ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 High of 86 Low of 74 Seas: Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. Some swell are likely along the west coast tonight. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 REFLECTIONS ON LAST WEEK’S TRAGIC PEDESTRIAN DEATH WORLD | PAGE 9 FRANCE URGES RUSSIA TO JOIN PEACE PUSH AFTER SYRIA STRIKE SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY ORIGINAL CHICKEN SANDWICH BIG KING Community fights back after burglary spree Nine burglaries in Snug Harbour since March 1 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An alarming spike in burglaries has sparked police and community action in one Grand Cayman neighborhood. A dozen break-ins have been reported in Snug Harbour this year, including at least nine in the past six weeks. The area’s community police officer, Jon- athan Kern, said there had been several fur- ther attempted break-ins and police believe criminals are specifically targeting the quiet neighborhood. In most cases, jewelry and other valuables have been taken. Amid growing community concern, Con- stable Kern, a team of community officers and the area’s MLA, Joey Hew, have been going door to door to talk to residents and offer ad- vice on making their homes more secure. A Neighborhood Watch group is also in the process of being established. Mr. Kern said, “People are worried and they have a right to be worried. They are also enthusiastic about getting involved and helping us out. “We are pushing community policing across the whole island. With what is going on here, this is one of the best places to start.” He said officers were assembling a contact list of people in the neighborhood and helping them set up communications networks to make the area safer. “It is really about them being the commu- nity’s eyes and ears. It is a partnership and we need to work with them to act on what infor- mation they give us,” he said. Police have also increased patrols in the area in response to the spate of burglaries. Mr. Hew said he had been in touch with the National Roads Authority to deal with con- cerns highlighted about poor street lighting in the area. Areas of overgrown vegetation that BUSH DROPS FLORIDA COURT ACTION AGAINST FCO STAFFER BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush has abandoned an attempt via the American courts to retrieve years’ worth of emails and other documents from a U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office employee as part of a lawsuit Mr. Bush filed in 2015 claiming wrongful prosecution. In January, Mr. Bush asked a U.S. federal court in Miami to help him obtain commu- nications he believed Florida-based U.K. law enforcement adviser Larry Covington held. The Speaker, who is the former premier of the Cayman Islands, alleged those records were related to a U.K.-led conspiracy to topple his United Democratic Party government during 2011-2012. Mr. Covington recently signaled his inten- tion to fight Mr. Bush’s court application on a number of grounds, chiefly that the U.K. repre- sentative would not be legally required to pro- duce such records through diplomatic chan- nels. Also, Mr. Covington stated Mr. Bush had produced no evidence that the U.K. law en- forcement adviser was involved in any way in Mr. Bush’s criminal prosecution. “While [Mr. Bush] disagrees with the var- ious contentions raised by Lawrence Cov- ington …. [Mr. Bush] has decided to concen- trate his resources in furtherance of endeavors other than seeking to subpoena Covington in the United States of America for purposes of deposing him and requesting documents from him,” according to Mr. Bush’s filing Thursday with the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida. $5 million cash bond demanded in extradition case Court orders 24-hour security CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Iain Nigel MacKellar was granted bail in Grand Court on Friday afternoon as he awaits an extradition hearing on fraud charges later this month. Conditions of his bail include a cash security of CI$5 million and a charge on his property at Rum Point to its full value, re- ported to be US$3.5 million. He is also to have a security guard 24 hours a day. Bail had been denied in Summary Court twice and Mr. MacKellar, 60, had been in cus- tody since his arrest on Dec. 15 last year. Justice Michael Wood heard submissions on Thursday, April 12, after Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez gave reasons the previous day for refusing bail. She had heard arguments the previous week and adjourned the matter to give a written ruling. At that adjournment, defense attorney James Austin-Smith asked if she would indicate her decision before releasing her Cayman celebrates a day of ‘Slow Food’ Diners line up to partake in the many options on offer at the seventh annual Slow Food Day, which was held at Camana Bay on Saturday. The event featured guest chef Jack Barwick, who held a cooking class and hosted a dinner along with the chefs of Pani Indian Kitchen. The popular foodie event is held each year to promote the territory’s local cuisine. For more photos, see page 6. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY APRIL 16, 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) BLOCKERS (R) 2:35 I 3:45 I 7:35 I 9:50 WRINKLE IN TIME 3D (PG) 1:15 I 4:00 2D I 6:40 2D I 9:35 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 1:00 I 6:45 I 9:40 PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING (PG13) 1:25 I 5:00 I 7:15 I 10:00 RAMPAGE 3D (PG13) 1:10 I 4:00 2D VIP I 7:00 2D VIP I 9:15 2D READY PLAYER ONE 3D (PG13) 12:40 2D VIP I 4:10 I 6:30 2D I 9:30 2D VIP PETER RABBIT (PG) 12:15 I 4:00 Crown seeks social inquiry report because of ‘public interest’ CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands lecturer pleaded guilty in Grand Court on Friday to 12 charges of possession of child pornography. Pierre Michel Pavlov Ra- meau, 49, entered his pleas, admitting that he possessed indecent photos of a child or children on or before March 30, 2017. When Mr. Rameau first appeared in Summary Court in December, the magistrate was advised that the charges related to indecent or erotic images of children and each count referred to various quantities of images. The total was described by the Crown counsel at the time as “what seems to be a lifetime collection.” No details were given in court on Friday. The matter first came to the attention of police when a complaint was made against Mr. Rameau alleging that he had used an Information and Communication Technology network to annoy, abuse and harass someone by re- questing that certain images be sent to him. Officers ob- tained a search warrant for his premises and discovered the “lifetime collection.” The ICT charge was not proceeded with. Bail was denied to Mr. Rameau in the Summary Court, but a Grand Court judge granted bail days later. Conditions could not be met, however, and the defendant has been in custody since his first court appearance. Justice Michael Wood began discussing a date for sentencing and defense at- torney Prathna Bodden in- dicated she could provide mitigating material without the need for a pre-sentence social inquiry report. The judge said he some- times felt that social inquiry reports about the defen- dants were not necessary. Senior Crown counsel Nicole Petit rose at this point to advise that, in this case, the Crown would ask to have such a report. “I do think there is a public in- terest to be served,” she told the court. The judge questioned whether it would be a waste of time and money. Ms. Petit replied, “There is a wider impact on the community we have been considering.” Justice Wood then ordered a report to be prepared and served to both counsel by the close of the day on May 15. He set sentencing for Thursday, May 17. Former UCCI lecturer pleads guilty to pornography charges Man’s body found in Windsor Park The body of a 58-year-old Jamaican man, who was a Cayman Islands resident, was found around 11:30 a.m. Friday at Holmes Turn in Windsor Park. Police did not release the man’s name. An investigation into his death is under way, police said. LEADERS GATHER FOR AMERICAS SUMMIT IN PERU LIMA, Peru (AP) – Leaders from throughout the Amer- icas vowed Saturday to confront systemic corrup- tion at a time when graft scandals plague many of their own governments but they made relatively little progress in determining a regional response to Vene- zuela’s mounting humani- tarian crisis. Sixteen of the 33 nations gathered for the eighth Summit of the Americas is- sued a statement on the sidelines of the event in Peru calling on Venezuela to hold free and transparent elections and allow inter- national aid to the enter the beleaguered nation. But the joint statement from mostly conservative- run countries did not vary significantly from previous declarations or promise any additional money to help neighboring countries respond to a mounting mi- gration crisis aside from the nearly $16 million pledged by the U.S. Friday. Though the theme of this year’s gathering of Western Hemisphere leaders was battling cor- ruption, many leaders used the platform to voice their concerns on Venezuela as President Nicolas Maduro proceeds with plans to hold a presidential elec- tion that many foreign gov- ernment consider a sham. Still, there were a handful of Venezuelan allies present including Cuba and Bolivia and the sole joint declara- tion adopted at the summit was a regionwide commit- ment to root out corruption. The “Lima Commit- ment: Democratic Gover- nance Against Corruption” includes 57 action points that Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said would constitute a base for pre- venting corruption. Protests, anger a month after Brazil activist slain RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Thou- sands of Brazilians took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro Saturday to demand answers in the death of city council- woman and human rights ac- tivist Marielle Franco, whose slaying one month ago is seen by her backers as a po- litical assassination. Franco had been sharply critical of a security force takeover of policing in Rio. She and her driver Anderson Pedro Gomes were shot dead by assailants on March 14, while they were returning from an event on empow- ering young black women. Authorities say surveil- lance footage shows two ve- hicles following Franco’s car and they are trying to trace fingerprints from shell cas- ings found at the scene and track cellphone signals. Po- lice say at least 13 shots were fired at the councilwom- an’s car, four of them hitting her in the head. No arrests have been made. Early Saturday, demon- strators stretched banners across some of Rio’s iconic landmarks and spray-painted walls with slogans such as “Fight like a Marielle.” “Our desire to continue her legacy, to fight and de- mand justice only grows,” said her sister Anielle Franco, who joined a large protest march later Saturday from Rio’s downtown to the Es- tacio neighborhood, where the two were killed. The sister said protesters do not just want to know “who killed her, but also who the person was who ordered this crime. We want to know who the person behind it is.” Several other cities across Brazil and around the world also planned events to com- memorate the one-month anniversary of the death of Franco and Gomes, and to demand that their murders be solved. Marcelo Freixo, a state representative in Rio and friend of Franco’s, called her slaying a “crime against democracy.” “It’s an attempt to quiet a young black woman from the favelas who was in poli- tics,” Freixo said. Several international rights groups have called on Brazilian authorities to swiftly bring the assail- ants to justice. “Society needs to know who killed Marielle and why. Every day that this case re- mains unsolved the level of risk and uncertainty sur- rounding human rights de- fenders grows worse,” said Jurema Werneck, executive director at Amnesty Interna- tional Brazil. Local and international organizations have come to- gether to start a fund in honor of Franco that will support black women who aspire to political leader- ship in Brazil. The Ford Foundation, the Open So- ciety Foundations, the Ibi- rapitanga Institute and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are among the donors. Days before her assassi- nation, Franco, an expert on police violence, accused offi- cers of being overly aggres- sive in searching residents of favela slums. Her last post on Twitter called atten- tion to the murder of a young favela resident. “Another homicide of a young man that could be attributed to the police. Matheus Melo was leaving church when he was killed. How many others will have to die for this war to end?” she wrote. Franco, who grew up in a favela in the Complexo da Mare, was known for her so- cial work and was elected a council member in 2016. A woman places flowers at a memorial as people gather in a homage for councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Pedro Gomes, who both were killed a month ago in Rio de Janeiro. - PHOTO: AP Former UCCI lecturer Pavlov Rameau pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in court on Friday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 P r i z e P ac k ag e i n c l u d e s Airfare and accommodations at a five-star hotel Tickets for exclusive seating at UEFA Champions League Final KIEV 2018 Private city tour of Kiev, Ukraine Exclusive dining 188013-Ad-FP-Comp_CAYMAN_UEFA_CL_Final_2018.indd 14/12/18 3:49 PMThe 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” Less than an hour after Thursday morning’s fatal collision between an SUV and a pedestrian on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, amateur video of the accident scene had ricocheted around the island. Thirty seconds of video, shared a countless number of times through social media and messaging apps, showed a woman’s lifeless body and a man over- whelmed by grief, horror and remorse. Based on the circumstances of the tragic incident, and the preliminary information coming from sources, it is essential to note we have received no indication of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of the SUV driver. We believe in this instance it is especially appro- priate to emphasize and respect the concept of inno- cence until proven otherwise. On the other hand, a prima facie and damning case (social, not legal) can and should be made as to the inappropriateness of the aforementioned video, which traveled around the country and across the world in the immediate aftermath of the sorrowful accident, including quite possibly to family, friends, loved ones and colleagues of the 56-year-old woman (a local resident from the Philippines) before officials were able to confirm her identity and notify – with the appro- priate decency, dignity and grace – her immediate rela- tives of their heartrending loss. The “poster” of the video displayed an insensitivity and lack of empathy and compassion that might be associated more with unthinking animals than suppos- edly “evolved” human beings. As journalists, we frequently encounter graphic or grisly scenes – the result of accidents, violence or natural disasters – that, quite frankly, we’d rather not. “If it bleeds, it leads” may be an oft-repeated mantra about the media, but we can assure our readers that the Cayman Compass will never partake in that kind of journalism. We are conscientiously con- servative in our news coverage and rarely publish potentially disturbing images – and never without careful consideration that leads us to conclude that an overriding public interest outweighs an individual’s right to privacy, any potential harm, and our general standards of “good taste.” The amateur video of last week’s accident scene was not published by local media. It was consumed and regurgitated via the ubiquitous and collectively anonymous network of “social media,” wherein each person who decided to pass along the footage acted as an ersatz publisher, minus the training, experience and ethical conscientiousness required to make the sorts of news judgments that leaders of “responsible” media outlets make routinely every day. This is not an isolated occurrence. On a regular basis, photos and video of crime scenes, accidents and gruesome tragedies are circulated by would-be “cit- izen-documentarians.” We do not challenge people’s right to observe and record in public places (in fact, we are vociferous defenders of such rights), but let us be clear that material such as the video of last week’s accident scene does not even remotely approach the level of “journalism.” It is far closer to virtual and elec- tronic voyeurism of the worst order. We condemn – without apology or reservation – those complicit in perpetuating such a coarsening of our society. Reflections on last week’s tragic pedestrian death MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Facebook blundered, but Congress should not kill it Facebook users and politi- cians are absolutely justified in their anger about abuses of personal data and Russian operatives exploiting shill ac- counts, and Mark Zucker- berg’s testimony in Congress illustrated just how immature or worse, purposefully tone deaf, its senior management chooses to be. He acknowledged mis- takes and outlined steps to better ensure that third-party app developers and malefac- tors do not obtain unauthor- ized access to personal data or spread fake news. Yet, he continued the droll that Face- book is motivated by “all the good that connecting people can bring” and hardly ac- knowledged the opportunity to make himself and others fabulously rich by aggres- sively marketing ads targeted at specific users. Such cynicism deserves to be regulated – and perhaps harshly disciplined – but Con- gress should be cautious not to destroy the industry. These platforms are handy for communicating with friends and family, ex- pressing views on social and political issues, and sharing Thanksgiving recipes but in contrast to their web cousins – Amazon and Google – they have more fragile finan- cial foundations. Amazon can generate rev- enue directly from users – it charges merchants as they make sales and shoppers for its Prime service. Face- book, Twitter and other social media would not have billions of users if they imposed fees. Like early telephone sys- tems, their value to each user is enhanced as the total number of members in- creases. However, these ser- vices have not become a ne- cessity akin to telephones, and charging subscription fees would greatly limit the number of users and their vi- ability. And from the very be- ginning, the creators of Face- book and Twitter struggled to find revenue streams to finance their expensive-to- maintain platforms. Like Google – which pro- vides all of us with remark- able search, email and other services free–Facebook turned to selling targeted ads to businesses who a de- cade ago mostly hawked their wares through broadcast and print media. To make in- expensive targeted ads ef- fective, Facebook collects troves of personal informa- tion about where we go on the web and our personal prefer- ences and views. Google and Amazon have branched into other activi- ties–for example hardware such as tablets, personal as- sistants and cloud services– that truly make the U.S. economy more competitive, ef- ficient and grow more quickly, but Facebook and other social media mostly have not. Social media is not like internet tools for collabora- tion or on-line shopping like Amazon, which drive down costs and prices and inspire innovation. Rather, Face- book and other social media mostly shifted more eyeballs and advertising revenue from electronic and print media to their platforms. What- ever ad dollars social media loses as result of the Facebook scandal will move to other web platforms or back to tra- ditional media, including radio and newspapers. The current imbroglio has to do with Facebook be- coming too aggressive in the personal data it collects–for example, through some apps it logs users’ text and cell- phone histories. It shared users’ personal data with app developers and academics in hopes of building an app retailer sim- ilar to iPhone’s app store. Then revelations emerged that a professor violated Face- book’s rules by providing a huge data trove to Cambridge Analytica, which sells ser- vices to political campaigns. Social media has become an easy target because Russia infiltrated their networks with disinformation to un- dermine the presidential cam- paigns of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. And Facebook and many other purveyors of adver- tising on the web have per- fected strategies to keep us logged on longer and come back more often. Academic re- searchers and media analysts now charge the purposeful cultivation of addiction con- tributes to depression and po- larization on social and po- litical issues. The Federal Trade Com- mission and British regu- lators are justifiably inves- tigating Facebook’s data gathering and sharing ac- tivities but 37 states attor- neys general have jumped into what should be a fed- eral and international reg- ulatory issue. Social media data collec- tion will likely face stricter regulation but if the informa- tion these services collect is severely curtailed, targeted advertising will become in- effective and Facebook and others could disappear. It’s the ancient problem of the free lunch. If users want Facebook, Twitter and other social media, they have to pay with something – in this case, a reasonable amount of personal information to drive advertising. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. Social media data collection will likely face stricter regulation but if the information these services collect is severely curtailed, targeted advertising will become ineffective and Facebook and others could disappear. PETER MORICI5 LOCAL NEWS The Passport and Corpo- rate Services Office is urging residents to ensure that their official documents are up- dated and secure as hurricane season nears. Passports and other vital documents, such as birth, marriage, naturalization, reg- istration certificates and Cay- manian status and permanent residence documents, should be kept together in waterproof bags or containers, and stored securely in a place that is easily accessible during emer- gencies, the office advises. As part of readiness prep- arations, people should en- sure that their passports and other travel documents are valid; make copies of key documents, including pass- ports, birth and marriage certificates, naturalization and registration certificates; store documents and the copies securely, but in sepa- rate locations. During emer- gency situations, particu- larly approaching hurricanes or tropical storms, which may require travel or evac- uation, original documents should be kept at hand and secured in waterproof bags or containers. Also, if applying for the is- suance of a United Kingdom passport, submit only copies of the valid British Overseas Territories Citizen – Cayman Islands passport. Actual pass- ports should not be sent during the hurricane season, the passport office stated. For people traveling to the United States, the passport office noted the following: Holders of British Overseas Territories Citizen – Cayman Islands or U.K. passports containing a U.S. visitor’s visa may travel to the U.S. on commercial, charter or air ambulance flights; holders of BOTC – Cayman Islands passports without a U.S. vis- itor’s visa must first obtain U.S. visa waivers from Cay- man’s Passport and Corpo- rate Services Office to travel to the U.S. on commercial or air ambulance flights; holders of BOTC – Cayman Islands passports should ensure that the passports are valid for at least six months after the in- tended date of departure from the U.S.; and holders of U.K. passports without a U.S. vis- itor’s visa, but with an ap- proval from the Electronic System for Travel Authoriza- tion (ESTA), may travel to the U.S. on commercial or air am- bulance flights. “Residents traveling to other countries should make appropriate plans before- hand and should also know and comply with the travel requirements of respective destinations,” the passport office noted. “Accordingly, planning ahead and being prepared will help reduce the stress and anxiety ev- eryone faces when emergen- cies threaten or occur.” The office also reminded residents that travel docu- ments cannot be issued when weather conditions require the closure of government Of- fices, including the Passport and Corporate Services Office. CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 Woman pleads guilty to bigamy Sentencing set for April 20 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kenia Alonzo Solis, 29, pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy when she appeared in Grand Court on Friday. By her plea, she ad- mitted that she went through a ceremony of mar- riage with Aric Matthew Brooks on March 12, 2016, in the Cayman Islands, and the ceremony was void because it took place while she was already married to another man. Justice Michael Wood continued her bail until Friday, April 20, when he expected to pass sen- tence. Conditions of her bail include a surety in the sum of $1,500. Ms. Solis first appeared in Summary Court for this charge on Tuesday, March 27, when it was trans- mitted to the higher court. She was represented by at- torney Neil Kumar. On the same day, Mr. Brooks’s name was on the court list of mentions. At- torney Jonathon Hughes told Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats it was with regret that he had to advise the court that Mr. Brooks had passed away over the pre- vious weekend. He said death was not by natural causes and he knew the Crown would need some time to submit official con- firmation to the court. His matter was set for mention again on June 26. Mr. Brooks, 28, was pro- nounced dead on March 24 after being transported to Cayman Islands Hospital for emergency treatment. Ms. Solis appeared in court previously as Kenia Alonzo Solis Brooks. On March 8, she pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr. Brooks on Jan. 8 this year and causing him actual bodily harm by smashing a wine glass into his face, breaking the glass and cutting him across the eye. Magistrate Grace Don- alds sentenced her to seven weeks’ imprisonment, with credit for time served, after hearing that the Immigra- tion Department had re- voked the defendant’s right to remain on island. The offense took place at a social gathering in Bodden Town. She was ar- rested that night and had remained in custody. Al- though she initially claimed self-defense, she acknowl- edged that her response was excessive. She told in- terviewing officers that it was not the first time she and her husband had ar- gued or fought. Mr. Brooks, 28, was pronounced dead on March 24 after being transported to Cayman Islands Hospital for emergency treatment. SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kayla Powery Hewitt was given a suspended sentence Thursday on charges of pos- session of an unlicensed firearm related to a shooting outside Fete Night Club in February of last year. Mrs. Hewitt, 22, was charged following the dis- covery of a photo on a smart- phone depicting her and her husband, Kashwayne Hewitt, in possession of the weapon. Mr. Hewitt was sen- tenced to 12 years’ imprison- ment in December last year for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Mr. Hewitt, 21, was ac- quitted of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to pos- session of an unlicensed firearm and received a concurrent sentence of nine years. Police investigating the shooting at Fete Night Club followed a trail to a West Bay residence and after con- ducting a search, they found a Colt .45 firearm stashed in the cistern of a toilet. Police also found a phone while conducting that search, and on that phone, they found a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt holding the gun investigators be- lieved was used in the Fete Night Club shooting. Mr. Hewitt is seen holding the gun with his arm draped around Mrs. Hewitt, and she is holding on to the edge of the weapon. When interviewed by police, Mrs. Hewitt alleged that she was asked to attend a particular location and forced to take part in the picture holding the firearm. Mrs. Hewitt, who re- cently had a baby, stood be- fore Justice Michael Wood Thursday and listened as he passed sentence. The judge conceded that Mrs. Hewitt may have been subject to coercion and threats by her husband, and he said that if she had gone to trial, her sentence could have been just over two years. Justice Wood sentenced Mrs. Hewitt to 18 months but suspended the sen- tence for two years, and he warned her that any offense committed in the interim would almost surely result in imprisonment. “Keep out of trouble for your child’s sake,” he said. “Beware of keeping your husband’s company.” Mrs. Hewitt, 22, was charged following the discovery of a photo on a smartphone depicting her and her husband, Kashwayne Hewitt, in possession of the weapon. Suspended sentence for woman photographed with gun Reminder to secure travel documents before hurricane season The Cayman Islands Passport and Corporate Services Office is urging residents to ensure their travel documents are up to date and secure in case they need to evacuate Cayman or require an air ambulance during hurricane season. “Planning ahead and being prepared will help reduce the stress and anxiety everyone faces when emergencies threaten or occur.” CAYMAN ISLANDS PASSPORT AND CORPORATE SERVICES OFFICE OLDER PERSONS COUNCIL TO MEET THE PUBLIC The Older Persons’ Council is seeking input from Cayman’s senior citizen population and their fami- lies through a series of meet- ings in each of the Cayman Islands’ six districts. The meetings will be held from mid-April through mid- May, according to organizers. The council, which con- sists of 15 members and is headed by Lucille Seymour, was formed following the passage of the Older Per- sons Law. The council’s role, according to the leg- islation, is “to identify and advance senior citizens’ is- sues” by ensuring “access to services,” “social inclusion,” “anti-discriminatory prac- tices” and “improved care,” including “physical, psy- chological, social or mate- rial assistance.” The dates and times of the meetings are as follows: ■■ Cayman Brac and Little Cayman: Wednesday, April 18, 12-2 p.m., at the Aston Rutty Centre; ■■ George Town: Saturday, April 21, 5.30-7 p.m. at the Family Life Centre; ■■ North Side: Wednesday, April 25, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre; ■■ West Bay: Saturday, April 28, 5.30-7 p.m. at the Sir John A. Cumber Primary School hall; ■■ Bodden Town: Sat- urday, May 5, 5.30-7 p.m. at the Civic Centre; ■■ East End: Saturday, May 12, 5.30-7 p.m. at the United Church Gun Bay Hall. Light refreshments will be available at the dis- trict meetings.6 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!) MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The seventh annual Slow Food Day took place Saturday at Camana Bay, drawing hundreds of diners. It featured a farm-to-table tasting market with chefs preparing dishes with local ingredients, a cooking class hosted by U.K. Young Chef of the Year 2017 Jack Barwick, a dinner made by Mr. Barwick and chefs at Pani Indian Kitchen, and a cooking class for children. RJ Dye of Agua presents the restaurant’s crostantine al pomodoro. Andre Wilson of Kimpton Seafire. Gilbert Cavallaro of Cracked Conch prepares salted lionfish foam at the restaurant’s stall at Slow Food Day. Ervin Horvath of Agave Grill serves up some pozole verde.Cayman Cabana’s Luigi and Christina Moxam offer up some coconut cerviche. Clarence McLaughlin of Clarence’s Farm shows off some of his fresh produce. Jen Skrinska and Sherri Hillman of The Greenhouse Restaurant prepare a jerk chicken flatbread sammie. Chef Charith Heman of Abacus restaurant prepares a tuna tartare. Bradley McLaughlin teaches some budding young chefs the tricks of the trade at the Food Revolution Kids’ Seed2Plate Workshop. Guest chef Jack Barwick talks to diners at the Slow Food Lunch. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 SaxonMG Insurance is seeking witnesses to a serious motor vehicle/motorcycle accident which occurred on Tuesday 6 January 2015 on the Esterly Tibbetts Highway at around 6 p.m. in the vicinity of Raleigh Quay, West Bay and involving a Toyota Windom and a Kawasaki motorcycle, and possibly witnessed by the driver of a green Honda. If you witnessed this accident would you please call 623-7788. Compensation may be available for your time. SEEKING WITNESS provide potential cover for criminals will also be dealt with, he said. A WhatsApp and email group, which includes the community officers, has been set up to share infor- mation and a community meeting is planned. Mr. Hew said, “The issue of crime and burglaries is a real concern and as a com- munity we shouldn’t accept it or be complacent about it. “I encourage everyone to set up these Neighbor- hood Watch groups and WhatsApp chats and we can all watch out for each other’s homes.” He said he was con- cerned about the rise in burglaries but encouraged by the police and commu- nity response. “When we toured the area, we talked to several dozen residents and it was actually a very positive evening.” He said people were de- termined to protect their community and enthusi- astic about the neighbor- hood watch project. Mr. Kern, who is the community officer for mul- tiple districts off West Bay Road and the Esterley Tib- betts Highway, said police were looking to establish a network of neighborhood watch groups in the area. “I encourage anyone to contact the RCIPS neigh- borhood department and try and get it set up. When we have that in place, we will be able to get on top of problems a lot faster.” One resident on Jennifer Drive, Mathew Sloane, said he was encouraged by the response and interested in becoming part of a Neigh- borhood Watch group. He has not been burgled, though his bike was stolen from in front of his house. He said lighting was a key concern. “It is pitch black for long stretches. It is an ab- solute invitation for an op- portunist thief, knowing full well this is a fairly af- fluent area. You almost can’t blame them for tar- geting this area.” He said better lighting and more communication between residents would make the area safer. Community fights back after burglary spree reasons. Knowing the deci- sion in advance gave him enough time to apply to argue an appeal, the court diary was able to accommodate the hearing, and the Crown had enough time to respond. Justice Wood indicated that there was a presump- tion in favor of bail and the question of possible extra- dition was not a factor to be considered. The Bail Law lists factors to be considered, such as the nature and seriousness of the charge, the defendant’s char- acter and community ties, the strength of the evidence, and the defendant’s record re- garding any previous grants of bail. Mr. MacKellar, a per- manent resident in Cayman since 2007, has no pre- vious convictions. Mr. Austin-Smith had pointed out that Mr. MacK- ellar was not charged with murder, rape or armed rob- bery. He was accused of a fi- nancial crime in the U.S. The basis of the appeal for bail was the defendant’s health. Both the magistrate and judge indicated that health issues were personal and private, and therefore not to be reported by the media. Director of Public Pros- ecutions Cheryll Richards submitted on Thursday that there was no evidence that Mr. MacKellar’s health had been adversely affected be- cause of his continued incarceration. She maintained that he was a flight risk. She said men who had been charged along with him had coop- erated with authorities and still received prison sen- tences. It was the Crown’s submission that there was a strong case that would result in Mr. MacKellar’s imprison- ment in the U.S. Mr. MacKellar was named with other people in an in- dictment issued in Texas in July 2015. The indictment al- leges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which involved a veterinarian product for fleas. Mr. Austin-Smith said co-conspirators received sentences of 47, 36, 32 and 36 months. Justice Wood said he would give his full rea- sons for granting bail in writing later. In addition to the finan- cial conditions, the judge said he was going to order Mr. MacKellar to wear an elec- tronic ankle monitor, but he had learned earlier in the day that none was available. He therefore directed that se- curity guards be engaged by the Crown, but paid for by Mr. MacKellar. The guards should be on eight-hour shifts to provide 24-hour-a- day coverage. They should have access to the grounds of Mr. MacKellar’s prop- erty. If he travels anywhere by car, he is to be accompa- nied by a guard. Crown counsel Toyin Salako argued that if Mr. MacKellar were paying for his security, “it’s not re- ally security.” The judge explained that he was trying to “put a buffer between them,” referring to the defendant and the secu- rity guards, by having the Crown choose the security company. In the event of any violation, it is to be reported immediately to the officer in the case or to the Bodden Town Police Station. Justice Wood said he was ordering the transfer of $5 million and $50,000 from Mr. MacKellar’s bank to the courts’ office. The $50,000 is to pay for the guards. Mr. MacKellar, a U.K. cit- izen, had already surren- dered his passport to police. On Friday, Mr. Austin-Smith surrendered the defendant’s second passport. The final condition was for the defendant not to set foot on any plane or boat. Since the bail decision was not given until after 2 p.m. on Friday, it was an- ticipated that all arrange- ments could not be put in place before Monday, April 16. Mr. Austin-Smith indi- cated that his client accepted that reality. The extradition hearing is scheduled to start on Monday, April 30 and ex- pected to last four days. Compass reporter Spencer Fordin contributed to this story. Mr. Bush, while serving as premier, was arrested in December 2012, removed from office by a vote of no confidence in the Legislative As- sembly, and then charged with corruption-related offenses in March 2013 – two months before a gen- eral election. Although Mr. Bush was re-elected in his home district of West Bay, his UDP party lost control of the government in the May 2013 election. The next year, Mr. Bush was acquitted on charges that he improp- erly used a government- issued credit card for per- sonal expenses, including gambling trips to var- ious casinos in Miami and the Bahamas. In October 2015, Mr. Bush sued former Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor, then-Police Com- missioner David Baines and the Cayman Islands government, claiming that Mr. Taylor and Mr. Ba- ines had “breached their respective constitutional duties” in the alleged con- spiracy to remove Mr. Bush from power. Mr. Ba- ines and the governor’s office in Cayman have consistently denied all such allegations. Mr. Covington was not named as a defendant in Mr. Bush’s conspiracy claim, and according to the U.S. court records filed in January, he never will be. Rather, the initial re- quest stated that no other parties involved in the Cayman Islands legal dis- pute have access to the re- cords Mr. Bush believes Mr. Covington possesses. It is asserted in the court request that Mr. Cov- ington possesses those records in Miami-Dade County, where he is based. According to Mr. Bush’s initial application for judicial assistance, Mr. Bush and his attorneys have asked for copies of all emails sent or received by Mr. Covington between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2014, “relating to the in- tended and actual inves- tigation and subsequent prosecution and trial of Mr. Bush.” “Mr. Bush also seeks that Mr. Covington at- tend a deposition to an- swer questions as to the role he played in the pros- ecution of Mr. Bush and to explain the documents that he produced,” the Jan. 18 application states. “Mr. Covington appears to have been closely in- volved with the investiga- tion and subsequent pros- ecution of Mr. Bush. It is simply not possible that no documents have been sent to, or generated by, Mr. Covington during the entire process.” The last claim is the one Mr. Covington said Mr. Bush could not support. “In short, there is no credible evidence to es- tablish that Mr. Cov- ington was in any manner involved in the prosecu- tion of Mr. Bush, which is the basis for [Mr. Bush’s] civil claims,” court re- cords filed in Miami last month read. Bush drops Florida court action against FCO staffer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 McKeeva Bush CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 $5 million cash bond demanded in extradition case CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Snug Harbour resident Karen Thomas talks to community police officers and MLA Joey Hew on Jennifer Drive on Thursday. - PHOTO: VICKI WHEATON8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 150 students turn out for Battle of the Books KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com One of Edna M. Moyle Pri- mary School student Simon Hansson’s favorite books is “Brothers at Bat,” the tale of a 1930s family that was big enough to form its own baseball team. “It’s where 12 bothers play baseball and they think their sisters aren’t allowed to play baseball – in the old days they thought sports were for boys,” Simon explained. Simon was one of 150 stu- dents on 25 teams who were quizzed about that book and nine others at the Lera Parch- ment Battle of the Books competition at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay on Saturday. Par- ticipants were from schools all over the territory, in- cluding Cayman Brac. Battle of the Books is an annual children’s reading competition organized by vol- unteers from the Cayman Is- lands Information Profes- sionals, a library association promoting literacy and advo- cating for libraries. The competition is now in its fourth year, growing from 16 teams that partici- pated last year. The competition is named after the late Lera Parchment. Her son, Richard Parchment, explained that she was an avid reader, going through about 100 books per year in her lifetime – despite having only gone through two years of formal schooling. St. Ignatius Catholic School dominated this year’s Battle of the Books, win- ning both the 7 to 10-year- old and 11 to 14-year-old divisions, and also taking the runner-up spot in the latter division. Cayman Prep was the runner-up in the younger division. Next year, Public Library Service Deputy Director Paul Robinson, one of the compe- tition’s organizers, said he expects even more teams to compete in the future. “The event is growing, so we need more volun- teers,” he said. NIGHTLY WEST BAY ROAD CLOSURES THIS WEEK A portion of West Bay Road between Lawrence Boulevard and the Gal- leria Roundabout will be closed overnight this week, from Monday to Friday, to facilitate ongoing road- work on the West Bay Road Underpass. The road will be closed from 10 p.m. each night and reopen the next morning at 7 a.m., according to a press release issued by Dart Realty, which is carrying out the roadwork. Residents, employees and customers of busi- nesses operating in the clo- sure zone will have limited access. Properties and busi- nesses north of the over- pass can gain entry from the Galleria Roundabout. Properties and businesses south of the underpass can gain entry from Law- rence Boulevard. ELDERLY HEALTH INSURANCE SURVEY DEADLINE EXTENDED The deadline for opinions on how the Cayman Islands can better meet the healthcare needs of older people has been extended to Monday, April 30. Residents of all ages have until then to complete the survey, which will help health insurance officials evaluate the possible development of a Standard Health Insur- ance Contract for those aged 65 and older. The original deadline was Sunday, April 15. According to Harvey Ste- phenson, chairman of the Health Insurance Commis- sion, in 2016 there were some 4,000 people aged 65 and over in the Cayman Islands, with an average life expec- tancy of 82 years. In an initial press release announcing the launch of the survey, Mr. Stephenson said, “Our aim is to better un- derstand this population’s unique needs. “Questions we will be looking to answer include whether to create a spe- cial plan for them, how we might go about doing it, and whether there are other ways to achieve the same goal.” He said the existing SHIC plan offers such things as ma- ternity benefits, while older people might benefit instead from increased coverage for prescription medicines or out- patient visits. This survey is being con- ducted by the healthcare con- sulting firm Morneau Shepell, which has been engaged by the Health Insurance Com- mission to undertake a feasi- bility study into the expansion of what the SHIC plan offers. The survey, which con- tains 22 questions and takes about 20 minutes to complete, can be found at the Depart- ment of Health Regulatory Services website www.dhrs. gov.ky. Hard copies are avail- able from the Health Insur- ance Commission kiosk at the Government Administration Building and from all district health clinics on all three is- lands, and may be returned to these places. For more information, email melissa.maize@gov.ky. Team Page Turners from St. Ignatius won the age 7 to 10-year-old division of the 2018 Battle of the Books competition. - PHOTOS: KEN SILVA Governor makes splash in East End Governor Anwar Choud- hury enjoyed a soaking at the Blow Holes in East End when he visited the district on Friday, April 13. The governor toured East End with Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson and district MLA Arden McLean. As well as stopping at the Blow Holes, where he met tour guide Alan Ebanks, the party also visited the district’s el- dest resident, 102-year- old Stella Welcome at her home, followed by a stroll along Seaview Road with the centenarian. The governor then stopped at the cabana across from the United Church, where he spoke to residents, including Evelyn McLaughlin. As one of the owners of the Winters Land Cistern, Mr. McLaughlin took the group to see Grand Cayman’s largest fresh water lens. The governor, Mr. Man- derson and Mr. McLean next toured the Wreck of the Ten Sail tourist attrac- tion site, where the MLA recounted the history of the legendary English ship and explained plans for the future development of the land, which includes a visi- tors’ center and cabanas. The tour ended with a lunch at Vivine’s Kitchen, in the company of several of the district’s leading civic and business representatives. One guest, Carmen Conolly, gave the governor a homemade thatched hat, as well as a thatched bag she made for his wife, Mo- mina Choudhury. The governor toured East End with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and the district’s MLA Arden McLean. Governor Anwar Choudhury stops off at the Blow Holes on Friday, April 13. Team Baseball Bookers from St. Ignatius won the age 11 to 14-year-old division of this year’s Battle of the Books competition.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY APRIL 16, 2018 Spring storm keeps central US in icy grip Hundreds of flights have been canceled and roadways are treacherous in several Midwestern states. A deadly storm system stretching from Gulf Coast to Great Lakes is rolling across the central U.S., bringing heavy snow, strong winds, rain and hail. France urges Russia to join peace push after Syria strike Trump defends ‘mission accomplished’ after strike on Syria WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump on Sunday defended his use of the phrase “Mission Accom- plished” to describe a U.S.- led allied missile attack on Syria’s chemical weapons program, saying “it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back.” In an early morning tweet, Trump said the strike was “perfectly carried out” and that “the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term “Mission Accomplished.” He added that he knew the media would “seize” on the phrase, but said it should be used often. Trump tweeted “Mis- sion Accomplished” on Sat- urday after U.S., French and British warplanes and ships launched more than 100 mis- siles nearly unopposed by Syrian air defenses. While he declared success, the Pen- tagon said the pummeling of three chemical-related facili- ties left enough others intact to enable the Assad govern- ment to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses. His choice of words recalled a similar claim asso- ciated with President George W. Bush following the U.S.- led invasion of Iraq. Bush addressed sailors aboard a Navy ship in May 2003 alongside a “Mission Accom- plished” banner, just weeks before it became apparent that Iraqis had organized an insurgency that tied down U.S. forces for years. The nighttime Syria as- sault was carefully limited to minimize civilian casual- ties and avoid direct conflict with Syria’s key ally, Russia, but confusion arose over the extent to which Washington warned Moscow in advance. The Pentagon said it gave no explicit warning. The U.S. am- bassador in Moscow, John Huntsman, said in a video, “Before we took action, the United States communicated with” Russia to “reduce the danger of any Russian or ci- vilian casualties.” Dana W. White, the chief Pentagon spokeswoman, said that to her knowledge no one in the Defense Department communicated with Moscow in advance, other than the ac- knowledged use of a military- to-military hotline that has routinely helped minimize the risk of U.S.-Russian col- lisions or confrontations in Syrian airspace. Officials said this did not include giving Russian advance notice of where or when allied air- strikes would happen. Russia has military forces, including air defenses, in sev- eral areas of Syria to sup- port President Bashar Assad in his long war against anti- government rebels. Russia and Iran called the use of force by the United States and its allies a “mili- tary crime” and “act of ag- gression.” The U.N. Secu- rity Council met to debate the strikes, but rejected a Russian resolution calling for condemnation of the “aggression” by the three Western allies. Trump’s U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, told the session that the president has made it clear that if Assad uses poison gas again, “the United States is locked and loaded.” Assad denies he has used chemical weapons, and the Trump administration has yet to present hard evidence of what it says precipitated the allied missiles attack: a chlorine gas attack on civil- ians in Douma on April 7. The U.S. says it suspects that sarin gas also was used. “Good souls will not be humiliated,” Assad tweeted, while hundreds of Syrians gathered in Damascus, the capital, where they flashed victory signs and waved flags in scenes of defiance after the early morning barrage. The strikes “successfully hit every target,” White told reporters at the Pentagon. The military said there were three targets: the Barzah chemical weapons research and development site in the Damascus area, a chemical weapons storage facility near Homs and a chem- ical weapons “bunker” a few miles from the second target. Although officials said the singular target was Assad’s chemical weapons capability, his air force, in- cluding helicopters he alleg- edly has used to drop chem- ical weapons on civilians, were spared. In a U.S. mili- tary action a year ago in re- sponse to a sarin gas attack, the Pentagon said missiles took out nearly 20 percent of the Syrian air force. As of Saturday, neither Syria nor its Russian or Ira- nian allies retaliated, Pen- tagon officials said. The U.S.-led operation won broad Western support. The NATO alliance gave its full backing; NATO Secre- tary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels that the at- tack was about ensuring that chemical weapons cannot be used with impunity. In his televised address from the White House on Friday evening, Trump said the U.S. was prepared to sus- tain economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Assad until the Syrian leader ends what Trump called a criminal pattern of killing his own people with inter- nationally banned chem- ical weapons. That did not mean military strikes would continue. In fact, Gen. Jo- seph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said no additional attacks were planned. BEIRUT (AP) – France is urging Russia to join in re- newed peace efforts after Western missile strikes on Syria aimed at punishing Bashar Assad for an al- leged chemical attack, while the Syrian leader was said to have appeared unfazed Sunday in a meeting with Russian politicians. The U.S., France and Britain launched dozens of airstrikes early Saturday at sites they said were linked to a chemical weapons pro- gram. Assad and his close ally, Russia, have denied gov- ernment forces ever used such weapons. Russian politicians who met with Assad on Sunday said he was in high spirits, while Assad was quoted in state media as saying the Western strikes were based on “lies and misin- formation” at the U.N. Se- curity Council. Dmitry Sablin, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament who was part of the delega- tion that met with Assad Monday, said the Syrian leader appeared upbeat and believed the airstrikes would unify the country. Syrian opposition activ- ists and first responders say a chemical attack on the town of Douma, near the capital, killed more than 40 people on April 7. A week later, the government regained full control of the town following a surrender deal with the rebels there, and on Sunday it deployed another 5,000 secu- rity forces in Douma. Douma was the last rebel holdout in the eastern Ghouta suburbs, the target of a massive government of- fensive in February and March that killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands. Syrian officials and state media have boasted that the Western strikes failed, saying that Syrian air defenses in- tercepted most of the mis- siles. The front-page head- line of the government daily Tishrin reads: “Our heroic army shoots down the mis- siles of aggression.” The Pentagon says none of the missiles were shot down. In an interview published Sunday in the Journal du Di- manche newspaper, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reached out to Russia, saying “we should join our efforts to promote a political process in Syria that would allow a way out of the crisis.” French Presi- dent Emmanuel Macron was expected to strike a similar tone in a televised interview later Sunday. France has continued to talk regularly with Russia even as East-West tensions have grown. Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, hours before the Western missile strikes. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the BBC he hopes there is no need for additional strikes against Syria, but that Britain and its allies will consider further action if Assad uses chemical weapons in the future. Johnson told the BBC the airstrikes were proportionate and showed “the world has said enough is enough.” Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., director, Joint Staff, shows photographs from before and after the U.S.-led airstrikes against Syria at the Pentagon, Saturday. - PHOTO: AP Fireman extinguish fires at the Syrian Scientific Research Center, which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes, in Barzeh, near Damascus, Syria, Saturday. - PHOTO: APNext >