ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 High of 86 Low of 75 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ANOTHER ‘BLACKLIST,’ ANOTHER ‘HIT LIST’(YAWN!) SPORTS | PAGE 17 CAYMAN TOPS SRI LANKA, ADVANCES TO CRICKET SEMIFINALS 33 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER TO VOTE ELECTION 2017 Holiday office hours Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! The management and staff at BritCay extend sincere season’s best wishes to you, your family and your friends.Our offices will close at noon on 23rd and 30th December. 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 Bankrupt Hewitt: UDP reneged on promise to pay for Rivers challenge JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After being declared officially bankrupt, 80-year-old John Gordon Hewitt told a court Tuesday he had been “thrown under the bus” by the United Democratic Party. Mr. Hewitt, who brought a constitutional challenge to the 2013 election of Education Minister Tara Rivers, claimed the party had chosen him as a “token plaintiff” and promised to fund the action. When the legal bills came in, however, he claims the UDP and its financial backers went back on that promise and left him with the tab. Mr. Hewitt, whose wife Velma Powery- Hewitt was a UDP candidate in West Bay at the election, was unable to fulfill a court order to pay more than US$200,000 in legal costs incurred by Ms. Rivers, who has successfully petitioned for him to be made bankrupt. Some of his evidence is supported by Steve McField, one of the attorneys in the case and a consultant for the UDP, now known as the Cayman Democratic Party or CDP. He testified, in an affidavit filed with the court, that businessman Renard Moxam, an- other candidate for the party in 2013, had agreed to fund the action and initially paid the retainer for Mr. McField’s services. During Tuesday’s hearing, Mr. Hewitt said he felt “stupid” to have relied on a verbal agreement. But he insisted he had been assured by the party hierarchy that all his expenses would be reimbursed. “I said I will do it if it doesn’t cost me a dime. I can’t afford any costs. I was not willing to pay anything. If all costs were covered, TRAFFIC COURT FOR ‘RACING’ DVDL INSPECTOR BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Li- censing inspector who drove a sports car he was inspecting into a light pole, over the median and onto the opposite lanes of Crewe Road in July will face prosecution for careless driving. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service confirmed Wednesday that a traffic offense citation had been issued and that the DVDL employee would receive a summons to ap- pear in court. RCIPS officials said the DVDL employee was not charged with any criminal offenses in connection with the July 11 incident. He has been working at the government department since the crash. According to the Traffic Law (2011 Revi- sion), careless or inconsiderate driving is an offense punishable by up to six months’ im- prisonment or a $1,000 fine, or both, upon summary conviction. The offense involves driving a vehicle on the public road “without care and attention or without reasonable con- sideration for other persons.” The court may also order anyone convicted of the offense to be disqualified from driving for up to 12 months. According to government chief of protocol Meloney Syms, who witnessed the July 11 accident on Crewe Road, a “reckless” driver New ambulance added to hospital fleet The Cayman Islands Hospital has a new ambulance, bought with money donated by the public through a variety of fundraising efforts by the Cayman Heart Fund and through the Deputy Governor’s 5K run, organized by Franz Manderson. He is pictured stepping out of the ambulance after it was officially unveiled at the Government Administration Building on Wednesday. For more, see page 2. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Christmas behind bars for terror suspect JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 58-year-old man accused of terrorist activity in Turkey in the 1980s will spend Christmas in prison in Grand Cayman. Celal Kildag is facing pos- sible extradition to the eastern European country in connection with the murder of two people and the burning of two primary schools in 1988. He has claimed he knows nothing of the offenses and that he has lived in Germany since 1980, where he has political asylum. Mr. Kildag was arrested after arriving in Grand Cayman on the MSC Opera cruise ship on Thursday, Dec. 8. He appeared briefly be- fore Magistrate Grace Don- alds Wednesday at the ex- tradition proceedings, where Laurence Aiolfi was confirmed as his attorney. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY (R) 12:30 | 3:00 | 7:00 | 9:30 FANTASTIC BEASTS (PG13) AND WHERE TO FIND THEM 3D 12:15 | 3:20 2D | 6:30 | 9:40 2D MOANA 3D (PG) 12:45 | 3:30 2D | 6:45 | 9:20 2D ALMOST CHRISTMAS (PG13) 1:15 | 4:20 | 7:05 | 9:50 THE BOUNCE BACK (PG13) 1:30 | 4:15 | 7:10 | 10:00 SULLY (PG13) 1:00 | 4:00 | 7:15 | 9:55 Family of missing woman asks for closure January will be sixth anniversary of Anna Evans’s disappearance CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com Almost six years after Anna Evans disap- peared, leaving five chil- dren and many questions, the family is asking for help to get closure and de- clare the missing landfill worker deceased. Ms. Evans, who was 37 at the time, went missing Jan. 27, 2011. Police and volunteers, including a K-9 search unit from Florida, scoured the landfill where she was last seen. In the years since, the case went cold and no trace of her has been found. Noreen Dixon, Ms. Ev- ans’s sister who cares for her youngest chil- dren, said in an interview this week, “We need to have closure.” She said her sis- ter’s youngest child, 13, asks almost daily, “‘What do you think hap- pened to my mom?’ I don’t know whether to cry or hug him.” “He needs closure,” Ms. Dixon said. “Our hearts are already broken into a million pieces. We need closure.” She approached the Cayman Compass this week asking for help to find an attorney to make an application to have Ms. Evans declared dead. Police and staff at the General Registry said it takes seven years for a missing person to be declared dead. United Kingdom law gives the seven-year mark for de- claring a person dead, but also gives provisions for family to apply to a court to have an indi- vidual declared dead ear- lier than that. Ms. Dixon said she is looking for a law firm willing to donate time to the family to apply for Ms. Evans to be declared dead. Ms. Evans’s children are now aged between 13 and 24. Ms. Dixon said her sister’s children need closure to be able to move on and to settle their mother’s estate. THEFT SUSPECT CHASED DOWN ON ‘GETAWAY BUS’ A woman whose cell- phone was stolen Monday enlisted the help of a passing motorist to chase down the suspect, who had boarded a public bus as his getaway ve- hicle, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police reported. The incident was re- ported around 4:15 p.m. by the woman who worked at the Crescent Point resort. She told police her cellphone had been taken from a table in- side one of the resort condos. The suspect, who ran from the scene, dropped the phone and boarded a public bus near the Seven Mile Shops complex, police said. The woman picked up the phone and got a ride from a passing motorist who fol- lowed the bus in his per- sonal vehicle. The bus’s plate number was reported to the 911 Emergency Centre, which passed the informa- tion on to police. Police stopped the bus near the Westin hotel and ar- rested a 36-year-old West Bay man on suspicion of burglary. Police Superintendent Robert Graham thanked the victim and the passing mo- torist for their “extraordi- nary” assistance to police. “Even though she had al- ready retrieved her phone, the victim persevered, in a safe manner, to assist police in apprehending the suspect,” Mr. Graham said. Cayman Heart Fund gives new ambulance to HSA JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thanks to the Cayman Heart Fund, the Health Ser- vices Authority has added a brand-new ambulance to its fleet. The emergency vehicle was purchased after an 18-month fundraising effort brought in $150,000, including $60,000 donated from the 2016 Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge. The ambulance was handed over Wednesday during a ceremony out- side the Government Ad- ministration Building on Elgin Avenue. Premier and Health Min- ister Alden McLaughlin said during this festive season it was one of the best Christmas gifts any of them could have wished for. “It heartens me to see the generosity shown across all sectors of our society,” he said. Cayman Heart Fund Chairman David Dinner said, “The ambulance will increase the HSA’s ability to respond to cardiovascular and other issues, and will be of benefit to the entire community.” Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said, “It makes me very proud to see the am- bulance being handed over today after the tremendous effort put in by all at Cayman Heart Fund and everyone who took part in, and spon- sored, the 5K Challenge.” Health Services Autority CEO Lizzette Yearwood said that since the recent arrival of the new ambulance, EMS staff have been familiarizing themselves with its new fea- tures, which were specifically designed with staff and pa- tients’ safety in mind. “This new vehicle in- creases our capacity to re- spond to the needs of our community and, in turn im- prove our service,” she said. She said the ambulance, a Chevrolet G-4500 Traum- aHawk, has an improved workspace layout that allows EMS staff to be able to pro- vide 360-degree patient care and to transport more than one patient at a time. Another notable new fea- ture of this ambulance is its portable Stryker Powerload Stretcher system. “The Cayman Islands is one of the first countries in the region to have this system,” Ms. Yearwood said. The Stryker Powerload Stretcher is a fully hydraulic system that eliminates the need for EMS personnel to physically lift patients into the vehicle. This signifi- cantly reduces the risk of EMS providers sustaining back injuries and provides patients with a safer mode of transfer into the vehicle, said Ms. Yearwood. She said the EMS service employs 30 full-time emer- gency medical personnel and averages more than 420 calls per month, which is equiva- lent to over 5,000 calls per annum. “These calls for ser- vice have continued to grow over the years and we sin- cerely appreciate this addi- tion to our fleet of emergency vehicles,” she said. George Town MLA Roy McTaggart, councillor for health, said he was very much inspired by the deputy governor and his efforts to encourage everyone to not only to take personal respon- sibility for their health, but also to raise funds for a good cause while doing so. “This new ambulance will be a welcome addition to the emergency fleet and when we see the vehicle on the road, we can be proud to know it was a gift from so many caring people,” Mr. McTaggart said. A new ambulance bought with money raised by the Cayman Heart Fund was presented to the Health Services Authority at Government Adminstration Building on Wednesday. Cayman Heart Fund Chairman David Dinner cuts the ribbon, flanked by Councillor for Health Roy McTaggart, Heart Fund Vice Chair Dr. Bella Beraha, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Anna EvansThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 *For a definition of an unauthorized transaction & for full details regarding the protections and limitations of the RBC Security Guarantee for Online and Mobile Banking, please see your Electronic Banking Agreement with the applicable entity.® Registered trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. Download the RBC Caribbean App FREE for your Android and iOS devices at RBC Security Guarantee 100% Reimbursement for unauthorized transactions* in RBC Online & Mobile Banking Bank securely anywhere, anytime with the RBC Mobile Banking App for smartphones and tablets. It’s simple, secure and convenient. It’s here! RBC’s Mobile App gives you an easier way to bank! For more information or to enrol now visit caribbeandigital.rbc.comThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Another ‘blacklist,’ another ‘hit list’ (Yawn!) There they go again. Another group (this time Oxfam) produces another list of “world’s worst tax havens,” and they slap the Cayman Islands near the top — not because our jurisdiction lacks transparency, or offers anything less than full cooperation with enforcement agencies all over the world, but simply because Cayman itself has no direct taxation. Never mind that it would be devastating to Cayman’s population and economy to attempt to introduce local income taxes at this stage, or that it would be highly inef- ficient, extremely expensive and practically impossible to enforce such coercive collection mechanisms in our diminutive islands. None of that matters to the certain faction of like- minded individuals and organizations (including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop- ment, Financial Action Task Force, Oxfam, the Tax Justice Network, etc. ad nauseam) who continue to use little lists to threaten jurisdictions that have low taxes, or no taxes. What this faction wants is high taxes and, more impor- tantly, tax harmonization (i.e. for the planet’s govern- ments to come together and set similar tax rates across the board, across the globe). What they are against is tax competition, where small territories and large nations are free to chooses their own methods (and magnitudes) of government revenue col- lection, and adjust rates to suit their individual needs and political desires. While Oxfam and their cohorts continue to crank out cranky blacklists, graylists and whitelists in the name of globalism, countries are breaking out of this mindset and pursuing their own strategies to fund their governmental operations and energize their economies. For example, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is cur- rently proposing to decrease the confiscatory U.S. corpo- rate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent. That’s antithetical to the “Big Brussels” attitude pre- vailing in Europe and among the “usual suspects” such as Oxfam and the Tax Justice Network, despite all the evidence pointing toward the success and resilience of efficient, low-tax and limited-government jurisdictions. Taking a quick look at the others identified as the “world’s worst tax havens,” we recognize some of the “world’s best places to live and do business,” including Bermuda, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Lux- embourg, Curacao and Hong Kong. We couldn’t think of better company to keep. In fact, Cayman has plenty to tell — and teach — the rest of the world about rational tax policy. Perhaps it’s time for Cayman to put together its own “blacklist” of the “world’s worst,” based on oppressive taxation and poor returns on massive investment in the public sector. If that’s too “undiplomatic” or “politically incorrect” for government to pursue, well, the Compass has no such qualms. We applaud Cayman’s Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton for speaking up and condemning the latest Oxfam hit list, and his observations were precisely on point. “Once you’ve read the report, and particularly the methodology, government believes that the public will understand that certain organizations’ continued efforts to exploit misinformed public opinion, as part of an agenda to influence the public policy of G-20 countries, is unhelpful at best,” Mr. Panton said. “Indeed, it may be detrimental to the overall shared goal of combating criminal behavior and addressing income inequality.” The only thing Mr. Panton needs added to his state- ment is more voices in his choir. We’ll contribute ours: Hear, hear! Vanquishing the red-tape monster PHILIP K. HOWARD On Fox News on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump lamented that those seeking government permits sometimes “are waiting in line for 15 years,” sometimes only to get rejected in the end, and vowed to speed up the process. To succeed, he’ll need a new approach to gov- erning. Every president since Jimmy Carter has vowed to cut unnecessary regulations, but the red-tape machine has defied all attempts at control. Trump’s idea is to insti- tute a “one-in, two-out” rule – that for every new regula- tion, two must be removed. Britain instituted a similar protocol in 2010 to cull un- necessary regulation and re- cently expanded it to “one in, three out.” This is part of a broader British effort to control regulatory creep, and it has achieved modest suc- cess. Imposing similar dis- cipline on new U.S. regula- tions is long overdue. For the past 50 years, Washington’s approach has been like the Roach Motel – regulations check in, but they never check out. But incremental reform is not enough. Red-tape reformers have failed because they assume the problem is a matter of degree – that there are just too many rules. Liberals stride into the red-tape jungle with pruning shears, and find themselves entangled in the internal logic of the rules. Conservatives get cheers for demanding deregulation, but when push comes to shove, voters don’t want to drink polluted water, eat spoiled food or entrust loved ones to the unsupervised care of strangers in day-care cen- ters and nursing homes. That’s why the regulatory state grew, not shrank, in the 20 years of Reagan and two Bush presidencies. What reformers have missed is that regulatory failure is not merely a matter of too much regulation but is caused by a flawed phi- losophy on how to regu- late. Both sides assume that human responsibility should be replaced by what is called “clear law.” By striving to pre- scribe every possible good choice, and proscribe every possible evil, U.S. regulation became an obsessive exercise in micromanagement. That’s why rulebooks are often 1,000 pages, while the Con- stitution is 15. The evil to be exorcised by all these legal dictates is human authority. Only by lashing each other tightly with detailed law can liberal and conservative poli- ticians be sure that the other side won’t do something bad. But ordinary citizens in our free society are also lashed to these mindless dic- tates – complying with rules that often make no differ- ence, filling out forms no one reads and stymied by bu- reaucrats whose response to every idiocy is always “The rule made me do it.” In the name of better freedom, de- tailed regulations have made everyone powerless. The solution – the only so- lution – is to retool regula- tion to focus on results, not inputs. Find any good school, any good agency, and you will find people who take re- sponsibility forgetting the job done. Experts at the Fed- eral Aviation Administration certify planes as “airworthy” based on their expert judg- ment, not compliance with detailed specs on, say, how many rivets per square foot. Teachers at good schools typ- ically say that the principal encourages them to do what they think is best and not worry about complying with many forms and metrics. The activating mecha- nism for every public choice must be human responsi- bility. What’s good is what works. Yes, it’s a good idea to review environmental im- pacts, but it’s idiotic to spend a decade creating 5,000-page tomes that double the cost of projects and cause environ- mental harm by prolonging polluting bottlenecks. The opportunity here is to move from paralysis to practicality. Focusing on re- sults, with clear lines of au- thority and accountability, is a win-win strategy: Regu- lation is more effective, and less costly, when regulators and citizens are not preoc- cupied with compliance. Aus- tralia replaced dense nursing home regulation with 31 gen- eral principles – for example, to provide “a home-like set- ting.” Within a short period, nursing homes across Aus- tralia markedly improved be- cause, studies showed, the caregivers felt free to focus on what residents needed in- stead of trudging through the day with their noses in a rulebook. Regulation by results would radically simplify law – in some areas, more like “one-in, 20-out.” Hun- dreds of federal safety spec- ifications for factory equip- ment could be encompassed within one general principle: “Tools and equipment shall be reasonably suited for the use intended, in accordance with industry standards.” Is there room for disagree- ment? Yes, but only at the margins. Instead of wasting regulatory resources on foot faults that don’t matter, the safety agency could rede- ploy its resources to finding workplaces that are actu- ally unsafe. Specificity would still be needed for, say, pol- lution discharge limits, but the litmus test should be whatever achieves the de- sired results. Rebuilding the federal be- hemoth is an ambitious goal, fraught with perceived peril as well as opportunity. But do we have a choice? No one se- rious defends the inefficien- cies in the current system. Americans are tired of being pushed around by headless bureaucracy. Half-measures by the past six presidents have all failed. The upside here is trans- formational. Virtually every federal program is broken, with the only open question how much. Should Dodd- Frank compliance costs drive small banks into the arms of larger banks? Should safety laws prohibit chil- dren from normal play ac- tivities? All these stupidi- ties can be cured, but only if people with responsibility are given the freedom to use common sense. Giving per- mits for infrastructure in two years, not 10, would add 1.5 million jobsand create a greener footprint. The downside is low. Rigid bureaucracy prevents offi- cials and citizens alike from adapting to rapid changes in global forces. Regulation by results doesn’t guarantee success, but it gives us the freedom to try. Howard is chair of the group Common Good and author of ‘The Rule of Nobody.’ © 2016, The Washington Post The opportunity here is to move from paralysis to practicality. Focusing on results, with clear lines of authority and accountability, is a win-win strategy[.]The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO Elishua Bodden passes, churches hold Christmas events In the Dec. 28, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Haig Bodden wrote: “Many people from this district returned home for the Christmas holidays in- cluding Janice Watler who is taking a course in Jamaica, and Mr. Clifford Moore, an employee of National Bulk Carriers. “Mrs. Elishua Bodden fondly known as Aunt Lish died being over 80 years of age, she was one of the large group of octogenarians living in Bodden Town. “She is survived by a brother Adler who as also an octogenarian. Many other close relatives also mourned her loss. The fu- neral rites were performed by Rev. Lewin Williams of the United Church. Her body was interred at the Pease Bay Cemetery. “In my last column I mentioned the North Easter that was blowing here. Now the wind is from the North West, but it is still the fine weather for young ducks. Do the tourists know that good fishing can be engaged off Bodden Town during the North Westers? As one old-timer said, ‘It is as calm as the night the Lord passed through.’ “On Sunday the 11th the Chapel Church of God showed an audio visual picture, ‘The story of the Wise Men.’ “On Tuesday night the 13th, the Youth Fellow- ship of the same church had a Christmas party. On Wednesday the 14th they had a tea party to raise funds for the church. On Friday the 16th another picture dealing with the life of Christ was shown at the Chapel. “The young people of the Seventh-day Adventist Church put on a Christmas Programme on the 15th. “Another accident which damaged two cars has occurred at the foot of the ill-reputed and often men- tioned Guard House Hill. “As the road reconstruc- tion programme is presently under review it would be a fine thing if the old grudge against Bodden Town could be forgotten, and a proper job done in improving the present death trap which now passes for a road. “Remember that al- though Guard House is part of Bodden Town, the road fa- talities will not necessarily be confined to the citizens of this neglected district.” Savannah Primary students embrace reading activities Youngsters at Savannah Primary School enjoyed im- mersing themselves in lit- eracy activities during a week focused on reading. Dr. Seuss’s “Oh! The Places You’ll Go” ignited inspira- tion for the theme “Up and Away: Where will reading take you today?” for a school- wide literacy week from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. The literacy team worked diligently to ensure the week was filled with inspirational activities, competitions and opportunities for staff to engage in reading, a press release states. The literacy coordi- nator for the school, Mary Callaghan, said she was ex- tremely pleased with the in- creased student engagement and creativity displayed throughout the school. “Every member of staff along with the students em- braced the week’s activi- ties,” she said. She noted that the activi- ties began with an assembly, where students shared, on a bulletin board display, the most unusual places they had read a book. Throughout the week, “Drop Everything and Read” took place each day for 20 minutes, when all staff and students stopped what they were doing to do some reading. A classroom door-decorating competi- tion involved each class col- laborating to share their rep- resentation of the theme of a chosen book, and one eve- ning, teachers shared their favorite stories with students during Pajama Story Time. A dance competition was well received by stu- dents and staff. “This year, rather than each class participating in the competition, each year group assembled a dance team to compete against their assigned year group,” said Ms. Callaghan. “This was truly the highlight of the entire week.” The success of literacy week at Savannah Primary School follows on the school’s first Partners in Literacy Night in October. “Our aim is to equip par- ents with increased knowl- edge and skills to improve literacy at home,” said Ms. Callaghan. “The partnership between home and school will in- crease the opportunity for greater academic success. “Our first night was a huge success with close to 200 parents in attendance, and on our next event, sched- uled for February, we hope to double the number of par- ents in attendance.” The Year 1 team performs during the dance competition on Friday.Even during gym class, students took part in Drop Everything and Read. Students had lots of fun at the pajama story time.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 Boys win Bodden Town Youth Cook-off In a close-fought contest, a team of two of young men from Bodden Town emerged as district cook-off cham- pions last week. Organized by the Youth Services Unit of the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, the event was held on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Stacy Watler Pavilion in Lower Valley, where Team Bradley, consisting of Bradley McLaughlin, 14, and Tarec Francis, 15, faced off against Team John Gray consisting of Shaelah Parchment Henry, 12, and Rianna Jones, 11. Using stoves donated by Home Gas, the teams each prepared a chili appetizer, a lionfish en- tree and a cold drink. According to a press re- lease, the cook-off partici- pants worked in front of an audience who had the chance to judge the chili in the peo- ples’ vote portion of the con- test, while the mains were evaluated by judges Geor- ganne Rankine, the National Youth Culinary Coordinator, and Brittney Bodden, Na- tional Youth Culinary Prefect. Team Bradley lightly sautéed the lionfish, which was served with a fresh mango salsa made with sweet peppers, mangoes, onion and cilantro on a bed of white rice, accompanied by a tamarind drink. Opponents Team John Gray pan fried the lionfish, which was served on a bed of white rice and a garden salad accompanied by fresh orange juice with ginger. Coming away with the win, Team Bradley also won the people’s vote for their chili dish by garnering 20 votes to their competitors’ 12. “Tarec and Bradley weren’t at all nervous before the competition started and worked together well, while one cooked the other was sous chef and vice versa,” said Ronald Francis, who was supporting his son Tarec at the event. “According to the judges, it was a fairly close-run thing. Both Brad and Tarec know that they’re going to have to cook out of their skins to win the national contest,” he added. As well as receiving per- sonalized chef jackets, Team Bradley earned entry into the National Youth Cook- off at the Agriculture Show in March, where six teams will have up to two hours to prepare a three-course meal including a Caymanian des- sert and drink, with coaching by a professional chef. Up next in the youth cu- linary challenge, the George Town District Cook-off takes place on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. The events are spon- sored by lionfish suppliers CULL and Ocean Frontiers, the New Self-Help Commu- nity Foundation, Home Gas Ltd., the Cayman Islands Ag- ricultural Society, Miracle Brokers International, A. L. Thompson’s, the Department of Environment, the Cayman Culinary Society, Foster’s Food Fair IGA and the Youth Services Unit. From left, James Myles of the Youth Services Unit, Team Bradley’s Tarec Francis and Bradley McLaughlin, Team John Gray’s Rianna Jones and Shaelah Parchment Henry and judge Georganne Rankine. GREEN THUMB ALERT: FREE SEEDLINGS The Department of Agriculture is offering a limited stock of free cab- bage, cucumber, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), cauli- flower, broccoli and other seedlings to the public. According to a press release, the initiative seeks to stimulate in- terest among backyard gardeners in growing quality produce in the hope it will lead to more entries and participation in the Cayman Islands Agriculture Society’s show next year. Twelve types of veg- etable seedlings are available. They may be collected from the De- partment of Agricul- ture Nursery, 181 Lottery Road, Lower Valley, as long as supplies last. Christmas workers clean roadside A team of people on government’s sponsored work program cleaned the roadside in Bodden Town on Monday. The group is part of the team who signed up for work at the Lions Community Centre last month for temporary seasonal work under the national Community Enhancement Project. Last year, more than 700 people signed up for temporary work under the scheme; this year nearly 600 signed up. The work includes gardening, cleaning public parks, beaches and roadsides, and repairs and maintenance on government properties. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe 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 15, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT 11.30 TO 4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11-3PM Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, George Town 945-3490 OPEN FOR DINNER DELIVERY AFTER 5PM CHRISTMAS SERVICES BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m. Choir Cantata. New Year’s Day Service, 11 a.m. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL CHURCH: West Bay. Christmas Day Service, 10 a.m. Watch Night Service, Dec. 31, 11 p.m. ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH: Off Eastern Avenue. Saturday, Dec. 17, A Night in Bethlehem, 4-9 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, 6 p.m.; Christmas Eve, Carols at 10:45 p.m., Mass 11 p.m.; Christmas Day, 8 a.m. only. Dec. 31, 11 p.m., Watch Night Service.; New Year’s Day, 8 a.m. only. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Christmas Eve, Children’s Play, 5:15 p.m., Children’s Mass, 6 p.m., Carol service, 11 p.m., Midnight Mass, midnight; Christmas Day, Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. No 6 p.m.; New Year’s Eve, Mass at 6 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration, 10 p.m. Mass at 11 p.m.; New Year’s Day, 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. No 6 p.m. Mass. CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH: West Bay. Christmas Eve Carol Service, 7:30 p.m. Mass 8 p.m.; Christmas Day, 9:45 a.m.; New Year’s Day, 9:45 a.m. STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Cayman Brac. Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. HOLIDAY CLOSINGS CITA: The Cayman Islands Tourism Association office closes on Friday, Dec. 23 at noon, and reopens on Tuesday, Jan. 3. A reminder to water sports members to begin stocking up on Kittiwake tokens so you will have enough for the time the office is closed. CUSTOMS: Collections Office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Thursday, Dec. 22. It will close at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. On Friday Dec. 23, the Collections Office and nearby Courier Office will close at 12:30 p.m., reopening on Wednesday Dec. 28 with their regular hours. The office will also close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday Dec. 30, with operations resuming at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELLING SERVICES: In line with other government offices (non- essential services), both the Department of Counselling Services and the Family Resource Centre will close at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT: The Immigration headquarters (including public counters, and the Passport and Visa offices) will close to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. These offices again close to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, and resume at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. IMMIGRATION BOARDS: The Work Permit Board resumes on Jan. 9. The Business Staffing Plan Board resumes Jan. 11. The Cayman Status and Permanent Residency Board resumes on Jan. 12. The Administration, Border Control and Enforcement sections of Immigration will continue functioning as usual while the boards are on leave. IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL: The Immigration Appeals Tribunal holds its final meeting for 2016 on Dec. 15. The administrative arm of the IAT will close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28. It will close again at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Members will hold their first meeting of the year on Jan. 12. NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNIT: The office, at Aqua Mall, will close Friday, Dec. 23, to Wednesday, Dec. 28. The office will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30, and reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3. THURSDAY, DEC. 15 CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Cayman National Choir and Cayman National Orchestra present a Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. at Elmslie Memorial Church, Waterfront, George Town. Free admission, but a goodwill offering will be collected. ST. GEORGE’S PRE-SCHOOL: Christmas concert. 5:30 p.m. in the church hall. Courts Road off Eastern Avenue. BRAC COURT: Summary Court from 10 a.m. at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre today and tomorrow. WEST BAY: Bulk waste cleanup continues to Dec. 17. 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 Dec. 17. For more information, call the Department of Environmental Health solid waste dispatch unit at 949-8793. PUB QUIZ: Fidel Murphy’s, 7 p.m. Ann Ghezzi hosts. $10 per person. Teams of six maximum. Call 949-5189 to reserve a table or email sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. Proceeds to Humane Society. BRAC CHRISTMAS MUSICAL: Cayman Brac primary schools combine their talents for this Christmas musical, 7 p.m., Aston Rutty Centre. CAYMAN BRAC AND LITTLE CAYMAN: Last day for bulk waste cleanup. FRIDAY, DEC. 16 VEHICLE LICENSING DEPTS: All three offices at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing will close early for a staff function. The West Bay and Breakers offices will close at 11:30 a.m.; the Crewe Road office will close at noon. Normal operating hours will resume on Saturday, Dec. 17, for the West Bay and Breakers offices (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The Crewe Road location reopens on Monday, Dec. 19, (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELLING SERVICES: The Family Resource Centre will close from 12:30 p.m. today for its Christmas staff function. YOUTH AMBASSADORS: Today is the deadline for Caymanians ages 18-27 to apply for posts as the Cayman Islands’ CARICOM Youth Ambassadors. Some overseas travel will be necessary and the successful candidates, one male and one female, will serve for up to three years. To be eligible, applicants must live in the Cayman Islands. For further inquiries and to obtain application forms, contact Acting Head of the Youth Services Unit James Myles at James.Myles@gov.ky. SATURDAY, DEC. 17 FAMILY FUN DAY: Jeremiah’s Family Fun Day, Scholars Park, West Bay, 2-5 p.m. Organized by All Against Violence In Cayman. All are invited. Free admission. Food and drinks, games, face-painting and activities for everyone. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT MARKET: 4-8 p.m., at The Crescent at Camana Bay. Holiday gifts for sale feature products created by students in Junior Achievement. CAYMAN ARTISANS MARKET: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The Paseo, Camana Bay. DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop is in Bodden Town at the Rubis gas station compound from 6-10 a.m. Clothing, linens, household items and more. BOOK SALE: The Red Cross Thrift Shop will be at Foster’s Strand 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hard cover, $2. Paperbacks, $1. Children’s books, 50 cents each. CHRISTMAS MEAL: John Gray Memorial Church will be delivering community Christmas meals today by noon. STEWARDS OF CHILDREN: The Red Cross “Darkness to Light” is a free training program, 9-11:30 a.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. CEMETERY BEAUTIFICATION: Boatswains Bay. 7 a.m. Bring paintbrush or roller and roller pan. Call 929-9932 for more information. WEST BAY SENIORS: Senior citizens Christmas social, 6 p.m. at the Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall. All West Bay residents 60+ are invited to attend. SUNDAY, DEC. 18 HEAVEN ON EARTH: Choir Cantata at John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay. 10 a.m. All are invited. TUESDAY, DEC. 20 MOONLIGHT AND MOVIES: The Crescent at Camana Bay. 7 p.m. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Free admission. Set up a picnic on the grass, or just bring a blanket, relax and enjoy the show on the big outdoor screen. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 FLOETRY: 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Books & Books. All are invited. NATIONAL TRUST: Open house and late-night shopping at the National Trust’s store at Dart Family Park. 5-8 p.m. All are invited to an evening of raffle prizes, gifts, treats and cocktails. The National Trust invites the public to give “the gift of conservation” this year. THURSDAY, DEC. 22 CHRISTMAS RECITAL: By Miss Jackie’s School of Dance. 6:30 p.m. at The Crescent, Camana Bay. MONDAY, DEC. 26 GARDEN PARTY: William Pouchie Memorial United Church in North Side hosts its annual Garden Party 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On sale will be seafood, beef, chicken, sides and deserts. Live music, fun and games for children. All are invited. THURSDAY, DEC. 29 ST. IGNATIUS ALUMNI: Christmas Social, 7 p.m. at Sunset House. All St. Ignatius Catholic School graduates or former students (1971-2016) are welcome to attend. Any questions, contact sicaymanalumni@gmail.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Churches across the islands are scheduling Christmas and New Year’s services.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016 A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR GOODWILL contact@harmonyaesthetics.net • www.harmonyaesthetics.net RECEIVE 15% OFF ANY SERVICE WITH THIS COUPON 929-8812 HARMONY AESTHETICS LUXURY MOBILE SPA We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Larry Garnet Ebanks of Northside who passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 10:00a.m. at Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, Northside. Interment to follow at the Northside Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Interment to follow at the Northside Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com This Toyota Supra, driven by an inspector at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing, was traveling in the outbound lanes of Crewe Road when it struck a light pole and ended up in the inbound lanes on July 11. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 was “racing,” “zigzagging” and “speeding” through midday traffic in the east- bound lanes and ended up vaulting the center median and knocking over a power pole. The 1996 Toyota Supra vehicle involved ended up facing the wrong way in the westbound lanes, having knocked the power pole into the middle of the road. Ms. Syms, whose Honda CR-V was damaged by flying debris from the col- lision, said shortly after the incident that she had been contacted by the department. “DVDL called and asked me to provide damage esti- mates,” Ms. Syms said at the time. “That’s a plus.” The Toyota Supra be- longed to Cayman Islands Fire Department fleet man- ager Johnny Salas, who said in July that he had cau- tioned the vehicle inspector to “be careful” with the powerful sports car when taking it out. Mr. Salas told the Cayman Compass he had intended to sell the ve- hicle before the crash. He has declined to comment regarding whether he re- ceived compensation for the vehicle, which was totaled in the crash. Mr. Salas said he was told by another vehicle in- spector at the accident scene that vehicles are typically not taken off the DVDL prop- erty during inspections. “[The] inspector that ap- proached me after the ac- cident told me he couldn’t understand why the vehicle needed to be on the road,” Mr. Salas said. “I am a me- chanic. I wouldn’t take a ve- hicle to the licensing depart- ment if it wasn’t functional.” In a statement to the Compass following the wreck, DVDL Director David Dixon said section 63 of the Cayman Islands Traffic Law allows vehicle inspectors to test vehicles “in any place and time.” “DVDL has and continues to test vehicles on public road[s] since the 1960s,” he said. Mr. Dixon said no further comment would be made regarding the July 11 acci- dent until the police and li- censing department’s in- ternal investigations were completed. He did not give a date for when that might occur and did not respond to Compass questions on Wednesday regarding the employee’s status. Director of Public Prose- cutions Cheryll Richards said she had contacted authorities in Turkey and was waiting for official documentation to be sent. There is a 45-day window from the time of Mr. Kildag’s arrest for the extradition hearing to take place. Magistrate Donalds re- manded him in custody until Dec. 29, when the case is listed for mention. The matter is not expected to be dealt with until next year. Mr. Aiolfi said his client was a German citizen and would contest the extradi- tion, saying he was not even in Turkey at the time of the al- leged offenses. Mr. Kildag is accused of being part of a Kurdish sepa- ratist movement, the PKK. He was arrested on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice – es- sentially an international ar- rest warrant – that was is- sued in November 2015. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Christmas behind bars for terror suspect Traffic court for ‘racing’ DVDL inspector I believed in the action and I would put my name to it,” he said under questioning from attorney Graham Hampson. Mr. Hewitt said he had lost his business, Fine Art and Framing, and been forced to move out of his home to cut costs because of the ex- penses incurred. Asked for comment Wednesday party leader McKeeva Bush said he had made no promises of finan- cial support in connection with the case. He said he was fighting his own complex legal battle at the time. “I took my lawyers advice. I did not and could not give, nor promise any financial support from me or anyone else, at any time, nor would I allow the UDP to be used for that purpose.” He said he would make a full statement on the matter through his lawyer when he returns from the UK next week The constitutional chal- lenge, based on the fact that Ms. Rivers had a U.S. pass- port and did not appear to have met residency require- ments to run for office, failed. At that point, Mr. Hewitt said, in his evidence, that he was summoned to a meeting of the “UDP elite” and again persuaded to proceed with an appeal. He said Mr. Moxam had “firmly stated” at the meeting that he would be the financial backer for the appeal and he would reimburse the Hewitts for the costs incurred to date. Despite that promise, Mr. Hewitt said he had been re- quired to pay for everything, including meals and hotels for the visiting Jamaican at- torney Abe Dabdoub, who had been hired by the party. When the first legal bills came in, he had to dip into his wife’s retirement fund to cover the expense. He said the party com- pletely reneged on the agree- ment and he later learned that Mr. Moxam had left the UDP and was de- clining to pay. As the bills mounted and Mr. Hewitt faced the prospect of bankruptcy, he appealed to the party leader McKeeva Bush for support. In an email, dated, Aug. 17, 2015, read to the court, he complained, “Needless to say, no cash has come in. We turned over all expense receipts to Steven [McField] but he couldn’t find anyone willing to pay them.” The email goes on to claim that Mr. Hewitt’s wife had met with Mr. Bush when the court first ordered that Mr. Hewitt would have to pay costs and she had been told, “this will be taken care of.” The email adds that nothing has been done. “So, McKeeva, we need your help. What do you sug- gest we do? Yes, we were naïve but what we did was for the sake of the party. We believed that the people in- volved were honest and trustworthy. It never oc- curred to us that the party would follow Renard’s lead and also renege on us and throw us under the bus,” the email stated. Testifying on Tuesday, Mr. Hewitt said he had received a brief text message re- sponse from Mr. Bush saying that he was almost bank- rupt too, and did not have the money to pay. None of the others copied on the email, including party secretary Tessa Bodden, Mr. Moxam and other party fi- nanciers, responded to him at all, he said. Mr. Hewitt, his wife and Mr. McField testified in affi- davits that the UDP was be- hind the constitutional chal- lenge. Mr. Hewitt said he had been pre-selected as the ideal plaintiff so it would not ap- pear as though the party was directly involved. According to Mr. Mc- Field, the possibility of a constitutional challenge was discussed at a post-elec- tion meeting. Mr. Hewitt was not present. “The gathering decided to elect Gordon Hewitt to mount the challenge,” Mr. McField wrote in his affidavit. “The only problem with Mr. Hewitt making the chal- lenge was that he had no funds to do so. That is when Renard Moxam stated that he would advance funds to cover the costs of [the] Rivers challenge before the court.” After the challenge and appeal were lost, Mr. Mc- Field wrote that Mr. Moxam had refused to pay any fur- ther funds beyond the ini- tial retainer and that he and Mr. Dabdoub were not paid either. Tuesday’s hearing, part of the bankruptcy proceedings brought against Mr. Hewitt by Minister Rivers, was a legal procedure known as a “public examination of the debtor and his affairs.” Mr. Hewitt was officially declared bankrupt following a creditors meeting in Oc- tober. This hearing was to de- termine what assets, if any, were available to the admin- istrators of his estate to re- coup funds to pay the debt to Ms. Rivers. That includes potentially selling property that he owns but also could include any debts owed to Mr. Hewitt. Justice Ingrid Mangatal explained the rationale for allowing the issue of the al- leged agreement between the Hewitts and the UDP to be explored. She said, “The trust is required to see if anyone else is liable to Mr. Hewitt and his estate. Debts and as- sets include anything that could be owed to the estate.” Mr. Hewitt’s bankruptcy could still be discharged if someone steps forward to pay the debt. Tuesday’s hearing was adjourned until next year to allow him to produce docu- ments, including the mort- gage agreement on his home, electricity and water bills and the paperwork on his busi- ness, Fine Art and Framing, which he said he had handed over to an employee. Justice Mangatal said a date would be set after Feb. 1. She added, “It would be very desirable if the matter could be resolved in another way.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bankrupt Hewitt: UDP reneged on promise to pay for Rivers challenge Nearly 7 years after quake, 50,000 in Haiti still in camps PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Nearly seven years ago, Adri- enne St. Fume and her family fled their home as the earth shook and their city crumbled around them. They ended up in what was then a vacant lot overlooking a cluster of shops along a busy street in the Haitian capital – and they have been there ever since. The mother of three said she figured their plywood shack would be temporary as they and the rest of Port- au-Prince recovered from the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010. But St. Fume has yet to find a way out. “It’s been hard but we’ve tried our best to make a kind of life here,” she said. At least 50,000 people like St. Fume remain in 31 settlement camps that emerged in Haiti in the days and weeks after the disaster. The number of people in these makeshift communi- ties has declined 96 percent since the immediate after- math, but those who remain are a stubborn reminder that this impoverished country has yet to fully recover from one of the worst natural disasters in history. Authorities estimated 1.5 million people were living in over 1,500 camps in July 2010. The numbers dropped either because people were evicted by private property owners, raised enough money to rebuild homes, or received rental subsidies from the gov- ernment and aid groups that got them back on their feet. Celal KildagNext >