ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 High of 88 Low of 75 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 GUN AMNESTY: ONE TOOL IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST CRIME LOCAL | PAGE 6 AIRPORT UPGRADE COST WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC UNTIL 2019 WATSON RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER 28 MONTHS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson was arrested by Anti-Corruption Com- mission officers Monday immediately after his release on license from Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward. According to law enforcement sources, Mr. Watson, 47, had been granted early release from prison by the Cayman Islands Condi- tional Release Board after serving 28 months of a seven-year sentence he received for his role in the CarePay hospital contract fraud. Mr. Watson was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2016 to seven years’ imprisonment on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government in the CarePay scheme, as well as for three corrup- tion-related charges in the fraud, which pros- ecutors said skimmed a total of nearly $6 mil- lion from public coffers over three years. Cayman’s current Conditional Release Law requires prison inmates who receive sentences of more than one year to serve at least 60 per- cent of that time in confinement, after which they may be paroled. Sixty percent of Mr. Watson’s seven-year sentence would have been about 50 months, but he served only 28 months. However, the Conditional Release Law, passed by the legislature in 2014, took effect on Feb. 15, 2016 – 10 days after Mr. Watson re- ceived his sentence for the CarePay fraud. Consequently, Mr. Watson’s sentence pe- riod was decided under the old Prisons Law which, in certain cases, allowed inmates who showed good behavior while incarcerated to be released much earlier depending on the Customs K-9 dog retires in ‘Blaze’ of glory Blaze, a silky-coated beagle- mix, is retiring after four years of service on the cus- toms K-9 unit and is looking for a new home. Hailing from Maricopa County, Arizona, where he worked at the Sheriff’s Office as a narcotics dog, Blaze was seven years old when he ar- rived in the Cayman Islands in December 2014 and was put to work almost immediately as a customs sniffer dog. Blaze is the most recent K-9 “officer” to be retired, fol- lowing the retirement ear- lier this year of veteran black lab Buster, after 10 years of active service. Deputy Collector of Cus- toms Jeff Jackson said, “We are now looking for a new home for Blaze, who has served the Cayman Islands people and the government faithfully and al- ways eagerly for a number of years now.” “Blaze certainly deserves rest, relaxation and a happy family time,” he added. Customs K-9 unit senior of- ficer Malachi Powery explained that the department was now looking for a “good, loving family” to give Blaze a new home where he can spend the rest of his days. “Blaze will do well as a single dog in a family that is active and can provide walks and pursue other activities with him,” Mr. Powery said. “We are particular and want to ensure that Blaze goes to a suitable family who will treat him very well. He has been a loved member of our K-9 team.” Anyone interested in providing a home for Blaze can email jeff.jackson@gov.ky or malachi.powery@gov.ky. Builders Law deadline looms for contractors JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Construction businesses who fail to reg- ister under the new Builders Law could find themselves unable to get permits for their projects after the end of July. The Builders Board is urging all con- struction and trade companies to submit their applications to the board as soon as possible. Dave Johnston, a member of the board, said the message to businesses was simple: “Register your company. It is not difficult, it is not expensive. Don’t get left behind and get put in a predicament where you want to pull a permit and cannot.” The Builders Law was introduced last year and the board has been reviewing ap- plications based on the grandfathering pro- cess of registration in various categories for existing construction entities. Builders can apply to be licensed in five categories covering the full range of businesses, from small trades contrac- tors to major contractors responsible for 10-story hotels or major national infra- structure works. Heber Arch, chairman of the Builders Board, said the response so far had been excellent with a “very small amount” of complaints from those who could not K-9 ‘officer’ Blaze takes a stroll. The Customs Department is seeking a new home for the dog, who is retiring after four years of active service. The Builders Board is urging all construction and trade companies to register under the new Builders Law as soon as possible. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 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) ADRIFT (PG13) 1:10 I 7:30 I 10:00 AMERICAN ANIMALS (R) 12:30 I 4:30 I 7:00 I 9:55 AVENGERS INFINITY WAR PART 1 (PG13) 1:00 I 3:30 I 6:40 I 9:40 BREAKING IN (PG13) 3:10 I 5:20 I 7:30 I 9:45 DEADPOOL 2 (R) 12:50 I 4:15 I 6:40 I 9:45 VIP SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 1:15 I 3:40 I 3:45 VIP 6:45 VIP I 9:30 caymanfirst.com OFFICE CLOSURE Cayman First Insurance advises that due to its Employee Fun Day, our offices will be closed on Friday, June 8th, 2018. We will reopen on Tuesday, June 12th, 2018. POLICE OFFICERS RECOVER STOLEN WATCHES, RINGS Police are trying to trace the owners of sev- eral watches and rings that were found while of- ficers were executing a search warrant last week. The items are suspected to have been stolen. Pictures of the items, which include two diamond rings and a number of watches, can be viewed on the RCIPS website at www. rcips.ky or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RCIPS. Anyone who identi- fies any of the items as be- longing to them should contact DC 198 Mendez at 916-1621 or DC 344 Gomes at 926-2965. In order to claim any items, individ- uals will be required to present proof of ownership, which can include pictures, receipts or serial numbers. CAYMAN ATTENDS INTEGRITY COMMISSION CONFERENCE Cayman Islands represen- tatives joined country leaders from across the Caribbean at a Commonwealth integ- rity and anti-corruption con- ference that opened Monday afternoon in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. This fourth annual confer- ence of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of In- tegrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies has as its theme “Counting the Real Cost of Corruption – En- gaging Everyone in the Fight.” Rosie Whittaker, chair of the Standards in Public Life Commission, and commis- sion member Pastor Shion O’Connor are representing the Cayman Islands at the week-long conference. The association’s confer- ences are designed to help Caribbean countries “to co- operate across borders, ex- change best practices and develop regional anti-corrup- tion initiatives,” according to the Commonwealth Secre- tariat at the launch of the as- sociation in June 2015. Some 10 Caribbean Com- monwealth countries and Panama are represented. CAMANA BAY BARTENDERS LEARN WHEN TO SAY ‘NO’ Bartenders for Ca- mana Bay restaurants re- cently went through several hours of training on how to tell when patrons have had enough to drink. The Training for Inter- vention Procedures was held May 28 and more than 15 food and beverage out- lets participated. The pro- gram lasted three to five hours for participants and included a certification exam. Those passing the exam received a three-year, internationally recognized certification. “It is important to us that Camana Bay remains a safe and enjoyable envi- ronment for all of us who live, visit and work here,” Dart Real Estate vice pres- ident Linda Podlaski said in a news release. “Of- fering the TIPS training program to our bars and restaurants is just one initiative that we believe supports these goals.” The program is con- ducted by the National Drug Council. The agency has been running the ses- sions for 14 years. Cayman waitress describes Guatemala eruption aftermath JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Laura Buttigieg stepped out of her hotel in the southern Guatemalan city of Antigua on Sunday to find the streets covered in ash. Lava and smoke were pouring from the crater of the nearby Volcan de Fuego. “The ground and cars were painted black and it was raining what looked like mud. We realized it was vol- canic ash and then heard the news of the eruption,” said Ms. Buttigieg, a Cayman Is- lands waitress and former Cayman Compass reporter who is currently traveling the world with her 2-year-old daughter, Ivy. Early reports indicate that at least 69 people died in the eruption, which buried rural villages in a stream of lava and ash. Thousands more were left homeless in the tragedy and rescue workers have estimated the death toll could rise in the coming days. Ms. Buttigieg, her daughter and Ivy’s father Jono Firstbrook, had been hiking the neighboring ac- tive Pacaya volcano the day before and had stopped to toast marshmallows on the steaming lava. On their way back, they could see smoke issuing from the crater of Fuego on the horizon, which they later discovered was a precursor to a much larger eruption. They had initially planned an overnight hike to the Acat- enango volcano, which in- cluded a trek close to the crater of Fuego. They changed their plans, however, due to bad weather and hiked to Pacaya instead. She said she did not feel in danger, although she was close enough when Fuego erupted to take pic- tures from her hotel of a fiery orange glow coming from the volcano. “It didn’t feel like a close call for us but it makes you realize how close to danger you can become,” she said. “It’s very surreal to be so close to a natural disaster. I think the strongest emotion is surrounding those fam- ilies who lost loved ones. The people are so kind and friendly. It’s heartbreaking to see the death and destruc- tion for them.” According to interna- tional news reports, the ma- jority of the victims lived in small villages on the slopes of the volcano and were killed by what is known as pyroclastic flow, a searing cloud of debris. More than 3,000 people were evacuated and rescue workers were still searching for survivors Tuesday amid a layer of ash and mud that had covered much of the landscape sur- rounding the volcano. Ms. Buttigieg, who worked most recently at Yoshi Sushi restaurant on West Bay Road, plans to spend six months traveling before returning to Grand Cayman. Laura Buttigieg, Jono Firstbrook and their daughter Ivy can see smoke issuing from Volcan de Fuego as they hike a neighboring volcano. POLICE INVESTIGATE RAPE REPORTED IN SAVANNAH Police are investigating a rape that allegedly hap- pened on Monday, May 28, in the Savannah area. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice, officers received a re- port from a woman who said she was driving to- ward Bodden Town around 4:30 a.m. on May 28, when she pulled off the road and exited her vehicle near the intersection of Astral Way and Homestead Crescent. The woman told police she was grabbed from be- hind by a man wearing a mask and dark clothing who was accompanied by three other masked men, pulled back into her vehicle, driven to a nearby location, and raped. The culprits then left the location, police said. Police did not say whether any arrests had been made in relation to the incident. Police are asking anyone who has information or who saw anything suspicious in the Savannah area at around 4:30 a.m. on Monday morning, May 28, to contact Bodden Town police at 649-2220.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 Dorothy Robinson, Room Attendant at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, receives international recognition by Marriott International Dorothy has been recognized among Marriott International’s 177,000 employees world- wide and has been awarded the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence distinction. The award, named after the legendary company’s founder, honors the company’s finest associates for their achievement, character, dedication, effort and perseverance. With over eight years of experience in the Housekeeping department of the resort, Dorothy could not imagine working anywhere else. She’s fondly known as the “singing housekeeper”, singing to guests on their birthdays, anniversaries, or just be- cause of a special request for a song. Ms. Dorothy is characterized by her grace and joy, and for treating the resort’s guests as she would her own family in her own home. Originally from Jamaica, Dorothy moved to the Cayman Islands in the 1980s. After Hurricane Ivan devastated the island, she lost much of her be- longings and her home and she was in need of a job to recover. She landed a job as a housekeeper at the resort and at the time, she had no intention of staying in the job for longer than a year. That all changed after she fell in love with The Ritz-Carlton’s motto: “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentle- men” and eight years down the road, here she is! Darlenis Villaroel, Director of Housekeeping at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman says, “Above all, Dorothy is a mother. She is dedicated and compas- sionate. She puts her family first - both her personal family and her Ritz-Carlton family. The stories of guest experiences with Ms. Dorothy keep coming in after all these years, all with an underlying thread: her kindness, her smile and her utmost dedication to deliver happiness and comfort to every guest she meets. “The job she does is not necessarily the most fun job every day. It’s a hard job,” expressed Marc Langevin, General Manager, “but she makes it something exceptional. When you think about the mission that every Ritz-Carlton Lady and Gen- tlemen has to provide genuine care, which is where she’s a champion.” The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is thrilled to share this fantastic recognition and is proud to call Ms. Dorothy Robinson a Ritz-Carlton Lady! Dorothy Robinson and Director of Housekeeping, Darlenis Villaroel Dorothy Robinson and General Manager, Marc Langevin Amba Lamb receives recognition as one of the leading beverage professionals in Marriott Amba Lamb has been named as the Global Award Winner for the 2017 Service Awards for Bar and Restaurant Excellence (SABRE) as the Beverage Professional for Classic Luxury Brands of Marriott Inter- national. Her strong commitment and im- pressive talent in the Food and Beverage industry have made her deserving of this distinction. With over four years of experi- ence at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Amba has been an outstanding beverage professional, with a strong passion for her craft and a dedication to elevate the bever- age experiences at the resort. For this global award, she proudly represents not only the resort but the entire Caribbean and Latin America region for the brand. Amba, originally from New Zea- land, moved to the Cayman Islands in 2014 and began her Ritz-Carlton career at the Periwinkle restaurant (now known as Andiamo) and later moved on to Seven res- taurant as a bartender. She was recently pro- moted to Beverage Manager for the resort. Among other distinctions that Amba has received, a 2017 World Class win in the Cayman Islands stands out, when she went on to participate in the global World Class competition in Mexico City, owning a spot as one of the best mixologists in the world and representing the island. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is proud to share this recognition and extends the warmest congratulations to Amba. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman announces new Director of Residences, Theresa Leacock-Broderick The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is thrilled to announce the appointment of Theresa Leacock- Broderick as the new Director for The Residenc- es. Ms. Leacock-Broderick joins the luxury resort with over 25 years of experience in hospitality and tourism management. As a Cayman Islands na- tive, Ms. Leacock-Broderick has an extensive background of experience on the island that includes leadership positions at The National Trust for the Cayman Islands, BrandSource Home Gallery, Plantana Condo Resort and previous experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman as Executive Director of Culture, En- vironment and Destination Services. She is also an active member of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), currently serving as presi- dent. “We are very hap- py to welcome Theresa back to The Ritz-Carlton. I’ve known her for many years and have worked with her in other capacities, particularly as President of CITA. She understands the needs and expectations of our Resident Owners and represents The Ritz-Carlton culture of service very well,” expressed Marc Langevin, General Manager. “She is a high- ly experienced professional and a remarkable leader, with amazing commitment and dedication. We are confident that she will provide an exceptional experience for our Owners and will lead The Resi- dences team to future success.” Ms. Leacock-Broderick has also been a leader in the com- munity through her active par- ticipation in the Cayman Islands Government Councils and Joint Public/Private Sector Committees, the Commissioner’s Parole Board and the Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Leacock-Broderick said, “I’m excited to be a part of this outstanding organization and I look forward to contributing to their high standards of excellence.” ADVERTORIALThe 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” Was Watergate worse than the present scandal? Do you know what the crime was in Watergate? It has been 46 years since the famous break-in at the Watergate hotel in June 1972. In sum, officials of President Nixon’s re-elec- tion campaign were trying to obtain information on what their opponents were doing, by bugging the DNC of- fices, in order to lessen any chance of losing the elec- tion. (One of the ironies is that the only working bug was on the phone of a mid- level staffer that revealed no useful information.) Even though there were fewer than a dozen individ- uals involved in the original break-in, 69 people were ul- timately indicted and 48 pleaded guilty or were con- victed. Members of the Nixon team were able to co-opt a few current and/ or former FBI, CIA and IRS officials to use their expe- rience or agencies as a po- litical weapon. Mr. Nixon was far ahead in the polls, and eventu- ally won 49 out of 50 states in both a huge popular and electoral vote landslide. If the Nixon people had played by the rules, his vote total might have even been higher. Some who were involved justified their actions in a be- lief that the election of Nix- on’s opponent, George Mc- Govern, would have posed a great danger to the country. Sen. McGovern appeared to be hopelessly naive about both foreign and economic policy. Much of the Wash- ington establishment was fearful of him, including many leading Democrats. Mr. Nixon was not well liked but, unlike Mr. Mc- Govern, he was viewed as ex- perienced and competent. Most of those convicted allowed themselves to be dragged into aspects of the cover-up, out of loyalty to the president and the ad- ministration, or because they believed they were acting patriotically by doing what- ever was necessary to keep Mr. McGovern from gaining power. And, of course, many of them had career aspira- tions that would have been delayed or derailed if Mr. McGovern won. The current election scandal is motivated by many of the same impulses that drove the Watergate lawbreakers. Hillary Clinton seems to have had a des- perate fear of losing, even though she was far ahead in the polls. Why else would she have engaged in the dirty tricks she employed against the Bernie Sanders cam- paign and used her own pri- vate computer servers in clear violation of the rules? President Obama, although appearing confident of a Clinton victory, apparently feared a Trump win would undo his legacy – which is precisely what has happened – and thus it had to be pre- vented by whatever means. The leadership of the Jus- tice Department, IRS, FBI, CIA and others in the Obama administration have been, and continue to show them- selves to be, fierce Demo- cratic partisans. Again, their motivations for what in- creasingly appears as ex- tensive inappropriate and illegal behavior seem to be much like their Watergate predecessors. Former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former director of Na- tional Intelligence James Clapper have all publicly stated that they do not be- lieve Mr. Trump is fit to be president – with the implicit argument that stopping him is their patriotic duty – the law be damned. A number of their under- lings, such as Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, etc. seem to have had sim- ilar motivations as revealed in the famous Strzok “insur- ance policy” text message. Part of the insurance policy seems to have been the cre- ation of the phony dossier which was used to get the FISA warrant to bug mem- bers of the Trump campaign and, like Watergate, the bug seems to have produced no useful information. The Russian-collu- sion cover story falls fur- ther apart each week. The Russians have been trying to mess with other coun- tries’ elections for 100 years. Anyone who is surprised does not know history. The Mueller investigation is a sideshow, whose credi- bility will only continue to weaken as more people be- come aware that Mr. Mueller hired Democrat donors and hit men, and not serious ob- jective investigators. There are also many questionable activities in Mr. Mueller’s past – some of which have become known and others yet to come. Each day, as the “investigation” continues, Mr. Mueller’s repu- tation will diminish. Watergate resulted in two attorneys general being in- dicted (John Mitchell was convicted, and Richard Klein- dienst pleaded guilty to a lesser charge). Many senior White House and agency staff, and Nixon lawyers were also convicted, including a former secretary of Com- merce (Maurice Stans). The most common of- fense was perjury, including lying about illegal campaign contributions and spending. As with all such past scan- dals, the participants turned on each other in order to obtain lighter treatment – and the current scandal is most likely to follow the same playbook. The open question is, how many former Obama officials will be indicted? There are videos of a number of them where they contradict each other and even themselves – which is perjury. The final irony is that if both Richard Nixon and Hillary Clinton had played by the rules, Mr. Nixon would not have had to resign, and Mrs. Clinton would be president. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of Improbable Success Productions and on the board of the American Council for Capital Formation. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS “A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.” – John Wayne Will this month’s gun amnesty rid Cayman of the scourge of illegal firearms? Not entirely. Still, it is a worthwhile effort. The amnesty offers a convenient way for licensed firearm owners to dispose safely of weapons they no longer use, thereby ensuring they do not fall into the wrong hands. It offers a critical opportunity for those in possession of illegal firearms to get on the right side of the law. (Need we remind readers that the penalty for illegal possession of a firearm is a 10-year stint in prison?) Perhaps equally important, the amnesty is a reaf- firmation of our community values: A clear signal that Cayman does not countenance the plethora of firearms that plagues too many other jurisdictions; that we are, and intend to remain, safe and peace- able islands. Until June 30, anyone possessing a firearm illegally may turn it in to police or participating pastors without fear of repercussions. Weapons must be unloaded, wrapped in a plastic bag and duct taped. Ammunition should be similarly wrapped and secured. All can be turned in to any police station from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, or to the pastors at any one of 11 partici- pating churches. We encourage anyone who has found themselves in possession of a firearm to take advantage of this opportunity, and to encourage others to do the same. Three previous amnesties declared by police since 2005 have yielded 48 weapons and many hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Having those guns “off the market” is unquestionably good for public safety. But while gun amnesties are a positive gesture, we should not mistake them for a panacea. Here, as elsewhere, it is difficult to know exactly how great an impact gun amnesty programs truly have, as the corre- lation between the presence of illegal guns and occur- rence of gun-related crimes is complex and murky. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has noted a tentative, but perhaps spurious, correlation between the number of weapons seized and the number of gun-involved crimes that are reported. For example, last year, they seized 29 illegal firearms and received reports of 25 gun-related crimes. In 2016, police seized only 15 guns and recorded 36 firearms-related crimes. Those figures reflect results from larger, more well-known amnesty programs, such as Australia’s gun buybacks in 1996 and 2003. Still, it cannot be known whether it was the buybacks themselves, greater awareness of the problem, or some unknown other factors that trig- gered the improvements. There are obvious reasons to believe that guns recovered during amnesty periods represent “low- hanging fruit,” leaving weapons held by hardened crim- inals – the ones most likely to be used in violent crime – to remain untouched. Nor do amnesties staunch the flow of new illegal weapons into Cayman. It is not easy to keep guns out of our community – it is an ongoing struggle compounded by many factors (not least, our long, quiet coastline). That does not diminish our support for the amnesty – nor should it dissuade anyone from participating. A multiplicity of strategies is needed to maintain the peace. Gun amnesty: One tool in our fight against crime Watergate redux? RICHARD W. RAHN The current election scandal is motivated by many of the same impulses that drove the Watergate lawbreakers. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Airport upgrade cost will not be made public until 2019 KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Though officials have confirmed that the price of the Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport upgrade will exceed its original $55 mil- lion estimate, the project’s final cost will not be made public until 2019. Ombudsman and Cayman Islands Airports Authority of- ficials told this to the Com- pass in response to a freedom of information request to as- certain exactly how much the cost and the scope of the air- port upgrade has increased since its inception. Airports Authority officials have ad- mitted that the project will cost more than $55 million due to changes in the project, but have declined to pro- vide specifics. “Given that the CIAA has not finalized this process (Owen Roberts Airport Re- development Project), I be- lieve it would be premature and not in the public interest to release those records at this time,” Ombudsman Se- nior Appeals and Policy Analyst Charlene Roberts told the Compass. The Airports Authority will release the project’s final cost once redevelopment is finalized, which will likely be during the first quarter of 2019, added CIAA Office Manager Nadine Ramsay. As recently as December, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell told the public that the airport upgrade was on target to meet its $55 million budget. But in April, CIAA CEO Al- bert Anderson said that is no longer the case, as changes were made to the project that increased its price tag. “We know there have been change orders, we know the project will cost more than $55 million, but negotiations are ongoing and that’s pretty much all I can say at this point,” he said at the time. At an event marking the opening of the facility’s new departure lounge in May, Mr. Anderson again acknowl- edged there had been budget overruns, which he attributed to a mix of unforeseen prob- lems and additional features added to the design. He said the redevelop- ment would likely be around 10 percent over budget once complete. “We are going to go past $55 million. I don’t have a fix yet on how much that is because we are still negoti- ating some of the changes with the contractors,” he said at the time. Mr. Anderson said the ad- ditional costs were necessary and would come out of the Cayman Islands Airports Au- thority’s budget. The project is being funded through a mix of CIAA revenues, col- lected through a passenger facilities charge levied on every airport user, and a gov- ernment cash injection. Once finished, the up- graded airport will have a maximum annual passenger capacity of around 2.5 mil- lion. The airport was origi- nally built to handle about 500,000 passengers annually but currently accommodates more than twice that many. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service is in- viting the public to nominate police officers for its annual Outstanding Service Awards. The nomination deadline is Friday, June 8. The awards were estab- lished to recognize police of- ficers, support staff, special constables and members of the public for “outstanding and meritorious service that enhances public safety and police/public partner- ships,” according to an RCIPS press release. The selection criteria are as follows: Police Officer of the Year/ Auxiliary Constable of the Year: Throughout 2017, the nominees displayed consis- tent exemplary professional and personal conduct. These awards are a testament to the RCIPS’s core principles and values of “courage, profes- sionalism, integrity, selfless service and public safety,” ac- cording to the RCIPS. Support Staff of the Year: This individual consis- tently demonstrates the core values of the RCIPS and the wider civil service of profes- sionalism, customer service and integrity. Diversity Award: The basic concept of organiza- tional diversity accepts that the workforce consists of a diverse group that reflects the community it serves. This diversity consists of differences such as: sex, background, race, nation- ality, disability and person- ality. The successful nominee will have consistently dem- onstrated respect and tol- erance for these differences that enhances the working environment and relations in which the organizational goals are met. Welfare Award: This in- dividual has demonstrated the core principles of es- prit de corps by attending to the welfare, safety, emotional and or physiological needs of their colleagues and/or mem- bers of the public during a difficult time. Special Constable of the Year: The Special Constabu- lary is a volunteer organiza- tion established by statue to provide support to a range of policing activities. This officer consistently demon- strates exemplary conduct and service to the RCIPS and the community. Community Spirit Award: The basic premise is that the police is more effec- tive through community/po- lice collaboration. This can be achieved through various methods either individually or collectively, and demon- strates service to the commu- nity, public safety and con- fidence in police/community relationships. Making nominations Anyone can make a nom- ination for the awards, in- cluding private citizens who may nominate someone for a particular award and may submit nominations in more than one category. To make an nomination, a form must be filled out that includes the reasons why a nominee should be recognized. The form can be returned electronically to: nominations@rcips.ky or can be submitted via the www.rcips.ky website. Nominations close Friday for police outstanding service awards The Cayman Islands Tourism Association is seeking nominations for the 2018 Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards, which honors top performers in the tourism industry. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday, June 8. Gaetan Babin, CITA Events Planning Committee member and director at the Wyndham Reef resort, said the awards ceremony al- lows CITA to showcase the best contributors within the tourism industry. “This is that one opportunity we get to recognize our talented and committed team mem- bers in fine style in front of government officials and in- dustry leaders,” he said. “Recognition is a sig- nificant motivator for em- ployee retention,” he added. “The nominees that are sub- mitted will all have their fif- teen seconds of fame and one lucky nominee per cat- egory will receive a Presti- gious Glass Stingray.” Mr. Babin said the event has regularly sold out in the past. “We encourage all members to submit nomina- tions early and reserve your tables or seat as soon as possible,” he said. Similar to previous years, the Stingray awards cere- mony is being held at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. CITA members can nom- inate top performers (man- ager or employee) in the following categories: Accom- modations (condominiums/ villas and hotels); Waters- ports; Restaurants; Allied, Attractions and Transporta- tion (Allied includes retail, services, media, arts and entertainment). In addition to these cate- gories, there is a Rising Star Award which is presented to a newcomer to the industry who shows promise in the field of tourism. There is also the Diamond Award (pre- viously referred to as Long Service Award). This will be awarded to an industry vet- eran who has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Lastly, a Life- time Achievement Award will be presented on the night. Only CITA member or- ganizations are eligible for these awards. The awards will be held on Tuesday, July 1, starting with a 6 p.m. cocktail recep- tion and dinner. The awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. For more information or to make a nomination, visit www.cita.ky/stingrayawards. Nominations sought for Stingray tourism awards Police Commissioner Derek Byrne, left, congratulates 2017’s Police Officer of the Year Brandaughn Phillips at last year’s awards ceremony. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON Former Miss Cayman Monyque Brooks and Gaetan Babin were the MCs at last year’s Stingray awards ceremony. Customs officers check passengers’ carry-on luggage at the newly opened departures area of Owen Roberts International Airport in May. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 187771_PRINT-Butterfield-3colx8-Page 1 5/29/18 4:03:59 PM UCCI updating sexual harassment policy Lecturer’s child pornography case an eye opener for university MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com In the wake of a former lecturer being convicted on sex crime charges, the University College of the Cayman Islands is re- vamping its policy on sexual harassment. Pierre Michel Pavlov Ra- meau pleaded guilty in April to 12 counts of posses- sion of child pornography. He is expected to be sen- tenced this week. UCCI President Roy Bodden said the campus was stunned by the case. “It took me by surprise,” Mr. Bodden said. “It’s brought sobriety to many of us.” Part of the sobering ef- fect led to the decision to update the campus’s policy on sexual harassment. At last week’s Board of Gover- nors meeting, Mr. Bodden presented a statement out- lining the campus’s response to the incident and a letter of appeal, asking students to come forward if they have been exposed to sexual trauma. He told the board the policy on sexual harass- ment is being updated. He hopes to have a new version ready for approval when the board meets on June 20. “What we had in our employee manual was not comprehensive enough,” he said. “We talk about work- place fraternization and harassment, but this goes beyond that. It’s a compre- hensive policy.” Mr. Bodden will also be putting out an open letter to students, explaining the cur- rent situation and encour- aging those who feel they have been subjected to inap- propriate sexual conduct to come forward. “We understand that there is a high probability that there are other sur- vivors in our community who have not come forward with their stories,” Mr. Bod- den’s letter says. It was one such person that tipped off authorities regarding Mr. Rameau. “One student had the courage to speak out,” Mr. Bodden wrote, “one student whose name you will never know, and whom we will never be able to acknowl- edge publicly and thank properly for the immeasur- able service done to our community – not only UCCI, but Cayman as a whole.” That person is just the start, the president said. “What we want to as- certain, is this an isolated incident?” he said in an interview, while acknowl- edging that it can be hard for survivors of sexual trauma to speak up. “We need survivors to help break the silence,” his letter said. “Survivors’ voices and stories are important not only in and of them- selves, but also as we try to piece together this puzzle and the scope to which vic- timisation has taken place.” Mr. Bodden said he is un- aware of anyone else being affected by Mr. Rameau’s actions, but if there are, he wants to know. In his statement sub- mitted to the board, he said it was important to take ad- vantage of the current cli- mate to encourage more openness on the issue. “Coming on the heels of the #metoo social move- ment,” he wrote, “this case only underscores the im- portance of UCCI’s role in taking charge of cultivating a culture that supports those who speak out.” “Coming on the heels of the #metoo social movement, this case only underscores the importance of UCCI’s role in taking charge of cultivating a culture that supports those who speak out.” ROY BODDEN, UCCI president CUC PLANS INTERRUPTIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY The Caribbean Utili- ties Company issued an advisory Tuesday warning customers in Newlands that they will experience planned service interrup- tions to their electrical service on Thursday and Friday morning. The outages will affect customers on Shamrock Road between Corella Drive in Lower Valley and Destiny Avenue in Newlands and will last between 30 min- utes and two hours. The service interrup- tions are expected to take place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. All customers between Corella Drive and Discover Drive – and all side roads – will be affected by the planned outage Thursday. Customers between Dis- cover Drive and Destiny Av- enue, including side roads, will be impacted Friday. The interruption is planned for CUC to remove wires from the transmis- sion line system. Drivers are asked to pro- ceed with caution when using Shamrock Road be- tween Corella Drive and Des- tiny Avenue due to a number of vehicles and personnel working on behalf of CUC. For more information on the outage and streets affected, contact CUC’s Customer Service Team at 949-5200 or email service@cuc.ky. Architects invited to design Jamaica’s Houses of Parliament The Jamaican government is inviting Jamaican archi- tects at home and abroad to take part in a competition to design the country’s new Houses of Parliament. The Urban Development Corporation, on behalf of the Jamaican government, is asking qualified and eligible Ja- maican architects who are reg- istered and licensed in Jamaica to submit their best represen- tation of what the new Houses of Parliament should look like. Competition organizers said that while teams may consist of individuals from other na- tionalities, the teams must be predominantly Jamaican. The concept, according to the competition design brief, includes a parliament com- plex to be located within the confines of the National He- roes Park, nestled among rec- reational spaces, gardens and green spaces, “requiring the entire multi-purpose site to operate as a cohesive cultural and heritage environment.” Prime Minister Andrew Holness, during his keynote at the competition launch last month, said, “These discussions have been on the table for over 50 years, so today is truly a his- toric day for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston.” He added, “Just imagine, that in a few years from today, our National Heroes Park and the wider downtown area could be transformed into a vibrant, enviable, iconic desti- nation that compares to any- where in the world.” An evaluation jury com- prising of industry experts and professionals will select the top five entries to advance to the next stage. The finalists are re- quired to work with a lead ar- chitect, who is registered with the Jamaica Institute of Archi- tects, to provide fully developed design plans and models fol- lowing the guidelines laid out in the competition design brief. Chairman of the Urban De- velopment Corporation, Sen- ator Ransford Braham, said, “The King George VI Memorial Act allows for the allocation of up to 11.4 acres of space for the construction of the Parlia- ment Complex within the park, out of the 50 acres available. This means the vast majority of the space must be devoted to public use and green spaces, which is consistent with the design brief and which all com- petitors are expected to follow, along with all other competi- tion rules and guidelines.” Five finalists will receive an award of JA$2 million for advancing to stage two of the competition. Judges will an- nounce the ultimate winner in February 2019. They will be awarded a further cash prize of JA$5 million, and will get the opportunity to work alongside the contractor as part of the implementa- tion team. Second place entry will be awarded JA$4 mil- lion, while third place will be awarded JA$2 million. According to a govern- ment press release, the con- struction of the Houses of Parliament complex is a key step in the plan to redevelop downtown Kingston. Architects can register at www.ourjaparliament.com before June 14 in order to officially enter the competition. No submissions are required at this time. An evaluation jury comprising of industry experts and professionals will select the top five entries to advance to the next stage. CUC will be carrying out transmission line work in the Newlands area on Thursday and Friday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS offense they committed. Under the old law, vi- olent criminal offenders such as robbers, rapists, kidnappers, drug dealers and arsonists, were re- quired to spent five-ninths of their sentence in prison before becoming eligible for release on license (or parole as it was called in those days.) However, other non-vi- olent offenders were often required to serve just one- third of their prison sen- tences before becoming eli- gible for release. According to officials who spoke to the Cayman Compass on condition of anonymity, Mr. Watson fit into the latter category in the old Prisons Law and was granted release by the Conditional Release Board effective Monday given that one-third of his seven-year sentence is about 28 months. The conditions of Mr. Watson’s release on license are not known, but as of Monday, he had been re- leased from his custodial sentence at Northward. Mr. Watson was taken into custody by Anti-Cor- ruption Commission offi- cers just after his release and taken to the police jail in Fairbanks for ques- tioning in connection with a separate criminal inves- tigation involving $1.2 mil- lion in controversial “loans” given to the Cayman Is- lands Football Associ- ation in 2013. Mr. Watson, the former treasurer of that associa- tion, has not been charged with any crimes in connec- tion with the probe, but he has been arrested twice by anti-corruption officers – once on June 30, 2017 and again on Monday. Following questioning Monday by anti-corruption officers, Mr. Watson was re- leased on police bail. Anti-Corruption Com- mission officials declined to comment regarding why the additional arrest was required, but according to a commission press release issued Monday, a third al- legation – conspiracy to de- fraud under the common law – had been made in connection with the foot- ball funds investigation. Mr. Watson’s attorney, Amelia Fosuhene, de- clined to comment about any matters related to her client on Monday. get registered in the cate- gory they wanted. He said, “The grandfa- thering process is based on experience and qualifica- tions. We can’t look at what you think you can do or what you want to do in the future. It is based on experience and qualifications at the time of the application.” Companies will be li- censed to work only in the category for which they are approved. After some initial opposi- tion to the law from within the industry, Mr. Arch be- lieves the system is now being well received. “We haven’t had too many problems so far,” he said. “Construction entities cannot get approved if they don’t meet the requirements.” Mr. Johnston said compa- nies would be able to move up from one category to the next. After the implementa- tion period, the only way to be registered in any cate- gory will be to have a “qual- ifying individual” on staff, who will be required to take exams, organized locally but certified by the International Code Council. He said the intent was to professionalize the industry and ensure companies ad- vertising as contractors could complete jobs on time and on budget. “Twenty years ago, you could do contracts on a handshake, but times have changed and it does not work anymore,” Mr. Johnston said. “We have gone from five, six, seven to 10 stories and it re- quires qualified and experi- enced individuals with the proper qualifications.” Mr. Arch said the goal was consumer protection. He said the new system would en- sure contractors were only doing the type of work they were qualified to do and that they carried the necessary li- ability insurance. He insisted the board had no role in setting or con- trolling process. “There is no need for that,” he said. “We have 1,040 con- struction companies carrying Trade and Business Licenses, so there is a tremendous amount of competition be- tween contractors.” He said the financial de- mands of the new system were small – a $75 appli- cation fee – and urged con- tractors to apply as soon as possible. Coral reefs to hit big screen National Gallery to screen coral documentary The Netflix documen- tary “Chasing Coral,” will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday at the National Gallery of the Cayman Is- lands. It will be followed by a discussion on coral reefs by experts from several local organizations. The screening is one of several events tied to the current “Coral Encounters” photo exhibition, which runs through Aug. 16. The 2017 film chroni- cles divers, photographers and scientists who set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world. Following the film, rep- resentatives from the De- partment of Environment, the Central Caribbean Ma- rine Institute and Cayman Eco Divers will discuss the status of Cayman’s reefs and human impact on them. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Seating is on a first- come, first-served basis. For more information, email education@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. This discussion and film is sponsored by Cayman National. This image of sea rod coral by Dusty Norman is part of the current exhibit ‘Coral Encounters’ at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. WATSON RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER 28 MONTHS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Builders Law deadline looms for contractors Builders can apply to be licensed in five categories, from small trades contractors to major contractors responsible for 10-story hotels or major national infrastructure works. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 Sylvia May Clarke 2nd January 1928 - 29th May 2018 Memorial Service at 1:00pm on 9th June 2018 at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 12 Keturah Street (o Walkers Road), George Town. Weeklong Special Olympics National Games get under way MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A weeklong Special Olym- pics competition is under way, highlighted already by the opening ceremonies, a torch run, swimming and track-and-field events, and a fundraising fire truck pull. More than 30 athletes, supported by 45 volunteers, took part in the track-and- field events Monday night as the National Games Com- petition began at Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Family and friends cheered from the stands. Spokeswoman Vanessa Hansen said the Law En- forcement Torch Run, a global effort that has part- nered with the Special Olym- pics since 1981, “was exciting and kind of set the tone” for the week’s competition. Ms. Hansen said this is the first time in three years that the Special Olym- pics national competition has been held. “We put a hold on the na- tional games for a number of years because we were focusing on individual sports,” she said. This year’s return to a na- tional competition provides a chance to prepare for the World Games being held in Abu Dhabi in 2019. On Monday, athletes com- peted in 19 track events ranging from 25m runs and walks to the 1,500m race. There were relays as well. Four of the races were invita- tional events where athletes without disabilities com- peted alongside the Special Olympics runners. “Unified sport is a key ele- ment to the Special Olympics movement,” Ms. Hansen said. “This was the first time we’ve done an invitational.” In the 1,500m competi- tion, Ms. Hansen said, about a dozen able-bodied students from various schools and clubs joined in the races. A Special Olympics athlete, Ju- lius Smith, won the event. Teams for the upcoming bocce, basketball and football events will be a mix of de- velopmentally disabled ath- letes and their able-bodied teammates. The swimming competition, which draws the largest number of athletes, was held Tuesday evening at the Lions Pool. Before the start of the competition, some Special Olympics athletes partici- pated in the LETR Kirkland Nixon Memorial Fire Truck Pull on Saturday. Each of the teams competing in the fun- draising event had a Spe- cial Olympics athlete as one of its members. The Cayman Islands Fire Service won the law en- forcement competition and Cayman Islands CrossFit team took the top spot in the corporate section. This year’s National Games coincide with major milestones as Special Olym- pics Cayman Islands marks 30 years of serving the local community, and Special Olympics International cel- ebrates its 50th anniversary. Members of the commu- nity are encouraged to come out and cheer on the athletes throughout the week as the competition continues: ■■ June 6, bocce, Truman Bodden Sports Complex. ■■ June 7, basketball, First Baptist Church and School, 920 Crewe Road. ■■ June 9, standup paddle- board, Governors Beach. June 12, football and foot- ball skills, Truman Bodden Sports Complex. All events are at 5 p.m. ex- cept paddleboarding, which is at 9 a.m. Participants in Saturday’s LETR Kirkland Nixon Memorial Fire Truck Pull helped raise money for the Special Olympics. Special Olympics Chairman Adrian Lynch presents medals to athletes, from left, Cody Conolly, Khalid Arana, John Wight, Devon Ebanks and Mackie Smith on Monday. VISITOR’S GANJA WAS NOT MEDICINAL CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A visitor to Cayman who told Customs officers that the ganja in his luggage was for medicinal purposes was or- dered to pay $1,000 after en- tering guilty pleas in Sum- mary Court on Monday. Gaspar Avila, 32, ad- mitted to possession of five grams of the illegal sub- stance and possession of a grinder – a utensil used in the preparation of a controlled drug. Crown counsel Darlene Oko told Magistrate Valdis Foldats that the offenses oc- curred on Saturday, June 2, when the defendant ar- rived at Owen Roberts In- ternational Airport aboard a flight from Fort Lauder- dale, Florida. As he approached the cus- toms bench, officers smelled a strong scent of ganja. They searched his luggage and found ganja, rolling pa- pers and a grinder with residue in it. Mr. Avila told the offi- cers he had purchased the drug in Miami as medical marijuana for chronic back pain. When interviewed, he said he had been recently approved for medical mar- ijuana and his paperwork was still pending. The magistrate advised Mr. Avila that he had done a quick search of Florida law before coming into court. “What you had was smok- able, not for medicinal pur- poses,” he told the defendant. For medicinal purposes, the law in Florida limits the use of marijuana to such forms as oils, sprays, tinc- tures and edibles. “The truth is, you were breaking the law in Florida and you broke the law here,” he told the defendant. “How can you break the law in our country and not realize it’s disrespectful to us?” Mr. Avila said he was sorry and ashamed. “I spend time in California and Colo- rado, so I guess I’ve gotten a little too brave and I stepped out of bounds,” he admitted. The magistrate imposed a $500 fine for possession of ganja, $300 for posses- sion of the grinder and or- dered costs of $200 to cover the required tests. Mr. Avila said he would try to catch a flight Tuesday evening, after paying the fines.Next >