High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Concerts in South Florida See Sia, adore Adele and get psyched about the Psychedelic Furs B2 ‘Deepwater Horizon’ Regal Camana Bay: Film about the ill-fated BP oil rig gets high marks B5 Events Food & Drin k Movies ■ THEATER ‘Breeze Through Broadway’ Cayman Drama Society brings hits from musicals to the local stage. B3 Cut-A-Thon for a cause Eclipze hosts its annual salon and spa day fundraiser B4 Wine that pairs with ‘80s hits In case you were wondering what goes well with AC/DC B6 Famil y owned and ope rated since 1984 14 store s island-wide and May Lou’s in Cayman Brac | Fo r more information , please call 949-770 1 A re gistered merch ant of CaymanGif tCertificates.com Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/T ortugaFineWines andSpirits 20% OFF on 750 ml. bot tles Triple distilled 10 0% pure Blue Agave Tequila • Silve r • Añej o • Resposa do • Selec t Barrel Reserve ® Family ow ned and operated since 1984 14 stores island-w ide and May Lo u’s in Cayman Brac | For mo re information, ple ase call 949-7701 A registere d merchant of CaymanGiftCertific ates.com Connect with us on Facebook: face book.com/Tortug aFineWinesandSpiri ts 20% OFF on 750 ml. bo ttles Triple distilled 10 0% pure Blu e Agave Tequila • Silv er • Añe jo • Resposa do • Selec t Barrel Reserv e ® STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertificates.com $ 7 OFF Regular $37.99. NOW ONLY $30.99. Offer valid for the month of October. Fine Wine and Spirits Family owned and operated since 1984 Family owned and operated since 1984 Family owned and operated since 1984 Family owned and operated since 1984 Family owned and operated since 1984 Family owned and operated since 1984 15 stores island-wide and mary Lou’s in Cayman Brac. For more information, please call 949-7701. The smoothness to blend in.The backbone to stand out. ‘Breeze Through Broadway’ CAYMAN WEEKENDER ‘Breeze Through Broadway’ EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 STEM CONFERENCE: LAUNCHING STUDENTS’ IMAGINATIONS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 PLANNING LAW CHANGES GIVE ‘TEETH’ TO DERELICT PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands lawmakers are attempting to tackle the problems of derelict cars and properties, as well as property fences built too close to roads, in changes to the Development and Planning Law approved late Wednesday. During a debate on the changes, Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden said there was one Savannah neighborhood where enforce- ment notices had been issued for derelict ve- hicles some time ago without corrective ac- tion being taken. “What enforcement takes place in the ser- vices of [property] notices … without correc- tive action?” Mr. Eden said. Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said he had received many of the same complaints from local property owners over the years and that the amendments to the law approved Wednesday were an attempt to address those issues. “This is a sore topic in the minds of many because it is felt now that people are really al- lowed to do as they please and there’s no teeth in the law,” Mr. Tibbetts said. The legal changes essentially give the plan- ning department wider powers to force in- dividuals, whether property owners or “the person responsible for causing the condition” of the property, to clean up their lands. Enforcement against dilapidated proper- ties under the amended law will include dilap- idated homes, walls and fences surrounding the property, as well as derelict vehicles and overgrown, weeded lots. An enforcement notice can be issued under the law if it appears to the planning authority Port tells car owners: ‘We’ve just dropped it’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A British couple’s retire- ment move to Grand Cayman got off to a disastrous start when they were told that someone had dropped their shipping container, causing thousands of dollars of damage. Paul and Sue Williams say they had planned their big move for three years. But when they arrived at the Cargo Distribution Centre last month to collect the container with their belongings, they say they were told, “We’ve just dropped it.” The windscreen of their Range Rover was cracked, the wheel rims were bent and the engine was damaged beyond repair. The customs seal on the container was broken and cloth covers from the vehicle appeared to have been used to mop up oil, Mr. Williams said. They were quoted $47,000 by a local garage to fix the ve- hicle, including $27,500 for a new engine. MCKEEVA BUSH ‘CONSPIRACY’ LAWSUIT Ex-governor Taylor served with writ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor has effectively been served with a civil lawsuit by West Bay MLA and Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, according to a Grand Court judgment issued this week. Closed-door legal arguments over whether and how Mr. Taylor could be officially served (notified) of Mr. Bush’s claims have delayed the lawsuit filed by the former Cayman Islands premier for about a year. Mr. Taylor is now the British ambassador to Mexico. This week’s ruling is significant, according to Mr. Bush’s senior attorney Michael Alberga, because it now forces former Governor Taylor to respond to the claims and raises the pos- sibility that Mr. Taylor might be called to the witness stand if the matter goes to trial. Mr. Bush’s initial writ of summons, filed against Mr. Taylor, former Police Commis- sioner David Baines and the attorney gen- eral (as the representative of the Cayman Is- lands government) on Oct. 21, 2015, alleged malicious prosecution of the former pre- mier and accused those named in the lawsuit of conspiring to make Mr. Bush lose his po- litical office. Mr. Bush has claimed that a number of police investigations of him during 2011-2012 were orchestrated with the goal of ultimately removing him as premier, which occurred via a “no confidence” vote of the Legislative As- sembly in December 2012. The opposition leader was later brought to trial on corruption charges in 2014. He was ul- timately acquitted. Mr. Bush filed the October 2015 lawsuit, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Flags at half-staff for Thai king Flags at the Government Administration Building in Grand Cayman were flown at half-staff Thursday to mark the death of the world’s longest-reigning monarch, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the king of Thailand. The Union and Cayman Islands flags will remain at half-staff Friday as part of an observance by the British government around the world in honor of the king, who died Thursday at the age of 88, after a 70-year reign. For more, see page 19. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Enjoy a Cimboco breakfast of *Two Eggs (Done to your liking) *Your Choice of Apple Smoked or Canadian Bacon *Herb Roasted Potatoes *Honey Wheat Toast For ONLY $5.00!!! Finish it o with a cup of Java for $1.99 Start your day o right! Mon-Fri * 7:30-11:00am *Except Holidays The Boulevard South Sound Ocean view lot .28 Acre gated community $169,900 Amazing Condo Sale Make Your Offer! Ocean Club 2 bed 2 bath pools $179,000 Cayman Realty Group Call Lin Ph: 5480000 Robot prototype designed to electrocute invasive lionfish TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com John Rizzi’s company is building a prototype robot designed to electrocute lion- fish – and then collect the corpses for consumption or re- search. Tests are scheduled to start next month. Mr. Rizzi is executive di- rector of RISE – Robots in Service of the Environment – which is taking a new approach to combatting exploding lion- fish populations throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean seas. He hopes to have an ini- tial test unit in the water by late November/early December, and to have an operational model by the following June. “We’ll do two or three trips to Florida, while a lot of the [development] work will be done in the shop,” he said. Essentially, the machine comprises a small underwater platform guided by two op- erators working from a boat. The platform, a remotely oper- ated vehicle, features two metal plates or paddles, which func- tion as electrodes. Raised and lowered by radio signals to the ROV, they descend on either side of the target fish. The operators throw a switch, triggering a modest current between the two plates and electrocuting the animal. A second mechanism col- lects the corpse. Lionfish have no known predators, so they are largely impervious to fear and remain still as the paddles appear on either side of them. “We are building an ROV now for our own experience,” Mr. Rizzi said. “It’s almost like a video game.” He acknowledges that lionfish populations have spi- raled nearly out of control up and down the U.S. east coast and throughout the warm Ca- ribbean waters. Mr. Rizzi’s first experience with the invasive species was through Colin Angle, iRobot’s CEO and designer of RISE’s remotely operated vehicle and its capture mechanism, control and vision systems. Mr. Angle was on a dive trip to Bermuda when he met local conserva- tionists who asked for help in controlling the lionfish popula- tion. The ROV was the result. Mr. Rizzi acknowledges that electrocuting lionfish one at a time is unlikely to ef- fect control of the popula- tion, but is reluctant to use the term “extermination.” “It’s only people that struggle with lionfish in places that are infested who really understand what is happening. We have to take a softer line – and we have to be realistic,” he said. “They are never going to be extermi- nated. They breed too quickly.” Peter Quilliam, director of operations at Little Cayman’s Central Caribbean Marine In- stitute, says lionfish spawn at a rate of 40,000 eggs every couple of days, more than 1 million per year. He and Mr. Rizzi agree that local culling programs and competitive “derbies” staged by local divers offer the best alter- native for the moment. “They all do great job,” Mr. Rizzi said. “The ROV, however, can go deeper and stay longer than a diver,” addressing at least some of the problems. “We remain open to any- thing,” Mr. Quilliam said, “but it’s very tricky to get that job done, and unless you can do better than culling, that re- mains the tried and tested way.” Rizzi’s ROV mechanism is unlikely to be a silver bullet. “I applaud the efforts,” Mr. Quilliam said, “but as far as applications, well, the reef structure is different here than in, say, the Bahamas. We have a drop off, the Bahamas is mostly sand. “Getting down to the depths could make a huge difference,” he said, but he worries that reef damage might drive off other marine life, leaving lion- fish unobstructed, “and that will have a devastating effect.” Divers trained to capture lionfish, he said, “work really well, and proves we can control them with culling.” Bradley Johnson, research officer at the Department of the Environment, remains guarded but open-minded about the RISE platform. “There have been quite a few different ideas as to how to combat and control lionfish,” he said, emphasizing that “at depth” is the critical battleground. Divers are unable to de- scend much more than 130 feet, he said, pointing to significant lionfish populations as deep as 1,500 feet. The ROV, in theory, could be a great thing, he said, but he worries about the practical applications. “What are the costs?” he asked, citing concerns about efficiency, development, value for money and even safely op- erating an electrocution device in saltwater. Mr. Rizzi was unable to pin- point costs, saying only that he recognizes an ROV has to be commercially viable, encour- aging a range of consumers, and has to be commercially priced. A lionfish between two culling paddles during tests of a prototype of a robot designed to electrocute the invasive species. This rendering of the Harvester Prototype Lionfish Hunter by Robots in Service of the Environment, or RISE, shows how a robot arm with two metal electrodes on the end could electrocute invasive lionfish. The deceased fish would then be collected in a central chamber. CORRECTION A story titled “Cabinet ap- proves sending landfill plan out for bids” on page 1 of Thursday’s Cayman Com- pass contained a typograph- ical error in relation to the amount of land approved by government for purchase around the landfill. The sen- tence should have read: “Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said government had al- ready approved 12 acres of land around the dump, and probably needs to find an- other 20 acres.” The Cayman Compass strives for accuracy and is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can send an email to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 © 2016 DCB Holding Ltd. and its affiliates. www.deloitte.com/ky Our offices will be closed today, as our staff spend the day volunteering at local non-profits for our 13th annual IMPACT Day. IMPACT Day is a celebration of Deloitte’s commitment to community investment. A day to leave the emails, calls and laptops aside, and put our passion and skills to work towards making a difference in our community. Throughout the year, our firm and staff have made numerous contributions to local non-profits, as well as educational, youth development and professional development projects. These include: 100 Women in Hedge Funds • Big Brothers Big Sisters Cayman • Breast Cancer Foundation • Business and Professional Women’s Club • Cayman Prep & High School • CI Cancer Society • CI Gymnastics Association • Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants • CI National Trust • CI Red Cross • CI Youth League Hockey • Department of Children & Family Services • Hedge Funds Care Cayman • Junior Achievement • Leadership Cayman • Meals on Wheels • NCVO • South Sound Squash Club This year’s IMPACT Day projects are: Beach Clean-up • Botanic Park • East End Primary School • CI Humane Society • Lionfish culling • Mission House Committed to making a difference Deloitte’s Annual IMPACT DayThe 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. FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS To the students participating in the Science, Tech- nology, Engineering and Math conference at the Uni- versity College of the Cayman Islands, here is the crucial takeaway: Not only is the sky not falling — but education and progress are opening up entirely new vistas for future exploration. Keynote speaker Dave Lavery is a living example of that ideal. Mr. Lavery’s official title is “NASA Program Executive for Solar System Exploration,” but his job description is even more compelling. A robotics expert, Mr. Lavery is responsible for current and future missions to explore the surface of the planet Mars. Speaking in the context of U.S. President Barack Obama’s challenge to send humans to Mars (and back) during the next 15-25 years, Mr. Lavery said the barriers would be financial, rather than technological, and that such a mission would necessitate cooperation among several countries … as opposed to the original “Space Race” paradigm pitting the Americans against the Soviets. While Mr. Lavery’s professional background is exceptional, he does have one trait in common with local educators, such as Clifton Hunter High School STEM head Tiyen Miller and UCCI President Roy Bodden, namely, a passion to inspire students to engage in the pursuit of knowledge in the fields of science and technology. Mr. Lavery said, “I think the best question I had was from a young student yesterday who asked what he had to do to get hired by NASA and go to Mars, so somebody was definitely engaged.” Mr. Bodden said, “The main focus of this event is to inspire young minds. We want to get them interested and involved in STEM, which is going to change the way we live and work in the future.” Moving to Mars, of course, would certainly consti- tute a “lifestyle change.” And, if you believe Mr. Lavery and other experts, it’s a possibility that could very well become reality in the lifetime of the current generation of schoolchildren. But you don’t have to leave the planet physically (or even send a robot) to unlock new worlds and loftier planes of existence. It’s as simple, really, as cracking open a book (or better yet, many books) and nour- ishing your imagination. It is beyond question that the life of someone who reads — or speaking more broadly, someone who constantly learns — is far, far richer than the life of someone who doesn’t. On a more practical note, perhaps, immersing students in the possibilities of careers in STEM fields is significant for the basic reason that it makes those careers seem to be within reach. Local officials, per- sonages and thought leaders often comment on the need for Cayman, as a country, to develop other eco- nomically viable industries in addition to tourism and financial services. That’s a valid and even vital quest. But of greater importance, on the individual level, is the need for Cayman’s students to understand there exists a myriad of professions, vocations and careers not related to tourism, financial services or any industry currently on-island … and that those sectors do not even have to be in Cayman in order for those students to excel in them. Our students must be encouraged to capitalize on their talents and chase their dreams — and must never feel bound to Cayman’s 102 square miles of ironshore, sand and soil. Out there, beyond our borders, is a brave new world. Beyond that, the universe. STEM conference: Launching students’ imaginations LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Defending the Legal Practitioners Bill Too many individuals who should know better (both politicians and lawyers) are peddling fantasies about the policy behind, and the effect of, the reform of the Legal Practitioners Law. May I deal with some of them? The most egregiously wrong is the idea that the bill facilitates the use by firms op- erating in Cayman of call cen- ters in developing countries manned by low-paid individ- uals to give advice to clients. The bill does not do so. It resolves a long-standing complaint that multinational firms give advice on Cayman law to their substantial cli- ents in Asia (in particular) without compliance with the requirements of the law which apply to lawyers res- ident in Cayman. The bill’s solution is to require regula- tion of those lawyers giving advice on Cayman law in for- eign jurisdictions by qualifi- cation, practicing certificates and the payment of fees. Above all, it empowers the new regulator to require a firm to reduce the number of lawyers practicing abroad if their number exceeds a stat- utory proportion of all the lawyers in the firm. Some have suggested that the bill impairs the pros- pects of young Caymanians entering law firms, or “does nothing” to help them achieve equity partnership. On the contrary, the new regulation will enable and encourage firms to send young Cayma- nian lawyers to their over- seas offices to gain experi- ence in dealing with some of the most sophisticated clients in the world. Do the phone-in commentators re- ally think that the world’s businesses and investors will entrust their affairs to a Cayman firm delivering ad- vice from a call center in a developing country? In addition, the bill intro- duces a significant restric- tion on the hiring of over- seas qualified lawyers by requiring them to undergo a four-month period of training and to pass an examination in Cayman law, in addition to the existing requirement that they have practised in the home jurisdiction for at least three years. There is no change in the rules for Caymanians who are able to undertake training contracts in Cayman and take up qualified lawyers’ posts at the end of training. Caymanian lawyers (whether aspiring or quali- fied) should also recognise that the new regulator will be governed by a Caymanian majority, and will have gen- uine powers to enforce the policies of the bill. Failure to comply will be professional misconduct and for the first time there will be an objec- tive disciplinary structure to remedy such misconduct. Both the Caymanian Bar Association and the Cayman Islands Law Society ought to be congratulated for their agreement on and support for the provisions of the bill, which should not be treated as a political gaming chip. The commentators should also remember that an equity partner in a very substantial firm will have had at least 15 if not 20 years’ experience be- fore being considered for se- lection. The number of young lawyers worldwide who will achieve that status is a very small minority. The commen- tators should not pretend to young Caymanians that qual- ification is the end of the dif- ficult road to a full and suc- cessful career. I add that I have no in- terest of my own in the manner in which the Cayman profession is regulated here or overseas, save only that I wish it to be modern, respon- sive and enforceable. Richard de Lacy, QC I won “chef of the year 2016” from the Cayman Cu- linary Society. I have worked in the Cayman Islands for almost six years as a sous chef at Cracked Conch. I would like to thank all the culinary teams in the wonderful Cayman Islands. Thanks for supporting me. Rajesh Govindasamy Chef: ‘Thanks’ 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” [A]n equity partner in a very substantial firm will have had at least 15 if not 20 years’ experience before being considered for selection.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 2016 Proudly sponsored by: Six years for ‘drunken, jealous’ wounding Victim was stabbed in her home, pretended to be dead CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man scheduled to go on trial for attempted murder was sentenced on Thursday to six years’ im- prisonment after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of wounding with intent. The defendant, Meleton Rosales Maick, was jealous and drunk at the time he cut a woman’s neck with a knife in January this year, defense attorney John Furniss said. The woman, 43, lost so much blood that she required a transfusion, Mr. Furniss acknowledged. However, he pointed out, it appeared that the bleeding was from the webbing between her thumb and forefinger rather than from her neck, where the knife had been held. Crown counsel Nicole Petit said the wounding occurred on Jan. 21 at a West Bay res- idence around 10 p.m. She said the victim had known Maick about a month. There was no relationship between them, but Maick had been coming to her father’s house as a visitor. Her own house was in the same yard. On the day of the wounding, he brought her a bag of gifts, which she re- fused. He then said she should keep them for him. Later, when he returned, she was in her house with her son and his friends and Maick seemed to react negatively to this. He left, but came back when she was alone and he asked her to give him the bag. He took a knife from her kitchen, approached her and said “I’m going to kill you like a f––- pig.” He put the knife to her neck and she put up her hand. The knife cut the side of her neck and her hand. The woman pretended to be dead and Maick left. She was then able to call for help and was taken to hospital. Police officers found Maick at his own premises, hiding in a closet. He told them the devil made him do something bad, as he was drunk. Mr. Furniss said Maick, 59, a Honduran seaman, had come to Cayman on a fishing vessel which was then held up by Customs. Maick had been here before on other fishing trips with no inci- dent, he said. Maick had been drinking that day – he thought he had consumed three six-packs of beer – and had little memory of what had happened, the attorney said. Mr. Furniss asked the court to consider Maick’s early admissions and willing- ness to plead to wounding, but not to the attempted murder charge. He also em- phasized the fact that Maick did not take a weapon to the premises. He agreed that self-induced intoxication is no defense, but said alcohol must have played a part in the incident. Maick did not try to avoid responsibility for what had happened and he apologized, but considered that he would not have made the comment attributed to him. Ms. Petit listed the aggra- vating features – the fact that the attack occurred inside the woman’s own home, the use of the knife, that Maick was on bail because of ganja found on his boat, and the ongoing effect on the victim, who continued to be anxious and have nightmares. Justice Charles Quin said, “She did nothing to provoke this attack.” The facts as pre- sented had given Maick no grounds for jealousy and no grounds for picking up a knife. The defendant seemed to have gone into a complete fit of rage, the judge com- mented, before handing down the six-year sentence. “This was a defenseless woman,” Justice Quin pointed out. “Some people would say it should be more.” Justice Quin referred to the doctor’s report in this case. The woman’s injuries were described as serious but not permanent. The judge said he thought six years was fair, given the horrific nature of the at- tack. With a starting point of nine years, and full discount for the plea, the sentence was six years. CUC LINEMEN HELP GET POWER BACK ON IN THE BAHAMAS Five linemen with Cay- man’s Caribbean Utilities Company took off for the Ba- hamas on Wednesday to help get the country’s power lines back up after Hurricane Mat- thew passed over the islands, causing an estimated $400 mil- lion in damage. Homes were destroyed and power lines pulled down across many of the islands in the Ba- hamas, especially New Prov- idence, Grand Bahama and Andros islands. Local media report that it will take two to three weeks to restore power across the country. The linesmen from Cayman will help the Bahamas Elec- tricity Company and expect to be there for three weeks. In a press release, CUC said a second crew is standing by in case the Bahamas needs more help. The linemen who went to the Bahamas have experi- ence in pole climbing, CUC said, “which is necessary when dealing with a shortage of vehi- cles and equipment due to the storm, which the Bahamas is currently experiencing.” CUC’s Darren Ebanks, chairman of the company’s emergency preparedness com- mittee, said utility companies in the Caribbean help one another when disasters hit. “We realise that the Cayman Islands could have also … suf- fered severe devastation from Hurricane Matthew and we are very pleased that we can help the Bahamas to restore ser- vice to its customers. We may someday need their assistance,” he said in the statement. The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corp. coordi- nates the regional assistance program between utility com- panies and maintains a disaster relief fund to help members recover from hurricanes and other disasters. Caribbean Utilities Company linemen from Cayman are in the Bahamas to help get the the power back on after severe damage from Hurricane Matthew.6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Extended registration The organizing committee has extended registration for the Miss Cayman Pageant to Sunday, Oct. 30. Ms. Dacres-Lee said the upcoming Miss Cayman pageant so far has five applicants, “and we are actually waiting on some of the other girls to complete their applications … we are looking, hopefully, on not having to extend the deadline any further.” “We are looking to get at least seven [entrants] this year,” she added. The committee expects to hold the pageant on the last weekend in March or the first week in April next year, a few months later than was originally planned. “We are still in the planning stages, where we have not finalized the contestants as yet and because of that … we are having to push the pageant [back]. “We want to give the girls suffi- cient time for their training as well.” Ms. Dacres-Lee said. A venue has also yet to be decided. “We’ve got some exciting times ahead and we are just looking for- ward to another great year,” Ms. Dacres-Lee said. Brooks in training for Miss World Meanwhile, reigning Miss Cayman Ms. Brooks leaves for Miami on Friday for two weeks of training with pageant coach Anast- agia Pierre, a former beauty pag- eant titleholder who has a pageant coaching school in Florida. According to Ms. Dacres-Lee, Ms. Brooks will head to Washington, D.C. on Nov. 26, ready to take part in the Miss World Pageant on Dec. 18. Miss Cayman age limit back to 27 A “Silent Witness” march to highlight domestic violence and bullying will be held next week. Marchers will gather outside the courthouse at Heroes Square in down- town George Town on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The silent walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. from the front of the Government Administration Building, proceed down Elgin Av- enue and along Edward Street, and end back at the courthouse. The march will be fol- lowed by a short ceremony. The event is organized by the Business and Pro- fessional Women’s Club. This is the 16th year the march will be held. For more information, call 926-5404. ‘Silent Witness’ march scheduled Reigning Miss Cayman Monyque Brooks will take part in Miss World in December. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Silent Witness marchers at a previous march. The 16th annual march will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Deadline for entries extended JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com After lowering the upper age to enter Miss Cayman Islands last year to 25, the pageant’s organizing com- mittee has now re-set the upper limit to age 27. The limit had dropped to the younger age in 2016 after last year’s winner, Tonie Chisholm, was in- eligible to enter the Miss World pageant because she was over 25. The Miss World competition changed its upper age limit to 25 in January 2015. The new age limit of 27 for the Cayman contest is in line with the Miss Universe pageant, in which contestants are required to be be- tween 18 and 27. Derri Dacres-Lee, chairwoman of the Miss Cayman committee, said, “We found that a lot of the interest was coming more from girls older than the age limit the committee had set … that’s what sparked it so we just got approval from the min- istry to go ahead and increase the age limit to 27. “We felt that this was the best way going forward in order to ac- commodate the interest of other ladies out there wanting to enter the contest.” The current Miss Cayman, Monyque Brooks, won the title at age 24. “We found that a lot of the interest was coming more from girls older than the age limit the committee had set.” DERRI DACRES-LEE, chairwoman, Miss Cayman committeeThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Special Olympics Oath A special thank you to all of the organisations that kindly donated gifts and equipment such as Baptist Health International, Cayman Doctors, Cayman Medical Supplies, Department of Education Services, Elian, EY, Health City Cayman Islands, No 1 Shoe Shop, Petique, Tukka Restaurant & Bar, the Lighthouse School as well as Special Olympics Cayman Islands’ board members, coaches, special volunteers, parents and families and all other individuals that contributed in making this a great day for our athletes. VOLUNTEERS Aon Clifton Hunter High School Digicel EY John Gray High School Harneys Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman Leo Club of Grand Cayman Lions Club of Grand Cayman Mourant Ozannes PWC Red Sail Sports Rotaract Blue Cayman Islands Triple C School University College of the Cayman Islands CLINICIANS Caribbean Optical Cayman Islands Cancer Society Cayman Orthopaedic Group Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital Health Services Authority Optical Outlook Seven Mile Medical Clinic Special Olympics Cayman Islands would like to thank all the individuals and organisations for their support and contributions that helped to make our event a huge success. In celebration of Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day, founder of Special Olympics, Special Olympics Cayman Islands held its annual Healthy Athletes Day on Saturday 01 October 2016. The athletes were examined in Fit Feet, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing and Opening Eyes. JOHN GRAY Contact us at www.soci.ky, email: soci@candw.ky, tel: 345 946 SOCIThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Michael “Mikey” Andrew Avery Eden regret to announce his passing on Sunday, 2nd October 2016. A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life Of “Mikey” will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, 16th October 2016 at Red Bay Church of God Holiness, Selkirk Drive and Lords Way. Viewing will be from 2:00 PM one hour prior to the service. Service goers are asked to bring a white Rose or flower to place on the casket during committal in Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Pancho Norton Forbes of East End, who passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the East End Seventh Day Adventist Church, Seaview Road at 2:00p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment to follow at East End Cemetery. that “an area is adversely affected or seriously in- jured by the ruinous, di- lapidated or other condi- tion” due to the deposit of garbage, derelict vehicles or equipment. The new law also seeks to deal with fence or property wall “set backs” from the road, even in cases where those boundary fences are lower than 4 feet. The previous version of the planning law did not require permission from the Central Plan- ning Authority to build walls or fences less than 4 feet high. “This is not creating more bureaucracy, but I’m sure many of us have faced situation where people have erected fences on their boundary lines and they create a traffic hazard,” Mr. Tibbetts said. The legislation, ap- proved by a unanimous vote of the Legislative Assembly, also extends the length of time the planning authority can issue enforcement no- tices against structures that were built without board permission. The board currently has three years from the date of construction to deal with unplanned structures on properties. The new legislation ex- tends that to five years. “It will be more dif- ficult for illegal and de- ficient structures to be built, as the [planning authority] will be able to enforce against these types of structures, even if they have existed for up to five years,” Premier Alden McLaughlin noted. Other changes Legislators were also expected to review amendments to planning regulations that clarify a legal dispute earlier this year about whether taller buildings in the Seven Mile Beach area require a greater property set back from the waterline. The government has agreed to change reg- ulations, following the prompting of the Grand Court in an April 8 ruling, to state that prop- erty set back require- ments are no greater for buildings between seven to 10 stories than they are for shorter buildings. The issue has affected the progression of at least one planned condo devel- opment under way in the Seven Mile Beach area. The regulations have already been agreed and will be reviewed later in the current Legislative Assembly meeting. Two self-assembled Lam- bretta scooters and some of the property in their 41 boxes packed into the container were also damaged. The Port Authority did not respond to requests for comment on the accident, but has denied responsibility or liability for the damage. In emails between govern- ment risk analysts, ship- ping agent Seaboard Marine and Mr. and Mrs. Williams, seen by the Cayman Com- pass, officials suggest the latches on top of the ship- ping container were faulty and lay the blame at the door of international shipping company CGM-CMA. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, from Stockport, England, say they have spent much of the first few weeks of their retire- ment lives in Grand Cayman in official waiting rooms in an effort to get an explana- tion and compensation. Mrs. Williams, 59, said, “This move has been three years in the planning and it has all gone wrong straight away. We should be out looking for a house, but we feel like we just want to call it a day and go home.” Mr. Williams, 62, said the lack of cooperation from au- thorities in Cayman has been frustrating and degrading. “We have spent every day in a government office, Port Authority office, a cus- toms office. There’s been no apology, no ‘sorry this has happened to you.’” He said the couple had planned the move to Cayman to be nearer to their daughter and their grand- children in Florida. “The Range Rover was my daughter’s and it had sen- timental value for us. We hoped she would come out from the U.S. with the grand- kids and be able to use it,” said Mr. Williams. He said he was disap- pointed by the response of Port Authority officials to the situation. As a trucking industry professional who owned his own company in the U.K., he said it was clear to him from an examina- tion of the container that the fault lay with the Port Au- thority in Grand Cayman. But he said it had taken numerous emails, phone calls and visits to the agency to get a meeting with anyone, only to be told they were not accepting blame. “I don’t care who is re- sponsible, to be honest, but to me it is obvious that it the Port Authority. The con- tainer was moved numerous times on the journey without any problems. “Nobody is doing any- thing or owning up to anything and we are sat here having to spend every minute of every day chasing them up.” Despite the damage, the couple say they have been charged $6,000 in customs duty for bringing the prop- erty, including the car, into the Cayman Islands. Mr. Williams is seeking a copy of the accident report on the incident, the vehicle maintenance record on the equipment used to move the container, and a copy of the Port Authority’s insurance policy, but has been unable to get this information. He has hired a lawyer to assist. “We are not just going to go away and forget about it. We will go to court if we have to,” he said. In emails between var- ious port officials, govern- ment risk analysts and the couple, they are advised to file a claim with their ship- ping insurance, as the Port is only obligated to pay when wilful neglect or default of the authority or its agents is demonstrated. Police warn of fake premier Facebook page The police’s Finan- cial Crime Unit issued a warning Thursday over a fake Facebook page that pur- ports to belong to Premier Alden McLaughlin. People who visit the page and are “friended” are then solicited in Facebook messages to make donations and give their bank account details, police said. “These pages have been promptly removed from Facebook, and the RCIPS has not received any in- formation to indicate that anyone has been defrauded via these pages. How- ever, new fraudulent pages may appear,” police said in a statement. The RCIPS is working with Facebook on this issue and is warning the public to exercise cau- tion when any financial details are requested via social media, especially from the Facebook page of a public figure. Any suspicious instances can be reported to the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit at 949-8797 or via email at RCIPS.FCU@gov.ky. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sue and Paul Williams’s car was damaged when the shipping container bringing it to Cayman was dropped. Port tells car owners: ‘We’ve just dropped it’ PLANNING LAW CHANGES GIVE ‘TEETH’ TO DERELICT PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “This is a sore topic in the minds of many, because it is felt now that people are really allowed to do as they please and there’s no teeth in the law.” KURT TIBBETTS, minister of planning Hurricane Nicole pummels Bermuda HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) – Hurricane Nicole roared across Bermuda on Thursday, pummeling the resort is- land with winds up to 115 mph that snapped trees and peeled off roofs. The Category 3 storm also flooded homes and knocked out power to more than 26,000 customers who live in the British territory, which has sturdy infrastruc- ture and is accustomed to heavy weather. As the eye of the hurri- cane passed overhead, Ber- muda’s 65,000 people got a brief respite, but authorities urged everyone to stay inside. “This is a serious storm, and it’s living up to the weather predictions,” Na- tional Security Minister Jeff Baron said. “The worst is not over.” After the eye moved away, the wind picked up with so much force that it flung open a hatch on Bermuda Weather Service’s radar, rendering it useless until the hatch could be shut, forecasters said. Nick West, who lives with his family near a wharf in the town of St. George, said a large portion of his roof was ripped off just before the eye passed. His garden is now underwater. “We are hiding down- stairs. All safe and dry for now,” he said. “Just as long as we are all safe, that is all I really care about.” By early Thursday after- noon, the storm was about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving northeast at 18 mph (30 kph). Late Wednesday, the hur- ricane had strengthened to a Category 4 storm, but it lost steam overnight. Fore- casters warned that it was still dangerous. “While hurricanes often affect Bermuda, a hurricane this strong is rare,” the Na- tional Hurricane Center said. Some 120 guests were ushered for safety into a ballroom at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, one of the island’s largest ho- tels. They were served a free lunch as they waited for the hurricane to blow through. Chinna Francois, who helps run one of the hotel’s restaurants, said she had weathered many hurricanes in Bermuda but cautioned people not to get complacent as the eye crossed the island. “The last half of the hur- ricane is the dangerous part,” she said. Forecasters said hurri- cane-force winds would con- tinue late into Thursday night. On Wednesday, schools and government offices were ordered closed, and busi- nesses were boarded up.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016 Please call 945-8380 for appointments Cayman Orthopaedic Group DR. FRANK TRAN MD, FRCSC Arthroscopic Knee & Shoulder Reconstructive Surgery & Sports Medicine will be at #1 Smith Road Plaza Monday, 17th October, 2016 to Friday, 21st October, 2016 SALE (345) 948-1246 Serving the Brac and Little Cayman since 1964 49 West End, Road, P.O. 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When the writ was ini- tially filed, the Cayman Is- lands Attorney General’s Office refused to accept the service of the court pa- pers on behalf of former Governor Taylor, who was no longer in the jurisdic- tion at the time, court re- cords state. Mr. Taylor took up the ambassador’s po- sition in 2013. Stating their view that it would be “practically impossible” to personally serve Mr. Taylor with the writ of summons in Mexico, Mr. Bush’s lawyers then asked the Cayman Islands Grand Court for permission to serve Mr. Taylor with the writ via “substituted ser- vice” – either in email or by Federal Express courier. In early March, Cayman Islands Grand Court Jus- tice Richard Williams or- dered that Mr. Bush be granted leave to serve the writ via alternative means. According to court records, a Fedex package was de- livered to the British Em- bassy in Mexico on March 14, 2016, containing the writ of summons. Four days later, an email was sent to the British diplomatic mis- sion in Mexico with the same documents. Attorneys for Mr. Taylor objected to the method of service used in issuing the writ and applied to the Cayman Islands Grand Court on May 13, 2016, asking the court to declare the lawsuit had not been “duly served” and that Mr. Bush’s attor- neys had not provided “full and frank disclosure” in their application for “substi- tuted service” made to Jus- tice Williams in March. Mr. Taylor’s attorneys, led by Martin Griffiths, QC, put forth a number of legal arguments as to why the British ambas- sador to Mexico was not served appropriately ac- cording to Mexican law or the Hague Convention. Mr. Taylor’s diplomatic immu- nity was also invoked in the arguments. Mr. Griffiths stated that the Cayman Islands Grand Court was not prop- erly informed of the rele- vant laws before making its March order, allowing the former governor to be served with the writ. Mr. Bush’s attorneys ar- gued that their client did not know Mr. Taylor’s personal address in Mexico and had no practical way of finding that out, as Mexican law re- quires service of summons in such a case at the individ- ual’s personal address. They also stated that Mr. Taylor well knew of the existence of the lawsuit and was aware it had been delivered to the British embassy. Cayman Islands Grand Court Justice Ingrid Mangatal heard the arguments in mid- July and issued her ruling in the matter on Tuesday. “In my judgment, service by email was an accept- able mode of substituted service,” Justice Man- gatal wrote. “The applica- tion to set aside the order of [Justice] Williams should be dismissed.” Brazil opens Latin America’s first elephant refuge CHAPADA DOS GUIMARAES, Brazil (AP) – Maia grunts and nervously moves her huge body back and forth while being released from a transport container to a new home. Here, there are no gawking crowds for the Asian elephant that has spent her life in captivity. There are no blows from bull hooks, no one demanding tricks like people did when she was in the circus. Instead, the first ele- phant sanctuary in Latin America, on about 2,800 acres in the western Bra- zilian state of Mato Grosso, will allow Maia and Guida, another Asian elephant that arrived this week, to simply roam. The two, along with possibly dozens more elephants in the future, will get veterinary care as they live out their lives in for- ested areas, pasture lands with hills, large boulders, streams and springs. “Societies around the world are starting to be- come more aware of the trauma we have caused these animals” in captivity, said Scott Blais, an Amer- ican who drew on his ex- perience co-founding a sim- ilar sanctuary in Tennessee in 1995 to help get this one off the ground. “We need to build solutions. It’s not enough to simply say they need a different life.” For Blais and his wife, getting to this point was a long road. After years of planning, they moved to Brazil more than two years ago. Latin America’s most populous nation, with a land mass larger than the continental United States, was chosen for many rea- sons: the variety of real es- tate available, a team of like-minded people already in the country and an ur- gent need to take in ele- phants from Brazil, Argen- tina, Chile and Venezuela. Sanctuary officials estimate there are more than 50 el- ephants in South America that are similar to Maia and Guida: in the last phase of their lives and in need of a home as zoos consolidate and more jurisdictions, in- cluding many Brazilian states, prohibit the use of animals in circuses. SECOND PREGNANT WOMAN CONTRACTS ZIKA A second pregnant woman has tested posi- tive for the Zika virus, ac- cording to Cayman Islands public health officials. The second case was confirmed after a report was made by the Public Health Department on Wednesday, indicating that 17 locally contracted cases were confirmed, along with 10 cases in people who had traveled overseas. Both pregnant women carrying the virus live in George Town district, public health officials said. McKeeva Bush ‘conspiracy’ lawsuit: Ex-governor Taylor served with writ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Leader of the Opposition McKeeva BushFormer Governor Duncan Taylor Mr. Bush has claimed that a number of police investigations of him during 2011-2012 were orchestrated with the goal of ultimately removing him as premier. Asian elephant Guida walks into her new living space, the first elephant sanctuary in Latin America in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil. - PHOTO: APNext >