SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY SHOPS READY FOR CHRISTMAS RUSH JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s retailers are preparing for a last-minute Christmas shopping rush this weekend. It has already been a bumper shopping season, according to several store owners and Saturday is expected to see residents fill the aisles again in search of last-minute gifts. Many retailers have extended opening hours until at least 9 p.m. on Saturday, the last full shopping day before Christmas. Big selling items in the run-up to Christmas have included jewelry, alcohol, and water guns for kids. “For us, it is always about the toys,” said Joe Thorne, manager of Cost-U-Less. He said Lego, Havoc scooters and Nerf-style play equipment were flying off the shelves. Dreaming of a bright Christmas ‘Tis the season … for Cayman’s tradi- tional display of Christmas lights – on the streets, adorning roundabouts and blazing from private homes and gardens. Camana Bay’s bedecked courtyards sparkle with white and red. The Bodden sis- ters’ home on South Church Road inevitably slows passing traffic with the multicolored outlines in their front yard. Any motorists that do not stop on Shamrock Road, at least slow to a crawl outside the Crighton home, watching its sprawling circus of festive lights. Shades of bright blue, forests of green and glowing spires of red and white illu- mine half-a-dozen roundabouts from Pros- pect to West Bay, marking the holiday, while the familiar sand yards of classic Cayman homes call out greetings and well-wishes. The exhilarating labors of love and light – and congenial competition for the best display – brighten Cayman for weeks, sparking ser- vices of thanksgiving and the midnight gath- ering of church congregants across the islands. Compassion helps feed the unfortunate, bring gifts to children and aid to the disadvantaged. The Cayman Christmas slows the onrush of every day’s work and commercial effort, forcing a moment’s contemplation, perhaps leavened with a dash of quiet introspection, a recipe for a Merry – and well-lighted – Christmas. For more Christmas display photos, see page 11. Christmas lights adorn Camana Bay, one of the many impressive displays of festive lights throughout the islands. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Healing domes planned for hurricane-hit Mariners Cove New wellness center planned at Mariners Cove JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new beachfront “healing resort” featuring dome-shaped guest villas is planned for the old Mariners Cove site in Prospect, which was swept away during Hurricane Ivan. The Central Planning Authority approved plans Wednesday from Kim and Ashleigh Lund to trans- form the derelict site into an original new tourist venture they are calling “Revive Resort.” Concept drawings for the project show a series of dome-shaped buildings amid a heavily wooded Concept designs for the Revive Resort show dome-style buildings designed to blend in with the natural environment. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 20172 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman’s Most Affordable Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Monday! Cayman’s Most Affordable Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday, Holiday Monday & Holiday Tuesday! Come visit us before December 31st and receive 15% off all IV treatments and booster shots! Please call 743 5600 or email cayman@revivme.com to book today! BOOK YOUR WELLNESS TREATMENT NOW & SAVE 15%BOOK YOUR WELLNESS TREATMENT NOW & SAVE 15%BOOK YOUR WELLNESS TREATMENT NOW & SAVE 15% GIVE THE GIFT OF WELLNESS Hew: Too late to change music law for New Year’s Eve SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com There is no mechanism or “nuclear option” to make a change to the Music and Dance (Control) Law this close to New Year’s Eve, ac- cording to Commerce Min- ister Joey Hew. The law prohibits loud live music and dancing on Sundays, and with New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year, this means par- ties planned for the night are being curtailed. Mr. Hew said that the gov- ernment has gone through the law line by line to see if there was an opportu- nity to change it before ul- timately deciding that it was impossible. Furthermore, said Mr. Hew, there has been no re- quest from the Cayman Is- lands Tourism Association to look into making a change. If there’s still an appetite to change the law at some point in the future, he said, it can be considered alongside other needed revisions in the government’s liquor laws. “The idea isn’t being against dancing. It’s against having music so loud that it creates the environment for dancing on a Sunday,” he said. “Government cre- ates policy, but it’s generally driven by the private sector or by the constituents.” Meanwhile, the Cayman Ministers’ Association is backing the prohibition. Torrance Bobb, the chairman of the Cayman Ministers’ Association, said Thursday that the laws are on the books to reflect the community’s traditional re- ligious beliefs. New Year’s Eve may not often fall on a Sunday, said Pastor Bobb, but when it does, the law should still take precedence over business concerns. “Christmas really cel- ebrates the birth of Jesus Christ coming into the world to save us from sin,” said Pastor Bobb of the signifi- cance of the holiday season. “While it’s true that God gives people the right to conduct their lives as they please – be- cause we are free-will moral agents – I think that at this Christmastime, it wouldn’t be advisable for the law to be changed or to accommodate that situation.” The Music and Dance (Control) Law dictates that venues that sell food or re- freshments are prohib- ited from having dancing or playing music on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Sundays. This year, both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday, affecting the plans of several local businesses. As the law stands, many local bars and restaurants will be forced to wait until 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day to start their live enter- tainment. The 40-year-old law provides an exemption for hotels, but only prop- erties that “are not open to the general public and with which no charge is made for admission.” Pastor Bob said the law is on the books for a reason and this is the perfect time of year to honor it. “We are celebrating the birth of Christ, and while it’s true that many people cele- brate differently, the Cayman Islands are known mostly as a Christian community,” he said. “We say he has founded it upon the seas, and I think if there’s any time we should not be changing laws, it should be Christmastime. We are still in the spirit of the season, and I think it would be good for them to hold to the status quo.” BOEING, BRAZIL’S EMBRAER CONFIRM TALKS OVER POSSIBLE DEAL NEW YORK (AP) – Shares of the aircraft maker Embraer are soaring after the Bra- zilian company confirmed media reports that it’s in talks with Boeing regarding a possible deal. According to a story Thursday in The Wall Street Journal, Boeing Co. would be willing to pay a big pre- mium to buy the company that has a market value of about $3.7 billion. Boeing would get a bigger footprint in the re- gional jet industry. That is something that rival Airbus is already attempting to do, with plans to buy a ma- jority stake of Canada’s Bombardier Inc. Embraer, however is highly prized by the Bra- zilian government, which would have to sign off on the deal. According to The Journal, it holds veto power over any sale. Embraer and Chi- cago-based Boeing said Thursday there is no guar- antee that a transaction will result from the talks, and they decline to make any further comments. American deposi- tary receipts of Embraer SA rose $4.26, or 21 per- cent, to $24.25 in afternoon trading. Boeing slipped $1.53 to $296.37. Dart makes new tunnel extension bid JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Dart group has sub- mitted a new application to extend the length of the tunnel it is building on West Bay Road. The Central Planning Au- thority has already rejected one bid by the developer to add another 195 feet to the 406-foot underpass, saying Dart had failed to demon- strate sufficient reasons for the project. Dart chose not to appeal that decision but has filed a new application which will come before the board in the new year. This time the devel- oper has shaved 24 feet from its planned exten- sion and requested a 171- foot increase to the under- pass along land fronting the Royal Palms site. In a brief statement to the Compass, Dart, hinted that the new plans would include more information about its long-term development goals for the site, reviving a pre- vious proposal for a hotel on Seven Mile Beach. “The proposed exten- sion will include the newly acquired Royal Palms site, which provides adequate beach frontage to connect the future five-star hotel to the rest of Camana Bay while providing meaningful beach access to the Camana Bay community and the gen- eral public,” according to the statement. No further informa- tion about the hotel plan was revealed. The developer has al- ready built one overpass, bridging the Esterley Tib- betts Highway and is midway through construc- tion on the West Bay Road tunnel. The two projects will essentially extend Camana Bay over both roads, con- necting the town center to Seven Mile Beach. Joey Hew, commerce minister The Dart group has applied for a 171-foot increase to the underpass along on West Bay Road, in front of the Royal Palms site. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY SEARCH RESUMES FOR 8 MISSING IN DEADLY CHILE MUDSLIDE SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – Chilean authorities say improved weather has al- lowed them to resume searching for eight people missing since a weekend mudslide smashed into a Patagonia town and killed at least 14 people, in- cluding a baby. The head of the Emer- gency Office of Chile said heavy rains that have been causing flooding lessened Wednesday and workers were able to start searching again. Ricardo Toro says mud up to 26 feet deep cover some parts of the town of Santa Lucia, which is about 800 miles south of Santiago. The side of a hill collapsed early Saturday and buried 20 of the 200 houses in the town.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 COUNTDOWN TO Sunday, December 31 Fireworks at 7 p.m. & midnight CAMANABAY.COM where life blossoms ‘Ferocious dog’ attacks young girl MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A young girl was seri- ously injured in an attack by a dog on Birch Avenue in Pros- pect Wednesday evening. Po- lice said the unnamed 8-year- old child had “a very serious bite to her ear,” as well as several other bites from the “ferocious dog.” The girl, who was report- edly visiting from Jamaica, was bitten about 5 p.m. when the dog, which police said “appeared to be a pit bull,” escaped its tether in the yard of the house in which the child was staying. Police said the attack occurred after the dog chased the girl and an- other child who was also staying at the house. Police described the girl’s injuries as “serious, but not life-threatening.” Helen White, 35, lives next door to the house. She said she was the first on the scene when the girl was attacked. Ms. White said she had arrived home from work and was taking a nap when she was awakened by the commotion. “I heard someone screaming in my sleep,” she said. “I got up and peeped through my window. I saw a dog and a girl under it.” She said she yelled at the dog to get away, but it con- tinued to bite the girl. “I went and tried to hit the dog, but the dog tried to bite me,” she said. Ms. White raced back in- side her apartment and grabbed a broom and then her hose. When she hit the dog, she said, it began to come after her. Each time she backed off, the dog returned to attacking the girl. It was only when another neighbor dumped a bucket of water over the dog, that it fi- nally ran off, Ms. White said. Another neighbor, report- edly a member of the police service, called an ambulance. Yet another neighbor, Sonya Reid, 33, accompa- nied the injured girl to the hospital and stayed with her until the girl’s father arrived. She did not see the attack, but came out of her house when she heard the commo- tion on the street. “When I got there, she was basically covered in blood,” Ms. Reid said, most of which was coming from the child’s injured ear. “Her ear was ba- sically gone. I think every- body cried, that was there.” Ms. Reid said the girl had bites on her back and arms and other injuries on her limbs that could have been from the dog dragging her in the street. She was surprised at how calm the child was. “She was a real trouper,” Ms. Reid said. “She was the calmest 8 year old I’ve ever seen in that situation.” Ms. Reid said she has lived on Birch Avenue for six months and never noticed ag- gressive dogs being a problem. She’s thinking twice now, espe- cially for when her own young children visit her in the future. “My kids are outdoor kids,” she said, “but I’m def- initely not having them play outside.” Police confronted the an- imal and were prepared to shoot it, but an animal con- trol officer was able to get control of it. “Officers attempted to contain the animal, which charged at them. Armed offi- cers drew their weapons but did not fire when the dog withdrew,” police said in a press statement. The dog is currently being held by the Department of Agriculture. A woman who came to the door of the home where the girl is reportedly visiting initially told a Cayman Com- pass reporter that she knew nothing of the attack. Later, she said the family had been advised by an attorney not to comment on the incident. Police said the unnamed 8 year old had “a very serious bite to her ear,” as well as several other bites. Many government offices will be closing early Friday in preparation for the Christmas holidays and will remain closed until Wednesday, Dec. 27. Below are the closing times for several offices. Immigration Department ■■ Dec. 22: Closing at 11.30 a.m. ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed ■■ Dec. 29: Closing at 11.30 a.m. ■■ New Year’s Day: Closed Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing Department ■■ Dec. 22: Closing at 12.30 p.m. (All locations) ■■ Dec. 23: West Bay and Breakers lo- cations closed ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed (All locations) ■■ Dec. 29: Closing at 12.30 p.m. (All locations) ■■ Dec. 30: West Bay and Breakers lo- cations closed ■■ New Year’s Day: All locations closed Family Resource Centre ■■ Dec. 22: Closing at noon ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed ■■ Dec. 29: Closing at noon ■■ New Year’s Day: Closed General Registry ■■ Dec. 22: Closing at 12.30 p.m. ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed ■■ Dec. 31: Closing at 12.30 p.m. ■■ New Year’s Day: Closed ■■ * For birth- or death- related emergen- cies, call 925-8673. Needs Assessment Unit ■■ Dec. 22: Closing at noon ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed ■■ Dec. 29: Closing at noon ■■ New Year’s Day: Closed Customs Collections Office and Courier Office ■■ Dec. 23: Closed ■■ Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Closed ■■ Dec. 30: Closed ■■ New Year’s Day: Closed Holiday closures Most government offices are closing for Christmas.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. More than a century ago, little 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asked the editor of her local newspaper, The (New York) Sun, “Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?” Apparently, some of her friends had said the Man in Red was a tall tale, a figment of imagination – a story made up for babies. Her father told her, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so,” so, she turned to its pages for the facts. The letter wound up in the hands of editorial writer Francis Church, putting him in a bit of an awkward position. Mr. Church was no innocent, Pollyannaish optimist. The 58-year-old journalist (a profession known for breeding cynics) had seen the worst of human nature while reporting on the bloody and divisive American Civil War. It is said he was not happy to be charged with replying to the young writer – that he “bristled and pooh-poohed” when he was given the assignment, in the way of grumpy newspapermen everywhere. But then, he reached for a deeper truth: “Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus,” he wrote, in what is believed to be the most reprinted newspaper editorial of all time. “He exists as cer- tainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.” He wrote, “Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.” Each year, we take refuge in holiday routines – shopping, cooking, decorating, volunteering, wor- shipping, visiting friends and comforting the ill and infirm – that are somehow made more magical by the yuletide season. Call it “Christmas Spirit” – the feeling is as familiar as it is difficult to describe. Somehow, phrases and sentiments that are absent from our vocabularies in June or August reappear annually in late December with joy and good spirit: God rest you, merry gentlemen. Peace on Earth, goodwill to men. As Mr. Church opined in a New York newspaper office generations ago, “Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see .… Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.” Somehow, at Christmas, we feel the window open just a little wider – letting more of those unseen wonders enter our lives. We are not the first (nor will we be the last) to wish the sense of wonder, of magic, that generous Christmas spirit was more closely at hand every day of the year. Perhaps – like youth or a Seven Mile Beach sunset – it is all the more precious precisely because we know it will fade. Until then, our Christmas wish is that all of Cayman embrace the season, and each other, with joyous hearts and loving kindness. Revel in the magic of the season and share it with ingenuous abandon. Yes, Cayman, there is a Santa Claus – he is kindled in each of our hearts. This season, may he find a home in yours. Merry Christmas. As the spirit of Christmas pervades our fair isles . . . FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Christmas message from Her Excellency The Governor HELEN KILPATRICK Christmas is a spe- cial time to enjoy with our families and friends, but it is also a time for all of us to reflect on the events of the last year and to count our blessings. This year, the devas- tating hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the Ca- ribbean. Once again, the Cayman Islands were spared but our fellow Over- seas Territories of the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla were hit with the full force of these ter- rifying storms. These territories now face years of reconstruc- tion and hardships for their people. In these terrible circum- stances, the generosity and compassion of Cayman Is- landers once more came to the fore and the community rallied around to help. I was particularly proud that the Cayman Islands very quickly sent practical assistance to our fellow is- lands in desperate need. Sixteen police officers were deployed to BVI, the police helicopter and its crew to Turks and Caicos and med- ical staff, equipment and supplies to Anguilla. My thanks go to all those people from the Cayman Is- lands who made personal sacrifices in these very dif- ficult circumstances. Christmas is a time for us to look after our own community. There are al- ways those less fortu- nate than ourselves and this is an opportunity to reach out to them. Christmas can also be a lonely time of year for some. We can all visit a neighbor or call a friend or family member who might be alone during the holidays. Spare a thought too, for those in the emergency and caring professions who may be working long and unso- cial hours during the holi- days. These are often our community’s unsung he- roes, who quietly go about their business of keeping us safe and secure. I am always impressed by the generosity of the Cayman Islands people to- ward others, and this year has once again been no ex- ception. The scale and va- riety of the charitable and voluntary work in the Cayman Islands is truly amazing, and demonstrates the very special character of the people of these Islands. A highlight for me this year was the much antici- pated groundbreaking cer- emony in June for the new hospice building, the first dedicated home for end of life care in the Cayman Is- lands. Many generous do- nations to Cayman Hos- piceCare will enable this wonderful facility to be of- fered free of charge. I am deeply grateful to all the charities and asso- ciations [that] have given me the privilege of being their patron. Too many to name here, they play a vital role in strengthening our society and making the Cayman Islands a much better place to live. Lastly, and on a per- sonal note, this year’s Christmas will be my last in the Cayman Islands. I step down as Governor at the beginning of March. I am honored to have served my country and the Cayman Islands in this capacity. I would like to thank all the people of the Cayman Islands for making me so welcome when I arrived and for making my time here truly such a pleasure. It has been a privilege to experi- ence the culture and tre- mendous sense of commu- nity that you all share. Thank you. Happy Christmas to everyone and very best wishes for a safe and healthy new year. Helen Kilpatrick, CB, is Governor of the Cayman Islands I would like to thank all the people of the Cayman Islands for making me so welcome when I arrived and for making my time here truly such a pleasure. It has been a privilege to experience the culture and tremendous sense of community that you all share. Governor Helen Kilpatrick 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 OPINION&LETTERS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 Premier Alden McLaughlin: Merry Christmas, Cayman ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN Merry Christmas to one and all! Today we can take a verse from our National Song that adequately sums up Christmas day and in- deed the season: “And when comes on the season. Of peace, good will to man. ‘Tis then I love thee best of all. Beloved Isle, Cayman.” Today many of us are blessed to be with our fami- lies and friends as we gather to open presents and prepare for our Christmas feasts. This is a day that we should all slow down a bit to reflect on our blessings; be- cause as a people and as a country we are truly blessed. We were spared from the impact of a hurricane in what has turned out to be a dreadful hurricane season. While we were spared, many in the region suffered from direct hits of major hurri- canes. I am thankful that we were able to help out our sister British Overseas Ter- ritories who suffered from the ravages of hurricanes Irma and Maria. As we read in the book of Luke in the Bible; “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” We are our brother’s keeper and in my view it is our duty to lend a hand when needed. We know the rav- ages of storms and we also know that the next time we could be in the bull’s eye of nature’s wrath. While we extend our warmth and love to our brothers and sisters throughout the region, I be- lieve we must take Luke’s advice locally. It is my wish that we live year-round with consideration, good will and caring for each other right here at home. For some of us, this past year has been filled with challenges. Some have faced the loss of loved ones. Others have dealt with their own personal tragedies and there are some in our midst who are, frankly, lonely. They are facing their own difficulties in what should be a joyous season. I implore you to lift them up with an encouraging word, a smile or an unselfish act. Just a simple act of kindness can go a long way to make this Christmas day bright. We are blessed beyond measure in the Cayman Is- lands to have charities, service clubs, businesses, groups and individuals who, along with Government, help to ensure that those among us who are less for- tunate have a joyous holiday. I am proud of the work of the last Administra- tion and for the solid foun- dation in which it left the country – with Government finances sorted out and a growing economy. And with major policy and leg- islative initiatives in place – including a National Min- imum Wage and the Ready to Work program. I am proud too of the men and women who make up the new Government of National Unity. We are am- bitious for Cayman and for our Caymanian people and this is displayed in the many initiatives con- tained in our first two-year budget; a budget that fo- cusses on education, na- tional security, mental health, and improving the social fabric of our Islands, as well as supporting a growing economy. We are seeing the fan- tastic progress on our new airport and we all look forward to seeing the re- maining sections open. We are also seeing the prog- ress made on our road in- frastructure and on a new waste management system that includes re- cycling, composting and waste to energy. These are exciting times for our Islands and we have a bright future ahead of us. So, yes, on this Christmas Day, as a country, we have much to be thankful for. I hope that today you take some time to reflect on your personal blessings, as well as those of the Cayman Islands and give thanks. Personally, I will today as I get to spend with my wife and two sons, my father – who by the grace of God is still with us – my sisters and the rest of my family and friends. I cherish this time because of the oppor- tunity to slow down, reflect and surround myself with my loved ones. If I had one Christmas wish it is that the enchant- ment of Christmas day could be captured year-round; that the feelings of goodwill and charity would be visible and felt throughout the year. And I sincerely hope that each of you has a joyous Christmas. On behalf of Govern- ment, my family and myself, I wish each of you a very blessed Christmas. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA, is Premier of the Cayman Islands. Premier Alden McLaughlin The survival of the shrillest “The intellectual cannot operate at room temperature.” — Eric Hoffer, “First Things, Last Things” (1971) WASHINGTON – Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) meant that intel- lectuals in his day tended not to be temperate. In our day, this defect – moral over- heating – has been democ- ratized: Anyone can have it. Now, everybody can be hap- pily furious, delirious with hysteria and intoxicated with intimations of apoca- lypse, all day every day. Hoffer was a long- shoreman and an autodi- dact who wrote slender books hefty with wisdom. His first, “The True Be- liever” (1951), put him on a path from San Francisco’s docks to a 1982 Presidential Medal of Freedom, conferred by a fellow Californian. In Hoffer’s time, intellectuals often were feverish because this was the best way to be noticed, and to say, about this and that: Listen to our intelligent selves or the end is nigh. In 2017, many others em- ulated this act. Were Hoffer still with us, he would marvel at today’s vast, deep reservoirs of extravagant rhetoric. For example: Most of the nonstop noise emanating from the White House is white noise – au- dible wallpaper, there but un- noticed. Some is, however, in- terestingly symptomatic, as when a presidential assistant calls this year’s tax legisla- tion “the most significant tax reform we’ve had since 1986.” Which is like bragging about the tallest building in Boise. The 1986 tax reform radically simplified the tax code. Since then, the code has acquired more than 15,000 new wrin- kles. The 2017 tax legislation might – this is difficult to measure – have managed the minor miracle of making the 70,000-page code more com- plicated. On a scale of impor- tance from 1 (negligible) to 10 (stupendous), the legislation might be a 3. Never mind. Cue the Cassandras. This tax cut of less than 1 per- cent of the next decade’s pro- jected GDP is “the worst bill in the history of the United States Congress.” (House Mi- nority Leader Nancy Pe- losi). It “will result in 10,000 extra deaths per year” and “our country will be living on a shoestring for decades.” (Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers) The many Americans who are happiest when un- happy seem as addicted to indignation as the fewer Americans are to cocaine. Brain imaging might show the same pleasure points lighting up in both cohorts. Furthermore, because to- day’s technologies have eliminated barriers to entry into public conversations, ignorance and intemperate- ness are not barriers. Be- cause modern technologies allow the instant, costless dissemination of fulmina- tions, and because the more vituperative the fulmina- tions the more apt they are to be noticed in the digital clutter, public conversations often quickly degenerate into something less. Christopher DeMuth, president emeritus of the American Enterprise Insti- tute, notes the interaction of high affluence and modern technologies. “Americans have attained levels of ma- terial comfort, leisure time, and education unknown until the recent past.” And as Americans have become “entangled by networks of communication,” they have entered “a world of empow- ered mass intimacy” that en- courages the better but also “the darker angels of human nature.” New modes of com- munication enable us “to or- ganize ourselves into highly defined networks of affinity and endeavor.” These en- able splendid cooperative endeavors; but they also are “fracturing our politics.” Institutions that hitherto organized and stabilized politics – parties, Congress, federalism, civic organiza- tions – have been, DeMuth says, “deconstructed by a thousand networks of ide- ology, interest and identity.” Such “private networks have commandeered central in- stitutions of government.” Congress, especially, has buckled beneath the weight of “many more numerous political causes than a rep- resentative legislature can manage.” Congress has re- sponded by offloading onto the administrative state’s executive agencies activi- ties that are essentially leg- islative. So, its members are free to “strut and fret on the national stage” on behalf of causes that are made con- spicuous, articulate and po- tent by the new technology- created networks. The result is an ever- more-clamorous politics, and the survival of the shrillest. Hence 2017, the year of living splenetically, has been replete with confirmations of Eric Hoffer’s aphorisms: “Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.” And: “We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.” George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE These are exciting times for our Islands and we have a bright future ahead of us. So yes on this Christmas day, as a country, we have much to be thankful for. THE U.S. SHOULD BACK NEW ELECTIONS IN HONDURAS BLOOMBERG VIEW EDITORIAL BOARD There is only one way out of Honduras’s deep- ening political crisis, and that is a new presiden- tial election. It’s a solu- tion the U.S., with its long history in Latin America, should help bring about – although it would help if it had an ambassador there. The certification this week of incumbent Pres- ident Juan Orlando Her- nandez’s contested victory in last month’s election has brought Hondurans into the streets, continuing a wave of violent demonstra- tions that have claimed at least 24 lives. It comes after a deeply flawed ballot- counting process that in- cluded long delays, after which Hernandez’s early deficit mysteriously disap- peared. (The final tally put him ahead by about 1.5 percent.) The vote was de- nounced by numerous ob- servers – including the Or- ganization of American States, which has called for new elections. Yet the U.S., which has no ambassador in Tegu- cigalpa or an assistant secretary of State for the hemisphere, has been only mildly critical. When Her- nandez’s victory was certi- fied, it urged opposing po- litical parties to “raise any concerns they may have.” Hernandez has won friends in Washington with his willingness to crack down on crime and illegal migration to the U.S., and his investor-friendly poli- cies. At the same time, his administration has been responsible for ugly human rights abuses and been im- plicated in several high- profile corruption scandals. Even before last month’s flawed vote, Honduras was notable for the lack of popular confidence in its electoral mechanisms. And if it’s stability that Washington seeks, these disputed results do not promise to achieve it. Pro- tracted unrest will only make fighting drugs and il- legal migration harder. As the administra- tion’s just-released Na- tional Security Strategy says, “Stable, friendly, and prosperous states in the Western Hemisphere en- hance our security and benefit our economy.” The best way to ensure that Honduras becomes one is to support free, trans- parent and fair elections. © 2017, Bloomberg ViewThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS JAIME-LEE ECCLES JONATHAN BROWN DAEGAN MCLAUGHLIN MYFANWY LEGGATT ADRIAN DAVEYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 DEC 23: 7AM-11PM | DEC 24: CLOSED | DEC 25: CLOSED | DEC 26: 9AM-6PMThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The family of Hubert “Iby” Jacobs announces his death on Wednesday, 6 December , 2017. Iby passed away at home with his loving family at his side, including Glenda, his beloved wife of 57 years. In lieu of flowers and gifts, please consider a donation to Cayman HospiceCare. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. To our Precious Angel Shenni Vanessa Pamela Dacosta Your Fourth Christmas in Heaven Dearest Shen, Christmas is so hard without you We love you and miss you so very much Your broken-hearted parents Marlene and Ashton Bodden, and all your family Thinking of you this Christmas And how nothing is quite the same, Because there’s only heartache When we speak your name. Sadly, no nice gifts for you Just silent tears that fall. For Christmas without you Is the hardest time of all. Because the pain of losing you Just seems to linger still, Since you left there’s been a space That no one else can ll. We will always feel you close to us And though you’re far from sight We’ll search for you among the stars That shine on Christmas night.That shine on Christmas night. “Every day we are re- stocking. It is crazy how quick they go,” he said. At Book Nook on West Bay Road, the Nerf guns and super soaker toys are also doing well. Baby Alive interactive dolls and soft toy charac- ters known as Num Noms are also featuring highly on children’s Christmas lists, according to manager Nickeisha Hydes. For adults, she said, the big sellers were a “Game of Thrones”-themed ver- sion of Monopoly and the ever-popular game Cards Against Humanity. It has been a busy year for high-end items also, with Kirk Free- port reporting brisk trade in its jewelry stores and perfumeries. “We have had a pretty good season so far with all the additional tour- ists, but it is always very busy in the run-up to Christmas,” said vice presi- dent Chris Kirkconnell. He said watches – ev- erything from $30 Swatch to brands like Cartier and Rolex – were particu- larly popular. The Kirk Freeport stores will be open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. “Saturday, we are ex- pecting it to be our busiest day because we won’t be open Christmas Eve,” Mr. Kirkconnell said. Many of the stores in Camana Bay, including Books & Books and the Mac Store, were advertising late opening for Saturday, with some open for a limited time on Sunday as well. Matt Bishop, CEO of Is- land Companies, which operates multiple stores across the island, including the Pandora store, Is- land Jewelers and De Sun- glass Man, said there was a buoyant mood around Cayman before Christmas. “Camana Bay is doing well and we are seeing lots of traffic,” he said. “The next few days are going to be really telling for us be- cause of the way Christmas falls this year. Saturday is going to be a big day.” He said jewelry and alcohol were the biggest sellers. “Alcohol is a big part of the festive season and we always see strong sales right through to new year when those dry January resolutions start to kick in.” The online retail phe- nomenon that has hurt high street stores in other parts of the world over the past decade does not seem to have had the same impact in Cayman, with many store owners believing residents prefer to shop locally. “Once you have ordered and paid for delivery and the duties start to kick in, it is probably cheaper to buy on island and you don’t have that confu- sion about when it will arrive,” said Mr. Thorne, of Cost-U-Less. “I also think people like to support local busi- nesses and see what they can get on island first.” Shops ready for Christmas rush CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 No jail for woman over seizure of 84 Great Danes OSSIPEE, N.H. (AP) – A woman who had dozens of filthy and sick Great Danes living in her New Hampshire man- sion will serve no jail time for animal cruelty but must pay nearly $800,000 for the care they received after being seized, a judge said Thursday. Authorities took 84 dogs from Christina Fay’s Wolfe- boro home in June, saying the animals were living in filth and suffering from health problems. Fay said she loved the dogs and pleaded not guilty. Judge Charles Greenhalgh convicted her and refused her request to have the dogs returned to her so she could find homes for them. He said the Humane Society would handle that. He said she could pick a dog to keep but can never again own more than one dog. Fay, who plans to appeal, said the proceeding was unfair and that her heart has been broken. “It has all turned into a salacious, tabloid story, which is so inappropriate,” she said. “There are so many untruths out there. I was vilified.” An appeal would mean a new trial in superior court. It also would mean the dogs would remain with the Hu- mane Society until that trial is over. The society has said its expenses so far total $774,000, and the town of Wolfeboro and a local shelter are to be reimbursed about $17,500. Fay testified that she took good care of the dogs and that the town brought the charges to force her to shut down her kennel because neighbors had complained about the barking. A veterinarian testified that Fay’s care of the dogs “was more than adequate.” Samantha Moffitt reviewed records and saw many of the dogs, but after they were taken from Fay. After hearing testimony from people who had worked for Fay and seeing video of the conditions in which the animals were kept, Green- halgh concluded the animals had been abused. “The conditions in which these dogs were kept consti- tutes cruelty” he wrote in his Dec. 11 ruling. “Their cages and living areas were cov- ered with an accumulation of feces and urine days or weeks old. The dogs had to walk in and lay down in the waste covering the floor.” Fay housed the dogs in the garage, basement and first floor of a large home on 57 acres. Fay told the court she was not out to make a profit and she compared her efforts to “an artistic en- deavor of promoting what she believes is a beautiful and unique breed of dogs,” according to the order. Greenhalgh noted that Fay appears to have been devoted to her dogs, but she started having difficulty in April, when she suffered a knee injury and could not easily move about. She also lost workers and was un- able to replace them. South Sudan warring sides sign cease-fire for Christmas Eve ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – South Sudan’s warring fac- tions on Thursday signed a new agreement to cease hos- tilities and protect civilians in the latest effort to calm a devastating civil war. The cease-fire is set to begin first thing Sunday morning, or Christmas Eve. They also agreed to grant humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas after days of talks in neigh- boring Ethiopia brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional bloc. South Sudan is entering its fifth year of civil war, and no one knows how many tens of thousands of people have been killed in the world’s youngest nation. Parts of the East African country are on the brink of famine, and well over a mil- lion people have fled abroad, creating the world’s fastest- growing refugee crisis. The U.S. called the deal “the last chance for the im- plementation of the peace process.” Past attempts at peace deals have failed amid renewed violence. The new deal is an attempt to salvage a 2015 peace agreement. South Sudan’s govern- ment is under growing pressure to find an end to the civil war as the U.S. and others threaten fur- ther sanctions. “This is a gift to South Sudanese people to cele- brate their Christmas and New Year. This is the most precious gift of all time,” Ethiopia’s foreign min- ister, Workineh Gebeyehu, said during the signing cer- emony. “But as past expe- rience has showed, imple- mentation is the longer and more difficult aspect. many critical issues lie ahead.” The agreement also calls on the warring sides to re- lease prisoners of war, po- litical prisoners and ab- ducted women and children, who have been victims of widespread sexual vio- lence and recruitment as child soldiers. “Everyone is tired of the war in South Sudan,” the chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, told the gathering. Ethiopia’s leader called the deal a “final alterna- tive” and said failing to ad- here to it will bring con- sequences and the rest of Africa and the world “will not sit idly by.” Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council warned of “costs or consequences” for South Su- dan’s government and op- position if they undermine efforts to implement the 2015 peace deal. South Sudan President Salva Kiir was not present at the signing. The gov- ernment’s lead delegate to the talks, cabinet affairs minister Martin Elias Lo- moro, told The Associ- ated Press that rebel leader Riek Machar did not take part because he was not deemed helpful. The country plunged into ethnic violence in De- cember 2013, just two years after independence from Sudan, when forces loyal to Kiir, a Dinka, started battling those loyal to his former vice president, Machar, a Nuer. South Sudan is entering its fifth year of civil war, and no one knows how many tens of thousands of people have been killed in the world’s youngest nation.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2017 Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 2-19 January, 2018 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Are you affected by someone’s drinking? Is a family member or friend’s use of alcohol affecting your home, family life of happiness? Join at the Al-Anon Family Group, Where you will find support to talk and express yourself In a safe and anonymous environment. You can contact us at 928-8843 LOCAL FRESH Goat Meat for Sale for Christmas. Just arrived in Grand Cayman from Bluff Farms in Cayman Brac. Can be purchased from the main office at Cannon Place (Mirco Centre). Legs, T Bone Steaks, Rib Chops, Cubed Meat etc. Various prices from CI$8.00 per pound. To order please email blufffarms@gmail.com, call 926 0415 or attend Cannon Place to purchase. landscape. Some of the domes feature grass-covered roofs, making them blend in with the natural surroundings. According to Mrs. Lund, the resort will feature a spa, medical center, healing center and “wellness facilities,” in- cluding yoga and medita- tion. All the buildings, in- cluding 28 guest rooms, will be dome shaped. Mrs. Lund said this was not simply an aesthetic de- cision, telling the planning authority that the build- ings were designed to en- sure an energy flow that aided healing. After the meeting, she told the Cayman Compass that the project would be the first of its kind in the Carib- bean and would offer a re- treat-style environment for anyone seeking to unwind or heal in a spectacular nat- ural environment. She said it would be eco-themed with low en- ergy use and a focus on “in- tegrative medicine” and natural healing. Other amenities planned include a bookshop, fair trade coffee bar and an or- ganic food restaurant. Mrs. Lund said the site would also feature a bamboo forest buffer, shielding it from the sight and sound of passing motorists. She said it would bring a new type of tourist to the Cayman Islands. The unique style of the domes caused some concern among members of the plan- ning board, with questions raised over whether it was in keeping with “Cayman style.” In her written submission to the authority, Mrs. Lund said the design was based on “Vaastu” principles – an an- cient eastern concept of ar- chitecture that seeks to use building styles and shapes to promote well-being. “The structure of Vaastu domes vibrate in ‘harmonic resonance’ with the basic un- derlying cosmic energy struc- ture of the universe, and the elegant simplicity of a dome can restore health, re- duce stress and diminish pain,” she wrote in her sub- mission to the Central Plan- ning Authority. Architect Andrew Gibb said the building design was part of the function of the resort. He said the site layout was extremely low density compared with what was al- lowed at the location. He said the buildings would not be visible from the road and commented that Cayman’s increasingly inter- national society now sup- ported numerous different types of architecture rather than any one discernible “Cayman style.” The site has been derelict since the old Mariners Cove development was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Remnants of the old devel- opment, including two empty swimming pools and the foundations of some of the homes, are still clearly visible amid the Caribbean pine and Scaevola bushes that have grown in the past decade. Addressing concerns about the suitability of the site for development, Central Planning Authority chairman A. L. Thompson said there was nothing wrong with the location, citing “shoddy construction” as the cause of the demise of the pre- vious development. The unusual dome style is designed to create energy flow that promotes wellbeing, according to Ashleigh Lund. BAIL DENIED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES Quantities indicate ‘a lifetime collection,’ Crown says CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former UCCI lecturer had bail denied when he ap- peared in Summary Court on Thursday on charges that include possession of child pornography. Crown counsel Emma Hutchinson told Magis- trate Kirsty-Ann Gunn that Pierre Pavlov Ra- meau, 49, had “what seems to be a life- time collection.” Wording for some of the charges indicated that the photographs showed a child or children in erotic or indecent poses. Some charges relate to one pho- tograph, while others re- late to quantities. The magistrate noted that one charge specifies 1,082 in- decent photographs. All of the offenses indicate that the de- fendant possessed the photos on or before March 30 this year. Defense attorney Prathna Bodden applied for bail on the basis that the investigation had been going on since that date and her client could have left the island if he had wanted to. She said his girl- friend and her family were prepared to stand surety. Ms. Hutchinson ex- plained that the matter came to light after a fe- male student asked Mr. Rameau for assistance with class work. The court heard that he moved their email conversation to Snapchat and asked her to send him indecent photos of herself. At some point, the student complied be- cause she was worried about her grade, but then he asked for more and she said she could not. A complaint was sub- sequently filed with po- lice which led to a charge of using an Informa- tion and Communica- tion Technology network to annoy, abuse and ha- rass the female by re- questing her to send him indecent images. Subsequently, officers obtained a search war- rant for his premises. Ms. Hutchinson said they found what one investi- gating officer described as “quite a sophisticated set-up.” Some material was found in a locked safe. Officers found two laptop computers and several hard drives. There were seven terabytes of files and one terabyte can hold 100,000 images, she explained. Mr. Rameau was ini- tially on bail only for the alleged offense against the female, but possession of the images elevated the case against him, the prosecutor indicated. She accepted that he was of previous good character, but he possessed “what seems to be a lifetime col- lection,” she said. Ms. Hutchinson said all of the material had not yet been checked because the investigating officer had broken her wrist, but the Crown had decided to lay charges on what it had so far. The magistrate said that the charges them- selves provided quite a bit of information and even at this stage the num- bers of images involved were quite large and sev- eral hard drives were yet to be examined. She asked about Mr. Rameau’s status on is- land and Ms. Bodden said he had no legal status for remaining on island since he no longer had his job. He had been relying on family and friends. The magistrate agreed that the defendant had stayed on island while on police bail, “but every- thing changes once you are before the court.” She said anybody with this number of images was a risk to children and bail was not appropriate, she concluded. The matter was set for mention again on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Healing domes planned for hurricane-hit Mariners Cove CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police helicopter responds to drink-driving incident Police landed a helicopter on the beach in North Side to intercept a suspected drink driver after reports of a BMW being driven erratically on Rum Point Road. Emergency services re- ceived multiple calls about the vehicle before it was spotted by the flight crew on the side of the road. According to a statement from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service, the ground patrol was a “few minutes away” so a deci- sion was taken to land the helicopter and drop off one of its crew to respond. The driver of the vehicle was hostile to the police of- ficer and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and making threats to kill as well as drugs offenses, according to the police statement. The 39-year-old man, from George Town, had a blood-al- cohol content of .225 percent – more than twice the legal limit – according to police A second person was arrested the same eve- ning for a separate DUI of- fense with a blood-alcohol level of .248 percent. “The degree of intoxica- tion we are continuing to see by some who are de- ciding to get behind the wheel continues to alarm us,” said Acting Chief In- spector Everton Spence, with oversight for the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit. “What I would like to highlight and encourage in this incident, how- ever, is the fact that mem- bers of the public saw a person driving erratically and called 911. “Most people with such a high level of intoxica- tion behave in an obvious way, and it is up to all of us to intervene and prevent them from harming them- selves or others.” Concept drawings for the project show a series of dome-shaped buildings amid a heavily wooded landscape. Some of the domes feature grass-covered roofs, making them blend in with the natural surroundings.Next >