ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 High of 90 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CIFA/FIFA NEED A GOOD KICK – (YOU KNOW WHERE) SPORTS | PAGE 16 JUNIOR GOLFERS BATTLE POOR WEATHER 6 $11.95 CHILI CHEESE $9.95 CLASSIC WHITE OPTION FOR No convictions in motorbike crackdown BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has seized 25 illegal motorbikes, including non-street legal dirt bikes, since last December when officers began a crackdown on speeding, disruptive groups of bikers on local roads. “We are still storing [the motorbikes] pending court matters,” said RCIPS spokesperson Jac- queline Carpenter. “All matters are still before the court [with] no convictions as of yet. “We have had substantially fewer com- plaints about motorbikes since December.” Keith Keller, president of the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders’ Association, concurs with that assessment, saying he’s barely noticed any daredevil antics on local roads in recent months. Mr. Keller was among a number of resi- dents who complained late last year when a Sunday afternoon “ride of the century” event turned into chaos with more than 100 mo- torcycles, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles – some street legal, some not – took to the streets around Grand Cayman, blowing stop lights and endangering other drivers. “I haven’t seen very many of them on the roads doing wheelies in a long time,” Mr. Keller said. “[The police] started confiscating bikes … once they did that it kind of shut the whole business down.” Police strategies of using the RCIPS he- licopter to follow illegal bikes to their desti- nation, rather than attempting to chase them down in traffic, appear to have been effective, Mr. Keller said. Unfortunately, he noted that there has been a recent uptick in motorbike thefts among the association’s members, coinciding with the re- cent increase in car thefts on Grand Cayman. One of the reasons Police Commissioner Derek Byrne announced the motorbike crackdown shortly after taking over the RCIPS leadership post was the potential for unlicensed street bikes to be used in criminal acts, and being largely untraceable after the fact. One such vehicle was used in a February WONG TRIAL ADJOURNED AGAIN CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Senior immigration officer Garfield “Gary” Wong has had his Traffic Court trial adjourned again, this time until Aug. 29. Wong has pleaded not guilty to care- less driving, leaving the scene of an acci- dent and driving under the influence of al- cohol following an incident on Shamrock Road in the vicinity of Hibiscus Gardens in December 2013. Wong’s reading after the incident was 0.184. The legal limit in Cayman is 0.100. Trial began in January this year and resumed on June 15. At the close of court on NO CHARGES YET IN EXOTIC PET INVESTIGATION JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com No one has been charged as yet in connec- tion with a Customs investigation that fol- lowed the discovery of an exotic pet, a sugar glider possum, on a Cayman Airways jet. Two people, a 31-year-old man and 26-year-old woman, were arrested and bailed in the aftermath of the incident, where the pet, a tiny marsupial similar to a flying squirrel, got loose on the plane. The Cayman Compass has previously reported that one of those arrested was Jimel McLean, son of East End MLA Arden McLean. Premier: No ‘mass grants’ of residency BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just one out of the 10 perma- nent residence applications con- sidered by the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board Thursday received approval, ac- cording to government officials. Five applicants seeking the right to remain in Cayman for the rest of their lives were de- nied residency status and two other applicants withdrew their papers, board chairman Waide DaCosta said in a press release issued by the government Min- istry of Immigration. Two other applications were deferred pending the delivery of further information from the applicants. These permanent resi- dence applications were the first to be reviewed by the board, barring cases that in- volved court challenges, in about two-and-a-half years. “The early number should serve to assure the public that permanent residence applica- tions are being carefully con- sidered and that there will be no mass grants,” Premier Alden McLaughlin said. “Only those Caymanians, visitors, celebrate sweet, sweet mangoes Zelma Lee Ebanks, Eziethamae Bodden and Odeen Anderson showcase mangoes from Willie Ebanks’s farm in North Side at Mango Festival. Vendors dazzled taste buds at this year’s festival, where a number of succulent mango varieties and mango products were on display. The day also included a variety of events such as a mango peeling competition. For the full story, see Page 7. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »The islands’ most-trusted news source 2 MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 - 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) CARS 3 3D (G) 1:15 I 3:55 2D I 6:30 2D I 9:05 THE MUMMY 3D (PG13) 12:45 2D VIP I 4:25 I 5:40 2D I 10:00 2D VIP TRANSFORMERS: LAST KNIGHT 3D (PG13) 1:30 2D I 3:30 2D VIP I 5:20 6:45 2D VIP I 8:30 2D I 9:15 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:50 WONDER WOMAN 3D (PG13) 12:50 I 2:20 2D I 7:20 I 10:30 2D God Sent Thank you Dr. de Alwis and the CTMH Doctors Hospital for a successful surgery. I am very grateful as I was suffering for a long time. Sincerely, Ma T. Henry 1% of election votes were disqualified BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Roughly one percent of those participating in the Cayman Islands May 24 General Election had their votes disqualified, either due to an improperly marked ballot paper or a late postal ballot. According to tallies by the elections office, 146 ballots were “spoiled” at the voting loca- tions on May 24. A further 15 postal ballots were received after deadline, 6 p.m. on May 24, by the post office. The total number of spoiled ballots for last month’s election amounts to about one percent of all the votes cast, a very small number, according to international elections observers who visited the terri- tory last month. “There were very few spoiled ballot papers,” the observers noted in their preliminary report fol- lowing the election. “The ballot paper, new for this election, was of high quality, including color photographs of candidates and their logos.” There was also a lower-than-ex- pected turnout among registered voters. Of the 21,212 eligible voters, 15,867 (74.8 percent) participated in the election. The final number of votes counted was 15,721, excluding the 146 spoiled ballots. In the 2013 general election, nearly 80 percent of registered voters cast ballots. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell said that of those who voted, almost everyone managed to mark their paper correctly, choosing only one candidate. None of the 19 voting districts had enough spoiled ballots to af- fect the outcome of the races, even though six of the contests were de- cided by fewer than 50 votes. The final number of votes counted was 15,721, excluding the 146 spoiled ballots. Bernardo Guanche visited June 23 Cayman Premier Alden McLaughlin welcomed Cuban Ambassador to Ja- maica Bernardo Guanche Hernandez to the Cayman Islands on Friday, June 23. Mr. Hernandez was visiting Grand Cayman and had a brief friendly visit with the premier in his office. Mr. Hernandez began his diplomatic career in 1984 and has enjoyed many overseas postings, including high level ap- pointments in his home country. He assumed the role of Cuban Ambas- sador to Jamaica on Oc- tober 3, 2013. Cuban Ambassador visits Cayman premier Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, left, and Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin met at the Premier’s office Friday afternoon. Police issue warning after series of dog attacks The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and Depart- ment of Agriculture released a statement Friday reminding pet owners of their obliga- tions after a spate of pet at- tacks in Cayman this year. The statement indicated that police have received a total of 68 reports this year of ferocious dogs or dogs dangerously out of control. In seven of those incidents, people have been bitten and required medical treatment. Last weekend, the police re- sponded to two reports – one in Bodden Town and one in the Rock Hole section of George Town – where people had to be taken to the hos- pital for treatment. In many of the cases in- volving dogs, victims have been walking or riding along public streets where they have encountered unleashed dogs that have aggressively pursued them. In three of the cases where dog bites occurred, the victim was chased by multiple dogs, but the police report stressed that none of the victims of dog attacks this year have sustained serious or life- changing injuries. The police have not been able to locate problem ani- mals in some of these re- ports, and in others, an owner could not be determined. But in many of the cases, the animal has belonged to an owner who has not taken the proper precautions to license or secure their dog under the Animal Law. The RCIPS and De- partment of Agriculture is working to reduce the number of dog attacks in Cayman and to form strat- egies to inform the public about the need to keep their animals properly secured. “Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be a terrifying experience,” said Robbie Graham, superintendent of uniform operations in an of- ficial statement. “We are seeing a trend of dog attacks as of late and want to remind dog owners of their obligations under the law. You are responsible for what your dog does.” “Dog owners know their animals as pets and often have a hard time seeing them as a potential threat,” said Brian Crichlow, assis- tant director of the Depart- ment of Agriculture as part of a press release, “But the fact is that their dog can be a threat to those it does not know and often may display an aggressive territoriality in the area around its home. Dog owners therefore need to and are required by the Law to confine their dogs to their property either in a fenced enclosure or tethered in a humane manner.” Below are excerpts of the Animal Law and Penal Code for easy reference for pet owners: ■■ Under Section 40 & 41 of the Animal Law (2015 Revision), the court may order that an animal found to be dangerously out of control, be dis- posed of (put down), or a record be made by the court of this occurrence, in which case, a second offense would lead to the dog being put down and the owner of the dog fined and liable to sum- mary conviction up to 6 months or indictment of up to 2 years, depending on whether or not the of- fense is considered an aggravated offence. ■■ Under Section 44, a dog is regarded as dan- gerously out of con- trol where ‘there are reasonable apprehen- sion that it will injure a person or another do- mestic animal, whether or not it does so.” ■■ Under section 46, a person is liable for a fine of $500 and 6 months imprisonment if found guilty of having a fe- rocious dog at large. ■■ Under Section 26, a dog must be on a lead in any highway or other public place, and under section 36 a person who owns a dog and allows said dog to stray on the road is li- able to a fine of $500. ■■ Section 39 of the An- imal Law states that the owners of every dog are liable for any damages or injuries that their dogs inflict on any person, property or other an- imal. Such damage or in- jury does not require the knowledge of the owner or negligence to be a factor of consideration. ■■ Under section 211 of the Penal Code (2017 Revi- sion) anyone found guilty of a reckless and negli- gent act, to include sec- tion 210(d), is liable to pay a fine of up to $2,000 and up to two years imprisonment. PETER TOSH’S SON LEFT IN COMA FOLLOWING JAIL BEATING TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – The family of the late reggae icon and marijuana activist Peter Tosh is seeking answers after they say his son was left in a coma following an attack in a New Jersey jail, where he was serving a six-month sentence on pot possession charges. Jawara McIntosh has been hospitalized since suf- fering traumatic brain inju- ries in the attack in February at the Bergen County jail, where he was after pleading guilty to marijuana posses- sion, his family said. McIntosh, of Boston, per- formed under the stage name Tosh1. His father was a Jamaican-born musician and activist who started the Wailers along with Bob Marley. His 1976 hit “Legalize It” remains a rallying cry for those pushing to make marijuana legal. Jawara McIntosh is also a pro-marijuana activist and performed the song outside of the New Jersey statehouse in April 2014 during a rally pushing for state and federal lawmakers to legalize or de- criminalize marijuana. Attorney Jasmine Rand said Thursday the family has filed a notice that it plans to sue the county and also wants the U.S. Justice Depart- ment to investigate. McIntosh is hospitalized in Boston and remains unresponsive and in a coma, suffering from brain damage, she said. “My heart cries not knowing what happened to my son,” said his mother, Melody Cunningham. “Not being able to talk to him be- cause of the condition that he’s in. (I’m) trying to be strong for him, I have to be strong for him.” His sister, Niambe McIn- tosh, said that they haven’t been given any solid informa- tion about what happened. Rand said the county has not been forthcoming about providing evidence about what happened.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 CUSTOMER NOTICE Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Ltd. wishes to advise that due to the Prime Rate change of the US Federal Reserve Bank on June 15, 2017 from 4.00% to 4.25% the following changes will be made: • USD Prime Rate 4.00% to 4.25% - Effective June 15, 2017 • KYD Prime Rate 4.00% to 4.25% - Effective June 29, 2017 All products linked to USD and KYD Prime Rates will be adjusted on the effective date indicated. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. Everyone is welcome to join the party. 2 large swimming pools with beach lounge chairs Free Admission Open from 11:30 am to 12 midnight Come celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday at Hemingway’s with DJ Matt spinning your favorite Canadian tunes. Fun for the whole family - Fireworks at 8:30 pm CC, Crown Royal, Ceasars, Poutine & BBQ Etc... Everyone is welcome to join the party. 2 large swimming pools with beach lounge chairs Everyone is welcome to join the party. 2 large swimming pools with beach lounge chairs Everyone is welcome to join the party. Everyone is welcome to join the party. Everyone is welcome to join the party. Celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday SATURDAY, JULY 1st Canada Day In conjunction with the Canada Club Of Cayman Fun for the whole family - Fireworks at 8:30 pm 406679.INDD 16/23/2017 4:14:39 PM BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Caymanian man convicted in a gang-related murder that oc- curred in mid-2015 has been sent to the U.K. prisons service “until further notice.” Osbourne Douglas, 30, was found guilty, along with his brother Justin Ramoon, in May 2016 of the July 1, 2015 killing of Jason Powery in George Town’s Scranton neighborhood. He was sentenced to 34 years imprisonment in December 2016. “This removal was authorized by the U.K. and Cayman Islands governments in the interests of national security and the public safety of the people of the Cayman Islands,” a statement issued by the government last week indicated. To effect Douglas’s removal, the U.K. used a 19th century statute, the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1884, which allows territorial prisoners to be sent to the Mother Country for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include situa- tions where it is “likely that the life of the prisoner will be endangered or his health permanently injured by further imprisonment.” Also included in the act is re- moval “by reason of there being no prison in the said British pos- session in which the prisoner can properly undergo his sentence or otherwise the removal of the pris- oner is expedient for his safer cus- tody or for more efficiently carrying his sentence into effect.” It was revealed at trial last year that the murder victim, Mr. Powery, was a known member of West Bay’s Birch Tree Hill criminal street gang. The group has been feuding of late with the rival West Bay gang, Log- woods, as well as criminal inter- ests in George Town, Grand Cay- man’s capital. There was no removal order is- sued for Ramoon, who is serving 35 years in prison for Powery’s murder. Prior conviction overturned Douglas, along with two other men, was convicted in September 2010 of killing Omar Samuels in the McField Lane area of George Town during 2009. All three of the convictions were overturned by the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal in 2011. Unlike the other two defendants, who were released immediately after the appellate court’s ruling, Douglas was re-arrested in connec- tion with an unrelated matter. One of Douglas’s co-defendants, Mikkyle Brandon Leslie, went to the U.S. shortly after his release on the murder charge, only to be arrested again by federal marshals in con- nection with an American probe into gun-running between Grand Cayman and South Florida. The U.K. used a 19th century statute, the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1884. Convicted killer Douglas sent to United Kingdom Osbourne Douglas is present during a crime scene walkthrough held during his criminal trial in 2016. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER The bodies of three elderly U.K. tourists who died in a hor- rific May 2 crash in East End were repatriated late last week, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Ian Mansell, 72, his wife Pa- mela, 74, and Marlene Wright, 69, died in a head-on collision late that evening as they headed back to Morritt’s Tortuga Resort where they had been staying on a two-week trip. A 22-year-old Jamaican man was also killed in the wreck, which was one of the deadliest ever to occur in the Cayman Islands. UK ACCIDENT VICTIMS’ REMAINS REPATRIATED All Grand Court jurors who are in the April 5 to July 4 ses- sion are advised that the re- port date of Monday, June 26, has been changed. Instead, they must now report for jury duty on Tuesday, June 27, at 9:45 a.m. Please call the Jury Informa- tion line at 244-3899 for the most up to date information or email jury@judicial.ky. JURY NOTICEThe 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. MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” Normally, an organization appointing an independent auditor is not a noteworthy event. It’s a rare day, that you’ll read about it in the newspaper – let alone on Page One. But the Cayman Islands Football Association’s announcement last week that it has appointed Grant Thornton as its independent auditor following a FIFA- approved competitive process is headline news for two reasons: First, it reminds us of what happened to make the Cayman Islands “Ground Zero” for the global football cor- ruption scandal two years ago. Second, because it reminds us of what hasn’t happened since local football chieftain Jeffrey Webb was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, in May 2015. Readers surely remember the allegations of wide- spread bribery, kickbacks and corruption in FIFA that rocked the sporting world in 2015, or that Cayman resident Jeffrey Webb and former resident Costas Takkas (who both pleaded “guilty” to charges in U.S. court) were key figures in the scandal. Readers also should remember the alleged utilization of Cayman financial institutions in the FIFA scandal, and the predictably negative international press coverage of our country in the aftermath. What might have slipped from readers’ minds, however, is that two years after the 47-count indictment was handed down in U.S. federal court – naming Webb, eight other high-ranking global football officials, five busi- nessmen and two dozen unnamed “co-conspirators – there have been no arrests in Cayman in relation to the FIFA imbroglio. To the extent that there has even been a local investigation (unknown), there has been nothing to show for it, at least publicly. How is that possible? When Webb was lining his pockets with ill-gotten gains, he was the face of local football and a prominent figure in the community, leading CIFA for more than two decades and forging ties with local businesses and the Cayman government. Yet local officials have never accused any of Webb’s numerous associates with wrongdoing, charged anyone with criminal offenses nor exonerated anyone of involve- ment. Instead of explanations or allegations … there has been silence. About the only substantial response came from then- Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden, who cut government funding from CIFA until the group could prove it had cleaned up its act. (Minister Bodden’s decision was, and remains, correct.) When Webb was in charge of regional football gov- erning body CONCACAF, there was a lot of money and support for Cayman football; now that he’s gone, much of that has dissipated, though CIFA’s local leadership remains largely intact. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (who eight years ago attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the still unfinished and unused multimillion-dollar CIFA Centre For Excellence) has written a book about the scandal. Passages in the book suggest he is laying the blame for FIFA corruption at the feet of his former protégé Webb and other regional leaders. Webb has been banned from world football for life. As a convicted criminal in the U.S., he was struck from Cayman’s voters list this spring. His Georgia home and other properties are in danger of being seized. Recently, Webb’s sentencing in U.S. court was again delayed, for the fifth time. If Webb is a canary that’s been singing all he knows about FIFA to U.S. law enforce- ment – his song must be longer than rock classics such as “American Pie,” “The End” and … dare we say it? … “Free Bird.” CIFA/FIFA need a good kick – (you know where) BLOOMBERG VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” Shake- speare wrote. Schoolchildren would no doubt agree – but they’re mistaken. In America, summer vacation lasts far too long. U.S. students spend about 180 days in school per year, with the vast majority re- ceiving 10 to 12 weeks off in the summer. Regardless of their socioeconomic back- ground, they’ll forget two months’ worth of math in- struction from the previous year by the time they re- turn to classes in September. Poorer students – who can’t afford summer enrichment classes and are less likely to have a parent at home during the day – also see their reading skills atrophy. Those losses grow over time. A two-decade-long study of public-school stu- dents in Baltimore found that half of the achievement gap between high-income and disadvantaged ninth graders could be attributed to so- called summer learning loss during elementary school. Those lower-achieving stu- dents subsequently had higher high-school dropout rates, were less likely to go to college and had lower life- time earnings. Contrary to popular belief, students in the U.S. spend as much time in the class- room, on an annual basis, as their peers in the rest of the world do. Yet compared with students in other industri- alized countries, Americans consistently perform below average on international as- sessments in math, science and reading – which sug- gests that summer learning loss could be partly to blame. Schools in the U.K., Germany and France take off between six to eight weeks during the summer. In Singapore, the longest break lasts six weeks, from November to January. U.S. schools should strive for something in between. About 3,000 schools – some 3 percent of all public schools in the U.S. – have ditched the ex- tended summer hiatus in favor of “year-round” calendars, which more closely resemble international school systems. There are some draw- backs to year-round school: It can wreak havoc with family vacation plans, compli- cate child-care arrangements, and reduce professional de- velopment opportunities for teachers. (It could also dis- rupt the $18 billion summer camp industry.) For those rea- sons, school districts should focus less on radical changes to the school calendar than on making academic instruc- tion available to students ear- lier in the summer, to limit the impact of learning loss. And state and federal policy makers should provide incen- tives to poorer school districts to expand summer enrich- ment programs that improve students’ retention of material taught during the school year. Schoolchildren, like surfers, may long for an endless summer. Life doesn’t work that way. Better they find out sooner rather than later. © 2017, Bloomberg View Slash summer vacation LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Please keep Cayman clean I write to you as a con- cerned resident. I have lived in Grand Cayman for a very long time. I have always felt good about living here, but lately I don’t quite un- derstand where our civic pride has gone. Today, I observed a mattress dumped be- tween 10 p.m. Thursday, June 22 and 4:30 a.m. June 23 in Prospect. I am making a plea to the people in our country: Please keep Cayman Clean! Please dump your trash in the correct way and if you are unfamiliar with your garbage collection days/times please call the Department of Environment and Health at 949-8793 or 949-6696. A community is only as good as its residents. A resident that cares and takes pride in their community will not only take care of their own yard but help keep their streets and surrounding area looking good. Thank you for doing your part to keep Cayman clean. Monique Hamaty-Simmonds RIP, Judge Douglas RIP, Kipling Douglas, one of the greatest judges in Cayman history. I came be- fore him 20 or so years ago as six people were arrested for speeding on the Brac’s lower crossover road. We were all speeding the same (39 MPH in a 25 MPH zone) and when he asked if any of us had anything to say, I said if so many of us were going the same speed, perhaps there was some- thing wrong with the police radar machine. Judge Douglas said he was letting me off without endorsing my CI licence as perhaps I was right! I paid the fine and drove carefully ever after on the Brac. A bril- liant man and fine judge, God bless him! Nan Socolow 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 Judge asks for public’s help with firearms ‘scourge’ Four men sentenced to terms of 7 to 13 years for unlicensed guns CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After sending four men to prison for possession of unlicensed hand- guns on Friday, Justice Michael Wood asked the public for help in wiping out what he called a firearm “scourge.” Specifically, he addressed the problem of guns en- tering the island. “Somehow these firearms are getting onto the island and I would urge anyone who does know how they are getting onto the island to inform the police, if necessary, anon- ymously. Unless the trade in fire- arms is stopped, not just innocent members of the public may suffer but also the tourism industry could be dealt a potentially devastating blow, particularly when firearms are discharged in public places such as bars,” he said. Justice Wood said the number of cases in Cayman involving firearms was “quite simply staggering.” In each of the four sentences he passed, he noted that unlicensed firearms can only be used to kill, maim, cause serious injury or ter- rorize people in the course of com- mitting an offense. “Those who look after firearms for others are just as guilty as those who carry them,” he pointed out. Justice Wood said he understood there is to be an emergency meeting chaired by the governor within the next month or so. “The courts and police can only do what they can, but it’s for the public who can really help and I repeat – I urge anyone who has in- formation to come forward and as- sist the police even, as I said, anony- mously. It’s a scourge which has got to be wiped out.” Before Justice Wood began his series of sentences, he dealt with the matter of Marvin Xavier Conolly Almandarez, who was incorrectly included in a published list of “men- tions for sentence.” In fact, this de- fendant has not yet entered a plea. His matter was put over to July 14, when it was expected that a trial date will be set. Andy Errol Barnes, 13 years Barnes, 37, was found guilty by a jury earlier this month of pos- sessing an unlicensed .38 revolver and six rounds of ammunition. After hearing from Crown counsel Scott Wainwright and defense at- torney Crister Brady, Justice Wood summed up the matter. On March 18, 2016, police at- tended a George Town premises where Barnes was staying and they found the gun in a microwave oven. Barnes’ fingerprints were inside the microwave. His DNA was on the trigger of the gun, the grip and the hammer. “The evidence was over- whelming,” the judge commented. Barnes sought to blame code- fendant Yannick McLaughlin, whom the jury found not guilty. With a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for conviction after trial, there were no factors to reduce that term. But, the judge said, Barnes had an appalling record. He had received a lengthy sentence in 1998 for at- tempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm; in 2011, he was jailed for possession of ammunition. The sentences did not deter him. A significant factor in Barnes’ present case was that before the gun was hidden in the microwave, it was being driven around town at night while loaded. “Why were you doing that? I mustn’t speculate,” the judge commented, adding that people who carry guns in a public place must expect condign punishment. Jordan Bryson Powell, nine years Senior Crown counsel Nicole Petit told the court that Powell, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a .45 handgun and 10 rounds of .45 am- munition in February, following an incident the previous month. The gun was not loaded; the magazine and bullets were found separately. She summarized the circum- stances that led to his arrest. Powell was in a vehicle driven by his fa- ther, who was speeding, and po- lice attempted to stop him. The truck crashed into a utility pole and Powell got out, dropping the gun. He complied with directions from po- lice, who found the ammunition in the bed of the truck. He said he did not have any intention of going out and committing an offense. Defense attorney Alice Carver accepted that Powell had previous convictions for attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an of- fense. The shotgun involved was in- operable and therefore was charged as imitation. She said he had com- pleted his sentence, obtained a job and was caring for his young family. Justice Wood agreed that Powell had pleaded guilty at the first op- portunity. He said he was bound by the Firearms Law to pass a min- imum of seven years after a guilty plea, but there was the aggravating feature of Powell’s previous convic- tions and his profound failure to re- spond to his previous sentence. Torry Javier Powery- Monterroso, eight years Powery was 18 when he was ar- rested on March 25, 2016. Deputy Director of Public Pros- ecutions Patrick Moran set out the details of the offense. He explained that two Uniform Support Group of- ficers were dispatched to the Rock Hole area of George Town after po- lice received a report around 2:15 a.m. of two males with a firearm driving around central George Town in a white van. The officers drove to the area and spotted the van. They attempted to stop it by means of blue lights and siren, but the vehicle continued. As police drove alongside, the van door opened and one of the males jumped out while the vehicle was still moving. The male hit his hand on the ground, scrambled up and fled. One of the officers recognized him as Powery and noticed a shiny ob- ject in his hand. He shouted at the fleeing man to stop. Instead, Powery ran behind a property, which caused the officer to lose sight of him briefly; when the officer caught up with him, his hand was bleeding and he did not have a gun. A search team was called in but nothing was found. However, the two officers who had first re- sponded continued the search and around 6:24 a.m., they found a shiny silver pistol in dense under- growth behind the property where Powery had run. It was a semi-au- tomatic double-action loaded with six 9mm bullets. Powery was interviewed in the presence of an attorney and did not answer questions. Although pre- sented with DNA evidence, he did not plead guilty until July. Powery then said that the gun had been given to him by the driver of the van and the Crown did not contest that. Mr. Moran listed the aggravating features, including the reckless way in which Powery has disposed of the gun. There could have been se- rious consequences if it had been found by a criminal or a small child, he indicated. Attorney Prathna Bodden, who spoke as a friend of the court, said the legal definition of posses- sion was a concept difficult to un- derstand for someone Powery’s age. That seemed to have been the reason for his delay in pleading. Powery had Cayman connections and had hoped to obtain status, but his chances now were non-ex- istent, she said. Now he will spend his youth in prison and then be sent back to a country he does not know. Powery told the court he was truly sorry for what had happened. He said he had been very intoxi- cated that night. He explained that at one point he had decided to come to court and explain everything, but then he decided he could not be- cause he did not know what would happen as a result. Justice Wood commended the of- ficers for carrying on their search for the gun and getting it out of circulation. He said carrying the loaded gun in a public place was an aggravating factor and imposed eight years, with credit for time in custody and a recommendation for deportation afterward. John Brandon Smith, seven years Smith, 25, pleaded guilty on June 16 to possession of a loaded .25 semi-automatic pistol and a maga- zine containing another six rounds. The firearms were found by police after Smith was stopped for traffic violations on May 2. A police dog indicated the possible presence of a gun in the vehicle, but none was found. However, officers then went to the residence where Smith had been given permission to stay and it was there that the dog indicated a knapsack. The gun and maga- zine were inside. Ms. Bodden said Smith was re- morseful and did not know how he got himself into this situation – the company he was keeping plus a little bit of curiosity, and then he did not know what to do with the firearm, she said. Justice Wood said there were no aggravating or mitigating features to the case, so he imposed the man- datory seven years. “Unless the trade in firearms is stopped, not just innocent members of the public may suffer but also the tourism industry could be dealt a potentially devastating blow, particularly when firearms are discharged in public places such as bars.” JUSTICE MICHAEL WOOD CUC workers replace a utility pole after it was struck by a truck being pursued by police in January. A .45 handgun and 10 rounds of .45 ammunition were recovered from the scene. - PHOTO: MATT LAMERSDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 YEARS AGO Texan visitors take to the dance floor In the June 14, 1967 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a pre- cursor of the Cayman Compass, the following report by Birney Jarvis on a group of Texan trav- elers who arrived in Grand Cayman for a visit appeared: “Air Venturers, a group of fun- loving Texans who brought their own aeroplane to Grand Cayman for three days of frolic, tossed aside their scuba gear and Stetson hats Saturday night for a few hours of Calypso and high stepping. “Take 93 Texans and about twice that many Caymanians and you have all the ingredients of a swingin’ ball – and that’s just what John Zullo, agent for the Coral Caymanian Hotel, said was had at his hotel on the “loneliest night of the week.” “Tex Williams and his Playboys might as well have sunk off the ironshore as far as these Texans were concerned as soon as the Mashyiannes opened up their ver- sions of the latest in Cayman-style ‘rub-up’ and ‘rock steady.’ “‘Yahoo,’ shouted one husky Texan as he swung his partner, a blonde beauty with the figure of a showgirl and the face of an angel, to and fro to mark time to the music. “In Cayman tradition, the tal- ented young men of the Island put forth their best efforts to entertain the visitors – and there weren’t many who embarked on their plane in the return trip Sunday who hadn’t had at least a little taste of Cayman hospitality. “In a few short hours, from 9 p.m. until midnight, the Sat- urday night dance made friends of strangers and generated a feeling of well-being that is ex- pected to bring another plane- load of visitors from Texas some- time in October. “Texans who confided in this reporter that they had expected Cayman to be a ‘last outpost,’ found Coral Caymanian’s new look – Cayman thatch decor and Fifth Avenue service at the dining tables – to be a charming combination. “‘We can’t find any better than this in Houston,’ one of the visi- tors, a doctor of medicine, told Mr. Zullo after finishing a dinner pre- pared by the hotel’s English chef. “Air Ventures Inc. is one of ap- proximately 25 nonprofit travel clubs formed in the past two years in the United States. Sev- eral of the group have made ar- rangements to return here for a week or so, the Caymanian has learned – and others have made preliminary inquiries about busi- ness investments. “‘It was a well behaved group and we enjoyed having them,’ said Mr. Zullo. ‘They are a credit to Houston and welcome to my hotel anytime,’ he added.” YES Club holds ‘Unashamed’ youth rally Triple C School’s YES Club held the “Unashamed” youth rally on Friday, June 9, as part of the school’s 75th anniversary celebrations. It was the school’s second such event this school year. The first rally was held last October, during Triple C’s anniversary week of ac- tivities, according to a release from the school. Youth groups from all over the island were invited to at- tend. The students from Triple C YES Club said they were ex- cited about the event as they were able to showcase some of the gifts and talents that God has given them. To open the event in June, the club members orches- trated a flash mob. Carlson Benjamin, the Spir- itual Life Director & YES Club leader, said “The success of the rally was due to the hard- working team of teachers, youth ministry workers and students who are committed to the life of the ministry.” Many of the students who are members of the YES Club joined because they are either Christian or would like to know more about having a true relationship with God, the school said. The program provides the stu- dents with the opportunity to share their experiences about their faith with others. Grade 8 student Ayanna Davis-Eden, said, “I joined YES Club because I am a follower of Christ and I wanted to go deeper into my faith. By being in the YES Club I’ve learned that there are many students who are like me and who love to serve God. I’m glad that we were able to have the youth rally again. The “YES” in YES Club stands for Youth Experiencing Salvation. The club has been in existence at Triple C for several years and has grown over the last two years. “I enjoyed the flash mob right at the beginning because I was able to sing and dance and praise God,” said Ayanna. “I joined YES Club because I am a follower of Christ and I wanted to go deeper into my faith. By being in the YES Club I’ve learned that there are many students who are like me and who love to serve God.” AYANNA DAVIS-EDEN, Grade 8 student To open the event, club members orchestrated a flash mob.Grade 9 student Gabriella King sings at a YES Club ‘Unashamed’ youth rally on Friday, June 9th. “In a few short hours, the Saturday night dance made friends of strangers and generated a feeling of well-being that is expected to bring another plane-load of visitors from Texas sometime in October.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 Succulent mangoes aplenty at festival JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The weekend’s Mango Festival was a juicy af- fair for locals and tourists alike at the National Museum on Harbour Drive. For the second year in a row, the Museum cel- ebrated the fruit, an event started to mark mango season, which starts as early as May or June and lasts through the end of August, and the fruit’s importance to Caymanian culture and cuisine. “Mangoes played a big part in [Cayman’s] her- itage and culture. Back in the day, that was a means of survival; people made what they could out of mangoes so it wouldn’t go to waste. They made mango cakes, jams, chutneys, drinks – any- thing they could think of they made out of man- goes,” said Brian Watler Jr., public relations and media design specialist at the museum. At the event, mango vendors dazzled taste buds: Scratch Gourmet prepared mango donuts; Powder Monkey had mango flavoured marshmal- lows; Willie Ebanks’ East End farm sold a wide va- riety of mangoes, juices and tarts; Carmen Conolly had different mango cakes; and the Agriculture Department demonstrated mango grafting and the different mango varieties Cayman has to offer. A mango peeling competition saw the likes of Alfonso Wright, Eziethamae Bodden and a host of tourists get messy using only their teeth to re- move peels from mangoes at lightning speed. There were a number of succulent mango vari- eties and mango products on display – Springfels, East Indians, Julies, Hadens and of course long and common Cayman mangoes, jams and tarts. These items can all be found at supermarkets or corner stalls when in season. Mr. Watler said the National Museum is an educational organization and it is important to educate the public and keep the culture alive by hosting the event. “Mangoes played a big part in [Cayman’s] heritage and culture. Back in the day, that was a means of survival.” BRIAN WATLER JR., public relations and media design specialist at the National Museum Philip Campbell from the Agriculture Department demonstrates mango tree grafting.Visitors sample mango products from Powder Monkey. Miss Cayman Anika Conolly samples cut green mango with seasoning salts. Anthony Bailey, second to left, emerged the winner of the mango peeling competition. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Road User BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Low deductibles from $200 means it costs less when you claim with BritCay. You have a 1 in 10 chance of a road vehicle accident. BritCay offers the lowest standard private car insurance deductible at $200 and the best value comprehensive cover with extra free benefits. Ask BritCay for a quote. Pay less for comprehensive insurance Save 10% if you have BritCay home insurance Low cost 100% NCD protection New car replacement (new cars only, 12 months max.) Fast-track repairs! Authorised Repairer programme *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only. CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky cgigrp $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE Congratulations to our graduating class of 2017!!! Applications are being accepted for the 2017/2018 school year …. Spaces are limited PreK-4 to Grade 12 American-based Curriculum Programming options may include: • Individualized programs in academic areas • Online courses • Vocational courses/ Automotive Please email offi ce@hopecayman.com or call 769-4673 for more information. www.hopecayman.com Hope Academy Foster’s apologizes for ‘reckless’ truck driver Foster’s Food Fair – IGA sent out a press release Friday accepting re- sponsibility for a reckless driving inci- dent involving a tractor trailer driving at high speed around the Island Heri- tage Roundabout. The incident, which took place on June 22, was caught on video and posted to Facebook, and Foster’s ad- mitted Friday that the truck belongs to its company and was driven by one of its employees. Foster’s IGA said in the release that once it learned about the incident, an investigation began and the driver was immediately removed from the road. Discipline will be taken accordingly. The company says it recognizes that road safety is of utmost importance and that it expects its drivers to follow all traffic and road laws at all times. Foster’s requires its drivers to drive five miles per hour below the speed limit, and following this incident of reckless driving, management plans on taking action to reinforce and review all of its road safety policies to make sure its guidelines are followed. “We are deeply disappointed and alarmed by this situation,” said Julian Foster, the company’s marketing se- nior manager, in a statement. “We en- sure the public that road safety is a top priority for our drivers and we are using this incident to look at our poli- cies to make sure this does not happen again. We apologize to the commu- nity and we encourage all road users to continue reporting reckless driving when witnessed. “We also encourage the business community to look at their road safety policies and come together to make cer- tain we are all doing our part to keep roads safe in Cayman.” A tractor trailer was caught on video driving recklessly around the Island Heritage Roundabout on June 22. Police officers render ‘life saving’ aid in 2 incidents Officers helped save the lives of an elderly woman in George Town and a West Bay man last week. Just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, an elderly woman had fallen through a glass door and was bleeding heavily, according to a press release from the RCIPS. An auxiliary constable was the first on scene, and immediately rendered first aid to the woman, who was bleeding from gashes in her face and arms. The constable removed his shirt to wrap the wounds, and members of the public also gave him articles of their own clothing to put pressure on her other wounds. Two other officers at the scene also assisted. An ambulance transported the woman to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital, where she was treated and later released. Later that same day, an- other officer intervened in a critical incident involving a person in distress in West Bay. Just before 9:15 p.m. West Bay officers responded to a call regarding a man suf- fering a mental episode and screaming in the street. Officers saw a small crowd gathered near a pond between Adonis Drive and Lynnette Crescent. The man had waded about 120 feet from shore to- ward the mangroves and re- fused to come back. One officer climbed the wall near the mangroves and went into the water and spoke with the man for an extended period to calm him down and convince him to re- turn to shore, which he did. The man was seen by medical staff and ultimately returned home, but is under observation, according to the release. “These are the kinds of everyday situations that of- ficers encounter which test their skills and training,” said Kurt Walton, Deputy Com- missioner of Police, “and I am pleased to say that time and again, our officers have dem- onstrated resourcefulness and skill that has saved lives.” “I am pleased to say that time and again, our officers have demonstrated resourcefulness and skill that has saved lives.” KURT WALTON, Deputy Commissioner of PoliceThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JUNE 26, 2017 2016 robbery at a Camana Bay jewelry store and the suspects were never arrested. “We continue to encourage the public to provide any in- formation it may have about illegal dirt bike riding on public roads,” Ms. Carpenter said. The Traffic Management Unit “does continue to run operations, some specifically focused on dirt bikes and others that are general traffic operations wherein illegal motorbikes may be seized.” A place to ride The RCIPS traffic unit is aware of residents’ requests for a “safe place” to use dirt bikes off road, but finding a suitable location has been challenging, Mr. Keller acknowledged. During police operations earlier in the year, traffic unit Inspector Ian Yearwood noted that officers spoke with some individuals who had hitched their motorbikes to trailers and were taking them to the “marl pit” in George Town for some off-roading. Inspector Yearwood said police have no problem with that as long as the vehicles are operated on private land with the permis- sion of the land owner. Police also spoke to par- ents of the motorbike riders and discussed the possi- bility of opening some sort of public space off-road where bike riders can use their un- registered vehicles. “I drive a motorbike myself. I do not want to stop motorbike riders. We just don’t want the reckless and dangerous riding on the streets.” Talks to this effect in re- cent months have not borne fruit, Mr. Keller said. “Nobody wants to give up the land, nobody wants the liability,” he said. applications that meet the re- quirements in legislation are being approved.” Mr. McLaughlin’s com- ments appeared to refer to remarks contained in an on- line petition circulating the islands since last week that asked the premier to “defer any further mass grants” of residence applications until jobs could be found for 1,200 unemployed Cayma- nian workers and 600 or so school leavers. Although the peti- tion stated it would seek a referendum question on the issue, fewer than 400 people had signed it by Friday evening. The 10 residence ap- plications considered by the board Thursday were “among the first” filed fol- lowing the change in the is- lands’ Immigration Law that made permanent residence more difficult to obtain. “The board takes their role very seriously and their goal is to consider the appli- cations as quickly as pos- sible, while ensuring that each is properly reviewed and given the consider- ation it deserves,” Ministry of Immigration Chief Officer Wesley Howell said. Somewhere between 900 and 1,000 applicants have been waiting for word on their residence applications – some of which were filed as early as October 2013 – as technical legal difficul- ties plagued the govern- ment’s approval system. Two applicants under the current law were granted residence in May after filing lawsuits against the govern- ment over the three-year de- lays in hearing their cases. It was argued by attor- neys representing both of those men that many resi- dence applicants had well more than the 110 points required for approval of their bids, even with on- going legal questions re- garding how points should be awarded for things like occupations. One firm, HSM Chambers, urged applicants last week to continue pressing cases for damages against the government if they felt they had suffered material conse- quences from the delays. Residence applicants who have been denied may appeal decisions of the Cay- manian Status and Perma- nent Residency Board to the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal and, ultimately to the Grand Court, if they feel ag- grieved. However, those in- dividuals will not be al- lowed to continue working in Cayman while those ap- peals are processed, ac- cording to the 2013 version of the Immigration Law. No names have been of- ficially released by Customs. Charles Clifford, Collector of Customs, confirmed this week that the suspects had been bailed until July 11 as the investigation continues. The Compass understands that other non-indigenous animals, including snakes and a lizard, were discov- ered in a follow-up search of a property in Grand Cayman following the incident with the sugar glider. The Department of Agri- culture has declined to com- ment on the investigation or the fate of the animals, though it says the normal procedure in such cases would be for the pets to be put down. Brian Crichlow, deputy di- rector of the DoA, said, “In the vast majority of cases where illegally smuggled an- imals are seized there exists no verifiable information or documentation as to the ani- mals origin and health status, and as such the only prudent course of action is to imme- diately destroy the animal. “In the absence of any such documentation it is im- possible to re-export the an- imal, as no importing country will accept an animal without supporting documentation and health certification.” Speaking generally, Mr. Crichlow said it was illegal under the Animals Law for any animal to be imported into the Cayman Islands without a valid import permit issued by the department. The National Conservation Law also regulates the intro- duction of non-native species into the Cayman Islands. Mr. Crichlow said the DoA also evaluated the risk of im- ported animals bringing in diseases that could impact other animals or humans be- fore issuing a permit. He added, “Any animal that is not native to an en- vironment and that has the potential to survive and be- come established in that new environment has the po- tential to be invasive and to pose a threat to the environ- ment into which it is intro- duced. Examples of the very serious and destructive con- sequences of introduction of invasive alien species can be seen throughout the world. “Often all of the potential impacts and consequences cannot be fully anticipated and may not reveal them- selves for many years. In the Cayman Islands one needs to look no further than the green iguana and the lionfish to understand these risks.” He said the law also ap- plied to common domestic pets, though permits, with conditions, were more likely to be issued in such cases. He added, “Even with common domestic pets and food animals, the Department of Agriculture maintains very strict import conditions that must be met and adhered to in order to prevent the poten- tial introduction of associ- ated pests and diseases.” He said anyone who ille- gally imports animals, either without a permit or in viola- tion of the conditions of that permit, “place the islands, the environment, native fauna and flora, domestic animals and the human population at risk from either or both pest or disease that may be im- ported with the animals, or from the invasive potential of the animal itself.” Friday, June 16, Crown counsel Scott Wainwright was cross-examining a defense witness presented to the court as an expert on the Intoxilyzer breath- testing device. In setting the next date for the matter to continue, Magistrate Philippa Mc- Farlane had to consider the availability of all parties, including defense attorney Dennis Brady and the ex- pert witness who had trav- eled from the U.S. Meanwhile, Wong has continued working. The Cayman Compass pre- viously reported an ex- planation from the Min- istry of Home Affairs: that Wong would remain at his post pending the out- come of the court case be- cause it involved matters brought under the Traffic Law rather than criminal charges brought under the Penal Code. No convictions in motorbike crackdown Head of the RCIPS Traffic Management Unit, Inspector Ian Yearwood, on his motorcycle in Governors Square. Mr. Yearwood says he’s sympathetic to motorbikers who want somewhere to ride. – PHOTO: BRENT FULLER One of the confiscated motorbikes kept in police storage. – PHOTO: MATT LAMERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier: No ‘mass grants’ of residency CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Wong trial adjourned again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Trial began in January this year and resumed on June 15. No charges yet in exotic pet investigation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A sugar glider, similar to this one, got loose on a Cayman Airways flight from Miami last week.Next >