ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 High of 88 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 STAYING ON TOP OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL INDUSTRY LOCAL | PAGE 9 WILL SMITH TO SPEAK AT INVESTMENT SUMMIT Gealey wins young leadership award KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com When Faith Gealey won the 2017 Young Caymanian Leadership Award on Saturday night, she issued her own challenge to the hundreds of audience members at the Kimpton Seafire resort. “If every person in this room dedicated 52 hours for the next 12 months – that’s just one hour a week – towards mentorship, can you imagine the difference you’d make in the children you’re mentoring?” said Ms. Gealey, a speech language pathologist with the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority. Ms. Gealey – whose philanthropic ac- tivities include serving on the Special Needs Foundation, the National Disabili- ties Council, and the Caribbean Speech and Hearing Association – was one of five YCLA finalists who were honored at the event for their positive contributions to society. They were nominated by other commu- nity members, interviewed by a YCLA com- mittee, and graded based on the attributes they displayed during the interview. The other finalists were Alice Ramos, who works at Saxon Pensions and has helped educate young people about finan- cial services; entertainer Matt Brown, who has created a variety of animated videos and comedy sketches that highlight the ter- ritory’s culture; Stacie Sybersma, who works at the Caribbean Utilities Company and is involved in a number of initiatives to pro- mote environmentalism; and Yentel McGaw, a human resources consultant who founded a scholarship program for students. Event host Chris Duggan – the vice CURRENT GOV’T ‘NUCLEAR OPTION’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Documents purporting to draw up a legal agreement for the formation of a coalition government in Cayman following the May 2017 general election surfaced last week, indi- cating that Cayman Democratic Party officials viewed the current Progressives-led National Unity Government as “the nuclear option” at the time discussions were taking place. Deputy Opposition Leader Alva Suckoo attempted to table [make public] the re- cords in the Legislative Assembly last week, but Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush said he would not allow certain portions GRADUATES GET DOSE OF POLITICS MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Politics invaded the graduation ceremony at the University College of the Cayman Islands on Thursday, Nov. 2. The 145 graduates honored at the event lis- tened as Education Minister Juliana O’Connor- Connolly implored the crowd to contact their legislative representatives and demand more funding for education. She was followed by business executive Mark Singel, who delivered the commencement address and spent much of his speech talking about Donald Trump. Ms. O’Connor-Connolly filled in for Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin, who was originally This year’s YCLA finalists, from left, are Matt Brown, Yentel McGaw, Faith Gealey, Alice Ramos and Stacie Sybersma. – PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON UCCI students celebrate their graduation during Thursday’s ceremony. – PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS MEXICO CITY (AP) – A study in Mexico has found horse DNA in almost 10 per- cent of the ground beef and meat dishes served or sold in public markets, butcher shops, street stalls and taco stands in five Mexican cities. Researchers at the School of Veterinary Med- icine at Mexico’s Na- tional Autonomous Univer- sity analyzed 433 samples of steak, ground beef and prepared meat dishes from businesses. The highest percentage of horse DNA was found in ground beef sold at stalls, street markets or food stands, although less than 1 percent of vendors acknowl- edged selling horse meat. Horse DNA was not found in supermarket meat. Mexico’s sanitary risks commission issued guidelines Friday telling consumers to closely check labels, but it appears that much of the meat in the study was sold without a description. Researchers also found the steroid clenbuterol in 29 out of 43 meat samples that tested positive for horse DNA. Clenbuterol has been banned in Mexico as a growth enhancer for cattle, but it is suspected to still be in use. Mexico City food and cul- ture magazine Chilango wrote about the findings this week under the headline “I bet you have eaten horse meat, and didn’t even know it.” While horse meat itself is not illegal in Mexico, horses are often given medications which are not approved for animals being raised for food. Almost 85,000 U.S. horses were imported to Mexico for slaughter in 2015. Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - MONDAY - JIGSAW (R) 12:25 I 2:45 I 4:00 VIP I 5:10 I 7:30 9:55 VIP I 10:00 THOR: RAGNAROK 3D (PG13) 12:30 2D VIP I 3:55 2D I 6:50 2D VIP 7:00 I 9:55 2D GEOSTORM 3D (PG13) 1:00 2D I 7:10 2D I 9:50 BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS (R) 1:10 I 4:15 I 7:10 I 9:45 TYLER PERRY’S BOO2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN (PG13) 12:45 I 3:35 I 6:40 I 9:35 Dr. Wayne R. Porter MD F.A.A.D. Dermatologist call : 946-9020 between 9am to 5pm Dees Plaza #282 on Crewe Road, GT He will be in office from Nov 7th, - Nov 15th, 2017 Residents invited to attend Remembrance Sunday events The annual Remem- brance Sunday ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph outside Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town on Sunday, Nov. 12. Remembrance Sunday, which is held around the world, honors all veterans, including those who sac- rificed their lives, to serve their country. Organizers are inviting Grand Cayman residents to attend the ceremony, which begins at 10:45 a.m. Mem- bers of the public are asked to assemble by 10:30 a.m. Participants at the Grand Cayman ceremony will in- clude local veterans and sea- farers, as well as church rep- resentatives and those who will pay their respects by laying wreaths at the Ceno- taph (Memorial Cross) and the Seamen’s Memorial. Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Premier Alden McLaughlin, Speaker of the House McK- eeva Bush, members of the Cayman Islands Veterans As- sociation, members of the Cayman Seafarers Associa- tion, and members of the clergy across the Cayman Is- lands are expected to attend. The ceremony will com- mence with a parade led by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Band. Other contingents participating in the parade are the Cayman Islands Veterans Association, the Fire Service, Her Maj- esty’s Prison Service, Girls’ Brigade, the Scouts, Cadet Corps, the Seventh Day Path- finders, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, and the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. The ceremony will begin with the Royal Salute fol- lowed by the Bidding, and a two-minute silence. After the sounding of the “Last Post,” the laying of wreaths at the Memorial Cross will take place in memory of vet- erans, and then at the Sea- men’s Memorial in memory of seafarers lost at sea. Vet- erans Association mem- bers will collect an offering during the service. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside Elmslie Memorial Church, orga- nizers advised. Remembrance Sunday in Cayman Brac Cayman Brac’s Remem- brance Sunday Service will run simultaneously to the one on Grand Cayman. The ceremony will be held at the District Administration Lawn in front of the Cenotaph in Stake Bay at 10:45 a.m. Mem- bers of the public are asked to assemble by 10:30 a.m. Participants in the Cayman Brac ceremony will include members of the Vet- erans and Seamen’s Society of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, Minister for Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands Ju- liana O’Connor-Connolly, Dis- trict Commissioner Ernie Scott, Deputy District Com- missioner Mark Tibbetts Jr., and representatives from the Cayman Islands Po- lice Service and Fire Ser- vice of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The ceremony will begin with the singing of the Na- tional Anthem followed by the inspection of the guard of honor, opening remarks by Pastor Audley Scott of Hill- side Chapel, the Lord’s Prayer read by Pastor David Woods and the address given by the District Commissioner. The two-minute Silence will occur at 11 a.m. followed by the Last Post, a musical item by the Primary Schools Combined Choir and the Act of Worship. After an offertory is taken by members of the Vet- erans and Seamen’s Society of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, there will be the recognition of veterans and a reading of the names of the veterans on the Cenotaph be- fore the laying of the wreaths. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre. Poppies Everyone attending the Remembrance Sunday cer- emonies is encouraged to wear a poppy. Poppies are symbolic of those who have given their lives in fighting for the freedoms enjoyed today. They can be obtained from various locations or from our local veterans; a do- nation is discretionary. Remembrance Sunday Parade and Ceremony com- memorates those who have lost their lives in the great wars, as well as to recog- nize surviving veterans and seamen who continue to contribute to the commu- nity and nation. For more information or to request to lay a wreath at Grand Cayman’s Remembrance Sunday parade and ceremony, contact Chief of Protocol Meloney Syms at the Protocol Office at 244-3612 or email protocol@gov. ky. Contact District Administration on 244-4413 for more details on the ceremony in Cayman Brac. US visitor dies while snorkeling Two men got into difficulty in the water off Cemetery Beach A 64-year-old man from the United States was pro- nounced dead after snorkeling off West Bay’s Cemetery Beach on Saturday, according to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service press release. The man was snorkeling with a 57-year-old man be- fore 4 p.m. on Saturday, when the two got into difficulties in the water, stated RCIPS Chief In- spector Frank Owens. Fire officers, police and emergency medical tech- nicians responded to the scene, and both men were taken to the hospital, where the 64-year-old visitor was pronounced dead. The second man was kept at the hospital under observation, but his condi- tion was not thought to be life threatening, Mr. Owens said on Saturday. Both men were visiting Cayman with their families. Police did not give any more details regarding the incident and had not re- leased the victim’s name by press time Sunday. The RCIPS marine de- partment continues to in- vestigate the incident, Mr. Owens said. This is the seventh water-related death re- ported in the Cayman Is- lands this year. Study finds horse DNA in 10% of meat dishes in Mexico ILLINOIS SENDING 150 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN TO PUERTO RICO SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Some 150 Illinois Army Na- tional Guard Military police soldiers are flying to Puerto Rico to help with security and other efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria. In a news release, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office says the governor made the announcement at a press conference on Sat- urday as the soldiers from the 933rd Military Police Company were flown to Puerto Rico by the Illi- nois Air National Guard’s Peoria-based 182nd Air- lift Wing and Scott Air Force-based 126th Air Re- fueling Wing. The troops will provide additional security, escort relief convoys and conduct law-enforcement patrols on the island that was ravaged by September’s hurricane. Under an agreement with the nation’s state-to- state mutual aid system, Puerto agreed to reimburse Illinois for the estimated $948,000 it will cost to de- ploy the troops. Poppies symbolize the remembrance of those who have given their lives in battle.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 +1.345.640.7000 | provenanceproperties.com To learn more about these listings and other luxury real estate in Grand Cayman, contact us or visit our new sales office located at The Residences at Seafire. Which one is yours? Seven Mile Beach | 1-5 bedroom residences from US$1.5 Million Seven Mile Beach | Select residences from US$2.4 Million Cayman Islands Yacht Club | From US$499,000 THE RESIDENCES AT SEAFIRE THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, GRAND CAYMAN CANAL FRONT LOTS AT NORTH CREEK Every home has a story. 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. 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” Consistent declines in Cayman’s banking sector are a reminder that we must never be complacent – espe- cially in today’s accelerated economy. The figures, pre- sented to the Legislative Assembly last week, should be a call to action. More specifically, to adaptation, evolution and innovation. As the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority reported to the Legislative Assembly last week, over the past seven years, the number of retail and non- retail banks operating on our islands has steadily decreased – the continuation of a longer-term trend. Just since 2010, the number of banks in Cayman has been reduced by one-third. The decline in banking in Cayman reflects a global pattern. As CIMA reported, there has been a world- wide drop in banking licenses since the 2008-09 global financial crisis. In other words, Cayman is not being “out-competed” by other jurisdictions. In the past year, the Bahamas, Jersey, Hong Kong and Switzerland all experienced similar decreases in banking licenses. “Changes in the laws and regulations around the world have had some impact on banks in the Cayman Islands,” according to CIMA. The “good news” is that this “bad news” is not news at all to the country’s financial services sector, where the shrinkage in the banking sector has been more than compensated for by our growth in the hedge fund industry. The private sector continues to compete well in other lucrative lines of business, including trusts, captive insurance, structured finance, and shipping registra- tion, although the massive reinsurance industry, largely dominated by Bermuda, remains elusive. With the left- leaning, ethnic-centric policies of Bermuda’s newly elected Progressive Labour Party government, this may be an opportune time for Cayman to put out the proverbial red carpet for companies contemplating a change of address. With our hallmark hedge funds being a “maturing” industry (as opposed to a “growing” one), our private sector must put renewed emphasis, of course, on inno- vation but also on marketing and promotion of the jurisdiction. Historically, Cayman has demonstrated little acumen, appetite or expertise in addressing these essential pursuits. Recently, one of Cayman’s boldest and most- forward thinkers, iconic Cayman attorney Anthony Travers, examined what he senses are significant opportunities for our country after the U.K. leaves the European Union. In an article published in the IFC Review, Mr. Travers writes, “What should be clear is that in a post-Brexit environment, the City of London in particular, should be looking hard at highly successful, superbly reg- ulated, offshore financial centres like the Cayman Islands as beacons of financial rectitude and probity from which, with the right legislative and regulatory framework introduced in the United Kingdom, greater investment should be encouraged. Post Brexit, the City of London should be looking to fill the gap in revenues that will be left by the inevitable relocation of certain financial services to Paris, Frankfurt or Dublin.” Of course, a first order of business (as Mr. Travers alludes to) must be to dispel the almost indelible myth of “Shady Cayman,” a reputation promulgated by either ignorant or ideologically driven politicians, regu- lators and, of course, the media. This is not a small challenge, but it is one we must rise to. And as Cayman’s legal and financial communities strive to stay ahead of the needs of a changing regulatory environment, government, too, has a central role to play. In addition to being agile and innovative in crafting regulations and legislation, government must conduct its affairs in a manner that can withstand the scrutiny of international investors and, more broadly, the inter- national community. Every component of our public sector – from the executive, to the legislative to the judicial – must be seen to operate in a manner that is transparent and beyond reproach. That is the environment that busi- nesses and individuals want to invest in – and residents want to live in. Staying on top of the global financial industry MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS An exception to the ‘no free lunch’ rule There are a few ac- tions one can take that have no downside, only an up- side. Economists teach stu- dents, “There is no free lunch,” meaning an action that might be beneficial to some may well be harmful to others. An example would be an increase in the min- imum wage, which is benefi- cial to those receiving it, but harmful to all of those who do not get jobs or are laid off because employers either cannot or are unwilling for competitive reasons to pay the mandated higher wage. There are “free lunches” that result from merely stop- ping something harmful – e.g., eating too much sugar. There are many harmful government policies, such as regulations that have more costs than benefits. Thus, merely eliminating them will cause a net gain. There are a number of taxes with rates above both the max- imum revenue-raising rate and the growth-maximizing rate, notably the tax on long- term capital gains. The capital gains tax is, to some extent, a discre- tionary tax, which can be avoided by not selling cor- porate stock, real estate or other taxable assets. If the tax rate is considered too “high” many will defer selling an asset, but if it is lowered more people will sell, increasing what are known as capital gains real- izations. If the capital gains tax rate is reduced by 30 percent, but if realizations increase by more than 30 percent, the government re- ceives more in tax revenue. Economic and job growth will also increase because of the additional productive capital in the private sector. The capital gains tax is a tax on risk-taking and pro- ductive capital investment. Those who have held an asset for many years such as a tree farm, whose value only increased at the rate of inflation, may end up paying a very large tax on the “cap- ital gain,” even though there has been no real gain in in- flation-adjusted dollars. In such cases, the capital gains tax becomes a non-legis- lated wealth tax. What is the revenue-max- imizing rate for long-term capital gains? Fortunately, it is not necessary just to rely on economic theory to an- swer the question. There is considerable empirical evi- dence to support a rate of no higher than 15 percent. Be- fore 1978, the maximum cap- ital gains tax rate was about 40 percent (and even higher in states with income taxes). In 1978, when the maximum capital gains rate was cut to 28 percent, capital gains re- alizations (both in nominal terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product) and tax revenue soared. In 1982, 1997 and 2003, cap- ital gains tax rates were re- duced all the way down to 15 percent, and in each case capital gains realizations and capital gains tax reve- nues increased. In 1987, the rate was increased back to 28 percent, and realizations and tax revenues fell. And fi- nally in 2013 the maximum rate was increased to a max- imum of approximately 25 percent, causing realizations to predictably fall while inflation-adjusted capital gains tax revenue remained flat, even with a rising stock market as the country came out of the Great Recession. Many tax economists have studied the issue of the revenue-maximizing rate for capital gains, and credible studies have rates ranging from 9.6 percent to about 20 percent, with most clus- tering in the 15-16 percent range. The irony is that those who live in high-tax states face an additional tax pen- alty, which adds several per- centage points to the max- imum federal tax rate. They have the most to gain from a capital gains rate cut, while their members of Congress are often the most vocal in opposition to a rate cut. Another piece of lunacy in the tax code is that the In- ternal Revenue Service (IRS) applies a capital gains tax on the trading of commodi- ties. Back in 1981, I wrote an article published in The Wall Street Journal arguing that it was foolish to apply the capital gains tax on com- modities trading because it is a zero-sum game where gains and losses equal out over time. In the real world, people are probably more prone to report their losses and not necessarily all of their gains, so the govern- ment is likely to be a net loser with such a tax. Rather than face reality, the folks at the IRS have stuck with a loser of a policy. The issue has gained re- newed importance with the rise of Bitcoin and the hun- dreds of other new crypto- currencies. The IRS recently ruled that these cryptocur- rencies should be treated for tax purposes as com- modities and taxed at the full capital gains tax level. This means that every time one uses a Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency to pur- chase a good or service, they must calculate the differ- ence in the cost of their pur- chase of the coin and the value in dollars of the item they purchased. The pa- perwork burden is so over- whelming that almost no one will comply with it. It is also almost impossible to enforce since there is a very high degree of ano- nymity with cryptocurrency transactions. There is a free lunch for a government that de- sires to increase revenues in order to “pay” for more middle-income tax cuts. Re- duce the maximum capital gains tax rate to 15 per- cent and remove the capital gains tax from commodity transactions. 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. RAHNThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 GATES OPEN: 6.30PM MATCHES START: 7.30PM LEGENDSCAYMAN.COM TICKETS ON SALE Legends is back for 2018 with a stellar line up of some of the biggest tennis players in the game including Jimmy Connors, Pat Cash, Stefan Edberg and current US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Join us for an evening of entertainment including women’s singles, mixed doubles and men’s singles. General Admission bleacher seating is priced at CI$100 per ticket, with General Admission Plus tickets featuring more comfortable seating on sale for CI$150 per ticket. TICKETS ARE ON SALE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE LEGENDS WEBSITE: www.legendscayman.com PAT CASH JIMMY CONNORS STEFAN EDBERG SLOANE STEPHENS6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Minister: Health Services finance reform to be prioritized MLA cites increase in poor relief budget BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan is not convinced the Cayman Is- lands, or its citizens, are doing quite as well as the Progressives-led coalition government might believe. “This administration is going to talk about how good we’re going to do, yet there are still more people in need,” Mr. Bryan said during the ongoing budget debate Thursday night. Mr. Bryan referenced his political mentor, now opponent, Premier Alden McLaughlin’s recent state- ments that the govern- ment’s 2018 and 2019 budgets commit to “full em- ployment” of Caymanian workers through “long- term opportunities cre- ated through better educa- tion and skills.” “Those benefits to Cay- manians will be delivered by supporting our people and giving them the op- portunities they need,” Mr. McLaughlin said during his budget address. The most recent unem- ployment numbers showed an overall jobless rate of 4.1 percent, generally con- sidered to be “full em- ployment” in other devel- oped countries. However, the Caymanian unem- ployment rate was higher at 6.2 percent. In addition, Mr. Bryan pointed out that govern- ment seemed to recognize the need to increase its poor relief budget during the next two years. According to budget doc- uments, money spent for poor relief – financial as- sistance to elderly or dis- abled residents – was due to go from approximately $6.3 million in 2017 to $7.4 million in 2018 to $8.5 million in 2019. The government ex- pected the number of people receiving that assistance in increase from about 950 to 1,200, Mr. Bryan said. “Based on trends … more and more Cayma- nians are coming for as- sistance,” the George Town Central member said. He noted estimates in the housing assistance por- tion of the budget also in- dicated that more people were going to receive aid during the next two years. “Another signal that there are more people in need,” Mr. Bryan said. The first-term MLA said the Cayman Islands had been experiencing a higher home foreclosure rate since 2015 than it has ever seen, yet he said there appeared to be little in the National Unity Govern- ment budget to address this “mortgage crisis.” The number of people losing their homes to fore- closures in the Cayman Islands has almost qua- drupled in the five years between 2010 and 2015, ac- cording to a report last year from the Cayman Is- lands Real Estate Bro- kers Association. There were 116 forced sales in 2015, the report noted, compares with just 30 in 2011. Realtors said the increase suggests a more aggressive approach from banks to dealing with bad debts – mortgages that lenders felt residents would be unable to pay. Opposition MLAs, in- cluding Mr. Bryan and Bodden Town West’s Chris Saunders, have proposed measures to make it more difficult, or at least to ex- tend the length of time it takes for foreclosure pro- ceedings to take effect. Mr. Saunders has filed a private members’ motion in the as- sembly to ask that lending laws be changed to allow homeowners with greater equity in their properties to be given more time to pay if they become delinquent. Mr. Bryan said the Pro- gressives government members, as well as allied Cayman Democratic Party MLAs and independents on the government benches, need to make their posi- tion on distress mortgage relief clear. “It wasn’t in the Pro- gressives manifesto and it wasn’t in the statement that the Hon. Premier delivered to this Honorable House,” Mr. Bryan said. Seymour outlines accomplishments, goals KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Health, Environment and Culture Minister Dwayne Seymour spent more than three-quarters of his roughly two-hour contribution to the budget debate touting the recent accomplishments of his ministries, admitting in his remarks that “much of this work was initiated prior to my recent victory and ap- pointment as minister.” He did, however, spend about 25 minutes of his speech noting what he wants to accomplish over the next year and beyond, stating that work on his agenda includes shoring up the finances of the Cayman Islands Health Services Au- thority, finalizing the deal to construct the integrated solid waste management system, and eradicating the invasive green iguana. Noting that the HSA’s finances has been a topic of much debate over the last month – the authority has more than $90 mil- lion in uncollectable debt – Mr. Seymour said he will soon be meeting with the Health Services Authority board and management team to “determine how to move forward.” The health authority will also undertake cost- cutting measures such as replacing its lighting fix- tures with LED lights, and commissioning a study into modernizing the heating, ventilation, and air condi- tioning systems of HSA fa- cilities, he said. Other goals for the agency include accrediting its hospital labs and other services, he said. Mr. Seymour said his ministries are also working on revising several pieces of legislation, including the Misuse of Drugs Law. He said this law needs to be revised “to provide for prescription drugs monitoring – a matter of particular importance, as there is evidence that sug- gests the misuse and abuse of prescribed drugs.” Additionally, Mr. Sey- mour said government is closing in on finalizing contracts to build the solid waste management facility. A consortium of com- panies led by Dart En- terprises was chosen as the preferred bidder to build the system, in a 25- year deal that entails Dart being paid an annual fee to deal with waste from all three islands through the new system. The fee is expected to cover the cost of construc- tion of the suite of new fa- cilities, as well as annual operating expenses. Mr. Seymour said ne- gotiations with Dart “are still ongoing,” but that the facilities are still sched- uled to be fully opera- tional by 2021. Along with several other initiatives, Mr. Seymour also said that government will focus on finally rid- ding Cayman of the inva- sive green iguana. About $1.1 million has been bud- geted for this, he said. The minister said that people have not been happy with the $5-a-head bounty government has placed on the green iguana. “But I’m happy we have found a species that’s doing a good job killing hundreds of them,” he added. “Namely, the dog.” Mr. Seymour said his ministries are also are working on revising several pieces of legislation, including the Misuse of Drugs Law. “This administration is going to talk about how good we’re going to do, yet there are still more people in need.” KENNETH BRYAN, George Town Central MLA Dwayne Seymour Kenneth Bryan Speak-Off winner becomes tourism ambassador Zariah Anglin of Grace Christian Academy was given the title “Tourism Ambassador” last week after winning the annual Tourism Speak-Off debate. Ms. Anglin, who won $1,000 as her prize, will rep- resent the Cayman Islands throughout 2018 at local and international forums. The Tourism Speak-Off, which was hosted by the Ministry and Department of Tourism and the Cayman Islands Tourism Associa- tion, was held on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Kimpton Seafire resort. It is a program that en- courages tourism aware- ness among high school students from a local and global perspective. In a first for the event, there was a tie at the end of the regular debate and a tie-breaker question was asked of the top two stu- dents – each debater was challenged to present what his/her favorite tourism product is in the Cayman Islands and why. Finalists and judges of the Tourism Speak-Off were, from left: Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly; Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell; Sadie Finch of Cayman International School; Zariah Anglin, the new Tourism Ambassador; Lucy Parchman of Layman E. Scott High School; Rajiv Roberts of Layman E. Scott High School; Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks, executive director for Cayman Islands Tourism Association; Gail Henry, deputy director, Tourism Product Development, Department of Tourism; and Clive Baker, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Education.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 Premier Health BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town.Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman BracTel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited and it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. Premier Health is a smart health insurance plan that does most of the thinking for you once you present your I.D. card. 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CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky This is what smart health insurance feels like. *based on total claims for Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands 2016 Boat fatality was misadventure Man who fell overboard was hit by propeller CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A coroner’s jury concluded last week that Dale Gerald Ebanks died by misadven- ture when the boat he was on went out of control and he was thrown overboard on New Year’s Day. Mr. Ebanks, 49, was hit in the head by the boat’s propeller. With him at the time of the incident was his brother, Ian Martin Ebanks, 48. In his statement to po- lice, Mr. Ebanks said he and his brother launched the boat from the Cayman Is- lands Yacht Club that Sunday afternoon. It was a Trini- dadian 26-foot canoe with twin 75-horsepower en- gines. His intention was to “test out” the boat, but not at any high speed. They headed toward Rum Point, but knew they did not have enough gas and so turned back. On the way back, all of a sudden the boat made a left turn. Mr. Ebanks said he had been operating the vessel. His brother, who had been standing next to him, grabbed for the Bimini top, which broke under his weight, which caused him to be thrown overboard on the starboard side. Mr. Ebanks said he felt a bump and then saw his brother float to the sur- face. He was able to put the boat in neutral, throw the anchor overboard, take his phone out of his pocket and then jump overboard to hold his brother up. “We were not wearing any life jackets,” he said. “An- other boat behind us gave us assistance.” That other boat was “My Way” captained by Sheldon Reid. His statement and that of a deckhand provided de- tails of rescue efforts. Mr. Ebanks said that after they put his brother aboard Mr. Reid’s boat, he observed that his brother had a cut to the left side of his face and a small cut to his left temple. One of the guests brought towels to apply pressure to the wound on his face. His brother was still breathing and water was coming from his mouth. Mr. Reid said he was heading to the Governor’s Sound Channel about 5:50 p.m. He saw the boat in front of him. He saw it make a sudden and sharp turn to the portside – so sharp that the boat did a 180-degree turn and pointed in his di- rection. He was about 300 yards away at the time. He headed his boat over to help. He saw one man holding up the other. They were brought aboard and he called 911. He was told to turn the injured man on his side and try to clear his airways of any obstruction. While they were on their way back to shore, he heard Ian Ebanks call his broth- er’s name as if to wake him, and then he kissed his brother on his cheek. They arrived at the dock at 6:05 p.m. and the ambulance left with the injured man around 6:30 p.m. Before the sudden turn, the vessel was not being driven in a reck- less or erratic manner, Mr. Reid stated. The investigating of- ficer said Mr. Ebanks told him that the boat’s speed at the time of the incident was 20 to 25 knots. The of- ficer reported that the ves- sel’s starboard engine had the propeller missing and the Bimini aluminum pole on the starboard side was broken. He said an independent marine surveyor’s report was commissioned. That report indicated that the steering cable was not properly connected on the vessel and this could have been a contributing factor to the incident. Fur- ther, there was no grab rail for passengers to hang onto. The propeller seemed to have come off in the water, which suggested that it was not properly secured to the engine. The vessel itself ap- peared to be aesthetically in general poor condition, ac- cording to the report. An autopsy conducted by Dr. Michael Steckbauer de- tailed Mr. Ebanks’s injuries. He concluded that death was the result of sharp force in- jury to the head. Laboratory tests for alcohol and drugs were negative, except for one drug administered at the hospital before surgery. Referring to their close- ness in age, Ian Ebanks said, “My relationship with my brother was very, very good. We drank from the same nurse bottle. We fished together. We fixed cars together. We did a lot together.” The inquest was con- ducted by Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik. Before the sudden turn, the vessel was not being driven in a reckless or erratic manner, Mr. Reid stated. Dale Ebanks A George Town resi- dent was charged with rape on Friday following an in- cident around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday where po- lice found the suspect and a woman in distress at a George Town home. The 24-year-old was also charged with making threats to kill, assault occasioning ac- tual bodily harm, wrongful confinement, intentional harassment, and causing alarm or distress. According to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice statement, police re- sponded to a 911 report of a person in distress. After re- sponding, police arrested the man on suspicion of assault and harassment. Magistrate Angelyn Her- nandez placed him on remand at Northward Prison. He is scheduled to appear before the Grand Court on Nov. 17. George Town man charged with rape Grand Court trial dates set Arraignments held on Friday CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men facing sep- arate charges had those charges put to them in Grand Court on Friday, when they entered pleas of not guilty and their trial dates were confirmed. Sven Brett Connor was charged with causing ha- rassment, alarm or distress to a named female in George Town on Aug. 10 this year. He elected trial by jury and the matter was set for three days, starting March 5. Matthew Anthony Whit- taker was charged with pos- session of an unlicensed firearm and three rounds of .22 ammunition at North- ward Prison on May 6 this year. He elected trial by jury and the matter was set for five days, starting Feb. 5. Jerome Jamaine Cun- ningham was charged with inflicting grievous bodily in an incident that occurred on Nov. 17, 2016, at a premises along Eastern Avenue. His trial, also by jury, was sched- uled for March 5.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS president of community de- velopment at Dart Enter- prises, who himself was a YCLA finalist in 2009 – said promoting such out- standing individuals is crucial in a time where cur- rent leaders are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. “From business leaders to world leaders to sports leaders to Hollywood leaders, the word ‘leader- ship’ is coming under as- sault on almost a daily basis,” he said. “That is why we are here tonight … We must recognize young Cay- manians who are prepared to be leaders – role models that are going to choose the right path, role models that are going to set the right examples, and role models who are going to be the next generation of leaders.” The event’s keynote speaker was WE Charity founder Craig Kielburger, whose organization has helped build schools, wells, and other essen- tial infrastructure in im- poverished communities around the world. Mr. Kielburger encour- aged the finalists and young people in the au- dience to aim big, using his own story of starting his charity at 12 years old as an example. “People laughed at us and said we were too young,” he said. “Not only did we manage to build our first school, we set a goal to built 10 schools. And from 10 schools, our goal grew to build 100. And as time passed … we built over 1,000 schools.” Along with the usual event festivities, Mr. Duggan also announced the formation of the Young Leaders Roundtable Initia- tive, which “will bring our young leaders together with the premier and others in government to meet on a quarterly basis about the issues of the day.” Mr. Duggan said this will allow government leaders to have the per- spective of the territory’s younger population. “Too often, our world leaders don’t engage with the young people in their country,” he said. That initiative is set to launch in January, he said. Gealey wins young leadership award CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Celia Gomez, Christina Bodden and Barbara Conolly Arthur Agee, Len Jackson and Ed Solomon Faith Gealey poses with attendees at the YCLA Awards ceremony. – PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Craig Kielburger delivers the keynote speech at the Young Caymanian Leadership Award ceremony on Saturday night. Kerith McCoy, Faith Gealey and Harwell McCoy YCLA finalist Stacie Sybersma gets together with CUC colleagues, from left, Arthur Agee, Briony Gallegos, Claire Stafford, Judith Bennett, Letitia Lawrence, Phil Jackson, Victoria Powery and Patrick Barnes. YCLA finalist Matt Brown and his wife ElisaThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017 of the papers to form part of the Assembly records be- cause they contained no sig- natures and could not be authenticated. Premier Alden McLaughlin also said he did not know the origin of the records when he was asked about them. The Cayman Compass obtained copies of the records last week. Mr. Suckoo said the var- ious proposals for a CDP-in- dependent coalition govern- ment were discussed on May 26, two days after the general election had taken place. Ear- lier that day, Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Bush had penned an agreement for a combined CDP-Progressives coalition. One document Mr. Suckoo possessed, apparently agreed to later in the day by at least some of the elected mem- bers, was titled “Agreement for a Unity Government for the Cayman Islands” – dated May 26, 2017 – and was signed by McKeeva Bush, as well as elected MLAs Bernie Bush, Capt. Eugene Ebanks, Kenneth Bryan, Austin Harris, Chris Saunders, Dwayne Sey- mour and Mr. Suckoo. The document held by Mr. Suckoo was not signed by vet- eran MLAs Anthony Eden, Arden McLean or Ezzard Miller, but it was reported at the time that those three had also agreed to join the pro- posed coalition. Along with the signed re- cords was another batch of unsigned documents headed by a paper that gave “options for forming a government.” This document stated that an “optimal option” for a coali- tion would result in the CDP and independents coming to- gether under McKeeva Bush as premier “for a minimum of two years.” Under that proposal, the Cabinet, aside from Mr. Bush, would be all independent members, the record stated. “The CDP is ready and willing to pursue this op- tion, subject the written unity government document,” the paper read, giving the impres- sion that the document was written by CDP officials. Another coalition gov- ernment option was con- templated: “The nuclear op- tion, if forced, would result in the CDP joining with the PPM [Progressives] to form a government in the na- tional interest.” That is what ended up oc- curring on May 29, with the three CDP members joining the seven-member Progres- sives and three independent elected members. CDP Chairwoman Tessa Bodden said last week that she was “not in a position” to comment on the documents Mr. Suckoo presented. The CDP-independents coalition fell apart over the weekend of May 26-28 and on Monday, May 29, Premier McLaughlin and Speaker Bush signed the definitive gov- erning agreement endorsed by Governor Helen Kilpatrick. scheduled to speak. She said she was happy to take a break from the parliamentary budget hearings to congratu- late those about to be handed their diplomas or certificates. She told her audience that more government re- sources should be directed at education. “If we are serious about making education a priority,” she said, “the time is now. I want you to email, I want you to set up appointments with all of your representatives.” She also addressed the concerns of educators on Cayman Brac that their facili- ties are not up to par. “I publicly commit to- night,” Ms. O’Connor-Con- nolly said, “there will be im- provements on Cayman Brac, starting with a proper facility.” Her commitment did not stop there, adding that she would continue to support UCCI. “While I am minister,” Ms. O’Connor-Connolly said, “this institution will be ade- quately financed. There is no better investment.” During his commence- ment address, Mr. Singel, told the graduates they needed to be aware of what was going on to the north. “The United States of America is now under siege from within,” said Mr. Singel, a former politician who served as Pennsylvania’s lieu- tenant governor. He is also an adjunct professor at Har- risburg University, which re- cently established a relation- ship with UCCI. “We are suffering from people who are blindly flailing away at the under- pinnings of democracy,” Mr. Singel told the crowd of more than 1,500 gathered in the campus’s Sir Vassel Johnson Hall. “If the United States is in trouble, we’re all in trouble.” Mr. Singel said the grad- uates had important choices to make in order to “face the challenges of the fu- ture without abandoning your principles,” and encour- aged them to be supportive of one another. Kattina Anglin, 46, said support from her fellow stu- dents helped her through her classes. She was one of 10 students receiving a legal support and administration certificate. Ms. Anglin, who likened the small group of students to a family, is now attending Truman Bodden Law School and is studying contract law. “I came here for all the gray-haired people,” Ms. Anglin said, “for all the people who haven’t done it yet. You won’t finish the journey if you don’t take the first step.” Ms. Anglin said she took a 20-year detour from college when she made some “bad decisions,” but had decided it wasn’t too late to accom- plish her goals. “Tonight is proof that if one tries hard enough, the goal can be accomplished,” she said. “I’m feeling very accomplished.” Sean Bent, 35, was getting his associate degree in busi- ness administration. With a full-time job and two daugh- ters, he said going back to school was a challenge. He did it so he could advance in his career. “If you don’t have the de- gree,” he said, “you won’t get as far. I’ve been promoted since I started school.” Victoria Ramos, 22, said she too is hoping to ad- vance in the business world with a planned degree in accounting. She was sit- ting with fellow student, Sa- brina Dennis-Elgueta, 20. On Thursday, they were receiving their associate degrees in ac- counting. Both are already working on a bachelor’s de- gree and plan to become cer- tified public accountants. Ms. Ramos motioned to a group of graduates in light blue robes sitting in front of her. “We’re seeing the people in their bachelor’s gowns,” she said. “We’re like, ‘Yeah, in two years, we’re going to be there.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Graduates get dose of politics Graduates, from left, Catherine Welds, Justin Ebanks, Kristen Forbes, Dr. Belinda Vincent, Latoya Bush and Giovon Ebanks Mark Singel, president and CEO of the Winter Group, and former politician speaks at the UCCI commencement ceremony. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Speaker McKeeva BushPremier Alden McLaughlin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Current government ‘nuclear option’ Will Smith to speak at investment summit Actor, producer and mu- sician Will Smith will be the keynote speaker for the Cayman Alterative Invest- ment Summit 2018, which will take place Feb. 7-9 at the Kimpton Seafire hotel. The Alternative Invest- ment Summit is an annual event hosted by Dart En- terprises that brings in- vestors, fund managers, academics, economists, reg- ulators, and other profes- sional service providers from around the world to discuss the global alterna- tive investment space. Mr. Smith has been nominated twice for an Academy Award and is a Grammy Award winner. He has starred in “Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happy- ness,” “I am Legend,” “Inde- pendence Day” and “Men in Black.” He began his career as a musician selling mil- lions of records worldwide before crossing over into television with the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” In 1998, Mr. Smith and partner James Lassiter founded production and management company Over- brook Entertainment, which has produced numerous top film and television projects. He and his wife set up the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation in 1996, which gives grants in the areas of arts, education, sustainabilty and social em- powerment in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Los Angeles and other areas of the U.S. The theme for the up- coming investment summit in Cayman is “Wired: The Rise of Alternative Invest- ments in a Digital Age,” and will explore how the alternative investment in- dustry can better adapt to the current market envi- ronment and advancements in technology. Panel discussions will cover such topics as “Rise of Quants: The New Kings of Wall Street” and “Harnessing the Transformative Powers of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.” “The Cayman Alternative Investment Summit has be- come renowned for not only putting on a fantastic event for the alternatives industry but also for attracting A-list keynote speakers, which in the past has included Ar- nold Schwarzenegger, Jay Leno and Al Pacino,” said event director Chris Duggan. “We are thrilled to now in- clude Will Smith amongst these great names and look forward to hearing him talk in February about his varied career and his phil- anthropic endeavors.” Organizers said early bird prices are available until Dec. 30. Prices start from US$2,625 for a full del- egate pass or $1,650 for a one-day pass, offered exclu- sively to Cayman residents. For more information about the summit, visit caymansummit.com. Will SmithNext >