BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands govern- ment’s failure to hear a trust man- ager’s application for permanent residence for the last 29 months is irrational, unlawful and “can be seen as applying a moratorium to the processing of permanent resi- dence applications,” a request for judicial review sent to the Grand Court last week alleges. The judicial review application filed Nov. 29 on behalf of Rawlinson & Hunter Trust and Corporate Ser- vices Manager Mark Edmunds al- leges the government-appointed Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board, as well as the chief immigration officer, have ignored both Caymanian and European human rights protections in deciding to delay Mr. Edmunds’ and hundreds of other residency applications. There are about 800 applications for permanent resident status – the right to remain in Cayman for the rest of one’s life – pending consid- eration by the board. Those applica- tions have been filed between Oct. 26, 2013 and this month by non- Caymanian individuals who have lived continuously in Cayman for at least eight years. Mr. Edmunds applied for permanent residence on June 18, 2014. As of the date the judicial review request was filed, his ap- plication had not been heard. Correspondence sent by Mr. Ed- munds’s attorneys at HSM Cham- bers to the government in October regarding his pending application did not receive a response, according to his judicial review application. Mr. Edmunds’s legal challenge, ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 Going nuts in December 2016! Going fresh, local, delicious, quick, convenient, crisp, hot, cool, tangy, healthy, juicy, crunchy, spiced, sweet, salty, wholesome, appetising, delectable, flavourful, fruity, heavenly, mouthwatering, scrumptious, savoury, fizzy, organic, full-bodied, gourmet, hearty, satisfying, homemade, indulgent, lean, lip-smacking and yummy grab and go things. BOTHWELL ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CIVIL SERVICE ASSOCIATION Members of the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association have elected John Bothwell as its new president, succeeding James Watler who served in the post for 10 years. Mr. Bothwell, a research officer with the De- partment of Environment, takes the helm at the 51-year-old organization at a time when the civil service is seeing some salary increases and new capital investments by government. He served for five years as a member of the as- sociation’s management council, working on the development of a strategic plan. In a press release, Mr. Bothwell said, “We have a lot of issues that the Civil Service and the Association have been dealing with and more are coming at us full speed. This strategic plan is an opportunity for us to reassess which ones are most important and determine what are the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Marathon winner finishes in under three hours ■■ Pension law changes to come into effect in January ...................page 2 ■■ Ship owner to pay for Eden Rock restoration .................page 3 ■■ Parade of Lights ............................page 8 Scott Ruby and Nikki Christian cross the start line Sunday morning with some 1,500 others in the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon. Steve Speirs, of Virginia, was the first man home in the 26.2-mile race, completing the run in under three hours. Karen Welwood, from British Columbia, was the first woman to finish and sixth overall. For more, see page 15. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY ‘Unlawful moratorium’ alleged in permanent residency court filing INSIDE TODAY DEADLINE PASSES FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOI CHALLENGE - SEE PAGE 9 High of 88 Low of 75 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. 27 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER TO VOTE ELECTION 2017 EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 PERMANENT RESIDENCE: FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE TAKES CASE TO COURT THE WASHINGTON POST Survive this Cayman Airways looks to ‘next generation’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Airways welcomed the first of its “next generation” of jets Friday as it begins the process of upgrading its entire fleet of international aircraft. Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the Owen Roberts International Airport as the Boeing 737-800 plane, decked in the livery of the national air- line, touched down on Cayma- nian soil for the first time. All four of the airline’s aging 737-300 jets, which are between 15 and 20 years old, will be replaced with new “state of the art” aircraft over the next four years. Airline bosses have claimed the switch will essentially pay for itself, through superior fuel efficiency and greater passenger capacity, and will not result in any increase in government spending on Cayman Airways. The national flag carrier plans to retire the oldest of its current jets in June next year, meaning it will operate with an enlarged five plane fleet for the next six months. Ultimately, Cayman Airways aims to switch all its aircraft to new Boeing 737-800 Max planes by 2020. Those planes, the newest model available, are PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 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. 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The first set of changes will also increase the salary maximum so em- ployers will have to con- tribute to pensions on up to $87,000 worth in salary. The new National Pensions Law, passed unanimously by members of the Legisla- tive Assembly, will bring big changes to Cayman’s retire- ment system in the coming year, with amendments to re- quire pensions for domestic workers and increase penal- ties for employers who shirk pension obligations. Employment Minister Tara Rivers, in a press re- lease, said, “These changes represent a milestone in that the National Pensions Law had not undergone any significant review or amendment in the past 18 years since the regime was first launched.” The law increases retire- ment age by five years, and increases the age people will be eligible for early re- tirement from 50 to 55. The increase is manda- tory for people who are 47 and younger in 2017. Older employees have the option to decide between re- tiring at 60 or 65. The change for “year’s maximum pensionable earn- ings” means employees and employers will have to pay contributions on earnings up to $87,000 a year, increased from $60,000. A report in 2007 first recommended the increase. Both employers and employees can still elect to make contributions be- yond the maximum, but are not required. Other parts of the law are scheduled to come into ef- fect through 2017. The Em- ployment Ministry state- ment notes that new fines and the possibility of prison sentences for violating the National Pensions Law will commence in February. The ministry notes, “These significant fine levels will give the Law more teeth and are another step in the pro- cess of building the culture of pension compliance.” Rum Point home robbery breach of trust, court says Lookout man sentenced to 11 years imprisonment CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The robbery of a home where the defendant had ear- lier been hired to carry out some work was a breach of trust, acting Grand Court judge Dame Linda Dobbs said in handing down a sen- tence of 11 years imprison- ment on Thursday. William David Martinez McLaughlin was found guilty earlier in the day after a jury trial that began on Monday and included a visit to the crime scene in the Rum Point area of North Side. Martinez had admitted being part of a burglary plan. He told the court he went to the home on Jan. 11, 2016, to see if it was occu- pied. The plan was that an- other person would enter the premises if no one was home, and Martinez would remain outside as lookout. It turned out that three people were in the house. The intruder, known to him as “Boom,” went in anyway. Martinez told the court he had worked in the house in December. He said his boss had called him and said he needed assistance with the repair of a toilet. The judge said that con- tractors who are given entry to people’s homes are in a position of trust. She told Martinez he had broken that trust by pointing out the premises to Boom as “being a place with rich pickings.” Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm, who was the prose- cutor in the trial noted that the maximum sentence for robbery is life imprisonment. New sentencing guidelines in Cayman set the starting point for a home robbery at 11 years, with a range of nine to 13 years. Aggravating factors that would raise the sentence in- cluded the abuse of trust, since Martinez had gathered information while trusted to be in the house, he said. An- other factor was that the vic- tims were vulnerable: the couple who owned the home were both in their 70s; the wife had mobility issues and needed to use a walker. Fur- ther, the intruder wore a mask and used a knife to threaten violence, he summarized. Stolen goods were of high value, he submitted. Jewelry was of sentimental signifi- cance, he added, since it in- cluded the wife’s wedding ring and bangles given to her by her husband’s mother. Defense attorney Nicholas Dixey submitted that Mar- tinez had played a limited role. He suggested a starting point of five years, with a range of four to eight years. In mitigation, Mr. Dixey pointed out that the Crown’s evidence had come from the defendant’s own admissions and his information led to the recovery of a gold and diamond necklace valued at $17,000. The attorney did not agree that the robbery was an abuse of trust, arguing that the term applied to offenses by employees and caregivers. He emphasized that Martinez had no previous convictions for violence. In addition to rob- bery, Martinez was origi- nally charged with causing grievous bodily harm be- cause the male occupant of the home had sustained a se- rious injury – a broken bone in the area around his eye. However, when the man gave evidence, he was un- able to say how the injury oc- curred. He said he was on the porch working on his iPad. His back was to the screen door, which was closed but not locked. Asked what was the first thing he knew about the incident, he replied, “Some- body got me up off the floor.” The helper was in the kitchen at the time and did not see what happened. The man’s wife heard a commo- tion and when she looked, her husband was already on the floor. Because of insufficient evidence, the jury was in- structed to return a not guilty verdict on this count. In passing sentence, the judge noted that it was not known how the homeowner’s injury occurred, “but it was the result of the robbery.” She called it a nasty robbery in the home of a disabled person when it was getting dark. Martinez’s accomplice wore a mask and held a knife to the neck of the couple’s helper and dragged her by the hair as he went around the home and took items. The effect of the balaclava must have been very frightening, she said. Boom had put it on outside and Martinez had not stopped him. “You saw all this and stayed to the end,” she told him. In her view, the aggra- vating and mitigating fac- tors balanced out, leaving the sentence at 11 years. Time in custody since Martinez’s ar- rest will count. The Employment Ministry statement notes that new fines and the possibility of prison sentences for violating the National Pensions Law will commence in February.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 Ship owner to pay for Eden Rock restoration CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The owner of the cargo ship that ran into Eden Rock reef two weeks ago has agreed to pay for restoration at the site, according to the Department of Environment. The 328-foot cargo ship Saga had to be pulled free by tugboats when it ran into the reef, a popular site for shore diving and snorkeling off the George Town waterfront. The impact sheared off the tops of shallow coral heads, leaving rubble in its wake. DOE Deputy Director Scott Slaybaugh said Friday that the ship’s owners hired Polaris Ap- plied Science, the same com- pany that did the restoration work after Microsoft billion- aire Paul Allen’s yacht dam- aged a different reef last year. Mr. Slaybaugh said the ship owner and operators “have been very cooperative. They have been instructed to give us every consideration, and they have.” Clarifying Saga’s compli- cated operating agreement, Mr. Slaybaugh said Cayman- based Hydes Shipping char- tered the St. Vincent-flagged vessel, which is managed by Estonian company Novus Shipping, owned by Risely Ltd., and insured by P&I Club of London. He said an at- torney at Campbells is rep- resenting the ship owners in negotiations with the Cayman Islands government. He said the DOE investiga- tion continues into the crash. Assessing the damage Crews from both the DOE and Polaris Applied Science have inspected the site. Mr. Slaybaugh said his depart- ment should have completed its damage assessment re- port by Monday. Polaris, the reef restoration company, has a draft proposal for the restoration work under re- view, he said. Divers report that at least five different sites in the Eden Rock reef struc- tures have suffered signifi- cant damage. The coral heads appear to have been sheared off by the hull of the ship as it slammed into the reef. At some points on the reef, what appears to be paint from the hull is still visible from where it ran aground on the shallow coral structures. According to the Eden Rock Dive Center, DOE offi- cials asked dive operators to caution divers against going through the swim-throughs, a network of caverns and caves at Eden Rock pop- ular with divers. Speaking last week, Andy Barnes, with the Eden Rock Dive Center, said, “A lot of the site is wiped out now.” He said some of the swim- through entrances have been blocked by debris and rubble. “It took thousands of years to make those tunnels,” he said. “There’s no amount of money you can throw at that section to make it better,” he said. But, he added later, he will probably vol- unteer with the restoration crew to help save some of the corals and rebuild the site. At Eden Rock Saturday, markers were in place at the damaged sites, though it’s not clear if those were left by Polaris or the DOE. One section of the dam- aged reef opened up a hole at about 10 feet deep, with rubble visible on the floor of one of the swim-throughs about 20 feet below. The damage spans the northern section of the reef. The ship, according to the DOE’s Tim Austin, was backing out of the cargo port when it started to turn too early and ran over the reef before 6 a.m. Nov. 26. The ship did not have a local pilot guiding the depar- ture from the port. This underwater marker is one of several that has been placed at individual sites on the reef where coral has been smashed. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS SOUGHT The Cayman Islands gov- ernment’s Youth Services Unit is inviting young Cay- manians, ages 18 to 27, to apply for posts as CARICOM youth ambassadors. Two ambassadors, one male, one female, will be chosen from among the ap- plicants to serve for up to three years. According to a press re- lease issued Friday, “During their unpaid tenure, [youth ambassadors] are expected to help the regional organi- zation increase youth knowl- edge and awareness of CAR- ICOM issues and priorities.” The deadline for applica- tions is Friday, Dec. 16. Organizers advised that some overseas travel will be necessary for the role. To be eligible appli- cants must live in the Cayman Islands. The CARICOM youth am- bassadors program acts as a “regional network for Carib- bean young people and pro- vides a framework for youth participation in CARICOM decision-making,” according to the release. Among the tasks youth ambassadors will be expected to perform will be to formu- late a local program of activi- ties; network with CARICOM and government departments and youth organizations; and engage in dialogue with youth and other interested parties, as well as share information and ideas through formal and informal channels. Once shortlisted, potential candidates will be interviewed by members of the Youth Ser- vices Unit and past CARICOM youth ambassadors. For more information or to obtain application forms, contact the acting head of the Youth Services Unit, James Myles, or email him at James.Myles@gov.ky.GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON – The word “inappropriate” is increas- ingly used inappropriately. It is useful to describe depar- tures from good manners or other social norms, such as wearing white after Labor Day or using the salad fork with the entree. But the ad- jective has become a splatter of verbal fudge, a weasel word falsely suggesting mea- sured seriousness. Its misty imprecision does not dis- guise, it advertises, the user’s moral obtuseness. A French court has dem- onstrated how “inappro- priate” can be an all-purpose device of intellectual evasion and moral cowardice. The court said it is inappropriate to do something that might disturb people who killed their unborn babies for rea- sons that were, shall we say, inappropriate. Prenatal genetic testing en- ables pregnant women to be apprised of a variety of prob- lems with their unborn babies, including Down syndrome. It is a congenital condition re- sulting from a chromosomal defect that causes varying degrees of mental disability and some physical abnor- malities, such as low muscle tone, small stature, flat- ness of the back of the head and an upward slant to the eyes. Within living memory, Down syndrome people were called Mongoloids. Now they are included in the category called “spe- cial needs” people. What they most need is nothing spe- cial. It is for people to un- derstand their aptitudes, and to therefore quit killing them in utero. Down syndrome, although not common, is among the most common congenital anomalies at 49.7 per 100,000 births. In approximately 90 percent of instances when prenatal genetic testing re- veals Down syndrome, the baby is aborted. Cleft lips or palates, which occur in 72.6 per 100,000 births, also can be diagnosed in utero and sometimes are the reason a baby is aborted. In 2014, in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day (March 21), the Global Down Syndrome Foundation prepared a two-minute video titled “Dear Future Mom” to assuage the anxieties of pregnant women who have learned that they are car- rying a Down syndrome baby. More than 7 million people have seen the video online in which one such woman says, “I’m scared: what kind of life will my child have?” Down syndrome children from many nations tell the woman that her child will hug, speak, go to school, tell you he loves you and “can be happy, just like I am – and you’ll be happy, too.” The French state is not happy about this. The court has ruled that the video is – wait for it – “inappro- priate” for French television. The court upheld a ruling in which the French Broad- casting Council banned the video as a commercial. The court said the video’s depic- tion of happy Down syndrome children is “likely to disturb the conscience of women who had lawfully made different personal life choices.” So, what happens on campuses does not stay on campuses. There, in many nations, sensitivity bureau- cracies have been enforcing the relatively new entitlement to be shielded from what- ever might disturb, even in- appropriate jokes. And now this rapidly metastasizing right has come to this: A video that accurately com- municates a truthful propo- sition – that Down syndrome people can be happy and give happiness – should be sup- pressed because some people might become ambivalent, or morally queasy, about having chosen to extinguish such lives because … This is why the video giving facts about Down syn- drome people is so subver- sive of the flaccid consensus among those who say aborting a baby is of no more moral significance than removing a tumor from a stomach. Pic- tures persuade. Today’s im- proved prenatal sonograms make graphic the fact that the moving fingers and beating heart are not mere “fetal ma- terial.” They are a baby. Toy- maker Fisher-Price, children’s apparel manufacturer Osh- Kosh, McDonald’s and Target have featured Down syn- drome children in ads that the French court would probably ban from television. The court has said, in ef- fect, that the lives of Down syndrome people – and by inescapable implication, the lives of many other disabled people – matter less than the serenity of people who have acted on one or more of three vicious principles: That the lives of the disabled are not worth living. Or that the lives of the disabled are of neg- ligible value next to the de- sire of parents to have a child who has no special, meaning inconvenient, needs. Or that government should suppress the voices of Down syndrome children in order to guar- antee other people’s right not to be disturbed by reminders that they have made lethal choices on the basis of one or both of the first two inappro- priate principles. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2016, Washington Post Writers Group MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 The hundreds of permanent residence applica- tions that the Progressives government has refused to consider over the past three years might as well be a stockpile of dry driftwood, begging for a match. Last week, the inevitable came to pass. Law firm HSM Chambers submitted a court filing that packs explo- sive arguments against the system into a tidy 10-page document that could serve as precedent, and a template, for future litigation. The grievances enumerated in the court filing are so dire that, if proven, should never be associated with a country of the international status and stature of the Cayman Islands. To be specific about this particular case, HSM attor- neys are seeking a declaration from a judge on behalf of Mark Edmunds, a local financial services professional, that the government’s failure to reach a decision on his permanent residence (PR) application submitted in June 2014 is “unlawful, irrational, disproportionate and contrary to the principles of natural justice.” Attorneys also want the judge to order immigration authorities to consider the PR application within two weeks of a court order and – this is important – for the judge to order payment of monetary damages resulting from the Progressives government’s “misconduct or inaction.” The attorneys are basing their case on local and international law, including sections of the Cayman Islands Constitution (“All decisions and acts of public officials must be lawful, rational, proportionate and procedurally fair.”) and a similar article in the European Convention on Human Rights. The attorneys also argue that immigration offi- cials’ refusal to reach decisions on PR applications from their clients and hundreds of others “can be seen to be applying a moratorium to the processing of PR applica- tions and thus acting ultra vires” – put another way, effec- tively creating their own “law” by not following the Immi- gration Law passed by Progressives legislators in 2013. The legal documents read like a textbook example that could be applied to each individual on the PR waiting list (or the applicants as an entire “class”), particularly in the context of the recent U.K. Privy Council judgment declaring that one year was sufficient time for authori- ties to act upon an immigration application, and after that damages could accrue. Additionally, in a separate immi- gration case, Cayman’s Chief Justice Anthony Smellie stated that inordinate delays in immigration decisions amounted to a miscarriage of justice. But back to Mr. Edmunds’s filing. It is claimed that when Edmunds applied for permanent residence in June 2014, he accompanied his application with $26,625 in required fees, which the government still holds. (It is not known – because government has not revealed – how much it has accumulated in PR fees over the last three years from the approximately 800 appli- cants who have not had their cases processed. Estimates range from $8 million to $16 million. Fiscal prudence would dictate that these funds, which may need to be refunded to unsuccessful applicants, be safeguarded in an escrow account, rather than mingled with general revenues. However, the Compass has been unable to locate such an account in current budget documents.) Mr. Edmunds is seeking damages of more than $5,000, calculated according to an annual interest rate of 8 percent on his application fees. But the potential cost is much, much greater. The lawyers sum it up in the following, open-ended phrase: “damages for injury to feelings and unwarranted stress that he has suffered as a result of having to wait over 29 months for a decision to be reached in relation to his PR application.” For the past three years, the Progressives government has been playing a dangerous, and potentially expensive and explosive, game with PR applicants, setting as a polit- ical finish line the May 2017 election. It appears they will come up short. We cannot imagine the premier will be able to maintain his silence much longer on this issue. It will be the courts that will force him to obey the very laws that he and his government enacted. – EDITORIAL – Permanent residence: Financial executive takes case to court 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. The sensitivity police strike again GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man charged after a stabbing incident was re- fused bail when he ap- peared in Summary Court on Friday. Harrison Shane Jackson, 38, was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to another man on Monday night, Nov. 28. Defense attorney John Furniss described the matter as arising from a do- mestic situation. He asked for bail, noting that Jackson had a job to go to and could be fitted with an elec- tronic monitor. Crown counsel Gavin Dixon objected to bail, noting that Jackson had gone to the vic- tim’s residence. Mr. Furniss suggested that bail could be granted on condition that Jackson temporarily move out of the George Town area. A police statement re- leased Friday indicated that officers had been called to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital, where the man had arrived with a stab wound to his neck. The incident occurred on Webb Road in George Town. Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn refused bail. She ob- served that the charge of wounding with intent can be dealt with only in the Grand Court and trans- mitted the file. The next mention was set for Friday, Dec. 9. Jackson was also charged with possession of an offen- sive weapon, a knife; pos- session and consumption of ganja; and possession of a utensil used for the con- sumption of ganja. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An inquest was held last week into the death of a Cay- manian inmate serving a prison term in Panama who died after reportedly falling off a bunk bed at the jail. Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik conducted an in- quest on Thursday into the death of Mark Philip Bodden, who died in Panama on Aug. 18, 2014. She described the inquest as rather unique, given the circumstances and limited information. After consid- ering the information that was available, jurors returned an open verdict – meaning that the evidence was in- sufficient for them to reach any other conclusion. They also found that the cause of death was unknown. Mr. Bodden, 37, died at the Panama Calidonia Hospital in Santo Tomas, Republic of Panama. He had been taken there from the Pacora La- Joya Penitentiary, after been injured, reportedly in a fall from the bunk bed. The coroner explained that the inquest was being held because Mr. Bodden’s body was repatriated to Cayman and the family had requested an investigation and a second post-mortem examination, if possible. “He was a member of our community, so we need to re- solve the issue as far as pos- sible,” she commented. The only witness to give evidence in person was gov- ernment pathologist Dr. Shra- vana Jyoti. Jurors were given copies of the report written after an autopsy was per- formed in Cayman by pathol- ogist Michaele Enghardt on Sept. 5, 2014. Dr. Jyoti explained that an autopsy had already been performed in Panama, but a complete report from that procedure was not available. Cayman author- ities did receive a post- mortem form from Pana- ma’s National Directorate of Civil Registry. It listed causes of death to be edema and brain hemorrhage, and severe head trauma, with pneumonia being a con- tributing factor. Background information given to the pathologist was that Mr. Bodden had report- edly suffered a fall in his cell, but additional verifiable information was not avail- able. A hospital record was not available. Dr. Enghardt did not make a finding as to cause of death, but she did com- ment on the cause as found in Panama. She said a small amount of coagulated blood in the cranial cavity might allude to a prior hemorrhage event. A very thorough exam- ination of the head showed no external marks of trauma or lacerations. There was no evidence of a skull frac- ture and no trauma to the neck.Dr. Jyoti listed other specific findings and said strangulation could be ruled out and being hit in the head with a blunt object could be ruled out. Fingernails were intact, which meant they were not damaged in any de- fensive action. Jurors then heard the statements of two police offi- cers, as read by the coroner. This information had to do with the liaison between the Deputy Governor’s office in Cayman and the British Em- bassy in Panama, the trans- lation of documents from Spanish to English, the pro- cess by which Mr. Bodden’s body was brought back to Cayman, examined and then released for burial. The coroner then ex- plained the possible verdicts the jury could reach, such as natural causes, misadventure, suicide, lawful or unlawful killing. One of jurors asked about a finding of negligence. The coroner emphasized that an inquest is a public fact- finding inquiry and not a trial; the jurors’ role was to find facts as to the physical cause and manner of death, not to accord blame. It was up to them as to whether they accepted the findings of the autopsy per- formed in Panama, she said. If they did not, they could say the cause of death was unknown. If the cause was unknown, they might ask themselves how they could know the manner of death, she observed. Cayman authorities had worked diligently to get more information from Panama, she noted, but were unsuc- cessful. “We did try,” she told jurors before they considered their verdict. The coroner explained that the inquest was being held because Mr. Bodden’s body was repatriated to Cayman and the family had requested an investigation and a second post-mortem examination, if possible. Bail refused in stabbing case Open verdict on Caymanian prisoner’s death in PanamaDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO Phone service brings a new era to Cayman In the Dec. 7, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, news from George Town included: “The people of Grand Cayman can now speak to each other by a reliable tele- phone system thanks to the inauguration of the Cable & Wireless Internal Telephone System which was officially opened on Friday last. “At 11 a.m., special guests gathered outside the new Central Telegraph Office and Telephone Ex- change in George Town for the official opening of the building. “Upon arrival, His Honour the Adminis- trator introduced Sir John Macpherson, Chairman of Cable & Wireless Ltd., and extended a warm Cayma- nian welcome to him and his wife who were the hosts for these ceremonies. “Sir John paid tribute to Mr. P. Forestal, Mr. R.W. Tidd and their staff for a job well done under difficult con- ditions. He hoped it would not be too long before the whole project is completed for all three islands with a link through Jamaica to the outside world and pre- dicted that given good re- ception at both ends, busi- nessmen would find that their business increased spectacularly. “One interesting fact which Sir John mentioned particularly was that the ‘Thin Line Scatter System’ linking Grand Cayman with Cayman Brac and Jamaica, will be the first system of this kind to be used com- mercially anywhere in the world, thus the Cayman Is- lands are pioneers in this particular field. “He then apologised to the people at the ‘bottom of the list’ who will have to wait much longer than they had hoped for their telephones, and said, ‘We have been taken unawares by the unexpected volume of the demand for tele- phones and we have had to increase the size of the exchanges and number of lines. This is a dra- matic indication of the fast-moving development of these islands, which has been so marked over the past 2 years.” “Before actually lifting the receiver, Mr. Cumber read telegrams exchanged between the Government and the Managing Director of Cable & Wireless in London and then made an- other short speech. “There was a ‘breath- less hush’ in the hall as His Honour dialled 2474 and there was hearty laughter when he said, ‘This is the Administrator, Old Cu- cumber, here,’ and re- ceived the reply ‘Postmaster speaking,’ in Bunny Bod- den’s deep voice. During the conversation, it was learned that the new issue of stamps to commemorate this occasion had arrived the previous day and would be on sale on Dec. 5. “Next, Capt. Eldon Kirk- connell dialed Mr. Fossie Arch. Mr. Craddock Ebanks got through to Mrs. Vir- ginia McCoy, at North Side, with the help of the Oper- ator, quite successfully, but after a very short conver- sation, two powerful Amer- ican cars parked near to the aerial, with their en- gines running and inter- fered with the V.H.F …. Mr. Anton Bodden had little difficulty in getting through to fellow MLA Mr. Richard Arch in the of- fice in George Town. Un- fortunately, due to the non-arrival of transis- tors, the line to Bodden Town was not available for use on this occasion. Mr. Anton made a little joke about this, saying that he guessed they would have to pay their compliments even though Bodden Town was left out. “Mr. Warren Conolly, called Trevor Watler in East End, and speaking to his daughter Alicia at West Bay, the Hon. T.W. Farrington said it was very good to be able to talk to her from the Town Hall filled with people but a pity he couldn’t get through to his other daughter, Marilyn, in Port Arthur (USA), but guessed that would come in time.” Lighthouse students take to the pitch JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Lighthouse School students scored points with FC Interna- tional at the school’s playing field on Friday, Nov. 25. FC International camp technical director and coach Elbert McLean, along with president Kennedy Ebanks, said they could not think of anything better than holding a ses- sion of the organization’s annual football camp program with stu- dents at the Lighthouse School. “The greatest satisfaction comes from watching children, regardless of ability, learn to appreciate foot- ball,” said Mr. Ebanks. He encouraged the children to get in on the action and also to have fun while doing so. Mr. Ebanks even took time out to give spe- cial attention to the students who seemed a bit shy. The 20 young participants were eager to show they had the stamina, ability and enthusiasm to learn new skills of the game. Even the challenged students who could not join in with the physical ac- tivity of the game cheered on their classmates from the sidelines. Stu- dent Kingsley Eleweanya, all smiles and always excited to see his class- mates participating in any sort of activity, cheered from his mat. When it came time for him to have the ball, he gave it a good hand punch, which had pre-vocational teacher Susan Whittaker scram- bling for the ball. Coach McLean taught the young players techniques like passing the ball, teamwork and discipline, and later had them participate in a friendly game. All participants had an oppor- tunity to throw the ball or pose with FC International members and teachers. Elroy Bryan, principal of Light- house School and a former phys- ical education teacher, said he was appreciative of the time FC Inter- national took with the students. He said it was a good opportunity to participate in an extracurric- ular activity. “It’s not the first time students have looked forward to showing off their skills …. We may feel that stu- dents are limited in a certain way, but they have abilities just like ev- eryone else,” Mr. Bryan said. Jamie Mulgrew, deputy principal of Lighthouse School, said the camp was exciting for the students and it was a great opportunity for them to socialize after school, as well as giving them a chance to access sports and feel successful. After the camp, the football players hugged FCI members and sat down to enjoy pizza. Mr. Ebanks said FC International has been running its football camp for many years and he thinks it is very important for Cayman’s youth. “Most camps, you have to pay but we do ours totally free, with the help of sponsorship from individ- uals, businesses, government and anyone else that’s willing to give,” said Mr. Ebanks. The Lighthouse students had a great time at the football camp organized by FC International.District Days George Town DISTRICT DAYS 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 Prep students delve into a cultural experience Cayman Prep students got the chance to take in a unique cultural experience last week at a local Mex- ican restaurant. The group of 66 students paid a visit to Casa 43 off West Bay Road on Monday, Nov. 28, as a way to prac- tice their Spanish skills in a contex- tual way and to enjoy some authentic Mexican flavors. “We have a fantastic languages team at Cayman Prep and High School, and of the most exciting changes we brought in this year was to give stu- dents more access to real-life opportu- nities to practise their languages,” said Cayman Prep and High School head of languages Jake Taylor. “Our Year 10 students are heading to Costa Rica in February, and we are working on a French exchange for next year [so] this is just the beginning.” Mr. Taylor said developing a love of languages in the school’s students is a priority, and noted that aside from trips abroad the department is very keen to keen to develop on-island language op- portunities for students as well. “Casa 43 was a perfect fit for our Year 8 students while they were studying a topic on food,” said Mr. Taylor. “Casa 43 put on such a great experi- ence for us. The students ordered their meals and drinks in Spanish, greeted and thanked the staff in Spanish, and even asked for the bill in Spanish. The staff were wonderful with our stu- dents, and they worked with the kids to extend their sentences, as well as giving us a great taste of Mexican cul- ture and cuisine.” He said that it was the first time that many students had used a for- eign language in a real context, and for some it was a first introduction to Mexican food. “It was interesting to order in Spanish and really different to what we are used to as English speakers,” said Year 8 student Lauren Chiazza. “The staff even taught us how to say dif- ferent phrases like ‘I’m OK with water’ and we practiced our Spanish with them, which was great fun. I had ques- adillas. ¡Me gustan las quesadillas!” Fellow Year 8 student Sherena An- glin had the rice pilaf with avocado. “It was ¡muy bueno! It was great to speak to the waiters in the language you learn in class,” she said. Year 8 student Cameron Smith agreed that the food was delicious. “Yo comí quesadillas y una ham- burguesa. ¡Fue estupendo! It was fun to practise speaking Spanish with the staff, [and have] amazing Mexican food and culture. ¡Qué delicioso!” Summing up the day, Mr. Taylor deemed it a wonderful experience. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of the excel- lent language teachers here at Cayman Prep, and the culinary skills, positivity and hard work of the staff at Casa 43,” he said. Cayman Prep students head to Casa 43 for a taste of Mexican culture. Young debaters from across the Cayman Islands went head to head testing their public speaking skills last month at a tournament that culminated in an ex- citing final held at the ARC hall at Camana Bay. St. Ignatius students Giselle Ebanks and Viktoriya Bolgova emerged the winners of the Conyers Inter-Schools Debate Tournament with their performance at the final Exhibition Debate, held on Nov. 10, in their compelling final argument for the reso- lution: “Be it resolved that governments should ban ex- tremist websites.” According to a press re- lease, the tournament brought together 14 high school stu- dent teams from Cayman Prep, Cayman International School, Clifton Hunter, John Gray High School, Cayman Brac’s Layman E. Scott High School and St. Ignatius, and for the first time, contestants from Grace Christian Academy. With weeks to prepare their argument on the same topic used for the final, stu- dents took part in round robin debates that were hosted by eight senior stu- dent chairpersons, junior stu- dent runners and 28 judges from the community. The second round saw stu- dents choose between two topics: “Professional sports are of no value in modern so- ciety,” or “Literature is essen- tial to civilization.” With just 10 minutes to prepare, the de- baters showcased their skills of persuasion and under- standing of the subject matter. Students and judges were then invited to attend the Exhibition Debate, hosted on stage in the ARC and at- tended by dignitaries in- cluding Governor Helen Kilpatrick, acting Chief Ed- ucation Officer Lyneth Mon- tieth, recently retired Justice Alex Henderson and MLA Winston Connolly. According to the re- lease, the St. Ignatius duo started first, and delivered a well-researched, balanced ar- gument based on the link to mass acts of terrorism and visits to extremist websites. “Obama had to respond to 14 mass shootings in the United States during his eight years of presidency; we cannot allow Donald Trump to do the same,” said Vik- toriya, drawing on the U.S. presidential election the night before. “Nobody is perfect, there- fore there has to be limi- tations on the freedom of speech,” she argued. “Mr. Chairman, we are not anarchists, thus we need rules on the safety and secu- rity of our people.” The Clifton Hunter team countered that individuals must take ownership of their actions and not rely on handholding by government, which likely had more impor- tant matters to attend to. In competition for indi- vidual honors, the top three individual speakers were within four points of each other. Viktoriya Bolgova of St. Ignatius was crowned best individual debater; fellow St. Ignatius student Finley Mc- Dougall came in second; and Alexander Cummer from CIS finished in third place. “Education is a passion of mine. It is the great equal- izer. Embrace the challenge. Embrace the time and energy it has taken you to be up on that stage,” said Mr. Connolly at the prize-giving. Conyers Partner Fraser Hughes said that the firm was proud to sponsor the debate tournament for the third time. “This evening’s de- bates showcased a high level of confidence and un- derstanding of the subject matter, and the students de- livered some persuasive ar- guments,” he said. “The use of persuasion is integral to a number of ca- reer paths and Conyers is proud to support an event that offers a platform to exer- cise these skills.” St. Ignatius students win debate double honors Warning: cuteness alert Shining Stars Childhood Care and Education Centre at Pasadora Place held its annual Parade of Little Professionals on Friday, Nov. 25. Escorted by their teachers and volunteers, little ones dressed in an adorable assortment of mini work outfits formed a procession which made its way around the plaza, the participants charming their way into the hearts of admiring passersby. – PHOTO: BASIA MCGUIRE From left, Giselle Ebanks, Viktoriya Bolgova and Justice Alex Henderson.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS still on the production line. The Boeing 737-800 plane, which arrived Friday, is intended to bridge the gap until the new aircraft are available. Premier Alden McLaughlin and Tourism Minister Moses Kirkcon- nell, who had spoken at a sim- ilar ceremony three days earlier as they welcomed a new turbo- prop Saab plane to service the Brac route, hailed a new era for Cayman Airways. Mr. McLaughlin said, “I grew up when Cayman Airways was one of the biggest political footballs in the Cayman Islands. For years, there was one argument after an- other as to why we should get rid of Cayman Airways. “Driving here today and seeing dozens of cars parked on the road and hundreds of people anxious and excited to see the new plane land, I said to myself, it would be a brave politician these days that would talk about getting rid of Cayman Airways. “It is an incredible achieve- ment for a country as small as ours that we can boast an airline like Cayman Airways.” Mr. Kirkconnell said the new plane signaled the arrival of the “next generation” of aircraft. He said its greater range could open up new “gateway cities” and allow Cayman to expand into new markets. With new hotels putting new “rooms in the market,” he said in- vesting in Cayman Airways would help ensure the beds were filled and the dollars kept coming in to the tourism industry. He added, “Investment in Cayman Airways is investment in our people. It provides opportuni- ties for pilots, managers, adminis- trative staff, managerial personnel. By growing Cayman Airways, we are keeping their talents on our is- lands and creating new jobs right here at home.” Cayman Airways’ new Boeing 737-800 gets its official christening with water jets from the Cayman Islands Fire Service after it lands for the first time on the Owen Roberts International Airport runway Friday. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS Premier Alden McLaughlin delivers a speech to mark the addition of the plane to the Cayman Airways fleet. Parade of Lights Thousands of spectators thronged Camana Bay Saturday night for the annual Parade of Lights, which saw brilliantly decorated boats strut their stuff in the harbor as fireworks ex- ploded overhead. Thirteen boats took part in the parade, the theme of which this year was Christmas stories. The “Big Boat” award went to Red Sail Sports with its under- water theme that featured crea- tures of the deep, such as sting- rays and seahorses. Beachcomber won the “Small Boat” award, with its vessel decked out in a Christmas castaway theme. The Parade of Lights is orga- nized annually by Cayman 27, which broadcast a live telecast of the event. The TV station’s Janelle Muttoo and Kevin Morales were emcees for the evening. This year’s judges were Markus Mueri, owner of Abacus restaurant at Camana Bay; Jason Howard, host of On-Air with Jason Howard on Z99FM; Tonie Chisholm, former Miss Cayman Islands and a host on Cayman 27’s morning show “Daybreak”; and Matthew Sloane, co-host of “The Morning Bob” with Brad and Matty on Bob FM. Red Sail won the ‘big boat’ category with the company’s underwater theme. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Boats line up to show off their Christmas cheer at the Parade of Lights. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY The theme of BritCay’s Reel Business was ‘Santa’s and Christ’s floating Christmas.’ - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Cayman Airways looks to ‘next generation’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 All four of the airline’s aging 737-300 jets, which are between 15 and 20 years old, will be replaced with new “state of the art” aircraft over the next four years.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2016 “We have a lot of issues that the Civil Service and the Association have been dealing with and more are coming at us full speed.” JOHN BOTHWELL, Civil Service Association president Bothwell elected president of Civil Service Association preferred outcomes for Civil Servants, because with each of these challenges comes an opportunity for progress, and CICSA will be prepared to seize those opportunities.” The association is col- lecting feedback from mem- bers as it crafts a new plan for the future of the Civil Ser- vice Association. Mr. Watler hired a local company to help develop the strategic plan as one of his final acts as president. He explained in the press release that the planning process is intended to take “a deep, hard look at our- selves as we strategize in an ef- fort to become the vibrant and dynamic organization that we are expected to be.” The statement from the association cites the mem- bers at last month’s annual meeting and remembers outgoing president Mr. Watler as dedicated and professional. The association notes, “During every major discussion that has taken place in govern- ment, which had the potential to impact civil servants, Mr. Watler found a place at that table and represented the in- terests of civil servants.” Mr. Watler, in the press release, said, “It was my pleasure to stand in the gaps for you, our very valu- able members.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ‘Unlawful moratorium’ alleged in permanent residency court filing believed to be the first filed under the Immigration Law that was amended in October 2013, seeks the court to de- clare the government’s ac- tions with regard to his res- idency application unlawful and “contrary to the prin- ciples of natural justice.” It asks the court to force the government to hear the resi- dency application within two weeks of any order it makes relative to the case. The judicial review ap- plication also asks the court to assess and award dam- ages in the matter due to “injury to feelings and un- wanted stress that [Mr. Ed- munds] has suffered” as a result of waiting 29 months for the residence application to be considered. No specific monetary claim was made regarding the “unwanted stress and suffering.” In addition, the court filing also asks that Mr. Ed- munds be awarded interest on the more than $26,000 he spent in order to file the permanent residence appli- cation. His attorneys esti- mated the interest costs ac- cumulated on the sum during the 29-month period at more than $5,000. The Cayman Islands Min- istry of Home Affairs has not responded to numerous re- quests from the Cayman Compass regarding how much money the Immigra- tion Department has col- lected in permanent resi- dence fees since October 2013. Private sector sources have estimated that amount at anywhere between $8 mil- lion and $16 million. The fees paid are legally required to be returned to an applicant if their residency application is unsuccessful, less the $1,000 application filing fee. In his judicial review ap- plication, Mr. Edmunds ar- gues that his residency case could have been heard despite government’s current uncer- tainty over how to award points to applicants for their on island employment. If the Caymanian Status and Perma- nent Residency Board could not or would not hear the ap- plication, the amended Im- migration Law that took ef- fect on Oct. 26, 2013 allowed the chief immigration officer to do so, he stated. However, the judicial review applica- tion states that the chief im- migration officer has declined take such action. “[The chief immigration officer], by failing to take over the permanent resi- dence system from the board, he has given approval to the unlawful moratorium im- posed by the board,” the Grand Court filing states. “It is not within the board’s power to stay de- cisions for 29 months,” the court filing states. Human rights Individuals waiting for years upon the outcome of permanent residence appli- cations in the Cayman Is- lands is nothing new. During one period between 2005 and 2010, thousands of resi- dency applications were de- layed for periods of between one year and five years be- fore receiving a decision from government. In some cases, those res- idency applications waited far longer to go through the government appeals process. In one case, high- lighted last year by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, a Jamaican woman who filed her residence application in 2006 received her residency grant this year. The Cayman Islands gov- ernment and the U.K. gov- ernment agreed on an up- dated constitution order which was approved by the voters in May 2009. The bill of rights attached to that constitution document did not take effect until November 2012. Mr. Edmunds makes some of his claims in the judicial review applica- tion based on sections of the Cayman Islands Con- stitution Order’s (2009) Bill of Rights. He alleges that his right to private and family life (section 9) has been in- fringed by government’s delay in hearing the resi- dence application. The court filing further alleges that government’s delay could be construed as neither lawful, rational, proportionate nor procedurally fair as set out under section 19 of the bill. In addition to the Cayman Islands human rights claims, additional al- legations are made under the European Convention on Human Rights that the Cayman Islands govern- ment has failed to give Mr. Edmunds a fair and public hearing. The right to pri- vate and family life under the European convention is also invoked in the judicial review application. Chief justice concerns The Cayman Islands gov- ernment has neither approved nor rejected any permanent residence applications under the current Immigration Law since at least January 2015. The government has blamed the state of uncertainty over the applications partly on an August 2015 ruling by Jus- tice Smellie on the permanent residence applications of two non-Caymanians. The issues identified in the 2015 court judgment dealt with two major areas: First, the actions of the Im- migration Appeals Tribunal in judging two cases in which non-Caymanians, a Canadian and a Jamaican, had applied for permanent residence. The tribunal’s actions in the cases were determined to be a “mis- carriage of justice.” Those ap- plications were made under a former version of the Im- migration Law. The two ap- plicants were granted per- manent residence earlier this year following a re-hearing of their case before the tribunal. The second matter in- volves the current permanent residence system and how points toward that status are awarded to applicants. Currently, applicants are re- quired to secure 110 points out of 215 available in the ap- plication process. Questions have arisen regarding how 15 of those 215 points are to be awarded in the process. Chief Justice Smellie con- cluded in the judgment that there were “immediate and obvious concerns” about the current two-tiered system for awarding permanent res- idence applicants a total of 15 points for their occupation and another 15 points if their job is considered a “priority occupation” according to reg- ulations attached to the Im- migration Law. Premier Alden McLaughlin has said on a number of occasions that he would reveal government’s proposals to deal with the issues described by the chief justice, but to date he has not done so. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 VENEZUELA TO ISSUE LARGER BANKNOTES AS CURRENCY CONTINUES TO MELT BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Ven- ezuela said it will issue higher-denominated bills as triple-digit inflation and a currency meltdown leave the country’s largest note worth just around 2 U.S. cents on the black market. The central bank said in a statement Saturday that six new bills ranging from 500 to 20,000 Bolivars will begin cir- culating on Dec. 15. Currently the largest-denominated bill is 100 bolivars, while a 2-liter soft drink bottle can cost 25 times that amount. The issuing of new bills comes as Venezuela is bor- dering on economic collapse. The currency lost 67 percent of its value on the black market last month, falling to 4,587 bolivars per U.S. dollar – the steepest monthly plunge ever, according to data by Dolar Today, which tracks the black market rate by monitoring transactions with the currency at foreign exchange houses across the border in Colombia. Inflation meanwhile is soaring and expected to sur- pass four digits next year, ac- cording to the International Monetary Fund. Venezuela’s government has not pub- lished price data since 2015. Adding to the currency woes, cash has become im- possible to find with ATM withdrawals capped at an ex- tremely low amount and on Friday the nation’s credit card payment system unexpectedly froze up for several hours. President Nicolas Maduro blamed the malfunction on a “cyberattack” and ordered the Sebin intelligence service to raid the offices of CrediCard, which processes payment for Visa and MasterCard. He’s also accused “mafias” in neighboring Colombia of trying to carry out an “eco- nomic coup” against his so- cialist-run economy. “The right wing wants to impose on Venezuela a parallel exchange rate from an account in Miami, and from that account take the dollar to a disastrously crazy level,” Maduro said in a tele- vised address announcing the rollout of the new bills. The currency meltdown comes amid what should have been a rare bout of good economic news for Venezuela after OPEC last week ceded to months of pressure from Maduro and other oil-depen- dent nations and decided to cut production levels for the first time since 2008. Venezuela has maintained strict currency controls since 2003 and currently has two legal exchange rates of 10 and 663 bolivars per dollar used for priority imports. On the black market, where people and businesses turn when they cannot obtain government ap- proval to purchase dollars at the legal rates, the bolivar has collapsed by a factor of five over the past year. John Bothwell Deadline passes for permanent residence FOI challenge An immigration consultant’s report presented to government earlier this year which was the subject of an open records request by the Cayman Com- pass had not been given to the infor- mation commissioner’s office by the deadline of Friday, Dec. 2. The consultant’s report was penned by noted local immigration attorney David Ritch and was com- missioned following Chief Justice An- thony Smellie’s August 2015 judgment concerning a number of permanent residence issues. Premier Alden McLaughlin has re- fused to release the report, stating that it was intended as legal advice and that it was not meant for publi- cation. Mr. McLaughlin has said the report would guide government as it sought to address some of the matters surrounding the grant of permanent residence in the islands. The information commissioner’s office is considering the open records request the Compass filed in October under the Freedom of Information Law seeking a copy of that report. The commissioner’s office wishes to ex- amine the document in furtherance of its review. Acting Information Commissioner Cory Martinson said Friday that if nothing was received by the office Monday morning, he would write to the Grand Court seeking it to force the government to turn over a copy of the Ritch consultancy report to his office. If government is forced to release the consultant’s report to the informa- tion commissioner, it does not neces- sarily mean the document, or any part of it, will ultimately be made public. The commissioner’s office must re- view the records requested and come to a final decision in the matter. Any decision it makes can be appealed to the Grand Court.Next >