High of 85 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 HEALTHCARE OBLIGATIONS: THE STRAIGHT STORY (MINUS THE SUGARCOATING) LOCAL | PAGE 7 FORMER PROSECUTOR TURNS TO DEFENSE ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 From happy beginnings to happy ever after. BritCay provides the best employee benefits and life cover at the best possible price. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life cgigrp British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited and Colonial Pension Services Ltd. and it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky Business Protection FORMER POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED FOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Adrian James Barnett, the former head of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s Traffic Management Unit, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to three traffic-related offenses. Mr. Barnett, 53, will lose his driver’s license for a year and will be fined $1,500 for leaving the scene of an accident, driving while im- paired and dangerous driving in June 2017. “It is in a sense a tragic case in one way,” said defense attorney John Furniss in the mo- ments before Mr. Barnett was sentenced. “This incident led to Mr. Barnett’s retirement from the police force.” Crown counsel Stacy-Ann Kelly read the facts of the case Wednesday in the courtroom of Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez. Mr. Bar- nett drove directly toward oncoming traffic on June 10 last year, causing several oncoming vehicles to swerve out of the way, the court heard. Ms. Kelly said Mr. Barnett collided with the back of a Range Rover and then left the COMMUNITY CARE WORKER KILLED IN BRAC ACCIDENT JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman was killed in a two-vehicle colli- sion on Bight Road near Tibbetts Turn Road, Cayman Brac, Tuesday night. The woman has been named as 51-year-old community care worker Sharon Gayle-Clarke, born in Jamaica but a longtime resident of Cayman Brac with her husband. She worked at the Kirkconnell Commu- nity Care Centre on Cayman Brac for close to 20 years, in the adult special needs pro- gram, taking care of the elderly. The center is operated by the Department of Children and Family Services. At the time of the accident, Mrs. Gayle- Clarke was heading to work for her 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. There were no passengers in the car with Mrs. Gayle-Clarke at the time of the accident. The driver of the other car, a Honda Integra, in- volved in the accident, was transported to Faith Memorial Hospital where he was being treated Wednesday for non-life-threatening injuries. Police-biker cooperation ‘hasn’t worked in longer term’ MLAs, store owner eye race track in East End BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com It seems Cayman Islands motorbike enthusiasts do not want to hang out with the police during their rides. Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo noted that a plan hatched late last year to have community po- lice officers “supervise” bikers during rides at various locations around Grand Cayman “worked in the short term, but hasn’t worked in the longer term.” “Now they’re back on the road,” Mr. Suckoo told a group of about 40 Bodden Town residents during a public meeting Tuesday night at the James M. Bodden Civic Centre. The long-standing issue with the motorbikes came to the fore in late 2016 and again in late 2017 when large groups of bikers rode around Grand Cayman, popping wheelies, swerving in and out of traffic, and disrupting other drivers on the road. Some of the vehicles Cayman represented at Commonwealth forum Delegates gathered at the first Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum in London this week. Two representatives from the Cayman Islands – Counselor David Wight and MLA Kenneth Bryan – are among the more than 70 parliamentarians from 25 countries across the Commonwealth attending the forum, which began Monday and will end Thursday. The forum, aimed at parliamentarians from national legislatures across the Commonwealth, is intended to facilitate discussion between member territories on key issues, before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » From left, Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne, Superintendent Robbie Graham and Bodden Town District Commander Winsome Prendergast listen to an attendee at the police district meeting Bodden Town Tuesday night. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY MARCH 1, 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) GAME NIGHT (R) 12:35 I 4:05 I 7:00 I 9:55 ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ (PG13) 12:50 I 4:00 I 6:30 I 10:00 THE 15:17 TO PARIS (PG13) 4:50 I 10:05 FIFTY SHADES FREED (R) 1:10 I 7:15 WINCHESTER (PG13) 1:40 I 3:45 I 7:30 I 9:30 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 3:00 I 3:50 VIP I 7:00 VIP 9:15 I 10:00 VIP JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 2:00 I 7:10 Rum Point project aims to tap into island’s eastern promise JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A luxury condo project planned for Rum Point could lead a new wave of tourism development in the eastern districts, according to devel- oper Joe Imparato. He believes the Rum Point Club and Residences, which he describes as sim- ilar in style and quality to his Caribbean Club on Seven Mile Beach, will set a new standard for that part of the island. “The reality is that there is nothing at Rum Point that will compare to what we are doing from a quality and re- turn on investment point of view,” he said. “I am convinced that we will be leading the way for other, similar projects as de- velopment migrates to the eastern districts.” He said the 36 condos, which range in price from US$1.2 to $2.5 million, would be individually owned. Most will be enrolled into a rental pool, meaning it will operate like a boutique hotel. The Central Planning Au- thority granted approval last week for some minor amendments to the plans after the developer agreed to move some parking spaces to satisfy neighboring resi- dents concerned that they encroached on a legally registered path. The development, ex- pected to be complete in March next year, has faced various obstacles, including strong opposition from neighboring owners at the Retreat complex. Mr. Imparato is still at odds with the planning de- partment over accusations that work was carried out on the ironshore coastline without permission. The de- veloper claims the work was above the high water mark and in compliance with the law. He said the work was rel- atively minor landscaping and a stop notice issued by the department for those modifications had not im- pacted the overall project. He said a separate planning application had now been submitted, at the request of the department. Planning director Haroon Pandohie said the developer had not yet met the terms of a planning enforcement no- tice to either reinstate the shoreline or obtain planning permission. He said the file was now with the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration. Mr. Imparato said this was news to him. Either way, he said the continuation of the project does not hinge on the im- passe over the ironshore, which he described as a “sideshow.” He said the bigger picture was the impact the develop- ment would have on tourism in the eastern districts. “We expect the wave of tourism to move in the direc- tion of Rum Point,” he said. The five-story building fea- tures 36 units, but owners will have the option to combine units into larger properties. He said the beachfront devel- opment, which also features a spa and fitness center, was 50 percent sold and on schedule for completion in March next year. Luxury Cayman Villas will manage the property. “Our target market for sales are moderately affluent second home buyers that are seeking an upscale vaca- tion residence beyond that of Seven Mile Beach,” he added. An architect’s rendering of the planned Rum Point Club and Residences. Cayman’s Webb to get seventh sentencing date BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former FIFA Vice Presi- dent and Cayman Islands businessman Jeffrey Webb’s sentencing date in U.S. federal court is likely to be delayed again, according to court doc- uments released this week. Mr. Webb’s attorney has requested that his client’s sentencing in connection with the FIFA corruption probe be put back six months from the current date, March 7. If the court of the Eastern District of New York ap- proves the change, Mr. Webb would not face sentencing until September. The U.S. attorneys office in Brooklyn has not objected to the delay request, attorney Ernie Gao said in filings with the court. The former FIFA vice pres- ident pleaded guilty in No- vember 2015 to seven counts in a U.S. federal court indict- ment alleging he and dozens of other defendants conspired to rig sports marketing con- tracts for various world foot- ball events in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. A number of other de- fendants, including former Cayman Islands resident Costas Takkas, have pleaded guilty in the FIFA case. Mr. Takkas received a 15-month sentence on one charge against him last year, with 10 months off for time already served in Swiss detention awaiting ex- tradition to the U.S. The scheme described by U.S. prosecutors alleged Mr. Webb and others at FIFA so- licited bribes from sports marketing companies in ex- change for directing lucrative broadcasting and commer- cial rights deals for various football tournaments to the bribe-payers. Dozens of U.S. banks were used to make those alleged bribe payments to Mr. Webb and others, prosecutors said. FIFA’s Ethics Committee also found Mr. Webb guilty of violating general rules of conduct, rules of loyalty, rules for disclosure and fi- nancial reporting, conflicts of interest, and bribery and cor- ruption. He has been banned for life from “all football-re- lated activities on a national and international level.” Child porn charges sent to Grand Court CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands lecturer Pierre Michel Pavlov Rameau had child pornog- raphy charges against him committed to Grand Court, where he was directed to ap- pear on Friday, March 23. Mr. Rameau, 49, elected to be tried in the higher court on 12 charges that he pos- sessed child pornography on or before March 30, 2017. Some of the charges relate to a single image while others relate to quantities of images. On Wednesday, Crown counsel Toyin Salako told Magistrate Philippa McFar- lane that the Crown was withdrawing a single charge of using an Information and Communication Technology network to annoy, abuse or harass a female. Defense at- torney Prathna Bodden then agreed that a preliminary inquiry into the remaining charges could proceed on the basis of the papers in the case rather than calling witnesses. In a story titled “Trial begins for jewelry store robbery” that ran in the Cayman Compass on Wednesday, Feb. 28, the story stated that a witness had seen defendant Madeinys Ebanks- Pol in a car outside the store. In fact, the witness did not iden- tify Ms. Ebanks-Pol or any specific individual in her testimony. CORRECTION TRIAL SET FOR BRAC ARTIST Magistrate also sets dates for preliminary arguments CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ronald Gregory Kynes, also known as Foots, ap- peared in Summary Court on Tuesday for a case man- agement of charges against him. As a result of that hearing, he was scheduled to stand trial starting April 24 in Cayman Brac. Mr. Kynes, 64, is charged that on or before July 18, 2017, for the purpose of public exhibition, he pos- sessed “objects which were obscene or tended to cor- rupt public morals.” The objects, on land at South Side Road, Cayman Brac, were described in the charge as statues de- picting naked females, some of which appear to be per- forming sexual acts. Mr. Kynes first appeared in Summary Court on Oct. 26 last year, when he pleaded not guilty. A note on the court file from Jan. 25 indicated that the defendant, who is repre- senting himself, will rely on “freedom of expression.” Chief Magistrate Nova Hall subsequently as- signed the matter to Mag- istrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn, who has conducted all hearings since. This week, Mr. Kynes and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran appeared before her to dis- cuss preliminary issues, in- cluding the admissibility of evidence from civilian wit- nesses and the Constitu- tion. The magistrate said she would hear arguments on these points in Cayman Brac on March 22 and 23. The trial itself was set to start April 24, with the next three days to be set aside for its continuation if necessary.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 Exclusive Luncheon | Friday, March 16, 2018 | 12pm – 3:30pm | Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Jennifer Thompson - Inspirational speaker and Author of the New York Times Best- Selling Memoir Picking Cotton. Jennifer’s story has inspired audiences around the world appearing on Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, The View and more. Jennifer Thompson touches the hearts of audiences with a story that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Her story is one of transforming personal tragedy into a crusade for justice and restoration for the wrongly convicted. By examining choices, consequences and ultimately, forgiveness, she demonstrates the true nature of the human spirit and shows how one person can make a difference. In 1985, a year after surviving a brutal sexual assault, her mistaken testimony led to an innocent man being sentenced to life in prison. DNA testing later identified her true attacker and proved the innocence of Ronald Cotton, who spent 11 years in prison after being wrongly convicted. Through the healing power of forgiveness, reconciliation and the human spirit, Jennifer and Ronald became friends, and together co-authored the New York Times Best-Selling Memoir, Picking Cotton. The best-seller recounts their journeys, the tragedy that brought them together and their mutual belief that apology and forgiveness are important elements of healing. On stage, she recounts her heartening story of overcoming adversity, personal resilience, and how one person can make a difference to achieve improbable outcomes. Jennifer is a nationally-known advocate for criminal justice reform, focusing on the human impact of wrongful convictions, the fallibility of eyewitness testimony, combating sexual violence, and the capacity to forgive. She serves as president of the nonprofit Healing Justice, which she founded after her tragic experience with a flawed criminal justice process. She has successfully lobbied state legislators to change compensation laws for the wrongly convicted, revise police eye witness line- up procedures and for many other causes. Silent Auction for designer handbags Tickets: CI$150 per person (Enjoy complimentary glass of wine, canapés, lunch, dessert buffet and cocktail reception!) CI$1350 per table of 10 Contact Jennifer O’Leary at jennifer.oleary@scotiabank.com or call 815 4313. Brought to you by Consumer Protection Bill delayed BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Following an uproar among local business owners over a proposal to implement consumer protection rules in Cayman, the government commission which drafted the bill has agreed to extend a public review period on the issue until May. The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce noted Wednesday that the dead- line for public comments on the draft Consumer Protec- tion & Guarantees Bill will now be May 1. All partici- pating Chamber members are expected to provide input by the end of March. Chamber President Paul Byles said it was clear fol- lowing last week’s public meeting held at Chamber headquarters that the current draft of the legislation did not have much support from the business community. Mr. Byles also opined during the meeting that it appeared little direct con- sultation had been done among businesses, particu- larly the retail sector, before the draft bill’s initial release last October. “Draft legislation of this na- ture is going to have a signifi- cant effect on local businesses,” Mr. Byles said. “The meeting with our members made it clear that there are quite a few legitimate concerns.” Chamber officials recom- mended all businesses read a draft of the legislation and submit comments. It is not scheduled to come before the Legislative Assembly during a meeting later this month and is likely to be amended prior to that presentation in any case. The draft bill seeks to es- tablish “a legal framework for the achievement and mainte- nance of a consumer market that is fair, efficient and re- sponsible.” The law, if passed, would apply to “all persons en- gaged in a trade or business.” The legislation seeks to create a Cabinet-appointed Consumer Affairs Commission, consisting of five people that would be given the powers of a court to request information in consumer-business disputes and to investigate consumer complaints. The commission is given the power to order cer- tain penalties for those who violate the law and is tasked with providing general infor- mation on consumer rights. Orders given against way- ward companies or service providers by the commis- sion can include demands to replace defective or un- safe goods, to discontinue unfair trade practices, to pay compensation to con- sumers if a breach of law oc- curs and to correct erroneous advertisements. Goods and services sup- pliers that do not comply with commission’s orders can re- ceive up to a year in prison or a $5,000 fine. A person who is aggrieved by a commission order may appeal to the court within 30 days of the order. The draft bill also sets out certain rights given to the consumer, including the right to refuse unsolicited goods, the right of the consumer to authorize services and the right to avoid “unreasonable” cancellation charges. The draft bill seeks to allow con- sumers to halt “continuing service agreements” three weeks after giving notice. The legislation would set out “guarantees” in relation to the supply and quality of goods or services provided. The supplier or manufacturer that breaches those guar- antees is said to be “liable to such penalties as may be described” in the draft lan- guage of the bill. Industry leaders in Cayman railed against the proposal when it was reviewed during last week’s public meeting. “This [proposal] is not a friend … in terms of lowering costs of doing business in Cayman,” said Foster’s Food Fair IGA Managing Director Woody Foster. “It’s clear to me that who- ever drafted this has never run a business,” said Health City Cayman Islands devel- oper Gene Thompson. “It’s very anti-Caymanian, and very anti-business. There’s the underlying assumption in this bill that every one of us is dis- honest. We’re trying to fix a problem that does not exist.” Pregnant woman robbed at gunpoint JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 25-year-old man and his pregnant girlfriend were robbed at gunpoint out- side their home in Prospect Tuesday night. The couple pulled up out- side the house when they were approached by two masked men, according to the male victim, who asked not to be named. He said one of the men pointed a gun at his head and asked, “What do you have?” When he tried to hand over their cellphones, the man asked, “Are you trying to set us up?” and refused to take them. He added, “I started looking for stuff to give them but we didn’t really have anything.” He said the men became frustrated and one of them said, “Let’s shoot them and go.” “I couldn’t tell if they meant it or not. I just did what I thought was best and tried to give them what they wanted,” he added. He said he offered to get some money from the house and the men followed them inside, where he handed over $900 cash and some jewelry. The robbers then fled the scene in a vehicle. “It was terrifying,” the victim said. “I was more worried for my girlfriend because she is five months pregnant. She was scared but she didn’t really want to give them anything.” Police confirmed they were called to reports of a robbery in Prospect around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. One of the suspects is de- scribed as being about 6 feet tall, of slim to medium build, and of light complexion. The other is described as about 5 feet, 5 inches, of slim build, and dark complexion. Police conducted searches of the area but did not find anyone. Anyone with information can call police on 949-4222, the confidential tip line at 949-7777 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-8477(TIPS).The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. If government healthcare obligations continue to grow as expected, they could end up “overwhelming the government’s budget,” Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson told the Public Accounts Committee last week. He added that in future years, these small islands could be expending “hundreds of millions” of dollars each year to ensure government retirees can receive their health benefits. Then, inexplicably, Mr. Jefferson added, “I don’t want the public to be left with the impression that this is a crisis.” Pardon our naiveté, but to us it looks very much like a crisis. Consider: • The estimated healthcare liability the government will face over the next 20 years for current civil service employees and their families is $1.7 billion at present dollar values • That $1.7 billion, when added to government’s other liabilities, significantly exceeds the total value of all of the assets in the public sector – in other words, all of the land, buildings, highways, EVERYTHING the country owns • In 2014, government estimated its unfunded health- care liabilities for current and retired civil servants was $1.18 billion. Two years later, in 2016, that number had increased to $1.4 billion. One year later, in 2017, that number had jumped again to the $1.7 billion mentioned above – a 44 percent increase in just three years. The reality is that Cayman’s taxpayers cannot afford to fulfill the platinum-plated promises that gov- ernment has already made to existing civil servants, who, heretofore, have demonstrated a steadfast unwill- ingness to accept reductions to, or share the costs of, their overly handsome benefits packages. The financial secretary’s reassurance, that “The government has cared for retired civil servants and their families all along without this becoming a national crisis,” is no assurance at all, considering that government has accomplished that through a “credit card financing” strategy of using future anticipated funds to pay for obligations incurred in the past. For years, public officials in municipality after municipality, state after state in the United States, and country after country around the world have watched as public healthcare liabilities have sunk, and ulti- mately destroyed, their economies. In Cayman, our leaders have known with certainty – buttressed by hard numbers and actuarial projections – that the benefit schemes for civil servants were financially unsustainable. And yet, officials have con- tinued to promise free non-elective medical and dental care for civil servants, their spouses and children; and free medical and dental care for retired civil servants and their spouses – for life. Elected leaders have cowered from the potential displeasure of 3,600 civil servants plus their depen- dents – who together constitute Cayman’s largest voting bloc – as the financial realities have grown more (and more obviously) dire. The public should no longer leave unchallenged such saccharine statements from Mr. Jefferson (and his cohorts) as “The government has cared for retired civil servants and their families all along with this becoming a national crisis.” Or, “It was con- cluded that the cost-sharing arrangements would not affect existing civil servants. It would only impact civil servants hired at a specified date.” Not surprisingly, that “specified date” has not been specified. Every citizen of these fair isles should be asking whether they are comfortable spending “hundreds of millions” of dollars each year of their hard-earned money to pay the healthcare benefits promised to our civil servants by our vote-seeking politicians. As long as this newspaper has paper, ink and printing presses at our disposal, we will continue to address this budget-busting, country-killing issue. Healthcare obligations: The straight story (minus the sugarcoating) The Russian government clearly sought to influence the United States’ 2016 elec- tion. This should not incite a rush to censor dissonant opinions on websites and social media, but that could easily happen in the good intentions to safeguard de- mocracy from truly false and subversive content. Like the printing press, broadcast radio and televi- sion and cable television, the internet and social media revolutionized communica- tions by making mass distri- bution of news and analysis more broadly accessible. That has widened public dialog on everything from parking reg- ulations to who should be president – it’s too good to lose even if it’s sometimes as annoying and discomforting as persistent demonstrations on the Washington Mall. Consider how stodgy and limited dialog was in the days of Messrs. Kennedy and Nixon. Viewers were lim- ited to three major networks, which applied the fairness doctrine to afford equal time to the two major political par- ties. Mostly absent from the materials citizens could see or read in mainstream news- papers were fringe voices – folks like some present day environmentalists and con- servative bloggers. Cable fractionalized tele- vision – and opened access to previously marginalized voices. The internet and web- sites made distributing en- tertainment and perspectives downright cheap and Face- book and Twitter make it virtually free. Everyone who can record a video or write has an outlet – the informed, uninformed and unfortunately, malefac- tors who would undermine public confidence in demo- cratic institutions and make America a less vibrant beacon of freedom to the world. Kremlin surrogates like the St. Petersburg-based in- ternet Research Agency cre- ated remarkably authentic looking fictitious Twitter ac- counts and posted false sto- ries on websites, for example, on CNN’s iReport and Wiki- pedia about poisoned water in an Idaho reservoir and tainted Thanksgiving turkeys from Walmart. They disseminated mate- rial during the primaries and general election generally fa- vorable to Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders and intended to subvert the campaigns of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. They also spread false narra- tives to inflame black fears of racism and exploit other issues to seed divisions among Americans. The Russians are hardly alone at subterfuge but they were particularly adroit at fooling people – for example, the false Twitter account @Pamela_Moore13 attracted 70,000 followers including Gen. Michael Flynn and Sean Hannity. Social media is particu- larly powerful for fake news because these outlets are structured to capture our continued attention. Once we view a story critical of Hillary Clinton or explaining how to change a bicycle tire, their al- gorithms feed us lots of sim- ilar – and especially “sticky” – content on the subject to hold our interest and display ads that generate revenue. Too often the content is fake or extreme, and pressure is mounting on social media to filter stories to eliminate patently misleading content. But who will decide what is false or distorted? If the liberal faculty at uni- versities or their acolytes in the media were put in charge, anything critical about the link between CO2 emissions and global warming or ques- tioning the effectiveness of the Paris Climate Accord would be nixed. Conserva- tives are routinely punished for questioning political cor- rectness or expressing pro- vocative views by deans, for example, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Facebook wants to let readers vote on which news sources are authoritative – that is easier and cheaper than actually sorting content and verifying truly fictitious personalities and materials. But voting would let plat- forms with more liberal par- ticipants shut out conserva- tives. Given the bubble in the Silicon Valley, maybe that’s the ultimate objective. Requiring social media organizations to work with federal authorities to ferret out Russian operatives and similar malefactors and cancel fictitious accounts is fine, but personalities should not be banned because they upset our biases. The likes of Martin Luther, Copernicus and others would have been voted out in their times and perhaps Martin Luther King when he first emerged. Rob Goldman, Twitter’s head of advertising, was roundly criticized for stating that the easiest way to fight a Russian campaign is a “well educated citizenry,” but he is right. If the water is re- ally tainted and the turkeys are causing food poisoning, it will show up quickly in wire service stories and readers can cross check as- sertions on Google. But the hysterical left has captured our universi- ties. Those are producing too many citizens who chant leftist slogans and do not think objectively – and that is more dangerous to our de- mocracy than the Russians. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Why muzzling social media is no answer PETER MORICI 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” Requiring social media organizations to work with federal authorities to ferret out Russian operatives and similar malefactors and cancel fictitious accounts is fine, but personalities should not be banned because they upset our biases. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 CI$20,000 in Cash Prizes! $5000 Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 fish combined) $3000 2nd Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 fish combined) $2000 3rd Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 fish combined) $2000 Most Releases 1st evening $2000 Most Releases 2nd evening $2000 Heaviest Total Weight 1st evening (1 or 2 fish combined) $2000 Heaviest Total Weight 2nd evening (1 or 2 fish combined) $1000 Single Heaviest Swordfish caught in Cayman Brac $1000 Single Heaviest Swordfish caught in Grand Cayman Registration and Captain’s meeting is on 23rd March 6:30pm at The Barcadere (Dock/Weigh Station). CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce Cayman Swordfi sh Challenge Facebook page or call King at 345 916 2177 Welcome to Cayman’s 12th Annual Swordfi sh Tournament The 2018 Cayman Swordfi sh Challenge is two days of fi shing, Friday 2 & Saturday 3 March. This is a team event with a captain and at least one angler. Entry fee is CI$500 per team of four including the team captain + CI$100 each for any additional anglers. For more information on how to enter go to Registration and Captain’s meeting is at 6.30pm on Thursday 1 March at The Barcadere (Dock/Weigh Station) CI$20,000 in cash prizes! Most Releases fi rst day Most Releases second day Heaviest Total Weight fi rst day (1 or 2 fi sh combined) Heaviest Total Weight second day (1 or 2 fi sh combined) OBITUARY ‘Captain Shelby’ dies at 89 Friends and family fondly remember maritime giant KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A funeral service will be held Saturday for Captain Thomas Shelby Hydes, who died on Feb. 13 at the Cayman Islands Hospital. He was 89 years old. He passed away after a lengthy bout with mul- tiple illnesses, according to family members. Born on June 7, 1928, in West Bay to Maggie and Fredson Hydes, Mr. Hydes grew up to be a promi- nent figure in the local mari- time industry. In the 1940s, he joined the M/V Addie H as a mess boy, eventually working his way up to captain. He later joined the Suwannee Steam- ship Company, and in 1959 became the captain of the M/V Kirk Trader. He worked on many Kirk vessels until he switched po- sitions and became an agent for Kirkconnell Shipping. He would later start his own ship- ping agency, Shelby’s Agency & Stevedoring Ltd. He also served as a board member of the Cayman Islands Port Au- thority for 15 years, and was a longtime member of the Cayman Islands Seafarers As- sociation and the Church of God in West Bay. Friends and family remem- bered Mr. Hydes as a dedi- cated father and a strong, self-made man. “One of my favorite mem- ories is taking us to the dock and showing us how to tie up the ships,” said his daughter, Sharol Bush, adding that Mr. Hydes would take his family on car rides around Grand Cayman every Easter and Christmas, handing out ap- ples and other food to fami- lies throughout the island. One of his best friends, Captain Owen Farrington, re- counted a memory he had on the seas with Mr. Hydes, where the two had a near brush with disaster. According to Mr. Far- rington, he and Mr. Hydes would regularly ship gen- eral cargo between Tampa and Cayman. One time, how- ever, they were charged with carrying something out- side of the definition of “gen- eral cargo” – they were asked to take a load of dynamite to Guatemala. The two agreed to their as- signment and set out for Gua- temala with the dynamite on board. After a rainy night, Mr. Farrington said he woke up to alarms around 8:30 a.m. The ship’s engine was on fire, which was caused by faulty wires running from its batteries to the starter. Mr. Farrington said he raced from his cabin to the engine room, where he found two sailors quarrel- ling over where to dump a bucket of water. “I said, ‘Hey, you can’t dump water down here!’” Mr. Farrington recalled. Luckily, he made it just in time to stop the sailors from using water, and instead used a large burlap sack to extinguish the flames. After that Mr. Hydes safely captained the ship to Guatemala without inci- dent, he said. Mr. Hydes is survived by his children, Shannon Hydes, Bendel Hydes, Everard Hydes, Sharol Bush, Shauna Haylock and Tristan Hydes; his sons- in-law, Mitchell Bush and Ga- rett Haylock; his daughter- in-law, Yaremis Hydes; 18 grandchildren, Dove, Mi- chaella, Elisha, Monique, Jessie, Matthew, Joshua, Dawit, Joseph, Jane, Israel, Felecia, Gabriel, Spaulin, Mennen, Misha, Isaac, and Zara; three great-grandchil- dren, Dreshaun, Destynee and Peter; seven nieces, Ezmie Smith, Reba Dilbert, Aileen Hurlstone, Vickie McDoom, Jennifer Ebanks, Charlotte Ebanks-Scarbrough and Ethel Ebanks; four nephews, Eve- rard Leacock and family, Mi- chael Dilbert, Aldridge Dilbert and Virgil Dilbert; as well as a number of other relatives. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 3, at 2 p.m. at the Church of God in West Bay. Viewings will be from 12:30 p.m. ADVOCACY GROUP BREAKS RECORD FOR BOOK DONATION Literacy Is For Everyone, a local advocacy group devoted to raising the quality of educa- tion in Cayman’s public school system, broke a record recently by donating more than 4,300 books to Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay. The previous record was 3,500 books donated last year. The group, known as “LIFE,” organized the book- sharing program, and the books were collected from var- ious private firms and schools throughout Grand Cayman. The majority of the dona- tions will go toward building better individual classroom li- braries and in providing stu- dents with better access to reading materials. LIFE has hoped to de- velop a structured, indepen- dent reading program, and the availability of reading mate- rial is the first essential step in creating a better environment for literacy. The in-class libraries pro- vide a more expansive range of reading choices for the stu- dents, and research has shown that children who read volun- tarily will read more often. “It pleases me to see the generosity of LIFE and its partners,” said Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Cayman’s minister for education. “It is through partnerships such as this one that we can continue to strengthen a child’s love for learning and inspire them to be seekers of knowledge.” LIFE, partnered with the Ministry of Education, is fo- cused on establishing in-class libraries for every Key Stage 1 government classroom that covers Years 1-3. LIFE is con- tributing toward a goal of 15 books for every child and will continue raising funds for the Classroom Libraries Project. “LIFE is pleased to support the excellent work of class- room teachers in developing literacy from a very young age,” said Marilyn Conolly, the exec- utive director for LIFE. “We will continue to be ac- countable partners with the Ministry of Education and work together to make a differ- ence, one book, one child, one classroom at a time.” People seeking more information about participating in the Classroom Libraries Project can contact LIFE at books@life.org.ky or by calling 938-6300. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Cayman’s Minister for Education, third from right in back row, is proud of LIFE’s record-setting book donation to John A. Cumber Primary School. Captain Shelby Hydes MAN ARRESTED IN FATAL EE SMASH A 31-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connec- tion with a fatal crash last month in East End. The man is suspected of causing death by dan- gerous driving in the Feb. 15 wreck on Farm Road, where a lone ve- hicle collided with a tree. He has been released on police bail and was not charged as of press time Wednesday. The crash killed 28-year- old Altameka Bodden-Price. Family members identified the man in the car with her at the time as her husband, Philip Price. A press release on the incident noted a Subaru with two people inside struck a tree around 2 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15. The female passenger was pronounced dead a short while later at the Cayman Islands Hospital. The male was critically in- jured, but recovered in the days after the crash. DRIVER ARRESTED IN SIDEWALK CRASH A George Town man suspected of dangerous driving was arrested Monday in connection with an accident that seriously injured a pedestrian. The 54-year-old sus- pect was released on po- lice bail and had not been charged with any offenses as of Wednesday. The victim in the Feb. 23 crash remains in crit- ical condition at Health City Cayman Islands. Police said he was struck by an out-of- control Honda Accord while walking along a Smith Road sidewalk. The crash hap- pened along Smith Road, between Bobby Thompson Way and Anthony Drive, around 8:30 a.m. Friday. After striking the pe- destrian, the Honda hit a nearby home before coming to a stop. The driver was not hurt, but was taken to hospital for examination, police said.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MAR. 1 TRACK AND FIELD: Twelve high schools will be competing in the Inter- Secondary Track & Field Meet at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex today and tomorrow. All are invited. HONORING WOMEN MONTH: Today and tomorrow. Four separate, free, three-hour- long Gender Violence Prevention leadership training sessions by leading gender rights advocate Dr. Jackson Katz, Ph.D. at the Marriott Hotel, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Daily registration is required before event. Call the Family Resource Centre on 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. EAST END MEETING: The Ministry and Department of Tourism hold a public meeting to discuss tourism. 6 p.m. at East End Civic Centre on John McLean Drive. Refreshments and gate prizes. FRIDAY, MAR. 2 IMMIGRATION HOURS: Today the Department of Immigration’s public counters, Visa Office, Enforcement Section, as well as the Passport and Corporate Services front offices will open for service to the public at 10 a.m. in order to facilitate a staff meeting. All other sections will operate as normal. CIIPA AGM: The Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants will be holding its annual general meeting at the Galleon Ballroom, Westin Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach at 4:30 p.m. to be followed immediately by a members event. All members are encouraged to attend. SKATE PARK FUNDRAISER: Hope Academy and Black Pearl Skate Park are raising funds for a new school playground, scholarship fund and other school improvements. First Friday of each month. $15 for park entrance, a helmet and choice of skateboard or scooter. $7 for those with own equipment. SUNDAY, MAR. 4 COCONUT CUP: Paddleboard event from 8:30 a.m. at Public Beach, Seven Mile Beach. Kids Paddle, entry $10. Life vests, parental supervision required. Register 8:30 a.m., race 9 a.m. Corporate cup, relay teams of four, 10 a.m. entry, $200 per team. Advance registration required at coconutcup@gmail.com. Individual skim paddle, 11 a.m. $25 entry. Fundraiser for Cayman Heart Fund. TUESDAY, MAR. 6 MUSEUM SPEAKER SERIES: Stephen Broadbelt talks about Recreational Scuba Diving and Tourism in the Cayman Islands. 6 p.m. $10 general admission, $6 members. Complimentary refreshments and free admission to exhibits. THURSDAY, MAR. 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Enjoy Canvas and Mocktails at Art Nest, 7:30-9 p.m., $38 incl. refreshments. CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY: Opening night for Barefoot in the Park. Happy hour, 6:30 p.m. Showtime, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: adults $25; students, $15. Performances continue tomorrow and Saturday, then March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24. Purchase tickets at www.cds.ky or call 938-1998. FRIDAY, MAR. 9 BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: The Youth Services Unit hosts the Brac Spring Weekend 2018 today and tomorrow. The events for teenagers and young adults are free and open to all. Friday, Brac Youth Forum (Layman E. Scott High School, last two periods of school). 3/3 Basketball Tournament – a junior and senior division (Layman E. Scott High School Courts, 7-10 p.m.) For further information, flyers or registration forms for events, email the Youth Services Unit at camille. angel@gov.ky. SATURDAY, MAR. 10 BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: Activities continue. The events for teenagers and young adults are free and open to all. Today, Car Scavenger Hunt (Aston Rutty Civic Centre 1-2 p.m.). Domino Tournament/ Car and Bike Show with Sound-Off (Aston Rutty Civic Centre 4-6 p.m.) Brac Beach Bonfire (South Side Public Beach 7-9 p.m.) For further information, flyers or registration forms for events, other than the beach bonfire, email the Youth Services Unit at camille.angel@gov.ky. PAWS IN THE SAND: Fundraiser for PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare Society) at Grand Old House. 6:30 p.m. cocktail party and 7 p.m. dinner. Tickets are $135. Silent and live auction, complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival, complimentary 1 bottle of wine per couple during dinner. Off Broadway Show. Tickets available at PAWS Thrift Shop in Bodden Town next to Cox Lumber 916-1731 or 916-3957, or The Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers, 947-2047. MONDAY, MAR. 12 CDS AGM: The Cayman Drama Society will be holding its annual general meeting at the Prospect Playhouse at 7 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend. NORTH SIDE MEETING: The Ministry and Dept. of Tourism hold a public meeting to discuss tourism. 6 p.m. at Clifton Hunter High School Auditorium. Refreshments and gate prizes. TUESDAY, MAR. 13 WEST BAY MEETING: The Ministry and Department of Tourism hold a public meeting to discuss tourism. 6 p.m. at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall. Refreshments and gate prizes. CDS AUDITIONS: Auditions for The Diary Of Anne Frank take place 6-9 p.m. (with recalls Sat March 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.). The show will be performing Sept. 5-9 and 13-16 with rehearsals from June 26 (Tue/Thu 7-9 p.m. plus Sunday rehearsals in August/Sept.). Email kirstyannosullivan@gmail.com to register interest. We seek actors age 14+. FRIDAY, MARCH 16 IRISH JOG: From Britannia at 5:30 p.m. Registration details can be found on www.ky.butterfieldgroup. com. Cayman’s ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) benefits. SUNDAY, MAR. 25 HONOURING WOMEN MONTH: Church service, John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 10 a.m. All are invited. FRIDAY, MAR. 30 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Persons receiving permanent financial assistance benefit must be re-assessed if they have not been assessed since July 1, 2015. Get a form from the Needs Assessment Unit via email nauinfo@gov.ky, on the www.nau.gov.ky website or from the district Community Development Officer. The completed form/ supporting documentation must be returned to the NAU by Friday, March 30. Failure to comply will result in payments being placed on hold. For more information, contact the NAU immediately on 946-0024 or 948-8748. GENERAL INTEREST SOLAR IMAGING: An exhibition of digital solar imaging in Cayman by the late Dr. Bill Hrudey. National Gallery, Esterley Tibbetts Highway. FISH FRY: Friday evenings in Lent at St. Ignatius School Canteen. Serving from 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. Menu includes fried or baked cod or snapper with all the trimmings. Proceeds benefit Youth Ministry. 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. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6 – 7:15 p.m. on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. Local contact is George R. Ebanks, 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. 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). Members of the public are invited to attend. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Ocean Frontiers’ Stephen Broadbelt will talk about recreational scuba diving and tourism in Cayman at the Museum Speaker Series at the National Museum on Tuesday, March 6.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 Cayman Drama Society PROSPECT PLAYHOUSE, RED BAY “Barefoot in the Park” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. PURCHASE TICKETS: Visit www.cds.ky Call Box Office 938-1998 www.cds.ky www.facebook.com/caydrama Dates March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 Happy Hour 6:30 pm Showtime 7:30 pm Tickets Adults $25 Students $15 186614_HR-Ad-Compass-2colx12-BW.Page 1 2/15/18 2:26:04 PM Former prosecutor turns to defense Neil Kumar welcomed back in court ceremony CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Crown counsel Neil Kumar was admitted as a practising attorney in the Cayman Islands in a brief and less formal than usual cere- mony on Tuesday afternoon. Senior attorney John Furniss moved the appli- cation for the admission, presenting the required documents and affidavits. Ac- cording to one of the forms signed, Mr. Kumar had never been warned, reprimanded, arrested or convicted in any jurisdiction: That was good background for a criminal at- torney, Mr. Furniss joked. Mr. Kumar was first called to the bar in Vic- toria, Australia, in 2005. He joined the Office of the Di- rector of public prosecu- tions in Cayman in 2013, completing four years of ser- vice last year. Justice Charles Quin in- vited Mr. Kumar to sign the roll of attorneys and then don his gown and wig. He said Mr. Kumar’s conduct as Crown counsel had been exemplary. “You prepared your cases very, very well,” he commented. The judge observed that Mr. Furniss was fortunate to have Mr. Kumar working with him. At the same time, Mr. Kumar was fortunate be- cause Mr. Furniss had the respect of many clients, the prosecutor’s office and the courts, “so it’s an excellent marriage,” he said. He noted it was nice to see so many people turn out for the ceremony, although it had not been included in the published court list. The gallery contained numerous Crown counsel, private sector attorneys, court staff and personal friends. The ceremony may have brought back memories for Mr. Furniss, who served as Crown counsel in Cayman in the early 1980s before re- turning in 1986 as sole prac- titioner. “I never expected to be here to apply to employ anybody,” he acknowledged. After back surgery last summer, Mr. Furniss was obliged to hire someone to drive him to town and carry his books and files from courtroom to courtroom. That someone was Shay Miller, whose daily exposure to criminal cases has since prompted him to enroll in the Truman Bodden Law School. Mr. Furniss referred to his recuperation pe- riod and thanked attorney Crister Brady who had held a number of cases for him when he had been unable to climb the courthouse stairs. Now Mr. Brady would have to get his own clients, Mr. Furniss joked. He also brought laughter to the room when he said his first work would be to get Mr. Kumar to switch al- legiance from the cricket and football teams supported by a band of crown counsel to the teams Mr. Furniss fa- vored. Then, as soon as pos- sible, he would work to have Mr. Kumar join the active Criminal Defense Bar associ- ation, of which he remained chairman because no one else wanted the position. Between Mr. Miller and Mr. Kumar, “I’m now going to get dragged into the technical age,” he said. Mr. Kumar thanked Jus- tice Quin for acceding to the application for his admis- sion. He thanked everyone present for their friend- ship and support. He said he looked forward to prac- tising law on the defense side and he expressed his gratitude to Mr. Furniss for the opportunity. Former Crown counsel Neil Kumar, center, is welcomed to the Cayman Islands Bar by attorney John Furniss, left, and Justice Charles Quin. – PHOTO: CAROL WINKER Cayman’s annual three- month lobster season ended Wednesday, Feb. 28. The closed season runs from March 1 to Nov. 30. During the closed season, it is illegal to take, purchase, receive or possess lobster originating from Cayman Is- lands waters, the Department of Environment warns. “The closed season is de- signed to give the local lob- ster population a break from harvesting during the times of year when they reproduce the most,” said DoE Senior Research Officer John Both- well. “We urge persons not to support poaching. Don’t buy lobsters from people during the closed season – it’s a crime and should be reported to the authorities.” The department also reminded the public of other fishery rules which apply to all individuals and businesses. Sharks, rays, grouper It is illegal to take sharks and rays from Cayman Is- lands waters at any time. For Nassau grouper, the closed season is Dec. 1 through April 30. Anyone who takes, purchases, receives, of- fers for sale, exchange or do- nation, or possesses, or per- mits another person to take, Nassau grouper (Epineph- elus striatus) from Cayman Islands waters during the closed season com- mits an offense. The DoE advised that sharks, rays and Nassau grouper (during closed season) should be released alive if accidentally caught, even if they are injured during catching. For sharks, simply cut the line as close to the hook as is safe. Using circle hooks when fishing makes releasing un- dersized fish, or protected species like Nassau grouper, stingrays or sharks, easier as they are unlikely to be gut hooked, the DoE stated. The department pointed out that having a release rig ready to use when fishing in more than 75 feet of water means undersized, undesir- able or protected species (like Nassau grouper) can be easily released, as their swim bladders will recompress by using the release rig. Conch The open season for conch is Nov. 1 through April 30. The bag limit is five per person, or 10 per boat per day, whichever is less. Only queen conch (Strombus gigas; also known as a pink conch or broadleaf conch) may be taken. In any one day, anyone who takes, purchases, re- ceives, offers for sale, ex- change or donation, or pos- sesses, or permits another person to take, more than five conch from Cayman Islands waters, commits an offense. Whelk The open season for whelk is Nov. 1 through April 30. The bag limit is 2.5 gallons in the shell, or 2.5 pounds of processed whelks per person per day. In any one day, anyone who takes, purchases, re- ceives, offers for sale, ex- change or donation, or pos- sesses, or permits another person to take, more than 2.5 gallons in the shell, or 2.5 pounds of processed whelks from Cayman Islands waters commits an offense. Chitons, periwinkles and bleeding teeth may not be taken at any time. Echinoderms, including starfish, sea eggs/urchins, sea cucumbers and sand dollars, may not be taken from Cayman Islands wa- ters at any time. The Department of Envi- ronment urges anyone who suspects poaching to call 911, or DoE enforcement of- ficers directly on the fol- lowing numbers: Grand Cayman, 916-4271; Cayman Brac, 926-0136; or Little Cayman, 925-0185. National Conservation Law brochures can be downloaded from www.doe.ky/marine/marine-parks. For more information on all of the closed seasons and other conservation rules, contact the DoE on 949-8469 or email doe@gov.ky. Lobster season closes Cayman’s lobster season has ended.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com An employee at Mitzi’s Fine Jewelry store described in Grand Court how she was tied up with duct tape and threatened with a gun during a robbery at the shop in November 2015. The witness was giving evidence in the case against Madeinys Ebanks-Pol and Adrian Adela Gea, who are charged with robbing the West Bay Road store of more than half a million dollars worth of jewelry on Nov. 18, 2015. Both have pleaded not guilty to robbery. Mr. Gea has also pleaded not guilty to possession of an imita- tion firearm with intent to commit an offense. The witness said she had been employed by the store owner, Mitzi Callan, for two to three months before the robbery, and had known Ms. Ebanks-Pol, a former employee, before she had been dismissed. She told the court that on Nov. 18, 2015, at approx- imately 10:45 a.m., a man, whom she assumed was a customer, entered the store. She described him as “a little darker” than herself and wearing all black clothing and a “tam” – a crocheted cap. The witness said she heard the man say, “This is a hold-up,” and, upon looking up, she saw that he was now wearing a balaclava-like mask over his face. She said that the man had a handgun, but she was unable to recall any details about the make or model of the weapon. She said the man put the gun to her back and asked her if she had kids, saying that if she ever wanted to see them again, she was to do as she was told. The wit- ness said the man tied her up with duct tape. At some point during the robbery, customers en- tered the store and she was forced to go and “get rid of them” by the man. During this time, a woman wearing sunglasses entered the store and enquired about the whereabouts of Ms. Callan, who was not on the premises at this time. The witness was able to positively identify Ms. Ebanks-Pol as that woman, who then left the store after learning Ms. Callan was not there. After the customers left, the gunman tied the witness up again and moved her to a different area of the store while he made multiple calls. She said she could hear voices but was not able to make out the words being said on ei- ther end of the phone. The court then heard that the man proceeded to smash the glass cabinets and dis- play stands with a crowbar that was in the building be- fore taking the jewelry and putting it into a backpack that he had brought with him. The witness recalled seeing a light blue car out- side the building, which she said she recognized as Ms. Ebanks-Pol’s rental vehicle. This car was later identi- fied as a Chevrolet by the police helicopter as it was seen being driven at a high speed along the Esterley Tibbetts Highway toward West Bay. When the ve- hicle was stopped by armed police, Mr. Gea was the sole occupant. Ms. Callan returned to the jewelry shop approximately 10 minutes after the man left the store and immediately called the police. The judge-alone trial, which is being heard by Justice Ste- phen Hellman, continues. Overnight quarry fire in East End extinguished A brush fire reported in the East End district of Grand Cayman late Tuesday was extinguished after nine hours, fire officials said. The fire broke out in the vicinity of the East End quarry and was reported at 6:25 p.m. Cayman Islands Fire Service crews had diffi- culty reaching the area due to the lack of road access and had to employ the use of an excavator to clear brush. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service’s heli- copter provided thermal im- aging of the blaze to aid the firefighters. In a news release, Chief Fire Officer David Hails said the information gave his personnel an edge in planning their attack. “The live infrared images of the scene that they sent us from the helicopter helped us to formulate a fire-fighting strategy and contributed to the safety of the fire officers,” Mr. Hails said. The fire chief commended firefighters, who he said worked overnight in “diffi- cult and arduous conditions.” Three fire trucks and about a dozen firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 3:35 a.m., officials said. Crews re- mained at the scene until 5 a.m. to ensure there was no re-ignition. The cause of of the fire had not been identified by press time. An investigation is under way. Community care worker killed in Cayman Brac accident Three fire trucks and about a dozen firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 3:35 a.m., officials said. The collision investi- gation report from police said officers and emer- gency workers were dis- patched by the 911 Com- munications Centre shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday night to a two- vehicle accident involving a Toyota RAV4 and a Honda Integra. Mrs. Gayle-Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene. Frances Clyne, super- visor of the special needs program, said, “We’re heartbroken.” She said the center’s staff saw Mrs. Gayle-Clarke as a loving, hard-working and a very compas- sionate woman. “We are coping the best way we can. We have to carry on. … There are people who depend on us every day,” Ms. Clyne said. The collision is currently under police investigation. scene of the accident without exchanging names. Mr. Furniss said that Mr. Barnett called the police sta- tion the day after the acci- dent and arranged for a crime scene investigator to take pic- tures of his vehicle, and he turned himself in to police on June 12. Mr. Furniss also said that the charge of driving while impaired arose from Mr. Barnett’s own admission. Mr. Barnett was charged with the three offenses on Dec. 12, and he retired from the RCIPS on Dec. 21. Before that, he had been suspended from duty following the in- cident. He pleaded guilty to all three offenses last month, and the Crown withdrew an- other charge of giving false information to police to de- feat or defy the ends of jus- tice. Mr. Barnett surrendered his driver’s license to the court on Jan. 29 and he will not be eligible to drive again until Jan. 29 next year. Magistrate Hernandez ex- plained that the dangerous driving charge carries a man- datory 12-month disqualifi- cation of the license, and Mr. Barnett was also sentenced to a 12-month disqualifica- tion that will run concur- rently for driving while im- paired. He has one month to pay his fine. “There’s no history of other problems with Mr. Bar- nett,” said Mr. Furniss shortly before the final sentence was read into the record. “All in all, the incident has had a very dramatic impact on his life.” used in the “ride of the cen- tury” events were road legal and some were not. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said officers will continue to pursue the “rogue element” in the biker crowd that needs to be dealt with, but that he does not want to alienate the other, larger group of bikers that wishes to follow the law and ride legally. “As usual, and as the case with most issues in Cayman, the good are suf- fering from the bad,” said Foster’s Food Fair IGA Managing Director Woody Foster, who spoke to the Cayman Compass about the issue on Wednesday. Mr. Foster, along with Mr. Suckoo and George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan, have been working on a plan to establish a race track – not only for motor- bikers, but for car racing as well in the Breakers area. A 60-acre plot of land government owns near a quarry in that area has been identified and could be used for track pur- poses. Mr. Foster said he is assisting the MLAs and bikers with obtaining some legal assistance on setting up an association for local motorbike riders, which could then help organize the track operations. Several Bodden Town residents who attended Wednesday’s public meeting with the police complained of unlicensed motorbikes driving around neighbor- hood streets, particularly at the weekend. Bodden Town Police Station commander Winsome Prendergast said it was an issue police in the eastern districts were con- tinuing to focus on. Mr. Foster said he hoped government would move on the land issue in the near future. “I, like the rest of so- ciety, once thought that [the bikers] should all be put in jail,” Mr. Foster said. “But after speaking to one of the bikers, I came to a conclu- sion … we’re only seeing the negative side.” Mr. Suckoo said Wednesday that govern- ment needs to “follow-up on its commitment” to pro- vide some funding to get the Breakers track started – approximately $200,000 was identified – but he said nothing has been placed in the 2018/19 budget plan for that effort. “We’re not going to get private sector involvement [in a race track] until gov- ernment does something,” Mr. Suckoo said, adding that he thought a proper venue in the Breakers area could also be used for other public events such as concerts or parties and might eventually become self-sustaining. “We have a construc- tion plan that we’ve drawn up. Government just needs to follow-up on its commit- ment for this,” he said. Former police officer sentenced for traffic offenses Police-biker cooperation ‘hasn’t worked in longer term’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Witness: Jewelry store robber tied her up, threatened her with a gun Mr. Barnett was charged with the three offenses on Dec. 12, and he retired from the RCIPS on Dec. 21. The woman who died has been named as 51-year-old community care worker Sharon Gayle-Clarke. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A two-car acccident in Cayman Brac on Tuesday night killed Sharon Gayle-Clarke and sent the other driver to the hospital.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2018 Report: Russians hacked German gov’t network Germany’s dpa news agency reports that Russian-backed hacker group APT28 has infiltrated Germany’s Foreign and Defense Ministries’ secure computer networks and that it managed to steal data. Birthday wishes, sent to heaven From your family below, We miss you and love you dearly And we wanted you to know. Your birthday’s not forgotten and your memory, lives on We celebrate the life you had Even though you’ve gone If we were given just one wish One that would come true We’d wish you back beside us To spend this day with you. We will always love and miss you And will often shed a tear Especially on your special day Year after year. Gone but never forgotten Daughters; Pat, Paula & Pamie Grandchildren; Rochelle & Savio Son-in-Law; ‘Castro’ Inez Hortensia Bell 01 March 1938 – 29 January 2013 Celebrating your 80th birthday today Florida students return to ‘picture of education in fear’ PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) – About 50 uniformed of- ficers marched into Mar- jory Stoneman Douglas High School early Wednesday, just one aspect of the heavy se- curity as classes resumed for the first time since 17 students and teachers were killed by a troubled teen- ager with an AR-15, thrusting them into the center of the nation’s gun debate. The heavily armed police presence, designed to make the community feel secure, is also disturbing in itself, some students said. “This is a picture of edu- cation in fear in this country. The NRA wants more people just like this, with that exact firearm to scare more people and sell more guns,” said David Hogg, who has be- come a leading voice in the students’ movement to con- trol assault weapons. “I know one of those bullets could be shredding through me if I was misidentified as a school shooter,” Hogg added. Grief counselors are on campus as well “to provide a lot of love, a lot of under- standing” and help students “ease back” into their school routines, Broward Schools Su- perintendent Robert Runcie said. Officers with therapy dogs also stood outside. Wednesday’s class schedule started with 4th period, so that students and teachers could return to the people they were with during the shooting. The freshman building where the massacre took place remains cordoned off. Casey Sherman, a 17-year- old junior, thinks the schedule was a good idea so kids can “get it over with,” and not worry about it all day. Up until 11:30 p.m. working on preparations for the March 14 national school walkout against gun violence, she said she’s not afraid to be re- turning, “just nervous.” “We did go through a tragedy,” said Sherman, who walked in holding hands with her boyfriend. “It was terrible but if you let it stop you … it’s not how you go down, it’s how you get back up.” A long line of cars circled the school and dozens of tele- vision trucks and vehicles were camped out nearby as students, parents and staff were ushered through a se- curity cordon, past a “Wel- come Eagles” banner and a walkway lined with flowers, photographs and other me- morials. Some were returning despite severe gun wounds, but even those who weren’t hit by bullets spoke of emo- tional trauma. Alexis Grogan, a 15-year- old sophomore, planned to wear a Stoneman Douglas color – maroon – on the first day back to class Wednesday, plus sneakers that say “MSD Strong, be positive, be pas- sionate, be proud to be an eagle” and “2/14/18” in honor of those who died. She feels nervous, like it might be too soon to go on as usual without slain friends like Luke Hoyer, who sat two seats behind her in Spanish. Still, the support from her fellow students, and their fight to strengthen gun control laws have buoyed her spirits. “I am so proud of how the kids at my school have been fighting because we all want change to happen and, as we see the progression, it really shows us that people do care and they do hear what we have to say,” Grogan said in a text message. Meanwhile, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it will im- mediately end sales of assault- style rifles in its stores and will not sell guns to anyone under 21 years old. Dick’s Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday that after the Florida shooting, the company “felt it needed to do something.” The victims’ relatives kept up the pressure in Florida’s capital Tuesday, with emo- tional testimony during a legislative hearing on a bill to raise the age limit to buy long guns from 18 to 21, and create a program allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons in their classrooms, if their school district allows it, they get law-enforcement training and are deputized by the local sheriff’s office. The Broward superinten- dent has spoken out firmly against the idea of arming teachers. Hogg also thinks the idea is misguided. The House Appropriations Committee’s 23-6 vote in favor of the bill Tuesday fol- lowed more than four hours of emotional discussion with the parents of some of the 17 killed, and nearly two weeks of activism by students on social media and in tele- vised debates. Gov. Rick Scott, who met with officials in Miami-Dade County on Tuesday, said at a news conference that he hopes a gun and school- safety bill is passed before Florida’s annual legislative session ends on March 9. He had proposed measures that overlap with the Legislature’s plan but did not include arming teachers. However, he declined to say Tuesday whether he would veto the sweeping package if it in- cluded that provision. The Senate’s version of the school-safety bill was approved by a second com- mittee on a 13-7 vote Tuesday evening. Sen. Bill Galvano, who is designated to be- come the next Senate presi- dent and is ushering through the bill, said the earliest it will be considered by the full Senate is Friday. Marion Hammer, a lob- byist for the National Rifle Association and Unified Sportsmen of Florida, told the House Appropriations Committee that she supports tightening school security and keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, but not the House bill’s gun-ownership restrictions, which she later said would not have stopped the Parkland shooting. “Part of what we need to do is make people under- stand that guns are not the problem,” she said after the hearing. “So passing more laws dealing with guns as a solution to a problem that exists within the enforcement of laws is just kind of silly.” Max Schachter, father of 14-year-old victim Alex Schachter, said the bill the House committee eventu- ally approved does not go far enough – but could have saved his son. “If we would have had these measures in place, I would not have had to bury my son next to his mother a week and a half ago …. I’m pleading for your help. I’m willing to compromise. Are you?” he asked. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student David Hogg, left, walks to class Wednesday in Parkland, Florida. Students returned to class for the first time since a former student opened fire there with an assault rifle on Feb. 14, killing 17 people. - PHOTO: AP Manafort pleads not guilty WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort maintained his innocence on Wednesday to new charges he acted as an unregistered foreign agent and directed an in- ternational money-laun- dering conspiracy. Manafort appeared at the federal courthouse and en- tered a formal plea of not guilty to a second indict- ment brought against him by prosecutors working for spe- cial counsel Robert Mueller. It was his first court appear- ance since his co-defendant and longtime business as- sociate, Rick Gates, pleaded guilty and agreed to coop- erate with prosecutors. Manafort had previously pleaded not guilty in the case, but the latest indict- ment, which mirrored the charges filed against him last October, required him to for- mally enter a second plea. During the hearing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson set a Sept. 17 trial date for Manafort and reprimanded him for making a public state- ment last week about Gates’ plea. The statement violated a gag order she put in place early in the case, she said. “I can certainly under- stand the impulse to not let that go by without asserting your innocence,” Jackson told Manafort, referring to Gates’ plea and “hundreds” of news articles about it. But it can’t happen again, she said, or she could hold him in contempt. Manafort’s attorney, Kevin Downing, told the judge his client would appreciate more guidance from the judge on what he can and cannot say publicly. Next >