ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 A RESPONSE TO MR. AUSTIN-SMITH’S RESPONSE TO US LOCAL & REGIONAL | PAGE 2 IRMA BEARS DOWN ON LEEWARDS, LIKELY TO TRACK NORTHWEST $ $ Commissioner: RCIPS ‘must accept’ its failures in child abuse cases BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Overall mismanagement, rather than spe- cific individual officers’ failures, was the pri- mary reason a number of child sexual abuse cases investigated by local police will never get to court, Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice Commissioner Derek Byrne said Friday. Following a review conducted by three U.K. officers who looked at investigative delays and issues at the RCIPS Family Support Unit in the past five years, Mr. Byrne said, it was deter- mined that two child sex abuse cases would likely be abandoned, while a third, which also had serious errors, may still go to court. “The organization has to accept there were corporate failures in this, not just individual failures,” Mr. Byrne said. The independent review, a summary of which was released on Friday, painted a pic- ture of stressed out, overworked, under-re- sourced police officers at the Family Support Unit. The officers, Mr. Byrne said, were trying to get through too many cases at once, and dropped the ball on a few. The review found that of the 92 investiga- tions it considered since 2012, 89 were satis- factory. The three that were “red-flagged” oc- curred between 2012 and 2014 and are still pending a final decision. “You had people working down there … [in] small teams, [case] referrals being made, people running from one case to another without finishing it, not supported by any pro- cess, or any structure, or any audit, or any regular meetings,” Mr. Byrne said. “This is the failure. I don’t think it’s that [the cases] weren’t taken seriously. I think you had a volume of work that people couldn’t cope with.” One police constable and one police super- visor were reassigned from the unit as a re- sult of the review. Mr. Byrne said their careers at the RCIPS were “not over” and that no offi- cers had been fired because of the investiga- tive blunders. “There was an over-reliance on some DART PURCHASES ROYAL PALMS SITE Dart Real Estate announced this weekend that it has purchased the site occupied by the Royal Palms Beach Club. “We are pleased to announce this addition to our portfolio,” Dart Real Estate President Jackie Doak said in a press release. “We be- lieve it is a logical acquisition, as the property will integrate well with our Camana Bay de- velopment due to its adjacent position.” James Smith, company secretary of Coral Apartments Ltd., which owned the site, said, “The company has decided to sell the property. The Dart organization is known for its high quality real estate developments and there is every indication that the property will be de- veloped in a manner that will be good for the Cayman Islands. Neither Dart nor Coral Apartment dis- closed the sale price. The property is 3.49 acres, including 300 feet of beach and runs from the beachfront to West Bay Road. It is currently home to the Royal Palms Beach Club bar and restaurant on the waterfront and a large parking lot. It was previously the site of the Royal Palms Hotel, which burned down in 1988. Dart is carrying out a $300 million expan- sion to Camana Bay, in which broad land- scaped bridges and elevated land will connect the town center to a planned five-star hotel on Seven Mile Beach. The company has built an underpass on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway with an elevated walkway, and similar engi- neering work is planned for West Bay Road. HSA short $21M cash, writes off millions in debt BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands public health au- thority has failed to maintain legally re- quired cash reserves for at least the last five years, while at the same time writing off millions in unpaid patient debts, ac- cording to auditors. The Cayman Islands Auditor General’s Office found the authority was $21.5 mil- lion short of the cash needed to cover at least 90 days of operating expenses as of June 2016, according to financial state- ments made public last week. The Health Services Authority Law states that the op- erating expenses for three months – roughly $26 million – must be maintained. The authority has not followed its own law relative to the cash reserves in con- secutive years dating back to at least 2012, the Auditor General’s Office has reported. Cash shortfalls varied but recently have in- creased from $5.3 million in 2014, to $19.2 million in 2015, to last year’s $21.5 million. “Due to [the HSA’s] cash collection rates, it has consistently been unable to maintain the level of cash it needs to meet this legal requirement,” Auditor General Sue Win- spear said Tuesday. As of last year, the Health Services Au- thority had an estimated $90 million in bad PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » The Health Services Authority, which runs the Cayman Islands Hospital, has had issues collecting payments from patients. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 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. - MONDAY - UNLOCKED (R) 12:30 I 2:55 I 5:20 I 7:45 I 10:10 THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (R) 12:50 I 4:15 VIP I 7:10 I 9:55 VIP ANNABELLE CREATION (R) 1:30 VIP I 3:40 I 7:10 VIP I 10:00 DARK TOWER (PG13) 4:30 I 9:45 THE NUT JOB 2 3D (PG) 12:30 I 2:50 2D I 5:10 I 7:30 2D GIRLS TRIP (R) 1:40 I 6:55 I 10:00 THE GLASS CASTLE (PG13) 1:05 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:50 Unit #125 Cannon Place GT (Formerly Mirco Centre) caymankarateacademy@gmail.com www.caymankarateacademy.com Telephone: 926-5425 Back to School SPECIAL 1 Week Trial Program Including Uniform for $ 29 Irma bears down on Leewards, likely to track northwest A hurricane hunter plane from the U.S. National Oce- anic and Atmospheric Asso- ciation was scheduled to de- part from the Bahamas late Sunday afternoon to explore Category 3 Hurricane Irma, which was making its way through the central Atlantic. The Cayman Islands Na- tional Weather Service re- ported that Hurricane Irma poses no immediate threat to the Cayman Islands. A strong high pres- sure ridge over the cen- tral Atlantic was steering Irma west-southwestward at 15 mph. Maximum wind speed was recorded at 115 miles per hour. According to the National Hurricane Center, Irma is forecast to turn west, then west-north- west by Wednesday, with gradual strengthening ex- pected during the next two to three days. “Irma is expected to be a major hurricane when it moves near or over the north- eastern Leeward Islands by the middle of this week and could cause dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall im- pacts, along with rough surf and rip currents on some is- lands,” the National Hurri- cane Center reported Sunday. Hurricane and tropical storm watches were likely be issued for some of these islands later Sunday, the center stated. Meteorologists with NOAA said they were ex- pecting additional informa- tion from the plane on the storm’s intensity by Sunday evening. A major hurricane is defined as a storm with wind speeds of more than 110 miles per hour. Meteorologists predicted that direct impacts from Irma were possible in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico later this week, and tropical storm or hurricane watches could be issued for these islands by Monday. The possibility of direct impacts from Irma in His- paniola, the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas later this week was also increasing. Forecasters said Sunday that it was too early to de- termine what direct impacts Irma might have on the con- tinental United States. Meanwhile, meteorolo- gists are also monitoring a tropical wave several hun- dred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, which is producing an area of dis- organized showers and thunderstorms. “Environmental con- ditions are conducive for gradual development during the next few days, and a trop- ical depression could form by the end of the week while the system moves westward to west-northwestward at about 10 mph over the trop- ical Atlantic Ocean,” the Na- tional Hurricane Center re- ported Sunday. TWO SOUGHT IN ROBBERY, SHOOTING INCIDENTS JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police are searching for two men who they believe were involved in an armed robbery at the Red Bay jerk chicken stand and a separate assault on a man on Linwood Street in George Town on Saturday. Shots were fired at both locations, police confirmed. Following the armed robbery at 9:15 p.m. at the jerk stand near the Lighthouse School on Shamrock Road, the two suspects made off on foot with a quantity of cash. “While leaving the scene a number of shots were discharged,” police said in a statement. No one was injured. Around 8:20 p.m. the same day, police were called to Linwood Street, following a report of a man being shot. How- ever, investigations re- vealed the man had not been shot; he had been hit in the head with a blunt object. He also suffered lacerations to his arm. His injuries appeared to be non-life- threat- ening, police said. The two men involved were seen running toward Burke Maude Plaza on Shedden Road. “It appears that a number of shots were fired before the two left the scene,” according to the police press release. Police said the victim told officers he had no idea who would want to do him harm. One of the suspects is described as being 6 feet, 2 inches tall and of slim build. The other is de- scribed as 5 feet, 5 inches tall. Both were wearing dark clothing. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call 949-4222. Shots were fired at both locations, police confirmed. Merren drops appeal in U.S. drug case BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman businessman’s effort to reduce his U.S. jail sentence on a drug con- spiracy charge by claiming he had ineffective legal counsel has been abandoned. Last year, Gilroy Bryce Merren sought to appeal his nine-year prison sentence be- cause, he alleged, his attorney failed to visit him in prison after he was sentenced. A handwritten, two-page letter received last month by the U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico, where Merren was arrested, asked the court to withdraw the appeal mo- tion filed in June 2016. “[Merren] now feels that it is [in] his best interest to withdraw his motion,” the letter states. The appeal filing from June 2016 states: “After sentencing, counsel never came and visited or talked with Mr. Merren about an ap- peal. [But] for his counsel’s deficient failure to consult with him about an appeal, he would have timely appealed.” The request to withdraw the appeal motion brings to an end Merren’s remaining legal matters with U.S. law en- forcement, although prosecu- tors have made statements to the court that the investigation continues against others who may be involved in the drug transshipment conspiracy. Merren pleaded guilty in December 2014 to con- spiring to distribute between 50 kilograms and 150kg of cocaine via an operation he attempted to set up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prosecutors said Merren, who was 47 at the time, would have faced between 11 and 14 years’ imprisonment, according to federal sen- tencing guidelines, but that his attorney negotiated a plea bargain down to nine years, based on certain terms. Part of the plea agreement, ac- cording to court records, was that Merren agreed to waive his right to appeal his con- viction or his sentence. Various records related to the Merren drug conspiracy investigation remain under wraps in the U.S. federal court system, including copies of the arrest warrant filed in the case and certain financial af- fidavits filed on Merren’s be- half. In addition, redactions were made to transcripts of Merren’s sentencing and change of plea hearings from 2015. The partially redacted transcripts were released in September 2016. Merren was arrested in March 2014 on allegations that he was attempting to set up a money laundering operation to cover for planned cocaine ship- ments through Puerto Rico. Records from the U.S. District Court indicate that Merren re- vealed that at least one other man – an employee at his Cayman Islands trucking busi- ness – was involved in negotia- tions during 2013 and 2014 for cocaine shipments with two undercover U.S. Homeland Se- curity agents. Merren pleaded guilty to one count in an indictment alleging he conspired with other individuals to pos- sess cocaine. It was one of the three charges initially filed against him. The other two charges, alleging money laundering and drug posses- sion, were dropped as part of the plea deal with fed- eral prosecutors. In motions filed with the Puerto Rico court on Dec. 17, 2014, U.S. attorneys asked that certain records related to Merren’s plea in the case be restricted, with access given only to selected parties. “The [United States] is filing the pleading with the requested level of restriction because [it] … is necessary to protect the confidentiality of the matters detailed in the pleading and of the law enforcement activities,” the court record states. “[Merren] now feels that it is [in] his best interest to withdraw his [appeal] motion.” U.S. COURT RECORDSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 Canal Lots at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club From US$499,000 A rare opportunity to purchase in Grand Cayman’s most enchanting neighbourhood Only four lots remain at North Creek, an exclusive residential enclave at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club. The North Creek lots provide a rare opportunity to own property in the coveted Seven Mile Beach corridor. Be one of only 11 owners to enjoy an exclusive address in North Creek, with direct access to a world-class marina boasting an impressive and convenient array of services and amenities and all the splendour of waterfront living. +1.345.640.7000 | provenanceproperties.com CAYMAN ISLANDS YACHT CLUB MORGAN’S RESTAURANT SALT CREEK PRO YACHT NORTH CREEK SEVEN MILE BEACH GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR ANCHORS N BACARO VISTA DEL MAR 7 8 10 11The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” By sheer coincidence, the new issue of Grand Cayman magazine (a sister publication), which will be distributed on island in a few days, includes a column by its inimitable know-it-all (and at times insufferable), “Mr. Manners,” on how to apologize (“Dos and Don’ts for Saying ‘I’m Sorry’”). We mention this not out of any transparent attempt at marketing or “promotion” but because we publish today a long letter to the editor (to your immediate right) from James Austin-Smith, chairman of the Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission. The letter concludes: “You owe her [Deborah Bodden] an apology.” We take letters such as Mr. Austin-Smith’s extremely seriously. He is a highly regarded attorney, intelligent and thoughtful, who sits in the head chair of a very important commission. Whenever we receive such letters, it is our inclination to publish them without comment. Let them have their say. After all, we have “our say” in this space every day of the week. We are deviating from our preferred practice today because we believe Mr. Austin-Smith’s letter raises issues that probably would benefit from further context. We will not re-argue here our opinion that the Human Rights Commission has not been sufficiently involved, or effective, in Cayman’s Cuban refugee issues. Mr. Austin-Smith thinks differently and re- enforces his position in his letter. Readers can make up their own minds. But especially troubling to us was Mr. Austin- Smith’s contention that we had treated Ms. Deborah Bodden, manager of the Commissions Secretariat, unfairly and unjustly. (We said that her email responses to Compass questions relating to the Cuban detention center bordered on “being impolite.”) Deep-breath time. Compass Publisher David R. Legge called Mr. Austin-Smith – they had never met or even spoken previously – and they talked for the better part of an hour. It was a most cordial “introduction.” Mr. Austin-Smith pointed out that the Compass, in an editorial a few months earlier, had singled out Ms. Bodden for pointed criticism. (The issue involved an unrelated matter which we will not revisit here.) Frankly, we never made the connection that we were dealing with the same Ms. Bodden. Uh oh. We say “uh oh” because after the first edito- rial appeared, a number of Cayman’s most highly respected professionals (attorneys, accountants, and colleagues of Ms. Bodden) came to her defense in emails and phone calls with effusive praise and support for her personally and her contributions to these islands. These were people we knew personally and for whom we had the highest regard. Likewise, in the conversation with our publisher, Mr. Austin-Smith was passionately clear that Ms. Bodden was a consummate civil servant, a role model for her peers and, he implied, the multiple commissions she serves just might grind to a halt without her. He was convincing. So, is there a lesson in all of this for the Compass and, more broadly, for all of us? We think so. It is simply that direct communication, ideally face-to-face, would avert or avoid many (certainly not all) misconceptions and misperceptions that derive from less-personal channels of communications, most notably emails, texts, “tweets,” and anonymous postings to websites. (For the record, our reporter did reach out to Ms. Bodden, in an email: “If you are available, we can meet in person. I find in-person interviews are much more informative.”) Unfortunately the “invitation” was never responded to and a personal meeting never took place – but it should have. It’s one of the wonders of human interac- tion that many differences disappear in face-to-face encounters. They dissolve in a glass of wine, a spot of tea, and, of course, the willingness to find common ground and mutual understanding. A response to Mr. Austin-Smith’s response to us MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Human Rights Commission: Our efforts to help migrants In your Aug. 28 editorial (“Cuban migration: Cayman’s conundrum”), you highlight many of the challenges being faced by Cuban migrants ar- riving in the Cayman Islands and those tasked with en- suring their safety and pro- cessing them. I commend you for reporting on this hugely important issue. In your closing paragraphs you suggest that the Human Rights Commission has been “impolite” to you and claim: “the Human Rights Commis- sion won’t get involved in what may be the most signif- icant ongoing human rights issue in Cayman.” Both al- legations are demonstrably untrue. Ordinarily I would not trouble to respond to in- accurate stories in the press; however, on this occasion you have unfairly maligned the staff of the Commissions Sec- retariat and undermined the work of the Commission. The record should be set straight. Questions posed to the Commissions Secretariat are forwarded to the Commission for responses. The responses are those of the Commission, and in this case me. We have repeatedly provided detailed responses to the questions that we are able to, and di- rected your reporters to those who can answer the ones we cannot. Equally, your allega- tion that anyone has been im- polite is simply untrue: I in- vite you to publish in full the correspondence in question if you feel otherwise. Secondly, and more im- portantly, your allegation that the Commission “won’t get involved” would, were the issue not so serious, be laugh- able for the extent of its ob- vious and total inaccuracy. I again invite you to visit the Commission’s website to see what we have been doing about this issue. Allow me to summarise: ■■ On April 24, 2012, we wrote to Immigration re- garding policies for han- dling Cuban migrants. ■■ On Jan. 24, 2013, we wrote to the Attorney Gen- eral and the Acting Gov- ernor about the issue. ■■ In February 2013, we met with the DPP and wrote to her about the issue; we met with Commissioner of the RCIPS and wrote to him about the issue; and met with the Chief Immi- gration Officer and wrote to her about the issue. ■■ On Aug. 5, 2013, we pub- lished a comprehensive review of policy, legisla- tion and practice relating to Cuban migrants. ■■ Our 2013 Annual Report addressed the issue. ■■ On April 8, 2014, we met with the UNHCR to discuss the issue. ■■ On June 9, 2014, and again on Sept. 1, 2014, we wrote to the UNHCR about the issue. ■■ Our 2014 Annual Report addressed the issue. ■■ In May 2015, I met with the UNHCR to discuss the issue. ■■ On May 21, 2015, I wrote to the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Home Af- fairs about the issue. ■■ On Dec. 1, 2015, I wrote to the Chief Immigration Officer about the issue. ■■ Our 2015 Annual Report addressed the issue. ■■ On March 22, 2016, we issued a press re- lease about the issue. ■■ On May 19, 2016, I wrote to the Chief Immigra- tion Officer, the Chief Of- ficer of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the IAT about the issue. ■■ On June 6, 2016, I wrote to the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Home af- fairs about the issue. ■■ On June 20, 2016, we is- sued a press release about refugees generally. ■■ Our 2016 Annual Report addressed the issue. In addition to the above, which addressed the issues in great detail, we have had nu- merous meetings, phone calls and hundreds of emails with various government bodies about this issue. Members of the Commission’s Secre- tariat and I have repeatedly visited the Immigration De- tention Centres. In 2016, I met in London with representatives of the FCO and various other U.K. government agencies and raised the issue. Later that year, I met with the Governor and the U.K. Minister for the Overseas Territories and raised the issue. Your editorial suggests that it would be “unfair” to blame anyone from any of the CI government agencies tasked with ensuring the welfare of Cuban migrants, citing the lack of resources as a reasonable excuse. The Cayman Islands has a GDP of CI$2,691,600,000 and re- corded an annual surplus of CI$101,000,000 last year; those agencies have extensive legal powers. Conversely, the Human Rights Commission is composed of volunteers and shares resources with five other commissions; it has no legal powers. Notwith- standing this disparity, you regarded it as fair to criticise the Commission. Your allega- tion is not only factually inac- curate but misdirected. Finally, and most irre- sponsibly of all, you decide, in a misguided and senten- tious editorial, to single out Ms. Deborah Bodden for crit- icism. That smear cannot go uncorrected. Deborah Bodden has spent hundreds of hours of her own time, often late at night and on weekends, per- sonally engaging with Cuban migrants. She has been in- strumental in persuading local law firms to give their time for free to represent Cuban migrants denied state assistance, achieving some spectacular successes in the IAT. She has been indefati- gable in her pursuit of torpid government agencies and has even has spent her own money buying food and toi- letries for Cuban migrants when government has failed to step in. It is an irony that each of the issues about the Immigration Detention Centre that you highlight in your ed- itorial was first identified by Ms. Bodden during one of her many visits there. I do not ex- aggerate when I say that her actions in urgent cases and on an ongoing basis have saved lives. I can say without fear of contradiction (by anyone properly informed) that she has done more to safeguard the rights of Cuban migrants in the Cayman Islands than any other individual. In these circumstances, your most recent personal attack on her is not only ill-informed; it is inexcusable. You owe her an apology. 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Motor deductibles from 200 SAVE 10% on car insurance with home insurance FREE Roadside recovery (comprehensive insurance) cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *Choice of $250 BritCay gift certificate OR Storm Kit applies to new buildings insurance policies only FREE STORM KIT... with new home insurance policies. 5 gallon bucket 100’ rope Lantern/flashlight (rechargeable) AM/FM Radio (rechargeable) First Aid Kit Large tarpaulin 6-in-1Game Set (chess, checkers, backgammon, tick-tac- toe, dice, playing cards) $ 17 firefighter recruits graduate Chief spells out distinct career choices for recruits KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Chief Fire Officer David Hails presented a stark choice to the 17 new fire- fighters at a graduation cer- emony on Friday when he asked them to consider what they will one day tell their grandchildren about how they spent their career. “It could be answer one, which would be: ‘Well, I was a fire officer, and I sat at work in front of the TV all day, and I moaned and bitched about how bad things were, and how the Fire Service did nothing for me,’” said Mr. Hails. “Or you could say an- swer two: ‘When I was a fire officer, I was one of the team of dedicated fire officers who helped shape the Fire Service into the world-class organi- zation it is today.’” Though the fire chief said his department is a “long way” from being world-class, he’s counting on his first class of graduates to make the latter choice. That is why he put them through a rigorous course, the curriculum of which in- cluded how to use the depart- ment’s equipment, how to ad- minister first-aid, and how to fight all types of fires – in- cluding aviation fires, a skill that Mr. Hails brought in ex- perts from the U.K.-based International Fire Training Center to teach. The course was the first for new recruits since the Ministry of Home Affairs re- leased a scathing review of the Cayman Islands Fire Ser- vice in 2015, finding that the training of officers was se- verely deficient. The Fire Ser- vice is currently undergoing another review by PwC, which is looking at the de- partment’s “organizational structure,” according to Home Affairs Minister Tara Rivers. Ms. Rivers told the Cayman Compass that the review was supposed to have been conducted several years ago She decided to commis- sion it when she was as- signed responsibility over the Fire Service. The results will likely be released around the time government presents its two-year budget in October. The minister also spoke during the graduation cere- mony, telling the new officers that it’s her goal to remove the “obstacles” facing the de- partment “in order to create a more efficient, a more ef- fective, and a more overall pleasant experience for those involved at the Fire Service.” She declined to elaborate on what those obstacles are. “Stay tuned until the budget discussions,” she said. Mr. Hails also declined to comment on what Ms. Rivers may have been refer- ring to. “You’d have to ask her that” he said. The chief officer did ad- dress reports from recent weeks about internal com- munications sent to fire ser- vice staff members from departing officers, who ex- pressed some concerns and said a number of fire- fighters have chosen to leave the service. When asked about this, Mr. Hails replied that five of- ficers have transferred to the Department of Public Safety Communications. When asked why those officers transferred, Mr. Hails said, “You’ll have to ask them.” Despite whatever internal issues the Fire Service might be dealing with, Friday’s cer- emony was marked by the high spirits of the graduating officers and their families, who whooped and hollered in jubilation when their gradu- ates’ names were called. “It was a lot of trials for him to get there, but it was worth it for him,” said Diane Welds, the mother of graduate Kody Welds, who was joined on stage by his cousin, Luke Welds. The Welds family now has four firefighters, according to Ms. Welds. “Maybe they have that in their blood to help others,” she said. Several awards were handed out to graduates. Leroy Brown and Pablo Brito-Ebanks received the Training Officer Leadership Award; Roberto Lopez-Va- lenzuela and Ameilia Gil- lispie – the cohort’s lone fe- male officer – received the Outstanding Improvement Award; Aliston Scott re- ceived the Deputy Chief Fire Officer’s Academic Award; and Stefan McLaughlin re- ceived the Chief Fire Officer’s Top Rung Award. MARINE UNIT RESCUES BOATERS NEAR STINGRAY CITY Four boat passengers and a crew member were rescued from the water by the Joint Marine Unit near Sand Bar at Stingray City on Thursday. Officers aboard Niven D and Tornado vessels re- sponded to the scene around 6 p.m. and towed the dis- tressed passengers to a docking station. Marine Commander Da- menian Maxwell said all of those rescued were in good health and no one was injured. “However, boat operators are reminded that having ad- equate safety equipment on board is crucial, as things can go wrong quickly at sea,” Commander Maxwell said. “We also ask that boat operators take special care in ensuring that their ves- sels are properly examined and in good working order prior to deploying. You are responsible for the safety of your passengers.” Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tina Choy swears in the new cohort of fire officers on Friday. The Joint Marine Unit’s vessel Tornado, pictured, as well as Niven D, were called to the Stingray City Sand Bar Thursday evening when a boat was reported to be in distress. - PHOTO: RCIPSDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Airline replies to critics In the Sept. 6, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, a story headlined “BWIA answers criticism,” appeared on the front page: “BWIA have requested that the following facts be made to the public in view of the criticism which is being currently levelled at the airlines due to the heavy summer traffic ex- perienced this year. “In May last, BWIA offi- cials came to discuss with the government, the Tourist Board and the Hotel Associ- ation what they wanted for the summer season. “The request was for two scheduled flights per week. In addition, a shuttle flight from Miami to Cayman and back once per week was requested. BWIA therefore agreed to run such a shuttle on Saturday nights and this was accepted. “When LACSA intro- duced their schedule, which included a flight at 12 noon on Saturdays, this undercut BWIA’s shuttle service at night and as the planes were running al- most empty, this service had to be withdrawn. “It is obvious that no- body anticipated the sharp rise in summer traffic this year and in consequence the number of seats needed was com- pletely underestimated by all concerned. “It might be helpful if the airlines got to- gether and endeavoured to arrange their flights on different days.” In the same edi- tion, a brief article gives an update on the ex- pected arrival of the is- lands’ first traffic lights, to be placed in George Town, in an piece titled “Not Forgotten.” “The traffic lights have not been forgotten. Upon consultation, it has been agreed that it would be advisable to have a green filter arrow fitted before these are put into use.” Another item, ti- tled “Mock Trial,” de- scribes the following: “At a regular meeting of the Expatriates Associ- ation to be held on 14th Sept. at 7.30 p.m. at the Sec. Mod. School, a spe- cial item on the agenda is a Grand Mock Trial arising from a charge of wounding. This prom- ises to be full of fun and excitement. “Principal characters are Mr. E. W. McHayle as Judge His Hon. ‘Mr. Stick in the Mud,’ Mr. Carl Gordon as Prosecuting At- torney Mr. ‘Slim Jim,’ Mr. Lenny Hew as Defence At- torney Mr. ‘Money Bag,’ Miss Gertrude Boreland as complainant Miss ‘Susie Que’ and a host of others. “The adjudicators will be Miss Annie Bodden, Mr. Clifton Hunter and Mr. O.L. Panton. All Jamaicans are invited to attend.” Red Bay Primary’s library gets a makeover Volunteers from the Pros- pect Community Group picked up their cleaning sup- plies and paint brushes over the weekend to give the Red Bay Primary School library a face lift in time for the new school year. As part of the rejuve- nation project, the volun- teers cleaned, organized and repainted the library space on Saturday. Organizer and Prospect Community Group executive member Kara Coe said, “It was a great way to give back to the community, and thanks go out to all of those who took time out of their busy weekend to assist.” Also taking part were community group leader Sabrina Tuner, the group’s deputy leader Mark Rickman, Joel Francis, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service PC Christopher Donaldson and Chanda Glidden. “Although the hard work is complete, the group is asking for donations of books, cushions and rugs to make the space more vibrant and appealing to the stu- dents,” the community group said in a press release. For more information on how to donate or join, email prospectcommunity345@gmail. com. The Prospect Community group meets on the first Monday of every month at the Seafarers Hall.Prospect Community Group deputy leader Mark Rickman helps out. Police Constable Christopher Donaldson is among the volunteers who spruced up the library. The primary school’s library shows off its new vibrant colors.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 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 Gov’t budget takes $11M hit BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A record personal in- jury lawsuit settlement and surging overseas hospital costs have put a $10.8 million dollar dent in the Cayman Is- lands annual budget. Additional spending au- thority for the two items was approved during the Legisla- tive Assembly’s Finance Com- mittee last month with no discussion among members. The new costs were approved along with other spending from previous budget years. The $10.8 million will be paid out of the current 2016/17 government budget. A $4.5 million lawsuit set- tlement – believed to be the largest personal injury case settlement in the territo- ry’s history – resolves a civil court claim dating from the late 1990s. The case involved a Caymanian man who suf- fered a severe brain injury in 1998 from a boating accident when he was a 12 years old. According to court re- cords, the man, who cannot be named due to an an- onymity order issued by a judge hearing the case, was awarded more than $6 million in damages last year to cover the cost of a lifetime of care. Responsibility for the ac- cident was determined in an earlier court hearing, and in- terim payments have been made over the years since the accident to cover the cost of the victim’s care. Those payments are not included in the $4.5 million sum agreed by the Legislative As- sembly last month. An extra $6.3 million for healthcare costs at overseas hospitals was also approved for the current 18-month spending plan. The additional spending will push the entire budget for overseas care to $23.4 million for the period. It is typical for govern- ment’s overseas healthcare costs to increase during the course of a year as unantici- pated medical bills come in. Government currently covers civil service employees, their families, retired gov- ernment workers, seamen and veterans and indigents for 100 percent of their healthcare costs. NEW COUNSELING CENTER ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com People from all walks of life in the Cayman Is- lands suffer from mental health challenges, in- cluding drug and al- cohol addiction, ac- cording to the owner of a new counseling center in Grand Cayman Sutton Burke, a coun- selor who has set up Infi- nite Mindcare practice in West Bay, said the island’s problems in this area are wider and more varied than the much-discussed mental health cases that end up in court. The Cayman Islands Mental Health Commis- sion reported that more than 4,000 people sought access to mental health services in 2015. Ms. Burke says some people seek help with anxiety, depression or to help deal with upheaval in their lives. Others are quietly suf- fering from drug and al- cohol dependency. “Sometimes people’s lives can look very good from the outside,” she said. “They have a great job, they are married with kids, but drugs or al- cohol are negatively im- pacting their lives. “I think especially among expatriates, there is a work-hard, play-hard mentality. It is a bit of a drinking culture at times. People end up working long hours and that can be how they deal with their stress. Alcohol or drugs can be their go to.” The practice started of- fering an Intensive Out- patient Program for drug and alcohol dependency when it opened in January. The program, a six- week one-on-one cur- riculum that involves 36 hours of therapy, has been fully sub- scribed since then. Ms. Burke said the clinic offers extended hours and is open on weekends to accommo- date clients’ schedules. She said many people are uncomfortable with group therapy, particu- larly if they work in high- profile jobs. She believes Cayman’s mental health infrastruc- ture, both private and public sector, is improving as it becomes more com- monplace for people to discuss mental health is- sues and to seek help. She said people have sought help for everything from problems in their marriage to general anx- iety disorders. “You don’t have to be diagnosable to see a ther- apist – people come to us because they just don’t feel happy or they are man- aging a major life change. “It is generally ev- eryday people dissatisfied with something in their lives and wanting to take control of it.” CYBERSECURITY WORKSHOP SET FOR SMALL BUSINESSES A free cybersecurity work- shop for small businesses will be hosted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4, by the Cayman Is- lands Chamber of Com- merce and KPMG principal Micho Schumann. The workshop will be at the Chamber’s Small Business Centre in Governors Square. Topics will include the state of information secu- rity, typical security incidents in the Cayman Islands, miti- gating risks associated with rogue employees, and risks posed by insecure web portals, WiFi networks and USB drives. The presentation will include a live hacking demonstration. Mr. Schumann has 17 years of experience in informa- tion system auditing, security and consulting. To find more free business workshops, visit www.caymanchamber.ky. Legislators have signed off on additional spending of $10.8 million for the Cayman Islands government. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURTThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Register online: Ready. Set. Register for the FIDELITY www.caymanactive.com/fidelityfunrun 7:30 a.m. on Walkers Rd opposite the former John Gray High School Divisions: M/F: U12, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+; Stroller & Pet. Series Dates: September 9th, 2017 September 16th, 2017 September 23rd, 2017 FIDELITY persons; some persons had a better capacity to manage their work. Other persons, unfortunately, didn’t have that self-management capa- bility or capacity,” Mr. Byrne said. “Not everything was wrong; we’ve had some very good prosecutions.” However, the commis- sioner noted, the investiga- tion of Family Support Unit cases is still one of the major “risk” areas within the po- lice service, and he said the RCIPS must remember who really suffers from these fail- ings. “While we’re getting it wrong, it impacts upon the victim at some level,” he said. The U.K. officers’ review was ordered after police dis- covered a number of problems in the investigation of sexual abuse cases, highlighted by a September 2016 not-guilty verdict in Grand Court from two suspects alleged to have assaulted an underage girl. The initial complaint of abuse was given to police in 2012, but the case did not come to court until July 2016. During court proceed- ings it was revealed that po- lice had delayed their inves- tigation into the matter for some 18 months and could not fully explain why that had occurred. Judge Timothy Owen said the police inves- tigation into the matter had been “grossly incompetent.” Commissioner Byrne said that case represented a “wa- tershed moment” for the RCIPS and led to a complete re-evaluation of the police de- partment’s handling of family unit cases. The new depart- ment unit, called the MASH Unit, provides a more focused approach and seeks to work more closely with other gov- ernment and civil society or- ganizations involved in the protection of children. MASH, which stands for Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, includes eight social workers, a Health Services Authority psychologist and eight police officers tasked with coordinating other public agencies’ responses to allegations of abuse. With the reorganization of the Family Support Unit, Mr. Byrne said, an additional follow-up review will be done in November to check RCIPS’s progress. For now, he said, all the RCIPS can do is apologize to the victims of crimes for the delays in cases where they may never receive justice. “We have not met our obli- gations in the past, but we’re moving forward,” he said. debts – amounts owed by patients that were charged more than a year ago. In March the authority acknowledged the write- off of $8.2 million of that amount, which was approved by its board of directors last October. The amounts in that debt write-off were for patient bills charged between June 2010 and September 2013. According to auditors, the vast majority of the uncol- lected hospital bills making up the $90 million total will never be collected. “These amounts are owed by customers who have nei- ther insurance coverage nor sufficient coverage, which are estimated to be 75% to 100% uncollectable,” the health authority’s financial statements note. Despite that, the authority announced in October that it would seek to recover more than $50 million of the un- paid debts via the services of a debt collection agency it planned to hire. The authority board chairman, Jonathan Tibbetts, told the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee in September 2016 that officials believed only about $10 million of the out- standing $90 million debts could reasonably be collected. For instance, Mr. Tibbetts told the committee that the authority had been trying to claim unpaid bills from former patients who had died years ago. “As far as anything over six years old, it’s already known that it’s uncollect- able,” Mr. Tibbetts said. “Some people [owing debts] are de- ceased … it’s going to be next to impossible to collect.” Details of when the write- off will occur and how much in receivables will be aban- doned by the government is still being “negotiated,” Mr. Tibbetts said, but any further write-offs will happen by the end of this year. The public hospital system has long taken the position, formalized in 2010, that it would not sue local residents to collect on past- due healthcare payments. In some cases, liens have been placed on local properties to recover the amounts, but no lawsuits have been filed. A large portion of the un- paid debts has been accu- mulated by public hospital system patients who have not made good on payments for services or pharmaceu- ticals. Some of the amounts were also due from private insurance companies that had not reimbursed the HSA for services. Health Services Authority short $21M cash, writes off millions in debt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police Commissioner Derek Byrne, left, and RCIPS Inspector Kevin Ashworth discuss the findings of an independent report that reviewed 92 police Family Support Unit investigations. Serious problems with evidence and/or delays were found in three of those cases. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER Commissioner: RCIPS ‘must accept’ its failures in child abuse cases Venezuela bars opposition activist from traveling to Europe CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – A prominent anti-govern- ment activist was barred from leaving Venezuela on Saturday for planned meetings with Eu- ropean leaders, dealing a set- back to opposition attempts to rally international pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. Lilian Tintori posted a photo on Twitter of herself at Caracas’ international airport holding a document signed by immigration officials ordering the seizure of her passport as she was preparing to board an afternoon flight. Tintori said she had a meeting planned for Monday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. No explanation for the travel ban was given, but the move came a day after she was ordered to appear before a judge Tuesday to answer questions about a large sum of cash found in her vehicle. Tintori, the wife of the na- tion’s most-prominent de- tained activist, Leopoldo Lopez, said she was also scheduled to meet with the leaders of Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. “The evidence is clear why the dictatorship is stirring the pot against me,” Tintori tweeted. “They want to keep me from talking about the hu- manitarian crisis we are living in Venezuela.” On Friday, Tintori re- ceived notice that she was being investigated after au- thorities discovered in her car some 200 million bolivars, around $60,000 at the nation’s weakest official exchange rate or $10,000 at the widely used black market rate. Such a large sum of cash is rare in Venezuela, more so be- cause like many goods in the country currency bills are in short supply. Most people have trouble withdrawing even the equivalent of the monthly min- imum wage – 250,000 bolivars or around $15 at the black market rate – from banks, the reason why even taxi drivers and newspaper kiosks now accept payment in plastic or electronic transfers. Tintori denounced the probe as politically moti- vated, pointing out in a video that it’s not a crime to have cash in one’s possession. She said the money, found in her car as it was parked at her mother-in-law’s home, was to pay for family emer- gencies including the hos- pitalization of her 100-year- old grandmother. Tintori said she kept such a large sum in cash because of spiraling triple-digit in- flation that has pulverized the value of Venezuela’s cur- rency and because no local bank would open an ac- count or give a credit card to such an outspoken critic of the government. While it’s not clear what possible crime Tintori is being investigated for, some govern- ment supporters have accused her of using the funds to fi- nance “terrorism” – a term they frequently use to describe vio- lent protests that have rocked Venezuela – although they have presented no evidence. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 Trump declares National Day of Prayer President Donald Trump and his wife attended a church service Sunday on a National Day of Prayer, which the president had declared for Harvey victims and recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana. N. Korea claims ‘perfect success’ of powerful nuclear bomb test TOKYO (AP) – North Korea on Sunday claimed a “per- fect success” for its most pow- erful nuclear test so far, a fur- ther step in the development of weapons capable of striking anywhere in the United States. President Donald Trump said the latest provocation re- inforces the danger facing America and that “talk of ap- peasement” is pointless. “They only understand one thing!” Trump said in a tweet, without elaboration, as he pre- pared to meet later with his national security team. It was the first nuclear test since Trump took office in January. The precise strength of the explosion, described by state- controlled media in North Korea as a hydrogen bomb, has yet to be determined. South Korea’s weather agency said the artificial earthquake caused by the explosion was five times to six times stronger than tremors generated by the North’s previous five such tests. The impact report- edly shook buildings in China and in Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was calling coun- terparts in Asia, and Trump’s treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said he was putting together proposed new sanc- tions for Trump to consider that would seek to cut off trade with North Korea. Trump warned last month that the U.S. military was “locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely” and that the U.S. would unleash “fire and fury” on the North if it continued to threaten America. The bellicose words followed threats from North Korea to launch ballistic mis- siles toward the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, intending to create “enveloping fire” near the military hub that’s home to U.S. bombers. The North’s latest test was carried out at 12:29 p.m. local time at the Punggye-ri site where it has conducted past nuclear tests. Officials in Seoul put the magnitude at 5.7; the U.S. Geological Survey said it was a magnitude 6.3. The strongest artificial quake from previous tests was a magnitude 5.3. “North Korea has con- ducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions con- tinue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States,” Trump said in the first of a series of tweets. He branded North Korea “a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrass- ment to China, which is trying to help but with little success.” China is by far the North’s biggest trading partner, but Trump appeared to be more critical of South Korean Pres- ident Moon Jae-in, who has attempted to reach out to the North. “South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!” Trump said. North Korea’s state-run television broadcast a spe- cial bulletin to announce the test and said leader Kim Jong Un attended a meeting of the ruling party’s presidium and signed the go-ahead order. Earlier, the party’s news- paper ran a front-page story showing photos of Kim ex- amining what it said was a nuclear warhead being fitted onto the nose of an interconti- nental ballistic missile. North continues missile development Sunday’s detonation builds on recent North Korean ad- vances that include test launches in July of two ICBMs that are believed to be capable of reaching the mainland U.S. The North says its missile de- velopment is part of a defen- sive effort to build a viable nuclear deterrent that can target U.S. cities. China’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Beijing government has “ex- pressed firm opposition and strong condemnation” and urged North Korea to “stop taking erroneous actions that deteriorate the situation.” South Korea held a Na- tional Security Council meeting chaired by Moon. Officials in Seoul also said Trump’s national security ad- viser, H.R. McMaster, spoke with his South Korean coun- terpart for 20 minutes about an hour after the detonation. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the test “ab- solutely unacceptable.” Nuclear tests are crucial to perfecting sophisticated tech- nologies and to demonstrating to the world that claims of nuclear prowess are not merely a bluff. North claims hydrogen bomb The North claimed the de- vice it tested was a thermo- nuclear weapon – commonly called a hydrogen bomb. That could be hard to indepen- dently confirm. It said the un- derground test site did not leak radioactive materials, which would make such a de- termination even harder. At the same time, the simple power of the blast was convincing. Japan’s Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said it might have been as pow- erful as 70 kilotons. North Korea’s previous largest was thought to be anywhere from 10 to 30 kilotons. US seizes control of Russian posts in three cities WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States seized con- trol Saturday of three Rus- sian diplomatic posts in the U.S. after confirming the Rus- sians had complied with the Trump administration’s order to get out within two days, officials said. As the Kremlin cried foul, accusing Washington of bul- lying tactics, the U.S. dis- puted Moscow’s claims that American officials had threatened to “break down the entrance door” to one of the facilities, and that the FBI was “clearing the prem- ises.” Not true, said a senior State Department official, adding that U.S. officials had joined Russian Embassy per- sonnel for walkthroughs of the three buildings. “These inspections were carried out to secure and protect the facilities and to confirm the Russian govern- ment had vacated the prem- ises,” the official said in a statement emailed Saturday to reporters by the State De- partment on condition the of- ficial not be named. Russia has been incensed by the move to shutter Rus- sia’s consulate in San Fran- cisco and trade offices in Washington and New York, actions the U.S. took in retal- iation for Moscow’s decision last month to force the U.S. to cut its diplomatic personnel in Russia to 455. Moscow has accused the U.S. of violating international law by shut- tering the facilities, a charge the U.S. disputes. On Saturday, Russia’s For- eign Ministry said it had summoned the U.S. deputy chief of mission in Moscow, Anthony Godfrey, to deliver a formal protest note calling the purported trade office search an “unprecedented ag- gressive action.” The Foreign Ministry also posted video on Face- book that it said showed FBI agents inspecting the con- sulate general building in San Francisco. In the video, a man in a tie knocks on sev- eral numbered doors and enters what appears to be apartment units, taking a quick glance inside before declaring everything in order. There was no additional comment from the U.S. about whether the FBI was involved in the inspections. The State Department declined to an- swer additional questions about whether the prem- ises might be searched for intelligence-gathering pur- poses now that the Rus- sians have left. Workers carry boxes out of the Russian consulate in San Francisco on Friday. - PHOTO: AP People in Pyongyang react on Sunday while looking at news of North Korea’s successful test of what it says was a hydrogen bomb.Army K-1 tanks are seen patrolling in Paju, South Korea, on Sunday, - PHOTOS: APNext >