ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 High of 90 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 AIRPORT SCREENING: IT MAY BE TIME TO TRY ‘SMARTER’ WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 14 NEXT WANNACRY CYBERATTACK COULD COST INSURERS $2.5B 185309-Ad-Strip-SandCastles.indd 16/8/17 3:27 PM Campaign donors partially revealed Tomlinson, Panton opened wallets for 2017 race BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital founder Dr. Steve Tomlinson contributed more than $194,000 to 10 political candidates during the final eight weeks of Cayman’s 2017 general election campaign, according to Elections Office records examined by the Cayman Compass. Dr. Tomlinson handed out almost as much in contributions as the entire Cayman Dem- ocratic Party spent between Nomination Day on March 29 and Election Day on May 24. The CDP listed $232.461.34 in expenses during that period. The Progressives party outspent both, with expenses totaling more than $509,000 during the same period. The Progressives listed a number of donors who gave “above $5,000” in the last eight weeks of the campaign, in- cluding its own candidates Wayne Panton and Maxine Bodden, who contributed a combined $171,667. Mr. Panton gave just under $112,000 and Ms. Bodden gave $60,000. Both were un- successful in the election. The contributions made to a political cam- paign do not indicate that the money was all spent by the candidates or the parties. In some cases, the candidates had money left over after election day, and in other cases they had a deficit. However, the contributions listed give some idea of which individuals or businesses were backing candidates. Any contributions and expenses made be- fore March 29, 2017 are not reported in the campaign finance records. The reports must be delivered to the supervisor of elections 35 days after the general election, when they are made available to the public. Although Dr. Tomlinson said many times that he was backing various independent can- didates in the run-up to the general election, 7 PERCENT OF STUDENTS PASS MATH EXAM RE-SITS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just 13 out of 189 students achieved a “level 2 pass” in math exam re-sits in 2016, ac- cording to results from the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre. Students who do not achieve a good pass of “C” grade or equivalent in math and English are required to retake those subjects in their final year of schooling at CIFEC. According to exam results data obtained by the Cayman Compass through a Freedom of Information Request, pass rates for re- sits in English and math have hovered be- tween 30 percent and 40 percent over the last three years. However, 2016 was a particularly bad year in math, with less than 7 percent reaching the required level after Year 12. Students that do not reach at least a grade C or equivalent in math and English – known as a “level 2 pass” – in their Year 11 exams, are required to retake these subjects, along with other courses, in an additional year of schooling at the Cayman Is- lands Further Education Centre. The end of secondary school exams are known as GCSEs (General Certificate of Sec- ondary Education) and are graded on a letter scale, with “A*,” the highest grade, down to “G,” or CXCs, after the Caribbean exam board, which are essentially the same exams but follow an equivalent numeric scale where “I” is an A. A “C” grade is equivalent to a 2.0 Grade Point Average in the U.S. system. Lyneth Mon- teith, director of the Department of Educa- tion Services, said CIFEC students can retake BRAC CLIFFS NOMINATED FOR PROTECTION JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The cliff faces of Cayman Brac have been nominated to be protected areas under the National Conservation Law. The cliffs’ “striking and natural visual ap- peal is matched by an astonishing diversity of natural life,” according to the nomination submitted to Cabinet by the National Conser- vation Council. The proposal relates to the “vertical and near vertical cliff faces” adjoining land owned by the National Trust and the sea cliffs around the eastern end of the island, owned by the Crown. The cliffs are home to diverse bird and bat life and also hold historic and scientific value because of fossil and sub-fossil bones found in undisturbed caves in the cliff face. The nomination states, “Falcons, Kestrels and Merlin cruise the cliff edges along with soaring Frigate birds. Brown Boobies nest mainly on the cliff edges, while Tropic birds (“Boatswain Birds”) nest in cavities on the cliff face. Barn Owls den in caves in the cliffs, as do colonies of several species of bats.” There are also unique shrubs and cacti on the cliff tops, and rock iguanas use them to roam between coastal platforms and the top of the bluff. “While the main appeal of the cliffs is vi- sual, appealing to photographers and artists as well as the general public, they also sup- port some specific activities. Rock climbing routes have been established towards the east end of the island, where the cliffs are highest,” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » The Bluff on Cayman Brac has been nominated for protected status under the National Conservation Law. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 REGIONAL NEWS TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 - TUESDAY - SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) SATURDAY, JULY 15th, 8PM SPIDER-MAN: HOME COMING 3D (PG13) 12:30 I 12:45 2D VIP I 3:30 I 3:45 2D 6:30 I 6:40 2D VIP I 9:30 2D I 9:35 BABY DRIVER (R) 12:50 I 3:35 I 6:35 I 9:45 VIP WONDER WOMAN (PG13) 12:20 I 3:25 I 6:30 I 9:35 DESPICABLE ME 3 3D (PG) 1:00 I 4:00 2D VIP I 7:10 2D I 10:00 TRANSFORMERS: LAST KNIGHT 3D (PG13) 12:30 2D I 3:15 I 6:45 I 9:20 2D LESF GYM AND SAUNA IS FOR YOU! INFOLIFEEXT@GMAIL.COM In sickness or in health, we just do not quit! MEXICO CITY (AP) – Inves- tigators said Monday that targets of high-tech spying in Mexico included an in- ternational group of experts backed by the Organization of American States who had criticized the government’s probe into the disappearance of 43 students. Previous investigations by the internet watchdog group Citizen Lab found that the spyware had been directed at journalists, activists and opposition politicians in Mexico. But targeting for- eign experts operating under the aegis of an international body marks an escalation of the scandal, which so far involves 19 individuals or groups. The experts had dip- lomatic status, making the spying attempt even graver. “This must be investigated to find out who sent these messages, because they could put at risk a lot of contacts and sources,” said former Co- lombian prosecutor Angela Buitrago, a member of the group of experts. Buitrago said she and an- other expert, Carlos Beristain, received the messages. She said she did not open them. “I didn’t open it because I am used to spying,” Buitrago said. “When you work in a prosecutors’ office, a govern- ment office, there are strange messages and you pass them on to the analysts.” A report released by the University of Toronto-based cyber-sleuths found that someone sent emails with links to the spyware to the International Group of In- dependent Experts, named by the Inter-American Com- mission on Human Rights. The experts had been crit- ical of the government’s in- vestigation into the 2014 dis- appearance of 43 students from a rural teachers col- lege in Guerrero state – a politically sensitive incident that deeply embarrassed the government. While the Mexican gov- ernment bought such soft- ware, it’s not clear who used it. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto last week dis- missed allegations that his government was responsible and promised an investiga- tion. Arely Gomez, who was attorney general at the time some of the hacking attempts occurred but now heads the country’s anti-corruption agency, said Thursday that her office had intelligence tools “like any other attorney general’s office in Mexico and anywhere else in the world.” “During my term, they were always applied in accor- dance with the legal frame- work,” Gomez said. The spyware, known as Pegasus, is made by the Is- rael-based NSO Group, which says it sells only to gov- ernment agencies for use against criminals and ter- rorists. It turns a cellphone into an eavesdropper, giving snoopers the ability to re- motely activate its micro- phone and camera and ac- cess its data. The spyware is uploaded when users click on a link in email messages de- signed to pique their interest. Citizen Lab said the spy- ware attempts against the in- ternational experts occurred in March 2016 as the group was preparing its final, crit- ical report on the govern- ment investigation into the disappearances. “In March 2016 a phone belonging to the GIEI group received two messages de- signed to trick the recipient into clicking. The two mes- sages related to the pur- ported death of a relative,” the group reported. It was unclear if the link was opened or the phones were compromised. The 43 students from a rural teachers college in Guerrero state were detained by local police in the city of Iguala on Sept. 26, 2014, and were turned over to a crime gang. After an initial investi- gation, the government said it had determined the “his- torical truth:” that all of the students were killed and that their bodies were incinerated at a dump and then tossed into a river. But only one student’s re- mains have been identified, with a partial DNA match on another. The experts crit- icized the government’s con- clusions, saying there was no evidence of a fire large enough to incinerate the bodies and that government investigators had not looked in to other evidence. Citizen Lab said it found similarities in the messages or the sender’s phone number with a previous spyware at- tack. In a June 19 report, the group said at least 76 spy- ware text messages were sent to 12 prominent jour- nalists and rights activists in Mexico, all of whom were in- vestigating or critical of the government. Some had un- covered corruption. The conservative Na- tional Action Party was also a target. The investigators said they had no conclusive proof of government involvement in the attacks, but John Scott- Railton of Citizen Lab said National Action case “makes it crystal clear that NSO has been used widely and reck- lessly across a swath of Mex- ican civil society and politics. Once again we see ‘govern- ment-exclusive’ spyware being used for seemingly po- litical ends.” “As cases continue to emerge, it is clear that this is not an isolated case of misuse, but a sustained op- eration that lasted for more than a year and a half,” Scott- Railton said. The Centro Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez, a human rights group that has investigated a number of high-profile human rights cases, has said its staff mem- bers were targeted. Other tar- gets included well-known journalists Carmen Aristegui and Carlos Loret de Mola. In February, Citizen Lab and its Mexican partners published a report detailing how Mexican food scien- tists and anti-obesity cam- paigners who backed Mex- ico’s soda tax were also targeted with Pegasus. Spyware in Mexico targeted international experts BIG PINE KEY, Fla. (AP) – A local radio station’s broad- cast underwater in the Florida Keys National Ma- rine Sanctuary on Saturday attracted about 400 divers and snorkelers who listened to music and announcements advocating reef preservation. The Lower Keys Under- water Music Festival at Looe Key Reef, part of the world’s third-largest living coral barrier reef, featured four hours of music custom-pro- grammed by station WWUS for subsea listening. “We have a captive audi- ence down there,” said Bill Becker, the event’s co-founder and the station’s news di- rector. “We have divers and snorkelers listening to public service announce- ments about reef preserva- tion, coral reef etiquette and diver awareness. “It’s things that they can do to lessen their impact on the coral reef,” he said. The aquatic-focused play- list included the theme from the “The Little Mermaid,” the Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden” and the theme from the iconic shark motion picture “Jaws.” “We just wanted to get their (participants) attention,” laughed Becker. Other songs included Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins,” the theme from the television classic “Flipper” and “At- lantis” by Donovan. Participants in the water could hear the commer- cial-free broadcast via Lub- bell Laboratory water- proof speakers strategically hung from boats floating above the reef. Several divers were cos- tumed, including two mer- maids and a Sponge Bob cartoon character. Others pretended to play Florida Keys artist August Powers’s sculpted musical instruments. Becker described the un- derwater listening experi- ence at “ethereal,” saying that the sound was not loud, but very clear and it seemed that music could be “felt through your body and not just through your ears.” FLORIDA DIVERS, SNORKELERS SUBMERGE FOR REEF MUSIC FESTIVAL Supporters carry pictures of 43 missing students as they march in Mexico City in April to demand the case not be closed. A group of international experts’ complaints of obstacles to their investigation has emerged in relation to spyware used in Mexico. - PHOTO: AP A woman pretends to play an artist’s musical instrument sculpture at the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Big Pine Key, Florida. - PHOTO: AP Targeting foreign experts operating under the aegis of an international body marks an escalation of the scandal, which so far involves 19 individuals or groups. The experts had diplomatic status, making the spying attempt even graver.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 Man in court for attempted murder Defendant faces 10 charges CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jaron Calvin Solomon, 28, appeared in Summary Court on Monday, charged with attempted murder and eight other offenses arising from an alleged stabbing at an East End business last Thursday. Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats remanded him in cus- tody until Friday, July 14, when he is to appear in Grand Court. Defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes and Crown counsel Neil Kumar agreed that several of the charges against Solomon could be dealt with only in the higher court. They include the attempted murder charge, details of which allege that Solomon at- tempted to kill a named fe- male. He is also charged with causing her grievous bodily harm with intent to cause such harm. There are two common assault charges relating to allegations that Sol- omon hit one person at the premises with a stick and punched another man. Solomon is also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to another person at the premises. Other charges include damage to property, re- lating to a broken window; a threat to kill; causing fear or provocation of violence; and carrying an offensive weapon, namely a knife. A 10th charge of de- filement relates to an un- specified time in 2014 and alleges unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16. CAL begins flights to Montego Bay Cayman Airways is starting a nonstop, twice- weekly route between Grand Cayman and Montego Bay, Ja- maica, for summer travelers. The seasonal route will operate Mondays and Fridays until Sept. 11. “As in previous years, the additional service will open more seats for the Ja- maica market overall during the summer period when there is always heavy de- mand for travel between Grand Cayman and Jamaica, especially for Montego Bay and the surrounding area,” Paul Tibbetts, executive vice president of Finance and Commercial Affairs for Cayman Airways, said in a press release. “We know that Summer is an important time for visiting relatives in either market, so we’re thrilled to be able to offer this convenient service to make their travel experience more seamless and enjoyable.” Flight KX602 departs Grand Cayman at 8:25 a.m. and arrives in Montego Bay at 9:20 a.m. and flight KX603 departs Montego Bay at 10 a.m., arriving on Grand Cayman at 10:55 a.m. The airline also has a new toll-free number for cus- tomers in Jamaica to call for Cayman Airways flight in- formation and bookings. The number is 866-759-1372 and directly connects customers in Jamaica with Cayman Air- ways reservations. Until Sept. 11, Cayman Airways will run Grand Cayman to Montego Bay flights on Mondays and Fridays. Inmates burn Guyana prison, battle police GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) – Dozens of inmates set fire to the maximum security prison in Guyana’s capital Sunday, destroying most of the building while they ex- changed gunfire with po- lice and soldiers, author- ities said. At least one officer was killed. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said Sunday night that security forces had regained con- trol of the prison, but fire- fighters were still dealing with the blaze. President David Granger later reported that an of- ficer died at Georgetown Hospital while being treated for a gunshot wound to the chest. He said officials were still trying to determine if anyone had died in the fire, though he feared there could be more dead. “There must be some be- cause of the nature of the fire,” Granger said. He also said officials were unsure if there were other serious injuries. Before the president spoke, state television NCN said eight people, some of them guards, had been taken to the hos- pital for treatment. Ramjattan said officials were investigating what led to the unrest at Camp Street prison. “We have heard that there might have been break- outs but we don’t want ru- mors,” he said. He said plans were being made to move the prisoners elsewhere. “Removing the prisoners is paramount as well as getting the fire under control. This is a very unfor- tunate incident,” he said. Last year, 17 inmates died when they were trapped in their cells by a fire that they had started to protest against conditions in the prison and long delays in their trials. Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said officials were investigating what led to the unrest at Camp Street prison.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 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. – EDITORIAL – Airport screening: It may be time to try ‘smarter’ In the early days of air travel, passengers would wear their finest clothes. Today, just to clear airport security, they must prac- tically undress. We line up to empty our pockets, remove our belts and shoes. Like sheep, we dutifully remove our liquids and our laptops, subject ourselves and our belongings to search after search – all in the name of security. Now, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority advises us, U.S. transportation safety officials have added even more steps to this already cumbersome process, which starts at check-in and doesn’t end until seat belts are firmly fastened. Enough! The majority of the 1.1 million people who travel in and out of Owen Roberts International Airport are tourists. Already, each is pre-screened, screened and rescreened many times over – and that’s just to get out of the country. Once passengers arrive at their destination, they are subject to another series of checks. Cayman is not a hotbed of international terrorism. (Have we ever even had a “legitimate terrorist” on our shores?) Yet, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority has been told they must adopt new screening proce- dures and security checks mandated by the U.S. Trans- portation Security Administration or risk “additional security restrictions being imposed.” The new measures include “heightened screening” of electronic devices larger than a cellphone – and will mean even longer wait times for passengers. Will they make travel safer? We doubt it. For a dozen years or more, airline safety bureau- crats, posing as experts, have piled layer upon layer of screening and restrictions into the passenger queue. Very rarely is a regulation retired, resulting in a security protocol that purports to protect passengers from emerging threats but which in reality is bogged down by an accretion of relics and reactions. For example, in the 15 years since failed “shoe bomber” Richard Reid boarded a plane bound for Miami wearing footwear packed with explosives, count- less travelers have been forced to step out of their shoes and pad through security in stocking feet, even as new screening technologies have been adopted and, one would expect, potential threats have morphed into something far more sophisticated than one’s loading up his loafers with explosives. In fact, we would argue that “smarter” security pro- cedures (including politically incorrect “profiling”) would keep passengers far safer than our present protocols. Once again last week, undercover agents managed to sneak contraband items – such as explosive mate- rials, weapons and “drugs” – past TSA at the Minneap- olis-St. Paul airport in 17 of 18 tries, according to news accounts. That’s a security failure rate of 95 percent. A similar sting in 2015 yielded similarly dismal results in major airports throughout the U.S. Here in Cayman, airport security staff detect contraband that made it through other airports with regularity. Those are failures of execution, not a lack of regulations. These new procedures come at a particularly inop- portune time in Cayman, as we are midway through much-needed improvements and expansion of the Owen Roberts International Airport. Our one consola- tion is that construction-related congestion and confu- sion will lead to a more pleasant and comfortable (and yes, safer) environment. If our experience of post-9/11 air travel has taught us anything, it’s that the layers of security bureau- cracy (actually it’s an industry) are likely here to stay – making an already unpleasant experience even more unpleasant. Before issuing more mindless, or useless, dicta, the bureaucrats at the TSA in the U.S. might want to ponder this asymmetry: While the lines get longer (and tempers get shorter) at the so-called security checkpoints at airports, are the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding across the southwest border of the United States being asked to remove their Nikes before proceeding on their unlawful journeys? TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS A measure to rein in Medicaid’s ‘mission gallop’ WASHINGTON – Were it not for the provision that Pat Toomey, the Pennsylvania Re- publican, put into the Sen- ate’s proposed health care re- form, this legislation would be moderately important but hardly momentous. Toomey’s provision, however, makes it this century’s most signifi- cant domestic policy reform. It required tenacity by Toomey to insert into the bill a gradually arriving, but meaningful, cap on the rate of growth of per-beneficiary Medicaid spending. It is re- quiring of Toomey and kin- dred spirits strenuous efforts to keep it there, which reveals the Republican Party’s itch to slouch away from its uncom- fortable but indispensable role as custodian of realism about arithmetic. Toomey notes that in every decade since Medicaid began in 1965, it has grown faster than the economy, and than almost every other pro- gram, none of which matched Medicaid as a driver of the deficit. In Medicaid’s life, its expenditures have grown more than twice as fast as nominal (unadjusted for in- flation) GDP. And although the federal government pays for most of Medicaid, states pay some, and since 1990 the portion of states’ budgets de- voted to it has risen from 9.5 to 19.7 percent – almost one in five dollars. Lawrence Lindsey, for- merly a governor of the Fed- eral Reserve System and an assistant to both presidents Bush, puts the matter plainly: “No large component of the federal budget can perpetu- ally grow faster than nom- inal GDP.” In 1970, Medicaid spending was 1.4 percent of federal spending. In 1980, it was 2.4 percent. In 1990, 3.3 percent. By 2000, it had dou- bled to 6.6 percent. In 2010, it was 7.9 percent. In 2017, it will be 9.8 percent. Today, Medicaid, an open- ended entitlement, is one reason approximately 50 per- cent of America’s $3.4 tril- lion annual health care bill is generated by 5 percent of the population: These “platinum patients” include some in long-term care largely funded by Medicaid. In the Senate draft, for eight years the growth of Medicaid spending would equal inflation in the health care sector (somewhat more spending for the elderly and disabled). After eight years, Toomey’s measure would lower the growth rate of per- beneficiary spending to meet the normal measure of in- flation – the basic consumer price index. In 1995, all 46 Democratic senators expressed to Presi- dent Bill Clinton “strong sup- port for the Medicaid per- capita cap structure.” Three of those 46 are still senators – Vermont’s Patrick Leahy, California’s Dianne Fein- stein and Washington’s Patty Murray. What about Med- icaid’s trajectory since then has changed to justify them changing their minds? When a military interven- tion expands beyond its orig- inal objective, this is called “mission creep.” Domestically, Medicaid demonstrates “mis- sion gallop.” In 1965, it was merely medical insurance for poor people eligible for cash assistance. Now it covers, in various states, many cohorts at or near the federal poverty level – seniors, people with disabilities, families with young children and pregnant women, able-bodied childless adults, and people without adequate resources for long- term residential care. Says Lindsey: “In re- cent years, in almost half of the United States, a ma- jority of the babies born had their deliveries financed by Medicaid.” In 1983, reforms that ex- tended Social Security’s sol- vency for approximately 50 years included increasing the age of eligibility for So- cial Security, in tiny incre- ments, from 65 to 67 – in 2027. Because of Medicaid’s accelerating growth, and its impact on the states, Toom- ey’s brisker eight-year phase- in is prudent. On June 29, with the health care debate raging, the Congressional Budget Office revised $134 billion upward, to $693 billion, its projection for the 2017 budget deficit. And it raised by $686 bil- lion its projection of cumu- lative deficits over the next decade. The main reason for the revisions is the CBO’s expectation of interest- rate increases by the Fed- eral Reserve. These will raise the cost of servicing the national debt, which itself is becoming a major driver of its own ex- pansion. Medicaid, however, is another important driver. As Lindsey says, Medic- aid’s unrestrained growth will become economically im- possible, then arithmetically impossible. Democrats fancy themselves the “party of sci- ence” – strangely, because they think climate science (unlike astrophysics, neuro- biology or any other scientific field) is “settled.” Democrats certainly are not the party of arithmetic. Republicans can fill that comparatively mun- dane but useful role by en- acting Toomey’s provision, which is, as Lindsey says, “the first serious attempt to limit the unsustainable rise in entitlement spending in our lifetime.” Either by pre- serving or by rejecting Toom- ey’s measure, congressional Republicans will answer an increasingly pertinent question: Is the Republican Party necessary? George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group. GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Although the federal government pays for most of Medicaid, states pay some, and since 1990 the portion of states’ budgets devoted to it has risen from 9.5 to 19.7 percent.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 Two new deputy heads have been appointed at the Cayman Islands Mone- tary Authority. Suzanne Sadlier is the new deputy head of the In- surance Supervision Divi- sion and Judiann Myles has been appointed deputy head of the Compliance Di- vision, an announcement from CIMA states. Mrs. Sadlier had been a reinsurance specialist since joining CIMA in April 2015. “Mrs. Sadlier brings over 10 years of knowledge and experience, having worked in Ireland in a variety of po- sitions within areas such as claims, underwriting and regulation,” the statement from CIMA noted. She holds a bachelor’s de- gree in international insur- ance from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and is a Chartered Insurer, awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute, U.K., in 2013. She is also an AIR Certified Ca- tastrophe Modeler, awarded by the AIR Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, in 2014, and serves as a member of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Re- insurance Task Force on behalf of the Authority. Mrs. Myles’s appointment follows a three-year tenure as deputy head of CIMA’s Policy and Development Di- vision “where she gained ex- tensive policy knowledge to add to her regulatory and supervisory experience,” the statement noted. Mrs. Myles began her reg- ulatory career in the Invest- ments Supervision Division in 1999, and has held various positions since then. She has a bachelor’s de- gree in business administra- tion (international finance) and a master’s in business ad- ministration from the Interna- tional College of the Cayman Islands. She earned the cer- tified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) designation in 2006, has been an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners since 2014, and also earned the Claritas Investment Pro- gram Certificate from the CFA Institute in 2015. She was also trained as a Mutual Evaluation Assessor by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in 2016. CIMA Managing Director Cindy Scotland said in the statement, “With a combined proven track record for suc- cessfully leading large-scale initiatives, experience in stra- tegic planning and technical operations within financial regulation, each of the afore- mentioned appointments cer- tainly add value to CIMA’s management team, and its overall structure.” American on firearms charges bailed Defendant has invested over $1 million locally, attorney says CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com U.S. citizen David Dean Meadors was bailed Monday afternoon after appearing in Summary Court on charges of possession of unlicensed fire- arms, including a handgun and 240 rounds of ammuni- tion in Cayman Brac. Meadors, 52, was in the process of building a retire- ment home on the Brac, de- fense attorney Laura Larner told Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats. She said her client now understood that the charges were serious and she asked for bail so they could discuss pleas and prepare mitigation. Crown Counsel Neil Kumar objected to bail. Mr. Kumar said customs officers visited Songbird Drive to inspect a shipping container on Friday, July 7. Along with construction materials and household items, they found boxes containing a total of 240 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Meadors reportedly told the officers he was not aware that there was ammunition in the container. He was asked if he had any firearms and he said no. He was taken to the police station, booked and asked again if he had any firearms. He said he had one. He was then transported to the studio apartment where he was living and officers found a Glock 9mm handgun. In a closet they found a Smith and Wesson BB gun with a pack of copperhead BBs and two gas cartridges. He did not have a permit to import firearms. Mr. Kumar said Meadors was interviewed on July 9. He said he had brought the Glock in checked baggage on a commercial flight more than three or four months ago. It was in a secured con- tainer and had not been re- moved from a locked case. Meadors told officers the gun had been “purchased specifi- cally for here.” He made ref- erence to trips to the Ba- hamas and boating purposes. Ms. Larner said it seemed to be incredibly easy for U.S. citizens to bring in checked baggage with firearms and ammunition. She described the defen- dant as a responsible busi- nessman who, with his wife, owned three operative busi- nesses. He was on the Brac because they were building a property there, intended as their retirement home. He has spent more than a million dollars, Ms. Larner told the court, so he did have ties to Cayman. He had in- vested not only money, but also his reputation. They had visited around 25 times in the past year, coming to manage the construction. Ms. Larner said Meadors was not a criminal or a gang member; his intention was innocent. She noted that there was no ammunition for the Glock at the residence. Ms. Larner said that gun possession in American cul- ture is not only legal, but also commonplace. Meadors and his wife both had permits to carry guns and he had more than 20 weapons. They had experience with taking a gun when they sailed their boat to Ba- hamas, Ms. Larner advised. She agreed that Meadors should have checked more carefully about regulations in Cayman, but “the cul- ture and attitude in the U.S. is so different from here,” she emphasized. The ammunition was not meant to come to the Brac, she continued. The household goods were to have been shipped to their home in Florida. As part of the bail con- ditions, the court received Meadors’ land documents and the magistrate said the defendants’ property would be charged $100,000. Three Caymanian sureties were of- fered, for a total amount of $23,000, as well as a cash se- curity of US$5,000. Meadors will also be under a 24-hour curfew at a speci- fied hotel on Grand Cayman, and was required to sur- render his travel documents. He is scheduled to reap- pear in court on July 19. New senior staff appointed at CIMA Judiann MylesSuzanne Sadlier Lucille Seymour, icon of Cayman netball, to receive Service Award JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Netball International Federation has honored net- ball maven Lucille Seymour with a Service Award for her contributions to the sport. Ms. Seymour, who is pres- ident of the Cayman Islands Netball Association, was in- vited to collect her award in person at the INF Congress in Gaborone, Botswana, on July 7 and invited her to at- tend the Netball World Youth Games 2017 there, which run from July 8-16. “The idea of visiting an- other African country, espe- cially to receive my award was tempting, but due to the fact I had committed to have [the national netball team from] Canada … and Cayman could be ranked in this game, [it] went out of my mind very quickly. So I didn’t go to Botswana to receive my award,” she said. Cayman hosted the Ca- nadian team in a three- game international series over the weekend. The Cayman Islands Net- ball Association nominated Ms. Seymour for the award. Ms. Seymour said she hoped she would be able re- ceive the award in Cayman, or in Trinidad at the Americas Federation of Netball Associa- tions Congress in September. Ms. Seymour welcomed the award and dedicated it to the women and girls who helped her in her efforts in sports and education. According to Ms. Seymour, netballhelps women and girls build their multitasking, deci- sion making, critical thinking and leadership skills, which can be transferable to day-to- day life. The sport also serves to improve physical prowess and health, she said. “That is why I stayed in netball, and I implore all who believe the value of sport to come and assist us as volun- teers or as benevolent partici- pants,” she added. Ms. Seymour said her mother served as a great role model by teaching her most if not all that she knows about self-preservation, and in forming her desire to help people to be better. “This has been my mantra, this has been my life,” she said. In a citation as part of the nomination process, the Cayman Islands Netball As- sociation stated that Ms. Sey- mour has been involved in netball locally, regionally and internationally for 60 years, as a young player at high school, college and university and as a coach and adminis- trator in Cayman. While studying in Ja- maica, Ms. Seymour was coached by iconic netball ad- ministrator Leila Robinson, and developed a love of the sport, becoming determined that netball would become a household word in her native Cayman Islands. “She and others founded the Cayman Islands Netball Association and then went on in 1977 to make netball be- come the first nonprofit sports organization in the Cayman Islands,” the citation noted. She was a leader in the first regional netball tour- nament for Cayman in 1978, and became the president of Caribbean Netball in the same year. “She was instrumental in getting the Cayman Islands government in working with the government of Trinidad to second coaches to coach the national teams over the years, and to assist with the Cayman Islands in hosting the 1988 Caribbean competition. “Lucille has been an ad- ministrator of netball since 1968 and has made many firsts for the Cayman Islands. She became its president in 1983. She was instrumental in leading the national team to Australia in 1991 and then England in 1995, New Zealand in 1999, Jamaica in 2003 and Canada in 2013. “Additionally, she has led the under 16 netball [team] to the Jean-Pierre Champion- ships from its inception. and the under 21 team to Scot- land. She was the leader and delegate of Cayman netball to many Caribbean Champion- ships,” the citation continued. Ms. Seymour introduced the playing of netball in all government schools in the Cayman Islands and in 1982, it became a compulsory sport in the schools. The result was the Cayman Islands inter- primary league. Realizing that Cayman’s small population size meant that the local talent pool of netball playing was stunted, Ms. Seymour, a former poli- tician, used her managerial and political relationships to work with overseas netball countries to have them come to Cayman to work closely with the players, engendering skills, aspirations and lon- gevity of the sport. “Through Lucille, netball was the first sport to introduce child protection policies in the Cayman Islands. As a result, she worked assiduously with the Ministry of Sport to bring all sporting bodies on board,” the citation noted. “The people in the Cayman Islands hail Lucille as the piv- otal person for netball prom- inence and longevity in the Cayman Islands. She is ap- preciated for the role she has had in raising the bar for girls and women in net- ball. A great majority of pro- fessional and skilled women, (who were former nationals) praise her for her steadfast- ness in keeping the sport alive,” it continued. Queen Elizabeth II honored Ms. Seymour with a British Empire Medal in 1993 for her contribution to the sport, community and education. Lucille SeymourDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Trousseaus, furloughs and vacations In the June 12, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, “This Week In West Bay” correspondent Dar- lene Owens wrote: “Miss Aneita Bush ar- rived on 1st July from Miami, where she went to purchase her wed- ding trousseau. She was accompanied by Mrs. Joan Selzer. “Private Clifton Smith arrived on the 26th from Hunter Air Force Base in Georgia. He is on furlough and awaiting assign- ment to Vietnam. “Also on the same flight was Miss Dorothy Ann Banks, who has just grad- uated from Immaculate High School in New York. She is spending time with her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Banks. “Captain Thomas Henning arrived home on vacation on the 26th, he is master of the Inagua Wave. “Miss Romona Thompson, who was hos- pitalized after a truck and car collision two weeks ago, left for Jamaica on the 28th for further med- ical aid. She was accom- panied by her mother Nurse Geraldine Grant. “We regret to re- port the death of Mrs. Adina Ebanks which oc- curred at her home on the 30th June. She had been in failing health for some time, but the end came suddenly. She was 78 years of age. “Mr. Timothy Ebanks, Jr. and his sister Mrs. Doris Wood returned to their home in the U.S. on the 3rd, after spending one week as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ebanks. “Seamen leaving for their jobs during the past week were: Mr. Gideon in Miami, Mr. Den- niston Ebanks for the Ore Conway, Leslie Tibbetts Jr. to join the Bulk Trader and Reginald Dilbert to join the Bay Side in Miami. “Mrs. Wosley Ebanks and infant son arrived from New York on the 3rd after she was accompa- nied by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Allen Ebanks. “Misses Shirley-Ann and Arthurlyn Ebanks, two successful candidates in the Common Entrance Exam, left for Miami on the 6th to spend their Summer holidays. Also on the same flight was Miss Grace Ebanks who has re- turned to the U.S. to fur- ther her studies. “Mrs. Ramon Welds ar- rived on the 29th from Mo- bile, where she had been visiting her husband.” Pirates play role in West Bay Bible school Children taking part in last week’s Vacation Bible School at the Wesleyan Holi- ness Church on North West Point Road last week were treated to treasure hunting and pirates, as well as craft making. Throughout the week, the children followed a pi- rate-themed narrative to help teach them more about the Bible. Gabriel Bodden played the evil character Pete the Pi- rate, who worked each night to entice the children with gifts so they would choose to become like him. Shatanya Clarke, known as Heather Hunter, used her one-of-a- kind treasure-locating ma- chine to detect valuables such as the Bible, the chil- dren and prayer. Following the theme “Treasures In Christ,” pup- pets Harvey and Bill went on a treasure hunt in a cave, only to experience a cave- in before they found a chest filled with treasures. “To set the scene, the men of Wesleyan con- structed a large pirate ship on the platform, which on the closing day convinced Pete the Pirate that even as he sailed the seas, he rep- resented Christ with his ship’s white sails, red flag and three tall masts whose shapes form three crosses,” said Rev. Genie Dick- erson of the Wesleyan Ho- liness Church. About 168 children at- tended throughout the week, and, following Sun- day’s program, children in the seven craft classes took home plaster of Paris plaques they had painted throughout the week.Gabriel Bodden plays Pete the Pirate on board a ship built by church members for the Summer Bible School. Graduates honored at West Bay church Young members of Boat- swain Bay Presbyterian Church were honored for graduating from their respec- tive schools at a ceremony at the church early this month. The service was held on Sunday evening, July 2, when 10 graduates received certifi- cates signed by elders Carlon Powery, Henderson Hunte and Rupert Ebanks, and ser- vice coordinator Eziethamae Bodden. Ms. Bodden has been coordinating this church ser- vice for 24 years for students graduating from preschool, primary and high schools and from university. The students were con- gratulated by a number of politicians, including Min- ister Tara Rivers, West Bay North MLA and Deputy Speaker of the House MLA Bernie Bush and George Town South MLA and Councilor for Education Barbara Conolly. Ms. Conolly also delivered the graduates message.Graduates and guests attend the service at Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church. Allyssa Connor receives her certificate from MLA Bernie Bush. Aleksei Morris-Seymour receives her certificate from Councilor Barbara Conolly, second from right, as Minister Tara Rivers and MLA Bernie Bush look on.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 DRIVE THRU OPEN LATE FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS Now serving you from 2 locations: Savannah and Seven Mile Beach TUESDAY, JULY 11 MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: “Happy Feet” (2006, PG) will show at Camana Bay’s Gardenia Court. Free. 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 CHAMBER COURSE: Be Informed – New Trade Marks and Designs Laws Explained. 3-5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, JULY 20 PUB QUIZ: 7 p.m. at Fidel’s to benefit the Humane Society. FRIDAY, JULY 21 NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNIT: The unit will be closed for a one-day staff training session and will reopen as usual at 8.30 a.m. on Monday, July 24. SUNDAY, JULY 23 GOSPEL MEETING: Starts today and continues through July 28. West Bay Church of Christ presents “Jesus Is The Answer” with guest speaker J.K. Hamilton from Mountain View Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Monday to Friday at 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY, JULY 27 CHAMBER COURSE: Dealing with Difficult Customers. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $150 for Chamber members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SUMMER CAMPS, VBS JUMPSTART SUMMER PROGRAM: ICCI launched a six-week course aimed at preparing high school graduates for third level education on July 10. Students can sign up on July 11, 12 and 13. The course runs every week until Aug. 24, 2-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Spaces are limited to 25 students per session, on a first-come, first-served basis. No pre- registration is required. The program focuses on mathematics, English and college survival skills. Following the program, students will be offered a place at ICCI or be guided toward finding a place at a tertiary educational institution of their choosing. The total cost per student is $300. ICCI is offering scholarships to cover the full cost for 25 young Caymanians. SUMMER OF ART: The National Gallery offers this series every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. in the Susan A. Olde Art Studio until Aug. 17. Space is limited to 20 students per session on a first-come, first-served basis (no pre-registration necessary). Sessions are free and all materials are provided. Summer camps and large groups can book art sessions and tours separately. For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.org. ky or email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. MULTI-SPORT CAMP: The Camana Bay Sports Complex is offering young athletes a chance to improve at multiple sports, including volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming and football. July 10-14 and 17-21. Ages 6 to 14. Cost is $125 for week 1 and $150 for weeks 2 and 3. Call 640-4000 or email camps@camanabay.com. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Calvary Baptist Church holds Vacation Bible School for children ages 4 to 17. July 17-21. 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Bible stories, music, games, puppets, crafts and snacks. Call 949-0629. MUSIC CAMP: Cayman Music School is offering a camp for kids of all ages in ear training, instrument mastery, talent shows and more. Children will perform a musical recital at the end of each week. Ages 5 to 12. Cost is $55 per day or $250 per week. July 4-28, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 938-3838 or email info@ caymanmusicschool.com. LEARNING CABOOSE: Offered through Church of God Chapel, July 3-28. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For ages 5 to 13. Cost is $250. Activities include arts and crafts, glass bottom boat, fishing, sports. Call 929-9222 or 949-1794. SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM: Light of the World Christian Fellowship is offering tutorial programs in literacy and mathematics this summer with side focus on arts and crafts, educational games and field trips. Lunch and two snacks served daily. July 4-28. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 926-1541 or 947-1949. KIDS ABILITY: Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness for ages 2.5 to 4.5. 8:30-11:30 a.m. July 4 to Aug. 11. $275 per week. Social skills camps for ages 5 to 7, 7-11. Weekly themed camps, July 4 to Aug. 11. Also baby play times. Contact info@kidsability.ky. IMMERSE: The Cayman Islands National Museum on the waterfront is holding a camp to brief children on the region’s rich maritime history. Cost is $100. Ages 9 to 11 for session running from July 17-21; Ages 12 to 14 for session running from July 24-28. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds Vacation Bible School for ages 3 to 12. July 10-14. 6:30-9 p.m. Lots of fun activities, crafts, Bible lessons, snacks and prizes. All free. For more info, call 925-2509 or 326-7867. ACTING CAMPS: Organized by Cayman Drama Society at Prospect Playhouse. 8 to 11 years, July 24-28. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $300 the week. 12-16 years, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $325 for the week. Email training@cds.ky to book. HORSE CAMP: Coral Stone Stables, West Bay. For ages 7 to 16. July 4-28. 8 a.m. to noon. $250 per week; $50 per day. Children must be physically fit; no experience necessary. Contact Noland at 916-4799 or coralstonestables@gmail.com. GENERAL INTEREST HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The shop has moved to Venetia Plaza, next to China Village. The thrift shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Sunday and Monday. Phone 945-5596. DVDL REPLACES TEMP PLATES: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing is replacing all Temporary Registration Plates. Customers who have been contacted by the department are asked to collect their new registration plates. They are reminded to bring the temporary registration plates, windshield coupon (if not expired) and log book. CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The deadline for residential and building contractors is June 30; trade contractors’ deadline is Aug. 31. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest- deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30– 10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. Contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. OPEN STUDIO: Every Thursday 10 a.m. till noon and every Monday 1-4 p.m. at Watler House Studio on grounds of Pedro Castle. Offered by Visual Arts Society to adults/youth who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand- crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee, easels provided. Contact info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS he did not state who all of them were when asked by the Cayman Compass. Campaign finance re- cords show that Dr. Tom- linson gave contributions to 10 candidates, all of whom stated they were run- ning as independents: Ellio Solomon ($30,000), Cathe- rine Tyson ($25,000), Burns Rankin ($25,000, in three sep- arate contributions), Raul Gonzalez ($20,000), Ken- rick Webster ($20,000), Ken- neth Bryan ($20,000), Ar- nold Berry ($20,000), Sarah Orrett ($12,623.12), Laura Young ($12,000) and Austin Harris ($10,000). Only Mr. Harris in Pros- pect and Mr. Bryan in George Town Central won seats. Dr. Tomlinson may have made additional contribu- tions to candidates outside the reporting period between Nomination Day and Election Day, but those contributions would not have to have been reported in the campaign fi- nance forms filed with the Elections Office. Progressives In addition to Mr. Panton and Ms. Bodden’s contribu- tions, the Progressives re- ceived money from other can- didates or former candidates. Those contributions in- cluded sums from Premier Alden McLaughlin ($20,000), Minister Joey Hew ($10,000), former Minister Kurt Tibbetts ($9,000), Minister Roy Mc- Taggart ($20,000) and Deputy Premier Moses Kirkcon- nell ($25,000). A number of other con- tributors to the Progressives included Watler’s Metal Prod- ucts ($5,000), A. L. Thomp- son’s ($5,000), The Security Centre ($5,000), Kirk Free- port ($10,000), Brook Invest- ments ($10,000), JT Hold- ings ($5,000), L7 Holdings ($5,000), Consulting Services Ltd. ($20,813) and Rafiki Ltd. ($5,417). All of the contributions reported involve donations of $5,000 or more. Political can- didates and parties are not required to report campaign contributions of less than that, although some do. The Progressives spent most of its money – $413,060 – on advertising, including newsprint, radio, television and internet ads, including $134,159 on political rallies and events. Other expenses went to campaign staff sala- ries and office expenses. Unlike the other candi- dates and parties, the Pro- gressives did not report in- dividual candidate expenses. By law, no candidate can spend more than $40,000 be- tween Nomination Day and Election Day. The Elections Office indi- cated the Progressives made a “party submission for 15 candidates.” The CDP The Cayman Democratic Party, which ran 11 candi- dates in the general election, did not file an overall party campaign report, but listed the specifics of its spending in each candidate’s indi- vidual filing. Individual CDP candi- dates reported receiving be- tween $10,000 and $29,000 in contributions during the reporting period. If the con- tributions were worth less than $5,000, they generally were not reported. CDP party leader McK- eeva Bush reported re- ceiving $25,000 of his more than $29,000 in contri- butions from Radsk Ltd. CDP candidate John Jef- ferson Jr. reported a $5,000 donation from Junk Ltd. and another $1,000 from Crighton Properties. Candidates’ disclo- sures regarding financing varied widely. For instance, some can- didates, like George Town South’s Alric Lindsay, stated that they funded their own campaign entirely out of pocket. Others, like East End’s John McLean Jr., submitted detailed let- ters from their contribu- tors indicating how much money was received and when it was paid. Mr. McLean received $30,000 in three tranches from Oasis Land Development. Other candidates re- ported receiving “dona- tions,” but did not specify the source of the funds or whether they were paying their own expenses. Little transparency A group of interna- tional elections observers who stayed in Cayman during the week the gen- eral election was held de- termined there was limited transparency here in re- vealing who paid for a pol- itician’s campaign and how much they paid. “The transparency of campaign finances was lim- ited as there are no require- ments for contestants to submit, or for the authori- ties to audit or publish, re- ports on expenditure before [election] day,” the prelimi- nary report of the elections observers states. Commonwealth ob- servers’ head of mission Steve Rodan said the group had received some com- plaints from residents that this allowed political par- ties to “pay in advance” for campaign-related expenses or services they received be- tween Nomination Day and Election Day. Dr. Tomlinson handed out almost as much in contributions as the entire Cayman Democratic Party spent during the period between Nomination Day and Election Day. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the proposal notes. Two other areas on the Brac, Hemmington Forest and East Lighthouse Park, have also been nominated for protection. The bulk of Hemmington Forest, described as among “Cayman Brac’s least dis- turbed, ancient dry forest ecosystems,” is privately owned, but the nomina- tion notes that landowners have indicated that pro- tecting the area is “poten- tially viable” depending on negotiations. The nomination states, “Protection of the Hem- mington Forest will ensure the culturally and histori- cally significant Hemmington Road trail remains a nature tourism asset, as well as a recreational asset to resi- dents of Cayman Brac, and will safeguard the remark- able biodiversity of this forest community which is so characteristic of the island.” Protecting East Light- house Park is complicated by the fact that the land is privately owned and is ad- jacent to a goat farm. One of the landowners has indi- cated a willingness to sell and the current nomination refers to that one parcel. The nomination states, “A viable protected area for the eastern bluff-top land- scape of Cayman Brac will require more land than this parcel alone. Acquisition of land for protection under the NCL can only be volun- tary, and while one neigh- boring landowner is consid- ering their position at the time of this proposal, it may be some time before all op- tions are explored.” It states that the area is important to safeguard key habitats for a range of en- dangered, threatened, en- demic and migrant species, including Sister Islands rock iguanas. The area, with spectacular views of the cliffs and featuring nu- merous trails, also attracts hikers and nature tourists. The goat farm is high- lighted as a potential man- agement problem since es- caped goats forming a feral population could be ex- tremely damaging to the area and Cayman Brac generally. the exams in January, three months into their time at CIFEC, or in June, depending on their level of readiness, meaning some students get three chances. Ms. Monteith said, “With regards to our re- sults, a closer analysis of the areas of challenge is required. It is our aim for students to achieve their potential and if this does not occur, to investigate why and find solutions for resolving the issues. “The students would have benefited from ad- ditional preparation post the January examinations and given an opportunity to re-sit in the May/June examinations.” After every exam pe- riod, she said, the leader- ship and staff analyzes the results and areas of chal- lenge using feedback from the examination board. “This work is used for additional planning and professional development for staff,” she said. “Students who sat the January examinations will be given an opportunity to sit the May/June exam- inations so the work can also be individualized ac- cording to their areas of challenge. The institution will also offer extra prep- aration time after school and [during] weekends.” A baseline inspection re- port of CIFEC carried out in 2015 praised the insti- tution’s contribution to in- creasing the number of stu- dents who achieved CXC or GCSE passes by the time they left secondary school. The report said the teaching in English and math was good or very good. It stated, “The majority of students improve their CXC examination results by at least a grade, and around 25 percent achieve a level 2 pass. By the end of Year 12, the proportion of students gaining a level 2 pass in English is similar to the U.K. average for students at the end of Year 11. “Results in mathe- matics, however, are still below the U.K. average, and just over half of the students leave Year 12 without a level 2 pass in mathematics. Much of the teaching in English is good and, in mathematics, it is very good. The teaching of literacy to lower-ability students, however, re- quires improvement. “Students appreciate the way mathematics is taught, but the number of lessons allocated to math- ematics each week is insuf- ficient, even with very good teaching, to enable many students who have strug- gled with mathematics in the past to obtain their level 2 pass.” Brac cliffs nominated for protection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 7 percent of students pass math exam re-sits Campaign donors partially revealed IRAQ DECLARES ‘TOTAL VICTORY’ OVER ISLAMIC STATE IN MOSUL MOSUL, Iraq (AP) – Iraq on Monday declared “total victory” over the Islamic State in Mosul, retaking full control of the country’s second-largest city three years after it was seized by extremists bent on building a global caliphate. “This great feast day crowned the victories of the fighters and the Iraqis for the past three years,” said Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, flanked by his se- nior military leadership at a small base in western Mosul on the edge of the Old City. Iraqi forces had backed the last pockets of Islamic State militants against the banks of the Tigris River. Al-Abadi alluded to the brutality of the battle for Mosul – Iraq’s longest yet in the fight against IS – saying the triumph had been achieved “by the blood of our martyrs.” The nearly nine-month campaign, which was backed by airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition, left thousands dead, entire neighborhoods in ruins and nearly 900,000 displaced from their homes. Shortly after al-Abadi’s speech, the coalition con- gratulated him on the vic- tory but noted that parts of the Old City still “must be back-cleared of explosive devices and possible ISIS fighters in hiding.” ISIS, ISIL and Daesh are alter- native acronyms for the Is- lamic State group. Earlier in the day, air- strikes pounded the last IS-held territory on the western edge of the Ti- gris, Humvees rushed the wounded to field hospitals and soldiers hurriedly filled bags with hand grenades to ferry to the front. Iraqi troops had slowly pushed through the narrow alleyways of the Old City during the past week, punching holes through walls and demolishing houses to carve supply routes and fighting posi- tions in a district where many of the buildings date back centuries. For days, the remaining few hundred militants held area measuring less than a mile, and Iraqi com- manders described vic- tory as imminent. Al-Abadi also visited Mosul on Sunday, congrat- ulating the troops on recent gains but stopping short of declaring an outright vic- tory as clashes continued. The drawn-out endgame in Iraq’s fight for Mosul highlighted the resilience of the extremists and the continued reliance of Iraqi forces on air support to re- take territory. Iraqi commanders said gains slowed to a crawl in recent days as IS fighters used their families – in- cluding women and chil- dren – as human shields. CIFEC EXAM RE-SIT PASS RATES RE-SITS, ENGLISH 2014: 133 re-sat English. Level 2 pass rate: 36 percent 2015: 152 re-sat English. Level 2 pass rate: 35 percent 2016: 145 re-sat English. Level 2 pass rate: 30 percent RE-SITS, MATH 2014: 201 re-sat math. Level 2 pass rate: 29 percent 2015: 147 re-sat math. Level 2 pass rate: 39 percent 2016: 189 re-sat math. Level 2 pass rate: 7 percentThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 11, 2017 Case of ill British baby to continue A British court is giving the parents of 11-month-old Charlie Gard a chance to present fresh evidence that their terminally ill son should receive experimental treatment. A judge gave the couple until Wednesday afternoon to present the evidence, and set a new hearing for Thursday. Trump presses Congress on healthcare bill: Get it done WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump pressed Congress on Monday to get healthcare done before leaving for its long August recess, even as Republican senators say the GOP effort so far to repeal and replace the nation’s health law is probably dead. On Monday, as senators were returning to Wash- ington after the July Fourth recess, the president tweeted, “I cannot imagine that Con- gress would dare to leave Washington without a beau- tiful new HealthCare bill fully approved and ready to go!” But prospects for the Re- publican effort in the Senate have been fading, and Ma- jority Leader Mitch McCo- nnell, R-Kentucky, has been scrambling to salvage the faltering legislation. Sup- port for the initial measure eroded during the week- long July 4 break as many senators heard from con- stituents angry about the GOP bill and the prospect of rising premiums. “We don’t know what the plan is,” said Sen. Bill Cas- sidy, R-Louisiana, on Sunday. “Clearly, the draft plan is dead. Is the serious rewrite plan dead? I don’t know.” Sen. John McCain, R-Ari- zona, said it may now be time for Republicans to come up with a new proposal with support from Democrats. “I think my view is it’s probably going to be dead,” McCain said of the GOP bill. If Democrats are included, he said, it doesn’t mean “they control it. It means they can have amendments considered. And even when they lose, then they’re part of the process. That’s what democracy is supposed to be all about.” Signaling his pessimism as well, Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote on Twitter late Sat- urday that Republicans will lose their Senate majority if they do not pass healthcare legislation. The Iowa Repub- lican said the party should be “ashamed” that it hasn’t been able to repeal and re- place the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. “WE WONT BE ASHAMED WE WILL GO FROM MAJORITY TO MI- NORITY,” he tweeted. The White House, anx- ious for a legislative victory on healthcare, insisted that it fully expects a GOP repeal and replace bill to pass in the coming weeks that will fulfill Trump’s pledge to end Obam- acare. Democrats have ruled out negotiating with Repub- licans unless they work to fix the law, not repeal it. “Whether it’d be before August recess or during Au- gust recess, the president expects the Senate to ful- fill the promises it made to the American people,” said White House chief of staff Reince Priebus. Trump used Twitter Sunday afternoon to urge Re- publicans to follow through on their pledge to get rid of the healthcare law pushed by his predecessor. “For years, even as a “ci- vilian,” I listened as Re- publicans pushed the Repeal and Replace of Obam- aCare. Now they finally have their chance!,” Trump said in a tweet. At least 10 GOP senators have expressed opposition to the initial bill drafted by Mc- Connell. Republicans hold a 52-48 majority and Demo- crats stand united against the bill, meaning that just three GOP defections will doom it. McConnell last week said he would introduce a fresh bill in about a week scuttling and replacing much of former President Barack Obama’s healthcare law. But McCon- nell also acknowledged that if the broader effort fails, he may turn to a smaller bill with quick help for insurers and consumers and negotiate with Democrats. Cassidy, an uncommitted senator who encountered upset voters this month at a Baton Rouge town hall, rated the chances of Republicans passing broader legislation in the next three weeks at “50- 50.” He cited questions about the impact on coverage and cost in a revised conservative plan being circulated by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Cruz’s plan, which aims to lower premiums for healthy people, has drawn support from the White House and some conservatives in the House, which would have to approve any modified bill passed by the Senate. But his proposal has limited appeal to Republican moderates such as Grassley, who told Iowa Public Radio that it may be “subterfuge to get around pre-existing conditions.” Cruz on Sunday sought to dismiss Grassley’s criticism as a “hoax” being pushed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, insisting that people will be able to get the coverage they need at an affordable price. Cruz cast his plan as a compro- mise to unify the party on a GOP health bill. “When it comes to re- pealing Obamacare, what I think is critical is that Re- publicans, we’ve got to honor the promise we made to the voters that millions of Amer- icans are hurting under Obamacare,” Cruz said. The growing skepticism among Senate Republicans spurred Trump earlier this month to suggest repealing the Obama-era law right away and then replacing it later, an approach that GOP leaders and the president himself considered but dismissed months ago as impractical and politically unwise. Cassidy cautioned that if senators are unable to reach agreement by the end of July then a “repeal-only” bill would be a non-starter. Cassidy and Priebus ap- peared on “Fox News Sunday”; Cruz spoke on ABC’s “This Week” and CBS’ “Face the Na- tion”; McCain was on CBS. Survey: US uninsured up by 2M people this year as gains erode WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of U.S. adults without health insurance has grown by some 2 mil- lion this year, according to a major new survey that finds recent coverage gains begin- ning to erode. The new numbers high- light what’s at stake as Congress returns to an unresolved debate over Re- publican proposals to roll back much of former Pres- ident Barack Obama’s healthcare law. The Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, published Monday, found that the un- insured rate among U.S. adults was 11.7 percent in the second three months of this year, compared with a record low of 10.9 percent at the end of last year. Though small, the change was sta- tistically significant, survey analysts noted. While “Obamacare” has remained politically divisive, it had helped drive the un- insured rate to historic lows as some 20 million people gained coverage. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that at least 22 million more people would become uninsured under Republican legislation. McConnell has been con- sidering easing some of the bill’s Medicaid cuts, beefing up healthcare tax credits to help people buy private in- surance and adding billions of dollars to counter the opioid epidemic. That might comfort GOP moderates. To placate conservatives, McCo- nnell is weighing demands to make it easier for insurers to offer skimpier policies. He’s also admonished fellow Republicans that they may find themselves negoti- ating with Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York if they do not close ranks. In that case, McCon- nell said he’d aim for a lim- ited package propping up troubled insurance markets around the country. The Gallup-Sharecare survey serves as a kind of early indicator, publishing several months before the nimblest government sur- veys. The most recent govern- ment report found that prog- ress reducing the number of uninsured stalled in 2016, after five consecutive years of coverage gains under Obama. Peering at this year, Gallup- Sharecare found an erosion of progress, with the number of uninsured edging up again. It estimated nearly 2 million dropped out of coverage. The losses were concen- trated among younger adults and people buying their own health insurance policies, the survey found. That may be a reflec- tion of rising premiums and dwindling choices in the insurance markets cre- ated under Obama. Also, President Donald Trump has branded his pre- decessor’s leading domestic achievement a “disaster” while pursuing its repeal. In- surers say Trump administra- tion actions are contributing to double-digit premium in- creases for next year. Gallup-Sharecare found that the uninsured rate rose by 1.9 percentage points among adults aged 18-25 since the end of last year, and 1.5 points among those aged 26-34. Participation by young adults is considered vital for keeping health insur- ance premiums in check. But young adults are also likely to enjoy good health and may not recognize value in having coverage. The losses may be a reflection of rising premiums and dwindling choices in the insurance markets created under Obama. FIRE STRIKES BUILDING IN LONDON’S CAMDEN MARKET LONDON – Dozens of fire- fighters have tackled a fire in a building at London’s Camden Lock Market – the second time in recent years that the tourist destina- tion has been affected by a serious blaze. About 70 firefighters raced to the market early Monday. It was brought under control by 2:50 a.m. The London Fire Bri- gade says it deployed 10 fire engines and though witnesses described seeing “lots of ambulances,” police said no one was hurt. The cause is not known. The north London market was hit by a se- rious blaze in February 2008, when the nearby Camden Canal Market was destroyed. The water- side market was closed for 15 months. About 28 million people visit the market each year, with crowds drawn by shopping, entertainment and nightlife. U.S. President Donald Trump Flames and smoke rise from a fire affecting a small area of Camden Market in London early Monday. - PHOTO: APNext >