ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 High of 83 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet today, rough tonight with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water tonight. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE PROGRESSIVES MEET IN THE LA FOR A ‘CRAM SESSION’ SPORTS | PAGE 16 MOURANT WINS CROSS ISLAND RELAY Cadets get a lesson in leadership BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice said Monday that a gunman opened fire on an armored vehicle driver during a robbery attempt. The guard was struck when shots were fired around 6:30 p.m. along Eastern Avenue, where the vehicle was picking up cash from a nearby money transfer business. It is understood that the security employ- ee’s protective vest deflected the shots and that he was taken to hospital with injuries po- lice described as non-life-threatening. At least two gunshots were heard during the attempted robbery, according to witnesses who spoke with the Cayman Compass. The witnesses also said the suspect did not appear to have any covering over his face. Police were reviewing closed-circuit televi- sion footage of the incident. No arrests were immediately reported. RCIPS officers said the incident happened near the Crown Square Mall, formerly known as Trinity Square. POLICE: WOULD-BE ROBBER SHOT SECURITY GUARD EXTRADITED TRACK COACH IN COURT CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman track coach Ato Modibo Ste- phens, who was extradited from Florida, ap- peared in Summary Court on Tuesday, when charges against him were transferred to the Grand Court. Stephens, 37, faces two charges of indecent assault on a female, one charge of gross inde- cency and one charge of using an ICT network to abuse/annoy/harass. The offenses are al- leged to have occurred in 2015. Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards said the defendant was extradited from the U.S. and transferred from Florida to Cayman on Monday night. She told Magistrate Grace Donalds that the extradition request had been made as a result of Stephens’s flight from the Cayman Islands in February 2016, after he became aware that a report had been made against him. NORTHWARD ‘HIDDEN CAMERA’ SCANDAL Ex-prisons manager tells her side of the story BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former Cayman Islands prisons manager whose contract was not renewed last year in the wake of a “hidden camera” inves- tigation at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward, alleges that she was “victimized, bullied, spoken down to, ignored” and had her “opinions dismissed” during her period of employment. “I was … made to feel unwel- come from the day I walked into Northward Prison,” said Nina White, a veteran U.K. prisons of- ficer and manager who spoke to the Cayman Compass this week for the first time about her situ- ation. “This disgusting behavior was coming from other senior members of staff … not all, but most. I have never experienced or dealt with such savage and spiteful behavior in my profes- sional career. “I was warned on day one to ‘watch my back’ and I sadly didn’t realize how true that piece of advice would end up being. I was humiliated in meetings, spoken down to and constantly dismissed in the work I was trying to do. I was called a ‘know it all’ as I understood the U.K. policies that [Prisons Director Neil] Lavis was slowly intro- ducing to the Cayman prison service and I was victimized for being British.” However, Ms. White was quick to clarify that these prob- lems seemed to exist only at the prisons managerial level. “The majority of general staff and the prison popula- tion were much more welcoming and enjoyed my fresh approach and ability to deal with pris- oners in a decent and human way,” she said. In April 2015, Ms. White said she noticed a camera that had been placed inside an air con- ditioning duct in her office “be- cause I’m observant,” she said. She reported it to prisons au- thorities and “fully cooperated with what ensued afterwards.” What “ensued” was a nearly two-year internal investiga- tion into the matter that led to Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about leadership with members of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps at last week’s Cayman Alternative Investment Summit at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. In addition to Mr. Schwarzenegger, other notable presenters at the summit were U.S. astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly, and Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 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. - WEDNESDAY - JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (R) 12:45 | 3:55 | 7:00 | 9:50 LEGO BATMAN 3D (PG) 12:30 2D | 3:40 | 6:50 2D | 9:45 A CURE FOR WELLNESS (R) 12:15 | 6:30 | 9:40 XXX: RETURN OF THE (PG13) XANDER CAGE 3D 1:00 | 4:00 2D | 7:25 | 10:00 2D FIFTY SHADES DARKER (R) 12:35 | 3:45 | 6:55 | 9:40 CHAMBER PENSION PLAN TEAMS UP WITH HR SOCIETY The Chamber Pension Plan has partnered with the Cayman Islands So- ciety of Human Resources Professionals to sponsor their weekly newsletters and website, two break- fast sessions, the annual CISHRP conference and the DisruptHR event. “When you’re working in human resources, it is crucial to choose the right plan for your employees,” said Chris Bailey, presi- dent of CISHRP. “Staff rely on a pension during re- tirement later on down the line, so it’s important that HR managers choose their providers carefully.” The announcement fol- lows the Chamber Pen- sion’s revival of its “life stories” campaign, which features members of the plan who share their hopes and ambitions for the fu- ture. This round’s featured “brand ambassador” is Briana Bergstrom, teacher and owner of Montessori School of Cayman. “As a business owner myself, I believe in the local entrepreneurial spirit of Chamber Pension, and I’m proud to say that I support this local organization,” said Ms. Bergstrom. ‘Proud of Them’ youth awards open for nominations Nominations are being accepted through March 20 for the “Proud of Them” awards, which recognize outstanding efforts by youth ages 10 to 25. Twelve young people will be chosen from the nominee pool for their achievements in sports, culture, business, community service or profes- sional work. Awardees will be recognized on billboard displays in Grand Cayman for six months. The Ministry of Youth has partnered again with the Na- tional Youth Commission to organize the program. Commission leader Rev- erend Donovan Myers said the program shines a light on positive efforts made by youth. “We must be advo- cates for our young people. Far too often we focus on the negative, but it is even more important to focus on the positive. Recognition is much more meaningful than we think,” he said in a press release. Urging residents to submit their nominations, Minister of Youth Osbourne Bodden said in the release, “This is a great opportu- nity to celebrate our young ambassadors, and show them that hard work really does pay off. We need ev- eryone’s help to ensure that we honour those who are worthy of praise.” Since 2012, the pro- gram has recognized 72 young people. Nomination forms can be found at www.mcays.gov.ky and submitted to proudofthem@gov.ky. GANJA CONFISCATED AT PRISON An officer at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward caught a suspect throwing “a large quantity of drugs” over the prison fence last week, ac- cording to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Prisons Officer Michael Taylor said he saw a man dressed in black clothes holding two bags and run- ning toward the prisons fence around 4:20 p.m. Thursday. Officer Taylor ran after the suspect, caught him and handcuffed him, according to the ministry statement. Prisons Director Neil Lavis said several pounds of ganja were recovered and the suspect arrested. He had not been charged as of press time Tuesday. “I applaud the due dili- gence and quick reaction of Officer Taylor, and the other prison officers who assisted him in the arrest,” Mr. Lavis said. “I would also like to commend the RCIPS for their quick assistance in the pro- cess. In the end, two depart- ments worked together to catch the suspect commit- ting the offence and put him safely behind bars.” John McLean seeks to reclaim ‘dad’s’ seat BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com East End’s John McLean Jr. is hoping the third time is the charm in his efforts to win the Legislative As- sembly seat that once be- longed to his father. Mr. McLean announced his candidacy this week, becoming the third person to enter the East End con- stituency race, along with incumbent Arden McLean and businessman Isaac Rankine. Mr. McLean unsuccess- fully contested the election in East End during the 2009 and 2013 general elections. He will once again run as an independent candidate. According to a campaign announcement: “John Jr. grew up aspiring to follow in his father’s footsteps, learning at an early age the dedication, sincerity and hard work that is required for the job.” John McLean Sr. served as the representative from East End between 1976 and 2000, when he was defeated in the general election by Arden McLean, who has served in the post since. “John Jr. is ready and willing to work side-by- side with any persons, without bias and regard- less of their allegiances to create a better country for the Caymanian people of today and for future gener- ations,” the campaign an- nouncement states.John McLean Jr. MASS FUNERAL HELD FOR 20 HAITIAN PRISONERS PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Haitian prosecutors are holding a mass funeral for 20 inmates who have died in Haiti’s largest prison. Relatives wailed in grief or stared stoically as the coffins arrived on Tuesday. Shortages of food and medicine as well as dis- eases that flourish in packed Haitian lockups have led to an upsurge in malnutrition-related ill- nesses and other prevent- able diseases. Marie Lumane Lau- rore broke into piercing screams as she collapsed before her son’s coffin, crying: “This is a country without justice!”The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 “It would be great if more small practices came on board to support the LPB. It helps them to progress and to operate based on international professional standards.” John Meghoo Attorney at Law Cayman’s legal industry is recognised around the world for its outstanding practitioners, market-leading strategy and commercial strength. However in spite of these accolades, our legal industry is operating under a law that is more than 30 years old. The Legal Practitioners Bill (LPB) is urgently required for the Cayman Islands to keep up with modern global legal industry standards. Support for the LPB has been voiced by 20 Cayman Islands law Global industry. Global standards. www.caymanlawsociety.org “This is the best attempt at a modern, balanced law that meets the needs of both the legal industry and those of Caymanian lawyers.” Alasdair Robertson President of Cayman Islands Law Society, Global Managing Partner, Maples and CalderThe 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” WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS You know the scenario: It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and there’s one lonely student in the school library, his furrowed brow visible in the faint glow of his computer monitor. He is concentrating furiously, surrounded by stacks of flash cards, towers of textbooks and reams of scribbled-on note pads. Yes, the final exam is only about three hours away – and the student is “cramming.” Today is the start of the final meeting of the Leg- islative Assembly to be held before the May elections. After being in charge of government for more than 3.5 years, the Progressives have about 20 pieces of legislation on their final agenda. If they pass them all (which is a good possibility, given their majority in the House), the Progressives will have approved more than 60 pieces of legislation in their last three meetings. With politicians’ “final exam” – i.e., Election Day, May 24 – fast approaching, and considering the recent flurries of announcements of accomplishments, semi- accomplishments and new proposals from the incum- bent government, it certainly seems as if the Progres- sives and that lonely student in the library have much in common. The downside to “cramming” in school is that while it can help store information in a person’s “short-term memory” (i.e., enough perhaps to pass an impending test), once the exam is over and done with, that infor- mation never enters the “long-term memory” and so is quickly forgotten, forever. (And what’s the point of going to school at all if you can’t remember what you learned?) In the context of governing, the difference is that much of what the administration is trying to get done at the last moment will have long-term consequences for the country long after the elections, regardless of who is elected on May 24. The legislation passed in the coming days will remain law until and unless it is amended or over- turned at some future date. During this last legislative session, we are particu- larly concerned with a pair of bills related to Cayman’s primary economic engine, the financial services industry. In both instances, regarding the Legal Prac- titioners Bill and amendments to the Companies Law (to provide for a register of beneficial ownerships of Cayman entities), Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton has indicated that the Progressives’ plan is to resurrect controversial versions of the bills in the Leg- islative Assembly – then attempt to rewrite the bills during the “committee stage” of the meeting. That parliamentary maneuvering means the bills’ amendments will not be available to the public until the minister reveals them at the committee stage. As the United States has learned from the rollout of Obamacare, the “pass it, then read it” strategy doesn’t bode well when there are long-term macroeconomic ramifications at stake. When ruling legislators are writing laws, paying for projects and announcing plans, while an election stands between them and their having to deal with the consequences of their actions, it looks to us less like prudent and deliberative government, and suspiciously like politics. The Progressives meet in the LA for a ‘cram session’ Prosperous Panama Success can be traced to the use of the U.S. dollar as official currency Panama City, Panama – Panama has come a long way in a short time, more than doubling its per capita gross domestic product in the past decade. At the end of June 2016, it opened the new canal next to the old one that could no longer accom- modate the current genera- tion of post-Panamax ships. Panama became an in- dependent country in 1903 when it seceded from Co- lombia – with the help and encouragement of the United States, which wished to build a canal across the isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers finished building the canal in 1914. The 10-mile wide Canal Zone was con- sidered sovereign U.S. terri- tory, until a treaty that was negotiated during the Carter administration to return the canal to Panama. Some will recall that the United States invaded Panama back in 1989 to get rid of the corrupt drug-trafficking dictator, Manuel Noriega, who was threatening the canal in a way that vio- lated the treaty that gave the canal to Panama. Panama re- ceived full sovereignty over the canal in 1999, at which time the United States re- moved the last of its military bases. When the Carter ad- ministration agreed to turn over the canal, there was widespread concern that the Panamanians would not be sufficiently competent to run the canal and ensure that it would remain an interna- tional waterway. The Pana- manians proved their critics wrong and not only ran the canal in a highly compe- tent fashion, but then un- dertook the massive and complex task of building the new canal. As can be seen in the ac- companying table, Panama has by far the highest in- come in Central America. The question is, why has Panama done so much better than its regional competi- tors? The standard answer, from both government offi- cials and business leaders I spoke with, is that Panama does not have a central bank. That is, Panama uses the U.S. dollar as it currency. As a result, it cannot “inflate” its way out of any temp- tation to spend far more than tax revenue. Using the dollar without a lender of last resort serves as a nat- ural debt break and causes some spending and taxing restraint – even though both are above the growth maximizing rate. Panama does not have currency controls, and so the use of the U.S. dollar is as free as using the same U.S. dollar in each of the U.S. states. Having the dollar as its currency gives Panama’s banking system a competi- tive advantage over other countries in the region, be- cause there is no exchange- rate risk or costs of currency conversion to U.S. dollars. Despite accusations of corruption in the courts, Panama does have a reli- able system of real property registration. Panama City has a spectacular skyline with many very tall, modern buildings – the Trump Tower being the tallest at 932 feet – with eye-catching de- signs and with many new ones under construction. The billions of dollars of investment in this real es- tate is tangible evidence that investors believe their real property rights are secure. Even though Panama is less rich in natural resources than most of the other coun- tries in the region, it has been successful in using the canal to create a regional and, to some extent, even a global logistics industry. Panama has connected the Caribbean Sea with the Pa- cific Ocean, not only with a state-of-the-art waterway, but also with rail, air and a modern expressway where one can drive from Colon to Panama City in less than an hour. Panama has also been a leader in the creation of “free zones,” where goods and ser- vices meant for export, or re- export for logistics reasons, are exempt from taxation and some regulations. The oldest and largest of these in the Colon Free Zone of the Caribbean side of the canal. In its almost 70 years of ex- istence, it has successively evolved in the services it of- fers global merchants and manufacturers. Panama received a black eye with the “Panama Pa- pers” scandal, despite the fact they revealed that al- most no wrongdoing was done in Panama. What was revealed was that individ- uals in a major Panama- nian law firm provided some wealthy and well-known in- dividuals from around the world advice and assistance in setting up structures and accounts in many other countries to minimize tax liabilities – most of which appears to have been per- fectly legal. The real sin was revealing the hypocrisy of many of the global elite, who seem to believe that only others should pay taxes. As for Panama, the government and finan- cial community now en- gage in considerable infor- mation-sharing with the U.S. and European govern- ments – not a good place to hide dirty money. For Panama to continue to grow at high rates, it will need to do even more to combat corruption, and im- prove tax, spending and reg- ulatory policies. But the Pan- amanians do deserve high marks for their improb- able success during the last couple of decades. Richard W. Rahn, chairman of Improbable Success Productions and a board member of the American Council for Capital Formation, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. © 2016, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHN5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 Red Cross honors volunteers Sonia Morris received the Volunteer’s Choice Award, and Odette DaCosta was named volunteer of the year as the Cayman Islands Red Cross honored a decade of hurricane recovery efforts at the organization’s 10th an- nual volunteer apprecia- tion dinner, held last month at The Westin. Director Jondo Obi said in a press release that the Jan. 21 event “started as a way to recognize the tremendous work done by the organiza- tion’s volunteer core prior to, during and following the passing of Hurricane Ivan.” The organization reported that 77 new volunteers joined Red Cross efforts in the Cayman Islands in 2016. Pins were awarded to vol- unteers who have completed 15, 20 and 25 years of service. Former Red Cross Chairman Peter Milburn, Eziethamae Bodden, Susan Ebanks and Elaine Thomas were recog- nized for 25 years of service. Youth volunteers Dreshna James and Bianca Rego- Ramos were recognized for their administrative work over the summer. Minister of Finance Marco Archer spoke to more than 130 volunteers at the event. He described their efforts as an important part of a democracy and a function that brings to- gether communities. “Indeed, volunteerism pro- vides the best opportunities and means for us all as cit- izens to get engaged in the community that we live in, and enables us to help the community at its most diffi- cult times,” he said. “There is nobility, dignity, love, compassion and kind- ness for your fellow commu- nity members enmeshed in what you do. And for that I salute you. And appreciate the example you set others.” Carolina Ferreira of Child Protection and Sexuality Ed- ucation Programmes rec- ognized the fifth anniver- sary of the Protection Starts Here project and efforts by the Seal of Protection ini- tiative to establish national standards for youth-oriented organizations. The Red Cross reported that five people have been trained and received supplies in the Community Emergency Response Teams program. The organization said it plans to make its pilot CERT challenge an annual event to promote emergency prepa- ration efforts. Thrift Shop manager Remy Imperial saidplans are in the works to ex- pand the store through a boutique shop called The Red Collection. First Aid Training Man- ager Peter Hughes said first aid was provided in 94 in- stances in 2015. Red Cross Gold Award winners show off their awards. Odette DaCosta receives the Volunteer of the Year award from Minister Marco Archer.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Sister Islands WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO Seamen welcomed on visit home, Jenny Ogren passes In the Feb. 22, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch wrote: “Feb 7th, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Scott of Spot Bay re- ceived the gift of a daughter – at home (8 pounds, Nurse Petrona Bodden). “Feb 11th, Mr. and Mrs. George Jackson of Creek re- ceived the gift of a daughter – at home (9 pounds, Nurse Petrona Bodden). “Overseas: Edward Tor- ricelli (6 pounds, 11 ounces) was born to Capt. and Mrs. O. (Bill) Hunter of Delray Beach, Florida on Dec. 31, 1966. A brother for William. The Hunters are also of Little Cayman. “Welcome home to Na- tional Bulk Carriers Inc. seamen on vacation, At- tlee Bodden, ex. Ore Mer- cury, and Ernest Ebanks, ex Corco, both of the West End. Attlee met with an accident aboard ship from which he is recuperating. “News has been received of the death last month of Mrs. Virginia (Jenny) Ogren, eldest sister of Captains R.C. and Morris Foster, Roselyn, Mrs. Edward Hurlston and Mrs. Lousia Kirkconnell of this island. The late Mrs. Ogren is re- membered in the Brac as a trained midwife in the early years of this century. Her first marriage was to William, the eldest of the Kirkconnell brothers, and she was widowed early. In 1919, she left here to reside in the U.S.A. Her second husband preceded her in death years ago. Our con- dolence is extended to their only child, Miss Alice Ogren of St. Petersburg, Florida. “We have been happy to have among us for the past three weeks Capt. Charles Kirkconnell of Kingston and of Stake Bay visiting with his mother, Mrs. Olivine Kirkconnell. Our thanks are due to Captain Charles for his leadership in commu- nicating with government in our ‘air travel’ difficul- ties. Fully appreciating that Government was carrying out its responsibility, un- doubtedly the visit of MLA Burns Rutty appointed by His Honour in answer to our petitions brought about clearer vision and better understanding. Thank you, Capt. Charles, for the exer- cise in passive, determined, constructive representation. Out of his wider experience he has offered the sugges- tion that the name and ad- dress of CBA Ltd. agents, advertised, would greatly improve communications. “Mr. and Mrs. Alston Scott of West End were at the Creek landing place to greet their son Radley, boat- swain on the M.V. Kirk- trader, on Sunday morning. Radley is studying naviga- tion and hopes to sit for his Master’s licence soon. The ambition augurs well for the home trade.” In the same issue, other news included: “H.M.S. Salisbury will be visiting Cayman Brac from 10 a.m. on March 23 to 8 a.m. on March 24. This war- ship is commanded by Com- mander H.M. Ellis, Royal Navy, and arrangements are being made to enable mem- bers of the public to visit this ship while she is an- chored off Cayman Brac. “H.M.S. Salisbury, whose name has been given to the class of four Type 61 Aircraft Detection Frigates, was laid down in 1952 and launched on June 25, 1953. The Salis- bury was the first ship to be built by Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Devonport, since World War II. The other ships of the Salisbury class are named Chichester, Lin- coln nand LLandaff. H.M.S. Salisbury has a standard displacement of 2,100 tons, an overall length of 349 feet, and a beam of 40 feet … “The Salisbury’s primary role is the direction of car- rier-borne and shore-based aircraft and the detec- tion of aircraft. For this, the Salisbury is fitted with highly developed electronic equipment. The ship is also armed with the latest sonar equipment to detect subma- rines and a triple-barrelled anti-submarine mortar which can fire, with great accuracy, a lethal pattern of charges set to explode at a computed depth around the submarine … “H.M.S. Salisbury recom- missioned on Jan. 7, 1965 at Devonport for a general service commission … After a period of service on the home station the ship sailed for 11 months service east of Suez. During this time the ship was mainly occupied in patrol work in the far east in connection with the Indo- nesian confrontation and in the middle east with the oil embargo on Rhodesia, and blockade of Beira.” Child abuse prevention talk draws interest A talk on preventing child abuse in sports drew an in- terested Brac audience ear- lier this month keen to learn more about this im- portant issue. A delegation from the Min- istry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports traveled to Cayman Brac on Thursday, Feb. 9, to kick off the first in a series of child abuse pre- vention training sessions, a press release states. Sports in the Sister Is- lands are coordinated through the Sports Associ- ation of the Sister Islands, which worked with the min- istry to conduct the initial training session for a group of 14 sports administrators, coaches and officials. Led by Director of the De- partment of Children and Family Services Felicia Rob- inson, the sessions are being conducted in support of the recently approved Child Abuse Prevention Policy for Sports Associations, which requires the training for sports officials. According to the press re- lease, the Children Law (2012 Revision) requires manda- tory reporting of suspected child abuse cases from any member of the public and charges the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices with dealing with these cases. One of the primary functions of the Child Abuse Prevention Policy is to create a structure within each as- sociation to properly report suspicions of child abuse. In her presentation Ms. Robinson discussed the ef- fects of child abuse, which can include long-term emo- tional scarring of an in- dividual well into adult- hood, and the importance of the policy. Under the law, child abuse includes sexual abuse, phys- ical or emotional abuse, and neglect of a child. Ms. Rob- inson provided detailed descriptions of what would constitute child abuse in each of these four catego- ries, along with a compre- hensive list of the symptoms of child abuse, so that those working with children in a sporting environment can recognize the telltale signs, the release states. Ms. Robinson also detailed the process through which suspicions of child abuse are to be reported to the Department of Children and Family Services, through the child protection officers of each club and the National Sporting Association. Each club must have a child protection officer who is responsible for facilitating the reporting of suspicions of child abuse from any offi- cial or member of the associ- ation, and who must also en- sure that each member club within the association has an appropriately trained Child Protection Officer. “Shielding our children from harm and the risk of abuse is both a statutory obligation and one for which all civic-minded citizens are jointly accountable,” said Minister of Sports Osbourne Bodden, who is also Min- ister for Youth and Com- munity Affairs. “We all share a pro- found duty of care to act responsibly, and with ur- gency in protecting our chil- dren from harm.” Minister Bodden noted that a lot of time and care had been taken in formu- lating the policy by the Min- istry, the DCFS and the At- torney General’s Office to ensure that it would be effec- tive and in compliance with the Children Law. Vice President of the Sister Islands Swim Club and parent volunteer Che- vala Burke said that she found the training to be in- formative, engaging and rel- evant to many of the issues faced by children. She added that the ability to address questions directly to the minister and the ministry staff was especially useful to the session participants. Training is continuing in Grand Cayman for associa- tion presidents, technical di- rectors and child protection officers until Feb. 23. “Shielding our children from harm and the risk of abuse is both a statutory obligation and one for which all civic- minded citizens are jointly accountable.” OSBOURNE BODDEN, minister of sports Department of Children and Family Services Director Felicia Robinson leads the session.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Sister Islands CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 Tarpon Lake nominated for protection Little Cayman’s Tarpon Lake is among six sites on the island re- cently slated for consideration as protected areas under the National Conservation Law, which provides for the establishment of new pro- tected areas and expansion of ex- isting protected areas. “Nominations of lands to be pro- tected can be submitted to the Na- tional Conservation Council annually, and any purchases that are agreed are paid for using the Environmental Protection Fund,” the Department of Environment states on its website. “Under Section 9 of the National Conservation Law, contiguous land- owners and the general public are invited to submit written views on the following Protected Area nomi- nations to the National Conserva- tion Council.” The National Conservation Council has resolved to propose Tarpon Lake be made a Protected Area under Section 7 of the Na- tional Conservation Law after re- viewing a submitted nomination for its protection. Attracting nature tourism, the is- land’s “largest single wetland com- plex” does not dry out throughout the year, making it an impor- tant habitat site that is produc- tive year-long. “If Cabinet approves this pro- posal, the natural environment in this wetland will be protected and managed according to a Manage- ment Plan to be developed under Section 10 of the Law,” the Depart- ment of Environment website states. “The nomination consists of Tarpon Lake and a small adjacent coastal mangrove parcel, both owned by Crown.” Tarpon Lake lies between South Hole Sound and Little Cayman’s Cen- tral Forest, linking to the National Trust’s Sparrowhawk Hill property. It is surrounded by mangroves and dotted with small mangrove islets in various stages of regeneration after successive hurricanes. The nomination notes that Tarpon Lake is one of Little Cay- man’s largest and most character- istic inland natural areas, which is easily viewed from a Government boardwalk which enters Tarpon Lake from the south coast road. “Traditionally used as a base for tarpon fishing, the boardwalk is in- creasingly visited by visitors to Little Cayman,” states the document, adding that tarpon can often be seen cruising in the shallow water and a wide range of resident and migratory waterbirds frequent the mangroves. The area is also home to fiddler crabs that inhabit the exposed mud flats, as well as white land crabs. The proposal states that pro- tecting this wetland will safeguard feeding habitat for various migra- tory duck species, and the West In- dian Whistling Duck, as well as safeguarding habitat representative of Little Cayman’s coasts, thereby supporting long-term maintenance of the island’s biodiversity that depends on it. The wetland also serves as a nutrient buffer between Little Cayman’s mangroves and Little Sound. According to the document, a management plan for Tarpon Lake will have to address ongoing main- tenance of the boardwalk, and should involve current and poten- tial future stakeholders to ensure on-water access (which is currently through non-motorized boats) is ap- propriately regulated. The nomination notes that Tarpon Lake is one of Little Cayman’s largest and most characteristic inland natural areas, which is easily viewed from a government boardwalk which enters Tarpon Lake from the south coast road. Fishing at Tarpon Lake. - PHOTO: JENNY GABRUCH Mango Manor designated a historic Brac home Many visitors and residents of the Brac are familiar with Mango Manor in Stake Bay owned by George and Lynne Walton, a historic and scenic property that is op- erated as a B&B and was featured on the TripAdvisor travel review site as a favorite “Sea View Villa.” The property owners host get-togethers and community events, and the garden now features a colorful set of murals painted by local schoolchildren. Built by Capt. Reginald Kirkconnell circa 1933, the original single-story bungalow on the site was transformed somewhat from its original state into its current two-story form, but the building remains on the Na- tional Trust’s National Heritage Register. The house is built on a foundation of ironwood stilts, with walls made of shiplap timber, and features a zinc gable roof. The porch is made of wood and red bricks. The National Trust site notes that the res- idence has been a bed and breakfast, a rest home for the elderly and a private residence. Walton’s ‘Mango Manor’ was built c. 1933. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS the suspension of Ms. White and Prisons Deputy Director Aduke Joseph-Caesar – who ordered the camera placed in Ms. White’s office – as well as the suspension of the prisons officer who carried out Ms. Joseph-Caesar’s orders. Ms. White ended up being suspended for 15 months and was terminated in Feb- ruary 2016 by then-Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Of- ficer Eric Bush. She was re- instated by order of Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick, but only through the end of her contract, which was in April 2016. She was not offered an- other contract. “Communication with the ministry was infrequent and minimal throughout,” Ms. White said. “I was con- stantly chasing to find things out and I was promised dates for things which would be canceled and pushed back all the time. It was very dis- tressing to be in this situ- ation and have no support or guidance.” Why the camera was placed in Ms. White’s office is still something of a mys- tery, nearly two years after it was found. The only clues so far came in two Feb. 10 let- ters addressed to Ms. Joseph- Caesar from new Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer Wesley Howell. The text of one letter read: “We hereby undertake that no further disciplinary pro- ceedings shall be instituted against Ms. Aduke Natalie Jo- seph-Caesar, Deputy Director, Rehabilitation, attached to Her Majesty’s Cayman Is- lands Prisons Service (HM- CIPS) in relation to the inci- dent on or about April 2015, whereby Deputy Director Caesar issued instructions to a junior prison officer to in- stall a camera in the office of the then-Custodial Man- ager, Ms. Nina White with a view to collecting evidence in relation to allegations of in- appropriate behavior by Ms. White with prisoners.” A second letter cleared Ms. Joseph-Caesar of any wrongdoing in connection with the hidden camera investigation. Mr. Howell and Prisons Director Lavis have declined to comment further on the issue. The Ministry of Home Affairs was contacted for comment Tuesday, but nothing had been received by press time. Ms. White denied any al- legations of “inappropriate behavior” in her statements to the Compass. “All I know is that a number of unfounded al- legations were made [by two prisons staffers] … which were malicious and unfounded and were not – and could not – be supported by any evidence,” Ms. White said. Ms. White also denied that it was a prior working rela- tionship with Mr. Lavis in the U.K. that got her the Cayman job. She said she scored com- petitively in the job inter- views, as well as with overall qualifications. “I got the job in Cayman because the panel of four, which included Aduke Joseph- Caesar, scored me highest and picked me,” she said. Ms. White knew Mr. Lavis as a governor at Eastwood Park prison in the U.K. where they both worked, but he was not her line manager, she said. After Mr. Lavis left that area in 2004, Ms. White said the two had not kept in touch. “He was not my friend,” she said. “ I didn’t have his mobile number and I wasn’t his friend on social media.” Ms. White said she began working with the U.K. prisons service in 1998 and pro- gressed through the ranks to custodial manager by 2012. A year later, she said, she decided to take a volun- tary redundancy package of- fered by the government, and worked part time at a local coffee shop to “keep herself busy” while considering next steps. She said her qualifica- tions were at least equal to, if not greater than those of her counterparts at the Cayman Islands prisons service. “My understanding is that prior to Mr. Lavis intro- ducing a structured inter- view process for staff/promo- tion, it was down to whom you know and not what you know,” she said. “I know the longer serving custodial managers couldn’t even pro- duce evidence of a formal in- terview for their position.” NORTHWARD ‘HIDDEN CAMERA’ SCANDAL Ex-prisons manager tells her side of the story Nina White “I was … made to feel unwelcome from the day I walked into Northward Prison.” NINA WHITE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 She advised that the charges are Category B, meaning that they could be tried in either Summary Court or Grand Court, but the Crown had determined that they should be dealt with in Grand Court. Defense attorney Lloyd Samson confirmed that he had received a bundle of pa- pers pertaining to the case. He said the matter would be contested. After application for bail was refused, Mr. Samson suggested holding the pre- liminary inquiry that day so that the charges could be heard in Grand Court as quickly as possible. The magistrate com- mitted the charges and di- rected Stephens to ap- pear in Grand Court on Friday, Feb. 24. Ms. Richards explained that she objected to bail be- cause Stephens had left the island on a one-way ticket and he did not return, although he had a wife and child here. Cayman authorities made a provisional request for his extradition in June, Ms. Richards said. Stephens was arrested and a bundle of documents was sent to U.S. authorities. The extra- dition was contested, but a U.S. judge ruled that the circumstances were suf- ficient to grant the extra- dition request. Ms. Richards said Ste- phens is a citizen of the United States and Trin- idad and Tobago. There was some difficulty re- garding his passport, and in order to facilitate his entry into Cayman a travel pass had to be obtained. Given Stephens’s con- duct and history, he should be remanded in custody and given an early trial date, the prosecutor concluded. Mr. Samson argued for bail, pointing out that Ste- phens had a fixed local address. Once this inci- dent came to light and was communicated to Ste- phens’s wife, he was ex- cluded from the matrimo- nial home. Being estranged from his wife, Stephens took the position that he would reside in Florida at a property he owns, the at- torney explained. It could not be said that Stephens had tried to evade arrest, since he went will- ingly with officers when they approached him. Mr. Samson said the ex- tradition had not been con- tested, so much as it was that a certain technical point was being taken by counsel on the question of reci- procity – whether a charge in Cayman had an equiva- lent in the U.S. The defendant’s pass- port can be produced by his wife, since she has access to the apartment in Florida, Mr. Samson stated in responding to another objection. He suggested that con- ditions could be imposed to ensure that there would be no contact with the com- plainant in the matter or members of her family. After considering the ap- plication, the magistrate said it was her decision that bail would be withheld. She told the defendant she would order a warrant for his production from cus- tody on Friday. The suspect was not believed to have gotten away with any money from the truck. Monday’s attempted rob- bery follows a string of six shootings since November, including three fatal shoot- ings on Grand Cayman. In late November 2016, a Caymanian man was gunned down in broad day- light on a street corner in central George Town. The victim, Damean Dwayne “Deebo” Seymour, was a known figure in Cayman’s criminal circles for more than a decade. No arrests have been made in connec- tion with his killing. On Dec. 26, a pair of shootings occurred on Boxing Day in West Bay and in George Town. An 18-year- old was shot at 4 a.m. in the vicinity of Fete nightclub on West Bay Road, the RCIPS said. Another shooting at 10:45 p.m. outside Super C restaurant on Watercourse Road, West Bay, involved a man in dark clothes shooting a 31-year-old man. Neither incident was fatal. On Jan. 28, Mark “Hubba” Seymour was shot and killed outside Super C. Police have arrested another West Bay man, William Ian Rivers, in that case. On Feb. 4, two people were injured in the vicinity of Fete nightclub in an early morning attack. Two men, ages 26 and 29, survived the incident. The sixth shooting, on Jan. 6, involved police of- ficers killing an armed suspect in George Town, the first incident of its kind in decades. The sus- pect, Norval Barrett of Ja- maica, was believed to have been in Cayman il- legally and was armed at the time he was shot, ac- cording to police. Bermuda police are reviewing the in- cident and are due to report their findings to Governor Helen Kilpatrick. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The extradition request had been made as a result of Stephens’s flight from the Cayman Islands in February 2016, after he became aware that a report had been made against him. Extradited track coach in court Police: Would-be robber shot security guard CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 TRUMP DENOUNCES ‘HORRIBLE’ THREATS AGAINST JEWISH CENTERS WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump on Tuesday denounced re- cent threats against Jewish community centers as “hor- rible … painful” and said more must be done “to root out hate and preju- dice and evil.” Trump’s remarks, made at the newly opened Na- tional Museum of Af- rican American History and Culture, marked the first time he directly ad- dressed recent incidents of anti-Semitism. In re- cent days, the president has faced growing crit- icism for not speaking out directly against anti- Jewish threats. The president cited a tour of the museum as “a meaningful reminder of why we have to fight big- otry, intolerance and hatred in all of its very ugly forms.” On Monday, 11 Jewish community centers across the country received phoned-in bomb threats, according to the JCC Asso- ciation of North America. Like three waves of sim- ilar calls in January, Mon- day’s threats proved to be hoaxes, the association said in a statement. In ad- dition, as many as 200 headstones were damaged or tipped over at a Jewish cemetery in suburban St. Louis late Sunday or early Monday. “The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are hor- rible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” Trump said. He did not outline what that might include. Trump’s comments Tuesday followed a general White House denounce- ment of “hatred and hate- motivated violence” earlier in the day. That statement did not mention the com- munity center incidents or Jews. Trump “has made it abundantly clear that these actions are unacceptable,” that statement said. At a news conference last week, Trump tangled with a reporter from an Orthodox Jewish publica- tion, cutting him off as he asked about a rise in bomb threats against Jewish community centers. Trump, who seemed to interpret the query as an attack on him personally, said it was “not a fair question” and went on to say he was the “least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life.” On Monday, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump wrote on Twitter, “We must protect our houses of wor- ship & religious centers,” and used the hashtag #JCC. She converted to Judaism ahead of her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner. She joined her fa- ther at the African Amer- ican museum tour.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 7th Annual Scotiabank Golf Tournament Friday, 10 March, 2017 North Sound Golf Club Shot-gun start 12:30pm CI$600 per team You won’t want to miss it! More prizes, more games, more holes in one! All proceeds go to the Special Needs Foundation of Cayman. To become a sponsor or enter a team please contact: Jennifer O’Leary at jennifer.oleary@scotiabank.com or call 815 4313. NEED CA $H? We pay the HIGHEST PAYOUT For GOLD Nice Jewelry, Broken Jewelry, Scrap Gold Sell us your Jewelry and if you want it back, we’ll give you the OPTION of 30 days to come buy it back!! COME GET THE MONEY YOU NEED! LOCATED NEXT TO MONEYGRAM ON SHEDDEN ROAD 196 SHEDDEN ROAD - GEORGE TOWN 927-8565 SUICIDE BOMBERS KILL 6 OUTSIDE COURT IN NORTHWEST PAKISTAN PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – A group of suicide bombers with grenades and assault rifles struck outside a court- house in northwestern Paki- stan on Tuesday, killing six people in an attack claimed by a Taliban splinter group. The attack was the latest in a wave of mili- tant assaults across the troubled country that has killed over 100 people since last week. The brazen sui- cide bombings have been claimed by mutiple Islamic militant groups. In Tuesday’s attack, three attackers hit the court- house in the town of Tangi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Af- ghanistan. The victims in- cluded a lawyer, a child and four police officers, ac- cording to Ijaz Khan, a se- nior police officer. He said police were on maximum alert after re- ceiving intelligence that terrorists could target the courts in Charsadda. One of the bombers threw gre- nades and detonated his suicide vest at the court’s main gate while police shot and killed the two other assailants, according to the district police chief, Sohail Khalid. The other two also wore suicide vests but did not manage to set them off be- fore being gunned down. Khalid said 15 people were wounded in the attack and taken to hospital. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility in a text mes- sage sent to an Associated Press reporter. In one of the attacks last week, dozens of worship- pers gathered at a famed Sufi shrine were killed Thursday when an Islamic State suicide bomber deto- nated his device inside the shrine’s main hall in the southern province of Sindh. The death toll from that at- tack has reached 90. The shrine bombing prompted a countrywide crackdown by security forces targeting militants and their hideouts. Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa praised police for foiling the attack and “saving many lives,” according to the military statement. US to expand pool of people targeted for deportation WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is greatly expanding the number of people living in the U.S. il- legally who are considered a priority for deportation, in- cluding people arrested for traffic violations, according to agency documents re- leased Tuesday. The documents represent a sweeping rewrite of the na- tion’s immigration enforce- ment priorities. The Homeland Security Department memos, signed by Secretary John Kelly, lay out that any immigrant living in the United States ille- gally who has been charged or convicted of any crime – and even those suspected of a crime – will now be an en- forcement priority. That could include people arrested for shop lifting or minor traffic offenses. The memos elimi- nate far more narrow guid- ance issued under the Obama administration that focused resources strictly on immi- grants who had been con- victed of serious crimes, threats to national security and recent border crossers. Kelly’s memo also describes plans to enforce a long- standing but obscure provi- sion of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act that al- lows the government to send some people caught illegally crossing the Mexican border back to Mexico, regardless of where they are from. One of the memos says that for- eigners sent back to Mexico would wait for their U.S. de- portation proceedings to be complete. This would be used for people who aren’t considered a threat to cross the border illegally again, the memo said. It’s unclear whether the United States has the au- thority to force Mexico to ac- cept foreigners. That provi- sion is almost certain to face opposition from civil libertar- ians and officials in Mexico. Historically, the gov- ernment has been able to quickly repatriate Mexican nationals caught at the border but would detain and try to formally deport im- migrants from other coun- tries, routinely flying them to their home countries. In some cases, those deportations can take years as immigrants ask for asylum or otherwise fight their deportation in court. The memos do not change U.S. immigration laws, but take a far harder line to- ward enforcement. An arrest is made during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens in Los Angeles. – PHOTO: CHARLES REED/U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT VIA APNext >