ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY & Southwest lands as Cayman’s newest airline SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com It was a short flight for South- west Airlines and a giant intro- duction to the Cayman Islands. Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport welcomed a mile- stone Sunday, when the inau- gural Southwest flight arrived from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The American carrier is the first new airline to begin ser- vice to Cayman since JetBlue in 2012, and it will be offering daily flights year-round from Fort Lauderdale. Rosa Harris, director of tourism at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, said the new airline service represents a “very long journey” that took years to reach completion. Now, KPMG celebrates 50 years in Cayman MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Accounting and consulting firm KPMG celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Cayman Is- lands at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Friday night. The event theme “Past, Present and Future” was not only reflected by three areas that guests progressed through during the evening, but also by the attendance of the firm’s current and former man- aging partners. Mike Austin started KPMG in Cayman in 1966 in the Watler building, at the location of to- day’s Royal Watler Terminal, where most businesses and law firms were based in those days. At a time when the financial services industry only started to develop and the government first aimed to attract businesses from overseas, Mr. Austin began his work for Peat Marwick Mitchell, as the company was then known, in a 10-foot-square office with one desk and one filing cabinet. BRITISH POLICE ARREST 12 FOLLOWING LONDON TERROR ATTACK LONDON (AP) – British police arrested a dozen people Sunday over a vehicle and knife attack in London that left seven people dead, as Lon- doners told how a weekend night out in the city erupted into violence and terror, lightened by moments of kindness and acts of heroism. The major political parties suspended cam- paigning in the country’s general election for the day, but Prime Minister Theresa May said the vote would take place as scheduled on Thursday, because “violence can never be al- lowed to disrupt the democratic process.” Eric Bush, director of the Cayman Islands’ London office, said Sunday that all of his staff are safe and accounted for in the wake of the London terror attacks. Mr. Bush said there are 45 Caymanian stu- dents registered as studying in London, and he had not been able to contact all of them at press time. Many have replied to messages via email, Facebook and Whatsapp, and Mr. Bush said there had so far been no reports of Cay- manians affected by the terror attack. Mr. Bush said he had spent part of the day at Borough Market, where in the evening at- tackers slashed people with knives, with his family and a close friend, Tara Hopwood, a fellow Caymanian. “We were all safely home by the time of the attack, thankfully,” he said in an email. “How- ever, when we woke up and learned what hap- pened, it all seemed too close for comfort. “I would like to thanks all those who have contacted us from Cayman to check if we were OK. … Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those negatively affected.” Premier Alden McLaughlin said in a state- ment issued Sunday: “ … We support Prime Minister Theresa May in her announcement that there has been ‘far too much tolerance of extremism’ and that the U.K. will step up its fight against Islamist terrorism in the wake of the London Bridge attack. “I pray that the general election in London that is set for this coming Thursday will be peaceful …. Our prayers, thoughts and sym- pathy go out to the people of London.” Former KPMG managing partners Mike Austin, left, and Theo Bullmore tell tales of the early days of the company. Mr. Austin was the first KPMG employee in the Cayman Islands and served as managing partner from 1969 to 1992. He was succeeded by Mr. Bullmore, who was managing partner from 1992 to 2007. - PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE KPMG partners Anthony and Sarah Cowell PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » The inaugural Southwest flight from Fort Lauderdale receives a water cannon salute. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS 3D (PG) 1:20 I 4:00 2D I 6:20 2D EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING (PG13) 12:40 I 3:00 I 5:20 I 7:40 I 10:10 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (PG13) 12:45 I 3:45 I 6:45 I 9:45 BAYWATCH (R) 1:20 I 4:05 I 7:15 I 10:05 WONDER WOMAN 3D (PG13) 12:45 I 4:10 VIP I 7:30 2D VIP I 8:45 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES 3D (PG13) 1:00 2D VIP I 3:30 I 6:30 2D I 9:25 - MONDAY - 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) Man sentenced to 13 years for rape Assault occurred on victim’s birthday, damaging each birthday since CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man whom a jury found guilty of rape was sentenced last week to 13 years’ imprisonment, with three months concurrent for possession of a flick knife, a prohibited weapon. Rohan Anthony Gidar- isingh, 40, had numerous character references and no previous convictions. But Justice Malcolm Swift told him he had thrown away any mitigation when he pleaded not guilty and accused the victim of lying. “In my judg- ment, it was a knifepoint rape,” the judge said. The judge also expressed the view that Gidarisingh had lured the young woman and tricked her. The jury had heard that in 2014, Gidarisingh by chance ran into an ac- quaintance whose daughter was celebrating her 23rd birthday. He had not seen the young woman since she was five and he asked to treat her on her birthday. Justice Swift said Gida- risingh took her from bar to bar until she was inebri- ated. He then tricked her into going to a hotel room on the pretext that there was a private party and some friends would be there. No one else was present and it was there the offense took place. The judge said he rejected Gidarisingh’s explanation that he car- ried a flick knife as part of his work as a chef. He said he was satisfied that the woman had no idea Gidar- isingh had a knife until he produced it, using it and his superior strength to force himself on her. “That must have been a terrifying experience,” Jus- tice Swift remarked. He noted that the woman ran from the room. After she called her mother, her step- father called police and the matter was reported. Gidarisingh’s defense, from the time he was in- terviewed by police to his trial, was that the woman had initiated or encouraged much of what took place and that her complaint was motivated by avarice. That fact aggravated what she had suffered at Gidarisingh’s hands, the judge said. The defen- dant accused her of lying. He had blamed the victim for his predicament; he showed not one iota of con- cern for her, but a stag- gering level of arrogance, the judge continued. A victim impact state- ment indicated that the rape had a life-changing psycho- logical effect on the woman, producing feelings of worth- lessness, humiliation and self-blame. Since then she has been hyper-vigilant, suffering shame and anx- iety. On her birthday each year since, it has been a damaging memory. Track coach’s trial set for July Ato Stephens has elected trial by judge alone CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Cayman track coach Ato Modibo Stephens will stand trial starting Monday, July 24, on two charges of indecent as- sault on a female and one of gross indecency. The offenses are alleged to have occurred in 2015. The victim/complainant is a teenage girl. Trial had been set for June 5, but the defen- dant requested an adjourn- ment because he has new legal representation, defense attorney Amelia Fosuhene. On Friday, Ms. Fosuhene and Director of Public Prose- cutions Cheryll Richards ap- peared in Grand Court before Justice Charles Quin to con- firm arrangements. When Stephens first ap- peared in Summary Court in February, it was Ms. Richards who advised that the Crown was electing to have the matter tried in Grand Court. The defendant then chose to have trial by judge alone rather than by jury. Last week, Ms. Fosuhene explained to the court what disclosure of evidence she was still seeking as it related to phone records. A fourth charge against Stephens was not put to him at his arraignment. It alleged using an ICT network to abuse/annoy/harass. Stephens, 37, has been in custody since being extra- dited from Florida. Firearms trial to be held in Cayman Brac A judge on Grand Cayman agreed last week to a request to have a trial of a Cayman Brac man held on the Brac in October. Claude Anthony Terry, 36, previously pleaded not guilty to two charges re- lating to possession of an unlicensed firearm and one possession of a prohibited weapon – pepper spray. On Friday, June 2, when he appeared before Justice Charles Quin, defense at- torney John Furniss asked if the trial could be held on Cayman Brac. The court had already been told that all or most of the witnesses resided on the Brac. Justice Quin granted the request and set the trial to start on Monday, Oct. 23. Terry is charged with possession of an unli- censed Smith and Wesson revolver and eight rounds of .44 Magnum cartridges in the vicinity of Ethel Rose Road on or before Aug. 23, 2016. Bail was continued until the trial date. Cayman Brac has court- room facilities in the Aston Rutty Centre. The Summary Court sits there regularly two days a month. Weather forecasts improve, under the radar, science says WASHINGTON (AP) – Make fun of the weatherman if you want but modern forecasts have quietly, by degrees, be- come much better. Meteorologists are now as good with their five-day forecasts as they were with their three-day forecasts in 2005. Both government and private weather forecasting companies are approaching the point where they get to- morrow’s high tempera- ture right nearly 80 percent of the time. It was 66 per- cent 11 years ago, according to ForecastWatch, a private firm that rates accuracy of weather forecasts. That may not always be appreciated, especially if your livelihood depends on getting rain and snow amounts, and timing, just right, all the time. “They don’t know what’s going to happen,” complained Wash- ington taxi driver Antenhe Lashitew. He makes more money when it rains or snows, so he wants them to be more precise. He may yet be satisfied, though, because forecasts are continuing to improve. They are already good enough for Major League Baseball, which is now able to move game times around based on forecasts so you have a much smaller chance of getting soaked in the stands. Last week, the forecast for Washington was after- noon thunderstorms on Thursday so the Washington Nationals moved their game from 4:05 p.m. to 12:05 p.m. The game got in – the Nats won – and the storms arrived on schedule not too long after the regularly sched- uled start time. “That would have been unheard of 20 years ago,” said retired Washington tele- vision meteorologist Bob Ryan, the first national on- air weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show. “If we did in the 1500s what we do now, we would have been burned at the stake as witches and warlocks.” Ryan used to get people telling him he was never right, so he would challenge them to bets on how good his forecasts were. He’d offer to donate $5 to someone’s favorite charity for every blown forecast if they’d do- nate just $1 for every one he got right. No one took him up on the offer. Better forecasts are partly the result of more observa- tions taken in the air and oceans and better under- standing of how weather works. But it’s mostly bigger and faster computers that put it all together in complex computer models that simu- late the weather that may be coming tomorrow, next week and even later in the month, meteorologists said. The improvements are most noticeable during At- lantic hurricane season, which starts Thursday. Hurricane forecasts were twice as good last year than they were in 2005, when the National Hurricane Center predicted the paths of 28 storms, including Hurri- cane Katrina. Then, predic- tions where a storm would be 36 hours out were ac- curate within 97 miles. Last year, they were about that accurate 72 hours be- fore a storm hit. In the 25 years since Hur- ricane Andrew “we’ve gained two days of predictability for track forecast,” center fore- cast operations chief James Franklin said. And while coastal resi- dents may want the hurri- cane center’s so-called cone of uncertainty to shrink even more, former hurricane center director Rick Knabb said it’s gotten so small it’s a problem the other way. SPACEX LAUNCHES FIRST RECYCLED SUPPLY SHIP CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship to the International Space Sta- tion on Saturday, yet an- other milestone in its bid to drive down flight costs. After a two-day delay caused by thunder- storms, the unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off carrying a Dragon cap- sule that made a sta- tion delivery nearly three years ago. When this refurbished Dragon reaches the orbiting lab on Monday, it will be the first returning craft since NASA’s now-re- tired shuttles. The first-stage booster flown Saturday afternoon was brand new, and as is now the custom, returned to Cape Canaveral fol- lowing liftoff for a suc- cessful vertical touch- down. “The Falcon has landed,” SpaceX Mission Control declared from company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, and a cheer went up. The plan is to launch the booster again, in- stead of junking it in the ocean as so many other rocket makers do. Just two months ago, SpaceX launched its first recy- cled booster on a sat- ellite mission. Another flight featuring a reused booster is coming up later this month.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 Personal Insurance BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, Grand Cayman KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, P.O. 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CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky SAVE $250* when you insure your home! 10% discount on car insurance if you have home insurance Free $500,000 public liability (home insurance) Free $10 million liability protection (car insurance) Interest free monthly payment option cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only More than 1,400 vehicles get new electronic license plates BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com About 60 percent of the vehicles that were issued temporary paper license tags since late last year have re- ceived new electronic li- cense plates from theDe- partment of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing. Officials said Friday that 1,400 of the new elec- tronic vehicle tags have now been issued. The department said in April that some 2,400 vehi- cles had been given the tem- porary tags, but the deadline to replace all of the tempo- rary plates by the end of May was not reached. According to a govern- ment statement released Friday: “[The department] is asking those customers who have been contacted by the department to come and collect their new regis- tration plates.” After all the temporary tags are switched out, the department will begin re- placing the older license plates and vehicle registra- tions for free when drivers bring in their vehicles for registration renewal. The new tamper-proof plates, which have num- bers stamped at the De- partment of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing facility, cannot be removed for use on other vehicles. In addition to the new li- cense plates, corresponding vehicle registration coupons must be affixed inside the windscreen, in the center, directly below the rearview mirror. Specific instructions will be provided with the new license plates, the de- partment said. The department ad- vises customers that both front and rear license plates are required. The department said it would issue an instruction manual for the new plates. Customers with temporary plates are reminded to bring the registration, windscreen coupon and the vehicle log book when collecting the new plates. The electronic vehicle licensing system, which the department said cost $1.5 million, has gener- ated significant controversy since it was announced in the Legislative Assembly last summer. The department said in April that some 2,400 vehicles had been given the temporary tags, but the deadline to replace all of the temporary plates by the end of May was not reached. Cayman’s new tamper-proof electronic plates feature six numbers on a white background. LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH REPORTS DELAYS COURT CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jerome Cunningham’s at- torney has been waiting three months for a psychiatric report to determine whether his client is fit to plead to charges that include attempted murder and attempted robbery. On Friday, June 2, attorney Jonathon Hughes told Jus- tice Charles Quin that the re- quest for a psychiatric evalu- ation had been made when the case was transmitted from Summary Court to Grand Court – March 2. “He tells me he has not yet had an appointment,” Mr. Hughes said of his client. “I un- derstand there is somewhat of a backlog in the system.” Justice Quin said the court had “chased it up,” but there had been no response from the Mental Health Depart- ment [also referred to as the Mental Health Unit] even up to that very morning. “I think I’ll have to make an order for someone to appear to explain the delay,” he said. That person does not need to be a doctor or nurse, the judge added – just someone to come and “explain why we haven’t been able to get an appointment – or give an ap- pointment date.” He made the order for Friday, June 16, but suggested that maybe there would be some movement before then. Cunningham, 24, is ac- cused of attempting to cause the death of a security guard in the vicinity of Crown Square on Eastern Avenue on Feb. 20 during an attempted armed robbery of an armored ve- hicle. Other charges include wounding with intent and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Mr. Hughes said he knew the charges were serious, but he indicated that under the cir- cumstances he was letting the Crown know he was minded to make an application for bail. The matter was adjourned until June 16. An awaited psychiatric re- port also figured in the case of Joseph Alexander Williams Jr., who is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to a woman near the George Town Post Of- fice on April 12. Defense attorney Prathna Bodden told the court that a fit- ness to plead report had been ordered for her client, and that he has an appointment – for July. She said the court would be aware that the production of the report could take another three months. Ms. Bodden noted there are a number of psychiatrists on island – some working at Northward Prison – and she wondered why the process was taking so long. She said Wil- liams, 21, is desperate to know what was going on, calling her every day asking, “When is the doctor coming? When is the doctor coming?” His family is also concerned, she said. Justice Quin said that un- like the Cunningham case, the court had received word about Williams. “I think we’re all sym- pathetic to how busy the doc- tors and nurses are, but …. ” He agreed to have Williams brought back to court on June 16. Maybe the defendant would get an earlier appointment, “but let’s not jeopardize the July date,” he said.The 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” WASHINGTON – As changing technologies and prefer- ences make government- funded broadcasting in- creasingly preposterous, such broadcasting actu- ally becomes useful by il- lustrating two dismal facts. One is the immortality of entitlements that espe- cially benefit those among society’s articulate upper reaches who feel entitled. The other fact is how imper- vious government programs are to evidence incompat- ible with their premises. Fifty years and about 500 channels ago, the Cor- poration for Public Broad- casting was created to nudge Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society – it aimed to make America great for the first time – the final inches toward perfection. Today, the CPB, which has received about $12 billion over the years, disperses the gov- ernment’s 15 percent of public television’s budget and 10 percent of public radio’s. Originally, public television increased many viewers’ choices by 33 per- cent – from three (CBS, NBC, ABC) to four. Twenty-five years ago, Sen. Al Gore, defending an- other appropriation in- crease for the CPB, asked what he considered a dis- positive question: “How many senators here have children who have watched ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’? … This is one thing that works in this country.” So, sena- tors, mostly affluent, should compel taxpayers, mostly much less affluent, to subsi- dize the senators’ children’s viewing because it “works,” as measured by means that Gore neglected to reveal. Eighteen years ago, some public broadcasting offi- cials, who understood the importance of being earnest – and imaginative – testi- fied to Congress that public television’s educational ef- fects on the workforce give the economy a $12 billion boost. Fifteen years ago, however, the then-president of public television said, “We are dangerously close in our overall prime-time numbers to falling below the relevance quotient.” Rel- evance? To what? Today, Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, thinks we can risk termi- nating the CPB. This would reduce viewers’ approxi- mately 500 choices to ap- proximately 499. Listeners to public radio might have to make do with Ameri- ca’s 4,666 a.m. and 6,754 FM commercial stations, 437 satellite radio chan- nels, perhaps 70,000 pod- casts, and other internet and streaming services. America, which is en- tertaining itself to inani- tion, has never experienced a scarcity of entertain- ment. Or a need for gov- ernment-subsidized jour- nalism that reports on the government. Before news- paper editorial writers in- veigh against Mulvaney and in support of government subsidies for television and radio, they should answer this question: Should there be a CPN – a Corporation for Public Newspapers? The CPB was created “to encourage public tele- communications services which will be responsive to the interests of people.” Of course: People’s interests, not people’s desires. The market efficiently responds to the latter. Public broad- casting began as a response to what progressives nowa- days call “market failure.” This usually means the market’s failure to supply what the public has not de- manded but surely would demand if it understood its real “interest.” One reason many Amer- icans are becoming “cord cutters,” abandoning cable and satellite television, is that they want an a la carte world. One reason ESPN has lost 12 million sub- scribers in six years is that it is an expensive compo- nent of cable and satellite packages and many of those paying for the packages rarely watch ESPN. Compelling taxpayers to finance government-subsi- dized broadcasting is dis- cordant with today’s a la carte impulse and raises a question: If it has a loyal constituency, those viewers and listeners, who are dis- proportionately financially upscale, can afford volun- tary contributions to re- place the government money. And advertisers would pay handsomely to address this constituency. Often the last, and some- times the first, recourse of constituencies whose subsi- dies are in jeopardy is: “It’s for the children.” Big Bird, however, is more a corporate conglomerate than an en- dangered species. If “Sesame Street” programming were put up for auction, the danger would be of getting trampled by the stampede of potential bidders. The argument for gov- ernment-subsidized broad- casting is perversely cir- cular: If the public were enlightened, there would be no need for government sub- sidies. But, by definition, an enlightened public would understand the inherent merits of subsidies by which the government picks more deserving winners than the market does. However, since govern- ment-subsidized broad- casting exists, any argument for it would be superfluous, given what governmental in- ertia usually accomplishes for government enterprises. Long ago – in January – there was bold Repub- lican talk about Congress restoring “regular order”: There would be 12 appropri- ations bills and they would be enacted before the 2018 fiscal year begins Oct. 1. In- stead, there probably will be another “swallow this or shutter the government” omnibus bill in which al- most everything survives by sparing almost everyone the torture of choices. This is, of course, a choice. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Are the storm shutters up? Do you have a working flashlight? Have you stocked up on batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food and other supplies? Most importantly, do you have a plan of action in case disaster approaches? It’s that time of year again: The Atlantic hurri- cane season began Thursday, June 1, and will keep the Cayman Islands in suspense for the next six months, until the end of November. Tropical cyclone activity really will not start “heating up” in the North Atlantic basin for a couple of months, with hurricane season peaking in August, Sep- tember and October. While that observation may provide statistical grounds for our country’s residents to relax a bit, breathe more easily and re-review their lists of emer- gency supplies, it of course does not preclude the for- mation of “early” or “late” storms. There has already been one named storm this year, Tropical Storm Arlene, which surprised forecasters with its formation on April 20, spinning around for a few days on the open ocean somewhere between Bermuda and the Azores before dissipating without nearing landfall. U.S. government forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are pre- dicting a slightly above-average hurricane season for 2017, with between 11 and 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes (Category 3 and above). (For perspective, the seasonal averages from 1981- 2010 are 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Last year, the Atlantic region had 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hur- ricanes.) Put another way, it can be considered “business as usual” for those of us who live in the Caribbean. We should be prepared, not panicked, but ever-respectful of Mother Nature’s might. Cayman’s tourism industry is doing its part to mitigate hurricane season’s potential impacts to the local economy, as local hotels and condos are offering guarantees to guests that if a hurricane approaches Cayman, they can cancel their reservations with minimal notice and minimal penalties. A list of partici- pating properties is available on the Department of Tourism’s website. For readers who may be new to Cayman, who haven’t experienced a tropical storm in quite some time or who like to have all their bases covered, we direct your attention toward this Thursday’s edition of the Cayman Compass, which will include our annual Hurricane Guide. The comprehensive special publication includes the local outlook for hurricane season, the schedule of storm names (from Arlene to Whitney), tips on “hurri- cane-proofing” your home, and plans, supply lists and contact information for emergency agencies. If you’re wondering what you need to know in order to be ready for the worst – it’s all in the guide. While we have no way of knowing what to expect from this year’s hurricane season – as always, we are praying for peace and tranquility – the following words sum up the wisest strategy for remaining safe: Be prepared. Gimme shelter: ‘Tis the season for preparedness Public broadcasting: superfluous yet seemingly immortal GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 JUNE 30 - JULY 3, 2017 TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT CAYFILM.COM TICKETS STARTING AT CI$25 200 FILMS FROM 50 COUNTRIES PANELS WORKSHOPS CELEBRITY PARTIES VIP All Access CI$400 General Admission CI$50 Student Pass CI$25 One-Day Sampler CI$25DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Season for traveling In the June 7, 1967 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, in “George Town Notebook” correspondent Frances Bodden wrote: “Mr. LeRoy Watson of East End, Chief Officer in the S.S. ‘African Crescent’ of the Farrell Lines, New York, is spending his vacation leave with relatives and friends. His father is in the Govern- ment Hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery. “Among the arrivals from Kingston on the 29th May were: Dr. J. Burroughs, Mr. John Elliott, Mr. Ashton Smith and mother, Mrs. Lee Goulburne and son, Mrs. Hy- acinth Nelson. “Mr. Keith Whittle left for London on the 29th, to attend a Conference in connection with the es- tablishment of a National Airport at Belize. “Mrs. Atha Forbes (Ra- chael) of George Town and five children (four girls and one boy) left for Brooklyn, N.Y., to be with her husband and reside there for some time. They were accompa- nied by Miss Christiana Forbes, sister of Mr. Forbes. “Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Hunter and Mr. Timothy Bodden of Brooklyn, N.Y. spent a few days on the island before going on to visit relatives and friends in the Lesser Islands and Jamaica. They were guests at the Sea View Hotel. Mrs. Hunter is a sister of Mrs. Lindora Chollette and Timothy is her twin brother. It is hopes that their tour will be most happy for all.” CHILDREN HONORED AT WOMEN’S MINISTRY BREAKFAST The Circle of Love Women’s Ministry hosted 315 people, including 175 primary school children, for a buffet break- fast and live entertainment, in honor of Child Month. The event, titled “Hold My Hand and Guide Me,” on May 27 in the Grand Cayman Mar- riott Beach Resort’s ballroom, was one of the last events held as part of Child Month. Guests included children from most of Grand Cayman’s government primary schools, two private schools and three after-care clubs, as well as teachers, parents and Depart- ment of Children and Family Services staff. Department Director Felicia Robinson welcomed the guests and thanked the Circle of Love Women’s Ministry for its sixth year of hosting the event. This year’s junior speaker was Erin Parchment from John A. Cumber Primary School, who, taking up the event’s theme, said that tech- nology alone would never sat- isfy the needs of children. She urged parents to take an ac- tive role to guide their children in growing up, and asked her peers to listen to their parents. Three-year-old Liam Rob- erts was showered with ap- plause after singing the National Song. Julie Hunter, founder of the Circle of Love Women’s Min- istry and current treasurer, said in a press release, “The morning brought together par- ents and children, and encour- aged them to spend time to- gether. The breakfast’s slogan also aimed to highlight chil- dren’s need for more parental involvement.” Elihandro Bodden deliv- ered the main student address, and Jordan McLean gave a moving testimony about over- coming adversity in life, the press release states. DCFS staff, volunteers and teachers also were enter- tained with musical perfor- mances and speech and po- etry recitations. Essay winners Winners of the essay com- petition titled: “How Does Your Teacher Influence Your Life?” were: (7-8 year old cat- egory) – Nicole Scott, George Town Primary School (first); Ashley Miguel Diaz, Sir John A Cumber/Amber Bachet, George Town Primary School (second) and Chamelle McLean, Truth For Youth School (third). In the 9-11 year old cat- egory, the prize winners were D’Janoeh Joseph, Prospect Primary School (first); An- issa Burke, Prospect Primary School/Micah Leon, Bodden Town Primary School (second), and Jayanna Elliott, Triple C School (third). Sensory garden at Maple House gets a makeover Residents of Maple House are enjoying a remod- eled “sensory garden” thanks to members of the Chamber of Commerce Cayman lead- ership program. Maple House is home to children and young adults with disabilities and special needs. The Chamber group, which adopted the idea of improving the garden as its annual class project, cleared rubbish and litter and re- paired and revarnished the jungle gym. They installed wind chimes, bird feeders and a herb box, repaired swinging benches and erected sail shades. “The sensory garden will allow residents of Maple House to enjoy the outdoors in a calm yet stimulating en- vironment. We are extremely grateful for all the hard work the Chamber’s Lead- ership Cayman 2017 group put in,” said Felicia Rob- inson, Children and Family Services director. Staff at the residential home, which is managed by the Department of Children and Family Services, said they had long wanted to im- prove the garden for young residents and had reached out for help. Financial and other as- sistance for the garden makeover came from Green- light RE Ltd., Verdie and Sons, Flower Power and Design Homes. Members of the Chamber of Commerce’s Cayman Leadership program, residents and Department of Children and Family Services staff pose in the sensory garden. Children at Maple House enjoy the swings in the revamped sensory garden. Jordan McLean and Elihandro Bodden were among those who addressed attendees at the Circle of Love Women’s Ministry breakfast.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 FLOWERS EST 1946 June 10th, 2017 | 25th Annual Flowers One Mile Sea Swim June 12, 2017 Flowers Internat ional 5k & 10 k Swims Entry fee for this event is CI$60 or US$75. Visit Flowers SeaSwim .com for more informa tion. Entry Fee CI$32 or US$40 Register Online at FlowersSeaSwim.com All Registration Proceeds Donated to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society SWIM AND WIN! $100,000 IN CASH AND RANDOM PRIZES • Over 40 airline tickets to 25 destinations, including Europe, North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean** • Restaurant vouchers, Gift Certifi cates from Red Sail Sports and Anytime Fitness • Smart Phones, Tablets, plus Special Prizes from the Flowers Group and so much more **Restrictions apply JOIN THE CHALLENGE!The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS “Times were hard in those days,” he said. “West Bay Road was simply a marl track, mosquitoes were rife, there was no television, no radio and Cayman Air- ways was known as Cayman Brac Airways.” In his 23 years as man- aging partner, the company changed its name to KPMG and moved offices three times to keep up with the growth of the firm, from one to more 40 staff, including five partners. “I am proud of the ac- counting profession, not just KPMG, but all the accounting firms here,” Mr. Austin said. “The accounting profession has really provided Cayman well over the years with training, with employment and with the development of international standards.” Mr. Austin handed over the reins to Theo Bullmore, who led the company from 1992 to 2007, when KPMG grew to more than 200 em- ployees and 13 partners be- fore Roy McTaggart took over as managing partner. Mr. McTaggart said it would have been incredible to think that “at this point in my life, I am standing here amongst you as the minister of finance for my country.” KPMG has played a big role in his personal devel- opment since he joined the company in 1985, he said. “I have had some of the best mentors one could ever hope for: Mike Austin, who was the managing partner at the time and saw the value in me and gave me a chance,” he noted. “Tonight, we celebrate 50 years of KPMG and that in itself is a masterful achieve- ment,” Mr. McTaggart said. “I am proud of the legacy that I helped build.” He added that he is also proud of the people who remain at KPMG, for the work that they do, for the way that they uphold the values of the firm, for the way that they lead and for the impact they make in the community. Kevin Lloyd, KPMG’s man- aging partner for the past five years, said each of his predecessors left a lasting impression and legacy. Despite all the changes over the decades, the firm always managed to retain its culture, he noted. “That’s one of the ways that I think we can make a difference.” Today KPMG has a staff of 340 from 35 countries and a 50-50 split of men and women, including five female partners. “What’s different about us is that we respect and harness the different skill sets and backgrounds and experi- ence of all of our people,” Mr. Lloyd said. KPMG managed to re- tain its culture by hiring the right people and then investing in them. Mr. Lloyd highlighted that in 2004, KPMG was awarded the Investor in People des- ignation and has since at- tained the gold-level stan- dard that only 5 percent of the designated companies receive. And each year the firm has been recognized at the Top Employer awards. “Our scholarship spend this year approaches $500,000. We are sup- porting 12 Caymanian stu- dents [studying] overseas. Our investment in learning and development this year is $1.25 million.” Mr. Lloyd also empha- sized the local partnerships with King Flowers, through KMPG’s anchor tenancy at Cricket Square, and with Dart in the Cayman Alter- native Investment Summit, as well as the trust of local service providers, as important factors in the firm’s development. “I am really optimistic for our future and that of the Cayman Islands be- cause in my view they are inextricably linked,” he concluded. KPMG celebrates 50 years in Cayman CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tony Travers, managing partner of Travers Thorp Alberga law firm Jude Scott, CEO of Cayman Finance KPMG partner John Ferrari and his wife Christina KPMG partner Jonathan Cohen and Gina Peck KPMG partner Kris Beighton and his wife LucyKPMG partner Rupesh Daya and his wife Asha KPMG partner Joel Dodson and his wife Alyssa KPMG alumni partners Andrew Stepaniuk and Jennifer FrizzelleKPMG alumni Sabrina Welds and Gareth Ebanks KPMG Director of Business Development Niko Whittaker and his wife BiancaKPMG partner Alex Lawson with his wife Prue LawsonThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 5, 2017 Assault stars on London Bridge The assault unfolded over a few terrifying minutes Sat- urday, starting when a van veered off the road and bar- reled into pedestrians on busy London Bridge. Three men fled the van with large knives and attacked people at bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market, po- lice and witnesses said. “They went ‘this is for Allah’ and they had a woman on the floor, they were stab- bing her,” said witness Gerard Vowls. Romanian chef Florin Morariu, who works in the Bread Ahead bakery, said he saw people running, and some fainting, and then two people approach another and “began to stick the knife in … and then I froze and I didn’t know what to do.” He said he managed to get near one attacker “and I hit him around the head” with a bread basket. “There was a car with a loudspeaker saying ‘go, go’ and they (police) threw a grenade …. and then I ran,” he said. London’s Metropolitan Po- lice said armed officers fa- tally shot the attackers within eight minutes. The force said the men were wearing what looked like suicide vests that turned out to be fake. Forty-eight people, in- cluding two police officers, were treated at hospitals across London. Twenty-one remained in critical con- dition Sunday. Among the wounded were German, French and Spanish citizens, officials said. The death toll of seven did not include the three at- tackers. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Canadian was among the dead. Police said counterter- rorism officers raided sev- eral addresses in Barking, an east London suburb, and arrested 12 people there Sunday morning in connec- tion with the attack. Neigh- bors at the site of one major raid in Barking said a man who lived there resembled one of the attackers shown in news photographs. “He’s lived here for about three years,” resident Damien Pettit said. “He’s one of our neighbors. I’ve said hello in passing more than 50, 60 oc- casions. He has two young kids. He was a very nice guy.” Third attack in three months The rampage was the third major attack in Britain in the past three months, in- cluding a similar vehicle and knife attack on Westminster Bridge in March that left five people dead. On May 22, a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured dozens at an Ariana Grande concert in Man- chester, in northwest Eng- land. Grande and other stars are scheduled to perform a benefit concert for victims under tight security in Man- chester Sunday night. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Manchester bombing, but there has not yet been a claim of responsibility for the London attack, which the prime minister linked to Is- lamic extremism. May said the attacks were not directly connected, but that “terrorism breeds ter- rorism” and attackers copy one another. She said five credible plots have been dis- rupted since March. “It is time to say, enough is enough,” she said. Britain’s official terrorism threat level was raised from “severe” to “critical” after the Manchester attack, meaning an attack may be imminent. Several days later it was lowered again to “severe,” meaning an attack is highly likely. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said Sunday that the level would remain at se- vere because police believe there are no perpetrators still on the loose. Investigation expanding Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the Metropol- itan Police head of counter- terrorism, said that while po- lice believe all the attackers were killed, the investigation is expanding. “We believe three people were involved, but we still have got some more inquiries to do to be 100 percent confi- dent in that,” he said. A large area on the south bank of the River Thames re- mained cordoned off Sunday, and police told people to avoid the area. London Bridge and the adjacent train sta- tion, as well as nearby Bor- ough subway station, were still closed. Hours earlier, the area packed with bars and res- taurants around the foodie magnet of Borough Market, had been a scene of panic, as people barricaded themselves into pubs and restaurants or fled through the streets. Gun- fire rang out as police shot the attackers – within eight minutes of being called out at 10:08 p.m., the Metropol- itan Police said. Medics treated the in- jured near the market as shocked people cried and shouted around them. Po- lice officers yelled at people to run from the area, and blasts were heard as officers performed a series of con- trolled explosions. Renan Marquese, a sous- chef at a tapas restaurant, said he was working when he heard chaotic sounds outside the restaurant. He opened the door only to see three bodies on the ground. “When I open the door I see three dead people on the floor,” he said. “People running everywhere, police shouting to run away.” He said that he helped a man and his partner, even taking the woman into his arms because she was too upset to walk properly. He said it took him 20 min- utes to carry her across the bridge, stumbling all the way. “It was really scary,” he said. Compassion and heroism Amid the violence and fear were stories of compas- sion and heroism. British Transport Police said one of its officers, among the first to arrive, took the attackers on armed only with his baton, and was seriously injured. He was later described as being in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening. Witnesses described how passers-by threw chairs and beer glasses at the attackers in an attempt to stop them. Richard Angell, who was in a restaurant, said he looked out, “and opposite there’s a guy who is throwing a table at somebody and it’s very unclear about what is happening and it turns out to be a heroic guy who saw what was happening and just bombarded these terrible cowardly people with stuff.” Vowls also saw people pelting the attackers, and said he joined in himself. “They were trying to force their way into a restaurant,” he told ITV. “People were throwing bottles at them, pint glasses, whatever they could pick up. Then they went on the Wheat Sheaf (pub) …. I went ‘Oi, oi cowards!’ – some- thing like that to them. And then I started picking up bot- tles, I threw a chair at them a stool, glasses – anything I could get my hands on.” Cayman Compass reporter Spencer Fordin contributed to this article. said Ms. Harris, Cayman can start lining up even more clients for when the Owen Roberts expansion is com- pleted in 2018. “Our pursuit of airlines never stops,” she said. “More capacity will certainly help with customer service and the overall visitor experi- ence. … Bigger airport, more people, more business is a great formula.” The inaugural flight, which took just 91 minutes from takeoff to landing, was met with a bit of pomp and cir- cumstance. After coming to a stop, the aircraft was doused with a celebratory spray from a fire truck’s water cannon, and a parade of dignitaries were the first to deplane after taxiing. Anika Conolly, Miss Cayman Islands, was one of the first off the plane; she stood at the top of the jetway and greeted each of the pas- sengers. A man in a pirate costume and a Batabano car- nival dancer exited, followed by a parade of Southwest Air- lines executives. The pilot proudly hung an American flag and a Cayman flag out of the cockpit windows before de- planing, and the Southwest delegation exchanged gifts with representatives of the Cayman government. “On behalf of the 55,000 employees of Southwest Air- lines, I just wanted to say we’re incredibly excited to be in the Cayman Islands,” said Mark Shaw, senior vice presi- dent, general counsel and cor- porate secretary for Southwest. “We have looked forward to this for many, many years, and now that we’re here, it’s hard to believe. The Cayman Islands are our 10th country that we’re serving as we continue to ex- pand. We serve around 100 million customers annually in the U.S., but I feel like the 140 or so that flew in here today are probably the luckiest. We’re very happy to be here.” All but six of the 143 seats on the first flight were sold. Mr. Shaw said Cayman will provide a fitting bookend for Cuba, which welcomed Southwest flights in December. Steven Swan, the airline’s di- rector of international busi- ness management, said the newest market will be a boon for both parties. “This is one of the most re- quested destinations we have that’s within range,” he said of Grand Cayman. “We’re very happy that we’re able to add this to the route map and offer service here to our customers back in the United States. And also, help people here actu- ally go up to the U.S. and do some shopping.” Stran Bodden, chief of- ficer of the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism, said the timing of the Owen Roberts airport expansion meshes per- fectly with more hotel rooms becoming available in Cayman. “We have more and more rooms coming on stream,” he said. “We had the Kimpton [opening] last year in No- vember; that was a real special day if everyone remembers. … We have the Margaritaville [re- sort] open now. We have more rooms that are being dis- cussed every day, so it’s going to fit into a business model for Cayman and tourism that is just going to grow and grow and grow.” The inaugural flight, which took just 91 minutes from takeoff to landing, was met with a bit of pomp and circumstance upon arrival. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 British police arrest 12 following London terror attack Armed police officers patrol streets near the scene of the terror attack in London on June 3. - PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Guests from the Premier Inn Bankside Hotel are evacuated and kept in a group with police on Upper Thames Street following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and at Borough Market. – PHOTO: AP Southwest lands as Cayman’s newest airline CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >