ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 Personal Insurance Shrink your insurance bills in 2018! Save up to $400 on home and motor insurance! Pay up to 15% less for comprehensive insurance. Low deductibles too! Ask BritCay for a quote! BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd: insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp CHIEF JUSTICE AT GRAND COURT OPENING: Urgent need for more courtrooms CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com With 674 Summary Court cases carried over into this year from 2017, and a Grand Court civil case in which the parties paid to rent a hotel conference room to serve as a courtroom, the need for more court space is more urgent than ever, Chief Jus- tice Anthony Smellie said on Wednesday at the opening of the Grand Court for 2018. The push for a new courthouse has been ongoing for 27 years and current fa- cilities are lacking, to the extent that they have been described as “shoddy, cramped and wholly inadequate,” he said. In the widely-publicized Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Co. fraud case, referred to as AHAB, the courtroom had to be fitted out with the necessary technical equipment, “by the parties themselves, at considerable expense,” the Chief Justice said. Three of seven courtrooms present se- curity concerns because they were not de- signed for criminal cases, he said. In Summary Court, two magistrates sometimes have to share one courtroom, which leads to inevitable delays; or one magistrate may have to preside over two lists, which leads to adjournments, he summarized. “We struggle from year to year to ensure people receive timely jus- tice,” he commented. Lawyers, judges and court staff gather in front of the courthouse Wednesday for the official court opening ceremony. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Chief Justice Anthony Smellie inspects the guard of honor at the official opening of the Grand Court on Wednesday morning. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » AUDITORS: GOV’T PERSONNEL COSTS ‘UNDERSTATED’ BY MILLIONS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands government spends about 68 percent of its annual budget on em- ployee payroll, according to estimates com- piled this week by the auditor general’s office. However, those figures provided in the yearly public sector budgets for 2015 and 2016 are “understated” – according to audi- tors – and would likely be even higher if accu- rate costs related to pension and healthcare coverage for civil servants were included. “The complete, relevant expenses for post- retirement healthcare and pension obliga- tions have not been recognized within the financial statements for 2015 and 2016,” Au- ditor General Sue Winspear said. “As a result, personnel costs of $352 million in 2015 and $400 million in 2016 have been understated.” Consequently, the government’s consol- idated financial statements for the public sector in both years “are materially misstated,” NEW PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWS PASSENGERS TO CAYMAN TO PRE-CLEAR IN MIAMI JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com United States border control officials were in Grand Cayman this week to sign a first-of- its-kind agreement that will enable passen- gers arriving from Miami to clear customs and immigration pre-flight. The arrangement will help alleviate over- crowding at the Owen Roberts International Airport at peak times and enhance intelli- gence cooperation between the two countries, according to officials from both countries. There are no plans for a reciprocal ar- rangement for departing passengers to clear U.S. Customs in Cayman. Premier Alden McLaughlin said this option had been ex- plored but was too expensive to implement. He said the “declaration of principles,” signed at the government building Tuesday in front of local dignitaries, including the governor, deputy governor and attorney general, would enable Cayman immigration and customs staff PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 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. - THURSDAY - 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 10:00 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 Happy Birthday to our Beloved and Precious Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Mother in Law & Friend Dellia Juanita Seymour Your rst birthday without us A thousand words could not bring you back we know because we tried a thousand tears could not bring you back we know because we cried We miss you mom although your soul is at rest and your body free from pain the world would be like heaven if we could see you back again You are always in our toughts no matter where we go Always in our hearts because we love you so However long our life lasts whatever land we view whatever Joy or griefs is ours we will still remember you To some you are forgotten to others part of the past But to us who dearly loved you the memories will always last We wish we could see you one more time come walking thru the door but we know this is impossible as we will hear your voice no more We know you can feel our tears and you don’t want us to cry Yet our hearts are broken because you had to die We pray that God will give us strenght and some how get us thru As we struggle with this heartache that came when we lost you. Sadly, missed by children Dwayne Seymour, Delene Hurlston-Powell, Dennyton Hurlston, and Denisea Allen. Sons in law David Allen and Tyrone Powell Grand children, great grand children Sisters Alva, Kerry, Sandra, Helen, Carneth & Edna Brothers Leroy, Larry, and John Special friend Morna Lawrence Groundbreaking surgery helps save baby JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Doctors performed life- saving keyhole surgery on a seven-month old baby this week after she developed a rare condition while vaca- tioning in Grand Cayman. For New Yorkers Adam Thompson and Brandi Thompson-Ullian and their seven-month-old twins, the trip was their first hol- iday as a family. But when their daughter Caiden started vomiting days after they arrived on island, a relaxing break quickly turned into a life-or-death emergency. They brought her to the Cayman Islands Hospital be- lieving she had a stomach upset or dehydration. But when she projectile vomited on the registration desk, staff realized it was something more serious. An ultrasound identi- fied the child was suffering from a relatively rare con- dition – intestinal intussus- ception – in which one part of the bowel folds into the other, creating a complete blockage in the gut. Private consultant Dr. Zoltan Szucs advised that the child would need surgery to save her life. “We were questioning the diagnosis,” admitted Mr. Thompson. “I was saying, no, we are not here for that. She has dehydration. “I’m so glad they found it when they did.” Initially, Mrs. Thompson- Ullian said, the family wanted to wait until they got back to New York, but doctors advised their options were to have the surgery in Cayman or evacuate to Miami. “We thought it was some- thing minor,” she said. “To be told your seven-month-old daughter needs surgery when you are on vacation in a for- eign country, it is not quite how you want it to go.” They endured a stressful few hours pacing the cor- ridors of the hospital early Monday morning, before hos- pital staff emerged from the operating theater with two thumbs raised, to tell them Caiden was OK. Dr. Szucs, who performed the keyhole surgery, said the procedure had not been done before on island. He said in- testinal intussusception was a serious condition that could be fatal without intervention. He said the condition was rare, particularly among in- fants, and occurred rapidly and without warning. He praised the medical team for recognizing the condition on the ultrasound and everyone involved with the surgery for ensuring it went smoothly. “I would like to empha- size that this is a team effort and everybody involved per- formed to their very best,” Dr. Szucs said. “You could say everybody just did their job, but here everybody doing their job well means the life. That is why we are here this morning with a seven-month- old baby laughing and eating normally, and happy.” For Mrs. Thompson-Ul- lian, she was happy to see her child healthy again. “She went from being completely out of it to her normal, happy self,” she said. “No mom has ever been so happy to see a poopy diaper. “It was stressful, but at the same time we got lucky and we are so grateful for how kind and professional everyone has been.” Caiden was expected to be discharged from the hos- pital on Wednesday and the family was looking forward to finally seeing some of Grand Cayman. Mrs. Thompson-Ullian plays in a band, Brandi and the Alexanders, in New York, and her husband works for the city council. She said the trip, with Mr. Thompson’s parents, was their first family vacation since their twin girls were born. “I still haven’t got to put my feet in the sand yet,” she added. Relieved parents Brandi Thompson-Ullian and Adam Thompson smile with their child Caiden on Wednesday morning. – PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Pope recalls dictatorship, indigenous cause in Chile TEMUCO, Chile (AP) – Pope Francis traveled to the heart of Chile’s centuries-old con- flict with indigenous peoples Wednesday, celebrating Mass at a former military base that not only lies on contested Mapuche land but also was a former detention center used during Chile’s brutal dictatorship. Leading around 150,000 people in a moment of silent prayer, Francis said the fer- tile green fields and snow- capped mountains of Arau- cania were both blessed by God and cursed by man, the site of “grave human rights violations” during the 1973- 1990 dictatorship. “We offer this Mass for all those who suffered and died, and for those who daily bear the burden of those many in- justices,” he said. Francis also referred to the more recent violence that has flared in southern Arau- cania as radical Mapuche factions press for the return of their lands, including a re- cent spate of church burn- ings that preceded his visit. No one has claimed respon- sibility for the 10 firebombs that have damaged, or in some cases burned churches to the ground in recent days. The Argentine Jesuit pope took those factions to task, saying violence was not the answer to their grievances. “You cannot assert your- selves by destroying others, because this only leads to more violence and division,” he admonished in his homily. “Violence begets violence, de- struction increases fragmen- tation and separation. Vio- lence eventually makes a most just cause into a lie.” At the same time, he de- manded the government not just negotiate “elegant” agree- ments with the indigenous, but actually implement them. The Argentine pope is par- ticularly attuned to indige- nous issues and their cam- paigns for recognition of their land, language, culture and traditions. He hopes to use his weeklong trip to Chile and Peru to put the issue on the global agenda and set the stage for a big church meeting next year on the Amazon and native peoples who live there. In that sense, the Maquehue Air Base in Temuco was a symbolically poignant site for his Mass dedidicated to the region’s in- digenous, built on land taken from the Mapuche in the early 20th century. But the site also had a more recent, bloody past: The base was used as a detention center during the 1973-1990 dictator- ship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, during which around 40,000 people were killed, tortured or imprisoned for political rea- sons. The government esti- mates that 3,095 were killed, including about 1,200 who were forcibly disappeared. History’s first Latin Amer- ican pope knows well the history of the time, since he was a young Jesuit superior next door during Argentina’s “Dirty War,” during which thousands of suspected left- ists were killed, imprisoned or disappeared at the hands of the military junta. Francis’ gesture of cel- ebrating Mass on the spe- cific site of the atrocities re- called St. John Paul II’s famous 1987 visit to Chile during the waning years of the Pinochet regime. In one of the most poi- gnant moments of that trip, the Polish pope delivered a speech to young people gath- ered in Santiago’s national sta- dium, which had been used as a detention and torture center. With the wounds of the regime still alive, John Paul urged Chile’s youth to look forward with hope, even from a place of “pain and suffering.” Francis repeated those same words again Wednesday in his Mass, which began with Mapuche natives per- forming a traditional horn and drum ceremony. Mapuche music, prayers and other tra- ditional elements were used throughout the Mass. After the service, Francis was to have lunch with a few indig- enous representatives. Francis had raised the plight of the indigenous in his first speech on Tuesday to government authorities, urging Chileans to listen to indigenous peoples who are “often forgotten, whose rights and culture need to be pro- tected lest that part of this nation’s identity and rich- ness be lost.” Those initial statements were already reverberating among many in the Ma- puche community. “Saying that we should be respected, that we have a right to exist and be recog- nized is all very strong,” said Hugo Alcaman, president of ENAMA, a Mapuche group.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 Welcomes Be sure to visit us at our lounge for your free flu shot. january 20th Noon — 8P.M. The ARC at Camana Bay Cuban migrant granted asylum after year-long detention Case highlights concerns over migrant handling KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cuban migrant detained in the Cayman Islands since December 2016 was granted asylum Wednesday by the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal, concluding a year-long legal battle in Cayman’s legal system. The man said he was awaiting word from govern- ment on his forthcoming re- lease from George Town’s Im- migration Detention Centre and expected to be trans- ferred soon to a residence in Grand Cayman, where he now has the legal right to live and work. The migrant arrived with a group by boat to Cayman Brac on Dec. 6, 2016. The group had motor problems in Little Cayman, where their vessel became trapped in the reef. After 11 days hiding out, the migrant took a plane to Grand Cayman, where he turned himself in to immi- gration authorities following a short period on the streets. “During that time, I got to know the culture and the freedom that exist on these islands, until I turned my- self into immigration on Dec. 20, 2016,” he said in a hand- written letter to the Compass in March 2017. The political refugee made headlines in July after es- caping the detention center, where he was held for more than a year while his asylum case was processed. Mag- istrate Valdis Foldats sen- tenced him to three months in Northward Prison for the incident. At the time, the migrant called into question Cayman’s extensive detention periods for asylum seekers, which are currently nearing two years for some applicants. In the days before his es- cape and seven months into his detention, he shared his frustration over the slow processing of migrant cases, telling the Compass, “I have already spoken on various occasions with immigra- tion officials at the center that I want to present my- self before the court. They haven’t given me a response. Their excuse is that there are people that have been here for more time than me and that I have to wait.” Legal experts have ques- tioned the legality of Cay- man’s routine detention of asylum applicants, who are held in a facility by the Fair- banks women’s prison and managed by Her Majesty’s Prison Service. While cases trickle through Cayman’s system of boards and courts, applicants are held under lock and key and are not permitted to leave the detention center without staff supervision. HSM lawyer Alastair David, who took on the mi- grant’s case, said the practice appeared to clash with in- ternational law. “In reality, none of these asylum seekers would be in detention in the U.K.,” Mr. David said. In August, Hong Kong- based lawyer Mark Daly also cast doubt on the practice. Mr. Daly pointed to United Nations High Com- missioner for Refugees’ guidelines that clearly es- tablish detention to be an exceptional mea- sure, rather than a default method, he said. “The thrust of those is that detention is a last resort. We’ve got to get out of this idea that it’s routine to de- tain people. It’s a last resort. If they are going to abscond and not attend their refugee hearing somehow, if they’re a national security threat, OK. But, generally, you don’t de- tain,” he said. After news of the mi- grant’s approval broke Wednesday, the applicant expressed surprise as well as fear for what the future holds. He hoped to find work in the Cayman Islands and to make up for time lost during his detention. Mr. David said the mi- grant’s history of political activism in Cuba made him a strong applicant for ref- ugee status and enabled him to prove a well-founded fear of persecution, in ac- cordance with criteria es- tablished by the 1951 Ref- ugee Convention. “HSM were very happy to act for this individual to en- sure that his right to remain in the Cayman Islands was protected and that he did not return to Cuba where he faced the real risk of being persecuted. We are very pleased to see that the IAT [Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal] considered all the ev- idence and reached what we believe to be the appropriate decision,” Mr. David said. For detainees still awaiting word on their cases, Wednesday’s news brought mixed emotions. One mi- grant said it was a relief to receive good news, amid all of the bad the appli- cants had endured. “He is like a brother to us,” said one detainee about the migrant. On Friday, four other mi- grants expected to be repa- triated to Cuba. Two women, a mother and a daughter de- tained in George Town for longer than a year, said they had elected to return to Cuba because they could not af- ford to pay a lawyer and ap- peal their cases. The women said they had also been de- tained in Cuba because of their political activism and for circulating pro-democ- racy pamphlets. Asylum seekers in the Cayman Islands are not granted access to legal aid, meaning migrants must take on their own legal expenses. The Department of Immi- gration indicated in August last year that it was working to address this issue, along- side a list of other concerns regarding migrant manage- ment. Neither the Depart- ment of Immigration nor the Prison Service responded to requests for follow-up, submitted to both depart- ments in December and again this month. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service responded to the scene of a robbery in a parking lot on West Bay Road shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Four men had been in a parking lot north of the Galleria roundabout when two vehicles – a sedan and a light-colored CR-V – pulled into the lot. Three men – one armed with a machete – and a woman exited the vehicles, approached the men and demanded cash from them. A fracas ensued, and one of the men sustained a small laceration to the back of his head. The suspects made off with personal items and left the scene in their vehicles. The person wounded was taken to Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment and later released. Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Police respond to parking lot robbery The Immigration Detention Centre in Fairbanks houses Cuban asylum seekers while they await decision on their cases. Detentions often exceed a year or longer. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY While cases trickle through Cayman’s system of boards and courts, applicants are held under lock and key and are not permitted to leave the detention center without staff supervision.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. Blue skies ahead: Record arrivals fill local coffers Read and rejoice! Despite what some people may believe, we prefer printing positive news in the Compass, and in last Friday’s paper, we had some very good news indeed. Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell made the announcement: In 2017, the Cayman Islands tourism arrivals (air and sea) totaled just over 2.1 million visitors, a collective record for Cayman. Importantly, 418,403 passengers disembarked at Owen Roberts International Airport, an increase of 8.5 percent from the previous year. The rise in air passengers is espe- cially significant since their “spend” while on island far exceeds those visitors (still very welcome) that arrive on cruise ships but spend only a few hours (and conse- quently far fewer dollars) during their stay with us. Here is a short “snapshot” of numbers, previously unpublished, that The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, General Manager Marc Langevin sent us to illustrate the economic activity that just one hotel – his – generated for Grand Cayman over the Christmas holiday. The numbers are based on bookings from The Ritz-Carlton concierge, and do not include “direct bookings” from the hotel’s guests: • The Ritz provided 850 round trips, to and from the airport, during the festive week • The Ritz made reservations for 6,000 “covers” for its hotel guests at Cayman restaurants • The Ritz provided the transportation for 550 round trips for its guests to restaurants, excursions and island attractions. Economists often speak of the “multiplier effect” of visitor spending; Mr. Langevin’s numbers, demonstrating the economic impact of just one hotel, make them far more “real.” The good news in the tourism sector, we believe, is just beginning. Anyone who has embarked, or disembarked, at the newly renovated and expanded Owen Roberts terminal cannot be anything but impressed with our new airport facility. It’s airy, bright, spacious, and, we believe, both beau- tiful and functional. Airlift is critical to filling hotel rooms and local business coffers, and just last week JetBlue announced it will begin flying in October daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and Grand Cayman. We welcome them, as we do Southwest Airlines, which flies the same route but now has announced that beginning in June, it will initiate direct service between Houston and Grand Cayman. (One word on the Southwest flights, based on con- siderable personal experience. Southwest flies in to Fort Lauderdale’s “Terminal One,” which, like Owen Roberts, has also been renovated and expanded. It’s sparkling and spotless, which means that passengers will have a first- class experience at both ends of their journey.) We would be remiss talking about airports if we did not include a nudge to government on the downtown cruise ship port. The planning for this project is taking far too long – discussions have been ongoing for multiple decades – and the design (actually re-design) and financing plans remain known (if they exist at all) only to a few – consultants, government officials, and, no doubt, influential insiders. That is no way to build consensus for a project as extensive – and expensive – as the port. The cruise industry, along with stayover travel, are the two legs upon which Cayman’s hospitality sector stands. More broadly, they are inextricably linked to the health of Cayman’s overall economy and its most important byproduct – the standard of living of the Caymanian people. THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Immigration and ‘rathole’ countries Many people in poor places try to migrate to richer places — and so it has always been. But some poor places become rich places and immigra- tion flows change as a re- sult. There are many exam- ples of “rathole” countries changing policies and be- coming rich, and relatively rich countries becoming ra- tholes as a result of cor- ruption and/or socialism (e.g., Venezuela). If a country has an open- border policy as did the United States before the 1880s, then large numbers of poor people migrate to the richer country, which, at some point, causes resent- ment for both good and bad reasons among the native- born population. After the Spanish intro- duced the potato to Europe, which they discovered in Peru, a number of northern European countries began to grow massive amounts because it could provide more calories on a parcel of land than any other food. The Irish became the most dependent on the potato, which enabled their popula- tion to grow rapidly. In the 1840s, a “blight” struck the potato crop, leading to widespread des- titution and starvation. Millions fled the Emerald Isle, often indenturing themselves to pay for pas- sage. Because so many Irish were poor and unedu- cated, they were negatively stereotyped as “pugna- cious, drunken, semi-sav- ages.” Multitudes of car- toons depicted the Irish as small, ugly, simian crea- tures armed with liquor. But most Irish quickly assimilated into the broader American culture and be- came successful in a va- riety of endeavors, to the point that most Americans are proud of their Irish heritage. Meanwhile, Ire- land changed, going from a country of more than eight million in the 1840s to a country of 4.7 million today, and, on average, it has a higher per capita in- come than America. More than 33 million Americans claim Irish heritage, which is seven times the present population of Ireland. Because America was an English colony, speaks Eng- lish, and largely adopted English legal and cultural institutions, many incor- rectly assume that those with English ancestry are the largest nation- ality group in the US Even though there was a steady flow of English immigrants to the US during the 17th- 20th centuries, things were never that bad in England to cause a huge wave of mi- gration to America. There are almost twice as many Americans who claim German ancestry than English. Germany (which was not yet a uni- fied country until 1871 and was politically unstable) had a system of primogen- iture, where the eldest son would inherit the family farm. Second, third, and so on sons would get nothing and faced a life of poverty. The alternative was to acquire enough money to book passage to the US and then “homestead” to acquire their own farm, which millions did from the late 18th to the 20th cen- tury. The Germans who ar- rived were, in general, not as poor as the Irish, were better educated, and most quickly assimilated into the American culture. President Donald Trump asked why the US was not receiving more Norwegian immigrants. The answer is simple — because of oil wealth, the average Nor- wegian is now much richer than the average Amer- ican. This was not always so. During the 19th cen- tury, Norway (and Sweden) were hit with a number of crop failures, and were pov- erty stricken. By moving to the US, the Norwegians could gain title (by homesteading) to much more productive land. From 1825 to 1925 approximately one-third of the Norwegian population moved to the US, a higher percentage than any country but Ireland. The English had en- gaged in a series of con- flicts with the Scots going back many centuries; the result was that many Scots fled to America. The English also had a policy of encour- aging English and Scottish emigration to Northern Ire- land, which ultimately re- sulted in larger numbers of them resettling in the US — particularly in Appalachia and the American South, where they were known as the Scotch-Irish. (The term “redneck” became a short- hand to refer to farmers of Scottish and Irish ancestry who had settled in the sunny American South.) There are now more Americans claiming Scot- tish ancestry than there are Scots in Scotland, and many more who claim to be Scotch-Irish than there are people in Northern Ireland. Without some reasonable controls on the nation’s bor- ders, the US will always be overrun with more people than can be easily absorbed. The obvious solution is to move to a merit-based im- migration system like those that have been adopted in Australia, Canada, etc., where the focus is on the individual and not on the country of origin. The purpose of govern- ment is to protect person and property and ensure liberty. When it comes to immigration, this means bringing in people who will add to the general level of prosperity and civil society, and denying entry to those who are members of crim- inal gangs or are likely to be welfare charges. Few Amer- icans would deny these statements — yet, too many in the swamp-dwelling po- litical and media class are more interested in fo- menting political discord than providing solutions. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of Improbable Success Productions and on the board of the American Council for Capital Formation © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHN Without some reasonable controls on the nation’s borders, the U.S. will always be overrun with more people than can be easily absorbed. The obvious solution is to move to a merit-based immigration system like those that have been adopted in Australia, Canada, etc. 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 findtheirownway”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 Gov’t: South Sound boardwalk construction to begin next month KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some four months after laying out cones and changing the alignment of a roughly 0.7-mile stretch of South Sound Road to allow for the development of a boardwalk and other ameni- ties in the area, government announced this week that construction on the project will begin on Feb. 19. The project along South Sound Road entails the con- struction of a 1,500-foot-long boardwalk, benches, parking, and a bike lane in the South Sound area near the Cayman Crossing subdivision. Government had origi- nally submitted plans for the development in June 2016 as part of an overall beautifica- tion and improvement scheme for the area. In October 2016, Premier Alden McLaughlin said that work would be com- pleted by the end of that year. However, no work seemed to have taken place until the National Roads Authority changed the alignment of the road and announced last September that the change was made to accommodate the boardwalk construction. Dozens of traffic cones have extended along the road- side for months, but no work has taken place. Government explained in a press release this week that it was working out “technical details” with the project contractor. “A contract was signed with The Phoenix Construc- tion Group late last year, but some final technical details had to be worked out prior to commencement,” the an- nouncement states, adding that work should be com- pleted by the end of June. Government did not pro- vide an estimated cost for the development. Government had originally submitted plans for the development in June 2016 as part of an overall beautification and improvement scheme for the area. Police make 10 DUI arrests over weekend The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service made 10 arrests for driving under the influence last weekend as part of its ongoing traffic en- forcement operations. One driver, a 45-year-old man from East End, was stopped Friday at 11:55 p.m. after officers observed him overtaking a patrol car on an unbroken white line. The driver was stopped and breath-tested and found to have a blood-al- cohol content of 0.173 percent. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and later bailed. Another man was stopped at 3 p.m. on Saturday after of- ficers observed him unsteadily exiting a bar with a plastic cup in hand. The man en- tered a vehicle and attempted to drive and was stopped im- mediately by the officers, who subsequently confirmed there was alcohol in the plastic cup. The 24-year-old man, now out on police bail, was found to be driving on a provisional license. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.174 percent. He was also arrested for driving without accompa- niment, driving without insur- ance and consuming alcohol in a vehicular conveyance. The police approached an- other car shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday after an officer observed that the vehicle was stopped on South Sound Road. The driver was found to be asleep at the wheel. When awoken by police, he appeared to be unsteady on his feet and displayed other signs of intoxication. The 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of DUI and was later found to have a blood- alcohol level of 0.219 percent. “The DUI arrests arising from our ongoing operations underscore just how many people continue to insist on driving under the influence, especially on the weekends,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood of the Traffic and Roads Po- licing Unit. “While part of our aim is to catch such individ- uals before they can cause a tragedy, the only safe solu- tion is for those who drink to simply not drive. “That is why we continue to appeal to the public to as- sist us in making the roads safer by avoiding drinking and driving, and by letting us know when you see someone who chooses to get be- hind the wheel while clearly intoxicated.” “The DUI arrests arising from our ongoing operations underscore just how many people continue to insist on driving under the influence, especially on the weekends.” INSPECTOR IAN YEARWOOD PROUD OF THEM Kareem Foster honored for sporting achievements Amateur footballer Ka- reem George Foster, 17, of Bodden Town, has been hon- ored for his achievements in the field of sports. Having started playing in earnest in primary school, his natural ability and will- ingness to train hard led to him becoming the youngest ever member of the Truth for Youth School squad at 7 years old. He captained the winning team in the Under-9 inter-primary school football league and was a member of the champion team in the Touch of Elegance under-12s basketball league. In Grade 6, Kareem was selected to be head boy at Truth for Youth and held other leadership positions there, including prefect and house captain. While at Clifton Hunter, Kareem went onto further develop his talents. In 2015, he received a “hat trick” of awards at the Cayman Is- lands Football Association awards ceremony by winning the Under-15 Top Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player in the FA Cup, and League’s Most Valuable Player. During that year, Ka- reem was twice voted winner of Digicel’s Sportsperson of the Week and helped take the Cayman Islands to third place in a regional under-15 boys championship in St. Maarten. Known for his prodigious talent, Kareem played in the men’s premier league at just 16 years old with the Cayman Athletics Sports Club, under the guidance of coach Gillie Seymour. It was during this time he received the Cayman Sports Buzz Footballer of the Week Award on an unprec- edented two occasions and perfected his signature “flip” after scoring a goal. Kareem is a member of the Cayman Islands Under-20s national side, his talents bringing him to the attention of British football scouts. He was sub- sequently headhunted and trained with both Swindon Town and Ipswich Town teams, scoring the winning goal for the latter against Nottingham Forest. On and off the football pitch, Kareem leads his peers by example, by not giving in to adversity. He won golds in the long jump and the high jump at a track and field meet while recovering from a fractured shoulder ear- lier this year. Kareem’s community ac- tivities while at school in- cluded volunteering as George Town Football Camp’s youth coach and being a youth referee in the Primary Schools Football League. Kareem’s goal is to con- tinue growing as a footballer while concentrating on his education. He is currently studying at Loughborough College in the U.K. and is on a two-year football scholar- ship from London Rangers Football Club, where he plays for both the club’s Under-18s and men’s teams. The Proud of Them initiative recognizes the positive achievements of young people between the ages of 10 and 25. Through a public nomination process, individuals are honored in various categories. Each person selected is featured for six months on billboards across the Cayman Islands and receives a certificate and $500. Kareem Foster Dozens of traffic cones have been in place on South Sound Road for months, to accommodate the construction of a boardwalk in the area. Government said work will begin next month. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA He was headhunted and trained with both Swindon Town and Ipswich Town teams, scoring the winning goal for the latter against Nottingham Forest.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, JAN. 18 THROUGH IVAN’S EYE: National Gallery, 6-8 p.m. Members’ reception for opening of exhibit Through Ivan’s Eye, photographs by Gretchen Allen. Open to public until Thursday, March 1. PUB QUIZ: The Humane Society Quiz Night is 7 p.m. at Fidel’s. $10 per person. Teams maximum of six each. Reserve a table with Sarah at 949-5189 or sarah. dyer.81@gmail.com. NRA ROADWORK: Beginning today the National Roads Authority will begin work to extend the guardrail on Seaview Road in East End. The work is expected to be completed in two weeks. Motorists are urged to use extra caution when driving in this area. BRAC DLP VISIT: Representatives from the Department of Labour and Pensions will visit Cayman Brac today to assist employers and employees with any issues or disputes. The DLP officials will be available from 9 a.m. to noon. The Cayman Brac DLP office is located at 256 Creek Road. Appointments can be made by contacting Gene Hydes, Head of Inspections, via email at gene.hydes@gov.ky or by calling 244-4008. Walk-ins are also welcome. FRIDAY, JAN. 19 CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: Today is the last day to recycle natural Christmas trees, which the Department of Environmental Health will turn into mulch. All wires and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are placed into collection bins located at Ed Bush Stadium, West Bay; George Town Cricket Field; George Town landfill public drop-off area; Spotts Dock; Entrance of Frank Sound Road; Front of George Dixon Park, East End. MUZAIC: The annual DJ Showcase, organized by the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association, takes place at Margaritaville Bar and Restaurant from 5 p.m. $10 cover charge. SATURDAY, JAN. 20 CLOTHES SALE: Clothes Sale to benefit One Dog At a Time. Montessori School of Grand Cayman, South Sound, 8-11 a.m. Many bargains, including designer clothes at everyday prices, and a wide selection of ladies’, men’s and children’s items too. FREE MULCH: Natural Christmas trees placed in collection bins by Jan. 19 will be shredded and made available as free mulch at the George Town Cricket Field today from around 8 a.m. Mulch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents are invited to come out early and to bring their shovels and bags for the removal of the mulch. MUZAIC: Young Musicians Showcase, 1-5 p.m. at Harquail Theater. Free admission. Organized by Cayman Music and Entertainment Assoc. Musical Salute at Da Station Bar, 5 p.m. till midnight. SUNDAY, JAN. 21 FAMILY FUN DAY: The Annual Family Fun Day takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, hosted by The Garden Club of Grand Cayman, in conjunction with the Botanic Park. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5 adult admission charge for the event gives full access to the park for the day. Children younger than 16 are admitted free. Activities include children’s lawn games, a magic show, a children’s craft table, a tombola, plant sale, children’s feel, touch and learn nature table, face painting and a butterfly trail. Refreshments for sale, including baked goods and juices. CMEA MUZAIC AWARDS: Ceremony takes place at Harquail Theater. Gates open at 6 p.m. MONDAY, JAN. 22 HEROES DAY: National Heroes Day celebrations take place in Heroes Square, George Town and all are invited. The public should be seated by 8:30 a.m. with the awards ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. promptly. This will be followed by a sports exhibition in George Town Town Hall featuring displays from sports associations. There will also be local food and live entertainment at the family- friendly event. For further information, contact the Protocol Office at telephone 244-3612, or via the email nationalevents@gov.ky. LIVE MUSICIANS SHOWCASE: Event organized by Cayman Music and Entertainment Assoc. at Margaritaville Bar and Restaurant, from 3 p.m. $10 cover charge. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE: Positive Discipline Workshop, six-week parenting workshop designed to equip parents with positive discipline strategies to help manage children’s behaviors, starting today, 12-1 p.m. Family Skills Session, information session on upcoming FRC Services, tonight, 6-7:30 p.m. For further information or to register, email frc@gov.ky or call 949-0006. DVDL LATE HOURS: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing Crewe Road office will remain open longer on Wednesdays this month. The office will open as normal at 8:30 a.m. but close later at 7 p.m. All other days – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – the office will operate as usual from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. SUNDAY, JAN. 28 HATTITUDE: The National Trust gala brunch takes place at Ristorante Pappagallo 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trust members, $100. Non-members, $125. Kids ages 3 to 12, $50. Theme is “Fantasea,” to bring awareness to plastic pollution and ocean conservation. Guests are encouraged to draw inspiration from the ocean when dressing for the occasion, whether in full regalia or just highlighted by choice of hat. MONDAY, JAN. 29 CO-PARENTING PROGRAM: 10-week program for families raising children between two separate households. Starts this evening, 5:30-7 p.m. Family Resource Centre at Compass Centre, North Sound Road. For further information, or to register, email frc@gov.ky or call 949-0006. TUESDAY, JAN. 30 LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT: Monthly psycho-educational sessions exploring the dynamics of Domestic Violence, starts today, 12-1 p.m. Family Resource Centre at Compass Centre, North Sound Road. For further information, or to register, email frc@gov.ky or call 949-0006. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31 OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS: Today is the deadline to apply for government overseas scholarships for the 2018/2019 academic year. Anyone planning to apply is invited to complete the Overseas Scholarship Application at www. education.gov.ky. Contact the Scholarships Secretariat for any further information at scholarships@gov.ky or 244-2482. THURSDAY, FEB. 1 STOP NOW AND PLAN (SNAP): 13-week program teaching children with behavioral problems, and their parents to make better choices in the moment. Starts today, 5:30-7 p.m. Family Resource Centre at Compass Centre, North Sound Road. For further information, or to register, email frc@gov.ky or call 949-0006. GENERAL INTEREST BABY SHOW: On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 51st Agricultural Show. Registration is now open for boys and girls age 0-48 months. Registration forms must be returned by Feb. 7. For information, contact Eziethamae Bodden at 929-9932. LOBSTER SEASON: The open season for lobster runs until Feb. 28. Bag limit is three per person per day or six per boat per day, whichever is less. Minimum size is a six-inch tail length. No taking lobsters from Marine Protected Areas. Only spiny lobster may be taken. No wearing gloves while snorkeling. No taking of lobster (or any marine life other than lionfish) while scuba diving. CONCH AND WHELK SEASON: The open season for conch and whelk runs until April 30. The legal limit for conch is five per person per day or 10 per boat, whichever is less. The limit for whelk catches is two-and-a-half gallons in the shell, or two-and-a-half pounds of processed whelks, per person, per day. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. OPEN CANVAS: Every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant located in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee. Easels provided for artist of all levels to come out and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Email info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. ‘Genesis (2004)’ by Gretchen Allen is one of the images that will be on display at the National Gallery’s newest exhibit, Through Ivan’s Eye, which opens Thursday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 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 In Grand Court, delays could impair Cayman’s rep- utation as a leading finan- cial center, he said. A main reason people chose to do business in Cayman is its judicial system’s reputa- tion for independence, integ- rity, incorruptibility and effi- ciency, he said. The Chief Justice read a letter written in November 2017 by Court Administrator Suzanne Bothwell to the chairman of the Finance Com- mittee, Minister Roy McTag- gart, and copied to Premier Alden McLaughlin expressing concern that a $4 million re- quest for acquisition of land in George Town and design plans for a new courthouse had been removed without any explanation. What funds were approved for the Judiciary were wholly insufficient for the court project to advance, he pointed out. Ms. Bothwell had asked for the matter to re- turn to Finance Committee for a supplement to the judicial budget but to date she had re- ceived no answer. From the Chief Justice’s perspective, this was “a new and sudden demonstration of indifference.” The Chief Justice quoted section 108 of the Constitu- tion: “The Legislature and the Cabinet shall uphold the rule of law and judicial in- dependence, and shall en- deavor that adequate funds are provided to support the judicial administration in the Cayman Islands.” Both Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. McTaggart were in court to hear the Chief Justice’s ad- dress. Governor Helen Kilpat- rick, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and MLAs Alva Suckoo and Kenneth Bryan also attended. The ceremonial opening began with a police guard of honor outside the Law Courts Building, observed by numerous attorneys, court staff and passers-by. Guests then filled Court 1, with an overflow directed to Court 2, where proceed- ings were seen on a large screen via Skype. Attorney General Samuel Bulgin spoke first in moving the motion for the opening of court. The motion was seconded by attorney Alas- dair Robertson on behalf of the Cayman Islands Law So- ciety and attorney Stephen Watler on behalf of the Cay- manian Bar Association, both of whom spoke about the need for a modern Legal Practitioners Law. Attorney Colin McKie, speaking as a contributing editor for the Cayman Islands Law Re- ports, explained what is meant by the rule of law. Their speeches will be re- ported in a subsequent issue of the Cayman Compass.Attorney General Samuel Bulgin attends the court opening ceremony. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Senior members of Cayman’s legal and judicial fraternity pose for a group photograph in front of the courthouse in downtown George Town Wednesday. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Chief Justice: Urgent need for more courtrooms FRANCE CONSIDERS LOANING BRITAIN HISTORIC BAYEUX TAPESTRY PARIS (AP) – French officials said Wednesday they plan to loan the historic Bayeux Tapestry to Britain, allowing the 11th-century artwork depicting the conquest of England to leave France for the first time in centuries. The mayor of the Nor- mandy town of Bayeux, Pat- rick Gomont, said the loan is about five years away because restoration work is required to ensure the fragile 230-foot-long cloth is not damaged in transit. It currently resides in a mu- seum in the town. The Times of London newspaper reported that French President Em- manuel Macron will an- nounce the loan of the artwork when he meets British Prime Minister Theresa May for talks on Brexit, security and other issues on Thursday. The tapestry is a both a treasured work of medi- eval art and a valuable his- torical document that de- picts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. It last left Normandy during World War II, when it was moved to Paris. CAYMAN MUSICIAN STILL IN HOSPITAL BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dexter Bodden, “The Ca- lypso Cowboy,” remained in hospital Wednesday after he was shot outside his George Town home Monday night. Mr. Bodden under- went additional surgeries Tuesday and Wednesday and remained in “critical but stable” condition as of press time Wednesday. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service is still investigating the case and had made no arrests in con- nection with the attack as of Wednesday afternoon. Police said Mr. Bodden was attacked outside his home near the intersection of Avon Way and Eastern Av- enue around 6:30 p.m. by a lone gunman who fired shots into his vehicle. The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS leading auditors to issue an adverse opinion on the entire public sector’s fi- nancial statements in both 2015 and 2016. That opinion means the figures provided in the govern- ment’s financial records cannot be relied upon. Precisely how much more added pension and healthcare liabilities are costing the government each year was not specifi- cally stated in the audit re- port, but some of the to- tals can be gleaned from documents previously re- leased by government. They come to a one-year estimated total of an addi- tional $157 million for the 2015/16 budget year. A valuation completed in September 2016 es- timated Cayman’s total post-retirement healthcare obligation at $1.7 billion as of June 30, 2016. That is the present-value figure that Cayman’s govern- ment expects to pay out for healthcare coverage over the next 20 years. It is not due all at once. However, a pre-elec- tion finance report filed in early 2017 noted a “current value” for the post-retire- ment healthcare costs. “The post-retirement medical expense total[ed] $141 million for the year ended June 30, 2016,” the report stated. The government’s pre- election economic and fi- nancial update also noted the following: “For all in- tents and purposes, the government is on a ‘pay- as-you-go’ plan in respect of post-retirement health- care liabilities. Currently, no long-term assets have been established to start offsetting the govern- ment’s post-retirement healthcare liability.” Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands government was advised to pay an addi- tional $16 million a year for a 20-year period – starting in 2016 – to help settle funding deficiencies in its main civil service pension plan. The total bill for the pe- riod would be $320 mil- lion, according to financial advisers’ estimates in a re- port on the Public Service Pensions plan obtained by the Cayman Compass under the Freedom of In- formation Law. The recommended $16 million per year contribu- tion by government would be in excess of normal an- nual pension contributions made on behalf of em- ployees during the period and would therefore not be included in the budget as a payroll expense. Liabilities Certain changes to lessen the blow of health- care costs over the next 20 years have already been made by the government, including increasing the retirement age for civil servants to 65. Another major change being discussed is a re- quirement that civil ser- vants contribute a por- tion of their salaries to monthly healthcare pre- miums. However, the Cayman Islands Civil Ser- vice Association recently noted that its member- ship has not agreed to any such co-payment without choice in healthcare pro- viders being offered to plan participants. Retired civil servants and active government workers are not required to make co-payments. Their monthly premiums are paid by government. The Cayman Islands government is obligated to provide civil service re- tirees, veterans and seamen a certain level of healthcare benefits during their later years when they are no longer working. The liability figure represents what gov- ernment is expected to pay over a specified period for these healthcare services, which include, to some extent, payments to cur- rent civil servants whose retirement is expected during the period. OVERSEAS TERRITORIES House of Lords rejects public beneficial ownership registers MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com An attempt to push British overseas territories to create publicly accessible beneficial ownership regis- tries for companies, if nec- essary through an order in council, has been rejected by the U.K. House of Lords. In its debate of the proposed Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the upper house of the U.K. parliament on Wednesday voted down an amendment to insert a clause into the bill that would have re- quired the responsible minister to issue an order in council to force all overseas territories to implement a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership of companies by Jan. 1, 2020, if they had not done so already. The clause defined public registers as broadly equivalent to the U.K.’s own register of persons of significant control. Cayman has established a beneficial ownership registry that is accessible by law en- forcement and tax authorities during the course of active in- vestigations. However, it is not open to the public. Baroness Stern, who had tabled a similar amendment during the debate of the U.K. Criminal Finances Bill, said with each leak or hack, such as the Panama Papers and Par- adise Papers, the argument for transparency becomes stronger. While she acknowl- edged that not all owners of offshore companies have some- thing to hide, she said those that do are well served by anonymous shell companies. Lord Collins of Highbury, who moved the amendment, said setting the highest stan- dards and taking the lead is the way to reach international agreement. The proposal re- ceived significant pushback. The Earl of Kinnoull said he disagreed with the amendment “wholly.” He noted that the over- seas territories have their own legislators and the U.K. would not normally legislate with re- gard to devolved matters. “Were we to legislate without even to consult with those parliaments, it would be wrong, just as it would be wrong with regard to Scotland and Wales.” He also argued that none of the overseas territories were cited for a lack of transpar- ency by the recently published EU tax blacklist and graylist. The amendment would jeopar- dize goodwill and undermine the continual progress the overseas territories had made on the issue. “This amendment is con- stitutionally wrong and un- just and causing unwarranted aspersions with a number of our loyal overseas territo- ries,” he added. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign and Common- wealth Office minister, em- phasized the efforts made by the Cayman Islands and other territories in establishing cen- tralized registries and pro- viding beneficial ownership information to U.K. authorities. Rather than impose new requirements on overseas ter- ritories without their con- sent, the U.K. should focus on the existing cooperation and the progress that has been made, he said. In cooperation with the U.K. government, the overseas terri- tories had passed their own leg- islation and made technological investments. And as a result, “They are already meeting inter- national regulations.” Changing the rules again “would be unac- ceptable,” he said. Imposing public registers would only drive business to other less well-regulated juris- dictions, where British law en- forcement authorities would not have the same level of ac- cess, Lord Ahmad said. The House of Lords re- jected the amendment by 211 to 201 votes. Auditors: Government personnel costs ‘understated’ by millions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sue Winspear The premier, governor and representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection were among the dignitaries at an event Tuesday to sign a new agreement aimed at streamlining airport procedures. to travel to Miami to pre- clear passengers. The agreement will begin with a pilot pro- gram involving Cayman Air- ways flights coming out of Miami on Sundays. Mr. McLaughlin said, “This is something we have been planning for and hoping for, for some time. It is the first such agreement the U.S. has entered into with any country and we have a heavy burden to make sure we do it right.” The most significant im- pact of the change will be to prevent bottlenecks in the cus- toms and immigration hall at Owen Roberts International Airport when several flights arrive at once. Pre-cleared passengers will go straight through to baggage claim. “It will introduce a new fast-track procedure at the airport and help im- prove customer experience at peak weekend times,” the premier said. Wesley Howell, chief of- ficer in the ministry of human resources and im- migration, said the costs in- volved in setting up the new arrangement would be neg- ligible. Cayman immigration and customs staff will fly out on Cayman Airways planes and return the same day. Matthew Forbes, head of the governor’s office in the Cayman Islands, said the ar- rangement would also in- volve closer collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection force. He said the partnership dovetailed with previously announced plans to bring in an experienced manager from the U.K. Border Force to advise on the creation of a new Cayman Islands Border Protection Service. “This marks the start of a new era of modern intelli- gence-led border control that will provide greater secu- rity to the Cayman Islands. This is part of a wider pro- gram of work to modernize our border controls which will see a renewed focus on the prevention of fire- arms and drug smuggling,” Mr. Forbes said. Todd Owen, the assistant director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was in Cayman this week to finalize the agreement. He said the program could be a model for the re- gion in enhancing security and improving experience for travelers. “The airport fast-track program is designed to en- hance airport security by identifying, detecting and in- tercepting high-risk individ- uals without inhibiting le- gitimate lawful travelers,” Mr. Owen said. On the possibility of a similar pre-clearance ar- rangement for Cayman-based travelers heading to the U.S., he acknowledged this was financially difficult for smaller countries. “U.S. pre-clearance is not designed for every market be- cause the volumes have to be there,” he added. Premier McLaughlin said it had been explored in depth and was not deemed feasible. “It is extremely expen- sive, and the number of pas- sengers leaving the Cayman Islands for the U.S. simply don’t justify it,” he said. Christopher Maston, port director at Miami Interna- tional Airport, said new mea- sures, including automated passport control kiosks and facial recognition technology, were being deployed at the airport in Miami in an ef- fort to make the process of negotiating customs and im- migration smoother and more efficient. New pilot program allows passengers to Cayman to pre-clear in Miami CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Personnel costs of $352 million in 2015 and $400 million in 2016 have been understated.” SUE WINSPEAR, auditor generalThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 Ada Mildred Bodden-Terry 22 Sept 1921 – 18 January 201722 Sept 1921 – 18 January 201722 Sept 1921 – 18 January 2017 Today is one sad year since you left us. Your time on earth was done. No one could make you stay. Sleep on and take your rest. From your daughters Harriet & Judy, Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren. And the rest of the family. At least 30 bodies found in Mexico graves Authorities in the Mexican state of Nayarit say they are investigating the remains of at least 30 people found in three clandestine graves. There was a spike in disappearances in the region from June to September after the area’s most powerful organized crime group splintered. Rival Koreas agree to form first unified Olympic team SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – The rival Koreas agreed Wednesday to form their first unified Olympic team and have their athletes parade together for the first time in 11 years during the opening ceremony of next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea, officials said. The agreements still re- quire approval from the In- ternational Olympic Com- mittee. But they are the most prominent steps toward rap- prochement achieved by the Koreas since they recently began exploring coopera- tion during the Olympics fol- lowing a year of heightened tension over the North’s nu- clear weapons program. During their third day of talks at the border in about a week, senior officials reached a package of agreements in- cluding fielding a joint wom- en’s ice hockey team and marching together under a blue and white “unification flag” depicting their pen- insula in the opening cer- emony, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said. A joint statement distrib- uted by the ministry said the North Korean Olympic del- egation will travel to South Korea across their heavily for- tified land border before the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Games. It said the delegation will in- clude a 230-member cheering group, a 30-member tae kwon do demonstration team, jour- nalists, athletes and officials. Ahead of the Olympics, the Koreas will hold a joint cultural event at the North’s scenic Diamond Moun- tain and have non-Olympic skiers train together at the North’s Masik ski resort, ac- cording to the statement. It said the North also plans to send a 150-strong del- egation to the Paralympics in March. The North ear- lier said it would send a 140-member art troupe. The agreements are highly symbolic and emotional. But it is still not clear how many North Korean athletes will come to Pyeongchang be- cause none are currently qualified. South Korean media have predicted only up to 10 North Korean ath- letes will end up being cov- ered by an additional quota from the IOC. A pair of North Korean figure skaters qualified for this year’s Olympics, but North Korea missed a dead- line to confirm their partici- pation. The IOC said recently it has “kept the door open” for North Korea to take part in the games. IOC officials are to meet with sports and government officials from the two Koreas and officials from the Pyeongchang orga- nizing committee in Switzer- land on Saturday. The IOC said in statement Wednesday that it has “taken note of a number of inter- esting proposals from dif- ferent sources.” “There are many consider- ations with regard to the im- pact of these proposals on the other participating NOCs (na- tional Olympic committees) and athletes. After having taken all this into consider- ation, the IOC will take its final decisions on Saturday in Lausanne,” it said. The two Koreas have sent joint teams to major inter- national sports events twice previously, both in 1991. One event was the world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan, where the women’s team won the cham- pionship by beating the powerful Chinese, and the other was soccer’s World Youth Championship in Por- tugal, where the Korean team reached the quarterfinals. During an era of de- tente in the 2000s, their ath- letes marched together in the opening and closing cer- emonies of nine international sporting events including the 2000 Sydney Olym- pics, but they failed to pro- duce a joint team. Their last joint march was at the Asian Winter Games in Changchun, China, in 2007. The current reconciliation mood began after North Ko- rean leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year’s speech that he was willing to send a del- egation to the games. Critics have said Kim’s overture is an attempt to use improved ties with South Korea to weaken U.S.-led international sanc- tions on North Korea while buying time to perfect his nu- clear weapons program. The moves nevertheless have provided a temporary thaw in the Koreas’ long- strained ties and fostered op- timism that North Korea will not launch any new provo- cations, at least during the Olympics. Last year, North Korea carried out its sixth and biggest nuclear test ex- plosion and test-fired three intercontinental ballistic mis- siles, and Kim and U.S. Pres- ident Donald Trump traded threats of war and crude in- sults against each other. Some conservative critics say North Korea’s cheering and artistic groups are too big, and worry the North may try to steal the show at the Olympics to launch what they call a “peace offensive” to try to show it’s a normal country despite pursuing nu- clear weapons. North Korea also sent highly trained female cheering groups dressed in bright, attractive outfits when it attended previous interna- tional sports events in South Korea. The groups, chosen for their cheering skills as well as their good looks and dubbed “beauty squads” by South Korean media, often received more attention than their athletes. Kim Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, was a member of a 2005 squad. North Korea under Kim has made sports, and es- pecially success in inter- national sporting events, a high priority. While it’s not a major winter sports compet- itor, North Korean athletes have set several weightlifting world records and its women hold a high profile on the world football scene. When traveling abroad, however, North Korean ath- letes and coaches tend to cloister themselves away from outsiders when they are not competing or practicing. De- fections are likely a concern, along with what their minders might deem to be ideological “contamination,” so they are kept under close scrutiny. South wakes up to snow, ice and record-breaking cold ATLANTA (AP) – The South awoke on Wednesday to a two-part Arctic mess. First came a thin blanket of snow and ice, and then came the below-zero wind chills and record-breaking low temper- atures in New Orleans and other cities. The snowfall sabotaged morning rush hour even be- fore it began, sending cars crashing into each other on major thoroughfares throughout the region. Offi- cials urged people to stay off the slick roads if possible, and to bundle up and wear layers of clothing if they ven- tured outside. Dozens of accidents were reported in the metro Atlanta area, including one involving a salt truck and another in- volving a rapid-transit bus. “Give crews the time and space they need to clear the accidents,” Georgia Depart- ment of Transportation Nat- alie Dale told WSB-TV “If you can’t safely get out of your neighborhood, it’s best to stay put.” The blast of cold air shattered records early Wednesday in Louisiana and Mississippi. It was 21 degrees before dawn Wednesday in New Orleans. That breaks the city’s record low tempera- ture for the date, which was 23 degrees set in 1977. In Mississippi, the tem- perature in Hattiesburg dipped to 13 degrees early Wednesday, breaking the previous record low of 14. Gov. Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for 83 counties, spanning much of central and north Georgia. This line extends from Co- lumbus to Macon to Au- gusta and northward. State government will be closed Wednesday in the im- pacted areas for non-essen- tial personnel. Forecasters said travel could be difficult in north Georgia because of below- zero wind chills. Many Georgia school districts already had announced early dismissal times and cancellations. The same slippery condi- tions and dangerous wind chills swept across several southern states Tuesday, shutting down interstates, triggering highway crashes, closing airport runways and prompting widespread school closings. Snow fell in a wide band that stretched from southeastern Texas all the way to western Massachusetts. Forecasters said up to 4 inches could fall in cen- tral North Carolina as the system pushed northward, with a couple of inches ex- pected farther east. North- western South Carolina could get up to 2 inches of snow, the weather service said. Snow also was forecast Wednesday for parts of Ala- bama, where Gov. Kay Ivey shut down government of- fices as a precaution. Many schools dis- tricts in Louisiana will re- main closed for a second straight day Wednesday, as the precipitation gives way to single-digit wind chills that keep icy roads from thawing. The Louisiana Depart- ment of Transportation and Development announced the closing of Interstate 10 in both directions between Baton Rouge and Lafay- ette. Steep on and off-ramps as well as elevated road- ways are concerns to public safety in icy conditions, it said in a news release. Back in North Caro- lina, it had been snowing for more than an hour by 8 a.m. Wednesday, and a thin white sheen of precipitation had formed on sidewalks and driveways. The roads glistened with moisture but ap- peared passable. In this photo provided by South Korea Unification Ministry, South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung, center right, shakes hands with the head of the North Korean delegation Jon Jong Su during their meeting at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday. - PHOTO: APNext >