ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 High of 86 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘TRASH TALK’ FROM OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS LOCAL | PAGE 2 MISS CAYMAN SHOWS OFF PARROT COSTUME AT MISS UNIVERSE Prisons boss quits 5 months into contract BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands prisons boss Neil Lavis has informed senior staff and Home Affairs Ministry officials of his intention to leave his post before the end of the year. The surprise decision to step down comes five months after Mr. Lavis, a veteran U.K. prisons manager, inked a new contract that would have kept him on as head of Her Maj- esty’s Prisons Service in the Cayman Islands through mid-2020. According to an announcement Mr. Lavis sent to some prison staffers Monday, which was seen by the Cayman Compass: “I have decided to leave the Cayman service as di- rector and return home. I will be going before Christmas and the family in the new year.” Mr. Lavis indicated in the Monday commu- nication that he had not informed all prison staff members at that time, but that he in- tended to do so Tuesday. He did not respond to Cayman Compass emails seeking comment on the situation. The Compass contacted Deputy Gov- ernor Franz Manderson and Home Affairs Ministry Chief Officer Dax Basdeo Tuesday about Mr. Lavis’s decision. Mr. Manderson said he was aware of the decision, but deferred comment to Mr. Basdeo. Mr. Basdeo confirmed Mr. Lavis’s resigna- tion, but did not provide any further details. Mr. Lavis first arrived in Cayman in June 2013, replacing former prisons boss Dwight Scott who retired in late 2012 after a number of scandals beset the prison system. Mr. La- vis’s initial four-year contract was renewed in June of this year for a further three years. The prisons boss did not have an easy run of things during the past two years. A scandal involving a prisons deputy director attempting to use hidden camera surveillance on another prisons officer became public knowledge Health City apartments set for January opening KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The construction site just east of Health City Cayman Islands teemed with workers Tuesday as project devel- oper Gene Thompson took reporters, legislators and members of the public on a tour of the area. “Health City is growing,” he said. “There’s no ques- tion about it.” Mr. Thompson was showing off the $17 million develop- ment that will soon become a 59-unit apartment building and commercial area known as High Rock Landing. Mr. Thompson, a co-owner of Health City Development Ltd., said the project will be largely completed by Jan. 15. “We are on schedule, though it doesn’t look like that” he said, gesturing to the unfinished five-story con- crete structure. COURT CITES CROWN’S ‘LACK OF RESPECT’ MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez has given the Crown one final chance to bring its case against a man charged with assaulting a po- lice officer, a case that has dragged on for nearly a year. Three officers who were scheduled to tes- tify for the prosecution failed to show up in court on Tuesday. Crown council Emma Hutchinson said at least one officer had re- ported not receiving a summons. A second officer in the case also said he had not been summoned. “This lack of respect for the time of the court is unacceptable,” the magistrate said, noting the trial had been scheduled to begin WHITTAKER TAKES HELM OF FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION Members of the Cayman Islands Football Association elected Alfredo Whittaker as their new president, by one vote, in this weekend’s CIFA pres- idential election. Mr. Whittaker aims to switch the focus of the associa- tion away from the off-field transgres- sions of a handful of officials, to the area that matters most – progress on the pitch. For more on this story, see page 7. Neil Lavis PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » This rendering shows the Health City Cayman Islands apartment complex, which will include 59 units for patients and staff. Project developers give a tour of Health City’s future apartment complex and commercial area. – PHOTO: KEN SILVA PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3D (PG13) 12:30 2D VIP I 12:50 I 1:30 2D 3:50 I 4:20 2D I 6:40 2D VIP 7:00 I 7:10 2D I 9:35 2D VIP 9:50 2D I 10:00 2D MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:50 THOR: RAGNAROK 3D (PG13) 12:50 2D I 3:20 2D VIP I 3:55 I 6:55 2D 9:55 TYLER PERRY’S BOO2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN (PG13) 1:30 I 4:20 I 7:15 I 9:45 *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. - WEDNESDAY - Prisoners’ handmade leather goods go on sale JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Leather goods made by in- mates at Northward Prison and other local handmade products are going on sale at a new George Town store. The shop, called “Hand Made With Love,” will sell leather products made as part of the Northward Prison Tannery and Leather Crafts Rehabilitation Pro- gram. It opened its doors in Crown Square on Eastern Av- enue on Monday. The store is also selling handmade quilts, spreads, stuffed toys and pillow cases made by the people of the Cayman Islands – the oldest being 94-year-old Laurel Watler. Also on sale are some Cayman favorites, including Linda’s Pepper Jelly, Car- ol’s Guava Jams, and can- dles and soaps from Beach Bubbles made from fresh buds, seeds and flora. In addition, there are basket works, leather goods and tie-dyed items from the Macusis and Wapisiana vil- lage tribes of Guyana. Store owner Supriya Bodden, who initiated the leather-working program at the prison, said, “Across Cayman, there are people who are presently unem- ployed, people who are searching for some sort of way to empower themselves to make a living. We want to try to involve as many people as possible and let them un- derstand that if they want to develop their skills and bring the crafts that they do here, we will do every- thing in our power to try to make the store a success and spread the word.” A new tannery being built at Northward Prison will see inmates, as early as next year, working with skins from in- vasive green iguanas to make items such as belts, bags and wallets that will be sold at the store. Ms. Bodden said Hand Made With Love has a long history. Ms. Bodden, who lives in Cayman but runs a chari- table trust called The Guyana Foundation in her home- land, said her charity aims to teach skills to citizens who can then turn their knowl- edge into a thriving career, and if it has been able to work in Guyana, there is no reason why it cannot work here in Cayman. After getting the go- ahead from government and prison officials, she enlisted craftsman Colin Bollers from Guyana to teach the prison inmates the finer points of tanning and leather working in the hopes of giving them marketable skills upon their release. “The timing of this store venture is great,” said Kathryn Dinspel-Powell, deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Financial Ser- vices and Home Affairs, as she admired the handi- works at the store with other guests Monday. She said one of the goals at the prison is to offer re- habilitation opportunities to offenders. “Two of the main ingre- dients that help someone getting caught in that cycle of re-offending is having stable housing and employ- ment,” she said. She explained that assess- ments of inmates showed that many do not have em- ployable skills or confidence in their abilities – elements that rehabilitation staff try to work on with the pris- oners while they are in the prison system. She said the prison ser- vice was trying to find other opportunities within the prison to give people skills they could use when they are released, that will enable them to sustain themselves in the community and work independently. “There is a huge pool of talent within the inmate pop- ulation of Cayman and the idea that we might be able to give them a new venue and a new outlet for that creativity is so exciting that when Su- priya reached out and said come along to this presenta- tion, the prison director and I were excited to do so,” Ms. Dinspel-Powell said. Aduke Joseph-Caesar, prisons deputy director of rehabilitation, thanked Ms. Bodden for the opportunity to allow prisoners to show- case their potential. She said inmates will receive 60 percent of the money made from sales of the items they make. The other 40 percent will go back to the prison to cover the cost of materials. The store will display and sell the items for free. Sixty inmates are in- volved with the leather goods program. Store founder Supriya Bodden’s grandchildren Chloe, Naomi and Asher cut the ribbon to open the new store. Miss Cayman Anika Conolly shows off parrot costume at Miss Universe pageant For the national costume part of the Miss Universe pageant, Cayman’s Anika Conolly on Sunday donned an outfit inspired by the national bird of the Cayman Islands – the green parrot. Ms. Conolly was taking part in the preliminaries of the 66th Miss Universe contest, which will be held in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 26. The costume was designed by Trinidadian designer Dexter Seusahai, of Tribal Carnival. FLU SHOTS STILL AVAILABLE Health officials say free vaccination shots for the 2017/2018 flu season are still avail- able at hospitals and district clinics across all three islands. Members of the public can avail of the shots at the following places: ■■ The General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital, and all District Health Centres, from 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays ■■ Cayman Islands Hospital Atrium (next to the pharmacy), from Thursday, Nov. 23 through Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon ■■ Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac: Resi- dents of Cayman Brac should contact the clinic on 948-2243 to make arrangements ■■ The Little Cayman Clinic: Residents of Little Cayman should contact the clinic on 948-0072 to make arrangements. Public Health Department officials are also offering onsite workplace vaccinations for companies with 20 or more employees wishing to have the vaccine. Companies in- terested in this can contact the Public Health Department at 244-2621, 244-2889 or email publichealthdepartment@hsa.ky to register. Plans are also in place to collaborate with supermarkets across the islands to ensure the flu vaccines are widely accessible to resi- dents, health officials said. POLICE DESTROY ILLEGAL DRUGS Police destroyed hun- dreds of kilos of drugs Tuesday morning. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice, some 184 kilos of ganja seized in arrests and op- erations was destroyed, as well as about 140 kilos of ganja which was found after having washed up on shore. Police said 2.5 kilos of co- caine that had been found was also destroyed.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 THURSDAY 23RD NOVEMBER: 5PM - 7PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 24TH/25TH NOVEMBER: ALL DAY! UP TO OFF 70% BAYSHORE MALL, CARDINALL AVENUE & THE STRAND +1 (345) 815 7492 • KIRKFREEPORT.COM BLA CK FRID AY WEEKEND SALE STARTS AT 5PM ON THURSDAY 23RD NOVEMBER!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. LUCY BERNHOLZ Recent congressional hearings on foreign ma- nipulation of the U.S. elec- torate via Twitter, Face- book and other digital platforms reveal two things: First, most legis- lators do not understand how these platforms work. And second, the tech in- dustry is not really priori- tizing democratic norms as part of its operations. Nei- ther is new, but both are increasingly dangerous. Much of the discussion so far has focused on Rus- sia’s attempt to use these platforms to influence the 2016 presidential cam- paign, through paid ads or by creating fake accounts on Facebook or Twitter designed to manipulate voters. But focusing on “content” misdiagnoses the challenges these platforms present to democracy. The power of Facebook, Twitter, Google and others, and the democratic threat that they represent, comes not from the content they show but how they show it. The closed algorithms that drive their feeds and streams also shape and bound our associational spaces. These systems know who we meet with, they determine who we hear from and they decide which voices we cannot es- cape. As a result, these dig- ital companies have be- come arbiters, managers and record keepers of our associational lives. The right to peaceably assemble – to free associ- ation – follows free speech as a dependent clause in the First Amendment. If we want the digital envi- ronment to serve democ- racy, demanding different rules about content will not ever go far enough. In fact, the focus on content will simply lead us again into the now familiar free- speech cul-de-sac in which everyone – both users and platforms – has legitimate conflicting claims. We need to reclaim our right to associate as we please – to meet with and listen to those we choose and to control who knows what about those gather- ings. Digital companies know how all this works; their algorithms and data make it happen. But they keep that knowledge hidden from us. Reclaiming our right to association requires access to information that clarifies how the platforms do what they do. It requires visi- bility into the algorithmic and data inner workings of these platforms, as well as some form of redress and the ability to fully re- move ourselves. This strikes at the heart of the business propositions of Facebook, Twitter and others. They will much sooner acquiesce to new rules on content than to being held accountable for how their systems work. In fact, they may even champion such content rules, especially if doing so serves to dis- tract us from demanding information on their algo- rithmic assets. The Founders knew it when they wrote the First Amendment: Democracy requires both free speech and free association. We cannot save democracy by sacrificing one for the other. We must ensure that our digital environments protect both. Lucy Bernholz is a senior research scholar at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society and director of the Digital Civil Society Lab. © 2017 Washington Post News Service. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The good news is the Cayman Islands government is going to hold its annual Christmas cleanup program again this year, providing the opportunity for unem- ployed Caymanians to earn some cash for the holidays in exchange for picking up trash in public areas. The other good news is that thanks to Cayman’s resident litterbugs, there is plenty of trash in public areas to pick up. However, (and we kid here) some politicians are seeking to do away with the very livelihoods of those unemployed Caymanians, by standing up against the commonplace practice of treating our beaches, parks and roadways as personal dumping grounds. Legislators are considering implementing “on-the- spot tickets” for illegal dumpers, and Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders has suggested hiking penal- ties to $5,000-$10,000. “Cash-for-trash” has a certain ring to it but, frankly, we don’t think it adds up to wise public policy. Now, we certainly oppose the defilement of our islands’ many beauty spots by those of the porcine persuasion. However, we are skeptical that attempting to levy hefty, on-the-spot tickets will have any substan- tial result other than generating a lot of trash cases for police, prosecutors and judges. In order for a police officer to issue a citation that would stand up to a court challenge (and, if the fines are $10,000, expect every single one to be chal- lenged), there would have to be 1) eyewitnesses that were on the scene when the offender lugged his couch or refrigerator into the bush; or 2) officers willing to go along the roadside, pick up trash (presumably with latex gloves) and take it downtown to police headquar- ters as evidence in order to dust it for prints. (We are obviously piling absurdity on top of absurdity.) However, a decent volume of prosecutable cases could jump-start a whole new industry, involving the creation of a special Trash Court and the training of specialized trash defense attorneys who would render the chances of conviction as virtually impossible. (CCTV footage might play a role in all of this.) Frankly, we see two ways to approach the problem. First, emulate the state of Texas’s clever campaign, “Don’t Mess With Texas” … with its implicit threat of “Or Else.” Of course, to implement the “Texas model,” Cayman would probably not only have to legalize firearms but also, to be truly effective, pass “concealed carry” legislation as well. We admit, it’s a tempting idea but not one likely to pass muster with our pacifistic British overlords. More practically, Cayman’s leaders should make a cultural appeal, citing the wonder of our surroundings and promoting the idea of “pride in place.” Yes, in some countries, it is customary for people’s front yards to resemble junk yards, but that is not the look – or the smell – any of us want for Cayman. To borrow a phrase from our December 2013 campaign against the highly combustible George Town landfill, “Not on our beautiful island!” We, along with many older residents, recall with great affection memories of Caymanian cottages with their white sand yards, raked, pristine and perfect for Christmas. That image exemplifies the ideal of “pride in place” that we need to bring back to Cayman – all year round. What also might be helpful to prevent illegal dumping is for the Department of Environmental Health to reopen the landfill as soon as possible for scrap metal and moribund vehicles which have, sadly, met their end of the road. They, too, deserve a proper burial and their proper “cemetery” needs to be the public landfill. ‘Trash talk’ from our local legislators LETTER TO THE EDITOR Do not acquiesce to EU’s ‘naked ambition’ Your article on the looming threat of a European Union blacklist (“Premier: ‘We cannot make unreasonable concessions’ to EU,” Nov. 17) concluded by quoting Bodden Town MLA Chris Saunders questioning “What’s the use of [Cayman] bending over backwards, chasing after 8 percent of the business while we’re losing 92 percent of the business?” From the perspective of the EU, this is precisely the point – for Cayman and other transparent, coopera- tive and law-abiding inter- national financial centers to lose 90 percent – or better, all of their business. Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin, Min- ister Roy McTaggart and Mr. Saunders deserve to be com- mended for standing up for Cayman’s financial services industry and signaling the long-overdue and necessary shift in policy toward the EU’s naked ambition. Glenn Kennedy PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Time for Facebook to raise the curtainThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 6 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Tickets available from resellers, A.L. Thompson, Funky Tang and ONLINE At www.extravaganza.ky Cold Items: • Chef’s fresh garden with assorted dressings • Anti-Pasto • Variety of deli cheeses • Chef’s selection of cold cuts From the Carvery: • Oven Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy • Honey Glazed Ham • Roasted Beef au Jus • Roasted fi llet of Salmon with dill, orange and cranberry glaze Accompaniments: • Candied Yams • Mashed Potatoes • Seasonal selection of fresh vegetables Desserts: • Wide selection of desserts The above offer includes: 1 glass of champagne, Coffee or Tea Thursday, 23rd November 5pm - 9pm KYD $39.95 per person plus gratuities Children under 10 are Half Price Status application delayed for 5 years over residency fees BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A substance abuse coun- selor, who was required to pay a doctor’s work permit fees to maintain his perma- nent residence in the Cayman Islands, has sued a govern- ment-appointed immigration board over its refusal to hear his Caymanian status appli- cation since 2012. The writ filed by Terrance William Delaney against the Caymanian Status and Per- manent Residency Board on Oct. 27 alleges that his appli- cation for Caymanian status, a locally recognized immigra- tion status similar to citizen- ship, has been delayed solely because of the unpaid fees. However, the writ states that after multiple meet- ings with government offi- cials and board members, no agreement has been reached on precisely what fees Mr. Delaney should pay. “It has been accepted by letter from the Depart- ment of Immigration dated May 28, 2015 that as a sub- stance abuse counsellor, [Mr. Delaney] is not a medical doctor, but holds the title of counsellor/consultant,” the writ reads. “It is verily believed and understood that the only reason why the Caymanian Status and Permanent Res- idency Board has deferred [Mr. Delaney’s] application for more than five years is due to the fact that it is the board’s policy not to deal with such applications if [the board] is advised by the chief im- migration officer that fees are outstanding to the de- partment,” the filing further states. “[This decision] is un- lawful and contrary to the rules of natural justice.” According to court re- cords, Mr. Delaney has been residing in Cayman since the mid-1990s. He received permanent residence and was naturalized as a British Overseas Territories citizen in December 2006. His initial application seeking Caymanian status was made April 13, 2012. It was stated in docu- ments filed earlier with the Grand Court that nearly $50,000 in purported out- standing immigration-re- lated fees prevented Mr. Del- aney from obtaining the right to be Caymanian under the Cayman Islands Im- migration Law. A judicial review applica- tion filed in late 2015 stated that these fees were excessive and not charged in relation to the status applicant’s cur- rent job in the islands. “The Department of Im- migration [has] refused to recalculate the fees due … by [Mr. Delaney] despite the fact that it has been accepted by a letter from the Depart- ment of Immigration … that [Mr. Delaney] is not a medical doctor,” the judicial review filing states. Permanent residence fees are generally charged ac- cording to the status hold- er’s occupation, with higher- paying occupations usually drawing higher annual fees. The judicial review appli- cation stated that an error by the Immigration Depart- ment between 1998 and 2005, while Mr. Delaney was a work permit holder in the islands, put the sub- stance abuse counselor in the same annual fee category as a chartered accountant, banker or doctor. Those fees can vary between $10,000 and $25,000 per year. Based on Immigration De- partment records, a counsel- or’s work permit fee would be $3,850 annually. Unlike annual work permit fees, which are paid by the employer, fees for per- manent residence can be paid by either the employee, the employer or a combina- tion of both. However, it is ul- timately the permanent resi- dence holder’s responsibility to pay the fees. Adventist Church collecting for Turks hurricane relief The Community Services Depart- ment of the Adventist Church is pre- paring a shipment of clothing, bed and bath linens, and non-perish- able goods to help post-hurricane recovery efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The church is extending a dead- line for donations to Tuesday, Nov. 28, according to the church’s Com- munity Services Assistant Di- rector Angela Hall. The items will be shipped by container to Turks and Caicos. Anyone interested in donating items can bring them to Ms. Hall at Cayman Academy. In addition, funds can be depos- ited at the Royal Bank of Canada to Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency account number 500-6234, or dropped off at the Conference Of- fice, 209 Walkers Road. “While the Turks and Caicos’ re- covery is progressing well, the pop- ulation still has pressing needs,” said president of the Adventist Con- ference, Shion O’Connor. “We have been fortunate here in Cayman, but we are only too well aware of the human suffering that results from the impacts of major hurricanes that many times extend into months and even years fol- lowing the strike.” The distribution of the goods and financial contributions will be administered by the Adven- tist Disaster and Relief Agency in Turks and Caicos.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 VIP package for two includes: • Round-tripairtravelandaccommodation • ProfessionalmakeoverbeforetheGRAMMYAwards® •Ticketstoattendthe60thGRAMMYAwards® • PrivatetourofNewYorkCity • Andmore! 186904-Ad-CompassJRpg-4colx12-MC-60th-Grammys.indd 111/7/17 5:57 PM ANTI-CORRUPTION PROBE ARRESTS NOW TOTAL 13 An arrest Tuesday, Nov. 21, brought to 13 the number of people arrested in an anti-corruption probe that has spanned nearly an en- tire year. Four arrests were made in the past two weeks. The Anti-Corruption Com- mission announced it ar- rested a 31-year-old female from the Prospect area as the latest suspect. A press release from the agency said she was being held for questioning at the Prisoner Detention Centre in Fairbanks and is suspected of bribery of a public officer, fraud on the government, and breach of trust – charges similar to those others have been arrested for. As with all of the other suspects, her name is not being released and officials are not discussing any of the details of the investigation. No formal charges have yet been laid against any of the suspects, the first of which were arrested in Jan- uary. All but the current sus- pect (as of Tuesday afternoon) are currently out on bail. Senior referee to bring discipline to soccer administration Alfredo Whittaker takes helm at CIFA, seeks to restore credibility JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com There are few things in sport that capture the imagi- nation like a comeback. Just over 18 months ago, Alfredo Whittaker lost the CIFA presidential election by a single vote. On Saturday he won by the same slender margin, guaranteeing him a four-year opportunity to re- vive the ailing fortunes of a sport that had been mired in controversy and financial difficulties. Mr. Whittaker’s first aim is to switch the focus back from the off-field transgres- sions of a handful of officials, to the area that matters most – progress on the pitch. He said getting national youth leagues up and run- ning by January would be the top item on his agenda as well as ensuring the Under-20 national team is prepared for World Cup qual- ifiers next year. Credibility crisis The veteran referee said he would also look to speed up progress on a forensic audit of the association’s fi- nances dating back to 2009, as CIFA looks to get to grips with a credibility crisis in the wake of the arrests of its former president, trea- surer and vice president in three separate corruption investigations. Long-time president Jeff Webb was banned for life from CIFA after pleading guilty to his role in a world- wide bribery and racke- teering scandal. Canover Watson, the association’s treasurer, was jailed for his involvement in a separate corruption probe involving the Health Services Au- thority. Bruce Blake, the first vice president of CIFA, was arrested in connection with an ongoing Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry connected to CIFA’s finances in June. Mr. Blake has not been charged with any crime and maintains his innocence. Public and private sector funding has dried up in the aftermath of those scandals, but CIFA is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. CONCACAF and FIFA have restored funding and Mr. Whittaker believes the orga- nization is starting to get its house in order. “Armando [new treasurer since 2015, Armando Ebanks] has done a good job. We now need to accelerate the fo- rensic audit. Once we get that done, we will sit down with our legal team and see what’s next.” Close result He acknowledged the elec- tion had been extremely close. In the first round of voting, Mr. Whittaker took six votes with the other two candidates taking five. With CIFA rules requiring the victor to take more than 50 percent of the vote, the as- sociation held three rounds of voting, with no clear victor emerging. At that stage, Renard Moxam withdrew from the ballot and put his sup- port behind Mr. Whit- taker, who eventually pre- vailed by 8 votes to 7 in a two-way runoff. “I am very happy and looking forward to the chal- lenge,” he said. “There will be some changes, some fresh ideas and hopefully much more unity between the members and the association.” He said he would be meeting with Lee Ramoon, who was elected to finish Webb’s term last year after his guilty plea, and Mr. Moxam in the coming weeks, as well as with the chairman of the CIFA youth committee, Neil Murray, as he seeks to formulate a plan of action for the sport.Alfredo Whittaker Mr. Whittaker’s first aim is to switch the focus back from the off-field transgressions of a handful of officials, to the area that matters most – progress on the pitch.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Copper Falls Steakhouse Invites You to Enjoy a Traditional American anksgiving with us ursday November 23, 2017 from 5:30 to 10:30pm For CI$29.95 Turkey with Herb Stu ng and Gravy Cranberry Sauce Mixed Vegetables Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Reservations recommended, please call 945-4755 A Rare Steakhouse, Very Well Done We Have Gi Certi cates Available For Your Christmas Present Needs and ended in a falling out among senior prisons staff. The prisons officer being surveilled was alleged to have been involved in “in- appropriate behavior” with prisoners, though she later denied that in an interview with the Compass. There have also been questions raised con- cerning the backgrounds of some recent hires at the prisons service, the Com- pass has learned, which re- sulted in at least one of the new officers being termi- nated from employment. In addition to staff problems, the overcrowded men’s prison, Northward, has seen tensions among prisoners rise within its walls since last year. Gang-related concerns apparently prompted U.K. officials to make the un- usual decision to send two prisoners – Os- bourne Douglas and Justin Ramoon – to a U.K. prison to serve their respective de- cades-long sentences for murder. Ramoon, 25, was sentenced in December last year to 35 years for the murder of Jason Powery. Ramoon’s brother, Douglas, 30, was sent to the U.K. in June for the same murder. “[Ramoon’s] removal was authorized by the U.K. and Cayman Islands gov- ernments in the interests of national security and public safety for the people of the Cayman Islands,” a govern- ment statement noted. A similar statement was put out following Douglas’s transfer to the U.K. Both prisoner transfers have since been challenged in the local courts as being unlawful and contrary to U.K. and Caymanian human rights provisions. Those matters are still pending in the Grand Court. Once finished, the apart- ment building – named Parrot Ridge – will have 59 units comprising of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a swimming pool and other amenities. Mr. Thompson said that about half the units will be rented to Health City staff, while the other half will be for patients. The patient-housing units are necessary, es- pecially during the busy tourist season, said Health City Marketing Director Shomari Scott. “At this time of year, we have to turn down patients because we don’t have ac- commodations,” he said. The 20,000 square-foot commercial space – named Heron Place – will include a grocery store, bank, coffee shop and office space, ac- cording to construction man- ager Ryan Smith. The development, which started in June this year, will also have environmen- tally friendly features, such as a rainwater collection system that will be used for the swimming pool and irri- gation, and a solar-powered water heater, Mr. Smith said. This aspect of the Health City development will create about 30 new jobs, including maintenance workers, apart- ment managers and land- scapers, he said. Currently, the project em- ploys 124 workers, 80 of whom are Caymanian, ac- cording to the developers. “We don’t see it as a great achievement; we see it as an absolute duty to hire and give Caymanians the oppor- tunity,” Mr. Thompson said. Mr. Thompson said spe- cial efforts were made to give people with criminal records a chance to work on the project. “It’s because [for] some of the people we hire, we don’t do random drug testing, we don’t do police clear- ances in advance. We just say, ‘Come to our site, and if you’re ready to work and work hard, we’ll work with you,’” he said. an hour earlier. “What- ever system is supposed to be working isn’t working. I can’t have the defendant waiting [indefinitely]. It’s just not right.” The defendant, Mark Blake, 28, is charged with as- saulting Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service Inspector Ian Yearwood during a night- time traffic stop on Dec. 10 last year. Mr. Yearwood, a 27-year veteran of the police service, reported that Blake, who was a passenger in the car, used foul language. To the officer, that con- stituted disorderly con- duct. When Mr. Yearwood at- tempted to remove Blake from the car, an alter- cation ensued. In earlier testimony, Mr. Yearwood said Blake kicked him and punched him in the mouth, breaking two of his teeth. Another officer, Ju- lius Blackwood, testified he saw both men throwing punches. Blake was eventu- ally pepper sprayed, subdued and handcuffed. Blake was not charged with disorderly conduct, but was charged with as- saulting a police officer. He pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to resume Nov. 29. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Court cites Crown’s ‘lack of respect’ The residential and commercial development is a part of the larger Health City expansion. Future projects include a full emergency room and trauma center, a cancer center, an assisted-living home and a 1.2-megawatt solar farm, according to project developers. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Health City apartments set for January opening The ‘Parrot Ridge’ development will have 59 units comprising of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a swimming pool and other amenities. – PHOTO: KEN SILVA Prisons boss quits 5 months into contract CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Macron takes Europe’s center stage as Merkel falters PARIS (AP) – French Pres- ident Emmanuel Macron looks like the last, best hope to salvage a unified Europe, as Britain drifts away and Germany bogs down. The role of knight in shining armor is one Ma- cron relishes, whether he’s standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump on climate change, mediating in Mideast crises or crusading to make Paris the world’s newest fi- nancial capital. Yet pitfalls await. The inexperienced 39-year- old must surmount many hurdles to transform France into the kind of super- power economy that could drive the rest of Europe to- ward prosperity. And instead of leaving Macron alone in the spot- light as Europe’s superstar, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s troubles in forming a coalition at home may in fact drag him down with her. “Macron can only really lead Europe if he is in full co- operation with Germany,” said Simon Tilford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. “France needs an en- gaged, cooperative Germany.” A divided, inward-looking Germany hobbles Macron’s ambitious hopes of revital- izing the European Union and its shared currency through things like a banking union and harmonizing taxes. These ideas were always a hard sell in Germany, and Merkel is now too weakened to push them through. The mood was somber in Macron’s office the morning after Merkel’s failure to form a coalition Sunday night. France wants “its principal partner to be stable and strong,” a presi- dential official said. But Macron is not giving up, and instead sees Merkel’s difficulties as “reinforcing” the need for France to take initiatives to strengthen the EU, the official said. In a Europe looking for di- rection, many see Macron as a much-needed captain. He’s energetic, telegenic and forward-looking. He has a big head and big ideas, and does not apologize or flinch when critics target his “Ju- piter-like” tendencies. In just six months in power, he’s secured support for a more robust European defense operation and rules cracking down on cheap labor, and pushed multinationals to pay more taxes. At European summits, he commands atten- tion, and other leaders seek audiences with him – rivals and supporters alike. “Along with Merkel, they are the only two leaders of any real stature in Europe at present,” notably with Britain, Italy and Spain mired in other troubles, Tilford said. Macron also vaunts French grandeur – hosting Vladimir Putin in Versailles and inviting Trump to dine in the Eiffel Tower. And Macron’s administration has openly lobbied to leech financial ac- tivity away from London when Britain quits the EU. Macron cried vic- tory when the EU voted Monday to move the Euro- pean Banking Authority from Britain to Paris. “It’s the rec- ognition of France’s attrac- tiveness and commitment to Europe,” he tweeted.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 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. 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Smart health insurance delivers 99.7% financial accuracy with claims settlement. *based on total claims for Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands 2016 Mugabe resigns as Zimbabwe’s president after 37 years HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe resigned on Tuesday, succumbing to a week of overwhelming pres- sure from the military that put him under house ar- rest, lawmakers from the ruling party and opposi- tion who started impeach- ment proceedings and a pop- ulation that surged into the streets to say 37 years in power was enough. The capital, Harare, erupted in jubilation after news spread that the 93-year- old leader’s resignation letter was read out by the speaker of parliament, whose mem- bers had gathered to im- peach Mugabe after he ig- nored escalating calls to quit since a military takeover. Cars honked and people danced and sang across the city in a spectacle of free expression that would have been impossible during his rule. “Welcome to the new Zim- babwe,” people chanted out- side a conference center where the lawmakers met. “Change was overdue …. Maybe this change will bring jobs,” said 23-year-old Thomas Manase, an unem- ployed university graduate. Mugabe, who was the world’s oldest head of state, said in his letter that legal procedures should be followed to install a new president “no later than tomorrow.” “My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire for a smooth, non-violent transfer of power,” Mugabe said in the message read out by parliamentary speaker Jacob Mudenda. Recently fired Vice Pres- ident Emmerson Mnan- gagwa would take over as the country’s leader within 48 hours, said a ruling party official, Lovemore Ma- tuke. Mnangagwa, who fled the country after his firing on Nov. 6, “is not far from here,” Matuke said. Mugabe can participate in a formal handover of power “so that Mnangagwa moves with speed to work for the country,” Matuke said. Mugabe’s resignation brought an end to impeach- ment proceedings brought by the ruling ZANU-PF party after its Central Committee voted to oust the president as party leader and replace him with Mnangagwa, a former ally of Mugabe who served for decades as his enforcer with a reputation for being astute and ruthless, more feared than popular. Before the resignation, crowds rallied outside the parliament building, dancing and singing. Some people placed photos of Mugabe in the street so that cars would run over them. Op- position leader Morgan Ts- vangirai of the MDC party said the culture of the ruling party “must end” and ev- eryone must put their heads together and work toward free and fair elections. His party had seconded the im- peachment motion. Earlier Tuesday, Mnan- gagwa said in a statement that Mugabe should acknowl- edge the nation’s “insatiable desire” for a leadership change and resign immediately. Mnangagwa, a former jus- tice and defense minister, added to the pressure on Mugabe to quit after a long rule during which he evolved from a champion of the fight against white minority rule into a figure blamed for a collapsing economy, govern- ment dysfunction and human rights violations. “Never should the nation be held at ransom by one person ever again, whose de- sire is to die in office at what- ever cost to the nation,” said Mnangagwa, who has a loyal support base in the military. Zimbabwe’s polarizing first lady, Grace Mugabe, had been positioning her- self to succeed her husband, leading a party faction that engineered Mnangagwa’s ouster. The prospect of a dy- nastic succession alarmed the military, which confined Mugabe to his home last week and targeted what it called “criminals” around him who allegedly were looting state resources – a reference to associates of the first lady. Grace Mugabe has not been seen since the mili- tary stepped in. On Tuesday, Zimbabweans simply enjoyed the moment. “Today’s a good day,” said Eric Machona, a Harare resi- dent. “People are very happy.” CBS NEWS AND PBS CUT TIES TO ROSE FOLLOWING SEX ALLEGATIONS NEW YORK (AP) – CBS News and PBS both cut ties to Charlie Rose on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after several women who worked with him on his PBS interview show alleged a pattern of sexual misconduct, including groping and walking naked in front of them. Both organizations stressed the importance of providing a safe, profes- sional workplace. Rose joins a length- ening list of media figures who have lost jobs because of workplace behavior, in- cluding Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Fox host Bill O’Reilly, NBC News political reporter Mark Halperin and National Public Radio news chief Mi- chael Oreskes. The reckoning has come to entertainment, too, led by the assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. The actions by CBS and PBS came after both insti- tutions suspended Rose on Monday night. “Despite Charlie’s impor- tant journalistic contribu- tion to our news division, there is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than en- suring a safe, professional workplace_a supportive en- vironment where people feel they can do their best work,” CBS News President David Rhodes said in a memo to staff on Tuesday. “We need to be such a place.” Rhodes said it was im- portant to maintaining credi- bility in reporting allegations involving media figures else- where that CBS manage basic standards of behavior at its own shop. Rose hosted “CBS This Morning” each weekday and was a contributor to “60 Minutes.” Rose had no immediate reaction to his firing. In a statement late Monday, he apologized for his actions and said he was “deeply embarrassed.” Charlie Rose The capital, Harare, erupted in jubilation after news spread that the 93-year-old leader’s resignation letter was read out by the speaker of parliament.Next >