ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 182517-Ad-MC-Generic-Man-FrntPgBanner-1.5x6col-Compass.indd 112/30/16 11:04 AM Fireworks displays welcome new year All eyes were on the skies on New Year’s Eve as fireworks exploded across the Cayman Islands to mark the arrival of 2017. Along Seven Mile Beach, pictured, several hotels and bars hosted their own pyrotechnic displays, watched by the thousands who lined the beach. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY What made headlines in Cayman’s first newspaper CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Reports of a large shark in George Town harbor. A fatal shooting. Vessels arriving and de- parting. A meeting of the Legislative Body. The naming of a new road and support urged for local business. Almost all of these topics sound as if they could have been today’s front page news. They were, in fact, the subjects of stories considered newsworthy – 109 years ago. The “Monster Shark in Har- bour” item, however, only made page 2. Perhaps this was because the sighting occurred on Jan. 27, 1908, but the newspaper reporting it did not make its debut until five weeks later, when everybody on the island must have already heard some ver- sion of the event. According to the paper’s account, the crew of the schooner Sea Gull were engaged in work on board when “a very large shark” was seen alongside. “Comparing its length with that of the ship, it was es- timated that the monster was nearly thirty feet long. Its head was thought to be about five or six feet across …. The men were so much taken by surprise at seeing so great a monster of the deep in such prox- imity to their vessel that no attempt was made at killing it, and it may be added there were no firearms or weapons of any sort on board the ship at the time.” The “Shooting case at North Side” appeared at the bottom of page 3. That incident occurred on Jan. 9. The Sgt. Major of Police and the Clerk of the Court made their way across the North Sound in an open boat to the house of the deceased. MAN DIES IN BOATING ACCIDENT A 49-year-old man from West Bay died in hospital Monday morning after being struck on the head by a boat from which he had been thrown over- board while he and another man were testing the vessel on New Year’s Day. Police said the two men had been testing the boat in the North Sound when a steering failure occurred, causing one of them to fall overboard. They were helped by crew members on board another vessel who brought both men ashore to the Cayman Is- lands Yacht Club. Police officers and an am- bulance were dispatched to the yacht club after a 911 call was received about 6:15 p.m., ac- cording to a statement from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. The injured man was transported to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning, police said. Police did not release the man’s name. The Joint Marine Unit is in- vestigating the incident. Cayman’s New Year baby PATRICK BRENDEL pbrendel@pinnaclemedialtd.com At 12:45 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Dylan Corbin Etherington came into the world, the first child for parents Daniel and Jade, and the first baby born in the Cayman Islands in 2017. “The pregnancy was hard. The labor was hard, but it was defi- nitely worth it,” Mrs. Etherington said. “When women say it’s worth it – it definitely is. It’s hard not to look at him all the time. He’s just a cutie pie.” With a healthy birth weight of 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measuring 21.26 inches in length, Dylan wore a red-and-white onesie with the Ca- nadian maple leaf on it when Com- pass journalists came to visit him Monday in the maternity ward at Cayman Islands Hospital. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Parents Jade and Daniel Etherington with their New Year baby Dylan. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS With your best attitude make a di erence 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. - TUESDAY - ROGUE ONE 3D (PG13) 12:50 2D | 3:05 | 6:50 2D | 9:35 PASSENGERS 3D (PG13) 1:00 | 3:50 2D | 7:00 | 9:40 2D ASSASSINS CREED 3D (PG13) 1:20 | 4:00 2D | 7:15 | 10:00 2D FENCES (PG13) 12:25 | 3:30 | 6:35 | 9:40 MOANA (PG) 12:45 | 3:30 | 6:45 | 9:20 SING 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:45 2D | 7:00 | 9:50 2D Armed men sought in attempted robbery Two armed men tried to rob a money transfer ve- hicle Saturday night out- side Cayman National Bank on Elgin Avenue, ac- cording to police. Shortly after 7:30 p.m. armed officers responded to the bank following the failed robbery attempt, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service said in a statement. “During a cash deposit stop at the location, two persons armed with what appeared to be handguns approached the vehicle. After their attempt was un- successful, the two made off on foot towards the rear of the CNB parking lot to- wards the Smith Road di- rection,” police said. Police searched the area but did not locate the pair. Both men were report- edly wearing red jackets and their faces were covered. “No cash was stolen, no shots were fired and no one was injured during the inci- dent,” according to police. The matter is being in- vestigated by the Criminal Investigation Department. Police are appealing to anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the bank before or after 7:30 p.m. that night to contact the George Town CID at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via the Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777 or via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS). Puerto Rico’s new governor seeks statehood SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s new governor was sworn in Monday as the U.S. territory prepares for what many believe will be new austerity measures and a renewed push for statehood to haul the island out of a deep economic crisis. Gov. Ricardo Rossello, 37, proposed several measures aimed at alleviating the crisis shortly after he was sworn in at midnight. Among them is a proposal to hold a refer- endum that would ask voters whether they prefer state- hood or independence. Many have argued that Puerto Ri- co’s political status has con- tributed to its decade-long crisis that has prompted more than 200,000 people to flee to the U.S. mainland in recent years. Rossello also aims to boost public-private partner- ships and use that revenue to save a retirement system that faces a $40 billion def- icit and is expected to col- lapse in less than a year. Rossello also has pledged to work closely with a fed- eral control board that U.S. Congress created last year to oversee Puerto Rico’s fi- nances, and he has said he supports negotiations with creditors to help re- structure a nearly $70 bil- lion public debt. Thousands of supporters awaited Rossello’s arrival for the post-swearing-in in- auguration ceremony at the island’s seaside Capitol building, clutching umbrellas to protect themselves from a searing sun. “This is a historic moment for Puerto Rico,” said 50-year- old Jose Davila as he waved a large flag from Rossello’s pro-statehood party. “He’s the hope of our island, he’s the hope for statehood, he’s the hope for a people that have suffered.” Puerto Ricans have been hit with dozens of new taxes in the past four years and increases in utility bills as former Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla aimed to generate more revenue for a govern- ment he said was running out of money. Despite those and other measures, the is- land’s government has de- faulted on millions of dollars’ worth of bond payments and declared a state of emergency at several agencies. The federal control board has requested a revised fiscal plan that has to be approved by end of January, saying that the one Garcia submitted last year was in part unrealistic and relied too heavily on fed- eral funds. Garcia had refused to submit a revised plan to include austerity measures. Rossello has said he would request an extension of that deadline as well as an exten- sion of a moratorium that expires in February and cur- rently protects Puerto Rico from lawsuits filed by an- gered creditors. The new governor also seeks to privatize services such as the generation of en- ergy, establish an office to oversee and distribute fed- eral funds to cut down on corruption, and to create fi- nancial incentives for doc- tors to boost the number of dwindling specialists. As supporters kept streaming toward the Capitol building, one yelled out, “Today, a new Puerto Rico begins!” to the cheers of others, including those holding U.S. flags. GUATEMALAN NAVY BUSTS COCAINE SHIPMENT OFF PACIFIC COAST GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Guatemalan authorities have seized more than 1,500 pounds (680 kilo- grams) of cocaine from a boat off the coast of the Central American nation. Police spokesman Jorge Aguilar said Sunday that the Guatemalan navy’s Pa- cific forces intercepted the vessel carrying 35 pack- ages of the drug on New Year’s Eve. Two Ecuadorean men and a Colombian were detained. The cocaine is believed to have origi- nated in Ecuador. Police say a total of 28,258 pounds (12,818 ki- lograms) of cocaine was seized during 2016. Pro-statehood supporters await the arrival of Puerto Rico’s new governor at the Capitol in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday. – PHOTO: AP/DANICA COTO Dog attacks family trying to dress it in sweater TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Police in Florida say an angry dog sent three people to the hospital after one tried to put a sweater on it. Tampa police say the pit bull mix named Scar- face bit a 52-year-old woman who was trying to dress him on Friday and her husband was attacked while trying to pull the dog off of her. Police say the couple’s 22-year-old son was at- tacked while trying to stop the dog by stabbing it in the neck and head. The three people escaped the house and left the dog in the backyard. Police say animal control officers shot it with a tran- quilizer gun, but it managed to get back into the house where there were two chil- dren present. Police used a bean bag gun and stun gun on the an- imal before catching it. MEXICANS OUTRAGED BY GAS PRICE HIKE MEXICO CITY – Mexican motorists awoke to a shock as gasoline prices at the pump shot up by more than 20 percent in some corners of the country on the first day of the year, sparking panic buying, street pro- tests and even a call by one prominent lawmaker for a “peaceful revolution.” “If the price of gaso- line goes, up we’re going to pay more [for] everything else,” says Iván Rosales, an employee at a trucking company, who protested the price hike Sunday at the iconic Ángel de la In- dependencia monument in Mexico City. “I don’t mind paying [gasoline] taxes, but where are the services?” Rosales says, pointing to potholes on the street. “[Politicians] always prefer pocketing the money instead of spending it as they should.” The hike, the result of the government’s decision to deregulate gas prices, comes as Mexico prepares for an uncertain 2017. The value of the peso has plunged, inflation is rising and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has prom- ised to rip up NAFTA and slap import duties on Mex- ican-made goods. Regular gas is scheduled to sell for 15.99 pesos per liter in Mexico City (about $2.85 per gallon), though prices will vary across the country. Even as Mexicans have endured a decade-long drug war, crime, corruption and Trump’s denigrating com- ments, few issues stir more indignation in the country than “gasolinazos,” as Mex- icans call hikes in the gov- ernment-set gasoline price. Mexicans have long been used to low prices at the pump. Mexico expro- priated the country’s oil in- dustry in 1938 and kicked out foreign oil companies, a move celebrated by Mex- icans as a seminal act of sovereignty. Most Mexicans associate its nationalized oil industry with cheap gas.3 LOCAL NEWS CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman who set fire to her own house twice was found to have been in- sane at the time. Justice Charles Quin de- livered a “special verdict” of not guilty against the de- fendant after reviewing ev- idence that she required treatment “because she has serious mental illness or mental impairment and also was in this state of mind at the time this offense was committed.” Therefore, he continued, she was “not responsible ac- cording to law for her actions at the time when the act was done … but was insane, as aforesaid, at the time.” Justice Quin delivered his judgment on Dec. 22, but full reasons were not released until Dec. 28. The woman was accused of setting fire to her own house twice, on Aug. 9, 2013 and again on Oct. 7, 2013, and by doing so was reckless as to whether the life of an- other would be endangered. A third count related to an- other house in front of hers, also on the October date. There were in fact three other houses on the property. Senior Crown counsel Nicole Petit explained that the direction of the wind meant that other houses were threatened and people could have been in danger. The first incident occurred in the morning. At 11:22 a.m., a neighbor reported seeing smoke coming from the woman’s house, which had five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. Police and the fire brigade responded quickly, arriving at 11:30 a.m. and extinguishing the fire. That same day the woman made a statement after being cautioned. She admitted set- ting fire to her house, ex- plaining that she was going through some emotional prob- lems. She said she was hearing things in the air conditioning and in the ceiling fan. The defendant also told po- lice she thought her husband wanted to kill her and she thought her house was evil. Fortunately, on this occasion, there was very little damage, Justice Quin summarized. On Oct. 7, around 4 p.m., the defendant was seen aiming a pink can at the bottom of the door of her house and shortly afterward flames and smoke were observed. She was then seen squirting a stream of liquid in through a front window of the house. Once again, the fire brigade arrived shortly after the fire started, but this time the roof of the main house was severely damaged, the judge said. On Oct. 10, she was in- terviewed and said she had no knowledge of the circum- stances surrounding the fire. She was formally charged and when cautioned replied, “No utterance.” Defense attorney John Furniss first appeared for her in court. He said the de- fendant’s fitness to plead was an issue and a mental health report was requested. The woman pleaded not guilty in November 2013 and trial was set for July 2014, with a psychiatric report ordered. On that date, the defendant pleaded guilty. Sentencing was adjourned pending fur- ther mental health reports. Meanwhile, she had been granted bail with strict con- ditions that included taking prescribed medication under the observation of her son, staying away from the scene of the arson, and continue seeing a psychiatrist. A report from Dr. Arline McGill in September 2014 confirmed that the woman had neurological illnesses with signs of chronic depres- sion and amnesia. In November 2014, Mr. Furniss advised the court that the defendant wished to change her plea to not guilty. He suggested that it might be advisable for her to speak to another attorney regarding her change of plea. Attorney Steve McField appeared for the defendant in March 2015. The case con- tinued to be mentioned nu- merous times until a hearing in September 2015. A social inquiry report revealed that the traumatic deaths of the woman’s two brothers, along with a past abusive marriage, had taken a toll on her emotionally and on her ability to func- tion normally. Dr. Marc Lockhart told the court that at the time of of- fending, the woman was “au- tomatizing” – that is, acting involuntarily and lacking a guilty state of mind. He gave his view that she was not ca- pable of fully engaging in a trial because she would not be helpful in remembering all the things necessary to put forward her defense, nor would she be able to chal- lenge witnesses. Justice Quin accepted that the defendant did not have the necessary state of mind at the time of the offenses. Under the Criminal Proce- dure Code, he invoked his power to record a special ver- dict of not guilty. With that verdict, he entered an order under the Mental Health Law for assisted outpatient treat- ment for one year. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 The police helicopter was called out last week to help transfer a 58-year-old fe- male patient from Cayman Brac’s Faith Hospital to Grand Cayman. According to a police press release, the woman was in need of urgent medical at- tention from specialists at the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town. The helicopter crew used the police helipad at Faith Hospital and com- pleted the medical evacu- ation within an hour, with the Cayman Islands EMS Unit meeting the helicopter at Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport to complete the transfer. Police said the patient was in stable condition fol- lowing treatment. Police helicopter helps with medical evacuation Medical and EMS staff on the police helipad help with the transfer of a patient from Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac on Dec. 29. Insanity verdict in arson caseThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Ernst & Young report on reducing the size and cost of the Cayman Islands civil service, it seems, was just a fantasy. Project Future – the government’s ongoing reinterpretation of the EY Report – is shaping up to be something else entirely. Toward the close of the year, the government pub- lished a “Project Future Update Report November 2016,” following a similar update report from May. After perusing the document, we can only assume the reason the gov- ernment didn’t call it a “progress report” is because there is so little progress to report. Here’s the tale of the tape: Over the past year, the government has managed to complete three “projects,” while 41 are in some stage of review or implementation, and eight have been put on hold. The three finished projects (they are really more “decisions” than “projects”) include moving the gov- ernment’s London Office under the supervision of the Cabinet Secretary, raising the civil service retirement age from 60 to 65, and providing additional support to Cayman Finance and the financial services industry. By most measures, those items are, in a word, “modest” – as are other projects that are nearing com- pletion, such as the proposed mergers of watchdog entities and regulatory authorities into an ombudsman’s office and a public utilities commission. From a cost standpoint, for example, any immediate savings from those initiatives would be wiped out by two recent announcements from government: First, salary increases for some 1,500 civil servants suffering from “stagnated pay,” and second, an increase in government’s contributions to civil servants on “defined benefit” pension plans (from 12 percent of their salaries to 17 percent). Don’t mistake our message. We do not have any issue, per se, with any of the individual actions we have men- tioned above. Moving the London Office under the aegis of the Cabinet Secretary might make sense on the orga- nizational chart level. The civil service retirement age should in theory align with that of the private sector. We believe the government should support Cayman’s finan- cial services industry in every possible way. In regard to the increases in civil servants’ salaries and pension contributions, we understand that our gov- ernment workers should be paid in line with market rates and on par with their colleagues, and we recognize that government must adequately fund the public sector retirement schemes to fulfill obligations to its employees. Rather, our larger point is that the sprawling, paper- work exercise that is Project Future is a far cry from the laser-focused, results-oriented EY Report. Presented with a document that could have served as a road map to rightsizing Cayman’s bloated public sector, the Progres- sives government has transformed it into an amorphous, bureaucratic blob – a disjointed hodgepodge of activity, all lumped under the banner of “Project Future.” Government’s squandering of its opportunity is lam- entable but not unexpected, given the possible political ramifications of threatening the job security of perhaps thousands of civil servants, the single-largest voting bloc in Cayman. That being said, as in any free capitalistic country, it is going to be the private sector that drives the future of Cayman, just as the private sector has created the boun- tiful Cayman we celebrate today. A public sector with an instinct toward heavy-handed regulation and an expan- sionary appetite for self-growth is antithetical to the success of a company, or a country. In other words, Cayman should not conflate its future with Project Future. ‘Project Future’: A progress report (minus the progress) School choice for those who have none FRED HIATT For most Americans, school choice is an un- disputed right. Millions of parents choose to send their children to paro- chial or other private schools. Millions more decide where to rent or buy a home based on the quality of the local public schools. The only people who do not enjoy this right are those who are too poor to move out of neighborhoods where public schools are failing. A disproportionate number of these are people of color. This is the distinction to keep in mind as the in- coming Trump administra- tion prepares to make “school choice” its rallying cry. Educa- tion secretary-designate Betsy DeVos is a passionate advo- cate of vouchers and charter schools. Teachers unions are passionate opponents of both, and they will accuse DeVos of wanting to destroy public education. In fact, the federal gov- ernment can neither save nor destroy public education, be- cause most school funding comes from states and locali- ties. But it can play an impor- tant role – and what it should do is encourage choice for the children who today have none, while not diverting re- sources to people who do not need the help. How? Well, here’s a sug- gestion: DeVos could offer one or two cities the chance to be- come laboratories of choice. Any city where schools are struggling would be eli- gible to volunteer. (That is a big pool.) The federal govern- ment would offer financial help, on the condition that the city and state not reduce their contributions. The system would then stop funding schools and begin funding families. Every child would be given an an- nual scholarship. Poor chil- dren, who often enter school needing extra attention, would get bigger scholarships. Chil- dren with disabilities would get more, too. Every school would then have to compete for students. Principals would be allowed to hire the teachers they wanted. In exchange, every school would have to measure its children’s progress with identical tests, so that par- ents could compare. The tests would show not only which school’s fourth-graders were reading at the highest level but also, and more importantly, which school’s fourth-graders had made the biggest gains since third grade. Even system headquar- ters would have to compete. If procurement departments could provide textbooks or paper towels at a good price, they would stay in business. If principals could find better deals elsewhere, they’d be free to do so. The first positive change would be almost immediate: Poor parents, so often ignored and disrespected by public school bureaucrats, sud- denly would find themselves being wooed and treated as valued customers. Other aspects of the tran- sition, including attracting quality charter schools, would take longer. Those schools would have to be persuaded that the local and federal gov- ernments were committed to running the experiment for the long term. But the posi- tive results might soon be- come self-reinforcing: High- performing schools would attract more students, low performers would have to im- prove or close. We’ve seen a version of that virtuous cycle in Wash- ington, albeit with a less rad- ical model. When Michelle Rhee became chancellor in 2007, she said her goal was to improve the traditional public schools – but in the meantime she would not stand in the way of good public charters. Rhee recognized what re- form opponents often over- look. It’s fine to say that we have to cure poverty before we can fix urban schools, and governments should help more with health and housing. But first-graders get only one chance at first grade – and if their schools fail them, they may never catch up. For every child trapped in a bad school, the situation is an emergency. Washington was fortunate to have a high-quality charter school board that insists on quality and shuts poor per- formers. Like New Orleans, it has gradually improved procedures so that charters, which are open to all comers, can’t find sneaky ways to leave the hard cases to the traditional schools. So parents have more choices – and while Rhee and her successor, Kaya Hen- derson, have done the slow, tough work of improving the traditional public schools, the charters have gotten better, too. Both sectors now have more students than when the reforms began. There is more than one way to promote choice, in other words, and the Trump administration could en- courage a variety of local ap- proaches. What it should not do is fly the banner of reform to help families who already enjoy school choice. Particularly in the South, where whites migrated to pri- vate schools to escape inte- gration a half-century ago, school vouchers without in- come limits could quickly be- come a back-door subsidy of “segregation academies” and their offspring. It’s hard to imagine anything that would more quickly, decisively – and deservedly – set back the cause of school choice. Fred Hiatt is the editorial page editor of The Post. He writes editorials for the newspaper and a biweekly column that appears on Mondays. © 2017, The Washington Post Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan in March. Editorial page editor Fred Hiatt is on the right. – PHOTO: WASHINGTON POST/BONNIE JO MOUNT [F]irst-graders get only one chance at first grade – and if their schools fail them, they may never catch up. For every child trapped in a bad school, the situation is an emergency.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 Personal Insurance BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. Box 254, Cayman Brac KY2-2101 Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International insurance, health, pensions, life Happy New Year! Make 2017 the year you pay less for more cover! Car insurance deductibles from $200 and extra free benefits. With your first BritCay buildings insurance policy you will receive a $250 gift certificate. Home insurance also entitles you to a 10% car insurance discount. With the lowest standard deductibles at $200, you also save when you claim. Ask BritCay for a quote! CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky SAVE $250* when you insure your home! 10% discount on car insurance if you have home insurance Free $500,000 public liability (home insurance) Free $10 million liability protection (car insurance) Interest free monthly payment option cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only Woman bailed, man in custody for cocaine Vehicle stop nets drugs and cash CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two people stopped in a vehicle check on Boxing Day appeared in Summary Court on Thursday accused of pos- sessing drugs with intent to supply and possessing ap- proximately $7,000 as crim- inal property. Magistrate Valdis Foldats granted bail with conditions to Laura Marie Quinn, 30, but refused bail for Canute Se- bastian Nairne, 36. Nairne was the driver of the car and Quinn was the front seat passenger when police stopped the ve- hicle around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Crown counsel El- eanor Fargin said officers found 27 small transparent plastic bags in a pouch in the pocket of the front pas- senger door – 26 contained white powder, while the other contained two purple pills not yet identified. One of the 26 bags was tested and found to contain cocaine. Ms. Fargin indicated there had not yet been time to test all of the bags. Cash was found in the glove compartment – CI$5,261 and US$2,147. Of- ficers also found phones and some ganja in the center console. Ms. Fargin said Nairne told police officers Quinn had “nothing to do with it” and he was taking her to work. He also told officers his house had been broken into re- cently and he couldn’t find one of his car keys. Nairne reportedly told police, “This looks like a setup.” A search of Nairne’s apartment in West Bay re- vealed approximately 11 grams of white powder in a transparent bag on the dresser in a bedroom, and ganja in four transparent bags under the bed. Questioned by police, Quinn said she knew nothing about any drug dealing. She acknowledged that only she and Nairne lived at the West Bay address. No comment Nairne gave no comment throughout his interview. Ms. Fargin told the court that both defendants were charged with simple pos- session and possession with intent to supply the drugs found in the car and in the apartment. They were also charged jointly in relation to the money found in the car. Nairne is charged sep- arately with conspiring to supply controlled drugs to others, as a result of evidence from a mobile phone, the prosecutor ad- vised. Text messages with various people from June 2014 until the end of Jan- uary 2015 showed evidence of drug dealing, she said. There was no suggestion that Quinn was involved in the conspiracy. Neither Quinn nor Nairne has any previous convictions, Ms. Fargin said. Attorney Alice Carver ap- plied for bail on behalf of Nairne. “He is of good char- acter and should be treated as such,” she declared. She said he owns several busi- nesses, including a tattoo parlor, a cleaning service and a beverage service, and deals in cash for a number of those businesses. She said other people had ac- cess to his car. Attorney Dennis Brady, making the application for Quinn’s bail, said she had been on a work permit for five years as a food and bev- erage server. There were challenges that caused her to move from her matri- monial home and Nairne had offered her a place to stay; she had begun living in his apartment in No- vember, he said. “She is as shocked as she could be for this to be piled on to what she is al- ready experiencing,” Mr. Brady said. His instructions were that she did not en- gage in drug use and had no affiliation with the drugs or the money. Quinn was highly re- spected in her workplace and her employer regards her as a responsible, effi- cient worker, Mr. Brady said. A residence had been se- cured for Quinn by her es- tranged husband with the assistance of the employer, who believed in her integ- rity, Mr. Brady advised. Conditions to Quinn’s bail included a recognizance with a surety in the sum of $2,000; reporting to the po- lice station three morn- ings per week; and abiding by a curfew from mid- night to 6 a.m. The matter was set for mention again on Thursday, Jan. 5. Police warn of two new scams The RCIPS Financial Crime Unit is warning the public about two reports of scams that have come to its attention. The first scam is being done via Instagram by a person purportedly named Georgia McLaughlin and using the profile name Georgia_cash_investment. The victim, in a complaint filed with the Financial Crime Unit, was introduced to a scheme called “Flip Cash” by “Ms. McLaughlin,” who told the victim that other people in Cayman had prof- ited greatly from this scheme, which could double or even triple an initial deposit in a short amount of time through an investment. Once the deposit is “in- vested,” substantial returns would supposedly be sent to the victim, police said. A website was also provided for Flip Cash as www.flip- cash.com, which is not func- tional. In a statement, police said, “A very convincing as- pect of this scam is that one of the victim’s Instagram friends was then consulted to provide a testimonial about the lucrative returns of Flip Cash. “This testimonial was pro- vided via Instagram as well, and the victim learned only after making a deposit that his friend’s profile had been hacked and that he had not been corresponding with his actual friend.” The Financial Crime Unit is urging the public to beware of any solici- tations via Instagram or any other social media for investments or deposits. The second warning re- lates to an employment scam where a company called SITCOM Telemar- keting Services is offering jobs at a call center purport- edly based in Cayman. The scam appears to be targeting people in Jamaica and has been advertised on Face- book, police said. “Job-seekers are asked to send $62 KYD to cover the cost of Immigration Work Permit forms being sent to them via FEDEX. It offers wages of $22.00 per hour, ac- commodation, a work permit or visa, and 50% coverage of plane fare,” police said. “The RCIPS would also like to warn the public both here and abroad that the payment of work permit fees by job-seekers is not accept- able procedure, and that so- licitations that request pay- ments for same are suspect and should be avoided,” the statement continued. Police are asking anyone who has fallen victim to either of these scams to contact the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit at 949-8797. Nairne is charged separately with conspiring to supply controlled drugs to others, as a result of evidence from a mobile phone, the prosecutor advised. The Financial Crime Unit is urging the public to beware of any solicitations via Instagram or any other social media for investments or deposits.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS More than 600 attend senior citizens social The annual senior citizens social, hosted by the West Bay Community Council and West Bay MLAs McKeeva Bush, Capt. Eugene Ebanks and Bernie Bush, attracted more than 600 people when it was held on Dec. 17 at the Sir John A. Cumber Pri- mary School Hall. Prayers were offered by Pastor Gareth Haylock, scripture reading by Jo- seph Haylock, the meal was blessed by Bro. Araunnah Powery, and Pastor John Jefferson Sr. offered special greetings. The UCCI Choir did a rendition of Christmas carols and gospel choruses, while Rev. Brenda Wallick played the piano. When the hall reached capacity, additional at- tendees were accommodated in two tents. A prize was awarded to 99-year-old Hulda Ebanks as the oldest female in attendance. 50 YEARS AGO Weddings, parties and vacations In the Jan. 4, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “A quiet wedding was solemnized on the 20th by Pastor Fossie Arch at his home, when Miss Aldine Anglin was united in mar- riage to Mr. Harris Bush. Miss Gay Parsons was the bride’s only attendant and Mr. Gouldbourne Bodden was best man. “Christmas services and programmes were held in all the churches, including Nightwatch Service. The Garden Party held on the 27th was quite a suc- cess. A concert was pre- sented the same night in which several plays were well enacted. “A dress parade was held – winners were: 1st, Susan Jackson as a for- tune teller; 2nd, Jennifer Ebanks. Miss Blanche Parsons was voted as Miss Popularity by 534 votes. A sum of £30.16.0 was raised by the sale of refreshments. “Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ebanks are here spending the holiday season with relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Powery are happy to have their five sons home from the U.S. where they all reside. “On the 25th, Mr. Linsey Ebanks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Linton Ebanks, took as his bride Miss Lamore Ebanks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle Ebanks at the home of Mr. Darwin Bush at South Sound. The groom’s sister Andrea was her only attendant and Mr. Astor Jackson was best man. “We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Mi- randa (Glennis Nell) of New York on the birth of their first child on the Dec. 20, named Lisa Pearl. “Mr. Cornelius Hydes celebrated his 68th birthday on the 1st at home. “On Dec. 31, Mr. Vernon Bush took as his bride Miss Francis Ebanks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Blodzit Ebanks at a cere- mony performed by Rev. R. Coke at his home. Mrs. Ed- ward Ebanks was matron of honour and Mr. Edward Ebanks, brother of the bride, was best man. “Mr. Rupert Ebanks ar- rived on the 31st on vaca- tion from N.B.C.” Volunteers clean up West Bay cemetery A small but energetic group of volunteers con- verged on Boatswains Bay Cemetery before Christmas to clean up the grave- yard and paint some of the graves and tombs. After arriving early in the morning of Dec. 17, the group had scraped off old paint, brushed off the dust and dirt and painted 10 graves and tombs. “If more people had come out we could have done more, but we are pleased that we were able to en- hance a section of the cem- etery, making it look much brighter,” said West Bayer Eziethamae Bodden. The paint for the work was donated by the Parks and Recreation Department. Ms. Bodden said the group plans to return to the graveyard in the new year to continue the work. The Sir John A. Cumber school hall was packed to capacity. From left, Brenda Timothy, Linda Powery, Janet Henry-Powery, Dolyn Ebanks, Brad Ebanks, Israel Green and Zavier Powery help to clean up the Boatswains Bay cemetery. Volunteer Brad Ebanks paints a tomb at the Boatswains Bay Cemetery.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 The arrest of a suspect fol- lowed. “Notices to jurors and witnesses were served and everything made ready for the Coroner’s inquest the next day,” the paper reported. There was an exhaustive inquiry, and facts brought out showed that the accused man had gone to Malportas Pond to shoot water fowls. Shortly afterward, the man now deceased had gone in the same direction to his pro- vision ground near the pond. The verdict was death caused by gunshot wound acciden- tally inflicted. The front page of the paper carried two items – an editorial, and shipping news. Great care seems to have been taken in naming the schooners or sloops and their captains, their last port, next intended port, and dates of arrival and depar- ture. Eleven vessels are listed as arriving that January and 23 departing. The sloop Brothers, for ex- ample, left Cayman on Jan. 7 with “a general cargo that in- cluded thatch ropes, hides, etc. She also took about 13 passengers.” Captain Farrell sailed during a fairly strong North-Wester and reached Montego Bay in about 42 hours. The vessel went on to Kingston and then returned to Cayman on Jan. 23, with mail, general cargo and sev- eral passengers. Another vessel fig- ured in two stories: the Steam Ship Oteri. In an article headlined “Justices and Vestry meeting called,” the Legislative Body assembled on Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. Commissioner George S.S. Hirst, as president, ex- plained that he was asking members to vote the sum of 150 pounds per year toward a subsidy for the monthly trip of a steamer between Kingston and George Town. “He spoke at some length on the advantages to be gained by having this island in closer touch with the out- side world.” Four lawmakers abstained; everyone else voted in favor. The front page editorial announced that with steam communication between Kingston and George Town assured, it was thought ap- propriate to launch a local newspaper called The Cay- manian to supply a long- felt want. Manuscripts would be despatched from George Town to Kingston, “there to be printed and arranged in newspaper form,” and then be returned to George Town by the S.S. Oteri. The Caymanian promised to be devoted to the interests of the islands and their in- habitants. Its motto was “Vox Populi. Lex Dei.,” a literal translation being, “The Voice of the People. The Law of God.” The price was one-and- a-half pence, or two pence by post. Number 1, Volume 1 is dated March 2, 1908. Editor and manager is P. A. Myers. The paper did not pro- vide any biographical infor- mation about the editor. One detail is found in Cayman’s first comprehensive history book, “Founded upon the Seas,” by Michael Craton and the New History Committee. The book explains that Com- missioner Hirst had encour- aged a Jamaican entrepre- neur, Fred Myers, to start a monthly paper. P. A. Myers was Fred’s son. The Cayman Islands Na- tional Archive has a full set of The Caymanian on mi- crofiche, and members of the public can arrange for a viewing. There are copies in private hands as well. One was recently brought to the attention of the Cayman Compass by Paul Flexon Ebanks of North Side. It be- longs to his uncle, Lloyd Ebanks, who maintains a keen interest in local history. That first issue intro- duced so many topics beg- ging for a follow-up that a visit to the National Archive was inevitable. For example, public funding was awaited for a road to be constructed “from Shedden Road to Dixon’s at Red Bay.” Did the road ever get built? It did, and within six months. Informally re- ferred to as The North Road, The Red Bay Road, and The Road Past George Chollette’s, it was formally named, ac- cording to the custom of the day, for His Majes- ty’s Secretary for the Colo- nies at the time of construc- tion – the Right Honorable Earl of Crewe. The newspaper salutes the excellent work of the contractor, regrettably iden- tified only as “Mr. Ebanks.” The road featured what may have been Cayman’s first bridge, described as being 45 feet long, over a ravine. The bridge was attributed to Millard Russell, “a man of our own who can undertake such work and perform it so creditably.” Advertisements livened up the pages with different sizes and styles of type and even an occasional illustration. In October 1908, Mal- colm McTaggart managed Cayman Aerated Water Co. and urged residents to “Sup- port Home Industries.” Among the products he of- fered was cream soda at two shillings per dozen. In July, 1909, a Merren’s advertisement featured a limerick contest, with readers invited to supply the last line and win one of “3 valuable prizes” on display at the store for the month. First prize was a set of fancy glassware; second prize, an umbrella; third prize, a pair of photo frames and one tin of Cash- mere Bouquet powder. The Caymanian for Oc- tober-November 1909 car- ried an ad for Benjamin’s Ja- maican Healing Oil, described as the greatest pain medica- tion on earth. The copy en- couraged readers to “Try it on yourself! Try it on your horse!! Try it on your cattle!!!” This combined issue may have been a sign of what was coming. The Caymanian ex- plained that there had been no opportunity to get the manuscript for October to Kingston because of the stop- page of the steamer between Kingston and Cayman. But there may have been another factor as well. In January 1909, P. A. Myers had been succeeded by W. M. Co- chran as editor and manager of the newspaper. In March 1909, Mr. Cochran wrote, “Fi- nancially the paper is not yet a paying concern, but we hope that during its second year of existence this state of matters may be remedied.” Commissioner Hirst, in his “Notes on the History of the Cayman Islands,” stated, “In March 1908 the first issue of the ‘Caymanian’ appeared, but owing to want of public support, the venture was abandoned in 1910.” The 22nd and last issue of The Caymanian is dated December 1909. The outfit was a nod to his father’s home country of Canada, and also to “grandma.” “It’s her first gift to him,” Mr. Ether- ington explained. Mr. Etherington, a refrig- eration manager, and Mrs. Etherington, a hostess at Os- etra Bay who originally hails from South Africa, live in Prospect and were married in Grand Cayman last July. The attending physi- cian was obstetrician/gy- necologist David Stone, who has been practicing in Cayman since 2015. This is his first “New Year’s baby” in Cayman; however, in 2003 when practicing in Michigan, Dr. Stone deliv- ered the first baby born in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, at just about the stroke of midnight. The pediatrician present at Dylan’s birth Sunday was Dr. Sara Watkin. The registered nurse mid- wife was Sharon Wright, and the anesthetist was Dr. Stephen Gay. Gazing tenderly at her new baby, Mrs. Etherington said, “I can’t wait to be his mom for the rest of his life.” Paul F. Ebanks peruses his uncle’s copy of The Caymanian for March 1908. - PHOTO: CAROL WINKER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 What made headlines in Cayman’s first newspaper Cayman’s New Year baby CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pope to bishops: ‘Zero tolerance’ for child abuse VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has exhorted Cath- olic bishops worldwide to do what’s needed to ensure children are protected from sexual abuse by clergy. The Vatican on Monday released the text of a Dec. 28 letter Francis sent to bishops about injustices to children. They included slave labor, malnutrition, lack of education and sexual exploitation, including abuse by priests. In the letter, Francis de- cried “the sufferings, the ex- periences and pain of mi- nors who were abused sexually by priests.” “It is a sin that shames us,” the pope wrote. “Persons responsible for the protection of those children destroyed their dignity.” The church’s reputation has been stained in several countries during the last few decades as people have come forward to report that parish priests or other Cath- olic clergy raped or molested them as minors. The allegations showed that local bishops some- times knew about and cov- ered up child sex abuse in- volving problem priests and triggered multi-million-dollar lawsuits, as well as several criminal prosecutions. Expressing the church’s regret, and begging forgive- ness, the pope denounced the “sin of what happened, the sin of failing to help, the sin of covering up and denial, the sin of the abuse of power.” Francis also asked bishops for “complete com- mitment to ensuring that these atrocities will no longer take place in our midst.” “Let us find the courage needed to take all necessary measures and to protect in every way the lives of our children, so that such crimes may never be repeated,” the pope said. “In this area, let us adhere, clearly and faithfully, to ‘zero tolerance.’” The pontiff himself has received mixed reviews on how the Vatican han- dles sex abuse. Francis has laid out pro- cedures to oust bishops for negligence, if they mis- handle investigations into alleged abuse. But he dismayed advo- cates for abuse survivors by appointing a Chilean bishop accused of covering up for a notorious pedophile. The Vatican also took no immediate action after deaf students from Italy, in a 2014 letter to the pope, said a priest sexually abused them for years in Italy and now was working at a school in Francis’ native Argen- tina. The priest was arrested last year and charged with raping deaf students at a school in Argentina. New mom Jade Etherington holds her baby Dylan, born 45 minutes into the new year. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY The church’s reputation has been stained in several countries during the last few decades as people have come forward to report that parish priests or other Catholic clergy raped or molested them as minors.The 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. TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY, JAN. 6 EXHIBITION HAPPY HOUR: National Gallery, 5:30-7:30 p.m. A closing celebration of the contemporary art exhibition “Speak to Me.” Organized by the Butterfield Young Patrons Circle, the event features live performances, nibbles and cocktails. Mingle with artists, curators and like-minded individuals. Admission is free and curator-led tours will run every 30 minutes. Email info@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. THURSDAY, JAN. 12 LAST LOOK LUNCH & LECTURE: National Gallery. Art critic and curator Emé Paschalides lectures at noon on the contemporary exhibition, “Speak to Me.” The 20-minute lecture is free and open to the public. Lunch will then be served by the NGCI Art Café in the gardens between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended for groups of four or more. For menu details, email events@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. GENERAL INTEREST 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: Members will hold their first meeting of the year on Jan. 12. SINGLE-MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES: The Elections Office invites voters, potential candidates and their agents to learn more about recent changes to the Elections Law that have created 19 single- member electoral districts. Email office@elections.ky to ask questions or request short presentations for groups or organizations. Local media will carry information on upcoming meetings, which will aim to address questions. CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL: Natural Christmas trees can be recycled. They can be dropped off at containers in each community as of today until Jan. 20. Containers to collect discarded Christmas trees will be placed at Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay, George Town cricket field, Spotts dock and the southern entrance to Frank Sound Road. Mulching takes place Jan. 21. For further information, contact DEH’s Solid Waste unit at 949-8793. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards, etc., in good condition always needed. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee, easels provided. Contact info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail. com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Cayman has three chapters of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Grand Cayman club meets at George Town Public Library, 3rd floor, 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. Eloquent Speaker club meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday 6:30–7:45 p.m. at Savannah United Church Hall. Eminent Orators club meets 2nd and 4th Monday 6–7:30 p.m. at Cayman Academy Canteen. Contact George R. Ebanks at 916-0687/322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail.com. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or check www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit next to the MLA’s office). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. For more information, check website at www. rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. For more information, email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m.-noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: Meets third Wednesday of every month, Governors Square Boardroom at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/ BPWGrandCayman. BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: MothertoMother meetings first Tuesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. outside Women’s Health Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Children welcome. Contact Women’s Health Centre at 244-2649. LIFE UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION: Advises all members that the monthly meeting luncheon is held on the last Thursday of each month. YBPW: Meets every third Monday of each month at the Woman’s Resource Centre. SERVICES EL MINISTERIO HISPANO: de la Iglesia Bautista Cayman Islands te hace una cordial invitación a nuestro culto en español cada Domingo, 6:30 p.m., Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. HARBOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Meets for Divine Worship and Fellowship at South Sound Community Centre, South Sound, Sundays at 10 a.m. www.safeharborlc.com. MUSLIM PRAYER: Islamic Society of the Cayman Islands advises 5 times salaat/prayer at the Masjid. Fajr at 6 a.m. Dhuhr at 1:15 p.m. Asr at 5:15 p.m. Maghrib at 7 minutes after sunset. Isha at 8 p.m. website isci.org.ky. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL CHURCH: Sunday worship for the family and Children’s Church, 10 a.m. BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Sundays. 10 a.m. Christian Education for all ages; 11 a.m., Morning Worship with nursery for youngsters; 7 p.m. Evening Worship. Visit www.bbpca.org. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Every Tuesday night, from 5-8 p.m., members of the public are invited to drop by the West Indies Wine Company to join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017 NEW YEAR SPECIAL 2-WEEK TRIAL PROGRAM INCLUDING UNIFORM FOR $49 CAYMAN KARATE ACADEMY 926 5425 CAYMANKARATEACADEMY@GMAIL.COM WWW.CAYMANKARATEACADEMY.COM FOCUS DISCIPLINE CONFIDENCE Netanyahu to be questioned for corruption Police are expected to question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a pair of corruption allegations. Israel’s Channel 2 TV has reported that Netanyahu accepted ‘favors’ from businessmen in Israel and abroad. Netanyahu has denied what he calls the ‘baseless’ reports. IS claims credit for New Year’s attack on Istanbul nightclub ISTANBUL (AP) – The Is- lamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for the New Year’s attack at a pop- ular Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people and wounded scores of others. The IS-linked Aamaq News Agency said the attack was carried by a “heroic soldier of the caliphate who attacked the most famous nightclub where Christians were cele- brating their pagan feast.” It said the man opened fire from an automatic rifle and also detonated hand gre- nades in “revenge for God’s religion and in response to the orders” of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group described Turkey as “the servant of the cross” and also suggested it was in retaliation for Turkish military offensives against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. “We let infidel Turkey know that the blood of Muslims that is being shed by its air- strikes and artillery shelling will turn into fire on its terri- tories,” the statement said. Earlier, Turkish media re- ports had said that Turkish authorities believed the IS group was behind the attack and that the gunman, who is still at large, comes from a Central Asian nation and is likely to be either from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan. According to Hurriyet and Karar newspapers, police had also established simi- larities with the high-casu- alty suicide bomb and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport in June and was in- vestigating whether the same IS cell could have carried out both attacks. The gunman killed a po- liceman and another man outside the Reina club in the early hours of 2017 before entering and firing at an es- timated 600 people partying inside with an automatic rifle. Nearly two-thirds of the dead in the upscale club, which is frequented by local celebrities, were foreigners, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency said. Many of them hailed from the Middle East. Citing Justice Ministry of- ficials, Anadolu reported that 38 of the 39 dead have been identified and 11 of them were Turkish nationals, and one was a Turkish-Belgian dual citizen. The report says seven vic- tims were from Saudi Arabia; three each were from Leb- anon and Iraq; two each were from Tunisia, India, Morocco and Jordan. Kuwait, Canada, Israel, Syria and Russia each lost one citizen. Relatives of the victims and embassy personal were seen walking into an Is- tanbul morgue to claim the bodies of the deceased. Turkish officials haven’t released the names of those identified. The mass shooting fol- lowed more than 30 violent acts over the past year in Turkey, which is a member of the NATO alliance and a partner in the U.S.-led co- alition fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. The country endured mul- tiple bombings in 2016, in- cluding three in Istanbul alone that authorities blamed on IS, a failed coup at- tempt in July and renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the southeast. The Islamic State group claims to have cells in the country. Analysts think it was behind suicide bombings last January and March that targeted tourists on Istan- bul’s iconic Istiklal Street as well as the attack at Ataturk Airport in June, which killed 45 people. In August, Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria, to clear a border area from the IS and also curb the territorial ad- vances of Syrian Kurdish forces in the region. The incursion followed an IS sui- cide attack on an outdoor wedding party in the city of Gaziantep, near the border with Syria, that killed more than 50 people. In December, IS released a video purportedly showing the killing of two Turkish sol- diers and urged its supporters to “conquer” Istanbul. Turkey’s jets regularly bomb the group in the northern Syrian town of Al-Bab. Turkish authorities haven’t confirmed the authen- ticity of the video. Last week, Turkey and Russia brokered a cease-fire for Syria that excludes the IS and other groups considered to be terrorist organizations. On Monday, Anadolu said more than 100 Islamic State targets in Syria have been hit by Turkey and Russia in sep- arate operations. Citing the Turkish Chief of General Staff’s office, An- adolu said Turkish jets struck eight IS group targets while tanks and artillery fired upon 103 targets near Al Bab, killing 22 extremists while destroying many structures. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the attacker left a gun at the club and escaped by “taking advantage of the chaos” that ensued. Some customers reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bos- porus to escape the attack. IS suicide bomber kills 36 in Baghdad market BAGHDAD (AP) – A suicide bomber driving a pickup loaded with explosives struck a bustling market in Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 36 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group hours after French President Francois Hollande arrived in the Iraqi capital. The bomb went off in a fruit and vegetable market that was packed with day laborers, a police officer said, adding that another 52 people were wounded. During a press conference with Hollande, Prime Min- ister Haider al-Abadi said the bomber pretended to be a man seeking to hire day laborers. Once the workers gathered around, he deto- nated the vehicle. IS claimed the attack in a statement circulated on a militant website often used by the extremists. It was the third IS-claimed attack in as many days in and around Baghdad, underscoring the lingering threat posed by the group despite a string of setbacks elsewhere in the country over the past year, including in and around the northern city of Mosul. The attack took place in Sadr City, a vast Shiite dis- trict in eastern Baghdad that has been repeatedly targeted by Sunni extremists since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Shiite militiamen loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, the fire- brand cleric for whose family the neighborhood is named, were seen evacuating bodies in their trucks before ambu- lances arrived. Dead bodies were scattered across the bloody pavement along- side fruit, vegetables and la- borers’ shovels and axes. A minibus filled with dead pas- sengers was on fire. Asaad Hashim, an owner of a mobile phone store nearby, described how the laborers pushed and shoved around the bomber’s vehicle, trying to get hired. “Then a big boom came, sending them up into the air,” said the 28-year old, who suf- fered shrapnel wounds to his right hand. He blamed “the most ineffective secu- rity forces in the world” for failing to prevent the attack. An angry crowd cursed the government, even after a representative of al-Sadr tried to calm them. Late last month, Iraqi authori- ties started removing some of the security checkpoints in Baghdad in a bid to ease traffic for the capital’s 6 mil- lion residents. “We have no idea who will kill at any moment and who’s supposed to protect us,” said Ali Abbas, a 40-year old father of four who was hurled over his vegetable stand by the blast. “If the se- curities forces can’t protect us, then allow us to do the job,” he added. Three smaller bomb- ings elsewhere in the city on Monday killed another seven civilians and wounded at least 30, according to medics and police officials. All officials spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters. Iraqi troops, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, are fighting IS in a massive operation to retake the northern city of Mosul. Iraqi state TV said Hollande will discuss in- creasing support for Iraq and the latest developments in the 10-week-old offensive. Hollande promised that France would remain a long- term ally of Iraq and called for coordination between in- telligence services “in a spirit of great responsibility,” in re- marks carried by his official Twitter account. France is part of the American-led coalition formed in 2014 to fight IS after the extremist group seized large areas in Iraq and neighboring Syria. France has suffered multiple attacks claimed by the ex- tremist group. Since the Mosul opera- tion started on Oct. 17, Iraqi forces have seized around a quarter of the city. Last week, the troops resumed fighting after a two-week lull due to stiff resistance by the mili- tants and bad weather. Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city and the last major urban area in the country controlled by IS. Iraqi and U.S. commanders hope to drive IS from the city in the next three months. The group described Turkey as “the servant of the cross” and also suggested it was in retaliation for Turkish military offensives against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Mourners carry the Turkish flag-draped coffin of one of the victims of the attack at a nightclub on New Year’s Day, during a funeral in Istanbul, Monday. – PHOTO: AP/EMRAH GURELNext >