ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 High of 86 Low of 75 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE RITZ-CARLTON: FOUR CHEERS FOR ‘FIVE DIAMONDS’ SPORTS | PAGE 17 CAYMAN ISLANDS TEAM WINS WORLD CRICKET QUALIFIER RoadUser Save up to $400 with home and car insurance Buy BritCay’s buildings insurance and receive a $250 gift certificate. If you have home insurance, you also receive a 10% discount on car cover. With the lowest deductibles at $200, you also save when you claim. Ask for a quote! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE CO. LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky FREE $10 Million ASSET PROTECTION! with motor cover* *private car insurance cgigrp Legislators claim private investigators hired to follow them JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Law Society has called for an end to “damaging speculation” from in- dependent politicians who claimed this week they believed local law firms had hired private investigators to follow them. Both Winston Connolly and Al Suckoo, in personal statements in the Legislative As- sembly, suggested they were being tracked by investigators because of their opposition to the controversial Legal Practitioner’s Bill. Mr. Suckoo said the independent mem- bers had been “reliably informed” that three individuals, posing as visitors and driving rental cars, were on island to investigate the independent members. He called for a police investigation. A Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that a complaint had been received and was being investigated. The Cayman Islands Law Society issued a statement Tuesday condemning the comments from the independent members and calling for an end to the “speculation.” “The Cayman Islands Law Society, as the professional association that represents the entire legal profession in the Cayman Is- lands, notes that this type of allegation is a very serious matter on which to speculate. Such speculation, without proof, is incredibly damaging to the reputation of the profession, the financial services industry and the juris- diction as a whole. “Attorneys are officers of the court and their profession requires them to act with complete integrity. The Cayman Islands has robust law enforcement, intolerance for unethical behav- iours and a reputation for consistently up- holding good governance and transparency. “The Cayman Islands Law Society condemns any breaches of law and unethical behaviour. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Agriculture Show celebrated its golden year with a diverse display of local farming, food and culture at the Lower Valley Agricul- tural Grounds. Agriculture Minister Kurt Tibbetts described the event as a cultural main- stay and Grand Cayman’s single largest, annual event. “This show has brought families together to celebrate farmers, ranchers and backyard gardeners,” Mr. Tib- betts said during the morning’s opening remarks. Now in its 50th year, Mr. Tibbetts said the event has shown spectacular growth from its first year in the center of George Town. He encouraged attendees to con- sider the steps that still need to be taken to promote sustainable agriculture for the world’s growing population. George Smith, president of the Opposition leader criticizes London trip JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Premier Alden McLaughlin is in London this week to meet with leaders of law firms, financial institutions, government departments and U.K. Members of Parliament. The Premier will use the trip to update Overseas Territories Minister Baroness Joyce Anelay on the territory’s progress toward creating a centralised platform for sharing beneficial ownership informa- tion on Cayman companies with U.K. authorities. Three bills were passed Monday which pave the way for the creation of a searchable registry, moving the Cayman Islands closer to compliance PROSECUTOR: SYED USED CHARM AND STATUS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former university president Hassan Syed used his “charm and status” to manipulate those around him, taking “every penny he could while the sun shone,” prosecutor Patrick Moran claimed Tuesday afternoon. Recapping Syed’s five days in the witness box as he concluded his closing statement in the trial, Mr. Moran, said the professor had shown himself to be dishonest and evasive. He acknowledged the jury may believe that the Law Society slams ‘damaging speculation’ Agriculture Show draws thousands PREMIER TO UPDATE UK ON BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Purple Dragon students perform on the Grand Stand stage. – PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Arthur Smith cuts coconuts at the show.2 REGIONAL NEWS THURSDAY MARCH 2, 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 - 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 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “Live with more energy ”! RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The top of a float collapsed during Rio de Janeiro’s world famous Carnival parade early Tuesday, in- juring at least 12 people, officials said. The incident involved the second float of the popular samba school Unidos da Tijuca, themed around the Carnival in New Orleans. Revelers cried on the pave- ment and in the stands as injured people were removed by rescuers. Police were investigating the cause of the accident. Rio state health secretary said in a statement that among the 12 injured at the city’s Sambadrome, nine were taken to local hospitals. Health officials also said eight people sought medical atten- tion due to stress. Rio City hall said two people were in serious condition. One suffered a head trauma, according to one doctor. The parade had to be stopped for al- most 25 minutes so the injured could get medical attention. The show was al- lowed to proceed. Reveler Felix Souza said he was dancing next to the float when the inci- dent happened. “We heard a burst on the top,” he said. “People started screaming, we didn’t understand what it was. It was a moment of despair for all there.” Ailton Freitas, a director at Unidos da Tijuca, said their floats had been tested repeatedly before the Carnival. “We tested three times a week with more weight than we carried today. When the parade approached we started doing those tests every day. We are even more shocked than you all are,” Freitas told journalists. “I don’t know what is hap- pening, but Rio’s Carnival is not being blessed this year.” Minutes earlier a smaller incident happened with samba school Mocidade Independente. A platform detached from their fourth float and dropped a reveler to the ground. The samba school said she was not injured. On Sunday, a float belonging to samba school Paraiso de Tuiuti crashed and injured at least 20 people, including three seriously. Following that acci- dent, organizers also decided to proceed with the show. Part of Rio Carnival float collapses, injuring 12 Medics attend to an injured reveller after part of a float collapsed during Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival parade, injuring several people. - PHOTO: AP SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s governor an- nounced Tuesday that he will eliminate subsidies, shrink the number of public agen- cies by nearly 75 percent and increase the cost of some government services to re- duce spending and boost rev- enue as ordered by a federal control board amid an eco- nomic recession. Gov. Ricardo Rossello outlined those and other planned changes during his first state of the union ad- dress since becoming gov- ernor last month. He said he will not lay off public em- ployees or implement new taxes or tax increases, but warned that the U.S. terri- tory’s government will be transformed in upcoming years as it faces a $7 bil- lion deficit and seeks to re- structure nearly $70 billion in public debt. “I’m not here to create false expectations,” he said during a nearly two-hour speech. “We have to make big changes here. Puerto Rico cannot bear this any longer.” The federal control board is demanding that Puerto Ri- co’s government increase rev- enue by $1.5 billion and cut costs by roughly $3 billion in the next two years, a time frame that Rossello has said is unrealistic. He also rejected several of the board’s recommendations, such as reducing government payroll by 30 percent. He said that would require the layoff of 45,000 public workers. He also refused to slash health- care costs by $1 billion and cut by 10 percent a public pension system that is ex- pected to run out of money within a year. Instead, he proposed other measures such as reducing the number of gov- ernment agencies from 131 to 35 in the next five years to generate $460 million in annual savings. Rossello also said he plans to eliminate subsi- dies to Puerto Rico’s 78 mu- nicipalities, for $350 million in savings a year, and to re- duce vacations for public em- ployees from 30 to 15 days a year, for $200 million in an- nual savings. Another pro- posal is to cut pension pay- ments to those who receive more than $2,000 a month. Other measures in- clude improving tax col- lection, transferring the operations of schools to mu- nicipalities and extending a tax on foreign corpora- tions by 10 years. He also plans to launch a reap- praisal of real estate values to generate more money for municipalities. Rossello said Puerto Ri- cans have suffered long enough under a 10-year eco- nomic crisis that prompted the former governor to im- plement new taxes and in- crease utility bills, among other things. “Our society’s most vulner- able have endured the hardest sacrifices,” he said. “The solu- tion to this crisis cannot be punishing them further.” More than a quarter of a million Puerto Ricans have moved to the U.S. mainland in the past decade, and many believe the upcoming aus- terity measures will only in- crease that exodus. Opposition legislators criticized Rossello’s message and demanded details on how he would implement the changes he proposed. “It is a fantasy plan that cannot be sustained,” Rep. Rafael Hernandez said. Puerto Rico announces new measures to fight budget crisis BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – A retired journalist who joined the criminal under- world while researching a book on South America’s drug cartels became the first Colombian, and pos- sibly the first Latin Amer- ican, to be executed in China for drug offenses. The execution Monday night of Ismael Arciniegas occurred amid a last-ditch diplomatic effort by Colom- bia’s government to save the 72-year-old’s life. Arciniegas was arrested in 2010 ar- riving by plane to the southern port city of Guang- zhou trying to smuggle al- most 4 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for $5,000. But his downfall came decades earlier, in the 1980s, when he began researching a book on drug cartels in his native Cali, according to his son, Juan Jose Her- rera, who described to local media the heart-breaking, 20-minute phone conver- sation he and family mem- bers had with his father shortly before he was taken to a room to be killed by le- thal injection. “God has opened his gates for me,” a calm Ar- ciniegas said in the tear- filled conversation, an excerpt of which was broadcast by Blu Radio. “Remember me warmly, with love. I’m going very tranquil, very relaxed. Nothing worries me.” Colombia’s government expressed its condolences to Arciniegas’ family and reiterated its objection to China’s use of capital pun- ishment. Since November, China has repatriated two convicted Colombian drug traffickers for humani- tarian reasons so they could complete their sen- tences back home. “We fought until the last minute to save his life,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that it was making arrangements to repatriate Arciniegas’ ashes to his family in Cali. The execution threatens to strain relations be- tween the two important commercial partners be- cause, according to Co- lombian officials, there are 15 more people from the South American country on death row in China and an equal number sen- tenced to life imprisonment. Both punishments are il- legal in Colombia. But while news of Ar- ciniegas’ death dominated social media in Colombia on Tuesday an online survey by Blu of almost 5,000 people showed 52 per- cent in agreement with the harsh punishment. COLOMBIA PROTESTS CHINA’S EXECUTION OF 72-YEAR-OLD DRUG MULE3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 Making Cayman Great Again (Part 6B of 7): Free to speak? Alric Lindsay, Attorney-at-Law Financial Services Professional ADVERTORIAL Freedom and freedom of speech are important in any democratic society. But they are complex to interpret, depending on the laws of the relevant country and, of course, where you are sitting in that society. For example, look at the efforts of the free press. Journalists have tried to educate the public through editorials, documentaries and other media. However, in some countries, journalists find themselves in jail for daring to report on matters which are in the public’s interest. Such unnamed countries include the smaller ones close to us and the larger jurisdictions where journalists have been sentenced for “aiding terrorists and endangering national security”. This treatment of journalists is harsh as they are aggressively attacked for having an opinion different from the big government powerhouse. They shouldn’t be persecuted in this way…for holding onto their rights to freedom of speech. Does free speech exist in Cayman? While many examples of political persecution exist outside Cayman, potential adverse actions against freedom and free speech are believed to exist in Cayman. If you are Caymanian and have the “wrong” view, some say that attempts may be made to discredit your opinion. In other cases, some work permit holders have been concerned that a citizen may misinterpret their comments or actions, which are then reported to a rogue immigration official who decides not to renew a work permit for personal reasons. If you are the free press and you dare to say the truth about a topic, a business partner or influential party may decide to pull their ads from the relevant publication, perhaps threatening the revenue base of the free press institution. If not journalists, then who? Bearing in mind the above fears, the burning question is that, if journalists are not allowed to provide us with the news, then, who? As we have seen with countries which only have government owned newspapers, only the agenda of those governments is represented in the news. Policies are great. No one is poor and systems are working fine. We can all see how dangerous a precedent this can establish. People get intellectually frustrated for not being able to express their views. Journalists feel muzzled for not being able to tell the truth. All of this eventually leads to protest. Who can Cayman turn to, if muzzled? Since Cayman is a territory of the UK and is not an independent, military state, residents of the Cayman Islands can send their complaints to the mother country of the Cayman Islands and, if possible, rely on international conventions on human rights or otherwise. This is one of the many great things derived from Cayman’s UK connection. You always have the comfort of another avenue of appeal. With the muzzle removed, the free press and others can move to a higher plane of freedom and freedom of speech in society. The higher plane To reach a higher level of understanding, residents and citizens alike must be encouraged to read about, and be conscious of, their rights. The investment in this and the engagement in continuing education will increase sensibility and appreciation of such rights. Don’t be afraid to dive into the pages of relevant laws or to request access to information through freedom of information portals or to take in the objective commentary of journalists. Fear in these areas will only lead to deeper misunderstanding and exclusion from the conversation. Where this fear accumulates, you could forever be estranged from society or in the worst-case scenario, mentally divorced from reality. Read a book today. Examine the law. Talk to a journalist. Tell the truth. #ThinkSpeakAct Police launch youth outreach initiative To foster a positive rela- tionship between youth and police, officers began a new outreach initiative on Sat- urday by spending time with children at Black Pearl Skate Park in Grand Harbour. The children, from Windsor Park in George Town, ranged in age from 9 to 14. “Building closer ties to the community is absolutely critical for the RCIPS,” said Police Sergeant Sean Lloyd- Hickey, head of the Neigh- bourhood Policing Depart- ment, “and there is no better way to do this than through building relationships with children, and by extension, their families. “This activity at the Skate Park is a perfect way to do this, and show children that a police officer is an acces- sible and helpful person, who is dedicated to their safety.” The skate park arranged transportation for the chil- dren from their homes to Grand Harbour, where they were met by two of- ficers to skate and play games together. The excursions are set to be repeated on a monthly basis, and will focus on chil- dren from different neigh- borhoods in George Town. “Providing children with positive interactions with police from a young age is key,” said Michael Myles, chairman of the CI Skate- board Association. “This is when their minds are open and posi- tive role models can make a big impression. “Just some consistent, positive attention could make a huge difference in the life of a child, and when that at- tention comes from a police officer, it could also influence their perception and experi- ence with law enforcement later on,” said Mr. Myles. “Providing children with positive interactions with police from a young age is key.” MICHAEL MYLES, chairman of the CI Skateboard Association In an effort to hire more local police constables, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has removed applica- tion deadlines for locals. Interested applicants can now submit completed ap- plications online at any time. Recruitment drives for local police officers had in- cluded application dead- lines in recent years, fol- lowed by the testing and interview stages. Now applications sub- mitted throughout the year will be considered when- ever the recruitment pro- cess is undertaken, usu- ally in the fall. “Our intention is to make the recruitment process more convenient for those in the local community who wish to serve their country as a police constable,” said Derek Byrne, commis- sioner of police. A “local resident” is someone with either Cayma- nian citizenship or perma- nent residency with the right to work with no restrictions. Applications to join the RCIPS can be found at www.rcips.ky. “Our intention is to make the recruitment process more convenient for those in the local community.” DEREK BYRNE, commissioner of police. No more application deadlines for local police recruitment RCIPS officers spent time with youths at Black Pearl Skate Park on Saturday as part of a new monthly outreach initiative. A recruitment drive last August for the police, fire and prison services drew more than 250 applications. - PHOTO: ALMA CHOLLETTEWASHINGTON – The dys- peptic Henry Adams was not nice but not wrong when he described what now is named the Eisenhower Ex- ecutive Office Building, ad- jacent to the White House, as an “architectural infant asylum.” The granite pile, which once housed the State, War and Navy departments, was, Harry Truman said, “the greatest monstrosity in America.” Actually, to- day’s premier monstrosity is the federal budget, which is Mick Mulvaney’s headache as the new head of the Office of Management and Budget, which is housed in the EEOB. If the dictionary had an entry for “deficit hawk,” it would have Mulvaney’s pic- ture next to it: In 2011, he op- posed raising the debt ceiling unless it was linked to deep spending cuts and a constitu- tional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Now 49, he became a South Carolina congressman by defeating a 14-term Democrat who was chairman of the House Budget Committee. Mulvaney was about to begin his fourth term when the new president nominated him to be budget director. This detonated Sen. John McCain, who voted against Mulvaney, whose fiscal stringency extends to defense spending. Mulvaney represented up- state South Carolina, where Andrew Jackson might or might not have been born (southern North Carolina also claims him) and where Jack- son’s military spirit still lives. Mulvaney and McCain both oppose the budget slush fund used to evade spending caps by paying for some military operations outside the reg- ular defense budget, as Over- seas Contingency Operations. McCain has derided OCO as a “gimmick.” In 2016, it was 10 percent of defense spending; bringing those operations into regular budgeting will further complicate Mul- vaney’s task of solving this budgetary Rubik’s cube: How to accommodate preserving the sequester’s spending caps, cutting tax revenues by upward of $6 trillion over a decade, reforming the tax code, substantially increasing defense spending, finding $1 trillion for infrastruc- ture projects and leaving un- touched entitlements while every day 10,000 more baby boomers become eligible for Social Security and Medicare. Today AARP is running tele- vision ads urging support for the new president’s promise to “protect and save” both programs. While Mulvaney stresses the guarantee that no one in or near retirement will ever be affected by en- titlement reforms, he also insists that there must be changes if the two programs are to be protected and saved. It is an old joke: Two people, an economist and a normal person, fall into a deep pit with steep, uns- calable sides. “Don’t worry,” says the economist, “we’ll just assume a ladder.” It is an old budgeting prac- tice: Assume rapid economic growth. What OMB decides to assume will depend, Mul- vaney says, on finding “the sweet spot” among various public- and private sector growth projections. Although since 2000 av- erage GDP growth has been an anemic 1.9 percent, and America just completed a de- cade without a single year of 3 percent growth, Steven Mnuchin, the new treasury secretary, has signaled what the administration will as- sume: He believes 3 per- cent growth can be normal. Never mind that growth was 1.8 percent last year, and the Federal Reserve sees 1.8 percent for many years, and the Congressional Budget Office projects 1.9 percent for five years. Mulvaney notes that someone 35 years old has spent his or her entire working life experiencing nothing but economic slug- gishness. The political re- wards for delivering the novelty of economic dyna- mism could be transforma- tive. He insists that “1.9 per- cent is not the ‘new normal’” and “230 years of American history are more indicative of what America is capable of.” Whatever his shop pro- poses will reflect “dynamic scoring,” which estimates the growth effects of tax reform and, even more, regulatory relief, which he thinks can have “two to three times” the growth effect of tax policy. The list of prior budget di- rectors includes many lumi- nous names: George Shultz, Caspar Weinberger, Leon Pa- netta, Alice Rivlin, Mitch Daniels, Rob Portman. None faced a challenge as daunting as Mulvaney’s, with much de- pending on tax reform at a moment when Republicans are sharply divided about various proposals. Confirmed later than any of his predecessors, Mul- vaney is just getting orga- nized in his ornate 19th- century office. The French writer Guy de Maupassant so loathed the Eiffel Tower that he frequently lunched in its restaurant because there he could not see the tower. As Mulvaney struggles to rec- oncile Americans’ appetite for government services and their aversion to paying for THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Four cheers are in order for The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. That’s one for each of the consecutive years that the iconic Seven Mile Beach hotel has earned a AAA Five Diamond award, which is the highest rating offered by North America’s biggest motoring and leisure travel organization. The Ritz-Carlton’s signature restaurant, Blue by Eric Ripert, also received a AAA Five Diamond designation. The Ritz-Carlton is the only hotel in the Cayman Islands to earn Five Diamonds, and Blue is the only restaurant in the Caribbean to earn Five Diamonds. (Note: The AAA ratings are known as some of the “purest” accolades an organization can receive. The group uses professional inspectors who conduct anonymous, in- person evaluations. It’s not an award that can be bought through advertising or membership fees.) In other good news for The Ritz-Carlton, the hotel also learned it had won Forbes Four Star awards for both the resort and the La Prairie spa. Those honors should come as no surprise to anyone who has visited the resort, which sets the standard – anywhere – for luxury accommodations and customer service. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that The Ritz-Carlton has a prime location on one of Earth’s best beaches. Most recently, Seven Mile Beach was high atop the list of the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards – coming in fourth in the Caribbean and 12th out of 25 in the world. (We can’t say we agree totally with the TripAdvisor rankings … In our opinion, Seven Mile Beach is clearly the Number One beach on the globe.) Ever since it opened in 2006, The Ritz-Carlton has been a valued corporate citizen and a gem in Cayman’s tourism crown. The resort employs hundreds of employees, con- tributes millions to the public coffers and acts as a catalyst for much, much more economic activity in the private sector. All the accolades that The Ritz-Carlton has rightfully earned over the years are reflected positively onto Cayman as a whole. A win for The Ritz-Carlton is a win for Cayman. The Cayman Compass is the Cayman Islands’ premier source for comprehensive coverage of the political cam- paigns leading up to the May 24 elections. In addition to covering rallies, forums, debates, speeches and announcements, the Compass is proactively seeking information from candidates – party members, indepen- dents, newcomers or incumbents – to share with the coun- try’s voters. Accordingly, we are extending a cordial invitation to all Legislative Assembly candidates to visit the Compass Centre on Shedden Road to meet with our journalists. Starting this Monday, March 6, the Compass will be open to candidates from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on a drop-in basis or, if a candidate prefers, by appointment. Each candidate who comes to the Compass will have “official” photographs taken in our studio, and will sit down with a journalist for a brief interview consisting of five standard questions that will be asked of every candidate. Unedited videos and verbatim transcripts of the interviews will be published on our Elections 2017 homepage at www. CaymanCompass.com/Elections-2017, where we have a map of the electoral districts, a growing guide of confirmed candi- dates, all of our elections-related news coverage and opinion pieces, and other information vital to Caymanian voters. We urge all candidates to take advantage of this opportunity, which we will extend through Nomination Day, March 29. To make an appointment or to request more infor- mation, call the Compass at 949-5111 or email us at editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com. – EDITORIAL – The Ritz-Carlton: Four cheers for ‘Five Diamonds’ Elections 2017: Calling all candidates 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. Steven Mnuchin, the new treasury secretary, has signaled what the administration will assume: He believes 3 percent growth can be normal. Never mind that growth was 1.8 percent last year, and the Federal Reserve sees 1.8 percent for many years, and the Congressional Budget Office projects 1.9 percent for five years. New OMB chief tackles Rubik’s Cube of federal budget them, one consolation is that he cannot see the EEOB from his office in it. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group 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” GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 Rotary Club helps launch of Guatemalan educational facility The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and the Co- operative for Education in- augurated a new educa- tional center in Antigua, Guatemala, on Feb. 10. The facility comes as part of the Guatemala Lit- eracy Project, a textbook program that serves 193 schools in 14 of Guatema- la’s departments. Past Rotary presidents Chris Johnson and Derek Haines joined in celebrating the new center with CoEd, a nonprofit based in Cincin- nati, Ohio, USA, and Guate- mala City that provides edu- cational resources to Mayan schoolchildren. More than 25 Rotary members, eight past presi- dents and the current presi- dent have participated in the project for the past 10 years. The Cayman organization over the years has funded sports equipment, com- puters, books and a toilet. From left, Derek Haines, Guatemala Literacy Project co-founder Jeff Berninger, Chris Johnson, GLF co-founder Joe Berninger and director Howard Lobb. Barbadian author Sharon Mar- shall launched her book chronicling the migration of Barbadians and other British West Indians to Cuba at St. George’s Anglican Church Hall in Cayman on Feb. 24. The book, “Tell Mother I gone to Cuba,” describes how American invest- ment in Cuban sugar plantations gave rise to work opportunities for the mi- grants, and the turbulent events that led to the West Indians being at the center of a diplomatic confrontation between Cuban and British authorities. Part I of the publication presents the historical context of the migration, while Part II is comprised of oral his- tories from some of the migrants and their descendants, derived from inter- views conducted in Barbados and Cuba. “I am so grateful that I was able to conduct interviews with some of these brave, resilient ancestors, and to help them give voice to their stories, in their own words,” Ms. Marshall said in her remarks. She also made reference to migration to Cuba from the Cayman Islands, and made some comparisons to migration from elsewhere in the British West Indies. Ms. Marshall presented copies of her recently published book to Ju- liette Gooding-Michelin, Honorary Consul of Barbados, and Lucille Kong, director of the Learning Resource Centre at the University College of the Cayman Islands. At the launch, Lemuel Hurlston, chairman of the UCCI Board of Gov- ernors and a trustee of St. George’s Church, described the book as being very well researched and well written, and commended it to the audience. The launch in Cayman was part of a regional book tour, since the publica- tion was presented in a panel discus- sion at Casa de las Américas as part of the program of the Havana Interna- tional Book Fair on Feb. 10. Ms. Marshall served for three and a half years as public relations executive with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, and was a member of the St. George’s congregation during that period. She brought the manu- script to publication while resident in the Cayman Islands. Several of her former CIMA colleagues, members of St. George’s, as well as the Barbadian community in the Cayman Islands at- tended the launch. “Tell My Mother I Gone to Cuba” is published by the University of the West Indies Press, and is available online from UWI Press, Amazon.com and the distributor, Longleaf Services. Barbadian writer launches book in Cayman Sharon Marshall celebrates the Cayman launch of her book “Tell My Mother I Gone to Cuba” with Lemuel Hurlston, Chairman of the UCCI Board of Governors and a Trustee of St. George’s Church.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS ICCI grads get set for a bright future With a mission to pre- pare students for career placement and enhancement, the International College of the Cayman Islands is re- porting an impressive suc- cess rate for this year’s slate of graduates. Forty-six ICCI students received degrees at a com- mencement ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Feb. 9. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Education Minister Tara Rivers gave congratulatory remarks and awarded the diplomas, while Butterfield, Cayman Islands Bankers’ As- sociation, Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Ac- countants, Cayman National, and EY presented awards to the top academically achieving students, a press release states. “This class is really phe- nomenal,” said ICCI Presi- dent David Marshall at the ceremony. “These graduates achieved academically. They are professionally polished. They are critical thinkers. They have demonstrated a commitment to service. These are the career oriented values that employers all over the world want to see from de- gree earners. I am just beaming with pride.” According to the release, 97 percent of the graduates are employed, in an intern- ship program, or report re- ceiving a raise, promotion or other job benefit as the result of their ICCI educa- tion. Additionally, 96 percent passed their internationally benchmarked comprehensive exams on their first attempt, while 81 percent scored at or better than their global coun- terparts on the ETS Profi- ciency Profile writing test. Out of this year’s gradu- ates, five students, Cynthia Campbell, Paula Grierson- Thompson, Patriann Mon- teith, Simone Riley and Diana Virtue, earned a master of business administration, the highest degree offered at the college. Seven students earned other master’s de- grees with concentrations in human resources and educa- tion management. According to the release, 17 students received bach- elor of science degrees and 17 earned associate degrees. The major areas of study in this class were accounting, busi- ness administration, finance, human and social services, hotel and tourism manage- ment, office administration and general studies. The co- hort of graduates included six civil servants who work in de- partments including Customs, Department of Children and Family Services and the Min- istry of Education, Employ- ment and Gender Affairs. Sociologist Bertice Berry, a best-selling author, edu- cator and lecturer gave the commencement address. She urged graduates to use their education to find their pur- pose in life and to use that purpose to make a difference in the lives of others. “It’s not enough that you have earned a degree and that you have made it. You are not set free just for yourself. You are set free to set someone else free,” said Ms. Berry. “Everyone you touch should know that if you can go to college and graduate, they can too.” Mr. Marshall said the col- lege will do a thorough re- view of how graduates are doing in six months; how- ever, he said that the ini- tial evaluation of the class appears strong. “The stellar performance of this class is evidence that ICCI’s emphasis on aca- demic standards is the right thing to do. We are not letting anyone walk across the com- mencement stage unless he or she has demonstrated the competencies in his or her degree area. Our goal is to only send work-ready gradu- ates to employers,” he said. Diane Ricketts, who earned a master of science in man- agement, said ICCI has helped her grow professionally, given her an opportunity to travel abroad and prepared her to be a leader. She is now pur- suing a doctoral degree in ed- ucation at Walden University. “My experience at ICCI has taught me that I can go out and achieve any goal I want,” she said. “I am more confident than ever. I’m doing very well in my doctoral program and I know it is because of my level of preparation.” RBC Royal Bank Cayman Limited and Foster’s Food Fair were the official spon- sors of the event. Ninety seven percent of the graduates are employed, in an internship program, or report receiving a raise, promotion or other job benefit as the result of their ICCI education. 50 YEARS AGO: Visitor Adele Mulock stitches ties with community In the March 1, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, Bodden Town correspondent Floris McCoy wrote: “I called on Mrs. Adele Mulock, a Canadian born in Toronto. She is an interesting person and seems to live with never a dull moment. In fact, when I called on her, she was very busy sewing little out- fits for dolls belonging to some of the neighbours’ girls. Mrs. Mu- lock has been coming to the island for three years. She seems to have been living a nomadic life for six months seeking good climate, qui- etness, and trying to get away from crowded cities and busy highways. She enjoys art work and some of her favourite hobbies are collecting shells and sewing. “She is now living at Bodden Town in the Pease Bay area and made special mention of finding everyone extremely kind and helpful. She will probably live in Cayman for a while and we wish her a pleasant time here. “There was a lovely group at the Town Hall on Tuesday night when the Bodden Town Citizens’ Association met and enjoyed a so- cial evening together. The evening began with sing-time with Mrs. Armstrong playing the guitar, and through her able leadership much variety was added and everyone enjoyed this tremendously. We all appreciated her help very much. Then we enjoyed some games, after which refreshments were served and the evening ended with words of thanks to all from Miss Evelyn Wood, the President. She would like to see all young people out to ‘Youth Club’ on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. “We rejoice with Mr. and Mrs. Gileard Solomon, the happy par- ents of God’s precious gift of a little boy born on Friday, their fourth child and first son. “Mr. Lescot Miller, an em- ployee of Ensco shipping, arrived home this week. “With us in Bodden Town this week is Mrs. Holstead Dixon, from the British Virgin Islands. She is a native Caymanian and looks for- ward to coming home and we are always glad to have her come.” Sociologist Bertice Berry gave the commencement address. ICCI grads at the commencement ceremony earlier this month. - PHOTO: MIGUEL ESCALANTEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Cayman Islands Agriculture Society, pointed to popula- tion forecasts that highlight the need for greater global crop production. He asked festivalgoers to do their part in supporting agriculture by shopping local. “I would like you guys to make sure you use your dol- lars and decide where your food is grown and how it is grown. Without the support of the communities, definitely the sector cannot grow,” Mr. Smith said. Farmer Moses Grant of Hamlin’s Farm gave thanks for another good show. He said the crowds have grown year after year. “We are still seeing more people. Each year is getting bigger and bigger,” he said from behind a farm stand full of fresh tomatoes, kale, scallions, sweet peppers and sweet potatoes. He said low rains have af- fected yield, but he remained positive about the year ahead. Farmer Donna Dunn of West Bay’s Bread of Life Nursery said whiteflies have been an issue this year, and have impacted fruit crops. She said the Department of Agriculture provided infor- mation at the show on how to fight the pest. She was one of many vendors to participate in the farmers’ market, complemented by displays from the department and re- gional growing groups. The show also provided a community element, beyond the typical livestock displays and agricultural demonstra- tions. Several social groups participated, including the Red Cross and the Cayman Aids Foundation. CAF CEO Noel Cayasso- Smith said the group at- tends the show every year to promote community aware- ness and conduct a survey to gauge the current attitude to- ward HIV/AIDS. He said the organiza- tion is helping to slowly break down stigma and misinformation, and that ed- ucation will continue to be a priority. On March 4, CAF will host the Zero Discrimi- nation Day 5K/10K. The Prison Service also participated with paintings and crafts created through an art rehabilitation program. Michelle Dennis-Powell, the prison literacy coordi- nator, said the art sold at the show provides current and former inmates with a creative outlet and a busi- ness that helps support their rehabilitation. Officer Veranita Pennicooke of the women’s prison said the program has been a source of positivity that encourages in- mates to participate and give back to the community. Premier Alden McLaughlin attended the show’s morning activities, ahead of a sched- uled trip to London where he will present as a key- note speaker and meet with the Foreign and Common- wealth Office. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 “This show has brought families together to celebrate farmers, ranchers and backyard gardeners.” KURT TIBBETTS, agriculture minister Agriculture Show draws thousands Performer Dexter Bodden sings covers of Johnny Cash. The Prison Service displays paintings from its art program. The beautiful baby contest takes the stage. First prize winner Kylie Reid is shown in a pink and blue tutu with her mother Rayne Reid.Attendees view cattle from the livestock competition. Premier Alden McLaughlin attends the show before flying to London.The Cayman Islands Folk Singers sing a tribute to yams during the opening ceremony. Minister Kurt Tibbetts speaks alongside deputy chief officer Leyda Nicholson-Makasare. – PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Dalbert Johnson, 11, takes a ride on the mechanical bull. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1THURSDAY, 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. NOT NOW, DARLING: Cayman Drama Society’s production continues March 2-4 and 9-11. 7:30 p.m. at Prospect Playhouse. Tickets are $25. Visit www.cds.ky or email boxoffice@cds.ky. 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. Proceeds support religious education and youth programs. 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 homeowners considering renovation can connect with local architects, contractors, plumbers, electricians and other industry professionals. 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 OFF THE COUCH: This weekly training program begins today in the run-up to the 2017 Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge. The program is free of cost and for all fitness levels. Starting at 5:30 p.m. each Monday, participants meet at the staff entrance to the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue. The program is open to civil servants, private sector employees and members of the public. The 5K is Sunday, April 23, on Cayman Brac; Sunday, April 30, on Grand Cayman. 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. TUESDAY, MARCH 7 SME WORKSHOP: Marketing Essentials. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 BRAC SPEAK OFF: The Lions Club of Cayman Brac hosts the Claudette Upton Speak Off for primary school students at Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Tomorrow is for high school students. WALK IN HER SHOES: Sponsored males strut in high heels to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. 5:30 p.m. Paseo, Camana Bay. Details at info@cicc.ky 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. SATURDAY, MARCH 11 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Beach Walk organized by the Breast Cancer Foundation. 7 p.m. from Royal Palms. $25 donation includes a raffle ticket. Register at info@ breastcancerfoundation.ky or 6 p.m. on the night. No entry fee for children under 12, but $10 donation requested for a child’s T-shirt. 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 when they arrive. 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 refreshments. 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. THURSDAY, MARCH 16 NIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS: The Cayman Islands National Museum partners with the National Gallery and Cayman Catboat Club Museum to present “A Night at the Museums” starting at the museum on Harbour Drive at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and open house of the latest exhibition, Legends of Scuba Diving. At 7 p.m., guests head to the Catboat Club for a special fish fry and tour of the facility and learn about maritime history and culture with museum professionals and catboat specialists. Admission is free and open to the public. For more info, email info@museum.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 17 5K IRISH JOG: The annual St. Patrick’s Day event takes place at 5:30 p.m. at Britannia. The 3.1 mile course follows the cart path around the Britannia course and villas. The entry fee is CI$10 per person and all proceeds raised this year will be donated to the Special Needs Foundation Cayman. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.butterfieldgroup.com GENERAL INTEREST LOBSTER SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds the public that lobster season is closed as of March 1. 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. 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. ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Offered through the Cayman Drama Society. Sunday, March 5, audition techniques. April 9, sketch workshop. May 7, method acting. June 4, the actor’s voice. $40 per class. Contact training@cds.ky. WATER AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIP: Water Authority – Cayman is accepting applications for its $30,000 annual scholarship. Deadline is March 31. The offer is to a suitably qualified Caymanian to obtain an undergraduate academic or technical/vocational degree or diploma in a field of study relevant to the Authority’s work, including environmental science and information technology. For more information, visit www.waterauthority.ky/ community-connect- scholarships. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The National Gallery will hold a family day featuring free art activities on Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here, Celeste Gallippi, Janelle Gallippi and Caeli Gallippi have fun exploring watercolor techniques at a previous Family Day.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 One Sad year away from us today. In Memory of my dear Husband Charles L. Walton Snr May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 Losing a husband as special as you Has left my heart aching It’s broken in two No words can describe All the grief and pain I’d give all I have Just to see you again But you’re with the angels And for now, I can wait For we’ll meet again, dear Beside heaven’s gate From your broken-hearted wife, Cherrie Walton Charles L. Walton Snr May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 One Sad year away from us today In Memory of my dear Husband Charles L. Walton Snr May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 One Sad year away from us today. In Memory of my dear Husband Charles L. Walton SnrCharles L. Walton Snr Beside heaven’s gate From your broken-hearted wife,From your broken-hearted wife, In loving memory of our darling Jeanne Diane Watler-Miller Feb-04-63 - March 02-94 Though your smile is gone forever, And your hand we cannot touch. We have so many memories, Of the one we loved so much. Very sadly missed by all the family One Sad Year Without You Papa A thousand times we needed you A thousand times we cried If love alone could have saved you You never would have died A heart of gold stopped beating Two twinkling eyes closed to rest God broke our hearts to prove He only takes the best. Always on our mind And forever in our hearts Mara, Dovina, Ra’Mhiya, Donald & Terrance Always missing you Donald & Terrance Always missing you One Sad Year Without If I could write a story It would be the greatest ever told Of a kind and loving father Who had a heart of gold. If I could write a million pages But still be unable to say, just how much I love and miss him Every single day I will remember all he taught me I’m hurt but won’t be sad Because he’ll send me down the answers And he’ll always be MY DAD From your daughter Tanya Walton But still be unable to say, just howBut still be unable to say, just how 1 sad year away from us today In Memory of my Dad Charles L. Walton Snr. May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today Because he’ll send me down the answersBecause he’ll send me down the answers 1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today1 sad year away from us today May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 University College of the Cayman Islands’ accoun- tant Khemkaran Singh had not done enough to rein in Syed’s credit card spending, but he urged them not to judge the accountant too harshly, saying he had been manipulated by Mr. Syed. “You have had the ben- efit of watching Mr. Syed giving evidence, of seeing how the man deals with questions, how he deflects them. He is a remarkably difficult man to pin down. “It is not difficult to imagine just how hard it was for Mr. Singh to pin him down, to stand up to him. It takes courage to stand up to your boss when he is at the height of his powers.” He added, “Perhaps he didn’t have the strength or the time to stand up to his boss, and he didn’t have enough information about where the money was going to blow the whistle.” Mr. Moran said the ac- countant had passed on his concerns about Syed’s credit card spending to the auditors. He said it was only then, when someone who was not answerable to the president began asking questions, that the truth began to come out. “That is when Syed knew the writing was on the wall. He had taken every penny he could while the sun shone and as the sun began to go down he emptied his bank account and slipped away,” said Mr. Moran. Syed is accused of using UCCI funds, largely through his college-issued credit card, to make lavish per- sonal purchases including jewelry, holidays and a car for his girlfriend. He claimed in his evidence that it was agreed that the accountant would deduct personal ex- penditure from his salary or request repayment. He acknowledged he had been negligent about providing receipts but claims he was not dishonest. He is facing a total of 12 charges including theft, obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception, and obtaining various money transfers by deception, in connection with his time at the helm of the college be- tween 2006 and 2008. Mr. Moran said Syed had been well liked and respected at the college and had used this to his own advantage. “However many good deeds he did for UCCI over these years, they pale into insignificance when you scratch beneath the surface of what he was up to; what he was spending, where the money was coming from and how he was seeking to cover it up. “He used his charm and his status to manipulate those around him,” he said. Syed’s attorney Tom Price QC is scheduled to make his closing statement in the case on Thursday. with its agreement with the U.K. The Assembly will break until after the Premier’s re- turn on March 8. Mr. McLaughlin, during his six day trip to the U.K., will also meet with a new parliamentary group and de- liver the keynote speech at a conference at Blackstone Chambers, a set of barristers chambers that specializes in commercial and public law and financial services. In a press release Tuesday, he highlighted the trip as a chance to promote Cayman’s international image. “This will give me an op- portunity to say what the Cayman Islands has done in respect of having an ad- vanced bill of rights, an in- dependent judiciary, anti- corruption provisions and how our government has worked to enact and en- force laws against money- laundering and tax evasion. The trip will also give us an- other opportunity to reaf- firm our stable, diversified and growing economy and the great opportunities that exist to invest and live in the Cayman Islands.” Opposition leader McKeeva Bush questioned the timing of the visit in the midst of the Cayman Islands last Legislative Assembly session of the government’s current term and with nu- merous bills and motions on the table. Mr. Bush, who has criti- cized moves toward creation of a beneficial ownership reg- istry for Cayman companies, said “So the Premier has shut the Assembly down for over a week, so that the PPM mas- ters here can go to its mas- ters in London to bask and receive its approbation for being nice fellas and now members of the club … “This is really unconscio- nable to break the house in this manner, and for what purpose? To go to London weeks before a general elec- tion, after the PPM govern- ment has passed a law to dis- mantle our confidential laws that made us a haven for con- ducting good clean business they couldn’t do onshore.” In a speech in the as- sembly on Monday, Mr. Bush suggested Cayman’s new laws on beneficial ownership had been drafted at the direc- tion of politicians in London to suit the U.K.’s agenda, and were not in the best inter- ests of Cayman. During his time as Pre- mier, Mr. Bush said, he had only “shut down the as- sembly” for good reason, and only then in the face of com- plaints from accusations against him from then-op- position members, including Mr. McLaughlin. In a press statement, Mr. McLaughlin characterized the visit as a chance to pro- mote the Cayman Islands as a responsible jurisdiction and a good place to do business. He will address the Black- stone Chambers Conference Friday on the topic “Cur- rent Issues in Rule of Law and International Trade and Development.” The conference will be chaired by Blackstone Cham- bers’ Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC. Other guest speakers in- clude Michael Llamas, At- torney General of Gibraltar; Justice Angelica Nuss- berger, Section President and German Judge on the European Court of Human Rights; and Justice Cathe- rine O’Regan, former member of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Director of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at Oxford, according to a government press release. On Monday Mr. McLaughlin will attend the first meeting of the Cayman Islands All Party Parliamen- tary Group, which will be hosted by MP Graham Brady. The Premier hopes that MPs in the group can get a “better understanding” of the islands and help champion Cayman’s cause in the halls of Westminster. “This is one more oppor- tunity to tell the good story that is Cayman’s to MPs and Peers,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “Our economy continues to improve, with the private sector continuing to invest in the Cayman Islands. That new investment is a direct re- sult of the confidence of busi- ness in our country.” “We ask all parties to re- frain from further specu- lation and let the appro- priate authorities handle this matter, should a formal com- plaint be made.” Mr. Suckoo, speaking in the Assembly on Monday, said he believed the legisla- tors and their families were at risk because of their op- position to the Legal Prac- titioners Bill. He said, “As a matter of national importance I am therefore requesting that this matter be immediately in- vestigated by the RCIPS, At- torney General’s office and the Immigration department as the actions of these indi- viduals and their clients is a direct threat to the safety and well-being of members of this Honorable Assembly and our families and may constitute the breach of sev- eral laws including the Im- migration Law. “We ask that the proper authorities take any and all legally permissible actions to apprehend and question these individuals, and that immediate steps be taken to ensure the safety and pro- tection of all members of the Legislative Assembly.” Mr. Connolly made sim- ilar claims in a statement to the house earlier on Monday suggesting he believed pri- vate investigators had been hired to follow him. Mr. McLean later made similar claims at a press confer- ence hosted by the indepen- dent members, also involving East End MLA Ezzard Miller and Bodden Town legislator Anthony Eden. The controversy follows the tabling of a private mem- bers’ motion by Mr. McLean, seconded by Mr. Connolly, ac- cusing Cayman Islands law firms of “intentionally ig- noring and deliberately cir- cumventing” both the existing Legal Practitioners Law and Immigration Law. The motion suggests law firms have engaged in crim- inal behavior by practicing Cayman Islands law outside the jurisdiction through their international offices, and are now seeking to legitimize the practice through their support of a new ver- sion of the bill. Minister for Financial Ser- vices Wayne Panton who, as a former partner at Walkers law firm is accused in the motion of a conflict of in- terest in pushing the bill, said the legislators had misunder- stood the current legislation. Describing the motion as “grossly irresponsible,” he said “This motion is an at- tack on our financial services industry and an example of personal political agendas being placed ahead of the in- terests of thousands of Cay- manians in the industry and, in fact, given the significance to our economy, the interests of the country as a whole.” Premier to update UK on beneficial ownership CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Law Society slams ‘damaging speculation’ Prosecutor: Syed used charm and statusNext >