SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘Jumanji’ reboot of fers escapist fun This light-hearted film is the perfect remedy for the post-Christmas blues B4 Lifestyle Travel Movies ■ FOOD & DRINK Cayman Cookout 2018 The premier culinary event celebrates 10 years. B5 Resolutions: 10 ways to improve your life From quitting smoking to saving money, what are your goals this year? B3 Discovering the magic of Pico Bonito A weekend in the Honduran rainforest is just what the doctor ordered B6 STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July Registered Merchant of CaymanGiftCertificates.com Fine Wine and Spirits TORTUGA 15 stores island-wide and Mary Lou’s in Cayman Brac. For more information, please call 949-7701. 2 for $ 20 For the Month of January REGULAR $11.99 EACH. HARDY’S STAMP WINE FROM AUSTRALIA Put your best fork forward Embracing healthier eating habits in 2018 B2 Chef Bernard Guillas heats things up. CAYMAN WEEKENDER Cayman Cookout 2018 EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 DRIVE, DRAG OR TOW: DERELICT CARS HAVE GOT TO GO High of 78 Low of 70 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open waters. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY ALSO INCLUDING BIG KING ORIGINAL CHICKEN SANDWICH BIG FISH SANDWICHEXTRA LONG CHEESEBURGER Soccer’s Altidore stars in local fundraiser MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Soccer star Jozy Altidore hopes to provide Caribbean hur- ricane recovery assistance and support for local soccer pro- grams with a fundraising event in Cayman this weekend that includes clinic sessions with young players. Mr. Altidore, named this year’s Major League Soccer Cup MVP in the United States and Canada, plays for the champion- ship-winning Toronto FC team. On Saturday, he will work with some of Cayman’s elite age- group players before holding an open clinic for all club players that want to attend. At 7:30 p.m., he will host a fundraising dinner at Luca. His nonprofit organization, the Jozy Altidore Foundation, is working in co- operation with 7 Mile Society on the events. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce my foundation to the people of the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Alti- dore said in a statement. “Hope- fully, this creates a lasting, successful partnership with the nation’s tourism board and those invested in charity and the ‘beautiful game.’” Krissy Kirkconnell with 7 Mile Society said a percentage of the funds raised will go to the Academy Sports Club soccer program. The rest will go to Mr. Altidore’s foundation and be targeted for hurricane re- covery projects. Ms. Kirkconnell said the newly formed 7 Mile Society is Thousands of cruise ship passengers diverted to Spotts JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Rough seas in and around George Town harbor have forced cruise ships with thou- sands of passengers to drop anchor in the calmer waters of the southern coast of Cayman over the past two days. Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox and Carnival Dream slipped into Spotts cruise terminal early Thursday morning, letting off a total of 9,348 cruise ship passengers. An- other ship, MSC Opera, bypassed the island. On Wednesday, the Norwegian Epic, ferrying 4,100 passengers, stopped at the Spotts terminal, while the Disney Fantasy missed its call. The thousands of passengers and the many tour buses transporting them from the dock slowed early morning com- muters as they made their way to George Town Thursday. Police officers were on duty at Spotts to keep an eye on proceedings and to safely di- rect the passengers across the busy, two- lane highway. The diversion of the ships from George Town to Spotts comes as Cayman experi- ences a cold front that is expected to last through the weekend. Allan Ebanks, a fore- caster for the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, said waves reaching four PROSECUTORS APPEAL ‘LENIENT’ SENTENCE IN POLICE OFFICER ASSAULT JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Crown prosecutors are appealing the sus- pended sentence handed down to a man convicted of assaulting a senior police of- ficer who required hospital treatment fol- lowing the attack. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran confirmed this week that the department has applied for leave to appeal the non-custodial sentence given to Seth Watler, 25, on the grounds that it was “too lenient.” Mr. Watler was given 100 hours of com- munity service and a 10-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. Detective Superintendent Peter Lans- down sustained multiple injuries and was knocked unconscious when he hit the pave- ment after being punched by Mr. Watler in Oc- tober last year. Mr. Lansdown, who heads special opera- tions, including the criminal investigation de- partment and the drugs and serious crime units, had stopped at the scene of the single- vehicle accident on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. He was assaulted by Mr. Watler at the scene of the accident, leaving him with a fractured rib, bruised cheeks and a cut to his head. He spent three days in hospital being treated for his injuries. Mr. Watler pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced in December. Justice Marlene Carter cited the fact that this was his first offense as a factor in her sen- tence. She told the defendant that his actions amounted to a “single, unguarded moment,” and warned him that he could have faced a stricter sentence under other circumstances. Jozy Altidore, star player for Toronto FC, will host soccer clinics and a fundraiser in Cayman on Saturday. - PHOTO: COURTESY OF TORONTO FC PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » More than 9,000 cruise ship passengers disembarked at Spotts Dock on Thursday morning as three cruise ships were diverted from George Town due to rough seas. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Casual indoor & outdoor dining with a local flair. Family friendly & affordable. 94-PASTA [ 947.2782 ] • Marquee Plaza Enjoy Dinner Tonight at Try One of Our Signature Dishes Banana Wrap Snapper 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 2017 wettest year in seven years The Cayman Islands Na- tional Weather Service re- ports that 2017 was the wettest year on the is- lands since 2010. In a roundup of the year’s weather, the National Weather Service noted that 59.32 inches of rain fell last year. This is 3.12 inches above the 30-year average rainfall of 56.2 inches. October proved to be the wettest month of the year, when Cayman experienced 15.4 inches of rain, which was 6.75 inches above the 30- year average for the month, and the wettest October for eight years. Below is a month-by- month summary of the weather systems experi- enced in the Cayman Islands, as provided by the National Weather Service. January Weather charts indi- cate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on Jan. 8. The system produced minimal amounts of rainfall but supported fresh north-to- northeast winds and rough seas, especially along the north and west coasts on Jan. 8 and 9. The port was closed on Jan. 8 and 9 due to rough seas. The rough seas lasted from Jan. 9-15, for which the National Weather Service is- sued a marine warning. A cold front moved across the Cayman area on Jan. 23, producing minimal rainfall accumulation but supporting fresh north-to-northeast winds and rough seas, es- pecially along the north and west coasts. The port was closed again on Jan. 23 due to rough seas. The total rainfall for the month was 0.9 of an inch – 1.14 inches below the normal 2.04 inches of the 30-year av- erage for January. February A high pressure system built over Florida and pro- duced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area during Feb. 10-12, leading the National Weather Service to issue marine warnings. Records show accumu- lated rainfall of 1.03 inches, which was 0.47 of an inch below the normal 1.5 inches of the 30-year average for the month. March A high-pressure system built over the Atlantic Ocean and produced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 9-14, during which the Na- tional Weather Service issued marine warnings. A high pressure system then built over the Southeast USA and produced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas across Cayman from March 16-19. A total of 1 inch of rain fell during the month, 0.32 of an inch below the normal 1.32 inches of the 30-year March average. April A cold front moved across the Cayman area on April 8. The associated high pressure system produced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas across Cayman from April 10-15. Marine warnings were issued. A surface trough sup- ported by an upper level trough produced an exten- sive area of cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area from April 19-21, during which 4.83 inches of rain was measured at Owen Roberts International Airport. The total accumulation of rainfall for the month was 5.72 inches, or 4.45 inches above the normal 30-year av- erage of 1.27 inches for April. May The National Weather Ser- vice reports that there were no significant weather sys- tems impacting the Cayman Islands during the month. A total of 1.37 inches of rain was recorded for the month – 4.59 inches below the long- term average of 5.96 inches. June A high pressure system over Florida produced mod- erate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman Islands. Marine warnings for the system were issued June 5-7. Weather charts indi- cate that a broad area of low pressure interacted with an upper level trough to produce an area of cloudiness and showers, as well as moderate to fresh winds and rough seas over the northwest Caribbean. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service recorded an accumulation of 4.03 inches of rain at Owen Roberts In- ternational Airport from June 15-17. Marine warnings were also issued for the period. A tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on July 23. The total measured rain- fall for the month was 6.28 inches, 0.08 of an inch above the 30-year average for June of 6.2 inches. July An upper level trough pro- duced cloudiness and showers across Cayman on July 8. Weather charts indi- cate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on July 14. The measured accumula- tion of rain was 3.45 inches for the month, or 2.33 inches below the 30 year average for July of 5.78 inches. August A tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on Aug. 6, supporting cloudiness and showers. The system de- veloped into Tropical Storm Franklin on Aug. 7 and sup- ported fresh winds and rough seas from Aug. 5-7, for which the Cayman Islands National Weather Service is- sued a marine warning. A tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on Aug. 18, bringing cloudiness and showers. Rainfall at the airport was recorded at 0.95 inches on Aug. 19. A remnant low pressure system that was formerly Tropical Storm Harvey passed south of Cayman on Aug. 20. The system redeveloped into Tropical Storm Harvey in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 23. The system supported fresh winds and rough seas from Aug. 20-21 over Cayman and a ma- rine warning was issued. The total accumulated rainfall for the month was 4.46 inches, 1.44 inches below the 30-year average for August of 5.9 inches. September A tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on Sept. 2, supporting cloudi- ness and showers. Another tropical wave moved across Cayman on Sept. 5. Hurricane Irma moved west across northern Cuba and north of the Cayman Islands on Sept. 9-11. The system supported strong southwest winds and rough seas across the Cayman area, resulting in the National Weather Service issuing ma- rine warnings for the pe- riod. Rainfall associated with the system was min- imal in Grand Cayman but 1.96 inches of rainfall was recorded in Cayman Brac on Sept. 8 and 0.91 of an inch on Sept. 9 and the National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the Brac. An upper level trough supported cloudiness and showers, and accumulated rainfall of 4.67 inches was re- corded at Owen Roberts In- ternational Airport on Sept. 25-28, and 0.52 of an inch measured on Sept. 30. Total rainfall for the month was measured at 8.9 inches for the month, 0.16 of an inch higher than the 30- year average for September of 8.74 inches. October A strong tropical wave ap- proached Cayman on Oct. 3. The system strengthened to tropical depression No. 16, 490 miles south of Grand Cayman on Oct. 4 and to Trop- ical Storm Nate 377 miles southwest of Grand Cayman on Oct. 5. There were no Trop- ical Storm Watches or Warn- ings issued for the system, but the Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued se- vere weather statements and warnings for Oct. 4-5. Rainfall of 4.76 inches was measured at the airport from Oct. 3-5. Weather charts indicate that a cold front and associ- ated pre-frontal trough moved across the Cayman area on Oct. 25. Grand Cayman ex- perienced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas along with cloudy, rainy weather and 2.92 inches of rain at Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport on Oct. 25. Cloudiness and showers from that front lingered over Cayman for the next three to four days and a potential tropical cyclone formed 238 miles southwest of Grand Cayman on Oct. 27. The system moved north and was upgraded to Tropical Depres- sion No. 18 when it passed 186 miles northwest of Grand Cayman at 1 p.m. on Oct. 28. No tropical storm watches or warnings were issued for the system, however, the Na- tional Weather Service issued severe weather statements and warnings for Oct. 27-28, and measured 5.33 inches of rain during that period at the airport. The total measured accu- mulation of 15.4 inches for the month was 6.75 inches above the 30-year average for October of 8.65 inches. This was the wettest October in the past eight years. November A broad area of low pressure moved across the Cayman area on Nov. 13. Grand Cayman experienced moderate to fresh northeast winds and rough seas along with cloudy rainy weather. A surface trough moved across Cayman on Nov. 21- 22, bringing cloudiness and showers. Weather charts indi- cate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on Nov. 26. The system produced cloudiness and showers. During the month, a total of 7.42 inches of rain fell, 1.37 inches above the 30- year average for November of 6.05 inches. December A high pressure system built over the southeast USA on Dec. 2. This system pro- duced fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from Dec. 2-4, for which the National Weather Service issued ma- rine advisories. A cold front moved across the Cayman area on Dec. 9. The system produced cloud- iness and showers. The system also produced strong northerly winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from Dec. 9-11, during which marine warnings were is- sued. Rough seas associated with this system impacted the west coast into the George Town harbor, causing a closing of the harbor and diverting of cruise ships to the south coast port. High pressure systems built over the Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 16-19 and on Dec. 22- 23, bringing fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area. The total measured rain- fall for the month was 2.36 inches, or 0.43 of an inch below the 30-year average for December of 2.79 inches. A woman wades through the flooded car park outside the Humane Society in Oct. 27 last year. That month was the wettest October recorded in the Cayman Islands for eight years.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 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. Few sights broadcast “third-world squalor” more than abandoned cars littering roadways, parking lots and vacant lots. As the Compass reported on Thursday, derelict vehicles are a growing unsightly blight on the landscape of our beauteous isle. In the height of tourist season, visions of broken- down or abandoned vehicles are hardly postcard- perfect. The images of immobile automobiles are more aligned with hurricane relief missions than luxury vacations. The problem is not just one of perception. In many cases, these vehicles can present clear safety hazards, as they are being left for days or weeks alongside (or even on) some of the busiest stretches of asphalt in Cayman, including the Esterley Tibbetts Highway and West Bay Road. Perhaps the most obvious current example is the Hyundai van that had taken up residence on the shoulder of the Esterley Tibbetts, practically in the lane of traffic, forcing hundreds of cars to swerve to avoid collision every day. And, closer to home, consider the Honda sedan that was involved in an accident near the Compass Centre weeks ago, and since that time has been left to languish in an adjacent undeveloped lot. During its tenure as “neighbor” to this newspaper, the clunker had its windshield smashed and its wheels stripped – thanks to hooligans no doubt related to hyenas picking over the carcass of a giraffe on a Serengeti plain. Call it the power of the press, or whatever, but we are pleased to report that both of the vehicles men- tioned above have now been removed. Frankly, we do not know (and don’t much care) where they went or who removed them, but the underlying issue of aban- doned vehicles still remains, and we do care about that. The problem has come up publicly in the past, but this latest iteration has been accumulating since last fall, when the Department of Environmental Health began curtailing – and eventually stopping altogether – the acceptance of cars and scrap metal at the George Town landfill. (Their advice: Don’t leave abandoned cars on public property or private property. We assume that leaves outer space as our only other option.) Months later, officials still could not articulate a solution to the issue. Instead of a plan, they formed a “circular firing squad,” attempting to spread the blame around the environmental health department, National Roads Authority and Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, each of which possesses the legal authority to have derelict vehicles removed. What is needed is for someone to step up, take responsibility, seize the moment, and become a bit of a local hero with a reputation for being able to actually get something done. Our candidate might be Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour. We spoke to him Wednesday, he seemed to have a good grasp of the issue, and appeared ready for “action mode.” The magnitude of the problem is considerable: Before the landfill “filled up,” the number of derelict vehicles deposited at the dump skyrocketed by an astonishing 1,200 percent – from 71 vehicles (in 2014) to 832 (in 2016). The collection and disposal of automobiles must be accounted for in long-term waste management plans (whether they are to be executed by the government or the Dart Group, which has been chosen to build and operate the country’s new waste management facility). But in the short term, the solution might be much simpler, requiring only two ingredients: a tow truck and a parking lot. The government owns several plots of flat land that might well serve as suitable cemeteries for these once proud, but now expired, mechanical beasts. Drive, drag or tow: Derelict cars have got to go FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Hopes and fears for policy in 2018 Happy New Year! Let’s speculate about potential vic- tories and defeats in 2018. Here are two things I hope will happen this year. Welfare reform – If my friends and contacts on Cap- itol Hill are feeding me accu- rate information, we may see a bigger and better version of the 1996 welfare reform in 2018. The core concept would be to abolish the dozens of means-tested programs (i.e., redistribution programs tar- geted at low-income people) in Washington and replace them with a “block grant.” This could be good news for federal taxpayers if the an- nual block grant is designed to grow slowly. And it could be good news for poor people since state government would then have the ability and flex- ibility to design policies that help liberate recipients from government dependency. Collapse of Venezuela – Given the disastrous dete- rioration of the Venezuelan economy, it’s difficult to en- vision how the Maduro dic- tatorship can survive the year. Yes, I know the regime is willing to use the military to suppress any uprising, but I suspect hungry and des- perate people are more likely to take chances. My fingers are crossed that the corrupt government is overthrown and Venezuela becomes another Chile (hopefully without a transition period of military rule). Here are two things I fear may happen in 2018. Pulling out of NAFTA – America dodged a bullet in 2017. Given Trump’s pro- tectionist instincts, I wor- ried he would do something very dangerous on trade. But pain deferred is not the same thing as pain avoided. The President has made some very worrisome noises about NAFTA and it’s possible he may use executive authority to scrap a deal that has been good for the United States. A bad version of Brexit – Given the statist mindset in Brussels and the conti- nent’s awful demographics, voting to leave the European Union was the right decision for our British friends. Simply stated, it makes no sense to stay on a sinking ship, even if it sinking slowly. But the net benefits of Brexit depend on whether the United Kingdom seizes the moment and adopts pro-growth policies such as tax cuts and free-trade pacts. Sadly, those good reforms do not appear likely and it ap- pears instead that the feckless Tory leadership will choose to become a satellite member of the EU, which means living under the thumb of Brus- sels and paying for harmo- nization, bureaucratization, and centralization. The worst possible outcome in the short run, though at least the U.K. is better positioned to fully ex- tricate itself in the future. I’m adding a new fea- ture to my hopes-and-fears column this year. These are issues where I think it’s likely that something consequen- tial may occur, but I cannot figure out whether I should be optimistic or pessimistic. I sort of did this last year, listing Obamacare reform and Italian fiscal crisis as both hopes and fears. It turns out I was right to be afraid about what would happen with Obamacare and I was wrong (or too early) to think something would happen with Italy. Here are three things that could be consequen- tial in 2018, but I cannot figure out whether to be hopeful or fearful. Infrastructure reform or boondoggle – I put an “infra- structure boondoggle” as one of my fears last year, but the President and Congress post- poned dealing with the issue. But it will be addressed this year. I’m still afraid the result may be a traditional pile of pork-barrel spending, but it’s also possible that legislation could be a vehicle for market- based reform. Normalization of mone- tary policy – I try to stay clear of monetary policy, but I also recognize that it’s a very im- portant issue. Indeed, if I was to pick the greatest risk to the economy, it’s that easy-money policies (such as artificially low interest rates) have cre- ated a bubble. And bursting bubbles can be very messy, as we learned (or should have learned) in 2008. The Federal Reserve supposedly is in the process of “normalizing” mon- etary policy. I very much hope they can move in the right di- rection without rattling mar- kets and/or bursting bubbles. A China bubble – Speaking of macroeconomic risks, I’m very glad that China has partially liberal- ized and I’m ecstatic that re- form has dramatically re- duced severe poverty, but I also worry that the govern- ment plays far too large a role in the banking sector and interferes far too much in the allocation of capital. I’m guessing this eventu- ally leads to some sort of hiccup (or worse) for the Chi- nese economy, and all I can do is cross my fingers and hope that the government re- sponds with additional liber- alization rather than the bad policies being advocated by the OECD and IMF. Daniel J. Mitchell, chairman of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, is on the Editorial Board of the Cayman Financial Review. DANIEL J. MITCHELL DANIEL J. MITCHELL 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 • FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 50 YEARS AGO: Queen’s Badge for three; New Year’s Eve parties In the Jan. 4, 1968 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, the fol- lowing brief story appeared on the front page: “In the name of Her Maj- esty the Queen, His Honour the Administrator has been pleased to confer the award of The Queen’s Badge and Certificate of Honour on Waide Taylor Foster, J.P., Joyce Sybil Hylton, and Ira Loradine Thompson. “We heartily con- gratulate these recipi- ents who all well deserve the acknowledgement of their service which this award represents.” The edition also in- cluded a front page article titled “New Year’s roundup,” which detailed the parties and events that occurred over the new year holiday. “At the hotels and night- clubs, residents and visi- tors combined to eat good food, enjoy and dance to gay music, and generally to greet 1968 in jolly mood with laughter and gaiety. “Galleon Beach Hotel’s ‘International Night’ with its wide variety of gourmet dishes set the merry pace with which their many pa- trons greeted the New Year. The hotel was overcrowded with happy-go-lucky revel- lers and the dance really ‘swung.’ There was never a dull moment. “The Tornadoes played lively music and for most of the night, tables and chairs were continually left empty as the dance floor became crowded. “La Fontaine’s guests joined in ‘Should Auld Ac- quaintance be Forgot’ to the strains of Lord Tiger, the resident entertainer, on his guitar, and Edgar Merren entertained with a demon- stration of the Limbo. “At Coral Caymanian Hotel, there was a private party arranged by Paul Harris and Geoffrey Ken- nedy, where the New Year was greeted in a jovial manner and the birthday of Peter Ball was celebrated. “The Caribbean Club had a happy celebration for the guests in the villas and those who had made dinner reservations. After a cocktail party from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., a buffet dinner was served and as midnight struck, there was the usual New Year fanfare with noisemakers, singing and general conviviality. “Visitors to Club Inferno had a riotous time, with dancing to the Kiemanaires, whistles, favours and all the trappings associated with this occasion. How- ever, what will be especially remembered by all who at- tended was the marvellous spectacle when, at mid- night, petroleum oil which had been poured over the cliff known as ‘Hell’ was set alight and there was a mighty conflagration, which was very impressive and quite exciting to see.” Record-breaking season for hotels JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Grand Cayman’s major hotels celebrated a record- breaking festive season with rooms booked up throughout the holidays, and restaurants cashing in on a bumper De- cember for tourism. Official arrival figures for the month have not been released yet, but sev- eral major hotels have re- ported significant increases on previous years. “It was a very busy hol- iday season for us and we are still at 99 percent oc- cupancy today,” said Marc Langevin, general man- ager of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Thursday. “This will be our bus- iest December so far. It is looking like a record at this point,” he added. Mr. Langevin said the success of the hotel had fil- tered through the commu- nity with the concierge desk at The Ritz-Carlton making an unprecedented number of bookings for its guests at island restaurants. He said he had been pleased with how the air- port, which is undergoing substantial renovations, had handled the influx of passengers during the holiday season. “We had been very con- cerned about how they would handle the volume of passengers coming through the airport because the work is not finished. I want to commend them be- cause we actually did not see any issues.” He said things were looking very good for 2018, with the Cayman Cookout around the corner and bookings already up for the first part of the year. At the Kimpton Seafire Resort, it was a similar story over the holidays. “We did sell out for sev- eral days over this fes- tive season,” said manager Steven Andre. “At this time last year, we had only been open six week so the hotel was not running at peak occu- pancy. It certainly gave us a taste of what to expect for this year but certainly not the same as having a full hotel, with families in so many of the rooms. “Having 700 people at the resort certainly put all of our resources to the test but I couldn’t be prouder of how our team responded.” At the other end of Seven Mile Beach, the Comfort Suites was full throughout the holidays. Manager Tom Mason said the impact of storms on room availability in other parts of the Ca- ribbean had contributed to high demand. “The Comfort Suites enjoyed its best ever fes- tive season on record, with our usual 100 percent oc- cupancy levels enhanced by higher rates, that were generated by increased de- mand,” Mr. Mason said. “Overall, we are an ex- tremely happy hotel, with both our performance and our guest satisfac- tion levels, not only over the festive season but for the whole of 2017 and for a projected record first quarter to start 2018.” BUSINESS LICENSE DISCOUNTS EXTENDED The Cayman Islands govern- ment has once again extended the discounted licensing fees for micro and small businesses that were first implemented in 2015. Since that time, micro busi- nesses – those with four or fewer employees and gross revenues of less than $250,000 – have been able to get their business licenses free. Cabinet has ex- tended that same fee structure to Dec. 31, 2019. Small businesses are defined as those with no more than 12 employees and with gross rev- enue of $750,000 or less. Those businesses will have their li- censing fees discounted either 50 percent or 75 percent depending upon location. The discounting schedule for small businesses is as follows: ■■ George Town: 50 percent ■■ West Bay: 50 percent ■■ East End: 75 percent ■■ North Side: 75 percent ■■ Bodden Town: 75 percent ■■ Little Cayman: 50 percent ■■ Cayman Brac: 50 percent Cayman Airways waives change fees for winter storm Cayman Airways an- nounced Thursday that it is waiving change fees for pas- sengers on flights to New York due to the severe winter conditions impacting the northeastern United States. The waiver will apply to passengers who purchased tickets for travel between New York and Grand Cayman on or before Jan. 3 and for flights occurring on Jan. 4 or 5. New York’s John F. Ken- nedy Airport and La Guardia Airport were both tempo- rarily closed Thursday as heavy snowfall and harsh winds struck the city in what the U.S. media is terming a “bomb cyclone.” The new travel dates for Cayman Airways passen- gers traveling between New York and the Cayman Islands must occur between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12, and the new ar- rangements must involve the same cabin and be between the same two cities, the air- line stated in a press release. Changes are subject to avail- ability, and tickets will be voided if passengers are un- able to make it to the airport. Customers can call Cayman Airways Reservations on 345-949-2311 or 1-800-422- 9626 (toll free within the USA) if they are confused about how the changes apply to their existing reservations. See more on the weather situation in the U.S. on page 8.Pedestrians walk through wind and snow in New York, Thursday, as a so-called ‘bomb cyclone’ struck the Eastern Seaboard. - PHOTO: AP The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, as well as several other Seven Mile Beach hotels, reported full occupancy during the Christmas season.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS ADVERTORIAL The National Drug Council (NDC) would like to extend a special thank you to its sponsors, RCIPS and other partnering agencies, the media, residents and visitors of the Cayman Islands for a successful 2017 Designated Driver (DD) and Purple Ribbon Bus (PRB) campaign. This year marks seventeen (17) years since the inception of the campaign and we are pleased to announce that we had an increase in the number of overall participating bars, restaurants and clubs, were able to provide the public with maps outlining the bus routes as well as for the rst time, provided an extension of this service in Cayman Brac. We are delighted with increased level of support garnered this year and the tremendous partnerships with our generous sponsors, in order to be able o er the Designated Driver programme which ran from 1st December to 31st December and the Purple Ribbon Bus service for New Year’s Eve, 31st December 2017. The NDC would like to recognize the following sponsors and partners for their generous contributions to the programme: Dart, Jacques Scott Group Ltd, Cayman National Bank, Maples FS, Cayman First Insurance, Greenlight RE, EcayOnline , Mourant Ozannes, Optimal Build Construction, Foster’s Food Fair – IGA, Radio Cayman, B.A.A.M., Pat’s Restaurant and Bar, Brac Power and Light, Star Island Restaurant, Hon. Mr. Moses Kirkconnell, Billy’s Supermarket and in partnership with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). ADVERTORIAL This has been a momentous year for the campaign and we extend our gratitude and thanks to all the participating establishments for their contribution to the safety and welfare of our communities and for doing their part to reduce drunk driving during this holiday season. The list of participating establishments includes: To learn more about the National Drug Council, its initiatives and mandates visit our website at www.ndc.ky. ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL Abacus Agua Restaurant & Lounge Aliance Native Fish House Anchor and Den Archies Bar The Attic Banana’s Restaurant Bandido’s Barracudas Bar Blue Cilantro Blue Marlin The Brasserie Brooklyn Boggy Sand Café Bombay Chopsticks Calico Jack’s Calypso Grill at Morgan’s Harbour Captain’s Table Casanova by the sea Catch Restaurant & Lounge Caymanite Bar Cimboco – A Caribbean Café Club Havana Lounge Cobalt Coast Resort Coconut Joe’s The Commodore Country & Western Restaurant Cracked Conch Craft Food & Beverage Co. Crew Sports Bar Da Fish Shack Decker’s Grille and Lounge Denzel’s Bar Duke’s Seafood & Rib Shack Dump Bar Eastern Star Bar Eats Café Edoardo’s Energy Bar Everglo Bar Fidel Murphy’s Gino’s Pizzeria Grand Old House Guy Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar Hard Rock Café The Italian Kitchen The Jungle Kaibo Karoo Kingshead Pub Legendz Bar & Grille Liberty’s Restaurant The Lighthouse Lincoln’s Bar Lobster Pot Lone Star Bar and Grill Luca Macabuca Bar & Grill MacDonald’s Restaurant Mango Tree Restaurant & Lounge Margaritaville Meringue Town Bar Mizu Asian Bistro Morgan’s Seafood Restaurant Morritts Tortuga Over the Edge Cafe Pani Pappagallo Ristorante Paradise PD’s Pub & Restaurant Peppers Bar and Grill Pirates Cove Bar Rackam’s Waterfront Bar & Grill Ragazzi Ristorante Prima at Royal Palms The Royal Palms Roof Top Bar Rum Point Club Salty’s Sea Inn Shooter Lane Sharkee’s Sing’s Roti Shop South Coast Bar & Grill Station Bar Sunshine Grill Tukka Restaurant Ultra Lounge Vic’s Bar Vivo Café & Restaurant The Waterfront Urban Diner The Wharf Restaurant Welly’s Cool Spot West Indies Wine Company Wyndam Reef Resort XQs Yoshi SushiThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2017 This commemorative publication will celebrate the design and construction achievements in the Cayman Islands showcasing the recipients of The Governor’s Award for Design and Construction Excellence. The presentation will highlight the winners of the award and focus on the architects, suppliers and construction teams involved on the most outstanding projects from 2015-2017. To advertise in this publication please contact your sales representative 949-5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2017 SPECIAL PUBLICATION Publication: January 25, 2018 This publication contains a 4-page gloss cover and center spread. AD SP ACE DEADLINE: W ednesda y, January 10, 2018The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman Maritime, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, seeks bright, dynamic Caymanians who wish to pursue a successful career in the maritime industry. If this is you and you’re ready to enroll in a programme of study - please consider applying for our annual maritime scholarship. Additional requirements and all application forms can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs website www.eductation.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mehhome/education/scholarships For more information, please email human.resources@cishipping.com or call (345) 949-8831. Application deadline: 31 January of each year Consideration will be given to undergraduate, postgraduate or professional qualifications in the following disciplines: • Marine engineering • Marine surveying • Maritime administration • Nautical studies • Naval architecture Specialist areas that support the industry will also be considered, including maritime legal services, human resource management, accounting and IT. Applicants must: • Be Caymanian or hold Caymanian Status • Provide proof of residency in the Cayman Islands for 5 years prior to application • Be 18 or older (at Education Council’s discretion) • Provide proof of acceptance at a competitively ranked college or institution • Have a genuine interest in the maritime industry • Possess good interpersonal and communication skills, work ethic and character Visit us at facebook.com/caymanislandsshippingregistry Looking for an exciting career in a leading industry? Set sail with the Annual Maritime Scholarship! www.cishipping.com Cayman Orthopaedic Group DR. FRANK SMITH, MB, ChB., FRCSC Orthopaedic Surgeon & Reconstructive Surgery will be at #1 Smith Road Plaza Monday, 8th January, 2018 to Friday, 12th January, 2018 Please call 945-8380 for appointments Mr. Moran confirmed the DPP’s appeal in an email to the Compass this week. He wrote, “I can confirm that on Dec. 18, 2017, a no- tice of application was filed at the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on behalf of the Crown. The application is for leave to refer the sentence passed on Mr. Walter in the Grand Court to be reviewed by the Court of Appeal, on the basis that it was unduly lenient, under section 30 of the Court of Appeal Law (2011 Revision).” to six feet in height have hit three of Grand Cay- man’s four coasts. “We have a direct north wind, so the north, east and west coasts will be mostly affected,” said Mr. Ebanks on Thursday. “On the south side, there’s little to no wave height … at all.” The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory for operating in open waters. The west coast of Grand Cayman, in particular, may expe- rience some swells. The windy conditions are ex- pected to intensify later this weekend. “Tradewinds are nor- mally out of the east at about 10-15 knots, so we get waves of about three to five feet,” Mr. Ebanks said. “On an occasion like this, we’ve got northerly winds at about 15-20 knots behind these cold fronts, so we get wave heights of about four to six feet. On Saturday and Sunday, we could be looking at 20-25 knot winds, so at that point in time, we’re ex- pecting wave heights of five to seven feet.” Prosecutors appeal ‘lenient’ sentence in police officer assault CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Thousands of cruise ship passengers diverted to Spotts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We have a direct north wind, so the north, east and west coasts will be mostly affected. On the south side, there’s little to no wave height at all.” ALLAN EBANKS, National Weather Service Cruise ship tourists browse a stall at Spotts Dock Thursday morning. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY No need to duck and cover – the ‘bomb cyclone’ explained A “bomb cyclone” is coming – at least that’s what the forecasts say. You may have heard it referred to as a “weather bomb” or an “ex- plosive storm,” but there’s no need to duck and cover. These names are actually rooted in the science of winter storms. Though it seems as if me- teorologists are using hyper- bole to draw in more viewers, for a storm to be classified as a “bomb,” it actually has to meet a stringent set of cri- teria. “Explosive bombogen- esis” occurs most often in the winter, and it’s almost always referring to a storm that tracks up the East Coast. Nor’easters tend to be bombs. A cyclone’s strength de- pends on its air pressure. The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm. Air pres- sure is the weight of the atmosphere. In a storm, air is rising, so the pres- sure is lower. Typical surface air pres- sure tends toward 1010 milli- bars. That is how we measure how much air is sitting over us. Most of the big storm systems that sweep rain and snow across the United States clock in around 995 or 990. But for a storm to rank a “bomb,” it must rapidly inten- sify – it has to drop at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. The storm expected to ride up the East Coast and strike New England looks as if it will be a classic bomb cyclone, with the ex- pectation of a 50-millibar drop in about 24 hours. When a storm strengthens this quickly, it’s a signal of how much air is being drawn into the storm’s circulation. It then spirals inward toward the center, rises, and then exits through the top. If more air is leaving the storm than is sucked inward, the pres- sure falls even more and the system will continue to grow. It’s not rare, but bom- bogenesis is still a sight to behold from a meteorolog- ical perspective. It is most common in nor’easters, the fierce gales that spin up off the East Coast in the late fall and winter. They feed off the temperature contrast be- tween the cold land and ad- jacent Atlantic waters still holding on to heat left over from the summertime. As the bomb storms strengthen – a process called “bombogenesis,” many of these storms are accompa- nied by very heavy rain or snow, coastal flooding, and hurricane-force wind gusts. One over-achieving low- pressure system in March 2014 dropped more than 40 millibars in 24 hours, easily earning the title of “bomb.” While most of the snow stayed offshore, the large circulation surrounding the system racked Cape Cod and Nantucket with 80- mph wind gusts. Even more astonishing was the legendary Dec. 9, 2005, “Snowicane.” This quick- hitting but furious system hit Connecticut, Rhode Is- land and Massachusetts with an epic assortment of wild weather. Winds gusted to over 100 mph on outer Cape Cod while waterspouts danced off the waters nearby. Farther west, over a foot of snow fell, accompanied by whiteout conditions and thundersnow. Lightning even struck a plane as it landed at Boston Logan Interna- tional Airport. © 2018 Washington Post A dock hand works to break up ice at the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday. – PHOTO: MATT MCCLAIN/WASHINGTON POSTThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018 Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Margarita Nieva Martinez affectionately known as “Rita Nell” of West Bay who passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 3:00p.m. at the South Sound United Church, 53, South Sound Road, George Town. Viewing will be from 2:30-3:00p.m. Interment follows at South Sound Community Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Sereco Tracey Patterson of West Bay, who passed away peacefully after a short illness on Thursday, December 7, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church, off Walker’s Road, George Town. Viewing will be from 12:00-12:45p.m. Interment follows at Boatswain Bay Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Levis Jorge Hilton affectionately known as “Uncle Louis” of East End and Jamaica, who passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 3:00p.m. at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, John McLean Drive, East End. Viewing will be from 2:00–2:45p.m. Interment follows at East End Cemetery. We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Levis Jorge Hilton affectionately known as “Uncle Louis” of East End and Jamaica, who passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 3:00p.m. at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, John McLean Drive, East End. Viewing will be from 2:00–2:45p.m. Interment follows at East End Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. James Timothy Ebanks affectionately known as “Timmy” of West Bay who passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017. A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 3:00p.m. at the Boatswain Bay Cemetery, King Road, West Bay. Viewing will be from 2:30-3:00 p.m. .. Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com The family of Elida Ebanks regrets to announce her death on Sunday, 24 December , 2017. A funeral service will take place on Saturday January 6, 2018 at the Church of Christ, Batabano Road, at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow in West Bay Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. The family of Ella Aletha Powery regrets to announce her death on Monday, 18 December , 2017. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church, at 2:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00 p.m. Prior to the service Interment will follow in Boatswain Bay Cemetery . Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT The Family of the late Maizie Calmareata Thompson regret to announce her passing on Wednesday December 27th. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. focused on bringing arts and entertainment to the Cayman Islands. While the organization is a for- profit entity, she said she is happy to be starting with a charitable fundraiser. “Our mission is to bring world-class art, en- tertainment and cultural events,” Ms. Kirkconnell said. “We thought it was great to start with a mean- ingful event.” From 8-9:30 a.m. on Sat- urday, Mr. Altidore will work with the Academy under-15/under-17 teams and the under-17 national team. A tournament with mini teams from local club players is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The events will be held at Academy Sports Club Field on Outpost Road in George Town. Organizers expect more than 300 children to participate. The evening gala will in- clude a buffet dinner, a DJ and dancing, and a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, tickets for Mr. Altidore’s personal box seats at a Toronto FC game, and a round of golf with Mr. Altidore. Tickets for the evening affair are $125 for general tickets and $187 for tickets at the VIP table. They are available at EventBrite or by emailing 7milesociety@ gmail.com. There is no processing fee if ordered through 7 Mile Society. Health officials release flu statistics The Public Health Depart- ment released updated sta- tistics on Thursday about the number of influenza cases that have been reported re- cently, showing a marked increase in flu activity throughout Cayman. During November, there were an average of 137 cases per week. The next month, the average increased to 172 cases per week, as of Dec. 23. The Public Health Depart- ment usually records about 95-115 cases of influenza per week, according to depart- ment director Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez. “As we are in the midst of the flu season, we expect to see a further increase in activity as the season peaks,” he said. Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said people can protect them- selves from the flu by getting vaccinated. Vaccinations are being offered for free at clinics around the island. People can get their free flu shot at the General Prac- tice Clinic at the Cayman Is- lands Hospital and all dis- trict health centers from 2-4 p.m. Monday to Friday; at Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac; and the Little Cayman Clinic. Cayman Brac residents should call 948-2243 to ar- range a vaccination, and Little Cayman residents should call 948-0072. The Public Health De- partment is also offering to administer onsite work- place vaccinations for com- panies where 20 or more employees wish to have the shot. Companies interested in the program should con- tact the Public Health De- partment at 244-2621 or 244-2889, or email publi- chealthdepartment@hsa.ky. Extended trash pickups scheduled MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Department of Environ- mental Health officials say they are ramping up trash pickups in the coming days to address delays in service across the island. Crews began working ad- ditional hours on Thursday, Jan. 4, to catch up on a ser- vice schedule that has fallen behind due to “public hol- idays during the festive season, and equipment prob- lems,” according to a news release from the department. Jennifer Ahearn, chief officer in the Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing, said some addi- tional programs had contrib- uted to the delays. “These included the NICE [community cleanup] project, bulk waste collections, and collections from recycling depots,” Ms. Ahearn said in a statement. Such programs are part of the department’s an- nual schedule. Some residents have com- plained of trash piling up for as long as two weeks, resulting in foul smells in their neighborhoods and in- creased activity of flies and rodents. East End residents, who were among those com- plaining, said they did not remember having similar is- sues in past years. Most areas on Grand Cayman have been impacted. “The areas most affected by the lack of domestic col- lections in recent days and weeks are Crewe Road, Smith Road, the Prospect area, Newlands, Bodden Town, East End and North Side,” Ms. Ahearn said in the statement. “DEH is making every effort to pri- oritise domestic collections in those areas.” The extended routes for the coming week are as follows: ■■ Friday: George Town, West Bay Road to Snug Harbour ■■ Saturday: Central George Town, Windsor Park and Prospect ■■ Sunday: Spotts, New- lands and Savannah ■■ Monday: Bodden Town, North Side, East End, West Bay. Officials say residents who continue to experience non-collection of their solid waste should call 949-6696, email dehcustomerservice@gov.ky or visit www.deh.gov.ky for updates. Piles of trash such as this one have been a common sight along Sea View Road in East End over the past two weeks. – PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Soccer’s Altidore stars in local fundraiser In this Aug. 27, 2017 file photo, Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore scores against the Montreal Impact in Montreal. The footballer will be Cayman over the weekend, fundraising and holding soccer clinics. - PHOTO: APNext >