ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 High of 80 Low of 72 Seas: Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet with higher swells along the west coast. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 IN THE ASSEMBLY: EXERCISE CAUTION ON POLICE CAUTIONS SPORTS | PAGE 17 SUNDAY BEACH VOLLEYBALL SERIES HEATS UP PremierHealth The world is smaller when you have a bigger health plan. 24/7 worldwide assistance and your I.D. card is accepted by 1.1million US providers, including pharmacy benefits. Wherever you touch down, with Premier Health you are only a phone call away from the care you deserve. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES 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 Lobster season drawing to a close Lobster hunters have less than a week left to catch the tasty crustaceans before lobster season closes. The last legal day for catching lobsters in the Cayman Islands is Tuesday, Feb. 28, according to a reminder from the Depart- ment of Environment, which also states that the daily fishing limit is three per person or six per boat, whichever number is smaller. No one is allowed to purchase, re- ceive, offer for sale, exchange or donate more than three lobsters from Cayman waters in a given day. Only spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, are permitted for fishing. Lobster season will resume on Dec. 1. Until then it will be illegal to re- move lobsters from local waters, the press release states. Senior Research Officer John Bothwell of the Department of Environment said the closed season allows the lobsters to build their population during peak repro- ductive months. “It’s an effective and efficient way to limit how many lobsters get taken, which will give Cayman a sustainable, recreational lobster fishery not only when the season re- sumes in December, but for years to come,” Mr. Bothwell said in a press statement. Anyone found selling local lobster during the closed season should be reported for poaching by calling 916-4271 in Grand Cayman, 926-0136 in Cayman Brac, and 916-7021 in Little Cayman. Lobster poaching can also be called in to 911. HEALTH SERVICES, TURTLE FARM REPORT LOSSES BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands public health au- thority, as well as the islands’ most popular land-based tourist attraction, reported finan- cial losses to the Legislative Assembly in re- ports made public Wednesday. The Cayman Islands Health Services Au- thority reported a net loss of $1.7 million for the 2014/15 government budget year, after it had turned a profit the previous year. These are the most recent figures to be submitted to the legislature. Meanwhile, the Cayman Turtle Centre re- ported an overall loss of about $6 million for the 2015/16 year in its financial statements. According an audit completed for the public health authority, the auditor general’s office could not satisfy itself as to the accu- racy of some $89.9 million in uncollected pa- tient fees – generally known as “bad debts” within the hospital system. These are fees that have not been paid for at least a year, and in some cases, much longer. Auditors also noted they were trou- bled about patient accounts receivables – money due to be paid – as stated in the fi- nancial records. The report also noted that the agency had not maintained the required level of cash re- serves for the year. Health Services Authority officials told Syed claims work history ‘classified’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former college president Hassan Syed declined to answer questions about his work his- tory in the U.S. during court pro- ceedings Wednesday, saying the information was “classified.” The questions arose as Syed was quizzed about his resume. Prosecutors allege he falsely claimed to have a doctorate from a Canadian university to get the president’s job and six-figure salary at the University College of the Cayman Islands in 2006. Syed claimed Wednesday he had not written the disputed re- sume and had not even seen it until the criminal proceedings against him began. He said he did not know who had created the document and suggested it contained several inaccuracies, including the con- tested claim that he held a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Victoria. He said he had simply submitted a cover letter to apply for the president’s job, at the rec- ommendation of the university college’s former president, Sam Basdeo. He said Mr. Basdeo had indicated that UCCI had his re- sume on file and that Syed, who was already working as a lec- turer at the college, did not need to resubmit it. Syed, who claims to have a doctorate from an institution in Pakistan, said he had not claimed to have a Ph.D. from the Canadian institution, as alleged. He said he had not seen the re- sume shown to him by Crown prosecutor Patrick Moran – the document reviewed by the selec- tion panel before Syed was ap- pointed as president. He agreed with Mr. Moran’s suggestion that much of the in- formation in the resume was ac- curate, including his personal information, address and some of his education history. How- ever, he disputed some of the colleges listed, as well as the CUBAN MIGRANTS DEPORTED TO HAVANA Twenty Cuban migrants were re- patriated from Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport to Havana, Cuba, on Tuesday in a joint effort between the Department of Immigration and the prison service. The group included two females and 18 males who had been housed at the Immigration Detention Center in George Town, according to a press release from the Immigration Depart- ment and the Prisons Service. Fifty-one Cuban migrants, in- cluding 40 males and 11 females, remain at various facilities in the Cayman Islands. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Isabelle Lamers with two spiny lobsters caught off the shores of Grand Cayman over the weekend. - PHOTO: MATT LAMERS2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 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 - 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 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “See it, do it, be it. ” Virginia teen sues over crippling WB Road crash BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An American teenager who suffered crippling inju- ries after he was struck by a van along West Bay Road in April 2015 has sued the driver for damages. Harrison Zierenberg, who was 16 at the time, was vis- iting Grand Cayman with his family when he was struck by a van driven by Audley Evan Irons, according to court documents. The writ of summons filed Jan. 11 states: “On April 6, 2015, at approxi- mately 8:48 p.m. [Mr. Zieren- berg] was lawfully traversing north on West Bay Road in the vicinity of the Marriott Resort. [Mr. Irons] was trav- elling north on West Bay Road … when he so negli- gently drove that he collided with [Mr. Zierenberg].” The writ alleges the ac- cident was caused by Mr. Irons’s negligence and his failure to adhere to the local Traffic Law. The law in sections 67 and 68 states that drivers shall exercise due care and caution while using the roads and maintain full control of their vehicle at all times. The writ also alleges Mr. Irons was driving “too fast in all the circumstances” and “failed to stop, swerve, slow down or otherwise avoid the accident.” Mr. Zierenberg’s injuries from the accident were cat- astrophic. According to the boy’s mother, who spoke to the Richmond Times news- paper in July 2015, every neurosurgeon who treated the boy indicated “there’s no reason he should be alive.” According to the writ: “His injuries included severe injuries to the head, in- cluding multiple skull frac- tures. A craniectomy [a surgical procedure that re- moves a piece of the skull to allow a swelling brain to expand without pushing up against the bone] was performed.” Mr. Zierenberg, now 18, has suffered “permanent, life altering” injuries as a re- sult of the crash, the law- suit states. As of mid-2015, he was sill in a wheelchair but had regained all of his former cognitive abilities. His mother told the Cayman Compass that the Zierenberg family hoped that Harrison would walk again one day and that the family would perhaps come back to the Cayman Islands for vacation. The damages claim in the writ states that Mr. Zieren- berg “has incurred and will continue to incur medical, travel and other expenses and losses as a result of the accident.” Some claim would be made against the defendant’s insurer, Saxon Insurance, ac- cording to the writ. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service reported an arrest following the April 6, 2015 crash, but no case was ever brought to court. “There was a full inves- tigation and accident recon- struction report submitted,” an RCIPS statement re- leased Wednesday noted, re- garding the incident. “A file was submitted to the Di- rector of Public Prosecutions in July 2015. No charges were recommended by Crown counsel. There was a subse- quent request for review of this decision by a concerned party and on a second review … this decision was fur- ther confirmed.” VENEZUELA VP BLASTS SANCTIONS IN FULL-PAGE NY TIMES AD CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela’s vice presi- dent took out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times on Wednesday to lash out at the Trump administration’s deci- sion to sanction him for drug trafficking. In the public letter, Tareck El Aissami called the accusations against him baseless as well as a violation of his human rights and dignity. “You have been deceived by political sectors, lobby- ists and stakeholders in the U.S. whose essential in- terest is to prevent that the United States and Venezu- elan restore their political and diplomatic relations on the basis of mutual rec- ognition and respect,” said the letter, which is ad- dressed to Treasury Secre- tary Steven Mnuchin. “These stakeholders not only lack any evidence to demonstrate the ex- tremely serious accusations against me, but they also have built a false-positive case in order to criminalize – through me – the Govern- ment of the Bolivarian Re- public of Venezuela.” He also touted his re- cord as interior minister from 2008 to 2012, saying he had extradited 21 cap- tured drug lords to the U.S. The Treasury Depart- ment last week froze El Aissami’s American bank accounts and those of an alleged business associate for allegedly helping fa- cilitate large cocaine ship- ments from Venezuela. El Aissami said he has no as- sets or accounts in the U.S. El Aissami accused the Drug Enforcement Admin- istration, which the late Hugo Chavez expelled from Venezuela, of criminal ties and lacking a commitment to fight the drug war. “How many chiefs of criminal drug organiza- tions have been captured by the U.S. in its territory? How many banks and tax havens have been closed down by the U.S. for sup- porting this gigantic illegal business and crime against humanity?” he wrote. US senators say Raul Castro eager to maintain US relations HAVANA (AP) – Cuban Pres- ident Raul Castro appears eager to maintain better relations with the United States and gave a group of U.S. Congress mem- bers signed copies of a re- cent speech expressing his willingness to negotiate with President Donald Trump, Sen. Patrick Leahy said Wednesday. Leahy and four other members of Congress spoke to reporters Wednesday at the end of a three-day trip to Cuba that included a Tuesday night meeting with Castro. The others included Republican Sen. Thad Co- chran of Mississippi, who spoke favorably of U.S. re- lations with Cuba, although he did not weigh in on spe- cific aspects of President Barack Obama’s detente with Castro. That policy is under review by the Trump administration. Leahy and Democratic members of the delega- tion expressed confidence that the opening with Cuba would not be reversed, despite Trump’s public pledges to do so. The Vermont Demo- crat, a longtime advo- cate of better U.S. relations with Cuba, said Castro ex- pressed his desire to keep carrying out market-ori- ented internal reforms and improve ties with Wash- ington. Leahy said Castro gave the group two signed copies of a speech he made in the Dominican Republic last month expressing a de- sire to work with Trump. Venezuela’s Vice President Tareck El Aissami – PHOTO: AP According to the boy’s mother, who spoke to the Richmond Times newspaper in July 2015, every neurosurgeon who treated the boy indicated “there’s no reason he should be alive.” Cuban dissidents honor OAS official who was denied entry HAVANA (AP) – A group of Cuban dissidents on Wednesday recognized the secretary-general of the Or- ganization of American States for defending human rights in their country even though the government de- nied him entry to attend the ceremony. About a dozen dissidents and diplomats from the U.S., Czech Republic and Sweden honored Luis Almagro at the home of the late democracy activist Oswaldo Paya, who died in a 2012 car accident. Paya’s daughter Rosa Maria invited Almagro to re- ceive the prize from her group in Havana. She has accused the Cuban government of causing the wreck, a charge the government denies. Almagro sent dissidents a letter saying that the OAS’s only interest is to help move Cuba closer to the values and principles upheld by the or- ganization in relation to de- mocracy and human rights. He also said his intention is not to evaluate Cuba’s in- ternal politics. In his letter, Almagro said the Cuban government told him it was astonished he was involved in what it called “anti-Cuban” activities. He also said he hoped the government would not retal- iate against the group. The communist-run gov- ernment also denied entry to Mexican ex-President Felipe Calderon and former Chilean Education Minister Maria Aylwin, both of whom were invited to attend the ceremony. Cuba has not belonged to the OAS since 1962. It considers the organization an instrument the U.S. gov- ernment uses to pressure countries that do not follow its policies.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 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 global legal industry standards. We must modernise our laws today to keep our industry commercially strong, to protect it, and create opportunities for future generations of Caymanians. Support for the LPB has been voiced by 20 Cayman Islands law A change today for a stronger Cayman tomorrow www.caymanlawsociety.org “I think it’s very important that the LPB is passed. It’s a proactive step, a necessary step and a very positive development.” Christina Bodden Partner, Maples and Calder that have existed in the regulation of the profession for over 15 years.” Bryan Hunter Partner, ApplebyThe 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” THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Imagine the following scenario: You are walking down the street with $4,900 in a shopping bag, on your way to buy a used car. A man accosts you and, unceremoniously, punches you in the face. You stagger back, and the bag goes flying. A police officer appears and, while he is detaining your assailant, you notice the shopping bag has disappeared. You turn the corner and see a man flipping through your stack of bills. The police officer detains him, too. Both the assailant and the thief admit their guilt. But instead of making two arrests, the officer instead issues them a pair of written “cautions,” and advises them not to do it again. – Sound dramatic? Perhaps. But according to the language in a proposed bill now before local lawmakers, the above fiction could become reality in the Cayman Islands. The Cautions (Adult) Bill, 2007, outlines a proce- dure for police officers to issue written cautions (i.e. formal “warnings”) to suspects – rather than their being arrested, charged and possibly convicted – who have admitted guilt to committing criminal offenses that carry potential sentences of less than four years … or, more worryingly, to certain specified offenses, including theft of under $5,000; handling stolen goods worth less than $5,000; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and pos- session of a controlled drug (such as ganja) that is not a hard drug (such as cocaine). Everyone knows the Cayman Islands court system can become congested, particularly with the constant inun- dation of relatively low-level offenders. It may not be an unthinkable idea to give police officers the power to issue “cautions,” which do go on a suspect’s police record and can be taken into account by courts when dealing with subsequent offenses. That being said, it seems inconceivable for that dis- cretion to extend to letting off someone who has stolen or fenced thousands of dollars of goods, or who has pur- posely injured another person through physical violence. Our readers seem to agree. Here are some comments we received in response to the news story we published on the Cautions Bill: • “If this law is passed, Cayman’s lawmakers just upped the serious crime rate 100 percent. Guaranteed.” • “This is jaw-dropping news. Who is behind this crime- promoting, lawless society-fostering and tourist- deterring bill?” • “[O]ne of the widespread criticisms of the whole cautions system [in the U.K.] is that it’s open to abuse. In busy areas it’s always very tempting to offer the offender, quite often a repeat offender, the option of taking a caution to avoid being charged for an offense simply because it saves police time and resources.” (We have published the entire comment in full to the right of this column.) We would go a step further than our commenters and state that, fundamentally, trying to ease pressure off the courts by giving police the option not to enforce the law, ad hoc, is an unsound strategy. If lawmakers wish to “decriminalize” certain behaviors, they should change the law accordingly — not create a new law making that behavior punishable by prison in some instances, and by a written caution in others, at an officer’s discretion. But more to the point, if our courts are becoming too crowded, our court staff overwhelmed and our judges overworked, our alternative suggestion is to 1) build more courtrooms (a new and badly needed courthouse would even be better); 2) employ more court staff; and 3) hire more judges. And then, repeat those steps for our prisons system. In the Assembly: Exercise caution on police cautions Letter: Beyond the PR limbo Further to your article of last Friday regarding the challenges faced by those ap- plying for permanent resi- dence, I write to offer a small correction and some per- spective on the wider immi- gration debate. First, although it is true that my wife was stymied by a legal technicality from taking up a position with a local not-for-profit group, the tale had a happier ending than the article implied. A brief appearance before the appropriate board was all that it took for them to ap- prove the requested amend- ment to her occupation, al- lowing her to take up the role. Indeed, a tale of unneces- sary woe with a nonetheless happy ending is probably an accurate description of most expatriates’ worst encounters with our immigration system. Our experience also speaks to a broader truth about this iceberg of dys- function, the mere tip of which you described in your article: At the core of this and most other immigration is- sues is a law that is almost as unworkable as it is imper- vious to improvement. And, while the system is frustrating for both em- ployers and expatriates, the worst failing of our im- migration law is that it does not work any better for Caymanians. To support this, one need only ask any Caymanian whether they believe they have ever been discriminated against, and if so whether the immigration law offered any avenue for redress. It would be surprising if it had, since neither the law nor the reg- ulations provide any clear mechanism for such a com- plaint let alone a mecha- nism for its timely resolution. The absence of such effective mechanisms has left a void filled by ever more Byzan- tine rules and ever more ca- priciously applied discretion. There are a number of ways the government could address the gaping disconnect between the immigration law and the needs of the country. Allow me to outline two. First, the government could acknowledge that the immigration process is not equipped to detect or prevent discrimination and instead establish a separate, inde- pendent body in the mold of the United States Equal Em- ployment Opportunity Com- mission with a mandate to define, identify and eliminate discrimination. In addition to enforce- ment, such a body could pro- vide something equally ef- fective and equally lacking in the current system: edu- cation. For small businesses with limited HR expertise, such training could, to give but one example, include best practice for eliminating un- conscious bias in recruitment and selection. The general public would benefit from ed- ucation as to what does and does not constitute evidence of discrimination on the part of employers. To put it beyond the reach of political interference, such a commission should be es- tablished in the manner of the Office of the Auditor Gen- eral under the purview of Her Excellency the Governor. If that requires a constitutional amendment, so be it. Second, the government could accept that no system requiring the current degree of human intervention and discretion can be adequately scaled to fit our economy. It is an often-cited fact that the current system was designed in a long-gone era to cope with a few hundred work permit applications per year, rather than the 24,000 it is now expected to process. Imagine if CIMA were to attempt to regulate our finan- cial transactions the way the immigration law attempts to regulate employment of ex- patriates, requiring a lengthy application, assuming every transaction to be an at- tempted fraud and holding it up for weeks or even months until otherwise satisfied. No matter how many addi- tional analysts CIMA hired, the system would quickly grind to a crawl, much as our over-burdened immigra- tion system has. (To extend the analogy even further, it would be grossly unfair to blame the public servants charged with its administra- tion for the inevitable dys- function of such a system). What CIMA does instead, is to issue clear rules and guidance, require compa- nies to keep robust records, inspect those records peri- odically to ensure compli- ance, fine those found to have broken the rules and sanc- tion egregious or repeat of- fenders. There is no reason such a system could not work equally well for immigration. To be able to offer our people opportunities for good quality jobs and career ad- vancement the Cayman Is- lands needs an immigration system that allows its pri- vate sector to thrive. At the same time Caymanians must be assured fair treatment by employers and an avenue for redress when required. These are not conflicting goals. Steve McIntosh From the Web: UK police cautions I can tell you from personal experience working alongside the police in the U.K. that po- lice cautions (now being re- ferred to as simple cautions, as opposed to conditional cautions), which are nor- mally decided by a duty in- spector, are handed out for crimes like handling stolen property, minor assaults, crim- inal damage, possession of drugs, possession of offensive weapons and theft including “taking without consent.” In fact, one of the wide- spread criticisms of the whole cautions system is that it’s open to abuse. In busy areas it’s always very tempting to offer the offender, quite often a repeat offender, the option of taking a caution to avoid being charged for an offense simply because it saves police time and resources. Ministry of Justice guid- ance states that simple cau- tions are available for any offense, although careful consideration should be given to the seriousness of the of- fense. Even “indictable only” offenses may be disposed with a caution subject to Crown Prosecution Service approval. It’s a very wide-ranging option. In 2015, Parliament re- ported that 30 percent of “out- of-court disposals” (cautions and on-the-spot fines) were applied inappropriately with crimes including sexual as- sault being dealt with in this way. There’s also been an issue about whether innocent people are being pressured into taking a caution, which is a tacit ad- mission of guilt, to avoid the risk of being taken to court for crimes they never committed. When you look at RCIPS’s track record in recent months, you do have to wonder just how this proposed legislation will be handled if it becomes law. Will some be let off be- cause of who they are or who they know, whilst others will still end up in court be- cause they don’t have the right connections? Who will oversee it and make sure it’s applied fairly? David Williams5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 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 Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. For further information please contact The Breast Cancer Foundation on 923 1135 RISTORANTE Elevator Extradition trial set for Turkish terror suspect Defendant came to Cayman on cruise ship in December CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A two-day trial has been set for Celal Kildag, the cruse ship passenger who arrived in Cayman on Dec. 8 and found a request waiting to extradite him to Turkey. Kildag, 58, has been ac- cused by Turkish authorities of terrorist acts in 1988. In previous court hearings, he said he had lived in Germany since the early 1980s. On Tuesday, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards told Magistrate Grace Donalds that an ex- pert report was awaited and it did not make sense to start a trial without it. Defense attorney Laurence Aiolfi agreed to a timetable for papers and submissions. The court was advised that the expert was ex- pected to give evidence via video link. The magistrate set the matter for hearing over two days, starting Tuesday, March 21. She extended Kildag’s bail until then. Kildag arrived in Cayman aboard the MSC Opera and was detained after police in Cayman were alerted to an Interpol Red Notice, ba- sically an international arrest warrant. As reported previously, a family member told the Cayman Compass that Kildag emigrated in 1980 to Ger- many, where he was granted political asylum, and he has never returned to Turkey. He lives in Germany with his wife and two grown children. At a hearing on Jan. 20-21, Mr. Aiolfi indicated he would be seeking to call an ex- pert on human rights issues in Turkey. Kildag’s wife and daughter traveled from Ger- many for that hearing. He had been remanded at Northward Prison since his arrest, but was granted bail on Jan. 20. Lionfish culling tournament this weekend Lionfish cullers will take to the reefs of Grand Cayman this weekend to take part in an island- wide tournament. Foster’s Food Fair has do- nated $20,000 to the Cayman United Lionfish League to help combat the invasive fish species. The league has orga- nized competitive lionfish- catching tournaments for six years in an effort to pro- tect local fish populations and coral reefs. Every lionfish caught during competition is ana- lyzed by the Department of Environment and then sold to local restaurants. Foster’s Food Fair mar- keting manager Julian Foster said the company uses proceeds from plastic bag sales for environ- mental projects like CULL in the islands. “We feel that the lionfish threat to our natural envi- ronment is a great spend of these monies and we are thrilled to work with CULL in keeping this threat at bay while continuing to in- troduce lionfish as a deli- cious option on the food scene,” Mr. Foster said in a press release. Foster’s has supported the culling event since it began and became a gold sponsor in 2014. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association, which has supported the ini- tiative since 2012, said the donation provides neces- sary support in combating lionfish, which rapidly re- produce and are voracious eaters of local grazer fish. These local fish play an important role in control- ling algae overgrowth on the coral reef. The first 2017 CULL will take place Feb. 25 and 26. Weigh-in will take place 4-6 p.m. at Macabuca Bar & Grill in West Bay. Registrations will be accepted at the bar on Thursday, Feb. 23, from 5-8 p.m. Cost of entry is $10. For more information, contact Mark Orr with the Department of Environment at mark.orr@gov.ky or 916-4271. He had been remanded at Northward Prison since his arrest, but was granted bail on Jan. 20. Lionfish hunters will take to the water this weekend for a lionfish culling tournament. 100 WOMEN IN FINANCE NAMES BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION AS BENEFICIARY 100 Women in Finance Cayman has named the Breast Cancer Foundation as its 2017 Cayman beneficiary. The organization is part of the global 100 Women in Finance, or 100WF, which is a 15,000-member nonprofit group for professionals in the finance and alternative investment industries. The group has raised more than US$40 million for women’s and family health, education and mentoring, according to a press release. 100 Women in Finance Cayman this year will be the official sponsor of the Breast Cancer Foundation’s Well- ness Program, which pro- vides support and services to breast cancer patients and their families. “The Breast Cancer Foun- dation is honoured to be se- lected as 100WF’s 2017 Cayman beneficiary. We are confident that the work of BCF and our flagship Well- ness Initiative fully resonates with the 100WF brand and their 2017 theme of Women’s and Family Health. We are looking forward to working closely with 100WF Cayman to implement this exciting opportunity and leverage the tremendous professional re- sources that 100WF provides,” a statement from the Breast Cancer Foundation read. Leanne Golding, co- chairwoman of the Philan- thropy Committee for 100WF Cayman, said, “100 Women in Finance is proud to support the Breast Cancer Foundation and the services they provide to women and their families in our community. We look forward to many successful fundraising events and activ- ities together in 2017.” 100WF Cayman raised more than US$71,000 for its 2016 beneficiary, Big Brothers Big Sisters Cayman, through a series of events, including the third annual Barefoot Beach Gala and the inaugural Corporate Mix- ology Competition. According to 100WF, the Cayman Islands is currently the organization’s fastest growing location, with more than 600 members. 100WF Cayman has a number of events planned for 2017, including the Bare- foot Beach Gala on Saturday, March 25, at Royal Palms. For more information, email phicayman@100women.org.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Bodden Town Citizens’ Association revived In the Feb. 22, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Bodden Town correspondent Floris McCoy wrote: “Mr. Albert Whittaker and son arrived from Ja- maica. Mr. Clive Whittaker went from Jamaica to New York. Accompanying him was his sister, Julia Ann, who is attending school there. She sends greetings to her Caymanian friends. “Miss Marilee Moore, of this district, but em- ployed in George Town, went to Jamaica over the weekend to enjoy two weeks’ vacation. “Miss Gertrude Wood, after being in America for a few months, returned home. “Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Bennett of New Port Richey, Florida, were guests of the Donald Arm- strong’s for this week. They were impressed with Cay- manians and fascinated with the island. Again I say we were fortunate to have such a lovely couple in Bodden Town. They re- turned home on Saturday. Mr. Donald Armstrong Jr. of Port Richey was here on a business trip. “Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Hunter returned from Jamaica. It is good to have them back. “Miss Janet Bodden re- turned from New York on Sunday. We welcome you back Janet. “On Tuesday night there was a meeting of the Bodden Town Citizens’ Association. This was called to revive the asso- ciation. New officers were elected and plans were made to keep the Associa- tion functioning. “An association such as this is of supreme worth and value to this commu- nity. Bodden Town has the potential of becoming one of the leading communi- ties in this island in al- most every sphere of life. We need only to work to- gether in a united ef- fort for the betterment of this community. “Bodden Town was happy to have Elder Lee Ebanks of West Bay preach in the United Church here on Sunday, and do ex- press our thanks and appreciation. “Rev. Smith of the Mis- sionary Board of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, and along with him a photographer, were guests at the Bodden Town church on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The reason for this visit is to make a film on the work here in Grand Cayman. “We were happy to have these guests and hope that their work will be a great success. We wish them a pleasant stay while here.” Spectacular sunrises herald springtime in BT JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town’s Coe Wood beach has undergone a small yet significant transforma- tion of late. Over the years, studies have identified Coe Wood Beach as an area of nat- ural beauty to be protected for public use. With the re- moval of a set of kiosks that had fallen into disrepair, the beach’s is regaining its tradi- tional role as a beauty spot and proving increasingly at- tractive to local residents and to those just passing through. As the Compass reported previously, after the kiosks were built in 2012, tensions flared over their use, and un- able to decide what to do with them, government ordered the doors padlocked. Despite this, the area around the sheds proved to be a draw for local gatherings until workers took down the sheds with their rusted zinc coverings over the 2016 Christmas holidays. These days, at the break of day Coe Wood beach is be- coming popular with early birds keen to take in the early morning serenity and beau- tiful sunrises. According to Cayman lore, catching the first rays of the day is good for the eyes. Caymanian folks also say the spectacular morning sun at this time of year is a pre- cursor for what is to come Easter morning. A small group of locals was enjoying the surroundings last Wednesday morning, when the sun made its daily debut in a particularly beautiful glowing orange dislplay. Emerging over the horizon, the rising sun ex- ploded into a giant yellow ball suspended in the sky in all her glory. Prospect resident Marilyn Nasirun, 60 traveling to her farm in High Rock, East End on Thursday morning said wit- nessing the special sunrise sig- naled to her the start of spring. “[In the] spring months [March, April and May] just like everything else in nature, the air smells sweet, it’s when the trees start flowering and frisky animals rush through the trees, and even people start to do amazing things,” she said. If skies are clear again in coming days, this is a must- see for everyone and anyone traveling through Bodden Town between the hours of 6:49 and 7 a.m. The morning sun explodes into a giant yellow ball, suspended in the sky in all her glory. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Early risers enjoy the tranquility of the beach Wednesday morning.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 Coco Fest draws hundreds to Pedro JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Pedro St. James’s well-at- tended Coco Fest 2017 was all about coconuts gone wild. “It was a success last year and a bigger success this year,” said Debbie Bodden, Pedro’s operations manager. Coconuts are known for their great versatility, and that was well in evidence with more than 42 stalls showcasing everything co- conut by vendors on the castle grounds. Hundreds turned out to sample, see and celebrate the Cayman coconut, a bountiful food source with legendary properties, and a traditional staple in the Caymanian diet. The event is spon- sored by the Tourism At- tractions Board, Pepsi, Fos- ter’s Food Fair and Cayman National Bank. There were various deli- cious coconut dishes on offer, and lots of fresh coconut water and coconut jelly for visitors to taste, along with fish and fritters cooked in co- conut oil, coconut ice cream, toothpaste, jello, candy, shrimp, wall plaques made from coconut leaves, coconut rum and much more. The event also featured a children’s coconut coloring area and boat making dem- onstrations by the Cayman National Museum. There were also cooking dem- onstrations, an “extreme bungee jumping” appa- ratus for the adventurous, along with face painting and balloons for the youngsters in the crowd. The Visual Arts Society was also on site selling co- conut drawings and painting, and a variety of stalls high- lighted the benefits of coco- nuts and coconut oil. Even Pedro’s resident donkey, “Jack” got to try a bit of the coconut product in the Pedro courtyard. “It was such a success [last year], we decided to do it again, which was also based on vendors’ demand,” said Ms. Bodden. “Vendors were able to showcase their talents and coconut products, people were shocked because they did not know there [were] so many things made locally on island with coconut.” She said most of the vendors told her they been making their products at home as a hobby, just to pass the time. “It just brings to light so much that is being done with coconuts. The most unusual thing I saw here today was coconut toothpaste made on the island,” said Ms. Bodden. One vendor told her they had been searching the bushes for coconuts for days to make ice cream. “A lot of work goes into making the ice cream, but it is well worth it,” she said. Ms. Bodden would like to see a coconut association formed on island and some sort of coconut factory built where coconut products can be made and sold to stores and visitors to the island. “Local vendors cannot keep up with the demand of coconut products. For them, it takes a lot of time [to make their product] and they want it to taste and look nice; with a factory we could produce more,” Ms. Bodden said. Coco Fest also helped to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, with part proceeds from ad- missions going directly to the charity. “The Cancer Society was so grateful to be selected as the charity to receive $1 from every $5 admission,” said Cancer Society Operations Manager, Jennifer Weber. The $845 received will go toward the organization’s voucher program, which of- fers free medical vouchers to people who may not be able to afford a doctors’ visit. Nathan Robnett, wife Nicki and twins Ace and Oakley enjoy a cool drink of coconut water. Michael Jones and Gi Santos sample coconut from vendor Allen Hurlston. Janet Holness serves coconut and grapenut ice cream. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Pauline McField and Dorrett Forbes serve up some tasty fritters. Carmen Conolly makes a wall plaque from coconut leaves.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 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, FEB. 23 NEEDS ASSESSMENT: The Needs Assessment Unit, located on the 2nd floor of Aqua Mall, George Town, will be closed to the public today. Office hours will resume as normal Friday, Feb. 24. PROUD OF THEM: The public is encouraged to recognize excellence among young people by submitting nominations to the Proud of Them award scheme. Youth ages 10-25 who are reaching new heights of achievement in academics, sports, their career, culture, business or community service can be nominated until March 20. Forms can be found online at www.mcays.gov.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Situational Leadership Concepts; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $225 for members, $300 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. 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 FULL GOSPEL BUSINESSMEN: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International holds its monthly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Lola’s Restaurant in Camana Bay. Speaker will be Pastor Leif Hassakari. All are invited. 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 PENSION BOARD ANNIVERSARY: The Public Service Pensions Board asks local churches to read out its Managing Director’s message of thanks for the organization’s 25th Anniversary this weekend. This appeal is made because of the PSPB’s standing in the lives of the community and its commitment to ensuring its members are adequately provided for in retirement. 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. TUESDAY, FEB. 28 LOBSTER SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds the public that the last day for legally catching lobsters in Cayman waters is today. Closed season begins tomorrow. DoE urges people not to support poaching. Persons who suspect poaching of lobsters can call 911, or DoE enforcement officers directly. Grand Cayman, 916-4271. Cayman Brac, 926-0136. Little Cayman, 916-7021. CHAMBER COURSE: English as a Secondary Language Part 1; 12:30-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Business Master Classes. Running your business – Strata Management. 9-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $175 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 BRAC GRAND OPENING: Solomon Studio, a creative place for the arts. Join artist Gordon Solomon for canapes and wine 7-9 p.m. 271 West End Road, Cayman Brac. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES: St. Ignatius Catholic Church holds Mass at 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Christ the Redeemer in West Bay, Mass is at 10 a.m. Communion Service and Distribution of Ashes at Stella Maris, Cayman Brac, 11 a.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 2 DCI EARLY CLOSING: 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 a staff meeting. DCI’s main office will reopen on Friday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m., and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 3 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: Ecumenical service at Elmslie Memorial United Church, Harbour Drive, 12:30-1:30 p.m. All are invited. BUILDERS EXPO: Arts and Recreation Centre at Camana Bay, 5 to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Potential home builders and home owners considering renovation can connect local architects, contractors, plumbers, electricians and other industry businesses. SATURDAY, MARCH 4 ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY: 5K and 10K run/ walk from Smith Cove, 6 a.m., to promote Zero Discrimination day and celebrate everyone’s right to living a full life with dignity. Register at Cayman Active or at the Cayman AIDS Foundation office, #21 Caymanian Village. Entry is $20 in advance or $25 on race day. 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. FAMILY DAY ACTIVITIES: At the National Gallery. Kids on Deck, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. features free art activities based on the contemporary art exhibition “Upon the Seas.” Weave the Reef is a one- hour art workshop to learn about the threat of discarded fishing nets, called ghost nets, and then craft ghost net sea creatures. All materials provided. Event is open to all ages. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult who can assist with the family art project. This is a free workshop, but pre-registration is necessary. Email education@nationalgallery.org. ky or call 945-8111 to register. SUNDAY, MARCH 5 WOMEN’S MONTH: In celebration of Women’s Month, Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites everyone to a special service. 11 a.m. All are asked to wear purple. Refreshments will follow in Fellowship Hall. MONDAY, MARCH 6 DRAMA SOCIETY AGM: The Cayman Drama Society invites all members and interested parties to attend the society’s annual general meeting with happy hour at 6:30 p.m. and meeting starting promptly at 7 p.m. Members will receive the chairman’s report, theater management report and the treasurer’s report. All members in good standing are eligible to vote in the election. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR’S TALK: The public is invited to “An Evening with Eva Schloss, Beyond the Diary of Anne Frank,” a talk by the stepsister of Anne Frank. Ms. Schloss is a Holocaust survivor and humanitarian. Free. 7 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. To RSVP, visit www.jewishcayman. com/annefrank. For more information, contact rabbi@jewishcayman.com or call 516-4474. SATURDAY, MARCH 11 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Beach Walk organized by the Breast Cancer Foundation. 7 p.m. from Royal Palms. $25 donation includes one raffle ticket. Register at info@ breastcancerfoundation. ky or 6 p.m. on the night. No entry fee for children under 12, but a donation of $10 is requested for a child’s T-shirt and children must have a registration form completed by parent or guardian. Registration forms can be dropped off at the Breast Cancer Foundation’s office at RE/ MAX, Seven Mile Shops, with $25. T-shirts will be reserved at that point and an email will be sent as soon as they are here. Any questions, call Janette on 923-1135. SUNDAY, MARCH 12 FITNESS FEST: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts its second Fitness Fest at the ARC at Camana Bay, beginning 8 a.m. Theme is Flashback to the 80s. Spot prizes and light refreshment. Register online at caymanactive. com or registration forms can be emailed to keishasyms@gmail.com, Registration is $20 Adults, $10 children (12-18). Funds raised will be used for the club’s Early Childhood and Youth programs. TUESDAY, MARCH 14 CITA ELECTIONS: The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has set 4 p.m. today as the deadline for written nominations for their Board of Directors election. Visit the web page for updated information and the official AGM Elections Nomination Form. The AGM takes place on Wednesday, April 19. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Artwork lines one of the walkways at a previous Red Sky at Night festival. This year’s event is on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 4 p.m. to midnight.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 QUARTERLY SESSION LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD CAYMAN BRAC AND LITTLE CAYMAN THURSDAY, 16TH MARCH 2017 The Liquor Licensing Board of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will be holding its quarterly session on Thursday, 16th March 2017, commencing at 10:00 am, Conference Room, District Administration Building, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac. AGENDA 1. Meeting called to order 2. Reading and confirmation of Minutes 3. Matters arising 4. Variation request – Mr. Ethan Dilbert, La Esperanza, Watering Place, Cayman Brac – For permission to operate on Fridays until 3:00 am Saturday mornings. 5. New applications – a) Ms. Mirjana Mirjanic, Le Soleil d’OR, South Side, Cayman Brac. – For a Restaurant Liquor License and a Music and Dancing License. b) Robert & Carlene Hamaty, Tortuga- A Taste of the Cayman Islands, Charles Kirkconnell International Airport, Cayman Brac – For a Package Duty Free Liquor License. 6. Any other business 7. Adjournment __________________________________________________________________________________ VARIATION REQUEST Mr. Ethan Dilbert, La Esperanza – For permission to operate on Fridays until 3:00 am Saturday mornings. NEW APPLICATIONS Ms. Mirjana Mirjanic, Le Soleil d’OR – For a Restaurant Liquor License and a Music and Dancing License. Robert & Carlene Hamaty, Tortuga-A Taste of the Cayman Islands – For a Package Duty Free License. Adjournment Signed: Nathaniel S. Tibbetts, JP Dated this 21st day of February 2017 Chairman Liquor Licensing Board – Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Any member of the public who wishes to object to the aforementioned must do so in writing to the Chairman at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting. Anyone who has given to the Chairman seven days’ notice of objection may also appear and ask for the revocation or discontinuance of any existing license auditors they were working on a plan to achieve “revenue completeness” and that the public health system would hopefully receive a “clean” audit opinion by 2018. “[The HSA] can only meet its cash requirements if it is appropriately paid for the services provided,” Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday while presenting the report in the Legisla- tive Assembly. Meanwhile, continuing losses at the Cayman Turtle Centre were recorded again last year; however, most of the losses were due to repay- ment of a loan. According to Deputy Pre- mier Moses Kirkconnell, about $4.5 million went to the facility during the 2015/16 budget year to repay that loan, which should be settled up by 2019. Another $2.4 mil- lion was paid in cash to cover operating losses, he said. There was some good news on the operations side as well, the deputy premier said. Overall revenues from admissions, retail, food and drink, and turtle meat sales went up 15 percent during the 2015/16 year. Turtle meat sales increased by 29 percent compared to the previous government budget year. “Local demand for turtle meat shows no signs of di- minishing any time in the near future,” Mr. Kirkcon- nell said, adding that “there will be unsustainable pres- sure to take turtles from the wild in our local population” if the farm does not con- tinue operations. corporate positions. When asked if he had worked in the U.S. for a com- pany called Everest Broad- band, he said, “I can’t talk about my work in the U.S.; that was classified.” He gave the same answer to questions about his work history with AT&T Wire- less in the U.S. Syed is charged with ob- taining a pecuniary advan- tage by deception in connec- tion with allegations that he falsely claimed to have a doctorate to get the UCCI president’s job. He is also facing 11 other charges, in- cluding claims he dishon- estly used college funds for personal gain. Facing cross-examination Wednesday from the pros- ecution, Syed insisted there was an agreed system for the college’s accountant to high- light any personal expendi- ture made by the president from college funds and de- duct it from his salary. Asked about a US$20,000 UCCI check to Tony’s Toys car dealership, he accepted that he had no authority to use that money to buy a car for his girlfriend. He said he could not re- member or explain why the check was filed as an “ad- vance payment for an auto mechanic workshop.” But he rejected the prosecutor’s suggestion that this was a “big lie” to make the car pur- chase look like an approved payment for a legitimate college project. He acknowledged the money had been spent on a car for his girlfriend but said he had paid the money back later when the accoun- tant highlighted the expense as “personal.” Asked about a CI$5,000 check to Pooley’s Cabinets used to pay toward bath- room furniture for the same woman, he said he could not explain why the check was filed as being for renovations of a bathroom at UCCI. “I don’t remember writing this note, but I definitely re- member that when Mr. Singh told me $5,000 was used for personal use, I paid it back.” Asked why, if the expen- diture was approved through the system he had described, he had not simply recorded the checks as loans to the president, he said he could not remember. Syed has previously testi- fied, and it is accepted, that the college’s accountant han- dled numerous bills for him, including rent, utilities and other expenses. The court has heard that a system was in place for these payments to be deducted from his salary. Walking the defendant through a list of transactions and bank statements, Mr. Moran suggested that once the salary deductions were made, and cash withdrawals, car repayments and wire transfers to family accounted for, Syed would have had very little of his college salary left. “After those outgoings, you were left with around $1,000 a month of your salary and you were spending an av- erage of $10,000 a month on the UCCI credit cards for personal expenditure,” the prosecutor said. He suggested to Syed that there was no way for him to pay back the money he was spending on the card on per- sonal items through salary deductions from Mr. Singh, in the system outlined. Syed acknowledged he would not have been able to repay the expenses through his salary alone but indicated he had other income coming from consultancy work for UCCI during the 20-month period of his presidency. The trial continued Wednesday afternoon. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Health services, turtle farm report losses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Syed claims work history ‘classified’ First woman in 188 years named Scotland Yard chief LONDON (AP) – Senior officer Cressida Dick was named the new commissioner of Lon- don’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday, the first woman to lead Scotland Yard in its 188-year history. Dick, a former assistant commissioner of the force, succeeds Bernard Hogan- Howe, who is stepping down next week. The Met is Britain’s big- gest and oldest police force, with more than 43,000 offi- cers and staff. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said 56-year-old Dick “has a clear vision for the fu- ture of the Metropolitan Po- lice and an understanding of the diverse range of commu- nities it serves.” Dick, who left the po- lice force in 2015 to work at the Foreign Office, led the security operation for the 2012 London Olympics and is highly regarded by many Scotland Yard peers. But she has drawn criti- cism for commanding an op- eration after the July 2005 London bombings in which an innocent Brazilian man, Jean Charles de Menezes, was shot dead by police after being mistaken for a suicide bomber. A jury cleared Dick of blame, but relatives of de Menezes had called for her not to be given the top job at Scotland Yard. In a statement issued by cousin Patricia Armani, the family said they had “serious concerns” about the appointment. “The message of today’s appointment is that police officers can act with impu- nity,” they said. In this Thursday Nov. 1, 2007 file photo, then-Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, center, of London’s Metropolitan Police leaves a court hearing. - PHOTO: AP/ALASTAIR GRANT TURKEY MILITARY ALLOWS ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES FOR OFFICERS ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Tur- key’s military has changed its regulations to allow female officers to wear headscarves while on duty, defense officials said Wednesday, removing a ban on Islamic-style head cov- erings at an establishment that once was considered a bastion of secularism. The move also ends the last remaining headscarf ban at a public institu- tion in the predominantly Muslim, but officially secular country. With the change, women officers or military students in uniforms who wish to cover their hair in line with Islamic tradition will be able to wear headscarves under their hats, berets or caps, an official said. The headscarves would be plain, without patterns and would match the offi- cers’ uniforms, said the of- ficial. He added that the scarves would be worn in a way that would not cover their faces. The official provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with government regulations. A headscarf ban pre- viously was lifted for the Turkish military’s ci- vilian staff, as well as for the country’s coast guard and the paramilitary police force. Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey’s Islamic- rooted Justice and Devel- opment Party – founded by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – has gradually lifted the secular state’s once-rigid bans on wearing headscarves in government offices and in schools.Next >