ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 High of 82 Low of 74 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WORLD POETRY DAY: TIME TO APPRECIATE LANGUAGE AND LIFE SPORTS | PAGE 15 TEAM NAMED FOR 2017 CARIBBEAN JUNIOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS In partnership with Monday, 27 March 2017 | Prospect Playhouse | 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at the door: $5 adults and $2 children. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Join Us... 10th Annual Butterfield Young Musician of the Year 183804_PRINT-Ad-Strip6colx1*5.pdPage 1 2/15/17 2:03:04 PM New unit to tackle child abuse Detectives, social workers unite in new approach JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new unit has been formed to bring po- lice, social workers and psychologists together to handle allegations of child abuse in the Cayman Islands. The headquarters of the “Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub,” to be known as MASH, in Anderson Square, George Town, was officially opened Monday morning. Eight social workers, a Health Services Au- thority psychologist and eight police officers currently make up the MASH unit, with plans to add three more officers, who are currently undergoing training. They will coordinate with schools, health workers and other agencies to investigate suspicions of abuse. There were a total of 48 allegations of sexual abuse against children across the is- lands in 2016, including 16 allegations of rape or indecent assault on girls under the age of 12, according to statistics from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Anthony Ennis, deputy commissioner of police, said the new hub would be “ground zero” for child protection in the territory. “Instead of operating from across the cap- ital from our different silos in our different ministries and departments, we will be op- erating from a single hub,” he said. “We are able to coordinate resources for better plan- ning and better decision making. It is more or less triage.” The handling of child abuse cases in the Cayman Islands has been under increased EIA RECOMMENDED FOR DART BEACH ROCK REMOVAL JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An environmental impact assessment should be carried out before Dart Real Es- tate is allowed to move beach rock from the shallow coastal waters off Seven Mile Beach, the Department of Environment has advised. The recommendation comes from a “screening opinion” on Dart’s coastal works application to remove more than 1,000 feet of submerged rock fronting a property where it hopes to build a new five-star hotel. The document, prepared by the Depart- ment of Environment’s technical review com- mittee, also recommends the wider hotel de- velopment undergo a similar assessment at the same time. It states, “Given that the applicant has in- dicated that the beachrock removal is required for a proposed hotel development, it is recom- mended that the EIA should cover both the land and coastal elements of the proposed project, as the two are presented by the appli- cant as being inextricably linked.” If the recommendation is adopted by the National Conservation Council at its meeting this week, Dart Real Estate will likely be obliged to fund the environmental im- pact assessment before its plans can be for- mally considered. The developer responded Monday, saying its application was informed by more than a year of scientific study, including historical and recent investigations by recognized ex- perts on Grand Cayman’s natural environment. In a statement in response to questions from the Cayman Compass, it said coastal engineering consultants, hired by Dart, had Bill seeks fuel sector regulation No immediate price controls BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands may eventually enact control over petrol prices, but only if the government finds no evidence of competition in the market, Planning Minister Kurt Tib- betts said Monday. The Progressives-led govern- ment introduced the Fuel Market Regulations Bill during Legisla- tive Assembly debate Monday as part of an effort to combine the regulation of public sector utili- ties and commodities under the newly formed Utility Regulation and Competition Office. Cay- man’s water, electricity, telecom- munications and fuel sectors are planned to be regulated under that office, once all the relevant legislation is approved. For the fuel sector, which Cayman’s government has threatened with greater regula- tion for about a decade, Mr. Tib- betts said there would be “mo- mentous change.” The utility regulatory office will be given “significant market Purple rains down on runners Runners taking part in 5Ks in Kaibo and George Town over the weekend were bombed with purple powder as part of the Colour Me Purple events organized by the Family Resource Centre for Honouring Women Month. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MARCH 21, 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. Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) - TUESDAY - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D (PG) 12:30 I 3:30 I 4:00 2D I 6:25 I 7:00 2D 9:15 I 9:50 2D KONG: SKULL ISLAND 3D (PG13) 12:50 2D I 4:15 I 7:10 2D I 9:55 LOGAN (R) 12:30 | 3:35 | 6:40 | 9:45 FIST FIGHT (R) 12:45 I 3:50 I 7:05 I 9:50 Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “If you are weak, it’s hard to help others ” Special needs worker brings skills, hugs to day care KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kanza Bodden has an im- portant job to do at George Town’s Little Trotters Farm and Nursery School. When the day care’s toddlers need an extra hug or a friend to play with, the 21-year-old is there to step in. Ms. Bodden started working at the preschool in January with the job descrip- tion of “giving love” to the chil- dren. As a young adult with Down syndrome, she has a unique ability to connect with the children and relate to them on a different level than other teachers. “I give hugs when they’re fighting,” Ms. Bodden said. She described her job as showing the toddlers how to get along and make friends. Through songs, stories and artwork, Ms. Bodden of- fers each student personal- ized attention. Head teacher Carolyn Jervis described a special en- ergy brought to the school by Ms. Bodden, who has used her creativity to connect with students. For World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, she encour- ages other organizations to consider integrating special needs workers and learning from what they have to offer. “She’s just so excited to see everybody. As soon as every- body comes in, she’s giving them a hug, saying good morning. She loves to write, so she’s normally written them a little story that she’ll read to them in the mornings,” Ms. Jervis said. “She’s just so loving and affectionate, and the kids are always so happy to see her. When she comes in, she makes each one of them feel special.” Ms. Bodden has helped push the concept of friend- ship at the preschool for stu- dents and teachers alike. Teacher Julia Marshall de- scribed a symbiotic relation- ship with her that has allowed students and staff to learn about community. “It’s such a gift for the chil- dren to be exposed to someone who is beautiful and looks different than them,” Ms. Marshall said. “She may look different but they see she’s awesome and helpful, kind, loving and intelli- gent. They see it doesn’t matter. They just love her and accept her, and love her company.” Ms. Bodden also serves as a role model for the children. As a Special Olympics swimming champion, she has shown the students the rewards of hard work and recently brought in a gold medal to show them. Getting to know a person like Ms. Bodden is something Ms. Jervis said she wishes she had done earlier in life. She has observed how young students feel at ease with Ms. Bodden and accept her without judgment. “As teachers, I find it’s nice to have somebody else that the children can go to when they’re needing an extra cuddle. The children feel extra comfortable with her. If anyone is having disputes and is a bit sad, Kanza is so atten- tive to their emotional needs and she’ll really instinctively love on them,” Ms. Jervis said. For Ms. Bodden, the experi- ence has offered an invaluable development opportunity. “They make me feel wanted,” Ms. Bodden said. Nancy Bodden described her daughter as more confi- dent and more comfortable helping with younger family members since starting the job. She has seen her be- come more energetic and more involved. The ability to take on pro- fessional responsibilities has allowed Ms. Bodden to grow above and beyond previous learning programs, including work training at Sunrise Adult Training Centre and speech therapy at Chatterbox. “Kanza has worked hard all her life to be able to be employed. She is ready to go in the morning and wants to learn. She has put in an awful lot of effort,” Nancy said. Through Cayman’s Down Syndrome Support Committee and Special Needs Foundation, Nancy Bodden hopes to build community awareness. While she has witnessed resources and support for Down syndrome grow since her daughter’s birth, she sees potential for greater inclusion and community support. She encouraged the com- munity to reach out and build friendships with people like her daughter. “Don’t be scared to talk to these people. Don’t be scared to talk to anyone with a disability,” Nancy Bodden said. “It may take time, but try to engage and see what comes of it.” In the meantime, Kanza Bodden is preparing for an- other Special Olympics com- petition in St. Kitts. When she returns, she is looking for- ward to sharing stories from the trip with her friends at Little Trotters. WORLD POETRY DAY FEATURES POET LAUREATE KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jamaica’s poet lau- reate, Mervyn Morris, is in the Cayman Islands to par- ticipate in local events in connection with Tuesday’s World Poetry Day. He will lead a free poetry recital Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Cassia Court in Camana Bay. The event will be followed by a book signing by Mr. Morris. The evening comes as part of a week of poetry cel- ebrations organized by local writers and artists in the Cayman Islands. The renowned poet has given several presen- tations while in Cayman, including a weekend adult poetry workshop, a teen workshop Monday eve- ning and talks at schools on Monday and Tuesday. The week’s events were organized by the Cayman Literary Development Pro- gramme with support from Cayman National Bank, Dart Cayman Islands and Lorna Reid. Mr. Morris is professor emeritus at the University of West Indies in Mona, Ja- maica. In 2014 he was named Jamaica’s poet laureate, the third in the country. Some of his notable po- etry books include “The Pond” and “I Been There, Sort Of: New and Selected Poems.” POLICE HELICOPTER STRIKES TETHERED KITE AT 400 FEET The police helicopter on Friday struck the line of a tethered kite flying more than 400 feet in the air, the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service reported. According to police, the helicopter was in the West Bay area when the line of the kite, which police described as a fishing line with a swivel attached, became en- tangled and snapped in the helicopter’s main rotor head. “The kite itself was not seen by the helicopter crew during the flight,” ac- cording to an RCIPS state- ment issued Monday. “The crew of the heli- copter were immediately aware of the encounter with the line and completed emer- gency checks in accordance with their training. They im- mediately returned to the airport and landed without incident,” the statement said. None of the crew was injured, police said. An inspection by the he- licopter’s engineers revealed the aircraft to be fully air- worthy and it returned to service at 5 p.m. Sunday. “The body of the heli- copter sustained multiple scratches in the incident, which does not affect its airworthiness. This will be subject to ongoing assess- ment and costing for repair,” the police statement said. Meanwhile, West Bay officers are trying to iden- tify the kite’s owner. According to police, the flying of kites higher than 100 feet is prohibited under Air Navigation legislation without authority from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands. No such permission had been given in this case, police said. “Numerous warnings re- lating to such activity have been issued by the Authority and the RCIPS,” the police statement said. Following Friday’s incident, the RCIPS immediately notified the Civil Aviation Authority and a mandatory occurrence re- port will be submitted as part of the investigation. The RCIPS is also in communica- tion with the government’s aviation insurers. Anyone who may have in- formation about this incident or has come across what appears to be kite debris should contact the West Bay Police Station at 949-3999. Anonymous tips can be pro- vided directly to the RCIPS via a Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777 or via Crime Stop- pers at 800-8477(TIPS). Kanza Bodden works with the ‘iguana’ class at Little Trotters on pajama day. – PHOTO: NANCY BODDEN The police helicopter is back in service after striking a kite line on Friday. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURT TSUNAMI RESPONSE EXERCISE ON TUESDAY Hazard Management Cayman Islands reminds the public that they will receive text messages during a tsu- nami response exercise on Tuesday, March 21. The exercise is part of a region-wide exercise called Caribe Wave 17, which aims to evaluate local tsunami response plans, increase tsunami preparedness and improve coordination throughout the Caribbean. All Flow and Digicel customers will receive a text message at 9:10 a.m. which will read: “MESSAGE ALERT: This is a test of the Emer- gency Notification System for the 2017 Tsunami Exer- cise. THIS IS ONLY A TEST.” Once the exercise is complete, another text will follow with a survey link. Hazard Manage- ment is asking the public to take the online survey to evaluate the success of the exercise.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 The scholarship will be awarded for the 2017 academic year, commencing this September. Applicants must: • Have Caymanian status • Be 18 years of age or older • Be accepted into a law degree course leading to a commonwealth qualification • Provide CV and/or school transcript • Provide two character references • Provide a Police Clearance Certificate issued within the last 6 months To be considered, please complete the application form at www.conyersdill.com/pages/graduates-and-students. The recipient will be chosen following a successful interview with the Scholarship Committee. Applications should also include a formal cover letter to the attention of Keisha Syms: Keisha.Syms@conyersdill.com. Application Deadline: 31 March 2017 The scholarship will be awarded to Caymanians interested in obtaining a Legal Support and Administration certificate. Applicants must: • Have Caymanian status • Be 18 years of age or older and of good character • Demonstrate financial need • Be accepted at UCCI for the Fall 2017 term or already enrolled as a student at UCCI • Provide CV and/or school transcript • Provide two character references • Provide a Police Clearance Certificate issued within the last 6 months To be considered, please submit a formal cover letter to the attention of Keisha Syms: Keisha.Syms@conyersdill.com. The recipient will be chosen following an interview with the Scholarship Committee. Application Deadline: 31 March 2017 conyersdill.com BERMUDA BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS DUBAI HONG KONG LONDON MAURITIUS SINGAPORE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR LEGAL EDUCATION AWARD APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR OUR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS SCHOLARSHIP 2017_02_CAY_CC_LEGAL_EDU_AND LEGAL_SUPPORT_ADMIN_CERT_FINAL_10_333X15.8975.indd 13/2/2017 2:19:37 PMThe 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. TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Offering up words for public consumption takes a certain amount of – well, not courage – but “pluck.” Even we newspaper “ink-stained wretches” (as we were once known), are painfully aware that each word is a choice and thus an opportunity to be judged – by you, our audience. That partly explains why you often see in older writers plaintive addresses such as “Dearest Reader,” or in Greek epics, introductory invocations to the Muse to give the poet the strength, skill and inspiration needed to accomplish his formidable task. For example, Homer’s “Odyssey”: “Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.” As you skim the pages of this newspaper, keep in mind that what you hold in your hands is not simply ink on paper, but thoughts inscribed on the eggshells of egos. We approach today’s editorial with more self-con- sciousness than usual. The reason is our esteem for one particular potential reader, the Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Mervyn Morris, who is visiting the Cayman Islands in connection with today’s celebration of World Poetry Day. For those who are not fortunate enough to experi- ence Professor Morris’s workshops or readings today, we strongly suggest taking some time to reflect upon a favorite poem or discover a new one. We will share some verses that might serve as departure points for rewarding literary journeys, starting with an excerpt from Professor Morris’s “Little Boy Crying” about the relationship between a 3-year- old boy and his father figure: “You cannot understand, not yet,/the hurt your easy tears can scald him with,/ nor guess the wavering hidden behind that mask./This fierce man longs to lift you, curb your sadness/with piggy-back or bull-fight, anything,/but dare not ruin the lessons you should learn.” Perhaps today is an apt opportunity to become acquainted with the work of Derek Walcott, a St. Lucian poet awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 (for “Omeros,” his adaptation and reimagina- tion of a Homeric epic). Mr. Walcott died Friday at the age of 87. In the poem “Islands,” he wrote: “I seek,/As climate seeks its style, to write/Verse crisp as sand, clear as sunlight,/Cold as the curled wave, ordinary/As a tumbler of island water.” In American letters, there’s also Emily Dickinson, the subject of a new movie, “A Quiet Passion,” starring Cynthia Nixon, who visited Cayman in October to speak at the Breast Cancer Foundation gala. We’re not sure how the notoriously reclusive Ms. Dickinson would have felt about her enduring fame, but this is what she wrote in “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”: “How dreary – to be – Somebody!/How public – like a Frog –/To tell one’s name – the livelong June –/To an admiring Bog!” And of course, the Bard himself, William Shake- speare, who treated immortality as a regular theme in his sonnets. For example, in Sonnet 60: “Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth/And delves the paral- lels in beauty’s brow,/Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,/And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:/ And yet to times in hope, my verse shall stand,/ Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.” The choices are “literally” endless. And none of them is incorrect. For readers who don’t care for poetry, or who think they don’t, here are some thoughts from eminent critic Harold Bloom. In order to start becoming a dispassionate critic, he said, “you must fall in love with poems.” “[I]n the end you choose between books, or you choose between poems, the way you choose between people. You can’t become friends with every acquain- tance you make, and I would not think that it is any different with what you read,” he said. World Poetry Day: Time to appreciate language and life Trump: Let him eat steak LEBANON VALLEY NEWS (N.H.) EDITORIAL BOARD Some local media critics might wonder if we will ever come to the defense of Pres- ident Donald Trump on any issue. Well, here it is: Trump’s diet is his own business. If he enjoys steak with ketchup, we will not wag a finger at him. And have seconds if you please, Mr. President. Recently critics, from food pages and elsewhere, have heaped full servings of scorn on reports that Trump in- dulged in steak and ketchup at a recent dinner at his Washington hotel. Wash- ington Post food critic Tom Sietsema mocked the leader of the free world, saying he had ordered steak in his usual manner, “well done and with ketchup, as if the entree would be accompanied by a sippy cup.” Sietsema called for “a moment of silence for the cow, the condiment and what most chefs would call a forced marriage.” But New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, a former food critic himself, defended Trump’s steak-ketchup entente. “When did we turn into such food snobs in America?” he asked. Indeed. Is it right, in a free society, for foodies to monitor the president’s plate like a disapproving waiter? No, we say, let him eat steak, along with the meatloaf that he fa- mously praised to Gov. Chris Christie, then bullied him, ac- cording to Trump’s harshest critics, into ordering some. Trump isn’t the first presi- dent to have his gastronomic sophistication examined in the court of public opinion, although Twitter and other forms of social media have brought the inquisition to a boil. President George W. Bush was said to favor na- chos and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. President Bill Clinton’s tastes ran to Big Macs – it should be acknowl- edged that he later devel- oped heart trouble and has since become a vegan. Trump might do well to take notice. No modern president, as far as we know, can match the devil-may-care diet of one of the richest men in the world, Warren Buf- fett, widely admired for his financial acumen and steady demeanor. He enjoys a Coke with breakfast, and downs two more before heading to work. He regularly indulges in potato chips and ice cream. He is 86, defying nay- sayers and mortality studies. All Americans, even a president, should be enti- tled to guilty pleasures – so hold the shaming. Bruni ad- mitted that despite his ex- plorations of fine food, he harbors a supply of micro- wave popcorn at home, and once slipped into a Domino’s to cure a craving for chicken wings. We have a colleague who has written exquisitely about food who confesses admiration for McDonald’s fries. Everyone deserves a break now and then. One’s food choices are, or should be, wholly a matter of personal choice. Even if Trump were to wash down his steak with chocolate milk – domestic, not imported – we’d say more power to him. Actually, scratch that; we have no taste for an expan- sion of executive authority at this moment in history. © 2017, Associated Press LETTER TO THE EDITOR State of Mission House ‘a crying shame’ It is a crying shame that the Mission House and its surrounding property have been left to go to rack and ruin. The National Trust should be ashamed of them- selves for allowing this to happen. The property, i.e., the original house and the foot- print, was donated to the National Trust by Fenwick Watler, owner, of blessed memory, as a remembrance to honor his parents. The original structure, having been left unattended year after year after he donated it, was laid flat by Hurri- cane Ivan. After some years, the Mission House was replicated. Family and people who were interested in seeing this piece of Cayman history be kept alive gave lov- ingly of their time and re- sources to make it into the beautiful “place of historic interest” that tells the story of the first Presbyterian min- isters who lived there under very difficult circumstances. To now see this impor- tant piece of our history con- tinuing to be neglected after so much time, money and re- sources have been applied is more than a crying shame. Hopefully, this article will jolt the Trust to giving the Mission House the honor and exposure that it rightly deserves. Ella Kaye Lockwood, nee Hislop A Trump National Golf Club chef arranges Trump steaks prior to a Donald Trump news conference held in March 2016. - PHOTO: AP 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 • TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 Notification of change to landline rates Eective June 1, 2017 Flow advises residential customers that a CI$1.00 rate increase will be introduced as follows: 19 $ Landline rental rate discoverflow.ky Government fuel depot cites $500,000 savings on petrol BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Cayman Islands Auditor General Dan Duguay once estimated that govern- ment was overspending its annual gas bill at the public sector fuel depot by some half a million dollars. According to government figures made public last week, it appears the govern- ment saved about that much money after implementing auditors’ recommendations on how to resolve the issue. An annual report released by the Planning Ministry in- dicated that government ve- hicle annual fuel usage at the Department of Vehicle and Equipment Services dropped from about $2.09 million in mid-2014 to about $1.53 mil- lion by mid-2016. “The implementation of the upgraded fuel man- agement software, coupled with the department’s ef- fort to procure more fuel ef- ficient vehicles, is already showing tangible returns,” Department Director Richard Simms said in the annual report for government’s 2015/16 budget year. Most government ve- hicles fuel up at the petrol station on North Sound Road operated by Mr. Simms’s department. Mr. Simms reported that government vehicles are now using nearly 40,000 fewer gallons of fuel per year than was reported in mid-2014. It was revealed in 2009 by government’s Internal Audit Unit that a number of anom- alies in the use of govern- ment fuel cards had been de- tected. These issues included some individuals apparently filling up the same vehicle twice in one day, and other cards being used to fill up multiple vehicles. Mr. Duguay, in com- menting on the report in early 2010, opined that at least some of the irregular spending likely amounted to fraud, although certain gov- ernment officials said more of it was due to “slack manage- ment’ of fuel depot finances. In any case, the Plan- ning Ministry’s report de- tailed much stricter security controls now in place to pre- vent the potential for fraud- ulent purchases of govern- ment gasoline. However, there are other areas where the department has shaved costs for vehicle purchases and repairs. Records show government spent about $320,000 less on repair parts for its vehicles between 2014 and 2015. This was largely due to an influx of newer vehicles in the fleet, according to the Planning Ministry report. The department reported that nearly 200 new vehi- cles – about one-fourth of government’s total fleet – were purchased between 2014 and 2016. The gov- ernment also reduced the number of vehicles older than seven years in its fleet during that time. The move was recom- mended by internal auditors, who stated that it appeared the Cayman government was spending more money trying to “keep old vehicles going” than it would spend on the purchase of newer cars that required less maintenance. Other cost-saving mea- sures were employed: “The fleet is now focused on three primary manufac- turers, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. Having fewer makes and models in the fleet cre- ates efficiencies by re- ducing the parts to be sourced and kept … “This is benefitting the gov- ernment in a tangible manner through material reductions in the annual cost for vehicle repair and maintenance.” Government vehicles since 2015 are also all being purchased with a four-year maintenance program, the report noted. BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands gov- ernment was required to spend an extra $24 million in largely unanticipated, sup- plementary costs over the past two fiscal years. The expenses, largely re- lated to the provision of public health services and the care and housing of Cuban migrants, were detailed by Fi- nance Minister Marco Archer in a statement to the Legisla- tive Assembly Friday. The money has already been spent, but the law re- quires the assembly to review the additional expenses for each of the budget years con- trolled by the current admin- istration. The Legislative As- sembly’s Finance Committee is expected to complete that review within the next week. Minister Archer explained that in most cases, govern- ment departments try to “match” supplemental ex- penses with reductions else- where in the budget. How- ever, in some cases that is not possible, he said. For instance, during the 2015/16 budget year – the last budget – government had to spend $13.9 million more than it was able to find in spending reductions. Mr. Archer said those ad- ditional expenses were mainly in three categories, an addi- tional $2.9 million for the care of Cuban migrants, an extra $1.4 million for mosquito con- trol services to combat the rise of the Zika virus and another $5.9 million for healthcare of government-insured patients at overseas institutions. All of those costs were above what government had initially budgeted for those areas, Mr. Archer said. Although the government spent $13.9 million more than it could find in budget cuts for last year, Mr. Archer said that is still well below the budget “cap” government has in place each year for supplemental expenses – these days that’s about $30 million annually. For the 2014/15 budget year, the story was much the same. Government spent about $10.2 million more in supplementary costs than it could find budget reduc- tions to support. Those costs were again for additional expenses for Cuban migrants ($1.5 million) and overseas healthcare costs ($5.4 million). The government also spent $1.7 million that year for preparation measures to combat the Ebola virus, but that health threat never mate- rialized in Cayman. During the government’s 2013/14 budget year, supple- mentary expenditure cost overruns were kept below $40,000, Minister Archer said. In all cases, Mr. Archer said, the cost overruns were kept well below the $30 mil- lion to $31 million dollar limit for supplementary expenses. “It demonstrates that Cabinet was prudent in its supplementary expen- diture approvals,” Mr. Ar- cher said Friday. The additional supple- mentary costs came against the backdrop of budget oper- ating surpluses (meaning rev- enues greater than expenses) totaling more than $100 mil- lion each year. At the end of the 2015/16 budget year, June 30, 2016, the government had more than $400 million in available cash balances, according to a report from Mr. Archer’s ministry. In addition to accumu- lating more cash, central gov- ernment’s debt fell from about $574 million at the start of the Progressives administration’s term in office, to about $503 million in June 2016. Gov’t hit with $24M in unexpected added costs Government vehicle annual fuel usage at the Department of Vehicle and Equipment Services dropped from about $2.09 million in mid- 2014 to about $1.53 million by mid-2016. Stricter monitoring and upgraded fuel management software has resulted in a reduction in the amount of fuel pumped at the government fuel depot on North Sound Road. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURTDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Una Yates hosts visitors, PTA has cancer talk In the March 22, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Weekend guests of Miss Una Yates have been her cousin Mr. Herbert Yates of the P.O. Depart- ment in Miami and his wife Jean, his wife’s sister Ms. Ruth Brown of Illinois, and his aunt Mrs. Geral- dine Read of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Read is a Caymanian, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Atkins Jackson. She left here at the age of 5 years. This was their first visit, and they were charmed with the island. They enjoyed their stay im- mensely, and hope to re- turn for a longer stay. “Their sixth child and fourth daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Ebanks of Boatswains Bay, named Mary Juanita. “Mr. and Mrs. Hermon Ebanks became the par- ents of a daughter on the 13th, weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces. “Mr. and Mrs. Ran- burn Christian became the happy parents of their sixth child and first daughter on the 15th. “Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith celebrated their 10th wedding anniver- sary on the 10th. “Mr. and Mrs. Asley Ebanks left on the 17th for Miami. She will visit relatives there. “The PTA held its monthly meeting in the Town Hall on the 13th. The meeting opened with prayer by Mr. Martin Ebanks. The president gave a warm wel- come to Dr. Parrish who had been invited. He in return said how pleased he was to be there and thought it fitting to speak on ‘Cancer and the Caymanian.’ “He strongly advised that if we notice our skin, marks that become itchy and spread may be cancer in its early stage. Med- ical advice should be ob- tained immediately and women are more suscep- tible to cancer than men. He stressed the impor- tance of taking advantage of tests this year. “Mrs. Mary Powery, R.N. of the Veterans Adminis- trator Hospital in New Or- leans, U.S., was the guest speaker of the ‘Church Wives League’ of the Pres- byterian Church, Boat- swains Bay, on the 16th. She spoke on ‘Prenatal Care’ which was very in- teresting and informative. This was her first visit, and with her husband Mr. Garton Powery the enjoyed their stay returning to their home on the 19th. “Mr. and Mrs. George Mettler left for the U.S. on the 19th after spending nearly one year here. Trav- eling on the same day were Mrs. Ausley Parsons and her daughter Oralee for the U.S. to reside – they have legal admission there. “A full report of the public meeting arranged by Mr. Benson Ebanks Jr. on the 15th will be pub- lished next week.” Football ‘legends’ set for rubber match The Clash of the Legends will resume at West Bay’s Ed Bush Stadium on Monday, March 27, as the George Town and West Bay teams vie to determine who will prevail in the quest for the Marcus Cumber Cup. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. “The third time will prove who the real champs are, as George Town won the first leg, and West Bay won the second,” said match or- ganizer and Hope Foundation operations man- ager Brent Hydes. In the football series, veteran players face off to raise money and awareness for the Hope Foundation halfway house program, which addresses substance abuse at the community level. Mr. Hydes said that while government does provide some funding for the Foundation, which offers a West Bay-based residential program, he estimates the costs of running the center are about $70,000 per year, which rep- resents just a fraction of the cost per resident of housing an inmate at Northward prison. “Through our Transitional Living Program, by establishing and operating alcohol- and drug-free transitional houses and campuses within the community, the Hope Foundation program provides a secure, safe and stable haven for individuals to gradually work their way back to a purposeful life,” he previously told the Compass. Once the overall winner of the football se- ries is determined, Mr. Hydes said plans are underway to hold a special ceremony rec- ognizing players from across the districts who have made a mark not only in the se- ries, but also to football in general in the Cayman Islands. “In my experience these people who have played such a big role in football in Cayman, have not been recognized properly, and you can tell they are still stars by the number of fans we have coming out to these games fea- turing players who were big names back in the day,” said Mr. Hydes. “We have 250 to 300 people coming out to these matches, which I would say speaks vol- umes about the impact they have made on foot- ball in Cayman, and they need to be recognized.” He said next on the agenda is securing a venue and getting plaques made up for the event honoring the footballers. “I’d also like to again thank our many spon- sors, including McAlpine, Island Air, Junk, Lobster Pot, J.C. Calhoun of Coldwell Banker, Tony Conolly of Frank Hall Homes, Cayman National and Appleby who have really lent their support to this initiative,” said Mr. Hydes. “And I would say, championship trophy sponsor Marcus Cumber, who has played such a key role, deserves special recognition as a prime example of Caymankind,” he added. In next week’s rubber match the West Bay team hopes to capture the cup. The George Town team hopes for victory. - PHOTOS: MARTIN FREIFELDDISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 Turtle Centre getting ready for spring parrot release In anticipation of the re- lease of the Cayman Turtle Centre’s parrot triplets into the wild, the center has re- ceived an encouraging num- bers of entries in its schools contest as it prepares for the event, organizers said. “We have collected 18 high school essays and 11 primary school posters to judge for the Parrot Release,” said the center’s terrestrial exhibits curator and education pro- grams coordinator Geddes Hislop. He has a panel of col- leagues from the National Trust and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation assisting with the judging. “We should have winner results by end of this week of March 20,” he said. “Personally, I am im- pressed by the work and in- terest that have gone into these submissions, [and] I think it bodes well to see the level of awareness in our next generation.” He said that with the new testing and protocols the fa- cility has to go through to prepare the triplets for re- lease, and the timing of the Easter school break, the birds will likely be released into the wild on Thursday, April 27, at the Botanic Park. The triplets’ parents, Leo and Sweetpea, will also be the focus of attention in coming weeks. “We have just installed a brand new nest box for our breeding parrots Sweetpea and Leo, which aviary staff are calling the ‘Ritz-Carlton’ because it is more spacious than their original nest box,” said Mr. Hislop, adding that the old box will be refur- bished and assigned to the center’s second potential breeding parrot pair, Rosie and Ralph, who they hope will breed in 2018. “The larger nest space will allow Sweetpea and Leo to better accommodate raising three chicks,” said Mr. Hislop. “We have also added a webcam … [so] for the first time, we will be able to mon- itor in real time the rearing of endangered Cayman parrot chicks inside their nest be- tween April-June.” Mr. Hislop says having the webcam will assist with a center project of gathering data to develop a Cayman parrot husbandry manual, as well as offering the public the ability to watch Cay- man’s national birds raise and fledge their offspring, and to get a better idea of how the duo’s wild counter- parts will be simultaneously raising their own chicks in tree cavities in Cayman’s woodlands and black man- grove forests. “There is much interest and enthusiasm for this project from our colleagues in zoos and conservation pro- grams in North America and the Caribbean (some also use webcams to share informa- tion about endangered spe- cies in their care), but we also hope this will help fur- ther enhance Cayman public endearment to Sweetpea, Leo and their wild Cayman parrot counterparts,” said Mr. Hislop.The parrot triplets in June 2016. Sunrise fun day draws friends and family A blustery weekend did not stop members of the Cayman community from coming out last Saturday to support adults with special needs at the Sunrise Adult Training Centre’s annual Family Fun Day. The center, which will be celebrating 30 years of ser- vice in Grand Cayman this year held the Fun Day at Scholar’s Park in West Bay. Sunrise clients, their fami- lies and community members enjoyed steel pan music, old- time games, a life-sized Jenga game, a lime and spoon race, face-painting, a DJ, and of course plenty of food, in- cluding a barbecue. Sunrise Centre According to a press re- lease, the Sunrise Centre opened in November 1986. It was first situated at the teacher’s cottage at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School. The original cohort of the Light- house School became the first clients of the new facility. In 2003, the center moved to its current location on Powery Road in West Bay, where it provides voca- tional training and support to clients ages 18 and older. The center now serves ap- proximately 35 clients daily and 22 clients in the work- force in Grand Cayman, the release states. Daily programs include the Grow Club workshop, arts and crafts workshop, work-readiness classes, daily life skills, functional aca- demics classes and occupa- tional therapy. The press release notes that an outline business case is under way for a bigger and better Sunrise Centre in order to meet the needs of the special needs popula- tion in Cayman. Sunrise Adult Training Centre clients and staff mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December. The Sunrise Adult Training Centre celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Friends and family came out to support clients of the Sunrise Adult Training Centre at last Saturday’s family fun day.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS NOTICE Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for West Bay North electoral district, the return- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at The First Assembly Of God Church Hall, 100 Finch Drive, West Bay, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Omar Burke McLean Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for West Bay West electoral district, the return- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at West Bay Public Library, 204 Rev. Blackman Road., West Bay, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Dale James Ramoon Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for West Bay Central electoral district, the returning next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the af- ternoon at Ed Bush Sport Field - Conference Room, 90 Stadium Drive, West Bay, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Delano Oliver Solomon Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town North electoral district, the re- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at St Georges Anglican Church Hall, 66 Court Road, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Michael Albert Nixon Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town West, electoral district, the 2017, now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Smith Road Centre, 150 Smith Road, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Melinda Natasha Montemayor Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town East, electoral district, the return- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Agape Family Worship Centre - Hall, 50B Fairbanks Road, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Shirley Lynne Whittaker Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for West Bay South electoral district, the returning ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at John Gray Memorial United Church Hall, 26 West Church Street, West Bay, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Antoinette Yvette Johnson Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town Central, electoral district, the 2017, now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at George Town -Town Hall, 43 Fort Street, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Paul Henry Richard Smith Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town South, electoral district, the re- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at South Sound Community Centre, 1012 South Church Street, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Philip Antonio Barnes Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Red Bay, electoral district, the returning next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at SeaFarers’ Hall, 11 Victory Avenue, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Ida Jane EbanksThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017 Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Prospect, electoral district, the returning of- next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Moravian Church Hall, 497 Poindexter Road, George Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Judith Grace Witter Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Savannah, electoral district, the returning now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Savannah United Church Hall, 17 Astral Way, Savannah proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Kim Ann Bullings Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Bodden Town East, electoral district, the returning ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Webster Memorial United Church Hall, 266 Bodden Town Road, Bodden Town proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Alice Ann Louise Kirchman Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for North Side, electoral district, the returning next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, 923 North Side Road, North Side, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Annikki Raakel Brown Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Newlands for the said electoral district will on the 29th day of March, 2017, now next en- suing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at International College of the Cayman Islands, 595 Hirst Road, Bodden Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Ronnie Dale Dunn Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Bodden Town West, electoral district, the re- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Agricultural Grounds Pavilion, 199 Lottery Road, Bodden Town, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Haroon Lloyd Pandohie Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for East End for the said electoral district will on the 29th day of March, 2017, now next en- suing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, 80 John Mclean Drive, East End, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Philip Martin Jackson Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman, electoral March, 2017, now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Aston Rutty Centre, 264 Ashton Reid Drive, Cayman Brac proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Dave Talbert Tatum Elections Law (2013 Revision) FORM 17 Section 29(1) NOTICE OF NOMINATION The Governor having issued his Writ of Election for the election of a member of the Legislative Assembly for Cayman Brac East, electoral district, the return- now next ensuing between eight o’clock in the forenoon and three o’clock in the afternoon at Veterans’ and Seamen’s Centre, 205 Ashton Reid Drive, Cay- man Brac, proceed to the nomination of a member for the electoral district. Dated this 21st day March, 2017 Bentley Leroy (Mark) Tibbetts, Jr. CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS NOTICENext >