ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 High of 83 Low of 74 Seas: Seas will be moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. A Small craft warning is in effect from this evening. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: GRAND CAYMAN’S GRAND SLAMMER LOCAL | PAGE 7 FUNDRAISING EFFORT MOVES YOUNG HEART PATIENT TO FLORIDA 187610_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-DPage 1 1/19/18 10:43:22 AM $6 MILLION NEGATIVE IMPACT CAL cutback of Cuban flights reduces revenue JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Airways has taken a $6 million annual hit from the opening up of the Cuban market to U.S. airlines, prompting reevaluation of the national carrier’s strategy. The airline, which will switch to a new fleet of modern jets over the next few years, is investigating alternate opportuni- ties further afield, potentially including di- rect flights to Central or South America and the western United States. Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s landmark decision to reopen relations with Cuba in 2016 cleared the way for multiple American airlines to begin direct flights into the communist state. The influx of new operators immediately took its toll on Cayman Airways, which has now cut the number of flights to Havana from a high of nine per week to three a week. Fabian Whorms, CEO of Cayman Airways, said the entry of U.S. airlines into the market had “changed the landscape completely,” and had cost the airline between $5 million and $6 million a year. The route was a money-spinner because of the number of passengers transiting through Cayman between Florida and Cuba. Mr. Whorms said, “For many years, Cayman Airways benefited from a steady and heavy flow of passengers originating in Cuba, traveling on Spanish passports back and forth to Miami with a stop in Grand Cayman. “The environment at that time was one where these passengers originating in Cuba had no direct flights to Miami available for them, and it was convenient and cost-effec- tive for them to travel on Cayman Airways with the short stop in Grand Cayman. “These passengers also traveled with, on PENSION CASE FROM 2008 CONCLUDES CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com After nine years and more than 50 court appearances, a case involving a transport company charged with failing to contribute to employee pension plans was finalized in court last week. Crown counsel Kenneth Ferguson informed Magistrate Grace Donalds on Thursday that employees of Reid’s Premier Tours had re- ceived what was legally theirs and the case could be brought to a close. The company had initially faced 24 charges of failing without reasonable cause to con- tribute to a pension plan for an employee. The total amount allegedly due was $37,203.90. The charges have been before the court since May 2008 and relate to a period be- tween 2003 and 2008. There were also charges of failing to pay arrears within the time al- lowed by the Superintendent of Pensions CHAMPION HOUSE PENSION CASE DELAYED TO FEBRUARY Champion House’s ongoing pension court case, which has been pending since 2008, was extended again on Monday, until Feb. 5. With a seven-page cause list, the magistrate did not have enough time to hear all submissions so the case was adjourned. Champion House Ltd. pleaded guilty in 2010 to failing to contribute to an employee pension plan. Two men charged for 692 pounds of ganja Three others in custody for illegal landing CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two men charged with importing 692 pounds of ganja appeared in Summary Court on Monday. Yoandy Swaby Ebanks, 36, was scheduled to return later that afternoon so that at- torney Jonathon Hughes could apply for bail on his behalf. Mr. Ebanks is from West Bay. The second man, Terry Wright, is a Jamaican national and defense attorney Richard Barton said he was not applying for bail until he received papers in the case and discussed the matter with his client. The two were arrested by the Joint Marine Unit early Thursday, Jan. 25, near Uncle Bob Road in West Bay. Mr. Ebanks is also charged with human smuggling, while Mr. Wright, 39, is charged with illegal landing. Three other men, all Jamai- cans, also appeared in Sum- mary Court on Monday. They have been charged with illegal landing, but Crown counsel Darlene Oko said their matter was being actively investigated, with “air support” material being looked at. The men were arrested in Cayman Brac on Friday, Jan. 26. A press release issued by po- lice that day stated that officers of the Joint Marine Unit had come upon two vessels “acting suspiciously” in the vicinity of Hatitude takes on marine attitude West Bay’s Ristorante Pappagallo was awash with attitude and Hatitude Sunday as attendees of the National Trust’s annual gala brunch got into the spirit of this year’s theme – ‘Fanta-Sea.’ Heads young and older were adorned with hats festooned with seashells, octopuses, fish, shipwrecks, fishing nets and starfish, among an array of marine life. For more photos, see page 6. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 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) 12 STRONG (R) 12:40 VIP I 3:45 I 6:40 VIP I 9:45 WOODY WOODPECKER (PG) 1:00 I 3:05 I 5:10 I 7:15 I 9:20 THE COMMUTER (PG13) 12:25 I 2:55 I 5:20 I 7:50 I 10:20 THE POST (PG13) 1:35 I 4:15 I 7:20 I 10:00 DEN OF THIEVES (R) 12:40 I 3:35 VIP I 6:40 I 9:35 VIP JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:15 I 4:00 I 6:50 I 9:35 Charities benefit from LiveWell event Pinnacle Media Publisher Vicki Legge, third from left, presents checks totaling $5,480 to representatives of three local charities: from left, Kerrie McMillan of Cayman HospiceCare, Janette Fitzgerald of the Breast Cancer Foundation and Colleen Mellot of the Cayman Heart Fund. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Retired officer pleads guilty to traffic offenses Sentencing for former head of traffic unit set for Jan. 31 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former senior police of- ficer Adrian James Bar- nett appeared in Summary Court on Monday, when he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while im- paired and leaving the scene of an accident. Mr. Barnett, who reached the rank of inspector, was formerly in charge of the Traffic Management Unit. A police spokesperson con- firmed this week that Mr. Barnett, 53, had retired from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service on Dec. 21, 2017. He had been sus- pended from active duty on June 13 last year, as a result of the incident, which oc- curred on June 10, 2017. Mr. Barnett was charged on Dec. 12. His first court date was Jan. 8, 2018. This week, after his guilty pleas to the offenses that occurred on June 10, Crown counsel Darlene Oko confirmed that a charge relating to June 12 was being withdrawn. The June 10 charges Mr. Barnett admitted were driving dangerously along Linford Pierson Highway and Shamrock Road in a manner that was dangerous having regard to the circum- stances at the time, driving while impaired because of the amount of alcohol con- sumed, and leaving the scene of an accident. The charge withdrawn by the Crown was giving false information to po- lice to defeat or defy the ends of justice. Magis- trate Valdis Foldats dis- missed this charge. Defense attorney John Furniss said Mr. Barnett would hand in his driv- er’s license Monday. The magistrate stated that in- terim disqualification would start that day. He asked for the matter to be dealt with on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and the magistrate agreed that it was now a regular traffic case and could be dealt with then. CAYMAN AND JAMAICAN TOURISM MINISTERS MEET Tourism ministers for Cayman and Jamaica – Moses Kirkconnell and Edmund Bartlett, respectively – met last week to discuss opportunities for collaboration on tourism and aviation connectivity. Mr. Kirkconnell, Cay- man’s deputy premier, and Mr. Bartlett hope to share the strengths of the two island nations to grow and diversify both markets, according to a press release issued by the Cayman Islands government. The two sides discussed a multi-destination marketing agreement, and they hope to offer more diverse options for international tourists. The ministers also dis- cussed ways they can col- laborate on cruise tourism to make for a better western Ca- ribbean itinerary for travelers. “As we celebrate record growth in tourism arrivals, and Cayman Airways, our national flag carrier, turns 50 years, it’s important to look toward fu- ture success,” said Mr. Kirk- connell in the press release. “By developing new routes for connectivity, we will se- cure the long-term sustain- ability for our tourism in- dustry and our national flag carrier, Cayman Airways.” Rosa Harris, Cayman’s director of tourism, also at- tended the meetings, as did Cayman Airways chairman Phillip Rankin and the air- line’s chief executive officer Fabian Whorms. The Cayman delegation also met with executives at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston to tour the baggage handling facility and VIP lounges. The Cayman executives said they hoped to deepen relations between Cayman Airways and Norman Manley International Airport in the years to come. A police spokesperson confirmed this week that Mr. Barnett, 53, had retired from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service on Dec. 21, 2017. National art collection grows by five works The National Gallery has added five new pieces of art to its National Art Collection. The gallery’s Collections and Exhibitions Committee selected the local artwork ac- cording to the significance of the artist, standard of work, significance of the work in an exhibition capacity, and popular appeal. The acqui- sition of the artwork was done with the support of the Ministry of Culture, a press release stated. Dwayne Seymour, Cay- man’s minister of culture, said in the statement: “I am de- lighted that we have been able to help acquire these impor- tant pieces for the National Art Collection. The five artists are masters of their craft and these particular pieces are works of the finest caliber.” Four of the pieces selected are from artists who are part of the local Native Sons arts collective – Wray Banker, Al Ebanks, Horacio Esteban and Aston Ebanks. The fifth piece is by emerging artist Brandon Saunders, who crafted “Osiris,” the breakout work of the 2017 Upon the Seas exhibition. “Each of these artists is working in a wide range of media,” Natalie Urquhart, di- rector of the National Gallery, said in the statement. “Their work is a vehicle through which to bring attention to our cultural heritage in new ways, to challenge existing borders and to begin articu- lating new meanings for con- temporary Caymanian iden- tity in the 21st century. They are all excellent examples of the highly skilled, critically engaged work that is being practiced by our contempo- rary artists.” Susan A Olde, chair- woman of the Collection and Exhibitions Committee, said, “Budget constraints have lim- ited acquisitions historically, and this support [from the Ministry of Culture] has en- sured that these five works of national significance remain on island and publicly ac- cessible now, and for future generations.” The National Art Collection is on display in the upper gallery of the National Gallery. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Natalie Urquhart, Dwayne Seymour and Susan Olde pose with the artists whose work has been added to the gallery.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 Kimpton Seafire Resort Grand Cayman Thursday, February 1st 2018 What are the top trends facing the world in 2018? What does this mean for Cayman? Join some of the world’s most thought provoking experts to explore the threats and opportunities and how they impact Cayman. CEO 2018 brings you some of the most exciting speakers on the international conference circuit: fidelityceo.com Visit our website Our Partners Diego Zuluaga Laguna; Jamie Metzl; Erica Orange; Dr. Kent Moors Miko Matsumura Changemaker, Geopolitics & Biotechnology Expert, Futurist Novelist Futurist & Trend Spotter Global Economist Global Energy Strategist ICO Advisor, Founder of Evercoin Exchange & Venture Capital LP How will the shift from global integration and its wide ranging political, economic and social consequences affect us in 2018? Global Integration or Dis-integration? Surviving the ChallengeThe 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. TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Welcome – and congratulations – to Residences at Seafire brand ambassador Caroline Wozniacki, the Danish tennis player who delighted the world with her Australian Open win last weekend. No doubt, readers have heard of the riddle, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Regarding Ms. Wozni- acki, a more appropriate question might be — “What is the sound of the world’s hands clapping?” — because they are, and they’re clapping for her. Make no mistake: Ms. Wozniacki is no newcomer to tennis. For 67 weeks, between October 2010 and January 2012, she was ranked No. 1 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association – but she had never won a grand slam tournament. She had come oh-so-close, but the title had eluded her. Until Saturday in Melbourne. (For non-tennis aficionados, there are four annual “grand slam events”: The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.) Everyone knows, or assumes, that top executives in the Dart organization know when to buy, when to sell, or, to quote Kenny Rogers, “when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” But no one in the Dart organization ever had better timing in doing a deal than Chris Duggan, vice president of community development, who completed a negotiation with Ms. Wozniacki to represent the Residences at Seafire just days before Ms. Wozniacki triumphed in Australia, putting the long-elusive crown on her head and reclaiming the mantle of the top female tennis player in the world. (Mr. Duggan’s timing in signing up Ms. Wozniacki was so superb, in fact, that we have no doubt that if he had been picking stocks instead of athletes, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would at this very moment be opening an investigation into possible “insider trading.”) We expect to be seeing a lot more of the world’s top- ranked player, as her year-long arrangement with Seafire developer Dart Enterprises will include access to accom- modations whenever she wants to visit Grand Cayman. Officially, Ms. Wozniacki will represent the Residences at Seafire, and she’s already on the job – spotted promi- nently sporting a Seafire label on her tennis bag, an image we published on the front page of Monday’s Compass. Beyond that, Mr. Duggan told the Compass he hopes the 27-year-old tennis star, marathoner, and former Sports Illustrated model will become a familiar face around Cayman, visiting the Seafire several times a year and integrating into the Cayman community. We trust Ms. Wozniacki fell in love with Grand Cayman on a visit last December, but we know she fell in love with former NBA player David Lee, whom she is now engaged to marry. Mr. Lee himself is a superstar athlete, having had a 12-year playing career that included stints with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, drawing two All-Star selections and winning one NBA championship. On future trips to Cayman, Ms. Woz- niacki, bring him along, too! Mr. Duggan said Dart considers Ms. Wozniacki not only an ambassador for the Seafire, but for all of Cayman. He told the Compass that Dart really wanted to do a partnership with Ms. Wozniacki, but shared with her that “it’s also very important to us that you want to be a part of the Cayman community.” Scheduling conflicts will prevent her from attending the upcoming Legends At Camana Bay tennis showcase (unfortunately forestalling a potential matchup against reigning U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens), but she hopes to play in the event in the future. Over the years, Cayman has been host to many “famous names” in tennis: Nick Bollettieri, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg, Anna Kournikova, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick and Monica Seles – to name a few. The long-term potential in this new partnership with Ms. Wozniacki could well be the ace that establishes our islands’ reputation as a haven for lovers of the sport. So congratulations, Ms. Wozniacki, and welcome to what we hope will be your Caribbean “home away from home.” We hope to see you soon. Caroline Wozniacki: Grand Cayman’s Grand Slammer Protectionism ensures no bad deed goes unrewarded WASHINGTON – Like Hora- tius at the bridge, or the boy who stood on the burning deck whence all but he had fled, or the Dutch boy who saved the city by put- ting his finger in the dike – pick your analogous her- oism – the Trump adminis- tration last week acted to stanch the flood of foreign- made washing machines that are being imported be- cause Americans want them. The stanching will be ac- complished by quotas and stiff (up to 50 percent) tar- iffs, which are taxes collected at the border and paid by American consumers. Amer- icans also will pay higher prices for washing machines made domestically by Whirl- pool, which sought this pro- tectionism, from which it instantly profited: In Mon- day’s after-hours trading, Whirlpool’s stock rose 3 per- cent. When protectionism is rampant, no bad deed goes unrewarded. The washing machine drama about “putting (a fac- tion of) America first” cannot be industrial policy – govern- ment rather than the market picking winners and losers. And it cannot be government redistribution of wealth. And it cannot be crony capitalism. It cannot be those things be- cause Republicans oppose those things and control policymaking. Next, and soon, will come a government decision about the problem, as our protec- tors see it, of menacingly inexpensive steel imports, concerning which the ad- ministration is pretending to deliberate. The charade of thinking will end with the imposition of yet more steel tariffs/taxes, joining the 149 (some as high as 266 per- cent) targeting many of the over 110 countries and ter- ritories from which America imports steel. Twenty-four of the existing duties target Chinese steel, which is just less than 3 percent of U.S. steel imports. America’s sup- posedly embattled steel in- dustry is producing more than it did during World War II, and every year in this de- cade more than 10 percent of American-made steel goods has been exported. Imposition of the new tar- iffs/taxes will be done solely by the president, exercising discretion granted to presi- dents by various laws, in- cluding one passed in De- cember 1974, when Congress evidently thought that Water- gate, then fresh in memory, had taught that presidents were not sufficiently impe- rial. Then, as now, Congress seemed to think it had more important things to do than set trade policy. In his new book “Clashing Over Commerce,” Dartmouth economist Douglas A. Irwin explains that the steel in- dustry was a powerful ad- vocate of protectionism until the 1892 opening of Min- nesota’s Mesabi iron ore range, which gave steel pro- ducers cost advantages that turned their attention to ex- port markets. The industry’s trade problems began when, in July 1959, the United Steelworkers shut domestic steel production down for 116 days – the longest in- dustrial strike in U.S. his- tory – and steel-consuming industries found alterna- tive suppliers and mate- rials. Desperate management purchased labor peace with increased wages that by the 1980s were 95 percent higher than the average in manufacturing, and soon U.S. steel was priced out of foreign markets. Intermit- tently since then, the in- dustry has sought and re- ceived protection. In 2002, George W. Bush imposed tariffs that caused steel prices to surge, costing more jobs in steel-using in- dustries than then existed in steel-making. (Today there are upward of 7 times more steel-using than steel- making jobs.) The tariffs cost $400,000 a year for every steel-making job saved, and cost $4 billion in lost wages. Especially hard hit in 2002 were three states – Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania – that in 2016 voted for today’s protectionist president. Last June, Commerce Sec- retary Wilbur Ross, who became a billionaire by plunging into the steel in- dustry simultaneously with Bush offering it succor, said “since we are the world’s largest importer of steel, we’re the main victim of the overcapacity” in the global steel industry. This puzzled George Mason University’s Don Boudreaux, who won- dered “just how our being the world’s largest buyer of steel makes us victims of the al- leged overcapacity.” Fomenting spurious anx- ieties about national se- curity is the first refuge of rent-seeking scoundrels who tart up their protectionism as patriotism when they in- veigle government into lining their pockets with money ex- tracted from their fellow cit- izens. Sugar producers are ludicrously protected in the name of “food security.” Most of US steel imports come from four important allies: Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil. The coming steel tar- iffs/taxes will mean that de- fense dollars will buy fewer ships, tanks and armored ve- hicles, just as the trillion in- frastructure dollars the ad- ministration talks about will buy fewer bridges and other steel-using projects. As Henry George said, with protec- tionism a nation does to it- self in peacetime what an enemy tries to do to it in war. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. 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” GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE Fomenting spurious anxieties about national security is the first refuge of rent-seeking scoundrels who tart up their protectionism as patriotism when they inveigle government into lining their pockets with money extracted from their fellow citizens. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 Gov’t improves accounts, but accountability has ‘a ways to go’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands civil service has vastly improved how it tracks public money spent on various govern- ment entities each year, but according to auditors, public accountability – as defined under the law – remains to be achieved. Auditors are still un- able to verify, for example, whether government’s an- nual spending is in line with amounts budgeted by the Leg- islative Assembly – leading auditors to disclaim the public sector’s statement of appropriations for both the 2014/15 and 2015/16 bud- gets. A “disclaimer of opinion” means there is not enough in- formation available to verify any of the figures produced in the statement. The current budgeting system being used, referred to as output budgeting, makes it difficult, if not impossible, to discern what the public sector achieved for the $900 million- plus it spends annually. “[The budget] is measuring the wrong thing for the public purpose,” said Acting Auditor General Garnet Harrison. “What have they achieved with that money? Well, they produced some things, but did they achieve anything? I don’t know.” Mr. Harrison is quick to state that the audit office does not want to be overly critical of the good progress civil servants have made in repairing a once-dreadful fi- nancial management system, which – a decade ago – could not account for some $1.5 billion in public spending. That is certainly not the case today, he said. “It’s the big picture now,” Mr. Harrison said. “They’re getting things cleaned up un- derneath, but we don’t have the big picture yet.” Thirty government min- istries, statutory authorities and government-owned com- panies were given “unquali- fied” or clean audit opinions by the Auditor General’s Office for the 2015/16 budget year – meaning those figures can be relied upon to fairly state the agency’s spending for the year. Another six entities re- ceived qualified opinions and, as of last week, six more en- tities were still completing their audits. This is the first time gov- ernment entities received such a large number of un- qualified audit opinions since government switched to ac- crual accounting in 2004. Rep- resentatives for those enti- ties received awards from the Public Accounts Committee last week for their efforts. “With the quality of the fi- nancial statements getting better, this enhances the fi- nancial accountability of those entities,” Mr. Harrison is quoted as saying in a gov- ernment press release. “There is still a ways to go, but good progress is being made.” One area that government needs to improve is in the is- suance of annual reports from each public agency, the audi- tor’s office said. Right now, some agencies release those reports, others do not. For some who do release those reports, the information con- tained within may not be par- ticularly useful. “For most of them … they describe all the activities they did,” Mr. Harrison said. “They don’t describe what outcomes they achieved.” The annual reports are not audited, but they are reviewed by Mr. Harrison’s office. One thing government has looked at changing is the current output bud- geting system to an input- based system where gov- ernment tracks the specific dollar amounts to each area of expenditure. That deci- sion has not been made, Mr. Harrison said, but the cur- rent output system is not telling the public what it needs to know, he said. “They’re going to have to change the way they’re … looking at things to bring the accountability back,” he said. Public Accounts Com- mittee Chairman Ezzard Miller said last week that he was encouraged that the working relationship between government, the auditor’s of- fice and his committee had “completely changed” from adversarial to one of under- standing. Mr. Miller urged government to award perfor- mance bonuses for entities that had “superior financial audit compliance.” Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said the improved audits were one step toward government’s strategic plan of creating a “world-class civil service.” “[The government is] getting things cleaned up underneath, but we don’t have the big picture yet.” GARNET HARRISON, acting auditor general MLA Harris: I have not joined Progressives BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Prospect MLA Austin Harris said Monday that he has not joined the Pro- gressives political party, de- spite taking up the posi- tion as that party’s “whip” in Cayman’s government of national unity. Mr. Harris told the Cayman Compass that he is still an independent member of the Legislative Assembly and backbench councilor for Premier Alden McLaugh- lin’s ministry. The premier’s office said last week that Mr. Harris was invited to Westminster in the U.K. recently to “un- derstudy” the whip’s offices in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. In Westminster-style de- mocracies, it is usually the job of the whip to ensure other members of the gov- ernment bench vote ac- cording to the party line and are informed of the government’s position on certain issues. Mr. Harris said last week that he views the role as a “tremendous opportunity.” “As both the constitu- tional and legislative pro- cesses in the Cayman Is- lands continue to evolve, it is important that members re- ceive the necessary training and exposure to enable the effective operation of Gov- ernment in Parliament,” Pre- mier McLaughlin said. For now, the balance of power in the Legislative As- sembly does not shift, with Mr. Harris, as well as in- dependent ministers Tara Rivers and Dwayne Sey- mour officially staying out- side the Progressives party while remaining members of the government. Three Cayman Demo- cratic Party MLAs also re- main with the government of seven elected Progres- sives party members. MLA PUTS FORMER RIVAL ON DISTRICT COUNCIL They were political oppo- nents during the May 2017 general election, but New- lands MLA Alva Suckoo has announced that local busi- nessman Raul Gonzalez, Jr. will now serve as deputy chairman of a new advisory council for the district. “I am … pleased that Mr. Gonzalez and I will be working together,” Mr. Suckoo said. “We made that commit- ment prior to election day; we agreed that whoever won the seat would have the sup- port and assistance of the other. This is not a political body and Mr. Gonzalez’ pres- ence is proof of that.” Olson Anderson will serve as chairman of the New- lands council. Other mem- bers include Richard Chris- tian, Mia Powell, Jalon Linton and Alfredo Whittaker, Mr. Suckoo said. Although the creation of district councils was per- mitted by the Cayman Is- lands Constitution in 2009 and enacted in legislation two years later, few Legisla- tive Assembly members have put those bodies in place. District councils are un- elected advisory panels se- lected to focus on local is- sues, aiming to free up the district MLA to concentrate on the bigger picture. Under the 2011 legislation, the council appointments in each elected district are sup- posed to be made by the pre- mier. However, both North Side MLA Ezzard Miller and now Mr. Suckoo have selected their own advisory panels. “We don’t really expect government to come pull the rug out from under us,” Mr. Suckoo said Thursday. At the moment, the councils do not receive any funding from govern- ment, but Newlands Council Chairman Mr. Anderson said, at the moment, the group be- lieves it can raise funds to meet its needs. “It would be nice to have the support of the govern- ment, but we are not going to wait,” Mr. Anderson said. “There are a number of pressing concerns in the con- stituency of Newlands and we plan to begin tackling them immediately.” In a statement released last September, the Cayman Islands Constitutional Com- mission urged the creation of district advisory councils for each constituency. The 2009 Constitution Order makes reference to councils “for each electoral district to operate as advi- sory bodies to the elected members of the Legisla- tive Assembly.” However, since the ad- vent of the 2009 constitu- tion, Cayman’s electoral map has changed. There are now 19 separate constituencies, 17 in Grand Cayman and two in the Sister Islands. Be- fore 2017, there were just six electoral districts. The gov- ernment’s constituency al- lowance budget has already increased as a result of having 19 MLAs. Austin Harris North Side ‘Stride’ event draws dozens Although a much smaller turnout than the run along West Bay Road, about 50-60 participants showed up Sunday for the North Side Stride Against Cancer event. Run co-organizer Alan Mackay said the turnout this year was slightly higher than normal for the North Side event, which caters to eastern districts residents. The race goes from Kaibo to the old Driftwood bar prop- erty along Rum Point Drive. “We had food for about 40 people after the race, and that was all gone by the end of it,” he said. “So turnout was a little higher than usual.” The North Side partici- pants also received some raffle prizes, which were handed out following the race completion. The North Side Stride Against Cancer event saw more than 50 participants turn out Sunday morning. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER6 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The National Trust held its 5th annual Hatitude gala brunch at Ristorante Pappagallo in West Bay on Sunday. This year, attendees embraced the “Fanta-Sea” theme, donning hats and outfits that reflected a wide variety of marine life – from octopus-inspired hats to silvery “fish scale” body art. Prizes were awarded for the “Most Hatitude” male and female hat-wearers. Some of the young attendees show off their ‘Hatitude.’ – PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Miss World Cayman Kristen Amaya, far right, poses with finalists, from left, Gina Kettner, Rosanna Myrie and SherryAnn Smith. Attendees line up at the annual Hatitude gathering. Gianna Martinez shows off her mermaid face painting. Rosanna Myrie, winner of the best female headpiece. A Hatitude family affair: Mothers and daughters Christine and Aubrey Keeble and Erin and Quinn Connelly dress as jellyfish and mermaids. Monia Dean, Marsha Kagan and Harriet Davies. Shahida Seymour and Madison Ebanks Gina Kettner7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 SAVE THE DATE CAYMAN BRAC Thursday, 1 February Aston Rutty Centre | 6:00 p.m. LITTLE CAYMAN Friday, 2 February Little Cayman Beach Resort | 11:30 a.m. GRAND CAYMAN BODDEN TOWN Wednesday, 21 February NORTH SIDE & EAST END Wednesday, 28 February GEORGE TOWN Wednesday, 21 March WEST BAY Wednesday, 14 March THE MINISTRY AND DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM INVITES YOU TO TALK TOURISM AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN YOUR DISTRICT Join us to help celebrate the record breaking success in Tourism for 2017 and hear more on what’s to come. Complimentary refreshments and door prizes at each meeting. Major fundraising effort moves young heart patient from Cayman to Florida SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thirteen-year-old Andy Reyes will be getting a heart transplant thanks to the ef- forts and donations of thou- sands of strangers who raised more than $500,000 for his surgery. Andy, who had spent a record 134 days on an ex- tracorporeal membrane ox- ygenation (ECMO) machine, was moved from Health City Cayman Islands to the Uni- versity of Florida Congenital Heart Center Saturday. His treatment, which costs a total of US$1.3 mil- lion, was made possible by donations to a fundraising page on GoFundMe.com. Andy, who comes from the Dominican Republic, was joined by his mother Karen Reyes, who made the flight from Cayman to Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday. “These months have been a time of happiness, sad- ness,” Ms. Reyes told the Compass. “When they told us the total cost of the surgery, we thought we would never make it. It’s a miracle from God. Thanks to our faith, our prayers and everyone who has been united with the cause, that have helped us and made this possible.” Andy has had four pre- vious heart surgeries, the first of which occurred shortly after his birth. He had valve replacements in 2011 and again in 2017. He arrived at Health City on Sept. 14 last year. At that point, the boy was so weak that no hospital would ac- cept him for a transplant. Over weeks and months, his prognosis improved as his story reached more and more people. The move from Health City was a sign of progress for the Reyes family, but Karen Reyes said it was a little bittersweet to leave the staff that has taken such good care of them since September. “It’s like an adventure, a never-ending road,” she said of her family’s ordeal. “It’s like an odyssey. Arriving here was finding myself with a family, finding myself with really excellent people, hu- manitarian, caring people that would hug me when every day when I was crying. They have given me strength.” Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, a senior cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at Health City, was in charge of caring for Andy, and said Saturday that a team endeavor kept the teen healthy all this time. The ECMO machine that saved his life requires con- stant vigilance from the staff attending it. “I would like to thank my team, especially the nurses,” Dr. Chattuparambil said. “It’s not easy to manage ECMO for four-plus months without any infections or complica- tions. Usually, ECMO is as- sociated with a lot of compli- cations, so most places don’t keep patients on it more than a couple of weeks.” Once Andy had been sta- bilized, it fell to Dr. Chattu- parambil to find a facility that could perform the trans- plant. He contacted many hospitals around the world before finally settling on the University of Florida facility. The procedure Andy needs costs US$1.3 million, and many hospitals would not accept him as a patient un- less they had a deposit of US$800,000 for his treatment. Into that void stepped two women – Gisela Bo- livar Carrasco of Bolivia and Laurie Braun, the treasurer of New Jersey-based nonprofit Gift of Life N.J. Together, said Dr. Chattuparambil, they began sowing the seeds of a social media campaign that would impact people around the world. Ms. Carrasco, the doctor said, met the Reyes family while on another humani- tarian trip, and she left her job to concentrate full-time on raising funds. Ms. Braun has been involved in helping the Reyes family for years, and to- gether with Ms. Carrasco, she quickly set about working on an impossible goal. “It was their determina- tion,” Dr. Chattuparambil said. “They went ahead and made it happen.” Chuck Mobley, founder of Cayman company Polar Bear Air Conditioning, was one of the many people touched by the social media campaign. As he learned more about the Reyes family, he decided he had to find a way to help. So he sent out an email to his staff, and he told them he would match whatever they donated to the Reyes family. Polar Bear Air Conditioning donated $12,000 to the Reyes family’s treatment fund, and then the company began redi- recting its normal advertising to publicize Andy’s plight. “We focused all of our mar- keting efforts on saving Andy,” Mr. Mobley said. “In this type of situation, air conditioning and plumbing and appliances become unimportant.” As the weeks went by, Mr. Mobley saw more and more people joining the campaign. Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz made a sizable donation and wished Andy a happy birthday in Oc- tober; and Latin musicians Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Arcangel, Daddy Yankee, Wisin and Killadamente all were vocal in their support of the Reyes family cause on social media. More than 22,000 people have donated to Andy on Go- FundMe.com. The fundraising total stood at $521,553 as of press time Monday. That total – though well short of the fund’s goal of $800,000 – may have saved Andy’s life and spurred his transfer to the hospital in Florida. “I’m watching this thing and I’m seeing people that are giving $5 or $7, and then you have people giving $5,000. It’s just amazing,” Mr. Mobley said. “Sometimes we think about how bad the world is, and how everyone’s really selfish. We’ve had close to 23,000 people do- nate something, and the vast majority of these people don’t know Andy. ... People are do- nating their money, trusting that it’s the real thing, and it’s touched me.” Andy does not yet know when he will receive his transplant, and Dr. Chattu- parambil said the Gaines- ville hospital staff will as- sess the patient’s condition for weeks before prepping him for surgery. “He should do well. There’s no doubt about that” he said. “He’s a fighter. If he could fight for those four months, he’ll fight it out. That hospital has a very good pe- diatric heart transplant [pro- gram]. His heart was showing some improvement as of late in the pumping. So that’s what they want to assess.” The medical staff began the delicate process of switching Andy from the Health City ECMO machine to a portable one for his journey on Saturday, and as they did, his mother Karen spent time walking around the hospital and hugging the many staff members who had become family to her and her son over the last four months. While Andy still has a long road ahead of him as he awaits his transplant, the Reyes family says there is no way to adequately express their gratitude. “They’ve treated him like family. This is like another family and it’s painful to leave,” Ms. Reyes said. “All of these people have given him so much love. He doesn’t know he’s getting a heart trans- plant. We’ve simply told him he is going to have a more se- rious treatment than he got here to be able to survive.” Andy Reyes and his mom Karen spent more than four months at Health City while awaiting his next procedure. “Arriving here was finding myself with a family, finding myself with really excellent people, humanitarian, caring, people that would hug when every day when I was crying.” KAREN REYES, mother of heart patient Andy ReyesThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 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. TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, JAN. 30 VEHICLE LICENSING: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing advises that all its offices (Breakers, George Town and West Bay) will be closed today and tomorrow to conduct staff training. All offices will re-open on Thursday, Feb. 1 for normal business hours. Additionally, the Crewe Road office will be open on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon for all services, except vehicle inspections and drivers’ examination. 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 WEST BAY MEETING: The RCIPS will be holding a community meeting at John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, in the main hall. The meeting is open to the general public. 6:30 p.m. sharp until 8:30 p.m. Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne and West Bay Area Commander Insp. Lloyd Marriott, along with representatives from DoE, NRA and other government agencies, will lead a discussion with community members about any issues they wish to raise. 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. FRIDAY, FEB. 2 SKATEPARK FUNDRAISER: Hope Academy and Black Pearl Skate Park are raising funds for a new school playground, scholarship fund and other school improvements. $15 for park entrance, a helmet and choice of skateboard or scooter. $7 for those with own equipment. SATURDAY, FEB. 3 RUM TAILS: Annual Rum Tails event, in aid of charity group One Dog At A Time, takes place 1 to 4 p.m. at Cayman Spirits Company on Bronze Road, North Sound Road. The show includes a dog agility demonstration and competition. Prizes for first and second place. The dog show includes best rescue, best toy, best trick, best puppy and more. There is an entry fee for each class with certificates for top three places and a prize and rosette for the winners. Refreshments on sale. 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. MONDAY, FEB. 5 ART AND MUSIC BY THE SEA: Art and Music Festival at Pedro Castle. 5:309 p.m. Sponsored by Visual Arts Society, Cayman Art Festival, Jacques Scott, AI Rentals and Mikes Ice. SATURDAY, FEB. 17 FREE HEALTH CHECK: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens presents free health checks with Dr. Mani for vision screening; Dr. Taylor of CTMH Doctors Hospital for general health talks; HbA1c check for known diabetics, provided by Diabetes Association. Nutritional talk, blood pressure and weight checks will also be offered. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church Hall, upstairs. GENERAL INTEREST BABY SHOW: On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the 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. SOLAR IMAGING: An exhibition of digital solar imaging in Cayman by Dr. Bill Hrudey. National Gallery, Esterley Tibbetts Highway. 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. Amelia optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. Email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. Call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m. to noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: Meets third Wednesday of every month, Governors Square Boardroom at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook.com/ BPWGrandCayman. BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: MothertoMother meetings first Tuesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. outside Women’s Health Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Children welcome. Contact Women’s Health Centre at 244-2649. LIFE UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION: Meeting luncheons held on last Thursday of each month. YBPW: Meets every third Monday of each month at the Woman’s Resource Centre. RELIGIOUS SERVICES EL MINISTERIO HISPANO: de la Iglesia Bautista Cayman Islands te hace una cordial invitación a nuestro culto en español cada Domingo, 6:30 p.m., Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. On Friday, Feb. 2, Hope Academy and Black Pearl Skate Park will hold a fundraiser to raise money for a new school playground, scholarship fund and school improvements.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 2018 Blockchain conference comes to Cayman KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com One of the world’s most prominent blockchain confer- ences, “d10e,” is taking place in Cayman this week, with dozens of people in the cryp- tocurrency and blockchain industry coming to the is- land to network and share ideas about how the tech- nology can influence all as- pects of society. Monday’s schedule in- cluded entrepreneurs speaking about the services their companies offer, as well as an “initial coin offering pitch competition” where startup blockchain entities pitched their ideas to a panel of judges in hopes of winning a $100,000 investment prize. Premier Alden McLaughlin also spoke at the event, en- couraging blockchain com- panies to set up shop at Cayman Enterprise City. “Not only are you in the gem of the Caribbean, but the Cayman Islands is one of the foremost financial centers, as well as the hedge fund cap- ital of the world,” he said. “We have a cadre of profes- sional people servicing our fi- nancial services sector that is second to none.” Mr. McLaughlin admitted during his speech that he has had to do research in re- cent months to familiarize himself with the blockchain technology, which is essen- tially an online, decentral- ized public ledger – the tech- nology that serves as the ledger for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. “I admit, the concept of economic, financial de- centralization based on emerging technology sounded like something from Star Trek,” he said. To help blockchain nov- ices grasp its concept, Sym- metry Blockchain Advisors cofounder Debbie Hoffman gave a presentation on all of the technology’s poten- tial uses, which she said far outspans just serving as a ledger for cryptocurrency transactions. Ms. Hoffman said she was introduced to many techno- logical innovations during her years as an attorney in the financial sector, but that she knew blockchain would be a game changer when she first heard about it. Just like blockchain tracks each transaction of a crypto- currency, it can also be used to date- and time-stamp legal records, medical records, and other documents. This will allow someone to know when and by whom a given document is accessed, Ms. Hoffman said. “Lawyers will be at a com- petitive advantage by using blockchain,” she said, adding that Dubai is already pushing to have its land records, visa applications, and other gov- ernment documents trans- acted using blockchain. According to Ms. Hoffman, blockchain can also be used for real estate, insurance and a variety of other financial transactions. The technology also has the potential to be used in supply chain man- agement, allowing consumers to see exactly from where their products come. The conference is sched- uled to conclude on Tuesday. The conference name “d10e” stands for the 10 letters be- tween the first and last letter in “decentralize.” Premier Alden McLaughlin speaks at the ‘d10e’ blockchain conference on Monday. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA the Big Channel entrance to North Sound around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday. One of the vessels made off to sea. It was believed that this was the vessel that was found in Cayman Brac on Friday. The men were arrested on suspicion of being con- cerned in the importation of ganja, but in court their only charges were illegal landing. They are Andre Robinson, 33; Nicholas Maxam, 30; and O’Shane Ricketts, 29. Defense attorney John Furniss said the reason the men were in Cayman Brac was because of the weather “rather than any suggestion that they were around the Cayman Is- lands for any ganja pur- poses.” He suggested that the men be brought to court on Tuesday, so he and Mr. Hughes could know if the Crown had any evidence per- taining to ganja. That was when Ms. Oko referred to forensic evi- dence and “air support” material that was still being looked at. Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats pointed out that the men were here illegally in any event. “They’re not going anywhere either way,” he said. The usual sentence for illegal landing is a period of custody, he noted. He told the defendants: “You are in custody because you have no legal right to be in the Cayman Islands.” He agreed to have the men appear in court on Tuesday, via video link. and failing without reason- able cause to provide infor- mation as requested by the superintendent. The company was repre- sented by attorneys at var- ious times and more recently by a director of the com- pany, Steve Reid. Mr. Reid had not agreed with the amount the Pensions Office said was owed. In Sep- tember 2012, an attorney said it was difficult for her client to answer the charges be- cause he had no records. Im- migration officers had seized the records in June 2007 and Mr. Reid had no copies, she said, adding that an affidavit with the date and names of the officers had been filed. The magistrate suggested that the specific details in the affidavit would refresh some- one’s memory and she ad- journed the matter for fur- ther investigation. The following month, charges pertaining to three employees were withdrawn. Notes kept by the Cayman Compass indicate that the matter came before the courts more than 50 times. On at least one occasion, it was the Pensions Office that wanted more time. On other dates, file notes indicated that discussions were on- going or that payments were up to date or continuing. Last week, Mr. Reid pre- sented a receipt to Mr. Fer- guson, which the prosecutor handed to the magistrate. It showed a final payment of $14,499.89. Mr. Ferguson said sen- tences were usually lenient for a first breach of the law, “but if the breach is repeated, we take a different stance.” The magistrate noted that a trial date had been set at one stage, but she found no endorsement showing any not guilty pleas. “No, I did not plead guilty,” Mr. Reid told the court. The magistrate left all charges on file, meaning that either side could ask to have them brought back in the next few months, but if no action is taken, the charges are dismissed. average, three or four bags each, which resulted in a very significant amount of excess baggage revenue for the airline. The demand was so strong that at one point we had nine flights a week to Cuba.” He said much of that business had disappeared with the thawing of relations between the U.S. and Cuba and he does not expect it to return any time soon. Mr. Whorms previ- ously had addressed the issue of the potential im- pact the opening up of the Cuban market would have on Cayman Airways. He told the Compass in September 2016 that the introduction of scheduled flights between the U.S. and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years was not expected to have a negative impact on the airline in the short term. He said at the time, “We continue to watch what is going on, but it may not nec- essarily mean that there is going to be any substan- tial reduction in demand which could have a negative effect on us.” Mr. Whorms said last week that Cayman Airways is now investigating other ways of generating revenue, in- cluding building connecting traffic from Honduras and Ja- maica through Grand Cayman to U.S. cities. In the longer term, he said new Boeing 737-8 Max air- craft, expected to arrive in De- cember this year to replace the current jets, would open up new opportunities for the air- line and the country. “This fleet modernization will ultimately see Cayman Airways having the newest jet fleet in the region, with op- erational capabilities well beyond that of our current fleet,” he said. “We will have the ability to conduct direct flights to almost anywhere in North America, all of Cen- tral America and much of South America.” He said airline chiefs were in talks with government over how to use the new air- craft to benefit the tourism industry but would not an- nounce new routes until they had been finalized. Two men charged for 692 pounds of ganja CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 $6 MILLION NEGATIVE IMPACT CAL cutback of Cuban flights reduces revenue Pension case from 2008 concludes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In this Jan. 17, 2018 photo, tourists drive in front of a cruise ship in Havana, Cuba, as they tour the city in classic American cars. Cuba’s tourism boom began shortly after U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced in December 2014 that their countries would reestablish diplomatic relations and move toward normalization. – PHOTO: AP The Joint Marine Unit chased and intercepted this canoe Thursday. On board, police found 692 pounds of ganja. - PHOTO: RCIPSNext >