ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 High of 89 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 YET ANOTHER BRUSSELS BLUNDER SPORTS | PAGE 16 ARGENTINA SALVAGES DRAW AGAINST VENEZUELA Personal Insurance In 1984, customers knew us as BritCay. In 2016, they and the next generation still do. Your insurance cover with BritCay is supported by a group of companies managing $390 million in insurance and pension contributions. More cover, more benefits, more security. 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 HSA will sue to recover debts BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands public hospital system will begin suing patients or businesses that owe healthcare debts, the agency’s chief executive told lawmakers Wednesday. The Health Services Authority, the entity that runs the Cayman Islands Hospital and associated health clinic operations, reported in June that its provision for “doubtful debts” for health services (those more than a year old) stood at $90 million. The figure represents the amount of pa- tient fees the authority estimates it has not collected for one reason or another for at least 366 days. Some of the debts date back more than a decade, HSA Chief Executive Officer Lizzette Yearwood said Wednesday, and have little chance of being recovered. However, Ms. Yearwood said, for some of the more recent uncollected debts, the authority intends to enlist the help of local law firms – via a request for proposal process – to assist the hospital system in rounding up delinquent payers. “Going forward, all debt that is owed to the Health Services Authority will be pursued to the full extent of the law,” she told the Legis- lative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, adding that requests for proposals are due out Friday to invite local firms to assist the HSA in collecting the debts. The public hospital system has long taken the position, formally doing so in 2010, that it would not sue local residents to collect on past due healthcare payments. In some cases, liens have been placed on local properties to recover the amounts, but no lawsuits have been filed. Ms. Yearwood clarified that most of the current bad debt figure is likely to be unrecov- erable, but that her staff estimates some $10 OXITEC’S GM MOSQUITOES STARTING TO SHOW IMPACT CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Researchers studying the release of genet- ically modified mosquitoes in West Bay say they are starting to see the gene show up in mosquito larvae, meaning those mosquitoes likely will not survive to adulthood. Oxitec, the British company that developed the GM mosquitoes, and Cayman’s Mosquito Research and Control Unit began releasing hundreds of thousands of male GM mosqui- toes in a small section of West Bay in July. The idea is that the GM males will mate with local females and pass on a gene that prevents the next generation from surviving to adulthood. The GM mosquito project targets Aedes aegypti, the species responsible for carrying Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Oxitec Operations Manager Renaud La- croix said his team is starting to find mos- quito larvae in the test area with the gene marker, meaning the GM mosquitoes are starting to mate with the local population. He estimates that about 10 percent of the local female mosquitoes have mated with Oxitec’s males at this point. “It takes a few months for the reductions to be visible,” he said, because “it takes time to build up the numbers.” He said the results his team is seeing now are on track with previous research. Mr. Lac- roix explained that the male GM mosquitoes take time to replace the wild population. Ox- itec researchers are releasing about 400,000 modified mosquitoes each week in the 300- acre test zone. As the releases continue, researchers ex- pect to see more and more females mating with the GM males and, in turn, fewer Aedes aegypti surviving to adulthood and fewer wild males to mate with. For some children, maritime careers a hard sell JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com At a session on seafaring at George Town Primary School on Tuesday, students were intro- duced to career opportunities in the maritime industry. Jobs in the sector are adventurous and well paid, the Year 6 students were told. But for some of the students, a career in the maritime in- dustry proved to be a hard sell. They said they preferred a career “on land.” “It’s much safer and we will not drown,” a student shouted. “We are afraid to die,” a girl added. Students were shown a slide presentation on the various ca- reers that a life in the maritime industry offers. The 40 students gathered in the school hall were listening to a presentation from female maritime industry leaders, who are attending the inaugural Con- ference of the Women in Mari- time Association, Caribbean. “What we are doing is vis- iting different schools with the maritime ladies attending the conference from around the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » Kurt Randolph free dives on the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. - PHOTO: COURTNEY PLATT Into the blue Cayman freediver takes on world’s best JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands dive instructor is traveling to Greece this month to compete in the Freediving World Championships. Kurt Randolph, originally from Ohio, qualified for the U.S. national team by diving to 75 meters on a single breath at the Deja Blue competition in Grand Cayman earlier this year. He will compete in a three-man, three-woman team in Kalamata, Greece, against some of the best breath-hold divers in the world. Randolph, who works for Sea Trek and Snuba Cayman, is one of a growing com- munity of free divers in the Cayman Is- lands. He finished second in the interna- tional competition held here in May. He said he is excited to have the op- portunity to compete with the best in the world and hopes Team USA can finish in the top three. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 »2 REGIONAL NEWS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 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 - SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ (PG13) 1:20 | 10:00 DONT BREATHE (R) 12:50 | 3:00 | 5:10 | 7:30 | 9:45 MECHANIC RESURRECTION (R) 1:10 | 3:40 | 7:20 | 10:10 WAR DOGS (R) 1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:40 PETE’S DRAGON 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:15 2D | 6:45 | 9:30 2D SUICIDE SQUAD 3D (PG13) 12:45 | 3:50 2D | 6:55 | 9:50 2D 640-FILM (640-3456) PESTEL, Haiti (AP) – Fishermen gathered eagerly at a rickety wooden pier to wel- come a boat carrying Haiti’s most divi- sive and provocative political candidate. The crowd quickly cleared a path as Guy Philippe stepped to shore and began shaking hands and slapping backs. More people emerged to see the man whose face adorns campaign posters on one- room shacks in a community isolated from the rest of the country by forested mountains and rutted roads. Philippe is reviled by some Haitians as a leader of the 2004 rebellion that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aris- tide. He is wanted on decade-old drug- trafficking charges by U.S. authorities. And last week, a Haitian judge ques- tioned him about a deadly May raid on a police station after he rebuffed previous subpoenas. Yet Philippe appears to be revered in the rural Grand’Anse region of southern Haiti. Many already call him “senator” as he seeks to win a seat in a runoff election scheduled for Oct. 9 – a victory that would give him immu- nity from arrest and prosecution in his homeland as well as political power that he has long craved. “He’s like a father for this area,” said Christin Pierre Louis, who was among those welcoming Philippe to the village. Elsewhere, many see him as a trou- bling symbol of Haiti’s wider problems. “There is an accountability vacuum in Haiti that means people implicated in past human rights violations can run as popular candidates with no fear of in- vestigations, much less prosecutions, of alleged abuses,” said Amanda Klasing, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch. The fugitive candidate, who looks much younger than his 48 years, allowed Associated Press journalists to spend a day with him in his Pestel stronghold. It’s a remote municipality in the rugged mountainous region that has been his refuge since U.S. Drug Enforcement Ad- ministration agents barely missed cap- turing him in a 2007 raid at his house in the south coast city of Les Cayes. He says he wants to bring prosperity to Haiti’s mountainous southern penin- sula, which features clear blue waters and lush forests but has scarce elec- tricity, little infrastructure and wide- spread hunger. Philippe insists he is innocent of any crimes, blaming the accusations on ene- mies trying to silence him. He has partic- ular rancor for Haiti’s caretaker president. “The path I chose, the way I chose, is not easy. But I chose it and I’m willing to die for it,” Philippe told AP journal- ists, who made the teeth-rattling drive to his stronghold along a dirt road that has been lined with boulders so barricades can be erected at a moment’s notice. In Pestel, where his father served as mayor, Philippe is the undisputed boss. Downing bottles of Prestige beer, he held court at the town’s only hotel, which he owns. He occasionally barked orders to supporters, socialized with a coterie of hangers-on and doled out favors. At a gazebo he built for the town on a waterfront promenade, he made an open invitation to former soldiers to relocate to Pestel. Haiti’s military was abolished in 1995, but veterans like Philippe and their supporters have long demanded the army be reconstituted. “They can come to Pestel – land of liberty,” he said, flashing a grin. While Philippe insisted he holds great respect for law enforcement as a former police commander and soldier, he warned that any uniformed officials trying to capture him in his tropical out- post will be met with force. “We’ll consider them as mercenaries and we will fight them,” he said. Philippe denied reports he has stock- piles of weapons, but two T65 assault rifles and a pair of M-1 carbines were visible inside a roadside shack where a lookout stood guard. Philippe’s candidacy for a Senate seat is the latest chapter in a colorful life. In 2000, he was police chief of the northern city of Cap-Haitien, the coun- try’s second largest city, when he bolted to the neighboring Dominican Republic after accusations he was plotting a coup. While in exile, he was accused of mas- terminding attacks on Haitian police stations and other targets. He returned in 2004 to join an up- rising against Aristide, taking over a band of rebels that captured Cap- Haitien. Aristide left the country aboard a U.S.-supplied jet before Philippe’s rebels reached the capital. After rolling triumphantly into Port- au-Prince, Philippe proclaimed himself “military chief.” But he gave up his arms as a U.N. stabilization force geared up. He ran for president in 2006, fin- ishing a distant ninth. A year later, heavily armed U.S. and Haitian anti-drug agents raided his home in Les Cayes but found only his family and a maid. U.S. agents came in several Black Hawk helicopters. A fugitive poster from the DEA said he is wanted on charges including con- spiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. But the decade-old U.S. indictment charging him is sealed and federal pros- ecutors decline to discuss the case. Philippe faces questions about a May 16 assault on the Les Cayes po- lice headquarters. As many as 50 armed men wearing camouflage or faded green uniforms attacked the station, stealing guns and killing one police officer and wounding another. His lawyer, Reynold Georges, con- firms that Philippe is named on a Hai- tian warrant involving the attack, but says his client had no involvement. From remote stronghold, fugitive seeks political power A victory for Philippe, a former rebel wanted by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking, would give him immunity from arrest and prosecution in his homeland. In this Aug. 25 photo, Guy Philippe, center, is surrounded by supporters as he campaigns for senator in Corail, Haiti. - PHOTOS: AP MIAMI (AP) – Authorities searched in the Bahamas waters for a U.S. cit- izen who went overboard from a cruise ship before dawn Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard said the 32-year-old woman apparently fell from the 11th deck of the Carnival Ecstasy as the ship passed near the is- land of Grand Bahama. Carnival Cruise Line re- ported that she was wit- nessed jumping overboard. A statement from the cruise company said that emergency procedures were initiated immedi- ately and the crew began to search for the woman. The U.S. Coast Guard air- craft and two ships went to an area about 27 miles (about 43 km) southwest of the island of Grand Ba- hama to look for her. The cruise ship had left Nassau, Bahamas and was en route to Charleston, South Caro- lina at the time. The woman’s name and hometown were not released. Bahamas cruise ship passenger goes overboard MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Trucks equipped with blowers are driving through South Beach to spray pesticides that kill mosquito larvae. The city announced in an email Monday that it’s using Buffalo Tur- bine trucks to fight the Zika virus. Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control began driving the trucks through the 1.5-square- mile infection zone early Tuesday. Another run was scheduled early Wednesday. County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in a statement the trucks will continue targeting target mosquito breeding areas for a month. The county also plans to begin aerial spraying of an insecticide called naled over South Beach. Some Miami Beach residents and elected of- ficials oppose using naled because of toxicity con- cerns. Gimenez says state and federal health offi- cials assure county of- ficials that it’s safe. The city commission has scheduled a workshop Wednesday about the aerial spraying. SOUTH BEACH MOSQUITOES FACE ATTACK FROM LAND, AIR3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 GE APPLIANCES LABOUR DAY SALE SALE ENDS 10th Sept Police employee misses her court date Magistrate told that one defendant ‘left for Canada’ CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two civilian employees of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service were due in Summary Court on Tuesday on charges that included breach of trust, but only one appeared. Sara Connor, 37, attended and had charges against her sent to the Grand Court, where she is to appear on Sept. 16. Magistrate Valdis Foldats extended her bail until then. The second defendant, Siscely Solomon, was not present. The magistrate or- dered a warrant for her ar- rest, with no bail. This oc- curred at 12:37 p.m., after a police officer spoke quietly with Senior Crown counsel Tricia Hutchinson. Ms. Hutchinson then advised the court that Solomon “left for Canada two days ago.” Information on the charge sheets indicated that Solomon, 42, was of a Bodden Town address. Connor has an address in West Bay. Sept. 6, was the first day they were to ap- pear in court. They were formally charged in early Au- gust, at which time po- lice confirmed that both defendants remained on re- quired leave (paid suspen- sion) pending the outcome of their cases. The women had worked in the RCIPS finance department. Breach of trust is a cate- gory A offense, meaning that it can be tried only in the Grand Court. In Connor’s case, the charge was transmitted to the higher court, with further charges of obtaining by de- ception and false accounting also being sent because they were related. Connor was represented by attorney Margeta Facey-Clarke. In Solomon’s case, nothing was done with her charges. The deception charge al- leges that the women dis- honestly obtained goods from Kirk Supermarket by falsely representing that they were properly authorized to obtain goods using charge cards issued for a specified credit account provided by Kirk to the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service. The pe- riod covered by this charge is from Oct. 22, 2013 to July 18, 2015. A charge of false ac- counting alleges that be- tween Oct. 22, 2013 and March 31, 2016, the women dishonestly concealed from the financial controller for the RCIPS, records made for an accounting purpose – namely, purchase invoices for goods they had obtained for their own private use, with the police credit ac- count, with a view to gain for themselves. The breach of trust charge covers the period between Aug. 19, 2013 and March 31, 2016. Details are that Connor and Solomon, being public officers, com- mitted breaches of trust in connection with the duties of their office in that they used the credit account pro- vided to the RCIPS by Kirk Supermarket Ltd. to obtain goods from the supermarket for their own private use. Further, the charge alleges that they failed to repay in full the balance of that credit facility and continued to use it after April 30, 2015 to obtain goods from the supermarket for their own private use in circum- stances where there was no prospect that the balance would be repaid in a timely manner or at all. No monetary figures were stated in any of the charges. Ms. Hutchinson indicated that the amount of money involved appeared to be be- tween $5,000 and $7,000. Compass reporter Brent Fuller contributed to this story. Ms. Hutchinson indicated that the amount of money involved appeared to be between $5,000 and $7,000. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnacle medialtd.com Failing to produce doc- uments required by the Department of Labour and Pensions cost a busi- nessman $700 last week. Luis Farez-Benavidez, trading as Bananas Res- taurant and Bar, pleaded guilty to failing to comply when required to produce documents no later than Aug. 12, 2015. Crown counsel Candia James said the documents sought involved information such as pension and health insurance for staff. She added that sev- eral time extensions were given but the information had not been provided by a final deadline. Defense attorney John Furniss told Magistrate Valdis Foldats that the re- quired papers had now been submitted. He explained that Mr. Farez-Benavidez was the owner of the premises and the business, but the business was leased. Mr. Furniss told the court that the man running the bar had provided the informa- tion, but he took it to the wrong place. The attorney said he himself obtained a list of all the documents required; he gave the list to his client, who in turn got all of the documents together. “He has now explained to the tenant what is required in the future,” Mr. Furniss assured the court. The magistrate pointed out that the Labour and Pensions Department was trying to regulate mat- ters under the law to make sure employees were being treated fairly. “When docu- ments are not submitted, they can’t do their job effi- ciently,” he said. “I have to send a mes- sage that employers cannot hold up the work of the department,” the magistrate declared. He noted that the max- imum fine is $2,500. This of- fense was not the worst, so instead of imposing a fine of $1,000, he discounted that sum to $700 because of the guilty plea. “I have to send a message that employers cannot hold up the work of the department.” VALDIS FOLDATS, Magistrate Businessman fined for late paperworkThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS “Even by the usual Brussels standards of economic malpractice, Tuesday’s €13 billion (US$14.5 billion) tax assault on Apple is something to behold. The European Commission decided that Dublin’s application of Irish tax law to an American company violated European antitrust rules. Orwell would understand.” — Wall Street Journal editorial board, “Europe’s Apple Tax Ambush,” Aug. 30, 2016 It’s hard to imagine a more perfect introduction to a more distasteful state of affairs. Simply put, we agree with nearly all of the points made by the Wall Street Journal editorial board in its recent column on the European Commission’s attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Ireland and its legal arrangements with the Apple corporation. As the Journal observes, “Then again, this case isn’t about tax law. It’s about tax politics, and in particular the bureaucratic and left-wing frustration that low-tax gov- ernments are using normal accounting principles to deny high-tax governments more revenue booty.” From one financial services-dependent jurisdiction to another, we in the Cayman Islands can certainly commiserate with the frustration that people in Ireland may feel at the latest economic assault from Brussels. Perhaps not since Attila the Hun plundered Europe has there been such a shameless invasion into the affairs of a sovereign nation. It is almost unimaginable that a Brussels-based appointed “Competition Commissioner” (what on earth is a Competition Commissioner, and why would anyone want one?) would try to reach across the borders of Ireland and override decades-old decisions made by a democratically elected government, particularly ones that have proved so, dare we say, fruitful to the people of the country. Let’s be clear here: Apple and Ireland, with eyes wide open and surrounded by lawyers, signed a legal and binding agreement. Our view (and theirs) is that it cannot be undone or overridden by a Brussels bureaucrat. Appearing aside this editorial is an opinion column written by eminent economist Richard W. Rahn (who is an editorial director of our sister publication Cayman Financial Review). Dr. Rahn writes, “Forty years ago, Ireland was the poorest country in the EU; now it has the highest per capita income in the European Union, next to Lux- embourg. The Irish wisely decided that the way to improve their people’s lives was by adopting economic policies that would lead to high growth. […] The strategy worked extremely well. Businesses flocked to Ireland with its pro-business policies. Employment and real incomes soared.” And now the European Commission apparently wishes to undo Ireland’s hard work and reverse its suc- cesses, all in the name of “competition.” Bringing this a bit closer to home, the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph aptly characterized the European Commis- sion’s Apple action as “a textbook example of what is wrong with the EU, both economically and politically.” In the opinion of the Daily Telegraph’s editorial board, since the June Brexit referendum, European officials have demonstrated the falsity of many of the “Remain” camp’s arguments, particularly the central tenet that a vote for “Leave” was a vote against “economic openness.” According to the Daily Telegraph, “Indeed, the EU has done the opposite, showing that it is instinctively opposed to the free-trade and pro-business policies that are the best way to deliver prosperity, freedom and fairness.” We’ll end this editorial by citing a passage from one of our own, which appeared in the Compass in November 2014 after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, of all people, came under fire for deals made over the years by his Luxembourgian gov- ernment and international companies: “This Editorial Board supports Mr. Juncker and Luxembourg … based on the following principle: Every country must be able to write and enforce its own tax laws, without external interference, and without being compelled to act as another nation’s collection agency.” What’s good for Luxembourg is good for Ireland, and what is good for Ireland is good for Europe, for Cayman, and for the rest of the world. Yet another Brussels blunder RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHN PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Tax malpractice in the EU Why would the Irish gov- ernment argue against re- ceiving US$14.5 billion (yes that is a billion with a B) in income taxes that the Euro- pean Union says Apple owes it? The amount is greater than the entire Irish budget, yet they are saying, “No thank you.” Both the EU and the Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook, have engaged in tax malpractice. Politicians love the cor- porate income tax because it is a hidden tax, while good economists loath it. The pol- iticians can claim they are taxing the evil companies, ignoring the obvious fact that a corporation is nothing more than a legal way of doing business and that all taxes ultimately fall on indi- vidual people. The corporate tax is paid by its customers in higher prices, its workers in the form of lower wages, and by its stockholders in the form of lower returns. The corporate tax is a double tax in that it taxes income that has already been taxed. Prudent people save some of their after tax income, and may purchase corpo- rate stock. If the corporation earns a profit, it pays a cor- porate profits tax. The stock- holders then pay another tax on the dividends they receive from that same stream of al- ready taxed income. If in- vestors sell their stock at a higher nominal price than they bought it for, they pay a capital gains tax on the “profit,” even though much or even all of the price increase is due to inflation – which is not income. If the corporate income tax is zero, as it is in some countries, corporations would have more money to invest in R&D and new plant and equipment, en- abling them to produce more at lower cost, benefitting their customers. The compa- nies would also have more money to hire more workers at higher wages, all of whom would pay more personal in- come tax to the government. And finally, the corporations would have more money to pay more dividends, which are also taxed at the indi- vidual level. Over the long run, abolishing or at least drastically lowering the cor- porate income tax rate (rather than just reducing it) is more likely to increase government revenue – because of higher growth and better allocation of resources. Forty years ago, Ireland was the poorest country in the EU; now it has the highest per capita income in the Eu- ropean Union, next to Lux- embourg. The Irish wisely decided that the way to im- prove their people’s lives was by adopting economic poli- cies that would lead to high growth. One of those key policies was to have a lower corporate income tax rate (12.5 percent) than the other major countries in Europe so when companies were trying to decide where in Europe to put their headquarters and other operations, they would choose Ireland. The strategy worked extremely well. Busi- nesses flocked to Ireland with its pro-business poli- cies. Employment and real incomes soared. Other coun- tries took note and began to reduce their corporate tax rates, so now the average corporate tax rate in the EU is about 24 percent. Meanwhile, Congress and tax officials back in the United States engaged in tax malpractice by imposing a 35 percent federal corporate income tax rate – way above the revenue maximizing rate. In addition, many states have corporate income taxes, which makes the total rate even higher. If one business has a lower tax rate than an- other, it has a competitive advantage and, other things being equal, will eventually drive the company facing the higher tax bill out of busi- ness. In order to survive, many companies have moved their headquarters to other countries with lower tax rates – thus depriving the United States of the tax revenue and jobs. Many politicians accuse corporate leaders of being disloyal by moving – when what they are really doing is attempting to survive and protect themselves against destructive U.S. tax and regu- latory policies. Corporate executives spend collectively hundreds of millions of dollars hiring tax lawyers, accountants, and lobbyists to figure out how to minimize their tax bills. If companies spent a small fraction of what they now spend to get around the existing tax laws on edu- cating the public and opinion leaders about the destruc- tiveness of the corporate tax – to get the necessary legis- lative changes – they would be operating in the best in- terests of their customers, shareholders and workers. The total amount of money collectively spent by business associations, think tanks, other public policy or- ganizations, and academics on trying to educate people about the corporate tax prob- ably at most runs into a few million dollars. If just Apple had spent less than 10 per- cent of the almost US$15 bil- lion it is now being fined by the EU on a public infor- mation campaign about the destructiveness, including misallocation of resources, caused by the corporate in- come tax, the tax could have been abolished. It is unlikely that Apple or other major multinational corporations could find any investment that would provide a higher rate of return than getting rid of, or at least drastically lowering, the corporate in- come tax rate. The fact they haven’t done so is a form of malpractice and misman- agement. Stockholders need to make their voices known. I own a few shares of Apple stock, and I am sending this column to Tim Cook. Richard W. Rahn, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. © 2016, The Washington Times Over the long run, abolishing or at least drastically lowering the corporate income tax rate [...] is more likely to increase government revenue – because of higher growth and better allocation of resources.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Multiple offender wins sentence reduction Appeal judge applies totality principle CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A prison term of seven years was reduced to five-and-a-half years fol- lowing an appeal to the Grand Court on Friday by Donald Calvin Hooker. Hooker, 42, was sentenced in Summary Court in April for two bur- glaries, two thefts, a criminal tres- pass and traffic offenses. He told Magistrate Philippa McFarlane of his intention to appeal because he thought her sentence was “very harsh and excessive.” He complained that the magistrate had considered his previous convictions when she listed the aggravating and mitigating factors in each incident. Attorney John Furniss pre- sented this argument to Justice Michael Mettyear, but switched to the “totality principle” at the judge’s invitation. This basis for sentencing has been used for years. It was ex- plained in the sentencing guidelines issued by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in October 2015. It states: “The Court, when sen- tencing for more than a single of- fence, should pass a total sentence which reflects all the offending be- havior before it and at the same time, is a sentence which is just and proportionate. This is so whether the sentences are concurrent or consecu- tive. Thus, concurrent sentences will ordinarily be longer than a single sentence for a single offence. It is usually impossible to arrive at a just and proportionate sentence for mul- tiple offending simply by adding to- gether notional single sentences. It is necessary to address the offending behavior, together with the factors personal to the offender as a whole.” Crown counsel Nicole Petit pointed to Hooker’s record of of- fending. When he was last sentenced, he had 65 previous convictions, in- cluding burglary, and other dishon- esty and drug-related offenses. Justice Mettyear summarized the cases for which Hooker had been sentenced most recently: a residen- tial burglary in which the house was ransacked and items of sentimental value were stolen; a residential bur- glary in which expensive tools were taken; theft of items valued at $450 from a car; theft of clothing with an unknown value from a Red Cross do- nation container; criminal trespass, with nothing taken. The incidents occurred between 2012 and 2015. Hooker pleaded guilty to all, telling the court that drug addiction was at the root of his behavior. Justice Mettyear referred to the magistrate’s written ruling. She said she had kept the principle of totality at the forefront of her mind. He said he accepted that she had considered it, but he did not see how she had applied it. In his judgment, seven years was too long: he noted that the crimes were non-violent, non- sexual and “committed by a hope- less addict.” He agreed with the magistrate that the burglaries were the most serious offenses and he upheld the sentences of 34 and 22 months, to be served consecutively. The other sentences were reduced, with some running concurrently for a total of 66 months. The judge said he saw nothing wrong with the magistrate’s indi- vidual sentences, but when a court looks at all the offenses, it need not go through a mechanical process of assigning sentences and adding them up. He suggested setting a global sentence for the overall offending and then stepping back to adjust in- dividual sentences accordingly. The totality principle for sentencing has been used for years. Government says it won’t get into ‘medical tourism’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although it has been granted the legal designa- tion to participate in “medical tourism,” the government has no intention of going into that business, public health officials said Wednesday. Health Services Authority Chief Executive Lizzette Yearwood confirmed to the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee that it had applied to be registered as a medical tourism facility – the same as a number of other private healthcare operations in the islands had done – since the designation was created to accommodate Health City Cayman Islands. Ms. Yearwood said this was done on the HSA’s behalf be- cause it did “not want to be restricted” in treating a person who came to the islands solely to seek medical services. In such a case, any facility pro- viding those services would re- quire a legal designation as a medical tourism facility. “It’s just to be able to enable us to do charity work if that need arises,” Ms. Yearwood said. “It’s not part of our business strategy going forward.” The Health Services Au- thority has turned a small “profit,” according to govern- ment accounting rules, for the past several years but it is not a “for profit” operation. For instance, in the 2013/14 HSA budget, which was re- viewed by the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, the authority reported $96.4 million in total revenues against $92.8 million in total expenses. However, about $14.5 mil- lion in the agency’s revenues “came from government” in the form of what is termed an “eq- uity injection” for the year, the auditor general’s office reported. The cash injection given to a number of government en- tities is termed a “subsidy” by government economists, but public sector accountants view this as a payment for services the entity provides. “It’s just to be able to enable us t o do charity work if that need arises.” LIZZETTE YEARWOOD, CEO, Health Services AuthorityDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Visual Arts Society is offering three workshops, starting Sept. 19, with loca- tions still to be determined. On Mondays, students will have an opportunity to produce a mixed media work on canvas in a playful atmosphere. Students will use paints and other media to create texture on their canvas. The workshop will review contemporary abstract art, and students will use dif- ferent techniques, color theory and the application of materials to create their mixed media work. Workshop instructor Lisa Ebanks, an artist who combines her interior de- sign and artistic abilities to create mixed media works, fuses vibrant colors with feathers and various ma- terials for a unique result. She has extensive experi- ence in design and window treatments and has been painting since 2007. On Tuesdays, students can improve their skills by sketching a live model. The Figure Drawing workshops will cover core skills, al- lowing artists to develop their techniques. On Thursdays, Color Theory workshops are dedi- cated to learning skills used to understand color by ex- ploring the core elements of psychology, perspective and moods while working with opposing and compli- menting colors. These skills will be applied to the pro- duction of individual art works on suggested themes. The figure drawing and color theory workshops are taught by Chloe Good- fellow. Her aim is to create a learning environment that al- lows independence, enabling students to grow in confi- dence and self-esteem. Her overall goal in teaching is to respect each individual’s na- ture, psychological and phys- ical development, as well as instilling the attitude of lifelong learning. Ms. Good- fellow has 20 years’ experi- ence teaching art and design. The three workshops run from 7–9 p.m. and costs range from $25 to $40 de- pending on membership status with the Society. Drop-ins are welcome. “If you have an unpredict- able schedule, you don’t have to commit to the six weeks for mixed media or the 10 weeks for figure drawing and color theory,” said Visual Arts Society representative Mary McCallum. “If you are still able to attend 75 percent of the classes, you should be able to keep up and complete some fun art projects and learn new skills.” The Society also offers opportunities for artists to work on their projects in between classes at Open Canvas night at KARoo and at the Society’s open studios. The Society supports Art for Everyone and all abilities are welcome. Founded 35 years ago, the Visual Arts Society is a nonprofit organization with no corporate or government funding. The Society of- fers a membership for those who support the arts, and opportunities for the ac- tive artist or hobbyist to ex- hibit and grow their skills and networking. The Visual Arts Soci- ety’s main studio is on the grounds of Pedro St. James. For more information, email workshops@visualartcayman.com, and for membership email memberships@visualartcayman.com. Figure drawing workshops allow participants to practice with live models. Workshops will explore color theory. Visual Arts Society offers workshops In the Aug. 31, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “Miss Floris McCoy … has just received her B.A. degree from Warner Pacific College. Miss McCoy ar- rived from the U.S. on the 27th. She entered Warner Pacific College in September 1964 expecting to be there for about 3 years, but the Dean of the College, after evaluating her credits from former schooling, told her if she carried 17-18 hours each quarter she could get her degree in about 2 years. “As a result of this she worked very hard during the school year carrying 17 1/2 hours. At the end of her first quarter she said, ‘I felt as if I had completed one year’s work.’ During the summer she did a 2 years’ Spanish course in nine weeks, and worked 40 hours a week to support herself. This she says was very dif- ficult and she will never do anything like it again. “The school year of 1965- 1966 found Miss McCoy a busy graduating se- nior on campus. She re- calls many wonderful experiences, one of which was very surprising. She was chosen by the stu- dent body to represent her college during the annual homecoming activities … The college princess must be a person of high scho- lastic achievements who has made some outstanding contribution to the college. “In filling this role Miss McCoy not only represented Warner College but also her island home. This was also a second opportunity for her to appear on TV. “She will teach at Triple C School and hopes even- tually to read for her Master’s Degree.” In the Sept. 7, 1966 edi- tion Mr. Bodden wrote: “Miss Ercelle Connor has left on the 3rd for a visit with friends in Richmond, Jamaica. “The Cayman Brac plane was chartered on Tuesday the 30th to take little Bill Wood back to the Univer- sity Hospital in Jamaica. He was due to return after six weeks at home to have a 4th operation but his condition gave cause for concern and he was flown back with his mother and father. “News received at the weekend is that he is im- proving, and providing this continues, he will go into the theatre again tomorrow. “On Sunday evening Mr. Harry McCoy left to take his son, Harwell, back to school in Jamaica. Accompanying him was little Judy Wood, going to join her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Wood.” 50 YEARS AGO: Floris McCoy’s achievements lead to teaching “If you have an unpredictable schedule, you don’t have to commit to the six weeks for mixed media or the 10 weeks for figure drawing and color theory.” MARY MCCALLUM, Visual Arts SocietyDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Art campers gain insight on copyright This summer’s Visual Arts Society’s Kids Summer Art camp wrapped up re- cently after several exciting weeks of creative activities at the beautiful grounds of Pedro St. James, where the Society has an art and ce- ramic studio. After the children had completed their art proj- ects, camp instructors en- couraged them to date and sign their artwork, to un- derscore the importance of copyright protection. “This may seem a bit premature, as most people assume no one would be in- terested in using the kids’ work, however that is not the point,” said camp facili- tator and artist Lisa Ebanks. “No matter how old you are, you should know about your copyright protection rights,” said Ms. Ebanks. “You should respect and understand the rights of an author’s ownership to their videos, music, poems, and photographs. With the ex- tensive growth of our digital world, social media and ac- cess to imagery, it’s impor- tant as a creator and a user to understand copyright protection.” Cayman’s new copyright law was passed June 30, 2016. It incorporates the pro- tection of digital works such as website photos and con- tent, software, digital music and video, which did not exist when the U.K. law was extended to Cayman in 1956. “It is great to know Cayman is now up to date” Mrs. Ebanks said. “It’s time to learn about copyright protection so that we’re aware of our rights when we’re creating works, such as paintings, and we can be mindful of infringement on others’ artistic works.” The Visual Arts Society was formed over 30 years ago, growing and adapting to the progressive art scene in Cayman, and supports the jurisdiction’s extensive creative community. The Society offers oppor- tunities for artists to partic- ipate in art exhibits, events, and artisan markets where they can display their art- work for sale. The Society’s annual Arts and Craft Sale at Camana Bay takes place on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 and their Members Exhibit will be on display at the Dart Auditorium of the Na- tional Gallery during the month of January 2017. The society also of- fers learning opportunities through various workshops this year starting with Mixed Medium Mondays, Figure Drawing Tuesdays, and Color Theory Thurs- days. Ceramics are also a big part of what Society of- fers and open studios will be provided for artists to use ceramic tools, glazes and a kiln. The Kids’ Art Program is always growing and, apart from the summer camp, kids’ art activities have been incorporated at Society events and youth art exhibi- tion opportunities. The Visual Arts Society supports “Art for Everyone.” Summer art campers, from left, Primrose Johnson, Amelia Garnett, Hugo Johnson, and Zack Garnett show off their copyright-protected original creations. Artist attends Caribbean Linked program Bodden Town’s Simon Tatum recently had the op- portunity to attend the fourth Caribbean Linked artist resi- dency program in Aruba. Mr. Tatum, who is cur- rently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Drawing at the University of Missouri, was the first Caymanian artist to participate in the regional residency project for young and emerging Caribbean art- ists, which took place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 23. Mr. Tatum’s work focuses primarily on Caymanian his- tory and uses appropri- ated photographs from the Cayman Islands National Ar- chives. His work also draws upon themes of colonial his- tory, migration, and the ex- ploration of personal identity within the context of a Carib- bean cultural background. “My intention is to com- municate to the Caymanian people the condition of our history and how easily it can be manipulated by outside sources,” he said. “My work promotes in- formation literacy to further stimulate a creative society.” Since beginning his studies, Mr. Tatum has had his work shown in local gal- leries in Missouri, and has taken part in several group exhibitions since 2014. In 2014 he was one of 23 artists featured in the exhibition “tIDal shift – Explorations of Identity” in Contemporary Caymanian Art at the Na- tional Gallery of the Cayman Islands. It was during this exhibition that gallery di- rector Natalie Urquhart in- troduced Simon’s work to Ca- ribbean Linked executives. Caribbean Linked is or- ganized by Ateliers ’89 Foun- dation in collaboration with ARC Inc. and the Fresh Milk Art Platform Inc. It is aimed at building awareness across disparate creative commu- nities by bringing together emerging artists from An- glophone, Francophone, His- panic and Dutch Antillean Caribbean islands. This year 10 artists and one master artist took part. The residency acts as the foundation of a commu- nity of artists from all over the Caribbean and provides a space for artists, creative activists, writers and critics to build relationships and connections across the cre- ative industries, while de- veloping a stronger port- folio and participating in global conversations. “It is wonderful to see a young Caymanian artist chosen for such an exciting op- portunity,” said Ms. Urquhart. “Residencies, like Carib- bean Linked, not only offer artists time to work, but place artists in new com- munal contexts with new peers and mentors from all over the world. These fac- tors create an environment where artists can make sub- stantial jumps in their work in a short amount of time. The National Gallery is very proud to support Simon and watch him continue to achieve great things.” Speaking a week into the program, Mr. Tatum com- mented that during his time there he hoped to be chal- lenged and engaged by the other participants. “I feel very energized working around here amongst these other artists and I feel like my work is starting to grow due to the continuous contact I have with them,” he said. “I was surprised to learn that many of these artists have experience in dealing with issues that I address within my own artwork, co- lonial history, migration, and the exploration of personal identity within the context of a Caribbean cultural back- ground. It has made me re- alize that although all of our islands are unique, we still have many similarities and relations within our cultures that are worth sharing with one another.” He encouraged all Cay- manian artists to start seeking ways in which they can become more involved in the region. “The local arts within Cayman have been blos- soming in the last several years,” he said. “Now it is time for us to go beyond our own borders and reach out to our neigh- boring islands.” Artist Simon Tatum at the National Gallery ‘Boat Builder’ by Simon TatumTHURSDAY, SEPT. 8 WEST BAY NATIONAL TRUST: The West Bay District Committee of the National Trust holds its annual general meeting at 6:30 p.m. at John Gray Memorial Church Hall. All members and interested persons are invited. LUNCH AND LECTURE: Garden lunch and lecture at the National Gallery with the assistant curator. Lecture begins at noon. Lunch is served until 2 p.m. Kerri-Anne Chisholm will lead a walk-through of the exhibition “A Legacy of Light.” The lecture is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended for groups of four or more. For menu details email events@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. CHAMBER COURSE: Diversity in the Workplace; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce office, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; sign up online at www. caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 SEA SWIM: 32nd annual Foster’s Food Fair 800m sea swim, 4 p.m. at Governors Beach. Register from 3-3:45 p.m. $15 for adult CIASA members, $20 non-members. $10 children CIASA members, $15 non-members. 400m race for 12 and unders, not timed, $10 for all. Children receive ribbons, T-shirts, refreshments. SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 GRANDPARENTS DAY: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites everyone to the annual Grandparents Day service at 11 a.m. ADULT EDUCATION: Registration is today at 2 p.m. at the John Gray High School auditorium for the CXC Education Program, which offers all adults a second chance at an education. Volunteer teachers are invited 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. Classes begin on 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. TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 BRAC TRUST: The Cayman Brac Committee for the National Trust meets 7:30 p.m.,in the District Administration Conference Room. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14 THE BOOKENDS CLUB: Meets 6:30- 7:30 p.m. at Books & Books. All are invited to join members as they review their latest pick, “Up the Spiral Staircase” by Karen Armstrong. Share insights and impressions in an open discussion. The Bookends Club gathers on the second Wednesday of every month and new members are always welcome. FRIDAY, SEPT. 16 HAPPY HOUR ART: The National Gallery hosts a closing celebration of the watercolor exhibition “A Legacy of Light,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Organized by the Butterfield Young Patrons Circle, this event features live painting, nibbles and cocktails. Admission is free and curator-led tours will run every 30 minutes. To learn more about BYPC, email info@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. SATURDAY, SEPT. 17 COASTAL CLEANUP: Dolphin Discovery & Dolphin Cove Grand Cayman host the fourth annual Coastal Beach Cleanup in coordination with Ocean Conservancy. All volunteers are welcome to help at Barkers Beach in West Bay and Bodden Town Beach from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. BRAC 5K: The Cayman Brac Lions Club Brenda Tibbetts-Lund 5K Memorial Run/Walk takes place at 6 a.m. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Contact 925-7341 or 929-7884 for more information. TUESDAY, SEPT. 20 CHAMBER COURSE: Moving into Management; Today and tomorrow, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce office, Governors Square; $225 for members, $300 for future members. Sign up online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 FLOETRY: Meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Books & Books. All are invited to join poets and performers as they share their work during an open mic night of poetry and readings. Feel free to share your own work or come along and listen to others. THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 CHAMBER COURSE: Pensions Master class; 9-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce office, Governors Square; $175 for members, $225 for future members; sign up online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part 1; 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce office, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; sign up online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28 SKY OF HOPE: Synchronized lantern release on Seven Mile Public beach, 6-9 p.m. Presented by Cayman HospiceCare. Individual or family pass is $100, includes two eco-friendly lanterns and one bottle of bubbles/soft drink. Corporate pass is $1,000, includes up to 20 eco-friendly lanterns and 10 bottles of bubbles/soft drinks. Contact chc@candw.ky or 945-7447. THURSDAY, SEPT. 29 PALLIATIVE CARE: Free conference for medical professionals and all interested parties. St. Matthew’s University, Leeward 3 SafeHaven, West Bay Road. 3-9 p.m. Pre- registration preferred. 945-7447. www.caymanhospicecare.ky. GENERAL INTEREST AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Light of the World Church after-school program has resumed. Children ages 6 to 12 are supervised by qualified, experienced teachers from 3:30 p.m. The focus is on homework, with special emphasis on literacy and numeracy. The fee is $25 per week and includes a snack. For more information, call 926-1541. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Classes offered Mondays from Sept. 12 in mixed mediums. Tuesdays, from Sept. 13, figure drawing with live model. Thursdays, from Sept. 15, color theory. For more information, email workshops@visualartcayman.com. VOTERS REGISTER UPDATE: Election Office officials will visit all residents through September to get an accurate electoral list for the May 2017 elections because the electoral boundaries have changed. Election officials will register new voters and update the details on the existing voters’ list. They will carry IDs and items provided by the Elections Office to establish their bonafides. ROALD DAHL STORY TIMES & MOVIES: Sept. 1 through Oct. 1. Story times are Tuesdays, 11 a.m., Regal Cinemas for ages infant-4; Thursdays 3 p.m., Books & Books for ages infant-3; Saturdays, 10:30 a.m., Books & Books, ages 2-7. Movies are Saturdays 10 a.m., Regal Cinemas. Story times are free. Movies are offered at $5 per ticket. VOLUNTEERS FOR PIRATES WEEK: The Pirates Week Office is seeking volunteers to assist in planning its upcoming events. 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 in September, and two Roald Dahl-art-inspired competitions. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The 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 SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Bookends Club meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Books & Books. All are invited to join members as they review their latest pick, ‘Up the Spiral Staircase’ by Karen Armstrong.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 London nightlife at risk London’s mayor said the city’s status as a nightlife hub is under threat after one of its most famous nightclubs was ordered to close following drug-related incidents. The local council revoked the license of Fabric nightclub, saying staff had failed to control a ‘culture of drug use.’ CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, GT LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT: 11:30-4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11AM-3PM OPEN FOR DINNER Delivery After 5PM MON THUR: 5pm - 9:30pm • FRI SUN: 5pm - 10pm 945-3490 chinavillage@candw.ky UNICEF: Global conflicts uproot 28 million children UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Some 28 million children around the globe have been driven from their homes by violent conflict, with nearly as many abandoning their homes in search of a better life, UNICEF said in a report. The report released Tuesday found that while children make up about a third of the world’s popu- lation as of 2015, they ac- counted for nearly half of all refugees, with the number of child refugees having dou- bled in the last decade. “What’s important is that these children on the move are children. And they should be treated as chil- dren,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Director of Pro- grams in Geneva. “They de- serve to be protected. They need access to services, such as education.” According to the re- port, there were 10 million child refugees and one mil- lion child asylum-seekers, whose status had not yet been determined. The re- maining 17 million children displaced by conflict re- mained within their home countries’ borders. The report said 45 per- cent of the children ref- ugees came from just two countries: Syria and Afghanistan. Increasingly, these chil- dren are traveling alone, with 100,000 unaccompanied minors applying for asylum in 78 countries in 2015, three times the number in 2014, the report found. Be- cause these children often lack documents, they are es- pecially vulnerable. The report estimates an- other 20 million children are migrants, driven from their homes by poverty and gang violence among other things. Refugee and migrant children face a host of risks including drowning during sea crossings, malnourish- ment, dehydration, kidnap- ping, rape and murder. When they arrive in other coun- tries they often face discrim- inations and xenophobia, the report stated. “The world hears the stories of child refugees one child at a time and the world is able to bring sup- port to that child, but when we talk about millions it provokes incredible out- rage and underscores the need to address the growing problem,” said Emily Garin, the report’s author. Entitled, “Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children,” the report calls on the interna- tional community to provide protection, education and health services to these chil- dren and asks governments to address the root causes contributing to the large- scale movements of refugees and migrants. BERLIN (AP) – Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday strongly de- fended her government’s handling of the flood of migrants that crossed into Germany last year, but conceded that more still needs to be done and that concerns that have led to in- creasing support for an anti-immi- grant nationalist party need to be taken seriously. Merkel told lawmakers that since she addressed them at this time last year, Germany has managed to come a long way in dealing with the hun- dreds of thousands of migrants that flooded in to the country. “The situation is many times better than a year ago, but there re- mains a lot to do,” she said. On the weekend, Merkel’s Chris- tian Democratic Union suffered an embarrassing election performance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where Merkel has her parliamentary constituency, when it was beaten into third place by the nationalist, anti-immigration Alternative for Ger- many, known as AfD. The state is home to few mi- grants, but Merkel after the election conceded that the result was more about dissatisfaction with national issues rather than local matters. She told Parliament, where AfD is not represented, that the election was a “black eye” inflicted by “those who rely on slogans and seem- ingly simple answers.” She said that voters’ concerns “whether founded or unfounded, should be taken se- riously” by “all of us in this house,” noting that the party had taken away support from all other main parties. “I am quite sure that if we resist this and stick to the truth, then we will win,” she said. “And that way we will win back the most impor- tant thing that we need – the trust of the people.” In the past year, Merkel said, Germany has implemented policies speeding up integration measures for migrants with good prospects of staying, increased school funding to help their educations, and worked with cities and states to find solu- tions to local problems. But she said Germany still needs to improve the mechanism for quickly processing and returning home migrants who have little chance of being given asylum. She said Germany has also beefed up police and security forces to fight terrorism, but emphasized that “ter- rorism is not a new problem that came here with the refugees.” Crimes committed by migrants have become a central issue in the debate over whether the decision to let in so many newcomers last year was correct, particularly since a string of sexual assaults and rob- beries in Cologne on New Year’s eve. In a new report released late Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said the most recent figures showed the number of crimes committed by migrants in the first half of the year fell by more than a third. More than half of all cases were thefts, including shoplifting, or forgeries, including failing to pay for tickets on public transport. Just over 1 percent of crimes committed by migrants – 1,590 – were sexual as- saults, including threats. “In my view this shows that gov- ernment support and integration measures appear to be working,” Ol- iver Malchow, who heads the GdP police union, told the AP. Since the weekend election, Merkel has been under renewed pressure by her conservative coali- tion partner in the national govern- ment, Bavaria’s CSU, to introduce an upper limit to the number of refu- gees entering the country, including a new call Wednesday from Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. Germany this year has registered some 238,424 new arrivals from Jan- uary to July, though many entered early in the year and new arrivals are now running at around 16,000 per month. Merkel, who has vehemently re- jected previous calls for an upper limit, emphasized in Parliament that the numbers this year were drasti- cally reduced. Merkel was ostensibly making a speech about her government’s 2017 budget plans, but she only mentioned the proposal about three-quarters of the way into the address, saying that it would be the third year in a row that Germany would have a balanced budget and it had the lowest unem- ployment rate in 25 years. She said Germany needs to take a leadership role in global issues, including in the fight against ter- rorism, questions of “territorial in- tegrity” such as seen in Ukraine, and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. “We serve our country … best if we are guided by our values that made us become what we are today: that is freedom, that is secu- rity, that is justice and that is soli- darity,” she said. Merkel said the world is in “crit- ical condition” but added that “we can also tell the people that our country is in good shape.” “Germany will remain Germany with everything that matters to us,” she said. She said Germany has also beefed up police and security forces to fight terrorism, but emphasized that “terrorism is not a new problem that came here with the refugees.” In this photo (taken with reflections through windows at the visitors tribune), German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her speech during the budget 2017 debate at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP Syrian refugee children play outside their family tents in a camp in the town of Saadnayel, in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon. – PHOTO: AP Merkel defends strategy on migrantsNext >