ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 High of 80 Low of 70 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 LEGAL PRACTITIONERS BILL: ONE COMPLEX LAW (PLUS 200 AMENDMENTS) SPORTS | PAGE 14 YOUTH ROLLER HOCKEY TEAMS CHASE TITLES PremierHealth The world is smaller when you have a bigger health plan. 24/7 worldwide assistance and your I.D. card is accepted by 1.1million US providers, including pharmacy benefits. Wherever you touch down, with Premier Health you are only a phone call away from the care you deserve. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp LEGAL PRACTITIONERS BILL Politicians squabble over who drafted bill BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands politicians argued Wednesday over who penned the draft of the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill, as the clock continued to tick on the final meeting of the current parliament. Legislators have until March 28 to re- solve all remaining issues before the Legislative Assembly. More than 20 bills re- main on the agenda. Late Tuesday, several government ministers spoke in favor of the Legal Practitioners Bill, indicating that an amended form of the bill would be approved in the coming days. The bill seeks sweeping changes to a nearly 50-year-old law that regulates the operations of attorneys and law firms within Cayman. Supporters have said changes are necessary to meet international standards for the finan- cial services industry and to stop the prac- tice of rogue firms outside the islands prof- iting from the practice of Cayman Islands law. Opponents say the bill merely cements the “status quo” system which has prevented Caymanian attorneys from advancing in the profession. The precise wording of the legislation will not be known until lawmakers finish plowing through nearly 200 amendments proposed for the bill. Those changes will be debated after legislators vote on the initial plan. A final vote on the amended bill would be taken after all changes are made. Debate on the bill stalled again Wednesday, as a parliamentary question concerning how the legislation was written was asked by East End MLA Arden McLean. FATCA REPEAL ON AGENDA OF US REPUBLICANS TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Washington’s Foreign Accounts Tax Com- pliance Act, known as FATCA, will be assailed afresh as lawyers and lobbyists renew efforts to repeal the law as part of President Donald Trump’s tax reform. Washington-based Jim Jatras, a Repub- lican and co-leader of the Campaign to Repeal FATCA, says “lots is happening,” and his group expects a Republican Congress to repeal the 2010 law by the end of this year. “The Republican leadership in both House and Senate, as well as the Trump administra- tion, all know that their fortunes for 2018 de- pend on keeping a few do-or-die promises, such as repealing Obamacare, an infrastruc- ture program and tax reform,” Mr. Jatras says. “They will find a way to do it. Our job is to make sure when that train leaves the station, FATCA repeal is on it.” Previous efforts to persuade the Obama administration were ineffective, he concedes, but says the November election of Mr. Trump and a Republican Congress have dramatically changed the landscape. “The legislative situation was very different from what it is today,” he told the Cayman Compass. “With both chambers of Congress and the White House controlled by the GOP, and strong language in the 2016 [Republican Party] platform favoring repeal, there’s a clear roadmap to repeal this year.” As early as January 2014, the Republican National Committee called for FATCA repeal. “There are questions about timing and Longtime police veteran Andre Tahal has taken over as area commander of the Sister Islands. Inspector Tahal has served on the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for 20 years. He will be stationed in Cayman Brac, where he previously served as a po- lice officer. He has also worked for RCIPS as marine commander and inspector for the Uniform Support Group, and as deputy commander for West Bay. Inspector Tahal, who is orig- inally from Guyana, said re- turning to Cayman Brac feels like going home. “This is where I lived for three- and-a-half years after I first came to Cayman in 1994, and is where I first fell in love with the Cayman Islands. The Brac and Little Cayman are very special places to me and I am very proud to be charged with protecting them,” he said in a press statement. He is encouraging the public to meet with him at the Cayman Brac Police Station. He will also hold community meetings in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, with dates to be announced. On March 25, Inspector Tahal will be available at the RCIPS booth at the Agriculture Show in Cayman Brac. Insp. Tahal can be contacted on 948-0331. Police veteran takes over command of Sister Islands Florida choir visits Bodden Town Primary Members of the Cambridge Christian School choir of Tampa, Florida, took the stage at Bodden Town Primary School on Wednesday morning to perform for students. For more, see page 6. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Inspector Andre Tahal PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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. SATURDAY, MARCH 18TH, 8PM Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) - THURSDAY - KONG: SKULL ISLAND 3D (PG13) 12:30 | 3:30 2D I 6:45 | 9:35 2D THE GREAT WALL 3D (PG13) 1:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:55 THE SHACK (PG13) 4:10 | 9:45 LOGAN (R) 12:30 | 3:35 | 6:40 | 9:40 JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2 (R) 12:55 | 3:50 | 7:05 | 9:50 BEFORE I FALL (PG13) 1:00 | 7:10 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “We are all trying ” Gender survey to analyze Cayman Islands workforce KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com An independent group of professionals has taken on a gender-in-the-work- place survey, aimed at gauging employment diver- sity and opportunity in the Cayman Islands. Project strategist Marzeta Bodden said the survey seeks to involve Cayman in interna- tional dialogue about gender equality in the workforce and determine if gaps exist in the islands. “It stems from the fact that around the world there [is] lots of conversation about gender in the workplace and whether or not there is a gender gap,” she said. “Cayman is an interna- tional jurisdiction but we don’t know the answer to whether there is a gap in our workforce. … We want to be able to have high-quality data with which we can actu- ally begin the conversation.” The survey hopes to reach men and women from a broad range of industries, ages and seniority levels. The project is being car- ried out by a volunteer team, including Roxanne Lorimer, who said she would like to get a clear idea of the drivers behind career progression and pro- fessional leadership. “For my whole career, I’ve always looked at leadership in companies and noticed often that at some point in people’s career, females kind of fall out of the leadership pipeline,” she said. “What we wanted to see is what’s going on in the work- place in the Cayman Islands in terms of gender diversity and access to senior posi- tions in the workplace.” The data gathered by the initiative will be analyzed by a statistician and shared, with the hope of informing industry decision-making. The group has consulted with government on the project. Ms. Bodden said the data is expected to comple- ment basic demographic in- formation already available on employment. All responses to the survey are anonymous, Ms. Bodden said. The questionnaire can be found at www.genderintheworkplace.ky. In Colombia, chaotic capital gets lesson in ‘coexistence’ BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Co- lombians are getting a lesson in manners in the form of a strict 120-page civil code, and nowhere is it causing more angst than in the coun- try’s frenetic capital where jugglers and soda vendors snake through traffic, party buses throb into the night and street chaos reigns. Playing loud music late at night is now punishable with a $125 fine. Not picking up dog poop: $30. Turnstile jumpers on public buses are being sent to a “coexis- tence course.” “The code is a confirma- tion of the failure of family and school in the correct edu- cation of Colombians,” writer Alonso Sanchez opined in Semana, the country’s most prominent newsweekly. The new rules, which are being applied across Co- lombia, are stringent enough that the mayor of Barran- quilla recently filed a decree seeking temporary relief after realizing the coastal city’s annual carnival would be vi- olating several codes prohib- iting noisy parties. But the first revision to Colombia’s civil code in more than four decades has per- haps generated the most de- bate in Bogota, a city of 8 million people that authorities say has received a high per- centage of the citations regis- tered for all of the country. Some Bogotanos are qui- etly welcoming the code as a needed intervention, but others are decrying it as a vast overreach of police power that will do the most hurt to those least able to pay fines. While the lowest- level offenses such as not of- fering a pregnant woman use of a bathroom first are pun- ishable with $30 fines, the most severe carry a $262 penalty – about equal to the monthly minimum wage. Pirated copies of the civil code book are being hawked for about $1 each on the street, where it has been a steady seller to people anx- ious to know what is now prohibited, and promi- nent Bogota socialites have already found themselves in gossip columns for vi- olating rules. “There are a lot of things written in there that people don’t think should be,” said Carlos Alvaro, a street vendor who has sold about 100 copies since late January. The updated civil code was enacted last July in rec- ognition that Colombia is a more urban society today and afflicted by far different daily problems than in de- cades past, when the country was still steeped in a violent conflict with illegal armed groups. As serious offenses like kidnappings have plum- meted, the code’s chief archi- tects contend it is time for Colombians to begin fixing their eyes on minor infrac- tions like drinking in public and driving in bike lanes that harm a peaceful society. Full legislature backs energy policy BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands law- makers unanimously voted to support the territory’s first energy policy Wednesday, noting the document rec- ommends that 70 percent of the islands’ total electricity generation come from re- newable energy sources by the year 2037. “[The policy] can truly be described as a made-in- Cayman solution that is fit for purpose,” Planning Min- ister Kurt Tibbetts said. Mr. Tibbetts asked all members of the assembly to take a symbolic vote to sup- port the plan, which does not require the government to spend any money but which rather sets out aspi- rational goals to protect the local environment. Assembly members voted 16-0 to back the document and its recommendations. In addition to using a majority of renewable en- ergy sources within the next 20 years, the policy also seeks to cut individual carbon dioxide emissions by more than two-thirds during that period. Minister Tibbetts noted that Cayman is far away from any such use of renew- able energy sources, stating that less than one percent of the energy used in the is- lands currently comes from renewable sources. He said that must change and soon. “This report’s recommen- dations are critical to the eco- nomic growth of the Cayman Islands,” Minister Tibbetts said. “We can’t afford to allow it to become another docu- ment on the bookshelves.” “We want to be able to have high-quality data with which we can actually begin the conversation.” MARZETA BODDEN, project strategist “This report’s recommendations are critical to the economic growth of the Cayman Islands.” KURT TIBBETTS, planning minister Search in Mexico for crocodile that killed man MEXICO CITY (AP) – En- vironmental authorities are searching for a 10-foot crocodile that killed and apparently ate a man in southern Mexico. The federal Environ- ment Department said Wednesday the attack oc- curred March 12 when the victim and three friends went to the La Encrucijada reserve to fish. The 18-year- old man was carried off by the reptile, but his com- panions escaped. The department said it would erect crocodile warning signs. The department said ex- perts and fishermen began working Tuesday to locate crocodiles of that length in a swampy area on the Pa- cific coast of Chiapas state. Experts will try to capture and empty the stomachs of the croc- odiles without killing them to see if any contain human remains. If they find the animal, it will be relocated to an animal reserve, park or zoo. Exxon Mobil applies for oil production license in Guyana GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) – American oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. has asked Guyana’s government for a production license to let it start pumping oil from the seabed by late 2019, months earlier than expected. Guyana Geology and Mines Commissioner Newell Dennison on Wednesday confirmed the application. It would be the first time the small South American country has issued an oil and gas license. Exxon Mobil an- nounced a “world-class” commercial find in 2015, saying that its Liza-1 well is believed to contain up to 1.4 billion barrels of oil and an undisclosed amount of gas. The discoveries add to a maritime rights dispute with Venezuela. They’re in an area also claimed by Guyana’s neighbor. The UN has given both na- tions until year’s end to solve the dispute.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 Make Your Voice Count ELECTIONS2017 ELECTIONS 2017 Candidates t. +1 345 949 5111 e. sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com For more information All candidates receive these features FREE in our special election publications and online: • Professional photo taken at Compass studio • Video interview recorded at Compass studio (Featured on Compass website; shared with candidate) • Candidate profile included in election publications Be Included! Deadline: Thursday, March 23The 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. THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Legal Practitioners Bill: One complex law (plus 200 amendments) “When you have the votes, vote. When you don’t have the votes, talk.” That’s a political axiom which applies neatly to the situation facing Cayman Islands legislators in relation to the Legal Practitioners Bill. On paper at least, the Progressives government should have “the votes” (i.e. the majority needed to pass a piece of legislation) for every bill that’s brought to the floor of the House, particularly on some- thing as important as a new regulatory framework for Cayman’s legal sector. At this point, however, it’s not clear whether the government is unified on this matter or not. Somehow the Progressives have allowed them- selves to be backed into a corner, with 200-odd amendments to consider during a highly compressed time frame, before the “final version” of the bill is to be voted on, once and for all. We understand the need for and we support some key parts of the bill, but we also have serious reser- vations about the bill, specifically the protectionist provisions for Caymanian attorneys. While the major law firms seem to have accepted those sections in exchange for the parts of the bill concerning local standards for the profession and the regulation of the practice of Cayman law overseas, we are extremely skeptical and critical of “affirmative action” measures in any industry and are wary of such provisions (if they are included in the final Legal Practitioners Law) creeping into other business sectors, sooner or later. We’ll stop there with our opinions on the bill for the simple reason that the document legislators will vote on for its second reading is likely not going to resemble the bill that emerges from the “committee stage” (remember the 200 amendments) and is even- tually put up for the all-important third and final vote. In fact, similar to the rushed passage of the 2013 National Conservation Law (which also underwent dramatic renovation in the committee stage before the third reading), we suspect nobody – not even law- makers – will know for sure what they’re voting on until long after they take the vote. In the case of the National Conservation Law, the final version of the legislation was not made available to the public until nearly two months after the Legislative Assembly approved it, and weeks after the governor signed it. The Progressives’ management (or mismanage- ment) of the legislative process is rather remarkable, considering this particular draft of the Legal Practitio- ners Bill has been discussed for many months, and the concept of the bill has been simmering for many years. The current parliamentary procedure on the bill has been hijacked somewhat through hijinks from inde- pendent members of the opposition and the bizarre (and unsubstantiated) claims that law firms had hired private investigators to have those MLAs followed. During Monday’s debate, a rare moment of clarity on this topic was thankfully provided by Minister Tara Rivers, who devoted a large amount of her time to reading an insightful and compelling letter from a Cay- manian who works in the legal industry. The writer, an employee at Maples law firm, said the legislative debate thus far had been one-sided, and that lawmakers seem not to acknowledge that the vast majority of the jobs generated by Cayman’s legal sector aren’t for attorneys, but for legal support staff. The writer said she’s not a lawyer herself, but has a great job in legal support for a good employer in Maples. For perspective, the writer said Maples has about 100 attorneys and 400 support staff – 300 of whom are Caymanian. Lawmakers who attempt to portray the law firms as big, bad actors risk having those firms move business – and support jobs now occupied by Cayma- nians – away from Cayman. The letter writer asked, who is speaking for people like her? Well, Minister Rivers assumed that role, and to great effect. We consider her performance Monday to be a shining moment of her four years in office. During debate on this and future bills, Minister Rivers’ colleagues would do well to follow her example and use their precious time in the Legisla- tive Assembly to offer valuable perspective, to provide cogent arguments and, above all, to legislate in the best interests of their constituents – and for all who live and work in these islands. Remove gov’t from ‘the arts’ WASHINGTON – Although the National Endowment for the Arts’ 2016 cost of $148 mil- lion was less than one-hun- dredth of 1 percent of the federal budget, attempting to abolish the NEA is a fight worth having, never mind the certain futility of the fight. Let’s pretend, counter-fac- tually, that the NEA no longer funds the sort of rubbish that once immersed it in the cul- ture wars, e.g., “Piss Christ” (a photo depicting a crucifix immersed in a jar of the art- ist’s urine) and “Genital Wall- paper” (don’t ask). What, how- ever, is art? We subsidize soybean production, but at least we can say what soy- beans are. Are NEA enthu- siasts serene about govern- ment stipulating, as it must, art’s public purposes that justify public funding? Or do they insist that public funds should be expended for no defined public purpose? Government breeds advo- cacy groups that lobby it to do what it wants to do anyway – expand what it is doing. The myriad entities with finan- cial interests in preserving the NEA cloyingly call themselves the “arts community,” a clever branding that other grasping factions should emulate, e.g., the “military-industrial com- munity.” The “arts community” has its pitter-patter down pat. The rhetorical cotton candy – sugary, jargon-clotted arts gush – asserts that the arts nurture “civically valuable dispositions” and a sense of “community and connected- ness.” And, of course, “diver- sity” and “self-esteem.” Ameri- cans supposedly suffer from a scarcity of both. The NEA was created in 1965 as a filigree on the Great Society. In 1995, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives and said the NEA was a frill the fed- eral government should be shorn of. Twenty-two years later, it survives, having mas- tered adaptive evolution, gov- ernment-style: It defines art democratically and circu- larly. Art is anything done by anyone calling himself or her- self an artist, and an artist is anyone who produces art. An NEA report issued under Bill Clinton said “art includes the expressive behaviors of ordinary people,” including “dinner-table arrangements” and “piecrust designs.” As Walt Whitman neglected to say, “I hear America singing and everyone’s singing is above average.” Populist pan- dering is nothing new in Washington. Neither is this utilitarian calculus: Policies are good that provide the greatest self-esteem for the greatest number. David Marcus, artistic di- rector of a Brooklyn-based theater project and senior contributor to The Federalist, says the NEA produces “per- verse market incentives” that explain why many arts insti- tutions “are failing badly at reaching new audiences, and losing ground”: “Many theater companies, even the country’s most ‘suc- cessful,’ get barely 50 per- cent of their revenue from ticket sales. Much of the rest comes from tax-deductible donations and direct gov- ernment grants. This means that the real way to succeed as an arts organization is not to create a product that at- tracts new audiences, but to create a product that pleases those who dole out the free cash. The industry received more free money than it did a decade ago, and has fewer attendees.” Furthermore, the NEA’s ef- fects are regressive, funding programs that are, as Paul Ryan’s House Budget Com- mittee said, “generally en- joyed by people of higher in- come levels, making them a wealth transfer from poorer to wealthier.” Defense contractors spread weapons systems’ subcontracts across the na- tion like butter across toast; 50 states and perhaps all 435 congressional districts get NEA funds. And here is an- other reason for the immor- tality of government pro- grams: If a program is a major expense, its spending generates so many dependent clients that legislators flinch from eliminating or even substantially trimming it. And if a program is, like the NEA, a minor expense, legis- lators wonder: Why take the trouble, and experience the pain (the NEA’s affluent cli- ents fluently articulate their grievances and sense of enti- tlement), for a trivial gain? Americans’ voluntary con- tributions to arts organiza- tions (“arts/culture/humani- ties” institutions reaped $17 billion in 2015) dwarf the NEA’s subventions, which would be replaced if those who actually use the organi- zations – many of them sup- ported by state and local gov- ernment arts councils – are as enthusiastic about them as they claim to be. The idea that the arts will wither away if the NEA goes away is risible. Distilled to its essence, the ar- gument for the NEA is: Art is a Good Thing, therefore a gov- ernment subsidy for it is a Good Deed. To appreciate the non sequitur, substitute “mac- aroni and cheese” for “art.” George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE LETTER Driving permits It has been puzzling me for several years as to why we do not have a fa- cility at the airport for vis- itors to purchase a visitor driving permit. There are thousands of people who come here yearly to visit friends and family and who may wish to drive a car but not neces- sarily hire one. Encouraging some, I am sure, to drive without the permit, hence break the law and deprive the country of income. To wait in line for hours, and believe me, it has been hours, at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Li- censing takes valuable vacation time. Many countries allow this application online also prior to a visit. It would definitely im- prove the visitors’ experience. I have tried asking the same question of the min- istry but had no response. Jan Robshaw 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 Man not guilty of robbing cyclist CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After a two-day trial that began on Monday, a Grand Court jury found Ovideo Anthonio Moses Bodden not guilty of robbery and possession of an imita- tion firearm with intent to commit robbery. The charges arose from an incident in the vicinity of Walkers Road on the night of May 4, 2016. The complainant/victim was the only witness for the prosecution, which was conducted by Crown counsel Neil Kumar. The witness said he had left home around 11 p.m. to get some milk at the gas sta- tion. On his way back, he took a shortcut. Two masked men jumped over a wall; they had guns and told him to stop. A third man, not masked, came through a gate – he had a small gun. The unmasked man told him to hand over all his money. The victim said he handed over his phone and a little bit of cash. The un- masked man came close enough to search the victim’s pockets, where he found a bracelet and took it. “I had a clear view of his face,” the witness said. He quoted the robber as saying words to the effect, “This is not a joke ting” or “You think this is a joke ting?” He ad- mitted that was when he got scared. He was told to go to the main road, so he picked up his milk and candy and wheeled his bike out to the main road. He immediately went to the police station and reported what had happened. In summing up the evi- dence and instructing the jury on law, Justice Paul Worsley pointed out that the only question was whether the witness’s identification of the defendant as the robber was correct. He said they should con- sider factors such as the lighting, distance and length of time the person was in sight. He cautioned that an honest person can be mis- taken and they needed to consider the circumstances in which the viewing occurred. The judge pointed out that this had been a very fright- ening experience and jurors needed to consider whether the victim was so shaken up that he misremembered. Defense attorney Lee Hal- liday-Davis had cross-ex- amined the witness about describing the robber as having a fair complexion. The witness replied that the robber was lighter than he was. There were also questions about height, weight, hair style, color of clothing and speech. The witness had said the robber spoke with what he considered was a Cayma- nian accent. When the de- fendant gave evidence, he spoke in Spanish and had the assistance of a translator throughout the trial. Bodden, 20 at the time of the incident, was arrested on May 20, 2016 after he went into a George Town bar where the robbery victim happened to be. The victim had someone call police and when officer arrived he pointed out Bodden to them. The defendant, who had no previous convictions, told the court that he was home in bed when the robbery occurred. He said he had worked long hours that day and was tired. After the unanimous not guilty verdicts, Justice Worsley said the defendant could be discharged. He had been in custody since his arrest. Police arrest 21 over weekend Police officers made 21 ar- rests in Grand Cayman last weekend, including six arrests for driving under the influence on Friday night. Police made four arrests for burglary or theft, four for threats or assault, four for drug offenses and one for gambling, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported. One Saturday-night arrest resulted in charges against a 44-year-old man for ganja possession with the intent to supply. The man was arrested near Eastern Avenue and Avon Way after officers found him with a “substantial quantity of ganja.” He was sent to North- ward prison and is sched- uled to appear in court on Thursday, March 16. On Monday morning, offi- cers arrested a man on South Church Street near Boilers Road on suspicion of being equipped to steal. He was spotted carrying a bicycle wheel and a bag. Po- lice conducted a search and recovered bolt cutters. Police reported he became aggres- sive while in custody and ad- ditionally charged him with disorderly conduct in a po- lice station. He appeared in court Wednesday. UK CRIMINAL FINANCES BILL SEMINAR PLANNED Cayman Finance will host a seminar by representa- tives of the U.K.’s Her Maj- esty’s Revenue and Cus- toms on Thursday, March 23, on Britain’s latest Criminal Finances Bill. “If the bill is passed, the new law will have significant implications on the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction and on businesses within the local financial services in- dustry,” a statement from Cayman Finance read. Jude Scott, CEO of Cayman Finance, said it is important to establish a di- rect line of communication between Cayman’s financial services industry and those in the U.K. who are working to pass this legislation. “All stakeholders within the industry are encour- aged to attend this seminar where attendees will hear di- rectly from the U.K. officials providing the opportunity to ask questions and seek clar- ification on the bill to better understand how it will af- fect the financial services industry,” Mr. Scott said in the statement. Featured speakers will in- clude Mr. Scott; Cayman Is- lands Governor Helen Kil- patrick; Jennifer Haslett, HM Revenue and Customs, Corporate Crime and Inter- national Engagement and representatives from Cay- man’s Ministry of Finan- cial Services, Commerce and Environment. The seminar will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Registration is free for Cayman Finance members and is US$200 for all other attendees. To purchase tickets or RSVP visit www.caymanfinance.ky.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Tampa choir’s performance wows at Bodden Town Primary JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Students at Bodden Town Primary School were treated to some good old hand-clap- ping, finger-snapping, foot- stomping music during as- sembly Wednesday morning. More than 100 youngsters gathered in the school’s as- sembly hall to enjoy the per- formance by a choir made up of 21 students from Cam- bridge Christian School in Tampa, Florida. “We are very grateful to have had the Cambridge Christian School Choir per- form for us this morning,” said June Elliott, the school’s principal. “We all enjoyed and ap- preciated their presentation. It was good to have our stu- dents exposed to the variety and quality of music, and the friendliness of the per- formers added to the rich- ness of their presentation.” Cambridge Christian School Fine Arts Director Shaun Stimson said the stu- dents decided to come to Cayman to do a choir tour at various churches, schools and nursing homes to spread some music and love of Jesus during their week-long spring break. Led by Chorus Director Missy Rawls, the choir per- formed “Shosholoza,” a Nde- bele folk song that originated in what is now Zimbabwe but was popularized in South Af- rica, “Disney Dazzle,” “Praise His Holy Name,” and finished up with “Stomp,” which got the children in the audience excited and joining in. “The [Cayman] students loved the kids, and wanted to talk to them afterwards,” said Ms. Rawls. “It’s great because music bonds people.” It was Ms. Rawls’s first trip with the group, which has visited the Cayman Is- lands several times over the years. The group has been visiting various countries throughout the Caribbean for about 30 years, and the last time the choir visited Grand Cayman was four years ago. “I come here and I see the people, the love, and the way you are raising your children, we are getting away from that in America,” she said. Ms. Rawls said this year the group got to take in most of the major attractions on island, such as swimming with dolphins, Stingray City, visiting Hell and trying some delicious Cayman food, in- cluding some special heavy cake which was dense and “very fabulous.” She said the group is staying at the Prospect Youth Camp and have been en- joying the sunrises and sun- sets since arriving on island last Thursday. Jon Caplinger, an alumni chaperone from the school, said he came on the trip eight years ago and for him it was a big thing. He said his family is from Jamaica, and he was personally used to going to the Caribbean, but a trip like this gives students from Cambridge Christian School an opportu- nity they may not otherwise have, to interact with kids from different backgrounds, and hear a lot of stories. “That was something that touched home for me some years ago, all the different stories from the places we went, like the old people’s home, the churches and the schools,” said Mr. Caplinger. “I realized everyone has their own story; that’s a beautiful thing and you kind of get a taste for life. It’s awe- some – I loved it and the kids love it too.” Russell Dostal, a school chaperone, said after leaving the Bodden Town Primary on Wednesday, the choir would head to the First Baptist Christian School. “We hope to be an out- reach, not just in our close community back home, but to go out beyond the United States and reach other people,” he said. “We had one of the students give a testimony of his life with Christ, and we hope to in our music be glo- rifying God. Music can be a silent evangelist for some people, who can pick some- thing out of what they hear to have a spiritual meaning to them.” The group leaves Cayman Thursday. 50 years ago: Lighthouse Club officially opens in Breakers In the March 15, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, news from Bodden Town included: “There was a very happy time spent on Monday evening, March 6, at the formal opening of the Lighthouse Club Ltd. at Breakers. The place is airy and on the sea front and is built in the form of a ship with the flag flying. One of the most interesting fea- tures is up on the top of the middle wall, there is a miniature railroad, the first on the island. “The Club was formally opened by His Honour the Administrator, to which Mr. Hull suitably replied. “A lovely, tasty supper was served, consisting of turkey, ham, and all the good things that go with it, which was enjoyed by all. “Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hull are to be congratu- lated on their venture and we wish them well.” Other Bodden Town-re- lated news included: “We understand that Mr. Arthur B. Hunter has recently received news of his admission as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England. “Mr. Hunter received his secondary education at Knox College in Jamaica and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Jamaica in July 1960 after serving his Ar- ticles with Messrs. Samuel and Samuel, Solicitors of Kingston, Jamaica. “He returned to Grand Cayman in August 1960 and served the Govern- ment of the Cayman Is- lands as Clerk of the Court and Registrar of Compa- nies and Lands. In August 1965, he joined with his father, Mr. C.A. Hunter, Law Agent, in establishing Cayman’s first legal firm Hunter and Hunter.” In the March 22, edi- tion, further news of the Lighthouse Club included: “Over 100 guests headed by His Honour the Administrator Mr. J.A. Cumber and Mrs. Cumber attended a party at the Lighthouse Club on Tuesday, March 14. “The occasion was in- formal and the guests moved about and chatted freely with each other. A representative cross-section of the is- land was invited. “Drinks and buffet supper were served with the compliments of the management, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hull. “Shortly after 9 p.m. dancing followed to the spontaneous rhythm of a North Side group.” The choir impressed the students with their vocal skills. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY The Bodden Town Primary students really enjoyed the performance.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 Future of Mission House draws concern JEWEL LEVY Jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some Bodden Town resi- dents are expressing concern about the fate of the district’s historic Mission House, sug- gesting that Cayman heritage and culture could be show- cased by having the local attraction open on a more regular basis. In 2015, the National Trust, the nonprofit orga- nization that manages the property which houses cen- turies of history, closed the building because of a lack of staff able to work there on a full-time basis. They then of- fered locals and visitors the opportunity to book tours by appointment. “Guided tours of the Mis- sion House are available Monday through Friday, by appointment only. The tours currently cost $8 for adults and $4 for children, and we require a minimum group of 6 people per tour. Addi- tional days and private tours may also be available on re- quest,” an email from Na- tional Trust Historic Pro- grammes Manager Richard Mileham states. Residents of nearby Cumber Avenue and Gun Square Twyla Vargas and Pedro Watler say tours of the historic home are few and far apart and most times the building is closed to those who just happen to turn up on a given day. They claim this is unacceptable because the Mission House can be used for so many things, and suggest the National Trust should make the building and grounds more available to the people of Bodden Town. In an email to the Cayman Compass, Mr. Mileham said that since September 2016, tours have been given to around 130 people, some of which formed part of the Bodden Town Heritage Day activities in November. “We also have future con- firmed bookings for school groups,” he said. While there may be tours going on, the property does appear to be in need a little sprucing up. In front of the Mission House, the plants are dry and wilting, and paint is peeling from some parts of the building. Most times, the only life around is just the squawk of chickens and rus- tling of iguanas in the tree tops, the residents claim. Ms. Vargas suggests Na- tional Trust finds retirees or others in the district who would be willing to assist in the gift shop for a small salary. This keeper would also be able to give information on the district’s cultural his- tory, and sell crafts and other artworks on a daily basis. Mr. Watler, a relative of the family who donated the home to the Trust, said bus- loads of tourists and in- dividuals on foot arrive at the site every day, but it is always closed. “They usually want to find out what times the house is open for viewing. When I tell them they have to make an appointment, most of them said they were just passing through the area and thought it [would be] a good place to visit because it was on the Cayman map,” said Mr. Watler. The Trust says it is working to change that. “The Trust is still very committed to making the house available for tours. In fact, we have recently re- corded an audio version of the tour which will not only make the process for running tours more straightforward, but we hope that it will also appeal to a wider audience,” said Mr. Mileham. “We are hoping to launch these audio tours very soon and would look to advertise this accordingly,” he added. Mr. Mileham confirmed the Trust has put out a call for volunteers to as- sist with tours and they have received interest from a nearby resident. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to agree a suitable time to sufficiently train that volunteer in how to run a guided tour of the house. However, with the forthcoming launch of the audio tour, it is hoped that this training wouldn’t be necessary. “Also, once the audio tours have been launched we would welcome volunteers to assist us with opening the house and meeting visi- tors,” he said. The new tours of the house will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children, he said. Mr. Mileham said the Trust would be delighted to sell local crafts in the gift shop, and also at its Nature Store at Dart Park in South Sound. “I have not been made aware of any particular items that people would like us to sell, but we welcome sugges- tions,” he said. Mission House history According to the National Trust, the Bodden Town Mis- sion House site was used by early settlers for its abun- dant supply of water in the 1700s. In the 1800s, it be- came known as the Mission House to early missionaries, teachers and families who contributed to establishing the Presbyterian ministry and school in Bodden Town. Before being turned over to the National Trust, the house was home to the late Emile Watler. His daughter Veleen and her family were the last people to live in the home. The two-story house was rebuilt after being re- duced to rubble in Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The Trust’s Historic Com- mittee collected and pre- served original rafters, pur- lins and ironwood posts. Rooms inside the Mis- sion House showcase Cay- man’s history by re-cre- ating the living situations of the three families known to have owned the home. The site also houses a small re- source room organized by the Cayman National Ar- chive, and features a display from the Cayman National Museum. It also has a store selling toys, books, crafts and refreshments. Outside, Cayman’s heri- tage is also reflected in the landscaped grounds with in- digenous plants and trees and a traditional sand garden. Twyla Vargas points out the dried up plants.The Mission House is currently open for tours by appointment only. Gospel singer to perform at Pedro Making a special visit to the Cayman Islands to cel- ebrate his 40th birthday, Grammy award-winning gospel singer Jason Crabb is slated to perform at Pedro Castle this Sunday. Mr. Crabb was previ- ously scheduled to perform at the Savannah historic site in July, but the venue was moved to the Lions Centre at the last moment due to in- clement weather. The concert was such a success and the response so enthusiastic, Mr. Crabb told the Cayman Com- pass at the time, he could not wait to come back and perform again. “I can’t wait to go back to the Cayman Islands to cel- ebrate my 40th birthday,” he said in a press release, noting this time his family will accompany him, and he looks forward to having them experience Grand Cayman and its people. “The islands are beau- tiful, but the people are the best part.” Mr. Crabb is known for his range of music, including gospel, country, pop and Southern gospel. “His talent and high-en- ergy performances delight people from all walks of life, and make for an unforget- table experience for all the family,” the release states. The concert is organized by the Tourism Attraction Board, Cayman Academy and Pedro St. James. Advance tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at the Christian Enlighten- ment Centre, Funky Tang’s or Pedro St. James. Tickets at the gate are $35. For more information, email info@pedrostjames.ky or dwaynedwel@yahoo.com.Jason CrabbThe 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 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MARCH 16 BRAC WORKFORCE: Representatives from the National Workforce Development Agency will assist with online registration for employers and job-seekers through the National Job Link program today 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow, 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. BRAC SCHOLARSHIPS: The National Scholarship Program holds two local scholarship information sessions at Layman Scott High School Hall for students planning a Fall 2017/Spring 2018 start. The first session, for Year 12/UCCI students and new applicants, runs from 6-6:45 p.m. The second, for Year 11 students only, is from 7-7:30 p.m. Parents/guardians and new applicants are encouraged to attend. BRAC TRAINING: The National Training Programme will host two workshops. Word 2010, The Basic in Practice is today, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Starting Your Job Search is scheduled for Friday, March 17, 9 a.m. to noon. CHAMBER COURSE: SME Workshop, The Cost of Doing Business. 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Free. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Ken Blanchard, Listening Skills. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $225 for members, $300 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. QUIZ NIGHT: The Humane Society monthly quiz night takes place at Fidel’s, from 7 p.m. and Nicola Walsh will be hosting. Register by contacting sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. DEPT. OF COMMERCE AND INVESTMENT: 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 tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS: The National Museum partners with the National Gallery and Cayman Catboat Club Museum to present “A Night at the Museums.” Start at the National Museum on Harbour Drive at 5:30 p.m. with cocktail reception and the exhibition, “Legends of Scuba Diving.” At 7 p.m., head to the Catboat Club for fish fry and tour. Learn about maritime history and culture. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, email info@museum.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 17 BRAC THRIFT SHOP: The Red Cross Thrift Shop will have a sale in the Brac from 12 noon till 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location is on the Bluff, across from the Civic Centre. Items available include clothing, handbags, shoes, toys, books and more. 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 CONTRACTORS: The Department of Planning hosts a public meeting on the topic of contractor registration 10 a.m. to noon at the Aston Rutty Centre. During the first hour presenters will discuss the Builders Law; the second hour will be dedicated to questions and answers. SUNDAY, MARCH 19 SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE: First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Continuing the third Sunday of each month. MONDAY, MARCH 20 CAYMAN NATIONAL CHOIR: The choir invites singers to join the choir for rehearsals every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Cayman Prep. The choir is preparing for a 40th anniversary concert on June 1. New members welcome – tenors and basses especially welcome. For more information, contact Graham Morse at 925-6353. PROUD OF THEM: Today is the deadline to recognize excellence among young people by submitting nominations to the Proud of Them award scheme. Individuals ages 10-25 who are reaching new heights of achievement in academics, sports, their career, culture, business or community service can be nominated. Forms can be found at www.mcays.gov.ky. TUESDAY, MARCH 21 SICKLE CELL: The next Sickle Cell Support Group meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Cayman Islands Hospital Public Health waiting room. Dr. Anna Matthews, general practitioner, as well as a physician from Accident and Emergency, will be present. All are invited. For further information, contact the genetics coordinator on 244-2630 or email joy.merren@hsa.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part 2; 12:30-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SEAFARERS SOCIAL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association informs all members that there will be the March Social at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 BE INFORMED: Education in the Cayman Islands, 3-5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, MARCH 23 CHAMBER COURSE: Providing Exceptional Customer Service. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 24 BRAC VOTER ID: Issuance of voter IDs starts today at 10 a.m., District Administration Conference Room. CHAMBER EVENT: Careers, Education & Training Expo. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sir Vassel Johnson Hall, University College of the Cayman Islands. Free. SATURDAY, MARCH 25 DIVA CLOSET: Fine dresses, shoes and accessories for women and girls. John Gray Church Hall, near the four-way stop in West Bay. 6 a.m. till noon. Organized by the Women’s Fellowship. BAG SALE: New to You Thrift Shop. 90 Anthony Drive, off Smith Road. Buy a bag for $5 or $10 and fill it to the brim with displayed items, including all sizes of clothing, baby and household items, books, toys, stuffed animals, shoes and more. 7-11 a.m. BRAC AGRICULTURAL SHOW: The annual show takes place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Agriculture Show Grounds on the Bluff. Entry $10. Contact Chevala Burke at chevala.burke@gov. ky or 345-916-4874. LOGWOOD CLEARING: The National Trust seeks volunteers to assist clearing logwood from the Mission House property in Bodden Town at the end of Gun Square Road. 8 a.m. to noon. Bring hat, gloves, water bottle and sunscreen. Light snacks, water and Gatorade will be provided. Some tools will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own (clippers, machete, lopper etc.) Contact community@ nationaltrust.org.ky. EARTH HOUR PICNIC: Dart Park amphitheater, 6 p.m. Adults $10; children (3 to 12), $5. Open air screening of “Moana” and a drum circle. Families are encouraged to bring picnic essentials and participate in Earth Hour by pledging to turn off all nonessential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For more information, email community@nationaltrust. org.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. “ Our Father of Diving”. a great honoring of Bob Soto, who left us, 2 years ago. Join us for "A Night at the Museum”, Cayman Islands National Museum, Thursday the 16th, from 5:30 to 7pm My Darling soul mate, Missing you, Trying to be brave, But the Nights I cannot get through, For the pain of missing you.. Love, Suzy and the family The Cayman National Choir is looking for new members. The choir rehearses every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Cayman Prep.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 Burton Elroy Ebanks 16th March 1923 - 26th December 2016 Our dear brother did not live to celebrate his birthday. Although he did not choose to leave this world. A loving and merciful God knows he su ered physically long enough and lifted his precious soul to heaven A place of peace and rest and united him with other family members in Heaven. No more birthdays, he will never grow old. He will fall at Jesusfeet to thank and praise Him forever. Now that is celebration! Our dear brother believed the Holy scriptures of John 3.16 and St. John 10:28-29 We will always love and remember you our dear brother, If God lendeth us His breath of life and will live to please God . Your sisters, Beulah Powery, Nora Ebanks December 2016 Our dear brother did not live to celebrate his birthday. Financial Services Min- ister Wayne Panton said Cabinet received two presen- tations on the bill from rep- resentatives of the Cayman Islands Law Society and the Caymanian Bar Associa- tion, which it used to create a “joint position paper” that was given to a legisla- tive draftsman. That legal draftsman, a former govern- ment employee, then used the paper to inform his draft of the bill, Mr. Panton said. The legal draftsman was not paid by government, the minister said. He said he assumed the man had been paid by the lawyers associations. “Is the minster saying … the executive of this country doesn’t know how this work was paid for or how it was conducted? Is that his an- swer?” Mr. McLean asked. Mr. Panton said the bill was prepared in accor- dance with the government’s drafting instructions and “ultimately signed off for presentation in the House.” Mr. Panton said the drafting process was “not improper in any way.” Premier Alden McLaughlin added that the practice of “outsourcing” leg- islative drafting has been used from time to time by the assembly. “It was felt that if we were going to get it done, in time … it would require dedicated legal draftsmen to deal with the matter,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Had we not adopted that [approach], the bill would not have reached this House.” Ministers’ support A number of government ministers who had been si- lent on the Legal Practitio- ners Bill debate spoke out Tuesday afternoon, giving the impression that the bill had more support within government than was previ- ously believed. “We cannot get away from the fact that [finan- cial services] is the quintes- sential industry of global- ization,” Education Minister Tara Rivers said. “If we are to stay competitive … we must be able, as a jurisdic- tion, to practice our law in … multiple jurisdictions.” Currently, it is believed about 200 lawyers are em- ployed by local law firms and practice Cayman law overseas as part of those op- erations. Those firms with a substantial business pres- ence in Cayman should be supported in that prac- tice, Minister Rivers said – as long as they play by the rules the new bill will create. “By licensing and reg- ulating the practice of Cayman Islands law over- seas … this is not a new phenomenon,” she said. “It is what is done as it relates to New York law, as it relates to U.K. law, as it relates to Canadian law. “We, as a country, cannot take a myopic view to say we can only practice the law of the Cayman Islands in the Cayman Islands. We will lose business. And losing business translates to loss of jobs.” Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell opined that it was the creation of “overly nationalistic” law in the Ba- hamas during the 1960s and early 1970s that has typically been blamed for driving away that coun- try’s banking industry – an event which Cayman capital- ized on, he said. “The proposed new legis- lation has been turned into a contentious issue and has been turned into the sub- ject of negative media atten- tion,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. “Damage has been done, and is currently taking place. “Concern is already building in London over what is occurring here. [There is] little we can do to reverse the consequences once the damage is done.” what will be in the package, not whether there will be one,” Mr. Jatras said, calling it “a top priority” for “many interests.” Mr. Jatras was at the center of 2012 and 2013 lob- bying efforts to repeal the law, which requires U.S. cit- izens and a broad range of U.S.-affiliated individuals and companies to declare their overseas income, paying taxes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Up to 9 million people living overseas are estimated to be affected by FATCA, and as many as 6,000 in Cayman – more than 10 percent of the population – have obligations of some kind to the IRS. Mr. Jatras said, however, that looks set to change. In mid-February, Mr. Ja- tras and committee co- founder Nigel Green – head of U.S.-based financial ad- viser deVere Group – met members of Congress and “two influential assemblies of tax activist groups,” seeking to shape a tax package an- ticipated to be passed by the Congress this year.” He declined to name the groups, but said his com- mittee had “been in touch with” both the House of Representatives’ powerful Ways and Means Com- mittee and officials in the administration. “We are in contact with both. That’s all I can say for now,” he said. The organization’s re- pealfatca.com website says the five-member deVere delegation met Sen. Roger Wicker, Republican from Mississippi and co-sponsor of a previous repeal bill; Republican senator and 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul of Kentucky, also sponsor of a previous repeal bill; Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, sponsor of a House repeal bill in the previous Con- gress; and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who joined Mr. Meadows in the repeal bill. According to repeal- fatca.com, the delegation also met with the Senate Budget Committee, described as “important for scoring FATCA repeal.” “The fight is now well and truly on to repeal this toxic, imperialistic and fatally flawed tax law,” Mr. Green said in a press release. “FATCA has wrecked [sic] havoc on the global finan- cial system, turned 8 mil- lion Americans overseas into financial pariahs, violates other countries’ sovereignty, and is damaging for Amer- ican jobs and therefore the American and global econo- mies,” he said. He vowed immediately to submit a letter, signed by “numerous tax reform groups, spearheaded by the influential Americans for Tax Reform,” to “key Congres- sional leadership.” “FATCA repeal legisla- tion,” he said, “will now def- initely be introduced in the current Congress, in both the House and the Senate, in the next few weeks.” Mr. Jatras anticipates the tax-reform package would be introduced by July 4, al- though he conceded that ef- forts to repeal the Afford- able Care Act are dominating congressional attention at the moment. “Repeal and replacement of Obamacare is, as they say, sucking all of the air out of the room right now. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be prolonged. In any case, we need a little time to get FATCA repeal into a tax bill, so this is some- what favorable to our cam- paign,” he said. Congress originally passed FATCA as part of a 2010 job stimulus package, Hiring Incentives to Re- store Employment Act, cre- ated in the wake of the UBS banking scandal in 2009 that revealed U.S. citizens evading taxes by hiding deposits in Swiss accounts. The legislation re- quired U.S.-affiliated per- sons and all foreign financial institutions to report U.S. depositors to the IRS under penalty of a 30 percent with- holding “tax” on all transac- tions with the U.S. An online IRS database said Cayman registered 28,559 financial institutions under FATCA, nearly one-fifth of the global total. “We have confirmed that Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Mark Meadows will soon re- introduce their repeal bills from earlier Congresses,” Mr. Jatras said. “We are con- ducting outreach to leader- ship and committees of ju- risdiction on next steps. We are also looking at executive actions to nullify the IGAs. These initiatives are still in the early stages.” An IGA is an “intergovern- mental agreement,” between the IRS and nearly 120 juris- dictions authorizing collec- tion of tax information. On Nov. 29, 2013, Cayman be- came an early IGA signatory. The agreement can be uni- laterally abrogated by either side with one year’s notice. “When the IGAs are nul- lified, or when FATCA is re- pealed,” Mr. Jatras said, “I think a lot of people are going to have some ex- plaining to do,” including, he added, “why did they so meekly abrogate their do- mestic privacy laws … for many of their own citizens, not just Americans?” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 FATCA repeal on agenda of US Republicans Cash for trash: Egyptians in Cairo can sell their garbage CAIRO (AP) – Egyptians stood in line Wednesday out- side a waste management station in the capital Cairo to sell their solid trash, a baby step in an ambitious project to ease the gigantic waste management prob- lems afflicting this city of some 18 million. Those in the queue out- side the station – a large and colorful kiosk standing on a sidewalk in Cairo’s leafy suburb of Heliopolis – car- ried bags of old school books, plastic water bottles and other recyclable material. They placed them on scales standing near a price list for types of material and later received their cash. The station, one of two in Cairo, was already filled with bags of recyclables brought in since its inauguration over the weekend. “Garbage will not be a problem, but rather a source of income,” declares the writing on the station’s outer wall. “Separating gar- bage brings profit and clean- liness,” reads another. “There used to be a big pile of garbage where the station now stands, and it smelled horrible,” 46-year-old Laila el-Shazly said with re- lief while standing in line to sell empty bottles. Cairo’s waste is currently managed by its local gov- ernment as well as informal trash collectors who go door to door collecting garbage and later picking out recy- clable material on the out- skirts of the city. A total of nearly 5 million tons of gar- bage were collected in the greater Cairo area in 2014, according to the latest fig- ures issued by the state sta- tistics bureau. By offering additional in- come at a time when most Egyptians are struggling to make ends meet amid an economic crisis, the initia- tive created an incentive for Cairo residents to get into recycling, a practice that is mostly neglected in the cap- ital and elsewhere in Egypt. The initiative was first proposed by two lawmakers and later embraced by Cai- ro’s local government, which issued permits and leased land free of charge to private investors running the solid waste stations. One such investor, Nariman Talaat, told The As- sociated Press that Egyptians were showing interest in the project, but cautioned that it would take time before they learn how to properly sepa- rate their waste. Egyptians wait outside a waste management station in Cairo’s eastern suburb of Heliopolis on Wednesday, carrying bags filled with solid garbage to sell for cash. - PHOTO: AP/HEBA AFIFY Legal Practitioners Bill: Politicians squabble over who drafted bill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >