ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 High of 88 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 REVIEWING THE CAMPAIGN AND THE CANDIDATES WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 13 TRUMP: ISRAELIS AND ARABS SHARE ‘COMMON CAUSE’ AGAINST IRAN 184523-Ad-Strip-SandCastles.indd 14/10/17 6:59 PM Candidates make last bid for votes JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com At least three rival rallies will take place across Grand Cayman Tuesday night as the independent candidates, the Cayman Demo- cratic Party and the Progressives make their final pitch to voters before the midnight dead- line for all campaigning to stop. As the campaign entered its final days, the leaders of the two major political parties, Alden McLaughlin and McKeeva Bush, urged their supporters to get out and vote to ensure victory. Mr. Bush told the Cayman Compass that the polls and the feedback on the streets show that the CDP is the “clear choice” for Cayman. Mr. McLaughlin, speaking at a rally on Sat- urday, was similarly optimistic. “I believe based on everything we are seeing and feeling and hearing that the country is with the Progressives, that the country wants to give the Progressives an- other endorsement, wants to give us another four years,” he said. Dr. Steve Tomlinson, the major backer of in- dependent candidates in this election, told the Compass he believes people are fed up with the divisiveness of party politics. He said he is hopeful that around seven independent candi- dates could be elected on Wednesday. The two parties and the independent can- didates and groups have one last chance to persuade voters before the legal deadline for campaigning to stop and posters and bill- boards to be torn down by midnight tonight. The Cayman Democratic Party begins their rally in West Bay, at the Four Way Stop, at 7 p.m. before moving to A. L. Thompson’s later in the evening. The Progressives will host their final rally in the parking lot of Kirk Super- market from 7 p.m., while some of the inde- pendent candidates will speak at a televised event at the same time at the Lions Centre. Mr. Bush said the campaigning would con- tinue right until the end. He said professional polls, funded by the party, show him as the favorite to lead the country and the CDP as the likely winners of the election. “Cayman is at a crossroads; the finan- cial industry is in trouble, business is going NEED A BEER ON ELECTION DAY? BUY IN ADVANCE BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands will be “dry” on Wednesday – no alcohol sales are allowed – between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. as per the Elections Law. However, the extent to which alcohol will be unavailable may catch some visitors and residents off-guard. Section 91 of the Elections Law states: “No intoxicating liquor shall be sold, offered for sale or given away at any premises situated in any electoral district in which an election is being held, to which a license is issued under the Liquor Licensing Law applies, or any time between the opening of the poll and one hour after the close of the poll.” The ban on alcohol sales extends not only to liquor stores, but also to restaurants and bars during the voting hours. Taking a boat out of the water will not let drinkers evade the law either. Commercial boat operators are also banned from selling or serving alcohol on Election Day. Also, alcohol cannot be purchased at duty- free shops at the cruise port or airports be- tween 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. According to Department of Commerce and Investment Director Ryan Rajkumars- ingh, sales or use of liquor can resume after 7 p.m. The Liquor Licensing Board can ex- empt a bar serving an airport or a duty-free shop operating in an airport or seaport, but it has not done so. “Once licenced premises are able to reopen, they are to adhere to the usual closing hours Observers: Cayman elections achieve ‘broad equality’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com There are only six Commonwealth elec- tions observers in Cayman this week, but they can show up anywhere, any time on Election Day. Starting very early Wednesday, and likely lasting late into the night, or overnight, the observers will be checking out polling sta- tions, the Elections Office and vote counting stations. Their visits will be unannounced and they will have full access, according to elections officials. “We can potentially be anywhere at any time on polling day so we can get a truly representative picture on polling day,” head of mission Steve Rodan said during a Wednesday press conference that introduced the observers to the public. There will be four observers on Grand Cayman and two in the Sister Islands. Mr. Rodan, who is president of Tynwald, Isle of Man, noted that the observers’ mis- sion follows a similar effort in 2013. That mission cited problems with voting inequali- ties in the territory’s previous multimember voting system. None of the current observers participated in the mission four years ago. The 2017 vote will be Cayman’s first in more than a half-century held under the “one man, one vote” system, a recommendation made by the Commonwealth observers mis- sion four years earlier. “We note the broad equality that has been PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » A team of Commonwealth elections observers will monitor Wednesday’s general election. From left, election analyst Armin Rabitsch, regional observer Akilah Nisbett (St. Kitts and Nevis), election analyst Anne Marlborough, President of Tynwald (Isle of Man) Steve Rodan, mission Coordinator Mariam El-Azm and regional observer Aurjul Wilson (Anguilla) speak with reporters Monday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING (PG13) 12:30 I 2:50 I 5:10 I 7:40 I 10:15 THE LOST CITY OF Z (PG13) 12:45 I 3:50 I 7:10 THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS 3D (PG13) 2:00 2D I 5:00 I 8:00 2D ALIEN: COVENANT (R) 1:30 VIP I 7:05 VIP I 10:00 KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD 3D (PG13) 1:20 I 4:15 VIP I 7:30 2D I 9:50 VIP GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 3D (PG13) 12:30 2D I 3:30 I 6:30 2D I 9:30 - TUESDAY - 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) Polling Station: Bodden Town Primary Your CDP Candidate for Bodden Town East Man arrested in dog burning case SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com An 18-year-old North Side resident has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty in connection with the case surrounding a dog that was burned earlier this month, po- lice reported on Monday. The man is out on police bail. The pregnant dog, named Dora, was allegedly set aflame by her owner on May 13 and underwent surgery by Dr. Brenda Bush at Island Veter- inary Services later that day. The dog, believed to be some- where between one and two years old, has been recov- ering at the Cayman Islands Humane Society. The case was originally brought to the public’s at- tention after a neighbor wit- nessed the incident and went to a pet retail store in search of a remedy. A clerk at the store, Carly Smith, inquired about the incident and im- mediately called the Humane Society, who in turn noti- fied the police. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service began its inves- tigation that day. Ms. Smith, who has fol- lowed the case since the be- ginning, issued a statement via email on Monday. “I am so pleased to hear of the arrest in the case of Dora, the dog that was so brutally abused,” she said. “… I com- mend the investigating offi- cers who recognized how se- rious the situation really was. Hopefully this is just the be- ginning of some changes to our animal welfare system.” Adrian Estwick, director of the Department of Agriculture, said last Tuesday that custody of Dora will ultimately depend on the result of a joint inves- tigation between RCIPS and his department. If the matter winds up in court, he said, then the court will decide who will become Dora’s guardian. The Cayman Compass re- ported in December that just one out of 225 cases investi- gated in 2016 by the animal control and welfare officers of the Department of Agriculture resulted in criminal charges. Those statistics, acquired through a freedom of informa- tion request, included cruelty and neglect cases as well as reports of dangerous or stray dogs. Both farm animals and domestic pets were included in those statistics. More than 1,000 have already voted BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An estimated 5 percent of Cayman’s registered voters have already cast ballots for Wednesday’s general elec- tion, although it will not be known how they voted until election night. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell said Friday that some 719 mobile voters had cast ballots in 18 of the 19 single-member con- stituencies. One of the four West Bay voting districts was not included in that total, but mobile polling was going on there as well, Mr. Howell said. Mobile polling is con- ducted by the Elections Office for electors who cannot make it to the voter’s booth on May 24 because of illness or phys- ical disability. Mr. Howell said the largest number of mobile voters (223) were in George Town’s seven constituen- cies, but the greatest turnout among registered mobile voters as of Friday was in Little Cayman. “Twenty- seven of 28 voters – 95 per- cent turnout!” Mr. Howell said. Little Cayman is part of the constituency of Cayman Brac West in the up- coming election. The Elections Office also mailed 582 postal ballots to Caymanians living overseas who are still eligible to vote. Mr. Howell said last week that is the largest total of postal ballots ever mailed for a general election. How many of those votes will be counted will not be known until election night. The postal ballots are mailed back to the registering offi- cers (the people in charge of counting the votes) for each district. The last run to the post office for those ballots usually occurs around 4 p.m. Wednesday, about two hours before the polls close. If a voter does not mail in their ballot by that time, it will not be counted. Also, if documenta- tion proving the individu- al’s right to vote in Cayman is not included or is in- complete, the ballot cannot be counted. An incor- rectly marked ballot can also be discarded, as is the usual voting practice at the ballot box as well. Typically, the postal bal- lots are counted first since they take the longest time to evaluate. The vote count be- gins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, about an hour after the polls close. Mr. Howell said the good response to mobile and postal voting opportu- nities likely foreshadows a solid voter turnout in this year’s election. He estimated last week that somewhere between 75 percent and 80 percent of registered voters would turn out for the election in total, in line with what Cayman generally averages each election. Cayman had 21,228 reg- istered voters as of April 11. An 80 percent turnout would mean just fewer than 17,000 people casting ballots. FASHION SHOW RAISES MONEY FOR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM Sand Angels and local fashion house Isy B De- signs hosted a fashion show on May 11 that raised $500 for the Na- tional Council of Volun- tary Organisations’ Caring Cousins lunch program. The “Hello Summer” fashion show highlighted Isy B’s 2017 Summer Col- lection, as well as swim, athletic and resort wear from Sand Angels. This was the second charity fashion show to benefit the NCVO. The Caring Cousins pro- gram funds daily lunches and snacks for students in need across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. It sup- ports 38 students in several public schools. NCVO coordinator Mona Meade said, “It is won- derful to see that people re- ally care and are willing to help in any way they can to assist our children in getting a hot meal during the school day. We are so grateful to Isy Obi and Sand Angels for their kindness.” Criminal damage complaint made after motorcade Police are investigating a complaint of criminal damage in connection with a vehicle that was scratched as the Progressives motor- cade was intercepted Sat- urday by supporters of inde- pendent candidate Dwayne “John John” Seymour. As the convoy made its way through Bodden Town, Mr. Seymour’s supporters waved banners and T-shirts supporting their candidate at Progressives supporters. Progressives candidate and current Minister Os- bourne Bodden alleged that some cars were dam- aged in the incident. Po- lice confirmed Monday that one such report had been received. A police spokesperson said a black Mercedes had received “minor scratches” during the motorcade. She said police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 949-4222, or at 949-7777 to remain anonymous. Isy Obi of Isy B fashion house, left, presents NCVO coordinator Mona Meade with a check for the Caring Cousins program.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 We are at a defining moment in our history and our future. Tomorrow, we can return these islands to a path of prosperity - and as you vote - I trust you will embrace the words of Nelson Mandela: “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears” I also ask you to please consider the following: We can’t afford the party; turn off the lights Between 1831 and 2001 our islands had a national debt of $143.5 million dollars. Between 2001 and 2011, 10 years after the formation of the modern political parties, this amount increased to $613.4 million dollars. In essence, it took us 170 years to accumulate $143.5 million dollars and only 10 years for the parties to triple it by $470 million dollars! Ask yourself, what is our legacy for that $470 million dollars? Our Children’s future is being sacrificed Decades of the same ole elected leadership have left us with a failing education system; a failing healthcare system; a failing welfare system; a failing immigration system; a failing pension system; high cost of living and a low outlook for the future. This is further compounded by $2 BILLION dollars in unfunded (i.e. we have no idea how to pay for it) pension and medical liabilities due over the next 20 years at an average of $100 million dollars per year. In essence, we are spending more on the failed policies of yesteryears, than we are on looking forward! Our Lives are not a “Game of Numbers” Both political leaders failed to show up to last week’s final national debate but seek to hold on to national office. Yet, like a dynastic rule, they keep putting up the same ole people with their same old thinking, committed to doing the same ole things. They have no interest in representing the people as evidenced by the placement of their candidates: best chances of getting elected versus best place to serve the people. My home district of Bodden Town West has the second largest amount of electors, yet the political parties chose to run 2 strangers that live elsewhere. These strangers are asking you to vote for them when they can’t even vote for themselves! In essence, they are more interested in being elected than being of service to the people. Get Up, Stand Up Both parties, along with other seasoned politicians, have governed twice and are now promising us tomorrow what they could not do today or in the past. The financial reality is that they benefit, want more benefits and we the ordinary people are in pain from paying for it. I am encouraging you to see their empty promises and fear mongering for what it is. A true representative should be concerned about the next generation rather than the next election. So, let’s give them all a well needed rest and return them to civilian status so that they can truly see the damage that they have done. In essence, don’t be fooled! Past behavior is indicative of future performance. So tomorrow, as you say no to them, remember, you are saying yes to: • Reducing the cost of living by regulating insurance and interest rates, implementing real fuel regulation, reducing communications costs by creating a free Wi-Fi network • Helping families by building a safety net where retirees are taken care of and children receive free education and healthcare • Ending the importation of cheap labor, incentivizing Caymanian employment and promotions, and allowing for greater access to pensions Let us vote with HOPE and imagine a Cayman where we can come together, work together, live better together, and move these islands Forward…Together. God bless you all Yours in service My Fellow Caymanians, We can’t afford the party; turn off the lights Our Children’s future is being sacrificed Our Lives are not a “Game of Numbers” Get Up, Stand Up CHRIS SAUNDERS #4 BODDEN TOWN WEST #4#4 V O TE CH R I S. . .LIVE B ETTE RThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” – “Truckin’,” The Grateful Dead Election Day is tomorrow. We have reached the end of the 2017 campaign trail, the first one blazed under the Cayman Islands’ “one man, one vote” electoral system. The journey has been alternately both boring and lively, disappointing and illuminating, insipid and elevated – but ultimately, historic. The choices that voters make on Wednesday will have substantial consequences for the country and its inhabitants for the next four years and beyond. The campaign may be thought of as a sort of game. The election, on the other hand, is unmistakably real. That is why we urge Cayman’s 21,228 electors, when they arrive at the country’s 19 polling stations, to vote with their minds and consciences fully engaged, and not for any other reasons. We strongly suggest that before the ballots are cast, each voter take the time to read and re-read the four front-page stories (and accompanying editorials) we published last week on what we believe are among the most significant issues facing our islands: • Immigration and Permanent Residence • Long-Term Public Sector Healthcare Liabilities • Public Education, and • The George Town Landfill. When a group emerges victorious from the election to form Cayman’s next government, those knotty issues (and many others) will be waiting for them when they take office. Throughout the campaign season, we have adhered to our self-imposed directive to focus on the “policies” of candidates rather than their “personalities.” The Compass has refrained from endorsing individuals or parties, in favor of focusing on what needs to be done by the next government, whoever that comprises. The candidates themselves have not been as scru- pulous about criticizing or attacking their opponents’ personally. Not only is that not unexpected, it is not inappropriate – given the candidates’ roles in the campaign and the nature of the positions they seek. Some people may argue that a candidate’s personal behavior, domestic actions and, for lack of a better word, “morality,” should have no influence on their per- ceived fitness for office. The only thing that matters, they may say, is a candidate’s ability to do the job. We disagree. Rather, as representatives of Cayman’s people, our legislators should be held to the highest standards of decency and ethics. What people do at the local bar late at night, or inside a hotel room overseas, correlates to how they would conduct them- selves behind the closed doors of a conference room, on the House floor wrapped in the mantle of “parlia- mentary privilege,” or within the impenetrable cocoon of Cabinet proceedings. Put another way, a candidate’s character does matter. While we, along with many people, are attracted to the idea of infusing government with “fresh blood” from outside the established political aristocracy, we would also advise that electors be reticent to vote for anybody for a position that would be “the best job they ever had.” If a candidate has never run anything, such as a business, how can he or she be expected to run the $900 million enterprise that is the Cayman Islands public sector? Finally, we hope that Cayman’s voters listen to their better angels on Wednesday, and thereby avoid the potential pitfalls that plague electoral models defined by small, single-member constituencies. The inherent challenge in the new one man, one vote system is for legislators to remember that they have dual respon- sibilities: to fend for their district (which is their only source of democratic accountability) but also the country as a whole. The danger of electing, and re-electing, proudly independent (i.e. “lone wolf”) representatives is that they lack a trait necessary to an effective statesman: “Getting along well with others.” When “garrison politics” takes hold in tiny, isolated districts with little inherent clout, they can be become vestigial political appendages deprived of blood and oxygen … i.e., government attention, resources and infrastructure. (For relevant examples, look no further than Grand Cayman’s two eastern districts.) Looking up and down the ballot (and across the world) we do not see a single “ideal” candidate. But each candidate, particularly the ones who succeed on Election Day, should be aware that there is an ideal, and that is what voters – and the country’s population – expect them to strive toward. Reviewing the campaign and the candidates 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” RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHN European divergence ZURICH, Switzerland – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (with apolo- gies to Dickens). Despite the attempts to unify Europe into an economic and par- tial political whole over the past 70 years, the grand ex- periment is unraveling, and it increasingly looks like the Humpty Dumpty we call Eu- rope cannot be put back to- gether again. Parts of Europe are enjoying unparalleled freedom and prosperity, but other parts are sinking both economically and po- litically. What explains the growing divergence? The enclosed table is a par- tial snapshot of the divergence problem. Greece, France, Ger- many and the United Kingdom (until it completes its with- drawal) are part of the Euro- pean Union. Ukraine was a wannabe and is almost certain to forever suffer that unful- filled desire. Switzerland never wanted to be in the EU, and history is once again proving it made the right decision. The two poorest coun- tries in my table are actu- ally going backward with declining real incomes. The Greeks on average are about one-third poorer than they were just a few years ago. Rarely in peacetime has any democratic country experi- enced such a fall in income. Ukraine, unlike most of the other former communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, has stagnated with virtually no growth in real incomes in the past quarter of a century. At the other end of the scale, the Swiss get a bit richer year by year, now having surpassed the United States in real per capita in- comes, and the Germans and the British continue to muddle along. The French, who on average were con- siderably richer than the British before Mrs. Thatcher and her economic revolu- tion, now have fallen be- hind the British. The different outcomes can be almost fully explained by corruption or the absence thereof, and the degree of eco- nomic freedom. Economically free countries tend to have much higher real per capita incomes than those that are not, and hence it is no sur- prise that Switzerland is far richer than the others be- cause it is the most free and has an honest and compe- tent judicial system. In con- trast, Ukraine has weak insti- tutions, including the courts, which often are part of the corrupt system rather than a force for law and order. The Greek self-imposed tragedy is well known. The Greek government and other institutions and individuals in Greece borrowed more in euros than they could or were willing to repay. The credi- tors, such as the Germans, have insisted on full or at least partial repayment. After living on borrowed money for many years, the Greeks have found that the loan trough has run dry, and they are now being required to ser- vice their debts, which has drained the country of in- vestment capital and sharply cut disposable incomes. The global evidence is overwhelming that the wealth or poverty of any country has little to do with natural re- sources, but is primarily de- pendent on sound fiscal and monetary policies, strong in- stitutions, and traditions of individual responsibility. Ven- ezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, but the socialist government has squandered it all, leaving its people hungry and short of basic necessi- ties. Switzerland has no nat- ural resources to speak of and not even a seaport, but almost all the people in this beautiful land live well. Once economies begin to diverge, both capital and skilled workers flee the dys- functional economies and move to those that offer more opportunity. Ukraine con- tinues to lose its best and brightest – a massive brain and skills drain. By contrast, about a third of the workers in Switzerland were born elsewhere but have brought their energy and skills to fur- ther build the Swiss economy. Divergence, rather than convergence of national econ- omies, is not healthy. It is the self-interest of rich countries to help poor countries be- come wealthier – not through handouts, which only per- petuate the basic problems, but by providing carrots and sticks for policy and institu- tional changes. If the Greeks had to sell some of their islands to the Germans to pay their debts, the safe bet would be that those islands would be far more prosperous under German ad- ministration in three decades than others that remained under Greek administration. Think about the possi- bility: If badly managed na- tions had to put up some of their territory as collateral for loans, over time the more prosperous and freer coun- tries would grow, both in physical size and population, and the more corrupt na- tions would shrink. A world that had more people living under the Swiss governance and economic system would be wealthier, freer and nicer. Richard W. Rahn, chairman of Improbable Success Productions and a board member of the American Council for Capital Formation, is on the Editorial Board of Cayman Financial Review. © 2017, The Washington Times, LLCThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 • Young Caymanians ability to start/ operate business is badly a ected by red tape imposed by laws passed by PPM • More people are struggling to survive than ever before • Businesses are struggling or on the verge of failure • People are losing their homes • Unemployment and crime on the rise • Our young people continue in the spiral of hopelessnessDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Signs of spring emerge at Cayman Turtle Centre A rare orchid is in bloom and a breeding pair of par- rots have produced their first egg at the Cayman Turtle Centre. According to Terrestrial Exhibits Curator Geddes Hislop, the rare Cayman ghost orchid recently opened its blossom at the Blue Hole on the Turtle Centre’s Nature Trail. “The last time this or- chid bloomed was briefly in April 2015 before a big rain- storm knocked the flower off the plant only a couple of days after it opened,” said Mr. Hislop. “The ghost orchid blooms roughly every other year, and the only other location where sighting of one of Cayman’s rarest flowers is accessible to the public is at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.” In another develop- ment, on May 10 the cen- ter’s primary breeding pair of Cayman parrots Sweetpea and Leo produced their first egg this season. “Aviary staff have been monitoring their progress via a nest cam installed over a month ago,” said Mr. Hislop. “This technology enables aviary staff to now keep ac- curate records of the nesting and rearing of our endemic Cayman parrots in a more professional and noninvasive manner. We are looking for- ward to Sweetpea laying two or three more eggs over the next few days.” Mr. Hislop said a link to the webcam will soon be ac- cessible via the center’s web- site to follow Sweetpea and Leo as they raise their brood. In other news, since early March, the center’s two pea- cocks, Big Blue and Snow- flake, have regrown their full display trains, which they like to show off in the cool hours of the mornings and late afternoons. In mid-April, one of the peahens hatched four peachicks fathered by Big Blue after laying a clutch on Blue Peacock Island in mid-March. The little brown peachicks can be spotted following their mother around the island. The mother tends to move be- tween islands, and the little peachicks were able to fly within a couple of days of hatching to follow her across. At the center’s Carib- bean Aviary, Mr. Hislop said, the white-crowned pigeons, white-winged doves, banan- aquits and Cayman parrots are all in breeding mode. A number of nests have al- ready produced chicks and some had raised at least two clutches by the end of April. Mr. Hislop said that even the two male scarlet ibis and single male white ibis have taken to the trees to start nest-building. “For the scarlets, we do have the two female ibis we had acquired late last summer … for them to pair with, but even though these hen ibis are proven breeders, they unfortunately cannot fly, so terrestrial staff will have to come up with a strategy for the flighted males and flightless females to come to a happy union and use a nesting site that works for both,” said Mr. Hislop. Meanwhile, the center’s ju- venile captive-bred Cayman parrot “triplets,” hatched in mid-May 2016, have almost completed their quarantine and pre-release protocols and are ready for wild release. West Bay church celebrates Mother’s Day Boatswain Bay Presbyte- rian Church celebrated Moth- er’s Day this month, with all Sunday school teachers who are also mothers re- ceiving gifts. The Power of Praise along with the congrega- tion sang “When Mothers of Salem,” “Oh Mother Dear, This Day in May” and “Faith of our Mothers.” Recognition of mothers was conducted by Ezi- ethamae Bodden, Erlene Hunte and Judy Powery. Prizes were awarded to: Victoria Ebanks, 77, as the oldest mother in the congre- gation; Vicky Powery, 25, as the youngest mother; Bethany Powery-Ebanks as a mother celebrating a birthday; An- nadean Ebanks and Marion Miller as mothers who have attended church every Sunday this year. Also receiving prizes were four mothers in their 30s who had two or more children with them. Lenora Mendoza-Hydes was another mother who re- ceived a prize – for being the church’s pianist. Other prizes were given to women who are not mothers but act in the role of mothers, such as guard- ians or nannies. All mothers received a carnation, a poem certificate and the bulletin, which con- tained group photos of Moth- er’s Days from years past. Volunteers clean up Boatswains Bay Cemetery Three volunteers headed to Boatswains Bay Cemetery at 7 a.m. Monday, May 15, the Discovery Day holiday, to clean up the West Bay graveyard. Eziethamae Bodden, Brad Ebanks and Dolyn Ebanks had intended to repaint some of the tombs, but the weather did not cooperate. “As it had rained the night before and tombs were damp, we decided not to paint, but by 10:30 a.m. we had cleared branches and collected five bags of leaves and other debris,” said Ms. Bodden. She said future cleanups of the cemetery are also planned. Eziethamae Bodden, right, and Dolyn Ebanks are pictured at Boatswain Bay Cemetery last week. Boatswain Bay Church celebrates mothers on Mother’s Day. The ghost orchid is in bloom at the Cayman Turtle Centre.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 FOR POSITIVE CHANGE • Secure affordable health care for all • Fix our broken immigration system • Do whatever it takes to bring an end to the epidemic of gun violence which has instilled the fear for the lives and safety of our fellow residents • Build an economy that works for everyone -not just those at the top • Create jobs, and more jobs for our people • Break down the barriers that stand in the way of equal opportunity for Caymanians • Ensure that every Caymanian man, woman and child are afforded the right to live up to their full potential • Relocation of the George Town Landfi ll - NO MORE DUMPING IN OUR BACKYARD • Investing in the protection of our environment and related issues to include: - The proposed dredging of the George Town Harbour - The stemming of unbridled development without a proper Development Plan and the necessary infrastructure - Taking the necessary steps to address and prevent the further pollution of our ground water and the ineffi cient sewage system owned and operated by the Government As your representative I will strive to: IF NOT ME...WHO? IF NOT NOW...WHEN? Proudly supported by: VOTE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD GEORGE TOWN NORTH KARIN M. THOMPSON DEAR VOTERS OF GEORGE TOWN NORTH: It is my distinct pleasure and privilege to offer myself as your representative and voice in the Legislative Assembly for the upcoming four years. I have lived in our constituency for more than 42 years. As such, I am familiar with the various issues, nature of concerns, the growing needs of our community and the daily struggles of many of my friends, neighbors and residents in the area. We breathe the same air. We share the same environmental concerns and related health hazards. We face the same distress over the escalation of crime and the epidemic of gun violence, which strikes fear in our hearts for our lives and safety. Economy Every measure must be taken to protect our fragile economy and, in so doing, sustain our tourism and related industries. This includes bringing an end to the countless and costly reports initi ated by government. Most recently, KPMG was contracted at an additi onal cost of US$505,000 to advise the government of the day how best to build a state-of-the-art cruise ship and cargo port facility. The plans reveal the constructi on of two piers, each, by virtue of the length of the average cruise ship, extending out into the harbour at least 1,000 feet. Inevitably, this will require extensive dredging and removal of a signifi cant porti on of the protecti ve coral reef that safeguards not only the George Town North area but the enti re central George Town and surrounding area. Education As your representati ve I will strive to ensure our educati onal system will provide every young Caymanian man, woman and child the opportunity to live up to their full potenti al. It important to recognize that a balance must be struck within the scope of the local educati onal framework. A careful analysis of the fi gures spent by government show that around CI$14,000 to CI$15,000 is spent per student per year. In the private educati on system, the cost is about half and yet stati sti cs seem to support the view that the private schools produce, on an annual basis, a signifi cant porti on of our top students. We also need to ensure the necessary tools, materials and requisite number of teachers are provided to improve the quality of educati on. Healthcare It is vital that proper and aff ordable healthcare is made readily accessible for all. We need to address the role of CINICO and the remit to which it was charged at the ti me of its creati on. This can no longer be ignored. The staggering sum of $1.7 billion in the government’s healthcare liability as of 30 June 2016 cannot be left unaddressed. Nor can it be allowed to increase at the rate that it has been – by $500 million during the preceding two-year period. Immigration Along with our broken healthcare system, there are various other systems that need to be addressed, including the statutory private pension scheme and the recent amendments to the Pensions Law, the eff ects of which remain to be seen. There is also the pivotal issue that goes to the root of the inescapable problem faced by our people in securing or maintaining employment – the broken immigrati on system. Landfi ll We must also address the unsanitary, totally unacceptable state of the landfi ll and sewage seeping in our backyards, which are criti cal issues in the consti tuency of George Town North. I am prepared to tackle these issues on day one of the job if I am successful at the polls tomorrow, Wednesday, May 24th, 2017.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS POLITICAL MEETINGS AND FORUMS TUESDAY, MAY 23 CAYMAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Candidates for George Town and Red Bay, A. L. Thompson’s parking lot, 7 p.m. PROGRESSIVES: Final rally, Kirk Supermarket parking lot, 7 p.m. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES: Lions Centre, 7 p.m. JOHANY ‘JAY’ EBANKS: North Side. Motorcade. 7:30 p.m. EZZARD MILLER: North Side. Old Man Bay Playing Field. 8 p.m. ARDEN MCLEAN: East End. Pac a Sac Store. 8 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 26 CHILD MONTH: IAM2K17 Youth Empowerment Conference, Marriott resort, 9 a.m. For more information, call 949-0290. SATURDAY, MAY 27 EVENING OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Cayman National Choir, 7-10 p.m. at the Arts and Recreation Centre. Performance includes the Cayman National Orchestra in a special collaboration with Steve Higgins and friends. All are welcome. CHILD MONTH: Circle of Love Children’s Breakfast at Marriott resort. 8:30-11 a.m. For more information, call 949-0290. DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in North Side, junction of Hutland and North Side Roads, 6-10 a.m. Items available include ladies’ bags and accessories, clothing and shoes for adults and children, linens and more. SUNDAY, MAY 28 PUBLIC ASTRONOMY VIEWING: Pedro Castle, 7:30 p.m. weather permitting. Please park outside and walk in. Call Richard on 925-4917 for more details or to check cancellation if more than 50 percent cloud cover. CHILD MONTH: Family Fun Day at Agricultural Pavilion, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 949-0290. DOGS AHOY: Allura Boat Trip, 1-6 p.m. Fundraiser for One Dog at a Time. Tickets, $35. The Allura sails to Stingray City and Starfish Point, stopping at two different snorkeling sites. Food is provided. Email info@odaat.ky or message on Facebook page Onedogatatime13 or website www.odaat.ky. MONDAY, MAY 29 QUIT SMOKING: Smokers who wish to quit the habit have until today to register for Smoking Cessation Classes. The Public Health Department advises that classes will take place every Wednesday for seven weeks in the Public Health Waiting Room, starting Wednesday, May 31, 5:15-6:45 p.m. For more information, or to sign up, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2889/244-2621, or email sarah.hetley@hsa.ky or nola.sanderson@hsa.ky. GENERAL INTEREST HIGH SCHOOL PTA: The John Gray High School PTA seeks sponsors, vendors and volunteers for its June 24 Summer Fair and Raffle. The PTA is raising funds to assist students traveling overseas to represent the school and country in track and field, swimming, fine arts, academics and more. The PTA invites applications from visual and performing artists, food vendors and volunteers. Email ptajghs@gmail.com for registration forms. If you have a product you would like to sell to the student body and public at the fair, sign up. Booths are $50 and $75. CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The deadline for general and civil contractors to register with the Builders Board has been extended by a month. The deadline is now May 31. Registration deadlines for the other categories of contractors remain the same: Residential and Building Contractors, June 30; Trade Contractors, Aug. 31, 2017. 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. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. 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. 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. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee, easels provided. Contact info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Cayman has three chapters of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Grand Cayman club meets at George Town Public Library, 3rd floor, 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. Eloquent Speaker club meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday 6:30–7:45 p.m. at Savannah United Church Hall. Eminent Orators club meets 2nd and 4th Monday 6–7:30 p.m. at Cayman Academy Canteen. Contact George R. Ebanks at 916-0687/322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail.com. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or check www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit next to the MLA’s office). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. For more information, check website at www.rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. For more information, email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m. to noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: Meets third Wednesday of every month, Governors Square Boardroom at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/ BPWGrandCayman. BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: MothertoMother meetings first Tuesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. outside Women’s Health Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Children welcome. Contact Women’s Health Centre at 244-2649. LIFE UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION: Advises all members that the monthly meeting luncheon is held on the last Thursday of each month. YBPW: Meets every third Monday of each month at the Woman’s Resource Centre. SERVICES EL MINISTERIO HISPANO: de la Iglesia Bautista Cayman Islands te hace una cordial invitación a nuestro culto en español cada Domingo, 6:30 p.m., Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 23, 2017 Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Dr. Vivek's offi ce at Smith Road Plaza from 1-16 June, 2017 For appointments please call (345)945-6077 +1 (345) 323-7840 www.drbarryrichter.com EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISEMENT MLA WANTED Bodden Town West Job requirements as follows: • Must have Banking/Accounting experience to be an advocate for Mortgage Protection and Cost of living. • Must have a working knowledge of the laws that govern these Islands • Must be able to understand the financial intricacies of our economic development when making decisions on behalf of our livelihood from big business to small business, (trickle down economics). • Should be able to make strategic economic decisions for of these Islands, not just based on personal opportunity, nationality, color or creed • Must understand this is a Job given by the people of these islands. • Able to offer a fresh approach to resolving our current problems and issues. • Must be a leader and of independent mind instead of party politics. Paid for by a voter for Chris Saunders # 4 Bodden Town elsewhere already,” he said. “Voters in this country have to ask themselves, do they want four more years of this? “Robbery is high, employ- ment is still a big problem, Caymanian entrepreneurship barely exists. “I believe I have the lead- ership skills. I certainly care for my people and I am asking them to vote CDP in every constituency where we have a candidate.” He said he is also pre- pared to work with the in- dependent candidates to form a government if nec- essary, depending on which ones get elected. “Even if we get 10 or 11 candidates elected, I plan to work with some of the inde- pendents. I have said pub- licly that there are people that have nothing to do with our party that I see a lot of value in.” He cited Al Suckoo, An- thony Eden, Austin Harris and Kenneth Bryan among the independent candidates that he would be prepared to work with. Premier Alden McLaughlin was unavailable for an in- terview on Monday. But in a speech Saturday night he urged Progressives sup- porters not to be complacent and to come out and vote on Wednesday. He said the new single-member constituen- cies mean there is no room for error or to spare a vote for family and friends. “These are very dicey elec- tions. The numbers in each district are so small that it is quite possible that one family can determine the outcome of the elections,” he said. “We need to campaign every waking hour. We need to ensure that all 15 of the Progressives and Miss Tara Rivers in West Bay come home on Wednesday evening.” He said the Progressives have a “track record” of deliv- ering on their promises. “From cutting unemploy- ment to restoring govern- ment finances to bringing the economy back in line, ad- hering to good governance, healing the relationship with the U.K. and providing greater educational, employ- ment and economic opportu- nities for people – we have made huge progress on all of those things,” he said. Dr. Tomlinson, who has played a key role in helping organize and finance the cam- paigns of several indepen- dent candidates, said he be- lieves people are ready for an alternative to party politics. He denied having any be- hind-the-scenes leadership role or that he would be an “unelected premier” as Mr. McLaughlin has suggested. But he confirmed he had pro- vided support to 19 indepen- dent candidates and said he is hopeful that the next gov- ernment would include as many as seven MLAs who have no allegiance to ei- ther of Cayman’s main po- litical parties. “I have been the main one sounding the clarion about the value of independents,” Dr. Tomlinson said. “I think we should be going back in that direction. I would be happy if we got seven elected, that would be a vic- tory, I think.” He said the party system is “terrible” for Cayman and he believes independents could raise the level of de- bate. He said too many de- cisions are currently made in caucus, out of the view of the public. He said while he has pro- vided support and advice, and in some cases funding, the independents are their own people. “I haven’t bankrolled any- body,” he added. “Primarily I want to impact the polit- ical leadership and the polit- ical culture, and I am hoping that some of the indepen- dents can be instrumental in that regard.” He dismisses suggestions that independents could not get anything done, saying they could come together to resolve issues without being bound by the restrictions of a political party. and procedures set out on their liquor licences,” Mr. Rajkumarsingh said. Historically, concern about the use of intoxi- cating liquor on Election Day, a public holiday in Cayman, is twofold. The first concern was docu- mented in a 1954 letter written by then-territo- rial Commissioner Andrew Morris Gerrard – the po- tential to use alcohol to bribe voters. “The principal election- eering weapon is rum. It is unwise to make any pre- dictions [about the election outcome] whatsoever,” Mr. Gerrard wrote in private correspondence published in the definitive Cayman Islands historical text “Founded upon the seas: A history of the Cayman Is- lands and their people.” The second worry is that drunken, rowdy individuals will show up at polling sta- tions and disrupt the voting. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell pointed out last week that he was un- aware of any arrests occur- ring at a Cayman Islands polling station at any time in the past 20 years. The alcohol sales ban lasts only during the polling period. However, Tortuga Rum Company founder Robert Hamaty said he recalled one year when a vote recount caused the polls’ closure to be de- layed for around 48 hours. “For two days, you couldn’t get a drink on this island,” he said. Mr. Hamaty said the li- quor ban is entirely un- necessary when it comes to tourists departing the islands, who would not be able to buy a drink even upon their depar- ture. He said he did not be- lieve this part of the ban was the intent of the Elec- tions Law, which seeks to prevent alcohol consump- tion on island. achieved,” Mr. Rodan said. Mr. Rodan said there is still significant disparity be- tween some of the voting district sizes, and that Little Cayman and Cayman Brac “are the exceptions” in terms of voter numbers. He said the size of each district is something election observers would review during the week. “[However], within that everyone has one vote,” he said. “It cannot be therefore claimed that living in a par- ticular part of Cayman … you have six times the voting power of everyone else.” The functioning of one man, one vote in single- member constituent districts will be of keen interest to the Commonwealth observers. “There’s been a momen- tous change in the electoral legal framework,” said Anne Marlborough, an Irish elec- tion analyst. “We’ll be inter- ested to see how that oper- ates on polling day.” There are other issues of fairness the observers will look into, including current rules that require a sustained period of residence in the ter- ritory before an election that applies to registered voters and political candidates. “That is something we have noted and that remains an issue,” Mr. Rodan said. After the election observa- tions are completed, the Com- monwealth observers will compile a report on their ini- tial insights and give it to the media on Friday. A follow-up report, including recommenda- tions, will be presented about two months after the election. Mr. Rodan said the report can only recommend. It is up to local officials whether they will address any issues raised by the observers. Candidates make last bid for votes BT man admits breaking into cars Two cars damaged for coins inside CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jeff Pandohie, 48, ap- peared in Summary Court on Monday afternoon, when he pleaded guilty to seven charges, including two re- lating to damaging a vehicle. The Bodden Town man admitted to criminal tres- pass and attempted bur- glary at a premises on Manse Road on May 6. The damage to property occurred the same day at a Bodden Town condominium complex. Pandohie pleaded guilty to damaging a Suzuki and a Honda by breaking the glass in the right passenger window of each vehicle. Pandohie also pleaded guilty to the theft of a “small amount of coins” from each vehicle. His final plea of guilty was to the charge of con- suming cocaine. Pandohie told the court he needed a job and had tried to get help from gov- ernment. “I have no food, no current, no water,” he said, referring to his house. Crown counsel Toyin Salako objected to bail on the basis that no amount of conditions could prevent the risk of further offending. She said Pandohie had admitted committing the offenses to feed his drug habit. Defense attorney John Furniss suggested that the matter be put over until Thursday, May 25, so that he could talk to Pandohie about applying to the Drug Rehabilitation Court. Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats said this was a sen- sible approach because Pan- dohie had to know he was facing significant jail time. He denied bail, saying, “I have to protect the public.” Magistrate Foldats said Pandohie knew he had a problem with drugs. “You don’t look good,” he told the defendant. “I knew you when you were healthier.” “Lack of food,” Pandohie replied. The magistrate told him, “You’ll get three square meals a day in cus- tody …. As you get stronger you’ll be more realistic about your future.” Pandohie thanked the magistrate. “Living in jail I think I will live better than in my own house.” Need a beer on Election Day? Buy in advance Observers: Cayman elections achieve ‘broad equality’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Eight arrested in ganja bust Eight men were ar- rested during a Royal Cayman Islands Police drug raid Friday night in West Bay district. Police also recovered about 8 pounds of ganja during a search of a home on Birch Tree Hill Road. The drugs had been “se- creted away in different locations on the prop- erty,” police said. The eight men, ranging in age from 17 to 36 years old, were taken into cus- tody on suspicion of various drug possession-related of- fenses. All eight were re- leased on police bail. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 More than 8 pounds of ganja were recovered at a premises in West Bay on Friday. The Bodden Town man admitted to criminal trespass and attempted burglary at a premises on Manse Road on May 6.Next >