ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 High of 86 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘BREXIT OR BUST’: THERESA MAY PROVIDES STRENGTH AND CLARITY SPORTS | PAGE 14 MURRAY, FEDERER ADVANCE TO 3RD ROUND AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN Personal Insurance Happy New Year! Have an even happier New Year paying less for more cover with home and car insurance! Fast claims service. Lowest deductibles, low premiums for comprehensive cover and save up to $400 on home and motor cover! Ask BritCay for a quote! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp Cayman waves farewell to airport gallery JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman waved a fond farewell Tuesday to a unique and much loved feature of the island’s airport. For decades, families have greeted arriving relatives and waved goodbye to loved ones from be- neath the distinctive A-frame of the waving gallery overlooking the tarmac at the Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport. After this week, the gallery will close for good. As progress con- tinues on the redevelopment of the airport, construction workers will begin transforming the area into an enclosed upper-floor restaurant and VIP lounge that will be part of a new departure area. Cayman Islands Airports Au- thority CEO Albert Anderson said the tradition had to be sacrificed in the new design to meet changing regulatory standards. Mr. Anderson has his own fond memories of returning from college to see the friendly faces of his family as he stepped off the plane. “It was always a real good feeling to see your parents standing there waving when you arrived, or to be able to shout goodbye from below TEACHER SUSPENDED AFTER ‘CHILD ABUSE’ ALLEGATION JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A teacher at a West Bay primary school has been suspended amid allegations that he flung a chair across a classroom, injuring a 10-year-old student. The child suffered a minor fracture to one of his ribs in the alleged incident at the Sir John A. Cumber Primary School, according to his mother. Government officials confirmed in a press release that allegations of “child abuse” had been made. Felder to export electric cars to Cuba Gains first US license to ship vehicles TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com This month, Cayman Islands auto dealer John Felder and his Premier Automotive Export Ltd., a subsidiary of Cayman Automo- tive, will become the first U.S. car company to ship American-built vehicles to Cuba. The breakthrough comes after the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a four-year li- cense to Mr. Felder on Jan. 9 au- thorizing the initial shipment of a U.S.-made Nissan Leaf electric car to the Havana-based Em- bassy of Guyana. Gaining entry to Cuba, the auto dealer said, “took four years, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » The iconic A-frame waving gallery at Owen Roberts International Airport, scene of many a welcome and farewell since the mid-1980s, closed on Tuesday. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY John Felder stands next to a Nissan Leaf. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 640-FILM (640-3456) *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - HACKSAW RIDGE (R) 12:30 | 3:35 | 6:40 | 9:45 ROGUE ONE 3D (PG13) 12:50 2D | 3:05 | 6:50 2D | 9:35 PASSENGERS (PG13) 1:00 | 3:50 | 7:00 | 9:40 MONSTER TRUCKS 3D (PG) 1:10 2D | 4:00 | 7:15 2D | 9:45 SING 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:45 2D | 7:00 | 9:50 2D UNDERWORLD: (R) BLOOD WARS 3D 1:30 | 4:15 2D | 7:30 | 10:10 2D SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 8PM SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 8PM Two plead not guilty to assaulting police Woman alleges mistreatment by officers CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two people accused of assaulting police over the weekend pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon after being brought to Summary Court from custody for their first appearance. Thor Emil Nickelson, 33, and Cleopatra Covan Bush, 53, were charged following an incident on Saturday, Jan. 14, behind Caribbean Bakery in West Bay. Nickelson pleaded “guilty with explanation” to a charge of resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of assaulting a po- lice officer and a charge of being drunk and disorderly in a public place Bush pleaded not guilty to one charge of obstructing police and one charge of as- saulting an officer. Bush told Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn that she, Nickelson and some friends were behind the bakery around 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. drinking, talking and having a good time, but not being boisterous. She said officers arrived and told Nickelson they had a warrant out for him. She said all he did was ask what the warrant was for. Bush said she did not ob- struct but she did get in- volved because, she alleged, one of the officers “threw Thor over the wall” and she asked, “What are you doing?” She said she was pepper- sprayed and thrown to the ground and pepper-sprayed again. At one point, she asked to use a bathroom and re- ceived a rude answer. She al- leged that an officer made her head hit against a panel in the police vehicle. Bush denied spitting at an officer. “My mother did not teach me to spit on people,” she said. By the time she got to the detention center at 10 minutes before 8 p.m. she was bleeding and she questioned what had been done to her. She pointed to the bandage on her co-defendant’s face and said she wanted the of- ficers to be formally charged for grievous bodily harm. The magistrate re- plied, “That will have to be investigated.” Nickelson was remanded in custody and advised of his right to appeal that decision. Bush was granted bail with a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, a requirement to attend the counseling center and ab- stain from alcohol. Trial was set for March 20, with a case management hearing set for Feb. 9. Premier back to work Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin returned to office Wednesday after taking more than a week off work on doctor’s orders to recover from surgery. Mr. McLaughlin, 55, had surgery Jan. 9 at the Cayman Islands Hospital to remove a kidney stone. “I cannot begin to ex- press my gratitude to the doctors and medical staff at the Health Services Au- thority and to all of the people who prayed for me, called, messaged and visited me,” the premier said. “I feel good and it is great to be back.” Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell took over stewardship of the Pro- gressives-led coalition government during the pre- mier’s absence. CORRECTION In a story titled “Vehicle ‘for sale’ lots multiply” on page 1 of Wednesday’s Compass, the status of a property on Shamrock Road near Marina Drive was described incor- rectly. The premises is licensed as both an auto repair ga- rage and as a car dealership. Cayman housing 113 Cuban migrants A group of 28 Cuban migrants landed in the Cayman Islands in the past week, bringing the total number of mi- grants in custody on is- land and awaiting repa- triation to 113. According to govern- ment, the migrants are ei- ther being housed at the Immigration Detention Centre in Fairbanks, George Town, or at “an approved facility” elsewhere. The latest group of 25 men and three women were in the Immigration Department’s custody on Cayman Brac as of late Tuesday, awaiting transfer to Grand Cayman. JURORS’ REPORT DATE CHANGED All Grand Court jurors in the Jan. 11 to April 4 ses- sion are advised that the report date of Tuesday, Jan. 24, has been changed. They should report for jury duty on Monday, Jan. 30, at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 244-3899 for the most up-to-date information. Back-to-back shootings shake Mexico’s tourism jewels CANCUN, Mexico (AP) – Two consecutive days of shooting attacks that left a total of nine dead have put two of the jewels of Mexico’s Caribbean coast on edge and spurred a warning to tourists by the U.S. government. As investigators worked Tuesday at the scene of a shooting the previous day that caused five deaths in the nearby beach town of Playa del Carmen, the re- gion was stunned when gunmen assaulted the Quin- tana Roo state prosecutors’ offices in Cancun, and four people were killed. Authorities attributed both incidents to orga- nized crime, but made no comment on whether they might be linked. On Tuesday night, two women embraced and cried while looking at a pool of blood and a flickering candle just inside the gate of the state prosecutors’ office. A police officer and three ap- parent attackers were killed as police repelled the after- noon attack and five sus- pects were detained, Quin- tana Roo state Gov. Carlos Joaquin said. The governor pleaded for calm, saying the federal government was sending more security forces to help local and state authorities. “Cancun residents and our visitors can go about their lives,” he said in a televised address. “I repeat: The three levels of government pro- tect society.” But central Cancun, which is away from the hotel zone where most foreigners stay, was palpably tense. Shortly after the gun- battle at the prosecutors’ of- fice, a convoy of police trucks streaked toward the gleaming Plaza de las Americas mall where hundreds of fearful shoppers flooded out the exits after people reported hearing gunfire. Soldiers in full battle gear cleared the property. Later, an official with the prosecutor’s office said the mall scare proved to be a false alarm. Although some shoppers reported hearing gunshots, investigators found no sign of any crime there, said the official, who agreed to discuss the incident only if not quoted by name be- cause he was not authorized to speak with press. The U.S. Consulate in Me- rida issued an alert about the incidents in Cancun and urged U.S. citizens to take care and “to follow local authorities’ warnings and directives and consult with their hotels before leaving the premises.” Authorities released few details about the attack on the prosecutors’ office, in- cluding the number of at- tackers or information on those detained. David Franco waited anx- iously with his family out- side the office Tuesday night, saying they feared his brother-in-law had been wrongly detained after the shooting. He said the man had phoned his own wife saying he was caught in the middle of a shootout and his car had been hit twice by bul- lets. The last thing his wife heard was: “They’re taking us, they’re taking us.” But she didn’t know who or where. Franco said the family frantically searched all over Cancun looking for his brother-in-law before learning he was inside the prosecutors’ office being questioned. Franco said his brother-in-law was just on his way to work. His car was still double parked about 30 yards down the street. The Cancun shooting came one day after five people, in- cluding three foreigners, died during a shooting at a beach- side club during the BPM electronic music festival in Playa del Carmen. On Tuesday, the hypoth- esis of drug links to that shooting was strengthened after a banner briefly ap- peared along a roadside, signed by the “Old School Zetas,” part of the frag- mented Zetas cartel, sug- gesting the attack was car- ried out as part of a battle against rival gangs. Soldiers walk inside Plaza Las Americas mall following reports of gunfire in Cancun, Mexico, on Tuesday. Gunmen attacked the state prosecutor’s office in this Caribbean resort city Tuesday, ratcheting up tensions just a day after a deadly shooting at a music festival in a nearby town. - PHOTO: AP3 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 where does real confidence come from? Her braids or her band? At Havergal College, we believe real confidence comes from within. That’s why we’re encouraging girls to share the things that really matter to them: #RealGirlThings See more at RealGirlThings.ca Learn more about Havergal College’s Boarding School: Thursday, Jan. 19 from 5 to 8 pm R RR Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort Police: Crooks stealing number plates License plate, vehicle thefts a growing concern BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The theft of vehicle li- cense plates is becoming a more frequently identi- fied concern of Cayman Is- lands law enforcement offi- cers, who suspect the plates are being attached to unreg- istered cars which are then used in crimes. “It’s difficult to prove a negative,” Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service spokes- woman Jacqueline Carter said. “But there are in- stances where stolen ve- hicles, as well as stolen tags, have facilitated criminal activity.” On Tuesday, the RCIPS put out another of several recent notices asking the public to keep an eye out for a specific vehicle reg- istration plate: 150-873. These plates, police said, were stolen from a Hyundai parked in Windsor Park, George Town, on Jan. 12. In another case, a motor- bike stolen from the Kimpton Seafire resort parking lot in late December was found in nearby bushes with its li- cense plates removed. In addition, vehicles stolen in recent months around Grand Cayman are still missing. RCIPS offi- cials said in some cases they are taken on a “joy ride” and dumped some- where. However, others have been used in serious crim- inal activities, including re- cent robberies. The vehicle and number plate thefts have drawn the attention of government leaders and were the driving force behind the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing move toward installing elec- tronic vehicle tags on more than 45,000 private vehi- cles in the islands over the next three years. The new tags, which will be issued starting next month, are “tamper-proof,” according to department of- ficials, and cannot be re- moved and transferred to other vehicles. “You cannot take those plates from where they are installed to put them on another car, like some people do now and create all kinds of havoc,” Planning Min- ister Kurt Tibbetts said in June when introducing the initiative. Mr. Tibbetts also indi- cated that “monitors” would be placed throughout the country when the electronic tagging system is in oper- ation. The monitors allow every vehicle that crosses over them to be tracked. “We’re working with the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. I know they need help,” the minister said. “Once the system is up and running, it means many less times the RCIPS [will] have to chase down a vehicle, because [the ve- hicle] can’t hide.” The system is eventu- ally expected to boost rev- enue from traffic tickets, al- though this will not occur in the near term because of difficulty in issuing citations to addresses. Cayman’s gov- ernment postal system does not currently allow delivery to home addresses. However, Minister Tibbetts said one of the benefits of the elec- tronic vehicle registration system is that it can issue tickets automatically. “The enforcement ability of the RCIPS will be increased tremen- dously,” he said. RCIPS officials said they are still reviewing the func- tionality of the electronic plate system and how police can use it to their advantage. “We believe it should help,” Ms. Carpenter said. Illegal dirt bikes Another police concern in the past year about “un- traceable” vehicles is re- lated to the use of illegal, unlicensed dirt bikes in the commission of crimes. One high-profile example of this occurred at Island Jewellers in Camana Bay in February 2016, when two men walked into the store on a Wednesday night and robbed it at gunpoint. The pair rode off on a dirt bike after filling a bag with diamonds from the store. No arrests were ever reported. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne has vowed an island-wide crackdown on the illegal vehicles. Several were seized during an opera- tion late last month. DEADLINE FOR BREXIT CONSULTATION NEXT WEEK Public input invited The Cayman Islands government is inviting the public to give input on the expected impact on Cayman of Britain’s exit from the European Union. Those interested in let- ting the Cabinet Office know what they think of Brexit can email brexit@ gov.ky by Friday, Jan. 27, before government offi- cials attend a Joint Minis- terial Council meeting in London next month. According to a press release from the Cabinet Office last week, the Cayman Islands government has been considering a number of issues relating to Brexit, including: ■■ “Current benefits that the Cayman Islands re- ceives due to the UK being a member of the EU (including the Euro- pean Development Fund and other horizontal funds, freedom of move- ment and borders, ac- cess to the EU Single Market, memberships to organisations, etc.); ■■ “The legal, policy, eco- nomic, commercial, so- cial and other implica- tions for the Cayman Islands as a result of the UK leaving the EU; ■■ “The legal, policy, eco- nomic, commercial, so- cial and other opportu- nities for the Cayman Islands as a result of the UK leaving the EU; and ■■ “How Brexit might impact Caymanians personally, for example those trav- eling or studying abroad.” The statement continues: “While Government wants to hear from the public on any matters arising from Brexit which they believe could af- fect the Cayman Islands, it believes the above may also serve as a reference point for consideration by the public – whether individuals or businesses.” Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose said in the release that Cayman, as a British Over- seas Territory and inter- national financial center, would inevitably “be affected by an event of such far- reaching effect on interna- tional relations.” During the previous Joint Ministerial Council Summit in England in November 2016, leaders of British Over- seas Territories and the U.K. government agreed to further discussions relating to Brexit and created a “U.K.-Over- seas Territories Joint Minis- terial Council on European Negotiations.” “This special JMC meeting is our first oppor- tunity to formally present the UK with our position in relation to the UK’s exit from the EU, and we want to use it to reflect the view of the Caymanian public,” Mr. Rose said. The meeting will be in the first week of February, officials said. According to the release, the Cayman Islands govern- ment plans to present “a con- solidated local viewpoint at the meeting.” More information can be found on the Cabinet Office’s website at www.cabinetoffice.gov.ky. “There are instances where stolen vehicles, as well as stolen tags, have facilitated criminal activity.” JACQUELINE CARPENTER, RCIPS spokespersonThe 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. THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Tuesday’s Brexit speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May is proof that leadership genes may indeed be transferable from one political generation to another. Perhaps more so than any of the particulars of Prime Minister May’s plan, what she said in her address provided the United Kingdom something it had been lacking since the June 23 Brexit referendum: clarity. Channeling the no-nonsense demeanor of Margaret Thatcher and with a boldness that would have made Winston Churchill proud, Prime Minister May declared in strong, unambiguous terms that she will offer Par- liament the opportunity to enable the U.K. to regain control over its future relative to immigration policy and its own laws, even if it means sacrificing the free movement of goods and workers between the U.K. and the European Union. As outlined in her speech, Ms. May’s vision for the U.K. is as an independent, outward-looking nation that will seek to forge a network of bilateral free trade agreements around the globe. That includes, impor- tantly, the EU, but as equal partners — nothing more, nothing less. “Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out. We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other coun- tries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave,” she said. As the U.K. pursues its “divorce” from the EU, it appears that Ms. May is putting significant emphasis on preserving or further strengthening the bonds between the U.K. and its former colony, the United States. As a Christmas present to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the prime minister gave a copy of a historic speech delivered by Prime Minister Churchill to Americans on Christmas Eve 1941; she wrote in an accompanying letter, “I think the sentiment he expressed – of a sense of unity and fraternal associa- tion between the United Kingdom and United States – is just as true today as it has ever been.” For his part, Mr. Trump (whose mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born and grew up in Scotland) has described the U.K. as a “very special” ally. Notably, in her speech Tuesday, Prime Minister May said the U.K. would reserve the right to cut corporate taxes and change its economic strategy if the EU tries to freeze the U.K. out of the European economy. That would, in effect, make the U.K. an “offshore financial center” (well, more so than it already is, particularly the City of London). Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s reaction is telling (and predictable). He said, “Theresa May has made clear that she is determined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain-basement tax haven on the shores of Europe.” While Mr. Corbyn was no doubt attempting to send a chill of fear through his listeners, to us his remarks spark a thrill of hope for the U.K.’s economic prospects. While it is far too soon for anyone to predict what effect Ms. May’s Brexit proposal may have on British Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, we feel comfortable making the general observation that the best thing for Cayman is a strong Britain, and a strong prime minister. Before any of the prime minister’s assertions become reality, Parliament has to consider the proposal and vote on it. However, seven months fol- lowing the Brexit vote, Ms. May has finally provided Parliament with a substantive decision to make. Whether or not U.K. lawmakers approve the plan, amend it or reject it outright, Prime Minister May has performed her duty, demonstrated her strength of leadership and left no room for ambiguity on where she stands. While there are opportunities for earnest, backroom bargaining during complex negotiations like Brexit, when a leader stands before her people and stakes out an opening position, waffling is weakness and clarity is strength. In a time when the U.K. is particularly in need of strong leadership, Prime Minister May – unlike her pre- decessor David Cameron – has risen to the occasion to meet the demands of history. ‘Brexit or bust’: Theresa May provides strength and clarity LETTER TO THE EDITOR Vocational training The Cayman Compass re- cently published two inter- esting articles on Dec. 8, 2016; one reported on a student job fair and the other on the stabilization of work permit numbers. It occurs to me that these two articles have at their root one problem af- fecting the Cayman Islands – the lack of available voca- tional training. The Compass reported that over 500 students at- tended the career fair; I can only assume this number rep- resents the number of new job-seekers soon to be en- tering the workplace. My con- cern is how many of these in- dividuals will be able to find employment and what is the fate of those who do not find employment? In my experi- ence, new job-seekers all tend to seek out the same type of employment which fur- ther exacerbates the problem of job scarcity. I believe this problem is recognized by gov- ernment, as Education Min- ister Tara Rivers stated in the work fair article that “ … it is important for students to con- nect with employers from in- dustries they may not have previously considered.” I would suggest to Min- ister Rivers that the students are unable to consider indus- tries they may not have pre- viously considered because they do not have the skills these industries require. I would like to see the Cayman Islands develop a Vocational Training Centre where people (including new graduates) can develop mar- ketable skills in the trades that are in demand in Cayman. What better way for students to connect with em- ployers from industry than to provide the very skills these industries are seeking? It is my belief that currently, the graduating student does not possess the skills to fit the criteria that the ma- jority of industries require. This point is further exem- plified by Cayman Academy Principal Mr. O’Neil Duncan who stated in the job fair ar- ticle that “ … many students are not prepared for life after graduation.” It is my position that pro- ducing a workforce without marketable skills will create a negative impact on society. This impact will be exem- plified by loss of self-worth in the unemployed, crime by the financially desperate and recidivism by the un- employable ex-convict re- turning to society. I have personal experi- ence with this lack of avail- able vocational experience. I am currently incarcerated in Northward prison where I am completing a three-year sentence. During my time of incarceration I have not had the opportunity to learn any vocational skills. Nor will I have this opportunity upon my release. This lack of voca- tional training means that I will continue to have limited marketability to the Cayma- nian employer. I worry, what are the available options to other re- leased convicts seeking em- ployment? If we truly wish to reduce crime in Cayman and prevent recidivism, then providing the means for gainful employment is para- mount. Obviously this is not an issue that just affects the released convict, but society as a whole, if we wish to prevent crime. Unemployment affecting Caymanians in the Cayman Islands is a major concern for the government, and yet the article on work permit num- bers stabilizing reports “just less than 24,000 non-Cayma- nians were employed here as of early December.” Why do we require so many work permit holders? My answer would be that there is a pro- found lack of skills and qual- ifications to be found in the general Cayman population. A Vocational Training Centre would help pro- vide job skills to the newly graduated (from both high school and Northward) and lower our need for expa- triate workers. Andrez Anderson The end of ‘wet foot, dry foot’ NEW YORK DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD More than two years ago, President Obama announced plans to turn the page on a failed half-century freezeout with Cuba, and restore dip- lomatic ties with the Com- munist island. Thursday, with just seven days left in his second term, the President scotched the immigration policy that went hand-in-hand with that freezeout. What took so long? Under “wet foot, dry foot,” established more than 20 years ago, Cubans who landed in the U.S. got green cards, no matter how they arrived. It was itself a tightening of the initial Cold War policy that created a glide path to citizen- ship for any Cuban who man- aged to get off the island. Which is to say, for more than 50 years, Cuban immi- grants have been treated un- like anyone from any other country: as welcome to stay forever, simply by virtue of the fact that the country from which they fled is Communist. Yes, under the Castro re- gime, human rights are an oxymoron, driving many people to want to escape. But the regime in Venezuela reg- ularly abuses many of the same rights, and its people get no special treatment. Haiti has never been a picnic, either. Yet thousands of people who left it on rickety boats after an early ’90s coup were not given dry towels, a hot meal and a path to citizenship – but bare cells in a Guantanamo Bay deten- tion facility. The double standard is fi- nally kaput. The only shame is that the new policy barely gets a chance to set foot in Obama’s America before Donald Trump will get the chance to pull the rug out. He wouldn’t do that, would he? PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 january 28, 2017 at the festival green @TasteofCayman TasteofCayman.org CAYMAN’S CULINARY MAGAZINE VIF Very Important Foodie Tickets!ONLY $150 Buy your ticket now at tasteofcayman.org/tickets, or in store at Bon Vivant, Funky Tangs, Tower and all Digicel, Foster’s, BlackBeard’s and Big Daddy’s stores. Access to Camana Bay VIP Hospitality Lounge DRINK TICKETS 25 one experience voucher DRINKS & CANAPES Welcome Private cash bar EXPRESS ENTRY FOOD & MEDIA LTD. HURLEY’S Batabano mas bands form association JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman masquerade “mas” bands have teamed up to form the first Cayman Islands Mas- querade Bands Association. To show their support for Cayman Batabano Car- nival, the new association is hosting an “All Ah We” band launch at the Strand on West Bay Road, on Monday, Jan. 23, the Heroes Day holiday. The block party-style event will showcase costume de- signs of all the mas bands that will be on the road during Batabano this year and will sign up masqueraders for the parade on May 6. Costumes will be show- cased on stage in the parking lot during a Soca fashion show featuring local and in- ternational DJs and hosts. The event includes Whiskey Mist, Lillie’s and the Ware- house on the Strand. Gates open at 12:01 p.m. and admission is $10 at the gate. Newly elected as presi- dent by mas band leaders, Olujimi “Jimmi” La Pierre said the collective band launch is more economical for the registered mas bands. “It is the vision of the Batabano Committee and CIMBA, who have always be- lieved in unity for one suc- cessful national carnival on Grand Cayman,” said Mr. La Pierre, son of island pan legend Earl La Pierre. “We’re not in this for our- selves but for the people of Cayman and for those who come to our shores to play mas and experience our cul- ture,” he added. Batabano chairwoman Donna Myrie-Stephen said, “We are thrilled that these local mas bands united and formed CIMBA, the first of its kind in the 34-year history of Cayman Carnival Batabano. We encourage the public to come out and support the Ba- tabano mas bands at the ‘All Ah We’ band launch … their first unified presentation and launch of their 2017 Bata- bano costumes.” “We’re excited about the energy that the Bata- bano Committee has this year, and we’re looking for- ward to being part of it,” said Mr. La Pierre, who is also a leader of the FRESH Car- nival mas band, which won Batabano’s Band of the Year award in 2016. “Given the opportunity to serve as the first president for CIMBA, I appreciate the respect and confidence my fellow band leaders have in me,” said Mr. La Pierre. He said growing up in the car- nival culture, from Cayman to Trinidad to Toronto, he has enjoyed the energy from the music and masqueraders. “Like Peter Ram’s tune, ‘All Ah We’ stand united for the love of the music and wanting to see our masquer- aders and sponsors enjoy Ba- tabano to the max.” Ms. Myrie-Stephen will re- ceive the Pioneer in Tourism award on Heroes Day. To register for Cayman Carnival Batabano 2017 and to be part of the ‘All Ah We’ event, email cimasbands@gmail.com or caymancarnivalbatabano@gmail.com. IRISH JOG TO BENEFIT SPECIAL NEEDS FOUNDATION The Special Needs Foun- dation Cayman will be the beneficiary of money raised at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Irish Jog on March 17. “The committee agreed that this was an oppor- tunity to help a group of people who, for many years, have been over- looked,” Michael McWatt, managing director at But- terfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd., said in a press release. “We believe the pro- posed programmes from the SNFC will greatly ben- efit the participants and Cayman’s society as a whole,” he added. Susie Bodden, execu- tive leader at the Special Needs Foundation Cayman, said, “The foundation is de- lighted to be chosen as the beneficiary of the upcoming Irish Jog. Any funds raised will help us to provide pro- grams specifically around our sports and leisure ac- tivities. On behalf of our board and all of our mem- bers, I’d like to say a big thank you to Butterfield and Dart Enterprises.” The 25th annual event is hosted by Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd. and Dart En- terprises Ltd. Batabano draws hundreds of people out into the streets every year. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY The annual St. Patrick’s Day Irish Jog will take place on March 17.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, JAN. 19 LITTLE CAYMAN CULTURE OPEN HOUSE: The Ministry of Health and Culture and the steering committee behind the creation of the draft Cayman Islands’ first National Culture and Heritage Policy and Strategic Plan are currently in their public consultation phase for the draft document. Members of the public who would like to know more, ask questions, or share any concerns regarding the policy are invited to attend an open house session at the National Trust House from 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. CAYMAN BRAC CULTURE OPEN HOUSE: Aston Rutty Centre from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Background to meeting as above. PUB QUIZ: 7 p.m. at Fidel Murphy’s. Call Fidel’s to book a table (teams of up to six people) or email Sara.Dyer.81@gmail.com. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society. LITTLE CAYMAN: Vehicle Licensing visit, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Little Cayman District Office. FRIDAY, JAN. 20 CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL: Last day to drop off natural Christmas trees for recycling. Containers to collect discarded Christmas trees are 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. SATURDAY, JAN. 21 FREE MULCH: Natural Christmas trees placed in recycling bins will be mulched today at the Smith Road cricket pitch. People can bring shovels and bags to pick up the free mulch. BURNS SUPPER: Celebrating poet Robbie Burns. This event is hosted by HospiceCare, supported by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, at Grand Old House. The evening will include a piper, four- course formal dinner with wine and whisky, speeches and Scottish dancing. Cost per person is $150. Tickets can be purchased from HospiceCare office at Trafalgar Place (above Duke’s), West Bay Road. For further information, contact chc@candw.ky or 945-7447. BRAC SOCK HOP: National Trust of Cayman Brac District Committee presents the annual sock hop fundraiser 6 p.m. to midnight, Public Beach. For more information, contact aloha@candw.ky. SUNDAY, JAN. 22 FAMILY FUN DAY: At the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. The Garden Club of Grand Cayman and the Botanic Park host the event, which will include Children Lawn games, demonstrations of craft using natural materials, a raffle, plant sale and a children’s feel, touch and learn Nature Table. Face painting, children’s planting area. Performances by East End Primary School, Edna Moyle Primary School and a magician. Denise Bodden will be at the Cayman Cottage to talk about historic homes. Tours to see the blue iguanas, Butterfly Trail. $5 adult admission charge gives full access to the park for the day. Children younger than 16 are admitted free. MONDAY, JAN. 23 NATIONAL HEROES DAY: The public is invited to come out for this annual event honoring achievements, traditions and people who have made significant contributions to the tourism industry. Heroes Square. The celebration begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. After the Ceremony, there will be live entertainment, tourism displays and free refreshments. CLASH OF THE LEGENDS: The championship match between West Bay and George Town. Ed Bush Stadium. Ball kickoff at 6 p.m. Social for the kids from 4:30 p.m. until game time. This event is for the Marcus Cumber Community Cup and benefits substance abuse recovery. FRIDAY, JAN. 27 GARAGE SALE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church Women’s Group will hold a Garage Sale from 5 p.m. on the Church grounds. STOP SMOKING: The Public Health Department reminds smokers who wish to quit the habit that there are still some spaces left in the upcoming smoking cessation classes the department is offering. Classes start on Feb. 8 from 5:15-6:45 p.m. every Wednesday for seven weeks in the Public Health waiting room. Registration deadline is today. For more information or to sign up, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2889/244-2621, or email sarah.hetley@hsa.ky or nola.sanderson@hsa.ky. TUESDAY, JAN. 31 CHAMBER COURSE: Time Management & Productivity; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, FEB. 2 CHAMBER COURSE: Goal Setting; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $225 for members, $300 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, FEB. 9 CHAMBER COURSE: Immigration, Work Permits (BVPs, TWPs and RERCs); 9-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $175 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, FEB. 14 CHAMBER COURSE: Employment, Pensions. 9-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $175 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, FEB. 16 CHAMBER COURSE: Exceeding Customer Expectations; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. GENERAL INTEREST UNITED WORLD COLLEGES: UWC Cayman Islands, the local national committee of the global educational movement, is seeking applicants for its 2017 selection process, which begins with a written application due Tuesday, Feb. 7. Students interested in receiving a scholarship can contact the national committee at uwccaymanislands@gmail. com to request a copy of the electronic application form or ask any questions they may have about UWC and the local selection process. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Friday, Jan. 20 is the last day for people to drop off their natural Christmas trees at containers in West Bay, George Town, Spotts and Frannk Sound Road. The trees will be fed to ‘The Beast’ and mulched on Saturday, Jan. 21. Free mulch will be available on Saturday for the public to pick up. – PHOTO: MATT LAMERSDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 50 years ago: Speeding story spurs reader comments on Breakers In the Jan. 11, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, a small news item appeared on the subject of the issuance of a speeding ticket: “Fined for speeding: The new police car was respon- sible for a successful pros- ecution for speeding last week. In the Petty Court on Friday before Judge Hors- fall, Compton Williams of Bodden Town was fined 20 pounds for speeding in the Savannah 25 mile zone on Thursday, Dec. 29 1966.” In the paper’s Jan. 25 edition, the following letter was published: “Is Breakers forgotten? Dear Editor: While reading in the Caymanian Weekly Jan. 11 issue, I noticed where a driver was fined 20 pounds for speeding in the Savannah 25 mile zone. The thought came to me, ‘Why a speed limit sign is not put up in the district of Breakers, or is this district entirely forgotten?’ “Last Tuesday about 7 a.m. a speeding car killed three of my neighbour’s chickens. True enough but suppose they were three children instead, and es- pecially where there are so many little ones waiting along the roadside for a bus to take them to school. “There is another great necessity that we were de- prived of about three years ago. Why was the Breakers school closed is a ques- tion asked by many. It does not look as if anyone can give a reasonable an- swer. All you can hear is there is not enough money to pay a teacher, but yet there are always some new teachers for the other schools. I don’t think they are working for buttons. “It is a real shame to see so many little ones early in the mornings, standing along the roadside waiting on a bus to take them to school, and many times they come home complaining at having to stand the whole way down on the bus from Breakers to George Town. It’s a shame when there is a locked up school-room that could be reopened and a teacher placed there to teach the little ones. It is just a headache on us parents, when we see them go away, until they return in the late evening. We do not know when the news may come to us that one of the little ones have been knocked down by some thoughtless driver. “You may say Breakers has no one to speak for it. Well seems like someone re- members it when it’s time to collect a few taxes or sell some poppies. “I wonder why we can’t have a small Post Office? All the other districts do. Thanks for those who are willing to receive it in their home, but still a small Post Office would be much better. The P.R.O. in his article said, ‘1966 saw us enter the tele- phone and jet era, both of which were received with great enthusiasm and hope- fulness. This year also we shall accomplish more.’ Let us hope that some one will remember Breakers this year … Signed, A Resident.” Ludo’s long-standing tradition kept alive JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com These days, a group of Bodden Town women are taking it to the extreme when it comes to playing ludo. The game was a favorite Bodden Town recreation long before dominoes secured its place as a popular pastime. Ludo’s long-standing pop- ularity is remembered by many locals, especially the older folks who taught chil- dren the game under the shade of almond trees or on someone’s porch. Avid players Cecile Levy, Ruth Williams, Robin Mc- Carter, Dawn Hydes, Ella Kay Watler, Vandeen De- witt and Ingrid Manley gather on any given night to enjoy playing the game, which is also known lo- cally as “ludie.” The action at one of the women’s homes in Savannah can get quite loud with lots of cheering, shouting, laughing and of course, many boisterous ac- cusations of cheating, all in the spirit of good fun. Ms. Levy makes the most racket when she is playing. “You just slipped my man, why you locking me in into my gate?” and on she goes. Ms. Hydes, who wants to play a straight game, al- ways accuses everyone of cheating, and Ms. Williams, who can get quite loud her- self at times, watches the fray. Ms. Manley just keeps laughing at the action as she takes a ludo man home, de- claring herself the winner to the wonderment of all, who give her a look of “you cheating or what?” The group mostly plays partners. Ms. Levy, Ms. Watler, Ms. McCarter and Ms. Hydes will team up to give opponents Ms. Wil- liams, Ms. Manley, Ms. De- witt and sometimes Rolando Hydes, the only man in the mix, a beating. To play the game, two to four players are assigned four tokens each of the same color. Players roll dice to race their tokens from start to finish. Ludo originated in India at the turn of the sixth cen- tury, though it is not known when or how it made its first appearance in Cayman. It caught on widely and Cay- manians learned to make their own boards. Areas of the ludo board are typically bright yellow, green, red and blue, but in re- cent years ludo players have taken to putting their own special designs on boards. Some boards sport labels with the names of the dis- tricts, while others are dec- orated with sea scenes and various nature-in- spired themes. Like most Cayma- nian games, none is played without food around, and with these women being some of the best cooks in town, there are sure to be some great dishes to go around. Ms. Williams prizes herself on making the best wahoo salad in the group. Ms. Manley’s cakes are “to die for,” and Ms. Levy’s hot and spicy jerk chicken sends everyone for a second drink. Chicken wings, chips and sometimes pizza are added to the mix. Through the years In Cayman long ago, chil- dren could not wait to play ludo after school. I was re- minded of the natural joy and excitement of the game while watching the women play recently. In Cumber Avenue years ago, parents and children would gather at the home of Mcardy and Corine Rankine to get in on the game, which lasted well into the night. It was all in good fun, but most importantly, par- ents knew where their children were and what they were up to. “I still remember and cherish those times, how we used to sit and play when I was young,” said Bodden Towner Pedro Watler. “It was so much fun, those days, and a way of socializing with friends and the elderly.” Ludo boards come in all shapes and sizes After enjoying a game of Ludo, the board is put aside for more modern pursuits by this group of youngsters. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Some of ‘the girls,’ Ruth Williams, Kristin Williams, Ingrid Manley and Robin McCarter are engaged in a game of Ludo.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Please be advised there will be no newspaper on Monday, January 23rd, National Heroes Day (public holiday) For more information call 949.5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com HEROES 2017 DAY NATIONAL CELEBRATE THE STAFF OF PINNACLE MEDIA WISHES EVERYONE A SAFE HOLIDAY EDITION DEADLINE Monday, January 23rd NO PUBLICATION (CLOSED) Tuesday, January 24th Wednesday, January 18th Wednesday, January 25th Thursday, January 19th Thursday, January 26th Friday, January 20th Friday, January 27th Tuesday, January 24th House Lots For Sale Located off Shamrock Road, only a few lots remain in this new subdivision • Special Offer: Developer Pays Stamp Duty • 10,000 sft lots • Very high land, 15+ feet above sea level • Great location CI$65,000 for first time Caymanian buyers Call or Whatsapp Josephine for full plans & details. 926-6102 CI$70,000 as you were leaving,” he said. The airports authority hosted a small ceremony at the gallery Tuesday to ac- knowledge the end of what he described as a Cayman tradi- tion. Airport staff and mem- bers of the public gathered to acknowledge the occasion. “We recognize that this is a really important part of the airport experience for our community, so we wanted to invite the community to come and say farewell to the waving gallery,” he said. Mr. Anderson said en- hanced safety regulations meant that a similar gallery could not be featured in the new design. The current fa- cility operates under a waiver. He said a key concern, from a regulatory perspective, was that contraband could be thrown from the gallery to passengers below. He told the crowd, “We un- derstand the meaning this has to the community in gen- eral, and we have had some interesting feedback over the last few weeks. For the most part, people understand why it has to go, and in a couple of years we will have something we can all be proud of.” For the crowd of well- wishers that stopped by for the ceremony there was a mix of nostalgia and recognition that times had changed. Bud Johnson, general man- ager at Atlantis Submarines, said he was sorry to see the end of the waving gallery but pleased that the airport reno- vations are moving forward. “It is a long-standing tra- dition,” he said. “I remember coming up to the old airport 50 years ago and standing up by the chain-link fence and waving to people coming in. I have a lot of memories of meeting people here. “Unfortunately, with all the security risks and the mea- sures that are being enforced, it is one of the things that has to go away. There are cer- tain things we have to give up for progress.” Businessman Parker Tib- betts was also there to wave goodbye to the waving gal- lery. He remembered seeing friends leave on stretchers from the gallery and appre- ciated the chance to watch them board the plane at such difficult times. “It has been a Cayman tradition for many years,” he said. “People really enjoy coming here and seeing their family come in, like you can’t get to do in most bigger places. I guess we are getting bigger now and we have to move with the times.” Cayman waves farewell to airport gallery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Co- lombia’s second-largest rebel group has agreed to free a prominent politi- cian that it has held cap- tive for almost a year, clearing the way for re- peatedly postponed peace talks to begin next month, President Juan Manuel Santos said Wednesday. Santos said from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that details of the agree- ment hammered out during months of ago- nizing backchannel talks with the National Libera- tion Army would be an- nounced at a press confer- ence later Wednesday in Quito, Ecuador. The two sides have been holding exploratory peace talks for more than three years. Almost a year ago they announced the start of formal nego- tiations, but those talks were frozen before even getting off the ground over Santos’ demand the group renounce kidnap- ping and free the politi- cian it has been holding for 10 months. “This is very, very good news for the country,” said Santos, who won last year’s Nobel Peace Prize for reaching a peace deal with the much-larger Rev- olutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. “We have been trying to start these official negotiations for over three years. It has been a very difficult pro- cess. But this second stage that starts next month is very important because it will allow us to have complete peace.” The smaller group, known by its Spanish ini- tials as the ELN, has an estimated 1,500 fighters and largely finances its insurgency through ex- tortion and kidnappings. Like the bigger FARC, it is classified by the U.S. gov- ernment as a foreign ter- rorist organization. Unlike the peasant- based FARC, the ELN shares a tradition with other leftist insurgen- cies in Latin America that were formed by urban students and intellec- tuals in the wake of the Cuban Revolution. COLOMBIA LEADER SAYS PEACE TALKS TO START WITH REBEL GROUP Construction workers will begin transforming the area into an enclosed upper-floor restaurant and VIP lounge that will be part of a new departure area. Airport staff and visitors gather Tuesday to say goodbye to the waving gallery. – PHOTO: JONATHAN SCHUTTE, CIAAThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017 www.CaymanLittleLeague.com Info@LittleLeague.ky - (345) 945-3553/945-3552 FREE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL! BASEBALL CAYMAN ISLANDS LITTLE LEAGUE ASSOCIATION T-BALL SOFTBALL but I’m on top of the world.” The export authoriza- tion, for Jan. 9, 2017 to Jan. 31, 2021, was granted to Mr. Felder by the department’s Bureau of Industry and Secu- rity. It specifies that the cars may not be re-exported nor ownership transferred within the country unless authorized by the U.S. government. “I can ship as many vehi- cles as I want to Cuba,” Mr. Felder said, explaining that Washington still forbids trade with Havana officials “because they don’t want to support a Communist government.” He predicted this would slowly evolve as ties broadened be- tween the two countries. Mr. Felder said he cannot export vehicles directly from Cayman Automotive, but must use his U.S.-based subsidiary, Premier Automotive Export. “The tax man wants his share of the revenues,” Mr. Felder said. “He has to get paid for each and every export,” roughly 6 percent of sales. Premier Automotive Export has been sending vehicles to the Bahamas for four years. The company opened a Miami office two weeks ago in prepa- ration for the Cuba trade, and is on the verge of launching operations in Havana. Mr. Felder said he has em- ployed a retired General Mo- tors technician, to be based in Cayman, who will travel to Havana to train five Cu- bans to handle mainte- nance and repairs. Mr. Felder did not have a specific shipping date for the vehicles, but said it is likely to be before the end of the month. The authorization for Mr. Felder came in the wake of President Barack Obama’s re-establishment of contacts in December 2014 between Washington and Havana after 56 years of hostility. All vehicle shipments will be to nongovernment enti- ties in the island nation: 124 embassies, any private en- terprises and non-state busi- nesses, including U.S. compa- nies, Mr. Felder said. “Marriott and Starwood hotels are there now, for ex- ample. I can’t say how many [private businesses] there are at the moment, but even their employees can buy.” He anticipates sending two Nissans initially, and a charging station. The license stipulates shipment of “one 2015 Nissan Leaf, 100 percent electric four- door sedan with a range of 87 miles on a single charge. The engine is 24 kilowatts and delivers 97 horsepower,” and costs US$24,850. The document describes the station: “Clipper Creek level II charger is a 40 amp charger fitted with the J-1772 universal charging connector,” the same equipment used in Cayman’s charging sta- tions. The license pegs the cost at US$875. Mr. Felder has been op- erating George Town-based Cayman Automotive since 2005, mostly trading in U.S., Japanese and Chinese trucks and cars. In 2009 he became Cayman’s sole electric-vehicle dealer, selling the first “EV” to Camana Bay and installing almost a dozen-and-a-half charging stations across Grand Cayman, supplying the 52 electric cars on the roads. The islands boast another 15 gas-electric hybrids. Guyanese Ambassador to Cuba Halim Majeed thanked Mr. Felder for the initiative: “On behalf of the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and, indeed on my own behalf, I would wish to express our gratitude to you for your perseverance in ex- porting to my embassy a 100 percent electric vehicle,” the ambassador wrote on Jan. 10. Mr. Felder said he part- nered with Advanced Solar Products, based in Flemington, New Jersey, to install 50 charging locations, each costing approximately US$1,000, in gas stations across Havana. According to its web- site, the company has in- stalled “over 40 megawatts of ground and roof-mounted PV [photovoltaic] sys- tems, ranging in size from under 10 kilowatts to over 14 megawatts.” Industry newsletter “Solar Power World” named Advance Solar Products among the top five U.S. commercial solar contractors in 2012. “They are going into Ha- vana next month to get op- erating, and will be ship- ping chargers next month,” Mr. Felder said, indicating the company may employ Cuban- built solar panels. Solar and wind exper- iments have gained mo- mentum in Cuba as the country has sought to reduce Venezuelan oil imports, which previously topped 40,000 bar- rels per day. However, Caracas has slashed shipments by 30 percent in the wake of the so- cialist government’s crippling economic crisis. In a December 2014 issue of Cuba’s Granma Inter- national newspaper, Efren Marcos Espinosa, investment specialist at the Pinar del Rio electric company, said Cu- ba’s 4,000 solar panels each produced a peak output of 250 watts, saving approxi- mately 8.4 million barrels of crude per year. The authorization for Mr. Felder came in the wake of President Barack Obama’s re-establishment of contacts in December 2014 between Washington and Havana after 56 years of hostility. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Felder to export electric cars to Cuba Police also confirmed a report had been made to them and an investiga- tion commenced. The teacher has been placed on required leave. The child’s mother said the incident took place in De- cember but was not reported to her by her son until after term finished. She said he told her that some of the children were playing a game of “flip bottle” and the teacher re- sponded by throwing a chair, which struck the boy in the side. The mother, who the Cayman Compass is not naming to protect the iden- tity of the child, said she waited for the new term to start in January to approach the teacher for his side of the story. She said she was not sat- isfied with his response and made a report to the school principal and to the police. She said her son had com- plained of continuing pain to his ribs during physical exercise and she took him to the hospital last week, when he was diagnosed with a fracture to one of his ribs. She said she had al- ways been a supporter of the school and was in- volved with running after- school programs. “My child got hurt, what am I supposed to do?” she said. “I am so stressed over this I feel like they need to check me into hospital.” Whatever disciplinary is- sues were going on, she said, she would never expect a teacher to react in the way described by her son. Police and staff from the Department of Children and Family Services will now seek to verify the account. Allegations taken seriously The Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services said in a joint state- ment that they take any alle- gations of abuse against stu- dents seriously. “In December 2016, an incident occurred at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School where a teacher’s action caused a student to receive an injury,” the state- ment indicated. A police spokeswoman confirmed that the incident was under investigation. The statement from ed- ucation officials indicated that the incident was first reported on Jan. 10 and that the staff member in- volved had been placed on required leave on Jan. 12 until the police investigation was concluded. “At that time, any nec- essary additional action will be taken,” the state- ment indicated. In a separate development at the same school, educa- tion officials issued another statement denying allega- tions made by a parent that there was a serious mold issue that would require some of the school buildings to be demolished. The statement acknowl- edged that mold was found in “isolated areas” in Sep- tember, but said this had been dealt with at the time in accordance with recommen- dations from the Department of Environmental Health. It added that some upgrades would be made to school buildings in the summer. The statement read: “Amongst the other work that is on-going, a refurbish- ment programme for all of the Key Stage 2 Classrooms is under way. This work will involve replacing the floor and ceiling tiles, and re- painting the walls …. “None of this work is as a result of suspected damp or mould, but is merely part of an on-going programme to improve the quality of the classroom environments. This work will be on-going throughout the year, with the bulk of the work occurring during the summer break.” The statement said such upgrades were generally car- ried out outside of school time to avoid disruption. It added, “However, when- ever an issue is identified that has health and safety implications, the school al- ways places the welfare of the students and staff first, and addresses those con- cerns immediately.” Teacher suspended after ‘child abuse’ allegation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The teacher has been placed on required leave. OBAMA DEFENDS DECISION TO COMMUTE LEAKER’S SENTENCE WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Barack Obama firmly defended his decision to cut nearly three de- cades off convicted leaker Chelsea Manning’s prison term, arguing in his final White House news confer- ence that the former Army intelligence analyst had served a “tough prison sen- tence” already. Obama said Wednesday that he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken re- sponsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers have received. He emphasized that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime. “I feel very comfort- able that justice has been served,” Obama said. Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified doc- uments while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad. Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. She had served more than six years before Obama com- muted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May. “The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified informa- tion would think that it goes unpunished, I don’t think would get that im- pression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served,” Obama said. Obama said he saw no contradiction in granting clemency to Manning even as he warns about Rus- sia’s hacking of the U.S. presidential campaign, in which stolen emails were released publicly by WikiLeaks. He said he was not motivated by WikiLeaks’ recent pledge on Twitter that founder Ju- lian Assange would agree to extradition to the U.S. if Obama commuted Man- ning’s sentence.Next >