ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 High of 84 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE A’S, B’S, AND C’S OF THE WORLD’S DISAPPEARING HONEYBEES LOCAL | PAGE 3 AFTER LOSS OF BABY, COUPLE OPENS HEARTS Road User Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp 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 Enjoy comprehensive cover with free roadside assistance, $200 deductible, zero windscreen deductible and many other free benefits! Ask for a quote! A fish tale on a giant scale TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com You have to repeat the phrase a couple of times to grasp the importance: the world’s second-largest, private, indoor, salt-water reef aquarium – and it is in Steve and Andrea Hughes’s Cayman Yacht Club living room. The big question, of course, regards that No. 2 ranking: If the Hugheses own the second-largest aquarium of its type, what is the largest? The answer is fascinating. The largest belongs to Bill Wann, who lives in Wisconsin and advises the Hugheses on design and construction, and built all their equipment. Mr. Wann says he is preparing to build another “largest, pri- vately owned, indoor, salt-water aquarium,” although it may not qualify because it is so enormous that it won’t fit in his house. He is measuring his back yard. Mr. Hughes admits to being slightly obsessed, but tells a compelling tale. The completion of the enormous tank, viewed through two, 9 feet by 5 feet, 2-inch thick, acrylic windows – sealed by high-perfor- mance silicone – in his living room, is the culmination of long, expensive and complex effort. Never mind the crowded chamber with its outdoor entrance, dedicated to pipes and pumps, regulators for aeration and flow rates, valves and filters for flushing and purification, and the 1,000-gallon sump tanks buried in the yard or any permits re- quired by the Department of Environment. To be clear, Mr. Hughes says, the world has larger aquaria, at the New York Aquarium and at San Diego’s Sea World. Then there’s the dual, three-story, 1,776 square foot Poseidon and Neptune Under- water Suites in Dubai’s Atlantis at The Palm hotel, where guests pay $8,200 per night to “sleep with the fishes,” 6,500 of them, be- ICCI names new president Byron R. Coon has been chosen as the new president of the International College of the Cayman Islands. Michael Mannisto, president of ICCI’s board of trustees, made the announcement Wednesday in an email message. Mr. Mannisto said Mr. Coon will bring needed expe- rience in college administration as well as a teaching background in the sciences to the school. “Dr. Coon brings to ICCI a long history of strong leader- ship skills, curriculum develop- ment, expertise in developing leading online programs, a deep understanding of institutional research data, accreditations, as well as faculty and staff de- velopment,” Mr. Mannisto said in the email. “Dr. Coon also has demonstrated prudent fiscal re- sponsibility throughout his ca- reer and has a strong sense of community.” Mr. Coon is listed as Assis- tant Vice President of Academic Affairs in the faculty guide for Argosy University for the 2013- 2014 academic year. He was at the Schaumburg, Illinois, campus. It says he earned a doctorate in medical and veterinary diseases from the University of Florida in Two giant acrylic windows in Steve Hughes’s living room peer into his own reef. – PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PREMIER: ATO STEPHENS DEPORTATION APPROVED BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Cabinet has approved a deportation order for local track coach Ato Modibo Stephens for March 16, “or as soon thereafter as can be arranged” by immigra- tion authorities, according to an announce- ment made Wednesday by Premier Alden McLaughlin’s office. It is now up to the governor’s office to sign the deportation order, the premier’s office said. “Mr. Stephens was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Aug. 4, 2017, and the court recom- mended his deportation following completion of his sentence,” the statement read. “His case was heard by the Conditional Release Board in November, 2017, and Mr. Stephens was granted conditional release from prison until the completion of his sentence.” Mr. Stephens has been released on li- cense from prison since November 2017, but the conditional release license expired on Feb. 15, 2018, according to the premier’s office MAN GUNNED DOWN ON RED BAY STREET, POLICE HUNT SUSPECT BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 44-year-old man was shot dead on a George Town street late Tuesday night. It was the second incident involving gun- fire to occur in the same Red Bay neighbor- hood within the past four days. The homicide victim, Dougmore Wright, was shot around 10 p.m. as he walked along Prospect Drive. Area residents reported hearing several gunshots followed by sounds of a vehicle driving off at a high speed. As of press time Wednesday, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service had not announced any arrests in con- nection with the killing. Police were called just before 10:30 p.m. to the crime scene on Prospect Drive, located just north of the East-West Arterial Road between Marina Drive and Victory Avenue. “The man is believed to have been shot and is showing no signs of life,” RCIPS media of- ficer Jodi-Ann Powery said Tuesday night. Mr. Wright had been in trouble with local law enforcement in prior years, but Pastor PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Byron Coon2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY MARCH 8, 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) 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 Employer faces possible prison time for work permit offenses Employers should know seriousness of immigration offenses, magistrate says CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An employer who pleaded guilty to four sets of charges involving work permits was ordered to pay over $4,000 last week and given a prison sentence of three months, suspended for two years. “When persons are caught working without a permit, the court sometimes puts them in jail,” Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats noted. “If the person who works goes to jail, then the em- ployer who allows that person to work should go to jail.” He was dealing with charges against Denia Yamileth Fieroha Bush, in- cluding employment of an- other person without a work permit, making a false rep- resentation, and failing to come to court. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm and defense attorney Waide DaCosta explained the background to the charges. Ms. Bush was the man- ager of the Meringue Town Restaurant in George Town and applied for an employee’s work permit renewal in Sep- tember 2016, but the permit had expired in August 2016. She explained that when she took up management, she had been told the date was in September. She agreed to pay an administrative fine of $600, but paid only $200. In October 2016, Immi- gration Department officers attended Campbell’s Bar, also in George Town, to con- duct a spot check and con- firm the status of workers. Four females were identi- fied by customers as serving food and beverages. All four were found to be in breach of the Immigration Law. They were dealt with administra- tively. Ms. Bush accepted re- sponsibility and agreed to settle the matter administra- tively in November 2016. She was fined by the department $2,960, but did not pay. The charge of false repre- sentation involved a woman working at Meringue Town between September and De- cember 2016 without a permit. Ms. Bush initially said the worker had been granted a permit as a do- mestic helper, but was fired because she did not want to perform her duties. She said the permit was not canceled because she was giving the woman an opportunity to find employment elsewhere. In March 2017, Ms. Bush attended the Immigration De- partment accompanied by Mr. DaCosta and admitted that she had employed the woman as a food and beverage server at Meringue Town. Mr. DaCosta told the court that the defendant had been in partnership with an- other person and had taken on the actual management of the business. She had learned her lesson and was now solely responsible. While the matter was con- tinuing, she missed court on Jan. 18 this year. The magistrate said that the false representation was dishonest and some- thing needed to be said so that employers were aware of how serious immigration offenses are. Mr. DaCosta advised that Ms. Bush “has brought her- self up to standard. She did make certain statements, but once she got legal advice, she made the admissions.” The magistrate said that was an important point – that she had done the right thing. He told Ms. Bush, “Thank you for doing the right thing – taking advice, taking responsibility.” For the false representa- tion, he imposed the prison sentence and suspended it. The consequence was that, if she came back to court for any other offense, she could be sent to jail imme- diately for this three-month term and any new one. She was also ordered to pay costs of $500. For the first offense, when she did not pay the adminis- trative fine in full in 2016, she was fined the balance of $400 plus $100 in costs. For the four servers who had no permit, she was fined $740 each plus $200 in costs. For missing court, the fine was $50. Fines and costs totaled $4,210. She was given time to pay. Patrick’s Island home invasion results in charges A spate of criminal charges has been filed in con- nection with a crime spree on June 17, 2017 that included a home invasion in Prospect. Nikel Emanuel Thomas, 23, and a 17-year-old have both been charged with the following: robbery, aggra- vated burglary, two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, theft, attempted bur- glary and damage to property. Both men appeared in Summary Court Monday on the charges. Police said the offenses related to different incidents that all occurred on June 17. The charges of aggra- vated burglary, robbery, and one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm with intent to commit an offense were all related to the aggra- vated burglary in Patrick’s Is- land, Prospect. The charge of theft is re- lated to a theft of the motor vehicle from the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Re- sort on Seven Mile Beach. The charges of attempted burglary, damage to prop- erty, and the second count of possession of an unli- censed firearm with intent to commit an offense are in re- lation to an attempted bur- glary on West Bay Road. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service released a statement in June about the home invasion/aggra- vated burglary: “911 received a call from a resident of Pat- rick’s Island that three males, two of which were armed with firearms, and the other with a hammer; had entered their residence and bound them up with duct tape. “The intruders demanded cash and valuables and threatened the victims with bodily harm. The male resi- dent was assaulted during the incident. “A quantity of cash, jew- elry and other valuables were stolen.” Earlier police statements indicated that a 39-year-old man was also arrested in the home invasion incident. Earlier police statements indicated that a 39-year-old man was also arrested in the home invasion incident. ARGENTINA DEBATES LEGAL ABORTION BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – More than 70 Argentine lawmakers of several po- litical parties presented a bill Tuesday to legalize elec- tive abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Most lawmakers wore green handkerchiefs sym- bolizing the abortion rights movement as the measure was introduced to cheers. Abortion is only allowed in Argentina in cases of rape and risks to a wom- an’s health. But advocates say that doctors and judges often continue to block therapeutic abortions de- spite a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that was supposed to remove barriers and take judges out of such decisions. Legislative efforts to allow elective abortions have failed in the past, but the new initiative has wider backing. Argentina’s conservative President Mauricio Macri also recently said that even though he is anti-abortion, Congress should launch a debate on broader legaliza- tion of abortion. Several countries in Latin America allow thera- peutic abortions, although El Salvador and Nicaragua ban the procedure under all circumstances. Argentina’s health min- istry estimates that up to 522,000 Argentine women undergo illegal abor- tions each year. Pro-abortion rights ac- tivists estimate that about 49,000 women, most of them poor, are hospitalized each year for complications linked to unsafe abortions. As the law was intro- duced, abortion-rights pro- ponents chanted, “Contracep- tives to avoid aborting and legal abortion to avoid death!” Activists cheer in favor of legalized abortion at Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday. – PHOTO: AP Animal cruelty case delayed SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Desland St. Aubyn Bailey will have to wait a little longer before learning his sentence for a pair of animal cruelty charges relating to a dog named Rufus. Mr. Bailey, a West Bay resident who pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty in January, ap- peared in court Wednesday for a scheduled sentencing hearing, but his case was adjourned due to another charge – failing to keep his dog under proper control – that will go to trial in June. Mr. Bailey previously pleaded guilty to putting Pine-Sol on his dog’s back as an ill-conceived remedy for fleas and ticks, and he also pleaded guilty to not seeking medical attention in a timely manner. That incident oc- curred last August, and Rufus was subsequently surren- dered to the Humane Society. The charge of failing to keep his dog under control relates to an incident last July in which Mr. Bailey’s dog bit a woman. The defendant pleaded not guilty to that charge in court on Tuesday. Magistrate Philippa Mc- Farlane noted Tuesday that Mr. Bailey has been “com- plying entirely” with proba- tion officers who conducted his social inquiry report. Magistrate McFarlane said that Mr. Bailey’s sentencing will not take place until after his trial can be conducted on the separate charge. Rufus spent a few months recuperating from his wounds with a local foster family and is still available for adoption. The Rufus case remains the only one of 105 animal cruelty cases investi- gated by the Department of Agriculture in 2016 and 2017 that has resulted in a crim- inal prosecution.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 After loss of baby, couple opens hearts to Cayman community Cayman to create organ donor registry BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five years after legislation passed supporting human organ and tissue harvesting and transplants in Cayman, the government has pro- duced regulations to the law that will make it easier for the medical procedures to be performed here. The Human Tissue Trans- plant Regulations have been drafted and are now being put out for a 60-day comment period before the enabling legislation takes effect. In practice, a small number of tissue transplant surgeries have been per- formed in Cayman. However, tissues or organs cannot cur- rently be harvested here due to the lack of a human tissue registry, and sourcing them from overseas can be a com- plex and time-consuming process. Often, patients find they must go overseas to ei- ther obtain the needed tissue or for the surgeries, or both. Following the public com- ment period and approval by Cabinet, a Human Tissue Transplant Council will be appointed. The council mem- bers will create a register that not only allows organs and tissues donated to be kept in Cayman, but which would also allow the British Overseas Territory to be- come part of an interna- tional donation network for human tissue. “The ability to have a transplant center on island will make an immeasur- able difference to patients who face organ failure or require organ/tissue dona- tion,” said Health Minister Dwayne Seymour. Tissue donation will only be done on a voluntary basis. Under the law, tissues or or- gans will be harvested from a deceased person only if a licensed medical practitioner is satisfied that the person gave consent to do so while they were still alive. Only those who are 18 or older may register as organ donors. Children can donate regenerative body tissue, but only with pa- rental consent. The legislation passed in 2013 does not apply to fetal tissue, sperm or ova. It also requires that consent be given to remove organs or tissue from a human body and prohibits someone from removing tissue or organs from those who cannot le- gally give consent. The bill makes unauthor- ized trading of human body parts a crime and establishes the council to review the pro- cess of tissue donation and transplants, including in- spections of any animal tissue imported into Cayman that would be used during transplant surgery. The issue of human tissue transplants was first re- viewed in 2005 by a govern- ment-appointed committee and came to the fore again when Dr. Devi Shetty pro- posed his Narayana Univer- sity Medical Centre in the Cayman Islands, or Health City Cayman Islands, as it is now formally known. The organ transplant proposal was also brought up and ap- proved in a private members’ motion filed in the Legisla- tive Assembly during 2010 by George Town legislator Ellio Solomon. Formal legis- lation was finally approved in early 2013. Public comment on the regulations is asked to be submitted by May 7 to Health Ministry Senior Policy Advisor Janett Flynn. Cor- respondence can also be dropped off at the govern- ment administration building in George Town. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com For Sean and Ailian Evans, it is the simple memories they will treasure the most – the first time their son Nolan saw the outside of a hospital room, his first Christmas, his first trip to the beach. They will always re- member the smile he had for everyone at the hospital, even as he endured seven surgeries in the space of six months as doctors fought to save him from the worst con- sequences of a congenital heart defect. “He was very strong. He endured more than most adults could cope with,” said his mother, Mrs. Evans. Nolan died in hospital in Miami on Jan. 25, aged just seven months and three days. For his parents and sister Ashlyn, his life was both cru- elly short and more than they dared to hope for. “He was the happiest boy, even in the hospital. He was always so sick but he always managed a smile,” Mrs. Evans said. Now they hope to turn their grief into something positive by raising funds and providing support to families in the same situation. “I have all this love in my heart for Nolan and I have to use it to help someone else,” she said. Mrs. Evans plans to vol- unteer her time to raise funds and awareness about the impacts of congenital heart defects. Family and friends have already raised money to sup- port two Cayman heart chari- ties in memory of Nolan. Classmates of Nolan’s sister Ashlyn, 11, from St. Ignatius Catholic School, raised $500 for Have a Heart Cayman Islands, which sup- ports children from devel- oping countries to have heart surgeries at Health City. Mr. and Mrs. Evans collected a further $2,200 and the chil- dren visited the hospital to present the check and share ice cream and cake with the youngsters from Uganda and Haiti who were awaiting operations. Mrs. Evans has also main- tained links with families at the Nicklaus Children’s Hos- pital in Miami, where Nolan spent much of his young life. “I know how hard it is for these babies to go through what my son went through; it is so stressful for the parents and the kids.” Mrs. Evans is still un- sure how she survived the ordeal herself. Just days after Nolan was born, on June 22 last year, she was told he had a rare congenital heart de- fect, Truncus arteriosus, in which a single blood vessel comes out of the right and left ventricles, instead of the normal two vessels. He was flown to Miami where he had open-heart sur- gery to save his life. His par- ents were told there was no cure for the defect and he would need multiple opera- tions throughout his life. “They told us he was a very high-risk baby,” his mother said. “They gave me hope but they said his case was very complex.” Mrs. Evans spent months at his bedside, at times with her family, at times on her own, as Nolan’s condition fluctuated through numerous medical procedures. “Only a person who has kids can understand the pain I was in, I thought I was going to die,” she said. In November, Nolan was stable enough to return to the Cayman Islands. But he suffered a cardiac arrest on Jan. 16. Though his parents, who had trained in CPR, were able to save him, he was flown to Miami for further treatment and died on Jan. 25. In a written memo- rial, Nolan’s father said the family was thankful for the “small miracles” they experi- enced together. Mr. Evans said watching him sleep in his own crib at their family home, taking him to see the ocean and going to their favorite restaurant to- gether as a family, were trea- sured moments they never thought they would see. Mrs. Evans said, “I’m proud to be his mother and to have been there by his bedside until his last breath, giving him my love. He is worth all the grief that has been my reality, and I will love him forever.” As she seeks to come to terms with her loss, she wants other parents and ex- pectant mothers to be aware of the threats posed by con- genital heart defects. Though Nolan’s case was particularly complex, other heart defects can be miti- gated if they are spotted early enough. Like many mothers, she said, she was excited about the arrival of her son, and unaware of the poten- tial complications and the questions she could ask. “Something like this can be spotted on an ultra- sound, but it wasn’t in this case,” she said. Mrs. Evans wants to pass on the knowledge and empathy she has acquired during her ordeal. “I am really planning to do a lot of fundraising for the Cayman Heart Fund and Have a Heart Founda- tion,” she said. “I feel asso- ciated with these kids and their families and want to do whatever I can to help.” The family are in the early stages of planning a party and fundraiser on Nolan’s first birthday, later this year. St. Ignatius Catholic School is also holding a “civvy day” fundraiser on April 13, where students do- nate money to come to school in their regular clothes, for the Cayman Heart Fund and Have a Heart Cayman Islands in honor of Nolan. “The ability to have a transplant center on island will make an immeasurable difference to patients who face organ failure or require organ/tissue donation.” DWAYNE SEYMOUR, health minister A framed photograph of 7-month-old Nolan with his favorite toy and a cake the Evans’ family brought to children at Health City as part of a donation in his honor. The Evans family visits Health City along with classmates from their daughter Ashlyn’s school to make a donation in memory of Nolan. Ailian Evans spent months at her son’s bedside, as he went through seven surgeries during his short life.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. THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS “Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!” - Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein With this year marking the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein, humanity as a whole remains no wiser than Mary Shelley’s archetypal “mad scientist.” We appear doomed to learn and relearn forever that there is one consistent lesson of any attempt to “play God” by interfering with complex ecosystems – whether its Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, or green iguanas, lionfish or feral cats right here in Cayman: It is to beware of unintended consequences. The most recent example of our collective hubris relates to what has been presented as one of the most important environmental issues of our time … not “global warming” … but the global collapse of bee colonies. (Oh, you haven’t been paying attention?) While nobody likes bee stings, almost everybody likes honey – not to mention flowers and food. About one-third of American crops rely (either totally or in part) on pollination by bees. The syllogism, of course, would be: no bees = no pollination = no food. In an effort to combat the long-term “plight of the honeybees,” the European Union is expected to vote soon on banning a popular class of insecticides believed to be contributing to the disappearance of bees and other flying insects. After reviewing 1,500 studies, EU scientists determined that the collapse of colonies has been caused by neonicotinoids – a relatively new class of insecticides that previously had been thought to be safer and more effective than older formulas. Amid mounting evidence that the neonicotinoids were not only ridding farmers’ fields of pests that damage crops, but also the bees that pollinate them, EU officials implemented a partial ban of the products in 2013. Now, they appear poised to ban them completely. The apparent issue of the loss of bees and other pol- linators cannot simply be shrugged off. About a decade ago, beekeepers in the United States began to report sudden, inexplicable losses of worker bees – a phenom- enon now called “colony collapse disorder.” According to research cited in a recent story in The Guardian newspaper about the EU’s potential pesticide ban, some 75 percent of all flying insects have disap- peared in Germany. No one knows with certainty what is causing these perceived declines in insect populations, or more narrowly the collapse of bee colonies. In truth, neonicot- inoids are only one probable culprit identified by scien- tists. Other potential causes include invasive mites, new or emerging diseases, stress caused by bee manage- ment practices, changes in habitat, poor nutrition, or a combination of the above. It makes intuitive sense that several factors would be contributing to bee deaths, but politicians – always eager to do something – would have a difficult time banning mites, disease or stress. Rather than admitting their limitations, they have jumped to do what little they can – in this case, to ban a certain class of chemicals. The EU is not alone in this. Politicians in Australia (who for hundreds of years have been grappling unsuc- cessfully with ecological and agricultural devastation wrought by an invasive rabbit population) also appear ready to jump on the anti-neonicotinoid bandwagon, even though there have been no reports of colony collapse disorder in that country. Recently, promising evidence has emerged in the U.S. that bees may be “recovering” from colony collapse disorder – as beekeepers have intensified efforts to grow additional colonies and improve the con- dition of hives. Cayman, we know you are busy and most likely already too stressed to be too concerned over whether the world’s honeybee population, itself, is overly stressed. We do not blame you in the slightest. We are trying to make sense of all this ourselves. The only thought that we can conjure up (so far) is that Cayman should be cautious whenever we start tin- kering with complex ecosystems (hey, let’s kill our green iguanas or cull some lionfish or genetically modify our mosquitoes). When it comes to Nature, “In God We Trust” might be a reasonable motto. No doubt, God knows what He’s doing – but it’s not at all certain that man does. The A’s, B’s, and C’s of the world’s disappearing honeybees Anticipating the next financial crisis With the economy hum- ming along, it’s easy to be- come cavalier about big fed- eral deficits but when the next recession hits – those could make it a lollapalooza. As often stated, federal deficits greater than $1 tril- lion dollars – about 5 per- cent of GDP – are huge for an economy in the advanced stages of an economic re- covery and leave policy- makers little latitude to fur- ther boost spending when the economy hits a speed bump. As importantly, though, Uncle Sam’s incessant bor- rowing – just like irrespon- sible home mortgages in the 2000s – could again send fi- nancial institutions barreling over a cliff. Americans do not save enough to satisfy Uncle Sam’s voracious appetite for credit. To finance the difference, Americans sell foreigners private assets – choice real estate, equities and cor- porate bonds – and gov- ernment bonds. Already IOUs held by the rest of the world exceed 45 percent of GDP and within the next decade, that figure will surpass 60 percent. No major nation has crossed that threshold without en- during wrenching finan- cial adjustments. America prints the world’s money – foreign central banks hold Trea- suries to back up their cur- rencies, because most in- ternational transactions go through the dollar. However, bond markets no longer as- sign a premium to U.S. gov- ernment bonds as compared to the securities of other low risk sovereigns like Germany – that indicates interna- tional creditors are getting less confident about the U.S. dollar and debt. As deficits keep soaring, we can expect investors to demand higher and higher interest rates on Treasuries. During the next recession that could well force huge tax increases or draconian budget cuts and send the economy into a death spiral. All that would spin defaults in mortgage and corpo- rate debt, and loan defaults would deal a body blow to major banks. The recent budget crisis required $300 billion in new spending to get enough Re- publicans and Democrats to sign on, because neither side was willing to even talk about cutting out the fat in programs that serve their cherished goals – income re- distribution for the Demo- crats and tougher border controls and a stronger mil- itary for the Republicans. And both sides love pork – roasted, BBQ or grilled. In 2017, entitlements and interest payments consumed about two-thirds of all fed- eral revenue, and those are on track to take it all in less than 10 years. One in 20 working aged adults receives a So- cial Security disability pen- sion – about double the 1990 rate. Millions of adults who choose not to work receive Medicaid, food stamps and other entitlements benefits. Entitlement outlays could be substantially reduced by more faithful enforcing SSD eligibility rules and imposing work requirements, but Dem- ocrats and Republicans from welfare dependent states want no part of it. As it is currently run, the military needs massive cash infusions for main- tenance and moderniza- tion, but it is hardly well run for a 21st century labor force and economy. The 20-year retirement, which mostly applies to of- ficers who do not jump from airplanes or lead personnel on the ground, should be re- assessed. Professionals like protocol officers and engi- neers could be replaced by ci- vilian employees who would not need a military retire- ment, and reforming military benefits – such as healthcare and commissaries – is stren- uously resisted. Neither party is willing to entertain cuts to pro- grams and departments that have outlived their useful- ness. When Secretary Til- lerson asserted he can effectively run the State De- partment with many fewer people, Republican senators went apoplectic. As the 2018 Trump budget suggested, entities like the Appalachian Regional Com- mission, 18 other regional commissions and Community Development Block Grants, which permit governors and mayors to dole out patronage without levying taxes on constituents, have long out- lived their usefulness but deliver votes to politicians on both sides. It’s virtually impossible to address those issues with the 60 vote rule in the Senate, House rules permitting the speaker to require bills be backed by a majority of his party before reaching the floor, and both houses having significant caucuses of rigid and uncompromising liberals and conservatives. Congressional leaders from both parties indicate little interest in changing the rules to force better policy and as we learned during the recent financial crisis, the bond market has a way of imposing tough reforms on recalcitrant politicians. Americans are not going to like going through Greek austerity but the best glimpse of America’s future may be found by visiting Athens. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. 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” Uncle Sam’s incessant borrowing – just like irresponsible home mortgages in the 2000s – could again send financial institutions barreling over a cliff.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 . CELEBRATE HER Cayman First Insurance Celebrates Women’s Achievements this International Women’s Day MARCH 8, 2018 #IWD2018 #PressforProgess Today, we join the global movement to celebrate International Women’s Day. We recognize the achievements and contributions of the phenonmenal women that make up over 50% of the leadership and 65% of the workforce at the Bahamas First Group, parent company for Cayman First Insurance. We pledge to #PressforProgess as we raise the positive visibility of women and work toward gender parity. Cayman First Insurance is a subsidiary of Bahamas First Holdings Limited. Women in Leadership, Cayman: (L-R) Frances Patterson-Campbell, Judy Campbell, Tania Ramsaran, Seeta Paltoo, Ruth Kibe Women in Leadership, Bahamas: (L-R) Gina Brooks, Rochelle Roberts, Kendra Carey, Richenda King, Paulette Nixon-Roache, Carla Stafford, Frances McKenzie-Oliver, Deborah McKinney, Leah Davis, Nicole Leary (Not pictured: Patrice Moxey, Tracy Bonczek, J. Lashelle Adderley & Jean Peletierre-Sands) Patrick Ward Group President & CEO Bahamas First Group Allison Treco Deputy Chair & Director Bahamas First Holdings Limited Linda Goss Director Bahamas First Holdings Limited Judith Whitehead Director Bahamas First Holdings Limited Vistra: Offshore business moving ‘midshore’ KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The total number of ac- tive companies in the seven major offshore jurisdictions declined in 2017 for the first time in 25 years, according to research conducted by corpo- rate service provider Vistra. Vistra Managing Director Jonathon Clifton said at a conference on Friday that there were about 470,000 ac- tive companies offshore – in Cayman, the British Virgin Islands, Samoa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Anguilla and Jersey – in 2016. That number dipped to about 456,000 in 2017, he said. “This is the first time in 25 years that we’ve seen a de- crease in the overall book of the seven leading offshore jurisdictions,” he said. “The question is whether this is a one-off – whether this is just the impact of a convergence of new regulations coming down the pipeline – and you expect the [business] to re- turn to its historical aver- ages, or not.” Mr. Clifton attributed this dip to an increase in the number of companies going inactive, as well as a de- crease in the number of new incorporations. While the offshore com- pany numbers may have dipped last year, the overall global financial services in- dustry remains steady, ac- cording to Vistra. The corporate service pro- vider presented its results from its report, “Vistra 2020: The Uncertainty Principle,” which is based off a survey conducted with some 600 fi- nancial services practitio- ners around the globe. That survey states that 40 percent of respondents said their business is moving from off- shore jurisdictions to “mid- shore” centers such as Sin- gapore and Hong Kong. The Economist defines midshore jurisdiction as ones that com- bine offshore traits such as low taxation with onshore traits such as well-staffed fi- nancial centers. Vistra’s report is nearly a year old, but Mr. Clifton pre- sented company incorpo- ration data on Friday that also supports that trend. Mr. Clifton said that company incorporation rates have de- creased among offshore cen- ters by about 33 percent from 2012-2017, but have in- creased by about the same rate in midshore centers during the same time. “I think the data is matching the perception people have that there is a trend from offshore to mid- shore,” he said. However, Vistra Deputy Group Managing Director Simon Filmer said that when he looks at Vistra’s portfolio, he has seen business move back from midshore juris- dictions to offshore centers within the last 18 months. He said he thinks the difficulties people have had in opening and maintaining bank ac- counts in offshore initially drove business to midshore centers, but that the first- class legal systems and cor- porate service providers have drawn some of that business back. Looking forward, the key issue that will impact off- shore jurisdictions will be global regulations, according to the survey. Speaking at the confer- ence, Harneys Partner Henry Mander said another key issue will be the outcome of Appleby’s lawsuit against the BBC and the Guardian over their reporting on the “Para- dise Papers” last November. Appleby is suing for breach of confidence and seeks a permanent injunction against further use of the informa- tion, as well as the disclosure and return of the documents. Mr. Mander said if Ap- pleby loses that case, it will embolden hackers to steal more data. Then, law firms and other corporate service providers will have to rely more on technology and less on legal systems to protect their data, he said. Vistra Deputy Group Managing Director Simon Filmer, Walkers Partner Ingrid Pierce, Cayman Finance CEO Jude Scott, and Harneys Partner Henry Mander discuss trends in the offshore financial services industry, Friday, at The Ritz-Carlton. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA FIRST ROUND OF KAABOO TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com If you are planning on at- tending next year’s KAABOO Cayman festival, it will now cost you more. The blind tickets offered during the period between the Feb. 22 festival announce- ment and the anticipated May 15 unveiling of the scheduled performers, have sold out. Jason Felts, chief marketing and brand officer for KAABOO, would not pro- vide an exact figure, but said the number of blind tickets sold was “in the single dig- ital thousands.” In its third year in San Diego, California, KAABOO drew 100,000 people in Sep- tember to see three days of music, including acts such as Tom Petty, Pink and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also in- cluded a comedy showcase, an art exhibit and show, and high-end amenities not found at many other multi- day festivals. Virgin Produced – the en- tertainment arm of Richard Branson’s Virgin group of companies – along with the Dart organization, is bringing a similar high-pro- file but smaller-scale event to Cayman on Feb. 15-16, 2019. Discounted early bird tickets are still available be- fore the May 15 schedule an- nouncement. General two-day passes are now US$231.25, an increase from the blind ticket price of US$187.50. First-tier VIP passes have gone from US$750 to US$856.25. Information and tickets are available at www.kaaboocayman.com.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 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MAR. 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Enjoy Canvas and Mocktails at Art Nest, 7:30-9 p.m., $38, including 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 SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Special Olympics Cayman Islands, in honor of Special Olympics 50th anniversary and the Cayman Islands Chapter’s 30th Anniversary, is hosting a community and athlete Beach Games Fun Day at Public Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Games include volleyball, football and bocce, obstacle course races, and a paddleboard exhibition and trial. Other beach games will be ongoing for fun. Companies are welcome to bring a team and participate, volunteer or give sponsorship. All are welcome to come and get to know the athletes and have fun at the beach. Contact Darrell at 916-2600 for more information. GARAGE SALE: Local charity One Dog at a Time holds a sale at 30 Beacon Point, South Church Street, next to George Hicks Church on South Sound. Starts at 6 a.m. until around 10 a.m. Multi-family sale, including the One Dog at a Time family. BRAC WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM: Presented by Faith Hospital Women’s Health in association with Cayman First & Rotary Club of Cayman Brac. 6:30 a.m., Cayman Brac Beach Resort. 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 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. SUNDAY, MARCH 11 ICE CREAM SPECIAL: Public Beach, by Calico Jack’s, from 11 a.m. Donations will be received by St. Matthew’s University of Veterinary Medicine in return for delicious ice cream. All proceeds will be contributed to a variety of local animal charities on island, including One Dog at a Time. MONDAY, MAR. 12 NON-PROFITS: The Ministry of Financial Services hosts an information session at the East End United Church Hall, from 7:30 p.m. This discussion will focus on organizations that solicit funds from the public for charitable causes, such as churches, sports clubs and humanitarian groups. Charities have responsibilities under the law, and gain benefits from registering to be a nonprofit organization. All are invited. For more information, contact General Registry’s Head of Compliance Paul Inniss at paul.inniss@gov.ky. ELECTIONS OFFICE: The Elections Office will be closed from noon as staff will be on Cayman Brac on official business. The office will re-open at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 9. 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. to 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/September). Email kirstyannosullivan@gmail.com to register interest. We seek actors age 14+. FRIDAY, MAR. 16 SCHOOL FAIR: St. Ignatius Spring Fling 3-6:30 p.m. on the school grounds. Lots of food, fun, games, entertainment and prizes for all ages. 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. SATURDAY, MAR. 17 COLOUR ME PURPLE 5K: Walk or run from Kaibo. Adults $25. Kids (under 18) $15. An Honouring Women Month fundraiser for local youth and women’s initiatives. For registration and more information, call the Family Resource Centre on 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. SUNDAY, MAR. 18 COLOUR ME PURPLE 5K: Walk or run from Smith Cove, South Sound. Adults $25. Kids (under 18) $15. An Honouring Women Month fundraiser for local youth and women’s initiatives. For registration and more information, call the Family Resource Centre on 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. FRIDAY, MAR. 23 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Meals on Wheels receives one- third of its funding from the Cayman Islands government and the balance is made up from donations, sponsorship and fundraisers, such as the annual Coin Drive, which takes place today and tomorrow. Volunteers are needed to solicit funds from the public at key locations. They will be provided with a collection bucket, a T-shirt and lapel stickers to hand out to those who donate. Any person or organization willing to assist or “take over” a location from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., contact info@mealsonwheels.ky for more information. SATURDAY, MAR. 24 ORATORICAL CONTEST: The Optimist Club holds its annual oratorical contest for students 18 years and under at the George Town Town Hall. This year’s topic is, “Where are my roots of optimism?” Contact contest chairperson Patrice Hanson at 323-3925 or deputy chairperson Mark Ray at 916-2844. Learn more about the Optimist Club at www.optimistcayman.com. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. On Sunday, donations for St. Matthew’s University of Veterinary Medicines will be gathered on Public Beach outside Calico Jack’s in exchange for ice cream.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 hind floor-to-ceiling plate- glass walls, according to the hotel’s website. Comparatively, Mr. Hughes’ aquarium is modest, but nonetheless ranks as a stunning accomplishment. It is 16-feet deep, weighs 20 tons and contains nearly 16,000 gallons of salt water, created in deep-water tanks on the property, then moved through a network of pipes, pumps and filters. “Local seawater is pretty unpolluted, but I could not believe the crap from the open sea,” he says, referring to floating refuse and the prob- lems of using “wild” water. Mr. Hughes’ pumps move his homemade salt water into an enormous storage silo, where filters clear it, then send it into the tank. Filtra- tion, aeration and circula- tion is constant, recycling the same water again and again, incrementally augmenting it with fresh-made supplies. The tank recreates the ecosystem of a typical reef, and includes more than the handful of brightly colored tropical fish you might find in a hobbyist’s cuboid aquarium on a living-room table. “You want to reflect closely what you’d see on a reef: fish, shrimp, rocks, crabs, tube worms, algae. It’s a living environment. It’s all alive,” Mr. Hughes says. “The challenge is to get the balance right, so every- thing lives and grows.” For example, he says, cor- alline algae requires cal- cium, “so that needs a proper balance.” He hopes to get “a little mangrove growth, with ex- tended roots over the edge” of the vertical rock forma- tions. Specialty livestock can be selected from com- mercial outlets around the world, as are the fish them- selves. “They’re little guys, no sharks, for example, which are big and dirty. We want to avoid predatory fish, so no one eats them, keeping those that are non-damaging to the environment.” Still, not all marine crea- tures peacefully coexist, and Mr. Hughes says the tank is large enough that natural en- emies can reside at opposite ends without incident, “and stay within their territories.” The environment is so large and sufficiently diverse that the animals are unaware they are even in captivity, he says. “Reef fish stay inside a table-sized area their whole lives. It’s big enough that they don’t realize.” The size deceives them into thinking they are in the wild, which affects their behavior. “I’ve never seen fish be- have as they do in a large tank, For example, in Bill’s tank [Mr. Wann’s], they behave nor- mally,” he says. The population comprises angel fish, small parrot fish, butterfly fish, clown fish, dam- sels, invertebrates, crabs and denizens “at the bottom of the food chain. They make the tank stable so it matures and grows naturally.” Brown/yellow algae marks the start of in-tank develop- ment, soon turning green, and finally pink, “of a type you want that won’t take over the environment,” Mr. Hughes says. “The light pink calcar- eous algae is what you want. You want that pink coating ev- erything. Then it’s perfect.” He pegs the cost of the project, “by the time it’s done, probably about $250,000,” al- most half spent on the equip- ment, which is custom- designed, machined and assembled by Mr. Wann, and installed by both the Wisconsin aficionado and Mr. Hughes. Mr. Wann, with a back- ground in precision pharma- ceutical manufacturing, says suitable equipment is not available commercially, and the $700,000 he has spent on aquaria through the years has largely been to build not only his own equipment, but also his own tools to make that equipment. For example, he says, “I replace the filtration every couple of years” as he im- proves his own designs. And as his tools evolve, plans coalesce for a 60,000-gallon aquarium – more than three times bigger than Mr. Hughes’ – costing be- tween $200,000 and $300,000. He hopes to complete it in the next two years. Mr. Hughes, owner of Hughes & Company, supplying essential oils to the global cosmetics industry, has been devoted since childhood to collecting and keeping fish in at least seven different U.K. homes, and helped operate a tropical fish store in Bedford for seven years. He and his Brazilian wife moved to Cayman in 2014 and asked Phoenix Construc- tion to design their home – and aquarium. The architect, Mr. Hughes said, “thought, ‘yeah sure, about 3 feet by 4 feet?’ We said, ‘Well … no … about 20 feet by 9 feet by 10 feet.’ In architectural terms, it’s re- ally nothing unduly complex. Much of the concrete tank is bonded to the main structure of the house.” The Department of Envi- ronment’s Deputy Director for Research and Assessment Tim Austin worried about chemical additives, any discharges into the canal, pollution and puri- fication, although Mr. Hughes’ 15,800 gallons is not remotely comparable to the effluent from a cruise ship. Mr. Hughes’ deep-water well for discharge resolved that concern. “We advised Mr. Hughes through design and construc- tion,” Mr. Austin said. “As far as I understand it, there were no official approvals needed for the installation other than rou- tine planning permits.” Because Mr. Hughes makes his own seawater, “he doesn’t need an extraction permit. The system is a closed loop – the water is recirculated and cleaned – so no discharge permit [is] needed.” Agriculture officials ap- prove livestock imports, he says, many of which are avail- able “from the local pet trade, and no permit is needed for the take of local species that are not in some way regulated in Cayman, i.e., most fish over 8 inches in length. “It’s basically no different to a large aquarium on your office desk – just a whole dif- ferent scale,” Mr. Austin says. 2005. His faculty assignments covered a wide range from business to science. “Dr. Coon’s fields include biological sciences, tech- nology, engineering, math (STEM), business fields and health resources,” Mr. Man- nisto said. “He is fully im- mersed in learning, teaching and holding higher education to the highest standards.” Mr. Coon is also a naturo- path and is listed as being on the advisory board for First- Fitness Nutrition, a company that markets diet and weight- loss products. In an earlier interview, Mannisto had said the role of the new president would be to focus on increasing en- rollment and retention at the school as well as fundraising. ICCI has 101 students currently enrolled, less than half its capacity, Mr. Man- nisto said. When the school’s last president, David Mar- shall, came to the campus in 2014, there were about 300 students. Mr. Marshall left in August last year. Mr. Mannisto said Mr. Coon will help ICCI achieve its goals of being “a purpose-driven organization, focused on building better communities.” A fish tale on a giant scale CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 An aquarium artifical reef teems with activity, color and life. – PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE ICCI names new president Chris Murray of the Bethel Refuge Apostolic Church in Prospect Park said the 44-year-old had re- cently turned over a new leaf, getting baptized in a church ceremony just three weeks ago. “I saw a man who was truly a changed man,” Mr. Murray said of Mr. Wright Wednesday. “There was an undeniable hope be- cause of the decision he made recently.” Mr. Wright was mar- ried and has children from a previous relationship, the pastor said. The scene of Tuesday night’s homicide, the second to occur in Cayman during 2018, is just around the corner from a shoot- out that occurred between robbery suspects and Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service officers. The gun battle occurred in the wake of two armed rob- beries that happened late Saturday at a George Town convenience store and a Bodden Town eatery. According to a police statement on the Saturday shooting: “Officers quickly responded to the incidents and sighted a vehicle an- swering [suspect] descrip- tion on Hirst Road after the second robbery. They signalled for the vehicle to stop, but it sped on. “Police followed the ve- hicle to a location on Vic- tory Avenue, where two men in the vehicle disembarked and fled on foot. The men then fired at police, and of- ficers returned fire. The men escaped from the area. No officers were injured.” Victory Avenue is one street west of Pros- pect Road, where Tuesday night’s killing occurred. Community concerns Citing “rising crime rates” in the Cayman Islands, the local Chamber of Commerce weighed in Wednesday on the spate of recent violent crimes, stating it would mediate talks on how to address ongoing public safety problems. “Clearly, as a country, we have not come to grips with the issue and the pre- vious approaches have not worked,” Chamber President Paul Byles said. “We are better at treating the symp- toms of crime after it has occurred, but we are failing to address the core root and cause of the problem. “We are not interested in just another discussion. The idea is to bring to- gether the previous work done in this area and take a multidisciplinary approach to the problem.” The scene of Tuesday night’s shooting in Red Bay. – PHOTO: BRENT FULLER Man gunned down on Red Bay street, police hunt suspect CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dougmore Wright statement on Wednesday. An earlier statement on the matter by government officials indicated Mr. Ste- phens’ sentence on an ICT charge would be officially served by Feb. 4, 2019. Mr. Stephens’ prison sen- tence resulted from a con- viction on one charge of using an information and communication technology network to annoy, harass or abuse an underage female. He was found not guilty by Grand Court Judge Mi- chael Wood of other charges of indecent assault or gross indecency. According to U.S. court records, Mr. Stephens is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but he also is an American citizen. Justice Wood said during sentencing for Mr. Stephens in August 2017 that he did not find the teenage girl making the ac- cusations was a liar, but the judge said that was not the legal test. Justice Wood had to be sure of the defendant’s guilt and there was “just enough doubt for me to be not sure,” he said. The judge said it was perhaps with “a degree of re- luctance” that he found Mr. Stephens not guilty of the other charges against him. Justice Wood pointed out that the maximum sentence for using an ICT network to abuse is two years. He con- sidered that Mr. Stephens’ offense had been at the top end of such offending. The judge further noted that Mr. Stephens had al- ready spent nearly a year in prison at the time of his sentencing. Some of that time was in Florida, where he was arrested after leaving the Cayman Islands. The rest of that time was spent in Cayman prison awaiting trial. Premier: Ato Stephens deportation approved CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Dr. Coon’s fields include biological sciences, technology, engineering, math (STEM), business fields and health resources.” MICHAEL MANNISTO, ICCI board of trusteesThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Florida closer to year-round daylight saving Florida is a step closer to living up to its nickname as ‘The Sunshine State.’ A bill to let Florida remain on daylight saving time year-round was approved by the state Senate Tuesday. Hawaii, most of Arizona, and some U.S. territories – including Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands – do not observe daylight saving time. US greets talk of N. Korea nuke concessions with hope, skepticism Saudi crown prince greeted in Britain with pomp, protests LONDON (AP) – Saudi Ara- bia’s Crown Prince Mo- hammed bin Salman was welcomed by Queen Eliza- beth II – and criticized by protesters against the war in Yemen – as he began a three-day visit to Britain on Wednesday. Britain is rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, who had lunch with the queen at Buck- ingham Palace and will dine later with Prince Charles and Prince William. He is also due to meet with Prime Minister The- resa May, who said she would raise concerns about human rights during talks at 10 Downing St. Critics say Britain has been slow to condemn rights abuses by Saudi Arabia, a key regional ally and major pur- chaser of U.K.-made weapons. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iran-al- lied rebels in Yemen since 2015 in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people and driven the Arab world’s poorest country to the brink of famine. The kingdom faces wide international criticism for its airstrikes killing ci- vilians and striking mar- kets, hospitals and other ci- vilian targets. Campaigners against the war rallied near Parliament and said they would pro- test later outside the gates of Downing St. Asked by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn whether she would condemn Saudi Arabia’s “shocking abuse of human rights,” May defended Britain’s close ties with the authori- tarian kingdom. “The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one and it has saved the lives of poten- tially hundreds of people in this country,” May said in the House of Commons. “We’re all concerned about the appalling humanitarian situation in Yemen,” May said, adding: “I will be raising con- cerns about human rights when I meet him.” The crown prince has shaken up his deeply conser- vative country since he be- came heir apparent to King Salman last year. The 32-year-old royal swiftly consolidated power by sidelining rivals and stepped up Saudi Arabia’s rivalry with Iran. He has also has pushed through a number of dramatic social reforms, including allowing women to drive and lifting a ban on movie theaters. Critics say the mod- ernization measures mask continuing rights abuses. Human rights charity Re- prieve says the number of executions in Saudi Arabia has doubled since the crown prince took charge. The three-day visit is also due to include lunch with May on Thursday at the prime minister’s rural retreat, Chequers, and talks with Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson. WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump greeted North Korea’s reported will- ingness to negotiate away its atomic weapons with both hope and skepticism Tuesday, insisting a potential diplo- matic breakthrough be tested against the North’s long his- tory of deception and threats to target U.S. cities with nu- clear missiles. “I really believe they are sincere,” Trump said at a White House news confer- ence, sounding more opti- mistic than his intelligence chief, Dan Coats, who told a Senate hearing he has “very, very low confidence” that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to give up his nuclear arms. “Maybe this is a break- through. I seriously doubt it,” Coats said. A senior South Korean presidential adviser said Tuesday that Kim expressed a willingness to discuss nu- clear disarmament and halt nuclear and missile tests during future talks with the United States. The North did not confirm those conces- sions, which would amount to a dramatic about-face for a nation that has frequently vowed to preserve its nuclear arsenal at any cost. Chung Eui-yong, the South Korean official who spoke after participating in talks with Kim in Pyongyang, also said the North Korean dic- tator had agreed to meet with South Korea’s president at a border village in late April. North Korea did not an- nounce what South Korea on Tuesday described as agree- ments between the rivals. But the North’s state media ear- lier reported Kim had “open- hearted” talks with South Ko- rean envoys, expressed his willingness to “vigorously advance” North-South rela- tions and made a “satisfac- tory” agreement on the inter- Korean summit talks. Trump, who last fall told Secretary of State Rex Til- lerson he was “wasting his time” trying to talk with the North, tweeted Tuesday that “possible progress” had been made in North Korea’s cap- ital and that all sides were making serious efforts. He added: “May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!” Later, in an Oval Office photo session with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Trump said the North Ko- reans “seem to be acting pos- itively,” but that the prospects will be clearer when diplo- macy moves to the next stage. “We have come certainly a long way, at least rhetorically, with North Korea,” Trump said. Of the possibility for peacefully resolving the na- tions’ deep differences, he said: “It’d be a great thing for the world, would be a great for North Korea, it would be a great thing for the peninsula. But we’ll see what happens.” In Chung’s account, Kim indicated he would not need to keep nuclear weapons if military threats against North Korea were removed and his nation received a credible security guarantee. That suggests the possi- bility Kim will insist in any deal that the U.S. withdraw its nearly 28,000 troops from South Korea. The North sees those forces and their peri- odic exercises with South Ko- rean troops as a threat to in- vade the North. The White House issued a brief statement from Vice President Mike Pence sug- gesting nothing has changed in that area. A U.S. official said there were no plans to scrap the war games envi- sioned for next month. “All options are on the table, and our posture to- ward the regime will not change until we see cred- ible, verifiable and concrete steps toward denucleariza- tion,” Pence said. Separately, highlighting a less-discussed dimension of the standoff with North Korea, the Pentagon’s mili- tary intelligence chief told a Senate hearing that Kim has taken a “far different” ap- proach to military prepared- ness than his father, Kim Jong Il, by imposing greater rigor and discipline in army training. Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, director of the De- fense Intelligence Agency, called it a “big change” and implied the improvements should be taken into account in considering the prospect of war on the Korean peninsula. North Korea’s willingness to hold a “candid dialogue” with the United States to dis- cuss denuclearization and es- tablish diplomatic relations follows a year of increased fears of war, with Kim and Trump exchanging fiery rhet- oric and crude insults over Kim’s barrage of weapons tests. The Trump adminis- tration also pushed through some of the harshest eco- nomic sanctions any country has ever faced. Trump said Kim’s ap- parent willingness to nego- tiate is likely due to the sanc- tions, and China’s role in applying them. Still, there is wide skep- ticism that Tuesday’s devel- opments will bring genuine peace between the Koreas, which have a long history of failing to follow through with major rapprochement agree- ments. The United States has made it clear it does not want empty talks with North Korea and that all options, including military measures, are in play until the North actually surrenders its nu- clear weapons, believed to number around 30. “We have seen nothing to indicate … that he would be willing to give up those weapons,” Coats said. Chung said the two Ko- reas would hold a summit at a South Korea-controlled fa- cility. He said Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae- in will establish a “hotline” communication channel to lower military tensions, and would speak together before the get-together. South Korean delegation head, National Security Director Chung Eui-yong, right, speaks to the media at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday. – PHOTO: AP Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II greets the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in London, Wednesday. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 8, 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 EU ready for a ‘stupid’ trade war if Trump slaps on tariffs BRUSSELS (AP) – The Euro- pean Union says it’s ready to retaliate against the U.S. over President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum – with counter- measures against iconic U.S. products like Harley Da- vidson motorcycles, Levi’s jeans and bourbon. The EU threat and Trump’s insistence that the tariffs will go ahead escalate the risk of a trade war, in which coun- tries try to punish each other by increasing taxes on traded goods. In the end, that tends to hurt all sides as exporting producers suffer but so do consumers who face higher costs, experts say. There was some hope that free trade proponents in the White House, like eco- nomic adviser Gary Cohn, would dissuade Trump from going ahead with the tar- iffs. But Cohn’s resigna- tion Tuesday dealt a blow to that expectation. EU Trade Commis- sioner Cecilia Malmstroem said Wednesday that the EU is circulating among member states a list of U.S. goods to target with tar- iffs so that it can respond as quickly as possible. The list is being finalized but so far includes U.S. steel and agricultural products, as well as other products like bourbon, peanut butter, cran- berries and orange juice. She did not say what level of tariffs the EU would set, leaving it unclear what the economic impact would be. “This is basically a stupid process, the fact that we have to do this. But we have to do it,” EU Commission Pres- ident Jean-Claude Juncker had said Friday. “We can also do stupid.” The EU considers itself to be caught in the crossfire of this particular trade dis- pute, in which Trump has mainly singled out China for being unfair in its com- mercial deals. Trump last week he said his government would levy penalties of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 per- cent on aluminum imports, but left it not clear whether trading partners like the EU and Canada would be exempt. So the EU has moved ahead with preparations for the worst. Malmstroem said that the EU, the world’s biggest trading bloc, rejects Trump’s reasoning that the tariffs are backed by the international legal right to protect na- tional security. “We cannot see how the European Union, friends and allies in NATO, can be a threat to international se- curity in the U.S.,” Malm- stroem told reporters. “From what we understand, the mo- tivation of the U.S. is an eco- nomic safeguard measure in disguise, not a national secu- rity measure.” The EU itself already has tariffs on many imports. But Malmstroem said Trump’s motives in this case do not appear compatible with World Trade Organization rules and that this means the EU can activate safeguards to protect its own markets. The WTO said Wednesday that, so far, 18 members – including China, Australia, Brazil, the EU, India, Japan, Norway and Russia – have expressed concerns about Trump’s proposed tariffs. At the origin of the problem is overproduction by China, which has flooded world markets with steel and aluminum, driving prices down and intensifying pres- sure on producers in the U.S. and Europe. Nearly half the steel produced globally in December, for example, came from Chinese mills, according to the World Steel Associa- tion. China accounted for more steel production than the United States, Russia, Japan and 28 countries of the EU combined. But the U.S. has already thrown up barriers to Chi- nese imports. As a result, China ranks only 11th in steel and fourth in aluminum imports to the United States. Trump’s tariffs appear far more likely to hurt a staunch ally, Canada, which is No. 1 in both supplies of steel and aluminum to the U.S. EU Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs summits of presidents and prime ministers, said the bloc’s leaders will discuss the issue at their next meeting on March 22-23. He rejected Trump’s as- sertion in a tweet that trade wars are good and easy to win. “The truth is quite the opposite: trade wars are bad and easy to lose,” said Tusk. Fragkiskos Filippaios, of the University of Kent’s business school in England, says that the damage from a trade dispute will depend on whether the sides try to resolve their differences through the arbitration of the WTO, whose verdicts have so far always been accepted. “Moving away from WTO dispute settlement means that retaliation can easily escalate and we might find ourselves in the middle of a trade war between the two most important trade regions in the world,” he said. Malmstroem urged Wash- ington to work with the Eu- ropeans to address the root causes of oversupply in the global market. She recalled that similar U.S. action on steel in 2002 by then president George W. Bush “cost thousands and thousands of U.S. jobs” and said she hoped that Wash- ington has not forgotten this. At that time, the EU com- piled a list of items for re- taliatory tariffs that in- cluded steel products, but also orange juice, apples, sunglasses, knitwear, motor boats and photocopying ma- chines. It represented $2.2 billion in U.S. exports to the EU. Bush withdrew the steel tariffs and the list was never acted upon. European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstroem speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday. – PHOTO: AP US trade gap rises to $56.6 billion, reaches highest level since 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit rose in January to the highest level since Oc- tober 2008, defying Presi- dent Donald Trump’s efforts to bring more balance to America’s trade with the rest of the world. The Commerce Depart- ment said Wednesday that the trade deficit rose to $56.6 billion in January, up 5 per- cent from $53.9 billion in De- cember and the highest since October 2008’s $60.2 bil- lion trade gap. The trade def- icit – the gap between what America sells and what it buys abroad – has risen for five straight months. Trump rattled financial markets last week by prom- ising to slap big tariffs on im- ported steel and aluminum. He blames persistent deficits on abusive practices by U.S. trading partners and on bad trade deals that put American companies at a disadvantage or encourage them to move factories overseas. Exports fell 1.3 percent to $200.9 billion in January, and imports were flat at $257.5 billion. The United States ran a $76.5 billion deficit in the trade of goods, which was partially offset by a $19.9 bil- lion surplus in services such as education and banking. The $36 billion January deficit with China was the highest since September 2015. The trade gap with Mexico narrowed to $4.1 billion from $5.4 billion in December. Trump upset America’s al- lies last week by vowing to slap tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 per- cent on aluminum. Europe has threatened to retaliate with sanctions on U.S. exports of blue jeans, bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, raising the risk of a poten- tially destructive trade war. A container ship waits to be unloaded at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California. – PHOTO: APNext >