ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 187610_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-DPage 1 1/19/18 10:43:22 AM Cayman hails its sporting heroes JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some of Cayman’s most successful athletes, its first Olympians, football heroes, and track and field stars were honored Monday as part of the annual National Heroes Day celebrations. Long-time administrators and coaches who have worked with generations of youngsters were also among the 316 people who received honors at the event in Heroes Square. The roll call of recipients included Cydonie Moth- ersill, who won a Commonwealth gold amid a host of medals in a glittering track career; Renard Moxam, Cayman’s first professional footballer with the Toronto Blizzard in the 1970s; and professional boxer Charles “Killa” Whittaker. Frank Flowers, the founder of Cayman’s famous Flowers Sea Swim, and Derek Haines, who helped de- velop the sport of rugby in Cayman and more recently hit the headlines for running marathons to help raise Conference celebrates the art of living well More than 1,000 visitors – no doubt many of them staying true to their New Year’s reso- lutions for self-improvement – attended the in- augural “LiveWell” health, wellness and beauty event at the Camana Bay Arts and Recreation Center on Saturday. Organized by Cayman Health, a publica- tion of Pinnacle Media, the attendees not only witnessed fitness demonstrations, ranging from rave aerobics to chair dancing to kick boxing, but also received beauty and makeup treatments, as well as B12 infusions courtesy of ReViv, a new wellness business in Grand Cayman, and free flu shots, provided by Cay- man’s Health Services Authority professionals. All told, more than 50 exhibitors, including hospitals, clinics, medical and wellness practi- tioners, boutiques and spas, among others, par- ticipated in the day-long event. According to Vicki Legge, organizer of LiveWell and Pinnacle Media co-publisher, “The concept was to focus holistically on mind, body and spirit, bringing all those different ele- ments together.” The event, she said, featured three stages: A Beauty Stage featuring makeovers by Kirk Free- port using their Bare Minerals products and actual cosmetic injection treatments by Beyond Basics professionals; a Fitness Pavilion with free fitness classes led by the top instructors on island; and a Health Talk Stage where experts, including physicians, presented short talks fol- lowed by question and answer sessions. Everyone who attended donated their $10 entry fee to one of the event’s three chosen char- ities: Cayman Heart Fund, the Breast Cancer Foundation and Cayman HospiceCare. Volun- teers from all three charities were on hand to SPEED DEMONS BACK ON TRACK Bikers and drivers returned to the Breakers Speedway track Sunday to take part in an afternoon of racing, dubbed “Grudgement Day.” The event drew large crowds and a heavy police presence, to ensure the high-speed ac- tion did not spill over to the streets. For more on this story, see page 8. YOUNG FATHER KILLED IN EASTERN AVENUE SHOOTING Police condemn graphic video, call for witnesses JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 28-year-old father-of-two was shot dead outside a barber shop on Eastern Avenue, Saturday night. Omar Bailey, who had a 1-month-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, was shot multiple times in the car park of the Walton Centre in George Town, around 9:20 p.m. He was originally from Jamaica but had lived in Cayman for several years, working mostly in the construction trade. His partner Margeorgia Williams said she was devastated by the news. She said, “He has two kids, we recently just had a boy. He’s 1 month old. “Omar was a nice, loving person, you could count on him for anything. He had his ups and downs, nobody’s perfect, but he’s not the type to pick fights or anything. You could depend on him, if I needed Pampers for the baby, if my kids ever needed anything, he would make sure we were OK.” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Quinntessential Movement gives attendees at Saturday’s LiveWell conference at the Arts and Recreation Center a chance to try out pole dancing fitness. Beha Hansson, left, and Alan Mackay receive bravery citations at National Heroes Day.2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Magistrate says $13,000 in fines and costs should be a deterrent CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An American tourist was ordered to pay $13,000 in fines and costs on Friday after pleading guilty to importing a .22 revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Daniel Hischer, 62, said he had brought the gun with him for protection as he had been the victim of an attempted murder in the United States. He entered his pleas on Thursday before Magis- trate Kirsty-Ann Gunn. He sat in the dock wringing his hands as senior Crown counsel Candia James and defense attorney Anthony Akiwumi made their submis- sions on the facts and per- tinent law. On Friday, when the magistrate asked what factors would push the sen- tence over the custody threshold and then adjourned to consider her decision, Mr. Hischer put his hands to his head and wept. The importation occurred on Saturday, Jan. 6, when Mr. Hischer arrived in Cayman with his wife and other rel- atives for a family holiday. They stayed in East End and “had a fabulous time,” Mr. Akiwumi reported. They were Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) THE COMMUTER (PG13) 12:40 VIP I 2:40 I 5:05 I 7:30 I 9:45 VIP I 9:55 TADEO JONES: THE HERO RETURNS (PG) 12:30 I 3:15 I 5:30 I 7:45 ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (R) 12:55 I 4:40 I 9:50 INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY (PG13) 4:15 I 9:40 THE POST (PG13) 12:45 I 3:50 I 7:05 I 9:45 JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 12:25 I 3:45 VIP I 7:00 I 10:00 PROUD MARY (R) 12:20 I 2:30 I 7:35 CLASSICS @ THE MOVIES: SHANE (PG) 7:00 VIP • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets American tourist fined for loaded gun Gas station robbed Two men held up the Barcam Esso on Sham- rock Road in George Town in an armed robbery early Sunday morning. Police said the robbery occurred around 5:30 a.m. The robbers took an un- disclosed quantity of cash and made their getaway in a dark-colored compact ve- hicle, heading in the direc- tion of central George Town. The men are described as both being about 6 feet tall, one being of pro- portionate build wearing blue jeans and a plain, white T-shirt, while the other was of stocky build, wearing all black. No shots were fired in the robbery and no one was injured, police said. HURRICANE TRANSFORMS ART IN LATEST GALLERY EXHIBIT MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands’ Na- tional Gallery began its new year exhibition “shorts” last week with a new exhibit called “Through Ivan’s Eye.” The exhibit features a se- ries of photographic images by writer and photographer Gretchen Allen, which she re- discovered years after they were distorted and “trans- formed” by nature during Hurricane Ivan, when her home was flooded. Up to 2004, Ms. Allen had amassed thousands of im- ages on slides that repre- sented a lifetime of work. In the aftermath of Ivan, Ms. Allen discovered that a lot of her work was badly dam- aged during the storm. She salvaged what was left and stored them in a container. At the beginning of hur- ricane season last year, she decided to reopen the boxes in which she had stored her slides, to find that they had evolved, in their deterioration, into pieces of abstract art. On the National Gal- lery’s website, Ms. Allen de- scribes the metamorphosis of her work: “What I found was both startling and sur- prising; explosive colors poured forth, as though someone had upended God’s paint box. Here, unexpect- edly, were intriguing ab- stractions, French impres- sionistic pieces and cosmic cloudscapes. These images, capturing what once my eye had witnessed of the world, are here transformed, trans- mogrified. They no longer get their meaning from the story they once told, but rather from the story ‘painted’ by the storm. They now are Ivan’s works, no longer mine.” Speaking at the opening of the exhibit Thursday night, Ms. Allen described this experience as a “gift” from Ivan, explaining that “out of this horrible destruc- tion, there had been born things of beauty.” Ms. Allen said she be- lieves people who experi- enced Hurricane Ivan will be able to truly appreciate this exhibition. As the National Gallery’s director, Natalie Urquhart, put it, “[the artwork] is re- ally a conversation or a duet between Gretchen Allen and Hurricane Ivan itself.” She added that she be- lieved it “very timely to show- case this incredible work and [to] look at the beauty we can find in destruction,” espe- cially considering last year’s devastating hurricane season. The National Gallery will be running this showcase until March 1. The gallery is hosting a series of five photography exhibition “shorts.” The next short will be “Solaris: Dig- ital Solar Imaging,” by Dr. Bill Hrudey, which features pho- tographs of the sun taken through the solar telescope at the observatory at the Uni- versity College of the Cayman Islands. That exhibit opens Tuesday, Jan. 23. scheduled to leave the island Saturday, Jan. 13, on a flight straight back to Minneap- olis, Minnesota. Ms. James reported what happened at the airport then. The defendant’s luggage was screened and what appeared to be a small revolver was observed. The suitcase was sent for further checking and the handgun was recovered. Customs officers were called to deal with the matter. When questioned, Mr. Hischer said he knew the firearm was in the suit- case before he traveled. He had obtained the gun after he was the victim of an at- tempted murder. Mr. Akiwumi explained that in 2016 Mr. Hischer was the victim of an “appalling unprovoked attack.” He was watching a festival outside his home when a man un- known to him approached and slashed him across the throat, within a millimeter of his carotid artery. The man was charged but the matter has not yet been resolved. Mr. Hischer, who has used guns since he was 15, felt more se- cure with the revolver. In Cayman, he never took the gun out of the suitcase, Mr. Hischer told authori- ties. His wife had filled out the customs declaration and signed it, so he had never read it and she did not know he had the gun. Ms. James said she was satisfied from documentation produced that Mr. Hischer had no previous convictions and he was authorized to carry a firearm in his home jurisdiction. This was his first trip outside the U.S. other than a cruise around the Carib- bean. He did not declare the gun when he came here be- cause he did not know it was illegal in this country, Ms. James concluded. Mr. Akiwumi ampli- fied that belief, telling the court, “The idea that it was a problem to have a firearm was a shocking surprise to him …. [He had] a lack of appreciation that the freedom in the United States to carry arms doesn’t ex- tend elsewhere.” The attorney said Mr. Hischer had previously trav- eled to Texas with his gun in his suitcase and it remained there until this trip. He suggested that the air- line on which Mr. Hischer had traveled should bear some responsibility. “How is it in 2018 with all the se- curity checks we have to go through when we travel in- ternationally, an individual is able to check in luggage with a lethal weapon? … You can’t even take tooth- paste more than three ounces, but you can check in a firearm?” he queried. Mr. Akiwumi submitted some 30 references that de- scribed Mr. Hischer as honor- able, upstanding, trustworthy and a good neighbor. He and Ms. James agreed on recent precedents in Sum- mary Court involving visi- tors with guns: two cases involved fines of $2,000 and $8,000 respectively. Mr. Aki- wumi said these sentences accorded with the principle of exceptional circumstances. Otherwise, the mandatory minimum sentence would be seven years. Both counsel commented on a case that went to the Court of Appeal: an island resident legally purchased an air gun in the U.S. and brought it undetected onto the island, not knowing he needed a permit. When he found out he needed a li- cense, he did not get one im- mediately; he was seen using the gun to shoot vermin be- fore he obtained a license. The high court reduced his prison sentence from two years to one year. In passing sentence, the magistrate referred to sim- ilarities and differences in that case and Mr. Hischer. Mr. Hischer had a permit in Min- nesota and did not know he needed a license in Cayman. The differences were that Mr. Hischer did not use the gun in Cayman and, more impor- tantly, he did not intend that the gun should remain here. An aggravating feature was that the gun was loaded and a big danger was that the gun could have fallen into the hands of someone who did have criminal intent, the magistrate said. She rejected the idea that the airline should bear the greater responsibility: It is the responsibility of any vis- itors to advise themselves of the laws of the country they visit, she emphasized. Overall, she found that Mr. Hischer’s lack of crim- inal intent, his intent to re- move the gun from the is- land, his exemplary character and unlikelihood of further offending were cumulatively sufficient for her to find ex- ceptional circumstances. Being a visitor was not an exceptional circumstance, the magistrate said, but it should not be a reason for a harsher sentence, she in- dicated. If a resident were given a suspended sentence, it could be supervised, but such a sentence would lose punitive effect for someone not remaining on island and it might be construed that the visitor was going unpun- ished, which could under- mine the very purpose of the sentencing regime, she said. The magistrate concluded that a substantial financial penalty could have a deter- rent effect. She therefore fined Mr. Hischer $10,000 for the gun, $2,500 for the bullets, and ordered him to pay $500 in costs. She re- corded a conviction against him and ordered the weapon and ammunition forfeited for destruction. JURY NOTICE All Grand Court ju- rors who are in the Jan- uary 2018 session are advised that the next report date has been changed to Monday, Jan. 29 at 9:45 a.m. There is no need to report on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Call the Jury Information hotline at 244-3899 for the most up-to-date information or email jury@judicial.ky. National Gallery Director Natalie Urquhart, left, and photographer/artist Gretchen Allen pose in front of the photographic display at the opening of the ‘Through Ivan’s Eye’ exhibit Thursday night. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 REGISTER NOW @CAYMANSUMMIT.COM SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS INDUSTRY SPEAKERS DATE: FEBRUARY 8-9, 2018 LOCATION: GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS VENUE: KIMPTON SEAFIRE RESORT+SPA WWW: CAYMANSUMMIT.COM Will Smith Actor, Film Producer, Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist Mark Yusko CEO and CIO, Morgan Creek Capital Management Roxanne Joyal CEO, ME to WE Kwami Williams Co-Founder, MoringaConnect Igor Tulchinsky Founder, Chairman & CEO, Worldquant LLC Tania Carnegie Chief Impact Offi cer and Leader, KPMG Lord Michael Hastings Global Head of Corporate Citizenship, KPMG Nouriel Roubini Chairman & CEO, Roubini Macro Associates Constance Hunter Principal, Chief Economist, KPMG Gillian Kemmerer Anchor & U.S. Head of Programming, Asset TV Dr. Anthony Atala, MD Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine Professor Amin Rajan CEO, CREATE-Research Peter Smith Asset Management Editor/ FTfm Editor, Financial Times Ben Melkman Founder, CEO and CIO, Light Sky Macro LP Valerie Sill President, CEO and CIO, Dupont Capital Management Anthony Cowell Partner, Head of Asset Management, KPMG Abigail Noble CEO, The Impact Jim McCaughan Chief Executive Offi cer, Principal Global Investors Professor Tarun Ramadorai Professor of Financial Economics, Imperial College London Danica Patrick Driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sophia The Robot Hanson Robotics Ltd Jeremy Bailenson Founding Director, Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Stanford University Yanis Varoufakis Former Minister of Finance, GreeceThe 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. In his annual speech to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce last week, Premier Alden McLaughlin promised “radical” changes to local immi- gration and labor policies. In the necessary work of comprehensive immigra- tion reform, we have a “radical” suggestion of our own: Separate the issue of immigration from that of Cayma- nian unemployment. Yes, there is a relationship, but it is more one of “distant cousins” than spouses or siblings. As the premier told business leaders in his speech last Thursday: “Cayman’s economy is founded on the strong entrepreneurial spirit of Caymanians and our will- ingness to embrace the contributions of the expatriate community. I must stress that our continued success requires the continuation of both those factors.” He continued: “We are not building an economy to only benefit businesses or an elite few, but we are building for all Caymanians. Both sides [referring to local companies and workers] must accept that economic contract.” The premier’s words differ from what some dema- gogic politicians preach as gospel. Their sermon goes something like this: Caymanians are victims in their own country. They are not getting their “fair share.” They are “discrimi- nated against” by expatriates, business owners (ironi- cally the vast majority – in fact, nearly all – of Cayman businesses are owned by Caymanians), and “vic- timized” by unscrupulous employers, cold-hearted managers, and circumstances beyond their control. It is a gospel of supplication and powerlessness. However, there is just enough truth in it – some Cay- manians are discriminated against – to be anecdotally sustainable – perfect fodder for pandering politicians, anonymous bloggers and disgruntled talk-radio hosts. But it is a divisive and dangerous orthodoxy – certainly one that should not be used as a guide to crafting employment or immigration legislation. The goal of immigration reform must be to make the system more efficient, effective, and economically stimulative. It is too blunt a tool to secure jobs for the estimated 1,500 unemployed Caymanians or to fine- tune decisions regarding who deserves, or does not deserve, mobility in the workplace. That is a socialist’s dream and a capitalist’s nightmare. (Any business owner or manager who is so obtuse, stupid or biased to discriminate against qualified Cay- manians for jobs – opting instead to invest signifi- cant time and precious resources to bring in foreign workers – should himself or herself join the ranks of the unemployed.) During his remarks, the premier declared that the esti- mated 6.2 percent local unemployment rate is “still too high,” and vowed to make “full Caymanian employment” his government’s goal for the remainder of this term. That is a nice sentiment, but it needs more precision. Any economist, or thinking person, will tell you there is a significant difference between full employ- ment and no unemployment. The distinction between the two takes into account an ever-shifting workforce (those temporarily between jobs) as well as the gap between available workers and available jobs, and the quality of the workforce, namely the talents, skills, edu- cation and experience of those seeking employment. “Zero unemployment” exists nowhere, and, of course, Mr. McLaughlin knows this. It is government’s responsibility to ensure that all students enrolled in the public school system are offered an education that will enable them to provide a good life for themselves and their families in their homeland. It is every individual’s responsibility to study, and work, to their fullest to enable their participation in all of the largesse these islands have to offer. And it is the responsibility of every employer in the private sector to offer every Caymanian every oppor- tunity to do so. The need for clarity – and candor – on immigration issues TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Immigration reform will lead to more prosperous US U.S. immigration policy sorely needs modernization. By endorsing reforms of- fered by Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue, Presi- dent Donald Trump offers Congress an opportunity to better consider how new ar- rivals can contribute to na- tional prosperity. The United States has about 45 million immigrants and annually welcomes 1.5 million. About one-quarter are illegal and that has hardly changed in recent years – de- clining birth rates abroad and tougher border enforce- ment have slowed the inflow. Canada and Australia face challenges similar to ours – falling birth rates, skill short- ages and societies defined by waves of immigrants from Eu- rope and Asia – and both place priority on employment needs. In contrast, the United States emphasizes family re- unification. Green cards are granted automatically to spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens. Sub- ject to limits, entry is granted to other relatives of citizens, legal immigrants and refu- gees, and those who can con- tribute to economic growth. Ultimately, about 65 per- cent of immigrant visas are based on family ties and 15 percent on employment. The remainder is mostly through a lottery for underrepre- sented countries. The Cotton-Perdue bill would limit family reunifica- tion visas to minor children and spouses, leave employ- ment quotas unchanged and end the lottery. Potential economic growth is determined by the sum of productivity and labor force growth. Both have fallen, causing many economists to conclude 2 percent growth is inevitable. However, missing from this is a discussion of labor force quality. Innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence and other areas indicate broad opportunities to boost pro- ductivity, but American busi- nesses face shortages of skilled technicians and engi- neers to fully exploit those. Immigrant workers tend to be concentrated among two groups: those with less than a high school education and those with more than a four-year college degree. Immigrants tend to be older than the native popu- lation and more than half qualify for means-tested entitlements, creating ob- vious frictions. Downward pressure on wages of lower-skilled workers is measurable, but overall the impact of immi- gration on growth is posi- tive. Technology-intensive ac- tivities are greatly enhanced by the influx of higher-skilled immigrants, and those bene- fits overwhelm the costs im- posed by lower wages on un- skilled workers. Immigration stresses so- cial cohesion, especially among the working class – new arrivals compete for jobs and often eat different foods, practice different religions, and have different family and community traditions. Folks in small towns and rural counties, riveted by the loss of factories and con- solidation in agriculture, in- creasingly rely on those very things to cope. And they feel alienated by the ethnic diver- sity and libertine values of larger cities. Those are im- portant reasons they do not leave for educational and em- ployment opportunities in di- verse urban settings. A discomforting reality is that big cities like New York and Los Angeles have schools and social welfare in- frastructures more attuned to assimilating immigrants from Asia and Latin America than to helping migrants from conservative communi- ties in northern Wisconsin or West Virginia. Liberals in big cities – especially in the media and universities who shape public perceptions – dismiss middle-American ambiva- lence as ill-informed, xeno- phobic and racist. After all, the urban elite work harmoniously in Man- hattan office buildings, Cali- fornia technology centers and the like where cultural af- finities that bring together professional groups tend to overwhelm ethnic differ- ences among highly edu- cated adults. If nothing else, professional schools like mine socialize students to common metropolis values and behavior. What works for Ivy League and elite state uni- versity graduates does not rhyme well for high school graduates in Amer- ica’s interior – that is why Donald Trump was elected to the dismay of urban intellectuals. The Cotton-Perdue pro- posal would likely maintain the current flow of new im- migrant workers but greatly reduce the numbers of older and less-educated depen- dents who strain the social safety net. However, America needs more and better immi- grants – and fewer that create friction with struggling citi- zens already reeling from the forces of globalization and technological change. Perhaps a better ap- proach would be to grant visas to anyone with a col- lege degree or technical skill, who has a solid job offer and will not displace an in- cumbent worker, but still limit, as Messrs. Cotton and Perdue suggest, family reuni- fication visas to minor chil- dren and spouses. That would boost the size and quality of the labor force, accelerate economic growth and ease social tensions. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times. PETER MORICI What works for Ivy League and elite state university graduates does not rhyme well for high school graduates in America’s interior – that is why Donald Trump was elected to the dismay of urban intellectuals. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 Premier: More than 800 residency bids decided BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com With about two-thirds of Cayman’s backlogged per- manent residency applica- tions decided, government re- cords show about 65 percent of those bids have been ap- proved since last June. Another 402 applications remain to be decided, ac- cording to figures released by the Ministry of Immigra- tion last week. Premier Alden McLaughlin said Thursday that pro- cessing the remainder of the backlogged applications “con- tinues to be a priority” for his administration. At the current hearing rate, it will take only an- other two to three months to wade through the remaining cases. The applications are being considered by the Cay- manian Status and Perma- nent Residency Board and the Immigration Department staff members. Mr. McLaughlin sig- naled Thursday in his an- nual speech to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Com- merce that work has already started on reviewing existing Immigration Law and regu- lations related to work per- mits and residency applica- tions. He did not give any hint of what further changes could be made. “The problems are com- plex – the root of which go back to systems and pro- cesses in place for many years,” he said. As of Jan. 11, the latest date for which immigra- tion data is available, a total of 895 residency application had been considered. Those numbers include residency applications filed after Oct. 26, 2013, when changes to the permanent residence applica- tion system took effect. Government records showed 527 applicants were approved and 294 were turned down. A further 47 applications were not de- cided by the board because they were withdrawn and 27 could not be heard because they had been filed late. A number of unsuccessful residency applicants have al- ready begun filing appeals against the board’s deci- sion in their cases. Requests made to the Immigration De- partment seeking to deter- mine the number of appel- lants were not answered by press time Sunday. The Immigration Depart- ment has a specific process for how appeals are to be dealt with, once an appeal is filed. First, a person who is denied residency must re- ceive an official letter from the department or the Cay- manian Status and Per- manent Residency Board to that effect. The person then has 28 days from the date of the letter to file notice of appeal, which is basically a short statement noting the individ- ual’s intent. All such cases are taken first to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, which hears them and makes a determina- tion. Further appeals to the Grand Court can be done by way of judicial review. If the person does not ap- peal within the timeline, they are given 90 days to settle their affairs in the islands before departing. Once a notice of appeal is filed, immigration offi- cials must provide the de- nied applicant with written reasons for why their case was not approved. This in- cludes a summary of how many points an applicant re- ceived in each area measured by immigration officials in- cluding, salary, education, ex- perience, community involve- ment, local investment, age and nationality. If a residency applicant is successful, they are not told how many points they actu- ally received – above the 110 point mark required for ap- proval of the application. Only the failed applicants are informed of their precise re- sults upon appeal. A permanent residence appellant is allowed to re- main in the islands and work while their appeal is current. UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED FOR REEF EXHIBIT The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is in- viting underwater photog- raphers to submit their work for consideration to be part of an exhibit to highlight the International Year of the Coral Reef. The Year of the Coral Reef is part of a program of the International Coral Reef Initiative – an in- formal partnership be- tween nations and orga- nizations which strive to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world. The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands plans to recognize this initiative with an exhibition of un- derwater photography, with a focus on the reefs around the Cayman Islands. The exhibition will be supported by a series of events and lectures held in partnership with local en- vironmental authorities and educators, organizers said in a press release. Photographers are in- vited to submit their work, in electronic format, marked for the attention of the at- tention of the curator at assistantcurator@national- gallery.org.ky. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. A maximum of three works per photog- rapher will be considered. Submissions must be accompanied by a biog- raphy (200 words max- imum) and should include a link to the photographer’s website, if applicable. Successful applicants will be notified by email by Feb. 20. Final artwork needs to be delivered “exhibition ready” to the National Gal- lery on Saturday, March 17. The exhibition will run from Friday, March 23, through Friday, April 27. University celebrates anniversaries The University of the West Indies open campus is celebrating a pair of an- niversaries with a slate of events this week. It’s been 70 years since the university was estab- lished in Jamaica. Its open campus program, which ties together satellite cam- puses via the internet, began 10 years ago. Highlights of the week’s “Guild Fest” include an “I AM UWI Day” on Tuesday which features the wearing of UWI T-shirts and posting testimonials on UWI Student Facebook; a Councillors Day on Wednesday; a Business Buzz interview and panel discussion on Thursday; a games night on Friday from 6-9:30 p.m.; a church service from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sunday, and a cocktail re- ception from 5:30-9:30 p.m. the same evening. The church service will be held at the Church of God of Prophecy. The other events are at the open campus, 168 Olympic Way, George Town. Call 946-8322 for more information. An exhibition of underwater photographs will run at the National Gallery from Friday, March 23 through Friday, April 27. Photographers are being invited to submit their work for consideration to be included in the showcase to raise awareness of coral reef conservation. Prosecutors reveal delays in football association probe BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although he was arrested more than six months ago in connection with a criminal investigation at the Cayman Islands Football Associa- tion, former CIFA treasurer Canover Watson has yet to be interviewed by police in- vestigating the case, a court heard Friday. Mr. Watson has not been charged with any crimes in the football association probe since his arrest. The investigative delays were revealed before the Cayman Islands Grand Court Friday morning during asset confiscation hearings for Mr. Watson in connection with the CarePay fraud within the Cayman Islands public hospital system. Mr. Watson was convicted on five of six criminal charges in the CarePay case and sen- tenced to seven years’ impris- onment in February 2016. He unsuccessfully appealed the conviction in the CarePay case in September 2017. While incarcerated, he was arrested again in June 2017, in connection with a separate criminal probe at CIFA. “In relation to that [CIFA] matter, Mr. Watson was ar- rested on June 30, last year,” Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran said. “Since then, he has re- fused to be interviewed …” Both Mr. Watson and his attorney Amelia Fosuhene told the court at this point that Mr. Moran’s claim was not correct. Mr. Watson said: “I haven’t, your honor.” Mr. Moran then finished his statement to say that Mr. Watson had refused to be in- terviewed “without the pres- ence of Ms. Fosuhene.” He also said there had been “failures” on the part of the defense to agree to inter- views with RCIPS officers in- vestigating the CIFA matter and that he hoped those would be resolved shortly. “That investigation is on- going,” Mr. Moran said. Both Mr. Watson and suspended CIFA vice presi- dent Bruce Blake were ar- rested in connection with the probe last year. The general nature of the investigation was revealed in a statement made last year by Mr. Blake, who has also not been charged with any crimes. He was arrested a day before Mr. Watson and has denied any wrongdoing. The statement read: “Mr. Blake’s arrest was in connec- tion with suspicion of alle- gations of secret commission and money laundering in rela- tion to the signing of two loan agreements on behalf of CIFA with regards to two amounts of US$600,000 each received in the Butterfield Bank account of CIFA and then transferred to the CIFA loan account at Fidelity Bank. Those two amounts were represented to Mr. Blake to be loans to CIFA to pay down on the CIFA loan at Fidelity Bank in order for Fidelity Bank to remove the charge on the CIFA Centre of Excellence in compliance with FIFA regulations. “Mr. Blake is obviously shocked and dismayed by these suspicious allegations,” the statement read, adding that Mr. Blake had already cooperated with U.S. author- ities and FIFA in their on- going investigations. Ms. Fosuhene has de- clined to make any comments regarding the CIFA probe on her client Mr. Watson’s behalf. The Cayman Islands Journal, a sister publication of the Cayman Compass, has previously reported that a Panamanian company set up by Mr. Watson was used to re- ceive what was described by U.S. prosecutors as a US$1.1 million bribe payment from a company named Traffic Sports that went to Cayman Islands businessman Jeffrey Webb. The US$1.1 million bribe forms part of the allegations made by the U.S. government against Mr. Webb in relation to the ongoing FIFA bribery and racketeering scandal. Mr. Webb has pleaded guilty to seven charges against him in that investigation and is due to be sentenced in March 2018. The Panama company, Forward Sports Management Inc., was the same entity that drew up the US$600,000 loan agreement with the Cayman Islands Football Association, according to U.S. court re- cords. Mr. Watson served as CIFA’s treasurer at the time of the loan in late 2013. A December 2015 lawsuit filed in a California court de- scribed that US$600,000 loan from Forward Sports and a matching second loan made to CIFA as “graft,” alleging that Forward Sports and Cal- ifornia-based Cartan Tours paid the money as bribes to former CIFA President Webb in order to win a lucrative business arrangement with CONCACAF, world football’s regional governing body for the Caribbean, North and Central America. Canover Watson has not been charged with any crimes in the football association probe since his arrest.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The team from Pinnacle Media welcome guests to the LiveWell event. The Banks family pose at the Doctors Express booth. Dr. Manuel Mantecon of Holy Cross Hospital Wendy Lynch and Dr. Anthony DeWald at the RVC Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Services stall. Island Naturals Cafe supplied some tasty food for attendees. The Flo Motion team were promoting Rave Aerobics. talk about their missions. Every aspect of the event was tailored toward healthy living, with ven- dors, including Cayman Ca- bana, Green2Go, Vivo, Bay Market and Island Natu- rals, serving healthy home- grown food. Award-winning mixologist Simone Pagnozzi created cocktail formulas for the bar that used only organic ingredients, from the spirits to the mixers and garnishes. A highlight of the event was a fashion show, pre- sented and produced by Ca- mana Bay boutique Sand An- gels. The runway featured some of Cayman’s most beautiful models, attired in outfits ranging from casual wear to stylish dresses to the briefest of bikinis. Cayman designer Isy Obi, of Isy B. De- sign, showed off some of her latest creations. Meanwhile, Energy Es- sentials had a Pilates re- former machine on display to demonstrate the benefits of core strengthening, while the Flo Motion group was exhibiting its new venture – Rave Aerobics. Robert McLaughlin said the Rave Aerobics group currently meets for sessions every Tuesday at Cayman Cabana. He said the aim was to put the fun back into working out: “Anyone can do it. This is to try and help everyone work out in a more fun way – when people think about going to the gym and they think, ‘I’ve got to get serious; I’ve got to lift weights and look at myself in the mirror.’ No, you can have fun and build muscle and burn calories. We walk about 6,000 steps per session!” Colleen Brummer, of En- ergy Essential Fitness, said of the LiveWell event: “It’s a great opportunity to show- case what we do, which fo- cusses on Pilates and core strengthening.” Boxer Kendall Ebanks was also on hand to pro- mote his Performance Lab gym and talk visi- tors through the bene- fits of personal and small group training. Doctors from Cayman Clinic discussed some of the islands’ health challenges, including childhood obe- sity and diabetes, and Holy Cross Hospital made a pre- sentation on prostate and breast cancer hypofraction- ated radiation treatments. Other participating healthcare organizations in- cluded Health City Cayman Islands, the Cayman Ortho- pedic Group, CINICO, the Health Services Authority, Helix Healthcare and Cayman Physiotherapy. Mrs. Legge said that LiveWell Cayman was such a resounding success for both exhibitors and at- tendees that it may well be- come an annual event. She paid tribute to the Pinnacle Media staff, es- pecially Marketing Super- visor Taylor Vaughn, consul- tant Searlina Bodden and Event Supervisor Telman Wright, all of whom, along with dozens of others, as- sisted her in putting the event together. Photos by Stephen Clarke and Maggie Jackson. Conference celebrates the art of living well CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 Models line up to take part in a fashion show for Sand Angels. The Seven Mile Beach Orthodontics teamThe Optical Outlook team display a selection of their eyewear. Live demonstrations offered some life-saving tips, including how to perform CPR. Cayman Clinic’s Dr. Melissa Mascaro and Dr. Heidi Fahy The conference included displays of self-defense and exercise. Lydia Forbes, Janette Fitzgerald and Deirdre Byrne man the Breast Cancer Foundation booth. The CINICO team were on hand to offer insurance advice.Sara Windsor of Cayman PhysiotherapyThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS She said he was a good father to his children and a father figure to her chil- dren from a previous relationship. Detective Superinten- dent Peter Lansdown said the shooting took place in a busy retail plaza, close to a barber shop, where people congregate to socialize. He said the victim was standing by his car when he was shot. “We are confident that there were several people around at the time of this offense,” he said. Mr. Lansdown said he was concerned that graphic social media images, in- cluding a video of a man crying over the body, were circulated in the aftermath of the shooting. He added, “We would like to put a stop to that out of courtesy to the family and out of basic human decency. “People need to come for- ward and explain what they did and what they saw. That is the best way for this in- vestigation to move for- ward. It is unacceptable simply to circulate images and not take responsibility for coming forward.” “People need to stand up and be counted. We can protect witnesses, we can handle that side of things.” Police are working on the basis that Mr. Bailey was killed by a single shooter, who fled the scene on foot. The incident is not be- lieved to be connected to gangs or to a recent shooting at the opposite end of Eastern Avenue. Police believe the shooter and the victim were known to each other and may have had some previous dispute. Ms. Williams, who lived with Mr. Bailey, their son, and their children from pre- vious relationships, said Sat- urday had been a regular day. He spent the day with his son, said good night to the kids and went into town for the evening. She heard the news that he had been shot from her mother, later in the evening. She said Mr. Bailey had lived in Cayman for many years and was well liked. “He was a very jovial person, he’s well known in the streets,” she added. Kim Pars, a friend of Mr. Bailey, said she was heart- broken about the incident. She said he was a posi- tive person who had been excited over the recent birth of his son. “He was head over heels about his baby boy en- tering this world. It is sad that his kids now have to sit and ponder about not having a dad. I’m sure he will always be with them in spirit,” she said. “He was an exceptional human being and I know for sure people like him only come around every so often.” Police will be stepping up patrols in the Eastern Av- enue area in response to this and other recent crimes. Kenneth Bryan, the legis- lator for George Town Cen- tral, said growth in crime was a key concern for his constituents. He said it was too early to comment on the details of this particular crime, but he wants to see a clearer strategy from government. “There have been a number of robberies, a number of shootings,” Mr. Bryan said. “Does govern- ment acknowledge the se- riousness of it and do they have a plan of attack. What is going to be done and where are we at in that process? “The people of George Town Central deserve to feel safe, just like anyone else in this country.” Anyone with any information is asked to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-8477 (TIPS). CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Omar Bailey Young father killed in Eastern Avenue shooting money for local charities. There was also a special bravery citation for a 16-year- old boy and a marine conser- vation officer who attempted to save an award-wining sushi chef who drowned in a snorkeling accident off North Side last year. Beha Hansson and ma- rine officer Alan Mackay struggled in strong currents to try to save chef Mongkol Srilamai before helping an- other struggling swimmer to shore during the March 2017 incident. Several politicians were included among the heroes. Speaker of the House McK- eeva Bush, also the island’s first sports minister; former legislator Lucille Seymour, a figurehead for the sport of netball in Cayman; and ed- ucation minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, a track star in her younger days, all received awards. Mr. Bush said he was proud to have personally sponsored football clubs in West Bay and, as minister for sports, helped establish many of the islands sports facilities and national programs. Ms. O’Connor-Connolly re- called the days of the “bare- foot brigade” track team from Cayman Brac who took on all comers at local and interna- tional competitions. She also paid tribute to coach Gerry Harper, the track coach who was honored as a pioneer in sports, for bringing through several gen- erations of Cayman athletes. In total, there were nine honorees in the “Early Pio- neer” category, 79 in “Pioneer,” and 26 in “Emerging Pioneer.” There were also 168 “Long Service Certificates,” and 34 people placed on the “Memo- rial Scroll.” The colorful pa- rade to commence the day’s celebrations included the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service band, as well as de- tachments from the police, fire service, the Prison Ser- vice, Girls’ Brigade, Scouts, Cadet Corps and Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinders. A stage was set up in front of the courthouse and awardees and their families watched from tented pavil- ions bedecked with Cayman flags as each one was called in turn to receive their award. Premier Alden McLaughlin, in his speech to the gath- ering, said sports was im- portant to build character as well as community. He added, “Sport also transcends borders, race, gender and social status. It is a universal language that possesses the power to uplift, entertain and unite us in cel- ebration of the human spirit.” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour praised all the awardees and the countless others who have contributed to sports over the years. “I offer my congratulations to every single one of you,” Mr. Seymour said. “Whether you are a competitor, coach, committee member, orga- nizer, parent, volunteer, spec- tator or fan, I know how much time, effort and energy goes into supporting sports in the Cayman Islands.” Donald McLean, who sailed for Cayman at the Atlanta Olympics and has since gone on to become president of the Cayman Islands Olympic Com- mittee, told the Compass it was an honor to be nominated. Also a hero in the health category for his contributions as a pharmacist, Mr. McLean said, “It feels good to be ac- knowledged for the work you do in certain areas.” Also among the heroes was former Cayman Com- pass sports writer Matthew Yates, who was nominated for long service to sports. He said it was a nice sur- prise to be included in the list and be honored among the athletes he used to inter- view and write about. “It is not something I was expecting,” he said. “I’m blessed to be in a position to be put in the same category as some of my role models and some of the icons of Cayman sports. “Many times, in the media, you are thought of as the villain, so it is good to be thought of as a hero too. It is humbling that people respect you enough to consider nomi- nating you as a hero for doing something you love to do.” Cayman hails its sporting heroes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Speed demons back on track JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The sound of revving engines and the smell of burning rubber took over a corner of the Cayman Islands on Sunday as more than 1,000 spectators turned out for an afternoon of motorbike and drag car racing. The event, at the Breakers Speedway track, drew large crowds and a heavy police presence to ensure the high- speed action did not spill over to the streets. While illegal bikers on Cayman’s roads may have at- tracted attention in recent months, there was no sign of any issues surrounding the event and organizers hope the revival of the track, which has not been used since 2011, will lead to a resurgence in legiti- mate, organized motor sports. Sunday’s event was dubbed “Grudgement Day” and fea- tured head-to-head races with different drivers challenging each other to match-ups. High-powered cars and trucks screeched along the one-eighth mile track in a se- ries of quick-fire races that thrilled the crowd. Motor- bikes were also involved in the action. Event organizers told the crowd that the money raised would go toward up- grades to the track in an ef- fort to reestablish the sport on the islands. Sammy Jackson, one of the members of the newly formed Breakers Drag Racing Asso- ciation, said the organization hopes to host regular events at the site. He said organizers had used up their 1,400 entry wrist bands by 3 p.m. as people flocked to the event. “One thing that Sunday’s event demonstrated is that there are motorsports fans out there hungry for some action in Cayman,” he said. “There is a huge fan base there and there are more people ready to participate.” He said the track and the facility were used with the permission of landowner Robert Campbell, and a com- mittee of dedicated volunteers was working on fine-tuning safety protocols and making improvements to the arena. He said that with some upgrades, the track could serve as a facility for multiple motorsports events, including potentially adapting part of the land for off-road bikes in an effort to get rogue riders off the streets and into legiti- mate sporting activity. He added, “No racing orga- nization can say with 100 per- cent certainty that they will completely eradicate erratic and irresponsible driving on the road but one of the rea- sons we are doing this is to grow the sport of motor racing and provide opportu- nities for people to race in the right environment.” Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush, center, receives a ‘Pioneer’ award for his work as Cayman’s first minister of sports, from current sports minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who was also honored for her achievements in track, and MLA Dwayne Seymour. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Drag racing returned to Breaker’s Speedway track on Sunday, drawing large crowds. – PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 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. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2018 In Memory of Errol Charles Wright December 9, 1957 to January 23, 2013 God took you from this world ve years ago. It was too soon to say goodbye. Your presence, smile and kindness are remembered. Every day was a blessing in our lives when you were here. You are loved, you are missed, your memories are cherished. Sadly missed by Sons Jayden & Tarek, Wife Rose God took you from this world ve years ago.God took you from this world ve years ago. TUESDAY, JAN. 23 SOLAR IMAGING: An exhibition of digital solar imaging in Cayman by Dr. Bill Hrudey. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. at the National Gallery, Esterley Tibbetts Highway. SPEAKER SERIES: Olympic cyclist Craig Merren speaks about his journey and inspirations growing up in George Town. National Museum, George Town. 6-7:30 p.m. General admission, $10. Members, $6. Includes refreshments and admission to exhibits. NRA ROADWORK: The National Roads Authority continues 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. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 REVIVAL SERVICES: The Wesleyan Holiness Church on Turtle Farm Road in West Bay hosts revival services tonight through Sunday with guest speaker Rev. Bernard Scarlett of Jamaica. Service times are 7:30 p.m. nightly, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. No Saturday services. For more information, contact Rev. Brenda Wallick at 949-3394. 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. SATURDAY, JAN. 27 FULL GOSPEL BUSINESSMEN: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International is having its monthly breakfast at 8 a.m. at Lola’s restaurant in Camana Bay. The speaker will be Dr. Corné Gouws. SUNDAY, JAN. 28 HATITUDE: 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. SUNDAY, FEB. 4 CLEAN-UP: Plastic Free Cayman in conjunction with Red Sail Sports is having their monthly clean up at SafeHaven. Come anytime from 8 a.m. to noon. Check out their Facebook page for more event details. 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. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., GT. All are invited to attend. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacyman.com. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen at 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit next to the MLA’s office). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. website at www.rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Olympic cyclist Craig Merren will present ‘My Bicycle and I: The Journey of a 17-year-old Cyclist,’ in the latest Speaker Series at the National Museum on Tuesda, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m.Next >