ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 High of 85 Low of 74 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CAREPAY SCANDAL: ITS EPITAPH IS NOT YET WRITTEN SPORTS | PAGE 15 NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEK Personal Insurance In 1984, customers knew us as BritCay. In 201 , they and the next generation still do. Your insurance cover with BritCay is supported by a group of companies managing $390 million in insurance and pension contributions. More cover, more benefits, more security. 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 ‘Inspiring’ Caymanian pilot retires Capt. Dave Scott shows his nephews Timothy Ebanks and Matthew Bush around the cockpit of the Cayman Airways 737 jet he landed at Owen Roberts International Airport on Wednesday. After a career spanning 47 years, he is retiring as a pilot for the airline but stays on as vice president of flight operations. His landing was greeted by friends, family, colleagues and a traditional water cannon salute. For more, see page 5. – PHOTO: MATT LAMERS ‘Inappropriate behavior’ alleged in prisons case BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former prisons custodial manager is alleged to have engaged in “inappro- priate behavior” with prisoners, according to correspondence obtained by the Cayman Compass last week. The alleged behavior led to prisons Deputy Director Aduke Joseph-Caesar’s de- cision to place a camera in the office of that manager, Nina White, a decision for which Ms. Joseph-Caesar was suspended and eventually fired. Ms. Joseph-Caesar won her job back last week, following settlement discussions with government officials. Ms. White, who is originally from the U.K., left the prisons service after the expiry of her contract. The outcome of any review regarding Ms. White’s alleged actions has never been made public. According to two letters received by the Cayman Compass last week, both signed by Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Wesley Howell and dated Feb. 10, Ms. Jo- seph-Caesar’s attorney Clyde Allen was in- formed that she was cleared of all wrong- doing in connection with the matter. The text of one letter read: “We hereby undertake that no further disciplinary proceedings shall be instituted against Syed never earned doctorate, court hears JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former university president Hassan Syed never received a doctorate from the University of Victoria in Canada as he is said to have claimed in his resume, a court heard Wednesday. Syed, who is charged with falsely claiming to have a Ph.D. to get the job of president of the University College of the Cayman Islands, never even ap- plied to the institution or at- tended classes there. The jury has previously heard that Syed told colleagues, shortly before becoming pres- ident of UCCI, that he was going to Canada to defend his doctoral thesis. When he re- turned, he began referring to himself as Dr. Syed, several witnesses have testified. Several members of the board of governors of UCCI also gave evidence that a doctorate was a prerequisite for the CI$135,000- a-year job and that they be- lieved Syed had a Ph.D. when MINISTER: NO NEW DRAFT OF LAWYERS BILL BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although the Cayman Islands government still intends to pass a version of the contro- versial Legal Practitioners Bill, it will not pro- pose entirely rewritten legislation for this month’s Legislative Assembly meeting. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton told the Cayman Compass Tuesday that the same bill proposed during the assembly’s Oc- tober 2016 session will be brought back for a vote during the meeting that starts Feb. 22. Mr. Panton said a number of amendments will be proposed during the committee-stage re- view of the legislation. The Legal Practitioners Bill brought to the Legislative Assembly in October was 126 pages. The government is not required to pub- lish any of the changes it intends to make before the amendments are heard in the as- sembly committee review. Mr. Panton said Tuesday that extensive be- hind-the-scenes consultations have been going on with legal industry stakeholders on the bill, which seeks to modernize the 1969 legislation that governs the practice of law in Cayman. He said many of the changes suggested by stakeholders who participated in the review have been added to the bill. He also said the government attempted to include some issues addressed by bill critics who had “not cooperated in the review” of the legislation. The Progressives-led administration’s deci- sion to withdraw the bill in October was at- tributed to pressure from certain interests in the legal fraternity, as well as requests from opposition lawmakers. Successive govern- ments have failed to pass an updated Legal PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » NEW UTILITIES REGULATOR DISCUSSES CHALLENGES J. Paul Morgan, chief executive of Cayman’s new utilities regula- tory body, says internal organiza- tion, skilled personnel and the ap- pointment of subcommittees for each utility sector are among the oversight body’s priorities. The Utility Regulation and Com- petition Office, known as “OfReg” began operation this month, taking over regulatory duties for the elec- tricity, telecommunications and petro- leum industries. For more, see page 3.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 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 - LEGO BATMAN 3D (PG) 12:30 | 3:45 2D | 6:50 | 9:35 2D XXX: RETURN OF THE (PG13) XANDER CAGE 3D 12:40 2D | 4:00 | 7:25 2D | 10:00 FIFTY SHADES DARKER (R) 12:45 | 3:50 | 7:15 | 9:55 HIDDEN FIGURES (PG) 1:00 | 4:00 | 6:50 | 9:45 PATRIOTS DAY (R) 12:35 | 3:40 | 6:45 | 9:40 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “Train with us! ” Cayman art therapist promotes creative alternative for wellness KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com For artist Anne-Marie Diaz and her family, 2004’s Hur- ricane Ivan ravaged not only their home but their sense of safety and understanding of life in the Cayman Islands. She witnessed her brother, who has Down Syndrome, fall silent, unable to de- scribe the pain and terror of his experience. “His way of processing and coping with it was to actually become selectively mute, which really means he began to choose not to speak most of the time. It wasn’t a case that he couldn’t but it’s what his brain told him to do,” she said Wednesday during an informational ses- sion on art psychotherapy at George Town’s Art Nest Creative Studio. Where traditional talk therapy failed, she saw art help her brother open up and eventually regain his voice. The experience inspired Diaz to become certified as a reg- istered art psychotherapist in the U.K. and bring the alter- native therapy to Cayman. She hoped Wednesday’s luncheon would spread awareness about the therapy, which has only been prac- ticed professionally in the is- lands for a limited time. While Ms. Diaz meets with clients one-on-one at the Wellness Centre, a blos- soming partnership with Art Nest has allowed her to ex- pand into group work, in- cluding an ongoing class for young girls called “Art of Confidence.” She said art therapy pro- grams can often help cli- ents process experiences and emotions that may be too complex or difficult to put into words. “Often, it’s when we put something down on paper, even if it’s not an image and it’s us writing it down, we can look back and reflect on our thoughts, feelings and experiences more than if we just talked to someone about it,” she said. Art therapy programs can be adapted for both adults and children who suffer from an array of health prob- lems, including the effects of trauma, depression, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Ms. Diaz also described art as a way to overcome the stigma of attending traditional talk therapy. “I think the arts pro- vide this platform, this op- portunity that allows the client to feel a bit more at ease about talking. They’re not talking; they’re talking through the art, pictorially expressing their emotions and there’s something very strong, very important about that,” she said. She made a distinction be- tween therapeutic activities, such as yoga or art classes, and art psychotherapy, which sets cognitive goals and im- plements a practice plan be- tween the client and prac- titioner. Like the sessions recorded in talk therapy, the art created remains confiden- tial and is used as a means to evaluate the client’s feelings and progress. Art Nest creative director Christina Pineda said she hopes to see the partnership with the Wellness Centre grow and lead to more creative group therapy opportunities. “We created Art Nest to be a hub for all creativity and it takes a holistic look at lifestyle and art and how art can actu- ally help you in your lifestyle. That’s where the synergy be- came evident between Anne- Marie and what she does at Wellness Centre and what we do here,” Ms. Pineda said. “People are very inter- ested in it because they want to know how it’s different from regular therapy, what it is and what it isn’t. That’s another reason I encouraged her to do this luncheon.” Ms. Diaz added that art skills are not a prerequisite to art therapy. Clients only need a willingness to participate. Those interested in learning more about art therapy services can contact Ms. Diaz at amdiaz@wellnesscentre.ky. Cuban graffiti artist makes his mark in Havana HAVANA (AP) – The whim- sical designs of the graf- fiti artist with the signature Yulier P. began to appear ran- domly on walls around Ha- vana three years ago. The first ones were large abstract renderings of rabbits, their floppy ears outlined in black against chipped concrete. Now, there is hardly a neighborhood in the Cuban capital where you cannot find one of the sprawling works of Yulier P. They include enor- mous gaping mouths 2 yards high, or flowers mixed either with the image of a woman or in the hands of a child. The works of the 27-year-old artist, whose full name is Yulier Rodriguez Perez, are striking not just for their artistry and ubiquity, but that they exist at all in a place where graffiti is rare and nearly all posters and murals feature political slo- gans or revolutionary figures. His art stands out not only for being different, but for its sly sense of so- cial criticism. “It is important to me that the urban artist expresses himself freely, not restricted by anyone, whether it’s a gal- lery or the government,” Ro- driguez said in an interview with The Associated Press. Cuba has long had a thriving art scene and in re- cent years there has been a boom for works by some of the island’s most famous painters, including Manuel Mendive, Roberto Fabelo and Nelson Dominguez. But Rodriguez did not emerge from the artistic establishment. He was born in the central province of Camaguey, where he said he tried without suc- cess to get a formal art edu- cation. Instead, he learned on his own with local teachers, participating in community workshops and using his own walls for a canvas. He said he sees his work as a po- litical and social statement. “The urban artist ques- tions society and politics, the realities of life in the streets,” which for him in- cludes a sense of helpless- ness and frustration over the daily struggles that may not fit with the image many have of Cuba. While he does not have the government’s endorse- ment, he seems to be toler- ated. Rodriguez said that the police have never inter- fered with his work and have kept others from vandalizing his art. He has, though, been questioned by state security agents about work they con- sidered overtly political. “It’s not that I’m against the system,” he said. “I am in favor of a system that works for the people … the good and the bad are aspects of the truth.” He has not catalogued his paintings, which typi- cally take about 40 minutes to complete, but estimates that he’s done around 150, mostly in Havana. The works are often wel- comed by people in Havana as a diversion from the some- times drab cityscape. Art therapist Anne-Marie Diaz presents on the benefits of art therapy Wednesday at George Town’s Art Nest Creative Studio. A pedicab passes a work by urban artist Yulier P. in Havana, Cuba. - PHOTOS: AP/RAMON ESPINOSA The work of urban artist Yulier P. adorns a wall on a street in Old Havana, Cuba.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 ORATORICAL CONTEST2017 The Optimist Club of George Town, Grand Cayman invites you to think about... “What the World Gains from Optimism.” Optimist Club of George Town, Grand Cayman P.O. Box 2314 Grand Cayman, KY1-1106 Tel: (345) 928-8098 www.optimistcayman.com /groups/optimistcayman Share your thoughts on this topic in a speech for no more than 5 minutes at the Optimist Club’s Oratorical Contest to be held April 8, 2017 Deadline for entry is February 17, 2017 Email: optimistcayman@yahoo.com and mark-ray@hotmail.com Prizes of USD $500, $300 and $200 to be won, and a chance to represent the Cayman Islands at the District Oratorical Contest to be held in Jamaica The contest is open to students who are under the age of 18 New utilities regulator aims to bridge OfReg ‘skills gap’ Hopes Cayman can emulate Singapore TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com The new chief executive of the commission charged with oversight of local utili- ties acknowledged a “skills gap,” but said he hoped to make Cayman “the Singapore of the Caribbean.” Twenty-year veteran reg- ulator Jamaican J. Paul Morgan, CEO of Cayman’s new Utility Regulation and Competition Office, dubbed “OfReg,” offered a prelimi- nary view of the issues he expected to face in his first weeks, saying internal orga- nization, skilled personnel and appointment of sub- committees for each sector loomed immediately. “Subcommittees have not yet been established,” he told the Cayman Com- pass. “This is a work in prog- ress.” Nor, he said, had their composition been decided, “but I anticipate that these should be completed by the end of March.” Water-sector legislation to come Water-sector regula- tion, however, remained out- standing as government’s Water Authority-Cayman and private sector provider Consolidated Water have been locked in licensing talks for two years, grappling with questions about the agency’s official role as both overseer and competitor. Mr. Morgan said OfReg awaited legislation re- forming the sector, moving it under OfReg control. He did not indicate a time- table, saying only that “the relevant laws have not yet been enacted.” “The water sector is not yet under OfReg’s remit, however,” he said, “as both the Water Authority and Cayman Water would be reg- ulated by OfReg.” “First, we have to orga- nize ourselves in order to deliver on our mandate effi- ciently,” the CEO said. “There are some overlaps in func- tional areas, as one would expect, so we will focus on identifying those activi- ties and skills which can be shared across all sectors. “We do have some skills gaps that must be filled even as we put a credible succession planning pro- cess in place.” The nine-member OfReg, created in October, replaces the Electricity Regulatory Authority, which oversaw Caribbean Utilities Com- pany; the Information and Communications Technology Authority, which oversaw local telephone companies and a host of telecommu- nication and licensing is- sues; and the Petroleum Inspectorate, which regu- lated fuel and oil supplies, pricing, testing and re- lated questions. An early February OfReg press release said Cabinet had created the “multi-sector regulatory agency, following an evaluation … of the effec- tiveness of the functions of the standalone regulators.” That evaluation followed a 2014 Ernst & Young con- sultancy report pointing to improved efficiencies and annual savings of nearly $250,000 through merging the oversight bodies. The board of directors will meet at least six times each year, appointing ex- ecutive directors in each utility sector. Mr. Morgan told the Com- pass that ERA Managing Di- rector Charles Farrington, Information and Communi- cations Technology Authority Managing Director Alee Fa’amoe, and Chief Petro- leum Inspector Duke Munroe were executive members of OfReg, but said Water Au- thority Director Gelia Fred- erick-van Genderen and Con- solidated Water Company President and CEO Rick Mc- Taggart would not “qualify as members of the water subcommittee” because “both the Water Authority and Cayman Water would be regulated by OfReg.” Former MLA, Speaker of the House, and Minister of Telecommunications and Works Linford Pierson was appointed earlier this month as OfReg chairman. Mr. Morgan said he hoped Cayman might emulate Sin- gapore, saying the island state had achieved success in making information and communications innovation serve economic development. The Cayman Islands, Mr. Morgan said, can become the “intellectual” technology center of the Caribbean if it can create a reliable back- bone infrastructure de- livering global, competi- tive connectivity, building an additional “leg” to the local economy. “I see OfReg as the facil- itator of innovation in the sectors for which it has re- sponsibility, therefore pro- moting economic develop- ment,” he said. “How we do this is by ensuring that whatever is necessary for us to guarantee the achieve- ment of government’s policy is central to our develop- ment work, for example, the deployment of national broadband infrastructure, introduction of renewables, initiatives to support an e-economy; cybersecurity and the like.” He detailed three im- mediate challenges, how- ever: “The first is managing the amalgamation of three organizations, all with quite different cultures, into one, while taking on the respon- sibility for a fourth sector as soon as the legislation to give OfReg responsibility for the water sector is enacted. “In addition, all the regulatory processes have to be reviewed, and where necessary, adapted for com- pliance with the new legal framework. Thirdly, and per- haps most importantly,” Mr. Morgan said, “we have to gain the trust of all stakeholders,” naming “consistency, trans- parency, impartiality and in- dependence” as key. “If we can demonstrate consistently that these are the core principles by which we act in our decision- making, our stakeholders will value how and why we operate the way we do,” not- withstanding “disagreement with some decisions or posi- tions that we take,” he added. According to Tuesday’s OfReg release, Mr. Morgan has more than 20 years in utility and telecommu- nication regulation in Ja- maica, where he also served 24 years as a senior man- ager and professional engi- neer in electric- and water- utility management. Appointed by govern- ment, he helped create Kingston’s Office of Utilities Regulation, where he served two consecutive three-year terms as deputy director general, followed by two terms as director general and chairman. Mr. Morgan currently serves as a non-executive di- rector and deputy chair of Nassau’s Utility Regulation and Competition Authority, and is regional consultant on energy, telecommunica- tions and water policies. J. Paul Morgan, OfReg chief “We do have some skills gaps that must be filled even as we put a credible succession planning process in place.” J. PAUL MORGAN, CEO, Utilities Regulation and Competition OfficeThe 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. CarePay is dead. But its residue lingers all over the Cayman Islands. The lead story in Wednesday’s Compass was a partial exhumation of the CarePay issue. During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, Superin- tendent of Health Insurance Mervyn Conolly told law- makers that Cayman still needs a real-time electronic verification system for healthcare claims, following the government’s previous unsuccessful effort. “Unfortunately, we know what happened with that particular initiative,” Mr. Conolly said. “What happened” was this: Local businessman Canover Watson, who was then board chairman of the Health Services Authority, was found guilty of conspiring to skim profits from a five- year, US$13 million contract signed in December 2010 for the CarePay swipe-card system for public hospital patients. Watson used his position on the HSA board to direct the award of the contract to contractor AIS Cayman Ltd., while disguising the involvement of himself and alleged co-conspirator Jeffrey Webb. Pros- ecutors said Watson earned nearly US$350,000 from the scheme. Later, a US$2.4 million expense to expand CarePay to the private sector was inserted into government’s 2011/12 budget, but no contract for that arrange- ment ever existed. Government ended up paying US$1.8 million for the fictitious expansion, with abso- lutely nothing to show for its money. (The total public expense on CarePay was US$3.2 million.) One year ago, a Caymanian jury convicted Watson on charges of conspiracy to defraud, fraud on the government, breach of trust and conflict of interest. Watson was sentenced to seven years in prison. (He is appealing the verdict.) Watson’s alleged co-conspirator, Webb, is dealing with separate legal problems in the United States, where he has pleaded guilty to racketeering and money laundering conspiracy charges in connection with the global FIFA corruption and bribery scandal. Webb is scheduled to receive his sentence from a U.S. federal judge in May. If and when he returns to Cayman, Webb faces charges related to his alleged role in the CarePay fiasco. Webb’s fate is far from the final loose end in the twisted CarePay narrative. Watson’s trial served as the grounds for a parade of witnesses whose testimony, as we wrote last February, “paints a picture of dysfunction within the halls of gov- ernment, with a broken system of ineffective public servants and appointed board members who deliver neither checks nor balances.” After the verdict, Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson ordered the Internal Audit Unit to investigate the procurement of the CarePay contract. Govern- ment’s auditors said in the resulting report, “we did not find any evidence of misconduct or corruption on the part of public servants within the entities reviewed.” We wrote in July, “In other words, individual accountability is nowhere to be found. Neither has gov- ernment expressed any plan, or intention, of getting back taxpayers’ money.” While the witness testimony heard during the trial was damning, what was disconcerting was the testi- mony that has never been delivered, by people who were never called to the stand – most notably, Douglas Halsall, who is CEO of AIS (Advanced Integrated Systems) Jamaica, and then-Health Minister Mark Scotland, who worked closely with Watson in regard to the CarePay contract. “The minister was the most enthusiastic of anyone,” Watson testified during his trial. And yet the public has never heard Minister Scotland’s side of the story. Someday we may unpeel more layers from the CarePay onion. With Webb still facing CarePay charges, the police investigation can still be considered “active,” although all outward signs point to its being dormant. We realize that much of the above is “not news” to our readers, but repetition is warranted, even neces- sary, to keep the still-scandalous CarePay scandal from fading from our collective consciousness. Neither the government, nor the public, should be content in con- sidering this a closed case. CarePay scandal: Its epitaph is not yet written THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS I flew into Boston in a snowstorm Sunday, coming in low over little white houses in the gray murk, and my connecting flight to Vermont was canceled, so I rented a car and set out into the storm. I had told Ver- mont I’d be there and once you start canceling things, where do you stop? It’s three hours from Boston to Vermont ordinarily and I made it in six, nonstop, 35 mph, through the pret- tiest snow landscape you can imagine, yard lights of farmhouses glowing in the twilight, the Main Streets of Norman Rockwell towns lined by lit store windows, and thanks to GPS, the gift of big government, navi- gation was a cinch, I just stayed in the tracks, drove slowly, listening to a CD, the DiGiallonardo Sisters singing Beatles songs and old swing tunes. I heard it eight times and pulled up to my hotel just over the New Hampshire border. It was one of those economy hotels with a big TV in the lobby, two heads on the screen, a man and a woman, talking, about the news, I guess, though the sound was low and nobody was listening. It was a back- ground murmur, like ocean surf or the wind in the trees. For this, these faces are paid millions a year and I sup- pose they imagine they play a large role in the life of the nation, whereas their func- tion is more like houseplants. They’re decor. I checked in at the desk and a man at a nearby table said, “So how are you doing tonight?” and that seemed to be an invitation. So I sat down. Two other men and two women at the table. A cheerful group, as people tend to be in winter once they’re warm and in off the road. “How was the drive?” he said. “Almost rear-ended a snowplow,” I said. Other than that, I had listened to the Beatles’ “Because” eight times, which I never cared for because of the dumb lyric, but now I do. A woman at the table didn’t know the song, so I sang her a little of it. “Because the world is round, it turns me on. Love is old, love is new. Love is all, love is you.” Two of the men and the two women were couples and had met last summer at a memorial service for a mutual friend of the two women. Those two had grown up within 10 miles of each other in Vermont and had never met before. They bonded over the death of the woman, in her 50s; faced with a dreadful diagnosis, she committed suicide. She had seemed rather elated the day before, making phone calls, reminiscing, and had spoken to these two women and told each of them that she should meet the other – “You’d like each other” – and so they had become friends. They had come up to Vermont from Boston this weekend to put flowers on her grave for her birthday and they couldn’t find the grave under all the snow. She had been an Eng- lish teacher and one of the women, a banker, had mem- orized a Shakespeare sonnet about old age for the memo- rial, “That time of year thou may’st in me behold, when yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang” and she said it there at the table, and we all knew the ending: “This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long.” Their story beat mine, hands down. Near-neigh- bors who are strangers, pulled together by the sui- cide of a mutual friend. We sat contemplating the lost friend and the poem, and then the conversation dwin- dled onto politics, and we said goodnight. To love that well which you must leave ere long. The beauty of a long slow drive through New England hills in a snowstorm. Because the world is white, it’s filled with light. The faces on the TV screen talked about pol- itics, but none of it matters unless you love this world and the people you find in it. You drive into the storm and meet five friends you didn’t know before, you feel their mortality and your own, the snow is falling. Love is here, love is there, love is drifting through the air. And the people in these lovely little towns, how are they doing tonight? Do they have medical insurance? Can they afford to go to the movies? Do their kids learn poetry in school? Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. © Garrison Keillor, distributed by The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News. Strangers meeting in the storm 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” GARRISON KEILLOR GARRISON KEILLOR From CaymanCompass.com “In the slow lane at Owen Roberts,” Feb. 14 If air visitors are so valuable, why is arrival so painful for such a simple process? I also hoped the red/green system would help, but that requires agents working the lines. There’s only so much a couple people can do with hundreds in line. I hope they fix the problem, as the new building will [otherwise] only be a nice place to have a negative experience upon arrival. David Burke Don’t hold your breath. Your call won’t be returned from customs. I have had to wait an interminable amount of time on most oc- casions getting through the customs process. A destination that strives for top tourism numbers must address their customs process. It has been too slow for too long. Lukishi Brown5 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 FOUNDATION FOUNDATION The The SEVENTH ANNUAL BREAST CANCER BEACH WALKBREAST CANCER BEACH WALK SATURDAY MARCH 11 starting at Royal Palms on Seven Mile Beach at 7.00 pm breast cancer FACTS register Now at breastcancerfoundation.ky, or on the night at 6:00pm at Royal Palms CI$25 donation includes one raffl e entry fabulous raffl e prizes Royal Palms offer $6 cocktail special (with $1 of it donated to the BCF) and 10% off food items Walk along the beach to The Ritz-Carlton and back, by the light of an (almost) full moon On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. For further information please contact The Breast Cancer Foundation on 923 1135 RISTORANTE Elevator ‘Inspiring’ Cayman Airways pilot calls it a career MATT LAMERS mlamers@pinnaclemedialtd.com After 47 years in the cockpit, Capt. Dave Scott is hanging up his wings at Cayman Airways. Captain Scott landed at Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport for the last time in his career Wednesday morning to the cheers of dozens of colleagues, family members and dignitaries. The Cayman Islands Fire Service helped mark the occasion with a water cannon salute. “It was very gratifying, es- pecially to see so many fellow employees to greet me here on arrival,” Mr. Scott told the media after landing Cayman Airways’ newest aircraft, the Boeing 737-800. The 65-year-old native of Spot Bay, Cayman Brac, has logged more than 25,000 hours of flying time since be- ginning his career in 1970 at the Wings Jamaica Flight Academy, where he under- went his flight training. After working as a com- mercial pilot at Air Jamaica, Mr. Scott moved back to Cayman in 1978, where he started as first officer before rising to captain in 1980. In his 39 years with Cayman Airways, Mr. Scott has flown all of the air- line’s jets, including the BAC 1-11, Boeing 727 and four Boeing 737 models. The aircraft he liked flying the most was the 727. “It was a very manual aircraft, not very automated, but very fast,” he said. “In that day, they were the best there was.” Mr. Scott will retain his current position of vice presi- dent of flight operations and designated flight examiner. Moses Kirkconnell, min- ister of tourism, was among those on hand to congratu- late Mr. Scott. “He’s a role model,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. “It’s in- spiring for young men to see what he’s done with his life. He’s been all over the world. When you’re around Captain Scott and the other captains, who are Cayma- nian success stories, it gives you a very clear indication of the opportunities that are available for young people in aviation.” For young people wanting to follow in his footsteps, Mr. Scott says the first thing they have to do is get a good education. “A solid education will go a long way towards helping you because the new generation of aircraft that are coming out today are almost all computerized. There’s very little manual flying that’s being done,” he said. Mr. Scott said introducing an electronic training data- base and iPads as Electronic Flight Bags are some of his proudest accomplishments. “We were the first in the Ca- ribbean to do that” he said. “It was a beautiful mo- ment to share this with my husband today,” said his wife, Betty Ann Scott, who flew with Mr. Scott on his final flight, KX103, from Miami. “I’m so glad that ev- erybody was here to share it with him.” Capt. Dave Scott salutes dozens of colleagues, family members and dignitaries as he deplanes for the last time as a pilot for Cayman Airways. Mr. Scott is retiring from the cockpit, but will remain vice president of flight operations. - PHOTOS: MATT LAMERS After landing at Owen Roberts International Airport for the last time as a career pilot, Captain Scott, in a Boeing 737-800, gets a water cannon salute from the Cayman Islands Fire Service. PARAGUAY’S CENTRAL BANK TO COUNT 30 TONS OF VENEZUELAN BILLS SEIZED IN RAID ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) – Central Bank employees will count about 30 tons of Ven- ezuelan currency seized in a private house in Paraguay, while officials try to figure out why the vast quantity of 50- and 100-bolivar bills was brought into the country. The cash was discovered in Salto del Guaira, a city about 230 miles northeast of the capital of Asuncion, on the border with Brazil in a region known for the con- traband trade. Paraguayan officials said they are trying to deter- mine whether the money was brought into the country legally. The only person de- tained so far is Leandro DaCosta, owner of the house where the money was found. Prosecutor Julio Yegros told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the quantity of bills was too big for the people in his office to count it manually, so he asked for help from the Central Bank, which has the “respec- tive machinery.” “The counting should begin in the coming days,” he said. Yegros said DaCosta has told authorities the money was bought to his house by a friend of his son.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Terry-Foster wedding celebrated in Town Hall In the Feb. 15, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Floris McCoy wrote: “There was a lovely group of relatives and well-wishers at the Town Hall in Bodden Town on Tuesday night. The spe- cial occasion was a recep- tion given by Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Terry in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Foster, their daughter and son-in-law. “MC for the evening was Rev. John Lord. Speakers at the table were Mr. Val Anderson and Miss Pearl Carter. Words of thanks were expressed by the groom, after which Mrs. Foster opened her lovely gifts. Invited guests con- gratulated the couple and the evening ended with wishing them a happy fu- ture together. “On Tuesday night, in- terested citizens of this community attended a meeting arranged by the MLAs. This meeting was interesting and informa- tive, giving us the latest news on many matters of concern now taking place in the Legisla- tive Assembly. “Some points of interest in the meeting were: 1) A discussion of the need for a cemetery in Bodden Town; 2) Mr. Richard Arch has some application forms available for those who would like telephones in their homes; and 3) The important issue now is in- ternal self government. This was explained, and the meeting was concluded. “On Friday, the ‘World Day of Prayer’ was observed by beginning the day at 5:30 a.m. with an early morning prayer meeting. Then at 5:30 p.m., there was a lovely children’s service at the chapel. This service was an indication of the fine talent we have in this com- munity expressed in song, prayer, and reading. “Then at 7:30 p.m., there was a united service at the United Church. Theme for the evening was ‘Of His Kingdom there shall be no end,’ and leader in charge was Miss Evelyn Wood. This was a lovely service and we went away feeling it was good to have been there. “Leaving this week was Mrs. Elwood Levy and chil- dren for New York. Mrs. Al- bert Whittaker and boys went off to Jamaica. “Mr. Neco Terry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Terry, who was away for about 12 years, visited his par- ents and relatives then re- turned to New York. “Mrs. Cleveland Carter was in New York and has now returned home. We are glad to have her back. “Don’t forget the colour films at the Town Hall to- night at 7:30 p.m. presented by the Girls’ Brigade.” KidsCARE kicks off at Bodden Town Primary The KidsCARE team was back in action this past Monday, with the commence- ment of the program’s class- room sessions at Bodden Town Primary School. The volunteer-run pro- gram operating under the umbrella of Cayman Islands animal welfare charity CARE, visits schools class by class, offering up an introduction to pets and pet care, tips on how to interact with ani- mals, and introducing the “5 Freedoms” of animal wel- fare: freedom from hunger and thirst, from pain and injury, freedom to express normal behavior, freedom from discomfort and from fear and distress. During their visit to the school the KidsCARE team made presentations to four different classes covering Years 3, 5 and 6. “It was great to hear both teachers and students had read about one former Bodden Town Primary stu- dent, Jayquan, in the first issue of PetZone magazine we had delivered to the school the week before,” said Ki- ralee Harnett, who heads up the program, noting that the young man is the maga- zine’s first KidsCARE hero, recognized for his hard work helping to trap feral cats in his neighborhood through CARE’s trap, neuter and return program. Since it launched in 2015, Ms. Harnett said Kids- CARE has received posi- tive feedback from teachers and students, has also formed a very strong part- nership with the YMCA through its after school and summer youth programs. At Bodden Town Primary, the students had the chance to meet two KidsCARE dogs in training, Jackie Chan, a CARE adoptee who has spent time with the program’s high school students but was on his first primary school outing, and Flora, who was recently adopted from the Humane Society. “They both did amazing with [program veterans] Shadow and Lexi to show them how it’s done,” said Ms. Harnett. In a previous interview with the Compass, Ms. Har- nett noted that underpin- ning the program is the objective of forging empa- thetic connections. “We strongly believe in the importance of educating the youth of Cayman, not only for the animals’ sake, but to draw lines of em- pathy and compassion to the people and environment around us,” she said. “We are looking forward to the next few Mondays where we will work our way through each class at Bodden Town Primary.” Ms. Harnett added that KidsCARE is always looking for nominees to be the next PetZone magazine Kids- CARE hero, be it through actions like taking part in a community project, holding a fundraiser, edu- cating friends and family about animal welfare or anything else. For more information visit www.caymancare.ky. Dogs Jackie Chan and Flora with Year 3 students and CARE volunteers Simone Middleton and Monika Holik at Bodden Town Primary School. Students practice giving treats as part of the lesson.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 School helicopter visit stirs excitement JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com On a quiet Bodden Town afternoon, the loud noise of a helicopter suddenly inter- rupts the peace; fingers point, and all eyes look to the sky as the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service chopper slows over the Bodden Town Pri- mary School playing field and begins its descent, kicking up a violent cloud of dust and dirt in a scene like something out of a Hollywood movie. The helicopter powers down and the side doors open, and out step RCIPS Air Operations Unit Commander Steve Fitzgerald and Sergeant Neil Mohammed in full tac- tical gear of helmet with black visor and black vests. As Commander Fitzgerald takes his position to the left of the helicopter, Sergeant Mohammed takes up posi- tion to the front. He gives the thumbs-up to Cap- tain Richard Morcombe, as the helicopter rotor blades come to a standstill and the dust settles. Students of Bodden Town and North Side’s Edna M. Moyle Primary Schools en- rolled in the YMCA’s after- school program were get- ting an up-close and personal visit from the chopper to learn more about the police service and its helicopter. As they gathered in awe outside the playing field fence to watch the landing last Friday, questions broke loose at once among the kids. “We going to get to ride in the helicopter?” “Do they have guns on board?” and on it went. First off, about that helicopter. “It started its life as a … Eurocopter E135T1 but is now called an Airbus H135,” said Sergeant Mohammed. “That’s the make of the helicopter,” he added. He said the RCIPS air unit operates with a crew of three, made up of one pilot and two tactical flight officers, but the aircraft can carry up to five crew members. Sergeant Mohammed ex- plained the unit’s mission of searching for missing people, saving lives, catching crim- inals and protecting the Cayman borders. “What do you do to catch the convicts that are running away?” asked one student. ”We don’t have to chase them when we are up high, we just have to turn the camera on them,” responded the police officer. “What do you do with the camera, shock them?” another student asked. “The camera is to assist the officers on the ground in catching the criminals,” Ser- geant Mohammed explained. “How fast can the he- licopter go?” was another student’s query. “It can go up to 130 miles per hour and stay in the air for about 2½ hours,” replied the sergeant. Students also asked where the helicopter got gas, and what the various instruments on the control panel were used for. Commander Fitzgerald said after a long day en- gaging in an active ongoing investigation, the police offi- cers were only too happy to see a softer side of life by in- teracting with the children and answer their questions. He said it was not the first time police had landed on a school’s playing field, and the unit had already visited a few schools to help educate chil- dren about the air unit’s role. “It is something they will remember, it’s not all about the helicopter, it’s about the Cayman Islands Po- lice and everything we are doing. The more we can en- gage the youngsters the better,” he said. YMCA site coordinator Ricardo Sealy said the after-school program as- sists children with things like homework, and at the Bodden Town school the pro- gram offers 13 different ac- tivities throughout the school week with the students. “It’s a means of assisting parents with supervision and control of the children after school, because many of the parents work until 5 p.m., and it’s impossible for them to leave town, pick up their children, take them home and get back to work on time. “This is a fine opportu- nity for the YMCA to keep them in a safe environment until their parents come for them,” he said. Seventy-two students ranging in age from 5 to 11 years old are enrolled in the Bodden Town program, and 15 students are in the North Side program. The YMCA of the Cayman Islands’ focus is on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, with volunteers heading up the after-school programs at the schools. Mr. Sealy said the pro- gram is also geared at pro- viding a sense of community spirit to the students. “The visit by the police was to give them more un- derstanding and a greater knowledge of what hap- pens in the RCIPS ser- vices,” he said. “We hoped by the end of the day the children would understand more about the police force, the heli- copter and its uses to the Cayman islands.” Bodden Town and Edna M. Moyle primary school students check out the helicopter. Sergeant Neil Mohammed explains the role of the police helicopter.After-school students prepare to take a tour of the police helicopter.THURSDAY, FEB. 16 BRAC SPORTS DAYS: Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Primary Schools hold sporting events from 4 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Cayman Brac Sports Complex. DCI CLOSES EARLY: The Department of Commerce and Investment in Grand Cayman, including its Business Licensing Counter on the first floor of the Government Administration Building, will close at 3 p.m. for staff training. DCI’s main office will reopen tomorrow, Friday, at 8:30 a.m. and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. QUIZ NIGHT: Pub Quiz Night at Fidel Murphy’s benefits the Humane Society. To reserve a table, call 949-5189 or email sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. $10 per person, with a maximum of six people per team. All proceeds go toward transferring dogs to their new homes in the U.S. 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. SATURDAY, FEB. 18 COCO FEST: A celebration of coconuts, with coconut- inspired food and drinks, locally made coconut products, games and crafts, live music. Noon to 4 p.m. at Pedro Castle. Adults, $5; kids (under 12) free. PARK WALL PAINTING: The Committee to Elect North Side Candidate Ed Chisholm invites the community to join them at 8 a.m. to repaint the wall at the Jerald Smith Park on Hutland Road. Paint, supplies and refreshments provided. For more information, call 939-9813 or 938-1161. MONDAY, FEB. 20 ART FOR SENIORS: The National Gallery opens at 1 p.m., talks start at 3 p.m. Art Talks, open to the public, facilitate thought-provoking discussions and time for seniors to socialize. Free coffee, tea and snacks are provided for seniors (over 65 years). This program is free and group bookings can be made by emailing education@nationalgallery. org.ky or by calling 945-8111. THURSDAY, FEB. 23 BABY SHOW: Today is the deadline to register children for the Baby Show at the 50th Annual Agricultural Show on March 1. Boys and girls ages birth to 48 months. For information, call 929-9932. FRIDAY, FEB. 24 HOSPICE FLAG DAYS: Cayman HospiceCare holds its annual Flag Days today and tomorrow, when volunteers in green T-shirts will collect donations around Grand Cayman. The charity provides free specialized care to anyone in Cayman with an end-stage illness. People willing to volunteer should email chc@candw.ky. DRESS FOR CULTURE: Dress for Culture Day is a celebration of Cayman’s diverse community, comprised of more than 135 nationalities. This annual fundraiser invites individuals, students and corporate entities to take part by wearing traditional cultural wear, sportswear, country colors or anything that represents their culture. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Proceeds support Cayman Islands Folk Singers and summer arts camp. Contact Cayman National Cultural Foundation, 949-5477 or www.artscayman.org. EDUCATORS’ HAPPY HOUR: National Gallery, 5-8 p.m. Teachers and educators are invited to an evening of exhibition tours, socializing and wine. For those interested in bringing students to the gallery, the event will demonstrate all the gallery has to offer. Enjoy beverages and nibbles and learn about Caymanian art. For more information and to RSVP, email Jessica Ebanks at intern@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. SATURDAY, FEB. 25 TEA PARTY: The Girls’ Brigade National Council hosts a “Now and Then Tea Party” 70th anniversary fundraiser at Audrey Whittaker’s residence, 1237 Frank Sound Road, North Side, 3:30 p.m. Price is $10. Come dressed as “now or then.” Activities and songs by the Girls’ Brigade. Tickets from any GB officer or at the venue on the date. DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile shop will be in East End from 6-10 a.m. near the Pirates Cove Bar. Items available include women’s accessories and bags; clothing and shoes for men, women and children; linens, household items and more. RED SKY AT NIGHT: Multi- discipline, multi-cultural arts fair featuring dance, music, drama, a display of visual arts, crafts and films. Enjoy culinary delights from vendors and a “come-together” at the Harquail Cultural Centre grounds 4 p.m.-midnight. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children. SUNDAY, FEB. 26 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: The 50K Off the Beaten Track ultramarathon and relay takes place. Registration is open at www.offthebeatentrack. ky/registration; fees are US$300 for a relay team, or US$100 for individuals. SATURDAY, MARCH 4 PAWS DINNER: All are invited to the fundraising dinner for PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare Society) at the White House restaurant in Bodden Town; 6:30 p.m. cocktail party and 7 p.m. dinner. Ticket price is $135. Evening includes silent auction, live auction and Off Broadway Show. Complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival, complimentary bottle of wine per couple during dinner. Tickets available at PAWS Thrift Shop in Bodden Town, 916-1731; Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers, 947-2047; Giuseppe, 916-1731 and PAWS members. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS GEL MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS 399 $ QUEEN SIZE Located on the corner of Godfrey Nixon Way and Ashgo St. www.MattressExperts.ky Call 947·1708 We have mattresses starting at $99 GEL MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS 399 $ QUEEN SIZE Located on the corner of Godfrey Nixon Way and Ashgo St. Call 947·1708 We have mattresses starting at $99 GEL MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS 399 $ QUEEN SIZE Located on the corner of Godfrey Nixon Way and Ashgo St. Call 947·1708 We have mattresses starting at $99 Call 947.1708 www.MattressExperts.ky The Girls’ Brigade National Council hosts a tea party and fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Audrey Whittaker’s residence, 1237 Frank Sound Road, North Side.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017 Ms. Aduke Natalie Joseph- Caesar, Deputy Director, Re- habilitation, attached to Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prisons Service (HMCIPS) in relation to the incident on or about April 2015, whereby Deputy Director Caesar is- sued instructions to a ju- nior prison officer to install a camera in the office of the then-Custodial Manager, Ms. Nina White with a view to collecting evidence in rela- tion to allegations of inap- propriate behavior by Ms. White with prisoners.” The text of the second: “I wish to confirm that there have been no findings of mis- conduct against Ms. Aduke Natalie Joseph-Caesar, Deputy Director, Rehabilita- tion, attached to Her Majes- ty’s Cayman Islands Prisons Service (HMCIPS) in relation to the incident on or about April 2015, whereby Deputy Director Caesar issued in- structions to a junior prison officer to install a camera in the office of the then-Cus- todial Manager, Ms. Nina White with a view to col- lecting evidence in relation to allegations of inappro- priate behavior by Ms. White with prisoners.” Mr. Howell and prisons Director Neil Lavis were asked to comment further on the matter Monday, par- ticularly with regard to Mr. Howell’s statements in the Feb. 10 letters regarding the alleged “inappropriate be- havior” by the former prisons custodial manager, but no re- sponse was received from either man. Instead, the gov- ernment information services office indicated that all mat- ters regarding the Ministry of Home Affairs were now to be directed to the government information office. “As per the legal advice re- ceived, the ministry has no additional comment at this time,” the government state- ment read. “The matter now resolved, was led by chief officer Howell. Prison Di- rector Lavis has had no in- volvement in it.” An earlier court filing in the case had raised questions about the involvement of former Ministry Chief Officer Eric Bush in the decision to terminate Ms. Joseph-Caesar. When news of the hidden camera investigation be- came public, Mr. Lavis said it was “regrettable” that the prison employee’s privacy, referring to Ms. White, had been invaded. Two other prison officers were sus- pended in connection with the same incident. Ms. Joseph-Caesar was initially terminated in No- vember 2015 following a de- cision by former Home Af- fairs Chief Officer Bush after a review of all the evidence. However, according to var- ious civil service employment laws governing the subject, while Mr. Bush had the au- thority as chief officer to ap- point Ms. Joseph-Caesar, he did not have the authority to terminate her employment. That authority is granted under the Prisons Law to the prisons director. Ms. Joseph-Caesar claimed in a request for judicial re- view filed against the gov- ernment in January 2016 that this set of circumstances made her firing “illegal” and void. The courts approved a consent order on the matter in June 2016 and she was reinstated with full pay and benefits, only to be sus- pended again for another dis- ciplinary review. The findings of that review have cleared the deputy director and she is now due back to work on Feb. 20, according to Mr. Allen. Mr. Bush has told the Compass that he questioned the way the law was written. “I have the power to hire her, but not the power to fire her,” he said. “The chief officer [of the Ministry of Home Affairs] acted illegally when he de- cided to, and did, conduct disciplinary proceedings,” the judicial review filing states, indicating that these pro- ceedings should have been instituted by Mr. Lavis. ‘Inappropriate behavior’ alleged in prisons case they recommended him for the position. The court heard that Syed had previously earned CI$62,000 as a computing instructor at the college. In a list of admissions, evidence accepted as fact by both the prosecution and the defense, read to the court by prosecutor Pat- rick Moran on Tuesday, it emerged that the Univer- sity of Victoria does not offer the computer science doctorate with the spe- cialty in sensor networks that Syed allegedly claimed to have earned. Also among the admis- sions was evidence from a company called Lominger International that certain documents, which the pros- ecution claims Syed used to reclaim expense pay- ments from the college, were not genuine. Lominger, a U.S. firm that provides “talent man- agement solutions” testi- fied that its total bill to UCCI in connection with products for the Civil Ser- vice College was US$56,199. This evidence is accepted by the defense. Syed is charged with dishonestly obtaining more than CI$70,000 in re- lation to an allegation that he falsely represented to the UCCI accountant that he had personally made payments to Lominger. Earlier on Wednesday, Donovan Hutchinson, who led the audit on UCCI’s finances for the 2006/2007 financial year, said he began looking into Syed’s credit card activity in early 2008. He said he had initially been provided with an in- complete set of statements by the college. When the auditor gen- eral’s office questioned the statements, Syed said UC- CI’s usual bank contact was not available on that day and suggested some “Joe Bloke” must have been given the job. He said he would do everything he could to get the full state- ments to the auditor, ac- cording to Mr. Hutchin- son’s evidence. Once the full state- ments were received, Mr. Hutchinson said the au- ditor’s analysis revealed there was no supporting documentation for any of the credit card purchases, except for some books for the UCCI library. He said he had also conducted an analysis of salary pay- ments to the president from payroll records and a review of funds re- lated to the Civil Service College project. The work culminated in a draft auditor’s report that was presented to Syed in a meeting at UCCI on April 17, 2008. Mr. Hutchinson, speaking largely to confirm details put to him by prosecutor Mr. Moran, indicated that Syed’s response had been to joke that if he accepted the audit as it was written, he would have to resign. At the same meeting, he said, Syed produced a document purporting to authorize a salary ad- vance of around $70,000 and asked for that aspect to be deleted from the re- port. Mr. Hutchinson con- firmed he had told Syed he could “make no promises” and that soon afterwards he heard that the professor had left the islands. Syed has denied 12 of- fenses including theft and obtaining money by decep- tion in connection with his handling of college funds during his time as president between 2006 and 2008. Practitioners Law at least five times in the last 15 years. “We have engaged in dis- cussion with interested par- ties who have asked for some additional time to provide further comment,” Minister Panton said late last year. “It seems that everyone under- stands the significance and necessity of this bill. “This government is in- terested in ensuring we have the views as wide as possible from the community and the key stakeholders. We’ve had complete support from the two professional bodies that represent this industry.” More than 75 percent of the representatives from the Caymanian Bar Association and the Cayman Islands Law Society said they would sup- port the changes in the bill. The crux of the dispute centers on law firms that wish to expand their pres- ence in overseas financial ser- vices markets to remain com- petitive in what has become a global industry, on the one hand, and on the other hand, Caymanian-born attorneys who fear they will be left be- hind in that expansion and believe that globalization will lead to outsourcing. Opposition to the legisla- tion among Caymanian at- torneys has been building since the latest draft of the bill was made public last year. Legislators received a letter from attorney Sammy Jackson stating concerns about “mounting resistance” to the proposal in October, which stressed what Mr. Jackson said was a lack of transparency in rela- tion to the plan. “The government has kept this draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill away from public scrutiny, and has yet chosen to so bravely de- fend its position to only give us seemingly unimportant small local firms and sole practitioners, as well as the public in general – including its own colleagues in parlia- ment – nothing but the bare minimum required amount of time to peruse, analyze and comment on this bill,” Mr. Jackson wrote. “Understandably, resis- tance has been mounting, as more of us find the time to read this bill and build the nerve to take on the govern- ment in its shameful initia- tive to railroad through a brand new piece of legisla- tion which they themselves (or at least some of them) tout as being so important to our profession and, more importantly (for them), our financial services industry.” The Legal Practitioners Bill seeks to create a new self-regulatory body called the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association, with eight attorneys ap- pointed as members, five of whom must be Cayma- nian. The association was to be responsible for promo- tion and training of Cayma- nian attorneys and ensuring that attorneys are suitably qualified. The bill also seeks to create a separate busi- ness staffing plan regime for local law firms. Legislation governing the practice of law and law- yers’ conduct is consid- ered critical to prepare for the mid-2017 Caribbean Fi- nancial Action Task Force review of the Cayman Is- lands’ protections against money laundering and ter- rorism financing. The government is not required to publish any of the changes it intends to make before those amendments are heard in the assembly committee review. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Minister: No new draft of lawyers bill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Syed never earned doctorate, court hears Northward Prison PROSECUTOR SEEKS TO INVESTIGATE ARGENTINE PRESIDENT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – An Argentine prosecutor is seeking judicial permis- sion to investigate Presi- dent Mauricio Macri and two other high level offi- cials over last year’s set- tlement of a debt owed to the government by a com- pany owned by the presi- dent’s father. Federal prosecutor Juan Pedro Zoni says the settle- ment did not protect the public interest adequately and the officials should be investigated. A federal judge must now decide whether an investigation is warranted for Macri, Com- munication Minister Oscar Aguad and the ministry’s director of legal affairs, Juan Manuel Mocoroa. The case involves Correo Argentino, the coun- try’s post office that was owned by the president’s father in the 1990s until it went bankrupt in 2001. The government agreed last year to settle the debt of al- most 300 million pesos by having the company pay back twice that amount but in installments spread out until 2033. Last week, the general prosecutor of the Appel- late Court, Gabriela Boquin, ruled the deal was prejudi- cial to the state.Next >