ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 High of 87 Low of 78 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open waters. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 VERNON JACKSON: A LIFETIME OF LEARNING AND LOVE SPORTS | PAGE 16 ARSENAL OWNER ‘VERY HIGH’ ON WENGER 182543_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-VPage 1 10/24/16 11:25:13 AM TRACK ASSOCIATION ACCUSED OF ELECTION IMPROPRIETY JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The former president of the Cayman Is- lands Athletic Association has won a tempo- rary injunction to prevent the organization from holding its annual general meeting and elections amid allegations of discrepancies in the voter rolls. Delroy Murray has launched a court ac- tion which successfully stopped the elections for the sporting body, originally scheduled for last week, pending the result of a Nov. 1 court hearing. In an affidavit filed with the court, Mr. Murray suggests new members have been re- cruited in the months leading up to the elec- tions, outside of the association’s rules, with the express purpose of securing the re-election of members of the current governing body. The association has been ordered to pro- vide receipts and membership forms to sup- port its claim that there are 146 people eli- gible to vote in the elections. Mr. Murray indicates in his affidavit that he believes there are only around 90 mem- bers who should be eligible to vote as per the association’s constitution, which requires voters to have been paid-up members for at least 12 months. The association is currently leaderless fol- lowing the resignation of president Dalton Watler after he accepted responsibility for an administrative mix-up that prevented Cay- man’s champion hurdler Ronald Forbes from competing in the World Indoor Champion- ships. His successor, Cayman track star Cy- donie Mothershill, also resigned after just a few months in office. The elections, which also include posts on the executive committee which runs the sport in the Cayman Islands, are held every four years, coinciding with an Olympic year. Mr. Murray’s court summons names the association and its treasurer Paula Erskine and general secretary Barbara Wilson as de- fendants in the court action. In his affidavit, Mr. Murray states that the association’s constitution requires anyone voting in the elections to have been a fully paid-up member at the previous year’s an- nual general meeting. He states that he in- troduced this rule himself during his tenure at president to stop prospective candidates from signing up supporters as members im- mediately before the vote in order to secure their election. Based on the association’s mailing list, he NCVO TELETHON RAISES MORE THAN $130,000 CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The National Council of Voluntary Or- ganisations took over the Prospect Play- house Saturday night and raised $132,000 in pledges during the five-hour radio and tele- thon fundraiser Saturday night. The annual event fell just short of its $140,000 goal for the NCVO’s children’s ser- vice programs, but the organization’s exec- utive director Janice Wilson described the night as “a great success.” “It was a great example of how the community comes together to support us,” she said. The donations came from all over the island, with children donating the change in their pockets up to big corporate dona- tions, she said. Aired live on Cayman 27 and Radio Cayman, the night included performances by Melanie Allenger, Quincy Brown, Trinity, Gordon Solomon and others. Joan Wilson read poetry and Flamenco Ca- ribe showed off Spanish music and dance. The money goes to support the NCVO’s children’s programs, including Miss Nadine’s Pre-School, the Jack and Jill Nursery and Early Learning Centre, and the Nadine An- dreas Residential Foster Home. The foster home currently takes care of nine children who were removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Children are placed in the home based on referrals from the Department of Children and Family Services through the courts. Government pays for about half the costs of running the foster home, with the re- mainder coming from donors to the NCVO. Children in the home get to be involved in after-school programs like scouts, cadets, dance, horseback riding and many other ac- tivities. Students also receive specialized tu- toring and help with school work. The NCVO notes, “We aim to provide a se- cure, nurturing and friendly environment in which children are encouraged to work coop- eratively. Staff members work with residents on developing life skills to enable them to be- come self-sufficient.” The organization works to help families come back together again or place children with adoptive parents. The money will also help support the John R. Gray Memorial Fund that helps students who have been accepted to university cover expenses they could not otherwise afford. The JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Vernon L. Jackson, marriage officer, educator and longtime civil servant, passed away on Sunday. He was 87. Mr. Jackson died at 2:45 p.m. at his home in West Bay, surrounded by his wife of 65 years, Francine, his children, Joy Basdeo, Jennifer Dilbert and Andre Jackson, and other family members, according to his eldest daughter Joy. “He told us he wanted to go on a Sunday in the day and we were all there … we have been so blessed with his life and his death,” said Mrs. Basdeo. She said they are comforted by the outpouring of love and sup- port from their family and friends around the world. “Our husband and father Vernon Jackson was loved and respected by all who knew him. His whole life was an example to us and we were blessed to be his family,” the family said in a statement. Mrs. Basdeo said her father’s life was one of service, and as he said in June 2016 at the renaming of the Vernon Jackson, Cayman icon, 1928-2016 PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Vernon Jackson passed away Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his family in his West Bay home. He was 87. - PHOTO: REBECCA DAVIDSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 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. JACK REACHER: (PG13) NEVER GO BACK 1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:45 KEEPING UP WITH (PG13) THE JONESES 12:45 | 4:15 | 7:15 | 10:00 THE ACCOUNTANT (R) 12:30 | 3:30 | 6:50 | 9:50 MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME (PG13) FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN 3D 12:45 2D | 3:45 | 6:40 2D | 9:30 BEFORE I WAKE (PG13) 1:10 | 3:50 | 7:10 | 9:35 THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM (R) 1:20 | 4:10 | 7:20 | 9:40 - TUESDAY - Cut-a-thon raises $9,000 Teen cuts hair after four-and-a-half years JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Eclipze Hair Design’s Cut-a-thon over the weekend so far has raised $9,000 for breast cancer awareness. Organizers said they have not finalized the tal- lied because not everyone has brought in their spon- sorships and they are con- tinuing to carry out spon- sored services at the salon. The Cut-a-thon at Ca- mana Bay on Sunday “went really well and we were busy throughout the day with lots of people turning up for massages and manicures,” said An- neka Greenway, one of the organizers. A young man who made his parents Roy and Tif- fany Bush extremely proud by cutting 18 inches of hair from his head, said he “didn’t want to look,” while his locks were being snipped off. Seventeen-year-old Kai Bush had been growing his hair for the past four-and-a- half years after seeing a pic- ture of his father with a big “‘fro” and wanted one just like it, he said. While he attended public school, he said, he was not allowed to grow his hair long, but as soon as he started home schooling, it was the perfect opportunity to be just like dad. “When my hair started to get really long, a lady ap- proached me and asked why I was growing my hair and if I wanted to donate it to charity,” Kai said. Although he told her he wasn’t growing it for charity, once he thought about it, he fig- ured once he decided to cut his hair, it would be cool to give it to someone who needed it. “Any young person who is afraid to cut their hair for charity, just do it, it’s for a good cause,” he said. Other volunteers who had 10 inches of their hair cut off for charity in- cluded Aimee Bothwell, Victoria Powery, Shakira Perera, Cynthia Powell, Vi- anna Cuevas-Ebanks and Anupama Adupa. Proceeds from the 16th annual Cut-A-Thon will go to the Lions Club of Trop- ical Gardens’ Breast Cancer Awareness Fund to help pro- vide education on early detec- tion and to provide mammo- grams for men and women who are otherwise unable to afford them. The hair will be do- nated to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to fi- nancially disadvantaged children and to people under the age of 21 in the United States and Canada. The event was started by the owner of Eclipze salon after losing a beloved aunt to cancer. ATM thief sentenced to 20 months CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who pleaded guilty to thefts and at- tempted thefts from the ATMs of two local banks was sen- tenced on Monday to 20 months’ imprisonment. Bulgarian national Nikolay Nikolov, 35, admitted stealing or trying to steal from Butter- field Bank and Cayman Na- tional Bank ATMs between Sept. 23 and Sept. 28. Nikolov also pleaded guilty to a charge of transferring criminal property in relation to the transfer of CI$1,000 from Cayman to Bulgaria via wire transfer on Sept. 27. Defense attorney John Furniss explained that his client had owned a business in Bulgaria but had to sell it be- cause of the real estate crash and he owed 70,000 euros. Someone in Bulgaria bought his debt and Nikolov then had to work for that person. He was subsequently given items to bring to Cayman, in- cluding a card reader and gift cards, and was told to “bring back as much as you can,” Mr. Furniss said. The card reader could read cards, but could not put new numbers on them, the attorney noted. Nikolov accepted that he had sent money to the person who gave him the items. Crown counsel Scott Wain- wright told the court that CNB reported to police on Sept. 27 that an attempt had been made to get money from its ATM at Buckingham Square using cloned cards. The bank provided a video of two sus- pects. Police also learned that cloned cards had been re- tained by Butterfield Bank ATMs elsewhere. The Financial Crime Unit tracked Nikolov from a scooter rental business to the Riviera Hotel on South Church Street, where he was found in a room and arrested. Officers found the card reader and 68 gifts cards in the room, plus one in his wallet. They also found CI$2,460 and US$400 in the lining of a suit- case, plus CI$143 and US$20 in the wallet. CNB reported a loss of $725 and attempted thefts to- taling $7,500. Butterfield Bank reported a loss of $250 and at- tempted thefts totaling $4,350. Mr. Wainwright said Nikolov made admissions when interviewed. Magistrate Adam Roberts asked about the second man in the video. Mr. Wainwright said that may have been a red herring. Mr. Furniss said Nikolov came here by himself. Mr. Furniss said his instruc- tions were that the CI money found in the hotel room had come from ATMs. In passing sentence, the magistrate said Nikolov had come to Cayman with the sole intent of committing crime and undermining Cayman’s banking system. He succeeded in stealing approximately $1,000 and had attempted to steal $12,000. The magistrate said he could not ignore the large number of gift cards the de- fendant had and the fact that he had already started trans- ferring funds. Noting that defendants who pleaded guilty in a recent case had received sentences between 20 and 30 months, the magistrate settled on 20 months because Nikolov had no previous convictions. Mr. Wainwright said amounts of money were still being sorted out and there would be a further hearing in Summary Court. Mean- while, compensation was to be paid to the two banks from money recovered from the defendant. “Any young person who’s afraid to cut their hair for charity, just do it, it’s for a good cause.” KAI BUSH Eclipze staff with Lions Club of Tropical Gardens at Sunday’s Cut-a-thon to raise money for cancer awareness. - PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Kai Bush squeezes his eyes shut as his dad Roy Bush starts to cut off his son’s hair. Kai grew his hair for four-and-a-half years before donating 18 inches of it to Locks of Love charity at Sunday’s Cut-a-thon.Kai Bush checks out his new look.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 Thursday 27th October from 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM Meet our exhibitors at the ARC Camana Bay. Entry is FREE Best Dressed Chicken • AL Thompson’s Home Depot Island Electronics • CayBrew • LED Lighting Home Gas • Growing Beauty 21 Farmer’s Market Vendors Featuring Agricultural Vendors from all across the Region: Honduras, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Haiti, Suriname, Trinidad and more Product Samples – Demonstrations – Giveaways Free Flu Shots from HSA – Special Offers and more Celebrate the Caribbean Week of Agriculture PlaceMarket cece CWA2016 MaMaMa CWA2 ARC at Camana Bay | 26 & 27 October, 2016 Cayman firm protects presidential candidates from criminal drones JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Is it a bird, is it a plane, is it a drone? A Cayman Islands firm deployed new surveillance technology to keep the air space around the U.S. pres- idential debates safe from a potential new security threat – criminal drones. AirVu staff were on site at the debates in Las Vegas and New York, using the new anti-drone system which recognizes approaching drones through acoustic and radio frequency sensors. Staff from the firm were in the security command center with the U.S. Se- cret Service during the Las Vegas debate, helping to protect Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump by keeping track of all unmanned aerial vehicles in the vicinity. The company made a pitch to U.S. anti-terror po- lice in New York last month and was given the job, with its U.S. partner DeDrone, which designed the Drone- Tracker system, for the New York debate. Nevada police, on site in New York, liked the look of the system and asked the companies to do the same job in Las Vegas. Caine Smith, managing director of AirVu, said the company, which works with The Security Centre in the Cayman Islands and pro- vides security drone ser- vices at Northward Prison, is expanding regionally and internationally. He said the drone busi- ness is still a niche market and AirVu is able to play on the international stage, despite being based in the Caribbean. AirVu’s David Walshe and Michael Davidson were at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, last week to help monitor the no-fly zone around the third and final presidential debate, de- scribed by local authorities as one of the most signifi- cant security events in the area in more than 30 years. “Even though Las Vegas has hosted heads of state and presidents, the presi- dential debate coupled with the large crowd that it drew, posed a unique set of risks,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Po- lice Department Assistant Sheriff Tom Roberts said in a press statement. “We were able to seam- lessly integrate the tracker into our safety plan. Having technology that will pro- tect us from the air and provide real- time infor- mation was a huge advan- tage to having a safe and uneventful evening.” The Cayman firm was re- sponsible for surveillance of the most critical areas before, during and after the debate, alerting secu- rity services to any drones detected within the no-fly zone, said Mr. Smith. He said the firm is bid- ding for new security and defense contracts in the Ca- ribbean and the U.S. as it continues to expand. “We are getting recognized on an international level for some of the projects we are doing,” said Mr. Smith. Consultants interested in designing the $16 million mental health facility will have to pre-qualify before bidding opens next month. A government notice last week said consultant teams, with architects, engineers, and IT and security ex- perts, must submit qualifica- tions by Nov. 11. The invitation for con- sultant teams from the Cen- tral Tenders Committee states that government ex- pects to issue the full re- quest for proposal to quali- fied teams on Nov. 28. An outline business case, released over the summer, recommends a 42-bed long- term residential facility for mental health patients in the Cayman Islands. A site has not yet been selected for the 15-acre facility, but it will be somewhere in the eastern districts. If the project stays on track, construction may begin as early as July, with the aim of opening the fa- cility in early 2019. In a written statement re- leased with the outline busi- ness case, Premier Alden McLaughlin said, “This has been a long time coming, but my administration is de- termined to ensure that we achieve this important mile- stone in the healthcare we provide for our people. Those who require treatment, often the most vulnerable in our society, will no longer have to be sent overseas and sepa- rated from loved ones to get the care they need.” A residential facility for mental health patients has been years in the making. Currently, there are only a handful of beds for mental health patients in the Cayman Islands, and those beds are for short-term pa- tients in an emergency sit- uation. Long-term mental health patients have to go to residential facilities in the United States or Jamaica. As of last summer, there were 14 patients from Cayman in overseas mental health facilities, which costs government about $630,000 a year, according to the outline business case report. KPMG, which devel- oped the business case, es- timates another 12 to 14 mental health patients are cared for by family or make regular visits to the mental health unit at the hospital in George Town. The consultant esti- mates an additional six to 14 patients in North- ward Prison, straining staff with no training to work with inmates facing mental health problems. The report states, “North- ward Prison is housing of- fenders with serious mental health issues in an environ- ment that is not suitable for these offenders.” Cayman’s health system is “not equipped to deal with growing numbers of local pa- tients suffering from mental illness,” the outline business case report notes. Teams must qualify to bid on new mental health facility If the project stays on track, construction may begin as early as July, with the aim of opening the facility in early 2019. The DroneTracker system in effect in New York. AirVu’s Michael Davidson on site at the New York debate.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” TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD The pivot to Asia pi- loted by President Barack Obama has been rocked by setbacks that should con- cern everyone who believes that the United States must maintain a robust role in the Pacific at a time of Chi- na’s intensifying quest for power and influence. A pillar of the strategy is the Trans-Pacific Part- nership, a 12-nation trade pact, excluding China, that was negotiated by this ad- minstration. In this elec- tion year it attracted plenty of protectionist and nativist criticism. Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, riding waves of populist angst about the economy, opposed it. Hillary Clinton, who helped craft the pivot to Asia as secretary of state and who supported the trade agreement earlier, has come out against it, saying she didn’t like the details. In Wednesday’s debate, she insisted that if elected, her opposition would not change. “I’m against it now. I’ll be against it after the election,” she said. “I’ll be against it when I’m president.” This is a dis- couraging signal to the other nations that signed the agreement and want closer ties with the United States. China’s leaders must be thrilled. The other shock came from Rodrigo Duterte, the outspoken president of the Philippines, who bri- dles at criticism from the United States of his violent, extrajudicial cam- paign against drug dealers and users in which hun- dreds have been killed. On a visit to Beijing, he dou- bled down on anti-Amer- ican diatribes. Duterte an- nounced a “separation from the United States. Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also.” Never known for being subtle, Duterte also declared his affinity for authoritarian rule in China and Russia. Duterte left China with a goodie bag of loans and credits from a grateful Chi- nese leader, Xi Jinping. Rus- sia’s ambassador in Ma- nila invited Duterte to send in a wish list. Duterte’s spin doctors quickly asserted he didn’t mean it, which seems to happen after every outburst. But this time he took concrete action, agreeing to bilateral discussions with China over the South China Sea. The White House said on Friday that Mr. Duterte’s comments were injecting uncertainty into the re- lationship. That’s putting it mildly. One question is whether Duterte’s tilt may face pushback from his own military, which enjoys strong ties with the United States. Whatever happens in Manila, Washington needs to do more than watch the Philippines slide into China’s orbit. The pivot to Asia is looking rather unsteady, and it is worth fighting for. © 2016, The Washington Post We are tempted to call Vernon Jackson, who died this weekend at the age of 87, a “pillar of the Cayman Islands community.” However, that would not be entirely accurate. Mr. Jackson, really, was part of the foundation. On a personal level, we share our condolences with Mr. Jackson’s family, particularly wife Francine, to whom his loss is a source of deep sorrow. But as a society and a country, the people of Cayman should recognize what Mr. Jackson’s passing repre- sents, and that is the flickering out of one more star from the constellation of a historically great Cayma- nian generation. Mr. Jackson was a member of that final group of Caymanians who grew up in the “old Cayman” – marked by a seafaring culture, near-universal hardship and adherence to conservative values; who came of age before the advent of the “Cayman Miracle;” and who as an adult prepared the country for the explo- sion of growth and economic prosperity brought by the financial services and tourism industries. Every time we receive news of the passing of someone from Mr. Jackson’s era, we mark the loss of an individual who was an integral ingredient in the tra- ditional Caymanian identity. But even amid a remarkable generation, Mr. Jackson himself stood out as a particularly remarkable person whose life was guided by a love of learning – and by love itself. Born in Bodden Town, Mr. Jackson partook in a boyhood pastime that is common to many of us: reading. However, unlike most of our readers, for Mr. Jackson and his neighbors, books were far scarcer and thus considered to be far more precious. Mr. Jackson said recently, “I did not know where the books came from, but they went from house to house … we were all poor and if one happened to have a lesson book, it was shared.” After undertaking training in Jamaica, Mr. Jackson became a teacher at West Bay School. He would even- tually become headmaster at Bodden Town School, a position he held for 10 years. So it was appropriate when, in June, the building that formerly housed the Bodden Town School was formally christened as the Vernon L. Jackson Public Library and Learning Centre. Mr. Jackson also held several other distinguished positions in Cayman’s civil service, including perma- nent secretary and chief education officer. After retiring from government, Mr. Jackson, a deeply religious man, decided to embark upon a second career, as a marriage officer, this time as a joint venture with his wife Francine. Since 1992, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson officiated approximately 7,500 weddings, in their own way contributing to the continuing social stability of Cayman. No one could ever accuse the Jacksons of not “practicing what they preach” – Vernon and Francine were married for 65 years. The Jacksons’ union was fruitful. Their offspring include several well-known members of the commu- nity, including daughter Jennifer Dilbert, who served as Inspector of Financial Services and Cayman’s first information commissioner, and daughter Joy Basdeo, principal secretary in the Portfolio of Education and now Cayman’s premier wedding maven, as well as grandson Dax Basdeo, chief officer for the Ministry of Financial Services. We can think of few greater honors to bestow upon someone – particularly an educator – than to put their name on a library. That being said, of far more impor- tance than any assemblage of brick and mortar are the living monuments to a person’s legacy. According to that measure, the memory of Mr. Jackson will remain vivid for generations to come. Vernon Jackson: A lifetime of learning and love LETTER TO THE EDITOR Please watch out for runners We are just under six weeks away from the Inter- trust Cayman Islands Mara- thon and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Cayman community for its continuous support for this event that is now celebrating its 14th year! As the Race Director for this event and someone who is often on the road walking/ jogging, I would like to ask the public to please be aware of, and on the lookout for runners on the road. Leading up to the event, more and more people are training for longer periods of time. When training for a distance event such as a half or full mar- athon, the training times can be quite long. Some people will be on the road for more than two hours and as much as four or five hours, depending on their running speed. It is not always possible for people to complete their road training during daylight hours, due to their work com- mitments and the heat. When I have recently trained after dark or before sunrise on the bypass leading to Newlands and through South Sound, I often have cars passing me at very high speeds and at times have experienced people swerving at the last minute, letting me know clearly that they had only just noticed me, despite my flashers and white clothing! This can be very scary. We encourage all run- ners to wear reflective gear, flashers and light-colored clothing, but if drivers are not watching out for them, it will not matter what they are wearing or what safety mea- sures they have taken. Therefore, in these last weeks of high intensity training for the 1,100-plus lo- cals we expect to take part in our event, we are appealing to everyone on the roads to be even more cautious and watch out for runners, no matter what time of day or night it is. These runners are doing very long distances and running at whatever times they can get their training in. We hope you’ll support them by slowing down when you are approaching them, and moving as far away from them as possible. I am sure they would also appreciate a friendly wave or a shout of encouragement as well! Thanks to everyone for your support and we hope that you will come out and see the action on Sunday, Dec. 4. Rhonda Kelly, Race Director, Intertrust Cayman Is- lands Marathon A pivot to where? We encourage all runners to wear reflective gear, flashers and light-colored clothing, but if drivers are not watching out for them, it will not matter what they are wearing or what safety measures they have taken. Duterte’s spin doctors quickly asserted he didn’t mean it, which seems to happen after every outburst.5 HEALTH NEWS 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 Doctor: Insurers must incentivize healthy habits JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bringing down booming healthcare costs will involve a proactive approach with the focus on wellness rather than illness, according to a speaker from the Cleveland Clinic, Florida, one of sev- eral presenters at last week- end’s health conference in Grand Cayman. Dr. Wael Barsoum, presi- dent of the clinic, which treats hundreds of Caymanian pa- tients each year, said patients would likely be required to take a more active role in managing their own health, particularly when it comes to key risk factors like smoking, obesity and blood pressure. He said unhealthy pa- tients who refuse to lose weight or quit smoking could eventually face higher health insurance premiums as sys- tems seek to incentivize healthier lifestyles. Dr. Barsoum said 40 per- cent of premature deaths in the U.S. were caused by be- havior, such as poor eating and exercise habits. “We have to recognize that it is a personal and social re- sponsibility to manage our health better,” he said. “Bringing down the cost of healthcare is going to involve more focus on wellness and healthier living. We will be moving towards proactive in- stead of reactive healthcare.” He said it would prove cheaper in the long run for insurance companies and employers to fund smoking cessation programs or health coaches for patients rather than having to fund treat- ment of diseases caused by those factors. The Cleveland Clinic al- ready does this with its own staff, he said. “You don’t charge people for being obese, you charge them for not being willing to do anything about it,” said Dr. Barsoum. He said much more focus needed to be put by in- surers, government and in- dividuals on the value of healthy lifestyles. “Instead of being dis- ease orientated, you become health orientated. We are starting to see pockets of change but, by and large, we are still a reactive system.” The connection between unhealthy habits and debili- tating and expensive disease and early death is clear. Ac- cording to Dr. Barsoum, con- sumption of sugar in the U.S. has tripled in the last 30 years, tracking with a similar spike in type 2 diabetes. He blames bad diet ad- vice for generations of bad eating habits which are proving hard to shake. Dis- credited research suggesting carbohydrates, like pasta and potatoes, were healthy, has left a legacy of poor health in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. “When was the last time you went for a meal and you didn’t get a basket of bread? When was the last time you ordered a steak and didn’t get a huge helping of potatoes on the side? I would rather you just eat two steaks,” he said. Dr. Wael Barsoum CHICAGO (AP) – Cigarettes contribute to more than 1 in 4 cancer deaths in the U.S., according to a new study. The rate is highest among men in southern states where smoking is more common and tobacco control policies are less strict. The American Cancer So- ciety study found the highest rate among men in Arkansas, where 40 percent of cancer deaths were linked to cig- arette smoking. Kentucky had the highest rate among women – 29 percent. The lowest rates were in Utah, where 22 percent of cancer deaths in men and 11 percent in women were linked with smoking. “The human costs of ciga- rette smoking are high in all states, regardless of ranking,” the authors said. They analyzed 2014 health surveys and government data on smoking rates and deaths from about a dozen smoking-linked cancers. Lung, throat, stomach, liver, colon, pancreas and kidney cancers were among those in- cluded, along with leukemia. The researchers estimated how many cancer deaths were likely attributable to smoking, and compared that with deaths from all cancers. Results were pub- lished Monday in JAMA In- ternal Medicine. While U.S. smoking rates have been falling, 40 mil- lion U.S. adults are cigarette smokers and smoking is the top cause of preventable deaths, according to the fed- eral Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention. Numbers The study found that at least 167,000 cancer deaths in 2014 – about 29 percent of all U.S. cancer deaths – were at- tributable to smoking. Most of the 10 states with the highest rates of smoking- attributable cancer deaths were in the South, while most of the 10 states with the lowest rates were in the North or West. Among men, where smoking is generally more common, the cigarette- linked cancer death rate was highest in blacks at 35 percent, compared with 30 percent for whites and 27 percent for Hispanics. Among women, whites had the highest ciga- rette-linked cancer death rate – 21 percent, compared 19 per- cent for blacks and 12 percent for Hispanics. Explanations The researchers say nine of 14 states with the least comprehensive smoke-free indoor air policies are in the South. The average ciga- rette excise tax in major to- bacco states, mostly in the South, is 49 cents, compared with $1.80 elsewhere. The to- bacco industry heavily influ- ences these policies and most of the U.S. tobacco crop is grown in the South, the re- searchers said. The region also has relatively high levels of poverty, which is also linked with smoking. Reaction Dr. Hilary Tindle of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, said the results reflect what she sees as a tobacco researcher and internal medicine spe- cialist in the South. She was not involved in the study. Smoking is more of a so- cial norm there, and while her medical center has an indoor smoking ban, she said it’s not unusual to walk through cloud of cigarette smoke outside the entrance. Tindle said the study results highlight the need for stronger tobacco con- trol measures and show why doctors should discuss smoking at every patient visit, encourage smokers to quit and inform them about effective ways to do so. One-fourth of US cancer deaths linked to smoking Dr. Geetha Nampia- parampil, a psychiatrist from the Miami Cancer Institute, part of Bap- tist Health South Florida, will be the featured speaker at an invitation- only breakfast for breast cancer survivors on Sat- urday, Oct. 29, at the Westin resort. Hosted by the Lions Club of Tropical Gar- dens and Baptist Health South Florida, the break- fast is one of a series of events in October, which is breast cancer awareness month. Dr. Nampiaparampil will deliver a presenta- tion on “Breast Cancer and Self Care: Moving For- ward,” addressing the psychological symptoms of patients after a cancer di- agnosis and steps on how to move forward. “Denial, anger, stress, anxiety, sadness and hope are some of the emo- tions survivors have gone through when learning about their cancer di- agnosis. People process these feelings in different ways, but it is important to provide information on how to deal with them,” Dr. Nampiaparampil said in a press release an- nouncing the event. This is the seventh year for the breakfast, which provides an opportunity for survivors to “create and share memorable experi- ences,” organizers said. PSYCHIATRIST TO SPEAK AT BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS BREAKFAST A new study published Monday reports that 1 in 4 cancer-related deaths in the United States are related to smoking. - PHOTO: AP US LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS ON LEUKEMIA DRUG PRICE HIKES WASHINGTON (AP) – Two top lawmakers last week demanded information from a drug company that has raised prices on a leu- kemia drug, calling in- creases of tens of thou- sands of dollars a sign the company puts profits be- fore patients. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Elijah Cum- mings, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Govern- ment Reform Committee, wrote to ARIAD Pharma- ceuticals and asked about price hikes for Iclusig, which is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia in some people. The com- pany raised the cost of the drug four times in 2016 to an almost $200,000 yearly cost, an increase of more than $80,000 over the last several years. “These outrageous sales tactics indicate that ARIAD is more concerned with its profit than with its patients,” Sanders and Cummings wrote. Sanders also tweeted about the company last week: “Drug corporations’ greed is unbelievable. Ariad has raised the price of a leukemia drug to almost $199,000 a year.” According to data from Truven Health Ana- lytics, the list price for a year’s supply of Iclusig tablets has increased from $114,960 in 2012 to $198,732 in October 2016. Sanders and Cum- mings also said they are investigating whether the company tried to boost profits by tweaking pill dosages and quan- tities to charge insurers and patients more for less medicine. The FDA approved Iclusig in 2012 as a treat- ment for two rare types of leukemia, but the com- pany suspended sales the next October because of heightened concerns that patients could suffer from life-threatening blood clots. In December 2013, it relaunched with added warnings and to a smaller subset of patients. The inquiry comes as other pharmaceutical companies have come under fire from Congress for price hikes. Martin Shkreli, the brash former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, became the poster child of pharmaceutical-industry greed last fall for hiking the price of a life-saving drug, Daraprim, by more than 5,000 percent. He in- voked his Fifth Amend- ment rights and refused to answer any questions at a House hearing ear- lier this year. In September, a House panel grilled Mylan CEO Heather Bresch after the list price of the company’s life-saving EpiPens grew to $608 for a two-pack, an in- crease of more than 500 percent since 2007. Mylan is paying $465 million to settle allegations that it overbilled Medicaid for the EpiPen.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Halloween party for a worthy cause In the Oct. 26, 1966 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “A Halloween party sponsored by the PTA will be held in the Town Hall on the 29th from 4 to 6 p.m., also a sale. Special feature will be a costume parade competition for the children. Invitation is extended to all to help a worthy cause. A fee will be taken at the door. “Mr. McTear Ebanks left on the 20th for Panama to join S.S. Bulk Oceanic. This is his first trip abroad. Leaving the same day was Carlyle Hydes to work with Na- tional Bulk Carriers. “Mr. Whales Ebanks who went to Jamaica for medical aid has returned and is very much better. His son Conolly returned the same day. “Mr. Sherman Man- derson (Sherry) is home on vacation. He is an employee of National Bulk Carriers. “Captain McCherry Ebanks arrived on the 23rd from Jamaica. He went there for medical attention, and reports he is much improved. “Mr. McLure Bothwell arrived on the 23rd on his vacation. Other ar- rivals on the 23rd were Messrs. George Hydes, Waldo Banks, Captain and Mrs. Temple Banks and their son Grayburn from Miami, Messrs. Selburn Hydes and George Orrett from their jobs in Canada. “The Church of God Full Gospel Hall will be opened on the Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. “Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bush are the happy par- ents of their second child, a son weighing 7 pounds on the 19th. “The Mashyiannes Band comprised of McAr- thur Manderson lead guitar, Camelia Ebanks, bass guitar, Lewiston Ebanks, rhythm guitar, Rolston Rivers drummer and Norris Ebanks singer and MC returned from Miami on the 23rd having filled engagements at clubs down there. They re- port an enjoyable trip and hope to return sometime. “Brendon and Pa- tricia [were among the entertainers] at Club In- ferno, with Prince Al Bent and the Infernaires. Large crowds enjoyed the three-night show which included other local talent and guest artistes from Jamaica.” Students experience statistics in action Students at West Bay’s Wesleyan Christian Academy recently had the opportu- nity to experience statis- tics in action. The 34 high school stu- dents took part in the ex- ercise on Monday, Oct. 17, as part of a number of ac- tivities marking Statistics Week this year. According to a press re- lease, during a school visit, Economics and Statistics Of- fice staff, led by Director Maria Zingapan, demon- strated how to conduct a random survey and a quick census to students from Grades 9 to 12. The stu- dents also participated in a facts quiz. “Following a brief survey of a sample group of seven out of 34 students, for a 20.5 percent sampling, the class got an understanding of how statistics are used through sampling to get a snapshot of the entire group’s views,” the release states. The ESO team also told the students that the office conducts samplings of the Cayman Islands’ population through its various periodic surveys, such as the Labour Force Survey, to gauge the pa- rameters of the Cayman Is- lands’ economy. The release states that sta- tistical officers Ivan McLean and Narnia Ebanks, along with Accounts Officer Joyce Christian, helped to conduct a quiz on the summarized Cayman Islands facts and stats contained in the ESO’s “Cayman at a Glance” bro- chure, which was distributed to all the students. Ten students won prizes for answering correctly and all the students got a token gift for taking part in the exercise. Teachers Robert Liv- ingston, Ladonna Rolle and Daphne Ellis were on hand to facilitate the activities. “It was more rewarding and certainly exciting to see the enthusiasm and energy with which the students par- ticipated in the exercise,” said Ms. Zingapan. “I hope this has enthused some of our local students to take up careers in economics and statistics as well as un- derstand the importance of statistics in so many as- pects of professional lives. I am very pleased at this ener- getic start of this year’s Sta- tistics Week.” The week formally began with a church service at Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Sunday. Activi- ties also included another interactive session with stu- dents at Clifton Hunter High School, daily sessions ending with a quiz on Radio Cay- man’s “Talk Today,” as well as planned community service by ESO staff at the Pines. The quiz winners, ESO staff and Wesleyan Christian Academy teachers. ESO Accounts Officer Joyce Christian with statistical officers Ivan McLean and Narnia Ebanks tabulating the survey results.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 Uniting for breast cancer awareness The Botswain Bay Presbyterian Church congregation held a special service in support of breast cancer awareness. – PHOTO: EZIETHAMAE BODDEN West Bay readies for Heritage Day events The West Bay Heritage Committee is gearing up for Heritage Day 2016. The event on Nov. 17 will be at the West Bay heri- tage park opposite Ed Bush Stadium. Gates open at 11 a.m. for what is anticipated to be an entertaining trip down memory lane. The day will feature “Ole Tyme” activities, music, food and sweet treats, dem- onstrations, crafts, a pet- ting zoo and information booths. Offering up fun for all ages every year popular exhibits include classic cat- boats and old time rope making and traditional toy demonstrations. There will also be a baby show at 5 p.m., a talent show at 5:30 p.m., and a variety of competitions, including a fish fry contest at 6 p.m. Admission is free; exhib- itors are asked to register by Nov. 10. Contact 929-9932 for more information. Cayman Prep students enjoy snow cones and cotton candy at West Bay Heritage Day 2015. Millie Banker and Marlena Anglin were on hand at last year’s Heritage Day in West Bay. The 2015 West Bay Heritage Day baby show winners, from left, Naelami Clarke, Skyler Rivers, Lacie Akers, Onella Gould, Isabel Swaby and, front, Mikal McLaughlin.Lots of crafts will be on sale again this year. The Botswain Bay Pres- byterian Church community recently came together to do their part to support breast cancer awareness in the dis- trict of West Bay, as part of October’s awareness activi- ties spearheaded by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. This year’s theme is “Early Detection Saves Lives.” On Sunday, Oct. 16, the church congregation dressed in pink, and the day’s programs were also printed in pink. After Elder Rupert Ebanks gave the welcome and offered the prayer, the praise team sang uplifting choruses, in- cluding “The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower,” “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “In Moments Like These, God, you Reign.” Erlene Hunte gave the children’s message on caring and giving, and a sermon on overcoming traditional barriers was offered by Elder Carlon Powery. During the service, Deacon Langlie Powery also high- lighted West Bay’s breast cancer awareness meeting on Oct. 24, at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall at 7:30 p.m., and encouraged all to participate in the breast cancer dress down “Dress Pink” day sched- uled for Oct. 28. District Breast Cancer Clinic on Tuesday As part of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a breast cancer clinic will take place between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the West Bay Health Centre on Reverend Blackman Road. As part of its awareness activities, information will be available on performing breast self exams, as well as guidance on mammo- grams. Those interested in attending may call the Lions Club of Tropical Gar- dens on 936-1739.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, OCT. 25 ZIKA PUBLIC MEETING: Doctors and government officers invite the public, especially pregnant women, to a meeting at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall, West Bay, 5:30-7 p.m. REVIVAL: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) invites everyone to Revival Services, which continue through Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. nightly except Oct. 30, which will be at 6 p.m. No service on Saturday, Oct. 29. Guest speaker will be Pastor Glarmon Grant, better known as Brother Bo Bo. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26 CONSERVATION COUNCIL: The National Conservation Council holds a special general meeting 10 a.m. – noon in Room 2112 of the Government Administration Building (Grand Cayman). The agenda will be available at the DoE website (www. doe.ky/conservation-council). This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments to the council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to ConservationCouncil@ gov.ky. BRAC SOCIAL: Celebrating Older Persons Month. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Aston Rutty Centre. CHAMBER COURSE: Ken Blanchard, Giving Feedback Skills. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $350 for members, $400 for future members; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online www. caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, OCT. 27 AGRICULTURE AND OUTDOOR LIVING EXPO: At the Arts and Recreation Centre, Camana Bay. 10 a.m.- 8:30 p.m. Free admission. CHAMBER COURSES: Employment Health Insurance, 9-11 a.m. $175 for members, $225 for future members; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online www.caymanchamber.ky. Also, Time Management & Productivity, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $150 for members, $225 for future members; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online www. caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, OCT. 28 THEATRE: The Cayman National Cultural Foundation presents “Collected Stories,” a play by the Pulitzer Prize- winning playwright Donald Margulies. Directed by Henry Muttoo, featuring Marcia Muttoo and Rita Estevanovich. This weekend and next only. Curtain Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for seniors (over 65) and youth (13 – 17). Parental advisory – strong language. Visit artscayman.org to purchase tickets online or get them at Foster’s Food Fair at the Strand, Funky Tang’s or Healthcare Pharmacy Grand Harbour. Call the Box Office at 949-5477 or email cncf@ artscayman.org. PIRATES WEEK GOLF: Scheduled for today. The Pirates Week Festival Office seeks sponsors for its Charity Golf Classic. Any businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring financially or with services or products may contact piratesweekgolf@gmail.com or call Samantha on 936- 4766. Team registration for the four-person scramble is also open. Register at www. caymanactive.com. SATURDAY, OCT. 29 GARAGE SALE: St. Alban’s Church, 461 Shedden Road (Opposite Bodden Place). From 7 a.m. Clothes, household items, books, toys and more. Phone 949- 2757. FISH FRY, BAKE SALE: Elmslie Youth Mission Fish Fry and Bake Sale. 9 a.m. Central Plaza Next to Funky Tang’s on Shedden Road. All proceeds go toward mission trip, Nov. 11-14. FULL GOSEL BUSINESSMEN: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International holds its monthly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Lola’s (formerly The Upper Crust) restaurant in Camana Bay. We will have open sharing. HARBOUR NIGHTS: Harbour Nights on the Waterfront offers free entertainment from 6 p.m. This is a George Town revitalization effort hosted by Quincy Brown and featuring local bands such as Regeneration, Beneil Miller & The Firesquad, Stuart Wilson, Andy Blake, Rico, Rolando & Cinco, DJ Mix Master and DJ Don 1. Harbour Night specials will be available at participating area establishments. Local food vendors and entertainment throughout the evening. DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in North Side, junction of the Hutland and North Side Roads, near Chisholm’s Supermarket. Available items include ladies’ accessories and bags, clothing and shoes for men, women and children, linens, household items and more. ARTISAN MARKET: Pedro Castle. Hershey Halloween event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visual Arts Society annual Christmas arts and crafts sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact artisansmarkets@ visualartcayman.com. SUNDAY, OCT. 30 OLDER PERSONS: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to the Older Persons Month Celebration Service at 11 a.m. MONDAY, OCT. 31 ANTI-BULLYING: The Family Resources Centre is sponsoring an Anti- Bullying Poster and Song Competition. Today is the deadline for submissions. For more information on this and other FRC initiatives, contact 949- 0006, email frc@gov.ky or visit www.facebook.com/ FamilyResourceCentre. CHAMBER COURSE: Understanding Financial Statements, Today and tomorrow. 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $225 for members, $300 for future members; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online www. caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, NOV. 1 ZIKA PUBLIC MEETING: Doctors and government officers invite the public, especially pregnant women, to a meeting at the North Side Civic Centre, 5:30-7 p.m. THURSDAY, NOV. 3 ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: The next general public is at Pedro Castle, starting 6:30 p.m. If the weather is bad or more than 50 percent cloudy the meeting will be canceled. Phone Richard on 925-4917 for more details or if the weather is playing up. SATURDAY, NOV. 5 MUSIC OUTDOORS: All are invited to a free concert by The Singrays in the amphitheater of Dart Family Park, South Church Street, at 5:30 p.m. They will sing some of their favorite arrangements of standards, jazz, pop, and modern tunes. Admission is free, but donations to support the National Trust are welcome. More information at www. facebook.com/singrays or email singrays.ky@gmail. com. TUESDAY, NOV. 8 STEWARDS OF CHILDREN: The Red Cross “Darkness to Light” is a free training program, 6:30-9 p.m., for parents, teachers and others who work with or provide services to young people. Gain knowledge and skills to prevent child sexual abuse; recognize signs of abuse and learn how to react responsibly. Pre-registration is required. Contact vrm@redcross. org.ky. ZIKA PUBLIC MEETING: Doctors and government officers invite the public, especially pregnant women, to a meeting at the East End Civic Centre, 5:30-7 p.m. THURSDAY, NOV. 10 WEST BAY HERITAGE: Today is the last day to register for participation in competitions to be held on Heritage Day, Nov. 17. Baby Show, 5 p.m., boys and girls ages 0 – 48 months. Talent show, singing, dancing, musical, poetry, 5:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 18. Fish Fry Competition, 6 p.m. for ages 13 – 19 years. Free admission but advance registration necessary. Call 929-9932. GENERAL INTEREST FLU SHOTS: The 2016/2017 Seasonal Flu shots are now available. Locations and times are – The General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital, and all District Health Centres, 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac, Wednesday, Oct. 26. In Little Cayman, residents should contact the clinic to make arrangements. Flu shots will also be available in the Cayman Islands Hospital Atrium (next to the pharmacy) until Friday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. to noon weekdays only. All flu shots are given on a first- come, first-served basis and are available only until supplies last, at no cost to all residents. For further information, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2621/244-2889. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Classes offered Tuesdays, figure drawing with live model. Thursdays, color theory. For more information, email workshops@ visualartcayman.com. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. until Dec. 14; also first Sunday of the month, 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Watler House at Pedro Castle. Contact openstudio@ visualartcayman.com. PARADE OF LIGHTS: The annual holiday event featuring a Christmas concert, boat parade and fireworks display is set for Dec. 3 at Camana Bay. Anyone interested in participating in the parade should phone 333-6560 or email c27paradeoflights@ gmail.com. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Light of the World Church after-school program has resumed. Children ages 6 to 12 are supervised by qualified, experienced teachers from 3:30 p.m. The focus is on homework, with special emphasis on literacy and numeracy. The fee is $25 per week and includes a snack. For more information, call 926-1541. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Contact humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards, etc., in good condition always needed. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www. smustudents.webs.com. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946- 6575. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Contact artisansmarkets@ visualartcayman.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www. caymancompass.com/events. The Hershey Halloween event at Pedro Castle takes place on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Visual Arts Society’s annual Christmas arts and crafts sale will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2016 Bodden Town Library in his honor, “The greatest privilege in life is to have been of ser- vice to your fellow man and to have earned their respect.” Born on Dec. 18, 1928, into a family of travelers, seamen and émigrés, Mr. Jackson embraced education as he grew up, going to college at a time when most boys left school at 14. In 1945, he went to the Mico Training College in Jamaica to study to become a teacher. He re- turned to Cayman in 1948 and was posted to the West Bay Primary School as as- sistant head teacher under Beulah Smith. In 1951, while teaching in West Bay, he met and mar- ried another Bodden Towner, Francine. In 1953, the couple moved their family back to Bodden Town, where Mr. Jackson served as head- master until 1964, when he succeeded Clifton Hunter as director of education. Mr. Jackson had a versa- tile career in the civil service, holding positions in social services, education, commu- nications, infrastructure and human resources. In addition to serving as director of edu- cation, he also served as ad- ministration secretary for Ed- ucation and Social Services (a post that would later be called principal secretary, then per- manent secretary, and now chief officer). He oversaw the transition of secondary edu- cation from the Presbyterian Church to government, the in- troduction of comprehensive education and other innova- tions in education. His other positions within the civil service included: prin- cipal secretary (personnel); principal secretary (communi- cation and works); and super- visor of elections. He also oversaw the change in currency in Cayman from British pounds, shillings and pence to the Jamaican dollar in 1969. According to his family, Mr. Jackson, his wife and chil- dren moved back to West Bay in 1968 so Francine could care for her ailing adoptive mother. In West Bay, he became in- volved in community and church activities and served as a lay preacher throughout the island. He recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Church of Ja- maica and Grand Cayman. Mr. Jackson was also a charter member and past president of the original Ro- tary Club; one of the founding members and president of the Gun Club; and served on the Parole Board for 17 years. He was awarded the OBE for services to his com- munity in 1984. Marriage officer After retiring from the civil service, he became a marriage officer and co- founded Cayman Weddings. He went on to perform more than 4,500 wedding ceremo- nies over 30 years. The last wedding ceremony he per- formed was for his grandson Jessie Basdeo in January of this year. Library renamed in his honor Last year, the Bodden Town Library where he spent 10 years as headmaster was renamed in his honor. At that ceremony, daughter Ms. Basdeo gave at- tendees a glimpse into her fa- ther’s life and history. She described him as an enigma – a man before his time and also a man of his time – “a gentle man and a gentleman.” Those qualities, more than anything else, she said, made him beloved throughout the Cayman Islands and will en- sure he is remembered long after his other accomplish- ments have been forgotten. At the same ceremony, Ed- ucation Minister Tara Rivers said Mr. Jackson’s legacy will forever be etched on the insti- tution of learning and enlight- enment, adding, “As a govern- ment, we are grateful to Mr. Vernon for the foundation he has helped to lay in the areas of social services, education communication, infrastructure and human resources.” Osbourne Bodden, Bodden Town MLA and Community Affairs minister, said he grew up admiring the humble and quiet manner of Mr. Jackson, who was also firm in his beliefs and standards. Mr. Bodden said Mr. Jackson was a true nation-builder who had worked with the church, the government and the local community. He said Mr. Jackson raised a wonderful family coupled with a long marriage and set a standard for all to aspire to. “I’m happy we were able to honor him in Bodden Town before he passed,” Mr. Bodden added. “May his soul rest in peace, and we will for- ever be grateful for his ef- forts in a life well lived.” Mr. Jackson is survived by his wife, daughters, son, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The funeral service for Mr. Jackson will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, at John Gray Memorial Church on West Church Street, West Bay. Interment follows at the West Bay Cemetery, according to the family. estimates a “fluctuating membership of between 83 and 96 persons” and re- quests that the association produce accounts to prove that there were 146 people signed up as members as of the 2015 annual general meeting and therefore eli- gible to vote. The affidavit states that a number of mem- bers of the current ex- ecutive committee are seeking re-election. “Without the interven- tion of the court, it is my fear that these persons will be elected by persons who are not members of the CIAA in truth and fact but are persons ‘recruited’ for the sole purpose of electing their ‘recruiters’ to office. If this is done, the truth as to what transpired in the lead up to the election may never be uncovered,” the af- fidavit states. Justice Michael Wood granted the injunction last week, ordering that the de- fendants produce proof of the membership, in- cluding application forms and receipts to determine the membership as of Oct. 22, 2015. fund pays for up to $2,500 to help students working on their first degree to cover the cost of books, transpor- tation, room and board or other expenses. The preschool pro- gram offers early childhood education with fees based on family income. The fees in- clude breakfast, lunch and af- ternoon snacks for children. About half of the school’s roughly $510,000 annual budget comes from dona- tions, according to the NCVO. At the nursery and early learning center, the NCVO cares for children who are 4 months to 2 years old. The organization says more than half of the $130,000 budget for the Jack and Jill Nursery and Early Learning Centre comes from donations. Ms. Wilson said the organization’s project list for next year should be out next month as they figure out their priorities for 2017. She encouraged people to pay their pledges by sending a check, dropping by the NCVO office or paying on the organization’s website. Vernon Jackson, Cayman icon, 1928-2016 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Andre Garcia plays at the telethon Saturday.Isadora Ferrao sings with Bona Fide. - PHOTOS: SIMON PITCHER Vernon Jackson with his wife Francine and children Joy Basdeo, Jennifer Dilbert and Andre Jackson. The funeral service for Mr. Jackson will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, at John Gray Memorial Church on West Church Street in West Bay. Track association accused of election impropriety Delroy Murray has launched a court action which successfully stopped the elections for the sporting body, originally scheduled for last week, pending the result of a Nov. 1 court hearing. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NCVO telethon raises more than $130,000 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >