ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 High of 87 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ON HEALTH CITY: BRITCAY’S PR STRATEGY REQUIRES FIRST AID SPORTS | PAGE 13 NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM SEEKS SUPPORT FOR TOURNAMENT PremierHealth The world is smaller when you have a bigger health plan. 24/7 worldwide assistance and your I.D. card is accepted by 1.1million US providers, including pharmacy benefits. Wherever you touch down, with Premier Health you are only a phone call away from the care you deserve. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp No extradition for Turkish terror suspect Anniversary cruise turned into four-month legal ordeal JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A cruise ship tourist has spoken of his joy and relief after being told he will not be sent to Turkey to face trial for alleged terrorist ac- tivity nearly 30 years ago. The decision of the Cayman Islands court Wednesday that Celal Kildag should not be extradited to his homeland brings to an end a four-month ordeal for the 58-year-old and his family. Magistrate Grace Donalds said there was no adequate explanation from Turkish au- thorities for the 29-year delay in pursuing the charges, which include allegations that he was involved in the burning of a school and the murder of two people in 1988. She said it would be “oppressive” to send Mr. Kildag, who denies any knowledge of the offenses and has lived in Germany since 1980, to Turkey to face trial. Mr. Kildag looked stunned and relieved as the decision was announced, holding his face in his hands before embracing his wife, Ute, outside the courtroom. He told the Cayman Compass, “It is a very emotional moment. I missed my family a lot. After such a long time, I am very happy.” Mrs. Kildag said the couple had gone into debt to pay for the four-month legal fight and were anxious to return to Germany. She said, “A massive weight has been taken off us. It was a huge burden for him, for me at home, for the children and the family, psycho- logically and financially.” She said they had saved for a year to pay for the Caribbean cruise to celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary. They flew from Germany to Cuba and boarded the MSC Opera, which stopped in Jamaica before calling in to George Town on Dec. 8. Mr. Kildag was arrested after authorities in Grand Cayman spotted an international REPORT: MORE CAYMANIANS LOOKING FOR WORK BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com While the Cayman Islands’ overall un- employment rate stayed about the same, the number of unemployed Caymanians grew by 197 people between October 2015 and October 2016, according to a Labor Force Survey gov- ernment released Wednesday. The Caymanian unemployment rate went from 6.2 percent in October 2015 to 7.1 per- cent in October 2016. More than 1,400 Cayma- nians were unemployed and looking for work as of last fall, according to estimates from the Economics and Statistics Office. The jobless rate increase was mostly due to a larger number of Caymanians en- tering the workforce, according to govern- ment statements. The news of a marginal increase in local unemployment is not positive for the ruling Progressives-led government heading into next month’s general election. However, the potential for an increase in unemployment numbers was forecast by Finance Minister Marco Archer nearly two years ago, based on the policies of his government. “The age of pension entitlement was in- creased to age 65 in May 2016 and this could have inspired persons 60 and older to re-enter the labor force,” Mr. Archer said Wednesday. “A minimum wage was also established in March 2016, which could also have encour- aged greater efforts towards getting a job by persons across all age groups.” Nearly one-fifth of all unemployed Cayma- nians listed last fall had been working in the Jeffrey Webb struck off voters list Some voters caught by ‘2 out of 4’ rule BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former FIFA Vice Presi- dent Jeffrey Webb was ex- cluded from voting in the May general election during voter objection hearings in Bodden Town Wednesday. During the hearings, other Caymanians who expected to be on the voter rolls found out they were not. Webb was crossed off the list in the district of Savannah, fol- lowing his conviction for rack- eteering in the U.S. He is due to be sentenced on May 11 – just two weeks before Cay- man’s May 24 vote. Another person crossed off the voting list was former Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler, who left the Cayman Is- lands for a government job in St. Helena in early 2015, was also taken off the voters list. She did not do anything wrong, but ac- cording to elections rules, her vote was objected to due to her absence from the islands before the general election voter reg- istration date. The rules relate to a constitu- tional requirement that Cayma- nian voters must be resident in PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Young singers hit the high notes Young singers at schools throughout the Cayman Islands are taking part in the National Children’s Festival of the Arts. Pictured, Bodden Town Primary music teacher Trilby Lingard conducts soloist Jade Christian and other members of the school choir before the students traveled to Red Bay to take part in the choir and small ensemble section of the competition Wednesday. For more, see pages 2 and 7. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dynamic soloists, focused performances, hard work and a high level of energy are the hallmarks of the ongoing Na- tional Children’s Festival of the Arts competition. The festival, a showcase of the musical, drama, speech and artistic talents of the young generation in Cayman, started Feb. 13 and culminates on April 29. The final awards concert for Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands is to be announced at a later date. On Wednesday, primary school students took part in a performance of choirs and small vocal ensembles at the Red Bay Church of God on Selkirk Drive. Judges Janelle Tibbetts and Maryanne Chase assessed more than 25 items from 13 government and private schools. Bodden Town Primary choir, performing “Whisper,” and Red Bay Primary choir, who sang “The Letter,” re- ceived high praise and gold awards from judges for their performances in the Classical Contemporary category. In traditional folk songs, Prospect Primary received gold with “Dip An’ Fall Back.” Savannah Primary, performing “Still,” and Red Bay Primary, performing “Holy Fiyah,” each received gold in the Gospel and Christian category. “The Letter,” sung by Red Bay students, was an original work by music teacher Patricia Marie Bent that addressed the issue of domestic abuse. “There are a lot of kids in schools that experience a lot of domestic abuse and wit- ness a lot of it so I wanted to write a song from the per- spective of the child watching everything that is going on around them and being af- fected by it,” Ms. Bent said. For more on the children’s festival, see page 7. Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 - THURSDAY - GHOST IN THE SHELL 3D (PG13) 12:55 I 1:00 2D I 3:50 I 4:15 2D 6:50 I 7:10 2D I 9:45 I 9:50 2D BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D (PG) 12:40 2D I 3:40 I 7:05 2D I 9:55 KONG: SKULL ISLAND (PG13) 12:45 I 9:45 BOSS BABY 3D (PG) 12:30 I 3:30 2D I 6:45 I 9:35 2D POWER RANGERS (PG13) 3:35 I 6:55 GET OUT (R) 12:35 I 3:55 I 7:20 I 9:45 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. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) Saxophone player named 2017 Young Musician St. Ignatius High School student Marcos Bertran won the 10th annual Butterfield Young Musician of the Year Awards over the weekend for his performance on the saxophone. The competition on Sat- urday, April 1, at the Pros- pect Playhouse involved 10 young musicians. Marcos, who is under the instruction of Kazia Gibb at Musicians Ltd., won a trophy and a cash award from But- terfield, as did runner-up Liana DaCosta, a vocalist from Cayman Prep and High School, who trains with Spark! School of Music. The judging panel con- sisted of returning judges Stephanie Williams, a pianist, and Grammy Award-winning orchestral conductor and vi- olinist John McLaughlin Williams, as well as a new international judge, Dr. David Ragsdale from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The 2016 Butterfield Young Musician of the Year, flautist Daniela Granados, also performed. “We congratulate all of this year’s finalists on their hard work,” Michael McWatt, Butterfield’s managing di- rector, said in a press release. “Seeing such an amazing level of talent in our youth is truly inspiring. On behalf of Butterfield, we thank the De- partment of Education Ser- vices and our judges for their dedication and support to our young people. “It is our hope that our support will have a positive influence on the continued development of the per- forming arts in our islands.” Mexico border shooting wounds 2 US citizens MEXICO CITY (AP) – The Mexican Navy says ma- rines were involved in three shootouts in the border city of Reynosa that killed two suspected gunmen, but said that they were not in- volved in a fourth shooting that injured two civilians. El Manana newspaper reported the two wounded civilians were U.S. citi- zens. Reynosa is across the border from McAllen, Texas. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said it was aware of reports of “a shooting incident involving a U.S citizen near the border” but did not confirm the vic- tims’ nationalities because of privacy considerations. Navy officials said Wednesday that marines came under fire at three points in the city. Marines returned fire in the third incident and killed two armed people in a vehicle. Reynosa has long been dominated by the Gulf drug cartel. Students compete in National Children’s Festival of the Arts Suspected drug kingpin arrested in El Salvador SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) – Authorities in El Sal- vador say they have ar- rested a businessman ac- cused of being a leader of an international drug cartel and raided a series of busi- nesses and a law office. Jose Adan Salazar Umana, alias “Chepe Di- ablo,” was designated as an international drug kingpin by the United States in 2014. Local media reports say Salazar Umana was a leader of the Texis cartel in El Salvador and has been linked to money laundering through his businesses. Salvadoran Attorney General Douglas Melendez said about 50 prosecutors are searching some 26 com- panies, including hotels, gas stations and residences. “At the moment, I can only confirm the arrest of Mr. Jose Adan Salazar and three others, but I cannot say their names,” he said. When asked if it was an investigation into the Texis cartel, Melendez replied: “That is the name that has been given publicly. We are going after a money laun- dering structure but it is the same people.” Much of the cocaine reaching the United States from South America passes through Central America, giving rise to powerful or- ganized crime groups. From left, judges John McLaughlin Williams and Dr. David Ragsdale; runner-up Liana DaCosta; Young Musician of the Year Marcos Bertran; judge Stephanie Williams; and Butterfield Managing Director Michael McWatt. Cayman Academy students were proud of their accomplishments. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Red Bay Primary students perform ‘The Letter,’ which earned them a gold award.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 KIRK SLAM TOURNAMENT DATES KIRK SLAM TOURNAMENT DATES The only all-dolphin fishing tournament in the Cayman Islands returns with fun for the whole family. Join the excitement! 1ST PRIZE: $5000 CASH PLUS A TUDOR WATCH 2nd $2000 CASH 3rd $1000 CASH Learn more or download a registration form at kirkslam.ky REGISTRATION: TONIGHT, Thursday April 6th George Town Yacht Club • 5pm - 7pm TOURNAMENT: April 8th & 9th • 7am - 4pm WEIGH STATION: Barcadere Marina • 4pm - 6pm PRIZE GIVING: April 10th • George Town Yacht Club • 6pm - 8pm REGISTRA TION TONIGHT George Town Yatch Club 5pm - 7pmThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Whoever’s in charge of public relations and commu- nications for the British Caymanian Insurance Agencies – better known here in the Cayman Islands as “BritCay” – is in need of an emergency refresher course. On Wednesday, March 29, amid the political spec- tacle of Nomination Day, we at the Cayman Compass and many other businesses received a notice from BritCay announcing that the insurance broker would no longer authorize and reimburse for services (outside of cardiac procedures) at Health City Cayman Islands. Even worse, the cutoff in services would start Saturday, April 1 – a mere three days away. Worst of all, it appears that Health City itself never received “official notice” from BritCay. The reason provided by BritCay was, at best, bewil- dering: “BritCay must now ensure that all services provided at the Health City Cayman Islands facility are compliant with our contractual requirements.” As we say in the news biz, “Huh?” We wouldn’t expect such meaningless communication to emanate from BritCay, which as the largest provider of private health insurance in Cayman is well-established and highly regarded in the community. That being said, it does not appear that in this case the strings – or the messaging – are being controlled by BritCay, but rather by its parent entity Colonial Group International, which is based in Bermuda. To state the obvious (at least if you’re living in Cayman, not Bermuda), over the past three years Health City has, for all the right reasons, earned a reputation as a superb provider of health services in the Cayman Islands, in terms of quantity, quality and service. Ever since Dr. Devi Shetty’s Narayana Health and the U.S. health network Ascension opened the doors of Health City in February 2014, the relationship between the hospital and the community has been largely a love story. Now, with little to no notice, this Bermuda entity has precluded its own loyal Cayman customers from being reimbursed for treatment at what many consider to be the premier health facility in the Cayman Islands. Many major clients of BritCay/Colonial – including some of the largest companies in Cayman – are as outraged as we are about BritCay reducing so dramati- cally its healthcare choices. Local insurance broker Aon, which consults on insurance matters with businesses across the country (including Pinnacle Media), has been busy fielding calls from unhappy clients looking to explore their insurance options beyond BritCay. At the same time, it is our understanding that Health City and BritCay/Colonial are engaged in ongoing talks to try to resolve the current impasse. We wish them well. Regardless of how those talks turn out, none of this needed to happen. BritCay/Colonial made matters far worse than they needed to be by their high-handed and misman- aged public relations tactics emanating from Bermuda. We at the Compass, on behalf of all Cayman resi- dents, seek answers from Colonial. We do not welcome emailed statements or committee-generated press releases. Colonial needs to make available an executive in a position of authority who can answer a multitude of questions from their Cayman customers and the media. Here are our first three: • Why did you give clients only three days’ notice? • Why did you give Health City no “official notice”? • What is really going on here? On Health City: BritCay’s PR strategy requires first aid WASHINGTON – Impulse control is unfashionable as well as unpresidential, but perhaps you should resist the urge to trip people who stride briskly down the side- walk fixated on their phone screens, absorbed in tex- ting and feeling entitled to expect others to make way. New technologies are shaping behaviors and dis- solving civilities. In 2005, Lynne Truss, in her book “Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door,” presciently said we were slouching into “an age of social autism” with a “Universal Eff-off Reflex.” Long before progress, under- stood as streaming, brought us binge watching, she foresaw people entertaining themselves into inanition with portable technologies that enable “limitless self- absorption,” making people solipsistic and unmannerly. Truss foresaw an age of “hair- trigger sensitivity” and “lazy moral relativism combined with aggressive social inso- lence.” This was 12 years be- fore some Wellesley College professors said, last month, that inviting controversial, aka conservative, speakers to campus injures students by forcing them to “invest time and energy in rebutting the speakers’ arguments.” In the latest issue of The American Interest, the Hudson Institute’s Carolyn Stewart, revisiting Truss’ book, wonders, “What is it about social media that compels us to throw off the gloves?” Stewart notes that as Truss anticipated, people “have taken an expectation that previously applied to the private sphere – control over our environment – and are increasingly applying it to the public sphere.” Social me- dia’s “self-affirming feedback loop” encourages “expecta- tions for a custom-made re- ality” and indignation about anything “that deviates from our preferences.” The consequences of what Stewart calls “our growing intolerance of an unedited reality” are enumerated in Tom Nichols’ new book “The Death of Expertise: The Cam- paign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Mat- ters.” Our devices and social media are, he says, producing people who confuse “in- ternet grazing” with research and this faux research with higher education, defined by a wit as “those magical seven years between high school and your first warehouse job.” Years when students demand to run institutions that the students insist should treat them as fragile children. “It is,” Nichols writes, “a new Declaration of Inde- pendence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self- evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that aren’t true. All things are knowable and every opinion on any sub- ject is as good as any other.” In the movie “Animal House,” when the epically unruly fra- ternity is hauled before the student court, the fraterni- ty’s member who is going to defend it, when asked by a fellow member if he knows what he is doing, re- plies, “Take it easy, I’m pre- law.” When someone says, “I thought you were pre-med,” he replies, “What’s the differ- ence?” What indeed. In today’s therapeutic cul- ture, which seems designed to validate every opinion and feeling, there will rarely be disagreement without anger between thin-skinned people who cannot distinguish the phrase “you’re wrong” from “you’re stupid.” Equating “critical thinking” with “re- lentless criticism” results in worse than the indiscrimi- nate rejection not merely of this or that expert. Nichols says this equation produces “a Google-fueled, Wikipedia- based, blog-sodden” disdain for even the ideal of expertise. This ideal becomes an affront in a culture that “cannot en- dure even the slightest hint of inequality of any kind.” Unfortunately, Nichols tartly notes, “specialization is nec- essarily exclusive.” And aren’t we glad: “When you take an elevator to the top of a tall building, the cer- tificate in the elevator does not say ‘good luck up there’; it says that a civic authority, relying on engineers edu- cated and examined by other engineers, have looked at that box and know, with as much certainty as anyone can, that you’ll be safe.” The “spreading epidemic of misinformation,” nowa- days known as “alternative facts,” gives rise to a corol- lary to Gresham’s Law (“bad money drives out good”): “misinformation pushes aside knowledge.” Everyone with a smartphone has in his or her pocket, Nichols says, more information “than ever existed in the entire Library of Alexandria,” which can produce a self-deluding ve- neer of erudition. Nichols recounts an old joke about a British For- eign Office official who re- tired after 40 years: “Every morning I went to the prime minister and assured him there would be no world war today. And I am pleased to note that in a career of 40 years, I was only wrong twice.” This official deserved an A grade, like everyone else. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group. THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Our national scourge of misinformation GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE Use of mobile devices is leading people into an age of ‘social autism,’ according to author Lynne Truss.5 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP 2017 Saturday, April 22 Register for the Earth Day Clean-Up to receive your Guy Harvey designed t-shirt! While stock lasts. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky/earthday or call 743-9121. Officials: Corned beef now safe to eat Cayman’s Department of Environmental Health an- nounced Wednesday that it has lifted a recent re- call of corned beef prod- ucts from Brazil. The ban, instituted on March 21, was put into place due to fears of contaminated meat, and a multi-agency committee was set up to monitor the situation and protect the public interest. That committee, con- sisting of representatives from the Department of En- vironmental Health, Depart- ment of Public Health, De- partment of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, con- cluded that the danger from contamination has passed. Roydell Carter, director of the Department of Envi- ronmental Health, issued a statement about the commit- tee’s decision. “After review of recent rel- evant product documenta- tions, the committee is now satisfied that the corned beef products within the Cayman Islands are safe to consume,” Mr. Carter said in a press re- lease. “It is anticipated that the product will be readily available again in the local supermarkets.” The Department of Envi- ronmental Health had previ- ously requested all importers, wholesalers and retailers who had corned beef prod- ucts originating from Brazil to withdraw those products from markets as a precau- tionary measure. GraceKennedy Ltd., a com- pany based in Kingston, Ja- maica, was one of the parties that complied with the order to withdraw all beef prod- ucts originating from Brazil from sale in the Cayman Islands. GraceKennedy stated at the time that its suppliers have always conformed to in- ternationally recognized food safety standards. GraceKennedy also stated that its corned beef suppliers in Brazil have consistently qualified for the British Retail Consortium Standard, but it worked with local retailers to remove its corned beef prod- ucts from shelves in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands until the health scare had passed. The worldwide recall of Brazilian beef products began last month after police arrested 38 people in connec- tion with the alleged bribery of health officials who is- sued certificates for exports of tainted meat. Court docu- ments list 21 companies in- volved in the scheme, some of whom are major beef and poultry meat exporters. No joke, first sea turtle nest found on April 1 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first sea turtle nest of the 2017 nesting season was found on April 1 – April Fool’s Day – setting a new record for the earliest nest ever recorded on Cayman Is- lands’ beaches. The Department of Envi- ronment’s turtle program co- ordinator Janice Blumenthal said, “When the nest was re- ported, we suspected an April Fool’s joke as we have never had a nest this early, but it has been confirmed as the first turtle nest of the 2017 nesting season. With that, we have begun our 20th year of DoE turtle nesting beach monitoring.” Research officers re- sponded to the report and confirmed a turtle nest laid on March 31. According to Ms. Blu- menthal, turtle nesting season in the Cayman Is- lands typically begins in May, though nests are oc- casionally found in late April. The previous record for the earliest nest was April 12, 2012. Throughout the season volunteers will monitor the beaches to protect nests from poachers and to re- cord data on the number of nesting females. The Department of Envi- ronment has been gathering data on nesting sea turtles since the late 1990s and has seen numbers rebound from just 30 nests to 430 across all three islands last year. “During the turtle nesting season, we ask members of the public to avoid driving on the beach and to seek permission before operating heavy equipment on the beach or lighting beach bon- fires,” Ms. Blumenthal said. “Report anyone poaching or disturbing a turtle, and con- tact Department of Envi- ronment for information on turtle-friendly lighting. “Artificial lights that shine onto the beach discourage female turtles from nesting and are a critical threat to baby turtles. When baby tur- tles hatch at night, they go in the direction of the brightest light they can see. If this is not the moon and stars re- flecting on the ocean’s sur- face, they will go toward land, where they die from ex- haustion, dehydration, vehi- cles, or predators.” She said there are simple ways to mitigate this threat, including directing lights away from the ocean, planting vegetation in front of lights or using “turtle friendly” bulbs. The DoE is requesting anyone who witnesses turtle poaching to report it by calling the DoE on 916-4271 or call 911. Anyone who finds a turtle nest should call the DoE’s sea turtle hotline at 938-NEST or email DoE@ gov.ky. Volunteers are also needed for the 2017 turtle nesting season. For more information, see the department’s website at www.doe.ky/turtles. Turtle tracks in the sand lead to the first sea turtle nest of the season on April 1. Man in critical condition after one-car crash An early morning car crash in the Governors Har- bour area left a man in crit- ical condition Wednesday. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police said the driver of a Nissan Skyline lost control and struck a power pole on Prince Charles Quay near Peninsula Avenue just before 1 a.m. No one else was in the ve- hicle and no other cars were involved in the crash. The man in the Nissan suffered serious injuries, police said. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the Traffic Management Unit at 649-6254. GUATEMALA BRINGS CHARGES IN KIDS’ HOME FIRE THAT KILLED 41 GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Three Guatemalan ex- child welfare officials have been formally charged in connection with a fire at a state-run home for troubled youth that killed 41 girls. Prosecutor Edwin Mar- roquin says the former of- ficials will be prosecuted for the crimes of homicide, mistreatment of minors and dereliction of duty. They have denied responsi- bility for the deaths. Fifty-six girls were al- legedly locked in an overcrowded room when the blaze broke out March 8. Some inside apparently lit a foam mattress. Marroquin recounted before a judge Tuesday the 22 minutes when the fire sent temperatures soaring to 300 degrees Celsius and oxygen levels dropped to 21 percent. He called the likelihood of survival “minimal.” The home has a his- tory of abuse against mi- nors, and authorities dis- regarded at least two orders to close it.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO One good turn results in another In the April 5, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, an inter- esting anecdote appeared concerning the district of Bodden Town. “Who is My Neighbour? The answer remains un- changed. On March 31, Mrs. Doris Levy was busy in Town and could not get through till after dinner. By this time, most of the traffic for the eastern end had all gone up. Mrs. Alda McCoy said that she would carry her as far as the North Side junction in her wagon. Ar- riving at the junction, Mrs. Levy got out with two good size packages in her hand and walked off slowly heading for East End. “When she got under the eaves of Cottage, she saw a Volkswagen coming to- wards her in the distance. She stopped to rest the packages, and to allow the [car] to cross, but to her great surprise the lady in the [vehicle] drove up to her and asked her if she could take her home. This was Mrs. Donald Armstrong from Port Richey, Florida, residing at Bodden Town. “After going to bed that night, Mrs. Levy remem- bered that she had seen the lady before and had done her a good turn by the way and, that she had received it back, brim full …” In the April 12, 1967 edition, Bodden Town correspondent Floris McCoy wrote: “Leaving for Jamaica this week was Harwell McCoy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McCoy, who at- tends school in Jamaica and spent his Easter va- cation at home. “Mr. Edward Oliver of Wilson, Connecticut, left for his home on Sunday. “Home for a few months is Mr. Garvin Frederick. Mr. Frederick is a long-time seaman, and has just been released from his posi- tion as steward on the M.V. Chemical Trader. “From the same ship, home on vacation, is Mervin Parsons. “The Woman’s Guild of Bodden Town held a fel- lowship dinner at the Town Hall on Friday night. There was a good turnout and it was a successful occasion. “The Youth Club here is asking all members to come out on Thursday night. A special invitation is given to the members of the Citizens’ Associa- tion. This will be Mrs. Arm- strong’s last evening with us for a while.” Launch Pad students go bananas JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Students at Savan- nah’s Launch Pad pre- school went bananas when they took part in a spring- time reading challenge to promote language and lit- eracy development. The Launch Pad management team said the preschool runs the annual challenge, called “Go Bananas,” in March. Par- ents are encouraged to read at least one book or story to their children each day for the month. Parents were provided with materials to record each book read to their child. In the Rockets class for 3-4 year olds, Sethres Euter placed first, Cathy Vinoth- kumar placed second and Daelynn Brown and Mi- chael Lee tied for third in the reading contest. In the Moons class for kids ages 18 months to 3 years, Xavier Livingston, Joziah Connor and Danni- elle Webster tied for first place, Jace Chin Yee placed second, and Sheniya Smith came in third. During the month, with the theme “Awesome Au- thors,” Launch Pad staff shared stories with stu- dents from such authors as Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and Julia Donaldson. Students also had surprise visits from char- acters dressed up as the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2, and they also vis- ited the Bodden Town Li- brary on a field trip. The Launch Pad effort is a spin-off of the Go Ba- nanas for Reading program, designed to reward stu- dents in grades 1 through 5 who have met their reading goals, and to encourage them to spend more time reading. Teachers deter- mine reading goals based on current student needs. The Launch Pad man- agement team thanked parents and guardians who participated with their children. Students, parents, teachers and the Cat in the Hat celebrate the Go Bananas reading program. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY 2017 Farm Queen crowned The Cayman Islands Agricultural Society’s 2017 Cayman Farm Queen is John Gray High School student Leticia Francis Bush, 15. Leticia was crowned at the Agriculture Show in Lower Valley last month. Along with recognizing that agriculture means having healthy and organic food, she noted that it is important for preserving and teaching youth about Cayman’s environment and culture. ‘In addition to locally grown crops and livestock, we are able to have a healthier lifestyle and better tasting foods,’ she said. Leticia is pictured with first runner-up Kevie-Ann Pierre and second runner-up Taneil Lee. Sage Costa was third runner-up and winner of Best Written Agriculture essay.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days Bodden Town CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 Savannah Primary School celebrates Commonwealth Day Students at Savannah Pri- mary School had lots of fun celebrating the many mem- bers of the British Common- wealth last month. To mark Common- wealth Day on March 13, each classroom repre- sented a different country in the Commonwealth, creating informative bul- letin boards about their respective countries, as well as getting into the spirit by dressing up in na- tional costumes. “The focus remained on numeracy as the students went to each classroom to do numeracy activities and games,” said school principal Carol Nyack. The children also were paid a visit by Swanky band, one of Cayman’s mu- sical groups keeping local traditional music alive. BT Primary choir performance nets gold JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Voices were in tune and spirits were high as dozens of choir students at Bodden Town Primary School prepared for their turn in the National Chil- dren’s Festival of the Arts spotlight at the school on Wednesday morning. For their efforts, the Bodden Town choirists re- ceived a gold award in the classical contemporary di- vision for their rendition of “Whisper,” which was re- ceived with much hand clapping from the students and music teachers at the festival later the same day at Red Bay Church of God on Selkirk Drive. “My students at Bodden Town Primary are all dy- namic and talented musi- cians. My job as a music teacher is to find and nurture [their talents],” said Trilby Lingard, the music teacher who led the group, and who for the past months has been preparing the children for the competition. Judges Janelle Tibbetts and Maryanne Chase praised the efforts of the choir, which featured a dynamic soloist in Jade Christian, and very good expressions from all the singers. In fact, they said, all the students performed ex- ceptionally well, including the youngest ones. “The staff and students of Bodden Town Primary School have worked very hard in preparing for the an- nual National Children’s Fes- tival of the Arts,” said Prin- cipal June Elliot. “I am delighted with the presentations that they have made and the subse- quent results.” The choir’s festival per- formances also included tra- ditional folk and Christian gospel songs. Since February, 12 pri- mary schools have been taking part in the island-wide arts competition in different divisions, including choirs and small vocal ensembles, piano, strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. Swanky band performs at Savannah Primary on Commonwealth Day. Students representing Kenya get ready for an activity. Students have fun representing the different countries of the Commonwealth. Students take part in various numeracy activities. Jade Christian, soloist for the Bodden Town Primary School’s rendition of ‘How do I Keep From Singing.’ - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Judges Janelle Tibbetts and Maryanne Chase praised the efforts of the choir, which featured a dynamic soloist in Jade Christian, and very good expressions from all the singers.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, APRIL 6 CHHS PTA: The Clifton Hunter High School PTA invites all parents and guardians to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the assembly hall. SATURDAY, APRIL 8 GARAGE/BOOT SALE: St. Ignatius School Hall and car park. 6-11 a.m. Lots of bargains, all kinds of items. Breakfasts on sale. Book a selling spot for $25. Anyone wishing to donate items (in good condition) can drop them off by April 7. Phone 949-6797 or email ignatius@candw.ky to book a selling spot, arrange for collection of larger items, or to volunteer to help out. All proceeds to St. Ignatius Food Pantry. SLOW FOOD DAY: Farm-to- Table Tasting Market, 10 a.m. to noon, The Crescent, Camana Bay. This event is free and open to the public. Kids’ Seed2Plate Workshop, 12:30-2 p.m., Gardenia Court, $35. Harvest Dinner, 7 p.m. at Abacus, $150. SUNDAY, APRIL 9 EASTER CANTATA: First Assembly of God invites everyone to their Easter Cantata on 195 Old Crewe Road at 6 p.m. PADDLE FOR HEART CHALLENGE: A 3-mile paddle event in the watercraft of your choice. All proceeds for Hart for Hearts. Check-in noon to 1:30 p.m. Race starts 2 p.m. at Hemingways. $25 per adult, $15 under 16. Register online at www.CaymanActive.com. Those registered must provide their own watercraft. MONDAY, APRIL 10 EASTER BREAK CAMP: YMCA of the Cayman Islands holds two camp sessions. Session A, April 10-13. Session B, April 18-21. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Pre/post camp available). Fees are $110 per camper. Contact 929-1850 or ysummercamp@ ymcacayman.ky. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 PENSIONERS APPRECIATION: The Public Service Pensions Board in partnership with the government and others is hosting a Pensioners’ Appreciation event for retired members at Pedro St. James. The event, from 3-9 p.m., celebrates its 25th anniversary and will include community outreach booths, free health screenings, food and entertainment. Free bus transport to and from the event is available. To confirm attendance, please call 917-8851. EASTER CONVENTION: West Bay Wesleyan Holiness Church, Turtle Farm Road. Tonight until Easter Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Speaker is Rev. John Parker of Alabama. No service on Saturday evening. Choirs and ensembles will be singing nightly. All are invited. SATURDAY, APRIL 15 CHALKFEST: From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Market Street, Camana Bay. Treats, games, live music and an artisans market. The competition is open to artists of all ages and abilities. $5 for kids, $10 for adults. Proceeds benefit the National Gallery Outreach Program. Chalk will be provided free and participants are encouraged to bring rags, sponges and buckets to help with blending and covering large areas. Free water and sunscreen available to all participants. MONDAY, APRIL 17 GRESSY FISHING TOURNAMENT: All are invited to this annual event at Barkers, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. No registration is necessary but bring your own fishing supplies. Refreshments and prizes will be provided. For more information call 929-9932 or 949-3208. EASTER SERVICES HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 13 JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL CHURCH: (Congregational, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian). Church Street, West Bay. Tenebrae Service, 6:30 p.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m. STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Cayman Brac. Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m. Good Friday. WEST BAY WESLEYAN HOLINESS CHURCH: North West Point Road. Convention, 7:30 p.m. Call 949-3394 for more info. GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14 BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: West Bay. Morning Worship, 11 a.m. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL CHURCH: (Congregational, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian). Church Street, West Bay. Service, 10 a.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Stations of the Cross, noon. Passion Service, 1 p.m. STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Cayman Brac. Stations of the Cross, noon. Passion Service, 1 p.m. CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH: West Bay. Stations of the Cross, noon. Passion Service, 1 p.m. WEST BAY WESLEYAN HOLINESS CHURCH: North West Point Road. Convention, 7:30 p.m. Call 949-3394 for more info. HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 15 ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16 BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: West Bay. Sunday School, 10 a.m., Morning Worship, 11 a.m. (Adult Choir Easter Cantata), Evening Worship, 7 p.m. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL CHURCH: (Congregational, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian). Church Street, West Bay. Service, 10 a.m. ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Walkers Road. Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 6 p.m., Spanish Mass, 7:30 p.m. STELLA MARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Cayman Brac. Mass, 11 a.m. CHRIST THE REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH: West Bay. Mass, 11 a.m. WEST BAY WESLEYAN HOLINESS CHURCH: North West Point Road. Convention, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Call 949-3394. GENERAL INTEREST POSTAL VOTING: The Elections Office reminds registered voters that the period during which they may request postal ballots or mobile voting will continue until close of business on Friday, May 12. People who will be away from Cayman on Election Day may request a postal ballot by filling out Form B, available on www.elections.ky, at portal. elections.ky/files/downloads/ forms/2016/FORMB.pdf. The completed form and proof of travel may be emailed to office@elections.ky. MOBILE VOTING: Voters who will be in Cayman, but unable to physically attend the polls, may apply for mobile voting using Form C, available from www.elections.ky at portal. elections.ky/files/downloads/ forms/2016/FORMC.pdf. Elections Office polling staff will either visit successful applicants in person, or facilitate their vote before polling day at an early voting station. DG 5K CHALLENGE: Registration for the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge is open at www.caymanactive. com/dg5K. Led by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, the event aims to raise $60,000 for the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. The DG’s 5K Challenge will be held on Cayman Brac on Sunday, April 23, and on Grand Cayman, Sunday, April 30. The charity event is open to all ages and fitness levels. FISH FRY: St. Ignatius School Canteen. Snapper or cod, plus sides, $7 to $12. 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. Proceeds support religious education and youth programs. ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Offered through the Cayman Drama Society. April 9, sketch workshop. May 7, method acting. June 4, the actor’s voice. $40 per class. Contact training@cds.ky. PRESCHOOL FUNDING: Government funding to assist with preschool attendance is available for eligible Caymanian children who will be between 3 and 4 years old before Sept. 1. Email ecap@gov.ky or call 244-5724 for more information. Collect application forms from Government Administration Building, Department of Education, early childhood centers, District Health Centres or the Public Health Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Deadline to apply is April 28. MARITIME CULTURE: The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands’ exhibit celebrates Cayman’s maritime heritage and identity. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Admission is free. Families can download a free copy of the “Upon the Seas” exhibition guide at www.nationalgallery.org.ky. Guides include information about the artists, exhibition themes, discussion points and art activities. Guides available on arrival. The exhibit runs until April 20. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest- deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. OPEN STUDIO: Every Thursday 10 a.m. till noon and every Monday 1-4 p.m. at Watler House Studio on grounds of Pedro Castle. Offered by Visual Arts Society to adults/youth who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. POLITICAL MEETINGS AND FORUMS FRIDAY, APRIL 7 CHAMBER FORUM: Cayman Brac East candidates, 7-9 p.m. at Veterans and Seamen’s Society Hall. SATURDAY, APRIL 8 JUSTIN EBANKS: North Side, 7:30 p.m. North Side Civic Center. CHAMBER FORUM: Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman candidates, 7-9 p.m. at Veterans and Seamen’s Society Hall. MONDAY, APRIL 10 CHAMBER FORUM: East End candidates, 7-9:30 p.m. at Clifton Hunter High School. TUESDAY, APRIL 11 CHAMBER FORUM: North Side candidates, 7-9:30 p.m. at Clifton Hunter High School. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 CHAMBER FORUM: Bodden Town East candidates, 7:15- 9:30 p.m. at Bodden Town Civic Centre. EZZARD MILLER: North Side. Cynthia Whittaker’s residence. 8 p.m.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 6, 2017 LUNCH SPECIAL EVERYDAY MON-SAT 11.30 TO 4PM DIM SUM SUNDAY 11-3PM Plaza Venezia, North Sound Road, George Town 945-3490 OPEN FOR DINNER DELIVERY AFTER 5PM arrest warrant from In- terpol citing allegations of murder and arson. According to documents provided by Turkish authori- ties, a witness identified Mr. Kildag as being among a group of rebels from the sep- aratist group PKK, which was involved in burning schools and murdering two teachers in the Tunceli region in 1988. Mr. Kildag told the court he had lived in Germany since 1980, when a military coup plunged Turkey into chaos. He was granted asylum in Germany in 1982 and never returned to his homeland, fearing for his safety amid widespread persecution of Kurdish minorities. Though he acknowl- edged he had been involved in “peaceful protests” as a teenager in Turkey and later in Germany, he denied any involvement with terrorist groups, including the PKK. His wife testified that in April 1988, when the of- fenses are said to have taken place, she was four months pregnant with their second child and they were living to- gether in Germany. She said he had never left home, “not even for a day,” during her pregnancy. The couple provided travel doc- uments to show Mr. Kildag had not been to Turkey during this time. Speaking outside court, Mr. Kildag said it was “shocking” to be accused of such a horrific crime. He said he first became aware of the allegation in 2015 when the German authorities in- formed him they had turned down an extradition re- quest from Turkey. During the court proceed- ings, he said it was not un- common in Turkey for false allegations to be leveled at members of the Kurdish com- munity because of their po- litical beliefs. Mrs. Kildag said they had been unable to clarify whether the alleged crimes in Tunceli even occurred. She said, “In Germany we did not know anything about the alleged incident or whether it happened or not. The allegations were not credible. We could not believe it because he was with us the whole time.” After their ordeal in the Cayman Islands, Mrs. Kildag said the couple has no plans to travel in the near future. “Germany is a very beau- tiful country as well and we will spend holidays in our own country.” She added that the ordeal had taken its toll financially and emotionally. “We saved up for this cruise holiday for over a year,” Mrs. Kildag said. “It was also our 31st wedding anniver- sary; we celebrated on the ship. When this happened and I had to return home, every- thing fell apart financially.” “We had to pay for sev- eral lawyers. I had to pay for his accommodation be- cause only I had an income. He no longer received money from his work. I am mas- sively in debt as a result of this,” she added. Despite their experience, Mr. Kildag said he had no complaints about his treat- ment in Cayman. “I am very satisfied with the authorities, the court and the people in Cayman.” He said he was treated humanely and compassion- ately with a desire to help. “Everyone was very kind.” Cayman Compass re- porter Michael Klein contrib- uted to this story. the islands for at least two out of four years before the last registration date for an election in order to exercise their democratic right. Ms. Wahler was just one of a dozen Bodden Town district voters to be re- moved from the list over the time she has spent away from Cayman before the election registration date. No one was present at the Wednesday hearing of voters objections/claims to speak on her behalf. However, other Cayma- nians who were unaware of the rule, did speak up regarding objections filed against them. “I am a born Cayma- nian; how do you stop me from voting?” asked Sidney Moore, one of 19 voters in the district of Bodden Town East who had been objected to. Magistrate Nova Hall, who was presiding over the hearings, asked Mr. Moore why he had been absent from the jurisdiction for more than 1,000 days be- tween 2013 and 2017. Mr. Moore said he had ac- companied his children to school in the U.K. and had remained there with them. He said he was now back and working in the Cayman Islands. Crown counsel at- tending the hearings ad- vised the magistrate that this would not be an ex- ception stated under the Elections Law for a voter to participate, although the Caymanian receiving the ed- ucation abroad would be al- lowed to vote under the cir- cumstances. Mr. Moore was struck off the voters list. Another couple, Morris Sherman and Ellen Rose Sherman, appeared be- fore the magistrate asking why Mr. Sherman’s voting status had been objected to. The magistrate said the couple had been off island a number of times for ex- tended periods in the past several years, but Mrs. Sherman said this was for her husband’s medical treatment. Magistrate Nova Hall indicated that if the couple could show docu- mentation proving their ab- sences were for medical rea- sons, they would be allowed to vote in May. The “two out of four” years residency rule for voting in the Cayman Is- lands is the subject of a human rights complaint that is before the Cayman Is- lands’ Human Rights Com- mission. The commission – led by local attorney James Austin-Smith – appears to be taking a dim view of the rule. “The commission found that whilst the case law demonstrated an allowance for restrictions on voter reg- istration eligibility where residency is not maintained, all cases examined have a far shorter or immediate re- institution of eligibility once the individual returns to the jurisdiction,” the Human Rights Commission review of the matter stated. Commission members said they requested advice on the issue after consulting with the Cayman Islands Constitutional Commission. The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission reviewed the issue after it received a complaint from a voter last September. The complaint was filed after the voter went to court on Sept. 12 to challenge a decision by the Elections Office in 2012 that prevented the voter from participating in the May 2013 general election. The decision also precluded the person from voting in the 2017 general election based on their residency outside the islands for more than two of the past four years before the last voter registra- tion date. The last voter reg- istration date for the May 24 election was Jan. 16. Without commenting on the merits of the spe- cific complaint, the Human Rights Commis- sion noted that section 90 of the Constitution Order, 2009, which requires citi- zens over age 18 to be resi- dent in the islands “no less than” two years out of the four years immediately preceding the registration date “may be incompatible with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.” construction sector. “The increase in unem- ployed Caymanians by 197 persons may be due to the completion of major construc- tion projects,” Mr. Archer said. “As new projects are foreseen to start in 2017, it is expected that these persons could be re-absorbed by new job opportunities.” The Caymanian unemploy- ment rate once stood as high as 10.5 percent as of April 2010, dropping to a low of 5.6 last spring, before rising to 7.1 percent in October 2016. Typically, unemployment rates are higher in the fall, when Cayman’s tourism-based economy slows. The overall unemployment figures of 4.2 percent for fall 2016 are the lowest among those published in the Carib- bean region, Mr. Archer said. Unemployment rates varied from Jamaica’s 12.9 per- cent in October 2016 to Trin- idad and Tobago’s 4.4 percent in July 2016. Looking at Cayman’s en- tire labor force, the number of Caymanians in the labor force grew to nearly 20,000 people. The number of per- manent resident non-Cayma- nians stood at 4,577, and the non-Caymanian work permit holders and spouses of Cay- manians stood at 17,687. Based on those numbers, Cay- manians made up 47 percent of the local labor force, while non-Caymanians made up 53 percent of the labor force. Of the 1,785 people who were unemployed in October 2016, 1,406 were Caymanian and 379 were non-Caymanian. It is unusual for non-Cayma- nian work permit holders to remain in the islands if they are unemployed because they are generally not allowed to remain without having se- cured employment. Unemployment increase foreseen Estimates included as part of economic forecasts for gov- ernment’s current 2016/17 budget put overall unemploy- ment forecasts for 2016 at 4.7 percent, although it has not yet increased to that level. “[The unemployment es- timates] assume a moderate average increase in the labor force of 1.3 percent,” gov- ernment’s forecasts noted. “It is also assumed that the recent minimum wage in- crease will have a slight ad- verse impact on employment growth in 2016.” Minister Archer warned in 2015 that certain govern- ment labor policies, including setting the minimum wage at $6 per hour and boosting the civil service retirement age to 65, could lead to higher un- employment. A government report on the establishment of minimum wage estimated that up to 600 people could lose their jobs following the implementation of the base wage rate. The 2015 Minimum Wage Advisory Committee re- port cited the possible loss of 545 to 600 jobs – less than 2 percent of Cayman’s current labor force – if the minimum wage was implemented. Premier Alden McLaughlin advanced another theory at the time: that job losses due to the establishment of a min- imum wage, while affecting the local economy, would not have a huge impact on un- employment because most of the workers losing their jobs would be non-Caymanians who are required to leave the islands if they are not le- gally employed. According to the advisory committee report, about three- quarters of the minimum wage workers in Cayman were non-Caymanians. Minister Archer also said that increasing the man- datory civil service retire- ment age from 60 to 65 would likely halt the recent drop in Cayman’s unemploy- ment rates. “If you increase the retirement age from 60 to 65, you increase the working population, so your labor force grows,” Mr. Ar- cher said. “The [worker] pool from which you are drawing will get bigger.” According to budget esti- mates, the overall labor force in Cayman was expected to grow from slightly more than 39,000 people to more than 41,000 by 2019. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate – after the increase in 2016 – was ex- pected to drop again to 4.2 percent by 2019. Jeffrey Webb struck off voters list CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “The allegations were not credible. We could not believe it because he was with us the whole time.” UTE KILDAG More than 1,400 Caymanians were unemployed and looking for work as of last fall, based on estimates from the Economics and Statistics Office. Report: More Caymanians looking for work CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 No extradition for Turkish terror suspect CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I am a born Caymanian, how do you stop me from voting?” SIDNEY MOORENext >