SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘Oceans 8’ film features all-star female cast Sandra Bullock leads the ladies into a serious jewelry heist B4 Shakespeare by the Sea The Cayman Drama Society brings the Bard to Dart Park B5 On Stage Art & Culture Movies Marriott launches Night Market Father’s Day theme offers gift ideas for Dad B2 ■ EVENTS Flowers Sea Swim Swimmers from far and wide head to the open water. B6 Talent Xposition of the Arts at Harquail Young stars take to the stage for one night only B3 STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July Fine Wine & Spir its TORTUGA Due to ongoing renovations at the airport, we encourage you to visit our stores and BUY BEFORE YOU FLY ® PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Frank E. Flowers and Brett Fraser CAYMAN WEEKENDER Flowers Sea Swim EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE GOVERNOR’S ‘WITHDRAWAL’: WHAT HAPPENED? High of 88 Low of 76 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY Uncertainty, silence surround governor’s sudden ‘withdrawal’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A formal complaint concerning allega- tions made against Cayman Islands Governor Anwar Choudhury has been submitted to the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Cayman Compass has learned via multiple government sources. Mr. Choudhury, 59, was “temporarily with- drawn” from his appointment this week by the foreign office, pending what is expected to be a four to six week investigation of mul- tiple allegations made against him. Officials did not state whether the complaints against Mr. Choudhury were made in Cayman or else- where, but it is understood that staff within the Governor’s Office here had complained of the governor’s behavior in office. In Cayman, governors are officially ap- pointed by Her Majesty, the Queen of England, but in practice they report to the foreign office. The Cayman Compass has made a number of attempts to reach the governor since news of his temporary withdrawal was announced early Wednesday, but the newspaper has so far received no response. The formal complaint has not been made public nor been acknowledged by U.K. officials in Cayman, who did not release a statement about the governor’s temporary withdrawal until the news was made public by Premier Alden McLaughlin on Wednesday morning. The Governor’s Office did not respond to Compass questions about whether or when a formal complaint had been filed with the foreign office. “It would be inappropriate for us to com- ment on an ongoing investigation,” Matthew Forbes, head of the governor’s office, indi- cated in an email. Mr. Forbes also declined to respond to questions regarding the nature of the com- plaints or whether Governor Choudhury was still receiving a salary – which is paid by the Cayman Islands government – during the pe- riod of his temporary withdrawal. Cayman’s paw patrol reports for duty Police dogs train for K-9 unit JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Muscles tensed, eyes firmly focused on its target, the police dog leaps over the low mesh fence into a scrap yard of junk cars. In a single bound, it covers the stony ter- rain and clamps its jaws around the arm of the suspect. It is not until Constable Laura Hicks gives the signal that the dog, a Dutch Shep- herd named Athena, releases its vice-like grip on the man’s arm. In this case, the “victim,” PC Kieron Da- vies, has the benefit of a padded suit, which the dog gleefully carries away as a reward for a job well done. “For the dog, it is like a big game,” says Constable Davies, who has been training Ms. Hicks and Athena to be part of the ex- panding police K-9 unit for the past month. “Everything we do is about positive re- inforcement; if it does the right thing, it gets a reward.” For any suspect that meets the K-9 unit in a real-life scenario, it will feel less like a game. The dogs can cause life-changing in- juries and are second only to firearms in the arsenal of weapons at the police’s disposal. “We always give a suspect two clear PRISON SEIZES 120 LBS OF GANJA SINCE 2016 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Her Majesty’s Prisons Service has seized more than 120 pounds of ganja in and around Northward Prison within the past two and a half years, according to statistics released Thursday to the Cayman Compass. The prisons seized a total of 51.4 pounds of the illegal substance during 2016 and an even greater total of 63.7 pounds last year, ac- cording to prison records. So far during 2018, the amounts seized have been much lower, totaling just 5.7 pounds between January and May. The prisons service has a stated zero-tol- erance policy toward ganja possession, which is illegal in the Cayman Islands. However, in practice, the agency has long struggled with keeping ganja out of the hands of its prisoners. There are a myriad of ways individuals manage to get illegal drugs into the prison, some of which have been described in recent local court cases. In one instance, a prisoner who went to the Cayman Islands Hospital for medical treat- ment was found carrying a quantity of ganja out of the bathroom stall he’d entered where the substance had clearly been left for him. In another case from November 2017, a man was convicted of ganja possession after police said he was caught tossing 3.9 pounds of the drug over the Northward Prison fence. The court heard the man simply ran up to the Northward security fence and threw sev- eral packages over it in the late afternoon. Police dog Athena leaps a fence to chase down a suspect in a training scenario. – PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza Happy Father’s Day Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturday & Sund ay Mobile: 345-323-8573 Office: 345-943-8573 / Fax: 345-949-9753 heather.richards@remax.ky / www.remax.ky Heather Richards Member of CIREBA That’s the sign of a RE/MAX agent® First Choice for all your Real Estate Needs Buy • Sell • Lease 943-8573 Mobile: 345-323-8573 Office: 345-943-8573 / Fax: 345-949-9753 heather.richards@remax.ky / www.remax.ky Heather Richards Member of CIREBA That’s the sign of a RE/MAX agent® First Choice for all your Real Estate Needs Buy • Sell • Lease 943-8573 Rentals Marbel Drive, SMB CI$3,600 pm. 3B/2.5B Townhome, gated complex with pool, FF, multi-zone A/C, cable TV included. Children Ok. No pets. Great location, schools shopping and restaurants in minutes. Available Now. Jennifer Drive Executive Rental, SMB CI$5300pm. Gorgeous Contemporary Townhome 3Bed/3.5Bath, FF, multi-zone A/C. Children Welcome. Pet Possible w/d (small breed dog) Available Now. Lantern Point, Prospect nr Grand Harbour CI$1,900 pm. 2b/2b, FF,2nd floor, gated complex, pool, TC, gym. Available now. Call today to arrange a showing or for more details. STRONG WINDS FROM TROPICAL STORM BUD HIT MEXICO’S LOS CABOS SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico (AP) – Tropical Storm Bud lashed the southern end of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, home to the pop- ular beach resorts of Los Cabos, with heavy winds Thursday as locals and tour- ists braced for an expected landfall later in the day. The tops of palm trees whipped about in the gale and waves pounded the sand. The U.S. National Hur- ricane Center said trop- ical storm-force winds had reached the peninsula even as Bud’s center was still about 70 miles south-south- east of Cabo San Lucas. Memories are still fresh of the extensive damage done in 2014 by a direct hit from Category 3 Hurricane Odile, and hotel operators were taking no chances. Workers at the Mar- quis Los Cabos hotel in San Jose del Cabo spent the last three days battening down the hatches – anchoring palm trees and using tarps to cover large windows that had all shattered during Odile. On Wednesday evening they removed beach chairs and umbrellas, and workers said the hotel had a safe room for guests if necessary. Overall, however, there was a sense of relief that Bud had been sapped of most of its punch from when it was a Category 4 hurricane two days earlier with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. By Thursday wind speeds had dropped to 45 mph, strong enough to potentially do some damage, but likely nothing resembling the dev- astation wrought by Odile four years ago. The international airport appeared to be operating normally in the afternoon. Tarmac employees wore yellow ponchos amid mod- erate rainfall, and workers used brooms to sweep pools of water by the entrances to the terminals. Bud was moving toward the north-northwest at 7 mph and further weakening was expected, but it was forecast to still be at trop- ical-storm strength when it reaches land later in the day. After it crosses over the peninsula, the storm is then projected to move over the Gulf of California as a tropical depression and make a second landfall on the Mexican mainland by Friday night. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Baja coast from Santa Fe to the state capital, La Paz. The Baja California Sur state government said the ports of Los Cabos were closed to all watercraft be- ginning midday Wednesday, and classes were canceled at schools in Los Cabos and La Paz for Thursday after- noon and Friday. CORRECTION In a story that ran June 14 on page 16, the date of the Special Olympics Basketball Camp was incorrectly stated. The camp will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17 and not this coming Saturday. The associated Cayman Islands Classic starts Nov. 19. Overseas Territories heads meet at London talks The British Overseas Territories heads of government and their delegations pose for a group photograph outside Church House in Westminster, London, on Wednesday, when they met to discuss key agenda items, including their positions on climate change and natural disaster preparations, ahead of November’s Joint Ministerial Council discussions. MLA Bernie Bush out of hospital BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com West Bay North MLA Bernie Bush has been re- leased from the Health City Cayman Islands hospital fol- lowing heart surgery and is now resting at home. Cayman Democratic Party leader and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush said Thursday that Bernie Bush was out hospital and “was doing well.” Bernie Bush could not be reached by press time for comment, but his family was effusive in praise for Health City doctors, as well as the Cayman Islands public hospital system. “Bernie’s recovery is ex- pected to take several weeks,” his family indicated following surgery last week. “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. AMAZON DEFORESTATION SURGES IN COLOMBIA, REPORT SAYS BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – A Colombian government re- port says deforestation is rapidly accelerating in the country’s Amazon re- gion because of an expan- sion in cattle ranching and road building in previously remote areas. The report published Thursday was based on sat- ellite imagery. Researchers found that 144,147 hectares of forest were cleared in the region last year. That is more than double the 70,074 hect- ares removed in 2016. Colombia’s environ- mental ministry said the planting of illegal coca crops and logging were also factors in the rise in deforestation. The surge in Colombia came as deforestation slowed last year in Brazil as a result of a weak economy. Brazil is home to more than half of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest. Around 10 percent of the rainforest is inside Colombia. Bernie BushThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 Phase two now released & coming to the shores of south sound Sparkling Sea viewS varied villa floor planS viSionary architecture & deSign olympic length Swimming pool reSort Style amenitieS on-Site property management concierge ServiceS Secure, gated community Davenport Development ltD SaleS oFFICe (345) 949 4979 InFo@DavenportDevelopmentltD.Com DavenportCayman.Com DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENT LTD SALES OFFICE (345) 949 4979 INO@DAVENPORT.KY DAVENPORTCAYMAN.COM SOUTH SOUND PHASE III NOW 73% SOLDThe 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. FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS “Anwar Choudhury, Governor of the Cayman Islands, has been temporarily withdrawn from his post to allow the FCO to investigate a number of complaints against him. “The Deputy Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson, will be the Acting Governor until the investigation has been completed.” — Full statement on the departure of Gov. Choudhury, Cayman Islands Governor’s Office Just more than two months after his arrival, the Governor of the Cayman Islands is gone – in bureaucratic- speak, “temporarily withdrawn.” What is unspoken, but readily presumable, is that he is unlikely to return. Whatever the actual intentions of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (in conjunction with top officials in the Cayman Islands), the manner in which they have handled the situation involving Anwar Choudhury has had the direct effect of besmirching the name and character of a 15-year diplomat with decades of service in the U.K.’s public, private and military sectors. Additionally, the mystery-cloaked “withdrawal” of the governor has left Cayman without the leader of our execu- tive branch of government, the “CEO” of some 6,000 employees in the public service, and the titular head of the country, deriving his authority from Her Majesty the Queen. What is Mr. Choudhury’s alleged offense? Did it happen in Cayman, or elsewhere? What is the nature of the “number of complaints”? Who made the complaints? What does the FCO’s investigation entail? What are the potential consequences? What has happened to our governor? The truth is, we don’t know. Publicly, all we as a country have been presented with are reputation-destroying generalities. Privately, as a news- paper staffed with well-connected journalists, all we have heard are unpublishable whispers, and hints of the exis- tence of one or more “fireable offenses” that officials won’t confirm, even under the strictest “off the record” terms. We can think of at least three people who do know the content of the complaints leveled against Mr. Choudhury. First, Head of the Governor’s Office Matthew Forbes, who (from multiple anonymous sources) we understand gener- ated the complaint on behalf of governor’s office staff. Second, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who is now the acting governor in Governor Choudhury’s stead. Third, at least one FCO official in the U.K. who received and acted upon the complaint. What those three entities have in common, in addition to their knowledge, is their shared vow of silence on this issue that rivals anything we’ve seen in a monastery. Adding a fourth to this cast of players is Premier Alden McLaughlin, who, in the absence of forthcoming comment from the FCO, appropriately took it upon himself to issue a public statement to his country on Mr. Choudhury’s “withdrawal” based on the information he had been told. We won’t refer to any specific work of William Shake- speare, but a common thread in political dramaturgy is the toppling of a strong-willed and controversial leader by a cadre of rivals from within. The “withdrawal” of Mr. Choud- hury to the U.K. for investigation may not constitute an assassination, but it certainly was an ambush. In fact, we have been reliably informed that Mr. Choud- hury’s wife, Momina, who remains on island with their newborn child, was not even notified by U.K. officials until late Wednesday afternoon that her husband had been relieved of his position. That is unacceptable and cruel by any civilized standard. While the allegations against Mr. Choudhury remain, for now, “classified” – it is no secret that, as governor, Mr. Choudhury styled himself as an agent of change, interpreting his provenance for “good governance” as a charge to burn back Cayman’s out-of-control bureau- cratic briar patch. That has made him many friends in the private sector, outside of government – but just as many opponents inside government. In the absence of evidence and explanations, that is the narrative that has begun to take hold in the local community, which warmly embraced Mr. Choudhury and his family since his first day on the job, with his popular esteem growing as a result of his personal energy and proactive proposals. At this point, we will reemphasize that we know little about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Choudhury’s departure. If U.K. or local officials do choose to present information on this topic that elucidates or illuminates the course of action that is being taken, we will readily listen and are prepared to amend our editorial position in response to the available facts. But until then, our position is this: Give us the evidence – or give us back our governor. The governor’s ‘withdrawal’: What happened? Obama deceived with Iran deal WASHINGTON – When it comes to the Iran nuclear deal, the Obama administra- tion increasingly appears to have been a bottomless pit of deception. First, President Barack Obama failed to disclose to Congress the existence of se- cret side deals on inspections when he transmitted the nu- clear accord to Capitol Hill. (They were only uncovered by chance when then-Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., learned about them during a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency officials in Vi- enna.) Then, we learned that the Obama administration had secretly sent a plane to Tehran loaded with $400 mil- lion in Swiss francs, euros and other currencies on the same day Iran released four American hostages, which was followed by two more se- cret flights carrying another $1.3 billion in cash. Now, in a bombshell rev- elation, Republicans on the Senate Permanent Subcom- mittee on Investigations, led by Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, have revealed in a new re- port that the Obama admin- istration secretly tried to help Iran use U.S. banks to con- vert $5.7 billion in Iranian assets, after promising Con- gress that Iran would not get access to the U.S. finan- cial system – and then lied to Congress about what it had done. (Full disclosure: My wife works for Portman). In July 2015, Obama Trea- sury Secretary Jack Lew as- sured the Senate Foreign Re- lations Committee that, under the nuclear accord, Iran “will continue to be denied access to the [U.S.] financial and com- mercial market” and that “Ira- nian banks will not be able to clear U.S. dollars through New York, hold correspondent account relationships with U.S. financial institutions, or enter into financing arrange- ments with U.S. banks.” A few weeks later, one of Lew’s top deputies, Adam Szubin, used the exact same words in testimony to the Senate banking committee. But Senate investigators found that on Feb. 24, 2016, the Obama Treasury Depart- ment “granted a specific li- cense that authorized a con- version of Iranian assets worth billions of U.S. dol- lars using the U.S. financial system” – exactly what Lew and Szubin said would not happen – including unlimited future Iranian deposits at Bank Muscat in Oman until the license expired. Not only that, Senate in- vestigators found that officials from the Office of Foreign As- sets Control (OFAC), which regulates U.S. banks’ compli- ance with U.S. sanctions law, “encouraged two U.S. corre- spondent banks to convert the funds.” The report says “both banks declined to complete the transaction due to compli- ance, reputational, and legal risks associated with doing business with Iran.” Then, after issuing the li- cense, the Obama adminis- tration explicitly denied to Congress that it had done so. Lew and Szubin both failed to disclose the license in con- gressional testimony while continuing to assert that the Obama administration would not give Iran access to U.S. fi- nancial institutions – when they had just tried to do so. And in a June 2016 letter to Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Trea- sury officials declared “The U.S. Department of Treasury is not working on behalf of Iran to enable Iranian ac- cess to U.S. dollars elsewhere in the international financial system, nor are we assisting Iran in gaining access to dollar payment systems out- side the U.S. financial system. The Administration has not been and is not planning to grant Iran access to the U.S. financial system.” This was patently false. Investigators also found internal State Department emails, in which officials ad- mitted that the Obama ad- ministration had “exceeded our JCPOA commitments” by authorizing Iranian access to U.S. banks. Furthermore, the report reveals that the Obama administration put on more than 200 “roadshows” across the world where they encour- aged foreign financial insti- tutions to do business with Iran “as long as the rest of the world left the United States out of it.” According to the re- port, during a roadshow in London, OFAC Director John Smith “downplayed the like- lihood of any future penal- ties or fines,” telling the au- dience “that 95 percent of the time OFAC sees an ap- parent violation it results in a simple warning letter or no enforcement action.” In other words, the Obama administration: (1) told Con- gress it would not allow Iran access to U.S. financial insti- tutions; (2) issued a special license allowing Iran to do exactly that; (3) unsuccess- fully pressured U.S. banks to help Iran; (4) lied to Congress and the American people about what it had done; (5) admitted in internal emails that these efforts “exceeded” U.S. obligations under the nu- clear deal; (6) sent officials, including bank regulators, around the world to urge for- eign financial institutions to do business with Iran; and (7) promised that they would get nothing more than a slap on the wrist for violating U.S. sanctions. How bad is this? Re- move the words “Obama” and “Iran” and replace them with “Trump” and “Russia” and imagine the outrage that would ensue over the same revelations. Democrats would be holding news con- ferences, and the story would be front-page news. We hear a lot these days from the media about the danger of presidential lies. Well, when it comes to the Iran deal, the Obama ad- ministration took lying to new heights. And no, that is not Fake News. Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. © 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” MARC A. THIESSENThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 RUBISCAYMANISLANDS.COM *Special conditions and restrictions apply. See Pure Luck Contest Rules on rubiscaymanislands.com, the RUBIS Facebook page or at Service Stations. Promotion ends August 30th,2018 at 10PM. WIN $35,000 GRAND PRIZE $20,000 CASH! IN CASH + PRIZES! JUNE 15TH - AUG 30TH EVERY TIME YOU FUEL UP $25 OR MORE AT A PARTICIPATING RUBIS SERVICE STATION, YOU RECEIVE A STAMP ON YOUR ENTRY CARD. COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY CARD FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $35,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES, INCLUDING THE GRAND PRIZE OF $20,000 IN COLD HARD CASH! RUBISCAYMANISLANDS.COM6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Make a statement walking across the graduation stage in show stopping shoes that are perfect for your big day. Which shoes go well with the cap and gown? Hospital Road Plaza 62 Hospital Road 949 5595 Visiting grandmaster supports Cayman’s chess program JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four-time women’s world chess champion, Hou Yifan, will visit the Cayman Islands this week to support the is- lands’ school chess program. Ms. Hou, 24, who is the strongest active female chess player in the world and number 89 overall, will take on 30 players simulta- neously in the “Grandmaster Corporate Challenge” fund- raiser on Tuesday. Event sponsors, including Ogier, BDO and Dart’s Minds Inspired will enter challengers to take on the champion at a venue to be announced. A similar event for chil- dren will be held on Monday afternoon at the George Town Public Library. The Grandmaster Chal- lenge events are in aid of the Chess in Schools program, which has just completed its first year of teaching chess to 600 children in the public schools. The program is taught by Anzel Laubscher, who is a former South African wom- en’s champion and coach of the South African national junior squads. Ms. Laubscher said teaching chess to children helps them excel in other areas of the curriculum. She said the youngsters enjoy the program and learn valuable skills, including concentra- tion and strategy. The students also take part in regular tournaments, and some have traveled to Jamaica to compete internationally. Shaun Tracey, who founded the Cayman Chess Association, said in a press release that next week’s event would help fund the program for another year. “Feedback from parents and teachers has been ex- tremely positive, and the schools want to continue the program next year,” he added. Ms. Hou was a child chess prodigy who competed in her first world championship at age 12 and became the youngest ever women’s world champion in 2010, at the age of 16. She has held the wom- en’s world title on three sub- sequent occasions. Chinese chess prodigy Hou Yifan will take on 30 players at once on Tuesday. Chess coach Anzel Laubscher says the game helps students with other aspects of school life. The events will help fund Cayman’s ‘chess in schools’ program.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 VOLUNTARY PRODUCT RECALL GLASS BOTTLES ONLY WITH THE FOLLOWING EXPIRY DATES FEB-02-2019 FEB-13-2019 MAR-02-2019 The above product is being recalled by Stella Artois as a precautionary measure to protect consumers from faulty bottles. Customers who have purchased 330ML bottles marked with these dates can return the bottles to Liquor Outlet on Eastern Avenue for replacement product before September 1st 2018. In Cayman Brac please return any product to Big Daddy’s. In Little Cayman please return product to Hungry Iguana. More recall details can be found at stellaartois.expertinquiry.com. For more information: info@cdg.ky8 LOCAL NEWS As the world marked World Blood Donor Day Thursday, the Cayman Islands Blood Bank urged people to donate blood to help bring Cayman’s donor-to- population ratio in line with in- ternational recommendations. Health Services Authority laboratory manager Judith Clarke said this year’s theme – “Be there for someone else. Give Blood. Share Life.” – draws attention to the impor- tance of voluntary donation systems, including sponsors and donors, in generating community support. “We are inspired by the alacrity, compassion and al- truistic efforts of all our cor- porate sponsors, service or- ganisations and community supporters,” Ms. Clarke said in a news release. Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. An adequate supply can only be ensured through reg- ular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. Currently, Cayman’s donor- to-population ratio is 1.9-2 percent, which is far below the ratio of 5 percent suggested by the World Health Organization. “Our national blood bank, which is ranked among the top 10 blood services within the region, is making every effort to bring our ratio up to the optimal 5 percent re- quired,” Ms. Clarke said. For more information about the Blood Bank, visit www.bloodbank.ky or call 244-2674. FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 16th June 1929 – 12th Nov 2017 It isn’t yet a year daddy Since you passed away And every day we think of you In such a special way Today it is your birthday A day we always shared A special day for you alone To show how much we cared But this year there’ll be no cake No gifts no gathering together No birthday kisses no warm embrace No jokes from you to make us laugh Those things can’t last forever But what you’ll always have daddy Is the love within our hearts That special love that’s just for you And which death can never part Love was & fo ver From your children, grandchildren & great Grand children Wlia Erne Dwson No birthday kisses no warm embrace Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Joseph Carwin Whittaker, who passed away on Monday May 28, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday June 16, 2018 at Churchill’s Funeral Home, 328 Eastern Avenue, George Town at 2:00 pm. Viewing will be from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Interment follows at Prospect Cemetery. The family of the Late Vetha Lillian Scott regrets to announce her passing on Monday, 11 June, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. 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 Helen Fleming regrets to announce her passing on Thursday, 31 May, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook Page A memorial service will be held at the William Pouchie Memorial United Church on Friday, 22 June, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer's and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands or Cayman HospiceCare. Appeal filed in historic AHAB trial JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The longest and cost- liest trial in Cayman’s his- tory could be set for another chapter, after representatives of the Saudi business empire at the center of the case an- nounced plans for an appeal. The trial, which involved more than 40 lawyers from seven Cayman Islands firms, cost more than $100 million in legal fees and took nearly two years from opening statements to the delivery of the final judgment ear- lier this month. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie dismissed claims from the Ahmad Hamad Algo- saibi and Brothers conglom- erate, known as AHAB, that the collapse of its business empire was the result of a multi-billion dollar fraud per- petrated from within by Maan Al-Sanea, who had married into the family and ran its fi- nancial services business. Rather than being a victim in the enterprise, Chief Justice Smellie decided that AHAB had worked with Mr. Al-Sanea and was the prin- cipal architect of what he described as “an enormous, long-standing Ponzi scheme” which defrauded more than 100 banks of “hundreds of billions of dollars.” AHAB, which instigated the litigation against mul- tiple defendants, including the liquidators of Mr. Al-Sa- nea’s Cayman Islands com- panies, in an effort to re- coup funds for its creditors, announced Thursday that it would appeal. “AHAB have filed an ap- peal against the judgment and will vigorously contest the flawed narrative,” said Simon Charlton, acting CEO of AHAB, in a press state- ment, Thursday. He said the court had failed to take into account aspects of AHAB’s evidence and submission, particularly in relation to the partners’ knowledge of Mr. Al-Sanea’s activities and the with- drawals that he made from the company’s Money Ex- change business. AHAB also claims the chief justice reached his con- clusions about the partners’ conduct based on inferences, which were not supported by the evidence before the court. “The court accepted prop- ositions and theories ad- vanced by the defendants that were not put to AHAB’s witnesses during cross-ex- amination and were also not supported by the evidence before the court,” according to the statement. AHAB’s case was that Mr. Al-Sanea had racked up bil- lions of dollars of unauthor- ized debt through the Money Exchange, transferring some of the proceeds to his compa- nies in the Cayman Islands. They claimed the family company partners were not aware of the fraud, which went on for nearly a decade, until the Money Exchange and other businesses op- erated by Mr. Al Sanea col- lapsed in 2009, causing AHAB to default on approximately $9 billion dollars of debt. The chief justice accepted that Mr. Al-Sanea had bor- rowed huge sums of money that had ultimately been re- directed to his own business empire but he said this had been done with the knowl- edge and authorization of the AHAB partners. He wrote, “The AHAB partners were willing to allow the massive personal borrowing of Al-Sanea from the Money Exchange to go unchecked because it was quid pro quo for his willing- ness also to use the Money Exchange to procure fraudu- lent borrowing for the AHAB partners themselves.” He added that the Money Exchange had been a “crim- inal enterprise” from its in- ception to its collapse and that AHAB had received “enormous benefits” from its illegal borrowing. The total flow of cash through the Money Exchange was ap- proximately US$330 billion, the judgment indicates. “AHAB have filed an appeal against the judgment and will vigorously contest the flawed narrative.” SIMON CHARLTON, acting CEO, AHAB Maan Al-Sanea Local blood bank participates in worldwide effort to promote donations Taylor Foster of Car City, left, and family donate blood at the Car City Blood Drive held in March. Currently, Cayman’s donor-to-population ratio is 1.9-2 percent, which is far below the required ratio of 5 percent suggested by the World Health Organisation.9 LOCAL NEWS Crown offers no evidence CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A charge of careless driving against Finance Minister Roy McTaggart was dismissed in Traffic Court on Thursday after the Crown offered no evidence. Crown counsel Gavin Dixon later explained that, when no evidence is of- fered, the result is a ver- dict of “Not Guilty” re- corded and the matter is dismissed. The charge arose from an incident on Shamrock Road in December 2015. The matter first came to court in August 2016. At the next mention date, in February 2017, Mr. McTaggart pleaded not guilty and trial was set for September 2017. On the trial date, how- ever, defense attorney Delroy Murray advised the magistrate that he had not received the papers he re- quired until the day before. Trial was then adjourned until February 2018. On that date, the court was advised that the wit- ness did not wish to pro- ceed. The Crown at that time applied for the matter to be left on file for three months to see if the sit- uation would change. Thursday, June 14, was set for a trial if the matter proceeded. On Thursday, Mr. Dixon advised Magistrate Philippa McFarlane that the wit- ness had not attended and had not given a statement. On that basis, he offered no evidence. Mr. McTaggart was the second elected member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town when the incident occurred. Fol- lowing the change to single- member constituencies, he was elected MLA for George Town East and sub- sequently appointed min- ister for finance and eco- nomic development. CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018 Minister’s careless driving charge dismissed Crown counsel Gavin Dixon advised Magistrate Philippa McFarlane that the witness had not attended and had not given a statement. On that basis he offered no evidence. Roy McTaggart MANDERSON: CHIEF OFFICER DID NOT INTENTIONALLY DECEIVE PAC Miller files motion for contempt KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Acting Governor Franz Manderson said there is “no basis” for taking disci- plinary action against Health Ministry Chief Officer Jen- nifer Ahearn for allegedly giving a false answer to the Public Accounts Committee last October. Mr. Manderson’s state- ment on Thursday was in re- sponse to allegations from PAC Chairman Ezzard Miller that Ms. Ahearn knowingly provided false information to his committee. Mr. Miller filed a private members’ motion earlier this week to hold Ms. Ahearn in contempt and to refer the matter to the director of public prosecutions. House Speaker McKeeva Bush has not yet approved that motion to go to the Legislative As- sembly for debate. Mr. Bush said he is “taking legal advice on the motion.” Mr. Miller’s accusations refer to an October PAC meeting at which he asked Ms. Ahearn about changes made to memberships of licensing bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council. Mr. Miller was expressing concern that changes to such boards could loosen criteria for licensing health practitioners. “I don’t think that there has been a change that we’ve changed the board whole- sale,” Ms. Ahearn replied. “But again, I am speaking from memory and not from paper in front of me and I don’t know for certain.” That statement was incor- rect, according to Mr. Miller, as the entire Medical and Dental Council was changed on Sept. 12, 2017, about a month before Ms. Ahearn gave her testimony. If Ms. Ahearn’s statement were false, there would have to be proof that she inten- tionally gave a false answer in order to be guilty of an of- fense, according to legal ad- vice the Attorney General’s Chambers provided Mr. Miller. In a March 12 letter to Mr. Manderson, Mr. Miller called for the deputy governor to discipline Ms. Ahearn. Mr. Manderson replied on Thursday that he did not find Ms. Ahearn’s answers to the PAC to be intention- ally deceptive. “I do recognize that, in light of the actual Gazetted changes in the membership of the [Medical and Dental Council], the Chief Officer’s recollec- tion could be considered mis- taken or erroneous. How- ever, I believe that it is plain to see that the language Ms. Ahearn used in her response to PAC clearly indicates she was speaking from her recol- lection, and at the same time she acknowledged that she could well be mistaken,” Mr. Manderson stated. “In fact, the Chief Officer’s statement con- tains no less than seven ca- veats by which she sought to emphasize that, while offering a response (presumably with a view to assist the PAC), she was speaking from her recol- lection and simply could not answer the question defini- tively or conclusively.” Therefore, the deputy gov- ernor stated that he is “duty- bound” to dismiss Mr. Mill- er’s complaint. Mr. Miller’s motion for contempt suggests that it was filed because of in- action on the part of the deputy governor. The motion states: “Be it therefore resolved that this Cayman Islands Legisla- tive Assembly hold Ms. Jen- nifer Ahearn in Contempt and refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecu- tions in accordance with sec- tion 29 to determine whether Ms. Jennifer Ahearn be pros- ecuted for an offence in ac- cordance of section 16 of the Legislative Assembly (Immu- nities, Powers, and Privileges) Law (2015 Revision).” Ms. Ahearn is on leave until Monday, and did not re- spond to Compass inquires.Next >