ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 High of 84 Low of 74 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet with swells likely along the west coast. Small craft warning is in effect. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 FLU SEASON: NOT TOO LATE TO VACCINATE LOCAL NEWS | PAGE 8 RARELY SEEN PYGMY WHALE WASHES ASHORE SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY Drivers waiting weeks to pick up new tags Thousands of unclaimed plates in storage BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman drivers due to receive their new electronic vehicle license plates and registra- tion window stickers are waiting weeks – even months in some cases – to get the new plates after their cars pass inspection. Meanwhile, an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 new electronic plates are sitting in storage at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Li- censing, awaiting pickup by drivers whose ve- hicles have already passed annual inspection. “We don’t know why they aren’t coming to pick them up,” said Planning Ministry Deputy Chief Officer Tristan Hydes when asked about the delays last week. Beginning last spring, the vehicle licensing department began the process of switching more than 45,000 vehicles from the old or- ange-colored license plates to new white electronic vehicle “tamper proof” tags which would allow licensing officials and residents greater ease in re-registering vehicles. The process for changing out all the license plates was expected to take up to three years. As of last week, an estimated 16,000 vehi- cles operating in Cayman had been outfitted with the new electronic plates and window stickers, while owners of several thousand more vehicles that had passed inspection had not yet picked up their new tags at the depart- ment’s main office on Crewe Road. The process to install the new vehicle tags sometimes requires an extra visit to the De- partment of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing of- fice and it appears some drivers simply have not made the trip. At the moment, when a car using the old Cayman Islands license tags is inspected and Cayman Cookout celebrates 10 years The Kirk Market team served up Honduran-style lobster for ‘Around the World’ with Anthony Bourdain at The Ritz-Carlton. – PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com International chefs de- scended on Cayman once again for the 10th annual Cayman Cookout, marking one of the largest productions of the islandwide festival to date. The event’s founding chefs, Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain and José Andrés, were joined by Emeril Lagasse, Robert Irvin and Sean Brock, among other renowned international and local culinary stars for five days of entertainment, food and sunshine. Television personality, au- thor and celebrity chef Mr. Bourdain embraced the island spirit during Friday’s “Around the World” appearance on The Ritz-Carlton Great Lawn, where local restaurants shared Chef Eric Ripert and Ritz-Carlton General Manager Marc Langevin share a laugh during the 10th annual Cayman Cookout. TURTLE CENTRE GETS IN THE ‘BEACH BIZ’ Beach chairs, vendors greet cruisers BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com It seems the Cayman Turtle Centre has adopted the old adage, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” The tourism attraction in West Bay has signed contracts this year with a cruise line to bring guests in for a “beach break” sea- shore excursion at West Bay Public Beach along North West Point Road. The location, just south of the Turtle Centre property, is a few miles north of where private sector beach vendors have set up on the main Seven Mile Public Beach, offering largely the same service. Beach chairs were put out Wednesday by Turtle Centre staff to accommodate cruisers who wanted to relax in the picturesque area, which looks back toward George Town harbor and Seven Mile Beach. “We hope this will demonstrate a practical example for how vendors at all public beaches can be well organized and can conduct their business in a way that delivers an excellent TAXI VAN DRIVER CHARGED IN DOCTOR’S DEATH An elderly taxi van driver was charged Friday with a fatal accident in July 2017 that caused the death visiting Jamaican doctor, Dr. Vary Jones-Leslie outside Owen Roberts International Airport. For more on this story, see page 5. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Daily Matinees Every Day • $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 • Additional charges will apply per 3D/VIP ticket requested SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (R) 12:45 VIP I 3:50 I 6:40 VIP I 9:35 VIP 9:50 MOLLY’S GAME (R) 12:55 I 6:45 STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (PG13) 12:45 I 4:00 I 9:00 THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) 4:00 I 7:05 PROUD MARY (R) 1:15 I 3:10 I 5:05 I 7:15 I 9:50 INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY (PG13) 1:20 I 4:25 I 7:30 I 9:55 JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:00 I 3:45 VIP I 7:00 I 9:40 Dr. Wayne R. Porter MD F.A.A.D. Dermatologist call : 946-9020 between 9am to 5pm Dees Plaza #282 on Crewe Road, GT He will be in office from January 15th - January 20th , 2018 Gun club gets go-ahead for new facility JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Plans for a $1.45 million commercial shooting range in East End have been given the green light by the Central Planning Authority. The project, which has been in the pipeline for sev- eral years, was finally ap- proved after the Water Authority agreed to a man- agement plan to prevent lead from spent bullets seeping into the groundwater. The proposed 230-acre site for the shooting gallery, which will feature purpose-built rifle, pistol and archery ranges, sits above the East End fresh water lens at High Rock, a critical resource for the island. A previous application in 2014 was adjourned because of the Water Authority’s concerns. Following multiple dis- cussions over the past three years and the development of an Environmental Stew- ardship Program, the Water Authority ultimately sup- ported the application from the Cayman Islands Sports Shooting Association. The management plan places restrictions on the type of shot that can be used and details appropriate de- sign features for stormwater management and for con- tainment and recovery of spent ammunition. The shooting association wants to create an “interna- tional class sports shooting complex” to replace the cur- rent gun range, which will have to move to make way for the expansion of the Owen Roberts International Airport. The site will include an archery range, rifle range, fa- cilities for skeet shooting, clay pigeon shooting and a pistol range that can be used by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for training purposes, according to plan- ning documents. The Central Planning Au- thority discussed the appli- cation at its first meeting of the year on Wednesday and confirmed it had granted ap- proval on Friday. In its submission to the authority, the Sports Shooting Association, which has an agreement to lease the land from government for a nom- inal fee, indicates the venue will include some structures, including a restaurant and an indoor air gun range. “It will allow the Cayman Islands to host international class competitions, adding another dimension to our tourism,” the shooting asso- ciation indicated. It added, “These ranges are located in a rural setting and are oriented away from residential areas and as prac- tically as possible away from surface water bodies.” The CPA received a handful of objections from neighboring property owners concerned about noise pol- lution and a petition from farmers concerned about the impact on the water lens. The Department of Envi- ronment, in its submission to the CPA, requested that clearing for the project be prohibited until the shooting association showed it had the funding to complete the de- velopment as proposed: “This would prevent the unnec- essary premature clearance of primary habitat, possibly years in advance of any ac- tual site development.” East End shooting range approved Conor O’Dea, the former managing director and se- nior executive vice presi- dent of international banking at Butterfield Group, is the newly elected chairman of Cayman Finance. Mr. O’Dea replaces pre- vious Cayman Finance Chairman, Ian Wight, who held the position for three years. Jude Scott, Cayman Fi- nance CEO, said he was ex- cited to welcome Mr. O’Dea, who was elected during the recent annual mem- bers’ meeting. “We are excited to add Mr. O’Dea’s talent to Cayman Fi- nance and look forward to working with him going for- ward to protect, promote and grow the Cayman Islands fi- nancial services industry,” Mr. Scott said. “His many years of experience and depth of knowledge are sure to be a great asset in helping achieve Cayman Finance’s goals.” Cayman Finance thanked Mr. Wight for his three suc- cessful years. “We have made a tre- mendous amount of prog- ress and overcome many ob- stacles with Ian at the helm, and are grateful to him for the time he has given us,” Mr. Scott said. During the meeting, Mr. Scott discussed the busy year that Cayman Finance has had, from introducing new focus on reinsurance and FinTech, to dealing with in- ternational pressures, to cel- ebrating both local and inter- national achievements. “I have kept note of the work done by Cayman Fi- nance over the years, and I am honoured and excited to be part of those efforts in the future,” Mr. O’Dea said. “I thank the members of Cayman Finance for en- trusting me with this role and look forward to working closely with Mr. Scott and the rest of the board to ad- vance the best interests of Cayman and its financial ser- vices industry.” Since 1989, Mr. O’Dea has worked for Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited in various capacities. He ended his ex- ecutive career with a stint as managing director in Cayman and president and chief oper- ating officer for BNTB Group. In April 2016, he retired from executive responsibili- ties with Butterfield Group and assumed a non-execu- tive role as director of BNTB Board and chairman of But- terfield’s Board. Throughout his career, Mr. O’Dea has also served in var- ious associate and government positions, including presi- dent at the Cayman Islands Bankers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce. Cayman Finance elects new chairman PUERTO RICAN ASTRONAUT REACHES OUT TO ISLAND’S SCHOOLKIDS IN FLORIDA CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – The first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage reached out Friday to schoolchildren on the hurricane-bashed island. Flying aboard the Inter- national Space Station, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba fielded questions from students at the Puerto Rico Institute of Robotics in Manati. One stu- dent asked how Puerto Rico looked from space after Hur- ricane Maria struck in Sep- tember. Acaba said the first thing he noticed was the lack of lights, making the is- land almost impossible to see at night. A boy noted that after the hurricane, it was difficult for some Puerto Ricans to eat given the limited variety of available food. Does Acaba find the limited space menu tough to swallow? The menu, while pretty good, repeats every week or two and does get monoto- nous, Acaba said. Of course, he said it does not compare to such Puerto Rican spe- cialties as pasteles, stuffed meat pastries wrapped in banana leaves popular around Christmas, and rice with pigeon peas and pork. “I’m ready to get home and have a great meal,” he said. Acaba, a former school teacher, is supposed to re- turn to Earth at the end of February. He arrived at the space station a week before Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, already reeling from Hurricane Irma. The astronaut’s parents were from Hatillo, Puerto Rico, and moved to the U.S. He was born in Southern California and grew up there, but has lots of rela- tives still in the U.S. territory. Technical difficulties with the institute’s Skype connection ate up nine min- utes of the 23-minute con- versation. Acaba switched between English and Spanish in answering stu- dents’ questions, ranging from his experience as a teacher to daily life aboard the orbiting outpost. He as- sured the students that the drinking water – recycled from the six-man crew’s urine – actually tastes great and is as natural as it gets. As for sleeping, he said he’s getting some of the best sleep of his life. JURY NOTICE All Grand Court jurors who are in the January 2018 session are reminded that the report date of Jan. 15 has been changed. They are now to report for jury duty on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 9:45 a.m. The Jury Information Line at 244-3899 contains the most up-to-date infor- mation, which may also be accessed by email at jury@judicial.ky The Cayman Finance teamThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 15, 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. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Well, that’s what the Bible says anyway. It is a whole lot easier to appreciate the purpose of some seasons over others. We enjoy the Christmas season, the tourist season – even the rainy season has its charm. But if there is one season we would gladly do without, it is the flu season. The flu is back – that unwelcome visitor arrives each year around this time, bestowing aches, fevers and exhaustion on anyone unlucky enough to cross its path. Public health officials recently told the Compass that they were seeing an average of 172 cases per week at the end of December, compared with 137 cases per week the month prior. They warn that the flu season likely has not yet reached its peak. In the U.S. (home to approximately 80 percent of Cayman’s visitors), the Centers for Disease Control has reported widespread flu outbreaks in 46 states (they’ve only got 50), with regional outbreaks in the rest. Last week, the newspaper USA Today reported troubling signs pointing to an exceptionally difficult flu season in the States, including a dramatic rise in flu- related hospitalizations and a number of deaths. Under a microscope, the influenza virus looks like a tiny orb punctuated by starburst spikes, with its length measured in mere nanometers. Once the tiny pathogen enters the human bloodstream and begins to multiply, however, it carries a Mack truck-like impact that can mow down the biggest and strongest homo sapiens. Once a person has contracted the virus, there is not much to do but suffer while the virus runs its course. Unless the doctor recommends an antiviral medicine, the only surefire cure is plenty of rest, plenty of fluids and maybe mom’s secret recipe for chicken noodle soup, to help the body’s natural defenses. But there are steps one can take to minimize the chances of contracting the virus. Chief among these is the flu shot. Hundreds of millions of flu shots are administered around the world every year, with the global market estimated at US$4 billion per year. However, despite the enormous quantity of money being spent, and the cutting-edge science involved, flu vaccines are no panacea. Because the virus mutates so rapidly, the vaccine is typically only about 50 to 60 percent effective. Millions of people come down with the flu every year, and thousands die from it. Although flu vaccines are imperfect, research shows that vaccinations do reduce a person’s likelihood of contracting the flu, and may make the illness milder in those who do fall sick. This is especially important for children, pregnant women, caregivers, the elderly and anyone with medical conditions. Getting vaccinated helps protect not only yourself, but those around you who may be vulnerable to the disease. Cayman Islands officials say it is not too late to vaccinate against the flu this season. To encourage more people to do so, free vaccinations are being offered at the General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital and all district health centers from 2-4 p.m. Monday to Friday; at Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac; and the Little Cayman Clinic. Cayman Brac resi- dents should call 948-2243 to arrange a vaccination, and Little Cayman residents should call 948-0072. The Public Health Department (hurrah!) has even offered to send staff to places of business if 20 or more employees sign up for vaccinations. Companies can arrange onsite vaccinations by calling the department at 244-2621 or 244-2889, or emailing publichealthdepartment@hsa.ky. Flu season: Not too late to vaccinate MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Readers share views about waste, warnings and water Regarding the article “Grand Cayman’s trash problem continues to pile up” (Jan. 6): As a visitor who has enjoyed staying on Grand Cayman with its im- pressive beaches and won- derful climate, you have to wonder how it is that an island, which relies on tourism, hasn’t yet got to grips with its unsightly waste problems. On an island where ev- erything is imported and packaged, the situation isn’t helped by what locals call “Mount Trashmore,” the unsightly, malodorous landfill site. Locally, there is overuse by food outlets of non-re- cyclable cups, packaging and containers, which could be reduced by using recy- clable or degradable ma- terials. There is also the need to raise the aware- ness of environmental prob- lems caused by the casu- ally thrown away take-away food containers and trash that litter the roadside and the undergrowth. Whilst fingers point to local government, accusing it of not doing enough, surely everyone, including tourists, should be playing their part in disposing of waste responsibly. Local people should also be lob- bying for new recycling and waste disposal facilities before there is an ecolog- ical “mishap.” Ian Read, Cornwall, U.K. Cayman Islands’ tsunami warning system? An oxy- moron? We can and must do so much better. Mark Hilton The Cayman Com- pass was the first place we looked when we heard about the earthquake. We both look on your site every day for news about our favorite place on earth. It is really nice to have such a great source for infor- mation regarding Cayman. Keep up the excellent work! Dan and D’Ann Rawlinson Oregon, U.S. Lionfish is delicious, as I’ve discovered at Guy Har- vey’s restaurant. It is in the interest of all of Cayman that it be avail- able for sale in all grocery stores and on the menus of all restaurants, especially in tourist season. Let’s all do our part to help the sea we all love. Beverley Simpson My family and I have been coming to Grand Cayman for over 30 years for the holidays and thor- oughly enjoy it. This past visit, it was re- ally apparent to me some- thing needs to be done with respect to protecting the wa- ters, the creatures and the reefs from too many tourists that have no clue or respect. Our family took our reg- ular trip out to Stingray City, and to our dismay there were way too many people and too many boats. Suggestion to the powers that be: Charge ev- eryone that uses the water for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc., a $25 fee that would go to the Depart- ment of Environment to pre- serve the protected reserve areas, along with main- taining the dive marker balls and so on. Several other island countries have done this for years, and if people want to use the water, yes, it’s an- other ding, but one that would go for the good of pre- serving the island for the future! This would include anyone, including cruise ships, and just like the tags you purchase for the Kitti- wake, you would receive a tag for the year identifying you as having paid your fee! Mary Johnson We were visiting Grand Cayman over the holidays. We were there for seven days. During that time the carnival played very loud music well into the night. If you are to do that again, loud music should stop at 10 p.m. We were not able to sleep, due to the music being so loud. Eric Czerwonka Wisconsin, U.S. I am writing to express my gratitude for the excel- lent treatment that I recently received from the Health Services Authority emer- gency department at George Town Hospital. Their at- tentive care enabled me to enjoy Christmas with loved ones instead of having to be in bed. I thank them so much and wish them all a happy and blessed new year. Mrs. D. Campbell I thoroughly enjoyed the articles about Cayman’s cen- tenarians. What wonderful stories they had to tell! We should all be so lucky and live that long. Thank you. Doris Hollins Thank you for this ar- ticle. It’s time we hon- oured our old folk. Happy birthday to Mr. Howell, such a kind, gentle soul. Karen Smith5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 Taxi van driver charged in Jamaican doctor’s death BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An elderly taxi van driver was charged Friday in con- nection with a deadly July 2017 crash at Owen Roberts International Airport. The 70-year-old Bodden Town man was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving in the July 17, 2017 smash that killed Dr. Vary Jones-Leslie of Jamaica. The cab driver, who was not identified by police, is due to appear in court Feb. 5. Dr. Jones-Leslie, 62, an obstetrician-gynecologist, had arrived in Cayman that morning for a temporary shift at the Cayman Islands Hospital, where she was a substitute to assist local phy- sicians. It was an arrange- ment Dr. Jones-Leslie had participated in a number of times for the Health Ser- vices Authority. It appeared that Dr. Jones- Leslie was attempting to walk across the three-lane Owen Roberts Drive just north of the airport terminal around 10:45 a.m. that Monday when she was struck, police said. The taxi van that hit her showed significant damage on the right side of its hood. She died a day after the crash on July 18. Some bags she had ap- parently been carrying on a trolley were strewn across the road, and first responders found her lying in the middle of the street. Dr. Jones-Leslie was re- membered by colleagues in Jamaica as a pioneer in the field of women’s health, having served as one of the first female obstetrician-gy- necologists to practice in the Caribbean island nation. Second man charged in Christmas cocaine robbery Crown alleges conspiracy, bail withheld CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Fred Ollen McLaughlin was refused bail on Friday afternoon after appearing in Summary Court in con- nection with the Christmas Eve robbery at an East End beach involving 50 to 60 pounds of cocaine. Mr. McLaughlin, 53, is charged with conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. The man charged with the robbery itself, Marvin Grant, appeared in Grand Court ear- lier in the day. Defense at- torney Prathna Bodden told Justice Charles Quin that Mr. Grant was due to have the charge put to him so he could enter his plea, but this was being put off because of the second defendant coming to court. Mr. Grant’s matter was set for mention again on Friday, Jan. 26. When Mr. McLaughlin was brought before Magis- trate Valdis Foldats, Deputy Director of Public Prose- cutions Patrick Moran ob- jected to bail. He provided a summary of the incident to explain why. On the afternoon of Dec. 24, a large quantity of co- caine appeared to have washed ashore at Mor- ritt’s Resort in East End, Mr. Moran related. While a secu- rity guard attempted to keep the packages safe awaiting the arrival of police, a man alleged to be Marvin Grant drove to the hotel and robbed the guard of the cocaine at machete-point. CCTV showed him ar- riving and getting out of a BMW unmasked. He later drove out and came back, parking the car so as to ac- cess the road easily. A man, allegedly Mr. Grant, got out of the car and, wearing a mask and carrying a ma- chete, headed to the beach. Less than 40 seconds later, a red pickup truck came in and drove to the beach, directly to the area where the masked man had walked earlier. The robber threatened the guard with the machete and took the packages of drugs back to the BMW. “He must have jogged past the pickup truck,” Mr. Moran said. The security guard tried to follow the robber, but the red pickup truck blocked his path and continued to do so as it reversed back into the car park. The guard said the truck had two occupants – the driver, who was heavyset with a dark complexion, and a passenger who was slimmer, of a lighter com- plexion and made a threat- ening remark. Within sec- onds of the departure of the BMW, the red truck drove away in the same direc- tion as the BMW. Mr. Moran said it was ob- vious to the guard that the two people in the truck had arrived to assist the robber with getting the drugs. The hotel manager also saw the truck and formed the opinion that it was blocking the guard. After police arrived and viewed CCTV footage, they identified Mr. Grant as the robbery suspect and he was subsequently arrested. When police spoke with Mr. McLaughlin, he said he had driven to the hotel that day. He said he often drove onto the beach to check who was at the bar and then he reversed out. On this occa- sion, he said, he was shocked to see a masked man and fig- ured something untoward was going on and he left. Mr. McLaughlin told po- lice he knew Mr. Grant, as they had worked together previously. He said Mr. Grant had phoned him that morning to say he would be cutting meat. The magistrate asked if the CCTV showed two in- dividuals in the truck. Mr. Moran said the sun was shining too brightly, but he offered to show the magis- trate the footage. This was done later in the hearing, on a screen that could be seen by everyone in the courtroom. “From any view, this was an audacious enterprise to bring drugs onto the is- land,” Mr. Moran told the court. If sold on the street for $50 a gram, the cocaine would be worth over $1.3 million, he said. He pointed out that a weapon had been used in full view of tour- ists and he described evi- dence of Mr. McLaughlin’s involvement as “powerful” and set out his reasons for objecting to bail. He and defense attorney Jonathon Hughes agreed that conspiracy charges are Category B, meaning they can be tried in Summary Court or Grand Court. At this stage, no choice was made by either side. Mr. Hughes disagreed about the strength of the evidence and questioned whether any witness heard any alleged threat. He said Mr. McLaughlin was the only person in the truck. He ac- knowledged the defendant’s previous convictions, but pointed out that the last of- fense was in 2007; since then, Mr. McLaughlin had made a remarkable turn- around and was focused on his family and his construc- tion, janitorial and land- scaping businesses. He had scores of employees and was a “hands-on” manager. The attorney said Mr. McLaughlin had worked hard to rebuild his reputa- tion. He was scheduled to begin a major project: “If he is not there, the project will stall and the employ- ment of 60 or more men will be at risk,” Mr. Hughes told the court. The magistrate re- manded Mr. McLaughlin in custody, but reminded him that he had the right to ap- peal that decision in Grand Court. The next mention was set for Tuesday. Aloe Blacc rocks the Kimpton MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com Aloe Blacc, known best for his vocals and co- writing of “Wake Me Up” with Avicii, found himself at the Kimpton Seafire Re- sort + Spa, where he per- formed to the people of the Cayman Islands on Sat- urday evening. Despite rain, the show at the beach resort went ahead as scheduled. The showers cleared up by the time Mr. Blacc hit the stage to head- line the Kimpton event, where he belted out ren- ditions of his hit songs, like “I Need a Dollar,” and covers of other fa- mous numbers that had the crowd dancing and singing along throughout the performance. A highlight of the eve- ning was his heartfelt tribute to Stevie Wonder, Mr. Blacc’s musical inspi- ration. The performer paid respects to the multiple Grammy Award-winning legend and went on to per- form a medley of some of Mr. Wonder’s famous songs that had everyone joining in with the grooves and singing along. If sold on the street for $50 a gram, the cocaine would be worth over $1.3 million, Mr. Moran said. A van passes by the scene of the fatal July 17, 2017 crash at Owen Roberts Airport. The taxi van driver involved was charged Friday and is due to appear in court Feb. 5. – PHOTO: BRENT FULLER Grammy nominee Aloe Blacc performed in Cayman last weekend.6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Local lobster gets served up at Rum Point Saturday during the Beach Bash. The team from Luca serves Austrian-inspired cuisine on The Ritz-Carlton lawn for Around the World with Anthony Bourdain. – PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE Friday’s Barefoot BBQ at the Royal Palms allowed guests to dine under the stars with Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, José Andrés and Emeril Lagasse.Spanish-American chef José Andrés addresses the crowd during a culinary demo. creations sourced from Cayman to the Philippines. “There is definitely a re- lationship between happi- ness and how often you have to wear shoes,” Mr. Bourdain told the audience. After tasting the Indian food from Blue Cilantro, served at Health City, Mr. Bourdain joked that being hospitalized in the Cayman Islands might not be so bad. “So I should look forward to a snorkeling accident, then?” he said. Messrs. Ripert and An- drés followed Mr. Bourdain’s cue at Saturday’s Rum Point Beach Bash, leaving their sandals behind and getting their toes in the sand. “This year for our 10th anniversary of Cayman Cookout, miracles happened,” Mr. Ripert said. “The weather is fantastic. The chefs are very happy. The guests are very happy. There’s a lot of interaction with locals that contribute to the cookout.… “It’s unbelievable what’s happened. I am very happy with the way the festival has gone and it’s very good for the island. It’s very good for whoever comes. It’s win-win.” Mr. Andrés praised the work by local tourism au- thorities to build up the event and create opportunities for Caymanian businesses. “The 10th year, I think it’s the best yet. Eric, The Ritz, the Caymanian tourist office, I think they’ve outdone them- selves. The events have been great. I think there have been more events than ever. The quality of the chefs coming has been amazing,” he said. The Spanish-American chef added that as the fes- tival has grown, the friend- ships in Cayman and love of the island have as well. “If Eric [Ripert] calls, I cannot say no [to an event]. But I’m not going lie to you; my family loves Cayman. My three daughters and wife learned how to scuba dive right here in Cayman wa- ters,” he said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman Cookout celebrates 10 years Chef Anthony Bourdain7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 Please be advised there will be no newspaper on Monday, January 22nd, National Heroes Day (public holiday) For more information call 949.5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com HEROES 2018 DAY NATIONAL CELEBRATE THE STAFF OF PINNACLE MEDIA WISHES EVERYONE A SAFE HOLIDAY EDITION DEADLINE Monday, January 22nd NO PUBLICATION (CLOSED) Tuesday, January 23rd Wednesday, January 17th Wednesday, January 24th Thursday, January 18th Thursday, January 25th Friday, January 19th Friday, January 26th Tuesday, January 23rd Smoky delights are served up on Seven Mile Beach for the Barefoot BBQ. Chef Emeril Lagasse cooks up Creole and Cajun cuisine at the Le Creuset Beach Pavilion. Anthony Bourdain shares tales from his travels with host Alan Markoff at The Ritz-Carlton.The audience enjoys a cooking demonstration. Chef José Andrés takes smoke break at Rum Point. Guests enjoy food and drink at Rum Point Saturday during the Beach Bash.8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Rarely seen pygmy whale washes ashore JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A baby whale – prelimi- narily identified as a pygmy sperm whale – washed up on a beach in South Sound Thursday night. Staff at St. Matthews Uni- versity performed a nec- ropsy on the carcass over the weekend and were working to determine the cause of death, said Dr. Veronica Boling, an anatomic veterinary patholo- gist and assistant professor of veterinary pathology. “The whale was a male, and suspected to be a juve- nile. A cause of death remains undetermined. Samples were collected for additional testing to rule out infectious and non-infectious causes of death. To assist our local and international researchers in their ongoing marine mammal studies, tissue sam- ples for genetic analysis and morphometric data was also collected,” Dr. Boling said. Mark Orr, chief conser- vation officer at the Depart- ment of Environment, said his team had removed the whale from the shallows at first light on Friday. He said the animal was around five feet long and took three staffers to lift onto the truck. Adult pygmy sperm whales grow to around 11 feet. There were no signs of ex- ternal injuries or the whale having been bitten or hit by a boat propeller, he said. Conservation Officer Janice Blumenthal said, “One of the aims of our stranding response is to determine cause of death so that we can better understand threats to marine mammals.” The examination will also seek to confirm the species identification. “From a preliminary ex- amination of photographs, the whale appears to be pygmy or a dwarf sperm whale,” she said. “These are extremely similar species so identi- fication will be confirmed through a physical examina- tion and collection of a ge- netic sample.” There have been two pre- vious documented strand- ings of pygmy sperm whales on beaches in the Cayman Is- lands, in 2009 and 2013. The species, a type of toothed whale that inhabits the open ocean, travel in small groups and are be- lieved to dive to depths as great as 1,000 feet. They are rarely seen at sea and much of what is known about them comes from examina- tions of carcasses that wash up on beaches. Whale sightings are rela- tively rare, but not unheard of, in the Cayman Islands. The Department of Envi- ronment asks people to re- port any marine mammal sightings by email to doe@ gov.ky or on the Facebook page Sharks & Cetaceans: The Cayman Islands. Ms. Blumenthal added, “Through collection of re- ports from the public, the DoE marine animal sighting program provides informa- tion on abundance and dis- tribution of whales, sharks, manta rays, adult turtles and other large marine animals around the Cayman Islands. This information is used to determine migratory pat- terns and assess the impor- tance of our waters for these rare species.” There have been two previous documented strandings of pygmy sperm whales on beaches in the Cayman Islands, in 2009 and 2013. Judge weighs credit for bail restrictions Imitation firearm draws sentence of three years five months CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Justice Marlene Carter explained why she did not give what has become a typ- ical 50 percent credit for bail restrictions when she im- posed a sentence of three years five months for an imi- tation firearm. Antascio Terrell Rankine, 23, had pleaded guilty to possession of the imitation firearm with intent to resist arrest in George Town in the early hours of June 4, 2016. His sentence came after an adjustment of less than 25 percent credit. He received the term of imprisonment in Grand Court last Thursday, when Justice Carter noted that Mr. Rankine had been on bail for 436 days with an electronic monitor and a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sentencing guidelines do allow for a reduction when a defendant has had condi- tions to bail. Besides considering the time wearing the monitor, also referred to as a tag, the court had to consider a breach of bail condition. Mr. Rankine wore the monitor from Aug. 26, 2016 until Nov. 15, 2017. On or about Nov. 5, he removed the monitor and the Crown said he had caused significant damage to it. Another issue was the daytime/nighttime factor, the judge pointed out. There was no evidence Mr. Rankine had been inconvenienced by the monitor during the day. The nighttime restriction included normal sleeping hours, so it might be less of a curtailment of lib- erty, she said. Defense attorney Laura Larner submitted that the tag removal was a one-off violation and disallowing credit would be more ap- propriate for a defendant who frequently breached his bail conditions. She asked for the full 50 percent, or at least some credit. “I do not agree that he could remove the tag and expect full credit,” Justice Carter said. She added that she did consider the time he had worn it to be significant. Other cases had been cited to her of lengthy pe- riods on bail with cur- fews and wearing an elec- tronic monitor. There was no breach of conditions in those cases, the judge noted. She determined she would give Mr. Ran- kine credit for 100 days, which she translated as three months. With a starting sentence of five and a half years, the judge found that aggra- vating and mitigating fac- tors canceled each other. She did give a full one- third credit for his guilty plea, resulting in a term of three years eight months. With three months credit, the final sentence was three years five months. Mr. Ran- kine is to receive credit for time in custody. Mr. Rankine’s offense re- ceived wide publicity be- cause an onlooker circu- lated a video of him being tased by police officers. The Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service released a full narrative to explain all that had happened before what was shown in the video. Justice Carter referred to a summary agreed on by the Crown and defense. Of- ficers had received a report that a man had been seen with a firearm in the vi- cinity of DHL on Mary Street around 3 a.m. They attended the scene and approached Mr. Rankine, ordering him to stop and put up his hands. He did not comply. When an officer tried to detain him, he resisted. An object resem- bling a firearm fell from his waist and he ran off. Officers used a Taser gun and Mr. Rankine was caught. The firearm was found to be an adapted flare gun painted black, with the barrel replaced and containing a spent casing. Aggravating the offense was that it occurred at night in a public place and was committed against officers who work for the public safety. Further, Mr. Rankine had previous convictions. The judge accepted in mitigation that the firearm was not produced and there was no evidence of an in- tent to commit an offense before the arrival of po- lice. She also accepted that Mr. Rankine had been part of a trial which had led to threats being made against his safety. “I do not agree that he could remove the tag and expect full credit.” JUSTICE MARLENE CARTER CREWS SLOWLY MAKING PROGRESS REMOVING DEBRIS AFTER MUDSLIDES MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) – Re- covery crews are slowly making progress digging away masses of mud, boul- ders and toppled trees in a California community that was ravaged by deadly mudslides, but officials said they have removed enough debris from creek canals to prevent another potential disaster when the next rainstorm hits. Workers were using backhoes, jackhammers and chain saws to clear the debris in Montecito, nearly a week after a pow- erful storm sent flash floods cascading through mountain slopes that were burned bare by a huge wildfire in December. At least 19 people were killed and five others re- mained missing. In addition to trying to find those who are still missing after Tuesday morning’s storm, crews have made it a top priority to clear out debris basins and creek canals before another rainstorm. Long- range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain – and potential new mud- slides – although the pre- cipitation was expected to be disorganized and light. Another system was pos- sible two days later. “If we don’t get those debris basins cleaned out, then we’re not going to be prepared for the storm and we don’t know what that storm is going to look like,” said Robert Lewin, Santa Barbara Coun- ty’s emergency manage- ment director. The mudslides rav- aged the tony commu- nity, destroying at least 65 homes and damaging more than 460 others, of- ficials said. Firefighters went door to door along several blocks, checking the structural integrity of the damaged homes. The rest of the com- munity’s infrastructure was also damaged. Some streets were cracked in half and authorities closed bridges and over- passes because they were unstable. “The bridges, the roads, they all need help,” Lewin said. A baby whale washed ashore in South Sound last week. Researchers are working to determine the cause of death. - PHOTO SUBMITTED9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 15, 2018 Careers Fair exposes students to various professional paths JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Students at Clifton Hunter High School met more than 50 career representatives at the school’s Career Fair Friday morning. The purpose of the fair, “Paving Pathways: Pow- ering Possibilities,” exposed students in Years 7-11 to various career paths and provided them with oppor- tunities to network with po- tential employers in the hope of securing internships or summer employment. Visiting the different ca- reer booths, Khalia Gordon, a Year 11 student, said she liked Maples and Calder booth. “I applied there for a summer job. I also visited some of the other booths such as … Health City to see which is best for me.” Maria Lewis, also a Year 11 student, said she was thinking of entering the ac- counting field or information technology. Jasmine Brook said she wanted to go some- where in the medical field. A career in banking, medical work, hospitality and the Prison Service were but a few of the many op- tions on display for students to take useful information. Ezzard Miller, MLA for North Side, also visited the fair to chat with stu- dents. Visiting the govern- ment’s Public Works De- partment booth, Mr. Miller explained to students the importance of Cayman’s construction field and how he too, at one time, found that having skills in the construction field can prove very important. It is anticipated that through their participa- tion in the Careers Fair, stu- dents will be able to garner useful information, make important connections and be inspired to take the next step toward achieving their goals, according to a release from the Ministry of Educa- tion, Youth Sports Agricul- ture and Lands on behalf of the school. Morning Mile fitness program kicks off at Savannah Primary Students get a running start to the day JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new exercise regime which allows pupils to get fit in a fun way before classes got off to a running start at Savannah Primary Thursday morning. The school officially launched its first day of “Morning Mile” with a great turnout. The school adapted Morning Mile from a U.S.- developed program geared toward fighting childhood obesity by increasing the physical activity levels of schoolchildren before the school day starts. From as early as 7:15 a.m., students began to ex- ercise. Some walked, others danced and clapped their way around the field to the beat of their favorite hits, counting off laps and col- lecting tokens on their way to the finish line. When a student reaches a total of 5 miles, he or she will receive a necklace chain with a colorful sneaker charm. Students will continue to re- ceive one sneaker charm for each 5 miles completed. Stu- dents will also receive a “number 100” charm for every 100 miles they complete. Principal Carol Nyack said the program was a huge success, and a great start to the students’ day. “They are all winners. It helps their brain to function and be productive at the start of the day,” Ms. Nyack said. Seven-year-old Jaysean Seymour, excited about the exercise program because he likes to run, said he was the fastest runner in his Grade 3 class and collected the most tokens – 18 in all. Nine-year-old Lacey Arch was just as excited. “It feels energetic and you want to do more stuff than just sitting in the hall … I en- joyed it. I’ll try to come every morning,” she said. The program provides children the opportunity to exercise each morning, and works to fight child- hood obesity. “It allows students to ex- pend youthful energy on the field, leaving them more likely to sit still and focus once the school day begins,” said Jac- queline Schofield, deputy principal at the Savannah school and organizer of the morning fitness workout. She said the program will run the entire school year, Monday thru Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Stu- dents will attempt to com- plete as many laps as they are comfortable with each morning. The laps will be totalled, and the students will be rewarded as they ac- cumulate miles. “It’s a win-win for ev- eryone involved, and Sa- vannah Primary School is thrilled to promote fitness and all the great benefits that go with it,” she said. Fitness expert Fitz Koehler is the innovator behind the widespread implementation of the Morning Mile. In 2010, Ms. Koehler fell in love with the idea of letting kids start each day walking or running at school. When introduced to the concept, she said she originally thought, “I wish my kids could do that.” And then, as she tells it, her fit- ness expert instincts kicked in and she quickly changed her thinking to, “I really wish ALL kids could do that!” With help from a few schools that already had various styles of running/walking programs in place, Ms. Koehler put to- gether a list of best prac- tices and then added some extra touches. For more information about the Morning Mile, visit www.morningmile.com or join the Morning Mile Facebook page. Savannah Primary School launched its first day of ‘Morning Mile’ with a great turnout. The early morning exercise regime allows pupils to get fit in a fun way before classes. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Miss Cayman Anika Conolly and Mahalia Seymour explain the CUC policies to students. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Felicia Deslandes gets her visitors card from students Nicola McLaughlin, Asia Bush, Aliyah Reid and Kaidi McField Jackson. North Side MLA Ezzard Miller speaks with students about career paths.Next >