BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Revealing everything from local and international political intrigue, to “white elephant” proj- ects, to a general preference to- ward the sport of cricket over baseball, annual reports sent by Cayman Islands governors to Britain between 1987 and 2005 have been released by the U.K. For- eign and Commonwealth Office. The partially redacted docu- ments were released Tuesday fol- lowing a Freedom of Information request made by former Cayman Governor Alan J. Scott. Mr. Scott told the Cayman Compass that he requested, some two years ago, copies of the gov- ernors’ dispatches as part of his “continuing interest” in the U.K.’s administration of the overseas territories. Several of the annual dispatches – reports to the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Of- fice – were penned by Mr. Scott himself, and later on by territo- rial Governors Michael Gore, John Owen, Peter Smith, Bruce Din- widdy and Stuart Jack. Only one year requested, the year 2000 governor’s dispatch, was not included. According to foreign office representatives, that partic- ular report could not be found. “This was the time that the Foreign and Commonwealth Of- fice was moving from paper doc- uments to electronic documents,” the open records response to Governor Scott noted. “We have checked both the electronic and paper files, but we are unable to find this document.” Other sections of the annual reports are blacked out largely because the statements made by the former governors “would, or would be likely to, prejudice the relations between the United Kingdom and another state, the in- terests of the U.K. abroad or the promotion or protection of … its assets abroad.” Local politics Subjects covered in the various dispatches, which range anywhere from two to 14 pages long, are nu- merous and deal with areas from the environment, to the economy, to law and order, U.K. relations, immi- gration and the general “mood” of the Caymanian populace. There is no mistaking throughout the almost-two decades’ worth of dispatches that British governors keep a keen eye on Cayman Islands politics and political elections, as well as government policy decisions. In the 2005 report from then- newly appointed Gov. Jack, it is noted: “The election of a new gov- ernment under Kurt Tibbetts in May also created a healthier atmosphere. They are putting effort into greater transparency and accountability and better delivery from the civil service. They remain Caymanian at heart and can be suspicious of the motives of the U.K. and others, but there is a healthy debate in Cabinet, which often brings out the wider re- alities and they are open to advice, including from a new governor.” Other governments did not get such positive reviews from in- coming governors, as evidenced in the year 1992 dispatch from then- Governor Gore: “… with minimal pressure from me, the government cancelled a project initiated by their predecessors which was so obvi- ously a white elephant that I find it extraordinary it was allowed to get off the ground in the first place. This was the construction of a new luxury hospital in George Town, the brainchild of the previous member High of 91 Low of 80 Smooth to slight with wave heights of 1 to 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 FROM THE DESK OF THE GOVERNOR(S) SPORTS | PAGE 18 MAPLES KNIGHTS HOPEFUL OF PLAYOFFS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » Funding approved for 50 new public school positions Positions will cost around $1.3 million JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cabinet has approved addi- tional funding for 50 new posts across the public school system, Education Minister Tara Rivers an- nounced Wednesday. The new personnel, a mix of teachers, behavioral support staff and literacy and numeracy special- ists, will work primarily with stu- dents with special educational needs. Ms. Rivers said the new funding was “above and beyond” what was approved during the budget process. She said recruitment would begin immediately with the goal of having the new staff in place by Christmas. Speaking to the entire Cayman Islands teaching body at the Annual Education Professionals Welcome at Mary Miller Hall in Red Bay, Ms. Rivers said government had listened to concerns about lack of resources. The additional allocation repre- sents an injection of around $1.3 mil- lion specifically for new personnel, the Cayman Compass understands. Ms. Rivers said, “Government re- alizes there is a need for additional support for the most challenging students. We’ve read the inspec- tion reports. We have heard from and listened to principals, teachers and parents … PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » UK releases two decades of governors’ restricted memos Bruce DinwiddyPeter SmithStuart Jack Alan J. ScottMichael GoreJohn Owen2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 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. Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - THURSDAY - PETE’S DRAGON 3D (PG) 1:00 I 4:10 2D I 7:00 I 9:45 2D SAUSAGE PARTY (R) 12:45 I 3:00 I 5:15 I 7:30 I 9:55 BAD MOMS (R) 4:20 I 10:00 SUICIDE SQUAD 3D (PG13) 12:50 2D I 3:45 I 6:30 2D I 9:15 THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (PG) 1:30 | 7:15 BEN-HUR 3D (PG13) 1:15 2D I 3:30 | 6:45 2D I 9:30 JASON BOURNE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:15 I 6:50 I 9:50 640-FILM (640-3456) Preparing next generation for civil service careers Seventeen college and high school students traded in their summer break for some work experience with the government since July 4, providing them with practical work experience and training. They have been placed in various areas of the Department of Immigration, including Cayman Centre (work permit administration); Passport and Corpo- rate Services; Enforcement; Border Con- trol (airport) and headquarters, which consists of the Public Counter; Filing, Human Resources; Accounts; Training; and the Operations Unit. The interns also participated in training on topics such as workplace ethics, effective teamwork and customer service skills. One of the interns, Tyrese Scott, who previously interned with the department when he attended the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, wants to es- tablish a career with Immigration’s visa department. According to a press re- lease, he specifically requested to intern there for the summer. Tevin Yen, a student at Iowa Wes- leyan University, said working in the en- forcement department has been fasci- nating, as his career goal is to become a crime scene investigator. “Being in the Enforcement Section af- forded me hands-on experience … which will no doubt be of benefit in my chosen career path,” said Tevin. Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smithsaid, “It is our responsibility to get this next generation ready for a career in the civil service. Consequently, the department’s em- ployees model what it is to work in a hectic and essential arm of the govern- ment, while providing a positive experi- ence for these young adults.” The government internship program will host the immigration interns until the end of August. The other interns are Coriah Hill, Amir Palmer, Janell Taylor, Patrick Barrett, Toreann Shields, Alexis Mc- Donald, Jamelia Bryan, Jordanna Kirchman, Kristi Welds, Kayla Welds, Asanna Hodgson, Ericka Rockett-Mc- Bean, Ashley McLean, Jacob Wood and Channelle Thomas. 17 students intern with Immigration Department The Department of Immigration interns with Human Resources staff and senior managers at orientation. Immigration Department Interns work together on their problem-solving skills. NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) – The government of the Bahamas says it has reached an agreement that will lead to the completion of a stalled mega-resort financed and built by Chinese state- owned enterprises. Prime Minister Perry Christie announced late Monday that China Con- struction will finish the Baha Mar project with fi- nancing from the Export- Import Bank of China. The complex will then be sold to a “world-class” hotel and casino operator, he said. Construction would re- sume in September and the project will open be- fore the end of the 2016- 2017 tourist season, Christie said in a nation- ally televised address that followed Supreme Court approved of the agreement. He did not identify any potential operators. “This agreement rep- resents a signal achieve- ment for the Bahamas, and a milestone in the trou- bled history of Baha Mar,” he said. Baha Mar is a $3.5 bil- lion project that was ini- tially scheduled to open in December 2014 on 1,000 acres along Cable Beach in Nassau. It would include four new hotels, a golf course and what would be the largest casino in the Caribbean. After a series of delays and the devel- oper filed for bankruptcy in June 2015. The stalled project had been expected to increase the overall economy of the tourism-dependent Ba- hamas by about 12 percent. Stalled Bahamas mega-resort to be finished, sold MIAMI (AP) – Tropical Storm Gaston is changing little in strength as it moves in the Atlantic. The storm’s maximum sustained winds Wednesday are near 70 mph. The U.S. National Hurri- cane Center says although Gaston could become a hurricane later in the day, some weakening is forecast on Thursday. Gaston is centered about 1,020 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and is moving west-northwest near 16 mph. The storm is not currently a threat to land, and no coastal warnings or watches are in effect. “Being in the Enforcement Section afforded me hands-on experience … which will no doubt be of benefit in my chosen career path.” TEVIN YEN, intern TROPICAL STORM CHANGES LITTLE IN STRENGTH NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) – The Bahamas has con- firmed four cases of mos- quito-borne Zika virus, including two transmitted in the islands. The Ministry of Health said in a statement released Monday that all four cases were on the most populous island of New Providence. Health Minister Perry Gomez said authorities have intensified insecticide spraying around the island. The government insisted the island chain is a “safe place to travel.” Authorities in Florida have detected more than two dozen cases be- lieved to have been trans- mitted in the southern part of the state. BAHAMAS SAYS IT’S ‘SAFE’ DESPITE 4 CASES OF ZIKA DALLAS (AP) – AT&T has reached a deal for en- hanced roaming and other cell services for wireless customers visiting Cuba. The Dallas-based tele- communications giant on Monday announced the agreement with the state telecommunications com- pany, Etecsa. An AT&T statement says a start date and pricing for the wireless roaming in Cuba – including talk, text and data – will be an- nounced later. Sprint an- nounced a roaming agree- ment with Etecsa last fall to allow subscribers visiting Cuba to send and receive calls and text messages. AT&T TO PROVIDE CELL SERVICES IN CUBA3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 GOLD CARD Prepaid Card Prepaid CARD Fidelity Bank is dedicated to your security. We have added a new level of protection for our customers by making Chip Credit, and Prepaid Cards available. 345.949.7822 www.fidelitygroup.com Added Security Easy To Use Chip technology makes your Fidelity Bank Card safer. Receive Enhanced Fraud Protection with Chip Technology. Every time you insert your Fidelity Bank Chip Card into a chip terminal, the embedded chip protects your information by creating a unique transaction code. This transaction code cannot be replicated, keeping you better protected against counterfeit fraud. PLUS our cards offer free instant text alerts after each transaction for even more security. It’s easy to pay at a chip terminal. Simply insert you chip card and follow the prompts. If a retailer is not yet chip-enabled, you can still swipe your card to pay. Global Acceptance Your Fidelity Bank Chip Card comes with proven technology that is already in use around the world. So whether you’re close to home or thousands of miles away, you can pay with confidence. War veterans to be Cayman eco-warriors New nonprofit dedicated to coral conservation efforts to launch in Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com U.S. war veterans will be retrained as eco-warriors in the Cayman Islands in a new nonprofit venture. Dive resort Sunset House has teamed up with veterans in the U.S. to form Force Blue, which will train former spe- cial operations veterans to work on coral reef conser- vation projects around the world, starting in Cayman. The organization’s goal is to introduce its first training class of six vet- erans at Sunset House early next year. They will be trained in coral restoration by marine science experts and will help tend the resort’s new coral nursery. Other Cayman dive operators and the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman will also be involved. Keith Sahm, general man- ager of Sunset House and co-founder of the new non- profit, said, “It’s a win-win for everyone. Not only will Force Blue train these highly skilled men and women how to help restore dam- aged reefs, but it will also teach them to be spokes- people for ocean conserva- tion worldwide.” The idea for Force Blue developed in Grand Cayman last summer during discus- sions at Sunset House be- tween Sahm, Rudy Reyes, a veteran of the Iraq war who played himself in the HBO drama series “Gener- ation Kill,” and long-time friend Jim Ritterhoff. The men were diving daily, and Sahm gave them a tour of the resort’s new coral nursery where restoration work is being done. The diving proved therapeutic for Reyes, who had been bat- tling with the challenges of civilian life after multiple combat deployments. “We all know the strug- gles our veterans, particu- larly our Special Forces vet- erans, face coming home after years at war,” said Mr. Ritterhoff. “Our thought was, if we could somehow use diving and marine conserva- tion to give them a positive mission, we could not only help them, but the planet as well.” The organization’s ini- tial two-week training pro- gram will take place en- tirely in Cayman, but the plan involves expanding Force Blue’s influence to dif- ferent destinations around the world and bringing other teams aboard. “Starting out, Cayman just makes the most logistical sense for us,” said Mr. Ritter- hoff. “We have the contacts and support in Cayman to launch Force Blue in a pow- erful way. And Cayman af- fords us, not only access to one of the world’s healthiest and most vibrant coral reef systems, but access to some of the world’s finest conser- vation minds as well.” Mr. Sahm added, “It’s all about raising awareness and reaching a new audience with a message of conservation and care and our veterans are the perfect ambassadors.” A fundraising recep- tion for the Force Blue pro- gram will be held in Dallas, Texas on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Texas real estate mag- nate and Earth Day Texas founder Trammel S. Crow is hosting the event. The guest list includes retired U.S. Navy SEAL Admiral Ed Winter, re- tired USMC General David Garza, former Recon Marine Rudy Reyes, Benghazi sur- vivor Kris “Tanto” Paronto, whose story was told in the film “13 Hours” and Chuck Pfarrer, former SEAL Team Six member and author of “SEAL Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden.” For more information about Force Blue or to donate to the organization visit www.forceblueteam.org or email co-founder Keith Sahm at Keith@forceblueteam.org. “It’s a win-win for everyone. Not only will Force Blue train these highly skilled men and women how to help restore damaged reefs, but it will also teach them to be spokespeople for ocean conservation worldwide.” KEITH SAHM, co-founder of the Force Blue nonprofit Keith Sahm, the general manager of Sunset House, has teamed up with U.S. Special Forces vets including Rudy Reyes, an Iraq war veteran who starred as himself in HBO mini-series ‘Generation Kill,’ to launch a new dive charity.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. 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” THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS How much do the people of the Cayman Islands really know about their U.K.-appointed governors? For many, we would argue, not that much — apart from a glimpse (or perhaps a handshake) at a Gov- ernment House event, photographs or quotations appearing in the newspaper, and perhaps the knowl- edge, generally, that the governor is charged with pro- moting “good governance” in the Cayman Islands. The publication of annual reports submitted to the British government by Cayman’s governors, over a period of 20 years, provides the rare opportunity to peer behind the doors of Government House and gain a glimpse of what has been on our governors’ minds. For the most part, the yearly “despatches” to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are targeted pre- cisely at the elusive notion of “good governance” and how the governors have attempted to steer Cayman officials toward it. The reports are also tinged with the tapestry of human life, and from time to time, candid statements that if uttered aloud in public might be construed as “un-Governorly.” The issues that seem to preoccupy our governors are familiar ones to members of our community and readers of the Compass: For example, crime, natural disasters, international finance, immigration, tourism and irresponsible government spending — within the context of an awareness of the potential explosiveness of a Caymanian-expatriate divide. What may not be as apparent is governors’ steady focus on particular topics, such as pro-environment causes and efforts to combat local drug use. And then there’s the un-ignorable presence of elected lawmaker McKeeva Bush — or, as Governor Michael Gore described him, “the scourge of my pre- decessor but an honest and dedicated man who has already proved his mettle …” As somewhat of an aside, one dynamic we found interesting was governors’ tracking of Caymanian atti- tudes toward gay rights. Most recognized the reluc- tance of our country’s socially conservative popula- tion to accept the adoption of those rights locally. At least one identified pro-gay rights pressure from the European Union as a potential catalyst for the splin- tering of Cayman’s relationship with the U.K. Perhaps unsurprisingly, successive governors have kept their fingers on the populist pulse, in order to gauge the likelihood of Cayman rising up in a true pro-independence movement. The analysis of the issue was generally punctuated with the observation that most officials and Caymanians understand the benefits of the existing relationship with the U.K. and do not desire to forge ahead on their own. We would say that, informed by regional history and the state of local current affairs, that conclusion is both accurate and wise. Still flush from the successful visit to Cayman from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in early 1994, Governor Gore wrote, “Everyone was clearly delighted that their Queen had decided to revisit the Islands. “The trappings of the United States may be evident in the Cayman Islands but there remains a close affinity for Britain.” From the desk of the Governor(s) LETTER TO THE EDITOR Praise for ‘District Days’ I want to thank you and commend you for the sec- tion you have added a while back to the Compass called “District Days.” My family is from the Brac, consisting of Lazzaris and Fosters as well as many other families going back generations. Even though my father moved us to Florida when I was a young child, I grew up hearing all about the Brac, family, land, etc. We spent many Sunday afternoons after church vis- iting other Cayman families who lived in the St. Peters- burg–Tampa Bay area. As an adult, I have been there nu- merous times with my hus- band, daughter, and even grandchildren. I consider the Brac my second home. My favorite part of Dis- trict Days is the reprinting of articles from 50 years ago. Turns out Lilian Ritch was my aunt’s stepmother-in-law. My aunt married a Ritch and Lilian was the third wife of my uncle’s father, Capt. Theophilus Ritch. Needless to say, my aunt who is now in her 90s thoroughly enjoys reading those articles, since she knew almost everyone mentioned. I print the arti- cles for her. She remembers so clearly her stepmother-in- law being the island reporter. I know things were very hard on the Brac back then in many ways, especially med- ical care, but in other ways they were so much better with people helping each other, feeling safe, actually talking to one another instead of glued to a TV, computer, or smart- phone, more reverence of God, etc. Life changes, how- ever, and we must find a way to stay grounded in our faith and values. The District Days helps people of the Caymans whether they live on island or far away remember their roots. Thank you again for this wonderful section of Cayman Compass. Please keep it up. Julie Lazzari-Marshall The Clinton Foundation will not accept foreign money. Until it does. ED ROGERS Special To The Washington Post This year’s headline from The New York Times: “If Hillary Clinton Wins, Founda- tion Will Stop Accepting For- eign Donations.” Next year’s headline: “Clinton Foundation Accepts $250 Million in For- eign Donations.” Call me a cynic, but I think this is totally pos- sible. I can even imagine how the reconciliation be- tween these two seemingly conflicting headlines would go. We can imagine the usual Clinton apologists saying something like this: “Well, $75 million was do- nated after the election in No- vember but before the inau- guration in January, and we always meant that the new rules would take effect after the inauguration. Another $100 million contributed from foreign countries and corpo- rations was donated to the Clinton Foundation affiliate in Canada, so there is obviously no conflict. Hillary is not pres- ident of Canada. The fact that the money spent three hours in the Canadian bank before it was transferred to the United States or that Chelsea and Bill and who- ever just live with a Canadian bank’s checking account and credit cards doesn’t matter. If the right-wing conspira- tors want to complain about accounting practices, the Clintons can’t be expected to stoop to that petty level. Of course, as promised, Bill Clinton has refrained from giving paid speeches. The $25 million that was received was in no part speaking fees, but only ‘appearance fees’ and a travel expense reimbursement from donors who had already made their contribution. He just stopped by to say thanks.” They’ll continue: “Of course, another $25 million or so came to Chelsea, but no reasonable person can dispute that she is worth every penny. She has become, in effect, a strategic adviser for various international entities, and her expertise is very much in de- mand. And she has done innu- merable selfless good works for which people felt inclined to give her a gratuity. Next, the $25 million that came in from the rulers of Moneystan all came from their New York real-estate company, so that’s not ‘foreign’ at all. Besides, everyone knows the Clintons thought about honeymooning in Moneystan. So there you have it: The foundation has not accepted any money from a foreign government or cor- poration. The Clintons have gone beyond what other First Families have had to report and endure, but there is just no way to satisfy some of their bitter, partisan critics.” You read it here first, folks. There will be about 10 minutes of outrage, and then everyone will shrug and move on. Ed Rogers is a political consultant and a veteran of the White House and several national campaigns. He is the chairman of the lobbying and communications firm BGR Group, which he founded with former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, in 1991. The Bluff lends great natural beauty to Cayman Brac.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 Plan advances for new Sunrise center Purpose-built premises for adult training center on the cards CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Ministry of Educa- tion is preparing an outline business case to develop a new Sunrise Adult Training Centre facility, with the aim of moving the program to a purpose-built building with more space for clients. The Sunrise programs serve adults who have cog- nitive, developmental or physical disabilities. The center is currently based in a renovated duplex in West Bay, but the ministry has a tender out to examine the finances and possibili- ties for a new building for the center. Sunrise Acting Director Kimberly Voaden said the new facility will be a pur- pose-built building in George Town with space to serve more clients and a more central location, making it easier for clients from the eastern districts to get to the center. Ms. Voaden said the center currently serves 20 working clients and has an- other 35 who use Sunrise’s facilities and programs. But, she said, Sunrise has a two- to three-year waiting list. She said most clients come directly from the Light- house School. “Graduates from the Lighthouse School are no longer guaranteed spots,” she said. A steering committee has been meeting since May to get ready for an outline business case. The group includes representa- tives from the ministry, cli- ents and staff from Sun- rise, Lighthouse School and several government departments. The Sunrise center has operated for 28 years, and it has been serving clients out of the existing West Bay fa- cility for the last 15 years. Cabinet approved doing the outline business case this spring. The business case will “review the cost implica- tions of available options for a facility in a more cen- tralized location, the ex- pansion of program ser- vices, and increase in client enrollment,” according to an earlier statement from the ministry. Consul- tants preparing the report will also look at the po- tential for public-private partnerships. “It is evident that there is a genuine need for a pur- pose-built facility to cater to the needs of the cli- ents of the center,” Min- ister of Education Tara Rivers said in a statement earlier this year. The center is currently based in a renovated duplex in West Bay, but the ministry has a tender out to examine the finances and possibilities for a new building for the center. Magistrate advises not using ‘gun bag’ for travel Another visitor found with bullet at airport CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman who expected to leave the island on Aug. 19 had her stay extended four days because of a bullet found in her hand lug- gage at Owen Roberts In- ternational Airport. Charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, she appeared in Sum- mary Court on Aug. 23. She pleaded guilty to possession of a single round of nine- millimeter ammunition. Crown counsel Neil Kumar said the defendant and her husband were passing through security at the air- port in an attempt to catch a morning flight to Miami. An X-ray of her hand luggage showed one bullet. Security personnel turned the matter over to Customs officers. The woman has a con- cealed handgun permit in her home state of North Carolina, Mr. Kumar advised. Defense attorney John Furniss said the defendant and her husband had come to Cayman for a few days to visit relatives who were staying here. The bag X-rayed at the airport was one she used in the U.S. and it could only be assumed that the single bullet must have fallen out of a box of ammunition, Mr. Furniss indicated. The defendant “appre- ciated how professionally the matter had been dealt with,” he added. He also com- mented on the fact that the bullet would have been in the bag when the defendant passed through one or more U.S. airports on her way here. Magistrate Valdis Foldats said he could not comment on other countries’ secu- rity arrangements, “but I can praise ours.” He noted that this type of offense happened surpris- ingly often. Cayman seemed to have people who catch un- licensed firearms at the air- port, he added. [Ammunition is included in the definition of firearm in the Firearms Law.] “We have individuals coming through multiple air- ports without their ammuni- tion being caught,” the mag- istrate continued: “We catch it here.” It is hard to send a mes- sage to other countries, he said, but all travelers should be aware that some offenses are viewed more seriously in other parts of the world than in their home jurisdictions. The simplest advice he could give was – If you carry firearms in a bag, do not use that bag to travel internationally. In the case before him, he accepted Mr. Furniss’ de- scription of the defendant as a person of good char- acter making valuable con- tributions to her commu- nity. He appreciated her comment about the matter being dealt with profession- ally, and it was something he heard frequently. He pointed out that the defendant had already suf- fered financially because she had to rebook her flight and stay over for her court appearance. In cases where a vis- itor has a firearm license in his or her own country and has no previous convictions, the courts in Cayman do not impose a conviction unless there is something unusual about the case, the magis- trate noted. For that reason there is no fine, but costs of prosecution are imposed. On that basis the defendant was ordered to pay $1,000.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO: Light House construction close to completion In the Aug. 24, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “The Light House Club, which will be opened in a few months time, is now nearing completion of its construction. Situated at Breakers, in the eastern part of Bodden Town the clubhouse commands one of the most breathtaking oceanfront views there is in Grand Cayman. This spot, once overlooked by strangers, is now the centre of attraction for all who pass this way. “The name Light House is synonymous with the construction, as an elevated lighthouse tower sits on the top of the building. Because of the stringent Interna- tional Maritime Regulations which govern the erection of lighthouses, the beams from this one will not shine out to sea, but will serve to beckon and guide the way- farers on land. The whole structure is an architectural masterpiece. Grand Cayman has never before seen such an imposing sight. The two- storey building, with one floor underground, is built of steel and concrete. “This building was de- signed by the owner, Mr. Leon Hull, an American, who together with his wife live at their private residence in Breakers. It is being built under Mr. Hull’s supervision by Mr. Cedric, carpenters and contractors. “When opened the Light House will be the most ex- clusive private member- ship club in this island. It is understood that mem- bership will be available to natives. The club will fur- nish its members with rec- reational facilities found only in the most aristo- cratic clubs abroad. Among the many amenities planned will be a rifle range and bowling alley. “Fine seafood dishes will be provided for the hungry, and beverages for those who wish to worship at the Shrine of Bacchus. “As this club is set apart geographically from the main districts, those who travel to the extremi- ties of the island will find a place where they can quench their thirst, and pause for refreshment. “Mr. Hull has only lived in Cayman for about four years, but expects to spend the rest of his life here. He tells that when he went home after his first visit to Grand Cayman his friends refused to believe his ac- count of this island para- dise of ours. Three of his most skeptical friends came along on his next visit to test the accuracy of his tales. Two of them now own property here. Mr. Hull has done a lot to boost the tourist trade by encouraging all his friends to visit Cayman. May his lighthouse shine with a friendly light towards all who drift that way. “A restaurant truck arrived by the Viva G. last week. This truck is owned by Mr. Ornan Whittaker and will re- place the familiar Whit- taker’s Caravan. “Ornan, who was one of the pioneers in the restau- rant-on-wheels business, has bought another truck which will arrive from Miami shortly.” BT youth among Proud of Them finalists A number of young Bodden Towners were recently honored for their efforts and accomplishments as Proud of Them finalists at a re- ception at the George Town Yacht Club this month. This year’s field of 72 candidates were nominated by friends, acquain- tances and community members for reaching new heights in academics, sports, career, culture, business and community service. Proud of Them began in 2012 to highlight the works of young people and showcase their initiative and positive attitude. Among the 12 finalists were Bodden Towners Derricka Neysmith, David Forbes, Channah Connor, Giselle Ebanks and Bruce Gordon. Derricka fulfills the definition of a well-rounded young woman and an example of a young person “reaching higher.” At 14, Derricka passed external exams in English, electronic doc- ument preparation and manage- ment, and mathematics, with dis- tinction. The Clifton Hunter High School graduate passed a total of 12 external exams. She ranked 10th out of 141 stu- dents on graduation day and was recognized with several honors. During the ceremony she was also awarded the Save Our Youth medal- lion for community service, in addi- tion to gaining recognition for being a top 10 academic student and re- ceiving one of the highest averages in external exams. After graduation she went on to Cayman Prep for her A levels. Upon completion, Derricka says she would like to attend university to pursue a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. Currently she is part of the Cayman Finance educational work experience program, working this month with accounting firm EY. Now 16, Derricka’s accomplish- ments are not limited to school. Football has been a major part of her life. The winning mindset she has on the field also translates to other areas. She is a member of Academy Sports Club as well as Cayman Prep’s football team. A proud moment was when she was selected to represent the Cayman Islands at the inaugural CONCACAF U-15 Girls Champion- ships. The team made history by ad- vancing to the quarterfinals, placing fifth out of 16 teams. She also repre- sented the country during the U-17 World Cup Qualifiers held in the Do- minican Republic. Derricka blends her love of foot- ball with community service. She coaches primary school students in two local schools. She also became a FIFA-certified grassroots football coach, as well as serving as a coach for Academy Sports Club’s junior football program. She and a friend started a teen service group called “Jas & Derri Give Back.” The two hope to attend Global Leadership Adventure Sports Service in Costa Rica next year, and to host a local football drive to collect football gear to donate to international teams who are less fortunate. She is a member of Key Club, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, student council, and is a “reading buddy,” mentoring young students. She also took on various leader- ship roles in Junior Achievement for three years, and has been a member of her church choir for five years. Savannah’s David Forbes, 18, another Bodden Towner among this year’s Proud of Them finalists, is an exemplary student who already has a string of major awards and per- sonal achievements to his name. His record of academic success began early when he was named Head Boy at Savannah Primary School. During his time at Savannah Primary he was awarded the Joanna Clarke Award, which celebrates ex- cellence in education. David maintained his standard of excellence when he moved to sec- ondary school. He was the Top Stu- dent in Years 6, 7 and 8. He was also a prefect and Head Boy at Clifton Hunter High School. For three consecutive years he was a member of Clifton Hunter’s team for the KPMG Brain Bowl, a competition that tests students’ general knowledge. He graduated with high honors and attained several awards, in- cluding Student of the Year, Chris- tian Character Award and Top 10 highest averages in external exams. Following high school, he earned an associate degree in mathematics from the University College of the Cayman Islands. In 2010 he was named the co- champion of the National Spelling Bee. He has been a Minds Inspired scholarship recipient since 2012, which has allowed him to visit the Dart Neuroscience research lab in San Diego, California, as well as CERN, the European Organi- zation for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2013 he represented Cayman at the Optimist Club’s Oratorical Dis- trict competition in Kingston, Ja- maica, and won the event. David’s gifts extend to music. He has won several National Children’s Festival of the Arts gold and silver awards in trumpet, piano, band and vocal categories. He passed with merit the Trinity College, London Grade 6 trumpet exam, and was a finalist in the 2013 Young Musician of the Year competi- tion. He has also shared his musical talents by playing the trumpet in the Police Band and as accompanist for the Cayman Youth Choir. A devout Christian, David wants to use his talents as a music min- istry and is currently the accompa- nist musician for his church. This fall David will pursue a de- gree in actuarial science at Ohio State University. Editor’s note: Next week we highlight Bodden Town Proud of Them finalists Channah Connor, Giselle Ebanks and Bruce Gordon. Proud of Them began in 2012 to highlight the works of young people and showcase their initiative and positive attitude. Derricka Neysmith receives a certificate of recognition from Youth Minster Osbourne Bodden, as Education Minister Tara Rivers looks on. David ForbesDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 Entrepreneurs reopening Pirates Caves JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com After being closed for 1.5 years, the Bodden Town Pi- rates Caves has opened its snack shop as preparations are made to reopen the caves to curious visitors. Edwardo Miller, a Bodden Town entrepreneur, along with partner Edwin Roa re- opened the snack shop on Tuesday, Aug. 24, enticing cus- tomers with fruit smoothies that any swashbuckling pi- rate, visitor or local would fight to have. “I want to put some life back into the area. These are the original caves of Cayman and many tourists and locals would love to see the place re- opened and a little more life and culture brought back into the town,” said Mr. Miller. Before its closure, the Pi- rates Caves also offered visi- tors an opportunity to visit a Swiss Family Robinson tree house, a 3,000-gallon fresh water stingray tank, ani- mals, picnic grounds and self- guided nature walks. The area is still a won- derful place to explore. Mr. Miller, who grew up about 500 yards down the road from the caves, said he spent many hours with friends exploring them, and was excited to take over the enterprise. He says it is something that he misses, and is sure other locals in the area do, too. With the snack shop up and running, work is now under way to spruce up the grounds to provide an at- tractive visitor experience. Mr. Miller and his partner are in the process of trans- forming the trails and caves into a destination for tour- ists and locals to enjoy. Na- ture walks will showcase me- dicinal plants and local trees along with a colorful explo- sion of flowering plants in- digenous to Cayman. There will be a minimal charge to visit the caves, to defray expenses, but nothing too extravagant that people cannot afford, Mr. Miller says, adding that he will not be bringing back the animals. At the moment, though, it’s the smoothies at the Pirates Caves’ Treasure Den snack bar that have people talking. “The smoothies are all nat- ural, refreshing and taste re- ally good. I will definitely be back to the Pirates Caves to get more for sure,” said Shamika Bartley, ordering the first fruit smoothie of the day. Kimberly Salgado, blending up a concoction for a customer, said it was some- thing good to bring to the community. She says a special dash of love makes her smoothies special. “Everybody can be selling the same product, but it’s all about how you approach, at- tend and care for your cus- tomer,” said Ms. Salgado. “For me, the smoothies are very refreshing, they use natural fruits. Sometimes we have papaya and local fruits, when in season. It is a good meal and you can also add peanuts, protein, oats and so forth, it’s healthy and has no additives.” The Treasure Den will also be offering delicious home- made cakes, sweets, coffee, drinks and local arts and crafts to those who come by from 9 a.m. to 5 in the after- noon, says Mr. Miller. The venue is also open for nonalcoholic functions such as fish frys, birthday parties and get-togethers. The place is also open for nonalcoholic functions such as fish frys, birthday parties and get-togethers. Smoothie drinks made from local fruits and vegetables are now on sale. Shamika Bartley, right, buys a smoothie from Kimberly Salgado. Patricia Sevik checks out the nature trail. Cave owner George Spencer Bodden stands at the entrance to the caves, which are being leased by Edwardo Miller and his partner. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY “These are the original caves of Cayman and many tourists and locals would love to see the place re-opened and a little more life and culture brought back into the town.” EDWARDO MILLER, entrepreneur, 2016 ORIENTATION DATES FOR GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS Name of SchoolDate & Time NOTE: Orientation for the primary schools is for new students and they need to be accompanied by their parent/guardian Sir. John A. Cumber Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 8:30am to 12:00pm George Town Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 8:00am to 10:00am Red Bay Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 9:00am to 12:00pm Lighthouse SchoolAugust 26th - 9:00am to 10:00am Savannah Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 9:00am to 10:30am Prospect Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 9:00am to 11:30am Bodden Town Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 9:00am to 11:30am Edna M. Moyle Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 8:30am to 10:00am East End Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 8:30am to 12:00pm West End Primary SchoolAugust 26th - 11:00am to 12:00pm Creek & Spot Bay Primary SchoolsAugust 26th - 9:00am to 10:30am All Primary Schools (including the Little Cayman Education Centre) reopen on August 29th at 8:30am John Gray High SchoolAugust 26th - Year 7 students’ induction: 8:00am to 2:50pm August 26th – New transfer students orientation (Years 8, 9, 10 and 11) 1p.m. to 2:50p.m. August 29th - School reopens for all students at 8:00am Clifton Hunter High SchoolAugust 26th - Year 7 students’ induction: 8:00am to 2:50pm August 26th – New transfer students’ orientation (Years 8, 9, 10 and 11): 9:00am to 11:00am August 29th - School reopens for all students at 8:00am Layman E. Scott Sr. High SchoolAugust 22nd - Year 12 student induction: 10:00am to 11:30am August 26th - New transfer students’ only orientation: 9:00am to 11:00am August 29th - School reopens for Years 7-11 at 8:00am August 29th - School reopens for Year 12 students at 8:00am C.I. Further Education Centre August 29th - Year 12 students collect exam results and receive initial consulting: 8:00am to 3:00pm August 30th - Year 11 students collect exam results and receive initial consulting: 8:00am to 3:00pm September 1st - School reopens for all students at 8:10amThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 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. THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, AUG. 25 NORTH SIDE MEETING: The North Side District Council will host representatives from the Agricultural Society at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed farm roads that will affect the Hutland area. All are invited. BRAC COURT: Summary Court in Cayman Brac, Aston Rutty Centre. Today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. A WALK THROUGH WATERCOLORS: Join art critic Emé Paschalides for a special discussion and walkthrough of the National Gallery’s watercolor exhibition, “A Legacy of Light.” This program is free. Refreshments will be available. Doors open at 5 p.m. Discussions begin at 5:30 p.m. For more details or to RSVP, email education@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. SME WORKSHOP: “Getting the Most Out of Media Solutions, IT and Telephony,” a Chamber of Commerce course. 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, AUG. 26 DANCE REGISTRATION: The Cayman Islands National Dance Company – Dance Unlimited holds registration to dance 2016-2017. Returning dancers registration is today, 5:30-6:30 p.m. New dancers registration is Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to noon at the Mirco Centre, unit #218. Dancers are from 3 years to adults. SATURDAY, AUG. 27 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION/ HEALTH FAIR: Kings Sports Centre on Crewe Road invites everyone to a Customer Appreciation Day and Health Fair with free bungee jumping, rock climbing, group fitness class and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WATERCOLOR PLAY: Family Day at the National Gallery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free family fun art activities based on the watercolor exhibition, “A Legacy of Light.” Activity sheets and art activities will be available for children of all ages in the National Gallery. Self-guided tour packs can be collected at reception for families to use as they explore the temporary exhibition. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase in the Art Café. Admission is free and open to all ages. For more information, email education@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: 10-11 a.m. at the National Gallery. Have fun with all kinds of water-based paints. Unlock creativity and discover new ways to apply paint to paper. Explore pattern, shape and color. All materials are provided and the event is open to children of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a free drop-in event, but the workshop is limited to 20 students, so pre-registration is a must. Email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. SUNDAY, AUG. 28 BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUN DAY: Airport Park, 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. The Community Services Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church hosts this event for children while providing them with some needed school supplies, including bags, books, pencils. Entertainment includes bouncing castles and water slides, face-painting and refreshments. A health booth will inform parents on how they can provide healthy foods and snacks for students. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31 JOB FAIR: The Cayman Islands Prison Service, Fire Service and Police Service hold a joint recruitment drive in a bid to hire Caymanian officers and firefighters. The job fair takes place at George Town Town Hall from 3-6 p.m. Potential applicants can learn more about the career options available at each agency. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Offered by Visual Arts Society today for adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle grounds. $15 pp/$25 pp non-members. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities are available. More information at info@visualartcayman.com. GENERAL INTEREST BOOK SALE: The Red Cross Thrift Shop holds a bag book sale until Aug. 31. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a bag for only $5. VOLUNTEER TEACHERS SOUGHT: The CXC Education Programme, offering all adults a second chance at an education, invites volunteer teachers to apply. A variety of courses are offered at basic, intermediate and CXC exam levels. Also offered are skills-oriented subjects such as QuickBooks, cosmetology and dressmaking. Registration is Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. at the John Gray High School Auditorium; classes begin on Sunday, Sept. 18. Students may register for as many courses as they can manage; registration fee is $100 to cover books and other supplies for the year. For more information, visit www.education. adventisteducation.org or call Dr. L. Smith, 325-6462, or Mrs. L. Wynter-Young, 938-3701. VOLUNTEERS FOR PIRATES WEEK: The Pirates Week Office is seeking volunteers to assist in the planning of its upcoming events. The Festival staff acknowledges the value of volunteers and what they have to offer. For more information or to receive a volunteer application from, contact the Pirates Week Office via email at info@piratesweekfestival. com or 949-5859. VISUAL ARTS: Learn more about Literacy Month this coming September, and two Roald Dahl art inspired competitions over August and September. For more information contact info@visualartcayman.com 546-9422 or jar.was@gmail.com. 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. 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. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards, etc., in good condition always needed. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay Artisans Market every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale between noon and 8 p.m. near KARoo restaurant. For more information on displaying work, visit vascayman@gmail.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays in August. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant, located in Camana Bay. 7 p.m. to close. No fee, easels are provided. Participating artists receive two complimentary tickets for house wine or beer. vascayman@gmail.com SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Cross headquarters. Book bargain every Thursday and Friday, a bagful for $5. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Cayman has three chapters of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Grand Cayman club meets at George Town Public Library, 3rd floor, 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. Eloquent Speaker club meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. at Savannah United Church Hall. Eminent Orators club meets 2nd and 4th Monday 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Cayman Academy Canteen. Contact George R. Ebanks at 916-0687/322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail. com for more information. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Family Day at the National Gallery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, offers free art activities based on the watercolor exhibition ‘A Legacy of Light.’The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 Colombia gov’t, rebels near peace deal Colombia’s president said Wednesday that government negotiators and leftist rebels were putting the final touches on a peace deal that they hoped to announce within hours. We would like to thank all of our Cayman family for all their heartfelt wishes and owers we received, following the news of my father’s passing. On behalf of myself and my family, your love and support has helped us through this very sad time. Jane & Richard Clinton Foundation donors got access to Hillary Clinton A sports executive who was a major donor to the Clinton Foundation and whose firm paid Bill Clinton millions of dollars in con- sulting fees wanted help get- ting a visa for a British soccer player with a criminal past. The crown prince of Bah- rain, whose government gave more than $50,000 to the Clin- tons’ charity and who partici- pated in its glitzy annual con- ference, wanted a last-minute meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. U2 rocker and philanthro- pist Bono, also a regular at foundation events, wanted high-level help broadcasting a live link to the International Space Station during concerts. In each case, according to emails released Monday from Hillary Clinton’s time as sec- retary of state, the requests were directed to Clinton’s deputy chief of staff and con- fidante, Huma Abedin, who engaged with other top aides and sometimes Clinton her- self about how to respond. The emails show that in these and similar cases, the donors did not always get what they wanted, particu- larly when they sought any- thing more than a meeting. But the exchanges, among 725 pages of correspon- dence from Abedin disclosed as part of a lawsuit by the conservative group Judicial Watch, illustrate the way the Clintons’ international net- work of friends and donors was able to get access to Hillary Clinton and her inner circle during her tenure run- ning the State Department. The release of the corre- spondence follows previous disclosures of internal emails showing a similar pattern of access for foundation con- tributors, and it comes as Re- publicans allege that Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, used her perch in the Obama administration to trade favors for donations. Clinton and the founda- tion have vigorously denied the charge. The disclosures also cast new doubts on Clinton’s past claim that she turned over all her work-related email from her private server to the State Department for eventual re- lease to the public. Judicial Watch said Mon- day’s release from Abedin’s inbox included 20 previously undisclosed exchanges with Clinton that were not in- cluded in the approximately 55,000 pages of correspon- dence the former secretary gave to State. Also Monday, the State Department said the FBI had turned over nearly 15,000 emails and other doc- uments that investigators discovered during a probe of Clinton’s email setup that she had not previously re- turned to State. Clinton has said about 30,000 personal emails were deleted from the server. The FBI batch includes emails and attachments that were sent directly to or from Clinton, or that were part of email chains. FBI Director James B. Comey has said there is no evidence that emails were purposefully deleted with an intent to conceal them, and a State Department spokesman said Monday that some of the records included emails that were purely personal. It is not clear when the documents discovered by the FBI will become public, but attorneys for the State Depart- ment and Judicial Watch are negotiating a release that is likely to begin before the elec- tion and continue long after. Josh Schwerin, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said in a statement Monday that Ju- dicial Watch is a “right-wing organization that has been going after the Clintons since the 1990s” and that the group is “distorting facts to make utterly false attacks.” “No matter how this group tries to mischaracterize these documents, the fact remains that Hillary Clinton never took action as Secretary of State because of donations to the Clinton Foundation,” he said. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters Monday that there is “no clear sign” do- nors received access for their contributions. The emails released Monday showed how re- quests from donors would often come through Doug Band, a longtime Bill Clinton aide who helped create the foundation, with Abedin as a primary point of contact. Band declined to comment on the newly released emails, and attorneys for Abedin did not respond to a request for comment. There is no indication from the emails that Abedin intervened on behalf of Casey Wasserman, an LA sports ex- ecutive who in 2009 asked Band for help getting a visa for a British soccer star trying to visit Las Vegas. Band indi- cated that the office of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) had already declined to help, given the player’s criminal re- cord. A Boxer spokesman de- scribed the request to her of- fice as “routine” but one which Boxer did not assist, “given the facts of the case.” “Makes me nervous to get involved but I’ll ask,” Abedin wrote to Band in May 2009 after he forwarded to her an email from Wasserman. Band responded: “then dont.” Wasserman’s charitable foundation has given the Clinton Foundation between $5 million and $10 million. In 2009 and 2010, his in- vestment company paid Bill Clinton $3.13 million in con- sulting fees. A spokeswoman for Was- serman said the businessman never contacted Bill Clinton on the matter and the visa was never granted. Band and Abedin also re- sponded dismissively when asked if they had any ideas on how to help Bono get his space station transmis- sion: “No clue,” they each re- sponded in turn. The appeal appears to have had more success in the case of Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the crown prince of Bahrain. In June 2009, Band emailed Abedin that the prince would be in Wash- ington for two days and was seeking a meeting with Hillary Clinton. “Good friend of ours,” he added. Abedin responded that the prince had already requested a meeting “through normal channels” but that Clinton had been hesitant to commit. Two days later, Abedin fol- lowed up with Band to let him know that a meeting with the prince had been set. “If u see him, let him know. We have reached out thru official channels,” she wrote to Band. Bahrain has a spotty human rights record but full relations with the U.S. government. In a statement, the court of the crown prince said his participation at a 2005 foun- dation event “happened years before and was wholly un- related to any meeting with Secretary Clinton,” adding that the prince is deputy head of state of an American ally and so he often meets with U.S. officials. The new disclosures come as the Clinton Foundation and its international network of powerful donors have re- turned to the forefront of the presidential campaign. On Monday, Bill Clinton sent an email to founda- tion staff and supporters outlining new steps and of- fering a defense of the foun- dation’s accomplishments. He wrote that the foundation would stop accepting corpo- rate and foreign donations if Hillary Clinton was elected and that he would step down from the charity’s board, along with the board of a re- lated Boston-based health organization. While he said his role would change, “the work itself should continue because so many people are committed to it and so many more are relying on it.” © 2016, The Washington Post The disclosures cast new doubts on Clinton’s past claim that she turned over all her work-related email from her private server to the State Department for eventual release to the public. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary ClintonFBI Director James ComeyFormer President Bill ClintonNext >