ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 High of 87 Low of 75 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHEN GOVERNMENT DECIDES WHAT’S IN ‘THE PUBLIC INTEREST’ ‘Politics’ seen in voter challenges BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A political candidate, a politician’s sister, a murderer who was released on license and an elite athlete are among the Cayman Islands residents whose cases will be considered in hearings this week, just before the voters lists are finalized for the May 24 general election. According to Elections Office records, claims or objections were filed against or on behalf of 377 voters in the 19 single- member districts across the Cayman Islands, with the largest number of claims/ objections filed in the three smallest dis- tricts of East End, Cayman Brac East and Cayman Brac West/Little Cayman. An ob- jection is a complaint someone has made about a voter’s inclusion on the list. A claim is made by a voter who believes that he or she should be on the list. A Cayman Brac political candidate’s voting eligibility was challenged based on claims that he does not reside in that district. Residency in a particular constituency is not a require- ment for candidacy, but it is a requirement in order to vote in that constituency. Nickolas DaCosta denied the claim and headed to the District Administration Building on Cayman Brac on Tuesday morning to de- fend himself. “I am a resident here,” Mr. DaCosta said, adding that the issue would not affect his candidacy in the 2017 general election, only his right to vote. The challenges against Mr. DaCosta’s voting rights were with- drawn later on Tuesday. The objection had at least raised the odd possibility that Mr. DaCosta could run as a candidate in Cayman Brac West/Little Cayman while being excluded from voting in the election. The residency issue is a frustrating one for East End political hopeful John McLean, Jr., who notes that two residents of his district have been objected to on the voters list after a house fire hit their residence. They are now living temporarily in North Side district until the damage can be repaired. “They’ve been objected to because the fire has displaced them,” Mr. McLean said. “If I do get elected, the first thing I’ll EXTRADITION HEARING BEGINS FOR TURKISH SUSPECT JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Turkish tourist arrested in the Cayman Islands in connection with terror charges dating back 30 years denied in court any in- volvement in the alleged atrocities. Celal Kildag appeared before Magistrate Grace Donalds on Tuesday for an extradition hearing to decide if he should be sent back to Turkey to face trial. He was arrested in December on an inter- national warrant after arriving in Cayman on a cruise ship. Mr. Kildag is accused by Turkish authorities of murder and arson in relation to protests by a Kurdish separatist group, the PKK, in 1988, which led to the burning of two primary schools and the deaths of two people. Mr. Kildag, speaking through a trans- lator, said he had been involved as a teen- ager in peaceful protests over the treatment of Kurdish people in Turkey. But he said he had moved in 1980 to Germany, where he was eventually granted asylum. He said he had been part of political protests in Germany, including a hunger strike that made national news. But he de- nied ever being part of the PKK or any other terrorist group. He said he had lived in fear of the Turkish authorities for years and that he knew of many Kurds who had been falsely accused of crimes and tortured or murdered in his home- land since a military coup in 1980. Candidate pleads not guilty to beach vending charge CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Raul Gonzalez Jr., indepen- dent candidate for Newlands, appeared in Summary Court last week, charged with carrying on a business without a valid trade and business license. Defense attorney Phillip Ebanks confirmed that his client is a candidate in the May 24 general election. Mr. Ebanks is representing several people formally and in- formally who are accused of doing business on the beach without a license. They all re- ceived a ticket issued by an enforcement officer from the Department of Commerce and Investment. Magistrate Valdis Foldats put the charge to Raul Gonzalez – that on Sept. 15, 2016, at Seven Mile Beach, West Bay, he car- ried on a business of Blue Water Cayman National Choir marks 40 years Cayman National Choir director Sue Horrocks conducts singers at a rehearsal this week as the choir prepares for a concert in May. The choir is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. For more, see page 2. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » A P RIL 2 0 1 7 • WWW .C AY JOU RNA L . C OM 1 4 7 THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT The Green Report >>PAGE 13 COURTS UK Lord Chief Justice: Commercial courts must meet business needs >>PAGE 3 FINANCIAL SERVICES Brexit and the Cayman Islands Preparing for impact >>PAGE 5 REAL ESTATE Cayman’s rental prices Attractive rates among financial centers >>PAGE 6 Journal Special Report J. Peter Bruzzese, author of ‘Conversational Geek,’ talks about cybersecurity technology at the National UK criminal offense for facilitating tax fraud affects Cayman service providers ■■ MICHAEL KLEIN Financial services providers in the Cayman Islands may well be within the scope of new corporate criminal offenses for the facilitation of tax crimes both in the U.K. and in other countries. At an event organized by Cayman Finance in March, officials from HM Revenue and Customs presented details on two new criminal offenses which are going to be introduced by the U.K. Criminal Finances Bill. The bill is currently going through the committee stage in the House of Lords. Once the bill is enacted, any business with U.K. cli- ents or with an office in the U.K. could face criminal li- ability for tax crimes committed by its representatives.Officials at the event said the Swiss data leaks demonstrated to HRMC that in cases when pro- fessionals were deliberately helping clients com- mit tax fraud, U.K. criminal law makes it difficult to prosecute the corporate entities they work for, if they make a deliberate effort to offer illicit services or turn a blind eye to the actions of their employees. To reach a conviction of such an organization under common law, prosecutors must prove that senior members have been actively involved in the financial crime. This is a disadvantage to smaller organizations whose management will be more hands-on and involved in wider decision-making than the senior management of large multinational corporations.The two offenses also aim to close certain loop- holes under current law. HMRC officials said they concluded from the data of various taxpayer disclo- sure facilities that professionals who were involved in deliberately providing illicit services were attempt- ing to hide in the least transparent jurisdictions.“They were seeking to hide in the gaps be- tween domestic criminal law systems and they were quite effective with that,” said Jennifer Ha- slett, Corporate Crime and International Engage-ment Lead at HMRC. This meant that to be effective, the new types of corporate offense needed to apply globally.The U.K. Criminal Finances Bill introduces one corporate criminal offense for cases of an individual criminally facilitating a U.K. tax loss and another that applies to an individual criminally facilitating a tax loss outside of the U.K. The domestic tax offense The domestic offense can touch on any entity, anywhere in the world, that is providing services to an individual or corporate U.K. taxpayer.“The key message is your business does not need to be based in the U.K., it does not need to be headquartered in the U.K., it does not even need to have an office in the U.K. to be in the scope of this offense,” Haslett said. The new corporate tax offenses take effect only if a taxpayer has committed criminal tax evasion and a professional has deliberately and dishonestly facilitated the tax evasion. This is al- ready a criminal offense under existing laws, Ha- slett emphasized. The only new element is that the organization that the facilitator was provid-ing services for when committing the fraud can now be criminally liable as well. An important element is that it is not just em- ployees that can attract liability for a company, but also agents and individuals employed by an- other organization. This targets service providers who may choose to contract out services that are illicit to business partners. “You cannot subcontract out of liability anymore under this offense,” Haslett noted.For instance, if a Cayman service provider has a client with a U.K. tax liability and someone pro- vides services on behalf of the Cayman service provider from anywhere in the world and delib-erately helps the client to commit tax fraud, the Cayman Islands business will be automatically and strictly liable in the U.K. Under the proposed law, HRMC does not need to prove intent, only that the corporation failed to stop the representative from committing the criminal act. The corporation can put forward the defense that it had put in place reasonable procedures to prevent fraud by its staff. What constitutes reasonable procedures will be different for every organization, and HMRC sug- gests companies follow a principles-based approach. Service providers should carry out a risk assess- ment of how their services could be used to facilitate financial crime, put in place procedures and commu- nicate to staff what is expected from them, together with training, monitoring and regular reviews.These are not necessarily new things, Haslett said. “I would imagine that a firm operating in the financial services sector in the Cayman Is- lands, when you do a risk assessment, you will find at least nine-tenths of your risks are already addressed, are things you are already doing.” Examining the agency relationships is the most Financial centers targeted in sophisticated phishing scams ■■ KAYLA YOUNG Recent email scams directed at Cayman Islands government and law enforcement point to a general rise in sophisticated phishing efforts, warns eShore managing direc-tor Polly Pickering. While many businesses still feel im-mune to such attacks, Pickering en-courages professionals to learn from high-profile cases like the Panama Pa-pers before hackers hit at home.“Any organization is only as strong as its weakest user,” Pickering said during an eShore event at the National Gallery last month. Although technology can prevent many cyberattacks, it cannot prevent well-meaning employees from follow- ing bad links or downloading infected attachments. EShore digital marketing special-ist Dan Whiteside said 91 percent of phishing attacks start with email, pointing to the need for dual security between staff and technology. He encouraged companies to strength-en their human line of defense, as well as invest in preventive technology to avoid total reliance on employees. PhishMe regional sales director Jeffrey Fleischer used prairie dogs as an example of how businesses can improve cybersecu-rity. Just as the burrowing rodents collec-tively communicate threats with the rest of the colony, Fleischer said employees should begin flagging scams for their work team. Rather than deleting an obvious phish- ing email and moving on, Fleischer en-couraged users to flag such messages for their IT team. This way the scams become part of common knowledge and can im-prove the organization’s overall security.“We need to condition employees to be vigilant and report suspicious ac-tivity,” he said. He suggested businesses develop a response plan and create an “abuse box” where employees can report sus-picious activity. J. Peter Bruzzese, author of “Con-versational Geek,” described the rise in ransomware and “whaling” attacks directed at high-level staff.As hackers evaluate potential victims, Jennifer Haslett, the Corporate Crime and International Engagement Lead at the U.K.’s HM Revenue and Customs, speaking at a Cayman Finance tax event in March. 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DACO WATER SPECIALTIES A division of Puritan Cleaners Dealers in MYERS Pumps & Water Systems 949-7104/526-1038 337 EASTERN AVENUE GT. Celebrations to mark National Choir’s 40 years KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com For the Cayman National Choir, Mondays are more than the start to another work week. Every Monday evening the group gathers at Cayman Prep Primary School to practice music and socialize with dozens of fellow singers. For director Sue Hor- rocks, the evenings are en- ergizing. They represent the power of music, as well as the commitment of Cay- man’s community. As the choir prepares for its 40th anniversary con- cert, Ms. Horrocks reflected on the volunteer efforts that have kept the choir strong through the decades. “It’s always been a com- munity choir. It’s not au- dition. I think that’s what makes it special. It’s a choir of the people. A lot of mem- bers are very good musi- cians,” she said. “With the national choir, what makes them so spe- cial is they’re such a diverse group of ages and people from all backgrounds and all nationalities.” Early summer will bring a week of celebra- tions to commemorate the choir’s 40th year. On May 27, the choir will perform at the Arts and Recreation Center at Camana Bay with Jamaican tenor Steve Higgins. The main cel- ebration concert will be on June 1 at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. Both performances will include the Cayman National Orchestra. The choir is accompanied by pianist Naomi Allnutt. Former accompanist Steph- anie Williams may join in the anniversary celebrations. Ms. Horrocks said the choir plans to perform a di- verse range of music with the hope of attracting broad public interest. “We include different things for different con- certs with a whole variety of genres. I think it’s important we make the music acces- sible not just for our singers but for our audience so that they want to come and listen to us,” she said. The choir’s composition reflects the value placed on accessibility. Members vary widely in age, training and ability. While many have a formal music background, others learned to read notes and sing through the choir. The weekly group of 30 to 40 singers is comprised of music teachers, accoun- tants, retirees and commu- nity members simply inter- ested in singing. Three original choir members are still active: Zeta Bodden, Merrell McCann and Celine Dilbert. When they joined in 1977, the choir per- formed its inaugural concert to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. Despite Cayman’s small size, Ms. Horrocks said, the choir has had the opportunity to work with several notable musicians – many drawn by the prospect of performing in a scenic Caribbean setting. Over the years, the choir has performed with musi- cians from the London Phil- harmonic Orchestra, classical pianist Wayne Marshall and English soprano Lisa Carl- isle, among others. Mexico sewage spew size remains a mystery SAN DIEGO (AP) – A bi- national commission said Monday that it could not de- termine how much sewage spilled into the southwestern corner of the United States from Mexico from aging in- frastructure in the border city of Tijuana. The International Boundary and Water Commission said Mexican authorities reported 28 million gallons spilled from Feb. 1-4 during a repair to Ti- juana’s sewage system, far less than 143 million gallons initially reported. But the re- port found that an unknown additional amount of sewage spilled from other sources such as blocked or collapsed pipes in Tijuana and sewage overflow during heavy rains. “It is difficult to determine the exact flow since it was not directly measured,” according to the commission, which ad- dresses border disputes over water and other issues. The report said investiga- tors could not pinpoint the source of foul orders that in- furiated residents of the city of Imperial Beach and other San Diego suburbs throughout most of February and caused beaches to close. The commis- sion said the episode high- lighted the need for better communications between local officials on both sides of the border, better data collection and for improvements to Tijua- na’s sewage system. Under an 1848 treaty, the Tijuana River crosses the United States for a few miles through a valley before flowing into the ocean. During high tides and when sewage is heavy, residents say foul- smelling water fills an estuary. Cross-border sewage has long been a sore topic in Im- perial Beach, a city of about 30,000 that draws surfers and families looking for rela- tively affordable homes near the beach. Spills of more than 10 million gallons a day were common. A U.S. plant that was completed in the 1990s – combined with improve- ments to Tijuana’s system – al- leviated the problem, but the latest spill was a reminder that infrastructure is woe- fully inadequate. UCCI professor suspended over police probe RCIPS mum on allegations BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A University College of the Cayman Islands pro- fessor has been suspended in connection with an on- going police investigation, the university’s president, Roy Bodden, confirmed to the Cayman Compass. The teacher was ar- rested March 30 in re- lation to a probe being conducted by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s Family Support Unit in conjunction with the newly formed Multi- Agency Safegaurding Hub. He had not been charged as of press time Tuesday and so is not being identi- fied by the newspaper. “The University Col- lege is aware that one of its faculty members is as- sisting the police in their investigation of an allega- tion,” Mr. Bodden said in a written statement. “The president has not been of- ficially notified as to the nature of the matter being investigated.” The RCIPS, while con- firming the arrest had oc- curred, declined to state the nature of the case as of press time Tuesday. Police said the suspect is free on police bail. Mr. Bodden said the professor would be sus- pended with full pay, consistent with the school’s policy on all such investigations. “Arrangements have been made for the stu- dents scheduled for classes with this in- structor to have a substi- tute,” Mr. Bodden said. CORRECTION In a story titled “Leslie speaks out on online scandal” on page 1 of Tuesday’s Compass, the relationship between Prospect candidate Matthew Leslie and the Cayman Is- lands Brewery was described incorrectly. The brewery had contracted with Mr. Leslie’s company Cayman Mardi Gras to provide public relations services. UCCI President Roy Bodden said the professor would be suspended with full pay, consistent with the school’s policy on all such investigations. The Cayman National Choir practices with director Sue Horrocks and accompanist Naomi Allnutt. – PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY The commission said the episode highlighted the need for better communications between local officials on both sides of the border, better data collection and for improvements to Tijuana’s sewage system.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 5127 | BEST DRESSED CHICKEN | 100% NATURAL | PRESS AD | FULL PAGE COMPASS | 10.333 x 15.97 | CMYK | 4 JAN 2017 1OO% natural O% ADDED Hormones IS O 1 4 0 0 1 C ER TIF IED IS O 9 0 01 C ER TIFI ED Raised with care under the Jamaican sun, The Best Dressed Chicken has been producing all natural superior quality chickens since 1958, totally free of added hormones. The Best Dressed Chicken is available island wide. Learn more today at thebestdressedchicken.ky NATURALLY THE TASTIEST CHICKENThe 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. “[T]he examination of the record by the information commissioner would not be in the public interest.” — Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick, on the “Ritch Report” The above statement signed by Governor Kilpatrick contains some of the most chilling words that a govern- ment official can utter in a supposedly free and demo- cratic society: That sharing a piece of information “would not be in the public interest.” The Ritch Report – the $312,000 consultant’s report on Cayman’s immigration system – was always a serious subject. But in the overall context of Cayman’s issues with 900-plus languishing permanent residence applica- tions, potential human rights violations and looming legal ramifications, the governmental report on the topic was, relatively speaking, a sideshow to the main event. However, the governor’s exercise of her “nuclear option” to block the Freedom of Information request has thrust the Ritch Report right back into the glare of the public spotlight. Some background: In August 2015, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie issued a decision that was strongly critical of Cayman’s immigration system. The government then commissioned the report from law firm Ritch & Conolly, which was completed in mid-2016. After Premier Alden McLaughlin withheld release of the report, the Compass requested the document under the Freedom of Information Law. The premier refused, saying the Ritch Report consti- tuted legal advice and was thus exempt from publication. The Compass challenged that assertion and appealed the matter to acting Information Commissioner Jan Liebaers. Mr. Liebaers demanded to see the report so he could verify whether it did contain legal advice. The premier refused. The matter was sent to Chief Justice Smellie, who in January sided with the premier. Mr. Liebaers appealed that ruling to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal. Finally, Governor Kilpatrick stepped in and quashed the matter. It doesn’t take much imagination to surmise what the Ritch Report most likely contains. It would be deficient if it didn’t include a retrospective of Cayman’s immigration policies over the years, an analysis of weaknesses in the current system, and an examination of potential risks to the public treasury. In other words, the Ritch Report may very well be helpful to people seeking to sue Cayman’s government over immigration malfeasance. If Cayman’s taxpayers should expect the arrival of hefty legal bills in the mail – or not – either revelation cer- tainly seems to be in the public interest. If any officials’ motivation for concealing the Ritch Report is, indeed, to conceal flaws that have been iden- tified in Cayman’s immigration system – then they have prioritized protecting the public purse, and public officials, at the expense of the individual victims who might be empowered to seek legal redress for our government’s abuse of their rights. In Chief Justice Smellie’s January ruling, he dwells at length upon the right of legal professional privi- lege, devoting roughly half of the 44-page judgment to exploring and establishing the sanctity of the attorney- client relationship and extending that right to the premier and the government’s lawyers. That “issue” was never an issue, at least not to us, who filed the FOI request. We would be the first to assert the inviolability of the “priest and penitent” paradigm between attorneys and clients. If the Ritch Report consti- tuted legal advice to the premier, it should and must, in our opinion, remain confidential. Our concern – and Commissioner Liebaers’s – never involved the sanctity of legal privilege, which the Chief Justice so ably defended. What we wanted to ascertain was whether the preponderance of the content of the Ritch Report constituted actual legal advice – or whether that was just a “relabeling” of the document to keep the findings secret. Tuesday afternoon, the Governor’s Office issued a further statement, affirming that Governor Kilpatrick had indeed read the Ritch Report and concluded “that it does constitute legal advice.” While helpful, our position remains that Mr. Liebaers’s challenge to the Chief Justice’s ruling should be allowed to proceed to the appellate court, the purpose of which is to review, reverse or endorse lower court decisions. Through her unilateral action, the governor has assumed the role of the higher court in regard to this seminal Freedom of Information case. From where we sit, we cannot reconcile on how her decision possibly could be “in the public interest.” When government decides what’s in ‘the public interest’ WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS How to axe the IRS Switch to an elegant and fair value-added tax Ever notice the filing deadline for the U.S. income tax – April 15 – is about as far away from Election Day as possible? If the annual or- deal punctuated on Oct. 15, the frustration and outrage taxpaying citizens feel would translate into a voter revolt and finally compel politi- cians to deliver a simpler and fairer system. The personal and corpo- rate taxes levy terribly high marginal rates, offer a myriad of special-interest credits and deductions, require expensive recordkeeping and impose complex auditing functions at the Internal Revenue Ser- vice that have proven suscep- tible to political abuse. Amer- icans believe it favors the very wealthy and big busi- nesses, who can afford high- dollar lobbyists and big cam- paign contributions. It does encourage businesses of all sizes to often make decisions based on tax considerations instead of sound economics. Foreign governments rely more on value-added taxes, which approximate national sales taxes. In compliance with World Trade Organiza- tion rules, those are rebated on exports and applied to im- ports. Income taxes are not, placing U.S. businesses at a cost disadvantage. The most comprehensive tax reform would be to re- place the personal and corpo- rate income taxes with a VAT. The Treasury annually col- lects about $2 trillion through personal and corporate taxes. This could be replaced by an 11 percent national sales tax on all private purchases and payments – be they computer equipment, college tuition or lunch at the corner deli. Busi- nesses and institutions would pay the taxes they collect less the taxes they pay on ma- terials and equipment, rent and the like. This subtraction would avoid the double tax- ation on goods and services purchased and effectively create a VAT. It would end the headaches associated with valuing inventories, calcu- lating depreciation on build- ings and machines and much other work that cost billions in accounting and legal fees. A VAT would favor no activity over another, and mostly end the problem of U.S. firms parking profits abroad to avoid U.S. taxes. Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady proposes to do es- sentially this for the corporate income tax. His plan would eliminate credits and deduc- tions and lower the maximum corporate rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, which would be refunded on exports and ap- plied to imports. This plan faces a lot of undeserved op- position from retailers who say it would raise prices 20 percent on imported goods and make them less competi- tive, but that’s nonsense. First, it would be levied on the im- port value of the goods – that excludes any domestic logis- tics costs and wholesale and retail markups. Second, as all retailers would be paying the same tax on imports, Wal-Mart and Target would have the same costs as other brick-and- mortar and internet vendors. Moreover, by removing the disincentive to manufacture in the United States created by foreign reliance on VATs, it would create new competi- tion from new U.S. suppliers of toasters and cell phones– who would now be aided by more automated produc- tion process then when their manufacturing was relo- cated to China. The Brady Plan still has two flaws. It would continue the myriad of filing head- aches and inequities most ordinary Americans endure paying personal income taxes, and many businesses are limited liability corpo- rations and pay through the personal income tax system. They would face even greater disadvantages by paying rates up to 39.6 percent and not enjoying rebates on ex- ports. The logical option is to generalize Brady’s reforms to include the personal income tax as well. Junk it and im- pose a VAT of 11 percent on all economic activities. Two problems would re- main. A VAT would tax rich and poor consumers at the same rate. The elderly, who more or less live on savings, have already paid income taxes on those savings and would be taxed again. An ef- fective response would be to raise the rate to 14 per- cent, and award each parent $4,000 for each child under 21 and to seniors 65 and older. Taking things a step further, the Social Security and Medicare taxes could be eliminated by raising the rate to 20 percent. Temptations would abound to exclude or exempt all kinds of activities, but that would do more to ap- pease big corporate contrib- utors and the wealthy than to serve the public interest. That is the kind of thinking that gave us the current mess – and inequities, slow growth and mindless harassment from the IRS. Elegant, egalitarian and efficient, a value-added tax without exemptions would permit the economy to grow faster and create more jobs. Peter Morici is a professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He served as chief economist of the U.S. International Trade Commission from 1993-1995. He tweets @pmorici1. PETER MORICI A VAT would favor no activity over another, and mostly end the problem of U.S. firms parking profits abroad to avoid U.S. taxes. 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”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 SALE This Easter Season, celebrate with style and receive 20% off all inventory at both IDG and Dwell showrooms this Wednesday, April 5th through Saturday, April 8th. It’s a Big Easter Sale and now’s the time to update your space at an exciting 20% savings. Shop both locations for our Easter themed accessories and exciting new inventory, including furniture, accessories, lighting and rugs just in for Spring. Stop in to Dwell by the Airport Post Office and IDG at 7Mile Shops to take advantage of the big Easter sale this Wednesday through Saturday. IDG SHOWROOM: 7Mile Shops I 345-943-6464 www.idgcayman.com Monday - Saturday from 10AM - 5PM DWELL SHOWROOM: 119 Dorcy Drive I 345-745-4310 Monday - Thursday from 10AM - 6PM Friday & Saturday from 9AM - 5PM 20% OFF l 5-8 APRIL Happy Easter from IDG & Dwell...LOVE TO DWELL.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Sister Islands The 2017 Cayman Brac Agriculture Show was bigger and better than ever with a record crowd of 1,600. The show was held on March 25 at the Agricul- tural Grounds on the Bluff. Now in its 14th year, the event saw its largest crowd to date, as well as a record number of vendors. According to organizers, the show honored the his- torical advancements of ag- riculture in Cayman Brac while highlighting its sig- nificance to the island’s cul- ture and heritage, when, in times gone by, living off the land by rearing livestock and growing produce were essen- tial for survival. Kicking off with a tra- ditional Caymanian break- fast and opening ceremonies, the day featured games, con- tests, a raffle, entertainment by performers including the YMCA dance group, Los Trop- icanos, the Koalition dance troupe and the J.R. Douglas Band, demonstrations from the fire and police depart- ments and the Customs K-9 unit, as well as various cul- tural demonstrations. “New attractions for this year were a greased-pole climb, peppermint candy making, a performance from Tide-Tricking and Rosco the mechanical bull,” said Brac Agricultural Show committee chair Chevala Burke. Show mainstays, in- cluding locally grown pro- duce, crafts made from natural materials, animal dis- plays, delicious competition entries and games all proved popular as well, in a day of- fering fun for all ages. WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Visit of HMS Salisbury calls for sherry and pomp In the April 5, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac correspondent Lil- lian Ritch wrote: “The visit of the HMS Salisbury recently was a happy and successful occa- sion. For the ship’s comple- ment of 16 officers and 204 men, this was an introduc- tion to the Cayman Islands, and to some to West In- dies as a whole …. On our part, the open ship was a new experience, leaving our boys and girls wide-eyed with excitement over the guns and sonar sighting and the white, clean beauty of the ship. “The programme car- ried through (on March 23) was as follows: At 10 a.m. Commander H.M. Ellis R.N. came ashore at the Channel Wharf and inspected a Qr. Guard of Honour under the direction of the chief of po- lice, Mr. R.S. Besant, and commanded by Sgt. James Terry …. Proceeding to Stake Bay, Commander Ellis called on the District Com- missioner, Mr. D.H. Foster, in office and he was served with sherry. Within about 45 minutes, Mr. Foster, ac- companied by Mr. Besant, made the C.I. official call on the Commander and ship and were offered drinks. “At 12:30, invited guests and the Commander and 13 officers enjoyed lunch at Buccaneer’s Inn, where in- formality and friendliness made acquaintance easy …. We were impressed with the CO’s competence and medals, and learned with interest that he began his sea career at 13 years old …. “After a tour of the is- land, the visitors returned to the ship, which at 6 o’clock was home to about 40 guests with cocktails. Hos- pitality, courtesy and infor- mality made a very happy evening, and our Amer- ican friends were delighted to hear that in Houston, Texas, the ship’s full com- plement of officers and men had been invited into pri- vate homes and the happy exchange of Coats of Arms took place at this party. “In the afternoon and evening, the ratings enjoyed their shore leave at the beaches, and two dances ar- ranged on the eastern dis- trict …. Also from 1:30 to 4 p.m. nearly 200 locals were taken aboard. “To close a happy day, Commander Ellis and Mr. Besant were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Foster to dinner at their home, the Fos- ters having the further pleasure and privilege of the CO remaining at their house for the night as the hotel was full.” Record attendance at Brac Ag Show Owen McLaughlin pets his cow, which was entered in the animal exhibit. Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, Bermuda Minister of Education and Environment N. H. Cole, District Commissioner Ernie Scott and Speaker Juliana O’Connor-Connolly in the official tour of the competition tent. Grand Cayman’s 2017 Farm Queen Leticia Francis Bush, 15, had fun trying out the mechanical bull. - PHOTOS: CAYMAN BRAC AGRICULTURE SHOW COMMITTEE Produce entries on display.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 Students warned about fake brands JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com From knock-off “Beats by Dre” headphones to fake Louis Vuitton bags, students at John Gray High School were given a lesson this week in the dangers of buying counterfeit goods. HSM intellectual prop- erty attorney Sophie Da- vies and head paralegal Na- tasha Whitelocke visited the school Monday to talk to Year 11 students about Cayman’s new trademark laws and the international threat posed by fake goods. The students were told that looking for a cheap deal now could have conse- quences in the long term. During the school as- sembly, many of the stu- dents acknowledged they had bought counterfeit goods lo- cally, including sneakers, bags and Android phones. Head girl Allison Tatum told the Cayman Com- pass after the assembly, “The presentation was very helpful. It educated us more on trademarks and counter- feiting. I’ve seen them (coun- terfeit goods) around and it is something I thought about, but now I won’t buy them because I know the ef- fects it can have.” The legal experts dis- cussed the importance of trademarks internationally and highlighted the links be- tween established trademark brands and quality control. Ms. Whitelocke said there is no protection for con- sumers who buy fake phones that break down or bags that fall apart. Students were also shown how to identify coun- terfeit goods. Ms. Whitelocke said she was surprised by how many of the students seemed to know about counterfeit goods and acknowledged having bought them locally. She said it is important to get the message out to teenagers who are among the most brand conscious consumers. “Hopefully their eyes have been opened,” she said. “We want them to make better spending decisions as to what to do with their money. Going forward they can pay attention to what is out there on the shelves and hopefully they will not be tempted to open their own business and bring in goods to make a quick buck.” Anthony Miguel Diaz, head boy at the school, said he had seen Air Jordan shoes and Android phones for sale in Cayman that he believed to be counterfeit. He said he believed people were tempted by the lower prices. “When you go to buy something and you see a cheaper price, you think that is a great deal there and then, but in the long run, things aren’t going to pay off. When they break down, you end up paying more.” The presentation is part of the International Trade- mark Association’s Unreal Campaign to educate teen- agers about the importance of trademarks, intellectual property and the dangers of counterfeit products. HSM Managing Partner Huw Moses said, “We are pleased to present INTA’s Unreal campaign to JGHS students in the Cayman Is- lands. We appreciate the op- portunity to educate, em- power and encourage young adults in the local commu- nity about the importance of trademarks and anti-coun- terfeiting in order to equip them to make smarter pur- chasing decisions.” MINISTER: FUEL PRICE CONTROLS ‘A LAST RESORT’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands will only implement direct price controls over petroleum sup- pliers as “a last resort,” out- going Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said in a statement released Tuesday. Mr. Tibbetts told the Leg- islative Assembly earlier that the government may even- tually enact controls over fuel prices only if the public utilities regulator, OfReg, determines that competi- tion in the Cayman Islands market has failed. “Price control in rela- tion to fuel prices in the Cayman Islands is not the primary objective of the gov- ernment or of this law,” Mr. Tibbetts said. “Rather than price controls, the regulatory approach will be one where we will monitor and oversee the [fuel] sector based on es- tablished key metrics and parameters. If these are on target, we do nothing.” It is only in situations where targets “deviate” from what is expected that the regulator will step in to “introduce compensatory measures to bring prices back on track.” “Leaving the market to it- self is not an option at this time,” Mr. Tibbetts said. The Progressives-led gov- ernment introduced and passed the Fuel Market Regulations Bill during March’s Legislative Assembly meeting. The bill is part of an effort to combine the regula- tion of public sector utilities and commodities under the newly formed Utility Regula- tion and Competition Office, now called OfReg. Cayman’s water, electricity, telecom- munications and fuel sec- tors are planned to be reg- ulated under that office once all the relevant legisla- tion is approved. The utility regulatory of- fice will be given “signifi- cant market power” under the provisions of the bill to determine whether competi- tion among distributors and retailers “truly exists in the fuel market.” If the market is not determined to be com- petitive, the regulator is au- thorized to ensure there is “suitable competition,” Mr. Tibbetts said. The government ap- proved separate laws last year that give the new regu- lator power to inspect local distributors’ and retailers’ prices, but the law does not allow those to be publicly re- leased. Rather, the informa- tion on pricing is used to in- form government officials on other decisions involving the competitive environment. Mr. Tibbetts said the gov- ernment did not necessarily wish to move to a price-con- trolled environment for fuel right away, but rather sought to establish a “sustainable framework” for regulating the fuel market and also for the service providers. Natasha Whitelocke, head paralegal at HSM Chambers, shows a counterfeit designer bag to students. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Kurt Tibbetts Brac students win Battle of the Books, GT Primary takes junior division Students from Layman E. Scott High School on Cayman Brac are this year’s senior di- vision champions of the an- nual Lera Parchment Battle of the Books competition. The event, which at- tracted more than 90 stu- dents in 15 teams, was held at Sir John A. Cumber Pri- mary School in West Bay on Saturday, April 2. The Brac team scored 292 points, pushing them ahead of The Amazing Auggies from St. Ignatius Catholic School, who were runners-up with 279 points. In the junior division, the Flying Phoenixes from George Town Primary School, with 315 points, beat the St. Ignatius team We’re Booked, who scored 302 points. Battle of the Books is an annual children’s reading competition organized by Cayman Islands Information Professionals, which is a li- brary association promoting literacy and advocating for libraries, according to a press release. The senior division includes students aged 11 to 14, while the junior division consists of pupils ranging in age from 7 to 10. “Battle of the Books was very exciting this year, with all participants being ex- tremely knowledgeable,” said Paul Robinson, one of the competition’s organizers. “It was particularly exciting for the Brac students who came over and conquered their ri- vals in the seniors’ division.” The competition is named after the late Lera Parchment. Her children, Richard Parchment and Julie Hunter presented trophies to the winners. Outgoing Minister for Education Tara Rivers pre- sented the medals to the participants. Rotary Sunrise helped buy the books for the event and presented certifi- cates on the day. Junior division winners Flying Phoenixes from George Town Primary School and runners-up St. Ignatius team We’re Booked. Senior division winners Layman E. Scott High School from Cayman Brac, with runners-up The Amazing Auggies from St. Ignatius Catholic School.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS USED DIVE GEAR AND MORE!!!!!! SAT., APRIL 8TH 9-12 218 So. Church St. BCD’s *Wetsuits*T-shirts*Other Retail items YARD SALE PRICES! NO EARLY BIRDS! USED DIVE GEAR AND MORE!!!!!! SAT., APRIL 8TH 9-12 218 So. Church St. BCD’s *Wetsuits*T-shirts*Other Retail items YARD SALE PRICES! NO EARLY BIRDS! USED DIVE GEAR AND MORE!!!!!! SAT., APRIL 8TH 9-12 218 So. Church St. BCD’s *Wetsuits*T-shirts*Other Retail items YARD SALE PRICES! NO EARLY BIRDS! USED DIVE GEAR AND MORE!!!!!! SAT., APRIL 8TH 9-12 218 So. Church St. BCD’s *Wetsuits*T-shirts*Other Retail items YARD SALE PRICES! NO EARLY BIRDS! Missing Cat Pure art area. Missing Missing Missing Answers to the name Oreo. If found please call (345)326-4704 change is that any [candidate] who wants to run in a dis- trict should live in that dis- trict,” he added. Also on the objections list in East End is former internationally competitive hammer-thrower Michael Letterlough. Mr. McLean said he was “shocked” by Mr. Let- terlough’s potential exclu- sion after he had represented Cayman internationally. Voter challenge hearings for East End are due to be heard Thursday afternoon. ‘Politics’ George Town Central po- litical candidate Kenneth Bryan confirmed that his sister, Patricia, who would vote in George Town West, is being objected to as a voter. Mr. Bryan offered an expla- nation for this attempted ex- clusion: “Politics.” “What they’re saying is that my sister has been off island for too long, she’s currently over … at uni- versity,” Mr. Bryan said. “They took her off [the list] … without even asking her first about what’s the pur- pose of her being away.” According to the Elections Law, students are allowed to vote in general elections even if they have been away from the jurisdiction for two out of the last four years prior to the registration date for an election. “They have a crew of people who specialize in this, just look for these types of things to under- mine people who are not [Progressives members],” Mr. Bryan said. The Cayman Compass contacted Progressives party representatives about Mr. Bryan’s claims and the party directed all questions to the Elections Office. Another claim on the George Town voters list is one involving Oral George Roper, who seeks to have his vote counted in the upcoming election. He is currently not on the voter registration list. Mr. Roper was convicted of murder in the 1990s but was released from North- ward Prison in 2014 on li- cense under the Governor’s prerogative of mercy. He was one of four prisoners re- leased that year by the gov- ernor before the enactment of new laws that ended Cay- man’s mandatory life prison sentences for murder. Mr. Roper, listed as a “new applicant” on the elec- tions claims form for George Town North, has always maintained his innocence in connection with the 1994 slaying of a prisons em- ployee. He told the Compass last year that he believes even those who are fairly incarcerated deserve a second chance. George Town voter claims and objections are due to be heard Friday morning at a meeting at the town hall in George Town. Jeffrey Webb One name pops out among the Bodden Town voters who are being objected to, that of Jeffrey Dean Webb. Webb, who has not resided in the Cayman Islands since at least May 2015, when he was arrested in Switzerland in connection with an inter- national bribery and racke- teering probe, is listed in the Savannah constituency. Webb pleaded guilty in November 2015 to seven counts in a U.S. federal court indictment alleging he took millions of dollars in bribes to facilitate certain sports marketing compa- nies receiving the commer- cial rights to FIFA football matches, including World Cup qualifying matches. He has also been charged, but not convicted, in connec- tion with the CarePay public hospital fraud investiga- tion in Cayman. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month in the U.S. case. The Bodden Town voter objections hearings are set for Wednesday morning. ‘Politics’ seen in voter challenges CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Nickolas DaCostaJohn McLean Jr. Island Adventure Tours without holding a valid trade and business license. The defendant replied, “Not guilty.” His position was that he had a license, Mr. Ebanks explained. The license states that Mr. Gonzalez’s place of business is his of- fice, “as all licenses do,” Mr. Ebanks told the court. He pointed out further that water sports do not take place in an office – and such businesses were known to change their lo- cation of operation based on the weather. Many of the docks from which they leave are public places, he said. The magistrate said it seemed like “a novel legal issue” and asked if Mr. Ebanks had approached the Legal Department about it. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm confirmed that he had. Mr. Ebanks noted that another magistrate had discharged the case last October. The magistrate pointed out that the charge before him was laid in November. Mr. Ebanks replied that it related to a ticket. A case management date was set for April 20. The next defendant, sim- ilarly charged, was Eric Ebanks, who was also rep- resented by Mr. Ebanks. The attorney said that while the matter was somewhat different, it involved the ac- tivity of chair and umbrella rental in the same area. He commented that nu- merous government offi- cials have weighed in on the matter and have given undertakings that there will be a board set up to deal with businesses on Seven Mile Beach. Mr. Walcolm also re- ferred to a commission that is to be set up for businesses operating on public land. He made his comment during mention of the case of Seymour Silburn, who has pleaded guilty to car- rying on the business of Seymour’s Jerk Chicken on Seven Mile Beach without a valid business license on Sept. 15. He said he has since taken the courses he was told to take, but he has not reopened his business because now he has to get insurance, but the cost was $600 per month “and I can’t afford that.” He said he was searching around to see if he could get a better price. The magistrate said that right now there was no harm to the public be- cause Mr. Silburn was not operating and he was attempting to rec- tify the matter. Since Mr. Walcolm has recently been designated to deal with this type of case, the matter was also put to April 20. The fourth defendant, Sheila Bodden, told the court she wanted to speak to Mr. Ebanks before her next court appearance, so her case was set for April 20 also. She is charged with selling handcrafts and jew- elry at the West Bay Public Beach in the vicinity of the public dock on Sept. 22, 2016, without a valid business license. Mr. Kildag said he had never returned to Turkey, even to visit his family, be- cause he feared for his safety. He accepted that police had contacted him in the 1990s, but said he was un- aware of any specific allega- tion against him until an ex- tradition request was sent to German authorities in 2015. The extradition request was refused by the German Ministry of Justice. Mr. Kildag’s wife, Ute Kildag, also gave evidence, telling the court the couple had met in 1984 and mar- ried in late 1985. She said the couple had a 2-year-old son and she was four months pregnant with her daughter in April 1988, when the al- leged offenses are said to have occurred. She said her husband had never left the country and had not left their home, “not even for a day” during her preg- nancy. She also unearthed re- cords from a driving school in Germany, which show he was taking regular driving lessons between March and July of that year. She was unable to obtain other records, including med- ical, dental and insurance documents, she said, because they were no longer available 30 years later. Mr. Kildag’s brother and sister-in-law also provided statements to the court that he was in Germany in April 1988 when the offenses were said to have taken place. Cheryll Richards, director of public prosecutions, out- lined the evidence supplied by Turkish authorities. She said a warrant had first been issued for Mr. Kildag’s ar- rest in 1990 on the basis of a witness who had identified him as being one of a group of men involved in events leading to the burning of the two primary schools and the killing of two people. She said the Turkish au- thorities had attempted to ex- plain the 24-year delay in is- suing an international arrest warrant by referring to a ju- risdictional mix-up between two different courts. The in- ternational warrant was is- sued in May 2014, she said. Ms. Richards said at this stage in the hearing it was for the court to decide whether the delays in at- tempting to bring a prosecu- tion amounted to “injustice or oppression.” She said, “The question for the court is, given the ex- tremely serious nature of the offenses with which Mr. Kildag is charged in Turkey, whether it would be unjust or oppressive to return him, in light of the factual matrix which is before Your Honor.” Laurence Aiolfi, repre- senting Mr. Kildag, described the explanation for the delay from the Turkish authori- ties as “gobbledegook” and said it would be impos- sible for his client to get a fair trial in Turkey after so much time had passed. He said Mr. Kildag was not a fu- gitive from justice and had been unaware of any charges against him until 2015. “It is Turkey who bears responsibility for the record- breaking, exceptional delay in this case,” he said. He said his client’s defense was that he was living in another country. Had the case been brought in a timely fashion, he said, it would have been easy to call witnesses and cite public records to show he was in Germany and had not clandestinely entered Turkey to commit the of- fenses on the dates alleged. After nearly three de- cades, he said, such evi- dence was not available. If the magistrate does decide that the length of time that has passed will not pre- vent Mr. Kildag from getting a fair trial in Turkey, he will not automatically be extra- dited. There will still be an opportunity for his attorney to prove he should not be ex- tradited for other reasons, potentially including the human rights record of the current Turkish regime. Candidate pleads not guilty to beach vending charge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Extradition hearing begins for Turkish suspect CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The magistrate said it seemed like “a novel legal issue” and asked if attorney Phillip Ebanks had approached the Legal Department about it. “If I do get elected, the first thing I’ll change is that any [candidate] who wants to run in a district should live in that district.” JOHN MCLEAN, Jr. 9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2017 An open invitation to THE PROGRESSIVES CONFERENCE Saturday 8 April Family Life Centre 6:30 pm Keynote Speaker: Don Seymour Address by Hon. Alden McLaughlin Dinner to follow Register by emailing info@ppm.ky or by calling 945-8292 THE PROGRESSIVES #CAYMANSTRONG WWW .PROGRESSIVES.KY Suspected Syria gas attack kills dozens, including children BEIRUT (AP) – A suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria’s rebel-held northern Idlib province killed dozens of people on Tuesday, opposi- tion activists said, describing the attack as among the worst in the country’s six- year civil war. Hours later, a small field hospital in the region was struck and destroyed, ac- cording to a civil defense worker in the area. There was no information if anyone was killed in that attack. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group put the death toll from the gas attack at 58, saying there were 11 children among the dead. Meanwhile, the Idlib Media Center said dozens of people had been killed. The media center pub- lished footage of medical workers appearing to intu- bate an unresponsive man stripped down to his under- wear and hooking up a little girl foaming at the mouth to a ventilator. It was not imme- diately clear if all those killed died from suffocation or were struck by other airstrikes oc- curring in the area around the same time. It was the third claim of a chemical attack in just over a week in Syria. The pre- vious two were reported in Hama province, in an area not far from Khan Sheik- houn, the site of Tuesday’s alleged attack. Tuesday’s reports came on the eve of a major inter- national meeting in Brussels on the future of Syria and the region, to be hosted by the EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini. There was no comment from the government in Da- mascus in the immediate af- termath of the attack, which activists said was the worst since the 2013 toxic gas at- tack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta that killed hun- dreds of civilians. That at- tack, which a U.N. report said was an attack by toxic sarin gas, was the worst in Syr- ia’s civil war. In the wake of the 2013 at- tack, President Bashar Assad agreed to a Russia-sponsored deal to destroy his chemical arsenal and joined the Chem- ical Weapons Convention. His government declared a 1,300- ton stockpile of chemical weapons and so-called pre- cursor chemicals that can be used to make weapons amid international outrage at a nerve gas attack on the out- skirts of Damascus. Those weapons have been destroyed, but member states of the OPCW have repeatedly questioned whether Assad declared everything in 2013. The widely available chem- ical chlorine was not cov- ered in the 2013 declara- tion and activists say they have documented dozens of cases of chlorine gas at- tacks since then. The Syrian government has consistently denied using chemical weapons and chlorine gas, accusing the rebels of deploying it in the war instead. Tarik Jasarevic, spokesman for the World Health Organization in Ge- neva, said in an emailed statement that the agency is contacting health pro- viders from Idlib to get more information about Tues- day’s incident. The Syrian American Medical Society, which sup- ports hospitals in oppo- sition-held territory, said it had sent a team of in- spectors to Khan Sheik- houn before noon and an investigation was under way. The Syrian activists claimed the attack was caused by an airstrike car- ried out either by Syrian gov- ernment or Russian war- planes. Makeshift hospitals soon crowded with people suffocating, they said. Mohammed Hassoun, a media activist in nearby Sarmin – also in Idlib prov- ince where some of the crit- ical cases were transferred – said the hospital there had been equipped to deal with such chemical attacks be- cause the town was struck in one chemical attack, early on in the Syrian uprising. The wounded have been “distributed around in rural Idlib,” he told The Associated Press by phone. “There are 18 critical cases here. They were unconscious, they had sei- zures and when oxygen was administered, they bled from the nose and mouth.” Hassoun, who is docu- menting the attack for the medical society, said the doctors there have said it is likely more than one gas. “Chlorine gas doesn’t cause such convulsions,” he said, adding that doctors suspect sarin was used. Hussein Kayal, a photog- rapher for the Idlib Media Center, said he was awoken by the sound of a bomb blast around 6:30 a.m. When he ar- rived at the scene there was no smell, he said. He found entire families inside their homes, lying on the floor, eyes wide open and unable to move. Their pupils were constricted. He put on a mask, he said. Kayal said he and other witnesses took vic- tims to an emergency room, and removed their clothes and washed them in water. He said he felt a burning sensation in his fingers and was treated for that. A Turkey-based Syrian man whose niece, her hus- band and year-old daughter were among those killed, said the warplanes struck early, as residents were still in their beds. He spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because he feared for the safety of family members back in Syria. The province of Idlib is al- most entirely controlled by the Syrian opposition. It is home to some 900,000 dis- placed Syrians, according to the United Nations. Rebels and opposition officials have expressed concerns that the government is planning to mount a concentrated attack on the crowded province. The Syrian Coalition, an opposition group based out- side the country, said gov- ernment planes fired mis- siles carrying poisonous gases on Khan Sheikhoun, de- scribing the attack as a “hor- rifying massacre.” This frame grab from video provided on Tuesday shows a Syrian victim of a suspected chemical attack receiving treatment at a makeshift hospital in northern Idlib province, Syria. - PHOTO: EDLIB MEDIA CENTER VIA AP PINK DIAMOND AUCTIONED FOR RECORD $71.2M IN HONG KONG HONG KONG (AP) – A stun- ning 59.6 carat diamond known as the “Pink Star” sold for $71.2 million at a Sothe- by’s auction Tuesday in Hong Kong, setting a new world record for any diamond or jewel, according to the auction house. The oval mixed-cut dia- mond smashed the $60 mil- lion pre-sale estimate set by Sotheby’s when it went on the block. The sale comes three years after the gem was sold at an even higher price at another Sotheby’s auction in Geneva. That deal later fell apart after the buyer defaulted. The gem is the largest flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Insti- tute of America. It was sold for a hammer price of $63.0 million, not in- cluding the buyer’s premium. Sotheby’s says the buyer is Hong Kong jewelry com- pany Chow Tai Fook, which beat out two other tele- phone bidders. Until now, the most expen- sive diamond ever sold at auc- tion was the “Oppenheimer Blue,” which fetched 56.8 million Swiss francs (then US$57.6 million) last May. The previous world auction record for a pink diamond was $46.2 million for the 24.78 carat “Graff Pink” in 2010. Sotheby’s decided the time was right to bring the dia- mond back to the market be- cause of rising demand from wealthy Asian buyers. “The Asian element in the jewelry market is extremely important and from what I’ve been hearing from members of the trade I’ve been talking to, in the last six months they have become more and more important,” said David Ben- nett, chairman of the auction house’s jewelry division.Next >