers, in- cluding Dr. Wilmoth Shil- lingford from the West Bay clinic who presents to the Year 4 students every year, staff from the Department of the Environment and De- partment of Environmental Health, Catherine Childs from the National Trust, members of the Cayman Islands As- sociation of Professional Ac- countants who assist Years 5 and 6 with mathematics, and Camila Costa and her team from Barjack at The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman, as well as the many parents. Lloyd Barker, a “Proud of Them” honoree and Bar- bados’ 2014 Man of the Year recipient, served as Master of Ceremonies. Students recited an acrostic poem spelling out “thanks” and presented cards with personal notes to their reading buddies. Deputy Principal Steve Coles and Acting Principal Lorna Lumsden both expressed ap- preciation to the volunteers for their time and contribu- tions to the school and stu- dents throughout the year. Certificates of apprecia- tion were presented by Ms. Rivers to Woody Foster, rep- resenting Rotary and LIFE, Ritz-Carlton human re- sources manager Laura Mc- Cauley on behalf of the buddy reading team, and Barjack food and beverage supervisor Camila Costa on behalf of her team. They had assisted with reorganizing the library and other tasks at the school. Among other volunteers in attendance were LIFE pro- gram executive director Mar- ilyn Conolly, The Ritz-Carl- ton’s Tonya Adams, Matthew Volkwyn and Desiree Kelly from Advantage Insurance, assistant vice president of Marsh Insurance and Risk Advisory Services Sehli Dube, and Beth Henry from the same company. The audience enjoyed the “Soul Sisters” – Rebekah Jef- ferson, Xhailecia Grayson and Mickayla Dickens – who sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Other per- formances included a drum solo by Michail Michelin, a song by Esabela Medina, and dances by Tavez Varona and Brooklyn Ebanks. Another highlight of the morning was a fashion show. Lune Vermeire from Ambassadors of the Environment chats with Year 6 students at the careers day. The SOY Awards winners with, from left, Guidance Counsellor Elysia Murray, Year 6 teacher Shakeina Bush, Year 6 teacher and head of mathematics Rhuel Smith, George Roper, and Sir John A. Cumber head of Juniors Courtney Perrin. Sir John A. Cumber students got together for an impressive talent show to display their appreciation to the school’s many dedicated volunteers.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS We regret to announce the passing of Who departed this life on Thursday, 30 June 2016. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com A Funeral Mass will be held 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, 7 July 2016, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Walkers Road, George Town. Interment will be private. complied with directions it issued on June 7, but it does not say what those di- rections were. Bateman has been a fugitive since November 2014 when he did not ap- pear for Grand Court to face charges of grievous bodily harm. Last year, Highgate Se- curities Ltd., a company incorporated in Belize, sued Bateman’s B&C Cap- ital Ltd. for not returning assets the Cayman com- pany held in an account for Highgate, according to the June 2015 writ published in full on the Offshore Alert website. In March of this year, Triathlon Ltd., a Bermuda company, filed a winding up petition against B&C Capital Ltd. in Cayman’s Grand Court. Triathlon ac- cused B&C of not paying back US$610,000 that Tri- athlon held in an account with Bateman’s company, according to the petition. In an emailed statement to the Cayman Compass, Mr. Bateman said, “I am consulting professional ad- visers, will consider their advice and take such ac- tion as I may be advised.” In separate court records, Merren stated that the reason for his appeal was that his at- torney failed to lodge an ap- peal. The appeal is being sought against the sentence, not the conviction. “After sentencing, counsel never came and visited or talked with Mr. Merren about an appeal,” the court records state. “[But] for his counsel’s deficient failure to consult with him about an appeal, he would have timely appealed.” The time line for appeals in federal criminal court is typi- cally 30 days from the date of sentencing, barring unusual circumstances. The specific grounds for the appeal in Mer- ren’s case were not presented to the U.S. court until the June 15 filing, which Merren ac- knowledges. At the time of his sentencing in late June 2015, U.S. court officials rec- ommended that Merren, now 49, be transferred from Puerto Rico to serve his 108-month [nine-year] sentence. In addition to the sen- tence, Merren faced five years’ probation and a US$75,000 fine, which he stated in court records he could not afford to pay. In February 2016, the court ruled that Merren’s fine would not be reduced or eliminated since he had previously claimed assets of more than US$400,000. It is possible Merren could get time off his sen- tence for good behavior. He could also be deported, rather than serve the five-year pro- bation period in the U.S. Merren was arrested in March 2014 for allegedly at- tempting to set up a money laundering operation to cover for planned cocaine shipments through Puerto Rico. Records from the U.S. District Court indicate that Merren revealed at least one other man – an employee at Merren’s Cayman Islands trucking business – was in- volved in negotiations in 2013 and 2014 for cocaine shipments with two under- cover federal agents. That man has not been charged in the case, as far as the Cayman Compass is aware. Merren pleaded guilty in December 2014 to one count in an indictment alleging he conspired with other indi- viduals to possess cocaine. It was one of the three charges initially filed against him. Two other charges, alleging money laundering and drug possession, were dropped as part of a plea deal with fed- eral prosecutors. NWDA director leaves position The director of the Na- tional Workforce Develop- ment Agency, Brian Hol- land, has left his position early, the Ministry of Edu- cation announced in a press release Tuesday. Mr. Holland, who began working for the NWDA in September 2014, “vacated his post early due to per- sonal reasons,” according to the press release. He left the job at the end of June. “On behalf of the Min- istry and the NWDA, I would like to thank Mr. Holland for the contributions he made during his time at the NWDA and I wish him success in his future endeavors,” said Chief Officer for Employment Christen Suckoo. According to the release, the ministry will begin re- cruiting for a new NWDA director soon. The agency’s employment services man- ager, Lois Kellyman, will be the acting director until the ministry fills the post. Mr. Holland was the first director for the NWDA. The agency, tasked with preparing Caymanians for the work- force and helping them find jobs, initially operated for two years without a director. The agency’s employment services manager, Lois Kellyman, will be the acting director until the ministry fills the post. CIMA cancels fugitive’s director registration CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bryce Merren appeals US prison sentence Brian Holland transmission, in particular, sexual transmission, have been documented. “We cannot over-empha- size that all men returning from where local transmis- sion of Zika virus is known to occur, should adopt safer sexual practices or con- sider abstinence for at least four weeks after return,” Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said. He advised anyone who develops Zika virus symp- toms, which include fever, rash and/or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) within two weeks of returning from countries with Zika virus cases, to consult a doctor and tell the physician about their travel history. “We continue to cau- tion everyone, especially women who are pregnant or plan to become preg- nant, to be extra careful during their travels over- seas where there is an out- break,” Dr. Williams-Rodri- guez said. Zika is linked with mi- crocephaly, a condition where the size of an in- fant’s head is smaller than normal because of slowed or incomplete brain development. For advice on mosquito control, contact MRCU on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 on Cayman Brac; and the Department of Environmental Health on 949- 6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948- 2321 in Cayman Brac. For more information on Zika, contact the Public Health Department at 244-2648 or 244-2632. First Zika cases confirmed in Cayman CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Hospital burglar ‘threatened to shoot officer’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com One of two burglars be- lieved to have been involved in a break-in at the Cayman Islands Hospital patient fi- nancial center offices Tuesday attacked a police officer and threatened to “shoot the of- ficer,” the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service reported. The break-in was re- ported around 4:30 a.m. According to police, two men in dark clothes were spotted toward the back of the hospital property. A police officer in the area, on duty and in uniform, responded to the report and spotted one of the suspects wearing a hoodie, a dark, long-sleeved sweater and blue jeans. The officer was pursuing the suspect across the hos- pital parking lot when, police said, the man swung a “heavy metal object” at the officer and reached for his waist- band, threatening to shoot the officer. The RCIPS officer was not armed. “The officer slowed his pursuit, but still followed the man, who escaped over the fence of a residence near the hospital,” a police state- ment said. The patient finan- cial service department was entered, police said, but it appeared nothing was taken. The financial services of- fice, toward the back of the hospital campus on Smith Road, assists patients in making arrangements to pay hospital bills and helps customers review in- surance benefits. The office remained closed on Tuesday, but is due to re- open Wednesday morning, according to the Health Ser- vices Authority. The Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads the Zika virus. respected and favored gov- ernors of the Cayman Is- lands. He returned to Cayman often, visiting with friends and renewing acquaintances. Many Caymanians will re- member Mr. Russell with great fondness.” Mr. Russell served as Cay- man’s governor during a tran- sitional time for the territory. At that time, the governor pre- sided over both the Legisla- tive Assembly and Cabinet and had a much more direct role in governance than have subse- quent territorial governors. Mr. Russell was awarded the Order of the British Em- pire (1963), Commander of the British Empire (1970) and the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (1980). In 2012, Prince Philip appointed Mr. Russell as “vice president for life” of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League. Cayman Islands Vet- erans Association president, Capt. Dale Banks, said at the time that the honor for Mr. Russell was well deserved. “Mr. Russell is a gen- uine military hero who was wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans during World War II. His background affords him a unique insight into the great debt that is owed to those who served to keep us free,” he said. Mr. Russell’s term as gov- ernor was extended three times, and eventually led to him serving seven years in of- fice. He was Cayman’s longest- serving governor. These days, gubernatorial terms are typi- cally three years, with a poten- tial one-year extension. “You can earn popularity, but don’t try for it,” Mr. Rus- sell was quoted as saying in a 2009 interview with the Cayman Compass. One reason why Mr. Rus- sell might have been so pop- ular: “I related my job in the Cayman Islands to being a dis- trict commissioner,” he said. “If you don’t get down with the people, you get nothing done in your district.” In 2005, while attending the Compass’s 40th anniver- sary party, Mr. Russell noted, “We did not have mission statements at [that] time. We were supposed to know what we were doing.” He turned serious at the event when he spoke of his long service as Cayman’s gov- ernor and as its first London representative: “When I began this job back in 1974, the trust and belief that people had in me was a supreme compli- ment and very humbling. I hope in some way I have re- paid that trust.” Story by Compass reporter Brent Fuller Former Governor Russell dies at 96 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 Nominations are now open to recognise young persons for outstanding achievements in Nomination forms are available at www.mcays.gov.ky or www.gov.ky Deadline for submission is Friday,8 July 2016 Celebrate the success of our young ambassadors and let them be an inspiration to others. Nominations are now open to ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT Academics Career Business Sports Culture Community Service Regular Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm Monday – Saturday. 11am – 4pm on Sundays www.turtle.ky | 1 345.949.3894 | www.facebook.com/CaymanTurtle The Cayman Turtle Farm will be closed on Saturday, �� for a Private Event. Apologies for any inconvenience. July 9th, 2016 FBI recommends no criminal charges in Clinton email probe Called Clinton and her staff “extremely careless” FBI Director James B. Comey said Tuesday that his agency will not recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server as secretary of state, but called Clinton and her staff “ex- tremely careless” in handling sensitive material. Comey said the FBI investi- gations into more than 30,000 emails – and others pieced to- gether from data “fragments” – determined that “no reason- able prosecutor would bring such a case.” The findings now go to the Justice Department. “No charges are appro- priate in this case,” Comey said in making his announcement. But Comey made that statement after he delivered a blistering review of Clinton’s actions, saying the FBI found that 110 emails were sent or received on Clinton’s server containing classified infor- mation. He added it was pos- sible that people hostile to the U.S. had gained access to her personal email account. “Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues in- tended to violate laws gov- erning the handling of clas- sified information, there is evidence that they were ex- tremely careless in their han- dling of very sensitive, highly classified information,” he said. Yet after criticizing Clinton, her aides and the department for their actions, he said that after looking at similar cir- cumstances in past inqui- ries, the FBI believed that “no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.” The announcement – which came only about 72 hours after FBI agents interviewed Clinton – in some ways lifts the cloud that has been hanging over Clinton’s presidential cam- paign for months. But it will almost cer- tainly spark criticism that the outcome of the high-profile probe was a foregone conclu- sion, influenced heavily by po- litical considerations. Comey said Justice Depart- ment prosecutors also must make a final determination, though he was unequivocal in stating his view that “no charges are appropriate in this case.” The timing will provide fodder for Clinton’s opponents. Early last week, former President Bill Clinton had an impromptu meeting with U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch aboard Lynch’s plane at an airport in Phoenix. Announcement comes hours before Obama joins Clinton Comey said he shared the FBI’s findings with no one else in the government be- fore making his announce- ment, which came just hours before Clinton was to travel with President Barack Obama on Air Force One to campaign together for the first time this year. The declaration from Comey is unlikely to wipe away many voters’ concerns about Clinton’s trustworthi- ness, especially since the FBI director so thoroughly criti- cized her actions before deliv- ering his verdict. “There is evidence to sup- port a conclusion that any rea- sonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position … should have known that an unclas- sified system was no place” for sensitive conversations, Comey said. Nor will the rec- ommendation stop Repub- lican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has called for criminal charges, from con- tinuing to make the server a campaign issue or sug- gesting Clinton was helped by a Democratic administration. After Comey’s announcement, Trump tweeted, “The system is rigged … Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment.” Clinton’s personal email server, which she relied on ex- clusively for government and personal business, has dogged her campaign since The Asso- ciated Press revealed its exis- tence in March 2015. She has repeatedly said that no email she sent or re- ceived was marked classi- fied, but the Justice Depart- ment began investigating last summer following a referral from the inspectors general for the State Department and the intelligence community. The scrutiny was com- pounded by a critical audit in May from the State Depart- ment’s inspector general, the agency’s internal watchdog, which said that Clinton and her team ignored clear warn- ings from department officials that her email setup violated federal standards and could leave sensitive material vul- nerable to hackers. Clinton de- clined to talk to the inspector general, but the audit said that she had feared “the personal being accessible” if she used a government email account. The Clinton campaign said agents interviewed her this past Saturday for three-and one- half-hours at FBI headquarters. Agents had earlier interviewed top Clinton aides including her former State Department chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, and Huma Abedin, a longtime aide who now is the vice chairwoman of Clinton’s campaign. Lynch on Friday said that she would accept whatever findings and recommenda- tions were presented to her. Though she said she had al- ready settled on that process, her statement came days after the impromptu meeting with former President Clinton on her airplane in Phoenix that she acknowledged had led to questions about the neutrality of the investigation. © 2016, The Washington Post and The Associated Press Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and FBI Director James Comey – PHOTO: AP Hospital burglar ‘threatened to shoot officer’Next >