ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 High of 86 Low of 76 Seas rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 NEEDED FOR UCCI: A ‘CRASH COURSE’ IN NEGOTIATIONS LOCAL | PAGE 12 CHRISTMAS HOUSECLEANING FOR MISS LASSIE’S SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY REPEAT OFFENDER GETS FIRST SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER Ronnie Rodney Ebanks convicted of third sexual offense CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Grand Court Justice Marva McDonald- Bishop issued Cayman’s first Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Friday when she sen- tenced Ronnie Rodney Ebanks, 49, to six years imprisonment for indecent assault. Senior Crown Counsel Candia James asked for the order after advising that this convic- tion was Ebanks’s third sexual offense. She said Ebanks had been convicted of rape in February 2000, when he was sentenced to 14 years, which was reduced on appeal to 12 years. Released in June 2009, he committed a burglary with intent to rape within a few weeks. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and released in May 2016. The offense that brought him to court the third time was the indecent assault in Feb- ruary 2017. He pleaded not guilty and elected trial by judge alone: he was found guilty in September, with sentencing adjourned for various reports. Ms. James referred to the defendant’s pat- tern of offending: all three offenses involved him entering the victim’s premises at night while she was asleep. The first woman was a resident domestic helper. The second and third were visitors to the island, staying in a seaside condo. Ms. James said Mr. Ebanks was a risk to the public, especially women. She explained that Cayman’s legislature passed an amendment to the Penal Code in March providing for a sexual harm prevention order. It provides that a court has to be sat- isfied on a balance of probabilities that such Christmas on Cardinall draws festive crowd MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Musicians, clowns and a magician entertained hun- dreds of holiday revelers on Cardinall Avenue as they gath- ered for the annual Christmas on Cardinall event hosted by Kirk Freeport on Saturday. Children fought mock street battles with balloon swords and shields, servers in Santa hats threaded their way through the crowd with plat- ters of finger food, a tin pan band played Christmas songs on the heels of a performance by the St. Ignatius School band and Santa and Mrs. Claus held court at one end of the street. Periodically, artificial “snow” drifted through the air. “We come every year,” said Alicia Rhone, 39. “It’s a lot of fun for the entire family. It ca- ters to everybody. I love the music, the atmosphere and the food of course. There’s lots and lots of food.” Chef Joao Fernandes, of Kirk Supermarket, was over- seeing the food for the evening. He said he expected to feed pizza, chicken wings, conch PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » Alonzo Williams, 8 months, checks out Santa and Mrs. Claus at Christmas on Cardinall on Saturday. - PHOTOS: MARK MUCKENFUSS Kyla Machingambi, 8, shares a moment with Mrs. Claus at Saturday’s Christmas on Cardinall event. The Good Samaritan Food Bank of- ficially opened Thursday evening. Di- rector Charles Boucher said the food bank will assist agencies such as Feed our Future, Meals on Wheels and the government’s Needs Assessment Unit to serve hungry people in the Cayman Islands. For more on this story, see page 6. CAYMAN’S FIRST FOOD BANK OPENS2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Daily Matinees Every Day • $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 • Additional charges will apply per 3D/VIP ticket requested 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 - 640-FILM (640-3456) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI 3D (PG13) 1:00 2D I 1:30 2D VIP I 2:35 I 4:20 2D 5:50 I 6:15 2D VIP I 7:40 2D I 9:05 9:30 2D VIP THE STAR (PG) 2:50 I 10:00 COCO 3D (PG) 12:20 2D I 5:00 I 7:30 2D WONDER (PG) 1:10 JUSTICE LEAGUE (PG13) 12:50 I 4:05 I 7:00 I 9:50 DARKEST HOUR (PG13) 3:40 I 6:40 DADDY’S HOME 2 (PG13) 9:40 St. Ignatius raffle results Susan Ow walked away with the grand prize of $25,000 in the annual St. Ig- natius Catholic Church and School Christmas Concert and Fundraiser. The drawing took place Wednesday evening at St. Ignatius during the Christmas concert. The second-place prize of $2,500 went to Alistair Ifill, and the third-place prize of US$2,500 went to Penny McDowall. Merrell McCann received a $1,000 prize for selling the winning ticket to Ms. Ow. Lazarus Moraes also won $1,000 for selling the most tickets. A team of six accoun- tants from KPMG audited the raffle. Two members of the team witnessed the drawing of the tickets. Proceeds of the fundraiser go to the school facilities de- velopment fund, church fa- cilities upgrades and the scholarship fund. Winners may collect their prizes by bringing their win- ning tickets and photo ID to the St. Ignatius Church of- fice weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. All prizes must be claimed by Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. Merrell McCann, seller of the winning ticket, St. Ignatius Pastor Suresh Rajaian and grand prize winner Susan Ow. SELLER PRIZE WINNERS CI$1,000Merrell McCannSold winning ticket CI$1,000Lazarus MoraesSold most tickets CI$250Winston SalmonSold second most tickets – tie CI$250Rembly ReidSold second most tickets – tie CASH PRIZE WINNERS CI$25,000Susan Ow CI$2,500Alistair Ifill US$2,500 Penny McDowall CAYMAN AIRWAYS VOUCHERS US$300 Natacha Henderson US$300Joy Anglin US$300Ilea Moore US$300Ashleigh Robinson US$300Dwayne Seymour LUCA OR RAGAZZI GIFT VOUCHERS CI$50Rich Whittaker CI$50Yazmyn Garcia CI$50Mary Dixon CI$50Kylie Christian CI$50Michael LeMay CI$50Sadie Chottell CI$50Naomi Florentino CI$50Renato Nueva CI$50Menard Myles CI$50Rob Ward CI$50Joan Bent CI$50Stuart Graham TREATS GIFT VOUCHERS CI$25Charlotte Bradon CI$25Greta Nixon CI$25Sherlica Matthews CI$25Popo Jebs CI$25Marcia Moiten LIST OF WINNERS U.S. VISITOR DIES AFTER SNORKELING AT EAST END A visitor from the U.S. was pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon after he “encountered difficulties” in the water in the East End area, according to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice press release. The RCIPS stated that shortly before 2:30 p.m., emergency personnel re- ceived a report of a man who had been snorkeling with an- other man, and then encoun- tered difficulties while riding a wave-runner off Austin Conolly Drive in East End. The 59-year-old victim was brought onshore by the other man, and CPR was ad- ministered by EMT and fire officers. He was unrespon- sive and taken to Cayman Islands Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police stated. JURY NOTICE All Grand Court Jurors who are in the October – De- cember session are advised that the report date of Monday, Dec. 18 has been changed and they are no longer required to attend court for the remainder of the session. The Judi- cial Administration thanks everyone for their service. The illustrated boy Henna artist Shilpa Tagalpallewar paints a dragon on the face of Oliver Colgate, during an artisans fair held on Friday at the National Gallery. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS LANDSLIDE IN SOUTHERN CHILE LEAVES 5 DEAD, 15 MISSING SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – A mudslide fueled by heavy rains swept over a vil- lage in southern Chile on Saturday, leaving at least five people dead and 15 missing, officials said. Rain caused a river to overflow and the side of a hill to collapse, burying 20 of the 200 houses in Villa Santa Lucia in the Los Lagos region, located 790 miles (1,272 kilome- ters) south of Chile’s cap- ital, Santiago. President Michelle Bachelet declared the re- gion a catastrophe zone and confirmed the number of dead and missing. She met with her team of min- isters to coordinate rescue and assistance efforts. Earlier Saturday, Deputy Secretary of the Inte- rior Madmud Aleuy said there were three people dead, including an un- identified tourist, and 15 others missing. Some of the injured were taken by helicopter to medical centers. Two families were evacuated because of a fire caused by the slide, authori- ties said. Water and elec- tricity service to the area was knocked out. The alert level in the area had been raised to red because of the per- sistent rains. FIREWORKS EXPLOSION KILLS 4, INJURES 5 IN MEXICO STATE MEXICO CITY (AP) – A fire- works explosion in Mexico has killed four people and sent five more to the hos- pital days after the coun- try’s holiday season kicked off in earnest. The State of Mexico says in a statement that the Friday morning blast in the town of San Lorenzo Octeyuco dam- aged four of six buildings on a property where fireworks were being made and stored. It did not give a cause. Fireworks are a main- stay of holidays in Mexico including Christmas, New Year’s and this week’s cel- ebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe. However explosions are relatively common amid what is widely criticized as lax safety practices and over- sight of the industry. On Dec. 20, 2016, a mas- sive, chain-reaction blast ripped through an open-air fireworks market outside Mexico City, killing at least 36. Explosions are relatively common amid what is widely criticized as lax safety practices and oversight of the industry.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 Rolex giveaway is on January 2nd. BAYSHORE MALL, CARDINALL AVENUE & THE STRAND +1 (345) 815 7492 • KIRKFREEPORT.COM CHRISTMAS SWEEPST AKES THIS CHRISTMAS MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK US$40,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES WILL BE WON! 3 X US$5,000 CASH WINNERS 5 X US$1,000 CASH WINNERS AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES! Every US$100 purchase at any Kirk Freeport store made before noon on December 23rd qualifi es for all prize draws! Winners will be announced on Z99 and Rooster 101.9 at 6pm each drawing date. RULES AND REGULATIONS: Minimum US$100 purchase to enter. One entry per purchase. Receipts can be combined to reach US$100 requirement. Winner must claim prize at Kirk Freeport on Cardinall Avenue within 7 days of announcement. Non- winning valid entries from Kirk Freeport Christmas Sweepstakes will be included in the Rolex Drawing. Kirk Freeport employees and immediate family members are not eligible to enter. DEC 1ST: ENTRY COLLECTION BEGINS Dec 8th US$5,000 Dec 15th US$5,000 Dec 18th - 22nd US$1,000 each day Dec 23rd US$5,000The 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. WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL With a summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations coming to Ma- nila in November, the presi- dent of the Philippines, Ro- drigo Duterte, announced in October that he was pulling the national police back from their murderous cru- sade against drug users and dealers, a spasm of extraju- dicial killing in which an es- timated 12,000 people had died. We hoped then that Duterte was serious about ending the violence by police and vigilante groups. He wasn’t. On Dec. 5, Duterte ordered the national police back onto the streets, claiming there had been a “clamor from the public” for such action. More likely, Duterte put the killing on pause to get through the ASEAN summit, and now that the leaders have gone home without much criticism of his drug war, he has decided to resume the campaign. Duterte made a similar feint in Jan- uary. You can fool people once, or twice, but now it appears the Philippine president was serious only about a public relations gimmick. Many of the shooting deaths since Duterte took of- fice in 2016 have been at the hands of vigilante triggermen who opened fire from motor- bikes, summarily ending lives without cause or trial. Duterte answered his critics in a speech Dec. 5, de- claring, “You can go to hell, all of you!” He added, “I do not want Filipinos to be turned into fools during my time. You can do that at any other time, but not during my time, during my watch.” No. A fool sees himself as above the law. A fool gives the police and vigilantes power to commit violence without due process. There is sufficient history about such campaigns of terror that the people of the Philippines should say: Enough, this is not for us. © 2017, The Washington Post MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS All intersections in Cayman (especially roundabouts) must be navigated with care and caution, but none is more potentially perilous than the junction at which gov- ernment meets education. What is to be avoided at all costs at these danger points are “head-on” collisions. And yet, an article which appeared on Page One of last Friday’s Compass suggests that just such an impact may be imminent. We refer to a disagreement which has arisen between the Board of Governors of the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) and the govern- ment (more specifically, the Ministry of Education) over the independence and autonomy of the university – especially as it relates to course and curriculum matters. Two quotes from the article will make the differing positions more clear: UCCI Board Vice Chairman Thomas Simpson: “If the faculty can’t control what classes are offered, it [compromises] the quality of the degree.” Ministry of Education Chief Officer Christen Suckoo: Having the ministry take greater control is nec- essary “to ensure that the university is operating in a manner in keeping with the ownership and purchase agreements held between the two entities.” If we may reduce both comments to the vernacular, Mr. Simpson is saying to government, in effect, “We know best how to run a university and what should be taught in our classrooms.” Mr. Suckoo is saying, “Government is funding UCCI with taxpayer dollars, and, therefore, has an obligation to ensure that those dollars are being spent in accor- dance with the wishes and best interests of our citizens. Since the government is a proxy for the public, we, not you, must have the final say.” Other voices at UCCI are supporting Mr. Simpson’s position. President Roy Bodden, in interpreting the disputed agreement between the school and govern- ment, said that as written, the ministry “would have the final say. We have to be autonomous.” UCCI Board Chairman Lemuel Hurlston, a wise and able public servant, added that “we’re asking the ministry to kick it upstairs to the solicitor’s office. It’s a legal recon- ciliation we’re going to get into. It has to be reconciled.” Both Mr. Simpson and Mr. Hurlston have stated that the university cannot be successful in its quest for inter- national accreditation unless and until it can demon- strate that it acts sufficiently independent of influence from a political authority. As the Compass views this brouhaha from afar, it appears that the dispute is as much about “terri- tory and turf” as it is about academics. That is not to diminish its importance. Clear lines of authority and demarcations of responsibilities are essential to the smooth functioning of all organizations. The immediate issues regarding UCCI are particu- larly intractable because they present two conflicting “goods”: Academic freedom vs. public finance. Following a first round of careful consideration, it appears to us that the Ministry of Education’s position may have a slight edge. We cannot argue convincingly (to our readers or to ourselves) that government should ever simply write checks in the absence of adequate and specific over- sight over how public funds are used. All entities dependent on the public purse – from the Turtle Farm to Cayman Airways to the National Roads Authority to, yes, UCCI – cannot have the latitude to operate independently or autonomously from those who pay for them, meaning the people of the Cayman Islands as represented by their elected government. We would hope – an early Christmas wish to be sure – that both sides in this disagreement could come to an amicable, but effective, resolution. At the moment, the dispute appears stubbornly intractable – but that is the way all disputes appear when approached in an atmo- sphere of absolutism, fervor and emotion. May we suggest some holiday reading for all of the involved parties: a little tome entitled, “Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In,” by Roger Fisher and William Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project. The book provides a road map to resolving issues far more contentious than “who should go first” around Cayman’s roundabouts or on our crowded roadways – or which body should determine what is being taught in our classrooms. Needed for UCCI: A ‘crash course’ in negotiations LETTER TO THE EDITOR Government is duty-bound to explain its decisions In the U.K., there is no gen- eral duty for public authori- ties to give reasons for their decisions. Thus an authority can merely state that your application for a licence has no merit. Courts require rea- sons only in certain cases, for example, where a deci- sion seems to depart from es- tablished policy. Even then, a laconic reason (such as that your tender was not as at- tractive as the successful one) has sometimes been accepted. How this ever became and continues to exist as a rule of law beats me but presently I will concern myself only with Cayman, where I live. In Cayman we are more advanced. Section 19(2) of the Cayman Constitution requires public officials to give written reasons for their decisions if reasons are requested. This provision is in the funda- mental rights chapter of the Constitution. Therefore, the right to be given reasons is not just a right but a funda- mental right and the court must give it a meaningful in- terpretation so as not to stul- tify or water down the reason for its inclusion in the Consti- tution. What is unclear is the level of detail that is needed to satisfy this provision. Government does not ap- pear to have given guid- ance regarding this impor- tant duty. For a start, I think public authorities must give reasons even without being requested. Good governance requires this. And when rea- sons are given, they must con- tain sufficient details to en- able the person concerned to understand at least the gist of the reasons why a decision was made. Unless this is done, one cannot be sure that the relevant power has not been abused? Until the reasons of a decision are revealed, the fair- ness of a decision cannot be demonstrated. For example, if facts are given alleging that a public authority has miscon- ducted himself or herself, it is not enough to say that the complaint has no merit. The public authority making a de- cision on the complaint must state if the facts are not es- tablished or that the facts do not constitute misconduct. Further, the giving of rea- sons at the time the decision is made or soon thereafter is important also to ensure that the purported reasons for the decision are made part of the public record. Where this is not done, it is easy for a public authority to fabricate new reasons if the real ones are proven weak, opening the way to rationalizations once an aggrieved party decides to bring legal proceedings. Bilika H. Simamba Attorney at Law, formerly Senior Legislative Counsel, Portfolio of Legal Affairs Police state terror in the Philippines PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 Firefi ghters host annual toy giveaway MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Grand Cayman’s Airport Park was fi lled with chil- dren, parents, fi refi ghters and motorcycle enthusiasts on Saturday, Dec. 16, as the Cayman Islands Fire Ser- vice hosted its annual picnic and toy giveaway. This year, for the fi rst time, the fi re agency was assisted by the Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association. “One of our co-workers was a member of CIMRA,” said fi re sub-offi cer Ricardo Charlton, who was directing the event. “They approached us, we accepted and it’s been a plus ever since. We had the cross-island motor- cycle ride last weekend and that went great.” Each year the fi refi ghters organize a toy drive. Those toys are distributed at the picnic by Santa Claus. This year, with the help of the motorcycle group, Mr. Charlton said donations were about double what they were last year. He said he does not know when the drive was fi rst held, but it’s been going on “as long as we can remember. It’s been 20-odd years.” As in recent years, he was expecting about 500 people to show up for hamburgers, snow cones, cotton candy and other food and refreshments. An infl atable bounce house and slide were set up in the middle of the play- ground, with some fi re vehi- cles parked at the perimeter. “The reason we’ve been doing this for so many years is we have so many kids that [because of economic rea- sons] don’t get to celebrate Christmas,” Mr. Charlton said. “It’s pretty tough on some, you know.” With the participation of the motorcycle association, he said, they will be able to do more. He’s pleased with the new partnership. “It’s a really good rapport,” he said. Though this is only the fi rst year, he added, “hope- fully it won’t be the last.” Fire Sub-Offi cer Randy Rankin, left, mans the cotton candy machine at the annual toy giveaway held on Saturday. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com About three weeks after announcing that it plans to close its two Cayman-domi- ciled subsidiaries, the U.K.- based Thames Water Util- ities Ltd. issued roughly $162,500,000 in bonds through one of those enti- ties, Thames Water Utilities Cayman Finance Ltd. According to fi lings with the Irish Stock Exchange, the bonds yield an annual in- terest rate of 2.875 percent. Thames’ other Cayman-do- miciled subsidiary, Thames Water Utilities Cayman Fi- nance Holdings Ltd., was listed as one of the guaran- tors of the debt. The issuance comes weeks after Thames stated that it would close its Cayman sub- sidiaries, stating that they bring “opacity” the its corpo- rate structure. Thames has been criticized for its alleged lack of transparency, and of- fi cials in the country’s left- leaning Labour party have reportedly proposed nation- alizing it and other U.K. pri- vate water companies. In a statement sent to the Cayman Compass, Thames offi cials stated that they still plan to shutter the Cayman entities and establish a holding company in the U.K. in about six months. In the meantime, Thames may con- tinue to use the subsidiaries to issue bonds, according to the offi cials. Thames Finance Director Brandon Rennet explained that the Cayman entities will still be used because, “If we wanted to issue it through an- other vehicle, we would need the bondholders’ permission, which would take time.” Even though restruc- turing Thames could cost in the “single-digit millions” of pounds, Thames stated that it is making the move in part because the Cayman entities have become “toxic.” “Even if it’s entirely sym- bolic, there’s a point when you have to say it’s just time to reverse the noise,” stated Thames CEO Steve Robertson. A publication that ex- plains the Thames corpo- rate structure states that its Cayman subsidiaries were established in 2007 to raise funds, and to work around U.K. regulations that were in place at the time. The entities do not confer any tax advantages to Thames, according to com- pany offi cials. In October, another U.K. utilities company also an- nounced that it is closing its three Cayman subsidiaries. Yorkshire Water, the coun- try’s fi fth-largest water com- pany, said it is closing its Cayman entities due to is- sues of “public concern.” “There is a real challenge to the water industry’s legit- imacy at the moment, and complex fi nancial structures only add to public concern as to the way in which com- panies are fi nanced,” stated Yorkshire Director of Finance Liz Barber in an October press release. UK WATER COMPANY ISSUES $163M IN BONDS VIA CAYMAN6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS OR Grand Prize US$2,000 Second Prize US$1,000 #MyHoliday † Conditions apply. Subject to credit approval. @ Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. Apply today at your nearest branch and enjoy: Flexible terms • Affordable payments • Any purpose Go to ky.scotiabank.com/myholiday for contest details. Hurry! Contest ends January 15, 2018. Get a Scotia Plan Loan for the holidays and you could win!† Cayman’s first food bank opens MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com It took longer than ex- pected, but the first food bank in the Cayman Islands officially opened its doors Thursday, with an evening ribbon cutting ceremony along with a few speeches. The Rev. Charles Boucher, director of the Good Samar- itan Food Bank, said despite the challenges of funding, finding a physical home for the enterprise and govern- ment red tape, he never gave up believing in the venture. “We wanted to open be- fore September, to start with school,” said Mr. Boucher, “but with all the red tape it went on and on.” The frustration ended Thursday night with the snipping of a ribbon on an industrial warehouse on George Town’s Sleepy Hollow Drive, and a cele- bration which included the presentation of a $1,500 check to the organization from Corporate Electric, one of many companies that are providing support for the operation. Mr. Bouch- er’s elation was clear as he addressed a gathering of about 20 people. He pre- dicted that with promised donations and equipment, such as a walk-in freezer, the food bank would quickly make a significant impact in feeding hungry families and supporting agencies such as Meals on Wheels, the Needs Assessment Unit and Feed Our Future. “I would say in six months from now, we’ll be really sur- prised,” Mr. Boucher said. The food bank is an out- growth of the food pantry Mr. Boucher and his wife, Manon, started in 2008 at the First Assembly of God church, where he serves as co-pastor. Both were in- volved in food banks in Mon- treal, their former residence. Mrs. Boucher ran one of the largest food banks in the city, Mr. Boucher said. The organization said its activities will not only help feed those in need, but cut down on waste by re- directing food, such as us- able products that are past their shelf lives and that supermarkets would other- wise throw away. “Before things go in the garbage, they will come here,” Boucher said. “What is not used here, will go to the farmers for their pigs or whatever.” Following the ribbon cutting and the speeches, people mingled in the main room of the food bank, where shelves will soon be stacked with canned and dry goods. Board member Marie Eden and her hus- band, Gene, talked about the need for the food bank’s services. “It’s time now for this to happen,” Mr. Eden said. “We have so many people that need food. There’s a lot of need in Cayman. You don’t have to go very far off the main roads to see it. What my heart goes out for is the children.” He said it’s especially important for school chil- dren to get the food they need in order to function in the classroom. The food bank will be working with Feed Our Fu- ture to directly address that need, Mr. Boucher said. In addition, helping to supply Meals on Wheels and the Needs Assessment Unit will mean assisting the com- bined 600 people the two agencies serve. “We’re not saying we’re going to end hunger,” Mr. Boucher said, “but we’re going to make an impact.” Woodrow “Woody” Foster, who sits on the board of di- rectors, said he was ex- cited about the prospects of the food bank. “We have big dreams and we’re going to fulfill those dreams,” Mr. Foster said. “We’re going to make this happen.” Good Samaritan Food Bank director Charles Boucher, right, addresses supporters at a ribbon cutting ceremony last Thursday. Good Samaritan Food Bank director Charles Boucher, left, shakes hands with supporter Noel Williams. - PHOTOS: MARK MUCKENFUSS GOVERNMENT TO HOST FINAL NONPROFIT MEETING OF 2017 On Monday evening, the General Registry and the Ministry of Financial Ser- vices are holding their final information session for this year on the recently enacted Non-Profit Or- ganisations Law. Organizations that solicit funds from the public for charitable causes can learn more about their new obliga- tions under the law. The seminar will be from 6-8 p.m. in room 1038 of the Government Administra- tion building. The information session will also touch on the bene- fits of registering as a non- profit organization. For more information, or to submit completed NPO application forms, contact the General Registry’s Head of Compliance Paul Inniss at paul.inniss@gov.ky. The seminar will be from 6-8 p.m. in room 1038 of the Government Administration Building.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 Holiday office hours BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY 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 Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! The management and staff at BritCay extend sincere season’s best wishes to you, your family and your friends. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS Early closing: 22nd December - noon 29th December - noon cgigrp Stamp issue marks 70th royal anniversary Four new stamps issued by the Cayman Islands Postal Service feature Queen Eliza- beth II and Prince Philip to commemorate their platinum wedding anniversary. The four stamps are avail- able for purchase at all post offices in the Cayman Is- lands, and showcase photo- graphs from the royal cou- ple’s 70 years of married life. These include their en- gagement announcement on July 9, 1947; their wed- ding day on Nov. 20, 1947; the 30th anniversary in 1982 of the Queen’s accession to the throne; and their royal highnesses at a public func- tion in 2016, a year when the Queen turned 90 and Prince Philip 95. “We in the Cayman Is- lands wanted to pay a spe- cial tribute to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on their very special occa- sion and decided to retain the vintage look all through in the stamps to match the earliest photograph featured,” said Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow. “We are very honoured to present this special of- fering to the Cayman public and collectors alike. We in the Postal Service proffer our continuing good wishes to the royal couple for many more anniversaries to come,” she added. The stamps are avail- able in decorated sheets of seven and come in denomina- tions as follows: ■■ the stamp featuring the engagement is 20 cents ■■ the wedding stamp is 25 cents ■■ the 30th anniversary of accession is 75 cents and ■■ the stamp featuring the 2016 portrait is 80 cents. The sheets also include colorful depictions of four floral denizens of the Cayman Islands – banana orchid, bou- gainvillea, hibiscus and ghost orchid, as well as images of the three Cayman islands. The four individual stamps cost $2 as a single set. If purchased as sheets of seven stamps, they cost as follows: ■■ 20 cent sheet, $1.40 ■■ 25 cent sheet, $1.75 ■■ 75 cent sheet, $5.25 and ■■ 80 cent sheet, $5.60. With the purchase of the full set, collectors will also receive a brief information sheet about the royal couple’s life story, from how they met to the present time. The set comprises four portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on four sheets, with each sheet featuring seven stamps. “We in the Cayman Islands wanted to pay a special tribute to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on their very special occasion.” CAYMAN ISLANDS POSTMASTER GENERAL SHEENA GLASGOW Polished Nail Salon owner Cindy Oostvogels pressents Meals on Wheels General Manager Erin Bodden with the funds raised during the salon’s November promotion. NAIL SALON RAISES MONEY FOR MEALS ON WHEELS Polished Nail Salon raised $1,900 in November for Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels in a recent promotion which offered 20 percent off a service with a $10 donation to the charity. Salon owner Cindy Oost- vogels said in a news release, “If we can do it, any business can do it, and they should. “I hope our donation will inspire other small busi- nesses in our community to make a donation, or develop a similar initiative in order make a difference,” she said. Erin Bodden, general man- ager for Meals on Wheels, ex- pressed thanks for the dona- tion, which will help provide 380 meals for needy seniors. Meals on Wheels cele- brated its 20th anniversary in Cayman earlier this year. The not-for-profit orga- nization has about 100 vol- unteers who serve meals to more than 200 people in Cayman, five days per week. The group has kitchens in every district of Grand Cayman except for West Bay, and it hopes to establish a kitchen there soon. The group serves 20 people in West Bay but estimates there are 150 people in that district who need assistance but are cur- rently unserved. “If we can do it, any business can do it, and they should.” POLISHED NAIL SALON OWNER CINDY OOSTVOGELS8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS T: 949 5111 E: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com CAYMAN ISLANDS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM December topic: Cold fronts Although the Cayman Is- lands have a tropical ma- rine climate, we are in a unique position of being far enough north to be affected by cold fronts during the winter months. Occasional surges of cooler air from continental North America push south into the western to northwestern Ca- ribbean Sea. The leading edge of these surges are what we call a cold front. Cold fronts are normally associated with a high pressure system that lags just behind it. These systems are the major contributor to rain- fall during the dry winter months (late October through early April). Most cold fronts do not produce a significant amount of rainfall, but when they align with winter jet streams they can produce higher to- tals, for example, Jan. 18, 2003, when 9.45 inches of rain fell. Stronger cold fronts along with associated high pressure systems tend to bring fresh to strong north to northwest winds and rough seas, espe- cially along the western and northern coasts of the Is- lands. Such fronts are locally called “Northwesters.” On average, around eight to 10 cold fronts, with three to four being Northwesters, pass through the Cayman Is- lands each winter. Impacts The passage of these sys- tems usually produce fresh to strong north to northwest winds and rough seas (which may last up to a week for each system), requiring the National Weather Service to issue either marine adviso- ries or warnings depending upon its strength. A number of these sys- tems may produce fresh to strong north to north- west winds and rough seas (which may last for a few days), requiring the National Weather Service to issue ad- visories or warnings, and also alert the Port Authority and marine interests along Seven Mile Beach. Definitions Cold front – the transi- tion zone where a cold air mass is replacing a warmer air mass. Cold fronts gen- erally move from northwest to southeast. The air behind a cold front is noticeably colder and drier than the air ahead of it. Stationary Front – a boundary between warm and cold air masses that is moving very slowly or not at all. Frontal trough – An elon- gated area of relatively low pressure associated with a cold front that is usu- ally associated with a shift in wind direction. These troughs may be pre-frontal, post-frontal or induced de- pending on their location and how they formed. Arctic high pressure system – These are cold air masses located behind cold fronts that form and adopt characteristics of their source region in the Arctic. The cold front is the leading edge of this air mass. This is the first in a series of monthly public education topics produced by the National Weather Service.Cross section of a cold front. Typical winter surface chart showing frontal boundaries and associated high pressure systems. On average, around eight to 10 cold fronts, with three to four being Northwesters, pass through the Cayman Islands each winter.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2017 Next >