MADE WITH 100% BEEF SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY (COMING SOON) Dreaming of a bright Christmas The Cayman Islands is aglow as Christmas approaches with festive lights, like this spectacular display on South Church Street, delighting young and old. Homes, businesses, yards, roadsides and roundabouts across the islands have been decorated with displays like this teddy bear scene at the home of the Bodden sisters. For more Christmas scenes, see the Cayman Weekender inside. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Gov’t to report budget figures every 3 months A decade of good deeds JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com From funding medical care for children in need of life-saving surgery to helping rebuild dilap- idated homes, Cayman charity Acts of Random Kindness is celebrating 10 years of doing good deeds around the island. In its latest project, the charity recruited volunteers from The Ritz-Carlton hotel to renovate a home for a pregnant teen mother in West Bay. The home, like many that ARK has renovated over the years, was stricken with mould, collapsing ceilings and decay. “The team from The Ritz did a fabulous job to redo the whole home and create a safe and clean space for her to bring her baby home to,” said Tara Nielsen, who runsthe charity with Houria Fresard. The renovation was part of ARK’s “Cayman Casa” program, which connects Cayman com- panies to families in need and puts their labor and resources CHARGES ALLEGE ‘RECKLESS’ DIRT BIKE RIDING BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com In what may end up being a test case for the Cayman courts, a dirt bike rider has been arrested and charged with a number of traffic offenses related to an incident that occurred Sunday, Nov. 27, on Grand Cayman. Dozens of motorcycle and dirt bike riders took part in the “ride of the century,” or ROC, that day and were observed by numerous spectators speeding, driving in the opposite lanes of traffic, “popping wheelies” and en- gaging in what Police Commissioner Derek Byrne described as “dangerous and dis- turbing” behavior. Video footage of the incident was cap- tured and posted on social media sites in the days following the event, depicting a number of motorcycle riders – some with bikes which appeared to be street legal and some that were clearly not – engaging in the same types of behavior. Only one, a 27-year-old male from West Bay district, has been charged for prosecu- tion in traffic court. That man, who has not yet appeared in court, will be prosecuted for reckless driving, as well as driving without 2018 deadline set in legislation BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands government will begin publicly reporting how much money it earns and how much it spends every three months, beginning in January 2018. The quarterly budget reports, which for the first time will reveal government budget figures in “real time,” are required under the revisions to the Public Management and Fi- nance Law set to go before the Legislative Assembly in January. The government was supposed to report its financial progress each quarter in every year since 2004, but it never managed to do so under the old public finance law, even- tually scrapping that requirement without having followed it once. However, Finance Minister Marco Archer said Tuesday that the updated reporting re- quirements, if approved by the assembly, will be much easier to meet since they are largely just general statements of earnings and spending. Each report is supposed to be placed in the government’s official gazette six weeks after the end of each quarter. If the first quarter of the 2018-2019 budget cycle ends on March 31, 2018, the figures would be re- ported by mid-May. “By doing the financials on a quarterly basis, it will allow [government] to recognize PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 15 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 15 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman’s Most Affordable Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Monday! TOMORROW Saturday, Dec 24th Barefoot Man and Sea N’B Starting live at 7:30pm Come for dinner Stay for Dancing Or come to our beautiful Oceanside Bar and listen to the Sweet Sounds of Barefoot Man New Years EveNew Years Eve BAREFOOT MAN & Sea N’ B Come And See The Fire Works Playing No Cover Charge Come And See The Fire WorksCome And See The Fire Works with DJ Flex Free lessons with Kirk starting 9.30pm Every Tuesday FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR 50% Off Tapas and Selected Wines Or come to our beautiful Oceanside Bar and listen to the Sweet Sounds of Barefoot Man Call 949-2231 or email: info@wharf.ky ‘Grinch’ woman arrested The proud Florida sheriff stood at the front of the room full of reporters, holding up a photo of the green, sinister Christmas character. “This is really not the Grinch,” Grady Judd, Polk County sheriff, said, before holding up a second photo – a woman’s mug shot. “This is the Grinch.” The woman, Tammy Strick- land, 38, is accused of taking part in a scam to steal toys from “Toys for Tots,” a pro- gram run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve to dis- tribute toys to children whose parents cannot afford them for Christmas. She was arrested on Monday and charged with 166 felony counts – including grand theft and using ficti- tious identification – as well as 28 misdemeanor charges. After receiving a tip, detec- tives learned that Strickland – a former volunteer with the charitable organization – had submitted counterfeit applica- tions for children’s toys, using 140 fictitious children’s names and 28 fictitious adult names. In an undercover sting, de- tectives arranged to meet the woman at a “Toys for Tots” warehouse Monday for her to collect the donated toys for the applications she had sub- mitted. She drove to the ware- house in a 2005 Cadillac Es- calade to load the toys onto a utility trailer. “Do you hear me?” Judd reiterated in the news con- ference. “She drove up in her Cadillac.” Detectives told Strickland her bail would amount to about $180,000, to which she responded “well, I guess I’m not going anywhere,” Judd said. “Well yeah, Tammy, you are going someplace,” Judd said. “You are going where we lock up Grinches. It’s called the county jail, or Grinch city.” “And Tammy,” he added. “You’re going to eat pressed turkey on Christmas morning.” Through a search warrant in Strickland’s home, detec- tives found 118 unwrapped toys, which a witness in the home said were from “Toys for Tots,” Judd said. Detec- tives determined she sub- mitted some fictitious appli- cations for “Toys for Tots” in 2015, the same year she vol- unteered as a route coordi- nator for the organization, picking up toys from various local businesses. It is unclear what exactly the woman – who has chil- dren of her own – was doing with the toys after obtaining them, Judd said. Strickland, who owns an income tax preparation services com- pany in Auburndale, Florida, had previously advertised giving away toys to her cus- tomers, Judd said. The inves- tigation is ongoing and other charges are possible. During the news confer- ence, Judd motioned to a table that displayed the var- ious toys authorities seized from Strickland’s house. “There would have been 140 children going without Christmas this year be- cause of her ugly atti- tude,” Judd said. The holiday spirit was evident at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, especially on its Twitter and Facebook ac- counts, which show a photo of Judd in a Santa Claus hat, and include multiple posts with lyrics to Christmas songs written primarily in emoji. To publicize Tuesday’s news conference, the of- fice also posted an image on Facebook of reporters along- side a photo-shopped elf. “We’re excited that she’s in jail,” Judd said. “It makes my Christmas a happy Christmas.” © 2016, The Washington Post JAMAICAN WORKERS TO SPLIT $2M UNDER SETTLEMENT COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – About 240 Jamaican workers at a luxury golf resort in South Carolina will be splitting $2 million under a deal to settle a lawsuit alleging they had been cheated. The order signed Dec. 16 by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel applies to a pool of Jamaican guest workers who worked for Ki- awah Island Golf Resort on H-2B visas. The program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the country to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs. Several guest workers filed a class-action law- suit last year accusing Ki- awah of failing to prop- erly pay them minimum wages by deducting housing and transportation costs from their pay for kitchen, serving and house- keeping jobs from 2012 through 2014. “For years, Plaintiffs and the other class mem- bers have left their homes and families in Jamaica and spent considerable money and effort to come to the United States to work for Ki- awah,” the workers, repre- sented by the Southern Pov- erty Law Center, wrote in the complaint. Under the agreement, roughly 240 housekeepers, cooks, bellmen and other service workers would share $2 million. Kiawah has agreed to pay an additional $300,000 in legal fees. Kiawah officials have de- nied the allegations. The agreement was reached ear- lier this year and finalized in Gergel’s order. Crews look for cruise ship passenger who went overboard MIAMI (AP) – U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching for a man who apparently jumped from the 12th deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship off of the Florida Keys. Officials said in a news release sent Thursday that the crew of the Indepen- dence of the Seas notified the Coast Guard’s com- mand center in Key West early Thursday morning. In a statement Royal Caribbean said wit- nesses saw the 22-year- old man “intentionally going overboard” from the 12th deck of the ship around 1:45 a.m. The ship was on the last leg of a four-night cruise and was returning to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Crews are searching for him some 33 miles southeast of Key Largo. No further details were immediately available. Compass marathon photo competition winner Puspa Rumba won the Cayman Compass prize draw for the Cayman Islands Marathon contest recently. Ms. Rumba received the most likes in the Tag-Yourself-And-Win contest on the Cayman Compass Facebook page. She won a Samsung Galaxy Edge phone courtesy of Flow, a 12-month annual yoga pass from Bliss Living Yoga and a 3-month juice delivery gift from Green2Go.ky. – PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Witnesses saw the 22-year-old man “intentionally going overboard” from the 12th deck of the ship around 1:45 a.m.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 shing all of our valued customers a FROM THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF ATThe 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” FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Here we are – it’s Christmastime again. In a matter of hours, adults will be mingling over mulled wine, eggnog, sorrel and punch, helping them- selves to another serving of sliced ham or mince pie, while the stereo softly plays familiar songs by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey and the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Parents will be coaxing their children into bed with visions of sugarplum dreams and promises of packages wrapped in pretty paper. Even after an extended bedtime with stories such as, “A visit from St. Nicholas,” “The Three Kings” and “The Polar Express,” the young ones will still lie awake long after they should have gone to sleep, eyes wide open and ears intent on picking up any hint of the tell-tale sound of sleigh bells outside the window or reindeer hooves on the rooftop. When the night has finally fallen silent, a small section of the house will quietly come alive, partic- ularly in the area surrounding the Christmas tree. What’s that we hear? Is it slippers on stair steps, and half-asleep grown-ups drowsily feeling their way through the dark? Or is it ash-encrusted boots, and a nimble old elf laden with a magical bag of toys? When the morning finally arrives, the youngest children are the earliest heralds of the long-awaited day, their bright smiles shining and, cries of, “Wake up, wake up!” ringing out before the sunrise and neighbor- hood roosters. Christmas Day proceeds with flurries of wrapping paper and ribbons; for many families, a trip to the chapel for solemn thanksgiving for the birth of their savior; visits to the homes of relatives and close friends; and of course, much feasting and making merry. But it is not so much the particular activities of the day that makes it Christmas … nor is it snow, or chimneys or Scotch pines (scarce commodities indeed in Cayman) … Rather, it is the ever-present (yet ever- elusive) hope of “peace on Earth” and the prevailing spirit of “good will toward men” that defines the Christmas season and makes it worthy of the elevated position it occupies in our culture. It’s not in the gift-giving, the socializing or the caroling, specifically, that you’ll find the spirit of Christmas, but in the arrested moments of clarity where we realize, for even an instant, what it means to feel love and charity for one another. The real Christmas presents don’t consist of money or material objects, but are the memories we store within, and that we can unpack from our souls during future struggles with loss, mourning or loneliness – those times of pain and vulnerability when we imperfect mortals find it necessary to treasure anew those dis- tilled drops of unalloyed joy … when we, in our individual weakness, must draw upon our collective strength. This is Christmas, the best parts of humanity orchestrated into a crescendo, and the jubilant echoes providing harmony in our lives throughout the years to come. Happy holidays to our readers. Our very best wishes to you all. Merry Christmas, Cayman Islands! From us to you: Have a very merry Christmas! Once again, we are ap- proaching another won- derful Christmas season in the Cayman Islands. I am very much looking forward to spending Christmas here with my grown up children, and I hope that you will also be with family or friends at this special time. Christmas is a good time for all of us to reflect on the past year, and to count our many blessings. There has been so much violence and uncertainly in the world this year. We only need to reflect on the ap- palling situation of the people of Syria and on the numerous shocking terrorist attacks in countries such as Turkey and Egypt, to appreciate how safe and secure we are compared to many citizens of the world. Christmas is an opportu- nity for us to pause and give thanks for this. Closer to home, this year the Cayman Islands, and par- ticularly the Sister Islands, were under threat from Hur- ricane Matthew. Fortunately the Cayman Islands were spared, but the excellent work of civil servants and many, many others, ensured we were well prepared should the storm have hit. It was also very heartening to see the kindness of Cayman Islanders come to the fore as the community rallied around to help our neighbours in Haiti. Hurricane Matthew devastated the south of Haiti, where more than one thou- sand people lost their lives and many, many more lost their homes. In the Cayman Islands, you know only too well the destruction such powerful storms can cause. Your resilience in such times of need is a testament to the strength and compassion of the people here. Christmas is a time for family and friends to cel- ebrate together, but also to reach out to those less fortu- nate than ourselves. I know that you will continue to look after the vulnerable, el- derly and young people in our community. I never fail to be im- pressed by the generosity of the Cayman Islands people towards others, and this year is no exception. The scale and variety of your chari- table and voluntary work has been truly extraordinary, and demonstrates the very spe- cial character of the people of these Islands. This work has helped so many people in the Cayman Islands, for example, the Heart Fund has just pre- sented the HSA with a brand new ambulance which will be of huge benefit to the com- munity. Charitable work has also helped others beyond our shores that are less for- tunate than we are. I am very proud to be Pa- tron for the Cayman Islands supporters of the Have a Heart Foundation, which en- ables children from the Ca- ribbean, and Central and South America, to travel to the Cayman Islands for urgently needed heart surgery. So far, nearly one hundred and fifty children – including four from the Cayman Islands – have benefited from treatment at Cayman Health City. The Cayman Islands have given these children the gift of life. Another highlight of the year for me, and I know for many others, was the Cayman Islands sending five of our finest athletes to the Olympic games in Rio de Ja- neiro, Brazil. The accomplish- ments of our Olympians this summer showed what great heights our small islands can reach. The athletes’ in- dividual achievements were hugely impressive, but so also was the tremendous team ef- fort, from all the coaches, vol- unteers and families, that en- abled them to compete. Once again, on behalf of everybody, I would like to thank all those who worked hard throughout the year to keep us safe and well. This group includes the emergency services, who work unstint- ingly on our behalf, as well as civil servants, churches, clubs and charities. These people often work quietly behind the scenes and very much deserve our thanks and appreciation – especially those who will be working over Christmas. Being here in the Cayman Islands for my last Christmas as Governor makes this a very special occasion for me. Three years have passed by in a flash, but this short time has given me many won- derful memories. But my lasting memories of the Cayman Islands will be of the people I have met here, and of the strong sense of community and continuity you have shared with me, and that will stay with me forever. Thank you. Happy Christmas to everyone and very best wishes for a safe, healthy, and pros- perous new year. Governor Helen Kilpatrick CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2016 From Governor Helen Kilpatrick I never fail to be impressed by the generosity of the Cayman Islands people towards others, and this year is no exception. Governor Helen Kilpatrick5 OPINION&LETTERS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2016 From Premier Alden McLaughlin “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” That is a quote from the Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol” written 173 years ago, but the words still ring true today and they hold a special place in my own heart. This is one of my favourite times of year and feelings of generosity, kindness and love that come with this special season are those that I truly wish we could keep all year. There is much ado about Christmas as we run about trying to gather all of the items that will make this holiday special. By now all the lights are up, the trees decorated, the pres- ents purchased and wrapped. We have been treated to wonderful Christmas choirs and gatherings featuring sparkly drinks and good food. We have watched with glee the youngest among us take part in Christmas pageants and helped them pen their let- ters to Santa. It’s been a busy and some- times hectic run-up to this special day. But it has fi- nally arrived. Now it is time to reflect and focus on the important things in our lives in the Cayman Islands. We have seen major po- litical changes in the past 12 months, from the people of Britain choosing to di- vorce themselves from the European Union to the elec- tion of a new president in the U.S. We have also seen problems across the world caused by natural disasters as well as man-made trag- edies through the horrors of terrorism and wars and failed economies caused by bad governance. Fortunately here at home we have had many reasons to celebrate, giving us good cause to keep Christmas in our hearts. Cayman’s economy continued to grow this past year and more people are employed than they were a year ago. Things have gotten better for Cay- manians. Growth will con- tinue into next year and so we expect the lives of Cay- manians will continue to improve into 2017. It is not unusual when asking a Caymanian how they are doing when I meet them at the supermarket or on the sidewalk for them to reply, “Blessed. I am blessed.” Those are the people who are keeping Christmas con- stantly in their hearts be- cause they realize their blessings, as we all should. In the book of Luke we read the words of Eliza- beth to Mary when told that Mary was pregnant with the Christ child. “Blessed among women are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” It is that Christ child that we celebrate at this won- derful time of year. And it is his admoni- tion to us that it is more blessed to give than to re- ceive that we take to heart at Christmastime. Giving doesn’t just mean buying or making presents for family members, friends and co-workers. The more we give of ourselves the more blessed we are. I will realize my bless- ings when I spend my Christmastime with my wife, sons, father, sisters, other family and friends. I hope that you too have an opportunity to pause and re- flect and take time to share the holiday with family, friends and neighbours. I sincerely hope that each of you has a joyous Christmas and the feelings of goodwill and generosity we are feeling at this special time are truly kept in your hearts all year long. On behalf of Govern- ment, my family and myself, I wish each of you a won- derful Christmas filled with love, laughter and blessings. Premier Alden McLaughlin CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2016 From Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled …” ’Tis the lovely choral sounds of Christmas in the Cayman Islands! … It is with pleasure that I bring seasons greetings from myself, my wife Kerry and our family, also from all of my colleagues. I take this opportunity to share a few Christmas thoughts with all of our citizens and all of our visitors in these beloved Cayman Islands. I love to sit and meet with older people and their families, especially at this time of year, and hear the motivating and uplifting stories of life in early Cayman – as well as to share in their present cele- brations of new births, and other personal and profes- sional achievements over the past year. This always takes me back to early Cayman, and our homesteads where the women and families worked hard to grow produce and raise families; even as the men harvested the regional waters for turtles and other of nature’s bounties, or sailed in the global fleets of commercial merchant mar- iners helping our islands to develop and at the same time assisting with the de- velopment of the economies of other countries. In those early years all we had to our names was grit, guts and gumption, that took us through the rough times. Most of the early men, upon reaching their teens, went off to sea; some staying away for months or years on end, all to build this, our island home! And, at Christmas, faith- fully returned home with gifts of apples, a few can- dies, and perhaps a few bolts of sewing material, or orders of National Bellas Hess clothes. This is the first Christmas without my mother and my aunt who went on at the age of 102. Like most fami- lies of years gone, my own mother served as de facto head of our family home, and she made sure we were provided for with the best resources she could muster … especially at Christmas. These are precious early memories indeed! Today, the compari- sons are stark between the Christmases of my child- hood, when I would be lucky to get a new pair of pants, which had to last the entire year. Indeed, I remember taking off my shoes, when I had a pair, and walking home from Sunday school on the rough dirt roads on my bare feet, so that my shoes would not get worn out or too scuffed. Over the ensuing years, the Cayman Islands, and mankind have advanced by leaps and bounds. I will not go into history lessons; suf- fice to say that, in this life- time, our own Cayman Is- lands have also advanced in so many ways. Just days ago, as I sat and pondered about this blessed season, I thought: “What is a Christmas mes- sage in this day and age?” Of course, it is not a childish Santa message, filled with empty promises. Neither is it a time to ex- amine differences or point fingers. Instead, Christmas, first and foremost, is a Season of Thanks, namely of the birth of Jesus Christ, a divine example on earth, and provider of a heavenly aspiration for our souls. So then, the Christmas message must remain, in baby Jesus’ example, a time when we exercise peace and good will towards all people. In doing this, our virtues must be maintained and re- freshed, including those of truth, equity and fairness in how we treat our family members, employees, cli- ents and friends. In other words, “do good, maintain a good conscience, and good will follow you!” In so doing, the people of these islands also preserve our rights to our traditional way of life, which is built upon good moral values. With God’s Grace, we have so much of which to be proud: Within my generation, by foresight and perspira- tion, our fishermen devised a Stingray City, our developers envisioned guests coming to hotels and condos, and our world-wise men created air and sea ports to wel- come the world. In so doing, we have turned our sandy shores into an unprecedented tourism attraction; a world-class ser- vice that is now the envy of the region – and of the world. Simultaneously, we capi- talized on our honesty and knowledge of how to stretch and save a “shilling,” con- verting these into the foun- dation of our financial ser- vices industry. The original offshore banking services of the 1960s and 70s have since evolved into diverse areas – from mutual funds and global shipping registration, to captive insurance and top-notch legal and corpo- rate services. It is said that high achievers, such as top athletes, scientists and educators, are often re- ferred to as being made of “The Good Stuff.” While we were, and are, blessed to have people made of this same cosmic stuff, we maintain that this comes about only as a result of God’s inspiration; and His granting to us of health, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. But, as we prepare to finish a very eventful year, we must be aware of the reality of heightened chal- lenges, from juvenile ed- ucation and behavior, to ensuring that Cayman main- tains, and grows, its share of the commercial markets. There are significant chal- lenges everywhere – in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities. In speaking this, I am not speaking of diminished expectations – but quite to the contrary! I foresee nothing but the best, upward movement of our people and our stake- holders, as long as we do not stray from the tried-and- tested formula. After all, even as the first biblical account of the na- tivity is found in Saint Mat- thew, the author entreats us to be “harmless and peaceful as doves,” but in the same book, he says that we must also remain “wise and diligent.” Today, not only do our promising university grad- uates return home to begin their careers, and forward our nation-building as- pirations; the rest of the world is also beating a path to our shores. Yes, we must proudly maintain memory of the fact of how we did it; but as we go to our gatherings and cel- ebrations this month, do not allow the glamorous ball gowns, well cooked meals and lavish lifestyles we see, especially at Christmas time, cloud our vision. Our “National Song” written by a Caymanian Lady Leila Ross- Shier – and which I was proud to put into law – says it best for me. About our islands this time of the year it says “And when comes on the season of Peace, Goodwill Toward Men; ’tis then I love you best of all Beloved Isles Cayman.” So, while appreciating the memories of “Christ- mases Past”, I implore us all to remain equally focused on these realities. Build “Christmases Present” of love and sharing; but also continue to unite and work to en- sure that the “Christmases Future” are hopeful and brighter for our children and grandchildren. I wish you all a time of reflection, reconnection and rejuvenation, and a blessed and safe Season of Goodwill. “And when comes on the season of Peace, Goodwill Toward Men; ’tis then I love you best of all — Beloved Isles Cayman.” God Bless you and your families wher- ever they may be. Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush Premier Alden McLaughlin Fortunately here at home we have had many reasons to celebrate, giving us good cause to keep Christmas in our hearts. Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush In those early years all we had to our names was grit, guts and gumption, that took us through the rough times.6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman falls behind regional tourism trends CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com The top 16 tourist desti- nations in the Caribbean in- creased on average about 2.5 percent so far this year, down from more than 6 percent for each of the past two years. So far in 2016, Cayman has been almost stagnant with about a third of 1 per- cent growth, according to data compiled by Integra Re- alty Resources. The Dominican Republic continues to be the top spot for tourism in the region, with almost 5 million stay- over tourists between Jan- uary and October of this year. Four destinations saw shrinking tourism numbers so far this year – Haiti, Trin- idad and Tobago, Aruba and Curacao, according to Integra and the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Tourism growth in most jurisdictions has slowed since last year. The report concludes: “Analyzing the hotel perfor- mance metrics and the typ- ical market cycle, one may logically assume that the Ca- ribbean market is past its peak and in (slight) decline mode; however, this conclu- sion may be short-sighted with arrivals to the region still on the increase.” Integra notes the Zika virus may have contributed to the slowdown. Issuing the company’s predictions for the year to come, Integra states, “As- suming Zika infections con- tinue to decline and the issue becomes less newsworthy, we project modest improvement in the overall Caribbean hotel and tourism sector in 2017.” Integra’s Jim Andrews said he believes there is de- mand for more new hotels in the Cayman Islands, even after the opening of the new Kimpton Seafire hotel. In an email, Mr. Andrews wrote, “Given the size and popularity of the Cayman Is- lands as a clean, safe, upscale destination; the Cayman Is- lands should logically rank higher than 15th in the Ca- ribbean (excluding Mexico) in terms of stay-over arrivals; and we believe there is room to grow as new hotel room inventory is added.” Average daily hotel rates and occupancy fell across the region. Average rates dropped by about $9 per night across the region and occupancy fell 3 percent from last year, ac- cording to the Integra report. Hotel inventory across the Caribbean increased by about 3.5 percent, which, Integra notes, could have had an im- pact on occupancy rates. The report explains: “This moderate decline in average rates and occupancy can be attributed to various fac- tors such as the Zika virus and competition from other travel destinations. It is also possible that an increase in the number of rooms in in- ventory has also played a factor in terms of supply versus demand. “It is also possible that some Caribbean tourists are opting for unbranded bou- tique resorts, condominiums, rental villas, fractional/time- share units and other alterna- tives to standard hotels,” the report states, because those accommodations do not re- port statistics to STR Global, which tracks hotel data. Mr. Andrews said these kinds of accommodations pose additional challenges. He writes, “These condo re- sorts are also not marketed as well as branded (and many unbranded) hotels, so their occupancy levels are much lower than hotels and they contribute less productivity to the overall economy (per bedroom) than equivalent in branded hotel rooms would.” Integra’s data show Cayman has about average demand for hotel rooms, measured as the number of tourist arrivals per room. About 100 tourists arrived over the year so far for each hotel room available in Cayman, according to Integra. “Based on our conversa- tions with regional and in- ternational developers, they view Cayman as one of the lower risk (and most desir- able) destinations to plan a project, given the established demand, sound fundamentals, low crime rates, customer sat- isfaction, appeal to the luxury clientele and appeal to fami- lies,” Mr. Andrews said. “There are limited quality beachfront sites in Cayman on which to plan new hotel projects unless we see a trend of re-development of some of the older condominium de- velopments on Seven Mile Beach. There are very few sites in the Eastern Districts that meet the developer’s cri- teria for beach quality.” He said developers will likely move to take over older condo developments to even- tually be able to redevelop on the site, similar to what happened with Beach Bay in Bodden Town. The condo buildings still sit empty at Beach Bay and work has not yet begun on the long-planned hotel there. HEALTH CLINICS’ HOLIDAY OPENING TIMES Health clinics throughout the Cayman Islands will operate for limited hours during the Christmas and New Year holidays, health officials advise. Acting Director of Pri- mary Health Care Services Dr. Eryka Simmons issued a public advisory Thursday on the closure times of the George Town General Prac- tice clinic and the District Health Centres over the holiday period. The George Town General Practice Clinic will close at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve. The clinic, along with all District Heath Centres will be closed on Christmas Day and also on Monday, Dec. 26. On Tuesday, Dec. 27, the George Town General Prac- tice Clinic will be open for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The District Health Centres will close at noon on Dec. 27. The clinics will reopen as usual on Wednesday, Dec. 28. All clinics will be closed for the New Year hol- iday on Monday, Jan. 2, Dr. Simmons advised. The 24 hour Accident and Emergency Unit at the Cayman Islands Hospital will remain open during the holiday season. Dr. Simmons also re- minded residents to stock up on prescription medica- tions to ensure they have adequate supplies. Tourists arrive at Owen Roberts International Airport earlier this year. According to Integra, about 100 tourists arrived so far this year for each hotel room available in Cayman. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS TO OUR PRECIOUS ANGEL Missing you at Christmas Your 3rd Christmas in Heaven Every day without you Since you had to go Is like summer without sunshine And winter without snow. We wish we could talk to you There’s so much we would say Life has changed so very much Since you went away. We miss the bond between us And we miss your kind support You’re in our minds and in our hearts And every Christmas thought. We will always feel you close to us And tho you’re far from sight We’ll search for you among the stars That shine on Christmas night. Dearest Shen, we miss you and love you So VERY much. Words cannot explain the pain In our hearts since you left us. Your brokenhearted parents. MARLENE AND ASHTON BODDEN & ALL YOUR FAMILY FEBRUARY 27, 1978 NOVEMBER 19, 2014 enni VANESSA PAMELA DACOSTA The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Mike Brown regret to announce his passing on Saturday 17 December 2016. Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mike Brown will be held at 3:00pm Wednesday, 28 December 2016 at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Garden of Reflection Cemetery. In Loving Memory Of Frank Adolphus Dell (Crushall) Gone but not forgotten January 4th 1933 - December 26, 2009 No farewell words were spoken No time to say goodbye You were gone before we knew it and only God knows why Our hearts still ache with sadness, and secret tears still ow What it means to lose you, no one will ever know. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best. Rest in peace Sadly missed from your heart broken wife Monica Dell Frank Adolphus Dell (Crushall)Frank Adolphus Dell (Crushall) Gone but not forgotten January 4th 1933 - December 26, 2009 Frank Adolphus Dell (Crushall)Frank Adolphus Dell (Crushall) Gone but not forgotten January 4th 1933 - December 26, 2009 God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best. Sadly missed from your heart broken wifeSadly missed from your heart broken wife God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best. Sadly missed from your heart broken wifeSadly missed from your heart broken wife Astley Rudyard McLaughlin Christmas has never been the same since you left us. For all the joy you brought us, the pain of losing you will never go away. We want to call you just to hear your voice or just to see your smile again. Our hearts are torn in two, one side fi lled with heart aches the other died with you. But knowing that you’re in our hearts, helps us through each day. When you were here, we never felt anything could go wrong. We miss the times together, You left without saying goodbye. I try to hide the tears whenever your name is called, Or I see all your love around me in each way you tried. Loving you always, Mom, Brothers and Nephew Zared TO OUR LOVING AND DEVOTED SON & BROTHER Police: Holiday checkpoints paying off BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service av- eraged more than one drunken driving arrest per day during the first two weeks of its holiday traffic safety campaign. According to police, “intensified” road safety operations since Dec. 7 have led to 17 DUI arrests as of Thursday. In addition, 35 traffic tickets were issued by offi- cers at traffic checkpoints and on routine patrols during the period. RCIPS Inspector Ian Yearwood said routine roadblocks appeared to be having some effect in less- ening the number of traffic- related arrests. “Officers at road checks have observed more vehicles driven by designated drivers,” Mr. Yearwood said. “Inebri- ated people may be in the car, but fewer of them are be- hind the wheels.” In addition to the traffic incidents, the road check- points have led to four drug- related arrests since Dec. 7. In one incident on Dec. 15, a driver failed to stop at a roadblock on Shamrock Road and was tracked down by police to a nearby ad- dress where the driver was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. The traffic enforcement effort will continue through the first week of the new year, police said. The RCIPS Traffic Man- agement Unit has done some form of holiday traffic crack- down every year for at least the past decade, but this year they are being joined by 15 volunteers from the Special Constables Unit who have been trained in traffic en- forcement techniques. Newly appointed traffic unit Inspector Ian Yearwood said the public will gener- ally notice more roadblocks and other high-visibility in- terdiction efforts during the next few weeks. The traffic unit has been depleted over the past sev- eral years as officers have been diverted to other crime- fighting areas deemed to be more crucial at the time. Police Superintendent Robert Graham said this week that police would look to add more staff to the unit in the coming months, but until that happens, Special Constables Commandant Chris Duggan said the spe- cial constables can help “make up the numbers.” “Specials are normally used as crowd control at events or other administra- tive duties, but they have all the powers of a paid RCIPS constable and can be used for things like traffic enforce- ment while the regulars are out enforcing more serious crime,” he said. Special constables will not investigate scenes of fatal or serious injury collisions. Those incidents are left to the traffic unit and accident reconstruction experts. Grand Court adjourns charges for man missing at sea since March CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Charges against a missing defendant, Gary Owen Mull- ings, were adjourned without a new date after senior Crown Nicole Petit advised that the prosecution did not wish to withdraw them. Ms. Petit appeared in Grand Court on Wednesday and reminded Justice Charles Quin that the matter had last been mentioned in May, when the court was advised that Mr. Mullings had gone missing “and may have been lost at sea.” Her application at this stage was to have the matter adjourned “sine die,” meaning that no date would be set at this time for another men- tion. Ms. Petit did not wish to withdraw the charges be- cause there was not any de- finitive proof of death, such as a death certificate. Sufficient time has not yet passed for the missing man to be legally presumed dead, she indicated. Attorney Prathna Bodden advised that the firm of Samson and McGrath had been asked if they had any contact with Mr. Mullings, but they had not. Justice Charles Quin said the situation was very sad for Mr. Mullings’s family. He granted the application for adjournment. Mr. Mullings was 41 when he first appeared in Sum- mary Court in April 2015, on five charges. They related to alleged wrongful transfers of sums of money to a bank business account for which he was the account holder and signator. The sums involved were CI$127,100 and US$174,689.47 and two charges were for dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit – knowing or believing that the transfers were made in error, but failing to take reasonable steps to cancel the credit. He was further charged with acquiring criminal property, namely CI$57,900 cash and US$35,800 cash, by way of ATM withdrawals be- tween Dec. 10 and Dec. 29, 2014. The final charge was using criminal property – using CI$37,719.40 from the account by means of debit card point-of-sale transac- tions at various locations for the purchase of goods and services between Dec. 9 and Dec. 29, 2014. He first appeared in Grand Court on June 5, 2015, and periodically thereafter. At that first hearing, his attorney told the court that represen- tations were being made for repayment of the funds used. On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Mr. Mullings went fishing with two young nephews and two other adults in a 28-foot panga- style boat. They were last seen by another boat some- time between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. that day leaving 12 Mile Bank and heading to- ward George Town with one engine operating. Their cap- sized craft was spotted 20 miles southwest of Grand Cayman by the police heli- copter Monday morning. Po- lice recovered the upturned vessel Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, private vessels assisted in searching for the missing boys and men, but no sightings of any survi- vors were reported. Ms. Petit did not wish to withdraw the charges because there was not any definitive proof of death, such as a death certificate.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2016 From the heart As 2016 draws to a close, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of our employees, clients and friends for another memorable year. At Ogier, we focus on what really matters, inside and outside the workplace. We’re an international business but have strong roots in the Cayman Islands – having celebrated our 25th anniversary in the islands this year – and that’s why we believe that strong businesses and strong communities go hand in hand. Some of the great local causes we have supported this year include: • Meals on Wheels • Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman • Junior Achievement Cayman Islands • 100 Women Who Care Cayman Islands • Hedge Funds Care Cayman Islands • Children & Youth Services (CAYS) Foundation • The 5th Annual CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure • The Cayman Finance Student Education and Work Experience Programme designed to mentor young Caymanians. • Rotaract Blue Open Arms Gala • Feed our Future • KidsCARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts Our approach is simple. We are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our clients, our employees and On behalf of all of us at Ogier, we wish you all the very best for the New Year and a peaceful, prosperous and happy 2017. Legal services in British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Jersey Luxembourg Shanghai TokyoNext >