ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 High of 87 Low of 74 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ROGUE BIKERS: LAWLESSNESS ON PARADE SPORTS | PAGE 16 TIGER COUNTS IT A SUCCESS THAT HE’S PLAYING GOLF AGAIN Personal Insurance Pay less for more cover with BritCay! insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles and generous benefits are standard cover with BritCay. Ask for a quote and start paying less for more cover now! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp POLICE COMMISSIONER DEREK BYRNE: Motorbikes problem ‘disturbing, dangerous’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com New Police Commissioner Derek Byrne identified stopping the reckless and dangerous use of off-street racing motorbikes as one of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s top priorities. “It’s disturbing to see what’s going on on our public roads on a Sunday afternoon,” Mr. Byrne said Wednesday, referring to numerous reports he said he personally received about dozens of motorbikes, some that were not street legal, speeding around Grand Cayman between about noon and dusk Sunday. According to eyewitness reports, anywhere from 40 to 100 motorbikes and all-terrain ve- hicles were seen “popping wheelies,” weaving into the opposite lanes of traffic and speeding as they traversed Grand Cayman. Mr. Byrne revealed that the RCIPS helicopter videotaped a portion of the bikers’ Sunday ride and that he had reviewed the footage. “It’s going to cause a fatality, either for someone on the motorcycle themselves and cause distress to families, or it’s going to cause a fatality with an innocent driver or a pedestrian with people behaving that way on the road,” Mr. Byrne said, speaking at his first press conference since arriving on island. “It’s one of the serious issues occurring at the moment that we need to get … a grip on very, very quickly,” he added. Mr. Byrne acknowledged that while there are other facets to the racing motorbikes problem, the immediate concern facing the RCIPS is getting those bikes off local roads. He said the police service would be taking a hard-line approach to achieve that in the coming weeks. “The first approach is to try and seize the bikes and prosecute them for reckless and dan- gerous driving,” Mr. Byrne said. “That’s where YEARS OF PAID SUSPENSIONS FOR TOP LAW ENFORCERS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two top Cayman Islands law enforcement officials have now served a combined three- and-a-half years on paid leave relating to var- ious misconduct allegations, with no sign of resolutions in their respective cases. Dec. 1 marks the two-year anniversary of Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans being placed on required leave – paid suspension – over allegations of administrative misconduct. Meanwhile, Deputy Prisons Director Aduke Joseph-Caesar, who was suspended in May 2015, fired in November 2015, then reinstated by a court but suspended again after she re- turned to work, is still on paid leave. Ms. Evans, who has been “temporarily” re- placed in her department head role by Acting Chief Immigration Officer Bruce Smith, has continued to receive her six-figure annual salary during the suspension. The Cayman Compass asked Ministry of Home Affairs officials about her status with the department two weeks ago but received no response. Ms. Evans’s attorney, Graham Hampson, also declined to comment. At last report, the government ministry confirmed only that “the administrative pro- cess is progressing” with regard to Ms. Evans. The last known action taken with regard to Ms. Joseph-Caesar was her second suspen- sion in July over charges that she improperly made a covert recording of another prisons employee in that employee’s office. Ms. Joseph-Caesar has said she does not know her current status with the prisons New CAL plane may fly to Montego Bay JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Airways celebrated the arrival of a second new Saab prop plane this week, initially to service the route between Grand Cayman and the Brac. The airline is also preparing a busi- ness case on the feasibility of using the new 34-seater plane on a route to Montego Bay in Jamaica. Initially the aircraft will supplement and provide backup to the Saab plane that has been operating the express service to the Brac since November last year. The Saab planes have been phased in to replace the smaller Twin Otter aircraft, which are still used on the Little Cayman route. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, speaking at the christening of the new plane on Tuesday, said the increased com- fort and added seating capacity of the new aircraft had already led to a 16 percent in- crease in passenger arrivals on the Brac. He said the additional plane would help ensure more passengers could travel to the Brac on whatever date and time they preferred. Combined with enhancements to the Charles Kirkconnell Airport and the opening of a new ticket office, cargo office and reser- vations center, he said, government’s invest- ment was paying off for the Brac economy. He said 37 jobs had been created, in- cluding at Cayman Airways, in the fire de- partment, at Customs and Immigration and PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » Moses Kirkconnell christens Cayman Airways’ new Saab at Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac Tuesday as Premier Alden McLaughlin looks on. - PHOTO: JAMES TIBBETTS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 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. - THURSDAY - BILLY LYNN’S (R) LONG HALFTIME WALK 1:30 | 4:15 | 7:20 | 10:00 FANTASTIC BEASTS (PG13) AND WHERE TO FIND THEM 3D 12:15 | 3:20 2D | 6:30 | 9:40 2D ALMOST CHRISTMAS (PG13) 4:00 | 9:50 ARRIVAL (PG13) 1:20 | 7:10 LION (PG13) 1:00 | 3:40 | 7:15 | 10:00 MOANA 3D (PG) 12:45 | 3:30 2D | 6:45 | 9:20 2D ALLIED (R) 12:50 | 3:50 | 6:50 | 9:55 Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, GT LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT: 11:30-4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11AM-3PM OPEN FOR DINNER Delivery After 5PM MON THUR: 5pm - 9:30pm • FRI SUN: 5pm - 10pm 945-3490 chinavillage@candw.ky 2016/2017 Dinner 6pm – 10pm Nightly New regular ala Carte menu will be served Come meet all the staff and let them pamper you. Came and be greeted by David Machado and Reno Mancini For reservation email: reservations@osetrabay.com Now Open New Season BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Cyberthreat a concern in plan JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The risk of cyberattack has been highlighted as a potential concern as the Cayman Islands government looks to develop a platform to speedily share information on company ownership with law enforcement. Government is seeking public feedback on its plan to develop a “centralized plat- form” for beneficial owner- ship information ahead of planned legislation next year. The Companies (Amend- ment) Bill 2017 would pave the way for tax collectors and law enforcers to have easier access to the identities of people who own and control Cayman companies, to aid in- vestigations into money laun- dering or tax evasion. The public has till Friday, Dec. 9, to submit feedback on the proposals, which involve corporate service providers keeping individual beneficial ownership registries which are accessible by government. A draft bill is likely to go the Legislative Assembly early next year, with a view to implementing the system by June 30, 2017. Chief among the concerns is the possibility of hackers gaining access to private in- formation. According to the consultation document, “The Cayman Islands Government is extremely aware of the risk of cyberattacks and the po- tential for illegal disclosure of confidential information. “The design and technical specifications of the central- ized platform and the ben- eficial ownership registers will be designed to mitigate against these risks.” It indicates a working group, including IT profes- sionals, will be involved in the process and asks for feedback on potential tech- nology concerns that should be factored into the design of the new platform. The system is Cayman’s alternative to a central ben- eficial ownership registry, originally requested by the U.K. Following talks in London earlier this year, the proposal was accepted as a “similarly effective” system to a central register. It involves corporate ser- vice providers – companies like Maples and Calder and Appleby, which facilitate in- corporation of offshore enti- ties in Cayman – maintaining private registers of the ben- eficial owners of each com- pany, defined as anyone who owns more than 25 percent of the company. Those databases will be accessible to a “Cen- tralized Platform Operator,” who is required to process re- quests for information from local investigating authorities or through its international agreements within 24 hours. According to the consulta- tion document, “Cayman will introduce a centralized plat- form of beneficial ownership information that will provide timely access to adequate, ac- curate, and current beneficial ownership information on corporate and legal entities in the Cayman Islands. This information will be available to designated U.K. law en- forcement authorities. Leg- islative amendments and a technology solution will be necessary for the operation of this platform …. “Specified legal entities registered in Cayman will be obliged to maintain a benefi- cial ownership register. These registers will then allow ac- cess from a central point within Government. This is an alternative to a require- ment that the data in each in- dividual register is filed and held by the Government.” Feedback can be submitted to Wilbur Welcome at wilbur.welcome@gov.ky A 911 dispatcher last week received a commendation for talking a caller through giving CPR to a family member who was not breathing. On Sept. 12, Natalie “Angie” Wright, with the Department of Public Safety Communi- cations, received a 911 call from a frantic caller whose family member was uncon- scious and unable to breathe, a press release stated. “I quickly determined that the person needed immediate help, so I began giving instruc- tions to the caller on how to perform cardio-pulmonary re- suscitation,” she said. “Within minutes of performing CPR, the family member began coughing and slowly regained consciousness.” Mrs. Wright continued to monitor the call until help ar- rived at the scene. For her efforts, the Min- istry of Home Affairs last week rewarded her with the title of the “Chief Officer’s Choice,” which highlights outstanding efforts of civil servants. “I’m very happy I was chosen, and I feel honored and proud to represent my team,” said Mrs. Wright, who has worked with the depart- ment for five years. “I love what I do; it’s very rewarding knowing I get to help people in need on a daily basis.” Director of the Depart- ment of Public Safety Com- munications Julian Lewis described Mrs. Wright as an “integral part of the public safety team and well de- serving of the award.” “The skills and commit- ment Mrs. Wright brings to the table each day are truly impeccable,” he said. “As a de- partment, we looked at Mrs. Wright’s performance assess- ments over the years, and her professionalism stood out most of all with her ability to just adapt to whatever we call on her to do.” 911 dispatcher Natalie ‘Angie’ Wright at work. 911 operator commended for saving a life3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 EDEN ROCK REEF CRASH DOE: Port Authority in charge of replacing channel markers CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com When a cargo ship crashed into the Eden Rock reef on Friday, causing sub- stantial damage, Cayman’s Department of Environment says it faced “considerable scrutiny and criticism” for the lack of channel markers around the reef. But the DOE is pushing back, releasing a statement Wednesday saying the Port Authority is in charge of re- placing navigational markers in the harbor. The statement notes, “The installation and maintenance of navigational markers, swim area markers and reef entrance channel markers is currently the responsi- bility of the Cayman Islands Port Authority.” The Port Authority did not respond to phone and email requests for a response to the DOE statement. On Monday morning, boats from the DOE and the Port Authority were in the water off Eden Rock, a pop- ular reef along the water- front, installing new channel markers warning boats to stay away from the reef. The DOE says it performed an internal investigation and confirmed media reports that Chris Bodden, manager at Paradise Bar and Grill, called the department to complain about the missing markers before the accident. The department states, “The caller was immediately and correctly referred to the Port Authority so that the necessary action could be taken. Recently the Port Au- thority confirmed the respec- tive navigation markers were reinstalled, noting they are subject to frequent damage.” The DOE said the missing buoys were navigational, not markers for the Marine Parks boundary. In an interview earlier this week, DOE Deputy Di- rector Tim Austin said his department “would be con- cerned” if the channel markers were missing. The 328-foot cargo ship Saga slammed into the reef before dawn Friday morning, shearing off chunks of coral and destroying a large sec- tion of the popular dive and snorkel site. The ship, which did not have a local pilot, attempted to make a turn too early after pulling away from the cargo terminal on the George Town waterfront. After inspecting the damage firsthand, Mr. Austin said, “The structure of the reef is seriously impaired.” Andy Barnes, with the Eden Rock Dive Center, said, “A lot of the site is wiped out now.” During an interview at the Dive Center, Mr. Barnes watched as DOE and Port Authority crews replaced the channel markers. “The damage is done and now they are doing their jobs,” he said. He likened the work to “closing the door after the horse has bolted.” The 328-foot cargo ship Saga slammed into the reef before dawn Friday morning, shearing off chunks of coral and destroying a large section of the popular dive and snorkel site. Port Authority workers, with a Department of Environment boat nearby, replace a channel marker off Eden Rock. - PHOTO: CHARLES DUNCANThe 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. So many Trumpists have written in since the elec- tion, and I am grateful for their interest and also im- pressed by the sheer va- riety of their profanity. I never learned to swear that well because by the time my mother died, at 97, it was too late for me to learn. I gather from the letters that their lives were devas- tated by the advent of gay marriage, political correct- ness, the threat of gun con- trol, the arrogance of lib- erals, and now a champion rises from Fifth Avenue & 56th Street and God forbid that any dog should bark when he speaks or any pi- geon drop white matter on his limousine. What the letter-writers don’t grasp is that cursing is highly effective in person – someone kicks his car in rage, forget- ting he’s wearing flip-flops, and flames pour from his mouth, it’s impressive. But you see it in print and it’s just ugly. It makes you pity the writer’s wife. It’s not good form to curse at someone you’ve just defeated. That is why the president-elect made it clear he would not be waterboarding Hillary or sending her back to Mexico. He was gracious in victory and said the Clin- tons are “good people.” Sev- eral of his biggest applause lines seem to have been put back in the box. And his base is faced with the possibility that they may have elected a Manchurian. They know that he was a Democrat for most of his life and that the sight of Adam and Steve holding hands does not fill him with loathing. He is, after all, a New Yorker; he’s not from Tulsa. He likes drama. Maybe he’ll appoint his sister to the Supreme Court. Maybe he would rather row than wade. Maybe the Republi- cans will privatize the Pen- tagon and maybe the Chi- nese will be the low bidder. Why not run the Marines like a business? Put the “deal” back into “idealism.” Meanwhile, Mr. Christie waits for the prosecutor to call and summon him to a low-ceilinged room with fluorescent lights and ask him pointed questions for the good man to answer under oath and say the same things he’s said in public, that he had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with those orange highway cones. Meanwhile, Mr. Gi- uliani waits for his phone to ring, the mayor who put his Emergency Command Center on the 23rd floor of the World Trade Center, over the objections of the police department, and later started his own secu- rity consulting company. This is a new level of chutzpah. This is like the captain of the Titanic, had he survived, writing a book about the art of navigation. My first election was 1948, when we stayed up late listening to returns on a Zenith radio, in our base- ment home in the corn- fields north of Minneap- olis. Mother was content with Truman’s victory, believing that he cared about the poor, and Dad was dubious of politicians in general and Democrats in particular. It was interesting for a child to sense this di- vision, though they were gentle people and evan- gelical Christians who re- frained from voting on the assumption that the Lord was in charge and would put into power whomever He wished. If you voted, you might vote against the Lord’s Will. Their reasoning seemed shaky to me – it seemed to argue that one should not get out of bed in the morning lest you eat the wrong cereal for breakfast – but I’ve inherited some of their fatalism. Maybe God did choose this bloated narcissist and compulsive liar and con man to be president, and maybe He will send a couple of Corinthians to light his pathway. I have my doubts. You grow up to be skeptical of the hormone treatment that eliminates wrinkles, the metal detector that will locate buried trea- sure, the school that will teach you the secrets of getting rich, the great leader who will make the country great again. But it does seem like the very thing God might do. Put an idiot in charge and cluster his clueless chil- dren around him and a co- terie of old hacks and op- portunists and thereby teach us haughty journal- ists a lesson. God made Balaam’s donkey open its mouth and say, “Quit hitting me, stupid.” And if He could do that, He could make this moose a halfway de- cent president. Meanwhile, blessings on all who cursed me. May you thrive and prosper. I hope you have not cursed your children. Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. © Garrison Keillor, distributed by The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News. THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS “It’s going to cause a fatality, either for someone on the motorcycle themselves and cause distress to families, or it’s going to cause a fatality with an innocent driver or a pedestrian with people behaving that way on the road.” – Police Commissioner Derek Byrne The citizens of a country should never have to petition their government to enforce its own laws – and yet, in regard to the hordes of motorbikers illegally screaming through the streets of Grand Cayman, it seems that is where we have arrived. In a functioning democracy, the legislators make laws, the police enforce the laws, and the courts adju- dicate the laws. Like an engine, if any single part fails, the entire system breaks down. When 100 or more people congregate in a moving mass of motorcycles – some licensed, some not, some that aren’t street legal – and take over Grand Cayman’s roads, ignoring intersections and red lights, intimidating law-abiding drivers, and disrupting domestic tranquility, we have difficulty tallying up how many ordinances and statutes are being broken. With this lawlessness in progress and in plain sight, our police should not be, and must not be, specta- tors at the parade. After all, the Cayman Islands is a high-end tourism destination, known for our law and order, and celebrated for our quality of life. These bikers, on the other hand, are arrogant, aggressive, threatening and, yes, dangerous. As a country are we willing to sit passively and silently by as these scoff- laws (or outlaws; the word choice is yours) comman- deer our streets? We know that our new Police Commissioner Derek Byrne understands the motorbike mess he’s inherited. In a sense, it presents a golden opportunity for Com- missioner Byrne to establish his own reputation as, in effect, the tough, no-nonsense “new sheriff in town.” We were pleased, during Wednesday afternoon’s press conference, to hear Commissioner Byrne cite the rogue bikers as a top priority for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, more importantly, to declare that police are going to take a hard-line approach to the issue, and most importantly, to set a time line for ending the problem in weeks (not months or years). As Commissioner Byrne, who has decades of laudable experience in fighting crime, no doubt knows, it is a rare occasion when the police don’t have to search for suspects, question witnesses, and gather evidence in order to make sustainable arrests. In the case of Cayman’s rogue bikers, they have already rounded themselves up and announced their presence for miles around via the deafening roar of engines. Certainly the police – and the populace – know where they are (almost everywhere) and who they are. Their offenses are both legion and obvious. We are mystified why the police have not been making arrests … at least, not until now. “The first approach is to try and seize the bikes and prosecute them for reckless and dangerous driving,” Mr. Byrne said. “That’s where we’d like to be. We’re looking at our legislation at the moment.” If there is any doubt whether the police are allowed by law to confiscate illegal motorbikes, then our elected politicians can easily clear that up with a 15-minute emergency session of the Legislative Assembly. Law enforcement officers must be empow- ered to seize and scrap (destroy, not auction) the offenders’ means of transportation. Some people have suggested that the problem can be solved by prohibiting the importation of dirt bikes and other vehicles that aren’t legal to operate on roadways. That strategy is fatally flawed in two key ways: First, the bikes, in menacing numbers, are already here. Second, there is nothing wrong with dirt bikes. The problem is the people who are illegally using dirt bikes and other vehicles. Dirt bikes are perfectly acceptable recreational vehicles, so long as they are confined to, well, dirt. The bikes are inanimate assem- blages of metal and do not come equipped with brains, conscience or judgment. Neither do dirt bikes have responsibility or accountability. Their riders, however, do. Rogue bikers: Lawlessness on parade President-elect Trump: The donkey and the moose GARRISON KEILLOR GARRISON KEILLOR 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 find their own way” It’s not good form to curse at someone you’ve just defeated. That is why the president-elect made it clear he would not be waterboarding Hillary or sending her back to Mexico.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 Special thanks to our sponsors: Mr. Sydney Shaw Mrs. Berna Cummins Business targets green iguanas for export JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands busi- ness is processing iguanas for sale to local restaurants and seeking an export license to sell the food as a delicacy to clients in the United States. Spinion Ltd., which was set up to cull, process and sell lionfish, is expanding to help efforts to eradicate another invasive species. By commer- cializing green iguanas as a food source, the business hopes to encourage sustained hunting of the reptiles. The business is offering be- tween $1.25 and $1.50 to con- tracted hunters for live iguanas to be ethically slaughtered and prepared for sale at its George Town processing plant. Maria Yapelli, liaison of- ficer for the business, ac- knowledged that the price per head is significantly less than the $5-per-iguana paid by the government in trial culls this year. But the ven- ture needs to be commer- cially viable, she said. “We had one guy that got 20 iguanas in an hour, so that is still pretty good change,” she added. Spinion had applied, with the assistance of the Cayman Islands Department of Envi- ronment, for a CITES license to import iguanas into the U.S. for sale, where the meat trades as a delicacy for sig- nificantly higher prices. The license, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is required by the Conven- tion on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora because green iguanas are endangered in some countries and the trade is carefully regulated. Ms. Yapelli said iguana meat sells for between $40 and $50 per pound in the U.S., mostly through online sales. She said the payments to hunters in Cayman could increase once an export link, through Spinion’s U.S.-based distribution company Lion’s Den, is established. Currently the business is selling to East End restaurant Tukka. Finding hunters to do the work has been the biggest hurdle, with many cullers waiting to see if government will offer a higher per-head fee for an organized national cull earlier this year. Food safety guidelines require the iguanas to be brought live to the processing plant, meaning they have to be caught with a noose or a trap. She said Spinion sold the finished product, legs and tails, processed and pack- aged, at $5 per pound to local restaurants. The business has to pay staff to slaughter the iguanas, package and deliver to the restaurants. They are investigating the possibility of using the off-cuts of the iguana for a dog treat. “Right now, we are trying to get a regular group of hunters and get into a rou- tine with the employees so we have a well-oiled machine by the time we get licensed to export,” Ms. Yapelli said. A Department of Environ- ment report on two publicly funded test culls this year concluded that contract hunters would need to cull nearly 200,000 green iguanas per year, at an estimated cost of more than $1 million, to make an impact on the ex- ponentially increasing popu- lation of the invasive species. “The scale of the green iguana control challenge ex- ceeds DoE’s current capacity, and requires government to consider options to resource this major undertaking,” Mr. Burton wrote in his report, released publicly in August. The report cited earlier surveys that indicate the green iguana population is doubling every 1.5 years, “threatening a catastrophic impact on the natural environment and so- cially unacceptable problems for agriculture, infrastructure and residential areas.” Since then, government has not indicated what it plans to do about the problem in the long term. Spinion staff process iguana for sale to local restaurants. BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two key components of the Cayman Islands Freedom of Information Law and ac- companying regulations are not being made available on the internet by about half of Cayman’s public sector entities, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Information Commis- sioner’s Office. The information commis- sioner, who is responsible for monitoring open records compliance in government, noted that more than 50 per- cent of all 89 government en- tities, authorities and com- panies do not have an FOI “publication scheme” on their websites. The publication schemes are lengthy docu- ments that state information about the various depart- ments that should be avail- able automatically without an FOI request. “It seems highly ineffec- tive for public authorities not to publish their publi- cation scheme on their own website,” Acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers noted in the report. Meanwhile, the FOI Law regulations require that all government entities main- tain a “disclosure log” of open records requests. The logs are essentially lists of how many records requests the entity received and, if the re- cords were made public, a copy of what was disclosed by the entity responding to the request. About 47 percent of the public authorities in the Cayman Islands have no disclosure log at all, the information com- missioner found. The FOI Law does not specifically state that public authorities must maintain a website or promote open records on their websites. They are required by law to reveal public information about themselves and the re- cords they hold. Mr. Liebaers said using the internet for these purposes is simple and cost-effective. “Public authorities can increase their overall effi- ciency and improve public understanding of their pol- icies, procedures and ser- vices by using a web- site,” he said. Government entities that do report information and keep track of FOI requests are often slow in doing so, the information commission- er’s review found. About 26 percent of the public entities reviewed have publication scheme information online, but the information has not been updated. With regard to disclosure logs of previous open records requests, only three govern- ment agencies have one that is up to date. Another 44 en- tities (49 percent) have a dis- closure log, but they have not been updated. Half of gov’t not making records available onlineDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Students get lessons in silver thatch products JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Year 6 students at Bodden Town Primary School last week displayed silver thatch accessories they had created as part of their heritage cul- ture lesson plan, an ongoing activity for the year group. Students also shared their artistic designs and ideas with each other to create headbands and brace- lets made of silver thatch, according to Cayman Tra- ditional Arts instruc- tors Blonde Uzzle and Rose May Ebanks. Students came up with the idea to create crowns, headbands, bracelets, pencil cases and key chains from the silver thatch and to add some sparkling beads, pearls, feathers, shells and glitter. According to the National Trust for the Cayman Islands website, silver thatch gets its name from the silvery color of the leaves’ underside that is particularly prominent in the moonlight. Chosen as the National Tree of the Cayman Islands, the silver thatch palm has played an important role in the lives of Caymanians since the first settlers arrived on the islands in the early 1700s. A valuable part of Cayman’s natural heritage, as well as part of the landscape, it is endemic to the Cayman Is- lands – meaning that it is found nowhere else. Silver thatch palm leaves have traditionally been used for roofing, to make rope, and to weave hats, bas- kets and fans. Shoes known as wompers were made with a flat leather sole and held on the foot by straps of thatch rope. Nowadays, silver thatch hats and baskets are in de- mand in tourist and craft shops. Many of them are still made by those who were taught their skills many decades ago. 50 YEARS AGO: HOLIDAY VISITORS BEGINNING TO ARRIVE In the Nov. 30, 1966 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspon- dent Haig Bodden wrote: “The influx of holiday visitors to this district has started. Home after a visit to the U.S. is Miss Blossom Berry. Home from Costa Rica is Miss Beulah Carter. It is a co- incidence that Beulah arrived by plane on the same day as her brother Delmar who has come in from his job in the U.S. for the Christmas season. “The Christmas Season is always marked by the reunion of mem- bers of a family and it is anticipated that hordes of other visitors will arrive before Christmas Eve. “Cable & Wireless (W.I.) Ltd. must be con- gratulated on the instal- lation of a call box at Bodden Town. It is defi- nitely a step forward for us. It is hoped that the day will soon come when a house to house tele- phone system will be es- tablished here as well, as in the rest of the island.” Students make silver thatch bracelets at Bodden Town Primary School. Savannah Primary celebrates literacy Savannah Primary School is celebrating lit- eracy this week. “Daily, the students are Dropping Everything And Reading (D.E.A.R.),” said Prin- cipal Carol Nyack. “On Wednesday, the door competition had students responding to reading by writing out their favorite parts of a book, which were then reflected artistically on the classroom doors.” The literacy week is part of the school’s on- going efforts to expand stu- dents’ reading and math skills and activities both at school and at home. Ms. Nyack said next up the school is holding a pa- jamas reading evening on Thursday, and on Friday, classes will be presenting in- terpretive dances and perfor- mances of stories they have been reading. The Year 2 class chose ‘The Tiger Child’ as their door design inspiration. Kids are taking part in a variety of literacy activities this week at Savannah Primary School.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 Gimistory lights up Harry McCoy Park JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Friends, families and fans gathered under the almond trees at Bodden Town’s Harry McCoy Park Tuesday night for sto- rytelling, music, fry fish and fritters. Kicking off the start of Bodden Town’s Gimistory night was host Matt Brown, who introduced each story- teller at the various stages. Some of the stories were funny and some were sad, but they were stories shared by the many nationali- ties gathered. Extempo performers Philip Murray, aka Black Sage, David Bereaux and friends, and Dave Mar- tins were among the inter- national storytellers taking part, while the local per- formers included Virginia Foster and country singer Dexter Bodden. Extempo is a lyrically improvised form of ca- lypso, most notably prac- ticed in Trinidad and To- bago. Performers take turns at improvising in song or in rhythmic speech on a theme chosen by their audience. The ever-popular Black Sage and Big B. had the Bodden Town audience laughing as they urged the spectators to give them topics for humorous banter. The favorite audience topic for Black Sage to ex- tempo on was the U.S. election pitting Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The death of Cuba’s dictator Fidel Castro and Cayman’s upcoming elections were also hot topics. The show was part of the Cayman Islands In- ternational Storytelling festival for 2016 pro- duced through the ef- forts of the Cayman Na- tional Cultural Foundation. Three more nights of Gimis- tory will be held this week: at Cayman Brac’s Agricul- ture Ground on Thursday; at West Bay Public Beach on Friday; and the grand fi- nale “Duppy Story Night” at Smith Barcadere in George Town on Saturday night. Local country singer Dexter Bodden entertains the audience. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Trinidadian extempo performer Black Sage Black Sage takes questions from the audience. Storyteller Virginia Foster in the middle of one of her tales. Fry fish and fritters are an integral part of Gimistory nights. International storyteller David BereauxThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, DEC. 1 LIGHT UP A LIFE: All are invited to the lighting of a Community Memorial Tree in Cassia Court, Camana Bay, 5:30-7 p.m., to remember and celebrate the people we love and have lost. For a donation of $10, dedicate a light on the tree in their memory. The ceremony includes performances by the Cayman National Choir and Orchestra, a special blessing, a moment of silence and an opportunity for every individual to place their light(s) on the tree, which will shine over the Christmas season. Email chc@candw.ky or call 945-7447. BODDEN TOWN: Bulk waste cleanup until Dec. 3. Bulk waste should be placed curbside where items can be accessed but not obstruct traffic. Bulk waste includes household appliances, furniture and yard waste. Construction and demolition debris will not be collected. Separate metals, vegetation and other recyclables. Items should not be put out after the district dates. For more information, in Grand Cayman call the Department of Environmental Health solid waste dispatch unit at 949-8793; in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, call 948-2321. CAYMAN BRAC AND LITTLE CAYMAN: Bulk waste cleanup until Dec. 15. See Bodden Town, above. CHRISTMAS SHOW: The Cayman Drama Society presents its annual family friendly show. Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, Doors open 6:30 p.m., show time, 7:30 p.m. Final show Dec. 4. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., Show time 4 p.m. Book through www.eventbrite.com. CHAMBER COURSE: Employment Basics. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $250 for members, $300 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part 1. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, DEC. 2 ASTRONOMY VIEWING: Public astronomy viewing at Pedro Castle, 6:30 p.m., weather permitting. Please park outside and walk in. Call Richard on 925-4917 for more details or to check cancellation if more than 50 percent cloud cover. TREASURY CLOSED: The Treasury Department cashier closes to the public from noon. Normal business hours resume on Monday, Dec. 5. SATURDAY, DEC. 3 CAR BOOT SALE: Hope Academy PTA hosts a car boot sale from 6-9 a.m. on the side parking lot. If you or anyone you know is looking to get rid of anything you have had sitting in your garage, attic or around your house, here is a great opportunity to do so. Spaces are $25. Sellers keep whatever they make selling their items. Contact pta@hopecayman.com for more information. SEAFARERS SOCIAL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association advises all members that there will be a year-end social gathering at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave., Prospect. Entertainment will be provided. SILENT NIGHT TOY DRIVE: The Rotaract clubs hold a joint fundraiser with a silent night party at Whiskey Mist and invite everyone to donate a toy at the door for Christmas distribution. Admission $15. PARADE OF LIGHTS: The annual holiday event featuring a Christmas concert, boat parade and fireworks display, at Camana Bay. Anyone interested in participating in the parade should phone 333-6560 or email c27paradeoflights@gmail.com. SUNDAY, DEC. 4 CANDLELIGHT SERVICE: John Gray Memorial Church, 7 p.m. All are invited. MONDAY, DEC. 5 CAYMAN THANKSGIVING: The Cayman Ministers Association hosts a Cayman Thanksgiving Prayer gathering from noon to 12:45 p.m. at Elmslie Memorial Hall in George Town. All are invited. GEORGE TOWN: Bulk waste cleanup until Dec. 10. See Bodden Town, above. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Accounting Made Easier. Today and tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $225 for members, $300 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, DEC. 6 STEWARDS OF CHILDREN: The Red Cross “Darkness to Light” is a free training program, 6:30-9 p.m., for parents, teachers and others who work with or provide services to young people. Cost is free. Gain knowledge and skills to prevent child sexual abuse; recognize signs of abuse and learn how to react responsibly. Pre-registration is required. Contact vrm@redcross.org.ky. THURSDAY, DEC. 8 CHAMBER COURSE: “The Secret – What Great Leaders Know and Do.” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $175 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part 2. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, DEC. 10 CHRISTMAS DINNER: The North Side Community hosts its annual Christmas dinner at 5 p.m. at the Craddock Ebanks Civic Center. For more details, contact Alex Johnson on 916-8232. ART AND CRAFT BAZAAR: Christmas Arts and Craft Bazaar 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Loyola Hall, St. Ignatius Catholic School, Walkers Road. Arts, crafts, handmade jewelry, mosaics, baked goods, henna tattoos and more. Meet local crafters and artists. Great holiday gifts. All are welcome, free admission. For more information, contact Allison Taylor at 939-0220 or ataylor2005@hotmail.com. All proceeds go toward Girlguiding Cayman Islands. SUNDAY, DEC. 11 CHRISTMAS SERVICE: All are invited to a Christmas Service at East End United Church at 7 p.m. MONDAY, DEC. 12 WEST BAY: Bulk waste cleanup to Dec. 17. See Bodden Town, above. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 CONCERT AND FUNDRAISER: St. Ignatius school band concert and Christmas fundraiser, 7 p.m. Grand prize of $25,000 and lots of other prizes. Tickets are $25 and are available at St. Ignatius and from a number of local supermarkets and other businesses. GENERAL INTEREST FREE HIV/AIDS TESTING: Free screening through Dec. 2. At George Town General Practice Clinic, Bodden Town Health Clinic, East End Health Centre, and Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac, weekdays until Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; West Bay Health Centre on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; North Side Health Centre, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 and 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 1; Cayman Islands Red Cross at Huldah Ave., 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 1; Seven Mile Beach Medical Clinic, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to noon. CHRISTMAS MEAT: The Department of Agriculture reminds farmers of the process for using its abattoir services – especially before the Christmas rush. Animal owners should follow the appropriate protocols for butchering meat, which is done free of cost, inclusive of delivery to the specified supermarkets or butcher shops. Call 947-3090 to use the DoA’s abattoir service during November. Farmers must provide details of the livestock, and the dates and locations for the delivery of their meat. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The annual Parade of Lights will be held at the harbor at Camana Bay on Saturday, Dec. 3.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 JOIN US FOR THE FRIDAY DECEMBER 2ND Located behind the Shoppes at Grand Harbour beside Salty's Sports Bar' And 'Regeneration Band' will be playing from 8pm-close. GRAND OPENING OF The Cayman Islands Newest F ine W ine and Cocktail Bar Featuring: Homemade Light Fare, Cheese Plates, Charcuterie and Fondues.Next >