ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 High of 83 Low of 72 Rough with wave heights of 7 to 9 feet. A marine warning is expected to be in effect. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHY WOULD ANYONE STAB A NURSE SHARK? SPORTS | PAGE 17 JOHNSON WINS IN MEXICO IN DEBUT AS NO. 1 PLAYER IN WORLD 183119_PRINT-Ad-Strip-IrishJog.pPage 1 2/8/17 10:31:56 AM Cricket legends to reunite in Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge, who formed one of the most dominant opening partnerships in world cricket history as part of the all-con- quering West Indies side of the 1980s, will visit the Cayman Is- lands this month. The pair will take part in the Legends Reunited golf tour- nament and gala dinner or- ganized by NCB Bank and Cayman Cricket. Greenidge and Haynes, both from Barbados, were the cor- nerstone of the West Indies side that swept all before it, domi- nating world cricket in the 1980s with 19 Test series wins out of 20 in that decade. Together they made more than 6,000 runs, as well as 16 hundred run stands, and were part of the side that recorded successive 5-0 series defeats against England. Abali Hoilett, chairman of Cayman Cricket, said, “We are very excited to have our special JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The recent death of an award-win- ning sushi chef could have escalated into a larger tragedy but for the efforts of a 15-year-old boy and a marine conservation officer, according to police and witnesses to the drowning. Police hailed the bravery of Beha Hansson, 15, and marine officer Alan Mackay, who tried in vain to save Mongkol Srilamai before helping another struggling swimmer to shore. Mr. Srilamai, 44, a chef at Thai Orchid restaurant, drowned in waters off Rum Point Drive on Ash Wednesday. Witnesses described how he and two boys, and another man, Sadawut “Woody” Sriling, who tried to assist them, were all in jeopardy as strong currents pulled them out to sea. Mr. Sriling hailed Beha Hansson and Mr. Mackay as heroes who saved his life. He said, “The boy was so brave. They are both my heroes.” Mr. Sriling, a waiter who worked with Mr. Srilamai at Thai Orchid, said he was sad for the loss of his friend, who he said was a talented chef and a good person. He had been on the island for 11 years and has a wife and two children living in Thailand. Mr. Srilamai got into difficulties while snorkeling with Beha and Simon Hansson, 8, in waters off the Hansson family home on Rum Point Drive, where several friends had gathered for lunch. HSA: ‘FALSE NEGATIVES’ ON HIV TESTS POSE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three cases of “false negative” HIV tests from private healthcare facilities in the Cayman Islands have been reported, ac- cording to the Cayman Islands Health Ser- vices Authority. Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez advised there may be other instances of “false negative” tests that have not been detected. In a statement, the HSA said the possibility of “false negatives” poses a public health risk. Three patients were re-tested by the HSA for different reasons, but not out of concern regarding a particular facility or test, Dr. Wil- liams-Rodriguez explained. The results were then confirmed through the Integrated Re- gional Laboratories in the United States. “IRL confirmation is a standard part of the verification process for tests done at the CIHSA; some private healthcare facilities send their tests to the CIHSA for verification. All positive tests (private and public) are to be re- ported to the public health department and confirmatory tests are requested from IRL,” Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said. In a joint statement, Dr. Williams-Rodri- guez and Dr. Elizabeth McLaughlin called for standardization of HIV test kits in the Cayman Islands. The doctors recommended healthcare facil- ities only use World Health Organization-ap- proved kits. “There are many healthcare facili- ties and point of care facilities in the Cayman Islands using different type of HIV kits, not all of them are approved by WHO,” Dr. Williams- Rodriguez said. A list of WHO-approved HIV tests are available at www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky. Beha Hansson, 15, and his brother Simon, 8. Beha helped to get Mongkol Srilamai to shore and to rescue another swimmer. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Teenager’s efforts help prevent bigger tragedy PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Gordon Greenidge, left, and Desmond Haynes at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, in front of a stand named after them. - PHOTO: NICHOLAS REID, WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 7, 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 - LOGAN (R) 12:30 | 3:35 | 6:40 | 9:40 RINGS (PG13) 12:45 | 3:45 | 7:05 | 10:10 THE GREAT WALL 3D (PG13) 12:40 2D | 3:40 | 7:00 2D | 9:45 THE SHACK (PG13) 12:35 | 3:55 | 6:50 | 9:50 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (R) 12:55 | 3:50 | 7:10 | 9:55 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “Buy into a new lifestyle ” JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new mother says she was stunned and disgusted after finding what she be- lieved to be maggots in her porridge after being served breakfast at the Cayman Is- lands Hospital. Jhannaye Bodden gave birth to her first child Wednesday and was recov- ering in the hospital’s ma- ternity ward when she made the troubling discovery Sat- urday morning. The Health Services Au- thority said it responded im- mediately to the complaint, recalling the porridge across the hospital and alerting the Department of Environ- mental Health. A spokeswoman for the HSA said a preliminary in- vestigation revealed no evi- dence of maggots but con- firmed the presence of “what appears to be the larva of a weevil” in two portions of porridge. According to an environmental health offi- cer’s initial assessment, the infestation was limited to a single box of the Cream of Wheat brand breakfast por- ridge, which it said had been delivered from a local vendor in the past week. Ms. Bodden said she was shocked and concerned to find the “little worms” crawling in her food. “I was thinking ‘what else have I eaten that I never saw.’ Whatever it was, it was still an insect in my food. “My first thought was to warn all the mothers on the ward because we are all breast feeding and the ba- bies are getting the food we are getting.” Ms. Bodden’s partner, Jerrin Carter, posted a picture of the porridge and the larvae on social media Saturday, highlighting the incident. The couple have not decided what action, if any, to take. “My concern is, how do we know for sure that this is a one- time thing?” said Ms. Bodden. The HSA said in a state- ment that it had been alerted to the incident and had called in the Department of En- vironmental Health, which launched an investigation. According to the HSA, “The officer has stated that ‘inspection of the contami- nated meal revealed that there were two of what appeared to be a weevil larva’ and that ‘generally, most cereal con- tains insect eggs when har- vested from the field and in rare situations, these eggs can hatch in sealed boxes or pack- ages of cereal.’ He concluded that there was no evidence of maggots in the sample or in any part of the kitchen at the hospital.’” Maternity patient finds insect in hospital food Project expected to be completed by spring 2018 KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Edgewater Group will begin construction in April on an eight-unit housing development in Gov- ernors Harbour. The Residences at Magellan Quay are planned for completion in spring 2018, the project’s de- veloper said. Edgewater President Kris Bergstrom said the duplex project is aimed at mid- to high-end buyers. “Our idea was to create an opportunity for people who can’t necessarily afford to be on the water but, how- ever, would like to be in a neighborhood such as Gov- ernors Harbour. So we’ve lo- cated properties and invested in that,” Mr. Bergstrom said. Each lot will house two single-family homes, with prices starting at $879,000. The 3,500-square-foot prop- erties will each have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and a privacy wall. Mr. Bergstrom said the project also caters to potential buyers who are increasingly interested in convenience. “A lot of people are un- comfortable with the cum- bersome process of finding a piece of land, finding an architect and then finding a way to locate a contractor and manage the whole pro- cess. It has become extremely stressful. So we take care of all the in-betweens,” he said. The 3,500-square-foot properties will each have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and a privacy wall. Housing development planned for Magellan Quay An artist’s rendering shows the housing planned for the Magellan Quay project. (AP) – As Paul and Eliz- abeth Wicks prepared for their latest journey to Haiti, their excitement was palpable. Founders of a nonprofit called The Reading Room Inc., the South Windsor, Connecticut, couple has been working to promote literacy in the impover- ished Caribbean nation since the 1990s. The Wicks were first exposed to the Hai- tian education system – or, in many cases, lack thereof – over 25 years ago when members of a local church they attended traveled to the country to partner with and aid a Haitian church. But they quickly real- ized the country’s wide- spread educational de- ficiencies warranted a broader focus. “It became pretty ap- parent that maybe our focus shouldn’t be directly helping that specific church in Haiti, but the local school, which is where re- ally almost all the kids from that church went,” Paul Wicks said. The school, he said, was doing a good job educating children with very few re- sources, as well as “prob- ably giving them their only decent meal of the day and basic access to medical [treatment].” So he and his wife set up a sponsorship program to aid the school. Haiti’s public school system is not nearly large enough to accommodate all Haitian children, and government funding is both meager and incon- sistent. Sometimes, the Wicks said, teachers go un- paid and classroom lights are shut off. Other schools run by non-governmental organizations pick up the slack where they can, but the prioritization of building more classrooms to accommodate more chil- dren means funding pro- cured by the schools is rarely able to be used on additional supplies, in- cluding books. “It’s basically a very large volume of kids get- ting a very rote, basic edu- cation,” Paul Wicks said. In fact, many schools do not have books at all, and ones that do have a small collection that often is kept in a locked cabinet to prevent theft. Elizabeth Wicks, a cer- tified literary expert who works in Connecticut with students in Grades 3 to 5, said many of the teachers in these schools are well-meaning, but lack the education and skills to effectively teach the materials they are lucky enough to have. “You can go to Haiti, not be certified as a teacher at all, and open up a school,” she said. “Lots of times, it’s people who came up through the school system; the teachers may have an eighth-grade- level education.” The Wicks’, however, have nothing but admira- tion for both the teachers and students in Haiti, whom they described as eager and ready to learn when given the right tools. AMERICAN COUPLE BRINGING LITERACY TO HAITIAN CHILDREN Jhannaye Bodden, Jerrin Carter and baby Jezmae, after checking out of the hospital.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 1,000 pounds of ganja found on boat Vessel found abandoned off coast of West Bay last week Police recovered more than 1,000 pounds of ganja from a boat found semi-sub- merged off West Bay last week, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service con- firmed on Monday. The RCIPS released photos of the drugs, which were found inside rice bags, on Sunday, Feb. 26. The drugs were discovered after po- lice towed the boat to shore and searched it. Police said the ganja weighed 1,044 pounds when wet and was worth at least $365,400 in street value. The 32-foot vessel was found drifting off North West Point with no one on board. “The interdiction of drugs continues to be a priority for the RCIPS because of the significant health and public safety risk such large amounts of drugs pose for a small jurisdiction,” Police Commissioner Derek Byrne noted in a statement. “Whether these drugs were intended for these is- lands or not, the harm they can cause here is real. We are working closely with our col- leagues at Customs on this issue,” he said. The police marine unit transports rice bags containing ganja found on board a drug boat. Police have edited the photo to remove markings from the bags. Suspected car thief arrested twice in one weekend Police arrested the same man twice in two days on suspicion of stealing cars on Cayman Brac. The 36-year-old man from George Town was ar- rested on Saturday and again on Sunday. He was arrested on sus- picion of burglary and taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner on Saturday after po- lice responded to a report of burglary and car theft near Spot Bay in Cayman Brac. He was released on police bail. The following day, he was arrested after a car crash near the old airport on Cayman Brac. “It appeared that the car had been crashed while in the process of being stolen,” police said in a statement. This time he was ar- rested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent of the owner, damage to property, and possession of ganja. He remained in po- lice custody Monday after- noon, police said. Police are appealing to the public to help them track down the owners of these two gold-colored rings found during a police operation on Cayman Brac on Friday. DRUG ARRESTS, RINGS RECOVERED IN CAYMAN BRAC Police arrested two men on Friday on Cayman Brac on suspicion of suspicion of drug offenses. Following an operation at an address on Blazer Drive, police found small quantities of ganja and cocaine. They ar- rested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of possession of ganja with intent to supply, and a 55-year-old man on suspicion of possession of ganja and cocaine. Both men are from Cayman Brac and are cur- rently on police bail, police said in a statement. During the operation, two gold-colored rings were recovered. Police are asking that anyone who may have infor- mation regarding the jewelry to contact the Cayman Brac Police Station at 948-0331.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. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Please, do not stab the sharks. The recent video of a Cayman Brac scuba diving instructor removing a large kitchen knife from the head of a nurse shark has drawn thousands of views and sparked near-universal condemnation from commenters who, like us, are astonished that a human being could be so cruel to an innocent and graceful animal. Due to their appearance, their rows of large and razor- sharp teeth and “negative publicity” from movies such as “Jaws,” sharks have a bad reputation in the minds of many people who think of the ocean predators as being cold-blooded killers. Strictly speaking, there’s some truth to that (especially if you’re a smaller fish!), but on balance, the proper attitude to have toward sharks is one of healthy respect, rather than fear. However, in regard to the shark that was stabbed, we doubt very much that was a case of someone being scared and acting in self-defense. The more probable theory is that a local fisherman had caught the shark on a line or a net, and pulled it in close enough to try to “finish it off” with the kitchen knife. While the diver who helped the shark showed bravery and compassion, whoever stabbed the shark was acting in the opposite manner. Sharks play a vital role in Cayman’s important reef ecosystem. Nurse sharks, in particular, are gentle creatures that dine on fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish and even coral, but as a rule do not bite humans unless they are stepped on or harassed. Because of their appearance and demeanor, nurse sharks are popular attractions for tourists who come to the Cayman Islands in order to dive or snorkel. A 2015 study by the Department of Environment and Marine Conservation International estimated that “The value of having sharks on the reef is about US$54 million per year. By contrast, catching and killing sharks was worth only US$1.6 million per year.” Apart from ecology, economics and common decency, there are legal reasons to abstain from killing sharks. Namely, the National Conservation Law protects all species of sharks under threat of a penalty of a $500,000 fine, four years’ imprisonment, or both. Now, we will not take it upon ourselves to attempt to rehabilitate the image of sharks in this column – we will leave that task up to people like Dr. Guy Harvey and his Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which supports research and education efforts about sharks and other fish. However, we will share with readers a handful of what we think are interesting facts about these amazing crea- tures. Did you know: • Sharks are some of the oldest vertebrates (i.e., having spines) that still exist on Earth • Sharks have been swimming in our planet’s oceans for more than 400 million years. That actually predates the current configuration of oceans and continents. For example, the Pangea supercontinent formed about 335 million years ago and began to break apart 175 million years ago • The evolution of sharks also predates the evolu- tion of trees (360 million years ago) and dinosaurs (230 million years ago) • Sharks have survived five massive planet-level extinc- tion events, including the impact of an asteroid or comet 66 million years ago that led to the extinction of dinosaurs • In the current time period, humans are responsible for killing at least 100 million sharks a year and perhaps as many as 270 million. Some 70 million or more annual shark deaths can be attributed to commer- cial fisherman seeking to satisfy demand in China for shark fin soup • Last year, there were some 100 documented shark attacks on humans. Eight were fatal. Why would anyone stab a nurse shark? Revolt of the attorneys general Among the many unin- tended legacies of Barack Obama, one has gone largely unnoticed: the emergence of a novel form of resistance to executive overreach, a check- and-balance improvised in reaction to his various presi- dential power grabs. It’s the revolt of the state attorneys general, banding together to sue and curb the executive. And it has out- lived Obama. Normally one would expect Congress to be the instrument of resistance to presidential trespass. But Congress has been supine. The Democrats in particular, approving of Obama’s policy preferences, allowed him free rein over Congress’ constitu- tional prerogatives. Into that vacuum stepped the states. Florida and 12 others filed suit against Obamacare the day it was signed. They were later joined by 13 others, making their challenge the first in which a majority of states banded together to try to stop any- thing. They did not always succeed, but they succeeded a lot. They got Obamacare’s forced Medicaid expansion struck down, though Obam- acare as a whole was upheld. Later, a majority of states secured stays for two egre- gious EPA measures. One had given the feds sovereignty over the generation and dis- tribution of electricity (the Clean Power Plan), the other over practically every ditch and pond in America (the Wa- ters of the United States rule). Their most notable suc- cess was blocking Obama’s executive order that essen- tially would have legalized 4 million illegal immigrants. “If Congress will not do their job, at least we can do ours,” said Obama. Not your job, said the courts. Democrats noticed. And now with a Republican in the White House, they have adopted the technique. Having lost control of Congress, they realize that one way to curb presiden- tial power is to go through the states. They just did on Trump’s immigration ban. Taking advantage of the courts’ increased willing- ness to grant “standing” to the states, Washington state and Minnesota got a dis- trict court to issue an injunc- tion against Trump’s execu- tive order and got it upheld by the 9th Circuit. Where the ban died. A singular victory. Democratic-run states will be emboldened to join together in opposing Trump administration measures is- suing from both the agency rulings (especially EPA and the Department of Educa- tion) and presidential exec- utive orders. Is this a good thing? Re- gardless of your party or policy preferences, you must admit we are witnessing a re- markable phenomenon: the organic response of a consti- tutional system in which the traditional barriers to over- reach have atrophied and a new check-and-balance emerges almost ex nihilo. Congress has allowed it- self to become an increas- ingly subordinate branch. Look at how reluctant Con- gress has been to even con- sider a new authorization for the use of force abroad, an area in which, constitution- ally, it should be dominant. Look at today’s GOP Con- gress, having had years to prepare to govern, now ap- pearing so tentative, al- most paralyzed. “Many Re- publican members,” reports the Washington Post, “are eager for Trump to provide clear marching orders.” The president orders, Congress marches – that is not how the Founders drew it up. Hence the state attorneys general rise to check the president and his functionaries. This is good. Not because it necessarily produces the best policy outcomes. It often does not. Not because judi- cial grants of standing are al- ways correct. The 9th Circuit, in ef- fect, granted Minnesota and Washington standing to rep- resent the due process rights of Yemeni nationals who have never set foot in the United States – an imaginary harm to states that presupposes imaginary rights for Yemenis. And not because it’s nec- essarily good for the judicial system to acquire, through this process, yet more power. This really should be adjudi- cated by the elected branches. Problem is: Congress has abdicated. Nonetheless, the revolt of the AGs is to be cele- brated. It is a reassuring sign of the creativity and supple- ness of the American Consti- tution, of its amphibian ca- pacity to grow a new limb when an old one atrophies. This is, of course, not the first time the states have as- serted themselves against federal power. There was Fort Sumter, 1861, when the in- struments employed were rather more blunt than the multistate lawsuit. All the more reason to celebrate this modern device. I’m sure conservatives will not like many of the outcomes over the next four years, just as many liberals deeply disapproved of the Obama-blocking outcomes of the recent past. The point, however, is not outcome but process. Remarkably, we have spontaneously developed a new one – to counter exec- utive willfulness. There’s a reason that after two and a half centuries the French are on their Fifth Republic and we are still on our first. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. © 2017, The Washington Post Writers Group Charles KrauthammerKrauthammer Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a Feb. 9 news conference in Seattle about the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal’s refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. - PHOTO: AP/ELAINE THOMPSON5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 Meals on Wheels celebrates 20 years Begins annual fundraising campaign JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Meals on Wheels kicked off its annual fundraising campaign and celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting an “Icon Day” on Friday. The “Icon Day” gave in- dividuals from across the public and private sec- tors an opportunity to bring awareness of seniors’ hunger through their participation in the delivery of meals, ac- cording to organizers. The event was held at the T.E. McField Youth and Community Centre on School Road in George Town, where seniors enjoyed a gourmet meal prepared by chefs from The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. “This is something that we do every year. We ask dif- ferent members of the com- munity to come out and de- liver one or two meals, sit and talk to a senior [and] just to say that anyone and everyone can get involved with Meals on Wheels,” said Beulah McField, Meals and Wheels executive director. Thanking Ritz-Carlton staff and executive chef Fred- eric Morineau for preparing the meals, Ms. McField noted the organization was also cel- ebrating its 20th anniversary. “We are excited … we need to raise the awareness of Meals on Wheels by fun- draising – every meal that goes out is free of cost to se- niors,” she said. Meals on Wheels has kitchens in all the dis- tricts of Grand Cayman ex- cept for West Bay. Ms. Mc- Field said the organization is working diligently to es- tablish a kitchen there, possibly before the end of this year, because there are more than 100 people in that district using Meals on Wheels’ services. Chef Morineau said The Ritz-Carlton has been in- volved with Meals on Wheels for about eight years, cooking for the organization twice a year. “This year we decided to do it once every three months,” he said. “We always try to make Caribbean meals, and today we prepared jerk, Cayman- style stew beef, rice and beans, mashed potatoes, corn bread and chicken noodle soup,” he said. Staff at The Ritz-Carlton ate the same meal as the se- niors on that day, he said. Education Minister and West Bay MLA Tara Rivers also attended the fundraiser. “It’s not just to lend oral support as a representa- tive of the district of West Bay, but to be there to de- liver the meals as well,” Min- ister Rivers said. “West Bay is the only re- maining district in Grand Cayman without a [Meals on Wheels] kitchen – a situation we hope to remedy,” she said. Meals on Wheels provides free, hot, nutritious meals five days a week to more than 215 senior, home-bound and dis- abled individuals throughout the Cayman Islands. Isaac Douglas Rankine announced his run as an in- dependent candidate for East End with a Saturday meet and greet. Mr. Rankine’s campaign reported a crowd of 200 at the Seaview Drive event, where the candidate de- scribed a two-and-a-half- year journey toward the Leg- islative Assembly run. “As an independent can- didate, I am prepared to work on your behalf with the democratically elected government to ensure that East End is no longer per- ceived to be the district that is left behind,” he said in a public statement. Mr. Rankine said he will be planning “small yard meetings” leading up to the May 24 election to speak with community members. ISAAC RANKINE ANNOUNCES EAST END CAMPAIGN Isaac Rankine announced his candidacy to represent East End in the Legislative Assembly. Meals on Wheels provides free, hot, nutritious meals five days a week to more than 215 senior, home-bound and disabled individuals throughout the Cayman Islands. Meals on Wheels Executive Director Beulah McField, back row, far left, and Ritz-Carlton Executive Chef Frederic Morineau, back row, second from left, with delivery volunteers. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO: Florence Tatum congratulated on 13 prize wins at Ag Show In the March 8, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor to the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mrs. Hebe Massias, dental nurse, returned from Jamaica where she went for medical aid, and is feeling much better. Her husband returned from his job at Na- tional Bulk Carriers. “Miss Joan Graves, daughter of Mr. Joe Graves, spent an enjoyable two weeks’ vacation with her fa- ther in Miami. He obtained his permanent residence for the U.S. and plans to take Joan there to school. “Miss Florence Tatum was the recipient of 13 prizes at the Agricultural Show. She won 8 firsts and 5 seconds. Congratulation goes to Miss Tatum. “Mr. and Mrs. Garton Powery and son returned on the 3rd from the U.S. for a visit. This is Mrs. Pow- ery’s first visit. We wish her a pleasant stay. “We are so happy to have Diver Delps and his wife back in Grand Cayman. He has his va- cation cottage on South Beach St. West Bay. “Departures for the week for the U.S. were Mrs. Arlington Ebanks and her two children to Jackson- ville for a visit, where she will meet her husband. Mrs. Hursley Hydes and her son Paul for New York to take up residence there, and Mrs. Wolsey Ebanks for New York. “Arrivals recently have been Mr. Jim Smith from National Bulk Car- riers. Lewin Bodden from National Bulk Car- riers, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Smith from New York where they worked. “A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ewart Rivers on the 5th, weighing 7 1/2 pounds. “Their third child and first daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. McClurn An- glin on the 2nd, named Dana Clovena, 91/2 pounds. “Mr. and Mrs. Amady Hurlston left on the 5th for Miami. Travelling on the same plane was Mrs. Sam Banks. “News has been received of the death of Capt. Percival Ebanks which occurred in Miami on the 2nd. He was 79 years of age. Capt. Percy had been in failing health for quite a while. He left here for medical aid six months ago but rather be- came worse. Surviving are his wife Azaneta, three sons and one daughter, three sis- ters and one brother. His body was laid to rest on the 7th in Miami.” In the same issue, the following letter of interest also appeared: “Dear Editor, May I ask you a favour? You would greatly oblige me if you would have the kindness to put me in touch with persons interested in phi- lately and interested in ex- changing stamps. “I am a fervent philat- elist having collected for many years and I have plenty of duplicates in stock …. As a philatelist, I collect whatever stamps come my way and take great enjoyment in philately and for the fun and interest it gives …. I will always an- swer promptly by return mail with equal value in exchange. Yours very sin- cerely, M.G. Millot, 87-Cieux (Hte-Vienne), France. “P.S. I have noticed that a small town on the NW corner of Grand Cayman has a Post Office that bears the name of ‘Hell.’ Do you know the name of the town where I live bears the name Cieux, which, translated into English means ‘Heaven’ – a curious anomaly for collectors of postmarks or cancellations, according to my idea.” Endangered West Bay wash wood trees hold cultural significance Wash wood trees, Jac- quinia keyensis, are en- dangered in the Cayman Islands and can only be found growing natu- rally in West Bay. “They have pretty white flowers, are extremely salt- tolerant, very slow growing, difficult to transplant and are culturally significant – in Cayman, the leaves and bark were used to make a foam for washing clothes,” notes natu- ralist Ann Stafford. “It is called Joewood in Florida and the Ba- hamas (both the scientific and common names are in honor of the Austrian bota- nist, Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin). It grows in sand, in marl and on ironshore … and can be seen on West Bay Beach just south of Sund- owner, at Barkers, and on the ironshore just south of Mor- gan’s Harbour.” In 2011, Dart worked with Ms. Stafford to fence off and protect wash wood trees found along the Es- terley Tibbetts Highway ex- tension to West Bay. According to “Wild Trees of the Cayman Islands” by Fred Burton, the small, an- gular slow growing tree’s crooked branches are often stunted by sea spray to give a “bonsai” effect. “The stiff leaves with down-rolled edges form an often sparse foliage, on pale grey, scaly young twigs. The firm grey bark is usu- ally colonized by patches of white, charcoal grey and sooty black lichens. The cream colored flowers are fragrant, and the fruits ma- ture from green to orange,” writes Mr. Burton. “Wash wood is also found in Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica. A closely related plant (Jacquinia proctori) grows as a shrub on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and a very sim- ilar shrub on Grand Cayman may turn out to be a new and unique species.”The wash wood tree (left) like this one at Barkers is only found in West Bay in Grand Cayman. - PHOTO: ANN STAFFORD They have pretty white flowers and are culturally significant – in Cayman, the leaves and bark were used to make a foam for washing clothes.” ANN STAFFORD, naturalistDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 Salt Creek mangroves nominated as protected area Public access to a small sec- tion of mangrove wetlands in West Bay is being touted as a potential solution for the successful main- tenance of a natural area which is among six sites on Grand Cayman slated for consideration as pro- tected areas under the National Conservation Law. “Nominations of lands to be pro- tected can be submitted to the Na- tional Conservation Council annually, and any purchases that are agreed are paid for using the Environmental Protection Fund,” the Department of Environment states on its website. Under Section 9 of the National Conservation Law, landowners of adjoining properties and the gen- eral public are invited to submit written views on sites which have been nominated to become Protected Areas. According to the nomination doc- ument posted on the Department of Environment website, the nomina- tion covers two Crown-owned par- cels of land lying between Salt Creek and Little Salt Creek, on Grand Cay- man’s West Bay Peninsula. The land includes mangrove communities, dry cay areas, and a small segment of rocky shru- bland on the coast facing North Sound, accessible by MRCU dyke roads and canals. The nominated site consists of two adjoining Crown parcels on the North shore of Salt Creek, with shorefront also facing North Sound, and Little Salt Creek to the north. According to the nomination proposal, the protection of this land will provide a small oasis of land in a natural state within the largely developed West Bay Peninsula. “It will become increasingly valued by local communities as a place to re- connect with and enjoy the island’s natural environment,” it notes. The proposal notes the site is home to two species important to Cayman, the Grand Cayman parrot and the other being the tiny mos- quitofish, Gambusia xanthosoma. According to an article by David Greenfield in the May 3, 1983 edi- tion of the academic journal Copeia, specimens of this little fish collected in a mosquito control ditch in 1980 were discovered to be a previously undescribed species of Gambusia, a type of fish found throughout the Caribbean. According to the proposal on the Department of Environment web- site, “MRCU dyke roads within the parcel provide a framework which could be adapted to help make this area an important natural recre- ational area, with opportunities for walking, running, shallow water snorkeling and kayaking.” The proposal notes protection of the lands will not only offer up welcome recreational space, but will also safeguard natural habitat for birds and offer a representative range of habitats characteristic of the West Bay peninsula, along with maintaining mangrove nutrient flows to the North Sound. “Management of the Salt Creek mangroves is inherently quite simple, but is liable to be heavily in- fluenced by surrounding land use changes,” notes the proposal. “Securing public access to the land in the long term will be essen- tial to its viability as a recreational area for residents and tourists.” The proposal also notes that a Conservation Agreement with the owner of adjacent lands would be beneficial to the potential of the area for public enjoyment. “It is possible that maximizing the potential of this area both for biodiversity conservation and for its recreational value, would best be achieved in close cooperation with surrounding development interests, whose future inhabitants may be among the primary users of the pro- tected land,” the proposal notes. The nomination covers two Crown-owned parcels of land lying between Salt Creek and Little Salt Creek. The nomination proposes opening up the area to recreation.The Salt Creek mangroves are home to Cayman’s own mosquitofish. Purple theme marks launch of women’s month at BBPC West Bay’s Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church marked the launch of Hon- ouring Women Month with a special church service this past weekend. At the service, fea- turing prayer and worship in song, held on Sunday, March 5, each woman present received a gift in a purple theme. The congregation heard from Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Af- fairs Tara Rivers who gave an address, as did acting program coordinator for the Family Resource Centre, Charmaine Miller. Church member Ezi- ethamae Bodden recog- nized and presented the representatives from the Family Resource Centre, the Crisis Centre and Minister Rivers along with Chief Of- ficer in the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports Dorine Whit- taker with plaques to mark the occasion. Also, to their delight, each child was presented with a set of purple bubbles. “We are happy so many of our men and children wore purple in celebration of our women,” said Ms. Bodden. The service, which also included a children’s mes- sage from Renee Ebanks was followed by refreshments and fellowship. At the service, featuring prayer and worship in song, each woman present received a gift in a purple theme to mark the occasion. A purple theme marks the launch of Honouring Women Month at the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church.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. TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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 money 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 author Jackson Katz. 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. FRIDAY, MARCH 10 BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: Brac Spring Weekend ‘17 kicks off with the Brac Youth Forum 2-4 p.m., at the Layman E. Scott High School. Hosted jointly by the Cayman Islands Youth Assembly, the interactive session will encourage teenagers to discuss topics of interest as they relate to them and the community. Activities include drones, sports. FISH FRY: The Mothers Union of St. George’s Anglican Church holds its annual Fish Fry starting at noon on the church grounds, Courts Road, George Town. Fry fish and bammies, fish tea, festival, coleslaw and sweet potato pudding. Tickets are $10. Delivery service is available in the George Town area. Contact Karen at 325-0318 for tickets. 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. 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 COMMONWEALTH DAY: All are invited to the annual church service in observance of Commonwealth Day under the 2017 theme, A Peace- Building Commonwealth. 4 p.m. St. George’s Anglican Church, 64 Courts Road (off Eastern Avenue, behind Cox Lumber.) Please be seated by 3:45 p.m. RSVP to the church office at 949-5583. BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: Young Adult Breakfast Forum at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort, 8.30-10:30 a.m. Free for young adults ages 17 to 25. The breakfast discussion will encourage attendees’ to speak about topics of mutual interest. FITNESS FEST: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts its second Fitness Fest at the ARC at Camana Bay, beginning at 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. MONDAY, MARCH 13 GEORGE TOWN CLINIC CLOSURES: The George Town general practice clinic will undergo infrastructure repairs today through March 26. As a result, there will be no appointments during that period. Acute care services (walk-in clinic) will continue as usual. There will be no changes to the process for registration and admission to the entrance of the clinic will also remain unchanged. During construction, patients are encouraged to continue to make appointments at the district clinics. The Accident and Emergency services are open as usual, 24 hours every day. TUESDAY, MARCH 14 CITA ELECTIONS: The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has set 4 p.m. today as the deadline for written nominations for its 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 National 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 information, email info@museum.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 17 5K IRISH JOG: The annual St. Patrick’s Day run takes place at 5:30 p.m. at Britannia. The 5K (3.1 mile) course follows the cart path around the Britannia course and villas. Entry fee is $10 per person and all proceeds will be donated to the Special Needs Foundation Cayman. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.butterfieldgroup.com. BRAC BUILDERS: Builders Bill meeting, 10 a.m., Aston Rutty Centre, Contact 244- 6515 for more information. GENERAL INTEREST LABOR FORCE SURVEY: The Economics and Statistics Office is 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 and Statistics Office at 516- 3329, 949-0940 or visit www.eso.ky. 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. 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. SINGLE-MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES: The Elections Office invites voters, potential candidates and their agents to learn more about recent changes to the Elections Law that have created 19 single- member electoral districts. Email office@elections.ky to ask questions or request short presentations for groups. PRESCHOOL FUNDING: Government funding to assist with preschool attendance is available for eligible Caymanian children who will be between 3 and 4 years old before Sept. 1. Email ecap@gov.ky or call 244-5724 for more information. Collect application forms from Government Administration Building, Department of Education, early childhood centers, District Health Centres or the Public Health Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Deadline to apply is April 28. VOTER ID CARDS: Elections officials will start issuing voter ID cards from April 1. The revised voters’ list is scheduled to be out on March 31 with all the verified changes and new registrations. This will be formalized in the final list of voters on April 1. GALLERY TEMPORARY ROAD: The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands has a temporary access road while work is being done to improve site access. The access road is off Lawrence Boulevard and passes through the grounds of the Harquail Theatre. For more information on roadwork related to NGCI, email info@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. MARITIME CULTURE: The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands offers a new exhibit that celebrates Cayman’s maritime heritage and identity. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Admission is free. Families can download a free copy of the Upon the Seas exhibition guide at www.nationalgallery. org.ky. Guides include information about the artists, exhibition themes, discussion points and art activities. Guides available on arrival. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Author and gender activist Jackson Katz will be the keynote speaker at an International Women’s Day event at the Marriott resort on Wednesday, March 8.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017 Beha Hansson said they had been swimming in front of their home when they realized how rough the conditions were. “We decided to come back,” he said, “but the cur- rent was dragging us out to the open sea.” He said the current pulled them out through an un- marked channel in the reef and it quickly became clear that Mr. Srilamai was in se- rious trouble. He said he told his brother, who was wearing a life jacket, to try to swim back toward shore, while he attempted to assist the drowning man. “I took him across the reef to where the corals are and we could get air. I took off his snorkel so he could get more air but he was not breathing well,” he said. At that point, he said, an- other man from the lunch party came to help and they swam pulling Mr. Srilamai back toward shore where they were met by ma- rine officer Alan Mackay, who had dived into the water to assist. Mr. Mackay said he heard the distress call on the po- lice radio and was first to arrive on the scene. He said he battled through surf and dreadful currents to reach the men. “I went to the aid of the young kid who was holding on to the guy who was strug- gling. I gave him [Mr. Srilamai] rescue breaths and tried to revive him as we kicked him back towards shore.” At the same time, Beha Hansson says he noticed an- other man who had swum out to try to help and was swept beyond the reef line and was in trouble. “I swam to him and pulled him in towards shore. We were struggling a little bit and the marine officer came to help us.” Mr. Mackay said he en- sured Mr. Srilamai was re- ceiving CPR and then dived back in to help the second swimmer in distress. Mr. Sriling told the Cayman Compass he swam out to help and got dragged out to sea. “The waves were so high, I didn’t think I could make it,” he said. “The 15-year-old held my hand and we swam to- gether and the marine officer came out and helped us too. “He is such a brave boy be- cause the sea was very rough. They are both my heroes.” The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service released a statement Friday com- mending both Mr. Mackay and Beha Hansson for their “brave efforts” in preventing a second tragedy. Mr. Sriling said his friend Mongkol Srilamai was much loved on the is- land and would be missed by his friends and his family home in Thailand. He said he was a regular en- trant in the Taste of Cayman festival, helping Thai Or- chid to win a number of awards over the years. He also enjoyed running and going to church. “He is a very good person, a good friend, a hard worker,” Mr. Sriling said. “He had such a nice personality. Every cus- tomer loved him. He was al- ways happy, always making people laugh.” celebrity guests here in Cayman for the weekend. Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes were a legendary partnership and it will be an honor to have them here.” Phillip Harrison, man- aging director of main sponsor NCB, said, “This is going to be a great event and NCB is very proud to be a part of it. Cricket is a sport that can do so much good in our com- munity. By helping young people to achieve phys- ical fitness, mental well- being and social interaction with positive role-models, we can help them achieve much more in other parts of their life.” Hector Robinson, vice president of Cayman Cricket, said the sport is going through a re- building process in the Cayman Islands. “We are in the process of implementing a five- year development plan to revitalize cricket in Cayman. The aim is to start with the support and devel- opment of cricket at youth level, and further down the line to achieve performance at senior level. “The funding we re- ceive from the Interna- tional Cricket Council and government is not enough to allow us to fully im- plement our development plan, so we are calling on the private sector to get in- volved and support us. We are very grateful that NCB Cayman has been able to partner with us this year.” The gala dinner takes place on March 17, and the golf tournament is on March 18. The dinner costs $1,500 for a table or $175 per person. The golf tournament, in which both of the West Indies legends will play, costs $800 for a team of four. For more information, contact cricketlegendsreunited@ gmail.com or visit www.cricketlegendsreunited.com. “He is such a brave boy because the sea was very rough. They are both my heroes.” SADAWUT “WOODY” SRILING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Teenager’s efforts help prevent bigger tragedy Mongkol Srilamai, front, wearing straw hat, pictured with friends at a lunch party shortly before the accident. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cricket legends to reunite in Cayman Phillip Harrison, managing director of NCB Cayman, left, and Abali Hoilett, chairman of Cayman Cricket Judge continues summary in Syed case Justice Philip St. John- Stevens was continuing to recap the evidence in the Hassan Syed trial late Monday afternoon. The judge has been summarizing the evidence in the case for the jury since Thursday afternoon. The trial, which has fea- tured multiple witnesses and thousands of pages of agreed statements, credit card transactions and other paperwork, began with jury selection on Jan. 30. Evidence concluded on Monday, March 1, and the jury heard closing state- ments from lawyers on ei- ther side last week. Once the judge concludes his summary of the evidence, the jurors will be sent out to consider the verdict. Syed, the former presi- dent of the University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands, has denied 12 charges, including obtaining pecuniary advantage by de- ception, obtaining money transfers by deception and theft. The charges relate to allegations that he lied about his doctorate to get the president’s job and then dishonestly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of the college’s money for per- sonal use. He is also ac- cused of falsifying invoices and dishonestly submitting time sheets to get payment from the college in connec- tion with work to set up a Civil Service College. Hassan Syed South Sudan blocks desperately needed aid, say UN officials KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) – South Sudan’s government is blocking desperately needed food aid and restricting United Nations peacekeepers, according to a confidential report by the U.N. secretary- general and a statement by a top U.N. official. Together, the report and statement show the daunting conditions faced by the inter- national community as it tries to combat a catastrophe in the troubled East African nation. The internal report from U.N. Secretary-General An- tonio Guterres to members of the Security Council obtained by the Associated Press sin- gles out South Sudan’s gov- ernment for “the destruction of all the social fabric in all parts of the country” and lists “outrageous” examples of bel- ligerence by South Sudan’s se- curity forces. South Sudan is impeding humanitarian assistance, said the U.N. humanitarian chief, Stephen O’Brien, after a two-day visit to the country over the weekend. “People have been dis- placed, brutalized and raped. They have been attacked when they sought out assis- tance. This must stop, and it must stop now,” O’Brien said in a statement. At least 50,000 people have died in South Sudan’s civil war, which began in December 2013 as a result of a struggle for power between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. An estimated 100,000 people are experiencing famine, and another 1 mil- lion people are on the brink of starvation, South Sudan’s government and U.N. agen- cies said in late February. South Sudan is now Africa’s largest migrant crisis as more than 3 million people have ei- ther fled the country or be- come internally displaced, ac- cording to the U.N. The impact of this ongoing conflict and violence has reached disastrous propor- tions for civilians, Guterres said in the internal letter. The U.N. Security Council decided in August to send an additional 4,000 peace- keepers to South Sudan, but the government has de- layed the arrival of the extra troops. Some progress on sending the extra troops has recently been made however, and the deployment of an ad- vance contingent of Rwandan troops is being finalized, said Guterres’s report. Guterres’s letter, sent to the Security Council on Feb. 13, listed several incidents in which he said govern- ment forces hindered the U.N.’s peacekeeping and hu- manitarian work. But South Sudan’s govern- ment says it has improved se- curity and taken steps to hold violators of rights abuses ac- countable, First Vice President Taban Deng Gai told members of the U.N. Human Rights Council on Feb. 27, according to a statement obtained by AP. He said the government does not have enough re- sources to demobilize armed groups, and asked for more military funding. “I can state with confi- dence that the notion of a looming genocide and pos- sible ethnic cleansing is fading away as we continue with these demonstrations of our commitment to harmoni- ously live together,” Gai said in the statement.Next >