ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 High of 82 Low of 73 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 BEST WISHES TO GOVERNOR KILPATRICK AS SHE DEPARTS OUR SHORES LOCAL | PAGE 7 STUDENTS LAUNCH SUBS AT ROBOTICS CHALLENGE 8 BUTTERFLY SHRIMP, REG FRIES AND BISCUIT $805$805 Gunmen fire on police officers after two armed robberies JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A pair of suspected armed robbers ex- changed gunfire with police officers pursuing them through the back streets of Prospect Saturday night. Police picked up the trail of a red Honda SUV believed to have been used as a getaway vehicle in a hold-up at the Czech Inn in Bodden Town. Another armed robbery had occurred at a small store in George Town earlier the same night. Police chased the vehicle, eventually cor- nering the suspects at a dead end on Victory Avenue, Prospect. The gunmen jumped from the car and fled on foot, firing at least three shots at the pursuing officers. Deputy Commissioner Kurt Walton said the officers were in “real and imminent danger” and returned fire. No one was injured in the shoot-out. Backup patrols, including a K-9 unit, were dispatched to the scene, but the men escaped. Mr. Walton commended the resilience of the officers, who risked their lives trying to catch the gunmen. “The reality is that we have armed robbers that don’t want to be caught and are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid apprehen- sion,” Mr. Walton said. “That was clearly demonstrated by their response to the police on Saturday.” Officers were still combing the scene for evidence at press time Sunday. Three spent bullet casings had been discovered. The incident is the latest escalation in a se- ries of attacks on police that has seen senior officers assaulted and vehicles damaged or set on fire in the past few months. On Saturday, armed robbers struck first at the Rollin Convenience Shop next to the DLK bar on Seymour Drive, George Town, around 10:50 p.m. Less than half an hour later, around 11:15 p.m., two masked men burst into the Czech Inn bar and grill, just as owner Jiri Zitter- bart was closing up for the night. His wife and POLICE FORCE INCREASES 10 PERCENT IN ONE YEAR BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has grown by nearly 10 percent since March 2017, according to figures provided following a Cayman Compass open records request. Since last spring, the department has gone from 356 active officers, including auxiliary constables, to 390 officers as of February. The numbers do not include 66 civilian em- ployees, some of whom perform law enforce- ment roles, such as scenes of crime investiga- tion or police intelligence analysis. They also do not include special constables, volunteer officers who perform various support roles for the police. There are 54 volunteer constables at present, but Commandant Chris Duggan said not all are “active” on the available roster. With civilians and volunteers included, the number of people working for the RCIPS is well over 500. The service said last week that recruitment efforts for both local and overseas police of- ficers were under way and that more police would soon be joining the ranks. “There are 11 constable recruits in the cur- rent class which should last until the end of May. In addition, eight auxiliary constables also recently finished their training [for pro- motion to police constable],” an RCIPS state- ment issued Thursday read. “A new recruiting drive will be done Plates and praise for Governor Kilpatrick MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Governor Helen Kilpatrick was hon- ored Friday, March 2, at an evening fare- well reception on the lawn in front of Gov- ernment House. On behalf of the Cabinet, Premier Alden McLaughlin presented Ms. Kilpat- rick with a set of dishes embossed with the coat of arms of the Cayman Islands. It may have saved the departing gov- ernor from getting into trouble. “This is amazing,” Ms. Kilpatrick said as she looked at a poster depicting the table- ware. “It’s going to keep me from stealing all the crockery when I go.” That joke was right in line with the re- marks the governor had prepared for the crowd. Since she had been singing the praises of the Cayman Islands all week as she attended various events, Ms. Kil- patrick told the group is was time for her to complain. She complained about the weather. After experiencing the contrast between the island sun and the gloom of London, she said, she realized she could no longer live and work in her home country. Hence, Governor Helen Kilpatrick smiles at Deputy Governor Franz Manderson as he speaks at her farewell reception at Government House Friday. - PHOTO: GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY MARCH 5, 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) ACTS OF VIOLENCE (R) 12:45 I 3:00 I 5:10 I 7:25 I 9:35 JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:00 I 3:45 I 6:30 WINCHESTER (PG13) 12:40 I 3:05 I 5:30 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 12:40 I 3:30 VIP I 6:45 I 8:00 I 9:15 9:35 VIP RED SPARROW (R) 12:30 VIP I 3:40 I 6:30 VIP I 9:45 GAME NIGHT (R) 2:30 I 4:55 I 7:20 I 9:45 Employers make pension payments in two court cases Charges first came to court in 2011 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two employers who have been coming to court since 2011 presented evidence on Thursday of payments made in partial compliance with obligations under the La- bour and Pension Laws. Attorney Charmaine Richter appeared on be- half of Hurlstone Ltd. and handed up a copy of a check for $85,000. Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn asked what amount was outstanding. She was told that the amount owed to a pension plan for employees was originally $167,024.92. With this payment, the bal- ance was $84,024.72. “We’re already on the seventh anniversary of this case,” she noted. “What steps are being taken?” Ms. Richter explained the company’s proposal and asked for a date later this year for the bal- ance to be paid. Senior Crown counsel Candia James said she was mindful of the age of the matter, “but we’re also keen to recover the amount owed.” The magistrate set the next mention for July 26. The case of Michael Witter, trading as M & R Con- struction, involved charges of refusing to comply with an order of the Labour Tri- bunal Board. The amounts owed to four employees totaled $15,120. On Thursday, Mr. Witter presented a re- ceipt for $2,000. The magistrate checked the file and said he was meant to have paid the full amount by that date. Mr. Witter explained that he had planned to sell property he owns in Ja- maica, but the sale did not go through. Previously, he had told the court about getting a loan or a mortgage on that property. The magistrate noted that pleas of guilty had been entered in August 2011. “After seven years, this is going to come to an end,” she warned. She set April 30 as the date of mention for sentence. Senior Crown counsel Candia James said she was mindful of the age of the matter, “but we’re also keen to recover the amount owed.” Local churches open doors to young heart patients The United Church in Ja- maica and the Cayman Is- lands played host to three young Mongolian children and their mothers when the children came to Cayman to undergo heart operations at Health City Cayman Islands. The Samaritan’s Purse Children Heart Project brought 9-month-old Sondor, 12-month-old Enkhmaa and 18-month-old Myagmarmaa, along with their mothers and two interpreters, from Mongolia to Health City in late January. Sondor and Myagmarmaa had their surgeries in early February and have since been discharged. Enkhmaa’s sur- gery took place in late Feb- ruary and she was still re- covering at Health City Hospital last week. The Savannah United Church signed on with Sa- maritan’s Purse to host the children during their re- covery period. According to a press re- lease, the church’s mis- sion project coordinators Angela Martins and Olga Gourzong helped prepare for the arrival of the chil- dren and their mothers once they were discharged from Health City Hospital, and Ms. Martins opened her home to them as the host family home. Members of the Savannah United Church and its sister congregation, Robert Young Memorial United Church, of- fered the families money, gifts and other assistance. As well as attending church, the mothers are enjoying volleyball and have been cooking Mon- golian dishes for church members to try. “This mission project has become a very tender healing balm for Olga and Rollin Gourzong from Sa- vannah United …. Baby Enkhmaa celebrated her 1st birthday on Feb. 20, 2018, which is also the birthday of their only child Michael, who they lost tragically two years ago. “Enkhmaa has quickly become a joyful blessing to both of them. Enkhmaa took to Ms. Olga when they met for the first time on her birthday. It was a sweet cel- ebration for both Olga and Nyamka, Enkhmaa’s mother,” the press release stated. Sondor and Myagmarmaa and their mothers will travel back to Mongolia on Monday. The two churches will con- tinue to support Enkhmaa and her mother through her recovery period and until she is discharged to travel back to Mongolia, according to the release. The Mongolian families and their interpreter attend a service at Savannah United Church. STUDENT CONSULTING PROGRAM AT ALL-TIME HIGH The number of students and small businesses taking part in the Ministry of Com- merce’s Student Consulting Program reached record numbers this year. Seven small business and 19 students are involved in this year’s 10-week program, which began in mid-Feb- ruary. The program matches businesses with upper-level business studies students at the University College of the Cayman Islands, who offer free advice and consultation. This year marks the highest participation rate for both students and busi- nesses since the program’s inception 10 years ago, ac- cording to organizers. The program is a part- nership between the Min- istry of Commerce, UCCI and Cayman National Bank. This year is also the first year that some of the busi- nesses have been owned by UCCI alumni and, in an- other first, by teenagers. Commerce Minister Joey Hew said in a press release that the program is “just one way in which the Ministry is working to en- courage and develop busi- nesses. I’m so pleased with the high number of partici- pants this year and am ex- cited to see how their busi- ness will grow.” Program coordinator An- nette Murphy, who is a se- nior lecturer at UCCI, said the initiative is a benefit to all parties. “This really is a win-win for everyone. The collaborative nature of the program means that stu- dents gain real work experi- ence, while businesses gain free consultation,” she said. Jade Barnard, 13, said she is participating be- cause she wants to see her business grow. She and her 15-year-old brother Luke own a recycling company. “More people have wanted to join in with our com- pany and we want to em- ploy other teenagers, so we want to learn how we can expand our business.” Student Brandon Glasgow said he is looking forward to jumping into the process. “It’s exciting to go from the textbook knowledge to practical knowledge. I’m ready to see and imple- ment the theory we’ve been learning in class.” The student teams meet and get to know the business owners for the first time. TRAFFIC SIGNAL UNDERGOES MAINTENANCE National Roads Au- thority advised that its crews will be completing routine signal maintenance Monday night on the traffic signal at West Bay Road and Lawrence Boulevard. The work will take place between 9 p.m. and mid- night. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving through the area.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 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. 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” Best wishes to Governor Kilpatrick as she departs our shores When Governor Helen Kilpatrick arrived in the Cayman Islands in the summer of 2013, her appoint- ment represented a number of firsts for the office: The former director and acting permanent secre- tary in the United Kingdom’s Home Office was the first governor without diplomatic experience. Ms. Kilpat- rick, who had spent her early career working in various London boroughs as treasurer, chief accountant and auditor, was Cayman’s first governor to hold the dis- tinction of being a chartered public accountant. And although not the first woman to be tasked with overseeing an overseas territory, Ms. Kilpat- rick was Cayman’s first female governor. Cayman’s 11 previous governors had been men. She brought with her a valuable skillset, given our position as one of the world’s offshore financial centers and our challenges in responsible fiscal man- agement, financial controls and timely reporting. On her first visit to our islands, shortly before assuming her post, Ms. Kilpatrick assured locals that she was anything but a “novice.” “It’s a change, but I’m not sure it’s an enormous change,” Ms. Kilpatrick said during a brief meeting with local media on July 22, 2013. “This job builds on my previous experience in local government, in the Home Office, in policing, prisons, in all the services retained to the governor [of the Cayman Islands]. The areas and responsibilities I have here are not new.” The office of governor is commonly misunderstood, as Ms. Kilpatrick alluded to in her parting message to Cayman. Its duties are both ceremonial and functional. In addition to hosting visitors and appearing at official functions, the governor presides over meetings of Cabinet, chairs the National Security Council, and is responsible for our islands’ safety and security. The governor is expected to promote good gover- nance, giving assent to bills passed by our Legislative Assembly, overseeing the civil service and appointing members of the judiciary and public commissions. During her tenure as governor, Ms. Kilpatrick oversaw implementation of “one man, one vote” election reforms and improvements in financial reporting by government and its statutory authori- ties. She made appointments to key government posi- tions – including police commissioner, auditor general, and our islands’ first ombudsman – that will shape our islands going forward. She leaves the office in the capable hands of Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who will serve as acting governor until incoming Governor Anwar Choudhury arrives on March 26 with his family. Mr. Manderson also held the position in the interim between the departure of Governor Duncan Taylor and Ms. Kilpatrick’s arrival in 2013. A seasoned diplomat – a more traditional proving ground for Cayman’s governors – Mr. Choudhury will bring with him his own impressive set of skills and experience from his service as Her Majesty’s ambas- sador in Bangladesh and then Peru, in the British military and years spent in the foreign office. When Mr. Choudhury and his family arrive later this month, we expect all Cayman residents will make them feel at home in their new home. We look forward to their quickly becoming an integral part of our community. MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Generous Cayman Along with many others, we spent a couple of hours on a recent Saturday shaking a tin to support Cayman HospiceCare. In our two-hour stint we saw and chatted to many old friends who we had not seen for some time. What particu- larly impressed us however, was the generosity of the Cayman residents. It was clear that many of the contributors did not have ”a bean to rub together” but still contributed. There were others who were donating a second time to this very worthy cause. When there is so much bad news about, we found shaking a tin a very uplifting experience. If you get an op- portunity to do it in the fu- ture, we would recommend it. It will make you feel good. Peter and Janet Yates LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Goodbye to governor, from Cayman Brac Congratulations to Helen Kilpatrick, our ex- cellent Governor of the Cayman Islands from 2013 until now. She was an ex- emplary representative of H.M. Government and be- loved in the Cayman Is- lands during her tenure. I have been fortunate to live under the following Governors of the Cayman Islands from 1983 to today: George Lloyd, Alan Scott, Michael Gore, John Owen, Peter Smith, Bruce Din- widdy, Stuart Jack, Duncan Taylor and Her Excellency, Helen Kilpatrick. Having been blessed and allowed to live in Cayman Brac for 28+ years, as an American expat, I am grateful for my years of life on that extraordi- nary island. Called “the island time forgot,” it is sui generis, and has not been forgotten in regard to the human comforts of fresh sweet sea air, exqui- site flora lining the roads with flowers, and tropical bushes and trees inland and by the sea that provide medicine for the Brackers who know where to look for “bush meds.” The prehistoric geology of the Bluff – the limestone cliff that runs like a spine from West End to Long Beach on the eastern end of the “beloved isle” – is as- tonishing to see! Fresh air and safety are what all human beings – regardless of their coun- tries of origin, regardless of their skin color and re- ligion or lack of religion – crave in our too-hurried and frantic world today. The United States (my “motherland”) is sadly lacking today in personal safety, fresh air and unpol- luted waters to drink. The American gun issue and our Constitution’s Second Amendment (from 1791) which allows the legal purchase of guns and fire- arms and military weapons of war is unsolvable now. Death by guns, innocent schoolchildren and adults massacred by mentally ill shooters is beyond tragic. Firearms are not per- mitted to enter the Cayman Islands. Cayman Brac is an island much like the Mas- sachusetts islands of Nan- tucket and Martha’s Vine- yard were decades ago. Unhurried, beautiful sea vistas, tranquil, before the pollution of cybertech- nololgy today. Tranquillity exists on the Brac. Here’s hoping Caymans’ new Governor, His Excellency Anwar Choudhury from Bangla- desh (and his family), will enjoy a good life among Caymanians and people from all countries al- lowed to live and work on the three islands south of Cuba, West of Jamaica and East of Honduras. He is following in the very fine “wompers” of Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick! Nan Socolow Helen Kilpatrick served as governor of the Cayman Islands from 2013 until March 2018. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURT5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 It’s a double bubble day! Top up your FLOW phone Monday and Tuesday to double your credit instantly!† Add KYD $17.00 or more via Scotia Online, ATM, or our Mobile App on March 5th and 6th 2018, and enjoy 2X bonus credit PLUS 15 international minutes and 250MB bonus data.† ky.scotiabank.com/click online • mobile • atm † 2X bonus credits plus 15 international minutes plus 250MB free data for KYD 17.00 or more. 100% on-net credit (Flow to Flow voice & SMS), 15 international minutes for calls to U.S., CA & UK landlines and 250MB data. Bonus expires in 3 days. Rewards multiple times during campaign. Offer Valid on March 5th & March 6th, 2018 only. All transactions are final. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A tourist from New Jersey had his stay in Cayman ex- tended by a day and his hol- iday budget expanded by $750 after airport security personnel found a bullet in his backpack. The man, 36, appeared be- fore Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn on Thursday, March 1, when he pleaded guilty to importing a single round of .55 ammunition on Feb. 20. Deputy director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran said the defendant was about to depart on a flight from Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when an inspection of his backpack revealed the single bullet. Questioned by Customs officers, he presented his firearms license in his home state and told them he owned two guns. He said he had no knowledge of that single round being in his backpack. The defendant, who iden- tified himself as a restaurant owner, said he believed the bullet had fallen into his bag while he was packing. He said he hoped this in- cident would not prevent him from visiting his family in Cayman in the future. Given his good character, his guilty plea and his ex- planation, the magistrate did not record a convic- tion, but ordered him to pay $750 in costs. She pointed out that in the Cayman Islands posses- sion of a firearm without a li- cense is a serious offense and some firearms offenses at- tract a mandatory minimum seven years imprisonment. The fact that his bullet was found at the Cayman air- port showed how thorough local personnel were, the magistrate said. How officials of the Transportation Secu- rity Administration did not identify the bullet on the de- fendant’s way out of the U.S. baffled her, she added. Bullet in backpack costs tourist $750 Cayman Red Cross director returns from storm-torn BVI The Cayman Islands Red Cross has raised US$329,000 to help Caribbean jurisdic- tions hurt by last September’s hurricanes, with half the funds coming from one anon- ymous donor, the organiza- tion announced last week. The Cayman Islands Red Cross also stated that its di- rector, Jondo Obi, spent a month in the British Virgin Islands, from mid-January to mid-February. Ms. Obi was tasked with providing support to the BVI Red Cross as it transitions from the emergency phases to the recovery phase of the op- erations, the Cayman Islands Red Cross stated. During her time in BVI, Ms. Obi trained newly hired staff and volun- teers, and facilitated work- shops with the BVI Red Cross board of directors, first responders, nurses and com- munity emergency response teams. These workshops in- cluded Disaster Management 101, shelter management, and stress management in disasters. “My aim was to help get the [BVI] branch started in moving back into day-to-day operations,” Ms. Obi said in a press release. “Being on ‘emer- gency mode’ is extremely draining for everyone.” She said that the devas- tation in the BVI some six months after Hurricane Irma is far greater than Cayman’s situation six months after Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004. “Unlike with Hurricane Ivan, where Cayman was able to rebound fairly quickly by comparison, the devasta- tion in the BVI is so wide- spread that the return to normalcy is still far in the fu- ture,” she said. Ms. Obi explained that BVI students are still going to school in shifts, as the local high school has not yet been repaired. “This has created a major issue not only for the students and the school, but also for the parents who have nowhere to leave their children when going to work or working on getting their homes back in working order,” she said. To mitigate that problem, the BVI Red Cross created a space where students could stay with volunteers when not in school. “Having kids roam the streets is a major safeguarding issue in a number of ways,” Ms. Obi said, “and having a space where they can come to and be of service to their commu- nity is as important for their physical safety as it is for their mental health.” The BVI Red Cross is working with the British Red Cross Society on prepara- tions for the 2018 hurricane season. Efforts include fixing the BVI Red Cross headquar- ters roof, procuring response vehicles, pre-positioning re- lief supplies on all the is- lands, scaling up training of volunteers and mobilizing other community partners, such as the Rotary Club. Ms. Obi said Cayman also needs to improve its own hurricane preparedness, as Irma and Maria were unlike anything this territory has ever experienced. “Having gone through Ivan, I can honestly say that we have not in fact experienced anything like Irma and Maria, and it is in that spirit of hu- mility and deference that we need to approach our own na- tional response plans, which need to be revised, rethought and scaled up,” she said. BVI Governor Gus Jaspert and Cayman Islands Red Cross Director Jondo Obi. - PHOTO: CAYMAN ISLANDS RED CROSS6 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) Artists, storytellers, singers, musicians, cooks, dancers, astronomers, jewelry makers and young entrepreneurs were among the many talented in- dividuals at the Harquail Theatre grounds Saturday for the annual Red Sky at Night. The event, hosted by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, is part of the yearly Cayfest arts festival and showcases the work of Cayman’s creative arts community. MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Young entrepreneurs Maria Lewis, Alex Bodden and Bryan Taylor, of Re-Tyer, create pet beds and dog toys from recycled car tires, as part of a Junior Achievement project. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Michael Tomlinson of Artbox shows off one of his creations. The Cayman Islands Folk Singers perform on the Harquail Theatre stage. This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was among the vintage cars on display. Noel Cayasso-Smith wears a pair of sandals from the Cayasso Leather booth. Marc Laurenson and Kevin Mounsor show off some of their creations at the Stoakd Cayman stall. Singer Trifina Challenger takes to the stage at Seagrape Crescent. Mirta Walton and Kimberly Walton prepare cotton candy at Cyn’s Treats. Dalmond Bodden, Estefan Mameng and Shane Evans pose for a photo after performing gospel rap and R&B at Red Sky at Night.Rose May Ebanks presents her woven thatch work. Shilpa Tagalpallewar at her art stall.Kerwin Ebanks and son Victor man the KG Canvas booth.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) is a registered legal entity domiciled in the Cayman Islands, which operates as a risk pooling facility, owned principally by Caribbean governments. CCRF SPC offers parametric insurance designed to limit the financial impact of catastrophic tropical cyclones, earthquakes and excess rainfall events on Caribbean and Central American governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a policy is triggered. CCRIF SPC now invites eligible firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing External Auditor services to CCRIF SPC. The consulting services include the performance of an annual audit of CCRIF SPC’s financial statements (for the Core and all Segregated Portfolios) including the forming and expressing of audit opinion in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA), as promulgated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Interested Consultants should provide information (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, general qualifications and number of key staff etc.) demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Interested Consultants are required to declare conflicts of interest. Interested firms may obtain the full request for expressions of interest at: http://www.ccrif.org/content/request- expressions-interest-external-auditor-reissued For further information on CCRIF SPC, please visit the CCRIF web site at www.ccrif.org. Expressions of interest must be submitted via email to: procurement@ccrif.org by 8 March 2018. Email receipts will be issued for all submissions meeting the deadline. All firms expressing interest will receive a response from CCRIF, via email, during the week ending 15 March 2018. Shortlisted firms will receive a request for proposals (RFP) at that time. Firms will be shortlisted based on the required qualifications and relevant experience. Request for Expressions of Interest External Auditor CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) is a registered legal entity domiciled in the Cayman Islands, which operates as a risk pooling facility, owned principally by Caribbean governments. CCRF SPC offers parametric insurance designed to limit the financial impact of catastrophic tropical cyclones, earthquakes and excess rainfall events on Caribbean and Central American governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a policy is triggered. CCRIF SPC now invites eligible firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing External Auditor services to CCRIF SPC. The consulting services include the performance of an annual audit of CCRIF SPC’s financial statements (for the Core and all Segregated Portfolios) including the forming and expressing of audit opinion in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA), as promulgated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Interested Consultants should provide information (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, general qualifications and number of key staff etc.) demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Interested Consultants are required to declare conflicts of interest. Interested firms may obtain the full request for expressions of interest at: http://www.ccrif.org/content/request- expressions-interest-external-auditor-reissued For further information on CCRIF SPC, please visit the CCRIF web site at www.ccrif.org. Expressions of interest must be submitted via email to: procurement@ccrif.org by 8 March 2018. Email receipts will be issued for all submissions meeting the deadline. All firms expressing interest will receive a response from CCRIF, via email, during the week ending 15 March 2018. Shortlisted firms will receive a request for proposals (RFP) at that time. Firms will be shortlisted based on the required qualifications and relevant experience. Request for Expressions of Interest External Auditor Students launch subs at robotics challenge JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Young engineers from John Gray High School con- tinued their winning streak at the SeaPerch science and tech- nology challenge Saturday. Now an annual fixture of the school calendar, the com- petition challenges science students to build a remotely operated submersible vehicle from a kit and adapt it to com- plete a series of challenges. Saturday’s event at the Ca- mana Bay pool was the culmi- nation of months of effort for 21 teams from seven schools on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. In the run-up to the day, students spent time after school working on their de- signs and testing their vehicles. On Saturday, they had to race them through an obstacle course in a timed challenge and complete maneuverability exercises, picking up blocks and rings and moving them from one platform to another. The teams were judged on their times in the challenges, as well as their engineering notebooks, which document the work they have done and demonstrate their under- standing of the scientific con- cepts involved. John Gray’s Aqua Lasers Too team were the overall victors and the winners in the Middle School division. The Layman E. Scott High School Brac Bots won the high school competition. Both teams will repre- sent Cayman in June at the SeaPerch International Com- petition at the University of Massachusetts. The event is sponsored by Dart’s Minds Inspired pro- gram, which provides funding for the ROV kits and hosted Saturday’s competition, and Maples, which funds the trip for the winning teams to com- pete in Massachusetts. The Cayman branch of the Women’s International Ship- ping and Trading Association also provided support and volunteers. Glenda McTaggart, program manager of Minds Inspired, said the competition emphasized teamwork and sportsmanship, as well as sci- entific concepts. “There are a lot of skills involved. They learn how to solder, pack PVC pipe [and] how to wire things to create a con- trol box. It is also a lot of fun.” Desmond White, science teacher at John Gray, which saw all three of its teams win or place on the podium, said, “It is a wonderful feeling to see the hard work that they have put in pay off for them.” He said SeaPerch was generating enthusiasm for science and helping his stu- dents see the big picture. “They are getting a chance to see some of the concepts they are learning in science class work in practice. Von Ryan Abrantes, a physics teacher at St. Ig- natius High School, which had six teams in the compe- tition, agreed. “Engineering is not re- ally part of the curriculum, so it is good to apply theo- retical science to something more tangible.” New chief officer for community affairs announced Teresa Echenique has been appointed as the new chief officer for the Ministry of Community Affairs. She had been acting as chief officer in the ministry since taking over from Do- rine McGee (formerly Do- rine Whittaker), who took early retirement in Sep- tember last year. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson announced the appointment on Friday. Ms. Echenique had been director of the Department of Community Rehabilita- tion for 15 years, before be- coming the acting chief of- ficer. She brings some 25 years of experience in com- munity work to her new role. “In addition to pos- sessing the right mix of ed- ucation and experience, she also has a depth of char- acter that is necessary to the job. This is evident from her outstanding track re- cord in delivering life- changing programmes and services,” Mr. Manderson said of Ms. Echenique. He attributes this in part to her “long-standing pas- sion for continuously de- veloping herself and those around her on a personal and professional level.” Ms. Echenique has an executive master’s degree in business administration (EMBA) from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management Executive Programme and the Univer- sity College of the Cayman Islands. She has also un- dergone various training, certification and overseas placements, more recently from Shirlaws Group and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Over the years, the new chief officer’s management style has resulted in the “successful and sustain- able growth” of the Depart- ment of Community Reha- bilitation, Mr. Manderson said, something that he believes augurs well for her new role. Ms. Echenique’s ap- pointment followed an in- ternal recruitment process, according to a government press release. Three candi- dates from the public sector were interviewed by a panel that included Mr. Man- derson; Betty Baraud, a pri- vate sector recruitment spe- cialist; and Cindy Hislop, a partner at Deloitte. The Community Affairs Ministry has a staff of 192 and a budget of $39.9 mil- lion in the current financial year, the release stated. Premier Alden McLaughlin, who is also minister of com- munity affairs, said, “I’ve been working closely with [Ms. Echenique] over the [past] five months and have been impressed by her pro- fessionalism and ability. I know that she will bring her experience to bear on the role, and I’m certainly looking forward to con- tinuing to work with her as we look to assist the most vulnerable in our society.”Teresa Echenique 2018 SEAPERCH OFFICIAL RESULTS MIDDLE SCHOOL 1.......JGHS Aqua Lasers Too 2....JGHS Tsunami Breakers 3.................CHHS Rockstars HIGH SCHOOL 1................. LSHS Brac Bots 2.....JGHS Poseidon Soldiers 3...........St. Ignatius SICS 11 OVERALL 1.......JGHS Aqua Lasers Too 2................. LSHS Brac Bots 3.....JGHS Poseidon SoldiersThe winning teams from John Gray and Layman E. Scott High School celebrate with organizers and coaches. – PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Emily Jervis and Emma Maddock, of the Cayman Prep & High School team, get ready to relaunch their ROV. John Gray’s Diamond White and Davonte Howell celebrate after clocking the fastest time on the obstacle course. – PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 9-year-old son were also in the restaurant. Mr. Zitterbart said one of the men fired a warning shot into the roof. They sprayed a substance, believed to be pepper spray, into his face, took cash from the till and fled. Mr. Zitterbart said his son stood behind him through the robbery, which lasted three or four minutes. “He’s a strong boy, he’s fine. We’re fine,” he said. “I was in the army, I have seen guns before in my life. No- body was hurt, I hope the po- lice will find them.” He said he had heard that men suspected of commit- ting the robbery had fired on police later in the night. He urged police to take a tough approach. “It is just kids that don’t want to work. Social ser- vices gives them every- thing and they don’t want to work,” he added. Mr. Walton said police would be stepping up high visibility patrols and in- creasing their armed re- sponse capacity in the wake of the hold-ups. He said a major incident room had been set up to investigate the two robberies and the shooting at police, which follow an incident earlier in the week where a young couple were robbed at gunpoint. “It is a big concern for us because of the marked in- crease in armed robberies just in the last week,” he added. Mr. Walton said he had spoken personally with the officers involved in the shoot- out Saturday night and re- assured them that the po- lice would support them in “whatever way we can.” He urged members of the public to do their part by providing information to investigators. The red Honda SUV was stolen earlier the same evening and police are seeking information about sightings of that vehicle throughout the night. More generally, Mr. Walton said police were concerned that vehicles were being stolen to be used in more se- rious crimes and he urged the public to be vigilant in looking out for stolen vehicles, re- ported by police in the media. He also urged people to report anyone with access to firearms in an effort to pre- vent further robberies. Anyone with information should call George Town police station on 949-4222, the confidential tip line on 949-777 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 8400-8477. her decision to retire upon leaving the governorship. “The beautiful bright weather of the Cayman Is- lands has made me unem- ployed,” she groused. She also complained about the good food that had made her a stone heavier than when she came. “Lots of my nice clothes don’t fit me anymore,” she said. And she claimed to be unhappy about getting to- gether with her fellow for- eign service colleagues in the U.K., where the primary topic of conversation is complaining about the re- spective governments they have to deal with. “I’m complaining bitterly that I have nothing to com- plain about,” Ms. Kilpatrick said. “I don’t have anything to say. How boring is that?” Others in attendance, who were treated to a va- riety of traditional food, from a whole roasted pig to fish and chips, and clas- sical music by the Tropical Trio, spent time praising the governor. Mr. McLaughlin called Ms. Kilpatrick “the best governor the island has ever had.” Some of the guests in attendance said they ap- preciated the way in which Ms. Kilpatrick engaged with the community. From serving as an honorary Girl Guide to supporting various charities and even making a trip with the Ro- tary Club of Grand Cayman to Guatemala, where mem- bers of the group hiked into remote mountains to help impoverished people, the governor was described by many as accessible and down to earth. “It’s like you’re talking to a colleague,” said Justin Bodden, presi- dent of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman. “She’s very approachable.” David Hardy, an invest- ment manager with IFP, said he would run into her in public. “You’d see her on the beach and she’d say hello to people,” he said. “And she invited us to a good few parties, so that helped.” Finance Minister Roy McTaggart said she was helpful to government leaders but never pushy. “She really left the gov- erning to the govern- ment and only offered ad- vice when it was needed,” he said. “She brought a grace and decorum to the governorship that was unprecedented. “She will surely be missed in the community,” he added. Ms. Kilpatrick is sched- uled to leave Grand Cayman Monday afternoon. later in the year, and once the group of new recruits from that drive is selected, the next class will begin early next year.” Police continuously re- cruit for local cadet classes and will accept applications for the 2019 group at any time, officials said. Although the number of police officers has increased within the past year, the RCIPS has yet to reach pre- 2015 staffing levels when more than 400 uniformed of- ficers worked at the depart- ment. As of 2015, the depart- ment had the budget to hire another 30 to 40 personnel, but then-Commissioner David Baines blamed “bu- reaucratic red tape” for pre- venting him from doing so. By the time Commis- sioner Derek Byrne arrived in late 2016, the force had fallen to around 350 offi- cers – fewer that the terri- tory maintained a decade ago in 2007. A spate of hiring, mainly involving foreign of- ficer recruits, has pushed the number to the current 390 uniformed officers. Premier Alden McLaughlin has pledged to provide funding to hire an- other 75 police officers over the next three government budget years. If current staff levels are maintained during that time, the RCIPS will have about 450 officers by the end of 2020. The additional officers promised by Mr. McLaugh- lin’s government do not rep- resent the full number re- quested by Commissioner Byrne. Mr. McLaughlin said the original request “ex- ceeded the available funding.” Breakdown By Feb. 8, of the 390 of- ficers employed with the RCIPS, 211 were non-Cay- manian and 179 were Cay- manian. Among the civilian ranks, 45 employees were Caymanians and 21 were non-Caymanians. The majority of officers employed in the RCIPS were either at the constable rank (258) or as auxiliary consta- bles (47). Another 49 were em- ployed at sergeant rank and 23 were police inspectors. The RCIPS employed seven chief inspectors, three superintendents, two deputy commissioners and one com- missioner as of last month. Gunmen fire on police officers after two armed robberies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police force increases 10 percent in one year RCIPS officers work a traffic stop on West Bay Road. The number of police officers in Cayman has been steadily increasing since last spring. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Plates and praise for Governor Kilpatrick Premier Alden McLaughlin, right, presents Governor Helen Kilpatrick with a poster showing a set of Cayman coat of arms embossed crockery, as Deputy Governor Franz Manderson looks on. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 US embassy makes staff cuts permanent after puzzling attacks WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing mysterious “health attacks” in Havana, the United States says it is making permanent its withdrawal of 60 percent of its diplomats from Cuba, extending an action that has hurt the island nation’s economy and cramped Cu- bans’ ability to visit the U.S. Last October, the State Department ordered non-es- sential embassy personnel and the families of all staff to leave Havana, arguing the U.S. could not protect them from unexplained illnesses that have harmed at least 24 Americans. But by law, the department can only order diplomats to leave for six months before either sending them back or making the re- ductions permanent. The six months expired Sunday. The department said Friday that it was set- ting in place a new, perma- nent staffing plan that main- tains a lower level of roughly two-dozen people – “the min- imum personnel necessary to perform core diplomatic and consular functions.” The department also said that the embassy in Havana would operate as an “unac- companied post,” meaning diplomats posted there will not be allowed to have spouses or children live with them in the country. The downsizing of the embassy staff – and a travel warning the U.S. issued warning Americans to recon- sider travel to the island – have had significant effects for Cuba’s economy and for its citizens. With fewer em- ployees on hand, the U.S. Embassy in Havana halted visa processing, forcing Cu- bans who wish to visit the U.S. to seek visas through American embassies in other countries. The U.S. is also expected to fall far short of granting the 20,000 immi- grant visas to Cubans that have been allotted annu- ally for decades. In Havana, hundreds of Cubans waited in line Friday outside the Colom- bian Embassy seeking visas to visit that country, from which they would have to apply for a separate visa at the American Embassy in Bogota to travel to the United States. “This whole situation is making me very sad,” said Ana Maria Velazquez, an ac- countant from neighboring Matanzas Province with two children in Florida. She had been waiting for her appoint- ment with Colombian officials for three days. “There should be normal relations between the two countries, but if the U.S. doesn’t want them, at least they should do something that doesn’t hurt people.” Secretary of State Rex Til- lerson signed off on the per- manent plan for reduced staffing out of concern for “the health, safety and well- being of U.S. government per- sonnel and family members,” the department said in a statement Friday. “We still do not have de- finitive answers on the source or cause of the attacks, and an investigation into the at- tacks is ongoing,” the de- partment said. Cuba has repeatedly de- nied either involvement in or knowledge of any attacks, and has said its own investi- gation into the illnesses has turned up no evidence of de- liberate action. “The reality is that we have armed robbers that don’t want to be caught and are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid apprehension.” DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KURT WALTONThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MARCH 5, 2018 Lawsuit filed in Grand Canyon copter crash The parents of Jonathan Udall of Southampton, U.K., who died in a sightseeing helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon last week, filed a lawsuit in Las Vegas Friday, saying their son could have survived the crash if the helicopter had a crash-resistant fuel system. China’s Xi poised to make historic grab at indefinite rule BEIJING (AP) – President Xi Jinping is poised to make a historic power grab as Chi- na’s legislators gather be- ginning Monday to approve changes that will let him rule indefinitely and undo decades of efforts to prevent a return to crushing dictatorship. This year’s gathering of the ceremonial National People’s Congress has been overshadowed by Xi’s sur- prise move – announced just a week ago – to end con- stitutional two-term limits on the presidency. The changes would allow Xi, al- ready China’s most pow- erful leader in decades, to ex- tend his rule over the world’s second-largest economy pos- sibly for life. “This is a critical mo- ment in China’s history,” said Cheng Li, an expert on elite China politics at the Brookings Institution in Washington. The move is widely seen as the culmination of the 64-year-old Xi’s efforts since being appointed leader of the ruling Communist Party in 2012 to concentrate power in his own hands and defy norms of collective leader- ship established over the past two decades. Xi has appointed himself to head bodies that oversee national security, finance, economic reform and other major ini- tiatives, effectively sidelining the party’s No. 2 figure, Pre- mier Li Keqiang. Once passed, the consti- tutional amendment would upend a system enacted by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1982 to prevent a return to the bloody ex- cesses of a lifelong dicta- torship typified by Mao Ze- dong’s chaotic 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. “Deng Xiaoping’s abolish- ment of lifetime tenure for the leadership and more in- stitutionalized transitions in power are very much in question,” said Li, the politics expert. Passage of the proposed constitutional amendment by the congress’ nearly 3,000 hand-picked delegates is all but certain. But observers will be looking to see how many delegates abstain from voting as an indication of the reservations the move has encountered even within the political establishment. On Sunday, Zhang Yesui, the legislature’s spokesman, told reporters that the move is only aimed at bringing the office of the president in line with Xi’s other positions atop the party and the Central Military Commission, which do not impose term limits. “It is conducive to up- holding the authority of the Central Committee of the party with Com- rade Xi Jinping at the core and also to unified leader- ship,” Zhang said. Chinese authorities have tightly controlled discus- sion about the move, scrub- bing social media of crit- ical and satirical comments. State media have been largely muted about the topic, but the official People’s Daily sought to reassure the public by saying in a commentary that the move did not signal a return to lifelong rule. “This amendment does not mean changes in the system of retirement for party and state leaders and also does not imply that leaders will have lifetime tenure,” the party’s mouth- piece said Thursday. Still, a number of prom- inent Chinese figures have publicly protested the move, despite the risk of offi- cial retaliation. Li Datong, a former editor for the state-run China Youth Daily, wrote that lifting term limits would “sow the seeds of chaos” and urged Bei- jing’s lawmakers to exercise their power by rejecting the amendment. Wang Ying, a businesswoman who has ad- vocated government reforms, called the proposal “an out- right betrayal.” Many expressed shock and disbelief at what they perceived to be a return to the Mao era, and the massive upheaval, violence and chaos of the Cultural Revolution 50 years ago that has barely faded from memory. Already, the blanket and entirely positive coverage of Xi in official propaganda has drawn comparisons of a cult of personality to rival Mao’s. State network China Central Television broad- casts near-daily segments featuring anyone from fac- tory workers and farmers to space engineers and sol- diers applauding for Xi in uniform enthusiasm for sev- eral minutes. His airbrushed, blemish- and nearly wrinkle- free face often domi- nates the front pages of state newspapers. But some analysts note there are a number of key differences between Xi and communist China’s revo- lutionary founders that mean any major policy failure could obstruct Xi’s ambitions. “Xi Jinping is not loved and admired the way that Deng Xiaoping was. Xi Jin- ping is feared within the party,” said Steve Tsang, di- rector of the China Institute at London’s School of Ori- ental and African Studies. Xi has also waged expan- sive anti-corruption crack- down that some perceive as at least in part a purge of his rivals. This has surely won him many enemies, making the prospect of ceding power potentially risky. TRUMP SAYS MAYBE U.S. WILL HAVE A PRESIDENT FOR LIFE SOMEDAY Makes comments at lunch for supporters WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump says he thinks it’s great that China’s president now holds that office for life and muses that maybe the U.S. will do the same someday. Trump’s remarks were met with laughter and applause during a lun- cheon for Republican do- nors Saturday at his South Florida estate. CNN said it obtained a recording of the remarks. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently con- solidated power. Trump told the gath- ering: “He’s now presi- dent for life. President for life. And he’s great.” Trump added, “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.” Trump criticized his Democratic presidential opponent Hillary Clinton, repeated his view about “a rigged system,” and called the Iraq invasion “the single worst deci- sion ever made.” He referred to former President George W. Bush as “another real genius.” “I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.” US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a large screen on Saturday at the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. - PHOTO: AP China says military no threat, but refuses to reveal budget BEIJING (AP) – China has no desire to overturn the ex- isting international order and its increasingly pow- erful military does not con- stitute a threat to others, the spokesman for the coun- try’s ceremonial legisla- ture said Sunday. However, in a break with recent practice, Zhang Yesui refused to provide a figure for the rate of growth in the national defense budget. That move follows com- plaints that China is not open enough about how it funds its military or what the goals of its massive campaign of expansion and modernization are. Zhang sought to strike a reassuring tone in remarks at a news conference on the eve of the opening of the National People’s Congress’ annual two-week session. He said China defended and contributed to the cur- rent United Nations-cen- tered global order, but also said some reforms were necessary. “China’s development is conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity,” Zhang said, pointing espe- cially to global economic growth, trade and pov- erty reduction. “As to the international order, we have no intention of overthrowing everything for starting over again,” Zhang said. Reforms should focus on “international rules that have fallen behind the times and no longer align with the shared aspirations of all nations.” China’s secretive mili- tary had begun to open up a crack in recent years, and the National People’s Con- gress spokesman in recent years has made a tradition of responding to a question on the defense budget by announcing the percentage increase over the past years, at least in rough terms. Zhang, however, did not address the question of numbers, saying instead that past increases by a “modest margin” had gone to equipment upgrades, training and improving welfare and living condi- tions for troops. China’s defense spending as a share of GDP and the budget also remains lower than that of other major na- tions, he said. “China proceeds from a defense policy that is de- fensive in nature. China’s development will not pose a threat to other coun- tries,” Zhang said. The finance ministry last year said the defense budget would top $145 billion for the first time, after the exact figure was initially kept out of public documents re- leased at the start of the an- nual legislative sessions. That marked about a 7 percent increase, continuing a trend of lowered growth amid a slowing economy, despite regional tensions over the South China Sea and other issues. Years of double-digit per- centage growth have given China the world’s second- largest defense budget after the United States, which is in a class of its own with a proposed budget of $716 billion for next year.Next >