ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 182805-Ad-MakeItYours-Compass-Strip6colx1*5.indd 111/9/16 2:25 PM Pirates swagger through George Town JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Clad in bandanas, face paint and hooped ear rings, bearded pirates and buxom wenches descended on George Town on Saturday in a swashbuckling display marking Pirates Week. Hundreds of spectators gathered at Hog Sty Bay for the invasion that signaled the start of the parade. As the Jolly Roger pulled up to the dock, pirates spilled out, cut- lasses drawn. Swaggering through the capital, they quickly captured the British Red Coat soldiers, putting them in manacles. The Jolly Roger crew then led the float parade through the streets as the festivities continued into the evening. The pirates’ landing was the centerpiece of a weekend of events to launch the annual Pi- rates Week Festival. On Thursday, steel pan bands performed on Harbour Drive, followed by a launch party at The Wharf. Fireworks lit up George Town on Friday night as rev- elers, many dressed in pi- rate garb, danced through the streets. Friday’s festivities also fea- tured a 5K run, won by Dom- inic Dyer, and the Miss Fes- tival Queen competition, won Veterans, seamen honored on Remembrance Sunday JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com War veterans and those who lost their lives at sea were hon- ored Sunday as the Cayman Is- lands joined Commonwealth nations around the world in solemn remembrance. Police in ceremonial uniform marched through George Town before the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph and sea- men’s memorial. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Premier Alden McLaughlin, Leader of the Opposition McK- eeva Bush and representatives of the Cayman Islands Veterans LINFORD PIERSON HIGHWAY WIDENING DELAYED BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The widening of the Linford Pierson Highway into George Town faces significant delays due to various legal issues and will not be completed before the next general election in May, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts con- firmed last week. Meanwhile, the widening of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway from two lanes to four was Fireworks reflect on the glassy surface of George Town harbor. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » Premier Alden McLaughlin lays a wreath at the cenotaph.– PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Crowds enjoy the clash between pirates and Red Coats as the invaders land in George Town on Saturday. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 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. DOCTOR STRANGE 3D (PG13) 1:30 | 10:05 2D JACK REACHER: (PG13) NEVER GO BACK 1:30 | 4:15 | 7:20 | 10:00 INFERNO (PG13) 12:45 | 3:30 | 6:30 | 9:30 ALMOST CHRISTMAS (PG13) 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:50 TYLER PERRY’S BOO! (PG13) A MADEA HALLOWEEN 1:15 | 3:45 | 6:45 | 9:40 TROLLS (PG) 12:30 | 3:00 2D | 5:15 | 7:30 2D | 10:00 - TUESDAY - Tribunal: Honduran children can remain in Cayman BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two children who faced deportation to Honduras in August, possibly being sent back by themselves into an abusive situation, have been allowed to remain in Cayman at least until they reach adulthood, the Im- migration Appeals Tri- bunal has ruled. The Cayman Islands Grand Court temporary blocked the initial deci- sion of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Res- idency Board to deny a re- quest by the mother of the two children, ages 9 and 11, that they be allowed to stay with her in Cayman. The board denied the re- quest on the basis that the woman and her Caymanian husband did not have suf- ficient financial means to support the children. The Cayman Compass is not identifying the mother or the children due to the age of the children. The Immigration Ap- peals Tribunal, in re- viewing the matter, noted that the woman and her husband did have the min- imum level of income re- quired to support two de- pendent children – which was a combined salary of at least $4,500 per month. The tribunal, in its ruling dated Oct. 31, noted the couple earned more than that. The tribunal also noted that the residency board stated concerns about the “veracity” of the wom- an’s income, but “did not specify those concerns in any great detail.” Section 19 of the Cayman Islands Consti- tution Order [2009] Bill of Rights states that all deci- sions by any government body must be rational, pro- portionate, lawful and pro- cedurally fair. The tribunal stated that the board “did not appear to turn its mind to the relevant sections of constitutional law” in making its decision. According to the tri- bunal’s ruling, which was provided to the Compass, the mother of the two chil- dren can stay and work in Cayman as long as her marriage “remains stable.” Both children can stay until they reach age 18, or up to age 24 if they are pursuing a university ed- ucation, as their moth- er’s dependents. Both children came to Cayman about a year ago, after they were aban- doned in their home country, according to court documents filed ear- lier in the case. “They were abandoned and abused by the people charged with caring for them, who also did not feed them and refused to send them to school,” ac- cording to the request for the initial Grand Court in- junction against the ruling of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board. The attorney repre- senting the family, Amelia Fosuhene, said the relo- cation of the children to Cayman was necessary to avoid the dangerous, abu- sive situation they found themselves in. Ms. Fosuhene told the court there was no one at home in Honduras with whom they could safely stay if they were to re- turn, and the mother – who has been in Cayman for the last four years – had no prospects of employ- ment there or means to take care of herself or her children without her hus- band’s assistance. The children are not related by blood to their mother’s Caymanian hus- band. They are the wom- an’s children from a pre- vious relationship. According to court re- cords, the immigration- related boards have a set policy that determines how much an individual must earn to support dependents on their work permit or permanent residence grant. The policy requires earn- ings of $3,500 per month to support one dependent and an extra $1,000 per month for each additional dependent, the court re- cords indicated. However, the appeals tribunal seemed to infer that these figures might differ on a case-by-case basis, noting that “in this particular instance” a com- bined salary of $3,500 per month for one dependent and an additional $1,000 for each additional depen- dent had been set. “It is noted that this is a policy [of the boards] and not a legal requirement set down in any primary leg- islation,” the initial injunc- tion application states. “The board has issued a blanket, one-size-fits-all policy which can at best be described as discrimina- tory when determining this application,” Ms. Fosuhene’s submission to the Grand Court states. “The … policy falls foul of the Cayman Is- lands Constitution [Order 2009] in that it will au- tomatically and dispro- portionately discriminate against those who come to work within the Cayman Is- lands from predominantly non-white jurisdictions. In addition, the policy dispro- portionately affects those who are deemed to be from a lower social origin and because they may have less by way of property.” JAMAICA POLICE SEIZE 2,000 POUNDS OF POT KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – Au- thorities in Jamaica have seized 2,000 pounds of mar- ijuana from a car after its driver fled. Police said late Sunday that the drugs were found inside the abandoned auto in St. Elizabeth parish. Offi- cials said they earlier tried to stop the vehicle during an anti-narcotics operation on Saturday night. It was the second such seizure in less than a week. Another 2,000 pounds of the drug were seized last Thursday near the island’s northeast coast. Jamaica relaxed its laws for small amounts of pot last year, allowing cultivation of five or fewer plants by any household. Possession of up to 2 ounces (of marijuana can result in a roughly $5 ticket but not in an arrest or a criminal record. NASA’S GREATEST ASTRONAUTS STAR IN NEW EXHIBIT CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – NASA’s earliest and greatest astronauts gath- ered at Kennedy Space Center on Friday to mark the grand opening of a new space exhibit in which they are the stars. Thirty astronauts, three of them moonwalkers, took part in the outdoor cere- mony, including two who had extra reason to cel- ebrate. Fifty years ago Friday, Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin launched on Gemini 12, the last of that program. With all the excitement, Lovell forgot about Fri- day’s anniversary – until reminded by a reporter. He said spacewalks and ren- dezvous were refined on the two-man Gemini mis- sions and “opened up the road to Apollo.” He later flew on Apollo 8, the first manned flight to the moon, and the infamous, close- call Apollo 13. Lovell’s Boy Scout hand- book is on display at the ex- hibit’s new United States Astronaut Hall of Fame – relocated from its orig- inal location six miles down the road – along with his scouting sash and merit badges. “I can’t believe it’s 50 years” since the last Gemini flight, said Thomas Stafford of Gemini 6 and 9, Apollo 10 and the Apollo-Soyuz joint mission between the United States and Soviet Union. This May 1961 file photo shows astronauts, from left, Virgil I. Grissom, John Glenn and Alan Shepard. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 If you or a loved one has cancer, please call toll-free 1 844 439 3293 to speak with an International Oncology Information Specialist, available 24 hours per day, or visit cancercenter.com/cayman for more information. All calls made from a landline phone are toll-free. SOURCES www.cancer.gov www.cdc.gov www.nccn.org www.cancer.org *Cancer Treatment Center America is a registered trademark of Rising Tide Foundation in the United States. © 2016 Rising Tide 3 Things Every Man Should Know About Prostate Cancer MOVEMBER 2016 Bringing awareness to men’s health 3. TREATMENT OPTIONS 2. SCREENING The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends that high-risk men begin annual PSA and prostate exams at age 40. 1. DIAGNOSIS STATISTICS 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed during his lifetime. 180,890 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed. 2016 If caught early, prostate cancer is one of the most treatable malignancies. SURGERY RADIATION THERAPY ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE HORMONE THERAPY CHEMOTHERAPYIMMUNOTHERAPY INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS “Having known the evenings, mornings, afternoons. I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” – T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” Ah, coffee spoons might seem a rather pedestrian metric or metaphor to measure out a life, but we must confess, we have a Cayman equivalent. For us (and for years), we have observed the incre- mental progress of various Dart projects – be they the ever-expanding Camana Bay, the building and beauti- fication of our roadways, the greening of our districts with donated public parks, and currently the ongoing expansion of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, complete with tunnels and roundabouts, viaducts and “spurs” that go … well, who knows where? Today, however, we celebrate the end of one road and the beginning of another, namely the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Although the site has already hosted one or two social affairs, the first overnight guests will check in Tuesday, Nov. 15, foreshadowing what promises to be a busy holiday and high season. Of the 266 guest rooms, nearly all feature private balconies and vista views of Seven Mile Beach, the turquoise pool and the lush landscaping. Amenities include three restaurants (Ave is the flagship), the Spa at Seafire – an 8,500-square-foot facility featuring seven treatment rooms – a 1,770-square-foot fitness center, and a 7,076-square-foot ballroom. One thing deserves to be said – must be said – about any project or development that bears the Dart “brand”: Quality is never negotiable; quality is never in question – and the Kimpton Seafire Resort is no exception. Three years and 3.3 million man-hours ago, planners and designers, horticulturalists and land- scapers, artisans and architects joined as many as 1,000 construction workers to create this welcome addition to the Cayman urbanscape. Notably, 100 percent of construction of the Kimpton was conducted by local contractors, and Caymanians will fill many of the 450-plus food and beverage, front and back office positions. Built in to every Dart project is respect, bordering on reverence, for the environment, the use of indige- nous plant materials (many of the 32,000 plants and trees on site were propagated in Dart’s own 26-acre nursery), and a commitment to the highest sustainable energy standards. The Seafire has been conceived and constructed to receive the coveted LEED Silver certification, which is expected in due course. For the technical minded, Seafire features energy-efficient LED lighting inside and out, a 143-kilowatt solar array and a state-of-the- art geothermal cooling system. As the Kimpton Seafire welcomes its first guests, we take this opportunity to welcome our first new major hotel and resort to Grand Cayman in nearly a decade. At the same time, we congratulate and applaud everyone in the Dart and Kimpton organizations who enabled this project to progress from their original vision to today’s ribbon-cutting. Kimpton Seafire: A new landmark on Seven Mile Beach LETTER TO THE EDITOR Perpetrators among us I feel compelled to write this from a place of hu- manity or rather a love of all animal beings, compassion, love and need for change. The recent events of the assaults at the Equestrian Centre have deeply affected my family and spurred a sense of ur- gency that the perpetrators are apprehended and made accountable for their ac- tions. This disgusting crime has bred a fear in me that no parent should feel. But first you must under- stand where I am coming from. The Equestrian Centre is the only place I took my first born child to ride lead line at the tender age of 2 where the wonder of a horse and its majestic grace in- spired a love of animals that has transpired to all three of my children. Such that my youngest begged to ride horses from a very young age and had to wait until she was 8 years old to take her first riding lesson with Ms. Mary. Let me fast forward five years to a young 13-year-old on the brink of becoming a young woman with a poise and maturity all her own. I have the Equestrian Centre, Mary, Jessica and all the staff to thank for contributing to her growth both as a person, an equestrian rider, but more importantly, a horse owner. My daughter’s love of horses has progressed to ownership of a spunky Cayman-bred beauty. She is down at the stables six days of every seven to care for, exercise and train her horse for a minimum of three hours. This is no breeze in and breeze out kind of hobby; commitment is full on. Her reward is to be able to share a fragile bond that only comes to a horse and rider after much dust, tears and hard work finally reveal a joy and confidence that no parent, school or friend can replicate. The Equestrian Centre is my child’s second home, and at this very juncture in her life the security and well- being of the very thing that is most important to her is under threat. No parent should have to explain sexual assault to a child. No parent should have to explain how someone could do this to an animal that has no de- fenses and no ability to ask for help. How can my child feel safe in an environment where someone has been watching, waiting and plan- ning to act out the most hor- rific of crimes against the most innocent of animals? How can I feel safe? How can a place of sanctuary where anyone in the community has been welcome to watch events and visit these spe- cial animals, along with all the other ponies, donkeys, goats, rabbits, chickens, cats and dogs be the target of twisted individuals with bar- baric intentions? Yes, individuals, because there is no possible way that these injuries could be in- flicted upon these ponies by only one person. Why? I am imploring the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice to take these criminal acts seriously and dedicate the resources to finding these perpetrators. This is a crime against a business, property, my child and her horse. This is a crime against our com- munity. Where does it stop? What if the next victim is not a pony? When will it be important enough? There is a $15,000 reward for infor- mation leading to an arrest of the individuals who have committed these crimes. I beg of you to share any and all facts that may per- tain to these acts with the RCIPS or contact Crime Stop- pers 800-TIPS or 800-8477 or www.Crime Stoppers.ky. We can shape our future and make our community safe. Marcia Milgate LETTER TO THE EDITOR NOT HAPPY ABOUT NOISE Did you know that the Li- quor Licensing Board gave permission for an establish- ment on Smith Road to play music disturbing the residen- tial neighborhoods until 3 in the morning? Question: Should it be the board that grants such a per- mission or the neighborhood? This establishment was playing loud music from Sunday afternoon until after 3 am on Monday. Sad for those of us who work on public holidays. It seems we do not have the right to sleep. Arline McGill The Equestrian Centre’s pony Pebbles was sexually assualted earlier this month. - PHOTO: MATT LAMERSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 The Season of Sun, Sand and Seafire Our doors are wide open, welcoming you. Be one of the first to discover Seafire with our local resident appreciation offers of 50% off rooms and 20% off services at The Spa at Seafire. To secure your Seafire experience, visit seafireresortandspa.com, book using the promotional code CIRR and prepare for a different way to stay. Terms and conditions: Rates are at 50% off the published local rates between 15 November and 20 December 2016 starting at US$170 per night. Subject to availability. Rates shown are per room, per night and not available with any other offers. Resort and service fees as well as incidental charges are additional. There is no minimum stay. A local identification card is required upon check-in. Discounted spa services are available from 17 November through 20 December 2016. seafireresortandspa.comDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Remembrance Day marked with Sunday ceremony In the Nov. 16, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, the Re- membrance Day ceremonies held in George Town were reported as follows: “The main Remem- brance Day service was held around the Memorial Cross in George Town at 10:40 a.m. on Sunday. “The Police Force, Sea Scouts, Wolf Cubs and mem- bers of all actions of the Girls’ Brigade were on parade and a large number of the general public attended the service. “Conducted by the Rev. John Lord, the service com- menced with the singing of O God Our Help of Ages Past followed by prayer led by Rev. C. Holm. Elder F.E. Arch read the Scripture Lesson. “His Honour the Admin- istrator, in his address said, ‘Remembrance Sunday is an annual event which en- ables men and women to congregate and pay tribute to those who died during the two World Wars and other military conflicts of this century.’ “‘Those who eulogised about the victims of these wars have often said that those who died ‘gave their lives freely’ or that they ‘made the supreme sacrifice willingly’ in order that the cause for which they fought might prevail. Those who fought in those wars, how- ever, have good reason to doubt such statements be- cause, with few exceptions, most men and women cling to life, and secretly hope that they will be among the survivors. This is a natural human instinct, but what- ever motives we may attri- bute to the dead, the fact re- mains that they served their countries and the cause of freedom by exposing their lives to unnatural dan- gers. In paying tribute to their memory, therefore, let us follow their example by serving our country and our fellow men whenever the opportunity arises. We should not always expect remuneration for our ser- vices but we can be sure that in most instances our services can be given without exposing ourselves to physical danger.’ “After prayer by Pastor Raib Arch and the hymn O King of Love O God of Peace and the Benediction, wreaths were placed at the Cross by His Honour the Adminis- trator and others and the National Anthem was sung.” In the same issue, other news included: “The Clinical Ecology Study Club have been in conference at Sea View Lodge during the past week. “Many world renowned allergists spent a very happy and profitable ten days in the island, many bringing their wives with them. “During their stay the doctors conferred as to how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of aller- gies which plague so many people of all ages and in all walks of life … “It appears that Ricardo Ebanks took someone to the hospital and upon returning to his car there was a mild explosion as he turned the starter. He saw fire coming from the engine and was given a blanket by the hos- pital staff to try and extin- guish the fire. This being of no avail he walked to the Police Station and the Offi- cers on duty, with the help of Mr. John Connolly and Mr. Ray Miller eventually got the blaze subdued but not before the car was com- pletely gutted.” National Hero Sybil McLaughlin awarded honorary doctorate Sybil McLaughlin, the first living woman to be de- clared a National Hero, the first woman named Speaker of the House in the Cayman Islands and the first woman appointed as female clerk in the Commonwealth has been awarded an hon- orary doctorate. Ms. McLaughlin was pre- sented the award during the University College of the Cayman Islands’ com- mencement ceremony on Nov. 3 by the college’s presi- dent, Roy Bodden. Livingston Smith, UCCI social sciences chairman and director of research and publications, said Ms. McLaughlin is a “lady of firsts” as he listed her ac- complishment and ser- vices to society. The biography supplied for Ms. McLaughlin at the ceremony states: “Born 1928 in Grand Cayman, Ms. McLaughlin attended the George Town Primary School. She also attended the Baptist Col- lege in Managua, Nica- ragua, where she graduated fluent in Spanish, as well as having completed a com- mercial course. “In 1945, she returned to Grand Cayman and was em- ployed in the Commission- er’s office as clerk-typist. She worked with the then clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry, Er- nest O. Panton. “In 1959 when the Cayman Islands received its first written constitution, Ms. McLaughlin was appointed the first clerk of the Legisla- tive Assembly and also the Executive Council, which is now termed Cabinet. “Following further con- stitutional advancement, Ms. McLaughlin became the full-time clerk of the Legis- lative Assembly and the first woman to hold this post in the Commonwealth. In 1966, she served a six months’ attachment to the House of Commons in London and an attachment to the Northern Ireland Parliament in Stormont and in 1971 at- tachments to the parlia- ments of Grenada and Trin- idad and Tobago. “In her capacity as clerk of the Legislative Assembly, she became the first sec- retary to the Cayman Is- lands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamen- tary Association from 1965 to 1984 and traveled exten- sively as secretary to dele- gations from the legislature, attending conferences within the Caribbean and other Commonwealth countries. She also traveled far and wide as a regional represen- tative of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges As- sociation, a post to which she was elected at a confer- ence in Zimbabwe in 1994. “Ms. Mclaughlin was one of the founding members of the Business and Profes- sional Women’s Club and the Rotary Sunrise Club. She was patron of the AIDS Founda- tion and is a lay pastor. She was also one of the founding members of the Cayman Is- lands Tennis Club. She was instrumental in the life of the Women’s Resource Centre, the Woman’s Crisis Centre and many other institutions. “Among her outstanding achievements is her appoint- ment as first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on Feb. 15 1991. She served as Speaker until she retired in 1996. Soon after she was be- stowed the country’s highest honor of National Hero in rec- ognition of her contribution to Cayman’s parliamentary de- velopment as well as to com- munity life in generally.” After reading the above, Mr. Smith added: ”We pay tribute to Miss Sybil’s hu- manity, sense of dignity, in- tegrity and warmth.” He also said that a hero is one who has given his or her life to something bigger than his or herself. “The Honorable Na- tional Hero has given hers to God, family, community and country, and through her the Cayman Islands has the memory of a great name and an inheritance for genera- tions to come,” he said. “In recognition of the con- tribution of the Honorable Sybil McLaughlin to the de- velopment and maturity of Cayman’s political system, its governance and legislative procedures, her unequaled public service generally and for her being an exemplar of the best of the Caymanian spirit, it is the signal honor of the University College of the Cayman Islands, to bestow on her the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.Dr.) Honoris causa.” Mr. Smith concluded. Sybil McLaughlin gets help with her award from son Gordon McLaughlin after being presented the honor by UCCI President Roy Bodden. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 Mischievous elves set to take over the Ritz Display opens Dec. 5 Guests at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman resort will soon be greeted by an un- usual and delectable sea- sonal display. An Elves Workshop fea- turing 20 brilliantly col- ored, 3-foot-tall holiday elves crafted from chocolate, each with a personal story, an ec- centric personality and capti- vating facial expressions will be taking over the lobby of hotel from Dec. 5. According to a press re- lease, the cheerful and intri- cate holiday display repre- sents a uniquely animated community, 9 feet by 10 feet, set against a dramatic 10- foot mountain backdrop, an operating electric train and an animated holiday tree. “The irresistible set- ting features 15 gingerbread mini-houses in a ginger- bread village, 12 gingerbread houses in the mountains, a ski lodge and ski gondola descending from the moun- tains, chocolate ‘gas’ lan- terns, 30 chocolate holiday trees, chocolate benches with penguins and snowmen, snowboarding penguins and snowmen in the mountains and on the train tunnel, six reindeer and a chocolate sleigh, a fireplace with choc- olate ‘logs’ and stockings for all of the elves, six rein- deer, gifts galore and lad- ders enabling elves to dec- orate their tree,” the press release states. “Amidst this tasty spec- tacle, Santa’s charming and edible helpers can be seen trying to work together to muddle through their hol- iday to-do lists.” According to the re- lease, the chocolate and fon- dant elves crafted by pastry chef Melissa Logan and her pastry team require 540 hours to create, and the en- tire workshop is made out of 150 pounds of fondant, 250 pounds of dark chocolate, 75 pounds of white choco- late, 125 pounds of modeling chocolate, 3 pounds of choc- olate velvet spray, 25 pounds of royal icing, 25 pounds of gingerbread, 3 ounces of gold and silver dust, 27 ounces of food lacquer and 12 ounces of food coloring. The elves are: Charlie, the lead elf, al- ways busy hanging stock- ings on the fireplace or making toys with his chocolate hammer. Lulabell, the cheeky elf who has naughtily decided to juggle the ornaments in- stead of helping to hang them on the tree. Figwit Biggenslow III, who watches as Lulabell tries to juggle ornaments, finding himself distracted from building the mini-ginger- bread houses he is supposed to be working on. Punchinello, a bit of a clumsy elf, who is always getting himself into a tangle. This year, he is tangled in the lights and cannot figure out how it happened. Penelope Mcmittens, Layla Maisy, Filomena and Ophelia, who are having fun while being generally helpful. Gilbert, pointing and laughing at Punchinello woefully tangled in the Christmas lights. Louie von Whimsy busy stacking presents for the train tunnel, while his friend Jasper is also working on presents, carefully wrapping them for the holiday. Oliver, the elf with the munchies, who has decided to take a cookie break while everyone else is hard at work in the shop. Ernie, who is supposed to be helping Charlie hang the stockings, but he has had way too much hot cocoa and is falling asleep from all that cocoa, with stockings crum- pled all around him. Russandol, hard at work hanging the lights on the tree. Ziggy, Larabee and Chad- wick, merrily making gin- gerbread houses and holding ornaments. Buckly McSkittles, who has fallen into the sleigh, and colleague Nougat O’Flurry, who is attempting to rescue him. Elliott Butterscotch, placing the star atop the holiday tree. 50 YEARS AGO: YOUTHS CAUSE TROUBLE AT CLUB INFERNO In the Nov. 16, 1966 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mr. Leon Ebanks cel- ebrated his birthday on the 10th with a big party at the home of Mr. Calvin Anderson. “Miss Marisa Rivers cel- ebrated her 13th birthday on the 11th at home. “Arriving on the 13th were Mrs. Raymond Ebanks from Miami where she resides, to visit her relatives. Mr. Coriel Rivers from New York, Mr. Dodson Rivers. Mr. Hudson Ebanks who is on sick leave having had surgery in Georgia. “Mrs. Darlene Owens who accompanied her mother Mrs. Alvin Ebanks to Miami. Mrs. Ebanks has had major surgery but is coming on quite satisfactorily. “Messrs. Kenneth Ebanks and Coleman Ebanks left on the 13th for New York to join S.S. Ore Meridian for Na- tional Bulk Carriers. “A number of boys went to Club Inferno on the night of the 7th and threatened to beat the watchman Mr. Jason Par- sons an elderly man. They threw stones and bottles around the building and acted like Hooligans. Mr. Parsons was not injured by acting sensibly. “The matter has been reported to the police. “Remembrance Day was observed in the United Church by a pa- rade with the Girls’ Bri- gade, and two minutes’ silence in honour of our dead who gave their lives in World War 1 and II. The Church was closed for the evening service as some of the congrega- tion wen to George Town for a united Commu- nion Service.” Cayman Turtle Centre visitors take part in bird release Excitement was in the air at the Cayman Turtle Centre recently as a crowd cheered on a group of young birds making their first foray into the wild. On Nov. 9 and 10, visi- tors to the West Bay at- traction had the opportu- nity to enter their names in a draw enabling a lucky few to release a white- crowned pigeon into the wild. The winners – six on the first day and seven on the following day – took part in an organized re- lease of 13 birds. According to a press release, the indigenous forest species have been bred by the Cayman Turtle Centre over 10 years, and many have been released to the wild. The program began just after Hurricane Ivan destroyed much of their natural habitat, and at that time the birds were con- sidered a threatened spe- cies. Thanks in large part to these efforts, however, they are no longer on that list. “For this release, instead of doing our usual method of just opening the cage door and letting the birds fly out on their own, we decided this time to give our park visitors an opportunity to participate in our local conservation ef- fort,” the Centre’s terres- trial exhibits curator Geddes Hislop said, noting that 16 pigeons were released ear- lier this year. “People have taken part in releasing turtles, so this is a chance for them to release one of the white-crowned pigeons too.” After hearing their names drawn, the winners were led to the aviary and the pigeons were carried in individual cardboard boxes to the re- lease site, a quiet spot next to the Butterfly Garden. There, the participants placed their boxes on the ground before waiting for Mr. Hislop to give the signal to open the boxes and release the pigeons. The birds quickly made their way into the sky to begin their new lives. “Although they are no longer considered ‘threat- ened,’ White Crown pi- geons have been made a protected species recently under the new conservation law, so that means that our contribution has become even more significant,” said Mr. Hislop. Oliver the elf stops for a cookie break. It was an exciting moment when the pigeons were released on Nov. 9.8 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Westin gets $50 million upgrade JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Westin on Seven Mile Beach is part way through a US$50 million renovation with substan- tial upgrades to the lobby, pool and guest rooms. The hotel aims to have the first phase of the redevelopment com- pleted by mid-December, ahead of what is expected to be the busiest high season on record. Morty Valldejuli, man- ager of the resort which was bought by a U.S. in- vestment group last year, said the hotel is seeking to refresh its look to keep pace with development on the Seven Mile strip. “Between the Marriot, the Ritz and the Kimpton, we have almost brand-new ho- tels on the island. We need to do a better job to be more rel- evant than our competitors.” The first phase will focus on the lobby and pool area. The second phase, starting in May, will in- clude the renovation of all 343 rooms. Mr. Valldejuli said the new-look Westin will take advantage of its loca- tion on the “best stretch of beach” in Cayman, of- fering sweeping views of the ocean as guests enter the renovated lobby. He added, “We have new owners and they want to make sure they have a great product that they are proud of and that creates value for the investment.” A temporary reception has been set up as work on the lobby area con- tinues. The administra- tive offices overlooking the entrance have been taken out to create a new atrium, while an open, glass-walled entry space offers arriving guests immediate views of the ocean. Mr. Valldejuli said the redesign, which also in- cludes a new pool deck and swim-up bar and fur- nished patios leading to the beach for some ground-floor rooms, centers on maximizing the value of the location. “It was all about taking advantage of having the best stretch of beach on Seven Mile. That’s some- thing that nobody could buy, and we have re- ally taken advantage of that,” he said. He said the renovations are taking place alongside service improvements, in- cluding a beach-side con- cierge and the ability for guests on the beach to summon staff at the touch of a button. “Anybody can reno- vate a hotel. If you don’t re-conceptualize, you become irrelevant,” Despite the large invest- ment in the property, he said, good service remains the most important factor in the hotel’s success. “We put all of our efforts into service and having the right people. That is more important than the phys- ical building.” Cayman National Bank robbers lose appeals Phone records supported evidence of accomplice Marlon Dillon CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the sentences of two men in- volved in the largest bank robbery in the history of the Cayman Islands. The three- judge panel also upheld the conviction of one of the men. David Tamasa, 36, had been convicted as the mas- termind of the plot to rob the Cayman National Bank branch in Buckingham Square on June 28, 2012, and as the supplier of two firearms for the robbery. The court ruled that his 14- year sentence was entirely consistent with local and U.K. guidelines. George Mignott lost his appeal against a sen- tence of 12 years. CCTV footage of the robbery had shown him aiming what ap- peared to be a shotgun at people in the bank. The shotgun and a handgun carried by another robber were never found. The Crown therefore had to charge the robbers with possession of imitation fire- arms with intent to commit the robbery. Those sentences were to run concurrently. The Court of Appeal said phone records before, during and after the robbery sup- ported the evidence of chief Crown witness Marlon Dillon, who had pleaded guilty to his role in the crime. Stuart Dack, then presi- dent of CNB, had provided a statement read to the sen- tencing judge in March 2015. He said the direct loss to the bank was more than half a million dollars – CI$502,436.17 in US and CI currency – and an indirect loss of CI$150,000 in terms of time spent investigating and checking records after the robbery. The vast ma- jority of money stolen was not recovered. Mr. Dack stressed the psy- chological and emotional ef- fect on staff and customers. The robbery had an impact on the banking industry, society and Cayman as a whole, he said. That was after a second Grand Court jury found the men guilty. The Court of Ap- peal had ordered a retrial be- cause of what they called a “material irregularity” in the first trial. It concerned the right of defendants to remain silent and how a jury should be instructed on that point. None of the defendants gave evidence in either trial. Tamasa and Mignott had their appeals presented last week. Justices Sir Bernard Rix, Sir George Newman and Sir Alan Moses heard the ar- guments and Justice Moses delivered their decision. Justice Moses said the question regarding Tamasa was whether the jury was en- titled to convict him when the evidence fundamentally came from Dillon, an accom- plice who pleaded guilty, gave evidence in both trials, and received a sentence of three years. Senior counsel James Curtis, who represented Tamasa at his Grand Court trial, had described Dillon’s evidence as tainted, dishonest and minimizing his own role. When shown inconsisten- cies, Dillon accused police of fabricating his statements. Dillon was also told that if he named names it would be better for him in court. He al- leged involvement of at least one innocent person. Justice Moses stated, “We agree that in the period leading up to the trials and during the trials, he [Dillon] lied casually, habitually and instinctively whether on oath or not.” In the absence of the jury during the second trial, Mr. Curtis and other defense at- torneys argued that there was no case to answer because Dillon’s credibility was “non- existent.” Justice Ingrid Man- gatal disagreed. The Court of Appeal said she was correct to refuse to withdraw the case from the jury. She had reminded herself that there was phone evidence capable of providing evidence that supported Dillon’s evi- dence. In her view, she would be usurping the role of the ju- rors if she withdrew the case from them. She instructed the jurors that they should ap- proach Dillon’s evidence with extreme caution and care, that they should look for sup- porting material before acting on his evidence. The examination of defendants’ cellphones pro- vided evidence to support Dil- lon’s allegation that Tamasa was the organizer of the rob- bery. Justice Moses pointed out that Dillon could not have known what the results of those examinations would be. The actual robbery was carried out by Dillon, Mignott and a third man, Ryan Ed- wards (who did not appeal his sentence), while a fourth man, Rennie Cole, had the role of distracting the guard at the door of the bank just before the robbers entered. Two days before the rob- bery, there were 30 calls between the defendants’ phones. The day before the robbery there were 24 calls between them. Justice Moses said the most significant sequence of calls was on the day of the robbery itself. There were 37 calls between 5:31 a.m. and 9:34 a.m. within the circle of people Dillon had named as being involved in the rob- bery, and then 18 minutes of silence during the time of the robbery. Tamasa, however, continued to call or receive calls from other numbers. There was no contact be- tween the defendants until after 9:52 a.m., when there were about 60 calls between them over the rest of the day. It was not just the number of calls, but the timing that the appeals court found sig- nificant. Mignott’s last calls on the night before the rob- bery were to Tamasa, Edwards and Burton. His first call the morning of the robbery was to Tamasa. Tamasa phoned Dillon early that morning and then called Burton. Dillon’s evidence was that he went to Tamasa’s address after Tamasa phoned him, and there he picked up Mi- gnott. He said he was then in- structed to pick up Burton in George Town, meet Edwards and then go to the robbery. After the robbery, Dil- lon’s first phone call was to Tamasa; Burton’s first phone call was also to Tamasa. Phone records of the de- fendants’ calls to each other were consistent with Dillon’s account in terms of timing, sequence and the locations of the individuals. In summary, the Court of Appeal concluded that ju- rors were not only entitled to reach guilty verdicts, but also it was safe for them to do so. Director of Public Pros- ecutions Cheryll Richards, assisted by Crown counsel Candia James, responded to the appeal arguments. Convicted robber Rennie Cole received eight years after the second trial; Burton, the getaway driver, received 14 years. Edwards, who was not part of the retrial, re- ceived 13 years from Justice Alexander Henderson after the first trial. Both Edwards and Cole, Jamaican nationals, were recommended for de- portation after their sen- tences are served. CCTV footage of the robbery at Cayman National Bank shows one of the robbers, George Mignott, pointing a shotgun at tellers. Mignott lost his appeal against sentencing last week. The new-look bar is shown in an architect’s image. The pool deck at the Westin has been completely rennovated.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016 Today, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is officially open. Construction took three years to complete and the resort’s opening is occurring on the target date set nearly four years ago. “This is an astounding feat in an industry where construction delays are commonplace,” said Mark VanDevelde CEO of Dart Enterprises. “Getting the certificate of occupancy and opening the hotel to guests is the culmination of years of planning, design and construction management. I am incredibly proud of the Dart Development team led by Cameron Graham, President, which delivered the resort on schedule.” The opening of the hotel marks one of the most significant development milestones in Dart’s continued commitment to the Cayman Islands economy. “As the first overnight guests are welcomed to the hotel, we look forward to opening The Residences at Seafire next year,” Mr. VanDevelde said. Dart Delivers Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, on Schedule “I am incredibly proud of the Dart Development team led by Cameron Graham, President, which delivered the resort on schedule.” – Mark VanDevelde CEO of Dart Enterprises. At peak more than 900 workers were on site. The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa officially opens today. 2011 DART ACQUIRES FORMER COURTYARD MARRIOTT 2012 MASTERPLANNING COMMENCES • Adaptive Reuse Design considered • Decision made to build from the ground up 2013 SITE PREPARATION • Courtyard Marriott demolished • Site planning and design • Site scraped • De-mucking of grounds and peat removal • Primary utilities brought in around the perimeter of the building site • Foundations started 2014 THE FRAME • Foundations completed • Concrete structural frame started • Primary mechanical, electrical and plumbing mains installed 2015 ON OUR WAY • Building ‘Topped Off’ in August - roof finished - exterior walls closed in • Work completed on building envelope • Special Electrical Connection achieved 2016 FINAL COUNTDOWN • Interior finishes completed in guest rooms • May - Furniture installation commences • Building team turned over to Kimpton floor by floor in September • October 31st - Seafire Resort + Spa receives Certificate Seafire will achieve LEED® Silver certification, becoming one of less than 200 resort-residential properties worldwide and one of only a few in the Caribbean to achieve that status, which indicates a high level of construction and operational sustainability. The construction was carried out entirely by local contractors and engaged more than 100 design professionals to plan every aspect of the resort. In all, more than 1,000 people worked on the design and construction of the hotel. Worker safety on site was paramount, said Gary Gibbs, Dart Development’s Executive Manager. “Achieving the Certificate of Occupancy for Seafire was an incredibly complex process and was performed under a successful safety program, expending 3.3 million man-hours without a significant lost-time incident. The job done by the Dart Development site team, the contractors and consultants was extraordinarily well done.” Dart Development’s Justin Howe, Senior Vice President, Development & Engineering, said the hotel exemplified excellence. “We have gone above and beyond in design and construction to create a contemporary Caribbean aesthetic and achieve one of the most efficient and technologically-advanced buildings in the region.”Next >