SPECIAL FEATURE 1 SPECIALFEATURE CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 1 LOCAL NEWS THE CAYMANIAN COMPASS • <%W> <%DD> <%M> <%Y> Celebrating 50 years Farm-fresh family fun Agriculture Show JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Firefighters on Jet Skis could be used to supple- ment search and rescue efforts around the Cayman Is- lands following recommendations in a new report. The police Joint Marine Unit is understaffed and underresourced, with a high number of vessels in a “state of disrepair or out of service,” according to the U.K. coastguard report. Investment in repairing or replacing boats with long-range capability is highlighted as a “top priority” in the Overseas Territory Search and Rescue Capa- bility Review. It says the police marine fleet is currently High of 85 Low of 74 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 183910-Ad-Strip-6colx1*5-UEFA.indd 12/24/17 1:38 PM AGRICULTURE SHOW TURNS 50 Firefighters may aid search and rescue CORONER WILL INVESTIGATE HOSPITAL DEATH Migrant detainees allege intentional processing delays The popular Agriculture Show hits the half-century mark on Ash Wednesday, with thousands expected to flock to Lower Valley for the day-long event that highlights the farming and cultural heritage of the Cayman Islands. The show is hosted by the Agriculture Society, the Agriculture Depart- ment and farmers. For more, see page 2. Lisa Turner’s death “unexplained,” say police JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A coroner’s inquiry is taking place into the “unexplained” death of a Cayman Islands woman following surgery earlier this month. Lisa Turner was discharged from Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital after surgery but de- veloped an illness and died several days later after being taken to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital. An autopsy was conducted last week. Po- lice, in coordination with the coroner, are leading inquiries into what happened. Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital officials con- firmed the hospital has suspended the priv- ileges of an outside physician involved with the case as an interim measure pending fur- ther investigations. A Royal Cayman Islands Police Service spokeswoman said detectives are investi- gating the matter as an “unexplained death. “A post-mortem examination has been conducted, but the investigation will take some time to progress as further test re- sults are awaited. The findings will be shared with the family, and also during the in- quest conducted by the coroner,” the police spokeswoman said. A spokesperson for the privately owned Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital said the hospital conducted an internal investi- gation on all routine processes and proce- dures related to the case and found that all were followed. “The external physician directly involved KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cuban migrants at the George Town Im- migration Detention Centre allege asylum applicants have been held in detention indefinitely as a tactic to force self-re- quested deportation. Detainee Victor Maikel Merladet Leon said he has been in detention for two months and estimates up to 10 of the 51 Cubans cur- rently in the detention facility have been there for a year or longer. “There are people here who have been here for more than a year and they haven’t told them anything. Immigration came and did their paperwork and from there they haven’t done anything. I think they’ve for- gotten they’re here,” Mr. Merladet said from one of three detention center telephones made available to migrants. “They take their time. I think the tactic they use is to wait for them to get bored of being here.” Mr. Merladet gave his asylum interview more than a month ago. Although he was told he would receive a response in two weeks, he said his lawyer has not been able to provide him with an update on his status. The Joint Marine Unit currently has only two boats in working order. Neither the police air support unit nor the marine unit is currently on duty around the clock. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » M ARC H 2 017 • W WW .CA YJO U RNAL .COM 1 73 THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT Real estate market review >>PAGE 13 MARKETS Bull market resumes But it come with a wall of worry >>PAGE 3 POLITICS ‘Grading’ Trump Analyst gives a pass on taxation, not immigration >>PAGE 4 FINANCE Islamic finance growth Cayman and BVI poised to benefit >>PAGE 5 Journal Specia l Report REAL ESTATE MA R KET RE VI E W2 0 1 7 The disruptive rise of machines in finance ■■ MICHAEL KLEIN The finance industry is just at the beginning of an unprec-edented era of disruption. The accelerating speed of technological change and the potential for automa-tion promises massive changes for banks, investment firms and other parts of the financial industry. Much of the discussion about artifi-cial intelligence and machine learning has focused on manufacturing. Techno-logical innovation manifests itself most visibly in automated processes that until now were the domain of manual labor. But it is only the first step. The next wave of intelligent machines is threat-ening to disrupt the white-collar worker and the more creative thinkers. In the staff-intensive banking indus-try, for instance, humans are the main cost center, and the ability of block-chain technology to replace some of the workforce is one of the top initiatives pursued by senior executives in shap-ing their business. Impact on hedge funds Even the world of alpha creators in the alternative investment space may not be immune from the rise of the ma-chines, speakers at the recent Cayman Alternative Investment Summit noted.Raoul Pal, Cayman-based CEO and founder of the Global Macro Investor and Real Vision, says the best hedge funds have a process, and that means that the best hedge funds can be re-placed by a machine. He points to algorithmic trading and high frequency trading as the first high-ly successful examples. “I think most trading will be replaced by machines, but you need to under-stand that what that means is the hedge fund manager of old just gets replaced by a programmer. So the hedge fund manager will need a different skill set to focus on systems-generated returns.” While Pal believes computers are very good at processing current infor-mation, he thinks they are “terrible at looking into the future,” a time horizon much more suited to human intuition.“As we see the investment manage-ment industry shift with the flow of pen-sion money coming in and becoming more short-term in nature, humans are going to do what humans do well: have a strategic vision for the world,” he said in a panel on how technology affects the alternative investment industry. Where machines fail A recent example for the current limitations of machine learning are Brexit and the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, which machines were unable to predict. “The simple reality is machines are not in touch with human emotions and what people feel and think,” said Suryanshu Mishra, the head of Hedge Fund Administration at Deutsche Bank.Even with the best polling mecha-nisms, it would be extremely difficult to gather accurate, reliable informa-tion from 7.5 billion people. To then combine data collection, information management and statistical analysis to make assumptions about the disruption of economies and political systems or to identify the best trading activities would require a huge amount of human intel- ligence and research and development. Simply basing a trading strategy on predictive analysis with limited and partially unreliable data sources is a flawed approach, Mishra said. “The investment time horizon might be two to five years, but the information time horizons that you can rely on do not extend for more than two or three days. We don’t know what’s going to From left, Richard Scott-Hopkins, director, KPMG; Suryanshu Mishra, director, head of Hedge Fund Administration, Deutsche Bank; Tarun Ramadorai, professor of Financial Economics, Imperial College London; Raoul Pal, Cayman-based CEO and founder of the Global Macro Investor and Real Vision; Bettina Warburg, founder and managing partner of Animal Ventures; and Vinay Rao, head of Risk at Stripe Inc. - PHOTO: DAVID WOLFE PHOTOGRAPHY Insurance group turns to intelligent technology ■■ KAYLA YOUNG Artificial intelligence technol- ogy, described as mimicking the human immune system, is planned as the next line of cyber defense for Cayman Islands health insurance provider BritCay. Technology Security Officer Ben Mob- ley said Cayman is one of many locations parent company Colonial Group has in mind for Darktrace’s “Enterprise Immune System,” which has already been imple-mented at the company’s Bermuda office.The group is also evaluating options for its branches in the British Virgin Is- lands, the Bahamas and Turks as Caicos.Darktrace is a cybersecurity company with dual headquarters in Cambridge, England, and San Francisco, California. Its smart technology learns by monitoring network activity and identifies devia-tions from typical user activity. Early indicator Alarms might go off, for example, fol-lowing a late evening log-in attempt from a user who typically works during stand-ard business hours. The anomaly tips off the system to a possible insider threat, not easily prevented by firewall software. As a healthy human immune system adapts to disease evolution, EIS technol-ogy seeks to create automatic lines of de-fense against evolving cyberattacks, ex-plained Darktrace Director Emily Orton.For a company that protects large amounts of personal client data, the tech-nology provides a higher-level safeguard against sophisticated threats.While firewall and anti-virus technology can prevent outside actors from infiltrating a network, Orton said insider threats, often provoked by unknowing employees, can pose the most Emily Orton PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » THE CAYMAN ISLANDS JOURNAL The disruptive rise of machines in finance2 LOCAL NEWS “The Bill brings the framework governing Cay- man’s legal profession into the modern era and must be passed in order for the Cayman Islands to comply with current international best practice. The Bill also lays a solid foundation of op- portunity for current and fu- ture generations of Cayma- nians. It has the backing of the vast majority of the mem- bers of the Cayman Islands Law Society and the Cayma- nian Bar Association and we encourage all members of the Legislative Assembly to sup- port the Bill.” Mr. Connolly said Monday that only one Cayman Is- lands-educated attorney has been promoted to equity partner since 1997. “That alone should raise questions. Either Cayman Islands law school gradu- ates are not fit or there is some sort of impediment that does not allow them to reach upper echelons,” he said during a press briefing. Also during the Legislative Assembly’s morning session, Mr. Connolly took issue with an editorial that appeared in Monday’s Cayman Compass criticizing the private mem- bers’ motion. Mr. Connolly singled out the newspaper and publisher David R. Legge by name in his remarks. Mr. Legge said in re- sponse, “Let me make it clear that the issue is Mr. McLean’s and Mr. Connolly’s motion which accuses Cayman’s biggest law firms and their partners of engaging in crim- inal activity. “Given Cayman’s status as an international financial center of the highest repute, this is a very dangerous ap- proach that jeopardizes our country’s global reputation and the local economy.” At the briefing, East End MLA Mr. McLean estimated 180 lawyers are practicing and advising on Caymanian law from overseas without local certification or licensing. He based this number on a 2007 statement by an un- named firm and cited law firm websites as evidence enough of wrongdoing. “Evidence is overwhelming because they have on their websites that there are people overseas practicing Cayman Islands law and they are not licensed to practice Cayman Islands law,” Mr. McLean said. The group calculated its estimate of $50 million in unpaid fees based on the number of attorneys it pre- sumes to be working abroad without a Cayman Islands work permit or local licensing. Names were not provided of specific law firms that the opposition MLAs claim are currently skirting employ- ment and immigration law. The MLAs at Monday’s press conference have re- quested 32 pages of amend- ments to the Legal Practitio- ners Bill be considered before the bill is passed in the Leg- islative Assembly. The bill is currently before the house. Premier Alden McLaughlin said Friday the debate on the bill could move to an “in camera” session – held in pri- vate – to address the opposi- tion’s concerns. Mr. McLean and Mr. Connolly rejected that suggestion, saying dis- cussion on the bill should remain public. The members also alleged Monday that private inves- tigators have been hired to follow them, either for in- timidation purposes or to dig up dirt on them. They could not name who would have hired these investigators or what their exact motiva- tions might be. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 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. - TUESDAY - THE GREAT WALL 3D (PG13) 12:35 | 3:55 2D | 7:00 | 9:45 2D XXX: RETURN OF THE (PG13) XANDER CAGE 3D 4:00 | 10:00 RINGS (PG13) 12:45 | 3:45 | 7:05 | 9:50 THE SPACE BETWEEN US (PG) 12:40 | 3:40 | 6:50 | 9:40 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (R) 12:55 | 3:50 | 7:10 | 9:55 LEGO BATMAN (PG) 12:30 | 7:15 Agriculture Show celebrates 50 years JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s biggest one- day agriculture event takes place on Ash Wednesday, March 1, at the Agricultural Grounds in Lower Valley. The day is designed to provide fun for all ages and to display the very best in agricultural and rural life. The show attracts thou- sands of people from all over the islands, including from the Sister Islands. It’s touted as the place to see and purchase the “best of the best” in agriculture products, livestock, arts and crafts, plants and food. Now in its 50th year, the show is hosted by the Cayman Islands Agriculture Society, the Agriculture De- partment and farmers. This year, the Miss Farm Queen and gospel show will be major attractions. A raffle will be held, featuring a $20,000 prize, as well as other prizes, including an appliance package, an iPhone, a Samsung tablet, airline tickets and dinner and resort packages. Other favorites include a baby pageant, and veg- etable, wood-carving and cooking competitions, live- stock and heritage displays, a rodeo and a children’s play area. There will also be mar- tial arts displays, a fashion show, folk singers, the Swanky Kitchen Band and Rosco the mechanical bull. With more and more people growing their own vegetables and produce, there is sure to be a large number of entries this year for the best and biggest farm crop, and farm ani- mals will be entered in a variety of competitions to win trophies and awards. Food and drink is abun- dant in all corners of the showground, from freshly pressed cane juice to vege- table and fruit smoothies. The first Agriculture Show was held in February 1967, when some 2,500 attended at the Grammar School Grounds on Ash Wednesday. According to Charles Lindberg Eden, lifetime member of the Cayman Is- lands Agricultural Society, the first Agriculture Show came about thanks to the efforts of Ulric McNamee from Jamaica and a small group of Caymanians. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Raffle tickets are $25 and include general admission to the show. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Farmer Marilyn Nasirun feeds a young goat. Pigs, goats, cows, plants and more will be on display at the Agriculture Show on Ash Wednesday. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Opposition members of the Legislative Assembly al- leged Monday that Cayman Islands law firms have de- nied the nation $50 million in fees over the past decade by averting local licensing. The accusation comes amid heated debate over the pro- posed Legal Practitio- ners Bill, which the mem- bers claim provides a back door to legalize lawyers practicing Cayman Islands law from abroad. In a joint statement pre- sented Monday, Arden McLean, Winston Connolly, Ezzard Miller, Alva Suckoo and Anthony Eden pointed to “deafening silence” from government on allegations of misconduct. The group called for an investigation into such prac- tices before moving forward with the draft bill, proposed by Minister Wayne Panton. “We would welcome an in- dependent investigation into the merits of the complaints made against these firms,” the joint statement said. “We felt that this juris- diction cannot simply move forward to ignore these very serious accusations made against some law firms and to blindly license cer- tain practices, which may be, at this point in time, il- legal, without at the very least, the various allegations being properly investigated and ventilated in the Legisla- tive Assembly.” During the Legislative As- sembly’s morning session, Mr. Connolly said concerns of misconduct have been ig- nored for years by govern- ment, the Caymanian Bar As- sociation and the Cayman Islands Law Society. By ignoring misconduct concerns, he said Caymanian lawyers have been denied op- portunities for advancement to the benefit of foreign attor- neys and those based in in- ternational offices. In a statement Friday, the Cayman Islands Law Society denied accusations laid out in a private members’ mo- tion by Mr. McLean and Mr. Connolly. The motion ac- cused unnamed Cayman Is- lands law firms of “intention- ally ignoring and deliberately circumventing” the Legal Practitioners Law and the Immigration Law. “We strongly object to the allegations of any breaches of the laws of the Cayman Is- lands and we are concerned that this motion is simply a means of diverting attention from the merits of the Legal Practitioners Bill,” the Law Society said in its statement. During the Legislative Assembly’s morning session, Mr. Connolly said concerns of misconduct have been ignored for years by government, the Caymanian Bar Association and the Cayman Islands Law Society. MLAs: Law firms owe millions in fees Alva Suckoo, Winston Connolly, Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller present a joint statement voicing concerns on the proposed Legal Practitioners Bill.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 Rooted and raised up in Bodden Town. Happily married to his wife of 10 years. Only in unity can we bring about change in our community. Progress is impossible without change - TOGETHER we can make it happen. Strong work ethics, results driven, highly motivated and over 20 years experience in hospitality and business. Undergraduate studies in Hospitality Management. About Robert Robert Bodden was born to Ms. Pauline Bodden (Ms. P) and Mr. Haldane Bodden. He is a Resident Manager at a premier beachfront rental property consisting of 26 luxury condominiums locate in the beautiful Grand Cayman. Small businesses are the heart of the economy. Mr. Bodden intends to remedy the bureaucracy set for small businesses and stem the cost of operations within the islands. Mr. Bodden envisions establishing a district council that will collaborate with the District Representative. He intends to encourage economic development within Bodden Town East. The tourism and Hospitality Industry would bene t from proper training for Caymanians and the youth of today. Robert would encourage rezoning to increase hotel development, thereby; increasing government revenue and providing job and business opportunities for the people. VISION Mr. Bodden will push for more classrooms at the Bodden Town Primary School. In addition, the implementation of an online academic curriculum and a proper technical school are essential in the growth of Education. More should be done to support and boost our local farming. Farmers are the cultivators of these Islands, ensuring many indigenous staples survive for future generations. This revitalizes a healthier society that is more productive and reduces the in ux of cost in the Healthcare system. 2017 #INTEGRITY Follow him today on Contact: 1 (345) 916-4359 Email: robertanthonybodden@gmail.com Together we will make Bodden Town 1st again!The 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. “It has already been pretty much accepted that the civil service will move to a co-pay [for health insur- ance coverage] by 2018. It is the final details that are being worked out. It is accepted that they will move to co-pay with choice [of healthcare providers outside the Health Services Authority].” Finance Minister Marco Archer, April 2016 “We don’t know who this has been pretty much accepted by, but no, the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association has not been asked, formally or informally, to accept anything of the sort.” Civil Service Association President James Watler, May 2016 “[Healthcare cost-sharing] will occur regardless of which [political] administration is there.” Finance Minister Archer, November 2016 “Members have been asking … if there are plans to reduce the civil service remuneration packages by reducing their healthcare benefits. The short answer is no, we know of no such decisions. “The long answer is more complex.” Civil Service Association memo, February 2017 No one ever said that pushing significant fiscal reform through government would be easy … or that attempting to rein in the runaway costs of civil service benefits would be politically popular. That being said, we would argue that on issues con- cerning the future health of the public treasury, there exists a proportional relationship between the neces- sity of an initiative and the amount of pushback it sparks among the relevant union … or, in this case, a Civil Service Association, that walks and talks like one. Let’s cut to the heart of the matter. Over the next 20 years, the Cayman Islands is expected to amass a $1.18 billion public healthcare liability. That’s the equiva- lent of $60 million per year, or $1,000 per year in addi- tional tax obligations for every man, woman and child living in Cayman — just to break even. In other words, it’s a massive expense that needs to be tackled now, not later. One way to reduce that huge number is to introduce co-payments into civil servants’ CINICO healthcare plans. (Unlike private sector employees, civil servants don’t pay a portion of their salaries toward healthcare coverage.) Understandably, civil servants interpret co-pays as a hit on their overall remuneration. The spoonful of sugar in the medicine, then, is the accompanying proposal to expand civil servants’ network of health- care providers beyond the public hospital and HSA. (Again, bringing CINICO into greater alignment with private sector norms.) While adjusting civil servants’ healthcare policies isn’t a panacea for woes in the public healthcare system or future governmental debt, we think intro- ducing co-pays is a necessary (but not sufficient) step toward greater fiscal responsibility, and, concomitant with introducing choice of healthcare providers, may eventually prove popular among a great number of civil servants. We cannot emphasize enough the existential threat that out-of-control public healthcare and pension obli- gations can pose to governments big and small, across the world. The good news for Cayman is that, while our problem with unfunded liabilities is certainly signif- icant, it could be far worse. For example, our North Atlantic colonial cousin, Bermuda, currently faces long-term public sector obligations that may total as much as $7 billion (or more than $100,000 per resident). Not coincidentally, one of the major differences between Bermuda and Cayman is that Bermuda is teeming with powerful union organizations. As a class, accountants aren’t known for being “risk-takers.” Quite the opposite. However, by stating (and refusing to “un-state”) the obvious and the unavoidable — that co-pays for civil servants’ health insurance plans must be instituted by 2018 — Finance Minister Marco Archer is taking a substantial political risk, that is, of alienating the single largest voting bloc in the country. However, the risk is far outweighed by the potential rewards — improving the outlook for Cayman’s fiscal future, and securing the support of the majority of the electorate, who work in the private sector and who are paying for those public benefits. Civil service co-pays: Insuring the health of Cayman’s finances TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” DC flunks Zika testing WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD No “cause for alarm from the general public.” That was the reassurance posted on the District of Columbia gov- ernment website in the wake of revelations that health offi- cials had botched Zika testing for hundreds of residents. No doubt the words ring awfully hollow to the nine pregnant women who were incorrectly told they did not have the virus and to scores more who are now anxiously awaiting the results of retesting to determine if they too had been misinformed. Clearly, there is cause for concern – and so it’s important there be a thorough review to determine what led to the mis- takes and to guarantee the in- tegrity of future testing. At issue is testing for the Zika virus done by the Dis- trict’s public-health lab be- tween July and December. Discovery of an error in the lab’s testing procedure has resulted in retesting of 409 specimens, including 294 for pregnant women. So far, re- tests of nine pregnant women have come back positive and that number is likely to rise. The Zika virus can cause se- vere birth defects, partic- ularly during the first tri- mester of pregnancy, and accurate and timely testing is critical for women who may want to determine if a preg- nancy should be continued. The consequences of the false confidence that results from a mistaken test can be devas- tating, and it is clear the Dis- trict should be held liable. It appears the District is the only jurisdiction in the country to have experienced problems with its testing. That’s another troubling black eye for the De- partment of Forensic Sciences, which operates public-health, crime and forensics labs in a $220 million state-of-the-art facility that opened to much fanfare in 2012. Earlier prob- lems with DNA testing led the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop using the facility and a subse- quent audit found “insufficient and inadequate” practices. There is some small com- fort in the fact that the Zika test errors were discovered when Anthony Tran, previ- ously director of policy and operations at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, took over the D.C. lab. It suggests that the new leadership put in place by Mayor Muriel Bowser since the problems with the crime lab is more effective. But if those improvements are to continue and public confidence in the lab main- tained, it is critical that ad- ditional information about the inaccurate testing be pro- vided to the public and sup- port given to anyone proven to have suffered harm because of the faulty testing. © 2017, The Washington Post A way forward for gene editing WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD The 1997 film “Gattaca” predicted a near future in which cities are powered by vast solar thermal arrays, hu- mans launch manned mis- sions to Saturn’s moons, and doctors design super smart and strong babies. A generation later, it is the gene editing that is proving most prescient. Over the past decade, huge advances in gene-ed- iting techniques have enabled researchers to slice up and rewrite DNA with incredible precision. At the forefront of the ensuing revolution is the CRISPR-Cas9, a technology derived from bacteria that enables scientists to snip and repair DNA, nucleotide by nucleotide, quickly and cheaply. The potential uses are vast. And so are the eth- ical quandaries. The National Academies of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine con- vened a panel to recommend guidelines for the use of pow- erful gene-editing tools. The results are thoughtful and should – for the moment, anyway – channel research and testing in unambigu- ously positive directions. CRISPR can be used in basic laboratory research, re- vealing how disease works on the molecular level. Re- searchers can also treat live humans with gene editing technologies, for example by taking immune cells out of the body, altering them and re-in- serting them to fight an ad- vanced cancer. Therapies such as these are already under de- velopment, and although re- searchers have to be cautious about “off-target” gene slicing, existing rules governing the development of medical treat- ments should suffice. The ethics get much trickier when researchers want to change the DNA in reproductive cells, which would alter the genes that parents pass to children, for- ever. Doing so could prevent vast amounts of human suf- fering. But there is a problem of consent: Future genera- tions have no say in their al- teration. Changes made to enhance human offspring, rather than simply to combat disease and disability, could redefine what it means to be human, while those to whom these techniques are unavail- able would risk becoming a genetic underclass. A line would have to be drawn be- tween heritable changes that are clearly valuable and those that risk unnecessarily humiliating people, destabi- lizing society and changing the nature of humanity. The panel attempted to draw a preliminary line – and put it in the right place. Her- itable changes should be at- tempted only when scientists are convinced that specific genes cause or strongly pre- dispose people to getting a serious disease or a condi- tion, and when they know what normal genetic code should look like. They should only intervene when there are no reasonable alternatives available to families, and when real-world evidence shows that the benefits out- weigh the risks. The debate will not – and should not – end there. But before society has a full chance to process these ques- tions, the panel’s approach is the right one. The goal should be to stop crippling diseases, not to build designer babies. © 2017, The Washington Post5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 Motorbike problem ‘subsides,’ not over BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A police crackdown on recklessly driven motor- bikes around Grand Cayman is having some effect, with 11 bikes seized and 10 ar- rests made since December, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said Friday. However, Commis- sioner Byrne noted, the en- forcement effort will re- quire continuing community support, as well as resource- intensive police operations to solve the problem. “Do I think there’s only 11 bikes on the island? Are there more dirt bikes out there? Yes, there are,” Mr. Byrne said. The bikes seized by po- lice were all either unregis- tered or unlicensed, or were being operated in a reck- less or unsafe manner on public roads. Police traffic officers have focused on illegal or danger- ously driven motorbikes fol- lowing public outcry over the late November “ride of the century” on Grand Cayman. In that incident, dozens of il- legal motorbikes took to the streets in an all-day ride, disobeying traffic laws and riding recklessly. Mr. Byrne said police en- forcement strategies against the illegal motorbikes have to balance risk for both the general public and po- lice officers. “We can’t go out and use excessive force to stop these bikes,” he said, adding that the RCIPS is using its helicopter in many in- stances to track the illegal bike operators. The commissioner also noted that police are working with the community to de- velop alternate sites for mo- torbike riders to use. “I’m aware of at least two proposals to build a dirt bike track to provide a safe environment … for people to carry out this activity,” Mr. Byrne said. “It’s defi- nitely not an activity for our public roads.” According to RCIPS Traffic Unit Inspector Ian Yearwood, the enforcement focus for police is now less on “dirt bikes” – some of which may be street legal – and more on motorcycles of any type that are not regis- tered, as well as drivers who blow through stop lights, “pop wheelies” or veer into opposite lanes of traffic. Any vehicle that is un- registered or unlicensed may be seized by police, Mr. Yearwood said. If vehicle owners can later prove the vehicle is registered and licensed, they can get it back, he said. During police opera- tions last month Mr. Year- wood noted that officers spoke with some individuals who had hitched their mo- torbikes to trailers and were taking them to the “marl pit” in George Town for some off- roading. Inspector Yearwood said police have no problem with that. As long as the ve- hicles are operated on private land with the permission of the land owner, they don’t have to be registered for use on the public roads. Police also spoke to par- ents of the motorbike riders and discussed the possi- bility of opening some sort of public space off-road where bike riders can use their un- registered vehicles. “That’s something I would personally get myself in- volved in,” Mr. Yearwood said. “I drive a motorbike my- self. I do not want to stop motorbike riders. We just don’t want the reckless and dangerous riding on the streets.” Police seek ‘armed and dangerous’ man The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is looking for a man who they believe is in the Cayman Islands illegally and is “potentially armed and dangerous.” On Monday police re- leased a photograph of Martin Anthony Trench, 31, of Jamaica, and requested the public’s assistance in finding him. Police said he is believed to have arrived in Cayman recently. “If sighted, members of the public should exercise caution and contact police or 911 immediately,” police said. Anyone with information is asked to call George Town CID at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided via the RCIPS confidential tip line at 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS). ABANDONED DRUG BOAT FOUND OFF WEST BAY Police located an empty, partially submerged 32-foot boat with ganja on board, off North West Point, West Bay, on Sunday morning. According to police, fish- ermen alerted them about the light blue boat around 8 a.m. The police marine unit and helicopter carried out a search of the area but found no one. The boat was taken to the police marine base where officers found a “large quantity” of ganja on board. Police said the vessel is not local and may have been drifting for a number of days. “Police are concerned for the persons on board and ask the public, particularly persons on the sea, to report anything that may look sus- picious to 911,” the RCIPS said in a statement. RCIPS Marine officers and the Drugs and Serious Crime Task Force are investigating. “We can’t go out and use excessive force to stop these bikes.” DEREK BYRNE, police commissioner Police released this image of Martin Anthony Trench.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO: Capt. Sam Parsons pays a visit after 40 years In the March 1, 1967 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, news from West Bay included: “Capt. and Mrs. Sam Par- sons, who were both born in West Bay, returned on the 12th to spend a sur- prise holiday with relatives here. They had heard so much about the island and its development and prog- ress that they wanted to see things for themselves. They are both pleasantly surprised because they have found even bigger and better charges than they had ever anticipated. Having been everywhere they have both seen more of the island on this visit than when they were living here. “Capt. Sam took his first trip to the U.S.A. in 1915 on a small boat and from 1918 has sailed on Amer- ican ships, having be- come a citizen. “The last time he left the island was in January 1927, just 40 years ago, and has been residing in the U.S. and going to sea for many years. He is one of the very few Master Mariners who holds an Unlimited Licence for sail, motor and steam vessels and was Master of Steamships for Texaco Inc. for over 20 years. He re- tired as Commodore (Se- nior Master) of the Texaco Fleet on July 1, 1961. For the whole of World War II he was transporting avia- tion gas to Britain, a haz- ardous and dangerous task to say the least. “His wife left here in 1933 but returned for a few days when her father died in 1946. Capt. Sam is double first cousin to the Honor- able T.W. Farrington and his wife is double first cousin to Mrs. Farrington. “When one considers that there were practically no roads to the eastern dis- tricts when the Parsons’ left Cayman, it is not sur- prising that they have seen so much more of the island on this trip. “We wish them all that is good as they return to the U.S. and trust that it will not be so long before they come to Cayman again.” In the same issue, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Arriving home re- cently have been Mr. Os- bourne Barnett from New York, where he resides, and his parents; Leighton Bush from his job with National Bulk Carriers; Rev. John Croft from Barbados; Edroy Hydes from Jamaica, where he received medical aid; and Capt. and Mrs. Vibert Parsons from the U.S. after a few months’ visit. Capt. Parsons has built a lovely home and intends to re- side here again. “P.C. Creswell Powery left on the 25th for Jamaica. He will be taking six weeks’ special training at a mo- torcycle course. “Mr. and Mrs. Denby Groves celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary on the 18th. They received some nice gifts. “Mrs. Rivington Powery returned from Jamaica where she obtained her legal visa for the U.S. “Messrs. Ansley Hydes and Ansley Parsons left on the 26th for jobs in the U.S. after a long vaca- tions at home. “Private Elvy Eddington Ebanks sends greetings to his friends and would like them to know he is serving in the U.S. Army. He is sta- tioned in Fort Hood, Texas. He went there from Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he studied to be a heli- copter mechanic. He is at present a machine-gunner on a helicopter which is used for patrolling. He likes his new job a lot. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurie Ebanks. “Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ebanks of New York, a son weighing 6 pounds.” West Bay designer’s Batabano costumes have Cayman flair JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com West Bay fashion and costume designer Reba Dil- bert has plans to cover up some of Cayman’s “naked- ness” at this year’s adult Ba- tabano Carnival. “My topic this year will be Cayman flora and fauna,” said Ms. Dilbert. “Personally, I am tired of seeing just feathers and nothing creative behind it. My creations will be the beautiful hibiscus trees, par- rots, black ‘ching chings’ with gold beaks, and iguanas.” At her home in West Bay, Ms. Dilbert’s colorful cos- tume of the Cayman hibiscus was on display on a manne- quin on her front porch. She said she started making costumes in 1983, and that she has been sewing since she was 3 years old. Her intent, she said, is to offer Batabano parade costumes that are quintes- sentially Caymanian and offer more coverage than in recent years. “In the Honduras carnival, the girls do not go as naked as they do here. Carnival is about color, it’s not about exposing your body. Cayman is small. I remember my people for what they traditionally like – they don’t want no nakedness.” She said she hopes that after she creates the less re- vealing costumes for this year’s carnival, people might stand up and say, “This is how we want our carnival to be.” Since starting her designs for this year’s carnival, Ms. Dilbert said she has created about six costumes, which were featured at the Red Sky at Night multicultural art fair at Harquail Cultural Centre on Saturday. Over the years, Ms. Dilbert has won many awards for her designs, the products of hours of painstaking work. An unofficial cultural am- bassador when it comes to showcasing the creative flair of local carnivals, Ms. Dil- bert gained national recog- nition in 1998 when she was nominated for Outstanding Work in Costume Design by the Cayman National Cul- tural Foundation. In 2002, she gained in- ternational acclaim, winning Best National Costume in the Miss Bikini World (Malta) and Miss Tourism World (Turkey) pageants. Since then, Ms. Dilbert has visited many countries to showcase her designs and to participate in various pag- eants and carnivals. Batabano, started in 1983 by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, is held annually during the first week of May. The festival also includes a junior carnival. Reba Dilbert with a Batabano costume.Reba Dilbert wears a parrot costume that will be showcased at Batabano. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVYDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 Family vacation creates treasured memories for cancer patient West Bay outing for visiting relatives JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Resident Mary “Meg” Bodden, who is undergoing cancer treatment, is spending cherished days with visiting family members from over- seas. She, her mother, and two groups of relatives visiting from Canada spent Thursday, Feb. 23, enjoying some West Bay attractions, including the Cayman Turtle Centre and Dolphin Discovery. Ms. Bodden took in the scene around her as she and her relatives explored the sights – Andy Jeffs stretching out his arms to catch the spray from high surf at Dolphin Discovery; the laughter of Mike and Maureen Scholefield; her mother Liz’s quiet assurance; and the soft-spoken voice of Christine Jeffs. “I think the Jeffs are having a lovely time,” Ms. Bodden said. “Even my dad’s other brother came last week and surprised us with his wife for two weeks. “A lot of the family have been coming to visit since I’ve been having health- care at Health City for brain cancer, because we will never know how much longer I will be around,” said Ms. Bodden. “The weather has changed a bit, but they are still making the best of it,” she added, re- ferring to some rainy and windy weather experienced in Grand Cayman last week. Since arriving on the is- land for the first time on Feb. 19, Mr. Jeffs said the family has been all over the island. “I love the food. We went by boat to Rum Point, got to see the turtles and dolphins, visited Corner Restaurant, Deckers, Paradise Bar and Grill, Sunset House, and we have been fortunate in get- ting all the good foods from Liz and Meg, who are won- derful cooks. We had Johnny cakes, red bean soup, rice and beans, lobster, jerk chicken and all that good spicy stuff,” Mr. Jeffs said in anticipa- tion of dinner. “When I get back to Canada, I am telling them I am moving here,” he said. “We are from the west coast of Vancouver Island, we are right on the ocean as well, just that it is a lot colder, no palm trees or warm water. It is probably about 0 degrees Celsius right now, so coming down here in February is great,” he said. While it’s not their first time visiting the Cayman Islands, Mike and Maureen Scholefield said they were having lots of fun since ar- riving a week earlier. “I just love it here,” said Ms. Scholefield, adding they are originally from Jamaica, just like Ms. Bodden’s family. “The people are beau- tiful and everyone is just so friendly,” she added. Maureen said her first time to the island was to attend Ms. Bodden’s grandparents Reverend and Mrs. Gray’s 25th anniversary. “So much has changed on the island, you people trying to lose me,” joked Mr. Scholefield. “I don’t mind the changes, it is progress. In my day, it was just one road running through the island, now by- passes and roundabouts con- fuse people, but it’s not a problem,” he quickly added. “You drive it couple times and you are OK, as long as you don’t drive in the sea,” he laughed. Mrs. Scholefield said they were trying to find some of the older homes they had seen on their last trip. “I remember a little house with a patio and a swing on it, and had been trying to find this little house, we found a few and instantly knew they were little Cayma- nian homes,” she said. “A lot of the family have been coming to visit since I’ve been having healthcare at Health City for brain cancer, because we will never know how much longer I will be around.” MARY ‘MEG’ BODDEN Sir John A. Cumber students help out hospice School’s efforts assist Flag Day Students from Sir John. A. Cumber Primary School sup- ported Cayman HospiceC- are’s annual Flag Day aware- ness and fundraising drive by organizing a dress-up day. Cayman HospiceCare is committed to providing ex- traordinary care to anyone living with end-stage ter- minal disease in the Cayman Islands, and the organi- zation’s goal was to raise $60,000 over the Flag Day drive on Feb. 24 and 25. On Feb. 17, all students at the school who wore any shade of green donated $2 toward the charity’s cam- paign. The students raised $660 through their dress-up day initiative. Cayman HospiceCare vol- unteer Felicia McLean and the hospice’s Director of Op- erations and Development Danielle Coleman visited the school on Feb. 16 to promote the initiative. Ms. McLean returned to the school on Feb. 23 to accept the check for the donation. Student Kamila Ebanks- Matos, who presented the check, said she was happy to participate because she has a family member who is terminally ill. The students raised $660 through their dress-up day initiative. Kamila Ebanks-Matos, joined by fellow students, from left, Jah’Mauri Watkis, Javon Henry, Ashley Miguel-Diaz, Chesley Brown and Bryan Zelaya- Ebanks, present the check to Cayman HospiceCare volunteer Felicia McLean. Andy and Christine Jeffs and Liz, Mike and Maureen Scholefield enjoy the day at Dolphin Discovery with Meg Bodden, second from right. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe 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. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, FEB. 28 LOBSTER SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds the public that today is the last day for legally catching lobsters in Cayman waters. 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 register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 AGLOW INTERNATIONAL TALK: Non-denominational Christian women’s organization. Join speaker Janet Magnum at the town hall in George Town. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Janice Baker on 917-4534. SAILING CLUB FUN DAY: Annual Sailing Club Fish Fry and Fun Day, including kids BBQ and bouncy castle. Free admission and boat rides will be available for folks keen to try a spin on the water. Dessert contest (support your baker with donations to the club). Come by boat and enjoy a great afternoon at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club. All welcome. 1-5 p.m. 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 MATHS FOR MUMS & DADS: The Ministry of Education hosts this event to give parents the support and tools they need to better help children with their studies. Mathematics educator Kara Imm will lead the training session and discuss various teaching styles and meaningful approaches parents can use with their children at home. The training session is at Prospect Primary School Hall starting at 6 p.m. The event is free. For more information contact Frank Eade or Kiva Powell at 244-6549. 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. FISH FRY: St. Ignatius School Canteen. Snapper or cod, plus sides. $7 to $12. 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. 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 live 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 DOG JOG: 5K Fun Run and Dog Jog at nexus Way, Camana Bay. 7:30 a.m. Registration $25. Proceeds for CARE’s spay and neutering program. LABOR FORCE SURVEY: The Economics & Statistics Office begins the Labour Force Survey for Spring 2017, collecting data on employed and unemployed persons in Cayman, as well as people not in the labour force. The public is asked to cooperate and provide the necessary information. Interviews are confidential. For more information contact the Economics & Statistics Office at 516-3329, 949-0940 or visit www. eso.ky. 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. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: The Department of Counselling Services hosts International Women’s Day Celebration, with a reception 5:30-6:30 p.m. and main event 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Marriott Beach Resort. Keynote address is “Gender on the agenda: Why equality between the sexes is a critical issue for women and men” by Jackson Katz, Ph.D. General admission tickets are free; VIP tickets are $25 and include refreshments and special seating. All tickets must be collected in advance from the Family Resource Centre, Compass Centre, North Sound Way. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Bruno Deluche, manager of Guy Harvey’s restaurant in George Town, with two large lobsters caught in local waters last week. Lobster season ends Tuesday, Feb. 28. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2017 with the patient has all privileges suspended from Chrissie Tom- linson as of Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017,” the spokeswoman added. She said this was a precautionary measure pending further in- vestigations, and no other staff were affected. The Medical and Dental Council, the professional regu- latory body, issued a two line statement in response to ques- tions from the Cayman Compass. It said, “The MDC is aware of the passing of Lisa Turner, and ex- presses their most sincere condo- lences to her family and friends. As the body that regulates reg- istered medical practitioners, this matter will certainly be dis- cussed by the MDC at their next scheduled meeting. “The MDC recognizes the public interest aspect of this matter, how- ever at this juncture, with limited information available, it would be premature to comment further.” The Health Services Authority stated,“The HSA extends condo- lences to the family and friends of Ms. Turner. As this is a coroner’s case, it would be inappropriate for HSA to comment at this time.” Coroner will investigate hospital death Firefighters may aid search and rescue Migrant detainees allege intentional processing delays “insufficient to provide an ef- fective search and rescue re- sponse” and recommends the fire service take over some of the responsibility. Tabling the report in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Acting Deputy Gov- ernor Jennifer Ahearn said government had immediately moved to provide funding for the repair of one long-range patrol boat. She said funds would also be freed up to equip the fire service to be in- volved in search and rescue. A strategic committee will be formed to oversee search and rescue in the Cayman Islands and implement the findings of the coastguard re- port, she said. Other recommendations include measures to improve emergency call handling pro- cedures for incidents at sea and an idea to train local boaters to form a volunteer search and rescue force. The report also sug- gests investigating the possi- bility of using drones in ma- rine searches, establishing a “dive response network” to harness the expertise of the scuba diving commu- nity and potentially putting lifeguards on busy beaches. The report follows a high- profile tragedy last year in which five boaters, including two children, were lost at sea. A report into that incident largely vindicated the police response but recommended a broader investigation into the Cayman Islands’ search and rescue response capabilities. Commissioned by Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick and carried out by the U.K. Mari- time and Coastguard Agency, the report calls for a com- mittee to be established to oversee joint operations be- tween police and other agencies and establish clear roles for everyone involved in search and rescue. It suggests the marine unit take an oversight role in the process, sourcing training packages for staff, firefighters and volunteers and taking re- sponsibility for longer-range offshore searches. Key concerns include the current state of the Joint Ma- rine Unit’s fleet. “Currently, only two of the JMU vessels are serviceable, with both long-range ves- sels decommissioned or out of service. The remaining two serviceable crafts are rigid hull inflatable boats and are only suitable for inshore re- sponse,” the report states. Given the size of the search and rescue area around the Cayman Islands, the limited number of assets in the region and risks, including cruise vessels, migrant traffic, the marine and fishing industry, the report cautions that the marine fleet is insufficient. It recommends the urgent repair or replacement of the unit’s long-range offshore vessels as a “top priority.” For in-shore response it suggests the fire service should take over. It states that stationing “waverunners” with fire de- partments around the island and training staff in search and rescue would cut re- sponse times and reduce the burden on the marine unit, which is currently at 50 per- cent of its recommended staffing level. It also highlights a lack of formal training for search and rescue personnel and rec- ommends that the Joint Ma- rine Unit take responsibility for implementing a training calendar for all emergency services staff and volunteers involved in the process. He estimated that most of the 20 migrants expatriated to Ha- vana on Feb. 21 had given up on their asylum petitions and in- dependently requested the Cay- manian government send them back to Cuba. “The very people ask to be brought back to Cuba. They fill out a paper and that’s turned in to a translator here who is in charge of giving it to the security supervisor that day,” he said. The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission said expatri- ating migrants while their cases are under review goes against the justice system. “The Commission would expect that all migrants are kept in deten- tion until their case has been re- viewed. The deportation of an in- dividual during the process of an application for asylum would not be in accordance with the princi- ples of natural justice and there- fore not supported by the Commis- sion,” said commission manager Deborah Bodden. She said processing delays may arise from the need to translate in- formation and obtain necessary documentation, but that the com- mission would expect appeals to be processed in a timely manner. “There are time lines in place for the confirmation/identification of a detainee, the submission of asylum applications, submission of appeal applications, the facili- tation of a repatriation, etc. Such processes have been developed by the Department of Immigra- tion and, in some cases, agreed be- tween the [Cayman Islands govern- ment] and the Cuban government,” Ms. Bodden said. The commission accepts com- plaints in English and Spanish, and translates material as needed. Mr. Merladet said migrants have had difficulty translating messages left for them by lawyers. He said the detention center trans- lator told him it is not the job of immigration officials to translate such messages. The government was not able to provide a copy of the 2015 Memo- randum of Understanding between the Cayman Islands and Cuba, which outlines procedures for ex- patriating migrants to Cuba. The Governor’s Office said the docu- ment contains sensitive informa- tion that it would need permission from Cuba to release. The document enables Cayma- nian officials to quickly transfer “irregular migrants” back to Cuba, but only after the migrants have agreed to return home or have been denied asylum. Training sessions in the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands are currently being organized to help address an influx of asylum applicants, according to the Gov- ernor’s Office. The staff training would seek to speed up processing of asylum applications, which have presented new dilemmas for the U.K.’s over- seas territories in recent years. Refugee status grants over the past 10 years reflect an application spike in Cayman. Eighteen refugee grants were made between 2006- 2016, 11 of which were awarded in the last year, reported the Depart- ment of Immigration. In contrast, no refugee grants were awarded between 2007 and 2010. One was made in 2006, an- other in 2011, two in 2014 and three in 2015. An estimated two grants have been made in 2017. Detainee Miguel Garcia said he has seen two or three migrants leave the Immi- gration Detention Centre since he arrived three months ago. The Department of Immigration would not release the total number of refugee applications made or the total number rejected. “The Department of Immi- gration cannot comment on how many individuals have applied for asylum here in the Cayman Islands or how many asylum requests are currently pending, due to the secu- rity, safety and privacy of those ap- plicants,” the department said. Almost all of the refugee status grants awarded in the past decade have been made to Cubans, who represent 15 of the 18 applicants. One grant was made to a refugee from Afghanistan, and two were granted to Syrians, one of whom died while seeking medical care in Jamaica in 2016. Mr. Merladet said conditions be- came more uncomfortable at the de- tention center last week after all 51 migrants were moved to one shared bedroom and access was blocked to the second room previously in use. Mr. Merladet said space was limited and he had moved his mattress on top of a piece of furniture. He said the noise level in the shared room made it difficult to communicate on the phones there, which migrants use to speak with their lawyers. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 SYED TRIAL Senior civil servant denies authorizing false invoice ALEXANDER PEINTNER apeintner@pinnaclemedialtd.com A senior civil servant tes- tified Monday that he would not have authorized the former president of the Uni- versity College of the Cayman Islands, Hassan Syed, to alter an invoice. Syed acknowledged in his evidence last week during his trial that he had created a false invoice from Lominger Limited Inc., a company connected to the project to set up a Civil Ser- vice College in the Cayman Islands. But he claimed he did so after consulting with Peter Gough, who at the time was the chief officer in the government’s Portfolio of Civil Service. The portfolio partnered with UCCI to set up the civil service college in 2007, and Lominger was contracted to provide a human resources “product” for the project. Syed suggested an invoice from Lominger was delib- erately inflated by $100,000 with Mr. Gough’s consent as a means to cover other ex- penses incurred by the col- lege as part of the project. Called by the Crown as a late witness on Monday, Mr. Gough said he would not have asked Syed to alter an invoice. He said he was aware that UCCI had been paid $152,000, but did not rec- ollect if the payment went through him or not. He said he could not recall how the payments had been handled or if he had dealt with the invoices personally. Asked by prosecutor Patrick Moran if he would have approved the inflation of an invoice, he said, “I cer- tainly would not have had discussions on that basis and I certainly wouldn’t have given any authority to alter an invoice.” Asked why not, he said, “It’s wrong to do that.” Syed is accused of dis- honestly obtaining money transfers worth more than $70,000 from UCCI by falsely representing that he had made pay- ments to Lominger. He is said to have sub- mitted false invoices to the Portfolio of Civil Service to secure payments to UCCI and then claimed some of the money back from the college. Cayman Compass journalist James Whittaker contributed to this story. Cuban migrant Edel Garcias stands in the Immigration Detention Center on Jan. 13. He has requested asylum in the Cayman Islands for religious reasons.Next >