High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘BARKERS RANGERS’: PRUNING BACK BIG GOVERNMENT WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 11 MEXICANS DIG THROUGH COLLAPSED BUILDINGS; QUAKE KILLS AT LEAST 225 ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Personal Insurance In 1984, customers knew us as BritCay. In 2017, they and the next generation still do. Your insurance cover with BritCay is supported by a group of companies managing $390 million in insurance and pension contributions. More cover, more benefits, more security. 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 cgigrp Maria knocks out all power across Puerto Rico Disabilities Law honors legacy of Solomon Webster Tip of the spear, end of an era At least 20 inches of rain SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – The strongest hurri- cane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years tore off roofs and doors, knocked out power across the entire island and unleashed heavy flooding Wednesday in an onslaught that could plunge the U.S. territory deeper into financial crisis. Leaving at least nine people dead in its wake across the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria blew ashore in the morning in the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph. It was expected to punish the island of 3.4 million people with life-threatening winds for 12 to 24 hours. “Once we’re able to go outside, we’re going to find our island destroyed,” said Abner Gomez, Puerto Rico’s emergency management director. “The information we have received is not encour- aging. It’s a system that has destroyed everything in its path.” It was the second time in two weeks that Puerto Rico felt the wrath of a hurricane. There was no immediate word of any deaths or serious injuries. As people waited it out in shelters or took cover inside stairwells, bathrooms and closets, Maria brought down cell towers and power lines, snapped trees and unloaded at least 20 inches of rain. Widespread flooding was reported, with dozens of cars half-submerged in some neigh- borhoods and many streets turned into rivers. People calling local radio stations reported that doors were being torn off their hinges and a water tank flew away. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three years after the shooting death of Solomon Webster, the Cayman Islands government honored the Special Olym- pics athlete and his family with an official copy of the landmark disability rights leg- islation bearing his name. Mr. Webster, who would have turned 28 this month, represented both the potential and the limitations of disabled people in the Cayman Islands. The star athlete and former Lighthouse School student over- came countless hurdles, but due to bureau- cratic barriers, struggled to lead an inde- pendent life and rent his own apartment. The 2016 Disabilities (Solomon Web- ster) Law named in his honor aims to safeguard the rights of individuals like Mr. Webster by ensuring access to healthcare, education, employment and independent living. “I’m proud that we are the first overseas territory to have legislation dealing directly with disability issues. This will ensure that disability matters are championed and also provide a voluntary register which will en- able us to better monitor the needs of the disabled moving forward,” Prospect MLA Austin Harris said Tuesday. “To have the law named after Solomon Webster, I think, is a testament to the person that Solomon, or Solly, was in life. Yes, Solomon was born with challenges but he did not let his disability impede him. Instead, he strived to do his best in all that he did.” Mr. Webster was shot and killed in West Bay in September 2014. He won a gold medal in bocce at the JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Most young Cayman Islands fishermen will never know the thrill of the hunt – and sometimes, being hunted – that accompanies the practice of spearfishing. Before the boom of the financial services sector, spearfishing (along with farming) was a primary way for many Caymanians to obtain fresh food and make money to support their families in what was then largely a subsistence economy. More than 120 spearguns are still legally licensed for use in Cayman. But now, after three decades of strict regulations of the equipment, “the art of the speargun” could be a local tradi- tion that will not be passed down to fu- ture generations. ‘Those were hard days’ Years ago, many Caymanians relied on spearfishing to obtain seafood year-round. Armed with a harpoon or crude hook stick, face mask and bag, the hunter would stalk a fish, sometimes holding his breath for minutes waiting for the fish to draw near. Then he would strike. Local fisherman Freddie Watler brags of being the best “trigger man” in town. “I could go to the sea for half-hour and bring back all the fish I needed. There was a lot of fish in Cayman those days. You could pick, choose and refuse the fish we wanted … Solomon Webster’s family is honored with a copy of the disability rights law that bears his name. At the presentation are, from left, Kathy Frazier, Shari Smith, Faith Gealey, Caroline and David Webster, MLA Austin Harris, Keith Parker Tibbetts and Chelsea Rivers. - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » SECURITY GUARD FOUND DEAD AT EDEN ROCK Police are investigating the death of a security guard who was found at Eden Rock in downtown George Town early Wednesday morning. The body of Melito Fernandes, a 37-year-old Indian national who worked for The Security Centre, was found following a report of a medical emergency just after 3:40 a.m. For more on this story, see page 2.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 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 - IT (R) 12:30 VIP I 3:50 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:40 VIP THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (R) 3:45 I 7:05 I 10:00 GIRLS TRIP (R) 9:55 DARK TOWER (PG13) 12:30 THE NUT JOB 2 3D (PG) 12:30 2D | 2:50 I 5:10 2D I 7:30 2D | 9:50 AMERICAN ASSASSIN (R) 12:55 I 3:40 VIP I 7:10 I 10:05 MOTHER! (R) 1:05 I 3:55 I 6:55 I 10:00 Security guard found dead at Eden Rock Police officer may lose eyesight after violent assault, court hears BANKS WARNED TO BE ON LOOKOUT FOR VENEZUELAN CORRUPTION 10-year sentence imposed after guilty plea CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Garfield Silburn Jr. was sentenced to 10 years’ im- prisonment on Monday for assaulting a police officer who may lose sight in his right eye as a result. Defense attorney Crister Brady said Silburn never in- tended to cause injuries; he was only determined to es- cape being arrested because he considered he had not committed any crime. The incident occurred in Prospect during daylight hours on May 17, when offi- cers responded to a report of a possible burglary. They lo- cated a car that had been de- scribed in connection with the incident and Silburn was nearby, washing himself with a garden hose. Mr. Brady said the defen- dant’s explanation was that he had gone to a house only because his car had broken down, but no one was around. The officers’ allegation was that he had broken into the premises and stolen some- thing. Silburn, 21, panicked at the thought of going back to prison, the attorney explained. Justice Charles Quin sum- marized the assault after hearing submissions last week, commenting that it was almost four different assaults. Told he was under ar- rest, Silburn punched the male officer in the face sev- eral times. When the officer fell to the ground, Silburn could have stopped, the judge noted. When the female of- ficer present attempted to intervene, he kicked her in the stomach. Silburn then stomped on the officer’s chest. He then began kicking the officer in the head. The officer on the ground caught hold of Silburn’s foot and the defendant also fell. Instead of stopping, he began to choke the male of- ficer until he started to lose consciousness. The female officer hit Silburn with her handheld radio. When help arrived, the of- ficers were taken to hospital. The woman officer suffered pain in her stomach and left hand, which was swollen. The male officer com- plained of blurred vision. Having been treated previ- ously for a detached retina, he was sent overseas and had two operations. At present he does not see out of his right eye and is scheduled to have an- other operation. The prog- nosis was “uncertain at best, pessimistic at worst,” Justice Quin said Monday. The officer’s eye had been injured previously and he was therefore more vulner- able, but the defense accepted that Silburn had to “take his victim as he finds him.” Justice Quin called the assault a violent attack of a sustained nature, which warranted a 12-year starting point. He said it warranted an upward adjustment be- cause it was an assault on an officer who was only carrying out his duty. Police are committed to looking after people’s safety and their property, he com- mented. This assault struck at the rule of law and should shock all law-abiding citi- zens, he declared. It may have started out as an attempt to resist arrest but Silburn ended up almost killing the officer, the judge indicated. The defendant had several previous convictions for vio- lence, including robbery. The judge found that the appro- priate sentence for a violent assault on a police officer in the execution of his duty was 15 years. With one-third off for the guilty plea, the sen- tence was 10 years. The assault of the female officer was met with a two- year sentence, to be served concurrently. “Police officers do a won- derful job in this country and they deserve to be sup- ported, not assaulted,” Jus- tice Quin concluded. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – The U.S. Treasury is advising banks to be on the lookout for suspicious financial ac- tivity involving corrupt Venezuelan officials as the Trump administration tightens its financial noose around President Nicolas Maduro’s embattled so- cialist government. Wednesday’s advisory by the Financial Crimes En- forcement Network asks banks to keep watch for Venezuelan government contracts, wire transfers from shell companies and real estate purchases in South Florida and Houston by senior Venezuelan offi- cials, their families or as- sociates. It said the advi- sory arose out of concern expressed by financial in- stitutions that transac- tions involving state- owned enterprises were being used to launder kick- backs and bribes. U.S. officials fear that endemic corruption will take an additional toll on Venezuelans already strug- gling with triple-digit in- flation and widespread shortages amid a tense po- litical standoff aggravated by Maduro’s decision to rewrite the constitution in the face of months of deadly protests. Last month, the Trump administration slapped sanctions on Venezuela for Maduro’s decision to go forward with his plans to consolidate power. The ac- tions ban investors from buying the nation’s debt and prevents U.S.-based Citgo, a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company, from sending badly needed dollar dividends back to Venezuela. “Not all transactions in- volving Venezuela involve corruption, but, particu- larly now, during a period of turmoil in that country, financial institutions need to continue their vigilance to help identify and stop the flow of corrupt pro- ceeds and guard against money laundering and other illicit financial ac- tivity,” said Acting FinCEN Director Jamal El-Hindi. Maduro has accused the U.S. of trying to im- pose a financial “blockade” on Venezuela after the op- position-led protests failed to oust him from power. Even before the recent round of sanctions, many Wall Street banks like Ci- tibank and Credit Suisse that used to collect large fees serving Venezuela’s fi- nancial needs stopped doing business with the government, fearing legal action or damage to their reputations. Wednesday’s action lists several red flags to assist banks in identi- fying suspected schemes. They include any trans- actions involving govern- ment contracts payable di- rectly to personal accounts, hard-to-identify trading companies and involving products charged at sub- stantially higher prices than market rates. SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Melito Fernandes, a 37-year-old senior super- visor from The Security Centre, was found dead in the vicinity of Eden Rock by the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service early Wednesday morning. Police responded to a re- port of a medical emergency just after 3:40 a.m. and found Mr. Fernandes unrespon- sive at the rear of the Eden Rock dive shop. He was transported to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital, where he was pro- nounced dead, police said in a statement. Mr. Fernandes, a native of Goa, India, had been em- ployed by The Security Centre for a few years. It is unclear whether he was on duty when he passed away. Police cordoned off the Eden Rock parking lot on South Church Street with po- lice tape and turned away tourists from the scene on Wednesday morning. In a statement issued by The Security Centre Wednesday, the company’s president and CEO Stuart Bostock described Mr. Fer- nandes as a valued friend and employee. “We are all devastated by the news, but must do ev- erything possible to protect his privacy, especially for his family in Cayman and back in India,” Mr. Bostock said. He added, “Melito was very well liked and is a huge loss on a personal and pro- fessional level to us all. “Efforts are ongoing to no- tify his family and respond to their requests for infor- mation. We continue to work with the RCIPS.” The incident is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call George Town police at 949-4222. The police officer complained of blurred vision. Having been treated previously for a detached retina, he was sent overseas and had two operations. Police officers remain at the scene where the body of Melito Fernandes was found on Wednesday morning. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY3 LOCAL NEWS he to be returned to Ja- maica, [Ellis] would be at real risk of the death penalty pursuant to the provisions of the Jamaica Offenses Against the Person Act. “The order sought is necessary to protect per- haps the most fundamental human right of all, the right to life.” The Grand Court initially heard the matter on Sept. 12 but made no finding on the request for judicial review, adjourning the application and permitting the appli- cant to file it at a later date if he wished. The court considered that the proceedings “remained live” and that Cayman’s chief immigration officer should give at least 14 days’ written notice to the person being re- moved or deported from the islands, as well as to their legal counsel. Justice Marlene Carter, who signed the Sept. 12 order, noted that the Immigration Department, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the governor’s office would un- dertake to provide such ad- vance notice if a deportation order was issued. The order also sought Cayman authorities to un- dertake “to communicate with the Jamaican author- ities regarding the possi- bility of obtaining an as- surance that [Ellis] shall not be sentenced to death if re- turned to Jamaica.” CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Jamaica murder suspect fights deportation, cites ‘right to life’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Jamaican man accused of killing another man in his home country last December is seeking to prevent de- portation from the Cayman Islands because he con- tends his “right to life” may be in danger. According to records filed with the Grand Court this month, O’Brian O’Dane Ellis, 29, who is imprisoned here following his arrest for illegal landing, is seeking a court declaration that an order to return to Jamaica would vi- olate of his right to life as well as prohibitions against torture and inhumane treat- ment in Cayman’s Constitu- tion Order, 2009. As of Wednesday, Ellis had not been deported and the matter was still be- fore the courts. Ellis’s attorneys argue that if he is convicted of aggravated murder in Ja- maica, he could face the death penalty. “Consequently, his re- moval or deportation to a country exposing him to such penalty would be in breach of the constitution of the Cayman Islands,” a Grand Court judicial review applica- tion filed Sept. 5 states. “Fur- thermore, the prison condi- tions of Jamaica are such that removal to Jamaica to custody … would also con- stitute a violation of the pro- hibition on torture and inhu- mane treatment.” According to court re- cords, Ellis is wanted in con- nection with the Dec. 6, 2016 killing of Steadman Sterling in Jamaica. He is charged with murder; however, his Cayman attorneys point out that certain characteristics of the crime could lead to it being classified as “aggra- vated murder” at sentencing if Ellis is convicted. In Jamaica, the only crime punishable by the death pen- alty is aggravated murder. “The summary [of the crime, given to Cayman im- migration officers] refers to a report having been made to [Jamaican] police that morning by the deceased [Mr. Sterling], who was later shot,” the Grand Court filing states. “For that reason, were Ellis’s attorneys argue that if convicted of aggravated murder in Jamaica, he could face the death penalty as punishment. CHURCH MINISTERS SEEK HELP FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS The Cayman Minis- ters’ Association is seeking support for people of sev- eral Caribbean islands that have been hit hard by re- cent hurricanes. The association is asking all pastors in the Cayman Islands to en- courage members of their churches to bring in gen- erous financial donations by Sunday, Oct. 1. The financial contri- butions will be sent to the Samaritans Purse for distribution. The Samaritans Purse is a disaster relief organi- zation headed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Asso- ciation, of which Franklin Graham is the CEO. The Samaritans Purse already has personnel as- sisting in several of the hard-hit Caribbean areas, including Puerto Rico and St. Martin. Pastor Torrance Bobb of the Cayman Ministers’ As- sociation said the associa- tion “wishes to express its support to all the victims of recent hurricanes in the region and particularly to those who have been im- pacted by Hurricane Irma.” The press release from the Cayman Ministers’ Asso- ciation states that cash do- nations can be dropped off to Agape Family Worship Centre on Fairbanks Road. Checks can be made pay- able to Cayman Ministers’ Association and mailed to the Agape Family Workshop Centre, PO Box 276, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104. These financial contributions will be sent to the Samaritans Purse for distribution.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Barkers infamous “park rangers” have become “lone rangers” – striking out on their own to form a private landscaping business. In so doing, they’ve made a small stand against government growth and scored a victory for free enterprise. The former rangers, now organized as private company Tropical Landscaping, deserve applause, respect – and the support of the broader business community in the form of giving them some work. Public Works Director Max Jones should be recog- nized for facilitating the spinoff, which took the rangers from dependence on the controversial Nation Building Fund, to positions with Mr. Jones’s department, to independence out in the private sector. From 2011-2013, a 10-person crew was paid more than $560,000 to act as “park rangers” for the Barkers National Park project in West Bay. Those workers were transferred to the government’s Rec- reation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit, but a plan was spawned to support their establishment of a private landscaping business, following a method recom- mended in the 2014 Ernst & Young report on down- sizing government. The story is a tale of entrepreneurship, self-reli- ance and a promising “outsourcing” model – one that should be “franchised” – for launching more private businesses from the ranks of the Cayman Islands’ overpopulated bureaucracy. As the Cayman Compass reported on Wednesday, government guaranteed work to Tropical Landscaping in 2014-2015, so the new company could gain a footing in the market. After that, the work went out for bid. “[It] shows enormous value for money when compared with the starting point of the Cayman Islands government directly paying the park rangers,” Mr. Jones said. “It is also one of the few situations where [the government] has successfully privatized employees who were previously effectively on the [public payroll].” We would venture to say there are hundreds of government workers who have ideas and ambitions that could be similarly nurtured into development in the private sector, which offers unlimited potential for growth. It has not been all roses for Tropical Landscaping, which “lost” about half of the public areas it was maintaining, including Barkers, after the government “insourced” the work back into the Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit. That should serve as a caution to companies, particularly small ones, that may become overly dependent on a single large client. When the govern- ment pulled its business back into its “Cemeteries Unit,” the burial ceremony could very well have been for Tropical Landscaping. The good news is that the Tropical team survived. Our wish is that they go beyond surviving to flourishing. The seedlings of future grand enterprises often emerge in the humblest of settings – behind the counter of a jerk stand, in a neighbor’s garage or on the beach hawking folding chairs. But rather than encouraging entrepreneurship, government’s complex (and expensive) system of regulations – think of health insurance obligations, pension payments, licenses, inspections, work permit fees, etc. – often stifles it. In fact, government’s “cost of entry” can often put busi- nesses out of business before they’re even in business. The opposite should be the case. “One size” does not fit all when it comes to business regulation. What might be fine for, say, large, well-funded enterprises, such as lucrative law firms, banks or hotels, is totally inappropriate for small start-ups. As every landscaper worth his fertilizer knows, the worst thing one can do to a plant – or to a business – is to “pull it up by its roots” to see how it’s doing. Small businesses need fertile ground, tender loving care and, for financial nutrition, predictable and speedy cash flows. ‘Barkers rangers’: Pruning back big government THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Prudence must guide disaster responses and adaptations Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were as powerful as the big South Florida hur- ricanes of 1926, 1928, and 1935, but the death toll was very small compared to the earlier hurricanes in the area, even though the population is now more than 10 times the size. The Great Galveston hurricane of 1900 is esti- mated to have cost 6,000 to 12,000 lives. The hurricanes that have hit the U.S. in the last 50 years have resulted in relatively few lives lost, with the exception of Hurri- cane Katrina where an esti- mated 1,833 died. The reason so few people die now is the better fore- casting, the development of weather satellites, and much better infrastructure. The Ka- trina disaster was not the fault of the weather fore- casters but the failure of state and local government leaders to evacuate the low- lying areas in New Orleans, despite the urgings of fed- eral authorities to do so, and neglected flood control le- vees and pumps. The Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, now sits in jail because of corruption rather than man- slaughter – his bigger crime. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida changed its building codes to require both much stronger buildings and living spaces be elevated many feet above expected floods. It is no surprise that most of the severely damaged homes were house trailers that are not designed or built for high winds and water. The Florida Keys, at best, are only a few feet above sea level, and the Keys are often hit with hurricanes so it would be expected that most wood-frame low-lying structures will be destroyed or greatly damaged at least every few decades. A prudent person does not own such structures in the Keys unless one treats it as a disposable good like an old computer. Since the end of the last ice age about 8,000 years ago, sea levels have been slowly rising at about 1/8 of an inch or 0.3 centimeters per year (i.e., a foot every 120 years). The rise in sea levels has been slow enough that it has been easy for mankind to adapt. Most buildings and in- frastructure are rebuilt every 30 to 70 years, so building the new structures higher is done as a matter of course. Despite the alarmism coming from some, there is no evidence that sea levels are rising faster than the historic rate (nor has the Arctic ice cap melted, nor has the Earth’s temperature risen at the rate forecast by virtually all of the major climate models). However, a prudent person who intends to build on the Florida shore might well as- sume that the sea might start rising as much as three times the current rate, and build up an extra three feet (or one meter), but a foolish person might insist upon building at either the current level, or 50 feet higher which would not meet any reasonable cost- benefit standard. (A personal note: For sev- eral decades, my parents owned a house on the water in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The house was built in the 1950s on sand about six feet above mean high tide, and it still stands, having never been flooded or severely dam- aged by hurricane winds. The old houses in the neigh- borhood are slowly being replaced by new concrete homes whose living quarters are about 18 feet or so above sea level – which is a prudent, not a foolish, bet that there is a very high probability at such a level it will not be flooded in the next 70 years.) Provided the additional cost is modest, it is prudent to try to mitigate the increase in CO2 emissions, even though the current level is far below optimum for plant growth. It would be foolish to shut down all coal or other fossil fuel plants and try to depend on wind and solar or other intermittent renewables until economic batteries or other storage technologies are de- veloped to avoid electric grid shutdowns. Such shutdowns would severely curtail eco- nomic growth and undermine the ability to improve life- saving infrastructure, job cre- ation, and higher incomes. Closing U.S. coal plants will do nothing to curtail global warming given the world is adding new coal plants at a far faster rate than it is shutting them. For instance, China has 2,363 plants and is adding another 1,171 for a total of 3,534. India has 589 coal plants and is adding another 446 for a total of 1,035. The U.S. has 589 coal plants, but is re- ducing the number. Life is all about accessing the probabilities of the risks and costs and benefits of al- ternative courses of action. It is prudent to create stronger structures to deal with cli- mate change as mankind has been doing for thousands of years. It is foolish to spend billions or trillions of dollars to try to change the climate at the current state of knowl- edge. Better to adapt than tilt at windmills. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of Improbable Success Productions and on the board of the American Council for Capital Formation. © 2017, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHN 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Cayman schools taking in hurricane evacuees Pageant Beach hotel development hearing delayed by technicality YOUNG MUSICIANS VISIT JUILLIARD SCHOOL Adjourned until Sept. 27 KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four developers and their attorney, seven objectors and their attorney, three mem- bers of the public and the Central Planning Authority board packed into a con- ference room on the second floor of the Government Ad- ministration Building on Wednesday, all of them there for a special hearing over whether the develop- ment application for a 456- room hotel at the southern tip of Seven Mile Beach would be approved. But soon after the meeting began, the board decided the hearing on the $300 million proposed development could not move forward “because we feel the application isn’t complete,” said chairman A. L. Thompson. The Central Planning Au- thority made its decision because Chief Surveyor Mi- chael Whiteman has not au- thenticated a required high water mark survey con- ducted on behalf of the ho- tel’s developers, the Howard Hospitality Group. Mr. Whiteman has not authen- ticated the survey because it was not signed by the owner of the 7.1-acre Pag- eant Beach site, according to attorney Sherri Bodden, who represented the developers at the meeting. Ms. Bodden said that Mr. Whiteman’s decision to not authenticate the survey – a study that determines where the maximum point that the water reaches the shore lies – over what she called a tech- nicality was “unreasonable.” Ms. Bodden further said that the planning board has dis- cretion to waive the authen- ticated survey requirement, and not doing so would also be unreasonable. Trio Design Consul- tants President Mike Stroh, the architect of record for the yet-to-be-named hotel, added that the survey was conducted by a reputable firm, Roland Bodden & Co., and that the board should not have any doubts about its accuracy. Mr. Thompson agreed that the survey was likely accurate, but said that plan- ning regulations neverthe- less require it to be authen- ticated. He added that the board is not exercising dis- cretion to waive that re- quirement because doing so could result in an appeal of its decision. Mr. Thompson did say that once the Central Plan- ning Authority can confirm why Mr. Whiteman chose not to authenticate the survey, it could then decide whether to waive the authentication requirement. To that end, it was suggested by one board member that someone could go find Mr. Whiteman, who works in the Government Administration Building, and he could explain why he did not authenticate the survey. However, another board member pointed out that it was around 12:30 p.m., and that Mr. Whiteman was likely out for lunch. Therefore, the board de- cided to adjourn the hearing until Wednesday, Sept. 27. If the issue of the survey is settled at the meeting, then developers will present their plans for the hotel, and the objectors will have the chance to argue why it should not be approved. Two winners of Butter- field’s Young Musician of the Year competition visited the Juilliard School in New York last week as part of their prizes. Alto saxophone player Marcos Bertran, who won the competition this year, and 2016 winner Daniela Granados, who plays the flute, were accompanied on the trip last week by their mothers. “We are thrilled to have been able to organize this eye-opening experience for these two talented young people and hope that this prize helps to inspire our up and coming young mu- sicians. We hope to con- tinue to develop our asso- ciation with Juilliard and we thank them for their hospitality,” said Butter- field’s Managing Director Michael McWatt. Having forged a rela- tionship with Juilliard via the Cayman Arts Festival, the bank was able to orga- nize a tour and a one-on- one lesson for each of the young musicians. “I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportu- nity to visit Juilliard and have a lesson with a great musician. I definitely felt inspired in such a sup- portive environment to al- ways continue improving as a musician, and to never stop playing regardless of where life takes me,” said Ms. Granados. “My lesson with a Juil- liard alumnus who spe- cialized in jazz saxo- phone, Jordan Pettay, was amazing. I was able to play for her and get feed- back from a professional musician in my area of music. She gave me tips, adjustments and useful ad- vice for my music skills,” said Mr. Bertran. The 2018 Butterfield Young Musician of the Year competition will take place in April. Finalists are chosen from the annual National Children’s Festival of the Arts program. BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com British Overseas Territo- ries residents who have evac- uated from the eastern Ca- ribbean to Cayman in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria will be able to send their children to local schools. The government Ministry of Education announced a policy Wednesday, approved by Cabinet, that will let chil- dren ages 5-17 attend either public or private schools for the 2017/18 school year, which began in late August. Spaces in government schools have been tempo- rarily opened and school fees waived for evacuees from other British Overseas Ter- ritories. Arrangements with various private schools on the island must be made di- rectly with those schools. The government’s Depart- ment of Education Services said Wednesday that the reg- istration process for public schools would begin immedi- ately. Completed registrations and supporting documents are asked to be sent to the de- partment as soon as practical. “Having been through Hurricane Ivan [2004] and Hurricane Paloma [2008], I can empathize with the British Overseas Territories,” Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said. “I pray that they remain strong and have faith that their countries will be restored. It is during these difficult times we must come together and support our fellow Caribbean neighbors and provide them a place of respite.” Immigration Department officials did not have a con- firmed number Wednesday for how many hurricane transplants have arrived in Cayman since Hurri- cane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this month. How- ever, it is estimated some 30 international companies have temporarily relocated at least one employee and their family to Cayman in the wake of the storm. Those workers are being given special temporary per- mits allowing them to remain in Cayman, in most cases be- tween 60 and 90 days. In some cases, the family pets have accompanied the workers. The Department of Agriculture has com- missioned a quarantine for pets that do not meet im- port conditions. The Dart Real Estate com- pany provided the quaran- tine facility, and the Cayman Islands government will pay for maintenance costs at the shelter for as long as the an- imals that do not meet im- portation requirements must stay there. “It is during these difficult times we must come together and support our fellow Caribbean neighbors and provide them a place of respite.” JULIANA O’CONNOR-CONNOLLY, education minister Mr. Thompson added that the board is not exercising discretion to waive that requirement because doing so could result in an appeal of its decision. Musicians Daniela Granados and Marcos Bertran pose outside The Julliard School in New York. A rendering of the hotel developers plan to build at the southern tip of Seven Mile Beach.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS 50 years ago: Teacher returns to BT Primary School In the Sept. 20, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, “Bodden Town Report” correspondent Floris McCoy wrote in her weekly column: “Teacher Walters of the Bodden Town Primary School returned to take up his teaching responsibili- ties. We wish him a good term and also take the op- portunity of congratulating him on his marriage to Joyce Jansen of Canada. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Walters a long and prosperous life together. “Dwight Carter, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Carter of this district, was a pupil of the Bodden Town and Savannah Elemen- tary Schools and attended the ‘Jamaica Local Centre’ where he passed his 3-D Ja- maica Local Exam. “After leaving the Centre, Dwight went to the Sec- ondary Grammar where he entered Form 4. At this time, he was studying on his own in 3 GCE subjects. He was successful and passed these – English, Geography and Scripture in January. Dwight took 6 other GCEs at school in June and was successful, passing five of the six. He recently took an exam, which would qualify him as an employee of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at George Town. Again he did well and is now on staff there. “Miss Cheryl McCoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. McCoy returned to Ja- maica where she attends school. Cheryl enjoyed her holidays at home and took an active part in youth ac- tivities. We wish her a suc- cessful school year. “Sherline McLean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Delma McLean, has taken up residence in Jamaica where she will be attending school. She is a former stu- dent of the Sec. Grammar School and we wish her success in her venture. “Mr. and Mrs. Davis Powell are the happy par- ents of a baby boy born at the George Town Hospital. He is their fifth child. “Returning home last week to Port Richey to spend a few weeks was Mrs. Don Armstrong. With her was Terry, her daughter. Also their friends who spent one week in Bodden Town and enjoyed their stay very much.” BANK VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP COE WOOD BEACH Ninety volunteers from Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd. and their family mem- bers removed 63 bags of trash weighing more than 680 pounds from Coe Wood Beach in Bodden Town over the weekend. The volunteers were part of Butterfield Group’s world- wide International Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 16, which aims to stem the tide of trash entering the oceans. The cleanup crews used Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app to document every piece of trash collected for the Ocean Trash Index, de- scribed as the world’s largest database on marine debris. “At Butterfield, the envi- ronment is a major focus of our corporate social responsi- bility,” said Michael McWatt, managing director of Butter- field Bank (Cayman) Ltd. “The debris that has washed up on Coe Wood Beach, and the trash that has been left behind, if left to disintegrate in the sun, can be extremely harmful to the area. We had feedback from a couple of residents of Bodden Town thanking us for our efforts, so it’s great to know that it hasn’t gone un- noticed,” he added. The Cayman bank joined cleanup efforts across six countries, where 267 Butter- field team members cleared 113 bags of trash and recy- clables from public spaces during the first of what the bank said will become an an- nual Community Action Day. Irma evacuees, volunteers spruce up old Savannah school JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 77-year-old symbol of early school days and mon- ument to its many gradu- ates got a fresh coat of white paint from caring hands in the community last Friday. Thirty-five local vol- unteers from the Grant Thornton accountancy firm, along with eight mem- bers of staff evacuated from the British Virgin Islands, scrubbed and washed out- side walls, sanded off old paint, and gave the old Sa- vannah School House a bright new look. After reaching out to the Cayman National Trust with an offer to assist with some of their projects, Grant Thornton learned the Sa- vannah School had not been painted for a very long time. The company closed on Friday and staff headed to Savannah for the makeover. For volunteers Dara Keogh, Grant Thornton Cayman partner, and Alison Linley, Grant Thornton senior manager, the schoolhouse’s charm provided a pleasant trip down memory lane. Mr. Keogh said it was his first time visiting the old school. “It is something inter- esting to see – blackboards and chalkboards and oil lamps. Now we have Smart Boards … teachers using computers and kids using laptops in the place of slate and chalk,” he said. Sitting at one of the wooden desks, Mr. Keogh imagined what it would have been like for a student. Lifting the old wooden-top desk where students kept books and touching the ink well on top of the desk, he said, “To see it the way it was is just amazing … without air conditioning and oil lamps, it must have been an experience for students re- ceiving an education here 40 years ago.” Mr. Keogh learned that the classrooms those days had many windows to let in cool sea breezes. Most children went barefoot, and to avoid the hot road surface, children made their way home by way of the beach. The teacher was re- quired to teach all subjects. A blackboard separated the individual classroom from Grade 1-6, There were not many books, and in place of physical education, chil- dren took nature walks be- hind the school in search of local fruits, played skip rope, knuckled marbles and played jacks. “It’s amazing to see how far Cayman has come in such a short period of time,” he said. “I think it would be good for our kids to experi- ence some yesteryear living in the old schoolhouse, the windows open, no air condi- tioning, some chalk, and let them experience what it was like back in the day.” Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the old Savannah School, which is in front of the modern-day Sa- vannah Primary School, was built in the 1940s by William Wallace Bodden, assisted by Tan and Crosby Eden, Leighton and Andrew Bush, Leonce Jackson, Stancial Jackson, Augustine DaCosta and Jeffie Watler. Volunteers from Grant Thornton painted and cleaned up the old Savannah schoolhouse. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Employees of Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd. and their family members gather on Bodden Town’s Coe Wood Beach to take part in a coastal cleanup.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY, SEPT. 21 SOUTH SOUND ROAD: The National Roads Authority advises motorists to take note of the temporary new road alignment changes on South Sound Road from the South Sound boat ramp to Bel Air Road/”Flip Flop Tree” and to follow the new road lane markings. They denote the road moving to the land side in order to accommodate the new boardwalk construction. BRAC LIQUOR: The venue has changed for the Sister Islands’ Annual Liquor Licensing Board meeting. It is now the Aston Rutty Centre Medical Wing. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. For more information, call the Brac Department of Commerce and Investment at 948-2400. CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY: Final weekend for the comedy “Sistahs” at the Prospect Playhouse. Tonight, Friday and Saturday. 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. PUB QUIZ: Fidel Murphy’s, 7 p.m. All proceeds to Cayman Islands Humane Society. $10 per person. Teams of six people maximum. To reserve a table, call 949-5189 or email sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. FRIDAY, SEPT. 22 HANNAH’S HEROES BIG SHAVE: All are invited to attend the fifth annual Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave at The Wicket in Cricket Square. The event raises money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which supports childhood cancer research. The shave event was started by Cayman residents Gaylene and Nigel Meeson after their daughter Hannah was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012. Visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/ hannahsheroes or email team@hannahsheroes.ky. SATURDAY, SEPT. 23 NATIONAL TRUST: Annual general meeting. Pedro Castle. 7 p.m. DVDL OPEN: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing on Crewe Road is open 9 a.m. till noon for the sole purpose of conducting plate exchanges. Persons who have been contacted are urged to collect their plates and coupons. Customers are reminded that when exchanging registration plates, they are to also bring the existing coupon, logbook, and registration plates. COVENANT MORAVIAN CHURCH: The church holds its 30th anniversary banquet at Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, 7-10 p.m. Formal attire. Contribution $75. Call 947-7935 for tickets and more information. SUNDAY, SEPT. 24 ‘SINGSPIRATION’: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church holds a special “Singspiration” at 7 p.m. as a fundraiser to benefit local missionaries. All are invited. THURSDAY, SEPT. 28 BRAC COURT: Summary Court is held at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre today and tomorrow. SATURDAY, SEPT. 30 HERO NOMINATIONS: Today is the deadline for nominations for 2018 National Heroes Day. Submit nominations of deserving individuals who have made or continue to make significant contributions in the area of sports. Visit www.ministryofhealth.gov. ky for all information, or check www.facebook.com/ CaymanIslandsProtocol/. OUTDOOR MOVIE: Family Empowerment Cayman presents the movie “Flywheel” at the park at Seven Mile Beach, next to the Kimpton resort. Free. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/ fecayman/ or call 916-6182. HIGH SCHOOL REUNION: The Cayman Islands High School Class of 1987 celebrates its 30-year reunion, 7 p.m. at the George Town Yacht Club, North Sound Road. Tickets are 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. SUNDAY, OCT. 1 CUT-A-THON: Eclipze hair and beauty salon offers services at huge savings in this fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Staff from Eclipze Hair Design and Spa, Focus Hair and Beauty, Artista Salon, Spa Esprit and Privé Beauty Studio are participating. Event will be held at Eclipze. Wet cuts for men, women and children, mini manicures and eyebrow threading, $1 a minute massages, reflexology at $2 a minute. These last two services can be scheduled in advance. THURSDAY, OCT. 5 INTERIOR DESIGN WORKSHOP: Today is the deadline to register for the Visual Arts Society’s “Personalize Your Home” four-week Interior Design workshop: Oct. 5-26, 7 to 8:30 p.m. (one make-up class if needed). At Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. Redesign a room or plan a new home. Four- week workshop fee is $175 for members. Non- members, $200. Fee includes vision boards, use of studio, qualified interior designer. Contact info@visualartcayman.com or 546-9422. SATURDAY, OCT. 7 ROADSIDE CLEANUP: West Bay Community Emergency Response Team will do a roadside cleanup at 6 a.m. in the vicinity of the West Bay Cemetery and Fire Station. Members of the community are invited to assist with this West Bay beautification project. For information, call 929-9932. GENERAL INTEREST HURRICANE RELIEF: The Adventist Church has started a fund in aid of Hurricane Irma victims in the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. Financial contributions may be made at the local office, 209 Walkers Road, during business hours, or at the nearest Adventist Church. Donations may also be deposited at the Royal Bank of Canada, to ADRA account number 500-6234. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers needed for weekly sports training. Tuesdays – Track, bocce, football. Wednesdays – Lighthouse School swimming at Lions pool. Thursdays – Basketball. Saturdays – Adult swim. Golf is starting soon if interested. Contact Darrel Rankine, national director at soci@candw.ky or 916-2600. 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. MENTORING CAYMAN: The Chamber of Commerce is calling for business and community leaders to volunteer as a mentor for the 2017/18 program. Deadline is Sept. 30. Call 743-9123 for further information or visit www.caymanchamber.ky/ mentoringcayman. 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. Tuesday or Thursday lunchtime meetings from noon to 1 p.m. in term time at the school. Contact Laura on 328-0300 or Karen on 325-0318. TOBACCO LICENCES: Tobacco license holders are reminded of the 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, deadline to apply for their annual license renewals. Annual registration renewal fees are $500 for a retailer, $750 for a cigar bar and $5,000 for a wholesale distributor. LEADERSHIP CAYMAN: The Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2018 program. Improve your leadership skills by applying today. Deadline is Oct. 27. Call 743-9121 for further information or visit www.caymanchamber.ky/ leadershipcayman. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Dr. Vivek's o ce at Smith Road Plaza from 14-29 September, 2017 For appointments please call (345)746-6082 www.drbarryrichter.com Help raise money for the Cayman Islands Humane Society by taking part in the pub quiz at Fidel Murphy’s at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS OCTOBER 7, 2017 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky Featuring Special Guest Speakers PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR Featuring Special Guest Speakers Rancic Bill & Giulianna THANK YOU TO OUR SPECIAL MENTION SPONSORS Maria knocks out power, triggers flooding in Puerto Rico As of 2 p.m. EDT, Maria had weakened to a Category 3, with winds of 115 mph. It was off Puerto Rico’s north- western coast, moving at about 15 mph, and was ex- pected to pass off the coast of the Dominican Republic late Wednesday and Thursday. Even before the storm, Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was crumbling and the is- land was in dire condi- tion financially. Puerto Rico is struggling to restructure a portion of its $73 billion debt, and the gov- ernment has warned it is run- ning out of money as it fights back against furloughs and other austerity measures im- posed by a federal board over- seeing the island’s finances. Gov. Ricardo Rossello urged people to have faith: “We are stronger than any hurricane. Together, we will rebuild.” He later asked President Donald Trump to declare the island a disaster zone, a step that would open the way to federal aid. More than 11,000 people – and more than 580 pets – were in shelters, authorities said. Many feared extended power outages would further sink businesses struggling amid a recession that has lasted more than a decade. “This is going to be a di- saster,” said Jean Robert Auguste, who owns two French restaurants and sought shelter at a San Juan hotel. “We haven’t made any money this month.” Felix Delgado, mayor of the city of Catano on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, told WAPA Television that 80 percent of the homes in a neighborhood known as Juana Matos were destroyed. El Nuevo Dia newspaper reported that 80 percent of homes in a small fishing com- munity near San Juan were damaged, and that an emer- gency medical station in the coastal town of Arecibo lost its roof, while communica- tion was severed with several emergency management posts. A hospital and a police station reported broken windows, and a tree fell on an ambulance. Those who sought shelter at a coliseum in San Juan were moved to the building’s second and third floors, radio station WKAQ-AM reported. The heavy winds and rain and the noise of things crashing outside woke many across Puerto Rico before daybreak. At one recently built hotel in San Juan, water dripped through the ceiling of a sixth-floor room and seeped through the window. “I didn’t sleep at all,” said Merike Mai, a vacationing 35-year-old flight attendant from Estonia. Previously a Category 5 with 175 mph winds, Maria hit Puerto Rico as the third- strongest storm to make landfall in the U.S., based on a key measurement that me- teorologists use: air pressure. The lower the central pres- sure, the stronger a storm. Maria’s pressure was 917 millibars, lower than Hur- ricane Irma’s 929 millibars when it roared into the Florida Keys earlier this month. Irma sideswiped Puerto Rico on Sept. 6, causing no deaths or widespread damage on the island but leaving more than 1 million people without electricity. More than 70,000 still had no power as Maria approached. Hurricanes tend to veer north or south of the island. The last Category 4 hurricane to blow ashore in Puerto Rico was in 1932, and the stron- gest ever to hit the island was San Felipe in 1928 with winds of 160 mph. As Maria closed in, Trump offered his support via Twitter: “Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane. Be careful, our hearts are with you – will be there to help!” The storm’s center passed near or over St. Croix over- night Tuesday, prompting U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Ken- neth Mapp to warn people to remain alert. St. Croix was largely spared the wide- spread damage caused by Irma on the chain’s St. Thomas and St. John islands. “For folks in their homes, I really recommend that you not be in any kind of sleep- wear,” Mapp said. “Make sure you have your shoes on. Make sure you have a jacket around.” He added: “I don’t really recommend you be sleeping from 11 o’clock to 4.” Maria killed two people in the French Caribbean is- land of Guadeloupe, and two people aboard a boat were reported missing off La De- sirade island, officials said. The storm also slammed the island of Dominica late Monday. Hartley Henry, an ad- viser to the prime minister, re- ported at least seven deaths and a “tremendous loss of housing and public buildings.” He said the country was “in a daze,” with no electricity and little to no communications. “The situation is really grave,” Consul General Bar- bara Dailey said in New York. Baby turtles wander into road SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sixty baby green sea tur- tles followed the wrong light last Friday, when they wan- dered onto a West Bay road instead of walking into the sea. Nineteen turtles were found dead in the road near West Bay Cemetery Beach; dozens more were found alive in the cemetery and released toward the water after dark. Workers at the West Bay Fire Station discovered the hatchlings, and they made a report to the Department of Environment, which re- sponded to the scene with in- terns and research officers. All 60 hatchlings were believed to be from the same nest. Turtle nests can have as many as 100 eggs at a time, which means that misorien- tation can rapidly affect the native population of the en- dangered species. Janice Blumenthal, a re- search officer for the Depart- ment of Environment, said Friday’s incident was the 33rd documented time this year that baby turtles have been misoriented by artifi- cial lights. Most of the events have occurred on Seven Mile Beach, but there have also been reports from Barkers and East End. Turtles have tradition- ally used the moonlight to find their way to the ocean from their beachfront nests, but Ms. Blumenthal said ar- tificial lighting has made that more difficult in recent years. The solution, she said, is turtle-friendly lighting, which can help protect the local population from disorientation. “We are encouraged to see increased interest and awareness of turtle-friendly lighting but there is a long way to go in order to pro- tect our nesting populations from this critical threat to their survival,” Ms. Blumen- thal said in an email re- sponse to the Cayman Com- pass on Wednesday. “Sealodges in Rum Point is an example of a property which has entirely retro- fitted their beachfront with turtle-friendly lighting. The property is illuminated by a beautiful amber glow from the turtle-friendly fixtures so that all the needs of property owners are met without im- pacting turtles.” The Department of En- vironment’s Facebook page states that turtle-friendly lighting is a legal require- ment in Florida and other U.S. jurisdictions. The Department has pub- lished a document called “Turtle lighting – Advice and Guidelines,” which can be found on its website. Artificial light can cause turtle hatchings to wander in the wrong direction. – PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Tip of the spear, end of an era Disabilities law honors legacy of Solomon Webster it’s not like today where they strike anything; we would choose special fish to take home,” he said. Corine Rankine, daughter of fisherman Vibert Christian, remembers walking from Bodden Town to Pease Bay to sell fish for 50 cents a pound. Sometimes they would ex- change it on the way for breadkind. “Those were hard days,” she said. She recalls dozens of dory sheds lining the Bodden Town coastal front. The beach was the place to be on any given day – that is where the men and women hung out, under the shade of dory sheds. Fish- ermen fixed nets and spe- arguns while telling fishing tales. They also caught sprats along the shoreline, she said. Avid fishermen Olson “Ocean” Levy said people eventually began to com- plain that spearfishing was destroying all the reef fish, but he said impact from local fishermen on the reefs and fish populations is minimal. He thinks the amount of tour boats, wave runners, suntan lotions and other foreign ma- terials polluting the sea are driving away the reef fish. Speargun regulations In 1985, Executive Council member Vassel Johnson rec- ommended a ban on spear- guns to the Legislative As- sembly. However, members thought the use of spear- guns should instead be con- trolled and confined only to tour boat operators, who as a novelty speared lobsters for meals for tourists. The perceived discrimi- nation led to public outcry from local fishermen. Politi- cian Gilbert McLean orga- nized a demonstration, and government then introduced a control on spearguns, in the form of licensing, but not just for tour boat operators. In 1986, the unlicensed possession and importa- tion of spearguns became an offense in the Cayman Is- lands. In 2009, the manufac- ture of spearguns and parts also became an offense. (In other words, it is generally not legal to import a spe- argun, or to repair a licensed speargun using parts that have been imported or made “from scratch.”) The Marine Conserva- tion Board enacted these provisions in order to pro- tect larger species of reef fish and also to gradually eliminate the method of spearfishing. Under the conservation laws, it has become more and more difficult for local fish- ermen to own and maintain spearguns. Some locals who still fish for a living said this traditional technique will soon be a thing of the past. As time passes, local fish- ermen are retiring their old spearguns, modifying models with homemade parts, such as wood, PVC pipe, rubber tubing and car antennas, choosing not to re-license the spears or storing them out of view of police. The National Conserva- tion Law contains serious consequences for possessing an unlicensed or otherwise il- legal speargun in Cayman. ■■ A person must be 18 years of age or older and can possess only one licensed speargun ■■ Licenses must be re- newed annually and ap- plicants must have a clean criminal record ■■ Licensed users must have Caymanian status ■■ Licensed users cannot use a speargun or any sharp instrument to pierce marine life in a marine park, replen- ishment zone, environ- mental zone; within any lagoon, sound, or body of water that is 20 feet or less in depth; within 200 feet of a vessel flying a dive flag; or within one mile of any designated grouper spawning area ■■ Speargun users may take a maximum of three fish within a 24-hour period and may not be in posses- sion of more than six fish taken with a speargun ■■ Permanent licenses also require current photo identification and an inspection and pho- tograph of the equip- ment being licensed. Violation of any of these laws is an offense carrying a maximum penalty of a $500,000 fine and four years in jail. Upon conviction, forfeiture of the vessel or other equip- ment may also be ordered. Spearguns in Cayman The Department of Envi- ronment currently has 122 valid speargun licenses on file. Additionally, the depart- ment has a different pro- gram where “spear licenses” are issued exclusively to hunt invasive lionfish. There are about 450 valid lionfish spear licenses. Although the department still processes and renews all current speargun licenses, the last renewal of a (non-li- onfish) speargun license was issued in 2015, before the National Conservation Law came into effect, replacing the old marine parks law. In the past 11 years, 40 spearguns have been confis- cated. The guns are returned if their owners are found not guilty. If the owners are found guilty, the guns are destroyed, said Department of Environment research of- ficer Bradley Johnson. The National Conserva- tion Council is considering a measure to allow the im- portation of spare speargun parts by licensed users. Until and unless that is approved – along with concomitant changes to the Customs Law, which also prohibits the im- portation of spearguns and parts – local fisherman can forget about making legal re- pairs to their spearguns. Assistant Collector of Customs Kerrylyn Ebanks said, “Customs cannot take it off the book until that law is passed in the House and Ga- zette and the Customs head of department has been no- tified. We have not received anything in that regards and have to keep it on the books until this is done.” Mr. Levy, the local fish- erman, said his own spe- argun was confiscated by en- forcement officers. “I took it there to re-li- cense and they took it from me because I had put on a new handle. This made me believe they were trying to eradicate spearguns totally. If you could not find parts for your speargun, then it would become dormant, not func- tional and could not be li- censed,” he said. Hunters and hunted “No spearguns were here in Cayman those days, just a harpoon which I knew as a ‘Jeggy,’” Mr. Levy said. Around the 1950s/’60s, the Hawaiian sling became popular in Cayman. Made of bamboo and rubber, the sling operates much like a bow and arrow does on land. Back then, any discarded old cars were good pickings for a speargun rod, Mr. Levy said. “The rods were pulled out of the roof of the car and sanded to perfection, the tip was honed and shaped to pierce the fish.” To make the Hawaiian sling, they secured a piece of bamboo and used some old bicycle rubber tubes. An old piece of car tire was used to make the tongue to fire the rod. Mr. Levy said such a rod could be dangerous, and not just for fish. Once, while fishing for cobblers (palo- meta), he accidentally shot his cousin in the hand. Spearfishing in Cayman took a technological stride forward with the introduc- tion of the Arbalete Champion speargun. Mr. Levy recalled national hero Jim Bodden having the first Champion speargun in Bodden Town. Fishermen used the Champion speargun to shoot rock fish, barracudas, parrot fish and other reef fish, Mr. Levy said. Spearfishing is a dan- gerous way to feed a family, as Mr. Levy knows well. He learned how to spear- fish as a young boy from his father. On many occa- sions, he said, he had to fend off sharks attracted to the bloody fish he had speared, or to avoid them by swim- ming away, dodging into a cave or hastily jumping back in the boat. Sharks can smell a drop of blood in the ocean from quarter of a mile away. A man swims in the water with a dangling speargun and a bag of freshly caught fish dripping blood – and suddenly the hunter be- comes the hunted. When an 8-foot-long bull shark suddenly appeared next to Mr. Levy, ripping the fish bag inches from his leg and thrashing wildly to empty its contents while sprinkling him with fresh fish blood, a spe- argun seemed tiny. “The most dangerous thing to man in the water using a speargun is a shark,” Mr. Levy said. “He don’t want you, he just wants the fish you have, but he will take a chunk out of you too if you’re not careful.” Mr. Levy described an- other occasion when a shark kept him “hostage” in a cave for minutes while he strug- gled to hold his breath as the shark circled the cave mouth. Only after he surrendered his catch to the shark was he able to swim to the surface and jump back in the boat. regional Special Olympic Games in Puerto Rico in 2010. He was also known as a footballer and basketball player. His parents, Caroline and David Webster, were presented with a bound copy of the law named for their son at the Government Administration Building in George Town on Tuesday. Ms. Webster recalled her son’s bravery and successes in the face of adversity. She tearfully recounted a tri- umphant football perfor- mance in Jamaica, where he scored three goals. “My son makes me proud,” she said. “I feel that this is the best compli- ment we ever had in life. It makes me feel like carrying on my life, like he’s still alive, like there are still five of us. There were five of us and now we’re four. “We’re trying to hold the family together. But this is a miracle to see what has come.” She praised the work and support of Shari Smith, his teacher at Lighthouse School. “Ms. Shari is an angel to me. Solomon has got angels down here over me to keep me strong. He was so lovely and I miss him,” she said. Ms. Smith said the leg- islation marked a momen- tous occasion in the coun- try’s history. “Solomon was one of my first students. This is something that has been a long time coming in terms of the law for the persons with disabilities. I think the naming of this law after Solomon embeds really what his life was all about,” Ms. Smith said. Since April, the Na- tional Council for Persons with Disabilities has been working on establishing policy requirements under the law, which will deter- mine the government’s dis- ability policy through 2033. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The Security Council backed re- forms Wednesday to reduce inefficiencies, corruption and abuse in the U.N.’s far-flung peacekeeping operations, a key priority of the Trump ad- ministration at the U.N. Gen- eral Assembly. Vice President Mike Pence cast the approval vote for the United States, saying the U.N. must be more aggressive in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations. He said all peacekeeping missions must be deployed in a support of a political solution to conflicts and have exit strategies. “In short, when a mission succeeds, we must not pro- long it. When a mission under- performs, we should restruc- ture it. And when a mission consistently fails to fulfill a mandate of this council, we should end it,” Pence said. While many peacekeeping missions have been hailed as successful – Sierra Leone most recently – others have been criticized for sexual abuse violations and corrup- tion, especially the Central African Republic and Congo. The joint U.N.-African Union mission in Sudan’s Darfur re- gion has been widely criti- cized for inefficiency. An Associated Press in- vestigative series on the U.N’s peacekeeping crisis uncov- ered roughly 2,000 allega- tions of sexual abuse and ex- ploitation during a 12-year period. It found that the U.N. often lost track of the vic- tims and that only a frac- tion of the perpetrators were held accountable. Adding to the challenges the changing nature of con- flicts around the world. Often the main players are rebel groups and fighters who act outside of international law, rather than conflicts between different countries. As a re- sult, U.N. peacekeepers have increasingly been killed, in- jured or kidnapped. The Security Council asked for annual briefings from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his initiative to reform peacekeeping. Guterres shares U.S. con- cerns that peacekeeping mis- sions often get bogged down in ever-evolving conflicts with insufficient resources or an adequate political strategy. But the Trump adminis- tration stoked alarm in the U.N. with a proposal to cut U.S. funding for U.N. peace- keeping by $1.3 billion, over 50 percent. The United States currently pays 28.57 percent of the peacekeeping budget, nearly triple the second- largest contributor, China. U.N. officials have pushed back on the idea that its peacekeeping operations are not cost-efficient. Guterres pointed to 55 operations that have wrapped up over the years, achieving peace in countries around the world. U.N. peacekeeping opera- tions, which number 16 with more than 100,000 personnel, cost nearly $8 billion a year. The U.N. has said that, ad- justing for inflation, the cost to member states has de- creased by 17 percent in the past decade. Three missions – Haiti, Ivory Coast and Liberia – are scheduled to end by March 2018, which will save hun- dreds of millions of dollars. Pence applauds UN resolution on peacekeeping reform Vice President Mike Pence cast the approval vote for the United States, saying the U.N. must be more aggressive in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations.Next >