ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY WHITE VERSIONS BELOW ™ ® Danica Patrick – driven to succeed MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Calling a racing driver “driven” may appear to be a bad play on words, but the only other accurate de- scription of Danica Pat- rick, at least as far as one could tell from her inter- view at the Cayman Alter- native Investment Forum last week, would be the title of her latest book, a 90-day workout and nutrition plan: “Pretty Intense.” In the hour-long chat with Business Insider jour- nalist Linette Lopez, Ms. Patrick did little to dispel the perception that she is, in her own words, anything other than “confident,” “di- rect” and “unafraid of con- frontation.” She describes herself as someone who “says what she wants.” Fresh Prince rocks the Kimpton MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com An interview session with Hollywood star Will Smith at the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit took an unexpected turn Friday when the actor, accompa- nied by UCCI’s steel pan band Pandemix, rapped the theme song from his 1980’s TV hit show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Earlier in the day, Mr. Smith met with the students, listened to a private con- cert by the band and even tried his hand at playing the steel pans, singing “Yo no soy marinero” for a rendition of “La Bamba.” During his interview with Dart’s Chris Duggan, which concluded the investment conference, the actor, musi- cian and producer shared Legends tennis returns to Camana Bay Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens greets legend Pat Cash, as Jimmy Connors hugs rising star Claire Liu at Camana Bay. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three greats of the game, one rising star and a current champion thrilled the Camana Bay crowd Friday night as Legends Tennis returned to the Cayman Islands. Hundreds of sports fans packed into the pur- pose-built arena at Festival Green to see former champions Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash and Jimmy Connors roll back the years. They were also treated to a glimpse of the sport’s future as current US Open champion Sloane Stephens and 17-year-old world junior champ Claire Liu showed off their skills. Despite his advancing years, 65-year-old Con- nors, an eight-time Grand Slam champion widely revered as one of the greatest in history, showed PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Danica PatrickWill Smith CAYMAN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2018 Pat Cash dons his signature black-and-white headband during Legends.Stefan Edberg plays at Camana Bay.2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) SHAPE OF WATER (R) 12:35 I 3:35 VIP I 7:00 I 9:45 MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE (PG13) 12:40 I 4:05 I 9:40 THE COMMUTER (PG13) 12:50 I 4:15 I 7:10 DEN OF THIEVES (R) 3:45 I 6:50 I 9:55 FIFTY SHADES FREED (R) 12:30 VIP I 1:10 I 3:45 I 6:50 VIP 7:15 I 9:20 VIP I 10:00 JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:15 I 9:55 Special education needs audit delayed MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com An audit of special educa- tion needs students slated for the 2016-2017 academic year was never completed and is now being delayed until the 2018-2019 school year. The audit was required as part of the Ministry of Education’s plan of action for 2016-2017. Special education needs has been and continues to be a major issue for the public schools in the Cayman Islands. The Ministry of Educa- tion responded to a public records request for the audit by initially saying the audit had not yet been completed. “The SEN [special edu- cation needs] Audit … was not completed and has been moved into the 2017-18 Plan of Action schedule,” the min- istry said. It described the plan of action as a “live rolling document,” where whatever might not have been completed for a given school year would roll over to the next year. In a subsequent letter, ministry officials said the complete audit “has been carried over to the 2018-19 Plan of Action.” It said au- ditors had determined the number of students identi- fied as having special edu- cational needs and whether those students had both an individual education plan and a current psycholog- ical evaluation. Auditors did not deter- mine “the actual services provided, the quantity and quality of services, the tools used for identification, and the monitoring and evalua- tion process,” among other things, the letter said. Ministry officials were si- lent as to why the audit was not completed and why it has been delayed until the next school year. Multiple requests for comment on the matter went unanswered. Anne Briggs is a former teacher and literacy coordi- nator at Savannah Primary. She had special needs stu- dents in her classroom and said she was often frus- trated at the lack of re- sources for helping them. “No services are pro- vided after the [students’] assessment,” she said of the process she experi- enced. “It’s like, we’re telling you what’s wrong with the kid, but there’s no support. You end up with kids in the classroom [who have] learning disabilities that you can’t handle.” Based on her contact with former colleagues, she believes that such lack of support continues to be the case and may be why the audit remains incomplete. “All they’re looking at is how many SEN kids are in the system, but they’re not actually providing the ser- vices,” Ms. Briggs said. “This is probably why they’re not doing the reports, be- cause it would show what they’re lacking.” It was not until 2010 that public schools began tracking special needs students. That year, officials identified 185 students in the mainstream public schools. That number is now closer to 1,000. Inspec- tions during the 2014-2015 school year reported 153 spe- cial needs students at Red Bay Primary alone. Some education experts say it is difficult, if not im- possible, to run a program, such as meeting the needs of students who require extra assistance, without feedback and reliable data. Susie Bodden is the ex- ecutive leader of the Spe- cial Needs Foundation Cayman, which focuses on providing support and ser- vices for students, fami- lies and professionals, and hopes to provide direct sup- port to schools. “An audit would be ex- tremely useful,” Ms. Bodden said. “We’ve been trying to get some quality data for quite some time. Any gov- ernment needs good quality data about the needs of stu- dents, so you can provide [appropriate support].” “If we had much better data, it would be useful for us to target the support that we give,” she added. Carrie Patraulea, director of Cayman Learning Centre, a tutoring service, said she thinks many in the public schools are trying. “I think right now there’s a big attempt to put inter- ventions into place,” Ms. Patraulea said. “Whether they’re meeting the needs re- mains to be seen.” Without an audit, she said, it’s hard to make that assessment. Ms. Briggs said the fact that one has not been done makes it impossible to deter- mine if goals are being met. “You need to inspect what you expect,” she said, adding that it puts Cayman in a bad light. “In First World nations, this would never be allowed.” Police service welcomes 11 new recruits The newest crop of re- cruits to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service of- ficially began their service earlier this month. The 11 new local constable re- cruits had a swearing-in ceremony on Feb. 1, and their oaths were adminis- tered by the Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne and witnessed by the Senior Command Team. That ceremony marked the beginning of a 17- week training course that will prepare the recruits for their two-year proba- tionary period. Depending on depart- mental needs and priori- ties, the recruits could find themselves working in a wide variety of roles, in- cluding criminal investiga- tion, traffic, marine, air op- erations, financial crime, family support or the K-9 unit, following their two- year probationary period. Each of the new recruits is young and an active member of the communities they live in. “I believe that policing is about service. Service to your fellow officers, and service to the citizens of the community,” said Police Constable Bennard Ebanks, a new recruit whose fa- ther also served as an in- spector in the RCIPS. “To be a police officer means answering the call most others would ignore, re- gardless of inconvenience or harm. I am proud that I’ve earned the privilege of calling myself a constable.” The RCIPS selected their new recruits fol- lowing a recruitment drive that concluded last year. The new officers must have Caymanian status or per- manent residency through marriage to a Caymanian, and they also needed to pass a written examina- tion, an interview, fitness test and vetting. The police constable re- cruits were also joined by eight auxiliary constable recruits, who recently passed a course designed to allow them to support a range of police services. Auxiliary constables were taught how to conduct com- munity patrols, serve at the detention center and to cover special events. The Training and Devel- opment Unit of the RCIPS also added a pair of expe- rienced civilian trainers to the staff, and those trainers are expected to play a piv- otal role in grooming the new recruits. “We are extremely proud to have such a great group of new recruits in this class who have all made the de- cision to serve the com- munity they are a part of,” said Commissioner of Po- lice Derek Byrne. The Senior Command Team of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service addresses the 2018 recruit class. “To be a police officer means answering the call most others would ignore, regardless of inconvenience or harm.” POLICE CONSTABLE BENNARD EBANKS, new recruit It was not until 2010 that the public schools began tracking special needs students. That year, officials identified 185 students in the mainstream public schools. That number is now closer to 1,000.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS Executive Platinum Sponsors Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Other Sponsors Bronze SponsorThe 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. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Enterprise City: Home of Cayman’s growing tech industry Guests at last week’s Alternative Investment Summit got a preview of the future as experts shared insights about artificial intelligence and other radical changes to be expected as we approach “The Aug- mented Age.” As the world wades deep into technologies and capabilities that were until recently the stuff of science fiction, Cayman must continue to position itself to ride the wave of change. As Premier Alden McLaughlin said in his welcome address to delegates at the two-day summit, titled “Wired – the rise of alternative investments in a digital age,” “We need to ensure that we not only fight to keep the business and the economy that we have today – but look at how the business model that we have built can be adapted to attract the new emerging business – including financial technology, or Fintech.” That is why we are encouraged to see that in Cayman’s evolving economy, Cayman’s Enterprise City is staying ahead of the curve. In its six years, the knowledge- and technology- focused Special Economic Zone has grown to include more than 225 global companies from nearly two dozen countries. CEO Charlie Kirkconnell expects that in the next five years, there will be more than 500 businesses in the Zone, with roughly 60 percent of those operating from within Cayman Tech City – the home for technology-based enterprises such as e-commerce, Fintech, software development, computer programming, data services, and the like. In advance of last month’s “d10e” conference at The Ritz-Carlton (an event that was co-hosted by Cayman Tech City), Mr. Kirkconnell said that block- chain-focused companies have accounted for about one-quarter of the growth in the Special Economic Zone over the past seven months, as blockchain and cryptocurrency companies establish a physical presence in Cayman. Theirs is only one segment of all the work being done by the startups and other businesses in the SEZ (which includes enterprises clustered around two other “cities”: Cayman Commodities & Derivatives City and Cayman Maritime & Aviation City). The Zone’s mission – to be a growth platform for international companies – can seem a bit vague from a distance. But clearly, it has enticed large numbers of knowledge-based entrepreneurs to open their doors in the zone’s office and co-working space. Their efforts bring a needed diversity to our economy. They are attracted by Cayman’s strong IT infra- structure, protections for intellectual property, and tax benefits, and also by the synergies to be had by working in “activity hubs that enable like-minded indi- viduals to easily socialize and collaborate,” as Mr. Kirk- connell characterizes the arrangement. We imagine that draw will only become stronger with the long-awaited opening of Enterprise City’s new 53-acre campus. Before the end of this year, ground will break on the first phase of that campus, Enterprise City’s marketing manager, Kaitlyn Elphinstone, told the Compass. The first phase of the project will include three office build- ings totaling more than 60,000 square feet. It will be a brick-and-mortar testament to our evolving digital future. JOSÉ R. CÁRDENAS The Trump administra- tion is clearly signaling its in- tention to escalate diplomatic and economic pressure on the authoritarian regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. There is no other course. The Maduro regime’s intran- sigence, its systematic de- struction of democracy, and its epic economic malpractice are creating not only a hu- manitarian nightmare within Venezuela, but a migration crisis that threatens the sta- bility of it neighbors, in- cluding Colombia and nearby Caribbean islands. Pressing forward on a strategy of increased sanc- tions and multilateral pres- sure is right, but there will be no resolution in Venezuela without addressing the perni- cious influence of the Castro regime in fortifying Maduro’s grip on power. Today, the penetration of Venezuela by thousands of Cuban operatives is complete. While it remains difficult to quantify the exact numbers, according to a Brookings In- stitution report, Cuban intel- ligence operatives and mili- tary advisers in Venezuela range from hundreds to thou- sands. Organization of Amer- ican States Secretary Gen- eral Luis Almagro puts the number at 15,000, likening them to “an occupation army from Cuba in Venezuela.” Certainly, there is nothing new to the Venezuela-Cuba relationship. What is new is the Maduro regime’s in- creasing brazenness in pur- suing an uncompromising survival strategy straight out of the Castro playbook: ever- more reliance on repression to maintain control, while driving the discontented out of the country. Cuba’s fin- gerprints are all over this human tragedy There is very little to be optimistic about regarding Venezuela. Some liken it to an out-of-control bus that needs to crash before anything can be done. But that is an ab- dication of responsibility by those in a position to prevent such a tragedy and a disser- vice to the Venezuelan people. Moreover, there will be those who claim the United States has no moral authority to act in preventing the destruction of Venezuela. It’s very likely, however, that not many of them live there. José Cárdenas was acting assistant administrator for Latin America at the U.S. Agency for International Development in the George W. Bush administration. © 2018, Foreign Policy MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Bullying is unacceptable When one hears the word bullying, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Have you ever stopped to think about it? Do you know what bullying is? How often have you heard this word? Do you feel any immediate emotions when you hear this word, or do you just brush it off because you have not been directly affected by it? Bullying is a serious issue in our islands, bullying can affect children in so many different ways. It can cause children to become reclusive, refusing to participate in ev- eryday children activities, being afraid to communi- cate and becoming extremely non-responsive. It also affects parents: as parents, you have sleep- less nights because you are constantly checking on your child to ensure he or she is OK. Your spirit is broken to think that another child could cause such devastating emo- tional damage to your child. I have had personal ex- perience with bullying and know what bullying can do to children, their parents and the wider community. As citizens, we should be concerned about each other and to look out for each other. As parents, we should teach our children that bullying is wrong, and they should never participate in such horrific acts. I strongly believe in em- powering our children and young people. However, there are children who are already vulnerable due to low self- esteem, physical disability and mental disability. Em- powerment cannot protect these kids from a bully who is very persistent and is on the prowl every day. Bullies are inherently cow- ards who believe that because of their height, size or position of power in the workplace they can push other people around into humiliation. The irony, from my per- sonal experience, is that kids who have been bullied, often extend a hand of kindness and forgiveness to these bul- lies and amazingly help to prevent them from being pun- ished by the relevant author- ities. I have seen bullied kids display incredible character and stand toweringly taller than these bullies. As parents, it is our God- given right to protect our chil- dren from harm and some children are just not aggres- sive and inclined to fight back. God has made us all in his likeness and we are all unique and different. I strongly believe that parents have the right to protect their children who are not inclined to stand up and fight a bully. I have heard the cry of so many mothers whose chil- dren have been affected by bullying. It is frightening to think that our children may not have a fair chance of get- ting a good education because they are being plagued by bullying at school. In conclusion, I appeal to the powers that be or anyone who can help put a stop to this horrid act. Let us protect our children, protect our in- tegrity and protect our beau- tiful Cayman Islands. It is now my life mission to stand up against bullying in all its forms. Bullying is unac- ceptable, and should never be tolerated! Janet Sinclair-Young Cuba and worsening crisis in Venezuela 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 Your financial pawn is no match for the ransomware king. Mimecast protects your financial organisation from the inside out. bit.do/mimecastdemo or call eShore +1 345 946 3673 STONES THROWN AT OFFICERS IN WEST BAY Officers found them- selves pelted by stones Thursday while carrying out a drug operation in the Boatswains Bay area of West Bay. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service was joined by officers from HM Customs and the Department of Agricul- ture during the operation, when stones began to de- scend from unknown in- dividuals nearby. The stones damaged a ser- vice vehicle, an RCIPS statement said. “Such attacks against officers in the lawful execution of their du- ties threaten the safety of everyone,” said Deputy Commis- sioner Kurt Walton. “As police officers, our aim is to maintain public safety, and when we are attacked, that safety comes under threat.” The operation recov- ered several ganja plants. No arrests were made in relations to the drugs or the stone throwing. The matter is under investigation. Stephens contests expulsion JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former track coach Ato Stephens is contesting his expulsion from the Cayman Islands Athletic Associa- tion, claiming the sports or- ganization has breached his human rights. Mr. Stephens was re- leased from prison in No- vember after serving jail time for persuading a teenage athlete to send him inappro- priate pictures of herself. Now he is seeking to re- join the athletic association. In a letter to its execu- tive committee, seen by the Cayman Compass, Mr. Ste- phens states that the deci- sion to bring disciplinary action against him was “un- lawful” and suggests he could take legal action. Mr. Stephens’s wife, Cayman track legend Cy- donie Mothersille, is a member of the Cayman Is- lands Athletic Association executive committee, which voted to take action against him and which will now be tasked with deciding if he can be readmitted. Lance Barnes, presi- dent of the athletic as- sociation, confirmed the letter was genuine. He said, “Mr. Stephens was banned by the Cayman Islands Athletic Association following a unanimous vote of the executive committee, which his wife is part of. “We received a letter from him Friday morning stating we have violated his human rights and that we didn’t follow the constitution of the association.” He said an emergency meeting had been called for Monday to discuss the situa- tion. He was not clear Friday on whether Ms. Mother- sille would be involved in those discussions. “There seems to be some conflict of interest there,” he said. Mr. Barnes said he was confident that the associ- ation had acted in accor- dance with its rules and with the law when it moved to ban the jailed track coach following an outcry from parents. He said the execu- tive committee would have to take legal advice on the issues raised in Mr. Stephens letter. The basis of Mr. Ste- phens’s claim is that the track association cited a reg- ulation in its constitution re- lating to “sexual offences” as justification for banning him. “The Regulation C, Section 7 applies to disci- plinary actions for sexual misconduct,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, this does not apply to me, since I was never convicted of any sexual offenses and was ac- quitted of the charges in a court of Law. “Thus, any action of deci- sion by CIAA under Section 7 are null and void in my case.” Mr. Stephens was con- victed of using an Informa- tion Communications Tech- nology Network to annoy, harass or abuse the un- derage female. He was cleared, after trial, of more serious alle- gations of indecent assault and gross indecency against the same girl, while she was 14 and 15. Mr. Stephens left the ju- risdiction when the allega- tions first surfaced but was arrested in the U.S. and ex- tradited to Cayman, where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Au- gust 2017. He had already served almost a year in jail in the U.S. and was released on conditional discharge in Cayman in November the same year. His letter cites the failure of the Cayman Islands Athletic Association to give him a fair hearing and claims his right to free association, among other human rights, has been compromised. He adds, “The unlawful actions of CIAA without fol- lowing the due process of law and taking unilateral ac- tions based on hearsay has caused mental torture and degrading treatment to me and my family by accusing me of sexual offences, of which I was acquitted by a court of law …. “Through this letter I am informing you that I reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings against the CIAA for taking unlawful ac- tions in violation of its own constitution and the viola- tions of my human rights protected under the Cayman Islands Constitution 2009. “I seek immediate with- drawal and annulment of the said proceedings in the first instance in an official CIAA letter.” Mr. Barnes said the asso- ciation had taken the deci- sion to bring action after an outcry from the membership. If he was reinstated to the association, he said, Mr. Stephens would be able to attend track meets and other athletic association events. Mr. Stephens, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, was in the news last week after it emerged that he had not been de- ported from the Cayman Is- lands, as the sentencing judge recommended. Wesley Howell, chief of- ficer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, told the Com- pass that the final decision lay with Cabinet. In an email to the news- paper last week he wrote, “With regard to Mr. Ste- phens’ case, when weighing all of the circumstances, in- cluding the nature of the of- fence for which he was con- victed, and the fact that he has a Caymanian spouse and two Caymanian chil- dren, the Cabinet is not con- sidering making a deporta- tion order in this instance at this time.” Later in the week, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin sub- sequently released a state- ment, suggesting the matter was yet to be decided. “The Cabinet of the Cayman Islands has not yet considered the court’s recommendation for the deportation of Ato Modibo Stephens.” The Compass attempted to reach Ms. Mothersille and Mr. Stephens through Ms. Mothersille’s email ad- dress, but had received no response by press time.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS the stages of his varied ca- reer and threw in some fi- nancial advice. “Pay your taxes. This is the most important thing you will hear at this conference,” he joked. “‘Cause the IRS is going to come and take your stuff,” he added, recalling a run-in with the U.S. tax au- thority early on in his career. “I didn’t forget to pay the IRS,” the Hollywood star quipped to the delight of the crowd. The experience left him “broke” and “depressed.” But following an impromptu au- dition at U.S. music producer Quincy Jones’s birthday party, it also led to a career change for the rapper, who stepped into the role of an inner-city teenager from Philadelphia sent by his mother to live with rich relatives on the pop- ular TV comedy series. The actor, who turns 50 this year, said to entertain and make people smile has al- ways been his goal. From an early age when he played the piano in church, he said, he was “addicted” to the look in his grandmother’s eyes and to making her happy. And only recently, his mother produced old family photographs that shared a common theme: he was the only one looking straight at the camera with a trade- mark goofy smile. Success also came early. “Nobody should have a hit record when they are still in high school,” he said. Although he enjoyed the ex- perience, he admitted he was “reckless” with money. But his family always kept him grounded. His rap lyrics contained no more swearing after his grandmother, upon discovering his rap book, left him a note pointing out to “Willard” that “really intelli- gent people [did] not have to use this kind of language to express themselves.” During one summer, his father made him and his brother rebuild the front wall of the family workshop every day, brick by brick. The experience left the brothers wondering whether their father had gone “crazy,” but also taught an impor- tant work ethic that he tried to follow throughout his ca- reer, he said. Rather than fo- cusing on building the wall, “I am just trying to lay a perfect brick at a time.” “Fail early, fail often and fail forward,” he re- cently shared on his YouTube channel, a social media en- deavor he started six weeks ago, and he repeated the mantra on stage, saying: “You fail your way to the top.” The new social media project is an outlet for the star’s creativity but also a nod to how younger generations consume entertainment. The days when a movie star could keep a distance from the fans and let the craft speak for it- self are over. However, despite these changes in media consump- tion and the rise of internet movie streaming, there will still be a place for movie the- aters. There is nothing like watching a movie as part of a crowd, being afraid together, laughing together, he said. His father, who had a “huge impact” on the actor and who passed away in 2016, made another important ob- servation when Mr. Smith landed his first blockbuster hit with “Independence Day,” the actor remembered. Calling him in the middle of the night after seeing re- ports of the movie’s box of- fice receipts, his father said, not heeding grandmother’s language advice: “Remember when I said there is no such thing as luck? That’s [non- sense]. You are the luckiest [guy] I know.” This, she noted, has al- ways been her attitude and she knows no other way. Yet it seems that leaving high school and moving alone to England at age 16 to become a racing driver also played a role. Like other people who go to college during this period, it was a phase for her to learn mainly about life. Society taught her the lesson that “people will take advantage of you if they can,” be it finan- cially or emotionally, she said. This meant that in con- trast to the wide-eyed, naive girl who left for England, she was less open when she re- turned and the experience left her a bit cold. It also strengthened her resolve. “I moved from ‘I want to be a racing driver’ to ‘I better make this work,’” she said. Asked how she knew that she was good enough to be a racing driver at that young age, she was deadpan: “I won. A lot.” However, there is not much love lost between her and racing. Ms. Patrick, a house- hold name in U.S. sports, an- nounced her retirement from racing last year, although she will still participate in her last two races, the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500, this year. The retirement decision left her agonized, partly be- cause she is a big proponent of trying harder when things do not go the right way. It took her a while to determine whether she was quitting or letting go. “There is a big differ- ence,” she said. Ultimately, it is all about winning and the decision came down to either “fin- ishing better” or “not wanting to do it anymore.” There is no question that she will sever her ties with racing in the future. She made clear there will be no mentoring of junior drivers or watching races for pleasure, simply because speeding at 200 mph around a track for hours on end each weekend is “not fun” for her. Ms. Patrick said her father loved racing much more than she did. Telling him about this took a long time and caused emotional heartache. When she eventually con- fessed that she “did not love racing,” her father responded that he had known all along and she was simply very good at it and needed a job. Her passions lie elsewhere. “If you think I am a good racing driver, you should see me work out and cook,” she exclaimed, as if it were an- other competition. Ms. Patrick conceived all the recipes in her latest nu- trition book and, perhaps surprisingly, she revealed her dream is to have her own TV cooking show. Given that, in addition to a book, she has her own clothing line, Warrior, and is featured in 14 Super Bowl commercials – more than any other celebrity – one would be ill-advised to bet against it. Ms. Patrick’s recipe for success is simple: mental strength and positivity. Re- peating one of her favorite mantras, she said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Another business venture Ms. Patrick has embarked on is a Napa Valley prop- erty that she has turned into a vineyard. Her first wine, a vintage 2014, will be followed by a variety of wines coming out this year. But she empha- sized that although it is a “fun project,” the vineyard is purely an investment. “I am not going to lie, I have a lot of money,” she quipped, but generally, Ms. Patrick said she spends money on vacations rather than extravagant purchases. Her first splurge after get- ting a big paycheck was a ring with her birthstone and a holiday to Bora Bora. “If I had had a boyfriend, I would have taken him, but I didn’t, so I took my sister,” she said. Her first car was a BMW 645, powerful and well-engi- neered but also somewhat or- dinary. Later, she test drove an Austin Martin Vantage. “It kind of sucked, so I bought a Lamborghini,” she said, which coming from the racing driver was more of a practical and matter-of- fact comment than an os- tentatious one. One way for her to main- tain her focus is to write down monthly goals, she said. Her latest one: “Cre- ating a 100-point wine” – the highest possible rating. Fresh Prince rocks the Kimpton Danica Patrick chats with Business Insider journalist Linette Lopez at the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit. - PHOTO: JANET JARCHOW, BETTER ANGLE PHOTOGRAPHY Danica Patrick – driven to succeed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Will Smith and Dart Vice President Chris Duggan rap during the close of the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Social humanoid robot Sophia, developed in Hong Kong, answers questions for the audience in Cayman. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Premier Alden McLaughlin speaks during the first day of the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 It starts with you. Banks will NEVER call or send messages asking for private information such as: u Your PIN u Your Password u Your Access Code u Credit Card Number u Account Number Phishing is a type of identity theft where criminals use scare tactics to bait you into giving personal and financial details. These calls, emails or texts are NOT legitimate. ®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable). Wailers hit the beach More than 1,000 people packed the beach in front of the Royal Palms on Saturday night to enjoy the music of the Wailers, the group origi- nally founded by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Original members, guitarist Junior Marvin and drummer Paapa Nyarkoh, led the group through a long list of reggae hits. The group took the stage about 10:30 p.m., following opening acts Beniel Miller and the Fyah Squad, and singer Etana. Local DJs Ky-Mani Davis and DJ Glenroy also enter- tained the crowd. The Wailers packed the beach in front of Royal Palms Saturday night. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Junior Marvin was one of the original members of Bob Marley’s band, the Wailers. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday share date for first time in 70 years JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com For the first time in more than 70 years, Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday will fall on the same day this year. A few weeks later, Easter Sunday and April Fools’ Day also fall on the same day. The two February holidays will overlap again in 2024 and 2029, according to researchers at the Center for Applied Re- search in the Apostolate, or CARA, based at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In 2096, Ash Wednesday will occur on Leap Year Day, Feb. 29, for the first time in the church’s history. For Catholics and other Christians, Ash Wednesday is an important holy day in the liturgical calendar. It sig- nals the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter Sunday, when Christians typ- ically “give up” some earthly pleasure, such as chips, al- cohol, chocolate or soda, as a form of penance. On Ash Wednesday, priests or ministers apply ashes in the shape of the cross to devotees’ foreheads. People generally wear the ashes throughout the day to publicly express their faith. The ashes are made from the burning of palms blessed in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, when Christians carry palms to recognize the Gospels’ ref- erence to Jesus’ path being covered in palm fronds on the day he entered Jerusalem. Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valen- tine originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day, honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial cel- ebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country. “The fact that Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same date shouldn’t make any difference to our services,” said the Rev. Nicholas Sykes, rector of St. Alban’s church in George Town and Secretary of the Cayman Ministers’ Association. The Ash Wednesday mes- sage will basically be the same as other years – the im- portance of preparing for spir- itual growth, he said. “A lot of people … ob- serve Valentine’s Day,” the Rev. Sykes said. “Obviously, the date changes but what the Cayman Ministers’ Associa- tion has acknowledged in the past, is that the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, churches look on the importance of marriage and holy matrimony and the way it requires commitment to one person, which, per- haps the secular Valentine’s Day does not.” Easter Sunday Many Christians consider Easter Sunday one of the most important dates on the Chris- tian calendar. It is celebrated with church services, fes- tive family meals, Easter egg decoration and gift-giving, prayer, all-night vigil and sun- rise services. Easter calender dates de- pend on the timing of the full moon relative to March 21. Here in Grand Cayman, the Bodden Town Church of God congregation held Easter campouts as a church activity. Women hid boiled Easter eggs among seagrape leaves and behind rocks for the children to find. This year, the day will co- incide with a secular tradition, April Fools’ Day. “April Fools’ day is just a gloss,” the Rev. Sykes said. “It doesn’t have any reli- gious connotations … it’s just a jokey, jokey thing. Cer- tainly, Easter is no joke, that’s for sure. It’s the resurrection of our Lord.” THE LAST INTERNATIONALE PLAYS THE HARQUAIL The Last Internationale rocked the Harquail The- atre Saturday night in an effort to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Breast Cancer Foundation. The set by the New York band included a mix of high-energy rock ‘n’ roll, along with some slower acoustic numbers. This was the group’s first appearance in the Cayman Islands. They have opened for such notable acts as Robert Plant, The Who and Neil Young. The opening act Sat- urday night was local band Scotch & Soda. Guitarist Edgey Pires jams out during a charity show for the Breast Cancer Foundation. The Last Internationale vocalist Delila Paz rocks the Harquail Theatre. - PHOTOS : TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS he could still mix it with the younger generation. He partnered with Stephens, in a mixed doubles match-up against Cash and Liu. Stephens, 24, who came into the exhibition having competed in the Austra- lian Open, showed the hard running and powerful hit- ting that have made her one of the rising stars of the women’s game. At times, she found her- self apologizing for blitzing winners as she struggled ini- tially to calibrate her elite level game to the slower pace of an exhibition. Liu, too, showed flashes of the star she could become. Cash, clad in his distinctive headband and Connors, in white trousers and a green v-neck sweater vest, took a more leisurely approach, ex- changing volleys at the net. Ultimately, it was Con- nors and Stephens who tri- umphed 6-5 in the simplified scoring system. After the game, Connors said he had enjoyed being back in the limelight and paid tribute to his partner. “You can see why she is US Open champion,” he said as he walked off court, shouldering his worn leather tennis bag, shaking hands and signing autographs for anyone who asked. The veteran still uses the old-fashioned graphite racket from his days on the senior tour. The leather bag has been with him since he was dominating world tennis in the 1970s and ‘80s. “It’s tough for me to get rid of the old things,” he said, smiling. It was his first time in Cayman and he is sure he will be back. “The first thing I did was call home and say next trip is to the Caymans,” he said. Next up, Stephens beat Liu 8-3, the champion giving the young pretender a lesson in what it will take to step up to the elite level. Liu said afterward it had been a privilege to play on the same court as a Grand Slam champion as she tunes up for her senior debut at Wimbledon this year. Stephens had some help, however, handing over her racket at one stage to a young ball boy who drew the loudest cheers of the night, by showing off his serve and volley skills to win two points. “I’m giving up tennis,” an amateur in the crowd, re- marked, as the youngster powered a winner down the line. “He’s already better than I’ll ever be.” The finale to the evening saw Swedish great Stefan Ed- berg reprise his rivalry with Pat Cash, the 1987 Wim- bledon champion. As was the pattern in their pro careers, Edberg tri- umphed, this time 8-5. “That was more serve and volleying than we have seen on the pro tour in the last five years,” referee and emcee Mark Knowles commented after a game which saw the pair reprise the sharp net play that distinguished their professional careers. There was time for some fun too, with the ball boys frequently subbing in for the legends. One of them even held on to Cash’s headband. At one point, Cash acci- dentally hit the ball into the crowd to squeals from the girls in the front row. “It’s been a long time since the girls were screaming for me,” he commented, milking the attention. After the game, the Aussie, now 52, blamed the defeat on “the sun, the wind, the ball and some close calls.” “It was great to play against Stefan again. He was lucky, like he always is,” he joked. The pair played against each other 10 times as pro- fessionals, with Edberg win- ning eight. Their first contest was on the junior tour, when Edberg was 15 and Cash was 16. “It’s great to be back on the court,”commented Edberg, paying tribute to the crowds and to the Cayman Islands. “It doesn’t get much better than this.” Legends tennis returns to Camana Bay Tennis legend Pat Cash gives his headband to a ball boy. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Claire Liu, Pat Cash, Sloane Stephens and Jimmy Connors were in celebratory moods after finishing their doubles match at the Legends tournament in Camana Bay Friday night. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pat Cash celebrates during Legends at Camana Bay. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Sloane Stephens shows the Cayman crowd why she is a Grand Slam champion. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Ball girls Cornelia Ecke, Caroline Duggan, Phoebe Claybourn and Georgina Hayman get ready for the upcoming matches Friday night. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Jimmy Connors climbs over the net as he and Pat Cash swap places. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Sloane Stephens gives ball girl Caroline Duggan some advice on taking a shot. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Upcoming tennis star Claire Liu shows off her skill on the court. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Stefan Edberg arrives on court. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2018 In Loving Memory of Marco Peter Oliver Rankine Feb 12, 1992 – Feb 10, 2013 Our eyes are lled with tears again As we stand where you lay We think of you every second But miss you everyday Our body is full of sadness at you are no longer here Pain is only soothed By the memories we hold so dear Our tired hearts are broken And they doesn’t beat the same ey break a little more Every time we hear your name Our dreams are of the future When we no longer feel this pain We’ll follow you up to Heaven And we will meet again. Happy 26th Birthday Marco Forever in our hearts. Your broken hearted Mommy, Susan; Stepdad, Ricky; and Sisters Ashantae and Azariah love and miss you beyond measure. REST IN PEACE Marco P. O. Rankine February 12th 1992 On Your 5th Birthday away from us Our heart is full of memories and with pride we speak your name You will always be remembered and we cherish the memories we have of you Love you always Mel and Haileigh February 12February 12February 12 1992 From your loving Husband and Children Alma Baronis Howell November 7th 1931-February 10th, 2012 Symposium promotes early intervention for mental illness MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com From a tearful Dwayne Seymour recounting the shame he felt as the son of a drug-addicted father to a vi- brant and determined young woman discussing her battle with depression, those at- tending a mental health sym- posium Saturday saw not only the pain of mental ill- ness but heard about the hope of helping more people affected by it. A standing-room-only crowd of about 250 people packed a ballroom at the Grand Cayman Mar- riott Beach Resort for the Alex Panton Foundation Launch Symposium. A slate of speakers at the afternoon event included Abby Hydes, 22, who talked about recovering from de- pression. Others addressed the state of mental health – particularly among young people – and efforts to meet the needs of Cayman Islands residents with mental illness. Alex Panton took his own life in 2010 at age 16. The foundation, headed by his parents, Jane and Wayne, aims to raise awareness about mental illness and to serve as a clearinghouse for support services in the Cayman Islands. “The reason for the foun- dation is to be a central re- pository to provide the tools for (children) to become healthy and happy citizens of the world,” Mrs. Panton told the audience. “I hope this foundation can be a beacon of hope.” Mental health organiza- tions such as Loud Silent Voices, the Family Resource Centre and the Wellness Centre were on hand with informational tables set up outside the ballroom. Wellness Centre director Shannon Seymour was one of the symposium speakers. Like many of those ad- dressing the crowd, she said early intervention is impor- tant. She is hoping the foun- dation can make a difference in that respect. “Their objective is to raise awareness [and] bring about changes in policy,” Ms. Seymour said. “It’s going to make it much easier for family members and individuals to get the help they need.” That in turn, she said, “makes our job easier when people come in at the early stages of their illness.” Raising awareness is one way to fight the taboos and diminish the stigma that mental illness often car- ries with it. Ms. Seymour said that stigma cuts across all cultures. “In the Cayman culture, there’s always been a great sense of privacy, taking our mentally ill people and keeping them out of sight,” she said. Other cultures have their own stigmas, she added, using expatriate British people as an ex- ample. “They have that stiff upper lip – be strong and carry on. I think, regard- less of where we come from, there is that stigma.” Pamella Williams is a registered nurse in mental health at Cayman Islands Hospital and part of Loud Si- lent Voices. She said educa- tion is critical. “In my experience, a lot of families come in and they don’t really understand what’s happening with their child,” Ms. Williams said. “It isn’t like a laceration. They can’t see blood flowing. We teach people how to iden- tify triggers, early signs of mental illness or even sui- cidal ideations. If families recognize this, they can get help earlier.” Dr. Marc Lockhart, speaking to attendees, also stressed early identifica- tion and early treatment. He said 50 percent of people with mental illness exhibit symptoms by the time they are 14. He said the founda- tion is looking at establishing a team of health providers who can respond when a young person shows signs of having a problem. “What we are proposing is we can have teams go to the schools … go to the house- holds,” Dr. Lockhart said. Such a team might have been helpful to Ms. Hydes, who said she felt the first grip of depression when she was 14. “I felt like I was a side character in my own life film,” she said. Two years later, when her mother found her crying, she shared what she was struggling with. “I said, ‘I don’t know how to deal with these thoughts that I don’t want to be here anymore,’” Ms. Hydes recalled. Her family got her pro- fessional help. But it was not until after she gradu- ated college and was a year into her public relations ca- reer that she realized she needed medication to cor- rect chemical imbalances in her brain. Now, she said, she is in recovery. “I’m flawed and broken, but not a write off,” she told the symposium crowd, which gave her a standing ovation. “I am proof that you can make your own tomorrow. We will make a positive change in the lives of those with mental illness.” Jane Panton addresses the crowd at the Alex Panton Foundation Launch Symposium on Saturday. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS Sentencing for Estella’s murder adjourned again CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sentencing was adjourned on Friday for the two men who received life sentences after their conviction for murdering rights activist Es- tella Scott-Roberts in 2008. Larry Prinston Ricketts appeared in Grand Court be- fore Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, but Kirkland Henry did not attend because he had refused to leave his cell just as he had refused the previous week. As a result, government psychiatrist Dr. Marc Lock- hart had been asked to give the court a report on Mr. Henry’s mental state. Portions of that report were referred to on Friday. The chief justice read that Mr. Henry was very sus- picious, paranoid and un- able to comprehend his legal situation. The Director of Public Prosecutions pointed out that the Conditional Release Law, which now requires a sen- tence of a specific number of years instead of an in- determinate “life” sentence, does not permit consider- ation of a convicted person’s behavior after the life sen- tence was imposed. The question was whether his current condition had de- veloped afterward and what his condition was at the time of the offense. Ms. Richards and attorney Prathna Bodden agreed to write a letter to Dr. Lock- hart inviting him to attend court on Monday, Feb. 12, and clarify the situation. The hearing then con- tinued, with the chief jus- tice inviting lead counsel Ben Tonner to make any sub- missions on behalf of Mr. Ricketts, and Ms. Bodden on behalf of Mr. Henry. The matter was then adjourned until Monday.Next >