SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 High of 89 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. Politics Sanders says Clinton will feel the Bern 4 World Which countries get money from U.S.? 10 5 Myths Get smart about what genius really is 23 THE TRUMP EFFECT Has the Republican nominee transformed America, or simply revealed it? PAGE 12 Data crunch Halloween is a treat in these regions 17 ABCDE NATIONAL WEEKLY THE WEEK OF SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WASHINGTON POST The Trump effect EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘ROAD KILL’: THE IMPACT OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT Seven mile beach WaTeRFROnT WalKeRS ROaD TOWn cenTRe PlaZa Ironwood: EIA could kill road deal Delays make December deal unlikely JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Golf resort developer Ironwood has claimed that the requirement to carry out an environ- mental impact assessment on a new 10-mile stretch of highway could kill the road project. Representatives for Ironwood, which is still moving ahead with plans for an Arnold Palmer-branded golf course and lodge in the eastern districts, said there is now little chance of meeting a December deadline to agree a partnership with government for the road construction. The proposed road traverses the cen- tral mangrove wetlands and could poten- tially impact natural storm protection and flood mitigation to communities along the route, prompting the National Conserva- tion Council to request an environmental im- pact assessment. The study could take up to a year and its findings would likely impact the overall cost and viability of the highway, currently esti- mated at $50 million, making it difficult for government and Ironwood to ink a deal before it is completed. The two parties signed a contract last year that triggers a package of duty concessions worth $22 million for Ironwood if the road deal is not finalized by Dec. 18, 2016. Ironwood says it would rather have the road, which it believes is important to the suc- cess of the development and would also have spin-off benefits for Caymanian landowners on the route. But the project’s financial backers CONDÉ NAST NAMES CAYMAN AMONG TOP ISLANDS IN WORLD Brac’s Le Soleil d’Or named second best resort in Caribbean The Cayman Islands have been placed in a top 20 list of the best islands in the world. According to the popular Condé Nast Traveler, its readers voted Cayman into 13th place in the top 20 islands outside the U.S. in the magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. In a description of the Cayman Islands on the magazine’s website highlighting the top 20 island destinations, Cayman is described as: “You’ve probably heard of the Seven Mile Beach and cruise ship excursions to Stingray City on Grand Cayman, but the British territo- ry’s smaller offshoots, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, make for great active vacation spots. Get your fill of hiking, snorkeling, sailing, and even golfing.” The number one island voted by readers was Boracay in the western Philippines. Other islands in the Caribbean in the top 30 included Turks and Caicos, in seventh place, St. Barts (12th), British Virgin Islands (18th) and St. Lucia (20th). The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards were determined by more than 300,000 participants who submitted millions of ratings and 75,000 comments on more than 20,000 listings. Top resorts Condé Nast Traveler readers also voted on top resorts worldwide and in the Caribbean. Le Soleil d’Or farm-to-table beachside re- sort on Cayman Brac won the votes of trav- elers in both categories and was named the Campaigners celebrate saving Smith Cove JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Campaigners who fought a brief battle to save Smith Cove from development en- joyed the spoils of their victory in a day of celebration at the historic, natural beauty spot Saturday. Relaxing on the beach, picnicking in the shade, watching the sunset or diving and jumping acrobatically off the rocks, young and old came together to mark the occasion. Some donned T-shirts with the slogan, “Saved the Cove, Jump the Rock,” while beachgoers signed colorful messages of thanks on newly donated picnic tables. The event was originally scheduled as a protest against plans for a condo complex on the northern part of the property. But a groundswell of public opinion against the project prompted government to step in and negotiate to buy the land from the developer, who agreed to withdraw the plans. Morne Botes, who started the Save the Cove group and helped gather more than 3,000 signatures protesting the plans in the week after they were made public, was among those taking a celebratory jump off the rocks, which were within the bound- aries of the private developer’s land. “It is just perfect. This was going to be a protest but now it is a celebration,” he said. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Save the Cove campaigner Morne Botes jumps off the rocks at Smith Cove on Saturday. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 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. TYLER PERRY’S BOO! (PG13) A MADEA HALLOWEEN 1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:45 MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME (PG13) FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN 12:45 | 6:40 KEEPING UP WITH (PG13) THE JONESES 3:45 | 10:05 OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL (PG13) 1:30 | 4:30 | 7:10 | 9:35 TROLLS 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:00 2D | 5:15 | 7:30 2D | 10:00 THE ACCOUNTANT (R) 12:40 | 3:30 | 6:50 | 9:50 JACK REACHER: (PG13) NEVER GO BACK 1:20 | 4:10 | 7:20 | 10:00 - MONDAY - Police awarded for bravery, professionalism Eight Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service officers were recognized last week for their bravery and profes- sionalism while performing lifesaving efforts in the line of duty. Five officers from the Uniform Support Group were honored for their response to the scene of a shooting outside Seven Mile Shops on Oct. 1. According to an RCIPS press release, those officers were also acknowledged for the medical care they gave to the victim, Justin Man- derson, 24, which kept him alive long enough to see and speak with family members before he passed away. Other officers received recognition for adminis- tering CPR that resusci- tated an elderly woman in Bodden Town. Two detectives, Junior Durrant and Charmaine Dalhouse, were also hon- ored for their quick actions in central George Town last year that most likely saved the life of Blake Burrell, 32, whose throat was slashed. The actions of these de- tectives were commended by the judge who presided over the case. “The core duty of each and every officer is to save and protect life,” said Acting Commissioner of Po- lice Anthony Ennis, who along with other senior of- ficers presented the cita- tions to the officers at Police Headquarters. “Each of these officers admirably fulfilled this sa- cred duty and are a credit to themselves, fellow colleagues and the RCIPS,” he said. From left, Superintendent Adrian Seales, Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown (CID), Detective Constable Junior Durrant (CID), Police Constable Rayon Curate (USG), Acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Ennis, Police Constable Peter Maragh (USG), Police Constable Brandaughn Phillips (USG), Police Sergeant Loxley Solomon (USG) and Superintendent Robert Graham. Missing from the photograph were other officers who were commended, Sergeant Charmaine Dalhouse, Constables Winston Wolliston and Constante Aydoc. HAVANA (AP) – A teenager dressed as Batman danced through the door as Reg- gaeton music thumped in- side for a Halloween party in the ground-floor apart- ment of a Soviet-era housing project in Cuba’s capital. On a side table, candles flickered inside squashes carved into jack-o’-lanterns. Marilyn Alvarez smeared red makeup onto 17-year- old Luis Ramos’ eyes, put- ting the finishing touches on the high school stu- dent’s devil costume. Teens dressed as skeletons, witches and an executioner danced under disco lights, ate jack- o’-lantern cake and sipped creamy rum drinks. Alvarez’s daughter Alannis Rodriguez, a 12th grader dressed as a she-devil, posed for a photo with her dog, a pug she had dressed as a baby. Inspired by pirated U.S. movies and television shows, young Cubans are turning American-style Hal- loween parties into the is- land’s latest trend. Trick- or-treating has not taken root, but across Cuba this weekend elementary, high school and college students were dressing up, dancing and enjoying a festivity that few knew as children. “It’s out of the ordinary,” said Ramos, one of Alannis Rodriguez’s classmates. “We didn’t celebrate it a few years ago because it wasn’t the custom. But we’ve seen it in movies and TV shows.” The rising popularity of Halloween is one of many manifestations of the de- cades-long intermingling of Cuban and U.S. culture de- spite the half-century of hostility between the two countries’ governments. Cu- bans are immersed in U.S. popular culture and, increas- ingly, U.S. products brought by expatriates visiting family on the island. At Rodriguez’s party in eastern Havana on Friday night, the costumes ranged from expensive imported rented outfits to hand- made costumes cobbled to- gether from items found around the house. “You can’t find every- thing but some people can rent an outfit to wear and others can’t manage it,” Ro- driguez said. “You celebrate as you’re able to.” Yasmanni Manuel, a stu- dent at a merchant ma- rine academy dressed as a black-clad male witch, said he was delighted to have a new reason to get together with his friends. “It’s a new trend,” he said. “It’s a beautiful party.” Halloween parties become a new trend for young Cubans Marilyn Alvarez lights jack-o-lanterns during a Halloween party at a residence in Havana, Cuba, late Friday. - PHOTO: AP/RAMON ESPINOSA JURY NOTICE All Grand Court jurors in the current session, which runs from Wednesday, Oct. 5 to Friday, Dec. 30, are advised that their next report date has been changed to Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 244-3899 for the most up-to-date information. Maduro becomes talk of summit by not showing up CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) – Leaders of Ibero-Amer- ican nations met Sat- urday as a political and humanitarian crisis deep- ened in Venezuela, the summit overshadowed by a guessing game over whether their Venezuelan colleague would show. He did not. Reporters even trooped to the airport in this Caribbean city to await Nicolas Maduro. His attendance had been expected after Pe- ru’s president laid down a gauntlet of sorts. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said he would seek consensus for Venezuela’s suspen- sion from the Organiza- tion of American States for violating its demo- cratic charter. And though talk of Venezuela was the main course at the leader’s pri- vate lunch, they issued no related statement. Maduro’s government has been widely con- demned for blocking at- tempts by the opposi- tion, which won control of congress in December elections, to gather signa- tures in a petition seeking to hold a recall election against the socialist leader. Venezuela’s foreign minister, Delcy Rodri- guez, said Maduro could not attend because he was preparing for a Sunday meeting with Venezuela’s opposition leaders spon- sored by the Vatican. She did not respond directly to Kuczyns- ki’s concerns. “The only crime (of Ven- ezuela’s government) is to diverge from world powers and imperialism,” she said. Venezuela is suffering from severe food and med- icine shortages and acute criminal violence. Kuczynski, a 78-year- old former investment banker and World Bank official who assumed Pe- ru’s presidency in July, said it is very difficult for leaders to meet and not discuss the region’s most burning issues. He urged a diplomatic offensive in view of Vene- zuela’s “potential humani- tarian crisis.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 ESSO and the ESSO Logo are trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corpora tion and are used under license. Customers to Cruise to the... MEDITERRANEAN, CARIBBEAN, PANAMA, ALASKA with ESSO! Above, Grand Prize Winners: Rickie Miller, Four Winds Esso. Marlon Crowe, H&B West Bay Esso. Hugh Chin-Sinn, Brown's Industrial. Customers of Esso Service Stations in Grand Cayman have smiles to last the miles as they won weekend getaway trips for two and cruises for four. For every $25 spent in fuel at participating stations, customers received an entry form for a chance to win in the bi-weekly draws of a trip for 2 to Miami or New York and the Grand Prize of three (3) Cruises for four (4) to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama and Alaska. The bi-weekly presentations were held July 20th, August 3rd, 17th & 31st, 2016 during which customers fuelling up got a chance to spin-the-wheel to win fuel or C-store items from the deli. EVERYONE WAS TRULY A WINNER! Other Bi-Weekly Winners (not pictured): Lucille Seymour, Red Bay. Laurie Farrington, Browns Industrial Park. Devonnie Smith, BarCam. Frederick Williams, Red Bay. Nurlene Taylor, Red Bay. Faith Young-Crooks, Shedden Road. Stephen Heal, Four Winds. Heathermae Camacho, BarCam. Joseph Betty, Hell. Bi-Weekly Winner: Maizie Murray, H&B West Bay Rd. Bi-Weekly Winner: Sidney Carlson, Mostyn’ s. Bi-Weekly Winner: Elsie Ebanks, H&B West Bay.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” ERIKA CHRISTAKIS Special To The Washington Post The right to speak freely may be enshrined in some of our na- tion’s great universities, but the culture of listening needs repair. That is the lesson I learned a year ago, when I sent an email urging Yale University students to think critically about an of- ficial set of guidelines on cos- tumes to avoid at Halloween. I had hoped to generate a reflective conversation among students: What happens when one person’s offense is an- other person’s pride? Should a costume-wearer’s intent or context matter? Can we al- ways tell the difference be- tween a mocking costume and one that satirizes ignorance? In what circumstances should we allow – or punish – youthful transgression? “I don’t wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation,” I wrote, in part. “I know that many decent people have pro- posed guidelines on Halloween costumes from a spirit of avoiding hurt and offense. I laud those goals, in theory, as most of us do. But in practice, I wonder if we should reflect more trans- parently, as a community, on the consequences of an insti- tutional (which is to say: bu- reaucratic and administrative) exercise of implied control over college students.” Some called my email tone- deaf or even racist, but it came from a conviction that young people are more capable than we realize and that the growing tendency to cultivate vulnera- bility in students carries unac- knowledged costs. Many at Yale maintain that my email prompted widespread and civil conversation, and that the ensuing controversy was just a matter of competing ex- pressions of free speech. I aired an unpopular opinion, which was answered by an equally le- gitimate response. But these sanguine claims crumble on examination. The community’s response seemed, to many outside the Yale bubble, a baffling overreaction. Nearly a thousand students, faculty and deans called for my and my husband’s immediate removal from our jobs and campus home. Some demanded not only apologies for any unintended racial insensitivity (which we gladly offered) but also a com- plete disavowal of my ideas (which we did not) – as well as advance warning of my appear- ances in the dining hall so that students accusing me of fos- tering violence would not be disturbed by the sight of me. Not everyone bought this narrative, but few spoke up. And who can blame them? Nu- merous professors, including those at Yale’s top-rated law school, contacted us personally to say that it was too risky to speak their minds. Others who generously supported us pub- licly were admonished by col- leagues for vouching for our characters. Many students met with us confidentially to de- scribe intimidation and accu- sations of being a “race traitor” when they deviated from the ascendant campus account that I had grievously injured the community. But none of these examples captures the more worrying trend of self-censorship on cam- puses. For seven years I lived and worked on two college cam- puses, and a growing number of students report avoiding controversial topics – such as the limits of religious toler- ance or transgender rights – for fear of uttering “unacceptable” language or otherwise step- ping out of line. The irony is that this culture of protection may ultimately harm those it purports to pro- tect. The Yale imbroglio became a merciless punch line, leaving no one unscathed, because the lack of a candid internal reck- oning emboldened partisan out- siders to hijack the story. I did not leave a rewarding job and campus home on a whim. But I lost confidence that I could continue to teach about vulnerable children in an envi- ronment where full discussion of certain topics – such as ab- sent fathers – has become al- most taboo. It’s never easy to foster dialogue about race, class, gender and culture, but it will only become more dif- ficult for faculty in disciplines concerned with the human con- dition if universities will not declare that ideas and feel- ings aren’t interchangeable. Without more explicit commit- ment to this principle, students are denied an essential condi- tion for intellectual and moral growth: the ability to practice, and sometimes fail at, the art of thinking out loud. Certain members of the community used me and my family as tinder for a mass emotional conflagration by re- fusing to state the obvious: that the content of my albeit im- perfect message fell squarely within the parameters of normal discourse and might even have been worth consid- ering on its merits as an adjunct to prevailing campus ortho- doxy. There was no official rec- ognition that the calls to have us fired could be seen as illib- eral or censorious. By affirming only the narrow right to air my views, rather than helping the community to grapple with its intense response, an unfortu- nate message was made plain: Certain ideas are too dangerous to be heard at Yale. The collective denial of re- sponsibility risks shortchanging students’ intellectual matura- tion and gradual assumption of autonomy. Moreover, the uni- versity’s careless conflation of talking (of which we had plenty) with listening (not so much) has the unintended effect of cre- ating an inhospitable learning environment for the entire com- munity, not just those who had no problem with my Hal- loween advice. It takes more than Yale’s admirable free speech code to ensure a healthy habitat for learning. My fear is that stu- dents will eventually give up trying to engage with each other, a development that will echo in our wider culture for decades. My critics have re- minded me that there are con- sequences to my exercise of free speech. Now it’s Yale’s turn to examine the consequences of its own stance: the shadow on its magnificent motto, “Light and truth.” Christakis is an early childhood educator and the author of “The Importance of Being Little.” MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The political cliché “There’s plenty of blame to go around” does not apply to the controversy now swirling around the announcement by the National Conservation Council’s unanimous decision to require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before the “Ironwood road” can proceed. In effect, an EIA, at best, will delay the road’s con- struction for many months and, at worst, kill it forever. More menacingly, the ill-advised National Conserva- tion Law puts into the National Conservation Council’s hands a tool – meaning the power to require an EIA – to delay for months or, in some instances, kill a devel- opment, including roads, in the Cayman Islands. This Draconian power rests in the hands of 13 unelected Council members and was bestowed by the National Conservation law, championed by Envi- ronment Minister Wayne Panton and his Progres- sives government. It gets worse; far worse: Of the 13 members, only seven are required to form a quorum. And worse than that: Since only a majority of a quorum is required to conduct business, four unelected (in some cases, anti-development) activists can bring these projects to a halt. No one could, or should, blame Gina Ebanks- Petrie, director of the Department of Environment, or her fellow members of the National Conservation Council for this state of affairs. They are simply using the powers handed to them by the current govern- ment (with an assist from opposition and independent members; the bill passed unanimously). The developer of the Ironwood resort, David Moffitt, has indicated that the development will go forward with or without the road. That will be of little comfort to motorists who every morning inch their way in traffic jams from the eastern districts to central George Town. They will have plenty of time as they endure their twice-daily ordeal to think appro- priate thoughts about Minister Panton and his gov- ernment colleagues. It will also be of little comfort to Caymanian land- owners whose properties along the road corridor will now be worth only a small fraction of their value if the road were to go forward. If that’s not enough, consider this: Last December, developer Moffitt and his investors entered into an agreement with government that they would forgo $22 million in concessions at Ironwood – and build the road – if the contract was signed within a year. That deal expires in six weeks, meaning: • The country gets no road • Ironwood gets its $22 million in concessions • Even if the needed road were to move forward after the environmental assessment (highly unlikely), government no longer has a private sector partner to help build and pay for it. Nevertheless, what Cabinet cannot do, without legal or political consequences, is simply steamroll the Council on the EIA requirement – or, when the EIA comes out, ignore the study or attempt to “gloss over” the outcome of the EIA using buzzwords like “miti- gation” (possibly the wimpiest word in the dictionary. How does one “mitigate” the effects of 10 miles of hot-mix asphalt through sensitive wetlands and animal habitats?) By definition, all development is disruptive of the status quo, and that includes the natural environ- ment. Our leaders need to be aware of a popular “false equivalence” between protection of species and the need for desirable development and economic growth. ‘Road kill’: The impact of the impact assessment The Halloween email that spooked Yale5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 182301-Ad-Compass-JrPg-ILoveMC.indd 19/28/16 12:40 PM Bouchard, Aspinall sentences to go before Court of Appeal Seventeen criminal matters scheduled for hearing CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal is sched- uled to hear arguments next week concerning the sen- tences of Michelle Bouchard and Robert Aspinall, who are serving terms of imprison- ment for theft. Bouchard was sentenced in April to 12 years in prison after a Grand Court jury found her guilty of 25 out of 26 charges of dishon- esty, including thefts that to- taled more than CI$1.5 mil- lion and US$829,855.17. The money was stolen from a retired Australian busi- nessman whose Seven Mile Beach condo she shared. She is appealing her sentence, not her convictions. Aspinall pleaded guilty in July to thefts totaling US$495,000, stolen in the course of his work as an ac- countant who was appointed as a funds liquidator. He was sentenced to three-and- a-half years’ imprisonment. The Crown gave notice of appeal on the basis that the sentence was too lenient be- cause Aspinall was in a posi- tion of trust. Both appeals are listed for Monday, Nov. 7. The winter session for Court of Appeal is expected to run from Monday, Oct. 31, to Friday, Nov. 18. The Crown is also ap- pealing against the sen- tence of Michell Anderson Gambao Garcia, who re- ceived a total of 12 years in September. He pleaded guilty to two offenses of gross in- decency with a 5-year-old girl, two counts of rape of a girl he said he thought was 16, and possession of inde- cent photographs of children. This matter is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11. The week of Nov. 7-11 also lists appeals by two men convicted twice for the 2012 robbery of the Cayman National Bank branch in Buckingham Square, West Bay Road. George Eric Mi- gnott is appealing his sen- tence of 12 years. David Tamasa has appeals filed against both conviction and a sentence of 14 years. Other appellants listed for this session include the four men convicted of robbing Blackbeard’s Li- quor Store in Grand Har- bour in December 2014. Devon Wright Jr. pleaded guilty and received a nine-year term. He is ap- pealing this sentence. An- drew Lopez, Randy Connor and Bron Webb were sen- tenced to 12 years; they are appealing both conviction and sentence. Judith Francia Douglas and Marcia Angella Ham- ilton are scheduled to have their appeals heard on Thursday, Nov. 3. The women were involved in an immigration scam that led people to hand over $2,500 each in the belief that they would be granted perma- nent residence in 2009-10. Douglas pleaded guilty to nine counts of obtaining property by deception and received a sentence of two and a half years, which she is appealing. Hamilton was found guilty of six similar charges out of eight and received four and a half years. She is appealing both conviction and sentence. Four justices of appeal will be on island for the winter session, with three sitting at a time. They are Sir Bernard Rix, John Martin QC, Sir George Newman and Sir Alan Moses. Two male teenagers have been arrested in connection with the beating of a man in a bar on Cayman Brac on Oct. 17, police reported. The suspects, ages 18 and 16, were arrested on Oct. 25 in connection with the assault. They were released on police bail on Oct. 27 and have not been charged, police said. Both teens are resi- dents of Cayman Brac, po- lice confirmed. The victim continues to receive medical treatment for his injuries which he sustained in the attack at the Coral Isle Bar, off South Side Road West. According to an earlier statement from police, the man was in the bar around 8:30 p.m. when five young men entered and began beating him. He was seriously beaten but no police or emergency services were called, and the man did not immedi- ately attend the hospital, police said, adding that the motive for the attack was not known. Police are requesting that anyone who may have information about this incident contact Sgt. Ferguson at the Cayman Brac Police Station at 916-6553. Anonymous tips can be provided via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS). Teens arrested for Brac assault Michelle BouchardRobert Aspinall The winter session for Court of Appeal is expected to run from Monday, Oct. 31, to Friday, Nov. 18.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Fish fry forges community connections The Prospect community recently had the chance to get together and learn about emergency preparedness. The Cayman Island Red Cross and the Prospect Com- munity Emergency Response Team, known as CERT, held a fish fry on Oct. 15, which gave community members a chance to learn about poten- tial hazards in the commu- nity and how to prepare for them, served with a generous helping of fun and entertain- ment for the whole family. A press release states a presentation was given to ap- proximately 100 local resi- dents on how the Prospect CERT responds to an emer- gency or disaster, and Com- munity Police Officer PC Donaldson spoke on the importance of working to- gether with the community. The event also featured the John Gray High School Dance Club who performing an original choreographed dance, as well as face painting, music from Earl La Pierre and lots of great food. The CERT members – Mark Rickman, Sabrina Turner, Donald Bennie Moore, Kara Coe, Eric Turner, Carmen McField, Des Ebanks, Tim Tomlinson, Gay Smith and Wayne Foster – were joined by Red Cross repre- sentatives Denise Mille and Jondo Obi in conducting the presentations. The next Prospect CERT monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at the Seafarers Hall. 50 YEARS AGO New ownership for Galleon Beach, digger driver wreaks Halloween havoc In the Nov. 2, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, news from George Town included: “His Honour the Ad- ministrator told the press on Saturday morning that he had received a tele- gram stating that Galleon Beach Hotel is now under the ownership of Mr. F.R. Streif, President of Grand Cayman Hotels Ltd …. “Mr. Streif arrived on the island on Sunday with Mr. John Ainslie, manager of the hotel, who has been in Vancouver on leave. “We now understand that Mr. Streif recently sold the Prince Rupert Hotel in Vancouver and he and two associates have purchased Galleon Beach in a deal involving more than $500,000 …. “It is understood that the company plans to start immediately to add 40 rooms to the 32 room hotel. “When crowds were on the road ‘trick or treating’ for Halloween, the driver of the mechanical shovel owned by Limmer took his vehicle off the road into a garden. Mrs. Marjie Win- dell whose home is next to Webb’s Garage on Shedden Road, told our reporter that she heard a dreadful noise in her front yard and as she and her chil- dren looked on they were horrified to see a shovel heading for their bedroom. “It stopped be- fore entering the house through the window, but a good deal of damage was done to the rose bushes, trees and other plants in the yard. “The driver, who ac- cording to a bystander appeared to have been drinking and was using indecent language, did al- most as much damage getting the vehicle out of the yard as he did going in.” “Recently arrived in the island to take charge of the Caribbean Club on the West Bay Road is Mr. Don Grant. He and his wife are presently staying at the West Indian Club awaiting the completion of their villa at the Club and are looking forward to the formal opening about the 19th of November. “Asked to give some particulars about the club, Mr. Grant stated that the 18 luxury villas have been purchased by individual owners who will be at lib- erty to let them to friends or tourists when not in residence themselves. Each has a lounge, one or two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and shower. “The main clubhouse itself consists of a luxury appointed bar, built like half a ship, inset with live tropical aquariums. Mr. Payne and Mr. Grant have spent a considerable time collecting ultra-modern installations and furnish- ings for the Club. “In addition to the bar there is a beautifully ap- pointed function room in which banquets, wedding receptions, cocktail parties etc. may be held. Chef’s quarters and an ultra- modern kitchen with huge walk-in freezer. “It is anticipated that it will take from nine to 12 months to complete the landscaping as desired by 60 royal palms are due to arrive shortly from Miami all ready for replanting. On the opposite side of the road is the building which houses the liquor store, laundry and valet service and garages, either side of which will be tarmac for parking space.” Event participants at the Prospect CERT-Red Cross fish fry. There was plenty of good food and smiles at the fish fry.District Days George Town DISTRICT DAYS 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 Youngster determined to help those in need Taking a cue from her mother, a young George Towner is doing her part to help those in need. Sophie Elias, a Year 7 stu- dent at Cayman Prep, has been hard at work all year on various projects designed to help the less fortunate. She says was inspired by looking through her mom’s old scrap- books and seeing the kinds of things she had done over the years. “I was shown a couple of pictures from when my mom was a Lion. She was al- ways helping people,” said 12-year-old Sophie. Her mother Charmaine Elias, one of the founding members of the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens, noted that Sophie’s first chari- table project happened over this past Easter. “She made and sold cases of Easter candies using home-decorated jam jars,” said Ms. Elias. “The funds from this project went towards the Mental Health Unit at the George Town hospital, where she donated a basketball set to the mental health ward, along with arts and craft items for the Mental Health outpatient drop-in center.” This sparked Sophie’s second fundraiser, which was the sale of beach bags filled with beach toys. “I wanted to do something to help the kids that were at Health City,” said Sophie. Those buying the bags could keep them or donate them back to the community. The donated bags were given to young patients from Haiti having procedures at Health City Cayman Islands. That donation was arranged through Impact 345, a group of young people giving their time and companionship to children undergoing the free heart surgeries at Health City Cayman Islands, which are organized by the Have a Heart Foundation. Ms. Elias said that at the time, she also tried to instill in her daughter the concept that “charity begins at home.” Encouraged by her mother to seek out a need in her own community, Sophie did research on the Internet to learn more about how to help people closer to home. “I learned that there are so many kids out there in Cayman the same age as me who don’t have much,” said Sophie. As a result, the other 70 beach bags were given to the Department of Chil- dren and Family Services for 25 children who were ad- opted, along with several other children identified by the department. “Each bag had a kite and sand castle building toys,” said Sophie. “I wanted them to have something they could have fun with.” An animal lover who vol- unteers regularly at the Hu- mane Society, Sophie also put together a talent show along with her friend Gi- leen MacDonald at the junior Cayman Prep site last June, which drew the interest of students as well as teachers, and Sophie enlisted class- mates to help. The show’s title was “Let Your Talent So Shine,” playing on their school motto, “Let Your Light So Shine.” Over three days of judging, 15 acts were chosen for the main event, which raised $250. The girls presented a check to the shelter in July. Now that the bag project is done, Sophie is already working on a fundraising project for Christmas. “We don’t know what it’s going to be exactly yet, but she’s very excited already,” said Ms. Elias. Getting into the Halloween spirit Youngsters attending the Montessori School of Cayman’s Halloween & Harvest camp were excited to show off their costumes on Friday. At the week-long camp, kids took part in a variety of crafts and activities celebrating the season. Sophie Elias and Gileen MacDonald present a check to Humane Society representative Letty Blanco. Sophie Elias with Holly Thompson of Impact 345. Sophie presents her beach bag donation to the Department of Children and Family Services. From left are foster parents Shelda Seymour and Ann Haven, Sophie Elias and Deputy Director of Clinical Services Paulinda Mendoza-Williams.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Personal Insurance BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. Box 254, Cayman Brac KY2-2101 Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International insurance, health, pensions, life Save up to $400 with home and car insurance Car insurance deductibles from $200 and extra free benefits. With your first BritCay buildings insurance policy you will receive a $250 gift certificate. Home insurance also entitles you to a 10% car insurance discount. With the lowest standard deductibles at $200, you also save when you claim. Ask BritCay for a quote! CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky SAVE $250* when you insure your home! 10% discount on car insurance if you have home insurance Free $500,000 public liability (home insurance) Free $10 million liability protection (car insurance) Interest free monthly payment option cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only Mr. Botes said he visits the cove every Friday with his children and was con- cerned that access and the sunset views for all beach- goers would have been im- pacted by the development. Taura Ebanks, another vocal advocate in the swift campaign, said she was over- whelmed by the number of people who had turned out to express what the beach meant to them. “When I imagined what today would be like, I imag- ined it just like this, with ev- eryone just doing what they always do and enjoying the beach, but being grateful and aware of what we have. “We have got this beau- tiful cove and it is safe for ev- eryone to enjoy as they have been doing for generations.” Gabriella Hernandez, a supporter of environmental causes who also joined the celebration, said it was heart- ening to see public pressure make such an instant impact. “This is one of the most frequented, picturesque and valued areas of Cayman, and I believe that the public opinion was something that contributed to the swift movement on this matter,” she said. “I am really happy that the community came together and that govern- ment listened. “I hope now we can con- tinue in this process and put proper protections in place so that it can’t fall back into pri- vate hands and that it really is preserved for the people for generations to come.” Campaigners celebrate saving Smith Cove CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vanessa and Jordan Johnson make their own tribute to Smith Cove. Four-year-old Jordan Johnson writes his thank-you message on Save the Cove picnic tables. Morne Botes and Taura Ebanks led the campaign to save Smith Cove. The acrobatic jumps continued as dusk fell. - PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 31, 2016 2-WEEK TRIAL PROGRAM INCLUDING UNIFORM FOR $49 CAYMAN KARATE ACADEMY 926 5425 BOBDAIGLE@ME.COM WWW.CAYMANKARATEACADEMY.COM FOCUS DISCIPLINE CONFIDENCE are not prepared to wait in- definitely for the complex agreement, which has been in discussions for nearly three years, to be completed. “The deal has been in the works since 2013 and has been carefully constructed to ensure that it meets with all of the requirements of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility and to en- sure that the people of the Cayman Islands are getting good value for the invest- ment, now and into the fu- ture,” said Denise Gower, the company’s spokeswoman. “Funding has been in place for over two years, but missing the December deadline for a signed agree- ment could jeopardize that funding and essentially kill the [road] project.” Ironwood hopes to break ground on the golf course next month and has said that the course, the 40-room lodge and the first phase of resi- dential developments will still go ahead as planned. Ms. Gower added, “The first phase of Ironwood will continue on schedule. But further phases of Ironwood could be delayed if there is not a more convenient way for people to get there.” The developer indicated in a statement that it felt the en- vironmental impact assess- ment was unnecessary given that it had already consulted with the National Trust to alter the route of the road. The Department of Envi- ronment says it has been ad- vising since 2014 that an EIA would likely be necessary for a 10-mile highway going through virgin territory. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, di- rector of the Department of Environment, said section 43 of the National Conserva- tion Law which came into ef- fect earlier this year, gave the council authority to require an environmental impact as- sessment when sufficient in- formation did not exist for it to make a recommendation on the project. She said such assessments are not about stopping devel- opment, but are meant to be tools that clearly set out the potential impacts and risks associated with a project and recommended measures to avoid or mitigate them. She said the road project clearly fits the bill to trigger an EIA, adding that there are many potential consequences that need to be examined be- fore the department or the council could give fully in- formed advice on the matter. Beyond potential impacts of the construction on the Central Mangrove Wetlands, she said there is concern that the highway extension could potentially create a damming effect that exposes communi- ties to the south of the road to increased flood risk in the aftermath of a severe storm or hurricane. “Typically, we would ex- pect storm-derived flood- water to drain away into the low lying wetlands,” she said. “The impact of the road on the hydrology of the wider area is something that an EIA would help to determine.” She said an environmental impact assessment is not nec- essarily going to deliver a yes or no verdict on the road con- struction but would examine the impacts and recommend measures to avoid them or mitigate against them. She acknowledged the process might delay a con- struction start date on the road, but said the exact timing would depend on the quality of data available. “The Environmental As- sessment Board will pre- pare a final report after completing a review of the environmental statement and does have the ability to con- clude that the project not move forward based on the results of the EIA, but that’s not a decision; it’s a recom- mendation to Cabinet or whoever the decision-making authority may be.” Though the law con- tains some ambiguity over the powers of Cabinet to di- rect the council, this does not appear to relate to the EIA provisions. Any entity, in- cluding Cabinet, which does not carry out an EIA once the council has requested it, would likely be considered not to have properly con- sulted with the council and therefore be in breach of sec- tion 41 of the law. The Department of Envi- ronment recommended an environmental impact as- sessment for the Ironwood golf resort when plans for that element of the project were submitted in June. However, the Central Plan- ning Authority was legally able to ignore that advice and approve the resort plans be- cause the relevant sections of the conservation law had not yet come into effect. The two sections relating to EIAs and the obligation to con- sult the council came into force in August. Ironwood: EIA could kill road deal second best resort in the Ca- ribbean and the 34th best in the world. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman was voted 14th best Caribbean resort and The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach was ranked in 39th place. “It’s a tremendous privi- lege for our destination to rank as one of the top islands in the world from the de- voted readers of Condé Nast Traveler,” said Deputy Pre- mier and Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell. Director of Tourism Rosa Harris, who attended the Readers’ Choice Awards gala in New York City on Oct. 18, said in a press release, “We’re extremely proud of the Cayman Islands’ inclusion in this esteemed list and consider this award a major triumph in positioning ourselves as one of the best warm weather desti- nations for travelers. “Our tourism product and Caymankind experi- ences is what truly sets us apart from other destina- tions worldwide and we couldn’t have achieved this respected accolade without our valued partners.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Condé Nast names Cayman among top islands in world Le Soleil d’Or resort on Cayman Brac was named second best resort in the Caribbean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Judge Henderson returns for murder sentence hearings New law sets 30 years as penalty unless there are exceptional circumstances CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Justice Alexander Hen- derson, whose retirement was announced in 2015, has re- turned to Grand Court. He is hearing arguments in cases where he was the presiding judge when a defendant was found guilty of murder. At the time, the only sen- tence for murder in Cayman was life imprisonment. Under the new Conditional Release Law, which came into effect in February, a sentence is required to a specific length of time, rather than the inde- terminate “life.” For murder, the new law states that the prisoner must serve 30 years before being el- igible for conditional release. However, the law also provides that the sentencing judge may impose a lower sentence if there are exceptional extenu- ating circumstances; the judge may also impose a higher sen- tence if there are exceptional aggravating circumstances. In either case, the judge is required to state what those exceptional circumstances are. For prisoners sentenced to life before the law came into effect, the law requires that their case records be sent to the Grand Court for a specific sentence to be pro- nounced in public. Justice Henderson first presided over a conditional release hearing on Oct. 19. The hearing was for Brian Powell, who was convicted in January 2001 for the murder of taxi driver Curtis Seymour a year earlier. The hearing was adjourned so that a mental health report could be obtained. On Oct. 28, Justice Hen- derson heard briefly from counsel in the case of Tre- vino “TJ” Bodden. A jury in 2007 found Bodden guilty of murdering brothers Brenard Scott and Renold Pearson the previous year. Bodden was not legally represented when his case was mentioned the pre- vious week and on Friday Bodden was not brought from the prison. Attorney Jonathon Hughes asked for a short adjournment. Justice Henderson took the opportunity to invite dis- cussion of preliminary is- sues. He asked if the killing of two people would be an ag- gravating factor. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards said yes. Bodden was given two concurrent life sentences. The judge then asked about the meaning of “excep- tional” in the context of ex- ceptional circumstances that could raise or lower the 30- year sentence stated in the law. Ms. Richards cited an ex- planation by U.K. judge Lord Bingham, whose rulings are frequently referred to. He de- scribed exceptional as being out of the ordinary. He said a circumstance need not be unique or unprecedented but it is one that is not usu- ally encountered. Justice Henderson applied that interpretation to cases in Cayman. He said it would mean looking at “how often do we see that factor. If it’s common, it cannot be excep- tional, but it doesn’t have to be very rare.” The judge also asked about exceptional extenu- ating circumstances, inquiring whether the jury had been given the option of alternative verdicts for manslaughter. Ms. Richards said the judge had directed the jury about the difference between murder and manslaughter along with the burden and standard of proof. She said he had also directed them on the element of provocation, noting there had been a fight ear- lier in the evening before the shootings took place. She also pointed out that Bodden was 21 at the time. Bodden’s case is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 4. Also on that date is the matter of Chakane Scott, who was convicted by Justice Hen- derson in June 2012, for the murder of Asher McGaw. Scott had elected to be tried by judge alone. During an adjournment on Friday, Ms. Richards explained to reporters that murder con- victions dealt with by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie would ordinarily have been heard first, but he is currently en- gaged in a five-month civil trial. Justice Henderson’s list was therefore chosen to be heard first. No determinate sentence has yet been handed down for any prisoner sentenced to life before the Conditional Re- lease Law came into effect. Tamara Butler was sen- tenced after the law came into effect. She received 28- plus years after the judge weighed the aggravating cir- cumstances of how her young daughter must have suffered mentally and physically as she was being stabbed 35 times; he then considered the extenuating circumstances of Butler’s paranoid person- ality, which he said lowered her degree of culpability. He also subtracted the number of days Butler had been in custody, coming up with the precise figure of 26 years, 191 days to be served before Butler may apply for condi- tional release. Brothers Osbourne Douglas and Justin Ramoon were convicted in May of murdering Jason Powery in 2015. Justice Charles Quin heard submissions as to sen- tencing earlier this month, but he has not yet announced his decisions. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >