SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 High of 89 Low of 80 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 2 feet Politics Would they be rivals or partners? 4 Nation Fear leads to sickness in Flint 9 5 Myths Russia 23 GREEN ECONOMY Farmers call working in tobacco tradition. Health experts say it’s harmful. The kids just call it a paycheck. PAGE 12 Science Latest buzz isn’t bad for bees 17 ABCDE NATIONAL WEEKLY THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 . IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WASHINGTON POST Green economy EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE UTILITY OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP Seven mile beach WaTeRFROnT WalKeRS ROaD TOWn cenTRe PlaZa Legislative roundup: 22 bills pass in 7 days BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands lawmakers have approved 22 pieces of legislation in just seven days of meetings over the past two weeks. Some of the more controversial items on government’s agenda are due to come before the Legislative Assembly this week. All of bills approved so far still need a third and final reading in the Assembly, but that is largely a formality, and it is expected that all previously approved legislation will pass with few amendments. One exception is the Elec- tions Bill, which was approved Friday but is ex- pected to face significant changes in committee. The bills passed on second reading by the House include: Disabilities Bill Lawmakers unanimously passed new legislation aimed at protecting the rights of disabled residents and visitors in the Cayman Islands. The Disabilities [Solomon Webster] Bill [2016], named after a former Special Olym- pics athlete who was murdered in West Bay district in 2014, will create a register of individuals with disabilities. The legislation seeks to implement some of the proposals in the Cayman Islands Dis- abilities Policy, also created in 2014, with the aim of safeguarding the legal rights of the disabled. The bill will ensure the local disabled com- munity is not prevented, due to any physical UTILITIES LAW WRITTEN WITHOUT ADVICE OF UTILITY COMPANIES TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Legal drafters penning an 82-page law to create a unified regulatory office for Cayman’s utility providers did not solicit opinions from the half-dozen affected companies, instead they only consulted their controlling agencies. Additionally, it appears that officials at the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure sought little ad- vice from water providers, the privately held Cayman Water Company and government’s Water Authority-Cayman. The omission left complex questions unre- solved regarding WA-C’s position as both reg- ulator and competitor to CWC, although on Wednesday last week, government promised Gov’t drops effort to cement political parties in Elections Bill Bill to get rewrite in legislative committee BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Facing pressure from one of its ministers, as well as from op- position politicians, the Progres- sives-led government on Friday appeared ready to abandon ef- forts to legally force the registra- tion of groups believed to be op- erating as political parties before the May 2017 general election. The initial draft of the Elec- tions Bill [2016] set out a de- tailed process by which groups believed to be operating as po- litical parties were required to register with the Elections Of- fice, even if members of the groups did not believe them- selves to be a political party, in the weeks before Election Day. During the legislative debate on the proposal Friday evening, Education Minister Tara Rivers indicated she would support the draft of the Elections Bill with the “clear understanding that there will be changes as neces- sary” to the legislation during the assembly’s committee review of the Elections Bill. Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson released a proposed amendment Friday night that, if approved, would delete the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Relief supplies from Cayman arrive in Haiti Ground agents work overtime Saturday evening to load 20,000 pounds of goods onto a Cayman Airways plane that flew to Haiti on Sunday. The relief goods were donated by the people of Cayman to assist the country after Hurricane Matthew ravaged its southwestern coastline earlier this month. See page 2 for the full story. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY ACCOUNTANTS GALA HONORS DOZENS OF CAYMANIANS Nearly 30 Caymanian accoun- tants who have recently received ei- ther their bachelor’s or master’s degrees, or who have attained a pro- fessional qualification, were honored at the annual Cayman Islands Insti- tute of Professional Accountants gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Saturday night. The ninth annual awards dinner also honored one of Cayman’s first professionally designated accoun- tants, former Speaker of the House PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 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. THE ACCOUNTANT (R) 1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:50 MASTERMINDS (PG13) 1:15 | 4:15 | 7:15 | 10:00 THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (PG13) 6:45 | 9:40 THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (R) 12:50 | 3:30 | 7:30 | 10:05 STORKS (PG) 1:30 | 4:20 MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME (PG13) FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN 3D 12:45 2D | 3:45 | 6:40 2D | 9:30 DEEPWATER HORIZON (PG13) 12:40 | 3:40 | 6:50 | 9:45 - MONDAY - CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Airways plane packed with 20,000 pounds of goods donated by the people of Cayman arrived Sunday in hur- ricane-ravaged Haiti. More than $500,000 of food, medical supplies, baby items, hygiene and sanitation goods were donated for the emer- gency relief effort, said Mat- thew Leslie, who led the ini- tiative to collect and get the supplies to Haiti. The plane was filled to ca- pacity. Another 40,000 pounds of goods are being sent to the country by container ship, or- ganizers said. Speaking at the airport be- fore the plane took off, Mr. Leslie said, “This is coming from the people of the Cayman Is- lands. It’s our way of sharing the ‘Cayman kind.’” Mr. Leslie compared the sit- uation in Haiti to Cayman’s plight after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. “They live in that every day. We need to look at our neighbors just two hours away by flight. They live in conditions we could never imagine.” The flight was delayed sev- eral times last week as Mr. Leslie and government negoti- ated with authorities and non- governmental organizations in Haiti. “We could have gone in like cavalry and shot in on Tuesday, but the supplies could have ended up in the hands of the wrong people,” said Mr. Leslie. “We want to make sure these supplies get into the right hands.” Mr. Leslie said it took almost a week to make sure the goods would go to Operation Blessing International instead of the cen- tral government in Haiti. “We are confident that handing it over to a reputable organiza- tion will ensure that the assis- tance reaches the people most in need,” he said. Also on the plane were four Haitian children and five adults returning home after the chil- dren underwent heart surgery at Health City Cayman Islands. “The living conditions in Haiti are often heartbreaking, so now in the wake of Hurri- cane Matthew we are even more acutely aware of how difficult their lives might be,” said Jen- nifer McCarthy, manager of Have a Heart Cayman Islands. “The comfort comes in knowing they are now infinitely stronger than when they arrived, and we will continue to follow up with them in the weeks and months, even years ahead, as they start new lives with healthier hearts.” Health City performs chari- table surgeries for children and adults with heart problems and brain tumors. Have a Heart Cayman Islands partners with local and international organi- zations to subsidize and pro- vide life-saving heart surgeries to children from the Caribbean and around the world based on financial need. After Haiti took a direct hit from Category 4 Hurricane Mat- thew last week, destroying en- tire towns and cutting off parts of the south of the country, there have been reports of as many as 1,000 deaths. Haiti is still reeling from a mas- sive earthquake in 2010 and a cholera epidemic. Operation Blessing, which helped lead relief efforts in Cayman after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, has a large staff in Haiti helping with on-the-ground re- covery across the country. David Andrews, a staff member with the nonprofit, sent a dispatch from Jérémie, Haiti, last week, one of the area’s hardest by Hurricane Matthew. He said that getting clean water to help stop cholera is the most important short-term need. “Food security will cer- tainly be the biggest long-term problem. United Nations air- drops of food have begun and are desperately needed, but with desperation comes an in- creased risk to physical security. Distributions will have to be managed well, but without real solutions, problems will com- pound,” Mr. Andrews writes. Speaking to reporters last week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made an emer- gency appeal for $120 million for the U.N. aid effort in Haiti. “Hundreds have died. At least 1.4 million people need assistance at this time. Some towns and villages have been almost wiped off the map. Crops an food reserves have been destroyed. At least 300 schools have been damaged,” Mr. Ban said. Flu vaccine now available This year’s flu vaccine has arrived and is now available free of charge to all residents in Cayman, the Public Health Depart- ment has advised. “We recommend that people get vaccinated as soon as possible and defi- nitely before the peak of the flu season, which ranges between December and January,” said Director of Primary Health Care Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez. The vaccinations will be available at the Cayman Islands Hospital, District Health Centres in Grand Cayman, Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman Clinic, the Health Department said in a press release. When and where ■■ The General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital, and all District Health Cen- tres, from 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Oct. 19. ■■ Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac, Oct. 26. ■■ The Little Cayman Clinic: Residents are asked to con- tact the clinic to make arrangements. To meet demand in the initial period, the flu shot will also be available at the Cayman Islands Hospital atrium, next to the Pharmacy, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays. Flu shots will also be avail- able at Caribbean Week of Ag- riculture, Oct. 26 and 27 at the ARC in Camana Bay. No appointments are nec- essary for the vaccine. How- ever, people are asked to indi- cate to the registration officer at the clinic that they seek to have the flu shot. Dr. Williams-Rodriguez says the vaccine is effective for only one season. The Public Health Depart- ment suggests that people six months of age and older should get the vaccine. “It is especially important for those at high risk for complications from influenza and those who live with or care for them, to be vaccinated early each year,” the release notes. “To minimize workplace disruption and ensure that as many persons as possible get vaccinated, … the Public Health Department will con- tinue our program of the on- site workplace vaccination ini- tiative for companies with 20 or more employees wishing to have the vaccine,” Dr. Wil- liams-Rodriguez said. WEBSTER PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO GROSS INDECENCY Defendant elects trial by jury CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Bodden Town political candi- date Errington Web- ster entered pleas of not guilty in Grand Court on Friday to four counts of gross indecency. Jus- tice Charles Quin set the trial for Jan. 16. Defense attorney Steve McField advised that his client elected trial by jury. The trial was set for two weeks. The charges relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between April 1 and June 25, 2016. They all involve the same girl, who was a young teen- ager at the time. “We recommend that people get vaccinated as soon as possible and definitely before the peak of the flu season, which ranges between December and January.” DR. SAMUEL WILLIAMS- RODRIGUEZ, director, Primary Health Care Cayman relief plane lands in Haiti POLICE APPEAL TO PUBLIC OVER MISSING PERSON Police are appealing to the public for help in lo- cating 18-year-old Jamar Radcliffe Ebanks, who has been missing from his West Bay home since Friday morning. Jamar is described as 5 foot 8 inches tall, light brown skin, low cut hair, with a stocky build. Anyone with information is asked to call West Bay Police Station on 949-3999 or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 (TIPS).Jamar Radcliffe Ebanks Matthew Leslie, who led the initiative to collect and get supplies to Haiti, stands by the plane after it was loaded Saturday in Cayman. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS Crews load goods onto a Cayman Airways plane on Saturday night.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD Unlike almost any previous award, the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 can be an ongoing, and not just reflective, part of a peace process. That is if Colombians seize the global momentum created by the awarding of the prize to President Juan Manuel Santos. New momentum is in- deed needed after the sur- prise rejection of a referendum on a peace pact between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Colombians, having endured 52 years of war, undoubtedly want peace. But a narrow ma- jority of voters in a low-turnout plebiscite apparently believed the deal was too lenient on FARC fighters, some of whom are accused of decades of kid- napping and other crimes. Despite the vote, both FARC and the government have pledged to abide by the cur- rent cease-fire agreement. And Santos plans to push for an eventual agreement that FARC — and just as important, Co- lombians — will accept. The Norwegian Nobel Com- mittee recognized that the prize could help push all Colom- bians to complete the arduous peace process. Whether the unique nature of this year’s laureate pres- ages a longer-term shift re- mains to be seen. That majority deserves a just, permanent end to a war that has killed more than 200,000 and displaced millions more. The new Nobel laureate should use the award’s stature to renegotiate an end to the conflict that can respond to un- derstandable objections from some Colombians. © 2016, Associated Press Not all that long ago, if you asked any of the social and economic architects of the “modern” Cayman Islands (Sir Vassel Johnson, William S. Walker, “Truman” and “Haig” and other pioneers) what was the secret to the “Cayman Miracle,” their reply would be predictable: “There’s no secret at all. What we have is mutually beneficial cooperation between the public and private sectors, with everyone working together to support the other, and always in constant communication.” What set aside Cayman from its Caribbean neigh- bors (indeed from most nations and territories) was this spirit of togetherness, this public/private insepara- bility, this “all-in-this-little-lifeboat-together” mentality. With the passage of time, however, we fear the dynamic that made Cayman great, indeed exceptional, is not just dissipating but is in danger of disappearing. In the recent past, our leaders in government and our leaders in business shared common interests, including but extending beyond economics. During the day they conversed on matters of substance. In the evenings they mingled in the same local milieus. On the weekends they engaged, oftentimes together, in the same recreational activities. In full awareness and appreciation of each other’s respective motives, talents and trustworthiness, Cayman’s public officials and private professionals will- ingly met at the altar, and, more often than not, said, “I do.” We admit to being influenced somewhat by the sepia tones of nostalgia. Of course, there were dis- agreements and disputes, evanescent lows tempered by long-term highs. That being said, at the very core of Cayman’s economic efflorescence was the synchro- nized heartbeat of government and business. And so, with the successes of the past as our benchmark, we now look to the state of the present – when legislative officials, crafting an omnibus regula- tory bill encompassing the activities of diverse vital sectors, including energy, water and telecommunica- tions, did not trouble themselves with consulting any of the business entities being regulated. We cannot help but gasp, and ask, “What has happened?” The utilities commission bill deals with arguably the most significant industries in the country, including, lit- erally, the fuel that powers not only our vehicles but also the economic engines of our economy. Surely any concerns our vital industries may have about this transforming legislation should warrant more than the formal (and obligatory) 21 days of con- sideration before lawmakers are scheduled to debate the proposed bill. These stakeholders and shareholders should have been there “at the creation,” not treated as an after- thought as the “ribbon-cutting” approaches. Frankly, these private sector practitioners know far more about their businesses, and how this legislation will affect them, than governments and their “regulators” ever will. Consultation, or the lack thereof, aside, lawmakers have not adequately justified what in the utilities sector is “broken” that combining the distinct regula- tory agencies will “fix.” It’s not just the utilities bill. We are sensing a dis- turbing pattern, over the longer term, of a voracious and expanding government aiming to exercise greater control over an increasingly complex economy. As our society continues to develop, we urge that our country revert to the “Cayman Miracle” model – constituting a mutual vision and respect between the public and private sectors, rather than the idea of competing interests and an “us vs. them” mentality. The utility of a public-private relationship LETTER TO THE EDITOR Solution to Cayman’s violence and political strife Our six-year-old accidentally walked into a wall the other day. I heard the loud thump when she connected, so I knew that the ensuing shriek was le- gitimate. There are shrieks, and then there are shrieks. Being a responsible parent means sorting the small time bumps from the big time bruises. Injury, per- jury or surgery? Depending upon the severity of the problem, and the age of the complainants, there are dif- ferent methods of treatment involved here. When they come in yelling from the back yard, the first thing to ask is “Is there any blood?” This will es- tablish whether or not you should worry. Bumps and scratches on a two- to six-year-old usually re- spond well to Mom’s magic lips. The kiss of health. Too bad Obamacare could not package the system. They’d save a lot of tax dollars. Band-Aids also work, but be prepared to have one for every child. If one of them has a patch on the elbow, there will be a yard full of empathizers who need an elbow patch too. While six- to 12-year-olds do like the hugs and sym- pathy, they do not always like you to know that they like it, so you should be ready with backup treatment. Teenagers like hugs, but not necessarily your hugs. They too can be treated with alter- native methods. The backup is simple and almost always fail proof: the old oral treatment remedy. Food. Treats. Through many years of experience, I’ve found it works like a darn. On our daughter’s bump today I used mom’s popsicles packed with blended fruit, ac- idophilus and vitamin C. A cripple could run a marathon after one of these. Recovery was swift and dra- matic. In about three seconds, shrieks turned to slurps as she and all the rest of her siblings and whatever neighbors were hanging around sucked on the popsicles. It is amazing what a little treat will do. Now, does this not make one pause for reflection? Treating injuries – phys- ical or emotional – with treats could very well revolutionize our economic and political system. Our government need look no further for its bud- geting solutions. Think for ex- ample how many hours and taxpayer dollars could be saved in our Legislature alone. When the opposition party starts to howl, the Speaker of the House could just yell: “Cookie Time!” and pass out the Oreos. I’ll bet we would get a lot more bills passed. And for those of you who hate the vio- lence in sports? When the boys are giving it to one another on the boards at the next hockey game, rather than making the referee risk personal injury by breaking them apart, just have him toss in a few Snickers bars. He must be sure, how- ever, that there are as many bars as there are players or it could really turn ugly. Why, you could effectively protect your- self when you ride the city transit by just having a box of sweets in your bag. When the lad waves his weapon at you, toss him a Ding Dong. I believe this could lower our crime rate and, through increased sales to the local general store, stimu- late the economy. Just what do you think brightens your sickly aunt’s eye as she lies, supine, in that hos- pital bed? Is it the nurse with the foot-long needle? No! It is her beloved niece with a bag of jelly doughnuts! I’m not saying the idea is perfect, but it is worth a try. When our son limped, howling, into the kitchen, clutching what we refer to as a side- walk knee, I gave him the old magic kiss, hugged him and said very kindly, “There now, is that better?” “Nope. Still hurts,” came the teary reply, followed by, “Got any of those brownies left?” Faye Lippitt NOBEL LAUREATE SHOULD RENEGOTIATE PACT WITH FARC5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 †Conditions apply. You will earn 3% cash back on the first USD$20,000 (or equivalent in local currency) you spend annually at gas stations and grocery stores. This 3% cash back applies at merchants which are classified in the MasterCard network as Grocery Stores & Supermarkets, Service Stations and Automated Fuel Dispensers (Merchant Codes: 5411, 5541 & 5542). You will earn 2% cash back on the first USD$20,000 (or equivalent in local currency) you spend annually at drug stores and pharmacies. This 2% cash back applies at merchants which are classified in the MasterCard network as Drug Stores & Pharmacies (Merchant Code: 5912). Some merchants may sell these products/services or are separate merchants who are located on the premises of these merchants, but are classified by MasterCard in another manner, in which case this added benefit would not apply. You will earn 1% cash back on purchases made after you have reached the 3% and 2% USD$20,000 (or equivalent in local currency) annual spend maximum (“overflow”) and on all other eligible purchases made with the card. Purchase returns, payments, cash advances, Scotiabank Credit Card Cheques, credit vouchers, card fees, interest charges or service/transaction charges do not qualify for cash back. Subject to change without notice. Visit ky.scotiabank.com/cashback for full Terms & Conditions. Subject to credit approval. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence. ®MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. Visit your branch or go to ky.scotiabank.com/cashback to see how quickly your cash back adds up. Get the most cash back ever! Apply today and get FREE† additional cards! Get up to 3%† cash back with Scotiabank Gold MasterCard. Welcome Bonus offer ends December 15, 2016. It’s the new gold standard of cash back. Earn up to 3%† cash back rewards on all your everyday purchases, and use them however you want. Plus enjoy all the flexibility and purchasing power of gold. ® #MostCashBack Earn cash back on every purchase: AT GROCERY STORES AND GAS STATIONS 3% = AT PHARMACIES 2% = EVERYWHERE ELSE 1% = WELCOME BONUS US$40† ard. cash back rewards on all your ® ard. ® ard. † cash back ever! † Cayman_Q4 CC_Campaign 2016_Compass_JrPg_6.8222x11.8975.indd 104/10/2016 16:38 Minister: We won’t ‘nationalize’ law firms Legal Practitioners Bill meeting draws large crowd BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The redrafted Legal Practitioners Bill will pro- vide more and greater op- portunities for Cayma- nian attorneys to get jobs and promotions in the legal profession than ever be- fore, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said last week. However, the bill will not seek to force law firms to hire specific people be- cause of “who they are” and will not require “national- ization” of locally operating legal services providers. “We cannot go down the road of creating some sort of concept of grad- uated nationalization of law firms in Cayman,” Mr. Panton told about 200 people, mostly attorneys, during a public meeting about the Legal Practitio- ners Bill on Thursday night at the Family Life Centre in George Town. The con- troversial legislation is ex- pected to be considered by Legislative Assembly members this week. It was placed on the assembly business paper on Friday. Mr. Panton’s com- ments came in response to some attorneys who asked about government’s plan to progress Cayma- nian lawyers through the ranks of law firms in the next two decades. One at- torney, Richard Barton, said it didn’t appear the latest draft of the bill would as- sist much with that. “We are regulating an industry that we do not own,” Mr. Barton said, re- ferring to the legal profes- sion in the Cayman Islands. “I would like to know, what is your desire for the pro- gression of the industry 20 years from now.” Mr. Panton said he expects that as more young Cayma- nians enter the legal profes- sion over the years as articled clerks and junior associates, they will steadily work their way up and the progression issue will take care of itself. However, the minister cau- tioned against making overly stringent rules for the legal profession that could end up harming Cayman’s financial services industry. “Bermuda said you had to be Bermudian to be a [law firm] partner,” the minister said. “Compare Bermuda to Cayman today. Bermuda was as big a player in the international financial ser- vices industry as Cayman at one time. That’s not the case today. One of the rea- sons is they had a rule in place…that did not serve the interests of the country and did not serve the inter- ests of the economy. “Caymanians are proud. They don’t deserve a sug- gestion that they should be given something just be- cause of who they are.” Attorney Anthony Aki- wumi asked Minister Panton how local attorneys are supposed to gain rele- vant experience or even find daily employment when the courts are being “flooded every week by lawyers from overseas” who receive lim- ited admission to the local attorneys Bar in order to work on specific cases. “There are no other ju- risdictions…in which it is possible for counsel to get on a plane, fly in on a Sat- urday afternoon, sip a gin and tonic at The Ritz- Carlton Saturday evening and be appearing in a heavy commercial case Monday morning,” Mr. Akiwumi said. He argued that other jurisdictions in the Carib- bean require certain “justi- fications” prior to the use of such limited admission at- torneys. The current draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill has none of those pro- tections, he said. “I invite you to go to Court No. 5 [where the Saad Investments trial is under way], and you will feel you have walked into a court in London,” Mr. Akiwumi said. Mr. Panton and other members of a legal panel that included partners from top firms such as Walkers Global, Ogier and Maples, noted that the new draft of the lawyers bill contains a number of protections for local attorneys that do not exist in the current law, which dates to 1969 – when there were 30 practicing at- torneys in Cayman. Today there are about 675 li- censed attorneys. Mr. Panton said there are also new protections for the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction in the latest draft bill. “We know that there are firms overseas that have absolutely no connection to Cayman that are prac- ticing Cayman Islands law,” he said. “This bill will put a stop to that.” Far more stringent rules have been put in place re- garding hiring outside at- torneys on work permits, including requirements for a separate business staffing plan for law firms and the ability of a majority Cay- manian regulatory body – created under the bill – to regulate the industry and to discipline firms that fail to hire qualified local candidates. The legislation is also considered critical to pre- pare Cayman for the mid- 2017 Caribbean Financial Action Task Force review of the islands’ protections against money laundering and terrorism financing. The Legal Practitioners Bill is one of several pieces of leg- islation that have either been passed recently or which are due to be considered this month in preparation for the 2017 review. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said the lawyers bill will demonstrate the legal profession’s adherence to the task force’s anti-money laun- dering recommendations. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton speaks to residents, mostly attorneys, Thursday night about the Legal Practitioners Bill. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLERDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town Women from across the region recently gathered for a motivational and devotional weekend. Some 500 Adventist women from Cayman and around the Ca- ribbean gathered on the campus of the University College of the Cayman Islands to be inspired and re-charged at the 2016 Women’s Re- treat, a press release states. Joining them at the event, which took place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, were Wom- en’s Ministries leaders from the Ad- ventist world headquarters and re- gional divisions. The retreat, on the theme “Lord, Transform Me: The Woman in the Mirror,” was organized by the At- lantic Caribbean Union (ATCU) in conjunction with the Cayman Is- lands Conference. The release states the ATCU is the headquar- ters for administration of Adventist churches in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Thirty-one from Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas took part in the retreat. The associate director for Wom- en’s Ministries at the General Con- ference, Raquel Arrais, was the keynote speaker. The General Con- ference coordinates the global min- istry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from its headquarters in Maryland in the United States. She has served for more than 20 years at various levels of the Adventist church, including many years in her native Brazil. Ms. Arrais was joined by Di- norah Rivera, the Women’s Minis- tries director for the Inter-American Division, which coordinates min- istries in the Caribbean and Latin America. She was joined by Denise Johnson, the Women’s Ministries director for ATCU. Ms. Johnson organized the conference in col- laboration with Sheila Woods, the Cayman Islands Women’s Minis- tries director. Formally representing the Cayman Islands Conference over the weekend was Pastor Rein- aldo Dracket, executive secretary of the Cayman Islands conference. In addition to services throughout the weekend, several concurrent youth seminars were conducted by Ms. Johnson. The three seminars targeted teenage girls, young adults and people inter- ested in mentoring young women. Ms. Rivera also conducted a seminar alerting women to the need for nurturing, empowerment and compassion in their families, churches and neighborhoods. In her remarks, she said a growing sector of people are disillusioned by the church, making it increas- ingly important for the nurturing of young adults to step into positions of leadership and for loving and compassionate outreach. This goal can only be realized, she said, through a deep relation- ship with Christ so that members of the church can understand and realize their mission – to heal and comfort those in need psychologi- cally, physically and spiritually. “Our mission may not be in far- away lands,” she said, but may be right in our homes, neighbor- hoods, workplaces. In her presentations at the var- ious services, Ms. Arrais assured the women that each has some- thing to offer and encouraged them to come as they are, as “God would clothe them with a new robe of righteousness.” Ms. Arrais reminded women leaders that half of the cur- rent members are under 30 years of age and in need of leader- ship mentoring. A key contributing attitude, she said, is that of gratitude, which will generate joy and energy, and, when combined with a healthy lifestyle and Bible-based spiritual habits and attitudes, will result in happi- ness for themselves and those they serve in and out of the church. She advised women to meditate on the word of God daily. “It is important to [have] fel- lowship,” Ms. Arrais said, “but it is even more important to have time alone with God.” She said she hoped that women attending the conference would be accordingly inspired and transformed to the extent that they would become “armed and dangerous.” That is, she said, they would be equipped and energized to ful- fill the Women’s Ministries and the church’s mandate for commit- ment and service. Closing the conference, Yvette Willis and Kathleen Williams chal- lenged women to avoid the negative emotion of fear. Ms. Willis, a former law enforce- ment officer who has been a Wom- en’s Ministries leader in the U.S. for decades, said that women need not live a life in fear. Rather than run away from the challenges, she said, they “can run to the One, who will not run away from you.” Once women secure that per- sonal relationship with God, she said, then they will become “armed” for service. MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Scope of mosquito issues highlighted In the Oct. 19, 1966 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, news from George Town included: “Dr. M.E.C. Giglioli has informed the Caymanian that the Mosquito Re- search and Control Unit has recently been granted 41,329 pounds from Colo- nial Development and Wel- fare funds to cover capital equipment costs during its first two years of oper- ation ending in April 1968. “In his memorandum (7 foolscap pages) to the Sec- retary of State for the Col- onies, Dr. Giglioli sets out the methods, reasons and chronology of the work proposed by the Unit over the next 3-4 years. “Naturally the rate at which progress can be made, now that funds are available, depends on the rate of supply of capital equipment. In this the Unit are totally dependent on the manufacturers and shippers. For example, de- lays in the delivery of a dragline (now due to arrive in January) inevitably set back the chronology of the whole scheme and, unfor- tunately, there is nothing that the Unit can do to re- solve such unforeseen de- lays except to be patient which must be very trying for them when the general public are somewhat im- patient for action … “Under the heading ‘Objects and Reasons’ [in his memorandum] are two points: “1. The extremely high densities of nuisance, salt-marsh mosquitoes found in the Cayman Is- lands prevent the exten- sion of the tourist season and present a threat to this industry which con- stitutes the basis of the Islands’ economy. “2. Although these is- lands enjoy a reputation for being healthy and free from endemic mosquito- borne diseases, vector species exist locally and the danger of epidemics, if and when a pathogen is introduced, exists as an ever present threat to health. (Malaria epidemics of varying intensity have been reported in 1957, 1936, 1930, and 1929, with several deaths in 1934 in West Bay.) “It might have also been added that the residents who have put up with this pest in its millions for their lifetime would be rather relieved to have it removed too! “When commenting on his scientific observations so far, Dr. Giglioli records peak collections per night, per trap during the dry season (following rainfall, lunar or wind tides) were in the order of 1000-5000 mosquitoes. By compar- ison, the peak collection for one trap during the night, in the initial high densities of this year’s mosquito season were as follows: Aedes Taenio- rhynchus 96,000 other, 6 species 90. “The 1966 mos- quito season ‘ex- ploded’ in mid-May … “It is obvious that fig- ures in excess of 10,000 mosquitoes per trap per night are common during the rains, and that these are mainly salt-marsh mosquitoes, the eggs of these species resist 3-6 months dessication and are laid in mangrove areas and salt flats covered by low succulent halophyten. These mosquitoes lay their eggs only on damp soils and not directly on water as is usual with other spe- cies, this characteristic is used successfully in con- trolling the species by permanently flooding the breeding ground and thus depriving them of their egg laying sites. “Among the relatively low proportion of other species recovered, Culex nigripalpus, the vector of encephalities (Florida, 1962, Jamaica, 1963) is disturbingly high.” Women’s gathering inspires call to action With the Bahamas contingent, second from right, Raquel Arrais, General Conference Women’s Ministries associate director; fourth from right, Denise Johnson, Women’s Ministries director, ATCU; and fourth from left, Dinorah Rivera, Women’s Ministries director, IAD. Keynote speaker Raquel ArraisDistrict Days George Town DISTRICT DAYS 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 Triple C School marks 75 years To wrap up the celebrations, a formal banquet will feature music, a look at the school’s history, live and silent auctions and dinner Triple C School is marking its 75th anni- versary this week with a number of events. A sports event on Sat- urday, Oct. 15, featured soccer matches for the Under-9 and Under-11 teams, followed by a match with alumni/parents vs. present students. Speaking at the event, Mable Richardson, prin- cipal, said, “It’s 75 years of the oldest school on the is- land, serving students with creative, Christian, char- acter-building, [to assist] them to not only work well in their families, but also in the community. “We’re training them to do great things. “We train them to be great teammates and aca- demically and spiritually,” said Ms. Richardson. Charles Bodden, on hand at the event, said his kids, parents and siblings at- tended Triple C. “For me, they try to do things to promote good morals, values and stan- dards. The school pre- pares these kids to be good citizens in the commu- nity,” he said. Triple C was founded in 1941 as the first pri- vate school to provide both elementary and sec- ondary education. The school, which in- cludes preschool through Grade 12, is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Grade 12 student Keilah Quincoces said the events mean a lot to current and former students. “It’s 75 years of excellence; it’s 75 years of pushing the stu- dent body to become better people in the real world. “They really push us in academics, sportsmanship and extracurricular activi- ties, and I think that’s so important for our lives. It helps us to grow and be- come better people.” Leading up to the school’s 75th anniver- sary banquet on Thursday, Oct. 20, Triple C is inviting alumni, parents, stu- dents and all supporters to attend several celebra- tory functions. The school will host an open house Monday through Wednesday. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the school will be holding a 75th Anniversary art show- case, featuring works by students from kindergarten to high school, displayed in the halls. A cake sale will also be taking place the same day. To wrap up the week, a formal banquet on Oct. 20 will feature music, a look at the school’s history, live and silent auctions and a three-course dinner. Students, alumni in- cluding Samuel Rose and Swanky Kitchen Band, as well as American artist Abby Paskvan, will all be on hand to provide entertainment. Banquet tickets are on sale at the Triple C School office and the Family Life Centre. “All alumni and the com- munity are invited to take an active part with Triple C School for the next week as we celebrate 75 years of academic excellence,” said Ms. Richardson. “Our curriculum is strong, our student cul- ture is great and we are enriching the lives of our students to become as- sets within their families, their respective districts and to make great contri- butions within our work- force. Triple C is ‘the place to be,’” she added. More information about celebration activities can be found on the school website, www.triplecschool.org, and on the school Facebook page. “They really push us in academics, sportsmanship and extracurricular activities, and I think that’s so important for our lives. It helps us to grow and become better people.” KEILAH QUINCOCES, Grade 12 student Secondary Vice Principal Robert Lankford and Principal Mable Richardson pose with students, parents and faculty. Simba Gurure plays in an alum vs. parents game on Saturday as part of the anniversary events. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS Sandra Turley, English teacher and department chair; Salome Wallace-El, math teacher and department chair; and Rachael Banta, social studies teacher Charles and Kiria BoddenPeyton Pinedo, 6, Seth Ebanks, 7, and Elian McCoy, 6 Ken Downey and Simba Gurure fight for the ball.Triple C school is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Grade 4 teacher Marty Minton and kindergarten helper Dawn Brooks serve hot dogs.8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS WWW.CHAMBERPENSION.KY Everyone’s life story is different. Let us write your retirement chapter. James is fascinated with Japanese culture and anime. This inspired him to write and illustrate his own stories and launch his own publishing company. One day he hopes to visit Japan - to explore the culture, beautiful scenery and rich history for himself. 345-745-7630 @ChamberPensionPlan House Lots For Sale Located off Shamrock Road, only a few lots remain in this new subdivision • Special Offer: Developer Pays Stamp Duty • 10,000 sft lots • Very high land, 15+ feet above sea level • Great location CI$65,000 for first time Caymanian buyers Call or Whatsapp Josephine for full plans & details. 926-6102 CI$70,000 Payers believed status scheme was legitimate, jury hears CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first Crown witness completed her evidence on Friday in the trial of Paul An- thony Hume Ebanks, who has pleaded not guilty to obtaining property – over $167,000 – by falsely repre- senting that various sums were required payments for legitimate grants of status or permanent residence or, in one case, the award of a gov- ernment contract. Siri Russell was ques- tioned by defense attorney Laurence Aiolfi and said she remembered that there was “a large grant of status” – about 2,000 people – when McKeeva Bush was Cayman’s “premier” in 2003. She agreed that the mass grant of status back then had led her to be- lieve Ebanks in 2012 when he told her there was a scheme to grant status or permanent residency so that more people would be able to vote in the upcoming election. As long as people had been here four or five years, had a clean police record and no previous problems with immigration, they would be eligible, Ebanks told her. There was a fee of $2,000 and it had to be cash. He said Mr. Bush would grant the status or residence through Cab- inet and it would take about six weeks. If people changed their mind, they could get their money back in a day or two, he told her. He asked if she would be interested in introducing people to the scheme and get paid for doing so. She asked questions and satisfied herself that the scheme was legitimate, and when she ap- proached people about it, she believed she was telling them the truth. People gave her money and she gave it to Ebanks. Questioned by Mr. Aiolfi and Crown counsel Toyin Salako, Ms. Russell said she asked questions at the be- ginning and later when there was something she did not understand. She said Ebanks would talk on the phone and tell her he was talking with Mr. Bush or Cline Glidden [former West Bay MLA]. The only time he ever put on the speaker phone was a conver- sation with a George Town candidate, but Ms. Russell did not remember what that conversation was about. As time passed and no one received status, people started asking for their money back, she said. She would ask Ebanks and he would say that Cabinet had not met or else the grants had to be gazetted first. Then people started coming to her house for their money, suggesting that she was scamming them and threatening her. She and two other women who had introduced people to the scheme decided to write a letter to Mr. Bush. In it they explained that they had been approached by Ebanks and were told they would be helping Mr. Bush increase his number of voters, who would receive status. The women said in the letter that it was gullible of them to get in- volved without solid proof, but Ebanks had convinced them. He also convinced them that Mr. Bush would not let harm come to them. The women said in their letter that between them they had collected over $200,000 and given it to Ebanks; now they wondered where they would get money to give back to people. “We humbly ask your assistance and a favor- able reply,” the letter con- cluded. It was then delivered to a man at the gate of Mr. Bush’s house. Ms. Russell said Mr. Bush phoned her after they had de- livered the letter. He told her he was Mr. Bush and she rec- ognized his voice, but she was so nervous she handed the phone over to one of the other women who was with her at the time. That woman did the talking and told her Mr. Bush had said he would have his attorney contact them. Ebanks told her he was speaking with Mr. Bush about getting people’s money back. There was a meeting ar- ranged in December 2012, but on that very date when they were set to go, Mr. Bush was arrested. Other meet- ings were arranged but they never took place; the only way she knew about them was Ebanks telling her. After December 2012, Mr. Bush was no longer premier. Elections were held in May 2013 and Mr. Bush’s party was no longer in power. She said Ebanks went to the bank to get a loan to pay people back. He also told her he had sold some property in Cayman Brac and had re- ceived a check in U.S. cur- rency, so he had to deposit it. She used her own sav- ings and borrowed from friends to try to pay back some people – almost $3,000. People had threatened to kill her and burn her house down, she said. In September 2013, she and the other two women voluntarily went to the Im- migration Department to tell their story. By that time, she knew that Ebanks had been to prison for offenses relating to status grants. If she had known that at the beginning, she said, she would not have gotten involved with him. As time passed and no one received status, people started asking for their money back, she said. She would ask Ebanks and he would say that Cabinet had not met or else the grants had to be gazetted first. The courthouse in George Town. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2016 2nd year in Heaven Yvonne O. Roper-Ebanks December 12, 1955 – October 17, 2014 Two year since the lord called you home, We know you are in a better place, But we miss you so much. Your presence we miss, your memories we treasure. You are loved and will always be in our hearts. With love from your family and friends. to address lingering uncer- tainty at the first sitting of the Legislative Assembly in 2017. The ministry placed the proposed legislation creating the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, before the assembly, which resumed sit- ting Oct. 4. Affiliated legisla- tion would abolish the Elec- tricity Regulatory Authority, the Information and Commu- nications Technology Authority and the Petroleum Inspec- torate, replacing them with a nine-member “URCO” board, to oversee all utilities. However, the proposed law left out CWC and the WA-C, nor has governing legislation regarding water providers – The Water (Production and Supply) Law, 2011; The Waste- water Collection and Treat- ment Law, 2011; and the Water Authority Law – been replaced. In a four-page, Sept. 30 letter to the ministry, CWC CEO and President Rick Mc- Taggart pointed out that he had never been consulted about the URCO law. He un- derlined half-a-dozen major flaws that rendered the legis- lation inadequate, he said, and called for it to be withdrawn and rewritten. Last week, Cayman’s other utility providers joined Mr. Mc- Taggart, lamenting that they too had not been consulted over the drafting of the bill. “This is just part of the problem,” Mr. McTaggart said, voicing general concerns. “They did not let us know. It’s almost as though we are not a ‘stakeholder’ in this. “We were expecting the bill, yes,” he said, “but we received nothing about it, and this is essential legislation that will govern regulation for years.” He said he first saw the pro- posed law after its Sept. 12 publication in the weekly Gov- ernment Gazette. Less clear was the re- sponse of WA-C Director Gelia Frederick-van Genderen, who said “the Water Authority is aware of the [URCO bill] and provided feedback to the Min- istry of Planning, Lands, Agri- culture, Housing & Infrastruc- ture in early October 2016.” She declined to elaborate, but drafters completed the leg- islation well before its Sept. 12 publication. A spokesperson for Flow, Cayman’s top telecommunica- tions provider, said no one had approached the company. “We were never consulted,” said Head of Marketing and Sales Support Julie Hutton. “We were sent a copy of the law for our information, but were not asked for our views or feedback on this new legislation.” A Digicel representative, requesting anonymity, said: “No, we had not been con- sulted when it was actually drafted. We saw it before it went to the LA, but we were never consulted.” It appears, however, that the government sought advice from oversight agencies. Alee Fa’amoe, managing director of telecommunica- tions regulator ICTA, said the ministry had “communi- cated with the affected regula- tory agencies.” ICTA, he said, had been “in- vited to participate in the de- velopment of the legal frame- work which ultimately became the URCO Bill,” and the au- thority had “briefed our li- censees at a very high level.” “I cannot speak to how or if other regulators briefed their licensees,” he said, “but consultation by the ministry goes without saying. We have been working together with the ministry to prepare for the merger for the better part of a year now.” Duke Munroe, chief pe- troleum inspector at the Pe- troleum Inspectorate, was “absolutely” involved, he said, “because it’s an inte- grated approach.” “As the existing agency, we would have been [involved], and the ministry is in the driv- er’s seat,” he said. “When you look at the legislation, it comes on the heels of a comprehen- sive overhaul. We’d have been surprised at anything else.” Fuel retailers Sol and Rubis were not approached. Joel Maes, Rubis managing director, said “no, we have not been consulted,” but quickly added “we had not expected to be. Our governing body is the Petroleum Inspectorate, and we were not involved with the legislation as it was drafted. Mr. Munroe is our focal point and we work with him – and that is fine, so we were not surprised,” he said. Alan Neesome, manager for Sol, said “we weren’t consulted on URCO,” but did advise on the Dangerous Substance Han- dling and Storage Amendment Law, which abolished the Pe- troleum Inspectorate. Finally, ERA Managing Director Charles Farrington said the ministry had sought his counsel on the bill, and he had shared that with CUC. “[The] ministry consulted us fully as the legislation was being developed,” Mr. Far- rington said. “We kept CUC [Caribbean Utilities Com- pany] apprised of the timing and assured them that they would get an opportunity to review before the legisla- tion became law. “They were provided with the drafts as soon as they be- came public. They have since been able to engage the min- istry in dialogue. My under- standing is that the engage- ment has been satisfactory and productive,” he said. CUC echoed Mr. Far- rington’s remarks, saying the company had seen the leg- islation only after it went to the Legislative Assembly. “CUC was made aware by the Ministry of PLAHI last year that they intended to create a new, overarching regulatory body which would assume the regula- tory functions of the ERA without materially changing CUC’s licenses,” said a company spokesperson, requesting anonymity. “CUC did not partici- pate in the drafting process, and received the draft legis- lation when it was sent to the Legislative Assembly,” the person said. On Oct. 12, Minister Kurt Tibbetts said the companies would have a statutory 21 days to register their opin- ions after the introduction of the URCO bill, although he did not say how the submis- sions might affect the law. “The ministry … believes that in establishing the office and embarking on the pro- gram of regulatory reform, the regulatory arrangements should reflect current best in- ternational practices, provide for increased transparency and heightened responsive- ness to all stakeholders,” Mr. Tibbetts said, acknowledging, however, the lack of dialogue with affected companies. “The ministry notes the concern about the ‘absence of consultation’ with the industry in the legislative process,” he said. “While it would be reasonable to as- sert that the consultation did not take place prior to the bills being gazetted, the ministry is using the 21- day period (statutorily pro- vided for consultation) dili- gently and has considered and responded to all in- puts received, of which there have been a few.” entire section of the bill re- lated to the political party registration requirement. The replacement amendment states: “A group of persons who come together to contest an election shall be eligible to register as a political party.” The initial version of the bill stated: “Any group of per- sons whose activities indi- cate they come together to contest an election, shall reg- ister as a political party.” A separate amendment seeking to give the Cayman Islands Supervisor of Elec- tions the power to declare that a political party had come together was proposed for a different section of the bill. However, that sec- tion governs only how much money candidates can spend during the six-week run-up to the general election. If a candidate is declared a po- litical party member, that person would have a lower spending cap during the six-week period. Additional amendments were expected to be proposed for the Elections Bill, but the text of those was not avail- able by press time Sunday. Minister Rivers, an inde- pendent, did not specifically address what changes to the Elections Bill she wanted; she merely indicated that she “looks forward” to seeing the committee-stage amend- ments to the bill. Opposition party law- makers – including the as- sembly’s five independent op- position members – stated more directly their dislike for the political parties registra- tion proposal. “This is the most dis- gusting piece of legislation I’ve ever seen come here,” East End MLA Arden McLean said. “[The Elections Bill] will damage a number of in- dependent voices in this country,” George Town MLA Winston Connolly said, adding that he hoped the bill would not deter any in- dependents seeking to enter the campaign for the May 24, 2017 general election. Nothing has been de- cided yet. The Legislative As- sembly is expected to debate proposed amendments to the Elections Bill this week. Any amendments made to the Elections Bill in the committee stage will not af- fect changes made to the one man, one vote system Cayman is putting in place ahead of the May election, Deputy Governor Manderson said. Mr. Manderson said Caymanians will vote – for the first time – in 19 political districts or constituencies as defined by last year’s Elec- toral Boundary Commission. Mr. Manderson also said the territory is expected to have more than 20,000 people registered to vote in the gen- eral election for the first time in its history. Coalition for Cayman Premier Alden McLaughlin conceded Friday that the initial draft of the Elections Bill may have gone a bit far in seeking to regulate the for- mation of political parties. Mr. McLaughlin said the amendments made public Friday would merely seek to regularize campaign fi- nancing rules to prevent groups of like-minded in- dividuals who have a sim- ilar campaign platform, but who are not declared offi- cially to be a political party, from having a financial ad- vantage in the weeks before the election. The premier opined during his debate that this had oc- curred with the political group Coalition for Cayman during the 2013 general elec- tion. Representatives of the coalition, often referred to as C4C, have always denied po- litical party status and said the group simply supported various independent candi- dates seeking political office. Premier McLaughlin has long held the view that po- litical party platforms and candidates should be well known and stated before a general election “so the country knows what it is voting for and knows who the leader [of the government] is doing to be.” “I lived through the 2000 elections …. where a bunch of independents were elected and sat down, had not done any negotiating [before the election] …. That govern- ment lasted one year,” Mr. McLaughlin said. Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo said Friday that he believed the Elections Bill was seeking to respond to what the Progressives-led government perceived as “a threat,” with independent candidates’ hold in the Leg- islative Assembly going from one member in 2009 to six members currently [including the five opposition indepen- dents and Ms. Rivers]. “There are elements in this bill designed to kill in- dependents … because the popularity of independents is rising,” Mr. Suckoo said. Mr. Manderson, a civil servant, denied that the gov- ernment’s aim was to “kill” anyone in the political arena. “It is about campaign fi- nance and … to ensure equality across the spectrum,” the deputy governor said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Utilities law written without advice of utility companies Gov’t drops effort to cement political parties in Elections Bill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A previous sitting of the Legislative Assembly. - PHOTO: FILENext >