SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Spiritual songstress Carlene Davis follows a higher calling in her successful career B6 Seven Fathoms Rum Challenge winner Chicago mixologist emerges victorious at Taste of Cayman B2 Events Arts & Culture Food & Drink ■ EVENTS Anyone for tennis? Jim Courier joins Legends of the game at Camana Bay. B7 Heart Fund hails the 1960s Organization’s 10th anniversary gala goes retro B3 ‘eXtra’ special Ca yman Arts Festival Visiting artists include Juilliard Jazz Ensemble B4 STOLI FLAVOURS2 for $ 56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS2 for $ 56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $ 56 Until 31 July STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 JulyTEQUILA ROSE Strawberry cream fearlessly combined with an exotic tequila thrill. SAVE $ 7 Regular $38.99. NOW $31.99. (valid until until 29 February) Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertifi cates.com 28 CAYMAN WEEKENDER Anyone for tennis? EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CELEBRATE GROWTH: KISS A STINGRAY, HUG A CAYMAN VOTER High of 84 Low of 74 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 RED BAY SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA CEO conference brings immigration announcements KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Premier Alden McLaughlin announced a series of immi- gration initiatives Thursday with implications for Chi- nese, Jamaican and Cayma- nian travelers. On the heels of China’s an- nouncement granting Cayma- nian ships “most favored nation” status, Cayman will also enable the passage of Chinese travelers. “Cabinet has agreed to amend the immigration regulations to exempt nationals of the People’s Republic of China from the re- quirement to possess a visitor’s visa for the Cayman Islands for a stay of up to 30 days,” Mr. McLaughlin said at the Fidelity CEO conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. The exemption will apply to holders of a valid Canadian, U.S. or U.K. visa who are traveling di- rectly from the country where the visa is held. “The latter requirement is to ensure that their U.S., U.K. or Ca- nadian visa is authentic,” he said. The visa exemption will also apply to Jamaican trav- elers. Mr. McLaughlin said he hoped the measure would improve business relations be- tween the islands. Caymanian travelers to the U.S. are also expected to benefit from eased restrictions starting in March. Mr. McLaughlin said the Cayman Islands will be joining the so-called “six-month club,” meaning Caymanian trav- elers will only be required to carry a passport valid for the ELECTRONIC LICENSE TAGS COST $1.5M BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com After saying it would not release costs for a new electronic license plate and vehicle reg- istration system, the Cayman Islands govern- ment on Wednesday revealed the total cost of the system is about $1.5 million. The expenditure was broken into two budgets, with $350,000 spent in the pre- vious 2015/16 fiscal year and the remaining $1,174,548 spent in the first six months of the current year, between July and December 2016. “We provide the budgeted amount … that represents the costs of the Electronic Vehicle System over the next five years,” according to information provided by the Department of Ve- hicle and Drivers’ Licensing following an open records request by the Cayman Compass. The contract, signed on Jan. 14, 2016, runs through the same date in 2021, the de- partment noted. The contract is with Sistemat, S.A. Ton- njes C.A.R.D. International, based in Panama, according to the company’s website. The CROWN: ‘LAVISH LIFESTYLE’ FOR SYED JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The former president of the University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands, Hassan Syed, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the in- stitution, using the money to fund a “lavish lifestyle,” a court heard Thursday. Syed used the proceeds of his crimes to pay for holidays, jewelry and spa treatments and to buy gifts, including a car, for a “close female friend,” Patrick Moran, deputy director of public prosecutions, said as he opened the case against Syed on Thursday. “The offenses with which Mr. Syed is charged are all alleged to have been com- mitted by him for the purposes of lining his own pockets with money belonging to UCCI – money to which he was not entitled,” Mr. Moran said in his opening statement. Syed is alleged to have used college- funded credit cards for more than US$200,000 of personal expenses, including more than US$50,000 at Tiffany’s jewelry stores. Syed is charged with 12 dishonesty of- fenses, including theft, obtaining money PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Canadian veterans cruise into Cayman Members of the Royal Canadian Legion who arrived in Grand Cayman by cruise ship Wednesday joined local veterans for a remembrance ceremony at the Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town. The Canadian veterans, many proudly displaying their medals, along with members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association, observed a minute of silence for fallen comrades and their families. After a trumpeter played the Last Post, Dave Flanagan of the Royal Canadian Legion and Andrew McLaughlin of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association laid red poppy wreaths at the cenotaph outside the church. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 94-P ASTA [ 947.2782 ] • Marquee Plaza • Everything is made from scratch. • The freshest & nest ingredients. • No deep-frying or microwaving. • Pizza crusts baked in a traditional wood burning oven. Gluten-free crust available. • All sauces are homemade. with DJ Flex Free lessons with Kirk starting 9.30pm Every Tuesday Harpist Extraordinaire Eugenio Leon Serenades Tableside TONIGHT Friday February 3rd Call 949-2231 or email: info@wharf.ky FRIDAY 24th FROM 9:30PM WITH BOB FM EVERY LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH TU SUITE Saturday Feb11th Barefoot Man Saturday Feb 4th - from 7:30pm Saturday Feb11th Thursday February 9th LIVE MUSIC: Trinity Trio RENTAL RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE OPEN HOUSE SAT 12-2 800 SQ FT OF FITTED SPACE CI$1650-$1750 P/M Located on the corner of Huldah Ave & Smith Way Across from the Cricket Field, Immediate Occupancy Call Lin at 548-0000 Cayman Realty Group Her Majesty’s Cayman Is- lands Prison Service has helped train two prison offi- cers from Bermuda’s Depart- ment of Corrections in the use of force. The two Bermudan prison officers, Steven Simons and Juan Looby, came to Grand Cayman to complete the Use of Force Training course with the two internationally certified HMCIPS instruc- tors in order to train their own prison staff, according to a press release from the Cayman prison service. Nine new recruits in the local prison service also took the course as part of their training program. “Use of force in the cor- rectional setting is often re- lied upon by prison officers as a means of safety and main- taining order,” Prison Director Neil Lavis said. “This course is designed to teach prison offi- cers the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and suc- cessfully handle any situation they may find themselves in while on the job.” The course was led by Supervisors Cohen Daley and Troy David, who spent last November teaching use of force courses in Turks and Caicos to prison staff in Grand Turk. The trainers will soon travel to the United Kingdom to be recertified in the pro- gram, so they can continue teaching prisons throughout the Overseas Territories on the use of force, the release stated. Bermudan prison officers train in Cayman Islands From left, Supervisor Cohen Daley, Bermudian Prison Officer Steven Simons, Prison Service Director Neil Lavis, Bermudian Prison Officer Juan Looby and Supervisor Troy David. Temporary weekend road closures Portions of the Esterley Tibbetts highway and Nexus Way within Camana Bay will be temporarily closed on Sunday, Feb. 5, in order to facilitate the re- moval of the crane from One Nexus Way, the newest commercial building cur- rently under construction in Camana Bay. The portion of Esterley Tibbetts Highway which runs through Camana Bay between the Camana Bay roundabout and Forum Lane will close from 6-9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, a press release states. Then at 9 a.m., Nexus Way within Camana Bay between the One Nexus Way and 18 Forum Lane buildings will close until 2 p.m. The closures will be clearly signed, and the map shown at right offers a quick overview of where and when the closures will take place. DOMINICAN TO BE DEPORTED FOR 12-YEAR-OLD THEFT CONVICTION (AP) – A Connecticut man whose wife and daughter are seriously ill was taken into custody Thursday for deportation to the Domin- ican Republic because of a 12-year-old conviction for stealing a purse. Domingo Ferreira ap- peared in federal court in Hartford, where family and friends gathered outside to support him. It was not im- mediately clear when he will be deported. The 44-year-old East Hart- ford resident came to the U.S. 30 years ago as a teenager and had a green card, but never applied for citizenship, said his lawyer, Chester Fairlie. The Journal Inquirer newspaper reported Fer- reira’s wife, Diane, has an in- operable brain tumor and his 23-year-old daughter, Baceida, recently underwent chemo- therapy for possible liver or pancreatic cancer. His wife and three adult children were born in the U.S. Ferreira came under scru- tiny from immigration offi- cials several years ago when someone stole his identity and committed several crimes. Po- lice determined that Ferreira was not involved in those crimes, but his 2005 felony larceny convictions were brought back to attention of immigration authorities. Before that, U.S. Immi- gration and Customs En- forcement had taken no ac- tion on Ferreira despite his convictions, Fairlie said. Ferreira served about nine months in jail. “This is a very unfortu- nate result for the family, for Domingo,” Fairlie said. “Domingo was working and being a family man.” A spokesman for Immi- gration and Customs En- forcement had no imme- diate comment. TRUMP DID NOT THREATEN WAR WITH MEXICO, US AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS AGREE MEXICO CITY – Did Presi- dent Donald Trump threaten to invade Mexico? That’s the question at the heart of the new contro- versy over the phone call last Friday between Trump and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, and both sides say the answer is no. Several pub- lished accounts mentioned that Trump referred to all the “bad hombres” in Mexico and said that the U.S. military might have to take care of the problem if Mexico’s armed forces weren’t up to the task. Mexican officials did not equate that with a threat to deploy south of the border. “It’s absolutely false that the United States president threatened to send troops to Mexico,” Peña Nieto’s spokesmen Eduardo Sanchez said in a radio interview. Trump was speaking in English on the call and Peña Nieto, who understands English, was responding in Spanish, which was being simultaneously trans- lated for Trump. The call came amid a thunderclap of tension be- tween the two countries last week. Trump had tweeted last Thursday that Peña Nieto should not come to Wash- ington, as planned, if Mexico was not prepared to pay for the wall. Peña Nieto quickly canceled his trip. The two sides arranged a follow-up call for the next day. The Associated Press, citing an excerpt from a tran- script of the phone call, said that Trump warned that he was prepared to send Amer- ican troops to stop “bad hom- bres down there” unless the Mexican military did more to control them. It was not clear whether the “bad hombres” were drug traffickers or other criminals, the news agency said. Mexico’s Foreign Min- istry denied such statements were used at all. A senior Mexican offi- cial, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss dip- lomatic affairs, told The Post in an interview that “Trump definitely didn’t threaten war. The call was constructive and friendly.” “During the call Presi- dent Peña Nieto was em- phatic on the importance of stopping the flows of guns and illegal cash from the U.S. into the hands of orga- nized crime, and stressed the fact that many lives of committed Mexican sol- diers have been lost fighting against criminals armed with weapons illegally introduced into Mexico from the U.S.,” the official said. “The presi- dents agreed on the need to closely collaborate to fight against criminal organi- zations involved in the il- legal drug trade.” Mexican Foreign Min- ister Luis Videgaray said in an interview with foreign reporters Wednesday that “there are significant differ- ences in the positions” of the U.S. and Mexico. “Some of those differences were reiter- ated by both sides. © 2017, The Washington PostThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 visit www. caymansummit.com for more information Executive Platinum SponsorsPlatinum Sponsor Other Sponsors Gold SponsorsBronze SponsorsSilver Sponsor PANTONE 130 PANTONE 179 PANTONE 425 IMS SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ACTOR, BUSINESSMAN, AND THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERGEORGE WHITESIDES CEO, VIRGIN GALACTIC AND THE SPACESHIP COMPANY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERBETTINA WARBURG CO-FOUNDER, ANIMAL VENTURES SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER JAVIER PENA & STEPHEN MURPHY FORMER DEA AGENTS CAPTAINS MARK & SCOTT KELLY HIGHLY DECORATED NASA ASTRONAUTS & RETIRED U.S. NAVY CAPTAINS vDATE: FEBRUARY 15-17, 2017 LOCATION: GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS VENUE: KIMPTON SEAFIRE RESORT+SPA WWW: CAYMANSUMMIT.COM Less than 2 weeks at 93% capacity IMSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS ROBERT P. GEORGE Although there were no- table exceptions, Donald Trump famously lost the con- servative intelligentsia – and went on to do quite well elec- torally without us. But con- servative scholars will, I pre- dict, be virtually unanimous in their praise of the presi- dent’s choice of Judge Neil Gorsuch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to succeed Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Gorsuch’s combination of outstanding intellectual and personal qualities places him in the top rank of Amer- ican jurists. Gorsuch and I have worked together on aca- demic projects, most no- tably when I was the editor of the Princeton Univer- sity Press book series for which he wrote “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Eu- thanasia” – an impressive, deeply scholarly book that was praised by bioethicists as well as academic law- yers – in 2006. The book crit- ically engages the work of scholars (including myself) across a range of disciplines and representing a spectrum of viewpoints. When it comes to fitness for judicial office, the first criterion usually considered is intellect and education, and here Gorsuch is off the charts. Anyone who has heard him speak, and es- pecially anyone who has spoken with him, prob- ably has had that impres- sion strongly reinforced. His opinions are marked by analytical depth and precision and remarkably lucid writing. In selecting Gorsuch, President Donald Trump has without question fulfilled his pledge to appoint a justice in the mold of Antonin Scalia – a conservative intellec- tual leader. But one respect in which Gorsuch is unlike Scalia is that he is not fiery or pugnacious. Rather, his demeanor is scholarly – one might even say bookish. He is not a fierce debater. I recall being with him at an academic conference at which a graduate student contradicted and challenged a comment he had made. Far from bristling or even re- turning fire, he encouraged the student to develop her argument further, graciously acknowledging merit in the point she had made. Likewise in the court- room, he does not interro- gate, much less intimidate, the lawyers who appear be- fore him. It is truer to say that he engages them in conversations that enable him to explore the strengths and weaknesses of argu- ments advanced in their written briefs or address is- sues he thinks are impor- tant but that did not re- ceive sufficient attention in those submissions. Of course, most people are interested above all in how he is likely to vote on hot-button issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, campaign fi- nance reform and religious freedom. I expect what just about everyone else expects: Gorsuch, who greatly ad- mired Scalia, thinks about the constitutional issues in these areas pretty much the same way Scalia did. Orthodox conservatives believe that the Constitu- tion should be interpreted in a way that is faithful to the text and guided, where the text is less than perfectly clear in its application to a question, by the original un- derstanding of its framers and ratifiers. Gorsuch, like Scalia – and like every other judge who was on Trump’s list of 21 – is a textualist and an originalist. But he is not dogmatic, and his creden- tials help explain why. After studying at Co- lumbia University and Har- vard Law School, Gorsuch earned a doctorate from Ox- ford University, where he was supervised by John Finnis, an internationally ac- claimed philosopher of law and a theorist of natural law and natural rights. He won both a Truman Scholarship and a Marshall Scholarship, two of the most prestigious scholarships in American higher education. After com- pleting his education, Gor- such clerked for Appeals Court Judge David Sentelle, and then for Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Anthony M. Kennedy. He spent a year in the Justice Department and then a de- cade in the private practice of law with a distinguished firm. He has served on the 10th Circuit since 2006. His record bespeaks intellect and perseverance – although Gorsuch is, nonetheless, re- markably approachable. If Democrats are looking for a point of vulnerability in either Gorsuch’s integrity or impartiality, they won’t find it. He is basically a Boy Scout. He’s a faithful husband, a good father, a caring neighbor, a generous friend, a man of probity who holds himself to the highest ethical standards. Oh, and he will bring religious diversity to a Court that is en- tirely Catholic and Jewish: He’s an Episcopalian. Gorsuch will be a hard man to depict as a ferocious partisan or an ideological judge. As Gorsuch himself has frequently observed, in- cluding in a widely noted tribute to Scalia, good judges sometimes have to vote or rule in ways they do not like – because that is what the law requires. Indeed, he noted, if a judge does not sometimes find him- self voting or ruling against his own personal beliefs about politics or morality, as Scalia himself famously did in holding that the des- ecration of the American flag is political expression pro- tected by the First Amend- ment, that is a sure sign that he is failing to do justice ac- cording to law. In a democracy, the law never lines up perfectly with anyone’s political and moral beliefs. And it is to the law that judges have sworn a sa- cred oath of fidelity. Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. © 2017, Washington Post When we’re talking about the Cayman Islands popula- tion, our mantra is, “Growth is good.” Two recent news items have given us cause for applause on the “growth front,” on land and at sea. First, the Elections Office reports that 21,465 people have registered to vote in the May general election. That’s 3,000 more registered voters than for the 2013 election. Second, super-artist Guy Harvey and his stingray census team tallied a grand total of 100 underwater denizens at the North Sound sandbar. Combined with the 107 counted during the last census in July 2016, that’s evidence that the ray population is surviving, even thriving, at one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Cayman Islands – indeed in the Caribbean. Now, some of our readers may see little relation between registered voters and “registered” stingrays. (Both can “sting”? No, that’s pretty weak.) (Genetically? Nothing to report there.) But economically – they’re both extremely positive indicators. The stingrays are an important component of the lifeblood of Cayman’s tourism industry. Several years ago, Mr. Harvey (entrepreneur, scientist and conserva- tionist) estimated that each stingray at the sandbar is able to generate US$500,000 in revenue per year, and if it lives more than 20 years, more than US$10 million in its lifetime. The sandbar is a precious natural resource that, in blunt financial terms, is one of Cayman’s God-given gold mines. Our government and our tourism operators should take great care to continue utilizing the sandbar without exploiting it, while ensuring the safety of passengers and stingrays by resisting the impulse to “overcrowd” boats or drive recklessly. If any animal has “earned” protected species status in Cayman, it’s the southern stingray (with the “tourist” running a close second, perhaps). The contributions of the stingrays at the sandbar, the boat operators who take visitors to it, and more broadly, the tourism sector as a whole, go to benefit the entire human population of Cayman. Like the stingrays at the sandbars, “more is better” when it comes to the number of registered Caymanian voters. Accordingly, we were most pleased to hear that the local voter rolls now contain the names of nearly 21,500 individuals, which translates to a more than 15 percent increase in the past four years. Each of those new voters represents an additional taxpayer, potential juror and general contributor in Cayman society. As we’ve written on a number of occasions, Cayman’s public sector is far too large – in terms of size and cost – for the community it serves. In the long term, there are only a few ways to reach a sustainable “equilibrium” between the tax base and public service expenditures: • Raise taxes (and destroy the local economy in the process); • Significantly shrink the size of the civil service (a task for which elected lawmakers have shown no political appetite, or backbone); which leaves us with, • Significantly grow the size and wealth of the tax- paying private sector. Although as we have noted above, stingrays are extremely valuable to Cayman’s economy, in the coming decades our country cannot hope to pay for the salaries, benefits and retirement schemes for our overgrown civil service through stingrays alone. What Cayman needs, in brief, is more Caymanians. Celebrate growth: Kiss a stingray, hug a Cayman voter Neil Gorsuch, an intellectual giant and a good manThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 Dining Sunday, 12 February, 12:30 p.m. Pre-Valentine’s Day “Eat Your Heart Out” Brunch at SEVEN $120 CI with Champagne, $80 CI without Champagne, $30 CI for children This Valentine’s-themed edition of Sunday Brunch will inspire with selections to please every palate. Guests are invited to enjoy “Love Me Tenderloin” Beef Wellington, Sausage-Stu ed Suckling Pig, Cedar Plank Salmon, an omelet station, Cherries Jubilee crêpe station, Passionate Scallops, My Little Lamb Chops, oysters, Lovely Lobster Linguini and more. Caviar, an iced seafood station and an enticing array of breakfast favorites will also be o ered, as well as a tempting array of romantic desserts. Further event highlights will include live music, a love quote photo booth, a love letter writing station, a candy/gi cart and three unique beverage stations. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 345-815-6912. Tuesday, 14 February, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Valentine’s à la Carte Dinner at SEVEN The restaurant’s regular dinner menu will be supplemented by a special Valentine’s selection Tuesday, 14 February, from 7:00 p.m. Valentine’s Evening Beach Bed Experience $225 CI Couples can celebrate the most romantic evening of the year as they lounge on a Seven Mile Beach Daybed while dining under the stars. Seven lucky couples can experience this memorable o ering, to be presented on the resort front row at the water’s edge. A special Bed Butler will serve a teapot arrival cocktail for two, along with a two-course bed-tray of chilled savories including ceviche, pâté, cheese, charcuterie, accompaniments and bread. A second bed-tray selection of Valentine’s sweet treats will follow. Additional food and beverage orders may be purchased à la carte. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, please call +1 (345) 943-9000. Celebrate Valentine’s day throughout the month of February with romantic temptations throughout the resort. Highlights include a one-of-a-kind Beach Bed dining experience, a special edition of Sunday Brunch, and spa indulgences at la prairie. Spa Throughout February Soul Mate at la prairie spa $510 USD / $408 CI A very special experience for two, this indulgent spa package includes: • Couples Massage (side-by-side), 45 minutes • Customized Facial, 45 minutes Throughout February Romantic Rescue at la prairie spa $323 USD / $258.40 CI All the luxury and brilliance of the Perfect Couples Manicure and Pedicure, combined with a relaxing hand and foot hot stone massage. This experience for two includes: • Silver Rain Manicure, 45 minutes • Silver Rain Pedicure, 60 minutes Spa guests will receive a complimentary treat of a chocolate-covered strawberry and glass of Champagne on Valentine’s Day itself, 14 February. A 20% gratuity is added to all spa treatment charges. FOR DINING RESERVATIONS, call +1 (345) 815-6912. To reserve a spa experience, call +1 (345) 815-6900.6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Opportunity of a lifetime Will was one of PwC Cayman’s 2009 scholarship recipients. He joined the firm as an Associate in 2015 after obtaining his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Accounting from Louisiana State University. Shortly after passing his CPA exams, Will completed the requisite practical experience and was recognized as a CPA by the Louisiana State Board of Accountancy. Will is the son of Phillip and Laura Hinds of George Town. Vanessa was one of PwC Cayman’s 2012 scholarship recipients. She joined the firm as an Associate in 2015. After obtaining her Bachelors in Accounting from Andrews University, Michigan, where she graduated magna cum laude, she went on to gain her Masters of Business Administration, graduating as one of the top students in the university’s School of Business. Vanessa has since successfully completed her exams practical experience to obtain her CPA license by the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. Vanessa is the daughter of Noel Williams and Carol Scott of West Bay. With a scholarship budget up to US$200,000 and an extensive training scheme, PwC provides opportunities for young Caymanians to pursue a local or overseas University degree and ultimately a professional accounting designation. If you, or someone you know, is interested in a career with our firm, visit us at: www.pwc.com/ky/careers © 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Cayman Islands partnership. All rights reserved. William Hinds Vanessa Williams We are proud to recognize William Hinds and Vanessa Williams, who have passed their CPA exams and completed practical experience requirements through our Associates training program. From all of us at PwC, congratulations on this milestone in your career and we wish you continued success as you progress with the firm. Rooftop pool approved despite complaints JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Developer Stefan Baraud has been granted planning per- mission for a 20-home apart- ment complex boasting Cay- man’s first rooftop pool, despite a slew of objections from neighbors. The Central Planning Au- thority approved the applica- tion for the Hyde Park Complex, which Mr. Baraud describes as a luxury development, fea- turing two- and three-bedroom family homes to the east of West Bay Road. Neighbors’ complaints in- cluded concern that the pool deck, overlooking their homes, would be an invasion of pri- vacy, and the introduction of a large complex in what they con- sider to be a quiet neighbor- hood of town homes. Mr. Baraud said he under- stood their concerns and had done his best to mitigate them, including adding a privacy screen to the pool deck. He acknowledged there had been significant opposi- tion to the project, including dozens of objectors present at the Central Planning Authority meeting last month. He said such conflicts be- tween developers and neigh- bors were likely to increase as the amount of land open for de- velopment diminishes. “We have got a real problem in this country; we are run- ning out of developable land. The result of that is a lot of new development is seen to be encroaching on existing neighborhoods. “People are against multi- family developments and that was part of the problem with Parkway.” He said land is cheaper and more plentiful on the eastern side of the island, but the cost of fill made it prohibi- tive to develop. “We haven’t reached that far out yet; everything is still West Bay Road and South Sound.” He said many developers are looking around in vain for land for the next project. “We have a growing pop- ulation and the demand for home ownership is increasing. The cost of property is going through the roof.” A separate application from Mr. Baraud for eight family homes in Cayman Kai, which also attracted significant op- position, was rejected by the Central Planning Authority. The application was to sub-divide a lot in Cayman Kai for mul- tiple homes. Residents com- plained that the application was against zoning and against the restrictive covenants of the neighborhood, which limit de- velopment on the lots to single- family homes. PUBLIC CONSULTATION ENDS ON NATIONAL CULTURE AND HERITAGE POLICY The public consultation phase for the Cayman Is- lands’ first National Cul- ture and Heritage Policy and Strategic Plan has come to a close, according to the Min- istry of Health and Culture. “I extend my sincere ap- preciation to everyone who took part in the policy de- velopment process,” Premier and Minister for Health and Culture Alden McLaughlin said in a news release. “Against the background of our country’s rapid growth, it is important to safeguard the practices of our culture and heritage. Thank you to everyone across all three is- lands who contributed to the draft National Culture and Heritage Policy and Stra- tegic Plan for the Cayman Is- lands 2017-2026.” More than 214 discrete pieces of feedback were re- ceived, with people com- pleting the comprehen- sive feedback form online, submitting hard copies, or sending through marked-up documents via email. “The Ministry is appre- ciative of all the individ- uals who called into radio stations when we were guests, called or emailed through to the Ministry, at- tended the public meetings, and took the time to submit the feedback forms on this important policy,” Deputy Chief Officer for the Ministry of Health and Culture Nancy Barnard said. The feedback received during the public consulta- tion period will be used to further create the framework for the new policy, which is expected to be rolled out over a 10-year period from 2017 to 2026. Man not guilty of indecency charges CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Charges were dismissed Wednesday against a man who had pleaded not guilty to two indecent acts involving a 12-year-old girl. Dwight Richard Barnes was scheduled to stand trial that day, but prosecutor Candia James advised the court that the Crown was offering no evi- dence because the young com- plainant indicated that she did not wish to go through the trial process. Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn inquired as to whether the complainant had been made aware of the consequences of her decision and Ms. James in- dicated that she had. The magistrate then en- tered verdicts of not guilty on both counts. She told the defendant that the charges were dismissed and he was free to go. Barnes, 48, first appeared in court on Sept. 22, 2016. The allegations arose after he had gone to fix a refrigerator at the premises where the girl lived with her family. He was initially remanded in custody, where he spent some time before a Grand Court judge granted bail with conditions. He pleaded not guilty in October and trial was set for December. On that date, Crown counsel explained why the trial could not go ahead at that time and the matter was set for case management in Jan- uary. The Feb. 1 date was then set and the matter concluded. Barnes was represented by attorney Jonathon Hughes.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 CAMANABAY.COM VISIT DE SUNGLASS MAN AT CAMANA BAY A fashionable accessory shop gets a new home and fresh look. Serving the Cayman Islands since 1978, De Sunglass Man offers world-famous brands at low tax- and duty-free prices. Find the newest and hottest styles of sunglasses and browse fashionably affordable watches at their new location next to Island Jewellers. Make a purchase over $150 between 1-14 February and qualify to win one of 14 date night prizes, perfect for Valentine’s Day. See details in store. Located next to Island Jewellers / Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm 345.640.5339 / IslandCompaniesLtd.com Follow on The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Ina Maud Gibson of Jamaica and Grand Cayman who passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017. A public viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 from 5:30-6:30p.m.at Churchill’s Funeral Home, 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town. Ms. Gibson will be repatriated to Jamaica. We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Ina Maud Gibson of Jamaica and Grand Cayman who passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017. A public viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 from 5:30-6:30p.m.at Churchill’s Funeral Home, 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town. Ms. Gibson will be repatriated to Jamaica. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome. We have been asked to announce the passing of of Jamaica and Grand Cayman who passed A public viewing for family and friends will from 5:30-6:30p.m.at Churchill’s Funeral Home, Ms. Gibson will be repatriated to Jamaica. www.churchillsfuneralhome. from 5:30-6:30p.m.at Churchill’s Funeral Home, We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Kenneth A. E. Watler of Gun Bay, who passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at East End United Church at 2:00p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment follows at Gun Bay Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Kenneth A. E. Watler of Gun Bay, who passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at East End United Church at 2:00p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment follows at Gun Bay Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Arthur Granville Haye who passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2017. Details for a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Arthur Granville Haye who passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2017. Details for a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of In Loving Memory of Loisann Alverda Ramoon 21/9/64 – 3/2/2009 Death changes everythingDeath changes everything Time changes nothing, Time changes nothing, We miss you.We miss you. The sound of your voice,The sound of your voice, The wisdom in your advice.The wisdom in your advice. The memories you left behind,The memories you left behind, We miss you today We miss you today as much as the day you died.as much as the day you died. Forever in our heartsForever in our hearts Sadly missed by Broken hearted Husband Leonard, and Daughters Lovesa &Tatiana RamoonLovesa &Tatiana RamoonLovesa &Tatiana Ramoon We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Mark Travis Seymour who passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2017. Details for a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Mark Travis Seymour who passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2017. Details for a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com length of their stay in the U.S., rather than the current re- quirement of six months. An additional agreement is in the works to allow immigra- tion pre-clearance for eligible passengers at the Miami Inter- national Airport for passengers en route to Grand Cayman. The plan is intended to reduce local immigration lines. “This will also have the added benefit of improving strategic border control coop- eration between the Cayman Islands and the United States,” Mr. McLaughlin said. Once at Owen Roberts In- ternational Airport, passen- gers may also be assisted by volunteers with the ambas- sadors program, which will offer employment to retired Caymanians interested in con- tinuing to work. Mr. McLaughlin alluded only briefly to the elephant in the room, the permanent resi- dency system that has been mired by more than three years of delays. “Concomitant with pre- paring our people for the growth and jobs of the future is a fair and transparent immi- gration process. As would any country that has experienced massive immigration over the past four decades, the Cayman Islands has had its share of challenges, from issues with work permits to permanent residency,” he said. “I have to confess that man- aging these issues is a task akin to walking the razor’s thin edge, but suffice it to say that we will manage it with the same resolve that has seen us rise to the top of the eco- nomic pyramid in the region.” Trump politics permeate the day The U.S. political environ- ment set the tone for much of the CEO conference. Mr. McLaughlin joked about what he might post on Twitter, in an indirect reference to Presi- dent Donald Trump. He facetiously suggested tweeting: “I will be per- forming live at the Fidelity CEO Conference on Feb. 2 and it is going to be amazing. So if you are not here, you are a loser. Sad, so sad.” Alas, the post would be 18 characters too long for the Twitter format. Conference moderator Jackie Morris also joked about President Trump ad- viser Kellyanne Conway, saying any conference com- ments the audience may dis- agree with were merely “alter- native facts.” Forbes Magazine polit- ical economy editor John Tamny offered an analysis of “Trumpism” early in the day, outlining the possible pros and cons for a nation like Cayman. He described Presi- dent Trump’s ideas as ranging from good to terrifying. On lowering corporate and estate taxes, he said Trump was on the right track. He said anti-trade rhet- oric, however, could be im- mensely damaging by forcing the economy to focus on less productive economic pursuits. He also described President Trump’s stance on immigra- tion as “unfortunate.” “He makes the odd case that the arrival of immigrants is in fact a barrier to eco- nomic growth or a burden. Nothing could be further from the truth. When immigrants arrive, they once again bring essential energy, ambition and ideas that transform the economy,” Mr. Tamney said. Regarding regula- tory pressure on the U.S. banking industry, Mr. Tamney pointed to openings for the Cayman Islands. “The opportunities are huge for offshore sources of innovative finance to do what banks in the U.S. can’t do or are no longer allowed to do,” he said. Sistemat firm is linked to German firm Tönnjes. The department an- nounced last month that about 45,000 vehicles would be fitted with the li- censes over the next three years. The first vehicles to receive the new electronic tags and windscreen cou- pons will be the 700 or so that have been licensed temporarily since De- cember, while government awaited the new plates. Im- plementation is expected to begin this month. The number plates and the windscreen coupons are fitted with Radio-Fre- quency Identification chips – computer chip/antenna devices that can store rel- atively small amounts of information. “They may simply be scanned by authori- ties, with only insurance and other vehicle partic- ulars available to system users,” Mr. Dixon said in a statement. The users of the system are DVDL em- ployees, who manage it, and the police, who will have “read only” access to the ve- hicle registration system. Mr. Dixon said the plates contain no tracking ability via GPS, with which a vehicle could be fol- lowed around town at any time by police or vehicle li- censing officials. One practical law en- forcement use for the new technology could be in the area of traffic stops initi- ated by police. For instance, an officer using an elec- tronic plate-reading device at a roadblock could im- mediately scan and receive information that reveals whether an unregistered vehicle is being operated. At present, officers must first pull over the vehicle, check license and registra- tion and contact the 911 Emergency Centre by radio to obtain the data. Mr. Dixon said there would be no change in the present data exchange pro- cess between the RCIPS and the DVDL in regard to prosecuting someone for expired tags or failure to register their vehicle. Under the Traffic Law, the po- lice must make a request to extract the information and receive a certificate of validity from the DVDL, a process that takes up to three days. Ministry of Planning of- ficials said there are other options for using the tech- nology in the future, in- cluding putting electronic transmitters on stop lights or power poles to scan ve- hicle registrations. Those devices can tell system users where a vehicle was at a given time and date, but placing those scanners in enough places to physically track a vehicle as it traverses the island is considered cost-prohibitive at present. Electronic license tags cost $1.5M CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier Alden McLaughlin announced several immigration changes at the Fidelity CEO conference Thursday. – PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG CEO conference brings immigration announcements FACEBOOK’S OCULUS FACING $500M BILL IN COPYRIGHT CASE SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Face- book’s virtual-reality subsid- iary and two of its founders are facing a sobering reality after a jury hit them with a $500 million bill for vio- lating the intellectual property rights of video-game maker ZeniMax Media. The verdict reached Wednesday in a Dallas fed- eral court represents about one-fourth of the $2 billion that Facebook paid two years ago to buy Oculus, a developer of vir- tual-reality gear and software. The jury concluded that Oc- ulus and co-founders Palmer Luckey and Brendan Iribe infringed on ZeniMax Me- dia’s copyrights and trade- marks as they built their prod- ucts. Oculus vowed to appeal the decision. Although ZeniMax is not a household name, the Rockville, Maryland, company has some powerful and famous connec- tions. Its board includes Presi- dent Donald Trump’s younger brother, Robert; CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves; Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr.; and blockbuster movie pro- ducer Jerry Bruckheimer. In addition, ZeniMax CEO Robert A. Altman is married to Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series. “While we regret we had to litigate in order to vindi- cate our rights, it was neces- sary to take a stand against companies that engage in il- legal activity in their desire to get control of new, valu- able technology,” ZeniMax said in a statement.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2017 In Loving Memory of Mrs. Hazel Marr-Johnson (nee Lindo) Who passed away On 6th February, 2015 Fondly remembered By her niece, Paulette Clarke, Other relatives, and friends. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Elford Levi Dilbert regret to announce his passing on Saturday, 28 January 2017. A Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, 11 February 2017 at the Church of God Chapel, Walkers Rd. Viewing will be from 9:30 AM prior to the service. Interment will follow in Prospect Cemetery. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Ashford Edsel Panton regret to announce his passing on Monday, 30 January 2017. A Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, 4 February 2017 at the Elliott Conolly Civic Centre, Gun Bay, East End. Viewing will be from 1:00 PM prior to the service. Interment will follow in Gun Bay Cemetery. The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Vicky Celestial regret to announce her passing on Saturday, 28 January 2017. A Funeral Mass will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, 4 February 2017 at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Walkers Rd. Viewing will be from 2:00 PM prior to the service. Mrs. Celestial will be repatriated to the Philippines after the service. Internships created for environmental ambassadors JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Nonprofit organization Save Cayman is offering a youth internship program aimed at kick-starting ca- reers in eco-tourism for young Caymanians. The group has part- nered with dive company Divetech, Cayman Sea El- ements, the Department of Environment, the Na- tional Trust and the Blue Iguana Recovery Program to offer the Environmental Ambassadors Programme, starting this summer. There are four positions, though the group hopes to expand the program. It is primarily aimed at people between the ages of 18 and 25, but high school students can also apply, with their parents’ permission. The in- ternship will run from June 19 to Aug. 11. The interns will ro- tate between the programs and learn about culling li- onfish, tending coral nurs- eries and the importance of Cayman’s unique environ- ment to tourism. Save Cayman adminis- trator Gabriella Hernandez said, “Our aim is to give our young Caymanians the skills, knowledge and expe- rience required to take part in our tourism industry. We believe it is important that we have young Caymanians in the industry that have a well-rounded understanding and appreciation for what makes Cayman unique so that they may share that with our visitors.” Jo Mikutowicz of Di- vetech said the interns would receive beginner and advanced open-water dive certifications and learn about the coral nursery program during their time with the company. She said, “They will also learn how to safely eradicate invasive lionfish from our reefs and learn how to iden- tify different types of marine life. Each course is designed to teach them how to be safe and environmentally aware divers. We hope this will give them the knowledge and skills that they need to carry on to further training to someday work in the diving Industry here in Cayman.” John Bothwell, senior research officer at the De- partment of Environment, said “This will help partici- pants get a broader view of how Cayman’s natural re- sources are both unique and abundant and in need of nurturing.” Participants will also visit several historical sites and work on resume writing, according to Save Cayman. Morgan Ebanks of Save Cayman said educating young people about the value of the islands’ environ- ment is a key goal. “It is hoped that the young Caymanians that be- come involved in this pro- gramme will take away with them knowledge and skills to help create a shift in the way we think about and manage our natural world.” For more information, email savecayman.ky@gmail.com. transfers by deception, and obtaining a pecuniary advan- tage by deception during his time at the helm of the col- lege between August 2006 and May 2008. He has denied the offenses. The charges include claims that Syed: ■■ Pretended to have a doctorate to get the president’s job, which nearly tripled his salary to CI$132,000 ■■ Stole more than US$200,000 from UCCI by using his college credit card for per- sonal expenses, in- cluding nearly US$80,000 for jewelry ■■ Dishonestly used UCCI funds for air travel for his family and home improvements to a house belonging to a close female friend ■■ Stole US$10,000 from UCCI by cashing a check drawn on UCCI funds ■■ Used US$20,000 belonging to the college to buy a Mitsubishi Eclipse ve- hicle from Tony’s Toys, for a close female friend ■■ Submitted false invoices to UCCI to obtain tens of thousands of dol- lars in college funds ■■ Dishonestly submitted paperwork claiming he was entitled to CI$90,000 in UCCI funds for addi- tional consultancy work ■■ Obtained a CI$70,000 salary advance by pretending it had been authorized by the UCCI board. Mr. Moran said Syed’s crimes went undetected for long periods. “As the nature and extent of what he had done began to come to light in early 2008, he left the Cayman Islands and quit his job, citing med- ical reasons. It was only after his departure that the full ex- tent of his alleged wrongdo- ings began to come to light.” Mr. Moran said Syed had joined UCCI as a computing instructor in 2003, rising to the position of president in 2006, in part as a result of his false claim to have a doctorate in computer sci- ence from the University of Victoria in Canada. A doc- torate was a prerequisite for the president’s job, and Syed’s qualifications were cited by the selection com- mittee as one of the reasons he got the position, according to Mr. Moran. He said the “lie” about his doctorate had allowed him to claim earnings of more than CI$250,000 during his brief tenure as president. Once he took over as president, Syed sought to de- velop the reputation of the college, organizing meetings with businesses and overseas schools and colleges in an ef- fort to grow the institution, Mr. Moran said. During that period he spent more than US$400,000 on his UCCI-issued credit cards, which the college ac- countant paid off without asking to see statements, ac- cording to Mr. Moran. He said many of the ex- penses were legitimate, but at least half of them were not. “When those credit card statements were finally ob- tained, they revealed a pat- tern of spending which we suggest speaks for itself,” said Mr. Moran. “There can be no doubt that he made numerous purchases from establish- ments such as jewelry stores, home furnishing stores, bars, restaurants and liquor stores. He frequently used the cards while overseas and sometimes used them to buy goods from the internet.” Outlining some of his more “glamorous purchases,” Mr. Moran said Syed had spent more than US$50,000 at Tiffany’s jewelry stores, more than US$10,000 at Diamonds Direct, nearly US$5,000 at The Ritz-Carlton spa and more than US$5,000 at Harrods of London. He also made less ex- travagant purchases, using the cards to spend US$700 at Blockbuster video, US$700 at Puritan Dry Cleaners and more than US$1,000 at Black- beard’s liquor store. Crown: ‘Lavish lifestyle’ for Syed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NAVAL SUPPORT SHIP TO DOCK IN CAYMAN The Naval support ship RFA Wave Knight is scheduled to arrive in Grand Cayman on Friday for a four-day visit. The ship is on deployment to the region on Atlantic Pa- trol Tasking North, a year- round commitment in sup- port of humanitarian aid, disaster relief and counter- narcotics operations, ac- cording to a press release from the Governor’s Office. While in Cayman, the com- manding officer, Capt. Nigel Budd, is due to call on the gov- ernor and deputy governor, host an onboard business lun- cheon and evening reception and provide technical support to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Marine Unit. The ship carries emer- gency relief stores from the U.K. Department for Interna- tional Development. RFA Wave Knight made headlines in November when a Royal Marines sniper shot out the engine of a drug traf- fickers’ speedboat, bringing a six-hour chase across the Ca- ribbean to an end and dealing a 40 million pound (US$501 million) blow to the smug- glers, according to the release. The ship is a 31,500-ton fleet tanker with the ability to refuel other naval vessels at sea from its three beam rigs and one stern rig. Captain Budd said in the release, “My ship’s company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and to making and remaking rela- tionships whilst being able to liaise with disaster manage- ment authorities regarding our capabilities.” The ship has a crew of 77 Royal Fleet Auxiliary per- sonnel and is supported by five Royal Naval personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations. Syed is charged with 12 dishonesty offenses, including theft, obtaining money transfers by deception, and obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.Next >