ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Unable to expand outwards, Cay- man’s Cargo Distribution Centre is expanding upward. A $5.6 million project, currently under way, will allow the Port Authority to stack shipping containers seven stories high, ensuring the Grand Cayman has enough storage capacity for the next 20 years, according to port director Clement Reid. Two giant cranes, known as rubber tired gantries, worth a total of $2.3 million, have been installed at the site and contractor McAlpine is mid-way through a $3.3 million redevelopment of the yard. The upgrades, approved by the Central Planning Authority in October last year, are expected to be complete by June. To motorists passing on North Sound Road, the stacked containers will have the same visual impact as a seven- story building. Mr. Reid said the Port Authority had been investigating ways to expand the ca- pacity of the center, at the direction of the board, since 2014. After negotiations to buy adjoining land proved unsuccessful, he said attention switched to expanding upward rather than outwards. “We looked at what was being used around the world,” Mr. Reid said, “and we settled on these cranes, which will allow us to quadruple our capacity.” Seabird study team highlights feral cat threat ABUSE REPORTS DOUBLE IN 2 YEARS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Islands Police reported more than 1,400 domestic abuse cases in- volving both adults and children during 2017. That is more than twice the 676 domestic abuse incidents that were referred to the RCIPS Family Support Unit in 2015. However, the police inspector in charge of overseeing investigations into those matters said last week that the number is likely still being under-reported. “The classic, if I can use that phrase, do- mestic reports we get – usually later in the evenings, usually alcohol or drugs involved, Two-year study tracked population habits and numbers JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Feral cats pose a threat to rare seabird populations on the Sister Islands, according to re- searchers who worked on a two- year study of nesting colonies. The numbers of red-footed booby birds on Little Cayman and brown boobies on the Brac are declining, according to Jane Haakonsson, a researcher with the Department of Environ- ment’s terrestrial resources unit. The department partnered with the National Trust and sea- bird experts from the Univer- sities of Liverpool and Exeter in the study, which was largely funded by the U.K.’s Darwin Initiative, a grant scheme for projects aimed at protecting biodiversity. Researchers tagged and tracked the movements of three types of seabirds on the Sister Islands, monitoring popula- tion numbers and mapping foraging routes. Ms. Haakonsson said that while magnificent frigate bird A red-footed booby protects its chick at a nest in Little Cayman. – PHOTO: MATT COTTAM PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Cranes will create multi-story container tower PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » The cranes will quadruple the storage space at the Cargo Distribution Centre. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 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. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) GRINGO (R) 1:35 I 6:35 TRAFFIK (R) 4:15 I 9:15 TRUTH OR DARE (PG13) 1:45 I 7:20 BLOCKERS (R) 4:30 I 10:00 A QUIET PLACE (PG13) 1:25 I 5:00 I 7:15 I 10:05 VIP WRINKLE IN TIME 3D (PG) 1:10 I 3:55 2D I 6:35 2D I 9:10 RAMPAGE 3D (PG13) 1:35 2D VIP I 2:30 2D I 7:30 2D VIP I 9:30 READY PLAYER ONE 3D (PG13) 3:40 I 4:15 2D VIP I 6:45 2D I 9:50 2D For assistance or enquiries, please check www.eso.ky or call 244-4676 or 244-4615. Better Data...Better Decisions…Better Business Business Survey 2018...Your Response Matters! How did this change in 20 Cayman Islands: Growth in Real GDP 2007-2016 2007200820092010201120122013201420152016 17? The annual System of National Accounts (SNA) survey collects the information necessary to measure the health and performance of Cayman’s economy and its various industries. The survey runs from April 9th to June 1st 2018. Data collected for the SNA survey is CONFIDENTIAL under the Statistics Law (2016 Revision) and is EXEMPT from the Freedom of Information Law. In 2016, Cayman’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.1%, the strongest growth since 2007. Race lands on Little Cayman for first time The Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge made a splash in its Little Cayman debut on Sunday, as nearly half of the island’s population signed up for the event. More than 60 people reg- istered and 45 people par- ticipated in the event, which raised money for a “grow box” at the island’s two- student school. George Weston from Har- neys law firm won the Little Cayman race. Mr. Weston has been working in Cayman since the company’s offices in the British Virgin Islands were hit by a hurricane last year. Little Cayman residents Stafford Ambersley and Ian Crocker took second and third place, respectively. “We had a great time on Little Cayman, with an amazing turnout for our debut there,” said Deputy Governor Franz Manderson of the initial DG’s 5K Chal- lenge. “As our focus is on wellness and nutrition this year, it’s fitting that the chil- dren learn how to grow their own vegetables.” Chocolate croissants were served at the race’s mid- way point, and a few par- ticipants experienced a brief delay when a plane crossed the race route. The final leg of the DG’s 5K Challenge will take place Sunday on Grand Cayman. Fees are $25 for ages 18 and older and $10 for ages 17 and younger. Race beneficiaries will in- clude Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels, Feed Our Future, and the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman’s Buy-a-Kid- Breakfast program. “The 5K on Little Cayman [on Sunday], and Cayman Brac last weekend, have built up anticipation for the big event next Sunday on Grand Cayman,” said Mr. Manderson, “I’m looking for- ward to being joined by many people in the community for the 2018 DG’s 5K finale.” From left, Stafford Ambersley, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, race winner George Weston and Ian Crocker pose together at the DG’s 5K Challenge on Little Cayman. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, second from right, jogs to the finish line alongside some of the Little Cayman runners. POLICE CONFIRM IDENTITY OF DECEASED TOURIST The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service con- firmed the identity Tuesday of a tourist who passed away after encountering dif- ficulties while scuba diving last Friday. The tourist was 70-year-old Beverly Ann Bersano, a United States cit- izen who resided in Illinois. Ms. Bersano had been scuba diving off East End on Friday when she fell ill. People attempted CPR on her, but she was pro- nounced dead after being transported to Cayman Is- lands Hospital. PUERTO RICANS ANGRY OVER LACK OF BASIC SERVICES SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s Senate has ordered government agen- cies to explain why tens of thousands of people in rural areas remain without power or appropriate shelter as anger grows about the lack of basic services more than seven months after Hurricane Maria. The agencies have five days to present a plan on how and when they will address the needs of rural towns. The order comes as police in a small moun- tain town blocked power crews from leaving on Tuesday while residents demanded they stay to re- store electricity service that many still lack. The standoff ended after the power company prom- ised it would keep crews in Las Piedras until ser- vice is fully restored. The crews were obeying com- pany orders to head off to another town. QUAKE HITS OFF NICARAGUA’S COAST; NO DAMAGE REPORTED MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – An earthquake with a pre- liminary magnitude of 5.6 struck in the Pacific off the coast of Nicaragua on Monday night, and was felt strongly across Ni- caragua and El Salvador, though there were no re- ports of damage or injuries in either country. The U.S. Geological Survey said the tem- blor was centered about 102 miles west-north- west of Nicaragua’s cap- ital, Managua, and 40 miles west of the town of Chinandega. The earthquake oc- curred around 8:30 p.m. at a depth of about 28 miles.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 GET THERE FASTER. The pace of copper can set you back and limit business growth. C3's fibre-optic network meets your application demands with lightning speed. Accelerate your speed with us! Call 333-3333 today for a free estimate. COPPER WHEELS NOTMOVING FAST ENOUGH? GET THERE FASTER. The pace of copper can set you back and limit business growth. C3's fibre-optic network meets your application demands with lightning speed. Accelerate your speed with us! Email info@C3business.ky for details. COPPER WHEELS NOTMOVING FAST ENOUGH?The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Last Friday marked the end of one of the more, let’s say, “interesting” chapters in Grand Cayman’s regulatory history, as the Liquor Licensing Board gave the official green light to 12 businesses seeking to sell alcohol on Sundays. By all appearances, the board led by Chairman Noel Williams acted deliberately and in a way that is trans- parent with the public, consistent with the law, and fair to all parties. Given the board’s behavior under previous leadership, it is with some sense of relief that we are able to tick off those three basic administrative checkboxes. Mr. Williams said that a thorough legal review con- cluded there was no legal reason to deny businesses that hold package licenses the right also to sell alcohol on Sundays. He said it also determined that the liquor board could place conditions on those licenses, including hours of operation and banning on-premises consumption – which it has. Henceforth, the successful applicants (and any future ones), will be able to sell alcohol to customers from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, providing they prohibit on-site consumption and meet the other con- ditions of the retail license. “We had to make it a level playing field for all,” Mr. Williams said. Contrast that with the misbehavior of the previous board (then chaired by Woody DaCosta), which, last spring approved – then, with a few ex post facto pen strokes, attempted to “de-approve” – a license allowing the Peanuts convenience store at Red Bay gas station to sell beer, wine and spirits to customers seven days a week. That debacle was a case study in how not to conduct public affairs, with cameo roles by the Cayman Ministers’ Association and then-Governor Helen Kilpatrick. The sordid affair bred mistrust and questions about favoritism and influence (along with intensive public scrutiny, extensive coverage by the Compass and an internal audit investigation), and directly led to the replacement of ex-Chairman DaCosta with Chairman Williams. It appears that the new chairman has brought a much-needed sense of law and order to the board’s deliberations, and by extension the competitive land- scape of Cayman’s liquor industry. For the record, the Compass never took a position on the question of whether businesses should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays. What we have stood for, and will continue to advocate for, is that the Liquor Licensing Board – and all governmental bodies – operate in a transparent, impartial and consistent manner. In other words, what’s good for Peanuts is also good for Tortuga, Reflections, Blackbeard’s and a multiplicity of others. When it comes to liquor licensing, Cayman’s patch- work scheme of ad hoc regulations, “grandfathered” exceptions and individualized permissions should be swept away and replaced by rational, universal stan- dards for any and all applicants. P.S.: Also on legislators’ to-do list is a comprehen- sive review of Cayman’s (even more archaic) Music and Dancing Law. We trust such a review will result in a revision of the law to address the problems that occur (and recur) when celebratory holidays, most notably New Year’s Day, happen to fall on Sundays. Straightening out Sunday liquor sales: That is the spirit WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS FERDINANDO GIUGLIANO The International Mone- tary Fund warned last week that global debt has reached $164 trillion, the highest level on record. Does this mean the world is about to go bankrupt? Not at all. But high debt levels still matter, since they make it harder to run a sensible and equitable economic policy. The relationship between debt levels and debt sustain- ability appears straightfor- ward. The higher a debt pile, the more money it will take to pay it back in the future. Of course, a company or a government can rely on fu- ture growth to make good on their promises. But there is a point where investors no longer believe in this pledge and stop refinancing the debt – causing a crisis. However, this analysis is also simplistic. There are several factors that deter- mine whether a given level of debt is sustainable. In the case of governments, the most obvious one is the future path of four vari- ables: growth, inflation, in- terest rates and the differ- ence between revenues and spending. With central bank rates at record-low levels, for example, the global debt pile emphasized by the In- ternational Monetary Fund has been more sustainable than the whopping headline number would suggest. Of course, interest rates are beginning to rise, as the global economy is finally ex- panding and inflation has slowly returned. But rising rates on their own should not create panic about debt. Take for example the U.S., where the ratio between gov- ernment debt and gross do- mestic product is set to in- crease sharply as a result of President Donald Trump’s flagship tax reform. The U.S. enjoys what Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the former French finance minister and later president, called the “exor- bitant privilege” of having the world’s reserve currency: Since investors want to hold assets denominated in dol- lars, including U.S. Trea- suries, Washington can rack up debt in a way that other governments just can’t. It is also important to ask who holds the debt. Since the Great Recession, central banks have amassed large holdings of government and – in some cases – corporate bonds. Some of the mone- tary authorities, including for example the European Central Bank, have made it clear that they will continue rolling over these holdings well into the future, which will help to keep a lid on in- terest rates. Moreover, it is not just central bank hold- ings that matter. Japan’s sovereign debt stood at a 236 percent of gross domestic product last year, but most of it is held by domestic in- stitutions, which are gener- ally less volatile investors than fickle foreigners. Finally, there is really no point in discussing debt without the context of how the money is spent. The IMF underlines how most of the debt accumulation since the financial crisis has occurred in emerging markets and China in particular. Compa- nies and governments in de- veloping countries have par- ticularly good reasons to borrow, since they need to in- vest in the necessary capital or infrastructure to catch up with the rich world. This does not mean, however, that we should dis- miss the Fund’s calls to re- duce indebtedness. For a start, there is an issue of in- tergenerational equity. Any borrowing entails an oppor- tunity cost, since interest payments cannot, by defini- tion, be spent on something else. This is why borrowing to invest is so important: A dollar spent on building a faster telecoms network will help to lift produc- tivity, which will justify the cost of future interest pay- ments. Unfortunately, in the case of many low-in- come countries, the IMF has found that extra deficits have not been used to boost long-term growth. Furthermore, timing re- ally does matter when it comes to accumulating debt. The U.S. is increasing its budget deficit just as the economy has approached full employment. This is a problem, since pro-cyclical fiscal policy can easily lead to overheating. The Federal Reserve may have to tighten monetary policy faster than it would otherwise. As a re- sult the U.S. economy would first push hard on the accel- erator and then even harder on the brakes – which is not the best way of driving. Lastly, many countries simply cannot dismiss the risk of an outright fiscal crisis. This is particularly true for a string of low-in- come countries in sub-Sa- haran Africa, where falling commodity revenues and depreciating currencies are proving a lethal com- bination. But this threat is equally important for some countries in the eurozone, such as Portugal and Italy, which have learned the hard way during the euro- zone crisis what it means to carry an excessively high sovereign debt. There was some method, then, to the IMF’s madness. The scary-sounding global debt numbers were a bit of a publicity stunt; they got our attention, even if they were intellectually mis- leading. But if that helps to raise awareness of the risks attached to excessive bor- rowing, perhaps it’s worth the exaggeration. Ferdinando Giugliano writes columns and editorials on European economics for Bloomberg View. He is also an economics columnist for La Repubblica and was a member of the editorial board of the Financial Times. © 2018, Bloomberg View A deeper understanding of global debt The scary-sounding global debt numbers were a bit of a publicity stunt; they got our attention, even if they were intellectually misleading. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 A full scholarship will be provided for a new student entering Grade 9 at Cayman International School. The scholarship includes full tuition for four years (8 semesters) until graduation as long as academic and leadership requirements are maintained by the scholarship student. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is offered for students in Grades 11 and 12. Applications and information about the school are available on the school website or by contacting the Admissions Officer. Age Criteria/Time Frame Applicants must have Caymanian Status and be 14 years old prior to October 1, 2018, to enter Grade 9, or be enrolled currently in Grade 8 (or Year 9). Applications will be received until 4:30 pm on May 11th, 2017. Application Requirements Only complete application packages will be considered. A complete list of required attachments is included in the application. Selection criteria are heavily weighted to select students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and financial need. Cayman International School 2018-19 Scholarship Opportunities 345-945-4664 www.caymaninternationalschool.orgadmissions@cis.ky Scholarship for Academic and Leadership Excellence APP LY NO W Little Cayman prepares for annual agriculture show JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Blossom Village Commu- nity Park’s laid-back atmo- sphere will be transformed into a marketplace of garden plants, arts and crafts, tra- ditional foods and various competitions for everyone to enjoy when the annual Little Cayman Agriculture Show kicks off Saturday. The show offers plenty of activities, including a co- conut toss, face painting, judging of best hot sauces, paintings, crafts, cakes, ani- mals and much more. “The tents are erected for vendors and other in- dividuals who will be par- ticipating and getting pre- pared for the show,” said Roger Scott, committee chairman of the show. Last Thursday, the com- mittee received a sizeable shipment of various potted plants, sent by the Agricul- ture Department in Grand Cayman, which will be on sale the day of the show. “All preparations will be completed by Friday evening and local participants will be moving in their goods in an- ticipation of the show which opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.” Mr. Scott said. Agriculture Department Assistant Director Brian Crichlow said staff from Grand Cayman will be at- tending. He also said there will be the usual mixture of fruit trees, as well as a se- lection of different vegetable and herbs for the garden on sale. Department staff will be managing the informa- tion booth and assisting with general logistics and judging. Debbi Truchan, past show chairperson, said the event is a gathering of the whole Little Cayman community, and its goal is to educate and make a firm stand that agri- culture is a part of the culture and daily living. She added that Barefoot Man, Andy Martin and Sea N’ B will be providing entertainment for visitors and residents. Little Cayman might not have lots of cows, goats, horses and other farm an- imals to display, but Ms. Truchan said the island makes up for that by hosting its popular dog show. This year, organizers are also adding a coconut shucking contest to the com- petitions, and the children from Little Cayman Edu- cational Services will be showing off their grow boxes and drink-making skills. The show will be of- ficially opened by Agri- culture Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly. A raffle will be held with a grand prize of $1,000. The entrance fee is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Gates will open to the public at 10 a.m. COURTS: MANGATAL TO STAY ON AS JUDGE BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie in- dicated Tuesday that Jus- tice Ingrid Mangatal would remain in her position as a Grand Court judge fol- lowing her guilty plea in March to drunk driving and careless driving. Justice Smellie said an inquiry had been re- ceived as to Justice Man- gatal’s continuing status with the Grand Court fol- lowing a March 15 court hearing which concluded the case against her. According to a state- ment released Tuesday on behalf of the Cayman Is- lands Judicial Adminis- tration Office: “The Chief Justice confirms that Jus- tice Mangatal has con- tinued without inter- ruption to discharge her duties as a judge. “Regrettable though the incident of driving was, for- tunately no one was hurt and the court has quite properly dealt with the case according to the law. “Justice Mangatal’s ex- planation, including very importantly the absence of any deliberate intention on her part to drive the car, was not refuted or opposed by the prosecution. The Chief Justice is entirely sat- isfied that no further action is required.” During the March 15 court appearance, a court heard that Judge Man- gatal “unconsciously” drove her vehicle several miles before crashing into a concrete barrier along West Bay Road. The acci- dent occurred the night of Sept. 4, 2017. Judge Mangatal told po- lice officers she could not remember anything about the incident. Ms. Mangatal was given a $600 fine and had her driving license suspended for a year after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and careless driving. Workers begin setting up the site for Saturday’s Little Cayman Agriculture Show at Blossom Village Tuesday. Justice Ingrid Mangatal6 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Leroy “Ital” Holness : Jevaughnie Ebanks : Rita Estevanovich Lesley Ann Bernard : Giselle Webb : Troy Rodgers : Eldon Chisholm Rachel Gepolla : Aiden Watler. Musical arrangements by George Jones & Dave Martins HARQUAIL THEATRE TICKETS: Adult $25. : Child (12 & under) $15. : Seniors (65 & over) $15. Available from: CNCF Office, Harquail Theatre (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Funky Tangs; Health Care Pharmacy (Grand Harbour) Fosters Food Fair (Airport; Countryside & The Strand) TO RESERVE (For a limited period) 949-5477 Featuring DAVE MARTINS FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND ONLY, & THE COMEDIC TALENTS OF MATT BROWN FOR THE ENTIRE RUN WITH STAND-OUT PERFORMANCES FROM THE RUNDOWN ENSEMBLE CNCF acknowledges annual funding from the Government of the Cayman Islands via the Ministry of Culture facebook.com/caymanculture twitter.com/caymanculture APRIL: 26, 27, 28 & 29 MAY 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 Creativity : Heritage : Education Cayman National Cultural Foundation THE HILARIOUS COMEDY REVUE IN ITS 26TH YEAR! OPENING 26 APRIL 2018 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Undown2018 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR UndownUndownUndown2018 20182018201820182018 Undown2018Undown2018 201820182018 TEN SHOWS ONLY ONLINE PURCHASES: artscayman.org/rundown Sentence for driving death reduced on appeal Appeals court queries lack of option for suspending sentence CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Anastasia Watson, sen- tenced in February to 12 months’ imprisonment for causing death by careless driving, was granted a three- month reduction in her sen- tence in the Court of Ap- peal on Tuesday. Attorney Amelia Fos- uhene argued that the sen- tencing judge, Justice Philip St. John-Stevens, did not give Ms. Watson enough credit for her personal mitigating circumstances. The three-judge panel agreed and also noted the court’s lack of power to im- pose a suspended sentence. The appellant was sen- tenced in February this year after pleading guilty to causing the death of Kim- berly Bush by driving care- lessly in the early hours of April 15, 2015. Ms. Bush was 23 at the time and Ms. Watson was 22. As Justice George Newman summarized in de- livering the court’s decision, Ms. Watson was driving a BMW on Rum Point Drive, which she was familiar with. Ms. Bush was her passenger. At a point where there was a slight bend in the road, Ms. Watson lost control of the vehicle. The car left the road, hit a sign, a wall and a pillar. Ms. Bush died al- most immediately. When police arrived, Ms. Watson was sitting on the ground and said she did not know what had happened, that she must have blacked out. She was tested with a breathalyzer, but alcohol was not a factor. The speed of her vehicle was calculated at 80 mph; the highest speed at which the bend could be ne- gotiated was 69 mph. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 50 mph. Justice Newman said the case turned on whether the judge had given Ms. Watson sufficient credit by way of a discount for what could be described as “very impressive personal mitigation.” There was no argument about the judge’s starting point of 21 months, with one- third off for the guilty plea, re- sulting in 14 months, with an- other two months’ reduction for mitigating circumstances. Justice Newman then re- ferred to the social inquiry re- port, which Ms. Fosuhene had detailed in her submissions. Ms. Watson had grown up in the foster care system and had conquered her difficul- ties. After reaching adulthood, she had returned to the foster home to look after younger children. She turned her life around and got a job she was committed to. There was no doubt Ms. Watson had shown remorse for causing her friend’s death, Justice Newman said. It seemed to him her character was borne out by the written note she had submitted to the sentencing court. In it she ex- pressed not only her remorse and pain, but also recogni- tion of the pain caused to Ms. Bush’s family. She accepted that she had responsibility for her passenger and accepted the consequences of her ac- tions that night. The judge said these factors showed her care for others. There was no way in an offense like this, under the law as it is at present, that the court had any real “am- plitude of power” to reflect what could be an appro- priate result – such as a sus- pended sentence. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright had earlier con- firmed that the law does not permit a sentence to be sus- pended in the case of causing death by dangerous or careless driving. Justice Newman sug- gested that if a suspended sentence were available, it could be a way of dealing with such matters. “I’m bound to say there are reasons why this area of sen- tencing, and the way it is leg- islated for, calls for attention,” the judge remarked. The appeal court con- cluded that the sentencing judge did not give suffi- cient credit in this case for Ms. Watson’s person- ality, character and life- style, and that a discount of two months was too little. The discount was extended a further three months, so that the revised sentence is nine months. Hearing the appeal with Justice Newman were court president Sir John Goldring and Justice John Martin. MURDERED MEXICAN FILM STUDENTS CAUGHT IN GANG TURF BATTLE MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three vanished film students whose case had become emblematic of Mexico’s 30,000 missing people were killed after being caught unaware in the midst of a drug gang turf battle, officials say. Prosecutors in the western state of Jalisco said late Monday the three were abducted by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel because they were filming a school project at a house used by the rival Nueva Plaza gang. The students were using the residence on the outskirts of the city of Guadalajara be- cause it belonged to one of their aunts. “Without knowing it, the students were in a very dan- gerous place which was being watched by hit men from the New Generation cartel,” the prosecutor’s of- fice said. The aunt was impli- cated in a human trafficking case involving prostitution at massage parlors in the city of Guadalajara. The students’ fate horri- fied Mexico: Prosecutors said they were killed and their bodies dissolved in acid. “Words can’t describe the dimension of this madness,” Oscar-winning Mexican di- rector Guillermo del Toro wrote on Twitter. “Three stu- dents are killed and dissolved in acid. The ‘why’ is unthink- able, the ‘how’ is terrifying.” The killing appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. Prosecutors said the New Generation cartel lookouts who were watching the house mistook the students for rival gang members and abducted them on a road after they left the house. Prosecutors said the gang took the students to a safe house and interrogated them. The gang beat one student so badly he died, leading them to kill the other two, officials said. They then took them to another house, where prose- cutors found jugs and tubs of sulfuric acid. Traces of blood and the DNA of two of the students were found at the houses. Two suspects have been arrested and several others are being sought. Officials close to the investigation said one of the suspects ar- rested is a local rapper who has some following on social media.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 william.forsythe@caymancaptive.ky Applications should be submitted by pdf only, no later than 18th of May 2018 to: The above Foundation is currently offering a scholarship for a maximum of four years to a Caymanian High School graduate. Preference will be given to those candidates who intend to pursue a career in the nancial services industry upon graduation from university. However applications from all disciplines will be accepted. Candidates should be prepared to begin their university degree programme in the 2018 school year. The choice of university must be approved by the Foundation. Applicants should possess a minimum of ve good passes at CXC or ICGSE or equivalent. Evidence of educational achievements and, if possible university acceptance should accompany the application. In addition, a brief biography and a narrative as to the reason for the choice of University/Course should be included. Additional details and an application form can be obtained at www.caymancaptive.ky “A scholarship from IMAC has been a tremendous opportunity of which I will always be grateful for. It has enabled me to pursue a degree at a top university to compete against some of the most intelligent students in the UK. Similarly, becoming a doctor means so much to me and this journey would have been a nancial burden without the generosity of the IMAC scholarship. Through IMAC I have embarked on a path where I can offer so much more to the people of the Cayman Islands than I would if I had not had this opportunity. Name: Whitney General Degree: Medicine (MB ChB) and BSc in Health Sciences at the University of Bristol S C H O L A R S H I P Whitney GENERAL INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION Whitney GENERAL Whitney GENERAL Whitney INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION CURRENT RECIPIENTCURRENT RECIPIENT and there’s usually a phys- ical element involved – that doesn’t cover other matters that are being reported,” RCIPS Inspector Kevin Ash- worth said Friday. “There’s systematic abuse, financial abuse … revenge cyber, re- venge porn, it’s called.” These types of crimes are not often reported as do- mestic abuse cases immedi- ately, but with the creation of the RCIPS-led Multi- Agency Safeguarding Hub or MASH Unit last year, In- spector Ashworth said more such abuse cases are now being identified. For instance, in a situ- ation where an ex-spouse or jilted lover posts porno- graphic pictures of their former partner on the in- ternet, the offense of mis- using an Information and Communications Tech- nology [ICT] network is re- ally a form of domestic abuse, Mr. Ashworth said. “But the actual crime is reported as issues with ICT,” he said. Mr. Ashworth said police and Children and Family Services staff at the com- bined MASH Unit are now keeping more precise track of all these types of of- fenses, which is one reason the number of domestic vio- lence cases shot up last year. “Blackmail can also be a domestic issue,” Inspector Ashworth said. “It’s very hard to put our finger on the range of crimes that happen in domestic violence … the fallback is how many re- ferrals we get.” According to RCIPS data, 990 cases involving domestic violence inci- dents were referred to the MASH Unit [or the former Family Support Unit] in 2017. That does not include 491 other matters where juvenile “safeguarding” was required. That is a total of 1,481 domestic abuse investiga- tion referrals, a 46 percent increase over 2016. When child safeguarding reports – incidents where certain state protective measures for endangered children are required – are considered, the numbers get even worse. There were 273 such cases reported during 2016, and 491 last year – an 80 percent in- crease in one year. However, in the case of domestic abuse or child abuse, more reports to the RCIPS might be considered a good thing – bringing to light a serious problem in Cayman that has previously tended to be hidden from society’s view, according to an RCIPS evaluation of the 2017 data. “The establishment of the MASH [Unit] … in March 2017 may account for some of the increase in domestic and safeguarding referrals,” a police crime statistics report released Friday read. “The subse- quent success of Child Safe- guarding Investigation Unit (CSIU) detectives in court on several high profile mat- ters may also have per- suaded some victims of vio- lence and abuse, especially historic abuse, to come for- ward and make a report. “Detectives are confi- dent that the increase in safeguarding referrals in 2017 does not represent a spike in the incidence of such crimes over this past year, but instead a differ- ence in the reporting be- havior of victims.” For Inspector Ashworth and the MASH Unit, the numbers mean they have a lot more work to do to stem the domestic abuse problem. “It’s an exponential in- crease [in the number of cases],” he said. “But, cer- tainly, it’s not getting out of control. Incidents do happen on a daily basis. That means more work, more referrals and we must prioritize to address the more high-risk cases.” Police will also get some assistance when the long- planned domestic vio- lence court comes on line to help “fast-track” the higher-risk cases – where family members are in im- mediate danger – through the legal system, and pro- tection needed is afforded more swiftly. What is MASH? The Multi-Agency Safe- guarding Hub is a joint po- lice, social services and health services unit that employs 10 police officers and eight social workers, as well as a psychologist. The agency works with local schools and the gov- ernment health services to investigate cases where family abuse is suspected. Handling of Cayman family abuse investigations, particularly those involving child abuse, came under scrutiny in 2016, when a Grand Court judge publicly criticized a police probe of sexual abuse allegations made by an 11-year-old girl after the investigation was “inexplicably” delayed for 18 months. According to a report done by U.K. law enforce- ment experts at the request of the former governor, overall mismanagement – rather than specific officers’ failures – led to the possible abandonment of three re- ported child abuse cases be- fore those matters came be- fore the court. The review, conducted by three U.K. officers, looked at investigative delays and is- sues at the RCIPS Family Support Unit between 2013 and 2017. It was determined that two child sex abuse cases would likely be abandoned, while a third, which also had serious errors, could still go to court. Domestic abuse reports double in two years CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Red indicates domestic violence referrals, while blue indicates juvenile safeguarding referrals. – SOURCE: RCIPS 1000 750 500 250 0 451 225 742 273 990 491 20172016 2015 Domestic violence and juvenile safeguarding reports, 2017The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Vincent Duhaney 26 Feb, 1957 – 20 April, 2016 Wishing you were still here with us, You are always in our thoughts. Sadly missed by your Wife, Children and Grandchildren 2nd Anniversary in Heaven populations were relatively stable, the numbers of both types of boobies appeared to be declining. “We are seeing a negative population trend,” she said. “One of the biggest pressures we discovered comes from feral cat predation – we lost five adult breeding birds on a single weekend in the Brac last month, which is a high percentage because the popu- lation is quite small.” The Department of En- vironment had planned to partner with the Department of Agriculture for a cull of feral cats on the Sister Is- lands, but that project has been postponed amid a legal challenge from animal wel- fare groups who are calling for a more humane approach to the problem. According to the ini- tial finding of the seabird study, there are fewer than 200 brown boobies on the Brac, potentially as few as 120. The red-footed booby colony on Little Cayman numbers around 2,100, while there were 1,300 frigate birds, according to popula- tion estimates. Ms. Haakonsson said re- searchers had used drones and ground surveys of nests to monitor the birds. The two- year study ended last month and the findings will go to- ward the publication of sci- entific papers that will help inform conservation policy. Birds were tracked during the study using tiny GPS tags attached to their legs to map their movements. “The three species didn’t really overlap. They had very different foraging strate- gies, some of which were quite new to science. We have some really interesting pub- lications coming up,” Ms. Haakonsson said. “Red-footed boobies were leaving for five days at a time and going as far as Negril [in Jamaica]. Brown boobies were foraging more locally.” Rhiannon Meier, a re- search associate at the Uni- versities of Liverpool and Ex- eter and the coordinator of the Cayman seabirds project, said more than 150 tracks had been recovered for brown boobies, 50 from red-footed boobies, and around 100 from frigate birds. All the tracks come from adult birds tagged during the chick rearing pe- riod. Additional tagging and tracking work is being done for immature frigate birds. She said the data showed distinct habits associated with each species. Brown boobies stay close to their nesting sites on the Brac, usually making trips shorter than 12 hours and never going beyond 44 miles from the colony. Red-footed boobies, based around a colony in Booby Pond, Little Cayman, trav- eled as far as 186 miles from their nests and were gone for days at a time. Frigate birds, which are much larger, trav- eled up to 560 miles from the islands, making trips that varied from a few hours up to 12 days to forage for food. Ms. Meier said the re- search was vital be- cause the seabird popula- tions on the Sister Islands were significant. “The red-footed booby population is considered in- ternationally important and is one of the largest in the Caribbean, and both the frigate bird and brown booby populations are region- ally important in terms of size,” she added. He said they are oper- ated through a high-tech automated system that will allow operators to pre-se- lect containers for pickup before customers arrive. The new system will make operations more efficient, as well as making much better use of the space at the yard, he added. “We were reaching our capacity in terms of storage, and we anticipate there will be increased cargo coming in as the pop- ulation continues to grow.” He cited increasing con- struction, a number of hotel projects and the up- coming cruise berthing de- velopment as among the projects that would in- crease the amount of cargo coming into Cayman. In an analysis of the project for the Central Planning Authority, the planning department ex- plained how the innova- tion would also increase the capacity of the yard by eliminating the need for “drive aisles” between the stacks of containers, cre- ating what it described as a much “tighter footprint.” Cranes will create multi-story container tower CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Seabird study team highlights feral cat threat CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Department of Environment researcher Jane Haakonsson examines a tagged red-footed booby on Little Cayman. George HW Bush hospitalized a day after wife’s funeral HOUSTON (AP) – Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized in Houston with an infection, just after attending the fu- neral of his wife, Barbara, a spokesman said Monday. Jim McGrath said on Twitter that the 93-year-old Bush is “responding to treat- ments and appears to be re- covering.” He was admitted Sunday morning to Houston Methodist Hospital after an infection spread to his blood, McGrath said. Barbara Bush was laid to rest Saturday in a cere- mony attended by her hus- band and former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and their wives, along with current first lady Melania Trump. She was 92, and she and her hus- band had been married 73 years – the longest presiden- tial marriage in U.S. history. The elder Bush uses a wheelchair and an electric scooter for mobility after de- veloping a form of Parkin- son’s disease, and he has needed hospital treatment several times in recent years for respiratory problems. He attended the funeral wearing a pair of knitted socks decorated in blue, red and yellow books – a tribute to his late wife’s work pro- moting literacy. McGrath would not elab- orate Monday night on the specifics of Bush’s condi- tion, saying additional up- dates would be issued “as events warrant.” But he said the 41st president was eager to get well so he can get to his summer home in Ken- nebunkport, Maine. “He’s the most goal-ori- ented person on this planet,” McGrath said. Their son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, indicated during his eulogy Saturday that his father had been hos- pitalized recently at the same time Barbara Bush was in the hospital for the last time. Those hospitaliza- tions were not publicly dis- closed at the time. “I think Dad got sick on purpose so that he could be with her,” Jeb Bush said. First lady Melania Trump, who attended the funeral, sent her best wishes to the former president Monday evening. “Sending healing thoughts of strength, along with prayers, for President George HW Bush tonight,” Melania Trump tweeted. On Friday, during the public viewing of Bar- bara Bush’s casket, George H.W. Bush offered his hand to many of the around 2,500 people who walked through the church to pay their respects. A year ago this month, Bush spent two weeks in the hospital for treatment of pneumonia and chronic bron- chitis, a constant irritation of the lining of tubes that carry air to one’s lungs. Bush’s doc- tors said chronic bronchitis is a condition more prevalent with age and can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia. Bush was hospitalized for 16 days in January 2017 for pneumonia. During that hos- pital stay, which included time in intensive care, doc- tors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator. He also was hospitalized in 2015 in Maine after falling at home and breaking a bone in his neck, and in December 2014 for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues. People in their 90s with Parkinson’s disease are often at higher risk of pneumonia and other infections be- cause their swallowing pro- cess can be compromised, said Dr. David Reuben, pro- fessor of geriatric medicine at the UCLA medical school in Los Angeles. “And the stress of losing a loved one can weaken the im- mune system,” he said. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, he said, while viral infections require other treatments. In- fections that spread to the blood usually are not viral, however, he said. The prognosis for such a case would depend on a number of factors, including heart rate, blood pressure and oxygenation, Reuben said. “The more of these param- eters are abnormal, the more serious the case is,” he said. George Herbert Walker Bush served as president from 1989 to 1993. Born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massa- chusetts, Bush also served as a congressman, CIA di- rector and Ronald Reagan’s vice president. Former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, left, and George H.W. Bush arrive at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for a funeral service for former first lady Barbara Bush, Saturday, in Houston. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018 CL UB TR OPICANA THURSD A Y 26TH APRIL FROM 7PM MIDNIGHT @ RO Y AL P ALMS BEA CH CL UB $30 Members | $35 Non-Members on sale now at eventpro.ky Ticket price includes a welcome drink and canapés. Funds raised from this event will support CIMPA's continued investment in training and development opportunities for local marketing students and industry professionals. For more information, email events@cimpa.kyFor more information, email events@cimpa.ky ROYAL PALMS BEACH CLUB Toronto driver charged with 10 counts of 1st degree murder TORONTO (AP) – A 25-year- old who plowed a van into a crowded Toronto sidewalk was ordered held Tuesday on 10 counts of murder and 13 of attempted murder as Canadian authorities and the public sought to make sense of what appeared to be one of the deadliest mass murders in the country’s modern history. Alek Minassian showed little overt emotion as he made a brief appearance in a Toronto courtroom in a white jumpsuit and hand- cuffs. The judge ordered him detained without bond and scheduled the next hearing for May 10. Police, meanwhile, still appeared to be gathering evi- dence. About 20 officers made their way down the van’s deadly path on Yonge Street searching for any evidence. Nearby, mourners had put to- gether a makeshift memorial to the victims. “It was like he was playing a video game, trying to kill as many people as possible,” said Panna Patel, 42, who stopped by the memorial and had been at the scene a day earlier, getting cash from an ATM as it occurred. “He was looking people directly in the eye, making eye contact, it was so scary. He wasn’t re- morseful at all.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed the possi- bility of terrorism, saying that authorities see no national security element in the case. He told a news confer- ence that the incident “hasn’t changed the overall threat level in Canada,” though it occurred as Cabinet minis- ters from the G-7 nations were meeting in Toronto. Authorities so far had not disclosed a possible motive or cause, though “the incident definitely looked deliberate,” Police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters at a late-night news conference. Saunders said Minas- sian, who lives in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, had not been known to police previously. An online social media profile described him as a college student. Authorities released few details in the case, saying the investigation was still under way, with witnesses being in- terviewed and surveillance video being examined. “We are looking very strongly to what the exact motivation was for this par- ticular incident to take place,” Saunders said. “We need every single piece of this puzzle so we can have a fulsome picture and ac- count as to exactly what took place here.” The driver was heading south on busy Yonge Street around 1:30 p.m. and the streets were crowded with people enjoying an unseason- ably warm day when the van jumped onto the sidewalk. Ali Shaker, who was driving near the van at the time, told Canadian broad- cast outlet CP24 that the driver appeared to be moving deliberately through the crowd at more than 30 mph. “He just went on the side- walk,” a distraught Shaker said. “He just started hitting everybody, man. He hit every single person on the side- walk. Anybody in his way he would hit.” Witness Peter Kang told CTV News that the driver did not seem to make any effort to stop. “If it was an accident he would have stopped,” Kang said. “But the person just went through the sidewalk. He could have stopped.” Video broadcast on sev- eral Canadian outlets showed police arresting the driver, dressed in dark clothes, after officers surrounded him and his rental Ryder van sev- eral blocks from where the incident occurred in the North York neighborhood of northern Toronto. He ap- peared to make some sort of gesture at the police with an object in his hand just before they ordered him to lie down on the ground and took him away. Witness Phil Zullo said that he saw police arresting the suspect and people “strewn all over the road” where the incident occurred. “I must have seen about five, six people being resus- citated by bystanders and by ambulance drivers,” Zullo said. “It was awful. Brutal.” Police shut down the Yonge and Finch intersec- tion following the incident and Toronto’s transit agency said it had suspended service on the subway line running through the area. Trudeau on Monday ex- pressed his sympathies for those involved. “We should all feel safe walking in our cities and communities,” he said. “We are monitoring this situa- tion closely, and will con- tinue working with our law enforcement partners around the country to en- sure the safety and security of all Canadians.” The stretch of Yonge Street where the victims were struck remains closed to traffic and was expected to stay blocked off for sev- eral days as police continue what is likely to be a lengthy investigation. The incident prompted police to beef up security and close streets around the Air Canada Centre on Monday night for the Toronto-Boston NHL playoff game. Police tweeted that similar road clo- sures may be in effect for the Toronto Raptors NBA playoff game on Wednesday night. Police investigate after a van mounted a sidewalk, crashing into pedestrians, in Toronto Monday. – PHOTO: APNext >