High of 90 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD: UNFINISHED BUSINESS AFTER MR. DACOSTA’S DEPARTURE WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 13 BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENT FOR CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 Personal Insurance Save up to $400 with home and car insurance Your first BritCay’s buildings insurance policy comes with a $250 gift certificate and a 10% discount on car insurance. With the lowest standard deductible at $200, you also save when you claim. Ask for a quote! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky FREE $10 Million ASSET PROTECTION! with motor cover* *private car insurance cgigrp Woody DaCosta removed as chair of Liquor Licensing Board Commerce Minister Joey Hew confirms reshuffle JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Woody DaCosta has been removed as acting chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman. Mr. DaCosta, who will no longer serve on the board in any capacity, was asked to step down Wednesday afternoon by Commerce Minister Joey Hew. He will be replaced by board member Noel Williams, with Lynn Bodden, managing partner at Bodden and Bodden law firm, as his deputy. Mr. Hew did not directly attribute the deci- sion to the recent controversy over the liquor board’s handling of an application from a gas station to open on Sundays. He said the new government had taken the opportunity to reshuffle the board and bring in more experienced and legal- minded leadership. “As times change and things become more complex, along with the recent turmoil, we felt there was a need for fresh leadership,” he said. Mr. DaCosta confirmed he had been in- formed of the decision by Mr. Hew in a 12:30 p.m. phone call Wednesday. He said he had not resigned and had been looking forward to the results of an independent audit re- port into the board’s handling of the applica- tion from Peanuts convenience store at Red Bay gas station. “I have nothing to hide because the en- tire board was part of all decisions made and kept in the loop every step of the way,” he said. The decision comes amid an inquiry into MARCO ARCHER SUES WEBSITE FOR DEFAMATION BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Cayman Islands Finance Minister Marco Archer has won a temporary injunction against the publication of a website blog post that he alleged was defamatory, in a writ filed Monday with the Grand Court. The article appeared on the Cayman Marl Road website last week. As of Wednesday, it had been taken down by order of the Grand Court. Mr. Archer said the allegations of abuse of office made in the publication were “false and unfounded” and indicated that he would take legal action against the website. On Wednesday, the first portion of that legal action proceeded in a closed-door hearing before Grand Court Judge Robin Mc- Millan. Mr. Archer’s attorneys won a tempo- rary injunction, requiring the post to be taken down. A further hearing was set for Sept. 20 when both parties involved in the dispute would be allowed to make representations to the court and a decision would be made as to whether the publication would be perma- nently removed. Cayman Marl Road website owner Sandra Hill was not allowed to address the court during Wednesday’s ex parte hearing, but she Caledonian Bank building sold for $3.8 million TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bringing relief to creditors after a two- year saga, Avata Property Services on Tuesday announced the $3.8 million sale of Caledonian House, former headquarters of the bankrupt Caledonian Bank Ltd. The sale on Aug. 25 will contribute to long-awaited payouts to hundreds of cred- itors caught out by the bank’s closure in February 2015 in the wake of a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit in New York. The suit was concerned with the un- registered sale of securities and penny stock pump-and-dump schemes, which allegedly netted the perpetrators US$75 million. Avata consultant Matt King said Tuesday that the 17,000-square-foot, three-story of- fice block was sold to a partnership of in- surance specialist Kensington Manage- ment Group and Southern Property Services Ltd., an affiliate of Stuarts Walker Hersant Humphries law firm. “Both companies are already based in Cayman,” Mr. King said, “and have continued Caledonian House, the former headquarters of Caledonian Bank, has been empty since the bank closed down in 2015. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Woody DaCosta - PHOTO: ROOSTER RADIO2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS I 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. - THURSDAY - THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (R) 1:00 VIP I 4:25 I 7:25 VIP I 10:00 ANNABELLE CREATION (R) 1:45 I 4:05 VIP I 7:20 I 10:10 VIP DARK TOWER (PG13) 4:55 I 10:15 THE NUT JOB 2 3D (PG) 12:30 I 2:50 2D I 5:10 I 7:30 2D ALL SAINTS (PG) 1:25 I 4:20 I 7:00 I 9:45 GLASS CASTLE (PG13) 12:35 I 3:40 I 7:20 I 9:50 GIRLS TRIP (R) 2:00 I 6:40 I 9:35 South Sound resident celebrates 103rd birthday KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Most days, Elizabeth Hurlston does not remember how old she is. Other days, she does not believe it. In the entrance of her South Sound home sits a reminder of her age, one she looks at in disbelief: the centerpiece from her last birthday celebration, spelling out “1-0-2.” She turns 103 on Thursday, making her one of the oldest residents in the Cayman Islands. Born in Grand Turk in the early days of World War I, on Aug. 31, 1914, Ms. Hurlston has witnessed a century of transformation in the Cayman Islands and across the Caribbean. In 1919, her father Hugh Hutchings was named com- missioner of the Cayman Is- lands, where Ms. Hurlston would spend much of her childhood. It would be another 30 years, however, before Ms. Hurlston would settle in Grand Cayman as her permanent home. She spent much of her youth traveling across the Caribbean and the U.K., living in around 10 countries. Although she studied to become a Montessori teacher in the U.K., the outbreak of World War II inspired her to take on nursing as well. In the international fashion typ- ical of her life, she trained in Bermuda and Canada, and eventually accepted a post at the Adventist hos- pital in Kingston, Jamaica, where much of her family lived at the time. Many stories Despite worsening de- mentia, Ms. Hurlston, on good days, will cheerfully recall memories from her life and her many projects, whether her work with the Girls’ Brigade or the shop she ran with her husband Otto called Caymandicraft. As of late, however, her daughter Mary Bow- erman and son-in-law Mike Bowerman must help share her stories. Ms. Bowerman said her mother’s great passion was service to others. While she enjoyed photography, sewing and many other hobbies, she always found time to help her community. “Even now, she can’t see very well. She doesn’t hear very well. But yes- terday she said, ‘I just want to do something for some- body else. What can I do?’” Ms. Bowerman said. Mr. Bowerman recalled her frequent mission trips to Haiti, a place she loved and called home for many years. In Cayman, she would visit the hospital every week to meet with a man who suf- fered a traumatic work in- jury, leaving him disabled. Ms. Hurlston would dedi- cate her time just to keep him company and assist with simple tasks. While she never formally worked as a nurse in the Cayman Is- lands, volunteer work such as this reflected her knack for caretaking. Ms. Bowerman recalled her mother’s patience with her as a child in Haiti and the dedication that made her a great teacher as well. “She ordered things like early reading books and flash cards that they used to use in those days and that sort of thing. So I was reading by the time I was 3,” Ms. Bowerman said. “I learned to swim at a very early age there with her in Haiti. I had my own pony. He was a dwarf horse. She, my father and I would go horseback riding.” Returning to Cayman In 1949, Ms. Hurlston met – or rather re-encountered – the man who would become her husband, Otto Hurlston. The two childhood friends from Cayman crossed paths again while visiting the is- lands on Christmas holiday. “Traveling on the seaplane from Kingston, she happened to sit next to a Caymanian man whom she had known as a child and remembered as her brother Charles’s best friend growing up,” Mr. Bowerman said. Within two weeks, the two were engaged. At the time, Mr. Hurlston was a wid- ower and single father of a daughter, Mary. Ms. Hurlston accepted Mary as her own and raised her as her only child. She now has two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. After working on banana plantations across the re- gion, the Hurlstons settled in Grand Cayman in 1954. Here, Ms. Hurlston worked with the Girls’ Bri- gade and taught Sunday school at Elmslie Church, where a memorial stone honors her mother, Gracie. Visitors to the islands were often drawn to her im- port shop, Caymandicrafts, once located at Eden Rock. She sold Agfa cameras, Lib- erty London fabrics, Scot- tish cashmere sweaters and 4711 cologne. Between 1988 and 1994, she traveled on 15 mission trips to Haiti and the Do- minican Republic with her church. Eventually, the trips proved too difficult for Ms. Hurlston, who has osteopo- rosis. She cracked a rib as her group drove through the bumpy roads in Haiti and she was forced to stop traveling. One of her proudest mo- ments remains her recog- nition by Queen Elizabeth in 2001 as a Member of the British Empire for her com- munity service. She was also awarded a Queen’s Badge and Certificate of Honour for her contribu- tions to the Caymanian com- munity in 1976. In 2003, she was named one of Cayman’s Quincentennial Ambassadors. Enjoying life after 100 Until her 90s, Ms. Hurlston remained active at church and would take short walks. Since suffering a fall near her 100th birthday, she spends most of her time at home, where she lives with her daughter and son-in-law. Twice a week her friend Olive Miller comes to play cards or dominoes. Ms. Bow- erman said neither can see the numbers well, but the two keep each other company and remain close friends. Her music therapist, Ju- lianne Parolisi, said she con- tinues to enjoy song and still recalls the music of her youth. “Basically, music for Miss Elizabeth is a way for her to really come into the present moment. It really lifts her mood and boosts her spirit,” Ms. Parolisi said. “She is always willing to sing with me. It provides a way for her to reminisce about her life.” She regularly asks Ms. Pa- rolisi if she can sing alto. In a way, the request harkens back to Ms. Hurlston’s child- hood when she would sit in the hammock with her sisters and sing harmony. Although she typically cannot remember practicing alto with Ms. Parolisi, every week Ms. Hurlston gets a little better at it. She may not be cognitively aware of it, but the singing triggers memo- ries and taps into times past. “It’s touching to hear about singing with her sis- ters now because that’s what she and I are doing together,” Ms. Parolisi said. The music sessions pro- vide an opportunity for Ms. Hurlston to relax, enjoy her time and think back on a life well lived. CORRECTION An article titled “Grand Court: Madoff-invested fund’s administrator and custodian negligent but not liable,” which was published in Wednesday’s Cayman Compass, gave the impression that Justice Andrew Jones would have applied a discount to the liability claims against both the administrator and custodian of Primeo, a fund that was fully invested in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. However, the following quote from the judgment, “If I had found in favor of Primeo, I would have concluded that its damages be reduced by 75 percent because it was, to a large extent, the author of its own misfortune,” referred solely to the plaintiff’s claim against the fund’s adminis- trator. The fund’s custodian would have been strictly liable for the losses, if the court had found in favor of the plaintiff. HUNDREDS OF PUERTO RICANS PROTEST AUSTERITY MEASURES SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Hundreds of Puerto Ri- cans took to the streets of the island’s capital on Wednesday to protest aus- terity measures as anger builds over an unrelenting economic crisis that has hit the working class es- pecially hard. Protesters clutched posters decrying austerity measures including new taxes, increases in utility bills and looming furloughs and cuts to a public pen- sion system facing nearly $50 billion in liabilities. “They’re taking advan- tage of us poor workers. We did not steal. We are not corrupt,” read one poster held up by 70-year-old Eva Feliciano, a retired govern- ment worker who said she sometimes cannot afford to buy the groceries she and her husband need. Protesters shielded themselves from a blazing sun as meteorologists warned of a heat index that could reach 110 degrees. The crowd converged at the offices of a federal control board created by U.S. Con- gress last year to oversee Puerto Rico’s finances. The board earlier this week sued Gov. Ricardo Ros- sello for refusing to imple- ment measures including a 10 percent cut to a public pension system that offi- cials say is running out of money and furloughs that are supposed to go into ef- fect on Friday. Puerto Ricans have joined the gov- ernor in rejecting the board’s demands. “The measures that are being approved af- fect everyone in Puerto Rico,” said Luis Pedraza, leader of a union that represents some 20,000 workers in the public and private sector. Elizabeth Hurlston displays a picture of the queen. Elizabeth Hurlston sings with music therapist Julianne Parolisi.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 Jeffers appeals 2014 manslaughter conviction Credibility of ex- girlfriend challenged CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Attorneys for Raziel Jef- fers appeared before the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on Tuesday to argue against his 2014 conviction for manslaughter. Jeffers was charged “to- gether with other per- sons” of murdering Marcus Mauricio Guzman Duran on March 11, 2010, out- side an apartment on Mali- winas Way, off North West Point Road in West Bay. The Crown’s case was that Mr. Duran, who sold illegal lottery numbers, was the victim of a planned armed robbery that went wrong. A 12-member jury accepted that Jeffers had provided accomplices with a gun and information about the vic- tim’s movements. Because of his role as “mastermind,” he could be held responsible for the killing under Cayman law. A Grand Court jury found him not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment. Lead defense counsel Tom Price, instructed by attorney Amelia Fosuhene, said the main witness against Jef- fers was his ex-girlfriend. Mr. Price argued that de- fense attorney Brian O’Neill did not have sufficient disclo- sure from the Crown about the woman, who was under a witness protection pro- gram at the time. Mr. O’Neill could not attack her cred- ibility because he had not been fully armed with infor- mation, he said. The woman was de- scribed as someone who lied in order to keep receiving benefits from the program; it was her only means of sup- port and the evidence not available at trial was the “sheer volume” of her re- quests for living expenses. She was also an admitted drug user and at one point during her time under pro- tection there was a state- ment that she had to have drug rehabilitation. The woman had also made al- legations against police of- ficers in a statement which she later withdrew. “These matters are abso- lutely critical when it’s the word of one person against another,” Mr. Price said. In response, lead counsel Andrew Radcliffe submitted details of what the woman had received over a four- year period. The total was $99,708.90. It covered rent and utilities, food, medical and travel expenses, school for the child she had with Jeffers, and college courses for herself. The general ex- penses had been known at the trial; more disclosure of details could not have helped, he said. The appeal judges que- ried another ground of ap- peal, namely the hearsay aspect of the witness’s evi- dence. She had told the court that Jeffers phoned her after the shooting and asked her to pick him up; she could hear sirens in the back- ground. The next day, she said, Jeffers told her what his accomplices in the rob- bery had told him about how the attempted rob- bery went wrong. Director of Public pros- ecutions Cheryll Richards, who had prosecuted the case, responded to this aspect of the appeal. Court president Sir John Goldring, who heard the ap- peal with Sir George Newman and Justice Dennis Morrison, said judgment would be de- livered at a later date. Jef- fers’s attorneys did not pro- ceed with appeals against two convictions for murder. Those cases were appealed previously and both were re- jected. The next step of the process would be an appeal to Privy Council. Jeffers, now 34, was con- victed in 2012 of the murder of Marcus Leon Ebanks in West Bay in July 2009. His appeal on that case was dis- missed the same year. He was later charged with the murder of Damion Omar Ming, who was shot in a yard off Birch Tree Hill Road, West Bay, in March 2010. A jury found him guilty after trial in March- April 2014. Jeffers’s appeal on this case was dismissed in July 2015. Sports nominations open for Heroes Day awards JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman is preparing to shine the spotlight on sports as government gears up to host the 2018 National He- roes Day Awards. Culture minister Dwayne Seymour, at a press confer- ence Wednesday, launched the public nominations for the event. Nominations will be accepted from Sept. 1-30. Minister Seymour invited people to nominate individ- uals for the following cate- gories: Early Pioneer, Pioneer, Emerging Pioneer, Memo- rial Scroll and Long Service Award, which will be rec- ognized at the National He- roes Day celebration on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, a public holiday. Following the nomination deadline, the nominations committee will evaluate each submission. Mr. Seymour en- couraged the public to in- clude as much information as much as possible about their nominee. “We have a long and proud history of sports achieve- ments in the Cayman Islands and I am therefore delighted to pay homage to people who have contributed to our suc- cesses in this field,” Minister Seymour said. “Whether young or old, or as competitors, fans or sup- porters, in fact, sports tend to bind us together and is part of the fabric of suc- cess as a vibrant stable so- ciety,” he added. He said there were many “unsung heroes who spend countless hours coaching, running clubs, raising money for sporting events and filling other roles to let sports flourish. We must also pay tribute to people who put the Cayman Islands on the inter- national sporting stage.” The nominees do not have be Caymanians but must have made their contribu- tions to sports in the Cayman Islands, he said. Nomination forms are available at the reception desk of the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue or District Administration Building on Cayman Brac. Forms are also available online at www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky. Nomination month opens on Sept. 1 for the 2018 National Heroes Day celebrationsThe 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. WASHINGTON – Summer brings no respite for ac- ademics committed to campus purifications, par- ticularly at the institution that is the leader in the sil- liness sweepstakes, Yale. Its Committee on Art in Public Spaces has discovered that a stone carving that has adorned an entrance to Ster- ling Memorial Library since it opened 86 years ago has become “not appropriate.” The carving, according to Yale Alumni Magazine, de- picts “a hostile encounter: a Puritan pointing a musket at a Native American.” Ac- tually, the Native American and the Puritan are looking not hostilely at each other but into the distance. Still, one can’t be too careful, so the musket has been cov- ered with stone. This is uni- lateral disarmament: The Na- tive American’s weapon, a bow, has not been covered up. Perhaps Yale thinks that armed white men are more “triggering” (this academic- speak means “upsetting to the emotionally brittle”) than armed people of color. Na- tional Review Online’s Kyle Smith drolly worries that Yale might be perpetuating harmful stereotypes. If such campus folderols merely added to what Samuel Johnson called “the public stock of harmless pleasure,” Americans could welcome a new academic year the way they once welcomed new bur- lesque acts. Unfortunately, the descent of institutions of learning into ludicrousness is symptomatic of larger social distempers that Frank Furedi has diagnosed abroad as well as in America. Furedi is a professor emeritus in England and au- thor of “What’s Happened to the University?: A Soci- ological Exploration of Its Infantilization.” Writing in The American Interest, he cites a warning issued to Oxford University post- graduate students about the danger of “vicarious trauma,” which supposedly results from “hearing about and engaging with the trau- matic experiences of others.” This, Furedi says, is symp- tomatic of the “medicaliza- tion” of almost everything in universities that strive to be “therapeutic.” Univer- sities are “promoting theo- ries and practices that en- courage people to interpret their anxieties, distress and disappointment through the language of psycholog- ical deficits.” This gener- ates self-fulfilling diagnoses of emotionally fragile stu- dents. They demand mental- health services on cam- puses that are replete with “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces” to insulate stu- dents from discomforts, such as the depiction of a musket. What academics perceive as “an expanded set of problems tracks right along with the exponential growth of the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.’” The socialization of chil- dren, which prepares them to enter the wider world, has been shifted from par- ents to primary and sec- ondary schools, and now to higher education, which has embraced the task that Furedi calls “re-socialization through altering the norms that undergraduates grew up with.” This is done by using speech codes and indoctri- nation to raise “awareness” about defects students ac- quired before coming to cam- puses that are determined to purify undergraduates. Often, however, students arrive with little moral bal- last bequeathed by parents who thought their role was, Furedi says, less to transmit values than to validate their children’s feelings and atti- tudes: “This emphasis on val- idation runs in tandem with a risk-averse regime of child- rearing, the (unintended) con- sequence of which has been to limit opportunities for the cultivation of independence and to extend the phase of dependence of young people on adult society.” The therapeutic univer- sity’s language – students are “vulnerable” to routine stresses and difficulties that are defined as “traumas” – also becomes self-fulfilling. As a result, students experi- ence a diminished sense of capacity for moral agency – for self-determination. This can make them simultane- ously passive, immersing themselves into groupthink, and volatile, like the mobs at Middlebury College, Clare- mont McKenna College, Uni- versity of California, Berkeley and other schools that dis- rupt uncongenial speakers. Hence universities provide “trigger warnings” that facili- tate flights into “safe spaces.” Furedi quotes an Oberlin College student who says: “There’s something to be said about exposing yourself to ideas other than your own,” but “I’ve had enough of that.” Times do, however, change, as the Yale Alumni Magazine delicately inti- mated when it said the stone now obscuring the Puritan’s musket “can be removed in the future without damaging the original carving.” And the future has come with strange speed to New Haven. In a peculiar letter in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal, a Yale official says the univer- sity is removing the stone “that a construction project team had placed on the stonework.” By clearly sug- gesting, implausibly, that this “team” acted on its own, the letter contradicts the maga- zine’s report that the covering up was done because the Committee on Art in Public Spaces deemed the carving “not appropriate.” The letter, which says the uncovered carving will be moved to where it can be studied and “contextualized,” speaks vol- umes about Yale’s context. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group. The departure of acting chairman Woody DaCosta from Grand Cayman’s Liquor Licensing Board was inevitable, considering the drama of mismatched minutes and con- flicting statements that has been playing out in the public spotlight for the past several weeks. Mr. DaCosta’s exit from the stage, however, does not mean the curtain has fallen. Far from it. The public must have closure – meaning full “disclosure” – over what actually took place during the board’s deliberation on Gary Rutty’s request to sell alcohol at his Peanuts convenience store on Sundays, and the ever-evolving confusion over the state of his license. Critical questions remain unanswered, including: • Were minutes changed to obscure the fact that the board initially approved Mr. Rutty’s retail license appli- cation? We know the minutes were altered because the Compass is in possession of both the “original” minutes and the “official” version. A side-by-side comparison reveals the minutes were changed in material ways. Who changed them? Why? • Was an “electronic meeting” held during which Mr. Rutty’s request for a retail license was denied, as Mr. DaCosta has asserted? If so, why is there no record of this meeting? Why isn’t it mentioned in either the draft or final minutes? When did this “electronic meeting” take place? Who participated? What was the agenda? In addition to rejecting Mr. Rutty’s retail application, were other decisions taken or other matters discussed? To date, no member of the Liquor Licensing Board has stepped forward to clarify or offer any plausible explana- tion for the issues enumerated above. Initially Mr. DaCosta asserted that “clerical errors” mis- takenly indicated that Mr. Rutty had been granted a license to sell alcohol on Sunday sales. However, a fuller explana- tion is required: Clerical errors cannot account for the dif- ferences between the two sets of minutes nor do they add any clarity as to why there is no public record of the so- called “electronic meeting.” Whatever happened during the board’s consideration of Mr. Rutty’s request cannot be written off as a “simple mis- understanding” or a “clerical error.” Something far more serious appears to have taken place. It is worth remembering that each member of the Liquor Licensing Board bears “collective responsibility” for the board’s actions, but also “individual responsibility” for their own actions and decisions as members of the board. To date, no member has stepped forward to attempt to clarify the board’s confusing and contradictory statements regarding the Peanuts application. (Remember, government boards — and Cayman has more than 100 of them – are not the private playthings of their members. They belong to, and must report to, the public. It’s not an option. It’s an obligation.) This week, we learned that the Department of Commerce and Investment website once again (if only briefly) listed Peanuts as possessing a retail liquor license, which would allow it to sell on Sundays. “We have now had three different declarations on this from the board,” Mr. Rutty told a Compass reporter. We sympathize, but if Mr. Rutty and his lawyers are confused, we can imagine that you, our readers, must be dazed by what continues to be an incomplete puzzle – too many important pieces are still missing. If this were a simple matter of incompetence, buf- foonery or plain-old human error, we would not take up so much of our readers’ time (and our own) reporting and edi- torializing on the issues surrounding the Liquor Licensing Board. People make innocent mistakes all the time. Our concern, of course, is that more serious issues are at play. Too many questions remain unanswered, and silence has been the default response from board members. Therefore, we eagerly await the results of the on e of the Liquor Licensing Board, expected in mid-September. Liquor Licensing Board: Unfinished business after Mr. DaCosta’s departure THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Yale offers a tutorial in social descent 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” The socialization of children, which prepares them to enter the wider world, has been shifted from parents to primary and secondary schools, and now to higher education … The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 HAVE YOU SNAPPED THE PERFECT PICTURE THAT SHOWCASES THE OCEAN OR OCEAN CONSERVATION IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS? WE WANT TO SEE IT! C AP TURE YOUR OCEAN The Kenneth B. Dart Foundation and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation have teamed up to launch the fi rst annual Ocean Conservation Month Photography Competition in association with Pinnacle Media. Both amateur and professional photographers residing in Cayman are encouraged to submit one photo that best represents the theme of ‘ocean conservation’ in the Cayman Islands. Your picture must be: • Taken by you, in the Cayman Islands • Taken in, on or of the ocean • Landscape orientation Winners will have their pictures displayed in an outdoor exhibition in Camana Bay throughout November and will also have the opportunity to go on a shark-tagging expedition with preeminent wildlife conservationist, Dr Guy Harvey. To enter, log on to www.caymancompass.com/contests by the end of September and upload your picture. Full terms and conditions can be found on the website.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Another Bodden Town beauty crowned Miss Teen Cayman JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kevie-Ann Peirre of Bodden Town was crowned the new Miss Teen Cayman Islands over the weekend. It was 17-year-old Miss Peirre’s second time entering the pageant and she took full advantage of her experi- ence to wow judges and earn votes to make her Miss Teen 2017-18. She wins a four-year scholarship – two years at a local education facility and two years overseas – from the Ministry of Education. “I am very proud of my- self. I put in a lot of hard work … especially it being my second time round … I am very happy,” said Ms. Peirre speaking with the Cayman Compass on Wednesday. Outgoing Miss Teen Cayman Liana DaCosta, who is also a Bodden Towner, made her entrance at the Saturday night’s pageant in style, carried into the Lions Centre on a chariot. First runner-up on the night was 16-year-old Arleny Connor, from East End, and second runner-up was West Bay’s Ashley Bush, also 16. The show began with a dance performance by the six Miss Teen contestants. Each contestant per- formed in the talent display. Ms. Peirre performed Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” Ms. Connor performed a medley of Mi- chael Jackson’s songs and movements, and Ms. Bush demonstrated her talent on the baritone. Layah Ebanks, 18, from West Bay, recited a monologue from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book-length essay “We Should All Be Femi- nists.” Thalia Naranjo, 15, from West Bay, who burst on stage in a costume lit by LED lights, was voted Most Improved by the judges and voted Miss Personality by her fellow contestants. Lian Ebanks, 16, from George Town, gave a soulful ren- dition of Alicia Keys’ “Su- perwoman,” crediting her mother for being a super- woman and teaching her to become one. Miss Peirre said when she entered the pageant the first time, she gained self confidence. The second time round, it was to raise aware- ness of child abuse and child- hood hunger in Cayman. Starting at University College of the Cayman Is- lands this week, she is fo- cusing on business adminis- tration and plans to become a graphic designer. “I want to also be more involved with different orga- nizations that support these childhood issues, such as Meals on Wheels and Feed Our Future. I have been in- volved with Feed Our Future, so I would want to start back with them again,” she said. She thanked her sponsor Scotts Industries and her supporters, especially her mom Julie-Ann Folkes and dad Kevin Peirre. “All the contestants gave outstanding performances,” Stephanie Scott, chairperson of Miss Teen pageant com- mittee, said. “If I had to judge the competition, I could not have chosen between the contestants. They were all excellent.” “Our panel of experienced judges did a good job in as- sessing the presentations of each girl and although there is always disappoint- ment when one person wins over the other, I trust that the young ladies all see them- selves as winners and em- brace their more confident and self-assured personali- ties,” she added. Miss Teen contestants will be invited to be part of the planning committee for next year’s pageant and to become mentors to new contestants by the Miss Teen Committee. In addition, they will con- tinue to be involved with community service through the Lions and Leo clubs of Grand Cayman. The com- mittee is also considering a training session for parents to give them a better under- standing of the pageant, its rules and judging criteria. BODDEN TOWN PTA GETS BOOSTS FROM CORPORATE DONATIONS MLA Dwayne Seymour, through corporate sponsor- ship, donated $10,000 to as- sist the Bodden Town Pri- mary School PTA in their efforts to buy playground equipment and upgrade other areas at the school. The PTA has committed to raising $20,000 for the “Revitalizing Our Fu- ture” project and in June asked community part- ners and patrons of the Bodden Town school to help with sponsorships so that playground equip- ment, additional seating areas and outdoor storage could be obtained. Mr. Seymour, who rep- resents Bodden Town East, thanked the PTA for their commitment to identifying projects that enhance the lives of children. 50 YEARS AGO Welcoming returning travelers and a new teacher In the Aug. 30, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, “Bodden Town Report” correspon- dent Floris McCoy wrote: “We take great pleasure in welcoming to our dis- trict Miss Eileen Hydes, recent graduate of Short- wood College, who has taken up teaching respon- sibilities here. She is a stranger in Bodden Town and, after talking to her, I found that she only has a few acquaintances. I feel sure that she has an op- portunity to do a great job. As members of the community, let us do our best to make her feel at home and wanted. She is living at the home of Mrs. Lionel Jackson. “Messrs. Lawrence Powell and Frank Berry re- turned from sea. They are employees of NBC and we welcome them home. “Mrs. Willie Wood and her son, teacher Hart- well Wood, returned from Miami. Mrs. Wood is feeling much better. “Rev. and Mrs. Lewin Williams, Mrs. Harry McCoy, Joy Jackson and Madge Anderson re- turned from Fort Myers. They had a wonderful time there, were royally treated and thoroughly en- joyed their stay. “Visiting Mr. and Mrs. James Lawrence is Mrs. Ai- leen Bonner from Chester, Pennsylvania. She is a long- time friend of the Law- rences. Mrs. Bonner is a lovely person and enjoys the island very much. We extend to her a very warm welcome to Bodden Town. “Returning to the is- land from Spanish Hon- duras is Hanna Carter, with her mother Mrs. Carl Carter. Hanna as usual has returned to attend school. She will be attending the Sec. Grammar School. Mrs. Carter returned to Hon- duras on Friday. “Mrs. Ed Bodden, rela- tive of Mr. and Mrs. James Miller, has returned to the island. She comes from Tampa but is pres- ently from Cayman Brac, where she visited relatives and friends. We welcome her back home. “Leaving Bodden Town this week is Nurse Sol- omon, to go back to school in Jamaica. We wish her a successful term. “Miss Hope Barnes left for New York. She will be visiting relatives and friends. We wish her an enjoyable stay. “Mr. and Mrs. Donald Armstrong and daughter returned home. They were accompanied by their friends Mr. Gray and son, spending a few days here in Bodden Town. “Mr. Melbourne McField returned home from sea. “Miss Pearl Carter left for Costa Rica. She is chap- erone to Glenn McLean, head boy at the Sec. Modern School, who won a trip there because of his accomplishments during Education Week.” MLA Dwayne Seymour delivers a check to PTA representative Mirta Dilbert, left, and Danielle Duran, SENCO teacher at Bodden Town Primary. Kevie-Ann Peirre, center, the new Miss Teen Cayman Islands, is flanked by first runner-up Arleny Connor, left, and second runner-up Ashley Bush.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 OCTOBER 7, 2017 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky Featuring Special Guest Speakers PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR Featuring Special Guest Speakers Rancic Bill & Giulianna Construction begins on ‘green’ Periwinkle development LEED-certified homes to be ready by end of 2018 KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Construction is set to begin Monday on the Peri- winkle housing development, a project in Grand Harbour that aims to be Cayman’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified community. Developers pegged the cost of the project at $80 million. Between the end of next year and early 2019, 24 homes will be completed, project manager Ryan Os- tendorf said at a Periwinkle groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. Eventually, there will be a total of 20 cottages, 28 courtyard town homes, 23 waterfront town homes and 10 luxury villas, as well as a 60- foot swimming pool, a club- house and other amenities. While there are other LEED-certified buildings in the territory, Periwinkle will be the first neighborhood where every unit has that certification, ac- cording to Mr. Ostendorf. The LEED-certification – an internationally recognized rating for environmentally friendly buildings – for all the development’s units will mean big savings on utility bills for homeowners, he said. “What we did is en- ergy modeling that lowered utility bills for every home to $150,” he said. “So no matter where you live in Periwinkle – whether you live in a two- bedroom, 2,100-square-foot home or a five-bedroom 4,100-square-foot canal- front home – your utility bill will be $150.” The homes will achieve those savings by having fea- tures such as energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, Energy Star-certified LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures. Solar power will be the primary energy source for the community’s homes, streets, docks and amenities, according to Periwinkle. “And one of the biggest advantages is the indoor air quality,” added Mr. Osten- dorf. “[LEED] looks at how the house is built from inside out – its durability, its ability to survive a hurricane – it really looks at all aspects, so it’s a great way to build a home.” The community’s green areas will be landscaped with drought-resistant plants – including, of course, the periwinkle – which will fur- ther promote water conserva- tion, he said. Homes will start at $500,000 and go up to around $1 million. Minister of Finance and Economic Development Roy McTaggart was also at the groundbreaking, touting the fact that the territory’s strong economy is able to support such an ambitious project. Mr. Ostendorf said there will be 15 to 20 workers on site Monday, beginning work on the project’s infrastruc- ture. During the “peak” con- struction phase, around 200 workers will be employed on the project, he said. Periwinkle Ltd. is chaired by Heber Arch, whose firm Arch & Godfrey is also building the development. The project is funded through a combination of private individuals and a loan from the Cayman Na- tional Bank, according to Mr. Ostendorf. Cayman faith leaders attend religious conference Cayman was represented at the recent 8th World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association in Fort Lau- derdale-Hollywood, Florida. More than 550 attendees from 65 countries and six continents attended the Aug. 22-24 Congress, which brought together experts and delegates to discuss the con- tribution that freedom of reli- gion or belief can make to sus- tainable, peaceful coexistence. The resolution of religious leaders at the congress high- lighted the “danger of reli- gion being hijacked and mis- used for non-religious goals,” according to organizers. The resolution underscored that “blaming an entire com- munity for the actions of a few strengthens and emboldens” those who commit acts of vio- lence “in the name of religion.” This proclamation was part of an eight-point reso- lution adopted at the end of the conference. Representing Cayman were Pastor Shion O’Connor, president of the Cayman Is- lands Conference of Seventh- day Adventists; John Wesley, Conference treasurer; and Dennis Brady, director of the Conference’s Religious Lib- erty Department. The Congress was the first to be held in North America. Government officials from Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia attended, orga- nizers reported. Addressing the Congress were Rev. César García, gen- eral secretary of the Menno- nite World Conference; Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Sev- enth-day Adventists; Eliz- abeta Kitanovic, executive secretary of the Conference of European Churches; and Rev. Thomas Schirrmacher, chairman of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance. Periwinkle Project Manager Ryan Ostendorf, Cayman National Bank representative Bethany Tompkins, Bodden & Bodden Senior Partner Sherri Bodden, Periwinkle Chairman Heber Arch, Arch & Godfrey Managing Director Garth Arch and Finance and Economic Development Minister Roy McTaggart take part in Wednesday’s groundbreaking for the $80 million Periwinkle development project. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe 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. THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, AUG. 31 WEST BAY’S DVDL: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing Office in West Bay is closed today due to a scheduled power interruption by Caribbean Utilities Company along Rev. Blackman Road. The West Bay staff will be relocated to the Crewe Road Office. The office at Breakers remains open. The West Bay office should reopen for normal business on Friday morning. GREEN IGUANA DEADLINE: The Department of Environment announces that the green iguana cull is extended until the end of November 2017, but the deadline for new contracts is 5 p.m. today. USED BOOKS: Today is the last day of the Red Cross Thrift Shop book sale. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a bag for $5. SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP: Negotiation Techniques. 5:30–7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Business Master class – Strata Management. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. BRAC WORKSHOP: The Family Resource Centre holds a three-day domestic violence intervention workshop at the Brac Reef hotel. The free training is Aug. 29-31, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop is for front-line professionals who interact with domestic violence victims and their families. Contact FRC at 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed for all sorts of duties not just working directly with athletes. Volunteer training from 9-2 p.m. at UCCI Cascade lecture room. Involves basics of coaching and protective behaviors/child protection training. Refreshments will be provided. Sports training begins the week of Sept. 11. Contact Darrel Rankine, national director at soci@candw.ky or call 916-2600. WEST BAY TRUST: The annual general meeting of the West Bay District Committee of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands will be at 6:30 p.m. at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall, 24 West Church Street, West Bay. If unable to attend, complete proxy form and return by email to amcoe@candw.ky before the AGM. SUNDAY, SEPT. 3 PAWS ON WHEELS: Fundraising cycle ride, 7 a.m., starting from The Lighthouse restaurant in Breakers. Registration on the day of event, 6:15-6:45 a.m. at The Lighthouse. Adults, $25. Adults w/commemorative jersey, $50. Kids under 12, free. All participants will receive a free PAWS T-shirt (while supplies last) and a continental breakfast after the event. Choose from three routes (4, 10 or 20 miles) to suit experience level. For more information, contact PAWS at 916-3957 or 916-1731. TUESDAY, SEPT. 5 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. 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. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6 SICKLE CELL SUPPORT: The next Sickle Cell Support Group meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Cayman Islands Hospital Public Health waiting room. Dr. Anna Matthews, general practitioner, will lead the discussion. All are invited. For further information, contact the genetics coordinator on 244-2630 or email joy.merren@hsa.ky. THURSDAY, SEPT. 7 SMALL BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free to attend. Open to all. CHAMBER COURSE: Time Management & Productivity. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY: Opening night for comedy “Sistahs.” Performances are at the Prospect Playhouse on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays to Sept. 23. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Curtain 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all performances are $25 for adults, $15 for students/ children. Book tickets at www.cds.ky. TUESDAY, SEPT. 12 SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers needed for weekly Sports Training. Tuesdays – Track, bocce, football. Wednesday – Lighthouse School swimming at Lion’s pool. Thursdays – Basketball. Saturdays – Adult swim. Golf is starting soon if interested. Contact Darrel Rankine, national director at soci@candw.ky or 916-2600 for further details. THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 CHAMBER COURSE: Effective Negotiation and Conflict Management Styles. 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Debt Collection – How to Avoid and Collect Bad Debt. 9 – 11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, SEPT. 16 CRISIS CENTRE GALA: Opa! My Big Fat Greek Gala, to benefit the Crisis Centre. Pappagallo’s, 7 p.m. Welcome cocktail, Greek food, live entertainment, silent auction. Tickets $150 per person or $1,250 for groups of 10. Contact lauren@bermanfisher.com. GENERAL INTEREST HIGH SCHOOL REUNION: The Cayman Islands High School Class of 1987 will celebrate their 30-year class reunion on Saturday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. at the George Town Yacht Club, North Sound Road. Tickets are now on sale for $75 at Funky Tang’s or by calling Cassandra Ebanks Powery on 925-1930. Please purchase tickets by Sept. 25 so preparations can be made. BE A MENTOR: Training provided. Starting at the end of September for one year, mentor a Year 11 student at John Gray High School to help him or her achieve their potential in life and in school. It just takes one hour a week, Tuesday or Thursday lunchtime meetings from noon – 1 p.m. in term time at the school. Contact Laura on 328-0300 or Karen on 325-0318. SCHOLARSHIPS: The Chevening Secretariat is accepting applications for U.K. Government scholarships to study in the U.K. in 2018/2019. Applications for Chevening Scholarships are open until Nov. 7, with applications to be submitted via www.chevening.org/apply. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Savannah After School Enrichment Programme is enrolling primary-age students for their program, held at the Savannah United Church Hall, Mondays to Fridays, from 3–6 p.m. The program is particularly convenient for children who attend Savannah Primary and Bodden Town primary schools. For registration and fees, call the church office at 947-6071 or email info@savannahunited.ky. GAMEBIRD SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds hunters that the open season for blue-winged teal opens in September (three-bird bag and possession limit). For white- winged doves, the season opens in October (12 bird bag and possession limit). ANNIVERSARY DINNER: Tickets for Wesleyan Christian Academy’s 40th anniversary dinner buffet are on sale. The dinner will be at Schooner’s restaurant at the Cayman Turtle Centre on Sept. 17. Tickets are available to all past/present attendees of WCA and their families, $20 adults, $15 children. Inquiries may be made to 949-3394 or 949-1121. LAW SCHOOL PROGRAMS: Applications are being accepted for one of the new postgraduate programs offered by the Truman Bodden Law School – the 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 at www.lawschool.gov.ky. 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. Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The shop has moved to Plaza Venezia, 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. 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. 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. ARTISAN MARKET: Every Wednesday, noon – 8 p.m. at Camana Bay. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale with 3 tents on display by KARoo Restaurant/Bar. info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Every Wednesday Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant located in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee. Easels provided for artist of all levels to come out and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. info@visualartcayman.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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The deadline for new contracts for the extended green iguana cull is Thursday, Aug. 31. The cull has been extended to the end of November.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 31, 2017 the board’s handling of Pea- nuts’ application for a re- tail license, which would have allowed it to sell al- cohol on Sundays. The board initially an- nounced the application had been granted following its March meeting, releasing the decision to the media and the business owner, and listing it on the Department of Commerce and Invest- ment’s website. Mr. DaCosta later claimed this was an administra- tive error and that the ap- plication had actually been adjourned and later re- jected at a separate “elec- tronic meeting.” The minutes from the meeting, the official public record of the board’s delib- erations, suggest the appli- cation was rejected in March and make no mention of a separate electronic meeting. The Cayman Compass later obtained a copy of the original minutes of the March meeting, which sug- gest the board granted Pea- nuts’ application and further agreed that all gas stations that applied could obtain similar permission. Those minutes were never publicly released, and all ref- erences to the wider discus- sion on Sunday licensing were absent from the official pub- lished minutes. That docu- ment details a different dis- cussion, indicating that the board decided on a new policy restricting all businesses to one type of liquor license. On that basis, the minutes sug- gest, the application from Peanuts, which already had a package license for weekday sales, was rejected. Mr. Hew said he would sit down with the new board to discuss the one business, one license policy decision, among other things. He said the normal pro- cedure was for Cabinet to make policy decisions, though he said this was done based on consultation with and recommendations from the board. He said the indepen- dent audit inquiry into the Peanuts decision would continue. “There are certainly some gray areas and we would like to resolve that matter once and for all,” he said. “We would like to identify if there are issues relating to the staff or the board.” He characterized the re- shuffle of the board as a broader strategic decision, rather than one that was connected specifically to the Peanuts issue. “We have made some changes, as governments will do from time to time, and those will be ga- zetted shortly. “The previous chairman had resigned, [board member] Ralph Lewis had resigned, and we took the opportunity to make some other changes.” He said he had not waited for the re- sults of the audit inquiry because the business of the board needed to continue. He said both Mr. Wil- liams and Ms. Bodden, a pre- vious board deputy chair, brought years of experience to the positions. Mr. DaCosta suggested he had been unfairly treated by the media, particu- larly the Compass. He said, “Frankly, I had sincerely looked forward to assisting the investigation if required, to ensure the good names of the members of the liquor licensing board were maintained.” Clerical error In a separate develop- ment, Department of Com- merce and Investment Di- rector Ryan Rajkumarsingh said additional confusion that was revealed this week over the Peanuts’ convenience store package license was the result of a clerical error on the department’s website and that neither the department, nor the board, had granted the business any license to sell alcohol on Sundays. Lists of license holders on the website published in April, May and June had in- dicated that the Red Bay area store had both a package li- cense and a retail license al- lowing it to sell alcohol seven days a week. Those lists sub- sequently were altered to re- move the retail license after liquor board acting chairman Mr. DaCosta said the permis- sion for Peanuts to sell on Sunday had been announced in error, and claimed the application had actually been rejected. Then, a list of license holders for July was pub- lished, and again included Peanuts as a premises with both package and re- tail licenses. Mr. Rajkumarsingh said the inclusion of Peanuts in the July licensing no- tice dated from the board’s March decision on the matter and should have been re- moved from the list, but had not been. The entire list was removed from the site earlier this week. Mr. Rajkumarsingh said the department would write to Peanuts owner Gary Rutty’s attorneys Wednesday to further explain the matter. By press time Wednesday, Mr. Rutty’s lawyer, Cline Glidden, Jr., said he had re- ceived nothing in writing from the department. Board member resigns A second liquor licensing board member, local news- paper publisher Ralph Lewis, confirmed Wednesday that he had resigned from the board. Mr. Lewis told the Com- pass his decision to step down had “nothing at all to do” with the issues sur- rounding Peanuts’ li- censing application. Rather, he said, he was concerned about “potential conflicts of interest” involving some of his advertising cli- ents who were liquor-licensed businesses. Mr. Lewis said he was worried about the per- ception of those businesses advertising with his com- pany at the same time he was making decisions regarding their license applications. “I had to step away,” Mr. Lewis said during a tele- phone interview Wednesday. Mr. Lewis said his news- paper, the Caymanian Times, had received some paid ads from the liquor board itself for public notices of meetings and the like. However, he said, his view on those ads was slightly different, given that the government was seeking to publicize public hearings. “They should put [the ads] in all the newspa- pers,” he said. Compass reporter Brent Fuller contributed to this report. made a statement about the matter on her website. “CMR hereby issues Ar- cher a public apology as it was never this publica- tion’s intent to defame him in any way,” a part of the statement read. “We were simply attempting to high- light a story that presented numerous facts that made us concerned about how stamp duty abatement ap- plications are handled …. “I am thankful for the judge’s feedback [Wednesday] morning. It was a very useful learning exercise.” The writ filed Monday alleges that Mr. Archer was the victim of defama- tion in this instance. Aside from making a public state- ment on his Facebook page, the former minister has re- mained silent about the matter since the initial publication on Aug. 24. Mr. Archer’s attorney Colm Flanagan declined to comment on whether his client intended to press forward with the defa- mation action. their commitment to the cen- tral George Town area with this long-term investment into new business premises.” Kensington Executive Vice President Keith Carter de- clined to comment on the sale price or its allocation be- tween the partners, but said both planned to move into the building. “We’ll take two floors and Stuarts will get the top,” he said. “Kensington is looking at Easter time next year, 2018.” He was unable to say when renovations might begin or the likely cost. “The whole thing has just closed, but it’s imminent. We can’t wait till next year to start,” he said, noting that in autumn was likely. The two companies had been looking at the premises since the beginning of this year, Mr. Carter said. Mr. King said negotia- tions had taken between two months and three months. Stuarts Managing Director Chris Humphries declined to comment on the sale, saying the firm “wasn’t ready to publish” details, but said “it might be good for Caledo- nian liquidators coming to an end and creditors will get final payment.” Mr. King said Avata had listed the property in March/ April last year and agreed a sale within a year effectively. This is half the time that the last few commercial sales in George Town have occurred in,” a timetable he pegged to “our professional advice.” The building, described by Mr. King as “good grade B [of- fice] space,” was sold as part of efforts by Caledonian liquida- tors Ernst & Young to dispose of the bankrupt firm’s assets. Other parties were in- terested in the property, in- cluding a hotel, residential on the upper floors and re- tail uses on the ground floor, Mr. King said. Kensington’s Mr. Carter said the company, housed in downtown’s Genesis Building since its founding in 1999, bought the space because “we are a growing company and are outgrowing our premises, so we’ll move.” He said the Caledonian Building matched the insur- ance management company’s requirements: “There isn’t an awful lot of space for sale that is big enough,” he said. In the wake of the Feb- ruary 2015 SEC action, Cale- donian’s approximately 1,550 customers with nearly 1,900 active accounts sought to withdraw US$68 mil- lion in a massive bank run, forcing Caledonian to sus- pend operations. The Cayman Islands Mon- etary Authority appointed controllers four days after the SEC lawsuit, alleging that the bank and its Caledonian Securities affiliate – and three offshore broker-dealers – had sold unregistered, restricted shares as part of a penny stock fraud scheme. Caledonian Bank building sold for $3.8 million MARCO ARCHER SUES WEBSITE FOR DEFAMATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Marco Archer “It might be good for Caledonian liquidators coming to an end and creditors will get final payment.” CHRIS HUMPHRIES, managing director, Stuarts Walker Hersant Humphries CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Woody DaCosta removed as chair of Liquor Licensing Board CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BRITISH GIRL’S PLACEMENT IN MUSLIM FOSTER HOME SPARKS OUTRAGE LONDON – A story by the Times in London about a British girl who was placed into temporary foster care with a Muslim family gen- erated a wave of responses and pushback this week. According to the British newspaper, “a white Chris- tian child was taken from her family and forced to live with a niqab-wearing foster carer in a home where she was allegedly en- couraged to learn Arabic.” The story of the anon- ymous child in foster care was plastered on the front pages and websites of British media, from the BBC to the Daily Mail. The Times did not report why the child was placed in foster care to begin with – but did quote the anony- mous mother complaining that her daughter was mistreated. “The girl’s mother is said by friends to have been horrified by the alien cultural, reli- gious and linguistic en- vironment in which her daughter has spent the past six months,” the Times reported. The British reports featured photographs that showed a woman, alleged to be one of her caregivers, veiled all in black, escorting the tow- haired child. The photographs, to many, appeared sinister. The Times story also reported: “It is under- stood that the child told her mother that when she was given her favorite Italian food to take home, the foster carer would not allow her to eat it because the carbonara meal con- tained bacon.” Today the Guardian reported that some of the images used by British media and others in their reporting on the story might have been doctored. The message of the original reporting was clear – and critics say Is- lamophobic – that British authorities were placing a child at risk, that a young white Christian girl was being forced to assim- ilate to a foreign cul- ture and even religion by Muslim caregivers. “This is a five-year- old white girl. She was born in this country, speaks English as her first language, loves foot- ball, holds a British pass- port and was christened in a church,” a friend of the girl’s mother told the Times in its report. Times chief investi- gative reporter Andrew Norfolk, quoting a file he had seen, reported that the girl’s foster family removed “her necklace, which had a Christian cross, and suggested that she should learn Arabic.” The newspaper said the girl told her mother that her foster caregivers told her “Christmas and Easter are stupid” and that “European women are stupid and alcoholic.” The report said her foster family did not speak English. © 2017, The Washington PostNext >