ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 High of 89 Low of 79 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS >>PAGE 13 MARKETS The countdown begins - Gauging the financial market reaction >>PAGE 2 STOCKS Leading Internet stocks in top form - Share prices multiply in recent years >>PAGE 3 FINANCIAL FRAUD HSBC whistleblower - ‘It was worth it’ >>PAGE 4 PAGE B13 SPECIAL REPORT November 2016 Journal Specia l Report A Special Advertisi ng Feature! IN BUSINESS N OV E MBE R 2 0 1 6 • WW W .CA Y JO URN AL.CO M 1 6 9 Panama Papers journalist: Expect more data leaks ■■ MICHAEL KLEIN On April 3, 2016, at 8 p.m. Ger- man time, news of the biggest leak in journalism history hit the newsstands, websites and TV chan-nels all over the world. Not only was the data mindbog-gling – 11.5 million financial and legal documents and 5 million emails re-lated to 214,000 offshore companies – the collaboration of 400 journalists, all forced to work together in secrecy and to hold off from publishing their find-ings for months, was also unheard of.About 12 minutes before the agreed publication date of what the media dubbed the Panama Papers, Bastian Obermayer, an investigative journalist with Sueddeutsche Zeitung who had received the data from an anonymous source, was shocked to see a tweet by Edward Snowden about the forthcom-ing coverage of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca’s internal data.“We were all like: What? How?” Obermayer told delegates at the Global Compliance Solutions conference in Cayman in October. Despite all the best efforts, the leak had been leaked. As it turned out, Edward Snowden’s 2 million Twitter followers were not a bad way to spread the word. Cover- age of the Panama Papers engendered huge interest worldwide in the stories about corruption, secret shell compa-nies and the internal workings of an offshore law firm. “We found leads to the heads of states of more than 70 countries. Mos-sack Fonseca had dealt with them ei- ther directly or with their family mem-bers,” Obermayer said. Ultimately, Sueddeutsche Zeitung in Germany would publish 250 articles on the Panama Papers, and The Guardian in the U.K. and Le Monde in France would each produce more than 300 articles on the data. The investigation is still going on. The group of journalists that has direct access to the data via the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has grown to 460.Sueddeutsche Zeitung decided Pirates need to launder money too■■ CHARLES DUNCAN In 2014, authorities at Heathrow Air-port seized two air freight shipments of what, for all intents and purposes, appeared to be name-brand sneakers. A team for the brand, unnamed in law enforcement reports on the investiga-tion, “linked seemingly unconnected shipments” arriving at the airport with falsified manifests. Investigators with the Intellectual Property Office and HM Revenue and Customs, working with the brand’s team, traced the shipments and discovered what the IPO called “a complex distribution and money-laundering network across the U.K.” One person pleaded guilty in the case and another fled to China but was found guilty in absentia. Investigators issued a warning around Europe and authorities seized another eight shipments over 10 months, about 91,000 pairs of counterfeit sneakers with an estimated market value of about 9 mil- lion pounds (US$11 million).Sophie Davies, an intellectual prop- erty attorney with the HSM office in the Cayman Islands, used that case study, detailed in the IPO’s IP Crime Report 2014/15, as an example when she ex-plained the connections between intel-lectual property and money laundering in a presentation at the Anti-Money Laundering/Compliance & Financial Crime Conference last month. The Cayman Islands has a new suite of intellectual properties laws, most of which she helped write. New rules modernize copyright protection, extend-ing the U.K.’s Copyright Act to replace outdated legislation written more than 60 years ago. The new copyright pro-tections in Cayman passed in 2015 and went into force earlier this year, bringing new rules and penalties. Members of Cayman’s Legislative Assembly last month approved new laws governing trademarks, design rights and patents. Davies says she expects those to go into effect in 2017. She told the crowd at the conference, mainly compliance officers, not only does counterfeitin g mean having to launder PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Whistleblower Edward Snowden tweeted about the Panama Papers 12 minutes before the publication date agreed by the journalists who worked on the project. THE CAYMAN ISLANDS JOURNAL Panama Papers journalist: Expect more data leaks EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHAT’S ON DECK FOR CAYMAN’S TOURISM SECTOR Guidelines aim to help protect elderly CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com New policy guidelines unveiled this week aim to put more resources into helping the is- lands’ older residents and give specific protec- tions to stop the neglect, fraud and abuse that some in government say is committed regu- larly against elderly people. The Cayman Islands Older Persons Policy was released by Community Affairs Minister Osbourne Bodden and a task force that has been studying the issues facing Cayman’s el- derly. The 20-year plan proposes numerous legislative changes and programs to protect people age 65 and older and make it easier for seniors to age in Cayman. The starkest findings from stakeholder meetings and focus groups around the island point to patterns of neglect and abuse among many elderly people in the islands. Minister Bodden said the group heard of cases of abuse and neglect, with seniors left hungry and uncared for while living alone. “This stuff happens all around us, let’s not kid ourselves,” he said, speaking at a press confer- ence Monday where he released the policy. The task force hosted a series of focus groups across the islands to determine the biggest issues facing seniors in Cayman. The people who attended, most of whom were over 60, talked about several common issues across the districts. Seniors, the task force found, were increasingly being left to live alone by their adult children and were having trouble taking care of themselves. They also found that seniors did not have enough income from a pension or the Needs Assessment Unit to make sure basic needs, like food, could be met. The task force also heard of cases where people, most often family members, would take the money from pensions or welfare pay- ments from the elderly. US PROSECUTORS SEEK TO BLOCK MERREN’S APPEAL BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Caymanian man serving a nine-year prison sentence in the U.S. for drug possession conspiracy should not have his time in jail re- duced or vacated simply because his attorney failed to visit him in prison after he was sen- tenced, according to federal prosecutors. Gilroy Bryce Merren sought to appeal his sentence in documents filed with the court in June, about a year after sentence in the drugs conspiracy case was set. The appeal filing from June stated: “After sentencing, counsel never came and visited or talked with Mr. Merren about an appeal. [But] for his counsel’s deficient failure to con- sult with him about an appeal, he would have timely appealed.” Federal prosecutors stated that in De- cember 2014, Merren pleaded guilty to con- spiring to distribute between 50 kilograms and 150 kg of cocaine via an operation he at- tempted to set up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prosecutors said Merren, who was 47 at the time, would have faced between 11 and 14 years’ imprisonment, according to federal sen- tencing guidelines, but that his attorney ne- gotiated a plea bargain down to nine years, based on certain terms. Part of the plea agreement, according to court records, was that Merren agreed to waive his right to appeal his conviction or his sentence. According to court records, during the sentencing proceedings before the U.S. fed- eral court, the presiding judge pointed out: “In your plea agreement, at paragraph 15, you Public Beach vendors fined $500, vow court fight BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A number of unlicensed vendors op- erating on Grand Cayman’s Public Beach were fined $500 last month and told to pay up or go to court. Various vendors have been selling food and soft drinks, Jet Ski or banana boat rides, or renting beach chairs and umbrellas for a number of years along the Public Beach section of Seven Mile Beach amid complaints from neighboring condo residents that their activities were cre- ating “a carnival-type atmosphere” and de- stroying the serenity of the world-famous vacation spot. The beach vendors said they were caught off-guard by the Oct. 13 fine no- tices. Some vendors believed they had been cleared to operate at the beach by the Min- istry of Tourism after completing required customer service training classes ear- lier in the year. The vendors said they were instructed, after receiving the tourism training, to re- port to the Ministry of Planning’s Lands and Survey Department to fill out forms that would allow them to continue operating on PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Public Beach vendor Eric Ebanks and his wife Daphne show the notice of a fine they received from government in October. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 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 - WEDNESDAY - Park transformed into clinic for pets JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Vets and charity workers were out in Windsor Park, Saturday, giving free vac- cinations, patching up the odd bite wound and signing people up to spay or neuter their pets. The project is part of a grassroots outreach cam- paign by the Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts, known as CARE, to bring basic free healthcare to pets and ad- vice to their owners in some of the most underprivileged areas of Cayman. “It’s obvious that people do care about their pets, though they sometimes fall low on the list of eco- nomic priorities, particularly when times are tough,” said Lesley Agostinelli, one of the founding directors of CARE. “Sometimes people can’t afford to get their pets vac- cinated or they don’t have transportation to take them to the vet. We hope this pro- gram can have an impact in promoting responsible pet ownership. I think once the resources are there, people definitely want to do what is right by their pets.” The Operation Grass- roots project, funded largely through a $30,000 donation from the 100 Women Who Care organization, has al- ready hosted three sessions for pet owners in Swamp and Rock Hole. Saturday’s event was the first in Windsor Park. In total, 73 dogs and 14 cats have been seen by the CARE team, which for this project includes Dr. Brenda Bush from Island Veterinary Services. All have been tested for heartworm and received vaccinations and treatment where necessary, as well as being registered and micro- chipped. Several dogs were treated for cuts and scrapes from neighborhood fights. The charity also signed up owners to get their dogs spayed and neutered, part of a wider campaign by CARE to curtail the explosion in the feral dog population, which remains an ongoing issue. Ms. Agostinelli said the charity was also doing outreach in the schools and trying to work with communities to make it as easy as possible for pet owners to do the right thing. “We are not talking about dogs here that are tied to a tree and neglected. A lot of them are allowed to roam, but they are looked after and they are loved. They just need a little extra help in terms of resources,” she said. The team saw 15 dogs and two cats, all of which re- ceived their first vaccines, de- worming, NexGard, Heart- Gard and microchips at Windsor Park on Saturday. BUS PASSENGER KILLS 4 SUSPECTED THIEVES NEAR MEXICO CITY MEXICO CITY (AP) – Appar- ently outraged by constant robberies aboard commuter buses on the outskirts of Mexico City, an armed pas- senger fatally shot four men who had just held up a bus- load of passengers, prosecu- tors said Monday. The case described by prosecutors in Mexico State, which borders the cap- ital, was the latest instance of vigilante-style killings in the crime-plagued sub- urban bus system. In Au- gust, local media reported that an armed passenger in another part of Mexico State shot at four thieves on a bus, killing two of them. The latest case began when four bodies were found Monday dumped along a major highway connecting Mexico’s capital with the nearby city of Toluca. Sus- picion initially focused on criminal gangs that some- times dump bodies of victims in the area, but prosecutors said a bus ticket in one of the dead men’s pockets led them to the bus driver, who told them what happened. “Investigations have es- tablished the four suspects were thieves, who minutes before they lost their lives had stolen the possessions of passengers aboard a bus,” the state prosecutors’ office said. Just before dawn, the four got on the bus and threatened passengers with a gun, col- lecting booty that apparently included wallets, purses and cellphones, the office said. “When the suspects were about to get off the bus, a passenger stood up and shot at them, causing injuries that killed the four,” it said. Prosecutors said the armed passenger retrieved the backpack in which the thieves had stowed stolen items and returned them to passengers, then got off and fled. In recent months, author- ities have stationed police at bus stations and aboard buses, though that has done little to reassure the millions of residents who use the buses and crowded freeways each day to get to their jobs in Mexico City. Police seek stolen car Police are requesting the help of the public to track down a stolen car. The white 1999 Honda Civic, with registration number 142 932, was stolen in the vicinity of the Walkers Building, 190 Elgin Avenue, in George Town around 8 p.m. Monday night. Police are asking anyone with information about the stolen vehicle to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222. EXTRADITION OF CAYMAN TRACK COACH SOUGHT Request sent to US authorities BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A formal request for the extradition of a Cayman Islands track coach on indecent assault charges was sent to the U.S. Department of State last month, according to documents made public in the American federal courts system. The British Embassy in Washington, D.C., made the request, dated Oct. 3, under the 1972 Extradition Treaty with the U.S. for the return of Ato Modibo Ste- phens to the Cayman Is- lands, which is a British Overseas Territory. A U.S. magistrate judge ordered earlier this year that Stephens be detained without bond pending any further court appearances in the matter. Stephens was charged in Cayman on June 24 with two counts of inde- cent assault, one charge of gross indecency and one charge of misuse of an Information and Com- munications Technology Authority network in re- lation to an underage female victim. A criminal complaint filed with the U.S. court alleged that Stephens’s of- fenses occurred on at least two occasions between April and November 2015. The CARE team on site at Windsor Park on Saturday. - PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKER Mary Anne Lawrence, Joan Murphy and Lesley Agostinelli offer to help out pets and their owners at Windsor Park.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Prepare to weigh anchor, Cayman: We are about to embark upon another banner season for our tourism industry. Compared to last year, there’s no turbulence in our air arrivals forecast, and cruise numbers are up signifi- cantly. Our market fundamentals are healthy, our repu- tation is strong, and we can expect to perform even better as our country expands its capacity to take in and accommodate visitors. To summarize some good news: The Cayman Islands was recently featured on the top 20 list of the world’s best islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. The magazine’s readers also showed love for indi- vidual local resorts, including Cayman Brac’s Le Soleil d’Or (voted second best in the Caribbean, 34th in the world), The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (14th best in the Caribbean), and The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach (39th best in the Caribbean). Although the survey is far from scientific, what is important is not the order in which Cayman appears on any list; it’s that Cayman is consistently acknowl- edged as one of the premier luxury tourism destina- tions anywhere. You can safely bet that next year’s editions of “best of” and “readers’ choice” rankings will be graced by the freshest face on Cayman’s tourism scene: the much-anticipated Kimpton Seafire Resort, which is set to open to guests this month. Representing the Dart Group’s grand entrance into the hospitality sector, the Kimpton will host its official “coming out party” this weekend at the 2016 YCLA gala celebration. (Let us at this time congratulate the five finalists, Alexandra Bodden, Shena Ebanks, Tedrick Green, Kristina Maxwell and Brianna Ebanks, for their accomplishments.) As has been observed on numerous occasions, a limiting factor of Cayman’s stay-over tourism market is the availability of accommodations for visitors. The opening of the Kimpton — and also the “renovation and reopening” of the new Margaritaville Resort (at the former Treasure Island property), scheduled for January — will add hundreds of rooms to Cayman’s hotel inventory. In the longer run, we look forward to the construc- tion of other new projects, such as the Ironwood golf resort, as well as the continuing growth of Cayman’s medical tourism venture, Health City Cayman Islands. With the expected increase in places to go while in Cayman, we must ensure that we are able to facilitate the correlative increase in visitors arriving in Cayman. On that note, the expansion to Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport appears to be humming along (and buzzing, and clanging, and hammering …). Everyone who’s been to or through the airport in recent weeks is well aware that the place looks like — actually is — a construction zone. Yes, the airport is a “work in progress” — but we choose to emphasize the word “progress.” But for now, let’s dig into our closets and dust off the eye patches, bandanas and cutlasses, as Pirates Week kicks off this weekend in Little Cayman, before the festivities hit Grand Cayman starting Nov. 10. We look forward to the annual invasion of visiting bucca- neers, and we extend an equally hearty welcome to all of our incoming tourists during this winter season. What’s on deck for Cayman’s tourism sector Comey was right BLOOMBERG VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD In July, Republican James Comey was the toast of the Democratic Party. That was after he announced that “no reasonable prosecutor” would bring criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for allowing emails with clas- sified information to be stored on a private server. Party leaders praised the FBI director’s independence. Now, many of Clinton’s supporters argue, as Repub- licans did over the summer, that Comey has terrible judg- ment and is playing politics. Overblown reactions are standard fare in politics, as is hypocrisy (though some in both parties have consis- tently criticized Comey’s han- dling of the case). But a dis- passionate review of Comey’s recent action tilts in his favor. On Friday, Comey an- nounced that the Federal Bu- reau of Investigation was preparing to look at a just- discovered collection of emails that “appear to be pertinent” to the Clinton in- vestigation. Critics pounced, charging that tradition re- quired him to stay mum about a pending investigative matter so close to the election. Comey anticipated this criti- cism, explaining in his brief letter to Congress that he felt obligated to act, “given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed.” Not to do so, he said, “would be misleading to the American people” – not to mention going back on his word to Congress. There are good reasons that the Justice Department keeps quiet about political matters during the closing months of an election cam- paign. Steering clear of Oc- tober surprises prevents un- proven allegations from casting a cloud over candi- dates, and insulates law en- forcement from charges of partisanship. But not all cases are alike. This one involves an email cloud that has hovered over Clinton throughout her 18- month candidacy. The polit- ical debate over her decision to use a private email account for government business did not end with Comey’s legal absolution in July, but has lasted through the fall cam- paign. Comey could reason- ably have decided that with- holding this latest discovery would have unduly influenced the election. Moreover, Comey surely understood that when news of the email trove eventu- ally came out, the FBI and DOJ would have faced the very charges of partisan- ship that institutional si- lence before elections is in- tended to prevent. There is no question that James Comey could have handled this better. He could have explained his actions more clearly, starting with an acknowledgment that the emails had not been reviewed and that it was eminently possible they would leave the July decision unaltered. A timetable and a sense of ur- gency would have helped, too. Nevertheless, Comey’s de- cision to send the letter was a rational and reasonable one that honors the tradi- tion his critics accuse him of violating. © 2016, Bloomberg View A CULT OF PERSONALITY DASHES TURKEY’S DEMOCRATIC DREAMS WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD Little more than a decade ago, Turkey appeared to be an emerging democracy with vi- brant civil society and some- what independent media. No longer. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has abandoned de- mocracy and is building a strongman cult of personality. The latest descent came Monday when police detained the editor and senior staff of a leading opposition newspaper, Cumhuriyet, one of the few media outlets still critical of Erdogan. Arrest warrants were issued for about a dozen jour- nalists, of whom seven were taken into custody. The ar- rests are part of a broad media crackdown to silence dissent after a July 15 coup attempt against Erdogan. By some accounts, as many as 195 have been shut and 140 journalists remain imprisoned. The prosecutor’s office said Cumhuriyet is suspected of supporting Kurdish militants and backing the coup attempt, which Erdogan has blamed on Fethullah Gulen, a Penn- sylvania-based cleric, who denies any involvement. Er- dogan, once an ally of Gulen, has seemed intent on crushing any remnant of the Gulen movement in Turkey. But that cannot explain the move against Cumhuriyet, which has been critical of Gulen and his movement for years. Rather, Erdogan is con- structing a kind of authori- tarianism centered on his personal power, replacing critical media with mouth- piece organs, suffocating in- dependent civil society or- ganizations and summarily dismissing thousands of aca- demics without due process. Overall, more than 110,000 people have been sacked or suspended and 37,000 ar- rested since the coup attempt; just over the weekend, 10,000 more civil servants were dis- missed. This is a colossal purge, tearing the heart out of any remaining hope for a de- mocracy that depends on in- dependent voices and unfet- tered political competition. The United States and Europe have been far too quiet about this. Erdogan is holding back a tide of Syrian war refugees from Europe, and Turkey is critical to the U.S. campaign against the Is- lamic State. These are real concerns but should not pre- vent the United States from speaking out against arbi- trary detention, persecution of civil society and suppression of free speech in Turkey. The United States often describes freedom of expression and human rights as “universal values” when they are tram- pled in China and Russia. They are no less universal when trampled in Turkey. © 2016, The Washington Post5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Make a purchase of $100 or more using your Butterfield BlackTM or Platinum MasterCard for a chance to win a VIP experience for two at the 59th GRAMMY® Awards. 182702-Ad-Compass-JrPg-Grammy.indd 110/24/16 4:24 PM Cremation an option for the first time in Cayman Islands JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Offering a solution to the long-standing problem of diminishing graveyard space, the first cremato- rium will open this month in Grand Cayman. Once considered taboo to some in the Cayman commu- nity, cremation can now take place. The public health law was altered in 2008 to pave the way for cremations to take place legally. Bodden Funeral Services is opening a custom-built crematory at its headquar- ters on Walkers Road. Scott Ruby, general man- ager and senior director at the funeral home, said it cur- rently arranges between 30 and 40 cremations overseas each year for Cayman Is- lands residents. He said the firm had made a considerable investment to bring the custom-built fa- cility to Cayman, making cre- mation an option on the is- land for the first time. Sammy Smyth, the British football hero who died in Cayman last month at age 91, could be the first person to be cremated in the territory. His daughter Sheena Conolly said she hoped to have a ser- vice in Cayman and then bring his ashes back to his native Northern Ireland for a ceremony in his hometown. Mr. Ruby said it was dif- ficult to assess the likely demand for cremations in Cayman because the ser- vice had not been avail- able until now. There are approximately 200 deaths on the island each year, with the vast ma- jority buried. He said cremation offered a more affordable, environ- mentally friendly option for some, while others prefer cre- mation for religious reasons. “A lot of people like the biblical aspect of it; ashes to ashes,” he said. Cremation is becoming more common in the U.S. and is now more common than burial in the U.K. Mr. Ruby said old traditions are changing, and it is impor- tant to give Caymanians the same options as are avail- able elsewhere. He added that some people prefer to be able to take their rela- tives’ ashes to their home country or to scatter them in a favorite place. Some people prefer it be- cause it is more environ- mental, he said. “We are also running out of graveyard space. West Bay cemetery is full, Bodden Town Cemetery is full,” Mr. Ruby added. “It is not something we are pushing; we are just making it available as an op- tion,” he said. The crematorium will open later this month once the funeral home’s techni- cians are certified and the fa- cility gets a final certificate of occupancy. FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS FOCUS ON DIABETES The Health Services Au- thority will hold free health screenings on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in relation to the up- coming World Diabetes Day. Free eye screenings for glaucoma, and blood glucose and cholesterol testing will be available in the Cayman Islands Hospital atrium from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Nov, 10, an educa- tional session on diabetes will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Hibiscus Conference Room, featuring ophthalmologist Dr. Helena Cilliers, dietitian Ta- mara Riley and pharmacist Winsome Jefferson. The ses- sion is open to the public, and diabetics, in particular, are encouraged to attend. The theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day, officially on Nov. 14, is “Eyes on Dia- betes,” and the importance of early screening for the condition. According to the Interna- tional Diabetes Federation, there were 5,200 cases of di- abetes in the Cayman Is- lands in 2015. The federation estimates the national prevalence of di- abetes among adults in the Cayman Islands is 13.4 per- cent, slightly higher than the average national preva- lence, 12.9 percent, in North America and the Caribbean. As of last year, there were 415 million adults world- wide living with the disease in 2015 and that number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in 10 adults by 2040, the fed- eration says. The organiza- tion also reports that one in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. Free eye health screenings for glaucoma will be carried out at the Cayman Islands Hospital on Nov. 9, along with checks for blood sugar and cholesterol as part of a diabetes awareness campaign next week.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Sister Islands WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Remembering the great storm of ‘32 The hurricane that hit the Cayman Islands in No- vember 1932, known as the 1932 Cuba hurricane, or in the Cayman Islands as the 1932 Storm, hit Cayman Brac on the evening of Nov. 8 wreaking widespread de- struction and death. The National Trust web- site states: “Hurricane #10 developed Northeast of Bar- bados on Oct. 31 and began its perilous journey towards the Cayman Islands, cruelly doubling back on itself to hit Grand Cayman with dev- astating consequences on the evening of Nov. 7, 1932. Packing winds of approxi- mately 150-200 miles per hour, the Category 4 hurri- cane wreaked havoc, finally hitting Cayman Brac on the evening of the following day. Local residents have esti- mated the storm surge to be in the region of 32 feet.” In its Aug. 17, 1966 edi- tion in the “From Teacher Hill’s Clippings” column, the Caymanian Weekly began publishing excerpts of the story of the condi- tion of the Cayman Islands after the 1932 storm as told to the Assembly of Jus- tices and Vestry by Mr. E.A. Weston, the Commissioner at that time. In the Sept. 13 edition, the Commission- er’s account of the toll on the Sister Islands was re- counted as follows: “I paid two visits to [Cayman Brac and Little Cayman] since the storm, one by the M.S. Nunoca and the second by the schooner Wembley though owing to contrary winds, I have not been able to spend as much time as I wished. “Our first news of the terrible disaster which had befallen the Lesser Islands was received by the Husvik on Saturday morning, the 12th of November. The Nunoca, which had been chartered to take me to East End, was diverted and sailed at once to the Brac, with the Government Medical Officer, nurses, surgical and general supplies and 500 gallons of fresh water. The weather was rough, but we were able to make the Brac on Sunday afternoon, just in time to connect with the Royal Mail steamer Loch Katrine and to take her stores on the Nunoca. On board the Loch Katrine I met Mr. A. S. Rutty, the Collector. Mr. Rutty, with the whole responsibility of the island on his shoulders had been through a very trying time, but his energy and work both during the storm and since are worthy of the highest praise. “Landing at the Brac was only possible at the south- west end of the island – that is the Channel. In fact, the weather at the Brac has been such that only on four days since the hurricane has landing been possible at Stake Bay and the Creek. Fortunately, those days co- incided with the visit of H.M.S. Dragon and later of the Cimboco on her recent return from Kingston. “It was therefore neces- sary to establish the main supplies depot at the West End. The medical base was placed by the Govern- ment Medical Officer at the upper west end, which was most suitable for access to the injured in that part of the island. “At so short a notice, the Government of Jamaica had been able to send only one doctor, Dr. Murray, by the Loch Katrine, and he still has his headquarters at that point, where since his ar- rival he has treated 98 cases. “Access to the eastern end of the island was im- possible until the weather moderated and that oc- curred on the following Thursday, the day of the ar- rival of the Dragon, so that the injured at the East End received the earliest pos- sible attention. There is no record of the number of cases treated by the surgeons of the Dragon in that area. “Though there was a heavy toll of life [at the time of writing the death toll stood at 68 on the Brac] the number of seriously in- jured was small, not at any time exceeding twelve. By far the greater number of injuries were in the na- ture of abrasions, cuts and sprains to the feet and legs, incurred when fleeing for safety through the debris. In the circumstances, however, such injuries were particu- larly disabling. “Four serious cases have been evacuated from the Brac, one to Jamaica and three to George Town, and when I left the island last Saturday, there was no case there that was causing anx- iety. Lotions and dressings have been supplied to the depots at Stake Bay and West End and the Govern- ment dispensary at Stake Bay has been fully re- equipped with the usual medical drugs, etc. The Gov- ernment Medical Officer an- ticipates that in the absence of any unexpected devel- opments, Mr. Murray can safely return from Jamaica by the Cimboco, due to leave the Brac in the middle of next month. Dr. Overton will pay another visit to the is- land in January. “It has to be remembered that it is almost impos- sible to get from one part of Cayman Brac to another by land. The road is lost under rocks and stones on the beach, and the general debris of houses, trees and other vegetation. “On my first visit I could not myself get any further than Stake Bay, but more re- cently I spent two days at the East End.” Read more of the account next week in the Cayman Compass’s Sister Islands District Days section. Little Cayman Pirates Week kicks off on Friday Little Cayman’s Pi- rates Week events begin this weekend with a full schedule of fun. The kick-off dance takes place on Friday, Nov. 4, at McCoy’s Lodge with what promises to be a night of fes- tivities from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday will be jam- packed with events, with participants ready to strut their stuff at the float parade from Head O’ Bay to the Hungry Iguana, starting at 3 p.m. The costume compe- tition and pirates’ dance will be happening at the Hungry Iguana from 5 p.m., with fireworks scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The party wraps up on Sunday with a pirates fare- well barbecue at McCoy’s Lodge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.There were plenty of pirates at the parade last year. This float at last year’s Little Cayman Pirates Week parade focused on the island’s heritage.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days East End North Side CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Sister Islands seniors enjoy special events During October, desig- nated Older Persons’ Month across the Cayman Islands, Brac seniors had a lot of ac- tivities to take in to mark the occasion, including a tea party, island tours and a social. Seniors had the opportu- nity to take in the sights of Cayman Brac on island tours on Oct. 11 and 24. “Island tours are a huge hit with the Brac seniors who do not have access to a vehicle and do not see their beautiful island beyond the grocery stores, hospital and church,” said Annie Rose Scott, community develop- ment officer for the Depart- ment of Children and Family Services, who helped orga- nize several of the events throughout the month. On the first tour, the group, including two visitors from Grand Cayman, were treated to music from Conrad Martin, who entertained throughout the day from bus to scenic trails. “The driver Barry Morgan took [us] down some roads that we did not know even existed,” said Ms. Scott. “They were thrilled with the feeding of goats at the goat farm, and modeling at the lighthouse was the ul- timate. After four hours of touring the island and singing our hearts out, we dined at the Asian House Restaurant at West End.” Ms. Scott said the se- niors tours are much more than an opportunity to do some sightseeing. “They thoroughly enjoy the fellowship together, rem- iniscing about old-times, singing songs and telling jokes as the bus driver, Barry, takes them to some fa- vorite places, including the scenic trail at Long Beach, Spot Bay, the lighthouse, the agriculture grounds, caves, the football field and, of course, feeding the goats at the goat farm.” On the Oct. 24 tour, Ms. Scott said, the group gath- ered for lunch at Paradise Creations, West End, and as an added treat watched episodes of “Sanford and Son” on TV. Many Brac seniors also took the opportunity to at- tend the Older Persons Month Autumn Tea Party at the historic home of Dan and Lisa Scott in the Creek. Ms. Scott said neither the dark clouds nor slight drizzle of rain affected the mood of the many seniors who attended the charming tea party on Oct. 22, hosted by the Department of Chil- dren and Family Services in partnership with the Se- nior Citizens’ Social Club, and catered by the Brac Reef Beach Resort. “A tea party is a very rare activity in Cayman Brac, so it was very amazing the willingness of the seniors to loan their beautiful antiques, such as their finest sets of tea pots, cups and saucers, servers, creamers, and so on, they had stored or hidden in boxes and trunks and china cabinets, to [add to] the suc- cess of this event.” The menu consisted of assorted mini sandwiches, savory appetizers, sweets and teas, but Ms. Scott said none could compare to the old-time Johnny Cake or the local bush teas like lemon- grass, mint and tea basil. Idalee Scott, young Si- yanna Maragh, and Jenna Grant all provided entertain- ment on the evening. On Oct. 26, Brac seniors gathered for a daytime social at the beautifully decorated Aston Rutty Civic Centre. Oliver Rivers, 87, and Elese McLaughlin, 93, were recognized as the eldest male and female at the event. Organizer Annie Rose Scott noted that Deputy District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts gave heartwarming remarks, while Pastor David Woods offered the opening prayer and remarks, and Pastor Joel Scott blessed the meal. Entertainment was pro- vided by performers in- cluding children from the Cayman Brac Day Care Centre, Koalition Group, Conroy Ebanks, Leathan Martin, Raymond Scott, Idalee Scott, Siyanna Maragh, Temple Tatum, Lurlie Scott and Marguerita Scott. As the participants hit the dance floor, Mr. Rivers was not the only one with some impres- sive dance moves. Older Persons’ Month events wrapped up with a service on Oct. 30 at the Little Cayman Baptist Church. Pastor Luis Faliz of Grand Cayman joined Fernando Yorke of Little Cayman to lead the service. Fruit bas- kets were given to the eldest male, Bruce Eldemire, 80, and eldest female, Pamela Rockette, 79. The service was followed by lunch at the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Ms. Scott extended her appreciation all those who helped arrange the events throughout the month and to Cayman National Bank as the major sponsor of all the Older Persons’ Month func- tions in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Seniors visit the top of the Bluff on the Oct. 24 bus tour. A visit to the goat farm proves a popular bus tour stop.Seniors are treated to lunch at the Asian House Restaurant. Idalee Scott and Mercedes Jackson have fun at the tea party.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Bunyan Lorraine Whittaker of Northside,who passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, Northside, at 2:00p.m. Interment to follow at Old Man Bay Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Bunyan Lorraine Whittaker of Northside,who passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, Northside, at 2:00p.m. Interment to follow at Old Man Bay Cemetery.Interment to follow at Old Man Bay Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Interment to follow at Old Man Bay Cemetery.Interment to follow at Old Man Bay Cemetery. agree to waive your right to appeal both the judgment and the sentence provided … Are you aware of that?” Merren’s response: “Yes, Your Honor.” “Moreover, Merren does not even allege that he expressed any interest in appealing his sentence,” federal prosecutors stated in court records filed Oct. 20. “Thus, under the circum- stances present here, counsel has no reason to think that a reasonable defendant would have wanted to appeal. He cannot show that he was prej- udiced by his [attorney’s] per- formance, especially when any appeal would have been dis- missed pursuant to his waiver [of that right].” Various records related to the Merren drugs conspiracy investigation remain under wraps in the U.S. federal court system, including copies of the arrest warrant filed in the case and certain financial affidavits filed on Merren’s behalf. In ad- dition, redactions were made to transcripts of Merren’s sen- tencing and change of plea hearings from 2015. The par- tially redacted transcripts were released in September. Merren was arrested in March 2014 on allegations that he was attempting to set up a money laundering operation to cover for planned cocaine ship- ments through Puerto Rico. Records from the U.S. District Court indicate that Merren re- vealed that at least one other man – an employee at his Cayman Islands trucking busi- ness – was involved in negotia- tions during 2013 and 2014 for cocaine shipments with two undercover U.S. Homeland Se- curity agents. Merren pleaded guilty in December 2014 to one count in an indictment alleging he conspired with other individ- uals to possess cocaine. It was one of the three charges ini- tially filed against him. The other two charges, alleging money laundering and drug possession, were dropped as part of the plea deal with fed- eral prosecutors. In motions filed with the Puerto Rican court on Dec. 17, 2014, U.S. attorneys asked that certain records related to Mer- ren’s plea in the case be re- stricted, with access given only to selected parties. “The [United States] is filing the pleading with the requested level of restriction because [it] … is necessary to protect the confidentiality of the matters detailed in the pleading and of the law enforcement activities affected by the pleading,” the motion to restrict access states. In the initial probable cause affidavit filed just after Merren’s arrest, U.S. Homeland Security agents provided details of sev- eral meetings in Puerto Rico be- tween Mr. Merren, his associate and two undercover federal agents. In one of those meet- ings, on Nov. 6, 2013, between Merren and the two undercover agents, details of the alleged money laundering scheme were discussed, court records state. “Merren explained to [un- dercover agent #2] that he has legitimate businesses in the Cayman Islands and Curacao where he receives funds from customers from all over the world that conduct credit card transactions utilizing his busi- nesses’ merchant machines in order to convert foreign cur- rency into U.S. currency,” the probable cause affidavit states. “Merren charges a percentage for the exchange and then wire transfers the bulk amount of the currency back to its corre- spondent owner. Merren also prepares purchase receipts for the customers in order to make it seem as if they are pur- chasing or paying for services.” Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice have consistently refused to comment on any aspect of the Puerto Rico investigation in- volving Merren. Deborah Webb-Sib- blies, chairwoman of the Older Persons Policy steering committee, said people made complaints to police in the cases she heard about. “Growing up in the Cayman Islands, respect for our elderly was part of our culture,” she said. Those cultural norms, she said, which meant that children would take over daily care of their parents as they got older, are disappearing. Mr. Bodden blamed the cultural shift on popula- tion growth in the islands and “foreign influences.” He pointed to cases of grandmothers living alone, saying, “You never had that back then.” And with elderly living alone and at times be- coming isolated, the min- ister said, there are now “predators in this country targeting older people.” People age 65 years and older make up about 6 percent of Cayman’s pop- ulation, according to the most recent figures from the Economics and Sta- tistics Office, with about 3,600 people. “A society is known for how it treats its young and its elderly,” Mr. Bodden said, and the re- forms proposed in the new report are “something society in the Cayman Is- lands badly needs.” The policy report has a wide range of recom- mendations to protect el- derly people and improve the lives of people who are aging in Cayman. The policy aims to promote more active lifestyles for older people, encouraging more activities and so- cial services. Ms. Webb-Sibblies said, “We realize that some older persons do a lot better in their home environment.” She said government and organizations should do what they can to sup- port elderly people who want to stay at home but may not have family to care for them. Mr. Bodden said the islands need more basic resources, like additional access to adult day care, so older people can avoid being “cooped up all day.” Time socializing and learning in structured day care centers or in a less organized way helps “keep minds sharp” and would be important re- sources for elderly people in the islands. The steering com- mittee recommends ex- panding learning oppor- tunities for pensioners, creating incentives for businesses to hire and retain people over age 65, and ensuring better bus service for elderly so people who cannot drive can more easily get around the islands. In the healthcare sector, the policy pushes for improvements with the Health Services Au- thority, especially with access to primary health- care providers and better home visits. The committee also wants government to reg- ister residential facilities for the elderly and develop national standards for the facilities. Cabinet approved the policy last month and gave the Community Af- fairs Ministry permis- sion to develop new leg- islation to address issues identified in the policy report. Minister Bodden said he hopes to create a task force to work on the legislation and a standing Council for Older Per- sons to monitor how the policy is implemented and to push for addi- tional reforms. US prosecutors seek to block Merren’s appeal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Guidelines aim to help protect elderly CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Deborah Webb-Sibblies Defendant says status seekers threatened his life Claims he gave McKeeva Bush a quarter of a million dollars CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Paul Anthony Hume Ebanks continued to take money from people by repre- senting that it was for Cayma- nian status or permanent resi- dence even after he suspected the offer was a scam, he told a court on Tuesday. Ebanks is on trial for ob- taining property by deception – more than $167,000 between July 2012 and December 2014. Justice Michael Wood and the seven-member jury have already heard that Ebanks told people of a scheme to offer 100 people status so that they could become reg- istered voters. In interviews read in court and then in the witness box starting Monday, Ebanks said by the time he was arrested, he was taking money from people so that he could pay back others who had given him money for status. He said he took money, with the intention of paying it back, because “people were threatening to kill me … burn my house down … shoot it up …. My life was in danger and my family’s life was in danger.” Ebanks said when he began collecting money for status or residence, he gave it to McKeeva Bush, who was the premier of the Cayman Islands until December 2012. Asked why he would give money to Mr. Bush after 2012 when he was out of office, Ebanks said Mr. Bush was not out of office – he was still an MLA. The situation arose be- cause Ebanks was concerned about his own status on the is- land, he said. He was 6 years old when he was brought to Cayman and he received status through his stepfather, who adopted him when he was 16. He did not know he had to apply for status on his own when he turned 18. Certain facts were agreed by defense attorney Laurence Aiolfi and Crown counsel Toyin Salako. They included Ebanks’s convictions in 2006 for obtaining property by de- ception – the deception being that money given to him was for the legitimate grant of status or residency. Ebanks was released in September 2011. In Jan- uary 2012, Governor Duncan Taylor signed a Governor’s Permit authorizing Ebanks to remain and work in the Cayman Islands. Ebanks said he wanted status because the permit did not give a time frame and he did not think it was fair that he had to report three times a week to the Depart- ment of Community Reha- bilitation. He said he spoke to [MLAs] Dwayne Seymour and Mark Scotland about it because he was in their dis- trict and they suggested he speak to Mr. Bush. Ebanks said Mr. Bush was the premier and he had the power. “He did it in 2003, so I thought he would do it again in 2013,” he said, referring to the government grants of status in 2003. He said he made contact with Mr. Bush and Charles Glidden, the premier’s press secretary. A meeting was ar- ranged at Myrtle’s Restaurant and Mr. Bush assured him he would take care of it, Ebanks told the court. A few days later, he said, Mr. Glidden phoned him and said Mr. Bush wanted Ebanks to get some people that he could give status to and then Ebanks could get his own situation sorted out. Ebanks said he would not do that because he had been in prison for that already. Days later, Mr. Glidden called and said Mr. Bush said if he did not, he wouldn’t get his situa- tion sorted out. Ms. Salako reminded the defendant that Mr. Glidden had come to court and given evidence that he had had no conversations or meet- ings with Ebanks. Ebanks replied, “They ain’t going to come to court and admit to that.” He claimed he gave money to Mr. Glidden on one occasion and the rest of the times he gave it to Mr. Bush. He agreed he told police he had given Mr. Bush roughly a quarter of a million dollars in cash. Asked when he handed over money, he said he did not remember: “I was carrying var- ious sums of money to him on different occasions.” Asked where his records were, Ebanks said he did not have records. He said the “girls” who helped recruit people to apply for status through him had kept their own records. Reminded that he had said his quota was 100 people to get status, he pointed out that some people were canceling, so they had to get others to fill the spots. He also thought Mr. Bush would let him know when he reached 100. At one point, he said, Mr. Bush, when he was no longer premier, sent him to Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson. He did not remember when this occurred. It could have been around the same time that Mr. Bush told him there was a check at the Dart offices for pay- ment to the women who had helped Ebanks recruit status applicants. Ebanks said he went with one of the women to collect the check, but they were told it had been called back. Ebanks said he learned later that Jackie Doak, a se- nior executive at Dart, was the one who had asked for the check back. Ms. Salako asked, “You find it very easy to call peo- ple’s names and just accuse them, don’t you?” Ebanks replied, “No.” Ms. Salako asked why he would be going to Dart if he had given the money to Mr. Bush. “Dart back McKeeva a lot,” Ebanks replied. Justice Wood asked how much the check was sup- posed to be for. Ebanks said it was $300,000. Ebanks was still in the wit- ness box at press deadline.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016 2-WEEK TRIAL PROGRAM INCLUDING UNIFORM FOR $49 CAYMAN KARATE ACADEMY 926 5425 BOBDAIGLE@ME.COM WWW.CAYMANKARATEACADEMY.COM FOCUS DISCIPLINE CONFIDENCE Crown land (held by the gov- ernment). The vendors were earlier told they could keep operating if they moved to a specific section of the beach outlined by the government for vendors and met all other conditions set out by gov- ernment, including pensions and healthcare coverage for any employees and insurance coverage, if required. As of Monday afternoon, none of the vendors had moved to the designated area and no kiosks had been set up in that area for their use. The vendors said planning ministry representatives in- formed them last month that they were unaware of any documentation and stated that the vendors should ob- tain a trade and business li- cense from government. The Department of Com- merce and Investment, which is responsible for issuing trade and business licenses, is the same entity that issued the $500 fines against the beach vendors for operating illegally – without a trade and business license. “It’s wickedness, what they’re doing,” Seymour Sil- burn, the owner of Seymour’s Jerk Chicken, said Monday, commenting on govern- ment’s handling of the sit- uation. “Just tell us what we need to do.” The attorney representing the vendors in the court matter, Phillip Ebanks, put it another way: “In a nutshell, this is quite typically a result of the right hand not knowing, or being indifferent, to what the left hand is doing.” Department of Commerce and Investment officials noted Monday that the fines should have been no sur- prise to the beach vendors, who have been operating il- legally on Crown land for a number of years. Warning no- tices were issued by the de- partment this summer to all vendors on the beach. The warning notices stated: “By way of this no- tice, the department is of- fering you an opportunity to become compliant with the requisite sections of the law. You are hereby given 14 days to cease the above identified infraction. Failure to comply will result in a notice of a ticket or fine under section 35 of the law and legal action may be taken …” Department of Com- merce and Investment Head of Compliance and Enforce- ment Claudia Brady said the department’s officers issued about 16 warning notices on May 12 and May 17 to individuals who were operating without a trade and business license. Other notices were handed out in subsequent weeks. According to the recently revised Trade and Business Licensing Law, two warning notices must be issued to an illegally operating business before a fine is issued. The vendors who were fined last month had all received two warning letters, department officials said. Tourism Ministry Deputy Chief Officer Dalton Watler said Tuesday that a list of Public Beach ven- dors who had qualified to keep operating in the area was released in September. As far as the ministry was concerned, Mr. Watler said, those vendors had done what was required to meet tourism and customer ser- vice training standards. Other issues involving li- censing and public land operations were not in the tourism ministry’s pur- view, he said. Planning ministry officials did not respond to Cayman Compass questions on the issue sent Tuesday. Several vendors who were at Public Beach Monday afternoon vowed that they would attend court dates rather than pay a $500 fine, which they felt would be charged to them again by government if they did not move from the beachfront. “If it has to go to court, we will,” said Andre Woodman, who operates Ride With Us Motorsports along with his brother. Mr. Woodman also said he had received a $500 fine last month. Other vendors, like Van- zeletha Jackson and Daphne Bennett, said they had not re- ceived any fine notices. “I am staying right here. I can’t go nowhere else to work,” Ms. Bennett, 67, said. Ms. Bennett, along with a number of other vendors, told the Compass that they have attempted on various occasions to obtain a trade and business license, but were foiled by the bureau- cratic process. The beach vending issue arose during 2012-2013 and came to the fore again in March when condo owners, including those at Harbour Heights and the Avalon Con- dominiums near Public Beach, voiced concerns to government officials about il- legal vendors “overrunning” Seven Mile Beach. “The very symbol of this beautiful island and the magnet that draws both Cay- manians and multitudes of tourists is being destroyed before our very eyes,” read an eight-page letter sent to Tourism Ministry Coun- cilor Joey Hew in March by the Harbour Heights de- velopment’s strata man- agement council. The Avalon Condomin- iums strata council sup- ported the Harbour Heights organization’s comments. “We too have observed the gradual, but steady increase in commercial activity at the Public Beach, and for the first time in my nearly 20 years of wintering here, we have had vendors peddling their wares to people on our beach,” said Warren Nock, chairman of the condo man- agement strata. Public Beach vendors fined $500, vow court fight “It’s wick edness, what they’re doing.” SEYMOUR SILBURN, Public Beach vendor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Public Beach vendors were supposed to move back from the water line in September, but as of Monday, that had not happened. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLERNext >