Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ROAD RALLY: REVVING UP OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 High of 90 Low of 78 SPORTS | PAGE 17 JAMAICA STUNS MEXICO 1-0 TO REACH GOLD CUP FINAL 4.70% OFFER EXTENDED!* 185315-Ad-Strip-SandCastles-30Sept.indd 17/21/17 5:00 PM Firefighters tackle tank blaze at fuel terminal for eight hours JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Firefighters battled for eight hours on Sunday and Monday to put out a fire inside a diesel tank at the Cayman Islands fuel depot at Jackson Point on South Church Street. The fire was detected by an on-site techni- cian at 4:44 p.m. Chief Fire Officer David Hails said it was a po- tentially “catastrophic” incident and hailed the “outstanding commitment and bravery” of his offi- cers who stood on top of the tank to fight the fire, knowing the flames could spread at any moment, potentially igniting the whole tank. He said firefighters had used hi-tech thermal imaging cameras to locate the source of the fire inside the tank, which they could not see, and doused it with foam and cooling jets of water from above. Fire chiefs, Hazard Management staff, police and staff from Sol Petroleum established a com- mand center at Sunset House, which closed for the night, and police asked people to evacuate homes in the surrounding area and maintained roadblocks around the perimeter. No one was injured in the fire. The evacua- tion zone, which at one point covered a mile ra- dius around the terminal, was not fully lifted until nearly 3 a.m. The cordon also included a 1,000 foot area for vessels at sea. The fire sparked concerns among residents about the safety of the fuel terminal in the midst of a residential area. Mr. Hails said the fire was situated at a lip near the top of the tank, at one of the ridges that are in place to strengthen the tank. According to emergency personnel at the scene, the fuel tank was about one-third full, containing JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Neighbors of the Jackson Point fuel ter- minal have raised concerns about authori- ties’ handling of Sunday night’s evacuation and the level of communication about the threat posed by the fire inside a diesel tank at the South Church Street facility. Hundreds of residents and tourists within a mile of the terminal were forced to find new accommodations for the night after the roads were closed for more than eight hours in the area. Residents said they understood the need for the evacua- tion and praised the response from emer- gency services, but many were concerned about a lack of updated information throughout the night. Some homeowners said they slept in their cars with their pets, waiting for news. Others found hotels or stayed with friends for the night, while others milled around at police roadblocks waiting to find out when they could go home. The Red Cross temporarily opened its Residents concerned over evacuation process PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Police set up a 1,000-foot cordon at sea as well as on land, as firefighters battled the blaze at the fuel terminal. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY A resident who had been paddleboarding before the evacuation began Sunday speaks to police officers at a roadblock. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Firefighters and emergency personnel attend the scene of Sunday’s fire, which erupted inside the fuel tank at the foreground of the photograph. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 REGIONAL NEWS TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) 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. - TUESDAY - DUNKIRK (PG13) 12:35 VIP I 4:00 I 7:10 I 10:00 VIP SPIDER-MAN: HOME COMING 3D (PG13) 12:55 2D I 3:10 2D VIP I 4:05 6:30 2D I 9:30 DESPICABLE ME 3 3D (PG) 1:30 2D I 12:20 I 9:30 2D I 7:05 BABY DRIVER (R) 3:35 I 9:45 WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES 3D (PG13) 12:20 I 3:35 2D I 6:55 2D VIP I 9:55 TRANSFORMERS: LAST KNIGHT (PG13) 2:35 I 5:45 I 9:00 WONDER WOMAN (PG13) 12:30 I 6:20 Brazilians funneled as ‘slaves’ by US church, ex-members say SPINDALE, N.C. (AP) – When Andre Oliveira answered the call to leave his Word of Faith Fellowship congregation in Brazil to move to the mother church in North Carolina at the age of 18, his passport and money were confiscated by church leaders – for safe- keeping, he said he was told. Trapped in a foreign land, he said he was forced to work 15 hours a day, usu- ally for no pay, first cleaning warehouses for the evangel- ical church and later working at businesses owned by the sect’s senior ministers. Any violation of the rules risked the wrath of church leaders, he said, ranging from beatings to shaming from the pulpit. An Associated Press inves- tigation has found that Word of Faith Fellowship used its two church branches in Brazil to siphon a steady flow of young laborers who came on tourist and student visas to its 35-acre compound in rural Spindale. The Brazilians often spoke little English when they arrived and many had their passports seized. “They kept us as slaves,” Oliveira told the AP. “How can you do that to people – claim you love them and then beat them in the name of God?” Under U.S. law, visitors on tourist visas are prohibited from performing work for which people normally would be compensated. Those on student visas are allowed some work, under circum- stances that were not met at Word of Faith Fellowship, the AP found. In 2014, three former con- gregants told an assistant U.S. attorney that the Bra- zilians were being forced to work without pay, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by the AP. Jill Rose, now the U.S. at- torney in Charlotte, prom- ised she would “take a fresh look at it,” according to the recording. But the former members said she never re- sponded when they repeat- edly tried to contact her in the months after the meeting. Rose declined to comment to the AP, citing an ongoing investigation. Oliveira, who fled the church last year, is one of 16 Brazilian former mem- bers who told the AP they were made to work while being subjected to physical or verbal assaults. Former congregant Jay Plummer, an American, su- pervised remodeling projects for a church’s leader business and confirmed the Brazil- ians’ assertions that the U.S. workers who labored along- side them were paid while they were not. The revelations of forced labor are the latest in an on- going AP investigation ex- posing decades of abuse at Word of Faith Fellowship. Based on exclusive inter- views with 43 former mem- bers, documents and se- cretly made recordings, the AP reported in February that congregants were regularly punched and choked in an effort to “purify” sinners by beating out devils. The church has rarely been sanctioned since it was founded in 1979 by Jane Whaley, a former math teacher, and her husband, Sam. Another previous AP report outlined how con- gregants were ordered by church leaders to lie to au- thorities investigating re- ports of abuse. The AP made repeated at- tempts to obtain comments for this story from church leaders in both countries, but they did not respond. Under Jane Whal- ey’s leadership, the church grew from a handful of fol- lowers to about 750 congre- gants in North Carolina and nearly 2,000 members in its churches in Brazil and Ghana and affiliations in Sweden, Scotland and other countries. Whaley and her lieuten- ants travel several times a year to the Brazilian branches, in the southeastern cities of Sao Joaquim de Bicas and Franco da Rocha. She tells the Brazilian members of her flock that they can improve their lives and relationships with God with pilgrimages to Spin- dale, according to several of those interviewed. Some said they also were enticed with the chance to attend college, to learn Eng- lish, to see a bit of the U.S. Others said they felt they had no choice but to travel to North Carolina. Perhaps to circumvent the rules against employment, church leaders sometimes referred to the forced labor projects as “volunteer work,” according to Brazilians inter- viewed in both countries. Many females worked as baby sitters and in the church’s K-12 school, and many males worked in con- struction, the former mem- bers said. The work included ripping out walls and in- stalling drywall in apart- ments owned and rented out by a senior church min- ister, they said. “It was slave labor,” said Rebeca Melo, 29, who grew up in the church in Brazil and visited the U.S. about 10 times. Whaley’s brand of “love” also played a key role in en- ticing Brazilian males to Spindale – and keeping them there once their visas ex- pired, according to former members of the church. Ten of those interviewed spoke of male Brazilians ob- taining green cards for per- manent residency and being able to legally work by being married off to female Amer- ican congregants. It is illegal to enter a sham marriage for the pur- pose of avoiding U.S. im- migration laws. “I can count at least five or six Brazilian guys that moved here to marry an American girl,” Melo said. “They would never, ever, ever consider let- ting you date somebody out- side of the church.” The Word of Faith Fellowship church in Sao Joaquim de Bicas, Brazil. - PHOTO: AP Snooty, oldest Florida manatee in captivity, dies at 69 MIAMI (AP) – Snooty, the longest living manatee in captivity, died Sunday, a day after a huge party to celebrate his 69th birthday, according to the South Florida Museum. “Snooty was found in an underwater area only used to access plumbing for the exhibit life support system. Early indications are that an access panel door that is normally bolted shut had somehow been knocked loose and that Snooty was able to swim in,” the mu- seum said in a press release. “Snooty’s habitat undergoes a daily visual inspection and there were no indica- tions the previous day that there was anything amiss.” The museum says staffers are devastated and that the circumstances are being investigated. The other three manatees un- dergoing rehabilitation in Snooty’s habitat are all fine. The aquarium will re- main closed while staff continues its investiga- tion and to give other staff time to grieve. Snooty had previously been in good health, eating about 80 pounds of lettuce and vegetables every day to sustain his 1,000-pound body. He loved to greet his visitors and ham it up for the cameras. On Saturday, he devoured a tiered fruit and vegetable cake as thousands of guests attended his birthday bash. The museum said Snooty was born in 1948 at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, calling it the first recorded birth of a manatee in human care. He moved to Bradenton in 1949, greeting more than a mil- lion visitors in his lifetime. Fans left heartfelt messages Sunday on a Facebook page dedicated to Snooty. “Snooty was such a unique animal and he had so much personality that people couldn’t help but be drawn to him,” said Brynne Anne Besio, the museum’s CEO. Over the years, some have alleged that Snooty had been replaced by younger manatees, but mu- seum officials laugh at such tales. Snooty and many other manatees are identi- fied by unique scars from boat propellers. Snooty has two scars on his side from abscesses that were re- moved over 30 years ago. The museum said Snooty helped educate the public about manatees, partici- pating in scientific research programs to help under- stand things like manatee hearing and vocalization. He also hosted other mana- tees that were being rehabil- itated for return to the wild. A necropsy will be performed. “Snooty was such a unique animal and he had so much personality that people couldn’t help but be drawn to him.” BRYNNE ANNE BESIO, the museum’s CEO3 LOCAL NEWS SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Intrepid distance runner Derek Haines took a spill for a good cause last weekend, when the 68-year-old fell and injured his ankle and hip in San Francisco while com- peting in his 47th marathon. Mr. Haines, who is run- ning in his Volcanoes and Marathons challenge to raise money for the Central Ca- ribbean Marine Institute’s Reefs-Go-Live project, took his bumps and bruises with a signature blend of humor. “There’s always someone there to lift up an old fellow who’s been clumsy. I just car- ried on my way,” said Mr. Haines, who has climbed two volcanoes and run two mar- athons during his fundraiser. “An erupting volcano, no problem at all. And then you fall over in the bloody street.” Mr. Haines, who is raising money through the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, pre- viously competed in the ar- duous Lake Atitlan Marathon in Guatemala, which he said began at a height of 5,000 feet. He also climbed to the top of two Guatemalan volca- noes earlier in July as part of his effort to benefit CCMI. So far, Mr. Haines and his peers have raised $21,000 and are believed to have re- ceived another $9,000 in pledges. Fellow Rotary Club members Chris Bailey and Shane Delaney are set to do triathlons to benefit the cause, and Mr. Haines will run another marathon in Cayman in December. Despite his fall, Mr. Haines finished in four hours and 36 minutes on Sunday, which was good enough to place 11th out of 60 in his age group. In Gua- temala, Mr. Haines finished in over five hours because of the elevation. “I feel good,” he said on Monday. “The conditions, to- gether with the hills, made it a little difficult [Sunday]. But you get used to that kind of thing. I was a lot quicker than my last one when I was in Guatemala. The flat- ness brought my time down to something half-reasonable. That makes me happy.” Mr. Haines, who will turn 69 in October, said he did not really get to enjoy the famous San Francisco scenery until about halfway through the race because of the weather conditions. He suffered his fall before the three-mile mark, but carried on stoically through the end of the race. “It was very cold and foggy,” he said. “In fact, there wasn’t a lot to look at be- cause there was so much fog about. All you could hear was the haunting signal of the fog alarm for ships out in the bay.” CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 Driver reached 127 mph in fatal accident Sentencing in August for causing death by dangerous driving CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An Audi A4 was trav- eling at approximately 127 miles per hour on West Bay Road when it collided with a curb, crashed and burst into flames, causing the death of 21-year-old Jessie Perry in September 2015. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran provided that information on Friday as he summed up the evidence in the Crown’s case against Conroy Warrenton Nairne, 33, who pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Justice Marlene Carter set sentencing for Aug. 3. She said she thought that dan- gerous driving had recently reached “a certain promi- nence, unfortunately.” For that reason, she wanted to take time to consider the matter and put her com- ments in writing, she said. Nairne was allowed to re- main on bail until then. Mr. Moran said Nairne was driving north on West Bay Road around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2015, with Ms. Perry, a mother of one, as his passenger. As the road curved to the right in the area of the Public Beach, the vehicle col- lided with the curb and be- came airborne. It collided with boulders and a traffic sign, and was still approx- imately 14 feet in the air when it hit a tree. The Audi burst into flames and came to rest on its roof, with both occupants still inside. Mr. Moran said sev- eral people witnessed the collision and called emer- gency services. Meanwhile, the occupants were pulled from the vehicle. “Ms. Perry was engulfed in flames and she was in se- vere distress,” Mr. Moran told the court. “The flames were extinguished and she lay on the ground being tended to by a passerby until the emer- gency services arrived and took over. The defendant re- ceived a number of burns to his body, but he was able to remain standing.” Mr. Moran paid tribute to the people who had helped at the scene. “The passersby who were present at the scene, including Scott Ruby, Lucy Collyer and Taylor Rib- bins, acted selflessly. Despite the fact that several explo- sions were heard to come from the burning vehicle, they continued to tend to the occupants nearby until the emergency services ar- rived,” he said. Ms. Perry had second- and third-degree burns to 80 per- cent of her body, Mr. Moran reported. She was airlifted to a specialist burns unit in Ja- maica. She succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 21, 2015. Nairne was interviewed by police on Feb. 1, 2016 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He said he and Ms. Perry had been to a party that night, that it was her birthday, and they had gone out for a drive. He claimed he was driving at or near the speed limit and the brakes had failed when he tried to apply them as he reached Public Beach. CCTV footage obtained from cameras on West Bay Road showed that the Audi was being driven at 104 mph between two points along the way. It slowed to 52 mph in the area of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, where it overtook the truck driven by Mr. Ruby, after which it must have accelerated again, Mr. Moran said. Analysis of the evidence established that the Audi had been traveling approxi- mately 127 mph when it col- lided with the curb at Public Beach. The speed limit in the area is 40 mph; the crit- ical curve speed was calcu- lated at 43.4 mph. An expert who examined the vehicle said there were no mechanical defects and the brakes were working at the time of the collision. Nairne was charged in March 2017. The case went to Grand Court in May, and he pleaded guilty in June. Meanwhile, Mr. Moran related, Ms. Perry’s mother wrote a letter to the court in November 2015, requesting leniency for Nairne. She ad- vised that he was providing financial support for Ms. Per- ry’s child. She said he was very upset by the death of Ms. Perry, who was described as the love of his life. She said Nairne was of good character and a criminal prosecution would not bring her daughter back to life. Defense attorney Nicholas Dixey described the incident as heartbreaking and deeply distressing. “They were in a close relationship and en- visioned a future together,” he said of the defendant and Ms. Perry. He suggested that it had taken time for Nairne to come to terms with his be- havior – “perhaps a human reaction to not want to face the truth when something so terrible has happened.” Mr. Dixey urged the court to accept that there were no aggravating features except the speed. There was no ev- idence of alcohol or drug use, no racing, no attempt to elude police, he pointed out. The feature was far out- weighed by the mitigation – Nairne’s own serious injuries, his deep remorse, the close relationship he had been in with Ms. Perry and his lack of previous convictions. The attorney suggested a sentence starting point of four years, with reductions for all the mitigation and dis- count for the guilty plea, to result in a term of 18 months’ imprisonment. As Mr. Moran pointed out, the maximum in Cayman is 10 years. He submitted that Nairne had engaged in a pro- longed course of driving, cov- ering 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) before the collision, and he must have been aware of the risk he posed to others, es- pecially at night. He also pointed to Nairne’s initial at- tempt to avoid blame. “An erupting volcano, no problem at all. And then you fall over in the bloody street.” DEREK HAINES Jessie Perry Derek Haines triumphs in another marathon Derek Haines is all smiles after finishing the San Francisco Marathon on Sunday. CIVIL SERVANTS COMPLETE SIGN LANGUAGE COURSE Staff at the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices have been learning sign language to help them communicate with deaf children. Fourteen staffers from the department recently graduated from its new Level 1 American Sign Language course. “This initiative is an- other aspect of the im- provements being made in our child welfare system to reduce barriers and make our services more acces- sible to all families, and to build awareness around safeguarding children with disabilities,” said Fe- licia Robinson, the depart- ment’s director. “We recognize that deaf children have spe- cial communication, lan- guage and cultural needs and are equally entitled to protection. Having these specialist skills will en- able us to communicate di- rectly with these children and their families and to provide support to them during the child protection and police joint investiga- tion, the family service plan intervention and court pro- ceedings,” she said. The six-month course was attended by civil ser- vants likely to liaise with the hearing impaired. A Cayman Brac parent with a hearing-impaired child also graduated. Certificates were pre- sented to recipients by Do- rine Whittaker, chief of- ficer of Children and Family Services. The course, taught by Norma Ferryman, included the alphabet and finger spelling, family signs, feel- ings, professions, verbs and key nouns. By the end of the course, students were able to demonstrate a short story in sign language. Juliet Garricks and Bouvia Ferguson use their newly acquired sign language skills.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. In an ongoing effort to curb the motorbike menace, Royal Cayman Islands Police officers have seized 24 dirt bikes and motorcycles since December. In that time, only five defendants have been charged with driving offenses connected with the crackdown. Another five confiscated bikes have been returned to their owners. As for the bulk of the cases? Their status, at least to us and our readers, is unknown. If the wheels of justice moved as fast as motor- bikes, the cases would be zipping right along through our courts. Many of the vehicles in question were seized weeks or months ago, based on police officers’ observations they were unregistered or unlicensed, or were being operated recklessly on a public road. These are cases based on “prima facie” evidence: The bikes are either illegal — or they aren’t; the opera- tors were either caught “red-handed” breaking the law — or they weren’t. The oft-recited explanation by authorities when faced with inquiries about crimes in Cayman is a pro- forma “no comment” because “the case is still under investigation.” As far as we know, not a single case resulting from the crackdown has been carried through to conviction or exoneration before judge or jury. Why not? If the cause is a lack of resources at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (as we suspect it is), the DPP should sound a loud alarm for assistance. While we at the Compass are advocates for fiscal responsibility and restraint in opening the public purse, we of course recognize the need to adequately fund vital government functions, none being more impor- tant than law enforcement efforts, which include pros- ecutors and the judiciary. But back to the dirt bikers. Readers will recall last December’s “ride of the century” — when drivers of more than 100 motorcycles, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles caused chaos on the streets around Grand Cayman — speeding, weaving through traffic, popping wheelies and disobeying traffic laws. The public outcry was loud enough that it got the attention of the governor, the police commissioner, elected politicians and, well, just about everyone else who was being “ambushed” on our streets daily by these marauders. And yet, not a single case has come before a single judge, and now their motorbikes are being returned. We don’t get it. What we do get is we’re witnessing prima facie evidence that something is very amiss in our legal processes. Cases can, and do, drag out for years after entering the courts. Consider the delinquent pensions case involving local business Champion House Ltd., which was first brought to court in 2008 — nine years ago. It was adjourned again in late June, and is set to be back before the court in August. Or, consider the case of senior immigration officer Garfield “Gary” Wong, who in December 2013 was charged with careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol. Going on four years later, Mr. Wong’s case is working its way through traffic court. A fair question: Why should any traffic offense take years to progress through our court system? Another one: What do our authorities plan to do to accelerate the pace of justice? Road rally: revving up our justice system TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Brick-and-mortar stores deserve heat from Amazon In every age, civiliza- tions embrace technolo- gies that disrupt the status quo. Amazon and its in- ternet brethren may be men- acing to brick and mortar establishments but only be- cause they make our lives richer and easier — and there is nothing new about engineers and entrepre- neurs doing that. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, improvements in the national railway system and American manufac- turing created regional and then national markets for most household items and business necessities. Ever since, Main Street shops and their succes- sors have endured disrup- tions and reinvention. Mail order catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward, de- partment stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s, full-line dis- counters like Wal-Mart and Target, category killers like Best Buy and Staples, and now Amazon Prime and other internet aggregators. Each wave shares three common themes — the newcomers buy and de- liver products more effi- ciently, address changes in how Americans work and live, and exploit the hide- bound management of the established retailers and municipal governments that host them. I’m a serious road cyclist and go through tires and biking apparel the way a 10 year old does sneakers and play clothes. My local biking store is quite large and car- ries a decent assortment, generally at list prices. Either on Amazon or through one of the big in- ternet aggregators like Western Bikeworks, I can significantly beat prices on accessories, obtain a much wider selection of brands and save a few hours after work better spent on my road racer. The latter is terribly im- portant. With more two in- come households, the folks with money to spend working long hours and quite agile with handheld devices, and roads and transit systems ever more congested and stressed, going to the mall or downtown store is hardly entertaining — it’s old fash- ioned and often a needless waste of time. The overbuilding of brick and mortar stores — which went full swing well before Amazon projected a mean- ingful presence beyond books — and then their en- suing losses and consoli- dation saddled many old- line retailers with heavy debt and interest to pay, and lots of high priced ex- ecutives wedded to failed business models. Increasingly they ask shoppers to pay for all this with the hassles and the frustration of understaffed and poorly stocked stores — try finding a competent clerk quickly at many stores to purchase the right small home appliance or pair of men’s shoes. Mall owners and local governments regulating ac- cess to on-street shops have sought to squeeze consumers just for the privilege of viewing the goods. More frequently, large urban shopping malls charge for parking or simply over- build retail space for their lot’s capacity. Municipal gov- ernments, which once used parking meters with min- imal fees to encourage turn- over and boost store traffic, are now gouging visitors, limiting on-street parking and forcing shoppers into high priced lots. I don’t want to pay a stiff parking fee to visit Orvis in Arlington for the privilege of purchasing $20 worth of leaders and tippets for my fly rod (that’s the trans- parent stuff at the end of the line that holds the fly and disguises your presence from the fish) when I can get something comparable on the web for less than I pay in the store. Strip mall owners have taken to erecting fast food restaurants and banks in the middle of once ade- quate parking facilities, forcing drivers to circle for spaces much like commer- cial aircraft at LaGuardia air- port on a heavy travel day over New York. My local Whole Foods sits on top of a torturously con- figured, congested and diffi- cult to navigate underground parking lot. Without consid- erable care and concentra- tion, it’s not hard to bump a pillar, another car or pe- destrian. Yet these guardians of community conscious re- tailing are selling beer and wine by the glass upstairs as early as 7 a.m. That surely enhances the dexterity and judgment of shoppers as they exit. Less tony grocers and drug stores increasingly ca- jole shoppers to use cum- bersome and frustrating au- tomated checking machines. Any wrinkle in a purchase — such as using a backpack to carry away goods in a ju- risdiction that imposes a bag tax — can leave the contrap- tion flummoxed and force the patron to seek assistance from a harried clerk. Now Amazon wants to clean up Whole Foods. I hope it starts by shutting down the pub. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2017, The Washington Times. PETER MORICI 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” Each wave shares three common themes — the newcomers buy and deliver products more efficiently, address changes in how Americans work and live, and exploit the hidebound management of the established retailers and municipal governments that host them.5 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 LESF GYM AND SAUNA IS FOR YOU! INFOLIFEEXT@GMAIL.COM Work out, and life becomes easier! DRIVE THRU OPEN LATE FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS Now serving you from 2 locations: Savannah and Seven Mile Beach Gov’t fiscal policy plans due next month BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands gov- ernment will announce its budget plans in the midst of hurricane season this year, changing to a two-year budget cycle approved by the previous administration. According to public no- tices on Friday, the annual strategic policy statement from government is due to be presented to the Legis- lative Assembly on Aug. 21. The policy statement is gov- ernment’s general outline for budget plans before the re- lease of the spending pro- posal itself, which is to be made public on Oct. 13. The government aims to have its budget approved and gazetted by Dec. 15, ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on Jan. 1, 2018. Amendments to Cayman’s Public Management and Fi- nance Law approved in 2015 changed the government’s July to June budget year to a calendar year period. To get to that point, the current gov- ernment budget, which began on July 1, 2016, was ex- tended for six months to Dec. 31, 2017. After that the two- year budgets will begin, with the first running through 2018 and 2019. Former Finance Minister Marco Archer said that while the budget plan would be ex- tended to two years, annual audits and reviews of gov- ernment spending would still take place as prescribed by the current law. Mr. Archer said the change was made to save government officials time in preparing documents and spending plans each year, a process that often began in October of one year and ended in June of the next. George Town East MLA Roy McTaggart – who has been appointed Finance Min- ister in the new administra- tion – led a committee that reviewed the Public Manage- ment and Finance Law and said the current switch to cal- endar year finances and two- year budget plans were just a few of some 40 amendments the group had proposed. Mr. McTaggart said the two-year plan would have “flexibility built in” and if changes in the budget needed to be made, they would be brought to the Fi- nance Committee at the ap- propriate time. Mr. McTaggart argued that ministers and other elected members of the gov- ernment have a responsibility to manage the budget pro- cess properly so that it does not overwhelm everything else government is trying to accomplish. “[The annual budget process is] not where we wanted to spend time and re- sources,” he said. Opposition Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller expressed opposition the switch to multiyear bud- geting many times, as did current Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush when he was opposition leader. Mr. Miller has said that while the government is now required to meet at least once a year in the Legislative As- sembly’s Finance Committee to review an annual budget, moving to two-year budgets will mean that lawmakers will have only two chances during a government’s four- year term to review and question a spending plan. “I think that severely re- duces nongovernment [as- sembly] members’ ability to influence government ex- penses and finances,” Mr. Miller said. “If you think [public construction] proj- ects are overrunning the budget now, wait until they don’t have to be scrutinized for two years.” Mr. Bush has pointed out that government audits have often lagged years behind the actual expenditure, and that legislature members are not allowed to question those reports at the time they are made public anyway, due to Legislative Assembly rules. “That is a long period of time when there is no scru- tiny,” Mr. Bush said. Finance Minister Roy McTaggart Miami shows embrace Cuba-based artists as tensions linger MIAMI (AP) – President Donald Trump’s effort to re- verse a historic opening be- tween the U.S. and Cuba is raising tensions in South Florida’s exile enclave, where wealthy patrons and in- stitutions have sought to unify Cubans on both sides through unprecedented art exhibits. Museums and cultural centers are rewriting old rules on the kind of Cuban art that has a place in Miami now that decades have passed since exiles bombed a gallery and torched a painting in the 1980s to draw a line against supporting any artist still living under Fidel Castro. Collectors and curators now find receptive audiences in Miami when they show contemporary Cuban art- ists who established them- selves under Communist rule. But by upending the old order, they’re exposing a new conflict: Some artists in the diaspora see artists still working in Cuba as un- fair competition. A show at the Perez Art Museum Miami is bringing both sides together in an exhibit so extensive, it will be presented in three parts over 10 months. Another ex- hibit in South Florida gath- ered works from 20 artists from present-day Cuba. And a Miami-based Cuban arts foundation announced earlier this year that it will open an important prize to include vi- sual artists, writers and mu- sicians who still live in the communist nation. Jorge Perez, a billionaire son of Cuban exiles who do- nated millions in cash and art and earned the naming rights to Miami’s premier art museum, said the old di- chotomy of “Cuban from Cuba, Cuban from Miami” should no longer apply. “Putting them together is very, very important,” Perez said. “The more we can get artists and people to come here and see what they can do – in a free way without being bothered – the better.” Tobias Ostrander, the Perez museum’s curator, says he’s been careful to showcase both sides in “On the Ho- rizon,” which includes more than 170 works. “Some people feel that there is often more interest in artists working on the island than working in Miami,” Os- trander said. “If people really pay attention to the way that we are approaching it, we are very much recognizing the sensitivities around showing contemporary Cuban art, but I hope presenting it in a way that encompasses or leaves space for a lot of dif- ferent views.” Many of the works wrestle with the idea of Cu- bans feeling trapped by po- litical and geographical divisions. Some draw inspi- ration from the ocean as a symbol of danger. One of the stunners is “Island (sea-escape)” by Yoan Capote, a sculptor and painter who lives in Havana. Four huge panels depict a choppy black sea. A closer look reveals that the choppy dark waters are in fact half a million fish hooks, sticking out from the canvas. “I like what has prevailed: a vision that is more tol- erant and where the most im- portant thing is the artistic quality,” said Roberto Fa- belo, a Havana-based painter whose canvas of nude women with bird masks is on display. But passions are run- ning high again after Trump’s victory reinvigorated hard- liners. Many older people still favor shunning the island and everyone on it as long as a Castro is in power. Even younger Cubans still feel a personal connection when it comes to Cuba. “I have dozens of friends who are painters in Miami who are starving and they have no paintings in that museum,” Midiala Rosales, a singer-songwriter in the heavily Cuban suburb of Hia- leah, said in a heated debate about Cuban artists aired by the Spanish-language station America TeVe. “We are mar- ginalized. We live in exile. We have no country and no place to show our work.” Such sentiments also apply to musicians. Con- cerns about a backlash had waned since 2001, when the Latin Grammys relocated from Miami to Los Angeles rather than exclude Cuban nominees. But Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado took back the keys to the city this year from Gente de Zona, famous for its cover of the Enrique Iglesias hit “Bailando,” after hardliners became outraged by a video showing mem- bers of the Cuban band dancing with Raul Cas- tro’s grandson. Cuban painter, sculptor and illustrator Roberto Fabelo poses for photographers next to his engraving on pot ‘Caldosa #1’ at the Perez Art Museum in Miami. - PHOTO: APDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Obituary: Dave Ranburn Christian Feb. 9, 1934 – July 3, 2017 Dave Ranburn Christian was born on the 9th of Feb- ruary 1934, to Zacarias and Julia Christian of Rose Gar- dens, West Bay. He was the second of seven children and the only son of this union. His sister Kathleen died during infancy. Mr. Christian attended school under the tutelage of Miss Winifred Evans from ages four to fourteen. He grew up attending the Pil- grim Holiness Church in West Bay and was active in the Sea Scouts. At the age of 14, he built his first bicycle. On July 20, 1949, at the age of 15, he re- ceived his Seaman’s Certifi- cate of Nationality. His first trade was repairing shoes, which he learned from his father Mr. Zackie, and he made his first pair of shoes at the age of 16. He also mastered barbering, which he also learned from Mr. Zackie. The first time that he went to the movies, he had to sail from West Bay to George Town in a cat- boat with Mr. Zackie, his cousin Alden Christian and Mr. Sam Bush. Between the ages of 16 and 21, Mr. Christian trained in boxing with Eg- bert Walton. He played guitar with James Thomas, and he also played clarinet in a band with Joe Groves and Duggie (among others) at the Co-Op Hall in West Bay. He also earned a certif- icate in Electronics. One day in 1952, he was walking past the house of Alice and Dodridge Bush. Their daughter Dorothy saw him and jokingly asked him if he wanted to take her to the movies. Much to her surprise, he said yes. He arrived at the house that evening to take her to the movies, thus starting their courtship. Two years later, in June of 1954, their first child, Dave, was born. Mr. Christian began his career with National Bulk Carriers in February 1955 as a bedroom steward on the Tubman, a journey that lasted 20 months. During this time, he also worked as a food server. He was later promoted to second cook, and then promoted to chief cook. On Dec. 27, 1956 while on leave, Ranburn and Dor- othy were united in mar- riage. Shortly afterward, Mr. Christian gave his heart to the Lord. He returned to work at sea. After returning home, a second son, Dorian, came along in 1957. Dorothy raised Dave and Dorian and supervised the construction of their home in Rose Gar- dens while her husband was back at sea. After another leave from work at sea, a third son, Danston, followed in 1959. During the same year, his sister Julia Bodden passed away. Mr. Christian once again returned to sea. In 1960 while on another leave, he began working in the construction industry at the Canning Factory where he was paid eight shillings per day. He often told the story of his first day there when he also got eight blis- ters on his hands. In 1961, Randy, the fourth son ar- rived. Mr. Christian re- turned to sea. In 1964, after returning from his final assignment at sea, he resumed his work in construction. Then one year later, a fifth son, Timothy, was born. Finally in 1967, after trying for so long, the Christians got the baby girl they so desired – baby Dar- lene. However, this proved to be one of their most dif- ficult times, as she passed away after just nine days. Needless to say, they were both heartbroken. But God saw their utmost desire and, some 18 months later, they were blessed with an- other baby girl. Mr. Chris- tian named her Mona Liza. In the early 1970s, Mr. Christian joined with Tommie Bodden and Jimmy Powell to form Ranja Con- struction. He and Dorothy also operated a cement mixer rental business. In May of 1975, they moved into their house on Bata- bano Road, the house which Mr. Christian himself drew the plans for and built and lived in until the day of his passing. After Ranja Construction ceased operation, he worked for Cayman Contractors on numerous condominium projects along Seven Mile Beach and on residential projects in every district on Grand Cayman. He also co- owned a backhoe service with his brother-in-law and best friend Denby Groves. After retiring from the condominium projects, Mr. Christian worked for his brother-in-law Allan Bush on the first phase of Pad- dington Place. Then he worked for John Ebanks of Philson’s Construction on a housing project in South Sound. In May of 2003, he was awarded a Life- time Achievement Award by HRH Prince Edward for his contribution to the con- struction industry. In 2006, in honor of their parents’ 50th anniversary, Liza and her son Daniel treated the happy couple to a trip to New York City. This was the last of their many family trips together. They were also treated to a Golden Anniversary cel- ebration which was held at The Wharf Restaurant. Work-wise, Mr. Christian was notably happiest when he was working along- side his eldest son Dave on countless housing projects, mostly supervising in the later years when his legs be- came weak and his hearing became worse. After being in the construction industry for 47 years, he fully retired after they completed Liza’s house in 2007. Tragedy struck Mr. Christian’s family twice in 2009. In July, his brother-in- law and best friend Denby Groves passed away after a long and harrowing battle with cancer. And on the 3rd of November, Dorothy, his beloved wife of almost 53 years, passed away fol- lowing a brief but agonizing battle with colon cancer. In May of 2012, Mr. Christian was awarded the Medal of Honour Com- mander (CMH) for out- standing and important services to the Cayman Islands, by Premier W. McKeeva Bush. Mr. Christian’s family was again struck by tragedy in August 2015 when they learned that his youngest son Timothy, at age 50, was diagnosed with renal carci- noma. After an excruciating battle, Timothy passed away on April 7, 2016. In October of 2016, Mr. Christian was hospital- ized for the first time in his life. After a couple of days of testing and observation, he was anxious to get back to his beloved home. Al- though he was heartbroken for the past eight years, he always kept himself busy by doing yard work and miscellaneous repairs around the house. He often visited his spe- cial friend Mrs. Olga (Toy) Ryan. He also enjoyed his weekly Bible Study with members of the Jehovah Witnesses and the George Town Seventh-day Adven- tist Church. And every Sat- urday, his children would take turns driving him to Foster’s Republix so that he could see his other friends. Mr. Christian had not been seriously sick, so the news of his death was a shock to the entire family. He passed away suddenly on Monday, July 3, 2017, at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 24 days. He was preceded, in order of death, by his sisters Kathleen and Julia; daughter Darlene; grandfather Pharan; par- ents Zacarias and Julia; best friend Denby, beloved wife Dorothy and son Timothy. Left to mourn his passing are sons Dave, Dorian, Danston and Randy; daughter Liza; daugh- ters-in-law Alice, Beulah, Olivene, Jennifer and Car- lita; son-in-law Clinton Mo- hammed; grandchildren Tina, Mr. Christian, Daniel, Oshane, Liam, Madison and Mason; granddaughter-in- law Kim; great-grandchil- dren Michael, David, Ca- dence and Serenity; adopted grandchildren Matthias, Andrew and Abigail; sisters Elva Evans, Naomi Trahan, Joan Bonner and Catherine Ebanks; sisters-in-law Susy Brown, Marjorie Rivers, Marie Groves, Goldie Panton, Esmae Wright, Gloria Crowe and Jewel Bush; brothers-in-law Allan Bush, Dicky Brown Sr., Enon Evans, Rolston Rivers and Canell Wright; special friends Robert Harris and Olga “Toy” Ryan; cousins, nieces and nephews, other special friends and a host of other relatives and friends. Mr. Christian was a jack- of-all-trades and master of many. His legacy as a quiet but strong man who led by example and earned his re- spect will forever live on in each of us. Submitted by daughter Mona Liza Christian Mohammed 50 years ago: Two weddings celebrated In the July 26, 1967 edition of the Cayma- nian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, in “This Week in West Bay,” correspondent Dar- lene Owens wrote: “There was a very beau- tiful marriage ceremony performed at the Church of God Gospel Hall on July 20, when Wenzil Burlington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ebanks, took as his bride Martha Magalene Borden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Borden. Rev. Dewey Johnson officiated, assisted by Pastor Fossie Arch. The ushers were Garston Smith and James Banks, Jr. “To the strains of the Wedding March entered the beautifully adorned bride on the arm of her fa- ther, her twin sister Mary was maid of honour, and Delia Ebanks, (sister of the groom) was bridesmaid. Kelvin Thompson was best man and Loxley Banks was groomsman. “After the ceremony, in- vited guests remained for a reception which was held in the basement of the church. “Graham John Twinn and Vandalee Aneita Bush be- came husband and wife at a marriage ceremony per- formed at Pilgrim Holi- ness Church on July 9 by Rev. Ruth Bowman. “The lovely bride, who is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vandyke Bush, en- tered the church on the arm of her father. The wedding attendants were Kathryn Bush (maid of honour), Donna-Mae Bush, Abrana Rivers, Orla Rivers, Isabelle Warren, Natalie Groves, Gail Nixon, Marisa Rivers, Rudi Selzer (best man), Dave Foster, Alexander Gray, Peter Milburn, Paul Dyson, David Parsons, Leonard Ebanks, Harrison Bothwell and Al- fred Hydes Jr. (ring bearers). Flower girls were Thelda Rivers, Linora Mendoza and Michelle Massias. “After the ceremony, in- vited guests then pro- ceeded to the Galleon Beach Hotel where a recep- tion was held.” Dave Ranburn Christian, 1934-2017 He passed away suddenly on Monday, July 3, 2017, at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 24 days.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 approximately 15,000 barrels of diesel – about 525,000 im- perial gallons. Mr. Hails said his men had battled difficult conditions to keep the public safe. The fire service gave the “all clear” no- tice just before 3 a.m. “We should all be proud of the response from our fire- fighters and other first re- sponders,” said Mr. Hails. “They did a great job and all worked together under chal- lenging circumstances.” He added, “This was a po- tentially dangerous fire in- volving a large quantity of fuel, and our first responders did what needed to be done to keep the public safe.” He said firefighters could not get eyes on the fire be- cause of its location inside the tank and thermal im- aging cameras used by the fire crews and the RCIPS he- licopter crew were “critical” tools in determining if the temperature inside the tank was cooling down properly. “Without these devices, we would not have known there was a fire inside the tank or where it was located,” Mr. Hails said Monday at a press briefing. “They were essential in our overall response be- cause if the fire had spread deeper inside the tank, we would probably have experi- enced a catastrophic incident.” He added, “The aggres- sive fire-fighting tactics in- volved firefighters standing on top of the tank, knowing it was on fire and that it could spread at any moment. The outstanding commitment and bravery they displayed should not go unnoticed.” Mr. Hails said there was a real danger that the flames or a spark from the fire could have dropped down into the diesel fuel below. He said an investigation was under way into the cause of the fire and Sol Petroleum had been asked to provide infor- mation on the work that was taking place immediately be- fore the blaze. He declined to comment on whether it was safe for a fuel depot to be in such a heavily populated area but indicated there was a buffer zone within the terminal de- signed to contain any fuel leak within the perimeter. Alan Neesome, general manager at Sol Petroleum Limited, said in a statement Monday, “Fire service thermal imaging equipment indicated an upper internal support ring on a diesel tank appeared to be on fire, but it had no di- rect contact with the product in the tank, which was at a much lower level. The in- cident was fully contained and resolved by the Fire Ser- vice, and the ‘all clear’ was issued by Emergency Ser- vices at 2:45 a.m. Mr. Neesome said there was no damage to the ter- minal and surrounding area as the incident was isolated to the single tank, adding that emergency procedures were effectively executed and the terminal was back in op- eration Monday. The cause of the fire re- mains under investigation, Mr. Neesome said, though it is understood some work was going on at the terminal when the fire erupted. Stephen Duval, manager of the Cayman Islands Emer- gency Medical Services, said two people within the evac- uation zone had been trans- ported to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital because they were housebound and un- able to evacuate the area by themselves. Premier Alden McLaughlin released a statement Monday, thanking the emergency ser- vices for their work. “Our of- ficers fought the fire for more than eight hours in hot, humid conditions wearing their heavy fire-retardant suits,” he said. He added, “The men and women of the Cayman Islands Fire Service, Police Service and other first responders did a wonderful job of keeping under control and stopping a fire that could have been fatal to themselves and residents in the surrounding area, as the fire involved a large quan- tity of fuel. They displayed professionalism and bravery. “I also thank the residents who live near the terminal for their understanding in the need to evacuate the area.” shelter on Huldah Avenue, but many residents said they were unaware of this. The shelter remained open until the all clear was given early Monday morning. The cordon, which spanned from Paradise res- taurant in George Town to Pure Art on South Sound, and at one point encompassed a large part of Walkers Road, was reduced to a half-mile ra- dius around 10 p.m., enabling some people to return home. Those living closer to the fa- cility were not able to return home till 2:45 a.m. The only official notifi- cation that the evacuation order had ended was posted on the Hazard Management Cayman Islands Facebook page, which also had some updates throughout the eve- ning. However, these were not sent to the wider media, and many residents were unaware of the messaging. Others said the incident left them concerned about living so close to a fuel depot, given that there was deemed to be enough danger for a mass evacuation lasting nearly eight hours. Police say the evacua- tion was advisory rather than compulsory, but once people left the area, they were not al- lowed back inside the cordon. Keith Sahm, general man- ager of Sunset House, said he shut down the hotel’s restaurant and bar around 7 p.m. and allowed emer- gency services to use it as a command center. He said he took the hotel guests to Craft on West Bay Road for dinner. “We had around 25 guests and we called around looking for somewhere for them to stay, but we couldn’t find any- where that could take them. The Marriott was full, The Ritz-Carlton was full,” he said. The situation was resolved just after 10 p.m. when guests were given permission to re- turn to the hotel. He said he understood the need to evac- uate for safety reasons but was concerned about the level of communication. He said evacuees were told to check the radio and social media. He suggests in future incidents, authorities could use regular text message blasts through Flow and Digicel net- works, something that Hazard Management did in its “tsu- nami preparedness exercise.” “The phone companies can send messages to all their customers for a Saturday sale. I’m sure they could send a text to keep people up to date in a situation like this,” Mr. Sahm said. Several residents had gath- ered at the police cordon in George Town seeking informa- tion around 9 p.m. Some were concerned about pets still inside their homes. Others, with young children, were eager to get home. But there was no update from police or fire services on if or when the roadblocks would be lifted. Resident Catherine Spra- dlin said she was seriously concerned about the lack of communication by emergency officials throughout the eve- ning. She said she was in shock and was wondering if it was safe to live in such close proximity to the fuel depot. She said she lives within 1,200 feet of the terminal and had no clue anything was going on until she got a text from a friend around 6:30 p.m. – nearly two hours after the fire broke out. How- ever, the message carried a photo of a different fuel tank engulfed in flames and she thought it was a fake. She said it was not until 8 p.m. that a police officer came door to door informing people of the evacuation. Information was sparse throughout the night, she said, and she knew nothing of the level of danger or how long the evacuation might be in place. She said she knew of many people who had gone home during the fire, despite the evacuation. “I am aware that people returned home during the evacuation period because they weren’t aware of the Red Cross opening and had only their car to sleep in with their animals,” she said. “There was no additional enforcement, just roads blocked.” She said she was unaware that Hazard Management was posting updates on Facebook. “Why on earth didn’t RCIPS and Fire simply share those posts or tell people to look there? Were news out- lets even aware of them? That would have been so easy and would have been a huge help to those simply seeking more information. “I’m a huge supporter of those in uniform and I think they all did a fine job keeping this contained, but had this turned into a bigger situa- tion, I think there would have been catastrophic repercus- sions or even fatalities due to the epic failure of the notifica- tion ‘system.’” One man, who asked not to be named, said he had slept in his car with his dog, waiting for news. Eventually, he said, he went to the road- block around 3 a.m. and was told the evacuation order was about to be lifted. Others had decided ear- lier to get a hotel room for the night. Jesse Livingston and his girlfriend were blocked at the police cordon by Paradise res- taurant in George Town. “We left to go to the beach about 4:30 p.m. and when we got back, we couldn’t get home,” he said. He said they waited for a few hours and decided to book a room at the Westin around 10 p.m. “I understand, it’s safety first, so it’s all good. It would have been helpful to have some more information about what was going on and if and when we could return,” Mr. Livingston said. “It would have been good if someone from the company [Sol] had been there to explain. “I understand it is diffi- cult and the public were quite spread out, but we would have appreciated more in- formation.” The couple, who live at the corner of Glen Eden Road and South Church Street, say they are also con- cerned about the proximity of the fuel depot to a residential area and the flight path of in- coming aircraft. Others, like Stephen O’Dwyer, were able to get home earlier, after police re- duced the size of the exclu- sion zone at around 10 p.m. Mr. O’Dwyer said he had waited at the road block in George Town for information. “The lack of news was the most concerning thing for people,” he said. “But it looked like it was going to be longer, so we were lucky, I suppose. All’s well that ends well.” At Eldemire’s Tropical Is- land Inn, guests were un- able to return for the night. Owners Bob Geddes and Tootie Eldemire made the call to find somewhere else to stay at 7 p.m. Mr. Geddes said the inn had 26 guests, including a large group of marine biology students who had to find new accommodation for the night. He said many of them had been out touring the is- land when the cordon was put in place and were un- able to return. “We found out this morning that they were able to stay at Comfort Suites. Ev- erybody took it well. They un- derstood there was a problem and we couldn’t do much about it,” Mr. Geddes said. He said he and some of his neighbors had gone for dinner to wait it out, but later decided to book rooms at the Holiday Inn. “Around 7 p.m., I figured this could be a major issue. If they hadn’t resolved it right away it could go on for a very long time.” He said it had always been a concern to be so close to the fuel depot and the incident had brought that home. “I understand that is where they have always been and they have got a big in- vestment there, but it is not a great place for them to be – in the middle of a residential area and on the flight path of incoming aircraft.” Chief Fire Officer David Hails said an initial debrief of the incident had taken place Monday, at which issues over communication with the public on the night had been raised. He said there would be discussions between fire, po- lice and Hazard Management about the issue “That is one of the areas that was highlighted and we are going to look at that going forward to see if we can improve on that situa- tion,” he said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Residents concerned over evacuation process CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Volunteers at the Red Cross set up beds at the Huldah Avenue shelter, which was opened for any residents who were unable to return to their homes Sunday night. This thermal imaging photograph taken from the police helicopter shows a white area at the front of one of the tanks, indicating where fire was located. - PHOTO: RCIPS Firefighters tackle tank blaze at fuel terminal for eight hoursThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, JULY 25 LAW SCHOOL PROGRAMS: Applications are being accepted to enroll in one of the new postgraduate programs offered by the Truman Bodden Law School – the LL.M-Master of Laws in International Finance, Law and Regulation and the postgraduate diploma in International Finance, Law and Regulation. Full details on the admissions procedure are available at www.lawschool.gov.ky. MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: “Mamma Mia!” (2008, PG-13) will show at Camana Bay’s Gardenia Court. Free. 7 p.m. GOSPEL MEETING: 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, 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. FRIDAY, JULY 28 CARIFESTA: Showcasing the talent selected to represent Cayman in Carifesta this year. Harquail Theatre. 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow; 6 p.m. on Sunday. $25. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1 SME WORKSHOP: Developing Brand Awareness. Part 1 tonight, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Part 2 tomorrow, Wednesday, same time. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 DARKNESS TO LIGHT: Free training program, 6:30-9 p.m., for parents, teachers and others who work with or provide services to young people. Cost is free. Gain knowledge and skills to prevent child sexual abuse, recognize signs of abuse and learn how to react responsibly. Pre-registration is required. Contact vrm@redcross.org.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Immigration and Permanent Residency. 9–11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for Chamber members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 LIQUOR LICENCES: Today is the deadline to submit applications for liquor license renewals, including music and dancing licenses. Application forms can be downloaded from the Department of Commerce and Investment’s website www.dci.gov.ky. For more information, contact Shelise Jeffery on 244-2202. For Sister Islands operations, contact Lolita Bodden at 948-2400 or Dave Tatum at 244-4401. SUMMER CAMPS, VBS CNCF ARTS CAMP: July 31 to Aug. 4. Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Summer Arts Camp engages youth in the visual, traditional and performing arts. Campers will learn how to plait thatch to make gigs; traditional dancing and storytelling. For ages 6-16. Harquail Theatre, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $150 includes snacks, lunch and field trip. Deadline to register is July 27. Call 949-5477 or visit www.artscayman.org. VBS: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to VBS Monday, July 31, to Friday, Aug. 4, 9 a.m. till noon. The theme is “Created by God, built for a purpose.” The Bible School is for children 4 to 12 years. 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. 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. Till July 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, until July 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 offers 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, until July 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., until Aug. 11. $275 per week. Social skills camps for ages 5 to 7, 7 to 11. Weekly themed camps, till 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 12 to 14 for session running from July 24-28. 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 for 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. Till July 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, coralstonestables@gmail.com. GENERAL INTEREST NATIONAL GALLERY: All are invited to view the new temporary exhibition Mediating Self, a display of works from the Cayman Islands National Collection that illustrates the ways in which our bodies are used to create and navigate our personal and collective identities. Open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 was 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. 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, Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. 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. For more information, email 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. For details, 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. For more information, send an email to info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Applications are being accepted to enroll in two new postgraduate programs at the Truman Bodden Law School, which will be taught by Roisin Liddy-Murphy, Law School Director Mitchell Davies, Meryl Thomas, program leader Laura Panades, Andrew Woodcock and Matthew Rollinson.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 25, 2017 St. Peter’s Square fountains go dry The Vatican says it is shutting off all its fountains, including those in St. Peter’s Square, because of Italy’s drought. Pope Francis has decried wasteful practices and praised clean drinking water as vital for people and the environment. British parents drop legal fight, agree to let baby Charlie die Red Cross chief visits besieged city on Yemen’s front lines CAIRO (AP) – The chief of the international Red Cross made a rare visit to the front lines in Yemen Monday, taking a dirt road to reach the besieged western city of Taiz, devastated by more than two years of fighting. The visit by Peter Maurer, the head of the Interna- tional Committee of the Red Cross, is meant to pro- vide the ICRC with a first- hand look at Yemen’s raging cholera epidemic and hu- manitarian crisis amid the civil war. Maurer already vis- ited the southern port city of Aden and will be ending his trip in Sanaa. The executive directors of UNICEF and WHO are also in Yemen to urge for much- needed humanitarian aid. The $2.1 billion humani- tarian appeal for Yemen is only 33 percent funded, and the response to the cholera epidemic requires an addi- tional $250 million, of which just $47 million has been received, according to the United Nations. Maurer posted a video showing him driving on un- paved roads to Taiz and tweeted: “The city is en- circled and main roads are cut off.” “I find this needless suf- fering absolutely infuriating. The world is sleep-walking into yet more tragedy,” Maurer said on Sunday. The visit is unprecedented since Taiz – once Yemen’s cul- tural hub – has been split by the bitter war into zones con- trolled by the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies, and those controlled by factions financed and armed by the Saudi-led coalition and the Yemeni government. Hundreds of thousands of Taiz residents have been caught in the crossfire and residents use donkeys to carry smuggled goods and basic necessities on unpaved roads in and out of the city. The Saudi-led coalition has waged an extensive air campaign since March 2015 to dislodge the Houthis who currently control the capital, Sanaa, and much of the coun- try’s north. The conflict has pushed the already impov- erished nation to the verge of famine, displaced 3 mil- lion residents, and killed over 10,000 civilians. Since April, a cholera epidemic has ravaged the country with around 400,000 suspected cases and over 1,800 deaths. The rainy season under way threatens to worsen the situation and the number of cholera cases is expected to double by the end of the year, ac- cording to ICRC. Maurer urged the war- ring parties to allow in hu- manitarian aid. Since the be- ginning of the Saudi-led air campaign in 2015, the coali- tion has imposed a blockade on Yemen’s air and sea routes, shut down Sanaa’s airport and limited access to vital sea ports. “Further deaths can be prevented, but warring par- ties must ease restrictions and allow the import of med- icines, food and essential supplies and they must show restraint in the way they con- duct warfare,” Maurer said. The ICRC chief is also expected to discuss the issue of illegal detentions and forced disappearances. He says around 10 Yemeni families attend ICRC’s of- fices every week to report a missing person. Hundreds of detainees are held in undisclosed locations and informal prisons across Yemen, including southern cities where the United Arab Emirates and forces loyal to it have set up a network of secret prisons where tor- ture is rampant. Maurer said that he dis- cussed the issue of the de- tainees with government of- ficials in Aden and would do the same with their Houthi counterparts during his visit to Sanaa. He added that the ICRC “prefers to have a quiet and confidential discussion with all sides in order to de- block a situation … no side is moving because the other is not moving.” LONDON (AP) – The par- ents of Charlie Gard, whose battle to get their criti- cally ill baby experimental treatment stirred interna- tional sympathy and con- troversy, dropped their legal effort Monday, saying tear- fully that it was time to let their son die. At an emotional court hearing, a lawyer for the ba- by’s parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, said the couple was withdrawing a bid to have Charlie sent to the United States, where a doctor had offered to try to treat his rare genetic condition. The decision came after new medical tests showed the 11-month-old, who has brain damage and cannot breathe unaided, had irreversible muscular damage. Both parents wept in the packed courtroom at the High Court in London as lawyer Grant Armstrong made the announcement, his voice breaking. “This case is now about time,” Armstrong said. “Sadly, time has run out.” Outside court, Chris Gard said that Charlie “won’t make his first birthday in just under two weeks’ time.” “We are about to do the hardest thing that we will ever have to do, which is to let our beautiful little Charlie go,” he said. Gard and Yates, who are in their 30s and from London, have fought ferociously for their son, who was born in August 2016 with mitochon- drial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic disease. The baby has been treated at Great Ormond Street Hos- pital in London, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals. Doctors there say Charlie is in pain and fur- ther treatment would only increase his suffering. They have sought permission from the courts to switch off his life support and allow him to die peacefully. His parents have resisted, arguing that an experimental treatment could extend and improve Charlie’s life. The case gained interna- tional attention after Char- lie’s parents received support from Pope Francis, U.S. Presi- dent Donald Trump and some members of the U.S. Congress. On Monday, the Vatican said Pope Francis was praying for Charlie and his parents, and urged the faithful to join him in prayer so that the ba- by’s parents “may find God’s consolation and love. As the legal battle dragged on, U.S.-based pro-life activ- ists had flown to London to support Charlie’s parents, and the case became a flash point for opposing views on healthcare funding, med- ical intervention, the role of the state and the rights of the child. Passions have often run high, with activ- ists demanding “justice for Charlie” rallying outside the High Court and Great Or- mond Street Hospital. Over the weekend, the hospital said it had contacted po- lice after staff received abuse and threats. Charlie’s parents con- demned the abuse, and on Monday thanked the hos- pital for the care it had given their child. Some commentators por- trayed the case as a clash be- tween family and the state, and U.S. conservatives used it to criticize Britain’s gov- ernment-funded healthcare system – even though the case was never about money. Judge Nicholas Francis criticized those “who know almost nothing about this case but who feel entitled to express opinions.” At its heart, the case pitted the right of parents to decide what’s best for their children against the author- ities’ responsibility to up- hold the rights of people who cannot speak for themselves. Under British law, chil- dren have rights independent of their parents, and it is usual for courts to intervene when parents and doctors disagree on the treatment of a child – such as cases where a parent’s religious beliefs prohibit blood transfusions. British courts and the Eu- ropean Court of Human Rights all ruled against Charlie’s par- ents and in favor of Great Or- mond Street. The case returned to court this month when the hospital asked the judge to re- assess the possible benefits of a treatment pioneered by Dr. Michio Hirano, a neurology expert from Columbia Medical Center in New York. At a hearing earlier this month, Hirano said there was a 10 percent chance of a significant improvement in Charlie’s muscle use with the treatment, known as nucleo- side therapy. But he conceded it had never been tried on a human with Charlie’s exact condition and no tests had ever been done on mice to see whether it would work on a patient like Charlie. Hirano came to London last week to examine Charlie along with other experts. After seeing the results of new tests, the baby’s parents agreed to drop their case, meaning Charlie’s life sup- port can now be removed. Ending a case he called tragic for all involved, the judge paid tribute to Charlie’s parents, saying it was im- possible to comprehend the agony they faced. “No parent could have done more for their child,” he said. Yates cried as she told the court she and Charlie’s father had only wanted the best for their son. “We are so sorry that we couldn’t save you,” she said. The decision came after new medical tests showed the 11-month-old, who has brain damage and cannot breathe unaided, had irreversible muscular damage. Chris Gard, the father of critically ill baby Charlie Gard, finishes reading a statement next to Charlie’s mother, Connie Yates, at the end of their case at the High Court in London on Monday. - PHOTOS AP Charlie Gard is pictured in an undated photo, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London.Next >