SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Critics rave about film on Netflix Adam Sandler is a revelation in ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’ B4 Cayman Cocktail Week kicks off Mixologists prepare for seven days of showing off their skills B3 Lifestyle Events Movies Get your Cayman Cookout tickets It may seem early, but events have already sold out for 2018 B2 ■ EVENTS NCVO Telethon NCVO Telethon The annual pledge drive starts the season of giving. B6 STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $ 56 Until 31 July Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertificates.com Fine Wine and Spirits TORTUGA 15 stores island-wide and Mary Lou’s in Cayman Brac. For more information, please call 949-7701. For the Month of October NOTTAGE HILL REGULAR $14.99. NOW ONLY $11.99. SAVE $ 3 Creatively carving a pumpkin Tips and tricks to make your orange squash stand out B5 PHO TO: SIMON PIT CHER CAYMAN WEEKENDER NCVO Telethon EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘POLITICAL ADVOCACY’: CAYMAN TAKES ITS CASE TO WASHINGTON High of 90 Low of 80 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY ALSO INCLUDING BIG KING ORIGINAL CHICKEN SANDWICH BIG FISH SANDWICHEXTRA LONG CHEESEBURGER JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five months after the general election, Cay- man’s National Conservation Council says it is struggling, in vain, to get a meeting with the new minister for the environment. Amid concern over potential revisions to the landmark conservation law and a host of other pressing issues, its chair Christine Rose- Smyth has been seeking an audience with En- vironment Minister Dwayne Seymour since shortly after the May 24 election. The need for a frank conversation with government became more urgent when Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin described elements of the law as “ridiculous” and confirmed in his strategic policy statement in August that the new coalition would move swiftly to amend it. According to Ms. Rose-Smyth, requests for clarification of the premier’s comments and more general ongoing requests for a meeting with the minister have yet to receive a reply. She said the council could not address or respond to any concerns about the conservation law, without knowing more about what those concerns were. Mr. Seymour, in response to questions from the Compass, acknowledged he had not yet met with the council but said he planned to do so at the “earliest opportunity.” Separate inquiries from the council about the Environmental Protection Fund have also gone unanswered, Ms. Rose-Smyth said during a meeting of the council on Wednesday. Legislation giving the council management authority over disbursements from the fund has yet to be enacted. There was more bad news for the council, Wednesday, as Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the Department of Environment updated members on the likely budget allocations for key projects over the next two years. NATIONAL CONSERVATION COUNCIL MEETING Council in dark over gov’t plans BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An after-hours heist at the Wharf, one of Cayman’s longest serving restaurants, early Wednesday followed last week’s robbery of pa- trons outside a local bar. Meanwhile, a man was robbed of his earnings outside a home in Prospect Tuesday night. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service had not reported any arrests in connection with the three incidents as of press time Thursday, and police said it was too early in the investigations to determine if the two robberies at the business establishments, the Wharf and Salty’s Sports Bar, were connected. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service, four suspects – three of them armed – arrived on the Wharf property around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday just as remaining staff members were leaving for the night. The venerable Cayman res- taurant on the southern end of West Bay Road had already closed for the night and no customers were there during the robbery. Police said the armed men confronted a secu- rity guard outside the restaurant and that two of the suspects entered and took an undisclosed sum of money, then fled north toward the beach. Wharf Head of Operations Luciano De Riso said no one was hurt and that staff handled the situation calmly and professionally. He said, al- though the suspects took some cash and tore up the recording device for the security cameras, se- curity footage was preserved for police and the amount stolen was not significant. “There was not a lot of money, we are not THREE NIGHTTIME ARMED ROBBERIES IN PAST WEEK It’s “bleisure time” in George Town … At least according to NCB Investments boss Matthew Wight who coined the term to describe the developer’s new hotel project – targeted at both business and lei- sure tourists. Speaking at a launch event at the Wharf for the planned hotel, which will be built on the site of the old Treehouse restaurant, opposite Kirk Market, Mr. Wight said it would be a “luxury wellness and business boutique hotel.” NCB revealed plans for the five-story, 60- unit hotel, featuring farm-to-table restau- rant, juice bar and fitness center, in June. It is the first new hotel project in the is- land’s capital for some time. Premier Alden McLaughlin, who also spoke at the gathering Wednesday evening, said the project would create jobs and contribute to the revitalization of George Town. He said “wellness” was a growing sector of the tourism market and predicted the hotel would help diversify Cayman’s tourism product. “I commend the hotel’s health-con- scious initiatives,” he said. “Just imagine landing on Grand Cayman after one of those long flights from London, checking in to this new hotel in George Town, and being treated to yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes, a juice bar, fitness High hopes for ‘wellness’ hotel PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » NCB President Naul Bodden, center, with his son Landon and wife Thora at the Wharf event where the company introduced Cayman to plans for a new boutique hotel. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – One man climbs 24 flights of stairs several times a day alongside dormant eleva- tors. Street vendors hawk plastic washboards for $20. And families outstretch their hands as crews in helicopters drop supplies in communi- ties that remain isolated. This is life one month after Hurricane Maria slammed into the U.S. ter- ritory on Sept. 20 as a Cat- egory 4 storm that killed at least 48 people, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and left tens of thousands of people without a job. It was the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in nearly a cen- tury, with winds just shy of Category 5 force. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” retired school- teacher Santa Rosario said as she scanned empty shelves at a supermarket in the capital of San Juan that had run out of water jugs – again. Maria caused as much as an estimated $85 billion in damage across an island al- ready mired in an 11-year recession. That has compli- cated and delayed efforts to restructure a portion of a $74 billion public debt load that officials say is unpayable. And it has thrust Puerto Ri- co’s territorial status into the international spotlight, re- viving a sharp debate about its political future as the is- land of 3.4 million people attempts to recover from flooding, landslides and power and water outages. Roughly 80 percent of power customers remain in the dark, and another 30 percent are without water. Schools remain closed. Stop- lights are not operating. And while nearly 90 percent of supermarkets have re- opened, many have bare rows of shelves empty of goods ranging from water to ba- nanas to canned tuna. “We’re not eating well,” said 28-year-old maintenance worker Pedro Lopez as he took a break from cleaning a damaged apartment com- plex. “It’s a lot of white rice and fried eggs.” Near where he stood, massive tree trunks, pieces of zinc roofs and soggy items including mattresses still lined the street – a scene common across the island. Less than half of Puerto Rico’s cellphone towers are operating, and only 64 per- cent of bank branches have reopened, some of them with dead outdoor ATMs whose empty screens prompt a roll of eyes from people seeking to withdraw money. A brown haze has settled over parts of the island as more and more generators are turned on to light hos- pitals, homes and even the power company itself. In turn, the number of asthma cases and thefts has increased. Newly precious genera- tors have been stolen from places including a nursing home, an airport cargo ter- minal and a hospital. Nearly 5,000 people re- main in shelters, with many using rainwater to shower. “Life has changed dra- matically,” said Gilberto Del Orbe, 50, who used to install marble and gypsum board. “I’ve had no work. Everything is paralyzed.” Last week, the House of Representatives passed a $36.5 billion disaster aid package for places including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and now a group of Democratic lawmakers are pushing for tax relief, saying that people and businesses in both U.S. territories affected by Hurricane Maria receive unequal treatment compared with U.S. states. The U.S. Federal Emer- gency Management Agency also has pledged more than $171 million to help restore power across the island, and it has distributed more than $5 million to munici- palities in need, as well as $ 1 million to Puerto Rico’s National Guard. Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez said the storm set Puerto Rico back 20 to 30 years, and while generators, food, water and other types of aid are still being flown and shipped to the island, people say it’s not enough. The complaints posted on social media or shared over beers or candlelight dinners are multiplying: Weight loss. Roaring generators. Sporadic sleep in oppressive heat. Swarms of mosquitoes. Wors- ening traffic jams. Breakouts of pinkeye. Hands rendered raw by daily clothes washing. Celebrations of power coming back on in certain neighborhoods are often brief: A litany of happy ex- clamation points following messages of elation posted on social media are usu- ally replaced a day later by angry emojis. “If it continues like this, a lot of people are going to leave,” said Rosario, the re- tired schoolteacher. “But not me. I will stay here.” She paused and then continued to push her cart slowly through the aisles, searching for new food op- tions after having eaten sand- wiches of canned chicken and asparagus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Casual indoor & outdoor dining with a local flair. Family friendly & affordable. 94-PASTA [ 947.2782 ] • Marquee Plaza Enjoy Dinner Tonight at Try One of Our Signature Dishes Banana Wrap Snapper Three US military helicopters visit Owen Roberts Airport TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three U.S. military heli- copters occupied Owen Rob- erts International Airport Thursday morning, touching down en route to their Hon- duras home base. The aircraft arrived “at 11:14 a.m., repositioning themselves back to Honduras,” according to Airport Opera- tions Manager Rob Harris. Accompanied by 35 ser- vicemen, the aircraft left the same afternoon for the Cen- tral American country’s Palm- erola – also called Soto Cana – Air Base, shared with the Honduran Air Force Academy. The base opened in 1981 and houses between 500 and 600 U.S. troops. It is chiefly used for regional counter-narcotics operations, weather forecasting, fire pro- tection and other humani- tarian missions. The American Joint Task Force Bravo comprises four groups: a military hos- pital, army forces, “joint se- curity” and the 18-aircraft first battalion-228th Avia- tion Regiment. Part of that fleet are the CH-53 “heavy-lift” he- licopters, manufactured in Stratford, Connecticut, by Sikorsky Aircraft. Originally developed by the U.S. Marine Corps for ser- vice in Vietnam, the aircraft initially appeared in January 1967, used chiefly to recover other downed aircraft. Aside from the U.S. Marine Corps, the CH-53 is also used by the German Army, and the Israeli and Mexican air forces. On Oct. 13, Owen Rob- erts hosted an initial visit by six U.S. aircraft – three UH-60 Black Hawk and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules transport plane, also moving to Honduras from the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “These guys are not overnighting,” Mr. Harris said Thursday. “It’s a gas- and-go stop.” “These guys are not overnighting. It’s a gas-and-go stop.” ROBERT HARRIS, operations manager, Cayman Islands Airports Authority Most of Puerto Rico still in the dark a month after Hurricane ‘Maria’ A resident sits in his wall-less home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. – PHOTO: AP SAO PAULO (AP) – The In- ternational Labor Organi- zation warned Thursday that Brazil’s new rules de- fining slave-like working conditions could weaken the country’s efforts to protect workers. Slave-like labor in Brazil was previously defined as work that included de- grading conditions and ex- cessive workloads. After new rules issued ear- lier this week, that defini- tion now applies only if workers are forced to stay at their jobs. The Labor Ministry said in a statement posted on its website the changes were aimed at improving the granting of “unemployment benefits to workers rescued from inhumane conditions,” but did not provide addi- tional details. “Combating slave labor is a permanent public policy of the state,” the ministry’s statement said. The ILO said that the rules jeopardize the coun- try’s efforts to improve labor laws, and critics have said they are a bid by Pres- ident Michel Temer to gain support from the agri- business lobby as he faces a possible trial on cor- ruption charges. Slave-like working con- ditions are relatively wide- spread in many parts of Brazil, where poor la- borers are lured into ar- duous jobs and become in- debted to plantation and factory owners for neces- sities such as food and transportation. As a result of the changes, a list of employers who submit workers to slave-like conditions will only be published if the Labor Ministry decides to make it public. ILO: BRAZIL’S NEW LABOR RULES WEAKEN WORKER PROTECTIONS CORRECTION A story titled “Proud of Them nominations sought,” which ran in Tuesday’s Cayman Compass, in- cluded an incorrect date for the deadline for receipt of nominations. The correct date is Nov. 6. Nomination forms can be found online at www.gov.ky.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 1 26 M aclendon Dri v e , Industrial P ark , G r and C a y man | W : w w w.r efuel.ky | E : info @r efuel.ky | T: + 1 345 745 -FUEL (38 35) The energy economy of the Cayman Islands is currently based almost entirely on imported petroleum products with millions of gallons of Diesel and Gasoline imported on a monthly basis to generate electrical energy and supply the transportation sector, the second largest energy consuming sector in the economy. Current trends and pressure for more sustainable options have lead governments around the world to mandate the addition of renewables to petroleum products, and this has resulted in more and more renewables being added to petroleum products in an effort to oxygenate fuels and reduce emissions. Ethanol blended gasolines and biodiesel blended diesels have become commonplace proven fuels around the globe with many billions of miles driven on them every year. The Australian Medical Association has said: FUEL DOESN’T HAVE TO COST THE EARTH! Rethink fuel with Refuel Until now, such fuels had yet to be adopted in Cayman. On March 15th 2017 the Cayman Islands Government passed new legislation in the form of the National Energy Policy. The National energy policy recognizes the benefits of these fuel and promotes their introduction into Cayman's fuel market through its "Fuel Sector Strategy". Specifically promoting the introduction of E10,(10%ethanol, 90% Gasoline) and B5, (5%Biodiesel, 95% Diesel). Refuel is the first company on Island to bring the vision of the Fuel Sector Strategy to life, offering not one, but three grades of E10, a grade of B5 and even a grade of B20,(20%Biodiesel, 80%Diesel). Through our different model, Refuel hopes to prove that these emission reducing modern fuels can be supplied in an economically advantageous manner, and become commonplace in Cayman. It's time to Rethink Fuel with Refuel, where fuel doesn't have to cost the Earth. There is incontrovertible evidence that the addition of ethanol to petrol and biodiesel to diesel will reduce the deaths and ill-health associated with the emissions produced by burning those fuels. ASK ABOUT FLEET MANAGEMENT REWARD PROGRAMS COMING SOON! Cayman Prep shines at Brain Bowl All 12 high schools take part in annual Brain Bowl for first time MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Brennen Milley did not have to get the final answer correct. His Cayman Prep School team already had a one-point advantage over Cayman In- ternational School when the last of the 20 questions in the championship round of the annual KPMG Brain Bowl rolled around. The day-long competition, sponsored by the accounting and consulting firm, was held Wednesday at the Marriott Beach Resort. CIS buzzed in first, but may have overthought its an- swer to the question: What is the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea? The team came up with the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in all the world’s oceans, but which is located in the Pacific. That kicked control to the Cayman Prep team. Brennen, 16, leaned into the mic and nailed it: “The Cayman Trench.” He and his teammates cel- ebrated with high-fives and smiles. The same group of four students placed third in last year’s battle of the minds. That experience was benefi- cial, said Samiran Saha, 15. “We knew the rules and we were familiar with the venue, so we were a little less nervous,” she said. Nerves were pretty much the order of the day as all 12 high schools in the Cayman Islands faced a barrage of questions on geography, mathematics, science, liter- ature, art, religion and gen- eral knowledge. “I was dying up there,” said Okezie Eleweanya, 12, of Cayman Academy, after correctly answering a string of questions to help win an early round for his team. His anxiety almost got the best of him, he said. “I thought I was going to faint. Now I know what it feels like to have a stroke.” Those feelings were not limited to the competitors. Hope Academy coach Jac- quie Armstrong said she was probably more nervous than her students. “My heart’s been pounding out of my chest,” said the eighth grade teacher. “I’ve been sending things back to school and saying, ‘I don’t know if I can take this.’” This was the sixth year for the event and the first in which every high school in the country was represented. “The fact we got all 12 high schools together to cel- ebrate academic achieve- ment is really important,” Ms. Armstrong said. KPMG’s Cindy Reid ini- tiated the contest six years ago. Adding Wesleyan Chris- tian Academy this year to complete the representa- tion of all secondary schools, both public and private, was a milestone. “It’s like a breath of fresh air,” Ms. Reid said. “I had this dream years and years ago and each year it gets bigger and better. I thought it would be a way to unite everybody, to stretch the academics.” The “Jeopardy” type com- petition pits four-member teams against one another. A moderator asks a ques- tion and students buzz in if they think they have the an- swer. If that answer is in- correct, the opposing team gets a chance to answer. KPMG purchases the Brain Bowl questions from a U.S. company. Ms. Reid said she reads every one and picks the ones best suited for Cayman students. Next year, she said, she hopes to do a live feed of the event, so that students’ fami- lies can watch the action. KPMG partner Sheenah Hislop said the event gives students a chance to meet and network with their peers at other schools. There are also some professional as- pects to the contest. “We always have stu- dents contact us and say, ‘Can we come work with you?’” Ms. Hislop said. “We do connect with a bunch of kids. It’s another way for us to help them.” Most important, said Ms. Reid, is it opens students’ eyes a little more. “If they learn one new thing today, we’ve done our job,” Ms. Reid said. Cayman Prep team member Aiden Watler, 14, said he not only learned a lesson in remaining com- posed under pressure, but also discovered some abili- ties he did not know he had. “It’s surprising when you’re under pressure how quickly you can think,” Aiden said. “It’s really amazing.” Nerves were pretty much the order of the day as all 12 high schools in the Cayman Islands faced a barrage of questions on geography, mathematics, science, literature, art, religion and general knowledge. Brennen Milley, right, provided the final answer in Cayman Prep School’s winning performance at the annual KPMG Brain Bowl on Wednesday, Oct. 18. Also on the team were, from left, Aiswarya Binoy and Aiden Watler.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. FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman Islands officials acted wisely when they hired Baker Botts law firm partner Jeff Munk to repre- sent our country’s interests in Washington, D.C. Especially now, as the U.S. Congress prepares for a contentious debate about tax reform, it is imperative that Cayman ensures American policymakers have accurate information and meaningful context about our financial services sector and its critical role in the U.S. and global economy. Despite our tiny islands’ supersized position as one of the world’s largest international financial centers, historically Cayman’s leaders have been seemingly hesitant to, or perhaps operationally incapable of, claiming a seat at important discussion tables, be they in the halls of the U.S. Congress, the inner sanctums of the U.K. Parliament or, certainly, at the major media houses, particularly in Washington, New York and London. As a tax-neutral offshore jurisdiction, Cayman has for too long served as a convenient scapegoat for other countries’ politicians and regulatory over-reachers who — deliberately or out of ignorance — mischaracterize Cayman as a “sunny place for shady people.” The reality is, as outlined in a three-page “informa- tional brief” being circulated by Mr. Munk, that Cayman is a well-known, well-documented and highly regarded financial center that leads the way in transparency, effective regulation, and cooperation with all first- world taxing regimes, including the United States. The selection of the eminently knowledgeable, highly respected and well-connected Mr. Munk appears to be an excellent move by Cayman’s Ministry of Financial Services. Mr. Munk’s law firm, Baker Botts, is a prestigious international institution with 725 attorneys in offices in key jurisdictions around the world. As evidence of its influence, look no further than senior partner James A. Baker III, whose resume includes service as U.S. Treasury Secretary, Secretary of State, White House Chief of Staff to two presidents (Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush) and leader of presidential campaigns for three candidates (Reagan, Bush and Gerald Ford). We have every reason to believe Mr. Munk will be effective in his endeavors. He is deeply familiar with financial services, in general, and Cayman, in particular. For years, he served as a lobbyist for Cayman law firm Maples and Calder, and they, too, gave him the highest grades (we checked). Some Cayman residents may cast a critical eye on the $12,500 per month price tag attached to Mr. Munk’s services. They’re wrong. It is a small invest- ment in the context of the continued health and well- being of our financial sector, which drives more than half of Cayman’s economic activity. Mr. Munk’s impact should not, and must not, be measured by bureaucratic performance metrics (hours logged, reports generated, meetings conducted or attended). Rather, his duty is to work diligently and consis- tently, behind the scenes, to ensure that key decision- makers in D.C. have an accurate understanding of and appreciation for Cayman’s economy, in the context of U.S. policy, with one goal being a shift away from inaccurate and hurtful rhetoric that unfairly maligns our territory. In terms of Mr. Munk’s fee, we would be wise to recall an old saying (popular in both Western and legal circles): Gunfighters don’t charge by the bullet. ‘Political advocacy’: Cayman takes its case to Washington The old ‘obit man’ takes a look around When I was 20, I dropped out of college and got a job with a morning newspaper whose city ed- itor Mr. Walt Streightiff put me to work writing obitu- aries of ordinary men and women whose deaths were not considered newsworthy. Other reporters handled crime, natural disasters, City Hall, sports, fatal acci- dents, high finance, visiting celebrities, and what was called “human interest,” meaning heartwarming stories, usually involving children. I was in charge of ordinary cold death. Mr. Streightiff liked his obituaries straight – basic facts, plus the deceased’s education, professional achievements, church and club memberships, survi- vors, and funeral arrange- ments. I liked to add in- teresting detail – the man who, until he was 70, swam across White Bear Lake every summer, the woman whose potato salad was en- vied by others, the woman who could look at a sen- tence and speak it back- ward quickly and perfectly, the man with the enor- mous model-train layout filling his basement. Some of these Mr. Streightiff sniffed at but tolerated, others he crossed out. That was 55 years ago and he was in his 50s and a chain smoker, so I sup- pose he is gone now. If I were writing his obit, I’d mention his short bristly hair, his starched white shirt and suspenders, his high-top leather shoes and armbands, and his com- manding presence at the end of the horseshoe city desk, the way he barked out your last name, how he picked up a phone and said “YEAH?” into it. His breed is gone now, along with the cigarette smoke and the clatter of type- writers. And now I’m 75 and the people in the obits are pals of mine. There were three of them in October, Bruce and Russ and Margaret, and the month is only half over. Bruce was an organic farmer for 40 years, raising farm-to-table produce. His land had been in the family for more than a century and he made it as produc- tive as it could be, taking on dozens of young interns who wanted to learn the ropes and find out if they had a vocation, too. He kept bees and when- ever he visited me, he brought a quart jar of honey. The farm was his life. We shared an ancestor, Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island colony who came over from England in 1637 or so and who was ar- rested for preaching reli- gious freedom among the Puritans. I am a Puritan myself and Bruce tolerated me pretty well. Russ was an architect who took up the truck- driving life, played in a blues band, found romance, watched over his kids and cheered them on, and ad- mired well-made things: motorcycles, guitars, old houses, barns, a song, a well-told tale. He once built a long twisting snow slide on a hillside with banked curves that he designed for maximum thrills. He made a habit of telling you a joke every time he met you. Ole & Lena jokes, lightbulb jokes, whatever. A man walks into the bar with a handful of fresh dog ma- nure and says to the bar- tender, “Look what I almost stepped in.” A meaningful joke. His specialty. Margaret was a college classmate who sat ahead of me in Miss Youngblood’s Shakespeare class. I once recited to her “Let me not to the mar- riage of true minds admit impediments” and meant it but we stayed friends. She became a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst while raising three kids, and practiced for 30 years or so. I accused her of being a hired friend to people of privilege, a joke, and she laughed. I think that what her patients craved was not to be healed but to be un- derstood and she gave them her keen attention. I miss her calm and in- quisitive voice. I never heard her speak about anyone with contempt or derision. Not even Death, whom she saw coming a long way off and met with serenity. They each had a clear vocation and made a mark and I miss them and hate to delete them from my phone. I grieve for each of them and I also tell myself to buckle down. Pay atten- tion. Do your job. Don’t kill time. Cherish your elders as they pass. My cousin Olive Darby died recently at 104, clear of mind, a steady star shining through the branches of the family tree. I’m sorry I did not go visit her, the last living person to have known my grand- father James, but there’s no time for regret now. No- vember is coming, 2018 ap- proaches. Onward. Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. © 2017, Garrison Keillor, distributed by The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News. GARRISON KEILLOR GARRISON KEILLOR 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” They each had a clear vocation and made a mark and I miss them and hate to delete them from my phone. I grieve for each of them and I also tell myself to buckle down. Pay attention. Do your job. Don’t kill time. Cherish your elders as they pass.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 KPMG 6th Annual Brain Bowl Tournament History made with the participation of 12 local high schools! We strive to create a network of support for our youth by getting involved in sponsoring local High School programs, providing career guidance and also employment opportunities for local youth who are interested in making public accounting their career. Our collaboration with the high schools, their principal, teachers, and the government is critical to their development and success. kpmg.ky KPMG hosted its sixth annual KPMG Brain Bowl Academic Tournament on Wednesday, October 18th at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. Students from all twelve of the Island’s high schools participated, including students from Wesleyan Christian Academy that entered a team for the first time and from Layman E. Scott Sr. High School who flew in from Cayman Brac. Congratulations to all of the participants in the tournament; Cayman Prep & High School took first place, with Cayman International School and Triple C School placing second and third respectively. © 2017 KPMG, a Cayman Islands partnership and a member firm. Winners! 2nd place 3rd placeDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days East End North Side In the Oct. 18, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, “North Side News” correspondent Nettie McCoy wrote: “A very enjoyable eve- ning was spent at the Town Hall on Oct. 7. A dinner in aid of the new church building was sponsored by the Women’s Guild, and everyone enjoyed tasty native dishes. “Two very interesting films were shown by Mr. Bruce Parker of Rum Point, which were thoroughly en- joyed by all present, es- pecially the children and young people. The church is very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Parker for being so good as to provide this bit of entertainment as it drew a very large crowd and so there was a profitable sale, the proceeds of which are urgently needed in com- pleting the new church. “It is hoped that the church will be completed and ready for the opening and dedication which has been planned for Nov. 17. “Those returning re- cently were Mr. Paul Ebanks of NBC, Mrs. Norma Ebanks and son Franklin from their wonderful va- cation in Canada with her brother and sisters, Miss Glenda Miller from her visit to Miami, and Mrs. Eastman Miller, who vis- ited her mother in Hon- duras. Mr. Leslie Chisholm who is on his annual vaca- tion to visit his mother and other relatives. “Those leaving last week were Mr. Churchill Conolly to join his ship in Puerto Rico; Mr. Ira Ebanks and Mr. Linsey Ebanks; Mrs. Rita Whittaker to Jamaica to get her papers for per- manent residence in the U.S.; and Mr. Bloomfield Conolly and Miss Judy Ann Miller for a weekend visit to Cayman Brac.” In the same issue, “East End Echos” correspondent Charles Dixon reported: “Messrs. Kevan Conolly and Ludlow Buckridge left on the 5th to work for the NBC. “Mr. Frank Conolly arrived on the 9th to spend his vacation. He worked for the NBC. “Mr. Calvin Whittaker returned on the 13th to spend his vacation. He worked for the NBC. “Mr. and Mrs. Huburn ar- rived from the USA to spend their vacation at Colliers. “On Tuesday, 10th, Mrs. Claretta Rankine passed away at her home at the age of 71 years. Left to mourn are her husband Julius Ran- kine, two sons O’Neil and Roosevelt, sisters Dorothy and Myrtle, and brothers Joseph and Delma. “The family wishes to express thanks to all who shared in their recent bereavement.” FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Bingo Night returns to North Side PTA and District Council promote community event CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com North Side’s popular Bingo Night returns on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Edna M. Moyle Primary School Hall. “Our previous Bingo Nights have been enjoyed by people of all ages,” said North Side District Council executive secretary Carol Saunds. “Last time we had one table with a family of parents, children, grandparents and the grand- parents’ friends,” she reported, “and ev- erybody had a good time.” Games are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Cards are $2 per card per game. Some people are content playing one card, while others enjoy the challenge of keeping their eyes on three or four cards, Ms. Saunds noted. Organizers provide highlighters for participants to mark the numbers as they are called. The experienced number-caller is loud and brisk, adding to the excite- ment, she said. The first Bingo Night of this new school year will benefit the primary school’s literacy and numeracy programs. PTA and council members have been asked to solicit prizes for the eve- ning and donors are expected to be from around the island. North Side merchants and business people are generous, Ms. Saunds said. Prizes in the past have included gift certificates from gas stations and restaurants. The final game of the evening is typ- ically a “cover the whole card” round, for which previous winners have re- ceived prizes such as jewelry and a set of tires. Last year, the Bingo Nights tended to wind down around 9:30 p.m. Admission is free; snacks and bever- ages are on sale. For more information, email emps.pta@gmail.com. The first Bingo Night of the new school year will benefit Edma M. Moyle Primary School’s literacy and numeracy programs. Members of the public and companies continue to donate money toward the creation of a Children’s Garden at the Queen Eliza- beth II Botanic Park. Genesis Trust and Corpo- rate Services Ltd. is the latest to hand over a check to the initiative, which the com- pany’s financial controller Karen Hare delivered to park manager John Lawrus. The company donated $1,500. “The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park wishes to also thank Mr. Paul Drake, Man- aging Director of Genesis Trust and Corporate Services, Ltd.,” Mr. Lawrus said. Park officials and politi- cians broke ground at the Children’s Garden in August. The site covers almost an acre and is located between the Visitor Centre and the Heritage Garden. The garden includes a “schoolhouse,” for all- weather teaching of stu- dents, as well as a tree house and grow zone. The project is expected to be completed by late 2018. $1,500 donated to Children’s Garden 50 YEARS AGO Fundraiser for new church building Meeting scheduled for Clifton Hunter High School Theater CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com All residents of North Side district are invited to the monthly meeting of the District Council, which is set for Thursday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. at the the- ater at Clifton Hunter High School. Members of the council execu- tive had decided to alternate meeting venues between the high school in Frank Sound and the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre on North Side Road. With the September meeting at the high school, the coming meeting would have been at the Civic Centre. How- ever, council executive secretary Carol Saunds has advised that a scheduling conflict has occurred, and a youth conference will be taking place there over a period of several days, with evening activities scheduled. The district council meeting there- fore reverts to the high school for its next meeting. She advised that the venue attracted a good turnout from the area last month. VENUE FOR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING CHANGED Genesis Trust and Corporate Services Ltd. financial controller Karen Hare hands over a check to Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park manager John Lawrus. Two young girls play with golden shovels that were used at the August groundbreaking at the Children’s Garden. The initiative continues to garner support from the community. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 Radio Cayman’s senior technician, Dean Bremmer, has returned to Cayman after helping restore the Turks and Caicos Islands’ broadcast system, which was largely destroyed last month by Hurricane Irma. Mr. Bremmer flew to Turks and Caicos on Sept. 27 as a part of a humanitarian aid mission, according to a press release from Government In- formation Services. The engineer said he was “nervous and excited” be- cause the contractor for Radio Turks and Caicos had yet to assess the damage to the network, so he didn’t know the challenge he would be facing. His first job was to under- take a damage assessment, flying on a U.K. Royal Navy helicopter to three islands to examine Radio Turks and Ca- icos’ transmitters. While the network on Grand Turk was still working, transmission on the islands of Providenci- ales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos were offline. “What the engineer dis- covered was quite sobering but unsurprising given the duration and ferocity of the Category 5 weather system,” the press release stated. “The majority of [Radio Turks and Caicos’] antennae and cables were ruined.” It took a day apiece to repair the transmitters, which were on Providen- ciales, Middle Caicos and South Caicos. Mr. Brenner’s most chal- lenging task was to find a way to make the new trans- mitters broadcast audio. He solved that problem by in- stalling used computers at each site so the transmit- ters could broadcast Radio Turks and Caicos’ online streaming service, according to the release. His solution restored radio for the affected areas for the first time in weeks. He was assisted by two riggers from local radio-service firm Avcom Wireless. Premier Alden McLaughlin praised the humanitarian team for their work. “Mr. Bremmer has made the Cayman Islands proud as have all of our human- itarian aid staff,” he said. “Their selfless support during this volatile hurri- cane season has helped thou- sands of individuals and has further strengthened our ties with other governments within the region.” 1. 2. 3. HOCUS POCUS (1993, PG) Grab a bite from special food stalls lining the Crescent. Grab a seat in front of the big screen. Enjoy a unique Halloween with dinner and a movie under the stars! TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31 7 PM, THE CRESCENT Movie: Free Food Tickets: CI$6 Drink Tickets: CI$4 CAMANABAY.COM where life blossoms Mr. Bremmer flew to Turks and Caicos on Sept. 27 as a part of a humanitarian aid mission, according to a press release from Government Information Services. Radio Cayman engineer helps fix Turks and Caicos broadcast system Dean Bremmer SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Javonnie Silburn, the man accused of shining a laser at a police helicopter in 2015, was found guilty of causing harassment, alarm or dis- tress Thursday following a judge-alone trial in the court of Magistrate Grace Donalds. Silburn will be sentenced on Jan. 15 following a social inquiry report. The 22-year-old admitted shining a red laser at the helicopter on one occasion, but a police witness testi- fied that he did it “no less than three” times. Magistrate Donalds said Thursday that it “strains the credulity” of the court to accept the de- fendant’s evidence, and she also said Silburn was “not impressive” as a witness. Silburn’s trial began in September but had to be ad- journed after one of the po- lice witnesses embarked on a hurricane relief mission in Turks and Caicos. Silburn was picked out by the technical of- ficer aboard the police heli- copter, who testified that he was able to identify the de- fendant by his distinctive Afro hairstyle. The officer kept an on-board camera trained on the suspect until officers on the ground ap- proached to take him into custody, and he testified in court that he was “100 per- cent sure” that the right person had been arrested. The magistrate said Thursday that the de- fense case could have been bolstered by calling more witnesses. Second court Following the news of his conviction in Magistrate Donalds’s court, Silburn had to go to the court of Magis- trate Valdis Foldats, where he had to plead to a number of offenses, some of which dated back to 2014. Silburn pleaded guilty to two counts of damage to property and one count of causing fear or provocation of violence, and he pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and causing fear or provocation of vio- lence. He also pleaded not guilty to several traffic of- fenses, and he will be back in Summary Court for a case management hearing and trial date on Dec. 5. The 22-year-old admitted shining a red laser at the helicopter on one occasion, but a police witness testified that he did it “no less than three” times. MAN FOUND GUILTY OF SHINING LASER AT HELICOPTERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS ® Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable). ky.scotiabank.com #StartWithYou You’re always moving forward in your life. That is why every loan we offer—from auto to education to home loans— always helps you to do just that. Because with a good start, there’s no stopping where you can go. It’s about giving you the best start.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An environmental impact assessment will be required before construction on the Cayman Island’s new waste- management infrastructure can commence. A consortium of com- panies led by Dart Enter- prises has been selected as the preferred bidder on the project, which will include a new waste-to-energy elec- tricity plant and small engi- neered landfill. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, di- rector of the Department of Environment, who was part of the steering com- mittee during the planning stages of the waste manage- ment system, said she had advised that an EIA would likely be required. Ultimately, the project team opted to skip the first stage of the process – an of- ficial analysis and assess- ment by the National Con- servation Council on whether an EIA was necessary – and proceed straight to the as- sessment itself. “I had advised that this is major infrastructure with po- tentially significant impacts and the ministry and the project team have been op- erating on the basis that an EIA would be required,” said Ms. Ebanks-Petrie. She said the exact scope of the assessment would be determined over the next few weeks, but the im- pact of the waste-to-energy plant and the handling of the closure and capping of the existing landfill sites would likely be part of the remit. The management of the closure of landfill sites on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac and the ship- ping of waste from those is- lands to Grand Cayman will also be examined. An Environmental As- sessment Board was ap- pointed Wednesday to manage the process. The group includes leading civil servants from the Department of Environ- ment, Department of Plan- ning, Department of Envi- ronmental Health and the Port Authority. Their job will be to help set the parameters of the inquiry, which will be carried out by independent consultants. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie said the duration and the likely cost of the study had yet to be determined. Announcing the selec- tion of Dart and its partners as the “preferred bidder” on the project last week, govern- ment indicated it would get on with the EIA and plan- ning application process, while the final details of the contract were being negoti- ated, with construction on new facilities likely to com- mence next summer. CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 IN LOVING MEMORY OF A SPECIAL SON AND BROTHER Dr. Astley Rudyard McLaughlin Oct 20, 1954 – Sept 9, 2015 I hide my tears when we call your name. I lie awake at nights and cry for you, And ask the reason why. Although I smile now and then, The ache in my heart will never end. We think of you often, As long as life lasts we will remember you. Sadly missed by Mother, Brothers, Special Nephew Zared, other Nephews and Nieces. Although I smile now and then, Although I smile now and then, The ache in my heart will never end. We think of you often, As long as life lasts we will remember you. Sadly missed by Mother, Brothers, Special Nephew Zared, other Nephews and Nieces. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Tonie Miguel Rodriques of East End, who passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 3:00p.m. at Countryside Church of God, John McLean Drive, East End. Viewing will be from 2:00-2:45p.m. Interment follows at East End Cemetery. It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of longtime Cayman resident Lesa Wilson Lesa passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on the 27th September, at Sunnybrooke Hospital in Toronto. Her funeral was held on the 6th October in Burlington, Ontario and her ashes will in due course be scattered along with those of her late husband Richard Austin. This notice is given on behalf of the estate of Lesa Wilson Death Announcement We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Turner Hartwell Myles affectionately known as “Tiger” of George Town, Grand Cayman who passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 2:00p.m. at Church of God Universal, Walker’s Rd., George Town. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment follows at Dixie Cemetery. In lieu of owers, donations can be made Cayman HospiceCare. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Turner Hartwell Myles affectionately known as “Tiger” of George Town, Grand Cayman who passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 2:00p.m. at Church of God Universal, Walker’s Rd., George Town. Viewing will be from 1:00-1:45p.m. Interment follows at Dixie Cemetery. In lieu of owers, donations can be made Cayman HospiceCare. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com An Environmental Assessment Board was appointed Wednesday to manage the process. National Conservation Council in dark over government plans Waste management project to undergo EIA She said the depart- ment had requested $6 mil- lion per year for the next two years from the Envi- ronmental Protection Fund to go toward the purchase of land for protected areas, but had been told they were likely to get nothing. In the previous budget, $6 million was allocated for such purchases, and the council is in the process of establishing Cayman’s first terrestrial protected areas. Without further funds, projects like the planned National Park at Barkers peninsula in West Bay, are much less likely to materialize. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie said some funding would likely be allocated from the fund for a new cull of invasive green iguanas, but that allocation was expected to be half of what the Department of En- vironment had requested. She did not reveal figures. The government’s budget will be announced next Friday. Mr. Seymour told the Compass he had many con- flicting priorities to attend to and was still in the pro- cess of touring each depart- ment and entity that falls within his large ministry, covering health, environ- ment, culture and housing. He said, “I assure each department and entity, in- cluding the National Con- servation Council, that I consider their work to be extremely important and I am anxious to hear about their issues and concerns. I appreciate that there is a number of matters to be dealt with, so I ask for un- derstanding and patience as I turn my attentions to each matter as quickly as possible.” An environmental impact assessment will be required for the new waste-to-energy facility. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Divers removing junk reef in California LOS ANGELES (AP) – Divers are removing hundreds of old tires, plastic jugs and other junk that was dumped off the Southern California coast nearly 30 years ago by a man who thought he was helping the ocean environment. The cleanup began last week off of Newport Beach, the California Coastal Commis- sion announced Wednesday. “It’s about time this was cleaned up. Dumping plastic and other trash into our oceans is not the way to re- store the marine ecosystem,” commission Chair Dayna Bo- chco said in a statement. “There is an estimated 18 bil- lion pounds of plastic that enters the world’s oceans every year and we must do what we can to clean this up.” In 1988, Rodolphe St- reichenberger created what he described as an experi- mental, artificial reef. The reef covered sev- eral acres of ocean floor and consisted of 1,500 used au- tomobile tires, 2,000 one- gallon plastic jugs covered with plastic mesh, 100 sec- tions of PVC pipe and other items, including fishing net, Styrofoam and iron rods, the commission said. Streichenberger believed the reef would spur the growth of kelp forests, provide a place to grow mussels for commercial harvest and re- build ocean habitat damaged by pollution and development. The materials are “abso- lutely harmless,” Streichen- berger told the Los Angeles Times in 1996. “You have seen no impact. Only fish. It’s very good for the fish.” But his research was “deeply flawed,” according to the Coastal Commission. “State scientists said the tires contained harmful toxins, the material was not dense enough to anchor to the ocean floor and warned the discarded netting and ropes could trap fish and ma- rine mammals,” the commis- sion said in its statement. “It’s hard to believe there was a time when someone thought this was a good idea,” commission Executive Director Jack Ainsworth said. “We now know that plastic is poison in the ocean, polluting every level of the food chain.” Streichenberger also had failed to obtain permission from the commission for the project. He was refused a ret- roactive permit in 1997 and the commission eventually is- sued a cease-and-desist order.Next >