SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘American Animals’ at the cinema True story of attempted art heist proves crime doesn’t pay B4 Cayman HospiceCare prepares for Sky of Hope Lantern release on Summer Solstice B6 Events Lifestyle Events ■ THEATER ‘Grease’ is the word! Smash hit musical is latest show at Prospect Playhouse Theatre. B2 Sensei My Way on the beach this Saturday Yoga event scheduled to raise money for Acts of Random Kindness charity B5 Father’s Day is nigh Gift ideas and experiences to share with dear old Dad B7 2 nd ANNUAL 9th june, 2018 • 2 pm – 6 pm Salty's In Grand HArbour SPONSORED BY $40 $45 pre-sold AT THE GATE CRAWFISH BOIL Includes all you CAN eat crawfish & Bucket of 4 Abita beers tickets available at Tortuga Fine wine & Spirits Stores at The Greenery (next to the strand), 7 Mile shops, governor's Square & Industrial pa rk Locations Dominic Wheaton (Teen Angel) attempts to persuade a frazzled Laura Cooper (Frenchy) to go back to high school during his rendition of ‘Beauty School Dropout.’ - Photo: Kayla Young PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG CAYMAN WEEKENDER ‘Grease’ is the word! High of 88 Low of 75 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 PROTECT THE PUBLIC, NOT MEMBERS OF PUBLIC BOARDS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 GOVERNOR ANWAR CHOUDHURY The path on beneficial ownership BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands must take control of specific changes to its beneficial ownership re- gime for registered companies, rather than al- lowing “someone else” to do it for us, Governor Anwar Choudhury said Thursday during an interview with the Cayman Compass. Governor Choudhury said he was aware that many in Cayman opposed the idea of the U.K. House of Commons seeking to legis- late for its British Overseas Territory, as it did on May 1, essentially requiring the islands to adopt a public register of company ownership via order-in-council if Cayman declined to do it voluntarily. However, the governor also pointed out that the deadline date for that to occur, Dec. 31, 2020, is well more than two years away, and “there’s a lot of road left between now and 2020.” The House of Commons voted for an amendment to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill on May 1 to require that all British Overseas Territories – but not Crown Dependencies – create publicly available reg- isters for company ownership in their juris- dictions. Cayman currently has a company register, but it can only be inspected upon re- quest by certain law enforcement agencies or taxation authorities. “The amendment says that the overseas territories … if we do not move to an open registry, there should be an order in council mandating us to do so,” Governor Choudhury said. “What it doesn’t say is what the order in council should say, it doesn’t describe what … the open register should look like.” IMMIGRATION BILL AIMS TO RESURRECT ‘GHOST CAYMANIANS’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Certain local residents who believed for years, even decades, that they were Cayma- nian – as defined under local Immigration Law – only to learn that they did not legally hold that status will be allowed to apply to obtain it, regardless of their age or how long they have been in the territory. If changes included in the recently pro- posed Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2018 are approved by lawmakers, the so-called gener- ation of “ghost Caymanians” will essentially be given a new lease on life, in immigration terms at any rate. The amendment bill is expected to come before the Legislative Assembly at its next meeting, which begins on June 27. Lawmakers from all sides of the political aisle have previ- ously indicated they would generally support such a change. The problem is a complex legal one, rooted in the simple fact that being born within the Cayman Islands does not automatically grant a BERNIE BUSH RECOVERING FROM HEART SURGERY West Bay North MLA Bernie Bush is recovering in Health City Cayman Islands following a successful heart bypass surgery Wednesday. His family said his recovery is expected to take several weeks. For more on this story, see page 7. Boards, public workers to be protected from ‘negligence’ The Cayman Islands govern- ment will seek to change the law to protect both appointed members of statutory authority boards and government workers who serve those agencies from legal liability arising from cer- tain negligent actions. The term “negligence” is used in a proposed amendment to the Public Authorities Law, rather than “bad faith,” which Premier Alden McLaughlin has said would not be protected if it should occur. The amendment bill reads in its memorandum of ob- jects and reasons: “a board, board member or employee of a public authority shall not be liable in negligence where that board, board member or em- ployee is exercising a regula- tory, monetary, cooperative or advisory function or duty.” The legislative amendment is proposed after lawmakers in March agreed to emergency indemnities for members of the Liquor Licensing board of Grand Cayman, as well as the Kirkland Nixon leaves legacy of gorgeous blooms Melba Nixon, seen here holding up a purple and white dendrobium orchid, spends a lot of time these days inside the greenhouses where her late husband Kirkland planted and cared for thousands of orchids. They are his legacy to her, she says. For more on this story, see page 12. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza The Long Weekend! Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Monday! Cayman Orthopaedic Group Dr. Krishan Rajaratnam, M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Upper Extremity, Trauma and Joint Arthoplasty will be at #1 Smith Road Plaza Tuesday, 12th June 2018 to Friday, 15th June 2018 Please call 945-8380 for appointments From Jamaica with love Coroner’s jury returns 4 verdicts of misadventure SCHOLARSHIP DONATION FOR SCHOOL’S FLIGHT CLUB The Clifton Hunter High School chapter of the Cayman Airways Flight Club was given a boost recently when it re- ceived a $1,200 dona- tion from the Zak Quappe Flight Scholarship. The school’s flight club will be sending members to the Florida Institute of Technology’s weeklong flight camp this summer. Scholarship committee members Chuck and Barrie Quappe, parents of the late Zak Quappe after whom the scholarship is named, pre- sented the Clifton Hunter High School Flight Club Director Alfred C. Gordon with the donation. Mr. Gordon said, in a press release, that the flight club’s key objectives are to get students motivated and interested in aviation, and promote discipline while mentoring students on ca- reer choices in aviation. The Zak Quappe Flight Scholarship is one of many Cayman Islands business sponsors of this year’s flight camp program. The scholarship program was set up to assist young Cay- manians in their dreams in becoming pilots. Since the scholarship was cre- ated, two individuals have been sponsored to help achieve this dream, with a third currently set for 2018 summer training. For more information on the scholarship program, email barriequappe@yahoo.com or sebanks@icloud.com, or visit www.facebook.com/ZQFScayman. For information on the Clifton Hunter High School Flight Club, contact Mr. Gordon at agordon@chhs.edu.ky. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four people killed in a two- car collision in East End last year died by misadventure, a Coroner’s Court jury deter- mined on Thursday after an inquest that lasted three days. The jury of four women and three men heard evi- dence concerning the deaths of Shannay Alexander Dela- penha, 22; Marlene Elizabeth Wright, 69; Pamela Yvonne Mansell, 74; and Ian Geof- frey Mansell, 72. All four died on May 2 last year after the Honda Accord driven by Mr. Dela- penha left its lane and went into the lane of the oncoming Kia Rio driven by Mr. Man- sell. The collision occurred along Austin Conolly Drive shortly after 7 p.m. Jurors heard evidence that the speed limit in the area was 30 mph. The Honda was clocked by police radar at 57 mph. There was no di- rect evidence of the Kia’s speed, but accident recon- structionist Sgt. Lenford Butler said he found gouges and scrape marks in the road surface showing that the Kia had been pushed backward some 22 feet from the point of impact. This fact indicated that the force and speed of the Honda was greater than that of the Kia, he explained. If the Kia had been trav- eling at the legal limit, the combined force of the two vehicles would have been a minimum of around 90 mph, he said. Mr. Butler expressed the opinion that the driver of the Honda was reckless in not pulling over when the police officer who clocked his speed sought to stop him by activating his blue lights and siren. Instead, Mr. Dela- penha had continued around a blind corner, failed to nego- tiate the bend and swerved into the path of the Kia. There was no evidence of any factor other than speed as the cause of the collision. Alcohol was not a factor. The weather and visibility were good. The road surface was dry and in good condition. Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik suggested it was likely that Mr. Delapenha speeded up upon seeing the police car. She noted that the Honda was not licensed and not in- sured. It was also carrying conch, although the conch season had ended April 30. In her instructions to the jurors on Thursday, she ex- plained the various verdicts possible under the Coro- ner’s Law. One possibility is “unlawful killing.” That ver- dict did not suit this situa- tion, she explained, because it would require a standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. There was no evidence that Mr. Delapenha intended to kill himself or anyone else, she pointed out. If Mr. Delapenha had sur- vived, in all likelihood he would have been charged under the Traffic Law with causing death by careless, reckless or even dangerous driving, she said. Under the Coroner’s Law, the verdicts appropriate to this case jurors could con- sider were misadventure or an open verdict. Misadven- ture is appropriate when the evidence suggests that death was the unintended conse- quence of a deliberate ac- tion. An open verdict is ap- propriate when there is not enough evidence to record any other verdict. Jurors had heard a lot of information but, although it helped them to understand the circumstances of what happened, the coroner said their task was limited to de- termining the identity of each person, when, where, how and by what means each came to his or her death. Background information included an independent re- port by accident reconstruc- tionist Colin Redden. He said he was asked by Mr. Butler to examine the vehicles because of a rumor that the police car had been involved in the col- lision. He said he went to the scene that night and checked, he went back to the scene the next morning, and he made a third check after the vehicles were moved to the Bodden Town Police Station. He said he examined the body panels and side mir- rors for any sign of damage or paint transfer, including the rear bumper and trunk of the Honda. He found nothing on either vehicle to indi- cate any contact. The coroner read state- ments from various police officers involved. Several ex- plained how they provided security at the collision site throughout the night so that nobody could dis- turb the scene. In their verdicts, jurors were directed to the autopsy reports by government pa- thologist Dr. Shravana Jyoti, who listed the physical cause of death for each person. Mr. Delapenha, a Ja- maican national who had been working in Cayman, was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. Cause of death was blunt im- pact trauma to the chest. There were two male passengers in the Honda and they sustained injuries. They were not wearing seat belts, as they were riding in the trunk. Mr. and Mrs. Mansell and Ms. Wright, who was Mrs. Mansell’s sister, were British citizens on vacation and staying at Morritt’s Tortuga Club Resort. All three were wearing seat belts. Ms. Wright, who had been sitting in the rear passenger seat, sustained injuries to her neck, chest and abdomen which related to “seat belt impact trauma.” Cause of death for Mrs. Mansell was multiple injuries to the chest and abdomen consistent with “high speed seat belt impact trauma.” For Mr. Mansell, the driver, the physical cause of death was transection of the aorta. Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik suggested it was likely that Mr. Delapenha speeded up upon seeing the police car. She noted that the Honda was not licensed and not insured. It was also carrying conch, although the conch season had ended April 30. An accident reconstructionist examines the scene of the May 2, 2017, two-car crash in which four people died. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER Barrie and Chuck Quappe present Clifton Hunter High School Flight Club Director Alfred C. Gordon, right, with a donation for the school’s flight club.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 Discover more about FIN and its environmental program + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com FIN is pioneering a long-term coral reef conservation program to ensure that the views below water are just as wondrous as those above. In partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, FIN is the first real estate development in the Cayman Islands to undertake the funding of a coral reef monitoring and restoration program. FIN is also the first to create continued long-term funding through the contribution of 1% of its monthly strata fees, setting a new standard for future oceanfront property development. Championing the protection and preservation of their backyard, FIN Residents will become active participants in the conservation of our most valuable ecosystem. Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. The Nova Southeastern University coral reef assessment team. A NEW STANDARD ABOVE AND BELOW WATERThe 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” Lawmakers are considering a bill that would grant greater immunity to members of statutory authority boards, commissions, committees and tribunals for negligent actions taken by the entities they serve. The proposed amendment to the Public Authorities Law, outlined in today’s front page article, would apply equally to appointed members of those boards and to civil servants working for those entities who are “exer- cising a regulatory, monetary, cooperative or advisory function or duty.” If approved, the indemnity would apply to members of dozens of politically appointed bodies that handle much of the government’s business – from finan- cial services regulation to the administration of health insurance and pensions … the list goes on. The bill is a follow-up to the “emergency deeds of indemnity” the Legislative Assembly granted in March to members of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board of directors and the Liquor Licensing boards of Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. That legislation protected individuals serving on those boards from being held personally liable for “good faith” actions taken in their official capacities. Readers will well remember the scandal that erupted when it was revealed last fall that under the leadership of then-Acting Chairman Woody DaCosta (whose name was notably absent from March’s “emergency” legislation), official Liquor Board records were altered in an attempt to undo decisions made in relation to Sunday liquor sales at a Red Bay convenience store. At that time, Commerce Minister Joey Hew said it had been “next to impossible” to find replace- ments for Mr. DaCosta, who was also the board’s deputy chairman, in the wake of the licensing scandal. (Premier Alden McLaughlin accused Mr. DaCosta of “very bad conduct” in that affair. Mr. DaCosta refutes the premier’s allegations.) To our knowledge, neither Mr. DaCosta nor any other members of that board have suffered any legal consequences for their actions. In fact, many of them are still sitting in their seats (not including Mr. DaCosta, whose main seat appears to be that of a radio talk show host). The bill’s backers say it will indemnify individuals but hold the body responsible for negligent acts, and that individuals will still be held responsible for “bad faith” actions – assurances we find to be little more than semantic sleight of hand. Even less clear is the path of redress for parties who have been wronged by these public boards and their agents. How will they realistically get justice? If a board acts improperly, will innocent board members also suffer for the actions of their peers? To our minds, a far better way to minimize liability for negligent board action is to minimize the potential for error – to slash the number of boards and dramati- cally raise standards for qualifications and profession- alism of board members. In the private sector, board membership is a serious responsibility, with highly qualified individuals serving as the ultimate authority for major compa- nies. Cayman’s thicket of statutory boards – with broad powers, memberships rife with conflicts of interest and entanglements with the political establishment – is a poor simulacrum of this functioning system. The bottom line is accountability; the endgame must be the protection of citizens, not agents of government. Protect the public, not members of public boards FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS King Dollar: Why the greenback rules the world For all the talk of Ameri- ca’s decline, the United States offers the world one product that no country seems able to replicate – universally ac- cepted money. If a multina- tional needs cash to drill for oil in Nigeria or rich Indians want to import BMWs, the dollar is often the currency contracted for payment. Central banks around the world must hold major for- eign currencies – dollars, euros, yen and so forth – to back up their fiat money. Gold cannot be mined fast enough at reasonable cost to accom- modate economic growth, and its value – what it buys in soybeans and software – fluctuates much more than major economy currencies. As New York offers a deep, sophisticated and reliable capital market, and traders can buy virtually anything in America, central banks must hold dollars above all other major currencies to be taken seriously by private investors. The dollar accounts for 63 percent of central bank holdings, followed by the euro at 20, even though the U.S. economy is smaller than Euroland. Most investors worldwide either buy securities denom- inated in their home cur- rencies or dollars. After all, Argentine pensioners pay rent in pesos, but if those drop precipitously in value thanks to inept government policy, then grandma’s hoard of dollar bonds or CDs are mighty useful insurance. Consequently, the dollar’s share of cross-border debt financing has jumped from about 45 percent to more than 63 percent since 2008. Globalization and digitali- zation have created more in- tense trading relationships among once-distant and un- related nations. For example, Chile recently signed a free- trade agreement with In- donesia, but their two-way trade is too small to support a currency market with de- rivatives that insure against unexpected exchange rate fluctuations. The answer is simple – import contracts can be written in dollars, and traders can purchase forward contracts in the peso-dollar and rupiah-dollar markets to offload risk. The dollar has gained an outsized role for the same reason English is increas- ingly the global language. In trade as on the internet, it is easier to have a common de- nominator – America’s cur- rency and mother tongue. Chances are those Chilean and Indonesian traders write contracts in English, too. Despite euro aspirations to be a global currency and Ger- many’s dominance of the con- tinental currency, 23 percent of its contracts for imports are denominated in dollars even though only 6 percent are shipped from America. Overall, about 40 percent of imports worldwide are in- voiced in dollars even though the United States accounts for only about one-10th of global sales. Foreign multinationals and trading houses store hordes of dollars to conduct business and hedge risk. For- eign banks take dollar de- posits, pay interest on those in dollars and offer dollar loans. Foreign governments and businesses issue dollar- denominated bonds and vir- tually all of this is electronic, much of it unregulated and most importantly, the result of private sector choice. Sorry Bitcoin, offshore dollars were a private cur- rency for years – largely vir- tual, without official gov- ernment sanction and lightly regulated – long be- fore initial coin offerings came along. And it’s run by much more trustworthy and careful people. Critics on the left advo- cating slow growth and con- spiring for Donald Trump’s failure and American de- cline – so that they may im- pose a statist French pur- gatory on a free-thinking nation – are now gleefully peddling the notion that his domestic and international economic policies will de- throne King Dollar. The fact is no other cur- rency has the global utility and supporting infrastruc- ture of the greenback. The dollar stands on top a strong banking system while the next logical can- didates, the euro and yuan, do not. Germany’s largest bank, Deutsche Bank, is a basket case, Italian banks are well, very Italian, Chi- nese banks sit on a moun- tain of bad state enterprise and corporate debt, and pri- vate property is not safe in the Middle Kingdom. The United Kingdom’s pound and Japanese yen sit on economies that do not provide the same mass and array of goods and ser- vices. And if Brexit pro- ceeds, the euro becomes one national election away from collapsing – causing the Italians to conclude the single currency is a mani- festation of German eco- nomic imperialism. All this did not happen by government edict – it’s King Dollar by acclaim of private traders, investors and plain old folks like you and me. And all along you thought the Federal Reserve made the greenback what it is. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. PETER MORICI The dollar has gained an outsized role for the same reason English is increasingly the global language. In trade as on the internet, it is easier to have a common denominator – America’s currency and mother tongue.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 Ensure that your property and motor insurance policies are in- force or active. If your insurance policy is due to expire during the hurricane season, ensure you take note of the renewal date and contact your insurance company before the policy expires. Take time to find your insurance policy and read it. If you cannot locate your policy document, or if the terms and conditions are not clear, speak to your insurance company or broker. Ensure that you have the correct contact details for your insurance company on file so that you know how to contact your insurance company following a catastrophic event. Ensure that you understand how to file a claim with your insurance company and understand timelines within which a claim must be reported to your insurance company. Check the insurance cover provided and your sum insured! Seek advice from your broker and/or insurance company on the adequacy of the sum insured. Do NOT underinsure your property/motor vehicle. If you have insured your property or motor vehicle for mortgage or loan purposes, be certain that it is insured at the correct value. Mortgage providers and lending institutions often only require insurance to cover their loan amounts and not the full rebuilding costs of a property or market values for your motor vehicle. Use licensed Insurance companies and Insurance brokers. Visit our website for a full list of CIMA licensed domestic Insurance companies and Insurance brokers. www.cima.ky 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Information within this material was obtained from a Public Advisory issued by CIMA. DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE TO PROTECT YOUR HARD EARNED ASSETS6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS DMS is pleased to offer educational grants for the 2018/2019 academic year and is currently accepting applications from Caymanians wishing to pursue studies leading to an undergraduate or technical/vocational degree in the areas of study relevant to DMS and its affiliates, which include an array of financial services and business disciplines. This is a fantastic opportunity to supplement your core educational funding and comes with the potential to intern with DMS during term holidays and gap year periods. For more information on the DMS Education Grant programme and to download the application form visit dmsgovernance.com/careers Deadline for receipt of application and all supporting documents is June 15, 2018. DMS is committed to supporting further education and providing career opportunities that help Caymanians succeed, build our community and enhance the future growth of our islands. DMS EDUCATION GRANT FINANCE LAW MARKETING BROADCASTING/COMMUNICATION BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION/MANAGEMENT HUMAN RESOURCES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTING 175777-Ad-Compass-3colx8-Gala-201 16/1/18 7:04:10 PM Pirates to give plastic the heave-ho Pirates will be returning to Cayman’s shores once again this November. This year, they are not after your gold doubloons or priceless jewels, they are here for a dif- ferent bounty – plastic. The theme of November’s Pirates Week Festival will be “Celebrating the Seas,” which will feature efforts to raise awareness of ocean con- servation and the threat of plastic pollution. “We will be incorporating a ‘Pirates Against Plastic’ initiative this year, and are working diligently to put structures in place that allow us to reduce the use of plastic during the festival,” said Shayma Hamdi-Romanica, the marketing coordinator of the Tourism Attraction Board, in a press release. “Collaboration has begun with a number of poten- tial partners on the ‘Pirates Against Plastic’ project, and we are very excited for the outcomes. Ocean conservation has been a key message for many organisations this year, and we are delighted the Pi- rates Week Festival can play its part in the global effort.” Pirates Week draws more than 35,000 spectators every year. During the festival, Cayman is transformed into a mass of color and celebra- tion with more than 30 dif- ferent events being hosted over three weekends across all three of the islands. This year’s 11-day festival will also tie in with the year- long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Cayman coat of arms. Melanie Mc- Field, executive director of the Pirates Week Festival, said various elements of the an- niversary would be incorpo- rated into the festival’s theme. “Choosing ‘Celebrating the Seas’ pays homage to both our national slogan ‘He hath founded it upon the seas’ and to our commitment to protecting our seas,” Ms. McField said. Swashbuckling events kick off in Cayman Brac, where the festival will be held from Nov. 2 to 4. Grand Cayman will face the pirate hordes from Nov. 8 to 12, and the festival finishes up on Little Cayman, on Nov. 16 through 18. The Heritage Committees will be hosting individual district heritage days be- tween Nov. 2 and Nov. 8. The Pirates Week Office pointed out that it will provide spon- sorship to the committees to fund their district float pa- rade entries, festival queen and promotional needs. “We are delighted to be able to provide financial sup- port to each of the five districts in building their parade floats and choosing their Festival Queen,” Ms. McField said. “The district floats are a pivotal part of the festival each year, show- casing the best each district has to offer in Caymanian cul- ture, history and heritage.” East End will hold its dis- trict day on Friday, Nov. 2; West Bay on Monday, Nov. 5; North Side on Tuesday, Nov. 6; Bodden Town on Wednesday, Nov. 7; and George Town on Thursday, Nov. 8. For more information, email events@piratesweekfestival.com or marketing@tab.ky. Jack Sparrow and his fellow pirates won’t be drinking out of disposable plastic tankards during November’s Pirates Week festival, as the ‘Pirates Against Plastic’ campaign gets under way. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY WOUNDED DOG LEFT FOR DAYS WITHOUT CARE JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A tiny terrier found with infected puncture wounds, virtually starved and with painfully matted fur, is on the mend after being res- cued by an animal charity. Volunteers at One Dog at a Time described the incident as one of the worst cases of neglect they have ever seen. Paula Blane, of the charity, said the dog had to be shaved because its fur was twisted into thick mats that had wrapped around her like a tourniquet. It had been badly bitten by a bigger dog and its wounds left untreated for several days, she added. The dog, named Virtue, came to the charity through a third party and is undergoing treatment at Island Vets. She is on intravenous antibiotics and will need operations for her wounds and to remove her teeth, which had rotted through lack of care. “This is one of the worst conditions I have seen a dog in. It is hard to describe. Her fur was so matted it was like it had been glued to- gether. She has literally had no care,” said Ms. Blane. The dog weighed 6 pounds, less than half of what she believes it should weigh. Ms. Blane said she believed it was a terrier but it was in such a poor state, it was hard to tell ex- actly what kind. Once its worst injuries have been treated, she be- lieves there will be no is- sues finding a home. “She is in good hands now. She is going to be at the vets for another few days yet and then we will try to get her adopted. “Somebody out there with a big heart is going to take her and give her a good home.” To find out more, visit One Dog at a Time’s Facebook page or email info@odat.ky. Virtue’s face is barely discernable through her matted and overgrown fur.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 Bernie Bush recovering from heart surgery BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com West Bay North MLA Bernie Bush underwent a successful heart bypass sur- gery at Health City Cayman Islands Wednesday, but the second-term representative’s recovery is expected to take several weeks. Mr. Bush’s family mem- bers released a statement late Wednesday thanking medical professionals at both Health City and the Cayman Islands Hospital for their quick action in identifying and addressing a serious health problem. Health City’s Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil performed the surgery. “Bernie’s recovery is ex- pected to take several weeks and he should be able to re- ceive visitors by early next week,” the statement read. “He is in some pain, but with God’s grace, everything went well. “The recovery and healing process start now and we ask you to continue to pray for him. His doctors advised him to take it easy for the next couple of weeks.” It is not known whether Mr. Bush will be able to at- tend the upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly, which begins June 27. Mr. Bush’s ailment was noticed, according to fellow MLA Chris Saunders, by a West Bay Primary student last week who saw Mr. Bush at an after-school event on Thursday evening, May 31. The student noted that Mr. Bush did not “look like him- self,” Mr. Saunders said. Mr. Bush then went in for a checkup Friday at the Cayman Islands Hospital and was referred to Health City, where significant blockages of his arteries were detected. Premier Alden McLaughlin issued a public message ear- lier this week wishing Mr. Bush well as he prepared to undergo the surgery. He said had visited Mr. Bush, who is deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly, on Sunday and found him in good spirits. “We wish him Godspeed in this journey with his health and we will keep him in our thoughts and prayers,” the premier said. “Bernie’s reco very is expected to take several weeks and he should be able to receive visitors by early next week.” BUSH FAMILY STATEMENT Bernie Bush Police are investigating an aggravated burglary in Spruce Lane in George Town on Tuesday night, in which a man threatened the occu- pants with what they be- lieved to be a firearm. At about 11:30 p.m. on June 5, the 911 Communica- tions Centre received a report of the burglary. The residents of the prem- ises said a lone male en- tered the property through an open rear door and bran- dished an object wrapped in cloth, which appeared to be a firearm. He demanded cash from the occupants and then made off with some personal items, exiting again through the rear door. Police said the suspect is described as about 6 feet tall, of slim build and dark com- plexion. He was wearing dark pants, a blue shirt and had a shirt covering his face. No shots were fired and no one was injured during the incident. Anyone with information or who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Spruce Lane, Courts Road, or Eastern Avenue at or around 11:30 p.m. that night is encouraged to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222, the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or the Miami-based call center of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS). AGGRAVATED BURGLARY IN GEORGE TOWN CNB ROUNDABOUT TO BE PAVED Sections of road along Thomas Russell Avenue will be closed The National Roads Au- thority is advising that paving work will be carried out at the Cayman National roundabout, between Thomas Russell Avenue and Huldah Avenue, on Sunday. Island Paving will carry out the work on behalf of the roads authority from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. According to the National Roads Authority, intersections along Thomas Russell Avenue will be closed to facilitate the work. Local access will be granted for residents and businesses on Printer Way, by way of Shedden Road. Traffic signs will be posted in the vicinity of the work area to guide motorists. The NRA is asking motorists to pay atten- tion to the signs before they enter the paving work zone. The work was originally set to take place in late May, but was postponed because of poor weather conditions. ARREST IN NS ARSON A 37-year-old man has been arrested in connec- tion with an arson attack in North Side. The suspect, from East End, was being held in po- lice custody at press time Thursday on suspicion of bur- glary and arson in connection with an incident at a home on Old Robin Road on May 27. The residence was broken into and furniture set on fire, according to police. He demanded cash from the occupants and then made off with some personal items.8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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. Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Basil Sherrel Alexander Who passed away on Sunday May 20, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Kings Seventh Day Adventist Church, Sunday June 10, 2018 Walkers Road, George Town at 3:00pm. Viewing will be from 2:00 - 2:45pm. Interment follows at Boatswain Bay Cemetery. First Year in Heaven Thomas Rupert Joseph Hubbell December 1st, 1972 – June 12, 2017 Today, like many other days brings special thoughts of you of happy times we shared and caring things you used to do. And once more, it’s a reminder that life’s road is sometimes rough because the time we shared just wasn’t enough. For you were someone special who was thought so highly of who’ll always be remembered with aff ection, warmth and love. So, sending thoughts to heaven on the day you went away and hope you know your missed more than words could ever say. Love and miss you Thomas. Love your baby brother Anthony Butler, Isabella, Aaron and Family MARINE INSTITUTE TOPS CHARITY DRIVE DONATIONS The Central Caribbean Ma- rine Institute grabbed the most social media support during the seventh annual Island Her- itage CharityDrive, and re- ceived a $5,000 bonus in addi- tion to $10,000 raised in “drive by” donations. The Special Needs Founda- tion and the Family Resource Centre received $10,000 each from the May 29-31 fundraiser. Each year, Island Heritage chooses three local nonprofits to support. One day of the three-day drive is dedicated to each organization. On each day, Island Heritage donates $1 for each car that passes through the company-sponsored round- about on the Esterley Tib- betts Highway. This year, the groups had the chance to earn up to $10,000 for the day. Concurrent online cam- paigns urged supporters to post, tag or like the charities on social media platforms. The prize for the most internet activity was an additional $5,000. During their dedicated day, members and supporters of the nonprofits lined the center of the roundabout, holding signs and waving to passing motorists. CCMI’s project manager Robyn Larkin said, “We were especially excited to have in- volved so many current and alumni students who have par- ticipated in CCMI programs. We appreciate Island Heritage’s support of our effort to break down barriers to learning about coral reefs and enhance their interaction with the ocean by providing our Reefs Go Live to local students and teachers.” Island Heritage spokes- woman Monique Bush said sup- port for the organizations is crit- ical. “Each of our participating charities serves such a valuable role in our community,” she said. “We’re pleased to be able to sup- port them in their efforts.” Festivities scheduled to celebrate Queen’s Birthday The Queen’s Official Birthday is on Saturday, and Cayman will be celebrating with a slate of events. On Saturday morning, a parade and ceremony will take place outside the Legis- lative Assembly Building at 9 a.m. The public is asked to be there by 8:30 a.m. At the cer- emony, Olive Miller will re- ceive her Officer of the British Empire award for her life- long commitment to commu- nity services. In preparation for the event, Fort Street and its junctions with Albert Panton Street, Edward Street and North Church Street will be closed from 7 p.m. on Friday, and will reopen on Saturday after the ceremony is finished. After the ceremony, there will be the opening of the Olive Miller Exhibition at the Old George Town Library. Ex- hibits commemorating Betty Baraud and Dr. Bill Hrudey, who also received Member of the British Empire recog- nitions this year, will also be on display. On Monday, Cayman Brac will have its annual Queen’s Birthday Tea from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Heritage House. There will also be a silent auc- tion, split the pot, plant sale and art show. While Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday was actu- ally on April 21, most Com- monwealth jurisdictions cel- ebrate it in late May or early June. This decision was made by King George in 1748 be- cause his birthday was in November, making it too cold to hold a parade in the United Kingdom. While Cayman is cel- ebrating the monarch’s birthday, other British Over- seas Territories may have less enthusiasm. Bermuda, for in- stance, replaced the Queen’s Birthday with National He- roes Day in 2008. Meanwhile, some in the British Virgin Islands have called for a boycott of the event to protest recent U.K. legislation that forces it and other British Overseas Ter- ritories to establish public beneficial ownership regis- tries by 2020. A flyer has been circulated in the BVI stating, “The people of the Virgin Islands (pause on the British) hereby cancel and will boycott the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Parade.” The flyer suggests a number of other things BVI residents can do on that day, including “sleep in late,” “Net- flix and chill,” “be fruitful and multiply” and “live our non- royal but still special lives!” RCIPS officers take part in last year’s Queen’s Birthday parade. This year’s event takes place on Saturday morning in downtown George Town. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Volunteers wave at drivers passing the Island Heritage roundabout during the annual fundraising CharityDrive. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 One Year Has Passed Thomas Rupert Joseph Hubbell December 1st, 1972 – June 12, 2017 Our lives go on without you But nothing is the same, We have to hide our heartache When someone speaks your name. Sad are the hearts that love you Silent are the tears that fall, Living without you is the hardest part of all. You did so many things for us Your heart was so kind and true, And when we needed someone We could always turn to you. The special years will not return When we are all together, But with love in our hearts You walk with us forever. Sweet dreams my Son. Love Isabella Hubbell, Anthony, Aaron and Family. One Year Has Passed One Year Has Passed The family of the Late Carlton W. Farrell Affectionately know as Carl or Tio regrets to announce his passing on Wednesday, 30 May, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com A funeral service will be held at the George Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, Sunday June 10, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing will take place from 1:30-2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Garden of Eden Cemetery. The family of the Late Lela Iola Ebanks regrets to announce her passing on Sunday, 27 May, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com A funeral service will be held at the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre North Side, on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 2pm. Viewing will take place from 1pm prior to the service. Interment will follow at the North Side Cemetery. The family of the Late Lilian D. Brown Affectionately know as Mrs. Dolly regrets to announce her passing on Wednesday, 30 May, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com A funeral service will be held at the Fellowship Baptist Church, Cayman Brac on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Viewing will take place from 1-1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Creek Cemetery. New study shows slower moving hurricanes more dangerous MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new scientific study shows that tropical cyclones are moving more slowly than in years past. While wind speeds have actually intensified within such storms – producing more category 5 storms in re- cent years – the rate at which they move over sea and land has dropped by 10 per- cent, compared to 60 years ago, according to a study that appeared Wednesday in Nature magazine. While Hurricane Harvey was not part of the study, which looked at 2016 storms, it is being used as an ex- ample of the trend pointed out by the data. Harvey, which struck Houston last year, lingered over the region for days, dropping up to 50 inches of rain in some areas. If such a trend con- tinues, said Simon Boxall, spokesman for Hazard Man- agement Cayman Islands, it means those living here need to boost their planning for the advent of a hurricane. “It reinforces the message that we have to prepare,” Mr. Boxall said. “If new systems are moving slower, that tends to bring more impact.” Initially, he said, resi- dents should not count on assistance from the govern- ment but should be ready to fend for themselves for several days. “We recommend three to five days at a minimum,” Mr. Boxall said. “Obviously, we’d like people to be more pre- pared than five days. With Ivan [the 2004 hurricane that devastated much of Grand Cayman] no water came out of the taps for a month.” He said the islands are better prepared in many ways than they were in 2004. The department has pushed the development and training of community response teams and other types of post-storm support. “We’ve got a relief plan, which we didn’t have before,” he said. “We’ve got money in the bank to fund the recovery and reconstruction. Still, we remain vulnerable.” Storms worldwide in 2016 moved about 1.25 mph slower than those in the 1940s and 1950s, said the study, which was conducted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration’s Co- operative Institute for Mete- orological Satellite Studies in Madison, Wisconsin. The ef- fect was strongest over land, with speeds decreasing 20 percent over Australia and coastal areas in or near the North Atlantic. Study author James Kossin started his research before the 2017 season, stop- ping his analysis at 2016. Adding last year’s storms would have made the slow- down a bit more prominent, he said. Unhurried hurricanes also mean strong winds blowing more often over the same place and possibly more storm surge, Mr. Kossin said. The trend has all the signs of human-caused cli- mate change, Mr. Kossin said. But the study did not look at causes by using computer models to simulate the Earth with and without warming. It is based solely on past obser- vations, he said. Another study that came out recently, using computer models, concluded that future storm movements will slow because of climate change. Climate change is tin- kering with and slowing down atmospheric circu- lation patterns – the wind currents that move weather along, Mr. Kossin said. Steering winds that move hurricanes along are slowing, he added, due to a dimin- ished temperature differ- ence between the tropics and the poles. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused extensive damage to Grand Cayman. Brac emergency response team set up Cayman Brac now has its own Community Emergency Response Team. On Saturday, 52 resi- dents who had completed their emergency response training attended a gradu- ation ceremony at the Sea- farers and Veterans Hall. The graduates had un- dergone training in First Aid/CPR, fire safety and suppression, disaster pre- paredness, stress manage- ment/disaster psychology, search and rescue opera- tions, initial damage assess- ment, vulnerability and ca- pacity assessment. District Commissioner for the Sister Islands Ernie Scott, who is also chairman of the Sister Islands Emer- gency Committee, in a speech, praised the commit- ment of the residents to bet- tering their community and thanked them for volun- teering to make the Brac and Little Cayman more resilient. Hazard Management Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands Red Cross deliver the 26-hour CERT training course, which aims to increase disaster pre- paredness and resilience at the grassroots level. Fire of- ficer John Christian also assisted by conducting the fire safety and search and rescue components of the CERT course. CERT training is free and open to all residents above the age of 16. Following the gradua- tion of the Brac CERT team, Hazard Management Di- rector Danielle Coleman said, “This is an important development for our na- tional disaster response ca- pacity; the Sister Islands now has a trained group of volunteers who can as- sist with the response and relief efforts following an impact from an event such as [a] hurricane. They also have a significant pre- paredness role. “These volunteers gave up 26 hours of their time to get trained and this in it- self demonstrates commit- ment, which we feel confi- dent will be sustainable. We are hopeful that the Cayman Islands aren’t impacted by a hurricane this year, but if we are, we now have a stronger and more prepared team of responders in the Sister Is- lands that can assist.” The Cayman Brac team is the sixth CERT to be es- tablished in Cayman, with teams in Prospect, North Side, North Sound Gardens, West Bay and Windsor Park. A number of students from John Gray High School and Clifton Hunter High School have also completed the Campus CERT program. Hazard Management and Red Cross say they are hoping to commence general CERT training for people across the Cayman Islands in October. From left, Hazard Management Cayman Islands Director Danielle Coleman, Yvette Dilbert, interim leader of the Cayman Brac CERT, and Sister Islands District Commissioner Ernie Scott celebrate the graduation of the new Cayman Brac Community Emergency Response Team.Next >